Happy Hour

It's always happy hour at the beach...ain't that the truth!!! I've been having a hard time getting re-acclimated to home after our wonderful week at the beach. I vote for 2 week vacations from now on!!! Here's my card for the progressive challenge over at From the Heart. The image, Inner Tube Birdbrain, is fabulous!! I love all the sentiments included in this set.

I used the sketch also at From the Heart but did not add the twist of watercoloring. I was in a hurry to get this done so quick & easy, clean & simple it is!!!

Happy B-day Boy

It's the last day of the month...and that means I am furiously working at getting my progressive challenge cards done!!! This one is for over at The Outlawz. The image is by Jen L. Her shop isn't open yet but she can be found on Facebook HERE. I love boy related images and this one is perfect! One advantage to completing your cards on the last day of the month, you don't have to wait too long to find out what the new image will be!!!! Hahaha!
 

I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas!

We've got a blast from the past sketch this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. I always love a good sketch where I can use up papers from my scrap pile. 

Our sponsor this week is Deedee's Digis. Check out her store, so many wonderful sets. And they come with the color version included -- HOORAY!!! 

Like this one, Pink Christmas. I positively couldn't resist making one more Christmas in July card, especially one with this fabulous flamingo dressed up like Santa!!! Love the sentiment too. Sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Christmas in July

I am so out of sync ever since coming home from vacation. I just can't seem to get it together...every time I think I can head into my stamp room, something comes up that needs my immediate attention. Last night I got to play a little bit, using this Imagine That image, Snow Mice, over a background I made from the Background Check on line class I'm taking. I used direct to paper a distress ink over a piece of white cardstock. Then I sprayed a snowflake background stamp with Perfect Pearls and water then "stamped" it over my blue inked background. Either I got the snowflake stamp too wet or pushed down too hard (or maybe both) but the snowflakes didn't come out very crisp and clear. Oh well, I put it to use anyway! Will try this technique again with a bolder background stamp next time, maybe that will help.

I'm submitting my card to the following challenges:
Cards in Envy - Christmas in July
Crafty Boots - Christmas in July
Dragonfly Journeys - Christmas in July

Tea Time

It's time for another Clean & Simple challenge over at The Outlawz. DT member Cheri is challenge us all to make a card featuring our favorite beverage. Now mind you, I do love a good margarita. But a cup of hot tea I find very comforting, even in the middle of summer. I used a set from Paper Trey Ink called Tea for Two and the Tea for Two Additions Set. I used the die set to cut out this fun teapot. And red, white and black...a perfect color combination.
   

Saying Hello to a Sweet Friend

If all goes well, my scheduled blog posts are going live at the right time. The beach is my home right now so life is good!! Here's the new sketch for you to have a go at from Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Our lovely sponsor this week is Sami Stamps. I always love it when she is our sponsor, I so enjoy checking out her store!! As the winner this week, you'll get to do some of your own shopping at Sami Stamps!! How fun!!!  

Here's my card, using the fun sketch and Umbrella Girl from Sami Stamps. Yes, I did some paper piecing. It's not something I do a lot because, well, I'm lazy!! But this image made me immediately think of doing that technique. Now let's see what you come up with for our fabulous sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

I'm submitting my card to the anything goes challenge over at the Sami Stamps Blog.

JOY...To the World

Welcome to a new challenge at Holly Jolly Christmas. For the next two weeks, our theme will be Christmas Carols. Joy to the World was my inspiration, especially when I got to play with these cuties from Melonheadz - Christmas Elves Bundle. I adore these elves and wanted them to take front and center of my card. So I printed them up big and didn't add anything else. Fun, quick and easy!! Now it's your turn for our Christmas Carol challenge at Holly Jolly Christmas.
 

Get Well Soon

Over at The Outlawz, we're having a fun clean and simple challenge.  July 10th was actually "Teddy Bear Picnic day", the brain child of collectible items dealer Royal Selango and based on the song composed by Walter Bratton. So this week we're paying some tribute to these endearing childhood icons, CAS of course. I used a sponsor image, Deedee's Digis set Basket of Love. I don't have a lot of get well cards so why not turn this one into one?!! Very quick and easy to do, a must in my book when it comes to clean & simple. Join us over at The Outlawz for some teddy bear fun. 
 

Let's Be Merry

Final challenge of the Christmas in July celebration goin' on over at Catch the Bug. Today we were to use a Bugaboo image and pick a present. HOW FUN!!!

I ended up using from Bugaboo the image Rudolph - Rudolph. Now before you say anything, yes, I know the story of Rudolph and his red nose. Well, I goofed and the sad part is, I didn't realize that I had until I was almost done with the card!!! So I'm changing up the story a bit...Rudolph only gets his red nose on Christmas eve! There, now I'm covered!!! Oh, and the present I picked was Ribbon, Image, and Stitching.

Oldie but Goodie + Photo Challenge

Catch the Bug's day #6 challenge is an oldie but goodie (sounds like their talking about me!!!!!) plus the above photo for inspiration. With our beach vacation just around the corner, this was a fun one for me to create!

And here's my card, using from Bugaboo Tropical Santa - Scuba. I love all the tropical Santa images, they remind me of what I believe Santa does the week of December 26th!! I used the latest Stella Says Sketch Challenge.

Humor Me + Bingo

Day #5 of the Christmas in July challenges over at Catch the Bug is "humor me & bingo." Always something fun!!  

Here's my card, using the wonderfully funny Scene It - Christmas Sheep from Bugaboo. I love these sheep!! Their expressions are priceless!! As for the bingo, I used the bottom row across - Sparkly, Ribbon, Snowflake. You can't see the sparkle I put on at various places with my wink of Stella pen. And my snowflakes are the embossing folder.

Chef Freddy

I couldn't wait to play with this cutie recently released at Imagine That. I'd like you to meet Chef Freddy. He is so adorable in his white chef coat and hat!! You'll also find him in his red chef coat bearing a something yummy for Christmas! It was hard to choose which image I wanted to work with but the black and white checker board digi paper included in this set helped make my decision! I love the crisp clean look of black and white, and of course I had to add a pop of red just because!!! A simple layout, keeping Freddy the star attraction. Be sure and take a look at all the cute stuff just released at Imagine That. You're gonna love 'em all!!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Counting down the days till vacation (we leave Sunday!!). But in the meantime, I have a ton of cards and posts to get done!!! This one is for day #4 at the Catch the Bug Christmas in July celebration. It was a recipe challenge - 3 embellishments (I used 3 brads), 2 pattern papers (yep, and they're from my scrap pile!) and one ribbon/twine. The image I used is from Bugaboo, AKV Santa Sled.  Gotta keep 'em quick and easy so I get done! Off to exercise, shower, then hit the stamp room again!

Sweet Christmas in July

Happy Wednesday!! Next week I'll be posting from the beach...HOORAY!!! This week's sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 is fabulous, sure hope you can give it a try. 

Our sponsor this week is the wonderful Digi Stamp Boutique. There are so many adorable images there, so take some time and do a little shopping!!  

Because it's July, I had to do a Christmas card!! With vacation just around the corner, I went with a pre-colored Christmas digi too -- the Cute Reindeer Set. And how cute are they?!!! Did you notice something else with my card? NO PATTERN PAPER!!!!! Yikes, what's this world coming to?!!!!!! Join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 for your chance at some Digi Stamp Boutique goodness.  

I'm submitting my card to the Customer Competition found HERE at the Digi Stamp Boutique blog.

Christmas in July Color Challenge

Day 3 of the Christmas in July week of challenges at Catch the Bug finds us with a color challenge. Nothing about these colors together screams Christmas...perfect for me!!! I love the non-traditional colors!!

And here's my card, using from Bugaboo the adorable Lil Snowman Star. Don't you just love his big ol' grin?!! Well on to work on more cards!! Should I call in sick tonight from work?!!!!! That extra time sure would help!! Hahaha!!
 

Christmas in July Sketch

If you're looking for my Fresh Brewed Designs blog hop card, please scroll down.
I'm still pluggin' away at the Christmas in July challenges going on at Catch the Bug. Of course I'm behind, but determined to finish. Here's the sketch from Sunday, and you know I could never pass up a sketch!!!

I used a Bugaboo image, Snowman Block. I couldn't find an image that made me happy so I purchased this one...along with a few others!!! Well when the store's 50% off, why not!!

Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Blog Hop.  Recently, we learned that Mrs. Debbie Lynch, the beautiful and loving mother of Heather Dennis, owner of Fresh Brewed Designs, was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer.  As most of you may know, cancer related medical costs can be quite expensive, and Mrs. Debbie currently has no medical insurance, which makes the cost significantly higher.  Therefore, we have decided to help raise enough money to cover these medical expenses, as well as aftercare expenses, by creating a digi shop.  All the proceeds of the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop and the Fresh Brewed Designs Store will go directly to Mrs. Debbie to fund her lifesaving surgery and the aftercare necessary to bring her back to wellness.  Furthermore, Heather has created a Give Forward account to assist her mother.  If you would like to help, please stop by the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop, the Fresh Brewed Designs Store, and/or the Give Forward Account.  For those of you who are not able to contribute monetarily, we would love for you to add Mrs. Debbie to your prayer list.  If there is one thing we know, prayers can work miracles that money cannot and healing and wellness is what we are praying to receive. 

The hop launches today, Tuesday, July 14^th on the Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Blog, and will run until Tuesday, July 28^th @ 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  All participants can be found in the linkies section of this post on the Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Blog, and we would love to have you join us!  We do ask that you use a digi from the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop or the Fresh Brewed Designs Store, and the theme is Anything Goes, and you can enter as often as you would like.  Two prize packages will be awarded, one prize for a digi purchaser and one prize for a blog hop participant.  Winners will be chosen on Saturday, August 1^st.  The prizes will consist of stamps, papers, ribbon, embellishments, etc.; plus, some random prizes will be offered by some generous blog hop participants along the hop.

Thank you for dropping by and for helping us with our fundraising efforts; and again, we ask that you keep Mrs. Debbie in your prayers.  Have a wonderful Tuesday, crafty friends!  We look forward to admiring your creations! :)   

My card uses one of the adorable images and sentiment included in the fundraiser digi set found HERE at Fresh Brewed Designs. I couldn't resist these cute little bunnies!!

 

I Hear the Ice Cream Truck!!!

Say hello to Ice Cream Truck, the digi of the month from Deedee's Digis. I merged the little girl bear over top the ice cream truck for this fun scene. I love the bright green and blue and just so happened to have some scraps of those very colors!!! Lucky me! I'm playing along in the digi of the month challenge over at their blog HERE. By getting it done in time, always a challenge for me, I'll get next month's digi of the month free!!! HOORAY!!

Jingle all the Way

Yes, it's my third post for today, but I want to stay on track for the Christmas in July week going on at Catch the Bug. Yesterday's challenge was a theme challenge, Jingle all the Way. I used a Bugaboo image from the Mini Set - Christmas Tags. Wanted a different color scheme as well so the aqua and pink/burgundy with a touch of silver hit the mark. Simple layout so I can get my cards done...we leave for vacation next Sunday after all!!! Hope to see you later with day 2.
  

Have a Berry Great Day!

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge. A cupcake is provided to inspire creation of a card or project following the theme...and this one is a color theme. May I just say one thing, it is sooooooo cruel to see a picture of a yummy cupcake when you're dieting!! All I could do was stare at it...and dream!! 

I figured I'd go on the healthy side (is there such a thing when a cupcake is involved?!!!) and went with the raspberries, using the Doodle Pantry image Berry Nice Mice. Of course I used the color version of this cutie of a mouse as well as the raspberry digital paper included with this set. Hope you get a chance to play along in the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge, especially with some Doodle Pantry goodness up for grabs.

You're the Apple of my Eye

We're getting a little fruity this week for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz. I used a fun image from our sponsor, Deedee's Digis called Bushel of Blessings. I printed the color version of this image, rotating it so the apples were spilling out going to the right. Why does my eye see that as more pleasing? I'm sure scientists and researchers have an answer for that!!! Anyway, I then added a little shading with my copics and went with a very simple design. So simple it only took me 5 minutes to make the card once the little bit of coloring was done. Join us this week at The Outlawz for some fruity fun clean and simple style.
  

It's Snack Time!!

Why is it the instant you go on a diet, all you can think of is food?!!! And I mean bad for you but oh so yummy food!!! Yesterday I would have done just about anything for a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but I resisted. Do I feel good about myself because I did? Heck no!!!!! Hahahahaha!!

Okay, enough about that! I wanted to share with you my card using the newly released digi from Fresh Brewed Designs called Snack Time. This girl is set for a night of watching her favorite movies!! It also serves as a reminder of the challenge going on this week over at the Fresh Brewed Blog...ice cream. Hope you can join us.
  

Sweet Treats

It's time for a little Christmas in July over at Imagine That with this really sweet digi of the month, Treat Stand. YUM!!! Purchase this digi, create and link it up HERE. Then sit patiently by your email at the beginning of next month because you'll receive August's digi of the month set FREE!!! I love it when I get those new images to play with!! It definitely feels like Christmas every month!!
 

You Make Me So Happy

We've got a new sketch for you to try out at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. I know I say this every week, but this one sure is a winner!!!  

And our wonderful sponsor is the lovely Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs. She is a dearand very generous friend. Take a moment to browse through her store, I'm sure you'll find a must have...or two or three!!!  

I used the lovely Mermaid in Love image, coloring her up with my copics and adding shimmer with my wink of stella pen. Aqua and coral is my latest favorite color combination, perfect for under the sea images. Now I sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 for your chance at some Fresh Brewed Designs goodness. 

Winter Wonderland

We have a new challenge for you over at Holly Jolly Christmas, Winter Wonderland. I am all in when it comes to keeping it quick and easy...and that's exactly what this card was!! The background is from Eureka, one of our sponsors, and is called Snow Background. I simply changed it up to blue before printing it off. Then I die cut it out and added a few more die cuts and a sentiment. Quick, easy and fun!! I sure hope you can join us for some Winter Wonderland fun at Holly Jolly Christmas.

Challenges I'm submitting my card to include:
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Snow or glitter 
 

Happy Day

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the Anything Goes challenge going on over at Craft Your Passion. When I started thinking about what image I would use for this challenge, I was a bit overwhelmed. The possibilities were endless!!! Then it hit me, make a birthday card for Mom...so here it is!! She loves pink and flowers. Okay, I used coral instead of pink but the flowers, from the Doodle Pantry set Jargon Mixes, were perfect. I sparkled up the water with my clear Wink of Stella pen and kept the rest very clean and simple. Sure hope you can join them at Craft Your Passion for their anything goes challenge. And if you use a digital image, be sure and submit it to our Ants in my Pantry challenge over at the Doodle Pantry Blog.
   

Life's a Beach

Two weeks from today we'll be leaving for our beach vacation!!! I love the sound of the waves crashing, it puts me in my happy place!! This week for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz, the beach is our theme. I used a sponsor image from Deedee's Digis called Life's a Beach. I chuckle every time I read this sentiment!!! The yellow paper behind the main image is of sun rays...too bad it doesn't show up better in this picture. Anyway, sure hope you can join us for our CAS beach challenge over at The Outlawz.

Sweet Birthday

What a sweetie of a mouse!!! This is one of the newly released sets over at Imagine That! You really need to check 'em all out...they are all so fabulous and fun!!!!! This one is Chloe's Mixer. I couldn't wait to print this one up 'cause I love, love, love the sweet cherry paper that comes with it!!! Her mixer reminds me of the pretty one The Pioneer Woman has on Food Network!! I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps...love the ability to show off that wonderful cherry paper!!

July's digi of the month has been revealed...it's called Treat Stand. Fabulous for getting started on some Christmas cards!! Play along in the progressive challenge on the Imagine That blog HERE and you'll receive next month's stamp set free!! How fun!!!
  

Play Ball

It's the first day of the month so that means a new Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge over at the Doodle Pantry Blog. The theme is anything goes so lots of fun is to be had, and best of all, some Doodle Pantry goodness is up for grabs!! I've been in the patriotic mood so I used the Stars & Stripes Paper Pack along with Baseball Birdie. Picking the paper actually came first, and, for some reason, this paper made me think baseball. A quick card, thanks to the color version of so many of Doodle Pantry's images. Hope you can join us for our Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge.

Challenges I'm submitting my card to include:
Tuesday Throwdown - It's in the Stars 
Cards in Envy - Red, White, Blue 
Eureka Stamps - Red, White, Blue
Come and Get It - Cute Cards
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes with Red, White & Blue
QKR Stampede - Patriotic

Sweet Happy Birthday

Check out our latest sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Yet another fun one!

Speaking of fun, our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps. With so many fun digital images to pick from, you'll have a tough time narrowing down the field!

 Here's my card, using the super sweet BBrat Girl Balloon Sitter. I think she is so adorable and perfect for a birthday card. Pair it with this fabulous sketch and you can't go wrong! Sure hope you can join us here at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.