Hint of Spring

It maybe January but we have had very "spring like" temperatures the last few days. Last night it only got down to 64 and I had to open the windows because it was too hot in the house! It's been in the upper 70's for highs during the day. This is definitely giving me spring fever already and we still have at least a month maybe more of winter!

In keeping with my goal I decided to do a few more past challenges from Operation Write Home.

For this card I used  Operation Write Home Sketch #154

I decided to do Operation Write Home's Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Spring Flowers from January 2, 2013.

All these papers were scraps from page layouts or cards so I'm not exactly sure of the names. I believe the flower print is Bella Boulevard and the pink background is the backside of a Webster's Pages. The sentiment is a Just Rite Stamp that I used pink ink and heat embossed with clear powder then used a circle punch. I put foam tape behind the sentiment for dimension.

My next card I used Operation Write Home Sketch #155.

I managed to make this card usable for three different challenges! Yeah, me! I will submit this one for ODBD January Challenge. ODBD (Our Daily Bread Designs) is a stamp company that supports Operation Write Home. They host a challenge once a month. Not only do they offer a prize to a winner picked randomly but  two boxes of handmade cards made for our deployed troops to send to their loved ones are shipped for free!

Their challenge this month is to include dry embossing on your card. They suggested maybe making Easter cards. So I thought...why not! This card is pretty simple but I liked it once I was done. It's easy enough I may make some multiples and just might get a package sent in time for the Easter deadline which is Feb 7th.

In making this card and looking over the list of challenges from the first of the year until now I realized this card met the criteria for this weeks Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown - Easter.

I've just got to share what Kennedy said to me last night. I am trying to write down the cute things she says so I will remember when she's all grown up! She spent the night with me last night. She had fallen asleep on the way back from feeding my horse. I let her sleep...too long and consequently we were up late.As we were laying in the bed she says to me "Tatah, my eyes are not sleepy". I had to laugh! I said "you're eyes might not be sleepy but Tatah's sure are!"

Have a good one!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #182

I received an email this week from Doodle Pantry about their sponsoring a card challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches so I went to take a look and decided to give it a try. Here is the sketch.

Here is my card

For the papers I used Little Yellow Bicycle Collection "Winterings". I just love the colors in this line. The penguin and snowy hills are a Unity Stamp set and so is the "hello" sentiment. I heat embossed the penguin with black powder then colored in with a black embossing pen and a yellow gel pen. The snowy hills I used Ranger white embossing powder called "puffs". It actually is more of a cream as you can see in the photo. I also heat embossed the sentiment and used a circle punch. I punched a hole in the circle and put the brown ribbon (from my stash) through and tied to the card.

I did remember to get a picture of the layout I used with this paper collection.

We had snow on Christmas Day! Little unusual for us! I was a little bummed we didn't get anymore than what you see but did get a few pics of my granddaughter with the white stuff!

I'm off to the retreat. Have a good one...I plan too!

Sending My Love

One of the things I wanted to try to do this year is participant in more of Operation Write Home card challenges. I am already getting behind but I am going to stay with it and try to do the challenges and sketches whether I meet the deadline or not.

I made this card using Operation Write Home Sketch#156. The papers I used are from Little Yellow Bicycle's winter collection "Winterings" that I had left from a one page layout I did. Which, by the way, I realized I didn't get a picture of! I'll do that tomorrow when I'm at the store. (note to self.) The image and sentiment are from Unity's stamp set "Sending My Love". I stamped the mailbox and cut it out. I also stamped and cut out the envelope. Using my craft knife I cut a slit in the mailbox so I could insert the envelope and used foam tape to give it some dimension. I also put foam tape behind the sentiment. The brads were from my stash.

I also made this card for Operation Write Home - The ABCs of Color Basic Color Theory. If I did this right, I am using a color scheme based on Nature. I need to practice some more with this. Not sure if I completely understand it yet.

I also made a card for Remi. We last saw her 2 weeks before Christmas. We were supposed to have her the week after Christmas but her mother and step dad had to relocate to California. Step dad is in the Air Force. She was supposed to come for a 7day visit this week but an agreement couldn't be reached. Makes me sad for everyone. Unless things change it is looking like Keannon will have to go to court again.

I got this adorable little girl popping out of an envelope from Sliekje Digi Stamps. It's called "Surprise in an Envelope". She is so gracious to share her digi's for free. She has so many that I really like. I colored her with my Copic Markers then decided to add a little bling for some sparkle. The DP is from Echo Park from a couple of summers ago. The sentiment is from the Unity Stamp set above. Looking at this just now makes me wish I had added some ribbon but I was in a hurry to get this in the mail.

Our church's ladies retreat is this weekend. Looking forward to a little time away to connect with Him and fellowship with my friends!

Have a good one.

Big Day!

Kennedy got her ears pierced! I still can't believe it! It was actually her idea. Vanessa kept trying to talk her out of it and went as far as letting her witness a baby getting her ears pierced. But she was determined. Hmmm....wonder if this is just the beginning of her being tenaciousness?!

Of course I had to record this big event by taking pictures! 

She wanted to sit on Daddy's lap. Here she is choosing which earrings she wants.

She settled on these. They look like the ones Mommy was wearing.

Marking the spot.

On the count of three.

She did cry and no I didn't take a picture of that. That's where I drew the line. She didn't cry long though.

and to prove she was still buddies with the lady who hurt her posed for a picture! She also wanted to go home with me (surprise - not!) She could not wait to show Granddad her ears!

The sun was shining in her face is why she covered her eye.

I saw her today and she is still happy with her earrings. 

Have a good one!

Night of Color

A two page layout I made using new paper from Reminisce called Magical. It will be coming to my local store (Cat's Creations) soon.

These are pics from 4th of July. My husband, Doyle was on duty that day at fire station #2. This station is right across the highway from the public firework display. We had great seats and no crowds. Keannon, Vanessa, Kennedy along with their friends came to watch the show.

 I double matted the pics with white card stock and red glitter paper from Best Creations. With what I had left I also cut out letters for my title. What I like about Reminisce paper is their strip that has the bar code on it, the other side is decorative. I used that strip on this layout on the bottom of the page to accent. The word embellishments are from two different stamp sets I had. One I don't know but the other is from Stampers Best My Hero Sentiments Set.

Here is a little closer view of the left side of the layout. 

The right side of the layout.

A little closer view of the journal block which is a Unity stamp. I used some rhinestones on two of the letters. I also used a cut out star from the letters I used for the title to "dot" the letter "I"

It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Blog. Leave me a comment for a chance for blog candy. Cat's Creations will pick a random commenter from one of the blogs linked up to Cat's. Have a creation you want to share? You can get all the details at Cat's Blog.

That about wraps it up for me today. Have a good one.

Have a Wonderful Day!

I made this card to enter in Doodle Pantry Digital Challegne #30. The theme is to use a Doodle Pantry image. I just love their images and I love the fact that some of their images are already colored such as this one. I can not color this good with my Copic Markers yet. I have a few friends in my life who are bird lovers so I am always looking for pretty bird images for card making. This one really caught my eye. It also came with this sentiment. 

This card is very simple but the image was so stunning I didn't want to do anything else for fear of taking away the focus from the iamge. I cut out the image and used foam tape to give the image some dimension. I did the same on the senitment. The background paper is Authentique's collection "Original". It was leftover from the letters I covered using this same paper line for my grandson's name. 

Vanessa's baby shower was Saturday. It was very nice.

These are the letters I altered for Vanessa. The baby's name will be Kashton.

My SIL wanted to do Kashton's room in a sports theme. It's hard to tell in these pics but the stickers are  dimensional. The only sport I didn't use was soccer mostly because the stickers available would have clashed terribly with this paper.

I was a little worried about whether or not Vanessa would like these as I didn't ask for her input. When this paper came in a few months ago it just seemed like the right paper to get! She seemed pleased at the shower.

This banner was made by her friend. Didn't she do a good job?! It hung over the food table.

The gift table.

The table decorations. The balloons wouldn't cooperate. There are mustache's on them.

Here's a better look.

Inside the "mustache" on the table are diapers.

close up of the cake.

Had to get a pic of these two adorable little dolls! This is Kennedy's buddy Ari. Her mom and Kennedy's Mom have been friends since grade school.

Vanessa also had on "mustache" earrings.

These mustaches on straws were too much fun!

Kennedy helped showing off the wonderful gifts.

Kashton's due date is March 4th. If he's anything like his sister he will be a February baby. Whatever the case it won't be long now! Have a good one!

Second Attempt at Sparkles and Bling

Being I wasn't completely satisfied with the last creation I entered in Digi Haven's First 2013 Challenge , I tried again. In this challenge you can enter up to 3 projects.

This was originally a free digi from Cuddlebug Cuties but you will have to buy it now if you want this image. I colored the image and sky with my copic markers. My "sparkles and bling" are minimal on this card. I used clear rhinestones in her hair bows and on the stars on her shirt. I used glossy accents on her eyes. There wasn't a sentiment that came with this image. She looks sad to me so I chose to use a "miss you" sentiment from Unity. I put foam tape behind the sentiment for dimension. I am also entering this card in Digi Haven's Challenge.

Thanks for looking! Have a good one!

Sparkles and Bling

I have been trying to find time to make a card for the Grand Re-opening of Digi Haven Challenges. They are offering some great prizes! The theme is "Sparkles and Bling". You have until the 17th to enter.

I'm beginning to wonder about myself here lately. I'm either not remembering things, or forgetting things, or just plain not thinking straight. I began creating a card and was nearly through with it when I realized I couldn't enter it in the challenge because it wasn't a digi image! It's not a lost cause as I can always use a card and I can include it in my Operation Write Home box.

This image and sentiment is a Unity set. I stamped the strawberry with black Memento ink and colored with my copic markers and added red bling for some dimension. The sentiment I stamped with Distressed Ink Barn Door, used a copic marker for the leaves around the "B" and added red bling to the word "adorable". I used foam tape behind both the strawberry and sentiment.

Here is my next attempt at a card to enter into Digi Haven's Sparkles and Bling Card Challenge. The image is from Doodle Pantry. It didn't quite come out like I had envisioned but I was commited. I didn't do a very good job of coloring the background for my night sky. For my "sparkles" I used stickles for the fireworks explosions and red glitter paper behind the image. For my "bling" I used red rhinestones over each letter "i" in the sentiment.

I also made a two page layout using new Easter papers and stickers from Reminisce.  I used pictures of Kennedy's 2nd Easter (which was last April) for this two page layout. Next time you're at the store be sure to look for this layout and for the papers and stickers.

If you've made it this far I want to remind you that it's WOW Wednesday at  Cat's Creations. Cat's is giving away blog candy to a random commenter so be sure to leave me one! For a greater chance to win link up your own project to Cat's Creations Blog. Then visit others who have linked up and leave comments there too! Who knows you might even get inspired in your hop!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a good one!

Squirrel Saga Continues

I did get the Christmas lights down last Friday at least what was left of them.

Out of five strands of 100 lights only one strand survived.

You might say they didn't have anything to eat. And I would say since when do squirrels not like pecans?!

You see all these pecans?! Now we didn't pick these up because they are the small natives and they are very difficult to shell to get the nuts out. Now you may say...the squirrels didn't feel safe collecting nuts from the ground. Then I would say....what about these!

Look at all the nuts still in the tree! Why on earth would the squirrels prefer electrical wire to these jewels!
I think part of the problem with the squirrels is we made it easy for them. We have what are called "boxed eaves". Doyle had to do some repair that required him taking down the enclosure. He did not complete the repair at the time and hoped he wouldn't cause problems but....

He left these openings which he discovered the squirrels had been entering as he found pieces of my light strands in there! He closed them up while I took down the lights.

Ok, I'll quit venting about the squirrels. At least they waited until after Christmas to do their destruction as the lights worked up until New Years.

I didn't not get to ride that day. I had planned to after I took the lights down but Doyle needed some help with the repair and then I ran out of time. I did get a glimpse of what was left of the sunset.

Kennedy came over on Friday night and spent the night with us. Since I didn't work at the store Saturday we slept in. Well, she slept in! After she gets up we go take care of Clyde. We come back and I make us some breakfast. Mom comes over to see Kennedy and have some coffee. After she leaves Kennedy and I play. We stamped, painted, played hide and seek.

She is painting a picture for Mommy. We also made one for Daddy and Remi.

We went outside for a while but not long as a front had moved through dropping temperatures drastically from the day before. But in that short time Kennedy fell and kissed the sidewalk. I saw it happen and was afraid to look to see what the damage was. She busted her lip and scraped her nose. I thought for sure she would want her Momma but no she wanted me!

Kennedy went with me to Tractor Supply to buy horse feed tonight. On the way to the check out she saw this huge container of "Cheese Puffs"! She LOVES these things! Guess who got suckered?

One happy girl! If you click on the picture you can get a better look of her battle scars from her fall on Saturday.


A very dear friend had a birthday Sunday and I made her this card.

I just love this "triple stamping" technique. You can make so many different variations of this card  and its so easy! For the tutorial go here. The ribbon I used is what I get from Really Reasonable Ribbon monthly ribbon club.
 Come back tomorrow for WOW Wednesday. I have more creations to show you!

Have a good one!

Simple But Exquisite

I know Christmas is over but it's my most favorite holiday and when you are a crafter you can never start Christmas projects too early! Besides making my own Christmas cards I like to make Christmas cards for Operation Write Home. I learned about a card challenge through my friend (and fellow card maker) Sandy  that is specifically for Christmas cards called Christmas Cards All Year Round. This month's theme is "Anything Goes" as long as it's Christmas.

This is very simple but I absolutely LOVE how this card turned out! The picture isn't bad but the sparkle really shows up when you hold the card in your hand. Unfortunately this card is NOT OWH friendly as the white glitter paper I used for the background does flake and that isn't acceptable for sending to our Heroes.  The blue glitter paper I used does not flake and I really prefer this for my projects I want to sparkle! I used an ornament die from Sizzix. I also diecut chipboard for the ornament to give it dimension. I used a Tim Holtz Alterations die "Noel" for the lettering in the ornament. Used ribbon from my stash to tie a bow and a bling. That's it!

I would also like to enter this card in Sandy's challenge January Anything Goes With A Twist. The only specifics is whatever you make must have the colors blue & white. For more details click on the link.

We got much needed rain. Final count I poured out 3 inches from my rain gauge. It rained a slow soaking rain for two solid days! Very unusual for us! Rain usually comes and goes rather quickly. It definitely helped put a dent in our drought conditions. Just hope it doesn't wait for months to rain again! We will have a really nice day tomorrow. I want to ride. I haven't ridden since before Christmas.

I also need to take advantage of the nice weather and take Christmas lights off the roof. Not much to remove though, squirrels chewed them up! Darnedest thing I've ever seen. I've been putting lights on my house for 7 years. This is the first time squirrels have been a problem. Not sure why the squirrels preferred my lights to 4 pecan trees loaded with nuts!

I first discovered it when I was throwing the frisbee for Kaidence. I saw some clips on the ground and when I went to pick them up I saw the wire.

Out of 5 strands only 2 have seemingly survived. What's even stranger is that the lights have worked all through the holidays and it wasn't until after Christmas I found the damage. Thankfully they waited to destroy my decorations! Guess I will be buying more lights next year.

Have a good one!

Keeping It Simple

Hi everyone! It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Blog. For this week I've managed to get some layouts done...of Christmas...last year! I've got to move faster. I kept these layouts pretty simple as I was just wanting to get them done and in the book so I could move on!

For this layout I printed the pictures 2x3 so I could get more on a page. This paper is Echo Park's Christmas collection from last year. I think it was called Holly Jolly but don't quote me. The journaling box is a Unity stamp and the Title (Welcome Christmas Into Your Heart) is a stamp from Stampin Up. I embossed with white powder on the red card stock.

These pics were taken at my brother's (Wayne) Christmas night last year. He lives in the country so I had a good view of the gorgeous sunset that night. We all posed for pictures for Mom. For this layout I used My Mind's Eye Christmas Collection from this year called Winter Wonderland. The red glitter letters and numbers are Thickers from American Crafts.

This paper is from that same line. These letters I had in my stash. Kennedy wanted me to wrap her up!

I also managed to make a card.

I used sketch #30 from Seems a Little Sketchy and will enter my card there.

My image is a digital from Mo Manning. I just love her images. I colored with my Copic Markers. I am also entering my card in Clear It Out Challenge. The Theme is Warm Fuzzies and to use textured items from our stash. Seeing the kitty on the dog made me think of "warm fuzzies". I made my sentiment using Just Write Alphabet Letters then punch out with a circle punch. I used a scalloped circle punch for the circle behind the sentiment, put it in an embossing folder for texture and inked the edges with Distress Ink Gathered Twigs. The brads I had in my stash.

Leave me a comment for a chance to win some blog candy from Cat's Creations. A random commenter will be picked. Then head over to the blog and visit others who have linked their creations to the blog for more chances to win. Link up your own creations. We love to see what everyone is doing!

Have a good one!