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!

Tilda in Teal...

Hello my darlins!! Can it possibly be the second Tuesday of September ALREADY?!! I believe it IS!! And that means...another fun Color Challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog! (It also means that I've pre-scheduled this post because I'm on vacay in the Carribbean! whoohoo!)

But enough gloating...hehehe!...back to our challenge!! Our very own talented DT sistah, Tracy, has chosen three fun fall colors!! Tracy has challenged us to create a card or 3-D paper project using...

Orange...Teal...and Brown

OK...so...I pulled out my ever-growing Magnolia Stamp collection and chose this adorable Tilda for my card...why? Because our challenge colors remind me of Autumn...and because I am beyond happy that it is finally fall!! And fall is my fave time of year!! This little darlin is "Lovely Tilda"... 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 and Dusty Durango cardstock, some scrumptious fall DPs, and Dusty Durango ribbon -  all from Stampin' Up. The pearls are from my stash...and the flowers are a mix of Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima. The sentiment is from SU. Here's a quick little "artsy" view...

Now, my lovelies...it's time for you to pop on over to Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog and see what Tracy 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 Color 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. I'll see y'all when I get back home from the beach!! Until next time....Mwahhhhhh!

Sugar Nellie Design Team NEWS!!

Hello from the Carribbean!! Don't be jealous...s'posed to rain all week! hehehe!! But it's still awesome to be here!! And, ya know what else is awesome? I've been invited to join Sugar Nellie's Design Team!! It took me less than a nanosecond to say YES!!!! Whoohoo!!

I'm soooooo excited...and so very honored to be joining such a talented group of ladies!! You can check out the new Sugar Nellie Design Team members HERE.  Oh...and this is very exciting too...there are lots of fun new Sugar Nellie stamps scheduled to debut soon...so be sure to visit Sugar Nellie's Blog frequently so that you can be one of the first to order your new Sugar Nellie stamps!! I've seen a few of the new images...and believe me, you will be THRILLED to add them to your collection of Sugar!!! So...until next time...Mwahhh!

Is "chocolate" an attitude?

Oh, yea...most definitely!! hehehe!!

Hey there my lovelies!! It's Thursday already...and that means it's Mo time!! Yep...time for another fun challenge at Mo's DP2 Challenge Blog! I'm delighted that my sweet and talented DT sister, Iulia, has chosen this week's fabulous theme...

Boy Attitude!

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

When I first saw this adorable image by our very own friend and talented artist, Mo Manning, I wondered...boy? or girl? Well...I've decided...either!! Perfect, huh?! So, since I wanted to make a birthday card for my youngest son, I colored the overalls denim...and the shirt and socks lime green...and Voila!!...an adorable "boy" card for Adam, my sweet 33 year-old "baby boy"!! (Adam used to have hair that looked just like this when he was a little guy...and he always woke up with "bed head"! Hehehe!! Soooo cute!!!)

This darling image is called "Chocolate Smile" and is available at Mo's Digi Store HERE. I used Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip cardstock from Stampin' Up...I love the way these colors complement one another and these gorgeous DPs from DCWV's "Flower Shower" Spring collection.

Here's a list of the Copics I used....

E21, 00, 000, 0000: Skin

R20: Cheeks

E 35, 31, 53, 51, 50, & YR20: Hair

B97, 95, 93, 91, & Colorless Blender: Blues

YG25, 23, 21, 000: Shirt & socks

E23, 21, 50: Candy bar

W1, 0, 00: Shadow

That cute sentiment on the front is from Inkadinkado...and the sentiment on the inside came from Stampin' Up. Hardware and ribbon are also from SU.

Now....it's time to visit Mo's Challenge Blog and take a peek at the gorgeous creations by Iulia & the rest of our talented DT!! Now...it's time 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, my darlins! Thanks for stopping by...and thanks so much for your kind comments that truly make me smile from ear to ear!! Have a great week crafting!! Until next time....Mwahhhhhh!

Sugar Bowl Sketch & Scraps!

Hello all my "Sugar Lovin'" friends!! It's time for another fun challenge over at the Sugar Bowl! Our very own talented DT sister, Erika, has given us this clever little sketch to follow...

...with "Use your scraps" as our theme! So...I pulled out one of my very fave Simply Sassy images and got busy sorting through my two HUGE containers of scraps!! This little darlin' is called "Luv a Latte"...and is available at Funky Kits HERE. And here's what I came up with...

All papers are from my scrap box...I do know that the cardstock is Ruby Red, River Rock, and Always Artichoke (from Stampin' Up)...and the DPs are anybody's guess! Hehehehe!! I am the WORST about tapping into my scrap box for projects...I much prefer starting fresh! Hence, TWO full boxes (and I mean BIG boxes) of DP and CS scraps! But, I digress...the ribbon and pearls are from my stash...the sentiment is from a new Stampin' Up set called "Morning Cup"...and the antique-looking hardware is also from SU. I used about a kabillion Copics to color this little darlin'...and a bunch of Prismacolor pencils for deeper shading. Here's an extreme close-up of this "Sassy" little cutie patootie!!

Here are a couple more views...

Here's a peek at the inside...pretty simple...this fun sentiment is from Just-Rite Stamps....

And, of course, the ever popular "artsy fartsy" 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' commence! Thank you so much for stopping by...and for your very kind comments that always make me smile!! Sending sweet hugs...until next time....

My first "Book Box"...

Hi "Sassy" friends! Yep, it's Tuesday again...where do the days go?? Before we know it, it'll be 2012...arrgggh! But first I get to go on vacay...whoohoo!! Oops...I digress!! My head is in the sand these days...Carribbean sand! hehehe!! But before I start packing, it's time for another fun challenge at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog! Once again this week, the very fun and talented Sassy Judy is our hostess...and she'd like us all to make a ...

Candy wrapper, bag, or box!! 

So here's the deal, I generally make cards, not 3-D projects...so I was wracking my brain trying to decide what to make! Well, I finally visited my local craft store and picked up three ready-made boxes (hehehe) that I thought I could decorate. But then I decided it might be fun to make a "Book Box"...and that's exactly what I did!! (Fun...not so much! The "recipe" calls for glue...and I don't do glue!! Toooooo messy!...and sure enough, by the time I was done, I had glue all over my table and my fingers and shirt! LOL!)...and here's my finished product... (I think I cleaned up most of the run-away glue!)....

I chose my very FIRST  Sassy Cheryl digi image...she's called A Big Heart...and she's available from Sassy Cheryl's Digis HERE. I just love her adorable little smile...and those big honkin' feet (they look like my own size 11 feet...hehehe)!! Here's a bit of a side view...you can kinda see the "pages" from this angle...

You can find the "Book Box" tutorial I used HERE. I used Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up) cardstock...and DPs are from The Paper Studio..."A Country Christmas" collection...which I distressed with a bit of Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy distress ink. Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts...and ribbon is from my stash. That fun heart die is from Cheery Lynn Dies. I colored this little darlin' with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils...but lost track of the colors...I was blending colors like a maniac...and by the time I was done, there were seriously about a kabillion markers and pencils on my work table! But I have to admit...I sort of like the way the colors turned out. Here's a peek at the inside...I tossed in some delicious Dove candies...think I'll send this to my sister, Dee. (She's a peeker so she'll know it's coming in the mail as soon as she sees this post!!...and it does no good to tell her not to look because, you guessed it, she's a peeker! LOL!)

OK "Sassy" lovers...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 making your own clever little candy wrapper, bag, or box! 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 kind comments that really make my day! Have a great week...Mwahhhhhh!

Sugar Nellie...Hippity Hop Day 2

Happy Friday my sweet friends!! I'm soooo excited...because today is Day TWO of Sugar Nellie's "Hippity Hop" Blog Hop...featuring Jingle Bells & Tinkle Bells...the 12 fabby new stamps available NOW at Funky Kits HERE!!

Now...if you've arrived here from my sweet and super talented fellow DT Sweetie, Sarah, you're absolutely on the right track!! If, however, you've just happened by, then you will definitely want to pop on over to Sugar Nellie's Blog HERE and begin, as they say, at the beginning!!

OK...are ya ready? Here we go.....meet "Crystal Flakes"....

Crystal Flakes is one of my new faves!! I colored this little sweetie with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils...Barely Banana and Cherry Cobbler Cardstock came from Stampin' Up...DPs are from My Mind's Eye...Laundry Line Collection. Those delicious metal filagree corners came from Wild Orchid Crafts...I made the pointsettia with a Magnolia Doohickey Die...and attached a little rose in the middle...easy peasy! Ribbon and gold "pearls" are from my stash. I added a little "fluff" to Crystal's dress and jacket with Liquid Applique!! The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley. Here are a couple of side-views...

Now it's time to hop on over to visit another of my sweet and talented Sugar Bowl DT sistah's...Maria Therese HERE. I promise you, you will definitely drool over her gorgeous new creation!! Oh...and before I forget...remember, in order to be eligible for some fabby Blog Hop "Sugar", you'll want to be sure to leave a little love (a.k.a. comments...hehehe) along the way!

Sweet, sweet hugs...

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....