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Sunday, April 30, 2017

Hugs & Kisses ...

“Don’t be afraid of showing affection. Be warm and tender, thoughtful and affectionate. Men are more helped by sympathy than by service. Love is more than money, and a kind word will give more pleasure than a present.” ~ John Lubbock

Hi Everyone!

I decided to participate in the April Facebook Progressive Freebie Challenge for DigiStamps4Joy. Purchased my image, then promptly got busy and forgot to make my card. Sooo ... I looked at the calendar and headed upstairs since today is the last day to enter.  But due to the forgotten time difference, so I didn't make it in time. :O(

Ah well, I have a lovely little card to drop in my husbands fooding bag for when he next heads to work.

The image was colored with both color pencils and alcohol markers, then fussy cut and attached to card base with dimensional foam.


Card size is 5.50 x 4.25

SUPPLIES
Image is Bettie Bow from DS4J
Alcohol Markers
Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
Design paper from my scrap bin
Embossing folders Hugs & Kisses from Cuttlebug and Basics of Love from Sizzix
Prisma color pencils
Rhinestones from my stash
Sentiment is a rub on from What's New Ltd set " All the reasons why I love you

Small red heart from my stash

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

It's Your Day ...

“What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”
~ Native American Proverb

Good morning Everyone!
Another blessed day for us, one and all. I hope you are enjoying it with whatever brings you peace and joy!

Today starts a new color challenge at The OutlawzChallenges. Our sponsor this month is Mary Smith of Createful Hearts Digis.

This week's challenge, selected by Jeanie, is to use all 4 colors from the palette and the optional twist of anything but a card.

I opted to make a gift bag using a lunch bag. The truck, which can be found in Mary's Etsy Shop, is colored with alcohol markers, fussy cut and attached to the bag with foam dots.



SUPPLIES

Image from Createful Hearts Digis
Alcohol markers
Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Chicken Wire
Gina Marie Designs die - Barbed Wire
Grommets from Memories
Jute (both strands) from my Ssash
Lunch bag from my stash
Ranger distress ink
Sizzix Sentiment die
Spellbinders embossing folder - Blistered
Stampin Up! clear button
Stampin Up! Stamp - Plaid Flannel Background

Looking for ward to seeing your colorful creations this week at The Outlawz Challenges, where a new challenge starts every day!
Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Mind over Matter? ...

They say that age is all in your mind. The trick is keeping it from creeping down into your body. ~Author unknown

Greetings of the day!
Let me tell ya, being retired has not gained me any time ... I still seem to be more busy than ever. A fact driven home as at the 12th hour I managed to finish my husband's birthday card!

The quote I used above cracked me up because we were just talking about how getting older is not optional but getting old is ... This discussion took place while we were signing up for Tai Chi class. Something we have been talking about doing for some time. It's good for the mind and body. 

I'll let you know how that works out for us! 

Anyway, this card is based on a sketch from InkSpired Sketch that I found on Pinterest (what a surprise) which will be at the bottom of my post. 

Card size is 5 x 7

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio
DP is Colorbok Craft & Glitter paper
Gina Marie Designs Fluff background embossing folder
Memories India Ink
Sentiment from Inkahootz!
Studio G Glitter Glue
Vellum is from my scrap box
I made the tag using scraps


Card Sketch used

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

This card has been entered into the following Challenge(s)

Seems my buddy Lisa is celebrating a special birthday and she is having a bit of a celebration at
Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

Love to Craft Challenge #9, Anything Goes


Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Birthday flowers ...

[F]lowers... adorn our lanes, fields and fells, and... smile upon us and cheer and bless us in our country rambles.... the lovely blossoms... kiss the clear brooks and mountain wells... ~James Rigg, "Preface," Wild Flower Lyrics and Other Poems, 1897

Good afternoon...
Bit late with my post today. I have not been doing a very good job managing my time since I retired and need to get back into a rhythm :O( ...

Today is the start of a new color challenge at The Outlawz, sponsored this month by Mary Smith of Createful Hearts Digis. 

Our colors this week, a tic tac toe table, were selected by Jeanie and Kimberly.

Here is my card, which to be honest is a little messed up. I had decided to use the center squares left to right. Problem is that I mistook 'ribbon' for lace. Sooooo ... my card has an embossed lace doily :O)
But ... I like it and hope you do too!





Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio, Stampin Up! and Bazzill
Die from Darice: Floral Swirl Burst
Dies from Spellbinders: Blossom 2 and Daisy Toppers
Lace Doily Embossing folder from Sizzix
Pearl from Michaels $1 bin
Sentiment from Halo Rubber Stamps

Easel:
Cardstock from Stampin Up!
Die from Marianne Designs

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara




Wuvable Bunny ...

Faith is not about everything turning out okay, faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out. ~Author Unknown

Good morning everyone!
I hope your week has started out awesomely and just gets better! Weather here has been nice but the heat is on the rise. Summer rarely sneaks in here ... it bounds in with purpose and intent! Which makes me glad for a pool which, being my first summer retired, I plan on making use of (when it warms up just a little bit more LOL!

Today I am sharing a card I made for our Anything Goes Challenge at Through the Craft Room Door which started today. Our sponsor this week with a prize of 4 images from each artist is Miss Daisy Stamps.

Jennifer Nilsson Art ♥ Mari Digis ♥ Miss Daisy’s Collection ♥ We Are 3
Join us at Miss Daisy Stamps Create & Share Facebook Group to meet the artists, share fun & inspiration, receive freebies and special deals. See you there!

I am using a really cute image called I Wuv You BunnyI just fell in love with this cutie and he can be used for so much more than an Easter Card. In fact, I already have several other uses for this fellow in mind! However, my card for this challenge is an Easter card.  

So come play along with us at Through the Craft Room Door where any crafty creation is welcome! 

My 5 x 7 card
  
Supplies
Miss Daisy Stamps image Wuv You Bunny colored with alcohol markers
Card stock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
Cuttlebug Embossing border "Hugs & Kisses"
DP "Birthday Circles" from The Paper Studio
Fiskars punch "Grass"
Flowers from my stash (centers colored with orange sharpie)
India Ink from Memories
Sentiment from Halo Rubber Stamps
Spellbinder die "Beaded Ovals"

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara



Saturday, April 15, 2017

12 x 12 One Sheet Wonder cards

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Good morning
I have been wanting to try some OSW cards for a while and recently found an old layout that I'd saved at some point in my stuff when cleaning out a cabinet in my craft room.

This one uses a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock and makes up to 15 cards which would be awesome for holiday card making ... anyway, I decided to try it out and made a combination of Birthday and Thank you cards since I always need both.

The layout I used is at the bottom of this post along with the recommended card maps. I did not follow the layouts precisely but I'm quite happy with what I accomplished with the 12 x 12 card stock and thought I would share them.

All of the cards are 4.25 x 5.50
The 12 x 12 design paper used is called Posie Glitter Print from DCWV
The card stock for the bases is from The Paper Studio
Other card stock used is from Stampin Up, American Crafts and Bazzill,
The ink used is from Stampin Up!
Anything specific to that card will be listed above it.

Card 1
Rhinestones from Recollections
Sentiment from Stampin Up! Rose Wonder

Card 2
Sentiment from Close to My Heart Banner Wishes
Stampin Up! embossing folder Decorative Dots
White glitter glue from Studio G

Card 3
Rhinestone strip from my stash
Sentiment from Stampin up! Happiest of Birthday Wishes
Mulberry paper from my stasg

Card 4
Scallop punch from Stampin Up!
Rhinestone strip from my stash
Faux stitching created with Crayola markder

Card 5
Sentiment from Stampin Up! Rose Wonder
Flower base from my stash
Pink flower is from Prima
Rhinestone brad used for flower center from The Oriental Trading Company

Card 6
Cuttlebug embossing folder Doodle Flowers
Sentiment from Halo Rubber Stamps

Card 7
Rhinestone strip from my stash
Celebrate die from Close to My Heart

Card 8
Sentiment from Stampin Up! Happiest of Birthday Wishes
Stampin Up! Scallop circle punch

Card 9
Pink dots from the dollar store

Card 10
Prima flowers
Rhinestone brads from The Oriental Trading Company
Sentiment from Inkahootz!

Card 11
Sentiment from Inkahootz!
Sizzix Ornate Label Die
Stampin Up! embossing folder Decorative Dots
White glitter glue from Studio G
Prima flower
Rhinestone from Recollections

Card 12
Sentiment from Inkahootz!
Sizzix Ornate Label Die
Stampin Up! embossing folder Decorative Dots
Prime flower
Rhinestone from Recollections

This card doe NOT follow that cuts/pattern shown. I didn't like the angles so decided to leave off one piece and use differently than suggested.

Card 13
Rhinestones from the dollar store
Sentiment from Stampin Up! Happiest of Birthday Wishes
Stampin Up! Scallop circle punch

Card 14
Sentiment from Stampin Up! Happiest of Birthday Wishes
Cuttlebug embossing folder Doodle Flowers
Rhinestones from Recollections
Die for tab from Spellbinders

Card 15
Prima Flowers
Rhinestones from Mr & Mrs
Sentiment from Inkahootz!
Stampin Up! embossing folder Decorative Dots

I hope you have enjoyed my creations. Here is the OSW and card layouts I used.
To be honest, I've had it for so long, I have no idea who it belongs to so if it is yours or you know who it belongs to, please contact me!




Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Tis the Season ...

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

Allergy Season that is! 

Good Tuesday Morning to One and All!
I don't know about where you live but everything here is blooming ... or at least trying too. I love seeing all the flowers but my allergies are going crazy. Thank goodness for Claritin!

Today is also the start of a new color challenge at The Outlawz and this week we have a "Flag" challenge. You just have to use the colors.


Our sponsor this month is Mary Smith of Createful Heart Digis and I am using a really cute dragonfly image.
  


Supplies
Dragonfly image from Create-ful Hearts colored with Prisma Color Pencils
Cardstock from Stampin Up! and The Paper Studio
Palette Ink
Sentiment from Thank you for Many Things, The Angel Company
Sequins from my stash

Wonky Frames die from Gina Marie Designs

Thanks for Stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Bugaboo Easter ...

Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless.  ~Charles M. Crowe

Good morning!
Today is the start of a new Anything Goes Challenge at Through the Craft Room Door. Our lovely Sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps with a prize of a $12.00 store voucher. So click HERE to come play along with us!


Supplies
"Kidz Bunny"  from Bugaboo colored with alcohol Markers
Blue rhinestones from His & Hers
Card stock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
Darice embossing folder: Easter Egg Background
Flower sequins from my stash
Gina Marie Die: Wonky Frames
Ink from Stampin Up!
Rhinestones from my stash colored yellow with sharpies
Sentiment from Close to My Heart "Easter Bunny"

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Bunny Fluff ...

I lied on my Weight Watchers list. I put down that I had 3 eggs... but they were Cadbury chocolate eggs. ~Caroline Rhea

Hi Everyone!
We have a new color challenge waiting for you at The Outlawz!
Our sponsor this week is Createful Hearts and AJ has picked out these colors for us to use. 



Recently I received some stamps that are perfect for this challenge since her twist is to add an animal. This front and back stamp is such a great set and it was fun to play with and color.

Here is my A2 card based on Verve sketch AVS2010B.


Supplies
Alcohol markers
Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
Corner Chomper (rounder) from We R Memory Keepers
Enamel dot made by me with a pony bead
Images are from Art Impressions Front-n-Back
India Ink from Memories
Stampin Up! E.folder: Decorative Dots

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

This card has been entered into the following Challenge(s)

LTCCB #9 - April Anything Goes!




Saturday, April 1, 2017

Snow Happy!

Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? No. ~Pablo Picasso

Good morning!
Today is such an exciting day for me and SheepSki Designs!

Why you ask?

Because, today is the first day of April and I not only start a new Design Team assignment but today is also the launch of Andrea's Blog Challenge for SheepSki Designs so now you have two ways to play along and win her awesome images.

BLOG ... Where you are allowed to use any hand colored image for a chance to win 3 images ... BUT, if you use a SheepSki Designs image and are the winner, you get an additional image choice

FACEBOOK ... Where you must use a SheepSki Designs Image for a chance to win 3 images 

So for my first DT cards, I am using this fun image 'Snow Happy'. I love Angels and have a couple of "Snow Angels" so this is great addition to my collection. I can't help but smile every time I see this one. He just looks sooo happy!

I did giggle though when I looked at my card after it was all finished and told my team mates I should send to my daughter in Vermont as they'd just had a huge snowfall. Something she is not really used to as a born and raised child of Arizona!


Card size: 5 x 7
Supplies
SheepSki Designs "Snow Happy" colored with alcohol Markers
Cardstock from The Paper Studios
Blue Glitter cardstock from Recollections
Snowflakes/Sequins from my stash
Rhinestones from Made by Me
Embossing folder "Snowflakes" from Close to My Heart
Sentiment from Inkahootz!
Die "Label Collection" from Stampin Up!


If you are interested in any of the images we used for this challenge you can find them HERE, in the SkeepSki Designs Etsy shop ... and BONUS ... If you use my code "SKICARA10" at checkout, you get an additional 10% off! So go have a look! You'll be happy you did!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara


Easter Keeping ...

See the land, her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose.
Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,
Burst at last from winter snows.
Earth with heaven above rejoices...
~Charles Kingsley

Good morning everyone!
Today is the First day of April! The days are just flying by it seems. Today also kicks off a new Progressive Freebie Challenge at The Outlawz. Our Sponsor this month is Mary Smith of Createful Hearts Designs.

We have this lovely image of a hummingbird and morning glories. A great image for an Easter card if you ask me. The image has been fussy cut out using my Brothers Scan-n-Cut and mounted with foam tape.

Supplies
Alcohol Markers
Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
Cuttlebug E.Folder 'Leafy Branch'
Gems from Made by Me
India Ink from Memories
Sentiment from Stampin Up! 'Never Ending Joy'

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara