Who knew?

OK...so, it seems that the Totally Tilda Challenge is for Tildas ONLY! Well...call me a rebel...I submitted my little Tummy Ache Edwin. LOL! Seriously...I had no idea. Maybe someone out there should do an Everything Edwin challenge someday! hahaha! Poor little guy...I'm sure he feels totally neglected! :-(

So...a quick "hi" from St. Maarten...we're having a great time. My sweet hubby decided he'd marry me again ... so he bought me a new wedding band...for the next 5 years! This one even has some gorgeous diamonds in it! Oooohhhh ...I am so spoiled! Better run...so much to do and never enough time!! See y'all soon. Pat

Green apples...

Hi fellow bloggers...I'm getting ready to go on vacay...but wanted to make one more card before I go! (Am I crazy or what?!) Wanna know something even crazier? I stamped a bunch of Tildas and one little Edwin...and am packing them and my distress inks to take on my trip! I'll miss my Copics...but this will force me to practice with DIs! So, here's little Edwin...who thought eating green apples was a great idea...until he got a tummy ache!! Poor little fella! So...here's my recipe for this little "feel better soon" card:

Cardstock: Certainly Celery & Whisper White (SU)
DPs: Imagininsce "Apple Cider"
Copic Sketch Markers (I didn't keep track...they were flying fast & furious!)
Green & Red apple brads (which I found at my local Michael's)
Ribbon, twine, & buttons: my stash
Nestabilities (Peony) & Sizzix (flower) dies
Sentiment: A Muse art stamps
More Mustard ink from SU to edge around Edwin, Ruby Red ink (from SU) for sentiment
Tim Holtz distress tool to rough up the paper edges a bit
Frayed Burlap distress ink for distressed edges of paper & flower
I also used a little glossy accents on the apples


I am entering this cute little Edwin card in these challenges:
7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog (Fall Theme) HERE
Just Magnolia (Lace it up...because I "laced" twine in the corner of the card!) HERE
Totally Tilda (Make your own flower) HERE
Magnolia-licious Highlites (Bats & Brooms/fall theme) HERE

Thanks for stopping by...and for all of your lovely comments. See you soon. Pat

Autumn Days...

Hi fellow Magnolia lovers! Well, here we are, well into another fabulous weekend!! And the temps are finally getting a little cooler (OK, in the high-80's in VA...but that's cooler! LOL)...and in just a couple of days it'll be officially fall...coincindentally, it also happens to be almost time for DH and I to go on vacay! Yep...in just a few days, we'll be sitting at our fave beach in the Caribbean! YAY!! But for right now, I'm thinking thoughts of Autumn. Now, it couldn't possibly have anything to do with all those darling Autumn Magnolia stamps I just ordered...or the fact that I just received my new Autumn Magnolia Ink mag...nope!! I LOVE this time of year!! So...I just had to dig out some fall papers and make a litle Tilda card enjoying the fall leaves!!
Here's the recipe:

Cardstock: Very Vanilla (SU)
DPs: From Recollections - Autumn collection (got it last year from Michael's)
Punches: MS maple leaf
Dies: Spellbinders...plus Magnolia Doohickeys (lacy flower, leaf, & lace edge)
Sentiment: JustRite stamps (stamped with Dusty Durango ink from SU)
Baubles: Stampingbella
Button, rope, & charm: my stash
Copics: E13, 11, 00, 000, 0000 (skin), R20 (cheeks), E25, 99, 33, YR21 & 20 (hair), R02, 01, 00, 000 & E08 (shirt), B97, 95, 93, 91, 41, & 0000 (overalls), E37, 35, 33, 30 (boots)...and a few dots of Sharpie Extra fine point poster paint.

I am entering this little card in the following challenges:

7 Kids College Fund Challenge # 4 (theme: fall) HERE
Totally Tilda - challenge # 5 (theme: make your own flower) HERE
Just Magnolia (theme: lace it up) HERE

Thanks so much, friends, for stopping by for a peek. And thanks for taking time to leave comments...I really do love hearing from all of you!! See you soon. Pat

Sweetie DT Entry # 2

Hi friends...well, the work week is just about over for me...and I'm really looking forward to some "down time" this weekend...to read and craft and maybe even catch a nap or two!! We have lots going on around here getting ready for our vacation. DH and I go to St. Maarten every year...so you can bet we're watching the hurricane activity in the Atlantic verrrrry closely!! So keep your fingers crossed that all the weather excitement stays far, far away from St. Maarten!

I mentioned a couple of days ago that Sugar Nellie is searching for some new "Sweeties" DT members. I would love, love, LOVE to join that uber talented group of designers...I seriously love using Sugar Nellie stamps! So...I thought I'd try my luck again and send in a second entry (here) ...using a darling stamp called "Daisy & Dolly"...an image created in 2009 by Elizabeth Bell for Sugar Nellie. Little Daisy reminded me of our 4 grandaughters...each and every one is so incredibly adorable. They're all in AZ and...I love and miss them all!! So this is a "virtual hug" going out to all four of our "princessas"...and another snuggle-bug hug going out to our handome little grandson Brody!

Here's the recipe for this little creation:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip (SU), and blue (Bazzill)
DPs: Jack n' Jill collection from Prima
MS leaf and lace edge punch, and SU circle punches
Lace, tulle, & pearls from my stash
Flowers & pearl spray: Wild Orchids Crafts
Sentiment: JustRite Stamps
Copics: E13, 11, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks); R02, 01, 00, 000 (shirt), B91, 52, 02, 00, 000, 0000 (pants); G20, 24, 28, R27, 22, 20 (hair ornament); R27, 22, 20 (dolly's dress); E25, 33, 99, YR21 & 20 (hair); C7, 5, 3 (dolly's shoes).
I used Chocolate Chip ink from SU for the sentiment.

Thank you all for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this sweet little "I miss you ooooodles" card! Have a great rest of the evening/night/day wherever you are!! See you soon. Pat

Happy birthday to you...happy birthday to you....

Just wanted to post a happy b-day message for my sweet hubby...and I know he'll see this because I just figured out how a person can sign up for email updates of my blog posts! Whooohoooo! (I think). You don't even know how challenging this was for me...being all but computer illiterate, y'know!! (A special thanks to my friend and fellow Virginian, Suzanne Dean for your help on this!) Oh...and guess what? I just subscribed w/my hubby's email address to see if it works! ROTFLMBO!! So, if I did it right, he should get this little Happy B-Day message!! That's all for now...I am going to give him the special Pirate Edwin b-day card I made for him ages ago! I can't even believe I've kept it a secret!! hehehe. Have a beautiful evening/night/day wherever you are! See you soooooooooooooooooooon! Pat

7 Kids College Fund Challenge # 3

Hi friends. First, I have to send out a great big THANKS to the DT over at "7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog" for choosing my 2 entries to be in the Top 3 for the # 2 Challenge! Yikes! I can't tell you how thrilled I am!! Oh, and my sister loved the cards...and I hope the friends she gives them to will cherish them!

So...down to new business! This card features "Antoinette" from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. She's available here at 7 Kids College Fund. I just love all of the Kraftin' Kimmie images...they're so whimsical! When you have a chance, pop on over to "7 Kids" and take a look...and don't forget to say "hi" to Tab while you're there! I'm entering this card in 7 Kids College Fund Challenge # 3 here. The challenge was to follow this recipe:
1 image from 7 Kids (easy cheesy!)
2 DPs (only TWO?!)
3 flowers (really? Just 3?)
1 sparkly something (I'm pretty sure Stickles don't count! LOL) So...I decided to get a jump start on some holiday cards...although many of my online friends are well into their holiday cardmaking!! For me, since it's only September, this IS getting a jump start!! hehe! So here's how I made this little card:

Cardstock: Rose Red & Very Vanilla (SU)
DPs: October Afternoon & My Mind's Eye
Prima Flowers: from 7 Kids
Flourish: Sizzix
Edging & inside tag: Magnolia Doo-hickeys
Ribbon, pink diamond (just kidding!...it's a rhinestone!) & Charm: my stash
Sentiment: JustRite Stamps (these are soooo cool!)
Copics: E11, 00, 000, 0000 (skin), R20 (cheeks), E25, 31, 50 & YR20 (hair), R02, 000, 0000, RV10, 00, 0000 (dress & scarf) C5 & 3 (skate blades), C1 & 00 (shadow), BG000 & 0000 (ice & fur).
MS punches - snowflake & leaves
Flower Soft (I used it for the fur) & lots of Stickles

I sure had fun making this card...and I hope you enjoyed looking. Please stop by soon to see what new "mischief" I've been up to! Pat

Sugar Nellie Search for "Sweeties"...

Hi friends! Today I have the most darling little card - it's a b-day card for my mother-in-law's 91st b-day on Oct. 4th. She's probably the coolest lady I know. And I'm so blessed to be part of her family! I found this adorable little stamp by Elizabeth Bell at Sugar Nellie's online store and thought she would be perfect with the Apple Cider DP my sweet friend, Sandy, gave me. I'd love to be on Sugar Nellie's Design Team...they're called "Sweeties"...and I think I'd be a great addition to their very talented design team so I'm going to give it a try! You can see the other fabulous entries here. And you can visit Sugar Nellie Stamps here. They're such fun!!


So here's my recipe:

Cardstock: Very Vanilla & Ruby Red by SU
DPs: Apple Cider by Imaginisce
Sentiments: Stamping Bella (front), JustRite Stamps (inside) w/Ruby Red ink (SU)
Roses: Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon, baubles, & charm: my stash
Nestabilities dies & Cuttlebug
More mustard ink (SU) for edges of image
Copics: E13,11, 00, 000, 0000 (skin), E25, 99, 33, YR21 & 20 (hair), YR24, 23, 21, 20 (hat) Y17, 21, & YR 16 (flowers), G20, 24, 28 (leaves), R27, 24, 22, 20 (shirt & ribbon), R24, 22, 20, G20 & 24 (apples), B97, 95, 93, 91, 000, 0000 (overalls), E59, 55, 453, 50 (basket), & glossy accents on apples!

I hope you enjoy this sweet "little work of heart"...and do stop over at Sugar Nellie and check out some of their darling stamps!! Thanks so much for stopping by. See you soon...Pat

My "little" sailor...

Hi everyone...well, you saw the b-day card I made for Adam (my youngest who will be 32 on Saturday!)...now here's a card for my oldest son, Andrew. He'll be 35 on Oct. 2nd. I wanted to get it in the mail BEFORE his birthday! My kids give me such grief because I'm ALWAYS late sending out birthday cards! So he'll be surprised to get this early!! hehehe!
So, this little image of Edwin is perfect for my "little" Andrew (who is 6 ft. 3 in. tall and is a body builder!). Andy was in the Navy for several years and traveled all over the world on the destroyer U.S.S. Gonzalez. My little boy "grew up" in the Navy...and I'm so proud of him having served his country...and of the friend, husband, and father he's become! Happy early b-day, Andy!


Here's the recipe:
Cardstock: SU white & navy
DP: Magnolia
Copics: (see pic)
Crackle accents applied to porthole
Glossy accents on shoes & anchor
Rope & Charm: my stash
Sentiment & ticket stamp/die: Tim Holtz Thanks so much for stopping by...and don't forget to scroll down to see my newly organized craftroom! YAY!! Pat

Guess what I've been doing?!

Hi friends...my cardmaking has taken a bit of a back seat to another project...my craftroom! Yes, it's true...I could no longer see the carpet! Seriously, I had piles and piles of cardstock and DPs all over the floor. So, after seeing my sweet friend, Sandy's craftroom, I was motivated to get organized...I regret that I didn't take a "before" shot...but, honestly, I would have been far too embarrassed to post it!

Instead, you can see the "after" pics.
My sweet hubby patiently put together all of these cubicles...and I'm quite pleased with the end result. Except for one thing...I can't remember where I put things! LOL!! Pat

Happiness...is in the journey....

Hi friends...oh my, what a busy weekend we've had so far. Our dearest friends from Chattanooga, TN, came for a visit. We all went to the Jimmy Buffet concert on Thursday...and we had such a fun time! Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and our friends had to go back home. No worries...we're already planning next year's visit!

Now my house is quiet once again and I'm contemplating the chaos that has become my craftroom. I purchased some new shelving and storage units...so I'll be working on organizing the insanity!! I have so many beautiful DPs and packages of cardstock and flowers, etc., and I can't find any of it! So, the time has come to do something about it! BUT,,,before I could start, I needed to finish a card that I started last Sunday! YIKES!!

After seeing Magnolia's new Autumn Collection, I was inspired to make something a little fall-ish. Here's what I came up with. It's all buttons and bows...no flowers! (A real departure for me...since I love flowers!)
Here's the "recipe":

Cardstock: "Crumb Cake" by SU
DPs: K & Company
Ribbon: Bravo Burgundy grosgrain by SU
Sentiment: SU (from an old, old set I located in my crazy craftroom!)
Copics: E13, 11, 00, 000, 0000(skin), R20 (cheeks), E25, 99, 33, & YR21, 20 (hair), E57, 53, 50, 35 (suitcase), G99, 21, 20, YG63 (dress & hat), R89, 85, 83, G20, 24, 28 (flower), C7, 5, 3, 1 (shoes), C0, 00 (anklets & lace trim), W2 & 3 (to soften the greens a bit).

Thanks so much for stopping by...I'll see you soon! Pat

I'm surrounded by talent...

Hi everyone...just a quick post as I sit here in my craftroom contemplating my next card...hmmmm...hmmmm...hmmmm <-- that's me "contemplating!! LOL!

So, seriously, I have a couple of cards I need to post...the first is a card that my sweet "baby" sister, Dee, (you've seen me mention her here a time or two!) made for my birthday last year. I am only giving you a "sample" of the card...well, it's a booklet really. Filled with glitter (arrgghh...she hadn't yet discovered Stickles glitter glue!) and macaroni and dog bones...well, take a peek. I think it's clear that talent runs in our family!! I love this card and have it prominently displayed in my craftroom for inspiration. My sister is a sweetheart...and I love her bunches! I wish we lived closer...she's in Minn. where it's frickin' frackin' freezin' most of the year...except when it's really, really hot and humid and you get eaten alive by the state bird...the MOSQUITO!! LOL!



Now, this next card is from my sweet Mountain Mama friend in NC. She doesn't have her own blog yet...but I just had to post this beautiful Copic-colored creation!! There's a bit of a story behind this card...suffice it to say, it's perfect for me! Have I mentioned that my hubby and I go to St. Martin for vacation every year? We quite enjoy the beaches!! Thank you Sandy, you're a doll and I can't wait to visit you in NC...I'm dying to spend time in that gorgeous craftroom of yours!!




OK folks, that's it for now...time for me to do some coloring! Catcha soon. Pat

Pen Pals & Pearls...

Hi Friends! It's Monday evening and I have a really fun week coming up. We have some very good friends from Chatanooga, TN, flying into Richmond for a visit. We're all going to don grass skirts and coconut bras and head up to Manassas, VA, to the Jimmy Buffet concert along with about a kabillion other "Parrotheads"!! So, it'll be a short work week for me...and then, on top of that, I've got a 5-day weekend. Wooohoooooo!! Crafting time again!!! hehehe! So here's a cute little Sugar Nellie stamp...made by Elizabeth Bell. I think these little girls are just tooooooo cute!! I used Pretty in Pink from SU and some Neenah white cardstock, then I added DPs from Papermania called "Rose Garden" (this was a gift from my sweet "Mountain Mama" friend in NC). Copics used were: E11, 00, 000, 0000 (skin); R20 (cheeks); G20, 24, 28(leaves in her hair); E19, 15, 11, YR21 & 20 (hair); BG72, 10, 0000 (shirt and hair scarf); R81, 83, 85, RV10, 0000 (pants); R21, 24, 27 (flowers in hair). I also used Prima roses, dotted swiss ribbon & Mikimoto pearls from my stash! I also used my trusty little Cuttlebug and a trellis MS punch.

So...I thought I'd enter this little sweetie into challenge #42 over at Sugar Nellie's Blog HERE. The theme is "pearls" and this fun sketch is from Lillian. Thanks so much for visiting my blog...hope to see you all soon. Pat

Happy Birthday Adam!

Hi friends...I hope you're having a fabulous weekend...I know I am...I've been hiding out in my fave room of the house...my craftroom!! Today's post is a card that I made for my "baby's" birthday! Adam will be 32 on Sept. 11th...and I'm trying to get a jump start on some of the cards I must get done before I go on vacation...to bask in the sun on the beaches in St. Martin! So this little image is from LOTV...and I'm entering the card into their Thursday Challenge..."Let's go dotty for circles" HERE. Their images are among my faves...probably because I love cute little kiddos! And, as I've said before..."so many adorable stamps, and so little time!"

I have to admit, I always struggle a bit with "boy" cards...hope Adam doesn't think the bows are too "girly"...but, hey, at least I didn't put a bouquet of flowers on it like I do most of my cards! hehehe!! So, here's the recipe for this cute little b-day card for my very cute "not so little boy":

Cardstock: Very Vanilla (SU) and some green cardstock from my stash
DPs: K & Company - Hopscotch collection
Sentiment: Hampton Art
Ribbon: Dusty Durango - retired from SU
Charm & buttons: stash
Cuttlebug & Spellbinders dies
Copics:
E 0000, 000, 00, 11, 25, 33, 99
G 20, 21, 24, 28, 40
YR 12, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21
Y 13, 00
R 20
B 0000, 91, 93, 95, 97
C 00, 0, 01 (shadow)
W00 (to tone down the colors a bit)

Soooo, happy b-day Adam...I'm so proud of the man you've become...and so grateful that you had the good sense to marry the perfect young woman...and have two absolutely stunning daughters...Ava & Mia, who I cherish!

Thanks friends for stopping by...see you soon. Pat

Jan & Phillip...

Hi friends...today's post is another card for my sister, Dee, to give her dear friend, Jan, whose husband just passed away. They had been married 50+ years and had taken care of each other for all those years. I told Dee that I wanted to make a very special card for her to give Jan...and here it is. Here's the recipe:

Stamp: Jack & Ginger by Mo Manning (available at 7 Kids College Fund)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla by Stampin Up
DPs: by Laura Ashley
Pearl embellishments: Zva also from 7 Kids College Fund
Roses: Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon & charm: stash
Sentiment: Inkadinkado
Copic Sketch markers & Flower Soft
MS punches, Nestabilieis, & Cuttlebug

I hope my sister likes it...and, most importantly, I hope Jan finds comfort in the fact that she has good friends like Dee to help her get through this very difficult time in her life.

I've decided to enter this card into 7 Kids College Fund Challenge # 2 HERE. Thanks for stopping by. Pat

Miranda's wedding...

Hi friends...I feel so honored to have been asked by my sister to make this card. Well, actually, I think I sort of strong-armed my sister into asking me (LOL). Dee's best friend, Sue, died several years ago after battling breast cancer...leaving a young daughter, Miranda, and 2 young sons. Sue's little girl is now a lovely young woman...and she's getting married in a few weeks! Now, I never actually met Sue, but I know my sister loved her...and I love my sister...so making this card for my sister to give to Sue's daughter was very special for me. I have decided to enter Miranda's card in this week's Just Magnolia "Let's get sentimental" Challenge HERE. I am also entering this card into 7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog - challenge #2 "Strip it down" HERE. I really enjoyed making this special card...thanks for stopping by for a peek. Pat