I Go Quackers For You

I had read a friend's blog (Allison) and learned about Doodle Pantry's card challenge. It ended tonight at 8pm. I had thought I could get a card made and entered but alas...I didn't make it. I did however make the card and will still enter it in OWH Sketch Challenge #127. 

The image is digital from Doodle Pantry. Isn't it cute? I called the duckling with my Copic Markers. I used Y19 and Y38 for the duck. I used YG03 and G99 for the grass. The sentiment came with the image but I printed it too big to use on this card so I wrote the sentiment on the card. The striped paper is American Crafts...some I got on clearance some time ago. The heart border was a fiskars punch.

I finally used some ribbon out of my club of the month from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I LOVE this black satin ribbon!

I got to spend all day Saturday in my craft room! You would think I would have complete projects out the wazoo but at least I do have something to show for it. I completed 3 of the 5 page layout sketches I needed for my LSS's challenge of making a layout for each sketch this year from Sketch Inspiration. This site posts a new sketch each week. This is a great source for getting jump started.

Here's my layout of Sketch#316

This is my niece who graduated from EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) school.

This layout was based on sketch #322. I really had fun doing this one. This is my daughter who was the 2004 Palo Pinto County Sherriff's Posse Sweetheart and 2004 Palo Pinto County Livestock Association Rodeo Queen. These pics are from this years rodeo. I got some pics of my daughter and granddaughter just before the grand entry and then some of my daughter in the grand entry.

I had fun doing this layout too! This layout was based on sketch #325. These pics make me laugh every time I see them. My granddaughter, Kennedy, was playing in her pool in our backyard when her dog Kajen decided he wanted to join her! Kennedy thought it was funny! I think I need a bigger pool!

It hit 100 today and we are forecast to have 100 degree days for at least the next 5 days. I'm going to have to juggle my schedule and go ride in the mornings which will mean going to bed sooner at night! That will be a bit of a challenge.

Have a good one!

OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge

While the temp outside is going up I am enjoying the enclosure of my air conditioned craft room!  The Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge over at Operation Write Home is to make cards with yellow and blue being the main colors. I accepted the challenge and made this card with scraps from three different paper lines.

The yellow stripe is from Echo Park. I don't remember the name of the line but it was a boy paper. The blue strip is Authentique's "Geniune". Love this paper for the western feel it has and works well for masculine cards too. The yellow polka dot was MME's birthday collection. I used a stamp for the sentiment and tied a piece of twine from my stash. Pretty simple but I liked the finished product.

Last night I went to a birthday party of a friend from church. He turned 50 a couple of weeks ago and his wife planned a huge surprise bash. I made him this card.

The birthday candles stamp is  called "Amie by Inkadinado which I colored with my copic markers. The sentiment I created using my Just Rite alphabet stamps. I couldn't find a question mark so I free-handed that. On the inside I used a sentiment stamp from Studio G made by Hampton Art. The sentiment read  "Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying YOU! I love this! I was very pleased how it turn out even if it is pretty simple. I plan to make more of this for OWH.

Ok, now that my creative juices are freely flowing I'm going back to my room to try to catch up on my page layouts for Sketch Inspiration and Cat's Creations. I only have 4 sketches to do to be caught up! Woohoo! I'm excited! If I manage to do all the sketches I will have complete 52 scrapbook pages!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I plan too!

Change of Pace

Most of my posts of late have been about crafting. I was beginning to think that I might need to change the name of my web page from Adventures with Valerie to something else then there was today. Awww...out with the horses in God's creation. Even though it was 96 today, in the shade with a breeze it was almost pleasant not too bad at all. I had been riding the horse that belongs to the people where I board mine. She's a great little horse. Only standing just under 14 hands she is not only marked pretty but has a great personality. Reminds me a lot of my horse that died 5 years ago. I didn't ride my horse today. He was limping several days ago and decided to give him a break to see if time would take care of it. He's old. Being the last of the original 3 we bought in 1995. He's 22 years old. The mare is 6 or 7.

This is the mare. They owners named her Ballerina. She's a registered POA (Pony of Americas).
I couldn't help but laugh at her the other day when I rode her. We have an abundance of grasshoppers. While we were riding there were hopping everywhere and hitting Ballerina in the face. She didn't like that and started throwing her head to avoid collision with these pesky insects. Here's a short video.

I am just amazed at how many grasshoppers there are! Almost like an invasion!

As I was riding today, a chorus of locust could be heard. I found the remains of one clinging to a tree.

I stopped and dismounted. I let the mare begin to graze. I watched as my horse grazed close by. Contented that his pasture buddy was near.

 I listened to the locust as they sang. I could hear the horses grazing,  felt the gentle warm breeze on my face. Looked over the green pasture and took a deep breathe and exhaled slowly. For just this moment I don't have a care in the world. All is good!

Have a good one!

Big Girls Color Club

It was "Big Girls Color Club" at the store tonight. This started as a monthly class on Copic Markers but we have all been doing this long enough that we just continue to get together and color. We still learn some new things and use some new products. Tonight, Cathy, the owner of my LSS introduced us to some new stamps to use with our Copic Markers. I bought 4 of them tonight! The brand is "Little Miss Muffet". I can't help but think of my granddaughters when I look at these! They will be great for cards or for page layouts!

There were many more but I only purchased these. The stamps we used for our class tonight were different than these. Here was the first card I made.

Isn't she elegant?! At first I didn't think I would want these type stamps but I did buy one that will work well for wedding cards. Oops. I just realized I didn't get a photo of that one. Maybe later.

Here is the other one I made. This one is more of the style that I purchased. I colored her with my granddaughter Remi in mind. I've been making cards to send to her in between her visits with us.

I so enjoy our get togethers once a month on the 3rd Thursday. You should come hang with us sometime. Cost of the class is anywhere from $5 to $15.... depends on what we use but we always have fun! Just call ahead of time so we can have enough for everyone and don't forget to bring your basic tool kit (Paper trimmer, adhesives "includes tape runners, foam tape, zip dry, glossy accents", scissors, black & white detail pens, pencil, any inks you prefer.) Of course if you forget something you can always purchase what you need at the store.

Have a good one!

OWH Sketch Challenge #126

Here's one more card I made during my crafting binge! I just love the sketches from Operation Write Home.

This is sketch challenge #126. I really like how they give you exact measurements so you don't have to guess! Really helps me get jump started!

Here is my card. I used Echo Park solid card stock for the base and remnants of Authentique's "Celebrate" collection. I loved this paper! The sentiment is a retired "Stampin Up stamp.

Ok...now I need to switch gears and start working on some page layouts! I have 4 or 5 more sketches to do to be caught up by the end of this month for the challenge put out by my LSS.

For help in getting started on a scrapbook page I go to Sketch Inspiration. Every week a new sketch is posted. Submit a layout based on the sketch and be eligible for a prize. Great place to get lots of ideas and meet other people. My LSS issued a challenge to its customers to do a layout each week and post on the store's Facebook page. At the end of June those who have completed all the sketches to this point have a party to celebrate. And who doesn't like a party?! Have a good one!

Card Challenges

Last night I got on a creative binge. I saw a blog update from one of my scrapping buddies about a card challenge for Operation Write Home  and Our Daily Bread Desgins.

The challenge is to make a "shaped card" that is not square or rectangular but will fit in a A2 envelope and meet OWH criteria. As I was thinking about what type of card to make I also thought about another card challenge I wanted to combine this with and that is the ABC Christmas Card Challenge. Their challenge is "L for Lyrics" . We are to use the theme of a Christmas song or carol for our inspiration for our cards. I think I have accomplished both in this CAS card. It took me several attempts to achieve the look I was going for but it finally came together.

I used a Sizzix Snowflake #4 die to cut out the snowflake. Then using the snowflake as a pattern I cut the card base out of Worldwin "Elan Metallic" paper adding a quarter inch on all sides and leaving a side uncut for the fold. Then using a Tim Holtz Alterations embossing folder I embossed the edges of the card base. I then cut a snowflake out of American Crafts Dear Lizzy "Christmas - Jolly Jingle". The words to Jingle Bells are on the green paper. I put clear bling in the corners of the snowflake and added a crepe ribbon bow.

I had so much fun making this one I decided to try a different shape with a different theme. This one is also CAS.

Using a Sizzix die from Stampin Up called "Bigz Top Note" I cut out blue cardstock being careful to not cut the end where the card folds. Using the same die I cut out the printed paper which is Fancy Pants "It's Your Day" and trimmed off enough for the blue cardstock to show. I attached the button with twine on the front and a piece of twine on the back of the card so that the twine wraps around the button to close the card.

I'm on a roll. I'm off to go create some more! Have a good one!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #158

Ok, I just have to know how is one supposed to get everyone visited in a week's time?! I tried really hard to visit everyone! I didn't want to leave anyone out but there's just not enough time in the day over many days! All of you have such wonderful workdesks (play spaces as I like to call them and some of you agreed with me!) Your creativity, crafting and artistic ability is just amazing to me...making me wonder "what the heck am I doing here?!" I delight reading about your lives, the weather and some of you have a wonderful sense of humor, making me laugh out loud! I guess I should get on to the reason for this post as I have learned reading your blogs that we are to keep things short. I just wanted to express to any of you who might visit my little "neck of the woods" that I am in awe of you and feel privileged to be in your company and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful comments. Ok with no more delay....here's my place space (I mean workdesk).

This is a little different view than you have gotten before. I actually have a crafting room. I was blessed with this opportunity when our daughter moved out on her on 3 yrs ago. My workdesk is a metal 6ft table that my husband got for me. He built the L you see that my notepad and ATG gun rests on. The red snowflake shaped paper was the result of some attempts to make a shaped card that wasn't square or rectangular. It took several tries but I finally made something I was happy with using this snowflake diecut. It's actually sitting in the middle of my desk on my cutting mat. I will post a better pic of it another day. I have been working on several cards for some card challenges. The black and green tote with a Pro Glider adhesive gun is my travel caddy that I take all my basic tools to crops and classes at the store. I tend to leave all my items in it so its always ready to go. I love my crafting room but I also love the friendships I've developed through crops and classes at the store so I try to keep myself mobile.

Ok before I get too windy....hop on over to Julia's Stamping Ground where you will find MANY crafters, artists, quilters, painters, etc. Go ahead take a trip around the world right from your computer.

Have a good one!