Muwah, I Love You

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Good Monday to you.  Here in The United States we are celebrating the inauguration of our President.  Lots of pomp and circumstance going on. The picture of our Captiol with all the American flags hanging from it was so beautiful.  I do love our flag.  I'm sure you all feel  the same when you see your country's flag flying. Kinda gives me the goose bumps.

I have been making sympathy cards and thank you cards this past week.  I'll  post the rest later this week.  I designed this one for a special person and wanted it to be light and funny.  You have to be careful when sending whimsical or funny cards as sympathy cards.  I believe it is important to know the recipient very well so as not to appear disrespectful.  I know for sure this card will be just what "the doctor ordered' for my recipient.

The image I used is called Fancy Fish.  It was drawn by my good buddy Kim Hecker over at Oak Pond Creations.  I feel pretty safe in saying that when she drew it, she did not think it was going to be used in a Sympathy Card.  But what better than a big sloppy fishy kiss to make someone smile.  OK, I know I am a little strange.  LOL

The fish was colored with Copics and hi-lighted with Prisma pencils.  The black spiky mat was cut with a Cricut "Fancy Frames " cartridge and then Stickled.  The coral is an Impression Obsession and then Stickled.  The sentiment was  computer generated.  I got carried away with the Stickles.  The more I Stickled, the more it screamed, "Stickle Me Please".  The little seashell and paper is from my stash.

I haven't played over at Sassy Cheryls' SMT Blog in awhile, so I will enter this there.  In fact I am going to mosey on over there right now to see what is going on with all her friends.

Have a Howling Good Birthday

It's my youngest grandson's 12th Birthday.  He is my baby, my "Little Finny"  who is taller than me, wears larger  shoes than me and loves every minute of calling me shorty!  He has 2 Black Labs living in his home so when I saw this image on Squigglefly I knew it was meant to be.  The artist is Lynne Sansbery and it is called Howling Dogs.  You can get it here.  I have admired her images on Tammy (Tammy's Spot) and Kevin (McCrafty's Cards) blogs, but have never used any of them.  I can now promise you this won't be the last I use.

The image is so well drawn that I didn't even color it.  It just looked best left in black and white.  I printed the image with light gray ink on black card stock and then printed it with black ink on white card stock.  I fussy cut the dogs out and popped them up with foam tape to give them some sense of motion.  The challenge this week at Squigglefly is asking us to use blue in our cards so I pulled out my favorite (almost gone) blue Authentique paper pad and found this "manly" piece of DP.  The rest of the cardstock is from my stash.  The embossing folder I used is a Cuttlebug one.  There is some black and white bakers twine, also from my stash and the card was finished.   That wonderful sentiment came with the digi, so I didn't even have to test my brain to come up with one.

I want to thank everyone for the kindest comments you left for me on my last post.  It was a most difficult week, to say the least for our entire family.   Reading those comments reminded me how lucky I am to be part of this incredible "Crafting Family".  God Bless all of you and  Big, Big Hugs!

Challenges I plan to enter are:

Squigglefly - "I've Got the Winter Blues"
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

A Sparkly Card for a Sad Day

I made this one for the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge this week.  It is not my best creation, but it helped me through one of the most difficult nights of my life so I will post my "Therapy Card".  I couldn't figure out the lighting and her shirt and bow look more blue but IRL they are purple.

I have been sick with this upper respiratory thingee for 6 weeks.  I finally went to the doctor on Thursday and guess what?  It has turned into pneumonia.  So Linda has been laying around reading her Nook, sleeping, breathing, sleeping, blogging, Facebooking, Sleeping and trying to breathe, oxygen and all.  LOL.  Good news, I am on the road to recovery as I write.

 I finally felt like sitting at my craft table and had pulled out this little image to work with when my phone rang.  Now when a phone rings in my house at 11:00 P.M. I tend to panic.  It is NEVER good news.  It was news that my most beloved BIL had had a massive heart attack and died.  I know that all of you have that one special person in their family that is the leader.  The kindest, most supportive and loved above all the rest, Larry was ours.  If you have followed my blog, you may remember me talking about and making cards for my crazy Wisconsin relatives and Larry was one of them.    Larry and my SIL,  Janet were madly in love with each other and have been married for 52 years.  She was holding him in her arms when he took his last breath.

After my poor husband finally drifted off to sleep I began coloring.  I colored and colored just selecting  random pieces I already had printed.  I am not sure I will even use any of them, but they were good therapy.  I did manage to put this card together,  I must have been trying to cheer myself up, because I certainly put a lot of sparkle in it.  We are off to Wisconsin this week.  You all keep safe and happy crafting.  I'll see you when I get back.  Hugs, Linda



   

My Fave Mo's Card for 2012

I know it's late, but I decided to play over at Mo's Digital  Challenge this week.  They want us to show our favorite 2012 card created using a Mo's image.  This one is called Tom and Tilly and you can get it here.  I loved this very special couple, because they remind me of my sweet husband and myself.  (\If any of you guessed the backsides were the reason, you would only be partially right.)

In July Jimmy and I celebrated another wedding anniversary.  We were very young when we got married, but so in love and headstrong.  Here it is 46 years later and I still feel so safe and protected when he puts his arm around my shoulders and I rest my head on his shoulder.  This image kinda says it all for me.

I'll take this time to wish you all a very Happy New Year.  I hope it is a healthy, happy and creative one for all of you.

Flower Soft Class

Flower Vase Card

DP-Graphic 45 Little Darlings Collection; Ribbon form my stash; SU Ornament Punch , Gold Edging- Elizabeth Crafts;  Flower Soft - Christmas Green, Strawberry, Sweat Pea, Summer;  sentiment stamp-SU, Edge punch - MS, pearls from my stash

Tree Card

Materials Used:  Friskars Cloud Punch; Sizzllix Embosslits Beautiful Wings;  SU Pendant Park Tree Stamp and Hello Stamp; Heather and Shamrock Flower Soft; DP Heidi Grace-Forever Love//Happily Ever After  

Tea Cup Card

DP - Creative Imaginations, Samantha Walker Collection, Blue Pansies, Bo Bunny Dot paper, Doily, pearls and ribbon from my stash; Quilled flower made with Quilled Creations Wildflowers Quilling Die,  Medium Teacup Stamp from Sweet Impressions Stamps; Flower Soft is Ocean, scalloped circle is SpellbindersLarge Scalloped Circle Die.

Inside View of Tea Cup Card

Sentiment is a stamp I have had for ages and do not know the manufacturer; DP is Bo Bunny and the tea bag is from Lipton.                                                                       

Raeann the owner of our LSS, Scrapbooks By the Sea asked me to teach a class using Flower Soft.  I have to admit that my favorite use for Flower Soft is using it for snow scenes and white fur on winter coats but I was in the mood to make a Spring card.   I tried to show some of the many uses for Flower Soft so I have created three entirely different scenes.  Flower Soft is very versatile and easy to use.  It really adds dimension and interest to your cards or scrapbook pages.

So if you are not doing anything on January 24, 2013 come on over and join us.  Pish Posh if you are worrying about the distance, just hop on that plane and come on down for some warm beach weather.  If you need assistance with hotel accommodations, just give me a call.

Hugs, my crafty friends,

Linda

Challenges I will be entering this in are:

Sassy Cheryls Show Me Thursdays
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Crafty Card Makers - Inspired By A Song
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes

Snowman Tags

They are loving Snowmen over at Sassy Cheryl Challenge this week.  Well, could that be because she draws some of the most spectacular snowmen around?  Yep, she sure does.

I was finished with my cards for this year but needed to make some gift tags.  So I printed out this darling little snowman called "Merry Winter Snowman Bulb Stamp".  I cut them out and glued them to a large scalloped circle (SpellBinders) cut out of pink glitter paper.  The paper is thicker so it is perfect for a tag.  I used Copics to color them all in pastels.  One is blue, one pink and one violet.  The pink one came out pretty pale, (naughty camera) so you can't really tell but it shows up beautifully IRL.  I used a bit of Stickles on the hangar for a bit more bling.  You know you just can't get too much bling at Christmas.  Red and green ribbons will be tied in bows to decorate the gifts perfectly.

I am just about ready for Christmas.  All the children and grans will be here to celebrate with the Kahuna, Momma and me this year.  My daughter and I have been baking up a storm so looks like elastic waist pants again this Christmas.  Tomorrow I will finish up the deserts with Cherry Yum Yum and Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding and some Snowball Ice Cream treats.  The Kahuna takes over the kitchen on Christmas Day.  He will be cooking our feast and I will be handing him things, wiping up and washing the dishes.  Sounds like I got the worst end on the deal.  NO WAY,  You should taste his meals.  MMMMMM, he was a chef IRL you know.

Have a Safe, Happy and Blessed Holiday!    Muwah!

Challenges I will post to:


Sassy Cheryls' Loving Snowmen
Make It Monday- Anything Goes

Always Always Believe

Hey Ho, look at me.  I made a card with no foam tape, no buttons and no ribbon.  It is incredibly flat and easy to mail!  This has to be a first with me.  What I liked about it, is that it is still layered enough to be interesting and has lots of dimension.

The precious digi is from my incredibly talented friend Kimberly Hecker of Oak Pond Creations.  She named this guy, "Say What Snowman".  You can get him here.  While you are over there pop in and see all the other wonderful drawings Kim has done.

I printed the snowman once on white paper and once on the green checked paper. I then fussy cut the snowman out of the white and the trees out of the plaid.  I colored the snowman with Copics and had the card almost finished when my darling little snowman developed a nose bleed.  Tragedy struck.  I grabbed the  tissues and tried to clean up the mess but was a fatal bleed and the poor guy didn't make it through my surgery.  Well I printed him again, colored him up and this is his twin brother Harvey.  Harvey wanted to remember his departed brother so I cut the hat off and plopped it jauntily on Harvey's head.

The sentiment is a clear dollar stamp from Michaels or AC Moore, the snowflakes are a punch from Recollections, Green Plaid Paper is from Authentique and the Red DP is from the Dear Santa collection from My Minds Eye.  Finished up with some Stickles and wahlah it is complete.  Fast and Easy (minus the surgery time) but I still think he is kinda cute.  How about you?

Entering this in:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes
PaperPlay Challenges - Christmas is Coming
Deep Ocean Challenges - So This Is Christmas
Charismacardz Challenges - Christmas
Kaboodledoodles Challenge-Use-Color-Red

What A Mess!!!!

My husband, the Kahuna, gave me a lecture today about making a mess in the kitchen when I cook.  It started out something like this: " When you cook you lay everything down instead of putting it away immediately.  You butter toast and get crumbs on the counter.  You do the same thing when you scrap.  You make a big mess and then have to spend all that time cleaning it up.  Linda, I know you are a good cleaner, but I just hate to see you put yourself through all that.  Why can't you be more like me.  I never make a mess".

Well I apologized and said I would try to do better in the future.  Just like an obedient little girl should.  But under my breath I was saying something else.  Then I looked at the picture of my workspace yesterday when I was making my White Christmas card.

Hmmmmm, I hate it when he is right.

Entering this in the Sassy Cheryl SMT Challenge.  Come on chicken, show me what your space looks like.  I have to make cookies tonight and I do have a problem with flour.  I feel another "talking to" coming on.

White Christmas

Sassy Jackie is the hostess over at Sassy Cheryl's this week and she is "Dreaming of a White Christmas".  I love a white challenge, because it really is a challenge for me.  I have studied all the inspirational cards those Sassy ladies provided and decided that it is layers and texture that make a white card so spectacular.  This is my third attempt at a white card and I really think I like it.

I had a different image in my mind, but I have misplaced my Cricut cutting pad so I had to rethink my layout.   (I cleaned up and reorganized my work space and it has magically disappeared..)  Originally I planned to use a Christmas tree to give the elf something to hang his ornaments on.   I used Spellbinders. embossing folders, Sissix dies, a crimper and punches to achieve this look.  Lots of pop-up tape too.  Look closely and you will see some Glossy Accents, Stickles and Flower Soft too.

I hope you are at least in the middle of your Christmas To-Do list at the time of this post.  I wish people would rest a bit more and not let alll the "nice" things you do this Christmas  cause you stress and a poo-pooey mood.  It kinda takes the fun out of the season for you and those around you.  Sit back, have a cup of cocoa and let the elves take over for you.  After all, they have the magic.

Entering this in Sassy Cheryl's 144th Challenge - Dreaming of a White Cristmas.

Away In The Manger

Boy did I have fun with this one.  I made it for the 4 year old granddaughter of my bestie friend Jeri.  She wanted something whimsical with a religious theme for her Christmas card.  Now little girls and whimsy are just too fun for me.

The stamps are from Recollections and they are a clear cling stamp.  I received them from my Inky Digit pal Betty Podel for Christmas last year and I had never inked them.  Out came the stamps, Copics, Stickles and gems and this is the result.  Quick and oh so fun.

Gotta keep this quick. I am on my way to my Inky Digits Christmas party.  It is a covered dish and I am bringing Acorn Squash Soup and Sausage Balls.  If I don't hurry up and get this food out of the house, I won't have any left to take.  The Kahuna is in his hunger mode.  LOL

Take care, thanks for stopping in and happy crafting.

Tis the season, you know!

Challenges I am entering this in:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday Challenge