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My projects are not to be submitted and/or used in any written publication, advertisement or contest without my knowledge. I am flattered if you use one of my projects as inspiration, but please give me credit when you do and, if possible a link back to this blog. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me using the contact form. Thank you

I appreciate my Followers!

Friday, January 31, 2014

Blanket for Jaina

”Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)


This is a Christmas Present I made for the oldest daughter of close friends. Not the best pictures but I love this design and it works well with Varigated yarns.





HERE is the link to the pattern I used for inspiration

Thanks for stopping by!

Blanket for Chelbi

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

I do actually do other stuff besides card making and crochet is one of them!
This is a Christmas gift I made for the youngest daughter of very good friends. Her favorite color is red. Just like me! :O)
I found one on pintrist I like and was able to duplicate it .... kinda.
I thought I'd saved the picture and link but apparently I did not. If I find it I will credit where credit is due.




Sunday, January 26, 2014

With Love

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
~ Mother Teresa

Good afternoon...
Actually had a free day to do nothing but play in my craft room so I made this Valentine card

SUPPLIES:
Card stock, rhinestones, sizzlet die "Beautiful wings" & ink (Stampin Up!)
"Lace" EF (Darice)
Tim Holtz "Tattered Flowers", Flowers & vine #2, Decorative vine with flower (Sizzix)
Anne Griffen EF "Acanthus" (Cuttlebug) 
DP & Rhinestone brad used in flower & Sentiment (Unknown)


I used this sketch I found on pintrist from http://milolilja.net/ as inspiration
scrapbooking layout


Outlawz CAS Challenge: Show me the Sea!

As a child of God, I am greater than anything that can happen to me.”
~ Abdul Kalam

Good morning my pretties!
What a wonderful day to wake up to. I hope all it well in your world today and always!

Today is the start of another Clean and Simple Challenge at The Outlawz. 
Just click HERE to come by and play along with us.

Our challenge this week is to create a CAS seascape - any season. It can be shells, sand, panorama, ocean colors, beach. You get the idea! Just has to be CAS!

Here's mine using a little paper piecing using a scrap of pretty Christmas wrapping paper. 


SUPPLIES
Card stock & Image from "Seaside Sketch (Stampin Up!)
Sentiment from "Sail away" (The Angel Company)
Cloud 1 & 2 dies (PTI)
scrap of Christmas wrapping paper

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

TTCRD: Anything goes Challenge

“Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think.” 
~ Dale Carnegie

Good morning ....
Sorry, I am late getting this posted!
There is a new Anything Goes Challenge over at Through The Craft Room Door.

This weeks sponsor is Oozak!

Here is my card!
A birthday card for a family friend


SUPPLIES: Ok ... so normally I would give the supplies used, but this particular card is being published in the online magazine Through The Craft Room Door which will be released soon. If you want more details for this card and many other fantastic problems ... check it out HERE


I used this sketch from Lyudmila Kodyma for my layout
Great card sketch


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Floral Birthday

Thought for the Day

“It is my joy in life to find At every turning of the road, The strong arm of a comrade kind, To help me onward with my load.
And since I have no gold to give, And love alone must make amends, My only prayer while I live, God make me worthy of my friends.”
Frank D. Sherman
(1869-1916)

Trying to get in a little play time in my craft room as well as get ahead of birthday cards.
This one is for a dear friend of mine.


SUPPLIES:
Card stock, Little leaf sizzlet die, Corner tag punch and sentiment from set "God Bless": Stampin Up!
"Tattered Flowers" Sizzix die
Design paper and large pearl brad & twine: unknown - been in my stash for some time
Small pearls: Paper Studio



I actually used this scrapbook layout from Brenda Ragsdale as a guide for this card
GrandDiva's Creative Corner.... layout sketch by Brenda Ragsdale


This card has been entered into the following challenges

Sentimental Sundays








Outlawz CAS Challenge: Bears!

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success.
When you do a thing, do it with all your might.
Put your whole soul into it.
Stamp it with your own personality.
Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object.
Nothing great was ever achieve without enthusiasm.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good morning!

Today is Sunday!
That means a new Clean and Simple Challenge is underway over at The Outlawz and it's my turn to post this week!
Since January 18th was "Winnie the Pooh Day" in celebration of AA Milnes birthday.
To show our appreciation for the author of such a beloved children's classic, the challenge this week is "Bears"

Here's mine! I am going to send to my DD in Japan for Valentines Day!

Supplies: Card stock & Blending pen (Stampin Up!), "Divine Swirl" EF (Cuttlebug), Water color pencils (Staedler), Bear Image (Inkahootz!), Sentiment computer generated, Foam dimensionals.

Click HERE to come play along with us! We want to see your Clean and Simple projects showcasing your very own "Pooh" Bear!

(hugs) Cara

Friday, January 10, 2014

Poinsettia Blanket & Pillow

This is another set I made for me about 10 years ago.
I love poinsettias and had found a great pattern for making them.
This one is just big enough to cover my lap or drape over a chair for decoration




Beaded Christmas Tree Skirt

Hello Everyone - I am in the process of trying to add the items I have crocheted over the years.
I did this Beaded Tree Skirt about 15 years ago (I think) It has held up pretty well over the years with kids, pets, repeated washing's and storage in the attic.

My daughter now has this and is using it!




Thursday, January 9, 2014

Celebrating Nathan

Hi ... I made this card for my husband to celebrate a personal accomplishment.


Supplies: Sentiments (set: All about U), Cardstock & Ink (Stampin Up!), DP (The second wind from Prima Marketing), "Dasmask" Ef (Darice), Blingy Brads (Unknown)

This was good timing too as I used a sketch from the Outlawz!

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

TTCRD Anything goes - Big Bunny Hugs

Good morning.
Today is the start of another challenge at Through The Craftroom Door. It is also my first official post as a member of the Design Team so I hope you come over and play along. 

The sponsor for this weeks challenge is Doodle Pantry.
If you like using digital images, you'll love their selection!

That being said, using digital images is actually a relatively new concept for me. I do so love my ink and rubber stamps! I have, however dabbled in it and find it an interesting alternative to stamps as well as being impressed by the assortment of images offered. I also like the idea of being able to shrink or enlarge an image if desired.

For my 5.5 x 5.5 card I used "Big Hug Bunny" which I colored with chalks and then fussy cut. I used a little paper glaze on his big O teeth to give them a nice shiny gleam and the heart, which I added with a pop dot, is cover with pink glitter.



Supplies: Big Hug Bunny (Doodle Pantry Digital Image), Card stock, chalk, scallop edge punch & sentiment from "All Year Cheer I" (Stampin Up!), "Doodle Hearts" embossing folder (The Paper Studio), Heart prints die (Papertrey Ink), Glitter (Unknown), Aleens Paper Glaze, 

Through the Craft Room Door challenges are weekly Anything Goes challenges.
Winners are selected using Random.Org

If you are interested in being considered as a Guest DT, please add the letters "GDT" after your name and send your email to sandihug@gmail,com

While you are are visiting us looking at all the awesome challenge cards, please take a moment to check out our magazine.
Through The Craftroom Doois a fun craft magazine filled with articles, tutorials, crafting tool information and a whole lot more! Come and see what my dear friends and I have created for you! I promise you will not be disappointed. Join our TTCRD NING Group for subscription info and how you can submit submissions to be publish! You could possibly win a $25.00 gift certificate to the store of your choice. Oh yea, there are also over 70 free digital images for you to download. We would love to hear from you so come on over and find out what the magazine is all about!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Sunday, January 5, 2014

The Outlawz CAS Challenge: "New Beginnings"

Good morning Friends,
Where did 2013 go already? As a matter of fact, where did any of the past years go? Although I would not change anything, every now and again, I do miss the days when my children were young. Especially around the Holidays when viewing everything through their eyes always pulled at the child that still dwells in my heart to come out and play. It's seems to me, that as adults, we do what society expects of us and we ignore that inner child in us in favor of "adult" behaviors. Speaking for myself, I often forget, that the small child inside me is a very large part of the foundation of who I am as an adult today.

We all make these lofty goals for the New Year. Lose weight, read more, get more organised. But these are not the resolutions I want to make for myself this year. Not this time .... What I want to do is  to try and let my inner child out to play a bit more often. To laugh out loud at the antics of our cats. To just stop and listen to the wind in the trees and the song of a bird. To see the wonder and beauty in everything. To gaze upon the world around me without prejudice.

Today's CAS Challenge at The Outlawz is "New Beginnings" 
Something new, like a new baby, a new house or job. Or maybe a new attitude!

My card is to remind me that I need a "New Attitude" about my inner child. That I need to "Be Playful" and find that something fun and special in everything I do and see.


SUPPLIES: Card stock (Stampin Up!), Image name unknown (Provocraft), Sentiment (TAC "Sail away"), Prisma color pencils

Come show us what your  "New Beginnings" for 2014 are.

Also entered into
2 Creative Chicks Anything Goes Challenge
Challenges4Everybody
Allsorts Challenge Blog

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year

From My Family to Yours
In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship but never in want. 
---Irish toast---

My wish is that, if you are struggling with something in your life, you find in this quote from Neil Gaiman the push to move up and beyond whatever it is that troubling you.

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.
You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly,
you're doing something.
 So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself.
Make New Mistakes.
Make glorious, amazing mistakes.
Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.
Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.
 Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”