it's okay to not be okay

 Today is the day!  My event is this weekend and it all starts today - I'm leaving in about a half hour to go get started, so I figured I'd squeeze one more post in between now and Monday!  I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Thinking of You

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Thinking of You

We Love 2 Create - Anything Mixed Media/Paper Crafting

Polkadoodles #44 - Anything Goes

I made my background with Distress Inks blended on watercolor paper with blending brushes and spritzed with water.  My stamps are from Visible Image and now I gotta run! LOL  Peace.

Just Us Girls #752 - Guest Designer!

 Hello friends!  I was honored to be asked to be a guest designer for the month of November for the Just Us Girls Challenge blog!  Here's what we've got for you this week:

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

Stencil Fun - Anything Goes/Optional Make it Sparkle or Shine

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Thinking of You

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Thinking of You

Crafter's Cafe #313 - Anything Goes/Fantasy

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2444 - Anything Goes

I used an adorable digi mermaid from Caperuza Sketch, colored with alcohol markers.  My background was created by using Distress Inks through a stencil on watercolor paper, then misting with water.  I used Versafine Embossing Ink and gold embossing powder on the edges. Peace.

Naughty or Nice?

 I had a mini breakdown last night.  My event is this weekend, we had Afroman booked for over a year for our After Party.  We paid a $5000 deposit and our contract called for the balance due (another $5K) at the event.  His mom died about a month ago and his management called us telling us he was canceling most of the rest of his shows, but that he was "probably" going to follow through with ours and then asked us for the balance due. My husband replied that our contract stated the balance was due at the event, and that we weren't willing to pay early knowing he might end up canceling.  They assured us that he wasn't going to cancel because he had another commitment close by during the same timeframe.  Well, we got a text message from his manager yesterday letting us know he was canceling.  4 days before my event.  My husband and I were both super stressed all day and he's, like, normally "husband of the year" but he snapped at me last night and I just lost it.  I could NOT stop crying, for like 3 hours.  I looked like Shrek when I woke up this morning.  SIGH  But you know, we're both only human and we spend a LOT of time together... LOL  We managed to find a replacement band that our people seem to be excited about, so I guess it's all good. Deep breaths.

You know, crafting is truly therapeutic to me and I think that's part of the problem - this time of year, it's really hard for me to find time to get in my craft room, but it's actually THE most important time to make sure I AM taking care of myself!  I tend to make many projects in one day and then I share them throughout the month, so I rarely have to take a day off from blogging and sharing my creations.  That helps a little!

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

Stencil Fun Challenge - Anything Goes/Make it Sparkle or Shine (optional)

All Dressed Up - Anything Goes

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Optional All Stitched Up

We Love Stamping - Christmas/Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes/Make it Magical

I created my background by using Distress Ink and a stencil from The Crafter's Workshop on watercolor paper.  I added a strip of kraft cardstock and a couple of colored pearl stickers. So as you read above, I had a crappy day yesterday.  LOL  I went into my craft room to color to try to calm myself down.  I colored this entire image, Halloween Dress Up from All Dressed Up Digi Stamps, and then I accidentally swiped my Versafine black ink pad over her dress.  It wasn't pretty.  But I had spent too much time on this card to start over, so I just grabbed my little box of embellishments and found something to cover it up with!  LOL  Peace.

the good life

 Sliding in sideways to make the deadline for one of these challenges...

The Paper Shelter - Make it Sparkle

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Two Old Bats - Anything Halloween Goes

Digi Choosday Week 43 - Anything Goes

My digi stamp is called Witch on a Beach from The Paper Shelter, colored with alcohol markers, glitter pens, and Dazzling Diamonds glitter from Stampin' Up!  Papers are from Doodlebug Designs. Peace.

Spooky Squad

Popping in to post for a few challenges:

Di's Digi Designs - Add a Pumpkin

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Papercraft Challenge - Spooky Season

Digi Choosday Week 43 - Anything Goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #288

My image is called Spooky Squad from Di's Digi Stamps, colored with alcohol markers.  Papers are from Cosmo Cricket. Peace. 

batty about you

 Yeah, OK, I'm not done making Halloween cards.  Actually, I'm NEVER done making Halloween cards!  LOL  Someone came in my house around mid-September and said "Oh I love how you decorated for Halloween!" and I was like "um, thanks, but these are my year-round decorations..."  ROFL  Anyway!  I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges today:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Stencil It!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Two Old Bats - Anything Goes Halloween

I created my background by using Distress Ink on watercolor paper, then stenciling more Black Soot Distress Ink, then misting with water and blotting with a paper towel. This adorable stamp set is called Batty About You from Tracey Hey Designs, I stamped him on a piece of white cardstock with Versafine black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then used my blending brush to color him in with Black Soot Distress Ink.  I colored his boots and hat with alcohol markers. Peace.

be amazed and happy holly days

 Last post for me for this particular DT (the Christmas (or not!) BINGO Challenge board) - make sure you choose at least 3 items from any column, you can only go up-and-down, not across:

I made 2 cards for this round, I'd like to enter the above card (column G:  enamel dots, frame, patterned paper) into the following challenges:

Gem of a Challenge Week 21 - Anything Goes

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Magical

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Inkspirational #328 - Layer It

We are being sponsored by Polkadoodles and I used the Magician Wanda image above, colored with alcohol markers.  I made my background by using Distress Inks on watercolor paper and spraying with water.  Wanda was fussy cut and attached with foam dimensional tape to a plain white panel that I cut out with a die cut. I layered another circle die cut of designer paper behind her and finished with a tiny sticker sentiment.

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

And I'd like to enter this card here (column N: buttons, pink, ribbon) into the below challenges:

Christmas with the Cuties #86 - Christmas Pink

Cutie Pie Challenge - Pink & Pretty

I Love ProMarkers - Anything Goes/Flowers

613 Avenue - Anything Goes

For this one, I used Desert Cactus, colored with alcohol markers.  Papers are from Doodlebug Designs, I used a die cut inlay for the Christmas paper to show through.  I added a piece of green ricrac and a cute button with some more ricrac.  Peace.

Christmas and Birthdays!

 We have some new challenges for you and these will be my last for these particular teams, which I have thoroughly enjoyed!  We are being sponsored by Polkadoodles for these 2 challenges.  First up is the Love to Craft challenge, where the theme is always Anything Goes - I used Penguin Gifts from Polkadoodles:

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

Digi Choosday #42 - Anything Goes

Jingle Belles Rock 2422 - Animals on Christmas Card

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar November - Anything Goes

The digital image I used is called Penguin Gifts from Polkadoodles, colored with alcohol markers.  My papers are from Doodlebug Designs and I added some giant pearl stickers.  

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

Next up is the Birthstone Challenge.  The birthstone for November is Topaz and I used Holly Flower Basket from Polkadoodles:

 The birthstone for December is Turquoise and I used the Birthday Mouse from Polkadoodles:

. I'd like to enter my mouse birthday card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - P is for Party

613 Avenue - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers #763 - Birthdays

Dream Valley - Anything Goes

I colored my mouse with alcohol markers and Stickles and used some papers from My Mind's Eye. Finished off with a button and some gemstone stickers. Peace.