CAS for today

I just brought home 5 dozen ear of corn to freeze. Once my cup of tea is finished, I have work to do!  It used to be cheaper to freeze corn for the winter.  Now I freeze it more for the taste than for the savings.   Bet those itty bitty ants will just love it when I start shooting corn juice everywhere!  BTW, I appreciate all the suggestions you wonderful crafters have made to assist me with the itty bitty ants.  If they weren't so itty bitty, I might put a drop of glue on them and use them for card embellishments!

Here's a super quick CAS card for today's post.  

Challenges I am entering:

CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #43 :

 

Crafters Card Circle Challenge #90 - For the Boys

Crafty Creations Challenge #237 - Use a Number  (9)

The Male Room Challenge #3 - The Great Outdoors (which for a lot of guys means sports, sports, sports) 

Whimsy Stamps Challenge #62 - Clean and Simple

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #116 - For the Boys

Have a great week-end!

Happy Hooker

Most of you have probably seen this adorable digi cat from 2 Cute Ink.  It's the image displayed on their badge, on their blog, and on a lot of other blogs.  But please, don't click on the link because they have the most adorable fall fox image displayed on a card.  I am going to have to go back and make a purchase myself.  It's just 2 Cute!!!

This card is headed to the following challenges:
Link Up for Pink Challenge #16
In the Pink Challenge #27 - KISS  (Keep It Sweet and Simple)
Just Add Ink Challenge #180 - Just Add Coloring
Sister Act Card Challenge #22 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #88 - Any Sentiment
Shelly's Images August Challenge- Oh Scrap!
Digi Stamps 4 Joy Challenge #74 - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine Challenge #101 -  Digi Days
Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Make It Girly


and I'm headed back to 2 Cute Ink!

Life is Full of Disappointment

Please bear with me for a moment while I get something off my chest.  I don't mean I literally need to remove lunch particles, a creepy crawly, or other unwanted article from my person, but I do have something that is bothering me.  In a way, my problem is of the creepy, crawly category.  I am talking about those teeny, tiny sugar ants that have appeared in my kitchen, more specifically in the microwave oven above the stove.  First of all, the microwave is clean, spotless, free of anything even a teeny, tiny ant mighty find as sustenance.  And yet, when I open the door there are always a few ants inside.  I'd simply wipe them out and then use the appliance.   After several days of this, I decided I wasn't going to do that, I was just going to nuke the little buggers.  Here's where the disappointment comes into the picture.  I was hoping they'd pop like popcorn, or maybe jump around like water on a hot skillet, and at the very least, DIE!  But nothing.  Zero.  Nada.  I opened the door and they were still just on walk about in my microwave.  You can cook a fish, a hot dog, veggies in my microwave, but not teeny, tiny, annoying sugar ants.  I needed to share that with all of you.  I knew you'd understand.

Now, today's card.....
This card was created using A.J.’s Digi Globe by Amanda Marks, a piece of junk mail that came with my credit card, a piece of black and white DP (which will make you dizzy if you look at it too long), a die cut from the new CTMH cricut cartridge, Artbooking, CTMH stamp "live life", some bling, CTMH Trinkets Wooden Shapes, and some zigzag stitching on the sewing machine.

It was made specifically for the following challenges:

LEJ Designs Challenge #68 - Holidays + Travel
Through The Craftroom Door - Aug 27-Sept 2 - Anything Goes
Catered Crop Challenge - Map It! Recipe Swap Quickfire
Come and Get It Challenge - Let's Go on a Holiday
That Craft Place Challenge - Stitching Real or Faux
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Journeys, Travel or Destinations
The Artistic Stamper August Challenge - Postcards, Travel and Holidays
Heck of a Challenge - Summer Holidays


Please don't go without scrolling below!!!



Below are 2 cards I made this morning at Joyce's open house.  
CTMH has a new cricut cartridge which is responsible for the cuts that make up this 4 layer card.  All we did was glue it together.
 

And for the month of September CTMH has a pretty sweet deal which lets you get 3 stamp sets for $10 with a $50 purchase.  The stamps used on this card are from 2 of the special sets.  The 3rd set is an alphabet set, upper and lower case letters.

Layered Sunflower + CTMH card class 8/27/13

 

We are having a day of rain here in SE Pennsylvania.

Hopefully it will encourage my sunflowers to grow nice and big and open soon. 

 I have buds on all of them.

This sunflower stamp is from a CTMH stamp set.

Hope you can see the little bee brad in the middle.

I'll enter this card in the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #95 - Anything Goes

Eureka Stamps Weekly Challenge #54 - Be Sentimental

Tammy's Scrappin Corner Challenge #77 - Anything Goes

Catch the Bug August Challenge - Photo Inspiration

It's not the best day for taking photos but 

here are the cards we made at Joyce's card workshop yesterday.

Joyce's photos might be better.  Check them out here.

An Apple for Teacher

Sometimes my brain just won't turn off and I was up most of the night.  I dropped the sugar bowl and made myself a big mess to clean up, caught up on my online scrabble games, made this card and then this stupid poem started forming in my head.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I would have enjoyed a little sleep!

 

Hello Teacher!

I brought you an apple but please wash it first.

It fell out of my backpack and into the dirt.

The holes in the side are from my dog, Ralph.

It took me a while to get it out of  his mouth.

Then on the school bus it fell on the floor,

a big kid kicked it right out of the door.

Another kid grabbed it to play 'monkey in the middle'.

They thought it was funny because I am so little.

And then a man teacher, as tall as can be

grabbed that red apple and tossed it to me. 

I tried to clean it and get rid of the dirt.

See the big messy spot on my new favorite shirt?

After all that it's been through, I'm giving it to you.

I hope that the inside is not black and blue!

 Poem by Debi B.

Digi Image by Pattie's Creation Designs.

This card is for the following challenges:
Card Mania Challenge #28 - Ribbon 

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #58 - Anything Goes with Ribbon

Pile It On Challenge - Designer Paper

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Dotty

Card and Scrap Challenge #59 - Anything Goes

Pattie's Creations Challenge # 74- Anything Goes

ABC Challenge #42 - No Flowers

Get Inky Challenge #11 - Bugs

Love to Create Challenge #80 - Back to School

Make It Monday Challenge #155 - Anything Goes

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Back to School

The Pink Elephant Challenge #244 - Back to School

Sugar Creek Hollow Challenge #68 - Back to School

Brown Sugar Challenge Blog #56 - Bugs

Bloggers Challenge - Back to School

Clearly I Stamp Challenge #5 - School Time

Wags n Whiskers Challenge #111 - Back to School

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge #83 - Back to School

Flight School in My Backyard

When I came downstairs this morning and looked out the back door, there were 4 sets of mama birds with baby birds flitting around in our tree - cardinals, eastern blue birds, wrens, and downy woodpeckers.  How cute!  Of course, when I got my camera and opened the door

 (as quietly as possible),

 they all flapped off, not terribly gracefully.

  

And my daughter-in-law sent us the cutest pictures of my grandsons on their first school day.

  

New beginnings.  Ahhhhhh.....

OK - let's get down to business.  It's Mojo Monday!

(stamps are all Close to My Heart)

Just a few challenges for this card:

Card Crafters Circle Challenge #89 - Bright Colors

2 Sisters Challenge #158 - Square Cards

Dynamic Duos Challenge #67

 

Mojo Monday # 308 : round or square

 

Cute Digi

Heather Valentin at Lacy Sunshine deserves all the credit for this adorable Lil Dragon 

and Sketch Saturday Challenge #273 supplied the layout for the card.

I just did some coloring and then chose some DP.  

I'll be submitting this card to the following:

Sketch Saturday Challenge #273:

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Animal Cards

Tip Top Tuesday Challenge - use at least 2 things starting with you initials ("d" designer paper, dragon digi and "b"  banner, blue/green cardstock, and there is a little butterfly, too)
TIP: Want to mist your card but don't have the right ink color?  Try jello gelatin powder mixed with water.

Jellypark Challenge - Things that Fly
The House that Stamps Built DCC#814 - Things with Wings

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C200 - Animals
Creative Corner Challenge - Cute Critters

Simply Create Too Challenge #44 - For a Child

Celebrating

Freshly Made Sketch Challenge is celebrating 100 sketches with the following sketch:

 

And I know a certain young man who will soon be celebrating his 8th birthday.

He'll be receiving this card:

Papers are from the Dear Lizzie Neapolitan Paper Pad by American Crafts; Stamps and Milepost Shape by CTMH.

This is my entry for:

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #100

Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge #6 - Birthday

A Gem of a Challenge #94 - Something that starts with a 'b'  (balloons)

Bird is the word!

Actually it is the theme for the current Cards in Envy Challenge.  I just picked up 2 Inkadinkadoo sets at a discount store and both have birds.  So I used one of the images for this card:

(When I stamped 'thinking of you' on the white piece, I got some ink where I didn't really want it.  So I blocked the sentiment and then carefully added sections of the main image to hide the whoopsie.)

I'm also entering the card in the following challenges:
Alphabet Challenge Blog - N is for newest stamp or decoupage
Delicious Doodles Challenge #50 - Birds of a Feather
Jellypark Challenge - Things that Fly
An Inky Situation Linky Party #5 - Scallops
A.R.T. Thursday Card Challenge # 11- Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #87 - Anything but a Birthday Card with a Sentiment
The House that Stamps Built DCC#814 - Things with Wings
Little Red Wagon Challenge #199 - Layers
Craft Room Challenge - Something New (birdbath stamp)
Tip Top Tuesday Challenge #108 - Initials  "D" designer paper + dotted paper ; "B" black +
birdbath stamp  (Tip: Use a small punched scalloped square, diagonally cut in 4 pieces, to make decorative corner pieces.)

If you read my blog regularly, you know that my grandsons (ages 6 +8) were here Thursday afternoon.  They came with the following agenda:

I think we fit everything in,  plus a few extras like baking and icing a cake.  

Here is the arts and crafts project, I managed to get a picture before the nose cone got any more dented.

Notice the silver rivets are candies from my stash.

You Who?

When I first saw this digi image at Avery Elle, I thought it would be perfect for a gate fold card.   

And their current sketch is also perfect for a gate fold.  

So I made one:

I will add a fitting sentiment to the inside when I decide who is the 'you'.

In the meantime, I am entering it in the following challenges:

 Avery Elle AEI 'heart' U August Challenge

Charisma Card Challenge #33 - More than one fold
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #58 - Anything Goes with a Ribbon
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #182 - You Can Stick It (The center doily on the gray circle is a stick on)
Whimsical Designs Challenge - Just Add Glitter (I used CTMH glitter gel all around the outside of the For You tag)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #141 - Dies and Punches
Craft Room Challenge - Something New (The orange BG and multicolor doily papers are from a paper pack, Victorian Garden by Echo Park, I just got.)
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Embossing (The orange bling is from some blog candy I won at Halloween last year.)

Everyone has something to celebrate.

 Here's a bright, shiny card to brighten up your Wednesday.

I found this digi image of cute Chinese lanterns with sentiment on the Avery Elle blog (it's a freebie). I printed it twice so I could cut out and pop the lanterns.  I also cut the sentiment from the image so I could place it below the lanterns.  The green and yellow CS pieces are scored on all 4 sides.  Yeah, top and bottom scores don't show on the photo - sorry.  The glittery piece behind the orange frame is a scrap of vinyl Elaine shared with all of us at card class.  Thanks, Girlfriend.

 

 

This card follows the sketch and is my entry for the current Avery Elle AEI 'heart' U August Challenge.
 
I'm also submitting it to these additional challenges:
Digi Darla's Challenge #76 - Birthday Celebrations
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #185 - Song or Quote  (Celebrate Good Times by Kool and the Gang)
Ooh La La Creations Challenge - Inspired by a Song (Celebrate Good Times by Kool and the Gang)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #141 - Dies and/or Punches
The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Oh Scrap
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #94 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything but Birthday Card


Ooooo .... it's getting pretty dark outside for 10:30am.  Hope DH doesn't get too wet on the golf course. 
Come back again tomorrow.  My grandsons are coming later this afternoon, so I know we'll be crafting.  They really enjoyed the marshmallow toothpick buildings we made last week.  At least they enjoyed the marshmallows!

Hubby will definitely be wet!  It is pouring, big time! 

Sympathy Card + CTMH Card Workshop 8/20/13

This card recently went out to a dear friend in our card making group, who has received more than her share of sympathy cards this year.  Thoughts and prayers are with you 'little me'.

(This image is from the CTMH stamp set D1543 Country Born.)

Entering this in:

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #178 - Sympathy
Fashionable Stamping Challenge #54 - Clean and Simple
Challenges 4 Everybody #27 - Always Anything Goes

Little Blue Button Stamps Challenge #8 - Bling
Creative Card Crew Challenge #43 - Down on the Farm
Sweet Stamps Challenge #131 - Anything Goes
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #173 - Put a Frame Around It

Here are the cards we made yesterday at Joyce's using this month's Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month - A Chocolate Affair.  And you can get this set free!  Click on the link above to see how.





   







Oh yes, the cards: 

And a BIG shout out to Judie who missed class yesterday.  

Hope all went well and we'll see you soon!

Ouch, that hurt!

I whacked my little toe on the nightstand while making the bed yesterday morning!  Must be why I have back and blue on my mind.   It does make a pretty color combination for making cards.

This card follows the sketch and is my entry for the current Avery Elle AEI 'heart' U August Challenge.
 
The framed sentiment on this card is a free digi from Avery Elle which I printed and fussy cut.  After masking the inside oval, I used a dauber to color the outer frame.  To make the patterned background paper, I inked the inside of the embossing folder before inserting the paper and running it through my Cuttlebug.  I hope you can see the strip of black self-adhesive glitter tape I added to the embossed black strip.  It took me about 5 minutes to get the backing off that tape!

With the right inside sentiment, I'm thinking I'll use this as an Anniversary card.   But I think it would make a nice birthday card, too. 

I'm also submitting this to the following challenges:
ABC Challenge #41 - Lots of Layers
Make It Monday #154 - Always Anything Goes
Stamp and Create August Challenge - Glitter
Glitter and Sparkle Challenge #46 - Anything but Square
HobbyCutz Challenge #13 - Make your own background
Pile It On #33 - No Designer Paper
Robyn's Fetish #173 - Put a Frame around It

By the way, I added embossing and gems to yesterday's Mojo card.  What do you think?


Off to Joyce's card workshop today.  I'll post our cards tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Morning Beauty

Wasn't it nice of this butterfly to spread his wings for a photo?  

The butterflies certainly are enjoying my zinnias this year.

If you want to see some beautiful cards, check out the Design Team inspiration cards at 

Dynamic Duos!  

That's where I got the color combo for my Monday Mojo card below.

And I think the sketch at Mojo Monday is also a beauty today.

 

I did turn it around a bit so you could read the words on the little banners, pieces of an old report card.  I thought it appropriate for a wonderful young teacher who is having a birthday at the end of the month.

I wish I had embossed the 'Happy Birthday' so it popped a bit more.  Maybe I'll be brave and go back and do that.  Best put my glasses on first!  

And now that I look at it, I might add a swirl of black gems, too.

Am I the only one who does that -  post a card, and then go back and change it up???

I'm entering this in:

Mojo Monday Challenge #307

Dynamic Duos Challenge #66

 

A Gem of a Challenge #93 - Punch It Out  (I punched it out all right!  I used a McGill punch for the patterned aqua circle and had to push so hard I put the heel of my hand right through the plastic on the top of the punch.  Not such a good thing.)

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #197 - Die Cuts and Punches

Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge #6 - Birthday

One Crazy Stamper August Birthday Challenge

As You Like It Challenge #8 - Favorite Ribbon or Twine and why  (I love the sheer ribbons.  They make a great bow and are light and feminine.)

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #57 - 3 of something (flowers, brads, banners)

Have a wonderful day crafting away!

 

Just a splash of blue!

I sort of messed up with my entry for Love to Scrap so this is a 'do over' card. 

The challenge is a monochrome card: BLACK AND WHITE - and shades of gray and just a splash of one other color.

By George, I think I've got it!

 

I am entering this in the Love to Scrap Challenge #11 - It's Monochrome

Pile It On Challenge #33 - No Designer Paper

Allsorts Challenge #220 - Use your new stash (I picked up that pretty button at the CKC show in Lancaster last month.)

Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge #111 - Thread/Stitching

Card Makin Mamas Challenge #173 - Black, White + 1 other color

Creative Corner Challenge - Anything Goes

Docerela Creations Challenge #43 - Ribbon and Button

Inspire Me Fridays #116 - Anything Goes

Fun Day Friday Challenge #13 at Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes

 

Sunflowers for The Sweet Stop

My sunflowers should be blooming soon.  Until then, I have sunflower stamps.....

(I used all CTMH stamps on this card.)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Bold and Beautiful
Paper Playtime Challenge #16 - Lots of Yellow (must post by 11:15am)
MelonHeadz Friends Challenge - Flowers Everywhere
Sweet Stamps Challenge #130 - Bling
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Aug. 14th Monochromatic
Little Blue Button Stamping Challenge #8 - Use Bling
Card Makin Mamas Challenge #73 - Black, White + 1 other color
The Sweet Stop Challenge #2224 - Sketch with a spin and a prize

Whooo's Ready for School?

Here's another Back to School card using a digi image from Floppy Latte Designs.

And here are the challenges I'm entering:

Sister Act Card Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #230 - Back to School
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC231- School
Party Time Tuesdays Challenge #133  - Back to School
Craftin Desert Divas - Back to School Linky Party
Created with Love Challenge #53 - Back to School
Mema's Crafts August Challenge - Anything Goes + Back to School
Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #88 - Winged Things

I finally found

my packet of DP with a school theme.  That will teach me to reorganize!  I knew exactly where it used to be.  But that wasn't much help.  At least I found it and was able to make this card:

(The digi image is from Vintage TLC Creations.)

Here are the challenges into which I am entering this card:
Clearly I Stamp Challenge #5 - School Time
My Sheri's Craft Challenge - Back to School
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #230 - Back to School
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC231- School
Party Time Tuesdays Challenge #133  - Back to School
Craftin Desert Divas - Back to School Linky Party
Created with Love Challenge #53 - Back to School
Mema's Crafts August Challenge - Anything Goes + Back to School
Crazy 4 Challenges #198 - Back to School
Sister Act Card Challenge #20 - Anything Goes

Fairy Bird Digi

Look at this beautiful photo I shot yesterday:

I used it as inspiration for this card using a digi called Fairy Bird from A Day for Daisies.

I'll be entering it in the current A Day For Daisies Challenge #76 - Get Wild
and the following other challenges:
Inky Chicks Challenge #10 - Lovely Lace
Craft-Dee Bowz August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Crafty Boots Challenge - Die Cuts
Get Inky Challenge #10 - Ribbons
My Craft Creations Ribbons and Bows Challenge #58
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make the Cut
Vintage Stamping Challenge #11 - Wings and Things
The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge #50 - Whimsical
Card Crafters Circle Challenge - Ribbon and Lace
Wags and Whispers Challenge #110 - Fairytale/Fantasy
As You Like It Challenge #8 - Favorite Ribbon or Twine (I love using this thin ribbon that is almost like seam binding.  It holds it shape well and always makes a nice bow.)
Aud Sentiments Challenge #87 - Anything but a Birthday Card with a sentiment on front
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #57 - Use 3 of something (3 feathers at the top and 3 gems at the bottom)
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #61 - Wonderful Wings

Rev It Up for Cards in Envy

This cute little race car digi is by Heather Valentin from Lacy Sunshine.  I thought it would be perfect for this week's challenge at Cards In Envy - Rev It Up!  and give me another try at a One Layer Card for the Sentimental Sunday Challenge #167 - One Layer Card.  While I'm entering challenges, I'll also enter the Lacy Sunshine Challenge #14 - Favorite Things (mine is coloring digi stamps) and Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything Goes 4 Kids Challenge.

Speaking of kids, my grandsons were here for the morning and quickly got to crafting a lacrosse field and a baseball field.  Thank heavens for Dollar Store white wrapping paper!