Spring Break Blahs!

Digi from San's Design. Card published in Nov/Dec11 Ready-Set-Create e-mag.

Spring Break is here, and I so want to be happy about it. BUT I'm yet again having sinus issues and have had a fever all day. I took some meds for, like, everything earlier, and I hate taking medicine. Right now, I have sweat running down the backs of my knees and just about everywhere else! Not pleasant! I'm just hoping that this bout with my sinuses is over quickly so my whole break isn't ruined! Hugs to all of you going through similar or worse issues right now!

That's it really. I'm trying to do better about posting over the weekend. Oh, the new Ready Set Create should be available very shortly! I'll post the calls for the next issue once it's published.

**I've turned into a Coin Dozer addict! My poor phone battery!**

Churros! + LMMS

I just want to tell you all that I happen to love churros! I just had some churros flavor yogurt that wasn't bad; it wasn't churros, but it was not bad at all...  :D

Today, I'm back with a Little Miss Muffet card. My card was made quite easily by using a Basic Grey card kit I found at Ross one day. I just popped out the pieces, ran a couple through my Xyron, then colored up Cocoa and pop dotted her up! I added some Stickles and a few Liquid Pearl drops, too.

Remember, there's one week left in our Silhouettes challenge. You don't have to use a LMMS stamp to play along! (BUT there are so many in the store and for a really great price! There's also a free bunny silhouette right now over at the blog!

Challenges: Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes, Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes,  Squigglefly - Anything Goes, Make it Mondays - Anything Goes

SOG for the Sketch!

I'm rushing. I'm woofing down my breakfast before heading out to work.  BUT, since I hate not posting the sketch for the Sketch Challenge on The Outlawz until it's late, I'm on it now.

Here's my card:

I should have put her eye specks on the other side! Oops!! I didn't see this stamp last night in the SOG store; I got mine at Oozak.com where it is still in stock.

I've had papers picked and Hollyday Gwen from Some Odd Girl mostly colored since January; I was supposed to be making my BF a Valentine's Day card. I couldn't figure out how I wanted to color the dress or how I wanted to lay out the papers and stamp! SO... maybe I'll give it to him as a surprise over the weekend.  I tried something different when coloring Gwen. I was thinking about how I'm pretty yellow under my brown, and tried coloring her skin in one of the yellows (I think it was Y04.) before I went in with the normal browns. I think it came out nice!

Here's the sketch:

As usual, I had to do a little something different...

Please remember that the Sketch Challenge has Guylou's Inimitability ($20) and Paper Temptress (20 sheets of Cryogen) as its sponsors this month. This is the last challenge for the month; make sure you play along! An entry into any of the challenges at The Outlawz this month also puts you in the running for prizes from Oozak, Gilli Rubber Stamps, Paper Temptress, and Color Me Creative Classroom!!

Challenges: My Mum's Craft Shop - Stamp It, Divas by Design - Stamp Something, Creative Mondays - Anything Goes, Ladybug Crafts Ink - Spots & Stripes (my spots are really hearts)

Silhouettes!

So, over at Little Miss Muffet Stamps Barbara has created silhouettes of all of the stamps! You can pick any three silhouettes for just $3!

Today, the team is showcasing some of what you can do with these awesome new images. My card features Anna Kristine Hatter in both regular digi and silhouette. Please note, as usual, this card hasn't quite managed to become what I planned for it to be. YET. I have thrown a few more things at it and, if I like them, I will update the post after work in about 12 hours... (I'm not at work now, but I should be in bed so I can get up in a few. Bless all of you who work more than 8-9 hours a day!)

The digi on top is actually really light grey not white. (What's your default spelling of gray/grey? Mine is, for some reason, not the American way!)

Anyway, my original plan was to use the silhouette and paper piece parts of the clothes on top. Then, I thought to print the original digi in white on top of the silhouette so that the features and things could still be seen. That's kind of where I was going here...

My teammates have done WAY more fabulous things with the new silhouettes. Go check them out, then go get yourself your favorites!

Challenges: Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges - Anything Goes, Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes, Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes

This Week's Sketch!

Since I haven't gotten enough sleep before work the last two nights (my fault), I figured there was no need to try to find a clever title for today's post. It is what it is... So, here's my card!

I used another digi from MayzyArt; this one is called Jean. It doesn't really show in the pic, but her accessories are glittered. That extra bright colorful paper is from one of those $1 bins at Target, and the sentiment is from Fiskars. Can I just say that the smell of rubber makes me ill? Like, I opened that pack of stamps and was immediately upset by how strong they smell. Anyone else with this issue??

This week's inspirational sketch at The Outlawz.

There's the sketch. I know you can come up with something for this one! Remember, if you decide to play along this month, you'll be eligible for prizes from Guylou's Inimitability and Paper Temptress AND our site-wide sponsors! Oh, I just saw that there's an exclusive MayzyArt stamp in the Freebies section of The Outlawz! Make it happen, y'all!

Challenges: Whimsy Stamps - Anything Goes,Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes, My Mum's Craft Shop - Digi, Can You Digi It? - Over the Rainbow

I'm So Excited!

Reasons for Excitement:

1. I won the birthday candy at my buddy Gina's blog! Gina packed a shoebox full of amazing stuff which included Basic Grey chipboard stickers, a Tim Holtz die, a set of Nesties, embossing folders, stamps, twine, paper, ribbon and even some Grumpy Girl soap! (The names of their soaps are too much!) Gina and I always joke about winning each others' candy, and I was really shocked to have won.


2. The newswoman just said that today's pollen count has broken a record. I am a serious allergy sufferer year-round, but it gets way more horrible during the spring. I'm excited, though, because I received some sample eye drops last week that have practically ended my eye issues! They taste nasty (drops drain into nose then run down throat), but it's so nice not to have watery, itchy eyes that produce sticky, slimy stuff all day. I've been able to go outside, open the windows in the house, and ride in my car with the windows down! I'm calling the doctor today for a prescription!!

That's it! It doesn't take a whole lot for me some days...  I know a lot of folks are going through a lot of things; I'm trying to do better about being happy with the little things!

As I was adding this pic, I realized it goes perfectly with what I just typed! I made this card for a recent issue of Ready, Set, Create. The image is from Dilly Beans.

New Releases at Little Miss Muffet!

This week, there are some new stamps over at Little Miss Muffet Stamps!! As excited as I am by all of their goodness, I have to make this quick. It is burning up here in Georgia already, and I have sweat rolling down the insides of my elbows! It's worse in the house than outside, and I'm dying to get out and enjoy the sun and, hopefully, the breeze!! (Hope my allergy meds are working or I'll be paying for it later...)

Anyway, here is my card using one of the new Sugar and Spice images. There's a sentiment too for folks who want the text version of this picture equation. (Yeh, equation. Told you I was dorky...)

The Nice circle isn't really this red in real life. I don't have the right pink, but it's definitely not red. May have to redo that panel...

Alright, head on over to the Little Miss Muffet blog to see the awesome creations by my teammates then run to the store to pick up your new favorite images!

**
Challenges: Lia Stampz - AG + a Sentiment, Delicious Doodles - The Wonder of Life,   Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Add a Sentiment, Crazy 4 Challenges - Green

Monochromatic Challenge at Guylou's Inimitability!

When we were choosing our upcoming challenges a few months ago, I had to make a decision for my challenge. I don't know how to make a sketch. Usually I have a rough time getting all the ingredients to work like I want them to for a recipe challenge. SO...The question I asked myself was, "kraft or monochromatic?" Now, months and months later, my challenge is for you to share a monochromatic project with us over at Guylou's Inimitability. Should you decide to play along, you have until 10 p.m. EST on March 29. There's a $10 prize and GDT spot for the winner!

Here is my card for the challenge using Papa Bear.

Sentiment from Stamp Camp

I was so happy to find a use for this paper! When I first started making cards, I bought a lot of 12x12 pads and now find that a lot of the patterns are a bit big on cards...

Hope to see you in the challenge!


Challenges: Ditzy Craftyness - AG with Buttons, Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Feathers or Fur, Shelly's Images - Anything Goes, Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Add a Sentiment, Card Makin' Mamas - Buttons

I'm Out!

That's right. I'm out of ideas for a blog post title! Sometimes it's easy, but I don't want to just say what the card is for every time. I feel like you all like to visit more when you don't know what you're going to get once you get here, ya know?

Anyway, here is today's card for the Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz:

I recently saw on someone's blog how to make a shamrock out of heart punches. I should have inked the edges so they'd stand out a little more...

That cute face is St. Patty from MayzyArt. Here's a heads-up; she's only $1.50 until March 17! Plus, May will send you an exclusive, FREE stamp with your purchase! (The freebie changes monthly.) I just found this shop yesterday after watching one of Lisa Sumpter's videos on YouTube, and there are already more stamps for sale! I like them because, well, they're super cute and they work no matter what color you decide to make them. (That's important to me as my family and friends go from one end of the spectrum to the other and I need my stamping money's worth...) Okay, enough selling!

Here's this week's sketch:

Remember, this month the Sketch Challenge is being sponsored by both Guylou's Inimitability AND Paper Temptress! Plus, The Outlawz has site-wide prizes from Oozak, Gilli Stamps, Paper Temptress (yep, again!), and Color Me Creative Classroom! I hope you'll join us!

Challenges: Use it Tuesday - Go Green (old paper, sentiment stickers that have only made it out of the sticker binder once before - at Halloween!, gems from a Studio G stamp set that's never been used, and a stamp I got from eBay about this time last year...),  Ladybug Crafts Ink - Anything Goes, Kaboodle Doodles - Show Us Some Green, MyGrafico - St. Patrick's Day, Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes

Gotta Run!

Sorry, I need to get the hour and a half of sleep I can before I have to get up to work. SO...this post is super short! The new challenge at Little Miss Muffet is to create an easel, step, or shaped card. I have made a circle card using Elizabeth Louise Hatter, DeLovely papers from Cosmo Cricket, an awesome chipboard frame from Make It Crafty, and some gifted flowers from Bizzy Becs!  **Oops, I was rushing and forgot to add that the sentiment is from Some Odd Girl!

This is a bit bright. That chipboard is actually pale lime green. Auto-fix on Picnik isn't always right! :D

Off to catch a nap! I hope to see you in the challenge!

Challenges: The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes,  PaperCrafting Journey - Anything Goes, Crop Stop - 4 Colors, CCEE Stampers - Flowers

Kirstie Alley?

Have you seen that new pee pad commercial with Kirstie Alley as the fairy? She looks amazing! I know - totally random, but that's why you love me! Besides, I have to struggle to think of titles for these blog posts... :D

On a crafy note, this month the Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz is being sponsored by one of my favorite digi companies, Guylou's Inimitability! (Thanks G!) There's also a prize from Paper Temptress! Here's my card using Lotus Sitting Pretty from Guylou's Inimitability:

I finally used some of the flowers I've been hoarding!

I didn't venture far from the sketch this time. Here it is if you'd like to play along...

See you in the challenge!

Challenges: Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes, Always Crafting - Anything Goes, Make My Monday - Spring Flowers, Paperminutes - Blue, Black, and White

EWW!

Two things before I tell this story. 1. I hate roaches. Yes, I pick up worms and have no problems moving a non-jumping spider outside without killing it. But roaches?? Not happening. They make me itch just thinking about them. 2. I live in a neighborhood which is still forest-like. The appeal when this neighborhood was being built was that the builders didn't just level all the trees to put up houses. Therefore, many of the forest creatures seem to think people houses are their homes too...

SO, today I was handling some business in the bathroom. I was having a great time playing a word game on my Kindle; there was definitely no rush to get up. Once I finally decided it was time to go (my foot was falling asleep), I stood up, looked into the bowl, and saw this 2.5 inch roach chilling inside the bowl!! UGH! You have never seen a person jump away from a toilet so fast! Thankfully, that big granddaddy roach did not fly out of the toilet; he let himself go to a watery grave. All I could think about after was the roach being so close to lady parts... GRODY! (Yeah, I really still say grody.) :D

Okay, okay, you can stop laughing at me now! To make up for telling all that you really didn't want to know, here's a card I sent Abby, my 2011 Secret Pal, last year.

Digi from A Day for Daisies. Sentiment from the former $1 section @Michaels.

Looking on my external HD, I finally found the pictures to update that other post about last year's Secret Pal! It's only been three months since the post went live! :S

**Just one more day for the Fancy/Lacy challenge at Little Miss Muffet!
**Things with Wings challenge at Guylou's Inimitability is rocking!

...Part II

Well, that half turned into a whole (see Part I), BUT now I'm back down to only one card behind. The card for today is for the new challenge at Guylou's Inimitability, Things with Wings!

Oh goodness!! I just realized that I forgot to color the pot! Good grief...  Anyway, that cute face there is Leah. She has a bunch of adorable images; this one is Leah is Gardening. There is more to this stamp, but I'm a fan of cropping digis. You can get this digi by itself or as part of the Leah in Her Garden set. (1 stamp for $2 or FOUR for $5!!)

If you'd like to jump in the challenge and have a chance to score yourself some digi stamps and a GDT spot, you have until 10 p.m. EST on March 15 to share any new creations with wings! Sounds pretty easy to me... See you at the challenge!!

**Sara, I'm praying for you!! Rox, I'm glad you joined us!**

Challenges: Clearly Inspired Challenges - #47, Crafts 4 Eternity - Use a Digital Element, The Stamp Man - Colors of Spring, Stampin' for the Weekend - Bingo (pink - is this enough?, butterflies, die cuts)

The Best Laid Plans... Part I

Just know that yesterday I had three second grade students almost turn into The Incredible Hulk (I'm talking crying, huffing, growling, twitching meltdowns...), a too-long, fruitless discussion about a bill that isn't mine, and a long sit with a neighbor who had just found out that his mother died. After all that I couldn't even enjoy my favorite night of television. (Modern Family, Happy Endings, Revenge all get a thumbs up from me!) In the middle of my tv night, I woke up after not planning to fall asleep (wha?? huh??) only to move to the other side of the couch to catch another pre-sleep nap! Right now I'm a card and a half behind...  BUT, since I made my Wednesday Sketch card before crashing Tuesday night, here it is!

I used Vanilla, one of the Sugar 'n Spice Dolls from Little Miss Muffet Stamps, and some paper from My Mind's Eye's Twinkle Twinkle Little Girl pad. The sketch has some spaces at the bottom that I originally had some letter stickers in; I really wasn't feeling them though so they got the boot! Colleen, I'm going to have to shout you out a whole lot for all of the ribbon you sent me! This one matches the paper way better than the picture shows...

Anyway, if you choose to play along, Sandi is giving away some Spellbinders as a prize in the Sketch Challenge for February. You have until next Tuesday to get a card in for your chance! We also have a new month of site-wide prizes, including a gift certificate to Oozak, to play for! Here is the sketch to get you started:

See you on The Outlawz!

Challenges: The Sisterhood of Crafters - Use a Digi,  Digi Doodle Shop - Pink & Green