Mini Maggie Mania...

Whoohoo...the long weekend is here and I'm having the best time crafting, crafting, and crafting some more!! Here are a couple of little goodies I made with Mini Maggies...I love these little darlins...and they are uber simple and fun to color!! First up is a a Mini Tilda called Kitchen Tilda. She's available from our sweet friend, Diana Crick, at Magnolia-licious...your online store for all things Magnolia...and then some!! I used Copics and Prismacolor pencils for this little cutie. The little tag sentiment is called A Little Yummy for Your Tummy...and is also available to Magnolia-licious.

I used a couple of other adorable Mini Tildas for this next one...masking and then coloring the images with just Prismacolor pencils. I have to say, I much prefer the combo of Copics and Prismacolor pencils...but I'm still trying to master coloring with pencils. It's fun to try different techniques. I think I'll break out my Distress Inks again soon...it's been far too long since I played with them!! These Mini Tildas are named Unwrapped and Tilda with Balloon.

  

All of these Minis are available in the bigger versions - along with many, many other fabulous Magnolia stamps, DPs, and embellies - at Magnoli-licious. So, be sure to stop in and see what goodies you just NEED to add to your own Magnolia collection!!

So, that's it for me...just a short post...have much blog visiting and commenting to catch up on!! Thanks a bunch for stopping by. Have a great rest of the weekend. Hugs...until next time....
 

Pearls & flowers at Mo's!

Happy Thursday! Whooohoooo! Y'know what that means, right? It means it's time for another fun challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! Our very own talented - and now, quite famous South African TV star - Paola, is our hostess again this week! And she's come up with another fun challenge theme: Pearls & Flowers. Seriously, it was like sweet, sweet music to my ears when I heard this week's theme! LOL!

I used a cutie patootie Mo Manning image named Nelly!! You can find her, along with hundreds of other fabulous images, at Mo's DP2 online store! I'd been admiring some of your "Nelly" cards these past weeks and thought I lacked the patience to color all of those leaves and petals. Well, d'ya know what I discovered? I was RIGHT!! I DON'T have the patience to color each and every petal and leaf! LOL! But...I powered through...and I'm actually quite pleased with the results! Phewwww! I have to admit, slowing down and coloring such teensy little items was uber relaxing...and  very enjoyable! Who knew?! hehehe!! Here's a little artsy view...

I broke out my Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities...the circle and scalloped circle...and just got busy layering these scrumptious October Afternoon DPs and SU Certainly Celery cardstock. Then I used some string pearls to weave in and out of my nestie, added some individual pearls, attached some gorgeous roses from Wild Orchid Crafts...stuck on a couple of little bows...and voila!!! Cute, huh? I've decided to enter this little cutie into Wild Orchid's Challenge # 24 as well.

Now...pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog and take a peek at the gorgeous paper creations made by my incredibly talented DT sisters....then make your own fabby project using at least one Mo Manning image and some pearls and flowers. Be sure you enter your masterpiece into this week's challenge...just link to the little Blue Frog thingie. And, who knows? You may just win a free Mo Manning digi image!! YAY!!

Thanks so much, my darlins'. I always love it when you come to visit...and I especially love it when you take the time to leave me comments...in fact, it truly makes my day!! Hugs to you all. Until next time...

A lifetime of happiness...

Hi friends...I hope you've had a great couple of weeks! I can hardly believe it's the 4th Tuesday of May already! I have no idea where the month has gone! I do know this, tho...it's time for another fabulous challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog!! Whoohoooo!! So...our very sweet and talented Design Teamie, Norma, is our hostess again...and she's chosen a photo of this simple, yet elegant dining room (at least I think it's a dining room...although I don't see any craft supplies...and I know some people keep their crafting goodies in the dining room! hehehe!) But, I digress...here's the photo that Norma has chosen to help inspire us all....

Gorgeous, huh? So...here's what I came up with for this month's Inspiration Challenge...

Our daughter, Jenna, called last week to share some exciting news...she's engaged to be married! We're so happy for her and her fiance, Adam. So I thought I'd make a little "Best Wishes" card to help them celebrate! Here's a close-up of Tilda & Edwin...this time I'm imagining that Edwin is hugging Tilda (unlike the last time I used this adorable stamp...when I commented that it looked like Edwin was trying to choke poor Tilda! LOL!!)

They're so dang cute, aren't they? I colored Tilda & Edwin with Copics & Prismacolor pencils: E21, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks); E29, 25, 23, 50 (hair); G99, 94, 82, 40 & BG93 (greens); BV13, 11, 02, 02, 00, 000, 0000 (lavenders); W1 & 0 (shadow); and C2, 1, 0 (ground). Here's a side view...

Cardstock is from Stampin' Up (Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, & Mellow Moss); Always Artichoke seam binding (SU); DPs & pearl embellie are from my stash; the scrummy flowers, lace, and metal corner embellishment are all from Wild Orchids Crafts. And of course the Tilda & Edwin image is called Brother and Sister and is available from Magnolia-licious, my fave store for all things Magnolia!! Here's a peek at the inside...you'll notice I used another fun Magnolia love border stamp (I can't, for the life of me, remember what it's called...but I do know I got it from Diana's store). It's a fabby little somethin' that can be used to "jazz up" the corner of any card or envelope. Clever, right?

And, of course, the standard "artsy" angle for your viewing pleasure... (I know, I know...I won't quit my day job for a career in photography! hehehe!)

I had such fun making this card! I've never been a "purple person"...but I kinda like the purple with the greens and ivory...with a little distressing. Whatcha think?

OK...now pop on over to Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog and take a peek at the gorgeous creations by my exceptionally talented DT sistahs!! You won't be disappointed, I promise!! Then get your crafting goodies out and start on your own paper project. Remember...Diana Crick, owner of Magnolia-licious, has generously donated a $25.00 gift voucher for one lucky challenge participant (selected at random). Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I've been up to. Now...go...have fun!! Until next time, sweet friends....

Color me DISTRESSED!!

Remember last week when I was s'posed to make a card using a "monochromatic" theme? I added yellow boots...I couldn'tg resist! What can I say? Rule following is sometimes a challenge for me! LOL! So this week, for Mo's DP2 Challenge #83, our very own uber-talented DT sister, Paola, has chosen "Distressing" as our theme! Well...for some reason, I decided to use some DP scraps...and came up with this fun monochromatic card! (This one was created with you in mind, Sheila! hehehe!) Whatcha think?

So, as you can see, I colored this fun Mo Manning image in grey tone Copic sketch markers. Her name is Checking FB and I gotta confess, coloring her skin GREY really freaked me out! In fact...the total lack of color was soooo DISTRESSING for me!! I'm not kidding! LOL! Anyway...here's my "artsy" view

So...you know the drill, right? Pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog and check out my very, very talented Design Teamies' projects. I promise you, you'll be blown away!! Then get busy with your own "Distressing" project using at least one Mo Manning image! Be sure to enter your little masterpiece into this week's challenge (use that little blue frog thingie!) and you may be next week's lucky winner of a fabby Mo Manning digi image! Thanks so much sweet friends, for stopping by and for your beautiful comments. Until next time...

"Delicious" birthday...

Hi sweet friends...you may or may not know this, but I had to take a bit of time off from my gig as a Sugar Bowl DT "Sweetie". I was in the process of opening a fabulous developmental follow-up clinic for babies and children who - for whatever reason (illness, prematurity, genetic disorders, etc.) - are at risk for delayed development. I'm so proud to report that we are open...and seeing lots and lots of kiddos. Each appointment lasts 90 minutes...and parents get to meet with Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapists...as well as the hospital's Infant Development Nurse Specialist(that's meeeeee!) and a pediatrician during that time. Today we saw 9 babies...and, while it was an almost 12-hour day...and I am completely exhausted...I'm so thrilled that we made a difference for babies and their families!!

So...now that we have the clinic open, I have been able to cut back my work hours to 32/week. And you know what that means? MORE CRAFTING TIME!! Whoooohoooo! Plus...I've been missing my Sugar Nellie stamps and my sweet DT sistahs, sooooo, thanks to Sugar Mama Gayle and the rest of the Sweeties...I'm baaack! Thanks ladies....I've missed ya...and I've missed my Sugar Nellie stamps!

For this week's challenge, we're combining the optional theme of "Birthday" with Maria Therese's fabby sketch (below).

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

Isn't she just the cutest little baker?? She's called "Delicious"...and is from Krista Smith's "Simply Sassy" collection! I got her from Funky Kits HERE...and, let me tell ya, this collection is the BEST!! She's colored with Copics...and the DPs, pearls, lace, and ribbon came from my stash! The sentiment is from LOTV! Here's an "artsy" view...

Please pop on over to the Sugar Bowl Challenge Blog and take a peek at the amazing projects by my fellow DT Sweeties! Trust me...you won't be disappointed! Remember to leave 'em some love while you're visiting their blogs! Then...pull out your crafting supplies and at least one Sugar Nellie stamp or digi image...and come up with your own little masterpiece! Then make sure you enter it into the Sugar Bowl Challenge #60 for the chance to win a fabby prize...you'll never guess what it is...are ya ready for it?

A 6 Stamp Sugar Nellie "Pick 'n Mix" of your choice! (I'm so jealous!)

Thanks so much for stopping by...and, as always, for your kind comments! Oh...one more thing...

Happy Birthday Sugar Mama!!

Summertime...and the livin' is easy!

Do you remember that song? It's an oldie...(from the 50's or 60's) and I can't recall who sang it. But I remember hearing it in my youth...a long, long time ago!! Well...guess what? Our very sweet and insanely talented DT sistah and this week's "Hostess with the Mostest", Sheila, has come up with a fabulous...and fun theme for this week's Mo's DP2 Challenge...Yep...this week's challenge theme is...

Here Comes Summer!!

Yikes...isn't that fabulous? The possibilities are endless!! Well...here's what I came up with...using one of my very fave Mo Manning sweethearts, Strawberry Girl...available for your immediate purchase and downloadage (that's a word I just made up...cool, huh?) HERE at Mo's Digital Pencil Too!

Seriously, could this little girl be ANY cuter?! This reminds me...have you ever had the opportunity to pick strawberries and eat them as soon as you picked 'em? Soooo deliciously sweet and juicy, right? And that little extra dirt stuck to them when freshly picked made them all the more flavorful, right? Well, I wouldn't know because my mother wouldn't let us kids eat any fruit until is was properly washed and sanitized! LOL!! It's true...I lived such a sheltered childhood...but I have to admit, I never got sick from eating dirty fruit! (At least not that I know of, anyway! LOLOLOL!) Well...so much for fresh-picked strawberries...but I tell ya, they still remind me of Summer!!

Aren't these DPs the most delicious?! Strawberries without the dirt! I think even my mom would approve! They came from Making Memories "English Garden" collection. The Real Red & Bordering Blue cardstock is from SU. Love these colors together!! The rubies came from my great great grandmother (just kidding...they're red rhinestones!)...the ribbon is from my stash...and that sentiment is from some fun new stamps I just got from LOTV!! I colored this cutie with Copics & prismacolor pencils. I'm liking pencils more and more. And when used with Copics, they add some fabulous richness and depth!

I used Nestabilities and my MS punches for the inside. Don'tcha just love this strawberry charm? It's the perfect little embellie! Well, I think so anyway! And, last, but by no means least...the "artsy fartsy" pic....

I'm not sure if you can see or not...but this little darlin' has red polish on her fingernails & toenails! That's a little tribute to our 4 gorgeous granddaughters (Emma, Sophie, Ava, Mia) who love getting manis & pedies...and have since they were 2 or 3 years old...funny!!

So...that's enough rambling from me! Now be a sweetheart and pop on over to Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog and take a peek at the fabby summer inspiration by my amazingly fun and talented Design Teamies!! And then...well you know what comes next...GET BUSY CRAFTIN'!!

Remember...we'll be scouting for next month's Guest Designer for one more week...so, if you're interested in having some fun with Mo's DT, please add GD to your name when you enter this week's challenge!!

Have a wonderful, strawberry nibbling week, my friends. Big, thankful hugs to all of you...until next time....

What's black & white & read (red) all over?

A newspaper!! bwahahaha!! Well, let me tell ya, that joke was really, really funny when I was a kid! hehehe!

Ok...so, get this...I was oh sooooo proud of myself for getting my DT project done early. My celebration was short-lived, tho, when I realized I wasn't early at all! It's a fact...here we are, second Tuesday of the month already!! Time flies when you're having fun! And I've been having lotsa fun lately....especially since I cut my hours at work back to 32 hrs/week  (instead of 40). Now I have an extra day each week to craft! Wooohoooo!

So...this week's challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog is hosted by our own sweet and very, very, VERY talented DT sistah, Norma! And it's a fun one!!

Black & White PLUS one other color!!

Well...I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for me to ink up my adorable and oft neglected Ladybug Tilda, currently on re-order at Magnolia-licious...Diana Crick's online store for the best collection of Magnolia Stamps in all of North America...including those cutie patootie Mini Maggies! My third color (in case you hadn't figure it out already)...is RED!! So...tell me...what'cha think?

I have to admit, I'm quite tickled with how this card turned out! Pretty much everything came from Stampin' Up! Cardstock (Real Red, Very Vanilla, & Black) and DPs, ribbon (I love this wide ribbon...and just ordered a bunch more in a variety of colors!!), brads, and sentiment. Here's a (sort of) side view....

And a fun "artsy fartsy" angle...

I used Copic Sketch markers (E21, 00, 000, R20, 22, 24, 27, and several of the C colors) and Prismacolor pencils for a bit more depth. I can't, for the life of me, remember what colors I used for Tilda's hair...sorry! It was prob my "go to" hair colors (E53, 51, 50 with a little E15 and YR20). Here are a couple of pics of the inside...you may recognize DreamyTilda (currently available at Magnolia-licious as a Mini Maggie!).

I love the cute - and functional - pocket!

So, there you go! Your next step is to pop on over to Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog to check out the drop-dead-gorgeous collection of artwork by my talented Design Teamies! Please be sure to leave some love for your ever so talented Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog DT. Then put on your thinking caps and start working on your very own Black & White & one other color masterpiece!! Remember to enter your project into this month's color challenge by linking to the Inlinkz Blue Frog thingie! Then sit back, cross your fingers and toes, and maybe even hold your breath for a couple of seconds! And who knows? You may be the lucky winner (chosen at random) of a fabby $25.00 gift certificate for your very own private Magnolia-licious Shopping Spreeeeee!

That's it for me...time for bed!! Thanks so much for stopping by for a quick visit. And thanks for your kind comments on my paper pretties! Sending warm Spring hugs your way...until next time....

Artistic Goddess!

Hi friends...and happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there!! Even if you don't actually celebrate Mother's Day where you are...celebrate anyway!! As you may know, I'm trying to master coloring with pencils...some days I do better than others! LOL! Anyway...here's a card I've been working on using my Prismacolor pencils. This little image is called "Artistic Goddess"...she's available - along with a whole bunch of other fun "Simply Sassy" stamps - at Funky Kits. I will admit...this card is a huge departure for me! Instead of soft & pretty, vintage, or clean & simple...I went with funky and a little crazy!

This card was made completely for fun...so please be kind, I'm still new at the colored pencil thing! Anyway, I thought I'd enter it in this fortnight's challenge over at the Sugar Bowl. If you haven't been there for a visit...you definitely should! The Sweeties have created some really gorgeous cards using some of the fun Sugar Nellie stamps available at Funky Kits...plus, a little birdie told me that next weekend there will be a new set of Simply Sassy stamps released! Woooohooo!!

That's it for me...thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comments! They really make me smile! Have a beautiful day. Until next time....

Rain, rain, rain...

Happy Thursday, sweet bloggin' friends!! It's time for another fun challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog! Whoohoo!! And, let me tell ya, this challenge was a REAL CHALLENGE for me!! Our very own sweet and delightfully talented DT sistah, Sheila, is our hostess this week...and she's chosen "Monochromatic" as our theme! Yikes...I don't know that I've ever made a single monochromatic card - ever! (And I'm not even 100% sure that this card actually counts...because, while I generally stuck with a monochromatic theme, I just HAD to add a teensy weensy pop of yellow and red...I'm sooooo bad at following rules!! LOL!) Anyway, here's what I came up with....

I started by digging though my stash of DPs and found this fun paper! (It's by Debbie Mumm.) Then I remembered that I had just added Waiting for Rain to my ever-growing collection of Mo Manning images...and this cute card just sort of made itself!!

I colored this little cutie patootie with my Copic sketch markers (and a couple of Prismacolor Pencils)...here are the colors I used:

E21, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks)

E57, 55, 53, 51, 50. YR20 (hair)

B45, 41, 00 (blues)

Y18, 15, 13, 11 (yellows)

R27, 24, 22, 20 (reds)

W1, 0, 00 (shadows)

C1, 00, W1 (ground)

Cardstock: Night of Navy & Bordering Blue (Stampin' Up)

Corners: Cuttlebug dies

MS "Bubbles" punches

Nestabilities: Circle & inverted circles

Ribbon: Seam binding from the Ribbon Girl

Teardrop blue diamonds (my stash of diamonds...just kidding, they're rhinestones!)

Stamps (my stash)

So, did I nail the mono-chromatic thing! Kinda?

Now, why not pop on over the Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog and take a peek at the rest of the DT's creations? My Design Teamies have come up with some real gems to give you a bit of inspiration!! Then get crackin' on making your own monochromatic paper project! Just remember to use at least one Mo Manning image...and then add your project to the Inlinkz Blue Frog thingie...and, who knows...you may be the lucky winner of this week's free Mo Manning digi image! Such fun, huh?!!

Oh...and one more tiny tidbit of info...be sure to read this week's DP2 blog post for an exciting announcement and details about how you can become a Guest Designer for Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog!! Have a great week friends! Now...go forth and CREATE!! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit. Until next time...