Friday, September 30, 2011

Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge - a sketch

Friday - man this week has gone fast! Lots to show, Lots to still do, run run run...

This week at Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge there is a fabulous sketch to work with by fellow Dt member Jane . I loved working with this sketch.

A rare thing for me is I made the card first - then chose my image and colored it. Don't know why I did that this week, I NEVER do that. But I guess that was cuz I really liked the sketch and went to work on it... I saw these Webster Papers while cleaning out this week. That may have been my excitement for the sketch too...

So I followed the sketch... using sage green card stock, cream card stock and two pieces of websters pattern paper. Love the roses! So pretty! For my band across the middle I used a vintage piece of white ribbon lace that I painfully wove sage green ribbon through.... then once the card was done you can hardly see it! darn it. My sentiment is Rubbernecker stamps, well have of one... I cut the top of the sentiment off... just wanted this part "Live Laugh Love" Now for the image....
Used one of my gifted stamped out images, I colored her with my Copics - when done, the background was really white... so I colored that too... Love how that came out, it matches the papers much better - Now that wagon... well it was really empty, needed something. But I wasn't planning on adding any flowers to the card, didn't want them to compete with the pattern paper.... so I used them! I cut out a few of the roses from a scrap of the paper and placed them in the wagon! What do you think? odd?

Oh and then I decided that I wanted to go ahead and add the butterfly. There was one on the sketch, you can add anything really... but I went with the butterfly. This is a new die to me, I think I love it. Cheery Lynn Designs butterfly. You get three different dies in this set, I punched on Bazzil Bling card stock then colored with my Copics to give more colors and stickles for some added sparkle to the center.

This was a great sketch, I do believe that I will be using it over again. Hope you will be visiting the Just Magnolias and Hanglars challenge and trying it out yourself!

A Hubby day today - he is off work, and I think we are going to chill and do some Antique-ing. Just a day to see pretty things and let the brain rest.

Hope you have a wonderful day planned too! HUGS and-

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Tina Wenke Winter Accordian Card

Yesterday it was my turn post at the Stampavie DT Blog - and things have been so over booked this week, so I am showing my project here today on my blog :0) If you already saw it over just smile again it here ok?

It started off with my Sizzix Bigz Accordian Album die. Hasn't been used in a while and I thought it might make a nice and different little card or book for someone. Don't know if it will fit in any envelope as it ended up really thick, but I had a lot of fun creating it!
The front, I kept pretty simple. Covered all the chipboard pieces in cream colored card stock and inked them all. Then I found Christmas papers, matted them and sewed them together. The "Title" of my little book I used Tina Wenke's Holiday Hugs sentiment, punched out and then created a pleated flower behind it. Simple ---- then I went to work on the inside :0)


Did I have some fun here or what! I used four of the new Tina Wenke Winter release stamps. Alex in the Snow with Puppies, Jane Skating, Sam skating, and Sarah in the Snow with Kittie Loved all four of these images when I saw them. And all together they just work so perfectly! I colored them with Letraset Promarkers - Then went just nuts with all kinds of embellishments! Twine, snowflakes, buttons, flowers, pleated flowers, Tim Holtz tickets, and even a small little thermometer! Here are some close ups -



 
Hope you like my Winter Accordian Card :0) Are you having fun with new release images? Now if only winter would start to show up here in Texas! But until then I'll just keep coloring winter inside!

See you tomorrow for Just Magnolia and Hanglar Challenge!
HUGS and -

HUGS - MichelleO

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Inky Impressions Challenge - Punches and Dies and a Bundle of JOY!! ;0)

Today is my week for the Inky Impressions Challenge, and the challenge this week is to have fun with your punches and dies! I also have something brand new to show off at the end of the post!! Lets just say Jolene wanted to be next in line and show off what she has been up to the last 11 months!

But first let me show off my Inky Impression card - then you can oooh and ahhh ok?

But warning.. I went just a bit nuts with LOTS of my dies! LOL
I felt like a kid with this one! It was lots of fun to create! I started off with Deputy Christopher I just love this little dude. He is so cute! I colored with my Copics, and then added some "weeds" from Rubberstamps Tapestry.

Then to the card - lets see... This is sort of an easel card, with an extra fold I guess? I used Tim Holtz City scape die, then my Papertrey Ink fence, and then a Spellbinders pocket watch - I added some scrap papers behind all the windows.. just needed some lights on you know? The fence I cut out of Core-dinations paper and sanded it. A fence needs to be worn and old right? Then the words... I found deep in my stash, scrabble words - they seemed perfect to me! This card just makes me smile :0)

Howdy :0) isn't he cute?

 And I almost forgot I wanted to show off the pocket watch close up. I die cut it out of the same paper as the fence... sanded, and then I topped it off with one of my vintage watch faces that I found in an antique shop a while back. It fit just right! And then two metal dots for added texture.


Now that is my card... maybe a little overboard with the dies and punches, but man was it fun! Make sure to pop over to the Inky Impressions Challenge and see all the wonderful projects by the other DT members!

OOPS almost forgot... I promised some ooohs and ahhhs didn't I?
Look what we woke up to yesterday morning ;0)
Jolene was showing signs Sunday that she might be wanting to go first - Monday afternoon yep... she was going to have her baby and soon... so we went on watch, and when we got out of bed she had just delivered him! A stunning solid black boy we named Jose! I'll get some cute and fuzzy photos of him for you, this was his first standing, just after being born. All legs and ears! Love that solid black face! He is a handsome guy isn't he?

Hope you enjoyed - thanks so much for popping in!
See you tomorrow!
HUGS and

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Me and My Space - A Day Early - Re-Organized and Blog CANDY Stamps Again!

Hi - This week I have LOTS to post... and Wednesday was getting really crowded, so I decided that on weeks that Wednesday's are my Inky Impressions Challenge (every other week) then I will post my Me and My Space post on Tuesdays. Is that ok? Hope so... Plus this week I was excited cuz I actually have stuff to show! I spent all day Sunday cleaning out and re-organizing my Dotted shelves. It was a double header Yankee/Red Sox day and so I had lots of time to work and yell at the tv! GO YANKEES!!! ;0) Ok.. so here is what I call my "Dotted Shelves"

 I love these dotted basket shelves. These are basket like things that slide - I took everything out of all 6 of them, and a few other boxes in my area and sorted everything out. Was so cool! I found things I haven't seen in years!  The top of the two shelves, on the left is one of those Making Memories boxes, the one with the three levels and the three little drawers in it. I got mine a long time ago at Tuesday Morning.. for like $4.00 - I put things in there that I want to use - Need to see things. I'll show this off closer in the future. Then in front of that, where I spent most of the time sorting.... and I just can't wait to show you these two clear boxes... my new "embellishment boxes" So fun!

Oh I am just so full of teasers of things I plan to show off aren't I? LOL Then on the top right, My Copics, My Letraset Aqua Markers in the black storage binders, and my ATG gun. I am still working on storage of my Promarkers - I am thinking for those I am going to have to make sure I have the space for ALL of them... I am really loving them.

But today I decided to show you the three drawers closest to my chair/desk -
Top Drawer -
 I decided that here I need to put things I use- new and keep an eye on things. Right now I am just nuts for my 6x6 and 8x8 pads. I have some of my favorites pulled from the shelves - the newer ones, the ones I am "into" right now and of course the Holiday ones - I have had them just stacked on my desk and I was moving them all around. Now they have a place in my working drawer. Also here in the back - my new vintage ribbon from Etsy and some of my favorite ribbons. There are some on the rolls that I need to take off the rolls and put onto my hanging rings, just need to find the time. Then also here are some of my stamped images. Some I have done and some shared by sweet friends. Sadly my Hanglar and Stangler stamped images are starting to run out... I may have to reach out and see about getting more :0)

This drawer just is my happy drawer  - loving all the stuff in here -

Now middle drawer -
I found that I have ALOT of chipboard type of things. Grungeboard - again a Tuesday Morning purchase found them on sale a year or so ago.. two packages for like $5.00 I got a few you can see... and I hardly ever use it! Putting it here is my attempt to try and use it in the future. I also put all the other shapes of chipboard... ovals, tags, flourishes. And then the black and white folders on the left. Those are rub on alphabets from American Crafts. I have these and used them with my scrapbooking. When I dove into the "Stamping" world, they got buried.. I am thinking I need to use them more. I just hope they are still good.

And the bottom drawer -
 Again ... my past. THICKERS mainly here in this drawer. A few other brands of letters and shapes. But mostly Thickers. Me and my Scrapbook buddies well... we were sort of Thicker nuts for a time. And when our local store closed... pout pout... Her giant wall of them were put on sale.... I stocked up, hey it was a really good sale! And not long after that I went more into my stamping. I found these last week packed up in a box in the closet. I got to thinking it was a shame to waste them. So I am going to try and find ways to use them. If I can't in the coming months.. or find that they just are not my thing... They may have to find a new owner - to much space!

Now that is the first three drawers. I'll show the other three next week ok? OH... and I did say something in the title about Blog Candy Stamps again didn't I? Well.. in cleaning I found even more stamps that are sadly not being loved. So I am passing them on to someone to love - Is that you?



Now what do we have here?
I found a Wags and Whiskers Stamp - too cute, I think I used it once or twice.
Three Sweet Nellies - One brand new never used, and two that I used a few times.
Three Whiff of Joys - I don't think I have ever put ink on these.
And THEN... A HANGLER stamp!! Why am I adding this little jewel? I have two of this one image - so I am sharing!

So eight stamps need to find someone to love them. All you need to do to be in the drawing is comment here. I'll ship world wide. That is about it. Next Wednesday I will do a random drawing for a winner :0)

Still cleaning out areas... feels good to get organized and even more to find things "new" to me in my own stash that I have forgot about. It is like shopping without spending more money! Hubby would roll his eyes here and say "Uh but you already spent the money" Hey saving money is all I am thinking now! LOL

Have a great day - I'll be back tomorrow with my Inky Impressions post!
HUGS and

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Dust It Off Sunday - Scrapbooking Hubby's Family

I was having a look through a few of Hubby's family photos and suddenly this one stopped me... ok at first it was the fact that they were posing in front of donkeys! How funny is that - pulling over the car on a family trip to take the kids photos in front of donkeys! And.. now we, ok you know-  we raise donkeys! But then I focused in on Hubby's clothes - I know it was the early 1970's.... but ok.......he said when I showed him the finished Scrapbook page... Nice, You are not putting this on your blog right??? Uh well yea... this photo is too perfect... and well I kind of like the page too.... What do you think?
This is Hubby in his gold colored outfit with his sister and brother. Now you can see I chose the colors for my Scrapbook page straight from Hubby's fashionable clothing. So I started with Kraft card stock for the base, cream colored layer, and then a chocolate brown. Three pattern papers from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found. I simply cut them down, and scattered them on the 8x8 page. Zig Zag Stitched around them. I printed my photo as a 4x6 - and hand wrote notes about the photo around the edge. I then found an embellishment I have been saving for a while. Top of the drawer and I look at it all the time, saving it for something special, and this page is pretty special. This is a wood embellishment is from Kaiserkraft - I painted it white and then used Ranger crackle paint over it. Then inked over the entire thing with Distress Ink  - Love how it came out.

And the lace ... oh my yummy! I found some vintage Lace on Etsy... this was one of my favorites! Then went to find a little more from deep in my stash...

 I found some paper die cuts that seemed match perfectly, and then a package of Tim Holtz tags... Destiny... Get it? The donkeys? Ok.. I am a dork.. but I thought it was funny!

Ok.. now I must go through my family photos and find an old photo of me in one of my horrible outfits... watch out.. the 1980's were not friendly... LOL

So lets see I dusted off the photo.. dusted off a few different embellishments and now I'll have to go and find my family photos and dust them off and scrap a horrible photo of me to make up for laughing at this photo of my Hubby. Really is a great photo... just a really horrible gold outfit.

Have a great Sunday!
HUGS and -


Saturday, September 24, 2011

Animal Crackers - A wonderful Evening with the Animals

Happy Animal Crackers Day - Last night I went out just as the sun was going down, it was a bit cooler and the animals were out and about and wanting attention -
 Peso is still a bit skittish we are not able get totally hands on with him. He is still not a total member of the group, but he is working his way in and doing much better... can't wait to see future babies, this guy is just too cute!

I was heading over to try and get photos of the babies for you.. Gabby, Sonia and Ramon. Well they were all being nuts and crazy in the cooler weather, not one decent photo.. all blurs. I went in to get what should have been a gorgeous photos of Gabby with sun setting behind her, and she saw me coming through the gate and took off running to me, snorting bucking and kicking. Then she attacked and rubbed what was all over her head on my pants! And yes... I do believe it was donkey poop! So I left that pen and decided to try for a different photo. That was when I saw the three stooges (our standards) coming up between the two pens - 

Valentine was leading the way - He is such a sweetie. Don't tell him that he is a big lug ok? He thinks he is as tiny as the miniature babies - But he will always be my baby... Cocoa and Ted were trailing behind him. I thought that they were all going to be sweet and stop for me to love on them, but they brushed right past me and headed over to the hay barn. Dad was in there and if they hurried - they knew they could talk him into a flake or two as an evening snack.
Vicki - yep she is REALLY wide! She isn't showing immediate signs but I think she is getting close. That baby really moves around a lot. One day hanging to the right, next to the left, and the next low.... Today you can see it is really off to the right -

Then I decided I would head over to the youth pen, I can usually always get one of them to pose for me. Just as I got to the fence line I noticed that they were all really focused. Josie and Cali ears at attention and not paying any attention to me what so ever. As I called out to them they glanced my way for a split second

 And then this was the only shot I could get... they were all off to the other end of the pen.


On this side of the fence is the boys pen, the other is the girls... and they were all off to the other end. Why? Well "Dad" was at that end cutting up a tree that had fallen. And watching him work was much more fun than posing for me.

I had such high hopes for shots this week, they were all being so fun and enjoying the evening, but as soon as I came out with my camera... Kids!

 And depressed and let down I headed in the house, and just as I got to the back yard I came to the goat pen. And look!!! They were posing for me!!!
Now was that because they knew I needed them to give me one good photo this week? Or that it was really close to dinner time?

Hope you enjoyed..... See you tomorrow for Dust it Off.... I scrapbooked!
HUGS and

Friday, September 23, 2011

Just Magnolia & Hangler AND Inky Impressions Inspiration

Happy Friday - Busy Friday! Today I have two projects to share with you. Friday of course is always Just Magnolia & Hanglar Day... and it also is my day to post at the Inky Impressions Inspirations Blog - so you get two projects here to see!

First up is this weeks Just Magnolia and Hanglar project. It was my week to host there, and I have really been feeling the Fall... well not physically cuz it still feels like 145 degrees here in Texas.... but you know the back to school, ready for the colors to change feeling. Well that was my choice for a challenge. School or Fall - you decided. I went with the back to school part - And pulled out one of my Favorite Tildas... This is my Kaylynn Tilda. :0) Why? Cuz everytime I see this little image I think of my niece Kaylynn it just looks like her to me, totally adorable. I looked back at things I have done with this image and I ALWAYS color her with red... hmm... Oh yea, Red is my nieces favorite color! HA! Funny how our minds just do things like that huh?

These bookmarks are so cute, I have been wanting to make one forever. And then I ran across the tutorial at Splitcoast - HERE  - Well I used the basics... My papers are October Afternoon - and then I found a ruler ribbon in my stash. Flowers or frilly border punch didn't feel right so I went with EK Success Zig Zag - My image is colored with Copics, along with the Magnolia books, I only needed three of the five here though :0) I cut everything out and then stuck them to my bookmark. It wasn't a hard project, but I totally was happy making it. Maybe it is the bright colors? The fun School papers? My Niece sitting there looking up at me? Oh it was just fun!

Make sure to pop over and see the Just Magnolia & Hanglar DT's projects this week - I have had a peek... really stunning again this week! And a great prize up for grabs too :0)

******************************
Now my Inky Impressions Inspirational Project -

While looking to see what I wanted to make for my first post... I just kept coming back to Lillie's Awareness Ribbon image. Seemed like I "needed" to use her. And then I came to me, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month... and making a little Pop up Card would really put a focus on Lillie and her Ribbon.
Originally I found the tutorial for the pop up card over at SplitCoast - Here is a link to the tutorial. I like that it is a free standing card and that it can fit into a envelope and be mailed.
I used just basic pink and cream colors. With of course some pretty pearls :0) I tied a pink ribbon across the front with a EK Success Punch of the computer generated Sentiment "Think Pink"  I then also typed out a little reminder and placed it just under the image.

 Lillie is colored with my Copics.
I hope you liked my Inspirational Pop UP Card - and I know you just love Lillie ;0) - So now POP over to see her at the Inky Impressions Shop HERE And now is the time as she is specially priced right now A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION & ALSO THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION - 


Thanks for visiting ;0) See you tomorrow for Animal Crackers!
HUGS and-



Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Me and My Space - A few of my Favorite Products

Hello - Well once again my craft space is a total mess.... but it is a good thing, cuz I have been very crafty this past week. Working on DT projects... can't show them off now :0) But I have been a very crafty person. So today I thought I might show you a few of my favorite products right now. Things I have been using lately... oops that is a little hint of things I have been doing. ;0)

First up.... 
I have had and do have a few different corner rounders. Even one of those mega heavy duty ones. But this one has been on my desk... and being used a lot. It has become my favorite corner rounder. I like that it is two corner rounders in one. You flip over the little thingy in the middle and it does two different corners. Been using this a lot lately -

My bone folder. This too is a tool I have had a few of. And honestly worn out a few. This one I got a while back. It is a Martha Stewart Bone folder. I purchased mine with a 1/2 off coupon, and well it was pink with little blings on it. I figured it would be worth at least the 1/2 off. But well... it was a good purchase. Seems really sturdy and I have been using it for everything. 


Next is my Snow Marker. I didn't purchase my first one, it was a gift. To be totally honest, I said thank you - and tossed it into my pen caddy. I didn't use it much at all. And one day I found it and used it. AND WOW... if you use it correctly it really works! Color in where you want it, let it dry totally and then heat it up with your heat gun... bam! It puffs up and looks like snow! It is made by Marvy  - I got mine at Alota Rubber Stamps :0)

Then a new sparkle favorite!
Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer Spritz - A last minute use of my coupon at Hobby Lobby - came with two other colors, but this one.. WOW I have used it just about all up. Guess I will either have to use those two other colors instead or buy them again and share them :0) Hopefully I can find them again.


So there are four of my favorite things I have been using a lot of lately. What are you using a lot lately? Maybe I need to try them too .. LOL

Oh I think I should probably do one of those comments here... you know the one.... "none of the company's have paid for my comments, this is just my humble opinion" ... LOL .. If you are with one of these companies and want to lavish me with things to try I would still give my honest humble opinion and love to use up more of your products :0) 

Have a great Wednesday- I am off to use more products... crafty crafty crafty....

Monday, September 19, 2011

Christmas Delivery with Letraset Aquamarkers!

I finally found my watercolor paper! I had "miss-placed" it in my room and while moving stuff around the other day suddenly there it was! So I pulled out my Aquamarkers for the first time in a while and played just to play. Man I still need a lot of practice... watercoloring is hard!

 I decided to use Stampavie's Christmas Delivery from the Laurence Collection. Is this an adorable image or what? Love it! Now as I said I still need lots of practice with the watercolor markers, but this one wasn't too bad. It actually looks better in person, really it does, The gold items have a bit of sparkle to them and then I added dimensional glaze to all the lights, christmas ornaments and of course the windshield. Really looks neat. I think how much water to use is my issue... practice need more practices. :0 )

Then I went through my scraps and found some cute Christmas papers. I for the life of me cannot come up with the brand of papers. And couldn't find a name anywhere! But they are cute papers, and the shades of colors seemed to match the image pretty well. I layered them up and sewed them together. Used some strips of adhesive pearls and lace for the band. And that makes this one ok to submit this one to the Stampavie and More Challenge! Bonus!

The sentiment is cut out of a piece of the pattern paper, and then attached to an oval chipboard piece and stickled.

Hope you like my Christmas Delivery! Have you tried the new Aquamarkers? They are too awesome! And even more awesome is that now Stampavie is going to be carrying them, so tell the store that carries your Stampavie Stamps to stock up on Letraset too from Stampavie!! You can see the Letraset Products HERE on the Stampavie website. YEA!

Have a great day - HUGS!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

My Goodies from the show....

As promised here are the photos of my shopping trip to the Scrapbook show. Didn't feel like I was buying much at all... at least compared to what I normally would do :0) But I have to say it was so totally cool to shop - hand to Hubby and then walk on to the next booth while he purchased and carried for me! LOL He is such a keeper!

I guess my pain purchase was from the Heartfelt Creations Booth. I love their stuff :0 I wanted SO much from there, but in the end I blew more than my entire budget on these 5 things! Four wonderful dies. I got those great new Rose Creations dies and their coordinating stamps - and then three of their exclusive dies. They look so versatile and fun to use! 
Then we hit a booth that had a great deal on Stickles. And if you remember that was the one thing I was really really after. I was totally out of my Diamond Stickles and was heartbroken. Well I now have two bottles of that color... and just a few more colors.
Now I have to say Hubby was helping me pick out stickles. He is going to use a few of the colors with his fly tying... so there were a few that I would have never picked. But hey... they were $1.33 each - so they were a GREAT deal! I then picked up a bottle of my glue I love... and the next booth found a couple of Nellie corner dies, and a set of the cutest butterfly dies from Cherry Lane.   Can't wait to try those out! They are so little but so intricate!

Then as we were at the last row there was a "sale booth" you know one of those booths with lots of different really cheap things.  That was where I found the ribbon and Hubby found the glitter. He wanted some glitter for again his fly tying and at $1 a bottle that was pretty cheap, and the bottles are shakers so that was really cool. The ribbon is sheer gorgeous ribbon - 25yrds per roll for $2!! So I got a few of those. The Pearl Pens is something new... Hubby found them in a booth as we were leaving.... looks like really fun stuff. We are going to "share" these. The make 3-d "bumps" so I can make my own pearls on projects. Can't wait to try it. Can't tell you how they will be used in his fly tying... But he found them and thought they were cool. And then the last thing I got... oh my aren't they just gorgeous???
I totally went nuts for these sprays of bling! They are so pretty.... not cheap at $1.50 each bundle. But I was so nuts for them, Hubby picked up one of each color... then I added one more clear and he went to pay for them just as we were going out.
Told you he was a keeper :0) Sorry he is mine girls :0)    We left the show, and then went for a great lunch at one of our favorite BBQ places. We don't eat there very often as it is about a 2 hour drive to get there, but we were over 1/2 way there, and had the afternoon so we took off. Plus there is a fabulous Antique Mall right next door. Didn't find anything there to buy but loved walking the isles and looking. Hubby found a pair of vintage boots he liked in this great booth that deals in quality vintage boots but in the end he decided that he was going pass on them. The guys has more boots than I have bling flip flops... and that is a lot! LOL

Headed home... side trip to the goat farm... then home, was a wonderful day with my guy. Hope we can do it again soon, just love these days! And I don't even have to have the Scrapbook show or the goat farm to love the day with him, but those were totally bonuses this time! :0)

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday -