Blog candy and new goodies!!

Be sure to head over to Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to enter for some blog candy!!

Then head over to Susana's store and check it out! She's been adding new fun goodies like crazy and will have more coming in soon so be sure to keep checking!
One new thing that I can't wait to try is Sparkly Fluff ! Be sure to check it out, it looks like tons of fun!!

Time to get them into cards.....

When I go to my friends house to color images, I come home and put them on my magnetic board on my cube that sits on my desk. Well, I can only stare at them so long before it annoys me and I have to make them into cards.

So that's what these cards are from....the images I colored at Jennifer's. I ruined one so into the recycling it went.

I'm taking a break from listing all the products I used but if you would like to know something, just ask!! The bunny stamp is from TAC-Some Bunny, The nesties are from Susana's store and the other two are Enchanted Lily from Pink Cat Studio.

That was then, this is now #9

I haven't done one of these in a while....thought that this stamp was pretty relevant to how I'm feeling tonight. Just one of those days where I feel totally overwhelmed. But this too shall pass!!

Anyhoo, for those of you who are new to my blog, I have started a series of That was then, This is now posts. I post a photo of a card I did years ago when I was first starting out and then I re-make the card using the same stamp. Just a fun thing to do and see.

That was then......

This is now....

I used a sketch from SCS, SC209.

Supplies:

card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

stamps: TAC Frazzled-retired,

paper: TAC-I think Catelynne (I had a moment of organization and I mixed all my paper up)

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,

others: copics, Prima Flowers Daisy Crazy Destiny, brad, CM fine tip pen,

Tears of happiness...

I was so surprised today when I went for the mail. I truly am blessed with some amazing friends. I had numerous RAK's~~just because. Thank you to all of you (you know who you are). You truly touched my heart today.

Hopelessly behind....

This week has been a busy one for me and I am so behind on numerous things~~commenting on blogs being one of them. So if I haven't visited your blog for a few days, know that I have at least looked at it, I just am having a hard time catching up.
Hopefully today/tonight I can at least catch up from today's posts but we'll see...........

Flutter By Wednesday #55

Hello!! Thanks for stopping by to see the Flutter By creations!! I simply love Wednesday's! It just makes me smile and so happy to see so many FABULOUS creations made with butterflies and fairies!!
Don't forget to visit last week's creations, if you haven't already! You can see them here, at the bottom of the post in Mister Linky.
This week's challenge is to use red, white and blue in your creations in honor of Sam leaving for his deployment. I'd love to have you play along!! Just create a card or project with a butterfly or fairy and if you want to, use the colors red, white and blue and then enter a direct link to your creation in Mister Linky, at the bottom of this post. If you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword, FBW.
Our featured team member this week is Nancy! I haven't known her very long but I must say she has showered me with kindness and is very talented!! Be sure to stop by her blog and leave her some love!! Here's her wonderful creations~

I also wanted to give a shout out to my team!! I feel like I am just so lucky to have such an awesome team!! They all create such wonderful creations each week! So please be sure you stop by their blogs and leave them some love. All their links are on my sidebar. Also letting everyone know that Michelle had her surgery and things went well but her recovery is going slow so she won't have a card this week. Just keep her in your thoughts.
Here's what I came up with for this week~ This card actually took a bit more than I expected as when I was coloring Anya my royal blue copic decided to blob. Sigh.

So I cut out the main part of Anya to save her and then added her to another stamped image. Not too bad for an ACK moment! LOL! I will be cutting her out again though as she was just too cute without her wings!
As I was looking through my google reader, I came across this sketch and thought it would be perfect for this card.
I love the way this turned out! It is just so crisp, so clean. What do you think??

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Flutter Anya, A Muse Essential Ovals,
paper:
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aspen Mist,
others: copics, swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder, light sapphire Swarovski crystals, clear copic glitter pen,

Try It Out Tuesday # 16

For this week we were challenged to--Half It! Take a stamped image, but only use part of it on your card/project. Crop it, cut it, cover it--but only half of the image should show!
Interesting!! I had to think about it for a while but hope you like what I came up with.
Be sure to check out Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to see what the other design team members came up with and to see how you can play along!

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Girlfriends on a bench,
paper: Basic Grey Urban Prarie,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, Fiskars border punch, flowers (have you seen Susana's selection? Neat stuff! Flowers), oyster bella baubles, melon copic glitter pen, opal shimmerz,

Another Tilda

I seriously need to figure out some better titles! LOL!

I went in my image box and found this sweet Tilda. Not sure of her name but doesn't she look precious holding that flower?

I used a sketch from The Fresh Batch (Stamp and Smiles Sketch Challenge), Challenge #10.

Supplies:

card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

stamps: image from RAK, TAC Fruit of the Spirit-retired-on inside

paper: Blossom and Butterfly Stack

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Hint Of Pesto

others: prismacolors, OMS, CM fine tip pen, Martha Stewart branch punch, other flower punch RAK, mini button,

Warmer days are coming....

I couldn't think of a nice clever title...LOL! I needed a birthday card for the Magnolia group so I dug through my RAK images and found this sweetie. She just makes me smile and think of warm, sunny days!

I used another sketch from Amy's blog, AMYRS1 (it can be found in this post).

I also used one of the scraps that I painted with shimmerz from this post to punch out the MS branch punches....LOVE the effect.

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: image from RAK,
paper: some from an old Wild Asparagus Stack
ink: Palette French Lilac,
others: prismacolors, OMS, stardust pen, Martha Stewart branch punch, mint shimmerz, flower, matte lilac bella baubles, various flower punches for inside

I Love~~~ Brentwood!

Seriously, how totally cute are the Brentwood Owl stamps!! If you haven't seen them before, be sure to check them out! So very fun!!

I was so excited last night when I found out there is a free Brentwood digi download to celebrate the new design team!! Have you gotten yours yet? Why not? Hurry, go get one!! (be sure to check out the details how you can win a gift certificate too!)

The possibilities are endless with this adorable image!! I sat for awhile trying to think ~what do I love? Umm, yeah, duh moment...I love Flutter By's!!

For those of you who are new to my site (and me) I call butterflies' Flutter By's and host a challenge every Wednesday for Flutter By's!

So even though Brentwood is a hip dude owl, he still can love flutter by's!!

I'm still getting use to using my copics with images I print out~~I smeared a few places but overall I was pleased with the results.

supplies:

card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

stamps: I Love ______Brentwood digi stamp,

paper: some from my stash

ink:

others: copics, red copic glitter pen, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Pomagranate bella baubles, periwinkle parfait bella baubles, CM fine tip pen,

Amazing flutter by creation!

Be sure to check out this GORGEOUS flutter by creation!!! Wow!!

Young Julia with purse

I haven't inked up this Anki's Sweetheart in awhile so I thought I'd have a bit of fun with her today. I think she's one of my favorites of the Sweetheart line, although I do like them all an awful lot! How could you not??
There are so many challenge blogs out there now, so fun, that I am finding if you look around, you can usually try lots of fun new ideas. I used a sketch from Stamps and Smiles, Sketch Challenge #5.
As this card came together I must say I was so happy with it!

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Young Julia with purse, A Muse essential ovals, SU Polka Dot Punches
paper: Doodlebug
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Charcoal, Palette Jardin Moss
others: copics (basic blue jean bundle), melon copic glitter pen, red copic glitter pen, flowers, ribbon brads,

Speechless

A while ago I submitted an application to JessicaLynn Originals Stamps for their design team for the next 6 months. I had sort of spaced it off and really figured that I wouldn't get it (if I think that, then I don't get so disappointed when I get the rejection).
I was so surprised today to get an email telling me to check out this post! I'm speechless! Out of 74 entries I was one of the people chosen! Wow!
I know that recently I just stepped down from two design teams so it seems a little odd for me to take this position.....but the requirements for this one are not weekly and this is only for 6 months~~~I still feel odd since I stepped down and here I am taking on another one but I truly hope everyone understands!
Wow!

3 Clovers Thursday Challenge #10

3 Clovers Thursday Challenge #10 is "It's a zoo around here"~ animal images. That sounded like a lot of fun so I had to create a little somethin' for it!

As much as I love animals, and zoos (did you know I want to be a zookeeper when I grow up?) it was so hard to pick what image to use! LOL! I finally settled on this cute shy bear that I haven't inked up yet!

Wish I could look so cute with curlers in my hair! I paper pieced her headband with this Laura Ashley paper as I just love how it looks like fabric.

Supplies:

card size: 5 x5

stamps: Teacup Shy Bear,

paper: Laura Ashely Traditional,

ink: VersaFine Onyx Black,

others: prismacolors, OMS, Making Memories Lemonade Blossoms & Buttons, yellow scrappers floss, CM fine tip pen,

Scrappy Frogs Challenge #3

It's time for another Scrappy Frogs Challenge! The theme for this challenge is Spring/Floral. So many possibilities!! Be sure to head on over to the Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog to see how you can play along!! and also to see what the other design team members created!

I thought this retired TAC set, Sunshine Mimi would be fun to use. The flower on her hat and the flower pot were both stamped on separate paper and cut out and raised on pop dots for some dimension.

I used Techno Stamper: Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #66.

supplies:

card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

stamps: TAC Sunshine Mimi-retired,

paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie,

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Landscape,

others: copics, nestablities, lemonade bella baubles, diamond stickles,

Friday, Friday.....

I'm actually writing this post on Sunday. I've got all my posts ready to go for the week and now it's time for a post on Friday. I'm actually dreading Friday. That's the day we say "so long" to Sam for a year.
I was going to do an army card with either the Hero set from The Greeting Farm or use Jami's wonderful set, Come Home Soon but well, I just can't. Guess it's too close to home.
So I just decided that this day on my blog would just be a no card day.
Instead, use the time you'd normally use to leave a comment to:

• go hug someone
• tell someone how much they mean to you
• smile at a stranger~~you never know when that smile could mean the world
• send a card to someone just because
• just take a moment and be thankful for all in your life
• Remember all those military families that go through what I'm doing today on a regular basis
• Just take a moment and "be"

I'll be back to cards tomorrow. Thanks for all your support, prayers, thoughts and kind words, they mean so much to me!!

Edited to add that we did take him this morning at 5:00 am. Poor kiddos had to get up at 4:45 am. I'm letting Matthew stay home from school. Sigh....let's start the countdown, 365 more days to go.

Have you seen.....

The wonderful tutorial by Aud on making a corner bookmark?
All the wonderful specials at Susana's store?
Bella crystal daisies?
Awesome embellisments?
Beautiful primas?

Check it out!! You won't be sorry!!

New Friends Ella and LooLoo

I have had this stamp for quite some time and still adore it so I thought I'd get it inky today!

I looked around and found a sketch on the Mojo Monday Sketch Blog that I thought would be fun, Sketch 68.

Supplies:

card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

stamps: New Friends Ella and LooLoo, sentiment from Stamping Bella, TAC Ribbons-retired-on inside

paper: TAC Toodle Loo,

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Cote D'Azure, VersaMagic Pink Petunia, VersaMagic Sea Breeze

others: copics, Spring Mix Flower Soft, diamond stickles, circle punch, sizzlit dies for the ovals, buttons,

Flutter By Wednesday #54

Happy Flutter By Day! So glad that you stopped by!

Be sure to check out all the wonderful creations entered in last week's challenge! You can see them here! (at the bottom of the post in Mister Linky)

This week's challenge was another open week so anything goes as long as it has a butterfly or fairy on it!! Please enter a direct link to your creation in Mister Linky so we can see it and if you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword FBW. Also a little side note, you can enter a creation all week long, not just on Wednesday's!! I have had some questions about that so thought I'd answer it so everyone knows!

Before I introduce this week's very special guest designer, I have to share a little something. At the beginning of the year, I chose a word that I wanted to describe how I thought of myself in this new year. That word was confidence. I've worked on this a little here and there and really, I am much more confident than I have been in the past.

That being said, it was that confidence that allowed me to finally step up and ask Lauren Meader if she'd be a guest designer for me. Of course I asked when she was swamped, had her surgery, and all that jazz~~can we say bad timing? But regardless, she was so sweet to me and agreed to!!
I'm sure most of you are familiar with this amazing woman, but if not, take a moment to check out her blog~~actually take a cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy yourself! Creativity and inspiration just ooze out of that blog!

Without further rambling from me, here is Lauren's wonderful card!! Simply gorgeous! Thank you again, Lauren for agreeing to be my guest designer!!

The featured team member this week is Jodi! She is just the sweetest and I feel very fortunate to have her on my team! Here's her wonderful card~

Don't forget to check out the other team member's wonderful creations~~their links are all on my sidebar and most of them will link to Mister Linky as well!

Here's my card for this week. I just got this new fairy in from Paper Makeup Stamps and I just had to use her. I so adore the fairies (and other stamps) from Katie's store!! I used Amy's sketch, AMYRS65. I didn't take a picture of the inside but all I did was use my scallop border punch on the bottom of some white cardstock. Just enough to make it look nice!

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Birthday Lauren, TAC Birthday Blessings-retired,
paper: some that I've had forever,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Prussian Blue
others: copics, SU scallop border punch, ribbon, white scrappers floss (that I colored blue with my copics), Blue Moon Silver Heart charm, stardust stickles,

Pink Turtle

I just got this set from The Greeting Farm and couldn't wait to ink up this cute turtle and bunny. Belle was with me when I opened it up and she loved it too so I gave her a stamped image to color too. Didn't she do a great job?

I also decided to use this as a learning tool for her. See she is my little artist. Which is great but she is becoming so worried over the "right" colors for things, which isn't bad but....., so I decided to show her that you can use any colors you want in your art.

So that is the basis of the card, but I must say, I like pink turtles!

I used liquid applique for the bunny tail and I was patient and used Susana's advice ( in the product description) and Jodi's instructions. World of difference from my impatient ways!

I used Techno Stampers: Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #63.

Look at that shimmerz!

supplies:

card size: 4 1/4 x 4 1/4

stamps: Down by the Pond,

paper: Georgia Pacific, DoveCraft Retro Floral,

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,

others: copics, liquid applique, pixie dust shimmerz, Heidi Swapp jewels,CM fine tip pen, CM punch,

One more image colored by Belle!

Pinky Dinky Doo

Not sure how many of you are familiar with Pinky Dinky Doo, it's a tv show for preschoolers. Belle really likes it. The other day she was busy drawing and when she was done this is what I found~~ The Pinky Dinky Doo Family. She did a great job, if I do say so myself!

You can see the page that shows the actual characters from the show here.

Just had to share....hehehe.

Try It Out Tuesday #15

For this week's challenge we were to Bling It!! Use glitter, shimmerz, embossing powder or anything sparkly on your card & as much as possible!!
That's my kind of challenge!! Oh yeah!!
Be sure to check out Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to see what the other design team members came up with! And also to see how you can play along with us!!
There are so many awesome stamps that Susana carries but I decided on an Anki Sweetheart, Julia with flowers. I used a sketch from SCS, SC224.
I couldn't get the shimmerz to show up very well but her entire dress is shimmery from the Opal shimmerz, then I also used the clear copic pen on the hearts, stickles on the flowers. It truly does sparkle and shimmer in real life!!

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Julia with flowers, A muse essential ovals, TAC Great Greetings-retired-on inside, TAC Curls and Swirls-inside
paper: some that I've had forever,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Wheat, Palette Violette, VersaMagic Spring Pansy
others: copics, opal shimmerz, stickles, clear copic glitter pen, metallic dew drops, CM fine tip pen,

Pretty flowers

I love the springtime but it's so different now that we're in the desert. I miss seeing all the beautiful flowers and all the new growth. Don't get me wrong there is some of that here, but not much. So to help me remember one of my favorite things I decided to color up a pretty flower image a friend shared with me.

So here's to spring!

Supplies:

card size: 5 x 5

stamps: image from RAK,

paper: some from my scraps

ink:

others: prismacolors, OMS, sizzlit corner punch die, matte lilac bella baubles,

Shimmerz

I {heart} shimmerz! Have I mentioned that? LOL! Well, I also really enjoy the Shimmerz Blog, so many wonderful ideas! I really, really liked the idea they posted here! So today I'm painting up some scraps and then soon I should have some shimmery die cuts and punches! Yay!
Just thought I'd share...hehehe!

SMIRK sale

Oh my!! Susana has all the SMIRK stamps on sale for 50% off!!! That's roughly only $2.00 a stamp!! They are super cute too! What are you waiting for? Go order some! And why not look around and get some other fun goodies while you're there!!

SMIRKS
Susana's Store

Little Stinkers

Another super cute set in the new TAC magalouge. I couldn't resist these cute skunks. There are 4 in the set, so fun!

Since April showers bring May flowers I decided to ink up the one with the umbrella first.

I used a sketch from SCS, SC223. As I was putting this together I decided it need a little "umph" so I stamped the umbrella again and popped it up for some dimension.

Supplies:

card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

stamps: TAC Little Stinkers, TAC Tiny Spring-retired-on inside

paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie,

ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aspen Mist

others: copics, sunflower shimmerz, CM fine tip pen, black scrappers floss,