We're seeing "Spots & Dots" at Mo's!

Happy Thursday!! I'm back again with another post . . . gosh, after my several weeks' break, I've been busy, busy, busy catching up!! It's time for another new challenge over at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! And, this week, my sweet friend and fellow Design Teamie, Mau, is our hostess. And she'd like to see . . .

Spots & Dots!

Hehe! What a fun challenge theme, huh? OK, so, here's the deal . . . I had every intention of posting a new Valentine's Day card today except that last night we had SNOW once again! And, I gotta tell ya, for a Minnesota girl like me, snowfalls in Richmond, VA are pretty fun . . . and funny!! Everything closes down when it even LOOKS like there might be snow here! Here's a photo of the snow - shot from my studio window!

Pretty, isn't it? I think we maybe got 2-3 inches!! Soooooo . . . since I've been thinking a lot about snow, I decided to hold off on the Valentine's Day card and create something with snow!! What'cha think?

This darling Mo Manning image is called "Taste of Winter". . . . and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Have you ever caught snowflakes on your tongue? I have!! Here's a close-up . . . 

 This week I decided to make a "Crossover" card! These are always such fun to make . . . and so simple too!

My Card "Recipe" . . .

Cryogen Metallic White Cardstock

Chocolate Chip & Sky Blue cardstock: Stampin' Up

DPs: Snowfall Collection by Bo Bunny

Die: Joy Crafts

Liquid Applique for fur on coat

Sentiment Stamps & pearls: My stash

Shin Han & Copic markers; colored pencils

A peek at the inside card . . .

And . . . one last view . . .

Brrrrrrrr, huh?! OK . . . now it's your turn . . . but before you get craftin', first you'll want to head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by Mau and the rest of my talented DT sisters! Then, please join us in this week's "Spots & Dots" challenge. It's easy . . . just pull out your craft supplies and at least one Mo Manning image and start creating!!

Oh, oh, 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?!

And that's it for me! Maybe I'll go play in the snow . . . or shovel the sidewalk!! Thanks for stopping by . . . and, as always, for your kind comments. Stay warm!!

Maddie is "Smitten"!

Hey there, sweet friends!! Gosh, it seems like it's been ages since I've been in my studio . . . and it's been 3 full weeks since I posted anything here on my blog! Well . . . I have a perfectly good reason!! My hubby and I just got back from a Smooth Jazz Cruise!! That's right . . . we spent a full week floating around the Caribbean . . .

. . . and drinking delicious adult beverages with those adorable little umbrellas!!

And then . . . after enjoying 80 degree F temperatures, we came back to cold and snow!! Haha!!

But . . . no worries . . . snow is melting, finally! And I'm baaaack . . . all relaxed and excited about this week's challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! Oh, oh, oh . . . and this week's hostess is my very talented DT sister, Nela who has chosen the theme . . .

"Don't Be Square"

Easy peasy, right? So here's what I came up with . . .

Say hello, once again, to little miss Maddie!! Yep . . . I'm still lovin' her! But . . . be sure to check out Cheryl's store HERE because she's got lots of new digi images . . . not to mention a couple of adorable new characters!! Sooooo . . . this little Maddie is actually called "Smitten" . . . and she's available HERE at Sassy Cheryl's Digis. Here's another view . . .  

I decided to use lots of shapes . . . and create a little easel Valentine's Card!! Here's sort of a side view . . . 

My card "recipe" . . .

Real Red cardstock: Stampin' Up

DPs: "Lovely" by Authentique

Frilly Square #10 Die: Go Kreate

Heart dies: Nestabilities by Spellbinders

Sentiment: Penny Black

Pearls & brad: My stash
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Copic and Shin Han markers & color pencils

And one last, sort of "artsy" view . . .

And there ya have it . . . my NOT SQUARE creation! Please pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and take a look at all the gorgeousness created by my fellow DT Sassettes! 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, and don't forget . . .

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

TWO Sassy Cheryl Digi Images!

Thanks so much for stopping by . . . and, as always, for your very sweet comments! Great big "sassy" hugs!

Love Machine

Happy New Year!!! I'm giving myself a little break from Christmas Cards . . . and decided to make something for Valentine's Day! Perfect, huh? Especially since there's a new challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog where the theme is . . .

"Anything Goes"

w/a Sassy Cheryl image, of course!

So . . . I made this card for my hubby to give his sweet, 94-year-old mother!! My hubby has always been rather "preppy" . . . and never misses an opportunity to get dressed up in a bow tie and plaid pants! Seriously!! I am soooooo NOT kidding here!! So . . . this image seemed just the ticket! Hehe!

This adorable image is indeed the brainchild of my very talented and somewhat "Sassy" friend, Cheryl (Alger) Grant. This cutie is from a rubber stamp set called "Together is Better" and is available HERE at Kraftin' Kimmie's. Here's a side view . . .  

A peek at the inside . . . 

And . . . one more angled view . . . 

So, there ya go . . . my first non-Christmas card in what seems like forever!! Now, I hope you'll take a few moments to visit Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and see what my talented Design Teamies have created this week for inspiration! Then . . . please join us for this week's challenge! You may win 2 free Sassy Cheryl digis!! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . until we meet again . . .

BIG SALE at Mo's!

Hey hey hey!! This just in . . . Mo Manning has been busy, busy, busy . . . creating all kinds of new and positively precious images! You can check 'em out HERE. Plus . . . There's a huge SALE going on right now!! Check it out . . . 

Mo's BIG WINTER Sale!!  20% off your digital stamp order

Just use the coupon code 2014WS to get your 20% off.  Sale is good through Sunday, January 12th.  Check often for new images!!

Have fun shopping...see you soon!
Hugs,

So Funny!

Happy 2014, my sweet friends!! I hope you all had the most fabulous winter holidays!! Our Christmas & New Years were rather quiet . . . and, as always, Santa (a.k.a. my sweet hubby) was very, VERY good to me!! What? Being spoiled isn't such a bad thing, right?! hehe! And now, after a two-week break, it's time for the first challenge of the new year over at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! And, since this is also the first challenge of the month, this week's theme is . . .

Anything Goes!

I do love "Anything Goes" challenges! hehe! Here's what I came up with . . .

So, here's the deal . . . my hubby's eldest daughter, Stephanie, has a birthday coming up soon! And, since she has a dog named "Giblet" who looks very much like this little cutie, I decided this would be the perfect image for her birthday card! This Mo Manning image is called "So Funny". . . . and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Here's a close-up . . .  

I decided to make a very Clean & Simple card!! Definitely out of my "comfort zone" as many of you know!! But I'm delighted with the way it turned out! Here's a side view . . .

My Card "Recipe" . . .

Cryogen Metallic White Cardstock

Poor Party cardstock: Stampin' Up

Stitches Stamp: LOTV

Sentiment Stamps: "One in a Million" set by Stampin' Up 

Buttons: My stash

Shin Han & Copic markers, colored pencils

A peek at the inside, which I kept very, VERY simple . . .

And . . . one last photo, the "artistic" view . . .

So . . . now it's your turn . . . but before you get craftin', first you'll want to head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous projects created by my talented DT sistahs! Then, please join us in this week's "Anything Goes" challenge. It's easy . . . just pull out your craft supplies and at least one Mo Manning image and start creating!!

Oh, oh, 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?!

And that's it for me! Thank you so much for stopping by . . . and, as always, for your kind comments. Warm hugs . . . until next time.

We're doing "Sparkle & Shine" at Sassy Cheryl's . . .

Just when I thought I might be done with making Christmas cards and tags . . . my sweet hubby decided I should make just three more! hehe!!

Hey . . . hellooooooo! And Happy New Year!! That's right . . . today we officially close out 2013 so that tomorrow we can ring in 2014!! And to end and start things with a BANG, there's a new challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog where the theme is . . .

"Sparkle & Shine"

w/a Sassy Cheryl image, of course!

So . . . here's what I "whipped" together for my favorite guy to give to some of his fave co-workers . . . the nurses he works with!

OK . . . so here's the deal . . . I just discovered the coolest - and sparkliest - product!! 

Here's a brief and easy TUTORIAL . . .

I created and colored the tags, as always . . . but then applied some Versamark watermark clear ink all over the tag. I then immediately dusted the entire surface with Heat & Stick Powder (from Stampin' Up . . . I hear Judikins also makes a similar product). I heated the tag surface with my heating tool . . . then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds (also from Stampin' Up . . . although I suspect any very fine glitter will work as well) . . . and applied heat again, just to set the glitter. And VOILA! Glittery gorgeousness!! I love this stuff . . . and plan to use it often! 

Here are some closer views . . . 

You may recognize this cutie! It's my sweet Maddie, of course! This image is called "Warm Winter Cocoa" and is available HERE at Sassy Cheryl's. Here's another tag . . . 

Say "hi" again to Lucy Lou! She's all dressed up like a Christmas Tree! This little darlin' is one of the images in the "It Takes One to Know One" digi set . . . and can be found HERE in the "Oldies but Goodies" section of Sassy Cheryl's online store. And, next up, a closer look at the last tag in today's collection . . . 

This sweetheart is Sassy Sally . . . and the image, titled "Tangled Up Christmas Caroler," is available HERE at Sassy Cheryl's! Such a fun addition to any gift!!

 

Ohhhh . . . wait . . . one more thing . . .

Sassy Cheryl's is having a 2 day New Year sale.

That's right . . . 50% off all orders over $15.

Have fun shopping HERE!

So, there ya have it . . . my last Christmas tags for 2013! Now, I hope you'll take a few moments to visit Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and see what my talented Design Teamies have created this week for inspiration! Then . . . please join us for this week's challenge! Who knows? You may just be the winner of 2 free Sassy Cheryl digis!! 

Thanks for stopping by to visit! And HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hugs . . . until next time . . .

My FAVE Mo Card of 2013!

Hey there, my lovelies! Welcome, once again, to my little corner of Blogland!! I'd like to take a moment to thank you all for visiting my blog this past year . . . and for sharing a little piece of yourself with me! I am delighted that I've had the opportunity to meet and get to know so many of you . . . "virtually" as well as in real life!!!

Guess what? There's another super fun challenge happening over at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! Sooooo . . . here's the deal . . . our challenge for the next TWO WEEKS is for each of us to take a look at all the projects we've created in 2013 using one (or more) of Mo Manning's images . . . and then select a FAVORITE!! Whoa . . . choose just ONE? What?!! I love each and every one of my Mo projects!! This card, though, is one of my faves! You may remember seeing it. This is the Valentine I gave my sweet hubby this year.

The following post first appeared here on my blog on 1/17/13. Enjoy!

Isn't this the cutest image EVER?! OK . . . so, here's the story . . . (after all, it's always about the story, right?) . . . this is (can ya guess?) a Valentine!! Yep! Good guessing!! I made it for my sweet husband for a couple of reasons . . . one, he's kinda almost blind without his glasses! And two, when we first met, he sent me a little stuffed Hedgehog (which I still cherish)!! So, how perfect for his Valentine card, right? This image is called "You're kinda cute" and is available HERE in Mo's online store. Here's an extreme close-up of this little darlin' . . .

It cracks me up that this nearsighted little hedgehog is so "smitten" with a pincushion! LOL!! Here's a side view of my card . . .

As I said . . . I used both wet and dry embossing. I used a little "heart" embossing folder from "Crafts-Too" . . . and then I embossed the metal filigree corner with black embossing powder and then heated it (I applied two coats). Here's a closer look at my embossing efforts . . .

My Card "Recipe" . . .

White & black cardstock

Digi DPs: "Love Dreams" by Bearly Mine (I think)

 Oval & Scalloped Oval dies: Spellbinders

Heart & Scalloped Heart dies: Spellbinders

"Cherish" heart border die: Memory Box

Front sentiment: Penny Black

Ribbon, rhinestones, doily, & pearls: My stash

Embossing folder: Crafts-Too

Metal filigree corner: Wild Orchid Crafts

Inside sentiment: Craft Smart

Copic Sketch markers & colored pencils

A peek at the inside . . .

And . . . last but not least . . .

So . . . now it's your turn. But first . . . please head on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog HERE to check out the fabulous 2013 cards made by my talented DT sistahs! Then, please join us! Just upload a fave Mo card or 3-D project that you created in 2013.

Oh, oh, 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?!

Okey dokey . . . that's it for me! Sending much love and joy to you and yours this holiday season! And . . . here's to a very safe and prosperous New Year for us all!! Warm hugs . . . until next year!

My FAVE Sassy Cheryl Card of 2013 . . .

Hap-hap-happy Holidays to you all!! In case you're counting, Christmas Eve is one week from TODAY! Officially time to panic!! Hmmmm . . . let's see . . . my holiday baking is all done . . . and the Christmas tree is now up and decorated (as of last evening)! But . . . I still have cards to address and mail . . . and presents to buy and wrap and mail! Plenty of time, right? hehe!! Sooooo . . . before I tackle those unfinished holiday tasks, I wanted to let you all know about today's challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog!

OK . . . so, here's the deal . .  . our challenge for the next TWO WEEKS is for each of us to take a look at all the Sassy Cheryl cards and projects we've created in 2013 . . . and then select a FAVORITE!! What the what?! How do I choose just ONE? I love each and every one of my Sassy Cheryl projects!! This card, though, is one of my faves! It was originally posted here on 2/26/13.

I'd been playing a bit with Distress Inks and thought this adorable "Maddie" image would be perfect for that week's "Vintage" theme! I just love that adorable hat!! Here's a close-up . . .

This image is called "Beauty in the Making" and is available HERE in Sassy Cheryl's online store! 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

 

And a peek at the inside . . .

And,of course . . .

Now, I hope you'll take a few moments to visit Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and see what my talented Design Teamies have selected as their favorite cards/projects of 2013! Then I hope you'll join us for this fun and super easy challenge! Who knows? You may just be the winner of 2 free Sassy Cheryl digis!!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you and yours joy and happiness throughout this holiday season!week! Hugs . . . until next time . . .

 

Ahem . . . I Dunno!

Hap-hap-happy Thursday! And welcome back to my little corner of "blogville" where it's time for another fun challenge over at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog! My "bestie" and super talented DT sistah Debbie is our hostess!! And she'd like to see cards are projects featuring . . .

"Animals. birds, bees, insects, &/or fairies"

with at least one Mo Manning image, of course!

Well, well, well . . . that leaves the field pretty wide open, doesn't it? hehe! So . . . guess what? I have yet another fun little Christmas tag to show you!!

This little Mo Manning image totally cracks me up . . . especially when it's paired with this fun sentiment! Can you just picture it? Bella and Bronte busy playing with Christmas lights . . . and getting them all tangled?! LOL!! This image is called "I Dunno" (redux) . . . and you can find it right HERE in Mo's online store. Here's a close-up (sort of) . . .

This tag is the last of a commissioned order. I don't mean to toot my own horn here, but I think it turned out pretty dang adorably!! Here's a peek at the little tag sentiment . . .

My Tag Recipe:

Image printed on Cryogen metallic white cardstock

Cherry Cobbler &Old Olive cardstock: Stampin' Up
Digi DPs: "Christmas This & That" by Echo Park
Romantic Rectangles die: Spellbinder's Nestabilities
Tim Holtz Walnut Stain DIs to the edges
Jute, Christmas lights: My stash
Tag: Melissa Francis
Postmark stamp: Paper Inspirations
Sentiment stamp: Printworks

Copic & Shin Han markers, and Colored Pencils

And one last rather "ahhhtsy" view . . .

Kinda cute, huh? (I think so! hehe!) Now . . . I'd love it if you took a few minutes to pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog to check out the fabulous creations by my clever and talented Design Teamies! Then, please join us for this new challenge. It's simple, really, just pull out your craft supplies and at least one Mo Manning image . . . and let the crafting begin!

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!

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Have a great week . . . and keep warm! Hugs . . . 

"Ribbons and/or Bows" at Sassy Cheryl's

Hellooooooo! Welcome to my little corner of the world! Oh . . . in case you're counting . . . Christmas is just 15 days away!! hehe! Santa and his elves are undoubtedly in serious Christmas mode!! And so am I! But, I thought I'd take a little time off to create something "Christmassy" for this week's challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog where the theme is . . .

"Ribbon and/or Bows"

w/a Sassy Cheryl image, of course!

Guess what I have to show you? Another little Christmas "gift tag" . . . 

It's Lucy Lou once again! This time she's dressed up like a Christmas Tree! This cutie is one of the images in the "It Takes One to Know One" digi set . . . and can be found HERE in the "Oldies but Goodies" section of Sassy Cheryl's online store. Here's a close-up . . .

And a peek at the little tag insert . . .

     My "Tag" Card "recipe" . . .

Image printed on Cryogen Metallic White cardstock

Real Red cardstock & ink: Stampin' Up

DPs: "Wonder" by Authentique

Christmas tree die: Distinctively Dee's

Ribbon, twine, brads, rhinestones, & sentiment: My stash

Glossy Accents

Colored with Copic & Shin Han markers and Colored Pencils

And . . . one more view . . .

Please take a few moments to visit Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog and see what my talented Design Teamies have created this week for inspiration! Then I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge! Who knows? You may just be the winner of 2 free Sassy Cheryl digis!! 

Thanks for stopping by to visit! Have a great week! Hugs . . . until next time . . .