Rocks for Sale...

Isn't she just the cutest little darlin' EVER?!

Hi friends...can you believe it's Thursday again?! And y'know what that means? It means we're getting ready for another fun challenge at Mo Manning's DP2 Challenge Blog!! Once again this week, own very own talented Design Teamie, Cathy, is our Hostess! She'd like us to make a paper treasure of some sort using Spring colors...AND a handmade flower!! Whoooohooo...Spring!! And boy am I ready for Spring...but not nearly as ready as my sister, Dee...who is knee deep in SNOW!! YIKES! So this Spring card is dedicated to Dee...just keep thinking about April in Vegas...and you'll survive another Minnesota winter, sweetie! LOL!

This week I chose one of my fave Mo Manning images...(I know, I know...I say that about EACH & EVERY ONE of Mo's images, don't I?!!) This little cutie patootie is called "Rocks for Sale"...and she's available at Mo's online store HERE.

I used some fun new Vintage Spring DPs from Stampin' Up...and used some matching fabric and a button (also available from SU) to make my handmade flower! Here's how I decorated the inside - using a Martha Stewart lattice punch and a fun Sizzix tag die that slips in (and out of) the lattice trellis fence...

And another fun view...you can really appreciate the dimension in this shot! I love these little (Martha Stewart) butterflies, don't you?!

Here's the rest of my "recipe"...
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, & Garden Green for leaves(SU)
Sentiment: 100 Proof Press w/Wild Wasabi (SU) ink
Rick rack, ribbon, & pearls: stash
Stickles on the butterflies
Copics: R85, 83, 81, RV10 (wagon); E53, 51, 50, 15 (hair); E21, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks); B23, 21, 00, 000, 0000 (blues); G24, 21, 20 (greens); BG10 & 000 (sign); YG93, G24, 21, 20 (grass); C7, 5, 4, 3, 1 (greys & black); W1, 0, 00 (shadows).

So...you know what comes next, right? First you pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog HERE to drool over the gorgeous goodies made by my fabulously talented Design Teamies....

And then, you pull out your own "Springy" papers and markers, inks, etc., and create your own little masterpiece. Remember to use at least one of Mo's absolutely precious images...and throw on a fun or funky handmade flower. Then enter it into Challenge #71 at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog. After that, all you need to do is keep your fingers crossed...and maybe, just maybe, you'll be this week's lucky recipient (chosen at random) of one of Mo's images...yep...free!! Seriously can't get much better than that, right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit...your comments always make me smile! Until next time, sweet friends....

Clean & Simple at the Sugar Bowl...

Hi friends...Guess what time it is? It's time for another fun challenge over at the Sugar Bowl! Our hostess for this challenge is the very talented DT Sweetie, Lilian, who has come up with this fabulous sketch for us to follow! She's also challenged us to keep it "Clean & Simple". Well...let me tell ya, this was a tough one for me...because there is generally nothing clean or simple about my cards! I have a tendency to use lots & lots of embellies...I guess that's why they call it a "challenge", right?! OK...so here's Lilian's Sketch...

Fun, huh? Well...I pulled out one of the cutest little Simply Sassy girls named "Bella Bunting" (available at Funky Kits)...and got busy...here's what I came up with...

I used a fun die from my stash and made a little "Bella Bookmark" ...then created a little pocket on the front of the card to slip the bookmark into. It's a card...AND a bookmark!! Clever, huh?!

And here are a couple of side views...

And, in keeping with the "clean & simple" theme...here's the clean & simple inside...

And here's the rest of my card "recipe"...
Cardstock & ink for sentiment: Marina Mist (Stampin' Up)
DPs, ribbon, bow, & button: my stash
Pearls: ZVA Creatives
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Edging: Martha Stewart "Bubbles"
Sentiment: LOTV
Copics: E21, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks); R83, 81, RV10 (pinks); B26, 23, 21, 00 (blues); G24, 21, 20 (eyes); C1, 0, 00 (shadows).

So...I think that's it for me...now it's your turn to make a "Clean & Simple" card following Lilian's sketch...and using at least ONE Sugar Nellie Image. But....FIRST...hop on over to the Sugar Bowl and spend a little time enjoying the incredibly gorgeous little paper treasures by my fellow Design Team Sweeties!! And...as always, TWO lucky participants will be chosen - at random - to win an awesome prize of 6 stamps from the new releases at Funky Kits HERE. So...run, don't walk, to your craft room and get busy!! I can't wait to see what you come up with. Thanks sooooo much for stopping by to visit me...I do so enjoy your visits and your sweet, sweet comments! Until next time...

Oh...I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

Burrrrppppp!! Awww...c'mon, I'm just kidding!! She's not chubby...Tilda's got a baby in her belly!! Yep...I bet you've wondered where those Mini Tildas come from...well, now you know! Pregnant Tilda!! hehehehe!!

Ahem...ok, I'll get down to business...it's time for our monthly Inspiration Challenge at your very fave Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog! Tracy is our hostess this month and she's chosen this yummilicious photo to inspire us...

So...I thought...pink, brown, baby, bows, lace curtain...well, the list goes on and on...so many fun elements to pull from this photo, don'tcha think? Well...it's been a while since Pregnant Tilda's come out to play...she's been busy...if y'know what I mean!! LOL! Anyway...I decided to make another "twisted easel" card...I'm tellin' ya...these are such fun to make!

I want to thank a couple of sweet friends for helping me with this card (without their even knowing it!)...Thanks to my sweet friend, Sandy Dehon, from the mountains of Western NC. Sandy is always making the cutest scene cards...so I thought I'd give it a try. She challenges me to try new things...but I'm not nearly as clever as Sandy, so don't look for a cute story from me...you'll be disappointed. For those, you have to visit Sandy's Blog. And a special thanks to our very own DT sistah, Paola, who sent me this fun DP!!

So...I used THREE Magnolia images...and you can find all three at Diana Crick's Magnolia-licious online store...Pregnant Tilda, Little birds, & Old window. Here are a couple of side views...

And, of course, I like to add an "artsy" view...and here it is...Whoa...Tilda's belly looks HUGE from this angle...she may be having quadruplet Minis!!

And here's the rest of my card "recipe:
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up)
Pearls, binkie charm, sky DP, & brown & pink polka dot ribbon: my stash
Bows: Seam binding from the Ribbon Girl online store
Flowers & cotton lace for curtain: Wild Orchid's Crafts
Dies: Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities & Doohickey lace die (Magnolia)
Sentiment: LOTV
And here are the Copics I used to color this little darlin'...

Gee...I hope you're having a cuppa while you read this because I'm really droning on and on, aren't I?! OK...time to wrap it up...head on over to the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog and spend some time drooling over the gorgeous goodies made by my Design Teamies...you are in for a real treat!! Then...get crackin' kiddos...and enter your own masterpiece into this month's Inspiration Challenge. Remember...one lucky entry will be chosen at random to win a $25.00 voucher for a little shopping spree at Magnolia-licious. So...whatcha waitin' for? Go...get busy!! Sending all y'all (that's Southern Speak!) warm hugs and huge thank you's for visiting my blog and for your sweet comments that make the sun shine on the cloudiest of days! Until next time, sweet friends....

Monday's Child...on a Thursday!

Can you believe it? It's Thursday already...and you know what that means? Yep, it means...it's time again for a fun new challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog. Our hostess this week is the very talented Cathy!! She's come up with a a really fun sketch! So I decided that I wanted to make a "twisted easel" card using Cathy's sketch!! Thanks, Sheila, for sending me the instructions! It was such fun to make...and super duper easy!!

I chose one of Mo's absolutely most adorable little girls...she's called "Monday's Child" and she's available at Mo's Digital Pencil HERE.
Here's a close-up...

And a couple of side views...

And a close-up of this sweet little sentiment from Lili of the Valley...

So here's my card "recipe"...
Cardstock: Blushing Bride & Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up)
DPs: English Rose (KaiserCraft)
Dies: Doohickeys (Magnolia)
Pearls: ZVA Creative
Roses: Wild Orchid Crafts
Tulle & ribbon (my stash)
Frosted Lace Stickles
Glossy accents (on her shoes, beads, and mirror)
And here are the Copics I used to color this sweet little princessa...

So here's what I'd love for you to do next...toddle on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog and feast your eyes on the stunning creations by my uber-talented Design Teamies! And then...have some fun making your own little masterpiece to enter into this week's challenge! Don't forget to use at least one Mo Manning image...and follow Cathy's fun sketch! Oh...and one more thing...one lucky winner - chosen at random - will win a free Mo Manning digital image. LUCKY DUCK!!

So that's it for me, kiddos. Thanks soooooooooo much for stopping by to see what I've been up to. And for leaving such sweet and encouraging comments! Have a beautiful week, sweet friends. Until next time....

No pink? No red? ...No problem!

And a hearty hello to all my friends out there in blogland!! So, here's the deal, it's almost Valentine's Day...a time of year when we crafters pull out all those gorgeous pink and red DPs and heart-shaped embellies!! Well...not this week! Our very clever DT sistah, Cathy, has given us quite the challenge this week! It's true...this week's challenge # 69 at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog is to make a Valentine's Card using non-traditional colors...that's right...no pink and no red!!! YIKES!!!! OK...well, I wasn't too worried since I have some pretty fun DPs in my collection...and Mo has created so many adorable images to choose from! Biggest challenge? Which one to choose?!! Easy cheesy..."Shy Nessa" of course!! She's hiding behind a huge Valentine box (I'm imagining that it's filled with yummilicious chocolates! LOL!)

Isn't Nessa so dang adorable??? She's such a little "princessa" in her frilly green dress and patent leather shoes!! So, I thought this darlin' was just begging to be surrounded by pearls and flowers!! Shy Nessa is the brainchild of the uber-talented children's books illustrator, Mo Manning and is available - with about a kabillion other fabulous images created by Mo herself! - at Mo's Digital Pencil Too online store.

I colored Nessa with a whole bunch of Copics...E21, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks); E53, 51, 50, 15, & YR20 (hair); BG72, 11, 10, 000, 0000 (valentine); YG17, 11, 93, G21, 20, BG93 (dress & anklets); C7, 5, 4, 2, 1 (shoes); W2, 1, 0, 00 (shadows & ground).

And here's the rest of my card "recipe":
Cardstock: Very Vanilla & black (Stampin' Up)
DPs: Webster's Pages (Life's Portrait)
Scrolls: Magnolia doohickey die
Nestie: Spellbinder's
Charm & pearls: stash
Seam binding ribbon: Ribbon Girl
Flowers: Prima & Wild Orchid's Crafts
Glossy accents for Nessa's shoes...and stickle for her ruffles

So, guess what time it is? It's time to hop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog and take a peek at the masterpieces created by the other talented members of Mo's DT. Then...pull out your papers and embellies...and make your own little masterpiece for this week's Challenge # 69! Remember, you must use at least one Mo Manning image...no problem, right?! And you mustn't use pink or red!! Oh, I almost forgot...one lucky participant (chosen at random) will win a FREE Mo Manning Digital Image!!!! Yikes...I wanna be YOU!! hehehehe!!

Thanks so much, my lovlies, for stopping by to visit! Have a beautiful week...sending lots of Valentine's Day huggggggggggs (but I'm not sharing the chocolates! hehehehe!) ...until next time....

Sugar, Sugar...

Hi sweet friends...it's that time again! Yep...time for another fun challenge at The Sugar Bowl Challenge Blog!!! This fortnight's challenge comes to us courtesy of Marlene, one of my uber-talented fellow DT Sweeties! She's come up with a sketch AND a gorgeous Inspiration Photo...here they are....

Now, here's a secret, I've never particularly enjoyed the color blue...but I have to admit, I'm really starting to love the pastel & dusty blues...especially when paired with white or ivory! Plus...I used one of the completely precious Simply Adorable images (available as a digi image - so no waiting for the postman! - at Funky Kits)...so how could I not be totally tickled with this little card?!

And here's a side view...

And here's a peek at the inside...

I colored this little darlin' when I was cruisin' recently, so I have only a brief recollection of the Copic colors I used. Here's what I remember: Skin: E21, 00, 000, 0000, & R20 for her cheeks; Blues: B26, 23, 21; Hair: E53, 51, 50, 15; Ball in her hand: R83 & 81...oh, and I used a little Creamy Caramel ink on all the edges...including my image! Here's the rest of my card "recipe"...

Cardstock: Bazzill pastels
Embossing folders: Cuttlebug
Punches & dies: Martha Stewart & Doohickey die from Magnolia
Sentiment: Stampin' Up "Whimsical Words"
Lace & pearls: my stash
Seam binding: Ribbon Girl
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

So, now that you've made it through this lengthy post (sorry, this is how I tell a story too...on and on and on! LOL), you'll want to pop on over to the Sugar Bowl Challenge Blog and see what my ever-so talented fellow DT Sweeties have created for inspiration. Then, grab your craft supplies and start crafting so you can play in the Sugar Bowl too!!

Thanks bunches for stopping by...and have a beautiful day...Until next time, darlin' friends....

All ya need is love...

Guess what? It's time for the monthly color challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog. Tracy is our hostess for this month's challenges...and she wants us all to use Red & Pink & Black! Very cool, huh? I'm sure she chose this color combo just for me since I'm scrambling to make Valentine's Day cards for our 5 grandchildren! LOL! Such fun tho...especially when I can use these absolutely darling little Tildas...available at Diana's Magnoli-licious online store...so, do stop by and check out her "goodies". I just placed a big order for the new Magnolia Doohickey Dies, which Diana has in stock now! (I can tell you that now because my order has already been placed! hehehehe!!)

OK...without further rambling...here's my latest little Tilda "masterpiece"...Note: Tilda's hairbow looks like it has polka dots on it...when, in fact, they're star dust stickles! (Looks so much better in person!)

Here's a side view of this sweet "Tilda with Ribbon" available HERE at Magnolia-licious. Let me tell ya, she was such fun to color!!

And, of course, a couple of "artsy" views...

And, finally, here's a view of the inside...which I kept relatively simple...featuring the always adorable "Longing Tilda" from the Fairytale Collection and available HERE at Magnoli-licious.

Here's the rest of my card "recipe"...
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink & Black (Stampin Up)
DPs: Crush Collection from Bo Bunny
Heart embossing folder: Cuttlebug
Punches & Dies: Spellbinders & Martha Stewart
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon, rubies, & charm: my stash
And here's a pic of the Copics I used....

So, now you'll want to pop on over the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog to drool over the GORGEOUS goodies by my uber-talented DT sistahs...and THEN (and this is the hard part), decide on which little Magnolia image(s) you'll want to use...and cardstock, DPs, and embellies...and make your own Red, Pink, & Black "masterpiece"!! Make sure to enter it into this month's challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog...where one lucky participant (chosen at random) will win a $25.00 gift voucher generously donated by Diana Crick to spend at her Magnolia-licious online store! Whooohooo! So...whatcha waitin' for? Let the craftin' begin!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by for a peek...and, as always, thank you soooooo much for your sweet comments! They really do make me smile! Until next time, sweet friends....

I'm baaaack!

Hi kiddos...well, after a long and grueling week on board a big boat floating around in the Caribbean listening to fab smooth jazz, eating yummilicious food, and imbibing in exotic adult beverages with teeny tiny umbrella embellishments...I'm home!! hehehe!

So...I must confess...I did a little coloring on my vacay...but didn't keep track of the Copic colors I used. Sorry about that! I do love this darling little image...and I think she fits perfectly into this week's challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog. Our hostess this week is the very talented Cathy...who has challenged us to use "lace, buttons, & bows"...and create something with "Love" as the theme!! Great challenge, huh? I love girly cards...and generally fill mine up with lots of bling and flowers...but I really wanted to keep this one a little cleaner and simpler (like my fellow DT sistah, Peggy, whose cards I love, love, LOVE!) So...here's what I came up with....

Here's another view...you can't see the hearts very well in this one...and I have to apologize about the photo quality. It was after midnight and lighting in my craftroom leaves alot to be desired, I'm afraid!

I bet you recognize this darlin' little girl and her puppy...she's a digi-image called "Buds" and I got her HERE at Mo Manning's online store.

Now it's time for you to join in the excitement! Pull out one (or more, if you like) of your fave Mo Manning images...and some fun paper and, of course, some lace, buttons, & bows ... oh...and your markers, pencils, inks, or paints...and create a clever little project to enter into this week's challenge # 68 at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog. One lucky participant - chosen at random, of course - will win one of Mo's precious little digi images...YOU get to choose which one! How fun is that??!! YAY!

But before you do that, pop on over HERE and take a look at the gorgeous projects from our amazingly talented Design Team!! Whooohooo...let the crafting begin!! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit...and thanks especially for all your sweet comments that truly make my day!! Until next time, sweet friends....