Happy Halloween!

Just a quick step card with cutouts made with my Silhouette.  Have a fun and safe fright night everyone!

Happy Halloween!

From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge 40 - Autumn Flower Jar

Happy Monday!  Today's card features the From the Heart Stamps image Autumn Flower Jar, and was designed using the FTHS Sketch #40.  Love this image for Fall cards!  The variety of leaves and flowers really allows your creativity to play.  As for the Sketch, it was a definitely a challenge for me.  So unusual and tough for me to envision.  However, I didn't give up, and am quite pleased with the results!

For this card, my recipe is:
Image: Autumn Flower Jar
Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Bella Blvd Thankful patterned papers
Coloring Medium: Copics
Other Supplies: Momenta Wooden Leaves, Reflections Rhinestones
Special Techniques: Chalked image background

Hope you play along with the design team at the From the Heart Stamps blog.  Remember, EVERYONE who enters will receive $1 credit to the From the Heart Stamps digital store.  Use it as a discount, or save the credits up to earn a free stamp.  Linky will close on Sunday at 10 pm CST.

Update on Hubby's Father:  He is still in the hospital.  One day he appears to be getting stronger; the next he's not able to feed himself or get out of bed unassisted; then cycle begins again.  Hopeful today will bring some more definitive answers about his condition and prognosis.  Thank you for your kind words of support, and keeping us in your prayers.

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Noel

Another Friday down and only eight more until Christmas!  So, why not take advantage of the Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge this week and create another Christmas card to mark off your list?  The image I've used on this card was a freebie from Dover Publications.  They offer many free coloring pages/images on their website.  Definitely worth a look.

There is not a lot of alcohol maker use on this card, but enough to meet the challenge I think.  The silver swirl on the middle box is colored with a Clear Sakura Gelly Roll pen.  I chalked the green background to pop the white boxes.  The greenery sprigs were made with a CC designs holly die.  A big red bow and a Noel sticker complete the card. 

Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge!  Christmas is almost here and you are running out of time to complete enough cards for all those lovely special people on your Christmas list (did I use the appropriate amount of prodding, hehe?)!

Sorry I haven't been to visit your blogs.  This is on auto post.  Will type an update on Greg's father when time allows.  Thank you for leaving comments even though I am not currently returning the favor!

Sweet November October 2013 Review - Gingy Candy Cane Heart

Popping in for a quick post as I didn't want to miss this month's Sweet November Review!  I adore the cute Gingerbread men Amy created this month, and had to color up Gingy Candy Cane Heart at least one more time!

This time I colored Gingy up a little darker and used some very old Doodlebug Christmas papers I had in my stash (2009...yikes!).  While I love the new Doodlebug Christmas papers, I kinda miss the pink from years past.  This year's additional color is silver...not bad...but not a happy color like pink!  Please check out the rest of the Sweet November Review at C.C. Designs!

Thank you for your prayers for my FIL and the rest of our family!  We truly appreciate them!

From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge 39 - Hoppy Christmas

It's Monday, and time for another fun From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge!  The image I used for this card is Hoppy Christmas.  My daughter adores frogs, so guess whose Christmas card this is?  But shhhhh...don't tell her!  Thankfully she doesn't read my blog..."Boring" as she calls it, lol.  Hopefully she won't think the card is boring as this little frog is too adorable to be anything but fun and fabulous.

 
Sketch #39 looks good no matter which way you rotate it.  I've used it as drawn, but I've already got ideas for cards using the sketch with a quarter turn, half turn, and three quarters turn.

For this card, my recipe is:
Paper:  Bazzill cardstock, Echo Park Reflections Christmas (I used the digi version from Jessica Sprague's online shop)
Coloring Medium:  Copics
Other Supplies:  Queen and Co Berry Red Pearls, Quickutz holly die

Hope you play along with the design team at the From the Heart Stamps blog.  Remember, EVERYONE who enters will receive $1 credit to the From the Heart Stamps digital store.  Use it as a discount, or save the credits up to earn a free stamp.  Linky will close on Sunday at 10 pm CST.

Just a brief heads up...I won't be around much for awhile other than fulfilling my DT duties.  My husband's father is not well.  Family is arriving Wednesday and as of now, my time will be devoted to being there for my husband, hosting family, and doing whatever I can to help them through this difficult time.  Sorry I will not be visiting your blogs, but I feel certain you will understand.  I'll be back when I can.  Hugs to all.

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Trick or Treat

It's Friday!  And I'm hosting this week's Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenge!  We have a color theme for you this week using one of the fabulous color palettes from Design Seeds.  The palette is Sushi Hues 3. Although when I saw it, I immediately thought Halloween rather than sushi.  What?  Me not thinking about food?  How did that happen?  Must be the time of year...holiday vibes are in the air!  So, my card is all about Halloween!  I used the adorable A Day for Daisies image Cat for Halloween, and a combo of misc. Halloween papers.

Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge!  Looking forward to seeing your cards/projects with this color combo.   Enjoy your weekend!

FTHS October Stamp of the Month Challenge - Mid Month Reminder

Goodness!  Wasn't the title of today's post a mouthful?!  Try saying that phrase 3 times fast, hehe!  I'm here to remind you (as mentioned in the title) to join us in the FTHS October Stamp of the Month Challenge. 

If you played along in the challenge last month, you were emailed this image for FREE! If you missed out, you can still play along with the challenge by purchasing the image, Harvest Medley. Then you can enter the challenge and receive next month’s digi free. OR if you spend $10 in the From The Heart Stamps store this month, you can enter code HARVEST to receive this as a free gift. (Make sure your purchase doesn’t include this image or you will receive 2).  

I love how Faith integrated the quote by Robert Louis Stevenson as part of the design for this image.  It makes creating cards so much more pleasurable when I do not have to search for a sentiment to add (one of my least favorite aspects of card making).  

This image was so enjoyable to color!  I used my Copics to color around the objects prior to coloring the objects in the event I didn't like the effect or had an oops moment.  The patterned papers are from the Happy Harvest collection from my favorite company, Doodlebug Design Inc.  Adding an orange ribbon and bow from Reasonable Ribbon completed this card.

Hope to see your creations using Harvest Medley in this month's Challenge!

 

From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge 38

Hello All!  I'm here today with this week's From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge #38 card.  There is no wedding on the horizon at the moment, so I'll be putting this card in my stash. 

The image is True Love and can be found here.

And the Sketch is no. 38

For this card, my recipe is:
Paper:  Bazzill cardstock, Doodlebug Cap and Gown, and unnamed clearance remnant
Coloring Medium:  Copics
Other Supplies:  Rub ons - Bellisimo and Die Cuts with a View, Really Reasonable Ribbon, Dress it Up Wedding Florals wedding rings, Modern Romance Floral Accents lilies, Modern Romance Tulle veil
Special Techniques:  Her veil has Stickles added for sparkle.  A piece of tulle was cut, gathered at one end, and attached with a glue dot.  Rub-ons were used to create the dotted boxes.

Hope you play along with the design team at the From the Heart Stamps blog.  Remember, EVERYONE who enters will receive $1 credit to the From the Heart Stamps digital store.  Use it as a discount, or save the credits up to earn a free stamp.  Linky will close on Sunday at 10 pm CST.

Thank you for visiting and welcome to my new followers!  See you on Friday for the Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers Challenge!

Guest DT for Quirky Crafts Challenge #21

Happy Sunday!  Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!  It's a quiet day for us watching football and having my mother over for dinner.  Greg is cooking a chicken recipe Mom posted on her Facebook page with the caption "Someone needs to cook this for me".  Was that subtle or what, lol?

Anyway, if you recall, back in September I entered a Quirky Crafts Challenge with my Konnichiwa card and won!  Cazzy asked if I would consider doing a guest stint for them, so I'm here today as a Guest DT for Quirky Crafts Challenge #21 with the theme of Favorites.  This adorable image was provided to me from Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps.  How does this card meet the challenge of favorites you ask?

Let me count the ways!
1.  little girls' hair worn in doggy ears (too darn cute!)
2.  cooking (I'm a passionate cook)
3.  green (my color)
4.  chocolate chip cookies (yummy)
5.  shoes with embellishments (thankfully they still make sandals for women with flowers on them, lol)
6.  Copic markers (the ultimate marker!)

When you get a moment, please go check out the Quirky Crafts Challenge blog.  The theme of "Favorites" should make it easy for anyone to participate!  See you tomorrow with another From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge!

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Faith

TGIF!  Today at the Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge our theme is Awareness.  While there are many Awareness campaigns out there, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Even the NFL teams are supporting this campaign with the wearing of pink shoes, gloves, towels, etc.  Thankfully, my immediate family has good breast health.  However, a dear friend of mine was diagnosed last year, and this summer WON a long battle with this horrible disease.  Through it all...the chemo, the radiation, the surgeries, the reconstruction...she remained positive and courageous.  And most importantly she kept her faith.  So, Kara, my dear friend, this card is a tribute to you (even though you said you didn't want any "pink" stuff or inspirational cards).  So happy you are still in this world with us!  By your actions, you are a true testament to Faith.

This stunning image is from Ike's World (Suzy offered it as a freebie to play in her challenge).  I'm still in awe of the strength and beauty in this image.  To stay away from the "girlie" pink that Kara so detests, I went for the hot pink in the Lola & Luca paper pack from The Paper Studio.  No embellishments were needed.  I added the word Faith and the card was complete.

Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge, and support your chosen Awareness campaign!

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll see you Sunday with a surprise post!

From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge 37

Happy Monday!  Did you have a fun weekend?  We had a quiet weekend with lots of football watching.  Mixed bag of winners and losers this week, so we had both happy and disappointing moments.  But life is good!  The humidity is beginning to ease, and the store shelves are stocked with holiday items.  Speaking of holidays...are you ready to see another Christmas card?

Today's card is my second as a new DT member for From the Heart Stamps!

The image is Seven Christmas Birds (so adorable and fun to color). 

 

And the sketch is no. 37 (versatile and easy to execute).

Do not be surprised if you see this image and this sketch again on my blog (not necessarily together in the same card).  After the image was colored with Copics, this card came together rather quickly.  A My Favorite Things die cut snowflake, that I glittered with Stickles, and a red pearl were all that was needed to complete the design.

Hope you play along with the design team at the From the Heart Stamps blog.  Remember, EVERYONE who enters will receive $1 credit to the From the Heart Stamps digital store.  Use it as a discount, or save the credits up to earn a free stamp.  Linky will close on Sunday at 10 pm CST.

Thank you for stopping by, and I'll see you on Friday for the Outlawz Friday Alcohol Markers Challenge!

From the Heart Stamps Blog Hop and My Big News

Welcome to our From the Heart Stamps blog hop!

We are welcoming fall today as well as welcoming some new team members!  And my big news is....drum roll please...I'm one of the new design team members!!!  I've admired Faith's drawings for quite awhile, and have participated in a few of her monthly free image challenges.  When she issued a call for new DT members, I waffled over entering, but could not resist the urge.  Yippee!  I was chosen to serve a 6 month term, and it begins today with this blog hop!

As you hop along, please leave a comment on each entry. One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win the image that the designer used. And additionally, one commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $5 gift voucher to the store!

If you have arrived from Lyn's blog, you are in the right place, if not why don’t you start on the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything.

Here is my project, using Happy Harvest which you can find here in the shop.  This card is a bit of a departure from my norm.  I printed the image on a marbled cardstock rather than Copic X-Press and in medium brown rather than the standard black.  I also used Prisma Pencils rather than my Copics.  The muted tones give the card more of an Autumn vibe, in my humble opinion.

Now head over to Wendy's blog and see what she has created.

Thanks for hopping with us today. The hop will end on Monday October 7th at 6am, EST. Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday October 9th.

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Here's a Bear Hug

Hi!  This is the first of two posts for me today.  Can you believe I have two posts for today?  Yes, it's true!  This post is for the Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge where our theme this week is World Animal Day and featuring an animal.  Of course Pandas immediately came to mind, and this image by A Day for Daisies, Comfort, was a favorite the minute I saw it.

For the background paper I used a bamboo stalk image.  After replicating it multiple times, I altered the color, shrunk, enlarged, flipped, and digitally layered the images to create a bamboo thicket.  I also printed out several pieces, fussy cut them, and adhered them over the top of the background to create some additional dimension.

Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge, and show us your animals!  

Sweet November October 2013 Release Preview - Day Three

Today is a sniffle day.  These are the final two Gingerbread Men, Gingy Icing and Gingy Rolling Pin....sigh, sniffle, sigh.  I've had so much fun coloring and creating with these stamps, I'm sad there are not more.  However, I'm going to buck up, celebrate my good fortune at being a part of this release preview, and smile at the happy little faces on these two Gingys!

I did something a bit different for Gingy Icing.  I printed him in brown on a cream background rather than printing him in black on a white background.  With the yellowed antique look of the October Afternoon Very Merry paper, I thought the brown would create a softer look.  The holly was made using a Joanna Sheen Signature Die.

There is a story behind my choice of colors for the rolling pin on the next card.  My grandmother's rolling pin had tealy green handles, so I used teal for Gingy Rolling Pin.  While my grandmother's rolling pin (which my mother used while I was growing up, and I've used, and will be passed to my daughter....when I can bear to part with it) has a tan barrel, I took some liberties with the color.  To pop the Gingy, I used light teal rather than the tan.  The cookie patterned paper is from K&Company.  A red ribbon, red bow, and red twinkle goosebumps complete the card.

Please visit Amy's blog and Nancy's blog to see what they've created with these two sweet gingerbread men.  We adore reading your comments, and Amy, generous as always, has candy!  She'll be drawing names from a hat, and you can increase your chances of winning by commenting on all three of our blogs.  These two cuties, along with three others will be available for sale tomorrow at C.C. Designs.
 

Sweet November October 2013 Release Preview - Day Two

How about a "two-fer" today?  Yep, you get to see two previews today!  Gingy Gumdrop and Gingy Popcorn Garland are our stars today!  For Gingy Gumdrop, to coordinate with this awesome paper from the American Crafts' Merrymint collection, I used more yellow tones.  When my mom saw the card, she exclaimed, "he's unbaked!"  Lol, no, he's a sugar cookie rather than a gingerbread!

For Gingy Popcorn Garland I created a popcorn and cranberry strand to use as an embellishment.  The popped corn kernels were hand cut and the cranberries were punched out.  I glued them on a length of black thread, then attached the whole strand to the card with glue dots.

Please visit Amy's blog and Nancy's blog to see what they've created with these two sweet gingerbread men.  We adore reading your comments, and Amy, generous as always, has candy!  She'll be drawing names from a hat, and you can increase your chances of winning by commenting on all three of our blogs.  These two cuties, along with three others will be available for sale at C.C. Designs on October 3rd.