Masculine birthday card!

I'm always at a loss when it comes to whipping up a quick masculine birthday card!

Flourishes is asking for

"Birthday Cards"
 in this current challenge.

I think this meets both requirements!

I love this stamp from Flourishes of the Medallion, and it heat embosses so beautifully!

So much detail and class!

Now, bring it on!  I'm ready for at least one more male birthday!

For that matter, I can't think of any of my gal friends who wouldn't

enjoy a card like this!

I am thrilled to submit this in the challenge at Flourishes!

DYSU Challenge #66- Friendly Critters!

And this week at Do You Stack Up! the challenge is

5 Gift Certificate

Winner’s choice of 7 digital images

Winner’s choice of 4 digital images

MY CARD:

Image by Stampendous

This card was made for a special little guy!  I baby-sat a teacher-friend's baby from the time he was just 3 months old until the school year ended when he was 15 months!  This means spending every single weekday, just the two of us, cuddling and bonding.  He was as much my "grandbaby" as my own.  Although his mother has since had a second baby, and is a stay-at-home mom, we still remain close and get together for lunches and playdates at the park.  These are truly special times.  Noah turns 3 this month, and I still can't get enough of this bright, adorable, well-behaved child!

 3 months

6 months

Now!

(Don't ask me what's with hand thing...)

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Check out the rest of the Design Teams adorable animal creations!

And make one of your own to enter and possibly win some great prizes!

Stampendous joins Altered Alice!

It had to happen! 
Stampendous has the most sweet, vintage Alice in Wonderland stamp set! 
And Altered Alice's blog has the coolest challenges all based around the storybook characters from Wonderland!

They're joining together at Alice's place to see just what everyone can come up with.

The prize?  This gorgeous set of stamps!

How I would love to own these!

I made this card shaped like a mirror, and chose to illustrate Alice with her reflection. The frame was cut with my old Creative Memory Oval Cutter, and then embossed with my Cuttlebug folder simply labeled "Sentimental". Then, I lightly rubbed over the top with embossing ink. The raised areas picked up the ink so that my Stampendous "Aged Aqua" embossing powder would adhere and, when heated, accentuate the pattern. I like the way it turned out.

The mirrored image was stamped on the back side of the vellum to make it appear cloudy, along with the checkered floor. I then glued Blue and Silver Glass Glitters around the refelcted image to add mystery...

The original image was colored with gel pens due to the fact that the embossing powder would have damaged my Copics. But I like this look so that's fine.

I added the stop watch, a metal key charm, and a door lock charm all hanging from a
vintage clothing pear pin. 

I like the way it has a very steampunk look to it, but still remains romantic.

A very cool birthday card, indeed!

Inside:

Perhaps this would make up for being "very, very late"!

Happy stamping!

Also entered in the challenge at

By the Cute and Girly (Once Upon a Time..)

A most difficult challenge...

You would think a simple,

single layer layout on a card would be simple!

Think again!

The Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge this week is to create a card using only ONE layer...that means no die cuts, no mats, no layers of any kind!

 For those of use who love to use ribbons, and trims, and all sorts of goodies piled on our cards, this was HARD!

 I stamped and embossed the label from Waltzing Mouse "Holiday Labels 14"

and the sentiment from "Rescue Remedies Additions" directly onto pattern paper from Prima's "Songbird" collection.  Then, I stamped and glitter embossed a few extra little

birds!  It was really difficult to walk away at that point.  This really challenged me as far as keeping it simple and one layer!

Entered at Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenges

Stampendous Layout!

Mother's Graduation

May, 1951

Sorry the photo quality is so bad...I had already taken this to my parent's house when I thought about taking a picture. Without my good camera or a proper spot to shoot it, the picture leaves a bit to be desired.

My mother's graduation took place in the Midwest where all the flowers were in bloom at a local park.  She recalls it being a beautiful Spring day and I wanted to give her a page that reflected that same feeling.

Here, though, you can better see the glimmer of the embossing powders! I love these! They add shimmer and shine to my projects without being so very glitter and bling!

On this page, I used the "Aged Rose, Ivory, and Aqua" powders and heated them from the underside.  You can see more of this "Encrusted Jewel technique" on U-Tube, courtesy of Fran at Stampendous.

The sweet little butterfly is K & Company, and the flowers are Prima!

I also heat embossed the Stampendous "Rose Corset" image onto a vellum envelope and included a little tag for my Mother's own journaling.

~Just something I wanted to share~

Have a wonderful day!

On a personal note...

I rarely post anything to this blogsite that is personal or that does not have to do with my scrapbooking/card making.

So, you know it has to be pretty important for me to do this!

I just want to tell my readers, the few that there are...  that I had gotten SO excited hearing about the new Hostess CHOCOLATE Twinkies!  Yes, it had chocolate in the name, so I HAD to try them!

Now, I grew up with Twinkies and over the past (clearing throat...) 50 years, I have had them plain, deep-fried, with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, raspberries...well, the list goes on and on. I loved Twinkies!

When I saw the ad that they had come out with a CHOCOLATE version, I nearly fell over myself getting to the store!

I have to say, it was the most disappointing experience I have had in a very long time.

The cake is gummy and flat tasting.

The filling bland is barely what I would call "choclate flavored".

(I guess the "Artificially Flavored" on the front of the box

SHOULD have tipped me off.)

When my grandson tasted one and said it wasn't good, I immediately questioned him. "What do you mean it's no good?  It's a Twinkie!"

I broke my promise to cut back on treats and grabbed one from the box. I took one bite, and thought, "OMG, what is this nasty, gummy cake-like product they are trying to pass off as a Hostess Twinkie?"

Yep, I rarely voice how I feel about a food product, but in this case, I couldn't hold back. And, in case you think it's just me and that I have a very stange 7 year old grandson, my husband, who will normally eat mediocre things and think they're wonderful, even said they were pretty nasty and that he would not choose to have another.

WOW!

So, my ranting being over for now, I just wanted to give a head's up to all of you out there who flinched just a bit upon hearing the words "chocolate Twinkie" that they not the Twinkie of old.  At $4.29 a box, save your money!  I had a coupon and am still sorry I purchased them!

And if you DO get them, and feel the same way I did, do us all a favor and write to the company. They need to know that the consumers aren't THAT gullible or that it's not that easy to pass off horrible products. (and, please, send me a message, too!)

If you're going to get the calories,

do yourself a favor and have a Ding-Dong!

LOL!

Bras are like friends...

I just love the Bra Volume 1 stamp set at

Skipping Stones Designs!

And this week they have a
challenge sketch that called out to me!

Well, AND the prize is a set of Skipping Stones stamps!  Whoo-hoo!

I just felt like hanging the little gals out in the clear Spring breeze, added some light, sweet die-cut clouds, tiny bling, and a bit of sparkle by heat embossing and fussy cutting the bras!

Hope you like!

Also, entered in the challenge at:

Southern Girls (Something you wanna say?)

Spread your wings....

This card was made especially for the

Birthday Bash Color Challenge at Craft's Meow!

Do you love their stamps as much as I do?

They are celebrating their very first blog birthday

and there are numerous challenges and even FREE digis!

My card:

I heat embosssed the birdcage from the gorgeous Craft's Meow  "Fly Free" stamp,
along with a few little personal extras... cream Hug Snug, resin bird...

The feathers are from our very own parrots.  I have peacock and artificially colored craft feathers in my stash, but it just seemed right to use our very own.

(Don't worry, they fell out during a normal molting.

No birds were injured in the gathering of these feathers!  LOL!)

They were the perfect blue and green colors.
(Note: Bird feathers glow with an odd irridescent color when photographed!
There is NO  yellow in that feather!)

The inside simply has the sentiment that is included in the set:

Spread your wings and fly!

Hope you enjoy!

DYSU Challenge #65

This week we want you to "sew it!

This week we have three sponsors:

$10 Gift Voucher

$15 Gift Certificate

Winner's Choice of 4 Images

Here's my little contribution:

Most of my cards consisting of sewing, are very vintage and serious.  This little "Dearie Dolls" seamstress mouse afforded me the opportunity to go a different route.
(Playful, fun, a bit silly...)

This card will be great for a greeting to a BFF who I've not heard from in a while.

(There are a few out there, and you know who you are!)

Check out ALL of the Design Team's "stitched projects" at DYSU!

Come join in the fun!

Speaking of fun, this card is entered in the challenge at The Ribbon Carousel (Twine)

More Pretty Butterfly Greetings!

Spring is here!

 I love the idea that Spring is here and along with it comes all
the gorgeous colors, textures, and terrific challenges!

I used some K & Company paper that I'd had for ages along with their chipboard butterfly.  The birds on the print just cried out for the jute and raffia border! I mounted it all on a kraft background and added the pretty, little Prima flowers to top it off! 

The sentiment is from JustRite's, "All Occasion Sentiments" set. I love that font!

For some reason, when I cropped and tried to soften the edges of my card, it picked up the pattern of the paper on the card! I still haven't figured out Adobe Photoshop CS5....ugh...

I liked my Elements much better!

 Challenges entered:

Shabby Tea Room (Lilac, Blue, Yellow, Kraft and a butterfly!)

     And the prize is a great collection of JustRite background stamps! 

     ohhh....be still my heart!

JustRite Stampers (Spring colors and a butterfly!)

Paper Sundaes (Spring blossoms!)

Sentemental Sundays (Spring/Easter)

The Ribbon Carousel (Raffia and jute)

Just Rite Challenge #069

Wow, I agree with Kellie over at JustRite Inspiration!

It simply doesn't seem possible that they are holding

their 69th challenge!  And it's a really good one!

SPRING FLING!

Bring out your Spring colors and include a butterfly!

If you're not familiar with JustRite's stamps, go check out their website!

I have a huge wishlist, but I particuliary LOVE the new Sea Shell Bay, At the Beach, and Oceanside stamp sets!  Of course, then I would need the dies to go with!

Now, do you see my problem?  Too many to choose from!

On this challenge card, I used an image stamped and colored with Copics from

"Shabby Chic Labels Four" as a mat for my butterfly chipboard piece.

I love the delicate details that show out from beneath the wings.

I also used the same stamp inside along with the sentiment from the

"Tiny Words", an Original JustRite set. 

In Phoenix, we have seen these gorgeous orange, black, and blue/green butterflies in our yards for the past few weeks!  We finally recieved our first much-needed rainfall of the Spring, and the few flowers that grow here in the desert have popped out in great numbers! Of course, my allergies have reflected that, too! At least these beautiful creatures make it all worth the sneezing and headaches!


Finished inside:

As I mentioned above, JustRite Inspiration is having a terrific Challenge Friday and I am definately entering this beauty!  I give all of the credit to the inspiration from my backyard visitors, and hope they're around for a while longer.
Spring is simply way too short in Phoenix!

Supplies: 

Designer Papers:  DCWV, "Serenity", Prima, "Botanical", and SEI, "Moonrise"

Stamps:  "JustRite Shabby Chic" and "Tiny Words"

Chipboard:  K & Company, "Natural Butterflies"

Dies:  Spellbinder, Nesties; Labels Four, Floral Flourishes, and Fleur de Lis Squares

Lace:  JoAnn's

Pearls: Zva Creations

DYSU Challenge #64 - PLAID!

Winner's Choice of 3 Digital Images

Winner's Choice of 4 Digital Images

A "Toodle Club Membership" and a Toodle Birthday Calendar

My project started out as a card. Quickly, I decided that with this adorable little guy's image from Crafty Sentiments,

I would be missing out on a great opportunity to create a

Summer Memory book for my grandson.

Being a beginner with Copics markers,
I had quite a challenge with the hair on this image.

I was far from happy with the way it looked, so I dampened a terry cloth with the Alcohol Blending solution and dabbed his head a bit.  He's hot, so I figured his hair would be damp, also.  It may not be visible in the photo.

I also dabbed the fan with some dotted cloth to make it appear more textured.

Since I have no pictures to add just yet, I finished up the remaining pages in co-ordinating papers and added some little Summer stamps.

I am including photos of only two of the pages, as the pictures didn't come out very well anyway. But you get the idea.

Once I fill it with photos of Hayden having a great summer,

it will be one of his favorite mini albums!

Check out the rest of the Design Team's projects!
Plaid is so much fun to play with!