Beautiful Butterflies Challenge

Here I am again sneaking in under the wire to meet Cards in Envy Beautiful Butterflies Challenge. I have been rather busy but I needed a card for my granddaughter Remi who lives in California. I have been slack at getting anything sent to her and it's almost time for her to be here again! She likes butterflies so I thought this challenge to make that type of card was perfect for her.

This was so simple to make! I had some of this butterfly paper from when I covered wooden letters of Remi's name for her room.

I used yellow cardstock for the background. Then I fussy cut the glittery butterfly out of the design paper. I used liquid glue to attach the body of the butterfly then used foam tape to help pop the wings a bit for dimension. (It will still mail in an envelope!)  Then added the sentiment with double matting. Tada! I think the sentiment is from a set by Unity but I don't remember the name of it.

Hope you like it. Well it really only matters if Remi likes it and I think she will!

Have a good one!

VCMP Challenges 1 and 2

It seems like every time Operation Write Home (OWH) has a Virtual Card Making Party (VCMP) I'm busy and can't participate until its over! Thankfully they have people like me in mind and leave their submissions open for a few more days. I have until February 25th but I also have a retreat! I do plan to make some cards but my main goal is to get some scrapbook pages done!

The first challenge of OWH VCMP is to make cards using Zig Zag elements (or more properly known as Chevrons). You can use stamps, scissors, rulers, or even paper. I chose to use paper.

The chevron or zigzag paper is Carta Bella "Paris Girl" I had left from a couple of page layouts I made to display at the store (Cat's Creations). The stamp is from Unity. For some interest and dimension I used liquid pearls on the sheep for the wool.

I hadn't done it intentionally but I realized that this card also meets the criteria for the second challenge which is  is to make a card that features a critter of some sort. Puppies, birds, turtles etc. The theme is All Creatures Great and Small; Cards for Kids. I also needed a card to send to Remi so I made more than one. Although a bit plain I was pleased with how it turned out.

I also managed to get a layout done last Saturday during the crop after things settled down at the store!

This is the left side of a 2 page layout. I used papers from the new Teresa Collins Collection "He Said She Said" for pictures from Vanessa's baby shower. The little banner across the invitation was a photo of an actual banner that was made for the shower with Kashton's name. I cut it out and hung it like a banner on the invitation. The baby shower theme was "mustache bash".

I thought it was really cool how there was a 12x12 paper of all different styles of mustaches! It worked perfectly! Vanessa had a mustache painted on a single nail and mustache earrings! Pretty cute. I plan to use some more of this paper for the shower pics I have. If you want a closer look just click on the photo. Or better yet go to the store and see the layout for yourself!


It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations Blog. Be sure to check out the blogs linked at Cat's to see all the creativity of our customers! Leave a comment if you visit. We all liked to be encouraged. For a little incentive Cat's is offering blog candy to a random commenter so the more comments you leave the greater your change to win!

Before you go...I thought I would also take time to tell you about Valentine's Day. Thursday is my day to work at the store and Doyle was on duty at the fire station so I wasn't expecting anything. I was however going to my daughter's to spend the night as it was her first in the new house alone. Hubby had to go back on rotation to his job in Ok.

I went to her house that morning to drop off Kaidence. I gave Kennedy and Vanessa their Valentine's I had got for them. This is what I gave to Kennedy and also sent to Remi.

Kennedy's favorite thing was the lip gloss! I was in such a hurry that I didn't take time to get pictures! I was rather agitated with myself over that!

My first surprise of the day was Kennedy coming to see me at the store after "Mother's Day Out".

Then I got an even bigger surprise!

Hubby came to see me AND brought me something! I was so surprised that when Cathy asked for my phone to take a picture I was in a daze! She asked me 3 times before it registered what she wanted to do! This is what was inside.

Can you say YUMMY?!


Well, that wraps it up for me. I still have LOTS to do to get ready to leave Thursday for the retreat! I can hardly believe I got this done!

Have a good one!

On a Roll!

I do a lot of my crafting at night after supper is over and dishes are done. Once I am through in the kitchen I walk down the end of the hall to my little crafting haven. Even though my room isn't finished and isn't organized it is functional and I enjoy just being in it! I've even made a little space for my granddaughters to craft. I love my room!

Although a small amount, I managed to get a small box of cards sent to Operation Write Home before the February 7th deadline. It was a mixture of general and Easter. This is a sampling of the Easter cards.

These are pretty simple. I used stickers and paper left from a layout I made for the store. It's "Happy Easter" from Reminisce. Hmmm...I just realized I never got a picture of the layout! Guess I'll get one when I go to the store Thursday.

This card I made for Our Daily Bread Designs February Challenge. The challenge for February is fruit. I got this stamp set from Unity and was itching to use it. You may remember that watermelon is my most favorite fruit! Using Tim Holtz Distress "peeled paint" I inked the card base. I stamp the background with black archival ink and used distress ink "festive berries". I stamped the watermelon image one more time on a piece of water color paper using distress "peeled paint" then colored the watermelon using a blender pen and distress "festive berries". I cut it out and put foam tape behind it for dimension. The sentiment I stamped with archival black ink and matted with paper inked with distress "peeled paint". The twine is from My Mind's Eye.

This card I used a sketch from a new sketch/card challenge at Cards in Envy. The design idea is for the challenge at Digi Haven. Their challenge theme is Love or Valentines.
Here is the sketch.

The design papers are a Valentine collection from Bo Bunny last year I believe. The strip that says "happy in {love}" came from a paper. I used a circle punch & heart punch and dew drops down in the right hand corner.

This card I made for Christmas Cards All Year 'Round.

The theme for February is Hearts & Flowers Red & White. The white paper has a shimmery surface. I put it in an embossing folder and decided to glitter one heart below my sentiment. The sentiment is from Stampin Up. The poinsettias are "Dazzlers by Petaloo.


It's WOW Wednesday at Cat's Creations. Be sure to leave me a comment then go over to Cat's Creations Blog. There will be others linking their creations so check them out too! You can't help but get inspired! And for your effort you have a chance to win some blog candy. Cat's Creations will pick one random commenter. Last week a commenter was chosen from my blog!

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.

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.

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!

A Little Crafting A Little Playing

Even though I had already sent out my Christmas cards I still want to make Christmas themed cards! I guess that means I am in the Christmas spirit!  I figure I can put them back and use next year or donate them to Operation Write Home.

I really liked how this card turned out. It is very simple. I used one piece of card stock and the rest is heat embossed. This stamp set is from Unity. Baby Jesus I embossed in white, the star in gold and the sentiment in silver.

This card make look familiar as I used this image and sentiment on another card using a navy blue background and used a border punch on the edges. I like the simplicity of this card. The lamb is Impression Obsession. It is heat embossed with white and the stars with silver. The sentiment I created using Just Rite alphabet stamps and heat embossed with silver.

I was very pleased with this card. For my inspiration I did a web search of others who had used this stamp set (The Sounding Joy from Stampin Up) and found Miss Mad Stamper. (The card I got my inspiration from is the 3rd one down in her blog post.) For my background I used gold paper from Webster's Pages Christmas collection that I matted with black card stock. I stamped the word star on white paper with Tim Holtz Distress Ink "peeled paint". I then stamped over the star with the sentiment "Let Earth Receive Her King" using Versa Mark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. I matted the white with a green paper from the same Webster's Pages collection and finished off with Crepe ribbon. I liked this so well I decided to try one in a different color.

I like it too!

Today at work Vanessa let Kennedy call me. Nothing melts my heart like that sweet little voice that says "Ta Ta, I want to come play with you at your house." I was going to pick her up because Keannon had the car taking Remi back home today. In a little while Vanessa sends me this picture.

with the caption "Waiting impatiently at the door for you".

We spent the afternoon together. She wanted to go the park. It was a very pleasant day after beginning at 21 degrees, we warmed up to 65. I put Kennedy in the stroller and a leash on Kaidence and to the park we went. On our way we came upon some cattails. If there is a proper name for them I don't know what it is. I had forgotten how once they have fully matured they literally explode when you touch them. Here's a video of Kennedy experiencing this unique phenomenon.

Today starts my 4 day weekend. I am so excited! Have a good one!