Didn't Frog-get my Sister's Birthday

With the stay-at-home order in Illinois, celebrating birthdays is difficult --unless you have inspiration from Bugaboo Stamps!! My sister is just 6 blocks away from where I live, but we couldn't celebrate her birthday "together", so I used a digital image from Bugaboo called AKV Frog to show her we didn't frog-get her special day.

I printed several copies of this little hopper in different colors, cut out and laminated them (just in case it rained). My daughter and I taped wooden skewers to each and "planted" them in her front yard.

I also made a small poster telling her we didn't frog-get her, as well as a larger one wishing her a Hoppy Birthday. We did all this while she unsuspectingly sat a her kitchen table having a late breakfast. When we finished decorating her yard, we rang the doorbell and knocked hard on her door to get her attention.

She was very happy to see our work. as well as us (at a socially acceptable distance). One of her neighbors came out of her house across from my sister and yelled out birthday greetings to her while we were there.
This week Catch the Bug challenge blog offers an Anything Goes theme. You still have a couple days to join in the fun!

A CHALLENGE WITH REAL CHARACTER

The tear 2020 will  be a challenging one for me - lots of changes related to family, health, time, finances, and other essentials. I'll be looking at the year with a new perspective, open to different paths, short cuts, adventures, challenges and determined to stay focused and flexible.
I'll also be on and offline due to life playing with my plans. But I did manage to create for the Path of Positivity's first challenge of 2020. It has a lot of character, at least the optional theme of the challenge is to somehow feature one of your character traits in your artwork.
Me, I may seem to be outgoing but I've always been a homebody, or as my cousins used to put it as I was growing up, a bookworm. Give me a book and some privacy and the sky could fall down and I wouldn't notice. What kind of books do I like to read? The question should be what kind don't I like to read? I like to go to library book sales the last day when they have bag sales, where you can fill up a bag for a set amount of money. It's like getting presents at someone else's birthday party!
Then again,I am an English Major, and I love the English language. I love words, and while in college, I had wanted to become a lexicologist, traveling the country, studying how people in different sections of the USA pronounced words or used words differently.
Nowadays I just get affronted when I read a book with several typos. I mean, don't publishers have proof readers any more? I want to write an article demanding to banish the apostrophe, so everyone can relax when they can't remember if the word is "its" or "it's".
But life is too full of adventures and inspiration and love and laughter and everything, to worry about punctuation, spelling, etc.  But I still like my cuppa and a good book...or an okay book...or a magazine...you know, something to read.

So, I don't have a Kindle (gasp), I just love holding a paper book, which means I use bookmarks, so I created one using 2 images from Bugaboo called AKVB SITTING DOG TOPPER (possibly retired) and BOOK STACK. I printed them onto a piece of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles paper from the Color of the Rainbow Chevrons Paper Kit before coloring them with Copic markers.I framed the bookmark with teal cardstock, added a tab and swag at the top, and couldn't resist a small strip of tiny jewels at the bottom. Don't you wish you read real books?? .LOL

Bugaboo Stamps is one of two guest sponsors this month,along with Scribbles Designs.

• In order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, remember that general types of  projects/posts will not qualify for the prizes UNLESS they are also positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. Prizes this month include:
• $12 gift certificate from Bugaboo Stamps, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.
• ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Curious to Discover the new Challenge Theme at the Path of Positivity?

Have you ever been curious as to what your dog named you? How many floors to the top of the Empire State Building? Where the next World Cup is being hosted? When the best time to go whale watching? Sure, you can just Google these  questions, but wouldn't it be more fun to experience them?!
My dad used to tell me the beginning of a story, packed with humor, action, mystery...when I asked him to continue, he would tell me that he just read the story, and I'd never know how the story continued unless I opened the book and read it.
I've always been curious (and thanks to my dad, a good reader). Both my children have that same curiosity. What does this taste like, who invented that, where can I do this, etc. I've tried, and I think succeeded, in satisfying their curiosity whenever they can. They've traveled outside the country, overcome fears, tried sushi, Thai and other foods, And I'm sure since becoming adults, they've had many more adventures.
Curiosity is the optional Twist during this month's challenge at the Path of Positivity blog. I love making and keeping journals: self-discovery, travel, gratitude, etc. I've created a new journal, a reading journal. My pages are and will be filled with books I've read, the story line, what I liked about them, who wrote them, etc. Think of it as a collection of book reports. I've just decorated its cover and it features a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps, one of the guest designers this month. The digi is called Book Stack and can be found in the Bugaboo Store.

Of course, the Twist is just a method to inspire you. As long as your project is positive, encouraging or motivating, it will qualify for all the prizes this month:

• $12.00 gift certificate to the Bugaboo store for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants 
• ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Just remember to link up your creation to the Path of Positivity challenge blog this month! Happy crafting!

Anything Goes at Catch the Bug

This month the challenge theme at Catch the Bug is ANYTHING GOES! I'm still working on my Christmas cards, so my project features two holiday-themed images from Bugaboo: FURBAC Front Steps & BUGCAT Christmas Topper.
To give my card dimension, I printed my image three times. After coloring my front door scene, I used dimensional tap to add two extra Copic-colored images of the cats. I also colored and cut out an extra door's ribbon.
Once the card had all its layers, I added papers to frame and embellish it. I added a few sparkly snowflakes and a row of jewels, with a sentiment sticker on the door to finish off my holiday card. I can't believe I'm so close to reaching my holiday card stash goal! A special thanks to Bugaboo Stamps for offering a Christmas in July daily challenge last week. I won some awesome digis from the store!

Challenges I am Entering:

 Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

12 Months of Christmas - Sparkle, Glitter & Bling

Crafter's Castle - AG w/optional Any Occasion (Christmas)

My Time  to Craft -  Christmas in July

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Critter Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Animal Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Sheepski Designs - Animal Madness

Bugaboo Celebrates Christmas in July with Prizes/Presents

Day 6 of the Bugaboo Stamps Week-long Christmas in July Challenge is here. That means there's only one day left to create and get all your projects linked to Catch the Bug challenge blog for your chance to win a multitude of prizes!

Today's challenge theme is the photo below and the movie "White Christmas". 

For today's card, I used a Bugaboo image called MIS Snowman Trio (just click on the link and it will take you to the Bugaboo Store). Between the hope for snow in the movie "White Christmas" and the snow in the photo, I was inspired to use my homemade "Faux Snow." It's easy to make: just rub two balls of Styrofoam together and gather the "flakes".
So besides the snow family and the border of faux snow, I couldn't resist throwing on a few sparkly snowflakes.  I really do like a white Christmas, but haven't seen one for several years.It either snows before Christmas and melts, or after Christmas when I want to get out for all the after-Christmas sales! LOL
Don't forget to check out the Christmas in July challenge over at Catch the Bug!

Challenges I am Entering:

Imagine That! - Anything Goes
Shopping our Stash - Christmas!
Always Fun- Mood Board

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything PP Goes
Happy Craft - Anything Goes
Catch the Bug - Day 6

Christmas (Cards) in July

Have you checked out the Bugaboo Stamps week-long Christmas in July challenge? Each day for 1 week crafters are offered a different theme based on Christmas movies and sometimes other parameters. I am up to Day 5 of the challenge, whose theme is below:

I was inspired to create a card by the movie Christmas Vacation. I wonder, does Santa ever take a vacation? If he did, I think it would be 1) by his lonesome, far away from his busy little elves and calorie-counting wife, and 2) a place that would defrost his red nose and make him jolly (that would be the margaritas, I'm sure).

Well, in my mind, Santa is thoroughly enjoying his well-deserved vacation. I used a Bugaboo image called Tropical Santa Buried. For my card's background, I used a photo taken by my daughter-in-law, Cami (Camille T Photography). My greeting was created from 2 mini Holiday cards from Tim Holtz. My sentiment, shown on the inside of the card, is below:

All my papers are pieces left over from other projects. I even had a short strip of jewels to make a border on my image. For embellishments, I glued on a couple teeny tiny seashells, that strip of bling and (this should make you laugh) a holiday earring whose mate had gone missing! That's right, crafters, if I lose an earring or break a bracelet, the remainder goes into my stash.
Just look at the big guy. Doesn't he look like he's enjoying soaking up the sun? I say, if you can afford a tropical vacation, go for it! So if YOU could afford a vacation, where would you like to go? I'm actually taking a trip to Germany in the Fall to see my sister, who married a German national and is living in Berlin. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, sie zu besuchen (I can't wait to visit her, but you probably figured that one out already).
Look at all the lovely prizes up for grabs at Catch the Bug challenge blog. Good luck and happy crafting:

PRIZES:

1st Place - 7 Free per month for 6 months ($126 value) Must Participate in all Challenges

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

4 month Guest Designer Term

2nd Place - Must Participate in all Challenges

$50 Gift Certificate

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

3 month Guest Designer Term

3rd Place – Must Participate in all Challenges

$25 Gift Certificate

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

2 month Guest Designer Term

Daily Challenge Winners-

Our Normal 10, 7, 4 image winners daily!

Christmas in July Image Freebies—Daily Winner 

**Exclusive Christmas in July Freebie Set**
(will be in store for sale July 23rd)

Challenges I am Entering:
Catch the bug - Day 5
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes
Creative Crafters - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Christmas in July - Get a Headstart

Trying to beat the heat this month? Try challenging yourself to create a card or project for Christmas. That's right, Christmas (card-making) in July! Bugaboo Stamps is celebrating with a 7-day Christmas in July challenge, and today is Day 4 - a movie and BINGO-inspired theme.

I created my card by choosing the middle horizontal line as my inspiration, while keeping the holiday movie "Elf" in mind. I used a Bugaboo image called Christmas Girl 3, coloring her with Copics before popping it onto my 3-sided Christmas Ornament.. After putting the ornament together, I popped my elf onto one of the sides, using Stickles on her hair and her hat's white fur. With her is my handmade signpost. I don't know what Santa's elf turnover is, but I'm sure as the amount of toys needed for Christmas increases, so will his overhead, hence the Help Wanted sign!

On the second side, I popped a die-cut Christmas present, embellished with a few strands of floral decorations (lots of sparkle there). By the way, the line of gold sequins goes around all 3 sides of the ornament.

My 3rd side is of another die-cut present. I don't know if you can see it, but I popped a red jingle bell inside the ornament to add to the music from the 2 hanging jingle bells.

Here's a close-up of the Bugaboo Stamps image I used to create this sparkly handmade pyramid ornament.

Challenges I am Entering:
Catch the Bug - Day 4

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes

ABC Christmas - N is for No Peeking/O is for Ornament

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Anything Goes/optional Christmas in the Sun

Christmas in July at Bugaboo Stamps - Day 2Another

Day 2 of Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas in July celebration offers a sketch challenge AND a holiday movie to inspire crafters to create.

The movie is called "Jingle All the Way" so my card's sentiment inside reads:

The image I used is Bugaboo Stamps' "Crabby Catmas". I colored my kitty with Copics, colored in a double oval frame and placed it to match the sketch provided. A short line of pearls on the edge at top and bottom finishes off my card.

The movie's story line is of a dad who, forgetting to pick up the toy his son wanted for Christmas, is forced to try to find it on Christmas Eve (along with hundreds of other parents). I remember the year Tickle Me Elmo was THE toy for Christmas. I was lucky to pick one up on Black Friday, before the demand for Elmo reached its peak. My daughter was thrilled!

That's it for now. I'm running behind on my cards for this special Bugaboo challenge, so good luck if you plan to enter, and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering

Catch the Bug - Day 3

Crafting by Designs - Ready for Christmas?

Crafty Gals Corner - Christmas in July

Show Us Your Pussycats - Furrything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Animal Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Animal Goes

Craftyhazelnut's patterned paper - Anything using pp Goes

CCC Digi Creations - Christmas in July

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Sheepski Designs - Early Christmas/Winter

The 12 Months of Christmas - AG + Optional PLAID

My Crafting Corner - Christmas in July

Christmas in July at Bugaboo Stamps

It's Day 3 of the Christmas in July Bugaboo Stamps challenge, offering an ABC challenge (as in Anything But a Card) and the Christmas movie "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Today I created a Holiday Card Folder for keeping track of mailing out my cards. In the folder will go my address list, with a check box for when I send out my cards. Altogether, I've made a set of four folders so that I can share them with my mom and sisters.
Do you still mail out cards, or do you give your handmade cards out in person to family and friends? Here in the US, a single stamp for an A2 sized card is 50 cents, which the Post Office is planning to increase soon. I do mail out holiday cards, but my list is much shorter, saved for family and friends living out of state (or country).

Anyway, I found a tutorial for creating my folders on YouTube. The folder uses a double-sided 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper/cardstock. I colored up a digi image from Bugaboo called Candy Cane Charlie, and printed up a Christmas sentiment as well as a heading for the folder.

Inside I've put a few cards and my mailing list. Oops, I see I forgot to add stamps and envelopes! That way they are all in one place so I can get the cards out by Thanksgiving. I've even started shopping for presents, which is easy this year. I got a new credit card that offered a ton of bonus points. I'm using them to purchase gift cards for everyone on my list!
I hope you'll join in the fun at Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas in July celebration. There are a lot of cool prizes offered:

PRIZES:

1st Place - 7 Free per month for 6 months ($126 value) Must Participate in all Challenges

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

4 month Guest Designer Term

2nd Place - Must Participate in all Challenges

$50 Gift Certificate

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

3 month Guest Designer Term

3rd Place – Must Participate in all Challenges

$25 Gift Certificate

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

2 month Guest Designer Term

Daily Challenge Winners-

Our Normal 10, 7, 4 image winners daily!

Christmas in July Image Freebies—Daily Winner 

**Exclusive Christmas in July Freebie Set**
(will be in store for sale July 23rd)

Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Little Red Wagon - Dog Days of Summer (Christmas in July)

Shopping Our Stash - Christmas in July

Animal Friends - dir Hunde (Dogs)

Christmas Crafts All Year 'round - Gifts NOT Cards (card Mail Out Folders)

Crafter's Cafe - Animal or ATC (Dog)

It's Christmas in July at Catch the Bug Challenge Blog

Bugaboo Stamps is celebrating Christmas in July this week. While it may be difficult to think Christmas when the temps here in Chicago topped 100 degrees for the last few days, creating with the winter holiday in mind kept cool thoughts in my head.
Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas in July  Day 1 Theme is to choose from three movies to create a project.

                                 

I chose "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to inspire me to make my card. While my tree isn't the biggest or fullest tree compared to the others, just like Charlie Brown;s tree, it is decorated with love. I used a Bugaboo image called Merry Christmas Tree. After coloring my tree with Copics, I photographed it and printed it directly onto some scenic papers from Ina Prade of Eena's Creations. I used a font called Hotline Bling for my sentiment inside the card, which reads: 

                   "May your Christmas be decorated with love"

Throughout the Bugaboo challenge, the list of prizes is below:

PRIZES:

1st Place - 7 Free per month for 6 months ($126 value) Must Participate in all Challenges

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

4 month Guest Designer Term

2nd Place - Must Participate in all Challenges

$50 Gift Certificate

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

3 month Guest Designer Term

3rd Place – Must Participate in all Challenges

$25 Gift Certificate

Free Bugaboo Christmas in July images

2 month Guest Designer Term

Daily Challenge Winners-

Our Normal 10, 7, 4 image winners daily!

Christmas in July Image Freebies—Daily Winner 

**Exclusive Christmas in July Freebie Set**

(will be in store for sale July 23rd)

Make sure to stop in at Catch the Bug Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digis. And if you want more chances to win, pop over to the 12 Months of Christmas and be sure to link up your holiday card there, as well!

Challenges I am Entering:

Shopping our Stash - Christmas in July

Christmas with the Cuties - Going Green

Cute & Crafty - Christmas in July

The 12 Months of Christmas - Optional theme PLAIDS

Walking the Path of Positivity with Friends

Halfway through the month and I have another DT make for the Path of Positivity Challenge blog. Walking through life is hard when you're alone, so be open to making and keeping good friends. They way to do this is to BE a good friend.
My card above shows three best friends. They grew up together and are still very close. They are, in fact, sisters.My sisters!  People say you can't choose your family, but I'm happy to say you can become best friends with them, as I have with Kathy, who lives in Germany now, and Dee, who lives just a ten minute walk from my house.
I went kind of crazy with my leftover pieces of papers and bits of embellishments, but when the three of us get together, it's crazy fun, so the colors and design of my card truly represent our relationship.
The Path of Positivity Challenge blog offers monthly Anything Goes challenges that ask for projects that are positive, encouraging and inspiring. A Twist is also offered and this month the Twist has been Friendship. So whether you create a card for your BFF, or a canvas that a friend will love to hang on his or her wall, link it up to the main challenge blog for your chance to win prizes from the guest sponsors:

A $12.00 gift certificate from Bugaboo Stamps, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Challenges I am Entering:
Cupcake Inspiration - Photo Inspiration

Catch the Bug  BINGO- I chose Bugaboo image, flower(s) & Stripes (on image & ribbon)

Crafty Friends - Girls/Ladies
Di's Digi - Tic Tac Toe (Flowers, Digi image, Ribbon)

Just Us Girls - Color Inspiration

Classic Design Team Open Challenge - AG (must be DT)
Fabrika Fantasy - For the Girls
Sheepski Designs - Your Favorite Colors (Teal w/Purple)
Tales from the Craft Room - Lovely Ladies
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes (DT)

Stella Says Sketch at Bugaboo Stamps

 I had sometime to relax this past weekend and colored up a Bugaboo Stamps image I picked up at the STORE recently. It's called simply "Morning Coffee." I was struck by how much the image looked how I felt before that first drop of caffeine hit my system. I think many of us can relate.

 I am again trying to make some headway into decreasing my stash, so all papers are snips and snaps of former projects. I colored  my morning glory with Copics that still had ink in them, and used a couple punches for the sentiment. All the jewels were leftover on the same clear piece of acetate that I could finally throw away in the trash.

I designed my card for Bugaboo Stamps "Stella Says Sketch" challenge #705.

Using a little artistic license, I turned my sketch onto its side. The challenge is up until Sunday, March 17 for your chance to win prizes. Here are some other Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Friends - Ladies/Girls

Craftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper - Anything Goes w/patterned paper

Creative with Stamps - Friends

Friendship on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

What could be better than wandering down the path of positivity? Wandering with a friend, of course! This month the optional Twist to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog's Anything Goes theme is FRIENDSHIP. Make your bestie a card that celebrates your relationship. Of course, the Twist is just for fun. As long as your project is positive, encouraging or affirming, it will qualify for this month's prizes!
I made a card for my bestie. I think the second line would describe her more than the first, but who's keeping track? Although I do wonder...Do I attract crazies, or do I make them that way?? LOL No matter, we get along just fine whichever way it is!
For my card I used a digi image from one of our guest sponsors, Bugaboo Stamps.

 The image is called "Make It Snappy - Friends." Really, all I could have done is colored the image and adhered it to a card base and be done with it. But then again, that's not quite my style. So out came my container of metals, and I found a piece of chain and some girlfriend charms to hang. I think I spent more time getting the chain to stick in all the right places than to color up my image, but I do like the effect!

Prizes for this challenge are as follows:

• A $12.00 gift certificate from Bugaboo Stamps, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.
• ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Hope you've got some time to create this month, cause I love to see all the projects that come in. Just don't forget to link up to the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. LOL See you there, and good luck!

It's All about the Penguins at the 12 Months of Christmas

Midway through the challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas and I'm ready to head south for the rest of the winter. Last month saw Chicago temps dip way below zero, with wind chill temps around -55 F. Cold enough for these penguins to feel comfortable but not me! LOL

Speaking of penguins, the optional twist for February's challenge has been Penguins, and Bugaboo Stamps is the guest sponsor. I got to play with a digi image from Bugaboo called Three Penguins. They are the cutest, goofiest penguins I've ever seen - I love them! They all look snug and warm in their winter hats and scarves, ready for some holiday fun. 
While the Penguin twist is optional, if you want the chance to win this month's featured paper pack, ONE OR MORE PENGUINS should feature prominently on your card. 

You don't need to follow the twist to link up at least 2 cards and earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win a $12 gift certificate to the Bugaboo Stamps store. 

As you can see above, I made 2 cards using almost the same design, papers and image, but my first card has been hand-colored with my image and papers printed out, and the second is completely digital. I like to show the difference between the two, as the colors of the digital papers kind of fade with different printers (like mine). Now I can snail mail my paper-crafted card, and email my digital card - the best of both worlds! 

My card features the following:
Bugaboo Digital image: Three Penguins

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Papers: Green Foil from 12 Days of Christmas 2018, Semi-Circles and Stripes patterned papers from Penguin Pals Paper Kit, Blueberry pp from Bokeh Solid Color Se 1 Paper Kit and Burgundy from A Grungy Christmas Paper Kit.

Challenges I am Entering:

Catch the Bug -  Anything Goes

Colour Crazy - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - AG w/optional Lots of Layers

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes
Cute n Crafty Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Christmas Cheers

We're down to the wire, crafters. For those of you who are still working on holiday cards, just 23 days to go; and for those of you who have your card needs covered, brava, and why not use the extra time to start building next year's stash?
Today I created a card for my granddaughter, Bella. She's in middle school now, and made the cheerleading squad. She should get a kick out of this one. I used a Bugaboo digi image called "BB Cheerleader Girl." I like using images in unusual ways, like a cheerleader for a holiday card.
Once again, my stash has supplied everything I needed for my card. I even re-discovered my Fiskars roller. It really gives my patterned paper added dimension. My card turned out so well, I think I'll use it at my next card-making workshop later this month.

Challenges I am Entering:

Bugaboo Holiday Chaos Day 2 - Sketch Challenge

Christmas Crafts All Year round - Anything Goes

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - AG w/patterned paper

Sheepski Designs - Celebrations

Don't forget to check out Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas Raise the Hoof celebration at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The game question is the easiest of them all, as Santa's reindeer only have ONE job to do on ONE day of the year. Now hoof on over there to answer the question for your chance to win Day 2's digi release!!