Cotton Candy anyone?

Yet another image in my Mo Manning marathon!  Don't you just love it when you find an artist that does images that make to smile, and smile and smile.  These are those kinds of images!

This is a valentines card for a 'sweet' little girl that I know. (I only have boys)

Gorgeous outside today.  Took this picture out on my table on the deck.  Could figure out why all the photos had those shadings on the white.  It'ss the crinkly glass on the table. LOL  Oh well, you will just have to trust me that it is just plain Neenah solar white paper, smooth!

The DP is from my stash.

The butterfly is a Die-namics stacking die set.

Twine from The Twinery.

Sentiment from Meljens Design.
There is cotton candy Sparkly Fluff from OCL on the cotton candy.  Doh!

The stick on half pearls are from Creative Charms (won them in a blog hop!)

The die cut around the sentiment and along the edge of the image are from Spellbinders

Colored with Copic Markers, edges distressed and some paper piercing in the corners finish it off!

I got the idea for the coloring, "Pink, Green and a pop of Purple, Pierce and Distress" from a challenge that I found on line at Joan's Gardens  and thought it would be perfect for this card.  She also has one of the most complete grouping of dies available for purchase that I have seen anywhere.  Alot of dies that I haven't found elsewhere or had to order from the UK (with ridiculous shipping fees!)

Have a "SWEET" weekend.

: )  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Joan's Garden: Pink, green and pop of purple (shirt and butterfly).  Must pierce and distress.
Craft Your Days Away:  Distressing
Drunken Stampers:  Use something new (Wonderful new digi!)
Mark's Finest Papers:  Layers, at least 4
My Sheri Crafts:  Use something new (Mo Manning digi)
Send a Smile 4 Kids:  Anything goes for a kid
Card Crafters Circle:  Friendship
Crafty Ann's Challenge:  Use something new (Mo Manning digi)
Sweet and Sassy Digi challenge:  Dessert/Sweet (I'd say I have both of these covered!  LOL)
Mo's Digital Pencil:  All my favorite things (copics, dies, these Mo Manning images!)
Color Create Challenge:  Pink and Green


Card Makin Mamas:  Use something old (everything but the digi is at least a year old)

More Mo Manning!

Back for another post with another amazing Mo Manning image!

I got so many projects done on Saturday during my all day session of Playing with Paper!

This is just one of several to come.

This is just how I feel about my computer sometimes.  I just can't seem to put it down!  LOL

I colored her with copic markers.  She was die cut using 'out of the box' method and a Spellbinders die.  The heart puch is also a Spellbinder border die.  The DP and the pearls are from my stash.  The ribbon is some more of the ribbon I stole from Danna (shhh........).

On the inside,

All the same stuff plus this wonderful sentiment that I got from Bethany at

Elegant Word Art.   She has a wonderful blog that tells all the stories of her life and that of her family.  At the end of every daily post, she has a wonderful freebie word art posted. 

You can also go to her store and her work art packs are their for the purchase.

Back in a day or two with another project from my Saturday of playtime!

:)  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Whimsey Stamps Challenge:  Pearls or bling

My Time to Craft:  Favorite embellishment (ribbon)

Oldie but a Goodie:  Have a heart (DP is at least 3 years old)

Brrr.......It's cold outside

Apparently Mr. Blogger was not playing nice this morning.  I am sorry for the late posting on this card.

BRRRRR.................It's cold outside! 

Fresh Brewed Designs is starting it's new challenge today and this is the topic!

So easy with one of the cute digital or stamp images from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs.

I made my card using 'Winter Giraffe' (I call him Geoffrey).  I doubled up my image for this card.

This card is colored with copic markers.  The border punch on the inside is a MS snowflake punch.

The sentiment on the outside is from Our Craft Lounge.  The one on the inside is computer generated.  The ribbons, brads and pearls are all from my stash.

I used sparkly fluff from OCL on both of the hats.

Be sure to be checking on the Fresh Brewed Designs blog for a special price on a special stamp!  It will be the 'shop special' for Feburary and I just know you will love it!

: )  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs:  BRRRR..........It's cold outside (DT card)

Mo Manning Rocks!

Been cruising around the web and visited Jak Heath's blog.  She does such amazing art work and many of her cards lately have had images from Mo Manning.  Her blog is Digital Pencil Too.  I decided to go and visit her blog, which led to her wonderful store, which lead to a purchase.  When I downloaded her wonderful digi images, I realized that I already had a couple images I had bought and a couple of freebies from her. (DUH!  can you image forgetting these great digis!)  : )

Anyway, I got to spend ALL DAY (yes, 10 am to midnight) playing with paper at a friends house on Saturday!  There was lots of coloring, cutting, pasteing, die cutting, drinking, eating and laughter going on FOR HOURS.  And it was good!  After the first time we had one of these play days, I learned to use repositional adhesive after my second or third Pineapple Rum Rita (as good as it sounds!).  That way and I straighten out everything I put on my projects as I don't seem to care about that as much after a couple of drinks!  Doh!

So, I spent about 13 hours at Danna's house playing with only Mo Manning images.  I will be posting all the cards that I did over the next couple of days.  (working 12s and don't have time to get them all posted at once, work, eat and SLEEP!  LOL)

Here is the start of my Mo Manning-athon!

This one is called "Sumpins Wrong".  There is definitely nothing wrong with this image!  I love this.  Can't tell you how many times my boys tried to put their clothes on the wrong way!

A bit of an angle to show the layers.

I printed this image 3 times and colored them with copics.  The based image is cut out with a

Spellbinder doing out of the box.  The last 2 images are fussy cut out and the layers are strategically placed with dimensionals.  The tickets are cut out with a Whimsey die and then stamped with Whimsey ticket sentiment stamps.  The border is also a Spellbinder edge die.

The pinwheel ribbon, DP, and brad are from my stash.....well.....the ribbon is from Danna's stash!

Shhhhhh..........don't tell her though!

Can't wait to come back and share my next card with you!

: )  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:
Critter Challenge Blog:  Use 3 embellishments (ribbon, brad, pinwheel button)
Daisy Doodles: Anything Goes
Hooked on Craft:  Something Bright
My Grafico:  Tickets
The Ribbon Girl Blog:  Pink and Blue + ribbon
My Sheri Crafts:  Something new (digi, Whimsey stamp and die, pinwheel buttons)
Card Mad Fairy:  Digi with ribbon and bow

Hubert is in the snow

SNOW.  That is the design requirement for the current challenge over on GingerLoft Challenges.

Definitely NOT what we have here!  110 MPH winds, 3 inches of rain in 2 days, flooding, roads washing out, sink holes.  Now that we have, and have had for a week now.  UGH!

Today, at least, it is only windy.  Not much rain, and believe me, we don't need any more rain for a couple of days!  One town just north of me had 4.95 inches of rain in 24 hrs.  TOO MUCH!

But I digress.  SNOW is the concept for this challenge.  What better way to showcase snow than with some snow flakes and a couple of penguins all ready to start their snowball fight.

I used some sticky back half pearls for the stack of snowballs!  Thought it was a cute idea.

The snow flakes are one of the Michaels $1 punches and some glitter paper.

The die cut is Spellbinders, the sentiment is punched with the SU word window.

The sentiment is from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs. 

The ribbon is from my stash and I followed directions from a tutorial over at Dustin Pikes place,

The snow flake brad is from my stash.

The DP is DCWV photo stack.  The is torn vellum under their feet for ice and snow.
Colored with copics, SU dazzling diamonds glitter is everywhere.

Hope everyone is have a safe and dry January!

:  )  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenges:  Snow (DT card)
Dream Valley Challenges:  Animals
Pan Pastel:  Use 2 of something
The Crafty Pad:  Something for a boy
The Hybrid Chick:  Punches/Dies (used both)
Copic Challenge Group:  Copics, picture inspiration
Rogue Redhead Designs:  Use vellum
Send a Smile 4 Kids:  Anything goes for a kid
Delicious Doodles:  Winter Wonderland

Cowboy Joe comes home

Wasn't Cowboy Joe from my last post just gorgeous!  Yummy!  LOL

As I hinted in my last post, today I am going to show you where Joe went when he got off the Love Train and headed home to his honey!

This is another Fresh Brewed Designs image (soon to be rubber!)  It originally had a Christmas

wreath on it but I just used all the little hearts I had left after punching my border to cover the wreath and make it perfect for Valentines Day!

I used  an embossing strip from CB for the 'With Love' sentiment.  Added those EK success

borders that I punched, some ribbon and some liquid pearls.  What a beautiful welcome home!

On the inside, the ticket stubs (MudMaven and Sentiments 4 you)  from Cowboy Joe's 'Love Train' (blog hop) ride. 

I added some more punched borders and a couple of heart lollipops (also from FBD)

and had a great finish to my card.

All the coloring is with copics.  The lollipops are coated with glossy accents.

: )  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments:  the word LOVE

Shelly's Images:  Anything goes

Crafty Creations:  Valentines

The Love Train is at my station......

Love, love me do.
You know I love you,
I'll always be true,
So please, love me do.

It's all about the hugging and kissing and daydreaming... sigh.
We are talking about that four letter word today.
LOVE!
If you are getting here from Vanessa's blog, Paper Creations, then you are right on track. If not, you need to start at the first hop stop: The Freshly Brewed Challenges Blog.

Everyone at Fresh Brewed Designs has been creating and keeping secrets from each other.
You got it, even we don't know what the others got to create with! I will be hopping right along with you, excited to see what is new and next on the list for me to get to create with.

The digi that I got to create with is called Lasso my Heart and you can find it at the Fresh Brewed Designs Shop under Holiday Digital stamps: Valentines / In Love.

Isn't he just gorgeous!  He can lasso me anytime!

I used my Spellbinders to the little word hearts and the top and bottom to my little gift box.

I made a small box and attached it to the bottom layer.  I attached a lid to the upper heart.

Perfect little box for an extra special candy (maybe a double chocolat truffle?) or a little

piece of cotton with a special piece of jewelery on it? 

This box is cased off one made by Tammie E. at 'One Happy Stamper'.  While I don't have

her instructions, I was able to look at her pics and figure this out. (LOL)

Colored with copics, embossed with a CB folder and ribbon is from my stash.

Sentiments on the hearts are mostly hand written.

Come back by on Friday and you will get to see where this cowboy is going when he

gets done with his 'Love Train' ride!

Now hop back aboard the love train *toot toot* and ride on to your next hop stop at Kenzi's blog, Krafty Hugs .

While you are there, leave her some blog lovin' for your chance to win a SPECIAL FRESHLY BREWED PRIZE! You have to leave a comment on all of the hop stops in order to win.

Thank you for hopping with us at Fresh Brewed Designs
Just in case you get hit with Cupid's Arrow along the way and get a little lost, here is the hop order:

Freshly Brewed Challenges Blog - http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/
Heather - http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/
Sheryl - http://butterflykisscards.blogspot.com/
Celeste - (guest)- http://www.touchedbyabutterfly.com/
Vanessa - http://vanessaspapercreations.blogspot.com/
Gale - http://galevarland.blogspot.com/ (you are here)
Kenzi -(guest)- http://kraftyhugzz.blogspot.com/    
Stacy - http://impressionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/
Linda - http://stamperstouch.blogspot.com/

The project may be entered in the following challenges:

Crafty Creations:  Valentines

Inky Impressions:  Anything but a square

Alota Rubber Stamps:  Hearts

Just Tracy's Crafts:  Valentines

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop:  Valentines with a ribbon

Really Reasonable Ribbon:  Valentines

Through the Craft Room Door:  Valentines and make your own embellishments

Moo Glue giveaway

Purple Cows is having a giveaway of a new product this week!

Go to their blog, watch a short 1 min. video and leave a comment.

Easy, peasy!  Great chance to try out a new adhesive.

: )  Gale

Do I hear Caffeine ?!

Playing with an images from Beyond the Fringe. 

Whether you are a coffee drinker, tea drinker of soda drinker (yeah Diet Pepsi!),

caffeine is a standby for just about everyone that I know.

The image is one of the many freebies that Carmen has posted on her blogsite,

Beyond the Fringe

I added some clear embossed coffee beans and the row of white embossed coffee cups

 from an Our Craft Lounge stamp set.

The cup and sentiment on the inside is also from OCL.

 

The card base is from SU.

Ribbon, brads and papers are from my stash.

Coloring is copic markers.

Cup edges are glittered with Atyou Spica clear glitter pen

Inking is with Ranger distress and Memento inks.

Have a 'caffeinated' day!

:)  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:  (please excuse any entry that is inappropriate for an entered challenge.  It is unintentional)

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards:  Glitter

Crafy Catz:  Something New.  (new stamp)

Digi Doodle:  Embossing

DYSU:  Pink

Sarah Hurley Challenges:  Thanks, Thank you

Divas by Design:  Thanks or New Beginning

Browsing around blogland....

We hit a whopping 50 degrees here on the Oregon coast today.  That meant, HARLEY ride.

After I was completely frozen, (HA) came home, turned on the extra little heater in my craft room

(had to thaw out my legs!), and got busy playing.  Browsed around in blogland and

found a sketch to play with on Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog.

Isn't this image just adorable!  It just makes me laugh. (and maybe remember)  I love it.  It is called 'Geeky Love' and I got it from

Make It Crafty .  They are so cute!  Can you see all the sparkle on the butterfly buttons and the Atiyou spica clear glitter pen on the butterfly punch?  Love some bling!

The sentiment is from Meljens designs.

The butterfly border is a Martha Stewart double punch.

The heart is Spellbinders.

The papers and butterfly buttons are all from my stash.

Coloring is copic markers (duh! LOL)

: )  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:  (please excuse me if this is entered in any inappropriate challenges, it is completely unintentional)

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog:  Sketch

Splendiferous Creations:  Wings and Things

Crafty Catz Challenge:  Use something new (new digi)

Fairy Tale Challenge:  Use something new

Cute Card Thursday:  Have a Laugh

Meljen's Designs:  Anything Goes

Pixie Dust Studio:  Put your heart into it

Some Odd Girls:  Bling it up!

Southern Girls Challenge:  Sparkle

For My Crafty Friend

Playing along with  the color challenge over at Fresh Brewed Designs,

What a great group (read easy here) of colors to work with. 

Next I chose one of my favorite FBD digi images, 'Crafty Gal'.  Want to know a secret?

She is coming out in rubber!  This is wonderful!

I know just the crafty gal that this birthday card is going to!

The PJs are paper pieced and the bunny slippers have Crafty Sparkles made by OCL.

They are soooo cute and fuzzy IRL!

The rest of the coloring is with copic markers. 

The border punch is from Martha Stewart.  I put liquid pearls in the flower centers.

The ribbon and buttons are from my stash.  Glossy accents was used in various places.

Inside the card (note the kraft color).........

This wonderful sentiment was designed by JustYolie.

The die cut is one from Spellbinders.

Get out on the web, find a challenge and get crafting!

:)  Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:   (please forgive any entry that is not appropriate for a challenge, it is unintentional)

Fresh Brewed Designs:  Pink, white and kraft (DT card)
Art Impressions:  Pink, pink and more pink
Aud Sentiment:  Any sentiment and you mush use your scraps
DYSU:  Pink (photo inspiration)
DRS designs:  Paper piecing
Charisma Cardz:  Happy Birthday (ring of words around the main sentiment says Happy Birthday)
Sassy Studio Designs:  Let's Celebrate (Birthday card)
My Mum's Craft Shop:  Girls
The Kraft Journal:  A favorite color and Kraft (Using pink alot these days, hmmmm)
There She Goes:  Paper Piecing
The Ribbon Reel Challenge Blog:  Pink,Polka Dots. ribbon (Dots of color for the buttons, marker ends and Liquid pearl dots in the centered of the flowers)
Birthday Sundaes:  Birthday card
 



Fueled by Caffeine

Happy New Years everyone!  Oh, and, I have to say it, GO DUCKS!  Did they not ROCK on New Years Day in the Rose Bowl!  

YEAH!

Ok, onwards.     Playing with the grannie from Fresh Brewed Designs today.  She is so ugly she is cute.  She really needs her caffeine just to get moving in the mornings.  Me, I'm a diet pepsi kind of caffeine person!  It's never to early and it's never to late!  LOL

Can you see the ghosting on the background paper?  No?  Well, here is a different shot to try to show it.

Used versa mark and heat set it for the ghosting.  Outlined the images with a clear Atyou Spica pen for some glitter.

Inside

Granny image:  Fresh Brewed Designs

Coffee cups, beans and inside sentiment:  Our Craft Lounge

Java sentiment:  Unknown

Ribbon: Wide is part of a gift from Heather (Fresh Brewed Designs)

Narrow is from my stash.

Coloring:  Copic markers, Ranger Distress Inks

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders

This card may be entered in the following challenges:  (My apologies if I inadvertently enter any challenges that my project does not apply to)

Sassy Studios:  Use something new (granny digi)

Fab n' Funky:  Something new

Inky Impressions:  Anything Goes

My Mum's Craft Shop:  Something new