My earthquake...

Hi bloggin' buddies o' mine!! It's  Thursday already...and that means it's time for another fabulous challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog! Before we get to that, though, I just HAVE to tell you about my earthquake!! Yep...it was my personal earthquake!! Well...not really, but I have no doubt that I experienced it far more intensely than the rest of you folks here on the East Coast!! hehehe!

Last week, while I was chatting on Skype with my sweet friend and DT sistah, Paola (she's in South Africa, y'know!)...all of a sudden, I felt some rumbling and shaking! No...I hadn't eaten refried beans!! My first thought was that the washing machine was in the spin cycle and had become unbalanced. One prob with that logic...I wasn't doing laundry!! So I calmly said, "Paola, I think we're having an earthquake." Now...because there's always a bit of delay with Skype, Paola continued telling me about something...and the rumbling and shaking started to intensify. So I said again (this time not quite so calmly), "Paola, I think we're having an earthquake." About that time I heard a crash...and I yelled..."Paola, we're having an earthquake...I have to go!". So...I ran out of my craftroom and inadvertently left my computer video on...so Paola watched my craftroom shake, rattle, and roll!! Talk about a "birds eye view"! The entire thing lasted less than 30 seconds!

So...there ya go...my first earthquake...and I was so busy running around yelling, "We're having an earthquake" that I didn't have the good sense to stand in a doorway! (I was told that's what a person should do in an earthquake!) The  epicenter was about 40 miles from our house...thankfully we had no real damage! We just lost a couple of knick-knacks...no big deal...I was planning on downsizing anyway!! LOL!

That pile of stuff on the floor used to be on the shelf...in fewer pieces!

So, you're probably hoping that I'll tell you about last week's hurricane too...but I think you've had quite enough excitement for one post! Maybe next time! Right now it's time to talk about this week's challenge at Mo's!! Our very talented friend and DT sistah, Iulia, is our hostess this week! I think she's going to serve some virtual tea and cookies or something! hehehe!! Iulia has chosen this very cooooooool sketch for us to use this week...

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

Her name is Smith and she's available at Mo's Digi Store HERE. This little cutie reminds me of our granddaughter Sophia. She has curly, curly hair too...no specs, tho. But otherwise, Smith and Soph could be sisters!! I used Very Vanilla, Bordering Blue, and Cherry Cobbler cardstock from Stampin Up...I love the way these three colors complement one another! These DPs are from Basic Grey's "Oxford" collection.

Here's a list of the Copics I used to color this little sweetheart...

E21, 00, 000, 0000: Skin

R20: Cheeks

E29, 25, 23, 21, 50, & Y21: Hair & shoes

B21, 41, & Colorless Blender: Blues (Thanks, Paola, for the tip!)

R89, 85, 83, 81: Burgundy

YR24, 23, 20: Backpack

G24, 21, 20: Grass

I made the clouds by sponging on some of Stampin' Up's Bashful Blue ink. The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps, the seam binding is Cherry Cobbler (from SU), flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the pearls are from my stash! That very cool scroll die came from Sizzix.

Are ya still with me?? I know...I bet you're wishing I had served some tea and biscuits right about now!! No worries...you're in the home stretch!! It's time to pop on over to Mo's Challenge Blog so you can drool over all of the gorgeous creations by Iulia & the rest of our talented DT!! Oh...and before I forget...we have a new Guest Designer this month! Please join us in welcoming Elena Gonzalez! You're in for a real treat!!

Then you'll want to start working on your own card or 3D paper project!! Remember, you must use at least one Mo Manning image (available HERE and HERE) to qualify for this week's random drawing for a free Mo Manning digi of your choice!! And...that's it for me kiddos!! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Thanks, too, for your lovely comments that boost my ego and make my day!! Have fun crafting, sweet friends! Be safe...I'll see you again soon! Hugs....

Candlelight, Copics, wine...

...and a delightful Sassy Cheryl image to color!!

Hello again my "sassy" friends! Yep, it's Tuesday...and it's time for another fun challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! First...I must tell you, this past week has been a bit crazy in my world...I experienced my first earthquake...AND my first hurricane! Guess I can cross those off my "bucket list" huh?!  But we are all safe and sound...and just crossing our fingers that we get power restored sometime soon. All I can say is, "thanks, Barnes & Noble...for letting me use your electricity and wifi."

So...are ya ready for this week's challenge?! Our very talented Sassy Judy is hostess again this week...and she'd like us all to make a card, tag, or 3D paper project using the theme...

Birthday...for anyone...

How easy and fun is that?! And so many Sassy Cheryl images to choose from. Now...full disclosure, right? I seriously colored this image by candlelight (and flashlight)...while sipping a wee bit of red wine! Remember...I was in the middle of a hurricane!! So...please try your best to ignore my "goofs"!! Ready? Here we go...

So...I chose one of my fave Sassy Cheryl digi images called "Birthday Sundae" (available from Sassy Cheryl's Digis HERE)...isn't she so amazingly cute?!! I just love the "vintage" feel! Here's a side view...

As I look at these photos, they seem a little blurred...or, maybe I need to clean my glasses...nope...blurred! Sorry about that! And, no, I haven't had any wine yet today...it's still morning here! hehehe! Although, I did accidentally take a swig of yesterday's leftover beer with my morning vitamins...I thought it was leftover iced tea! What a surprise THAT was!! ugh!

I used Stampin' Up papers (cardstock and DPs) for this little card...the sentiment is from Lili of the Valley...and the brads and twine are from my stash. Copics? Yep...I used them...but don't ask me to list the colors I used...wine and near darkness, remember??! And, lest you think I had forgotten...no worries, I have not...here's my fave photo angle...the "artsy fartsy" view...

OK sassy friends, it's time to pop on over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog HERE to check out the gorgeous work by Judy 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 crafting!! Remember to use this week's theme...Birthday! And...remember to link your finished card 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 stopping by...and, as always, thank you sooooo much for your sweet comments!! They really make me smile!! Have a great week!! Hugsssssssssssss...

Sugar Nellie SNEAK PEEK!!

Oh, oh, ohhhhhhhhhh!! I can't stand it!! Just a few more days until September 1st when the new Sugar Nellie stamps will be available for purchase from Funky Kits!!  I promise you...I WILL be setting my alarm for 0-dark-thirty so that I can get my order placed!! I've seen some of the new images...and believe me when I tell ya...these new stamps are the SWEETEST stamps ever!!

Now...hopefully you've been following Sugar Nellie's Blog for the past couple of days...because, if you have, you will have seen a preview of some of the new stamps!! If you haven't yet...pop on over to Sugar Nellie's Blog HERE and take a peek! Sooooo...I was lucky enough to get my sticky little hands on a couple of the delicious new images...this one is called "Hello little robin"...and I swear, this little darlin' was pure JOY to color!!

These DPs are from The Paper Studio..."A Country Christmas" collection. Then I pulled out some Stampin' Up cardstock (Bordering Blue and River Rock) and, believe it or not, this card just sort of made itself! hehehe!

I used Nestabilities square and scalloped square dies...and added some white lace from my stash as well as some Cherry Cobbler seam binding (from Stampin' Up).

You may have noticed that this cutie's wings are kinda sparkly...true...Martha Stewart's Coarse Glitter!! And the "snow" is a mixture of MS glitter and Flower Soft snow! And the "fur trim" is Liquid Applique (heated w/a heat gun for a cool wrinkly effect!) Oh...that sentiment on the front is from Lili of the Valley...and the metal corner and gorgeous roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts!

The inside sentiment is from Stampin' Up...and the "mitten" charm is from my stash...and (as best as I can recall) here are the Copics I used to color this little fairy...

E21, 00, 000, 0000: Skin

R20: Cheeks

E53, 51, 50: Hair

B97, 95, 93, 91: Blues

E09, 07, 02, 00: Reds

Y23, 21, 000: Yellows

And now, the photo you KNOW you've been waiting for...

Now...if you haven't done so already, please pop on over to Sugar Nellie's Blog and take a Sneak Peek at the new Sugar Nellie Stamps! They'll be available from Funky Kits on September 1st!! For more info, be sure to check out Sugar Nellie's Sneak Peeks HERE!!

And that's it for me! Thank you so much for stopping by for a "sneak peek"...and, as always, thank you for your kind comments! See y'all soon!! Hugs....

Back to School!!

Heigh ho, heigh ho...it's back to school they go!! That's right...it's that time of year when parents are sending their little ones off to school...some for the first time ever!! Here's a pic of all five of our grandkids...from left to right: Ava, Brody, Mia, Sophia, & Emma! Quite a motley crew, eh?!

They start school early in Phoenix, AZ (which is where they all live!)...so they've already experienced their first day back to school!! Unlike our sweet and talented DT sistah, Debbie, who is getting her "baby boy" ready to go off to college! Deb also works at a school...so her summer vacay is coming to a close soon as well!

So...this week at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog, our hostess with the mostess, Debbie, has chosen our Challenge Theme...which is...wait for it....

Back to School!!

How fun is that? Plus...Mo has soooo many adorable "Back to School" images to choose from...including this little darlin'...

She's from Mo's "To School" collection...available at Mo's Digi Store HERE along with three other cuties heading off to school!! I used Tangerine Tango cardstock from Stampin Up (because orange is granddaughter Ava's fave color!)...and some new DPs from Kaiser Kraft's "Class of '87 Collection".

I actually cut a hole in the cardstock and DPs (using Nestabilities "Labels 18") and mounted my colored image from behind. Then I raised the orange "frame" with foam dimensionals for a somewhat different effect.

Here's a list of the Copics I used to color this little sweetheart...

E21, 00, 000, 0000: Skin

R20: Cheeks

E55, 53, 51, 50, & Y21: Hair

B97, 95, 93, 91: Skirt & shoes

YR04, 02, 01, 00, 000: Sweater & anklets

R85, 83, 81, RV10, 000: Backpack (because Ava has a pink backpack!)

C2, 0, 0: Ground

B0000: shadow

Here's a peek at the inside...

And, of course...

Oh...the sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps...and the flowers & ribbon are from my stash!

OK...time to pop on over to Mo's Challenge Blog and take a look at what Debbie & the rest of our talented DT have created for inspsiration!! Then you'll want to start working on your own "Back to School" project!! Remember, you must use at least one Mo Manning image to qualify for this week's random drawing for a free Mo Manning digi of your choice!!

Thanks so much for stopping by...and for your very sweet comments that truly make my day!! Have fun crafting, my lovelies! I'll see you again soon! Hugs....

For the GIRLS...

Greetings fellow "Sugar Lovers"!! It's time for another fun fun FUN challenge over at the Sugar Bowl! Our very own talented DT sister, Marlena, has given us this clever little sketch to follow...

...with "For the Girls" as our theme!! So...I pulled out another one of my new fave Sugar Nellie "Sherbet Pips" (available at Funky Kits) ...and put together this little card!

Such a Cutie Patootie, huh?! Her name is Candy Pip! Let me tell ya, I am sooooo lovin' these little Pips...I just can't wait to get my hands on the next batch! They can't come soon enough for me!

I used Barely Banana & Soft Suede cardstock (from Stampin' Up)...and the DPs are from Heidi Grace!! I used Nestabilities dies...and added some ric-rac and brads from my stash. The sentiment is from Just Rite Stamps. And here are the Copics I used to color this sweet little darlin'...

E21, 00, 000, 0000: Skin

R20: Cheeks

E29, 25, 23, 21, 13, YR21: Hair

Y23, 21, E000: Yellows

BG72, 10, 000: Shirt & socks

E23, 21, 51, 50: Shoes

C1, 0, 00: Flower petals

Here's a peek at the inside...pretty simple...but all those bows make this card pretty girly, don'tcha think?

And, of course, the ever popular "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...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....

Today is THE DAY!!!

That's right...you've all been sooooo patient...I, on the other hand, NOT SO MUCH!! I've been impatiently counting the minutes! But...whoohooo!...here we are...the beginning of Sneak Peek Week!!

Be sure to pop on over to Sugar Nellie's HERE to see some of the "sweetest" new Sugar Nellie images that will be available for purchase beginning September 1st!! Oohhh...my credit card is dancing already! hehehe!

Just one more day...

We're almost there...that's right...TOMORROW is Sugar Nellie's SWEET PEEK...oops...I mean "Sneak Peek"!!

That's right...check out Sugar Nellie's Blog HERE!

A card for Cole...

Hello my blogging friends. This is a bit of a sad post, I'm afraid. Cole, a 16 year-old young man and friend of Cheryl Alger's son, recently suffered a tragic injury leaving him paralyzed. Cheryl is a friend and a very talented artist ...you may know her as Sassy Cheryl...of Sassy Cheryl's Digis! So...Cheryl has sent out a request to all of us in the cardmaking and blogging community asking us to make cards for Cole to help brighten his days. You can read a bit more about Cole on Cheryl's blog HERE.

So...I dug through my images and stamps...and here's what I came up with...

These little guys are from Whipper Snapper stamps...and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up. They were colored with Copics...and the DPs and Baker's Twine are from my stash. Oh...and those green pearl thingies are actually Kiwi colored "Liquid Pearls.

Here's a peek at the inside...I left a little space for a personal note to Cole...

I'm sending this over to Cheryl tomorrow so she can deliver it to Cole. Please keep Cole and his family and friends in your prayers. Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit to my little corner of blogland. Hugs...

Butterflies flutter by...

Hello again my "sassy" friends! It's Tuesday...and it's time for another fun challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! Our very talented DT sistah, Judy, is hostess for this week's challenge...and she'd like us all to make a card, tag, or 3D paper project using...

Lavender, White, and Green

So...I chose one of my new Sassy Cheryl rubber stamps called "Butterflies Flutter By" (available from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps HERE)...isn't she so stinkin' cute?!! Gotta love that hat!!

I used Whisper White, Concord Crush, Almost Amethyst, and Certainly Celery cardstock from Stampin' Up...DPs from Kaiser Craft's Lilac Avenue Collection...oval Nestabilities dies...a little Frosted Lace Stickles on the Martha Stewart punched butterflies...pearls and lace from my stash...and flowers  from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Oh...that grosgrain ribbon is Certainly Celery from SU...and I also used my fave Marianne Creatables leaf dies. I used Copics to color this little cutie...but didn't keep track of the kabillion markers I used to get just the right shades of lime green!! Here's a peek at the inside...the sentiment is from SU...

 And, of course...

Alright...now it's time to pop on over to Sassy Chery's Challenge Blog HERE to check out the gorgeous work by Judy 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 crafting!! Remember to use Lavender, White, and Green on your card!! And...remember to link your finished card to this week's challenge...because one lucky participant (selected at random) will win a $5.00 digi credit at Sassy Cheryl's.!! Now...let the crafting commence!

Thanks so much for stopping by...and, as always, thank you sooooo much  for your sweet comments!! They really make me smile!! Have a great week!!

Sugar Nellie "Sneak Peek"...

Check out Sugar Nellie's Blog HERE!

I seriously CAN'T WAIT!!!

Tilda's first day of school...

Can it possibly be the fourth Tuesday of the month ALREADY?!! I believe it IS!! And that means...another fun challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog! That's right...and our very own talented DT sistah, Maria, has challenged us to create a paper project using this fun photograph as our inspiration...

So, this is how it works...you just look at this fun photo. What jumps out at you? Pink and green? Purses? Leather? Bows? Hmmm...so many fun options...there's no right or wrong...just let the spirit move you, so to speak!! I will admit, I was stumped briefly...then my sweet hubby said, "those are preppy colors." (Now for those of you who don't know what "preppy" means...it's a reference to a style commonly seen in prep schools and colleges in the late '60's and early '70's...like boat shoes, argyle sweaters, pink and green, loafers without socks...etc.) So...with my hubby's help, here's what I came up with....

I chose to go with pink and green...and bows...and clearly, this adorable little Tilda is ready for her first day at prep school!! hehehe! OK...I know...it's a stretch! But I really love this little Tilda...she was one of my very FIRST Tildas! I love her short hair...so, so cute!! Her name is "Tilda with pencils"... and you can find her...along with about kabillion other delightfully adorable Tilda & Edwin stamps at Diana's Magnolia-licious online store, my store for all things Magnolia!!

I used Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, and Wild Wasabi cardstock from Stampin' Up. DPs and pearls are from my stash. That luscious ribbon is from Stampin' Up too...it's also Wild Wasabi! I used a Marianne's Creatables die for those cute little leaves....love these! The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps...and the corner embellishment and yummilicious roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts! Here's a peek at the inside...

Now, my crafty friends, you know what comes next, right? It's time for you to pop on over to Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog and see what Maria and the rest of my amazingly talented Design Teamies have created for inspiration. Then...you'll want to join in the fun by making and entering your own creation into this month's Magnolia-licious Inspiration Challenge. Remember, one lucky participant (selected at random) will win a $25.00 gift voucher for a Magnolia-licious Shopping Spree!! Who knows...that lucky person could be YOU!!!

And...that's it for me!! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit...and for leaving such sweet comments. They truly make my day! Maggie hugs...until next time....

Sugar Nellie "Preview" Countdown...

For more info...be sure to check out Sugar Nellie's Blog HERE.