Gaby is 21 tomorrow! Imagine That!

It's so hard to imagine that my granddaughter turns 21 tomorrow.  It's not difficult, at all, to imagine that I put off making her card until today.  I am pretty good at procrastinating.

(Inside)

The peacock and sentiment on the front of the card are from March's Stamp of the Month digi set Pretty Peacocks at Imagine That...digis by Kris.  Kris, this is a gorgeous set.  Thanks so much!  

I printed, fussy cut and layered the image.  The peacock feathers received a brush of glitter.  I've used some CTMH Fundamentals embossed paper(purple hearts, double sided) and Glitter paper.  The numbers were cut on the cricut using the CTMH Artiste cartridge.  And then I added lots of bling.  I wrote the inside sentiment and printed it on the computer, but the digi set has a nice birthday sentiment, too.

I am entering this birthday card in the 

March Peacock Challenge at Imagine That!

This card is also entered in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create Challenge #114 - Anything Goes (optional twist-aquamarine, which you'll find in the peacock's tail feathers) 

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge #15 - Add some embellishments

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #127 - Decorate the inside and outside

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #254 - Pearls or Gems 

Corrosive Challenge #219 - Follow Your Heart (obviously the paper has hearts, but I love the ones in the peacock feathers)

Today, I've made a second card using the same Pretty Peacocks digi set.  I like the fact that the set includes multiple sentiments, making it very versatile.  

For this card I used 3 different sizes of Spellbinders scalloped ovals to layer the flowers.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Pile it on Challenge #59 - Go Green

A Gem of a Challenge #139 - Clean and Simple

Addicted to CAS Challenge #58 - Distress

Missed the mailman!

I was hoping to get this card in the mailbox, but the mailman was a bit early.  Probably, I was a bit late.  Maybe because I finally had my entire stash at my disposal and had so many more choices to make.  

(inside)

I used my new Cuttlebug, Spellbinders dies, a Fiscar's corner punch, the Cricut and the CTMH Artiste cartridge, CTMH papers, ribbon and Serendipity stamp on the bottom petals, a Taylored Expressions sympathy stamp, a Great Impressions sentiment stamp, and Bellini Skittles.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges #276 - Put a Bow on it.

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #190 - Freestyle

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #113 - Flowers and Ribbon

Sister Act Card Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Now I have to go clean up the mess I made!

Unpacking

Little by little I am unpacking from our trip.  Today I thought I'd tackle the bag that held my craft stash, what I took with me as well as some purchases I made in Florida.  I haven't put any of it away yet.  It is mostly on my dining room floor in little piles.  

I sort of got distracted.  

In among the papers was an adorable digi from the Ice Fishing set by Deedee's Digis that I didn't want to lose.  It gave me the perfect excuse to finally use my new Cuttlebug machine.  I used a Spellbinder's scalloped oval die to cut the image making it ready to pop on a card.  Then I came across a pack of paper (from the Stampfest show I went to in Clearwater) which was a perfect match for the colors in the precolored digi.  It didn't take long to get the Cuttlebug back out to die cut a Memory Box Snowflake Corner from glitter paper.  And with a quick bow made from silver embroidery floss this card was born....

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #363 - Die Cuts/Punches
Dare to be Sassy Thursday Challenge #271 - To Die For
Scrapy Land Challenge #13 - Anything Goes using a die sold by ScrapyLand (Memory Box & Spellbinders)
Little Red Wagon Challenge #279 - Birds of a Feather
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes, stash item- anything goes (embroidery floss)
Cards in Envy Challenge - Anything Goes with a Bow
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #253 - Use a Digi
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #248 - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Punches or Die Cuts

This is what it looks like outside my front door right now.

Lots of white and it's still coming down.  That's why I thought this was a perfect card for today.

Sending warm hugs to all my friends.

Not a good idea!

Sunday morning we left the warmth of Florida and Monday evening we returned to the freezing temperatures of Pennsylvania.  

What were we thinking?

Yesterday, while it was snowing and sleeting, my granddaughter and great granddaughter stopped by and I got to see Laila walking.  And today my son and grandsons visited.  Family and friends bring you home.

It's a bit difficult getting back into the rhythm of things.  I've filled the cookie jar and baked a cake.  I guess it's time to get back to some crafting.  The obvious place to start is with my 2 weekly favorites:  Mojo Monday and Atlantic Hearts Sketches.  Both sketches this week are fairly simple.

First, I've used a Bentley Bear stamp that was a freebie from Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine for my Mojo Monday Contest #387 Card. (It was nice to come home and find 3 issues of my craft magazines, a package of skittles I had ordered, and some stamps that I had won before Christmas in the pile of mail.)  I stamped the image 3 times and paperpieced it onto the card.  And I used 3 of the new skittles.  

 

 

My second card is for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #97 and uses CTMH products. 

I have one more card to show you.  I made it before we left Florida but didn't get a chance to post it.  For this card I used the current sketch #304 at Catch the Bug Stella Says Sketch Challenge.  

I really liked the sketch but, unfortunately, had no way to print a Bugaboo image for on the card.  

Instead, I used a stamp from My Favorite Things.

Don't you just hate it when your DH is right?

Sunday we leave to return to the cold of Pennsylvania. :>(  

So three days ago, after my Mojo Monday card and my Atlantic Hearts Sketch card were complete, I packed up my crafting stuff in preparation for the trip home.

My DH came home from playing golf, saw everything was tidied up, and asked why I had packed up my stash already.   And then he predicted that it wouldn't stay packed.  

Yesterday, I slid a small sandwich bag of scraps out of my tote and just did a little cutting and piecing to make some backgrounds. 

(Beccy Muir has been making some fabulous cards using up scraps, her New Year's resolution.  You can see some of here awesome makes on her blog here.)

Once I'm back home, the backgrounds I've made will all be embossed before I use them on cards.  

Oh, I have missed my cuttlebug!

Then this morning, I made the mistake of glancing at Pinterest.   

Of course, I ended up unpacking just a couple things to make this birthday card, cased from a card originally posted on the Avery Elle blog.   

(Papers are Heartstrings from CTMH and the sentiment is a stamp from Taylored Expressions.)

In my own defense, I did need another birthday card and have already sent the card to my friend, Ewa.  But my DH was, indeed, right.  My stash didn't stay packed. 

I am entering this birthday card in the following challenges:

Scrap and Craft Inspiration Challenge #3 - Birthday

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Kraftin Kimmie's Wonderful Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Creative Card Crew Challenge #81 - Birthday with Sentiment

Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #74 - Anything Goes with twist- Buttons

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #140 - Use ribbon or lace

 

teeny tiny glass beads

I am really liking these little glass beads!  They don't stick to you and everything else like glitter does.  And they are so tiny, if they end up in the carpet you can't even see them! 

Here I've used beads as icing on a cupcake.

This one eyed monster is on it's way to wish my grandson, AJ, a happy birthday.

I was enjoying the nice weather and a Kindle book out on the lanai.  Unfortunately, my Kindle ran out of power.  So while it recharges, I'll share this card with you - my wonderful followers - and these challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Feb 25-Mar 3 : 1 image and 1 sentiment

Ruby's Rainbow Challenge # 98- Anything Green

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #133 - Stripes

Eureka Stamps Challenge #129 - Birthday 

Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge # 174 - Add something green

Another Atlantic Hearts Sketch Card

The CTMH Heartstrings Paper Pack and WOTG I brought with me will still make quite a few more cards.  

I went to the scrap bag of odds and ends 

 to make this thank you card for the 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #96.

(Cricut Artiste Collection Kudos and Card Word Puzzle are the two CTMH stamp sets I've used.)

(close up of the tiny glass beads in the flower center)

 

I am also entering this card in the following:

City Crafter Challenge Week 250 - Use It Up  (except for the card base, everything came from the scrap bag pictured)

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #140 - Use Ribbon and/or lace

Shopping Our Stash Chgallenge #190 - Use something that came out of a jar (glass beads)

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Feb 24-Mar 2 - Always Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Rubber Stamps Only  (My tip: when washing stamps not mounted on wood in the sink, take a moment to close the drain first because they slip away awfully fast, never to return!)

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge # 233- Anything Goes  (We are returning home next week.  I am looking forward to seeing my grandchildren and my great-grandbaby and returning to my DT duties at Tuesday Throwdown.  Your cards are great this week, ladies!)

Crafting From the Heart Challenge # 48- Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #250 - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap Challenge #48 - Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant Challenge #287 - Anything Goes

Yesterday afternoon we went to Tampa for a tour of The Big Cat Rescue.  If you are ever in the area, it is a must see.  

This was our second visit.  Our first visit was about 8 years ago, the last time we were in Florida. 

The animals are magnificent and so well cared for.  

It was fun seeing this male lion and female white tiger interacting.  Here she is washing his face...

and look at the gorgeous coat on this black leopard....

and we thought it cute how this lioness had her paws curled in just like a domestic cat might...

 

On the way back to our temporary home, just before we got to the Skyway Bridge, 

 

we could see a dense fog rolling in.  And that was all we could see for miles!  We crossed that bridge and never saw the water on either side, and just barely saw the huge yellow girders in the middle.  Other than the taillights of the car in front of us, everything was white.  That was a totally surreal experience, for sure!