In The Summertime with Butterflies!

Hey! It’s summer! Be free and happy and danceful and uninhibited and now-y!

~Terri Guillemets

Good morning!

So excited ... A couple of weeks ago I was the lucky winner of Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge. As such, I was offered a Guest DT spot for Challenge #12. 

We are using a Summertime theme, colors and of course butterflies!

Here is the card I created using this adorable image from Jody Bergemo Galleries.

I colored with Prisma Color pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits. I added some glimmer to the butterflies and flowers with a pearlized top coat from Smooch but it is kinda hard to tell in this picture.

CARD SIZE: 5.5 x 5.5

SUPPLIES

Based on a sketch by Julie Blane

Image "Swing time" by Jody Bergemo Galleries

Card stock from Bazzill and Stampin Up!

DP from DCWV

Prisma Color Pencils

Odorless Mineral Spirits

Smooch Pearlized Top Coat

Ribbon from Recollections

Flower from Stash

Die "Label #4" from Spellbinders

Butterfly punch from Unknown (I bought  from Ross)
Sentiment from Studio G

Thanks for stopping by and please play along with us in this weeks Butterfly Challenge!

(Hugz) Cara

Dream a Little

Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare.

H.F. Hedge

Good morning!

Today starts a new Anything Goes Challenge at Through The Craft Room Door.

Our Sponsor this week is Aurora Wings

I used this beautiful image of a seahorse with wings!

At this time I don't own any alcohol markers so I colored this little pretty with my Prisma color pencils and odorless mineral spirits. I added some glitter here and there to give a nice sea worthy glitz.

The background has a slight shimmer too but because it is so subtle I can't get a picture of it to come through.

I did that using a soft brush loaded with a bit of Pearl X and softly brushing over my stenciled background while the ink was still a bit wet.. It created just enough shimmer to be effective and not overpowering.

CARD SIZE: 5 x 7

SUPPLIES

Image by Aurora Wings

Sentiment from Stampin Up "Dream a Little"

Colored using Prisma Color pencils and OMS

Scrap of paper from DCWV, Stampin Up! The Angel Company & ???

Card base in unknown (from my stash)

Stencil from Tim Holtz ""Stampers Anonymous"

Bubble gem from dollar bin at Michaels

Dazzling Diamonds Glitter from Stampin Up!

Versamark from Tsuniko

Pearl X Powder "Pearl White" from Jaquard Products

Thanks for stopping by! 

(Hugz) Cara

Happy Birthday Oscar (Not the Grouch)

There is still no cure for the common birthday. ~John Glenn

Good morning

Whew! 

This is it - The last of the scraps from DP I made using glossy card stock and re-inkers. For this card I took the scrap pile I had left and punched out squares. Not much left but confetti!

It is destined for a co-worker celebrating his birthday today!

Size A2

SUPPLIES

CASd) from Simple Stampin

Card stock, 3/4" square punch & Sentiment (Best Dad Ever) - Stampin Up!

Ink - Memories India Ink

Thank you for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Diamonds & Pearl Challenge

The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens.  ~Author Unknown

Good morning!

Today is the start of another Clean and Simple Challenge at the Outlawz Challenge Blog!

This week Pryn is asking us to use diamonds (rhinestones, glitter, Stickles, anything that glistens) and/or pearls on our card or project. I opted for pearls for this party dress made with my niece in mind. Her 16th birthday is right around the corner.

Size A2

SUPPLIES

Card stock, ink, pearls and sentiment (Party Hearty) from Stampin Up!

Image - "Dressed Up: from Stampendous

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

(Hugs) Cara

Tag you're it!

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

Good morning!

Today is the start of a new clean and simple challenge over at the Outlawz Challenge Blog.

This week Lynn is asking us to create a card or project featuring a die-cut, hand-drawn or stamped tag.  Our project could be a tag as well.  Any shaped tag is acceptable.  Just Remember keep it CAS!

My card for the challenge this week!

Size A2

SUPPLIES

Card stock - Stampin Up!

Image from "Swirls" - Autumn Leaves

Pearls - The Paper Studio

Sentiment - Onyx Expressions

TTCRD Anything Goes Challenge: Party Time!

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.

Author Unknown

Good morning!

Today is the start of the Anything Goes Challenge at Through The Craft Room Door.

Click HERE to come play along with us.

This week our sponsor is

Make it Crafty!

I used their awesome image called "Late Rabbit".

My daughter is a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland so I made this 5 x 7 card with her in mind

I colored in the image using Prisma Color pencils and OMS and Aleens Paper Glaze has been added to his pink nose

SUPPLIES:

Based on Sketch #108 from Freshly Made Sketches

Card stock, Ink & Sentiment (Lots of Thoughts) from Stampin Up!

Prisma Color Pencils

Odorless Mineral Spirits from Gemini

Rhinestones from The Paper Studio

Clockworks EF & Swiss Dots EF from Cuttlebug

Banners were made with paper scraps from my stash

Aleens Paper Glaze

Thanks for stopping by.

Your visits make me happy and as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. (Hugs) Cara

Itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini

In my soul, I am still that small child who did not care about anything else but the beautiful colors of a rainbow.  ~Papiha Ghosh

Good morning.

Today is the start of a new Clean & Simple Challenge at The Outlawz Challenge Blog.

"Itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini"  

It is Cheri's week to post and her challenge was inspired by a song from the 60's called "Itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini".

Our challenge is to create a Clean and Simple card or project with dots, dots and more dots!

I hope you come over and play along with us!

Here is my card for the challenge!

I had some scrap paper with polka dots that were just the right size for me to punch out some balloons!

Size A2

SUPPLIES

Card stock - Bazzill & Stampin Up!

Balloon Punch - Unknown

Polka Dot DP - Unknown

"Seeing Spots" embossing folder - Cuttlebug

Sentiment - The Angel Company

1.5" Circle Punch - Marvy

Scallop circle punch - Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Happy Birthday Father-in-Law Barry

Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time. ~Jean Paul Richter

Good morning!

I am almost done using up some DP I made a while back using glossy card stock and re-inkers. I just love how it turned out and can barely stand to throw it away so I just keep trying to figure out how to use it up.

Today is the birthday of my husbands father Barry! I hope he likes it!

This is the first time I have used this new tree stamp I recently purchased and I am in love! I know this is going to quickly become one of my most favorite tree stamps!

And it looks awesome on my paper - looks like a wild day close to the sea ... which is awesome since my Father-in-law and his wife live close the ocean.

Size 5.5 x 5.5

SUPPLIES

Based on a sketch from No Reimer Reason

Glossy Cardstock - Stash

Cardstock & Sentiment (Happiest of Birthday Wishes) - Stampin up!

Woodgrain Embossing folder - Sizzix

Tree Image - Stampendous

Ink - Memories India Ink

Thanks for stopping by! Your comments brighten my day!

(Hugs) Cara

Flower Power!

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Hello there my crafty peeps

Recently I participated in an embellishment exchange at Paper Crafting Divas

Here is my contribution.

I made four different flowers using a combination of punch flowers, beads, buttons and brads.

I get my flowers by purchasing stems from the dollar store and taking them apart. Much cheaper than buying packets at the craft store and I have a lot of fun creating different flowers with them.

  

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

(Hugs) Cara

Belated Graduation!

Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on  until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you’ll make a difference.

Arie Pencovici

Good morning!

I am a bit behind getting a graduation card out to a cousin in California!

Card Size: A2

Based on sketch PMDC-048 from Pixel Mavin's Digi Challenge

Card stock - Bazzill, The Paper Temptress & Stampin Up!

Sentiment - Unknown

Sequins - stash

Star Dies - Spellbinders

Pop Dots

Stamp-a-ma-jig

Thanks for stopping by for a look-see!

(Hugs) Cara

Outlawz Clean & Simple Challenge: To the Dogs!

The dog is a yes-animal, very popular with people who can't afford to keep a yes-man.

~Robertson Davies

Good morning!

Today is the start of another Clean & Simple Challenge at The Outlawz Challenge Blog.

This week it's my turn to post so lets get started!

Did you know that July is National Hot Dog Month?

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that over seven billion hot dogs will be eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the July 4th weekend alone (the biggest hot-dog holiday of the year), 155 million are "wolfed" down!

That's a lot of hot dogs!

My challenge for you this week is to create a card or project featuring a dog or dog related item!

Just keep it CAS and have fun!

My A2 Card features Snoopy at his best .... napping! The image from Stampendous is called "Snoopy at the Beach". I colored the image with Prisma Color pencils and OMS then I added Aleens Paper Glaze to his sunglasses!

Additional Supplies:

Card stock, Thought bubble (Photo Album Fun) & Sentiment (unknown set) from Stampin Up!

"Flames" Ef from Darice

Thanks for stopping by!

Your comments make me happy. And as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

(Hugs) Cara

Celebrating Our Independence Day

Good morning to one and all.

Today, here in the United States we celebrate our Independence Day.

I thought and thought about what I would write about but for the love of all that good and chocolaty, I could not come up with anything that was not mournful or harsh given the direction this Country and our Politics seem to be heading.

Lucky for me. I found this awesome quote from Richelle E. Goodrich on GoodReads.

Love it

Love it

Love it

I think it perfectly sums up what Freedom means to me.

“Some say freedom is a gift placed in our hands by our forefathers.

Some say freedom is a human right that none should be denied.

Some say freedom is a privilege that can and will be seized if taken for granted.

Some say freedom is the key that opens doors otherwise meant to imprison.

Some say freedom is power to do, to be, to say, and to accomplish what the oppressed cannot.

Some say freedom is a responsibility—a weight to be carried and shared by those willing to protect it.

Perhaps freedom is all these things.

But in my eyes, I see freedom as a treasure. It is a gem so rare and precious the fiercest battles rage over it. The blood of thousands is spilled for it—past, present, and future. Where true and unblemished freedom exists, it shines with perfect clarity, drawing the greedy masses, both those who desire a portion of the spoils and those who would rob the possessor of the treasure, hoping to bury it away.

Without freedom I am a slave in shackles on a ship lost at sea.

With freedom I am a captain; I am a pirate; I am an admiral; I am a scout; I am the eagle souring overhead; I am the north star guiding a crew; I am the ship itself; I am whatever I choose to be.”

―Richelle E. Goodrich

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICAN!

Masculine Birthday

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. ~Samuel Ullman

Good morning!

I make all the birthday cards for my co-workers. I don't mind and it gives me a place to re-home the cards I make for challenges or for fun. However most of the time when I make cards they are done so with specific people in mind. 

I made this card for a male co-worker who will be celebrating later this month.

I have had this die cut index card in my stash for quite some time and I thought this was a perfect layout to use it on. The blue colored paper is actually a left over from a piece I made a while back using glossy card stock and re-inkers and the strip running across the card was created by inking up the embossing folder and running through my Big Kick.

This card is based on this sketch #225 from The Shabby Tea Room.

CARD SIZE: A2

SUPPLIES

Card stock, ink - Stampin Up!

Sentiment - Inkahootz!

Wood grain embossing folder - The Paper Studio

Embroidery Floss - Stash

Wood buttons - Stash

Pop dots

Aleen's Paper Glaze

Tools:

Sizzix Big Kick

Stamp-a-ma-jig

We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper

CHALLENGES ENTERED

The Shabby Tea Room

Sketch Challenge # 225

613 Avenue Create
Challenge #78: Anything Goes

Crafting from The Heart
Challenge #25: Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge
Challenge #63: Anything Goes

Pixies Crafty Workshop
Challenge #131: Anything goes but must use scraps

TTCRD Anything Goes Challenge: With Sympathy

People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad. ~Marcel Proust

Good morning!

Today is the start of another Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge.

Click HERE to come play along with us!

Our Sponsor this is:

Art by Miran

I used a lovely Lily image for my A2 card.

I colored with Prisma Color Pencils and OMS.

The Sentiment is computer generated.

Additional supplies:

Card stock from Stampin Up

Label #4 die from Spellbinders

Pearls from The Paper Studio

Thanks for stopping by! Your visits make me happy and as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

(HUGS) Cara