living the life

 OMG my daughter had her 4th (yes, FOURTH) baby a couple of weeks ago and they were all here today and by the time they left I felt like I just ran a marathon.  ROFL  I wouldn't change it for a thing, though.

Today I have an ATC I made that I'd like to enter into the following challenges:

ATC Around the World #115 - Animals (3rd entry)

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Add a Sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Beautiful Blooms

Inkspirational Challenge

Tic Tac Toe Challenge (I used Die Cuts - Free - Any Sentiment)

I used Designer Paper & stickers from Doodlbebug Designs combined with an inlaid die cut from Altenew.  Peace.

bee kind honeycomb

Back to Wednesday again!  Seems to happen every week!  ;) I stepped out of my comfort zone with my color scheme for this one but I love how it turned out: 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Add a Sentiment (2 of 5)

 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Beautiful Blooms (1 of 5)

Tic Tac Toe #252 (I used bees/flowers/green and yellow)

Inkspirational Challenge #320

The image I used is called Honey Bee by Jeremiah Ketner (beautiful digis at very fair prices), colored with alcohol markers and glittery Stickles. Bee, honeycomb & "bee kind" stamps are from Visible Image. Peace. 

happy summer

 I often just create for fun and then try to find challenges that my creations will fit into, but today I really wanted to make something special for a couple of specific challenges. Here's one that I did today:  

I was inspired by the Mood Board at Just Us Girls #736

And I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:

We Love Stamping - Anything Goes/Sun-Sea-Sand (entry #2)

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Add a Sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Add Some Sparkle

Tic Tac Toe (die cut, free, any sentiment)

Inkspirational Challenge - Feature Products from 2 or More Companies

Background was created with Distress Inks and stencils.  My image is from Saturated Canary/Krista Smith Stamps - I used a die cut peace sign & polaroid frame.  Pineapple and flower stamps are from Lawn Fawn.  I used some Stickles glitter glue for the sparkle.  Peace.

Tags

 Popping in quick today with another tag post to share!  I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' - Tags (2 of 3)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes (1 of 3)

Gem of a Challenge Week 14 - Anything Goes (2 of 4)

AllSorts Challenge - Flowers (Using the FLOWER tag for this one - 1 of 3)

A Place to Start - Anything Goes (3 of 8)

I made a set of 3 mini tags using some stamps I had in my stash from Globeland.  Ribbons, papers, and sentiments were all from my stash too - I love using up that stuff! Peace.

Waving Hello

 What a beautiful weekend!  The weather is perfect, I spent the day with a good friend yesterday and then came home and had another friend over for dinner.  Today I'm off to a 4-year-old's birthday party at a lake - life is good!

Today I have a tag to share with you all:

The "waving hello" sentiment is a stamp from The Greeting Farm.  I used a piece of netting in the back of the dies, the seahorse & sand dollar die are from Spellbinders, the sea grass dies are from Crafter's Companion.  I used distress inks to create my background on the tag.  I used coordinating colors of distress inks to press the die cut pieces into, then embossed them with a clear sparkly embossing powder.  I love the texture on this tag!

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

We Love to Create #6 - Anything Goes with Mixed Media

We Love Stamping - Anything Goes/Optional Sun, Sea, and Sand

Sweet Stampin' - Tags

As You Like It - Favorite Non-Card Project and Why

(this is my favorite non-card project because I love the colors and the way the die cuts shimmer and shine with the embossing powder!)

Paper Funday - Anything Goes/Optional Critter Crazy

Have a great Sunday everyone!  Peace.

Dinner Time

Good morning peeps!  I had fun making this card below and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:  

FarmQuest General Store #18 - Anything Farm/Country Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes

Paper Funday - Anything Goes/Optional Critter Crazy (3rd entry) 

Try it on Tuesday - Things with Wings 

I used papers & stickers from my stash, which I love doing. The chicken wire frame is a die cut from Dies to Die For - the chick is a stamp from Mama Elephant's Lunar Animals set.  Have a great weekend!  Peace. 

with love

Happy Friday! I just got back from a quick little one-night camping trip in our fifth wheel with my parents.  We went up to Mount Washington and drove our truck up the absolutely terrifying Auto Road.  LOL  I'm glad I can say I did it but I wouldn't want to do it again! My husband wants to rent a sports car and race up it - he's nuts. 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

The Paper Funday - Anything Goes/optional Critter Crazy

Critter Crazy - Anything Goes w/ a Featured Critter

PolkaDoodles Week 28 - Anything Goes

The Male Room Challenge - Animals

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

I made my background with Distress Inks and water but I used colors that I don't normally gravitate to, I like how it came out!  The fox and sentiment stamps are called Me & Mine by Creative Expressions.  I stamped them with Versafine black and used a sparkly clear embossing powder on them.  Peace.

Leo - Child of Fire

 Ooooohhhh it's almost here, can you feel it?!?  LEO SEASON!  hee hee  Can you guess my zodiac sign?  ;)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspiration - Jungle Animals (2nd entry)

Critter Crazy - Anything with a featured critter (3rd entry)

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes with an Animal

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (optional Make it Cute) 3rd entry

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes (2nd of 3 entries)

I used the little lion from the Cosmic Stars set by Mama Elephant, the text and constellation are stamps from Picket Fence. The "LEO" text & Leo symbol are stamps from Studio Calico (they appear to be sold out but the Gemini, Aquarius, and Pisces acrylic stamp sets are only $5 right now!!!). Background was created with Distress Inks & water. Peace.

Christmas Elf

 I was so excited to see a challenge posted for The Greeting Farm Fan Page - they are some of my all-time favorite stamps/digis to play with! They are doing a Christmas challenge on Facebook, so I decided to make a Christmas card and enter it into some other challenges:

Addicted to Stamps #472 - Christmas

Daisy Chain Challenges - Christmas in July

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Christmas in July

Dragonfly Dreams - Christmas in July

Peace on Earth - Christmas

I used an older digi stamp called Anya Elf from The Greeting Farm, colored with alcohol markers and some Stickles added to the bell on her hat.  Background was created with Distress Inks & water.  I added a piece of red rickrack, and the sentiment is a stamp from Mama Elephant, stamped with Versafine Black & embossed with sparkly clear embossing powder.  Peace.

Baby Sage

 Hello all!  I made a card for my new grandson's birth, and I decided to use a sketch to spark my inspiration.  I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

TGIF Challenge #481 #tgifc481

The Cutie Pie Challenge - Beginning with B (baby, blue)

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Add Some Glitter (#3)

This adorable digi is called Little King I by Emmanuelle Colin.  I colored him with alcohol markers and added some gold Stickles to his crown.  I used die cuts for his name, Sage. Finished off with some gold gem stickers & text stickers.  Here are some pics of the big sisters with their new baby brother - first one is Analiz (4) and Raeana (5):

Milena is 2:

Thanks for looking!  Peace.

mermaids & chickens

 Man, it's so good to be back to crafting and blogging on a regular basis! Today I have a card for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Lots of Layers

Unicorn Challenge - Not Square

Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge - Optional Mermaids

Die Cut Divas - Add Some Glitter

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (optional Make it Cute) 2nd entry

Art Impressions - Magical Creatures 2nd entry

The Crafting Challenge - Flowers

My mermaid is a digi stamp from Saturated Canary/Krista Smith, colored with alcohol markers and Stickles.  I layered on lots of tropical DP (Crafter's Companion), including some circle die cuts, and a text sticker.  

...............................................................................................

This next card was fun to make - I would like to enter it into the following challenges:

FarmQuest General Challenge #18

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

This chicken was from a free coloring page I found online.  DP/chick sticker is from Doodlebug Designs.  I added a piece of ribbon, some gemstone stickers and a text sticker.  Peace.

A Happy Hello

 Happy Sunday!

Today I just have a little ATC to share for the following challenges:

ATC Around the World - Animals (2nd entry)

Critter Crazy - Anything Goes with Featured Critter (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas - Add Some Glitter 

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (optional Make it Cute)

I love making ATC's - they are quick to make, fun to give away, and I love using up my little scraps of paper. I tend to make a whole bunch of them at once.  This one uses a snake stamp from Mama Elephant's Lunar Animals set. The background is just a scrap left over from one of my Gelli plate pulls.  The leaf was die cut from the same scraps and then darkened with distress ink and embossed with sparkly clear embossing powder.  I finished him off by adding some Stickles glitter to his crown. Peace.

Mermaids & Christmas

Hello everyone!  Popping in quick to post a couple cards for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Let's Get into Shape

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Summer Fun

Unicorn Challenge - No Squares

Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge - Mermaids 

Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

I used a mermaid and sand castle from The Greeting Farm's Little Mermaids  set.  I made the background paper with my Gelli plate and some acrylic paint & stencils.  

And I also have a cute little card to share for the following challenges:

Sweet November FB Challenge - Christmas

Christmas Crafts All Year Long - Anything Goes

Daisy Chain - Christmas in July

Tuesday Morning Sketches

The digi is called Fairwee Snow Flurry Emaline by Sweet November Stamps, I colored her with alcohol markers and I used DP & coordinating stickers from Doodlebug Designs.  Peace.

Stay Wild Moon Child

 Happy Friday!

I made this card for the Fun with Funky Fossils FB Challenge (Flowers).  I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

The Crafting Challenge - Flowers

A Place to Start - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

I Spy With My Little Eye - Something Blooming Lovely

I created my background with Distress Inks and water on watercolor paper.  I colored the image with alcohol markers and sponged the edges with brown and black ink.  Peace.

Lions and Flamingos, Oh My!

 I have been spending so much time in my crafting room, it's been so great.  It's too hot & humid to do much of anything else! I start cleaning and I start sweating and I hate to sweat soooooo... crafting it is!  LOL

I'd like to enter this little ATC into the following challenges:

ATC Around the World - Animals

Critter Crazy - Anything Goes with a Featured Animal

Little Red Wagon - Something You Love (I love lions because I'm a Leo!)

Cupcake Inspirations - Jungle Animals

I used the adorable lion from the Mama Elephant Cosmic Stars set.  I stamped the sentiment & some texture stamps along the edges.  Monstera leaf was die cut from paper that I painted with my Gelli plate and then embossed with clear sparkly embossing powder.

And I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Paper Funday Challenge - Critter Crazy

Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes (1 of 2)

Everybody Art Challenge - We Love Stamping

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes (2 of 3)

Four Seasons - Summer - Inspiration Board

I make a lot of 5.25" square cards, and when I do, I'm left with this size "mini card" from the way I cut the cardstock.  So I have a huge pile of these "blanks" just waiting to be made into cards. Every once in a while, I pull them out and make a whole bunch.  For this one, I used my adorable Sunny Studios Flamingo stamps, stamped directly on DP.  I used some leaf dies cut from coordinating DP as accents.  Peace.

Blooms & Butterflies

 OK so it's not just hot - it's GROSS.  The air feels like you're breathing soup - it's almost 80% humidity.  I am not leaving my house today.  LOL

Today I have a card that I created for the

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge - Summer Color Challenge

(my computer won't let me link to IG but it's @simonsayschallenge

I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:

The Crafting Challenge - Flowers

Triple B - Birds, Blooms, Butterflies

Everybody Art Challenge - We Love Stamps

Try it on Tuesday - Things with Wings

I created my background using Distress Ink Pads and water - I use a nice heavy watercolor paper for this and it's my favorite technique for creating backgrounds.  I love using my Gelli plate too, but I am not good at being patient and waiting for my prints to dry!  LOL  I stamped this beautiful image from Woodware Craft Company using Versafine ink & a sparkly embossing powder.  I finished it off with some black brads in the corners and sponged some black ink around the edges.  Peace.

Have a Wicked Time

Man, it's hot.  I'm dreaming of Halloween.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

TGIF - White/Basic Black/Real Red  #tgifc480

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

The Crafting Challenge - Flowers

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - Anything Goes

I love this stamp from Woodware Craft Collection - I stamped it directly onto my background (created with Distress Inks and water) with black Versafine ink, then embossed with a glittery clear embossing powder.  I colored the rose only to highlight it, I'm very happy with the finished result!  Peace. 

Babies and Stuff!

 Introducing my first grandson (4th grandchild), Sage Julius!  9 pounds, 9 ounces - 21 inches long born on 7/7/2024!  Welcome to the world sweet baby!

I have so many stamp from The Greeting Farm, it's ridiculous.  LOL  This one just screamed to be paper-pieced so that's what I did (papers from Doodlebug Designs).  I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Stars & Stripes

Colorful Options - Flags

Get Creative - Red/White and/or Blue

This next card is super simple - I made this for the:

Just Add Ink Challenge (use at least 3 colors)

I used Azure Afternoon as my card base then cut the bubbles out of a die cover plate using Night of Navy.  The fish was die cut on Daffodil Delight.  I added some gemstone teardrop stickers and a sticker sentiment.  Peace.

Happy Sunday!

 Oh my gosh - it's Sunday morning and my daughter is in labor with her 4th baby, her first boy!  I'm so excited - I'm heading up to be with her in a few!

Gotta be quick so this card is for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Red, White, and Blue

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Stars and/or Stripes

Get Creative - Red, White, and Blue

Colorful Options - Flags

I used an adorable stamp set from Mama Elephant called Tiny Heroes.  I used Distress Ink pads sprayed with some water to create the background and then some background brick and splash stamps.  

And this one is for:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - In the Garden

For this one, I created the background using acrylic paints and my Gelli Plate.  I then used some die cuts to create the focal point.  Peace.

Seasons!

 The days after holidays always feel weird - like I never know what day it is.  LOL

Today I have 2 cards to share - this first one was for the All Dressed Up Facebook Challenge, theme is Seasons. I switched it up and went with Autumn, since that is my favorite season!  I would also like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings

Art Impressions - Magical Creatures

Heart's Quest Fantasy Challenge - Anything Goes

I used Magical Woodland from All Dressed Up, colored with alcohol markers & glitter (Dazzling Diamonds from Stampin' Up!).  I used a Tim Holtz die to make the "HAPPY" sentiment and used papers from Doodlebug Designs.

This next card uses an image from Saturated Canary/Krista Smith - assorted papers and a cool Monstera leaf die I found on Amazon:

I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges:

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Aloha

Daring Cardmakers July Elemental Inspiration

Inspiration Station - Photo Inspiration (I was inspired by the photo to create a beachy scene!)

Creative Knockouts #525 - Summer Fun

Thanks for visiting!  Peace.

Fight Like a Girl

 Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebration yesterday!  I sure did - my parents came over, along with my daughter and her kids, we had a wonderful day.  Here are the 3 cutest kids in the universe:

This is Raeana (5), Analiz (4), and Milena (2).  :)

So I joined one more design team recently, it's called Christmas (or not!) Bingo Challenge!  Here's the Bingo card:

Participants must use at least 3 items from each row.  Please check the site for more details.  Here is my creation:

I used a digital image from Saturated Canary (no longer in business).  I colored her with alcohol markers, used some papers from Authentique and finished off with a button. I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (optional - add embellishments)

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Simply Clean & Simple - Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers

Peace.

Birthstone Challenge - Ruby and/or Peridot

Hi there!  I'm happy to announce that I have also joined the Birthstone Challenges Design Team!  This challenge runs for about 6 weeks, a new challenge is posted on the first of every other month.  This month we are focusing on Rubies & Peridots - so red or green!  You can use one or both colors but they should be prominent on your card.  Here's my creation: 

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Red/White and/or Blue

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Get Creative - Red, White, and/or Blue

A Place to Start - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Open Challenge

I used a crab stamp from Colorado Craft Company, colored with Lindy's Magicals and a watercolor brush.  Sentiments are from Picket Fence.  Finished off with some Ruby stickers.  Peace. 

Sending You Oceans of Love

 I was super excited to be asked to join the Design Team for the Love to Craft Challenge!  This is my first card for them as a DT member - please feel free to play along with this Anything Goes challenge theme!  I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:

Inspiration Station - Photo Prompt (I was inspired by the beachy/ocean scene!)

The Outlawz Challenge - Summer Fun Greeting

The Outlawz Challenge - Main Blog

Dream Valley - Summer Colors

My cute mermaid & sentiment stamps are from The Greeting Farm. I created my background using paint on my Gelli Plate and a fun bubble die-cut plate.  Peace.

Yes, I'm a mess!

I had so much fun creating this card based on a song that I love, "Yes, I'm a Mess" by AJR. Click here if you'd like to listen to it.  I'd like to enter this into the following challenges: 

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Transport It (she's transporting herself with her cape)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes   

Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes (1 of 4)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes (4 of 5)

I used Super Hero Girl from My Grafico (no longer an active store/site) along with my Doodlebug Designs papers.  I printed my text on my DP and added some star stickers. Peace.