A Few Challenges

Hello my crafty friends, hope your week is starting out well. It's been foggy & gloomy here with rain since Sunday, but we need this rain, so I won't complain. COVID numbers are going up here and I'm not liking that. I so wish everyone would just wear their masks. Gatherings are a problem too, but I feel it can be done safely if people just adhere to the guidelines of wearing masks inside or stay outside and social distance. Oh well, my complaining is not going to change anything, but common sense would go a long way with this pandemic.

I decided I would join in a few challenges for once. Yes, I know shocking! But was able to cover all three challenges with one card. Then it is back to working on Christmas projects. I'm not exactly thrilled with this card, but not totally unhappy with it either. I think the metallic mirror paper is throwing me off. Hard to get a photo with shiny paper too. So I laid it down to take the photo. Still got a reflection at the bottom. Don't like the black sentiment banner either, but though it would help tone down the shine a little. It didn't and I don't like it. Didn't like white either, maybe I should try pink or green like my greenery on my poinsettia. What do y'all think? Anyway here is my card: 

The challenges:

Rudolph Challenge-Christmas card challenge from the 25th of each month to the end of each month. 

CAS(E) this Sketch-your interpretation of their sketch

Let's Squash It!-A new challenge where you are to use your embossing folders. They have prompts for you to follow which was a geometric folder and metallic card stock/metal. 

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come and visit with me. Sorry we had such gloomy weather. Your comments mean the world to me and bring so much brightness to my life. If I haven't been by to visit you, please know I am making my rounds and should be there soon. Stay safe, stay healthy and enjoy each other. 

Crafty hugs, 

Card Recipe:

Gina Marie die: for the woody wreath cut at a friend's house-cut out of snippet's of kraft                  cardstock, inked with DO Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs, Delicata Gold and Rose Gold. 

Amazon: for my snippet of Mirror Paper

Sunny Studio's: for my poinsettia-out of my unused box-I need a clever name for this box, lol

Martha Steward Branch Punch: cut out of some mixed media paper that I had splattered w/ink

My Creative Time: for the banner and sentiment

We Are Memories 3D embossing folder

Twofer Challenge & Christmas Items

Hello my crafty friends, I have went dark for a while now. I haven't visited any of you and I'm sorry. I hope to get back at commenting again real soon. October isn't a great month for me, used to be one of my favorite months, but now I tend to struggle with it. So I kept busy working on some Christmas items and then saw the Twofer Challenge come out and thought I would have a go at it. Not very creative, but at least they are done and I'm happy with how they came out. 

So many stamps that could have been used, it was hard to decide on which to use. But I finally decided on a stag. Here is my Twofer together:

I had two separate play dates with two friends. The first friend came here to make fall cards, she brought her newest stamp set from SU and I cut out a bunch of wreaths from the set. Then I used Brusho's to "doll" them all up. Used two of them on the first card after seeing this card design on Pinterest. Thought it was so pretty, so put my spin on it using my supplies. 

Then for my second twofer, I added two stags and a baby deer. I thought I had a deer family, but it turns out this set had two stags instead with a baby. Not sure what that was all about, if it was an accident or what. But used what I had, so two stags and a baby is what it is. Didn't get the baby standing upright to well, but it was glued down and it wasn't coming back up. The background was made at the second friend's house. We were playing with Brusho's, Distress Oxides and pearl powders. This background was made with the Distress Oxides. I was going to save it for a Halloween card as it looked Halloweeny to me, but then I liked it behind the birch trees so used it. Do you think it looks Halloweeny??? Should I have not used it??? So that's my Twofers. 

Here are the Christmas things I've been working on. Little ornament or wall hangings, whatever someone wants to use them for. Used 4" embroidery hoops, some fabric and iron on vinyl, then some little decorations. I made a dozen of them using my Cricut to cut out the iron on vinyl with and my little Mini Press to press them onto the fabric. 

My next little projects were pot holders from the Dollar Tree. I want to get more, but haven't seen them back in the Dollar Tree's around me. I sure hope they get some more in soon as they are nice little gifts to have on hand for when you need a little something something. I cut the sayings out with my Cricut and once again ironed them on with my Mini Press. I will tuck a little mug cake pouch in the pocket before giving out. Might even do a vinyl mug to go with it. Definitely giving one to my mail carrier with one of the little ornaments above. 

Since I've used some NBUS and Snippets, I will be off to play in the NBUS challenge and the Snippet's Playground. 

Well that's it from me, I hope to be by to visit you soon. Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me. I always appreciate your visit as I know everyone is busy so for you to take the time to visit me is so kind of you! 

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:

Stag Wreath Card:

SU stamp and die set for the Wreath, don't know the name but I'm sure many of you guys do

SU Gentle Peace for the sentiment-NBUS

AliExpress for the Stag-NBUS

Mirror paper from my stash, the stag is a snippet

Gansai Tambi Starry colors for the splattering

Vanilla card base

Vanilla snippet for the mat

Brusho's 

Birch Tree Card:

Gina Marie for the birch tree coverplate-NBUS

Pebble's chalks to highlight the tree's

Distress Oxides for the background using a blending brush

AliExpress for the stags and baby deer

My Creative Time Mini Tag Dies for the sentiment tag

My Creative Time Teeny Tags Holidays for the sentiment

black snippet

Ornaments:

Cricut

fabric from Amazon

embroidery hoops from Amazon

ribbon's from my huge ribbon stash

Dollar Tree for the berries, greenery, twine and rope

pompoms from my stash

Hot Pads:

Dollar Tree for the hot pads

Cricut for "Life is Short" SVG

SVG "It's Mine" and "Sweet Smell" are from Jennifer Maker's files

CAS Christmas September Tree Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you are all doing well. Oh how we complained about the hot weather and now it is chilly willy. We've been in the 30's/40's at night and 60's in the day. But Wednesday we are going to be 80. That will be welcomed! A chilly September for sure, which is not the norm for us. Feels more like October than September! It's what comes after fall that I'm really not loving and it looks like we probably won't have much of a fall, and will go right into winter. I sure hope not, but it's not looking good. 

I wanted to try and play in a few challenges this month and I'm getting in just shy of a couple days before closing with CAS Christmas September Tree challenge. I haven't played in any challenges to much, so playing along with a few this month was fun. As you can see my card is CAS as that is a rule, but even more than that, it is really simple and easy to do. I just used my ink blending brushes and "tapped" my inks on until I got all the way to the bottom then stamped. Cut a frame and done. 

Then I made this one, not so CAS so couldn't enter it. But I thought I would share it too, a twofer as you will. I'm not the best at making snow banks/hills, but I am pleased with they way they came out-pleased for me anyway. lol  Not sure why this photo is blurry, it wasn't when I edited the photo, only since I brought it over to blogger. So still a simple card that didn't require much for it. I really love the sentiment and figured it would go with the snowy scene. 

As always, I thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit with me for a spell. I hope you weren't to chilly while here. Your comments bring much sunshine to my life and I am thankful for you all! I am keeping the people in the path of this latest hurricane, Beta, in my prayers. They sure have been hit hard down south with these hurricanes! 2020 just can't leave early enough I don't think! 

Crafty Hugs,

Card Recipe:

Tree Word Card
My Creative Time-Christmas Word Tree stamp

AliExpress-Wonky Stitched die frames

Distress Oxides-Peeled Paint, Iced Spruce, Cracked Pistachio

Blending Brushes

Misti

Naked Tree's w/Snowbanks

Gina K.-Merry and Bright tree stamp

Maymay Made It-Sleighrides for the sentiment and snowflakes

Distress Oxides-Walnut Stain, Broken China

Blending Brushes

Score board

Misti

Twofer Challenge & Snippet Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, I hope this day finds you all doing well! We are chilly willy this am. Our temps got into the 40's last night. Good sleeping weather for sure!

I've been working on Christmas gifts, but decided to take a break from that to make cards for the Twofer Challenge.  A fun challenge to play in and really stretches the brain as well as your stamps/dies/stencils, etc...Here are my two cards, using the same trees, but different cards:

                                                   

Closer look. I see I forgot to color my bumper and mirrors with a silver colored pencil!

Pretty self explanatory as there isn't any special techniques on these cards. Dies and stamps were used and some fussy cutting on the church card. I did use all NBUS stamps and dies for these two cards, so I'm happy to have these out for a play for once! 

I used some snippets as well, on my truck card my snippet was the white piece I stamped on and for my church card the snippet is the blue piece I die cut the falling snow out of. So will be going to play over that the Snippet Playground and since I've used NBUS products, I will be playing there as well. Haven't play in either in ages!!! 

As always thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and visit with me. Your comments always bring me joy and sunshine! If i haven't been to see you, I will be by soon! I hope you are enjoying the fall weather, it seems to have come a tad bit early here! Hope that doesn't mean a really cold winter, but whatever it is, I will just hunker down and make the best of it! 

Everyone, please stay safe this fall, wear your mask if out and about and just enjoy the fall if you are able.

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
Maymay Made It -"Tailgatin'" for the truck, sentiments for the truck

                            "Gather Together" for the trees and church path

My Creative Time - die impression at the bottom of the truck card-reminded me of tire treads

Sunny Studio - "Christmas Chapel" for my church

AliExpress - "Falling Snow" die 

                     "Religious Christmas" for the sentiment

Zigs

Distress Oxides

An old red Creative Memories marker

Snippets from my snippet stash

Silver glitter paper from my stash

Stickles 

Pop dots to pop up my church scene

A Masculine Card & A Sympathy Card

Hello my crafty friends! I'm not sure where the months are going, but they sure are zipping by fast. Hope you all are having a great end of the summer season/Labor Day!! We had a quiet Monday, but I sat around a fire Sunday night and had a S'more. Was a beautiful crisp evening, perfect for a fire.

I have a masculine card to share today. I need to work on my ink blending, I think it looks good until I see a photo of it and then realize it doesn't look as good as I though. lol Still, I thought the card came out decent and it is good for a guy. 

My second card is a sympathy card. I did my sentiment on the Cricut (which I had seen on Pinterest I think) and printed it onto my card panel. I wish I had used a few different greens for with my stencil, but I didn't. Will try different colors of greens on the next one as I made a few panels with this sentiment on it. 

So that is it for me. I want to thank you for stopping by and visiting a spell with me. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by as I know we are all busy. Especially in the summer months. I enjoy your comments and they bring me much joy and sunshine. I will be stopping by to visit you as well very soon! 

Crafty Hugs,

Card Recipe:
Deer Card:

Distress Oxide Inks

AliEpress Die

I can't remember the circle die-think it was hemline stitch or something to that effect

My Creative Time for the sentiment

Sympathy Card:

Distress Oxide Inks

Not sure who does the stencil either, so sorry

Cricut

A Card and Mugs

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you all are doing well and staying cool. We had a few beautiful, low temps/humidity days, but that has come to an end and now we are back to hot and humid. I will take it for now, will enjoy the pool a bit longer before closing it up. 

I have a little simple Father's day card that I cut using my Cricut Joy. The design was already in the design studio so I just cut it out of papers I thought would look nice. Gave them out to the guys in my life that are father's. 

I also made mugs for the dad's with HTV vinyl. I also decided since I had made a mug for my son, that I'd better make on for my DIL as I didn't make one for her for Mother's day. Didn't occur to me to make them until Father's day. So made one for her as well. Once again, I just used a file that was in my design studio and using my easy press mini to iron it on. 

I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop in and visit with me. I hope you enjoyed stopping by! As always your comments are like rays of sunshine in my life and I appreciate that you take the time to leave one. I pray you are keeping safe and those in CA my prayers are with all involved with these fires and the people in the communities effected by these awful fires. My prayers are also with people in the way of their hurricanes, such ruff times right now besides having to deal with COVID too! So prayers going up to all.

Crafty Hugs,

Card Recipe:
Cricut Design Space

Cricut Easy Press Mini

Siser HTV (heat transfer vinyl)

A Few Cards-Lori Whitlock files (warning long post and pic heavy!)

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you all are doing well. I'm back from my trip, got back two weeks ago. Had to rest and recouped as I did get sick while I was gone. Nothing to serious, but the Lupus reared it's ugly head. More on the trip later though with some photo's. I did have a great time with my brother, sister-in-law and nephews. 

Now I see what everyone is complaining about with Blogger! Please bare with me while I figure all this out. It is very slow as I am. lol I have a few cards to share with you that I cut on my Cricut Joy. They were fun to cut and fold and I love how they turned out.  I have more designs that I haven't cut as of yet but will share when I do.  

This one I stamped the sentiment on using a drop shadow as well. 

        This one my Cricut Joy wrote the sentiment on for me.

                           This is one I stamped the sentiment on as well as the last card.  

A few photo's from my trip to the Outer Banks. We had a great time and wore our mask when we headed out or to the grocery store. Not much was open, we we did get to the lighthouse, although you couldn't climb it because of Covid. But the State Park person was there to answer questions and tell us about the lighthouse. It was moved a quarter of a mile to it's currant location, which I thought was interesting. I would imagine it was a s-l-o-w move being it's so tall! It is still in use today as well. We did hit a little craft festive that was outside. Wearing our masks of course. We were in and out pretty quickly too. 

So on our first day, we got to the Outer Banks around 11:30 am. We left at 4 am. All was good, got a sandwich since we didn't really eat anything but a granola bar, the boys ate all kinds of snack though. Just like boys. lol Then we decided to go to the beach afterwards because the house wouldn't be done until around 6 pm since they had to disinfect per Covid rules. Started through the dune and oh my gosh, the sand was HOT!!! So hot, that it burned blisters on my toes, now I did have flip flops on, but the sand got on the flip flops thus burning my toes. I had to keep stopping and shaking the sand off because it was so painful. Got out of the dunes and stopped to rest, was feeling sick as well as being really over heated. I asked my SIL if my nephew could wet a towel so I could put around my neck and of course he did. But before he got it to me, I lost my sandwich. How embarrassing! But a nice lady saw it and brought me over a sugar drink, reaching it out to my SIL who the handed to me. My brother came up after getting our area set up and helped me the rest of the way to my chair. Then the same lady sent waters over too. So sweet of her!!! Anyway, was good after that! Enjoyed the rest of the day on the beach. When we left the sand wasn't hot. So back to the house we went. My SIL sprayed all the highly touched areas down with disinfect as well. Then made the beds, she wanted to make mine too, but we compromised with me helping. Next day we went out and got water shoes so mine and my youngest nephew's toes didn't get blistered anymore! lol He was young and would run across the sand, I could barely wade through the thick sand in the heat at a snail's pace! Then later in the week, my Lupus reared it's ugly head and I got sick, same as I did a few years back when I passed out in the bathroom. I didn't pass out this time, but my SIL saw me change as I was sitting eating my breakfast. I went to lay down for a while when all heck broke loss. I was in the bathroom for a long time, sent them down to the beach to enjoy the day and I stayed behind. My SIL texted to see if I needed her or anything. I told her just to enjoy the day down at the beach!  Day after started out ok, but then didn't. So I stayed in again but my SIL had some Imodium and I took that, so then was good to go. Friday, I didn't go down to the beach either, it was just to hot and the heat was messing with my Lupus. I did go down in the evening a few times though and that was better. Bless my SIL, as one day we were walking back and she stopped to wait for me to get through the dune to the walk way. I told her she didn't have to wait for me and she said she was using me as an excuse cause the heat got to her too and she needed to stop and rest before going the rest of the way! I didn't feel quite as bad as I'm 10 years older than my brother and my SIL. lol So here are some pictures.

Under our canopy, thanks goodness for some shade, but it was still hot even with the ocean breezes!

Our house for the week

                                                       The beautiful lighthouse

                             My brother and me one evening down at the beach

My brother's family

All of us

Under the pier-My SIL took photo's of my nephew's under the pier

                              And lastly, a new photo of me after we came back home

If you stuck with me this long, thank you! I know it was a long post!!! I just want to say I appreciate you all and I love when you stop by and visit for a spell. I finally am catching up on my cleaning after being gone and got the mowing done as well. Bret and I just don't agree on what clean is. lol I know I haven't been around to everyone, I am working on it. I am slow, getting slower all the time. lol So bare with me and I will get there. Again, you bring much joy and sunshine into my life and I appreciate each one of you! 

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
Cricut Joy and Lori Whitlock files

Maymay Made It stamp sentiments

My Creative Time stamp sentiments

Close to My Heart stamp sentiments

Stampin' Up papers I won a while back

Butterflies

Hello my crafty friends, I can't believe it is the ending of another week! These weeks just zoom by me and I don't even know what day it is half the time. I hope you all are staying cool where you are. Not much pool time this week, it's been a busy one. My brother and sister-in-law invited me to go on vacation with them and my nephews to the Outer Banks. I couldn't say no could I?! Now, I know.....NC is a hot spot right now. But we are going to be staying in a private house on a private beach. No crowds or anything. Will be cooking our own food and the only time we won't is when my brother goes and gets seafood to make for us. We all will have our masks as well for if we do need to go out for anything. I will also quarantine 14 days as per my state requires when going to another state and coming back. So we leave at 4 am this Saturday. Dropping my suitcase off tomorrow at my brother's house as he wants to be packed up ahead of time. Bret will be holding down the fort and the dogs. He was invited too, but with three dogs, well...someone had to stay home with them. He will be going to his boss's cabin in early Aug. and maybe to the beach later in Aug. 

So wanted to try and get my Twofer cards made and since I needed to send a card out in the mail before I left, so decided to make it a butterfly card to fit the challenge. So here are my two butterfly cards. Simple and to the point. lol 

Let's take a closer look shall we? 

Using my Gina K stencil template to make a wreath, I used this Martha Steward butterfly stamp. It is a punch that stores a stamp too. So you can stamp and punch it out. I didn't use the punch, just the stamp. I've never used the stamps before...so does that make it a NBUS??? Then I took my Prisma colored pencils and colored each butterfly. The striped piece of paper is a snippet. Very simple card.

 This one was a little more involved for me. I didn't do such a great job, but that's ok as I think it still looks ok. I had three of those MS butterfly punch/stamps so used all three on this card. I stamped them down the side of the card (Pinterest inspired), but in a bit, then cut around them to show the inside of the card. Colored my butterflies in purple with my Prisma pencils. I went into my purple snippets and found this piece of paper, it was double sided, so I turned it over to the solid side for under the butterflies (inside of the card) and kept the "stripes" for the front of the card. Added a little thin black piece of cardstock along both piece of paper, can't it inside. Stamped my sentiment and colored it with the same pencils. To much purple???? It looks much better in person than in this photo for some reason. 

I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit me. I know it's been hot and I appreciate your visits in spite of the heat. Your comments bring much joy and sunshine to y life and I so appreciate then and you! I will be commenting yet tomorrow and then I will be behind on my commenting since I will be gone for a week. I might try and do some commenting on my phone, but usually that frustrates me and I give up. lol Anyway, I will come back and probably have to re cope from being away....aka, let my swollen feet go down and I will most likely have to mow. Will see if Bret does it while I'm gone. I'm sure I will get many texts from him like I usually do with questions. lol Have a wonderful weekend my crafty friends and I will "see" you in a week! 

Challenges:

Twofer Challenge

Snippet Playground Challenge

NBUS Challenge, if my butterfly stamps are considered nbus

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:

Wreath Butterfly card:
Martha Steward butterfly stamp
My Creative Time for the circle and scalloped circles
Cardz TV Stamp set for the sentiment
Prisma Colored Pencils
snippet paper

Purple Butterfly card:
Martha Steward butterfly stamps
My Creative Time stamps for the sentiment
Prisma Colored Pencils
snippet paper

GPS Coordinates Sign

Hello Crafty friends, I hope all is well in your neck of the country! I've been keeping busy here...mostly spending a lot of time out by the pool on these really hot days. I hope you are able to keep cool if it is hot where you are.

I have two gifts that I made for a good friend that I want to share with you today. The first one is a GPS Coordinates sign. It is the coordinates of her home. I used my Cricut to cut my stencils and chalked it with black chalk paint on the wooden sign (gotten at the Target $ spot a long time ago), that I painted white and sanded to give a rustic old look. Then I sanded the stenciled black ink to make that look rustic and old too. Then I buffed a wax sealant on. I love how it turned out! The photo doesn't do it justice. Looks much better in person. Editing to add this link, I follow Creative on the Cheap and this is where I got this idea from for the sign. She is amazing at making things on the cheap!

My second gift is a towel that I put HTV on in spring/summery colors. Not much exciting about it. I used my Cricut once again to cut my HTV out and then used my Cricut Easy Press to press it on. I do wish I would have put a shadow under the "K", but I didn't. Live and learn. I still think it looks ok, but would have been better with the shadow. 

Close up of the design.

Had my granddaughter for 5 days, 4 nights. She wanted to live in the pool and cuddle the dogs. We did live in the pool and she did snuggle the dogs as well. She is ADD and boy the pool wore her out! After we would come in from the pool at 6:30 or 7 pm, she got her shower and was in bed out like a light. We had a great time for those 5 days. 

Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule and visit with me for a bit! I so appreciate you as I know you are all busy too. I wish you all could be here enjoying the pool too on these hots days. Your sweet comments do bring so much joy and sunshine to my life and if I haven't been around to see you, I should be by soon. Can you believe we are in July?!! Fall will be here before we know it, then the holidays! Let's hope 2021 brings better news on Covid 19! Stay safe everyone and wear your mask and social distance please. 

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
Cricut and Design Studio