Mother's Day Sunflower!

The Countdown Continues to Retirement. Celebrate with me Here!

I'm on a roll with Mother's Day Cards, as I have quite a few to make. For this card I chose one of my gifted Tilda's and since she's tenderly holding a sunflower, used my Prima DP collection "Sun Kiss" which was found at Oozak

 and followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

There's all kinda stuff going on with this card... Spellbinders, Sizzix and C.C. Designs dies, cut and embossed with my beloved Cuttlebug.

A Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page deep edge punch. I love chalk, and really ran with it chalking nearly all edges of this card. Lots and lots and lots of layers with a bunch of 3m double-sided foam tape. The heart pins are from WOC, two colored to match. The little chocolate pearls are from Queen & Co. Oh, my what a find to rummage through my hoarded/stash (blast from the past) to find the pewter butterfly charm, and the swirl clip from making memories-at least 10 years old! 

The awesome swirl sentiment was a freebie via Free Digital Stamps, printed on the DP and cut and embossed with Spellbinder's nestie classic circles. I sure wish ALL artists would put their name in the save line - would make it soooo much easier to give credit to the designer - KWIM?!? I would love to thank them personally, as it was perfect for this card! The lace and ribbon are from my LSS. All colored up with Copics :) 

And... last but not least, it's an Easel - YAY!!! 

Wishing you a day FULL of "Sunflowers"!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Sketch Saturday-sketch; Whimsy Stamps Challenge-dies/punches; Just keep on Creating-AG; Craft your Passion Challenge-dies/punches; Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge-butterflies; Creatalicious Challenges-butterfly/flower; Oozak-AG; The Paper Shelter-wings/things; Stamp n Doodle's Blog-showers/flowers; The Stamping Boutique-AG; Incy Wincy Designs-digis ONLY; Karens Doodles Challenge Blog-something spring; Whoopsi Daisy Challenge-AG; 2 Sisters Challenge Blog-flower in image; Craft Your Days Away Challenge-metal

Beeeutiful Mommy!

We're Still Partying over at My Retirement Party -

You Are Invited!!!

"I'm all ears" was picked by the DT over at Delightful Challenges Easter challenge as their winner and earned a Guest Design Team spot on the Digital Delights Blog, along with this cute image I picked "Springtime Lara" and badges - woohooie!!!

I was all set to color her up, and then thought she would be super cute paper-pieced. I did color her little face, legs, and leaves - the rest was paper-pieced using Prima's Annabelle DP collection. Printed her up on three coordinating papers, cut, cove'd and silicone'd her for dimension.

Of course, since she is soooo "flowery", it was a must to cut a bunch of flowers (C.C. Designs-five point flowers) and Poppy Stamps "Meadow Leaf" die (memory box), along with my Spellbinder's classic circles and Lacey circle dies. I also "framed" the front of my card with the insert being embossed roses by Lifestyle Crafts - all done in my dear Cuttlebug.

The sweet circle sentiment is from Netty's Cards and my LSS had the rayon vintage seam binding - bought 10 yards - love, love, love this ribbon. The Butterflies are Martha Stewart, and the "bling" is Doodlebug mini jewels "cupcake".

Wishing you a Beeeeutiful Day!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Bearly-Mine Challenges-embossing; Crafty Sentiments Designs-use a digi; Paperminutes-newest stamp; Craft Your Passion Challenges-dies&punches; Top Tip Tuesday-spotty/dotty; Lexi's Creations-punches/dies; Simon says stamp & show-AG; The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog-circles; Totally Stampalicious-paper piecing; The Squirrel and the Fox-things with wings; 2 Sisters Challenge Blog-flower IN your image; CES Challenge Blog-paper piecing; ATC & Cards with Attitude-AG; Card Makin' Mamas-girly; Fat pages and cards with attitude-AG/faces; Totally Paper Crafts-wings; Crafty Ribbons-wings; Craft Us Crazy-mother/flowers; Paper crafting journey-3 patterned papers; PaperPlay Challenge-wings; Simon Says Stamp challenge-april showers/spring flowers

A Rose is just a Rose!

The party is still going - and YOU are invited to celebrate my retirement with me here! :) :)

Good Saturday Morning to you, My Friends! I'm at our favorite B&B in old Folsom papercrafting with 8 wonderful friends - love these weekends with my buddies! A surprise came - and I got to finally meet "Tilda" - oh, my goodness, my first Tilda stamps - what fun they are to color - thanks to Susanne Dean's tutorials and tips for coloring her. Along with stamps came a pack of X-press it Copic paper - WOW!!! I normally use Ninah solar extra smooth and thought I had found the "perfect" medium for my pens... well... move over ninah, there's a new fave!

I'm really amazed at just how little color it takes and the blending is so easy with the X-press It.

I followed the sketch over at Seems A Little Sketchy - I love Jenn's sketches - so inspiring!

I chose to use a center-step card base and some new pink paislee "London Market" collection DP. Since I am with friends, picked out some different Spellbinder's nesties, inverted scallop squares, a bunch of flowers and flourishes, along with my Memory Box butterflies "Darla & Vivienne" (I've been waiting months to use these dies), all cut and embossed with my cuttlebug.

Hard to tell in the photos, but I did distress with my new Tim Holtz edge distress tool, and even edge ink distressed, too. Fun, Fun, Fun! Added Doodlebug mini jewels "limeade" and a bit of ribbon and lace from the LSS. Just topped Tilda's rose off with some glossy accents for a bit of depth.

"A Rose is a Rose" until you give it to a friend and then it's a "gift"~

Wishes to you for a "gift" of a week!!!!

love,

Wendy

Challenges: Seems a little sketchy-sketch; 2 sisters challenge blog-flowers; Sugar Creek Hollow-dies/punches; Totally Gorjuss-bling; ATC & Cards with Attitude-AG; Card Makin Mamas-Getting Girlie; Delicious Doodles Challenges-loads of layers; Craft us Crazy-Mother's Day/flowers; Moving Along with the Times-shabby/vintage; Just Magnolia-lace; Lily Pad-Simon Says Flowers; Totally Paper Crafts-things with wings; Crafty Ribbons Challenge-things with wings; Crafts and me challenge-3-D embellie; Crafty Creations challenge-flower power; Creative Belli-children; Flutter By Wednesday-birthday; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-April showers/flowers; The Stamping Boutique Challenge-distress; Top Tip Tuesday-spotty/dotty

April Showers...

The party is still going - and YOU are invited to celebrate my retirement with me here! :) :)

"April Showers Bring May Flowers" - oh, boy I sure hope so!!! We are having the worst storms ever here in Northern California - even a "real" tornado - we never get real tornadoes. Anyway, for this card I chose this wonderful image from Sassy Cheryl "April Showers".

This is my first attempt at a side-step card - WHAT FUN!!!

I used Dovecraft "Tea Party" DP found over at Ooozak. The paper flowers are from Papermart.

I used my cuttlebug to cut and emboss the clouds from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps; the fence is Tim Holtz and the sentiment is cut with the "blossom" die from Spellbinders. And the darling (fell in love with these) umbrella I found at my LSS. Glittered up all the roses with Martha Stewart fine glitter.

Wishing you only "May Flowers!"

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Sassy Cheryl Challenge Blog-AG; Aud Sentimenets Challenge-Spring/summer colors; Craft us Crazy-mother's day/flowers; DYSU challenge blog-glitter/bling; Little Miss Muffet Challenge-spring colors/pastels; Paper Crafting Journey-3 patterned papers; Southern Girls Challenge-fancy folds; Cooking it up with Katie-fun fold/flowers; Crafting for all Seasons-april showers; Crafts and Me Challenge-3-D embellies; Crafty Creations Challenge-flower power; Creative Belli Blog-children; Divas by Design-charms; Little Darlings Challenges-pastels; Little Red Wagon-April showers/May flowers; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-April showers/may flowers; Papercraft Star-colors/umbrella; Crafty Sentiments Challenge-spring/pastels; Die Cuttin Divas-pastels/dies; Scrap Creations-Spring; Jackson's Digital Expressions-AG; Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge-shapes; Oldie but a Goodie-april showers=dies/ribbon/embossing folders/cardstock; Use it Tuesday-AG=ribbon/dies/cardstock; Cupcake Crafts Challenge-Spring; House of Gilli Challenge #31-flowers; Karen Doodles Challenge-something spring; Tammy's Scrapin Corner-embossing; The Pink Elephant-flowers; Victorine Originals-april showers

Noel in April!

Firstly, my countdown calendar at work is now on day 15 (working days)! Woohoooie! Come join my Retirement Party here!

For today's showcase project as a guest designer for Elisabeth Bell's Digi Bells DT Blog, I have used "Letters to Santa" which can be found at Elisabeth Bell Digital Collection.

I followed the sketch over at Sketchy Colors - this sketch really inspired me! I love blue & green with a splash of brown!

I also used Stamp Fairy's digi tree stamp, printed it out on the DP and went to work on the tedious task of cutting the little buggers out!

I inked all my edges with Tim Holtz Distress Inks "Burlap" and  used the Lost & Found DP from My Mind's Eye. Used my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss my Spellbinder's nestie dies, added some stashed/hoarded Bo Bunny dotty grosgrain ribbon and Hero Arts lace. Also used my Marvy Snow marker to add the snow to the image, embossed with my heat gun.

 Did a "window" treatment to the inside of the card and instead of my usual "portrait" position, I chose "landscape" for this one.

Have a FABULOUS week!

Love,

Wendy 

Challenges: Sketchy Colors-#112 Sketch; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-favorite tool/cuttlebug; Critter Sketch Challenge-critters; Incy Wincy Designs-cute critters; Pile it on-"S"=snow/letter to Santa/stripes/stamps; Robyn's Fetish Challenge blog-AG; The Crafty Pad-dies; Allsorts Challenge Blog-bingo=green/stripes/blue; Christmas Stampin' All year long-fave color combo; Crafty Ann's Challenge-Christmas in March; Crafty Purple Frog-distress; Divas by Design-AG

Hoppy Easter!

Come Join me at my Retirement Party here!

Awww, for our sweet youngest son, Collin (20), I wanted to make a simple/non-foo-foo Easter card. I love this image from Sassy Cheryl (she's having a BIG sale!), as it reminds me of my dear hubby and how we love to play with our children - still!

I used We R Memory Keepers DP "cotton tail" collection.

Followed the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Of course used my cuttlebug to cut the and heart border die from Memory Box and the hearts from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

The inside has a pocket for his bunny bucks :)

Hoppy Easter!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Sweet Sketch Wednesday-sketch; Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog-pastels; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-favorite tool/cuttlebug; Creative Inspirations Paint-bunnies/chicks/eggs; The Crafty Pad-dies; Craft your days away challenge-easter; Crafts 4 Eternity-bunnies/chicks; Simply Create Too-bunnies/eggs; Sweet 'n Sassy digi challenge-easter; C.R.A.F.T. challenge-spring/easter; DYSU Challenge Blog-friendly critters; My Mum's Craft Shop-easter/animal; The Paper Shelter-Easter; 

Happily Ever After 60 years!

Firstly, you're invited to Come Celebrate with me at my Retirement Party here!

Today we attended a "Diamond" wedding anniversary celebration for Bill & Nadine - SIXTY YEARS - WOW! What a wonderful time was had by one and all! For their card I chose a digi from Ladybug Crafts Ink called Just Married, which I was lucky enough to win in a challenge a few months ago - Thank You, Kerry! This is a UK stamp, so I did have to flip it so the groom/driver was on the US side - LOL. I also personalized the license plate :)

I followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday

I used some hoarded Doodlebug DP and ribbon leftover from our Son's wedding from March of last year.

The paper roses are from Papermart and blinged up a bit with Martha Stewart glitter.

The "diamond" flat rhinestones, white ribbon, tulle, and charm are from my LSS.

I did a bit of cuttlebugging (which is my handsdown favorite tool!) to cut the swirl dies from Sizzix, emboss with swiss dots, and to cut and emboss the lacey circle from Spellbinders. The edge punch is from EK success.

Wishing you a "Happily Ever After" week!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Sketch Saturday-Paula's sketch; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-favorite tool; Catch The Bug Challenge-AG; ATC & Cards with Attitude-AG; Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge-dies/punches; Fairy Fun Fridays-AG; Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps-flowers; Totally Paper Crafts-bingo-flowers/die/blue; 4 Crafty Chicks-flowers; Pixie Dust Studie Pixie Challenge-up in the sky; Oozak-AG

I'm All Ears!

It's Happy Easter Week, My Friends - Happiest Easter Wishes To You!

My project started with being the lucky winner of Sassy Cheryl's Blog random pick of the week - YAY... I won a digi of my choice and I chose "Bunny Chit Chat". Over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog this week's them is "Easter Parade - Bunnies & Bonnets", so used my new image to make this fun card.

I followed the sketch for the second time this week at Papertake Weekly by Dawny P.

Used my new We R Memory Keepers "Cotton Tails" collection which I found over at Oozak.

I used my Cuttlebug to die cut my flowers from C.C. Designs found at Simon Says Stamp store, along with the Sizzix flourish and embossed with swiss dots.

My sweet friend, KathyCan, cut a bunch of Martha Stewart fences for me, and I've happily used one on this card. The sweet ribbon was a RAK from another friend and fit perfectly with the colors and theme of the card.

Aha, there's the Happy Easter sentiment (CK Becky font), hiding under the image in a mini-easel :)

Have an "I'm All Ears!" week, My Friends!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog-Easter Parade/Bunnies&Bonnets; Papertake Weekly-sketch; Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog-AG; Addicted to Stamps Challenge-Spring; Come and Get it Challenges-spring; Pile it On-scene; That Craft Place Challenge Blog-all about spring; The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge-Easter; Catch the bug Challenge Blog-Easter/spring; Craft Your Days Away Challenge-Easter; Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog-emboss; One Stop Craft Challenge-Easter; Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays-spring; Card Makin' Mamas-Easter; Simply Create Too-eggs/bunnies; Totally Paper Crafts-Easter; Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps-flowers; Our Craft Lounge-photo inspiration; 4 Crafty Chicks-Easter; Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog-"Happy Easter"; Delightful Challenges-Easter; Moving Along With The Times-cute/cuddly; Paper Play Challenges-Easter; Shelly's images challenge blog-stripes; The Paper Shelter-Easter; Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge-Easter; The Pixie Cottage-cuddly critters; Scrapbook Sisters-Easter; The Sisterhood of Crafters-Easter; Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge-Easter; Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog-spots/stripes; Paper and Such Design Blog-Easter/spring; Party Time Tuesdays-#61/AG; Craft your Passion Challenges-dots/stripes; Oozak Challenge Blog-AG

Show Me with Sassy Cheryl #69

So you should all know by now that I love Sassy Cheryl images. And it just so happens "just ducky" won Cheryl's #68 challenge, so I got to choose an image from her Sassy Cheryl Store - YIPPEEEEEEE! So I picked up this digi image "bunny chit-chat", especially to make an Easter card for a sweet friend and to enter Sassy Cheryl's Challenge blog challenge this week with the theme of "#108 Easter Parade - bunnies and bonnets". I'm having a blast!!!

Happy Sunday!

love,

Wendy

Challenge: Show me with Sassy Cheryl #69

Singing you a Happy Birthday!

What fun I had making my weekly card as a guest design team member at The Digi Bells DT Blog for Elisabeth Bell. Today I chose this darling little digital image from Elisabeth Bell "Li'l Lynda's Piano Forte"

I really tend to shy away from the darker copic colors, so was delighted with the outcome of the "blacks" with a bit of help from Suzanne Dean's copic coloring tutorials on YouTube - Thank you, Suzanne!

I used new and old supplies and some yummy flourish corners my sweet friend, KathyCan and sometimes does, sent me - Thank you, Kathy! The DP papers are from Echo park "victoria garden" and We R Memory Keepers "cotton tail" collections, which I picked up at Oozak. I met up with a bestie of mine for a bit of shopping at the LSS and dinner afterwards - what a treat it was to spend time with Beth. At the LSS I found the little black corner faceted rhinestone flat pearls - they are so pretty and unfortunately the camera just can't pick up the "bling".

I followed the sketch by Dawny P over at Papertake Weekly Challenge blog and knew I wanted to challenge myself into a gatefold with the sketch - took a bit of thinking, but it worked out just fine.

I used my classic circle Spellbinder nestie and ran the sentiment from TlcCreations/Create with TLC via Free Digital Stamps along with the pink dot DP through my Sizzix "music" (Tim Holtz) embossing folder with the cuttlebug and very much enjoyed the results. I also cut the the inside message mat with my Tim Holtz die.

The ribbon rolled roses are from Papermart and the silk flowers and ribbon from my LCS (purchased a year or so ago). When searching through my cards the other day for a friend's birthday, I noted I was quite low on ready-to-give birthday cards, hence, why I stepped out of Mr. McGregor's garden for just a little bit to make this birthday card.

Well, back to the "garden and bunnies"!

Have a wonderful first week of April, My Friends!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Papertake Weekly Challenge-sketch; 2 Sisters Challenge Blog-birthdays; Di's Digi Design Challenge Blog-embossing; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-AG; Speedy Fox and Friends/Mark's Finest Papers-square card; ATCs & Cards with Attitude-AG; Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge-dies/punches; Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge-fancy folds; Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge-3 of a kind(flower stacks/corners); Delicious Doodles Challenge-texture; Inspire me Fridays at the Joyful Stamper-AG; Phindy's Place Challenge Blog-ribbon; The Poodles Parlour-going dotty; Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps-flowers; Moving Along With The Times-cute/cuddly; Southern Girls Challenge-You Got Something you wanna say?; Party Time Tuesdays #61-AG; Totally Paper Crafts-song/dance