Easter Joy

Photo credit:

Collar City Brownstone

Oh yeah!  It's FRIDAY!  YEA!

Even though I don't work out of the house, I still get fired up for the weekend!  The Hubs is off both Sat/Sun this week so always makes for even more celebration.  Sunday is the pick day weatherwise --- to be almost to 70, so hoping to get the pups out to the park to annoy the ducks.

First, I have to get through today's agenda of annual medical tests/doc visits.  So I'm posting this in between appointments.  And, got good news with my nephrology visit --- all good!  Doc does not forsee my PKD getting any worse than it is now EVER!  My creatinine and kidney functions are NORMAL!  YEA!  Such good news!  And, I definitely feel blessed for that because PKD is usually not kind at all to those who have it.  I am very, very fortunate. Now on to the dreaded mammo and my first bone density scan (got to love the menopause)!

With that done later today, Saturday is March 1st, so I've got spring fever and with spring fever comes spring craftiness.  So here is maybe my first Easter card for 2014:

SPIES:

STAMPS:  Sentiment - Stash (I think Inkadinkadoo).
PAPER: White cardstock base; light green and lilac cardstock; Background DP (My Mind's Eye); DP for pink eggs, flowers-Spring Mix (DCWV); orange eggs - (Pebbles Basic).
INK: Lilac rose (Momento).
EXTRAS: Bunny, bow, grass dies (Impression Obsession); Fence, egg and flower dies (Taylored Expressions); pink and lime green enamel dots; small dot emboss folder (Cuttlebug); ScorePal for scoring lines.

I used the sketch from The Paper Players challenge this week and did some die cutting with eggs, grass and picket fence.  I got a lot of new "spring" dies and supplies this week and so I'm psyched to get crafting more later today and tomorrow.

Spring Time Blessings!

Cheers!

Happy Thursday!  

A fun card today --- my oldest (Patrick) son's birthday card. His 22nd birthday was yesterday. It's still hard not being able to celebrate in person with him, but thank goodness for Facebook, FaceTime or Skype, and texting!  Had a nice conversation with him and sent him birthday wishes too.  I do sometimes still miss that little tike he was even though I am so proud of the young adult man he has become!  Ah, the angst of parenthood!  

SPIES:

STAMPS: Birdbrain Brew Digital Stamp (From The Heart Stamps);

PAPER: Brown, teal and white cardstock; DP - Happy Campers (We R Memory Keepers).

INK: Copics and Blick pens.

EXTRAS: Arrow dies (Taylored Expressions); Rub on letters for sentiment; Enamel dots; teal ribbon.

The image I used on the card is from From The Heart Digital Art Stamps.  I just love those cute Birdbrain images that Faith Skrdla creates!  They are just so adorable!  The Hubs actually helped me choose which digi to get for our son's card and he picked a good one!

This is one of my biggest coloring projects in a while and I hope I did the image justice.  

I chose the color scheme from the challenge at JUGS this week and the sketch from Repeat Impressions.  

Birthday Blessings!

Under The Weather?

Happy Tuesday!  

Time to be {PIN}spired

with another 

{PIN}spirational Challenge -- #96

This is our inspirational photo:

We have three great sponsors this week 

each providing a nice prize for one of three lucky winners!

Stamp Art Design by Kathryne

 Prize:  5 Digis

Delicious Doodles 

Prize:  4 Digis

Scrapper's Delights

Prize:  3 Digis

And here is my project using 

Bee Digi #5

From Scrapper's Delights

I brightened up my photo and did a close up so you can see the black scallop frame I used and some other detail that gets lost in photographing.  

I was actually stumped with this project not knowing really what direction I wanted to take.  I had some yellow beehive pattern paper and some with bees, but once I used the honeycomb pattern emboss folder I tossed those papers out of the mix.  Since the bee is standing under a flower, I chose a rainy/ill theme and stamped and fussy cut the clouds. I cut out the top part of the flower to fit it on top of the frame (I should have printed out a smaller image but sometimes I refuse to admit defeat).  LOL

The raindrops are pale yellow flat sequins from Pink Posh. I sparkled them a bit with some Stickles as I also did the flower middle.  Of course, sitting and blogging I thought to myself that I should have Stickled the bee's wings also.  Oh well.

SPIES:

STAMPS: Digital bee image (Scrapper's Delights).  Sentiment & clouds (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER:  Black and white cardstock; DP - part of my stash from Taylored Expressions kits.

INK: Tuxedo Black and Summer Sky (Memento). Copics for digital image.

EXTRAS: Chain  link square die (Spellbinders); Honeycomb emboss folder (Cuttlebug); Bow die (Taylored Expressions); Pale yellow sequins (Pink Posh); Stickles; black enamel dot.

Feel Better Blessings!

Warm & Fuzzy

WOW!  It's Monday already?

One good thing about Mondays ----

The Pink Elephant Challenge # 239!

Today's challenge:

Use the color PINK!

Don't forget to stop by 

The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog

and check out all the 

fantastic projects from 

Ella's Design Team!

Below is my project for some inspiration:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Digital Image and Sentiment (Doodle Pantry).

PAPER: Cotton candy cardstock.  DP - from stash.

INK: Blick pens; White Fine Sharpie.

EXTRAS: Scallop circle die (Spellbinders); basic circle die (Spellbinders); Doily die (Lifestyle Crafts); label die (for sentiment)(Reverse Confetti); spiral flower die (Taylored Expressions); pearl gem (inside flower); Paper rounder punch (Creative Memories); pink flocking powder; white sequins.

I took "use the color PINK" very literal as you can see!  LOL
I just adore this digital image from Doodle Pantry -- bunny slippers.  I used some pink flocking powder to emphasize the ears and edges of the slippers.

Actually, I am in serious need of some pink patterned paper. What I used here is just about all I have in my stash.  I've ordered some spring paper pads but they have yet to arrive in the mail (hopefully today).

Yet, the beauty of crafting is taking what you have and making something beautiful from it.  I hope I succeed most of the time.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Milk Coffee Challenge - Girly

Warm & Fuzzy Blessings!

Tweet Baby Girl

Happy Sunday!

"This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

It's Cupcake Day too!

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #249

Our sponsor is:

They have some really adorable digital stamps! 

Prize - 3 Images (Up to $4 each) This week's theme is 
BIRDS

Share your BIRD projects with us!

Stop by the 

Cupcake Inspirations Blog

to see 

what the rest of the team 

has created for 

some inspiration!

Below is my card :

SPIES:

STAMPS: Image & Sentiment (Doodle Pantry). Wood grain background (Recollections).

PAPER: White, cocoa and raspberry cardstock.  DP - Love (Recollections).

INK:  Copics on Image. Rich Cocoa (Memento).

EXTRAS: Basic circle dies (Spellbinders); Blossom die (Lifestyle Crafts); Leaf die (Taylored Expressions); pink silk rosebud flower; white brads; brown polka dot ribbon; pop dots.

The image I used from Doodle Pantry is part of "Birdie Babies".  I used the girl birdie and sentiment.  The boy birdie is equally adorable.

I wanted to use mostly pink for my card, but also chose some brown to compliment the bird nest.  I paper pieced some DP paper for the bird's headband and neck bow.  THen, topped it off with a silk rose.  It's one of those tiny silk roses you can find in the wedding aisle of Michaels.  I have leftovers from rehearsal dinner favors I did back in November for my son's wedding.  You can't see it very well, but I interlaced the smaller sentiment circle within the image's circle.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

4 Crafty Chicks - #182 Things With Wings

Challenge #236- New Things

"Tweet" Blessings!

Party Birds - TPE #238

Happy President's Day!

Enjoy if you have a day off!  Around here, schools are having a make up day after our fiasco of snow last week in the Triangle.

Whether you have a day off or not --- 

it's also 

PINK Elephant Day!

A new challenge starts today 

at 

The Pink Elephant Challenge #238!

Today we have a Sketch for you to try!

Thanks to Lori Boyd, 

Co-Owner/Co-Founder of The Pink ELephant Challenge 

and owner of Lori Boyd Designs Digi Shop

for designing this wonderful sketch!  

Here is my inspiration card:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Party Birds, Candles and Sentiment (Taylored Expressions); 

PAPER: White cardstock base; Orange-red cardstock; DP - Hip Hip Hooray (We R Memory Keepers).

INK: Copics on image; Teal Zeal, Love Letter, Bamboo Leaves, Tuxedo Black (Memento).

EXTRAS: Polaroid die (Taylored Expressions); Streamer die (Taylored Expressions); Red button; Yellow, Teal and Red ribbon; Twine; Diamond Stickles (on candle flames and balloon); White enamel dots.

So stop by The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog and see what the other DT gals have made for some inspiration for you.

Leave them some blog luv and then share your take on this week's sketch with us by linking up!  We'd love to see what you create!

"Sketchy" Blessings!

Adorable Friends

Happy Sunday!  

"This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

Today also

brings another challenge at 

Cupcake Inspirations - Challenge #248!

This week is a color theme:

Petal  Poppy  Pool

Inspirational photo from by Hello Naomi

Our sponsor this week is

The Paper Nest

PRIZE:  $25 Gift Certificate 

Thanks 

to The Paper Nest 

for an

awesomely generous prize!

So, let the inspirational photo and colors inspire you,

  

and then share your project over at the

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog. 

Don't forget to check out the other DT projects too! 

I have two cards to share for inspiration --- 2 because I realized earlier Saturday that I completely spaced on using our colors on my first card.

     

FIRST CARD (wrong colors)

SPIES:

STAMPS: Digital Image (The Paper Nest); Hearts - (Reverese Confetti); Sentiment (Raisin Boat).

PAPER: White cardstock.

INK: Teal Zeal and Rose Bud (Memento); Copics.

EXTRAS: Plastic heart sticker; teal elastic cord; white pearls.

For Following Challenges:

Stampin Royalty Challenge #214

4 Crafty Chicks- Challenge #181

 2nd Card -- (Right colors)

SPIES:

STAMPS: Digital Image (The Paper Nest); Flowers (Inkadinkadoo); Sentiment (Paper Smooches).

PAPER: White cardbase; Wax Lips, Light blue.  DP - Valentine (Recollections).

INK: Copics on image and flowers; Senitment - Love Letter (Memento).

EXTRAS: Scallop label border (Spellbinders); Pink baker's twine; pink and red enamel dots.

For Following Challenges:

Whew!  Sorry for the long post but wanted to share both the wrong and the right inspiration card!

Colorful Sunday Blessings!