Thursday, March 31, 2016

I {Love} Sydney


I made a card using the JessicaLynnOriginal "Sydney" image... she's so cute! I love her. Of course, I love a lot of the JessicaLynnOriginal stamps/images. If you haven't been to her online store lately, you should check it out... HERE.






Here's the inside:





Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Image: JessicaLynnOriginal Sydney colored with Copic Markers and a Spectrum Noir Sparkle Marker
Cardstock: Recollections
Designer Paper: Target Dollar Aisle (from 5+ years ago - can anyone say "Hoarder!"?)
Embellishments: Spare Parts Brads

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail


I just recently learned that Gerda Steiner Designs has a monthly challenge featuring one of their images. And the participants all get the next month's challenge simply for participating. This month's image is an adorable bunny with a carrot. He made me think of Easter, so I made a card complete with Easter designer paper.






Here's the inside:



Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Gerda Steiner Designs "Carrot Bunny" colored with Copic Markers and a Sparkle Spectrum Noir Marker
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Pixie Pink
Designer Paper: DCWV Stack 8
Embellishments: Candy Dots from an unknown vendor



Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Argh!


It's time for a new {PIN}Spirational Challenge and here's the theme photo...






The sponsor - All Dressed Up - provided images for the design team's use as well as a prize for a lucky participant. THANK YOU!

http://www.pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/



Challenge #162
March 29 - April 11

Be sure to participate for a chance to win the prize!


I used the All Dressed UP Pirate Puppy image to make my card...





Here's the inside:



Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: All Dressed Up Pirate Puppy
Ink: Copic Markers and Zig Wink of Stella Marker
Cardstock: Recollections
Designer Paper: DCWV Boyhood Paper Pad
Embellishment: Pirate Flag Brad from an unknown vendor

Monday, March 28, 2016

It's Time to Bloom!


There's a new challenge at MelonHeadz Friends today...

http://melonheadzfriends.blogspot.com/

March 28 - April 10


Theme: Throw on Flowers
I hope you'll participate!


I used the MelonHeadz Illustrating "My Leafy Garden Bundle" to make my card...





Here's the inside:






Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Images: MelonHeadz Illustrating My Leafy Garden Bundle colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Gray
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Brads

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Friends, Flowers, & Birthdays


Sue is the hostess of the Baker's Dozen cardmaking group this month. She sent us a fun set of goodies to play with (THANK YOU, Sue!) - embossed paper, designer paper, ribbon, pearls, and punched flowers... and encouraged us to add our own sentiments/images if we wanted to do so. I loved her comment - "just have fun!!" So I did.

Here are the two cards I created...

Card #1





Inside:






Card #2




Inside:





Thanks for stopping by my blog today!




 Sentiment: Inky Antics "Swirly Sunshine & Flowers stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Cardstock: Recollections Black and White


Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Tempting Turquoise

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Stompy


I love making cards with JessicaLynnOriginal stamps - so today I have a card to show you that I made with one of her wonderful digital stamps: Stompy Elephant.

 

Stompy sure is a handsome fellow, isn't he?








Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: JessicaLynnOriginal Stompy Elephant colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! River Rock
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Foof-a-La Button. Imagine Crafts Clear Pico Embellisher (on eyes), and Stampin' UP! River Rock Ribbon

Friday, March 25, 2016

Peek at My Week


On Fridays I reflect on my week and post some of the highlights (and sometimes low points, too) here on my blog.

This week has been busy - in good ways.

We had our mid-year meeting of our association of 26 churches on Monday. It was the first one since my husband became the Director of Missions and I thought it went very well. Our state Executive Director was the guest speaker and he motivated us well.

I've also worked on the writing assignment that I had looming - our national women's missions organization commissioned me to write four blog posts that will appear on their blog in July. I am excited to say that I've completed all four articles. YAY!

I've made 23 cards this week. WOW! I don't usually make that many cards in a week.

My Inspire Journaling Bible arrived in the mail on Wednesday - and I've drooled all over it. (Have yet to do anything in it... but drooling is okay for a while, right?)

I've added some things to my stamping inventory on Evernote, still in my quest to get everything uploaded there.

And perhaps one of the most exciting things for me (since I absolutely love to organize) is that I started organizing all of my dies.

It began with an ebay purchase... I bought 500 outdated magnet calendars HERE.

I know... 500???? Sheesh! But I didn't think 70 would be enough and so I went with 500. ;)



That box was sure heavy!!! 
I think he said it weighed 40 pounds.






I began carefully removing the calendar...





Once it was removed (notice the white backing on the magnet), I noted the specifications of the die that was stored on it...





Then I slipped the magnet, the die, and any appropriate packaging in a sleeve and stored them in a small black plastic crate...




I am still undecided on how I'll organize them in the crate. I know I will label the categories to make them easier to find. And of course I'll have a Dies Notebook in Evernote. But I don't know if I want to organize them strictly by company in the crate, or if I want to categorize them... things like "Borders" - "Nestabilities" - "Words" - etc.

Truthfully, I'm leaning toward categories and then in alphabetical order by company within each category, but I am not completely convinced yet. If you'd like, give me your thoughts. It might help me decide.


SCORE TIME: Would I give this week a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”?




Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Thursday, March 24, 2016

Did I Do That?


March is quickly coming to an end so I decided it was way past time to make my card for this month's "From the Heart" challenge. Each month that a person participates, she will receive the next month's image free... so I sure didn't want to miss out on that. Besides, this month's image set (Digging Dog) is just too cute.

http://fromtheheartstamps.com/shop/puppies-and-dogs/253-digging-dog.html

There are so many sentiments to choose from! 
It's an absolutely adorable set!!!



Here's my card:





Of course, I just had to decorate the inside, too...





Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Image/Sentiments: From the Heart Stamps Digging Dog colored with Copic markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Bashful Blue
Designer Paper: DCWV Boyhood Paper Stack
Embellishment: Offray Grosgrain Ribbon

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

You Saved the Day!


Each month I receive a mysterious envelope in the mail. It's from one of the Mystery Image gals (a different one each month) - who sends an image to all of us to use in making a card. Then we mail the card to a specified member of the group. Imke keeps us so well organized. And we have fun!

This month Joanna was the hostess - THANK YOU Joanna for great images (and bonus die cuts) to use this month.

Here's my card:







Thanks for stopping  by my blog today!


Image/Sentiment: Birdie Brown "You're Super" stamped on Cryogen White #89 with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers and a Spectrum Noir Sparkle Marker
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Kraft
Designer Paper: Colorbok Old Glory Paper Pad
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

A Work in Progress


Do you ever try to make a card... and can't seem to get it to look right? I had one of those experiences lately, so I thought I'd show you my trial/error journey to happiness.

Card #1







Card #2






Card #3






I finally gave up and settled with Card #4





This card was actually made for a swap group I'm in that also requires matching envelopes, so I stamped a bit of the image on my envelope, too... and added a touch of ink to the edge.





Here's the inside:






Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Image/Sentiment: Unity Take Care of You
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Ranger Distress (Antique Linen and Peeled Paint), and Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections (Black and Ivory) and Stampin' UP! (Confetti Ivory and Wild Wasabi)
Designer Paper: Authentique
Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz Honeycomb
Embellishments: Imagine Crafts Irresistible Pico Embellisher (Bronze) and Michael's Pearls

Sunday, March 20, 2016

What a Tangled Mess


Goodness! I sure own a lot of Embossing Folders................... I don't even want to tell you how many! And I very VERY rarely use one. So... when I found out the new challenge at One Stitch at a Time is "Anything Goes with Embossing" I knew it was going to be a great opportunity to dust off an embossing folder and have some fun.


Nothing is more fun than Christmas, right?



Here's the inside of my card:





Don't forget to play along (you could win a PRIZE - $10 to spend in the StitchyBear Digi Outlet store!)

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/



Challenge #258
Theme: Anything Goes with Embossing
March 20 - April 2
Sponsor: StitchyBear Digi Outlet
 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Image: StitchyBear Digi Outlet "Christmas Lights"
Sentiment: unknown vendor stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Ink: Copic Markers
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Christmas Ornaments
Cardstock: Recollections Black, Red, and White and Stampin' UP! Wild Wasabi
Designer Paper: DCWV Year Round Paper Pad
Embellishments: Imagine Crafts Irresistible Pico Embellisher and Brads from an unknown vendor

Saturday, March 19, 2016

I Am Not Fat...


I am not FAT,
I am Sturdy!

I love that quote!!! 

It's just one of the many things to love about the JessicaLynnOriginal stamp set that is being launched today - if you love Bulldogs, you're going to love this set!

I couldn't choose just one of the three bulldog images to use, so I made three cards. (Just so you know I didn't use all of the sentiments in the set.)

Card #1









Card #2








Card #3





Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Items used to make these cards:

Images: JessicaLynnOriginal Bulldog
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (also colored pencils on Card #2)
Cardstock: Recollections
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones and Ribbon and Brads from unknown vendors