Playing with Paper

Everything is Groovy - It's a Really Rad Blog Hop

2012-02-13T01:00:00.000-08:00

Hey! Here's the skinny. Fresh Brewed Designs has been preparing something totally funkadelic. I mean, it is RAD man. I am totally diggin' it and know you will too. First, you have to make sure you aint trippin and are starting at the right pad. Your first stop is at Heather's Coffee Break. If you are getting here from Celeste's blog then you are right on track man!

We have all been so stoked about this hop! The team and our jive guests have created some projects that are out of site! I mean they are totally off the hook bro! So get down and boogie with us.. feel tha funk and get ready for some total SWEETNESS

Now I got to play with this really hip image from Heather.

Add some flowers and some really funky colors and you have a perfectly groovy card.

And, if that wasn't enough.....I played again. The same image, some new funky colors and some tripping swirls all on a gate-fold card to brighten up someones day!

Go inside and the brilliant stripes jump out to get you!

After all, It's All Groovy!

Far Out right?
It is time to take this party to the next stop. Boogie on down to Linda's blog and check out her hip to the groove creations. Be sure to leave a bit of love (a comment) on each hop stop for your chance to win all of the digis released today!

Peace Man! I will catch you on the flip side!

: ) Gale

Here is the WAY COOL hop order:
Heather: http://joemamainks.blogspot.com/
Celeste: http://www.touchedbyabutterfly.com/
Gale: http://galevarland.blogspot.com/
Linda: http://stamperstouch.blogspot.com/
Stacie: http://hestiashelper.blogspot.com/
Rhonda: http://bumblcreate.blogspot.com/
Yolanda: http://www.justyolie.com/
Stacy: http://impressionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/

Kenzie: http://kraftyhugzz.blogspot.com/
Vanessa: http://vanessaspapercreations.blogspot.com/
Sheryl: http://butterflykisscards.blogspot.com/

Recipe:

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs

Coloring: Copic Markerss

Twine: The Twinery

Stash: Cardstock, DP, buttons, brad and ribbon

Sentiment: Hand written and doodling

Die Cut: Spellbinders

Dry Embossing: Cuttlebug Divine Swirls folder

MMM means more Mo Manning!

2012-02-11T17:33:00.000-08:00

Just can't get enough of these adorable images. Although I have shown you a few, I have not shown you the number of each image that I have colored! LOL Good thing for you I think!

This is another one of the child images from Mo's large collection of art.

And guess what, you get to see 2 different versions of coloring! HA!

and inside.......

Version 2, trying for a more male version here.

and inside #2....

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Pink Gem Challenge: Fairies

Send a Smile 4 a Kid: Anything goes for a kid

Alphabet Challenge: A is for animal

Fairy Tale Challenge: Love, love, love (2nd card)

Hot Shot Craft: One for the boys (2nd card)

Charisma Cardz Challenge: Things with Wings

Crafty Ribbons Challenge: One for the boys (2nd card)

MAWTT: Cute Critters

Paper Crafting Journey: Fairies or angels

Crafts and Me: Use a new image

Crafty Creations: Swirly whirly (flourish)

Creative Card Crew: Fantasy Creatures

My Time to Craft: A is for Adorable

Polly Craft Challenge: Chill Out

The Crazy Challenge: Fairies

Truly Madly Crafty Challenge: Ribbon and bling (1st card)

Recipe:

Image: Mo Manning

Main die cuts: Spellbinders

Flourish die cut: Marianne's dies

Coloring: Copic Markers

Stamping: Memento ink and Ranger distress inks

Sentiments: 1st card - unknown, 2nd card Our Craft Lounge

DP: DCWV photo stack

Extras: Atyou gel pen, clear star. CB embossing folder, bubbles. Glossy accents.

Stash: Ribbon, cardstock, charms

: ) Gale

Love you a Latte

2012-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

New challenge over on Fresh Brewed Designs today! It is a photo inspiration.

Doesn't that look just yummy!

It also made for a really easy choice of images from FBD! I had to used the

cupcakes digi called 'Heart Cake' and a new to me digi called 'Coffee talk'. Apparently it is one of Heather's first digi's, don't know how I missed it!

Since she is sitting, I just HAD to make another 'shop front' card. Looks like she is sitting outside the shop window. She is enjoying her caffeine and trying really hard not to order one of those beautiful giant cupcakes! (as I am typing this, I realized how far off my scale is! Or, maybe I just think all cupcakes should be bigger than my head!! LOL)

Coffee talk girl was colored, cut out and placed in front of the store with dimensionals.

Inside is a sentiment, also from FBD.

Love these store front cards. There is a tutorial for making this style card here

on my blog.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs: Photo inspiration

Crafts & Me Challenge: Use a new image (coffee talk girl)

Digi Stamps 4 Joy: Love

Diva's by Design: Love

Fab n' Funky: Love is in the air

My Mums Craft Shop: Love

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Valentine

Digital Tuesday Challenge: Red or pink. (I did both)

TSB Challenge: Valentine

Crafty Boots Challenge: Valentine

CupCake Craft Challenge: Pink and Red

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge: Valentine

iCopic: Hearts and copic markers (Yahoo!)

The Shabby Tea Room: Candy hearts (use food theme and hearts)

Crafting When We Can: Valentine/Love

Dream Valley Challenges: Valentine

Stampin Sisters in Christ: Show some love

One Stitch at a Time: Show some love

Two Sisters Challenge: Red, pink and white

CMC Copic Challenge: Colors of love

Crazy 4 Challenges: Make a scene

Drunken Stampers: Use something new (coffee talk girl image)

Hiding in my Craft Room: Red, pink and white

: ) Gale

Recipe:

Images: Fresh Brewed Designs, Coffee Talk and Heart Cake

Sentiment: Fresh Brewed Designs

Papers: Xpress Blending card, Martha Stewart Valentine holiday pack, Neenah solar white and

DCWV Luxury pack

Ink: Memento, spun sugar (on inside sentiment)

Stash: Ribbon, red card stock

Accessories: Copic Markers, SU work punch, Spellbinders fancy tags, Sakura clear star glitter pen and clear glaze pen. Crystal hearts from Crystal Stickers, Fiskars border punch and half-pearls from Creative Charms.

(Thanks toTammie E. I cased your actual blog to decide how to set up my web pages. )

Love

2012-02-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

While we are all so interested in Valentines and Love, GingerLoft has jumped right into the middle of the bandwagon with their own challenge. It runs for 2 weeks (as usual, LOL).

Whiile you don't have to use a GingerLoft digi to play, why not go check out the store and find the perfect image for this challenge! Tami has great images that are just waiting to be colored.

I am playing with her 'Love postage stamp' today.

and inside.........

The postage stamp was printed out 4 times, each in a different color on X-press paper from copic. The shading is done with copic markers. No real coloring on this one!

The twine is from The Twinery.

The heart button and ribbon is from my stash.

The DP is from a MS holiday pack.

The sentiment is from Create with TLC

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenges: LOVE (DT card)

2 Sisters Challenge: Pink, Red, White

Digi Designs: Valentines

One Stop Craft Challenge: For the one I love

My Sheri Crafts: Love is in the air, must use at least 2 hearts.

Annabelle Stamps: Say it with hearts.

CardmadFairy: Hearts

Crafty Ann's Challenge: Love is in the air

Delicious Doodles: All loved up

Fairy Tale Challenge: Love, love, love

Fussy and Fancy: Polka dots (back DP, red with pink polka dots)

Sweet n' Sassy: Valentines Day (with a digi)

Bling it on: Love

By the Cute and Girly: Love is in the air

Cute Card Thursday: Buttons and Bows

Digi Doodles Shop: Love is in the air

MAWTT: Have a heart

Shelly's Images: All tied up

Love train coming through!

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2012. Can you believe how fast January flew by! LOL

Valentine's day will be here before you know it! We had a great blog hop with Fresh Brewed Designs in mid January. I decided that the love train needed to keep on chugging!

Heather designed this 'Oh so Cute' little train, pulling a wonderful car full of love just for the blog hop. Since this wasn't my image to play with on the hop, I am back today and using it!

I added the great (and quite appropriate) sentiment on the inside.

Die cuts are from Spellbinders. Border punch is Fiskar.

Coloring is copic markers.

Papers and ribbons are from my stash.

Sakura 'clear star' glitter pen on train wheels and tracks.

Go by FBD and join in the new monthly challenge "LOVE".

Also:

With a new month comes a new Special Brew at Fresh Brewed Designs. On Monday, February 6th, our darling little Cutie Pie in Clouds rubber stamp will be on sale for $3.95. If she sells out before the day is over, a new rubber stamp will replace her at that price! Fabulous! There's always something brewing at Fresh Brewed Designs.

Have a great rest of the week!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Cooking it up with Katie: Hearts, punch, emboss

Creative Belli: Valetine/hearts

Little Red Wagon: Valentine/Love
Paper Pretties: Ribbon or Twine
Truly Scrumptious: Love/Valentine

Cotton Candy anyone?

2012-01-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

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!

2012-01-23T22:20:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

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......

2012-01-18T21:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

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 ?!

2012-01-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

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....

2012-01-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

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

Back on line with GingerLoft!

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

It's time for the first challenge of 2012 with GingerLoft Challenges! Wahoo!

Tami decidied to make this one easy.......Anything Goes!!!!

While you are allowed to use any image that you choose, Tami has so many wonderful images in her store, both for sale and freebies! Why not check them out and enter with one of hers!

Isn't this flowering tree just beautiful. It was printed, colored with copics and then I clear embossed it. The page was then sponged with various shades of blue and green Memento inks.

The butterfly is a stamp from Our Craft Lounge (my favorite butterfly ever).

The die cuts are all Spellbinders. The sentiment is from Scrap-a-licious. She has some wonderful sentiments for free, please go by and visit!

The background paper is part of a gift I recieved from my friend Mindy.

The butterfly charm is part of a gift that I recieved from my friend Lynn,

The ribbon is from my stash and the glitter on the butterflies is dazzling diamonds from SU.

Inside the card,,,

Another of those gorgeous butterflies!

Thanks for coming by and PLEASE, leave a comment..........

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges: (please excuse any challenge entry that is inappropriate as it is unintentional)

GingerLoft Challenges: Anything Goes (DT card)
Dream Valley Challenge: Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes: Saturated colors
CES Challenges: Anything Goes
Card Crafters Circle: Make it colorful
Prairie Fairy Fridays: Things with sparkly wings
Crafty Creations: Heat it up with heat embossing
Flutterby Wednesday's: Open, must use a butterfly, angel or fairy

Fueled by Caffeine

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

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

Sweet Friendship

2011-12-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

Playing with the coffee shop digis from Fresh Brewed Designs again. Just love making these store front cards (instructions on tutorial page above). Especially when I have beautiful digis like these that Heather from Fresh Brewed Designs made for me!

This little card is already on the way to it's recipient, hope she likes it! LOL

The coloring is all Copic markers.

The sentiment is from Create with TLC and the ticket is hand cut

The awning is made with SU word window punch.

The daisies are from a piece of ribbon. The half pearls and DP are from my stash.

I love that all the papers used can be from my scrap stash as they are all fairly small!

The little colored flourishes are fussy cut from a piece of a scrap (already colored).

Have a great day!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges: (my apologies if I miss a rule that makes this card inappropriate for any challenge it is entered in)

Fresh Brewed Designs: DT Card
Art Impressions Stamps: Die cut or punches (the awning is made with SU word punch)
Aud Sentiments: Anything goes
Papercraft Star: Coffee or Tea (bag of coffee beans)

Another Hello

2011-12-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

This is my second post today, the 'sister' to my other card. As with the other card, the sketch is based on a challenge over at Our Craft Lounge. The sentiment used is also from Our Craft Lounge.

and the inside......

The beautiful die cuts are all from Spellbinders, Christmas candy! LOL

The fleur-de-leis border is also a Spellbinder.

The flower is pieced together from flowers in my stash. The center of the flower is a pearl brad from Elements. The sentiment is stamped with Ranger distress ink, the sponging around the die cut is also with Ranger distress ink. The dry embossing is with a CB folder.

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges: (my apologies if I have inadvertently entered inappropriately in any challenge)

Our Craft Lounge: Sketch Challenge

Ar tImpressions Stamps: Die Cuts or Punches

Digi Doodle Shop: Anything Goes

JFF: Anything Goes

Rainbow Lady: Your Choice

Outlaw Challenge-Twisted Thursday: Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp: Anything goes

Sending a Hello

2011-12-29T17:44:00.000-08:00

There is an amazing amount of water falling from the sky today! The wind is howling and the sky is dark. This means I get a "no guilt" day in my craft room. I need some 'hello, how are you' type cards so, here is the start! Our Craft Lounge has a sketch challenge going that gave me a starting point.

I couldn't help myself, I had to add the extra butterfly in the right upper corner. The sketch doesn't call for it but, well, they are just to pretty to not use! LOL I even added another on the inside!

The sentiment and butterflies are all stamps from Our Craft Lounge.

The die cuts are Spellbinders. The papers, ribbon and bling are all from my stash.

The butterflies are colored with copics and then they were glittered.

Check out my other post from today for another card based on this sketch.

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges: (my appologies is I unintentionally enter in an inappropriate competition due to missing a rule)

Our Craft Lounge: Sketch Challenge

4 Crafty Chicks: Something new (brand new spellbinders die set)

Art Impressions Stamps: Die cut or punch it out

Aud Sentiments Challenge: Anything Goes

Little Red Wagon: Use something new (brand new Spellbinders die set)

My Mum's Craft Shop: Anything Goes

City Crafter: Fussy Cutting (the butterflies are all fussy cut)

Happy New years!

2011-12-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

This one is for the girls! Happy New Year. You see the pics of the girls sitting in the champagne glass all the time. Well, how about one with a guy! LOL

Yummy! Isn't he, *snicker, snicker*

This is a new digi for me from a new artisit to me, Tom Onkle. Check out his blog HERE.

He has many "interesting" and different digis, often for free. I have really enjoyed playing with them and I have the perfect 'lady' for this card. The countdown sentiment is from Our Craft Lounge.

On the inside,

card and twine to match the front along with a "drink line" and sentiment stamps from Our Craft Lounge, 'Celebrations' stamp set.

Copics for coloring, twine from The Twinery, pearls and DP from my stash. Some glossy accents on the bubbles and a Spellbinders die cut on the front. I used white embossing powder on the sentiments.

I hope that everyone hass a great New Years!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges. (If I have missed a rule that makes my card ineligible, I am sorry and apologize in advance. It was not on purpose):

Cooking it up with Katie: Anything goes

Little Red Wagon: Something new (New Year)

Paper Pretties: Ring in the New Year

The Paper Shelter: Tie a bow

Scrapbook Sisters: Anything Goes

City Crafter: Make the Cut

Party Time Tuesday: Anything Goes

Shopping our Stash: Tie it up

My Grafico: Cocktail hour (oh yeah!)

Paper Creations Ink: Something old (paper), something new (digi)

Paper Sundaes: Celebrate

Sparkles Forum: Anything but a Christmas Card

It's almost Christmas!

2011-12-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

Mailed presents and plan on calling oldest son..........check

Took presents to youngest son who has to work this weekend.........check

Ordered the prime rib to cook for Christmas dinner for DH and I..........check

Presents wrapped and under the tree.............well, they will be tomorrow! LOL

Last Christmas card of the year made.............check!

Don't you love that wonderful "wonky tree"!? Designed by Heather from Fresh Brewed Designs, I have done several cards with this image and just LOVE it!

Added another image, this one from Bugaboo, a sentiment from Dustin Pike, some ribbon and some bling. Bring it all togethers with a scrap of killer DP and a border punch in glitter paper by EK success and TA DA! you have this card. I colored with copics (duh! what else) and used some Glossy Accents on the tree ornaments.

Have a Merry Christmas!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs: Christmas (DT card)

Crafting for all Seasons: Christmas

Digistamps4Joy: Christmas, no animals

Divas By Design: Christmas

Inky Impressions: Christmas Cheer

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Christmas

Little Darlings Challenge: Tis the Season

Friendship's Garden: Winter Holiday

Crimbo Crackers: Snowflakes (check out that snowflake border punch)

Papertake Weekly: Last Christmas card of the year

Top Tip Tuesday: Anything Christmas

Have you been Good?

2011-12-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

Thought Christmas cards were over, yeah right! LOL

Here is another one using the wonderful images and sentiments that Heather over at Fresh Brewed Blog has been putting out all month so far!

and inside......

All images and the sentiment are from Fresh Brewed Designs.

Images are printed on Neenah Solar White.

Coloring with Copic Markers

Die cuts are all Spellbinders.

The DP and ribbon are from my stash (love that DP)!

Glossy accents on the ornaments.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Creative Inspiration Paints: The Holidays

The Squirrel and the Fox: Christmas

Mark's Finest papers: Make a Christmas Card

Dare I say it......Happy New Year!

2011-12-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

Anything but Christmas......Easy Peasy......mainly because I sent out my Christmas cards last week and am ready to move on to something else!

The Crafy Pad has allowed me the treat of being a Guest Designer for the past few weeks and today is my last DT card for them. I have loved playing with their beautiful images.

This week is "Anything but Christmas...."

I used the pocket watch image from The Crafty Pad to represent the passage of time.

I added in some New Years images from Our Craft Lounge.

The watch, ruler and cogs were all printed directly on my card stock. The watch was printed a second time, embossed and glossed and then placed on the card with dimensionals.

The balloons, champagne and glass were all printed seperately, colored, cut out and then placed on the card. The ribbon is from my stash.

This card may be enteren in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad: Anything but Christmas! (GDT card)

CES Challenge: Party, party, party

Card Crafters Circle: Celebration

Alota Rubber Stamps: It's all about the Numbers

Crafters Companion: New Beginnings

Just Tracy's Crafts: Celebration

Baby, Oh baby

2011-12-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

I was going to do this wonderful post last night after coming home from our annual fire department Christmas dinner and party. Yeah, well, that obvioiusly didn't work. I definitely have just a bit of a "cold and a runny nose" this am! I decided (ha!) for the better part of valor last night (actually really early this morning) that I did not need a BUI (blogging under the influence) and went to bed instead.

It is bright and early (damn fire pager of DH went off at 0515 this am) and here I am, doing my second post for my guest DT spot for The Crafty Pad. This weeks challenge is to 'Send someone a smile', No Christmas allowed!

I just happen to have a couple of people at work that are having baby's so I decided to play with on of the baby sets from The Crafty Pad.

The card fits a standard 5.75 by 4.5 envelope, I just fussy cut on the right side of the bottle. The flowers along either edge of a CB embossing strip that is rubbed with ink after dry embossing. I put a little dab of liquid pearls at each center. The flowers on the bottle are heat embossed with Ranger white detail embossing powder. The flower image is from an Our Craft Lounge set.

The coloring is all copics. This actually worked on this card with one layer because I wanted the ink to bleed through so that I could continue coloring the other side so that you see the bottle when the card is open also!

I took my black copic multi-liner and traced the image of the bottle and colored some more.

The footprints were printed and colored, punched out and then heat n' stik and glitter were used to make a medallion. The pacifier (dummy) was colored, cut out and hung off a piece of pink baking twine (The Twinery) from the medallion. The would congratualations was stamped all over the part of the inside covered by the bottle (when the card is closed). It is a stamp from Our Craft Lounge.

I added a handwritten 'It's a girl' and the card was done!

Go by The Crafty Pad and check out the gorgeous creations done by the "real" DT, play along with the challenge and then visit the store and maybe even pick up a stamp of two!

:) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad: Make someone smile

Crafty Catz Weekly: Anything goes

Totally PaperCrafts: Anything but Christmas

Cute Card Thursday: Anything goes

White on white

2011-12-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

Cruising around blog world today (while watching football!). It is amazing the amount of talent and creativity that is out there for everyone to see and share in.

While trying to pretend that I DON'T have a cold coming on, I saw there were a couple of challenges out there for 'white on white', 'Christmas', 'Holidays', etc. You get the idea, there are alot of challenges out there!! LOL I decided to give another go at the 'White on White' challenge (which also happens to fit with alot of others at the same time! Ha!)

and inside.....

It is really quite pretty and sparkly in person. All that white is just a little blinding! LOL You should see the first pic I did with it against my normal white background. WOW

Much easier to look at on this darker one.

Image: GingerLoft Designs - Winter Tree

Sentiment: SU stamp

Dry embossing: Spellbinder snowflake stencil (first time using one, not to sure yet, hmmm)

Window die cut: Spellbinder

Snowflake dies: Sizzix

Flourish dies: Die-namics (finer flourishes) and Mariannes (bolder flourish)

Glitter: OCL 'sugar' glitter

Brads and ribbon from my stash.

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Come and Get it Challenge: Anything Christmas

Dream Valley Challenge: Sparkle

Pan Pastel UK Challenge: The great outdoors

The Hybrid Chick: Make it Sparkle

The Ribbon Girl: Jingle all the way to Christmas

Craft Your Days Away: Buttons or Bows

Crafty Hazelnus's Christmas: Mainly Monochromatic (can't get much more monochromatic!)

Designed 2 Delight: Let it Snow

Di's Digi Designs: All White except the image

Drunken Stamper: Monochromatic

One Stop Craft Challenge: Let it Snow

Simply Stampin' Challenge: Snowflake Sparkle

FairyTale Challenge: Christmas

Fun with Shapes and More: Cold as Ice

Pattie's Creations: Christmas

Simply Create Too: All about Christmas

Totally PaperCrafts: Let it Snow

Bling it On: It's Christmas!

Creatalicious Challenge: Christmas and make sure it Sparkles!

Guess What!!!!

2011-12-04T01:09:00.000-08:00

I have been excitedly waiting for today to come! I have been invited to be a guest designer for the month of December over at The Crafty Pad !

I will be doing projects or cards for Dec. 4, 11 and 18 using some of the wonderful images that can be found in the store of The Crafty Pad.

This weeks challenge is "Give it a Punch". The DT were all given a wonderful image to do our project with. It is called 'Rudolph and Robin'. You need to use at least 3 punched items on your creation!

Here is my gift card holder. I could go in an envelope but I made this on to hang by a loop of ribbon in the Christmas tree.

Rudolph & Robin (see him sitting on the antler) by The Crafty Pad

Pattern by The Waltzing Mouse specific post to stocking HERE

I added the snaps to make the sides more sturdy when putting the gift card in and out.

Coloring: Copic Markers

Dry Embossing: CB embossing folder

Glitter: OCL 'snow' glitter

Punches: MS snowflake

MS holly leaf

Whimsey dies ticket die

Micheals snowflake punch (the little flakes)

The papers, ribbon and bling are all from my stash!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Come and Get It Challenges: Anything Christmas

Getting Cricky: Joys of the Season, make a decoration (mine hangs on tree)

Scrappy Frogs Challenge: Use kraft cardstock

Two Sisters Challenge: Punches and/or dies

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: Dry or Heat Embossing

Little Claire's Designs: Shaped

Crafty Catz: Colours of Christmas with sparkle

Delicious Doodles: Hairy Legs

Miami Doodles: Make it Shine with glitter

Polka Doodles: Secret element Christimas project (Pouch for gift card)

Feelin' Frosty

2011-12-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

Feelin' Frosty! What a wonderful sentiment and it goes perfectly with this Bugaboo image!

Image: Ruby Christmas Tree by Bugaboo Stamps

Sentiment: Feelin Frosty by Dustin Pike

Embossing: CB embossing folder

Coloring: Copic Markers

DP: Pine needles is DCWV, Green diamond tuck is a leftover from my stash.

I still don't know who designed the ticket (But I love it!)

Everything else used is from my stash.

Check out that cool glitter paper used for the snowflakes!

I hope everyone is having a 'Frosty' December!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Catch the Bug: Anything Goes

Craft Your Days Away: Buttons or Bows

So Artful Challenges: Picture inspiration (colors red and green, (loosely) having a drink)

SSDS Challenge: Holiday Card

Clearly iStamp: Christmas Card

Pattie's Creations: Christmas (digi image)

The Poodles Parlor: Christmas

Bling it On: Christmas

Through the Craft Room Door: Happy Holidays

Colour Create Challenge: Red, green and white

Sarah Hurley Challenges: Christmas

The Paper Shelter: Anything Goes

Craft your Passion: Tis the Season

Building a snowman

2011-12-03T16:37:00.000-08:00

Building a snowman is definitely childs play. I remember how cold I would get and still not care. I am definitely too old to be wanting to get out in the snow like that now!

I can, however, make a card about it and thoroughly enjoy it! LOL

The images and the sentiment are all from Fresh Brewed Designs

The coloring is copic markers

The snowflake is a MS punch.

Glossy accents on the ornaments

Sentiment is on a Spellbinder die cut banner

The papers and ribbon are from my stash.

I printed the trees in green ink on my printer (I love that I can change the color that I print the digi in, makes it much easier to color). The kids with the snowman were printed and colored several times. Then, I cut them out and pieced them together for added dimension.

The snow banks (hard to see) that the trees sit on are made with a torn piece of paper and some sky blue Memento ink.

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Send a Smile for Kids: Winter fun for Kids

SSDS: Holiday Card

Card Mad Fairy: Winter Wonderland (with a digi)

Fun with Shapes and More: Cold as Ice (must include a punch or die)

Jingle Bells Rock: Christmas

Tando Creative Challenge: Winter Festival

Through the Craft Room Door: Happy Holidays

Aud Sentiments: Any winter holiday sentiment

Christmas Door

2011-11-28T20:32:00.000-08:00

Wow. Occassionally I am really lame. The new challenge posted over at GingerLoft Challenges and I completely forgot to post over here on my blog. So sorry, Tami!

The challenge is 'Christmas and/or Winter". This will be the last challenge until we come back on January 7, 2012. What a wonderful break for the holiday season! This also means that you have the entire month of December to enter the contest. Check out the store, buy a digi or even find a freebie and join on in!

This uses the images "teddy bear" and "Christmas door" by Gingerloft Challenges.
This is another classic image with beautiful shading to the digi. Really requires very little coloring and some glitter for the snow. (Almost as good as my favorite digi "Winter Tree")
The DP is DCWV photo stack
Coloring with Copic Markers
Snowflake die is Sizzix
The tag is ________
Ribbon, brad, glitter are from my stash.

Another version of this card (not nearly as good, I think).

Same info. Add border punch by EK Success

Liquid pearls in the corners

I don't know where this sentiment came from. Feel free to comment and let me know if you do!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenges: Christmas and/or Winter

Craft Your Passion: Winter

Daisy Doodles: Christmas

Paper Creations Ink: Christmas

Fairy Tale Challenge: Christmas

Patties Creations: Christmas

TOtally PaperCrafts: Christmas

Call the one you Love

2011-11-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

Fresh Brewed Designs is having a super sale and I hav been playing with one of the images that you can get from the FBD store,

This is a quick 10 minute production!

I paper pieced the old phone image and CB embossed the white area. The border is a Spellbinder edger. The sentument is hand written, The ribbon, twine and button are from my stash.

Mememto ink sponging around the sentiment and on the little punched out hearts above the phone.

And, don't forget........

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!!
CUTIE PIE RUBBER STAMPS 50% off
CHRISTMAS DIGITAL STAMPS 50% off
SALE FROM 11AM until 8PM EST
ALL ORDERS OVER $25 will get a $5 coupon code for CYBER MONDAY!
ALL ORDERS OVER $40 will receive a $10 coupon for CYBER MONDAY!
(coupon only to be used on November 28)

here is a peek at what is on sale for Monday:

Have a great weekend!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: V is for Vibrant

Card Makin' Mamas: Sentiment on front of card

Christmas store front

2011-11-21T19:04:00.000-08:00

Still playing with these 'store front' cards. Beyond the Fringe has made even more images

to put into the store front card that I scrap lifted from them. (see their site or my tutorial for how-to).

They have added Christmas ornaments and a toy shop window as freebies on their site.

Today I played with the Christmas ornaments and made my own Christmas Shoppe!

Image: Beyond the Fringe

Coloring: Copics (not so easy on these little tiny items!)

Punches: SU Word window, EK Success border punch

Bling, paper, ribbon: more stuff gone from the scrap stash!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe Crafts: Christmas with pearls

Forever Friends Challenges: Christmas - must include an animal (penguin ornament)

Paper Creations Ink: Christmas

Polly Craft Challenges: Christmas fun

Truly Madly Crafty Challenges: Photo inspiration

The Crafty Pad: Traditional Christmas colors - Red and green and gold or silver

JUGS #111: Color challenge - Red, green and white

Glitter Geeks: Christmas shopping (what better than a Christmas ornament store!)

Digi Doodle Shop Challenge: Red and green

Anything Christmas.........so easy!

2011-11-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

Browsing around the web, looking for an easy challenge. What do I find but

Dustin Pike and the Pike's Playground challenge to make "Anything Christmas" (you do have to use a DoodleDragon image) Easy as pie. Especially if you have been getting all the monthly kits from Dustin for the last year! I just pulled out one of his snowmen (I cheated, it's even pre colored)

and added a some paper and a few embellishments and TA DA! I have a whole set of cards!

I even made some decorated envelopes to go with the set!

Here is a single view.

(Sorry the color isn't bright, pouring here all day and really grey out!)

Some ribbon, stickles, a button in the corner and the card is all done.

The border punch on the envelopes is from EK Success.

The DP and the edge mask are both digis.

(OMG - No Copics!)

This card set may be entered in the following challenges:

Pike's Playground Challenge: Anything Christmas with a DoodleDragon Image

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge: Christimas

Paper, Creations, Ink; Christmas

Polly Craft Challenge: Christmas Fun

My Memories scrapbooking software blog candy

2011-11-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Kym from 'Kym's Crafty Cards'! Here is what Kym had to say:

Gale, you have made some gorgeous layouts. I would love to be in with a chance of winning this software as I would use it for scrapbooking but also for my cards that I make solely to sell to raise funds for different charities. Oh my goodness me where do you start to pick a favourite? My mum sadly died suddenly four months ago and I have bought a scrapbook album as we all went away together four weeks prior to her death - certainly not knowing what would happen four weeks later - and as we went to Skegness here in the UK it would have to be a seaside kit so I have gone for "Sunkissed Shores" as the colours, embellishments

She is the winner of the FREE copy of
My Memories Suite 2 software! I will be contacting you by email with the code to download your copy.
Even if you didn't win, you can still use my code and get $10 off the download price. You will also get a coupon for $10 off on a purchase of scrapbook kits on the My Memories site!

This post will stay at the top of my blog through the 20th
So, don't know if you noticed the graphic in the top right of my blog. It is for a $10 discount for

My Memories scrapbooking software. I was approached (by email) about using the software and then holding a giveaway for a free copy and a coupon for everyone else. The coupon drops the cost to$ 29.95. The code to enter for your discount is STMMMS30631

Wow. Had no idea how many people there are out there that do digital scrapbooking (yes you can print or have your albums printed)! I was also quite impressed with all the things that the My Memories v2 was capable of doing. The web page was easy to navigate and the vidoes really iced the cake. After reading and then watching 2 videos, I made an album of my son's visit to Oregon in January. 'Yes', the pics are still on my computer,' no' I haven't done anything else with them and 'no' I haven't even looked at them since either March or April!

Here are some shots of what I did after about 20 minutes of research on the use of the program.

This is all digital, elements included! Isn't it cool. These are very simple layouts. There are an amazing number of elements you can add if that is how you scrap! Or, if CAS is your style, you can use a simple DP and just your photos. It is all up to you!

Goodness knows when I might have actually done something with these photos! You can also make IPod videos, DVD's, cards, put narrative and musical sound to your albums, make card fronts, etc. I think it just depends on what you can dream up!

Next I decided to try and make a card. I used a digi image from Dustin Pike that came in both

line drawing and in color. I used that image rather than a photo. I then used digital elements

to finish off the card.

I added some Glossy Accents on the "brads" and "button".

Their are stickles on the snowman and around the trees. The card was printed

at 3 3/4 inches square. It will be mounted on a 4x4 card. Add a piece of ribbon and

a Christmas sentiment inside, one Christmas card done!

All of the papers and elements used in the scrap album and on this card either came with the

My Memories Suite 2 program or were freebies on the web!

Now, for the prize. One commenter on this post will win a free download of the

My Memories suite 2 program from Polaroid! All you have to do to win is go to the

My Memories website, look around, then come back here and leave me a comment telling

me what your favorite scrapbook kit on the site is. You MUST leave your comment on this

post by midnight PST on November 20, 2011. I will randomly draw the winner on Nov. 21

for the free download!

If you can’t wait to win and would like get started right away.....

As a special for all of my readers, my code will provide you a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

My code for this discount is STMMMS30631. Jump on in and give digital scrapping a go!

This scrapbook may be entered in the following challenges:

Cookin' it up with Katie: Anything but a card (scrapbook)

Friday Store Fronts

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Did you notice the new tab for 'Tutorials" just under my blog header? Well, the first tutorial is posted in there and todays post is showing some cards made using this information.

I am really loving these store fronts and based on how fast my wonderful fellow nurses at work are buying them from me, I think they are pretty popular with them also!

I mentioned these 'store fronts' to Heather over at Fresh Brewed Designs and the very next day she emails me with the most wonderful coffee shop digis! Now who could ask for a better friend than that! LOL

I couldn't wait to play with them and had a card done just a few hours later.

Well, what do you think? How about that jar of chocolate covered spoons? Or the bag of coffee beans! I just love them all!

Images: FBD

Coloring: Copics

Sentiment: Our Craft Lounge

Die cuts: Spellbinders, CC designs, SU word window

Everything else from my stash.

Then I got to thinking about the cake digis that Heather released last week. Wouldn't they make a great bake shop (Great sweetest person birthday card)!

Don't these make for a wonderful bake shop! Really fun to color also!

Images: FBD

Coloring: Copic markers

Sentiment: Beyond the Fringe

Die Cuts: Spellbinders, Memory Box, SU word window

All papers and bling: scraps from my stash

Finally, I got to thinking about all the digis that Heather has done that include coffee, tea or little cupcakes. There are alot of them! Using my crop tool, I was able to pick out the pieces that I wanted to use and TaDa! I had another store front, all ready to go!

Even the sentiment is pieces of 2 of Heathers winter sentiments, pieced together! LOL

Images: FBD

Sentiment: FBD

Die cuts: Fiskars border punch, SU word window

Ribbon, flowers and bling from the stash.

All papers are scraps from the stash.

I am loving these cards and hope that you enjoy them also!

One or all of these cards may be entered in the following challenges:

Paper Play Challenges: Shaped cards (hope with fits with the awning)

Southern Girls Challenge: BINGO (die cuts , gems, ribbon)

The Anything Challenge: It's a real sweetie (food related)

Papertake Weekly: When is a card not a card but a________ (storefront)(My coffe shop has a Starbucks card to go with it)

Daisy Doodles: Anything goes with a digi

Hooked on Craft: Something punched

Winter tree, yet again!

2011-11-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

I have repeatedly said how much I love this image.....Winter Tree by Tami from GingerLoft Designs has to be one of my favorite images to work with of all time.

This is my 3rd Christmas using it and is still my most requested card! It has great shading which makes is quick and easy to color, add some glitter and Ta-Da!

Today I added some lace at the bottom of the card so that I would fit in with the new challenge at GingerLoft - "Fabric, felt or lace"

Isn't this beautiful! I know, I know, I say that every time that I use this image, but, well, Isn't it? LOL

Image: Winter Tree, GingerLoft Designs

Coloring: Copic Markers, Memento ink

Window die cut: Spellbinder

Flourish Die Cut: Vintage Flourish, MFT die-namics

Snowflakes dies cuts: Sizzix winter flurry (SU)

Tag: Scribbles by Sandy

Glitter paper: SU

Glitter: Sugar from Our Craft Lounge

Embossing folder: Swiss dots, CuttleBug

Pearls: Liquid pearls in opal

Brads and Lace: stash

Remember to enter to win a free copy of My Memories suite 2 by Polaroid!

The drawing is on November 21. You can read about it HERE

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenges: Fabric, felt or lace (DT card)

Paper Sundaes: Use digi image

Ellephantastic Challenge: Weather related

Do it with digis challenge: Texture

Crafty Catz Weekly challenge: Use a digi

Floweret: Christmas card

Miami Doodles: Christmas card

Polka Doodles: Swirls and Pearls

Inky Impressions: Glitter it up

Give Thanks to a Veteran today!

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

First things first, PLEASE REMEMBER TO THANK A VETERAN TODAY!

They gave their all so that we could have our 'all'.

I am continuing on my journey of making Christmas cards. Seems like every time I make some, they disappear into someone else's stash at work! LOL At this rate I am going to have to buy the ones that I send out!

Today I worked with a couple of new releases from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs.

This first image is called 'Holiday Candles'. It is a very classic image for Christmas. I think it makes a very elegant card.

Image: Holiday Candles from Fresh Brewed Designs

Coloring: Copic Markers

DP: DCWV photo stack

Ribbon: SU (new ribbon in the just released holiday book)

Flourish: My Favorite Things die cut with glitter paper

Shine: Glossy Accents on the flames and berries

My second card was using the FBD image 'Wonky Tree' as a background element.

Tree image: 'Wonky Tree' Fresh Brewed Designs

Snowman image: 'Snowman with Holly' Beccys Place (amazing amount of free digi's on this site)!

Snowflakes: SU glitter paper, Sizzix die

Coloring: Copic Markers

Tag: sorry don't know

Shine: Glossy Accents on ornaments, buttons and berries

DP, brad and ribbon: from my stash

This art may be entered in the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers: Make it sparkle

Delightful Challenges: Snowflakes (snowman card)

Sarah Hurley Challenges: Use more than 2 images (snowman, tree, tickets)

Party Time Tuesdays: Bling it on

Sweet Stamps Blog: Red, green and gold (Candle card)

There She Goes: Holiday projects

I Did it Creations: Christmas

Something different

2011-11-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

Wondering around the web and found this quirky site called 'Beyond the Fringe' . Talk about some awesome art.......really unusual things. One of the projects that was shown was a card made to look like a bakery, awning and all ! I love it!

There is a wonderful YouTube video by Diana Gibbs that shows how to make this card in detail.

Beyond the Fringe has the bakery items digi as a freebie and now has a pet store digi that can also be used in the store front. Even better, every piece of paper on this project is from my scrap bin!

Card design: Diana Gibbs

Bakery Image: Beyond the Fringe

Sentiment: Beyond the Fringe

Red card stock: Bazille swiss dots

DP, ribbon and button: from my stash

Cupcake sticker inside: Jolee's

Punches: EK success large scallop

SU word window

Bling: Glossy Accents, Sugar glitter from Our Craft Lounge

Check out my picture/instruction step by step tutorial HERE

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.: Cute

Chrisma Cards Challenge: Cutesy Card

Digital Tuesday Challenge: Anything goes with a digi

Use it Tuesday: Cooking (all papers are bits and pieces left over)

Daisy Doodles: Anything goes with a digi

Heart Song Inspirations: Anything your heart desires

Shelly's Images: What's on the inside?

Winter penguins

2011-11-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming and I am working on my cards, one at a time! LOL

I love these cute little penguins, all wrapped up for the winter weather!

These cuties are from Our Craft Lounge.

They are colored with copic markers.

There is crafty sparkles on the scarf and rim of the hat.

The cirle and snow die cuts are done with Spellbinders.
The embossing is a CB folder 'Swiss Dots'

I don't know who designed the ticket.

The ribbon, bling and DP is from my stash.

One more Christmas card down, ........hmmm....how many to go!

Don't forget to go to THIS PAGE and enter to win the free software for the 'My Memories' scrapbook program. What a great way to finally do something with all those photos on your computer!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine Challenges: One for the Boyz
Stamps & Fun = Creativity: Winter

I love you a latte!

2011-11-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

I love you a latte! Doesn't that just mean so much. Especially to this caffeine rich, latte, mocha, espresso drinking world! LOL

When I saw the cute freebie image over at Fresh Brewed Designs for MMM (that's Mocha Manic Monday in Heather speak!), I knew I had to add their love you a latte sentiment onto the little coffee cup!

This is a little 4 x 4 note card with matching envelope (how to posted on SCS).

I think the pie is supposed to be pumpkin but I like apple so the little lines in the filling were drawn in with my copics (so don't blame Heather if you think it looks hokey!)

The die cuts are Spellbinders.

The ribbon, buttons and paper are from my stash.

Coloring is all copic markers.

The coffee cup is coated in Glossy Accents.

Head over to FBD pretty quick, the image goes away after today, and pick of this great digi!

Don't forget to visit THIS POST if you want to want to enter to win some free scrapbook software from 'My Memories' made by Polaroid. You have until Nov. 20 to enter!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion: Anything goes plus brown

Daisy Doodles: Anything goes with a digi

My Partner in Crafting Crime: Use a freebie

2 Sisters Challenge: Use ribbon

Digi design Challenge: Ribbon and Bow

My Memories scrapbook software

2011-11-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for the chance to win the My Memories scrapbook software from polaroid, click here

: ) Gale

Christmas cards coming....

2011-11-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

Working on some more Christmas cards for my stash. No where near enough cards done yet but I am working on it! LOL.

Rained most of the day here in beautiful, green, WET Oregon. No work today either! That means time in the craft room!

My first card is a new image from Fresh Brewed Designs. Heather just did a new release of winter images. Quite cute!

This image is called "My Snowman".

Colored in copic markers

Glittered with Sugar crystals from Our Craft Lounge

The die cuts are Spellbinders

The ribbon and brad are from my stash.

The DP paper is a gift from my friend Mindy (she let me raid her amazing stash of DP last night and I got to have whatever tickled me! Too Cool!)

Some Glossy accents and the card was all done.

My second card all to has artwork from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs.

This has 2 FBD images on it! First there is 'Christmas Room'

Second image is "Kiss Me - Santa Baby"

Kiss me was colored, fussy cut-out and placed in the room on dimensionals

Coloring was again copic markers

The die cuts are Spellbinders (isn't that border too cool!)

Glossy accents on the ornaments

Sparkly Fluff from Our Craft Lounge on the trim of her hat and dress.

Liquid pearls for decoration.

Striped DP is from my stash.

Don't forget to stop by THIS POST on my blog for a chance to win some awesome

scrapbooking software from me and 'My Memories'!

Cards may be entered in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: Die Cuts (red card entered)

By the Cute and Girly: Christmas girls (Both cards)

Card & Scrap: Christmas

Cupcake Craftroom: Sweet Christmas (red card)

Really Reasonable Ribbon: Christmas (red card)

BINGO anyone?

2011-10-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

The GingerLoft Challenge blog is starting it's newest challenge! It's BINGO!

These are your choices. Draw a BINGO line through three and get to creating.

Once again, I have used my favorite GingerLoft image. The 'winter tree' is so easy and quick to work with. Tami did an outstanding job of shading the digi so that a little color goes a long ways!

To fit the challenge I used a GingerLoft image (duh!), I dry embossed the background and used ribbon. The choices on the BINGO card make this an easy challenge to join!

On the inside of the card:

Image: Winter Tree, GingerLoft Designs

Sentiment: Our Craft Lounge

All die cuts: Spellbinders

Coloring: Copic markers

Glitter: Our Craft Lounge

Stick pin: Handmade

Ribbon, buttons and brad: from my stash

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenge: BINGO (DT card)

A Gem of a Challenge: Cold and Frosty

Little Claires Designs: Christmas

SSDS: Monochromatic

Wee Memories: Brads, buttons or bows (I used all three)

Bah! Humbug!: Use those die cuts

Card Makin' Mamas: Use your die cuts

Crafty Purple Frog: Sparkle

Crafty Ribbon Challenge: BINGO (glitter, button, handmade embellishment)

Crimbo-Crackers: Anything goes - must be Christmas

OMG! Scrapbook layouts ahead!

2011-10-28T02:00:00.000-07:00

I have been playing with a new program. A new digital scrapbooking program. A totally new thing for me to be doing. I have only done conventional scrapbooking in the past. Now I have a new toy to play with!

Even better, I will be having a giveaway on my blog. It will start next week and the winner will recieve a free copy of the digital scrapbooking program "My Memories Suite" v2 by polaroid.

Here are a couple of layouts that I created using 'My Memories Suite', some word art from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs and some freebie scrapbooking downloads (see end of post for list).

The first LO has a picture of my oldest son and his SO. They flew to Oregon in Jan. of 2010 for his dad's 50th birthday. This beach picture is so romantic to me. Heather's word art fits the LO perfectly.

This second LO is my niece Bethany and her son Brayden. They are so cute in this photo!

Once again, the 'Warms my Heart' sentiment fits in perfectly. All those wonderful sentiments that I have on my computer, and now they can go on my scrapbook layouts also!

The papers and elements on my layout are all from the My Memories Suite program (they were many preloaded things to play with). The remaining papers and elements came from

RDickson and were listed in the following groups:

Chill, Brisk, Sea Swept and Winter Blues.

I also used the scrapbook sets Heart & Soul and Beach Day (sorry I don't know the artists).

This art may be entered in the following challenges:

Crafts & Me: Winter blues (card 2)

Creative Card Crew: Romantic (card 1)

Scrap Creations: Do it digital (both)

Lollipop Crafts: At least 3 embellishments

Christmas cards are started!

2011-10-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

Time to really get going on the Christmas cards. I wish I could do like my friend Shawn and make 75 of the same cards! Just can't do it. Too many images out there waiting to be inked and colored. Who could pick just one! LOL

Both cards today a done with the same image. This is one of my favorite images from GingerLoft Challenges. I used it for several cards last year and think I will be using it alot this year. (Just have to remember who got that one last year! HA!)

This is a very quick image to work with because Tami has already put most of the shading in. It you can do sky and snow, this image colors in about 5-10 minutes.

Gotta love that!

Contrast is fairly high here but I wanted you to be able to see all the sparkle!

It's amazing how different the items and colors around the image can make a card look!

The main window and frame die cuts are Spellbinders

The flourish is a Marianne's die cut

The snow flakes are Spellbindes and Sizzlets

The glitter is Crafty Sparkles in "sugar" from Our Craft Lounge.

The pins are made with beads from my stash.

The embossing is a CB embossing folder.

The ribbon is from my stash.

All white paper is Neenah solar white or X-press blend it paper.

On another note, I am sending a big thank-you to my friend Lynn of Lynn's Designer Creations (from Australia) for the wonderful watermark/stamp that she made me to put on the back of my creations! It is just beautiful. I can make it any size/color that I choose. I can print right on the back of a card or punch them out and put them on the backs. When I figure it out, I can use it as a watermark on my posted cards also. How cool is that!

Thanks again Lynn, it really is beautiful!

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Christmas Inspirations: Must be Christmas-die cuts (ton of them here :)

One Stitch at a Time: Emboss it

PanPastel Challenge: Glitter and Glitz

Ribbon Girls: Lilac and green

Totally Gorjuss: Pastel Christmas

Christmas Stampin': Spar-ka-ly

Phindy's Place: Blue Christmas

Meet Geoffry Giraffe

2011-10-21T02:24:00.000-07:00

No idea where the name came from.......he just looks like a Geoffry! (just got a note on the FBD blog page that this is the name of the Toys R Us giraffe. My kids are in their 20's, completely forgot about Toys R Us years ago! LOL)

This is another new fold for me also. ( Sorry, can't remember where I got it from but will edit this when I find it! )

Isn't he just too adorable. Wanted something using the colors from the Fresh Brewed Designs color challenge "Black, Orange and Purple" but didn't want to do any more halloween. So..Geoffry is what I came up with. Nothing like a 'different' color scheme to stir up an image!

The little 'doors' are dry embossed with a CB embossing folder and the band is just purple card stock cut out with a MS punch. The buttons and twine are from my stash.

Open the little doors and.......

There is Geoffry in all his glory. Love his purple spots!

The border punch is Fiskars, the flourish is a Marianne's die and the image is mounted on a Spellbinder's die. The flowers are from a prize package and the centers are glittered brads from my stash. The scarf and hat are colored and then sparkley fluff was added on top.

Lift up the flap that Geoffry is on and you have a nice place to write on the card and another Spellbinder's die cut with the sentiment on it. There is another flourish under the sentiment, can't see it in this pic.....no idea......hmmm......

Sentiment is perfect for a giraffe with purple spots and wearing a hat and scarf.

Oh, and lets not forget the pretty orange leg warmers! How 70's are they! LOL

Image and sentiment are both from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs

Coloring is with copic markers.

Sponging is done with memento inks.

: ) Gale

This card may be entered into the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs: Black, Orange and Purple (DT card)

Charisma Cardz: Embossing-heat or dry (I used both)

Forever Friends: Anything goes, must use an animal

Papertake Weekly: Spooky Hues-use halloween colors

Sweet Stamps Blog: Lots of layers

Tuesday Throwdown: Shaped cards

Top Tip Tuesday: Layer it up

KB Cute Monday: Anything goes

Tent fold card for fall

2011-10-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Browsing around in blog land and found this site, Crafticious. Hasn't had any posts in quite a while but browsing through the older posts, I found the instructions for a tent card. I followed her general instructions using the measurements that fit for the card I wanted to make!

The images and the sentiment is from an Our Craft Lounge stamp set.

The card base is made of kraft cardstock. The images and sentiments are stamped with Memento cocoa brown ink on Neenah Solar white cardstock. The coloring of the images is with copics. The sky is watercolored with distress inks and the edges sponged with antique linen distress ink.

The DP is another page from a DCWV photo stack. The ribbon is from my stash.

This card folds up flat on itself but if a little on the thick side with all the layers :)

:) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.: fall/autumn

CCEE stampers: fall/autumn

The Paper Shelter: harvest

City Crafter: harvest

Stampin Sisters in Christ: 2 of everything (used 2 images, 2 sentiments, 2 ribbons and 2 embellis)

Sentimental Sundays: fancy fold

Save a horse.....

2011-10-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

My friend Jodie has so much going on. She is in her second year as a nursing student, her son just got married and she just turned 40 beautiful years old. She also happens to be married to a nice guy that wears a cowboy hat, rides a horse and makes her very happy.

I don't have any real reason to give her this card except that she was the one that I thought of when I saw this digi stamp over at Nana Vic's on Crafters Digital Art Center. What better reason to make it!

and inside

close-up of the boots

The main image is from Nana Vic

Hat and boots from Digi Doodle. (This is actually a digi stamp of a baby standing in the boots and wearing the hat. I just cut them out, colored and put them on the card.)

The fence is a PTI die, embossed in a wood-look CB folder.

The DP is from DCWV photo stack.

The bling is from Recollections.

The waxed twine from my stash.

The card base is kraft cardstock.

Scor-pal used for score lines at bottom edge of card.

Thanks for visiting, would love for you to leave a comment!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Lia Stamps: 2 stamps or digis

Marianne's Design Diva: Dying for die cuts

Mo's Digital Challenge: Inspired by a song (Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy by Big&Rich)

Paper and Such: Muted autumn colors

My Mum's Craft Shop: Remind me of a song (Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy by Big&Rich)

Little Darling's Challenge: Use your scor-pal or scor-buddy

Just Some Lines: Remind me of a song (Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy by Big&Rich)

Fall colors

2011-10-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well, the deer is cut and wrapped! (except for the backstrap and one pack of steaks, really good!

DH is still going out with his hunting buddy (he hasn't got his deer yet) so once again I get to play all weekend long! Good for me, not so great for any housework, laundry, etc. LOL

Today I am posting a card using the image "Fall Collage" by GingerLoft Designs.

This is a beautiful and versatile image. I love the faces on the leaves!

I tinkered with the image in Word and printed the image in that rusty orange color instead of black. I printed it twice so that I could cut out the second set of leaves and the second clock. They are colored and then put on the image with pop-dots.

The matting is black cardstock cut with a spellbinder. There is clear fiber around the picture, between the image and the mat. The streaks of rain and the drops have Glossy Accents on them. The leaves and ribbon are from my stash. The leaves were green wo I played with my copic markers until they looked like fall instead of spring! Once again I have used this wonderful DP from DCWV. If you haven't used one of their Photo Stacks, you really don't know what you are missing!

The card is 4 X 4.

:) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenges: Fall or halloween (DT card)

Card Cupids: Color orange

Paper Sundaes: Fall

RRR: Fall, must use ribbon

CES Challenge Blog: Forever Autumn

SSDS Challenge: Falling for you...anything with leaves

Fussy and Fancy: Fall or halloween

Crop Stop: Falling Leaves

Rainbow Lady's Challenge: Falling Leaves

Delightful Challenges: Colours of Fall

So I lied, one more halloween project!

2011-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I have a surprise, IT's NOT THURSDAY! TaDa!

Unfortunately, I thought it was and was late posting to FBD for my Friday post this morning, (sorry Heather).

I worked a different schedule and apparently that is all it takes to mess up my poor mind! LOL

I did one more treat box for halloween as I figured I was one short for my special trick or treaters!

Isn't it just too cute. Love that image.

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs (Dr. Corn, mad scientist and scared jack o lantern)

Sentiment: No idea, sorry

Coloring: Copic markers

DP and ribbon from my stash

Gable box pattern from Split Coast Stampers resource section :)

Sorry the post is so short but we are cutting and wrapping our deer today and they are waiting on me!

:) Gale

This project may be entered in the following challenges:

C.R.A.F.T.: One ribbon, two shapes, add some glitter

PaperCrafting Journey: Black, orange and white

Sarah Hurley Challenges: Halloween

Southern Girls Challenge: For a boy or man (This one is for Grant!)

More than Favors: Treat bag or Box

Whimsical Wednesdays: Treat bag or box

Clear it Out Challenge: Halloween, use up some old stuff!

Creative Card Challenge: Spooky Fun

My Time to Craft: Halloween

Getting a new post up pronto!

2011-10-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

This post is just to get another post up quickly so that my 'front' post isn't one with profanity in it! LOL

This card is one of my final halloween posts (I think). This is a wonderful image from Heather at Fresh Brewed Designs Doesn't she look too comfortable sitting on her broom like that! Ha!

and inside the card

Front image and sentiment are FBD

DP is a freebie digi download from Free Paper Challenge
Inside Sentiment from Ginger's House

Coloring with Copics

Sponging with Memento Ink

Die cuts by Spellbinders

Ribbon is from my stash

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy: Halloween
Stamps and Fun: Halloween
Victorine stamps: Halloween
Come and Get it Challenges: Halloween
Quirky Crafts: Halloween/Fall
Anyone for Anya: Photo inspiration
Drunken Stampers: Halloween
Forever Night Challenges: Trick or Treat
Crafty Ribbon Challenge: Pretty Spooky
Samuel Taylors Crafts: Halloween
More than Favors-Wacky Wednesday: Purple, Green and Orange

X-rated Halloween posting!

2011-10-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

This post is x-rated for language. If your sensibilities will be offended, please just skip this posting!

you still have time to leave.........

time is getting shorter..........

So much for worrying about your sensibilities! LOL

And here we go...........

I have a very special set of friends that will be recieving these halloween cards.

(Obviously they must not have any sensibilities either!)

They do, however, have wonderful senses of humor and have made my life richer by

being a friend!

So, Happy Halloween to those "Special" friends (you know who you are)

the inside is much nicer.......

Also did another one today with similar inside.

I only have 4 more to do! LOL

The front image/sentiment is from Graphicat Stamps

Coloring is all Copics

Shine from Glossy Accents

Cat DP from my stash

Die cuts are Spellbinders

Border punch (2nd card) is MS

Liquid pearls for the bling

Inside sentiement and spider is Our Craft Lounge

Twine is from The Twinery

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Victorine Challenges: Halloween

Come and Get It Challenges: Black, purple and orange

Quirky Crafts: Something Spooky

Anyone for Anya: Halloween

Drunken Stampers: Halloween

Delicious Doodles Challenge: Tale of the Unexpected

Samuel Taylor Crafts: Halloween

Fall is here!

2011-10-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

Fall is definitely here. Nice cool nights that make for easy sleeping, rainy days and the DH out hunting. Only......he is a ride along because HE GOT OUR DEER!

If you can't tell, I love venison. We had backstrap and eggs for breakfast yesterday! Yummmm!

Now, onto cards. I got to play in my craft room for a couple of hourse today! Too much fun.

The first card is a fall card using a GingerLoft image;

The image is from GingerLoft.

DP from DCWV

Leaf image from Our Craft Lounge

Coloring with Copic markers

Sponging with Memento inks

Twine from The Twinery

Liquid pearls for the bling

Die cuts and border are all Spellbinders.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge: Fall or Halloween

Crafters Cafe: Fall with orange, yellow and brown

Creative Stamp Friends: Autumn colors

NettieG's digital Gems: Fall/Autumn colors

The Pink Elephant: Photo inspiratiion

ECP Challenges: Fall or Thank you

Late Mocha Manic Monday!

2011-10-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

Playing around the the MMM image that Fresh Brewed Designs gave away on Monday.

(Check out their blog first Monday of every month for the MMM freebie image).

Heather made an adorable cupcake image for everyone to play with. Here is mine.

For a birthday, any celebration or someone that just needs a pick me up. A cupcake is alway a good answer! LOL As the sentiment states, Cake fixes everything!

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs

Sentiment: (outside) Limited Runs

Sentiment: (inside) Create with TLC

Coloring: Copic Markers

Inking: Momento Inks

Die Cuts: Spellbinders

Bling cupcake: Jolene's

Glossy Accents. Liquid Pearls

From my stash: ribbon, glitter, papers

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. challenges: Bright colors
Cute card Thursday: Time for Cake
PaperCrafting Journey: Die cuts and punches
Shelly's Images: So Sweet
Crafts and Me: use a digi
My Partner in Crafting Crime: Sweets & treats

More pink!

2011-10-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

More 'Pink" for October and National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

There are several challenges out their right now, "Think Pink", "Girl Power",

"Here come the Girls" and "Link up for Pink" to name a few.

I know several women (don't forget men can get breast ca also) who have been challenged

by and survived breast cancer. The least I can do is make some cards to send to family

and friends as a reminder to do self exams and get their annual mammograms.

This card base is hand cut and embossed in a CuttleBug folder.

All die cuts (even the butterfly) are SpellBinders.

The ribbon and flowers are from my stash.

The bra and sentiment on the inside are stamps from 'Our Craft Lounge'

Coloring is Copic markers and inking is with Memento Inks.

The ticket in the little pocket on the front is another one from my 'lost' artist.

: ) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

JustYolie: Link up for Pink

Dutch Dare Card Challenge: Special Fold Card

Shelly's Images: Something Sweet (I think it's a sweet purse)

Digi Stamps 4 Joy: Think Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness

Inky Impressions: Boy, oh boy! Can we show our support!

Scrapolicious USA: Something that hangs

Incy Wincy Designs: Think Pink

Lexi's Creations: Pink for Boobies

Linking up for Pink

2011-10-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

'Link up for Pink' is still up and running over on JustYolie

Lots of time to make more projects in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Sorry for all the pics but this 'card' is decorated on the front, inside and the back!

The shading on the breasts is not as bright IRL but I couldn't get the pic to show it right.......

hmmmm. maybe an excuse (grantted a poor one) for a new camera!

The card base is hand cut. The bikini (or bra) on the front and the bottoms on the, well, on the bottom are also hand cut. The papers and ribbon are all from my stash. The shading is with Tim Holtz distress inks. I don't know the author or the tickets

(and no one has told me in a comment yet! hint, hint)

I saw a pic on a blog, last year in October, of a card done like this. I haven't been able to find it

again. All of my card is my owndesign but the idea came from that blog and I thank her,

whoever she is.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

JustYolie: Link for the Pink
Sassy Studio Designs: Think Pink
Digi Stamps 4 Joy: Think Pink
I Brake for Challenges: Girl Power
Inkyy Impressions Challenge: Breast Cancer Awareness
Celebrate the Occasion: Breast Cancer Awareness
Jens Digi Stamps: Girl Power
Lexi's Creations: Pink for Boobies (literally! LOL)

Pumpkin time!

2011-10-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

Fall means gorgeous colors, rain, wind, rain, pumpkins, rain, Thanksgiving, halloween, rain, ....well guess you know we are having alot of rain here! LOL.

The challenge over on Fresh Brewed Designs this week is "Pumpkins",

Here is the entry that I did for the DT.

I decided to make a treatbox for this one. This box is based on a pattern on

SCS (Split Coast Stampers) for a

'gable box' in their technique section. The pumpkins are from Fresh Brewed Designs. The box

is made from kraft cardstock and the spider-web paper is some I was given.

The pumpkins were colored with my ever present pumpkins, the bats are a piece of a puffy ribbon of

bats that I won in a blog candy. There are half pearls and some ribbon from my stash. The ribbon holds the box closed.

This was really easy to make and fun also! It will be even more fun on Halloween when one

of our special trick or treaters recieves it!

Have a wonderful fall!

: ) Gale

This project may be entered in the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs: Pumpkins (DT project)

Little Darlings Challenge: Fall or Halloween

The Paper Shelter: Halloween

Cooking it up with Katie: Fun, fabulous and fat, fuzzy black bats! LOL

Ruby's Rainbow: For the boys

Digital Tuesday: We like to party! (or any celebration)

Tuesday Throwdown: Halloween

Karen's Doodles: Halloween

Victorine Stamps: halloween

Come and Get it Challenges: Halloween

Fall colors and gratitude

2011-10-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been crazy! DH is hunting and that gives me ALL DAY, both days of the weekend, to play in my craft room. Hence all the posts yesterday and today! If I make um', I have to share them. LOL

There are so many challenges out there right now looking for fall/autumnal colors or leaves. No how can I pass that by. Especially since I have the perfect stamp set from Our Craft Lounge ! I also have the need for a thank you card (See previous post) to sent to Lynn for Lynn's Designer Creations for the yummy blog candy that I won at her site!

Not sure where the inside image or the sentiment come from (Please feel free to tell me).

The coloring is with Copics, the leaves onn the front images are stamped a second time, colored, cut out, clear embossed and placed on card with dimensionals.

The card edges are distressed and then inked with Tim Holtz distree inks.

A CB embossing border folder was used at the bottom of the card and then inked up.

There is bakers twine on the card and a leaft charm (from my blog candy) tied on.

The DP is from one of the DCWV photo stacks.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge: Fall Foliage
Card Cupids: Make a card to give away
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Photo inspiration
Cupcake Inspiration: Photo inspiration
The Artistic Stamper: Autumnal Colors
Sundays with Crissy: Thanks or Thanksgiving
ECP Challenge: Autumn or Thanks
Just Some Lines: Fall colors

Some more Link up for Pink

2011-10-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hope you aren't tired of the 'Pink' yet! LOL

This card is patterned off of a card that I recieved from Lynn at 'Lynn's Designer Creations'.

The card came in a package that I recieved for winning a blog candy drawing on her blog.

Isn't it yummy! Thanks alot Lynn!

Anyway, here is my card I made based on her congratulatory card.

Isn't this just too cute. Fits in a standard envelope too!

Had to use the freebie digi paper from JustYolie one more time.

I printed it on card stock this time to give the card 'body'.

The image on the front and the sentiment inside are both from Fresh Brewed Designs,

Heather has some wonderful digis and rubber stamps for breast cancer awareness month.

The little ribbon image all over the inside and the bra are all from one of the granny sets

from Our Craft Lounge.

I also used Spellbinders dies, Liquid pearls, Mememto inks and a touch of Copic markers.

There is Aileen's Tack and Tack again glue on the back of the closure.

The ribbon is from my stash and the stitching is fake! (yeah, I know, DUH).

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

JustYolie: Link up for Pink

Let's Ink it up: Think Pink, must use a stamp (the bra and the ribbon stamps are both rubber)

Two Sister Challenge: Fancy Fold

My Sheri Crafts: Think Pink

Wags and Whiskers: Something handmade (Card base is handmade, hand cut)

Orange is the Color

2011-10-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Autumn, halloween, fall...................all wonderful reasons to use orange in your art work. That is if you are like me and rarely use orange, and need a reason! It has been raining here pretty much non-stop since yesterday morning. That pretty much slaps you in the face with with fall, Orange screams 'halloween' to me so that is where I had to go for the challenge over at GingerLoft Challenges today!

The wonderful spooky pumpkins are from Tami at GingerLoft designs. The candy corn DP is from DCWV Photo stack. I used a versa-mark pen on a few of the top candies and used clear embossing powder on them. Gives dimension without having to do 3D. Makes for much cheaper mailing costs!But then I went and ruined the postage costs by fussy cutting out 3 of the pumpkins and their vines and putting them on the card with dimensionals, LOL!

The sentiment is cut from the 'October 31' cartridge on my cricut and outlined with a glitter pen. The ribbon and eyeball stickers are from my stash. The image is cut out and backed with Spellbinder die cuts doing an outside the box technique (see lower left pumpkin). Of course, all the coloring is with my copic markers. (doh!)

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

GingerLoft Challenges: The Color Orange (DT Card)
I Did It Creations: Use Orange
Really Reasonable Ribbon: Halloween
Tando Creative Challenges: Spooktastic
Just Some Lines: Fall Colors
Frosted Designs: Fussy Cutting
Art Impressions: Halloween
Crafty Ribbons Challenge: Pretty Spooky
MAWTT: Spooky Halloween Cards
Stampin' B's Design: Halloween Card

Don't forget the PARTY that starts tomorrow!

Play some games, create some art and maybe even win a goodie or two.

Come play with us!

:) Gale

Think Pink, yet again

2011-10-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy this morning. I have one more card to add to the "Link up for Pink" challenge over on JustYolie.

It's a great cause and there are tons of prizes so why not head on over and create your own 'Pink' creation!

As the sentiment to this card was on the shirt of a young lady who had conquered breast cancer, had a double mastectomy and bilateral reconstruction I figured it shouldn't bother anyone else.. If it does, just click onto the next blog! If you have some humor left, please, scroll on down!

The 'hot mama' is actually a Christmas digi from Just Inklined. Change her colors to some pinks and she becomes a poster child for 'Link up for Pink" (at least on my blog)!

The diamond paper is from JustYolie the arranger of the link up.

The other papers are from my stash. The tickets are yet more from the freebie set that I

can't find the name of the artist (please tell me!).

I got the flowers at a garage sale (LOL). The sentiment is computer generated and cut

out with a spellbinder label. (Hey, it made me laugh and talk about a great outlook!)

:) Gale

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

JustYolie: Link up for Pink
Hiding in my Craft Room: Pink
My Sheri Crafts: Think Pink
The Paper Shelter: For the Girls
CES Challenge: Totally gorgeous girls (Yeah, it's a stretch, but ya are what ya think you are!) LOL
Raise the Bar: Hats

Think Pink, again!

2011-10-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is my second post today. It is also my second post for the "Link up for Pink". Hopefully I will have several of these posts over the next few days.

This is the same image as the previous post and is a freebie prize donated to the "Link up for Pink" challenge by Beccy's Place.

Once again, colored with copics and using some more of the breast ca tickets (please let me know if you know who the artist is!) The back ground paper here is a digi from JustYolie! Scroll down through her blog to find the free download.

The ribbon is from my stash, liquid pearls in the corners and glossy accents on the eyes, nose and heart. The flower is prima with a brad from my stash.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

JustYolie: Link up for Pink

Scrap Creations: It's a girl thing

Jens Digi Stamps: Let's hear it for the girls

My Sheri Crafts: Think Pink

Stampin for the Weekend: Cutie

Hiding in my Craft Room: Pink

Another Party to remember!

Come by and play, have some fun and maybe even win some goodies!

: ) Gale