I'm so excited...

...and I just can't hide it (and now the song will be stuck in my head all day. Not sure I did myself any favors there).

CC Designs is having a DT call. I love their stamps and dies! Love, love, love them. They're too cute and so much fun to color. I could have applied when the call was first opened about two weeks ago, but I had to make another card. I couldn't just use "old" cards from ages ago, could I?

Turns out, I ended up making TWO cards, although the first one was actually in process when the call came out. She's for a friend who loves mermaids. This is one of my absolute favorite sets from CC Designs, and also one of the first I ever purchased. It's called Under the Sea and you can find it here. Anyway, let's get to the card, shall we?

 I went on layering and die cut overload, but I so love when I get to do that. Lots of dies, alcohol inks, beads, embellishments! So much fun to make!

I recently purchased the adorable Puppy Power set and Puppy Accessories Dies. I really wanted to play with them, and I've been seeing these great inside shadow box cards, so I decided to try to make one. There's some trial and error involved there, but overall, it was much easier than I thought it would be. The problem? There are too many cute puppies. I couldn't decide which to use! lol. I finally came up with this card front:

  

And this fun interior/inside:





 

Then this guy happened, because I couldn't stop once I started playing with them. I find CAS to be an art form that I have a difficult time mastering, but I like to try on occasion. He's got a big shadow around him because he's on an action wobbler. I've got another card to send to the team for consideration, too, but I think I've gone picture happy enough for now. Thanks for looking and have a fabulous, crafty day!

 

 

Spacey Birthday

I've had distress inks for years. I mean, since they first came out kind of years. I'll admit that I haven't done much with them. That is, until all of these cool tutorials started popping up for backgrounds. I even took time to watch some videos (I don't have much patience for them unless they get right to the point. Kind of ironic and hypocritical of me, honestly).

Let me set the scene: it was late at night, though you might not know it because of my bright-as-the-sun Ott lite. I decided it was the perfect time to get inky, so I gathered my supplies. Well, I tried. I realized I didn't have any white acrylic paint to make a good splatter of stars. I figured it wasn't a big deal. I have a white sharpie. I'm an idiot.

My space background was looking pretty wicked, if I do say so myself. Then came the Sharpie. Damn the Sharpie.

Look at what I did to my pretty space background! Well, that just didn't go as planned. I took some time to sulk (said time also included messaging the pic to two crafty friends to whine). Then I took it to a crop and decided to make the best of it.

I figured a shaker card would hide some of the awful. I yanked out my My Favorite Things set and got to work. My brother will now get this card for his birthday:

And he'll like it. Dammit.

P.S. this cutie is for the MFT color 72 challenge, which you can find HERE.

A little sassy, A lot sweet

My friend Danni's birthday is coming up later this month. Danni is a bit of a sassy chick, with a wicked sense of humor and brutal honesty just when you need it, all wrapped up in sweetness. She's a wonderful friend to have who is always quick to help when needed and jump to my defense even when I'm too oblivious to recognize that I need a defender. I was visiting at my aunt's this weekend, where I got the chance to not only see my family but also to color some images while my aunt scrapbooked. I colored this adorable image with Danni in mind, illustrated by Krista Smith for Sugar Nellie as part of the "Simply Sassy" line. I've had this stamp for ages; it was about time I pulled her out again.

As usual, I used copics. Unfortunately, I didn't note down the colors. Sorry about that! I chose the colors based on Saturated Canary's color challenge here.

The sentiment is kind of hidden at this angle, but it says, "May all your dreams come true." Seemed pretty fitting for a birthday card, as well as this cutie sitting in her pillows. The cream colored flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts and the pink ones are from my stash. I think I got them at AC Moore in the wedding section. The big flower is actually a hair piece where I removed the bobby pin used to hold it. Papers are Bazzill (cardstock) and Neopolitan by Recollections (Michael's). Pearls are from Michael's, as well. The felt corner is Heidi Swapp and I think long since retired. I'm working through my stash of them.  I guess that's about it!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Saturated Canary - color challenge
Sugar Bowl - anything goes with Sugar Nellie image
Oozak - anything goes with your fave color(s) - pink is my fave
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - sketch #141

Now to figure out the perfect gift to get for a friend who is both sassy and sweet!

FYI, it's my friend Tracy's birthday today (you can see her card a few posts below). Tracy has been with me through a lot of hard times and has always been supportive and compassionate. She makes me laugh, which is always a great quality to have in a friend. Please visit her blog and wish her a happy birthday.

Deja Vu all over again

In the last few months, I was in Toys-R-Us way too many times to count, purchasing gifts for various children. I was taken by surprise with all of the toys that have been re-released from my childhood, like the Smurfs, Holly Hobbie, and Strawberry Shortcake. It was strange to see my old friends again, but fun at the same time. It sure brought back lots of memories, like the ones of playing records on my big record player. You know the kind that was in a suitcase sort of configuration, with a handle for carrying? My parents covered mine with Holly Hobbie paper for me. Yeah, I was spoiled like that. I also had tons of dolls representing all manner of shows like the Smurfs and Strawberry Shortcake. My dear friend Sara's twins love Strawberry Shortcake and have a movie called "Strawberry Shortcake: Adventures on Ice Cream Island." I decided to use this movie as my inspiration for a card to enter in Saturated Canary's challenge #34: Movie Inspiration.

I have several of Krista's images. They are so cute and fun. I chose to use free hugs, simply because I needed a birthday card for my wonderful friend Tracy, and she will laugh because she knows how I am about hugs. As mentioned in a prior post, I'm a grab 'em and go girl. If you get an extended (or better yet - unsolicited AND extended) hug from me, you'd better recognize that you are damned special. Tracy will get lots of them if I ever get my butt down to Texas to see her!

I used a lot of orange because it's a favorite color of Tracy's. To bring in the ice cream inspiration, I added ice cream patterned paper, sherbet colors, and a little ice cream sundae button. This darling image was colored in copics, with some glossy accents added to her eyes and lips for shine. Paper is Recollections "Neopolitan" collection. Tag is a die from Magnolia. The tulle was actually a gift from Tracy at one point in time, so I figured it'd be appropriate to use on her card. Plus, the glitter adds a festive touch, don't you think?

Happy birthday to my friend Tracy! Love you, girl!

P.S. Many, many thanks to Sara for having me at her house once again, and providing her valuable input and advice regarding coloring. It's so much fun to color with someone else and bounce ideas off of them, especially when that person is Sara!

Supporting our Soldiers

I joined Soldier's Angels a while ago, because I believe that supporting the men and women who sacrifice for us every day is a wonderful cause and something we should all do. It really helps boost the morale of our troops when they are reminded that those of us back home are thinking of them, thankful for all that they do, and will always wish for their continued safety.

I am on my third "adopted" soldier. That's nothing compared to my soldier's "third": Paul is on his third deployment in the last six years. I've been sending him care packages but he only recently revealed that his birthday was back in December. I decided to make him a card and send him an extra-big care package this month. I've been wanting to try a tutorial by Sandy Allnock of Operation Write Home (another awesome cause to help support our troops). She has a great video on her blog showing how to color camo. You can check it out here. It was a lot easier than I expected, although I definitely need practice.

The image is "soldier Ian" by the Greeting Farm. Isn't he precious? He's colored with copics. For exact colors, watch Sandy's video. My memory for that stuff sucks! I did deviate from her tutorial on the skin colors, though. His skin is not as well shaded as I'd like, because my skin tone E's are getting dry and I don't have refills for two of them. Time to place another order with Oozak! The buttons are ones that I was gifted at a recent crop. Papers are the Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby.

Thanks for looking, leaving any comments, and hopefully, for taking a minute to do something for our amazing military. Links in my sidebar to both Soldier's Angels and Operation Write Home (hint, hint, shove, shove).

Shoot. I almost forgot. The card is based on this week's sketch at Mojo Monday. It's sketch 276. It is also for the Farm Fresh Friday challenge to Punch It! I used two spellbinders dies around the image, then a corner punch for the little photo corners.

Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays!

Seems like I'm making more birthday cards this summer. I'm not quite sure why that is, given that I've known all of these people for ages and it's not like their birthday dates have changed! I think it just seems that way because I haven't had as much time to create (or energy/mojo, for that matter). So, then it hits the last minute and I'm like, "crap! I forgot! I have to make a card for.." Tomorrow is both my Aunt Connie and my brother-in-law's birthdays. This time, I made their cards and forgot to mail them. I can't win.

The first card is for my brother-in-law, who likes funny cards. He makes it a point every year to get me a card that makes me laugh and loves when I make him a funny card. He's one of those people that gets upset if I don't make his card and brags about my cards to people. With someone who likes and appreciates your creations so much, how could you not make him a card each birthday, right? Anyway, the inside sentiment says, "You're only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime." This card is for the following challenges: Mo's Digi Pencil Too (DP2): anything goes with a Mo image and Papertake Weekly: Anything goes

And this one is for my Aunt Connie. She had an encounter with a moose on a trip once, so moose images are always a hit with her. I used liquid applique on the cupcake icing and colored the image with copics. Papers are Echo Park. The ribbon for the bow came from a lanyard I got at an event. This card is for the following challenges: Oozak: Bright colors and Paperplay challenges: birthday!

As always, thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you are having a wonderful summer!



It's finally here - a RAK of epic proportions!!!

Ladies and gentlemen in blog land, you may actually end up thanking me that my original RAK post was so late. I went shopping today and added more to the RAK. Those of you who know me and my RAKs know that this is not the end of it. Chances are, I'll keep adding to it until I actually ship the darned thing.

Here's a picture to give you an idea of what you'll be getting. You'll get everything in the picture (minus the table and placemat, LOL). Plus, I figure I'll add stuff from my stash, like maybe some flowersoft, more ribbon or twine, more papers, etc.

Just in case your eyes (and the lighting of the pic) aren't good enough for you to see it all, here's a list:
5 packs of Basic Grey chipboard stickers
Tim Holtz word tickets
Stamps by: ching chou kiuk, elisabeth bell, and house mouse
a Tim Holtz movers and shapers die (mini birdhouse and bird)
Spellbinders Nestabilities lacey squares
a navy blue copic multiliner
two copic sketch markers
a 6x6 paper pad from Crate Paper
ribbon and twine
square paper doilies
soap and body spray from Grumpy Girl, scent: fruit orgy

not pictured: Gina K paper, a gift certificate to Guylou's Inimitability (I'll purchase it and have G send it to you once the winner is picked), and whatever else I decide to toss in at the last minute.

added on 3/7/2012: clear epoxy "window" stickers from CTMH, enamel accents, 4 cuttlebug embossing folders, flower shaped buttons, butterfly/ladybug/bee shaped buttons. The box is now FULL. I don't think I can fit anything else in it!

I'm going to throw it all into a cute princess themed photo box for shipping, too. The box makes for adorable storage, or a good project to alter if you don't have the need for a cute pink box.

This RAK is in celebration of my 40th birthday on March 14th. Consequently, that's the day I'll draw the winner. All you have to do to be eligible to win is the following:
1. leave a comment on THIS post
2. post a picture of my RAK in your blog's sidebar

If you are not currently a follower of my blog, no worries. You do not have to be a follower to win.

Happy Birthday to me and happy RAK day to you!