Bugaboo Chaos #3

It's day three of the Bugaboo Christmas Chaos.

I'm starting to doubt that I will make it.  I am so tired ... can she keep up the creativity for another four days?  Dunno.

It's super late but I wanted to get my card posted today before the craziness of tomorrow.

Today's challenge: color.  Since I love these colors, the card came together fairly easily.

I'm using the sketch over on the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. I thought that this sketch would totally work.

SSSC295 - Rocking Out Cards

I'm making the most of a snow day to get some more Christmas cards finished.  I'm nearly done with the extended family shopping.  I just need to do a bunch of wrapping and scoot off to the Post Office.  I'm trying to avoid last year's panic (and expense of mailing packages on the LAST day that the US Post Office takes packages without charging a million dollars to ship - ugh)

For my card, I'm using this little cutie from Gerda Steiner Designs.  He's currently free over on her blog.

I'm also using the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch this week.  I just turned it on it's side.

Doodle Pantry: Oh Deer!

I had about a half an hour between when my friend "fixed" my crochet errors and when I needed to make the end of school pick-up run.  Sooo I walked into the Michael's store to pick up ONE thing ... I ended up walking out with many dollars of Halloween crafts and decorations.  Note to self, not a good place to spend waste extra time!

I always need Get Well cards this time of year so I decided to join in the fun over on the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I altered the sketch a tad to fit my style.  I like all the red on my card. Bright and pretty just like Get Well cards need to be.

Over on the Dragonfly Journeys blog the challenge is to use buttons.  I've got one!

My poor sick reindeer is from Doodle Pantry.  The set is called Get Well Critters.  Too cute.

DP : Back to School

As much as I love a good long weekend, I gotta say that I am discombobulated the remainder of the week without a "real" Monday.  It's Tuesday but it FEELS like a Monday!  I've got one kiddo in school and the other out with a teacher workday ... that means that very little will get accomplished today.

I wanted to share this card.  I'm participating in three challenges this week. Jeannie over on Dragonfly Journeys wants to know what September means to me.  For me, September is all about school, pumpkin spice lattes and getting used to our new schedule and homework.  The youngest came home with 8 missing assignment notices already. (whimper)  I think we can all agree that HE is not used to the new homework schedule!!

I'm also using the sketch over on Sweet Sunday Sketches.

Eureka Stamps challenge 157 wants us to show something that is back to school.

Have a great left-over week friends!

Other challenges I'm entering:
Wags N' Whiskers Stamps: Back to School

Turn On the Blue Light

And I'm not talking K-mart here.

It's April 2nd and that means it's time to go blue for Autism Awareness.  This is a cause near and dear to my heart because it is something that my family struggles with every day.  My kiddo's different abilities amaze me every day.  He is going to be an awesome adult even with his struggles.  I encourage you to click the link here to find out more from the Autism Speaks site.

I'm using one of the new From the Heart birdbrains.  I'm using their theme of bling, rather than the sketch this week.

I'm also entering the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers: National Humor Month
Aud Sentiment: Anything Goes + a sentiment
and the Sweet Sunday Sketch #262

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Sympathy cards stink. 

Seriously.

In fact I hate making them so much that last week I cheated and made a "thinking of you" card instead of a real one (Sorry Patti). But I need another one this week, so I pulled out the hated supplies and settled down to make a real one.

I'm using a Doodle Pantry image and the current sketch over at The Sweetest Thing blog.

DP: New January Releases!

I think that I am finally over the sadness of the Broncos losing to the Colts.  I really didn't think that our season would end that way but ... that's the way ball bounces.  There is talk that Manning won't return next year and hubby asked me what I thought.  I told Ken that HAD he gotten me the Manning jersey that I asked him to get me for Christmas, THEN Manning wouldn't return.  But, we should be good since I am STILL without a jersey!

But on to why we are here ... it's Tuesday and that means it's time for another new release over at the Doodle Pantry shop.  This little cutie is one of the sets released today.  It's called Safari Critters.  I used the included paper too.  There are great papers this release AND they are included with the purchase of the images.

One of the blogs sponsored by Doodle Pantry is Operation Write Home (OWH).  This site provides free handmade cards for deployed soldiers.  How nice for our soldiers to be able to write their loved ones AND have a beautiful card to send.  This month,  Laurie is adding the BATH ANTS set to the OWH fundraiser category.  That means that $1.00 from the sale of this set will go to OWH to help defray their operating expenses.  If you are looking for a way to support American soldiers, this is it.

Additionally, the LITTLE CRITTERS set  from today's release will be free with a purchase for a limited time only.  Hurry over to Doodle Pantry to claim your free set.  It's only available from January 13-26.

I used the sketch from Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #250.  What a fun challenge it was.  I really enjoy her sketches.

Bugaboo Chaos (I've lost count what #)

Ken took today off so we are having a bit of a "date day" while the boys are in school.  He got to pick today's activities (I'm picking tomorrow's fun!) so far we've gone to Bass Pro to window shop and then we went to the gun range to shoot.  Despite being out of MY box, it was a fun morning (except for the hot piece of brass that ended up ricocheting down my sweater.  Ouch)

And speaking of out of my box and different, I wanted to try out this sketch.  It's soo different from my normal style.  I saw it on Karen Giron's blog and wanted to try it.  I actually like how it turned out.  I'm going to use THIS one as my funny card for the Bugaboo Christmas Chaos Challenge.

It's a Very Doodle Pantry Christmas

I spent today trying to get ready for Christmas.  First I exercised so I can fit my bootay in the slinky dress I want to wear for Mr. Blog's Company Christmas party.  This event stresses me out beyond belief.  I usually start to freak out about it around ... oh, June!

Today, I may have done so many leg exercises that sitting will be a problem later this weekend!  But sitting is over-rated anyway, just saying.  After I crawled home, I decided to try and knock out as many Christmas cards as possible.

I used some of my Doodle Pantry images and a few of my favorite sketch challenges for inspiration.  The cards came together so quickly.  For my first card I used Quirky Snowmen and the Tuesday Morning Sketch.

My next card I used the sketch over at Sweet Sunday Sketches and Doodle Pantry's Holly Wreath.

Are YOU ready for Christmas?!!

DP: October New Release

Happy October 1st y'all!  Since it is the first day of the month, Doodle Pantry is having it's new release party.

There are 8 new sets and 6 re-released sets available (plus a new SVG file) There are sooo many new things to chose from.  I used the Woodland Critter re-release set to make my card.  How fun is he?

This month you can get get the Nut Costume Ant set FREE with your purchase from October 1st through 24th.   Yep, shop the store, and get another set ... absolutely FREE!

These little ants are among my very favorites that Laurie has in the Doodle Pantry store.

But, wait, there is another deal to think about this month.  Those who post a card, using a Doodle Pantry image, to the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge Blog will receive the S'more Please set for free AND be entered into the drawing for a $15 gift certificate to be spent in the Doodle Pantry shop.  Verrrrry cool!

Hope to see you over at the Doodle Pantry store!  Don't forget that all the October new stuff is already marked down 25% off ...no coupon needed!!

Doodle Pantry: Christmas Wishes

I need to get serious about "plumping" up my Christmas card stash.  Who could resist using this little guy.  He's from a set called "Winter Critters" over at Doodle Pantry.  There are sooo many cute Christmas images there.

I'm using the sketch over on Karen Giron's blog: The Sweetest Thing.  I love her sketches; they totally fit my style.

Don't forget that Laurie is offering a Labor Day special through September 6th (you have TWO more shopping days). The sale gives you 30% off your entire cart (excluding gift certificates and bundles)!!  You can grab the special coupon code HERE.  

And speaking of Labor Day, here is how WE spent it: at the Balloon Festival Glow.  What great fun it is seeing the balloons light up the night and hearing the roar of the burners.  Definitely a memory!

Doodle Pantry: Havin' a Gouda Day

Have you ever made a card and thought ... "good, but could be better?"  I recently made a card for my Monthly Swap group and while I liked it, something about it, bugged me. 

So, I did a do-over.  This time I love how it turned out.  I'm using an older set from Doodle Pantry.  It's called "Have a Gouda Day".  Freakin' cute.

I used the sketch over on Karen Giron's blog: Sweet Sunday Sketch.  If I were more organized, I would have finished this BEFORE the collection closed.  Doh!

Here's attempt #1

Doodle Pantry/Sweet Sunday Sketch #222

I'm so tired today.  Summer camp started this morning and we had to leave the house by 7:45 to get there on time (we almost didn't get there remotely close to the start thanks to a 3 car accident on the freeway).  We've only been out of school a week and yet, I'm amazed how quickly my body became accustomed to sleeping in!  Ugh.

I loved the sketch over at Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge this week, so I wanted to be sure to play.

I'm using this month's freebie over at Doodle Pantry.  It's called Classic Bug and Gas Can.  Isn't it too cute?!!  That little VW paper is probably my favorite part of the set!  Be sure to head over to the site to check out all the fun stuff available this month.

Additional challenges I'm participating in:
Catered Crop: Manly Men
The Craft Place: Men
Sentimental Sundays: Any-thing Goes (plus a sentiment)

Doodle Pantry April Release

It's no April Fool's day joke, it REALLY is time for the April release over at Doodle Pantry. There are so many wonderful digital sets, papers and SVG e-cuttable shapes, you're bound to find something to love!

I fell in love with "Jiggles the Giraffe" and had to share her with you today.  She comes as both line art and color and has great sentiments to go with it.  If you find yourself looking for something to do, a new challenge goes live over at the Doodle Pantry Release and Challenge blog today at noon.

I'm using Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I liked it's simplicity.

I'm also entering this card over at Challenges for Everyone.  They have an Anything Goes theme.

SSSC195

As soon as I saw this JJ image, I made her mine!  All my friends know that Starbucks IS my best friend!  I once asked my friend, who was fasting because I was driving her to her surgery ... for cancer, if she minded if I swung through Starbucks on the way.

OK, it was tacky and I DID wait until she was in her surgery before I waddled across the street to find an caffeine IV injection, I mean a coffee beverage.

I liked the freedom that Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge provided so I wanted to play.

SSSC193

As soon as I saw this From the Heart image I knew that it was only a matter of time before he WOULD be mine!  I bought it initially thinking I would save him to use for a congratulatory card for my sister.  She's working toward getting her Black Belt in December. (Yay)  Buuuuut, I couldn't wait to use him.

This week's Sweet Sunday sketch over on Karen Giron's blog was so darn cute that I whipped him out to use.  I think he turned out darling!

I also wanted to show you what Mr. Sitting On Pens did over the weekend.

Waaaaay back in December I bought this ribbon carrier from Michael's so my new craft room would be organized.  After I built the darn thing (OK, if you really want honesty, I made Mr. Blog and my uncle do it ... but I was in the room)  Anyway once it was together, I was ... let's go with the word "irritated" but understand that I was a bit crankier than that when I realized that the included dowels would not fit my SU ribbon rolls.  In fact, out of the billions of ribbon rolls I own, those (er) darn dowels fit only 2 of them.  TWO!!

So off I went to another craft store to purchase smaller dowels.  These I painted to match the holder... but I have sooo much ribbon that the new dowel whimpered and cracked almost immediately.  Seriously?!!

Finally, after listening to me complain ... a lot,  Mr. Blog went to the hardware store and got me some iron re-bar.  He cut it and installed it. Yay.  What a guy!



Here's the ribbon rack all ready for use.  Now here's my secret confession ... all those containers STILL don't have all my ribbon ...

I MAY have a ribbon problem

Sweet Sunday Sketch 186

Today is the first day of Vacation Bible School.  I have to admit something ... I was a stop and drop mom.  Yep, I registered the kids and then basically hid from people who I knew would ask me to help.  Because ... if someone asked, I would have been obligated to say "yes."  And (whispering) this year, I wanted to hog all the free time to myself.

But ... it went well.  Songs were sung, crafts made and fun had by all (and when I say all, I mean ALL!!)

I used my free time to catch up on challenges.  I loved Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch this week and so that was the first I did.

Baby, I'm born to be wild!

Happy Thursday!

Thankfully this week is nearly over, just two days of school to get through (AND two more playdates - what dork scheduled THAT?!! Oh wait, that would be me) and then it's all downhill toward the weekend.

Unfortunately the weekend prolly won't be terribly restful since it's Caleb's 9th birthday party on Saturday. Yikes, I still have cupcakes and gift bags left to make!

But TODAY, I got time to play. I wanted to use Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch. It was cute and I needed more (you guessed it) birthday cards. I inked up Blanche from Art Impressions, who is, without a doubt, one of my FAVORITE summer images.

(Sigh) Off to bake the cupcakes.