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

With Deepest Sympathy

Here's another CAS card I made.  This time I cut a piece from a 12x12 paper that was part of a  DCWV's La Creme paper pad.  The sentiment was stamped with a Stampin Up stamp.  The rose and lace scallop are stamps from MME, Miss Caroline stamp set.  

This paper is a soft yellow (almost a cream color) and trimmed in black velvet flowers.  It is so gorgeous, I just could not cover it up and decided to let it stand on it's own merit.  The recipient received it today and she called to say how beautiful it is.

I am going to try to make a supply of sympathy cards made up.  It is so difficult to make a card when you are grieving.  But  it is a comfort to know that your card comforted someone else.

Not much going on here this week.  I have been doing little projects around the house.  You know those little cleaning and straightening jobs that you only do when the dirt is bigger than the items sitting on it.  I am trying to do at least one project a day.  Today I did one and a half so I am a little ahead of myself for tomorrow.  I need to take all my window blinds down and give them a good bath.  I am dreading that, but tomorrow just may be the day since the weather will be so beautiful I can hang them outside to dry.  Anyone want to help?  I'll make the coffee and add a  bit of sweet cream and Kahlua to it!

I am entering this in Make It Monday, Always Anything Goes Challenge this week.

Thank You Card Trio

I have been busy creating lots of cards without digi's or coloring.  I have so many neglected supplies in "My Stash".  I just decided to use up some of my former "have-to-haves" and try-out some new techniques.  It was a painful beginning because I have had severe withdrawal pains from my Copics.  Sometimes I just stare at them and other times I just hold them and caress them.  I even take the tops off and put them back on just to hear that wonderful clicking sound. Oh come on, you know what I mean,  don't you ?  You know you do!

I saw some CAS style cards on other blogs, so I thought I would give it a try using the "Thank You" sentiment.  I created it on the computer, but stamped little swirlies and a butterfly (stamped twice, fussy cut and popped up) on the card to decorate a bit.  The card stock is all Stampin Up and the design paper for the yellow and blue one is from Imaginique and the aqua card paper is from Paper TreyInk.  You may even see a sprinkling of Stickle"s Glitter here and there.

They are clean and simple, but I would still be proud to send them out to a friend because the DP is so gorgeous, it speaks for itself.  Too many times I have bought  beautiful DP and then I proceed to cover it up.  Whatcha think?

Whatever you are up to this week, stay warm and Happy Crafting to you!  Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule and peek at my latest creation.  I just love all of your "pea-pickin" hearts.  Ya'll come back now, ya here?  Muwah

Going to enter this one in Sentimental Sunday:  Challenge #139 Thank You

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