Glitter and Baubles …

The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful. We ring the bells when princes are born, or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away. Nations have their red-letter days, their carnivals and festivals, but once in the year and only once, the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life. ~Author Unknown

Good  morning!

Today is the start of a new Color Challenge at The OutlawzChallenges. Our Sponsor this month is Bugaboo Stamps with a lovely prize of 4 images from the shop.

This week we have a Tic Tac Toe challenge selected by Ursula. You can use the color or the written direction to make your project (or both) as usual any row either diagonal, horizontal or vertical.

The image I am using is BUGSBEAUTY ... I also decided I wanted to leave her hair white and use white glitter glue on streaks to add lots of SPARKLE. No matter how hard I tried I struggled getting a good picture of the glitter but it looks really great in person.

I am using the bottom row. Left to Right which is shades of blue.

 Supplies

Image colored with Alcohol Markers

Cardstock from The Paper Studio

Curved Rectangle dies from Spellbinders

Design Paper from DCWV (I think)

Glitter glue in White and Blue from Studio G

Glitter paper from Stampin Up!

Glitter washi from Close to My Heart

Ink from Stampin Up!

Red Glimmer Smooch from Ranger

Rhinestones from Recollections

Sentiment from Inkahootz!

Snowflake embossing folder from Sizzix

Sparkle Stamp from Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hope to see you over at The Outlawz where we have a new challenge and different challenge starting every day of the week!

(Hugs) Cara

Someone remembers ...

Someone remembers, someone cares;

Your name is whispered in someone’s prayers.

~Author Unknown

Hello!

Today is the start of a new Anything Goes Challenge at Through the Craft Room Door. Our Sponsor this week is Kenny K Stamps with a prize of 3 images from their store.

I am using his image Sweet Melissa…

The striped DP is actually quite bright and although I really wanted to use it, I felt it was overpowering the image so a quick check of my vellum and voila! The colors are still there, muted just enough to stay in the background but still bright enough to be noticed and work with the image.

I know the picture doesn't show it well, but believe me it looks great.

Image colored with Alcohol Markers and Stampin Up! Markers

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

Hello Die From Avery Elle

Rhinestones from Recollections

Striped Design paper from my scrap

Vellum from Stampin Up!

White gel pen

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

The Case of the Vanishing Mojo ...

Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success... ~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, 1868

Good evening Everyone …

I am so very late with this post, but I have been dealing with some computer challenges, struggling with a vacationing Ms. Mojo and a sense of being untethered. Being retired I am discovering some things about myself that is rather iritating ... like I NEED routines and I have not been doing well at settling into one so I feel aimless. This is not a good thing and something I need to figure out quick!

In the meantime, I managed to get a new computer and have been sorting out all the accompanying issues that go along with that. Ms. Mojo seems to be back … kinda – somewhat so I managed to put together this card for the Outlawz Challenges Color challenge which started this past Tuesday.

Our challenge this week, picked by AJ, is to use 3 colors (below) and you can use the optional twist of Summer Fun.

Our Sponsor this Month is Bugaboo with a lovely prize of 4 images.

Here is my card using their fun little summer image BUGKIDZBEACH

Supplies

Image “BUGKIDZBEACH” colored with alcohol markers

Aleen’s Paper Glaze

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and my scrap bin

Chantilly Design paper from Close my Heart

Die - Day Dreams from Spellbinders

Die - Wonky Frames from Gina Marie Designs

Pink glitter glue from Studio G

Yellow Stickles from Ranger

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Hope Anchors the Soul ...

"Hope" is the thing with feathers –

That perches in the soul –

And sings the tune without the words –

And never stops – at all....

~Emily Dickinson, c.1861

Good morning!

It's Tuesday and the start of a new Color Challenge at the Outlawz Challenges. Our Sponsor this month is Bugaboo stamps with a prize of 4 images.

It is my turn to pick the challenge this week which is to use purple ... with your choice to two other colors. The twist if you wish to add it is Any Holiday!

Here's my card using the image Hope anchors your soul girl.

The colors I used are PURPLE, blue and yellow

The Holiday I chose is Easter

Supplies

Image Hope anchors you soul girl colored with alcohol markers

Cardstock from  The Paper Studios, Bazzill, American Craft and Stampin Up!

Die - Day Dreams from Spellbinders

Die - Labels 44 from Spellbinders

Red glitter glue from Stampin Up!

Rhinestones from my Stash

Yellow Stickles from Ranger

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

What are Friends for? ...

My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever. ~George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, 2011

Good morning!

Today is the start of a new Anything Goes challenge at Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Blog.

This week our Sponsor is SheepSki Designs with a prize of 3 images (which is pretty exciting because I know she has new images in her Store!

Now for this challenge I used her really fun image "Snowman Selfie" which she is currently sharing on her Challenge blog "SheepSki Designs Challenges".

Supplies

Snowman Selfie colored with alcohol markers

Black India Ink from Memories

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

Die - Cross Stitched Square from Gina Marie Designs

Embossing folder - Polka Dots from Cuttlebug

Embossing folder - Snowflakes from CTMH

Glitter glue from Studio G

Ribbon from my Stash

Sentiment from JRL Designs (aka CTMH)

Snowflake stamp from Stampin Up!

 Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

CHALLENGES ENTERED

Chrtistmas at Sweet Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes

CWS Challenge #16 - Celebrate

Christmas Cards All Year Long Challenges - July Challenge, Anything Goes

Thanks to my Husband ...

In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. ~Robert Anderson, Solitaire & Double Solitaire

Good afternoon!

I often create little cards for by husband and stash them in his bag when he's leaving for the station and thought I would share the card I made for him using the July Progressive Freebie Image "Just Married" from DigiStamps4Joy.

So yes, I made a thank you card for my husband.

He has been amazing this last couple years, especially the last 12 months when it became extremely apparent that the company I had work at for 30plus years had become such a toxic place to work it was affecting my health and my attitude.

The decision was made for me to "retire"... so I did and the last 6 months have been a God send for me. He even told me that he didn't care if I ever worked outside the home if I didn't want to.

Whadda man!

Anyway, here is my card, based on Mojo Monday week45 sketch

Supplies:

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and American Crafts

Design paper from Momenta

Image "Just Married" from DigiStamps4Joy colored with alcohol markers

Rhinestones from Made by me (tail lights) and my stash

Thanks for Stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

CHALLENGES ENTERED

DigiStamps4Joy Facebook Progressive Freebie Challenge

DigiStamps4Joy Challenge #138 - ATG + Special Birthday Twist

Masculine Birthday ...

This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in. ~Theodore Roosevelt, 1901

Hi There ...

Just sharing a Birthday card I made for one of my Father-in-laws using this CARD I found on Pinterest as inspiration.

SUPPLIES

Card size is 5.50 x 4.25

Black hybrid ink from Palette

Card base from The Paper Studio

Card stock from Stampin Up!

Design paper - Crackled Stars from The Paper Studio

Die - Cross stitched circles from Gina Marie Designs

Red star gems from my stash

Sentiment - Inkahootz!

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Red, White & Blue Birthday Wishes ...

Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. ~James Bryce

  

Hi!

A new color challenge as started at The Outlawz Challenges.

Our sponsor this month with 4 images is Bugaboo Digi Stamps

  

Lauren selected the colors this week using the United States Flag.

I did not use a Bugaboo image for my 5 x7 card which was made for a close family friend

Supplies

Card base - The Paper Studio

Cardstock from Stampin up!

Design paper - Cracked Stars from The Paper Studio

Die - Banners from Stampin Up!

Die - Banners Trio from Spellbinders

Embossing folder - stars from Cuttlebug

Gemtstones from The Paper Studio

Sentiment - Banner Wishes from Close to My Heart

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

CHALLENGES ENTERED

Love to Craft Challenge #12 - Anything Goes

Proud American ...

We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights.  ~Felix Frankfurter

Good afternoon everyone!

Today America is celebrating it's hard won Independence. We celebrate as reminder of what and who has been lost to gain what we have and enjoy today.  America is not perfect, and sadly there are those who seek to destroy her not just from without but from within.

We don't need to agree on everything, but we do need to agree that tearing up our President (regardless of who holds that office) only succeeds in bringing down our credibility in the eyes of our citizens and our world.

We need to stop tearing down each other and pointing fingers. I remember my mom telling me when I was little that when you point fingers, look at your hand and see how many are pointing back at you. People of all ages need to stop looking at their phones and start looking around.

Where is the respect for self and for others? Where is the accountability? Where is the empathy so important to a healthy functioning society? When did people stop taking pride in a job well done, in their communities and in themselves?

Stop paying attention to what the media reports and start paying attention to the facts ... Period. If more people, regardless of political or religious beliefs voted with their heads and not their hearts, maybe we would not be in the position we find ourselves in right now.

Remember ... the moral degradation showing in this country did not happen overnight --- it's been brewing for years through multiple presidencies. Now it's starting to bubble above the pot.

I love my Country and I am proud of the American people who are stepping up and fighting back against those who are working to cause her failure. I don't disagree that there are times when Authority need to be challenged, but frankly I am tired of all the hate and vitriol being spewed by the media and the elitist celebrities who think their thoughts and opinions outweigh those of the common folk. Check out history and see where that same thought process got some people.

Point is people, this is not about color, religious or political belief, male vs female  or straight vs. gay/lesbian ... this is about the United States as whole ... WAKE UP ... Someday, bad things are going to happen here all because everyone was too busy trying to get a piece of the pie they didn't help bake.

Then what?

TTCRD July-August 2017 Magazine & Challenge

Through the Craft Room Door Magazine for July - August 2017 has been released and is available in the Subscribers Only Area of the Website.

For this edition our Featured Digi Artist is the very talented Beccy Muir of Beccys Place Designs. Her Design team has provided some wonderful cards to go along with the really fun Digi set "Dancing Queen" she has given us for personal use.

We have some fun and amazing tutorials to share including one on how to make those alcohol markers work a little harder for you. We also have a fantastic tutorial for making lovely vintage style lace bracelets. Looking for some creative ideas for your Bible journaling? ... We have that too and so much more, you are bound to find something that sparks that creativity fire in you!

The July/August Challenge will be paper-pieced cards/projects and the Designers of Through the Craft Room Door have created some awesome inspiration for you. Here is the card I created for the challenge using a stamp from Unity Stamp Company.

If you are not a subscriber, $18.00 for the first year is a great deal as you receive access to back issues, including videos and Digi images. If interested, you can create a profile and subscribe via the subscription tab. Once payment is received, an invitation to access the Subscribers Only Area of the Website will be sent to you.

Dragons among us ...

'Tis well to give honour and glory to age,

With its lessons of wisdom and truth;

Yet who would not go back to the fanciful page,

And the fairy tale read but in youth?

~Eliza Cook, "Stanzas," Melaia, and Other Poems, 1840

Good Evening!

Today is July 1 and that means a new monthly challenge at SheepSki Designs Challenge blog and this month it is square cards!

I love Fairy Tales ...

I always have ... Something about them envokes thoughts of What if's and Forevers. They release my inner child and take me back to simpler times when there was nothing more important than sitting on my bed during the hottest days of summer with a cold glass of Kool-aid and getting lost in some adventure to a far off time and place. I still have several of my childhood favorites and some compilation books that I purchased when I had my first child.

This wonderfully fun image from SheepSki Designs brings back so many of those days of reading those same stories to both my children when they were younglings.

Image "Seraphina's Heart" from SheepSki Designs colored with Alcohol Markers

Aleen's Paper Glaze

Black hybrid ink from Palette

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

Rhinestones from Studio His & Hers

Sentiment from Banner Wishes by Close to My Heart

Studio G glitter glue

  

Now ... You have two ways to play along with SheepSki Designs!

BLOG ... Where you are allowed to use any hand colored image for a chance to win 3 images ... BUT, if you use a SheepSki Designs image and are the winner, you get an additional image choice

or

FACEBOOK ... Where you must use a SheepSki Designs Image for a chance to win 3 images

As an added bonus, when you are done shopping in the STORE, if you use my code SKICARA10 at check out you will receive a 10% discount off your purchased! So come along and play one or both! Can't wait to see what you create!

Looking forward to seeing your lovely creations!

(Hugs) Cara

CHALLENGES ENTERED

LOVE TO CRAFT CHALLENGE #12 - JULY, ANYTHING GOES

Friends and Pets ...

The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

Good morning!

Today is the start of a new Progressive Freebie Challenge at The Outlawz Challenges.

Each month we will send you a free digital image to use in the Freebie/Progressive challenge. Once your creation is completed, upload it into the freebie challenge and you will automatically receive the next month free digi.  We will have one image per month so you have plenty of time to create a project using the image.

If you are not playing along with us and want to join in, please send an email to: outlawzprogressivechallenge@gmx.com 

This month we have a cute little dog image created by AnneFenton

Animal fur I hear, is hard for even the most experienced colorist, when means even more so for someone like me! I am not unhappy with my coloring of this adorable image but personally, I think I would have done better with my PrismaColor pencils, but I am really trying to learn the ins and outs of my alcohol markers.

Image from Anne Fenton colored with Alcohol Markers

Black hybrid ink from Palette

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!

Cross Stitched Rectangle die is from Gina Marie Designs

Sentiment from Just Because by The Angel Company

Sequins from the Dollar Tree

Thanks for stopping by and looking forward to seeing you over at The Outlawz Challenges!

(Hugs) Cara