For the Guys ...

Hello my friends!

Well here we are drawing the first month of 2015 to a close!  

Spring will be here before you know it!!

Although it doesn't look like it outside my window ... 

quite a lot of snow blowing around out there!  LOL!!  

This year I've been invited to do not one but TWO Springtime shows (both in April) so I'm already working towards having enough cards created for these events.

GUY cards are always requested so I'm wanting to be sure and have a nice selection available.

That is what I have to share with you today.

I decided to use the same image (from Pinterest) and design on all three cards but personalized one for Dad, one for Brother and one generic birthday card fitting for any man/boy.
The inside verse is the also the same on all three cards.

I have a few other masculine type images that I think I might do the same thing with.  By doing this I can increase my selection quickly and I think people will like the 'personalized' versions.  Time will tell!  LOL!

The 'wording' dies are all from Cheery Lynn Designs and purchased at the Dies R Us Store.

Here are the quick links for you:

Happy

Birthday

Dad

Brother

There are several other word dies available ... don't forget to check them out too!

Challenges to share in:
Crazy 4 Challenges - Masculine Birthday
Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenge - NO red, NO pink

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

If you live in the 'snowy' states ... please be careful out there ... they are calling for another snow storm here in Ohio tomorrow ... possibly another 6" (or more).  Let's hope they are wrong!  LOL!

Till next time and as always . . .

Recipe:
Paper:  Ivory cs, Rust cs, Brown cs
Image:  Pinterest
Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs (linked above)
Stamps:  Stampscapes (geese), Hero Arts (sentiment)
Accessories:  Tim Holtz distresser

Love and Kisses ...

Hello my friends!

As you know, Valentine's Day is right around the corner!

So, today I have a sweet creation to share using Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps images.  You can view all the Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps available HERE and the two I worked from today are the Altered Fairies and Love Mail Creative Scrap sheets.

There are so many wonderful images available on these creative scrap sheets that I really had a hard time choosing what to use and what not to use.  

At first I had a variety of images collaged through my Spellbinder Fancy Lattice background die panel then decided to keep it more 'clean and simple'.

 A little fussy cutting, a little ribbon, a little sparkle and VIOLA! 

Challenges to share in today:
Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge - No Patterned Paper
Fun with Shapes Challenge - Valentine (use something cut out)
Simply Create Too Challenge #78 - Happy Valentines Day or use hearts
Sister Act Card Challenge #91 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiment Challenge #124 - Valentine or Love Sentiment
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Valentine's Day/ Love

Thanks for stopping by today and please remember to come join in our Monthly Linky Party/Challenge the first Monday of each Month over on our Crafty Secrets Blog.  If you don't have any Crafty Secrets products in your stash to use in order to play along, we will be giving a free image each month that you can use to join in the fun.  Check it out!

Have a fabulous weekend!

As always . . .

Butterfly Love . . .

Hello Dear Friends!

We are expecting a big snow storm today so, 

I'm staying in where it's warm & safe!  

Today I have a card to share using the sketch from the current sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers (must be a member to see challenges) and the theme of  'V for Valentines' (+ butterfly) for the new challenge at the Butterfly Challenge Blog.  I'm thrilled to say the card I created for the previous challenge at the  Butterfly Challenge Blog was chosen as one of the Top 3 ... how cool is that!  Thanks ladies!

Card Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, Red cs, Me & My Big Ideas dp

Image:  Crafty Secrets 'Love Mail' Creative Scraps

Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs #DL112 Exotic Butterflies Small, #B227 Love, Spellbinder Classic Hearts

Accessories:  White Gelly Roll Pen

I have truly been enjoying working with a few sketch challenges lately.  

When I'm stumped or the mojo is 'not so good' ... all I need to do is look through a few sketch challenges and the creative juices start flowing.  I have always found this to be a good 'starting' point for me when I'm stumped ... give it a try the next time you are struggling on 'where to begin'!

Challenges to share in today:

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Love, Valentine's Day

Shopping Our Stash Challenge - Love Me Do (everything used is more than 1 yr old)

Through The Craft Room Door -  Anything Goes (Jan 27 - Feb 2)

Bunny Zoe's January Challenge - Hearts
Design Team Showcase #4 - DT only (Jan 24th - Feb 7th) 
Classy Cards n Such Challenge - Letter It
Simon Says Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and I hope if you are getting snow today like I am, you'll be able to stay in where it's warm and safe too.  If not, then please be careful out there! 

And remember ... Spring is on the way!

As always ...

LET IT SNOW at The Sisterhood . . .

Hello Dear Friends!

It's time for a new challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters and today our theme is:

LET IT SNOW

(use snow/snowflakes)

If you live in an area as I do, where you typically get more than your share of cold, snowy days during the winter months, then you are probably like me and anxious for Spring!  LOL!
But as I type this I can look out my window and see a beautiful new layer of the white stuff that we received over the past weekend!  Guess I'll have to be content with it's beauty and just 'keep crafting'.  A good excuse to hide out in my 'cave' ... lol!

Isn't this Graphic45 image fabulous!

Her face kind of reminds me of 'Princess Diana' ... the eyes I think!

You can almost feel the cold winds blowing around her.

I hope you'll pop over to The Sisterhood and check out the wonderful, snowy inspiration samples my 'Sistahs' have created for you.  Then of course we'd love to have you come join in our fun challenges.  If you would like to be a guest designer at The Sisterhood of Crafters, all you need to do is add "SS" after your name when entering our challenges.  And YOU could be chosen as a monthly guest designer (what we call our Step Sister) sometime over the next few months.

Challenges to share in are:
Digi Choosday Challenge - Cool Blue
Party Time Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes
My Craft Creations Challenge - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge - Anything Goes
Design Team Showcase #4 - DT only (Jan 24th - Feb 7th)

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hope you're having a great day!
As always . . .

 

Recipe:

Paper: Scrap of holiday design paper. DCWV The Twinkle Glints Stack dp

Snowflake Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs #B477 'Merry Christmas Tree/with Sentiment'

Sweet Dixie 'Snowflakes' SDD007

Image:  Graphic45  'Place in Time' 12x12 paper pad

Accessories:  Martha Stewart silver glitter marker

All you need is LOVE . . .

Do you remember that 'song que'???

Happy Tuesday My Friends and thanks for stopping by!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE by the Beatles was a huge hit (now I'm showing my age, lol)

and I can't hear that phrase without playing the song over and over again in my head!  LOL!  

Click on the song title to hear it for yourself (if you dare!  lol)

ANYWAYS . . .

My design team card today for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog is all about LOVE.

It's design is pretty simple but yet quite striking I think.

I have used two die cutting sets on today's card:

Spellbinder's Shapeabilities 'Royal Lace'  #S4-438

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Love'  #B227

This Spellbinder die set comes with three little addition dies to add as embellishments to you card ... hearts, butterflies and flowers.  All the appropriate 'extra touches' for a love card.  

I wanted to add just a little 'something' to the inside of my card and, when I was die cutting the hearts to add to my card front I noticed how nicely they were embossed around the cut.  SO, I decided to die cut the top corner of my inside panel ... perfect!

You'll want to be sure to stop over at the Dies R Us Store for all your upcoming card creations!  We have an amazing list of die companies to choose your dies from and the shipping rates are exceptional.

Please remember to come join in the Dies R Us Challenges too! 

There's a new challenge posted on the 1st and 15th of each month and you could be the lucky winner of a gift voucher to the store!  Come take a peek then play along ... we'd love to have you!

Challenges to share in:
Cheery Lynn Designs - Anything Goes
My Sheri Crafts Challenge - Valentine's Day
Just Us Girls Challenge #277 - Photo Inspiration

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps Challenge - Hearts
Design Team Showcase #4 - DT only (Jan 24th - Feb 7th) 

Well gotta go!

I have a few appointments to meet today and hopefully I can link up with Mom.

She is 85 years young today and honestly, I can't keep up with her!!!

I only pray I'm as active as she is when I reach that age!

Have a FABULOUS DAY . . .

As always . . .

Brrrrr ...

Happy Monday Dear Friends!

Brrrrrrr sure is cold here in NE Ohio but I shouldn't complain, at least we only have a few inches of snow on the ground vs FEET that some of my crafting friends are dealing with!!

The card I have to share with you today is for the current challenge over at 

The Shabby Tea Room using this photo as inspiration.  

I'm thrilled to tell you that I was the winner over there last week in the 'Baby It's Cold Outside' challenge and just couldn't wait to join in their fun challenge again this week.  Sadly I've been so busy with our bathroom remodeling project that I'm JUST NOW getting around to playing.  Whew ... just getting in under the wire!  LOL!

I've been seeing SO MANY snowmen being built in the front yards around my neighborhood this year ... brings back many wonderful childhood memories!  

Like I said ... this was a quickly made card but I really like how it came together.

Here are a couple other challenges I'd like to share it in:

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #44 - Always Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #246 - Always Anything Goes
Classy Cards n Such Challenge - Letter It
Design Team Showcase #4 - DT Only (Jan 24 - Feb 7)

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are staying safe & warm if you live in the areas that have been hit so hard with the latest snow storms!  

As always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  White cs, Garden Green cs

Dies:  Marianne 'Snowman', Impression Obsession 'Fir Trees'

Accessories:  Martha Stewart 'Branch' punch, White Liquid Pearls, Spectrum Noir Markers, Tim Holtz Black marker, ZIG Red marker, Red Gingham ribbon, Creative Memories blue sticker letters, pop dots, Tim Holtz blue distress inks, large sponge dauber

Technique:  Paper Tearing

Birthdays are for the birds!

. . . LOL  I'm sure some people think this way but not me!  I love it when my birthday comes around!  I only pray I can be as healthy as my Mother is 20 years from now when I'm her age!

Happy Friday My Friends!

Today I have a fun card created using an image from the Crafty Secrets Birds and Blossoms and sentiment stamp from the Bird Lovers Stamp Set.  I've also used the current Sketch Challenge #524 over at Splitcoast Stampers as my starting point.

I can never have enough birthday cards in my stash and since I was short on time getting a card created (crafting time being taken up with remodeling/painting our downstairs bathroom) these fabulous bird images are perfect to make a person smile on their birthday!

Going to be a short post this morning!

A good friend who unfortunately lost her husband has asked me to share the day with her on this 2nd anniversary of his death.  So we are going to go do a little shopping, have lunch out and who knows what else!  Just want to help her get through the day however I can.

Our bathroom remodel is coming along nicely ... photos to come soon.

Have a great day and as always . . .

Happy Birthday Mom!

Hello dear friends!

As my title suggests, my Mom is having a birthday (on the 27th) and she will be a very young 85 years old.  It's hard for me to imagine my mom is this age since I have trouble keeping up with her, lol!  She's so busy working 2 jobs, singing, dancing.  Yep ... she's a go getter!!

So today's card was created with her in mind.

It's Mojo Monday time and I've been enjoying creating for a few fun sketch challenge blogs since the new year began.  I must say it has really made me get out of my slump and think outside the box.  LOVE THAT!!!  Anyways, this week's sketch at the Mojo Monday Challenge is ...

And here is my card ...

(inside)

I am just loving some of the images I'm finding online such as the one I've used on today's card.  My mother loves the vintage/Victorian design so I think this image will be perfect.  Even though the image was square, I printed it a little larger so I could die cut it using the Spellbinder 'Lacey Circles'.  And, I thought the paper doily was perfect for this image also.

Do you enjoy working with sketches?
Well the Mojo Monday sketches are always a fun way to begin.  Give it a try why don't you!

A few other challenges to share in:
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge - Letter "B" (butterflies, birthday, bouquet)
Party Time Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes
Love To Scrap Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today.
As always . . .

Recipe:

Papers:  SU Pink Pirouette cs, Graphic45 'Botanical Tea' dp, White cs

Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs 'Mom', 'Happy', 'Birthday' dies, Spellbinder 'Lacey Circles'

Accessories:  Martha Stewart 'Butterfly' border punch, Wilton paper doily

Happy XOXOXO Anniversary

Happy Tuesday Friends!

It's time once again to share an inspirational creation using die cuts for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog using dies carried at the Dies R Us Online Store.

Even though it's getting close to Valentine's Day and we are all concentrating on making those 'loving' creations, I know there are some people who actually choose that date for their wedding day so I felt an Anniversary card was in order.

What do you think?

The dies used on this creation are:

Impression Obsession 'Layered Hearts' #DIE056

Impression Obsession 'Cupids' #DIE125

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Happy' #B226

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Anniversary' #B243

The 'heart' and the 'cupid' have been die cut twice ... once in white and once in red.

After using E6000 Spray Adhesive to attach my heart die cut to a lighter red panel, I filled in the full hearts with those die cut from the deeper red paper.  A white Gelly Roll pen was used to add the outline dots.  For the cupid I offset the white cupid atop the red cupid to give the illusion of a shadow then popped it up with dimensional tape.  I love how this came together!

A few challenges to share in:
Cards Galore Encore January Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge - Anything Goes
Die Cut Diva's January Challenge - Anything Goes
My Artistic Adventures Challenge - LOVE
Scribble and Scrap Challenge #36 - Anything Goes
Cheery Lynn Designs - Sweethearts (add a heart)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge - Hearts
Eureka Stamps Challenge - Color Red
The Crazy Challenge - Embossing

If you are new to DIES R US, here are some important links you'll want to check out . . .

STORE ... CHALLENGE BLOG ... FACEBOOK PAGE

Remember to come join in our challenge fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  Our current challenge is to use your die cuts along with an EMBOSSING FOLDER (which I have actually done on my card today).  Hope to see you there!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous remainder of your week!

As always ...

Recipe:
Papers:  SU Pink Pirouette cs, White cs, various scraps of red cs
Dies:  'shown above in my post'
Accessories:  Michael's Valentine's ribbon, white Gelly Roll pen, E6000 spray adhesive, ProvoCraft Hearts embossing folder, SU dimensionals, Creative Memories corner rounder

Frozen ...

... in more ways than one!  LOL!

Good Morning my friends!

It's another COLD day here in NE Ohio but I shouldn't complain, this time last week was about 30 degrees LOWER than today!  Brrrr!

I shared these photos over on my FB page over the weekend but wanted to share them here as well.  Hubby and I are in the routine of going out to breakfast early on the weekends then doing our grocery shopping.  Well, last weekend when we visited a new grocery in the area, (temperatures were in the single digits) I was thrilled to see these beautiful ice carvings on display outside the store with the characters from the Disney movie FROZEN.  Aren't they splendid ... such talent.

This past weekend was a bit warmer so needless to say they weren't as 'exquisite' as they were the weekend before when I snapped these photos with my phone.

I knew ABOUT the movie but hadn't seen it ... until this week. Our neighbor lent us their copy over the holidays and after seeing the carvings we decided to watch it.  LOVE the characters in all the Disney movies ... don't you!

I discovered these free images of Elsa online and decided to make a couple birthday cards.  Though difficult to see, there is sparkle on the snowflakes as well as the snowflakes in Elsa's hair.

 Recipe:

Papers:  SU Bermuda Bay cs, Paper Pizazz dp, white cs

Stamps/Ink:  The Stamp Pad Co., Just For Fun/Versafine Onyx

Accessories:  Wild Rose Studio 'Snow Flurry' (cut into 3 pieces), Diamond Stickles

 

Recipe:

Papers:  SU Bermuda Bay cs, White cs, DCWV Winter Mat Stack (OLD)

Dies:  Memory Box 'Snowflake Corner', Cheery Lynn Designs 'Happy', 'Birthday', 'Daughter'

Accessories:  Waterfall Stickles, Diamond Stickles, Fiskars swivel craft knife, E6000 spray adhesive

A bit of fussy cutting and die cutting was all that was needed to create these fun cards.  I hope they'll put a smile on the little girl's face who will receive them.

A few challenges to share in ...

Red Carpet Studio Challenge - Inspired by movie Frozen

Pile It On Challenge - Fantasy

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Girly

Simply Create Too Challenge - for a Female

Well it's the beginning of a new week and I have a lot of things on my ToDo List today so I'd better quit 'playing around' and get busy!  LOL!

Have a great day!

Those of you in the 'Frozen' temperatures ... please be safe out there and stay warm!

As Always ...