Friday, June 28, 2013

Goat Wrangling, Cactus in the Pants and Celebrations

If you have been reading my blog, you know that this summer I am taking spontaneous road trips here and there around my state. There is actually a purpose for this, other than just fun. I am working on a book of photographs and poetry, along with some crafty things included that I find along the way for repurposing and sharing.

In any case, usually on a road trip, I start out much sooner than 2:30 PM!! I just got the itch, and into my little car I went. Wouldn't have been so bad had I not decided to go so far..... all in all the trip was 7 1/2 hours from start to finish (including stops and chats). I took some lovely photos (over 80) and had some fun adventures. The people in Nebraska are so friendly and willing to talk and help you. Yesterday I had four conversations with people along the way, learning little tidbits about them and their lives and celebrations, as well as the countryside. Some of those times are the best of my day.

Yesterday Ron and Harold shared their art with me. Ron is a painter, and had a beautiful collection of oils and watercolors from his travels to Alaska. Harold was actually a model for a beautiful pencil drawing. We laughed about the fact that the drawing only included his boot and the belly of his horse. But what a fabulous drawing it was. He was pretty proud of his boot.  I asked for directions to this spot I had heard about. They were like an old married couple, trying to both tell me their version of how to get there so I wouldn't miss it. So fun. My destination -- an overlook along Highway 83 out of Thedford, going south. This is what I saw:
That is the Dismal River down there -- a misnomer for sure. it is bigger than it looks in this photo. Great for canoeing, as Nebraskans know. And for a girl that has lived in the "flat" part of Nebraska for 20 years, and comes from the mountains and forests in the west, this was Nebraska heaven. Quiet and peaceful - not dismal at all. Somewhere in that river are my husband's car keys from many years ago.....

Along the way, I met up with some goats. Naughty little creatures, which I find incredibly cute. They all came running toward me as if I had some surprise for them. I SO wish I had had my phone in my hand to take a video because the image of them running and bleating just made me laugh out loud. Pure joy to me. Here they come:
And a better view of the "kids":
The babies decided the grass was greener on the other side of the fence where I was and began squirming underneath to escape. This worried me, since it was close to a busy highway, so I spent the next several minutes chasing them and putting them back over the fence. Yep, I picked them up, lasooed them with leashes hanging on the fence (this tells me their escape was common!), and chased them with a weed switch, all with an expensive camera around my neck!

And this Arizona girl learned that Prickly Pear Cactus grows here too....after I got back in the car, I noticed little aliens all attached to my pant legs like leeches. And --- the goats were out again. Moral of the story: Goats are naughty. They don't need my help.

So much more in my 7 1/2 hours that I will share later, but basically, I love the Heart of America. And watching families play horseshoes in their tiny little town square. Sno-cone stands. And red, white, and blue. So I am celebrating the day yesterday with a little 4.25" square greeting from The {Stamps} of Life:
This is a new June mini set called ministars4you. Take a peek:
A cute little Independence Day greeting -- or for anytime! Easy and fast -- like baby goats. Thanks for stopping by and sharing my roady adventures! Farmer's market tomorrow -- hope I find some yummies there!


Challenges for this card: 
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - 4th of July
Clearly iStamp - Red, white and blue 
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenges - Red, white and blue
Craft Lovin Challenge Blog - Independence Day  
Sugar Creek Hollow - Your Flag colors 
2 Sisters - Stripes

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Whale Done -- and a Sketch!


It's Thursday and that means a new sketch

I love working with a fun sketch and today's was perfect! Here is this week's sketch #107 -- designed by my teamie, Amber! I flipped the sketch to work with my images better.
I used Reverse Confetti's Happy Harbor stamp set for my images today. It's available from i {heart} papers. I love the designer papers in Echo Park's Bundle of Joy Boy and Bundle of Joy Dots & Stripes. The whale DP matches the images so well! I used Memento's Tuxedo Black ink on my Ultra Smooth Premium White CS. The whale is embossed with Black Detail EP. You gotta be fast to emboss that ink! All linked supplies above available at IHP! 
The Mineral Ice Diamond Satin ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I cut my waves by using the negative side of my Scallop Die from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps and layered them three times, popping them up with foam tape. This would make an adorable baby card or a general congratulatory greeting too.
 
The Deconstructed Sketch girls have some fabulous samples to show, so be sure to have a visit at their blogs too!

To play along, link up here!
Other challenges for this card:
A.R.T. Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Summer 
Charisma Cardz - Recipe card 1, 2, 3 Recipe.  3 of something, 2 of something else, and 1 of another thing 
(3 papers, 2 images, 1 ribbon)
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon 
DRS Designs - The letter B (BLUE Whale!)
Hanna & Friends - Monochrome 
MilkCoffee Challenge - Summer fun 
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes 
Scrappers' Delights - diecuts/punches
 
 

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

On the Road Again?

Today at the Hambo Hoedown, our challenge is all about MAPS! Create a project using any kind of map AND a Hambo image and receive the next image released at the Hoedown free! Read about the challenge rules here.
Today I used two rubber images from Hambo, Armadillo (4516) and On the Road (4508). I added some designer paper from Basic Grey for my map. I stamped my images with Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored in with Copic markers. 

I loved this challenge because this summer I have been taking some road trips around my state. I have lived in Nebraska for over 20 years and there are so many towns I have never been to, and parts of the state that I haven't explored. So on my given travel days, I spin my little arrow on the map, and the direction it points is the way I go. No interstate travel - and I have to take a different way back than the one I took to get "there."

It's been pretty fun. Here is a picture of a typical scene close to my town. But I love what it represents: hard work by families farming.
I am looking forward to my trip this week. It will be a bit longer - my destination is 4 hours away, but I plan to enjoy being on the road again.

Check out what my Hambo teamies made for today's challenge:
* Jane * Jeannie * Kendra * Lyn *
 
Come play along with us at the Hoedown!
Other challenges for this card: 
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes 
Card Mania - Kraft Paper 
Lady Anne's Challenge - The Great Outdoors 


Stamps: Armadillo (4516) and On the Road (4508)
Ink: Copic markers and Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Basic Grey Wander DP, SU! Crumb Cake, Poptone Sweet Tooth
Accessories and Tools: buttons (Buttons Galore), twine, Martha Stewart punch, paper piercer 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Waterlilies - Timeless Tuesday #226: Make A Splash!

It's Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge #226 and Broni is our lovely hostess. Her challenge to us is to create a card or project using watercolor, water scenes, colors of water, etc. I cheated just a little and used a WATERLILY with a sort of water scene.... you just can't see the water :)
Hopefully my teammates won't kick me out the door!
I stamped my images from the Waterlilies stamp set in Memento Black Ink and then colored in with Copic markers from the Hollyhock Collection and the New Leaves Collection . I used Mauve Rose Seam Binding and crinkled it up for my ribbon and bow.
My green and pink designer paper has been scored all around each edge using my Scor-Buddy. I added some bling using pearls and rhinestones, stick pins, and a little beaded charm I made.

Five years ago, on a trip to visit my son, I found a little book that I love called It's Never Too Late. You can read the original post here (and see what an awful photographer I was then for my cards haha!). I thought I would start sharing some of the little inspirational words each week on my blog, and today's card sentiment reminded me of this one:

It's Never Too Late

to love life

Consider the alternative

Have the time of your life.
It's up to you.
You can live flat out.
Or you can slowly rust.
Be the best you can.

"Life is short and time is swift." -- Proverb


Read all about the challenge here and join us! Be sure to visit the rest of the Timeless Tuesday Team to see what they have made!




Monday, June 24, 2013

A Hot Week Ahead Calls For Lemonade....

I love lemonade. Fresh squeezed is even better! I live in a small town, and I always love to stop at the corner lemonade stands that kids have. They are so excited to serve you a glass of their (mom's) lemonade, and are so proud to earn their quarters. 

Today's card is a quick ten minute (or less) design using The {Stamps} of Life June Club set, lemonade2drink.
This is a little 4.25" square card that was fast and easy to make.  A little designer paper (Echo Park's Dots & Stripes), a little ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon's Yellow Striped Twill), some Copics and a couple of dies, and it is set to mail to a friend! What could be nicer?

Here is a photo of my quaint little downtown, where lemonade can be found all summer long:

Challenges for this card:

Eureka Stamps - Summertime Fun 

House of Gilli - Bright Colors or Anything Goes 
Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Summer 
Crafting When We Can - Keep It Simple
Gingerloft - Yellow Ribbon 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Mixed Media is Fun~!

Today's creation was so much fun to make. I used two SCS Challenges to inspire me and came up with something I really like.
 
Congratulations to Tina Hale for being our chosen the Splitcoast Featured Stamper this week!! What a huge gallery of fun! I chose this cute birthday card to case. I kept her theme and layout, but didn't use any stamps and changed the media used to make the background, banner, and sentiment.


I used the Mix-Ability 21: Brilliant Pastels Challenge for my background. SO FUN. I have always been scared of Mixed Media but I had so much fun with this, thanks to Ky's amazing video and to my friend, Dina's encouragement (xo!). I am hooked.

I used Distress Stains with the direct to paper technique Ky showed, and then painted with an Acrylic Paint wash. This is two layers. I then stamped randomly with bubble wrap using White Craft Ink and Silver Pigment Ink, and embossed those sections with Clear EP. I used a jute ribbon scrap for some texture inbetween my panels (on the right).

Super fun to do!
Other challenges for this card:
Stamps: none
Paper: Crumb Cake, River Rock, Soft Sky (SU!), Sweet Tooth (Poptone)
Ink: white acrylic paint (Apple Barrel), Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Stain (TH), White Craft (SU!), Silver Metallic Pigment (Encore)
Accessories: rub on letters (Making Memories), twine, Clear Detail EP (Ranger), distressing tool, canvas pennants (Prima), jute ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), foam brush

Friday, June 21, 2013

Squeeze Me In!

Today I want to share a quick card using one of my favorite mediums - sprays! 
I used images and spray from The {Stamps} of Life today for my quick card. The background is sprayed with Stephanie's Premium Sprays! in Banana. It looks a little more tangerine here, as I sprayed fairly close to my cardstock. I stamped my images with Licorice and Banana Ink and then colored in the lemons with Copic markers. The images and sentiment are from the June Club set, lemonade2drink.

I used retro sketch #68 and turned it on its side for my layout, leaving off the twine/ribbon in the sketch.

This is also for the SCS Free For All Challenge today of making A Quick One
Other challenges for this card:
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Summer 
Cute Card Thursday - In the Summertime

Thursday, June 20, 2013

I Shore Do Love You and The Deconstructed Sketch Too!

Do you love sketches? I do! 
It's Thursday and that means a new sketch from Jen 

Here is this week's sketch #106 -- designed by my teamie, Tracey!
Today's card shows off some fun stamps by Jen Del Muro's new company - Reverse Confetti. I love what she is coming out with - lots of fun, whimsical sentiments, and cute images. The set I used today is called Happy Harbor - and it's available from i {heart} papers

I wanted a semi-CAS look, so kept a lot of white space in the circle. I used both of the Nautical embossing folders by Lifestyle Crafts - one on the red background and one on the white middle panel. The DP is from the Carta Bella Beach Boardwalk Collection. I used Memento's Nautical Blue and Love Letter inks on my Ultra Smooth Premium White CS. All linked supplies above available at IHP! 

The Red Ric Rac, Cherries Jubilee button, and Cherry Baker's Twine is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. The string is from Hobby Lobby's yarn department.
  
The Deconstructed Sketch girls have some fabulous samples to show, so be sure to have a visit at their blogs too!

To play along, link up here!
Other challenges for this card:

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Life is a Journey

Today I want to share a card I made for today's SCS Sketch Challenge 441.
I don't get to play this challenge very often, and I am glad to be able to today! Love this sketch.

I used Flourishes' Just My Type (available at i {heart} papers) for my main image today. I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. My designer papers are the Memorable Collection (MME) - also available at IHP! It is on sale today for $4 while supplies last!

Other challenges for this card: 
Bearly Mine Challenges - Flowers Galore 
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Flowers & Ribbon
Cupcake Craft - Sentiment as Main Focus 
The Shabby Tea Room - "Ruffles & Ribbons" Photo Inspiration below = Pink, Green, Ruffles, Ribbons
Stamps: Just My Type (Flourishes) - available at i {heart} papers*
Paper: Bazzill CS, MME Memorable DP*
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black*
Accessories: paper roses (Wild Orchid), seam binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), lace trim (stash)

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Timeless Tuesday #225 - Scallops!

It's Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge #225 and Denise is our lovely hostess. This will be her last month with the Timeless Tuesday Friends of Flourishes DT and we will miss her! Her challenge today is to use scallops on your designs: punches, dies, ribbon.... just show us some scallops! 
I used a pretty scalloped doily die cut from Martha Stewart that I got as in a gift box from a friend! I stamped the image from Spring Is Sprung in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I love the fonts in this set. The images are so sweet too! I have another project to show you using the images later this week.
I will be sharing the tutorial on how I made my embellished ribbon right here on the 22nd of June, so be sure to check back to see those photos and instructions so you can try it for yourself!

Read all about the challenge here and join us!

Be sure to visit the rest of the Timeless Tuesday Team to see what they have made! We are welcoming Cheryl to the FOF Team today, so check out her blog and give her a shout out!
Stamps: sentiment is from Spring is Sprung (Flourishes)
Paper: Crumb Cake (SU!), Sweet Tooth (Poptone), MME DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black 
Accessories: pearls (Kaiser and SU!), pennant dies (SB), scalloped doily die cut (MS), distressing tool, Noble Peacock seam binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon)



Monday, June 17, 2013

Seeing Spots~!

There is a new challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon and it's all about the spots and dots! Create a card, layout, multi media piece, tag, ATC, hair bow, you name it. Just be sure to follow the theme above and use ribbon/lace or trim somewhere on your project.
Link up and you might be one of the Top Three for this month's challenge~!

My card is luscious lime -- a twist on The {Stamps} of Life lemonade2drink set released earlier this month.
My three trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon are Swiss Dots Satin in Apple Green, Double Ruffle Satin Green Apple and Green Apple Baker's Twine

I stamped my images with Stephanie's Premium Licorice ink and then colored in using Spectrum Noir markers. I added Sprinkles Glitter to the center of the limes. Here are all the images from this cute stamp set:
Thanks for stopping by today!
Challenges for this card: 
Artistic Inspirations - Ribbon or Twine
Eureka Stamps - Anything Goes 
Kaboodle Doodles - Summer 
Paper Playtime - Anything Goes 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Speedy Recovery

Click HERE for today's Deconstructed Sketch Challenge!

It's time to hop with Really Reasonable Ribbon! If you arrived here from Bonnie's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog (I am the third stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon! Our hop goes live at 6:30 AM CST.

Each 13th of the month it's the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop where we highlight the Ribbon Club! This month is a Brazilian Summer Mix:
If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club! Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season. The assortments vary from month to month, but an average assortment has 5-9 different ribbon styles and consists of 10-15+ yards of ribbon.  You will love it! Tell Bonnie that Judy sent you!

I always have a soft spot for the beautiful lace that Bonnie includes each month and that is what I chose for this month's sample to share with you:
You can find the Lyndsey Lace HERE.
My images are from Lawn Fawn's adorable On the Mend, available at i {heart} papers. I stamped my turtle and sentiment on Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
I colored in using Spectrum Noir markers to match the cute hexagons in Echo Park's Sweet Girl designer paper, all available at IHP. I added rhinestones and a crocheted flower for embellishments. Isn't the lace in the Ribbon Club Assortment from Really Reasonable Ribbon sweet? I used my Scor-Bug tool from RRR to add interest around the edge of the white panel.

To see another sample using this month's assortment, CLICK HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to comment along the way at all my amazing teammates' blogs for the awesome prizes from Really Reasonable Ribbon

Like what you see? Become a Follower!

Now off to Heidi's blog, for some amazing eye-candy!
 


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