Misc. Michelle

Trick or Treat

2011-10-15T07:55:00.001-05:00

Happy Fall! It's finally arrived here in Wisconsin. It had snuck in for a bit, then we went back to two weeks in the 70's and now we've settled into true fall weather. The leaves are falling and everyone is raking and doing their fall yard work.

Since fall is here, Halloween and trick or treat aren't far behind. I defintiely have to say it's one of the more fun holidays and the kids come out in droves. I can only hope that I get to answer my door to this sweet crew:

This is Rubbernecker's Lil Lovin's Trick or Treat. Trust me this stamp is sooo cute, it's sure to bring a smile to the grumpiest trickster's face. It's part of the booty I received for working the Scrapbook Expo. Here's a close up of the little guys...

I added some Stickles to their treat bags and of course, to Vampira's hair. Every vampire needs a little glitz. Click to enlarge any of the pics to see the details.

I hope everyone is enjoying their fall fun. Here's a share of a bit of ours...

Dad and Chase blowin' leaves

Evan and Chase swimming in the leaf pile


Evan lovin' the leaves

More Halloween happiness to come! Have a great day all!

supplies:

image: Rubbernecker
paper: Debbie Mum, PTI
color: Prismacolor, Versafine, Stickles
embellies: scrap sheer black ribbon, scrap brad

Grrrr - Rawr

2011-10-04T17:07:00.000-05:00

Look at this little guy all decked out and ready to go trick or treating. He's from Rubbernecker Stamps, part of their 2010 Halloween release. I probably don't have to tell you but he was a bucket of fun to color.

I was lucky enough to be invited to work with Rubbernecker at our Scrapbook and Rubber Stamp expo here in Milwaukee. I had an option of taking a cash payment or a whole buncha stamps. Doesn't take much imagination to know that I leaped at the chance for some yummy stamps. This is one of two I picked up that day and I have 31 - yes 31! - sets and singles being shipped to me :)

The dp is left from a kit that I received ages ago. I save all the bits and pieces from kits that I receive because I always know that at some point I'll find a use for them. The solid paper and the card base are all PTI - I love their stock. The fence cut out I received as part of the swap on SCS. It was a border swap and a lot of fun. Not having a bunch of border stamps myself, it was neat to get a whole slew of things to work with. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it - the dp has some wonderful shimmer and dragon boy has some incredible detail.

More soon!

Supplies:

image: Rubbernecker Dragon Boy

paper: PTI

ink: Versafine

color: Primsa

International Imke

2011-09-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

Good morning and welcome to this edition of the International Inkers! Today's fun bundle of goodies is brought to us by Imke.

She's included a TGIF image -Sing and it's just adorable! There were some wonderful papers, ribbon, flowers, a super flip flop charm and assorted other pieces of bling ~ gotta love the bling!

I chose a super simple layout because this image was such fun. I, of course, colored her up with my Prismacolors ~ they were very happy to see some action since they have been very neglected lately.

Now, be sure to visit the rest of the Inkers and leave a comment on each blog. Imke has put together an extra kit to send out as a giftie to one person who visits each Inker. (Tanja's card is on Imke's blog since her blogger is not working well ~ be sure to leave to comments, one for each card!)

We have one more kit to showcase for this round of Inkers so be sure to check back often. And I promise to try to blog a bit more often. I'm actually going to be doing some maintenance to add a few blingblangs to the ol' blog to make it more more - kwim?

Hugs!

International Inkers - woohooo

2011-07-29T07:48:00.001-05:00

Morning all! Yup - today is a red letter day in blog land: I've actually posted a card! Life has been crazy here in my little world but nothing can prevent me from posting an International Inkers creation. This time around our kits were created by the lovely Paola and wow - what a fitting kit with all the summer travels going on.

Paola has an extra kit to give away to one lucky commenter so be sure to hit all the blogs on the Inker's hop for your chance to win all this:

To make it easy on you (because that's what we do here II land), here are the links to the other lovelies blogs. Go check out what they've done

Tanja
Imke
Paola
Karen
Catherine

Have a great day....

Michelle

Stamped Images:

'Are We There Yet?' ( from SU! 2003)

'The Journey' (from Tim Holtz)

*clear stamp* (from SandyLion)

Accessories:

Ribbons: assorted mix ; twine, mini clip, extra large button,

wood tag (by Chatterbox), leatherette luggage tag (by Jolee's boutique)

Assortment of Designer Papers from:

K & Company , My Mind's Eyes , Basic Grey

plus I added a real map page from my area.

Kelly's Amazing KitKat

2011-06-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

Morning all and happy Saturday! Life here is finally coming back to normal - well a little bit anyway. It's time to play catch up since I am woefully behind on everything including posting my card.

Hurrah for Kelly's fabulous kit! The image is perfect, MFT's Wishing You Luck. All of the wonderful women in the KitKat club are deserving of a little luck and what a better way to wish it to them! The colors of the papers included are super bright and vivid - the picture does not do them any type of justice. It's from K&Company's Botanical line and the best part is I have LOTS left over.

I trimmed out my second shamrock and stacked it on top of the main image for some dimension and of course, glittered it up with some Paislee Pixie glitter. Fun stuff.

You can see all the fun dimension with this side view: I tacked down the flower and flower button with my glue gun after trimming off the button hole the back side. Be sure to check out the rest of the KitKat ladies ~ I'll link right to their KitKat cards since they've been up for a bit but definitely feel free to check out the rest of their blogs!

Thanks again Kelly for such an awesome bunch of goodies! It's a great kit to be going into summer vacation with. See you KitKat Kittens in fall!

supplies:

image: MFT's Wishing You Luck
paper: K&Company Botanicals
bling: butterflies/K&Co, ribbon/Offray, flowers/Prima, butterfly "tail"/Heidi Grace, Busy Kids Bling

International Inkers - Tanja style

2011-05-28T10:52:00.001-05:00

Good Morning to you! I hope it's sunny in your part of the world. Here, we have to make our own sunshine since it's dreary and misty. Tanja was our hostess for this round of the International Inkers and wow - talk about sunshine in a package:

There were some amazing papers, buttons, ribbon and this sweet image from Whiff of Joy. I just love it all! My card is pretty simple ~ a basic layout is all that was needed for such a nice image. I had some fun with the ribbon and my glue gun. I've been in a "texture" type of mood lately and this just brings some pop.

The "thinking of you" sentiment is a rub on from Pebbles Ink. I was going to hand write on the card but well, the rubon is a safer bet :)

Be sure to check out the rest of the Inkers:

Leave a comment on each blog and you could win a version of this month's International Inkers kit of your very own!

Also ~ a bit of self back patting: I was picked to be the featured blog on Scrapbook Layout Ideas. There is a link and a little brag in my side bar. Give it a click to see some amazing blogs!

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

We Love Babies....

2011-05-12T09:34:00.000-05:00

And baby showers and making baby shower cards. I think I've done a variation on this one a million times but I still love it. Super simple. Penny Black "In a Nutshell" image. Paper is PTI and some dp from my stash. Ribbon is PTI. Everything is layered up and embossed using the Cuttlebug. If you enlarge the image you can see the sparkle on the flower - mmmm - Pixie Stix Glitter.

The inside is much the same using a House Mouse sentiment, layering with the Cuttlebug and more glitter.

That's all I have for today! Have a good one....

ingredients:

images: Penny Black, House Mouse
paper: PTI
color: Versafine, Prismacolor
embellies: Pixie Stixs glitter, PTI ribbon

Scrapbook for Bravo Next Act - TGIF

2011-05-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

I always find it funny how I can have an idea for pages and they come out COMPLETELY different than what I thought. Yup - these are some such pages. I had no plans to add the TGIF images or the flower or... Regardless, I think they turned out pretty cute.

Look at this guy - such a handsome man. He is colored up with Prismacolor Pencils. The paper is PTI and JillyBean Soup. I'm loving the JillyBean lines. The clip, ribbon and "pin" are all from my stash. I used A LOT of stash stuff on these pages.

Here is our matching little lady. Again colored with Prismacolors and she has a bit of sparkle added. The circle on the top is actually covering and oops ~ I had a tag there and didn't like how it looked so... The flower and leaves are from stash - the "fabulous" tag from Queens Inc.

I sponged hearts using Tim Holtz Distress Inks - the plain paper seemed too plain without it.

More pages yet to come but I am happy to say that the book auctioned well - the event was this past Saturday. It was package with some children's book and hand created stuff toys and brought in $170. Hurrah!

Scrapbook for Bravo Next Act - the purple pages

2011-05-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

These are such FUN pages. I was trying to do more dimension and embellishment. I think I succeeded at that :)

The paper is PTI and DCWV - Nana's Kids. I wanted to do the little flag banner on one of the pages and this one won out. I inked a dashed border just to add a little interest.

The embellies are from DCWV too - I love that they now have embellies that match their paper. It makes it so much easier. The orange/pink/purple star shaped flowers are from my stash and the paper hearts and stars were cut with the Cricut and run thru embossing folders on the Cuttlebug. The tools sure got a work out with this book.

Side view so you can see some of the dimension. Fun stuff!

Scrapbook for Bravo Next Act - Wonder Kid!

2011-05-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

Another set of pages for the scrapbook for the auction. These are favorites of a lot of people. That's truly been a fun thing - to see who likes what pages. I did add a few doodads to the page under the "Wonder" Two stars and a heart just to fill in the gap a bit. Robot man is from my basket of die cuts. No manufacturer info - sorry.

Super simple. The paper is DCWV and the accents and letters are from the same paper pack so no thinking on my part - LOL. The black paper is PTI and the bracket was cut using the Cricut. The star is Basic Grey and it's cover a flaw in the letter "e". Rickrack is from my scrap basket.

You don't get more simple than this. Fun pages.

Oh and the splots you see are just paper dust. I didn't realize they were there and I've already turned in the book so no chance to reshoot. Oh well....

By request - Birthday party pics...

2011-05-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Diego cake - he's their favorite (this week).

Hanging at Great Auntie Bridget's house. Easter and the birthday celebration...

Coloring (Chase is in the blue shirt, Evan in the brown)

Chase is so intent

Presents! oooo - t-ball

more presents

and more presents

come on mom - Chase wants to play

Much better

Evan did not like the birthday song.

blowing out the candles

Evan resting

Remember the t-ball?

Dad helps Chase make a basket....

Evan's unusual batting stance.

Auntie Amanda blows bubbles for Evan

and Chase

And more....

Great Auntie Bridget does some building with Chase

Here, use this

Evan comes to check it out.

Fancy stuff

Cool - wheels!

Hard to believe that they are two already!

Scrapbook for Bravo Next Act

2011-05-03T10:01:00.000-05:00

I mentioned a while ago that I was working on a bigger project - even provided you with some amusing photos of the work in progress. Which really means pictures of my messy work area :)

The project is a scrapbook for a fundraiser for one of the theaters I work with in town ~ Next Act Theater. Each year they have an event, BRAVO Next Act, and during the event they do a silent auction. I donated an 8 x 8 kid themed scrapbook. Of course the big fear now is that no one will bid on it - LOL.

Here is the first page of the book....

I was able to slide a chair by the window and grab a wee sliver of sunshine to snap this in. What a difference it makes to the way the photo turns out!

It's a super simple page to hold a 5 x 7 photo. The paper is all PTI, just a double matted photo space and a zigzag accent cut using the Cricut. The embellies are from Me and My Big Ideas ~ lovely, dimensional and bright. Clicking on the image will enlarge it and you can see how much detail these pieces have.

The album itself is from Me and My Big Ideas too - I will post a photo of it soon.

More pages to come ~ and cross your fingers that someone bids!

KitKat Sunday

2011-05-01T07:05:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I hope that you are having a wonderful Sunday so far. Welcome to my offering for our KitKat this month. We're traveling back to Susan's childhood and sharing all her wonderful memories from childhood including - bicycling!

Look at this fun image! It's "Time For You" from Stamping up and it was so much fun to color ~ adding a bit of sparkle just made it that much more fun.

Susan also included some absolutely delicious goodies. Paper from K&Company and DCWV textured cardstock, a large fabric button also from K&Company, some Darice bling, a stitched ribbon from Michael's and she shared her button stash with us :)

The blue plaid paper was already trimmed as you see it, all I had to do was cut it to fit the space - so easy peasy! The dragonfly is a button and I stack it on top of a larger clear button Susan also included. I wanted to be sure that our wee dragonfly didn't get lost on the paper.

Be sure to check out the rest of the kitkats and see what they have to show you ~ I know it's going to be AMAZING!

Susan

Lorie

Jeanette

Kelly

Have a great day!

International Inkers ~ woohooo

2011-04-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today is the wonderful ( and long anticipated) day that we get to post our International Inkers creations. I always look forward to these post days because I can't wait to see what everyone has done with their kits. It's so much fun to see how different the projects are when everyone starts with pretty much the same supplies.

Catherine was our hostess this month and just look at all this super stuff! And ~ you can actually win your own kit. Just pop into all the International Inker's blogs and leave a comment. One lucky person who comments on each blog will be chosen to win the kit.

Since the image was a longer one, I decided to make a long card - something I haven't done in ages. This is the type that flips up and then down so it's a tri fold. The more I look at it though, the more I think I will add a bit of the top paper onto the bottom to pull some of the lovely color thru. These papers are just fantastic - double sided deliciousness, it was so hard to decide what to use.

Isn't she awesome! I carried the colors from the papers thru to the image and wow - she just pops. I love the wee bunny too.... So springlike. The image is Bashful from Sugar Nellie. A bashful bunny - it's gotta make you smile.

I knew I had to use the buckle (Catherine painted this!) and web ribbon but wasn't sure how. I probably wasn't all that creative with it but I like the look so all good.

It's a perfect spot for that bit of embellishing and I like the fat ribbon threaded thru the small buckle. Makes it all puffy and such. Okay, so now you've seen mine ~ leave a comment here and then go to each of the other International Inker's blogs and check out what they've done. Be sure to comment to get a chance to win that fantastic kit Catherine put together!

Oh last but not least:

Happy Birthday Evan and Chase

So hard to believe that it's been two years since you've come into my life. Love you lots and lots and lots

work in progress....

2011-04-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

I'm currently working on a scrapbook to be donated and then auctioned off to benefit one of the theaters in the Milwaukee area ~ Next Act Theater.

It's a kid themed book and it's pretty much taken over my house....

The dining room is command central,

or a pure disaster area: depends on your perspective....

in progress

There's even pages hanging out in the doll house drying...

In the craft room on the shelves ~ waiting for some glue...

Bright bright colors

(See that tag on the yellow page - no longer there. Everything is constantly changing)

Coloring up some images to add to the pages...

8 down - 12 to go

Stop in tomorrow to see an International Inkers offering.

An actual card that's all done!

April KitKat

2011-04-10T08:00:00.045-05:00

Welcome to April KitKat ~ we're going to the beach! Jeanette is our hostess this month and she sent the best stuff - beach themed papers and embellies, some great ribbon choices and a gorgeous lady from TGIF. As soon as I saw the goodies I knew I had another scrap page to do. So much fun! The waves alongside the pattern paper is another piece of paper - I just cut the waves out and glued them to the top sheet. The base is a sheet of gray PTI cardstock sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. I've just started playing around with the Glimmer Mist sprays and I like them ~ especially when I don't want to cover a full background. It's adds a little something without being over powering.

I colored her up to match my suit (yeah, the little sand crab is me) and while I was a bit worried about following thru with the red since the kit was predominately blue, I think it worked out okay. She has a bit of glitter in her flower and her shoes are sparkley too. I definitely do need to add a bit of color to the eyes. Once I got her "popped up" and settled on the pages I noticed they were looking a little pale. Jeanette included a shimmery ribbon in her kit and I folded this blue ribbon over on itself several times to make a "wave" effect - get it - wave. Yeah, I know, don't quit the day job.

Jeanette also included this awesome piece of brown netting. I gathered it and then sewed the one end together and fanned it out. A bit of hot glue to hold it to the page and it's a fun and unusual embellishment. The seashells are actually brads that I took the backs off of and then hot glued them to the net. To much fun.

Be sure to check out the rest of the KitKats. I know that they did wonders with this batch of yummies:

Lorie
Jeanette
Kelly
Susan

supplies:

image: The Greeting Farm Cheaky Peach
color: Prismacolor Watercolors, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Spica pens, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
paper: Paper Studio
embellishments: Creative Impressions Web Ribbon, EK Success Fabric Tab Stickets, Eyelet Outlet, Hobby Lobby Decorative Trim, Paper Studio Gemstones. Prima flower

International Inkers Debut

2011-03-13T10:49:00.003-05:00

Look at us go .....

Catherine made this wonderful badge to celebrate our little group of friends from around the globe and today is our first kit post. But more on that in a second....

Welcome to Crafters without borders ~ otherwise know as the International Inkers! A few of us thought it would be fun to share kits internationally and a group was born. Representing Germany we have the talented Imke and sweet Tanja, Canada is ably supported by crafty Karen and the amazing Paola and the United States is provided props by our own spunky Catherine and me! I had the fun of hosting the first kit and here is what I created....

I chose a fun theme of robots and had a lot of fun putting things together. There were a whole bunch of embellies that went with this set so be sure to visit the rest of the Inkers to see how they used them.

I chose images from Raisin Boat. Raisin Boat is a rental based stamp company (similar to Netflx) in which you "rent out" stamp sets, use them and then return them and receive more. I liked this set so much that I bought it outright.

And of course, there are two cards since these are going to be the twin's 2nd birthday cards. They are the same yet different, as you can see. I used a Cricut to cut the "2"'s - I thought it would be a fun touch to put how old they are on the card.

And here is a bit more on the Inkers... Each month one of us will send identical kits across the borders to our fellow Inkers and once they are received at all the destinations, a posting date will be chosen and our creations will be up for all to see. We also have a special International Inkers incentive for each posting. When you stop at each blog and leave a comment, you will be entered into a drawing to receive the same kit that the Inkers created with. This month's kit is pictured below and will also include the same images in an ink of the winner's choice.

You will notice that there are only 5 Inkers participating in today's hop since Imke has just joined us, but she will be posting with us beginning with the next kit. I will draw a winner on Wednesday for this month's kit.

Enjoy all these wonderful women have to offer and be sure to visit and comment on each blog to be eligible for the chance to win your very own kit.

Hurray for the International Inkers!

ingredients:

image: Robo Party ~ Raisin Boat

paper: WeRMemory Keepers, Papertrey Ink

embellies: American Crafts, BasicGrey

color: Prismacolor Pencils, Tim Holtz

KitKat Sunday - on Wednesday

2011-03-09T09:02:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the crazy life. Nothing ever seems to go as planned ~ which is okay I guess. I mean there isn't much that can be done about it so you might as well not sweat it right?

Before I post my KitKat there is a wee story to tell that explains the "how" behind it's coming to be. Sweet KitKat Kitten Kelly commissioned an image for us to use for her month as a hostess. The image didn't arrive in time so we've had it as a "fall back" and were planning to use it somewhere along the way. Well, as life is often crazy, this is the month. I suppose I could tell you what it is but I'd rather show you:

The image is this adorable Five Peas in a Pod. One pea for each KitKat creator. I've done a scrapbook page seeing as I have one to put together as a shower gift before the end of this month and peas and sweet peas are just so adaptable for this. The image was created by Tracy over at Sugar Creek Hollow. You can click on any image to view it larger if you'd like.

Left Page

Flowers by Sandyliion

. Sentiment Sticker from Me and My Big Ideas

Our Cutie Patootie Image ~ I stitched the vines since I wanted a bit more dimension.

Right Page

Peapod peeps all in a row

Flower by Sandylion, Sentiment by Me and My Big Ideas

Prepare to be amazed when you visit the rest of the KitKats. They're offerings are just amazing this month!

stuff:

Image: Sugar Creek Hollow

Paper: Papertrey Ink

Embellies: Sandylion, Me and My Big Ideas

Color: Prismacolor Pencils, Tim Holtz, Stickles

new camera - yoohooo

2011-02-20T09:25:00.000-06:00

Dump truck train - lots of giggles

Evan and his balloon

Watching Blues Clues or in Chase speak "oos oos"

Found a clue!

Evan

Chase

Sleeping

more sleeping

Chloe looking for the lap

Chloe found the lap

The living room - newly refinished floors ;)

It's going to take a while to get used to the settings but I'm quite happy with it so far. Not a bad little point and shoot for under $100. We'll have to see how it does in sunlight (these were all taken after dark - late into the evening) and on craft projects.

Stay tuned!

Hey there

2011-02-17T12:50:00.000-06:00

Yup - I'm still here. Lots and lots going on: super busy at work (the Florentine), back in the theater for a 4 week run (Next Act), a bit busy at the store (Barnes and Noble). Add in two sick little boys (though I wasn't able to help out as much on that end as I would have liked), some crafting time, some friends time (including wine), basic house stuff. a snow storm and well... You get the picture.

BUT! I have a few projects in the works: baby shower favors that include chocolate, a baby shower gift, some new images that I am DYING to color up and create with, not to mention the whole slew of pictures of the twins to scrap.

AND! I finally finally finally bought a new camera. woohooo.... Now if they would just ship the dratted thing life would be so grand. I bought another Canon Powershot. I had one before and loved it and though this one is not as fancy, I know it will be grand and I am so excited.

So ~ although I've been slacking it's not for lack of want. I'm actually off this whole coming weekend, Friday night included. Though, I do have a date on Friday with my two best guys :) Love me some twin time.

Stay tuned for some fun stuff and pics from my new camera (can you tell I'm excited - LOL).

See ya soon!

KitKat and Superbowl Sunday!

2011-02-06T11:52:00.000-06:00

What more could a person ask for? Our Green Bay Packers are in the Superbowl and it's a wonderful KitKat Sunday...

It was my turn to host this month and as always, I had a blast. I chose two wonderful images from Kraftin' Kimmie's Moonlight Whispers line: Angry Ballerina and Perfect Poison. I used the Angry Ballerina for my card. I wanted to do both but Mother Nature got in the way in the form of a major snow storm that took a few days to clean up. Snow cleaning doesn't leave much time for crafting :)

Look at that face but really, if you had dressed up in your best for your recital and then - oops - had to add on a piggy costume, well you might not be the happiest little lady either. Sorry for the poor picture quality ~ not much sunshine in this portion of the country today. If it clears over the next few, I will resnap and repost. I hope you can see some of the sparkle on her dress and in her barrettes and the angry flush (blush?) on her cheeks....

The paper I chose is from the Jack and Jill collection by Prima and the amazing flower is from Prima too. I just love these dimensional ones. The ribbon is a package of Yard o'Ribbon that is put together by my local Scrapbook store. The pins (LOVE these) are from KatzWorld. There's all kinds of other goodies that went out in the kits but I went with the simple layout. I'm trying to do that more and more - showcase the image.

Be sure to check out the rest of the KitKat creations this month: Lorie, Susan, Jeanette and Kelly.

Have a great day and GO PACK GO!

And here's Evan

2011-01-26T17:08:00.000-06:00

Yup - he's just as cute... One amazing grandbaby would have been the best thing ever but for some reason I got lucky and got two in one go. Chase's page was just posted a few days ago and here is Evan's.

These photos were taken by my neighbor John on the same day he shot the ones of Chase. Just wait until you see the black and white photos he shot - oh my! I am so lucky to have a friend who likes nothing better than using his amazing skills to photograph my grandbabies :)

Again a simple layout - I love simple for the 8x8 size. I have so many ideas to do yet so expect to see many more pages coming up.

supplies:

paper: Fancy Pants
supplies: Making Memories, BasicGrey

Chase watching the world...

2011-01-17T13:04:00.000-06:00

Look at that face ~ what a cute kid ~ and yes, I am totally biased and not afraid to admit it!

This was taken a few months ago by my neighbor and friend John. He was over shooting a whole slew of pictures of the twins and caught Chase looking out the screen door. I love the way the screen shows though you may have to click to enlarge the picture to get the full effect.

Quite the simple layout overall - adding pages to my wonderful scrapbook from the ladies of the Sisterhood. I've added two posts already and it's just about time to start another book since the original is getting quite full. Fun stuff.

Thanks for visiting and check back for an Evan page coming soon!

supplies:

paper: Fancy Pants

embellies: BasicGrey, Creative Memories, KC&Company

A Winter Warm-up

2011-01-14T07:59:00.000-06:00

I always enjoy working cross season: winter in summer/summer in winter. There is just something about working on a sunny card on a cold, dreary evening...

Meet Florence. She's from Kraftin' Kimmie's line of Moonlight Whisper Stamps and she is just as sunny and sassy as can be. Kraftin' Kimmie has the best stamps ~ their so much fun and just full of life. I mean really, check out those sparkling sunglasses.

Easy peasy simple card - figured I'd ease myself back into this card making stuff. It's been much to long between paper time and I'm hoping to correct that in the future :)

Be sure to check back the first Sunday in February. I'm the hostess of this month's KitKat and you may just see some Kraftin' Kimmie stamps again.

Have a great day!

ingredients:

stamp: Florence ~ Kraftin' Kimmie

color: Versafine, Prismacolor watercolors, Tim Holtz Distress Ink

paper: Papertrey, Jilliebean

embellies: repurposed ribbon, Stickles

KitKat Wonder

2011-01-02T08:22:00.000-06:00

This month again, the kitkat kit we received from Lorie was like "woohooo".... Just a totally fun image and lucious papers.

Look at this fun stuff. Lorie gave us a photo book with the instructions to alter away. I knew right a way what I wanted to do - a brag book for my neighbor. She has 4 grandbabies and they all live a distance away so....

I did the front and the back covers, leaving the inside plain for photos. Details: Lorie included a Winter Baby in Teacup from Peachy Keen stamp ~ which is beyond adorable to say the least. Kathy (my neighbor) has a winter birthday so the snow baby theme is perfect. The paper is from My Mind's Eye - awesome colors and lots of sparkle.

Lorie also included some pink and blue organza ribbon by Sheer Creations, pink, blue and white adhesive pearls, Martha Stewart coarse glitter, and a quickie glue pen. Now, I wanted to use the ribbon and decided to make "page markers". This of course entailed attaching the ribbons to the insert and then running them out the top of the book so they can be used. Hmmm - cut the book? YIKES.... After some careful measuring and marking I used my sharpest craft knife and thankfully, it all worked out fine. PHEW.... I used some alphabet rub ons from my stash for the "babies" on the front.

I used more of these wonderful papers for her card but I paper pieced the cup - it was just to much fun not to. The snowflakes on both projects are glittered up with Martha's glitter Lorie included - awesome! I kept the card pretty simple because the image and the papers just needed to shine.

Here's a close up of the little cutie pie. Thanks Lorie for such a wonderful kit. Next month is my turn - hmmmm, what will turn up in everyone's mail boxes? bwahahahhahah....

Hugs!
Michelle

Kelly's KitKat Splendor

2010-12-05T17:17:00.000-06:00

Hello all! Sorry for the late in the day posting. My life is a bit nutty right about now to say the least. It's one of the reasons why I love Kit Kat so much. If not for that, I'd probably never get an opportunity to play with my paper - and that would be a sad story...

This month was Kelly's turn and wow - what an envelope of fabulous stuff.

I opened my envelope to find the makings for a tin and an ornament and gasp - no image! Kelly gave us a free pass to use whatever image we wanted and this was an easy choice for me. Kelly's only real directive was to make a little gift package for someone you normally wouldn't give too. Yup that's Kelly in a nutshell....

I used a portion of the image for the ornament and a whole slew of the goodies that Kelly included. There really wasn't a plan - it just fell together as you see it. (sorry for the fuzzy picture - nothing seems to be working right today).

And the tin - oh what fun! I added some extra sparklies because I love sparklies :)

Quick and horribly uninspired short post but life is nutty and I honestly walked around most of the day thinking it was Saturday. Really. Be sure to check out the other Kittens - I know they have some spectacular stuff to show you (and I'm sure, much better posts...).

Hugs to all

November KitKat - woohooo....

2010-11-07T08:42:00.001-06:00

Good morning! Today is the fun day we get to post our KitKat projects. This month was hosted by Susan and oh my, it was an envelope full of amazing goodies. Our original image was The Greeting Farms Summer Fairy but for various reasons we weren't able to use her so Susan directed us to use any fairy or fantasy image we wanted. I did some sorting and searching and ended up going in a completely different direction (like that's unusual). Susan had included in our packages an alterable monthly calendar and the directions to either create with that or make a card or both and well, I did neither. I, however, have big plans for the calendar so stay tuned for that at a later day. Hopefully I don't get drummed out of the KitKat's for being such a rebel.

The paper that was include is from K&Company Que Sera Sera collection and it just screamed garden to me so I knew I wanted to use it in a scrapbook page. I found this picture of me when I was a wee one in our families back yard and well, it all came together from there. I think I used every piece that Susan included in our kit. The butterfly was on a piece of the paper and I just cut it out and scored it to give it some dimension.
The rhinestones are from Recollections and to keep them all the same size I added a few that I had in my embellishment drawer (yeah I really have one of those).

I used Flora from Mo's Digital Pencil. I love this sweet little cherub. She's a lot of fun to color and I picked up the color scheme from the paper in her clothes and wings. I also added some Shimmerz to her wings and short pants - every fairy needs a bit of sparkle; even a baby one :)

Look at all these fun embellies. Susan included so much for us to play with and I definitely couldn't use them all. I did try to use a bit of everything though. The "joy" charm is from Blue Moon Beads ~ there were also ones that said love, hope and a lovely blue stone one as well as ones with really cool designs. The pick is from Victoria Lynn, the flowers from Prima with the pearls in the colored flowered centers being from Recollections. The "circle" is made from a pearl strand and a silver cord from Darice and the white ribbon across the page is from Darice too. The silver thread attaching the charm is from Kreinik.

I really, really like how this came out and I thank Susan for putting together such an amazing bundle of goodies for us. I can't imagine having done this picture in such a fun way without her "help".

Now ~ off you go to the rest of the KitKat's blogs. I'm sure they were all much better at following directions but we'll see....

Susan

Lorie

Jeanette

Kelly

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a magical day...

Michelle

October Kit Cat

2010-10-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

And here is me - tardy again. Blogger was giving me fits which delayed my getting my posting up and showing off this amazing kit Jeanette put together for us. Happy Back to School!

This incredibly fun image is Spencer the Bookworm from Stamping Bella. Jeanette also included for us some amazingly delicious paper from Bo Bunny as well as pages from a vintage dictionary and an assortment of ribbons, buttons, the fun blue clip you see and a cute key charm. I chose a relatively simple layout using torn dictionary pages for my background and building up from there. I loved that I also got to use my notebook punch - this set of supplies just begged for it.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Kitcats creations - since I'm tardy this month, I've linked directly to their Kitcat projects as opposed to their main blog page so be sure to check out the rest of their work - it's all incredibly amazing. I am truly blessed to have these women for inspiration and friendship.

Have a great day!

supplies:

image: Stamping Bella

paper: Bo Bunny

embellies: Assorted buttons, clip, ribbon

Aloha

2010-09-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

Good morning all. It's fall for sure here: leaves are changing, weather is grand, sky is sparkling and the kids are back to school. This year I have a niece and a nephew both starting college - gone away for school. I'm prouder than words of both of them and excited for them as they start this new chapter.

I made up a quick card for my niece, Samantha, to say hello and happy college. I'm going to send it to her at her dorm because it's always fun to get mail...

This is from a card kit that I received ages ago. I've been unmotivated to craft lately (it's hard in the summer) and I've a whole slew of kits to fall back on when I need a push. This one is from Imke - an amazing crafter and card maker that I met thru SCS. It's always wonderful to see her packages and that so fun German postmark.

I also got to play with my brand new I-Rock on this one. Can I say - so much fun! I think that my cards are going to be a bit more sparkly in the future since not much can be easier than adding bling with this.

Off to work - I hope you all have a wonderful Friday!

deets
image: The Greeting Farm
paper: Karen Foster, Cosmo Cricket
embellies: Imaginence, Prima

June Kit Cat - sheesh!

2010-08-23T09:52:00.000-05:00

And it's a lousy picture too ~ I couldn't find a good spot and the pics that I have that the lighting is good on are totally out of focus. Rushing around like a fool doesn't help things either. I'll try to get a better picture later today and repost it. This one truly doesn't do the kit justice at all at all....

Oh well, enough of my grumbles - what a gorgeous bunch of stuff we got to play with this time around. Catherine was our hostess this time around and she sent us Maria and Miko from The Greeting Farm. The papers were from My Mind's Eye's Abby Road collection. She also included some incredibly delicious ribbon, which I didn't use here but what for it in the future :)

Be sure to check out the other lovely Kit Catters and see what they came up with - all amazing as always....

Off to bury myself in work ~ hopefully my poor neglected blog will see some more activity soon. Life is just crazy - otherwise known as summertime :)

Hugs!

Oh my -

2010-08-05T08:05:00.000-05:00

It's a......

CARD!!!!

It's enough to spin your head around in circles - LOL... Yes, I've been back in my craft room, just putzing more than anything but I wanted to see if I could get something put together and whala... a card is born.

This is the adorable Eli from Mo's Digital Pencil. He is absolutely perfect on this birthday card for my son (his birthday was last week Friday - yeah - bad mom) since this would be a perfectly typical way to find him when he was little.

I cropped out a closeup of this sweet face because my coloring and shading always gets lost on the big pictures or if I auto correct it. I know I need to get a better camera and/or better editing software but on the list of necessaries, it's kind of a low priority.

The inside of the card - soooo appropriate at this time in Karl's life. An amazing set of 15 month old twins, 3 weeks into the police academy and a pending wedding! Talk about a journey. I just wanted to give him a little reminder to stop and appreciate it because it's only going to happen once (for which he is probably WAY thankful). The sentiment is from Create with TLC and if you've never checked out this company you really really need to.

Phew - a card and a blog post. I think I need a nap....

Birthday giftie

2010-07-21T09:07:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to make one of these note pad holders forever. I finally decided that one would be a great birthday gift for my "across the street" neighbor since she is getting married next July. All brides need a place to make lists ~ right? Right.

I used the template from Nichole Heady's fabulous Capture the Moment blog. This is Papertrey's "official" blog and there are sooo many wonderful projects and ideas. Definitely a go to kind of place.

I wanted to link directly to these instructions but Nichole is doing some construction on her blog right now and I wasn't able to find this particular tutorial. There is another memo book there - just without the pencil holder. But the pencil holder is what gives this one it's splash of dash...

The paper pads are from PTI ~ they come in cream and white. Awesome! I also used Papertry card stock for the base. This one was the first I've done, so it's certainly not perfect but I like the way it came out overall. One thing - I don't have a 1/2 inch circle punch so I used a regular hole punch a few times - it made my pencil hole a bit raggy but I haven't been able to find a 1/2 inch circle in any local store so it's what I have to work with until I place an on line order.

The embellies and dp are from Imaginisce new line "To Love and Cherish". I won some during an on-line contest and what better way to use it!

I used Rain Dots in the corners for a wee bit of bling. The pencil is PINK underneath it's cover. I used a piece of scrap that matches incredibly well and Modge Podge. I felt like I was in Girl Scouts again :)

The back has a half circle cut out at the top for slipping in notes, receipts etc.

This was surprisingly easy to make and lots of fun. You should give it a try!

Summertime Summertime....

2010-07-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

Today is supposed to be "What's on your desk Wednesday" but there was a bit of ambition brewing last night and we pulled the carpets out of my living and dining room. The result? Living room looks AMAZING. Under the carpet in the dining room we found tile - old, ugly wood grain tile. Really. Who would do that to hard wood floors???????

After some debate, we (read as I) pulled one up and we were off. We worked until eleven or so which isn't bad since we didn't start until 8, but since it's sticky down tile, the backing in lots of spots stayed on the floor. Needless to say, I have quite the project ahead of me. Of course after we had everything pulled someone said "we should have taken pictures of: before, during and after". Oops.

Yup - that's the mess. And my neighbor John who helped (did) most of the work.

@ John ~ yes, I know you said no sweaty pictures but you don't look sweaty here - LOL.

See all the black stuff - yup, tile backing stuck to the floor. sigh.......

And a happy scene. The twins in their helicopter pool on the 5th of July. Yup, a helicopter pool.

Chase is a splashing. Evan is patting Chase on the head.

More cuteness.

And from the back, they're still hard to tell apart. Chase is on the left - Evan the right.

Changing....

2010-07-13T08:43:00.000-05:00

Just a super quick post to let you all know that I'm making some changes to allow for more me time in my life. And by me time, I mean: house time, man time, kid time, family time and of course, grandbaby time :)

With this in mind, I've stepped down from the Burtonesque Dolls Design Team ~ sadly. I've loved playing along with them each week. It's such a creative outlet and it's pushed me in directions that I wouldn't have gone otherwise.

Today is, of course, a challenge day and it's an amazing one so be sure to pop over to The Burtonesque Dolls and check out the challenge (sponsored by Tickled Pink) and all the Dolls work. I know that I will be playing along in the future. It's to much fun not to!

Here's Jack!

2010-07-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Burtonesque Dolls Tuedsay! Barb from Stamp It Crazy has been so generous to provide the DT with some awesome Skellington images and you can see everyone's work over on the Dolls blog. She also has an awesome range of Halloween and fun stamps ~ check them out at Stamp it Crazy.net!

This week is Burton Boys week... what is your favorite Burton Boy? As you can see the DT loves that Skellington! So, the challenge as you may have guessed is add a Burton Boy to your project anything you want just add a Burton Dude! Remember you have until Monday July 12th at 10PM PST to upload to inlikz for your change to win three rubber stamps from Stamp It Crazy!

Here is my offering for the week...

What a wonderful bit of attitude! It's very very simple but these images are soooo cool that it didn't need a lot. And the Basic Grey paper compliments the craziness of it perfectly. I really wanted to use a few more of the stamps that I received from Barb so I expanded my original idea to this:

I've never done an easel card in a A4 size and I'm happy with how it turned out. A regular mailing envelope can be used which is always a bonus. I embossed Skellington's skulls with clear power and laid them out grid style. More craziness...

Be sure to play along with the dolls this week to win some great stamps and perhaps the Burtonesque Dolls badge of honor....

Thanks for stopping!

what's on your desk Wednesday...

2010-06-23T09:14:00.000-05:00

Even though it's a bit alarming, here it is as of 7:30 am today....

It's actually quite embarrassing. This is what came of creating a card that I just could not get a handle on. It was a commission card and I just couldn't get it right - kwim?

Oh well, card is done. Recipient is happy and I have started cleaning up a bit.

Until the next creative endeavor :)

Toe Tag Time!

2010-06-22T17:04:00.000-05:00

Not on time but well - it's just a wee bit tardy...

Our challenge this week is to create a tag based on the movie Beetlejuice. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Adam and Barbara put on their sheets to try to scare the Deetz's. Totally crazy...

So that is my tag theme - the whole ghostie thing. The background is green to match the man himself - Beetlejuice.

Here's a closer view of some of the detail - I ran the whole thing thru the cuttlebug to get some depth and then inked away. I also inked up the flowers and the fluffy ribbon and then just embellied to bits....

This was fun stuff - I used a bunch of my stash for this and just had a blast putting it together.

Now your mission is to complete a toe tag based on the theme of Beetlejuice. You have lots and lots of leeway since we're not sponsored this week - anything goes! And even without a sponsor we have a grand prize - you could be chosen the TBD Princess and receive a Guest DT spot for the month of July! Woohooo.... All you need to do is design your own tag based on the Juice Man and link it up here on the Burtonesque Dolls blog....

Be sure to check out the rest of the dolls work. There are some really amazing tags including a coffin and a creepy motorcycle. Off you go to the TBD blog.

ingredients:

image: stash
color: Tim Holtz Distress Inks
embellies: prima, pti, c.r. gibson, stash

Toe Tag Time

2010-06-22T08:27:00.000-05:00

and I'm tardy....

I actually got mine done last night but then the mother of all storms came in and well ~ I powered everything down just to be on the safe side. Took pictures this morning, figuring I'd be a bit tardy but still up this morning and well ~ brought the camera to work but forgot the cord - YIKES!

I'm just building the anticipation - LOL....

Be sure to head over to the Burtonesque Dolls challenge blog and check out the amazing work of the ladies who are on time. And wander back here this evening at which time I should have my act together. Maybe.

thinking of you....

2010-06-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

I just love this image for thinking of you cards. It's absolutely perfect and I've used it bunches of times. This one is for a new friend who is going thru some really hard times. Just a little paper hug...

There are endless color possibilities and such with this one and I colored her up to match the dp from Basic Grey. Simple and sweet....

Short post - year end at work and it's ca-razy....

ingredients:

image: Sugar Nellie
paper: Basic Grey, PTI
color: Prismacolor
embellies: Prima, Colorbok

A Burtonesque Birthday

2010-06-15T01:00:00.012-05:00

So.... This weeks challenge is a Burtonesque style birthday and well, I kinda failed - LOL. My creepy card came out more cute than creepy but I do love it. Tickled Pink Stamps is our sponsor and wow - these images are incredibly fun. You can easily creep them up or cute them up as you can see here...

This is Willow and oh my I love her to death! I made her into an easel card because it's perfect for this image and card. The paper is DCWV and the turquoise and brown and pink works so well. Can you tell I love how this came out - LOL...

The flowers are all Prima, the brad is Basic Grey and the embellies are all from my bucket of stuff.

Check her out!

Be sure to stop at the Burtonesque Dolls blog and check out the cards of the design team members who actually followed the directions. They are all incredibly amazing. And of course, be sure to play along this week. There is an amazing prize up for grabs from Tickled Pink Stamps - just link your entry up on the Burtonesque Dolls blog before 10 on Monday the 21st and you could win three (3!) images from Tickled Pink Stamps.

Oh! And more cool stuff: I was asked to stay on the Dolls design team permanently and I am soooo excited and pleased to be a part of it. Woohooo....

May Sisterhood

2010-06-13T08:43:00.000-05:00

I was going to be so much more diligent about posting this week and then - no internet at home - eek! Well, no wireless anyway. I am hard lined in now and wow, it's weird being tethered.

Anyway - just a quick post to show my May Sisterhood card. The theme this month is to do what makes you think of summer. Butterflies and green do it for me.

There was a great debate over the embossing - I don't really like the scattered extra spots and everyone else does. I was told it looked to cold and boring without it. Yikes! Regardless of spots or not, I like the overall simple look of the card and I love this stamp from Unity. All the paper is PTI and the ribbon from Michaels. The little bit of bling is from Colorbok $1 line.

Have a great day!

A special baby

2010-06-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

I made this card for a co worker to celebrate the birth of his second son - Mark. It's an awfully simple, soft card but it is perfect for a new little one.

The image is from The Angel Company and it's called Hello Baby - appropriate. The paper is all PTI as is the ribbon. I embossed with my Cuttlebug for a bit of depth and then cut everything with Nesies - easy peasy. Color is from Prismacolor.

Quick post - busy day but I wanted to share this card since it is a bit different from all the bright bold I've been doing lately.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sweeny Todd and the Burtonesque Dolls

2010-06-08T01:00:00.002-05:00

Look at this! I just love these new Simply Betty Stamps - the Emo kids. I used Rio who is absolutely adorable and creepy at the same time and absolutely perfect for this challenge. What's a better combination of creepy and adorable than Tim Burton's Sweeny Todd ~ the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Johnny Depp: Adorable. Blood, gore and cannibalism: seriously creepy.

This weeks Burtonesque Dolls challenge is to slice it or dice it in true Demon Barber fashion by using decorative scissors or distressing. I've done a whole bunch of distressing on this card and it works so well. I also used a punch as opposed to decorative scissors to frame my ribbon treatment (one I've been wanting to try for ages).

Both the ribbon and the flowers add so much to this card. I just love how both turned out. The batty guy is Rio's pet and comes with the image. All the Emo kids come with their own special pets. The flowers are Prima and the fabric heart was a gifty from a crafting sister. The charm is from Making Memories.

The paper is DCWV, PTI and scrap - the web paper is some I had bought ages ago when I make a scrap book for my Godson Eric. He has a special thing for Spider man....

Be sure to check out all the Burtonesque Dolls work this week. They are all going to be amazing as usual and I hope that you play along with us this week. You have until Monday June 14th to link up your creations and we can't wait to see your own Sweeney Todd creation!

This just in! Prize alert - LOL... Well, that is the good part. The winner of this weeks competition has the chance to win two (2!) Simply Betty Stamps. You will receive Miller and Betty so go get your creep on and enter this weeks Sweeney Todd inspired fun!

Have a great day...

Rio by Simply Betty Stamps

Patience

2010-06-05T13:10:00.000-05:00

I have been doing a bit more scrapbooking lately and it's been in a pretty random way. I either find a picture that I have to do or I find an image or sticker or paper or something and an idea pops into my head. That's what happened with this one:

My dad is a picture taker. He had all the photos from when we were little on slides and a few Christmas' ago he gave each of us kids a disc that he had made from the slides. Honestly one of the best things I've gotten. I have had pictures made from a lot of them and I am slowly getting them scrapped.

Not to tough to see why I had an ah ha moment when I saw this image from Mo Manning. It's called Patience and well, Miss Kitty sure has a lot of it.

The photo has lost a bit of the coloring details on the cat. She quite dimensional really and I'm thrilled with the way the whole thing turned out. You absolutely cannot beat Mo's images for detail and expression. They are some of my favorite to work with. I also got to use some of the fun embellishments my daughter gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. She filled a fun little bag with some of the most amazing things - including that great stick pin.

Thanks for stopping and I hope you are having a smashing Saturday!

ingredients:

image: Mo Manning, Patience
color: Prismacolor Premier pencils
paper: Heidi Grace
embellies: Around the Block, Jolees, Heidi Grace

What's on your desk Wednesday....

2010-06-02T17:49:00.000-05:00

I read this all the time on Wednesday's as I'm going thru the gillion blogs I look at everyday. Since I don't have a finished project but lot's in progress I thought I would jump on the bandwagon...

Here's my desk. It's a bit messy but partly because I've been doing a lot of coloring and I have my pencils all over. I've done a few images in the past two days - been in a coloring mood.

Here's a closer view: there are some Simply Betty images, some new Tiddly Inks and a Mo.. Sounds kind of funny doesn't it... There is also an orange spider hanging out - he's from Unity and I had colored him for a card and ended up not using him. He'll hang around until I find him a home.

Here's a closer close up. Yeah - that's me with I think, one of my grandma's cats. Though that's my parents radio so I'm a bit confused about the ownership of the feline... Or it's name. I can tell you the Mo image that is there is called Patience and it's pretty fitting. Can you tell there's a scrap page in the works there - LOL...

Come back and see how these end up being when they all grow up. I promise I will share. Now ~ I am off to the couch and a movie. It's raining here and it's good evening to just chill....

Have a great one!

A visit to Sleepy Hollow - Burtonesque Dolls Style

2010-06-01T01:00:00.002-05:00

I have been horribly absent from the blogging world. The man had some surgery last week (all is well - no worries), the weather has been good and I've been devoting myself to getting my yard/garden into shape. I've been doing quite a bit of coloring but no real card construction - yikes! That's one of the reasons I am so thankful for the Burtonesque Dolls. I have to stop and play with some paper - what torture! LOL...

Tiddly Inks is our sponsor this week and I had just discovered them a week or so before this. I have a whole slew of images that I purchased that I can't wait to get playing with and then, Christy was so generous in providing images to the Dolls this week, I have even more! Be sure to check out the Tiddly Inks store, especially the new images in her Gothic Cute line. They totally rock.

This just in: Tiddly Inks is having a one day sale today (June 1) ~ 30% off images in the store. Run, skip, hop or slither there NOW to take advantage of this amazing sale!

For this week's challenge we are taking a stroll around Sleepy Hollow! Your Burtonesque mission is to create a card or project with Sleepy Hollow-ish scenery.. think funky trees, pumpkins, and elements from these photos and put your hero/heroine in that scene. I used Poppy because I just think that she is amazing. I love her hair and being able to put that bright pop of color in the middle. I used her to represent Katrina Anne Van Tassel - the spoiled daughter who bewitches poor Ichabod. No matter what version of the story you see/read (though T. Burton's is my FAVE) she comes off as well, "the queen of everything"...

It's a wee bit busy but then again not. I used my cricut to cut the trees, moon and saying and it all just kind of came together. I wanted it a little blocky and outline-ish (are those really adjectives?) - a line drawing if you will, because I wanted Poppy to really stand out. I have her and the moon up on dimensionals and the flower & leaf popped up yet once more.

Be sure to play along with the Dolls this week and you could win some images of your own from Tiddly Inks. Check out all the Dolls work on the challenge blog ~ you won't be sorry since it's all amazing! I mean, pick your jaw up off the floor amazing - really...

Have a creepy, crafty day!

ingredients:

image: Tiddly Inks: Poppy
paper: PTI, Scrap
embellies: stickles, Deluxe Cuts, Heidi Grace
color: Prismacolor Premier pencils

Burtonesque Dolls sponsored by the Busy Beauties

2010-05-25T01:00:00.003-05:00

It's Tuesday again ~ funny how at least once a week that happens, isn't it. Anyway, Tuesday around here is a wee bit twisted and gruesome and fun and funky. It's Burtonesque Dolls Day! Today we're again working with the talented and amazing Busy Beauties and our theme is An Affair to Remember with The Corpse Bride as inspiration. It rocked the socks when we got to hop along with them last week and this week they are sponsoring our challenge - woohoo...

This week I've used our lovely bride herself and incorporated the sketch which is the May challenge over at the Busy Beauties Challenge Blog. The sketch was created by our own amazing Catherine and though I tweaked it a tad, it's pretty true to form...

Here's my lovely. I gave her a red dress because well, that dress should be red... I worked the coloring a bit to try to get a velvet look. Not sure how well it comes thru in the photograph but in real life it's quite convincing. I also used a technique I've been seeing out and about of trimming around part of an image and then cutting the rest with a nestie. I really like how it came out on this card. She's got some creepy green eyes and dem bones are colored up in a cream though it doesn't show real well in the photo.

Here's a close up:

The paper is Basic Grey. I'm beginning to think I'm addicted to their paper - I just can't seem to get enough. This is from the Phoebe line and I think it worked well here - kind of old fashioned flocked wall paperish.

Be sure to check out all the dolls this week. You can find their offerings on the Burtonesque Dolls blog and definitely be sure to visit their individual blogs for all the amazing details on their work, especially our newest Doll Eulanda. You really need to play along this week. Just have your entry submitted by Monday at 10 pm. A winner will be randomly chosen that will win 5 Busy Beauty images ~ you can check out the Busy Beauties amazing images here and believe me they rock!

ingredients:

image: Busy Beauties Boutique: Emily the Bride
color: Prismacolor, Tim Holtz
paper: Basic Grey
embellies: Colorbok

KitCat Sunday a week late

2010-05-23T09:10:00.001-05:00

Avast there Matey ~

It's KitCat Sunday - really late! We generally post our KitCat creations on the first Sunday of the month but this month was a wee bit crazy so we delayed until last Sunday and well, I missed that deadline so I guess I should probably walk the plank... ARGH....

Why all the pirate talk? Well because of this:

It's my hostessing turn with the KitCats and I chose to use some amazingly adorable High Hopes stamps. This is On Guard Oberto and the ships wheel. I picked those images because I just love this Basic Grey paper and thought they went well. In fact, everything but the raffia is from BG's Ambrosia line. The map icon is a cut out from Ambrosia paper using my new Cricut cart: Graphically Speaking. Watch for more from this one - it's super for scrapbooking. I now am the proud owner of two (2!) cartridges...

Be sure to check out the rest of the pussycats creations...

Things slow down amazingly after our run closes today (Florentine Opera's Rigoletto). I am looking forward to having a bit more time to play with paper and such. Paper therapy - LOL....

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Simply Betty Stamps

2010-05-21T10:06:00.000-05:00

You all know by now that I've been a Guest Designer over that the Burtonesque Dolls for the past month or so. This is an amazingly creative bunch of ladies and Betty from Simply Betty Stamps just started manufacturing her own incredible line of stamps. These are A-MAZ-ING. Fun and funky and fabulous

She's taking preorders for her first line: five the neatest images evah and their quirky critters. Be sure to check out her store here... Official store opening is June 1. Be sure to become of a follower of her blog and bookmark the store. I'm thinking there's going to be a whole bunch of neat stuff going on that you're not going to want to miss!

Busy Beauties and the Burtonesque Dolls

2010-05-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

It's a match made in heaven. Today's blog hop not only features fearsome new digis from the Busy Beauties Boutique, we also have the Burtonesque Dolls hopping along with us. As the name implies the Burtonesque Dolls design around all things Tim Burton and oh my, are there some talented ladies behind this new challenge blog.

The new Busy Beauties images are inspired by Burton's "The Corpse Bride" and Thomas has gone beyond the beyond in conjuring up the new line. If you are coming to me from Suzi's blog you're on the right path. If not, be sure to start at the Busy Beauties Challenge Blog. You don't want to miss a single stop as there will be two secret blogs along the way and if you comment on those, you'll be in the running for the outstanding prize of 5 Busy Beauties images. Can I have a woohooo!

Here's my offering for today:

Introducing your favorite, friendly wedding planner. What a great image! I had some official ruled paper picked out to make this card and then stumbled across this pattern and well, there was no not using it. The flies were just perfect for the whole corpse thing and the blue gray color is exactly what a "in the background" professional planner would wear. She's grand and gruesome and wholly in charge of things so just you watch out. This image also gave me the excuse to finally buy my note paper punch. I've been wanting it forever and it fit so well with this layout. A pyramid card just because I needed to show off those flies - LOL... Click on the pic for an enlarged view. Our wedding planner has a Shimmerz cob web veil and Stickles jewels on.

Now off with you to the next stop on the hop: Rachel I have no doubt that she has something wicked and wonderful whipped up for you.

Be sure to end your hopping at the Busy Beauties Creation Station to check out our newest challenge. It's an original sketch by our own PaperAddict Catherine and it's to die for - tee hee.... The challenge is open until June 2nd so you have plenty of time to get your entry in!

Have a crafty day!

ingredients:

image: Busy Beauties Boutique
color: Prismacolor, Koh-i-nor, Tim Holtz, Spica
paper: Deja Views Buzz-Buzz
embellies: Prima, Rain Dots, Mark Richards

It's Burtonesque Fun Time!

2010-05-18T01:00:00.002-05:00

Hello and happy Tickle Pink Tuesday. What a great, roll off the tongue way to introduce today's Burtonesque Challenge which is to use those magical Tim Burton elements: black flowers and skulls. This weeks sponsor is Tickled Pink Stamps and seriously, they are a-maz-ing. I fell in love as soon as I saw these wonderful images - gorgeous and creepy all at the same time.

I was lucky enough to be able to play with the Lil Lolita line - specifically Lilith. AWESOME! I actually colored her in a couple of different ways: pink, blue, all black and this one ~ yellow. I'm not quite sure why I liked the yellow the best other than it's like she's trying to be sunshiney. She's not sure why but at least she is.

I found this dp at the store today. Wasn't really looking for anything but this just jumped - black flowers :) It's from g.c.d. Studios - their Cosette Collection. It's actually really heavy and slightly textured, quite awesome. I wanted to pull out the yellow so I layered Reflections black and yellow and used one of my Martha punches to do the boarder ~ more black flowers. The whole thing is laid out on a PTI card base - easy peasy once I stopped trying to force things. The flowers are all Prima and the skullies are from Rain Dots.

Here's a close up of this amazing image:

I added a bit of sparkle to her bow and her tights just so she's sun shiney - tee hee. Click on either image to see a larger view.

Be sure to check out the rest of the dolls blogs and be sure to play along with the challenge this week. You can win an amazing Tickled Pink prize ~ one of the Lil Lolita stamps. You can even get Lilith and that would make giving it a whirl worth it for certain sure.

Go! Run! Fly! to the Burtonesque blog and check out the challenge and the DT's amazing work.

Have a great day!

Moving Day

2010-05-13T08:48:00.000-05:00

Seems a whole slew of people I know have either moved, are moving or getting ready to move. AND my darling friend Karen recently hosted an "all things moving" swap. Springtime brings restless feet and new beginnings.

All this wanderlust gave me the perfect opportunity to color up this adorable image from Mo Manning. Edward and his stuff are the stars in this image called "Moving". There is so much detail and deliciousness (down to the snaps on Edwards pants) in this image and crazy me colored it 6 times! I'm just in love with Mo's work so it wasn't too tough to do. I have one or two partially colored up that I will probably really go crazy with the detail on but I do love how these turned out. It's a super simple card but I didn't want anything to take away from the picture...

The toys are sparkled up here and there with Spica pens as well as Edward's pant snaps. The "satin" on the blanket is done with Shimmerz. The card base is PTI - otherwise it's all scrap paper that I've had for years. Trying so hard to get it used up!

Hope you enjoy Edward and if you're in the midst of a move yourself, best of luck!

It's Tuesday which means...

2010-05-11T01:00:00.001-05:00

It's The Burtonesque Dolls challenge day. There were so many amazing entries for our first challenge and we're all absolutely thrilled that so many of you played along. I hope that you join us this week too - we have another fun filled challenge for you to get your "Burton" on with.

The challenge this week is to find your inner Burton chick. Create a card, layout or project with an image that reflects what you feel a Burton chick is - as cute, funky, freaky or fearsome as you wish. You can use any of Tim's movies for inspiration. My card is a bit on the cute side - channeling my inner Alice with an amazing Wild Flower Kid image. Well cute, until you realize that Alice is going for a bit of a spin...

This is the first spinner card I've done and I'm amazed at how easy it really was. It just seemed the perfect thing to do to showcase Alice's mythical fall down the rabbit hole. I just picture her falling down and down and spinning along the way. I guess that explains the fun little smirk on her face.

Be sure to head on over to the Burtonesque Dolls challenge blog and link up your Burton inspired chick card. You could win 5 amazing images from the Wild Flower Patch store.

One last photo to show the spinner spot and some of the dimension. You really gotta enter the TBD challenge this week and you really gotta try one of these cards. Totally killer :)

card deets:

image: Wild Flower Patch
paper: PTI, DCWV
color: Prismacolor Premiers, Stickles
tools: flowers cut with Sizzix flower die, border punch: Martha Stewart

It's Tea Time

2010-05-08T09:57:00.001-05:00

Good morning! It's a cold and dreary day here today ~ perfect for a spot of tea and some bright, fun colors.

It's also a good day to be inside and creating. A grand day to do the current challenge over at the Busy Beauties Creation Station ~ use red, blue or both on a card or project. We've even provided an image for you to get started with.

You can use this fun, summery popsicle or any other Busy Beauties image. Once your creation is finished link it up over at the Busy Beauties Creation Station and you could win a $15 gift certificate as well as an incredibly coveted badge for your blog.

While you're there, be sure to sign up for our May Customer Appreciation Blog candy. You could win this:

Pink Paislee 6x6 "Queen Bee" Paper Pad
K and Company Chipboard Die-Cut Shapes
An assortment of Stampin' Up grosgrain ribbon strips
A strip of lace
An assortment of Prima flowers
An assortment of Maya Road stick pins

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll be watching for your entries into the BBB challenge!

ingredients:

image: Busy Beauties Boutique, Unity Stamps
paper: Bo Bunny, PTI
color: Prismacolor
embellies: unknown (gifted flower)

It's all about the Stripes!

2010-05-04T01:00:00.002-05:00

Good Morning!

Today we have our first amazing challenge from the Burtonesque Dolls. Can you give me a woohooo....

Our fantastic sponsor is Stamp Insanity Stamps and Beth gave us some totally cool images to work with. I have Lita ~ and what a awesome rocker girl she is!

I used Basic Grey's Obscure paper and it's totally edgy just like Lita. The striped ribbon is from the same line - totally rad man! Click on either of the images to get a close up view - Lita's details are amazing. I used these incredibly fun circle embellies and intertwined them to add a little something different. The star was cut with a Cricuit and the basic cart - LOL, the only one I have :) The star stamp is from Studio G clear stamps. I love these little sets for things like this.

Beth over at Stamp Insanity is offering up 3 of her amazing images to the winner of this weeks challenge ~ which is to use STRIPES! Run on over to the Burtonesque Dolls web site and get all the details, create a card and link it up!

Thanks for stopping today and for playing along!

ingredients:

image: Stamp Insanity Stamps, Studio G
paper: Basic Grey, PTI
embellies: Basic Grey, Heidi Grace
color: Prismacolor, Tim Holtz Distress

Sunday Sketch and Stamp

2010-05-02T08:38:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Today the Busy Beauties Boutique is sponsoring the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge - woohoooo!!! I love sketch challenges, they make those mojoless days so much easier.

The sketch is a good one too!

Now I'm normally a "don't deviate an inth" from the sketch kind of girl but this time I got all wild and crazy. Here's my take:

I love this BBB image. It's so fun and crazy. Makes me think of something Duff would make from the Ace of Cakes and I just love that show. Of course there are prizes involved: create a card using the sketch and link it up over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp. You could win 5 Busy Beauty images of your choice - woohooo...

On a short side note: I have one extra Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug embossing folder. If you don't have this particular one, mention it in your comment and I'll ship it off to you. If several people would like it, then I'll draw out a "winner". My lazy blog candy - LOL...

Have a wonderful Sunday. I hope you get to play with paper today :)

Michelle

ingredients:

image: Busy Beauties Boutique
paper: PTI, Bo Bunny
color: Prismacolor pencils
embellies: PTI ribbon, Rusty Pickle Rub ons, Prima flowers/brad

Happy Day!

2010-05-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

It's National Scrapbook Day

And I truly wish I could say that I'm going to an all day crop - alas, I must work. It's closing weekend for our current run over at the Off Broadway so to work I go. BUT ~ the fact that I'm there means I can tote along some crafty things and am I going to ~ scrap booking at work - yoohooo....

I have done a couple of new pages in the last few days for the twins book and thought I would share those with you today.

These are 8 x 8 pages and I've found that I really like this size. I still have my big books but these are quick and fun to do.

Smooshy face!

Bathtime pics are fun to scrap and there are so many embellishments for them. I have more to do from when the boys were really small and I will get to those too. I'm not really doing this book in any sort of order. Just whatever pictures appeal to me when I sit down.

These photos are from my sister's at Easter. My BIL Patrick and niece Abby had the boys on the teeter totter and they loved it! The pages aren't complete because I need to try to find something teeter-ish to finish them off with. I like how they are coming along though.

I hope you have a grand National Scrapbook Day and find at least a bit of time to be crafty.

ingredients:

paper: Heidi Grace, Debbie Mum, PTI, scrap

embellies: Cloud 9 Rain Dots, Jolee's Boutique

tools: CM paper cutter, MS edge punch, Spellbinders, Cricuit, Xyron sticker maker, Scotch ATG 700

A Burtonesque Blog Hop.... It's Show Time!

2010-04-27T02:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome to this wonderful new adventure celebrating all things Tim Burton. We're starting it all out today showcasing the one and only Beetlejuice. As he would say - it's showtime! You should be coming to me from Lisa's blog. If you've just stopped in, be sure to begin at the beginning on The Burtonesque Dolls Challenge blog.

We also have a little game for you to play for our inaugural blog hop. On each blog you will find a quote. Copy it down, figure the completion for the quote and what movie it is from. Be sure to return to the Challenge blog at the end and leave a comment with your answers. The first person to have the correct and complete answer will win a wonderful prize package.

Now here's my Beetlejuice inspired card...

While Delia Deetz is touring Adam and Barbara's home with Otho she makes this comment about the bathroom. "Oh look, it's an indoor outhouse". It always cracks me up and as soon as I heard we were doing Beetlejuice, I knew I wanted to somehow convey this. As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of toilet stamps out there so a friend of mine (yeah Andrea!) whipped this up for me. The man scanned it and after a bit of adjusting - whala... Digital image.

It's a 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 card and the background dp is from DCWV's Rockstar stack. There are little skulls on it which I though kind of appropriate. It's a shiny picture ~ sorry. No natural light to be had. The rest of the dp is scrap that I distressed and crumbled a bit. The coloring was done with my Prismacolor pencils. It is a simple card overall. Here's a close up of the bling and shimmerz I added. And I used my label maker for the quote - woo hoo. I love any excuse to use that fun toy.

I hope you enjoyed my Beetlejuice-espue offering. A bit wacky but hey, that's the whole point of this very fun new trip we're taking....Oh! Before I go, you need a bit more from me. Here is my quote...

The years of isolation had made him quite weak

Best of luck with the challenge game and off with you to see what Nichole has up her sleeve (or on her head) for you!

Again, be sure to stop back on the Challenge blog and post your entry in a comment. Our first Burtonesque challenge will be up on the 4th of May. We all look forward to hearing from you - don't be shy :)

ingredients:

image: original art from Andrea
paper: PTI, DCWV, scrap
color: Prismacolor, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Shimmerz
bling: Kaiser Scrapbooking

April Sisterhood

2010-04-26T08:18:00.000-05:00

Quick post today to show off this sweet little Swiss Pixie from C. C. Designs. Just love her! April's theme was all things girlie and well, this is pretty girlie :) I paper pieced her outfit and also cut this little sweetie out. Wow - that was interesting and if you look close, my trimming probably isn't the best... Such tiny pieces ~ what was I thinking.

I have her popped up on dimensionals on the big Prima flower. I love framing images this way. It's just fun. Now hopefully it will all stay together :)

I cannot for the life of me remember the paper manufacturer and I forgot to write it down to bring to work with me (shhh, posting from work). I'll update tonight. I can tell you that I love this paper pack and used it for the clothes too.

I hope you have a great day and be sure to come back tomorrow for our Burtonesque hop!

The big announcement is....

2010-04-24T09:02:00.002-05:00

I cannot tell you how excited I am that I get to be play along with this amazing new venture. The Burtonesque Dolls is an amazing and international, fun, talented, slightly nutty group of women who will be doing challenges based on all things Tim Burton. I mean - how incredibly cool is that! One unknown advantage that I have found is that each weekly challenge is based on a Tim Burton movie so Hurrah! A Burton movie a week for me.

Our first blog hop is Tuesday, April 27th so be sure to join us to see what movie we're immortalizing and to find out what our first challenge will be.

I'm looking forward to this new venture and to living up to the Burtonesque Doll's moto "Where freaky meets fun, cute and funky"

Busy Beauties Challnge and a Par - Tay....

2010-04-23T16:32:00.002-05:00

Busy Beauties is currently hosting a go green w/ a twist challenge, of course in honor of Earth Day. My project is on my craft table and will soon be finished but I'm not sure it will be today finished - LOL.. I wanted to get the word out so you have some time to get your projects finished. Be sur to check out all the details at the Busy Beauties Creation Station!

And be certain sure to stop by the New Release party over on PCP ~ the Busy Beauties group. Lots of neat goings on and chatter to be had!

Back tomorrow with an announcement and hopefully Sunday with a real live card to share. I truthfully have about 7 of them in various states of doneness on my table. Sheesh....

projects

2010-04-21T10:22:00.006-05:00

I've been working away at various things this past week but none have quite reached completion. One of the projects is my Sisterhood cards for April which is to channel all things girl ~ a limitless objective! I'm doing something I've never done before which is paper piecing a cut out image. Hmmm, not the neatest in the work -yikes! Not sure if my scissors aren't the best or if I'm just over critical but it is a fun project. It's actually a bit further along than these pictures show. The cards are assembled and I left them last night with Shimmerz drying. Girly means sparkle right?

I'm also constantly working on the twin's scrapbook - lovingly started by those said same amazing sisterhood sisters of mine!

I have the best pictures to add to these pages and I've had such fun coming up with the layout. The paper was sent to me from Susan and the letters are from Kadie. These sisters of mine - I'm telling you, they just keep on giving.

The image is from Sassy Cheryl. Her digital images are so much fun and this was a freebie offered up in her PCP group.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week. Be sure to come by tomorrow for a hop. Busy Beauties is having a mini release and the images are wonderful! I'm not participating in the actual hop but I'll have all the info and a jump off point for you.

Hugs!

Busy World

2010-04-19T08:15:00.005-05:00

For the Busy Beauties! We've rolled out our new challenge blog: Busy Beauties Creation Station and we are in full swing with all the fun projects, challenges and amazing guest designers. This month it's Susan of Pink Flannel Pajamas fame. Be sure to check out her blog and the amazing creations she's come up with using the Alice in Wonderland themed new release. These characters definitely have a Busy Beauty spin and they are available now in the Busy Beauties store....

We're also in the midst of our first challenge: All things Alice! Create a project using any Alice inspired theme and link it up over on the challenge blog. You could win this!

You don't need to use Busy Beauty images to win but you do increase your chance of winning if you do :) Mr. Linky will be open until April 21st for your submission.

Be sure too, to join us for our next blog hop: April 22nd. You'll see all the amazing new releases and they are yummy! A new challenge will be launched on the 22nd too so you'll definitely want to check it out.

I'll leave you with a little something from my garden. I love spring :)

April Release and Busy Beauties Blog Hop

2010-04-10T07:40:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the Busy Beauties Blog Hop! It's new release day and the debut of our BBB's new challenge blog the Busy Beauties Creation Station. We're so excited to have all these amazing new things going on and I'm so glad that you joined us today. If you just happened to wander in, please be sure to start at the beginning: Catherine's beautiful blog.

This month Busy Beauties Boutique is releasing their very own take on the Alice in Wonderland characters and oh my, they're all quite delicious. To help us celebrate the release we have a wonderful guest designer: Susan. I know you're going to enjoy her offerings and her art.

If you hopped here from Karen's blog you're on the right path.

My first card features our friend the turtle. Wouldn't it be so wonderful if you could have your tea delivered to you in this style?

Next up is our friend Chester the Cheshire Cat. Such a hip cat he is... I had a bit of fun with him using the Obscure line from Basic Grey and embossing the Rock On sentiment from Unity. Lots of bling and sparkle to go with him.

Be sure to travel on to Sweet Kelly's blog and see what she's brought out of Wonderland for you. And don't forget to leave some love - there's some images to win along the way. The last stop on the hop is our new challenge blog with lots of new stuff and fun ~ and of course a prize. Check back there on Sunday too ~ prize winners from the hop will be announced.

Ingredients:

Card 1

images: Busy Beauties Boutique
paper: Making Memories, PTI, Bo Bunny
color: Prisma color pencils, Shimmerz
embellies: K&Company, Colorbok, odds and ends

Card 2

image: Busy Beauties Boutique, Unity Stamps
paper: Basic Grey, PTI
color: Prismacolor pncils, Tim Holtz, Spica
embellies: Basic Grey, Colorbok, odds and ends

Oh Alice Challenge and a Birthday celebration

2010-04-05T21:18:00.004-05:00

This week's Oh, Alice! challenge pushed me to do two things I've been wanting to get done. The first was to do a black and white card. The second, and more important, was to make a fun, sassy, silly card to celebrate my daughter's 24th birthday.

The challenge is sponsored by TGF and it's to be a wee bit M.A.D. In other words, monochromatic and distressed ~ only in Alice land right? I love these Twisted Cake images and I bought them for myself this weekend not even knowing this was the challenge so it worked out perfectly :)

The card base, the black and the polka dot paper are all PTI. The remaining is scrap from my box. The flowers are Prima and the hearts are from Colorbox. The skull is from Rain Dots - LOVE IT!

And I finished the inside. With happy birthday rub ons from Pebbles Inc. and it just seem right to use three - that crazy Alice thing again. Also another heart and some simple flowers similar to what's on the outside. I didn't take a picture before putting the smushy stuff in so figured I better not put it on here :)

I hope you give their M.A.D. challenge a whirl ~ you have until April 9th to enter.

Happy Easter and KitCat Day!

2010-04-04T07:48:00.004-05:00

It's like a wonderful double bonus day today and anyone who ever said to much of a good thing is a bad thing hasn't been hanging out in the 'hood recently. Jobs found, houses sold, prizes won ~ the list goes on and on. Today is truly a day of celebrating all the blessing that are going on in my and my Sistah's lives and of course, the greatest blessing of them all...

This month's Kit was sent out by the wonderful Lorie (who is going to join me grandma bliss soon - woohooo) and as usually she was incredibly generous. We received this little Easter Basket Bunny in stamp form from her and Peachy Keen Stamps - who Lorie designs for. AMAZING!

Included in our kit were the yummiest papers and I've tried to show them off. They are from Imaginisce and delightfully spring like. It was all double sided and believe me it was tough picking what side to use.

On the handle you can see both sides - the flowers and the lovely green pattern. I was happy that it worked out that way. Mr. Bunny is peaking over the edge of the basket - sassy guy.

Here is the other side. This green ribbon is from Lorie's LSS and didn't have any vendor info but it works so well as "grass". It's sheer and luscious all at the same time.

The gingham ribbon I used on the button is from Stampin' Up and the button is from Buttons Galore. There were many more buttons too - I can't wait to use them on a few other things. I added the flowers - from Prima for some balance and another punch of spring color. There is a bit of sparkle on the eggs - you can click on any of the pictures for a close up.

Be sure to check out the rest of the KitCat ladies - I know they will all have some amazing stuff to show.

Kelly

Catherine

Jeanette

Lorie

Susan

Thanks for visiting today and thank you Lorie for providing such amazing stuff for us to play with. I love it all (OH! Forgot to say there was also this AMAZING green glitter paper from Craft n Craftin' - watch for that to make an appearance on a scrap page for the beans). Now I have to run... I'm working today - the man and I took the shifts today so that everyone else could spend the day with their families. We're going out for an amazing brunch before hand though so I really need to get a move on!

Happy Easter to all...

Look who was on my doorstep when I got home today....

2010-03-29T16:51:00.002-05:00

Really. I opened up my front door and there was an US Postal Service envie. First thing I thought of was "hmmm, I didn't order anything and I'm not waiting for anything". Then I saw the postmark - Sweet Kadie from Seattle. I thought again - hmm, what is she up to ?!? And to my absolute amazement it was

JACOB! SCA-REAM!

No joke that I am definitively Team Jacob. I don't care if I am a 45 year old Nana. And yes, I fully understand that he is a fictional teenage boy. I am still Team Jacob all the way :)

He was accompanied by a note from Kadie saying that she saw him and couldn't resist. I know that I have said time and time again how wonderful these women from the Sisterhood are but this again, just proves it. And it isn't about gifts ~ it's about knowing that someone 1/2 way across the country thought of you for no particular reason and wanted to let you know. Sometimes in serious ways, sometimes silly and sometimes in ways that make you plunk your ass down, laughing and crying in utter amazement.

That's what this did for me. It would be an understatement to say this past few weeks have been a little rough and this little crazy Jacob doll just made all that go away.

I had to give Kadie a call after opening the package. There is no way just an e-mail could have conveyed how stunned I was by him. I mean it's SCA-REAM -- JACOB!!!!! I only got her voice mail - I'm sure with the time change she's still at work. Amazing that in all the years I've known her it's the first time I've heard her voice!

Here's a few more pictures of my new man - LOL..... sigh....

I want another tattoo - I wonder....

Even amazing boots - with real laces!

So lovely Miss Kadie - thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a wonderful pick me up and for thinking about me in the silliest bestest way possible. Huge hugs to you and all the Sista's in the Hood....

A really tardy challenge card

2010-03-24T08:26:00.002-05:00

Wow - it's been a LOONNGGGG time :) Life has finally kind of settled down and white I haven't actually stepped foot in my craft room yet (other than to clean), I wanted to share a card I made for last weeks Mo's Digital Pen Challenge. I missed the deadline ~ had the card done but never got it posted. Oh well... It was a tough challenge for me ~ a shaped card. I didn't want to do anything ordinary so I started playing around with Word and well, this is where I ended up. I was thinking of doing it as an easel card but time ran away so I opted for the easy ~ let's make it a pivot card ~ option.

I used Sorry Shanna even though I made it into a thank you card. I think the kid-esque printing on the sentiment works so well...

Still not entirely caught up but at least there's a post :) Hopefully they will be much more regular now that we've closed this particular production. So much fun being part of something this huge but wow - lot's of work too.

Hope everyone has a wonderful crafty day!

ingredients:

image: Mo's Digital Pencil, Whipper Snapper
color: Prismacolor
paper: PTI
paper: BasicGrey
embellies: BasicGrey

all consuming

2010-03-16T12:30:00.002-05:00

In my "real" life I am lucky enough to work with the amazing Florentine Opera Company. The company celebrated it's 75th anniversary last year making it one of the oldest continuously performing companies in the country.

This week is production week and we are presenting the midwest premier of Elmer Gantry Friday and Sunday. Needless to say, production week is generally a bit busy. A premier week is just insane.

Since I've been so absent I figured I would share a bit of what is keeping me so occupied....

click here

Enjoy!

Karen's Doodes challenge blog

2010-03-11T09:05:00.002-06:00

There is a new challenge blog in town - or more specifically FOUR new blogs. Karen's Doodles has create 4 separate challenge blogs based on region. It's a neat idea and I can't wait to play along with all off them.

This is my card for the US challenge - the first one! I thought it was appropriate to use Bigsby and his happy celebrating self. I think I'm almost as excited as he is.

Super short post today - busy day/week/month. BUT - be sure to check out Karen's Doodles. She's also have a buy 3 get 1 free sale to celebrate the start of the challenge blogs. Some amazing awesome stuff is to be had - I promise :)

dashing back to work....

ingredients:

image: Karen's Doodles
color: Prismacolor, spica pens, signor white pen
paper: some really old dp, PTI, SU
embellies: prima, Karen Foster chain charm, brad from my stash

2 challenges in one - woohooo!

2010-03-09T08:24:00.005-06:00

Usually remembering to follow one challenge when I make a card is an outstanding achievement. With this one I did two. That's almost cartwheel worthy.

The first challenge is for Mo's DT Challenge blog (#21) - a color challenge. It is to use blue, brown and a neutral. This is Cathy Edgar's first challenge as the new guest designer and it's a great one. I just love this image too - it's called "you're my best" and well, being the nana of twin boys about this age, it's particularly special.

This amazing dp was a giftie from Lorie and it's from Paper Reflections ~ called Metropolitan Palette. Awfully sophisticated for this little guy but it works. No embellies either (again!) ~ the paper just does it all.

Who could resist this sweet face!

The second challenge this fits is 2 sketches 4 you.

Uhm yeah ~ as you can see I just went crazy interpreting this one - NOT! Someday I will surprise all of you and go wild with a sketch but for now being literal works pretty well for me - LOL.

Tonight should be a fun night - I'm going with some friends to the Horney Goat Brewery and Pub. If you can't have fun at a place called the Horney Goat, then you may as well just never get out of bed....

Have a great day!

ingredients:

image: Mo's Digital Pencil
color: Prismacolor Pencils
paper: SU, PTI, Paper Reflections

Kit Cat Beauty ~

2010-03-07T19:00:00.013-06:00

Hi all! This month's kit cat party was sponsored by the wonderful Kelly of Sandcastle Stamper. She sent us this amazing kit that included a stamp from Kodomo Zigen Collection designed by Japenese artist Tanabe Zigen. Can you say gorgeous....

I colored the image a few days ago and then just kind of pondered what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do something different with my kit and well, I hope I did it justice. Part of my motivation for what I came up with is that I have just redone my bedroom and I really want to get some stuff up on my walls.

I used an idea that another Kit Cat participant (**mwah** Lorie!) gave us a few months ago - to make a frame. I had an old Christmas decoration that I never put up anymore. I deconstructed it, sanded it down and then painted it with a cream acrylic. I covered that with an adhesive backed paper that is a verigated beige color. I was going to leave it that way but the picture insert was way to deep and this amazing image got a bit lost. So I covered the whole front with a piece of vellum that has a fern print on it. Then I mounted my matted image on that.

As if this amazing image wasn't enough, Kelly included some incredible extras: a beautiful heart charm inscribed with "good luck", a Mizuhiki paper cord, the most amazing Japanese papers from Yuzen Washi and a box of luscious flowers from Prima. I used various brads, buttons and rain dots to center the flowers. So here we go with the close ups....

I took pics before the glue was totally dry - so the white glue you see did dry clear. And look at the fishy on the left - he's rolling his eyes at my not waiting. Everyone's a critic.

Since we were Japanese themed I decided to go all the way and use origami to accent my frame - with the papers Kelly sent. Now, hmmm - probably not that scary except I've never really done it before - LOL. I kept it pretty simple, three small butterflies and one larger one. Lots and lots of practice before I touched the good paper too. I even have one wonderful piece of paper left - I just like to pet it.

I twined the cord - which is kind of like wire but not really - thru the flowers and hung the charm from it. I started out with just the charm hanging from a brad but wanted to show more of the cord - it's really shimmery and neat so I opted for this. You can click on any of the pictures for a close up.

So - long post but this was such a neat project that I wanted to be sure to really show all the wonderful things Kelly sent. Now be sure to check out what the rest of the amazingly talented Kit Cats put together.

Kelly

Catherine

Jeanette

Lorie

Susan

on the wall :)

shhh

2010-03-06T17:44:00.001-06:00

my blog is napping....

Busy BeautiesBoutique Blog Hop and a Challenge!

2010-03-04T08:00:00.003-06:00

Welcome to this stop along our Busy Beauties Boutique Hop. If you're coming here from Karen's blog, you are traveling correctly along the trail. If you just happened to pop in for a visit, be sure to start at the beginning: Carolyn's Blog. You definitely want to check out all the Beauties creations and the new images. We also have three secret beauties hidden along the way so be sure to comment on each of the blogs for the chance to win BBB images. Also, a grand prize winner will be chosen from one hopper who comments on each blog and that person will win five images of their choice. woohoooo.....

We're hopping today to showcase the new images being released on March 6th in the Busy Beauties Boutique store. One of which is Water Lilly Beauty.

Seriously gorgeous image here. I've use green designer paper from Miss Elisabeth's on this one and added - you got it - purple. This is such an amazing image that it works well with the bold and unusual colors. Also, we have something new this month too. It's our first ever Busy BeautiesChallenge. The challenge is to incorporate green as your main color in your creation.The challenge will be open until March 17th - St. Patrick's Day ~ again with the green :) We prefer that you use BBB images but others are acceptable too.

The challenge is being held on Catherine's blog since the official Busy Beauties Blog won't be up for about a month or so. Be sure to link your creation up there and get in on the chance to win this fabulous prize package.

The prize package includes: Basic Grey Origins 6x6 pad; 4 yards of American Crafts satin ribbon, 1 yard of May Arts striped twill ribbon, 1 jar of Shimmerz.

One more creation using a new image for you.

This is Arianna ~ our Aries Chibi. She's a super image and so much fun to color. I have her laid out with the green and purple color scheme too, though it's a very different look. I even added some very appropriate clover paper. It is March after all.

Next stop on the hop is the amazingly talented Kadie. Thanks for traveling along with us today and don't forget to play along with our challenge - deadline March 17th.

Have a happy crafting day!

ingredients:

images: Busy Beauties Boutique

paper: DCWV, HOTP, SU, PTI

color: Prismacolor, Spica, Shimmerz

embellies: Michaels, Darice, Prima, Kaiser Scrapbooking

Mo's Digital Pencil - Challenge #20

2010-03-03T08:18:00.008-06:00

As you have heard me say several times over the last few weeks, I just love Mo Manning's digital images. She recently released a few new ones and I jumped at this mermaid.

Part of the reason I wanted this image so badly is that I have had this particular piece of dp for years and it was just perfect for this image! The shells match her shell phone perfectly! I'm not sure if that's the way normal people buy images (to match paper they already have) but hey, I guess there are worse reasons. And I know red and yellow aren't normal mermaid colors but as anyone who knows me is aware - I love working outside the box.

Challenge #20 is another Dawn Burnworth sketch which made things easy on my post flu brain. After three days of not even thinking about creating, following a sketch was a relief.

As always I'm pretty literal. Not to many embellishments either. This paper is so darn fun that I couldn't even think about cluttering it up or covering it ~ just lots of layers to bring out the bright, bold colors.

I did something else new on this one - I tried to use my pencils to show movement in the water. I like to think she is gently floating along while chatting with one of her best mer-friends or maybe that special mer-guy. I also used some gold Shimmerz to add a little sparkle to her tail and my spica pens to fill in her beadwork and highlight her flowers. Just a wee bit of glimmer.

As I said, I followed the sketch pretty closely and then popped up Melia on some dimensionals to give her a bit more prominence. The "fin" shaped embellies in the corners finished it all off nicely.

Be sure to check out Mo's challenges. The guest designers always bring fun and new ideas to the table and the design team is a font of inspiration.

Thanks for stopping!

ingredients:

image: Melia Mermaid ~ Mo's Digital Pencil
paper: PTI, SU, unknown designer paper
color: Prismacolor Pencils, Spica glitter pens, Shimmerz
embellies: Michaels

Cutie Patootie

2010-03-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

Another quick and simple card (and post). No challenge this time, just an image that I've had colored up for ages and finally plunked on a card.

This is a Whipper Snapper image and I just love these kids. There is a whole line of them and they all make me smile. This particular one is Sophia and she's just hanging with her wagon and her kitty.

Quick post again - hope you're all having a wonderful day!

ingredients:

image: Whipper Snapper
paper: BoBunny, PTI, SU
color: Prisma Watercolor pencils
embellies: odds n ends from my bucket o' stuff
tools: Fiskars edge punch

Papertake Weekly Challenge

2010-02-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

Another challenge card. I'm telling you - as much as I like to be a "go your own way" kinda gal, sometimes challenges help. Especially when I'm super busy and don't have a whole bunch of thinkin' time - KWIM?

This weeks challenge over at Papertake Weekly is a sketch.

and here is my card....

Can you say literal - again! LOL - so I'm good at following directions, what can I say. I used an image from Karen's Doodles. If you've never visited Karen's store, you really really should. Her images are definitely smile inducing.

I colored up my little farmer bear in green and yellow overalls and laid him out with PTI and Artic Frog papers. I sponged around the circle, leaving my nestie in place, but I"m not sure I like it. To harsh maybe - definitely a technique I need to work on.

And check it out - no embellies! That wasn't really planned but the paper is so pretty that I didn't want to cover it up.

Another quick post. It's actually Friday in the real world and I'm sneaking post construction in between work ~ shhh.....

ingredients:

image: Karen's Doodles
color: Prismacolor Premier Pencils, Colorbox
paper: PTI, Arctic Frog
tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Circle nesties

Peachy Keen Challenge #23

2010-02-26T08:05:00.004-06:00

Wow - a post! I ended up with a few extra hours last night and some major mojo flow so I did a few cards.

I always want to enter Peachy Keen challenges but to be honest, I have one PK stamp. I put myself on a spending freeze for a few months and I'm just now starting to pick a few more here and there. Peachy Keen is definitely high on the list of must haves. They are fun, versatile stamps and seeing cards made with them always makes me smile. Especially when they are created by my stamping sister Lorie. She is on the Design Team for PK and wow! The lady does some amazing work.

The challenge was to use yellow and green, a dimensional piece and a stamped image. I've seen this layout a few times (or ones similar) and thought it would work well for this image. I cut out my happy sun, layered it up on PTI and then put the rest of the card together. I was considering stamping the accompanying sentiment "you are my sunshine" on the front but opted with putting it inside. I added some Shimmerz to the outside rays of the sun and used my Stampin' Up chalks to outline him (her?) once I glued the image down on my first circle.

Short post - super busy at work but I'm very glad I got some card making in. It always makes me smile :)

ingredients:

stamp: Peachy Keen
paper: PTI, DCWV
ink: Versafine Onyx
color: Prismacolor Premier Pencils, SU Chalks
embellies: Studio 18, JoAnnes
tools: Cuttlebut, Circle Nesties, Fiskars rectangle punch

excuse this financially motivited interuption...

2010-02-25T08:31:00.003-06:00

Please excuse the lack of blog posts over the next few days - motivated by a purely financially reason - LOL...

This weekend is traditionally one of the busiest work wise in the whole year for me. And while I'm home tonight, the gbabies are coming over and well, everything else goes out the window when they are around. The weekend is full of auto show, theater productions and the circus... Yes the circus is in town! More work - more stamps!

I will be toting my coloring with on Saturday since I know I will have down time to color and play. And I do have some cards finished but again, they are waiting for their special moment to shine.

Be back on Monday (if not sooner - I may sneak a post in). Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

some cuteness

2010-02-24T10:13:00.004-06:00

A sweet little birdie told me that it was okay to post pictures of my gbabies when I didn't have a card to share so here's a little love :)

Ten months old already! Hard to believe....

Chase is on the left - Evan the right

Evan being schmoocky - look at those teeth!

and yeah - walking! Sheesh!!!

Alice Gets Glam - Inspiration Challenge

2010-02-23T08:00:00.002-06:00

CHAPTER ONE: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: THE BEGINNING...

"The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. "Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?" he asked.
"Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop."

There is a curious new challenge blog out there and it's called Oh Alice! It's described as a curious little challenge blog where nothing is as it seems. I just had to play along with this first challenge ~ hopefully the first of many ~ because two of my best crafting sisters are on the Design Team. The first one, Catherine, created a card that literally pulled a "shut up" out of me and Mary, who created an amazing card using a literal illustration from the story and some color highlights.

The inspiration for this challenge is this:

An Urban Decay make up set created for the up coming Tim Burton "Alice in Wonderland" release. The directive is to get your glam on, pull out the glitz and glitter.

So ~ I've always been intrigued by Alice's trip down the rabbit hole and while we all know that she did eventually make it back to our world, what isn't talked about much is the fact that after her little trip she was never really, well, quite right...

As a general rule of thumb she does okay but she's just a wee bit fragile - LOL... Okay, okay, I couldn't resist but really, who wouldn't be a little twisted after such an experience. I'd be twitching at any loud noise myself.

This image is one of my favoites and I was quite scared to color her up for this challenge - why? Because I only have one. It was sent as a thank you for a swap I was hostessing and I was so worried I'd ruin it. I have always coveted some of Kraftin' Kimmie's stamps and they are definitely on my must have list but haven't gotten to them yet. I think, after this, they are going to have to be my next purchase. The image used on this card is Charlotte from the Moonlight Whispers series and one of my faves.

I used Basic Grey paper from the Lime Rickey line - those colored squares on the background are totally Wonderland-esque make up squares. A little distressing, a piece of ribbon and some fun little twisted embellies and complete! I added some Shimmerz to her dress flounce, hair and hair ribbon.

I hope you'll go check out the new Oh Alice! challenge blog. I have a feeling it's going to be quite the fun ride :)

ingredients:

image: Kraftin' Kimmie ~ Charl0tte
color: Prismacolor Premiers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink
paper: BasicGrey, PTI
embellies: unknown vendors

Mo's Digital Challenge # 19

2010-02-22T08:00:00.001-06:00

Mo's challenge for this week is a KISS (keep it seriously simple) card. No fuss no muss. That means no layers and no embellies other than ribbon. EEK! My definition of embellishing is that it's an opportunity to hide mistakes. Without that little safety net, well....

This one was a challenge beyond keeping it simple since I forgot my thumb drive and didn't have the image I really wanted to use. It worked out okay though since I've been wanting to color this one up for ages anyway. Also - doing a KISS card using digital images was a new thing for me. No cutting the image out to place on your card. The placement needs to be figured out while it's still in the program so your layout is even on the card. Took me three tries - LOL.

I used an image that Mo generously offered as a freebie over on Papercraft Planet. It's called Home Tweet Home and is just adorable. The detail is to die for! I colored this using my Prismacolor Pencils and cheated a bit by looking up straw wreaths on the internet to see the colors. I actually do that a lot. I also tried to get some "texture" in the feathers on the birds chests. That is going to take some practice to say the least. I added the burgandy ribbon so that it would highlight the tones in the birds. I was worried about doing so many muted colors but the ribbon really warms it up.

It's a cozy card and perfect for a house warming/new home. I hope you have a cozy day - cold and dreary here in Wisconsin again.

Have a crafty day!

ingredients:

image: Home Tweet Home - Mo Manning
color: Prismacolor Premier Pencils
paper: PTI
ribbon: scrap

February Sisterhood

2010-02-21T08:50:00.003-06:00

This month's Sisterhood challenge was issued by the lovely and talented Tanja. She challenged us to use flowers and buttons. That made me happy let me tell you - two things I love :)

I went completely out of character for this card- very clean and simple. No coloring! I've been very intrigued by some of the "white" work I've been seeing lately so I ordered a white ink pad from Papertrey and this is the first I've been able to use it.

The stamp is from Unity Stamps and it has the neatest detail. The paper comes from PTI, SU and Basic Grey. Not much to tell about this one really other than I am quite happy with how it turned out. Sometimes non-fussy is best...

ingredients:

image: Unity Stamps
paper: PTI, SU, Basic Grey
ink: PTI
embellies: PTI

a little ditty

2010-02-18T08:11:00.002-06:00

Good morning and how do you do?
I have nothing today to show you.
In work I am mired
and incredibly tired.
But this shall soon pass, promise you...

Kellie's Blog Candy - check it out!

2010-02-17T09:06:00.003-06:00

Kellie Winnell is offering some amazing candy over on her blog. Check it out....

The candy includes 9 Sugarplum kids, 2 accessory stamps, and one set of Spring Sentiments. Seriously - does it get any better than this? The candy is sponsored by All That Scraps a company that I've ordered from a bunch of times - super service and great prices. Be sure to join up for the candy, check out Kellie's amazing work and visit All That Scraps.

Mo's Challenge #18

2010-02-16T13:16:00.003-06:00

This weeks challenge over at Mo's Challenge Blog is again hosted by Dawn Burnworth. This time she challenged us to use red, pink, white and, of course, hearts. I browsed thru my Mo Manning images and then browsed thru them again. I have a whole bunch that are traditionally "heart-ish" but kept coming back to this one. I've been wanting to color him up for ages and I kept thinking to myself that there had to be a way to make it work.

Being intrepid like our little detective I put on my thinking cap and here is the result. I love the double baseball hats to make a Sherlock Holmes hat (yes, that is the only name I could find for a double billed hat after searching the internet). Our little guy probably snitched one from his dad's hat collection. Add in the little red sneakers peaking out from under his trench coat and it's just awwww... He's so intent on finding his love that his little brow is all furrowed up and he doesn't even notice that his shoe lace is untied!

A few technicals: I kept track of the pencils I used this time around and there were 27 different colors. Kind of hard to imagine but the coat has 8 alone. I think maybe giving me 132 colors to play with just makes me a little nutty but I do like how it came out. I also used Tim Holtz's Fired Brick for the blending on the background paper. I've been dying to bust out that red and this was the perfect card to do it on. I also have to thank my son. He unknowingly lent two ball caps so I could kind of see the way they would looked layered like this. hmmm, yup - I've crossed a line - LOL.....

I hope our little fella finds what he is looking for and that you stop over and check out Mo's Digital Pencil too as well as the design teams blogs. Amazing stuff that...

ingredients:

image: Mo Manning ~ Looking For Clues, Unity Stamps ~ sentiment
paper: PTI, SU, Scrap
color: Primsacolor Premier Pencils, Tim Holtz Distress Ink
embellies: PTI, Heidi Swap

Faithbook

2010-02-14T20:59:00.004-06:00

Happy February 15th. This year it's Presidents Day but that's kind of irrelevant to me since I don't work for the government or a bank. What it does mean however is that it's the target day to post our February Faithbook pages. Faithbooking is one of the things we do over at the Sisterhood to motivate ourselves to get some of our scrapbook projects done. It's on a rotating hostess basis and each month the hostess gives us a bible passage, quote, or other meaningful theme for our page. This month Judy was in charge of our destinies :) She gave us a wonderful bible passage and further built around St. Valentines Day. Here are her words:

My favorite Bible verses are from Galatians where Paul urges Christians to serve one another in love, that the entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He then urges us to live by the Spirit so wonderfully set forth in Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

With this is mind create a FaithBook page illustrating a fruit of the spirit. Include pictures which illustrate the fruit of the spirit any or all. And because we are honoring St, Valentine and the story of Julia lets include a tree and the color pink as a symbol of the pink-blossomed almond tree.

I, after reading this, immediately knew I was going to use the pictures I took while I was in Paris. I spent a day at Notre Dame and well, there is no better monument to the fruit of the spirit to me than this amazing cathedral. I have been wanting to scrap them forever (since 1998 to be precise) but could never get it together. This was the perfect push I needed - it was RIGHT and after reading the above, it was easy...

Pardon the sun streaks. I had a very limited window to shoot my pics and well, I'm not going to complain about the sun :)

I'm glad that Judy gave us this mission for the month. It allowed me to finally figure out how to adequately convey how I felt after visiting this amazing creation. A physical representation to everything Paul asked us to do and be: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

ingredients:

paper: DCWV, BasicGrey
ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink
embellies: Prima, K&Company, various odds and ends....

Love Me Do Bella Blog Hop

2010-02-13T10:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Bella Blog Hop Day! We have amazing projects, beautiful Bellas and hidden somewhere in the hop a prize. We don't know who the lucky blogger is that will be choosing the winner so be sure to comment on all the blogs. The prize is a doozie - a $25 gift voucher to Stamping Bella.

If you've just wandered in to visit today, be sure to start at the beginning of the hop beginning here.

Here is my Love Me Do Bella card. It's really pretty simple but so fun none the less. She's a happy girl because her guy is the best.

Now - off on the rest of the hop. Your next stop is Michele. How fun is that! And remember be sure to leave a comment on each blog because we just don't know where that $25 voucher is hiding! If you get lost along the way, you can always go back to the beginning. There is a full list of hoppers on the Stamping Bella blog.

Have a wonderful crafty day...

ingredients:

image: Daisybella
paper: scrap, PTI
embellies: Prima, unknown vendors

Mo's Digital Pencil Sketch Challenge

2010-02-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

I'm an admitted blog junkie. I spend a fair amount of time browsing blogs gathering ideas for layouts and image coloring. I have found so many new companies in my blog travels and while it's great to know there are so many out there, it's detrimental to my wallet - LOL. I oooh and ahhh my way thru them and every so often I come across an artist that makes me stop and just stare. Mo Manning caused me to damn near fall off my chair. Her images are so intricate and detailed. The biggest thing that amazes me about her work is that they are REAL. I see myself as a child, my kids and even my grandbabies in the personalities of her creations. She doesn't just capture small children either. Teens, tweens and golden agers are included in her store as well as fantasy images. They are all amazing.

This image is called Your My Best and I absolutely had to get it when I saw it. My daughter had an outfit just like this when she was little. She had these funny little leggings with splotches on them, complete with baggy knees. There was a long shirt she would wear over it. And then of course the jacket. Her hair wasn't far off this either - up in a "pony" with a little plastic barrett. I have another of this image printed off in a larger size (the absolute beauty of digital) that I'm going to use on a scrap page.

Sweet faces - I'm getting better at the coloring of them. This one is so precious and add in the bunny for a total awe moment.

I'm also trying to get a bit better at my shadowing. I probably could have gone a bit darker with the "floor" but at least she doesnt' look like she's mystically floating on air. I debated on doing the shoes brown. Amanda's were pink gellies - remember those? I'll have to do the ones for her scrap page in the pink.

If you've never taken a look at Mo's work be sure to stop at the blog ~ Mo's Digital Pencil Too and her store ~ Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I've also discovered that they have a challenge blog and a blog for her "Dream Team". The Dream Team blog also has a monthy sketch challenge and that's what I create this card for.

Again - literal. I really like the sketch layout and I had a lot of fun with the paper and colors. The finished card definitely makes me smile - which is the point after all...

Be sure to check out Mo's fantastic work and the Dream Team's blogs. There is so much talent out there and the inspiration - oh my!

Have a wonderful crafty day...

ingredients:

image: Mo Manning
color: Prismacolor Premier Pencils
paper: DCWV, PTI
embellies: Fiskars Rain Dots, PTI ribbon

ICS Challenge - Busy Beauties Boutique

2010-02-10T09:02:00.007-06:00

Good morning everyone...

This week's Inspirational Card Sketch Challenge is being sponsored by Busy Beauties Boutique and the lovely Miss Carolyn. I have a card to share with you today using both and considering the ickies that have been going around, it probably won't stay in my stash for long.

I don't know about you but whenever I color a get well card, I start thinking about when I was sick as a kid. There were a few things that were definite: my sisters and I always got sick together (poor mom) and we would get sticker/coloring books - so cool. And then once we started feeling better, shakes and fries from McDonalds. That was a big deal! To this day whenever I am sick I want McDonalds ~ just last week the man ran and got me a #1 w/ extra cheese and a Diet Coke. Happy to say I'm on antibiotics and much better so no McD's in my near future.

I absolutely love this image. It's Cuddle Me Better from BBB's new release and he's cute, cuddly and just plain fun. Perfect for an illness or accident both. I actually pulled my old ice pack from the cabinet to see how it was colored - lots of dots and it smelled that ice pack smell, rubbery and medicinal all mixed together.

I, as always, went pretty literal on the sketch. I'm not sure if that's being lazy or precise, but it seems to work for me. The only thing I really changed is the image. I went vertical with it since Mr. Cuddle would have looked funny tipped over.

Be sure to join in over at the challenge and definitely check out the new release of Busy Beauty images. So many fun things to choose from all amazingly drawn.

Happy Crafting!

ingredients:

image: Cuddle Me Better, Busy Beauties Boutique
color: Prismacolor Premier Pens
paper: PTI, BasicGrey
embellies: scrap string

"wood" you like to swing from a star....

2010-02-09T08:46:00.009-06:00

Or how about a tree?

The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing. Natalie Kocsis

I love that quote! And without a doubt I love this image. I was so happy to have a reason to use it (as if I really need one). This is by the amazing Mo Manning and specifically for Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #17. Dawn Burnworth is hosting this challenge and seriously, if you've never followed her blog you should pop in. She's amazing to say the least. The challenge was to use "wood" in your card - "wood you be my Valentine?" It was so fun too, using my new 132 Prismacolor pencils. The greens definitely got a work out. And the face! I've been using 2 shades of pink and now I have so much to choose from, peach and beige and pinks ~ oh my! Here's a close up ~

I wish the light was better. We're in the midst of a snow storm. I'm not caring to much about the snow but the light! Sigh - such are the problems of living in the midwest.

I had a bunch of fun coloring up the tree too. The wood part of the challenge. There is so much depth in this old oak and I'm getting a bit better at branching (bad pun) out with my colors. There are grays and reds and browns all used on this. Same with the greenery ~ you'll see traces of blues, purples and reds. There's a wee bit of pearly bling up in the corner following the tilt of the picture. It is a card after all and worthy of a bit.

I also added this piece of sheer ribbon. I really like how the image shows thru. I received this as a thank you for hostessing a swap from one of my sweet sisters. Little did she know at the time she chose it that it was the PERFECT piece for this card :)

Be sure to check out Mo's images and challenge blog. So many neat things going on over there!

ingredients:

image: Mo's Digital Pencil
color: Prismacolor Premier pencils
paper: PTI, BasicGrey
embellies: Heidi Swap, scrap

Kit Cat - zoom zoom

2010-02-07T13:22:00.004-06:00

It's Kit Cat time again and wow! Talk about some neat stuff....

It's a Bella! Cruisabella to be precise and of course, she is driving my dream car... Actually she looks a bit like she's driving off the paper and up into the stratosphere but well, she is driving a vintage 'vette so anything is possible.

Susan is the hostess with the mostess this month and she included so much fun stuff in this kit starting with the tassels. I had to use both because they are so darn cool. There was fibers and flowers and bling and everything else imaginable. And yes, I pretty much used it all. One of the coolest parts were these really neat acetate flowers. Using Stazon and a Sizzix clear stamp, I stamped some flowers on them so that they would stand out a bit. I used my embosser to give them a bit of dimension too - make them stand up a bit so they wouldn't get lost again the dp.

edited to add - I failed :( I totally forgot that we were supposed to use a fancy fold. ERG... That's what I get for waiting to the last minute and making a mess of my first image. Off to the corner with me

Quick post because my niece and nephew are over for a crafty day and they are making frames right now. I need to go "supervise" though they are so good, they really don't need me.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Kit Cat Crew:

Jeanette

Lorie

Susan

Catherine

Kelly

I know their stuff is going to be amazing... Gotta run!

ingredients:

image: Cruisabelle
paper: SU, Bazzill, DCWV
ink: Tim Holtz, Stazon
embellies: Prima, K&Company, Making Memories, Lion Fun Fur, Basic Grey

best thing ever

2010-02-06T08:48:00.005-06:00

So I don't have a card for you today. I have cards done - but they all have a specific reason to be posted and time too. Soo... I'm sharing a little bit of my heart with you instead. Aren't they the cutest!

The amazing gbabies Evan and Chase playing with their truck (well it's actually a school bus). It's squishy and it rolls and it makes noise which means the boys love it. Thank heavens there are two of them (trucks that is) - there is also a green garbage truck which is squishy and rolls and makes noise too.

They are almost ten months old and into EVERYTHING! Zooming around the house and now they are furniture surfing and even standing unaided. It's just a joy to watch them change and learn new "stuff".

Okay - done extolling the virtues of my amazing grandbabies. I will have a card for you tomorrow - honest.

This just in - I was a secret beauty in the Busy Beauties Blog Hop on Thursday and.....

This and That - you're my winner!

You've been contact by the wonderful Carolyn for your 'deets!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

pretty colors....

2010-02-05T08:39:00.005-06:00

Most of you know that I color with very limited Prismacolor and Koh-i-nor pencils. Well.....

LOOKIE WHAT I GOT!

I finally broke down and bought a set. I looked and looked and priced and debated and well ~ Dick Blick's Art Supplies had a price that I couldn't resist. With a discount code I save over $130. And I have 132 colors - seriously - 132.

And then add in the few Watercolors and Koh-i-nors and I have around 160 different lovely luscious pencils. Hmm, when can I quit my day job?

And see this? Yup - all of them - by hand... I have the blister on my thumb to prove it - LOL... Actually it wasn't bad. I sat down with the intention of doing a tray or two and was watching Criminal Minds (love that show) and next thing I knew I was halfway done and thought - eesh, I'll do another and well, then I only had one left and I couldn't leave just ONE.

And though there isn't a card, I am playing.

Recognize the Bella right front and center? More to the back is Rory from Sugar Nellie. There are a few of those in the works for another swap I'm in.

And yes, I should have cleaned the glass (head hung in embarrassed shame). Lots of glue smudges but that's the beauty of my desk. Glass top - a little OMS and it's brand new again!

The hardest thing is that I have a stupid busy schedule the next few weeks. Lots of work and other obligations. Cards may be a bit scarce here for rest of the month but I will do my best :)

Thanks for letting me be gleeful about my new goodies. My kids think I'm crazy but somehow, I think you all understand :)

Busy Beauties Blog Hoppin'

2010-02-04T08:00:00.006-06:00

Happy blog hop day! Carolyn and Busy Beauties has another amazing release of images for you today. There's also some really cool things going on along the hop today so be sure to stop at all the blogs. If you've come here from Catherine you're on the right path. If not, be sure to start over at Kadie's blog. You're not going to want to miss one stop on the hop for a few reasons. The first one being - everyone's creations absolutely rock the house and two ~ there are four "secret beauties" hidden amongst the design team. If you leave a comment on a "secret beauty's" blog, you will be in the running for a chance to win three free images. And if you comment on all the beauty's blogs, you will be entered in the grand prize drawing for five free images.

Okay - business done with - on to my card :)

I LOVE THIS IMAGE. I saw it and knew instantly that I wanted to work with it. I pulled it onto a sheet, resized it, copied it and then copied it again and again and again. I ended up with a full sheet of telephones. From that came this. I think that one of my favorite things about digital images is that you can block them out precisely. I'm really bad at lining up stamps in the traditional way (honest) but digis look out - I am square!

It's really a simple card and it could easily be used for a guy valentine - it's not toooo fussy. I went with the pink because it's just a fun hot color ~ pure passion. I also used the Martha Stewart loop punch because it looks like a phone cord, at least to me. A wee bit of phoophey stuff and woohooo ~ it's a card!

Be sure to hop along the rest of the blogs. Your next stop is Karen and I know she has something seriously amazing to share. That's just the way she rolls (hops?)...

ingredients:

image: phone - Busy Beauties, sentiment - Unity Stamps
paper: PTI
color: Koh-i-nor, Spica, Versafine
embellies: Prima
tools: Martha Stewart, Fiskars

Karen's Doodles

2010-02-03T08:14:00.008-06:00

Recently while blog browsing (I now have 78 blogs in my google reader - crazy, I know), I saw a card that used an image from Karen's Doodles. LOVED IT! So I went and did a little shopping for myself and bought 4 images. This is the first one that I've played with and I am posting a path to the completed project for you...

Here's the start - and yes, It's upside down. I am constantly turning my images so has not to lay my hand across the color - it will carry and smudge...

The hardest thing for me was picking out what colors to make the main clothes. I was working with my Koh-i-nor pencils and there are only 12. Not a lot of options. The other thing I needed to decide was ~ is the little bit a boy or girl? I think I chose boy but it could be a girl in hand me downs - LOL...

Face and hair. I used my Prisma Premier light peach for the base and then rose for the highlights. I also used a bit of pink from Koh-i-nor. Her hair is terra cotta w/ a little bit of gold. For some reason, I love doing hair in that color.

Trying to decide mitten and scarf color was tough too - Koh-i-nor has 3 shades of a pinky rose in their set and I used all three to do the ear muffs, mittens and trim on the little girl's coat. Mr. Snowman needed his own color for his scarf and I love this yellow. Layering it makes it POP and I used the deeper yellow for some shadowing. His nose - hee hee - I love coloring snowmen noses. Guess that makes me a little strange but hey, there are worse things in life.

Shading on the snow and snowman, his eyes, mouth and buttons filled in and the little misses coat trim...

Almost there. I trimmed the boys hats with lighter shades of the main color. With the white of the snowman and the snow, I was leery about trying to shade in more white so opted to go that route.

And done... I kept the layout really simple and actually did three different ones before settling on this. I'm still not entirely sure about the line of blingy dots on the bottom, I think I may take those off. The image is so awesome that it's kind of distracting - I think. The colors are actually a little deeper than what is showing here and the shading doesn't show as much as I'd hope but you get the idea. I truly need to replace my camera (erg - gray spot) and get a light box type thingy.

(edited to add: I did take the bling from the bottom. It was bothering me and I like it better without)

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Busy Beauty Boutique blog hop! woohooo - great stuff coming with that!

ingredients:

image: Karen's Doodles
paper: SU, PTI, scrap
color: Koh-i-nor, Prisma Premier, Tim Holtz
bling: Heidi Swap, Colorbok, Creative Impressions