Bah! Humbug! Challenge --- Christmas Tree

The ladies at Bah! Humbug! are taking it easy on us this week.  The challenge calls for Christmas Trees.  Now this might be a fairly typical theme for Christmas cards, but the cards by the DT are anything but typical! As usual they provide much inspiration for us loyal subjects of Humbug Hall.  Be sure to take a look here.  But don't go blog jogging quite so quickly!  Here's what I put together for this week:

All of the DP is from K & Company Christmas Cheer Mat Pad.  These are all double-sided papers and beautifully coordinated.  I used a piece of green dp in the Cuttlebug embossing folder then sanded the embossing to bring out the detail.  The rest was done by layering the pretty papers and adding some rhinestones and a sentiment bubble.  Easy, pretty, and no coloring! What? No coloring? Yeah, well sometimes I try something different! I do love these papers, but after a couple of years with this stack I'm running out.  Trying to not hoard paper is so hard!

Thank you for stopping by! Ok, now you can hop over and check out the Bah! Humbug! feast for the eyes!

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #75 --- "Show Me Some Attitude"

Mo's challenge this week is all about ATTITUDE.  Well, I can certainly do that! The hard part was choosing which of Mo's images to use! One of the things I love the most about her illustrations is that so many of them are just full of attitude, from the little kids' terrible twos to Mummu's happy dance.  I recently bought "The Tramp", a depiction of the original Little Tramp Charlie Chaplin.  We were introduced to Charlie as little kids, though these were classic films even back then, and we thought he was the funniest man! Mo has managed to capture the Little Tramp's attitude in this illustration.  With his too-tight coat, oversized shoes, and spiffy cane, he carries the attitude of optimism and hope, despite the rags of financial challenges.

"Strike a Pose!"

I used some dp I've had for years!  It came from Paper Pizzazz (HOTP) Masculine Collage sheets, though it could be considered vintage, as well.  I love the old camera, very much from that era.  The corners are Cuttlebug dies and the stick-on brass brads are my new favorite from K & Company. Little pieces of scrap paper and mesh sit behind the image and frame cut with Nesties deckle edged dies.

I colored the image with Copics and the main colors in the suit are E13, E23, E29, and E53. 

This character tells me that no matter what our circumstances we can strike a pose of optimism.  Laughter is always a good thing, and he makes me laugh!  I hope you enjoyed this card and that your week has lots of humor in it.  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit Mo's challenge blog for more attitude -- and inspiration. 

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #55 --- Use Something New

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge this week is to use something new.  Oh, what better excuse to buy Cheryl's new digi "Kitty Kat Chit Chat"!  What a lovely spring image! 

 I used dp from the DCWV Summer Stack.  These delicious colors make me think of sherbets -- in all flavors! The flowers, brads and sentiment are from my stash, much of which I have had for a very long time.  But I did get to use something else new, besides the digi.  The bottom edge is a Martha Stewart extra wide border punch. I used it on another piece of the dp, turning the stripes horizontally and picking up three of the colors.  The border punch on the left is also MS.

The image is colored with Copics.  For the clouds in the sky I pushed the blue color aside with a juicy colorless blender.  That is such an easy technique and works so well.

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend with a great week ahead.  Thank you for stopping by and be sure to hop over to Sassy Cheryl's Challenge blog for a look at the DT's wonderful projects. 

A Knock Out for Cancer

My dear friend Rhonda is fighting the battle for her life.  I met her over three years ago when she became my hair stylist.  Even then she had been through surgeries and chemo, yet beat the odds.  I have never met anyone as courageous and full of life as this beautiful woman.  She's a wife, a mom, a grandmother, a sister, and a friend to so many. Her son is serving in the Army in Afghanistan.  Rhonda has dedicated so much of her time and energy to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life here in southwest Missouri. 

At this time Rhonda is enduring extraordinary pain and discomfort with treatment that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  Yet she holds on to memories and stories that make her laugh.  She can find so much to be thankful for through it all.  Her faith is so strong and her family so close and loving.  Rhonda's sister Tammy keeps us all informed through a wonderful online journal called caringbridge.org and writes with such love and thankfulness.  She has shared stories of their childhood that leave me laughing out loud.  Even though I didn't know Rhonda then I can see her love of life in that young girl of Tammy's stories. 

When I saw the Kenny K Challenge last week DT member Vanessa's card jumped out at me, so I totally cased it for a card for Rhonda.  It is just the thing that Rhonda would giggle about. 

This is "Strong Island" and she looks like she can take on anything, just like Rhonda. When Rhonda started this latest round of treatment I threatened to have her dye my hair pink in support.  She didn't recommend that, but I figured it was appropriate for this card! The touches of gold convey how precious this brave woman is to me. 

Rhonda, this is for you! I love you and miss you! And to Tammy, you are truly a blessing to Rhonda and the whole family.  We friends appreciate all you do to keep us posted on Rhonda's progress.  God bless you all!

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge # 37 --- 3-2-1 Recipe

This week I used the 3-2-1 recipe challenge at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz, and one of Kenny's terrific images, to make a birthday card for a very special 17-year-old, Haylee.  The challenge calls for 3 designer papers, 2 ribbons and 1 image. 

The designer papers are all from DCWV Belle Cafe stack.  I love, love these papers and found myself hoarding them! (Why do we do that?) But if I keep hoarding papers, just because I love them, then others don't get to enjoy them --- and I don't get to indulge in all the gorgeous new ones coming out every week! The 2 ribbons are layered and both are from the Making Memories Chloe collection, as are the buttons.  These were the perfect color match for the dp! As usual I colored the image before choosing the papers --- good thing they all matched!

The image is Kenny K's Uptown Angel.  I am so hooked on these fun images, the big eyes and exaggerated platform sneakers!  She is colored with Copics with silver gel pen accents.  Looking at my monitor here, her hair looks a bit reddish, but is not quite that red.  I used soft light browns (forgot to write the colors down) to try to match Haylee's hair color, which actually could have changed since I last saw her! But she does have long, gorgeous hair. And she is very athletic so looks just like this Uptown Angel --- except the feet! Haylee, your feet are NOT big!  LOL!

Inside is more of the fantastic dp of vintage buildings and a simple greeting.  Since I just mailed it off today I sure hope I remembered to sign it!  Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did!  Happy Birthday, Haylee!

Thanks for stopping by today.  For more of the Krafty Girlz hop on over to Kenny K's challenge blog.  Nothing but fun over there!

Design D.I.V.A.S. of Facebook March Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop

It is time once again for the Design D.I.V.A.S. of Facebook to have our monthly Oldies But Goodies (OBG) Blog Hop! Every month we create projects using toys, tools, stamps, papers, or anything else we haven't used for at least 6 months. I know I'm not alone when I say that we probably have enough OBGs to have these blog hops for many months to come!

The hop started with Melissa at Inkclinations, who is not only very talented, but coordinated this hop for us! Thank you, Melissa!  Since I am second in the order you need to go back only one spot to catch up.  (Even if I was at the bottom of the order you would want to go back to the start, because there are so many very talented papercrafters in our little group.)  By the end of the hop you, too, will be dusting off your OBGs and wondering why they've been sitting on the shelf so long!

I chose a Cuttlebug embossing folder/die set called Persia that I purchased well over 6 months ago.  After dusting off the package I used it to make a set of notecards.

Ecru and blue cardstock was cut in half to make  2 A6 cards.  These were simply run through the Cuttlebug with the embossing folder. 

Then I ran the die through with the ecru and blue.  On the one die is the peacock, border, medallion and a leaf.  Here I have the peacock and border in the contrasting colors.

Here is the medallion and border die cuts. I didn't use the leaf in this set.  It looked very lonely by itself, yet didn't quite fit it with each of the other dies. 

Easy Peasy!! Six notecards with no fuss, no muss! These will be great when I need a quick note, or even box up a set as a gift!  I'm definitely wondering why I let this sit so long!

Ok, now on to the next stop.  Lorie is a Peachy Keen gal at The Thinkin' Spot and she is next. I know she has something fantastic for you to see! I hope you enjoy our hop.  Leave me a little love and tell me what you would dust off today.  Better yet, I'll come visit your blog and see for myself!

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #74 --- For the Boys

My friend Pat is the hostess this month over at Mo's Challenge Blog and has given us wonderful themes to work with.  If I could I would reach through my laptop and give her a great big hug this week!  She chose the theme "For the Boys", giving me the chance to use two images I've had colored for quite some time. So I actually made two cards, using the same theme and papers.  Here are Oxford and Yale!  Mo has recently introduced a new and beautiful shop (here) and is in the process of moving her images over.  I didn't see these two cuties there yet today, but you really must see what she has so far. 

Here is Yale. He reads so much that his backpack and arms are filled with books!  With graduations coming up for just about all ages, I made this one for a grade schooler.

The papers for both cards are coordinated stripe and argyle that I picked up at Michael's.  Then I used a little scrap of notebook paper, a touch of yellow cs and a computer-generated sentiment.  The stick-on brass brads are also from Michael's.

Yale is colored with Copics on Papertrey cs.  Being the mom of a "little" boy (well, he was once!) I had fun coloring this outfit and remembering the little pants and sweaters Scott once wore.

The inside of the card has a piece of notebook paper with a notebook graphic from the Print Shop Pro Publisher.

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Now meet Oxford.  He carries laptop case! I think he aspires to be a physicist, or maybe to write game programs! Heehee!

Using the same dp I turned the card to landscape and used graph paper accents.  The button brads are covered in corduroy and the sentiment is for a birthday.  Inside the card is a piece of graph paper for writing a personal note.

Oxford is also colored with Copics on Papertrey cs.  When my dh was little he had brown very curly hair, so that was my inspiration.  It just wouldn't work to use his current hair color which is more salt that pepper! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by today.  You might guess that I have been busy making cards this week.  My family is going into a very busy birthday season and lots of other occasions so I am trying to get ahead of the game.  Be sure to hop over to Mo's Digital Challenge Blog to see the DT's amazing projects!  Play along, too, if you haven't already!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #11 --- Metallic

The ladies at Bah! Humbug! love to come up with fun challenges for us.  They are always thrilled with the responses and surprised at how so many papercrafters tackle the even the most far out themes. I'll even forgive the whole CD/DVD thing, cuz the ladies at Humbug Hall are the greatest!  This week's challenge is metallic, as in gold, silver, and other metals, precious and semi-precious.  So, how about.......

HOT Metal????

Oh my Aunt Pitty Pat's pinafore!!! (How does that go, Ann?)

Yep, I went with a hot metallic theme, tho' I don't think it's the metallic papers that are hot here!  The image is Kenny K's "Mistletoe" digi.  I love these hot and spicy images and, believe me, I chose one of the milder flavors...... for now ;-)

The cardstocks are all metallic, even the red has a shimmer to it. 

Mistletoe is colored with Copics on GP 110# cs. For her red outfit I used R22, R27 and R29.  Shades of the C neutrals for the boots and stockings, and C00 for shading on the fur trim. Her skin is E0000 and E21.  I forgot to keep track of the colors for her hair. I used a silver metallic gel pen for the buckles on the boots and belt.

Inside I placed another panel with the holly Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The one on the front is pretty well hidden.  The sentiment is computer generated and from the Print Shop Pro Publisher. 

Yep, I am breaking out of my shell a bit. I love all the images I have and will be coloring until I'm 95 years old!  And finding images like these will make that ride all the more fun! I hope you enjoyed this card and be sure to travel over to Bah! Humbug! for fabulous projects and inspiring ideas.

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge -- Chris' Pastel Color Theme

Here it is Monday and spring is well underway, at least according to the calendar!  It's also time for a new Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge.  This week Happi Sister Chris got us all in the spring/Easter mood with a color scheme of pastels pink, green and blue. 

I chose Leigh's "Jenny on a Swing", a perfect spring image available at Leigh's shop.  After coloring with Copics I fussy cut the image and attached strings (hidden inside) to let her swing freely in the card. 

The papers are from Heidi Grace, the flowers from my stash of no-name-because-I-lost-the-label flowers.  I put tiny yellow rhinestones in the centers of each flower for sparkle.  The aperture and scallop border are cut with Nestabilities circle die and scallop circle. The picket fence is Martha Stewart and is probably my very favorite border punch.

The tent card is easy-peasy.  I wanted the card size 5 1/4" x 5 1/4", so I started with double-sided dp 5 1/4" x 12".  The folds are scored at 5 1/4, 10 1/2, 11, 11 1/2 inches.  The last 1/2 inch is the overlap in the back, but I didn't attach it until the aperature was cut, the image hung by a couple of strings, and the front of the card completed.  It all lays nice and flat for easy mailing in a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" envelope.

Please be sure to visit the Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge blog.  The DT has some great projects to inspire you and Leigh has new images for you to indulge in.  And  don't forget, the Buy 3 get one free sale is still going on at Happi Scrappin' Store.  Have a Happi Spring day!

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge -- Inspired By Nature

This week at Sassy Cheryl's the challenge is Inspired By Nature, what a perfect theme for the onset of Spring.  Today is the first day of the glorious season of rebirth and I have already seen the return of many birds and, yes, bees.  I guess we do need the bees though they scare me because I am allergic to their sting.  But without them we wouldn't have the beautiful blossoms on the Bradford Pear trees that we see everywhere here in Branson.  The bulb flowers have popped up from their winter slumber.  And Cheryl's Funky Flower Bunch has found it's way into my heart.  That's the image on the card below.  Isn't it fun?

I actually used the image twice.  The full image is colored with Copics on GP 110# cs and cut out with the Nestabilities Funky Squares die.  I enlarged the image (the beauty of digis) and used just the three blooms, layered on a larger Funky Square cut from purple cs.  To continue the secondary color scheme I cut two additional Funky Squares from lime green cs.  All are layered on double-sided dp from the K & Company Sera Sera collection.  Yellow rhinestones create the large flowers' stamens and add sparkle to the MS butterfly punch.

I hope you have had a warm, sunny weekend and more of the same in the coming week.  Thank you for stopping by and be sure to visit Sassy Cheryl's challenge blog.  The DT has so many gorgeous projects inspired by nature. 

When Real Life Gets In the Way

Contrary to what others might think, we all do have a real life -- really!  Sometimes that real life spills over into our creative life -- what a bummer!  That's what has happened to me this week, but real life is a good thing, especially this week.  DH was home for a few days -- a good thing!  My step-daughter was in town for 3 days and we celebrated the first anniversary of our reunion. We had lost touch for 24 years and now live within 2 hours of each other. It's a great story; I'll have to write about it someday. Also, my darling son persuaded me to join a Fantasy Baseball League so I was studying stats last night, picking out players and preparing for a live draft pick tonight.  It's a good thing I do like baseball! I also have some wedding prep assignments to cover. And, being the designated family travel agent (because I know my way around Expedia) I am shopping for best air fares for my brother's trip to the wedding in July. Then there are the taxes to prepare (yuk), packages and cards to post, photo shoots to book and merchandise to list online.  Whew!

What this is all leading up to is that I am missing out on some of my favorite challenges for a few days and not getting around to visit and comment on my favorite blogs very much this week.  But I am thinking of each of you and blurfing when I can.  My day doesn't go well without my coffee and blogging buddies! 

It's a great time of year!  Warm weather is on the way and bringing the flowers, leaves on trees and birds' singing.  It's all tempered with the tragedy in Japan and I pray that all mankind set aside differences and provide prayers and whatever aid each person can to help the relief efforts.

Have a blessed day!

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge --- Barb's Recipe

Last week at Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge you got to know Happi Sister Mandy a bit better with her challenge to make a card using the color purple.  This week is my turn for the challenge theme.  Well, I don't do a lot of cooking in the kitchen, but I do like to make up recipes for cards!  So that's just what I did for this week's challenge.

Simple Card Recipe

Ingredients

1 plain cardstock

2 design papers

3 embellishments (more if desired, but not less!)

Directions

   Apply to a stamped image of your choice, but if you use a Happileigh Scrappin image (available here) your entry will be worth double in the challenge drawing!

   Enter your finished project in the Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge

   Sit back and enjoy the kudos!

Hint:  March Madness Sale at Happileigh Scrappin' Store! Buy 3 digis get one free!

This is what I baked up!  Using Leigh's brand new "Determination" image here are my ingredients:

1 plain cardstock --- Kraft

2 dp papers --- coordinating stripes and plaids from the DCWV Summer Stack

3 embellishments --- Around The Block Boy Brads

additional ingredient --- bleached twine

I colored the image with Copics.  The sentiment is included with the digital download!  Love it!

Easy peasy!  Now, get out your ingredients and get cooking!  I'll be looking forward to your entries in the challenge!

Mo's Digital Challenge #73 --- A Bit of Green

This week we will be observing St. Patrick's Day with the wearin' o' the green, so Mo's challenge this week is just that.... a bit of green.  I had posted a fun St. Patrick's Day card a couple of weeks ago using Mo's Little Irish Dancer which I will be mailing out tomorrow.  But I had this image posted and ready for just the right project.

This is "Paul Texting".  These days who doesn't know a teenager who is able to text on a keyboard smaller than a credit card, and faster than we ever could on a full sized typewriter/word processor/computer keyboard. (At least there is one constant, a "QWERTY" keyboard.)  I kept the card fairly simple with a Kraft cs card base, a scrap of lime green cs, and dp from Basic Grey.  The square brads are Spare Parts from The Paper Studio.  The sentiment is computer generated.

The image is colored with Copics.  I actually used a different style of coloring than my usual deep shadows and careful blending.  This is a bit more abstract and fun. I sort of like it.  Let me know what you think. 

Thanks for stopping by today! We have a lovely week ahead with longer daylight in the afternoon, thanks to daylight savings time.  And do take time to hop over to Mo's challenge to see the fabulous projects by the DT.  You will surely be inspired!