I Love a Happy Ending

My happy ending is for the month of August.  Glad to see it go - way too hot, but also glad that Isaac brought us rain.  It is raining so hard right now that my satellite signal is out!

 

I have a cute card for you tonight.

 

 

The image is by Elisabeth Bell for Sugar Nellies.   I colored her with Copics and cut her out and mounted her with nesties.  The dp is Sweet Day from Echo Park and cs is DCWV.  Sentiment is from MFT and flower is from Prima.  I used the sketch from Bloggers Challenge.

 

I am also entering the following challenges:

 

Southern Girls - It's all about the flora

The House That Stamps Built - Flowers

The Paper Shelter - Layers on layers

Word Art Wednesday - uplifting sentiment

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

kathy b

 

 



All I want for Christmas

Raining!  It's really raining! 

It's steady, been raining for hours.  Now we are being warned of flash floods and they are handing out sandbags. 

Incredible!

 

I have another Christmas card tonight.

 

 

Yea! I am really making headway on my Christmas cards by participating in challenges!  I need to do this every year so that I am not making my cards the week after Thanksgiving!!!

 

This one uses Magic of the Season dp/cs from Hobby Lobby.  I used my MFT hexagon die (and broke it in my Big Shot by not paying attention to what I was doing :( when I was running it through).  I used my nesties to cut out the sentiment, which is from Impression Obsession.  I added 3 black crystals from Kaiser.

 

I am entering the following challenges:

 

ABC Christmas Challenge - quilting

Paper Pretties Blog - Black, White & 1 other color.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

kathy b



Fall

 

So sorry to be MIA yesterday.  I fell in our woods Monday evening while walking with the dogs.  MY DH & the boys went to the house, oblivious.  My girls, Sadie & Geena Bea, stayed with me, licked my face, and made me feel lots better.  But when I woke up on Tuesday, my body ached all over and I had a migraine (I did hit my head).  I am much better today.

 

I have a Fall card for you today. It was 100 degrees so I am trying to make things that require me to think about cooler times!!!

 

 

I used the cute Beatrice pumpkin stamp from CC Designs and the coordinating dies, all colored with Copics.  The sentiment is from EK Designs, stamped in Palette Orangerie.  DP is from KI and cs is DCWV.  I added Kaiser crystals for bling.  The sketch comes from Sweet Sunday Challenge, but without the banner, so I will NOT be entering that challenge.

 

I will be entering the following challenges:

All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge - anything goes

Anyone for Anya? - inspired by time (FALL season)

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

kathy b

 



Lemonade Stand

It's Monday night and we are waiting to see IF we get some rain from Isaac.  The farmers are anxiously awaiting the rain.  They are desperate for it.  So hopefully we will get some significant rainfall and perhaps lower the temperature a bit!

 

Tonight I have a card for the challenge at the Wednesday sketch challenge at MFT.

 

 

This is another cute image from MFT & Pure Innocence.  I colored her with Copics and cut her out with Nesties.  DP is from KI and cs is DCWV.  Ribbon is from SU!, pearls from Kaiser and crown die cut from MFT. 

 

I am the thank you/memorial coordinator for an animal rescue and we have a couple of kids that hold lemonade sales and donate the proceeds to us.  I will use this card to thank them after their next sale.  I like to make special personalized for the kids that make donations to us.  It really touches my heart that they have a soft spot for animals and at such a young age work to make things better for them.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

kathy b



A thank you card

Hi Everyone,
It's Sunday afternoon...and I'm starting to go into mourning.  The weekend is over...  :(

Anyway, I'm back again, posting one of many many thank you cards that I need to make.  These cards are for people in Arkansas who took time out to write me letters pertaining to my job.  It was so nice to talk to all of them this summer...makes me want to get in my car and drive over there (except the 16 hours through the midwest are a bit daunting).

Anyway, I sort of goofed up on this card.  The flower (MFT die) really should have been stacked a little bit differently (One on top of the other rather than scattered).  But my girls seem to like it so hopefully the recipient will too.  It's got a ton of Swarovski crystals to make up for it and a Basic Grey brad in the center.  This was the type of day where I kept dropping things:  dropped tape, lost swarovski's as they flipped off the tweezers, oy!  CASEd this card from Stephanie Marshall's blog, Stamping Impressions (I love you Pinterest).  The paper is from My Mind's Eye (Old stash) and the dies are from MFT.  Sentiment and that die cut are from Stampin Up.  Enjoy!  Hope to get some more cards in this week.  Thanks for stopping by!  Margaret
This card will be entered into the Fashionable Stamping Challenges--handmade flowers

Sparkle Birthday + Children's Corner

Hi Everyone,
Surprise! I'm baaack...even if for a brief spell.  I've been working my tail off!  Had to teach a 40 hr course a couple of weeks ago and then had a huge huge HUGE assignment due that had taken me all summer to put together.  Classes started this week so it's just been a very busy time.

But onto more interesting things.  I have a ton of cards on my to do list.  So here is one card that I was able to complete.  It is a belated birthday card for a friend who just turned 40 and likes happy colors such as lime green and yellow--I figured that kind of birthday deserves some major sparkle.  This is an Outlines Mandala, embossed in Stampendous Gold and lots of Swarovski crystals.  The background is stamped and embossed in olive green (Adirondack) using a Stampin Up stamp and sentiment.

I'm entering this card into the Totally Paper Crafts Challenge: Anything Goes (Zesty Summer Colors)

My girls are enjoying their time back in their art room.  I have quite a few cards to feature of theirs.  Today I am featuring two cards that Julia made, also for birthdays.  So cute, don't ya' think?  Thanks for stopping by!  I've really missed my art! Margaret

Merry Christmas

Happy Friday!!!

I am so glad for the weekend.  I have been working on a grant that goes out on Monday and I am exhausted!

 

Tonight I have a mostly monochrome Christmas card for you.

 

 

I fell in love with this stamp when I laid eyes on it.  It's Penny Black's Ornamental Mimi.  I colored her with several shades of Copic purples with a little peachy pink for her dress.  The dies are from MFT.  I added Swarovski crystals to the border and dotted the "i" in Christmas.  The purple paper is metallic from Wassau.  You can't tell that the paper is sparkly from the photo.

 

I used the sketch from Fetch-A-Sketch.  I am also entering the following challenges:

 

Christmas Stampin - non-traditional colors (purple/peach)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - kid's christmas

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

kathy b

 







Celebrate Autumn

Hello!

I am here tonight with a card to celebrate Autumn.  Of course, it was over 100 degrees today, so this is wishful thinking!

 

 This card is for Margaret ~ and she knows exactly why!!!

 

 

The images are from Kraftin Kimmie and the sentiment is from Papertrey.  I colored the images with my Copics.  I used punches for the acorn adornment and I fussy cut Andrea Acorn.  The die cut fence is from Memory Box.  The dark grey paper is metallic and used for mounting and the fence.  The gold cs is DCWV and the ribbon is from Denami.  The sketch comes from Critter Challenge.

 

I am also entering the following challenges:

 

Crafts & Me - autumn

Created with Love - use some 3 times (3 circles)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

kathy b

 



A House is Not a Home

Sorry to miss a post yesterday.  I had to work and then Geena Bea was promoted to the Advanced Agility Class, which is later than our previous class so it was 10pm before I got home.  Ugh!  But the Giants beat the Dodgers, so I am a happy camper!

 

 

Today's card uses the sketch at The House that Stamps Built.  The cute puppy dog comes from Repeat Impressions, which runs that blog.  The sentiment is from Cloud 9 (a Fiskars company).  DP is Basic Grey Max & Whiskers and orange cs is DCWV.

 

 

I am also entering this at the following challenges:

 

Forever Friends - animal + anything goes

Pink Gem Challenge - animal or teddies

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - animals

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

kathy b



I Miss You

Hi Everyone!

It was the 1st day of school here so I took the day off because I wanted to miss all the first day traffic!  I did go to town to take Schmitzy to our vet now that we are adopting him.  Well, it seems he is about 10 years old, but in good health, other than his teeth and we have fed him too much.  So it's diet time for Schmitz!   After the vet I took him to the dog park, where he had a big time.  Then we stopped at the local pet store before heading back to the mountain.  Tonight he was sleeping, belly up, on our bed.  That was a first!

Okay, now I will get on with the card. 

I used the sketch at Anyone for Anya?

The stamp is from CC Designs and the sentiment is from MFT.  DP is Basic Grey Lauderdale and cs is DCWV, while buttons and ribbon is from stash.  I stamped the images with Memento, colored them with Copics and cut them out.  The girl is popped up with 3M tape.  Sentiment is stamped with blue Versafine and cut out with an MFT die.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday - Let's hear it for the girls

Craft Your Passion - Use 3 of something (strips, ribbon, buttons)

Created with Love - 3 of a kind (strips, ribbon, buttons)

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



Hold Christmas in Your Heart

Hi!

I'm back tonight with a card for the challenge over at Waltzingmouse. 

I used 3 different Waltzingmouse stamp sets: Large Doily for the background, Vintage Labels 4, and Compact Sentiments.  I stamped all the images with Versafine Red Satin on SU! Vanilla and used Nesties 4 for the label and mounting.  Ribbon is also from SU! while the mini pearls are Memory Box and the large ones are Martha Stewart.

 

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Challenge Up Your Life - Christmas in Summer

Christmas Stampin - Make your pattern paper

Crafty Ann's - Christmas in August

Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas

My Time to Craft - Christmas

Christmas Card Challenges - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



Hello Friend

What lovely weather we had today and we're hoping for rain tonight!

Yea!

I have a card tonight that features Panda Marci from LaLa Land Crafts.  I bought this stamp because I am a big SF Giants fan and our 3rd baseman, Pablo Sandoval, is called the Panda.

The dp is from KI and cs is from stash (actually leftover from yesterday's card).  Ribbon and sentiment are from PaperTrey.   I used my nesties to cut out the sentiment, which is stamped with Versafine Satin Red.  I added a rhinestone flourish for bling.  The sketch is from Divas by Design.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Pink Gem Challenge - animals or teddies

Little Claire's Designs - best friends

Little Red Wagon - dog days of summer

Simon Says Stamp - animal antics

Kaboodle Doodle - Friendship

I am also entering this in the customer gallery of Lala Land Crafts Crafts.

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



Release Your Inner Child

I've had a wonderful day.  Sadie, my 14.7 yo Schnauzer, got a clean bill of health at her checkup today.  We took a trip to Petsmart and our local pet store before going to the dog park to have lunch with friends.

We had a great day and she got to feel very special since she has to share attention with 3 other schnauzers at home!

I have a very patriotic colored card for you today.  I didn't intend for it to look like the colors of the USA, but I did want to go with primary colors.

I used the sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy.  DP, cs and buttons are from my stash (really OLD dp-from scrapbooking days).  Stamps are from There She Goes and colored with Copics.  Sentiment is cut out with a Spellbinders tag die.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Twisted Tuesday - blue & 1 other color 

Use It Tuesday - All about school (very old dp & buttons)

365 Cards Day 170 - color challenge

365 Cards Day 166 - Square card with additional squares

There She Goes - Back to school

Sadie & I say thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



Art

It rained!  Yea! 

Unfortunately, just over the mountain in the next valley, they got 4-6" of rain and are under a flood watch.  We've had rain pass us by all summer, finally this one got us pretty good, though a few miles makes a big difference!  Temp is 73 at my house, 88 at work!!!

I have an art inspired card for you tonight.

.

I really like this saying.  The sketch is from The House That Stamps Built.  The sentiment is from A Stamp in the Hand.  DP is from SU! Welcome Neighbor pad.  Nestie circle & rick rack circle were used with the sentiment, with rhinestones for bling.

I am entering the following challenges:

Sentimental Sundays - c&s with a sentiment

Creative Craft Challenges - just a sentiment

House of Gilli - add a sentiment

Thanks a lot for stopping by!

kathy b



Give it a Shot!

Hi everyone!

I have a fun card for you tonight. 

It's the MFT Pure Innocence Soccer Girl!

I paper-pieced her using Basic Grey Lemonade dp. She is colored with Copics and the ball was stamped and punched out with a 1" punch and added with tape.  Buttons are also Basic Grey.  The banner is from a Taylored Expressions die.  I also used the MFT notched die (both parts - cranberry cs) and a nestie to cut out the PI image.  I entered her in the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at MFT.

I am also entering her in the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - olympics

Craft Your Days Away - olympic dreams

SJPapercrafts - olympics

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



Birthday Wishes

Reprieve!

It was only 89 degrees today! 

Geena Bea got to go to agility tonight for the first time in what seems like forever.  She was one happy Schnauzer!!!  Geena was so happy to see her teacher, Miss Linda.

My card today is for my sister-in-law.  Her birthday is this week and my DH asked me to make a card for her.  I asked him what he wanted and he was a little short on words.  So I went to my room and created this:

When I was through, I brought it to him and asked what he thought.  He was thrilled.  Better than he could even imagine.  My DH loves all things DOG, and since we have Schnauzers (4), he really loved this stamp (Viva Las Vegas Stamps).  Kind of looks like our new guy, Schmitz.  DP is Basic Grey Max & Whiskers, ribbon is from May Arts, button, rhinestone & cs are from stash.  I used my new dog tag from MFT for the sentiment (which comes from Papertrey) stamped with Versafine Sepia.  I colored the image with Copics.  I also decorated the interior and added the sentiment, "Hope you have a dog-gone happy birthday", which I thought went well with the car!

I used the sketch from The Sweet Stop, and will also enter the following challenges:

Forever Friends - animal + something new (dog tag die)

Basic Grey - bright & bold

Wags & Whiskers - birthday

Hooked on Crafts - Let's Celebrate
Word Art Wednesday - things that make you smile

Thanks for stopping by and good night from Geena Bea who has hidden herself under the couch pillow so she can sleep after all her hard work at class!

kathy b

Cheer

Another hot day (only 90s though) and another nearby wildfire.

Will this ever end?

I have a Christmas card for you today.  I have to start thinking COLD thoughts!

This card features a poinsettia stamp from Northwoods, embossed with Ranger SuperFine Detail Gold, and colored with Copics.  The dp/cs are SEI Alpine Frost, mounted on kraft.  SU! Vanilla was used for the stamping (Versamark, Encore Metallic Gold).  The ribbon die is from Spellbinders, gold metallic ribbon from Michaels, sentiment from an Inkadinkado set.  Petite scallop nestie was used for the poinsettia.  Sketch is courtesy of Jingle Belles.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Christmas Card Challenges - holiday with texture

Christmas Stampin All YEar Long - anything goes

Stampin with the Dragon - Christmas in August

Winter Wonderland - photo inspiration (color-inspired)

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



You Rock!

Hi everyone,
I have a quick card to post today.  It's been so crazy busy around here, I am just floating to the surface right now for a quick breath of air.

This is a card I made for my cousin who has been helping me watch the girls all week.  He was so sweet to mow my lawn to boot and help the girls walk our Daisy.  Anyway...he's not Mr Colorful so I thought this would color his world a little.  LOL

Stamps: MFT (girl) and Verve (sentiment)
Other: Sizzix embossing folder, Pow glitter paper by AMerican Crafts (I think the DP is Jillibean)
Thanks for stopping by...hopefully life will be a bit better soon.  ;)    Margaret

Inspire

We're having a cooling spell!  We didn't reach 100 today, just 99!  I am grateful!

Tonight I have a card that utilizes the beautiful Cheery Lynn Butterfly die that Margaret bought me in NYC.  It is so very lovely!

I stamped the sentiment (SU! Loving Thoughts) on the same stash cs I used for the butterfly.  The dp is Kaiser Utopia.  The sketch is from I Heart to Stamp.  I added square rhinestones on the diagonal.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Crafting for all seasons - bright colors

Craftymess - no image

Sweet Stampin - Things with Wings

Thanks for stopping by.  Tomorrow you will get a card from Margaret!

kathy b





Make the Most of Yourself

Happy Weekend, One and All!

I cannot believe how fast this week has gone!

Tonight I have a card for you that uses the MojoMonday sketch from last week.  (I'm behind - didn't get this one entered, but wanted to try the sketch anyway).

The sentiment is from the Verve Seeing Stars set.  The dp is Basic Grey Sugared and cs is DCWV.  I used 2 different punches and a Sizzix die for all the stars.  The scalloped edge is a Sizzix die cut.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Just a sentiment

There She Goes - Get Sentimental

Sentimental Sundays - Fall + sentiment AND must use 3 of 4 colors (golden brn, yellow, cranberry, olive)

Word Art Wednesday - uplifting sentiment

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b







Daydream

While Margaret is exhausting herself teaching an intensive weeklong college course, I am baking in the summer drought.  Once again, we were above 100 degrees, of course with high humidity.  I don't want to do anything!  I do have a card which makes me dream of faraway, cooler places!!!

This is a lovely image from Lili of the Valley.  I actually got out my Prismas for this one because of all the detail and my uncertainty that I could manage the little itty bitty details with my Copics.  I actually had fun with the Prismas and plan to use them again soon!  The dp is Basic Grey Gypsy and cs is DCWV.  Ribbon is from Papertrey and I used my Bow-Ez to make the bow.  Nesties were used to cut out the image and SU! punches for the sentiment, which came with the image.  The sketch for this card is from The Sweet Stop, don't you love it? 

I am also entering this in the following challenges:

IncyWincyDesigns - Girly

Tuesday Alchemy - Bingo (ribbon/bows/flowers/bling).

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



A Friend Is One Who Knows You

Another 100+ degree day...we are getting decimated. 

It looks like fall - leaves have fallen from the trees.

We need rain.

My card tonight is monochromatic teal.

The sentiment stamp is from Hampton Art.  It was stamped on 2 different shades of teal and the center was punched out and mounted with 3M tape.  The large circle and pinking edged circle were cut out with Nesties.  There's a tad of stash ribbon behind the sentiment and I added a few rhinestones for bling.   CS is from Michaels.

I am entering the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - monochrome

Shopping Our Stash Weekly - monochrome

Lollipop Crafts - monochrome

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b



Ruh-Roh

Oh, my!  I am finally back. 

My computer was destroyed by viruses, malware, etc. and had to be totally rebuilt.  I have owned a computer since 1988 and this is the first time this has ever happened to me.  Fortunately, my DH is an IT guy, so he rebuilt it for me and restored all my programs and files.  I am SO lucky!!!

So my card tonight was inspired by my computer disaster and how I had to tell my husband there was something terribly wrong with my computer.  We have 4 dogs, so what better way to let him know than with dog-speak!

This is a There She Goes clear stamp.  The sign is blank, so you add whatever sentiment you desire, my choice being Ruh-roh... The image is colored with Tombows and I cut the sentiment/image out with a Die-Versions die cut.  I must say, I had a lot of problems getting it cut out - it took about 8 attempts with different shimming set-ups and I still ended up having to poke out each and every dot.  I even tried the metal plate, with and without shims, rotating the design, etc.  I digress.  I used KaiserCraft Devonshire Collection dp, Robins Nest dots and ribbon from Michaels.

The sketch is from The Pink Elephant.  I am also entering the following challenges:

Forever Friends - animal and something new (new die)

Pattie's Creations - animals or insects

There She Goes - sentiment as main (read blog to get why ruh-roh is THE necessary sentiment)!

Thanks for stopping by!  So good to be back live again!

kathy b



Sympathy

Hello everyone,
I'm back for a brief moment.  I have had a lot on my plate lately: I adopted a new dog (4 year old Great Pyrenees) last Sunday, and I've been gearing up for teaching tomorrow (A 40 hr course in 1 week). My children have come home (yesterday) and now we also need to get ready for school and I have a big big deadline due in a couple of weeks.  Wow...I'm tired just talking about it!  Unfrotunately, Kathy's computer crashed...Kaput.  One of those "surf by shootings" viruses.

So today is not a very happy subject.  A friend's father suddenly passed away.  Although he was very elderly, it's always harder when it happens suddenly.  This is the second friend whose father passed away this summer.  So this is the card I have made for her--it's hard to tell from here but the tree and sentiment is actually UNDERNEATH the frame:

Stamp: Stampin up (tree and sentiment); background pattern (Impression obsession)
Paper: My Mind's Eye
Dies and punches: Butterfly (Martha Stewart); oval frame (Spellbinders); decorative frame (SU)

On a brighter note, I'm sharing some photos of my Daisy.  She is so sweet, though still has some fears.  She's not had the most pleasant of pasts, was not socialized at all so is scared of alot of things and on top of that, her previous owners shaved her down.  Her coat has grown in some but you can still see bald spots all over (not a good practice for this breed which has very sensitive skin).  However, I've really enjoyed watching her blossom over the course of this week!  There's nothing more rewarding than a rescued dog. :)  Thanks for stopping by!  Kathy says Hi!  -Margaret

She likes to be in the driver's seat, no pun intended.

Looking so so cute after a bath (though I don't think she was very happy about it)

Veterinarian, Petsmart, 2 walks, and a bath...Daisy is EXHAUSTED!

Time Flies

Yea!  It's the weekend!

I have a quick post.  My computer has been down tonight so it's already after midnight, but I am going to get this posted anyway!

The image is from Hampton Art.  DP & cs is Echo Park Springtime.  I used a Memory Box die set for the flower and I paper-pieced the bird using the background paper.  I added a pearl to the flower and along the bottom.

The sketch it from Just Add Ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b

Imagine

I think the heat has zapped all my creativity.  My card tonight is really simple, and it's the 2nd one I made tonight...I don't like the first one, again.  It's 99 degrees as I type this at 9:30pm!!!  I am hoping that by staring at this sentiment stamped in Palette Orangerie on bright sunny yellow, some of my mojo might return!!!

I used a Sizzix embossing folder for the backgrownd and nesties to cut out and frame the sentiment.  Ribbon is from Storage Units, Ink & More (no longer in the stamp business) and the rhinestones are from Kaiser.  The sentiment is from the Rubber Cafe and I picked it up several years ago when Margaret and I made out first trip to The Ink Pad in New York City.  The untextured cs is old stash from Michaels.

I will be entering this in the following challenges:

Inky Impressions - embossing

Waste Not Wednesday - old stash

Thanks for stopping by.

kathy b





Howdy, Friend

Hi there!

Tonight I managed to make a card for the MFT WEdnesday Sketch Challenge, and it's only Wednesday!  I'm usually posting this on Monday or Tuesday just

before the deadline!

I paper-pieced her skirt, top, vest and hat band and colored the rest with Copics.  Of course, this is the Pure Innocence Cowgirl and I cut her out.  I used a Rubbernecker barbed wire fence stamp for background, cut out with nesties.  DP is Echo Park Springtime and cs is SU! and DCWV.  The flower is also an MFT die, while the sentiment is punched out with an SU! punch.  I added Kaiser rhinestones.  The cowgirl and sentiment are popped up with 3M tape.

I will be entering this in the MFTWSC83 and

Little Red Wagon - girlfriends

Divas by Design - flowers (I used die cut and flowered dp)

The Perfect Sentiment - girlfriends

Crazy Amigos - dies and punches

Thanks for stopping by!

kathy b