Speedy Easter!

Can you believe Easter is Sunday and today is the last day of March?!  Wow, where has the first 1/4 of this year gone?!  Hard to believe Spring is here already - FINALLY it has arrived here in Michigan.  Today, we're supposed to get up to 67*, Thursday - 70's and Friday, hang on, Friday, we're supposed to get into the 80's!!  It looks like we'll even have a nice Easter - mid 70's.

So, here's one of the last Easter Cards I have to post.  This one is for my nephew.  I thought this Doodle Dragon Studios Design was too cute - I love this little dude's Go-Carrot (kind of like a Go-Kart, but in the Carrot model - HA HA!!)  :o)  And even better yet, Doodle Dragon Studios Challenge Blog is having a contest until April 3 for Easter projects!  Check it out, you still have time!! :)

Image - Doodle Dragon Studios

Papers - Doodlebug 'tovers and cardstock scraps from my stash

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil

Miscellaneous - I FINALLY found flower soft locally!!  I used the 'sand' color on the dirt.  Pretty neat stuff if I do say so myself!  Can't really tell in the photo, but pretty neat in person!

Other Miscellaneous - wouldn't be a critter card without the googley eyes :), Brads from my stash, Stickles, Purple Ribbon (his favorite color), Sentiment is computer generated using CK Artsy Font and of course, I had to do a little doodling!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope spring is arriving in your neck of the woods too!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Chill-laxin' on a Beachy Day

Boy does this card and the recent sunshine and warm weather make me SO ready for a summer trip to the beach. . . . . yes 50* in March in Michigan is considered a heat wave!!

This fabulous image is courtsey of my sis Shelly.  Isn't it just fabulous?!

You can purchase this image or several others at her store here.  She just recently opened her online store, so she is constantly adding more new images on a regular basis.

Image - Shelly's Images "At The Beach"

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Papers - 'tovers from my stash - Core-dinations Aruba, Black Cardstock & Striped Daisy Bucket

Miscellaneous - Fun Flock on pillows & blanket (you can't see it in the photo, but it looks awesome in person); "Chill-Lax" sentiment created with Gilligans Island font

Thanks so much for stoppin' by today - I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Let them Eat Cake!

Yep, the googley eyes are back!  :)  It's been ages since I've paper pieced anything, but this adorable image from Bugaboo Stamps made it super easy to do and how CUTE is it?  Jodie has some super images on her site - you won't be disappointed.

This is a birthday card for one of the girls in our family - she has a birthday coming up and what girl doesn't love BLING with a cute monkey?!  You can NEVER have too much BLING!!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique & Paper Piecing (Cake & Hat)

Papers - Kraft & Orange Cardstock; pink coredinations and old Anna Griffin printed papers

Miscellaneous - Flat back pink bling, Ribbon from the stash & Googley eyes

Doodling & computer generated sentiment.

The Inside says - "And Celebrate!"

Thanks for stoppin by today (yep, haven't gotten to the spring cleaning yet - too much creativity flowin' in the studio this morning!!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Birthday Fishes!

Last month was such a crazy month, I fell behind getting my birthday and anniversary cards created, so, here's the dent I made tonight.  Not much of a dent, but it's a start! :) 

This one is for my father-in-law - his birthday is next week.  When my hubby and his brother were growing up they used to go fishing, so this was a perfect fit!

Image - Doodle Dragon Studios

Techqniue - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Papers - From my stash

Miscellaneous - Stickles: Diamond, Aqua & Waterfall, flatbacked bb's, Sentiment is computer generated

The fish and the man's face and hat are popped up on dimensionals (you can't really see it too well here).

I thought it turned out cute.

Now I'm off to work on a few more birthday cards and anniversary cards for next week.

Then Spring Cleaning starts.  We had new windows put in last week so now I'm inspired to get everything ready for spring - organizing & cleaning.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

The Nice Nurse....

Happy March 1st!  Can you believe it's already March?!  WOW!  This was a quickie I did for my dad the other day (mom and I have been coloring LOTS of digi-images over the last 12 days and this was one). 

I can't say we saw any nurses like this one ( but how darn funny is she??)  All my dad's nurses and doctors were just amazing - what special people they all are.

In anycase, dad got a chuckle.  The inside says - The NICE nurse is on VACATION!

Image - Bugaboo Stamps (They have some of the funniest images - I love their funny ladies - Stella, Ruby & JJ - Stella's Working stamps that talk about Monday are hysterical!  Be sure to check out their great images!!)

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Papers - All Cardstock - Core'dinations (Red & Black), blue is the color of the card

Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots embossing folder

Miscellaneous - Star brads & 'Sorry' letters from my stash

So, that's about all for today.  I'm hoping to get back into my studio tonight.  I made a stop at Archivers yesterday and picked up a few things - my nephew Colin and his mom Amy had gotten me a gift certificate for Christmas to there, and it's been burning a hole in my pocket.  I've been looking at the Score-Pal forever and finally picked one up (plus I had a 40% off gift certificate - how could I not?!)  Anyway, I also got a few new prints and embellies to do some pages for my niece.  Her momma has been takin' some great baby photos, so I need to get going! 

Happy Monday to you all - happy craftin' today!

Min

I have A Talented Friend......

Well, I actually have a few, but my Sister at Heart Shelly is the talented friend I'm talking about today.  I've really enjoyed using digi-stamps and images lately and low and behold my 'sis' started creating some "Shelly Originals" as we call them in our house.

I thought I'd share one of the first she sent me to tinker with.  A Cardinal on a fence.  LOVE IT!!  And because we have 6 weeks of winter left (or more depending on what part of the world you live in.....), I thought this was a perfect image to send off to a family friend.  Isn't it cute?

Image - Shelly's Image (Thanks for sharin' sis!)

Sentiment - Let it Snow - Studio G Stamps

Paper - Brown & Green CS from stash

Technique:  Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Miscellaneous - Twine, Red Brads & Diamond Stickles

This is just one of several images she has available.  You can check out her blog where she has a few of her creations posted here.  If you're intrested in purchasing any of her designs (she's creating new stuff every day), you can e-mail her at shelly@shellysimages.com until her store is up and running.

I've got a neat little beachy scene that is printed and ready for some coloring that I absolutely love.  Hopefully I have a chance to do some coloring tonight or maybe tomorrow while we're waiting for dad's appointments.  In anycase, I'll get that one posted as soon as I get the chance.  It makes me want to stick my toes in the sand on some tropical beach with my hubby!! 

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you're having a great Tuesday!  Don't forget to stop over and show my sis some love!!  :)

I'm hoping to post all the projects from the February kit tonight or tomorrow - I love they way they turned out and thought I'd share.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

'Tis The Season!

I've been a bad blogger this past week.  There have been so many projects I've been trying to get wrapped up before the holidays.  Saturday I spent the day making mint chocolate covered pretzles.  Can you say YUMMO?  Of course Glen and I had to taste a few for Quality Control.  I haven't even made a DENT in my chocolate making for Christmas.  I still have chocolate covered cherries and chocolate turtles to make.  I'm not sure if that will take place this weekend or it it will wait until next week.  I'll be sure to share the EYE CANDY once it's all finished.

And believe it or not, once I got the chocolate off my fingers, I've been scrapping & knitting like a crazy woman.  Still working on knitting slippers for Christmas.  A few more have been added to the list and of course, I'm working on Christmas Cards.  (I thought I said I was going to have my Christmas Cards DONE in January - DOH!)  I have little snowman pieces, and scarf pieces and snow globe pieces EVERYWHERE!!  I've cut out so many little snowmen scraves I have the 'scissor-claw' going (I never knew how sore your hand could get after 2 hours of cutting little scarves out of paper.....)  We usually send over 100 Christmas cards out every year, so I have to do everything in steps.  My goal for this week is to get the Christmas Cards wrapped up.  Maybe a lofty goal, but we'll see.

Anyway, I did get a little something done yesterday that's actually FINISHED and not just in pieces.....so last week wasn't a complete bust! :o)

Glen's cousin 'twisted' her ankle, or so she though in the parking lot of the skating rink mid-week last week.  The update we got on Saturday was that she actually fractured a bone in her foot and is going to have to have surgery to install a pin.  UGH!  Guess that's one way to get out of Christmas shopping, huh?  So, I had to put together this little ditty for her.  Glen's family all has such a great sense of humor.  Her comment to Glen's uncle was that she was doing a double axel in the parking lot, hence the sentiment on the card.

Image:  Dustin Pike Image

Technique:  Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Several of the bandages and the cast are double cut and popped up on dimensionals.  It's hard to see in the photo, but it's way too cute in person.

Sentiment:  "Zeek realized the hard way that he needed to rework his parking lot double axel execution" computer generated using LDJ Noodge (Scrapnfonts); Oops! Monster-licious Graphic Set (LetteringDelights)

Miscellaneous papers from my stash (Doodlebug, Michaels stripe & Black & white dots).

Stickles:  Turquiose & Diamond

Thanks for stopping by today!  I certainly hope things aren't as crazy at your house as we gear up for the holidays, but the great thing - SHORT week this week - THOSE are the BEST kind of weeks!!!

See you tomorrow!!  Happy Craftin'!

Min

Keep on Hangin' On!

Just thought I'd share a little quickie I put together over the weekend.  Isn't he cute?

Image - Dustin Pike

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Papers - We R Memory Keepers & Green/Brown Cardstock

Extras - Ribbon, Stickles, Cat Tail is flocked

The inside says - HANG IN THERE

Hope you're having a super productive day!

This evening I get to spend some time with my nephew, so we'll be busy busy busy doing some 4 year old crafty-stuff (I'm sure we'll also be playing Uno Attack "Colin-style" with his Uncle Glen).

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Weekly Challenge with A Good Friend

Wow, can you believe August is already here?? In Michigan, we're still waiting for Summer to arrive. Our high today was 78, tonight it's chilly, good sleeping weather however.
So, to kick off the first Monday of a new month, my friend Shelly and I decided it would be kind of fun to set up our own weekly challenge. We're both trying to increase our Cards in Stash while depleating the Paper in Stash - aren't we all now that CHA had introduced some amazing new products!!
So, each week for fun we're going to do this challenge, I've happily nicknamed The Good Friend Challenge. Shelly will pick one week, I'll pick the next. You're welcome to join in if you'd like. You don't necessarily have to use the image we're using, but we'd love to have you participate. The more the merrier! If you want to leave the link to your card in the comments, we'd love to see your creations!

This week is my week, so here goes -
Because I love to drop a quick card to family and friends on a regular basis, the theme this week is Thinking of You
- Dust off your colored pencils and let's put them to work!
We're going to use the Magic Colored Pencil Technique.
- Get out an image (Stamped or Digi) that's been collecting dust :o)
This week we're going to using 'Pumpkin Patch Pete' and some of his accessories from High Hopes Rubber Stamps.
- Use at least 2 different paper - 1 printed and 1 plain
- Use some type of embossing
The size of the card is up to you.
You can add anything else you'd like - So, how's that?! Inspiring? Too Challenging?
I can't wait to see what you create!
Happy Craftin'!
Min

A Dragon Size THANK YOU!

I've been attempting to get caught up with a few of the Scrap-cation challenges over at Scrap-Friendzy and I tell you - Amy and her girlz must have been reading my mind! I needed to make a quick little thank you card for a birthday gift I received and Wah-la, like magic they gave me the perfect challenge.

The challenge was "X 3" -

Create a card and repeat three elements.

This was a super fun challenge as I don't usually make cards based on things to 'do'.

Didn't this turn out cute?!

I think I went a little overboard on the repeating elements, 3 columns, 3 printed papers, 3 different colors of cardstock, 3 buttons and 3 little bling pieces.

Materials:

Papers: Bo Bunny Dots Cardstock; tropical paper I've had in my stash for some time & of course, can't remember who makes it......DOH!

Image: Dustin Pike's Swim Dragon

Techniques: MCPT

Ribbon, Buttons & Bling from my stash

Thanks so much for stopping by today to take a look.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Yee Haw!!!

Yee Haw!!! Happy Weekend!! We'd hoped to spend at least part of our weekend outside, but the weather has been a bit uncooperative. Oh well, that way I don't feel so guilty about spending time in my studio working on some of the albums I've been hired to do.
I thought I'd share this fun little card I made the other day for my nephew, Colin. We found out last weekend that he's going to be a Big Brother in February and what a great Big Brother he'll be!! So, we had to send him a little celebration card. :o) I had to be sure to include purple in the card as Purple is Colin's favorite color (or at least I think it still is......)
No joke, after I finished this card & special envie, it weighed about 3 pounds with all the layers. I'm sure when it arrives Amy can confirm the weight!!
Materials:
Papers - Purple, Black & Green cardstock from my stash;
Doodlebug printed paper (a few years old) also from my stash.
Image - Digi-image from Dustin Pike (check out his images here)
Technique: MCPT
Text is computer Generated w/Tombstone font
Googley eyes are from my stash!
Hope you're having a great weekend (that's a bit dryer than what we're experiencing).
Happy Craftin'!
Min

Some Days....

So my hubby's grandpa has been in the hospital and is hopefully going home tomorrow.
So, I thought we'd send him a little note. at 95 years old, he is such a witty and wonderful man. So, with his wit, this card will be perfect. It's loosely base don the 'some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield' phrase.

Outside items popped up.

The image is one of the 118 I picked up from Dustin Pike's site during his awesome sale this past weekend. If you haven't checked out his digi-stamps, definitely check them out here. He's got super fun images and every Wednesday, he posts a freebie image to get you addicted! ;o)
I added Goggley Eyes on the cat (Believe me, I tried to put them on the fish, but they were a bit too big!). The cat's nose and little paws are popped up on dimensionals as well as the goldfish & the mouse.
Paper: Cat paper, Brown & Orange Cardstock from my stash
I used Turquoise, Orange Peel & Diamond Stickles for a little sparkle.
Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you had a great Monday! I'm off to work on some albums & watch the Home Run Derby with my hubby!
Happy Craftin'!
Min