Sparkle & Shine, It's Birthday Time

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Second Flap

Inside

Let me introduce you to Pogo Joe the Snowman.  He lives over at Sassy Cheryl's Digi Store with Snowy, Max, Maddie and all the other neighborhood kids.  I needed a birthday card for someone special and the pogo stick will make this card quite personal.  I don't want to go into the whole story since I haven't mailed this card out yet and don't want to spoil the surprise for the recipient

Before printing the card I turned the image in 3 positions.  Straight up, falling over to the right and falling down.  I know I have a sick sense of humor, but so does the recipient.  I designed the card to have a left flap  which shows the upright snowman.  When you open the left flap you see the snowman beginning to fall on the right flap,.  When the right flap is opened the snowman has fallen in the snow.

I colored with Copics and sponged the sky with a light blue and violet inks.  The snow was made by gluing Diamond Dust onto the paper.  DD is sparkly and beautiful to look at, but it is sharp to the touch.  You wouldn't want to use this on a children's card.   I think I will pad it before I put it in the envelope for mailing. This card is for male so I left off my ribbons and embellishments.  I couldn't help but put 4 little rhinestones in each corner.  Guys like a bit of bling too don't they?  The top of the card is folded down and border punched with EK Success Bubble punch.  The sentiment is cut with an Elizabeth Crafts Die.

The card was quick and simple but it does look very sparkly and should bring a smile to that certain someone.   So let's see what Sparkle and Shine you can add to a Sassy Cheryl Stamp or Digi and post in our Sparkle and Shine Challenge.  Winner gets 2 digis from Cheryl's store.  Need more inspiration?  Click here to see the beauties my DT has come up with this week.

Y'all have a  Happy New Year.  We are staying home and watching the ball drop on TV.  Way beyond the party scene, but we will have a drink and a smooch at midnight.  How about you, what are you going to do tonight to celebrate?

Just received a News Flash from the Boss Lady herself.  Cheryl is having a New Years sale. When you spend $15.00 or more, you will receive 50% off of the entire order!  Now is that a way to ring in the New Year or what.  Don't wait to shop, this offer is only good until midnight January 1, 2014.   EST

Flowers for You

Oh my look at Old Calvin.  He has some flowers for someone.  Wonder who his sweetie is?  He is so debonair.  He can bring you some flowers if you click here.  He will pop right over from the Make It Crafty store to your house.  Check out his friends while you are there.  You will also find the most amazing backgrounds to fulfill your every coloring dream.

I had some free time and the need to color now that the Christmas to do list is finished.  I belong to the Make It Crafty FB group and their sister blog, Make It Colorful.   I like this group because it challenges you to expand your coloring skills. The gals there give you constructive criticism (if you ask) and help you to master coloring.  I decided to combine both group's challenges with my card.  FB challenge for December is a sketch and Make It Colorful wants to see red and green.    

Their are two levels to the Make It Colorful Challenge -easy and hard.  This month hard challenge is to add texture.  I drew a pattern in his tie and pants for texture.  I also used my blender pen to add texture to his slippers.  

Make It Crafty FB Group is having a DT call too.  The call ends December 31, but if you hustle you can still enter.

Card Recipe

Coloring Medium - Copics

Paper - Cryogen White Iridescent; The Paper Studio's Bella Bohemia Collection.

Flowers, ribbon and pearls from my stash

Leaves - Spellbiners Dies

The Holy Family Leaves Bethlehem

Open View

Closed View

Whew look at me 3 posts this week.  I am so excited to be sharing some of the cards I have been making lately.  I am teaching classes at my LSS and haven't posted any of the cards.  Since my classes are finished for the year I am taking some time seeing what is going on in bloggy land.  I found that this card will meet the Challenge at Mo's which is to post your  "Favorite Mo's Card I Made This Year".  I am going to join in the fun at Mo's today.

My image is a stamp I bought at Scrapbooks By The Sea.  It is one of Mo's that Penny Black is selling.  It is called Leaving Bethlehem.  I used a Sizzix pop-up card base to cut it out.  I liked how the base allows the image to stand up and be displayed.  

The papers are from  Little Yellow Bicycle 25 Days of Christmas collection.  They have a beautiful shine and weight for this type of card.  They are so beautiful you don't need any embellishments  I used two pieces of paper for this card and used the flip side of each.  The red snowflake has a red back and the embossed strip on the front of the card shows that.  The gold print and the word paper are flip sides of the same sheet.  I also used this for the sentiment and image mats.

The dies are Spellbinders;  embossing folder from Cuttlebug;  sentiment from Penny Black's Seasons Wishes;  satin ribbon from my stash;  and coloring medium is Copic markers.

I 'm off to see what other challenges I can find for my stash of cards.  Take care of your health during this busy time of year.  Did you know it is a proven fact that coloring is a tremendous stress reduction.  So girlfriend, get coloring and tell anyone interrupting you not to "poke the bear"!

Peace and Love Ya'll!

Deck The Halls

It has been a long time since I posted any House Mouse cards on my blog.  That doesn't mean that I haven't been making them.  In fact I taught a couple of classes featuring House Mouse Christmas stamps at Scrapbooks By The Sea.  This is one of my favorites.  I am going to enter it in the current House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge.  The challenge is to use gold or silver.  I think I spot a bit of gold on this one, don't you?

This stamp is called Deck the Halls and  I got it at Scrapbooks By The Sea.  I colored  the card with Copic markers, but I used some Prisma and Faber Castell colored pencils to highlight the branches.  The paper is from Graphic 45 12 Days of Christmas collection.  Don't you just love this plaid.  I swear I think my Mom sewed a dress for me using this same print when I was a little girl.  LOL.

The die is a Spellbinder Nestabilities.  The gold edges are stickers from Elizabeth Crafts.  I also used them as hangers on the inside.  The ornament punch is from Stampin Up.  The sentiment stamp is from my stash and I am sorry, but do not know the maker.  I stamped with Versamark and used Gold Detail embossing powder and heat embossed.  The inside border punch is from Martha Stewart.

There are only 5 more days until the Big Guy in the Red Suit slides down your chimney.  Are you ready?  No?  Me either, but I am almost there.  It is down to the baking.  This is the time of year when my  Big Guy gets his knuckles slapped with the spatula.  There is something about turning the mixer on that brings him out to the kitchen.  He loves to taste and I love to slap his knuckles.  LOL.  I have to freeze everything immediately or it won't last until Christmas.  Jimmy takes his job as the official taster quite seriously.

Wishing you and yours a very safe and blessed holiday season.

Hugs Linda

My Favorite Card for My Favorite Time of the Year

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Well here it is, our last Sassy Cheryl Challenge before the big guy in the red suit slides down our chimneys.  Our challenge this week is to show your favorite card from 2013.  I chose this one because I got to combine a whole bunch of goodies in one card.  I think everything on here is my favorite.  I love the "Hang Ten" Max and Maddie and the fun little twirly bob I popped them on with.

I love that window die from Joy Crafts and how the warmth of the room shows through with the yellow card stock.  How about that plaid wall paper?  This paper pad is my favorite this Christmas.  I love the non-traditional colors and I am a very traditional person.  LOL.

The Christmas Tree die by Elizabeth Crafts is the best I have found.  It comes in pieces so you can make the tree any size you want.  I have used this one a BUNCH this year!

Nothing makes better snow that Polar White Flower Soft and I boy did it snow on this card.  Maybe it should have been a warning to me of the wicked winter weather we were going to have this year. The Frantage is new to me and I have been Frantaging everything that will hold still enough for me to hit it with the heat gun.

All in all I had fun making this one and so I chose to repost it for our Challenge.  Now that you have seen mine, be sure to pop over and see what the other Sassettes have chosen for their favorite.  I tell you, we have been having fun this past week seeing what each of us chose as our favorites.  I am looking forward to seeing your favorite card too.  Be sure to post it here for a chance to win Sassy Cheryl's darling images.

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  I pray that you  all have a safe and happy holiday.  No matter which one you celebrate, make it a special one.  Sending lots of love and hugs your way!
.  

Recipe:

Kraft paper  and DP from Bazzill

Christmas Tree die and glitter - Elizabeth Crafts

Snow - Polar White Flower Soft and white Frantage

Window Die- Joy Crafts - Home Sweet Home

Snowflake Border Punch- Martha Stewart

Bakers Twin for the pom poms on Max and Maddie's hats.

Corner Round punch - Creative Memories

Sentiment - Penny Black

The toboggan is mounted on a Wobble.

Gift Bag Time

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge this week is "Ribbons and Bows".  I needed a bag for a gift I was taking to a party of very crafty women so I decided to get crafty and make my bag.  I chose "Star Light Star Bright Snowman" from the Sassy Cheryl Store to be the center of attention.  Here's a link for you to get him for yourself.  Doesn't he look jolly?  We had our exchange tonight and the recipient loved my bag.  She was going to regift it , so Star Light Star Bright will be travelling a little bit farther now.

I saw this DP on Cathy's card last week and so I went digging through my stash until I found mine.  I used the tree paper on the front and back.  The sides are a coordinating paper.  The gift inside was a bit heavy, so I reinforced the bottom with card stock and the sides with a twill ribbon in off-white with red and green stripes going though it.  I used my Martha Stewart Snowflake Border punch, ribbon from my stash and a paper doily.  The die folder is from Sizzix the gold button is from my stash.

I had fun coloring.  I am simply amazed at how relaxed I get when I color.  The creation of the bag was more of a stress because I had to plan and think what I would put where.  When I got past all of that I was home free.  If you need a stress reducer,  hop on over to the Sassy Cheryl store and grab you a digi, pull out some ribbon and get to coloring.  Need so inspiration?  Click here and you will be taken to the Sassy Cheryl Challenge Blog page.  My DT mates have cooked up some beauties for you.  Hope to see you enter the challenge this week..

Happy Crafting and Hugs!

Did you know there is only 15 days til Christmas?

From Our Family to Yours

Close up of background stamp

Well the Sassy Gals over at Sassy Cheryl's are back again after a two week break and do we have some pretties to show you.  It is Anything Goes so you can just get down and get creative.  Just grab yourself a Cheryl Alger image and start coloring.

This week I am using Snowmen In  Love and you can get it at the Sassy Cheryl store by clicking right here.   I didn't glitter them up because I wanted to pop against the sparkly background paper I created.  I used a background stamp from Impression Obsession.  I stamped with Versa Mark and then sprinkled some Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heat embossed it.  I loved the background so I kept the rest of the card simple.  The sentiments are Penny Black stamps that I stamped in black ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The ribbon and gems are from my stash. The gold borders are from Elizabeth Crafts.  I just noticed that my ribbon pulled down the top border sticker, but in real life it is on there nice and straight.  So sorry for the crooked picture.  I glued a bit of Polar Ice Flower Soft at the base of the snowmen to anchor them.

I am not used to making such plain cards, and I keep looking at the picture trying to decide what else to do.  When I look at the card IRL, it doesn't look like it needs anything.  I guess it just looses something in my photography skills.

One more Christmas card down and a few more to go.  I made my DD 36 cards this past week.  She and her family came up and did some yard work for us a couple of weeks ago.  DH and I are not able to climb up and clean gutters or prune tall trees anymore so I thought making her Christmas cards would be a good trade off.  I will see about posting them on my blog after she has mailed them out. 

Hope all of my friends in the US had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  We went up to Virginia to my brother's house and I taught my SIL how to make cards.  She is now addicted to Copics.  Sorry brother, there goes your budget.  LOL  We found out Suzanne J. Dean of Scrap Bitz lives close to them so Debbie is hoping to be able to take some classes from Suzanne. 

Well enough babbling.  You need to pop on over the the Sassy Cheryl blog and see all the goodies the rest of the design team has made this week.  Hope we will inspire you to grab a Sassy Cheryl digi or stamp and create something with ribbon and enter our challenge.  You know the winner does get 2 digis from my favorite store.

TTFN and Happy Crafting,

Linda

Did you know there are on 22 days until Christmas.   Muwah!

Snow Grans

I am so in the crafty mood lately.  I saw a tutorial on Suzanne Dean's website  http://www.tinybitzofme.blogspot.com/2013/11/meet-my-snow-people.html  and just had to make some myself.

These little guys are made out of the old socks.  I used my husband's crew socks from my missing sock basket.  The bodies are made out of the leg portion of the sock and the hats are made out of the toe.

I made all of these in one hour and they only cost me $2.00.  That was for 2 bags of rice at the Dollar Store. My Christmas crafting has turned me in to a Dollar Store junkie.  It is so much fun just to walk up and down the aisles and look for things I can repurpose for the holidays.  You have to take your time and use your imagination, but knowing  everything is a dollar brings out the adventure in you.

I already gave these to my 5 grans.  The girls all loved them and made the appropriate "Awwwww she's so cute".  The boys (ages 19 & 12) looked at them and laughed.  They never know what their Nana will come up with.  I knew they would react like that, but I also knew that they would be mad if I didn't make them one.  Something about being Nana's favorite.  LOL

I'm entering this in Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday Challenge.  That's a place for nosy people to see what other nosy people have going on in their lives.  Pop on over and check it out.  Maybe you will even do a post so I can see inside your world.

Happy Crafting,

Linda

Snowman Hugs

We are challenging you to create a winter card over at Sassy Cheryl's this week.  My design team contribution features "Snow Much Love".  It is one of Cheryl's newer images and you can get it here. I sparkled, doodled and inked  and this is what came out of all that fussing.  Isn't this a sweet image.  Nothing better than sending out  hugs and love to your friends and family at Christmas.

 I love snowmen and I had originally colored  6 snowmen digis for this week's card.  I was planning on using a card fold cut from a Sizzix die.  I made two bases, but by the time I added my digis and their embellishments, It wouldn't fold right.  I believe I should have used thicker cards stock for the base.   I have made the card before, but this time it just refused to fold clean and neatly.  I played with it so much that the cardstock just looked messy.

So, after a tiny little melt-down (no tears, just balled up paper tossed firmly into the trash can) I decided to make a card with one of the digi's.  Istill have 5 colored up, so I will  turn them into 5 more Christmas cards. I am still a few bunch short.  We are having a Christmas Crop at Scrapbooks By the Sea Saturday.  We are bringing things to work on our Christmas cards, eat Christmas cookies and listen to Christmas music.  Sounds like fun, come to the beach and join us.  It will be a fun way to finish up your card list.

Download one of Cheryl's winter digis, color it up and enter it in the challenge for this week.  The prize is two more digis of your choice.  AND.....if you don't have time to color, get one of her colored images and you really will be quick in making your Christmas cards.  Stumped for ideas check out what my design team sistahs have made to inspire you this week.  Those gals have real talent and you can "case" away for free! Now hurry up click here, there is only 36 more days until the Big Man comes!

Card Recipe:

Digi - Sassy Cheryl's Snow Much Love
Paper - Bazzil
Sentiment -Impression Obsession
Punches-Holly punch - Martha Stewart; mitten punch Emagination; Snowflake punch is Ionic
Berries - Nail heads
Ribbon and Bakers Twine are from my stash
Stickles - Crystal Glitter
"Joys" medal embellishment is Bo Bunny

Challenges I will enter this card into:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Let It Snow

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Hello Blogging Friends.  Is it cold enough for you?  It is cold here too.I live at the beach in South Carolina and temperatures are supposed to drop below freezing tonight.  YUK!  We get some cold weather in winter, but our average temperature here is in the 50's so you know I am all bundled up with socks and long sleeves today.  So anyhow, I just love this snowy card.  I wish I could see snow like this for Christmas.  Then it could melt and turn to springtime.  LOL

Sassy Cheryl's weekly challenge this week is our favorite holiday color.  Is snow a color?  Well it is for this challenge.  Pristine white (don't eat the yellow snow) and sparkly.  So my favorite color is white for snow.  

I am using Hang Ten from none other than the oh-so-talented artist Cheryl of Sassy Cheryl fame.  If you would like to invite this little goody into your home, click here and you will be taken to the Sassy Cheryl Digi Shop.  There are all kinds of goodies on this card, so I will just list the recipe at the end of the post.  

I hope you enjoyed seeing my take on this weeks challenge and appreciate your visit and comments.  Please take a minute and pop over to see what the rest of the design team has come up with to inspire you this week.  Now I know you are all working on holiday gifts, cards and tags so do yourself a favor and check them out.  You just might get the inspiration you need for a card you are stumped on.  If you like Snowmen, check out Cheryl's collection.  She absolutely draws precious snow people.  Did you know some of her snowmen were used by places like Hobby Lobby.  They appeared on dishes and  Christmas decorations.  Yep our gal is really talented.

Now get busy and make up a Sassy Cheryl image into a card or tag or something with your favorite holiday colors.  Then post it in our challenge and you may just be the lucky winner of two Sassy Cheryl digis. Go on, don't be afraid.  Winners are drawn randomly and so beginners through experienced crafters all have the same chance to win.  No excuses.

Happy Crafting,

Linda

Recipe:

Kraft paper  and DP from Bazzill

Christmas Tree die and glitter - Elizabeth Crafts

Snow - Polar White Flower Soft and white Frantage

Window Die- Joy Crafts - Home Sweet Home

Snowflake Border Punch- Martha Stewart

Bakers Twin for the pom poms on Max and Maddie's hats.

Corner Round punch - Creative Memories

Sentiment - Penny Black

The toboggan is mounted on a Wobble.

Challenges I plan on entering are:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

My Dollar Store Find

Front View

Back View

I was visiting my blogging friend Nancy Williams (http://whatsonmykitchencounter.blogspot.com/) and found this beautiful Christmas Ornament she had created.  She had picked up the items at the Dollar Tree and turned them into a Christmas Decoration beautiful enough to be seen in a  decorator magazine home.  Here is my take on her creation.  It is a bit skimpier than hers, but I wanted mine to be low.  It will sit on my coffee table and, God forbid it should block someone's view of the television while they are stretched out on the sofa.  Ha Ha

Here's the link to Nancy's beautiful creation.  Isn't it stunning.  I just love the addition of her box.  It makes the centerpiece look so full.  Thank you Nancy for your inspiration.  Hope you don't mind my "borrowing your idea".

Oh, BTW the entire cost of this was $7.00 including the flowers.

Entering this in Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday challenge.

Catch a Falling Star

Front View Open

Back View of the card

Front View Closed

Good Tuesday morning to you all.  Just popped in to post my Sassy Cheryl DT card for this week. Our challenge this week is "Anything Goes".  That certainly opens up the realm of possibilities for us.  Since I am such a unpredictable crafter, I thought I would surprise you with a "card".  Now that is creativity for you.  LOL.

Let me introduce you to Sally in "Catch A Falling Star".  She is one of the new images in the Sassy Cheryl store and when I saw her, I immediately knew she was coming home with me.  So sorry about the sparkly glare on Sally's wings.  I covered them with Star Dust Stickles and no matter what I did, my camera picked up that glare.

 I originally planned on doing her up in a pink girly-girly card, but my LSS,  Scrapbooks By The Sea got these new Sizzix dies in and I couldn't resist the challenge.  They make this fun fold card and I just had to see a finished product using them. I originally envisioned Sally in  snowflakes and Frantage and maybe a bit of lace, but these papers were on my desk when I started playing with the new dies. I liked the look, so I decided to color Sally up to match.  Who knows you may see her all frilly and pink later on this season. She is so cute.

There is no excuse for you not to play this week. Anything Goes gives you so many choices.  So put on your creative genius hat and get to work.  Remember you must use a Sassy Cheryl image.  You can purchase it anywhere.  My talented design team sistahs have created some real cuties for you this week.  So pop on over to our challenge blog and check them out.  There are links to all the DT's personal blogs, so while you are there, pop over to their blogs to leave them some love.  You know how needy we crafters are.

Have a great week ya'll and Happy Crafting.

Linda

I will be entering this in the following challenges:

Make It Monday, Anything Goes

Crafting Day With The Girls

Jeni, Flipflop Creations, Kim, Oak Pond Creations, Jan and I got together over at Oak Pond Saturday for one of our crafting days.  Kim shared a You-Tube tutorial she found with us.  It was really cool too because she has this big ole TV hanging from her wall and she showed the video right on the TV.  No small screen for us!  Here is a link to Kim's Blog Post and the tutorial link is there too.

There is no coloring in this card,  :(   It is made with beautiful Graphic 45 12 Days of Christmas collection. The ends slide in to close and the trick is the slider is made with a piece of plastic.  We used a Walmart bag and cut out strips from it!

I stamped with a couple of Penny Black sentiment stamps and added some Elizabeth Craft border stickers. The ribbon and paper is from Scrapbooks By The Sea and the tab punch was one of Kim's and I don't know the manufacturer. 

I am entering this in Sassy Cheryl's SMT Blog.  I haven't posted there in eons and I miss it.  There are usually some interesting posts going on there.  It is a place where you post what ever you have going on in your world.  Doesn't have to be a Sassy Cheryl image or card.  It can be anything and believe me they post anything there too.  Why don't you pop over for a look-see.

Happy Crafting,  Linda

Happy Thanksgiving

Well here we go, it is Tuesday again and time for a whole new Sassy Cheryl Challenge.  This week we are Giving Thanks.  It can be Thanksgiving, a Thank-You card, or just something you are thankful for. For example, I could have made a cup of coffee because I am most thankful for my morning cup of coffee.   My family is also thankful when I get my cup of coffee too.  Tee Hee Hee.

This week, I tapped into my creative resources and combined a Sassy Cheryl Digi, "Maddie and Her Prized Pumpkin" with a background stamp.  My friend, Barbara Warf had this gorgeous new rubber background stamp from Heartfelt Creations and she let me borrow it.  The stamp is called  Autumn Scene and you can get it here.The minute I saw it, I thought of Maddie standing in the forefront holding her pumpkin.  Won't this pumpkin make the best jack-o-lantern?  I wonder if Maddie will carve a happy face or a goulish face.  Whatever she carves, I know it will be perfect.

I colored Maddie and the background with Copics.  I did use chalk on the sky.  I like the softer effect of chalk since I have so many strong colors in the landscape and digi.  Maddie's hat and shoes are paper pieced with a piece of fall paper from my stash.  I just now noticed that the flower on her hat  has come off . Darn I hate when that happens..  I fussy cut Maddie and popped her up on some foam tape to give dimension.  The DP paper is Autumn Song Harvest by Bo Bunny and the brown card stock is from my stash.  I finished it off with a bright yellow ribbon and Thanksgiving trinket from Bo Bunny. I rounded the corners with my favorite Creative Memories Corner Punch.

I followed the sketch from Sketch Saturday, so I will enter it in that challenge too.  I did flip mine around a bit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                               
What are you thankful for?.Whatever if is, I bet Cheryl has an image in her store that will be perfect for your card.  So now it is time for you to pop over to the Sassy Cheryl Challenge Blog and check out what my Sassy Sistahs have created this week.  Then pop right into the store and pick up an absolutely precious little digi and create, create, create!  Hope to see you play along this week because I would love for  YOU to be the winner of 2 fabulous Sassy Cheryl digis.

Happy Halloween to all of my crafty friends.  Watch out for those ghosties and gouhlies.   I hear they  have a sweet tooth for Halloween candy.

I would also like to enter this in the Make It Monday Challenge.  It is always Anything Goes and I have seen some amazing creations on their Challenge Blog in the past.

                                                 

Get Your Spook On

Now if you read my previous post, you will know I have this teeny tiny lust affair going on for Damion Salvatore from Vampire Diaries.  I decided to color up Noah dressed up as Count Dracula and pretend he is really my oh so handsome Damion Salvatore as a young Vampire.  He spray painted his hair purple to trick all the children out there.  You see, Halloween is the only holiday a poor vampire can come out and play with all the other children.  They seem to be scared of them the rest of the year. A boy has to do what a boy has to do for a little fun and chocolate!

Kecia is our hostess at Sassy Cheryl's this week and she has challenged us to get our spook on.  Noah is available as "Count Dracula" is the Sassy Cheryl Digi store here.  A few months ago I took a Art Journal class with Cheryl Mezetti from Splash of Color.  We learned different techniques when creating with stencils.  I pulled out my tree stencil I have had for a couple of years and taped it to some purple card stock.  I then brushed some modeling paste over it.  I didn't have silver, so I mixed pearl with a couple of drops of silver distress ink.  I pop-dotted a fussy-cut Noah on top of the tree and made it into a easel card.  All three sentiments were cut from other pieces of scrap paper.  The fog effect was made with some cheesecloth for a spooky graveyard effect.  The black gate is a die from Spellbinders. the bit of shine on the BOO and the black crow are from Glossy Accents and Red Stickles lines his cape.

Now you have to pop over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and see what my talented Sassy sistahs have created this week.  Don't be afraid, all the spookies are cute as a button!

I plan on entering this card in:

Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes

Love At First Bite, My Tribute to Damon Salvatore

Oh My Gosh, when I saw this image on my friend Angie's Blog, I knew I had to have it.  You see this old lady has a passion for that cute little sexy vampire, Damon Salvatore.  Damon is on a TV show, The Vampire Diaries and I never, I mean NEVER miss that show.  (It is recorded every week).  The image is from another of the artists that I love, Christy Croll at Tiddly Winks. called Vamp Me.  Don't you just love that play on words?
                                                 
                                                     

Damon Salvatore
aka
Ian Somerhalder

                                                                                                                     
                                                               
The wreath is a Penny Black Stamp called Holiday Delight.  Rayann Culp asked me to make sample card for her store "Scrapbooks By The Sea" with this stamp.  I liked it so much I am using the stamp for a Christmas card class I am teaching.  But my mind wandered while coloring my little Vamp Me and I started thinking they would look cute inside the wreath done up in blacks and grays.

Tiddly Inks is having a challenge this week called "Creepy Cute".  I think this one fits that description perfectly.  However, there is nothing creepy about Damon Salvatore, I promise you.  I also followed the sketch for Sketch Saturday this week and will enter my card there as well.
                                            
Sketch Saturday is also having a big celebration this week.  They have reached  2000 followers and they are celebrating by giving way prizes to us.  Check it out here.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks so much for taking the time to stop in for a visit.

Hugs,

Linda

Make It Crafty Eyes Challenge 2

I have always wanted to learn to color green eyes.  I have made 6 attempts with this beautiful "Phoebe" from Make It Colorful.  They are having an eyes challenge so I thought I would get some practice and try to enter. In fact they are actually having 2 levels:  Hard and Easy.  I am entering this in the easy challenge ha ha.

I have colored Phoebe 6 times or more.  I have not mastered green eyes like I want and I will keep on trying.  Each time I got the eyes where I wanted them, I would mess up on another part of the face or hair.  Several attempts were ruined by trying to hi-light the eyes or lips.  I definitely need more practice.  I started over so many times I had to refill my E0000 Copic marker.  LOL.  This is one challenge that I will not allow to get the best of me.  I plan to conquer!!!!

So anyway here it is.  I am entering this one in the Easy Challenge here.  It has been fun trying I must admit.  

Starry Starry Night

Admiring The Star

Well judging from the comments from all of you bloggers, the Sassy Cheryl Hop was a success last week.  The design team really felt the excitement and have been churning up some ideas to spark your interest in the coming months.  We loved reading all of your fabulous comments and we just may have to "Hop" again with you.  Winners don't you love all the prizes?  Stick around, you never know what we sneaky sassettes might come up with next for you.  

This little cutie is called "Admiring the Star" and it is one of the new Snowmen Cheryl has been drawing lately.  Do you think he can get his little head back any farther.  It makes me dizzy just thinking of looking up like that.  The Sassy Cheryl Challenge this week  is to use Dies or Punches on your card.  I used a Marvy large and medium scalloped circle punches.  The snowflakes are made with Ionic and  Reflections Snowflake

 punches.

I bought a new toy this week.  I  picked up a Copic Airbrush system.  I didn't purchase the compressor.  For what I will be doing I think the air cans will suffice.  If I start using this in my classes then I think it will be more economical to purchase the compressor.  This is my very first try and I have to tell you, it was easy peasy.  Not a lot of over spray and you actually use less ink than if you tried to color the background.  

To make this I printed my image twice, cutting one out.  I used it for the mask and then airbrushed the background.   I also used London fog Memento Ink to lightly stamp some trees for shadowing effects.  The tree stamp is a Stampin Up stamp.  I believe the inside sentiment is from Stampin Up also.  It was left over from some Christmas cards I helped my daughter make several years ago.  I think it matches perfectly don't you.  That is why we never thrown anything away.  LOL

My paper is from Graphic 45 -Christmas Emporium and Authentique Wonder collections.  The ribbon, holly leaves, red nail heads and heart pin are from my stash.  Notice the little stopper on the end of the pin?  It is an earring stopper.  Pretty cool huh?  The green snowflake brad and the Holiday Magic sentiments are both from Bo Bunny.  

I definitely need more practice with the air gun, but I was pleasantly surprised at my first attempt.  Next I want to try to use my cloud template.  I think that could be awesome.

Well that is all for this week ladies and gents.  I have been busy as a bee making cards and things for Scrapbooks By The Sea and family events.  I will try to get some time this week to  post some of them.  I have so much admiration for those of you that post daily with cards.  I just can't seem to get it together daily.

Well enough babbling from me.  You all need to pop over to Sassy Cheryl's blog and see the masterpieces my design team mates have created this week.  You are going to be glad you did. 

Happy Crafting,

Linda

We are Hopping at Sassy Cheryl's

Ho ho ho! Are you ready for the winter holidays? If not, you will be soon! That's right...it's time for
Sassy Cheryl's WINTER HOLIDAYS Digi Release &Stamp; 
BLOG HOP!!

Today's Blog Hop Order:
Judy
Dawn
Angie
Joann (Sassy Raggedy)
Ann
Jasmina
Cathy
Kecia
Jackie
Nela
Linda
Pat
If you've arrived here from  Nela's Blog featuring "Maddie's Skating"
Stamp;  then you are definitely in the right place!! Allow me to introduce . . .

"Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree" . . .

Poor Little Max, he really does have a problem doesn't he?  But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think his tree is absolutely perfect!  This is so much better than a shiny tree a decorator designed.  This one is straight from the heart.

Max was colored with Copic Markers and I sprinkled and glued  Martha Stewart Snow Glitter  

around the card.   Papers are all from my stash, the snowflakes are Ionic and Reminisce punches' and the  Penny Black sentiment is a stamp from the "From My Family To Yours" set.

So how are you enjoying the Hop and all of these precious new images?  Cheryl is offering them all at a discount right now and they even come already colored or in black and white for you to color.  What a Deal!  Act fast, the offer won't last long.  These new images stole my heart and  the beautiful creations the rest of the Design Team created have really put me in the Christmas Spirit.  You know, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"

Today's six brand new, never been seen, Sassy Cheryl "Winter" Blog Hop digi images are available HERE at Sassy Cheryl's Online Store!

* * * PRIZES * * *  

Be sure you leave comments along the way...AND on Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog HERE at the end of the hop...because several lucky blog hoppers (selected at random from the comments) will receive some fabulous Sassy Cheryl prizes!

Now . . . your next stop along the way is PAT !

Thanks so much for "hopping" by! Have fun with the rest of today's Winter Holidays Blog Hop . . . and, of course, have fun shopping at Sassy Cheryl's!! 

Fly Me to the Moon!

HELLO my darlings!  This week I finally got to play with my Graphic 45 Steam Punk paper.  I bought it for a card class I was going to teach, but when Momma passed away I cancelled  the class.  I loved the stamp Cheryl has in the Oldies But Goodies Section of her shop.  It is called Witches Spells.  It is one of three precious stamps in set and it only costs $3.00.  What a bargain.  I love that Oldie But Goodie Section.  You can get yours right here.

She is colored with Copics and cut out with Spellbinder's Scalloped Rectangles.  All of the papers and embellishments (except gauze and button) are from the Steam Punk Collection.  They have a set of punch outs and a set of stickers and I used both on this.  I just had fun coloring, punching and peeling to make this card.  One thing about Graphic 45, they more you add then better it looks.

I have been busy all week coloring up some cards for upcoming classes at the scrapbook store I will be teaching.  It appears I am back in the saddle after  a couple months off.  My Mom's house is sold and now I just have to sort through all of her things in my garage.  Some I will be sending to my family members for keepsakes and some I will be keeping.  I have a rule that for everything I bring in my house, something must go.  I want to keep so much of my Mom's memories that means I will have to sort through all of hers and my things and have a big garage sale in a couple of weeks.   (That garage sale may be stretched to a month or so, since I am kinda hooked on coloring again.)  LOL

Whatever you are doing ATM, I hope it is fun and you are enjoying life.  Be sure and fit some crafting time in your schedule this week.  The challenge at Sassy Cheryl's is "Anything Goes" so grab one of Cheryl's adorable images and craft something.  If you need some inspiration click here and you will pop over to see what my teammies have come up with this week.  Doggone they are so talented.

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
The Sassettes are having a Blog Hop next week.  Cheryl  has been soooooo busy sketching some darlings for the winter and Christmas season.  We thought it would be fun to have a Hop and a big reveal.  What's in it for you. you ask?  Well my darlings, just check back next week.....  Here's a bit of a sneak peek though.

Hugs and see you over at that Sassy place.

Go Gamecocks!

Front View

Aerial View or as Pat calls it Artsy View

Side View

The ever-so-talented Kecia is hostessing the Sassy Cheryl Challenge this week and being a school teacher (God Bless Her) she wanted to see some school images. My children are all grown and even my Grandchildren are in high school or college. The biggest thing about back to school here is football games.  Both of my children and my precious SIL graduated from the University of South Carolina so it's Garnet and Black all the way.  My granddaughter cheers for her high school so I will have to do a blue and white card, but that will be a later post.  

Cheryl gave the design team a sneak peek at this little darling before she it was finished with it.  I don't think she will ever do that again.  We wouldn't stop bugging her to finish it.  You know how artists are, you just can't rush them and we did try!  She call this Put On Your Game Face Sally.  Isn't she adorable?  Just click here if you would like to color her up in you favorite team colors.  I am going to use her on a scrapbook page too.  I am envisioning her in the lower left corner with rolling footballs up and across the page.  I think I will be making several cards with her too.  Navy and Gold for Notre Dame, Red and Gold for the Redskins, both for my football coach brother.  A most beautiful Green and Yellow for my beloved Green Bay Packers.  I think I will just print out a page or two of them and start coloring.  Then they will be ready when I need them. 

My card is a side step card and I gave you three views of it.  The black dp is from Hobby Lobby and I have had it for years.  The other embellishments were cut from a Graphic 45 paper.  Easy peasy and fun fun fun.  That's they way I like them!

What does back to school mean to you?  Grab yourself a Cheryl Alger digi or stamp and show us your ideas.  Please remember to qualify for the prize you must use a Cheryl Alger image, but it can be purchased form anywhere.  It does not have to come from Sassy Cheryl's store.  We would love to see you join us, so click here and see what the rest of the Design Team has created for you.

Have a great week and happy crafting!

Linda