AHSC + CTMH FSOTM

The first acronyms I learned helped me read the notes to play the piano:  FACE were the spaces when reading music and EGBDF (every good boy does fine) were the lines.  Now everything is an acronym and my memory as I grow older isn't as good as as it was when I learned to play the piano in 1st grade.  Last evening, I even took a Pen-touch white pen to my keyboard because half of the letters were worn off and I was constantly getting the i and o keys mixed up.  Life is getting more puzzling with all these acronyms.  I receive comments from challenges DT members with initials like OLLCB or TTCRD or SAS4K and it takes a moment for me to recognize what those letters mean.  

So, for some of you who may be wondering,  today I have a card for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and I've used a border stamp from the Close to My Heart February Stamp of the Month.

front of top fold card

inside

 As soon as I saw the sketch at Atlantic Hearts, I knew I wanted to try curving the border stamp to make a wreath.  After stamping I added a touch of color, using a water brush and the ink from the lids of my stamp pads.  I like it.

WDYT? 

Challenges:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 197 -

 

HeARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes + rubber stamp

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #335 - Watercolour

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Jan. 31 - Always Anything Goes 

Die Cutting Divas Challenge #302 - Anything Goes (the stitched circles are La La Land Dies)

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #34 - Anything Goes 

TTFN

 

Mojo Monday Mix Up

Today I've mixed stamps and papers from Close to my Heart and Stampin' Up with dies from Paper Sweeties, La la Land and Spellbinders for a square Valentine's Day Card for the weekly Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.

   Oh yes, I also used a CTMH heart embossing folder and a Darice hexagon patterned embossing folder.

Challenges for today:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #400 - Love/Anniversary/Valentine

Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Friday Challenge #173 - Always Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge # 355 - Anything Goes with Twist: Ladies Cards

Brown Sugar Challenge #235 - Anything Goes 

My Time to Craft Challenge #338 - Feathers

Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #73 - Valentines

Come and Get It Challenge - 3 or more layers

Use Your Stuff Challenge #249 - animals

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #109 - Anything Goes + option: Use Red

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #145 - Always Anything Goes

HeARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes + rubber stamp

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #482 -

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

Happy Birthday, NiMo!

Today my grandson celebrates his 12th birthday. 

This is the card I made for him.

card front

inside of card

 Nick will have no problem with celebrating with cake.  

He basically eats anything that isn't moving!

Now that I think of it, I should have used a zebra design on the crazy bird.  Nick loves the Little Debbie's Zebra Cakes.  If you are familiar with the hit song Cake on the Beach, we took a box down to the shore this past summer so we could get a picture of Nick and his brother eating 'cake on the beach'.  

Note to self: Remember that for next year's card!

This card is a combination of so many items: die cuts, embossing, cricut cut numbers, 3 brands of stamps, the reflective side of a recycled student driver sign, a piece of wrapping paper for the bg matching what I used for his gift, baker's twine, stick on embellishments, a pair of skittles, fussy cutting, and coloring.

Challenges I am entering today include:

Artistic Inspirations Challenge # 171 - Anything Goes

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids 

HeARTful Stamping Challenge - Something cute

Come and Get It Challenge - No Designer Paper (I used gift wrap!) 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Spread Your Wings 

Ooh La La Challenge #220 - For a Man or Boy 

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - For the Men in your Life 

Get Creative Challenge #54 - Anything Goes 

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #144 - Always Anything Goes 

QKR Stampede Challenge #227 - Anything Goes or One for the Kids 

Before I go, the dryer buzzing reminds me of a recent senior moment my DH and I experienced.  On Sunday afternoon we kept hearing this strange noise, similar to the emergency noise we sometimes get on our TV back home.  But it wasn't the TV here.  All afternoon we kept hearing it and asking each other what that noise was.  Hours later we discovered it was our phone with an emergency tornado alert for our area.  Thank heavens we just got a bunch of rain and strong winds.  Some people in Georgia weren't as fortunate.  

Thoughts and prayers go out to them.   

Mojo Monday Makes

Not only did I make one Mojo Monday card this morning, I made two.  Both are for the box I am getting together for 

Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Sentiment and flower stamps are from CTMH.  The little bunny is an inexpensive Studio G stamp.

Challenges I am entering today:
Love to Craft Challenge #6 - Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #144 - Always Anything Goes
Love to Scrap Challenge #93 - Anything Goes
The Paper Girls Challenge # 120- Patterned Paper
Send a Snile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids
Brown Sugar Challenge #234 - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Challenge - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede Challenge #227- Anything Goes or One 4 the Kids
Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #200 - Spring Colors
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #481 -

Uneggspected + SU card class 1/17/17

Here's another card, already tucked in an envelope, headed for the SAS4K Easter/Spring Box.

Papers are from CTMH; precolored digi is by Deedee's Digi Designs from the Uneggspected Set.

Challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #143 - Always Anything Goes 

The Alphabet Challenge - V is for violet 

Brown Sugar Challenge #233 - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge #171 - Anything Goes + a sentiment 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #116 - Happy Anything 

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge #17 - Anything Goes 

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 3 - Anything Goes 

Show Us Your Pussies Challenge #14 - Furrything Goes 

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I'd also like to show you the cards I made this morning at Jan Hoyt's SU class.  

 

 

front

inside

 

 

Instead of putting a colored layer and then a white layer on the card front,

the colored layer was glued to the back of the card.  This way, when you open the card, the colored layer in the back makes the sentiment pop.  I thought this was a great tip!  Thanks, Jan!

Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Mojo Monday #480

My apologies for the lapse in blog posts. 

 It's not that I haven't been crafting, 

it's more that I haven't been putering.

In fact,  my friend and I worked feverishly at a crop on Saturday to fill a box with Valentines to mail off to Send a Smile 4 Kids.

They say 2 heads are better than 1.  Definitely true for us.  We sat at tables facing each other and passed ideas, images, papers and washi tape back and forth, sometimes starting a card and then passing it across for finishing touches.  It was a very productive joint effort and lots of fun.

This morning I am working with only one head, which is pounding so hard the ticking clock on the wall may soon become a frisbee!

Nevertheless, I have put together a Mojo Monday card with an Easter theme to start the next box for SAS4K.

The digi is an old one from Ellephantastic; papers, stamp and puffies are CTMH; die cut is Spellbinders; embossing folder is Sizzix (a fun new stash item) and the image is colored with pencils and markers with a touch of clear Wink of Stella on the egg shell.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #480 - 

 

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #36 - Anything Goes 

Allsorts Challenge Week 398 - Wings on Things 

Inkspirational Challenge # 126- Word Prompt: Flutter

Brown Sugar Challenge # 233 - Anything Goes

That's it for now.

I wonder how far that clock will fly? 

 

Valentine 4 SAS4Kids

Today has been an absolutely gorgeous day here in Florida.  

My DH and I decided to take our daily walk in town hoping we might see some fashionable the dogs.  To celebrate Dress Up Your Dog Day, dog owners could take their canines out for a boat ride on the lake today.  And, while there were quite a few adorable dogs, none were 'dressed up' for the occasion.

Before we went on our jaunt, 

I made this valentine to send to SAS4K.

I've been cutting and coloring digis the last few days.  

Time to put them on cards. 

 The digi is from Bugaboo stamps, colored with markers.

Papers and sentiment are from CTMH.   

Challenges: 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Valentine's/Love cards 4 kids

Catch the Bug Challenge - Anything Goes 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #171 - Anything Goes + a sentiment 

 

Beneath the Pines by Sandra Gowan

The book, Beneath the Pines by Sandra Gowan, immediately pulls you into the story of a young woman, Amanda Jane Horseman, orphaned at an early age and raised by her elderly grandparents.  Set in 1916, Ontario, young Amanda Jane grew up overly indulged in a home also occupied by her much older Uncle Frankie.  Unfortunately the two never bonded, with Amanda Jane seeking to corner the market on her grandmother's love, often at her uncle's expense.  As the story begins, Amanda Jane is leaving the only home she has ever known, the entire estate being left to Uncle Frankie when her grandparents died.  Forced to leave her home and somehow provide for herself, she embarks on a journey to Ministers Island in Southern New Brunswick to become a personal secretary to retired General Spencer. Having answered a want ad and only communicating with her new employer by mail, Amanda Jane isn't sure what is waiting for her at the end of her journey.  And the book is written in such a way that the reader wants to know, too.

To me, the book was a bit frustrating to read because of the poor editing, with errors in word choice, and general grammar.  Marketed as a mystery, I found it difficult to recognize a plot.  Then over half way through the book, the story line takes a huge turn and the reader has no choice but to search for a new plot.  It isn't until the end of the book, that the plot is actually revealed.  I'm used to a killer being revealed at the end of a book, but I have never read a book that waits until the end to tell you why you were reading.  For me, Beneath the Pines, was a quick, often difficult, and very disappointing read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerni

*************** 

Send a Smile 4 Kids will be receiving this Easter/Spring card.

Once again I am using CTMH papers and a Gerda Steiner digi image.

Challenges:

Gerda Steiner 28th Share Your Designs Challenge - use a GSD digi

The Crazy Challenge #239 - 3 of a Kind (3 squares of dp behind the image; 3 sparkles)

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #142 - Always Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of Jan 10th - Always Anything Goes

 

 

Joyful Stars Close To My Heart January 2017 Blog Hop

Welcome to the first 

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop of 2017.  

Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

Using some quilt pattern cards, I thought I'd give you a glimpse of two new paper packs from the Seasonal Expressions Catalog. 
My first card features the Hello Lovely paper and the new Some Kind of Wonderful stamp set , which is bundled with matching thinlit dies.

I love the new Blush Shimmer Ribbon 
and the new Sugar Rush Dots.
If you'd like to see a few more cards using the Hello Lovely paper, scroll down a few posts on my blog.  
Quilt cards are great for using up scraps!

My second card features the Sugar Rush paper. 

 The flowers (from the Dec. 2016 SOTM set) were stamped on patterned paper from the pack.  And although all of the products I used are from CTMH, the puffy butterflies, heart embossing folder and sentiment stamp are retired.

Now, since this is a blog hop, 
you might have arrived here from Andrea Sherman's blog.

Your next stop is my friend, Betty Locco's blog.   

 The hop is circular. So if you are just starting here, simply continue hopping until you find your way back, making the full circle.  If you get lost, the complete list of participants is on Joyce's blog.

 

Hope you enjoy the hop!  
Thanks for stopping, or should I say "hopping" by.

I'll be entering these cards in the following challenges:

Card #1:

Come and Get It Challenge - Something New (All the products are new stash.)

Crafting When We Can Challenge #135 - Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #221 - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's January Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes with Patterned Paper

Crafty Catz Challenge - Anything Goes + add Ribbon

 

Card #2: 

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #83 - Birthday Bash! 

Sparkles Forum Challenge #87 - Happy Birthday

Mojo Monday Bugaboo Bunny

Just can't start my week without making a Mojo Monday card.  

Easter cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids will be my primary focus for the next few weeks.  

Today I'm using a Bugaboo digi, some retired CTMH paper,

a portion of a CTMH Happy Happy Birthday stamp,

a die cut, and lots of layers.

 Actually, even though I intend this as an Easter card, it could just as easily be used as a birthday card, and probably a few other occasions as well.

Challenges:
Catch the Bug Challenge - Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
Colouring in Scrapland - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #142 - Always Anything Goes
Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #83 - Birthday Bash!
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #479 -

Hope you stop back again tomorrow for the CTMH Joyful Stars Blog Hop!

First Valentine of 2017

According to her mother, my grandniece keeps the cards I send under her pillow.  I hope she has enough room for this valentine.

This cute bunny is a Gerda Steiner digi image. 

Patterned papers are from CTMH.

Challenges: 
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Valentines/Love Cards 4 Kids
Pattie's Creations Challenge #130 - Use an animal image 
Crafting When We Can Challenge #135 - Anything Goes 
Digi Stamps 4 Joy Challenge #132 - ATG + All About Love 
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 1 - Anything Goes 
In the Pink Challenge #110 - Anything Goes 
Gerda Steiner Share Your Design Challenge #28 - use a GSD digi

See you tomorrow for Mojo Monday!

and be sure to stop by on Tuesday for the January 

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

Happy New Year with Penny Black

 This is the only New Year's Card I made for 2017. 

After making and sending oodles of Christmas cards, I just ran out of steam.  But, at least I have 1 entry for the many New Year's themed challenges.

The main stamp is from Penny Black,

and the sentiment stamp is by CTMH.

Instead of using new stash items, I decided to pull out some old ones to make room for the new.

Challenges:

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Something New

Show Us Your Pussies Challenge #14 - Furrything Goes 

Just Us Girls Challenge #375 - Word Week : New

Allsorts Challenge Week #397 - Cats and/or Dogs

Gem of a Challenge #185 - Celebrate Something New

Brown Sugar Challenge #232 - Anything Goes

Creative Corner Challenge - Anything Goes

Dragon's Lair Design January Challenge - Something New

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - January Anything Goes

 

New CTMH Papers

Once again I am using the new Hello Lovely Paper from CTMH. I've made a quick birthday card using one of the preprinted designs that come in each paper pack and coordinate with the patterned paper.  

Actually, I'm only using a piece of one of the designs, mounted on coordinating card stock.  The other half is on a card I posted a few days ago.  What a super easy way to make a card!  

Challenges:

Crafting By Designs January Challenge - Anything Goes 

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #104 - Use Something New (Papers are new) 

Double D Anniversary Celebration Challenge - Anniversary/Blogaversary/Birthday (I picked up the color scheme from the tile with the pretty rose.) 

Little Red Wagon Challenge #375 - Something New (new papers) 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - New Something (papers) 

TTFN!

 

Mojo Monday Sketch Contest

Using some of the new products from the Close to My Heart Seasonal Expressions Catalog and the first Mojo Monday Sketch of 2017, today's card will be headed back to Pennsylvania to one of my Red Hat friends.

Challenges I am entering:

Mojo Monday Sketch Contest # 478

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #35 - Anything Goes

Connie Can Crop Challenge #54 - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Celebrate

Love to Scrap Challenge #93 - Anything Goes

Ooh-la-la Creative Challenge - Feminine Creations

Thanks for stopping by.

Cardmaking Fun in the Sun

It took me a few days to get around to unpacking some of the craft stuff I brought with me to Florida.  And, what better way to start the New Year than with some new paper and stamps from CTMH?  My first post of 2017 features a birthday card for my sister-in-law using some of the new products from the new 

Seasonal Expressions Catalog.

I love the new sugar dots and gorgeous ribbon.

How wonderful it is to sit out on the lanai in the 80 degree Florida temps and make cards while my DH happily plays golf!  

Challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #49 - Anything Goes

The Ribbon Girl January Challenge - Anything Goes 

Allsorts Challenge Week 396 - Something New (All new products from CTMH)

Crafty Friends Challenge #48 -  Anything Goes

My Time to Craft Challenge #337 - Something New (stash) 

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #331 - Anything Goes 

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #396 - Anything Goes 

Brown Sugar Challenge #231 - Anything Goes 

 

 That's it for today.

I'll be back tomorrow with a card to enter in the 

first 

Mojo Monday Sketch Contest of 2017.