Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! This is just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy Halloween. I worked all day today, and tomorrow I'm off to Chicago to visit my daughter for a few days. When I get back, I'll be sure to visit all your blogs, but for now, I'm exhausted and I'm hearing my bed calling my name. LOL!

This is my last Halloween card I'll post this year. Sniff, sniff. I made it for the Crafty Secrets Challenge on Paper Craft Planet where we were to use the color Orange on our card.

I hope you had a Spooktacular day! Amy

A Fairy Special Card

Yeah! I'm able to post again this week! LOL! I actually have a rare window of opportunity open before I have to run off again, so I'm using this time to post an old featured stamper challenge. Yesterday I spent 8 hours in a car. Ugh! And the worst part is, I have to do it again today. My son was accepted into the Wisconsin State Honors Orchestra, so I had to drive 4 hours to Madison yesterday for a rehearsal, then 4 hours back. Today is the concert, so I have to go all the way back. I would have normally stayed in a hotel, but my husband wanted to go to the concert tonight, so I had to come back to get him. Anyone that knows me knows how much I hate to travel in a car. I just hate sitting that long, plus I always get 'icky feeling'. I don't get car sick, but more of a 'foggy, groggy sick'. LOL! Does that make any sense? Then, on top of all this, I have to drive 6 hours to see my daughter in Chicago this weekend. But at least I get to stay in a hotel this time. Oh my goodness, how will I ever survive the 12 hour flight to Italy in a few weeks! LOL!

Anyway, onto my card. This card was made for FS140 a few weeks ago. The Featured Stamper was Glowbug. I was so excited to see someone I knew (in blogland, not real life LOL!) being chosen as the Featured Stamper. I chose THIS CARD because I had downloaded the image a long time ago but never used it, so I thought, now was a good time. LOL! I tell you, I always knew Glowbug was a very detailed stamper, but I never realized HOW DETAILED until I tried replicating one of her cards! It took me forever to do this card! And I even eliminated the paper piecing! The image is a digital image from Inky Impressions. The photo corners are a Sizzix Die, and the Butterfly is a Cuttlebug Die. The paper is Cosmo Cricket. The Fairy is mounted up on dimensionals and there is Stickles on the butterfly and the fairie's wings. Here is a close up to see the detail.

Have a great day! I know I won't. Except for the concert part of my day. LOL! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge: 'A Color Challenge'

Before I begin with today's Digital Tuesday Challenge, I'd like to apologize for not posting for an ENTIRE WEEK! I know, I know, that's unheard of me, I usually post every day, but I'm afraid it might be this way for the next couple of months. As most of you already know, I'm in retail, and this is a very busy time of the year for us. I'm working about 6 days a week , and I am completely exhausted and stressed already, and its not even Halloween yet! LOL! Plus, I'm traveling a lot. My son is a senior in high school, and is in the process of auditioning for college music programs...so I'm carting him from one university to another as we try and find the best school for him. I also plan on visiting my daughter in Chicago in November, before I head for a 10 day trip to Italy. Yes, you heard right, Italy!!!! I am so excited. I plan to take lots of pictures and document all the artistic details of my adventures in Italy with you when I got back. In the mean time, I will post when I can, but if I only post the Digital Tuesday Challenge once a week, you will understand why.

Now, onto the Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is a Color Challenge. Simply use the colors Orange, Kraft, and one other color of your choice with a Digital Image. Our sponsor this week is our very own Digital Stamp Oasis. They are giving away Three Digital Images to one lucky randomly chosen winner.

To make my card, I used the Digital Stamp Oasis image 'Bestest Buddies'. Isn't this the cutest image ever? What a perfect image to use for boys cards. The sentiment is a stamp from Sweet and Sassy Stamps that I thought just fit the image perfectly. I used a very wide twill tape behind my image, and attached a clip, ribbon, and a bone embellie. I also added white dots around the edge of the card with a gel pen. If you'd like to play along with us, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you to the challenge site with further instructions. If you'd like to purchase this adorable image, simply click on the Digital Stamp Oasis blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you to the etsy store.

Have a great day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge: "Things with Wings"

Hi and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is "Things with Wings". Simply make a card or project using a digital image that has wings! It could be a butterfly, bird, insects, and airplane...well, just about anything, as long as it has wings! How fun is that?

Our sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs, and they are giving away 4 digis to one lucky randomly chosen winner.

For my card, I used an image from Digital Stamp Oasis called 'Flying High'. Isn't it just the most adorable image for a little boy's card? I love the vintage airplane. My sentiment says 'Flying by with a birthday Hi!' and is computer generated. The paper is by K & Company, and I made the stars using a Cuttlebug Die. The card stock colors are Pumpkin Pie, Natural Ivory, White, , Almost Amethyst, and Bordering Blue.

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site where there are further instructions. If you'd like to purchase this adorable 'Flying High' image, simply click on the Digital Stamp Oasis blinkie in my sidebar, and it will take you directly to the etsy store.

Have a great day! Amy

September Christmas Cards

First of all, I just want to mention that Fiona, of the blog 'Strawberry Fields' is celebrating her 1st year Blogaversary this week, so get on over there and wish her some love and enter in a chance to win some BLOG CANDY!

Now, onto my Christmas Cards, I know its October, not September, but I just finished last month's Christmas Card challenge now. But the good news is, I have ONE card done for October already! LOL! I make 5 Christmas Cards a month so I'll have 60 cards by the end of the year. I've already shown you one of September's Christmas Cards in last week's Digital Tuesday Challenge Post, so now I only have to show you the remaining four.

The first one uses a retired Stampin Up! image. I received the image from an on-line friend, so I don't know the name. I actually made this card for a Caardvarks Challenge from August where we had to use black, white, and hot pink on our cards. I don't know why I ever bother to play the Caardvarks Challenges. I never win them. They only like really weird cards, and I'm too much of a traditionalist. LOL! Anyhow, to make my card, I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the white card stock, the lower part is unknown designer paper,and I mounted the main image up on dimensionals. The ribbon is actually velvet and is so pretty in real life. My second card was made for a sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The designer paper is Cosmo Cricket. The image is 'Jolly Follies' by Penny Black. I put a 'puff' on the mouse's hat and added stickles where the snow is. The snowflakes are Cuttlebug Die Cuts.

My third card was also made for a SCS sketch challenge. The paper is also Cosmo Cricket and the image is from the same Penny Black 'Jolly Follies' set. It just has the CUTEST images in it! I left off the sentiment because it already said 'Seasons Greetings' on the ribbon.

And my last card I made for last week's sketch challenge on Paper Craft Planet. This image is from Just Rite and the papers are also from Cosmo Cricket. I put liquid applique on all the fur of the snow men's hat and coats.
Well its only October 15 and its already snowed twice here in Northern Wisconsin. Thank goodness I'm leaving for Italy in a few weeks for a vacation. I read that its in the 50's and 60's there. Maybe I'll warm up a little. LOL! Have a good day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Boo!'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge! This week I'm the hostess, and since the fabulous Dustin Pike is the sponsor, and Halloween is approaching, I decided to have everyone make a card or project for Halloween. Dustin Pike has so many fabulous dragon and other creature images to use for Halloween, and he even has some great Halloween images. In fact, the image I used for my card today, "Pumpkin Bear" was a freebie on Dustin's Blog several weeks ago.

To make my card, I printed the image twice, colored it with Copic Markers, and then cut out and popped the pumpkin parts up on dimensionals. The paper is all DCWV 'The Fall Mat Stack', and the card stock colors are Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Ruby Red, and Really Rust. I added clips, ribbon, and a pumpkin button from JoAnn's for embellishment. Here is a close up so you can see the coloring and the dimension. Isn't this the cutest image ever? I love cute Halloween images and not scary ones.

If you'd like to play along with us this week simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my side bar and it will take you to the Challenge Site with further instructions. One randomly chosen winner will receive THREE digital images from Dustin Pike.

Have a great day! Amy

Teen Boy Cards

One of my ministry's at the church I attend is to send hand made birthday cards to every member of the church. Don't worry, its a very small church, so its not as overwhelming as it may seem. LOL! But I do have to send cards to every age group and sex, and teen boy cards are probably the most difficult ones for me to do. So I was very happy when Stampin Up! came up with these 'Extreme' teen images. I think I bought every one.

My first card uses the 'Extreme Skateboard' image. The designer paper is Cosmo Cricket ''The Boyfriend". I just love the graphics in that paper pad. The image is mounted up on dimensionals, and the sentiment is from MFT 'The Poppies'. My second card is actually a case from a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers. I've lost the link, but I believe the artist's name is Gretchen Belknap. The layout is pretty much the same on my card, but I changed the papers and added extra stars. My paper is from DCWV 'The Rock Star' stack...another paper pad I love for teenagers! The stars are a Cuttlebug Die. And this image is also mounted up on dimensionals and is called 'Extreme Guitar'.

Now, if only SU! came out with a 'Extreme Drummer' stamp. That would have been perfect for my son since he is a percussionist.

Have a great day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge: "Music to My Ears"

Hello! Its Tuesday again, and time for another Digital Tuesday Challenge. Today's challenge is 'Music to My Ears'. Well, coming from a family of musicians, this challenge was right up my alley! All you have to do to play along is create a card or project that is music-theme related using at least one digital image on your card. This week's challenge is sponsored by The Little Yellow Company and they are giving away one download set of the randomly chosen winner's choice.

For my card today, I actually used an Christmas Image from Angel's Landing, because I still haven't finished my September Christmas Cards. This is the first time all year I haven't been able to meet my required number of Christmas Cards on time. I'm so disappointed in myself, but I have been extraordinarily busy with work. This is a really neat set because it comes with the animal images as 'whole images' or with their arms and legs separate so you can add brads and move them. I popped this little raccoon up on dimensionals just on his body so the recipient can still move his arms and legs.

The paper is Cosmo Cricket 'Jolly by Golly' and I added ribbon and a music brad for embellishment. If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my side bar and it will take you directly to the challenge site with further instructions.

Have a great day! Amy

Halloween Treat Bags

Every holiday I make little treat bags to sell at the local consignment store. But since its Halloween, and I only get a handful of trick or treaters where I live, I will also pass these out to the little monsters and goblins that come to my door.

Because I'm pressed for time these days, I kept them very simple. Just plain white card stock using the Sizzix Top note die for the background. If you are looking for inexpensive baggies, JoAnn's sells them the cheapest I've ever found, and in many different sizes too.

I staple the white card stock to the baggie once its filled with chocolate, then wrap a ribbon around it to hide the staple.

I used a variety of Halloween/Thanksgiving images. This one is retired Stampin Up! 'Festive Four'. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.
The pumpkin is a Cuttlebug Cut and Emboss die, the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

This turkey I found in a dollar bin at JoAnn's.

And this turkey and sentiment is also from Hero Arts.

I hope I have inspired you to make some treat bags for your own monsters and goblins who come knocking at your door this month. Have a great day! Amy

Yummy!

This week's sketch challenge was a difficult one, but I think I found a way to have it make more sense to me. I used an image that looks at the second image. Most of the stampers on SCS just used the same image twice, but for some reason, I didn't like the way that looked. Probably because it ignores the 'groups of threes' rule. I can see using the same image three times, but not just twice. So, I made this card. I also used this week's color challenges on SCS: Going Grey, Pretty in Pink and Sage Shadow. And, this card is also for this week's Crafty Secret's Challenge on SCS: have a hand-made fabric embellie on your card. I made this 'yo yo flower' out of a piece of old lace. I've never made one of these before, so it was something new to me. The images are from the Crafty Secrets 'Sweet Stuff' set and are colored with Copic Markers. I popped the little boy up on dimensionals. Would you believe I slept 11 hours and just woke up? I can't. That's so unlike me. But my body must have needed it. I only got 6 hours of sleep the night before because I had to wake up at 4:00 a.m. and unload a semi truck. Another girl was fired at work, and I had to fill in for her until they found a replacement. Even though I enjoyed doing something different for a change, being on the truck team on a regular basis is not something I would want to do. Mostly because of the 4:00 a.m. wake up call. LOL! Have a good day! Amy