Humor me Wednesday - ICE CREAM TIME!!!

Happy Humor Me Wednesday from the designers of The Bug Blog & Bugaboo Stamps!

What might we be celebrating today?

Well Ice Cream Cone Day of course!

Who doesn't LOVE a good ice cream cone?!

YUMMO!

Of course, this is for Livy's Memory Box.  :)

Image - Bugaboo Stamps- Poppi Penguin - Ice Cream

Papers - PTI Cardstock, Doodlebug Design print (can you say YUMMY Ice Cream)

Tools - Cuttlebug, Nesties & EK Success Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Stickles, Ribbon, Dimensionals & BLING

Visit The Bug Blog and see what other fun and bizarre holidays the team is celebrating this week.  Might find a new HOLIDAY that is WORTH celebrating!  

Hugs & Happy Days!

Freebie Friday: Beach Monkey Innertube

It's Freebie Friday at The Bug Blog and today we have this super cute monkey freebie!

Makes me want to spend the day at the beach, floating around enjoying the sunshine!

This little Sunshine cutie is a card for our little Sunshine's Special Note box.

Image - Bugaboo Stamps - Beach Monkey Innertube

Papers - Bo Bunny Miscellaneous scraps from my scrappy bin, Coredinations card stock

Tools - Cuttlebug & Nesties

Extra STUFF - Shaker materials, dimensionals, twine, googley eyes and a button

Be sure to visit the Bug Blog and see what other inspiration our designers have to share with you!

Then, don't forget to pick up this beach monkey from The Bugaboo Stamps Store to add to your collection!

Hugs & Happy Days!

Challenge Submissions:

• Simply Papercraft - 2W, E3 - No. 32 (W1 of 2) - Anything Goes
• Daring Cardmakers - W, C5 – Elemental Inspiration*
• Kitty Bee Designs - 2W,2E,C10 No.75  (W1 of 2)  -  Summer Fun

Summer Fun

It's a good Tuesday!  New release Tuesday AND we get to play with the Creative Craft Challenge today.

What is the challenge you may be asking?

SUMMER FUN!!!!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps  "Lady bug - Butterfly"

Papers - Scraps from my scrappy paper swap

Coloring - Copics

Tools - MS Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Crystal Effects, Stickles, Dimensionals, Miscellaneous Sentiment, and a GOOGLEY EYE

Come join us and show us your SUMMER FUN!  =)

Hugs & Happy Days!

Ready to do a little HOPPIN'!

So our Whimsie Doodles design team has finished their duty, however, US girls ain't quite ready to GO!

And we wanted to take the time to THANK the wonderfully talented Owner of  Whimsie Doodles  - Melyssa with a fun little blog hop!

I thought this image was adorable and hadn't gotten to use it yet, however, today's hop seemed like the perfect chance to use it!  =)

Image - Whimsie Doodles

Papers - Miscellaneous scraps from a paper pack and bazzill cardstock

Coloring - Copics B00 B01 E31 E33 E35 E50 E51 R81 R83 R85 YG03 YG05YR 12 YR61 YR65 Y21 Y23

Tools - EK Success Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Prima Flowers, Bling, Bamboo & Dimensionals

Ready to do some hoppin'?

Here's a list of all the girlies that are hoppin' with us today!

Hugs & Happy Hoppin!

Bugaboo & Card Crafters Circle

What a fun Monday - We get to play with the Card Crafters Circle challenge today.

What is the challenge you may be asking?

SUMMER

And I am totally down with that!

Summer makes me think of the beach - so I got out this cute Seahorse and got creatin'!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps "Sea Horse"

Papers - Bazzill, Flair Designs & Coredinations - all from my scrappy bin

Coloring - Copics

Tools - EK Success Border Punch

Extra STUFF - Stazon Jet Black Ink, Googley Eye, Stickles, Textured Bamboo Paper & Dimensionals

Come check out the Card Crafters Circle challenge - we'd love to have you play along!

Hugs & Happy Days!

CANNED - Part Deux!

I'm sure there will be parts Three, Four, Five and Six too!  LOL

Last week Glen and I pickled and canned the Sweet Banana Peppers we had - we had more peppers than I even wanted to try & count - Really!  Once we got them cut into round slices, it was MORE than 10 cups! 

So, in a few hours, we were listening to the popping of a GOOD day canning!

There's a lot to be said for freshly canned peppers and fresh garlic.  We have to wait 5-6 weeks for them to be ready (we pickled them).  I can hardly wait to taste them when they're ready though.

If you have a crazy amount of peppers like we did, the recipe we used:

10 cups Banana Peppers (we cut in circles - you could cut in strips if you wish)

4 cups White Vinegar

2 teaspoons Pickling Salt (we used Dill Pickling Salt)

1 clove of garlic in each jar

Mix Vinegar & Salt together - bring to boil.

Keep jars warm.  Pack jars tightly with garlic & peppers leaving 1/4" head room.  Add vinegar/salt mixture into each jar - leaving 1/4" head room.  Remove bubbles from jar.  Put hot lid on jar, screw on band.

After this step you can stop, but we wanted to make sure that the peppers were preserved (I'm a germ freak & wanted to make sure there was no FUNK growing in the jars).  You can put them in a hot water bath (boiling) for 10 minutes.  Let them cool & listen to those lids pop!

Thanks for stoppin' by today.  Hopefully I'll have a little something more creative that doesn't involve Veggies to share tomorrow.  LOL :)

Next on the agenda - either peaches or tomato sauce - guess it's good we don't have HUGE plans for Labor Day weekend, huh?

Sand & Surf!

Bugaboo has a challenge this week that is Sweet Sweet Summertime.

I don't know about you, but when I think of summer I think of EVERYTHING BEACHY!

And WHO doesn't love the thought of all things BEACHY?!  :)

I picked up the Bugaboo "Poppi Penguin" line a few weeks ago and FINALLY got to play with them - well, at least ONE of them!  They're just perfect for a few of the kiddos in the family!  I think they are just ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!  Don't you agree??

Image - Bugaboo Stamps Poppi Penguin line

Papers - Print paper from an OLD Summer Mat Stack(DCWV), all other CS from my scrappy bin

Techniques - Copics for coloring

Punches - Both EK Success

Extra STUFF - Color box Ink, Stickles, Googley eyes - yep, that's the real reason I picked up these digi's - LOL, Sand & Surf and Water splashes - Studio G stamps, Ribbon and Felt die cut flip flops from M's

I ended up with a TON of layers (picked up a few new punches I needed to try out) and I even did a little playing with some ribbon and glue (I'm still picking the fabric glue off my fingers - LOL)

Be sure to head over to Bugaboo's Challenge blog - Catch The Bug to play along with this week's challenge!!

Back in the Studio Again!

I don't know about you, but this week between the weather warming up and the 'outdoor' projects, it seems like I'm seeing less and less of my studio......Sniff Sniff.....

So, my excuse today was that it was necessary for me to spend time in my studio downstairs for two reasons - ONE:  It was SO MUCH COOLER than the rest of the house and TWO:  I was trying to keep our lump of fur a bit cooler without us having to turn on the AC.  For some reason Gizmo just doesn't understand Basement = COOL, Rest of House = SWEAT YOUR FUR OFF!!

And of course, WHILE I was trying to keep Gizmo cool, it was only fitting that I worked on some scrappy projects!!  The big one - Ms. Bev's TTT Challenge that she posted over at Shelly's Images last Thursday.  I've had these adorable flip flops printed out for over a week and just haven't been able to get to them.  If you haven't figured it out - I LOVE FLIP FLOPS!!  My tooties often as myself in the middle of winter when we have 12" of snow, are wearing thick boots and dealing with -20* wind chills - "Self - WHY OH WHY do we live in Michigan?"  Self sometimes answers, "I have no stinkin' idea" (that's usually after a bad commute thru snow with bad drivers).  LOL  But then Spring arrives and my tooties are reunited with their long lost flip flops and all is right with the world.

Whew, talk about digression.  Anyway, you still have a little bit of time left to join us at Shelly's Images for Ms. Bev's Challenge yet - until 11:59 tonight.  And woudln't you know it, this card fits the Sew Many Challenges Anything Goes Challenge too!  I LOVE IT when I can play in two challenges at once!! 

Image - Shelly's Images Flip Flops

Challenges - Shelly's Image - White cardstock only &

Sew Many Challenges - Anything Goes

Paper - White Paper, White Paper & More White Paper

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Cuttlebug - Embossing Background

Extra Stuff - Aridonack Pool Paint; Prima Flowers; Bling; Brads; Glittered Tulle; Computer Generated Sentiment

Stay turned TOMORROW for Audrey's TTT Challenge at Shelly's Images Blog.  I know she has something marvelous up her sleeve you won't want to miss!!  And even better yet - when you play with us over at Shelly's Images - you have the chance to WIN!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - I hope you're enjoing the nearly summer weather!!

White Trash Birthday Bash

So, this is pretty much were all my creative energy went yesterday - our friends were having their 2nd Annual White Trash Bash, so Glen and I both needed costumes to 'fit in'.  This fat suit and pink polka dotted dress has more miles on it than we ever thought possible.  So much for my hairapy yesterday, huh? 

Here's just one of the photos from last night.  We took a few more you can check out on our family blog here. 

I'll be back later with some real creativity. ;-)

Figured a good chuckle was in order this morning.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Red, White & Blue Challenge

So, in my attempt to get caught up in our scrapbooks, here's a layout I finished to commemorate this past Fourth of July we celebrated with our family. Of course, it never fails, the camera never made an appearance after everyone arrived - DOH!. The only photo I'd taken was of the flowers we'd picked up for the occasion. I guess every photo has a story, doesn't it?This was the first chance I've had to use the Stand and Salute Cricut Cart. I used it for the banner along the side of the photo and gave it a shadow as well as the 'Freedom' with a red shadow behind. 'Let' & 'Ring' were from Lyrical Letters & welded to the 'Freedom'. The only thing that's missing is just a bit of journaling, but I'll add that later.
Striped & Star paper were papers I'd picked up at Michaels
Red paper is the Wild Berry Bo Bunny Dot paper
Navy Blue & White were Cardstock from my stash
Light Blue is Bazzill
Silver Star brads have been a long time resident in my brad stash
Some day I'll made a dent in the stash I have!!
Hope you're having a great weekend - we woke up to a super rainy day ended up with 2"+ of rain, so it was a perfect reason to spend some time in my studio!!
Happy Craftin'!
Min

Liberty & Sparklers

I hope this finds you recouped and relaxed from a wonderful 4th of July weekend! We spent part of our weekend with our family. Both Glen's dad and my dad saw active combat during the Vietnam War, so we celebrated with them and celebrated the freedoms our soldiers fight for daily. We had gorgeous weather on Saturday - not too hot, not too sunny, just right - a perfect day for BBQ meal. We were able to enjoy an outdoor meal that was fantastic! Glen loves to grill and I think our family & friends will agree, there's never been anything that's come off the grill that wasn't 'to drool for'! Saturday was no exception.

Of course, after putting ourselves in a food coma, we were able to catch the firework display over the lake Saturday night. The perfect end for a great day!

But I digress - this was a quick card I put together last week but didn't have time to photograph or post. I made two of them, one for my favorite nephew and one for my favorite summer pen pal.

I can't remember where I saw this quote, but I thought it was adorable! Perfect for these two special kids in our life. Who doesn't LOVE sparklers?!

Paper: Red, White & Blue Cardstock from my stash

Stamps used: Stampendous Hey there Cupcake (for the 'sparkler'), Michaels or J's $1 stamps (stars & fourth of July/freedom phrases)

Inks: Color Box Red & Blue

Diamond Stickles on the red stars, Red Dragon Embossing powder on the sparkle of the sparkler

'Liberty & Sparklers for All!' computer generated using Scrap Baby font

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend and are off to a beautiful week!!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Flip Floppin into Summer!

Can you believe that Sunday, June 21st at 1:45 AM is the first day of summer?

What a great day to celebrate Father's Day on!
Today we celebrated Father's Day with my folks and a Detroit Tiger's Baseball game. AND they won, 3-2! What great fun today! Sunburn and all - but heck, what would a baseball game be without a ball park hot dog, peanuts, popcorn and a sunburn?! :o)
This evening I wrapped up a card that'll be going into the mail hopefully tomorrow. Isn't it cute?
I love Hanna Stamps Riley stamps. And this little guy is just too adorable and PERFECT for the first day of summer!
Image: Hanna Stamps - Riley Image
Papers: Reminisce - Pool Fun, Sparkly Aqua paper (can't remember who made it) and World Win - Medium Meri-Gold.
I hope you had a terrific weekend and are able to ease back into Monday!
Happy Craftin'!
Min

Month of June Challenge

Happy June 1st - gosh, where has the first 1/2 of the year gone? Seems like just yesterday we were dealing with 12 inches of snow, ice and cold. I'll take this weather any day over the cold & snow though!!

I've decided that since I was such a bad blogger and crafty completer in May, I'm setting goal for June - My goal for June is to post something creative every day incorporating some sort of challenge in it from my favorite challenge sites. I really do spend a little time every day in my studio, but it seems like last month, everything I worked on took more than one sitting (or several sittings) to complete.

So, with that said, here's the first crafty post for June - the inspiration is from the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge, week 89 here.

So, here's what I came up with. . . . . .

Image/Sediment: G-Stamps

Flowers & Brad: Miscellaneous from my stash
Acrylic Circle
Papers: Bo Bunny Double Dot Paper in Buttercup Dot &Citrus Dot
Core-dinations Color Pink & Green
Cuttlebug: Spots & Dots
Stickles: Orange Peel

Thanks for stopping by today! Wishing you a Summer of Craftiness!

Happy Craftin'!

Min