Fantastic....five?!?

No, this isn't about the movie "The Fantastic Four", which I have never seen. The title just came to me because I managed to complete five cards today, and to me, well, that is fantastic. I went to my first ever crop to benefit Soldier's Angels. I met several wonderful women there, and had a blast crafting with them. It was really fun to sit with Karen, Darlene, and Tara. I met them for the first time today. We were all working on different things and it was so interesting to talk to them about their projects and lives. What a great group of women. Karen was making dolls and she made me one with a cute little strawberry dress. I love her! Pictures to come later for that.

As usual, I spent so much time socializing, shopping, and organizing that I didn't do much else. Well, except make five cards. At first, I was really irritated with my lack of productivity. After all, I used images I had colored ages ago, so it's not like I had to take time to color (which takes me forever). My fellow crafters made me see that I got a lot done. I made new friends, organized some stuff that had been sitting as a mess for ages, and made cards for five soldiers to use when sending notes home. I decided that I'll take that and be happy about it.

Here are the cards I made (sorry if the pics are blurry or a bit dull. I didn't really focus on getting good shots before turning them in):

I deliberately didn't take much with me in the way of embellishments: just some ribbon, lace, twine, pearls and a tiny bit of bling. No flowers or anything that would add too much dimension. I tried to keep in mind that these cards will be shipped multiple times: once to the Soldier's Angels headquarters to be added to care packages, then to the soldier, then from the soldier to his/her family. I figured flat cards would be better for packing as well as durability. It's usually really hard for me to keep my cards so embellishment-free and flat, but today, it seemed to flow. I think being around all of those other crafters who were also there to support the soldiers and enjoy a day together might have turned on my mojo! What do you think? What makes your mojo flow?

You don't really want to hear me sing

So, the challenge at Guylou's Inimitability is to include something related to music or dance. My DT buddy Carla came up with the idea. She's always so chipper and happy, it's no wonder she came up with such a joyful theme. Me, I can be a bit of a cranker. Plus, I can't dance. I have no rhythym whatsoever. Furthermore, I can't sing to save my life. I mean, it's bad. People covering their ears and running bad. If I sent one of my friends or family a card that made them in any way think of me singing, they'd probably cringe instead of enjoy it. So needless to say, I didn't want to go with any images of someone with a microphone, although G has quite a few wonderful ones in her store (go check it out!). Instead, I decided to use music note paper and a bird, because everyone knows that birds sing all pretty-like. Except when they are sqwuaking (or however you spell that word. You get the gist). Then they sound like me.

I'm going to apologize now if there's spacing issues or anything once I inserted the pic. My computer at work (where I am posting from...shh...) seems to hate Blogger. I can only see half of the screen, so I'm working kind of blind here. Because of that, I'm going to stop this post now. You have until July 26th to enter the challenge. Head on over to Guylou's Inimitability for more details about the challenge, and you can also check out my sidebar for links to the blogs of my fab DT mates!

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!



I'm a girlie girl. I want a string of pearls.

First off, sorry I'm not around much lately. I have been spending so much time on the road that I haven't been home enough to create. When I am home, I get caught up in other things that need doing or just don't have any energy left to put into crafting. I'm hoping things slow down in August. July looks to be another crazy busy month, but I've got lots of fun things coming up. Secondly, it's time for another challenge at Guylou's. I admit that I'm a bit of a girlie girl. Yeah, I have done the firefighter thing, and every time I got dirty after a drill or something, I wanted to run home and shower. I don't like digging in gardens, cooking with flour (well, any cooking, for that matter), working on cars, doing any household projects that involve getting messy...you get the gist. The only kind of messy I like is the kind that comes from playing in my craft room and letting the ink and glue fly. So, this latest girlie challenge "swirls and pearls" is right up my alley. Oh, yeah, I think I mentioned in my title about wanting a string of pearls. I love pearls. Rick got me a freshwater pearl and sapphire necklace for our one year dating anniversary. For our one year wedding anniversary, he bought me pearl earrings. I'd love to have a strand of the big, round fat daddy pearls, too. Now that Rick's passed away, I might just have to get them myself, and call them a gift from my girls. Cats love their mommas and want to buy for them, too, right?!? I'm digressing again, aren't I? Where was I? Oh, yeah, my card. Here you go:

I used Leah and the ice cream cone and just cropped her down to fit on my card. The cone has liquid applique as the ice cream (chocolate...yum....). The full sentiment is "Here's to Birthdays, hope we live to be 110 pounds!" Paper is American Crafts. Pearls and ribbon are from my stash. I cut the curlique with a spellbinders die. Don't ask me which one, because I don't keep the packaging. Well, okay, you can ask me, but I can't tell you because I have no earthly idea.

Challenge details:

You have until July 12th at 10 pm EST to enter a project using the "swirls and pearls" theme at Guylou's Inimitability. Easy peasy, right? You could win a gift card and a chance to be a designer on an upcoming challenge! And while you're at it, check out the work of my fellow DT members (links in my sidebar). They've got some great stuff to show you!

Kraftin' clean and simple style

Time for another challenge at Guylou's Inimitability! I swear, my fellow DT members take this "challenge" word entirely too seriously. They really, really end up challenging me every two weeks, I'm telling you! This time around, Kim decided to make us practice our CAS (clean and simple) styling again. Plus, she added the twist that we have to use kraft paper. Now, I'm okay with that part of it. I love kraft paper and I'm having fun learning how to color on it. However, CAS just isn't my thing. Frankly, I suck at it. I am always in awe of those crafters who have this style mastered, because it really is difficult. In fact, it's a misnomer. It's not simple at all!!! Ok, enough whining.

I needed a card for a dear friend who's going through some tough times. I saw this sentiment on a card somewhere and have been dying to use it. I figured this image was perfect for it. What do you think?

It's a little card, only about 4.5 x 4.5 or so. I didn't need a big card to write out a quick little note. I colored the paint with copics and added some glossy accents to make it shiny.

Now, please show me some examples of your kraft and CAS style, because I really need the inspiration!!! Upload your creation to Guylou's Inimitability by June 28th and you could win a gift card to her store. Pretty please - just do it! I really need the inspiration, people. Really.

Just a few layouts

I went to the crop at my aunt's house last Saturday. I couldn't seem to get in scrappy mode to pack for it, so I just tossed a bunch of stuff in my Creative Memories cart (love that thing!). I didn't get much crafty stuff done in the nine hours I was there: 3 layouts, started a fourth, and colored 3 images. However, I did laugh so hard I almost peed my pants, drank a few strawberry margaritas, had a yummy crabcake dinner, and visited with family. I played with my cousin's Cricut, apparently tried to break it, and then ran away like it wasn't me. Oh, wait. It wasn't me. It was my other cousin who cut so much the blade got dull and the sticky on the mat went kaput. Ha! For once, it was not my fault. Oh yeah, and in the midst of all of that, I got hit on twice: once while in traffic on the way to her house and once at the Petco on the way home. My aunt's response to that? "Well, you're an attractive young lady and the men in this county are perverts." Too funny! I think I liked being called young even more than being called attractive. Not so sure what I think about the idea that it's perverts hitting on me, but I'll ignore that part.

Here's what I finished:

This one is about the Steiff, Hermann and artist animals I brought home from my trip to Germany last year. Note the use of my tag that I made for Guylou's last challenge. I knew I'd fit that thing on something!

 The above is my brother-in-law's first Easter, and this one is the pictures taken when I finally met my online friend Sara in person. Not one picture turned out well, but I still treasure them because they represent our first official "meeting". Love that girl!

 And here's the scrapping girls from that Saturday. My cousins Kim and Tina, my Aunt Connie, and goofball me (also pictured below after I'd already downed my first yummy margarita!). Now if I could just find the time and mojo to scrap some more. I would love to make some cards for Operation Write Home, plus I've got birthdays coming up this summer that need cards. Instead, I'm headed to the movies with my mom, my brother, and two of his kids to see "Men in Black 3". Maybe the movie will inspire me to use some of my cute alien stamps....

TAG, you're it!

It's time for another challenge at Guylou's Inimitability. This one's easy peasy for most, but not so much for me. All you gotta do is make a tag. That's all. For some reason, this teeny, tiny task always gets blown out of proportion for me. I just have a hard time making them. This time, though, everything seemed to come together. I picked my image, found some fabric and fun embellishments, and broke out my new distress markers to color. They will definitely take some practice!!! I'm so used to copics, and these are a whole different animal altogether. Anyway, here's what I've got:

I used Nounours, printed him on watercolor paper, colored with distress markers, and added glossy accents to his nose and eyes. The tag was cut with a Magnolia doohickey die. Fabric is from my stash. The button ringed in brown is an antique one that I got in a lot in Gettysburg. For once, that's all I've got to say. I know, you are not used to short posts from me, are you? Now it's your turn. Go make a tag and post it to Guylou's Inimitability. Details are on the blog.

I'd like to enter this card in the Cutie Pie Challenge Blog to use punches or die cuts. The tag itself is a die from Magnolia. The key printed tissue paper behind the bear was punched with a Creative Memories square stamp-looking punch. I can't remember what it's called; I've had it for what seems like a gazillion years!

Fight Like a Girl

I had such high hopes for creativity time this weekend. Um, well, that didn't happen as much as I'd like, but I'm choosing to be happy with what I've achieved so far. A card for Sara, one for Rob, and now this one. Patricia Garcia posted a card call for her cousin Susan, who is currently fighting that nasty witch called Breast Cancer. This adorable image from Whimsie Doodles is perfect for encouragement, so I decided to color her up and slap her on a card.

I encourage you to run over to the Whimsie Doodles store for your own download of Hope. She also comes in pants rather than a skirt, and there's other "fight" images, too. She's only $2. All proceeds for the purchase of Hope go to breast cancer research, which is another reason to add her to your collection. And if you'd like to send a card to Susan, check out Patricia's blog for info. You can click on the breast cancer ribbon in my sidebar to head to Patricia's blog.

On a side note, please take a moment to remember those men and women in uniform who fight for us every day, as well as for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Consider making cards for Operation Write Home or even adopting a soldier through Soldier's Angels. Links in my sidebar. :)

You say it's your birthday...

Na na na na...oh, wait, it's not my birthday, too. However, it is my friend Sara and her husband Rob's birthdays. His just passed and hers is a week from today. They invited me to a birthday BBQ at their house on Saturday, so I braved the holiday traffic on I-95 and I went. I am so glad that I did. I had a great time. I met lots of people, ate some great food, surprised Sara so much with my presence that I thought she'd have a heart attack...you know, stuff like that. Rob and I arranged it all and she had no idea I was coming to the party. She thought it was too far away (the drive takes from 2.5-3.5 hours, depending on traffic). When I got there, Sara and Rob were still getting ready for the party. Her friend Karen was already there, and sat me down on the couch in the "chocolate" room (the walls are painted a warm brown). She went to get Sara. Shortly thereafter, the bedroom door opened, and out walked Sara. She proceeded to walk right past me. Everyone was trying to get her turned around, but chick was on a mission. I finally called out to her, she turned around, saw me, and we had a mini blubber fest with some prolonged hugs and such. Anyway, I'm glad I was there to share her special party with her. Happy Birthday, Sara and Rob!

Here's the cards I made for them:

Well, hello doily!

It's time for a new challenge at Guylou's. This time, the talented Chana is hosting and it's a fun one. Doilies seem to be a big craft "yes" on cards and projects right now. There's several dies you can use, plus companies coming out with their own precut paper ones for projects. With this trend in mind, Chana brings us the "hello, doily!" challenge. I think it's pretty self-explanatory. Make a project using at least one doily. It can be fabric or paper. I went a bit fun and funky with my card this time. I definitely stepped outside my comfort zone with this one. I used the forever heart to make a "love you forever" card for my 11 year old niece. She's girlie, but also fun and definitely has her own twist on fashion! We had some glamour shots done last weekend and had a blast. I'll share them with you once I get the shots back from the photographer. Anyway, my brother's kids are very open about saying "I love you" and we make it a point to let each other know that the feeling is reciprocated. Every kid should go to bed each night knowing that they are loved. No child deserves any less than that. Ok, let me get off of my soapbox. Here's my card for the challenge:

I used two doilies: a square one for the background and a heart one under the sentiment alpha. The forever heart is from Guylou's Inimitability. I colored it with stardust pens and paper-pieced a bit, too. The sequined heart is Heidi Swapp, I think. The lace is from my stash. The papers were in my scraps pile. I attached the lace with my Tiny Attacher. Love that thing!

On to the challenge details: make a card or project using one or more doilies and upload it to Guylou's Inimitability by May 31st at 10:00 pm EST. You could win a gift card to Guylou's and a chance to be a guest designer in a future challenge. Our guest DT this time around is Theresa. Check out her work, and that of the rest of the DT. You're guaranteed to be inspired!