My First Challenge

My first challenge at Meljens, no that can't be...I own three images that I won from Meljen's. better change the title of this post. there is a challenge at Meljen's right now and about to end. Decided that I wanted to enter, like I had nothing better to do...right? How hard could it be to make a book mark? Not hard at all- it's the designing, the deciding, the printing, the coloring, the cut and paste and then I had to get a needle and DMC to sew on the charms. That's after deciding on the ribbon, putting on the glitz, getting the magnets to work in sync ....another story, another time.I know how magnets work, for Pete's sake-the poles yada yada yada. Ok, I got to get this moving along.

And a close up. There is so much glitter pen on this frog that I am having a hard time getting a good photo. I am going to try again...hold on. AHHHH! Better pic... changed the angle of the card and put new batteries in the camera.

Ok, this pic is so much better! Scroll down to see the old one!!!!

Emma loves glitter, and glam and glitz and bling, but it's a bookmark!!!!! I used the glitter pen and some silver charms. Emma loves to read, she's going into second grade and can read way above her grade level. Like her Mims, I suppose, can't put the book down once it's started.

Thanks for coming by!

RX

Yada yada yada...gotta get this to Meljen's fast. Speed now link later.

 Here's a part of the old 'glarey' shot.

Oh, do you want to see the magnet part of this working book mark? Here's the inside of the book mark.

Click on pic to enlarge and then you can read it!

The New Baby

Got out my WMS stamps once again for the Embellish challenge, which is a color challenge and the theme is babies.

I actually made these flowers out of paper.  All five of them are home made. The three four stamps are from two WMS sets. Used my brand new border punch from EK success.

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: Celtic Heritage, Vintage labels 5

PAPER: BOTD

INK: Dried Marigold Distressed, Certainly Celery

TOOLS: Double Crochet Lace punch, CB for Spellbinders and Sizzix

INCIDENTALS: Ribbon

Week Five of Verve's June Challenges

The last one for June 2010! Hooray! I got them all done!! I won't bore you with all of the details but let me give you the sketch and inspiration...NOT.... You can go check it out here at SCS.

I am using these papers on a project that is due Sunday and it's sitting on my work area, in progress. The Verve Inspiration Room three is the same colors so I said, "Heck, why not!" Head back Monday morning, early, to see what else I made!!! It's not just a card anymore! 

I finally figured out why I don't like putting sentiments on some of my cards! I had one stamped and cut and there was no where to put it! I mean that I could not cover up one piece of this nice real estate to say, "You Rock".

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: Verve's  You Rock

PAPER: Choc Chip, Parisian Breeze Specialty, white

INK: Choc Chip

TOOLS: Border/corner punch, CB for Spellbinders, hand punch, star punch

INCIDENTALS: ribbon

NEWSFLASH

Scroll down for regularly scheduled posts. This "name the image challenge" will be on the top til midday Wednesday, June 30th


**********LIVE*********

 From the UK

The latest report from the blogging world!

This, just in from Jules, at Daisy Doodles

I need a name for this new release, not my best point lol.

I decided to do another 'Name me' challenge with it.

All you have to do to win it, is leave a comment below the post at the challenge blog stating the name you think it should be.

I will name the stamp after the one I like best and send the stamp to the winner, 

after announcing the new name.

As I want to get this in the store, the challenge will close on Wednesday

Looking forward to having a hard choice to make :)

There isn't a lot of time. The image needs a name!

 This is Cardology, Etc reporting on the latest news from the Daisy Doodles Creative 

Challenge Blog.

Time passes.....

I was trying for aged and shabby and yet beautiful!

I really like this card! It has elements that i like and I created my own layout this time!!!! it's distressed and inked up and sponged and looks pretty beat up...I like it. I even sewed around  the cream and brown polka dot edges to help distress them. I don't do vintage well at all, so this will be as close as I can get. The leaves were popping out the top of the bow, but someone said the card looked better with out them. Rhonda, looking at it now, you were right! They are lying on the table top there in the photo.  This image is available at Daisy's Digi Doodles. You'll find it under miscellaneous ...wheelbarrow. You can also go check out the gallery within the store to see how other DT members used their images on their projects. Just click on Gallery and it will take you to the albums of the DT. Right now the DT is in the middle of their challenge at Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge Blog called Summertime. You are welcome to join the challenge as it's open til next Sunday. If you have a recent creation that depicts Summer then head on over there and post your pic. Remember it must be a digi and you need to link your pic to your post!!

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: DD wheelbarrow

PAPER: Buckaroo Blue, DSP from the BOTD, Close to Cocoa

INK: Vintage photo, Old paper, Black Soot

INCIDENTALS: ribbon, Prismacolor pencils, OMS

 Challenges

Our Creative Corner - blues and greens

Lexi's Creations - something Old--the paper, Buckaroo Blue is retired

Practical Scrappers - Flowers - my digi flowers

Kah-wink-e-dink - Free for All

Challenge Up Your Life - vintage 
Fab 'N' Funky - Sew 'n' sew

Sunshine

Here's a card for the Verve Challenge, week four. I opted for room two this week.
The sketch and a pic of the inspiration I chose. Can you see the giraffe on the wall?

I turned the sketch on its side so I could fit this adorable giraffe, that has no name! the image is in my folder with no name. I do not recall who created this adorable image. If any one out there knows, please share that info with me so I can give the credit to the rightful owner.

The sentiment is from Verve's 'Feel the Sun', the one of two sets that I own! It says, "Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine', by Anthony J. D'Angelo.
I inked only the one side of the embossing with Old Paper using the direct to paper technique.
Now that I look at this on the computer screen it could use a brad or two or three, but at the time I was finished it just looked good without any embellishments.
For now the giraffe's name is Sunshine and until the rightful owner claims him!!!! They should make giraffes wear a collar and name tag, don't you think?

Thanks for coming by!

RX
STAMPS: digital image from ???, Verve's Feel the Sun
PAPER: Choc Chip, Green Galore, 'rusty' scrap, Confetti Cream
INK: Old Paper
TOOLS: CB for embossing

Little Bundle of Joy

I have a friend that is wanting a baby shower card for next month. She bought gifts that are all matching in pink and brown. Well, I told her that she needed a pink and brown card to go along with the gifts. Where else but in crafting land can such a request be filled?

Inside----

Ok, so don't look tooo closely at the storks on the front. I did not realize that they were in flight straight up til I was all done with the card. So I had them 'wake up and fly right' on the inside. 

The giraffe is from Daisys Digi Doodles. It's called Giraffe...duh!!!! I would've given him a name like Stretch or Long Neck, or Chooey with that mouthful of acacia leaves. Did you know that giraffes' tongues can be as long as 21 inches? A giraffe is pregnant for 15 months, maybe that's why the calves are 6 ft tall when born. A giraffe's front legs are strong enough to kill a lion.

Now that you know so much more about giraffes go get one and start creating.

There's the Summertime challenge happening right now at Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge blog!

Go get yourself a stamp, create a summertime themed project/card and enter the challenge!

Thanks for coming by!

Challenges:

Freshly Brewed - anything goes

Shelly's Images - Rule of three

Digi Doodle Shop - anything goes

Sew Many - anything goes

Cowgirl's Sunday - anything goes

RX

STAMPS: DD giraffe, SU Punches Three

PAPER: Frances Meyer, CTMH, SU

INK: Chocolate Chip, Positively Pink

TOOLS: lg Oval Punch, CB, Spellbinders Scalloped Oval, border punch

INCIDENTALS: Ribbon, Prismacolor pencils

Poodles in Blue and Pink

This was a card that I knew would be fun to make. The sketch and inspiration were provided by Verve over at SCS. I chose Room 2 for week three and isn't that room for a child just gorgeous? All the inspiration for the five challenges this month are from children's rooms. I used Confetti Cream for the background and image so you will see some natural defects in the paper.

And here's the card:

And the inside:

 I punched out a Sizzix poodle die and used it like a mask to sponge on the pink and blue, then traced it with a black pen to get the outline. There is not a die cut on the card just the image of one from the sponging. 

This is for my walking friend. Remember that she 'lost' her little Tootsie June 6th. Well, this is her second pup, Kelli. Kelli was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome earlier this year and she's on a few meds to help her with the disease process that she is going through.  I thought this would be a good card to give Kelli (and her Mom) to lift her spirits. She is beginning to start feeling better with the medication, but she really is showing signs of missing her 'sister', too!

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: None

PAPER: Black, white, pink, DP is BOTD

INK: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink

TOOLS: corner rounder, CB for the Sizzix Poodle, 1/4" hole punch for paper 'brads'

INCIDENTALS: Ribbon

challenges

the Pink Elephant - pink and black

Sing to the Lord

Sing to the Lord a New Song.

This is an image from Delightful Inspiration, also known as D2D. the birdie came with a couple of sentiments and this is one of them. Punched out a few flowers from various punches and made my own little grouping. Got the seed beads out from the closet and glued them to the center of each flower. My 'flourishy' leaves are from a border punch, can you guess which one...LOL? Everything was scraps from the BOTD except the white cs that is the card base. If you haven't been to D2D you really should go, there are free images given during the progressive challenges, you just have to play the first challenge of the month to  receive the first freebie. Go ahead, go see for yourself and see how the challenges and freebies work to your advantage.  Faith's images are so fabulous that I am hooked on them. Just another reason for me to join a 12 step program.

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: D2D image and sentiment

PAPER: So Saffron, White, musical paper 12 x 12, blue scrap

INK: Prismacolor pencils and OMS

 TOOLS: CB for spellbinders, 6 flower punches

INCIDENTALS: ribbon, beads        


Oops! forgot to mention that this is an easel card. 

The black 'pendant' is  from a Club Scrap pizza box, a few years back, and I used DMC to tie it off to the sides. It's a nice texture with writing and a musical score on it. This will be a great general occasion card for my stash.

Let's have lunch...

Just another lunch date with a caterpillar. Sometimes, I feel like a caterpillar with all the leaves that I eat...lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cilantro, parsley, etc. The leaf and piller are from Daisy Doodles. they both come in their own sets. the pillar comes with 3 other cuties and the leaf...well a set of leaves are free with the purchase of $1 or more.

this card is 5 1/2" square as I required more real estate with every element that I added. Usually my cards are the A2 size 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.
                                                                Thanks for coming by!

Challenges
Freshly Brewed - Anything goes
Kaboodle - Anything goes with a dash of purple

Summertime and .....

the living is easy..... in paradise. Sit back, have a drink, a liquid libation, and enjoy the summer!

First the papers, then the image, and then the coloring, embossing, sewing, etc. This is a brand new image from Daisy Doodles called Tropicana.
I knew that I would be having some tough DT members giving me a run for my money. Now there are 12 of us on the DT and let me tell you these crafters are spectacular. Go check out their creations on Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges, you won't want to miss the surf boards and the rest of the Summertime fun.
Don't forget that Crafter's Digital Art Center is now open and full of fun and creative ideas for the digital stampers and creators. Daisy Doodles is there and has a freebie image that you can find under Challenges there.
You should make a card using a digital image, a Daisy Doodles image and enter it into the challenge over on
the challenge blog. You could win a prize!
                                                           Thanks for coming by!


Challenges with the Summer Theme:
Stamp Something
Quirky Crafts
Scrappy Frogs

Party Time

This card I kept basically simple yet met the challenge of color and sketch for the Verve challenge on SCS.

This is June's week two and I opted for room one with all the white, lime green and hints of blue and pink. paper pieced the Verve 'Feel the Sun' flower and put the ribbon down first and the pieces over it. Hit the scraps drawers again. I am loving the fact that my scraps are getting used! the ribbon was not a scrap and I just love how it 'waves' up. Just put sticky tape on the back of the ribbon making sure that you do not pull the backing off all at once. as the ruffling progresses pull off the backing. is that clear as mud? i use my paper piercer to get the little waves and it keeps my sticky fingers out of the way. You could lay the sticky tape down on the paper and then ruffle the ribbon, but I haven't tried that way, yet.

Thanks for coming by!

Leave a little love before you go!

RX

STAMPS: Verve, Feel the Sun, CTMH Make it Count

PAPER: Bashful Blue, white, Passion Pink, pale blue frame is from DCWV, lime green is CTMH

INK: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Passion Pink

TOOLS: CB for Spellbinders, EF, Scor pal for lines on green, dimensionals for flower

Come Sail Away

Come sail away, come sail away with me! Can I tell you that I made this card on Sunday and the song is still in my head?

This is Verve's June week one, room two.  Got out the old wavy crimper, punched a bunch of 1/4" dots, thought about glossing them up and ruled against it to keep it basically simple. Here again all scraps except the card base, Not Quite Navy. the rusty colored paper was printed on the back side with a left over digital image. the sailboat is a sizzlit die. think this just might make the qualifications for a manly card, so I'm off to look for a manly challenge. Bet I don't have to go far with Father's Day on Sunday!
                                                                            Thanks for coming by!

No RX, there's enough info up there to keep ya'll satisfied.
Yes sireee, short and simple.

challenges:
Crafty Card makers - For men

Mouse Waltz

 Here's my masculine card

If you have been keeping up with me here you will see that I have been enjoying Claire's Waltzingmouse Waltzes. They are scheduled for the 17th of each month and June is no different! but if you're here for the hop you know all this, so let's cut to the chase. I have a blog that I visit and comment on on a regular basis. She has been my inspiration for simple cards. Very simple and this one shall be no exception. there is not a lot of work in a one layer card but the process to get to it is not simple. Not for me anyway. I think a great card needs 'stuff', and lots of it. So simple is extremely difficult for me. I usually fall asleep, after the whole prayer thing, after the simple card on my mind issue. It is now that the process starts evolving, these few minutes before the eyes close and the brain shuts down and my body starts to heal itself from all the stress I put on it during the day. It is now that my eye starts to see things, leaves, lines, sentiments, etc. When I wake up in the morning the thoughts are still there and I can't wait to run down to my CR and pull out my WMS sets and start creating. Well, thinking first and then more thinking and deciding on colors, papers, stamp, etc. This card came to me June 6th and I made it June 7th. Wrote the post June 9th............. all for your enjoyment..........well mine, too! Ten days early, TEN! almost unheard of in my life due to procrastination and bad timing.

Since I already talked your ear off and it is quite simple. the only things you need to know are: Big Blossoms-Chrysanthemums, Irish Blessings, Handsome Hunter, Craft White, white gel pen, black ink pad!

Are you curious as to who is my simple inspiration?


This waltz, like a hop, has no links to the before and after crafter's blog. For WMS 'hops' you can go to WMS forum, register, and then see all the creations there. Claire has a secret link to view all blogs during a waltz without really leaving the forum. it's quick and easy and no waiting for the blog you want to visit to 'load'. Here's the link for the WMS forum: Waltzingmousehouse.com

Here's where I go for simple, fun, fantastic cards, and a big laugh or awwww on most days. My inspiration!
Joan, Joan, she's my girl if she can't do it, nobody can!!!!
Well, there's Cheryl, Shelly, Rhonda, Kristen, Mary, Susan, Kathy, Claire, Lorraine, Tracey, and YOU!!!
                                                                      Thanks for coming by!

Make A Wish Mouse

It's time for the Delightful Inspiration challenge this week,  the sweetest little mouse holding a cupcake.

I colored her with prismacolor pencils, used the CB ef, Happy Birthday that came with the die 'make a wish'. some shimmer in the flames and on the cupcake with a glitter pen, paper brads to match and even created a piece of cheese. this card is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" and a wee bit too small for the largest die, so chopped off the top! Spread some glossy Accents on the 'make a wish and paper brads. 

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: D2D

PAPER: So Saffron, Cameo Coral, white, dk yellow scrap

INK: -0-

TOOLS: CB with Spellbinders and CB folder with die, hole punches 1/8" and 1/4"

INCIDENTALS: Glitter pen, Glossy accents

Women are like.....

I am loving this card, if I may say so myself. I like the colors and the layout, but most of all I like the sentiment.

          I don't like the fishing line hanging from the tea pot charm, so I cut it off after the photo shoot...LOL
The colors are for a challenge as is the knotted bow and the sketch. I have a few cards that I wanted to get done so I had to improvise and combine the challenges at the get go. the colors are from Embellish magazine, yellow, brown and coral. the sketch is from Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge. the bow is from Digi Doodle Shop challenge blog, 'Tie it up'. My flowers are home made from the paper scraps. the browns in the vertical strip are all scraps that only needed to be shortened.
                                                                   thanks for coming by!

RX
STAMPS: Afternoon Tea sentiments, Vintage labels 5 from WMS
PAPER: Cameo Coral, Cocoa, yellow, white, scraps BOTD
INK: Cameo Coral, Basic Brown
TOOLS: CB for Spellbinders, Flower trio punch, 1/4" hole punch, 1/8 " hole punch, 5 petal flower punch for the leaves
INCIDENTALS: Crushed Curry ribbon, tea pot charm, bakery twine

Tootsie

  Remember when I made that blue and yellow card for my friend with a sick dog? Here. 
Well poor little Tootsie passed on to another life on Sunday! Her fur sister, Kelli misses her so much. My friend and her family are devastated at the loss of their fine furry member of the family. I wanted to make something to go along with a challenge at H2H and a picture of Tootsie was exactly what I needed. I had surprised my friend a few years back by driving to her second home in Tennessee for her birthday. I took lots of pics that weekend and two of them just happened to be of Tootsie so I nabbed them from my external hard drive and off I went to edit her photos. Both pics were of Tootsie all by herself standing on her back legs looking out the screen door at me. Here's my little tribute to Tootsie, who blessed her family with almost nine wonderful years. She was a great little dog that loved to be held, jumped up on to any one's lap that sat in her chair, and loved to get into people food. She could open a package of chips, cookies, dog treats like no dog's business. Kelli loved it when Tootsie got into the food cuz Tootsie always shared with her sister. Tootsie always made sure when company came over to tell her Mom and Dad. She would bark and let them know that some one was here to pet HER! If she wanted a treat she would just let out a bark and the treat has handed out. Man, Kelli loved her! One bark, two treats. She will be missed. She no longer will jump up on the recliner and cuddle next to Dad and watch TV. Her Mom will miss the cookie times and loving times and taking her out times that they shared. Kelli will no longer have a playmate or someone to get her ill gotten treats, human or otherwise! We will all miss Tootsie. Goodbye, Tootsie.

I found the frame a few weeks ago at a local chain craft store. The easel back was broken and the price- 75 cents. Knew that I would/could use it for some ABAC challenge..never dreaming I would be putting Tootsie's picture in it. I adhered the paper to the front and then cut it out with a craft knife and placed the cutout over to the side to let the glue dry. When it came time to decorate the picture, there sat the cutout...perfect.

Isn't that the cutest, sweetest face ever!!!!The paper was down, the first layer of Modge Podge was drying and I called her "Mom". i needed some small pieces of info for her frame. Her collar color was pink and brown...perfect. That's Providence. She was born in July 2001 and was adopted as a pup from the SPCA.
Her name you know and her nicknames were ''Monkey Face'' and "Ewok".

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: Just Rite

PAPER: CTMH Cherry-O with matching velvet ribbon

INK: black for the JR stamps

TOOLS: CB for the Spellbinders, Sizzix dogs and bones, collar and rope toy, craft knife to cut out frame within the frame

INCIDENTALS: Old, very old paw print stickers, Modge Podge - gloss finish

Happy Anniversary

Mojo Monday and another challenge over at ResQ got matched up today. A sketch and a happy anniversary were on my mind!  ResQ, also, wanted us to add 3 of something and I have those three wee elements/embellishment right next to the image.

 Keeping it short.                                    Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: All Natural, Whimsical Words, Just Rite

PAPER: CTMH Boom-Di-Ada, Barely Banana

INK: Purely Pomegranate

TOOLS: Sewing Machine, label punch, 1/8" hole punch, 1 3/4" circle punch

INCIDENTALS: rick rack from Boom-Di-Ada

There's digis in my watering can!

Yes, I have been wanting to get some flowers into this wee can for some time. Now, I finally did it!

I took the clay 'pot' with grapevine handle and painted it with acrylics, put the ribbon on and began stuffing it with packing paper from a box I received from a secret sister, digi flowers and leaves from Daisy Doodles that I colored with Prismacolor pencils. Can't forget Mr Sun up there on top, a digi, too! The 'pot' was a little plain til I added a trio of flowers. This is definitely anything but a card and it's going to the first challenge that I can find! Don't you just love these flowers, I made them contact sheet size to be sure they were small enough for this pot. You can find these flowers at Daisy Doodles new store, Daisy's Digi Doodles. You'll find fourteen of these lovelies in a pack. There are only six shown here. The leaves....well, I'll get back to you on those. The pot was a steal at a chain store, "M"s for forty-nine cents with forty percent off...you can do the math. CHEAP!!!

Thanks for coming by!

There will be no RX cuz I don't think you need one today!

Challenges- gotta go find one!!! BRB
I Love Digi- Anything But a Card -ABAC
Stamp Something - happy something
Stamping Royalty - Picture perfect Inspiration
A spoonful of Sugar - Floral Delight
A Crafty Little Place #42 - anything but a square
Hand Full of Stamps - How cute is this

Creative Writer Award

Cheryl, one of my best SBS29 sisters , gave me this fun award.

 
I'm not sure that I am a creative writer, but I will tell you that some of the statements included in this post may or may not be true. There is no known intention to hurt or be hurt with the 'creative writing' you find here. It's about having fun at my expense even if that means at yours, too!

Here are the instructions for this award.1) Express gratitude or extreme displeasure that I have to respond to this, to the blogger that bestowed the award unto you...Cheryl , She Stamps, I awkwardly accept this magnificent award. I am sincerely questioning why you bestowed this upon me.
2) Display this picture proudly (what?) on your blog.Well, hesitantly displaying!
3) Be nice and provide a link to the person who gave it to you...Do I have to? Cheryl's blog gives me inspiration on many levels. I linked her twice already...LOL How many more times do I have to mention her name?
4) Tell 6 outrageous lies about yourself and one truth, or switch it and tell 6 truths and one lie. Be creative,  only you will have to decide in your own mind whether there is truth in each statement
5) Nominate 7 creative writers who might be into doing this. SEVEN???? U gotta be kidding me..SEVEN?.6) Post links to the 7 you nominate and let them know..............Yea, let them know how much I hate giving out big bald faced liar awards. Bet this goes over like a lead balloon!!!


Truth or lies, creative writer or bald face liar:
1.  I have been inside the White House.
2.  I already own the SU set called 'Picture This'.
3.  I loathe green peas and rutabagas.
4.  I can recite the 94th squadron's cadence song from World War II.
5.  I was one of two children born to the same couple in the same year and I'm not a twin.
6.  I shared an elevator with Diana Ross's Supremes.
7.  I won the Florida lottery and shared it with two other people.

Here are the seven fantastic luckiest people that I know that will follow through with this award.

1. Cindy
2. Tammy
3. Shelly
4. Kathy
5. Kristin
6. Mary S
7. Lorraine

Since i was awarded the creative writer award I took great care in making sure that I typed almost all of this with my tongue in my cheek. It's all about having fun and making you laugh at my expense. Please, this was fun. Please, laugh.

Thanks for coming by!

You warm my Heart

 This is one of my favorite digital images from Daisy Doodles. there are a few brand new images and you can find them in the DD store. business out of the way here's the fun part, my card using the Afternoon Tea image.

 

 For some reason, I printed out four images that were unusually large, and I went with it. My card is 5 x 7 to accommodate the size of the image. The sentiment is from a retired SU set, You Warm my Heart. I used my brand new WMS set Vintage 5 labels, Spellbinders, and a few scraps that were sitting on my craft counter.

Thanks for coming by!

 

Imagine

I don't use rub ons very often and now I know why! It took forever to rub them to get them to adhere to the paper.

And then the inside:

This is an image from Delightful Inspirations, D2D.
I'm tired and this is all you're gonna get-

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: Delightful Inspiration

PAPER: DCWV, SU Garden Green, Orchid Opulence, white

INK: just the computer

TOOLS: Boho Blossoms punch, Fiskars border punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

INCIDENTALS: Ribbon, brad, buttons, Vellum senti, Rub-ons

Challenges
Creative Belli Blog - #93 Rub-Ons
Simon Says Stamp - Recipe  1 image, 2 DP, 3 embellishments

Preschool Graduation and tutorial

Yes! Even the five year olds graduate from pre-school. I wasn't prepared either. I knew that I had to get something done, a card, and something bought, a gift for the graduate, but life just got in the way! I knew that i was not going to give her the usual cap/diploma card. she needed something girly and pink to catch her eye! Come Sunday morning, I'm like what am I gonna do for this wee one, my grand daughter? I had printed out three of the images on one piece of cs, so I began coloring. practice on one, persevere on the other and so on. I was trying to get highlights in the brown hair and it just wouldn't work for me. then her two favorite colors - pink and purple. oh, wait what about the little sister, she's three and doesn't understand why she doesn't get what her sister gets, so the practice image became the little one's card.

The gift? Well, she spends the day with me on Mondays so...her favorite thing to do with Mims is to go to Target and shop! So give her a budget, stick to it and she's the happiest little camper/princess in town. She knew what she wanted when she walked in the door this morning!
Back to Sunday, I had to give them both a little something with their cards and I had just the thing. They both love to color and I made them both coloring books with the digital images from my computer. I printed them out cut them into 4 1/4 " by 3 1/2" sheets and made covers for them. did I get pics.....no. both books were here today and life just got in the way...I forgot to take photos. well, let me tell you they were the biggest hits for both the girls. Today, Lily came by after school , she's three, and had made a pocket on her card behind the ribbon and it was holding her pencil. She thought that all up by herself, too!
they are so cute and adorable with those coloring books!

 Tutorial

Staple the pages/sheets of images together. Turn it over and smash down those staples til they are sorta flat. I added sticky tape across backs of the pages where the staples were and it's ready to adhere to the inside back cover. Cut a piece of cs 9 1/4" by 3 3/4" score at 4 1/2" turn 180 degrees and score again at 4 1/2" that will leave one quarter inch space that will be the 'spine' at the top of your coloring book. Fold on score lines and you will have the beginning of your book that opens at the top for the color sheets. Decorate for your little princess or knight in shining armor. Boys love to color, too!
Here's two pics one with the measurements, score and fold lines, the back of the color sheets with staples and sticky tape,and the one that i just now made up since I don't have the 'real' ones here. It's a great thing to put a pic of the child on his/her own coloring book when they are young and cannot read. This way they know which one is theirs.
The white piece of paper says, " Backside of images with sticky tape covering the staples."

 

You know what ? I decided that i did not want Her pic up here. the hair went up on the back of my neck and that means...don't do it! You know how you have to follow that instinct. I just brushed her face right out!!! Sorry! she's just too cute to put out there!!!! I'll get pics of their books when they come to visit on Wednesday and put them up. they are way cuter than what I have thrown together for this tuut.

Thanks for coming by!

Hope you enjoyed my little coloring book tutorial!

The image is a freebie from Michelle Perkett called, "Goldilocks" and you can find her at the brand new ning site called Crafter's Digital Art Center. head on over there and go to challenges and scroll through for all the freebies that are available. there are several featured groups (25 to be exact at present) there and many have offered free digital images.

Little fish in a deep blue sea

Here's a great card for a guy. I can't make Father's Day cards yet! Maybe next year when the hurt hurts less!

 

Recyled is one of my favorite embellishments.  This card has a net on it that is from the bag of pearl onions we ate at Christmas time. Yes, I knew that I would use that blue netting. Lily has found the two bags that I was saving and been playing with them. that child will play with anything that I have. I shouldn't ever buy her toys, she plays with them when they are new and then shirks them for my throw aways every time. she is constantly in my trash can looking for fun paper to cut and fold and paste. she now, age three, helps herself to the glue sticks, my acrylic blocks, my cards that I hoard. She can take apart a card in less than three seconds. She is my best critic if she loves it she wants it and that card has no chance. She can spot it from the doorway even when it's way up and out of her reach. She's a funny kid and will not listen when it comes to my stuff! when I say, "is that clear?" She says, "crystal." I made that flip flop card and can't find it now. I either put it up and can't remember where or she has it somewhere! Good thing I take my photos as soon as the ink is dry, the glue usually is still wet! I hate it when I have to wait for the crystal effects to dry on a brad or whatever.

OK, back to the card. boy, I sure can get off subject and lily's one of my favorite off subject subjects!

The seahorses with their tails tucked into the netting and the fish are from Daisy Doodles Beyond the Reef collection. Everything else is self explanatory especially since I took most of your time talking about Lily!
I can't say which I like best the inside or the outside. I scraped the ink pad over the Tiny Bubbles ef after I sanded it and glued down the fish.

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: BTR, SU sntiment

PAPER: Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, CTMH textured

INK: Tempting Turquoise

TOOLS: CB for the ef

Challenges
Crafty Cardmakers - least and most; favorite color blue, least is orange
Our Creative Corner - good old Summertime

SSDS challenge - hand made embellishment, the net?

WMS and a new challenge

 A new challenge for my WMS clear stamps. This very first challenge offers a sketch and a prize. WMS is offering a free template, your choice. if you win the challenge. HERE.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my interpretation:

Once I saw it up here, well, I wasn't fond of it. So redo, retake and here's another version. Just a wee bit different.

My walking buddy has a sick pup and we haven't been able to walk the rest of this week. I need her to know that I am praying for her and "Tootsie" so this was the perfect opportunity to get that accomplished.

 She is a coffee 'funatic' so I really needed to leave the tea sentiments off! Had to add the 'steam' so stamped Mustard Stazon onto a piece of plastic, the blister packaging that is so hard to get into. 

OK, which one do you like the best? She's getting the 'steamed' up one.

Thanks for coming by!

RX

STAMPS: WMS Afternoon Tea Sentiments, Vintage Circles, So Many Sayings

PAPER: BR Blue, Summer Sun, white

INK: Br Blue, Summer Sun

TOOLS: word window punch, CB for Spellbinders, Prismacolor pencils and OMS

INCIDENTALS: Maya white flower, blue net from produce bag, yellow ribbon, heart button that I cut the shank off, kaiser pearls

Challenges

Sentimental Sundays - new or neglected stash

Summer Fun

I need some birthday cards for July. the twins will be 15. Where does the time go?

Here's the first one using my new knowledge. I now can get two digital images on one. But wait, it's not really knowledge. I am not sure that I can do it again. I'm gonna wait and see if it happens again. I have a great idea with the surfboard form the same set. We'll see. I used the collage button on Picasa 3 to get both images on one. I am proud! The image and frame just didn't inspire me when I placed it right smack in the middle. what do you think of the offset?
Here's the next one, can't give them identical cards.

Torn paper and sponges gave the gorgeous scene behind the palms and hammock. The hammock came attached to the trees...lol. I am so not ready to tackle anything so complicated as digitally hooking a hammock to two trees! My first attempt at the sea, sand, and sky was so lopsided that I had to start over, and my coloring was completed. Round two, I sponged the elements and then colored. Whew, it worked and I cut out the leaves on the palms from the first one and popped them up on the final scene. Oh, my gosh I even tried a wee bit darker under the hammock for shading. Whoo hoo, just a little excited that my coloring is coming along. Don't expect miracles! there's no shade from the trees...lol.

Thanks for coming by!

RX the boat

STAMPS: Sailboat and sun with clouds from Daisy Doodles, SU It's Your Birthday

PAPER: SU and CTMH from the scrap bin (BOTD)

INK: Prismacolor pencils and OMS

TOOLS: punches, ticket, circle, sun

The Hammock

STAMPS: Hammock from DDoodles, It's your Birthday

PAPER: Brilliant Blue, Garden Green, Summer Sun, DP DCWV - Summer Stack

INK: Creamy caramel, T Turquoise, Gable Green, Soft Sky, Cool Caribbean, Brilliant Blue

TOOLS: punches, sun, circle, Cuttlebug for the Sizzix fence die.

Challenges
Simon Says - Father's Day or male card