Patriotism on Parade

These cards were made for Flourishes Patriotism on Parade Challenge - the intent is for them to be sent to the troops - that is if I can get them there on time. I'm always running against the clock and I just hope these make it! I made them very simple just Vintage Cream CS for the base, and 1 piece of DP from Carolees Creations. Stamps are from Flourishes Patriotism on Parade set, ink is Paris Dusk by Memento, a little stitching on one - and that was it - like I said very simple, very quick - so you might ask why I'm running so late - don't ask! It's very boring and tedious - LOL - Have a great day everyone.

Harvest Dance

Today's card is another great image from Mo Manning. This one is called Harvest Dance and she is having a challenge over on her blog here so head on over and take a look - you might just end up with a couple of freebies.



I used a combination of Prismacolor pencils and Koh-I-Noors with OMS to blend. The CS is Bazzil and DP is from K & Co. The sentiment is computer generated and taken from a song from the Fairy Heart Magic CD by Gary Stadler - Stephannie wrote the lyrics and is the vocal artist - it just seemed to fit. I used MS butterfly punch along with a couple of rhinestones (that wasn't in the plan until I made an ugly smudge on the image panel after I spent awhile coloring that one - I was not going to start over:)

Today is a day of preparing for the accountant, working some in my yard, and spending some time reorganizing my studio and painting the ugly dark built-in buffet in my dining room - love that!!!

Ballerina Emily...

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today's card is yet another one I have been working on over the past 2 weeks or so - coloring it - thinking about it - thinking about it again, and again, and again. In the end, I do like it. The image is adorable, it struck my heart immediately and I knew she had to be done (at least this time) in pinks. This sweet image is another one from KLM Designs. If you are unfamiliar with these images it's worth your time to pop over and take a look. What I love about digital images is that you just resize them to any size you need for your project and there you go, and - I don't have to agonize over what color ink to stamp the image in - LOL!



I also used all digital DPs - the 2 in front are from Seneca Pond and the background is the Hybrid Chick Sugarplum collection and I am so sorry - I don't know where I got that one - the file says Hybrid Chick Sugarplum Paper Daisies - but I failed to put the name of the company on it. If anyone recognizes the name, please let me know so I can give proper credit. These digital papers are really beautiful and you don't have to worry about cutting into them - because you'll always have more sitting on your computer - love that!

A little dry embossing, sewing, stacked buttons with a flower, ric rac, stickles, and some tulle gathered up and glued down with tiny ribbon flowers I made myself. And, this also qualifies for our new Blog Group Challenge to use ric rac and a button.

Here's a photo of our new fur baby - Cujo. Our neighbors bought him when he was 3 months old and we fell in love with him, had him over for Saturday night sleep-overs with our other 2 dogs, and what can I say - never really thought I cared too much for bulldogs, but once you're around them, it's a whole other story. They are sweet, and funny, they snore, they sleep with their tongues out, and just generally steal your heart. Their circumstances changed and they asked us if we would take him - Absolutely!!! So here he is in all his glory!



Take Care

Good Morning.....

Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing, and soul satisfying weekend. I was able to spend some time creating so it was good for me. This is a card I've had rambling around in my mind for sometime now. I colored the image actually a few weeks ago, but was not sure what I wanted to do with it. It's such a beautiful design I wanted to do it justice and it just wasn't coming together - so I set it aside, got distracted with some other designs, but always had it in the back of my mind stewing and eventually the design started forming and I hope I did do it justice. This is a digital image from KLM Designs called "Buttercup with Butterfly", and it's just so beautifully simple to me - how often do you see this very image (or one close to it) in your garden and would love to capture it. I have a couple photos from my garden with Shasta Daisy and my Butterfly bush - but not with the butterfly hanging like this. Anyway, enough babble, Katy has a lot of other beautiful designs also - so stop by and take a look. I'm working on Ballerina Emily right now (she's adorable) and hope to get it posted in another day or so. This also qualifies for a couple of the Designing D.I.V.A.S blog group challenges as well - the purple and yellow color combination and the gatefold card.



Then, there's the inside and did I ever learn a few things about lining a gatefold card - I will go about it entirely different the next time. I actually think I should have done a little more with this part of the card, but - it's done now, so I'll think about that also for the next one - LOL!



I used...

CS: Yellow from Bazzill, and Vintage Cream from PaperTrey

Ink: None, just resize your image and print it out - Love it! And, you can use them again and again. I did use Prismacolor Pencils and OMS to blend. I also used the Clear Star Gelly Roll pen from Sakura for accent and a slight bit of shimmer along with a gold metallic marker by American Crafts to line the edges with gold.

Accesories: CB and "Textile" embossing folder, MS filigree butterfly punch, pearls from Ellen Hutson, LLC, a self-adhesive magnetic closure from Basic Grey, a computer generated quote with Chopin Script font

I think that's it - have a wonderful and creative day. Take care,

Ratatattat.....

This is one of Mo's new images - she has so many beautiful images, it's hard for me to get to them all. I have several now just sitting on my desk calling my name while I run out the door to the shop or to the ortho clinic I work for, etc. This week has been hectic to say the least. My in-laws were here all day Monday and yesterday I had to run to Reno to get parts for a customer's vehicle - when really, all I want to do is sit and create. " It's a constant battle - but I digress. Mo's images - truly you are missing something special if you don't pop over to her blog HERE and take a look. The detail is amazing.

I used Bazzil CS, Ol' Glory DP by Rusty Pickle, Prismacolor and Koh-I-Noor pencils blended with OMS, star punches, a button from my stash, button twine from PaperTrey, and a little stickles to accent one of the stars.

Hope you like it. Take care and try to spend a least a little time today doing what you love - life's too short!

Butterflies and Pink Saturday.....

Good Morning and Happy Pink Saturday to everyone!! Thank you to Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday's. Please stop by her blog How Sweet the Sound and look at some amazing blogs, talent, and just some real nice people.

My post today is centered around The Butterfly Project. After the shooting at the Holocaust Museum recently, a wonderful project already in progress came to light and Craft Critique has become part of that by gathering as many butterflies as possible to send to the museum as part of a Spring 2012 exhibit in remembrance of the 1.5 million children who were lost in the Holocaust.Please read about that HERE and from HERE The goal set by the Project itself is 1.5 million butterflies.

When I first read the information I understood it to mean that we could send a project - later I read what appears to be - they want just butterflies. Either way, my little plaque is going to be sent and they can do what they want with it. I will make a single (or more)butterfly and post that later.



Have a wonderful and Happy Pink Saturday!!

Are you ready for the snow.....

Ready for the Snow is the name of this beautiful image. I became accquainted with this line through Peggy from The Wired Angel She posted the cutest card with the image of a little girl holding her dog - I had to investigate. Mo is the illustrator (she authors and illustrates her own books!!) and I guess with a little help from Peggy, decided to sell her digital images to cardmakers, etc. She has some of the most beautiful images. You can check them out HERE. You will be happy you did.

This is just one of my favorites - look at the detail and the sweet vintage look it has. It reminds me of some of the most beautifully illustrated books I read as a child. I was always intrigued by the illustrations - especially since my drawing skills leave a lot to be desired.

The DP is from The Signature Christmas by My Mind's Eye, the CS is Bazzill, I ran the middle piece through the snowflakes dry embossing folder from Cuttlebug, the button and twine are from Paper Trey. I used 3 different snowflake punches and added Glamour Dust for some sparkle. The image was colored with Prisma Color pencils and Koh-I-Noor pencils, then blended with OMS from Gina K.

The second one I decided to go ahead and post today - because Pink Saturday is tomorrow, and Mo has both of these cards on her blog today. So, here it is...



The CS is The American Paper Co., the dp is Stocking Stripes by My Minds Eye. I used the same snowflake punches and added glitter and a teal jewel. The bow is made from vintage seam binding and everything was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS - I just love this image!! I'm sure there's more to come.

Take care and try to spend at least a little time today doing what you love.

Christmas Morning...

I have the pleasure and the honor of being a guest designer for Cora's "Digital Two for Tuesday". She has some wonderful vintage images that she generously shares on her blog and you know how I feel about vintage - LOVE IT!! You'll also want to visit her other blog Clearly Vintage where there are more images and also a line of clear stamps. They are beautiful and sweet - a real "must have" for those of you who love vintage.



I was given 2 images to choose from, and I chose this one "Christmas Morning". Card stock is by Bazzil and The Paper Co., DP is Dear Santa and Frost Accessory sheet from My Mind's eye. I used a combination of Prisma and Koh-I-Noor pencils with OMS from Gina K, a button from my stash, button twine from Paper Trey, and stickles in Diamond and Christmas Red.

And as an added bonus Peggy from our Designing D.I.V.A.S blog group on SCS posted a challenge for Christmas in July - so here it is AND I didn't even see the part about having to have a snowflake on it, but happily my card already had one on it!

Take Care,

_____________________

Happy Pink Saturday.....

and Happy 4th!!

Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for putting all these lovely blogs and all their pinks together for everyone to enjoy. If you haven't been by there, take a look - you'll like what you see.

My pink today is a Happy Birthday crown I have put together at the request of the owner of Lake Tahoe Holidays - a most wonderful gift store here in South Lake. If you're ever up this way stop by - she has beautiful items for every holiday and occasion and is a real treat to visit with.



These crowns are made from a good medium weight card stock and then DP along with tulle, rhinestones, glitter, and yards of vintage seam binding. They tie in the back and I have applied eyelets for the ribbon for more stability. If you are interested in having a crown for your birthday girl you can e-mail me at thenestslt@sbcglobal.net The cost is $18.00 + tax if you live in CA, and shipping. Let me know your color choices - because they are individually hand made, each crown is varied, but equal in quality and pink appeal (that is of course unless you choose other colors) Once all of that is taken care of, I will send you a PayPal invoice.

Have a wonderful 4th and take a moment to reflect on why we celebrate this day - freedom is never free.

Take Care,