Thank You, Nurses!

Hello friends!! I hope you're having a fabulous week!! I'm still recovering from vacation (I know...pooooor me, right?!)... but I think I'm finally getting caught up with...hehehe! ...you thought I was gonna say housework and laundry, right? Nope...not a chance...I'm just "up to date" with my cardmaking...until tomorrow, that is! hehehe!! You know...there are always new projects and new challenges to explore!!

Oh...and speaking of challenges...it's Thursday and that means it's time for another fun challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! Once again, our hostess this week is my very talented friend and Design Teamie, Iulia...and here's what she's chosen as this week's theme...

"Furry Friends"

Hmmmm...I gotta tell ya, I don't really "do" animals! The fur is always such a challenge for me! Oh...wait...this IS a challenge! OK...fine...fur! UGH!! Oh, but wait...Mo has created some new images...you can check 'em out in her online store HERE! I popped over there last week and look what I found...

Now...you may be wondering how I could possibly pair the sentiment "You're too kind" with a nurse holding a hypodermic needle!! LOL!! I admit, it does seem a bit incongruent!! Except that I am a nurse...NICU nurse, to be exact...and when I retired, some of my colleagues (who are also nurses) treated me to dinner and gave me a fabulous pink & green carry-on suitcase for all my many travels!!  Hence...this darling Mo Manning "Nurse" image...and a "thank you" sentiment!!

I love so many of Mo's images...but when I first spotted "Nurse"...well, I just knew I had to have her!! How cool that she's holding a furry little teddy bear...perfect for this week's challenge! hehehe!!

Some of you may know that, in addition to finding fur challenging to color, I also struggle with making "Clean and Simple" cards!! Sooooo...once again, this started out as a "Clean and Simple" card...partly because I wanted to really showcase this darling little nurse...and partly because I wanted to challenge myself!! Soooooo...what'cha think?? Maybe I'm just getting a teensy bit closer?? Ahhh...c'mon...humor me! hehehe!

Here's my card "recipe"...

• Cardstock: Very Vanilla & MellowMoss (Stampin' Up)
• DPs: The Paper Studio's Sweet Pea colletion
• Ribbon: Very Vanilla (SU)
• Sentiments: SU
• Safety pins, buttons: stash
• Dies/Punches: Magnolia Doohickey Vintage Tag, Nestabilities plain andscallopped circle &  oval, Cuttlebug corner die, and Martha Stewart lattice punch,

 And... a peek at the inside...

 And here are the Copics used to color this little sweetheart...

• E21, 00, 000, 000 (skin)
• R20 (cheeks)
• E29, 23, 53, 51, 50, & YR20 (hair & bear)
• White: C2, 1, 0, 00
• R85, 83, 81, RV00 (pink scrubs)
• BG72, 10 (stethoscope, bear's shirt, & ground)
• BG0000: highlight around image

I also added a bit more shading w/Prisma pencils. And one last photo for good measure...

So...now you'll want to pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog HERE so you can check out the furry gorgeousness by my fun and talented DT sistahs!! Then it's your turn to get busy on your own Mo Manning challenge project!! Just make a card, tag, or 3D project using one (or more) of Mo Manning images (you can find them in Mo's online store HERE and HERE)...and come join the fun!!

And...that's it for me. Thanks so much for visiting, my darlins, and for your very kind comments! Big hugs...until next time....

Vintage Fall...

Please scroll down for today's Magnolia-licious Challenge DT project!

Hello my "Sassy" friends! I can't believe it's Tuesday already!! Time seems to be flying by!! And I'm soooo excited that it's Autumn!! My fave time of year!! But, I digress. Let's talk about our weekly challenge, shall we? Oh...wait a second...before we get to this week's challenge, I just have to share some really fabulous news with you! We're making some fun changes at Sassy Cheryl's that you will definitely want to know...

New Challenge Rules... 

• You do not have to use a Sassy Cheryl image to enter our weekly challenge (although we certainly love when you do!)...
• You DO need to follow the week's Challenge Theme, and...
• If you use a Sassy Cheryl image, your name gets entered TWICE into the drawing for a free Sassy Cheryl digi image!!

 So...how fun is that?!! OK...so now to this week's challenge...Miz Peggy, our very sweet and talented "hostess with the mostess" has chosen for this week's Sassy Cheryl's Challenge theme...

Fall Colors!!

Sooooo...I popped on over to Sassy Cheryl's Digis and found the perfect image! I tell ya, Cheryl has some of the cutest images...something for each and every occasion!! And...ta daaa...here's what I came up with...what'cha think?

This little "vintage-y" sweetheart is called "A little girl named May" and she's available from Sassy Cheryl's Digis HERE. Now, here's the deal, those swirly thingies are actually butterflies...but I decided that they looked a bit like swirling leaves! So, that's what I went with!! Swirling leaves...yep...that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!! I think it works, tho, don't you? Here's a slightly different angle....

 And my card "recipe"...

Cardstock: Stampin' Up (Very Vanilla, Cranberry Crisp, River Rock)
DPs: K & Co. (Julianne Collection)
Dies: Mariannes Creatables (Leaves), Cheery Lynn Designs (Doily), & Nestabilities
Metal filagree corners & flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
"Young at Heart" sentiment, lace, ribbon, & pearls: my "stash"
Embossing folder (inside top) Cuttlebug (Goochie Script)

 This little darlin' was colored with Copics & Prismacolor Pencils...

• E21, 00, 000, 0000 (skin)
• R20 (cheeks)
• E25, 23, 21, 51, & YR 21 (hair)
• YG97, 93, 91, G40. & W2 (jumper and socks)
• E09, 07, 07, 04, 02, 01 (blouse and boots)
• YG93, G20, W2 (grass/ground)
• W1 & 000 (shading)

 Here's a peek at the inside...

  

Alright my lovelies, it's time to pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog to check out all the gorgeousness by Miz Peggy and the rest of Cheryl's talented Sassy DT!!

We'd love for you to check out  Sassy Cheryl's adorable images.HERE where there's a "Buy TWO, get ONE FREEEEEE Sale" going on!! Wheeeeeeee!! And we'd also love for you to join in this week's challenge...just remember to following this week's "Fall Colors" theme! And...remember to link your finished project to this week's challenge...because one lucky participant (selected at random) will win a $5.00 digi credit to spend at Sassy Cheryl's!!

Oh...one last photo...yep, the "artsy fartsy" one (and you thought I forgot! hehehe!)...

And that's it for me! Thanks so much for stopping by...and for your sweet comments that always make me smile!! Have a splendiferously sassy week!! Hugsssssssss....

Edwin...clean and simple?

Whoohooo!! It's the fourth Tuesday of September!! And, in case you've forgotten,  that means it's time for another fabulous Inspiration Challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog! Once again, the very sweet and crazy-talented Tracy is our hostess...and she's chosen this perfectly "spooktacular" photo for inspiration...

  

OK...here's the deal...I've seen so many stunning "clean and simple" cards lately. Well, I had it in my mind that I was going to make a "clean and simple" Magnolia card!! So I pulled out my Magnolia "Halloween" Stamp collection and selected three of the "spookiest" stamps for my card. What'cha think??

 

I used Dracula Edwin, Bat, and Boo Background. Let me tell ya, you can find  sooooo many adorable Magnolia stamps and accessories - including the ever popular "Magnolia Minis" - at Diana Crick's Magnolia-licious online store, MY fave store for all things Magnolia!! Here's sort of a side view...

Seriously...my plan was "clean and simple"...but then the card took on a life of its own and I was simply POWERLESS over all those delicious embellies!! Well...some people think "less is more"...I, on the other hand, must believe that "more is more"!! I have to admit...I really like the way this card turned out!

I actually made this card for our 7 year-old grandson, Brody. I think he'll like it! Come to think of it...the Halloween card I made last year for Brody featured Dracula Edwin too!! I wonder if his dad (my eldest son, Andy) saved that one? I'll have to ask him next time we talk. And...the answer better be "Of course, mom...I save each and every one of your cards...they're works of art!!!" hehehehe! 

That little thingie in the top is actually a pocket for $$$! Very handy, huh?

My card "Recipe" is pretty uncomplicated...

• Copics & Prismacolor pencils
• Stampin' Up Cardstock (Black, Tangerine Tango, & Concord Crush)
• DPs, ribbon, brads, charm, and miscellaneous embellies (all from my "Halloween" stash)
• Sentiment stamp (from Just-Rite Stamps)

And, last but not least, here's an "artsy fartsy" view...

Now, my Maggie-lovin' friends, it's time for you to pop on over to Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog and see what Tracy and the rest of my talented DT sistahs have created for inspiration. Then...we'd LOVE for you to join in the fun by making and entering your own paper creation into this month's Magnolia-licious Photo Inspiration Challenge. Remember, one lucky participant (selected at random, of course) will win a $25.00 gift voucher for a Magnolia-licious Shopping Spree!! Maybe that lucky person will be YOU!!!

Oh...I almost forgot...I'll be entering this card into the following challenges:

• 7 Kids College Fund Challenge #30 - Holiday Goodness (Halloween)
• Just Magnolia Challenge #125 - Fall/School (Halloween is in the Fall, right?)
• Crazy4Challenges - Halloween
• Just Rite Friday Challenge #59 - Fall Festival (Halloween)

And...that's it for me!! Thanks so much for stopping by...and for leaving such kind comments! Now...let the craftin' begin!! Great big "Maggie" hugsssssssssss!

My FIRST Sugar Nellie DT post!

Hey sweet friends! Welcome to the Land of Sugar! No, not because I'm so sweeeeet (although I am pretty sweet, that's true!), but because today is my very FIRST post as a Designer on Sugar Nellie's Blog!! Whoohooo!! Can ya tell...I'm a little excited?!!  (And just a bit nervous to be joining the ranks of such an amaaaazing team of talented and fun ladies!!) Soooo...for my "debut" card, I decided to ink up a new stamp called "Posy Pip" (you are soooo gonna love her!!)...

"Posy" is one of the newest "Sherbet Pips"...from the Home Grown Collection of Sugar Nellie stamps. You can find Posy and her friends (along with all kinds of Sugar Nellie deliciousness) at Funky Kits. I decided to showcase this little darlin' with one of my fave "twisted easel" style cards. You can find a great "Twisted Easel Card" tutorial by the very creative Pam Sparks HERE.

Now...I have to admit...I know less than NOTHING about flowers (except I know what a rose looks like!)...so...is Posy Pip here is supposed to be holding a potted posy? Well...not today!! Today, little Miss Posy is holding a potted SUNFLOWER!! Yep...we call that "artistic license" where I come from! hehehehe!! And since I made the flower a sunflower, I was able to use some fun Flower Soft (I believe the color is called "Nut Brown") in the center!! Kinda cute, huh? Ya can't do THAT with a posy, now, can ya? Oh, wait...maybe you can...beats me! I don't know a thing about flowers, rememba?! ROTFL! (I crack myself up!) Here's one more photo...this one is a wee bit of an "artsy" angle...

Here's my card "recipe"... 

• Copics & Prismacolor pencils (I used so many, I lost track...sorry)
• Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, & Not Quite Navy Cardstock from Stampin' Up
• DPs & Baja Breeze seam binding (SU)
• Sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps
• Pearls are from my every growing "stash"
• Lace and those delicious flowers (they're roses...see, I know the names of some flowers!) are from Wild Orchids Crafts...

Oh...and those faaaaabulous dies are made by Memory Box...and you can find them (plus a whole lot of other fabulous crafting goodies) at Stampassion HERE. (Tell Melissa I said "hi"!)

Soooo...I've decided to enter this little card in a few challenges...

Anything Goes Challenge #50

CLP Challenge #40 (Sketch)

Simon Says Stamp (Use Dies and/or Punches)

Okey dokey...that's it for me, my lovelies. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit...and for your kind comments that always make me smile! Hugsssss...until next time....

Tony & Stephanie get married!!

Hello my lovelies!! You remember my sister, Dee, right? Well...her "baby" boy (who is 6 ft 4 inches tall) is getting married! Sooo, of course, I wanted to make a card for Dee to give the bride and groom...and that's just what I did! She did have a couple of requests:

1. This adorable LOTV image called "I do",
2. Green and blue somewhere on the card,
3. Rhinestones & pearls in the bouquet (because Stephanie is carrying a bouquet made completely from vintage broaches!), and
4. A pocket inside for Dee to tuck in a little $$$ for the happy couple!

And...here's what I came up with...

I used K & Company DPs and cardstock from Stampin' Up - Very Vanilla & Not Quite Navy. Toile and pearls are from my stash. Here's a close-up of this sweet little image...

The cool metal corners & those gorgeous flowers came from Wild Orchid Crafts. I added white embossing powder to the metal corners and then heat embossed them...after that, I sponged a little Creamy Caramel ink (from SU) on the corners...to give them a vintage look. I made the pretty doily with Very Vanilla cardstock and one of my Marianne's Creatables Dies...oh, and those yummy leaves were made with another of my Marianne's dies.

Here's a peek at the inside...

I thought this sentiment was perfect...it's from one of my Stampin' Up stamp sets (sorry...I can't recall the name of the set.). Oh...I nearly forgot...the image was colored with my fave Copics and some Prismacolor pencils to deepen the shading.

I've decided to enter this little card into the following challenges:

Challenge #50 at Anything Goes Challenge Blog

Challenge #98 at Die Cut Dreams (Flower Power)

Simon Says Stamp (Use dies and/or punches)

Sooooo... that's it for me! I hope Tony & Steph like it! Thanks so much for stopping by...and thanks, in advance, for your kind comments!! Until next time, my sweet friends. 

It's officially Autumn!

Just a quick note...if you'd like to see my newest Sugar Bowl DT card....please scroll down...it's just beneath this Mo Manning post! Thanks!

*********

Hi sweet friends!! Well...I'm back from vacay...a little tan and a lot relaxed! And I'm thrilled that it's officially Autumn on my side of the equator! Whoohoo...my fave season!! And what better way to kick off a new season than with a fun new challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! Our hostess again this week is my very talented friend and DT sister, Iulia! I think she wants all of us to jump right into Fall...because for this week's challenge, Iulia has chosen the theme...

Autumn Colors

and she's given us this gorgeous photo to use for inspiration...

Awesome, huh?! Sooooo...I focused on the reds and more muted greens for my card this week...and made a cute little "Shabby Chic" Thanksgiving Card! What'cha think?

I gotta tell ya, I've loved Mo Manning's little "Sprout" since I first saw her! She is so dang adorable in her stick-straight pig-tails and overalls!! And that flower pot looks almost bigger than she is! hehehe! You can find her in Mo's online store HERE.

Ya know...I had the best time making this card! "Sprout" was an absolute joy to color...and then I had such fun finding and adding all those little extra "goodies"!! Oh...and a great BIG THANKS to my DT sistah, Debbie Lanci! I totally "stole" her "corrugated cardboard hearts" idea from a gorgeous card she sent me for my retirement!  Thanks, Deb. You rock! Here's another view...

I layered lots of papers...distressed the edges w/th my Distress-it-all distresser. (That thing is sooo cool!) I smeared the edges with Picket Fence distress crackle paint, and then I sponged Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink on just about everything that wasn't moving! hehehe! Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up are the three yummy Fall colors that I used...plus some coordinating DPs from Paper Studio's Mirabella Collection. The Always Artichoke seam binding is also from SU. I added raffia ribbon, brads, cardboard shears, and a flower pot w/flowers Ifrom my stash)...all "grunged up" a bit with distress ink. Here's another angle...

Then I decided to do something a bit different on the inside...I added a "cross-over" pocket with a little note card. I kinda like the result and will definitely use this design again...

Here are the Copics I used to color this cutie patootie...

E21, 00, 000, 000 (skin)

R20 (cheeks)

E25, 23, 21, 11, 51, YR20 (hair)

YR23, 20, & Y21 (shirt)

R59, 81, RV10 (shoes, shirt stripes)

YG97, 95, 93, 91 (overalls)

G21, 20, E31, W1 (ground)

E19, 17, 15, 13, 11 (flower pot)

W1, 0, 00 (shading)

& Prisma pencils to make the shading a bit richer

That fun medallion thingie was made with one of my Just-Rite stamps...I colored it with Prisma pencils. OK...here's one last pic for y'all...

So...now you'll want to pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog HERE so you can drooool over the gorgeous "Autumn"creations by my DT sistahs!! Then it's your turn to get busy on your own Mo Manning challenge project!! Just make a card, tag, or 3D project using one (or more) of Mo Manning images (you can find them in Mo's online store HERE and HERE)...and come join the fun!!

And...that's it for me. Thanks so much for visiting, my darlins, and for your encouraging comments! Big hugs...until next time....

It's Autumn at the Sugar Bowl!

Hello my sweeeet friends!! Guess what?! It's time for another sweeeeet challenge at the Sugar Bowl...Challenge ... # 68 to be exact! Our very own talented DT sister, Kiki, has given us this fun sketch to follow...

...with "Autumn" as our theme! I just love, love, LOVE Autumn...it's truly my fave season!! So...I wasted no time pulling out some fall DPs and this adorable Sugar Nellie image called "Outdoor Adventure"... she's available at Funky Kits HERE. And here's what I came up with...

DPs are from Recollections' Autumn Collection. I used about a kabillion Copics to color this little darlin'...and a bunch of Prismacolor pencils for deeper shading. The mesh, ribbon, and leaf charm are from my stash. I added a liitle Tim Holtz distress ink (Vintage Photo) to the paper edges and ribbon to give everything a more rustic "feel"...the leaves were made with one of my Martha Stewart punches...and last, but not least, the sentiment is from an old Stampin' Up stamp set. Here's a little "artsy" view...

OK...now it's time to pop on over to the Sugar Bowl and take a peek at the gorgeous creations by my fellow DT Sweeties. Then...pull out your art supplies and get busy creating your own card or paper project for this fortnight's challenge. Who knows...you may just be selected to win a fabulous prize from Sugar Nellie. Our prize for this fortnight's Sugar Bowl Challenge is....

...your choice of FOUR Sugar Nellie stamps

(increasing to SIX if we have 100+ entries!)...

OK...my sweet sugar lovin' darlins...let the craftin' begin! Thank you so much for stopping by...and for your very kind comments that always make me smile!! Sending sweet hugs...until next time....

Flower Power!

Hey there "Sassy" friends! Happy Tuesday! I'm back from vacation...a wee bit tanner...and a bigger bit chubbier (from all the fabulous food and wine, of course!!!) Ahhhh...but it was soooo relaxing...even with our brief visit from Tropical Storm Maria! hehehe! See that "head" bobbing in the water?? That's me...at the beach in Anse Marcel in St. Martin (the French side of the island). (Like I would ever post a pic of me in a swimsuit...bwahahahaha!!)

So...now that vacay is behind us, it's time for me to start gearing up for fall birthdays and holidays! It's also time for another fabulously fun challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! Our hostess once again this week is our very own Miz Jackie...and for our challenge theme this week, she's chosen...

Flower Power

Fun, huh?! Well...I knew immediately which Sassy Cheryl image I'd use for this week's challenge! (From the looks of things, several of my Sassy DT Sistahs had the same idea! Great minds think alike, I guess! LOL!)

This little darlin' is called "My Little Flower" (there's a boy version too!) and she's available from Sassy Cheryl's Digis HERE. I just love her goofy little smile and hairdo! (I used to wear my hair like this about 50 years ago!!)...and those skinny legs! hehehe! They just crack me up! Here's a slightly different angle....

I used Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, and Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up) cardstock...and DPs are from Heidi Grace. The sentiments and ribbon also came from Stampin' Up...and the flowers and pearls are from my stash!! I colored this cutie with Prismacolor pencils and Mineral Spirits for blending...it took me an entire evening! I'm still a little "wobbly" and unsure of myself with pencils...and I stress over color choice for layering and mixing. But I'll get there...some day...with practice and patience, I'm quite sure!! Here's a peek at the inside...

And one more of the inside...with the note card removed from its handy dandy little pocket!

Alright my lovelies, it's time to pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog to check out the gorgeous work by my talented DT sisters!! Then you'll want to pull out your own craft supplies and choose one (or more, if you like) of Sassy Cheryl's images (You can find an amazing collection of digi images at Sassy Cheryl's HERE) and get busy making your own little project following this week's "Flower Power" theme! And...remember to link your finished project to this week's challenge...because one lucky participant (selected at random) will win a $5.00 digi credit to spend at Sassy Cheryl's.!!

Thanks so much for visiting...and for your sweet comments that always make my day! Have a great week...Hugsssssssss...until next time!

Mo & the DTs are celebratin'...

...and me? Well...I'm still chillaxin'!!

Emma (our nearly 13 year-old granddaughter) was shocked that I even knew the word chillaxin'... and I think she was even more shocked that I could use it correctly in a sentence!! LOL!

So...just a quick post today to invite you all to join Mo Manning's 100th Challenge Celebration...at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog HERE. Make a card, tag, or 3D project using one (or more) Mo Manning images (you can find them in Mo's online store HERE and HERE)...and come join the fun!! We're going to have not one but THREE amazing prizes for this week's challenge...and our theme this week is...you guessed it...

CELEBRATION

soooo...whatcha waitin' for?? Let the craftin commence, my darlins!!

Is ice cream a food group?

The answer, of course, is YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! hehehe!!

Hey there "Sassy" friends! Happy Tuesday! I'm writing this post in St. Maarten!! But don't be tooooo envious...we're waiting for a big tropical storm! There, that makes ya feel better, doesn't it?!! I thought it might! LOL!! Seriously...what's with me and natural disasters?! Earthquake, hurricane, tropical storms...sheesh...all I need now is a volcano to erupt! (Thanks to my sister, Dee, for that pleasant thought!!) But...I digress!!

It's time for another fabulously fun challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! Our hostess this week is our very own delightfully talented Sassy Jackie...and for our challenge theme this week, she's chosen...

"Good enough to eat - SC image with Food!"

Hence the question..."Is ice cream a "food group"?!

Now, I will fully disclose that my hips and thighs were created almost entirely from ice cream...it's true!! Ice cream is my food of choice over all things!! So...how lucky was I when I found this completely adorable Sassy Chery image?!! 

Her name is Sweet Indulgence, and she's available from Sassy Cheryl's Digis HERE. I just love her wrinkled up little face and goofy expression...and, of course, those BIG ol' feet!! Here's a supreme close-up of this cutie patootie!

 I used Whisper White and Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up) cardstock...and DPs are from Magnolia. The sentiment came from Hampton Art...flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts...and the ribbon and pearls are from my ever-growing stash!! The image is colored with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils, as always. Here's a little "artsy" view...

OK "Sassy" lovers...it's time to pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog HERE to check out the gorgeous work by Sassy Jackie and the rest of Sassy Cheryl's DT! Then you'll want to pull out your own craft supplies and choose one (or more, if you like) of Sassy Cheryl's images (You can find an amazing array of delightful digi images at Sassy Cheryl's HERE) and get busy making your own little project following this week's "Food" theme! And...remember to link your finished project to this week's challenge...because one lucky participant (selected at random) will win a $5.00 digi credit to spend at Sassy Cheryl's.!!

Thanks so much for visiting...and for your sweet comments that always make my day! Have a great week...mwahhhhhh!