Season's Greetings

How did I miss the post about OWH's Labor Day Weekend Virtual Card Making Party?! The always have such fun challenges and this one sure was. Challenge #1 was to create a winter or Christmas themed card using the above sketch. How fabulous since I LOVE sketches!!

And here's my card, punching out my inchies from an older paper pack from Cosmo Cricket called Mitten Weather. I sponged the edges with some kraft ink I just got in the mail today from Gina K Designs. I wanted a small pop of color, and the idea of the snowflake was born!! A small brad to hold it in place and a little bit of stitching and my card is complete. Oh, and the sentiment is by Paper Smooches. Now let's see if I can get another challenge done before heading off to bed.

Just Saying Hello

I've had this adorable Doodle Pantry image, Picnic Ants, printed off for awhile now (this is the color version) so why not put it to use!! I have to admit to an oops moment though, the digital papers I used here do not come with this set, they actually belong to a freebie called Apple Ants & Wormy. Seems I got my papers mixed up with each other, but, oh well, because they still look great with this ant set!! I'm just showing off the versatility!!! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

A few challenges I'd like to submit this card to include:
Get Inky! - Bugs
Parade Your Crafts - Picnic 
Digi Sketch Challenge - Sketch (oops, seems I didn't read this challenge, I only did the sketch portion. My apologizes).

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Today is the first day of school for Kevin!! And I have my orthopedic appointment too, finally. I had hurt my knee two weeks ago and this is the first I've been able to get it looked at! All I can say is, if surgery is required, I'd better be put on the fast track to getting it done and healed because, after all, I have a trip to Disney planned!!!! Another hooray is for our blast from the past sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. It's a fun one, that's for sure.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is the one and only Bugaboo Stamps. I so love these images! I have so many and each one is my favorite! Our winner will receive 7 digi stamps of their very own. The hardest part is narrowing it down to just 7!!!

Here's my card using our fabulous sketch along with the darling Kidz Girl and Flowers image. My colors were inspired by the photo for the challenge over at Catch the Bug. I plan on submitting my card to their challenge! After all, there's a chance of winning MORE Bugaboo stamps!!!

Here's that photo:

Now I sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. We always love to see what you create!

Back to School

Actually, tomorrow I can truly say my kids are back to school!!! Phillip is enjoying college life. He has done laundry already...I'm shocked!!! And Kevin goes back tomorrow to the same classroom, teacher and aide. He will have a new speech therapist for a few months till she's off on maternity leave, then our absolute favorite one from two years ago will replace her...she is such a blessing!!

It celebration of the happy occasion, I made a back to school card using the fabulous Fresh Brewed Designs image Best Teacher. The twill ribbon sentiment came from an embellishment pack I had in my stash meant for scrapbooking. Hey, it works on a card too! I kept it simple otherwise, letting the fun papers (Life of the Party by Basic Grey) speak for themselves.

Here are some challenges I'd like to submit my card to:
Love to Create - Back to school
Melonheadz Friends - Back to school
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - School  
Basic Grey - Back to school

Lemons & Blueberries

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the Incy Wincy Designs challenge this week - create an Artist Trading Card. Now I must admit, I've never created one of these so I had to look up directions for the size (2.5" x 3.5"). And of course I couldn't make just one!! I used the newly released set Lemons & Blueberries so I needed to create with one of each! These adorable little things can now be used on a card with ease...how fun!! Play along for a chance at some Doodle Pantry goodness.

Hang in There

Doesn't this squirrel just make you laugh?!! He is from the Paper Smooches stamp set called Hang Ups. This card is for our Clean & Simple challenge over at The Outlawz - create a CAS card to lift someone's spirits. I paper pieced this guy, coloring in his eyes with a Picket Fence distress marker. My initial plan to use cloud background paper had to be switched when I cut my one and only piece incorrectly!! I know, measure twice, cut once!!! The paper pack I was using had this fun star paper so I used it and I think it looks fine. Please join us for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz and lift someone's spirits with a fun card!!
 

Back to School

Well it seems with everything going on around here, I totally forgot to post my card for today!! I wanted to remind you of our School Time challenge going on for another week at Clearly iStamp. I used the adorable Bookworms set from Clearly Digi Stamps. Not being a purple fan, I ask myself, whatever made you go with this color? Who knows, but it sure is cute, right?!! I hope you can join us for our School Time challenge over at Clearly iStamp. 'Tis the season!!
  

Ahoy There!

Ahoy there and happy Wednesday. As always, I'm so glad to see all the wonderful creations at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. It's time for a new sketch and it's another goodie!

Digi Stamp Boutique is our sponsor - THANKS SALLY ANN!!! She sponsors us every month...how fabulous is that?!!! Be sure and check out the store for some fun and fabulous images.

For my card I used the sweetie Pirate Joe. I used my Copic markers on him then searched for some scrap dsp that would work - can you believe I actually found some?!! Now I hope you can find some time to join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.
 

Hugs to You!

Okay, this may be my quickest post ever!!! I need to get back to packing up Phillip, he moves in to his dorm today - YIKES, when did he become a college boy?!!! Anyway, since I'm all emotional, thought I would create something with this sweet image from Fresh Brewed Designs called It's Raining Love. Wish me luck today!!!

The Last Days of Summer Vacation

I need to get myself to bed, but not before I post this fun, fun card I made for the Catch the Bug August Bingo Challenge. My items are Bugaboo image ( I used Beach Peeker), Sewing and Pearls. The sketch is the latest at OWH's Stars & Stamps. I used glossy accents on this boy's sunglasses, always love that affect. I also want to submit this card to the stitching challenge at 613 Avenue Create. Even though summer is winding down, I still wish we were at the beach!

Meow

Welcome to our monthly blog hop sponsored by Clearly Digi Stamps. You should have arrived here from Dana's blog. If not, please go back to the beginning at Clearly iStamp so you don't miss out on anything. Our theme this month is CATS vs DOGS. How fun!! I do love 'em both, but since I have two of my own (they're laying at my feet at this very moment!), I went with cats. The digital set I used from Clearly Digi Stamps is called Kitties & Things and can be found HERE. Now be sure and comment for your chance to win this set. Check back on Thursday to see if you are my winner. If you comment on all the blogs from today's hop, you are also in the running to win the set those ladies used. I am the last stop on our short hop today, so be sure and leave a little love as well as your email address so we have a way of getting in touch with you. Enjoy the rest of your day.
 

Time

I wanted to post a little early tonight to tell you about our latest CAS challenge over at The Outlawz -  include a timepiece on your card. I had recently purchased this stamp set called Time from Gina K. Designs and wanted to get it inky. So simple with a strip of paper, a piece of washi tape, and some linen thread are the only real "embellishments." I also rounded two of the main image corners as well as sponged the edges. All this on a kraft card base. So fun and so quick to make...it could have been quicker if I had turned off the TV in my craft room. I get so involved watching it that I forget what I was creating!! So take some "time" this week and join us for our clean and simple challenge over at The Outlawz.
 

Enjoy the Simple Things

YUM! Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the challenge over at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards and their theme is food. Like I said, YUM!! I used this sweet image from Apple Snack, a pre-colored digi and digital papers that are simply irresistible. Something quick and easy to create...thank goodness for all the crazy things happening here!! Hope you can join them at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards for their food challenge and your chance to win some Doodle Pantry images. 

New Release

Oh bother, what a crazy day. Here it is, well past midnight, and I just realized I never posted my cards for today's digi release over at Clearly Digi Stamps!! So let's get started...first up is Hoppy Frogs. I simply couldn't resist these adorable guys with their devilish grins. I used some of the digital papers also found in this set.

This cutie belongs to the set Berry Hedgehog as do the digital papers. The blueberries I've been buying have been soooooo good this summer. I have yet to bake with 'em though as they all get eaten up before then!

And my final card shows off the set Thinking of You. This time I didn't use the digital papers but hit up that ever growing scrap pile that I've been trying with all my might to eliminate - it's not working!!

All three sets are so fun and versatile. To check out all the newly released digital set, go to the CDS blog Clearly iStamp. Tomorrow you will see a new challenge posted as well our monthly blog hop on Sunday.
  

  

Hooray, It's Wednesday!!!

And because it's hump day, it means we have a new challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I love the layers on this one. Perfect for those 4.25" square cards I love to make.

Our sponsor this week is Deidre Mosher Designs. Such a fun shop!! Take a moment and look around. The winner this week will receive a prize of a $10 gift certificate...how fabulous!!!

And here's my card, using the wonderful Lighthouse image. Going to the Outer Banks for vacation every summer, I'm partial to lighthouses. I actually printed the image off twice, cutting one out and popping it up with dimensionals. And did you notice, no designer paper!!! What is up with that?!!! Something fun for a change. Now I hope you can find time out of your crazy schedule to join us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday for another wonderful challenge.

Go Team

Yesterday I shared a picture of Kevin helping me out in my craft room, and today I had to show you my kitty. This is Moonstruck, adopted years ago from the shelter and the only other female in our house. She is my constant companion, reminding me to slow down and share a little love with a pet or two. And she knows I will always pet her before chasing her off my paper cutter (and that's just a portion of the paper scraps I have and claim I want to use up!!!).

She was there with me while I worked on this card, using the Fresh Brewed Designs rubber stamp Football Girl. Of course I had to make it in Steeler colors 'cause I love my black and gold!! Brian and Phillip actually were at their pre-season game on Saturday...what fun they had. I am so ready for some football!!

School Bus

I had to share a picture of my helper Kevin. Yes, he's in my craft room standing over me, watching every move I make. He's so funny!!

I wanted to let you know about the Back to School sale going on now thru August 18th at Doodle Pantry... ALL PRODUCTS ARE 35% OFF!! This excludes gift certificates and a $3 minimum is required. Use the code BACK2SCHOOL at checkout to apply discount.

In honor of the sale, I made this card, using the set School Bus. Of course I used the color version along with the digital papers also included in this set. We already know this will be the final year for Kevin's school bus driver. So for once in my life, I'm ahead of the game and have a card made for her! She really takes good care of him.

Even though it's Monday, enjoy your today. Not much longer and the kids will be in school...HOORAY!!!
 

Primary Colors

Welcome to a Clean & Simple Sunday. The Outlawz challenge this week is another fun one - use primary colors of yellow/red/blue. Since I had my Days of Summer Stamp TV kit from Gina K still on my desk from yesterday, I figured I'd use it again. I love the bold fish stamp and the blue bubble paper. Perfect for a fishy themed card. Sure hope you can join us for another fun CAS challenge at The Outlawz. 

Sweet & Simple

It's Saturday, and a sunny one with low humidity at that. I wanted to show you a quick card I made last night for the Mix it up Monday Challenge over at Stamp TV. The theme is Sweet & Simple Summer - each element should be represented in your creation. My SWEET is the yummy strawberries, from the "You're the Sweetest" set found in the Days of Summer kit. This card definitely is "simple," and really quick and easy to make! And SUMMER means yummy seasonal fruit like strawberries. My papers and inks are all by Gina K Designs. I love her products, talk about quality. Now I might have to make a few more of these cards using the other fruits from the stamp set.

Enjoy your today. I'm off to hang up some laundry, get a shower, then head off to work. Things never slow down on the weekends. Hubby and Phillip are going to the Steelers' pre-season football game today - how come I didn't get a ticket???!!!
  

Lift the Person Before You

We have a fun challenge going on over at Clearly iStamp - Lift the Person Before You. The person I got lift is fellow CDS DT member Kathy Dunnegan. I loved this card of Kathy's for it's wonderful layout, showing off the image and beautiful papers.

And here's my card, casing her layout completely! I used from Clearly Digi Stamps the set Seashells. I wanted to keep it monochromatic so shades of brown it is. The designer paper was a piece of scrap that I sponged caramel ink along the edges. A fun and fabulous challenge, I sure hope you can join us.  

Mister Monkey

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the sketch challenge at Operation Write Home this week. It's a fun sketch, great way to use up designer papers. I used Doodle Pantry's Mister Monkey in the color version along with the digital papers from the set. Just a fun card of encouragement.

Phillip's all excited, his computer for college is scheduled to be delivered today. He and Dad researched all their options and decided on a Mac. He has a week and a half to learn how to use it then off he goes. How fabulous for him, our college bound boy!!

A Trip to the Beach

Okay, so I'm not taking a trip to the beach, but I am sharing with you our latest month long prize challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog - a Beach/Ocean & Glitter theme. I decided to use the newly released My Island digital image. I found some perfect tropical papers in my scrap bin -- love the yellows and blues. I added glitter to the sun and water plus the brads are already sparkled up! So fun and fabulous! Join us this month for our Beach/Ocean/Glitter challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog.   

Sweet Silly Cat

It's Wednesday -- HOORAY!!! Two reasons for my excitement: it's getting closer to the weekend and we have a new challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. It sure is a fun one!!!

And speaking of fun and fabulous, our wonderful sponsor this week is Stamp Fairy. Do check out their store, it is so full of whimsical images, you can't help but want 'em all!!

The prize this week is a $10 gift certificate from the store at Stamp Fairy.

I had a hard time deciding on an image, they are all so cute. I ended up going with this sweet thing from Sticky Cats 1. Hehe, I hope there will be a Sticky Cats 2 & 3!!! Anyway, I used copic markers on this guy, trying to add some subtle stripes on this tabby. The papers are from My Mind's Eye in great blues, mustards and grays. And that brad is from a pack I've had forever...so nice to finally put it to good use. Join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. 

Relax

Relax, that's one of the newly released digital images from Fresh Brewed Designs. I can totally picture being at the beach, listening to the crashing waves, soaking up the sun...and loving every minute of it!!! It's hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. School starts up at the end of the month. Phillip will be heading off to college in two weeks...YIKES!!! He is so excited, and I am so proud of him. So much so, I just booked a four day trip for he and I over Thanksgiving to Disney World!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I hope you get a chance to "relax" today, maybe even make it into your craft room. I am so far behind on my design team cards, but I got a lot done on Saturday at my scrapbooking event. It started at 9am and was scheduled to go till midnight...I made it to 10:30. But I got 8 two page layouts completely done and a mini album, all with pictures too! I was so pleased! Now I wonder why I'm behind on my cards!!

Birthday Card

Birthday is our clean and simple challenge theme over at The Outlawz this week. Once again I put my die cuts to work. The border, banner, and stamp set are all from Simon Says Stamp. Initially I put the pink panel on an ivory card base but boy did it look washed out. Once I layered the pink to the ivory then back onto the pink as a card base, the light bulb exploded and I knew I liked that much better. Just some linen thread for an embellishment and I was done. Join us this week over at The Outlawz for some birthday fun.  

Office Chatter

Happy August 1st. Can you believe it, August is here already! YIKES! Not long now and the kids will be back to school -- HOORAY!!! Another big shout out for the first of the month because it's Doodle Pantry's new digital release. Talk about some super fabulous images!! You are going to want 'em all!!! I get to share with you two cards I made using the new set Office Chatter. A must have set for all your work mates. This sentiment made me giggle, so I had to pair it with Beaver Hello. But in this case, I pictured him waving good-bye.

I made a second set of card, using the "You're the Best" sentiment from Office Chatter and the image from Pen & Ink. A super simple card, merging the two elements then adding a little sewing a linen thread for a bit of pop. Quick and easy, that's for sure.

There's lots going on at Doodle Pantry this month:
- 25% off the entire store
- Magnolia is free with purchase now until August 24th  
- Apple Ants & Wormy is the latest freebie
- Pumpkin Peeps can be yours free just for playing along in our Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge. You can also purchase this adorable set.

Enjoy looking at all the wonderful newly released sets this month. I can't wait to play with 'em all!!