Enjoy the sweet moments

The ever amazing Suzanne Dean challenged us to create a monochromatic card/image for our Color Me Creative Challenge groups bi-monthly challenges........open to everyone. This was my first time participating cuz ya know.....life just has a way of getting in the way of my crafting time. LOL

Anywho...........I only used Copic "R's" to create this card.........hence her rather reddish face or is she blushing.....LOL This was my first time ever doing a monochromatic card so it was a bit challenging but I think it came out alright. The card is actually prettier IRL (in real life). I'm not the greatest photographer.....hahaha.

This cute little Tilda image called "Baking Tilda" can be found at Diana's Magnolia-licious store. I used my little Bow-Easy to make the cute little bow. The sentiment was computer generated & thought up by little ol' me. LOL Then I punched it out with my Marvy Uchida scalloped oval punch. The butterfly is a Martha Stewart 3-in-1 butterfly punch with a little added bling. The swirlie blings are Recollections. I used my Nesties "Curved Rectangles" to cut around my image. And my handy dandy Tim Holtz distressing tool (love that thang). And lastly......I think.......I used the lattice EK punch to make the little strip behind my image.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges........
Papertake Weekly: Sketch
Crazy 4 Challenges: Bling
Paper Sundaes: Things with Wings
Totally Tilda Challenge Blog: Glitter & Sparkle
Just Magnolia Challenge Blog: Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown: Punches
Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge: Swirly Swirls

Thanks for looking & I would love to hear what you think. Have a FABulous weekend! TGIF

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Special Treat Today

Today is the 25th of the month which means it's time for the Magnolia-licious Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop!

For an extra treat be sure to check out Norma's stunning White Christmas creation HERE. It's absolutely amazing!

So get hopping!
Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Getting punchie.........

I was wandering about "Inspiration Tips, Techniques & Tutorials" today & found this wonderful video tut on "Making Paper Hydrangeas" with a heart punch by Valita's Designs & Fresh Folds. She also shows how to make little curly type vines with an oval punch.



Have fun creating! I'm definitely going through my punches today to see what other 'outside of the box' uses I can find for them........how about you? LOL

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A seriously cool Topiary

I was visiting my friend Andrea at The Paper Purse today & she shared this seriously cool Paper Flower Topiary featured on My Mind's Eye Blog complete with free instructions.

Isn't it beautiful! I can see it made in varying colors & sizes.....from a tiny petite version to the large one they made. I can see a cute little vintage birdie or two hanging around it or a butterfly or two or three. You could even glitter it up or turn it into a cute Christmas tree. (you can see my imagination working overtime. LOL) The possibilities are endless!

Thanks a bunch for sharing this Andrea!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Remembering on this day..........

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Distress Ink Video TUT by Tim Holtz

I just came across this Tim Holtz video where he shares various Distress Ink techniques for we cardmakers (or is it "us" cardmakers...LOL). He is soooo uber talented.

In this video he shares how to achieve various looks by using his Distress Inks in several ways........"Wrinkled Distress", "Wrinkle Free Distress", simple backgrounds with his Ink Blending Tool & a rubber stamping technique using various Distress Ink colors to achieve an awesome look.



Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did!

(Just a side note: I wanted to post it here so I always know where to find it.....LOL)

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sharing an Embossing TUT by Tim Holtz

What a FABulous idea "THE" Tim Holtz just shared on his blog. (If you're not a follower.....you are really missing out on some great stuff.)

Anywho.............I just HAD to share his TUT with you. I'm aaaaallll about sharing (hence the name "Sharr-a-hug".....LOL.....I like to share more than just hugs.....LOL). Okay.....nuff about me.....onto the 'share'.

Tim shared HERE how to emboss those long strips of paper or in this case.....a long tag.....that just doesn't seem to fit in your embossing folder. He even gave permission to cut (gasp) his beautiful "Texture Fades" embossing folder.

So get your handy dandy craft knife ready and give it a try.

Thanks for checking in with me.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Thank You!

Wowie!!! I just noticed that I passed the 12,000 visitor mark on my blog & so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for visiting me from time to time. I'm sorry that I don't post very much. Life always has a way of robbing me of my craft mojo. I hope to get it back soon & start crafting again.

Thank you all so very much! It touches my ♥heart♥ that you take the time to visit my blog.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

This is dedicated to the one I love.....

Today is my 37th wedding anniversary! Soooooooo many memories to reflect upon. I was looking through my wedding album this morning & getting a little misty remembering that very special day so many years ago. The Lord has blessed us with a good life.....full of love & joy. I couldn't ask for a better husband to go through this life with. I am so very blessed.

So this is dedicated to the one I love.............Frank! Love you, Babe! Here's to 37 more..........♥♥♥MWAH♥♥♥

Thanks for sharing my very special day!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Military Tribute - Lee Greenwood God Bless The USA

God Bless America!

We take this day to remember the price that others have paid for our freedoms we enjoy in America today. God bless those who continue to fight for our rights. May God keep them safe from any hurt, harm or danger.


God bless the United States of America.........land that I love.
Blessings to you & yours on this Memorial Day ~

A Vintage girl at Heart

I want to thank my Sis Nora for leading the way to an amazing Vintage site (new to me anyway). It's Vintiquities Workshop and Thespa is having a wonderfully delish candy giveaway to celebrate 100 postings with these lovely goodies........


Just looking at her site gives me such a good feeling of days gone by. Guess I'm just a Vintage girl at ♥Heart♥.....LOL

She is also offering a chance to win these goodies if you use her free Hymnal titles (available on her blog) in any type of project. Prizes will be awarded after June 14th.


So if you have a little bit of Vintage in your Heart too, stop by her blog & enter.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Pretty little Princess Tilda

I just fell in love with this pretty little stamp called Princess Tilda from Magnolia's Fairytale Collection. She looks like such a pretty, pretty Princess.......dontcha think. Of course she just "had" to be dressed in girly pink. I got her sweetness at Diana's shoppe.....I don't see her in stock right now but you can let Diana know that you're interested in her.

This card was made for a card kit swap at SCS and also to be entered in 2 challenges.........the Simon Says Challenge: to follow this Sketch......



and the #112 Challenge at Cute Card Thursday to make a card for 'Someone Special'. My 'Someone Special' is my 14 yr old granddaughter. She was playing in her soccer semi finals last night & got injured. This sweet little Tilda reminded me of her (she loved her).

I used Copics (E00, E000, E000, R20, E30, E31, E41, W00, W0, W1, RV10, RV11, RV000, Y11 & E30) to color the little darling, Stickles 'Diamond' for the bling & used DP from DCWV's "Once Upon a Time" mat stack. The flowers & embellies were in my stash. Tim Holtz' Distress Ink 'vintage photo' was applied to the white card base. I apologize for the quick coloring job.....I don't think it's as good as it could have been. I've had a lot going on in my life lately & just didn't have the time to do a better job. But I do have to say that it looks much better & prettier IRL (in real life). Plus I'm currently enrolled in Suzanne Dean's Copics class & I know I have a lot to learn from her about coloring with Copics.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share with you.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Blessings to all Mothers

I pray that your Mother's Day is blessed & filled with love.


Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Copic Ciao Number TUT

This is my very first blog TUTorial so please be gentle………………

Let me start off by saying that I ♥love♥love♥love♥ my Copic markers!!! I have a total of 84 of these beauties both Ciao & Sketch but since the Ciao's are the least expensive I have more of them. The only thing I don’t like about the Copic Ciao markers is that they don’t have the color number on the end of the marker barrel as they have on the Copic Sketch markers therefore I decided to create my own. And this is how I did it.
(***scroll down to the bottom of this post to see a picture of the barrel ends of the Sketch & Ciao markers...........the picture is clickable to get a closer view.)

Supplies needed:
Sticker paper or Address Labels
Computer and Printer
1/4" Hole Punch (this is the standard size round hole punch)
Corsage Pin

♥♥♥First you will print the Ciao color numbers you need onto the labels or sticker paper……leaving enough space around each number to fit inside your hole punch. I used the font Calibri font size 8 for most of the color numbers. I used 7.5 for the larger numbers like RV000 so they would fit inside the punched circle.

♥♥♥Then hole punch the number…….centering the number in the hole (turn the punch over so you can see what you’re doing). Then hold the little circle you’ve just punched out in your fingertips (you may need to use the corsage pin to gently push the circle out of the punch) & using the tip of the corsage pin….gently fold back the edge of the sticker & slip the pin tip in between the layers. The backing will come right off. The sticky number circle will stick to the pin & you can ease it onto the end of the marker. Use your finger or fingernail to tap it in place. And voila! There ya go!!! Easy peasy!!!

I suppose you could use a medium to cover the number once it’s attached to the marker………like a protective covering but I didn’t think it was necessary since my markers are guarded very carefully. LOL



I store my Copics in this pretty "luggage" style box from Michael’s......(love these lovely containers for storing my crafts). Inside I have 2 clear storage boxes I purchased at Joann’s crafts. They have built-in dividers to store the Copic color families perfectly. When I tip the box I can see all of my numbers now. No problems in searching for a certain Copic Ciao marker. ( I chose to put the numbers on BOTH ends of my Ciao markers so I could see them on either side of the clear boxes……….but you could just do one marker end.) This box also holds my ink refills.



On a side note: I keep my skin & hair color Copics that I use the most in this separate little plastic photo box (also from Michael’s). (I don't use the blue markers for hair or skin........LOL......that's just to show the difference between the Sketch & Ciao markers.........and to show you the little round circle I made.) I have more of these little boxes so when I'm working on a project (like coloring my cute little Tildas) I have all the markers I'm using at my fingertips. It also helps me to remember which colors I used in my project before I return them to their other little "home".



♥I sure hope this TUT helps you. If you have any questions or don’t understand something, please email me.♥

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~