April Showers...

Wow Thursday already????!!! The weekend is getting closer and closer. The good news is my weekend isn't crazy like last weekend. Maybe I can take advantage of the down time to get some serious crafting done...lol. I have 5 scrapbook pages with photos already on them, however I have not added any titles or journaling, so I guess I better get busy. The best part about these pages is they are the last 5 pages of my 2010 album!!! WOOHOOO!!! Then I can start one of the other 3 albums I need to get going on...lol. Anyway, today I wanted to share a cute card I made using a funny sentiment stamp from QKR Stampede. Isn't that saying just sooo true? We all look forward to spring and the nice weather, however the mud and other spring thaw/rain "hazards" are not so great. =) Still though spring is my favorite season. So...I started by stamping the image (April Showers) onto some cream colored CS. Then I began layering onto the various pieces of PP from Nikki Sivils' "It's Raining It's Pouring" paper line. I thought it went perfect with the saying. The little boots are a sticker from that paper line. Last I added the flowers and used pearls for the centers. I really liked the way this card turned out...and it was great to hear my husband laugh at the sentiment from QKR Stampede too. Speaking of laughing...be sure to check out some of the other great images from QKR Stampede. There are so many "Cute and Quirky" images available in the online store to make you laugh too! This card is for the following challenge: Simon Says Challenge - sketch

Creative Belli Challenge - #114 Seamstress

Hi there. Happy Wednesday. I hope your week is going well so far. Well, today we have a brand new challenge for you over at the Creative Belli Challenge. This week we are challenging you to "Think Seamstress". That is right...sewing theme...so buttons, stitching, pins, seam tape, or whatever comes to your mind with this theme. BUT, don't forget to make sure it isn't something new. We want to see your OLD things. Here is what I came up with. I went with the stitching and buttons look. I also attempted a "quilt". I actually used 2 different sketches I saw and combined them for this one. I thought it would be cool to make a "scrap" quilt. You know one of the biggest differences between a scrapbooker and a stamper/cardmaker is scraps. Yes we see scraps of paper totally different. A cardmaker will save every little piece of PP or CS as a potential piece to use on a future card. Scrapbookers look at scraps as garbage, or too small to do anything with. Well...as you can see from the number of scraps I have...I think fall more into the cardmaker category...lol. I grabbed a bunch of scraps of various papers, cut them up, and randomly glued them together on the white base CS. Then I did some sewing on my card. I did a zigzag stitch around the outside, and some random "quilting" or stitching on the inside. I thought it turned out pretty neat looking. I did stick with a bit of a color scheme...mostly blues and greens with a touch of purple. Next I added the Sentiment, which is from QKR Stampede.

I stamped that in green ink. Then I dug into my mom's old button bin, and found various clear buttons. I glued them on the card, and then used a good ol' fashion needle and thread to add the stitching on the buttons.

Well, that is it for now. A little bit of a different card for me, but I LOVE the way it turned out. Now head on over to the Creative Belli Challenge Blog, and see what the rest of the Belli Girls have come up with. Then link up your "Think Seamstress" creations for us to see. We love checking out your take on the challenge!

Happy Mother's Day

Yes I know it is a little early....but it can't hurt to get started early. Actually mother's day is the challenge for a few blogs this week...since I guess it is that time of year in the UK right now. So...I decided to play along today. Here is what I came up with.First, I am pretty excited to finally be able to take photos outside again! There is nothing like natural light for photos. Now, I didn't say it was warm, I just said that there was actually some sun shining...lol. I started by stamping this little girl image from TAC on some white CS. Then again on the pink PP and the blue PP. Then I colored with marker, and paper pieced the bow, shirt, and pants. Next, I ink distressed that piece of white CS with pink ink, and layered onto the pink CS. Then I layered that onto the pink PP that I also used for the girls shirt and bow. Then I added the ribbon and the little flower, both from Maya Road. Last I used a punch and punched the scallop circle from pink CS, and the white circle. I ink distressed the white CS circle, and hand wrote the sentiment. Well that is all for now. Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to stop tomorrow for a brand new Creative Belli Challenge!

This card is for the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenge: Flowers for Mum

Simon Says Challenge - Mother's Day/Girly

Sweet Stop Sketch - card sketch

Crazy 4 Cocoa...Windchime!

Hi there! How are you doing today? Wow...we had a busy weekend here! My youngest turned 4 yesterday, so we celebrated all weekend long. We started with a "friend" party at a local party place called Pretty in Pink. It was soooo cute. The girls did a mini spa party...complete with facials, manis, and pedis. Then on Sunday we had a family gathering, and of course Monday was her actual birthday. Well...now I am ready to relax, and get back to my crafting! To get back into things...today is a brand new Crazy 4 Cocoa challenge!!!! I just LOVE Cocoa mouse. Well...let me start by telling you our challenge this week is "Anything Goes" ~ so use your favorite Cocoa and show us your stuff. Do you remember this photo????? Well...today, I am going to show you what I did with these pots! I am going to attempt to give you a little photo tutorial of how I did it too. So...here is what you need...

The pots I painted ahead of time. If you are going to use these outside, you will want to use exterior paints. After painting the pots, I grabbed my supplies, and got inky! First I did NOT put my Cocoa Mouse images (both from the Feeling Fruity Cocoa Set) on a block. This way they are easier to "wrap around" the pot. Next I inked them up with some StazOn ink, and pressed them carefully onto the pot. Now...I will be honest...I messed the first one up...lol. BUT, a little repainting, and it was all fixed. So...I guess a tip will be...make sure you have the base paint handy. Next I let them dry totally. Here is what they looked like. Hidden under that red trimmed pot is one more little pot...which I used the "Sweet" sentiment from the So Sweet Cocoa set to stamp on that one.

Last, I used my watercolor crayons to color in each of the images. Here is how it turned out. I just love the way this turned out. Super cute, and really fun to make too. Now if you are going to hang them outside, you will need to seal them/waterproof them. You can just get a can of spray from you local hardware store to seal them up. These guys are going in my bay window for now, so I did not seal them...yet.

Well that is what I came up with for this week's Crazy 4 Cocoa challenge...now head on over to the Crazy 4 Cocoa blog and see what the other ladies have come up with. Then grab a Cocoa image either one you have, or check out the Sweet 'n Sassy store if you don't have one, and link up your creation for us to see!

Birthday Flowers

Hi there, and happy Thursday. Wow this week is just flying by! Well today I wanted to share a card I made using the Flower Bouquet image from QKR Stampede. I guess I was hoping that flowers would help me feel like spring...since we just got another 6 inches of snow dumped on us. Here is the card I came up with. I started by stamping the image with black ink onto white CS. I colored with colored pencils and Gamsol. I trimmed it down, and layered onto the PP (which is from Close to my Heart). On the white base, I put the orangish/peachish color PP on, and then layered the green piece onto that. Next I stamped the Happy Birthday image from QKR Stampede using blue ink. When I stamped that, I "accidentally" got some blue on the block, and it left the little smudge...SOOOOO...I "fixed" it. I ink distressed the rest of the card...lol. I actually liked the card better after I did that. Last I added some little blue heat set gems.

Now a little sneak peek of something you may be seeing very soon here on my blog. This was a project I started at my MOPS group today. I thought I knew what I was going to do with it when I got there, and then totally changed my mind. So I brought it home, and got to work. So be sure to check back and see what I ended up doing with this...thing.

Crazy 4 Cocoa - Polka Dots!

Hi there. Happy Tuesday! Well, it is officially spring, how is the weather where you are? Not doing well here...I think spring got confused with something else...lol. Well, today we have a brand new Crazy 4 Cocoa challenge for you...Polka Dots! We want to see you use one of the adorable Cocoa images from Sweet 'n Sassy with some Polka dots too! The polka dots can be on your papers, image, or just plain anywhere on your card. Here is what I came up with. So I originally started this card for one of the Papercraft Magazine calls...and I #1 didn't get it done in time, and #2 realized I didn't' add all the elements I needed for the sketch. SO...you get to see it now! I started with a white CS base, and added the strips of PP from Imaginisce's Berrylicious line. (Notice the green polka dots!) Then I used some more of the PP from this line for the larger circle layer...which also has polka dots. Then I used this adorable strawberry Cocoa from the clear set Feeling Fruity. I colored him with watercolor crayons, and layered onto the other circle. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.
Now head on over to the Crazy 4 Cocoa blog, and see what the other ladies have in store for you. Then play along with us! Don't forget about the monthly prize that one of the lucky challenge participants can win too!!!

Cowgirl Birthday

Howdy! Today I have a card I made using a new Cricut cartridge I got. The Toy Story cartridge....I just HAD to have this one. Toy Story has always been my favorite Disney movie...so I was beyond thrilled when my girls felt the same way. Well, my youngest will be turning 4 next week, and my mom asked me to make a card for her to give her. So...here is what I came up with. Sorry the color isn't the greatest. I had to scan it in this time instead of photograph it. It is a gloomy day here, and photos just weren't working well for me. I went with the Jessie head for this card. I created all the layers using various scraps around my craftroom. Then I layered them onto the PP that I had in my stash. I felt the paper looked rather "cowboyish". I used my Cricut to cut the conversation bubble, and hand wrote the "Howdy Cowgirl". Then I used the "Happy Birthday" stamp from QKR Stampede. I thought it turned out pretty cute...and I know she will LOVE it!

This is for the following challenges:
Let's Ink It UP - Diecuts/punches - I used the Toy Story diecuts
Simon Says Challenge - Happy Birthday

Sun, Moon, and Stars QKR Stampede Blog Hop

Hi there and welcome to the QKR Stampede "Sun, Moon, and Stars Blog Hop"!!! If you arrived here from Jerusha's blog then you are on the right path. If this is your first stop, please head back to the QKR Stampede Blog and start from the top. You don't want to miss a bit of this hop! SO...if you did come from Jerusha's Blog...lets get started! First...wasn't her project great???!!! I just love seeing all the creative talent from the rest of the DT. This hop we are featuring some of the sun, moon, and/or star images that are available in the QKR Stampede store.

For my card today I used both the Patchwork Sun and the Patchwork Moon images. I just think these are sooo cute. There is also a Patchwork star available in the QKR Stampede store too. I started by coloring the images with marker. I added some smootch to the little patches on both images too. Then I fussy cut them out, and layered onto the PP from Basic Grey. I wanted to go with a little bit different type of card, so I went with a rounded base. Next, I used my Cricut to cut out the words "day or night". Then I hand wrote the rest of the sentiment on the inside...I thought this would make a cut any occasion card. I really like the way it turned out. Well now, I must send you off for some more eye candy! Head on over to...

MONIKA'S BLOG

Don't forget if you get lost anytime along the way to head back to the QKR Stampede Blog for a complete list of the hop order. Thanks for stopping by!!!

QKR Cross

Hi there. Happy St. Patrick's day! We had a little leprechaun in our house last night. He flipped some chairs, turned the milk green and the dog's water, and he even left a trail of chocolate coins! Crazy little guy! Well today I wanted to share a card I made for the next "big holiday"...Easter. I have been eyeing this CROSS image from QKR Stampede for awhile now, and finally caved...lol. I just think it is sooo pretty. I started by stamping the image and embossing with gold embossing powder. Then I used colored pencils, and coloring the image in. I then "fussy cut" it down, and began layering onto the PP from Echo Park's Springtime collection. The ribbon is from my stash, and the flowers were from some blog candy I won awhile back. I hand wrote the sentiment, and punched it out with an oval punch.
Now...be sure to join the fabulous QKR Stampede DT Blog Hop! We will be featuring some of the great Sun, Moon, and Stars images from the QKR Stampede Store. Be sure to join us starting Friday 3/18 at 8am EST HERE on the QKR Stampede Blog.

This card is for the following challenges:
Sweet Stop Sketch - LO sketch
Let's Ink It UP - embossing

Look Whoooos almost 40!

Hi there. Today we have a new challenge for you over at the Creative Belli Challenge. Our challenge this time is "The Letter C". So...grab some emBELLIshment from your stash that start with the letter "C" and play along with us. It might be Chipboard, or Charms, or Crystal effects, or Cash (hey a penny might fit well on a card)...you get the idea. Here is what I came up with for this one. Ok...so a "fun fact" about me...I LOVE owls! I have collected them since I was a little girl. So...a few years ago, SU had these owl chipboard pieces, and I of course HAD to have them. Then...I hoarded them...lol. Well I thought this was the perfect time to pull them out. I layered him with this PP from My Mind's Eye. I layered him onto the yellowish PP which is also MME. For the sentiment, I used a combo of some letter stamps (Maya Road), and the "whoooooo" stamp from TAC. The numbers are also chipboard pieces. They were left over from the advent calendar I made this year.
I made this card for my oldest brother. He will be 39 this year, so I thought it would be fun to remind him how close he is to 40...lol.
Now it is your turn, head on over to the Creative Belli Blog, and see what the other ladies have made for your inspiration. Then grab some "C" bellis and play along! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

This card is also for the following challenge:

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Up in the Air - owls fly in the air!

Think Spring!!! - Crazy 4 Cocoa

HI there! It is Tuesday, which means another new Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge! Today our challenge is "Think Spring". With the first official day of spring being March 20th, we thought it would be fun to make that our challenge. Now I will say...here in Buffalo, NY, the calendar may say it is spring, but the weather doesn't...lol. I still expect a couple more light snowfalls before the month is up. My girls are hoping to get at least one more skiing day in too. Well, hopefully this card helps put me in the spring mood.

I started with this adorable Gardening Cookie (Cocoa's girlfriend) digi. I colored her with colored pencils and Gamsol. I layered the image onto the PP...which is all from Echo Park's Springtime collection. I am just in love with this Echo Park paper....which is available in the Sweet 'n Sassy store! I used my i-Top to make the brad, and wrote on it. The little flower is one my mom made for me.

Now head on over to the Crazy 4 Cocoa blog and see what the other DT gals have created for your inspiration. Then grab a Cocoa image, and play along!

How does your Garden Grow?

Hi there! Today I have a card to share with you I made for the Imaginisce March Challenge. The Challenge is to use this sketch...

...to make a card. Here is what I came up with. I decided to use this adorable new line called Berrylicious.
I just love these little seed packets. I used the backside of the Just Peachy PP for the background. Then I used the Sunshine Seeds PP for the layer strips. The sun die cut is from the Juicy Fruits die cuts pack. Last I cut some of the little seed packs from the Sweet Summer Garden PP and attached them to some pins I had. I stuck them in between the sun die cut and the foam tape. I thought it turned out pretty cute. I just love this paper line too. SOOOO CUTE!

Ashley's Card

Here is my daughter Ashley's (she will be 4 at the end of March) card she made for the following challenges:

Kona Kid Krafters - Anything Goes

Messy's Mini Missions - Spring/Easter - She has flowers for spring

And she wanted to play along with one of the "big kid" challenges so...

Whimsie Doodles - add glitter - she wanted the entire card covered in glitter, but we went with some of Cocoa instead. =)

The image is from Sweet 'n Sassy, and the PP is from the Target $1 spot. She added brads and stickles too. Thanks for checking out her project!

Hey Chuggers!

Hi there. It has been raining here all week, but I will take that over snow. Well, I wanted to share a card I made for my youngest DD. She will be 4 in a few weeks, and is CRAZY about trains. So here is what I came up with.Isn't this guy adorable???!!! I just love Cocoa from Sweet 'n Sassy. This little guy will be available starting today in the Sweet 'n Sassy store. I printed this guy, and then printed a couple on some Echo Park papers too. I then did some paper piecing. I have never paper pieced digis before, but I found it easier then I thought! I colored the other parts of the image with marker. I added some stickles to the wheels, and the grate. Next I began the layering. All the PP is from Echo Park Little Girl Collection. The twill ribbon is from Maya Road. The sentiment I hand wrote. I know it sounds a bit strange, BUT...if you have a young child you may recognize that. My DD is crazy about Chuggington on Disney Junior...so it is from that. They call the trains Chuggers. This is for the following challenge:
Sweet 'n Sassy Customer Blog Hop - Think Spring - the colors are all bright and springy!

Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - Sketch with animal...mouse!

Simon Says Challenge - Anything Goes

Do You Stack Up? - Layers - lots of Echo Park layers here!

Chocolate Chips

Hi there. I hope you are having a great week. I am really looking forward to the weekend! I am hoping to get some craft time that I am actually "productive". I had a few hours to myself the other night while my DH hosted poker night with the guys, BUT...I was too tired to think of any ideas. I did however get this yummy card made. Don't those chocolate chips look good????!!! How about that saying? I thought it was so cute. This is just one of the fun sentiments from QKR Stampede. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this image called Friends Are, as soon as I saw it. I stamped the image onto brown CS, and round the corners. For the cookies, I cut out some rough edge circles. I hand cut the little "chocolate chips" too. I then ink distressed the edges of the cookies to give them a "golden brown" look. I layered them onto the chocolate chip PP that I had in my stash. My DD had used this paper for her Hershey Chocolate world mini album.
Well that is all for now. Have a fantastic day!

Crazy 4 Cocoa - Pastels

Hi there. Today we have a brand new Cocoa Challenge for you over at the Crazy 4 Cocoa Blog. This week we are challenging you to use pastel colors with your Cocoa image. At first I thought this will be nooo problem...since I love pastel colors. Then...I struggled to find the perfect PP to use, and which of the adorable Cocoa images to use...well this is what "won". I decided to use Peek-a-boo Cocoa. This is actually the first Cocoa image I ever got. He is a digi image that can be found HERE in the Sweet 'n Sassy Store. I like the idea of flowers...since I keep hoping spring will really come. I actually have some of my tulips and daffodils starting to grown in my garden!!!! I colored the image with colored pencils, and Gamsol. I then layered onto the pink PP and then on the flower PP. Both papers are from SEI. Next, I used a sticker for the sentiment, added some stickles to the flower centers, and a couple SEI buttons. Now...head on over to the Crazy 4 Cocoa Blog and see what awesome eye candy the other ladies have for you! After that, grab your favorite Cocoa image, some pastel colors, and show us your work! Don't have any Cocoa images yet????!!! Well what are you waiting for? Head on over to the Sweet 'n Sassy online store and grab a couple!

This card is also for the follow challenge:

Simon Says Challenge - Recipe - 1 image, 2 PP, and 3 embellishments.

SEI Link Party!!!!

Reject...

SO I made this card for The Go-to-Sketches submission call, but...I didn't make it...so...I will share it with you! It is very simple, but I liked the way it turned out. I used a white CS base, and various pieces from the SEI Chocolat stack. I cut each piece, and "scattered" them on the base. Last, I added the sticker from SRM stickers. Well, that is all...I am off to my craftcave to attempt a few challenges from this week. Have a great weekend!

SEI Link Party!!!!!!

QKR Stampede - Mouse in the Moon

Hi there. Today I have a cute card for you using the QKR Stampede image called Moon Cheese. This guy is just sooo cute, and he is available in 2 different sizes. I have used the larger of the 2 today. I stamped him off, and colored with watercolor crayons. I fussy cut him out, and layered him onto the dark blue PP from Echo Park. The star paper is also from Echo Park, and both are from the Little Boy collection. I layered onto some dark blue CS for the base, and added some dark blue rhinestones. I really liked the way this turned out...even though it is all boy colors, and totally not my normal color choices...lol. Well that is all for now. I am hoping to get a few cards done today. I have my images stamped, and ready to go, now I just need to find my MOJO!
Thanks for stopping by!

This card is for the follow challenge:
What if Wednesday - Sketch

Creative Belli Challenge - Animals

THINK SPRING! THINK SPRING! THINK SPRING! ...if we just keep saying that it will happen right? Well I hope so. Well today, we want to help you Think Spring over at the Creative Belli Challenge. This time around our challenge is animals...thinking of them coming out of hibernation. Here is my card... I decided to pull out an old stamp this time. (Since the spirit of the Belli Challenge is to use stuff from your stash.) I can't even tell you how old this stamp is...I think this was in my stamp collection the first time I started stamping (so over 15 years ago...lol). I stamped it on white, and colored with markers. The papers are all Echo Park's Springtime collection. I added the little pink pearls (which are about a year or so old), and the little paper flower (which is also at least 6 months old).
Now it is your turn! First, head on over to the Creative Belli Blog, and see what the other ladies have created for your viewing pleasure. Then grab some goodies from your stash, and show us your Animal themed project. Don't forget to link your creation to the Belli post, so we can see what you came up with!

This card is also for the following challenge:
The Sweet Stop Sketch - LO of the card

A Cocoa Diary

Hi there, and Happy Tuesday! Tuesday means...a brand new Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge!!! Oh I just love Tuesdays...lol. Today's challenge is to use Rick Rack...with a Cocoa image...of course. Well I decided to make an altered item today. I started with this...My DH is attending Capella U. right now, and they sent him this really nice little journal/notebook. Well, I thought it was plain and boring, so I had to "fix it"! So here is what I did.

Ok...so it is not so "manly" anymore...but I like it...lol. I used scor-tape to put the SEI papers onto the book. Then I used some white tape along the binding to "hide" the paper edges. I then used this adorable digi image called Write Soon Cocoa. I added a little color to Cocoa, and the pen. I tried to make it look like the pen writes pink too. I layered that onto another pink paper, and onto the journal. Then I added some pink Rick Rack, and the little oval sentiment. I hand wrote "my diary". I just love the way this turned out. Now...maybe I should start a diary...lol.

Head on over to the Crazy 4 Cocoa blog, and see what the other DT ladies have for you inspiration, and then link up your own Cocoa project using Rick Rack.

This is also for the following challenges: SEI Link party....HERE.

Cupcake Craft Challenge - anything but square - my altered journal is a rectangle

Do You Stack Up - anything goes