Say Cheese...

Good morning!

So, just for the record, I one-hundred percent dislike the new blogger format. I woke up this morning to a totally changed appearance, and although I have TRIED to find something good about it, I can't.  Whew...thanks for letting me get that off my chest.  Would love to know what you think of it!

I decided to try the Wednesday sketch at the Outlawz sketch challenge again, and wanted a simple card for mailing. Oh, how I love to color. It's always fun to get one of the little girlie images out and waste lots of time with markers or colored pencils :)  Today's card uses a C.C. Designs Swiss Pixies image, called 'Camera Birgitta'.

Supplies: Cardstock (unknown), White cardstock (XpressIt Blending), Copic Markers, Pearl Flowers from Michael's $1 bin, Oval Spellbinder's Large, Glossy Accents for glasses and camera lens, DP: My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline".

I'll be entering this card in the Wednesday Challenge at All That Scraps: Anything Goes.

Sure hope your week has gone well, and that you have a nice relaxing weekend in store. I think we do!  

Thanks for stopping by - be sure and put April 25th on your calendars! Creations by AR gals are having a blog hop to showcase two fabulous new templates by Adela - hope to see you here. There will be prizes, as always!

Hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

Easter Emma

Good morning!  I'm locking myself in my girl cave for the day, and working on getting out some cards to some special people.  This card is for a sweet couple from church.  She had knee replacement surgery this week, and he has trouble getting around at all anymore.  They are on my mind, so Emma is going to pay them a visit, and hopefully let them know they are in our thoughts and prayers.  This needed to be very CAS, so I decided to follow the sketch at All That Scraps. As always, I had to turn the sketch! 

The card base is another of the packaged set that I got free last month with my a*muse order. How cool is that? The other dotted piece is also from a*muse - the color is Bermuda.  So pretty!  The stamp is C.C. Designs Sugarplums Easter Emma.  The sentiment is an Amy R. sentiment, also from C.C. Designs. All coloring is done with copics. The striped piece, and solid mat around the image are from Echo Park's 'Summer Days' collection.

 I will be entering this card in the Wednesday Challenge at All That Scraps.

I'm also entering this in the new challenge at Oozak - Anything Goes.  If you haven't ever been to Oozak, it's well worth your time to visit. And how much fun that they have their own challenge now!

HELP!  If any of you have experience in face painting, I'd love for you to drop me an email and give me some tips and pointers!  For example... how many choices should I allow, etc.  DH has graciously volunteered me to work for two days at the elementary schools in the nearby city he works in.  This will be toward the end of the month, so I have some time before I need to hyperventilate!  lol...

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend in store.  Church service on Sunday will be a 6:00 a.m. sunrise service on a lake - it's always a blessing!  We have a shopping trip planned tomorrow - DH needs some new work duds.  Don't know if we'll stay in town and do everything at JCP, or if we will move on... anyway, if I don't get back, have a wonderful Good Friday - hope you are blessed beyond measure!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Patti J.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope that you and your special someone have a nice day today.

We had quite a winter storm yesterday, so I'm in for the day!  DH had an encounter with some black ice on his way home from work last night, and his truck is WAY out of commission, so he has my car.  He's just fine - no injuries to him, just to the truck... can I just say how much I dislike those steel posts and cables in the highway medians?  lol...

The Valentine's card I began yesterday about 4 p.m. was put on hold - well, actually on 'stop'! until this morning.  I have a cute C.C. Designs Trevor (from All That Scraps) to share with you today.  Trevor apparently lives in Florida, or Hawaii, as he's not a bit chilly in his shirt sleeves.  He's on his way to surprise his sweetie with a bouquet of fresh tulips, and he's a bit nervous!  I'm sure his sweetie will love them!

Click to enlarge photos if you wish - I think I finally figured that system out!

Supplies: Tulip Trevor, Sparkle Hearts by Personalized by You (Archiver's), CC Designs Spring Sentiments, Copic Markers, White Vision Pen, My Mind's Eye "Love Me" Collection DP, DCWV Blue CS.

I'm entering this card into the "Anything Goes" challenge at All That Scraps.

I am also entering at "Queen of my Craftroom" - Valentine's Day Card for your Sweetheart

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends!  Thanks for stopping by!

Patti J.

Hi!

Hello, there, and happy Monday!  Wow, it has been a gorgeous weekend in Missouri!  Today is no different.  The sun is shining, and the birds are chirping....sounds and feels like an April day.  Ha ha, I keep wondering what might be around the corner for us!

Today, I have a card for the Wednesday Challenge at the All That Scraps blog.  The challenge is to use blues, browns, and tans, and of course, stamps that can be purchased at All That Scraps.  I thought that Coffee Birgitta, an adorable digi image, would be delightful done in these colors.  Hope you like it!

CS: BoBunny, DP: Simple Stories, Generations, Image: C.C. Designs Coffee Birgitta, Sentiment: Amy R. Designs, C.C. Designs Leafy Branch Punch, C.C. Designs Phlox Flowers Die, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Kaiser Craft Pearls, Copic Markers, Jute, Dimensional squares (Michael's), Stampin'Up Jewelry Tag Punch, and Spellbinder Dies.

I am also entering this card here:

Crazy4Challenges: Layer it on - Use lots and lots of layers & embellies


Hope she brings a smile your way today!  If you have any questions about how this card was created, please let me know!!!  I have a lot going on this week, so posts will be very short and sweet.  I'll fill you in on all the details next week!  Also coming next week is another photo tutorial!

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful day!

Patti J.

A Child is Born...

Hooray for Friday!  

Even an old retiree like me looks forward to the weekends!  

lol...(get to see my handsome man a bit more :)

I have the sweetest card to share today.  I tried very hard to keep this one clean and simple, as I have OODLES of deadlines to meet between now and Monday...

Today's image is a C.C. Designs Swiss Pixie digi image from their October 2011 release.  It's called, "Baby Jesus & Angel" from All That Scraps.  

Supplies: C.C. Designs Digi Image (All That Scraps), Kraft Cardstock, Bo Bunny Snowfall Collection DP, Stampin'Up Seam Binding (thanks Amanda!), Gold Stickles, Baker's Twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Copic Markers

 * * *

The minute I saw this sweet little angel, I knew I'd be buying her!  And how fitting it is that I'm posting this card today, as it is "set up the Nativity Scene on the fireplace mantel" day at our humble abode!  The Nativity is always the first Christmas decoration to go up, followed by the tree, and then 'everything else'.

I've entered very few challenges in the past few months, SO...
I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Just For Fun: Winter

Scrapbook Sisters: Christmas
Craft Your Passion: Tis the Season
The Kraft Journal: Christmas Card
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Anything Christmas
Scrappy Frogs Challenge: Use Kraft
Craft Your Days Away: Bows

I hope that you are enjoying your day, and that you have a wonderful weekend planned.  Tomorrow is the Christmas Open House at the Farmington Pet Adoption Center, so I have a few dozen cookies to bake today. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs and smiles galore,

Patti J.

Food for thought:
Isn't it funny that we spend our health getting wealth;
then gladly pay all we have earned to get our health back???

Thank you to Creative Cuts & More!

Happy Monday - hopefully your weekend was a nice one.  We just BBQ'd, probably for the last time.  It gets pretty brisk and windy up here on our hillside in the colder months.

I'm not sure where the months of September and October have gone.  It seems like just yesterday, I got my order in from Creative Cuts & More, and my two months as guest DT member began.  I want to say that Terri, and her team at CC&M were wonderful to work with.  Their products are outstanding.  I've not found anything yet that was not easy and amazing to create with.  Thank you, everyone at CC&M for making my time so enjoyable!

I have two projects for you today, using their products.  The first is a color-blocked card.  I chose to use the cream base, with an orange grid.  I had a good time testing many of my forgotten stamps, trying to find the right fit for the openings.

Stamps are Inkadinkado and Hero Arts.  Coloring was done using colored pencils and mineral spirits.  The Designer Paper was from an Autumn Mat Stack by DCWV.

This next project was fun to make.  I started with the Apron Die Cut.  Added some great designer paper from The Paper Studio.  Mmmmm....Pumpkin Pie?  Who can resist that?   Added  a Tag Die Cut, a sentiment from Hero Arts, and a bit of green seam binding ribbon from Stampin' Up.

Next, out came the Copics, and Pie Birgitta from C.C. Designs - how perfect is she with the pie papers???  Too much fun!

OOPS!  Looked at my photo just now, and realized that the ribbon on the tag had fallen down for the photo...lol.  Oh well, you get the idea :)

The finished project.

Once again, thanks to Terri, Dawn, and the crew at Creative Cuts & More.  You are the best!

Have a great week, everyone!  I'll be back tomorrow with a CAS card for Christmas!  If you are looking for something that will lay flat for mailing, and mass produce like one, two, three, be sure and check back!

Then, on November 1st, it's New Release Day for Digi's at the Doodle Pantry!!!  Laurie has some amazing new images for you!  Hope to see you on the 1st!

Hugs and smiles,
Patti J.

Food for thought:  You know you're getting older when you are given two choices, and you choose the one that gets you home earlier!  lol.....

Merry Mistletoe and Tulips

Happy Monday!

Hope your week is off to a good start.  No complaints here, except that there aren't enough hours in my days!  lol...

I have a couple of quick cards to show today - I promise not to jabber your ears off.

The first card is a Christmas card, and uses the Merry Mistletoe set from Doodle Pantry.  The blue background paper is from the Merry Mistletoe set. The mat is a silver swirly cardstock from my stash - don't know who makes it, but I thought it would dress up the CAS card a bit.

 

Don't forget that you still have lots of time to enter the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge #17!  Just for entering the challenge, using a Doodle Pantry Image, you will receive the adorable Quirky Penguin set free!

The next card is All That Scraps' C.C. Designs Tulip Trevor taking flowers to his sweetheart.  The background and butterflies (Martha Stewart Punches) are from the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection.

 
All coloring is done with Copic markers. Pearls are Kaiser Crafts.  Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  I am going to enter this card into the All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes.  I will also enter it at Flutterby Wednesday's which is an open challenge this week. Just have butterflies, fairies, or angels on your project!

I want to thank all of you who have been emailing and sending things for the No Kill Shelter's pet themed craft corner.  Every single image, stamp, charm, ribbon, etc., is greatly appreciated!

Have a good week!

Hugs and Blessings Galore,
Patti J.

Food for thought: The 'good old days' were once known as 'these trying times'...

Hansel and Lulu, and a Fall Treat

Goodness, seems like I'm always posting in a hurry.  

Remind me - exactly how did I do this before retirement???

lol...

Well, folks, Happy Wednesday!  

It's overcast and a bit cool here, but not raining yet, which is a very good thing, as our fields are full of cut hay.

We are praying for a few hours of dry around here.

I have to make a road trip for DH, so this will be another short post.

This little fall treat features one of the images from the Clear Dollar Stamps September release.  

Rather than make a card, I decided to make a 'tag' for a caramel apple.  (Mmmmm....caramel apples...).

I printed the image, used an exacto blade to trim the leaf and stem, and carefully folded the CS.

Once I had it how I wanted it, I just trimmed it up and rounded the corners.

Turned out pretty cute!  

If I make them again, I will shorten the sides and do a little sponging or something on them - 

they look like lots of white space!

I think teachers might be tickled to receive something like this.

Especially with one of those really fabulous high end candy apples!

All coloring is with Copic markers, image from Clear Dollar Stamps, apple from Wal-Mart.

*  *  *

Next up is a gift card holder that I made using a tutorial from Grace Nywening, that I found here.

Oh.     My.     Goodness.

What a fun project this was, and Grace's tut was SO easy to follow!

She has such a wonderful blog, full of yummy goodness - you really should check it out!

I chose to use some of my new stamps from C.C. Designs on this card, and an older C.C. Designs sentiment from All That Scraps.

All coloring done with Copics.  CS is Bazzill Basics, DP is Prima Reflections. Stamps and Sunflower Die are from All That Scraps.  Border Punch is Martha Stewart (punched border and cut in half lengthwise).

Meet Hansel and Lulu.  Aren't they just the ca-utest little people?

They were so much fun to color, although when I was uploading and resizing the photos for this blog post, I realized that I quit before doing ANYthing around them...you know, the important things like sky, grass, shadowing....sigh.  I'm so hopeless!  I'll have to be sure that this card goes to a non-artisty type that won't notice anything but the gift card, right?  lol...

Well, that's all I have for you today.  I wish you a day full of happiness and blessings!

I'm off to parts unknown with water samples!!!

Take care,

Patti J.

Food for thought:

It it were not for 'last minute', I'd never get anything done!

Abundant Blessings...

Happy Sunday!

The challenge this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is brought to us by our own PeggySue, who has chosen John 10:10 as our scripture for the week.

"I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly."

PeggySue's challenge to us this week is to:

"Use real or faux stitching, etc., somewhere on our card or project."

I love faux stitching, and as you can see, I've added it everywhere!

(Faux stitching, very abundantly!)

As our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp, I've chosen to use an image that can be found at their fabulous on-line store. You can find C.C. Designs, Nora on a Swing, here. I thought this image was perfect for depicting an abundant life. What could be better than spending an afternoon in all of God's beauty swinging in the breeze, with beautiful butterflies, leaves, and blue skies all around you?

I like to think that when the scripture above refers to having life more abundantly, it's almost like a life 'upgrade'.

For example, we can go to the car dealer on the corner, and purchase a 1970 pickup truck for $100. It will probably get us to our location. However, if we could buy a 2011 Lincoln MKZ for that same $100, it would still get us to our location, but we'd have a bit comfier, and probably much more enjoyable and reliable ride to our destination!

When we are born, we are given life, but when we accept Christ into our lives, our life becomes much more abundant.

Thanks, PeggySue, for really giving me some food for thought this week. This was a very interesting verse when studied from beginning to end.

For this week's full devotional by PeggySue, and for all of the challenge details, please visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.

Hugs and Blessings,

Patti J.

Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, EK Success Border Punch, C.C. Designs Image, Ribbon and Flowers from Michael's, Koh-I-Noor Colored Pencils and LOMS, Zig Millenium Pen for 'stitching'.

Pretty in Pink!

There's a new challenge blog in town!!!

Woot woot!

I'm sure that you are all familiar with shopping at 7 Kids College Fund.... well, hold onto your socks, dear friends, because they now have a challenge blog!!!

My card today is for the new challenge.

Today's challenge is: Pink and Dots, and you need to use an image you can find in the 7 Kids store.

Head over and check it out - the DT work is incredible, lots of great inspiration all in one place!

Meet "Spring Emma", by C.C. Designs. Isn't she precious? And, OMG, it was so much fun to pair her up with PINK!!!

Now, you will note that Emma is blonde....that's because, I only have ONE hair colored Copic marker, and it happens to be yellow! I also only happen to have one pink, one blue, and one skin tone, so don't be too hard on my coloring today! I also just noted that I forgot to add a white dot to her cheeks! I meant to do so!!!

I will also enter this card here:

Flutter By Wednesdays: Butterfly, Fairy, or Angel, AND your favorite color

Creative Card Crew: Cute and Girly

Fab 'n Funky: Spotty, Dotty, and Stretchy Stripes

Paper Play Challenges: Anything Goes

Dutch Dare: Anything Goes

Hope your Wednesday is delightful!

Hugs,

Patti J.