Happy is PRIMARY!

I love bright, vibrant colors! And although primary colors usually have people thinking about school, I am HAPPY to be OUT of school for the next couple of months!

This cute little image of the sailboat is by Meljen Designs. It just makes me smile! And the sentiment by TLC Creations is perfect! Both are digital images. I colored the sailboat with Copic markers. The pennant is made with Spellbinders die cuts.

Today I start my summer activity (besides stamping!). My husband and I will be in a Crane River Theater Company show called "Into the Woods." It has all the fairy tale characters that people recognize: Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and many more - and a Witch, of course! I will be playing Cinderella's real mother (a spirit in a tree) and also Little Red's Granny, who gets eaten by the wolf. It is not a children's show, but is definitely fun. Our first rehearsal is today - seven hours worth! Going to be a long afternoon/evening!

I hope you are doing something this summer that you love and that makes you happy!

Challenges for this card:

The Pink Elephant - Vibrant Colors 

Fashionista Challenge - Simply Summer  

House of Gilli - Vibrant Colours/Summer 

Simon Says Stamp and Show... - Some Texture (pennants) 

Stamps: Sail Away by Meljen Designs & You Make Me Happy by TLC Creations

Paper: GP White, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Yoyo Yellow, Travel DP by Debbie Mumm, Prints DP by SU!

Ink: Copic markers

Accessories: Kaiser pearls, Spellbinders dies, dotted grosgrain ribbon, button, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF

A New Challenge at RRR~

Click here for the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop.

Click here for the Mother of All Blog Hops by There She Goes.

Time really does fly as you get older! Seems like I was just fretting about getting my taxes done by April 15 and here is it May 15 already! And tomorrow is my last day of teaching for this school year! I am teaching a fun summer school class on ocean creatures to first and second graders, but the regular year is almost in the books!

And it's time for another fun challenge from Really Reasonable Ribbon! The theme for Challenge #48 is Father's Day/Masculine with Ribbon or Trim.  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. 

Here is my submission:

My images are some of my favorites from TLC Creations.  I used White Jute from Really Reasonable Ribbon for my knot tying. I hope you will join our challenge! Click here and see what some of the rest of the RRR DT created and to play along!

Other challenges for this card:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Goes 

Incy Wincy Designs - Weather  

Lollipop Crafts - Just for Him  

Simon Says Stamp and Show... - Anything Goes 

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Something after a song(Blowin' in the Wind) 

Stamps: Land Ho Vintage & Can't Change the Wind by TLC Creations

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Stella & Rose Hattie Papers (MME)

Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

Accessories: Martha Stewart bird punch, Labels Eighteen die cuts (Spellbinders), White Jute (Really Reasonable Ribbon), black square eyelets and brad (The Paper Studio), distressing tool, Just the Edge CS Strips (Bazzill)

Flowers, Ribbon, Lace and Pearls = Smile

Today's sentiment comes from TLC Creations. Paulette has lovely word art and vintage images at her blog - the majority of which are FREE!  If you haven't ever been there, check it out.

How do you start your cards? Sketch, color, theme, image? I think I change every time I design. This one started with a sketch I did, and then I chose the designer paper. I loved all the colors and richness. It's Madeline by Prima. Wild Orchid has the loveliest flowers, don't you think? I get mine at I Brake For Stamps. Add some pearls and lace and I am a happy girl!

I would love it if you would be a Follower! Just click the button in the right sidebar! Have a wonderful day!

Challenges for this card:

Gingersnap Creations - favorite paper

Penny's Paper-Crafty - birds  

Whimsical Wednesdays - anything goes 

Cupcake Craftroom - anything goes

Lexi Creations - anything goes 

Stamps: I Wish You Comfort by TLC Creations

Paper: Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, GP White, Madeline DP by Prima

Accessories: Wild Orchid roses, MS bird punch and branch punch, SU! Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain ribbon, slit punch, lace trim, Bazzill Just the Edge cardstock strips, pearls, Spellbinders Circles Large die, Cuttlebug EF

All Puffed Up

Goodness! From the title it sounds like I might be talking about our neighborhood turkeys! We have anywhere from 8-20 turkeys roaming the neighborhood in the fall and winter. I think they are in hiding until Thanksgiving is over! November is quickly zooming by and 2012 will be here before you know it! 

Today I want to share a project I made using Really Reasonable Ribbon, some beautiful designer paper and a lovely Word Art sentiment by TLC Creations. 

I love wide ribbon! Sometimes I can't fit it into my design, and then have to choose a smaller width, but today's project incorporates one of my favorites: the 1.5 inch Black Gingham Ribbon:

Today I want to share a quick, little tutorial with you showing the way that I "puff up" my ribbon. I learned this from a friend awhile back, and I am sure there are other, and maybe even easier ways to do it, but this is how I do it!

First you will need a little handful of batting, some linen thread, and your ribbon of choice:

Tie off a section at the end, leaving room to fold under a layer of cardstock:

 Next, tie off a section with the thread and fill with a tiny bit of batting:

 Continue to tie and fill until you have as many "puffs" as you would like:

You can tack the openings shut with thread, or leave them open. One option for additional decoration is to add another contrasting ribbon or bow. Here I used Black Grosgrain with a white stitched edge:

Trim your thread ends, and cover the thread with pearls or another embellishment, or more contrasting ribbon all down the puffed piece. Fold the ends underneath a cardstock layer. All done!

Designer paper is the Mariposa Stack by DCWV. Thanks for stopping by today!
Challenges for this card: Create Me Pink Challenges - Use A Digi  Creative Craft Challenges  - Free For All Week Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - Thank YouPaper and Such Design - No Colouring Stamp Stick & GoSassy Cheryl's - Anything GoesThe Stamping Boutique - Thanksgiving Use It Tuesdays - #20 Giving Thanks  (I hoard designer paper that has "pictures")

A Horse is A Horse

Today's card was totally inspired by a piece of paisley designer paper that I have had on my stamp table forever.  I finally decided I had better use it up!

My images are by TLC Creations and colored with Copic Markers. Paulette is holding a new Design Team Call right now. She is wonderful to work with and I love her digital art! Check it out!

Challenges for this card:
Stamp with Fun - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - Men Only 
Card Cupids - Anything Goes 
Gingerloft - Vintage or Distressed  
Pile It On - Colours of Fall/Autumn



 

Ah! What Could Be Better Than . . .

. . . a PINK HIPPO!

I made this last month and realized I hadn't yet shared it on my blog! The hippo and sentiment are by TLC Creations. You gotta know I love pink!! That plus bling and a cute hippo and I am clapping my hands!

This was a momentous week of "schtuff" as my daughter (college), my husband (philosophy professor), and I (elementary music teacher) all started school yesterday, and I started rehearsals for "The Odd Couple," which I am directing at the community theatre here. Sheesh! Just glad I didn't have an earthquake today too! :)

Have a great day!

Vintage Red

 

 Here is a little something I created this morning during a loud thunderstorm. Both my dogs were up because of the thunder, and that kept me up. I think it turned out sweet.

The sentiment and images are by TLC Creations. Paulette gives away LOTS of freebies, that are only around for 48 hours. If you are not yet a Follower, and you love digi images, check out her blog. 

There are lots of fun things every day!

Challenges for this card:

The Altered Alice - paint flowers - I only had white roses, and used a SU! Barely Banana reinker to dye them.

Card Cupids - buttons or ribbon 

I Did It Creations - children

One Stitch at a Time - use a digi

Sentimental Sundays - flowers + sentiment

Allsorts - red

What Am I Giving Away For Free Today?!

Welcome to the TLC Creations Blog Hop! If you came here via Karen's blog, you are in the right place. There are FREEBIES at each stop, so be sure to start at the beginning at Paulette's blog. And in case you get lost along the way (even though it's a short hop!), here is the order:

Create With TLC

Karen 

Judy (you are here!)

Angela 

Hetty

Sara 

Look at this beautiful image that Paulette has made for me to give away:

And here is my card (please click for a closer view):

I printed my image on watercolor paper and then used an aqua brush and reinkers to paint my scene. I also used Paulette's Vintage Seal Digital Paper for the left-hand border. The edges are sponged with Tim Holtz's Antique Linen Distress Ink. 

To grab your freebie, please leave me a comment first and tell me what you think! Then just right-click on the image below and save to your computer!

 

Next on the hop is my talented teammate, ANGELA~! 

Thanks for stopping by today! If you like what you see, become a Follower~!

Stamps: Vintage Visiting Bird by TLC Creations

Paper: Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Canson Watercolor, TLC Creations Vintage Seal

Ink: various dye ink reinkers, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress

Accessories: Cuttlebug EF, Spellbinders die cuts, Wild Orchid white roses, Hobby Lobby organdy ribbon, Mark Richards pearls

It's An Ice Cream Kind of Day

You know I love the dies over at Lil' Inker Designs! They cut beautifully and are just so fun. The Rainbows and Clouds set is one of my favorites.

I made my ice cream scoops out of the larger cloud dies and added Starfire Glitter and Bubble Gum Glitter (both by Sparkle N Sprinkle) to the edges (and also to the sentiment circle). My waffle cone is cut from Creamy Caramel cardstock, and then run through my Cuttlebug. I sponged Close to Cocoa ink on the top and edges for a "baked" look. My sentiment is by TLC Creations.

Here is a look at the Rainbows and Clouds set:

You can see a card I made with the rainbows here and another "out-of-the-box" card using the cloud dies here.

And for other fun news, I made the Spotlight over at Sweet Stampin' Challenges with this card. Cool~!



It is a hot forecast here for the rest of the week - high 90's for temps and high 60's and 70's for humidity. So I think ice cream is the perfect treat! Have a wonderful summer day~!

Challenges for this card:
Crazy Challenge - summertime
Creative Stamps Friends - summer
DDH Challenges - summer
House of Gilli - sparkle
Karens Doodles - summer fun
KB Monday - something cute
Paper Playtime - summer
Crafty Pad - texture
Gingerloft - make it sparkle

For more challenge fun, visit Top Tip Tuesday today and see what fun sketches they have in store for you!

Stamps: Life's Hard by TLC Creations
Paper: Kraft, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, DP by Basic Grey
Accessories: corner rounder, Rainbows and Clouds dies, Cuttlebug EF, Spellbinders Circle dies, The Paper Studio ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, Stampin' Up! courdoroy brad

Ah.....college!

Today my daughter and I experienced "College Orientation - Day 1." Some helpful information - some I could have read on my own faster. A nice BBQ and a lovely rain shower (not at the same time), and tomorrow is Day 2. It is so beautiful here - the mountains still have snow on them. But - it was 92 degrees today, so the rain was a welcome respite, even if only for a few minutes. Apartment hunting begins Friday.

So -- I had been reading some gallery and blog posts about using things that were on your desk.  And yesterday (actually a few days ago when I "pre-posted" this) I cleaned off my desk and organized my stamp room better. But I had these two images still in the "Do Something With This" pile, so I decided to make a card with scraps and what I had not yet put away. And here it is:

I used Paulette's word art from TLC Creations (a past freebie!) with Hambo Stamps' Heart Basket. Click on the photo and you can see the Starfire Glitter I added to the hearts. The button is a little chipboard heart I had and it is threaded with Real Red CS. It is layered on Riding Hood Red CS cut out with a Spellbinders Rectangle Nestie, but the edges are hard to see against the Red Prints DP. I colored my basket with Copic markers. The printed ribbon and red brads are from Hobby Lobby. I paper pierced the upper lefthand corner. Not bad for what was "lying around."

Today we will finish the Orientation meetings for fall - and tonight I am taking my daughter to one of my favorite restaurants in Salt Lake City. Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Ice Cream Always Helps

Isn't that true? I am a fairly "conservative" ice cream flavor person. My favorite is homemade vanilla with Hershey's chocolate sauce. But I love TCBY fruit sorbets, and Coldstone's Chocolate Cake Batter!
Baskin Robbin's Daquiri Ice is my all-time favorite sorbet. And I consider all of those ice creams!

I made this card using Sketch Challenge 336 from Splitcoaststampers. My digital word art is from TLC Creations. I love it! Designer paper is Echo Park's Summer Days. All of the papers in that pad are so cheery and summery and fun~! Some giant ric rac from Hobby Lobby, some Cuttlebug embossing, and there you have it!

Now go out and get some ice cream!

Challenges for this card:
Challenge up Your Life - circles
Just Some Lines - spots and dots
Easy Craft Projects - inspiration photo
Alphabet Challenge - Get Well (who isn't better with ice cream when you are sick?)
Crafts 4 Eternity - R (ric rac)
Poodles Parlour - anything goes

My First One-Handed Card

I never knew how much truth was in the statement that I joke about: "Stamping is my therapy." I have not stamped for 10 days, and I can't believe what an effect that has had on me! It's different when I choose not to, but still can. But not being able to due to physical limitations is a whole different ball game. So, kudos to those of you with physical disabilities that continue to work to create!

I was kind of a basket case yesterday - my hand and elbow seem to be healing at a snail's pace and I was very discouraged, my sister arrived from Arizona, and my mom is in the hospital due to a shoulder replacement and left-hand carpal tunnel surgery on Friday. My daughter was having a tough day, and I can't do my laundry. (Now that shows a definite messed up mind. HA)

So today I decided I had to try one-handed creating. It's different than my usual style, and definitely not a lot of "stamping" and layers, but it made me happy so it served its purpose! Since I can only use one hand, I decided using a digital image would be the place to start.

The word art is by TLC Creations. I had these puffy pillow stickers (Spaghetti by K & Co.) in my stash, and matched them up with Echo Park's Summer Days DP and some fun pink buttons. Very simple design but kinda hard to do one handed. But hey - I am in a better mood, and that was the whole idea! (Slow typing this post as well, but I am happy I can do it at all!)

I take so many things for granted - opening any kind of screw top (thank you pump and spray bottles!), pulling up and fastening jeans, putting mousse in my hair, cleaning my left ear, driving a car, exercising.....so many things.......soon I hope!

Oh - if you love ribbon, head over to the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog - they have a huge giveaway going on right now!

Thanks for stopping by today! And a HUGE thank you to my stamping friends that have sent me cards, and little pick-me-ups! I hope to post some of those things here soon. Have a wonderful day~!

Challenges:
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Crafty Catz - circles (buttons and circles on frame)

You Make My Heart Sing

I am writing this post almost a week ahead, but as you are reading this, I am probably in La-La Land. I thought that today's post would fit perfectly with this cute little bird singing la-la-la!

Why am I in La-La Land?  Today I am scheduled for carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand and left elbow.  That is stage 1. Stage 2 is the right hand and right elbow scheduled for next month.  I have no idea how long it will take to recover, or when I will get to stamp.  I am going to try one-handed by Monday, and I hope that things will turn out okay and that I am not making ugly. :) I don't think I can wait 4-6 weeks for each side to be able to stamp!  I have been putting this off for four years though, and now is the time.

I can't talk on the phone, wash my hair, sleep, type, stamp, or drive without my hands going numb.  So enough is enough and I am under the care of a very good doctor right now.  I told him I didn't want to hear ANYthing, and he said to tell them I wanted to be "snowed." No general, just a block and some La-La medicine! :)

Am I nervous? Yes. Everything I do involves my hands.  I have played piano in church almost every Sunday since I was 10 years old (yep!) and now I will be taking the whole summer off. I think I will be forced to learn to stamp CAS better now, don't you? :)

Anyway, my card today is made with a vintage image from TLC Creations called You Make My Heart Sing. I watercolored using dye inks and an aqua brush. Designer paper is the Annalee line by Prima. I think it's so sweet.

Thanks for stopping by today - wish me luck - and I hope to be back soon~!

Challenges for this card (added later!):

Amber's Crafts and Stuff - vintage

Crafting For All Seasons - anything goes

Color Throwdown 143 - So Saffron, Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Bashful Blue

A Spoonful of Sugar - things with wings

Bearly Mine - die cuts and lace

Scrap-Creations - at least 3 different DPs

Paper Take Weekly - pretty pastels

I Love Me Some Pinwheels~!

I am in love with this little pinwheel.  I could put it on my cards all week!  Yes, there is the problem of figuring out how to mail these, but hey, I am hand-delivering, so it's okay~! 

The pinwheel die is available at Lil' Inker Designs and comes with an adorable stamp set that has so many fun sentiments to use with the pinwheels.  I plan to ink that up later this week. The sentiment above is by TLC Creations - one of the freebies that Paulette gave away this week~!

Laura has some adorable samples at Lil' Inker Designs - and a great flag and banner set that should be in my mailbox sometime next week.  Check out everything HERE. I ordered two pinwheel dies, just because it wasn't that much more, although at the time I was thinking "Why do I need two?"  And now that I have them in my hot little hands, I can see that two are delightfully fast and you can cut twice the pinwheels in the same amount of time.  DUH.  Blonde hair, you know. :)

The second card is made for the new CAS-ual Fridays challenge that debuted today HERE. What a fun challenge, and one that is DEFINITELY a challenge for me.  You don't see too many CAS cards on my blog or in my gallery.  It's hard for me.  In fact, see that white space in the corner? I wanted to fill it with brads and buttons and all sorts of stuff.  But I didn't! I had to set it aside so I would leave the white space!! 

The challenge today was to use text in your design somehow.  I chose a designer paper by The Paper Studio and made a graduation card - one of many that I will need in the next week~!

And now I am off to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day by working on my daughter's scrapbooks~! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by~!

Challenges for #1:
Stamp Something - use a digi 
Digital Tuesday - ribbon and lace
House of Gilli - layers and stitching 
Lexi's Creations - friendship
Stamp With Fun - lace or ribbon

Challenges for #2:
Cupcake Craft - something that starts with C - Congrats paper


Challenges for both:
Divas By Design - anything goes
Paper Take Weekly - anything goes

Teapot Tuesday

I always knew this year would fly -- it happened the same way with my son's senior year in high school.  I think this year seemed to go by even faster, perhaps because it's my last child graduating.  And it's in 12 days.  That seems so strange to me, and I am not sure I have even grasped that.  I am sure I haven't, as we are having a reception and 200 people have said they are coming and I am not panicked yet. WHEEEEEEEEE!

I feel like this butterfly (although definitely not so elegant looking) - flitting from place to place and never settling long enough to get much done! I did get this card done, though, so that is something! You can read all about today's Teapot Challenge HERE. My sentiment is by TLC Creations.

Other challenges for this card:

A Spoonful of Sugar - white + plus 1 other color

Claudia & Co. - butterflies

Clear It Out - ribbon/trim

Scrap Creations - bug themed

Paper Take Weekly - anything goes

The Stamping Boutique - winged things

Try it On Tuesday - older than 6 months (the DP and Spellbinders die) and newer than 6 months (butterfly and sentiment)
Top Tip Tuesday - open

And a few awards I am excited about! THIS CARD received a Top Three at the Gingerloft Challenge Blog. And THIS CARD won Top Three at Creative Inspirations Paint this week. 

THIS CARD won Top Three at Stampin' Royalty~! YIPPEE :)

Stamps: sentiment by TLC Creations

Paper: Basic Black, GP White, stash DP

Accessories: butterfly (Prima), Spellbinders die, MFT die, pearls, flowers and ribbon (HL)

Inspired by Trees

Yesterday was Arbor Day, and I got a gift certificate to a local nursery for a tree! I am excited to choose one (probably a pink one!) and get it planted in my front yard. 

For today's SCS Inspiration Challenge 282, I chose this art print. I loved the soft colors. I used to have giant birch trees in my yard and I have always loved the shape of the leaves. I don't have a bluebird stamp to go with this, so I incorporated the color of the bird instead. I embossed the bottom half of my leaf panel with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

And for Joy #17, Happy Birthday to my beautiful mom today! We will be going to the community theatre performance tonight of Cookin' With Gus and having a lovely dinner there. My mom is awesome and I love her lots~! 

Stamps: Be the Birch Tree by TLC Creations

Paper: Basic Grey DP, Kraft, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Cuttlebug EF, Rolodex punch, taupe ribbon, button, baker's twine

It's a Magical Birthday!

Isn't this a magical place? Definitely the coolest treehouse I have seen! 

Both my image and sentiment are by TLC Creations. I watercolored with reinkers and an aqua brush. There is so much fun sparkle in this from Spica Glitter pens, which never show up in photos for me!

Have a magical day! 

Challenges for this card:
Mami Doodles - kraft 
Stampin' Royalty - watercoloring
The Paper Shelter - nature inspired 
 

Have You Had Your Daily Hug?

This card was inspired by my daughter, who has been rather sad this week, as one of her teachers at her high school passed away on Monday from pancreatic cancer.  The teacher was 46, and had three children.  She had been fighting her cancer battle for 15 years, when the doctors had told her originally that she would have 6 months to live. She inspired the students at the high school and people in the community to raise over $45,000 for Tackle Cancer.  She was an inspiration to my daughter. 

The first thing my daughter did when she saw me that afternoon was to give me a huge hug and tell me she loved me.  So I made this card for her.  Go give your kids a hug.  Or your mom. Or a friend. Life is precious.

Challenges for this card:
Cooking It Up With Katie - pink/flowers/for a lady 
Crafts and Me - pink and sweet 
Creative Card Crew - recycle (recycled buttons from another card) 
Scrapbook Sisters - buttons
Your Next Stamp - texture 
Ladybug Crafts Ink - anything goes
Craft Your Passion - use dots

Stamps: Sentiment by TLC Creations & stick girl is from MS76 Full Plate by I Brake For Stamps

Paper: So Saffron, Regal Rose, GP White, K & Co. DP

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics R81, 83, 85

Accessories: organdy stitched ribbon, buttons, Spellbinders oval and scalloped oval dies, Cuttlebug EF, baker's twine, paper piercer, paper flowers

Oh Spring! Where Are You?

Yesterday it rained and rained. This morning it froze. And now it's snowing. Keeps things exciting, I guess. But I long for JUST Spring!! My lilacs will survive - not sure the almost blooming bulbs will, but maybe!  I have a quick post for you this morning, and then maybe another later tonight.  I haven't done my taxes, I have a funeral to play for at 10 this morning, and then work this afternoon at the theatre. Busy day ahead, as I am sure most of you have too.  So I will share a card that I made earlier in the week, that makes me long for Spring.

My sentiment and patterned paper (both digital) are from TLC Creations.  The paper, called And the Bird Sings, is beautiful and comes in several colors. 

I love the combination of the music, and the nest, and just the way it looks!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Challenges for this card:
Craft Us Crazy - thinking of you and animals
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
DYSU - scallops
Pals Paper Arts - flowers

Song Bird

Here is another creation using a "Be the...." set by Paulette at TLC Creations. I love these sets and am on a quest to collect them all, so I will be showing quite a few in the coming days.

This is from "Be the Song Bird." I used Tim Holtz designer paper and my Cuttlebug and Spellbinders dies to finish the card. What do you think?

Challenges for this card:
Card Cupids - two colors (blue and white)
Crafty Pad - spring
Gingerloft - blues
I Did It Creations - sing a song (Songbird by Barbra Streisand)

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to the Kraft Journal for featuring my vintage card on their blog for Feature Me Friday! Made my day!