Bestie Tales

I saw the cutest image from Sherri Baldy Img697 that I just HAD to have. I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it, so I gathered my supplies and set to work.

Knowing I wanted to emulate a book with the front of my card, I found this great YouTube tutorial from Christina Griffiths-Faux Book Card. I also knew I wanted to make a corner bookmark and followed this tutorial from Jenny at Stamping Moments. 

I also love to 3d images on my card fronts and have followed the wonderful tutorial from

  Mariska over at Splitcoast Stampers.

Adding my Tim Holtz weathered clock die cut, weathering it a bit with Tim's Distress Ink-black soot. The project required some fun stash diving for paper, buttons, ribbons, brads and a clock charm; all of which helped me pull it all together. I wrote a little "book sentiment" as the insert for my intended bestie recipient, which I think she'll get a kick out of.

Of course I colored the images with my beloved copics and added some Ranger liquid pearls and a few dabs of Zig's Wink of Stella.

Copic Recipe:

Skin - R0000, 000, 01, 20

Hair - C00, 2, 4, 6, 8

Pants/Bow - R81, 83, 85

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges: Color it Create It Show It off-AG; Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge-AG, ribbon/lace; "My Besties" en francais challenge #49-AG; My Besties International Challenge Blog (March)-AG+anything but a card; My Besties UK Challenge Blog-AG with buttons/brads; My-Besties German Challenge Blog #24-AG+valentine option; My Besties Aussie Challenge Blog-March lace & ribbon; Crafting With Friends Challenge Blog-challenge 15; The Stamping  Boutique Challenge Blog-ribbon and/or lace; In The Pink Challenge Blog #89-for a special lady; Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog-touchy feely; Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog-leap into the unknown; My Besties 3D and more Challenge Blog-March AG; My Bestie Spanish Challenge Blog-AG; The Dutch My Besties DT-March challenge AG+stripes and dots

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

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

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

Treasure the Moment!

Today is a new challenge for March/April at Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog with the theme of Shabby Chic/Distressing. For my card I chose to use Elisabeth's new digi Li'l Lilian along with Little Best Friends as the tiny image being painted by Li'l Lilian.

This was way fun to create! I used my Martha Stewart corner and border punches, along with Prima DP. I did a lot of ink distressing with Tim Holtz distress ink-burlap to all the layers on this easel card. Also did up some fun chiffon fabric flowers and used some Prima paper flowers to add more texture, oh and a string of pearls and a feather.

The buttons are from a package I picked up at the LCS, along with the pearls for the stick pin. Added some tulle for more texture and some hemming ribbon. I followed the sketch over at

 Friday Sketch Challenge

Found a stashed stamp "Treasure the Moment" and took a leap of faith (literally) and stamped right onto my card - whew - thank goodness I got it in the right position, didn't rock it, etc.

Also used Spellbinders die in my Cuttlebug and this time made SURE the image would fit before I printed and colored it - so unlike me - LOL.

Be sure to go over to Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog and check out the wonderful work my teamies did, and don't forget to use an image/stamp of Elisabeth's and enter the challenge!

Have a "Treasure the Moment" week!

Love,

Wendy

Challenges: Friday Sketch Challenge #13; Chocolate, Coffee & Cards-fancy folds; Lily Pad Cards-flowers; Pattie's Creations Design Challenge-AG; Card Crafter's Circle-bingo-flowers/digi/diecuts; C.R.A.F.T. challenge-handmade flowers; Crafty Purple Frog Challenge-AG; Hanna and Friends Challenge-flowers; Pixie Dust Studios Pixie Challenge-favorite things-chiffon handmade flowers/stick pin/copic Ws; Divas by Design-distressing; My Mum's Craft Shop-Let's get Digital; Scrapbook Sisters-AG; Whimsy Stamps Challenge-AG; Creative Card Crew-vintage; Everybody's Art Challenge-friendship; Scrap-Creations-flowers; Papertake Weekly Challenge-bingo/buttons/free/flowers; Creative Inspirations Paint-monochromatic; One Stitch At a Time challenge-AG

We Miss You Sew Much!

It's time for a new challenge at Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog and since I'm a Guest Designer for The Digi Bells DT, I get to play on Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog, too - YIPEEEEE! For my project I chose this sweet image "Curly Locks Kiki" - she was sooo fun to color!

 I decided to use my muslin and do a wee bit of free-stitching - gosh, I haven't stitched in quite a few years, but had fun doing this one. Then decided that I wanted the image to be in a "hoop" - had to layer the musline between 3 cardstock circles with lots of 3-d foam tape to get it just right :)

I used my hoarded stash of graphic45, along with some HeroArts flowers, Queen & Co. nightfall jewels, cut with my Sizzix dies, made my circle sentiment in photoshop, cut flowers with my fiskars punch, distressed a bit with Tim Holtz "vintage photo", and even colored the "black & white" ribbon to "brown & white" with my copics.

The inside was fun, too... I'll send this one out to our son&daughter-in-law, Devan & Danielle, who are now in Denver and we miss them sew much!

Have a lovely weekend and don't forget to get your projects entered to Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog with the theme of stitching and swirls using any Elisabeth Bell image.

There's still a week left for the February Blog Hop at The Digi Bells DT, too, where your entry will give you the opportunity to win the newest digi image "On Cupid's Cloud" by Elisabeth Bell. Oh, and don't forget to enter my candy here for the chance at my giveaway of one Elisabeth Bell's images of your choice - but you have to enter to win!

love,

wendy

Challenges:

CropStop; Delightful Challenges; Just Inspirational Challenges; Little Miss Muffet Challenges; Moving Along With The Times; PaperPlay Challenges; Creative Belli Blog; Divas by Design; Inky Impressions Challenges; Paper Pretties; Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges; Simon Says Stamp; The Sisterhood of Crafters; Celebrate the Occasion; Sassy Cheryl's digi Stamps Challenge; The Stamping Boutique; 2 Sisters Challenge Blog; Our Creative Corner; The Outlawz-Saturday's Paper Ala Mode

Altered upcycle!

So hubby picked up some of my fave perfume for me and the container just screamed "i'm a paintbrush holder"!

 So... that's what i did - it's perfect! Rummaged through my stash and found some fun Foofala paper, fashioned a cheesecloth flower for the top, distressed every edge with Tim Holtz distress inks and it happily sits in a corner of my workspace. I want to learn how to use the distress inks for watercoloring, hence the need for paintbrushes - then to my delight I see where Tim Holtz has come out with a marker set of distress inks - I HAVE TO HAVE THESE  once they arrive at OOZAK! (i'm on the "notify list":)

Have a lovely Valentine's Day, Friends!

(((hugs)))

wendy

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show

Beautiful Day!

Since it's February, I can spill the beans now and do a h-ap, h-a-pp, h-a-p-p-y dance! I wasn't going to do this until after I retired from my "day" job, but I couldn't resist when I saw Elisabeth Bell's Digi Bells Design Team had a challenge for a 3-month guest design team spot... well I won one of three spots - YIPPEEEE!!! I am just thrilled!

Okay for this creation, who knew... all you have to do is go to the pantry to find papercrafting supplies?!? :0 There on the shelf was a brand new package of cheesecloth and boy-O-boy did I have fun with it (never knew what I was missing, gosh I was missing a LOT). I believe Elisabeth snuck into the house one day and saw me at work - cuz, this image is TOTALLY ME! She nailed it purrrfectly! You can find Creative Genius Michele here at Elisabeth Bell Designs. I followed the sketch over at Papertake Weekly Challenge, fashioned a cheesecloth flower, rolled roses from paper and used my new Spellbinder's Impressabilities and Nestie label 3, along with my Tim Holtz burlap distress ink. The little roses and heartpins are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a BEAUTIFUL day!

(((hugs)))

wendy

RECIPE: Elisabeth Bell-image; Papertake Weekly Challenge-sketch; Tim Holtz-distress ink (burlap); Prima DP-madeline collection; Wild Orchid Crafts-tiny roses, heart stickpins; lace, pearls, findings-LCS; copics.

****DON'T MISS OUT ON MY VALENTINE'S CANDY - JOIN IN THE FUN - CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW****

CHALLENGES:

Papertake Weekly

Craft Us Crazy

DYSU Challenge Blog

Moving Along With The Times

Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge

Hanna and Friends - pearls, lace, dies

Divas by design

Inky Impressions

Simon Says Stamp

Whimsy Stamps Challenge Blog

Crafty Sentiments Designs

Die Cuttin Divas

Party Time Tuesdays

In the Meadow

The weekend was fabulous, but as always, too short! Skyped with KathyCan, figured out Skype issues with the help of Beth, and then "group" skyped with Kathy and Beth - WHAT FUN!! Just like getting together to papercraft at the B&B, with the exception of "borrowing sugar" and sharing meals :) I used layers in photoshop and had a lot of fun puting this card together. I love this Karen Middleton image I got at Cuddly Buddly and the free background image I picked up through Free Digital Stamps, used my Tim Holtz movers and shapers mini pine tree, awesome papers from Memory Box "yuletide" and the perfect smooth bazzill and ribbon leftover from a class I taught a few years ago. I'm sure I will overuse the new MS icicle punch, cuz I love it!

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving to all my US family/friends, and a perfect "spirit of Christmas week" to all!
xoxo
wendy

RECIPE: Karen Middleton-image; Free Digital Stamps-background image; Memory Box-patterned paper; Tim Holtz-mini pine trees; Martha Stewart-icicle and snowflake punches, glitter; Cuttlebug-swiss dots embossing folder; LSS-ribbon; copics.

CHALLENGES:
Daisy Doodles
Get hippity with ippity
Hooked on Crafts
Paper Creations Ink
Polycraft Monday Challenge
Whoopsi Daisy
I did it Creations
Pile it on pine trees
Crafty Emma's Store (CES) challenge
Stamp, scrap & doodle Saturday

A Merry Little Christmas

So through the wonderful site (I get a daily email) Free Digital Stamps I picked up the free image from Addicted to Stamps by Sherri Baldy. I watched all of Suzanne Dean's You Tube tutorials(5) on distress ink coloring with copics, and tried my hand at this technique (obviously, there is quite a learning curve). Need more practice, but I sure enjoyed myself. Picked up a few new goodies at the LSS and LCS, along with a fabulous collection of paper from Tim Holtz. I followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday and just had the best time doing a Christmas card in monochrome peachy-pinks.

Much love to you!
wendy

RECIPE: Image-Sherri Baldy; Sketch-Sketch Saturday; Tim Holtz-DP; Memory Box-snowflake corner; Sizzix-label die; Martha Stewart-icicle punch, glitter; embellie elements-handcrafted with supplies from LSS/LCS; copics

CHALLENGES:
Sketch Saturday
Addicted to Stamps
Gingerloft Challenge
The Ribbon Girl Blog
Crafty Emma's Store (CES)
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday
Totally Gorjuss
Craft your days awaypearls, flowers, ribbon
Just some Linesembossing,digi,flower
Crafts for Eternitysnowflake,feather,flower
Frosted Designs
Phindy's Place
Sweet 'n Sassy Digi
Wags 'n Whiskers
Crimbo Crackers
Moving along with the times
PaperCrafting Journey
Shelly's Images
Delightful Challenges pattern paper, punches, flower
Southern Girls glitter,ribbon,embossing