A Perfect Pair (FTC #97)

This is my third post for the Fairy Tale Challenge blog. I'm having so much fun joining in their challenges and hopefully you will join in too. :) (SORRY this is late. I am having computer problems. If anyone has any advice about a good personal computer (PC or MAC doesn't matter), please give it to me.)

Our new challenge is Sun, Beach, and Sea.

I used a stamp set that I don't know the name of, or even where I got it, but it came in its own pouch, like the plastic pencil pouches used in school. If anyone knows the maker, please share with me. I colored the image up using my Prismacolor pencils. The color combo came from a challenge **** but I'm too late to enter because of my computer's failure. I couldn't find my sentiment 'the perfect pair' so I haven't added it yet. I figured it would show up as soon as I posted this. :) The embossing folder is Cuttlebug and the die cut is Shapeabilities. I used my corner rounder on the mats below my image and the card base.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

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

More teeny tiny hellos...

Another project using Doodle Pantry's Summer Suits. :)

Most of you know by now (if you have followed me any length of time) that I love the color RAINBOW. Yes, to me, rainbow is a color. :)

I colored my image with my Prismacolor pencils and added the sequins at my FIVE year old's suggestion. (A crafter in the making? For sure.) The rings on the bottoms are colored in with my silver gel pen. The card base and smaller mat are Sahara Sand and the yellow chevron designer paper is from DCWV's Sunday Afternoon paper pad. I cut the sentiment on an angle with my Stampin' Up oval punch. 

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy. 

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

Crafting by Designs: July - Anything Goes
Your Next Stamp #14 - Sketch and/or Photo Inspiration
Stampin' Royals Linky Party: July - Anything Goes
Natalie and Amy #22 - Summertime
Crafting Station Challenge - Summer

Make-a-Card Monday: A Teeny Tiny Hello

So, I fell in love with this Summer Suits set from Doodle Pantry when I had the opportunity to use it for the latest 'Summertime' Pile It On challenge. (Go check it out and join us.) This is the second card, as of right now anyway. Since I write my posts early, I may have already made a hundred cards with this set. :)  You can see the first card HERE.

I used a Sahara Sand card base and Tempting Turquoise mat. My image is colored with my Prismacolor pencils. The sequins are from an old Simon Says Stamp card kit (small) and Joanns. My image and mat were diecut with my Nestabilities circle dies.

I punched out my sentiment with my Stampin' Up oval punch.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
CASe This Sketch #85 - Sketch
Inky Impressions #140 - Summer Fun
The Stamping Chef #38 - Anything Goes
Scrapper's Delights #27 - Anything Goes w/ Cute and Girly
Tuesday Throwndown #204 - Vacation
The East Wind #11 - 'Hot'
Your Next Stamp #14 - Sketch and/or Photo Inspiration
A Creative Need #21 - Vacation/Travel
Craft for the Craic #6 - Favorite Color Combo (Rainbow!!!)
Crafting by Designs : July - Anything Goes
Crafting at the Weekend #3 - Anything Goes
Natalie and Amy's Challenge #22 - Summertime
The Crazy Challenge #176 - Diecuts/Punches
Hobby Cutz #57 - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant Challenge #260 - Summertime
Digi Makeover #150 - Dies/Punches
Love to Scrap #34 - Color Scheme (Ombre Rainbow)
Crafty Boots - Summer Holiday
Make My Monday - Vacations
Crafting From the Heart #28 - Anything Goes
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Scribble and Scrap #23 - Anything Goes
Inkspirational #61 - 'Splash'
Open-Minded Crafting #15 - Vacation
Eclectic Ellapu : Purple - Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs - Dies/Punches
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #38 - Anything Goes
Aloha Friday Challenge #28 - Favorite Color Combo (Rainbow!!!)
Crafty Catz #240 - Hot Summer and/or Hot Colors
Brown Sugar #103 - Sea and Sand
QKR Stampede #97 - Vacation

Nice suit! (PIO29)

This week, Doodle Pantry is sponsoring our 
'SUMMERTIME' challenge over at the Pile It On Challenge Blog!

Doodle Pantry is offering our winner THREE digital products! WOW!

Thank you so much, Doodle Pantry!! 

So, I don't know about you but I have honestly not spent a lot of time on Doodle Pantry not looking at their adorable bird digis. I must have had some serious tunnel vision for their feather-y cuteness to miss this awesome set, Summer Suits. (They have a matching flip-flop set, too.) I was so excited about this set, I made two other cards that I will post in the next couple days. 

I made this card with my husband in mind. He wears a business suit everyday to work and it was fun to see him in a swimsuit during vacation. He looks good in both though. :) 

I used my Nestabilities dies to cut my circle and scalloped mat. I colored my image with my Prismacolor pencils. The embossing was done with a Cuttlebug folder. 

 

The inside was created with left over scraps and another sentiment that came in the set punched out with my Stampin' Up oval punch.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you happy and healthy. 

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

Aloha Friday Challenge #28 - Favorite Color Combo (Orange and Blue)

Crafts 4 Eternity #185 - Lots of Laughs

Crafty Catz #240 - Hot Summer and/or Hot Colors

Daring Cardmakers - Water

Brown Sugar #103 - Sea and Sand

Digitally Sweet Challenge #97 - Monochromatic w/ Orange

Left of Center #37 - Monochromatic

QKR Stampede #97 - Vacation

Cute Card Thursday #330 - Fun in the Sun

Inky Impressions #168 - Summer Fun

Crafting by Designs - Use a Sentiment

Allways Something Creative #79 - Summer

The East Wind #11 - 'Hot' 

Creative Card Crew #66 - Sea/Beach

Fantastic Tuesday #44 - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown #204 - Vacation

Die Cuttin' Divas #174 - Just Beachy

Createlicious #65 - Monochromatic

Scribbles #19 - Sea, Sand, Surf

Cardz 4 Guyz #27 - At the Beach

Craft Your Passion #222 - Citrus/Tropical Colors

Dream Valley #86 - Summer

Fab N Funky #223 - Feels Like Summer

Stampin' Royals July Linky Party - Anything Goes

Crafting Musketeers #15 - Summertime

Crafting by Designs : July - Anything Goes

Crafting Station - Summer

D.L. Art : July - Anything Goes

Doodle Pantry #48 - Make it Christmas or Make a Splash

Natalie and Amy's Challenge #22 - Summertime

Make-a-Card Monday: Wear Sunscreen!

I was really inspired by the color challenge over at Cupcake Inspirations this week. This card is for my blond on the first 'real' day of summer, June 21st. I made another for my brunette that I will share later. :)

I used this Wags N Whiskers 'Water Babe' image with DCWV Baby Girl stack. This paper is great for all sorts of things...not just baby girls. I colored my image up with Prismacolor pencils and added Glossy Accents to her goggles. I created my own sentiment with glitter letters and added the rhinestones and ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for looking! I hope this finds you healthy and happy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - June
Imagination Crafts: June - All That Glitters
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Craft for the Craic- Summery or Flowers
2 Sisters #177 - Make your own Embellishments
Fairies Challenges #27 - Summer
Sparkles #57 - At the Beach/Summer Fun
Lia Stampz #67 - Summer Fun
Word Art Wednesday #137 - Anything Goes
Scrapper's Delights #25 - Anything Goes w/ Sentiments
Aud Sentiments #109 - 2 Word Sentiment
MilkCoffee - Summer Fun
Crafty Ribbons #94 - Spotty
Moving Along with the Times - Seaside
Penny's Challenge #182 - Use Your Favorite Embellishment (rhinostones, ribbon, glitter letters)
Cute Card Thursday #326 - Beside the Seaside
Creative Corner - Summertime
FairyTale #94 - Lazy Summer Days
Fun Day Friday #55 - Summer Fun
Splendiferous Creations - Summertime
Di's Digi Designs - Lots of Layers
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room #224 - 'Party Time' Inspiration

Happy Summer - Boy Edition

This is the boy version of THIS CARD from yesterday. 

This image is Swimmy Sam by The Doodle Garden and he's been colored up with Copics. The paper is Down by the Shore by Fancy Pants Designs and the card base is Neenah Desert Storm. The sentiment is from one of my favorite sets Stampendous's Happy Everything. I inked it up in Versafine Black Onyx. I added Glossy Accents to the goggles. He's adorable. :) 

Thank's for looking! I hope this finds happy and healthy.

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

The Challenge #8 - Sketch

The Doodle Garden #4 - Summer Lovin'
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Stampin' Royals June Linky Party - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Sun, Sand, and Surf
Loves Rubberstamps #107 - CAS
Just Inspirational - Girls vs. Boys
Pause Dream Enjoy #12 - Beach/Ocean
Fantastic Tuesday #38 - Anything Goes 
Tuesday Throwdown #199 - Special Man
Digi Choosday #23 - Use 2 Papers
Ladybug Crafts - For Him
PaperTake Weekly - For the Boys
The Pink Elephant #254 - Father's Day/Masculine
Craft Your Passion #217 - Father's Day/For the Boys
Crafting From the Heart #22 - Anything Goes
The Cutie Pie #71 - For Dad
Make My Monday #9 - Male Themed
Ooh La La #158 - Father's Day/Male
Digi Sketch - Father's Day/Male and/or Sketch 
Crafty Boots - Sport
The Crazy Challenge #173 - For the Little Ones
The Kraft Journal #59 - Just for Him
Digi Makeover Challenge #144 - For Men
Melonheadz Friends - Summer Fun
One Stitch at a Time #216 - Use a Digi
Glitter N Sparkle #88 - Use a Digi
That Craft Place - Men
Sentimental Sundays #210 - Anything Goes
Hobby Cutz #51 - Father's Day/Masculine
Eclectic Ellapu: Purple - Card for a Man
Catered Crop - Manly Men
Left of Center #33 - At the Movies (JAWS - Ha!!)
Crafts 4 Eternity #179 - For the Boys
The Stamping Boutique #20 - Dad or Masculine
Craft for the Craic - Summery or Flowers 
MilkCoffee - For Dad or Male
Aud Sentiment #108 - Sentiment for a Guy
Crafty Little Fairies: June - Spots and Stripes
Timeout #7 - Summer w/ Optional Flowers 
Little Tangles #38 - Photo Inspiration 
Let's Create #93 - Spots or Stripes
Crafting by Designs: June - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean #79 - Inspired by a Song (Forever Young by Eddie Vedder)
Creative Card Crew #63 - Nautical
Fairies Challenges #27 - Boys
CMC Copic Challenge #94 - Anything Goes

Make-a-Card Monday: Happy Summer!

So my BFFs don't live in our area and, while we've been out a week, their kids' last day of school was Friday. So today is their first official day of summer!! Yea for SUMMER!! I had to make a girl and boy version. :) 

This image is Swimmy Sally by The Doodle Garden and she's been colored up with Copics. The paper is Down by the Shore by Fancy Pants Designs and the card base is Neenah Desert Storm. The embroidery thread is Martha Stewart. The charm is from the 'Sea' collection my Zibbet Shop.

The sentiment is from one of my favorite sets Stampendous's Happy Everything. I inked it up in Versafine Black Onyx. The middle 'happy' is thicker than the other two, it's made that way. :)

Thank's for looking! I hope this finds happy and healthy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
The Doodle Garden #4 - Summer Lovin'
Friday Mashup #163 - Sketch and/or Use Pattern Papers
Simply Create Too #63 - Celebrate Your Country (Red, white, and blue)
Crafty Catz #234 - Inspired by a Song (My Wish by Rascal Flatts)
Friday Fun Challenge #53 - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday #21 - Spots and Stripes
Crafty Creations #264 - 'S' (Stripes, spots, swimsuit, seahorse, summer)
Art by MiRan #7 - Anything Goes
Get Inky - Summer**
Crafty Hazelnut's June Challenge - Pattern Paper
One Sweet Challenge: June - Hit the Beach
Glitter N Sparkle #87 - Cute
Just Inspirational: June - Summer
V's Sweet Ideas #24 - Summer Fun
Use Your Stuff #138 - Patterned Paper
Pin-spirational #110 - Photo Inspiration
City Crafter #214 - Nautical
Creative Card Crew #63 - Nautical
Loves Rubberstamps #106 - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday #38 - Summer
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes w/ Summer
Deep Ocean #79 - Inspired by a Song (My Wish by Rascla Flatts)
WordArt Wednesday #135 - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Red, White and Blue
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
The Stamping Chef #32 - Anything Goes
DTBST #232 - Summer Lovin'
Send a Smile 4 Kids - For the Girls
Digi Galore - Nautical or Blue
Di's Digi Designs - Ribbons and/or Bows
Stampin' Royals June Linky Party - Anything Goes

First Scrap Retreat

I enjoyed my first scrap weekend at the 14th annual Bluebonnet Retreat in College Station, Texas. My cousin, Kim, invited me to join her and her daughter, Lindsey, and we had bunches of fun! There was A LOT of laughing and I even got a few projects completed (or at least done enough to bring home and embellish). It was a scrapbooking retreat, and since I don't scrapbook (yet, anyway :)), I brought some projects that needed finishing, minis I wanted to start, and Christmas in July challenge supplies.

Here's my mess (between projects). I have never had so much space to work on! Even though it was smaller than most of the ladies were used to, it was so much bigger than my space at home. I had just finished that Cosmo Cricket Tea for Two mini right there in the middle.

Here are some of the projects I got finished...

Before I left the house I made a hospitality gift for Kim to thank her for not only inviting me but hosting me as well.

This picture is actually upside-down but my bow would not tie right!

I got the Christmas in July projects finished up to embellishing.

A few minis start to finish.

Cosmo Cricket mini seen above

Not pictured, I fixed the Kids' Summer Adventure Mini Album spine that was giving me fits and a mini I have been working on (for YEARS) for Meg's kiddos.

I will post completed pictures of these projects as I finish embellishing them. :)

What do you take on your retreats? Must haves? Just for fun? I would love to know. I found that, though I thought I was bringing a lot, maybe too much, I didn't bring enough.

I would like to thank my awesome husband and mom for agreeing to stay with the kiddos this weekend so I could stay up until 2 a.m. mini-making. :) I love you so much.

Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

And another birthday...last one, maybe. For awhile.

Happy Birthday, Charlie!!!

This is a little late as Charlie's birthday was July 15th but I hope it makes him happy none-the-less. I mean what's a birthday if not stretched out for a couples days (weeks)? So I made little him a mini book for his first birthday. Technically, I should say, it's for his mom. :)

Again, I used the amazingly colorful DCWV's Celebration stack. I tried to stick with the more neutral colors to create more of a "boy" version, as opposed to my last post of the "girl" version. But like I said, it's mostly for Mom and so I didn't try too hard. Again, I used kraft cardstock and a tutorial by Chandra at YT: SuperHappyScrapper. Love this mini!

Happy first birthday, Charlie! Wish we could have been there to celebrate but hopefully we will see you soon. :)

Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Another Birthday...

My sweet oldest child turns seven today. SEVEN! Crazy.

Birthday

First birthday

Second birthday

Third birthday

Fourth birthday (and very tired because her three boy cousins were staying with us.) 

Fifth birthday

Sixth birthday (and loves Legos still)

I will put her seventh birthday picture(s) here this evening. 

E- You are such a little lady, most of the time. :) You can light up the room with your presence. You are graceful and kind, funny and smart. We are so lucky to call you daughter. Thank you for picking us to be your parents. Love, Mommy and Daddy

Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

Happy Birthday, Whitney!!!

My precious goddaughter turns THREE today! I can hardly believe it! My BFF, LT, gave birth to her the day before my oldest turned four. I was hoping they would share a birthday but it's close enough. :) I was able to meet Whitney the next day (after all of our birthday party guests left) and I've been in love every since.

This year, I decided I would make her a mini. I haven't made one specifically for her and I thought she was probably old enough to at least give it a try. I didn't use any big embellishments just in case the temptation became to great and they were pulled off or sucked on or whatever. All the embellishments I did use are made of paper so even if they do come off, they shouldn't be toxic if nibbled. If you would rather, you can watch the VIDEO HERE.

I started with DCWV's Celebration stack. LOVE this paper! It's so colorful and it's easy to turn it into a girl birthday or a boy birthday (will show that mini in the future :)). I used kraft cardstock and a tutorial by Chandra at YT: SuperHappyScrapper. I grabbed chipboard letters from my stash and the purple matched perfectly. I didn't want then to be too distressed but I had to remove the little bits that attached to the bigger page. I think they came out all right.

I had to put tape on the binding because my paper started ripping. I made the spine a little too small. This also makes this book not close very well.

I had fun using all the colorful, glittered/foiled papers throughout.

  

I tried to keep my tags clean and simple as not to add any more bulk to the book and because I wanted Whitney to be able to manipulate them herself. I also wanted LT to be able to add lots of pictures and journaling.

A card I made out of the colorful scraps. Couldn't let those go to waste. :)

A few more little details...

I hope you like it, Whitney! We love you so very much and hope to see you soon! Happy Birthday!!

I hope this finds you happy and healthy!