Tuesday, October 31, 2017

CTS #245~Get Well

 I thought I'd finish off October with an orange card for the challenge at: Case This Sketch 
 
I sponged the big circle and masked off the cute little RX bottle so that I would be able to color in the flowers.  I then stamped the other two circles and flowers along with the sentiment.  I think it actually turned out quite lovely.  I will be sending it to my mom who is sick with a terrible head cold right now.  Just a nasty virus that she don't need with all her other health  issues: dialysis, diabetes, and high blood pressure, just to name a few.  I hope she likes the card.  

I'm also adding a couple pictures of the side yard.   We live next to a snowmobile junk yard but the interesting part of this is that the squirrels have made it their home, and just today the side door fell out.  I'm not really sure why, it's a run down place and perhaps it rusted out literally, but the squirrels now have a much easier access, and as you can see they don't think it's a problem at all.  Oh the joys of living in this part of town.   I'm so thankful for our fence & our yard. 
Thank you for stopping by.  
My blue follow button is back and working. YAY🙋  So please won't you click on it and follow my blog.  
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping


Monday, October 30, 2017

RRCB74~Bird House Mini, Festival of Trees and Too Kind from Stampin Up

You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link. 
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I was very determined to make this sketch at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog work for me. 😏

I wanted to stick as close as possible to the design.. so I shortened up those triangles a bit by using the Festival of Trees stampin up set.  I just made sure to stamp the "trunk" of the tree off the side of the paper so I would have nice matching triangles.  Then I pulled out my 1996 Bird House mini to create that image.  I colored it in and used my aqua painter for blending.  I pop dotted him up a bit and stamped the sentiment from the stampin up, Too Kind set.  You know I've come to realize how much I relied on Stampin up to always "stamp" the years on the packaging or the sticker on the stamp.  I wish they still did that.    I think I'm going to start writing the years on my boxes so that way I will know.  
Thank you all for stopping by for a visit.  
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

RRCB74~Wishing you Cheer

You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link. 
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 My goodness the sketch at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog certainly has proved to be challenging for me.    I flipped the sketch hoping that would offer a wee bit of help.   I wanted to keep the card simple, so you could still see the design in it.  I started off by cutting little triangle banners, which ended up looking like the kind you would have for a college game day event.  So I scratched that thought and just stuck with the images I stamped which are from 2007 Stampin up, wishing you cheer.   Even the sentiment is from an older stamp set, I punch it out and then punched out a black piece too, so I could give it a shadow.  There is wink of stella clear glitter brushed all over Mr. Snowman and the snow.  It came together quite quickly.. but still not that .. "aha" moment I was looking for.  So folks I made another card for this challenge today.
 I will post that soon.  
Thank you for stopping by.
I'm so pleased to see my blog family is back and smiling on the left hand side.  YAY🙋  Great relief as I thought I 'd lost ya all.
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping
  

Saturday, October 28, 2017

SSC164 SKETCH FUN~Night In Bethlehem

You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link.

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 I knew I would want to try again with this sketch at: 
Especially using the stampin up Night in Bethlehem set.  I went a wee bit more elaborate with this card then I had intended.  However I just couldn't seem to stop.  I started with the basic layout, and then decided I needed to make clouds in the background so the foil star would really pop.  Then I die cut the town in two colors to give it a shadow.  After tying the ribbon on and adding Mary and Joseph I thought a sentiment would look nice in the upper corner.  I took two pictures, because the flash really made the star have a glare, so hence the double take with no flash.  I think the dark clouds make it look like evening hours are fast approaching.  I really like how it turned out.  I hope ya all can still see the sketch in my card design. 

I also am adding a picture of this furry little fella bunking down on the branch with the cold breezes blowing.  Apparently snow is on the way (they say).
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

*Ya all know how important it is to me to get followers for my blog.  Well can you believe that the past few days my "follow blue button" is missing and says error.  UGH!!  I find this frustrating.  Does anyone know how to fix it?  I miss see all your sweet faces in my blog family.  Thank you in advance for your help.




Friday, October 27, 2017

Challenge #265 - Photo Inspiration~This Little Piggy

You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link.

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Oh boy.. I got a card in the mail from my dear blogger friend Nancy. Thank you so very much.💜 I LOVE getting mail.  Perhaps that is why I enjoy making cards so much.  I will post a picture of her Perfect Halloween card below.  Please pop over to her blog to see all her fabulous work at:  Nanny's Pansy Patch

Today I made this card for the challenge at: Addicted to Stamps and More
I thought about what to put in the little picture frame die that would make me smile.  So of course  I used the word happy.. it comes with several different sentiment choices.  I then pulled out my stampin up set called: This Little Piggy.  After stamping her and  cutting her out.  I realized an appropriate sentiment would have been the "selfie" one.  But that's a story for a different day.  haha
I didn't embellish anything on this card.  but it did look a bit plain so I quickly embossed the pink background to give it a little charm.
Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. 
 I'd love to have you follow my blog. 
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

My friend Nancy's Beautiful card.  Please remember to pop over to her blog and say hi🙋

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Tuesday Morning Sketches #426~ For the Birds

You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link.
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I made this card for the challenge at: Tuesday Morning Sketches
I clearly didn't take my branch all the way to the outer edge of the card.  Glue and I have a very "sticky" relationship.  I tried to pull over that little twig but it just wouldn't budge.  So I carried on with the rest of the design. I think this little birdie is so cute with his little stocking hat and scarf on.  I don't know about you but the little frays on the bottom of his scarf look like real material to me.  Perhaps it's the blurry eyes I'm experiencing from all the coloring today.. so if this little bird gets up and flies off my card, I will know I've gone a bit "cuckoo" haha..
Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

SSC164~Shopping Mall

 You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link.
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I have had this stamp for quite some time now, but I don't use it to often.  It involves a lot of coloring and that's just not something I'm that good at anymore.    With that being said I thought it worked well with this lovely sketch from: Sunday Stamps
Not sure why I chose the color purple for the background paper, it seriously matches nothing on the card.  Guess I'm just thinking way out of the card box for this one.  I sponged the horizontal line purple and then added a foil & purple  banner underneath the little shopping mall.  Now onto the little shops.  I made sure to give them each their own little personality.  I imagined walking down the cobblestone sidewalk, taking in the views of the trees and shop windows.  In fact I even went to the extent of making master pieces for the art gallery window, along with making sure the bread was perfectly golden brown.. fresh from the oven at the bakery.  The antique shop is missing a little cat on the braided rug.. at least in my imagination it should be there.    
Well that's my take on today's sketch.   So many possibilities.  In fact I think Night of Bethlehem from Stampin up would work lovely with this sketch.  I might have to give that a try because ya all know how much I LOVE making Christmas cards. 
Thanks so much for stopping by.  
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping



Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Merry Monday #262 {Gifts} Cozy Critters and North Pole Pals

You will find my CASology Guest Designer Card HERE
I make a lot of cards, so it might get lost in the shuffle of my blog posting.  Hence the above link.
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Today I made this card for the challenge at: Merry Monday Christmas 
We are to use gifts on our card.  So that is exactly what I did literally by adding a small gift box directly on the card.  I found the instructions on youtube  at: Debbie's Designs.  I had to make my own homemade DSP.  I really don't have very much DSP on hand.  But I thought this was a lovely option to try and do.  I used Cozy Critters from stampin up and North Pole Pals from Avery Elle.  The card is quite easy to make.  I just LOVE that. Yes indeed I see a mass production of these in my future. 😊

I added all the pictures so hopefully you can see how cute it stands on it's own and how fabulous it holds up, and I didn't use heavy card stock either.  Just a pretty tough little card.  After the pictures though I wish I would have stuck with the smaller presents along the horizonital strip on the bottom that holds the giant present.  I think it might have looked even better with the smaller presents.. But NEXT time. This is my first attempt to make this card, and I was more concerned about getting the measurements all right I suppose.  

Any ways thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.  I hope you'll take a look around and perhaps sign up to follow my blog
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.




Monday, October 23, 2017

CASology Cherish (Guest Designer)

I'm so excited about today's post.  It's still shocks me that I was asked to be the guest designer for CASology. Image result for Thank you
 It's so amazing to see what everyone comes up with while keeping it Clean And Simple.  This week is going to be exciting as the Cue Card challenges us with the word cherish.
I went in all different directions with this card. In fact I made a grand total of seven cards.  Yup, you read that right: seven.  I then asked my friends and family which card they thought was "top notch"  and would be deemed worthy of such an honor as a Guest designer card.  The Wagon Card won out by a long shot. 
 It is a stampin up set called: For the birds.  I just masked off the sentiment it had below the wagon and chose the cherish sentiment which is also from a stampin up set but called: Baroque Motifs.  Then I carefully colored it in hoping to stay in the lines, which can sometimes be a problem between blurry eyes and shaky hands. 
I will now add the pictures of the other cards I made to show you what my friends and family had to choose from.   I hope you will be inspired to play along.  I know I'm looking forward to seeing all your great designs.  
Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  


Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping



Please check out the short little video of my cards at:

Another interesting little fact:  The wagon card I made for today.. Is my 1000th card on my pinterest board.  yay~  It's amazing to see how my stamping style has changed.  Hopefully improved.  
Please check it out.








Sunday, October 22, 2017

TTTC020 & SCS

 Today I made a card for the challenge at:       Tic Tac Toe Challenge       

                                                                      I chose the top row: peace, satin, and hearts.  I have had this stamp for quite some time, it also came with a cute little VW bug that has the peace symbol☮ on it.  But I thought I'd just keep this card very simple.  I went with red satin ribbon to match the heart.   I tried and tried to tie a bow, but golly I couldn't get it done.  So I just tied it in a knot.  
                                                       I'm also including my SCS for today.  I haven't used this stamp in awhile.  It doesn't have the Verse location on it.  Gosh that's to bad.  But I have it taped above  my desk so I know it's: Philippians 4:8  I just wish it was on the stamp.

Thank you for taking time to stop in for a visit.  I sure do appreciate it.
🍂Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping🍂




Saturday, October 21, 2017

Challenge #145 ~ Halloween Colors

 I have to thank my dear friend Nancy at Nanny's Pansy Patch, she just blessed me so much today and I felt inspired to do a Halloween card because she really enjoys this holiday.   So I found a challenge I could play along with: Crafty Gals Corner where we are to use Halloween Colors.   Well, My friends that's exactly what I did here.  I brought out the black, purple, and oranges.  I then began my Haunted forest.  My absolute favorite part of  this card is the sentiment because after I stamped it I took my white pen and just high lighted it on the edges to make it look like the moon light was shining on it.    The fence and moon are both die cuts.  The pumpkins are a fiskars single stamp that is very old and I just colored and cut them out to space them about. The Witch's hat,  Mr. Funny bones, and the sentiment are all from the dollar bins at Target a few years ago.  The rat is from my new stampin up set call Spooky cat and the Pine Trees are a stampin up set called Wonderland and finally the tiny bats are also a stampin up set and called Holiday Home.  As you can imagine with all these lovely sets and single stamps my desk is a mess.  But it was so much fun to make a card out of my comfort zone.  I'm afraid the picture don't really do it justice.  I probably should have waited to take the picture outside tomorrow for better lighting.
   I know who I will be sending this card to. 😊
Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  I hope you will take a look around at my other cards, projects and pictures.  I'd love to have you sign up and follow my blog.  Ya just have to click that blue button in the left hand column.  No strings attached.. and then you're part of my blog family.💛 whoohoo.  
That makes my day too.
So thank you so much in advance. 
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

FUSION - Striped Wreath & Challenge #28 ~Wondrous Wreath

Today's card features the wondrous wreath stamp from stampin up.  I'm still bummed I've lost the die to that little bow.  I've searched and searched, but I'm not giving up.  I'm praying it will show up someday.  Anyways I had to fussy cut the bow out and then I colored in a pearl to stick with my orange theme.   The sentiment I purposely stamped down dark and then ever so slightly moved it over to stamp it again for a shadow.  
I'm going to submit this card to the challenges at:
and
Our theme for the new challenge is

"Monochrome"

  It's been quite the day here in WI. The sun was out and then boom  like literally BOOM!  A rain storm out of nowhere and heavy showers and now it's over and the sun is out again.  Crazy weather.  But I'm thankful the sun is back out because my husband wanted to drain the pump and bring the hoses in for winter.  So hopefully he will still be able to do that.  I have no idea what I'd do if I didn't have a husband to help me out with such things.  Especially now.  
💑Feeling grateful to have a helpmate.💑

Thank you for stopping by.
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Friday, October 20, 2017

Tuesday Morning Sketches #425~Oriental

I made this card for the challenge at: 
I decided to take  my card on an oriental trip.   I think black and red work so lovely with this idea.  The color of gold would have been fabulous too, but I didn't have anything like that on hand.  I do have gold embossing powder, but I'm not very good with that technique. So I stuck with stamping.  I carried the bamboo through on 4 of the tiny squares, I like how it ties it together.  I then stamped the sentiments making sure I placed them right side up according to the stampin  up box.   Because I have no idea what they say, but wanted to make sure it was at least the right way.    I'm sure it's a lovely word/phrase.  I'm pretending it's Peace and Hope (my favorite word)  The vase I stamped and colored then cut it out to cover up my mistake I made.  Always have to make a mistake or smudge with my cards.  *sigh.

I'm happy to say that my daughter went with me to Yonkers and we were able to find a plus size cardigan type sweater that  I can wear to the wedding.   Just a few more things to get and I will finally (Praise the LORD) have an outfit to wear. 
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Please consider following my blog.  
That would be awesome
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

Sketch #234

 Well, I'm not sure I can submit another card to the challenge at: Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge
But it's such an interesting sketch.   I love to see what everyone is coming up with.   All the cards are so amazing, so after viewing the gallery, I thought my first one perhaps was not so grand, so I went back to the desk and tried again. And folks I came up with this fall/thanksgiving card.  The embossing folder that I used actually says "Give Thanks and Celebrate Your Blessings"  but as you can see I layered my card over the "and celebrate your" part of it.. hence the reason  it's small with the layers.  I think it turned out cute.  I especially like the little pine cone embellishment below the leaves.  It would have been grand if I had had an acorn embellishment..but ya know ya just can't have everything.😉 So I improvised.  
I included the second picture because it had a nice "fall" look to it.

Thank you so much for stopping by. 
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Sketch #234 & Merry Monday #261 {Ornaments!}~ Merry Mice & Holly Berry Happiness

 I had a surprise visitor today.  My sister came over, it's a rare and nice occasion when this happens  She also has a blog she's trying to get a going.  I'd love if you could stop over and give her some blog love at: From Soils to Oils  

Today's card is one that I made using the Merry Mice and Holly Berry Happiness from Stampin up.  I think they are two of my favorites.  I really love the little bow in the Holly Berry set.  I went with the blue/silver/white theme for this Christmas card because it's seems like such a classic match.  I embossed the bottom layer with snowflakes, and started building my layers upward and in the center.  I sure have a hard time taking a picture with that silver foil paper.  So I shared two pictures so you could see the differences.   I'm going to submit this card to the following challenges: 


Thank you so much for taking time to pop in for a visit.  You have no idea how much it means to me that you're here.  Please look around to check out my other cards, projects, and pictures.  I'd love to have you in my blog family.  Just click on that blue button in the left hand column and sign up. .No harm in that, and it makes this girl super happy.
Join the Queen & Co Facebook page for lots of fun scrapbook jokes, craft jokes, rubber stamp jokes and DIY jokes. We celebrate the funny side of crafting!
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.
                                                                           



Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Week 271: SORRY

I'm trying to learn how to keep cards CAS.  (Clean and Simple)  It is so challenging and yet rewarding to get it done nice.
So I am going to play along with Casology  and this is their cue card this week↓
I got this idea from a dear blog friend  Nancy at: Nanny's Pansy Patch Her card is spectacular. Please check it out.  I really love how the pink and gray compliment each other so nicely.  So I decided to try my hand at it.  I just switched things up a bit with the sentiments and no embossing folder to keep it clean and simple.  I think there is still enough white space on the card to qualify, even though the sentiment is quite large.  I like how the flower/branch just softens it a bit from the bold statement.  And I could use this card right now.. I was a bit crabby yesterday with my sweet hubby.  Guess that happens when ya have been together for 27 years. 
Thank you so much for stopping by. 
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.