Happy Hatchday

My buddy Kim Hecker of Oak Pond Creations drew this new little cutie named Digital Ducklings.  OK The name is accurate, but not as cute as the sweet little duckies.  LOL  It is for sale in her ETSY Shop.  You should do yourself a favor and check her out.  She is a very talented lady and I am not just saying that because she is my buddy.  

I colored these up with my Copics and had so much fun I colored three different versions.  I have all these images in my mind what to do with them, so you just might see them pop up on my blog every once in awhile.  I had another plan in my mind, but Kim suggested I try the sketch over at Mojo Monday.  I haven't played over there before and so I popped over.  My goodness there is some gorgeous cards over there. 

I struggled with getting them to fit in this beautiful sketch, but I think I made it without too many variations.  I think my toughest problem was trying to use all these pastels without making the card look washed out.  I have several friends who have an eye for color combinations. (Jeni of Flip Flop Creations for one)  I just do not.  Sometimes it just alludes me and I struggle for hours trying to get a card to look right.  I finally got this one to look suitable by putting the blue behind the pink mat.  It just needed that deep color to make it pop.  If anyone knows a tip for me PLEASE tell me.  I see so many beautiful pastel cards or pale color cards out there and I just can't seem to pull it all together.

Well enough babbling.  All my paper is from my scrap drawers so I can't tell you who they are from.  I do know I have had them for ages.  The Hey Chickie stamp is a Denami Design stamp.  I know they aren't chicks, they are ducks, but I didn't have a Hey Duckie stamp and I love this little stamp and wanted to use it, so, I call Artistic license.   The inside sentiment is from my creative little pea brain.  I must have been very tired, because I thought it was enormously funny.  Hope you get it.  

Well that is about it for tonight.  My bed is calling out to me and my puppy dog has been in here twice to tell me to come to bed so I am off to bed.  I will be hopping around your blogs tomorrow to see what creative masterpieces you have come up with.  Until then have a wonderful safe evening or day whichever it may be and Happy Crafting ya'll!  

Prom Shopping With Kaylee

My Sassy friends over at Sassy Cheryl's SMT Blog like to see what is going on in our lives.  It doesn't have to be crafty, it can be anything.  Saturday was the most important day of my week, and being a proud Grandma I thought I would share a few photos of a special day.

Here are a FEW of the photos from our marathon Prom Dress shopping trip.  These are only a few of the 10,000 dresses (lol) we tried on Saturday.  These lovely dresses are all rejects so Kaylee is allowing me to post them.  She is keeping the actual dress a secret until the prom in April so it will be a surprise to her boyfriend, Tyler. The last picture is of "THE DRESS" in the Foxy Lady bag.

The group picture is our much needed  lunch break.  My niece, Rhonda, Granddaughters, Kaylee, Ashley, Caroline and I stopped in Carolina Roadhouse for some Calamari, Chicken Strips and Salads and much needed Sweet Tea.    We had a fun girls afternoon of sharing secrets, memories and lots of laughing.

Well I am going to get this posted so I can have some crafty time before starting dinner.  My friend Kim Hecker, Oak Pond Creations, has tempted me beyond my endurance with some cute little ducks that I can't wait to color.  If you want an advance peek click here.  Better pick the digi up for yourself and we will see what we each come up with.  If you do, be sure and post and then let me know so I can check yours out too!

What's Up

It's sketch time at Sassy Cheryl's and I followed it pretty closely.  I always get fooled thinking sketch cards are easier to do, but somehow I end up spending as much time on them as I do my own designs.

This is one of Cheryl's new Noah sketches.  I like the way he is growing up.  I find I have more of a need for teenage boy cards now that my Grandson's are growing up so I was happy to see this one.  This one is called, "Come Here Often" and you can get him here in Cheryl's new shop, Sassy Cheryls' Stamps.  She couldn't very well leave the old name Sassy Cheryl's Digis because her images will soon be available in rubber and digi.  The old shop is still open with some very great Bargain prices.  Everything else is now available in her new shop.  Pop over and have a peek around.  I know you can find something in your budget.

Noah is colored with my beloved Copics with a bit of Prisma highlights.  I fussy cut him out and double oval matted in cream and a dark taupe paper.  I tried using thie white he was printed on, but it just washed out on the DP I had chosen so I tried the cream and taupe and he popped out just like I wanted him to.  My DP is Moxie and was in a paper pack I won at the pajama crop Scrapbooks By The Sea held last Friday night.  Yeah me, I WON.  I love to win, I really don't even care what the prize is, I just like to win.

Oh yeah back to my card.  I used a little Stickles on the seat cushion to make it look like the vinyl seats they used to have in the ice cream shops when I was growing up.  The gold dots are nail stickers and the gold borders are stickers from Elizabeth Crafts.  All were obtained at SBTS.  Sentiment is computer generated and a favorite saying of some crazy nieces of mine in Wisconsin.

I just noticed a spot on the taupe mat around the digi.  That must be something on my scanner glass, because it is not on my card.  If I was a true professional, I would remove this picture, take another  to show you a perfect card but.....You guess it, I am not.  Just pretend you don't see it.  LOL

Well I am off "Prom Dress" shopping with my Granddaughter tomorrow.  Kaylee is going to her Junior/Senior Prom this year and we are making a day of it.  This will be quite a family event because a simple shopping trip has turned into a family affair.  Her Daddy, Sister, 2 Cousins and me are all accompanying her.  This bunch will do anything for a cup of Starbucks and lunch out.  LOL   I'll be sure and take pictures and post the ones she allows.

Happy Crafting and Have a Marvelous Weekend Darlings.

Lovin French Country

Graphic 45's French Country Collection came in at Scrapbooks By The Sea and I had to have the entire collection.  I have been waiting for it ever since I saw the sneak previews from CHA.  I bought the 12x12 and the 8x8 pads.  This rooster page was so pretty and I didn't want to hide it in a scrapbook or cut it up for a  card, so I made an altered box.  Now it is proudly displayed in my home.

The store sells wooden and paper cigar boxes to alter.  The proceeds all go to the American Heart Association.  I found this box which was a perfect size for the 8x8 sheet.  When I cut the strips for the sides, I had to switch to the 12x12 pad because the 8x8 was too short.

The boxes are fun to make.  You cut the paper to size, glue it down with a strong fast drying adhesive (I used YES Glue) sand the edges to distress and sponge on some distress ink for effect.  I still have to pick up a clasp to add to the front and some feet to protect the papered bottom.  I think that calls for a trip to Michael's.  Oh punish me please, send me to a craft store.  LOL

Posting this over at Sassy Cheryl's SMT Blog, the meeting place for all nosy bloggers.  Come join us.

Lovin' All Ears

Two for one special going on Turtle In The Sand today!  I played with two of my favorite Sassy Cheryl Digi's this week.  They are called Noah is All Ears and Sally is All Ears.  Aren't they darling.  I have colored these babies up several times and they always bring a smile and an "Aww, I Love This".  to whoever sees them.  Goes to show you,  EVERYONE loves Mickey and Minne.

 Love and hearts are the challenge that Sassy Judy chose over at Sassy Cheryl's this week.  Good thing I went back and caught the requirement of hearts.  I had something else planned for this spot.  But a quick punch of some tiny hearts and some magic Stickles and I met the Challenge rules.   

I played with PIXL photo imaging and put a dark hue over Sally, but forgot to do it over Noah.  IRL they both are identical cards.  Isn't this paper perfect for a Mickie/Minnie fantasy?   They are from the REAL MAGIC collection from Reminisce.  I have a couple of more sheets that I can't wait to use from this collection.  Can you tell I am a Disney fan?  Oh my gosh, just move me right into Belle's castle and I would NEVER stop smiling, I promise.

I colored these two with my Prisma pencils.  I did use a couple of Copics for hi-lighters here and there.  I tend to make a mess when I use Red and Black Copics.  So after I ruined the first one I colored, I switched to my Prismas.  I used this black glitter paper from Glitter Fancy to mat my image, so I decided to repeat the glitter in Sallly's Skirt and Bow.  I enjoyed working with this paper because it is thin enough to punch and cut with ease.  The glitter  stays on the paper perfectly, so you don't end up with glitter everywhere which is a problem with some glitter papers I have used.

Enjoy and have a great Sunday.  We got a dusting of snow last night.  My granddaughters were so excited they were running up and down the stars squealing like 5 year olds.  It is still there this morning on the grass and cars, but the streets are clear.  Hmmm sounds like a photo op.  I'm off to find my camera.

Love is Still in the Air

I still have a couple of Valentines I did not post and I especially wanted to show you this one.  This was my very first attempt at using Shimmer Sheetz by Elizabeth Crafts.  I started with a plain red sheet and cut it to size.  I then embossed it with my Heart Embossing Folder.  I then distressed it by sanding it down with sand paper.  Then I took a black Stazon (must use Stazon Ink) and rubbed the entire piece.  The black ink "grabbed" the distressed portions of the card to leave this gorgeous result.

This sanding technique works bestwith embossing folders that leave "busy" or intricate designs.  The sanding will leave scratches on the Shimmer Sheets.  On this card I loved the scratches because I was going for a manly rustic result.  The card is going to a male.  To make the side border, I cut a thin strip of Shimmer  Sheetz and glued it over a black ribbon.  I then added some small black hearts, a bow, ribbon, and K& Company embellishment.   The little Love tag is a set from Stampin Up and so is the matching jewelry punch. Fun, fun, fun.  Shimmer Sheets is one of my new favorite toys.

Hope you enjoy this little design and have a wonderful weekend.  We are expecting a few snow flurries overnight tomorrow and living at the beach, we get excited at even hearing the word snow!  Tonight I am going to a Pajama Crop at my LSS.  Try to picture this, a bunch of crazy women sitting around in pajamas cutting an pasting.  Yep, call the men with the white straight jacket.  I have officially lost my mind.

TTFN

Challenges I plan to enter this card in:
Stampin' for  the Weekend - Distressing
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Anything Goes

Make Your Heart Sing

I am not sure what happened.  One minute I was looking at all the new Penny Black stamps at my LSS and the next minute I was sitting there coloring it.  You know the rule, once you ink it, you own it!  Well lucky me I am now the proud owner of this beautiful bird stamp.  Oh yeah, it had to have a set of sentiments to go with it, so I now am the proud owner of a set of Eloquent Penny Black Sentiments too.  I don't know how it happened, but I am sure glad it did.

This stamp is show in Penny Black's catalog colored very similar to the one above.  I referred to the catalog while coloring.  I wanted to give myself a challenge doing the background with my Copics.  Normally I would have sponged the background with ink pads, but I was at the store and didn't have anything except my Copics with me.  When I say challenge I really meant it.  Getting the graduating shades of color to flow smoothly took a lot of blending, but that is the beauty of Copic Markers.  I don't want to think about how much ink I used in each of my markers.  I am sure it would have been more cost effective to sponge on Distress Inks with a dauber but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

After I colored the piece, I used Pearl Stickles to highlight the flower centers.  The large flower has a pearl glued to it's center.  I then used a lighter to burn the edges of the paper leaving it naturally shaped for interest.  I planned on entering this in the "Less Is More" challenge, so I had to leave the background very plain.  I chose an off-white (looks yellow in the photo) card stock for base.  I cut the paper in half and ran it through the crimper for the background.  I positioned the top and bottom pieces in opposite directions for interest.  Finished it off with a matching satin ribbon and bow.

Below is the picture of the inside.  The sentiment is from the Penny Black set and the flower and candy dot are from my stash.  The leaf was made using "Beautiful Stems" a SU Sizzlit.  The sentiment and mat were cut with Spellbinder dies.

That's about it for this one.  I have to admit that I really enjoyed coloring this and the burning technique was a lot of fun to do.  Be careful if you try this at home.  Do it over your sink with a went paper towel or sponge so you can blot the fire out if it gets too big.  Practice your fire safety standards.  I don't want to be responsible for anyone burning their homes down.

Less Is More - Song Challenge
Make It Monday - AnythingGoes

Key To My Heart

I needed a mature non frilly card for my darling funny 19 year old grandson.  He is a wonderful young man with his head totally screwed on straight.  But he is such a silly thing and loves to joke around.  I gave him the key to my heart.  The inside verse reads:  We gave you the key to our hearts.  Now don't loose it.  He will totally get the verse and get a chuckle out of his crazy Grandma.  I certainly love that big ole boy and he totally knows it.

I am a "Washi Tape" newbie and I love it.  I found this at my LSS and it is from Time Holtz.  My card is plain and simple, but using the black, red and white color combination really added a masculine punch.  The layout is not original.  I saw this card on someone's blog and I have searched and searched for the link and cannot find it.  If any of you recognize it, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.

Hope you like my CAS card.  It is a different look for me, but I am trying out new things this year.  Who knows what I will post next, so you be sure and check back often, ha ha.

Challenges I want to enter this in:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

What's Up This Week

What is going on in my world this week?  Well let's see, I compiled my class board for the class I will be teaching on February 26, 2013 at "Scrapbooks By The Sea" (my LSS).  I will be demonstrating different ways to fold a card to add interest and variety to our cardmaking.  I had fun learning the two folds on the left.  The top right card is the Joy Fold, but I have been using that one for years.  The top left is the diamond fold and I found the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  I was one of Beate's videos and I just love to watch her Videos.  The bottom left card is an accordian fold and that was fun too.  (Another one of Beate's tutorials too.)

Still trying to do a little spring cleaning, but the initial burst of energy has gone missing.  I would spend some time looking for it, but I don't have any time to spare.  I sent my drapes out to be dry cleaned and I tell you it has been so cold in my living room without them.  You would be surprised to know how much temperature control a pair of lined draperies does.  I will be happy to pick them up, not happy to write the check to the dry cleaners though LOL.

My hubby is doing better, bless his little heart.  He did suffer greatly though.  My Mom's health is still declining.  Any spare prayers you have out there would be greatly appreciated.  Good Lord, you would not know it to see her now, but that little lady could sure wallop me when I misbehaved.  Yep, you probably guessed it, I misbehaved a lot.  I think she mentioned I was headstrong or something to that effect.  LOL.

I am also trying to finish my Valentines so I can get them in the mail.  I have all this fun making the outside card, but put the inside verses off.  Now the time has come and I am racking my brain for just the right messages.  Do any of you have that problem?

That's about it for me this week.  I am going to post this in Sassy Cheryl's SMT Challenge.  I won last week.  Whoo Hoo!  You should join us over there, you just might win too.

Have a great week and Happy Crafting.

Linda

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream

Look at my cute little Noah.  This one is called "It's the Thought That Counts" and you can get him here.  He is one of the new images from Cheryl Alger in her new shop Just Being Sally.  I love the look of her new blog.  The header is colorful and animated with built in links.

Anywho,  back to my card.  Little Noah is sharing his ice cream with that sweet little bird (a SU stamp from Life's a Picnic.  He sure looks sad about it though.  Could it be because it is chocolate and that is his favorite flavor.  He is sitting outside under a beautiful cloud (Not rain or storm clouds) filled sky. Sassy Jeni is the hostess this week at Sassy Cheryls and she wants us to Get Back to Nature.  Noah is doing just that.  He looks so peaceful, I wonder if he has room on that bench for me.

I have used my Prisma pencils on this card.  I have been using them occasionally to add texture to my Copic coloring, but  had forgotten how much fun they are for shading.  I used the Gamasol to blend and it is just like magic.  Prisma coloring is another skill Sassy Judy has that I admire so much.  She is so very talented with the Prismas.

How do you like my new cloud embossing folder.  It is from Darcie and I found it at AC Moore for less than $2.00.  Now is that a bargain or what.  I saw the folder used on Sassy Judy's card a couple of weeks ago and had to have it immediately.  You can imagine my excitement when I found it and on sale too!

Sassy Jeni is the hostess this week at Sassy Cheryls and she wants us to Get Back to Nature.  Looks like Noah is having a nice spring day sitting outside and that definitely qualifies for Nature, so I will enter it there.  Hope to see you there and ya'll have a fabulous weekend..  Whatever you will be doing, I hope you gget some crafting time.

Hugs Linda

Sassy Cheryl SMT - A Little Something New

I should be coloring.  I went shopping on Cheryl Alger's new blog "Just Being Sally"  last night and I can't wait to color these cute little guys I bought on sale (today's the last day) for  $2.00 each.  But, I was blogging while drinking my early morning  coffee and the SMT bug bit me.  So.......

I have been busy playing Clara Barton.  If you don't know who she was, she has been one of my favorite childhood heroes since  reading a biography on her.  She was a young girl who nursed the soldiers in the Civil War and was the founder of the American Red Cross.  Any how, I have been nursing my Mom who caught my upper respiratory virus and now my "dear sweet, never a bad word escapes his mouth  husband" is battling kidney stones.  (And let me tell you it is not calm in my house right now ha ha)  Bust since I don't think you want to see pictures of all that, I'll share my work space again.

OK what do we see?  At the upper left is a book project I am working on that I will share when it is complete.  Hanging from my lamp is a Copic Color Guide that my generous  friend, Shirley made and sent to me. It is next to the Copic case she also made and sent to me.  Didn't I tell you she was generous?  Unbelievably so.  The stack of blank CD's and sleeves are there from yesterday.  My niece in Wisconsin sent me photos of my BIL Larry, who passed away in January and a compilation of his favorite music.  I made copies of them for the family who live here in South Carolina.  My favorite Turvis Tumbler without it's lid (very dangerous, but I was not crafting when drinking, only burning CDs)  There's my earbuds.  I use them to listen to Pandora while crafting.  I see I forgot to hide the cane.  It is my DH, but I admit to using it occasionally when these ole' knees won't let me stand up out after a marathon session at my desk.  On the other side is my prized Sassy Cheryl original that I won.  She is an inspiration for us all I am sure.  Oh see that little diamond fold card laying next to the Valentines. I was using it as a prototype to learn how to make the diamond fold card.  I could not believe it when I flipped it over and the image was perfectly centered.  I did not try to make that happen, it just happened.  (OK, it's the little things that amaze me)

I wanted to show you a close up of these beautiful frilly Valentines.  I made them at a class at my LSS, Scrapbooks by the Sea.   I darkened the picture some in a photo editing program to try to show you the shiny beauty of these cards.  Marsha Nichols and Peggy Dyar taught the class and they are just great teachers.

Now what is going on in your little corner of the world.  Take a pic and show us over at Sassy Cheryl's SMT Challge Blog.  Winners win one of her famous images.  

Red and Shiny

Been waiting to show you this little beauty.  I was introduced to this wonderful Elizabeth's Crafts Shimmer Sheetz at my local SBS, Scrapbooks By The Sea.   Ooooh this is so much fun to work with.  I embossed the Shimmer Sheet and then sanded it down.  All the delicious color came off and left pearly clear spots in the embossed pattern.  I then glued the sheet to a white card.  Punched a heart border (MS) on both sides of a white strip of paper attached a red ribbon on top and wrapped it around the red panel.

I used three different papers and cut out the flower using a TH die.  I misted the floral layers with water, scrunched them up in my hand, smoothed them out and dried them using a heat gun.  I joined the layers together with glue dots and added a little heart embellishment.  I think the heart embellishment is from K & Company.  Added a little bit of Stickles for sparkle and hot glued the flower to the ribbon.  The sentiment is a stamp on white paper cut to resemble a banner.  I Stickled this too and it caused the paper to "warp"  which gave the illusion of movement in the banner.  I considered redoing the banner but I liked the look, so I left it.

I wasn't sure how it would photographed, but I think this looks ok.  I got carried away with this fun paper and have made a couple more cards with it.  I will show you these in later posts, so keep on checking back.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  In the US it is Super Bowl weekend.  It is one of those sacred holidays where these big tough men get all dressed up in pads and helmets and wrestle over a little ball made of pigskin.  The players get dirty and injured and everyone cheers and screams, pounds tables and some even partake of spirits.  Some women use this as an excuse to go out to dinner and a movie with girlfriends, others get right in there and scream with the men.  I have to say I am in the second group.  I love to watch the SuperBowl with my hubby. My Packers are not in the game this year, so I am going to cheer for the Baltimore Ravens.  So go Ravens and Happy Crafting to all of you.

Challenges I plan to enter this in are:

 Shopping Our Stash (The red foil was my only new thing.  Everything else was in my stash.
Make It Monday-Anything Goes