Seeing dots!

I never tire of using this Close to My Heart Dotty Paper.  It was a special limited edition pack that they offered a few years ago.  I wish they would make it available in the catalog.  But it's out with the old and in with the new.  And you should see all the new papers and products available August 1st in the new catalog.

This stamp set, also CTMH, is also one of my favorites for kids of all ages.

For this card I  followed a sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #66. 

 

I noticed the DT used a lot of CTMH products on their fab inspiration cards, so I feel right at home on their blog.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:
As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Papers (I love polka dot paper because of its versatility.)
Fab n Funky Challenge #224 - Walk on the Wild Side (use animal stamps)
Hanna and Friends Challenge #202 - Animals
Inky Impressions Challenge #170 - Anything Goes
Penny's Challenge #188 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
City Crafter Challenge Week #222 - Animal Magic

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When I posted the cards from Joyce's card workshop on Tuesday, I missed one.  

Here it is:

Hero Card with no stamping

For this card, I brushed my denim blue ink pad across one corner of the raised side of a star embossing folder.  Then I brushed a cranberry ink pad across the opposite corner, leaving the middle section clean.

After running it through the cuttlebug, this is the effect achieved on the debossed side.  I used a CTMH cricut cartridge to cut the "Hero" from navy CS and also added a layer on navy between the inked paper and the white card base.  This card will be going to Operation Write Home.  

I'm entering this card in these current challenges:
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door July 29-Aug 4 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #30 - Embossing
Crafting From The Heart Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can Challenge #74 - Make Your Own Background

Never too early!

I was roaming around on Daring Cardmaker 
Kathy Black's blog - Kathy's Waffle.

She uses a lot of gorgeous handmade flowers on her cards.

Check out the fantastic origami flower she made here.  I'm going to try that fold for sure!   And that's what inspired me to add a dahlia fold flower to this card 
which also features a digi from Spyder's Corner, 
where Wednesday is a free digi day.

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:
Daring Cardmakers Challenge - Creating Kathy Style
Creative Card Crew Challenge - Christmas 
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday Challenge #183 - Christmas in July
Through the Craft Room Door July 29-Aug 4 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #224 - Flower Power
Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Anything Goes + Option:Handmade Flowers
Christmas Card Challenges #35 - Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge #204 - Christmas in July
My Time to Craft Challenge #254 - Use Kraft

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Yesterday Baby Benjamin (accompanied by his parents, of course) came to meet us.  What a precious little boy, exhibiting excellent behavior too!  My great-granddaughter, Laila, was very fascinated by her new cousin.

If you only knew how long it took to get this picture!

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Now would you like to see the cards we made at Joyce's CTMH Card Workshop this afternoon?  We got to use some of the new products.

 

The chipmunk is sitting on his tree stump, chipping for his dinner.  Time to take him a handful of sunflower seeds and then make something for my DH as well.

Racing the clock this morning

so I'm quickly posting my Mojo Monday #356 Tall & Skinny card and will return in a bit to add more info.

I have returned, as promised, to complete this post.  If you follow my blog, you know how I feel about Tall & Skinny cards.  But it's the last Monday of the month, so a Tall & Skinny card it is.  We are heading to the shore next week and I know we'll be consuming our share of ice cream cones.  And I love the ice cream with the tiny peanut butter cups inside.  Yum!  Ice cream and candy together.  What could be better?

For this card I've used scrap pieces from the Dear Lizzie Neopolitan Paper Pad by American Crafts, a puffy sticker from Hershey's Chocolate World, and a CTMH 'Hello' stamp on a 3.5 x 6 inch top fold card. 

Besides entering it in the Mojo Monday Challenge, I am entering it in:
2 Cute Ink Challenge #111 - Anything Goesmy mother's
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #29 - Anything Goes

Well, I must be gone from here.  Today is 'Meet Baby Benjamin' day.  My nephew and his wife are driving up from Maryland to introduce 4 week old Benjamin to the Pennsylvania relatives.  They will be making a stop at my mother's this afternoon.  I've promised to pick up my granddaughter and great-granddaughter and take them along to meet baby Benjamin, too.  That means tomorrow I should have a new picture of little Laila to share with you.  The watermelon teether worked well.  She has cut 2 teeth.

Cascade Card

Once again, the tutorial posted yesterday at Beccy's Place sent me straight for some paper, this time to make a cascade card.  You really have to check out her card because the papers she used are gorgeous and the card stunning.  I rifled through the pile of digis I had printed to use this month and pulled out a digi and sentiment from Doodle Pantry called Bird Bath Joy to make my own cascade card for Doodle Pantry's July Challenge.  Too bad I missed the challenge deadline.   But I'll show it to you anyway.

 

I will be entering this card in the following challenges which are not already closed:

613 Avenue Create Challenge #82 - Anything Goes + optional sentiment

That Craft Place Challenge - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge #124 - Spots and Stripes

Crazy 4 Challenges #246 - More than one fold

Di's Digi Design Challenge - Dies and/or Punches (I've used both)

Inkspirational Challenge #61 - Splash

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #70 - Polka Dots

Cut It Up Challenge #50 - Shaped Cards with an animal 

Digitally Sweet Challenge #98 - Embellish it up!

Pattie's Creations Challenge #96 - For the Birds

Wags n Whiskers Challenge #134 - Polka Dots

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #99 - Anything Goes with Ribbons

Did you know Hershey's also makes Twizzlers?

My grandson, a never ending fountain of trivia, asked me this last Friday when I took him early birthday shopping. (He'll already be living at the Milton Hershey School in August when his birthday arrives.)
His question reminded me of a sheet of puffy stickers I had somewhere in my stash.  I only had to look in 3 drawers, the first one twice, before I found the stickers. I mailed this card before he left Monday, so that he'd get it the first week he was there. 

I was especially happy, when I tucked the card in the envelope, that the sentiment (CTMH stamp) will be the first thing he sees.  I didn't plan it that way.  And I've decided the embossing folder I used on this card is my new favorite.  It's so fun!

Do you see the marks on the back of the envelope?  That's from writing the address on the front.  So always remember to address the envelope before inserting your card or these impressions will be on the card too.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar Challenge #104 - For the Boys
Crafts for Eternity Recipe Challenge #186 - Bunting and Banners
Crafty Catz Challenge #241 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Emboss It
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #142 - Anything Goes
My Time to Craft Challenge #254 - Use Kraft (The card base and layers beneath the red CS are kraft.)
Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #39 - Anything Goes
Treasured Times Stamps Challenge #21 - Anything Goes

Punny Vegetable Card #3

There are 6 different punny vegetables in this SU set that I've been playing with this week.  Once again I'm using the sketch 
 
from CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #86 and will be submitting this card to their challenge. 

Here are a few more challenges for this card:
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #70 - Polka Dots
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #241 - Anything Goes
Docerela Creations Challenge #66 - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #67 - Anything Goes
CASual Friday Challenge #134 - Tic Tac Toe (Dots, White, Sequins)
Oldie But a Goodie Challenge - Fruit or Veggie  (Everything, except the stamp, is from my stash and is over 6 months old.  And the stamp is from my friend's stash and is also over 6 months old.)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #161 - Eat 5 a Day

I Yam getting nothing done today! 

I love when my DH goes golfing!

Sketches do make life easier!

This card was such an easy one.   

CAS(E) this Sketch! Challenge #86 provided a wonderful sketch this week 

 

for making another card that should be perfect for 

my almost 13 year old grandson who is away at school.

I cut the shape using the CTMH Artiste cartridge; stamped the CTMH image on it and colored with markers and pencils then distressed the edges; distressed the edges of a piece of CTMH Kraft adhesive border;  stamped the CTMH sentiment; and assembled.

After submitting this card to CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #86, I'm entering it in these fun challenges:

4 Crafty Girlz Challenge #23 - Anything Goes

Inky Impressions Challenge #169 - No DP

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #142 - Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - CAS 

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Things with Wings or Tails

Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Distress those Makes

Great Impressions July Challenge - Animal Friends

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I recently bought my 5 month old great-granddaughter, Laila, a onsie that said

"So Many Bows, So Little Hair!". 

You can see why right here.   Perhaps her Great-Nana (that would be me) could use a shirt or crafting apron that says 

"So Many Challenges, So Little Time!".  

I might work on that idea.  But first I think I'll go make another punny vegetable card using this sketch.  There are still 4 stamps in the set I haven't used.  TTFN

Sketch cards

The sketches at Freshley Made Sketch and The House That Stamps Built both looked simple and fun.  I couldn't help but go right to work making a card for each.

First I made a black and white card using CTMH stamps:

This card will be entered in....
Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #146
Wonderful Wednesday Challenge at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Girlz Challenge #23 - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesday Challenge #182 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps Challenge #99 - Monochrome (red)

Then while my computer woke up I made another punny vegetable card using a SU stamp:
 


This card will be entered in....
The House That Stamps Built; Repeat Impressions Sketch #J2314 Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #142 - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #45 - Anything Goes
Oldie But  A Goodie Challenge - Fruit/Veggie  (Bling is 6 mo. old at least.)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #161 - Eat 5 a Day
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #28 - Always Anything Goes

Punny Vegetable Stamps

A friend loaned me a set of SU punny vegetable stamps to play with. 

I thought this might be a good one for my grandson, who is very punny himself. 

And it will be perfect for the following challenges:
Oldie but Goodie Challenge - Fruit/Vegetable +  something 6 months old  (I'm trying to use up some old colored CS, so that would be my old item.  And I'm certain the stamp is more than 6 mo. old.)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #161 - Eat 5 a Day (Fruit or Vegetable Images)
The Crafting Cafe July Challenge - Feeling Fruity (Fruit or Fruity Colors - I chose the later using lemon and orange colors.)
2 Cute Ink Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #12 - B is for Brads or Buttons (I used brads that look like tiny buttons.)
Crafts for Eternity Recipe Challenge # 185- Lots of Laughs


Gotta go. 
The wash is ready to go out on the line. 
And there are 6 more stamps in the set!

(Judie, Thanks for the paper pack.  I'd never give polka dot paper away!  And I'm not giving it back either!)

Imagine That!

Christmas in July at Imagine That! digis by Kris is well underway.  Participants in June's Progressive Challenge were emailed an adorable cat and mouse digi set called Meowy Mousemas to use in the current challenge.  I've paired the image with some MS paper that didn't get packed away with the rest of my Christmas stuff.

Besides the July Challenge at Imagine That!, I am entering this card in the following: 

Clear it Out Challenge - Christmas in July + glittery, sparkly things (I've loaded the brims and pom poms of both hats with glitter gel.)

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Hand colored image (I used penciles and markers.)

Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #175 -  Christmas in July (The image was die cut.)

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 29 - Christmas in July

Animal Friends Challenge - Dog and/or Cat 

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas Goes 

Craft Your Passion Challenge #223 - Christmas in July

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Things with wings or tails 

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #46 - Anything Goes + optional Christmas in July

I better post this before I froget! + 7/22/14 CTMH Cards

Here's something I don't make very often, a shaped card.   Why did I decide to make a circle card? I made it for Challenge 100 at A Day For Daisies- Goofin' Around.  

Of course, the party frog is a digi from A Day for Daisies.

  

I must admit it was much easier making the circle card base with the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  And the newest CTMH cartridge, to be released shortly, is supposed to have some new fun card cuts on it.  There were 9 of us gathered for card making today at Joyce's and she certainly had her Cricut buzzing.  Here are the cards I made this afternoon:

(We used the inside negative from cutting the sparkle frame for the card below.)

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Tuesday Throwdown Challenge # 205 - Handmade Flowers

Flourish with a Bling is the sponsor for Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #205.  
Who doesn't like bling? 
(Other than the Scrabble dictionary on  my Kindle which insists it isn't a word.)
Check out the Flourish with a Bling store for many colors of rhinestones and pearls,  absolutely gorgeous flourishes and beautiful flowers.
But no cheating gals, because this week at Tuesday Throwdown we want to see your handmade flowers.  

The very first Make and Take that I taught at a stamping show, several years ago, was handmade roses.  I decided that for this week's Tuesday Throwdown DT project I was going to make some of those roses.  Starting with little square pieces of DP, the old memory kicked in and I made a few to decorate this gift bag.

(I've used a CTMH stamp on the tag.)

It was such fun meeting all the people at that first show and watching them carefully carrying their paper roses until the glue and glitter gel dried.  I'm already looking forward to teaching Make and Takes at 3 shows this fall in Westminster, MD, York, PA and Edison, NJ.

Now it's your turn to make some flowers, add them to a project and enter them in Tuesday Throwdown Challenge # 205.  I am anxious to see them all.

And, by the way, my online girlfriend, Donna, has posted two flower tutorials on her Creative Smiles blog here and  here showing you how to transform plain prima flowers into wonderful accessories for your cards and projects.

I'll be entering this gift bag with tag in the following challenges:
Craft-Dee Bowz July Challenge - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #28- Always Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations Challenge - Summer Blooms
Anything but a Card Challenge 37 - Anything Goes
My Craft Creations Challenge  - Anything Goes

Masculine Mojo

Perhaps, I should have titled this post Monday Morning Mojo Madness.  I'm sure my DH would.  He is quite used to my Monday morning ritual of mojoing, (My computer underlined mojoing, but what is...is.) but not at this early hour after only 4 hours of sleep.

This morning I awoke @5, before today's sketch was even posted.  I found going back to sleep impossible.

And so, as soon as today's Mojo Monday sketch appeared, I got to work on this card:

I am entering this in:
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #355
 
Cards in Envy Challenge - Happy Birthday
Mema's Crafts Challenge -  Make it a Duet (Green and Brown + cream as accessory)
Die Cut Divas Challenge - Buttons and/or Bows
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Twine or String
Milk Coffee Challenge - Birthdays
Scribble and Scrap Challenge #22 - Always Anything Goes
Glitter and Sparkle Challenge #94 - Happy Birthday

Scheming Crafters at Love to Scrap

What's your favorite color scheme?

Red and Purple has become one of my favorites since it's one I use often ....

to make cards with my Red Hat friends.

Scheming Crafters! is the theme for the new challenge at 

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog.

We have 2 wonderful sponsors this week, 

Stitchy Bear and Fred She Said.

I chose this Red Hot digi stamp from Stitchy Bear for my DT card.  (I think the Red Hatters will love her, don't you?)  But it wasn't an easy choice.  Just check out the vast selection of stamps available here at the Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet Store.  
Please come join the fun at Love to Scrap, you'll be inspired by the wonderful creations the rest of the Design Team has made!

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The challenges into which I am entering this card are:

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge - Purple Team - Anything Goes

Scribble and Scrap Challenge #23 - Anything Goes 

That Craft Place Challenge - Anything Goes 

Kitty Bee Designs; Aloha Friday Challenge #28 - Favorite Color Combo (red+purple)

Fussy and Fancy Challenge #118 - It's all about Girls 

Creative Knockouts Challenge #46 - Friendship 

A Song in Your Heart Challenge #11 - Three Times a Lady 

Scrappers Delights Challenge #27 - Anything Goes/ twist:Cute and Girly

 

Too Adorable

A good many blogs are celebrating Christmas in July right now.  And Crafty Sentiments Designs gifted crafters with an adorable snowman digi image to use in their current Christmas Challenge.  Thank you so much!  

I've combined it with CTMH label and sentiments stamps for this sweet card:

I picked up the glittery blue washi tape at the mall this afternoon and just couldn't wait to use it. 

 So I didn't.   

I am adding this card to the other wonderful entries at Crafty Sentiments Design Challenge,
as well as,
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Christmas in July 4 Kids Challenge 
Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #38 - Anything Goes
We Do Doobadoo Challenge #10 - Spotty and Dotty
Jellypark Friends Friday Challenge - Christmas in July
Simply Create Too Challenge #66 - For a Child
Sister Act Card Challenge #66 - Anything Goes

From the Heart - July Challenge

Most of my Winter and Christmas papers, stamps, and embellishments are still packed away.  Luckily, I had picked up a pad of Martha Stewart Christmas papers on clearance this spring and they were much more accessible.  I chose this snowflake paper as the background for this wonderful digi image and sentiments, this month's free From the Heart set, Winter Friends, for their Progressive Challenge.  As you can see, I colored and die cut the image, framed the sentiments and popped the bottom one, added a few extra punched snowflakes with glitter gems, and some glitter gel.  And I know just who will be receiving this card, eventually.

I will be submitting this card to:
From the Heart July Challenge - Winter Friends
Crafting at the Weekend Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Dies and/or Punches
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #158 - Christmas in July
My Sheri Crafts Challenge #138 - Christmas in July
Fairy Tale Challenge - Use a Digi Stamp
Jellypark Friends Challenge - Christmas in July
Polkadoodle Challenge week 28 - Christmas + Add a little twinkle
Winter Wonderland Challenge - Blue Christmas

Friday Freebie with a "C"

What do Cardstock, Circles, Colored image, Candy Cane, 

Cute Chick and Christmas 

have in common?  

All are on my card for Catch the Bug's 

Friday Christmas in July Challenge 

and all start with the letter "C". 

I've used this week's Friday Freebie Bugaboo image,

 which is available right here.  

Thanks so much to Bugaboo and 

all the DT members at Catch the Bug 

for a fun week.

I am also entering this card in the following Challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #111 - Christmas in July
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #268 - Christmas
Charisma Cardz Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenge - Button or Brad
The Southern Girls Challenge - Something Circular
Hobbybook Designer Challenge - Christmas in July
Penny's Challenge #186 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spots and Dots
Hambo Hoedown Challenge - 'Tis the Season

Catch the Bug Thursday Challenge

Bugaboo's Christmas Bear is enjoying a relaxing day floating in the water at the beach.  I certainly wish I could join him.  It is such a gorgeous day.

This is my card entry for the Catch the Bug Thursday Christmas in July Challenge.  Today a bit of photo inspiration was provided....

 

I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow's Freebie Friday Challenge.

In the meantime, I am also entering this card in the following equally fun challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #111 -  Christmas in July

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #268 - Christmas

Crafty Little Fairies July Challenge - Summer Fun

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #330 - Fun in the Sun! 

Have a beautiful day!

 

Elf Workout

Humor Me Wednesday is the title of each Wednesday's Catch the Bug Blog post.  It stands to reason that for the Wednesday Christmas in July Challenge the cards need to be funny.  I'm not real good with funny cards so I hope this passes muster. 

Card front

Inside sentiment

This Bugaboo digi image is called AKV Elf - Ornament  

 

I've used a Bugaboo Image, Funny Sentiment, and Embossing (the top row) for the Catch the Bug - Christmas in July Wednesday Bingo Challenge. 

 

I'm all caught up!

Catch the Bug's Christmas in July started on Saturday with a blog hop, freebie available in the Bugaboo store, and challenge with the theme 'Show Us Your Santa'.  

Well, here's my Santa:

I've used Bugaboo's digi image Christmas Window Santa, printed twice (once on kraft so I could fussy cut the window frame).  I used markers, CTMH papers, a bit of glitter gel, white flocking, and a sentiment I printed on the computer.

Tomorrow is a BINGO Challenge.  See you then.

Catch the Bug Tuesday CIJ Challenge

Today at Catch the Bug's annual Christmas in July there is a Recipe Challenge:  Kraft, Embossing (Dry or Wet) & Snowflake (s).  Here's my quick and relatively easy (there is some fussy cutting) card using Bugaboo's Frame It - Snowflakes digital image:

I am entering it at Catch the Bug and also....
Inky Chicks Challenge #33 - Christmas in July
Crafty Boots Challenge - Christmas in July
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Christmas in July


BRB with my Santa card for Sunday's Challenge.

Christmas in July Mojo Card

It's Day # 2 of the annual Christmas in July Contest at Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.  Monday's challenge is a color challenge and I've combined it with the weekly Mojo Monday Sketch.  The Bugaboo Stamps image I'm using today is called Ava Christmas - mistletoe fairy.

I punched the image and mounted it on punched circles of pale pink vellum and pale green vellum edged in glitter gel.  She also has a layer of glittered pale vellum over her wings. The berries have dots of liquid glass over them for a shiny look.

I am entering this card in the following:
Catch the Bug Challenge - CIJ Monday Color Challenge
 
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 354
 
Glitter and Sparkle Challenge #93 - Anything Goes

My Perfect Life Week 27 - Any Christmas Card

Completely Christmas Challenge #20 - Anything Goes

Jingle Belles - one year old stuff (papers + embossing folder)

Shopping Our Stash - one year old stuff (papers + embossing folder)

Simply Create Too Challenge #65 - Christmas in July
Addicted to Stamps  holiday