Is it spring yet?

Card Cupids had a sketch challenge this week and I am finally finding time to participate.  I love to layer these flowers, they look so summery.  And I am so ready for summer!  Spring would be O.K.,also, LOL.

The black paper was left over from cutting a nestabilities die and the bottom was done with a Martha Stewart punch. 

One of the first things I am going to do when I get back home is make a light box. I am having an awful time getting good pictures.   Have a great Sunday!

entered at  Card Cupids:  sketch

Christmas Card

Did I just miss a whole year and it's Christmas time again? LOL  No, One Stitch At A Time has a Christmas Club which requires you to make one Christmas card each month and this is the week for this month.  So here is a cute, quick Christmas card.

I love this image from DigiStamp Boutique called Alex and Felicity_Xmas Kiss.

I am entering this at:

One Stitch At A Time:  Christmas Club

Happy Birthday !

Today is all about my sister.  It's her birthday!  So Happy Birthday to you!   I made a card just for you, (you knew I would, didn't you?) LOL   But before I show it to you, I'll tell you all a little story so you know the background for this picture.

I adore hats!  LOVE hats!   I'm sure you get the picture.  Unfortunately, hats do not like me.  There's not a style of hat on the face of this earth that looks good on me.  You'll just have to trust me on this, I've tried them all.  They make me look dumpy, frumpy; well, again, you get the picture.  And not a very pretty one at that.

My sister doesn't wear hats.  Not because she doesn't look good in them; she just doesn't wear them.

One day we were in the most delightful antique shop in Texas.  And they had hats.  And just for fun, my sister tried one on.  And me, with my ever ready camera, snapped a picture.  One lonely picture.

Mistake #1. Only took one picture
Mistake #2  Didn't check to make sure it was a good one; when I got home I found it was blurry.  But not to worry, photoshop to the rescue.  A little bit of filter work saved the day.

And now, a very special birthday card for a very special, FABULOUS sister.  Happy Birthday!

you will find the tutorial for this box with easel card at

Whiff of Joy.  tealight gift card by Jane Johnson

the hat is a digi stamp from Digi Doodle Shop

I will be entering this card in the following challenges

creative inspirations challenge:   birthday celebrations
alphabet challenge blog:  L is for ladies
suchins (wee memories):  free your creativity
one stitch at a time:  anything goes
pollycraft monday challenge:  black and white plus one color

Emma, More Than One Fold Card

I have always wanted to make a stair step card and Card Cupid gave me the push I needed.  Their challenge was to use more than one fold.  I used an image called 'Emma, blowing bubbles', from Fred, She Said. Such a cutie! 

                                    
added some Crystal stickles to the doily and used a gold glitter pen as highlights on her dress (I don't know if this will disqualify me for Crafty Cardmakers or not)

                                          and added some pearls

I will enter her in

Card Cupids challenge:  more than one fold

Really Reasonable Ribbon:  hearts and ribbon

One Stop Craft Challenge:  more than one fold

One Stitch at a Time:  anything goes

Crafty Cardmakers:  pencils  

Papertake Weekly Challenge:  ribbons and pearls

chuckle for the day

My sister was driving down a bumpy, country road with her 5 yr. old granddaughter. Out of the blue, her granddaughter said, "This road tickles my hiney." 

Card Cupids Card and Cuddle Package Events

A Card and Cuddle Package event is a great way to have fun and support the mission of Card Cupids at the same time! You can use this plan for birthday parties, Boy Scout or Girl Scout meetings, church out reach projects, craft events for seniors and so much more!

How cool is this?  My mind is spinning  with ideas!  This is something all of us can participate in, from the youngest to the oldest.

I love to color.  Years ago I would often stay with my grandmother during the summer (the idea was that I was to help her :) ). There was a young man living with her who was a slow learner but, oh, could he color!  He showed me different ways to use a crayon and how to layer colors.  I was totally fascinated by all the different effects he could get with a crayon. I think we spent most of the time with our coloring books.

Today I use colored pencils.  I've bought a few Copic markers but I'll need a lot more practice to be really comfortable with them. 

Card Cupids has an awesome challenge going on and here is how to win their blog candy:

 Create Valentine’s Cards for Card Cupids.

 Send in the cards you created to Card Cupids to be given to the children at The Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. For each card you send in, you will receive 1 entry. Be sure to include a note with your name, email address, and  blog address (if you have one)].  For this challenge, the cards will need to be received by January 17.  Please note that the actual deadline for Valentine’s cards is not until February 4.

Till next time.  Hugs

One Stitch At A Time Challenge and another valentine

Today I discovered One Stitch At A Time Challenge blog. They are giving out 5 prizes every week to those who put their birthday bash badge on their blog.  How generous is that!  They will be one year old on February 14.  Happy Birthday!

I also created another card for Card Cupids. This is Roary. Such a cutie!  I was fortunate enough to win him from Card Cupids and have loved using him for valentine cards.

Till next time, have a great day!

Using my new cuttlebug

My children showered me with some awesome crafting supplies at Christmas time.  When I opened the cuttlebug they told my husband, "This is going to cost you!"  LOL! 

That's what coupons are for, right?

Here I used the swiss dot embossing folder, Martha Stewart punch, and ribbon, some of my favorite embellishments.

Challenges I am entering:

really reasonable ribbon  use something new and ribbon
digital tuesday challenge  use all white except one image that may be colored
card cupids  use your favorite embellishment
one stitch at a time challenge   love and valentine
Tiddly Inks Challenge  make an all white card 
Going Buggy  make a card with a bug  US

Cards for Card Cupid

Today I created another card for Card Cupids.  I'll include their mission statement.

Card Cupids mission is to provide encouragement and joy by sending Card Cuddle Care Packages to children who are facing difficult challenges in their young lives regardless of their economic background.

I found this adorable little piggy, Hamilton, at DigiStamp Boutique which they have very generously offered as a freebie.

Isn't he cute?  I hope he brings a smile to someone.

paper:  colorbok pattern pack

Winter Paperbag Mini Album

I thought I would share a paperbag mini album that I created for our associate pastor's family for Christmas.  His wife's favorite color is purple and I was thrilled to find DCWV's Christmas Combo Pack.  It was just what I needed.  Here is the cover

I wasn't intending to put these pictures on a blog when I took them, so please forgive the quality but I was pleased with the books considering they were the first mini books I made.  I know they're not nearly as fantastic as some others I've seen but I'm hopeful I'll get better!

I used manilla folders to make the tags for the pockets; this one includes a Martha Stewart heart punch.

A petal card on one of the tags



                                                     A trifold card

                                 

                                               and a slider card; love making these!

The cute little nativity scene is a digital stamp  from Digi Stamp Boutique. The theme of the book was God's gifts and there were lots of little vellum envelopes with specific Bible verses of His gifts. 

Next time I'll share the book I made for our pastor.  I hope you'll be inspired to make your own.  They are so much fun to make and you can find lots of tutorials on Youtube or just Google it.  If I can make them, anyone can!

Amazing!

I think I've just set a record for myself!  I made a New Year's Resolution and kept it!  Start a blog.  So now I am looking forward to meeting many new friends and hope you will join me on this new journey. 

One of the things I hope to do is use my crafting to bring a smile to someone who needs one.  And that's why I'm starting this blog with a valentine card for Card Cupids.  The image is a digital stamp from Mabelle R.O. at Crafter's Digital Art Center; the heart background is part of a digital stamp from Stef Hughes also at CDAC.  Isn't this the most adorable turtle?  And the hearts are the perfect background for a valentine card.  Thank you so much ladies, you're awesome!

I'll enter this card in Card Cupids valentine card challenge.  They have some FANTASTIC blog candy they are giving away!  The prize package consists of Cricut Fun Volume 2, 8 Pearl Pens, Mini Monogram Cricut Cartridge, 6 exclusive Card Cupids Digi Stamps and an exclusive Card Cupids Tote.  Like I said, "FANTASTIC!" 

All you need to do for a chance to win is create some valentine cards and post about it on your blog. So head on over to Card Cupids, check out the details, and help spread the word.

You can give a smile.