Sweetest Word You'll Ever Hear!

Maggie Mini's "Just Because" candy here!

And what is that sweetest word for us who are mommies... I can still hear every one of my children when they were wee wittle bitty things say "Mommy" :) Their sweet little voices still ring in my mind - love it!

For this Mother's day card I chose one of my new gifted maggies - still working on the shading techniques of these sweet stamps - but practicing is soooo fun! Followed the sketch over at Papertake Weekly by Dawny P.

This one I used my MS deep corner punch (this punch is one of my faves and well worth my investment). The DPs are from EchoPark "Victoria Garden". I distressed-shabby upped the edges of my DP with my Tim Holtz distressing tool. The roses were white and colored with copics and sprinkled with "sugar" glitter to go with the theme of the sentiment.

I am soooo thrilled to share with you Tiffany's awesome tutorial on custom-fit sentiments to spellbinders - you MUST check out this tutorial to take the guesswork out of the sizing of your sentiments/nesties.

I was at the LSS the other day and finally got the Lacey Oval nestie to go with my large ovals - perfect for this card. Also cut some Sizzix sizzlets flourishes - all done with my cuttlebug. Added some pearly fun to the roses and lots of layers with lots of double-sided foam tape.

Oh, ya, and it's an easel, too :)

Wicked busy week ahead for me (Shirley, it didn't take me more than a week to fill up my calendar! - LOL) now that I'm retired! First BFF and I went through the "scrap shed" today and pulled everything out preparing for a HUMUNGO craft sale next Sunday May 6th and will finish organizing over 2,000 patterned papers and about that much again in cardstock, page kits, embellies up the wazooo, stamps, tools, storage - you name it, I've got it! Late afternoon tomorrow photographer for a Diamond Wedding Anniversary party, Monday I have two senior portrait sittings, Wednesday a rehersal, Friday a wedding (package deal - sweet hubby is the minister) - whew... and then after the Craft sale, on to the next Estate sale with a house full of antiques and collectables. So if I'm MIA next week, you'll know why :)Thanks for stopping by today!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Papertake Weekly-Dawny P sketch; Simon Says Stamp-AG; CMC Copic Challenge-celebrations; Craftymess Challenge Blog-distress/emboss; Hiding in my Craft Room-mothers/flowers; My Sheri CRAFTS-Flowers/mom; Sugar Creek Hollow-Mother; Crafts 4 Eternity-spring; Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge-AG; Prairie Fairy Fridays-flowers; Fussy and Fancy Friday-punches/dies; Stampin' for the Weekend-sparkle/shine; The Poodles Parlour-AG; Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps-distressing; Chocolate, coffee & Cards-BINGO/distress/punches/ribbon; Moving Along With The Times-garden/flowers

Retirement Party and Party Favor!

TIME TO CELEBRATE!

Yesterday I posted my countdown chalkboard in my cube at work to RETIREMENT

20 WORKING DAYS LEFT!!!! WOOOOHOOOOIE!!!!

I'm sooooo excited, just can't hide it and decided I wanted to celebrate with you by having a 20-workdays "Retirement Party".
Come celebrate with me!

Here's the details of the "Retirement Party" party favor.
- Waaaay EZ-PZ -

1. Welcome to the party! Just be a follower of my blog - new follower or already a friend!
2. Post the "Retirement Party" favor above with a link back to my blog on your sidebar.
3. Sign my guestbook by entering your name in Mr. Linky below (once, please).
4. You'll have until Friday, April 27th at 11:00 p.m. PDT, when I'll let Ms. RG (random generator) pick a number to receive my party favor!

Thank you for coming to my RETIREMENT PARTY!

love,

Wendy

Here are your random numbers:
 10 
Timestamp: 2012-04-29 06:55:42 UTC
That's YOU, Designs by Cathi email me, by clicking on my profile where you'll find my email addy, so I can get your Oozak $25.00 GC code to you!

Thank you to ALL who came to my Retirement Party - It was very fun... and Retirement ROCKS!!!

A Tisket-a-Tasket, A Flowery "EB" Spring Basket!

Don't forget to enter my candy give-aways here (Retirement Part-Oozak GC) and here (Just Because-maggie mini set) :)

So my day started with getting ready for a dentist appointment, which my husband had forgotten about and he loaned my car (little red "solstice" sports car) to our son to go golfing. I was a bit disappointed, cuz I had to drive the BIG truck (HUGE 250 ford 4x4, king ranch/king cab, long bed) and it's sooooo BIG! After my appointment I was headed to the LSS to pick up some flat pearls for my project. Here is the driver's side of the Lincoln Continental Town Car-the side I didn't hit! Never trust a person to motion you to turn left over three lanes of traffic when you can't see the furthest lane, and don't mess with the BIG truck (thank goodness I was driving it!). Thankfully no one was seriously injured (minor whiplash), just Lincoln parts strewn all over the road - and my first car accident, ever... The other driver was cited for causing the accident and his car was towed. I hope to never have another one again in my life... terrifying experience!

But the night ended on a happy note with my first cascading "Basket" (inspired by Wendy Fraser) card, all the while singing the song with Ella Fitzgerald "A Tisket a Tasket...", for Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog April/May Monthly Challenge! This month's theme is spring and flowers and I chose this darling digi image by Elisabeth Bell "I love You This Much". All colored up with copics.

I cut a ton of flowers with my Spellbinder's and CC Designs, along with Marianne Butterflies, Sweet & Sassy Stamps hearts, Sizzix circles for the handles and Memory Box Meadow Leaf dies - all cut and embossed with the Cuttlebug. The patterned papers are from the Echo Park "Victoria Garden" collection... and... flat pearls (yes, after they changed my front tire and pulled my bumper straight with the wench, I went to the LSS :) Added a few rhinestones to the butterflies and used my vintage seam binding ribbon for the bows (love this stuff!).

Be sure to pop over to Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog and join in the fun!

Wishing you a WONDERFUL "Tisket a Tasket" accident-free Day!

love,

Wendy

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp Challenge-AG; The House That Stamps Built-DCC425, card for a woman you love; Inky Impressions-AG; Creative Card Crew-ribbon; Deep Ocean Challenge-punches/dies; Scrap-Creations-It's a girl thing; Paper and Such Designs-just for the girls/mother's day; BnW Challenge Blog-spring is in the air; Love to Create Challenge Blog-AG; Stamp and Create Challenge-Spring; The Crazy Challenge-feminine/girly; Victorian Stamps Challenge-AG; The Shabby Tea Room-April Showers/photo inspiration; One Stitch At a Time-AG; That Craft Place Challenge-no square/rectangle; 2 Sisters Challenge blog-over the edge; Just some lines-april showers/flowers; ATCs and Cards with Attitude-AG; Crafts 4 Eternity-something new "pearls/image/fold"; Prairie Fairy Fridays-flowers; Fat Pages and Cards with attitude-AG/faces; Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge-punches/dies; Wags 'n Whiskers-AG; Flourishes Timless Tuesday Challenge-BINGO "pink/ribbon/die"; House of Gilli-sparkle/shine/ribbon; Lexi's Creations-punches/dies; Come and Get it Challenges-Zfold

Best Day Ever!

Happy Earth Day weekend, Friends!

I have Two candy give aways here (Oozak GC) and here (set of Maggie Minis) - but you must enter for the opportunity to WIN!

 So I am nearing the end of my term with The Digi Bells Design Team Blog for Elisabeth Bell. Today, is my last showcase post on the blog. It has been a wonderful three months! Chose this sweetie of an image "Little Best Friends" from Elisabeth Bell Digi Collection for the project, all colored up with copics. Added blue and pink clouds with chalk, Bev Rochester style.

Followed the sketch by DawnyP over at Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog for the second time - I love her sketches!

Decided to create a gatefold for this project and the sketch worked perfectly. Pulled out the hoarded kraft CS and chose We R Memory Keepers "cotton tail" DP collection. Cut and embossed with Memory Box and Spellbinder nestabilities, all in the cuttlebug. Actually found my stash of Magic Scraps sand - have had this for well over 10 years - so glad I rediscovered it. *Note to Self* add sand after cutting and embossing the image - LOL...

The sentiment "Thank you for the BESTDAYEVER" is from TLC creations via Free Digital Stamps. Added Hero Arts flowers and buttons, used a bit of floss, and mini jewels from Doodlebug along with the b/w dot ribbon. My sweet friend, KathyCan, punched a bunch of MS butterflies for me, and this project sooo needed one - thank you, My Friend!

Wishing you "The Best Day Ever"!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp Challenge-sketch; CES Challenge Blog-buttons; Clearly Inspired Challenge-spring; Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe challenge-something new-sentiment/butterfly; Fat pages and cards with attitude-AG/faces; Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge-dies/punches; Totally Paper Crafts-buttons; Aud Sentiments Challenge-spring/summer colors; Paper Crafting Journey-3 patterned papers; Sassy Studio Designs Challenge-flourishes/flowers; Creatalicious Challenges-butterflies/flowers; The Crafter's Cafe Challenge-spring/pastels; The paper shelter-wings/things; Creative Card Crew Challenge-Kraft; Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog-#111 butterflies; Catered Crop-kraft; One stitch at a time-AG; The Crafty Pad-living on the edge

The Digi Bells April Blog Hop!

Yay, it's blog hop time at The Digi Bells featuring our amazing artist, Elisabeth Bell. For this month's digi release, let me introduce you to "Peek-a-Bunny" and "Easter Basket" - they are sooooo ding-dang-darling. You can find both of these sweet new digis at Elisabeth Bell's Digi Collection! 

                                                 

The details for the hop are as follows:

To win one of these two adorable digis, you hoppers need to hop through and leave comments on each blog (find the complete list here), to better the chances to win! 2 blogs at random will be chosen, and the winners will be picked from the comments. You will have until Friday May 4th, 2012 at 9 AM to leave comments. The winners will be picked and posted to The Digi Bells Blog on Saturday May 5th, 2012. 

The second way to win will be to make a card and post it on The Digi Bells Blog, with the challenge theme of " SPRING FLOWERS". You may use ANY Elisabeth Bell image (digi or rubber). This will also end on May 4th at 9 AM Arizona Time. The winner will be posted on The Digi Bells Blog May 5th. That's 3 winners!!! 

You should have arrived here from sweet Alethea's. If you wander off the path, head back to The Digi Bells Blog to get yourself back on the bunny trail. From here you'll want to visit our darling Janneke.

Don't forget to join me in celebration at my Retirement Party Here!

For my showcase project, I chose Peek-a-Bunny to make my daughter-in-law's (Kath) birthday card - the image was just perfect for the sentiment and way fun to color with copics. Love blue/green color combo - one of my faves!

I followed Dawny P's sketch over at Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog - awesome sketch - just right for my card.

 I'm so tickled that Magnolia-Licious US store had the Magnolia Doohickey dies (lovely fence and spruce)  in stock - woohoo!! All dies cut and embossed with my cuttlebug.

 I knew I just had to create a scene with this sweet image - decided it need a green velvet ribbon to continue the grass across the entire card. I also wanted to say more on the front of the card than just "Hoppy Birthday", so put a little sentiment in the clouds "SomeBunny Loves You and... That's Me!"

Found a metal ribbon in my stash, which is at least 10 years old-LOL (yes, I am one of those!) I chalked the sky according to Bev Rochester's tutorial (she uses ink), along with chalking the trees and cutting an extra "shadow" for them. Punched a bunch of flowers from the hoarded/stash Doodlebug DP (stripes and gingham) that I've had for years and years, with my EK success mini flower punches, added a bit of bling to the flower centers, and did up the inside of the card a bit too. The whole card is 3-d, using my fave Scotch 3m mounting tape.

Have fun Hopping, My Friends!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp Challenge-sketch; Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog-spring/summer colors; DYSU challenge blog-stripes; Paper Crafting Journey-3 pattern papers; PaperPlay Challenges-animal antics; Shelly's Images-AG; Just inspirational challenges-photo inspiration; Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge-four legged friends; Sundays with Crissy-fave colors; Creative Belli Blog-children; Inky Impressions Challenge-birthday; Paper Pretties-card for a girl; The Pixie Cottage-sketch/green & gorgeous; Whimsy Stamps Challenge#35 -dies/punches; Ribbon Carousel Challenge-bright colors; The Stamping Boutique-AG; BnW Challenge Blog-spring; Craft Your Passion Challenge-dies/punches; Ooh-la-la Challenge Blog-bright/bold; Paper Playtime-say with sentiment/birthday;  Pile it On-pop it; Stamptacular Sunday #159-freebie; Craft Your Days Away-metal; Card Makin Mamas-girlie; Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge-stripes/checks; Prairie Fairy Fridays-flowers; Fat pages and cards challenge-AG/faces; Fussy and Fancy Friday-punches/dies; Jellypark Challenges-little bunny foo-foo; Raise the Bar-clouds

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;