Egg-stra Sweet

Happy Sunday!  

It's back!  My mojo has returned and is in high gear!  Somewhere over the last day or so it finally decided to pop up, thank goodness!  I was so frustrated I was about to shut my craft room door and take a reluctant sabbatical.  Whether it was the approach of "spring" (sssh! Winter's listening!) and lots of sunshine or what, something knocked the cobwebs out of the ole right side of my noggin'! 

So, this morning I have a fun and springy Easter card to share.   I even had the chance to take my photo outside and use beautiful natural lighting.  It's a good day!

SPIES

STAMPS: Eggs & Sentiment (Paper Sweeties); 
PAPER: Lime cardstock.  White cardstock base; DP - Pebbles Basics.
INK: Black Tuxedo (Momento).
EXTRAS: Basket die, grass die, bow die (Impression Obsession); Egg die (Paper Sweeties); White ball fringe ribbon (Pink Posh). Pink enamel dot.


I'm playing in a new challenge today too --- over at Paper Sweeties.  I recently had the opportunity to meet Debbie, owner and designer of Paper Sweeties Stamps.  She's a fellow North Carolinian just down the road in Chapel Hill.  She was so kind to invite me to her monthly local card class she gives and I had sooo much fun!  Going back as often as I can!  Her stamps are so adorable, centered around the old fashioned paper dolls idea (if you're old enough like I am to remember and actually played with paper dolls)!  The eggs here in my basket are her stamps. The sentiment is also Paper Sweeties. The polka dot egg even has a matching die.  They were perfect to use in my basket die from Impression Obsession.  Don't know if you can see in my photo, but the basket has a basket weave design on it.  So darn cute!  The grass die is also from Impression Obsession.

I couldn't resist using all my polka dot paper from Pebbles Basics and slipped in some matching blue chevron from the pack too.  The lime green dot however, is from my stash and I cannot remember where it's from.  The sweet little bow die is from Impression Obsession too.  They have the cutest and most inexpensive dies.  The white ball fringe ribbon is from Pink Posh (got to order some more of that).

For The Following Challenges:

Paper Sweeties - #17 - March Inspiration

The Shabby Tea Room - #210 Anything Goes

Catered Crop - Spring Fever

Egg-stra Special Blessings!

Nurse Porcupine

 Happy 1st Spring Weekend!  It's been a gorgeous day here in NC!  Lots of warm sunshine streamed into my craft room today. Tomorrow it hits 75 before, but then Old Man Winter wants to put up a fight once again beginning Sunday with our temps plunging to the 50s and then the 40s and then by Tuesday to the 30s!  OUCH!  

And speaking of OUCH --- I have a get well card this evening to post before it's too late.

With the Hubs an ER nurse, my forte perhaps should be get well cards, but I guess I tend to focus on more cheerful events.  This one I tried to make as a masculine get well with the bright hues of blues and greens mostly.

STAMPS: Porcupine Digital Stamp (Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps); Sentiment (Create with TLC).
PAPER: White cardstock base; Teal green, dark red and lime green cardstock; Background - Hello Summer (Echo Park); DP-I {Heart} Summer (Simple Stories).
INK: Copics & Blick markers on porcupine.
EXTRAS: Tag dies (Reverse Confetti); Small dot emboss folder (Cuttlebug); Diamond Stickles; Twine; pop dots.


That cute little porcupine is a free digital stamp from Free Dearie Dolls Stamps.  Isn't it adorable?  I sparkled it up a bit with some Diamond Stickles on the cross on the hat, the stethoscope and the beadpan. I had the perfect sentiment to go with it from Paulette at Create With TLC.  I love her stuff!  The band-aid I made myself by just cutting a strip of cardstock and using my corner rounder on the edges.  Then, taking a strip of polka dot paper and embossing it with the small dot folder from Cuttlebug.

FOR THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Retrosketches #106

Here's to Get Well Blessings!

Blooming Happiness

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart,
and warmed by the smiles
of the people you love.

~ Irish Blessing

Hope you are wearing green

 and maybe 

partaking of a little green beer 

or other 

green beverage/food!

The Hubs and I will be celebrating at our neighbors tonight at their annual St. Patrick's Party (they're Irish) and to have my annual Irish Coffee and a wee bit o' Irish Whiskey! The only kind of whiskey I like, which isn't saying much because I don't like whiskey.  lol  It will be a great time with great food (they cook everything) and catching up with neighbors.

But before the shenanigans begin, 

 today's a new challenge  

over at 

The Pink Elephant Challenge 

#242

It is a recipe challenge ---

Recipe:

Lots of Layers - Ribbon - Pinch of Green

So stop by The Pink Elephant

and check out 

all the other 

Design Team members' fabulous projects!

Here is my project I did ---

 SPIES:

STAMPS: Digital Sentiment (TLC Creations).

PAPER: Kraft cardbase;  Olive green and pink cardstock.  Vellum. DP - Vintage Bliss (Simple Stories).

INK: White Sharpie (for faux stitching).

EXTRAS: Camellia flower die (MFT Stamps); Leaf die (Taylored Expressions); Label die cut from Stash; Label die for vellum sentiment (Spellbinders);  Butterfly dies (Spellbinders Mixed Media); Enamel dots (Recollections); grey ribbon. 

I used the sketch at Deconstructed Sketch since it has lots of layers in it.  I like the layered look.  It takes me a bit to get into it sometimes  It tends to stretch my creativity a little more and this past week I sure needed it! Lost my mojo a bit.  I blame it on too much winter and too much life "stuff". Even my "feng shui" in the house is off kilter.  

So I chose these bright and spring-y papers to dust off the winter drear, creatively.  And, just yesterday I saw lots of trees around Cary bursting with blossoms so spring is here in bits and pieces!  

I hope you will play along with our Recipe Challenge this week.  We love to see your creations and be inspired as well!

For Following Challenges:

Blooming Blessings!

Home - Where Hugs Are

Good Sunday Morning!

Time for 

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #252

and time for 

a fresh brewed cup too

because 

our sponsor this week is 

Fresh Brewed Designs!

They are offering our winner

3 Digis!

Here is this week's inspiration --- 

Our photo comes compliments of Mandy Mortimer!

It's a color inspiration week --

Espresso, Cream, & Chartreuse

(and of course any neutrals are ok).

Here is my project using 

 "House On A  Hill" Digi

from Fresh Brewed Designs.

I love the whimsical look of those houses!

SPIES:

STAMPS: House on a Hill (Fresh Brewed Designs); Sentiment (TLC Creations).

PAPER: Dark brown cardbase; white cardstock; Tan DP (Basics - ); DP - Tans -Basic Stack (Die Cuts With a View); Green polka dot (Stash);  Woodgrain DP- Life of the Party (My Mind's Eye).

INK: Chartreuse, Beach (Blick Markers); Light Walnut & Dark Walnut (Copics).

EXTRAS: Basic circle die (Spellbinders); Label die (Reverse Confetti); Flower bud die- part of the Camellia Die set (My Favorite Things); green fabric flower (Stash); Pop dots.

UGH!  I had one post last week again!  I've been out of creative mojo lately and I hate it! Probably due to life being in the way recently with lots of appointments and comings and goings and just too much "stuff".  When I lose my mojo, I feel out of sync.  When I feel out of sync, I get in a bad mood (just ask the Hubs).  I'm hoping the couple of cards I've been struggling (for lack of a better word because one shouldn't "struggle" to create) with over the past couple days helps put me back on track!  

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Make sure to stop by the 

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog 

and check out

my fellow DT projects for more inspiration

and leave them some blog luv too!

Comfy Homey Blessings!

Irish Wedding Song

Happy Monday!

Wow, I had only one post in the past week.  Guess that's what happens when you cram 4 doc visits (3 human, 1 vet) and 3 med tests in a two week span!  Glad to have all my annual visits done but it sure makes for a hectic two weeks! Then the Hubs and I went out of town for the weekend to visit old church friends we hadn't seen in 13 years and hear our former pastor preach in a new church.  A wonderful weekend, but now I'm catching up on my crafting, blogging and other life responsibilities while being partially distracted with our youngest son traveling halfway across country with 3 buddies on a spring break trip to Austin, TX.  Ah, the joys and wonders of college road trips!  Only this time I'm on the parent side, not the one on the road trip! LOL

But back to present things--

Today is time for another 

Pink Elephant Challenge - TPE #241!  

This week we have is an Inspiration Challenge 

with a great inspiration photo:

Here is my project:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Celtic cross (stash); butterflies (Fiskars). Song/music image (Musicnotes.com)

PAPER: White and dark green cardstock. Background DP from stash.

INK: Cottage Ivy (Momento).

EXTRAS: Label die (Sizzix Framelits); Doily circle die (Taylored Expressions); Swirly flourish die (My Favorite Things); aqua green prima flowers; shamrock button.

This will sound odd --- About half my background is Irish and yet I have very few St Patrick/Irish stamps or Irish craft paraphernalia.  Why, I don't know.  Anyway, at my wedding, almost 24 years ago, my uncle sang The Irish Wedding Song, which is one of my favorite wedding songs.  And, I've been wanting to make some kind of framed collage art with the music of it to have with our wedding photo and the shadow box that holds my veil and bouquet.  So I finally decided to do it. 

I have the sheet music somewhere in a box but I went ahead and downloaded it from Musicnotes.com.  I reduced the size of the music then printed it out.  Then, I typed up some of the verses in a decorative font on the computer to use as the "sentiment".  

I have had the celtic cross stamp forever.  It is part of a rubber set of celtic stamps that is one of my first stamp sets I've ever bought years ago.  

Here is a photo of it hanging on the wall.  I need to get a small silver shadow box to put it in and a larger silver shadow box for my veil and flowers.  They are a bit cramped in the current one. 

For Following Challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - #141    3-2-1

For SOS I used 3 Flourish dies, 2 stamped butterflies and one shamrock button.

Challenge #5 - Use Something Green

Irish Blessings!

Happy Birthday

It's Monday, Monday, Monday!

I hope wherever you are it's more spring like than anything!

It was here yesterday and now it's back to Brrrrrrrr! March always seems to be fickle about what weather it wants!

But never fear --- cause the best thing about Mondays is

another 

Pink Elephant Challenge!

YEA!

TPE Challenge #240!

This week's a theme:

Birthdays!

If you are like me you never have enough birthday cards on hand.

Below is my card for inspiration and don't forget to stop by the Pink Elephant Challenge blog and

check out my fellow DT's projects.

They all always have some fabulous work!

SPIES:

STAMPS: Gifts and sentiment (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: Kraft cardstock base.  DP - Hip Hip Hooray!(We R Memory Keepers).

INK: Morocco, Teal Zeal, Sunflower Yellow (Momento).

EXTRAS: Banner die (My Favorite Things); Sentiment Label die (Reverse Confetti); Big label (Sizzix Framelits); Scallop circle die (Sizzix Framelits); Stars, present ribbon & streamer (Taylored Expressions); Large dot emboss folder (SIzzix).

I used the sketch at CAS(e) This Sketch this week.  Not sure how CAS I am but oh well.  I used a lot of elements from my monthly kit from Taylored Expressions.  February's kit was Birthday Bash (how appropriate is that?).  I also used a technique shown by Arielle Gordon with my emboss folder.  If you don't want to emboss the entire paper, you can slip your paper in the emboss folder, take a small hammer or mallet (I used my old Sizzix mallet), and pound the folder where you want the embossing to come out.  Just be careful, pounding can be stress relieving and get you carried away!  LOL  I had a couple "pinches" in my paper where I hit too hard.  But, "ssssh!" they're covered up!  LOL

I hope you will join us this week at 

The Pink Elephant Challenge 

and share your birthday projects!

For Following Challenges:

Pink Elephant Blessings!

Best Journeys

Good Monday Morning!  It's early!  <yawn>  But I'm finally playing at Muse again!  And I had a lot of fun "musing" this challenge!  I guess you could say I pretty much cased it too.  I loved the design and color of Lisa's card.

I've been wanting to use this sentiment stamp for a long 
time now.  It's a bit large as you can tell.  So I thought this was the perfect card for it.  And I don't use my butterfly and dragonfly stamps enough so I thought a dragonfly went great with the sentiment.  I chose a chevron pattern at the bottom of the card also to go along with the "not straight lines" of my sentiment.  I decided to "reverse" the polka dot theme in the muse sample by using polka dot washi tape on either side of the sentiment. Oh and I forgot --- I put the dragonflies on springs so they can "fly"!

SPIES:

STAMPS: Dragonfly (Inkadinkadoo); Sentiment (Momento).
PAPER: White card base; DP - Basics Brights & Pastels (Die Cuts with a View).
INK: Bahama Blue, Paris Dusk (Momento).
EXTRAS: Scallop circle die (Sizzix Framelit); Black polka dot washi tape.

For Following Challenges:

Muse #56

Muse Inspiration by Lisa Haines

Monday Muse Blessings!

Painted Words

Good Sunday Afternoon!

Is this a crazy weather day or what?  My son in Oklahoma is in the middle of an ice/snow storm and here in North Carolina it is 71 and sunny!  March is coming in like a moody lion!  LOL

The hubs and I had planned on going on a long nature walk at the lake today with the dogs, but halfway through the morning, the ER calls and apparently the Hubs forgot he signed up for an overtime shift today!  The lake will be there another day. 

So, he trudged on to the hospital (not a happy camper) for the next 12 hours and I meandered to my craft room for some peaceful, windows opened creative time!   

Now I'm getting in just under buzzer time for the challenge at Casology --- "paint".  I had some paper left from my shaving cream technique and all week had been staring at it as how to incorporate it into this challenge.  Then, some new supplies I ordered from Simon Says finally came in and 

here it is ---

SPIES

STAMPS: None.

PAPER: White & black cardstock.

INK: Dylusions Ink spray.

EXTRAS: Chat bubble (Simon Says); "hello" die (Memory Box).

Painted Sunday 

Blessings!

Duck N' Daisies

HAPPY SUNDAY!

"This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

It's suppose to be really nice today in the Triangle --- warm temps, mostly sunny --- a spring like day!  So the Hubs and I are going to take the dogs out to Dairy Queen and then Lake Crabtree for a nice long nature walk!  

Then we hope to light a fire in the fire pit and enjoy a glass of wine before the Oscars!  Somewhere in between there will be a little crafting done too!  

But for now, it's time for a new challenge ---

A Cupcake Inspirations Challenge- #250!

Today's challenge is a 

COLOR challenge ---

Pink ~ White ~ Pistachio

Image from: Rose Cupcakes by Whisk Kid 

Is that not a great picture?  

Makes me want a Gigi's Cupcake instead of ice cream!  Yum!  Yum!

Our sponsor this week is

Paper Pretties!

Paper Pretties

The prize they are offering is very generous --

PRIZE:  6 Digis!

My card I've created has the image "April" --- a very cute duck under daisies.

SPIES:

STAMPS: Duck image & Sentiment (Paper Pretties); Daisy & Leaf stamps (Taylored Expressions). 

PAPER: White cardstock base. Cotton Candy & light green cardstock; DP (Stash).

INK: Copics; Tuxedo Black (Memento).

EXTRAS: Daisy & leaf die (Taylored Expressions); Scalloped circle die (Spellbinders); Postage stamp die (Simon Says); basic circle die (Spellbinders); Diamond Stickles; Glossy Accents (on raindrops).

So stop by the Cupcakes Inspiration Challenge Blog and check out the rest of the DT's projects and link up yours using the challenge colors as your inspiration!  We would love to see what you create!

For the Following Challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches - #125

Little Red Wagon - #226 Yearning for Spring

Sunday Blessings!