Anya Cool

I was finally able to find a few crafty minutes, which of late hasn't been too easy. On top of trying to find a little crafting time our cable, internet, and phones have had sporadic service and I never know if one or all three are going to be working when I go to use them...ho hum!

Anya, her clothes, sunglasses, ice-cream cones, and sentiment are all from TGF's Dress-up Anya/Ian...which are retired sets but I was able to buy at one of TGF's Farmer's Market, such a deal! All the DP's are left over scraps which I love to use up...but end up never having enough DP for the inside of the card, lOL!



Challenges:
TGF: Dies and/or Punches
Anyone For Anya: Last Summer Fling
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Totally Paper Crafts: #127 Orange and Yellow
Deconstructed Jen: Sketch 62
The Kraft Journal: Use Any Sketch
Sherri's Crafts: #90 Nat'l Ice Cream Month

Thanks for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments, they all put a smile on my face.
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday Sugar and Spice Reminder

This ATC idea fell into my hands, literally! I opened the refrigerator door when something from the top of the fridge fell down and hit me in the head...it was a chocolate bar! But not just any chocolate bar, it was chocolate infused with chilies….mmm mmm mmm! One of my favorite flavor combinations! Wait a sec…..

chocolate (sugar) and chilies (spicy) = SUGAR and SPICE!!!

I used an image from the chocolate bar packaging for this ATC, along with a couple of clear cooking stamps. And yes…there is a chocolate chili cupcake recipe which you can find here.

Have a great Saturday and don’t forget you have until Tuesday evening to submit your ATC’s. It would be so much fun to have you join us at Wicked Wednesday for this challenge, Sugar and Spice!
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday Sugar and Spice

This week's challenge theme at Wicked Wednesday is Sugar and Spice and is sponsored by Dilly Beans, if you haven't had the chance to check out these fab images by Megan Suarez yet, you're in for an eye poppin' treat when you do!

I used  Amalia's Heart digi to make this quick and easy ATC. After resizing this Google found sugar and spice image I  glittered, then embossed  the entire ATC, fussy cut and glued Amalia down, and lastly added a few pearl flourishes. Simple and sweet.

Make sure to join us for this week's challenge, one random winner will win a Dilly Bean image of their choosing.
:Dxx

4, 3, 2, 1....

4 Challenges combined into
3 Cards, made in
2 days for
1 Blog

This isn't something I like to do...putting so many different challenges in one post but if I don't do this today, I'm going to run out of time by the end of the week to get all of these posted. Also, our internet/cable/phones have been wonky from a storm this morning and there are more storms expected over the next couple of days, so let's just get this started....

The Kraft Journal and Here Come the Boys:

Awww, I just love this lion image but have to be honest and tell you I'm not sure who it is by as it's one of my sister's stamps. The animal print buttons and background stamps are from OTC...they are a few of those things that when you buy them you just know that they are going to come in handy one day, LOL. The Kraft Journal's challenge is Make me Smile and Here Come the Boys challenge #32 is to make a Jungle Themed card....put them together for Wild for your Smile.




Dilly Beans:

This next card is for the Orange and Pink challenge over at Dilly Beans. You might be looking at this saying "where's the orange and pink?"....look at the image, it's there! After coloring the image on white paper I colored the background with various pink Copics and striped it with flourescent orange. When I originally finished making this card it didn't have the blue bird on it and it was pretty plain looking, so I went looking through my charms to find a bird but couldn't find one. Then I remembered I had some bird cuts from a swap I had made a few years ago...OMG, this swallow couldn't have been a better fit. Inside the card is sentiment from a stamp I found at the Goosebarn, it reads: LET YOUR DREAMS FIND WINGS...how perfect is that?!


The Greeting Farm:


My third and LAST card uses Cheeky Beach for TGF's FFF Summer challenge, the Cheeky Cherry girls are some of my fav's to color. This is my second attempt at coloring images with very light lines (I used Momento Angel Pink ink) and as you can tell, I still have a looooooooong way to go to master this technique. It's a gorgeous watercolor look when it's done correctly! There are lot's of tutorials on the no-line coloring technique, this tute is from SCS....hope you give it a try.

Whew, finally done! I know it's been a long post and I really do appreciate how you've read through it all...or maybe you took a little siesta and just left a comment?! LOL, either way, thanks for stopping by....hope you have a great day.
:Dxx

Happy with New Sister Stamps

I've fallen madly in love with all of the Sister Stamps! Oddly enough, I am NOT a fan of most anime styles, yet I can't get enought of these adorable little images! I thought Takeo would make a fab card using Jen Shults' weekly sketch...Deconstructed Sketch #61. Just in case you didn't notice I rotated the picture of the sketch to match my card, lol. Don't you just love the color combination on this card, I know I do!



Thanks for taking the time to stop by and saying HI, it's always fun to see who comes and visits.
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday Famous Monsters Reminder

HaHa...I think everyone knows that Dr. Evil isn't a monster, rather he is an evil villian!! I printed the picture, glossy accented the hand drawn scar, and added some retro flower rub-ons for this light-hearted "Famous Monsters" ATC.

Next up is the ATC I made for last Wednesday's post and because I'm not fond of watching scary movies I really wasn't sure what Freddy looked like up-close, so I can't even begin to tell you how I felt when I Googled images of this guy.....eeeeeeek! After looking at this guy so many times I decided to go with a black and red striped background which is the same design as the shirt he always wore. I also printed and fussy cut the street sign. I think Strange Skin did an awesome job on this image...once it's colored it's extremely life-like!


The prize for one random winner this week is their choice of 2 images from the Famous Monsters collections at Strange Skin...check 'em out, you're going to love what you see. You have until 7 pm this coming Tuesday to join in the fun at Wicked Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment to let me know you were here!
:Dxx

Happy 13th Birthday Dario

Today is the day my youngest is officially a teenager....he's 13! He's a great kid with a wonderful and loving sense of humor, and has worked really hard to be where he's at...but gosh, does he ever keep us on our toes!

Like most of the teens these days, he loves his hoodies...so using Logan from TGF was a perfect choice when making his card. I think this card qualifies as CAS...just like Dario who likes to keep his things neat and organized, and without a lot of clutter. Just make sure to come back in a couple of years and ask me about his "clean room" after he's had a few years experience of really being a teenager, lol!



Challenges:
Anyone For Anya: Simple Sketch Sunday
The Greeting Farm: July Retro-Stars & Stripes

Stamps:
TGF: Logan
Technique Tuesday: Sentiment

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your day is as happy and joyful as mine was 13 years ago!
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday Famous Monsters

It's all about monsters this week at Wicked Wednesday...and not just any monsters, but famous monsters who are the guys you'd know anywhere should you run into one of them, LOL!

Our sponsor for this theme is Strange Skin and they generously supplied all of the awesome images the DT used this week. I really like the image I was given to work with, but to be honest....it scares me and I don't want to look at my blog and be scared. I will post a pix of it on Saturday when I make my reminder post, but until then you can click ***HERE*** if you'd like to see it.

Curious?!!

As always, thanks for stopping by and I hope you find the time to join us in this week's frightenly fun challenge!

:Dxx

Wedding Sparkle

The minute my sister-in-law Carol saw the wedding card I made last week she asked if I would make her a card also, but requested it to completely different as it was going to be for the same wedding couple.


This is the part of my story that I love....the wedding bell image is from a rubber stamp Carol had given to me a few years back, which had been her mother's stamp before she passed several years ago. I can't wait to see the look on Carol's face when she recognizes the image. The entire image was stamped, colored, glittered, and embossed....it is totally blinged out!


My new love is double sided paper, especially when finishing the inside of a card...it just makes everything go together quicker. The sentiment is CG.


Challenges:
The Kraft Journal: Weddings and Anniversaries
Dilly Beans: Sparkle and Shine

It's always fun to sit and chat, thanks for listening!
:Dxx

Pink Lemonade & DS#60

This is a quick card I made for a couple of challenges using TGF's Cheeky Howdy and the Deconstructed Sketch #60 for inspiration. I absolutely adore this week's FFF challenge PINK LEMONADE...how refreshing! The colors are perfect for summer.

Oddly enough, the day before this challenge was posted I had just finished a different card with the same color combo using the Twice as Nice image from Lily of the Valley. The banner is TGF's clear Bantastic set stamped with TH distress ink.


The kraft paper on the top and bottom are the same piece of paper but gosh darn it, they sure look different, don't they?!!

Challenges:
The Greeting Farm: FFF Pink Lemonade
Deconstructed Sketch: #60



Thanks for stopping by and leaving all the sweet comments that you do...they always brighten my day.
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday Summer Wedding Reminder

This is going to be a quick post because between working today and the last of the graduation parties this evening, it's going to be another busy day and I need to get it started! As usual, you have until Tuesday evening to join the Summer Wedding ATC challenge at Wicked Wedneday. We'd love to see you join in...the more the merrier!

Stamps:
Just Some Lines: Digi Wedded Bliss Birds
Prima: Nature Walk

Thanks for stopping by, it's always fun chatting with friends....old and new!
:Dxx

Updated: WW Summer Wedding ATC and a Challenge Card

Our sponsor this week at Wicked Wednesday is Just Some Lines and I used two of their images to make this Summer Wedding themed ATC, I used both EMO Bride and Groom and Wedding Cake images. I did some photo manipulating on the couple image and erased the bride's bouquet so the ATC wouldn't look too busy. Sadly, I didn't have an ounce of artistic confidence at the time to re-draw her arm in and left it blank...thank-goodness the cake is delicious looking enough that you might not have noticed?!!

Don't forget that you have until next Tuesday evening to enter your ATC in the Summer Wedding challenge, we'd love to have you join us!

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A quick update:
I rec'd a call today for a wedding card and immediately thought to myself that this ATC was meant to be made into a card....which is what I did this evening and just finished. This was fun to make because I haven't made a card with this many layers for quite a while. I used Kim Yu's July sketch for inspiration and am entering it in her monthly challenge. I'm also entering this in 365 Cards Day 133 - Misty challenge because I sprayed the flowers with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst sprays.


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For my next project it took me a couple of days to get this card completed, as I had all the elements sitting on my desk but I just couldn't figure out how to put it together until I saw this fab card by Tracy MacDonald...which I totally CASED!


TGF's Birthday Ian was colored in Copics and I used all DP scraps, which leaves me with the dilemma that I don't have enough scraps left over for the inside. Yet the biggest challenge on this card for me was using the twine...which is my crafting nemesis! I think we all have one or two products we don't work well with...do you have anything that you struggle with everytime you try to use it?

Challenges:
Anyone for Anya: July Photo Inspiration
Here Come the Boys: Tag on a Card
Simon Says Stamp: Tags or ATC's

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog and for leaving such sweet comments, they always brighten my day.
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday Life's A Beach Reminder

How are you? Has your town been having record breaking heat over the past couple of days too? If you find yourself in the middle of this heat wave I hope you've found the perfect way to stay cool. I have to be honest and say that all I want to do is sit in a pool and sip a cool drink...problem is is that we don't have a pool, which just leaves me with sipping a drink (or two!) LOL!

If you're a follower of my blog you might have heard me mention my fondness for Mad TV's Cabana Chat skits with Dixie Wentsworth...well, those skits prompted me to buy this cabana stamp a few years back. I think it's the perfect sentiment, on soooooooooooooooo many levels! Maybe I like the skits because Dixie is sitting poolside with a tall drink?!! Think about it....


After stamping the sentiment I thought I'd use a small beach chair image to make a "sea glass" tile by dipping the stamped CS in clear embossing ink and UTEE three times. I'm pleased with the way that it turned out.


The minute I saw Jen's Sketch 59 at Deconstructed Jen this week I knew I wanted to use this ATC as the focal point for her challenge. I'm also entering this in the Totally Paper Crafts challenge this week which is Here Comes Summer. I wish you could see the DP on the bottom of the card which is hallographic waves and very cool looking!



Challenges:
Wicked Wednesday: #39 Life's a Beach
Totally Paper Crafts: #124 Here Comes Summer
Deconstructed Jen: Sketch #59

Stamps:
Verses: If Life's a Beach
Stampendous: Beach Chair

Gosh, I sure hope you have the opportunity to join us at Wicked Wednesday for this week's challenge: Life's a Beach because this week's winner has the chance to win six (6) Simply Betty images....AWESOME! So grab your beach themed crafty things and start creating...these little ATCs are a blast to make.
:Dxx

A couple of cards/challenges in one post!

It's the 4th of July and this is my 2nd post for the day...I'm just trying to get these posted/entered in time before some of the challenges end, as lately I've made cards and have forgotten to post them for the challenges I made them for...DOH!

I did get the chance to make this card for our niece who turned 12 over the past weekend...don't you just love the sas on TGF's Creeper Leslie! I couldn't believe my luck at how well the birthday brads matched as they've been sitting in my stash for a good couple of years. I'm entering this in the
Anyone For Anya: Just Use It challenge.


My second card had me saying Grrrrrrrr! Have you ever bought a crafting tool and wondered why you bought it?!! That was me while I was trying to get this card finished for an 80th birthday party were heading to in a few hours. I know why I bought my Provocraft Gypsy, but wish I would use it more often so I wouldn't forget the basics on how to use it...such as welding and contour hiding. I had a couple of hours to get this done...simple, right?!! I mean, all I wanted to do was weld 8 and 0 together, and again in Shadow. I sat down to watch a youTube 101 tutorial for the Gypsy and the girl said, "press this pretty little button...." Grrrr! Not what I wanted to hear at the time! All in all....my Gypsy survived my little temper tantrum and I have vowed to use it more frequently from here on out!


The number 80 was cut and pop-dotted a couple of times and the image inside the 0 was stamped and wet embossed. The sentiment says Happy Birthday in Italian...perfect for a man who travels back to visit his relatives in Italy every year. I'm entering this in Here Come the Boys: Metal and/or Embossing challenge.



Thanks for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments, it's always fun to hear from those who share my love for ink and paper!
:Dxx

Wicked Wednesday - Life's a Beach

Wicked Wednesday has a fun challenge going on this week, Life's a Beach....so think sun, surf, swimming, tropical, and beach toys!


This sweet image is from Simply B. Betty Stamps and Betty generously let our DT play with her awesome Summer Emo digi stamps for this challenge. The great news is this week's winner will receive ALL 6 of the images as the prize!!! You have until next Tuesday evening to enter your ATC and join the fun.

I'm also entering this in:
Totally Paper Crafts: Can You Digi It challenge
Simon Says Stamp: Tags or ATC's

Happy 4th of July...I hope your day is fill with traditions and happy celebrations! Have fun, stay safe!
:Dxx