Stars and Stripes Challenge at Guylou's!

It's challenge time all my crafty friends!!!  I am so excited today to be hosting the challenge over at Guylou's Inimitability! 

As we're heading into 4th of July weekend here in the States, most of my American friends are gearing up for their bbq's, fireworks and parties; and my Canadian friends are celebrating their independence today with festivities too!!  So it got me all wistful and patriotic -and I decided to go with Stars and Stripes as my challenge theme.  But have no fear, if you're not all into the patriotic theme, no worries - as long as your creation has some stars and stripes on it - you're good to go!!

For my card today, I decided to use the image, Praying Soldier, which I love and fits the theme perfectly! I cranked Peter, Paul and Mary belting out 'Blowin' in the Wind' and thought about all the heroes in our lives...the ones overseas that give up their entire world so that I can live peacefully with those I love in mine. I thought of the heroes on our soil and in our personal lives (angels unaware if you will)....

I went distress-happy with my Making Memories Distress ink to give the "dirt" appearance and feel; and colored up the pearls in the bottom right corner with the same Copics I used on his uniform.  And who said you can't have pearls on a masculine card?! LOL.  The sentiment by TLC reads "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway" - John Wayne. 

Hopefully this has inspired you all to come play along with us! You have until July 14th at 10:00 pm EST to show us your Stars and Stripes!!  The lucky winner will be invited to be a Guest Designer on an upcoming GI challenge as well as win a $5 gift certificate from Guylou's Inimitability Store!!!

Hope each one of you has a safe and awesome 4th of July weekend and Happy Canada Day!

Recipe:

Medium:  Copics

Image:  Guylou's Inimitability

Sentiment:  TLC

Paper:  Martha Stewart

Making Memories Distress Ink

Close to My Heart self-adhesive Pearls

Close to My Heart Chipboard Star

Challenges:

Craft us Crazy - Red, White and Blue or Summer
DigiStamps4Joy- Red, White and Blue
The Outlawz - Copic/Promarker 7/1 Male Card
Stamp Something - July Digi Day Challenge
Digi Doodles  - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenges - Red, White and Blue
Pixie Dust Studio - Be Proud
Rainbow Lady's Challenge - 4th July
Cooking it up with Katie - Colors of your Flag
StampInsanity - Stars & Stripes
Tuesday Throwdown - #55
Use it Tuesday - Inspiration Colors
Card Making Mama's Challenge Blog - Red, White and Blue

1st TLC DT Card

Ever do something really stupid??  Make a mistake??  Come on - fess up, ya know ya have!  LOL, I know I have.  I'm always telling my girls that saying "You're Sorry" is not just words...it means learning from your mistakes, moving forward and trying your hardest to not do it again.  And from that, I drew inspiration for my first DT card for TLC. 

Isn't she adorable??  She kinda reminds me of one of my girls when they have to apologize!!!!  I got her forever ago from Whoopsy Daisy when I first started with digi stamps and have never used her.  The sentiment is part of a new set from TLC which you can find by clicking here.  I think the two go together fabulously and both hold so many possibilities, dontcha think?  I created the colored border around the image with the same Copics that I used for her outfit and the papers came from TLC as well~And don't forget!!!  Paulette gives away word art, images and papers daily for free, so if you haven't been to the TLC blog in awhile, come on by and take a look around!!

Recipe:
Medium:  Copics
Image:  Whoopsy Daisy
Sentiment and Digi Papers:  TLC
Bazzill cs
Close to My Heart self-adhesive pearls
Crocheted flower by Dorcas from Dorcas Designs

Challenges:
Fab-n-Funky Challenges - Bermuda Triangle
Simon Says Stamp - Lemon and Lavender
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
The Outlawz - Friday Copic Marker 6/24 Anything Goes CPC062411

Big News!!

Hi all my fabby friends!!  I have some wonderful news that I wanted to share with you now that I've gotten the green light to let the cat out of the bag ;)  I am thrilled, to say the very least, to let you all know that I am officially apart of the TLC Design Team as of today!!!!  Thank you Paulette for this amazing opportunity; and I am so honored to have been chosen and to be working along side with so many talented women.  If you get a chance ladies, please stop by and check out my fellow teamies blogs - they are each so talented and I'm sure you'll gain some inspiration looking through their blogs!

Jill
Judith
Karen
Angela
Hetty
Rhonda

Easy Peasy-NOT!

My girls and I were having a lazy day today.  I was trying to make a quick thank you card with my 3 girls, crayons, markers, colored pencils, coloring books and sleeping bags on my floor.  Needless to say, it did not make it easy for me to focus on what I was doing as one is calling out for Chartreuse, etc., but I sure did have a lot of fun with them singing show tunes and coloring.  It's moments like these I live for.

So with my Mojo running on the songs of The Sound of Music soundtrack and Crayola, this is what I came up with for the Wacky Wednesday Challenge at Bugaboo's Stamp's group on the CDAC this week which is to NOT use designer papers and add 3 Buttons.  I based the color combo on this week's color challenge over at The Outlawz which is Red, Blue and Green.  I tried faux stitching with a souffle pen for the first time, so be easy on me ;) 

Recipe:
Medium:  Copic Markers
Image:  Bugaboo Stamps
Sentiment:  TLC
Souffle Pen in White
Ribbon and buttons in stash

Challenges:
The Outlawz - 6/21 Color Challenge (Red, Green & Blue)
Bugaboo Stamps - Wacky Wednesday Challenge #7

Sailing

"Just a dream and the wind to carry me, and soon I will be free"
Christopher Cross, Sailing

Unfortunately I was unable to see my Dad on Father's Day this year.  He's been battling sinus infection after sinus infection for weeks now, and was just way to sick to come to our house or have any company.  It's been kind of a rough year on him all the way around- he was in and out of the hospital, and lost his one leg to complications from Diabetes.  There is one thing about my Dad though - he never gives up.  One might say he's a little too stubborn for his own good ;)  Now with his prosthesis, he can actually walk faster than I can ;) 

The color challenge over at the CDAC  is being hosted by Tiffany Doodles and is offering the cutest little sailboat for your creations for free if you play along.  The color palette for this challenge chosen by Tiffany is: 



I just love these gorgeous shades of blue, don't you??  I had a sentiment already in my arsenault from TLC to match my Father's tenacity and this adorable sailboat image (which Dad would love to have someday).  I merged the word art from TLC with one of Meljen's Designs freebies, Little Stitched Cloud, printed out two copies and popped up the top cloud for dimension, although I'm not so sure you can see it in the picture.



No matter what the wind blows, my Dad always adjusts and keeps going; and I truly admire him for that.

Recipe:
Medium:  Copic Markers (B99, B95, E50, E31 and E57)
Main Image:  Tiffany Doodles
Add'l Image:  Little Stitched Cloud by Meljen's Designs
Sentiment:  TLC
Paper:  Bazzill Textured Brights cs and Making Memories Fresh Anthology Collection - Eliza
Colorbox Pigment Ink in Sky Blue

Challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday - Fun in the Sun
Pollycraft Challenges -Travel/Holiday
Craft Us Crazy - RW&B and/or Summer
Delightful Challenges - Fun in the Sun
FabnFunky - Summer Loving
The Sisterhood of Crafters - More Lovin' for the Men
Meljen's Designs-Stripes and/or Plaid

Swinging by....

Hi everyone!!!  Hope this finds you having a wonderful Wednesday!!  The hot and humid mess that has plagued Jersey for the past few days has finally broke into major rain storms.  I love the way the rain sounds hitting the window and it makes for such an awesome crafting day.  So I hauled up in my craft corner as the kids ran through the house pretending to be pirates and fairies; and opened the window to listen to the pitter patter as I finished distressing and cutting papers.  Nothing better.

My card today is for the open DT call going on now through June 27th at TLC.  If you love Paulette's gorgeous images and word art as much as I do, then you truly must head on over to her blog and get all the details on applying!



Isn't she gorgeous?!  I remember lovin' the swings as a little girl and the thrill of getting higher and higher with the wind underneath me - oh, and out-swinging my little brother, of course, lol. 

I based my card on the sketch MMSC109 over at Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge Blog, for which this card is being entered as well.

Recipe:

Medium:  Copic Markers and Faber Castell Watercolor Pencils

Image:  Vintage How High by TLC

Sentiment:  Swinging by to say hi by TLC

Papers:  DCWV Old World Stack & Nicole Vintage pps

Paper, image, sentiment and doily distressed in Making Memories Distress Ink

Prima Flowers and Close to My Heart self-adhesive pearls

Challenges:

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge -MMSC109 Your Pick
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - My Favorite Things (used Pearls)
The Pixie Cottage - Sketch and/or Outdoor Fun
Hooked On Craft Challenges - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Digi Design House - Pearls and Lace

Your Day to Shine

The new round of challenges at the CDAC are underway and Guylou's Inimitability is hosting the Other Challenge!!  The challenge is The Three B Girly Girl Recipe Challenge.  Well I don't know about you, but after all those Dad's Day cards, I was totally in the mood for something girly!!!  Your creation must have bling, a bow and some buttons.

I kept with the patriotic theme as I imagined cutie patootie Dorothy holding her little Sparkler waiting for the fireworks!

If you play along, Guylou is giving away this image, Dorothy with Sparkler for free AND you have a chance to win a $10 gift card to Guylou's Inimitability Store!!   I hope this has inspired you to come by and play along with us !! 

Recipe:

Image:  Dorothy with Sparkler by Guylou's Inimitability

Sentiment:  TLC

Medium:  Faber Castell Watercolor Pencils

Papers:  Bazzill Brights Textured cs

Digi Papers:  Celebrate by Shabby Princess

Chipboard Stars:  Close to My Heart

Stardust Stickles on Sparkler

Challenges:

DYSU - Use a Star
Spoonfull of Sugar - Ribbons & Bows

Stamping Scrapping Challenge - Red White & Blue
Ribbon Carousel - Color your World and Ribbon
Corrosive Challenge Blog - Ribbons and Bows
House of Gilli - Ribbons and  Bows
Crafts4Eternity - Embellies with R
Sentimental Sundays - Sparkly or Shimmery

Meljen's - Red, White & Blue