Double Trouble Challenge #50

Yowza!  The Double Trouble Challenge Theme is to make a tall and skinny card with an option to use the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday and a Twist to "Stack It Up".  

Here's my card:

 The stamps and scalloped border die are from CTMH.

I also made an easy card using Mojo Monday Sketch #531 and some Penny Black stamps.

 

I am entering the following challenges:

Card #1 - 

Double Trouble Challenge #50 - Tall & Skinny card; TSOT Sketch; Stacking

Try Stamping on Tuesdays Challenge #442 - see sketch above

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - 2 or more patterned papers

Crafty Catz Challenge #493 - AG

Alphabet Challenge - "W" Anything You Wish

Allsorts Challenge Week 449 - Dies and/or Punches

Gem of a Challenge Week 4 - AG

Card #2 - 

Mojo Monday Challenge #531 - see sketch above

Penny Black February Challenge - Animals, Birds and Butterflies

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Feb 17-29 - AG

Make My Monday Challenge #116 - Critters 

Use Your Stuff Challenge #392 - Circles

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Frame

 

Double Trouble Challenge #26 & Mojo Monday #514

Splish Splash, the Challenge Theme for Double Trouble #26, sent me looking through my House Mouse stamps and I found just what I was looking for.

Challenges:
Double Trouble Challenge #26 - Splish Splash (water), Bumbershoot, link with JOSTTT#4
Joy Of Sets Tic Tac Toe Challenge #4 -  Die Cut, White, Pearls
 
Mojo Monday Sketch #514 -

Dies R Us Challenge #119 - April Showers
CCC Digi Creations Challenge #102 - April Showers
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #25 - AG
The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - April Showers
Crafty Catz Challenge #458 - AG option All creatures great and small
Stamping Sensations Challenge - April Showers Bring May Flowers
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Include an Animal
Dare 2 B Artzy Challenge - Animals
House Mouse Challenge #289 - AG option Spring

Hello Spring

Today I've made a card for the following challenges:
Love to Scrap Challenge #120 - Male Call
(Pin)spirational Challenge #235 - 
  
Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Lovely as a Tree
The Male Room Challenge #108 - Spring 
Southern Girls Challenge - Frame It 
Moving Along With The Times Challenge #94 -  For a Man
DL.ART: Thankful Thursday Challenge #242 - Anything Spring
Craft Rocket Challenge #58 - For men/boys 
Aud Sentiments Challenge #224 - Easter/Spring Sentiment

Here's the card:

The background patterned paper was random stamped with a little bird's nest.  The tree and frame dies are by intricutz dies.  The tree was sponged with several shades of green and brown.  The textured paper behind it was lightly brushed with water colors.  Hello die is by Simon Says Stamps.  Sentiment stamp, wood birds and waxy flax nest are CTMH retired items;  Sentiment die by ODBD; Glitter paper from MFT.

Thanks for stopping by on this lovely spring day.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #387 with The Cutting Cafe

It was really hard choosing a digital stamp set from The Cutting Cafe to use for my Tuesday Throwdown Challenge DT card this week.  There are so many digital stamps from which to choose. After deciding to use the One Spring Day set, picking which image and sentiment in the set was almost as difficult.

Here is my take on the current theme at 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge - Creative Corners.  

 First, a layout with lots of corners and a die cut with interesting faux stitching;  Next a few dazzles on three of the corners; Two tiny punched butterflies decorate the bottom corners below the sentiment (also from the One Spring Day set); and the flower border from the set draws your eye to the bottom right corner. 

 Here is a close up of that corner.  After printing and coloring the border, I carefully added a strip of glittered clear adhesive over the row of flowers and then fussy cut before attaching it to the card.

I have seen some absolutely fabulous Creative Corners in challenges, on blogs, in magazines and on Pinterest.  Now's the time to show off your talent by entering this week's
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge,

and don't forget to take a moment to visit the shop at 

The Cutting Cafe

 

where you'll find both digital stamps and cutting files. 

Challenges:

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Hand Colored Image 

Get Creative Challenge #68 - No Patterned Papers 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #201 - AG 

Always Fun Challenge #53 - AG 

The Crazy Challenge #272 - Spring 

Card Mania Challenge #103 - Spring 

Hiding In My Craft Room Challenge - Spring Colors 

 

Have a lovely day!

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #344 with STAMPlorations

STAMPlorations is the sponsor for this week's 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge.

As is often the case, when I receive new stamps in the mail I head right for paper and ink pad.  Someday I will learn to check the challenge theme before making anything.  Fortunately, the card I made fits perfectly with this week's Anything Goes theme! 

 These stamps are from the Sweet Spring Wishes stamp set available from STAMPlorations.

 There are also dies available for both the flowers and words.

I was checking out the STAMPlorations Blog and they just happen to have a CAS Challenge going for the month of May.  Generally, I shy away from CAS challenges.  I tend to get messy which requires adding layers and/or bling to disguise the little flaws.  If my friend, Carol, to whom I sent the card above, dissects it, the truth will out!  Because I had stamped a few extra flowers, perfect for masking, and was feeling brave,  I tried a CAS card.

One layer, lots of white space, no bling, and no smudges!

The hardest part was the "hello".  The stamp actually says "hello sunshine".

I covered the sunshine part with tape before inking, then had to quickly remove the tape and stamp the card before the ink on the stamp dried.  That's not easy when the ceiling fan is on high!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Before I get to work on an apple cake, which I have been meaning to bake since Thursday, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter!

(digi image by A Day for Daisies with a CTMH stamped sentiment)

 and if you don't celebrate Easter...

(stamped bunny by The Craft Lounge with a digital sentiment from The Easter Trio set at From the Heart)

Challenges for Card #1:

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #146 - not a square card 

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #235 - Easter 

Crafty Catz Challenge #366 - Anything Goes with animals

 

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Singing in the Rain

We had a little bit of rain early this morning 

and the birds are loving it.

I do have errands to run today

 (I'm really not running yet, but my sprained foot is healing nicely.),

 but thought I'd share this card with you first.

I saw this weaving technique somewhere and just had to give it a try. 

It would have been so much easier if I had a chevron die.   

But, I'm fairly good at improvising and found a cut on one of the CTMH cricut cartridges that produced chevron pieces.  The weaving was fun (not!).  

Once the background was completed, it needed something that wouldn't detract from or obscure the weaving.  I don't usually work backward like this.  Luckily, this cute image (Great Impressions Stamp Springtime Birdie E906S), the sentiment (Great Impressions Stamp April Showers D387S) and the circle frame (CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge) were in the "pile" on my craft table waiting for a home. The corners are just a punched scalloped square cut in quarters. And the puffy flowers are CTMH embellishments.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges: 

Card Mania Challenge #91 - April Showers Bring May Flowers 

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #124 - Easter/April Showers

Make My Monday Challenge #43 - April Showers

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #186 - Things with Wings

Scribbles Design Challenge #51 - Birds of a Feather

My Time to Craft Challenge #343 - No Designer Paper

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #118 - Pastel Colors

Frilly and Funky Challenge - April Showers

Check out my umbrella giveaway here!

Now, I'd best get on with my day.

Have a good one!

Great Impressions Stamps April Challenge

Hello friends and fellow crafters!

 I am so thrilled to be joining the 

Great Impressions Stamps Design Team.  

They have such a fun line of stamps.

 April Showers Bring May Flowers is the theme

for the Great Impressions April Challenge, which begins today.

 The lucky winner will be receiving this adorable stamp:

Here's a card I made using the Great Impressions 

Daisy Border Rubber Stamp (G403)

and

April Showers Rubber Stamp (D387).

 

 Thank you so much for visiting my blog today.

I look forward to seeing your projects for the 

April Great Impressions Stamps Blog Challenge.

Challenges:

Crafty Friends Challenge #54 - B is for "bumbershoot" and blue 

Crafty Calendar Challenge - April Showers/Spring 

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #233 - Use Pastels 

 

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!

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!

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

 

 

Spring Chick

Purple is my go to color for this time of year.  

It certainly shows off this adorable Bugaboo digi well!

It is technically Spring but we have a freeze warning for the next few nights.  That will take care of all the beautiful magnolia blossoms and other flowering trees!  What a shame.

Today I am submitting this card to these challenges...

Crafty Friends Challenge #28 - Anything Goes

Catch the Bug Challenge - Anything Goes 

Crafty Calendar April Challenge - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #192 - Anything Goes 
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #106 - Spring is in the Air 
Cardz 4 Gals Challenge #19- Springtime
Digi Choosday Challenge Week #13 - Spring Colors
Through the Craftroom Door Challenge Mar 29-Apr 4 - Anything Goes 

 

It's Spring

And Imagine That! digis by Kris is giving this spring freebie to new members of their FB group.  

 

After I figure out how to post this to the FB group, I am entering these challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #418 - To Die For (I used Spellbinders scalloped oval dies.)

Moo-Mania & More Challenge - Spring 

Mod Squad Challenge - Springtime 

Lil Red Wagon Challenge #334 - Happy Easter/Spring 

Hoping not Hopping Today

Yesterday I did quite a bit of blog hopping.  Really Reasonable Ribbon has their monthly hop.  Gosh that DT has talent.  I spent some time doing the CTMH Stamp of the Month blog hop and trying to decide if I want to purchase that vintage typewriter and cute sayings.  Sweet 'n Sassy has a fun hop and challenge.  And I still had the monthly Joyful Stars hop to finish.  (I always check Joyce's (super cute chick card), Betty's, Crystal's (she made a great shutter card this month) and Nancy's blogs first)

Now that I got all that hopping out of my system, here's a very simple spring card featuring a flower digi from Bugaboo Digi Stamps, 3 layers and punched scalloped corners - just what I need to enter it in the April Bingo Challenge at Catch the Bug.

(sentiment is a CTMH stamp)

And here are a few more challenges where you might see this tulip popping up:
Allsorts Challenge Week 307 - Quick and Simple
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #32 - Q is for Quick
Susy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #76 - Anything Goes; twist - Punches and/or Dies
Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge #222 - Spring
Creative Moments Challenge #66 - Anything Goes Spring/Easter
Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #102 - CAS
Clear It Out Challenge - Theme:Color Challenge  Stash Item:Yellow (I used an old yellow card base.)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #197 -  Lost & Found  (This tulip digi was in the wrong file folder.  Don't even know how it got there.)
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - 3 of something  (3 paper layers)

I do believe I'll go out and play in the dirt on this gorgeous spring day!

Tomorrow I have a special Mother's Day card to show you.

Deedee's Digis April Guest Designer Card #2

Once again I'd like to thank Deedee for asking me to be the April Guest Designer.

This week I've made a lever card using one of the precolored images from Deedee's Digis Hello Spring Set. It was hard to decide between the adorable groundhog, bluebird, bunny and this cuddly bear.  

 

I started out with a plain, pale blue card base.  Then I decided it needed something more.  With a tiny flower stamp and some additional sponging, I quickly had a whole different look.

Have you gotten the set, Bloomin' Blessings, for Deedee's April Progressive Challenge, yet?  It's wonderful for Mother's Day.  And if you enter the challenge using any of the digis from the set, you'll get next month's digi set for free.  

Have a wonderful day!

This card has been entered in the following:

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #99 - Animal Magic 

Inky Impressions Challenge #204 - Spring is in the Air 

Little Red Wagon Challenge #284 - Spring is in the Air
Creative Corner Challenge - Animal Fun 
Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Anything Goes
Digi Sketch Challenge - Furry Friends

 

CTMH Cards 3/17/15 & Enough Green, Already!

First, here are the cards we made at Joyce's CTMH card workshop this afternoon....

inside layer

outside layer

center

assembled card

Whew! that was a lot of work!

 *****

Now, let's get to the green.  I know today is St. Patrick's Day.  I will be making corned beef and cabbage for dinner.  Why?  No clue.  Mostly because I like it and while it isn't one of my DH's favorites, he will humor me once a year.  

(I really cheated this year.  I went to the deli at the market, asked to see what the corned beef looked like, it was beautiful, had them cut me a 1" slice, and that's dinner.  I just wasn't into cooking corned beef for hours.  Plus, they sell it in those vacumn sealed packages and you can't tell how lean or fatty the meat actually is.)

  Many of the current challenges want to see green cards, or St. Patrick's Day themed cards i.e. leprechauns, shamrocks, luck, pot of gold...  I haven't seen one with a snake theme.  Didn't St. Patrick chase the snakes out of Ireland?   If you're curious about the snake issue, I felt compelled to google it and found this very interesting.  Be that as it may.  Personally, I have never sent a St. Patrick's Day card to anyone.  But I have made one, in honor of the occasion and to enter in the plethora (That was one of my father's favorite words.  Miss you, Dad.) of challenges requesting it.

I've used a Doodle Pantry digi for the shamrock maze and sentiment. 

Challenges:

Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge #3 - Anything digital goes
Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge #62 - Clean and Simple
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Buttons or Bows
Craft Hoarders Anonymous March Challenge - Go Green
Eureka Stamps Challenge #132 - The Color Green
Get Creative Challenge #10 - Green 
The Pink Elephant Challenge # 290- Green
Eclectic Ellapu March Challenge - Purple Team - Green
Great Impressions March Challenge - Go Green
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #301 - Photo Inspiration (green with shamrocks)
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Lots of Green
Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Friday Challenge  # 79- Lucky Clover
Naughty or Nice Challenge #13 - It ain't easy being Green

Lillies, Daisies, Tulips, Daffodils - Springtime Flowers Everywhere!

Happy Easter everyone.  

For my followers who are waiting to see Layla in her Easter finery....

Yes, I did take pictures of my 2 month old great granddaughter in her Easter outfit (including the sweater and booties I crocheted),  but I am saving them to post tomorrow.   So you'll have to come back then.

I have just a bit of time between family festivities today to share a few flowers with my crafty friends. 

For this card first I printed this A Day For Daisies digi image on white CS.   Next I drew a rectangle a bit smaller than the image and colored the entire background within the rectangle black.  Then I and cut around it and the one flower that extended beyond.  I mounted the image on the yellow checked DP background, again a bit smaller than the image.  I stamped the sentiment in white ink on black and gave it and the image a spritz of frost shimmer mist.  And when I opened the ribbon drawer, the polka dot satin ribbon just about leaped out at me. 

 

I am entering this in the following challenges:
A Day For Daisies Challenge #94 -  Stripes  (I was a bit concerned the chevron pattern might not qualify for the "stripes" theme, but I looked it up and the definition of chevron is "stripes meeting at an angle".  So this should do just fine.)
A Gem of a Challenge #117 - Spring is in the Air (I left the lily I brought home from church on the front porch and you can smell it as soon as you go near.  What a wonderful springtime scent!  My lily bulbs are just starting to emerge from the ground.)
Digi Galore Challenge - Flowers 
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #146 - Flowers
Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #25 - Frame It
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #63 - Spring
Creative Corner Challenge - What's in a Name?  Since my first name is Debi, I've used a Digi image of Daisies
Digi Haven Challenge - Black and White with one other Color (Yellow)
PolkaDoodles Challenge Week 16 - Springtime
Moving Along with the Times Challenge - A card with the word 'Happy'

And now I am going to my mother's and totally forget I'm on a diet!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Are your tulips up?

My tulips are just poking through the ground.  They always seem to be later than the hyacinths and daffodils, both are blooming already.  And I'm so happy to see some buds on the lilac bush I started about 3 years ago from a tiny twig.  The magnolia trees' flowers, unfortunately, are all brown from our overnight freezing temps the last few days.  I actually had to wear long underwear to my grandson's baseball game on Wednesday evening.  That's just not right!  

  Perhaps this cute springy card will warm someone up, until the temperatures take over.

 

Gerde Steiner supplied this perky chick digi image for use in her current challenge.   For the butterfly hello I used a stamp I recently received with one of my magazines.  And the dotted DP was a freebie from another magazine.  I used markers to do the coloring and add the faux stitching.  

I am entering this card in the following:
Gerde Steiner 6th Freebie Digital Stamp Design Challenge
Craft for the Craic April Challenge - Easter/Spring
Cards in Envy Challenge - A2 Easter
Crafty Catz Challenge #227 - B is for....  butterfly and broken egg
Creative Corner Challenge - What's in a Name?  My name is Debi and I've used Dotted Designer paper, a Digi image, Dotted Embossing Folder, and a Darn cute chick.
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 16 - Springtime
Scrapping 4 Fun Challenge 15 - Use a stamp/digi image
As You Like It Challenge - Stitching, Real or Faux?  I prefer using faux stitching since it's so much easier for a quick card than getting my sewing machine out of the closet.

Speaking of quick cards....  I wanted to show you a cute Easter card from one of my friends.
She said it was a kit from Kim's card kits.  

 

Spring Medley - From the Heart April Challenge

Tulips and crocuses are sure signs of spring.  Most of my crocuses and snowdrops are done blooming, the daffodils are up and have buds, and the tulips are just poking through the earth.  It is finally starting to look like spring, which also means it's time to order that load of mulch.  I've been out cleaning up flower beds in preparation.  My nails look terrible!

 .

This is the free April digi image for the From the Heart Challenge.  Framed images like this make for quick cards.

I am submitting this card to:

From the Heart April Challenge

Crafter's Cafe Challenge #58 - Spring

Divas by Design Challenge - Easter/Spring

Penny's Challenge #172 - Flower Power

Scrapper's Delights Challenge #20 - Bloomin' Lovely

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #127 - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Spring has Sprung

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Time for Spring

Stamp and Create April Challenge - April 7 - Spring Flowers

Use Your Stuff Challenge #130 - Spring

613 Avenue Create Challenge #66 - Anything Goes w/option Sights, Smells, Tastes of Spring

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #207- Flowers

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #255 - Monochromatic

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #144 - Black, White + 1 color

Stamping with the Dragon Challenge - Spring Time