Nice to Meet You....

Good morning, and Happy Sunday.  Our weekend was nice and quiet - got to visit with my friend Shirley at her a*muse open house on Saturday, and we had a very nice Palm Sunday service in church today.  The weather has been gorgeous. DD made it to DC, ran and finished the Cherry Blossom half-marathon, and made great time. Nick's sis and her hubby, and Nick's parents and DD all met there, and they all ran the race.  Ha ha...you won't ever hear 'all ran the race' when talking about her trips home!  I'm proud of them all!!!

Today's card features my first ever Little Darlings stamp, "Nice to Meet You".  Is he not the sweetest guy ever?  I see a few more Little Darlings in my future :)  Don't faint, but peeps, this is a CAS card!  Yup.  CAS!

Stamp: Little Darlings, DP: Echo Park, a*muse, CS:XPressIt Blending, Copics B93, B95, B97, YG61, E25, E35, E31, E00, E01, YG23, YG63, Black Fine Point Sharpie Pen for doodles, GKD Pure Luxury CS for card base, EK Success Zig Zag Punch, Twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon

I'm going to enter this card in the Sketch Challenge at Outlawz (also a first for me!) - here's their sketch:

As you know, I rarely use a sketch without flipping it.....call me a rebel!  lol...


I'm also entering here:

Little Darlings Stamps: "Outside" theme
Flutterby Wednesday's:  Anything goes (with butterfly, fairy, or angel)

If you haven't heard, Oozak.com has started a new challenge blog.  The first challenge began today, and is an easy one - Anything Goes....so hurry over, sign up to follow, and enter their challenge!

Thanks for stopping by - I'll be back on Tuesday with my Itty Bitty Candy Winner!

Hugs and blessings,
Patti J.

Food for thought:  I've never been hurt by anything I didn't say.

o"FISH"ally Awesome...

Hello out there!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!


Well, it is nearing another weekend, and I have a 'just for fun' card.


This little guy is a Teddy Bo image.
My friend Shirley showed me where to find these digi images, and oh my goodness,
they are so much fun!


The sentiment is one that Paulette at Create with TLC gave away as a freebie a while back.
It was too cute NOT to nab for later. Now I'm really glad I did! It's perfect for this cutie patootie, don't you think?

Basic Grey Curio Collection, Copic Markers, Teddy Bo, Create with TLC, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch


I am entering this card here:

Flutterby Wednesday: Use green and/or Carly's sketch. I did both!

I hope your Thursday goes well, and that you have a great weekend planned!

Hugs and blessings,
Patti J.

Food for Thought: We spend our health getting wealth, then gladly pay all we have earned to get our health back!!! (Matthew 16:26)

Once Upon a Springtime...

Edited: If anyone is having trouble commenting here, could you please go to the Google Help Forum and report it? I have reported it, as have a couple of others - the more the merrier! Thank you !


Thank goodness, it really is Friday! I hope that you have lots of fun on the agenda for this weekend, and NO work!!!


My project today is a tag for the Tag Challenge over at Joan's Gardens. I almost didn't participate. When I do a challenge, I always do all I can to use their products. I don't think I have anything except Christmas stamps from Joan's (better go shopping soon, right?). So, with that in mind, I nearly didn't work up a tag. However, I remembered having this fabulous Graphic 45 Paper Pad, "Once upon a Springtime", and OMG, it has such beautiful little images in it. So, I pulled out my scissors, did a ton of fussy cutting (therapy!), and here is what I came up with!


The butterflies are a Martha Stewart Punch, the ribbon is from my stash, and the pearls are Kaiser Craft.

I'm going to also enter this tag here:

Flutter by Wednesday's: Open challenge (include fairy, butterfly, or angel)
Crafty Purple Frog: Things with Wings
Little Miss Muffett Challenges: Designer Papers
Creative Belli: Animals (bottom right corner)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope your day is blessing filled!

Patti J.

Food for thought: We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

Green, Red, and White Delight!

Good morning, and happy Saturday!

As it is Saturday, it's time for another Saturday challenge at Shannon's Sentiments!

The challenge this week is to use the colors red, green, and white...that's it! Now, I know that you are all playing with these colors quite regularly these days, so hop on over to this weeks challenge, and enter one of your holiday cards! If you have any of Shannon's images, we would be delighted for you to use them. If not, just use what you have!

Here is my card. I took the liberty of borrowing Danni's sketch that we used in November at Flutter By Wednesday's. Danni, if you are reading, I didn't think you'd mind, and I just loved the sketch!

Here's my card:

The sentiment is not large enough to read, but it's so much fun! It says:

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat. ~Anonymous

How true, how true! It's funny how chilly 68-70 degrees feels in the winter, but how comfortable it feels in the summer!

Have a wonderful weekend, and let's see some red, green, and white cards! There were no entries last week, so you stand a really, REALLY good chance of winning the monthly prize!

Smiles to all,

Patti J.

Flutter By Snow Angel...

Hello! Happy Wednesday! I am very late getting this card posted - we picked DS up from the airport yesterday, and have been SO enjoying some family time!

Today is my last Wednesday with the Flutter By Wednesday team. (Enter a sad face here) These girls were so much fun. What a great, relaxed, caring, and fun group of ladies! I had a wonderful time, and I appreciate the opportunity I had to serve as GDT for them.

The challenge this week at Flutter By Wednesday challenge, is to make a Thank You card, using a butterfly, angel, or fairy.

Pretty simple card - it's an adorable digi image by Nina May, the butterflies are punched with a Martha punch, and the sentiment is computer generated, and cut out with a tag Nestie. I colored with my pencils and LOMS. Hope it makes you smile!

Thanks to all of you for stopping by! I hope that you have a wonderful day tomorrow! If you are in the US and celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! If not, I wish you a beautiful day full of many blessings! I am thankful for family, good health, and all of you!

Hugs, Patti J.

Flutter By...

Good morning! It's time for another challenge at Flutter By Wednesday! Danni has challenged us to create a window card, including, of course, an angel, butterfly, or fairy.

For my window card, I began with 2 pieces of cardstock. Each were 4.25" x 7", and were scored on each end at 1/2" and 1". I used a round Nestie on the cover, and a Nestie Blossom for the snowperson.

The snowperson, and the tree are both images by The Angel Company, and were colored with Copic markers (they still scare me half silly, but I've gotta learn somehow!) The snowflake and pearls were from my stash.

I look forward to seeing your fabulous window cards posted at Flutter By Wednesday! There are some resources on Splitcoast Stampers for different styles of window cards if you need a bit of inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great last half of the week! Shirley, my dear friend, is coming over today to have lunch and create! Should be a fun day!

Hugs,

Patti J.

OMG! I colored!!! With my new Copics!!!

Woot woot! I used my Copics! The photo is terrible, and I grabbed the Tea Dye sponge instead of the Antique Linen sponge, but if you ignore all of that, and just look at the coloring, it's not too bad! Woot Woot!

This is another adorable image, Noel Peace, that I bought from 7 Kids College Fund when my brain was on vacation...

I am entering this card here:

Flutterby Wednesday's (Open challenge, include butterfly, angel, or fairy)

Cuttlebug Spot: Pink

Off I go to fold laundry - have a great weekend!

Hugs!

Patti J.

Flutterby meets Back to School

In case you can't tell by the speediness of my blog entries, I'm helping DH again this week! Hopefully, I'll still be able to get around to say hello and to ooh and aah over your pretties this week!

This first card is for Flutterby Wednesday. We were to use a fairy, butterfly, or angel on our cards, and....this week, a sketch was featured. And not just any sketch...a sketch by the fabulous Mercy! For my card, I used Kraft CS, DCWV Mat Stack, Glossy Accents, and TAC True Beauty stamps. I added a bit of color with my colored pencils and LOMS. The ribbon is from Michael's. I distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo. Easy Breezy!

Here's my card...

This next card is CAS, for sure! This is for the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew: Back to School

Belli Challenge: Use an old stamp (this was the first stamp that I ever received as a gift from a friend)

Supplies: Image by Anita's "Sugarloaf" Stamps, Ladybug by All Night Media, Palette Noir Ink, Ribbon from Michael's, The Paper Studio DP.

I have one more picture to show you. My friend, Shirley, has this amazing DH who can make just about anything you might want for your craft room! He's been making us these holders for our Stickles. This one is made from Cherry wood, as that's what he had on hand, but he can make them out pine, etc., as well.

As shown, he is selling these holders for $5 per tier plus s/h. If you have TONS of Stickles, and need it to hold more per row, he can do that, it may just cost a bit more!

If you are interested in one of these beauties, or have another item you would like quoted, email Shirley at: Shirleyhotop@hotmail.com

Have a great Tuesday!

Patti J.

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.

Butterfly

This card was made for the Flutter By Wednesday challenge. The challenge this week was an open challenge - anything goes as long as the card included a butterfly, fairy, or angel. Well, just lookie at what image Paulette at Create with TLC, decided to so generously give away this week! As soon as I saw it, I thought FLUTTER BY!!!

How did I do it? Well, I first printed and heat set the image and sentiment. Next was coloring with my colored pencils and loms. After the coloring was completely done, I scored diagonal lines only up to and around the image parts, leaving the image flat. I went back over the score lines using the large end of my scoring tool to get very deep and wide lines. Note: I didn't try to make my lines even, preferring some a bit narrower, and some a bit wider... Next, I distressed with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink, using the direct to paper method until it looked shabby and old. Last, I covered the entire image with Versamark and Clear UTEE, and heat embossed.

I will enter this card here:

Flutter By Wednesday: Open challenge (use butterfly, angel, or fairy)

Mami Doodles: Anything goes

Creative Inspirations: Anything goes

Paper Play Challenges: Anything goes

Hope you like it! It looks like another dreary, threat of rain, kind of day here in Missouri! A good day to stay in and craft!

Little Things Make Life So Big...

Good morning!

Here's hoping that your Wednesday is off to a great start!

I've done a little bit of floor sealing, and a little bit of crafting, and a LOT of coffee drinking so far this morning.

Looks like we are going to be stormed on some time soon - darn, I won't have to water the tomato plants! (I hate it when THAT happens!)

* * * * *

Today's card features one of The Angel Company's new sets. A few weeks ago, when my back was 'out', my dear friend, Shirley gave this to me as a get well gift - it worked! I'm well!!!

I made it primarily with Flutterby Wednesday Challenge in mind. The gals have taken a summer break, and today is their first day back. Woot woot! They have been missed!!! Today's challenge is an open challenge - just include a butterfly, angel, or fairy on your project!

This card was very simple.

I simply stamped the three images with Versafine Brown Ink, then masked them off and sponged the 'stripe' with Tim Holtz' Weathered Wood Distress Ink.

No coloring. At all...

I really wanted to bling it up, but it needed to be CAS, so I took a deep breath and stopped!

I will also enter this here:

Our Creative Corner: Sketch

One Stop Craft Challenge: Distressing

Cas-Tastic Challenge: Kraft-y Kreations

I've received a few emails asking me where my "food for thought" has gone! To be honest, it seems like I'm always posting in a hurry, and just don't think about it. I will try to be better! I like it when my peeps are smiling!

Food for thought:

Did you know...If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, that person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Now you know!!!

Have a great day!

Patti J.

FBW!

It's Wednesday! We are halfway through the week, and here comes a three day weekend! Wahoo! Hope you all have plans that include rest, relaxation, and fun!

It is also Flutterby Wednesday! It's been hectic here, so my card today is very quick and simple. The stamps are all Basic Grey. I'm doing a workshop at a LSS next month, using this stamp set, so have been doing a bit of experimenting. As many of the participants are beginners, the projects have to be easy. Pink and green inks are Colorbox chalk, and the blue is Tempting turquoise SU. I also used some Glossy Accents on the flowers and butterflies to give them a bit of texture. Let me know what you think - what else does it need?

Will enter this here as well:

Cas-Tastic Challenges - A touch of green

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a great Wednesday! Off to do a bit of housework...

Patti J.

Food for thought: What do you get from a pamperd cow?

Spoiled milk!

Time in my 'girl cave'...

I have actually had a little time in my 'girl cave' today! And I have loved every minute of it! Let me show you what I've accomplished!

* * * * *

First, for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, this cute little guy called to me! The challenge was to use SNOW someplace on our card for a "Snowtacular" challenge! The image & sentiment is TAC's "In the Snow" set. I used Tombow Markers, Sparkly Fluff, Stampin'Up's Bashful Blue (for the sky), and my Starburst Clear and Silver Glitter pens.

* * * * *

Next, is a sympathy card. Sadly, DD's high school choir director lost her dad over the holidays. If that wasn't enough, their long time family dog also died a few days prior to her father's passing. Here is the card I made for Sue and her family...

I will sumit this to:

Flutterby Wednesday - (use butterfly, angel, or fairy on card)

Stamp Something - (Anything goes)

Creative Card Crew - (Anything Goes)

Charisma Cardz - (Anything but Christmas)

* * * * *

Last, but absolutely NOT least, is this darling image from The Digi Kitty!

In celebration of reaching 75 followers, The Digi Kitty posted this free, (yup FREE) digital image! This was just too much fun to pass up!

If you haven't been to the Digi Kitty's site, you must make the trip - their images are just delightful!

I did some paper piecing, and used a bit of glitter here and there, and I like the way it looks!

The next view shows all of the layers that I used. I printed and cut out this image several times to make it really pop off the page!

Here's how the card turned out!

Used a Martha Stewart edge punch, scraps of DP, and the image/frame is from Inkadinkado.

I will submit this to:

The Digi Kitty - (Use this image!)

My Time to Craft - (Anything goes)

* * * * *

So...I hope that you saw something here today that gave you a smile! I feel like it's been forever since I sat at my work table. I'm now getting ready to being the dreadful monthly reports for DH's business, so I may be scarce for the next few days. If I don't get to your blogs, trust me, it's not because I wouldn't rather be blurfing than doing monthly reports...lol!!!

* * * * *

Hugs!

Patti J.

Silly sign at a laundromat:

Automatic Washing Machines: Please remove all of your clothing when the light goes out. Thanks, Management

All that glitters IS gold!

Yep, all that glitters IS gold! On the following card at least! Giovana, over at StampTV posted a challenge this week to use gold, gold, and GOLD! This is a color combination (tee hee) that I rarely ever work with, so I couldn't resist the challenge! Way to get me out of my comfort zone, Giovana! Again, I grabbed Theresa Momber's new Christmas set for this card! I stamped the tree and sentiment on GKD's Luxury Ivory CS, matted on shiny gold and then on a gold swirly DP from my stash. Card base is also Luxury Ivory. The bows are glittered with gold, the apples on the tree are Crystal Lacquered so they appear shiny. The trim is some awesome gold that I found last trip to Hobby Lobby.

The next card was made for several challenges!

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Paper Blooms - Monochromatic Card

FlutterBy Wednesday - Add a fairy or butterfly to your card

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #22 - Sketch

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - "Show the earth rejoicing...flowers blooming, oceans roaring, trees bursting with fruit, etc."

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All papers hail from DCWV's cute little paper packs! Image and sentiment are The Angel Company, CS is DCWV

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Sure hope you see something you like!

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Have a super Friday - I'm off in the pouring down rain to Wal-Mart - ugh...someone can shoot me now and save me the trouble!

Patti J.

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Did you know...a cat has 32 muscles in each ear... (come on now, you canNOT count muscles - you have to take my word for it!)

After all, I read it on the internet, so it must be true, right???

I wish I was a glow worm...

Good Morning!

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Yesterday, while reading a daily post at Kimberley's Kard Kreations, I noticed that she has a Thought for the Day. I couldn't help but 'borrow' it for today's card! (Kimberley has an adorable blog - be sure to drop in and say hi!) I'll tell you what it was in a minute or two!!!

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First.... every Monday morning, Nina posts a free digital image at There's Magic in the Air. What makes these extraordinarily special, is that Nina designs and illustrates these herself. Very talented lady!!!

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This week's free image was Eldon. Now Eldon is just absolutely the CA-utest worm that I think I've ever seen! When I saw Eldon, I knew that I had to find time to work something up using this adorable image. Then when I saw Cindy Hafner's fabulous sketch (above) at Crazy4Challenges, I knew exactly what I was going to create with Eldon!

Back now for a moment, to Kimberley's Thought for the Day... It was this:

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I wish I was a glow worm,

A glow worm's never glum.

'Cos how can you be grumpy

When the sun shines out your bum!

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See what I mean? How could a girl that is about to post the CA-utest worm she's ever seen NOT use that little poem? Lol...perfect for this lil' Eldon, isn't it?

I am entering this card at:

Crazy4Challenges: sketch

Threre's Magic in the Air: Eldon Image

Pile it On: Use Punches

Recipe: Image from There's Magic in the Air, DCWV CS and DP. Nestie, Kooh-I-Noor Colored Pencils and Low Odor Mineral Spirits, Ribbon brads by Karen Foster, Tombow Markers, Stampin' Up Bashful Blue, Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi, Starburst Gel Pen.

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This next card also features some artwork by one of our own bloggers! Stef, aka, Glitterbabe, drew this gorgeous daffodil! She offered it up free yesterday, and I couldn't resist. I snagged it, and created this card with it. Stef - you go girl!!! Head over and check out Stef's blog - I guarantee you will laugh out loud today!!!

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I used this sketch, from Inky's Delight, and added some butterflies for Flutterby Wednesday. I think it turned out very soft and pretty, but as is the case sometimes, the photo doesn't do it the justice that real life does! You can't tell in the photo, but the DP (by Provo) is Glitter paper (in honor of Glitterbabe, of course!). Colored again with KIN/LOMS.

Okay, my friends... It's Thursday, and I have a ton of chores to do. I sort of put them off yesterday. I did, however go back to Curves, so Kudo's to me for that! I had approximately 400 excuses and reasons to NOT go back, and DD overruled them all! She's right...I know I'll feel better if I take off about 80 lbs... It's just SO tough! It surely goes on easier than it comes off - one of life's NOT FAIR moments! lol...

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Hope your day is fantastic!

Blessings...Patti J.

~Only in America do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway, and park all of our useless junk in the garage!!!

Back to School....this post is for Lisa!

Well, it's back to school today in Farmington! Seems very strange to be sitting HERE while school buses are driving by! I am used to being AT school on the first day with kids in and out of my office all day! Sort of a sad day for me....


With 'back to school' in mind, I decided to play the Midnight Madness sketch challenge this week!




My BBB (best blogging bud), Lisa, sent me a care package last week. It contained some new stamps and some Basic Grey papers. Teacher Anya was one of the new stamps. Isn't she the most darling thing you've ever seen? Of course, the DP that I used on the background and on Anya's vest are Basic Grey! Thanks Lisa, in measures of oodles!!! You are so sweet!

Supplies: Basic Grey June Bug Paper Pack, Crystal Laquer, Great Impressions Sentiment, Versafine Black Ink, DCWV CS, Kooh-I-Noor Woodless Pencils and Low-Odor Mineral Spirits, Tombow Markers.

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This next card is for 365 Cards challenge for today. Today we were to use a Card Recipe! The recipe was:

4 x 7 card

glitter

5 blossoms

wet embossed sentiment

and

three different DP's!

It's been a while since I have wet embossed, so it was fun to drag out the old heat gun!

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I am also going to post this at Flutter By Wednesday's challenge! Pay special attention to the teensy little butterfly up on the Hello sentiment. Shirley's granddaughter, Megan, came to visit her for a week. I got to meet her last week, and she was a total sweetie! She was creating with Shrinky Dink and Punches, and offered to make me some very fun embellishments! When I left that day, I had a butterfly (shown above!) some flowers, and some birds! I think she did a beautiful job, and it was so much fun to get to meet her! So, Megan, if you are reading this, THANK YOU, and many hugs for your kindness!!!

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Supplies: Basic Grey June Bug Paper Pack, Versamark Dazzle Frost Ink, Judikins Egyptian Gold Embossing Powder, Glitter, Silk Flowers, Marvy Punches, Cuttlebug Paisley Folder, Core'dinations Black/Gold Cardstock, Shrinky Dink Butterfly.

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That's all I have for today! It's been a busy day - I've been working on announcements, and finally got the new bedding on our bed! Hope that you have all had a wonderful day! Have a great evening, and think happy thoughts!!!

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Patti J.

Try to learn something about everything, and everything about something. ~Thomas Henry Huxley