Another busy post!

I have another busy post for you today - lots to share!  First, I want to wish you all a safe and happy New Year's Eve celebration.  We will order take-out, get a bottle of champagne, and celebrate safely from our living room.  :)  I once heard that whoever you spend NYE with is who you'll spend the rest of the year with - and I am happy to spend that time with my husband and kids.

******************************************

So first I have a couple of cards that I made for sketch challenges, the first is for the:

Sunday Sketch N' Stamp Challenge

I used Felicia Firefighter from Digi Darla, combined with those cute firefighter brads that I've had in my stash FOREVER!  Love this card, isn't she sweet?
..................................................................

This next card is for the 

Sketch N' Stash Challenge #77

I colored my Just Some Lines image with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits.  The DP is old retired paper from Stampin' Up! from my stash - gemstone stickers are also from my stash.

***************************************************

I also wanted to point you in the direction of JELLYPARK FRIENDS CHALLENGES!  This is my first week as a member of their Design Team, and here's my card for the current challenge, use something old and something new:

The new= image from Jellypark.  The old= cardstock and DP.  Head on over to see the rest of the DT's creations and to play along!

Next up is more New Year goodness - we have New Year's themed challenges for you at:

Just Some Lines Challenge Blog

and

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge Blog

I made this sweet ATC for both challenges using Reindeer Party Hard from JSL:

I love the look of using those Smooch Spritzes on my project, it's my favorite find of 2011.  :)  I also have a couple more things from these 2 challenges above - first is a card for the JSL challenge:

And last is one more ATC for the WW ATC challenge:

PHEW!  I hope you stuck with me and made it to the bottom of this post. Make sure you go check out the challenges to see more delicious eye candy!  Have a happy new year, my friends.  See you in 2012.  :)  Peace.

Anyone for Anya, A Day for Daisies PCP, Dilly Beans, & Sassy Studio

I have been a busy girl this week, love having all of this time to play with my new craft stuff!  I had to take a break from playing yesterday, though, and deal with having a tooth pulled.  It was a molar that a dentist had screwed up a root canal on, and I never went back to fix it because I was scared.  So the tooth died, and had a big hole in it, and it irritated the crap out of me but it didn't hurt or anything.  So I finally decided to have it pulled - and when the doctor went to pull it, it basically fell apart into pieces.  He had a hard time getting it out, but he was so nice about it, he kept apologizing to me.  Which was nice, since he wasn't the one who ignored the damn tooth for 5 years.  *sigh*  He also very nicely asked me what kind of pain medication I'd like.  LOL  I am not up on that kind of thing, so I said I didn't care - he offered me Vicodin or Percocet and I have never taken Percocet (sp?) but I've had Vicodin for my migraines, so I knew I could take that.  He told me to go fill the prescriptions (one for an antibiotic, too) and to take a Vicodin right away.  So I did - and promptly landed on the couch for the rest of the evening while my wonderful husband cooked dinner and cleaned up.  :)  I thought I'd wake up in a lot of pain, but I didn't - they did tell me to take it easy today, so that's what I'm doing (doctor's orders, you know - hee hee).  Watching movies and reading and (of course) surfing the Internet.  So I'll share some of what I've been working on this week.

First is my card for the:

Anyone for Anya Challenge - New Year's!

I love this New Year's Anya digi image and let's face it, we don't get to use it very often - just once a year!  LOL  So I busted her out for this challenge, colored her with Prismacolor markers, Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits.  I used a white pen and some glitter, too.  DP is from My Mind's Eye - diamond gemstone stickers are from my stash.

Next is an ATC that I made for the:

Paper Craft Planet - A Day for Daisies December Play

I colored this beautiful fairy image with Prismacolor markers, Prismacolor pencils, mineral spirits, and Perfect Pearls in Pewter.  I added silver ribbon and brads.

 ***************************************

Now for my Design Team stuff!  :)  Today we have a new challenge & theme for you over at:

Dilly Beans - Shades of Red and Black

I went a little crazy cuz I love this color combo - I made 3 cards for this one, here they are:

 

I'm going to tell you my little "secret" about this next one - it's more like a tip, actually.  OK - so when I make square cards, I make them out of 8.5 x 11" paper, and I fold it in half and cut it to 5.5 x 5.5" - this leaves a pre-folded card measuring 5.5 x 3".  I started saving these scraps in a pile and before I knew it, I had over 50 of them.  I decided to make them into cards - and I realized that the small envelopes (not the business sized ones, the shorter ones) you get cheap at Target/Walmart/CVS - any store, really - are perfect for this size card!  Anyway - here's one of the cards I made in this size:

 

Last for today is my creation for the:

Paper Craft Planet Sassy Studio Freebie Friday Challenge - Make it Shine

I kept my little shadow box black and white, painted the images on with Mod Podge and then sprinkled glitter all over it.  I added some sparkly embellies from Stamping Bella on all sides/top/bottom.  Make sure you head over to the PCP group to pick up your freebie - it's only available for 24 hours so hurry!  :)

Peace.

Simon Says Stamp & Amber Ink

I can hardly believe it's Thursday already - this week off is going by too fast!  LOL  I still have to do a morning out shopping to get rid of these gift cards that are burning a hole in my pocketbook!  :)  Most likely tomorrow - I have to go get a tooth pulled today (yuck) and I'm a little nervous about it.  Cassidy is going to bring me and if it's not toooooo bad, we might stop at the mall on the way home.  We'll see.

I have 2 things to share with you today - first is an ATC I made using Gab in the Groove from Just Some Lines.  I am entering this into the:

ATC's with Attitude - Anything Goes

and

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Next is my last card as the pink December torch-bearer for Amber Ink.  Our last assignment was "anything goes" so I made this cute mermaid friendship card:

I colored paper-pieced her top and tail using the digi paper from Amber Ink, then colored the rest of her with Prismacolor markers.  I added the felt fish sticker and sentiment, easy card.  Peace.

Dilly Beans - Use 3 Digis

I had totally forgotten to send my buddy Megan my cards for this week's challenge, so I figured I'd link up to the challenge instead!

Dilly Beans - 3 Images

I made 2 cards, my first uses the owl, branch, and stocking Dilly Beans digis:

My next card uses the Ragdoll Ruby image printed 3 times:

I love this technique, popping out the fussy-cut image with foam dimensional dots.  I did everything in dark emerald green.  :)

Peace.

Saturated Canary & New Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge

Off to breakfast with a friend of mine, a woman I used to work with.  I love seeing old friends and I love going to breakfast - I think I feel a craving for pancakes, actually.  Mmmmm....

Anyway - I have a card for the:

Saturated Canary Challenge - Christmas/Winter

I colored with Prismacolor pencils & mineral spirits.  DP is from My Mind's Eye - rub-on sentiment is from Stampin' Up!

We also have a new challenge for you at:

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge Blog - NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION

Come on over and play along!

Peace.

Simon Says Stamp and... PHEW!!!

My goodness-  this time of year sure goes by fast, doesn't it?  I was proud of myself - I gave myself permission not to blog for TWO whole days.  I rarely even skip a day (as a matter of fact, I can't remember the last time I skipped a day!), never mind two!  But I needed to focus on my family and Christmas and all that, and it was a nice break.  We had a fabulous Christmas - how about you all?  Here are my 2 little (big) cherubs, along with their cousin Josh:

Trev is 18, Cass is 16, and Josh is 14

We spent Christmas Eve with Jeremy's side of the family, the Borjesons, complete with all of the Swedish fixin's!  We had ham, Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes, potato and meat sausage, and sill.  I made macaroni and cheese, too, which turned out really yummy.  We ate too much and laughed and had a fun night.  Elianna was the star of the show, of course - there's just something about having a baby around that makes Christmas even more special.  On Christmas day, we took it easy and visited my sister in our pj's, then stopped at my mom's house.  We exchanged gifts and then came home and ate leftovers for dinner.  Yesterday Jeremy took Trev to spend their gift cards and they both came home with new sneakers, which they needed.  Jeremy also got a nice new pair of boots for work (from me). My gifts included some new paints and mists, books, adhesive, body sprays, and a couple of fun gift certificates!  Cass got a TV and Trev got a new phone - so everyone was definitely happy!  :)

 *********************************************

Now that the festivities are over, I have a week off from work!  Good thing - I don't think I would even FIT into my pants!  Good Lord!  Time to step away from the fudge, Jenn.  ;)  I did some crafting last night and have been cleaning and organizing today - hoping to spend the rest of today and the next couple of days playing with my new stuff.  For now, I have a card for the:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Bingo

(I used ribbon/twine & gems & glitter/sparkle)

I colored this adorable Saturated Canary image with Prismacolor markers and added lots of Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  I tied twine around the card and added some pink gemstone stickers.  Peace.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Just a quick post to wish you all a very merry Christmas Eve and the happiest of holidays, whatever you celebrate.  Please head on over to the:

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge Blog

to see the fabulous eye candy on our Saturday reminder post.

**********************

I also have a little more news today - I'm happy to announce that I'll be on the Jellypark Design Team starting in January.  Since my term starts in January, I decided to play along with the current challenge:

Jellypark Challenges - Anything but a Card

I made this little sleeve for a microwave popcorn package.  :)  Head on over to link up your own creations and to see the fabulous samples from the DT.  Peace.

Sassy Studio - Freebie Friday on PCP

Well, I went out yesterday with my wonderful friend Linda and got about 1/2 of my Christmas shopping done, it felt so good to get some things accomplished!  I'm about to go shower and get ready for the day, Cass and I are heading out to finish the shopping and have some lunch.  Then we'll come home and start baking and wrapping.  This is my favorite part - I love being busy and spending time with my kids.  Trev even offered to vacuum the house today, so I'm taking him up on that and I appreciate it so very much!  :)  Jeremy is at work, but will most likely only have a 1/2 day - and then HE will need Cass to go with him to help him pick out something for me!  :)  FUN!

*****************************

We have a new challenge for you over at the Sassy Studio group on Paper Craft Planet.  The theme is "Make it Shine" so get out your glitters, glazes, and all manners of shiny stuff and dazzle us!  Here's what I came up with using the freebie provided at the group (available for 24 hours only, so hurry and grab yours!):

I colored with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and SU! markers. DP and large brad are also from SU!  I dipped the Very Vanilla brad in UTEE and then sprinkled glitter on it before it dried - you can't really see how sparkly it is in the picture.  Her dress is also covered in SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Peace.

Heart Journal & Dare To Be Sassy Thursday

I can't believe we're already at week 22 for the Greeting Farm's Heart Journaling Challenge!  The theme this week was MUSIC and here's my interpretation:

I used DP from 7Gypsies, spritzed with Log Cabin Smooch Spritz.  I printed out the images from deviantart - the text is a digi stamp from Tiddly Inks, which is a quote from the James Taylor song "Fire and Rain".  When I was searching for a digi image to use on this journal page and I saw this quote, it made me start singing the song in my head.  It spoke to me, I guess. 

 I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

I can relate to James - I've had good times that I took for granted and bad times that I conquered, even when I didn't think I would.  And I think we should all treat the people we love as if we might never see them again.  Does music speak to you, too?  I just love music, I've been brought to tears over lyrics that touch me.  Kinda dorky, I know, but I'm nothing but me.  Can't help it.  This art journal has been a great way to express my feelings on paper using my favorite medium - art.  It's really been therapeutic and I'm so glad I decided to play along.
 **************************
Next up - I happen to be a guest designer over at Sassy Studio this month, and it's been a lot of fun!  I love their images, they are so realistic and fun to color.  Today's new challenge is:

Dare To Be Sassy Thursday Challenge - Holiday Card & Gift

I colored with Prismacolor markers, and used DP from My Mind's Eye.  I used DP to cover a package of white hot chocolate, and decorated to match the card.  I added some blue gemstone stickers and the "HUGS" sentiment is a rub-on from Stampin' Up!

Peace.

Wicked Wednesday!

Heyyyyy - I'm starting to feel a little more festive!  I kind of forgot that I get the whole week off between Christmas and New Year's - ahhhhhhhh..... I envision a day of some serious house-cleaning, a few fun outings, and LOTS of time at my craft table.

So here I am today to shamelessly promote the new challenge over at my ATC challenge blog:

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenges - Steampunk

Our sponsor this week was Tiddly Inks, and the prize image is called Priscilla - here's one of the ATC's I came up with:

I colored her with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits, and Prismacolor markers.  I used DP from My Mind's Eye, and dragged the edges through a dark gray ink pad.  Metal steampunk pieces are from Tim Holtz.  Head on over to the challenge blog here to see the rest of the ATC's we created, and for your chance to win this gorgeous image!

Peace.

Amber Ink & Cupcake Inspirations!

Can I just tell you that PMS and the week before Christmas are not friends?  Grrrrr.  I feel like Scrooge, or the Grinch - and those are usually my hubby's roles to play!  LOL  I just need to get to Friday, when Cass and I are heading out to finish our Christmas shopping and have some fun.  I'm hoping that gets me into the holiday spirit!

Here is a little card that might help you get into the holiday spirit, if you're not feeling all bah-humbug like me at the moment.  hee hee  This is for the:

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge - photo inspiration

Amber Ink is sponsoring this week, and I used my Elf on the Shelf image from Amber Ink, along with a cake image from AI Factory.  I colored with Prismacolor markers, kept the whole thing pretty simple by sticking with solid colored cardstock from SU!  Black brads also from SU!

Come back tomorrow for a new WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC CHALLENGE (and click here if you want to play along this week, you've got until 7:00 p.m. EST tonight to link up!).  Peace.

TGF Holiday Blog Hop!

Hello friends!  Welcome to the 

TGF Holiday Blog Hop!  

I decided to enter the holiday contest and I made a double-sided Christmas ornament:

I paper-pieced Santa Ian's and Mrs. Claus Anya's clothes/hats.  DP is from My Mind's Eye, cardstock is from Stampin' Up!  Buttons and ribbon are from my stash.  I colored with Prismacolor markers and spritzed with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz.

Head on back to the Greeting Farm to continue hopping!  Have fun and good luck.  Peace.

Simon Says Stamp

This is going to be a crazy busy week but I'm prepared.  I have work Monday through Thursday, but on Thursday I don't go in until later in the day.  I am hoping to get a little shopping done that morning - if I can get my food shopping done then, I'll be able to focus on Christmas shopping Friday.  Then Friday night and Saturday morning I'll be cooking, baking, cleaning, and helping to make the house a little festive for Christmas Eve.  I hope I got everything done this past weekend that I needed to for challenges and my DT commitments.  I think I'm good - here's what I've got for you today, it's a card for the:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - SKETCH

You'll have to head over to the blog to see the sketch - I colored my image from Saturated Canary with Prismacolor markers.  DP is from My Mind's Eye (LOVE those colors and I'm such a sucker for polka dots!) - buttons are from my stash.

Have a great day, friends!  Peace.

A Day for Daisies

I love Sundays - I try so hard not to make any plans on Sundays, especially at this time of year, because I just love having the entire day to craft, bake, shop, whatever it is that needs to be done.  Today I'm going to try to catch up on all of the challenge and DT cards I need to make for the week and then I'll be baking cookies and making fudge.  I am making a platter to bring to Trev's old high school - they were so good to Trev (and to me) while he was there, and i wish I could do more to thank them but I really think they'll appreciate the goodies.  :)

I have one card to share with you today, it's for the:

A Day for Daisies Challenge - Anything Goes

I colored this sweet stocking digi image with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits.  DP is from My Mind's Eye and I used Smooch Spritzes in Emerald and Gold to create a background piece for the stocking.  I added 3 buttons from my stash and stamped the sentiment inside.  Hope you like!  :)

Have a fabulous Sunday my friends - hope you spend it however you want.  :)  Peace.

WW ATC Reminder and Anyone for Anya

Happy Saturday, friends!  Don't forget to check out the Saturday reminder post over at:

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge blog!  

You have GOT to go see what Megan came up with for today's post, the girl is a true artiste!  :)

I also have a set of 3 ATC's today that I'm entering into the:

Anyone for Anya Challenge - Anything Goes

 My plan is to get all of the zodiac images and make a complete set of 12 ATC's, but for now I have Leo (me), Taurus (Cass), and Sagittarius (cuz I liked the image!).  So here they are, starting with Leo:

Then Taurus:

And Sagittarius:

I colored with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits. Cardstock, glitter, brads, and ribbon are all from Stampin' Up!  DP is from Die Cuts With a View.

Have a great weekend!  Peace.

Dilly Beans & Sassy Studio

Happy Friday!  We have another fun challenge for you today, check out the:

Dilly Beans Designers & Friday Challenge - Santa Baby

I created this card using 3 of the Dilly Beans images, colored with Prismacolor markers and glitter.  I added white Fun Flock to Santa, and used UTEE on the mistletoe.  Be sure to check out the post to see the rest of the DT's creations and to link up!

**************************************************

Next up - today is another FREEBIE FRIDAY at Sassy Studio Designs on Paper Craft Planet.  Our challenge this week is "Pretty Presents" - create anything but a card:

I used today's freebie and created an ornament with her.  I cut Santa's head from some DP from My Mind's Eye, and used tiny circle punches for "thought bubbles".  I colored with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits, and sprayed the coaster/ornament with Emerald and Gold Flow Smooch Spritzes.

Have a fabulous Friday!  Peace.

Sassy Studio and Desert Islands Crafts

I am so crazy busy, I feel like a chicken running around with my head cut off!  But it's all good, it's a good kind of busy, I guess.  LOL  I am glad I'm working, and I like my job just as much as I did when I worked there before.  I love my co-workers, and I think it's a huge bonus when you get along with your co-workers.  I mean, you have to spend the entire day with these people - it sure makes it more pleasant when you get along and enjoy their company!  But I definitely need more hours in the day, especially at this time of year.  I have had to really get a back-bone and learn to say "no" to certain things/people, because I just don't have enough time and/or money to do everything that everyone would like me to do.  And I'm actually really proud of myself for being able to say "no".  I normally can't - I just say yes, yes, yes - and then I end up so stressed out that I either make myself sick or end up with a migraine.  I'm not doing it this year - I'm just going to say NO when I can't (or don't WANT TO) do something, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it.  Ha - well, I can at least say no.  I'll work on the feeling guilty next!  LOL  But the fact is that I have my own stuff that I want to do - and that my kids want/expect me to do.  And they are my priority, I want them to have a good holiday and to be happy.  I am so glad that I have next Friday off - I am going to be one of those lunatic last-minute shoppers AND I'll probably be up baking/cooking most of the night.  We celebrate on Christmas Eve, which is Saturday - so I really don't have much time after Friday to prepare!  Good Lord, this holiday really snuck up on me this year!  LOL

So real quick today - I have a card for my guest designer spot over at

Sassy Studio - Dare to Be Sassy Thursdays

The theme this week is to create something based on a Christmas movie or TV show.  I based my card on the movie "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."   I am also entering the above card into the:

Crafts and Me Challenge - Christmas
and

Crafting for All Seasons - Christmas
and


ABC Christmas Challenge
*******************************************

Next - we have a new itinerary challenge for you over at:

Desert Islands Crafts

I used a birthday cake image from Michelle Perkett Studio, DP from My Mind's Eye and buttons from foof-a-la.

I am also entering this birthday card into the:
 
Sundays with Crissy Challenge- Anything Goes

Have a fabulous day, friends.  And if YOU are feeling stressed out - just say no!  :)  LOL  Good luck with that.  Peace.

WW Reminder, ATC's with Attitude, Art With No Boundaries

Good morning friends - time for a new challenge over at

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge blog

Our theme this week is Christmas or Winter Holidays!

I am also entering this ATC into the:

ATC's with Attitude Challenge - Anything Goes

Please check out the WW ATC blog here to see the rest of the DT's creations and to play along with us!

*******************************

I'm a guest designer for December over at the Art With No Boundaries challenge blog and here's my creation for this week's challenge reminder post:

Head on over by clicking here if you want to see the rest of the DT's creations and to link up with us!

Have a wicked awesome Wednesday!  ;)  Peace.

I love me some Saturated Canary!

From the moment I laid eyes on Krista Smith's artwork, I wanted some of her stamps!  But they were sold through Sugar Nellies, overseas, so the expensive shipping prevented me from purchasing them.  Then she came out with her own digital stamp company and I instantly purchased a few of the images.  Then a few more.  Then a few more... you get the idea.  hee hee  I now have myself a nice collection of Saturated Canary images - and they are so much fun to color and create with!  So for today, I have 2 cards made with these adorable and fun digi stamps.  First up is a card I made for the:

Saturated Canary Challenge #6 - For the Boys

and

Sketch Saturday #185

I colored Spritz with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits.  DP is from My Mind's Eye and merry x-mas stamp is from The Greeting Farm.

Next is my card for this week's:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - photo inspiration

 

I colored with Copics and Prismacolor markers this time, used different DP from My Mind's Eye and added a sentiment from CS Designs.

Peace.