More is BETTER! . . .

. . . especially when we're talking about BLING!! That's right . . . and how fortunate that I fully endorse the use of mass quantities of BLING . . . 'cuz that's what we're doing this week at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!!  No kidding! This week's hostess is the lovely and crazy-talented Kim . . .  and she's chosen the theme . . .

Bling!!

Well, well, well . . . have I mentioned that Bling is my middle name?!! (Not really . . . it's Kay . . . I was just being metaphorical!! hehe!!) Sooooo . . . here's a look at my Bling!!

I've had this adorable Mo Manning image for nearly a year and decided it was time to bring it out for the afternoon!! This image is called "Lemons" and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Here's a close-up . . .

Wanna hear something funny? I started out making this card pretty clean & simple . . . with just a couple of baubles (hey . . . work with me here! That IS clean & simple for me!) . . . but then the card took on a life of its own!! And a bit of a side view . . .

My Card "Recipe" . . .

Bashful Blue & Banana cardstock: Stampin' Up

Digital DPs: "Life's Little Lemons Too" at Nitwits

Front sentiment: Stamping Bella

Deckled oval dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities

Quilled Daisies: Cuttlebug

Rhinestones, ribbon, & teensy butterfly punch: My stash

Large butterfly punch: Martha Stewart

Inside sentiment: Stampin' Up

Corner dies: Whimsy

Copic Sketch markers & colored pencils

A peek at the inside . . .

And . . . last but not least . . .

So . . what'cha think, Kim? Blingy enough?! hehe! Okey dokey . . .  now it's your turn . . . but before you get started, please head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by Tine and the rest of my talented Design Teamies! Then, please join us for this week's challenge. It's easy and super fun. . . just pull out your craft supplies and at least one Mo Manning image and start creating!!

Oh . . . and don't forget, Mo is awarding (selected at random) one $5.00 shopping spree at her online store for every 25 challenge participants! 

And . . . that's it for me! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!! And special thanks for your kind comments!! Hugs . . . .

Hey LOTV . . . Happy B-day!!

Hello, m'darlins!! So . . . this is kinda cool . . . Lili of the Valley is celebrating their NINTH birthday! And they're having a bit of a celebration . . . with a fun competition . . . which I have decided to enter!

There are fabulous prizes . . . plus a chance to be selected as a Guest Designer! (A dream of mine since I got into cardmaking and blogging and discovered LOTV stamps!!) So, LOTV, this one's for you!! Happy 9th Birthday!!

I've used this cutie patootie called "Rosie with Cake" . . . available HERE at LOTV's online shop. Oh, and that fun "recipe sentiment" stamp is available at LOTV too - right HERE. Here's a close-up of little Rosie . . . 

. .

I've been experimenting with watercolor papers . . . this paper is Arches Hot Press watercolor paper 140#. I kind of like it . . . although I have a tendency to "overwork" a bit, so I'll have to work on that! Here's a side-ish view . . .

 My Card Recipe . . . 

Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom, & Chocolate Chip cardstock: Stampin' Up

DPs: "London Market" by Pink Paislee

Edges lightly inked with Very Vintage DIs

Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads, refills, & markers
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Roses, lace, & green pearl brad: Wild Orchid Crafts
Corner dies: SCACD Classic Corner & Whimsy
Heart dies: Cheery Lynn Designs
Heart border die: Memory Box

Front sentiment "recipe": LOTV

Pearls: My stash
Inside sentiment: Stampin' Up
Birthday cake charm:: The Charm Store

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

A peek at the inside . . .

I even added DPs to the back! What's up with that?! LOL!! . . .

And last, but not least . . .

Challenges . . . 

LOTV Birthday Competition

Wish me luck!!

And that's it for me today . . . am off to do more coloring with my DIs! Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll see you tomorrow with a new Mo Manning project! Hugs . . .

We're so BLUE at Sassy Cheryl's this week!

Happy Tuesday, my lovelies!! It's time for another fun challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog!! This week's hostess is the sweet and very clever (and, oh so sassy) Miz Ann! And she's chosen a color theme for this week's challenge! And that color is . . . you guessed it . . .

Blue!

And here's what I came up with . . . 

I've been playing a bit with Distress Inks these past several days and thought this adorable "Maddie" image would be perfect for my card this week . . . especially since she looks sort of "vintage-y" in that adorable hat!! Here's a close-up . . . 

Soooo . . . if you haven't visited Sassy Cheryl's brand new online store HERE, then you're in for a real treat! Sassy Cheryl has included my beloved Sassy Sally . . . and Noah and Charlie and snowmen in the new store . . . AND she's added this little darlin' named Maddie! (Move over Sally . . . you've got a bit of competition here with this cutie patootie!) hehe!! This image is called "Beauty in the Making" and is available HERE in Sassy Cheryl's new shop! Oooooh...and this is so cool . . . the new digi images are coming with additional "goodies" (like the sentiment . . . and the notes inside . . . plus some very cool shoes). Here's a side-ish view . . .

My card "recipe" . . .

Image printed on 90# Hot Pressed watercolor paper by Canson

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - reinkers and pads

All edges inked with Pumice Stone DIs

Whisper White cardstock: Stampin' Up

DPs: "Vintage Summer Basics" from Maja Designs

Rectangle dies: Spellbinders

Heart tag die: Magnolia

Doily die: Cheery Lynn Dies

Queen Blue Seam Binding: The Ribbon Girl

Tim Holtz filmstrip

Flowers & metal corners: Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls and lace: My stash

I thought a card as "vintage"-looking as this required a "vintage" sentiment . . . what'cha think of this one? (hehehe!!) . . .

And,of course . . .

Sooooooo . . . how's that for BLUE? hehe! Now . . . please visit Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog to see what Sassy Ann and the rest of my talented DT "Sassettes" have created for this week's challenge!! Then, we'd love for you to pull out some of your own craft supplies and at least one Sassy Cheryl image and join us for this week's challenge! Oh, oh, oh . . . and don't forget . . .

One lucky participant, selected at random, will win . . .

TWO Sassy Cheryl Digi Images!

** Oh . . . and one more thing, Sassy Cheryl's will be discontinuing the Bargain Bins at MIDNIGHT on Thursday, February 28th! Soooooo . . . you still have time to get your hands on some of Sassy Cheryl's earlier works of art HERE. But hurry . . . the clock is ticking!

And that's it for me!! Thanks so much for stopping by . . . and, as always, for your very kind comments! Until next time . . . Hugs!

It's my Sugar Nellie Monday!!

Hello . . . and welcome once again to my little corner of Blogland!! It's Monday . . . and what's more, it's MY Monday! That's right . . . I have a fun new Sugar Nellie DT card to share with you all! But first I have to let you in on a little secret . . .Sugar Nellie has some new stamps coming out later this week! And the Sugar Nellie DT will be hosting a Blog Hop!! Check it out . . .  .

So, mark your calendars and set your alarm clocks for 11 a.m GMT (that's 6 a.m. EST)! You definitely won't want to miss out! We'll be having lots of fun . . . PLUS, there will be PRIZES!! I can't wait!!

Okey dokey . . .  back to my new Sugar Nellie DT project . . .

This fun and funky image is from the Leanne Ellis Collection of Sugar Nellie rubber stamps! This one's called "If Only" and is available HERE at Funky Kits. Here's a close-up . . .

Sooooo . . . rather than coloring this quirky image with my trusty Copic Sketch Markers, I decided to pull out my Tim Holtz Distress Inks! I've been having such fun playing with DIs after ignoring them for more than two years!! I certainly need lots of practice . . . but, I have to admit, I kinda like how this turned out! Here's a bit of a side view . . .

My card "recipe" . . .

Image inked onto 140# Watercolor paper
Crumb Cake cardstock: Stampin' up

DPs: "Vintage Summer Basics" from Maja Designs
Grand Labels 1 & Labels 1 dies: Spellbinders
Lace, charms, postage stamps, pearls, & lace flowers: My stash
Sentiment: Lockhart Stamp Company
Butterfly Border Die: Tim Holtz
Heart tag die: Magnolia

Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Decorative stamps (inside): LOTV
Colored with Tim Holtz Distress Ink reinkers & pads

A peek at the inside . . .

And, last but not least . . .

I hope you enjoyed my little Sugar Nellie project! I really had fun with it! Thanks so much for stopping by . . . and for your sweet comments! Hugs . . . until next time!

We're NOT being square at Mo's this week!

Hey there, m'darlings!! I told you I'd be back . . . and here I am . . . back! hehe!! Sooooo . . . it's Thursday once again and, as luck would have it, I have a new project for this week's challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!!  My sweet and oh so talented friend and Design Teamie, Kat, is our hostess with the mostess for this week's challenge . . .  and she's chosen the theme . . .

Anything BUT Square!

That's right . . . NO SQUARES!! Well . . . THIS isn't square!! hehehe!! What'cha think?

Yep . . . I decided to make a non-square candle this week! And when I saw this adorable new in Mo's store, I knew I just had to have it for an Easter candle!! This image is called "Easter Baby Girl - s" and is available HERE in Mo's online store. In addition to this straight-haired little darlin', Mo also has a curly-haired Easter girl as well as two Easter boys! Here's another angle . . .

Now, I must admit, I thought I was using dark enough colors . . . but, unfortunately, the blue sweater and pink bunny weren't quite dark enough. Ugh! But I still like the way it turned out. . . all very pastel, perfect for Spring (which I'm just sure is right around the corner!)!! Here's another view (I just love that flower!!) . . .

My Project "Recipe" . . .

Electric Candle from Michael's Craft Store

Plain white tissue paper

Copic Sketch Markers

Flower, lace, ribbon, & pearls: My stash

Here's a quick TUTORIAL in case you'd like to try making one of these . . . they really ARE very simple!!

A peek at the candle turned on (it has the most beautiful warm glow) . . .

And . . . a kind of "artsy" angle . . .

Fun, huh? OK . . .  now it's your turn . . . but before you get started, please head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by Kat and the rest of my talented Design Teamies! Then, please join us for this week's challenge. It's easy and super fun. . . just pull out your craft supplies and at least one Mo Manning image and start creating!!

Oh . . . and don't forget, Mo is awarding (selected at random) one $5.00 shopping spree at her online store for every 25 challenge participants! What an easy and fun way to get some new Mo images, right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!! Hugs . . . .

Memories . . .

Hey there, sweet friends!! So . . . here's the thing . . . I've been taking a watercolor class . . . and have been loving playing with watercolors!! So, I decided the time was right for me to break out my Distress Inks and paint up some images for cards!! With lots of advice from my friend, Dena (check out her gorgeous work HERE . . . plus, Dena has some excellent tutorials on, among other things, Distress Inks) and a bit of experimenting with inks and papers, I came up with this little something . . .

Thanks for your help, Dena . . . you're a sweetheart! Now . . . I just love Lili of the Valley images . . . and I think their "vintage-ness" lends itself to Distress Inks!! I decided to use this absolutely adorable new LOTV image called "Anniversary Surprise" available HERE. I just love those sweet faces . . . and hats!! I'm pretty pleased with the results . . . I'm thinking I didn't do too badly for my first attempt at using DIs in more than 2 years!! Here's a close-up . . .

As I said, I was experimenting with watercolor papers . . . this paper is Arches Cold Press watercolor paper 140#. I think it's a little too textured for my taste . . . so next time I'll use the Hot Press paper, which is much smoother! Here's a side-ish view . . .

 My Card Recipe . . . 

Whisper White cardstock: Stampin' Up

DPs: "Vintage Summer Basics: by Maja Designs

All edges inked with Creamy Caramel ink: Stampin' Up

Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads

Sentiment: Stampin' Up

Seam binding, brads, and other embellies: My stash

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

A peek at the inside . . .

And last, but not least . . .

I've decided to enter this card into a couple of challenges . . . 

Deep Ocean Challenge #45 - B is for (Blue)

Anything Goes Challenge #86 - Vintage

And that's it for me today . . . am off to do more coloring! Thank you so much for stopping by to visit! See you tomorrow with a new Mo Manning project! Hugs . . .

How YOU doin'?

Hey there, kiddos!! Welcome to my little corner of the world here in Richmond, Virginia where we had a teensy bit of snowwwwwwwwwww this past weekend! I was hoping we'd get some snow that would stick . . . but, apparently, Sassy Cheryl was hoping stronger that it wouldn't stick!! Because we simply got a dusting of the white stuff . . . and it didn't stick at all!!! Bummer!! Oh well . . . there's always next week! But, here's something cool . . . it's time for another fun challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog!! This week's hostess is the lovely and oh-so-talented Miz Dawn!! And she's come up with a fabulous sketch for us to follow. Here, take a look . . .

"Dawn's Sketch"

Pretty cool, right? Well, here's what I did with it . . . 

Hehehe!! This Sassy Cheryl image seriously cracks me up!! OK, quick question . . . how many of you ever watched the TV series "Friends"? If so, you may recall that there was this cute guy on the show named Joey (played by the actor, Matt LeBlanc). Joey certainly thought he was "all that"!! And . . . when he met an attractive lady, he frequently struck a pose and said (in a sort of weirdly sexy voice with a fabulous New York accent) "How YOU doin'?" LOL!! That still tickles my funny bone, I tell ya!!

Soooo . . . when I saw this new Sassy Cheryl image, all I could think was "How YOU doin'?" This handsome little guy is, of course, Noah . . . and he looks like he thinks he's a bit of "all that" as well! This image is actually called "Come here often?" and is HERE in Sassy Cheryl's NEW & IMPROVED online store. If you haven't been over there, please do take a few moments to check it out . . . HERE.

** Oh . . . and, this just in, Sassy Cheryl will be discontinuing the Bargain Bins effective March 1st, 2013! Soooooo . . . you still have time to get your hands on some of Sassy Cheryl's earlier works of art. But . . . don't dawdle . . . March 1st will be here before we know it!! 

OK . . . back to my card . . .here's a side view . . .

 My card "recipe" . . .

Whisper White cardstock: Stampin' Up

Digi DPs: "Summer Breeze" from Nitwits

Rectangle die: Spellbinders

Ribbon, buttons, "banana split" charm: My stash

Front sentiment: Computer generated

Copic Sketch markers & color pencils

A peek at the inside (which I kept very simple) . . .

And, last but not least, my fave "ahhhtsy fahhhsy" view . . .

Sooooooo . . . what'cha think?? Kinda cute, eh? Especially with this little "Noah" who definitely has "swagger"!! hehe! Now . . . please visit Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog to see what Sassy Dawn and the rest of my talented DT "Sassettes" have created for this week's challenge!! Then, we'd love for you to pull out some of your own craft supplies and at least one Sassy Cheryl image and join us for this week's challenge! Oh, oh, oh . . . and don't forget . . .

One lucky participant, selected at random, will win . . .

TWO Sassy Cheryl Digi Images!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Hugs . . . .

We're celebrating BIRTHDAYS this week at Mo's!

Happy birthday to you . . . happy birthday to you . . . happy birthday dear Valentine . . . happy birthday to youuuuuuuuu! La-de-da-de-dahhhhh!!

Well, hello there! Happy Valentine's Day!! Oh . . . and guess what else? It's Thursday AND it's time for another super duper cool challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!!  My sweet and oh so talented friend and DT sister, Tine, is our hostess for this week's challenge . . .  and she's chosen the theme . . .

Birthdays!

That's right . . . by now your Valentines should have all been made!! hehe! So. . . Birthdays, huh? Perfect timing too . . . since our sweet granddaughter, Ava Michelle, is having a birthday in just a few weeks!! Here's what I came up with . . .

I've had this adorable Mo Manning image for some time now and decided it would be perfect for Ava's card!! This image is called "Bella Carrying the Cake" and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Here's a close-up . . . 

And a bit of a side view . . .

My Card "Recipe" . . .

Very Vanilla cardstock, ribbon, & brads: Stampin' Up

DPs: Lost and Found "Market Street" by My Mind's Eye

Corner dies: SCACD

Front sentiment: Stamping Bella

Heart: Cheery Lynn dies

Metal corner & charm: My stash

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Inside sentiment: Inkadinkado

Trellis punch: Martha Stewart

Copic Sketch markers & colored pencils

A peek at the inside . . .

And . . . finally . . .

Alrighty roo . . .  now it's your turn . . . but before you get started, please head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by Tine and the rest of my talented Design Teamies! Then, please join us for this week's challenge. It's easy and super fun. . . just pull out your craft supplies and at least one Mo Manning image and start creating!!

Oh . . . and don't forget, Mo is awarding (selected at random) one $5.00 shopping spree at her online store for every 25 challenge participants! What an easy and fun way to get some new Mo images, right?!

I've decided to enter this card into . . . 

Deep Ocean Challenge #45 - B is for . . . Birthday

Wild Orchid Challenge #70 - Pink & Cream

CLP #55 - Sketch

And . . . that's it for me! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!! Hugs . . . .