Monday, August 31, 2009

The House On Spooky Lane and a CCEE Challenge

This is the card I had started last year, actually all I had done was the window and shutters.....but its finally "a card"!  I decided to particpate in the CCEE challenge again this week....we were to use a "bug" and "polka dots"...my bug of course is my spider and look closely and you can see the pumpkins are polka dots!
Does that "window" look familar?  It's the retired SU Hostess set called "Window Dressing", I just cut the shutters off to make them "spooky"...the spider  and his web are rub-ons.....the "dancing" skeleton in the window is from a stamp wheel...sorry I can't remember the companies, but these were from last year!  I added some black glitter to the spider.
Recipe:  Cardstock:  SU Only Orange, Black...DS Paper..Scrap from SU...Accessories: MS punches; Sizzix Birds and Blooms
Just another add on "thought"...wonder if I should put some "jewels" on the eyes of that owl...think I might!!

Hurry Blog Candy Ends Today

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Sunday, August 30, 2009

It's 3:AM~What Are You All doing??

It's 3:AM.....as tired as I am I can't sleep...my hubby is up...he is sick...and he NEVER gets sick, so that got me up...hope its just the flu...plus you ever just have so much going thru your mind you can't sleep?  Well, I guess I have been bitten by that "bug", as here I am...nothing to post...but I have a Halloween card on the way, I am finishing it from last year, oh yes, you heard me right, last year....it will make its "debut" soon!
I bought the new Papercrafts Holiday Cards.....WOW...it is packed full of great "stuff"....and I recognize so many of the great designers...lots of ideas and inspiration there.......well good night or should I say "good morning"?

Friday, August 28, 2009

Time For A Unity HipHop Hangover Again!

I joined the Unity Hip Hop Hangover again this Friday!  the first card is using the "dress form" from the April KOM (Kit of the Month).  when this set arrived at my doorstep, I stamped that form first thing, I just HAD to, so these have been waiting around awhile for me to do something with them.  I made a background "quilt" with my SU top note die and sewing machine.  The "buttons" are acrylic buttons and shapes from Crate Paper.  Inks used are Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, cardstock is Soft Suede and Crushed Curry, Ribbon is the new SU Crushed Curry!
Second card is using a "flourish flower" from the August KOM and the sentiment "Sweet Nothin's", DS paper is "From My Mind's Eye called "Dreamy"...perfect name!  Inks are SU Kiwi Kiss, Melon Mango, and Bashful Blue...don;t you just love how all these colors work so well together?  Ribbon is a sheer "Old Olive"...but my camera ALWAYS changes the color...dang it!!!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Shout Out To A New Challenge Blog!

Here is a shout out to a NEW challenge blog..... Hidden Potential .......hosted to you by the wonderful and talented Vicki at Stamped Smiles!!!  Go to the link above and check it out...post it on YOUR blog and be entered for some blog candy...what could be easier, and have fun at the same time??

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

CCEEC Challenge "Grandma Overboard"

While cruising thru some blogs, I ran across this challenge by CCEEC to do a "Grandma Overboard" project.  At first I thought, gee, this is a hard one, I don't have any stamps that would work, and then remembered I had this "Gladys with Cats" stamp from "All Night Media"  and thought it would be perfect.....Gramdma is definately "overboard" with so many cats!  But wait!  I didn't stop there!  As I was getting out my Gladys stamp, there was another "All Night Media" stamp I purchased at a garage sale this summer called "Good Morning"!  Now what a better "overboard" then Grandma with TOO much caffine??  I know its hard to tell (its raining again and dark and dreary here at the cabin), but Grandma's robe is purple swirls.
I have to say, this was a different and fun challenge card to make, and I got to pull a couple of unused stamps out for their "debut"!  Comments are welcome!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge~Fall Is In The Air











I have had this card done for several days for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge , and here it is one day away from the NEXT challenge and I haven't even posted it yet....gee how time flies!
I had a very hard time getting a "good" photo~the ribbon and the green leaves are really the same color (Old Olive), but the flash sure took care of that! The challenge was to use Black, red, olive and a neutral color. I used the Cordinations Hocus Pocus paper for my background, its black with red core, ran a CB EB folder on it, and then sanded the autumn words so the red would show thru! My leaves are from a NEW set I got from Flourishes called Autumn Flourishes , I got this set with my $10 coupon I won from Flourishes a few weeks back.....I love it!! I know I kept the card pretty simple, but I like it!

The second card I did with some dollar stamps I just bought, the Mummy and the Happy Halloween are from Michael's and the Oct 31st stamp is from Joann's, not too bad for $1! I used the Sizzix Movers and Shapers die to cut my "window" for the Mummy to peek out! I added little "google eyes" to him...thats it!!

Fall Card Recipe:
Cardstock: SU Very Vanilla; Ink: SU Riding Hood Red, Old Olive; Stamps: Flourishes Autumn Flourishes; Access.: Su Old Olive Sheer Ribbon, Stickles, CB EB folder

Friday, August 21, 2009

Part One Unity HIPHOP Hangover Garden Journal











This is the first part of my Garden Journal, to see the rest, just scroll on down to the next post. I had to do it in 2 posts, as it was so large.
I made this entire Journal using almost all Unity Stamps from various KOM, except for 2 stamps, one is a SU ,and not sure of the other one. I just received my August KOM today, and managed to even use it...I LOVE them.
The front of the journal is using the sun from the July KOM...do you recognize it? I put all these little "snippets" of ribbon I had behind each sun ray! The inside has a few vintage stickers from Crafty Secrets, I put SU Crystal Effects on one, though you can't tell in the photo.
The chipboard flower base was from Michael's, in the dollar bin....I covered it with various papers and sanded it, then inked the edges with Ranger Distressed Ink, I used Tattered Rose, as I figured that fit my garden theme, see how crazy my mind works?
I used the Unity Endings and Beginnings stamp.....Endings being the end of winter (2nd page) and beginnings being my Spring garden (3rd page).......love it!

Don't forget to scroll on down to the post below to see the rest......comments are welcome!

Part Two Unity HIPHOP Hangover Garden Journal











This is part two of my Garden Journal.....I can only load 5 pictures at a time...so this is the end...what do you think?? And yes, that is a Hummingbird in my hand, I found him laying in the garage, at that time I had a red SUV, and I guess he liked it so much he knocked himself out, I picked him up, took him outside, he flew away, a few minutes later he came back and landed on my hand, my son grabbed the camera and we got this photo, I guess he was saying "thank you"!




Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Blog Candy Here...hurry ends Aug 22nd

Here is some yummy blog candy...great for those of you (like me) that like "altered art"...some Tim HOltz stamps...oh boy! Go HERE !

Monday, August 17, 2009

A Bit of Vintage Scrap


This was a good morning, the air is so clean and fresh from our downpour of rain which we needed so desperately! I think my sister and I played equal parts in bringing on the rain, me I washed windows over the weekend, she was packing to go camping today...but whatever works. Don't you just love the fresh smell of rain, reminds of me of childhood days of jumping puddles, and sometimes missing!

I have been trying to use up a bit of my "scrap" which will really never happen, but every little bit helps...right? I decided to go a little bit "vintage", a look I love. I cuttlebugged my pink background paper with the diamond eb folder and then trimmed around the outside edges of the diamonds for a different look, the little vintage piece of paper is from some I bought several years ago for a project I never did and now can't even remember what it was for...so typical of me! I used my square punch to make the little presents, the flower is what I love best, I got it from "Emma's Paperie", I think its a Maya Road...it is so velvet soft and comes with the little jewel on it....has such a vintage look to it, that I love. The CS is past SU Soft Sky , I wish soooooooo bad they would carry it year round! The sentiment is also a past SU, but the punch I used for that is our new "Modern Label", which I grab all the time! Comments are welcome, well nice ones that is :<) !!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Happy Sunday Everyone!


I don't have a project to share today....yet.....I am working on several things now...make sure you go down below this post for a couple of links to some blog candy.....anywho.....I thought I would share a couple of my "very relaxed" pets.....these two are best buddies, and its not unusual to find them nestled up together on the bed sleeping, but today I caught them on the sofa relaxing from a hot day here at "the cabin"!

Awesome Blog Candy...go here!

Here is another link to some awesome blog candy.......A $150 gift certificate to anywhre you want...wow...how hard would that be to choose, but it sure would oh so fun!!
Go HERE and read the instructions...pretty simple!

Go Here For Some Great Blog Candy!

Go to Lacey's blog and enter for some great blog candy, BUT, don't just enter, look at her lovely blog, too, she has over 100,000 visitors, I think that speaks for itself!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Flourishes Fit Royalty Challenge


Flourishes had a "fit for royalty challenge", to make a card fit for a king or queen! Now, I have to say I need photo taking 101, as I just can't seem to get great photo's, but I live in a log house, and its the worse place for picture taking inside!

For my card I choose a Cuttlebug Crown die I had, it cuts and embosses...I have lots and lots of crown stamps, and die cuts, but this one is a favorite of mine, I think it is from their Disney line!

I cut a circle with my round Spellbinders die, embossed it with a CB EB folder, added some little vintage ruffled eyelet trim around it. The sentiment used is from Unity, it says "You Simply Sparkle".....love it...wouldn't this card be perfect for a young girls birthday??

I struggled with this card all week, not only because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my "crown", but in trying to help a sick animal, I got bit on both hands and arms, bad! It was a stupid thing on my part, and as old as I am I should of known better, hope I learned this time! My right thumb got it the worse, as it almost got bit thru from one side to the other...kind of hard to hold the scissors and tie a bow....I won't elaborate, except to say, it was so stupid, and hurts like you know what! Heck, I even had a hard time using my mouse on my computer.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A Garage Sale of All Garage Sales!!!











OMG, I am sure I was in heaven today...really!!! Our local scrapbook~paper store had a store "garage sale".....the customers bring in all their unwanted items, rent a table for $10, the store gives you stickers with your name and a sku# on them, you do your own pricing, and the store sells your items for the next 3 days! In return you get a gift card to the store for all you sell, I am soooooooo going to do this next time. But even MORE fun was the shopping part.....I really didn't know what to expect, but there were Cricut machines and cartridges, Quikutz, Sizzix, SU, Close To My Heart, Creative Memories, so much stuff it was mind boggling!! The only draw back was it was all cash.........and I NEVER, hardly EVER have cash on me, so I had to scrounge all thru the house and came up with about $28, so why didn't I go to an ATM you ask?? Well, because my hubby would of killed me...LOL!!!

But I got a ton for my money, and I love the vintage look so I got lucky with lots of goodies, some (lots) were brand new, never even opened packages! I got new Sizzix dies, a pack of See-D's sentiment stamps, a Gelatins Coffee Break set...for only $2, Bind-It-All wires for $1....new never opened! Even a bag of stamps that had 3 House Mouse in it...woowho!! I wish I would of taken pictures of it...wow...I might have to go back!!!

Itsy Bitsy Spider




For some reason I was in the Halloween mood yesterday and got this "light bulb" moment to make a Halloween matchbox using my CB EB folder with the spider web on it! I had bought the new rub-ons from SU called Spooky Treats . What I love about this set, is that you get the two pages as normal, but you get several of each design, perfect if you want to throw a little get-together and have a cute little something on each plate! I added an "element of surprise" inisde the box...spiders!!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Enjoy Your Day!


Okay, here I am yet again doing another challenge, this one is from SCS. It is the Limited Supplies Challenge, and oh sooooooo easy for me, as I already had these trees done! The challenge was to use any die cut, even a punch, the only stamps you could use had to be either a sentiment or a background stamp.

I used my SU Top Note Die for my background, Round circle punch for the tree tops, and the trees were cut with my Cricut Cartridge "Stretch Your Imagination", and that is the neatest cartridge, I LOVE it! The sentiment is from Unity , added a brad, and one of very favorite ribbons...so fast, but I think it turned out nice. I have a few more of these trees to use, but I made bigger ones, the Cricut cartridge I mentioned above is so neat, it actually "stretches" your image, so fun to play with! Enjoy Your Day!!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Everyday Holds A Possibility of a Miracle


I did this little wall hanging to hang in my "creative room". My Golden Retriever "Nick" had 5 puppies several years ago. Nick passed away after a years fight to the head with a snake bite. She was such a good "momma" and I wanted to remember that with a my little hanging! I used a stamp from the June KOM from Unity "Everyday holds the possibility of a MIRACLE"...how neat is that??? I had a little dog bone clip, a few eyelets and my NEW ribbon "Soft Suede" from SU to hang it with! It won't take up much room, thats for sure!

The Grandma Test


We have been at the "Lake Huron" house since last Wednesday...home now! No new projects to post, but I do have a bit of bragging to do! My Granddaughter and her cheerleading groups won Nationals again this year. I was so lucky, as this year it was held in Michigan, 1 1/2 hours from my home, so I was able to attend........what fun that was to see her take the title yet again!
While we were at the lake house we visited the Nautical Festival in Rogers City and we were handed out these Tall Tale Tattlers...full of jokes and funny little stories. This little "story" was included, it made me laugh and I thought it might bring a smile to your face, too!

The Grandma Test:
As the little girl was walking along with her Grandma, she picked up something off the ground and started to put it into her mouth.
The grandmother took the item away from her and asked her not to do that. The grandaughter asked "why?"
Grandma replied, "Because its been on the ground; you don't know where its been, it's dirty, and probably has germs."
The little girl looked at her grandmother with total admiration and asked "Grandma, how do you know all this stuff?"
Grandma responded, "It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it , or they don't let you be a Grandma."
The granddaughter was silent for several minutes as she thought about this new information. "Oh, I get it, she beamed, and so if you don't pass the test you have to be the Grandpa."
"Exactly," Grandma replied!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Polka Dots and Ruffles


Don't you just LOVE polka dots and ruffles? Just so "girlie" I made this card using a Unity stamp from the July KOM (Kit of the Month). Unity is having a little challenge for a guest designer of the month, so this is "my baby" for that! I don't really expect to be "picked", but it sure is fun to meet the challenges. We were to use 1 stamp, 2 designer papers and 3 embellishments. For my "embellies", I choose a Melissa Frances sticker that says "Love begins in a moment, grows over time and lasts for an Eternity".....how cool is that? I don't usually use a lot of "stickers", but a Melissa Frances, how can ya go wrong with that??
My "ruffle is from Jenni Bowlin, its crate paper ribbon that I gathered. I saw this stuff on line and finally found a great selection and a great price at A Cherry On Top. The little crochet flower is from Maya Road that I ordered from Emma's Paperie, along with a few other "ahem" flowers!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Here Comes The Sun & A Flourishes Thank You!







I have to say this has been a good start to my week! I won a $10 gift certificate at Flourishes today for the Timeless Tuesday challenge from last week....exciting! Exciting because Flouishes is one of my favorite sites to visit (well, I really subscribe to their blog so as to not miss a thing), their designers do the most beautiful work, I am always in awe! A big Thank You to Fourishes for the "gift"!
My card today is for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday for this week, the challenge is to use "metal" on your project. I have a Making Memories tool to crimp these little metal tags on ribbon, so it was the perfect chance to bring it to use! My daughter-inlaw and I are "avid" gardeners, she purchased me this awesome "sun" for my garden. I am not sure if "he" is going to reside where I have him now in all my phlox, but that was the only place I could get the stake in as the ground is so hard!!! Isn't "he" the neatest thing, evah??

My card has a double duty today, as is not only for the challenge, but as a thank you card for Melissa for my great "sun"!!! I used my Fourishes set "Coffee With Friends" and made a "clean and simple" card today, as I should be cleaning out the fridge (its trash day), getting groceries, changing the kitty litter (its trash day)packaging up my Ebay, going to the PO, so it had to be a "simple" card....I still like it!

Bloom Baby Bloom!!


No card post today...I am still sick! But, I have this gorgeous Hydrangea to show you. I have 3 of these later bloomers, in about 3 weeks the white cone shaped flowers will change to a sage green and vintage pink combo. I just love them! It has been so dry here, my used to be gorgeous flower gardens are dying! No amount of watering has really helped, plus they are really too big for me to continue watering! Click on photo for a better "view"!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Lots of Punches! Color Throwdown Challenge #53




I have lots and lots of punches...so many it is almost (almost) embarrassing! For this weeks color throwdown , I decided to use a few of them for my card. Stampin'Up! 5 petal flower punch, Stampin'Up! Eyelet border punch, Martha Stewart fence punch, and my Cricut for the watering can, which is popped up for dimension. Both DS papers are "retired SU". All CS are from SU, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, and Bordering Blue. I had a much different "plan" when I started out with this card.....but here is a perfect example of me NOT "thinking outside the box"! The link to the color throwdown is HERE if you would like to participate!

A Favorite At Courtney's Closet

My owl card was chosen as a favorite for the Courtney's Closet Challenge, you can see it here and all the other cards, too. It was exciting to me, but there were lots of wonderful creations this week, so I know Libby had a hard time chosing, as they were all great! But thanks Libby for making my day! You can find her blog listed in my favorites in my blog roll at my sidebar...go visit, you won't be sorry you did!