CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hello once again crafty friends, please don't faint that I'm posting twice in one day! lol Yesterday was dreary as well so I had a play day. The dogs were napping so it let me have that play. I have been loving the look that everyone is getting doing the print making with die cuts and I've been wanting to try it now forever. And this was the time since CAS Mix Up Challenge is having this challenge hosted by Bonnie. Well I finally did it! It's not as good as Loll or Bonnie and the DT makes, but I'm happy with my outcome for the first time. Hopefully I will get better at it. I didn't put a sentiment on this card yet, I will once I decide what I want to use it for. Ready for it?

Not too bad right??? I need to dig through my stash and see what other dies I have that will work and practice some more. I used Real Brush pens but next time I think I will use Distress Inks. But I'm still please with the results on my first try. 

As always, thank you for taking time from your busy schedule and visiting with me for a spell. I so appreciate you and you always make my world brighter. Until next time.....

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:

Zig and Arteza brush pens

water color paper

My Creative Time layering dies for the frame

Sunflower die - not sure but think AliExpress and not sure if I bought it or if it was a gift from

a sweet blogging friend. My mind is like a sieve, I put stuff in and it all runs out! 

Trying Again

Hello crafty friends, happy St. Patrick's Day and happy hump day to you all! It's a dreary one here and will be for a few days. I'm ok with that as we have had some really nice bright sunshine.

I'm trying again with the CAS Christmas Card challenge. I wasn't totally happy with my first try, but am liking this second try better. Although I think I could have possibly used more red. What do you think? A simple CAS card, just die cut my poinsettia and colored with with DIO's and blending brushes. Popped parts of it up with foam dots and put it on my card. Not a good one for the post though, but I still love the poinsettia made 3D looking. If I make more I will be keeping them flat for posting though. We will see if I make more.

                                                         Showing the dimension

As always I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit me. I so appreciate you and enjoy your visits, they make my day so much brighter! Have a wonderful week and will "see" you soon.

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:

Poinsettia die - AliExpress

Scallop panel die - AliExpress

Merry Christmas stamp - AliEpress

Distress Oxide Inks - candy apple and peeled paint

Seed beads - ancient stash from needlepoint days

Gold Splatters - Gansai Tambi Starry Colors in Red Gold 

Blending Brushes - Amazon

CAS Christmas Card Challenge-Silhouettes

Hello my crafty friends, hope you are all doing well. The weather has been pretty decent with some sun and clouds and just  cold at night, day temps a little above normal.  Not much going on around here. I have been super tired and just trying to get back up and running from my fatigue. Some days all I want to do is sleep, so I sleep while the dogs sleep and then am awake when they are. That makes for not much going on except doggie potty breaks.

I have some Christmas cards that I made in Dec. of last year. They were Pinterest inspired although the idea is the same, I changed mine up some. Anyway CAS Christmas Card Challenge is looking for silhouettes and I figure these fit. So will be taking these over to play with the gals over there. As long as they don't mind these cards being in a group and not individual. Not much to them, some splats water colored distress oxide inks, a silhouette, a sentiment and some sequins. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit with me for a spell. I always enjoy your visits and comments. They make my day! If I haven't been around to you, I will be soon. Stay well, stay healthy and remember to wear those masks as they keep us all safe if we all do it. Hopefully we will be able to get those vaccines soon, the more people that take them, the sooner we can get on with "normal" once again. Happy Crafting!
 
Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:

Distress Oxide inks: iced spruce, barn door, tumbled glass, lucky clover (I think)

Sequins from my stash-no set name brand for them as they came from everywhere

My Creative Time for the pine bough

Ali Express for the stag and poinsettia

Snowflake was cut using a friend's die, so not sure who made that one

Sentiment is from a Hero's Art monthly kit if I'm not mistaken-I don't do the monthly kit, but       bought just that one at the time. 

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

Flower Cards

Hello crafty friends, I hope you all are doing well and enjoying summer. Can't believe we start losing a bit of daylight each day now. Wish it was later in the summer when that started. Oh well, it is what it is. Hope everyone is staying safe and wearing their masks and such as well.

I am sharing the cards I made for the Twofer Challenge back in May, but never got them posted. I believe the challenge was flowers since my cards have flowers. lol 

I made a little envelope with my envelope punch board, tucked some die cut flowers and filler in and that was that. I water colored the flowers and filler with SU watercolor crayons. Again, I'm not great with any kind of water color!

The paper on this card was cut with the Cricut Joy, placed down on a card base. I colored this little die cut with colored pencils, which I do much better with than watercolor. lol But it is pretty washed out and you really can't see the soft pink on the flowers. So two simple cards. 

So two cards that I did do, but never posted for the challenge. At least I have two more cards for the stash. I  will have some more cards to share again. Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me a spell. I am behind again in commenting, but in my defense the weekend was so beautiful and the first time we got in the pool this summer, so Bret, my SIL and nephew enjoyed it! I will be back to catch up here some time today. Come and enjoy the pool with me?!!! So appreciate you all!!!

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
Card 1
Mini Envelope punch board from WRMK
No brand dies from AliExpress-flowers
Martha Steward Branch Punch
SU Watercolor Crayonshg
My Favorite Things Stamps for "Missing You" (Essential Sentiments)

Card 2
Cricut Joy
My Creative Time Dies-watering can and bird
No brand dies from AliExpress-flowers in envelope
Word Stamps/dies from WRMK for "Happy"
Maymay Made It Stamps for "birthday to you my friend" (Big Time Sayings)

Where Have I Been??? I'm Still Alive and Kicking

Hello my crafty friends, I know I haven't been around in such a long time. It's been crazy for sure with all the Covid stuff and having Bret working from home. Keeping 3 dogs quiet while he had meetings and phone calls wasn't easy. lol Plus it didn't give me much computer time as I kept taking them outside to keep the house a little quieter. And now they want out there non stop. So even visiting and commenting was non existence for me. But Bret is back at the office now....for how long, only time will tell. I wanted to get back to cleaning out and fixing up the guest room but until he cleans out his "office" stuff that isn't going to happen. Now we are working on getting the pool good so we can enjoy that on these hot days. And of course mowing every couple of days keeps me busy too. 

I did stay a little crafty and wanted to share with you what I was up to. I am hoping to start to get back to visiting/commenting with you all very soon. So don't lose to much faith in me yet. Hopefully the dogs and I will find our groove, especially on really hot days as I don't take them out for long then. 

I got a little vinyl happy and went around and applied vinyl to a lot of stuff. The microwave was first.

 The last coach gift for my Nephew to give out when he can. They loved it. 

 A vinyl sign for patriotic holidays

 A birthday gift I made using vinyl for Dwayne's cousin

 Since we were staying home anyway, I had to add vinyl to my little house I got in Waco, TX

 My portable charger got monogrammed on the front and back

 My bill fold got it too because I always opened it the wrong way, now I know what's the front

 My brother's birthday card

 My Nephew's graduation banner for the drive by graduation the school had

 Kahlua and Savannah had birthdays, Kahlua first in April and then Savannah in June. This is the doggie cake I made for each of them. Maverick will get one in Aug. They all loved it except Maverick didn't like the "icing" which was yogurt and peanut butter. He loves peanut butter but I guess not the yogurt. lol The girls loved the icing. 

 Kahlua chowing down on her cake

 Savannah on her birthday, didn't take a photo of her eating her cake

So that is what I've been up too. Sorry it took me so long to even up date everyone as to where I've been. Life is crazy anyway and Covid didn't help any. We go green this Friday and as much as I'm looking forward to it, it makes me nervous too. But I've been to the pool store and the grocery store for the first time since March. Oh and my nephew's graduation and on Memorial weekend, sat around a fire and had a s'more at Dwayne's cousins. It was nice to leave the house!!! Thanks for stopping by and seeing what I've been up too. I should be by to see you too over this week. As always I so appreciate each and every one of you and I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by my neck of the woods. Come take a dip with me in the pool when you get a chance!

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
vinyl signs:  Cricut and Design Studio
coach gift: stencil vinyl and acrylic and chalk paint to stencil with from Walmart
deer card: unbranded die from AliExpress, TH's Oxides inks
grad banner: Cricut and Design Studio

CAS Christmas Card Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, yes a second post! Trying to get some challenges in this weekend. And I also wanted to finish off my trip post of Waco. I really would like to get more Christmas cards made this year but will see how that goes. I'd also like to play in more challenges....again, we will see how that goes since my track record isn't to good. 

So the CAS Christmas Card challenge for this month is using a tag on your card. Not sure if I'm stretching the tag thing or not here. But to me it is a tag....ish. lol This is an unbranded NBUS die and I had a piece of smooshed water color in my stash and used it to place behind. Remember stickles??? Well, I stickled this tag with an inch of it's life. lol I like it and I enjoyed using stickles again. Been a while. Did a little dry embossing as well for my background.  That's it....a very quick and CAS card for the challenge.

Wanted to share the last leg of our trip which was Waco, TX. Such a great place to go. So much to see and do. You have the Dr. Pepper Museum-we didn't get there though :-(, the TX Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, the suspension bridge which I believe back in the day they drove long horn cattle over or something to that effect, Cameron Park Zoo-a beautiful park and zoo they say, and many other places to see and do as well as the Gain's Magnolia stuff which was amazing. We didn't get to do the other stuff, just the Magnolia stuff as we weren't there that long. I would have loved to have stayed longer. Maybe another time...So here are some photo's from this amazing place.

Clint's shop or used to be. Now it is a place to shop at. His house, remodeled by Chip and Jo, was next door as you will see in the next photo but because he got so famous from working with Chip and Joanna, they had to move to another home as they got no peace, same with his business. 

 Clint's old house that was remodeled by Chip and Joanne, Clint made the front door himself.

 Jimmy Don's shopping area. We were supposed to met him, but he got held up. We were asked a question about him and I knew the answer, so I won a TX shaped metal piece with Waco cut out of it and a nice pretty stacked peddle metal flower that was a magnet. I couldn't believe it! 

 The truck that they sell Jimmy Don's metal signs out of. 

 Anyone remember the show where they found, moved and remodeled the "Shot Gun" house? This is it! 

 Down at Magnolia, boy did we have fun shopping and looking around there! 

 A view of the silo's from under the picnic area

 Rest and sweet tea time

 Inside the bakery, oh boy were those cupcakes so yummy!!!

 Last but not least, this is a house that Elvis Presley would stay at when he was at Fort Hood. At first we were told that he lived there, but this home was owned by a friend of his. Elvis would come and stay there or just visit. The owners would cook for Elvis and have cookouts as well. They even gave him his own room. The owner's daughter had a piano but Elvis kinda' took the piano over. lol  The family (the adult children) now rent it out as a tourist place to stay. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing these photo's. There were so many other photo's but thought this was enough. lol We had such a wonderful time on this trip to Nashville, Memphis TN as well as Waco TX. These are places I would love to go to again some day. I would recommend any of these cities as there is much to do and see in all three of them. Each one was unique and just plain fun. 

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit me and see what I'm up to. I know two posts in a days time was a lot for me and I know I need to get to visiting myself and I hope to later on today. Have some chores I want to get to before the weekend is over and Bret is back at work and I have the dogs all day long till evening. But hope to get back to some of you tonight. 

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:

AliExpress: Ornament die NBUS

Tim Holtz Distress Oxides:  broken china, peacock feathers and wilted violet for the smooshing

Stickle's: Star Dust and Silver

Darice: Snowflake embossing folder NUBUS

Maymay Made It:  Fond Noel stamp set for the distressed "Noel" sentiment NBUS

Special Event!

Today is the start of a special event! Di's friend Darnell from across the pond has initiated a surprise Blog Hop to thank Di for the SEVEN years she has managed the Snippets Playground where we go to show off our snippets makes, enjoy bonfires, have hot toddies, jump rope, play on the Playground equipment, trade beads, horse-around in the tree house, ride bikes, play with Parsnip (and now Dudley), and generally have an amazing and fun time! This special event will run from Jan. 27th at 12:05 PST to Feb. 10th at 11:55 pm PST. 

Oh Gosh, I believe I first played in the Snippet's Playground challenge  in Nov. of 2014. I could be wrong, but think that was the first time. I was encouraged to play along by Mary of Carolina Cards. She had told me how fabulous Di and Parsnips was and she was right! Di is an amazingly sweet and talented lady not to mention very generous. She has the cutest little puppy, Dudley that is new to the family and she tells of his puppy antics. And of course there is Parsnips. He is so much fun as well.

So for my card, I made an encouragement type card (using a snippet of course!) for Miss Di for her 7 years of having the Snippet's Playground Challenge. Thanks for all you do Di as you do a lot and I know what a challenge it is to run a challenge! Love ya lots!!!

As always, I thank everyone who took the time to come and visit me. Your comments always bring so much sunshine to my life and makes my heart swell. I will be around to visit you soon too! 

Crafty Hugs,

Card Recipe:
versafine onyx black ink
distress oxides inks
hero arts unicorn white ink
My Creative Time-Speech Bubble Sentiments stamps and dies: fabulous amazing talented, you
AliExpress: Frame

Rudolph Day!

Hello my crafty friends, I hope this Sunday finds everyone doing well and happy. I am happy to say that my new tires are on, oil is changed and fluids are checked and ready to go  for this winter! A load off my mind for sure. 

The 25th of August (yesterday) was the start of Rudolph Days. If you don't know about Rudolph Days, it runs from the 25th of each month (except Dec.) through the end of each month. Christmas cards only and only one entry per person. Maureen is a wonderful host and always has plenty of inspiration from herself and her DT. It's fun to go over and play, although it has been a while since I've played. No, not keeping up with getting my Christmas cards done! But I am playing along this month!! Yay! So here is my card, a simple and CAS one, but I am loving it. I will be making more of these I think. I cut out the die cut and colored the letters with a black Zig marker. It is different from the one like it I made, this "home" is a die that cuts out the whole thing, house included where as I cut out the letters last time and stamped a house in place of the "O". As always my supplies will be listed in the recipe section at the bottom of this post. I also used snippets for this card, everything but the card base is a snippet, but the Snippets Playground has closed today. So will have to play along another day.  But I did get an honorable mention for playing along with my hexi card!

I just had to share some photo's of the babies in my life. Kahlua had a vet appointment for some more shots and to start her rabies shot. Poor little girl was all stressed out and we are finding out she is a shy one too when we take her out. We were waiting for her daddy human to pay the bill when I snapped this photo of her. She didn't feel good the rest of the evening and into the next day. How sweet is this face?!! You'd never know it, but she can get pretty sassy!

This photo I'm about to show you just cracks me up! Kahlua always gets in Savannah's huge bed, so I guess Savannah thought if Kahlua can get in her bed, then she will get into Kahlua's bed! I'm not sure how she got her huge body in that tiny bed, but she got most of it! What cracks me up is that she is giving me that look of...."What??? She's in my bed!". lol 

My last photo share is my granddaughter with the pup's. Just a sweet photo of them all being quite for a change! lol

Thank for stopping by and visiting with me a spell. Your visits always leave me rays of sunshine and happiness and I thank you for that! I will be by to visit you as well soon. Right now I am keeping pretty busy with these pup's and working to help out an elderly lady that is a sweetie. So it might take me a while to get around, but hopefully I will eventually!

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
AliExpress "home" die
My Creative Time-for sentiment and holly/berries
My Favorite Things Die-namics-Cross Stitched Dies
Paper Studio's plaid paper pack
Black Zig Marker

Sunflower Thanks

Hello all my crafty friends, I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday! Heavy rain in the forecast for us again today-but nothing new there, an impact day for us is what they are calling it now. I think by the end of the week we are supposed to get 2 or 3 days of dry weather with sunshine. Won't that be nice?!!!

I wanted to play along with the sunflower challenge over at CAS Watercolour Card Challenge. I was sent this beautiful NBUS sunflower die by a very special, sweet and generous lady for my birthday a while back so I wanted to use it finally. I had fun with this die. I water colored it after cutting it on watercolor paper. Created a background using Distress Oxides and the splash technique that Loll has a video on. I'm not very good with it, I think I needed more water to dilute my color. Oh well, I am still pleased with how it turned out. I need two thank you cards for some special people. So I made this one and one on a kraft colored mat which I didn't take a photo of.

I need new tires on my car, so my neighbor works part time for a friend of his, who owns our local tire place. He told me there was a sale on tires, but that it ends on Saturday, this past Saturday. So on Saturday he gets my tire size and gets me prices on the tires. Then arranged for his friend to pick up my car on Monday (everything was put through on Saturday to get the sale price) and put the tires on and I wanted an oil change and all my fluids checked. Not used to this since Dwayne always did all this stuff. But with the help of these two men, it is getting done. Now the other guy, well he is the son of my late husband's boss, so Dwayne and this guy grew up together and worked together. He left me his own vehicle so I wouldn't be without a vehicle since they would have my car until sometime today! So not only did he come and get my car right at my home, he also left me a nice vehicle in case I had to go somewhere. So I wanted to send thank you notes to both families. It takes a village to raise me! lol That's what it feels like-but in all seriousness I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life that help me navigate life after Dwayne. Sometimes it is hard to see your blessings when you lose someone so important to you, but I have been blessed and know I'm very blessed! So thank you to all of you out there as you are a huge blessing in my life as well!!!!

As always I will list the items I used down in the recipe section at the end of this post. I thank you for stopping by and sticking with me this far and I thank you for your sweet comments. They always bring rays of sunshine to my life! I will be by to visit you all soon as well. Keeping busy with these dogs, but Kahlua is doing well and getting taller. Pictures of the girls next time around. We are slowly getting the hang of potty training. lol The girls are getting along so well and I am thankful for that. Have a lovely week my friends!

Crafty hugs,

Card Recipe:
unbranded sunflower die
Oxides Distress inks: Broken China, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers
watercolor paper: Canson XL
Maymay Made It stamps: Positive Vibes
My Creative Time: More Stitched Rectangular Dies (I extended the length)
Zigs/Arteza watercolor pens