Sketch Saturday #358

Hello sweet friends!
It's the last weekend of the month and the 

start of another great sketch challenge 

at SKETCH SATURDAY!

Our generous prize sponsor this week is none other

than our very own sweet Niki! 

Here is Sketch #358 

And here is my DT card using it

My baby girl turned 15 this week.  I can't believe

how fast time has gone by - seems like not that long ago

she was "still 5" (she really wanted to be 6).  Kinda makes me sad :o(  

This image by Mo Manning totally reminds me of her.

I often see her painting her nails in her jammies. 

I'd like to enter this in Mo's Digital Challenges #250 Anything goes

and Addicted to Stamps Challenge Blog #141 - Anything goes

Brown Sugar Challenges - #143 - Anything Goes

The rest of the lovely and talented ladies at SKETCH SATURDAY have

made some jaw dropping creations for you to see - so please

go visit them and say "hi".  Hope to see your own gorgeous

creation in our gallery this week!! Til next time friends....

hugs and happy crafting!! D 

FMS#106 and Mo's DP2 Challenge {H is for ...} - and Hello Sarah

Hello!  Took a little time this weekend to make some Halloween cards for my kids, nieces, nephews and a few other special friends. I'm entering this card in two terrific challenges:

Mo Manning's Digital Challenge - " H is for..." using a Mo's image

and

Freshly Made Sketches 106 (I flipped the sketch for my card and made it square):

This card is for my son who will be 20 next month.  I thought it was a great image for him as he often has his phone in his hand too. Not that long ago he said to me "Mom, I think your generation has a lot more friends and communicates better than ours."   I asked what he meant by that and he said "Well, think about it - you can't go anywhere and not run into someone you know.  You always stop and visit awhile before moving on."  He went on to say "my generation sees someone we know and we say 'hey' and just keep going.  Then we get out to the car or later at home send them a text to 'talk'."   Wow - what a revelation on his part really. I told him that it's a really wonderful treat to talk to your friends face-to-face :o). 

I do appreciate the ability that technology has given us to communicate and connect with friends from all around the world, even those we haven't yet met.  But there is still something really wonderful about actually having a face-to-face conversation.  As an example, Sarah Stone and I met and communicated as design team members for 52CCT (and briefly for ABC Challenges).  When she heard that I was going to be in Wisconsin recently she offered to drive a bit to come and meet me.  I was so excited to meet her and her beautiful family - and incredibly touched that she would do that. I may have never met her if it hadn't been for our blogging and challenge activities. Here's a photo of the two of us (isn't she lovely?):

 Thanks Sarah - you made a tough trip so much happier :o).  Hope we can meet again soon.

Well friends - time to close a rather lengthy post.  Thanks so much for coming but - I do appreciate it! Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

House of Cards Challenge - 1st Ever Challenge, Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #192 - F is for...{friend, fresh} and Divas by Design - "Cute"

Hello and happy weekend!  Two of my dear DT members on 52{Christmas} Card Throwdown have joined together with some other fabulously talented ladies and formed a new challenge called House of Cards.  The thought behind this challenge is that each week the HOC team wants to see a different style of card making. This week the style is Cute & Fun and they want us to use at least 3 of the colors in the photo above.
Cute & Fun is becoming my preferred style I think.  It's certainly the one I feel most comfortable with and I find that my stamp and digital image library is getting pretty full of "cute" images.  So, since this is my favorite type of card to make, and to support my two pals, Mynnette and Ruth,  I've made a card to play along with their NEW challenge.  Here it is:

I hope this works - my shades of blue are just a bit more blue than the sample colors. I used three different shades of blue and two different shades of red (however, that's harder to see). Notice how I pulled in the cherries from the photo as well?  As soon as I saw this pic - I knew just exactly what image I wanted to use to make this card for a wonderful friend.  That little cherry is punched from the Two Step Cupcake punch from Stampin Up!    

I'm also entering this at Divas by Design where the challenge is to create a "CUTE" card, and Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #192 "F is for...".  I made this card for a friend - but if that's too much of a stretch, I'll say that it also incorporates fresh cherries, one of summer's best treats :o)

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting friends. D

Mo's Digital Challenge #190 - Use Bright Colors

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well! My card today is for the wonderful and kind husband (Bob) of one of my wonderful, kind and terrific friends (Nette) who fashioned a jewelry organizer that hangs on the wall for my daughter.  He patiently, and perfectly, placed lots and lots of little hooks on this jewelry organizer for necklaces and bracelets.  My daughter was absolutely over the moon excited to have it.  We wanted to thank Bob for doing such an awesome job and were delighted to see this Fixer Boy image in Mo's gallery that would work so perfectly for his card.

Since I was going to use a Mo Manning image I decided to see what the current challenge - it's been a while since I've  had a chance to participate in one of Mo's Digital Challenges.  To my delight  Mo's Challenge #190 is to Use Bright Colors.  So I pulled out some of my bright copic markers and went to town coloring this darling image. Did you notice that some of his tools are even brightly colored?

This is my second easel card. I'm delighted that it turned out so well.  Easel cards are so much easier to make than I thought.  I wish I hadn't waited to so long to give it a try. I promised the ladies in our Crafty Cars Gals group that I would post instructions and photos on how to make an easel card. So I best be planning to make another one soon ;O)

Well... guess I better get going for now. Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

Seize the Birthday #2 {Masculine} and Mo's Digital Challenge #169 - "Emboss it w/a Mo Image"

Hello friends! Feeling a little guilty 'cause I've taken a little time to catch up on some of my DT upcoming cards and make a couple new ones as well to enter in a couple of fun challenges,  instead of doing laundry and other housework.  I did say a little guilty, didn't I - hehehe.  Last week I participated in the first Seize the Birthday challenge with a feminine card. This week the challenge is to use the same sketch but make a masculine card with it. Here is the sketch (which you can see I flipped to a horizontal orientation):

Since I used one of my favorite masculine images from Mo Manning I am also entering this card in the Mo's Digital Challenge #169 - "Emboss it w/a Mo Image".  I used dry embossing on the bottom panel of my card. The digital image i used is called "King for the Day".  I tried to make the chair fabric look like suede (or aged leather) - it was a bit challenging for me, but it didn't turn out too bad. This card reminds me of my husband who is the very happiest with a Diet Coke in one hand and the remote in the other.  Since I left the sentiment off the front, here's a quick photo of the inside - kept it very clean and simple as I think a man might like :o).

So that's it for me tonight. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! 

C4C148 - Teacher,Inspired by #35 and The Paper Players #107

Hello friends and Happy Wednesday!  Today I have created a card to celebrate one of the heros in our lives - a teacher.  Many kids across the country are going back to school soon (mine does start til the end of the month) and what a perfect time to thank someone who has so much influence on our children's lives.  I used the following challenges to create my card:

Crazy 4 Challenges #148 - Teacher (C4C148)

Inspired by #35 - (see photo inspiration below)

The Paper Players Challenge #107 - Back to School Rules

I picked up on the superhero theme from the Inspired by photo and the colors.  We have been really fortunate in that our kids have had some really wonderful teachers.  Our son had a teacher named Mr. Lehman in kindergarden and again in fourth grade. Mr. Lehman was just a fabulous and positive influence - he recognized that our son was quite smart and keep him challenged in a fun way.  They still have a good relationship today many years later.   I'm sure many of you know teachers like this.  How lucky we are to have people like this in our lives.  And God love 'em for taking on that challenge!

Here's the inside:

I cute the words from a strip at the top of a piece of DSP from Close to My Heart (superhero) and added some more of the corner rub-ons to the top and bottom to coordinate with those on the front of the card. 

Thanks so much for popping in to visit today - I'm sure glad that  you did.  Have a most wonderful day - Hugs!

Supplies (from Stampin Up! unless noted otherwise): Cardstock - Summer Starfruit, Real Red and Marina Mist.  Textured embossing folder Chevron.  Digital image from Mo Manning called Superduper boy.  Image colored with a combo of copic markers and SU markers and a blender pen (Summer Starfruit and Marina Mist).  Sentiment and corner accents (as well as words from inside) are from Close to My Heart - Superhero accents.  Button is from my stash.  

Hugs & Kisses for Mo's DP2 Challenge

Happy Tuesday friends - hope you are all having a wonderful day!  The challenge this week at Mo's DP2 is Hugs and Kisses and they are having a Guest Design Member call too.  I love Mo's images and coloring them with my copics so I thought "why not add my name to the calling".  The samples I see each week from the Design team are just phenomenal - I'm not sure I'm up to their level, but I just might be a fresh face and what an opportunity that would be!!  In any event - win or not - I love to use Mo's images and plan to keep playing along. 

This sweet image is called "Ragged Romeo" -  I used the wonderful sketch from Sweet Sketch #163 for this card (see below).  It's layered, yet fairly clean and simple style just seemed right up my alley :o).  I didn't participate in the challenge this week but loved the sketch. 

So... thanks very much for stopping by to visit me today.  Going to be a bit short today in my post as my son wants to drag me up the mountain (aka hike) to see the sunset tonight.  I love to get your wonderful comments on my creations so please leave me a note if you've visited.  Til next time - Hugs (and kisses)!!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up except digital image by Mo Manning):  Cardstock - Pretty in Pink, Real Red and Whisper White.   Digital Image - Ragged Romeo by Mo Manning at Mo's Digital Pencil (colored with Copic markers).  Sentiment - from Petite Pairs.  DSP - Lap of Luxury (retired).  I used the small heart and small oval punches and Adorning Accents textured embossing folder (hearts) on this card.

Mo's DP2 Challenge #142 - "Anything Goes w/a Mo's image"

Hello friends and Happy Monday!  Today I woke up to beautiful sunshine and a very light breeze.   Took the dogs to get groomed, dropped my daughter off for her summer camp and grabbed a cup of coffee and life was good.  Then I arrived at my hairdressers to get a cut and color (a much needed color I might add) only to find out that I had the right time but the wrong day! Oh Boy!! Sometimes I really wonder about myself!  So back I go tomorrow - LOL.  So I used my time to get some errands done instead.  By 1 pm it was so blasted hot outside (93 degrees) that I decided it would be much more fun to stay inside in the air conditioning and make some more cards ;o) 

I have a dear friend who has been going through some rough times lately. She recently had to put her beloved dog down due to cancer which was very, very hard for her.  Her normal response when things get tough is to laugh - deep belly laughs. But when she get over the top with everything she laughs in more of a histerical manner. I've heard that in her voice quite a bit lately and decided that I need to make her a card to let her know how much I appreciate that she just keeps laughing, and that eventually it will be better (somehow by the grace of God it always is). She loves bold, bright and rich colors so that was the inspiration for my color theme as well.  Here's a peek at what I did on the inside:

The theme this week at Mo's DP2 Challenge #142  is "Anything Goes w/a Mos image".  I have been fussing around with this card for about three days trying to get it just right.  I think this newer large shaped Sizzix die kind of threw me for a loop and I had a hard time trying to fit embellishments around it.  It was either too much or too little it seemed.  So... I finally decided I liked the more rather than the less and to just go with it. I don't think it's my very best work, but I'm pleased with how my coloring turned out and I'm sure it will be appreciated by my friend when she opens it.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did!  Hope you enjoy this card as well.  Hugs!

Details and Supplies:  Finished card size is 5 1/4" square.  This darling Mo's image is called "I Dunno - reduex" and it can be found at Mo's Digital Pencil.  I colored her and her friend Bronte with Copic markers.  The DSP is a retired stash from Stampin Up called Tea Party.  The flowers were made with the following punches - Blossum (larger red flowers), Boho Blossoms (medium sized flowers) and the triple flower punch (small flowers - retired).  Sizzix die - Apothecary Accents Framelits. The conversation bubble is from Close to My Heart - I inked it up with Daffodil Delight from Stampin Up before adding my own saying.  The final embellishment was some bright buttons in Real Red and some basic pearls for the flower centers.

Paper Players 100th , DP2 Masculine and PPA137

Hi again!  I think I was having serious withdrawals while I was away from my cardmaking because I'm feeling like I just want to lock myself in my craft room ALLLLLL day and play!  But the sunshine is calling so I finished up one more card to submit in three great challenges today and then I'm out the door.  I'm really excited to share with you that this is my first attempt at paper piecing (used on the chair)! I have been wanting to try this for quite some time and finally found the perfect image to use as a newbie (not too much fussy cutting to mess up).  I really am tickled with how it turned out :o)

The Paper Players 100th Challenge is to use any past challenge to make a card.  I didn't start playing with the Paper Players until the challenges were in the 80s (and I started following this challenge when it was in the 50s) so I wanted to do an earlier one and what better place to start than the very 1st (see below)!

I also love to particpate in the weekly Mo Manning DP2 Challenges so I can practice with my copic markers with super cute and fun digital images.  The DP2Challenge #140 is "Masculine"  how perfect is that?  I grabbed this great Mo digital image as soon as I saw it because it fits my husband to a "T" - this would be one of the ways he would be happiest - in his comfy chair with remote and Diet Coke in hand.  Doesn't this fella look like he is having his best day too? You can find this digital image at Mo's Digital Pencil Store and its called "King for a Day".  I was traveling for Father's day this year so this is a late gift to my husband.

And last but not certainly not least I am also entering the Pals Paper Arts #137 Sketch challenge by Margaret Moody.  After all it's hard to make a great card without a great sketch to inspire you and this sketch certainly inspired me.    

Thanks for stopping by to visit - I'm sure glad you did!  Hugs!

Suppies:  Cardstock - Midnight Muse (NEW In-color for 2012-2014) and Very Vanilla.  DSP - Comfort Cafe (NEW!).  Image from Mo Mannings Digital Pencil Shop "King for A Day" and colored with various Copic markers.  Sentiment is from a retired Stampin Up! set called "Its Your Day" stamped with Early Espresso ink.  Self adhesive brads that look like rivelets are from Close to My Heart (don't they kind of look like the fabric nails you would find on a piece of furniture?)

Mo's DP2 Challenge #138 - Anything Goes w/a Mo's Image

Hello Friends - Happy Monday to you!  Monday's can be happy right?  Today I am entering this card in the DP2 Challenge #138 - Anything Goes w/a Mo's Image. I like to participate in the Mo Manning DP2 Challenges because I love the darling images and I get to color them with my copic markers.  This darling image is called "Done" from Mo's digital shop and she just  makes me smile.  I printed her twice and cut out the front part of her skirt to layer it on top of the original one.  It doesn't show up at all in this picture (darn!) but in real life it has an almost 3D effect. The sentiment is from Stampin Up.  By keeping this card quite simple the cutie on the front is the first thing you notice. It wasn't my original intent to keep it that simple - I had all kinds of great ideas but... I printed her too big and wasn't up to the task last night of fussy cutting around her - LOL.  I also started out going for a monochromatic theme but then decided that a pink star just wouldn't do :o).  I do like this card though - sometimes Plan B is just as wonderful if we are willing to adapt.

Hope this card makes you smile too!  Thanks for stopping by to visit - I'm sure glad you did.  Happy Monday to you - Hugs!