Button Button - Who's got the Button?

Happy is he who still loves something he loved in the nursery:  He has not been broken in two by time; he is not two men, but one, and he has saved not only his soul but his life.  ~G.K. Chesterton

Button - Button, who has the Button?

Anyone remember playing that game as a child? I do!

I remember playing with friends at school or sleep overs.

The laughing and guessing and groaning when one was incorrect.

This challenge reminded me of that game from so very long ago.

Happy memories of a simple pleasure for a simple child during a simpler time.

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

Lynn has decided that we need to create a CAS card or project featuring ONE button. 

You can use any theme and any color - but your project must be CAS and you must make sure the one button is clearly visible.

I used sketch #32 from Freshly Made Sketches and I really wanted to use a really BIG button, but when I started digging through my button (ahem) collection, I did not have one the right size that would work for me.

So I made my own by punching out a circle.

Added some chipboard for stability and running through my Big Kick to give it detail. Then I punched some holes and use gold thread to "secure" my new BIG button to the card.

Size A2

SUPPLIES

Freshly Made Sketch #32

"Damask Medallion" Embossing Folder - Sizzix

Circle Die - Sizzix

Gold Twine, Card Stock and Sentiment (Faith in Nature) - Stampin Up!

Gold accents - stash

Birthday for Tia

Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children. ~George Bernard Shaw

Good morning!

Today is the birthday of a Co-work and I made this card for her as I do all the people in our group.

The back ground was creating by inking one side of the embossing folder before running through my Big Kick.

SIZE A2

SUPPLES

Card stock from Bazzill and Stampin Up!

"Leafy Branch" EF from Cuttlebug

Hello Kitty (R) Daisies from Sizzix

Ink from Stampin Up!

Sentiment unknown

Flower center from Marvy (I think)

Bling from stash

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugz) Cara

Lost in thought?

Basically, the only thing we need is a hand that rests on our own, that wishes it well, that sometimes guides us.

~Hector Bianciotti, Sans La Misericorde du Christ

It's time again for another Anything Goes Challenge at Through The Craft Room Door.

Our Sponsor this week is Fitztown.

I used this gorgeous image Cameo 3 because she looks like she is thinking about someone.

I created the background by tapping versamark ink onto the embossing folder. I then placed my paper inside and ran through my Big Kick. Then I took a soft bristle brush and applied the Pearl-ex to the embossed paper. Once done, I blew softly on the paper to remove any excess then I sprayed lightly with hairspray to set the powder.

SIZE: 5 x 7

SUPPLIES

Based on Deconstructed Sketch #13

Cardstock from American Crafts

Damask EF from Darice

Digi image from Fitztown

Odorless Mineral Spirits

Pearl Ex from Jaquard

Prisma Color Pencils

Rhinestone swirls - unknown

Rhinestones fromThe Paper Studio

Romantic Rectangles Die from Spellbinders

Silk flowers - stash

Vellum - scrap stash

Versamark Ink from Tsuninko

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

60 years!

True love stories never have endings.

~Richard Bach

And so it is with Uncle Russ and Aunt Alyce!

These two came into my life when I married my husband and never have I felt so accepted into a family as these two embraced me and pulled me into their love and warmth.

I cherish the times we have been able to visit and wish we lived closer so we could visit more and I feel honored to be just a small part of their lives.

60 years ago today, these two incredible people made a vow before God and to each other to love, honor and cherish one another come what may. Rain or Shine! And to this day, they continue to walk through their sorrows and their joys with Faith and understanding.

Love you both Uncle Russ and Aunt Alyce and thank you for being you!

The card I made for them

The dies cuts are layered up on foam,

The image is colored with markers and a blender pen and highlighted with pearlized top coat for some extra bit of glimmer.

5 x 7

SUPPLIES

Card stock from The Paper Temptress (Cryogen White)

Image and Sentiment from Hampton Art (Wedded Bliss)

Spellbinder Die (Lattice Motifs)

Provocraft Die (Flower Bramble by Anna Griffin)

Label Punch, Ink & Rhinestones from Stamping Up!

Smooch Pearlized Top Coat

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Saying Hello, Hi & Hey There!

“The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye, the story of love is hello and goodbye...until we meet again” ― Jimi Hendrix

Good morning and Hello!

I like Hellos don't you? It's basically the key that can start a wonderful conversation, a beautiful friendship or even something more heartfelt. It can even help reopen those doors to old relationships that we have set aside for whatever else life has handed us. Maybe it's time to brush off your Hellos and call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Get caught up on each other. You'll find you have both changed in wonderful ways and the new relationship you create with a simple "Hello" is so much better than before. That's what I plan on doing!

Today is the start of a new Clean and Simple Challenge at The Outlawz Challenge Blog!

Cheri is asking us just how many ways are there to greet someone. Some examples she gives is "hello", "hey", "hi", "good morning", "g'day", "aloha", "hail", "ciao"!

Our challenge this week is to create a CAS card with a "Hello" greeting. Here's my card!

Size A2

SUPPLIES

Card stock  & Image (A Little Bit of Happiness) - Stampin Up!

Sentiment (Tag Tidbits) - The Angel Company

Prisma Color Pencils

Odorless mineral spirits - Gemini

Bling - The Paper Studio

Thanks for stopping my little corner of blogland.

Have a fantastic day!

Cara

Making "Waves"

My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require. ~Edward Elgar

I love music. All kinds of music. My husband no longer shakes his head when he comes into my craft room. It's a mood thing ya know? One day it could be Rap. The next day Vivaldi. The day after Country & Western. My daughter is the same way with music and for that trait I am most pleased!

I can go days and weeks and never turn on my television. When I was single I had a small TV. In that whole time, I can remember the TV being on once and my boy friend at the time turned it on to watch a game. Otherwise it was just one more thing to dust.

But my stereo! Ah - that was a different story. When I was home, it was turned on and playing loud enough to make me happy but keep the neighbors from complaining to the landlord! 

This week Pryn is posting for me (I am actually in Japan right now visiting my daughter - love auto post, don't you?) over at the Outlawz Challenge Blog, and today is the start of a new Clean and Simple Challenge.

Pryn says that August reminds her of visiting the ocean.  The sun, the cool breeze off of the water, the relaxing waves, she loves it all!  Her challenge for us this week is to focus on waves. So - can you create a clean and simple card or project that uses the word "Wave" as inspiration? Come on get creative!

I chose to go with a Music "Wave" because I had the perfect stamp as soon as I saw her challenge!

I stamped the image onto the card stock then stamped again on scrap paper so I could cut along to curve to use as a guide for my hand lettering of Happy Birthday.

Size A2

SUPPLIES:

Card stock - Bazzill & Stampin Up!

Image "Wavy Music" - Stampendous

Sentiment, hand written by me

Flower Sequins - Stash

Pearls - The Paper Studio

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Have a great day!

(Hugs) Cara

A Color Challenge! - Purple

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. 
~Mignon McLaughlin

Good morning!

A new day - a new Clean and Simple Challenge at The Outlawz Challenge blog!

This week, Charlene is giving us a color challenge!

She loves the color Purple. So this week we get to make a card or project with purple as the main color!

I die cut the heart out of the center of my card stock piece

I then inked my embossing folder, added a piece of scrap paper and ran through my Big Shot.

Although I used the matching card stock and ink, it was enough to make the letters stand out a bit more.(hard to see in the picture).

I then glued in behind the heart opening and added to base with foam dimensionals

Size A2

SUPPLIES:

Card stock & Ink - Stampin Up!

Sentiment - Inkahootz!

Hearts Die - Spellbinders

Love Love Love embossing folder and rhinestones - The Paper Studio

Sequin flowers - stash

Foam dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Hope you have a fantastic day!

(Hugs) Cara

To the Moon and Back!

Absence diminishes small loves and increases great ones, as the wind blows out the candle and fans the bonfire.

François VI de la Rochefoucault

Good morning! 

Today I leave for Japan to see my daughter whom I've not been able to hug in well over two years. I am sooooo excited!

I made this card for my husband to let him know that I love him and will miss him while I am gone. Even more so since he just returned from California where he and the crew he works with were assigned to help with the wildfires there.

The technique for this A2  card is messy but fun using glossy paper, reinkers and alcohol.

Since I'm working on a tutorial for Through the Craft Room Door I am unable to give out more details at this time.

Other supplies are:

Cardstock & Glossy Paper from Stampin Up!

Metallic Copper paper from paper Temptress

Heart button from my stash

Black India India Ink from Memories

Sentiment from Studio G

Circle dies from Sizzix

Thanks for visiting!

(Hugs) Cara

Off into the Wild Blue Yonder

A passport, as I'm sure you know, is a document that one shows to government officials whenever one reaches a border between countries, so the officials can learn who you are, where you were born, and how you look when photographed unflatteringly.

 ~Lemony Snicket

Oh my Gosh! How true is the above? 

Not that I am a terribly photogenic person anyway, but seriously, what is it with driver license and passport cameras?! 

I have this deep seated belief that they were invented specifically to take even the most gorgeous person and turn them into a candidate for a troll calendar.

My passport picture is horrid. It doesn't help that I am blind in one eye and have a droopy eyelid. Looks like I'm trying to "wink" at the person taking the picture and failing miserably! Not to mention it was NOT a good hair day!

Oh well ... it will still get me where I need to go which is to Japan to see my daughter whom I have not seen, except for Skype - Thank God for Skype - for over 2 and a half years

YAY!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!

My bags are packed!

My phone is charged with a backup

My camera is charged - must take many pictures!

My Ipod is charged (important to have music for long flights with bored adults and small children!)
I even remembered to put all my upcoming post on autoshare for Google+ 

Yay Me!

Did I mention I was excited?!

(shameful secret time - I've had my bags mostly packed for almost a month now!)

So I'm off into the wild blue yonder for an awesome visit and adventure with my daughter!
See you all on the flip side!

(HUGS) Cara

National Watermelon Day!

Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality. ~Alfred Painter

MMMM Watermelon. 

One of my favorite summer time treats - especially when I was a kid. 

Always ice cold and plenty to go around. 

Today is the start of a new Clean and Simple challenge over at the Outlawz Challenge Blog.

I didn't know it was National Watermelon Day today but Linda did and she wants us to make a CAS card or project with a watermelon on it!

She likes hers with salt ... me too!

Size A2

SUPPLIES

Card stock and Ink - Stampin up!

Image and Sentiment - Inkahootz!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Have a great day!

(Hugs) Cara