Sunflowers, Bees, and Ladybugs!

Please Note: I have two blog posts today; this one and the Calendar Girls Challenge that follows it. Thank you for taking a look at both of them.

It's time for a new Craft Us Crazy Challenge

April 28 - May 11

Theme: Mother's Day and/or Flowers

There are two sponsors for this challenge! And each of them are offering a wonderful prize package to a lucky challenge participant!!!

Meljen's Designs Prize Package: 4 Digi Stamps of Winner's Choice

Your Next Stamp Prize Package: a $10 Gift Certificate to the Your Next Stamp Store

You can learn something about each of these amazing sponsors on the Craft Us Crazy Challenge Blog. Please check it out! Oh, and the guidelines for joining the challenge are there, too.


Meljen's Designs also offered a digital image to the Craft Us Crazy design team so we could use it for our cards for the challenge. THANK YOU, Meljen's Designs!

I love Meljen's Designs images! I chose to use the cute Cute CUTE Sunflower Buggies image.







I hope you'll participate in the Craft Us Crazy Challenge! They are a lot of fun!!!




Image: Meljen's Designs Sunflower Buggies
Ink: Copic Markers and Copic Spica Pen
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Chocolate Chip and Daffodil Delight
All Other Papers: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Michael's Sugar and Spice Ribbon, Stickles Glitter Glue, and a ladybug brad (vendor unknown)

Splish! Splash!

Spring Rains have begun here in northern Illinois. I am so glad... not because we need the rain (we don't), but because it means Spring has arrived! YAY!

Do you know what else has arrived? April 28th... which means it's the day for the Calendar Girls to post their creations based on Miss April's specifications. How fun!!!

Terry is our Miss April and she came up with a marvelous challenge. Here are her words:

We have all heard the saying “April showers bring May flowers”…..I know we are all tired of winter and looking forward to Spring rains that bring out the Summer flowers!

My challenge to you is to show me your April showers!

I have 2 requirements for you:

1. Use an image with a duck, a puddle, an umbrella or anything resembling rain or water!
2. Use a fun technique on your card that is “water” related!

Here are some fun techniques for you to think about:

• Gel (water) Card
• Misting with Markers
• Waterfall Card
• Wiper Card
• Wet Paper Watercoloring
• Watercolor your image with pencils and an aqua painter
• Use Crystal Effects
• Emboss acetate

There are so many things out there that can look like water…..use your imagination and have fun!



I decided to try a brand-new-to-me technique with my card. In fact, until Terry posted the challenge, I didn't even know it was possible to do this.

What did I do? I embossed on acetate. And it was such fun! I also loved the way it looked, although the pictures don't really do it justice. (It's never a good thing when I'm trying to photograph clear acetate. UGH!)

Here's my card:

I used the Stamp Fairy Patsy April Showers digital image. If nothing else, the name seemed appropriate. LOL! Seriously though... I love this image. You probably remember that I used her a couple of weeks ago for a design team challenge. Well, here she is again, just as cute as can be!

For the glossy rain puddle, I used some Sakura Crystal Lacquer.

Isn't the embossing around the edge of the acetate awesome? I love how it sparkles (it was glittery embossing powder). I'll definitely be using that technique again sometime.

Okay... let's go see what the other Calendar Girls came up with. You can find the links to their blogs in my left-hand side bar.

Splish! Splash!

Image: Stamp Fairy Patsy April Showers

Ink: Copic Markers and Copic Spica Pens

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss

Designer Paper: from my scrap file

Water-y Technique: Acetate Embossing with JudiKins Turquoise Sparkle Embossing Powder

Embellishments: Offray Straight 'n Narrow Ribbon, Sakura Crystal Lacquer, colored staples and brads (vendor unknown)

It's a Week of Weddings!

It's time for a new Fresh Brewed Challenge

April 27 - May 3

Theme: Weddings

Yes, love is in the air with this week's Wedding of the Prince William and Kate Middleton.... so we're going to celebrate with a Wedding Challenge. How fun!

Here's my card:

Here's a little peek at the inside of my card:

The Stampendous sentiment seems to go well with the Fresh Brewed Designs Beautiful Bride image.

Every wedding needs pearls, so I added some as an embellishment for my card.

Who doesn't love a wedding?

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs Beautiful Bride

Sentiment: Stampendous Hands and Heart

Ink: Copic Markers, Copic Spica Pens, and Versafine Onyx Black

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Melon Mambo and Real Red

Designer Paper: Target Dollar Aisle

Embellishments: Create! Impress! Heart-Shaped Brads and Kaisercraft Pearls

Baking a Batch of Love

Happy Monday Challenge

April 25 - May 1

Theme: Elderly

Here's my card:

featuring Deedee's Digis Lovin' from the Oven set

Image & Sentiments: Deedee's Digis Lovin' from the Oven

Ink: Copic markers

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip, and Cool Caribbean

Designer Paper: from my scrap file

Embellishment: Stampin' UP! Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

Hey There Chickie

Crafty Ho Challenge

April 24 - 30

This is a Photo Inspirtation Challenge, which means participants are to create a project based on something inspired by this photo:

There is also an optional sketch to use for this week's challenge. Here it is:

My card features a Deedee's Digital Image:

Have a Happy Today!

I have great online friends! Really, I do! They are such fun to chat with... and we have the fun of creating together, too!

I'm part of a group that swaps MYSTERIOUSLY every other month. It works like this - someone in the group is the hostess. She sends images (and if she wants to she also sends a little extra something) to the group. We then each create four cards with her images (and extras) plus whatever supplies of our own that we choose to use. We then mail them to her and she swaps them out. We in return get three awesome cards with the same images. Isn't that a fun idea?

Tami was our hostess for the most recent round. Wow! She sent us the CUTEST little girl image. She tells us the image is from The Angel Company, but I'm not sure what set she is from. I know I would love to own it, though! Tami also sent us a little ticket and a small piece of designer paper. It was such a fun assortment.

Here are some pictures of my card:

I added cardtock, a piece of designer paper, buttons, ribbon, and a sentiment on the tag. Oh, and I colored the image, too.

Thank you, Tami! And thanks to all my Mysterious Friends, too!

I ♥ you all!

Image: The Angel Company (colored with Copic Markers and Copic Spica Pen)

Sentiment: Vendor Unknown (inked with A Muse Orange)

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Purely Pomegranate, and Soft Sky

Designer Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday - Wednesday and Making Memories Checked

Embellishments: Foof-a-la Buttons, Hobby Lobby ribbonFX, and House of 3 Parisian Anthology Ticket

Happy Easter!

I'm rushing on my way to Kansas City for the long holiday weekend... no time for chit chat. However, I do want to tell you that there is a new Chi Chi Memories Challenge beginning today. It goes for two weeks, so there's plenty of time for you to participate. Go to the Chi Chi Memories Challenge blog for all the details, including the sketch.

Here's the card I created:

The image I used is part of the Chi Chi Memories Happy Easter set.

All of my supplies (papers, ribbon, etc) are from my scrap bin, except for the rhinestones. They are from the dollar aisle at Michael's.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER!!!

Sparkly Ballerina

Fresh Brewed Challenge

April 20 - 26

Theme: Lots of Sparkle

My card features the Fresh Brewed Designs Angel Cake Ballerina digital image

All things sparkly include: Stickles glitter glue (spots on pink oval and outline on image oval), Copic Spica pen for part of the coloring of the ballerina image, rhinestone brads for flower centers, sparkly flowers, and glittery designer papers.

There's lots of depth/layering to this card.

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs Angel Cake Ballerin

Ink: Copic markers and Copic Spica Pens

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Barely Banana, Blushing Bride, and Close to Cocoa

Designer Paper: from my scrap file

Embellishments: Prima Flowers, Stampin' UP! Stitched Poly Ribbon, Stickles Glitter Glue, and Rhinestone Brads (vendor unknown)

Enjoy Life's Simple Joys - Walk in the Rain!

One of the things I love about being on the Craft Us Crazy Challenge Design Team is that I have the opportunity to use some pretty awesome digi stamps provided by the challenge sponsors.

This month Stamp Fairy is the monthly sponsor, and the owner let the design team choose a digital image to use. YAY!!! Shopping is such fun! THANK YOU, Stamp Fairy!!!

I selected the Patsy April Showers image and here is what I created:

Isn't she darling? I love the way she is stomping in the rain puddle!

I used two different sentiment rubber stamps that I have - one inside and one on the front of the card. I also added lots of sparkle and layers of papers.

I love the look of the splashy paper.

Can you tell I like rhinestones?

The rhinestones in the lower right corner are supposed to look like droplets of rain water, splashing as Patsy stomps in the puddle.

Be sure to check out Stamp Fairy... there are lots and lots of fun images!

And don't forget to play along in the Craft Us Crazy Challenge!

Image: Stamp Fairy Patsy April Showers

Sentiments: DOTS Simple Joy (inside) and Kollette Hall Joy (card front)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Copic Markers, and Copic Spica Pens

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Ballet Blue and Black and scraps from my scrap file

Designer Paper: K & Co. Hopscotch Designer Mat Pad and Paper Studio Water Droplets Photo

Embellishments: Hobby Lobby Spring Fever Ribbon, K & Co. Blue Metal Art Flowers, Michael's Rhinestones, and Recollections Tiny Brads

Anyone There?

Happy Monday Challenge

April 18 - 24

It's a SKETCH Challenge.

Check out the details on the Happy Monday Challenge Blog

This week's challenge is sponsored by K 'n K Designs. Katlyn, the owner of K 'n K Designs has generously given each of the Happy Monday Challenge design team members an image to use in creating a card for this week's challenge. THANK YOU Katlyn!!!

Here is my card (featuring the K 'n K Designs Kolar's Pumpkin set):

Yes, I know it isn't Halloween, but when Katlyn let us choose the image we wanted, this is the one that called out to me.

Oh, and in case you couldn't tell, I love googly eyes!!!

Image & Sentiment: K 'n K Designs Kolar's Pumpkin

Ink: Copic Markers and Copic Spica Pen

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Green Galore, Peach Parfait, and Pumpkin Pie, and a scrap of purple from my scrap file

Designer Papers: scraps from my scrap file

Embellishment: googly eyes (vendor unknown)

Leaning Tower of Cupcakes

It's time for a new Crafty Ho Challenge

April 17 - 23

The recipe for this week's challenge is to use both a digital image and a stamp on your project.

My card features both a Bugagoo digital image and a Studio G stamped image.

♥ ♥ ♥

The challenge also offers the option of using the following sketch (which I did):

Now it's your turn... I'd love for you to participate in this week's challenge!

Images: Bugaboo Cupcake Tower digi and Studio G Cupcake stamp Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, and Copic Spica Pen Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, and Night of Navy Designer Paper: TPC Studio Sweet Celebration Cupcakes Galore Embellishments: Hobby Lobby Lace and Decorative Ribbon and Studio 18 Rhinestones

Nothing Runs Like a Deere

For those of you who may not be aware of such things, I live near the John Deere Headquarters. It is not an understatement to say there is a lot of interest in green tractors and other green implements in my community.

Nothing Runs Like a Deere!

It's not unusual to find John Deere items at yard sales here, but it is unusual to find them at a reasonable price. Therefore I was suprised last summer when I found this TREASURE:

2009 John Deere Calendar

Cost: 10 cents

I was certain this would be useful in a treasure hunt creation. Here is what I made:

This is a very simple card. I used one of the fun pictures from the calendar for the main part of the card. I punched out a circle and some little strips to create a sun. I added a sentiment (it's an A Muse stamp!!!) and a piece of ribbon for a simple embellishment.

Have a sun-sational day!

Sentiment: A Muse Sunsational Day

Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black and Garden Green and scraps from my scrap file

Treasure: image from a 2009 John Deere Calendar

Embellishment: Stampin' UP! Maize Grosgrain Ribbon

Welcome to Heather's Sweet Birthday Blog Hop!

Note: I have two blog posts today; this one and the Dueling Darling one. Please keep scrolling to see both of them!

We are so excited to celebrate Heather's birthday today, owner and designer for Fresh Brewed Designs! And we are even more excited to share this special day with you all, too! Today is a celebration blog hop to honor one of the most sweetest and faith-filled gals we have been blessed to meet! It's Heather's birthday and that means YOU are in for a treat with the cards and creations on this hop! AND a little "Goodie Bag" treat for one lucky random.org winner! If you arrived on this sweet birthday hop from Stacy's blog, then you are in the right place! If not, please start at the beginning and hop along to all the stops so you won't miss any of the yummiest along the way!

Here's a card I made - a special birthday card:

Happy Birthday, Heather!

And just in case, here is the full list of birthday hoppers:

Linda

Lorie

Stacie

Kadie

Stacy

Jeanette - that's me!

Carolyn

Rhonda

Kelly

Now it's time for you to head on over to Carolyn's blog (your next stop on the hop). Be sure to leave a comment at the hoppers along the way to be eligible for the "Goodie Bag" Birthday candy! Thanks bunches for hopping along with us and sharing this most blessed birthday today!

And stop by Heather's blog to wish her a very Happy, Sweet Birthday!

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs Rubber Stamp Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers Cardstock: from my scrap file Designer Paper: Paper Studio Birthday Balloons and TPC Studio Sweet Celebration Cupcake Galore Embellishments: ribbon and silk flower (vendor unknown) and a Recollections Cupcake Brad