Happy Birthday card

It's a happy happy birthday to my hubby Frank today!  I won't say how old he is now but he's catching up to me.  LOL  (I'm 5 years & 4 months older..........but shhhh........don't tell anyone........LOL)

I had to really step out of my comfort zone on this card.  If you visited me long enough you'd know that I love pink.  Pink & green are my favorite colors.  So this was a streeeetch for me.  Hope you like it.

The focal point of my card is a bicycle Photoshop brush I found free online.  Gotta love freebies.  I cut it out with my Nesties Labels One die cut (one of my very favorites).  I used a Tim Holtz pennant die I just got.  Love it! His dies cut so smoothly.  I distressed it all with DI black soot.  I even distressed the baker's twine.

The rest of the embellies & papers are all from my stash.  I made the bottom right button with a Tim Holtz reinforcement circle & a spinner......& then attached it to a metal button.  Frank thought it was a compass.

Thanks so much for visiting me today & have a wonderful week.

These are the challenges I'm entering:
Paper Crafting Journey:  #4 ~ Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges:  #160 Stripes
Paper Pretties:  PWC196 Masculine
The Paper Shelter:  Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog:  No Sentiments
Creative Craft Challenges:  Boys will be boys
Totally Gorjuss:  #122 Anything Goes with buttons

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sweet Little Lamb

This sweet little lamb is another Crissy Armstrong creation. I used this little cutie "Spring Lamb" for my DT card for Sundays with Crissy. It's available as a digital image from Whimsy Stamps. You still have time to join in our "Birthday" themed challenge for the month of February. You even get one extra day. Don'tcha just love leap year. LOL

I paper pieced this darling with NitWit digi papers (Tippy toes & Me-Wow) & distressed the pieces with Distress Ink. I then colored the grass & flowers with my Copic markers (R81, R83, R85, G21, G40, Y21, YR20, C5, C7, W3). After cutting out the image with my Lacey Circles Nestie die I carefully sponged the sky & grass with more Distress Ink. (I left the paper inside the Nestie before sponging the background & later wiped the die off with a baby wipe.)  The pink gingham DP is from Bev Rochester's free gingham papers found on her blog All the Things I Love.  Thanks a bunch, Bev!  The pretty green DP's are from my huge paper stash.

 The sentiment was computer generated using the font "Brisk". It was cut out with my Lattice Rectangle Nestie.  When I showed the card to my hubby he asked me who "Eve" was.  LOL  Thank God when I asked my daughter to read it to me she said "ewe".  LOL So I hope you can read that it's actually to "Ewe".......not "Eve".   (You know........a 'ewe' is a female sheep.)

I used my Stardust Stickles to bling it all up.  I cut a strip of pink netting which already had a ton of glitter on it from my LSS (local stamp store) (I had glitter everywhere....lol).  Buttons, ribbon & flowers are all from my stash.

I followed this sketch from A Gem of a Challenge:

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Catz: #121 ~ 'B' ~ Bling, Buttons, Baby lamb, Bows, Birthday
Delicious Doodles:  #13 Pink - to make the boys wink
Crop Stop:  #59 use at least 3 flowers (I used 6)
DYSU:  #60 Distress
PCJ:  #3 Make it Cute
2 Sisters Challenge Blog:  #80 ~ Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Blog:  #143 It's Your Choice
Craft Your Days Away:  #39 Paper Piecing
Stampin' for the Weekend:  #4 Bingo (Ribbons/Bows, Pearls & Pink)
Creative Inspirations Paint:  Paper Piecing
Paper Sundaes:  #109 Circles
That Craft Place:  Anything Goes
Crafter's Companion: #21 Anything Goes
Desert Islands Crafts:  #1, 3, 4, 9
Simon Says Stamp:  Use 3 different papers

Thanks so much for joining me today.  Please pop on over to the Sundays with Crissy blog to check out the other DT cards.  They are amazing.  (My card will appear there on the 28th.)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Will you be my Valentine?

May you be surrounded by love on this Valentine's Day!

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

*New* Distress Ink Markers

 I just saw a Tim Holtz video from CHA showing the brand new Ranger Distress Ink MARKERS.  Wowsers!  I just HAD to share it with you!  Check it out!!! (Click on it twice to see it larger)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Flutter your blues away

 

We are nearing the end of our "Beat the Mid-Winter Blues" challenge #25 at Sundays with Crissy & we would love to see your creations.  You can interpret the challenge whatever way you want so feel free to join in.....you still have time.  For my DT card I chose to use Crissy Armstrong's beautiful "Rose Butterfly" that's available at Whimsy Stamps. I thought I would flutter my "Mid-Winter Blues" away with this pretty butterfly.  Well.........truth be told.......we've been having more spring like weather here in southern California lately.  I want winter!  waaah  lol I know, I know.........we're never happy with what we have. 

I colored the butterfly with my Copics & tried something new that I learned from watching the talented Bev Rochester's Copic videos.  She shows how she uses Prismacolor pencils to add some shading to her colored images.  I just added a bit here & there to the butterfly.  Didn't want to ruin my coloring job since I waited til the last minute to make this.  Geesh!  Don'tcha just hate it when you procrastinate & then the date jumps out at you & you have to move quickly.  LOL  I really need to learn to be better organized.  That's my goal for 2012.  Wish me luck with that!  LOL  Anywho......I really want to learn how to use the Prismacolor pencils with my Copics to get deeper tones in my coloring.  Wish me luck with that too.  LOL  Always sumthun new to learn, huh.  I also added the little dots around the butterfly.  I wanted to add a bit more interest to the otherwise blank white background.

I cut around my butterfly with the "Lattice Rectangles" Nestie diecut.  (I just love my Nesties & they work GREAT with my new Sizzix Vagabond.)  I wove some lavender ribbon thru the lattice openings & added a ton of glitter.  I think I went a little 'heavy handed' with it but oh well..........I just love the bling!  I added some pretty bling bling to the corners as well.  The 'dream' sentiment epoxy sticker was from my stash & the DP was from a paper pad called "Best of Brenda Walton" by K&Co.  Don't you just love hydrangeas.  I have some in my backyard that can't decide if it's winter or spring.  LOL 

I would like to enter these challenges:
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge:  #117 Things with Wings
Lily Pad / Simon Says Stamp:  Use patterned paper
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps: #71 Valentines/Love card
Digi Doodle Shop's Best: #92 Anything Goes
DYSU Challenge Blog:  #56 Ribbons (I won)
Paper Crafting Journey:  #1 Floral
My Mum's Craft Shop: #41 Flowers
Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges: #51 Anything Goes w/digi
Lollipop Crafts:  #64 Wing It (butterfly)
Stamp & Create.com:  Anything Goes
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges:  Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays:  #86 Sentiment plus Die Cut

So come on over to Sundays with Crissy & join in the fun. We would love to see how you interpret our theme.  And thanks so much for visiting with me today & leaving some luvin'.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my blogging friends! I pray that 2012 will be a truly blessed year for all of us. 2011 was a little rough for us but we're starting to see the light at the end of that proverbial 'tunnel'. Praise the Lord for that!

I would like to thank each one of you who take the time to leave such sweet & lovely comments as you visit with me. You truly are a sweet, sweet blessing to me. By the way.....I will be doing a little followers blog candy in January of my favorite things to craft with so watch for it.

See you all next year!!!

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Just skating by..........

It's my turn to post on the Sundays with Crissy challenge blog. We're nearing the end of our 24th challenge with everyone's FAVorite........"Anything Goes". You can check out all of the deets on the Sundays with Crissy blog.

I've used this adorable little skating snowman created by the talented Crissy Armstrong called "Snowman Skating". You can find him at Whimsy Stamps along with lots of other cute images by Crissy. Since he's a digital image I was able to shrink him down a bit so I could add him to the bottom corner of the little tag. I just love the versatility of digital stamping.

So whatcha think? Isn't he a cutie patootie! Of course I had to add lots of bling, bling to my card with snowflakes & lots of glitter. I've used my trustie Nesties, some pretty Nit Wit DP & ribbon from my stash. The sentiment was computer generated by me using PC Drop (a pcCrafter font).

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. My hubby surprised me with a Tim Holtz Vagabond die cutting machine. Yippee Skippee! Could you hear me screaming? LOL I'm so excited! Now I can finally use the larger dies. YAY hubby!!!

Thanks so much for visiting with me today & it's not too late to hop on over to Sundays with Crissy to join in our challenge.

This card is going to a dear friend who has been there for us through thick & thin.  We wanted to give him a special "thank you" gift for all he has done for us.  Thank you, Domingo!

I'm entering these challenges:
Digital Tuesday: #141 Winter Wonderland
Top Tip Tuesday: #66 Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs: #126 Winter Wonderland
Paper Playtime: #63 Anything Goes plus a Sentiment
The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog: #7 Use a Sentiment (won Top 3)
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge: Sparkle & Shine
Creative Inspirations Paint: Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes: #100 Celebrate (my friend's birthday)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Wishing you........

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A special Christmas card

After seeing a beautiful Christmas card made by Karen at "Luv To Stamp" on Pinterest last night I decided to make my daughter's bestie a card using the braided ribbon technique for the wreath. How much fun that was & Easy Peasy ta boot. Here are a couple of video tuts that show you how it's done......HERE and HERE. I used a pretty 1/4" green satin ribbon (the green is actually a little more greyish green but I had a hard time getting the color just right in PSE).

The sentiment was computer generated by me using the beautiful 'Chopin Script' font. The DP was from Bearly Mine Designs 'Vintage' set. I used my Scallop Circle Nestie & Long Classic Scalloped Rectangle Nestie & the rest of the embellies were from my stash.

I'm entering these challenges:
Paper Sundaes: #100 Celebrate (Christmas)
Paper Playtime: #63 Anything goes plus a Sentiment

Thanks so much for visiting me today & have a Merry Merry Christmas one & all.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl

Today is my beautiful daughter Kim's birthday! She's my oldest child but my only daughter so she'll always be my special Baby Girl! I had a blast making this card for her (& she loved it).

I found "Be a Cosmo Cover Girl" on the Cosmopolitan magazine site where you can create your own magazine cover & upload your own picture. I had such a fun time coming up with various "article" titles that fit her personality. She said it was the best card I've ever done for her. aaaawwww melted my heart! I love her so much!

Her best friend took her to San Diego for the weekend to celebrate her special day & surprised her with tickets to see her FAVorite football team..........the San Diego Chargers. They play today & I hope they win big just for her birthday!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

OMGosh!

OMGosh!!! I just realized that today is my Blogoversary! I can't believe that it's already been 3 years since I started this amazing journey.


I want to thank all of you who have made this such a wonderful experience for me. I have been blessed with amazing friendships and sweet followers. I can't believe that so many of you actually want to follow me. LOL (I plan to share some blog candy after the New Year so be watching for that!)


Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have left such wonderful comments through the years & have made this sooooo enjoyable!!! Happy Blogoversary to me! LOL

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Exciting news & a DT card

Notice my new badge? Yippee Skippee!!! I'm so honored to now be a part of Crissy Armstrong's design team aka Crissy's Crew on the Sundays with Crissy challenge blog.

This is my very first DT card to go along with challenge #23 "Christmas cards using non-traditional colours". Go HERE to see all the details about joining in the challenge.


I've chosen to create a fun card using the most adorable "Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun" created by Crissy which is available at Wags 'n Whiskers. They look like they're having so much fun playing in the snow & creating this cute, cute, cute snowman. This card will be going to my oldest son & his cute little wife who are still in New York. They'll probably see lots of snow this season.

I've used my new Christmas K&Co DP again. I just love the pretty papers in this pad. The image was colored with these Copics: E000, E00, E41, 50 / YR 21, YR24 / R11, R20 / W00, W0, W1, W3, W5 / BG0000, BG10 / B21.

Other card deets:
Nesties Labels One & Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles small
Distress Ink 'Frayed Burlap'
Various glitters
"JOY" from Walmart Christmas ornie section
Pearl Snowflake buttons, Jolee glittery snowflake stickers, seam binding are all from my stash.

Thanks so much for visiting me today & sharing my exciting news!

Challenges I'm entering:
Digi Doodle Shop's Best: #84 Animals (kitty)
Paper Crafting Journey: anything goes
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: #18 ~ Anything Christmas with Pearls (pearl snowflakes)
Crafty Calendar Challenge: Winter Wardrobe (girl's outerwear)
Paper Sundaes: #97 Winter Wonderland
Dream Valley Challenges: #21 Sparkle (& boy does this card sparkle)
Lollipop Crafts: #59 B is for Bling, Buttons & Bows
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: #110 Snowmen
Stampin' for the Weekend: #21 Friends
Totally Paper Crafts: #94 Christmas
The Poodles Parlour: Christmas
2 Sisters Challenge Blog: #67 Holiday (Christmas)
Craft Your Days Away: #34 Buttons or Bows
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog: Punches and/or Dies

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my US friends & family! On this day we take the time to thank the good Lord for all of our many blessings. I have so much to be grateful for..........a loving family who supports me in everything...........friends who have my back..........good health & so much more.

As we gather around our Thanksgiving feast our family takes the time to go around the table & each person says what they are thankful for. It's sometimes silly & funny and other times serious & thoughtful. But we all "get" each other & for that I'm thankful.

Sooooo.......have a wonderful time celebrating with your loved ones & enjoying that amazing food (love that turkey & stuffing) & remember to give thanks to the Lord for His many blessings.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

PCI Guest Designer card

After entering a challenge recently at Paper Creations Ink they chose me to be a Guest Designer. How cool is that! They gave this darling image by Sassy Studio Designs called "Santa's Helper" from their "Sassy Holiday Collection". (Thanks a bunch Sassy Studio Designs!) Doesn't she look pretty sitting on top of that huge prezzie. Wonder what's in it. Do you think she should shake it? LOL Uh...better not just in case it's breakable. LOL This is challenge #13 at PCI with a "Christmas Theme". Can you believe we're only about a month away from Christmas. Yikes! Where has this year gone?

The DP I used is from K&Co's new Christmas paper pad called "Elizabeth Brownd's Visions of Christmas". I loved the pretty blue paper with snowflakes & musical notes. The "Santa's Helper" digital image was colored with my Copics E0000, E000, E00, E31, E41, E50, E51, E53 / R11, R20 / BG0000, BG10, BG11. Then cut out with my oval & scalloped oval Nesties. The bling button, gold doily, gold ribbon & glitter snowflake are all from my stash. I distressed the edges of the DP with Ranger's Distress Ink 'Frayed Burlap'.

This was my first time adding sequins to a card. I purchased a bunch of cupped sequins from Cartwright. They have such a huge selection at such a good price so I got a big variety. These gold sequins came from an assortment pack with a mix of different Metallic colors. They are 6mm Metallic slightly cupped sequins. The 'cupped' center makes a great nesting place for the bead. What pretty little flowers they make. I'll definitely be using this technique again. The opaque ones are really pretty too.

Just in case anyone wants to know how I attached the sequins to my card:

I used some thin 34 gauge gold wire (I think it's called beading wire.......it's old & the label fell off.....lol) to "sew" the gold beads & sequins onto the top of the card. I cut a piece of wire about 4" long. Then strung the bead onto the wire & moved it to the middle of the wire. While holding the bead super straight & making sure it was centered between the bead holes so the holes wouldn't show......I twisted the wire close to the bead. Then I pierced a hole in the DP & threaded the wire through to the back, secured the ends with tape & cut off any excess wire. Easy peasy!

I'm entering the following challenges:
DYSU Challenge: #46 blue
One Stop Craft Challenge: #158 blue
Paper Pretties: Christmas card using non-traditional Christmas colors
Pollycraft Monday Challenge: #120 Christmas fun
The Craft Garden: Christmas without red or green
Wags' n Whiskers: Christmas themed
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges: #47 Christmas must use digi
Hooked on Craft Challenges: #12 use punch or die cut
Paper Sundaes: #96 Beautiful bow
Pile It On: #47 Anything with a "P" (prezzie aka present)
2 Sisters Challenge Blog: #66 Let It Sparkle
Just Some Lines: Tic Tac Toe (glitter, digi, die cut)
Outlawz challenge: Pam111911 Christmas or winter celebration
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days: #21 texture & must use digi
Crafts 4 Eternity: R#46 Embellishment recipe (snowflake, bling, doily)
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: #109 Snowflakes
Frosted Designs: Fabulous Friday Challenge ~ Die Cuts!
Creatalicious Challenges: #28 Christmas & sparkle
The Paper Shelter: #40 Snowflakes

Thanks so much for visiting me & please pop on over to PCI to enter their Challenge. They would love to have you join them. This card will be traveling to Mass. to my dear friend Mary.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

THANK YOU

Thank you to all of our US veterans who have proudly served & our US troops who are now serving to keep America free. My father & father-in-law both served our country in WWII. I honor them today for their bravery & sacrifice to our great nation.

***Please note: Many restaurants are giving free meals or entrees to our veterans this day. The ones I personally know of are Applebee's & Chili's. Go to THIS SITE to see more. Most of these are only good for today.

Thank you again & God bless the USA!!!


Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~