Dance Class Favors

Next week is my granddaughter's last dance class, so of course I had to start planning on favors for the girls and a gift for the instructor. The class is called Storybook Dance, and introduces preschoolers to the moves and positions through Disney Musicals.

So I ransacked my stash of stamped princess and ballerina images. I scored some wedding boxes at the local dollar store (2 packs of six for a dollar) and looked for small images. I think the small boxes turned out well, and Bella already picked out her fave box. She also helped Grandma put them together!

Check out the homemade pinwheel on the top of each box!
By the time I was ready to make the larger box for the instructor, she was off to more exciting adventures (a trip to the library with daddy), so I was alone in creating a larger version of the girls' favor boxes.

I used full images on the bigger box, which I bought on clearance at The Container Store, and topped the box with a feather butterfly.
I like the set, and just need to fill them. The girls will get some candy, while the instructor gets some spa products and a gift card.
These cute gift boxes qualify for the following challenges:
Digi Doodles Challenge Blog - ANYTHING GOES

Squigglefly Challenges Reach Triple Digits!S

So in celebration of the Squigglefly Challenge Blog, *Triple/Three* is the challenge theme this week... So you need to think in THREES! Use 3 of something on your creation...3 flowers, 3 brads, etc. You get the idea! **Have fun!** You don't *have* to use a Squigglefly image, but in order to qualify for a prize you MUST use one. You can also combine SF images with non-SF images to qualify too! Don't have one? Then try looking at the FREEBIES section and use one of those!**
For the card above, I used SF digi image "Thy Cart Overfloweth". That poor turkey looked so totally clueless that I had to print out the dictionary definition of the word clueless to make my point. Well, better he doesn't know what's waiting for him at the end of the ride, less stress and anxiety, right?
My Triple Three's element is in a few places. I cut my patterned paper background into three pieces and framed it. I also used three fall leaf stickers above the image, as well as three jewels on the left.
I know, I know, Summer is just starting to gain momentum here in the Windy city (actually, we've barely had a Spring!), but after printing the image, he looked me in the eye and whispered to me: "Go ahead, color me in"---so I did!!!
Now it's your turn to go to Squigglefly Challenge blog and have some fun!!

My Web of Friends

Got some new images and couldn't wait to color, so I locked my craft room door and before the firemen bring it down with an ax, I thought I'd share the card I made with it. The image is called Web Spinner from Sugar Nellie. I just love fairies, and mushrooms, so this image went prefectly with the background paper from Cosmo Cricket Earth Love stack. I used brown textured card stock for the base, some glitter paper in blue to match the coloring in my image abd a big chunk of the CC patterned paper. the flower behind the butterfly is from Basic grey, but I used my Copics to match the colors better.
Here are the Copics I used to color the image: E00,37; R02; YR61; Y11; YG03,05; G00,21,94; BG10,72 & B32,95.
The butterfly is one I purchased from OTC and attached with a glue dot, after I put a tiny bit of Icycle Stickles on the wings. My spinning fairy is glitzed with Icicle Stickles and Liquid Pearls from Ranger Crafts.
The inside sentiment says: "Friendship is sewn with love and measured by kindness" from some leftover stamped sentiments.

April Showers Bring May Flowers SPB Blog Hop

Welcome to Scrapbook Place's Spring Blog Hop! Our theme this month is "April Showers Bring May Flowers" so you will see FLOWERS featured in everyone's creations.

My card features layered flowers with a Hambo Stamps digi image (Heart Basket). I have collected so many different colors and sizes and shapes of flowers, it's hard to keep up with them! Sometimes I just want to baggie them up and give them away and start fresh, but then that would cost money and I'm all for saving money and using up my stash. However, for this special Blog hop, I think I will gift one lucky person who leaves me love in the comments section a nice-sized baggie of assorted flowers!

I joined SBP Yahoo Group a few years ago, and don't know a nicer group of friends who share the same passion for crafting that I do. Their blog is new, but gaining speed fast. If you've a mind to meet new friends, play games, challenge yourself artistically and have fun, click here and we'll be sure to shoot you an invite!

If you just happened upon my blog, you will want to go back to the beginning of the hop - Lindsy's blog - and follow through to see all the beautiful creations! Have fun hopping along with us and if you get stuck, here's the blog hop order: >
Lindsy
Leti
Allie
Annette
Shannon
Linda
Debbie
Teresa
Diane
Donna
Pat M
Anna
Rhonda
Holley
Jinky
Scrapbook Place Group Blog
Don't forget to leave some love if you'd like a chance for some special flowers!

Location, Location, Location!

Have you ever sold your house and looked for another one? The realtor is always saying Location is the most important factor. Well, this guy must have got a great deal for his "piece of the rock!! Although it appears the neighbors are ready to welcome him!

This card features Moonscape digi-image PLUS Eye Monster-digi image, both from Hambo Stamps
I used double-sided patterned cardstock from Gartner for the 6x6 card base. I framed out a piece of CTMH patterned paper with white card stock for my spacey background. I used patterned paper from a rummage sale find to print the Moonscape image onto, embellishing the image with Copics (Y15,17 & YR61). I used dimensional tape to pull it out into space, and added some Stickles to its surface.
I colored Eye Monster with Copics G94; YG03,23; RV09 & 100 (black). I printed, colored and cut him out three times to give him dimension. I covered the center of the image (which is a heart) with a circle-punched sentiment to let the card receiver know that the card giver has moved. I texturized the scene a bit more with a tiny amount of FlowerSoft in the starry sky. I added a few scifi stickers from (shh!) my granddaughter's stash and we're almost ready for a housewarming (overnight guests welcome).
This card fits into this week's Hambo Hoedown at the Hambo Challenge blog. It is to use MOONSCAPE digi-image and any other Hambo image you would like (or none). OPTIONAL: Add TEXTURE somewhere on your project for an out-of-this-world design! If you are new to the Hoedown, or didn't receive Moonscape free this week and are using another Hambo image other than Moonscape, TEXTURE IS REQUIRED for the challenge. Even if you don't yet have a Hambo image, you can get some free here.
Everyone is a winner at the Hambo Hoedown!! See you there!

New Week, New Challenges!

Today's card is inspired by a Squigglefly digi image called Daily Twitter that you can get FREE HERE.
They post weekly challenges on Mondays, and this week their challenge is to use paper piecing on your project. I have just discovered paper piecing and am loving it! Oh, the different variations you can get when you paper piece is unbelievable!! On this card, I printed the image onto both white cardstock and on a small piece of leftover paper (never throw away anything bigger than 2 inches is my credo). I had just enough to cut out a piece for the background of my card as well. I used a paper doilie and another leftover piece of patterned paper to frame out my little birdie. She's actually three layers of image. Then I added a jewel and some wire for her legs and tail and her eye. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set, inked with CTMH Star Spangled Blue ink pad. I prettified my leftover buttons with some Martha Stewart Grossgrain bows, which I colored to match the colors on my card, using Copics: B95 and G21 (I used Y17 on her beak and marvelous plumage). No extra bling, shine or glitz--I only had time for a simple, easy card today. It took me all of ten minutes from printing the Squigglefly image to uploading a photo of the finished card!
Now it's your turn! Do you have an extra ten minutes to spare? Go to Squigglefly Challenge Blog and check out this week's inspiration from the design team and try your hand at this week's challenge!

Talk to the Ham Blog Hop is Here!

Get ready for some pig-squealin’ fun! Talk to the Ham Hambo Blog is up to its curly pink tail with a blog hop. You should have hopped over here from Christy's Blog. If not, it would be best to start at Talk to the Ham so you can enjoy the full ride.
So, our theme today is "Hamming it Up at the Movies", and I was so inspired with their images and their theme that I made four (!) cards for this hop. That’s right, no hogwash. I went hog wild. Once I started matching up HAMBO images with movies, I just couldn’t stop!

First up is Farm Chicken digi-image. I made him extra BIG on my card to match the movie with the same name. Tom Hanks, he is not, but he is a character, don’t you think? By the way, what made the chicken cross the road? To get to the Hambo Hoedown! I used patterned papers and cardstock from my stash. I colored my image with Copics, and hand-drew the stick figure announcing the obvious.

Next up is a royal treat, starring Lion digi-image, humming the movie’s theme song. He’s not quite sure of the words to the song, but wants you to have a good day anyway. I colored him with Copics, glitzed him up a bit with Gold Stickles, and crowned him with a chipboard sticker.

The patterned paper is from DCWV’s Once Upon a Time collection. What a prince of a guy, or rather, King—Lion King, that is!

Okay, no time for pussy-footing around, not when you have as many feet as the Caterpillar digi-image. Run, Forrest, Run, says the tiny shrimp in the bottom left corner. Think he’ll make it back to Mama in time for the Oscars? I used Gartner patterned papers from the Airplane Voyage collection, cut and framed in three’s for the background. The shrimp is from Microsoft Clipart Online and the image was colored with…you guessed it, Copics!

Finally, I love my old-time Black & White movies. Anyone old enough to remember Burt Lancaster? He was in an old movie called The Swimmer, and Wee Henry Snorkel digi-image fits him to a T! Well, Maybe Wee Henry is a little less buff than Burt was, but I think he's cuter!

The card uses a side-step fold out of DCWV Textured cardstock, and the patterned paper lighthouse scene is a page from one of those 365-day-a-year desk calendars. I printed Wee Henry twice, so as to pop out his snorkel and swim mask. I also used CTMH Liquid Glass to shine up his goggles and plastic turtle swim ring. I added a leftover mixture of FlowerSoft for some texture on the beach sand. The fish behind Wee Henry come from a broken bracelet—just couldn’t throw those tiny fish beads away and now I’m glad I didn’t! Did I forget to mention I used my Copics to color Wee Henry!!!

Well, as Porky would say, Th-th-that’s all, folks! Hope you enjoyed your stay here. Be sure to wipe the mud off your shoes before hopping over to Joy http://daiseyfreak.blogspot.com/
but don’t forget to leave a little love before you go. A prize will be awarded to one participant whose movie-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, May 25.


Hogs n Kisses,
Pat

In case you need it, here's the hop order:
Talk to the Ham - Hambo blog http://hambostamps.blogspot.com/

Sherry

Karin

Yolanda

Melissa

Dawn

Silke

Paula

Libby

Heather

Leslie

Hannah

Alice

Christy

Pat (you're here)

Joy

Mary

Ree

Judy

A Ton of Fun This Weekend

Got a fun weekend planned with my mom and sisters, but I wanted to make sure I created a new card for the Hambo Hoedown before I left. Every week they offer a new challenge, and ALL players in the challenge receive a free digi! This weekend is extra special, as they are hosting a blog hop. I made some special movie-themed cards for the hop, so be sure to check them out tomorrow HERE.
Meanwhile, I wanted to share this funny card with you. I used Sumo-digi image from Hambo Stamps. This week's challenge was to use a Hambo image along with a sentiment, and use CHIPBOARD. I colored my chipboard black with Copics and framed my image with it, as well as using a small circle to frame out the sentiment. I am in love right now with all shades teal, so my card has teal, black and browns. I colored Mr. Sumo with the following Copics: 100; E00; YR61 & BG10. His, uh, fig leaf (?), is two layers of colored image. I had an ATC (in teal, how convenient is that?) in an oriental theme, so used it behind his image. I also had a leftover lantern from a Cricut swap I was in. I glammed up my chipboard frame with punched hearts and Black Stickles. I used some paper from a Card makers kit, as well as leftovers from my stash. I penned in some faux stitching between the solid and striped background papers.
I have a wooden purse box with a bamboo handle that I'd like to use him on and make a gift for a friend who loves the asian theme, but I didn't have time to put that together (yet). Maybe when I get back next week!
Meanwhile, don't forget to check out two great blogs this weekend. The first is Hambo, and the second is Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. I've authored two posts this week over there, and hope you get a couple good ideas on saving money as you craft.

The Nurse Scared the Patient Back to Health...

Got a friend who's looking at some surgery soon, and so I thought I'd cheer her up with this Get Well card. Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog has a new challenge this week. This card uses a new (to me) technique called Bricks. It has a kind of a mosaic look to it. I decided to "lay" my sentiment like bricks as well. I've never tried this before. That's why I love challenges. It introduces a crafter to new techniques, images, color combos and sometimes pushes her out of her comfort zone!
Come join us at Scrapbook Place Yahoo Group and meet some new friends!

Fairy Friday (extended)

Just had to create one more card for the Crafter's Companion May Challenge! I managed to make three cards this month using my Fairyopolis stamps, and they're all different! Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog is a great place to get inspiration and pull yourself out of a crafting slump, if needed. Here are the card's deets:

Fairy image and butterfly images from the Crafter’s Companion Fairyopolis collection; fairy stamped and colored twice with Copics: E00,08,35; Y11,15,17; YR02,16,61; G21,94 & BG10, pieced together using dimensional tape; butterflies colored with Copics: Y11,17; YR02,07 & R29 and glitzed with Yellow & Christmas Red Stickles.
Patterned paper from DCWV “Once Upon a Time” collection
Cardstock Paper Trey “New Leaf”
Embellishments: Pearls and Cuttlebug diecut in black from leftover stash, paper doilies colored with Copic G21, crocheted flower from KaiserCraft
Sentiment quoted from The Quote Garden, printed in Microsoft Word using Mistral font.

Fairy Friday

Another week leads to another weekend! Hurray for weekends! Besides, groceries, housework, taking the granddaughter to dance class and a list of to-do's from dear hubby, I can spend my free time(what free time?) in my craft room. I have been buirning the midnight oil, creating cards for several challenges. The carde pictured above is for the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog, featuring one of their Fairyopolis Spring collection fairies. Isn't she sweet?
I love the detail of this and the other fairopolis stamps. I colored her with Copics, of course and the flowers are handmade by the very talented Anna Nikander. Other than that, everything else was from leftovers and rummage sales! The patterned papers didn't even have a mfgr's name on the back! I love those roses in the background! I think my fairy is ready to move in for good!
So this is my second card for the Crafter's Companion May Challenge. There is some sweet blog candy for a random winner this month, a Crafter's Companion Tool collection. If you love fairies, then you'll want to go straight from their blog to their store---I know I did!

Challenge Card Sails Along with Color

As Hannibal would say (A-Team), "I love it when a plan comes together."
I love this card, when all the patterned papers, paper piecings and bright colors are put together! Using another Hambo Stamps digi-image, BALLOON, I arranged CTMH and Paper Pizzazz patterned papers on a square card base. I then used Copics to color three layers of my image. The first layer is pure Copic-colored; the second image is on top of the first, and includes patterned paper-piecing on the balloon; the third layer is of the high-flying girl and the basket, all Copic-colored. The layers are put together with dimensional tape, and all lie on a multi-colored star cut from another piece of patterned paper and outlined in black.
I embellished with MS grossgrain ribbon bow, a colored and shaped paper clip, pearls that form tails off the background stars, and finally, an unused cell phone charm!!! The sentiment comes with the digi-image, which you can find at HAMBO STAMPS.
When you visit their blog, be sure to check out their challenge of the week. Just by entering the challenge, you will receive a free digi. If you win the challenge, like I just did, you get a prize(I got to choose an image from their store--LUCKY ME!).
If that isn't enough, you can always check out the challenge blogs on the right sidebar. Have fun!

Shades of Teal

I am truly loving the CardMaker's Kit of the Month CM008 that I received from a crafting friend a while ago. I love all shades of teal, and when coordinated with brown, the outcome is always pleasing.
Of course, having a great image to color is another plus whn making cards, and I couldn't be more happy to use the ice cream man digi-image from HAMBO Stamps. Except for the ribbon and paper doilies, all papers and embellishments came out of the kit! How easy is that?
I colored my chillin' friend with Copics: 100; C1,3; E00,13,35,37; G00; BG10,15; B02,12. I glitzed his umbrella with Crystal Stickles. The sentiment was typed in Word and says "Never trust a skinny Ice Cream Man".
Hambo Challenge Blog offers challenges every week, and all who enter win a free digi image! On top of that, there's a random winner of prizes, and right now, they are offering a design team call, so go check them out HERE!

Happt Nat'l Scrapbooking Day

Happy National Scrapbooking Day! My life has been very busy since the first of the year-family issues, work schedule-that I have not scrapbooked since the first of the year! OMG, I hadn’t counted the time until just now! How could I have left off all those lovely memories in the form of photos, keepsakes and notes?!
My day was again very busy, having five places to go in one day and all at practically the same time. But I managed to steal minutes (yes, I said minutes) in my craft room here and there, and made a card and two layouts. Not much—I would have fared better if I had been able to go to a crop and devoted all my time to my craft—but it’s all I had, and thankful for even the smallest amount of time.

The first page is this year’s Easter Day. My granddaughter and her mom came for breakfast, and of course Bella had to hunt for the Easter eggs she had colored that Friday night for the bunny to hide! I used My Mind’s Eye and Cosmo Cricket patterned papers; Paper Trey cardstock in Hawaiian Shores color; hand punches for the flowered journaling; teal ribbon from EK Success; and foam Easter embellishments. The journaling is handwritten.

The second layout is from the last Girls’ Day Out with my sisters and mom, when we drove up to Port Washington. We had to edit our plans because the car started sputtering as we got off the highway and by the time we got off the exit and pulled into the Wal Mart parking lot, it shuddered its last breath. It was after noon on a Saturday, and we were all wondering if we would have to stay until Monday to get it fixed. Luckily, there was a dealership next door. Not only did they stay open until the car was fixed, but they gave us a loaner to use until we could pick it up!
I use an 8x8 album for the Girls’ Day Out trips. I cut a burgundy file folder to use as the background base, and blew up a photo of the wine rack of our fave winery, Vines to Cellar to use as patterned paper. The journaling is on diecut wine goblets, and I made homemade “wine glass charms” out of round paper clips and Nostalgiques Alphas from EK Success. The butterfly sticker is from Multicraft Corp.
I wish I had had more time to craft, but maybe since tomorrow is Mother’s Day, I’ll get more time to do what I love the most. Lord knows I have enough photos to keeop me scrapping for YEARS!!!

Living the Good Life

Our school is losing a fine coach to retirement, and his party is tonight. Talk about waiting until the last minute!! I knew I had this Hambo Stamps digi-image in my growing Hambo collection, and thought it would be a perfect image for a Congratulations card.
I used Paper Trey cardstocks in coordinating colors to frame out my front and inside card faces. The patterned paper is called "Fish Wishes" from Paper Pizzazz. I stamped the sentiments from a Stampin Up set with CTMH Black ink.
The image is the most fun to work with! I printed my cool pool cat twice on white cardstock, once on tellow and once on patterned paper. I colored my image with Copics: YR02,61; Y15; RV13; R29 & G21
I pieced the colored image together with the patterned paper, all on top of a layer of yellow cardstock. Altogether there are three layers to him! I am fairly new to paper piecing and have been having a BLAST with this technique.
I hope my good buddy Vic will like the card. I know he will like the gift card to Home Depot that will go inside of it!!
This card is the first of many I plan on making this weekend in celebrtation of National Scrapbooking Day! So get out your supplies, lock the doors and craft to your heart's content!! And go check out Your Scrapbook Place Blog for some challenges and prizes!

Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?

The theme for this week's Hambo Hoedown is all about Respect for Chickens!! I got the cutest digi image from Hambo Stamps with which to color. Their challenge is to use the Farm Chicken-digi image with dots and stripes. The dotted patterned paper is left over from my Christmas paper stash, as well as the rest of the patterned papers. The bows are Martha Stewart, and I cut out the "Cars" paper with my Epic Six and Nestabilities dies.
I colored my daring chicken with Copics: Y11,15,17; YR02,16,61 & R29.
So why did he cross the road? The inside of my card tells you that he crossed the road..."to wish you a Happy Birthday!"
Now why don't you "cross the road" and visit Hambo challenge blog for some great prizes and a free digi image!

A Tisket, a Tasket a Heart-filled Basket

After working Sunday at two First Communion liturgies, my heart is filled with love and hope and faith. So I colored another Heart Basket digi image from Hambo Stamps and made a card. There's a young girl who made her First Communion yesterday who holds a special place in my heart. Her name is Reggie and she is battling Juvenile Diabetes. We started getting to know each other better when I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Now that classes are over, I'm going to miss her, and look forward to seeing how much she has grown when classes resume in the Fall.
Meqanwhile, I made this card using her and the Hambo digi image as my inspiration. I just caught a wonderful packm of patterned papers at a rummage sale and found this delectable paper of purple flowers (I call them snowballs) to use as the background. Her dress was full of lace with tiny white flowers all over, so I added the lace in spots and added some handmade flowers (thank you, Anna).
I colored my image with COpics: E00; V09; RV09,11,34; R29 AND B63
I pieced three layers of the image together for dimension, and glitzed the hearts with CTMH Liquid Glass and Stickles brand clear glitter.
The inside of the card carries the sentiment "Sending All My Love", which is also a digi image that cpomes with the heart basket from Hambo Stamps.
This card is entered in their Hambo Hoedown challenge this week, which asked for one of their images, along with lots of lace and flowers. i think I got the lace and flowers down, don't you??

Do You Believe in Fairies?

I believe!! And I certainly believe in coloring them up for some Mother's Day cards (and thank you's and birthdays and get wells, etc)! This gorgeous fairy is one of the stamps you get in the new Fairyopolis Spring Stamp Set from Crafter's Companion. Look at the detwil of this fairy--she is gorgeous! I couldn't wait to color her when I got her.
I used papers from a leftover card kit, glitzed the card with Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, gelly rollers from Sakura in Black and Clear Star, and a jewel here and some pearls there. I colored my Fairyopolis Spring Fairy with the following Copics: G00; BG10,15; Y11,17; E00,37 AND RV11.
I used feather Butterfly wings from OTC on my card, and the flower is handmade (not by me) from wallpaper samples. The alphas are from ColorBok.
My mom is a fan of fairies as well, so I hope she'll like this card!
So my question stands---do you believe in fairies? If you do, I know you will love the new stamps from Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog, and they are offering a prize package for their new May challenge, so don't forget to chekc them out!