Piddle and Diddle!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! Remember Mr. Rogers? He didn't live to far from me in PA and used to frequent a local dinner. I remember we were eating and my daughter started screaming "Look mommy, It's Mister Rogers!!" 'Ah, those were the days when the children were small and you could just hug them any old time! Sure do miss them for they all live in different states!

Less than 48 hours until the opening of Bella Digi Design Studio!!! Not only will the store be officially opening on Monday but there will be a brand new digital release and guess what? You will be able to download her for free!! Yes, FREE! How cool is that? Wait until you see "her"  Rut oh did I say her? Oppps so now you know it's a her! She is so adorable and lots of fun to color! And guess what else? You can color her and enter her into the stores very first challenge ever at BDDS so come on over and get your free digi on Monday and have some fun with us!   Make sure you click onto the blog sfter you enter the store to see what is in store for YOU!!! Tomorrow I will give you a peek at "her"  Now LQQk below and see Piddles and Diddles from the Little Wings collection at BDDS. Is she not precious? Oh and what fun I had coloring her and look at Diddles! Fun, Fun digi!!

See you tomorrow for a sneak peek

3 more days

Yes, 3 more days and Bella Digi Design Studio will be officially open and with a brand new digi! And, that's not the only thing happening on Monday. Daphne, designer/owner of BDDS will have a challenge she made waiting for you when you get there!  The DT doesn't even know what the challenge is!!! Could it be color combination, a sketch, we have no clue and won't know until we get there just like you!!!

I have been coloring and making cards for two days ...you wouldn't know it by looking at my blog eh?  But, I have been and have two more to make before the night is through! I promise DH I would do no crafts this weekend. I can feel the withdraw symptoms already!  This card I am showing you tonight was not made for any challenges, stores nor friends and love ones. I made it because I love this stamp! If you scroll down a few days ago you will see the same stamp on a different card! Her name is Little Rapunzel from the Elisabeth Bell digital collection. She is just a joy to color for I love her face, her clothes, everything about this stamp!  Simple Crafting Crafts sent me this beautiful  DP and a whole lot of other things for being May's Designer of the Month and I finally had the chance to use it! Isn't it pretty with the butterflies and colors. I think so!  Have you visited SCC yet? Only come if you like fun, challenges galore, Copic Classes and much, much more! In fact Bella Digi Design Studio is a group over at SCC now! You have to come to see all the new things going on!

Supplies:
 
DP: Made by Prima, Umbrella Collection, Butterfly Wings.  I found it here for  $.80 for 12 x 12 sheets.
Martha Steward Border punch
Martha Steward Scroll punch
Martha Stewart Leaf punch
Nestabilites Circle and Scallop
Prima flowers and roses
Prima Jewels
Copic Markers!

Whew didn't know I had so many things by Martha! Have a great weekend see your real soon!

My dad, Memorial Day and me.

Today was a day to remember all who have served for our country  for we the people all over the world. I have been kinda sad today for Memorial Day has always been a special day in our home. Growing up, my brothers and I were taught to love and respect our country. Our grandfather served in WWI and our father in WWII and to this day my father is so proud to have served for his country. He was always active in the AMVETS and is a  former American Legion State Commander who has help fight many battles for the veterans and has made a true difference for our Vets.  Each Memorial Day my dad would be in the parade proudly wearing his cap and it was an honor for me to see him.   He turned 87 this year and has the beginning of  Alzheimer's which is an ugly, dreadful disease.  My parents live in Nevada and  I  in Maryland and its hard for they are both having health problems and I feel so far away.   When I visit my father he only talks about 3 things these days and they are the AMVETS. American Legion and the War. I have heard all the stories over and over again ...but you know what...that's okay for I love hearing him talk. Today I made a Red, White and Blue card with an Angel flying, her wings are spread out like an Eagle when they soar. Her arms are stretched out in front of her holding a shining star above her head and guiding it  towards the heavens. I colored her wings red, white and blue.  My sentiment is "God Bless America" but I am not going to post it today. I have decided no one will see this card before my dad on father's day. I have given him over 58 years of Father's Day Cards and they had the usual fishing, golfing, silly pictures or long poems  but, what my father would enjoy seeing the most  are the colors red, white and blue from his "little girl".  I love you dad, God Bless you!

Elisabeth Bell Digital

Is everyone ready for a fun weekend? How many of you took off today to make it a four day weekend? My hubby did and we had all these plans to work in the yard for let me tell you...it sure needs our attention! But he hurt his back or I think possible sciatic never for it hurts all the way down his leg....ugh...  and I sliced my finger pretty good opening a box with a razor and I know it needed sutures  but being an ER nurse I said "na, I'll live with a scare!" So we spent the day with hubby on the couch and I making cards and just chillin'!

Here is another sweetie pie from Elisabeth Bell who's name is "Tasty Read".  She so reminds me of me when I was a tad younger reading books in the back yard with book in one hand and an apple in the other. I might just do that tomorrow! Currently I am reading Iris Johansen "Blood Games"  I have only read a few chapters but so far really good!  Any how back to Miss Tasty Read! SSC color combo this week is red, turquoise, black and white. At first I was thinking of doing something patriotic, but you had to use turquoise instead of navy blue and well that's not the good old red, white and blue! I hope you like her for she is really a darling stamp to color!

  Supplies

• Paper: all solid colors from stash
• Roses from Wild Orchids Crafts This is another place I buy a lot of my flowers. You should check it out for they are very reasonable and lot of flowers, stems, lace, etc. to choose from!
• Martha Stewart 3 in one butterfly punch.  Cheapest I found for you is at Scrapbook for $8.49
• Stickles..my favorite embellishment! I have had Black Diamond Stickles forever!  Everytime I went to use it...it just wasn't right. Today I used it on the very top butterfly with red! Wahoo...you can really see if you look really hard!! I found it here for you at  Cropping Corner  1.99  Would you believe some idiot is selling in on Amazon.com for 6.75.
•  Nestability Oval Die cut and no one has it on sell this week that I could see:(
• Copic's
• Face:  E000, E00, E11
• Blouse: BG01, BG02, BG05, BG07
• Pants:  C3, C5, C7, C9
• Apple and book:  R22, R27. R29
• Tree Stump: E70, E74, E77, E79

To everyone in the US have a safe, happy, Memorial Day!
To all my other friends have a very safe and great weekend! See you back here tomorrow!

Where did it go?

Hello Out There! Gosh, here it is Thursday...Where did the week go....it just zooom right on past and didn't stop and wait for me!  Everything is good here! Last night
 DH wanted to go get a milkshake  from our local ice cream shop who makes the best milkshakes ever! I always get strawberry and last night I asked for extra strawberries....can we say Yummy. It was so nice and summery, I was barefooted and we had the windows rolled down, radio on and life is sweet!

My good news is (drum roll) Elizabeth O. Dulemba who writes super good children storybooks and does her own illustrations published me in her weekly newsletter! She wrote me an email saying "Your going live!" And when I saw the newpaper via email, in the middle of the page was a picture of the card I made using her digi stamp with a link to my blog right here!! How awesome is that? If you are not familiar with Miss Dulemba's books and digi stamps you need to go here and see them! They are all free and she has from birthday cakes to dragons! She is a very gracious person for everything she offers. You can now get her books via Ipod and Ipad which she gives a demonstation on her website!  I love it and I love her digi's and books!

Ok, Here is my card for Simply Scrapping Creations copic challenge. You have to color a brunette with this sketch.

This baby doll is Little Rapunzel from the Elisabeth Bell digital collection!  Yes, digital! Isn't she as cute as can be? I loved coloring her hair...I loved coloring her, she was so much fun I did two cards and will post the second one soon!

 Don't you think she is the sweetest thing you ever saw? LOL It's a good life!
My bow was made with bow easy...the only way to make bows and you can find them here at SCACD  for $5.00 with a video made by Suzanne Dean demonstrating how to use it. Can't make bows without it!

Copics:

• skin: E000, E00, E11 and R20 for blush
• greens: G24, G21, G20
• reds: R39, R37, R35,R32

Everything else is from my stash. 

I am full of Happy News!

Did everyone have a good week-end? It was rainy and yucky here all weekend Yuck! I want the sun to come out and stay and what happened to the month of May, it's almost gone already :( ...why can't the winter months go that fast?

I have some really exciting news for ya!  I have accepted a DT (design team) position over at Colorfully Creation as Leader of the Copic Group! Wahooo! My dream is starting to come true! Come join us and enter my very first challenge I made today! I would love to see you there! Colorful Creations is a fairly new blog site with lots of challenges and different games you can play along with!

My second happy news is I won the local County Card Challenge this year!! I couldn't believe it and so dang excited when I heard the news. I won the creating Cards contest and last Thursdays card, is the card I won it with! Wahooo on a roll! Don't stop me now!  Tomorrow I have another exciting thing happening but I am afraid to post it until it happens! Don't want to jinx myself here!

Today's card is Tilda! I love this image of Tilda for it is so easy to make a card with! Any sentiment would go with this image! I am very low on "Get Well" cards and wanted to replenish my supply!

Doesn't she look pretty with her bright blue dress?

Supplies:

• DP: From the paper pad of Crafty Secrets, Heartwarming Vintage Collection
• Copic Markers
• Skin: E000, E00 E11
• Dress and socks B16, B14, B12
• Blouse and shoes C00, C01 C03
• Flowers Prima
• Leaves: MS leaf punch
• Stickles Diamond to the basket

Happy Thursday!

Isn't it a glorious day! The sun was out the entire day!!! YIPEE! Sunshine makes me happy!! I am going to go straight to my card today for I want to try and get two more done tonight!

I entered this card in three challenges today and here they are what each one requires!

• Follow Your Heart:   is the store blog for Susana Custom Art and Cards Designs. Have you been there yet? If not you are missing a great opportunity to shop for fun things to play with and there have been times when no one else carried the products in the US except Susana.  She is constantly looking for that fav new product for us to use! If you haven't been there yet...hurry! This week she added oodles of new things including awesome paper pads!

The requirement for this challenge is to use the above sketch and to incorporate a stamp Susana sells in her store. Did you know that Victoria Case and Elisabeth Bell creates stamps exclusively for Susana? Yeppers, and let me tell you they to die for! And, she also carries stamps by other companies such as I brake for Stamps, The Craft Lounge, Lockhart Stamps, Kraftin Kimmie, Pink Cat Studio to name a few. So this challenge was easy peasy for me since I own so many of her stamps! If you happened to buy your stamp elsewhere and she carries it your safe to use it!

• Simple Scrapping Crafts:  I enter the copic challenge and the requirement is to color Brunette hair. Easy Peasy for I am a rare one who loves to color hair...if it has lines that is! Lisa Fetch is the instructor of the Copic Classes and does outstanding job!
• Colorful Creations: a fairly new Ning Crafting Blog! Super nice people, lots of challenges and interesting chats! Give them a visit for they would love to see you! They are doing an outstanding job getting the site set-up and running. We all start somewhere! Out of nine plus challenges I choose  Scrapbooking Technique and this week it is stitching. I have no clue why I chose this challenge for I hate to sew! And, to make a long story short...my card is only sown on 3 sides due to technical problems.....ME!! My machine broke and my lines are not straight, I did my best to cover them up! 

And, here is my card. My stamp of course is from SCACD  the  Sampler Edition 4 by Elisabeth Bell.  "The Horse Show". I love this image for it so reminds me of my granddaughter, Abbie who loves her 30 plus play horses!

 Isn't her face adorable?

Supplies:
All my embellishments were purchased at SCACD

• Diamond Glaze: On the horses
• Flowers: Prima
• Stickles
• Say It in Pearls
• Ribbon: Stash
• Martha Stewart leaf punch
• Coloring Copic:
• Face: E000, E00, E11
• Boots: C1, C3, C5, C7
• Shirt:  YR61, YR65, YR68
• Pants; G14, G17, G18, G19
• Hair: Main colors were E29, E27, E35, E50

See you later and thank you for coming by!

Butterfiles!

Happy Hump Day! Those that know me are probably saying "wow, your up early" and those who know me very well would say "All nighter, huh!" Yep, Nothing like insomnia to get a few things done!  It's raining again today so I will cuddle up with a book and fall asleep for a few hours...love reading on rainy days!

This beautiful butterfly card was made for 3 challenges.

• Flutter by Wednesday: Requires angle, butterfly or fairy and flowers
• Simple Crafts: 3 different pattern papers, one shape, bling, layer stamped, ribbon. 
• 
  Colorful Creations: Color combo pink, brown and yellow (gold is yellow!)
• The butterflies are made out DCWV paper Whimsy which has 3 different size butterflies. I cut them out and layerd them. Very fine glitter applied and darken the edges with a copic E74.

The camera doesn't pick up how pretty the butterflies are with the glitter.

Supplies:

• Flower-soft peel off stickers
• Paper: DCWV Whimsy
• Ribbon: Stash
• Roses: Prima

Sara K and Butterflies

Wow, this is a record for my blog....four cards in two days and I am not done!!  Sending DH to Home Depot for a wheel-barrel so I can start working on the yard. My son-in-law took his WB back last fall :(  and I miss it ...just makes cleaning the yard up so much easier you fill it and take it to the woods out back and dump! I like easy!! We have so much work to do outside and I need to find a big source of energy to paint the shed and front porch railing,  pull weeds, plant flowers, etc. I cleaned all the window a month ago and that was a mistake for they all need wash again due to the pollen. YUCK...hate washing windows!

This sweet card was stamped with  Sara K., "Country Girl" . Gosh, I love Sara K stamps for they are so sweet, endearing and nostalgic which makes me smile just looking at them!  This so reminds me of my great grandfathers and great aunts homes where they had huge gardens, barns and of course chickens! I remember my great grandmother running around the yard trying to catch one. Every time she got near it would flap it's wings and fly in the other direction...too funny! Don't you love the green and orange colors together?  This card was made for two challenges!

!. Simple Scrapping Crafts, card challenge and it is to make your own back ground. Easy peezy!! I took white card stock and embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder. Then I took green and orange colorbox eye cats and lightly went over the raised area's with them. I love doing this for you can make your background paper the exact same colors as you color your image.

2. Colorful Creations, Sketch Card Challenge created by my friend Lisa.

 

My creation!

Don't you just love this card for it is so bright and cheerie? I am very pleased with the way it turned out!

Supplies:

• Sara K Stamp, Country Girl can be purchase at Seven Kids College Fund for $8.09

• Coloring: Copic Markers

• Cuttlebug Folders are $4.50 at Crazy Scraps

• Sentiment: JustRite Rubber Stamps. I love these stamps and if you never seen them go check them out! "Just a Note" is the set I used on this card. They are 10 sentiments with 10 independent borders for $14.95. I love the products that are sold here.
• Butterflies: stash
• Stickles: Orange Peel for $1.99 at The Beary Scrap
• Ribbon: Stash

My First Shadow Box Card and Paper Piecing

Happy Saturday Everyone! What a beautiful sun shinning day! So much to be done outside in this beautiful weather but I stayed inside doing cards...I needed to have my fix after a total of 20 days without! Next time I am taking more craft items with me so I won't go through withdrawal like I did this time! Make sure to go to end of post to see my grandchildren creations....totally amazing! Yeppers this is one long posting!

I have been wanting to do a shadow box card and paper piecing forever and so I did both! My digital image is from  Elizabeth O. Dulemba called "Story Time Bears".

  Elizabeth Dulemba writes wonderful children story books and does her own illustrations. She also allows you to download her images in Jpeg form so you can color them too! What a great artist who allows others to share her skills!

I am entering this card into two challenges: First one being with Teddy Stampers which requires you to use the sketch to the right. And Flutter By Wednesdays which requires a butterfly, fairy or angel on the card and this weeks challenge is paper piecing.




Danni the owner of Flutter By Wednesdays does an excellent tutorial on paper piecing. Here is the link that shows you how to do a shadow box. Finally my card!

Isn't it awesome! Side view

I love this card and will probably never give it away for it is my first of two new techniques to me!  I printed out two of the images but in different sizes. I cut the bears away from the moon and I paper piece the moon with a photo I found online! (I hope this counts!) I added a whole lot of Diamond Glaze to the moon. The butterflies were made with Martha Steward butterfly punch and covered with butterfly stickers. Whatcha think? Hope you like it as much as me!!

And these are the colorings my grandchildren did!! The first one is by Abbie who is four years old. I was amazed in how she colored everything gray except for the face and bunny and then colored them separately.

Is it amazing to me because I am grandma? Remember four years old!

The second one is by Travis who is nine years old! This is the first time he ever picked up a Copic marker and the only thing I showed him how to do was take the cap off and brush nib. He did the rest totally by himself.  I only had certain images with me so the hat is a little too large....I was in awe watching him for he was so focus and total concentration on his coloring.  Look at the tennis shoes and shoe strings, feather and trim on the hat! This looks better then some of the ones I do now!! He not only picked the images to color ...he also cut them out mostly by himself. .I was in awe!

 

Grandma signing off now! Thank you for looking and the kids will be looking to see whatcha say!

Designer of the Month!

Hello everyone! I won't bore you with the details of my flight home except an 8 hour trip turned into 18 hours due to weather conditions in the Midwest.  Needless to say, I was never so happy to step inside of my house as I was Thursday morning.  I had all kinds of plans for doing challenges yesterday but my body said "you use and abuse me and I am not moving!" And, I literally did not move all day! I don't ever remember being that tired before or sore...esp. my butt! 18 hours of sitting...ouchie!  Today I feel much better! Nothing like a day of rest to regroup yourself!

I had the most wonderful surprise upon my arrival home! I found out I was named "Designer of the Month" at Simply Scrapping Crafts! What an awesome thing to find out! I am thrilled and delighted to be given this honor! If you haven't visited SSC yet...come on over for they have lots of challenges, tutorials, blogs, and a whole lot of super nice people! One of the friendliest crafting groups who are more than willing to encourage, teach and be your friend! Love it there!

I made two cards today. This first one I am entering for a Design Team challenge call over at Party Time Tuesdays . The DT will make a new birthday card each week to build up our stashes of birthday cards ......Boy, Do I need to do this. My birthday cards are always late and this surely will help me to complete my goal of having cards done on time!...hmmm my family will think something is wrong with me if my cards are on time!

This is my all time favorite stamp and I made both cards using it.  Meet Susan from the Elizabeth Bell collection from Susan Custom Art andCard Design. I have colored this stamp more than any other stamp I own...I just love her!

Wish me luck!

Supplies

• DT paper I made my own with a word stamp and red ink.
• Ribbon: Stash and made with Bow Easy
• Flowers: Prima
• Border Punch made by American Girl on sale at E-bay for $6.99. (Shipping $2.99) I love this punch! When I ordered it I didn't realize it was for little girl crafts! Well, I'm little ..I'm only five foot tall! I didn't do it on this card, but the butterflies it punches out can be used on the card! Two punches in one for one fantastic price! 

Second card is made for the Copic Challenge over at SSC. It is a two part challenge using the sketch below and coloring jeans.

Isn't she just beautiful....I love EB designs!

s

Supplies

• DT Paper: DCWV The Luxury Stack. I love this paper and JoAnn has it on sell! 48 sheets of 12 x 12 for $9.99. You cannot beat this price!  That is 14 cents a sheet! Awesome deal!
• Sentiment: By K and C at  My favorite store E-bay by Partimeworker04  12 sentiments for $!.79 and $1.39 shipping!
• Nestabilities Die: OMgosh! Did I find a bargain for you! Overstock.com has four sets of Nestabilities on sell for $49.99!! These usually sell for 24.99 each...Holy cow what a bargain!  I have ordered oodles of things from Overstock and have never had any problems! If I didn't have these dies I would surely be buying them now! Half price! Wow!
• Coloring: Copic's at Carpediem store for $3.95 and free shipping for orders over $100.00. If you do not order over 100.00 go to Icopics for $4.87 but much cheaper shipping. 

Thank you for looking at my first day back! It feels great!

Will Be Home Soon!

Two more days and I will be home! My plane arrives Wednesday evening and I look forward to entering lots of challenges once I am home! It has been a great time here in Nevada with my parents and Renae, my daughter and family. My dad turned 87 on May 7th and my mom will be 84 in July. I have been very blessed! It is hard living so far away for they are in Nevada and I am in Maryland. The weather here has been very, very windy but warm with lots of sun shine! We went to Death Valley on Saturday and each time I go there I am amazed when I see the beautiful flowers blooming in the middle of the desert! Awesome! Amy, daughter in PA said they had snow flurries yesterday...YIKE!!! It's spring not winter!!!  I will have cards posted soon after I get home! Have a great week!

HugZ
Colleen

Missed the plane

The plane left without me! I was two minutes late for the cut off and so will be flying out tomorrow. Before we got to the airport I said to DH "I won't be on the plane"  when I was told I missed the cutoff time...I was relieved if that makes any sense to ya.  I have half a Tilda colored and going to try and finish it tonight and post it. LOL I wasn't going to take any Copic's with me. I ended up packing 150 of them! Now I am putting them back so I can do it all over again tomorrow morning!! Hugz

Sara K

Happy Thursday almost Friday!!! YEAH!! WAHOO...two more days and I am leaving on a Jet Plane! Remember Peter, Paul and Mary! Awesome singers!  Oppps, I just gave my age away!!  Two more days and Vegas here I come! Going to visit my daughter and parents and I know if I type this, I will jinx myself! Oh well, Last time I came home with $500.00 more than what I went with! It was my lucky trip, but I have had many of bad ones! Hubby will be flying out on the fifth and then we fly back on different airlines on the 12th. I can't imagine 18 days without coloring! I am so addicted!

This darling is Sara K stamp,  Isabelle with puppy Coco! They are so sweet and I love them! I started out coloring Sara K and it sure felt good to color one today  for it's been a long time! There is always a sweetness and vintage to her images and you can't help but adore them! Isabelle was enter into the Color Combo challenge over at  SCS...come join us for it is a lot of fun with a slew of nice people!  Of course I colored her with Copic's...some day I am going to fool you and pull my chalks back out! And, it wouldn't be my card if I didn't add my Stickles which I put on the flowers on her hat. The quilling butterflies are from my stash and I am clueless where they came from...If I knew I would order a lot more!  Look for all supplies below for I will list where I found the cheapest place to buy.

Sara K: Isabella with Puppy Coco  $7.99
Butterflies: Stash...sorry :(
Diamond Stickles:   $1.99
Ribbon: Stash
Copics: $3.95 with free shipping on orders over $100.00 (Best deal on the web!) If ordering a few NO, shipping to high.

Celebrate!

Today, I realized I have Papyrophobia and your saying to yourself "OK, what the heck is papyrophobia?" LOL It is the fear of paper!  This past week I think I have some pretty ugly DP so I don't use it! And, I have super pretty paper and I don't want to cover the pretty designs up!!! Now for card making this makes a lot of sense! I never claimed to be sane!

What a fun day it was to color this image!  Her name is  "Oh Baby!"  Ew la la! She has the sweetest face and her dress and ribbon were fun to color!  She was created by Elisabeth Bell for SCAC I colored her with
 Copics and added a whole lot of Diamond Stickles. Doesn't she look all pretty and ready to celebrate.  I am entering her into two challenges;  If The Shoe Fits has a fun challenge this week! They have the famous picture of Marilyn Monroe  from her movie "The Seven Year Itch" and you can interpret the picture anyway you wanted!! How fun is that!   

So here is my interpretation!

She is ready to party! I also entered her into the  Simple Crafting Copic Challenge. This week the concentration is on the folds of pleats! I wasn't thinking when I added all the glitz for you can't see the pleats as well now!

You should check out  Creative Express   for their prices are super low! I am afraid to go back for I won't know when to quit buying!!!

Supplies:

• DT: Crafty Secrets, Heart Warming Vintage Classic. This is a 12 by 6 pad x's 32 and printed on both sides! You can see the pad here for $9.32. The paper is of good quality and thick! You will love it!
• Lace Ribbon:  stash
• Diamond Stickles:
• Mulberry paper Roses: which you can also purchase at Wild Orchid Crafts.  
• Corners: Shapabilities Deco Photo Corner and Create For Less has it for $7.49 which includes four dies! 
• Copic's Sketch Markers: On sale for $3,95 and free shipping for orders over $100.00. If you want to purchase a lot of markers this is the way to go! Best price anywhere on the web if your order is over 100.00.

Happy Crafting!  See you tomorrow!

Happy Tuesday!

Don't forget to scroll all the way down to see the Bargains I find for you!

Hello everyone! I sure hope everyone had a great weekend! This is a two Cards for One day! Renae, my daughter who lives in Vegas called on Friday and said her DH has to go out of town from 4/26 - 4/30 and  could I come and be with my 8 & 12 year old grandsons. Renae doesn't get home from work until after 9 PM, which would leave the boys alone from 3:30  until she arrived home.  NOPE, don't think so! I was going out anyways to see my mom and dad who live an hour over the mountain from Vegas!  I have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to get everything done this week for I will be gone for 18 days! (what was I thinking???) LOL

Last week the copic challenge at  SSS was blond hair and I am cutting it really close entering the challenge for it ends tomorrow!    You have to be careful with coloring blond's for you can get too orange or too yellow with the Copic markers. And, I much rather color hair that has lines in it for you can play more and and blend less.

My first card is a BD card for my daughter, Amy. It's will be a tad late in arriving, but I think she will love the card. I will be adding my poem inside to her and super pleased the way it turned out!  It is so pretty and feminine and I just know she will like it!! Meet Emma! Isn't she a baby doll?  Emma is from the Sampler Edition by Elizabeth Bell made specifically for SCACD .  I love this Paper by DCWV/Whimsy ... it is so pretty! Joanne still has the 48 pages 12 x 12 for 11.99. Trust me you will love this paper and for 25 cents per sheet...you cannot touch any DT for this price.  LOL you would think I worked for Joanne's DT....only in my dreams!

 Supplies and deals I found for you!

• Water Fall Stickles  only $1.32 per bottle here!  That's a deal folks!!
• Shapabilities:  Fair Isle Pendant die. I found it for you at Create For Less at 15.74. OMGosh, that is one heck of a bargain. I paid 18.99 and thought it was a good price b/c they are usually  are $24.99!
• Corners: Shapabilities Deco Photo Corner and Create For Less has it for $7.49 which includes four dies!
• MS Leaf paper punch: I couldn't find mine but I found an actual rose leaf punch at Joann's for $7.69! I know what I am buying when I return home!
• Copic's Sketch Markers: On sale for $3,95 and free shipping for orders over $100.00. If you want to purchase a lot of markers this is the way to go! Best price anywhere on the web if your order is over 100.00.
• Prima Jewelery: $2.99 at Susana's
• Roses: 24 roses for $3.00 at Susana's 

And this sweetheart is "Little Diane"  Doesn't she make you wish you were young again and be so happy and free!  My sentiment reads "The road to a friend's house is never long" Boy isn't that the truth! Even when I travel a 1000 miles to see a friend ...it is worth every penny!

Supplies:

• Stamp: Little Diane by Victoria Case for SCACD. There are seven stamps in this collection for $34.00 and each one is cuter than the last!
• Buttons: Stash
• Ribbon: Stash
• Bow Easy: This is how I make my bows and it is soooo easy to do with this little gadget! It enables you to make 7 different size perfect bows for $5.00!  Watch this video by Suzanna Dean to see how easy it is!
• Diamond Glaze:  to her eyes to make them sparkle! Joann is lowest again! On sell at $3.59
• DT paper: Debbie Mumm/Baby Girl. I have the 12 x 12 pad and it is adorable. Very thick card stock and all different patterns, colors, pages with cute little animals, glitter. Perfect pad for making little girl cards or scrapbook pages!  I cannot find this particular pad. Sorry:(
• Corner Punch: Martha Stewart and Joann has all the MS punches on sale this week.

Have a great night and see you tomorrow!


   

Stain Glass

Good morning everyone!  I haven't been to bed yet and it is almost 5:30 am! Bad insomnia night, but I played the whole time! Questions??? Am I the only one with lots of  ugly paper?  I look at my DT stash and think to myself "what was I thinking?" 

I love to play with everything and surely among few, who has broken their Cuttlebug!!  Yeppers! It exploded when I tried a technique called "Double Embossing" and it literally made my CB popped open like a can of  worms and fly everywhere! I was not a happy camper! My new one came and last night I used it with caution!

Today's card for Challenge: April Color Combo week 3 over at Simple Crafting Crafts is using the colors purple, red and blue.I didn't have any paper with those 3 colors so I made my own! I took red, blue and purple dye inks and blotted the inside of a CB embossing folder with a piece of white card stock. It came out SOOOO dang pretty and I love it! Easy peasy!

First I want to thank Lisa from The Purple Place who sent me a beautiful, sparkly, elegant card! I wanted to know what supplies she used for the sparkle...it was a special glitter pen and ultra fine glitter. This prompt me to go look at my glitter and lo behold I have white ultra fine, angle dust glitter by Art Glitter Company and it is so pretty and shimmering. I just love it!.

Lots of fun making this card. I wanted to see if I could make it look like stain glass and it does! It shimmers and reflects light. I  even saw my reflection when I was photographing it!!!  How cool is that? First I colored  Copics , added lots of Stickles. Let it dried and added  a heaping amount of Diamond Glaze.  I hope my picture shows how pretty the windows are!!  If I made this card again I would make the background of the windows a light blue. I feel that would have made them really pop and shade and highlight a tad more.  I hope you like this!!

Supplies:

• Martha Steward Border punch
• Diamond Glaze
• Stickles
• Mate paper with Brazil card stock
• Copics

Greeting Farm

Hi everyone! My friend Pryn is in a contest over at the Greeting Farm. It is so awesome, for they have teams and each week, one of the team members are given a challenge which they must post. Then we, you and I vote on which one we like the best.  The ones with the most votes goes on to compete next week. If it was my turn, I would be scared!! Well of course we are going to vote for Pryn's team, The Lollipop Guild!!! Go Pryn. Join the fun and here is a link to Pryn's work this week. Hurry today is the last day to vote!

Thank you!

I cannot express what I felt reading the comments you left on Danni's Tribute and the emails..talking about tearing up..... I was crying. I am so glad your hearts were touched for the Silent Rank's and sending soldiers all over the world cards is awesome!!!  Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

This easy fun card is for Fridays Challenge at Teddys Stampers.  The challenge, of course has to have a teddy bear and this week pertain to Spring! I had a blast making it! Easy to color  with Copics for you don't want you colors blended...you want them to look like fur!! I used a free digital stamp, "Gardening Bear" from ElizabethO Dulemba.  If you have not been to her site you need to go! She has lots of super cute digital stamps for free! When you click on her name scroll down on the very  first page and you will see them and each Tuesday she does a new digital! How awesome is that?

I have lots of good deals for you today! Do you have an over abundance of card stock? I sure do! I wish I knew about paper pads in the very beginning for I would have saved a whole lot of money!! How? I am using DCWV, Mediterranean Cafe paper stack. In this particular pack you get 48 sheets of 12x12 card stock and they match! You can have stripes, flowers, glittery all in the same matching colors. Not all 48 sheets are the same color scheme only about 5 are and then a new color scheme. Joann has them on sell right now for 11.99 and the 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 on sell for 5.99. You can't touch DP for any less. On the 12 x 12 it equals to approx. 13 cents per sheet!! WAhoo!!  

I used Special Moments Brads and the brads are the metal butterflies and centers of the flowers. I couldn't find the exact ones I have for you, but I did find a deal!! An eBay seller has them for sell for $2.25 and the box's contain 46 different brads and only a $1.45 for shipping. You can't beat that deal either! My paper flowers are from my stash and I am using Dew Drops and get this!!! On  Frugral Crafter they explain and have pictures on how you can make your own Dew Drops!   I will  try it soon and let you know how it does! I distress my paper edges with Tim Holtz Distresser on Scrapbooking Warehouse for 4.88. I used TH Distress Ink/marmalade and Joann has them on sell for $3.49 and the reinkers on sell for 2.49.  Lots of deals today!!!

Thank you for looking and have a great day!!

A Tribute to Danni!

Please read to the very end.  Grab a cup of coffee for I am writing and sending you to lots of places today! This card I made is for a very special person named Danni, an Army wife and to all of our military's spouses, significant others, mother, fathers, brothers, anyone who is left at home while their love ones goes and defends our freedom, our country. The stamp on the card is named Danni, from the collection Hearts and Hugs,  designed by Victoria Case specifically for SCACD.  Each stamp in this collection was named after a SCACD design team member.  Of course, I had to check out the people whom these stamps were named after, which took me to Danni's blog. I loved her cards and kept scrolling through her blog and learned she was a mother to two children and her husband was in the army and deployed. She wrote on her blog that cards and blog hopping were helping her through this period of time. It touched me big time and when I looked at the stamp image again,  I thought this is the most perfect stamp to be named Danni! For Danni (the stamp) is in an open area looking at a butterfly who is free to fly where ever it wants to be.  Our military fights so we may continue to be free, like the butterfly. However, we tend to forget the love ones, who are left behind. I found this poem written by a military spouse who lets you see Danni and every love one of our military forces.

The Silent Ranks
Author unknown

I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens.
But I am in the military in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.
I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough.
I'm the one that's left behind.
My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man and the call to serve his
country not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice.
But so do our kids and me.
I love the man I married.
Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks
known as the Military Wife.

Thank you Danni and everyone who is a member of the Silent Rank. 

When I was working on this posting on Saturday, I received an email from Danni's blog with happy, happy news she posted! Her hubby will be coming home within a week!! God Bless!

We make lots of cards and put them in boxes or drawers and in a sense forget about them.  Lets use them and show our solders we appreciate and think of them all the time.  I found several web sites who will send our mail to the solders...rather in a foreign land, hospital or rehab at anysoldier.com   I did a snoop check to see if it was a legitimate service and I found this newspaper article.  Lets band together to show our  soldiers we support them! If you are not from the US .... several other countries have this same type of service to send to soldiers world wide.

Thanks and Hugz,
Colleen

It's midnight!

Hello again! It's technically Saturday, but to me it's still Friday night! I originally came on here to add a new card and delete the one I made earlier. You know when you just don't feel good about something you made. That is how I feel about my last card. However, if I delete it ....I won't have anything to come back and compare it to later when I become so great!!! LOL LOL J/K Any how!  It just didn't sit right so I did it again! It is for the same challenge and this is the sketch:

I used the scallop circle Nestability and dry embossed it with a CB folder. The circles within the scallops were made with a regular hole puncher.  Card stock is plain dark blue and white Brazill. . On the white card stock, I took a small paint brush and tapped in onto Tim Holtz, Distress Ink, Faded Blue Jeans and tapped it onto the card stock! It worked like a charm and I only had to wipe the brush onto a rag to clean it. My flower was originally white and I placed a small amount of Perfect Pearls, Interference blue and applied it using a Koi water brush. Very easy to do and no mixing, heating, spraying and it worked! Pearl Perfect Pearls was added to her sleeves to give it a shimmering appearance. I like this card so much better!  Do you? Thank you for looking and see you later today!

Hello friend!   Missed you yesterday and will make up for it today with a tad of info! Did you ever go to a Stampin’ Up party? For those who have never heard of Stampin’ Up…it is a company that makes paper craft products and they sell those products to demonstrators.  The demonstrators show you the products by doing home parties….like Home Interiors or Tupperware!  I went to one a few weeks ago and they have everything! From card stock, stamps, ink, crafting tools and the list goes on!  They were demonstrating a Stamp-a-ma-jig at the one I went to!  No lie, that is the name of it!  The Stamp-a-ma-jig  allows you to stamp precisely where you want every time you stamp.  Did you ever make a card, and the last thing you had to do was stamp your sentiment and you missed the spot?  I, personally have ruined quite a few cards that way. Well,  that does not happen with Stamp-a-ma-jig. The best way to understand is to watch this video! It is really an awesome tool and everyone should have one. By-the-way you can also buy Stampin' Up products online now!  Pretty cool..huh!

Today's card was quick and easy and made very, very simple and fast (other words far from my best!). I felt guilty and I sorta got carried away with the pearls trying to make up for it!!! LOL There are 45 pearls on this card and I would bet my bottom dollar you are going to count them!! Tilda's foot is hiding one!  Any how I made this card for the Copic Challenge at Simple Scrapping Crafts. The challenge is coloring skin.   They also teamed up this week with the card challenge team! Confusing right? Simple Crafting has 28 challenges per month and two of these challenging DT teams, teamed up together.  This is one awesome blog with tutorials, samples gallery and a whole lot of learning and teaching!  

The card stock was cut with a scallop Nestability after I folded my card stock in half the circle was placed slightly over the fold. After it was cut I had a scallop circle card.  Easy!

Meet Tilda from Magnolia's Stamps. Most people including myself do not like Tilda when you first see her. The question is asked;  where is her mouth and nose? Let me warn you...she grows on you!! There are literally thousands of people coloring Tilda every day to post on Magnolia blogs! And she isn't just in the USA...she is big time all over the world! No lie!!!  There is no glitz  or creativity on this card, I wanted to show you another way you can use the Nestability Die.  Although,  I still had to add my  Diamond Glaze! and the pearls...are you counting them?  Thank you very much for taking the time to look!

Supplies

• DT: DCWV Garden Party 12 x 12 pad I love this paper!
• Copic Markers 
• Outfit: G00 G00 G02 G03 
• Hair: YR20 YR21 E31 E35
• Skin: E000 E00 E01
• Pearls: stash

It's Spring!

Oh I am in a card making mood today to make-up for all the days I didn't! This is Aurora with Butterfly..Isn't she delightful? When I first saw her I immediately thought of WEEEE it's springtime! Aurora was designed by Victoria Case for the Aurora Collection exclusively made for Susana's Art and Card Design.

 I had so much fun coloring her with my Copic markers! She screams "SPRING"  Don't you just love the look on her face? I sure do!!!

Aurora With Butterfly  isn't she delightful? When I first saw her, I immediately thought WEEEE it is springtime!  She screams "SPRING"  and I just love the look on her face!!!  Don't you? Aurora is from the Aurora collection designed by Victoria Case exclusively for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design. The collection is 6 stamps, PLUS Silly Pilly Caterpillar for only $29.00! You cannot turn down a bargain as good as this one! 

When I colored the butterfly wings...I wanted to do something different so I took one Copic marker from each color family and made the wings like I would color a rainbow. I didn't worry about highlighting and shadowing the colors for they were perfect just the way they were! I love the way it turned out!   Diamond Glaze and Diamond Stickles were applied to the wings for sparkle! After the Diamond Glaze dried I applied the stickles with my finger so I could dazzle the entire wing in an even coat.  Butterfly stickers were adhered to card stock and cut out to add a 3D effect. Nestability Die label one was used for the cut out and of course I had to use Kasiercraft rhinestones on my corners. Copic B000  colored the background. I darken all my edges by taking an ink pad and rubbing very lightly over the edges. I do this to all the layers which helps it look more uniform. Ribbon and brads from my stash. I hope you love her as much as I do!

·        DT: Flair designs/Seaside Collection/Tropical Garden

·        Copic Markers

Wings: BV01, RV01, Y02, YR000, YRO2, YRO4,

Hat and pants: RV04, RV02, RV00

Shirt: YG13, YG01

Body of Butterfly: YG07, YG01, YG000

Skin: E000, E00, E01 (do not let EOOO and EO1 mix for it will cause streaking.

Below is a picture of the collection.  Also,  I am currently enrolled in two Copic Marker Classes. One is Color Me Creative Classroom  by Suzanna Dean who offers three different Copic classes from beginner to experience. The other class is by Lisa Futch at Simple Scrapping. Both of these ladies are excellent instructors and if you want to learn the correct way of coloring I highly recommend them!

Have a great evening! You just might see me back here today!

Happy Tuesday!

Hello everyone!!!

It’s been awhile since I have posted any cards.  Abbie, my granddaughter with was here for two weeks and we had a total blast with one another!! She will be five in September and it was so refreshing playing with her stuff animals, play dough and lots of tea parties!!,  My aunt passed away and so sad for all of her children and grandchildren for she was a very special mom and grandmother but I think we are all relieved she is no longer suffering or in pain.   

Amy, our daughter and family visited for four days for Easter Weekend. It was a very active fun filled weekend!  Was the Easter Bunny good to you? On Saturday we took Abbie and Andrew to our local park for an all day Easter fun packed day. There were 20,000 plastic eggs,  yes, you read that correctly 20,000 eggs for the children to put in their baskets!! They were limited to 12 each and age groups. Let’s say it was suppose to be age groups for when the Easter bunny lead them to where the eggs were everyone took off to get their share! They had two moon bounces, music, games and we all had fun.

The weather we are having is awesome!! Spring is finally here!!!  Yesterday it was 86 and today is a repeat of a sunny, bright, cheerful day!  I love it and so thrilled it is finally here! It was a long winter this year.

Today’s card is an Easter Card I made on Friday.  Her name is Bunnie…oh my gosh I love her for she is so sweet and I had so much fun coloring her with Copics.  Bunnie is from the Elisabeth Bell Sampler collection made exclusively for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design. The sampler group is seven  beautiful rubber stamps that touch your heart big time! They are very detailed and you see me posting some more of these beauties and you can have all seven for only $42.00 and that is a bargain! 

Have you heard of the Pearl Pen?   The Pearl pen is a 25 ml tube that has a special semicircular bead-head delivery system to control the size of the half pearl. You need to watch this video  to see what you can make with it.  And, the beauty of it is you can make any size pearl anywhere on almost anything and it is only $5.95. A lot more pearls then you get in the packages and you control it!!  It is one of the most economical embellishment we can purchase and it comes in so many beautiful colors!

• Coloring: Copics
• DT: Lush 
• Prima Roses
• Nestabilities Oval and Scallop Oval
• Friskers Boarder Punch
• Diamond Stickles

Thanks for looking and catch some sunshine. It is beautiful today!!