Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #332 with Your Next Stamp

This week's theme at 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge

 is 

Things with Wings.

Our wonderful sponsor is Your Next Stamp.

I've used the YNS Fairy Dust stamp set to make this gift card holder.  And, although I fussy cut the little fairy, there is a matching die set available.  What attracted me to this set was the fact that there is a fairy stamp for each season of the year, a seasonal wand and fairy dust, and coordinating word stamps, as well.

They are all adorable and the stamps give you a nice clear image.

 

After you visit the Your Next Stamp store,
please take a moment to stop over at the Tuesday Throwdown Blog and see the wonderful cards my fellow teamies have created to inspire you and leave some love for all their hard work. 

We'd love to have you join the fun

at Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #332. 

Challenges:

The Ribbon Girls Challenge - Use Any Image 

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #86 - Bodacious Bows 

Scrapbook Blessings Challenge #111 - Anything Goes 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #148 - Anything Goes 

QKR Stampede Challenge #232 - Anything Goes or Birthday Cards

Moving On Mojo Monday

Since I have my Easter cards for SAS4K 

all packed up and ready to send, 

today I'm moving on to a Father's Day card 

(Normally I would move on to Mother's Day, 

but there are several male challenges running right now.) 

using the 

Mojo Monday Sketch.

I used 2 layers of a decoupage kit for the "DAD" with 1/8" foam tape in between.  Stitched lines (a MFT die) replace the twine in the sketch.  The stitched circle is a La La Land die and the stamps used on it are CTMH.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #486

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #173 - Anything Goes 

The Paper Shelter Challenge #282 - Male Card 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #119 - Male Colors 

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #39 - For a Man

Crazy 4 Challenges #374 - Use Your Words 

Come and Get It Challenge - It's in the male 

Use Your Stuff Challenge #353 - Use any sketch (current Mojo Monday sketch above)

Well, it's time to clear off my temporary craft table and pack up. 

Tomorrow we are moving on home.

But I have a Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Design Team card scheduled to post, 

so please stop by to see it.

An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray

As I began reading An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray, I was immediately reminded of the  1978 Western, Goin' South, starring Mary Steenburgen and Jack Nicholson.  Both the movie and the book focused on strong single women who, after the Civil War, found themselves alone and in need of help.  At that time, it was possible to secure penal laborers for a fee.  Similarities end there.

In the movie, Ms. Steenburgen, needing someone to work in her mine, saved a horse thief, Mr. Nicholson, from hanging by agreeing to marry him.  In the book, An Uncommon Protector, there was no marriage requirement. The convict, Sergeant Thomas Baker, in jail for his inability to pay gambling debts, was released into the custody of Miss Laurel Tracey, becoming an indentured servant, receiving room and board for one year in exchange for his labor on her thousand acre cattle ranch near Sweetwater, Texas.   Laurel had inherited the ranch and was desperate for ranch help, especially when she noticed squatters on her property.  And, although a neighboring rancher had attempted to court Miss Tracey, she was not interested in his solution to her problem. 

Sgt. Baker was not exactly a hardened criminal.  Through flashbacks to the Sergeant's stay in a Confederate Officers' POW camp, the reader gets to know this man and the bonds he formed with fellow officers imprisoned there.  It is this man who becomes not just a ranch hand but a protector when trouble, literally, arrives on Miss Tracey's doorstep and only escalates from there. 

The book, described as Historical Christian Fiction, was quite enjoyable.  Although, I thought it was very predictable. The author has a gift for wonderful descriptions and well-developed, believable characters.  This an independent second book in a series of three.  The Kindle version I read included discussion questions, making it a good book group selection, but also giving the reader pause for thought.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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As promised, today I am posting a card for the final challenge at 

A Day For Daisies blog.  

Not to worry, they are only closing the blog NOT the shop.

And they are currently having a hop to showcase some of their

 DT members' favorite ADFD images.

 The digi image is Pet Lamb for Easter.

Challenges:

A Day for Daisies Challenge #160 - A Celebration of Favorites

Little Red Wagon Challenge #382 - Down on the Farm 

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #41 - Cards 4 Teenz 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #174 - Animals + Sentiment

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #228 - Anything Goes 

 

Today's crop favorites

The Easter cards I've been making for SAS4K these last 2 months are finished.  Every SAS4K label I had with me has been used, plus a sheet or 2 that my friend, Sybilla, gave me.

 

While wintering in Florida, I've been designing cards, cutting pieces, stamping, coloring, and fussy cutting images during the week and assembling them on Saturday mornings at a weekly crop.

 

Yesterday, as I was approaching the last few cards I was planning to make, I decided it was time to use up some of my paper scraps.  

I had quite a few strips of leftovers plus the border strips that come on the edge of the CTMH paper.  One by one I glued them, in no particular design, onto a piece of 8.5 x 11 CS, filling the entire sheet.  When dry I trimmed the edges, cut it into 4 pieces to make 4 cards fronts.  Each of these 4 pieces was then embossed.  If you do this before the glue is totally dry, you get a nice deep impression and the papers hold together nicely.  Using a variety of nesting dies, I did a bit of die cutting to frame the sentiments.  There were still enough scraps to stamp some crazy birds and accessories.   Before I called it a day, I fussy cut the birds and their Easter finery, added some marker here and there, dressed and glued the birds together and added liquid glass to all their eyes for dimension and shine.

Are you ready to see my favorite cards from today's crop?

Challenges: 

Scrappers Delights Challenge #60 - Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #290 - Anything Holiday

Brown Sugar Challenge #239 - Anything Goes

Craft for the Craic Challenge - 2 of something (birds)

Crafty Hazelnut's February Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge #174 - Animal + Sentiment

Cardz 4 Gals Challenge #41 - Cardz 4 Teenz

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Scrapyland Challenge #60 - Add Texture (I've used La La Land Stitched Circle Dies)

Tomorrow I'll be posting a card for the last challenge at A Day For Daisies.

Bugaboo Bingo & Colony Cards 2/21/2017

The pile of Easter cards I am making for SAS4K is growing.  It occurred to me that many of them feature Bugaboo Digi Images and I have yet to enter the February Bingo Challenge at Catch the Bug.  So, this card was made with their Bingo Challenge in mind.

 

Image is Egg Tulip Bunny from Bugaboo.

I'm hoping this closeup shows the glittery shine on the egg and bunny.

Challenges:

Catch the Bug February Bingo Challenge (using middle column: bugaboo image, red, sparkle)

 

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

Allsorts Challenge #403 - Anything Goes 

QKR Stampede Challenge #231 - Anything Goes or add some Sparkle or Bling

Here are the cards from today's card class:

Linda's cards:

front

inside

a fun step card

Joan's cards:

Oh my, did I get purple ink on my fingers!

Debossed the card front and filled in the igloo lines with black marker and the snow with a glitter pen.

 I'll miss these ladies when we head home next week.

Mojo Monday with New Stash Items

The 2 Mojo Monday cards I am posting today utilize some items that are new to me, and were no longer needed by others. In the last week I visited a flea market, stamp and card sale, and a swap.

The animal stamps, ombre ink pads, and the zig zag pastel paper are all recent acquisitions.  Plus, I recycled the gray and white baker's twine, which had been tied around a stamp set I got in the mail.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #485:

 

Polkadoodles Challenge Week #6 - Anything Goes 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #147 - Anything Goes 

Crafting with Friends Challenge #37 - Anything Goes

Craft for the Craic Challenge - 2 of something (Bunnies)

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #289 - Embossing 

Allsorts Challenge #403 - Anything Goes

Have a glorious day! 

My favorite card from Saturday's crop

When I finished up my work at the crop I attended yesterday, I had completed 18 Easter cards for SAS4K.  That may seem like a lot in less than 3 hours, but I had colored and cut all the pieces before hand and was basically gluing things together.  It's much easier to chat and craft that way.

This card was my favorite:

You might need to tilt your screen, or your head, to see the tiny hearts embossed on the dotted background paper.  But no matter how you look at it, the photo just didn't capture the wonderful sparkle on the fairy wings of the bunny from several coats with the CTMH clear shimmer brush.  Sorry.  

The darling digi image, Bunny Ears, is by A Day For Daisies, while the sentiment stamp (Feb SOTM) and papers are from CTMH.  I used a combination of copic markers and the new watercolor pencils from SU to color the image.

Challenges I am entering on this beautiful sunny day include:

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

Allsorts Challenge Week 403 - Anything Goes 

A Day For Daisies Challenge #159 - Anything Goes 

Pile It On Challenge #127 - Monsters or Fairies  (I've chosed to use a fairy bunny.)

Thanks for visiting. 

Spring Chicken

Yesterday, I posted a Design Team card for the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge using a stamp set called The Big, the Bold and Seasons by Winnie and Walter.  While I had the "spring" stamp on a block, I thought I'd whip up a birthday card using it a little differently.

front

inside

The papers and shiny ribbon are all from CTMH.  

The chicken stamp, inked with 2 colors, is from Stampin' Up and was fussy cut.

Challenges: 
Southern Girls Challenge #153 - 3 or more patterned papers
Crafting with an Attutude Challenge #24 - Anything Goes
As You Like It Challenge - Ribbon or Lace (I prefer ribbon.  It's so much easier to tie into a bow.)
Stamping Sensations Challenge - Animal Magic
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #146 - Anything Goes
Craft-Dee Bowz February Challenge - Anything Goes with a handmade bow
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge week of Feb 14th - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Fantastic Florals
Crafty Creations Challenge # 335 - Anything Goes

She's 3 + SU Card Class 2/14/17

It's so hard to believe that 

my great granddaughter will soon be...

 This darling number digi is from Beccy's Place.

Each year I play in the

November Month of Holiday Cards Challenge

at Beccy's Place finishing my Christmas cards and hoping to win one of the free digi prizes at the same time.

And every year, since our little Laila was born, I select a new number to make Laila's birthday card.  You can see her 1st birthday card here and her 2nd card is here.  

(The quilted numbered digis can be purchased as a set.  I love Becci's digis. 

And now she has clear stamps, too!  You go, girl!  Keep 'em coming!)

I am submitting this card to the following Challenges:

Beccy's Place February Challenge - Anything Goes with a BP image 

Ooh-la-la Challenge #222 - Die Cuts (These dies are from ODBD.) 

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #182 - Add Some Texture 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenger - Favorite Tool   (My cuttlebug! Great for embossing and die cutting, too.) 

QKR Stampede Challenge #230 - Anything Goes or Embossing 

Just Add Ink Challenge - Choose 2 (I chose hearts and flowers) 

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Favorite Combo (embossing + patterned paper) 

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #38 - Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of Feb 14th - Anything Goes

I haven't posted a picture of Laila lately, have I?nd

Here's one of us working on a project at her day care's Grandparents Day Open House.

 

Before I close this post, I'd like to show you the cards I made this morning at a Stampin' Up class taught by Jan Hoyt.

We used the Misti stamp positioner on this last card.  I had never used one before.  I liked it.  But... you have to be careful not to bump your paper if you are restamping or it gets a bit fuzzy like my right border.  (Not to worry!  I did some fiddling when I got home and it's all better now!)

 

 Lunchtime!

Anyone for a tuna salad sandwich? 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #330 with Winnie & Walter

Say It With Words 

is the theme for this week's 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 

sponsored by Winnie & Walter.

For this challenge I chose a very versatile set of word stamps called The Big, the Bold, and Seasons from Winnie & Walter to make this card.

Also available are dies and mylar stencils to match the spring, summer, autumn, and winter stamps.

And while you are shopping for these products, check out The Tree for all Seasons stamp set which would be a perfect compliment.

After you get done filling your shopping cart, make sure to hop over to the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog to see what my teammates made to inspire you to join 

this week's  
Say It With Words 
Challenge. 
We always look forward seeing and commenting (when possible) on your wonderful creations.

  Before I go....

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges:
Country View February Challenge - under 30 minutes 
Classic Design Team February Open Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of Feb. 14th - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Crafting with an Attitude Challenge #24 - Anything Goes
Colour Crazy Challenge Week 6 - Anything Goes
Crafty Friends Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week 402 - Hearts and/or Flowers

And, BTW,

Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day!

Mostly Cloudy Mojo Monday

The sun hasn't peeked through the clouds yet.  But, I'm sure it will.  In the meantime, I've made an Easter Mojo Monday card to share with you.

When I first saw the sketch, I thought it looked a little busy.  

Then I got down to business, and I like the result. 

 The main digi image is from Bugaboo Digi Stamps.  It actually it was a strip of 3 images, but I cut them apart to suit the sketch.  They are colored with pencils with a few touches of clear, violet, and black Wink of Stella.

The Easter eggs are a combination of stamps from here and there.  The one on the right I just hand cut cs into an egg shape and then pressed it down into a pink ombre stamp pad I just picked up at a small stamp sale on Saturday.

One more card goes in the box I'm mailing to Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Here are the challenges I am entering today:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #484 

 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #146 - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar Challenge #237 - Rhinestones and/or Ribbon 

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Include an Animal 

Crafty Friends Challenge #51 - Anything Goes

Catch the Bug February Challenge - Sunshine & Smiles 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - For the Girls 

The Ribbon Girls February Challenge - Anything Goes 

Allsorts Challenge # 402 - Hearts and/or Flowers 

 Yesterday I fussy cut an image and began coloring it to use on a birthday card for my friend, planning to use today's Mojo Monday sketch for the card layout.  That didn't work out too well.  Guess I'll go in search of another sketch which will work with the image.

Have a nice day!  

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

And thanks for stopping by! 

Marshmallow Bunnies, YUM!

With the stores stocking their shelves for Easter before Valentine's Day is over, it's no wonder this pink marshmallow bunny wound up in a Valentine's basket of treats.  

I'm sorry the photo doesn't show the glittery layer of Wink of Stella that this bunny is sporting, just like the sugar coating on the marshmallow treats I love.

  

The papers are from the CTMH Sugar Rush pack.  How appropriate is that?  The image is a digi from Bugaboo stamps colored with ProMarkers.  Stitched circle dies are by La La Land.  And sentiment stamp and the tiny heart embellishments are also from CTMH.

Challenges: 

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - Roses are Red  (I used my cuttlebug for the die cuts.)

The House That Stamps Built Challenge F817 - Tic Tac Toe (diagonally: red, pink, die cut)

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Roses Are Red

Through the Purple Haze Challenge # 118- Valentine/Love 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #173 - Valentine or Love Sentiment

Just Us Girls Challenge #380 - Trend Week: Hearts

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Include an Animal
Patti's Creations Challenge #131 - Lots of Red 
Allsorts Challenge #402 - Hearts and/or Flowers

Did you get a chance to see my gift card holders for the Close To My Heart February Joyful Stars Blog Hop?

It's one post below this one.  If you have time, enjoy the hop.  If your time is  limited, make sure to at least hop over to Michelle's blog to see her succulent gardens.  They are fabulous and you wouldn't even know they are paper!

Joyful Stars Close To My Heart February 2017 Blog Hop

Welcome to the February

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.  

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.

  

This month I've made a sliding gift card holder 
using Daddy bunny stamp from the 
Close to My Heart February Easter Bunnies SOTM set (S1702) 
and the Happy Happy Birthday stamp (M1142).
As you open the card, a pocket slides up to reveal the gift.
(I just used my Winn Dixie rewards card for demonstration as it was close at hand.)
The paper pack is Sugar Rush (X7215B)also from CTMH. 

Originally I made the card above for my son, 

who wears a blue shirt of some design and tie to work every day. 

He has so many blue shirts, I bet he can wear a different one every day for at least 2 months before bundling them up to take to the cleaners.  I think he collects shirts like I collect embossing folders.

Then I started second guessing myself and decided it was maybe too juvenile for a grown man.  So the card above will go in my stash for now and, using the same CTMH papers I made a second card for Rob.

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. 

Thanks for hopping by. 

Challenges I am entering:

Words to Craft By Challenge #38 - Celebrations 

Through The Craft Room Door Week of Feb. 7th - Anything Goes 

Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Animal Magic 

 

Colony Cards 2/7/2017

A few days ago there was an advertising magazine in the newspaper.  It had the most beautiful purple crocuses on the front.  I just couldn't bear to put them in the recycle bin.  

So I didn't!

inside of the magazine front cover

The front cover piece I saved and embossed for this card....

And 'string saver' that I am, before assembling the card, I die cut a matching label for the inside from the dp underneath the flowers.

Die cut is Our Daily Bread; Embossing folder is Stampin' Up; Papers and sentiment stamp are Close To My Heart.

Challenges:

Crafting When We Can Challenge #147 - Flowers

Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Recycle Something (magazine photo)

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #145 - Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room Door Week of Feb 7th - Anything Goes 

Mod Squad Challenge - Texturize

****************

Yesterday I attended a card class at Colony Rec Center.
Two wonderful gals each make up 2 card kits for assembly.
First Linda's cards - She loves die cuts and embossing folders.  Her machines really get a workout!

And now Joan's cards - She likes to color.  It's always nice to have a couple cards for men.

This last card had to be revamped when I got home and realized I had stamped the inside sentiment upside down on the back of the front of the card.  And just when you hope your adhesive will allow you to easily peel off the image, it doesn't.  I managed to save both the front and inside sentiments by fussy cutting the image and remounting it on different paper. 

I'm happy you stopped by today.

Don't forget to come back for the CTMH Joyful Stars February Blog Hop in 2 days!