Gift Card Holder

This one's for my wonderful granddaughter, and mother of little Laila. 

That's a gift card for food! 

I refuse to buy clothes for an adult who wears a size zero!  

Florida has been a Hoot!

it's pink and perfect for the challenge at Cards in Envy.  Plus, I can mail it to Send a Smile 4 Kids and enter it in their Anything Goes Challenge.  I think it would be a great card to give to a young lady to celebrate returning home after her hospital stay.

(Fundamental Paper and Stamps are CTMH)

Since this is a girl card, I thought the little owl should have a little bow.  I very carefully cut the skinny, shiny edge from the white ribbon and spent more time making that bow than making the entire card.  Guess I've had enough Florida sun!  Tomorrow we head home.  My craft stuff is packed.  We've enjoyed our last afternoon walk.  And the neighborhood alligator was out on the bank this morning to say goodbye.  But I already have posts scheduled for Monday & Tuesday while we are traveling, so feel free to stop by.

Additional challenges:
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #177 - Things with Wings 
The Ribbon Girls February Challenge - Use any image
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #135 - Celebrate with ribbon

Party!

My DH peeked over my shoulder, saw the "PARTY!", and did one of those dance moves where you put your fists next to each other and move them in a circle.   I had planned this as a guy card.  From DH's reaction, I'd say it will work just fine as a birthday, congratulations, or party invite.  

 

The papers are from the CTMH fundamentals, which are a solid color pre-embossed pattern on one side and a white and colored pattern on the other.  

(I tried to get a good photo of the embossing to show you.)

The frame and PARTY! sentiment*  are CTMH stamps. 

The paper strip weaving might look difficult, but, actually, opening 8 brads and getting them bent so they didn't stick out was even more challenging.

The sketch

 

 is from the current Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #148, where I'll be entering this card.  A big thanks to the gals there for including my card for last week's challenge in their Top 3.

Here are a few more challenges I'd like to enter:

A Gem of a Challenge # 163 - Boy's Birthday

Allsorts Challenge Week 352 - Sentiment in Focus

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids

Inkspirational Challenge #103 - Geometric

Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Friday Challenge #127 - Recycled Scraps (Weaving is a great way to use up paper strips!)

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Occasion & Why (Birthday parties=Birthday Cake; I love Birthday Cake!)

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Words Only; No Images

* This sentiment is from the Close to My Heart February Stamp of the Month, Balloon Animals, 

 

which means you only have 3 more days to order it.  I've made several cards using this set, if you want to do some scrolling downward, or

here's a great Blog Hop list showcasing what 39 CTMH gals made using this set and also the new Share the Love stamp set, another special promotion for February.

Using what's available

When I did my packing, almost 2 months ago now, I neglected to bring any stamps suitable for a sympathy card.  Unfortunately,  I should have.  Luckily, I got a SU catalog when I was in The Villages last month.  The sentiment above was not stamped, but was cut from the catalog.   Actually, nothing on this card was stamped.  The CS and designer papers used are all by CTMH.

Challenges for today:

Crafting with Friends Challenge #15 - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft Challenge #24 - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls Creations Challenge #15 - Always Anything Goes

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Words Only

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #60 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #220 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Paperminutes Challenge #423 - Only Sayings

Crafty Boots Challenge - No Stamps 

Why did I do that?

I am referring to the faux stitching I put across the top of this card.  I'm not liking it.  But I thought Mickey and Tracey might like the double curtain fold, so I posted the card anyway.

 The papers, ribbon, shimmer trim, and stamps are CTMH.

3 hours later....

Well,  now we've had our daily walk to the 7-eleven; DH bought cigarettes; I got a double snickers bar with a wrapper that said Irritable on it; ate both bars on the way back home (today's lunch); ran to the farner's market BY MYSELF to pick up just enough food to get us through until Monday when we head back to PA; 

and now I'll submit this card to a few challenges:

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Occasion & Why (Birthdays - I love Birthday Cake! and finding that perfect gift for the special people in my life!)

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Spring

Okay.  That's enough of that!  

I should have bought 2 candy bars. 

Tuesday's Outing

This morning Mom & I ventured out to visit the Ringling Circus Museum and tour the beautiful  Ca' d'Zan Mansion here in Sarasota.  Our feet did not want to tour the art galleries on the premises.  But we did get to all the beautiful gardens.  Located in and maintained by the University of Florida, it's a fabulous place to visit.  

I have a card I made yesterday afternoon to show you today.

(CTMH papers and stamps were used.)

I realize Mother's Day in the US isn't until May, but the Craft Rocket Challenge #9 has a Mother's Day/Female theme this week and I wanted to play along.  It will keep until May.

Here are a few more challenges I am entering: 

Craft-Dee Bowz February Challenge - Anything Goes with a handmade bow 

Crafting From The Heart Challenge #100 - Anything Goes 

Craft Your Passion Challenge #300 - Anything Goes

Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party - Natures Wonders  

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge  #154 - For a Special Woman

Get Creative Challenge #33 - Must Use Lots of Red 

Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #118 - Anything Goes w/ Mother's Day twist

That's it for this afternoon.  

I may have to go rest my eyes for just a bit.

My hot tea is cold....

...a sure sign that today is Monday.  

Mojo Monday Sketch # 236 had my wheels turning.  Not because it is a difficult sketch, but because I don't have a circle punch at my disposal here in Florida.  Back home (brrrr! the thought gives me chills) I could do so many thing with this sketch.  Nice job, Julie!  For now, I decided on a CAS card using a fun hat stamp I purchased recently.  

 

I bought myself a snazzy red hat on Saturday.  I had 2 very helpful gentlemen assisting me, as the red and purple hats were on the top of the hat stand.  Nice guy #1 said I didn't want one of 'those' hats because they were for 'those red hat gals'.  I told him I was one of  'those red hat gals' and the fun began.  Nice guy #2 thought the purple hat with tons of red and purple feathers was great.  I agreed but then explained that I wouldn't get as much use out of a purple hat because they are reserved for your birthday month.  Nice guy #1 was partial to a very BIG floppy red hat with BIG red flower.  It probably would have looked better on him than little old me.  The red Fedora with bling and a purple band suited me just fine.  (Miss you, Gail!)

Getting back to the business at hand....

I  am entering this card in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 436 - 

 

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - For a Special Woman (All women are special, but this card will be going to one of my special red hat friends.)

Allsorts Challenge #351 - Birthday Wishes 

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #239 - CAS

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #16 - Hats

Craft Rocket Challenge #9 - Mother's Day/Female

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #120 - 3 of something (3 red hats with red blings)

 

Time to Hit the Road

Next week my grandson turns sixteen.  I'm sure he'll be itching to get his driver's license.  That will probably require getting a job, which might relieve that itch quicker than Gold Bond Medicated Lotion!

Here's his card:

(Stamps are from Sparkle n Sprinkle; numbers are cut from a magazine.)

Challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #176 - Anything  Goes 

Gem of a Challenge #163 - Boy's Birthday 

Allsorts Challenge Week 351 - Birthday Wishes 

Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #51 - Birthday Card 

Fab n Funky Challenge #292 - Male Birthday

Sparkles Forum Challenge #77 - Something for the Males

Shopping Our Stash #239 - Fantastic Plastic (I used a piece of acetate for the windshield)

 

Happy Birthday, Laila!

Today my great-granddaughter turns 2!  Last year I used the Quilted One & Bear digi image from Beccy's Place Digital Store for Laila's card.  And this year I've used the pre-colored Quilted Two & Bunny digi image for her card.

 I pieced bits of matching card stock together for the background and used a quilt block pattern embossing folder.

The sentiment was computer generated. 

Challenges: 

Beccy's Place February Challenge - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar Challenge # 186 - Anything Goes 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #103 - Anything Goes 

Crafty Catz Challenge # 312 - CAS no DP no Fuss

Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #126 - Anything Goes 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #149 - Cute + Sentiment 

The Paper Shelter Challenge #236 - Make It Digital 

Paperminutes Challenge #422 - Special Birthdays 

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Personalize It 

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Birthdays 

 

Balloon Birthday & Easter

The CTMH February Stamp of the Month features adorable Balloon Animals.  I CASE'd this card from my blog friend, Tracey, at her Papercrafting Princess Blog.  

Papers are from the CTMH Charlotte Paper Pack.

I am entering the birthday card in these challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #181 - Anything Goes
Double Click Skittles Challenge #42 - Happy Birthday (A few orange skittles would look fab on this card.  I may have to add them when I return home.)
ABC Challenge - B is for ... you pick  (Balloon is my pick.)
Kreativinkauf Challenge #36 - Balloons
Scrapbook Cardmaking Challenge #38 - Birthday

Now, I'd like to show you an Easter card for the SAS4K challenge using the Bunny Balloon from the same set, using basically the same layout.

The Easter card above has been submitted to these  3 challenges:

Fairytale Challenge #140 - Balloons

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #9- Anything Goes

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Easter or Spring Cards 4 Kids 

 

And, finally, another Easter card using the 3 bunny balloons I stamped, cut out, and rejected before finally deciding on the sorbet bunny I used in the card above.

Did you see the fun double slider birthday card I made for the Joyful Stars February Blog Hop using this Balloon Animal Stamp Set?  No?  Well, make like a bunny and hop over to check it out!

Time to go take a walk in this beautiful Florida sunshine.

Tomorrow I have a very special birthday card to
share with you!

Card Class Day

My gal pals back in Pennsylvania should be finishing up their cards at Joyce's CTMH card class right about now, assuming the weather made it possible for everyone to travel.  While I did some laundry, I decided to pull out the pack of CTMH Charlotte paper and make a card following the sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  It's a great sketch for using up bits and pieces.  

Stamps are CTMH, also.

This is a card that I definitely would have dry embossed, if I had my Cuttlebug with me.

I can't wait to see what the gals made back home.  Hope Joyce has time to post them on her Joyful Creations blog.

Challenges I am entering:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #147

 

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Let's Get Sentimental 

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #9 - Always Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Feb 16-22 - Always Anything Goes 

Quick Quotes Challenge #60 - Scraps of Paper 

 

Mojo Made to Order

Today's Mojo Monday Sketch Contest # 435 Card features a digi stamp called Cup Kitty 1 from Sami Stamps Etsy Shop.  I found the printed digi is my mini vacation stash and, luckily, today's Mojo sketch was perfect for using it.  

(Papers and charm are SU; sentiment is CTMH)

 As soon as I enter this in a few more challenges, I am headed back to Sami's shop for the adorable bunny in a cup.

Challenges:

Creative Knockout Challenge #128 - Furry Friends 

Animal Friends Challenge #35 - Cats 

Doodle Pantry Ants in My Pantry Digital Challenge #14 - Anything Goes

Show Us Your Pussies Challenge #3 - Love & Cats 

Flap Card

This card style is great if you don't have a full card base to use. 

Once again, I've used CTMH stamps and papers. 

front

opened card

inside

flower close-up, wish you could see the shine and glitter

I added some colors to the double stamped flower with colored pencils and blended them with gamsol.  After fussy-cutting, I coated it with glitter glaze.

Challenges:

Crafting with Friends Challenge #14 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge #311 - Use Red as the Main Color

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #15- Fantastic Florals 

Thanks for stopping by.   

It's time to get started...

on Easter and Spring cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids, whose volunteers will send donated cards on to children who are inpatients this spring at over a dozen Children's Hospitals in the US, British Columbia, and Canada.  

Here is a simple card for the current challenge at SAS4K using CTMH stamps.

-

There are several special requests from volunteers on the SAS4K
 blog, that you might want to check before making or sending your cards.

Additional challenges:

Crafting from  the Heart Challenge #98 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #298 - Anything Goes 

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #13 - Anything Goes

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes + Twine

StampArt Papel Retarte #70 - Anything Goes or Easter

Eureka Stamps Challenge #179 - Recycle It  (When I get a new roll of Glue Dots, I always tie a string through it so it won't unravel if I drop it.  I use different colors of baker's twine so I know which roll is which, small, medium...  I am currently on vacation and only brought a small stash of craft items with me.  For this card I recycled the aqua twine that was tied on my roll of large dots to make the tiny bow. )

It is a beautiful day here in sunny Florida,  no wind, high 60's.

But I miss my homies! 

(And my Cuttlebug!)

February Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars February 2016 Blog Hop!

  
Last month I was asked to join Joyce's monthly blog hop.  It was nice of her to include me in this group of very talented CTMH consultants and stampers, even though I am not a consultant.  This month I am following Stephanie's blog.  The hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter where you start, just continue from blog to blog until you're back where you started to make sure you see all the fabulous projects.  From here you want to go Lori Meadows' blog. 

For my project, I made a Birthday Double Slider Card using the new February CTMH Stamp of the Month, Balloon Animals, and both sides of a sheet of yellow Fundamental paper.  

Now head on over to
Lori's blog
to see what she has made this month.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:

Craftin' Desert Divas Linky Party - Hearts

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #98 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge # 298 - Anything Goes

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Favorite Paper Pack (The fundamentals are my favorite right now.)

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #27 - Anything Goes

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #134 - Anything Goes with ribbon or trim

 

One Layer Valentine?

Does a ribbon count as a layer?  What about bling?  Does a one layer card mean one layer of paper plus the card base?  Or is the card base the only layer?

Would you consider this a one layer card?

(Stamps and ribbon are CTMH products.  Everything is stamped directly on the card base.  The perimeter was masked before stamping.  Then I used a stylus to score around the card to making it appear to have multiple layers.)

Challenges:

613 Avenue Create Challenge #162 - Anything Goes w/ option One Layer

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #106 - Love/Valentine

Creative Card Crew Challenge #106 - Love 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #123 - Anything Goes w/ option So In Love

Inky Chicks Challenge #62 - Love (letters) and/or Hearts

Unicorn Challenge #6 - Lots of Love

Cards in Envy Challenge - From the Heart

Get Creative Challenge #32 - Hearts

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Love is in the Air

Love to Scrap Challenge #71 - Have a Heart

Where the Heart Is Challenge #6 - Love

CAS on Sunday Challenge #76 - Valentine

Blessings Ink Amusing Challenge - Hearts

A Gem of a Challenge #162 - Love is in the Air

Allsorts Challenge 349 -  Clean and Simple

Craft Rocket Challenge #8 - Valentine/Love

Bird Watching

This morning we've seen a wood stork, 2 sandhill cranes, a great blue heron, several ducks, limkins, and a flock of American anhingas on the waterway outside our temporary winter home.  At least, referring to a bird book for identification, that's what we think they are.

This beautiful day certainly made it hard to come inside and work on my Mojo Monday Sketch #434 Card. 

The irresistable hedgehog stamp was from one of those really inexpensive bins at Michael's.   The sentiment, circle border and heart stamps are from CTMH.

Other challenges I am entering are:

Crafts Galore Encore February Challenge - Use a digi or stamp 

Crafty Hazelnut's February Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything with patterned paper Goes 

Paradise of Stamps Challenge #35 - Valentine

Scribbles Designs Challenge #37 - Have a Heart 

Bastel-traum Challenge #37 - Valentine

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #119 - Anything Goes

Blessings Ink Amusing Challenge - Hearts

Paper Minutes Challenge # 420 - Hedgehogs

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #302 - Valentine's Cards

 

Happy News

My mother received a call this morning announcing the arrival of a grandson to some friends of hers.  She asked if I had anything in my traveling stash to make a card for the grandparents.  Luckily, I happen to have some CTMH stamps, including the new CTMH Stamp of the Month for February, Balloon Animals, and a new paper pack from SU.

Challenges:

The Alphabet Challenge - Y for You Choose (I chose everything but the theme of this card.)

ABC Challenge - A is for Animals 

Open Minded Crafting Challenge - Something New (balloon stamps is new)

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #8 - Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room Door Feb 2-8 Challenge - Anything Goes

Well, that's it for now.  My computer is being very difficult; my tummy says it's time for a sandwich; and my DH will be ready for a walk shortly.  Enjoy your day!

Moving On to February

and a new, temporary, winter home in Sarasota, Florida.  We just arrived here yesterday and need to spend some time getting familiar with our new surroundings.  One of the first things I did was claim a nice little corner to make my cards.  No hiding in the closet this month.  This morning's project (after making my Mojo Monday #433 Sketch Contest card) was to get all the internet devices online.  Mission accomplished.  Now I can post my first card made here.

(taken on our screened porch overlooking a golf course)

(same card, different light, no screen, using CTMH stamps, glitter trim, black fundamental accessories and papers)