Fun Monday challenges!!

  Today, am I am excited to be here to share two brand new challenges with you and this week I'm starting with the weekly 'Birthday Card' challenge over at 'The Outlawz'.  This week were have a fun new idea and our theme is for your to create a fun Birthday card and we want to see 'Hearts & Ribbons' on your cards.  Please be sure to also include a Birthday Sentiment on your card and to submit it to the Gallery too.  All the details an be found in the challenge thread - Here!

  I started by picking out a digi I knew that would work out perfect and this one is from 'A Day for Daisies' and is named Angel Love.  I colored her the image with Copics and then added a layer of Sparkling Ice Glitter to her wings and halo.  To give her hearts more sparkle and dimension, I topped them off with some Pink Stickles and hen finished out my card with matching 'heart' themed ribbon and a sweet little 'Made with Love' charm.   I chose all my papers and ribbon first and then colored this sweet image to match the colors in the paper and ribbon.  It turned out to be a very sweet Birthday Card and will be for someone very near and dear to me!!

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    I am also very happy to invite you come on over to the StampFairy Challenge Blog and take part in our weekly challenge, which also starts every Monday.  

    The theme for StampFairy's Challenge this week is - 'Handmade Flowers' and we want to see wonderful projects, that showcase your very own 'handmade flowers', along with any of the fantastic StampFairy Images.  For my card, I chose Linda Ballet and did some coloring with Copics and also paper-pieced her sweet little Tutu, hair bow and ballet slippers.   I used my Cricut Expression and a brand new Cartridge - Mother's Day Bouquet, to cut out a variety of flower shaped die cuts in matching cardstock.  Once I had all the shapes cute, I spritzed some with Smooch and then glued a variety of the shapes together to form my flowers.  I topped them off with some pink pearls and placed them on the card. 

  The Design Team has put together some wonderful inspiration and you'll find all their fabulous projects over at the Challenge Blog!   You may also feel free to use any theme for this week, as long as you include Homemade Flowers - you can even make a wonderful birthday card, with one of the adorable StampFairy images and submit it to both challenges!!  WOOHOO!

  I welcome everyone to come on over and play along!  You can find all the details on the challenge blog HERE and you can shop for these sweet little images at the StampFairy store via the link below!!

Click HERE to SHOP!!

     I also wanted to tell you all about a brand new release that Gerda is launching in the store today.    I am very excited to let you all know that she will now be offering 'Digital Paper Packs', which you can find HERE!   

    They are currently on sale at an introductory price of only $2.50 per pack and each pack contains ten sheets!!    I love them and have started to use digi papers more and more with my images.  I found the I really love the 'paper piecing' technique and having matching papers is such a wonderful way to start any project.    I'm very happy to have picked up my first few sets and one of my favorites is Valentine 1 - which I know will be perfect for Valentine cards!   Yippee!!

 
     Update:   I am back to share a card that was created with one of the new Digi Paper Packs, for this card I chose this pack,  Bright Dots and this is my sweet 'Bear Hugs' card.  I used a combo of digi and designer papers on this card!   Please be sure to hope on over of StampFairy World, where you can see a wonderful variety of creations the girls have put together with the new Digi Papers!!

  Have fun, and as always -- Happy Crafting! 

Happy Sunday!!

  I hope everyone is having a nice weekend, I know that I am and I'm thrilled to say that we did NOT have any snow all weekend.  Today is cloudy, but mild enough for more melting!  Yippee!

  Sunday is always one of my favorite days to create as there are new challenges and one of my long term favorites is the Weekly Sketch Challenge over at the Stars & Stamps Blog.  Every Sunday there is a new sketch and today we had a really fun one, which I have copied over to share.

 Sketch # 54

My Card

   
   As you can see, my card is a bit different and not an exact match the challenge, partly by accident as I realized after I had it all glued down that I missed the one vertical piece...Ooops!   I also was going for a Love/Valentine theme and had decided to changed the circle to a heart, which is my own version.  Not exactly the sketch, but still a very fun card to create!  My papers are a combination from Stampin up' and Basic Grey and this card was created all from scraps!  Yippee!!

   I also wanted to invite you all to check out the fabulous new 'Saturday Seminar' now being offered each Saturday also over at the Stars & Stamps blog.   The first seminar was posted yesterday and I really loved what I learned from it.  It taught me about creating 'Focal Points' for my design and you can find the first week here!!  I have not completed the first lesson, but I am going to try and join in.  I think it will help me come up with better designs and it will also be fun.

   Here is a little more information and this is a FREE card design seminar open to all, especially those who create for Operation White Home!

 

  My second card today was created for the new 'Clean and Simple' challenge posted today over at 'The Outlawz'!  Our challenge this Sunday is to create a CAS card in any theme --- Anything Goes and the Design Team has put together some fabulous inspiration for you HERE!!  I had this really cute little digi in my file from Meljen Designs and I thought it would be perfect for my card.  I colored it with Copics and then punched it out with a 2 1/2 inch circle punch.  I edged it with Distress ink and picked out a piece of red designer paper that I cut down and adhered to a white mat.  I then simply added a piece of ribbon and one simple button and this is my CAS Card!

  

  The more I make these CAS cards,  the more I am enjoying it!   That also reminds me of two more cards I have to share and these both were created for two fun new challenges over at StampNation, which is another new craft community, started by a friend and  Stampin' Up Demo - Catherine Pooler.  For more details, you can visit Catherine's blog HERE to join this exclusive group.   The group is open to all stampers/crafters and you do NOT have to use SU products to join, although it's a fabulous group for those of you to LOVE your Stampin' UP  products.   

For more details - Please Click HERE!

    My next card was created for a challenge over at StampNation and this one was created for the 'Photo Inspiration Challenge'.  We were provide a really love image , all with lots of reds, white and pink and in a Valentine motif to use and this is the card I created based on that photo.

    And I have one last card to share and this one was also created for a 'Color Challenge' also being hosted at StampNation.   Our colors for this challenge were based on this cute little image, which I copied over to share with you from the StampNation Challenge.

    I didn't have the 'exact' same colors, but picked what I had that was the closest and came up with this new card.  My image is actually a digi image and I used Copics to color it to match as closely as I could.  I really enjoyed it and think it's a fun little Spring Card!   

  I also want to remind you all that you still have a few hours to submit a card to this week's challenge over at StampFairy - HERE!   And/or you can also hop on over to Baby Bud Designs and enter our fun 'Friendship Challenge' - HERE!   When you do go over to Baby Bud - please be sure to check out the wonderful new look of the blog.  Krista and Mary Anne have re-designed it and it's adorable -- I Love IT!!

  Be sure to come back tomorrow, when I will have BIG NEWS and a brand new StampFairy Challenge along with a new 'Birthday Card' for this week's challenge at 'The Outlawz'!   It's been a very creative week and I've enjoyed every moment spent in my craft room! 

  

A super FUN Friday!!

  Today, I am very excited to tell you all about an awesome DOUBLE BLOG HOP that is being hosted by Baby Bud Designs and By Lori Designs.    If you LOVE blog hops and would like to join the fun, you can find all of the details over at the Baby Bud Challenge Blog or over at By Lori Designs Blog!   I am not in the actual hop, but wanted to invite you all to play along.

 
   I also wanted to share a fun card I created in celebration of today's Blog Hop.  I chose a digi from each of the Designers and combined them together to make my sweet Friendship Card!   It was really fun to put them together and it worked out to be a perfect card for the friendship theme.  

   And as a special surprise for ONE DAY ONLY we are offering Baby Bud 'Jack' as a Freebie!!  Woohoo!!   Here is a card I created earlier this week, showcasing this handsome fellow --

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    My second big news today is to tell your about the brand new release over at StampFairy!   Today we have a wonderful new release that certain to make you Think of SPRING and with all the snow and cold we had this week, it was a joy to see these cute new images!    I'm happy to introduce you to Clementine, a very sweet little bunny!!   You can find her in the store now along with this cute little Freebie!  

    Please be sure to hop on over to the StampFairy Blog to check out all the wonderful new projects the Design Team has created featuring little Clementine.  This is my first card featuring Clementine and it was so fun to create.  I think she's adorable and loved her all in pink!!

  

    I wish everyone a very HAPPY FRIDAY and hope you will all enjoy the Blog Hop and also the wonderful new release from StampFairy!    Have FUN!!!

It's all about LOVE!!

  Today, I was determined to make a card for a new challenge over at 'The Outlawz' and today's challenge is hosted in the 'Prisma and Other Color Medium Group', which is a hard challenge for me.

   Ever since Copics have come into my life, I find it rare to ever make many cards that I am not using Copics as my color medium.  But, I really do want to expand and that's one reason I am currently taking a Watercoloring with  Distress Inks Class from Angie Hunt over in Suzanne Dean's Color Me Creative Classroom.  I really love the wonderful look that can be achieved with this technique and I thought the class would be a fabulous way to learn.  I'm a brand new student, but so far, I really like it and have a lot to learn.

  I've also also wanted to learn how to use Prismacolor pencils really love some of the fabulous cards that some of the Girlz on the Outlawz DT have created with their Prismas.   I do have a basic set and have tried them a few times, but I'm awful with them and need to learn!  I'm hoping this new challenge with inspire me to keep getting them out and continue to learn how to color well with them.  I played around a bit last night and just had horrible results.  I'm using them along with Mona Lisa brand OMS and blending stumps, but they are NOT blending well for me and the colors are dull and boring?   What the heck am I doing wrong?  HUM???  Please feel free to share ideas, as I would LOVE to learn !!  I do think that maybe I will order some 'Gamsol' brand OMS, as that seems to be what most of the girls use?

   In the meantime, I really wanted to try my best to make a LOVE card that I could submit to the challenge and I did actually end up making two.  My first card was make with a cute little stamp that heat embossed and colored in with 'Fired Brick'  Distress Ink.   This is that first card, which is okay...but I'm not loving it?

  After being disappointed, I tried another idea and on this card I used a a different stamp.  I Stamped this twice in a deep red pigment ink, then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  Once it dried I painted on a fine layer of Iridescent Medium, which is a totally new product to me.  Dana, one of the Designers, at The Outlawz,  had shared her awesome 'video' about this cool medium and I've now added some to the my stash.  It has an amazing amount of shimmer and is very pretty! -- Thanks Dana.  This my my second card and it's another I like...but do not LOVE?

   I'm off now to see if I can come up with another, but I think may instead work on a new DT Project and wait for some hints/tips on using these new techniques!  If you have any wonderful ideas, please let me know!!

 

Crafty and Creative....

  Woohoo!  What a difference a day can make and today for me is much better than yesterday.  My pain levels are back down and I'm feeling more upbeat and creative too, despite the fact we have more snow coming!   This morning I actually went out, had my nails done, (nice and relaxing), mailed off my taxes and also did few errands.  It's nice to be caught up again and now I'm back in my craft room working on some new challenge cards.

   My first card today was inspired by the new challenge over at the Stars and Stamps Blog and the challenge this week is to create some fun 'Cards for Kids' and I knew right away that I wanted to join in.  I started by picking out one of my favorite little  Baby Bud's  (Jack),and and colored him with my Copics.  I also used the Sketch from this past Sunday, flipped it and created my card based on design.  If you like the design, you can find my inspirational sketch  HERE!   I think Jack would make any little boy smile and he will be saved to send off in my next batch of cards for OWH.

 
  I also want to remind you that there is still time to create a fun Friendship Card for our current challenge over at the Baby Bud Designs Blog - HERE!   We have a special surprise coming up on Friday, so please be sure to stop by then for all the details! 

  My second card today was created for today's new SKETCH Challenge over at 'The Outlawz', and I am inviting you ALL stop over and join in.   We have a brand new challenge every day of the week and they are open to ALL!!   For a list of all the challenges or to join this friendly fun new group - Please visit us HERE!!

   This is my card for today's challenge and this sweet little Fairy is from 'A Day for Daisies'.  I am also submitting my card to this week's Angels & Fairies Challenge over at Crafty Emma's -- which you can find here!

   I'm off now to work on a card for the new 'Copic Coloring Challenge' over at Suzanne Dean's - Color Me Creative Classroom.  This is a really fun bi-weekly challenge that is OPEN to all Copic lovers.  Our challenge this week is being sponsored by Marlena Peduzzi, a fabulous designer who is also a member of the group!   Marlena has inspired us with her wonderful Valentine Card below and challenged us all to create d below and challenged us all to create a project - colored with your favorites Copic shades of Pink and Red. 

Designed by:  Marlena Peduzzi

   I have my image picked out and I'm off to color it up and put my card together!   I hope I can inspire you to join me in ANY or ALL of these fun new challenges!

 Have a great afternoon and as always, Happy Coloring!!

Tax Day for me!

.....I woke up early to see that it was snowing.....and just wanted to sleep away the day.  I was already sore and just do not like winter.  Winter with Fibromyalgia is the hardest time for me and I want to it hurry up and be over!!

     I did go back to sleep for a bit and then decided that it was time to get up and get moving.  Once I had my chores done  I knew it would be a good day to start working on my taxes and that's exactly what I did.  I has been waiting for my tax forms to come in the mail, but after a quick call to the IRS I was informed that they are NO longer sending ANY forms.  If you need them, you'll need to call to order them, download them online or use a tax preparer.  For me, that meant I would be downloading them and that's where I began.  Here in Massachusetts, we can file our State taxes online and it's totally free and so much easier than doing all the forms.  I sure WISH the IRS would come up a Free way for everyone to file and make it easy too.

     I took my time and  slowly I manged to get them done, but boy is it frustrating and confusing and you need to constantly refer to the instructions to find out how to do everything?  WHY in the world is it SO hard and complex to file taxes....!   It took me over 5 hours to finish, but I'm thankfully done!  The best part is that we will be receiving a nice refund and that's always a plus for us!   I know some people prefer to have more in each paycheck, but I would rather have the extra taken out, and have a refund every year.  It's also a nice treat when you get a tax refund!  

   As soon as I was done and knowing we had a nice refund coming, I hopped on the computer and started looking for the best price on a 'Grand Calibur'.  I had been planning to buy one with our tax refund, so as soon as I finished that was the first thing I did.   I am very excited to have mine ordered and will very soon be the owner of a brand new 'Grand Calibur' by Spellbinders!  WOOHOO!    I found my best deal was at ScrapMart and the price of $97.49!   I also ordered my first set of Grand Calibur dies and my entire order ships FREE!!   Yippee!!   I am a happy girl, nothing makes me happier than crafting or shopping for craft goodies.  
 
   And my last fun project today was a new card I created for some new challenges.  I started my card based on  today's 'Color Combo' Challenge over at 'The Outlawz' -- The colors for this week's challenge are:  Cream, Orange and Gray and this is the card I have submitted.  My image is from StampFairy and was colored with Copics to match the color them.  I used two different polka dotted papers and added a second layer of gray embossed cardstock to given it more dimension.  I picked out a cute sentiment, added three flowers and a bling center and had this cute card!  Sending all my friends a sweet 'Bear Hug', with extra special thoughts for everyone who has been feeling lousy and suffering from a long snowy and cold winter!!

  My  'Bear Hugs' Card is being submitted to these new challenges and I invite you all to join in and play along:

• The Outlawz - Color Combo Challenge - Orange, Gray, Cream
• Bearly Mine - Recipe Challenge - Two Designer Papers, 3 Flowers and 1 Image
• My Time to Craft - Challenge # 125 - Emboss, Emboss, Emboss
• Critter Sketch - Challenge # 49 - Embossing and A Circle
• Magical Monday Challenge - Challenge # 14 - Flowers

   All in all, despite the cold, snow and more snow to come, it turned out to be a pretty good day.  I'm very excited to have my taxes done and totally thrilled to have order my very own 'Grand Calibur'!!  WOOHOO!    Have a nice night!!
  

 

It's Challenge Day!!!

  Good Morning and Happy Monday!    There used to be a time when Monday was always the worst day for the week, it was back to work and in all of the years I worked, it always seems that Monday was the busiest day too.  Now, I LOVE Monday and look forward to it because it's the start of a new week of fun challenges and that is what I am am to share now.

   I'm starting with our brand new 'Circles and More Circles Challenge' which you can find over at  the StampFairy Challenge Blog.  We want to see lots and lots of circle in your project this week and you may choose any type of paper-crafting project.  I knew right away that the first thing I wanted to do was make a my card in a circle shape and with a Cricut Expression and my Gypsy (Design Studio), that is very fun and easy to do.  I grabbed my Gypsy and quickly has designed a large circle shaped card, along with a variety of other circles and circular designs for my card.    I then picked out a few different red cardstocks and papers and cut my card and circles.   Next, I picked my image and I chose this one, because the balloon, Lenny is holding, seemed to tie in great to the whole circle them.    I colored him with my Copics and then added a layer of 3D Crystal Lacquer to the balloon for that extra dimension and shine.    I also used my Cuttlebug to emboss some fun patterns into some of my circles and put it all together to make this fun card.   You can find this adorable Lenny, HERE!

  You'll also want to be sure to hop on over to the StampFairy Challenge blog to see all the other awesome cards that the Design Team has to share with you.  Its' also where you will find all the rules and details for this and all our weekly challenges!  

    I had so much fun making this card and when I was working on it I designed it so that it would also work out perfectly for several challenges and the next one, is today brand new Birthday Card Challenge over at 'The Outlawz'.   Our challenge for this week is to create a new 'Birthday Card' where RED is your primary color!  I am also very excited to introduce you to Ann who joined the Design Team this week and will be also be creating card for the Birthday Challenge, along with Colleen, Sharon and me.  She is a fabulous card-maker and will be a wonderful addition to our group.

  This card has is based on the same card as above, but for a different look, I added less circles to this card and let more of the background show through.  In the end, I think I like this version the best!  What do you think?    I'll be looking forward to see you all visit and play along with both challenges and you can also feel fee to combine challenges as I did with my card!

    In addition to the StampFairy Challenge and the Birthday Card Challenge at 'The Outlawz', I am also submitting my new card to these fun challenges and hope you join me!!

• Creative Cottage Challenges - # 31 - Shaped Card
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - # 45 - Anything Goes
• My Time to Craft Challenge - # 124 - Spots & Dots

      I am also very excited to share a brand new release with you and this new set was released by StampFairy today and is already in the store!  I LOVE these sweet bears and will be off shortly to add a couple to my collection! will too!

  Introducing -- Lenny & Linda 

'LOVE'

Click Here to SHOP!!!

Awww -- sweet and adorable!!

      I'm off now to do some organizing and I've also been checking out lots of the new Goodies coming out soon at CHA!   I have already added some new things to my WISH LIST and look forward to seeing what else is will be released!   I wish I was going to be heading out to California to attend the event.    One of my goals and dream trips, is to attend a CHA show and my friend Colleen, and I have been talking about it for the last year or so.   We both really would LOVE to go and HOPE and that we can do this!    Some how, Some way and Some Day and I am going to attend a CHA event and hope it will be sooner than later!!     I would LOVE to go and it's truly a dream I want to make come true!!

Purple Passion!

  Happy Sunday !!  Today is a very chilly day here in Massachusetts and I'm very thankful to have the entire day to spend in my comfy and warm craft room.  I was up early to take care of my chores and all set to get to work on some new cards.

   My first card today was inspired by the new Sketch Challenge over at the Stars & Stamps Blog.   Every Sunday features a new Sketch and I always enjoy this challenge.  Today, we have Sketch # 53, which I copied over to share with you all.

 Sketch # 53

My Card

  I thought this was a fun card an instead of using a variety of patterned paper, I decide to try this with cardstock, which I embossed in two different designs in my Cuttlebug.  I also added a layer of lavender ribbon over on section to give it a different feel.   My images is a digi image from A Day for Daisies, which I colored with Copics.  It was a really fun, yet easy card.

  My next two card were both inspired by today's brand new 'CAS' challenge over at 'The Outlawz'.  I have always really wanted to learn this wonderful style of card-making and the 'Girlz' on the CAS Team are all fabulous card-makers and really have provide us all with some fabulous inspiration this week.  

    This week, 'Amy', created a wonderful sketch, which I have also copied over to share and hopefully it will inspire you to join the fun.  

 Amy's Sketch

 My Card

   I had so much fun with these cards and all the 'purple' (my favorite color) -- that i decided to make a third purple card, with all my left over scraps.  For this card I also based it on Amy's Sketch, but flipped the sketch and came up with this card.

  This card also includes more embossing and I again added a scrap piece of purple lavender ribbon to give it the look of another layer/texture.  My image on this card is actually a Stickeroo from Penny black, that I simply mounted on a darker lavender mat.   This card was super easy and something anyone could easily create!

  For all the details and to see the cards the DT created, please HOP on over to the CAS Group -- over at 'The Outlawz' - Here!!

   And speaking of Ribbon, have you ever shopped at Really Reasonable Ribbon?  I found it via a blog a few weeks ago and LOVE the store.  I'm a bit of a ribbon addict and LOVE to use it on my cards.  I also like a wide variety of styles and colors and RRR, has it all.  I also was very pleased with the excellent customer service and the huge collections of ribbons, Bonnie, has in her store.    I also signed up for the Monthly Ribbon Club and have this first set (Janaury), which is awesome.  

  If you are a ribbon gal like me, I highly recommend you stop over and check out the store.  You will also want to be sure to visit the BLOG for some fabulous inspiration, super fun challenges and also a chance to win this awesome  BLOG Candy!

  Update:   After visiting the RRR Challenge blog earlier, I was inspired to create one more card today and this was was inspired by their challenge was is to create a card with a 'Heart' Theme, which I did and am back to share with you now.    I also stayed with my lavender/purple theme and then added a touch of turquoise to this card with some ribbon that I had purchased from RRR.   If you LOVE purple, like I do, then you'll want to buy this 'Purple' assortment, which is one I own and love!

  
   This card is being submitted to Challenge #16 - Heart Theme (with ribbon) at the Really Reasonable Ribbon chalelnge blog.
 
   I'm off now to head on over to 'The Outlawz' and upload my challenge cards!  I also want to remind you to a few more fun challenges that are ongoing right now.  Today is the last day to enter our 'Paper Piecing' Challenge over at the StampFairy Challenge Blog.   And be sure to stop by again tomorrow for a brand new challenge and to see if you were one of this weeks' lucky winners. 

   I will also be here tomorrow with my inspiration for our new StampFairy Challenge, as well as a brand new 'Birthday Card' Challenge over at 'The Outlawz'.  You can also still submit at card HERE for this week's challenge or join in on any of the daily challenges were offer in our group.   The Outlawz is a wonderful new, fun and friendly challenge group, open to all and offer a new challenge in a new theme every day!   Come on over and have some fun.

   And lastly, but not least, I would LOVE to see you enter our 'Friends challenge' being hosted over at Baby Bud Designs.   There will also be a fun surprise for all you Baby Bud Fans coming up this Friday, January 28th!   Be sure you stop by here for more details on ANY of these challenges!!

Have a great afternoon and as always -- Happy Crafting!!

Fun Friday!!

  Happy Friday!!  I am very excited today because we have a brand new release from StampFairy and this one, I simply adore.  Our newest addition to the collection is 'Linda Ballet' and she is a sweet little 'Ballerina Bear'.


   This is a preview picture of the entire release and you'll find this new collection is already available in the store.  You can find the set directly at this link - HERE!!

    Isn't she a cutie?  I sure think so and could not wait for the release to add her to my personal collection.  I'm also inviting you all to hop over to the StampFairy Blog to see the wonderful creations the Design Team has also created with this sweet new image.  I love them ALL!!

   This is the very first card I created with Ballet Linda and it was so much fun to make.  I make her cute little outfit all from digi papers and then Paper Pieced it on to her, once she was colored.  The possibility are endless and you can go with any colors, designs or patterns that you like!   I love thought that the pink as very fun and and happy and that's why I chose it for my very first  'Linda' creation.  I think she looks 'Pretty in Pink'.

  My Happy Day card is being submitted to these fun new challenge:

• Stamp Something - Cute Something Challenge
• Tellen's Place - Dot Dot Dot, it!!
• Simply Scrapping Crafts - CAS - Use Scallops
• Paper Pretties - Challenge # 137 - Paper Piecing
• Teddy Stampers - Challenge # 28 - Anything Goes

   I hope we have all inspired you to hop on over the store and add this sweet new release to your collection!   I can't wait to see how you color here and what fun projects you'll make with this sweet little ballerina!

   Happy Friday and Happy Crafting!!