Expecting

So I guess it's official now - we're heading into summer!!!  Family functions, parties and bbq's are all underway!!  If you're in the States, I'm hoping that you had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend complete with friends and family!!

Talking about family, my hubby's cousin and his gf are expecting their first child this November.  Since they were both coming to our party over the holiday weekend, I thought it would be nice to throw a little something together to congratulate them!

We don't know whether they're having a boy or a girl, so I stayed away from the traditional pink and blue, but a few girly touches made their way in - I just couldn't help it ...hehehe.

I'd like to personally thank my dear friend, Charlene, for helping me find such an adorable image when nothing I had was working!  If you haven't checked out her blog, grab a cuppa and go visit her by clicking here!  She is mad talented and I know you won't be disappointed!!

Recipe:
Image:  Baby Carriage by Broken Box Stock
Sentiment:  Created in Print Artist
Digi Papers:  Sweet Serenity by Shabby Princess
Pure Color Essentials wired sheer ribbon
Self-adhesive pearls
Glossy Accents on bow and polka dots
Cotton Candy Stickles on hearts
Diamond Stickles on ruffle

Challenges:
The Outlawz - POM Challenge 5/26 -Anything Goes   Pom0526
Crafty Sentiments - Special Occassions
Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge 47 Love the lasting kind
Party Time Tuesday - PTT8 Anything Goes
Tip Top Tuesday - Wrap it up with Ribbon
Bugaboo Stamps - Bright colors with optional Flower Soft

In the Nick of Time!

With an hour of present-time to spare, I managed to finish my hubby's bday card from all of the girls....phew!!!  Thank God today was one of those days that they didn't mind playing pretend princesses throughout the house most of the day just so I could get it done!!

I love this super adorable image from Zlatoena Designs!!!  I could definately see this being used over and over for just about any birthday card or invitation.  Best part?!  It's currently over at the CDAC as a freebie if you play along with their holiday/special occassion challenge, which is to make a birthday card with the image.  Love when I can kill two birds with one stone :)))

Recipe:
Image:  Zlatoena Designs
Sentiment:  Acrylic stamp by Studio G
Ribbon:  Doodlebug Designs, Inc. Boutique Trim in Easter Asst.
Yellow Stickles on presents
Glossy Accents on nose
Distress Ink:  Vintage Photo by Tim Holtz
Roses won from blog candy by Dorcas

Challenges:
Sketch & Stash - Challenge 62 Sketch
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - Challenge #117 Cupcakes
Paper Sundaes - Pop it Up
WhoopsiDaisy Challenge - Birthday
Scrappy Frog Challenge - Birthday
CDAC - CDACHSOC24

Presents? Bah Humbug!

Monday is my hubby's birthday - we won't dare say how old he's gonna be ;)  He adores the Gus images from Bugaboo and so do I!!!  So I've been sneaking my crafts late at night just so he won't see me making his card or the kids won't - because usually they'll steal his card and show him what "mommy made" for him!  I've had a couple of close calls, but I think he'll be pleasantly surprised. 

Here's the front of his card:

And here is the inside:

Hehehe, I know, I know..bad right?  But he's got a warped sense of humor like that ;) 

Recipe:

Image by Bugaboo Stamps

Sentiment by Marlene

Papers:  Bazzill cs and MME dp

Bo Bunny Candy Jewels

Glossy Accents on Cake Icing and Balloon

Yellow Stickles for Flames

Challenges:

Bugaboo Stamps - Grads, Dads and Celebrations

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 104 Birthday

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle and Shine

Bring May Flowers

Woooohooooo!!!! It's Friday - finally :)))  Not only is it the start of another glorious weekend, but it's challenge time again over at Guylou's Inimitability!!!  We have such an awesome challenge for you this week hosted by our very own, very talented Brenda!  Bren is uber talented and such a great person - if you have a few minutes, you seriously must go check out her blog.  Trust me - you won't be disappointed you did!!

So on to our challenge.  This week, Brenda's challenge is a color challenge with a fun little twist of adding some flowers (e.g. primas) to your project!  So what's the color scheme you ask?  Check these out:

LOVE 'em right???  When I saw the color palette I knew right away that I wanted to make a card using Guylou's fabulous Gabrielle image to cheer up a friend of mine that is going through some pretty difficult times right now.  I'm not exactly sure what I'll say to to make her feel better, but I'm hoping that this will at least help bring a smile to her face, if only for a moment:

The winner will be awarded two digistamps of her or his choice from Guylou's Inimitability Store and will also be invited to be a Guest Designer on an upcoming challenge.  You have until June 2nd to play along with us and I can't wait to see your creations :))

Recipe:

Medium:  Watercolor pencils

Image:  Gabrielle by Guylou's Inimitability

Sentiment:  TLC

Paper:  CS by Bazzill and DP by MME

Stardust Stickles on wings

Pure Colore Essentials Wired Sheer Ribbon

Self-Adhesive Pearls

Roses from blog candy by Trina 

Challenges:

Crafty Catz Weekly - Anything Goes

Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes

Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

Shelly's Images - Anything Goes

Last Cupcake

Happy Monday my friends!  Hoping that each one of you had a fabulous weekend!

I am super excited today because I got to Guest Design for Cupcake Craft Challenges again this week!!

Big News:  Cupcake has a new DT Member, Jane!!!  To  celebrate her arrival, Ribbon Girl has generously given Cupcake a 5 metre bundle of 11 colors of Baker Twine that you can win just by leaving some love on her blog to welcome her aboard!

Pretty yummy, right?!  To visit Jane's blog, click here.

And this week's theme at Cupcake Craft Challenges is In the Garden!!  And as you guessed it, your projects this week should include something that is inspired by anything "In Your Garden". 

One of the things that my best friend and I love to do when we get together, is sit out in my backyard, with some good coffee, and just sit and talk.  For hours, lol.  I drew my inspiration for today's card from that using one of my new favorites from Guylou's Inimitability, Leah drinking a cup of Java:

You have until Monday, May 22nd to enter your garden inspired projects to be eligible to win some awesome prizes from Sassy Studio Designs and Crafts U Love!   Hope to see you play along with us this week!

Recipe:
Medium:  Watercolor Pencils
Image:  Leah drinking a cup of Java by Guylous' Inimitability
Sentiment:  TLC
Digi Paper:  Happy Go Lucky by Shabby Princess
Doodlebug Designs Boutique Trim
Glossy Accents on Gardening Tools
Yellow Stickles for flower centers
Felt flowers and button in stash

Challenges:
Stamps R Us - Goin' Digital

Hello Weekend!

What a terribly long week this has turned into with blogger being down and not being able to post for days.  I think my hubby and children were happy tho:  the laundry got done instead of my posts ;)

In between loads that magically bred children, I whipped up this cute card just because I have loved this image for a long time and haven't really had a chance to play with it.  It was so nice to just get lost in the wings of the butterfly and imagine flying past all the laundry that has haunted me all week.  Where would you fly off to?

Recipe:
Medium:  Watercolor pencils
Image:  Meljen's Designs
Sentiment:  TLC
Digi Papers:  Sweet Sprinkles by Shabby Princess
Cardstock:  Rainforest by Bazzill, Shimmer Stack by DCWV and American Crafts
Cotton Candy Stickles & Glossy Accents for Butterfly Wings/Stardust Stickles for Fairy Wings
Felt flowers and glitter button in stash  

Challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Fancy a Punch

Tip Top Tuesday - Challenge 33 Flower Frenzy

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Delightful Challenges - Flowers

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Let it Shine!

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Purpalicious!

I had a little extra time to make my MIL's Mother's Day card since she's away on vacation.  I knew that I wanted to make something with purple since that's her favorite color, but nothing was really striking me as the image for her card.  So I waited to make it since.....afterall, I had that extra time, lol.  I am so happy that I waited because recently I won this image from one of TLC's scavenger hunts and I just LOVE it!!!  As soon as I won it, I printed it, colored it (in hues of purple, of course!) and added her "earrings"....and then it seemed like the next day, Paulette from TLC offered some free paper on her site!!  Wouldn't you know it - it matched what I had colored!!  Don't you love when that happens?  I know I do! 

As I was coloring it, it kinda reminded me of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe painting so I kept it thinking it looked pretty cool.  It's pretty purpalicious, so I hope she likes it!

Recipe:

Medium:  Watercolor Pencils

Image, Sentiment and Digi Paper:  TLC

Cardstock:  Bazzill Brights

Self-Adhesive pearls

Roses from Blog Candy by Trina

Glossy Accents

Challenges:

Prairie Fairy Friday - For the Girls

Stamp Something - May Digi Day Challenge

Crafty Sentiments - Flowers

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Claire's Sketch

Southern Girls Challenge - Lets Hear it for the Girls
Creative Card Crew - May Flowers

Guest Cupcake!

Happy Monday!!!  I'm hoping that each one of you had a glorious Mother's Day weekend (for those in the States).  My hubby and little ones definately spoiled me today, starting with breakfast right on down through dessert (apple pie and some of Mom's homemade rice pudding!) YUM-O!

And talking about yummy desserts, I am so excited that I was asked to Guest Design for Cupcake Craft Challenges today!  Cupcake has been one of my all-time favorite challenge blogs since "like forever" (in my 12-year old daughter's voice), so it was such an honor and so much fun to create something for them!

Today starts a new challenge over at Cupcake- Gingham and Roses!  It just gets yummier, right?!  This week's challenge has been chosen by Lisa.  If you have a moment, take a minute or two to take a look at her creations - she is one talented lady!

Here is my creation using a Freebie Friday image from Bugaboo and adding that lovely gingham and roses combo:

You have all week to play for a chance to win some fabby prizes from Cupcake Cards and Crafts and Crafts U Love.   Hope to see your new Gingham and Roses creations this week!!

Recipe:

Medium:  Watercolor Pencils

Image:  Bugaboo Stamps

Sentiment:  TLC

Digi Papers - Birds Gingham Brights & DottyBrights

Self-Adhesive Pearls

Roses from Blog Candy won from Trina

Challenges:

Bugaboo Stamps - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Weekly - Give us a Quote/Sentiment

Stampin' Sisters in Christ -  Challenge #88 All things Beautiful

Guylou's New Release Blog Hop & Shakerbox Challenge!!

Good Morning all my craftin' buddies!!  You got your cup of coffee ready and all set to have some fun this morning?  Well lemme tell you - you are in for a real treat today!  Guylou's Inimitability, is releasing not just one, but two new sets of images that will totally knock your socks off!  We're celebrating with a blog hop today, and our DT has some pretty amazing creations that will truly inspire you along the way!

If you're starting here on your blog hop journey, then go back to Guylou’s Inimitability (this is where you need to start and end the blog hop) If you came here from Kim's blog (It's All About Crafting), then you are going in the right direction! If you get lost along the way, just go back to Guylou’s Inimitability or refer to the blog hop list at the end of this post to get you on the right track. The hop will open today at 9:00am EST and end at 9:00pm EST on Sunday May 8th.

So without further adieu, let's introduce you to these fantastic new images:

The first set is called "Leah in her Garden" and contains the following fabby images of Leah, who is my absolute favorite!!   Each of the images are sold separately or as a series. 


The second series of images is called "Dysfunctional Fish Family".

Aren't these little characters so much fun?  I love how they each have such awesome little personalities and I'm sure whoever gets a card with them will love them as well!!  Please visit Guylou's Inimitability Store for more details. 

Now for the fun part:  Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!!!

Guylou's Inimitability and my friend & teamie, Gina, are offering three awesome prizes including free digi's and a RAK that would make anybody's mouth water!!  To qualify to win these super awesome prizes, make sure to leave a comment below!! 

Regular Challenge Details

In addition to our blog hop today, it's challenge time at Guylou's Inimitability!!!  And hosting our challenge this week is our craftalicious DT member and my friend, Kim!  Get ready to shake, shake, shake because Kim has chosen for us to make a Shakerbox. 

I chose to make a card with Leah ... I just love her all clad in her overalls ready for Spring and digging in the dirt!  I've had this paper forever and just love it, although to be honest, I've forgotten who it's by (came in one of those humungo paper pads that has fallen apart over time!).  I cut up some little flowers on my Cricut Expression in corresponding cardstock, which I stickled with Stardust, let dry and then put in the shakerbox part of my card.  My flowers are from Prima and is centered with a Bo Bunny candy jewel.  The fun sentiment is from TLC.

   

You have until May 19th at 10pm to make a project with a shakerbox.  If you've never done one of these awesome little projects- no sweat (see this video for the how to).  Best part, there's plenty of time to play along!!!   I hope you will join us in the Shakerbox Challenge!  The lucky winner will be awarded two digistamps of her or his choice from the Guylou's Inimitability Store and will also be invited to be a Guest Designer on an upcoming challenge.  How cool is that?!

Hopefully you've been enjoying all these fabulous new creations and for more inspiration, please go see our Guest Designer Shelly's fantabulous Shakerbox at Guylou's Inimitability.

Don't forget to leave a comment below for those yummy prizes!!  Your next stop is the insanely talented Guylou herself.   Have fun and thanks for hopping with us!!!

Blog hop list:

Starts at Guylou’s Inimitability Blog
Trina 
Kim 
Sara (You're here!!!)
Guylou 
Brenda 
Gina 
Guylou's Inimitability

Feels Good to Be Back

Was super excited today when my mother-in-law took the girls out to lunch today!  Woohoooo....Mommy ran straight into her craft corner!!  It has been a little while since I've been able to get here and it felt so good to whip up some cards!  I was starting to have withdrawal symptoms, lol. 

One of the cards I made today is a Mother's Day card based upon the sketch over at The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog (and you know how much I loves me my sketches!!!)  Here is the sketch provided for the challenge this week:

And here is what I came up with:

Recipe:

Image:  CoffTime by Bugaboo Stamps

Medium:  Artist Loft Watercolor Pencils and Marvy Brush Marker in Cherry

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Ribbon:  Doodlebug Designs Boutique Trims (Easter Asst.)

XMas Red Stickles

Distressing:  Colorbox Pigment Ink in Cranberry

Challenges:

The Pink Elephant - TPE99 Sketch

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Something beginning with "C"

The Outlawz - POM May 5 Mothers Day Challenge Pom504 
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Totally Papercraft Challenges - Glitter #64
Creative Card Crew - For Mom
OSAT - #60 Emboss It!