Birthday's are amazing ...

When we reach a certain age, we begin to wonder at the enthusiasm children display over their birthdays. ~"Poor Richard Junior's Philosophy," The Saturday Evening Post, 1903, George Horace Lorimer, editor

Good morning,
Today I am sharing some Birthday cards I made.

I’m really trying to use my design paper. I have so much (as many of us do!). To help me with this process, I used the October 2020 Sheetload of cards from Call Me Crafty Al. I really love her maps as she has everything laid out for you to use. Just gather your papers of choice, follow her directions and you have anywhere from 6 to 12 cards ready to use or gift!

Supplies

• Beautiful Wings embosslit from Stampin Up!
• Butterfly punch from Stampin Up!
• Cardstock from Stampin Up!
• Design paper from Anna Griffin and K&C Company
• Sentiment (Hugs Kisses & Birthday Wishes) from Unity Stamps
• Subtle Embossing folder from Stampin Up
• #SUYSOct2020
• #Showusyoursheetload

Colors of Green ...

Butterflies dot springtime with flitting airy kisses. ~Terri Guillemets, "Spring flight & grounding," 2014

Hi everyone! This month I am helping out with our Color Challenge at The Outlawz Challenges.
Our sponsor is Alex Serbia Designs. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlexSyberiaDesign?ref=usf_2020

The colors this fortnight is monochromatic greens and I am using a sweet simple buttefly from our sponsor for this clean Thinking of You card

Supplies used (5.5 x 5.50)

• Digital image (Pretty Butterfly) from Alex Serbia Designs printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Banner punch from Stampin Up!
• Card candy from my stash
• Card stock from Pen + gear & The Paper Studio Base)
• Embossing folder (Daisy Bed) from Altenew
• Glitter glue from Studio G
• Ink from Momento
• Promarkers
• Sentiment from Unity Stamps

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop by The Outlawz Challenges for more challenges and Inspiration!

Valentine Bow for Sister-in-law ...

My Valentine has paws. ~Patrick McDonnell, @muttscomics, Instagram post, 2020

Good morning,

Today I am sharing a Big Bow card I made for my sister-in-Law for Valentines Day. To be fair, she did ask me to make this for her to place in her hutch as a Valentine decoration after seeing one I made for my Parent-in-laws for Christmas several years ago.

Making the bow is actually pretty easy and straight forward! Of course it would be much easier if I would get motivated and upload the pattern to my scan n cut so I didn’t have to trace and hand cut out everything … anyway, I digress …

The decorating part of the bow can actually be quite time consuming as it takes patience and thought! :O)

Supplies

• Beaded embellishment from Studio Mr & Mrs
• Bow Template from sandras scrap shop (Pinterest)
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio and Stampin Up!
• Design Paper from Close to My Heart (La Vie Rose)
• Dies from Memory Box (Grape Leaves), Spellbinders (Label 10), Spellbinders (Reflection oval) and Unknown (leaves and vines)
• Embossing folder from Stampin Up! (Subtle)
• Ink from Stampin Up!
• Jewel from my stash

Of birds and blossoms, leaves and light ...

That God once loved a garden We learn in Holy Writ.

And seeing gardens in the spring I well can credit it...

~Winifred Mary Letts, "Stephen's Green," 1926

Today a new Sunday Song & Rhyme Challenge has started at The Outlawz Challenges and will run through March 5, 2022.

Our sponsor this challenge is Gecko Galz with a prize of a $25.00 shopping spree!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/geckogalz

Our Song/Rhyme this month was selected Susan

The Brook in February

by Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts

A snowy path for squirrel and fox,

It winds between the wintry firs.

Snow-muffled are its iron rocks,

And o'er its stillness nothing stirs.

But low, bend low a listening ear!

Beneath the mask of moveless white

A babbling whisper you shall hear—

Of birds and blossoms, leaves and light.

When reading through the poem, my first thought when reading about is the color blue but I was really inspired by the lines “Beneath the mask of moveless white a babbling whisper you shall hear— Of birds and blossoms, leaves and light.”

I am using an ATC from the set “Cest Le Vie ATC” … It is in shades of blue and have what I think are called cottage roses. Stunning to see actually and it just felt perfect for what I was thinking. Because I love the whole image, I really didn’t want to cover it up so I started checking Pinterest and found a sketch from the Sugar Sketch challenge that I sorta used as a layout guide. I did not place the banners as shown in the sketch but decided the silhouette die cut of birds would be perfect over the top of the image taking the place of the banners.

I am really happy with how this card turned out!

Supplies, 5 x 7 card

• Cest Le Vie ATC print from GeckoGalz printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
• Die “Birds on a branch” unknown
• Die “Small Birds” from Gina Marie Designs
• Embossing folder “Pirouette” from Cuttlebug
• Embossing folder “Simply Subtle” from Stampin Up!
• Sketch used is Sugar Sketch Challenge SPDSS09

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop by The Outlawz Challenges for more challenges and Inspiration!

Coffee, Tea or Coffee?

There's every sign that coffee will remain the country's leading beverage forever. ~Coffee Annual, 1952, as quoted in Mark Pendergrast, Uncommon Grounds, 2010

Good morning!

Today I am sharing a new image from Sandra Caldwell, aka Babycakesdnd. These have just been released and you can purchase this one and several other new images in her ETSY SHOP!

This image is 3815 Mocha Hoots … I love coffee so I thought this image was so cute and I even had some coffee themed paper which was perfect!

Supplies, 5 x 7 card

• Image #3815 Mocha Hoots printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Card candy from my stash
• Card stock from Pen and Gear (base) and Stampin Up!
• Design Paper (Coffee Lover) from Unity Stamps
• ProMarkers
• Rhinestones from my stash
• Sentiment (Love to Go) from Unity Stamps
• Tag punch from Stampin Up!

Don’t forget to visit her Facebook page where there is always something happening!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1643440135938124/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/192920250808985/
http://babycakesmerrywhatever.blogspot.com/

Challenges entered

Holley's Blog

Stressed, Blessed, Coffee Obsessed

Entry 9

Your Scrapbook Place

Happy February with Holley's Blog!

Entry 36

The Outlawz Crash your Stash Challenge: Water Colors

My heart got to thumping. You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns. ~Mark Twain

Good morning!

We have a new Crash your Stash Challenge starting at The Outlawz Challenges which will run through March 14th

We have a new to us sponsor this month called Sublidoodle with a prize of $10 gift code to her Etsy shop … She has some super cute images so make sure to check it out HERE

The challenge for this month is to use watercolors.

I have several sets of watercolor pencils and crayons. For this image, I used the crayons and I’m not too happy with the outcome to be honest. I think they are getting old as they seemed a bit cloudy even after using lots of water.

The background is just some great design paper I found at Hobby Lobby and fell in love with!

Sublidoodle gave us a page of images which when combined create different flowers etc so I cut out the heart, some leaves and stems. Water colored them and then layered onto my card base.

Supplies (5 x 7 card)

• Image from Sublidoodle printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Card stock from Pen & Gear (base) and Stampin Up!
• Design paper from The Paper Studio
• Die from Stampin Up! (Labels Collection)
• Embossing folder from Stampin Up! (Subtle)
• Liquid silk from Fun Stampers Journey (Sparkle)
• Studio G Glitter glue
• Water Color Crayons from Stampin Up!
• Sketch from Always Playing with Paper Callenge #8

Now come on over to The Outlawz Challenges to play along with us or one of the other challenges that are always in process!

Party like a Gnome ...

Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. ~Jim Fiebig, as quoted in The Reader's Digest, 1981

Good morning,

Today I am sharing a set of birthday cards I made to have on hand. I used the February 2022 Sheetload of cards from Call me Crafty Al, which makes 6 cards using 6 x 6 design papers so I got 2 of each design layout.

The Gnome tag is adorable but did not photograph well no matter what I tried.

Supplies (A2 cards)

• Archival ink from Memories
• Bling, gift from a friend
• Cardstock from Pen & Gear (base) and Stampin Up!
• Design paper from Jot (dollar tree) and American Crafts
• Embossing folder from Fun Stampers Journey (Happy Birthday)
• Gnome tags, gift from the Niece
• Sentiment from Unity Stamps
• Sketch Uses #SUYSFeb2022

Big Succulent ...

Pay attention to your dreams — God's angels often speak directly to our hearts when we are asleep. ~Eileen Elias Freeman, The Angels' Little Instruction Book, 1994

Hi everyone! This month I am helping out with our Color Challenge at The Outlawz Challenges.

Our sponsor is Alex Serbia Designs. Please check out her store! Her images are stunning!

This challenge requires us to use 4 colors with an added twist of using something that starts with the letter L.

Given the color scheme, I thought this image of succulents would be perfect. All 4 colors shown are used but lots of blending took place! The “L” for my card is some vintage lace that I had from my grandmother.

Supplies used (5 x 7 card)

• Digital image (Succulent) from Alex Serbia Designs printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio
• Memento Ink
• ProMarkers
• Sentiment from (You are Magical) A-muse Studios
• Vintage lace from my grandmother

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop by The Outlawz Challenges for more challenges and Inspiration!

Golden Flowers ...

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers, so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous. (Bricks to all greenhouses! Black thumb and cutworm to the potted plant!) ~Edward Abbey, "Cliffrose and Bayonets," Desert Solitaire, 1968

I'm a bit late getting this posted but today a new Sunday Song & Rhyme Challenge has started at The Outlawz Challenges and will run through February 19th

Our sponsor this challenge is: Beccy's Place with a prize of a $10.00AU gift voucher

Facebook Group: https://www.Facebook.com/BeccysPlaceImages

shop: https://beccysplace.com

Our Song/Rhyme this month was selected by the newest member of our team, Nan

In tangled wreaths, in clustered gleaming stars,

In floating, curling sprays,

The golden flower comes shining through the woods

These February days;

Forth go all hearts, all hands, from out the town,

To bring her gaily in,

This wild, sweet Princess of far Florida -

The yellow jessamine.

Constance Fenimore Woolson

Since I took my inspirations from the lines

 

“In floating, curling sprays,

The golden flower comes shining through the woods

These February days”

I chose to use the beautiful image “Lady in Waiting, Sprig 1, coloring it with ProMarkers then fussy cutting out. Simply gorgeous!

A little tip for you … I wanted to raise it a bit off the background but my foam was thicker than I wanted. An old trick I use is to cut bits of white card stock into snippets, glue 3pcs together then added to a few places on back of the image where I want to give it just a little depth. Then the rest is simply glued to the background. Always love the effect it gives. But it is hard to photograph!

Supplies

1. Image “Lady in Waiting, sprig 1” printed on Hammermill Color copy
2. Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Bazzill
3. Design Paper from my scrap
4. Embossing folder (Layered Leaves) from Stampin Up!
5. Momento Ink
6. Pearls from Stampin Up!
7. ProMarkers
8. Sentiment from Unity Stamps
9. Sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challege 286

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to stop by The Outlawz Challenges for more challenges and Inspiration!

CHALLENGES ENTERED

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Challenge #175, Anything Goes

Entry #4

Dragonfly Dreams

February Challenge, Love

Entry #4

Gem of a Craft Challenge

Anything Goes, Challenge 3
Entry #83

Crafty Calendar Challenge

February Challenge, Anything Goes

#22

Hippo Heart ...

Love — a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker. ~Author unknown

Good morning!

Today I am sharing a new image from Sandra Caldwell, aka Babycakesdnd. These have just been released and you can purchase this one and several other new images in her ETSY SHOP!

This image is 3803 Hippo Heart … If you like Hippos make sure you check the shop as Sandra has quite a collection of them and they are all adorable!

Supplies, 5 x 7 card

• Image #3803 Hippo Heart printed on Hammermill Color Copy
• Banner punch from Stampin Up!
• Card stock from Pen and Gear (base) and Stampin Up!
• Clear Nuvo drops
• Design Paper from Scenic Route
• Dies (Floral Flourishes) from Stampin Up!
• Pen White ink from Dr. Ph Martin
• ProMarkers
• Rhinestones from my stash
• Silver gel pen from Artista
• Sketch: Found on Pinterest, unsure who is it by

Don’t forget to visit her Facebook page where there is always something happening!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1643440135938124/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/192920250808985/
http://babycakesmerrywhatever.blogspot.com/

CHALLENGES ENTERED

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge

Week 5, Anything Goes

Entry #5

Crafty Fingers Challenge Blog

Challenge #224, Anything Goes

Entry #7

Paperbabe Stamps

Challenge #160, Anything Goes

Entry #14

DL Art

Thankful Thursday Challenge #292, Valentine week 2

Entry #14

Penny's Paper Challenge

Challenge #514, Anything Goes

Entry #27