If Pigs Can Fly...

The challenge for this week's Squigglefly Challenge Blog is to use a Squigglefly image and add a handwritten sentiment, doodle or something hand-drawn to your project.  I chose to make an altered notebook for my dreams.  Some people call it a wish list, others a bucket list.  Regardless of its title, it's the things you want to do either before you die or when you have money to burn and the time to spend it!
I am a list maker.  I love to make funky, unique notebooks for my lists.  So when I saw this cutest of cute digi-images from Squigglefly called Wanda, I knew I had to use her on one of my notebooks!
I took her sentiment, which allows her to believe that pigs can fly (after imbibing of the delicious local sangria), and decided it would go well as a cover for a notebook to list out all my secret wishes, heart's desires and pipe dreams. 
Here is where I will put my fabulous two-month long trip to Europe; my Cadilac Escalade; my winter home in Cozumel.  Here is where reality and imagination merge into a world of possibilities, if only on paper. And if I get lucky, maybe I can cross an item or two off my list in the future!
Meanwhile, I printed two copies of this fabulous image to color with Copics: B12,97; YG03,05,23; R29; Y17; V000; RV00 & BV00, and adhered them together for a tiny bit of dimension.  I used papers from my stash, as well as a bit of ribbon, some jewels and some flowers.  I used Stickles and Liquid Glass to polish her up, and expanded on her stamped wings by cutting some petals off a Prima flower and embellishing with Stickles.

The cover of my altered notebook reads: "If pigs can fly,
why can't I..."

The inside cover continues with "Why can't I... Ask for the moon, Deam a little dream, Have my cake and eat it too, Wish upon a star, Chase my dreams, Reach for the stars..."

Why don't you join in the fun this week at Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  If you don't have one of their images, you can shop HERE or pick up a FREEBIE to work with.  And if you have a bucket list somewhere with the wish to "play in a blog challenge," then here's one you can cross off this week!!

Rockin' The Dells

Everyone should travel with an almost 4-yr-old at least once in their lives!  My family (hubby, adult son, his daughter & our own daughter) packed up the car and drove off to the Dells (wisconsin, that is) for an extended weekend.


Downtown Dells

 We chose a resort that was family-oriented, and chose one close to a camping atmosphere.  They offered nightly campfires, s'mores buckets, pools, kiddie water park, along with such outdoor activities as tetherball, badminton, etc.
Besides spending a LOT of time relaxing at the pool and kiddie water park, we have been to Circus World, where Bella exclaimed that she wanted to "be a clown".  We went "mining" for gem stones, and passed on cutting and polishing the "emeralds, rubies and quartz" that we "discovered".
We took a steam locomotive train tour, that I thought (silly me) was going to be a full-sized train and ended up being one of those kiddie-sized trains.  We went shopping for moccasins and towels and fudge.

Astronaut Bella

We went to Tommy Bartlett's Exploratory and Robot World, which hasn't changed since we brough tour 25 year old son here around 1990. 
If we had come here without the grandchild, it would have been a bit of a disappointment, but looking at these attractions through the eyes of a 4 year old brought new wonder to old attractions.  The clowns were funnier, the excitement when we "found a big one" at the Mining Center was palpable, and the interactive science games at the exploratory were more entertaining than going to a show.


Mining for gem stones











Even roasting marshmallows at the campfire, or sharing a bag of popcorn while sitting in log rocking chairs in the lobby while watching Tangled seemed more magical.

I have kept my photos organized since coming here, and add a few each day to my dells album.  I will be more than ready when we get home to take my own little vacation to a crop so i can get these memories scrapped.

3D Challenge Over at Your Scrapbook Place

Monday brought a new challenge to Your Scrapbook place Blog.  They asked for a 3D project, whether it was a feature of a card, layout or a 3D item.
I used Wee Henry Snorkel digi image from Hambo Stamps and featured it on this vacation savings bank.  We just popped open the bank, as we plan on going on vacay soonest, and there was a measly $27 in it, but honestly we hadn't been saving long!!  Hambo Challenge Blog is featuring a challenge this week as well...check out the Hambo hoedown for a chance to win!
I used my fave color scheme, TEAL, on this plastic bin that I rescued from a work trash can.  I covered the container with teal and white pieces of tissue papers, and added some ripped scenery from a beach scene patterned paper for the backdrop.  I colored Wee Henry with my trusty Copics and layered a couple printed images on top of each other with dimensional dots.  I made his snorkel and swim mask shine with CTMH Liquid Glass, as well as his turtle inner tube.
I embellsihed the container all around with beach and vacation bubble stickers.  To finish it off, I added some shades of teal fibers and a dog tag, then cut a hole in the top to drop some coinage into the bank.
Let's be honest---if you had a pretty vacation bak in which to save your loose change, wouldn't you be more apt to add to it?
If you want a piece of the action, check out Your Scrapbook place Blog for this week's challenge!

Feeling Colorful today

Went to see the conclusion of the Harry Potter movies today.  After the movie, I wanted to stay seated and watch it again...and again...and again.  While it didn't follow the last book very well, it was a very nice merging of the series of movies and most loose knots were tied nicely!  I liked it, and will see it again!

Speaking of not following the theme to the T, I made another card using the Mojo Monday Sketch from this week's challenge again.  I turned the sketch sideways and used a Hanglar and Stanglar image.  The I blasted it with color and embellishments.  I don't usually pile oin the embellies, but I felt in an over-the-top mood, so that's where my card landed!
I colored the image with Copics: E00; Y11,15,17; YR02; YG03; B02; RV34 & V000.  I cut it out in a circle with my CM circle cutting system, cutting a second larger one to frame it.  I put it onto a 6x6 piece of Basic grey patterned paper.  The sentiment is a clear sticker that I adhered to green cardstock from my stash.
I used a teal mesh for the vertical and horizontal ornaments, adding a bit of green lace to the vertical stripe.  My H&S image sits atop the horizontal one, which I then embellished with some pillow stickers from Studio 112.  I fancied up my circular frame with adhesive jewels and added a MS grossgrain bow.
I really like the way the card came out, and plan on leaving it on my daughter;s pillow one night while we are vacationing next week at the Dells.  She is 16 going on 30!
You should check out all the lovely cards over at Mojo Monday Challenge blog--a true inspiration!

Three day Weekends

I love having Friday off.  The weekend is more relaxing, for not having to try to cram in all the errands, housework and fun into that tiny 48 hour slot.  Take today, for instance.  I had the leisure to make a 6x6 card to cheer up a friend.  It uses Hambo digi image Mosquito in a monochromatic color scheme for their Hambo Hoedown weekly challenge, and it also uses a sketch from Mojo Monday Challenge Blog!
I colored the image with Copics: 100 (black); B12,95;G00 & BG10,15,72.  He's shining with the Black and Icycle Stickles I used, as well as some Liquid Glass.  His eyes are popping because I used a pair oif google eyes.  I cut the image intoan oval using my fiskars cutter, framed it with coordinating paper, and followed the sketch found HERE at the mojo Monday challenge blog. 
The sentiment comes from the Quote Garden.  The inside of the card finishes off the quote with "...you've never been in bed with a mosquito."
All the patterned papers and cardstock were pulled out of my magic hat, which is cleverly disguised as the file cabinet where I keep my leftover stash.
Enjoy YOUR weekend!

I Brought My Mojo On

Life is very stressful at the moment.  I have a daughter who just passed her summer school drivers' ed class and wants to drive, well, EVERYWHERE.  I have an adult son who is recovering from major surgery at home.  Work is a bear, and the heat is melting everything in its path.

So I go to my restful, Zen Den, my craft room, and let my Mojo work its wonders on a new card to destress me.  Mojo Monday Challenge Blog has a new challenge.  To play along, I made a project using the provided sketch.  They let you use any brand of stamps you like and enter as many cards as you wish. They're adding a prize for every 50 entries up to a maximum of eight and each randomly chosen winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to  Verve Stamps!  What a great challenge, what a great way to win!!
So here's my first entry, using the gorgeous stamp set Humphrey from Crafter's Companion Stamps.  I used a little poetic license with the sketch, but the sense of it is still there, and I think it turned out well.  of course, when you're using a set like Humphrey, it's hard NOT to get a great caRD OUT OF IT!
I colored the image with COpics: V000,04; Y11,17; YG03; G94 & C1
I cut it out with my Creative Memories Circle Cutting system and framed it with PostIts adhesive backed paper. The lace came from a rummage sale, the bow is Martha Stewart grossgrain ribbon bows, the sticker is K&Co and the rest of the papers are leftovers from my stash.
CHALLENGES:
Craft Your Passion - Text It

Needed a Break from Work

So I crept into my craft room and whipped up this little card for my cousin.  No reason, just because. 
I colored the image with Copics, cut it out with Fiskars Edging scissors, and framed it with text petterned paper.
I picked up a box of lace and eyelet trims at such a deal, and liked the look of this piece on the card. 
A bit of fiber in coordinating colors finishes off the card.


CHALLENGES: Craft Your Passion - TEXT IT
                           Papertake Weekly - CUTENESS
                          Corrosive Challenge - GREEN
         Beary Scrap Design Team - Inspiration from the Closet  (I found a top I really liked to wear with this bit of lace)