Seems A Little Sketchy #15 - Congratulations

YAY! This is my first DT project for the awesome challenge blog "Seems A Little Sketchy". You know how I'm all into sketches, so to be chosen for the Seems A Little Sketchy design team is a great honor!

This is sketch #15 and was way fun for my project showcasing our wonderful sponsor Digi Doodle Shop image "Jr. Bride & Groom".

 As some of you know who follow my blog, my husband is a certified minister and I am a photographer. Together we make the perfect pair, especially for weddings! We were honored to attend to the Azam's in May, so this card will go to them, along with their flash drive with their wedding portraits.

I am embarrassed to say I cannot remember who did the wonderful technique that I CASE'D with the tulle in the Spellbinder's lacey oval and large oval cutout, placing the image on the inside of the card, but I sure do love the look - especially for a wedding card.

 The papers are from my hoarded stash of foof-a-la, along with Bazzil and Neenah CS. The pearls are double strung and perfect for a border, and twice useful when cut apart as singles. Also used my Memory Box "meadow leaf" die. The paper roses are from Paper Mart. 

Come on over to Seems A Little Sketchy and join us in our Sketch #15 Challenge, sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: The Ribbon Girl Blog-lace/ribbon; Just Some Lines-black/white; Speedy and Friends-B/W w/splash of color; Just Add Ink-pearls; 4 Crafty Chicks-monochromatic; CropStop-monochromatic; Paper Crafting journey-color it up; Oozak-two papers/embellies; Really Reasonable Ribbon-flowers/ribbon; Cooking it up with Katie-celebrate with ribbon and a die cut; Crafting for all Seasons-many layers; Crafty Creations Challenge-wedding/anniversary; Crafty Sentiments-white on white; Digital Tuesday Challenge-AG; Flourishes/Timeless Tuesday-wedding; Papertake Weekly-AG

Thank You, Peggy!

Peggy and my birthdays are only two days apart and over the past 21 years, we have usually celebrated our "birthtweenday"; however, this year she was working and so we celebrated on my birthday. We hadn't gotten together in a couple of years (ya, know, that life thing...), but this year we spent 5 hours at one of our fave sushi places - sooooo much fun!!! She broke the rules and slipped a fun "inspiration" bracelet in my card, so this is my thank you to her.

Followed the sketch over at the Sweet Stop, which was perfect for my project.

Chose one of my fave Mo images, Baby Fairy Flora. Wanted to try my hand at "no black lines" and waded my way through the muck and mud in photoshop, but finally figured it all out. Love the outcome. You can find my "no black lines digi" mini-tutorial here

Used some fun DP by Prima with a blue and yellow theme. Also brought out two of my fave Memory Box dies - crisp bows and madera corner, but then really who am I kidding - all of my MBs are faves! LOL. Also added some crystal acrylic flowers, a little personalized tag/ticket, a bit of embossing and spellbinder cuts with the cuttlebug, organza ribbon and floss, and a little bit of stickles painted on her wings and edge of dress. Thank goodness I don't have to mail this one-with nearly 10 layers, it is quite heavy :)

Did up the inside a bit, too :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: The Sweet Stop-sketch; Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge-thank you; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-AG; Crafting for all Seasons Challenge-layers; Crafts and Me Challenges-ribbon; Divas by Design-AG; Scrapbook Sisters-AG; Crafty Sentiments-AG; Die Cuttin Divas-AG; Scrap-Creations-fairies; Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT challenge-something with wings; Party Time Tuesdays-AG; Top Tip Tuesday-stash/tip (ribbon, floss, image, stickles); 

Sweet Shavana

Only one week left to enter my "maggie" candy here!

For my project today, I followed the sketch over at Mojo Monday

Last weekend was a get together weekend for us girls at our favorite bed & breakfast in Folsom, California - The Bradley House. I've had a reservation for nine years now and get to choose weekend getaways for scrappin' buddies and myself - we always have the best time. This past weekend, Shavana's father had lost his battle with cancer, so she was working on the memorial boards and memories for the service. I knew I wanted to create a card for Shavana, and wanted to make it special for the loss of a father. I used my MS butterfly punch, Spellbinders ovals and lacey ovals, along with butterfly impressabilities. Added some roses, heart stickpins, a clear acrylic flower, Sizzix sizlette swirl flourish, ribbons/lace and a heart key charm from my LSS. I love the sentiment, and know Shavana will also.

Her parents divorced when she was very young and she was raised by her mother. Her father and her found each other when she was 18, and made up for all the time they had lost. They became best friends. Michael was a tall strapping man, and loved his daughter to no end.

Shavana was blessed to get to know her father and have him as an integral part of her life for the last 20 years, making him not only a father, but a father-in-law and grandfather!

Today is Michael's day to be placed to rest. Blessings and my deepest heartfelt condolences to my sweet friend Shavana and her wonderful family. Rest in peace, Michael.

Love,

Wendy

Challenges I'd like to enter: Mojo Monday-sketch; Inky Impressions-lace/trim; Simon Says Stamp-CAS;  365 cards-wordy; Truly Scrumptious-AG; Whimsy Stamps Challenge-AG; A and T digital designs-embossing;

Have a Yummy Birthday!

Don't forget to enter my Maggie "just because" Candy HERE!

So I've had six personal best days of my life so far! The day Isaac was born was one of them. Isaac and his wife (Kath) live in Nashville and are both history professors (Isaac-British Studies; Kath-American History) - their birthdays are one week apart and since Isaac is off to England on the 15th for six weeks where he will have an on-campus interview for a tenured position at Warwick University (wooooohooooie) while there, I'm sending off both cards today so they can have them before he goes "across the pond".

I chose this sweet image from Sassy Cheryl's Digis "Sneaky Bear Birthday Cupcake" which you can now find in her $2 bin (hurry, these will retire this month!). I don't do very many "masculine" cards, so this was a bit out of my box.

Followed the PTI anniversary sketch #3 and thought the "bunting" was perfect for this card. Used the cuttlebug to emboss the dots, my star punch to make the "chips" distress on the bunting, sewed the floss through, chalked the edges and used my trusty fine point sharpie to faux sew.

The DPs are BasicGrey and MME, which I thought really complimented each other. The front calendar is from Cindy Close and just put the number 18 for the date, as that is the special day!

The inside of the card on the left has a diagonal pocket for the gift card, and the inside sentiment on the right is from Tracey Brossart - I love this sentiment and Tracey is so clever and amazingly creative!

Bazzil buttons and DMC floss are my main embellies for this card - sometimes i forget about my hoarded buttons, but had fun adding them to this creation. Used my Spellbinders to cut and emboss my image, and colored it all up with my copics.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp Challenge-birthday; Sassy Chery's Challenge Blog-stitching; Cards and More Challenge-party; Craft-room Challenge-emboss; Creative Craft Challenge-AG; Papertake Weekly Challenge-cute; Always Crafting Creative Monday-AG; Incy Wincy Designs-spots/dots; Ooh La La Creations-manly; Tammy's Scrapin Corner-dies/punches; Catered Crop-"B"=birthday, bear, buttons, bunting; Come and get it challenge-let's hear it for the boys; Great Impressions Challenge-AG; That Craft Place Challenge-one for the boys; {Cupcake Insiprations}-#159; A and T Challenge Blog-AG; Mad for Markers monthly challenge-masculine colors; Sparkles Monthly Challenge- *Men*; 2 Sisters Challenge Blog-#90 AG; BasicGrey Challenge-1,2,3 recipe; Catch the Bug Challenge-AG; One Stop Craft Challenge-celebrations; Sweet Stampin' Challenge-four legged friends; Cardmadfairy's Digi Challenge-add a number; Crafty Ann's Challenge-stitching; Inspire me Fridays-AG; Stampin' for the weekend-4+layers/blog hop;

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

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

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

Just Ducky!

Okay, Friends... I must say I have pulled an all-nighter - haven't done that in a looooong time, but I was having sooooo much fun, i just couldn't stop! Sweet hubby came downstairs and said "Didn't I leave you in that same spot 7 hours ago?" - YUP, yes siree-bubby, you sure did! :) :) :) He promptly made a "full" pot of double-strength coffee - yes, he's a keeper, that's for sure!

Okay on to the deets of this card - but I must preface it by saying, I made three of these - hence the all-nighter, and still have two more to go (for the five children/families) for Spring/Easter. The darling image is from Sassy Cheryl "Duck Dance" and can be found in her $2 bargain bin - I purchased it a few months ago in anticipation of Spring/Easter cards :)

 I also used Gerda's images from Stamp Fairy for the carrots and eggs. The sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC/tlcCreations via Free Digital Stamps and thought it was absolutely perfect for this card - "Hope your day is just Ducky"!

My sweet friend punched a bunch of MS fences for me, and this card just screamed "use the fence" - LOL - Thank you my sweet friend, KathyCan! While Skype-scrapping with Kathy, we started going through our stash and I found the metal ribbon/bow charm - I know I've had it for over 10 years!

I did have to travel outside to the "scrap-shed" - yes... I have a 10x20 tough shed full of scrap supplies :/ We will be having a HUGE garage sale next month, as everything we have must go - so we can hit the RV retirement road - we are so excited! Anyway, back on track - the card is a center step card - love this fold and followed the tutorial on You Tube by Frances Byrne - great tutorial! Cut the image with my Spellbinder nestie classic circles and then matted it with the Lacey circle - of course, with my Cuttlebug.

"Hope your day is just Ducky"

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps Challenge-think spring; 2 sisters challenge blog-spring is in the air; Little Claire's Designs-spring; My Sheri CRAFTS-easter; Totally Gorjuss-#123/124; Dream Valley Challenges-easter; PanPastel UK Challenge Blog-bright colors; Scrapper's Delights Paper Crafts-easter; Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog-seeing spots; Sentimental Sundays-easter/spring; The Squirrel and The Fox-easter; Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge-fancy folds; Crafty Ann's Challenge-#61/spring into spring; Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge-spring is in the air; Prairie Fairy Fridays-spring fling; Hotshot Craft Blog-ribbon; Our Craft Lounge-spring; Pattie's Creations Design Challenge-AG; Phindy's Place Challenge Blog-Animal Planet; Simply Create Too-spring; Stampin' for the Weekend-AG; Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge-celebrate spring; Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps-green; Crafty Purple Frog Challenge-AG; Craft us Crazy-easter; Inked Paws-spring; Moving Along With The times Challenge-easter wishes; PaperPlay Challenges-spring colors; Crafts and Me Challenges-spring colors; Little Darlings Challenges-spring colors; My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge-Let's get Digital; Sassy Cheryl-Show me; Simon Says Stamp Challenge-bingo-charm/die/ribbon; Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog-AG