Monday, January 30, 2012

Hambo Hoedown - Caped Chick

Welcome to the Hoedown - I'm making it right at the deadline this week!  I usually make LOTS of cards over the week so that I have enough material to post throughout the week, but this weekend was full of Kaylie's soccer games.  Lots of time on my hands waiting between games but nowhere near my craft room or a computer!

This week's challenge at the Hambo Hoedown was to use the Caped Chick digi and to CASE (Copy and Steal Everything) a card from the Hambo gallery, either digi or rubber.  Here's my card and the card I CASE'd is below it.


My Card Supplies:
image and sentiment - Hambo Stamps
markers used to color Caped Chick - Bic Markers
pearls - Bazzill
ribbon and cardstock - from my stash
dies - Nestabilities circles
patterned paper - leftover from a scrapbook page

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Happy Blogoversary to ME!

On January 29, 2011, I posted my very first blog post.  Seems like I've been at it for years, but it has only been ONE!  I started blogging because I was making cards for Operation Write Home and noticed that everyone seemed to have a blog - to share their cards, to enter challenges, etc.  And, I wanted one, too!  So, thankfully, we had several snow days in a row (unheard of in our part of Texas) and I figured out Blogger all by myself.  Here I am one year later participating in challenges almost every day, helping out on Design Teams (Seems A Little Sketchy and Doodle Pantry), contributing sample cards and tutorials to OWH and generally just sharing with my new found friends in bloggie land.  It has been great fun!  If you are a follower or even if you have just commented on my blog, THANK YOU!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Heartfelt Sympathy

Sympathy cards can be some of the hardest cards to make, wouldn't you agree?  We like to make cards for happy and joyous occasions, but it's not easy to make them for sad occasions.  Almost two weeks ago, we lost my sister-in-law's father.  He was a very special person - kind, caring and most of all just plain fun to be around!  Luckily, they came for a visit at Christmas this year, so we all got to spend time with him then.  We'll miss you, Jerry!

Card Supplies:
sentiment - McMahon Five Designs
die - Nestabilities Labels Four
embossing folder - Cuttlebug Textile
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon club (Dec. 2011-Winter Whites)

Friday, January 27, 2012

Green Eggs and...Hambo! Blog Hop

Welcome to "Green Eggs and ......Hambo" sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict book titles! It might be our favorite book, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Michele's blog at Whimsical Creations, you are in the right place! (Didn't you just love the sentiment on her card?!) If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

With all of the great images (both digital and rubber) to choose from at Hambo Stamps, it wasn't hard to come up with a creative idea.  In fact, the problem I had was deciding which idea to run with.  I chose the caterpillar digi.  Can you guess what book I chose? (Scroll down for the answer)  Here's my card!
Card Supplies:
caterpillar image - Hambo Stamps (caterpillar digi)
fruit images - Fiskars Fresh Fruit set
punch - Stampin' Up scalloped circle (used to make "bites" in the fruit)
patterned paper - Doodle Pantry
dies - Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle
ribbon and ink - from my stash
Copics - BV00, BV02, BV04, G14, G17, G19, G21, G24, G28
R46, E33
sketch - Mojo Monday from February 14, 2011


The book I chose is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  This was one of my daughter's favorite books when she was a toddler.  In it, he eats all kinds of fruits and then eats some junk food and turns into a fat caterpillar and then goes into his cocoon and turns into a beautiful butterfly.  Ahhh, if life were just that easy!
 A prize will be awarded to one participant whose book-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way!  Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, February 1.
Now dance on over to Jessica's blog at The Paper Parade for another great book!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Stampin' Up Stamp Club Cards

On Tuesday night, we got together for the first of 8 months of our new Stampin' Up Stamp Club at the home of our SU Demonstrator Christi Beck.  We made two really cute cards and had lots of fun together.



Wednesday, January 25, 2012

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch 104

Woohoo, I've really been on a roll using the OWH Stars & Stamps sketches.  Our fearless leader Sandy Allnock threw down the challenge at the first of the year to use ALL of the OWH Stars & Stamps sketches this year to create cards.  If you visit the sketch collection on the blog, there is a link to a checklist that you can download to keep track of all the ones you've used.  I've been doing great so far, but they add a new one every Sunday!  Do you think I can keep up?  Can I use ALL of the sketches before the end of 2012?  Hmmmm, you'll have to stay tuned to find out.
Card Supplies:
FREE pre-colored image - Beyond the Fringe Crafts
cardstock - from my stash
patterned paper - Best Creation Inc.
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon from January 2012 club (Valentine's Mix)
sketch - OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch 104

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Doodle Pantry - Love Snakes


It's not too late to play in this month's Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge.  The deadline is TODAY AT 8 PM CENTRAL TIME!  Just use any Doodle Pantry image to make a card and link it up.  Everyone is a winner.  You will get the Workout Birdie set just for participating in the challenge.  This set includes 2 different pre-colored images as well as the outline images along with 6 sentiments and 3 digi papers.

My card today features the Love Snakes set which is free with purchase for a limited time.  It includes the pre-colored image as well as the outline image along with 5 sentiments and 2 digi papers.  How cool is that?!  And, if you are keeping track, I used another OWH Stars & Stamps sketch - #77 this time!
Card Supplies:
pre-colored image, sentiment and patterned digi paper - Doodle Pantry Love Snakes
cardstock - from stash
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon from the January 2012 club (Valentine's Mix)
tools - Nestabilities circles
sketch - OWH Stars & Stamps 77

Monday, January 23, 2012

Seems A Little Sketchy #5

If you enjoy working with sketches when creating your cards, then you will LOVE the challenges at Seems A Little Sketchy.  You have 2 weeks to link up your creation (up to 3 entries are allowed) for a chance to win digital stamps from our sponsors.  For this challenge we have two sponsors: Stamping Dragon Designs and Pizzazz Aplenty.  I chose an image from Stamping Dragon Designs that took me outside of my normal comfort zone (Fairy Hearts), but I think my coloring turned out quite well.


What are you waiting for?  Go get sketchy with it!

Card Supplies:
image - Stamping Dragon Designs
Copic markers - E00, E51, E53, BV00, R24, R29
patterned paper - We R Memory Keepers Heart Attack collection
dies - Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle
punches - Stampin' Up (hearts), We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
other - Sakura Gelly Roll white pen, Mark Richards self-adhesive nail heads

Sunday, January 22, 2012

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch 105 - Sample Cardmaker

I was so excited to be asked to make sample cards for the OWH Stars & Stamps Sunday Sketch Challenge.  While I may not finish every sketch before the next one is posted, the collection of OWH Stars & Stamps sketches is where I start first when I sit down to make a card.  There are over 100 sketches to choose from!  If you are an overachiever like I am, you may even want to print out the checklist of all the sketches and join in the challenge to create a card using every sketch before the end of 2012.  I just love sketches, don't you?!

I did two cards that used the exact same image and digi paper (both from Doodle Pantry).  On the first one, I followed the sketch to a "T" and didn't add anything extra.  On the second one, I jazzed it up a bit by adding some ribbon and a sentiment.  Don't be afraid to use the sketch as a starting point and veer off course before you get done...that's what I love most about sketches - I can follow them like a recipe or I can make them my own!

Let's see what you can do!  Be sure to link up your creations at the OWH Stars & Stamps blog.  There is no deadline so join in whenever you can.

Card Supplies:
digi image (pre-colored), sentiment and patterned paper - Doodle Pantry
dies - Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle
cardstock - from my stash
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon from Dec. 2011 club (Winter Whites)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Hambo Hoedown - Bailey

This week at the Hambo Hoedown we get to use the new digi stamp called Bailey which was created in honor of the newest member of the Hambo family.  Isn't he so cute?!

We were challenged this week to make a kids' card.  My card has the seal of approval from my 9-year-old daughter Kaylie who said, "Ohhh, it's so cute!"  Just like the puppy, right?  Oh, and check another OWH Stars & Stamps sketch off the list.  This time I used sketch #51.
Challenges Entered:
Hambo Hoedown - Bailey on a kids' card
Stamps R Us - Just Kidding Around (a kids' card)

Card Supplies:
image - Hambo Stamps (Bailey digi)
sentiment - Operation Write Home freebie
Copics - E01, E33, E35, G28, R29
patterned digi paper - Doodle Pantry
cardstock - JoAnn's
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon from Jan. club (Valentine's Mix)
punches - Stampin' Up 1-3/8" and scalloped circles
ink - Memento tuxedo black
sketch - OWH Stars & Stamps #51

Friday, January 20, 2012

Doodle Pantry - Lil Hummer

This cute little hummingbird is one of the new releases from Doodle Pantry this month.  Don't forget that you have until January 24 to participate in the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge where everyone's a winner just for entering.  That's right, just enter and you get the Workout Birdie set for FREE!  The pre-colored image, sentiment AND digital papers (from Lil Hummer set AND Luv N Hugs Digi Paper Pack) are all from Doodle Pantry and can be found at the store under Latest Releases.

Challenges Entered:
Fetch A Sketch 15 - sketch (see below)
OWH Stars & Stamps Our Daily Bread Designs January challenge - use 3 patterned papers


Card Supplies:
image, sentiment, digi papers - Doodle Pantry
white ric rac - Really Reasonable Ribbon (winter whites - December ribbon club)
punch - Stampin' Up 1" circle punch

Thursday, January 19, 2012

ABC Christmas Challenge

I decided that this year I would take part in a few of the different online Christmas-themed challenges and try to stay a step ahead of the game as far as making Christmas cards for 2012.  The first one of the year I will join is the ABC Christmas Challenge which goes in alphabetical order (duh!) and posts a new challenge every other Wednesday.  The "A" Challenge is Anything Goes, Christmas of course.  Phew - starting out easy on me - thank goodness.  I enjoyed making these inchie cards last year and thought I'd make another for this challenge - plus, it's another OWH Stars & Stamps sketch.  It's sketch #60!  I love when I can kill two birds with one stone (Okay all you animal lovers, relax, it's just an expression!).
Card Supplies:
patterned paper - leftover scraps in my stash
cardstock - Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss
ink - Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red
stamp - The Cat's Pajamas
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon club (Dec. 2011 - Winter Whites)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Happy Birthday to Randy!

Today is my step-dad Randy's birthday, and he loves to fish!  In fact, he and my mom are in the Florida Keys right now and he's probably fishing on one of those deep sea fishing boats.  So, I thought this image of a fisherman (who actually caught a crab!) would make the perfect birthday card for him.

The image is by my blogland friend Marlene S. (aka Marlooney) who is a hoot and a half as we say here in Texas.  She's on hiatus from blogging and sharing her snarky comments with us, but if you like this image, then check out Squigglefly and Dude Time Doodles where you can still buy her digital images!
I can also check off another OWH Stars & Stamps sketch with this card.  This card is my take on sketch #17.  I made a wide card instead of a tall card, and my patterned papers at the bottom count as the bottom portion of the sketch.  See, you don't HAVE to follow a sketch right to the "T" - you are free to modify it a bit as long as you can still see the main elements.  So, go and give it a try.  You can find all of the Operation Write Home sketches HERE.

Challenges Entered:
Incy Wincy Designs 129 - Bold & Bright

Card Supplies:
image - Marlene S.
Copic markers - N1, C5, C7, C9, E00, E33, E35, R29, YR04
sentiment - Pebbles Inc. rub-on
patterned paper - Echo Park Splash collection
orange cardstock - Bazzill

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Cre8tive Hands - new digi designer

Thanks to Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating, I was introduced to a new digi designer named Michelle who blogs at Cre8tive Hands.  All of her digi's are FREE and are available in black and white as well as pre-colored versions.  They are all as cute as can be!  Here's the proof:
I've also accepted the challenge over at the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog to create a new card this year for every sketch they've ever posted.  If you go to the sketch section of the blog, you'll find a PDF file of sketches 1-100 (that I created!) for easy reference as well as a checklist they've created to keep track of the sketches you've completed.  I'm not going in order, but I *AM* going to try to do all of the sketches this year, going all the way back to sketch #1!  The new sketches are posted every Sunday, and we're currently on sketch 104, so you better hurry and get started.  :-)


Card Supplies:
pre-colored image - Cre8tive Hands
all paper - Bazzill (pattern is from Grandma's Feather Bed collection)
ribbon - from my stash
sketch - OWH Stars & Stamps #2

Monday, January 16, 2012

Doodle Pantry - Flaming Hot Ants

How cute is this image for Valentine's Day or any occasion to express your love and desire for someone?!  The Flaming Hot Ants set is one of the new January releases from Doodle Pantry.  It comes with the image in black and white as well as pre-colored, 2 digital patterned papers and 5 sentiments for just $3.00 - what a great value!

It's not too late to play along with this month's Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - the deadline is January 24.  You will receive the Workout Birdie set FREE just for entering, so come on and join us!

Card Supplies:
image, sentiment and patterned papers - Doodle Pantry Flaming Hot Ants
dies - Nestabilities oval, scalloped oval and scalloped rectangle
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
ink - Memento tuxedo black
sketch - Mojo Monday Oct. 17, 2011

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Hambo Hoedown - Balloon Cost

For this week's Hambo Hoedown challenge, we were challenged to use this sentiment (Balloon Cost) which happens to be a very cute joke AND circles of at least two different sizes.  Well, it was kind of a "no brainer" that the circles would turn into balloons, right?  I also knew that I wanted to use primary colors because that's what I think of when I think of balloons, don't you?
Card Supplies:
cardstock - from my stash
dies - Nestabilities long rectangles and long scalloped rectangles
punches - Stampin' Up circle punches: 1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8"
embossing folder - Cuttlebug circles and dots
twine - We R Memory Keepers

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Sketch Inspiration 302

Well, so far so good!  I'm on week 2 of the Sketch Inspiration challenge that Cat of Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX threw down to her customers at the first of the year.  The sketches are really designed for scrapbook pages, but if I have any hope of keeping up, I'm going to be making cards each week.

Here is this week's card using some VERY old patterned paper, an image from Create with TLC, scraps of cardstock and a Cuttlebug embossing folder (traffic jam).  As with 99% of the cards I make, this one will be going to Operation Write Home who helps our heroes keep in touch with their families by providing blank cards that volunteers like me make and donate!



Friday, January 13, 2012

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch 103

Hmmm, perhaps you are seeing a pattern here with three days in a row of sketch challenges.  YES, they are my absolute favorite challenges EVER!  Every Sunday on the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog a new sketch is posted.  I love them so much that I've even created PDF files combining 4-9 sketches on a page so that I can easily store all 103 sketches!  You can find the PDF file here.  So, go ahead and join in anytime you want or go back and start at the beginning.  Sketches are a great way to get your creative mojo flowing again if you are "stuck" so give it a go!


Card Supplies:
patterned paper - Cloud 9 Design
blue cardstock and jewels - Bazzill
sentiment - Scrap-A-Licious Times
flowers - cut with Cricut using George & Basic Shapes cartridge flower 1 at 1", 1-1/2" and 2"

Thursday, January 12, 2012

SFYTT January 2012

Today, I'm using a sketch from iheart2stamp.com called Something For You To Try (SFYTT).  I've followed this blog for nearly a year, but I have never entered the sketch challenges, so I'm adding this monthly sketch challenge to my list of challenges to enter in the new year.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love a sketch!


Card Supplies:
patterned paper and stickers - Bo Bunny
jewels - Queen & Co.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Sketch Inspiration 301

Our local scrapbook store owner at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX has challenged us to use the sketches from Sketch Inspiration every week this year.  If we do, after 6 months we will be invited to a special party at the store.  If we keep it up for the entire year, then she'll have another party for us at the store.  I love a party, so I thought I would see how long I could keep up with the weekly sketches.  These sketches are actually designed for scrapbook pages, but some of us adapt them to use for cards.  I can make a card a whole lot faster than I can make a scrapbook page, so I figure I have a better chance at keeping up with her challenge if I just do cards, but you never know when I may decide to use one for a scrapbook page!

Challenges Entered:
Cat's Creations Scrapbooks - use sketch from Sketch Inspiration
The Pink Elephant - hearts


Card Supplies:
patterned paper and stickers - Bo Bunny
tools - We R Memory Keeper corner chomper
jewels - Queen & Co.
ribbon - from stash (I think it came from Michael's)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Doodle Pantry - Caterpillar Hugs

This card is made with one of the new January release sets from Doodle Pantry called Caterpillar Hug - too cute, right?!  Everything on this card is from Doodle Pantry, except the embellishments and the orange cardstock .  I love working with the pre-colored images and matching digital papers.  It makes card making easy breezy!

You can still enter the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge this month - January 24 is the deadline.  When you enter, you will receive the Workout Birdie set for FREE - just for entering! 

Challenges Entered:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Sparkle and Ribbon
Shopping Our Stash - All That Glitters, Sparkles or Shines 
Card Supplies:
image, sentiment, patterned papers - Doodle Pantry Caterpillar Hug
jewels - Bazzill (leftover from a scrapbooking page kit)
ribbon - from my stash
cardstock - Worldwin (dark orange dream)
ink - Memento tuxedo black
tools - Fiskars scalloped rotary blade
sketch - Mojo Monday Oct. 24, 2011

Monday, January 9, 2012

Seems A Little Sketchy #4

If you enjoy working with sketches when creating your cards, then you will LOVE the challenges at Seems A Little Sketchy.  You have 2 weeks to link up your creation (up to 3 entries are allowed) for a chance to win digital stamps from our sponsors.  This challenge's sponsors are Crafty Sentiments and Pizzazz Aplenty.  I chose this cute bear from Crafty Sentiments (Henry-Mushroom Bear) and paired him with some patterned paper from Doodle Pantry for a whimsical colored mushroom.


What are you waiting for?  Go get sketchy with it!

Card Supplies:
image and sentiment - Crafty Sentiments
patterned paper - Doodle Pantry
Copic markers - YR00, YR02, YR04, YR07, G14, G28, RV000, RV21, B00, Y15, E33, E35
punches - Stampin' Up circles (1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8") and scalloped circle
other - Sakura Gelly Roll white pen

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Happy Birthday, Scott!

Today is my brother Scott's birthday - Happy Birthday!  I made this card in his honor - it's not exactly a birthday card, but it is a card that a sister might give to her brother.  The sentiment says, "We may be brother and sister but our hearts say we are friends."  We weren't friends growing up - we fought a lot, probably because we are only 15 months apart.  Scott actually wrote a poem about brothers and sisters when he was in elementary that went something like this (this is completely from memory!):

Cats and dogs hate each other
They are like sister and brother
All day long they kick and fight
But sometimes they just snuggle up tight

Sweet, right?!  Well, now we are adults, and while we aren't close, we are friends.  :-)
 
Challenges Entered:
Incy Wincy Designs - Anything Goes (somehow I missed this deadline)
Stamps R Us - What You Got for Christmas/Anything Goes
Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant - Anything Goes


Card Supplies:
image and sentiment - McMahon Five Designs
dies - Nestabilities (circle, octagon)
punches - Stampin' Up 1" and 1-1/4" circles
embossing folder - Sizzix
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon (winter whites from monthly club)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Hambo Hoedown - Reptile

After the holiday break, Hambo Hoedown came back with this adorable reptile.  "Reptile" because it could be a chameleon or a newt or a gecko or just about any type of lizard that suits your needs!  The challenge this go-round was to use the image, one of the sentiments and something new.  I used 2 new things: the OWH Stars & Stamps sketch 102 and my Sizzix square lattice embossing folder that I've had for a while but hadn't used yet, so it's still NEW!  That patterned paper though is as old as the hills...LOL!

Card Supplies:
image and sentiment - Hambo Stamps
Copic markers - YR02, YR04, YR07, G14, G17, RV21
patterned paper and cardstock - from my stash
embossing folder - Sizzix square lattice (available from Stampin' Up)
sketch - OWH Stars & Stamps #102

Friday, January 6, 2012

Stella Says Sketch #101

I love a good sketch and I love Bugaboo Stamps, so I was excited to hear that Bugaboo is starting a new sketch challenge called "Stella Says Sketch!"  There will be a new challenge every other Sunday, starting with Sunday, January 1.  The deadline for the first challenge is January 15 at 6 AM EST (that's 5 AM for those of us in Texas), so y'all better get busy!

Card Supplies:
image - Bugaboo Stamps (Dino Heart 1)
Copic markers - RV21, RV23, RV25, R29
patterned paper - Bo Bunny
punches - Stampin' Up Word Window and Modern Label
stamps - Stampin' Up Three Little Words set
ink - Memento tuxedo black
other - Fiskars scalloped rotary trimmer blade

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Doodle Pantry - Thanks Snow Much

For a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law's mother, I made a set of thank you cards that she can use after Christmas.  I wanted to use the same image but a different layout for every card so that they weren't all exactly alike.  When I was done, I was very pleased with how the set turned out.  Of course, when she opened the gift on Christmas Eve she loved them - who doesn't like a hand-crafted gift?!

Do you have a favorite?  Mine is the one with the twine at the top - it's based on a Mojo Monday sketch!

If you love this Birdie character as much as I do, then be sure to play the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge this month (Jan. 1-Jan. 24) because you will get the new Workout Birdie set just for playing along!

Card Supplies:
sketches - Mojo Monday and Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps
image, sentiment & patterned paper - Doodle Pantry Snow Birdie set   ($2.75 for color and b/w image, 3 sentiments and 4 digi papers)
dies - Nestabilities oval and lacey oval
ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon (winter whites from December ribbon club)
twine - My Mind's Eye Lime Twist
bling and black cardstock- from my stash







Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Seize the Day

Here's another card like yesterday's using leftovers from scrapbooking.  The patterned paper and stickers are from Three Bugs in a Rug.  The green cardstock is from Bazzill.  The white ric rac is from Really Reasonable Ribbon's monthly club (December).  The buttons are from my stash along with the waxy flax in the buttons which is by Scrapworks.  I used OWH Stars & Stamps sketch #87 as my inspiration but ended up veering off from it quite a bit - I think that's what I love most about sketches - you can follow them to a "T" or just use them to help you get started.  :-)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

You Are My Sunshine!

I decided to make a few cards with leftovers from scrapbooking pages - quick and easy.  The patterned paper and stickers are from Three Bugs in a Rug, and the green cardstock is from Bazzill.  I used OWH Stars & Stamps sketch #3.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Invitation to Kaylie's Birthday Party

My daughter Kaylie turned 9 on December 30, but we always have her birthday party over Martin Luther King weekend - (1) because we have a 3-day weekend to recuperate from the party, and (2) because it gives people time to get back into the swing of their regular schedules again.  This year Kaylie wants a Pokemon birthday party.  It was an All-Pokemon Christmas and now an All-Pokemon Birthday, too!  I'm learning things I never wanted to know about Pokemon.  (All you moms out there know what I'm talking about!)  So, yesterday I made her Poke Ball invitations.  They turned out just exactly how I had envisioned them which is always a good thing!  And...they got Kaylie's stamp of approval.

Here's how I did it: 
I cut 4"circles from white and red cardstock using my George and Basic Shapes cartridge on the Cricut.  Then I cut the red circles in half and glued them onto the white circles.  I cut 1/2" strips of black paper and glued those across the middle of the circles, trimming off the ends to line up with the circle.  Next I used a Stampin' Up 1" circle punch to punch out the black circles and the Stampin' Up 3/4" circle punch to punch out the white circles and glued the white onto the black.  Then, I went to my computer and typed up the invitation and printed it out on plain white copier paper.  I used the approx. 3-1/2" Nestabilities circle to cut out the invitation details and glue them to the back of the Poke Ball.  I designed it all so that it would fit in a standard invitation envelope (same size as for a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card) since I have hundreds of them.  Hope this comes in handy if you have a Pokemon fan in your house!


The black square is just to "shield" our private information!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Year in Review Blog Candy Winner

It's NOON Central time and that means it's time to announce the winner of my blog candy for the Year in Review post.  Interestingly enough, there were 173 pageviews, 42 comments - 10 people who left their email address in the comment but only 5 who followed all the requests to be eligible for the $10 gift certificate from Doodle Pantry by also becoming a follower!  (Can you tell I'm a teacher and a stickler for following directions - LOL!!!)

And the winner is.....


GABY aka GLOWEGAL from Gaby's Papery

Doodle Pantry - Workout Birdie

Happy New Year's Day to everyone!  Well, have you made any resolutions?  Looks like this little birdie has made a few!  Today is Doodle Pantry's new release date.  I am so thrilled to be Guest Designer again for January and February.  Month after month, Laurie just keeps coming up with the cutest images, sentiments and matching digital papers.  This month is no different, so go check them out HERE.

I just love the birdie from Doodle Pantry.  If you follow my blog, you've seen him before - in his Western gear, in his snow gear and just dropping by to say hi!  Well, this time he's made a resolution to be good to himself by getting back to exercising regularly.

If you love this Workout Birdie image as much as I do, then be sure to play the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge this month (Jan. 1-Jan. 24) because you will get this set just for playing along!  And, the 50% off sale is still going on today and tomorrow ONLY!
Card Supplies:
image, sentiment, digital patterned papers - Doodle Pantry Workout Birdie and Flaming Hot Ants (blue pattern at the top)
sketch - Mojo Monday from April 11, 2011
white ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
twine - My Mind's Eye Lime Twist
cardstock - Bazzill
dies - Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle
scalloped border punch - Stampin' Up