I Love Halloween!

Art Impressions has a new challenge on their blog. They want to see Holiday stuff: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hannukah or some combination of all of these. Naturally I went with Halloween. It's closest holiday (just decorated yesterday) and one of my favorites anyway. 

I'm using the AI sets: Old Bat and Fright Night. I made adult cards but hey, adults can enjoy the fun of Halloween too (or at least that's what I tell myself as I consume more than my fair share of the chocolate that we buy for the Trick or Treaters) Sooo worth the extra shots of juice that I have to take for them ... dog gone Diabetes.

I made my second card a shaker. It has been so long since I've made one that I actually had to relearn the ins-and-outs of how to do it. Ugh. I should probably make the effort more often.

Tropical, Baby!!

 

Sadly this is about as "tropical" as I've gotten lately. Sigh. Covid is seriously cramping my style. Art Impressions wanted to see a new creation to satisfy their new challenge "Tropical Treat" but if we didn't have the tropical part, they would be satisfied with something that had: "sun, sand, sea or summer" on it. Soooo since I can't do the real thing anytime soon, I created this card

I used Blanche and then cut off her legs so she could be in the water. Of course I gave her a buddy, drinking a margarita on the shore (because really ... is there a point to going to the ocean without a sister or bestie?!!)

BTW: I Love Coffee

Art Impressions is challenging us to create cards with a Coffee theme.  It was pretty easy for me to join in.  I made this first one today with AI stamps but I have soo many other stamps with just that same theme. I'm trying to dig out the mess that is my desk so I'm finishing up some  of my half done projects.

This next card has been sitting on my desk for about a year ... half done. There is a tiny bit of schmutz up on top; it's probably finger oil. Sigh, but it's too cute not to finish it anyway.  I'll send it to someone who won't care!

Now I am down to just 13 cards to finish.

I don't even want to think about how many sewing projects that I haven't finished.

Still Stuck At Home ... (sigh)

I love to craft.

But after a week of being trapped at home with construction workers ... I am ready to do something else. Even a trip to Walmart sounds fantastic! On the bright side, I'm completely caught up on the vacuuming and laundry.

So with my extra crafting time, I thought that I would work on using every single stamp that I own that has never seen ink (sadly, I have a bunch of those!)  This is Fanny from Art Impressions.  She is from their "Front and Back" collection.  After playing with this type of card, I think I may need to get a friend for her to gossip with ... maybe Violet or Guido. The sentiment is Eat, Sleep, Craft by Echo Park.

I learned quite a bit making this card. One, I usually make my insides with cheap paper (ironically from Walmart!) but I found that I can't use this paper with these type of cards because they require additional stamping. When I tried to use my Distressed Oxide inks to make the sky, it didn't blend. I actually ruined 2 of my sponges before I realized that bits of the paper were rolling off and the colors were STILL not blending. Also, this is a SUPER heavy card with all the layering of papers. Next time I will need to make the base out of heavier paper.

Overall, I like how the card turned out.

Here is the matching envie required by the Art Impression challenge ... after spending so much time on the card, I may have skimped a bit on the envelope!

Get Well Soon Ali

So one of my hubby's co-workers was jogging and ... was hit by a car!!  Not only was his collar bone broken, but the driver managed to park the car (when he finally stopped) ON Ali's foot. Big ouch. I needed a get well soon card ASAP

The sketch over on the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge fit the stamps I wanted to use (tho I did I have to move the sentiment to the other side so I wouldn't cover the cute broken tail on my doggie.  I'm using the Art Impressions set Doggy Kisses.

Art Impressions wanted to see an envelope decorated to match the card.  It's harder than it sounds because the copics do NOT want to blend on the cheap envelope paper.  I probably should have made my own envelope out of my cryogen paper but ... I was too lazy (and didn't really want to waste my expensive paper on just an envelope.)  It turned out cute anyway.

Happy Anniversary!!

I'm busy making cards (yes, plural) to give to my hubby to celebrate our anniversary this week.  Since neither one of us can usually remember it, I try to spoil him on the years that I DO actually remember!  We are celebrating 18 this year.  I used the Simon Says Stamp: Playful Messages set.  The inside of the card says, "turns out I like you more than I originally planned,"  I am in love with the distressed oxide inks and how they make my backgrounds pop!

I also wanted to participate in the challenge "Summer Lovin'" on Dragonfly Journeys.  Having grown up in Arizona, there is generally NO summer lovin' from THIS girl!  It is more of Summer tolerating sort of feeling.  I hate being hot but I do love having the boys around.

The Library Challenge is to use the book Hollywood Wives.  Although I read it when I was in my 20s, Jackie Collins is sooo not my cup of tea.  I'm using the cover to inspire me (although I am taking a bit of liberty here since my old coots are neither glamorous or luxurious!!)

And speaking of my old coots, the image is Art Impressions and is called Jump In.  I love them but if it were an accurate portrayal of my marriage, it would be ME in the water and the hubs on the side cautioning me about the weather and my use of sunscreen.  Every party has a pooper and my hubs fills that role.  Love his caution tho since I'd run into a burning building without a thought for my well-being without him to remind me!

TMS 458

I've been wanting to use this image for awhile now.  He's from the "Les Jungles" set from Katzelkrat. Isn't he hilarious?!!  There are 6 animals in the set but the giraffe and the elephant are my favorites!  The inside says, "Maybe Swearing Will Help?"  I have a loved one going through some troubles and I think this card will be perfect for her.

I'm using the sketch from the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog.  I love the simple sketches that allow the images to shine; I just rotated the sketch to fit my wonderful giraffe.

I'm also joining in the "Odd Animals" challenge over on the Art Impression blog.  The only animals I have of AI's are cats and dogs and even though they are wearing clothes ... I don't think they qualify as "odd."  This guy definitely does!

Diet Tips

I love these two silly girls.  Not only are they super fun to color, they also have some pretty good diet tips to pass along too ... like their suggestion to try drinking a pitcher of margaritas to see if that helps!!  Lucy and Trudy are an older Art Impression set but still relevant!

Today, in the midst of my many loads of laundry, I found time to join the challenge on the AI blog: "Playing Dress Up"

Sarah's Graduation!

We are back from Utah.

Surprisingly, no one died in our car packed to the brim (yeah, I overpacked, sorry Kelsey!) We had snow outside and clothes, stinky shoes, 3 kids under 9, a teenager, and 2 very frazzled moms inside.  It was amazing to see my niece graduate with an RN degree.  I am beyond proud of her.  I am soo lucky because all my nieces are super successful and genuinely NICE people.

Challenges:
Art Impression: Winged Things
Freshly Made Sketches: The sketch
Dragonfly Journeys: Just Add Sequins.

Gate-Fold Challenge

For the Art Impression Challenge this fortnight, they asked us to make a gate-fold card.  Prior to this card the grand total of gate-fold cards that I had made was ... zero.  But, I thought to myself, how hard can it be?  Actually, it was harder than I anticipated; I threw away my first card because it was crooked.

I'm using the Doggy Kisses set which is one of my favorites.  With my success, I can check THAT off my to-do list but will I make another, doubtful.

I love Art Impressions images and the complex nature of the card kinda takes the focus off the image and puts it on the lay-out instead.  I was a bit horrified how little of the stamp I used.

I'm also joining in the Try Stamping On Tuesday challenge, which ironically, was also a gate-fold card!

The Sketch Aunts Challenge 42

I'm freezing today so it's no surprise that I chose Gladys to put on my card ... wishful thinking.  I could TOTALLY go for a beach vacation to Bora Bora or some Caribbean island.  Yep, Spring Break and we are ... still here.  (sigh)

I'm joining in the sketch challenge over on Die Sketch-Tanten.  I'm also joining in the fun over on the Art Impressions blog.  Their theme is "Perfect Pastimes."  They wanted to see people having fun.  I  have about a million AI "people" stamps so it was easy to chose one.

I hope YOUR Spring Break involves somewhere fun.

Love Is In The Air

My hubby doesn't really "DO" Valentine's Day.  I mean he buys the obligatory card and roses but he believes that love should be shown EVERY day.  I get him but I like the flowers anyway.

Yesterday he came down to my studio when I was making this card and said (when he read the sentiment) "I think what's 'in the air' is the dog."  Big unsentimental dork!  It was kinda funny because our dog CAN rip some good ones tho!

So this card is going to someone who DOES like the sentimentality of Valentines Day.

I'm joining in the Challenge on the Art Impression blog.  They want to see "love" represented.  On the Dragonfly Journey's blog, Jeannie wants to see the word "love" on my project.  Done and done!

Valentines

I'm making some Valentines (I need 8 more).  This is the one that I made for the hubby.  It's funny but I wasn't really paying attention to the details and made a few mistakes.  Grr.  I hate when I'm taping quickly and then have to peel it up to make it straight.  It always bends the paper a bit (see the bulging on the slider panel) and then ... I didn't really check to see that my sentiment would work prior to taping.

The answer is no ... it is not working.  You can barely read it.   The mousie's tail kind of covers it.  Sigh.  I am a better crafter than this.  Oh well, he knows how I feel.

My second Valentine's card is cute, but again ... I would change some things.  I think it looks too plain.  At least the stamps are cute.

Do you ever have days when nothing looks right?

I'm joining in the "Feel The Love" challenge over on the Art Impression blog

Shake It!

I'm under the weather so I'm avoiding all the jobs around the house that need doing (laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, putting away Christmas crap).  I decided that I'm just going to color while I wait for the pharmacy to fill my scripts so I can feel better.  Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking with it!

I wanted to join in the fun over on the Art Impressions blog.  Their theme is Anything Goes so it left it wide open for interpretation.  I'm using the Tan It set and popped up her butt for extra "thin mint" wiggle.

I'm also joining in the sketch  fun over on the Try Stampin' on a Tuesday blog.  I liked it's simplicity.

3-D Card

I think that it's just plain mean to have snow so soon after Daylight Savings kicked in.  Here we are, trying to adjust to how soon the sun goes down and then add in the super-cold temperatures too?!!  I'm so cold that I'm considering setting my feet on fire!

So how better to deal with the freezy-squeezy weather ... why, make a winter card of course!  The Art Impressions blog challenged us to make a 3-D card and of course I wanted to use my new AI set: Santa Paws.  I decided on a slider; I made my little dachshund running toward his buddies, who are no doubt Christmas caroling.

I love slider cards.  I could play with them all day!

Wishing "Shoe" Well

Is this guy not a riot?!!  I love his kick-y boots and that cheesy grin (plus the wobble I put on his back) ... and suddenly he is just the perfect image!!  I also wanted to show that "Chet" wasn't afraid to show his softer side too, so he's got a pink background.

I'm joining in the wiggle-wobble challenge over on the Art Impression blog.

More Halloween Cards

I am sooo sick of all the drizzly rain.  Too cold and wet!  It IS the perfect excuse to stay inside and craft tho.

My second card uses the sketch over on the Freshly Made Sketch site.  I decided that the kids would like interactive cards and their sketch was PERFECT for a shaker card.

Despite all the card making (aka laundry, vacuuming and baking that I've avoided doing all week) I still have 10 more Halloween cards left to make.  Ugh!

I'm also entering the "Fall Colors" theme over on the Fab and Funky site and the "Trick or Treat" theme over on Cute Card Thursday.

At least I've had fun.

2 More Halloween Cards

I'm finishing up two more to add to my stash.  I'm using the sketch from over on The Paper Players site. 

It was perfect for this darling Pure Innocence image from My Favorite Things.

It was a bit more challenging to think of something that would work with the Atlantic Hearts Sketch. My first thought was pumpkins but I thought that everyone would chose that image.

So I went with this hilarious image from Art Impressions.  Now that I AM an old bat, this image makes me giggle more and more!!


I hope your day is fantastic!!

Happy Shaky, Shivery Halloween

I need 20 Halloween cards, so I'm off to make those (see I TOLD you that I would get distracted from finishing my Christmas cards!)  I decided to use a few of my interactive stamp sets.  This fun little guy is the Wiggle Wobble Skeleton Set from Art Impressions.  I wasted a few minutes entertaining myself by posing him in all sorts of different ways.  I got WAY too much entertainment out of him!!

I'm using the sketch from Fresh Made Sketches for both cards.  It was fun and looks so different with each one.

I'm also joining the Crazy 4 Challenges Saturday challenge.  They want to see interactive cards.  Boom.  Done!

My next card has mini-shakers.  I'm using another AI set: Quivery Mini- Shakers.  How fun are those scared little trick-or-treaters?!!

And since there is embossing on the first card, it satisfies the QKR Stampede challenge this week.  How many challenges can I join in with 2 cards?!!

The Allsorts challenge blog wanted to see wings.  There aren't wings on the skeleton, but there ARE some on my little piggy.  Not your typical winged thing but, I think it counts!

Taking A Break From Birthdays ...

I'm super tired today ... I may have too much wine and fun with a friend this weekend!  I needed some quiet time away from rowdy animals and boys.  So, I took myself off to the basement to finish up a few cards.

I'm using my new Art Impressions Elf Shaker set.  I am in love with how his box jiggles.  It makes me think of my kids at Christmas, shaking all the boxes under the tree to see what was inside.

I'm joining the "Off Kilter" theme over on the Art Impression blog.  I'm also using "Sketch or Trio" theme on the ABC Christmas Challenge.  I have 3 stamps: the elf, his present and the sentiment and this counts as a "trio."   Since I'm also using the "Off Kilter" theme, I'm counting that as a sketch.