Katie's Krafty Corner

Pretty Pastels!

2011-07-21T21:15:00.003-04:00

This week's challenge at Phindy's Place Challenge Blog is Pretty Pastels. I was so excited about this because I just bought myself a new paper pack (okay I bought 3 of them) "Sweet Pea" by the Paper Studio and guess what, it's all baby/pastels! When I bought the papers, I also bought these nifty flower embellies. I just couldn't resist putting them all together with this adorable image from Phindy's Place!

Hope you enjoy my card!

Aha! A second entry this week!

2011-07-14T22:47:00.003-04:00

Well ladies and gentlemen, I've done it! I've made a second card tonight for the Phindy's Place Friday Challenge Blog!! WOO HOO!! I guess "buttons" really is an easy theme!

See, this is how it all happened, I took the kids to Hobby Lobby today. I bought some papers, some embellies, some new watercolor paints, even some new paint brushes. Well, they were all sitting here on my table and I though, hmmmm...I should try out my new paintbrushes! So, I decided I had to paint (using my new paints of course) this adorable little boy from Phindy's Place. Well, I can't paint without picking out papers first. I just happened to buy papers today that would go so adorably with him. Then I remembered that I bought these cute little button brads, they went so well together I just had to make a card with it all. The only parts of this card that aren't brand spankin new are the cardstock and the ribbons, okay, and the digi but I've barely used him!

Hope you enjoy my second entry this week!

Christmas in July!

2011-07-14T20:11:00.002-04:00

Well, I've managed to make a card for the second week in a row, I'm quite proud of myself! I made this Christmas Card using a Phindy's Place Image - I just love "Nana's Pies". She looks like everyone's image of the perfect grandmother!

The challenge this week at Phindy's Friday Challenges is to use buttons - how easy is that?

Hope you like my card.....

And another one....

2011-07-07T18:10:00.003-04:00

Here is another Phindy Card! Wooo Hooo - 2 in one week - can you believe it?

This card for Phindy's Friday Challenge is a Christmas card. It's a pretty simple card but, at this point, I can't be too picky!! I'm just glad I got to craft!!! I used "Giving Girl" I just love her!

I'm trying....really, I am!

2011-07-07T18:05:00.004-04:00

Do you ever feel like your priorities get in the way of your fun? Well, that seems to be the way my life is going at this point! Between work, the kids, and the house, there seems to be very little time left for me and when there is any, I'm exhausted!!

Regardless, I did manage to make some cards this week for Phindy's Friday Challenge. I'm sooooo excited!

Here's my first card - I hope you like it! Isn't this little Phindy girl soooo cute with her big bouquet of flowers??

Crafting really is my therapy....

2011-06-16T21:52:00.003-04:00

I'm sad to say that I have realized that I have not completed and posted a card in almost 2 months. This is NOT because I haven't wanted to craft, it's because life got in the way. This week, between prepping for a family reunion, Father's day planning, a teething 11 month old who now has ear infections, etc. etc. etc.....I FORCED myself to sit down and make a card. Guess what happened.....I felt better! I was calm and relaxed and crawled right into my bed and fell asleep - it was GREAT!!!

The moral of my story: Don't let life push the important things aside - regardless of how minor those things seem!

This card is for The Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. This week their challenge was all about water. I just love little "Splashy Sienna"! I paper pieced her dress and I'm loving her in little polka dots. The flower embellies are from a prize I won somewhere along the lines, can't for the life of me remember where or when (I told you I've been busy!!!).

So, here's my card with Phindy's Sienna....I hope you enjoy it!

I guess I just like to work under pressure!

2011-04-28T22:17:00.004-04:00

Hello all,

Here it is, Thursday night and I'm once again, just finishing up my card for this week's Phindy's Challenge - yes, the deadline is only a few hours away! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Anyway, I'm exhausted so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.

This card is for 2 challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Paper Piecing - the hardest part about this was deciding which wonderful Phindy image to pick - she has sooo many (and just a hint, if you head over to her shop right now, you can find a sale going on in her "random surprises" category)

For Fun Challenges: Go Green (not the color) - This week, they are sponsored by Phindy! I LOVE that - 2 chances to win Phindy images in one week!! So, for the Go Green challenge, I used all scrap papers, I figure it's one of those reuse/recycle things!

Sneaking in under the wire!

2011-04-21T22:19:00.013-04:00

Well, another crazy week but I just HAD to enter Phindy's Challenge this week. I've been going through withdrawl again! I just can't take this.....I NEED more hours in the day (preferably with the kiddos sleeping).

So, this week's card is for a few different challenges:

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Color Challenge: Purple and Teal....I just love these 2 colors together but of course had a hard time finding the papers I wanted to use. This adorable little chicky is called "Chick a Boo", isn't he cute? You don't need to use a Phindy Image for her challenges but, with so many adorable images, how can you not?

2.) Top Tip Tuesday: Open Challenge........I just love an open challenge!

3.) Kaboodle Doodles: Thoughts of Spring/Easter........I'd say this card is pretty Easter-ish!

I hope you enjoyed this card. It was a bit difficult for me to find a spare moment or two to make it but I sooooooooo enjoyed the time I did get to spend crafting!

PS - Please forgive the picture. I know the centers of those flowers look a bit ugly, I didn't have time to let the glue dry on my glittered flower centers!

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Crafting Withdrawl....

2011-04-07T21:32:00.005-04:00

Hello everyone,

I have been going through crafting withdrawl. It's been a crazy few weeks and my papers, paints, scissors and glue have been calling my name but I've had to ignore them. FINALLY, this week, I got to play!! I decided to make a set of 4 cards for OWH. If you are unfamiliar with OWH, please check out my sidebar, they're a great group!

For this card, I used an adorable Phindy Image, "Never Forget I Love You". I wanted some bright papers because I'm really hoping that Spring is here to stay (well, at least until Summer can drag herself here!).

The card is for a few different challenges:

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog: Let's Get Girly....between the papers and the eyeshadow and nail polish on this cute little elephant, I'd say this is a girly card.

Paper Crafting Journey: For the Ladies in your Life...Okay, I'm thinking this could either be to a lady or from a lady, either way, I just don't see it as a card that a guy gives to another guy....a lady has to be in the equation!

Phindy's Place Challenge: Humour - Make us Smile...Just looking at this image makes me smile. Adding the nail polish and the eyeshadow really makes me smile!! (not sure the make-up shows in the pic., there IS green eyeshadow and pink nail polish).

I dug out one of my older digis

2011-03-16T22:01:00.005-04:00

Well, for this card I was stumped. Phindy's Place Challenge Blog has "Thinking of You/Get Well" as a theme this week. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do for this one. Sooooooooo, I went searching for a sentiment first. I found one that worked for the challenge and as soon as I read it, this sweet little digi came to mind. The sentiment says, "Until the sun comes out again for you, my umbrella is big enough for two." Don't they work nicely together? As usual, I colored this little guy with watercolors. I didn't know what to do with the raindrops and the puddles so I added some glue, when it dried it was clear and shiny which gives it a "wet" look. Kinda cool.

I then had to search for papers to use. Of course, I had to use one of my new paper packs, this one was from Walmart, relatively cheap, and I love the papers. Since this is an image that could be used for a more masculine card, I decided to go with papers that could be a little bit more masculine too. Since they have green on them, they can be used for the Creative Card Crew Challenge: Show us some green!

I've been slacking on making OWH cards lately. I checked out the OWH Stars and Stamps Challenge blog and found that their challenge right now is "Scallops". That's easy enough, I cut around my image with scalloped scissors and was good to go! Now I just have to keep building my collection of OWH cards so I can mail a box out!

Finally, I am entering this in the Scrap-Creations challenge. Their theme this week is an easy one: Anything Goes!! Gotta love that one!

Welcome Baby!

2011-03-08T22:39:00.005-05:00

I'm so disappointed. I can only seem to make one card per week. The only real problem with this is that I seem to be buying more than one Phindy image per week - this is not working out mathematically! Either I need to start making more cards (with a 4 year old and a 7 month old, this seems impossible) or Phindy needs to stop making so many new Digis that I "HAVE TO HAVE"! Oh well, I guess there are other things I should be worrying about instead!

So, here's another one of my new little digis from Phindy's Place. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her!! Her name is Spring Bouquet. She'd make a great Easter or Spring Card but I've decided to make her into a "Welcome Baby" card since that's what I need for a baby shower this weekend!

Alrighty, I'm entering her into these challenges:

Stampin' For the Weekend Challenge - Springtime! - This one isn't exactly a Spring card but it is definitely a Spring Image!

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - Oh Baby! - With all of Phindy's adorable baby/small child images, the hardest part of this challenge was to pick which image to use!!

"High Hopes"

2011-03-03T21:38:00.005-05:00

Well I'm back with a last minute card. Okay, it's not last minute, I've been working on it for days, it is just that now I'm down to the wire and it's the last minute to get it posted to Phindy's Challenge blog!!

I'm not going to write much, it's late, there's no time...but..........I have to say, I LOVE the way this card turned out. I love everything about it, really, I do! I love the papers (new ones that fell into my cart on Tuesday), I LOVE the image (one of Phindy's Wee Babbies), I love the kite that I made with it's little string and tail with mini "ribbons" on it, REALLY, I love it all! I LOVE when that happens, when the final project is even better than I had imagined it in my mind. Okay, I'm rambling but sometimes I surprise myself and really like the way a card turns out - TRUST me, it doesn't always happen!!

I'll let you go, but, here are the challenges for this card:

Phindy's Challenge - A sketch by Anne-MarijeTop Tip Tuesda

y - Favourites Challenge - Well, I don't know if you could say this is my favorite embellishment sin

ce it's the first time I've ever made a kite embellishment but I LOVE the way it came out and so, it's my favorite embellishment!

Scrap-Creations - Kids - I think Phindy's new "Wee Babbies" are just the cutest kids around! Well, I think her "Cuties" are pretty adorable too!! Oh, it's so hard to pick just one to use on a card!!!

I've got the blues!

2011-02-23T23:23:00.007-05:00

Okay, I don't really have the blues but this card is very blue! I've decided that monochromatic cards are just not me. Then again, that's what the whole idea of challenges is, isn't it? To do something that you don't normally do. If it were easy, it wouldn't be called a "challenge".

Anyway, I made this card using an absolutely adorable digi from Phindy's Place. I love, love, love using her digis. The kids especially are just too adorable and look so real (not all cartoony). For this one, I paper pieced the had and outfit and then used watercolors over the paper piecing. I also printed out multiple images and used tiny bits of paper so I could raise up the stick and the bird to give the image a 3 dimensional look. I think it turned out pretty cool.

The sketch for this card is from the Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge. Sometimes it's so hard to come up with a different idea for a layout, it's nice to have a sketch challenge to use once in a while. I liked this one because they had 2 sketches, a simple version and one that was a little more fussy and showed you where to embellish. I followed the simple one but added my own embellies. Actually, the flower is one that I completely made myself using a circle punch. I just fiddled with the circles until the looked flower petal-ish. It was fun to make.

This card is for a few different challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Monochrome

Totally Paper Crafts: Do it with a digi

Stampin' For The Weekend: Monochrome

Stampin' B's Design Team: Use a Flower On A Card

Paper Crafting Journey: Anything Goes

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge: Sketch Challenge

*This picture is horrible, I would LOVE to re-take it but I just mailed out the card. I probably should have checked the photo BEFORE doing that!*

Spring Friendships!

2011-02-17T19:36:00.003-05:00

Hello all,

It's been a crazzzzzzzzzzzzy week here! While poor little Johnny is feeling much better, Mommy is still exhausted and trying to catch up on sleep! He gets to nap during the day, I have to work!

I did manage to get this one card done this week. I used a Phindy image, it really is, I swear! It doesn't look like a Phindy Image but that's because it's one of her "'lil Gems". I enlarged just one of the 4 garden gems and made that the image on my card. I then did a search for quotes about seeds and friendship and came up with, "Plant a seed of friendship;reap a bouquet of happiness." by Lois Kaufman. It fit my purposes perfectly!

This card is for a few different challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Spring is on the way!

Scrap-Creations: Spring Fever

Creative Card Crew (sponsored by Phindy this Week): Friendship

Grammy's 87.....well darn close!

2011-02-10T21:33:00.003-05:00

Hello All!

Did you think that I'd let a week go without a post for Phindy's Place Challenge Blog? Not likely!!! Well, it almost happened this week because my internet just randomly went out - not good! Luckily, it was just a momentary problem and we're up and running again!

Well, this week's challenge is "Embossing". My own personal challenge was to come up with a birthday present for my soon to be 87-year-old Grandmother "Grammy". Now, she's going to be 87 on Saturday, she has everything she needs/wants, and has a house full of "stuff". What do you buy for her? She also has 10 living children and several grandchildren. The majority of the kids will get her a sweatshirt, seriously, how many sweatshirts can a woman own? The rest of the kids will get her gift certificates to go out to lunch with. Again, how many gift cards can a woman who gave up driving use? So, I was stumped. Then I remembered a Christmas gift that I had made for my boyfriend's grandmother, a picture frame. I was on to something there especially since Grammy has been complaining that she only has one picture of my son (he's now 6 months old!).

So, to "make" (I should say alter) this picture frame, I needed an image. I decided to combine two Phindy Images "Reading Chair" and "Big Sister at Work". I deleted parts of the Reading Chair image and added the Big Sister and her Baby Brother. It was the perfect for my two kiddos. I paper pieced the chair and pop-dotted the kids on the chair to give it a little bit of dimension. I used a Stampin' Up punch to make the flowers in the top corner and added "pearls" to their centers. The pearls are from a bracelet of Trinity's that Alex destroyed. (While lecturing her about being careful of her big sisters things, I was secretly doing the happy dance about getting more "stash"). I then added some foliage using the MS Branches Punch. Here's where the challenge comes in, I "gilded" some of the branches by embossing them with a copper embossing powder (sneaky way to incorporate the challenge). It gives that corner some shiny interest.

Hopefully tomorrow I will get the kids to cooperate so I can take a picture of Alex "reading" to Johnny to add to the frame. Though, with digital cameras, I could even get it done Saturday morning! Gotta love technology!!

Hope you enjoy my project....have a great weekend and can't wait to see what those girls at Phindy's DT have in store for next week!

Another Card for the week! WOO HOO!!!

2011-01-31T22:00:00.003-05:00

Hello All,

I'm so excited. It's only Monday and I have made a second card for the week (and managed to go to work all day, cook dinner, AND do a load of laundry!!). I'm on a roll!!!

Okay, so this card was started last night. I THOUGHT I was going to do another Christmas card BUT when I was going through my file of Phindy images that I have printed out (sadly I'm out of black ink), I found this little cutie. She was all printed out and ready to be paper pieced. The digital papers are from Summer Driggs (unfortunately I can't remember the name of the paper pack). I used some thin green ribbon that just happened to go perfectly with the DP. I made the flowers with a SU punch and wooden buttons that I "colored" with ink refill.

This card fits the following challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Sketch - okay, I left out the sentiment on this one but it just didn't seem to "fit" with the size of the card so instead I lowered it and turned it from a sentiment into a bow!
Angel Creative Updates: Flowers in the Snow - you must use at least 2 different kinds of flowers in your project. I used flowered DP for the background paper, the image has flowers on the bonnet and the flower in her chubby little hand, AND I made the flower embellies!
Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge: Photo Inspiration - I went with the flower/summery feel of this photo! Oh, it really makes me want this snow to go away (though, instead we're supposed to get up to 30 more inches!).

Hope you enjoy this card with Phindy's little Summer Cutie as much as I enjoyed making it!

Another Christmas Card....only 38 or so to go!

2011-01-30T01:42:00.004-05:00

Hello all!

I'm trying to make up for slacking already on my New Year's Resolution. Well, it wasn't exactly a resolution, more of a loose goal. I hate New Year's Resolutions because they never seem to work out and then you get frustrated with yourself. Anyway, my goal for the year was to make, on average, one Christmas Card a week. Doesn't sound too hard does it? Yeah, well, factor in a 4 year old, a 6 month old, strep throat, a full time job, etc., etc. and so far this is only the second card I've done and January is pretty much over! Oh well, I'm making a little bit of progress!!

Anyway, I made this cute little card using an adorable Phindy Image. I just love this snowman and his cute little friends. The best part about this image is that it takes no time to color! You have to love that when you have a clingy baby!!

Oh, and here's my exciting part.....last year (sounds funny to be saying that but technically December was last year) I ran into a bit of a dilemma. I had made my Christmas cards to be the A1 size. That's the general size I make and the easiest for me to get envelopes for. Well, then I had my kids Christmas pictures printed and guess what, yup, they were bigger than the envelopes! Sooooooooooo, I scrambled to find bigger envelopes. Then the cards were too small for the envelopes - it was a mess! So, this year I decided I would make all of my Christmas cards bigger to solve that problem. Then I realized that I would have to buy bigger envelopes and guess what, they cost more! I'm on a tight little budget and that was going to eat up basically my entire crafting budget - not good! Well, I went shopping for the after Christmas Sales and saw that you could get REALLY cheap Christmas Cards especially if you're not picky about what they look like. I bought 3 boxes of really ugly religious Christmas Cards for a quarter a box. Each box has 24 cards in it. I gave the cards to the ladies I work for (they make their own envelopes, I'm too lazy for that!) and kept the envelopes. Now I have 72 envelopes that cost me basically a penny each! That's a bargain!!!

So, here's the card that I made using the sketch from Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. I think it's a pretty cool sketch. I used ribbon (the brown thick one) that my friend Lynda gave me. She got BOXES of ribbons and lace that were being thrown away at work and she shared some with me, isn't she sweet?? The papers were all from a scrapbooking kit my brother's girlfriend got me for Christmas (I just love her and the awesome presents she gives me). I added little rhinestones in the center of the flowers. I had bought them at Walmart a few weeks ago and wasn't sure what I'd do with them but I had to have them, now I'm glad I do, they add a nice little sparkle.

This card is for the following challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Sketch Challenge

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog: Bling It Up!

Tip Top Tuesday: Fabulous Flowers! - There is a fabulous tutorial on making your own flowers on their blog. Now, I did not use their tutorial for this project but I'm thinking I'm going to have to give it a try one of these days!

Stamp Something: Winter Somethings

Yup, I've started my Christmas Cards!

2011-01-27T21:24:00.003-05:00

Hello all!

I've decided to start my Christmas cards earlier this year so I'm not freaking out in December like I was last year. Well, I WAS planning on trying a card a week, hahaha, January's almost over and that hasn't happened yet! I do have one card done though!

This adorable little elf is from Phindy's Place and is called "spreading cheer". I think he's adorable! I made the sentiment myself "Spreading some cheer...wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!".

This card was made for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Lace and Pearls. The challenge ends tonight which means a NEW challenge will be posted tomorrow morning - I can't wait!

Something's fishy..........

2011-01-20T18:02:00.003-05:00

Here's my latest creating for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog: Valentines or for Someone You Love:

This project will also be entered in Tip Top Tuesday's Challenge: All Sentimental.

I made these cute little fishy Valentines for my son to bring to his "friends" at the babysitter's. Aren't they cute? I love Phindy's little fish digi "I Glub You". I think it makes a great "Boy Valentine". You don't went to be too girly for the poor kid!

For this image, I paper pieced the fish using gold foil paper and the seaweed using green glitter paper. For the "pebbles" at the bottom of the fish bowl, I used different colored glitter in tons of different glue drops. I also added a clear rhinestone to glam it up some more!

I think the girls at the sitter will love these! I attached it to a snack sized baggie of "Goldfish" crackers. They were just a natural pairing with the image AND they are not sweet and sugary which is always a plus with the little ones! (well, for their parents and the sitter at least!)

Pay It Forward 2011

2011-01-14T21:59:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm here to share not only a project but something that a friend of mine passed on to me. My friend Michelle is a very caring and giving person. She always has sweet things to say to everyone and looks for good deeds to do. As a Special Education School Nurse, she does plenty of good deeds but they don't end when she leaves school every day. About a week ago, she posted the following status on Facebook:

"Pay it Forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment. They must in turn post this and send something they made to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011."

Of course, I commented immediately on her status (I am really hoping for something edible). I then posted the same status on my Facebook page. Michelle was the ONLY person to comment! I couldn't believe it. Either people don't want something handmade from me or they're too lazy to be willing to make 5 handmade things for someone else. Either way, I decided that since Michelle was the only person to comment, she MUST get something extra special.

She was hoping for a card, I figure I'll go through my stash and pick out a selection of notecards and give it to her as a set, still not what I had in mind though....

This brings me to my current project. I made her "roses". This is a very simple project, you take 2 red Hershey Kisses, wrap them in a square of Saran Wrap, stick a wooden skewer in them and wrap the whole thing with floral tape to secure it. I added silk leaves and then some white silk flowers as filler. She got a 1/2 dozen roses because that's how many red Kisses I had left over from Christmas!!

I then added marbles to a beer bottle that I had laying around. Actually, a friend of ours had brought over just one of these beers and drank it here (rather rude if you ask me - nobody did!). He was going to throw away the bottle when my boyfriend rescued it for recycling. I then rescued it from recycling for "re-purposing". I had no idea what I'd use it for but I thought it was a cool little bottle. After the label came off, it had that yucky glue residue left around it. I could have soaked and scrubbed it but that's completely NOT my style! Instead, I wrapped paper around it, added a decorative edge with a punch, stitched a ribbon through it and added a cute little digi from Phindy's Place, "My Love Grows". I decided to keep it rather simple because I didn't want it to all be too busy.

So, here's my extra present for Michelle for being my only commenter on the 2011 Pay It Forward Game....hope you enjoy it and please feel free to "steal" my Facebook status - it's fun and will put a smile on someone's face!

This project works for several challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - Valentines or For A Loved One

Southern Girls Challenge Blog - Totally Loved Up

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog - Do it with digis

Tip Top Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Scrap Creations - Love Is In The Air

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Distressed while Keeping Warm With Fur!

2011-01-13T19:02:00.004-05:00

Okay, crazy title for this post I know, but I just couldn't come up with something witty and clever!

This card is a second card for the Phindy's Place Challenge this week: Distressed. I was completely distressed over the first card but I have to say I'm enjoying the whole "destroying" my paper thing! Really though, I think the effect of the curling paper and the "basket weave" pattern in the bottom right corner is kind of neat. For the edges of the image and tag, I ruffed up the edges and then dipped them in watered down ink refills from Stampin' Up! I like the way it turned out (and I don't often think that!).

I am also entering this card in Mary's challenge at Angel Creative Updates. Her challenge this (2) week(s) is "Keeping Warm With Fur". I think this cute little, or not so little, polar bear is a great image (from Phindy's Place) that can either be used for Christmas or just winter in general - love those multi purpose images!!

This card ALSO qualifies for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge: Anything Goes (as long as an animal is used!).

Enough chitchat....go check out all three challenges and enter! It's fun!!

Distressing was.....distressing!

2011-01-09T22:18:00.003-05:00

Okay, so, Phindy's Place Challenge Blog this week has a challenge that was, well, challenging for me! This week is all about distressing and it had me distressed! I didn't know quite where to start but the idea of taking a brand spankin' new piece of DP and ripping, tearing, etc. - WHAT???? But, I pushed up my sleeves and gave it a go!

So, for my background paper I crinkled it up into a ball. The second layer was crinkled into a ball and then ripped in half (that took a few years off my life I think). The paper flowers that I made were crinkled and then I ran them under water and then put it on the heater to dry. Finally, I took each layer and ran scissors over all of the edges to make them "distressed". While doing all of this, I just kept thinking "why am I ruining this paper?".

Well, I have to say, when I put it all together, I LOVE IT! It's totally not "me" - well not normally anyway, but I do love it!

Thanks for the challenge Phindy! It was phun!!

Still going on the "thank yous"

2011-01-06T00:15:00.003-05:00

Well, It's been about 2 weeks since Santa came and the presents started flowing into my house like crazy and I'm STILL working on making (and writing and mailing) my Thank You Cards! This is nuts, please remind me next year to make the cards in advance! (yeah right, I won't have anything else going on!).

Anyway, this card is for a family friend who unexpectedly dropped off presents for my kiddos on Christmas Eve (a "Fancy Nancy" book for Alex and a "baby's first Christmas" set for Johnny). So, I thought this Phindy image "Big Sister at Work" would be a perfect one for her thank you card.

This card is also going to be entered in Phindy's Challenge Blog "Thank You With Scraps". Luckily the "With Scraps" part is optional because, once again, I couldn't resist using my new papers from Christmas!! These are from my HUGE K&Company paper stack from my aunt!

I hope you enjoy my card....

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

2011-01-03T00:10:00.004-05:00

It seems like we say an awful lot of that this time of year, doesn't it? The amount of gifts that get passed around in my family alone is a bit absurd....but, I love it. I love getting gifts and I especially love giving gifts. I love the whole Christmas season, spending time with family and friends, buying things for my loved ones, wrapping presents and EATING!

Anyway, I have been so wrapped up in Christmas that I've had very little time to craft and I'm going through complete withdrawl! So, it's after midnight and I'm exhausted but I stayed up to take advantage of my quiet house and finish this card that has taken me a week to complete!

I used "cozy cabin" from Phindy for this card. It was one of my Christmas presents and it's been killing me that I have these new images just waiting to be colored. I used watercolors and then added red embossing powder for the tree lights and a clear-ish glitter for the snow. I absolutely love the end result!

I also got a new paper pack for Christmas (a couple of them actually). I used these K&Company papers from my aunt - it's a HUGE paper pack - I'm soooooo excited!

So, this card is for two different challenges:

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - "Give Thanks with Scraps" - luckily the "with scraps" part is optional. I just couldn't resist using my brand new papers!

2.) Mary's Challenge at Angel Creative Updates - "Snow Anywhere" - this is my third entry for her challenge, I have pretty good odds of winning this week!

Alright, I have to go to bed, if this post makes little or no sense, have pity on me, I'm VERY sleep deprived! However, I'm happy because I got to craft!!

'Tis the season....to be thankful!

2010-12-27T18:30:00.002-05:00

Hello all!

The presents are unwrapped, the paper is thrown away (most of it anyway), the toys are scattered ALL OVER MY HOUSE......Christmas is over!

At my house, as with most I'm sure, that means we have to start Thank You notes. Phindy's Place Challenge Blog has a 2 week challenge going on right now, "Give Thanks With Scraps". This fits my current needs perfectly!

Mary's challenge at Angel Creative Updates is "Anything Snows". Phindy's cute little "Tasty Flakes" Image was just calling for the snowflake DP so this card fit Mary's Challenge perfectly too!

So. without further ado, here's my card.....

'Tis the season.....to go crazy!

2010-12-21T23:43:00.006-05:00

Well, Christmas is almost here and I think I've lost my mind! Why do I do crazy things like decided to rearrange furniture the week before Christmas?? A better question, why do I decided, less than a week before Christmas, to make picture frames for both of my kids Great-Grandmother's? Okay, yes, I know they will both love them, but, come on, wouldn't they like a store bought one just fine? Of course not! So, I HAD to make them something!!

Well, this one is for my boyfriend's grandmother. She is the Great-"Grandma" to all three kids. I had to merge 2 of Phindy's images so I could come up with 1 image with three kids....I did this for her Christmas card. Well, "Cookie" liked it so much she emailed me as soon as she got it and had a million comments and questions about the "picture" on my card. So, this great idea popped into my mind to make her a picture frame using the merged image.

I started out with a super simple (and cheap) picture frame:

I decided that due to time, it would be a simple transformation - no embellishments or anything (though, I'm wishing I had some little glass snowflakes to add), just paper and the image. Here is what I came up with:

I can't put the picture in it because I haven't taken it yet! I plan on doing that when the kids are all "pretty" for Christmas!

Overall, I can't complain. This was a super simple, easy peasy project and I think Cookie will love it!

As an added bonus, I get to enter this in the Phindy's Place Challenge this week as well as the Angel Creative Updates Challenge!!

Phindy's Challenge is "All Creatures Great and Small". Well, at first I was hoping that my teddy bear from the "Smooch" image would qualify but then I thought about it, technically, people are animals so I'm covered!

Mary's Challenge at Angel Creative Updates is "Anything Snows". Since there are snowflakes all over my DP for the photo mat, I get to use this project for that challenge too!

Really, you should play along!

2010-12-20T19:42:00.004-05:00

Well Girls, My friend Mary's blog challenge, Angel Creative Updates, is in it's second week....time is ticking away.....there are NO entries! This means that I will be the ONLY one participating. I'm betting that random.org will pick my card!! I won last week too!! This is crazy! Please come out and play with me!!

Here is my card for the challenge this week. It was an easy one, Child's Birthday. This worked out perfectly for me because one of my daughter's friends has a birthday TOMORROW! Nothing like waiting until the last minute! Oh well, it's done!!

Hope you (and Hannah) enjoy it!

Oh, I wish I wasn't so far behind!

2010-12-15T21:02:00.003-05:00

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and I am soooooooo far behind! Only half of my Christmas Cards are out - how horrible is that? Some aren't finished, some are going to be store bought, and some are missing addresses - still!

Anyway, I made this card for my boyfriend's Grandmother (my kid's Great-grandmother!). Since there are 3 kiddos, I figured I needed an image with 3 kiddos. Hmmm...this posed a problem since I don't own any digis with 3 kids! So, I merged Phindy's "Smooches" (one of my all time favs) and "Emma Spring Dress". I think it came out pretty cool!

This card is for Phindy's Challenge Blog - "Winter".

A New Challenge Blog

2010-12-13T00:40:00.002-05:00

My friend Mary has started a new challenge blog! I'm so excited for her!! The challenge is called Angel Creative Updates. You should really go check it out!

This week's challenge (which ends on Tuesday) is all about "thanks". Your card has to include a sentiment of gratitude someplace but you can use any image (or no image). How easy is that?

With my daughter's birthday party being this past weekend, I now need to make 9 Thank You cards. Okay, what was I thinking? Why didn't I make these when I made the invitations? Oh well, at least now I can use them for the challenge!! I have one done, only 8 more to go....and Christmas is less than 2 weeks away! Eek!!

So, here's my card, it's simple but hey, I have to make 9 of them!

Phinally Phinished My Phindy Card!

2010-12-09T20:15:00.005-05:00

Hello all! Well, Phindy's Place has a fun challenge going on this week.....Frugal Phindy Freebie! I made this tag for my son at his babysitter's. A few weeks ago, I made tags for all of the girls, he's the only boy and needed a "boy" tag! I think this image is just adorable and reminds me of him!!

Here's the fun part - for me anyway - I colored this image VERY differently than I have before, instead of painting with water colors, I used Crayola crayons and baby oil! I'm loving how it came out and....it was FREE! I "borrowed" my daughter's crayons and my son's baby oil!! Not bad, huh?

Also, the sentiment was a prize from another challenge that I had won - so that was free too!!

Hope you enjoy this little tag I whipped up! Sorry the pictures show my wet glue but there's no time for drying, the challenge is about to end!!

Merry Christmas Grammy!

2010-12-02T22:52:00.004-05:00

Well, I made the deadline for Phindy's Challenge by the skin of my teeth this week! It's been crazy around my house with work, the beginning of the holiday season, and sick kiddos (and a Mommy who doesn't feel so hot). Tonight, I FINALLY got my Challenge card for Phindy's Challenge Blog finished and now I get to post it!! WOO HOO!!

So, the challenge was "metal" that's easy enough, right? I decided to do this card for my grandmother. She LOVES giraffes. When Phindy showed us this image "Hello There", I knew I had to have it for Grammy. I've made her at least one card with it already and decided to dress Mr. Giraffe up for Christmas to make her a special Christmas Card this year. My "metal" is my 3 "holly berries" (aka red brads)! Snuck those in pretty nicely I think!

So, here's my card for Grammy, I hope you all like it, I'm pretty sure she will!

A Guest Design Spot For Me????!!!

2010-11-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

A few months ago, I was contacted by Steph from The Christmas Card Challenge Blog. She asked me if I would be willing to do a Guest Design Spot on their blog. My first thought was "no way, me??? I can't do that!". Well, I was more than willing to, I was just amazed that they would ask me! Of course I said yes, not even knowing what the exact details were. Steph then told me that the challenge for Week #51 was a color challenge - dark grey, light pink, white and pumpkin/orange. Keeping in mind that it's a Christmas challenge blog, I was completely stumped.

Earlier this week, Steph contacted me again with a "friendly reminder" about the deadline. Not that I had forgotten, I just forgot that it was THIS WEEK!! EEK!!! So, I had been brewing an idea for all of these months and I sat down to put the idea to paper. EWE - it did not turn out well. My dear boyfriend even told me it was "ugly". Soooooooooo, back to the drawing board I went. What was I going to do? I was running out of time and definately out of ideas. As tend to do when these things happen, I browsed my collection of digital images. I found the perfect image - Phindy's "Smooch". I love this image because it reminds me of my daughter and son. Then, it all began to click for me!

So, to make a very long story short, here is my card. I really hope you'll head on over to the Christmas Card Challenge Blog and challenge yourself to enter this week's color challenge - if I can do it, so can you!

Another Poll from Phindy!

2010-11-17T22:47:00.003-05:00

Hello, just a quick note to tell you that Phindy is having another poll on her blog. All you have to do is click on your favorite type of image to work with and enter your name. You'll be in the running to win this amazing new image "Peace and Cheer"! Easy Peasy - go enter - what are you waiting for??

Trying to Beat the Rush!

2010-11-14T23:13:00.007-05:00

Every year I try to beat the Christmas rush and have all of my shopping done before Thanksgiving.....didn't happen this year. I do, however, have presents for all of the kids at the sitter's. This weekend, I made gift tags for each of the girls.

These tags work for a few different challenges:

1.) Digital Tuesday - "never used stash" - I paper pieced the star at the top of Miss Chrissy Tree with gold foil paper that my friend Sue gave me. I didn't know what I was going to use it for but I had to give that paper a home - glad I did!

2.) Creative Inspirations - Anything Christmassy/Winter

3.) Delightful Challenges - Glitter it Up! - I glittered the ornaments on the "tree" and added a glitter brad.

4.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - Christmas Is Coming

5.) Stamp Something - November Digi Day - I love DigiDay because I almost ALWAYS use digis!

'Tis the season - almost

2010-11-07T01:20:00.005-04:00

Okay, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas! I really do!! However, I refuse to start listening to Christmas music on the radio - I cannot believe they are playing it already! That's nuts!! On the other hand, I am fine with starting my Christmas Cards - come on, let's be practical here, a 3 year old and a 3 month old, I can't crank out 20 or 30 cards in a week or two after Thanksgiving....sooooooooooooo, I'll make my Christmas cards without listening to the Christmas Music Stations.

Enough of my rant.....

This card is for a few different challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - 3, 2, 1 Go - recipe challenge

Allsorts - "Twas the Night Before Christmas" - okay, this is amazing, I didn't know I had this paper until I went looking for something that went with this theme....the paper actually has the words to the poem, how wild is that? It totally threw off the color scheme that I had in my mind but that's okay, the paper is PERFECT!! I tried to get a close up of the words but they just got blurry so you'll have to trust me on this one!

Christmas Card Challenge - This challenge is always great for me because the challenges are optional as long as you use a Christmas Card - you're in! This week's challenge is a photo inspiration challenge. The tree in the picture goes along with my "pine" branches that I used as filler around the flowers.

Another try with an easel card

2010-11-07T00:33:00.004-04:00

Well, my last easel card was so successful (thanks to Cec's wonderful instructions) that I decided to try it again! I'm quite pleased with this one as well. I decided to make it pretty simple for a couple of reasons (1) I wanted to focus on trying to work out the easel part and (2) the image was a larger and more detailed one than I usually use so I wanted that to be the focal point.

Speaking of the image. I got this amazing digi FREE from Phindy for joining in on all of the 1000 member celebration challenges on her PCP page! How cool is that??!!

So this card is for Phindy's Place Challenge - 3, 2, 1 Go! Recipe challenge. I used 3 brads, 2 papers, and 1 image. The card is also for Creative Inspirations Challenge - Glitter, Glamour, Girlie. Poor Mr. Brown isn't feeling too comfortable on this pink and purple card but he'll suffer through it to make Mrs. Comfy happy! She wanted him to wear a pink shirt and purple tie to match her girly and glitzy outfit but that's where he drew the line!! (oh, the stories I make up while I color!!)

Well, I should go get in bed now and enjoy my extra hour of sleep (thanks to Day Light Savings) but instead I think I might use my extra hour for crafting :)!

I only want snow on my cards!

2010-11-02T22:25:00.003-04:00

Hello all,

I have decided that this winter, I only want to see snow on the cards I make - none of that yucky white stuff on the roads or my driveway!

Anyway, I made this card using Phindy's Adorable Image - "Tasty Flakes" - I just love her!

This card is for 3 different challenges:

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - your favorite color - dark green

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Winter Wonderland

Christmas Card Challenges - include candy canes - this is an optional theme, as long as it's a Christmas Card it works!

One Last Entry For Phindy's PCP Celebration Challenges!

2010-10-31T00:51:00.004-04:00

Well, I have one last entry for the festivities over at Phindy's Place on Paper Craft Planet!

This card is for Tammy's Thursday Challenge - A Christmas Card using non-traditional colors (no red/white/green). Soooooooooooo, I decided I NEEDED to use "Hot Cocoa" since I have yet to use her (it was killing me to see her sitting here and not play with her). Well, I knew I had this template to make a "mug" and I just thought she needed to be on it. I used the snowman DP because they remind me of marshmallows which reminds me of hot cocoa - see the thought process there?

The sentiment is a little tricky to read in the picture but it says "Hope Your Holidays are Warm and Cozy!". I have also "stuffed" this card with a packet of cocoa mix and a candy cane - had to be blue because red/white would be traditional colors!

This card works for a couple of challenges. They are:

Phindy's Place on Papercraft Planet - Tammy's Thursday Challenge - Non-traditional colors

Diecut Dreams Christmas Challenge - Christmas Digi

The Party's Still Going at Phindy's Place!

2010-10-30T22:48:00.003-04:00

Hello All! I'm back with another Phindy's 1000 Members Week Challenge Card! This one is for Lynda's Wednesday Challenge (yeah, I'm a little behind). Her challenge was a template challenge. You get the template to make this easy peasy acorn card and she challenged us to "mix and match or edit or alter any of Phindy’s image to use". I used the babies from "Hugs from Here" and "Big Sister at Work". They are now friends - aren't they cute. Okay, I know, it's not perfect but merging images isn't easy! Plus, I don't think Phindy really had this in mind when she drew either one of them! Either way, I think they look pretty adorable "hugging" each other!

This Cute Little Acorn Card is for the following challenges:

Phindy's Group on Paper Craft Planet: Lynda's Wednesday Challenge - Use the Acorn Card Template

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Keeping it Clean and Simple

Papertake Weekly Challenges - Sparkly and Bright - the "Give Thanks" brads are shiny and the ribbon has a pretty sheen to it!

More Celebrating at Phindy's Place on PCP!

2010-10-26T22:25:00.004-04:00

Hello again!

I've been busy, busy, busy and my friends over at Phindy's Place on PCP are keeping me even busier!! There is some crazy celebrating going on over there - you should check it out! 1000 members is a VERY big deal and we're all very excited!

So, we have now had 3 different challenges since Sunday. This card is actually for yesterday's challenge but working 3 shifts yesterday, I didn't quite have time to finish it (go figure!!). Tonight I had a little bit of time (thanks to avoiding any household chores and my mom feeding my kiddos dinner) so I finished up the card. This was a sketch challenge - I think the sketch is pretty cool and I'm just LOVING this "Riding Rudolph" image from Phindy. Her "Winter Cuties" are just adorable (well, actually I love ALL of her images).

Anyway, this card is also for some other challenges:

Delightful Challenges: "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas"

Diecut Dreams Christmas Club: "The One I Love" - this image reminds me of my son so I think this card is for him!

Christmas Card Challenges: Use Flowers - Now, the great thing about this challenge blog is that the challenges are optional, you can always enter any Christmas Card you make! So, this fits!

Phindy's Challenge Blog: Your Favorite Color - this is a double whammy card because I think my favorite color is dark green - I used it for the trim and for the "holly branches", oh, for the baby's jammies too!

Pile It On!: Holiday Card using Red, White, Green, and Something Soft - I have all of the colors and my something soft is my ribbon.

More Halloween Treat Bags

2010-10-25T19:28:00.002-04:00

As if making 6 treat bags for the kids at the babysitter's wasn't enough, I decided to make 6 more for a party we went to last weekend. I ended up staying up until 2 AM Friday night (okay, Saturday morning) so they'd be done by the time we had to leave for the party. I really think I am becoming insane!!!

This project fits for many challenges, there are probably even more than I have found but here's what I have:

PaperCutz- Halloween using stars, circles, diamonds, or crescents

Spoonfull of Sugar - Boo!!! - Halloween

Creative Inspirations - Halloween/Fall

Fab N' Funky - Things that Go Bump In The Night

Corrosive - Halloween (or orange and black)

My first sucessful attempt at an easel card!!

2010-10-24T23:14:00.003-04:00

Phindy's Place on Paper Craft Planet has reached 1000 members (actually, as of this moment there are 1022!!). To celebrate, the DT from Phindy's Challenge Blog are hosting several fun challenges over on the PCP page for us. Today's challenge was a "card-a-thon". I missed the live version of Cec's discussion but I went back and followed along later anyway. It sounded like great fun and I'm sorry I missed it! Cec "walked" us through making an easel card. She must be a wonderful teacher because this is the first easel card that I have done that actually works!

You should really go over to the PCP discussion and check it out - there's a great prize up for grabs and it's a random drawing - gotta love that! While you're there, become a member (if you're not already), I can't believe how fast we've grown from 1000 to 1022! Amazing!

This card also works for Stamp Something - Digi Day - I just love Phindy's Digis!

One of my crazier ideas...

2010-10-20T22:39:00.005-04:00

Hello all!

Well, I decided to make treat bags for all of the kids at the babysitter's. There's only 5 little girls (and my 2 month old son) so it shouldn't be a big deal, right? Yeah, okay! These cute little bags took a bit of time between coloring the adorable Phindy Image, cutting everything out, stamping/glittering the paper, and assembling them all - I think I'm nuts!

Though, I have to admit, they are adorable!

This project fits several challenges this week...I'm sure there are more but this is what I've found:

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween

Stamp Something - Halloween Something

Pile It On - Kid Themed Halloween

Stamptacular Sunday - No Cards Allowed

Allsorts - "Bingo" (you've got to check it out, I can't explain but it's cool) - I chose the bottom row - I have a "tag" with the child's name on the back, I used a punch (to make the tag), and I have ribbon (to hold it closed).

Phindy's Place - Fancy Folds - I wasn't sure if this qualified or not since it's not a card but Phindy says it does, so I guess it must!!

Finally....my camera and computer are friends again!

2010-10-19T22:52:00.008-04:00

Hello! I actually got to take a real picture of this card because my camera and computer are friends again! Woo Hoo! It's a good thing too since I couldn't figure out how to scan this card!

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog has a challenge this week that was a bit of a "challenge" for me. It's Fancy Fold Cards.....wasn't quite sure how I was going to go about that one. I looked up some tutorials and ended up just winging it! I think this card turned out pretty neat!

This is the card when it is all closed up.

Untie the ribbon, open the first flap and this is what you get (it says "Happy Birthday").

Now with flap #2 opened!

All the way opened! There's lots of room for a message in there!

Here's a top view so you can get a better idea of how it worked out!

The image for this card is a freebie from Phindy's Page on Paper Craft Planet. Our group has reached 1000 members, how cool is that? Anyway, I just had to use this little guy.

Speaking of Phindy reaching 1000 members, there are big doings on her PCP page starting this weekend to celebrate. If you're a member, stop over and join us, if you're not a member, stop over, become a member, and join us! I for one can't wait!!

This card is for:

Phindy's Place Challenge - Fancy Folds

Paper Cutz - Anything Goes

Something Cute

2010-10-14T19:09:00.003-04:00

You'll have to excuse the picture again this week - still missing my laptop :(. I had to scan this one in!

Soooo, Phindy's Challenge this week is to make "something cute". How easy is that with a Phindy Image? Here's my card.....

It's been a while!

2010-10-06T23:58:00.003-04:00

Wow, life seems to have gotten crazy! It's been a while since I've posted but I'm back in the swing of things and I have an entry for Phindy's Challenge Blog. This week is a sketch challenge, I just LOVE sketch challenges!

I wasn't able to "clean up" my picture because my laptop with my photoshop program is currently not working - UGH! So, you get a rough picture - sorry!

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this Phindy Image - it's one of the new Winter Cuties. I think it's my new favorite because it reminds me of my daughter and son! Too cute!

Without further ado, here is my card!

Ahhhhhhhhhh....quiet time!

2010-09-25T01:01:00.006-04:00

It's 1 AM and my house is quiet. Why is it that my children don't seem to require sleep? My 2 month old son was up until after 11! 'the poor little guy had bags under his eyes but refused to give in to sleep.

Anyway, I've been enjoying the quiet and crafting (though I should have been cleaning!).

I made this sweet little thank you card using a freebie from Phindy's Place on Papercraft Planet. If you're not a member yet, you should really head over to the PCP page and join the group! There is a wonderful group of ladies who have become Phindy Phriends who chat regularly. I just love them all! If you're not into chatting, that's fine too, everyone would love it if you just shared your Phindy creations. If sharing isn't your thing, just come on over and join so we can get up to 1000 members! I'm DYING to find out what freebie Phindy will give us when we hit that big milestone (she has given us a PHABULOUS freebie for every 100 members) - we're only 18 people away!!! Plus, if you join the group, you can get the freebies we've already gotten!

I used papers from Summer Driggs. I just love her digital papers AND they're FREE! How great is that?

Now, here is the list of challenges that I have made this card for:

1.) Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Sketch

2.) Paper Sundaes - Fabulous Fall - I thought these rich brown colors just looked like fall, don't you?

3.) Papertake Weekly - Animal Magic - Little Miss Patty is such a cute little animal!

4.) Meljens Designs - Autumn Colors - it was 89 degrees here today, it didn't feel very much like the beginning of fall!

5.) Paper Play Challenges - Coffee and Cream - I can't stand coffee but I am loving this color combination - Paper Play is being sponsored by Phindy this week! I would REALLY like to win this challenge!

6.) Paper Cutz Challenge - use a critter

7.) Phindy's Place Challenge - Give Thanks - make a thank you card

8.) Stamp Something - Something with Fall Colors - WOW - lot's of challenges with Fall/Autumn colors!

Yet another Christmas Cutie!

2010-09-22T21:58:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm not sure how I did it but I have made a second set of 8 cards this week! I just couldn't resist...Phindy's new Christmas/Winter Cuties are just so darn cute!!! This one "Chrissy Tree" is absolutely adorable. When my 3 year old daughter saw her, I had begun to color the lights and ornaments but her dress was still white. She asked why the girl had all the "stuff" on her, I explained that she was pretending to be a Christmas Tree. To that Alex said "well, she needs a green dress". So, Chrissy has a green dress.

Anyway, here is the list of challenges that these cards are for.

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - OWH Cards - now, you don't HAVE to make a set of 8 cards for OWH, I'm just a bit obsessive! I TRY to make sets of 8 when I send them to OWH because I saw someplace that they send out 8 boxes of cards at a time, this way each box gets one of the cards. If you are unfamiliar with OWH, read my sidebar, it explains a little bit about them and has their website. This week is also the Birthday Bash for the OWH Stars and Stamps Blog, there is a link to that site on my sidebar as well.

2.) Fussy and Fancy Friday - Christmas Colors - this does not have to be a Christmas card but these cards worked for this challenge.

3.) Christmas Card Challenge - Distressing - okay, I didn't distress these cards but you can use ANY Christmas card for this challenge blog at any time so it worked.

4.) A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything Goes - Boy do I love the anything challenges!

5.) ABC Christmas Challenge - T is for Tree - well, this may be a little bit of a stretch, but in dear Chrissy's mind, she is a tree!

The sketch that I used for this card was one that I found on Paper Craft Planet. It was from Diana Gibbs. I just loved how simple it was!

Speaking of PCP - I am on a mission. I just love Phindy's Images and my Phindy's Phamily over at the PCP group. They are a bunch of wonderful women. We really are like a family, if not family, then definately very close friends! Anyway, here's my mission: Phindy is only 18 people away from 1000 members. She is also currently away visiting with her mother and father. My hope is that by the time she gets back, we will be up to 1000 members. I think she would be thrilled by that. Okay, I'm being slightly selfish here too, for every 100 members, Phindy has given away a phantastic phreebie (they're still available on her PCP page) and I'm betting that the freebie for 1000 would be AMAZING and I WANT IT! So, if you're not already a member, go check it out and sign up - tell your friends too!

Oh Wow! Check these out!

2010-09-17T22:16:00.008-04:00

Phindy has released her Winter Cuties - WOW - they're adorable!!! Of course I need them all, however, I had to limit myself :(. Be sure to go visit Phindy's Challenge Blog to check out the release and go on the blog hop (there are prizes to be won).

Anyway, here is my first card using one of these adorable little ones - so sweet! This is "Tasty Flakes". What kid (who lives where there is snow) hasn't caught snow flakes on their tongue?? That's the best part of the first flurries!

This card (well 8 cards, I'll explain in a bit) is for several challenges:

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - OWH Cards - Phindy's is supporting OWH this month for their Birthday Bash all month long. (OWH is described in my sidebar) I saw someplace on the OWH site that they like to do batches of 8 boxes at a time so I try to make my cards in batches of 8.

2.) Stamp Something - Digi Day - use a digi

3.) Winter Wonderland - Monochromatic Colors

The sketch used for these cards was for last week's challenge at Stamptacular Sunday, I wasn't fast enough though and missed the deadline.

One More Green Card!

2010-09-16T23:50:00.005-04:00

I realized tonight that I almost always do Phindy's "Birdie" image in blue. Soooo, I decided to make her green for this week's challenge (that ends in just a little bit) at Phindy's Place. I paper pieced her because it's easier to paper piece while holding an infant than it is to color! Really, that's the only reason. For no reason at all, this turned out to be a monochromatic card (except the birdie).

I used digital papers from Summer Driggs Design. I really enjoy her papers and it's so nice to have so many that go together so easily!

There was no plan for a layout for this card, I was just playing. I think I like the way it turned out and the lacing was fun!

Hope you enjoy it!

Oh, and don't forget to go to Phindy's Challenge Blog tomorrow for her new release of Christmas Cuties!! Can't wait!!!

It's been a while!

2010-09-14T19:39:00.005-04:00

Going back to work after having the baby is really throwing me for a loop!!! I have however, managed to get one card done (it's taken a few days in little bitty spurts of crafting time!).

So, here is my card. It's for a few different challenges:

1.) Paper Cutz - use tags

2.) Phindy's Place - "Going Green" - okay, I didn't take the recycled route, instead I made made her wear some green. This little cutie is from Phindy's Place! I just love her "Summer Cuties" and the "Halloween Cuties" Are great too! Now, on September 17th, Phindy will be releasing her "Winter Cuties" and I am soooooo excited. From what Phindy says, the DT has some exciting and fun stuff planned for us at the release party!!! Oh, and while you're checking out Phindy's Cuties, you should vote on her poll about what type of challenges you like the best, if you vote, you can enter to win one of her "Winter Cuties" for free! How easy is that?

3.) Paper Sundaes - at least 3 types of embellishments - I used wire on my tag, a plastic flower, and 2 eyelets (1 on the tag and 1 on the flower)

4.) Crafty Sentiments - use a digi - ALL of Phindy's images are digi's so that was easy too!

OWH Sketch Challenge

2010-09-07T00:06:00.003-04:00

This month is a big birthday bash over at OWH Stars and Stamps blog. To celebrate, they have tons of fun challenges and other "stuff" going on. You should go check them out!

One of their challenges this month is a sketch challenge (Sketch #34). The challenge is to use the sketch, the color yellow, and make it a thank you card. Not so tough! I made this card with a Phindy Image "Birdie". I just love her and all of Phindy's other "cutie" images. They're so, well, cute!

I hope you'll head over to check out the OWH blog, they're a great organization for a great cause and they have some fun things going on all month long! Plus, there are lots of great prizes to win!

More bits and pieces!!

2010-09-03T17:05:00.004-04:00

Well, I've decided that since today is my last official day of maternity leave, I would have a lazy day and just hang out - no house work, no errands, nothing! It's been great so far - we've successfully stayed in our pj's (except Johnny who decided to spit up on his) and not lifted a finger. I got the whole spa treatment from my 3 year-old (hair, make-up, and jewerly), AND I got to craft! Nice!!

So, now that I've rambled long enough, my SECOND card of the day is another paper pieced card. It is for several different challenges.

1. Phindy's Challenge Blog - Paper piecing - you should definately go check out Phindy's Blog and Store as well. She's having a poll on her blog, if you vote you might just win one of her "Halloween Cuties". At her store, she's having an end of summer sale - buy 3 images, get 1 free! Go check them out!

2 A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Sketch Challenge - I thought this simple sketch would work well for a boys card.

3. The Corrosive Challenge - "For the Guys" - I'm so glad that I have a guy card to make, I've had this paper FOREVER and never got around to using it. I've seen it a lot lately from other people's blogs and wanted to try it out.

4. Cards for Men - "Long Summer Days" - Now, this Phindy Image is definately a summer one in my book - ride on toys NEED to be OUTSIDE when you live in a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 kids and a dog! Plus, shooting any liquid out of a straw better only happen outside!

5. Stamp Something - Something Cute - well, he is cute, isn't he?

Paper Piecing!

2010-09-03T14:30:00.003-04:00

Well, I have spent WAY too much time on this card today and I REALLY need to get some housework done while my baby is FINALLY sleeping - ah, this was way more fun!!

This card is for 6 different challenges:

1.) Phindy's Challenge Blog - Paper Piecing

2.) Tuesday Morning Challenges - sketch

3.) Allsorts Challenge - inspiration from a garden or park

4.) Stamptacular Sunday - Pretty in Pink

5.) Crafty Sentiments - "Summer Inspirations"

6.) Paper Cutz - 1 ribbon, 2 buttons, 3 colors

One more Christmas card

2010-09-02T22:00:00.005-04:00

Okay, I REALLY am not in the mood to think about Christmas but those ladies at Phindy's Place seem to insist upon it!

Well, earlier in the week, Phindy was welcoming a new member to her PCP group (you should really join, we're almost at 1000 members and I bet there will be a great freebie given away when we reach that milestone!) and she mentioned the freebies (as always) and the challenge blog (as always) but then said that she wasn't sure that any of the freebies would work for this challenge. This of course got me thinking. I decided to challenge myself to see if I could get one of those freebies to work for the Christmas challenge. I think it worked pretty well!

So, this card fits for Phindy's Challenge: Christmas in Summer, and Sketch Saturday: Sketch.

A touch of frost

2010-09-02T14:08:00.003-04:00

I'm back with another Christmas Card. This one just looks frosty to me!

For this card, I used a Phindy Image - I just love this snowman and his little friends. Phindy's Challenge this week (which ends today) is "Christmas In August". I don't normally like blue for Christmas but this seemed to work for me last night.

The sketch that I used is from Friday Sketchers - as usual, I wasn't sure about the sketch until I started working with it, I think it turned out pretty cool! (haha, frosty/cool, I'm just so tricky!)

Winter Wonderland's challenge this week is "All I want for Christmas". All I really want for Christmas is to be with my family and friends so this little snowman is getting just what I want!

Over at Pollycraft Monday, they want us to "add a little nature" to our cards. All of these furry and feathery friends are my touch of nature.

Papertake Weekly is challenging us to add just one of something on their card (images don't count) in their "Just the One" challenge. I have just one flower!

Christmas In August??!!

2010-08-31T12:08:00.004-04:00

Okay, I'm sitting infront of my air conditioner while I make a Christmas Card - something's not right there! There are several Christmas Challenges going on right now and I never seem to have enough Christmas Cards ready when the time comes. So, these challenges will help me.

This card is for several different challenges:

1.) Phindy's Place - Christmas In August - Okay, this is NOT a Christmas Image from Phindy but she's adorable and she looks like she's ready to celebrate, why not have her celebrate Christmas?

2.) Card Patterns - Sketch

3.) Christmas Card Challenge - Sparkle and Shine - The glass beads that I used as the center of my flowers added some sparkle and shine to my card.

4.) Paper Sundaes - Christmas In August - fell in love with these papers from Summer Driggs Designs and decided to use them instead of traditional Christmas colored papers.

5.) Cupcake Craft - Lets go digital - not only is the image a digi, the papers are too

6.) Creative Inspirations - Christmas In August - I TOLD you that there were a lot of Christmas Challenges going on right now!

It's Almost September!

2010-08-29T18:10:00.000-04:00

Can you believe the summer is almost over and it's time to go back to school? Part of me is thrilled about this because I LOVE Fall! Part of me is sad because I do NOT LOVE Winter!

For this card, I used a cute little freebie image from MelJens Designs and paper pieced the whole thing. I think it looks pretty cute!

This "back to school card" is for several challenges:

1.) The Beary Sweet Challenge - In Stitches

2.) Pixie Dust - Stitch it Up!

3.) Fussy & Fancy Friday - Back to School

4.) Stamp Something - Back to School

5.) Inspirational Card Sketches - Sketch

6.) Sentimental Sundays - Clean and Simple

I wish I could be this relaxed!

2010-08-28T23:22:00.004-04:00

Hello Again!

I'm back with another card with a Phindy Image - I just love her images!! This time I have "Sudsy Susie" - I wish I could be her!!!

This card is for several different challenges (big surprise there!):

1.) The Corrosive Challenge - "drinks are on us"

2.) Tuesday Morning Sketches - sketch

3.) Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - shaped card

4.) Creative Card Crew Challenge - Sparkle and Shine

Hope you enjoyed this one!

Oh, and, don't forget, Phindy has a chance to win one of her Halloween Cuties over at her Blog. All you have to do is vote on the poll and you can enter to win! How easy is that?? Go vote now!

It's wayyyyyy too late for me to be up!

2010-08-27T02:09:00.005-04:00

Hello all! It's way too late for me to be up and I'm hoping to finish this post before a certain little babe wakes up and wants to be fed!

I used another one of Phindy's Summer Cuties on this one. "Birdie" seems to be a bit sophisticated for her age, doesn't she? She reminds me of my 8 year old step-daughter who is still a little girl in so many ways but thinks she is "hot stuff" with her texting and facebook!

Speaking of Phindy, she as a "just for fun" poll going over at her blog. If you vote, you can enter to win her newest Halloween Cutie (she's pretty adorable) before you can even buy it at her store! That's simple, you should go check it out!

This card is for 3 different challenges:

1.) Cute Card Thursday: No Diecut machines (I don't have any so that part was easy) and no punchs (okay, that was a bit harder)

2.) Card Patterns: Sketch

3.) Delightful Challenges: Cute and Girly using pearls and lace - I found that this black lace is a bit of a bear to work with but I loved the end result! I snuck the pearl into the middle of the flower (which I cut out of the paper and used as an embellie)

Black & White Only! Seriously?

2010-08-26T13:06:00.005-04:00

Yup, that's right, the Wild Flower Wednesday Challenge this week is to make black and white card. I really didn't think that I was going to make this one. It just wasn't coming together in my mind.

Then I started playing....

I used an image from The Wild Flower Patch - it was a freebie a while ago. I made it completely black (though I REALLY wanted to go brown).

The papers are digital papers that a friend of mine had directed me toward.

The sketch is from this week's Paper Sundaes' Challenge.

Sentimental Sunday's challenge is to use inspirational words. I searched and searched and came up with this quote that I think works!

Okay, I like the card, I really do, but I SO BADLY want to put a bright red apple in that tree!

A whole bunch of challenges!

2010-08-25T16:00:00.004-04:00

A friend of mine shared a link with me to Summer Driggs' Blog, she has the most amazing digi papers! They come in complete digi kits and are free! (She does have paypal set up so you can send her a donation if you wish.) Well, when I saw that Cupcake Craft's challenge this week was blue and green, I immediately thought of Summer's paper pack, Relax. They're perfect!

Of course, I then went off in search of challenges to combine it with...

Digital Tuesday's Challenge is called "Cool-It!". They want images with water/beach/or tropical themes to help us "cool down" after a hot summer. I thought of "Splashy Siena", one of Phindy's Summer Cuties. She's helping cool down that cute little duck! I think the cool colors of Summer's Paper complement the theme and image nicely!

I then needed a sketch. After looking through a few, I decided on Sketch Saturday's sketch this week. That one just caught my eye!

After picking the sketch, I went through some more challenges to see if anything fit....lo and behold, I found 2 more!

Spoonfull of Sugar has a choice of 2 challenges this week. You can either make a shaker card OR do a 3-2-1 with 3 flowers, 2 buttons, and 1 ribbon OR combine the two. Shaker cards never quite work out for me sooooo, I decided the 3-2-1 would work well with this sketch. I decided to use lace for my ribbon, actually, it's paper lace. I wish I knew where my mother found it (or that she could remember) because I love working with it and it's almost gone!

Sooooooooooooo, this led me to my final challenge to combine all of these with......Crafty Sentiments Challenge this week is "lace". Well, that was easy, I had already planned on using lace.

So, that's my card! Hope you like it!!!

So Sweet!

2010-08-25T13:06:00.003-04:00

Hello all! I finished this sweet little card last night and wanted to post it for all of you to see today! I just love how it came out! It's so sweet, the colors just seemed to work so well.

This is my third entry for Phindy's Challenge Blog. This week, her challenge is to make a card for a small child or baby. I love this little summer cutie "Summer Blossom". She's such a sweet little girl!

Speaking of the "cuties", Phindy has started releasing some of her Halloween Cuties - I NEED them, there are also several Summer Cuties that I still need!! So, I NEED to win the random drawing for Phindy's Challenge.

Phindy is sponsoring this week's challenge at Cupcake Inspirations. (I NEED to win this challenge too) Their photo inspiration this week has 3 cupcakes with white frosting and lavendar flowers with chocolatey brown flourishey stems. I used the colors and tried to imitate one of the flowers in my flowers in the bottom left corner, I think I'm liking the way they came out! I "made" the flourishey "stem", by stamping with a clear acrylic stamp on my green paper and then cutting it out. It's times like these that I really wish I could afford a Cricut!

I used a sketch from Friday Sketchers' this for this card. I wasn't so sure that I liked the sketch when I first saw it but then I decided to give it a try. I just love the way it turned out!

Finally, Papertake Weekly has a 3-2-1 challenge this week. You can use anything you want as long as it's 3 of something, 3 of something and 1 of something. I have 3 DPs, 2 Flowers, and 1 image. When I first read this challenge, I thought it was going to be a bit tricky, it was very simple!

A Big Brother Card

2010-08-24T13:21:00.003-04:00

My friend just had her second baby which made her 2 year old son a big brother. Big brothers (and big sisters) need special cards to celebrate the occasion - especially since Mommy, Daddy, and the new baby are getting so much attention! Soooo, I made this cute, quick little card for my friend Landyn because being a big brother is a big deal!

I used a Phindy Image (well, half of one actually - I used the other half of the image that I used for my last card) for this one and it fits in Phindy's Challenge this week because it is for a small child! WooHoo - something I needed and a challenge in one!

Playing Some More With Digital Papers!

2010-08-20T15:52:00.004-04:00

I've been downloading some digital papers lately. Oh, they are so much fun and my paper piles have not grown an inch (as if they need to!). They've all been free too so it's quite nice on the pocketbook!!

As soon as I saw this cupcake paper from Summer Driggs, I KNEW it had to be used with Phindy's image, "It's All Yours". I ended up cropping the image so only one of the cutie patootie groundhogs are on the card. I also used the cupcake from the image (shrunken) as my embellies.

Anyway, I decided to use those papers and image for a card that I was making for my Step Daughter to take to a birthday party today. Well, the card got made and Trinity didn't like it so she ended up taking one from my stash anyway!

Oh well, such is life!

But, this card qualifies for a few different challenges:

1.) Cute Card Thursday - Sketch

2.) Pixie Dust Studios - Polka Dots

3.) Wild Flower Wednesday - Polka Dots

4.) Paper Cutz - Anything

5.) Phindy's - Oh baby! - a card for a baby or small child - well, not really baby but it is for a small child!

6.) Stamp Something - digi day - well, digital paper AND a digital image, definately digi!

Just for Fun!

2010-08-19T00:33:00.005-04:00

The ladies in the Phindy's Place Group on Paper Craft Planet were talking about digital/printable papers tonight. I had never used them but decided to check out a few links they were sharing. Well, checking them out led to playing with them, which led to making a card with them!

My friend Mary had shared a link for The Angel Company which has tons of free downloads. They have some really neat black and white papers. I decided to print some of them on yellow cardstock. I printed out three different patterns and then played with them. I used black cardstock to layer with. Those were the only papers I used!

The image is also digital. It's one of Phindy's Images. This one is called "Celebrate with Cake" and can be found at Phindy's Place along with a ton of other fabulous images (I can't wait for the fall/winter cuties to come out)!

Alright, enough rambling....I hope you like my card that I made just for fun!

I'm on a paper piecing kick!

2010-08-17T00:30:00.004-04:00

Once again, I'm back with another late night card and it has paper piecing again! I had so much fun with it the last 2 times, I decided to try a 3rd! I think this little summer cute from Phindy's Place just needed some gingham - don't you agree?

Speaking of the summer cuties - Phindy is going to be coming out with fall/winter cuties soon - I just can't wait to see them....I really need to do some shopping!

Okay, this adorable little card is for 4 different challenges:

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - Pink - how easy is that?

2.) The Wild Flower Patch - sketch

3.) The Corrosive Challenge - Faux Techniques - I used faux stitching around the card and around my little "scallops"

4.) Pollycraft Monday - In Stitches - again, my faux stitching worked for this!

A little more Pink!

2010-08-15T23:58:00.003-04:00

Hello again! I'm back tonight with another "pink" card! This one has a whole different feel, softer and sweeter I'd say.

Well, I had a picture in my head of this card, didn't quite turn out that way thought.....I was trying to follow a sketch but it just wasn't working for me so I abandoned ship and just flew by the seat of my pants! I like doing that every once in a while anyway.

So, this card is for Phindy's Pink Challenge. I just love "speedster", she's adorable and fun!

I also made this one for the Allsorts Challenge - paper piercing or paper piecing. I was a little upset that I had JUST done a paper piecing card before I checked the Allsorts Challenge but I decided that, since I loved the last one, I would just do another! I think sh turned out pretty cute...

Sentimental Sunday's Challenge this week is ribbons or lace. I added ribbon and my version of a bow - I can't tie a bow to save my life!

Late Night Cardmaking!

2010-08-14T00:34:00.003-04:00

It seems the only time I have to make cards now is late at night, when everyone is sleeping - finally!! Tonight, I made this adorable Birthday Card using a Phindy image - isn't she cute in her spring dress? I paper pieced the dress, flowers, shoes and hair ribbon. Generally, I don't like how this comes out whenever I try it, tonight, it seemed to work well for me!

Phindy's Challenge this week is a color challenge - pink - this was a nice change for me who has been seeing WAY too much blue lately!

I used a sketch from this week's Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge - all of those flowers just seemed to call for pink!

Pixie Dust Studios also had a pink challenge this week, "pretty in pink".

I hope you enjoy this card as much as I do!

Done with thank yous - for now!

2010-08-12T11:24:00.005-04:00

Okay, this is my last batch of thank you cards - for now at least! I made 4 of these.....

They are for 2 different challenges:

1.) Sketch Saturday - Sketch

2.) Cupcake Inspiration - Photo Inspiration

Not Blue And Not A Thank You!

2010-08-11T00:15:00.002-04:00

Can you believe it? I made something other than a thank you card!!! I know, I'm pretty excited about this!! It was so much fun making this card. I got to use new papers that a dear friend sent to me. I got to use pinks and purples too! I think this cutie from Phindy's Place is just adorable and I don't think I've even used her yet - crazy!!

So, I made this card just for fun and for a few different challenges too!

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge - birthday

2.) Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - sketch

3.) Digital Tuesday - butterflies or lace or both

4.) Cupcake Craft - lace

5.) Creative Card Crew - cute and girlie

More Thank Yous!

2010-08-10T21:58:00.004-04:00

Hello All! I'm back with another thank you card (actually I made 3 of these!)! I'm getting really good at coloring Phindy's "Hugs from Here" image quite quickly!!!!!

This card is for many challenges:

1.) MelJens - Clean and Simple (I used the easily reproduced definintion for this one too)

2.) Friday Sketchers - Sketch

3.) Allsorts - Primary Colors - Use Red, Yellow and Blue only

4.) Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes - that was easy!

5.) Stamptacular Sunday - Snips, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails - Okay, I don't know what a "snip" is but the challenge says it meas "all about boys" so, there you go!

8 different challenges in one card!

2010-08-06T15:49:00.005-04:00

Hello All!

Well, I have managed to make one card that covers 9 differet challenges! I'm pretty impressed by this! Here are the challenges:

1.) Allsorts - "dressing up" - Hedgie is all dressed up for her birthday!

2.) Sketch Saturday - Sketch

3.) Stamptacular Sunday - "Out of this World" - I don't know about where you live, but hedgehogs don't wear dresses in Canajoharie!

4.) Cute Card Thursday - "Whateva" - this was just easy!

5.) Paper Cutz - "Skunk, monkey, squirrel, or hedgehog" - as soon as I read this, I thought of cute little Hedgie!

6.) Fussy and Fancy Friday - "Pink and Black" - not colors I normally use but it was fun to challenge myself there!

7.) Phindy's - "Happy Birthday" - well, it is a birthday card!

8.) Stamp Something - Photo Inspiration - the photo had a birthday theme so I went with a birthday card!

9.) Pile It On! - "butterflies/bugs/bees" - there is a little bee swarming around poor Hedgie's head! Really, it's there!

Operation Write Home and a few different challenges!

2010-08-03T23:15:00.013-04:00

Incase you haven't seen it, there is a section in my side bar about Operation Write Home (OWH). This is a great organization that I support whenever I can. Crafters donate cards to be shipped to soldiers overseas so they can write home to their loved ones. Since my little obsession is making cards, I always seem to have an abundance of them (I'm great about MAKING them just not about SENDING them!) Right now, OWH has a challenge going on called the 1/2 and 1/2 challenge. They are asking people to send in a 1/2 box of fall/winter holiday themed cards and a 1/2 box of every season cards. This first set of cards works for the every season cards. I had been working on Halloween Cards so they will work for the fall/winter holiday theme. I have also made set of get well cards and then 8 random every season cards that I had made for different challenges!

This week, Phindy's Place Challenge Blog's challenge is "Clean and Simple". One of the definitions of "Clean and Simple" is "can be copied and mass produced fairly quickly". When I read that definition, I immediately thought of OWH. I like to make sets of 8 cards. On the website, they explain that they generally send out 8 batches of cards at a time. So, by making sets of 8 each batch gets one of each of my sets!

This set of cards also works for the Papertake Weekly Challege this week. Their challenge is called "White and Bright" - your card must have white and at least one bright color on it. I'm pretty sure these oranges, pinks, and blues cover bright and my image is on white paper, the card boarder is white, the string is white, and the sentiment is on white!

My second set of cards, get well cards, works for The Wild Flower Wednesday Challenge at The Wild Flower Patch. Their challenge this week is embossing. For this set of cards, I used a sentiment that I got from the Sentimental Sunday's Challenge Blog. I used a clear acrylic stamp for the flower, stamped it on white paper, heat embossed it using white powder, then "colored" it with a diaper wipe and an ink refiller! It's a simple way to make a card that I think looks pretty neat!

Here is a picture of all of the cards being shipped out for the OWH challenge:

Clean and Simple

2010-08-02T00:03:00.004-04:00

I'm back with another entry for the Phindy's Place Challenge Blog! This week's challenge is "clean and simple". It is really helping me to get caught up on baby thank yous because they are so "simple" to make! Again tonight I made 2 identical cards, I think I'm down to only needing 1 more (so far)!!!

Here is my second entry....

I decided to leave out a sentiment just to make it even more "simple". I think they came out pretty cute!

so frustrated!

2010-07-31T11:47:00.002-04:00

Hello all!

I am so frustrated - my camera and computer won't connect for some reason. I am forced to scan my cards in! I HATE that!

Anyway, I made this card for Phindy's Place Challenge Blog. This week their challenge is "Clean and Simple". This card was so simple to make that I ended up making 2 at the same time - hey, I have a LOT of thank yous to make!

So, even though the picture is far from wonderful, I hope you like him!

Taking a break....

2010-07-29T20:37:00.006-04:00

Well, I still need thank you cards but I just needed to take a break from making them! I had an idea in mind last night but was just too tired to do anything about it. Today (and yes, this card hs taken ALL day), the whole thing changed as it got made. I still really like the end result!

This card is for several challenges:

1.) Phindy's Place Challenge Blog - Stitched Up! - I wanted to use my little paper sewing machine for this one but couldn't get it to work right so I ended up "sewing" it on the machine with no thread and then going back and hand stitching it! I can never get my stitches to be equal in length otherwise!

2.) Corrosive - Pink and Blue - okay, there is some green in there too but the card is mostly pink and blue!

3.) Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Sketch - I really didn't love this sketch when I first glanced at it, then as I started working with it, I really did enjoy it! I think the end result looks nice!

4.) Digital Tuesday - Dazzle Me! - This is about as glittery/sparkly/or blingy as I get!

One More Thank You!

2010-07-27T22:35:00.003-04:00

This card is for my neighbors! Wow, I cannot believe how many gifts his little guy has gotten and he's only 5 days old!

This card is for 2 different challenges:

1.) Delightful Challenges: So Simple! - no DP or Embellies

2.) Papertake Weekly: Sketch

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

2010-07-27T16:07:00.003-04:00

It seems I've been writing/typing/and saying that a lot over the past few days!

I made another thank you card, using the same papers but a different layout and a different Phindy Image. This one also covers two challenges:

1.) Phindy's Challenge Blog - Stitched Up!

2.) Sketch Saturday - Sketch

In desparate need of Thank You Cards!

2010-07-27T08:30:00.003-04:00

Well, I thought I had been working on stocking up on baby Thank You's but my stash was sadly lacking (and my friends and family have been very thoughtful!). Sooooo, I have jumped back into crafting and making some more Thank Yous.

This first card is for 2 different challenges:

1.) Phindy's Challenge Blog - Stitched Up! - luckily for me, you can use real or faux stitching!

2.) Friday Sketcher's Challenge - Sketch

One of my best projects

2010-07-27T08:26:00.003-04:00

I've been missing for a little bit, want to see what I made while I was gone?

My son was born on July 23rd (that was Friday)!

His name is Johnny....

So, now you know why the card production has been a bit slow lately....not to fear, I've already jumped back in and will hopefully have a few more posts today!

Another card from last night!

2010-07-17T14:39:00.003-04:00

I told you I stayed up too late last night! This last card is for 4 different challenges. It's a pretty simple card but sometimes I like them that way.

Oh, and, another one only using scraps - really, why do I keep buying paper?

Okay:

1.) Papertake Weekly - In the Garden

2.) Corrosive - Sketch

3.) Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Stitching

4.) Phindy's Challenge - Blue

Some more Christmas Cheer!

2010-07-17T14:01:00.004-04:00

Okay, I'll tell you a little secret - I stayed up too late last night playing! I made 3 cards but then fell into bed so I have a few postings today!

This card is another "all scrap paper" card! I'm loving it, however, my scraps must multiply at night because the boxes don't seem to be getting any smaller!

I did a lot of embossing on this card, I hadn't done much for a while and now I'm kinda hooked again.....hmmmm....a least all my "stuff" isn't going to waste.

Anyway, challenges, here it goes:

1.) Stamptacular Sunday - Sketch

2.) ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for Ornaments

3.) Pixie Dust Studios - Forest Green/Cranberry and Christmas

4.) Cute Card Thursday - "Get A Head Start"

Stockin Up On Baby Thank-Yous

2010-07-16T23:13:00.006-04:00

Since the day is quickly approaching, I figure I should keep stocking up on the Baby Thank You Cards! This one works for 4 different challenges! Not too bad!! Plus - I managed to make it with all scrap papers! Why do I even bother to buy new papers when I have SO many scraps? It must be an addiction!!

Okay, here are the challenges that this card works for:

1.) Phindy's Challenge - Blue

2.) Sunday Sketch and Stamp - Sketch

3.) Paper Sundaes - lots of layers

4.) Stamp Something - anything digital

More Christmas Cheer!

2010-07-13T22:12:00.003-04:00

Well, I have another card to post tonight and this one is from my scraps too! Woo Hoo!!

This card covers a bunch of challenges too:

1.) Paper Cutz - Christmas In July

2.) Pixie Dust - Sketch and Christmas

3.) Bah! Humbug! - A Special Friend - All of my Christmas Cards go to special friends!

4.) Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - A Very "Beary" Merry Christmas

5.) Christmas Card Challenge - Stitching

6.) CAS - Tastic! - use Kraft

7.) Phindy's Challenge Blog - Emboss It!

8.) Beary Sweet Challenge - Embossing

Look what I dug out of my scraps!

2010-07-13T21:18:00.002-04:00

Well, I've been in the scrap bins again! I ONLY used scrap paper for this card - even the cardstock! I think it came out pretty darn cute! There are a lot of challenges covered by this one...

1.)Delightful Challenges - Summer

2.)Mo's Digital Pencil - beach/summer

3.)Cute Card Thursday - summer

4.)Friday Sketchers - Sketch

5.)Cafty Sentiments - 2 patterned papers

6.)Pollycraft Monday - Bold & Bright

"Kickin' It For Michelle" Card Drive

2010-07-10T11:36:00.003-04:00

I have a special card to post this morning, it's for Michelle Oatman from the Spoon Full Of Sugar DT. She had an accident recently and needs some cheering up. Sooooooo, there is a challenge/card drive over at A Spoon Full Of Sugar for her. The challenge is simply to make a card and send it to Michelle. There are links to freebies that you can use. This adorable little guy is a freebie from MelJen's Designs. There are also tons of generous prizes that different companies have donated! So, by making one card, I have done something nice to hopefully brighten Michelle's day AND got entered to win tons of prizes! As my grandmother would have said "it's your good deed for the day"!

This card is also for the Papertake Weekly Challenge and follows their sketch.

I want to be Suzy!

2010-07-09T22:33:00.004-04:00

Right about now, I'd love to be Phindy's "Sudsy Suzy". I can't remember the last time I got to take an uninterrupted bath! I made this card for 3 different challenges, I think it makes the perfect birthday card.

The challenges that this card covers is:

1.) Phindy's Challenge Blog: Embossing - I though Suzy needed some embossed flourishes (plus, I got to use my new MS flourish stamps!)

2.) Crafty Sentiments Challenge: Sketch - this sketch was pretty simple but I like the way it came out!

3.) MelJens Challenge: Circles Galore!: I used a circle for the sentiment and the bubbles are pretty circular if you ask me!

OWH

2010-07-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

I just finished 2 sets of 8 Halloween Cards to send to Operation Write Home! I think they came out pretty cute! One set uses a pumpkin stamp from Stampin' Up! the other uses a cute little witch from The Greeting Farm. I will do a third set with another character from the Greeting Farm, they're easy to color!! The only problem is that they won't fit in this box so I'll have to get another box ready soon!

The deadline for Halloween Cards for OWH is Sept. 20th - you still have plenty of time!! There is more information about OWH in my sidebar if you are interested - it's a great organization!!!

Another Card with Another Birthday Present!

2010-07-08T00:41:00.003-04:00

With my "birthday money", I bought myself the MS "branch" punch.....I just had to try it out so I used it on this card. The card is for the Winter Wonderland Challenge - "punches" and the Sketch Saturday Sketch Challenge.

My birthday present!

2010-07-07T18:15:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my birthday and my boyfriend bought me some Phindy Images (he LOVED how easy it was to hand me the credit card and let me pick out some things!) One of the images I bought was "bye, bye butterfly". Isn't she cute?

I made this card for a few different challengs, it was a little different for me because Stamptacular Sunday's Challenge was "Aperture Creations" (a card with a hole in it). I decided to combine it with Mojo Monday's Sketch Challenge, Phindy's "Red, White and Blue" Challenge, and Digital Tuesday's "Red, White, and Blue" Challenge. I think it came out pretty good overall!

2 More Cards From Last Night!

2010-07-05T16:26:00.001-04:00

I was up entirely too late last night making cards! My dear daughter would NOT go to sleep so I stayed up and played!!! I know this will come as a huge shock to most of you but I used Phindy's Images on both of these cards! ;) I just love her images and there are so many to choose from!!

This first card is for 3 different challenges:

1.)CAS-Tastic Challenge: Sketch

2.)Sentimental Sundays: Celebrations!

3.)Paper Sundaes - White + 1 Color

The second card is for 7 different challenges!!:

1.)Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge: Christmas In July

2.)Christmas Card Challenge: Sketch

3.)Bah Humbug: Less is More - okay, this may look a little busy but it's really a very simple layot with very few embellies, it's just kind of busy paper!

4.)Pile It On!: My Favorite Things - PRESENTS, Snowmen, and CHRISTMAS!!!

5.)ABC Christmas Challenge: N is for Noel - This paper made this one quite easy!

6.)Corrosive: Christmas

7.)Dare U 2 Digi Stamp: The great Outdoors - Didn't think of this until the last minute, I'd say this mage really fits it!

Some more Red, White, & Blue!

2010-07-04T22:03:00.003-04:00

Happy 4th Everyone! Well, what's left of it anyway!

I made this card, not for the 4th but for summer in general. It fits 4 different challenges as it's Red, White, and Blue (with some black too)!

1.) Cupcake Craft Challenge - Sketch

2.) Pixie Dust Challenge - Red, White, & Blue

3.) MelJen's - Red, White & Blue

4.) Phindy's Challenge Blog - Red, White & Blue

A Sad Time for A Sweet Lady

2010-07-03T02:29:00.002-04:00

If you follow my blog, you know that I am a huge Phindy Phan! Not only do I admire her talent as an artist, I also enjoy her as a person. The ladies at the Phindy Group on PCP are like a family, as a matter of face, we refer to each other as our "Phindy Phamily". So, as in any family, we were all greatly saddened today to hear that Phindy's sister, Gerry, has passed away.

I decided to make Phindy a sympathy card. Sounds simple enough, except, um, when you send an artist a card, it's kind of a lot of pressure. Should I use one of her images? Should I use someone else's? Will it be good enough, will she like the coloring? Now, as sweet as Phindy is, she is a professional and that just put too much pressure on me! I decided to skip the image on this one! Phew, that made things a lot easier. After playing around a little bit, I ended up using only white cardstock. I embossed some, I rubbed ink on some, I even wiped some of the ink off with diaper wipes!

I am going to enter this card into a challenge, only because I realized it fits and I hope I won't need another sympathy card for a long time!

This card fits into the Sentimental Sundays Challenge: "Encouragement and Support". The quote is "What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose" - Henry Ward Beecher.

Feeling A Bit Patriotic!

2010-07-03T00:18:00.004-04:00

Happy Almost 4th Of July!

It seems almost all of the challenge blogs want us to make a patriotic card....I can't say that I've ever sent a 4th of July card but I can at least make one! So, here is my card - I think he's just adorable. It fits into 4 different challenges!!

1.) Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Stars and Strips

2.) Paper Cutz Challenge: 4th of July

3.) Phindy's Challenge Blog: Red, White & Blue

4.) Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge: Sketch