Extra!! Extra!! Read All About It!!

Hambo Hoedown is at it again!  There newest challenge asks for an extra fold and the use of a Hambo Stamps image.  Last week I played in their challenge, and I received the digi I'm using this week FOR FREE.  That's right, every time you play and follow the guidelines, you receive a free digi image!!  It's a WIN-WIN deal.

The image is called Paperboy digi image, and it comes with three different sentiments.  I colored the image with my trusty Copics, and decided to make an easel card as my "card with an extra fold".
All my papers are from my stash, and I made a CAS card--that's Clean And Simple, so I can pop it in the mail for Operation Write Home, an organization that sends handmade cards and personal items to deployed servicemenn and women on a monthly basis.  Two requirements are that the cards lay flat and that no glitter is used.
It's your turn to dance in the Hoedown, so get out your markers and...what, you don't have a Hambo image?  Get your FREEBIE now and play!!

Gimme a Little Kiss, Will ya Hon?

Sometimes we need a little encouragement or a reminder to tell our partners that we love them.  Here is my humorous way of reminding my girlfriend to let her hubby know that she loves him, while poking fun at the whole thing at the same time.  His birthday is later this month, and I love both of them dearly.

I am using another colored rendition of Queen Kat Design's Queen of Frogs by artist Sandra Caldwell.  I love this image and have more in store for you!
Meanwhile, this card features her highness amid a background of flowers.  I received an assortment of diecut cards and love the look of them.  This one reminded me of latticework in a garden, so I had to use something with flowers on it.  The caption reads: "Have You Kissed Your Frog Today?"
Queen of Frogs is being released this month, along with a number of gorgeous, funny and bold new stamps from many different artists.  Come have a peek at them HERE.
And as always, keep crafting!

CASE-ing the Squigglefly Challenge Blog

That's what the new challenge is at Squigglefly Challenge Blog- to CASE a DT card, meaning to copy it yet change it up enough to make it your own.  So I CASE'd Rhonda's Card because I liked the use of her photo corners and simple design. 

I made it mine by using a FREEBIE digi image from Squigglefly called Turtle Express.  I colored the paughing pair with my trusty Copics, giving the snail's shell a little shimmer with Liquid Pearls in Peacock.
The sentiment, "A good time to laugh is any time you can", by Linda Ellerbee, and I got it from thequotegarden.com.  The patterned paper was leftover from another project, a piece of WeRMemoryKeepers White Out collection. 
I cut my photo corners from the smallest strip of orange cardstock I could find in my stash file, which is slowly but surely dwindling down to a more manageable amount.  It's killing me but I haven't bought paper for MONTHS now.
That's it!  I didn't have to angst over design because I CASE'd it, thanks to Rhonda, who CASE'd it from a card made by another DT, Charlene.  Now it's your turn to CASE a card and play in the Squigglefly Challenge this week.  If you use a Squigglefly image, you can win a prize!!
Other challenges:
Your Scrapbook Place - "going green for Earth Day"

Bunny Hugs

I just got the nicest compliment from one of the artists whose stamp, QUEEN OF FROGS, I used on a card I made for Queen Kat Designs.  The artist's name is Sandra Caldwell, and she has her own blog, and every now and then a challenge.  Her most recent challenge is an Easter challenge, and she even offered a free digi to use for it!  Here's her blog link: Babycakes Doodle This and That She has some lovely, funny, and poignant images for sale.

I used this month's freebie from Sandra to make this Easter bunny Knock Knock joke card.
So the joke reads:
   Knock, knock.
     Who's there?
  Ivan.
     Ivan who?

Inside, the card reads:

  "Ivan to give you a bunny hug!"

Okay, I know it's corny, but aren't ALL Knock, knock jokes??? 

Anyway, Sandra has a couple of great blogs, so visit her and leave her some love, and just maybe enter her challenge.  She's giving away a free dig to one lucky winner!

Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder

...and aren't some of us lucky?  I still marvel that my husband thought I was beautiful when we first met.  Sometimes we are also our own harshest judges of beauty, talent, intelligence and worth.  We need to cut oiurselves as much slack as we cut our friends, family, sometimes complete strangers!

So saying, let me introduce you to the Queen of Frogs, a Queen Kat Designs stamp by artist Sandra Caldwell.  This image is just released this month.  I knew there'd be something special this month from QKD.  After all, it's my birthday month!
I colored my Queenly Frog with my trusty Copics, and then very carefully fussy-cut her out, then framed her against some basic grey patterned paper that was in my stash drawer.
In fact, all papers used on this card are from previous projects, as I am extending my "going green project through Earth Day, April 22.
I printed the quote from thequotegarden.com
It reads. "Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin.  That, and a kick-ass red lipstick."  I love Gwynneth Paltrow, don't you?!
I colored six Queen of Frogs and can't wait to show you the cards and projects I'm making with them.  So check back here often.  And if you want to color your own, she is available at the QKD SHOPPE.

Open Your Heart

Everyone has differing opinions about the "war" in Afghanistan, but everyone cares about the men and women who are deployed to the Mideast.  One of the ways crafters can help support these young servicemen and women is by sending handmade cards to Operation Write Home.  There's not a lot of things they can buy over there, so a handmade card either from a crafter to send a hello and thank you to them is nice, but even nicer are handmade cards that They can send home to loved ones for birthdays, anniversaries, and just plain thinking of you cards.

That's what the Hambo Hoedown is all about this week.  And what makes this project and challenge extra special is the new line of images they are introducing:

If you read carefully, you will see in the logo to the right, that it says "benefitting Operation Write Home." Well, OWH has a special place in our hearts and also in the heart of Hop Art Designs' illustrator, Asela Hopkins!

Asela has designed some sweet images and ALL proceeds from the sale of these images will go directly to benefit Operation Write Home!

Isn't that COOL?

How can you help?

Spread the word! Talk about it on your blog, on your Facebook page, in your online gallery -- anywhere you like! We want to let everyone know that purchasing one of Asela's images benefits this great organization.

The challenge this week is to COLOR your image.  I used Copics: E00,08,15; R29;YR02;G02, AND B93. n  It's a CAS (CLean And Simple) card that will ship overseas and back again with the standard postage, and NO glitter.

Here's your chance to dance in the Hoedown and do some good for someone!!  And, as always, keep crafting!!

Who's The BIGGEST Fool Today???

I know it's not me, and it's not YOU, because you're here for the Scrapbook Place April Fools' Day BLOG HOP!!! If you are coming from Pammie  then you're hopping along the right path.  If not, start at Your Scrapbook Place
This month's Blog Hop is sponsored by Floppy Latte's Digital Designs:

Hi, My name is Jessica aka Floppy Latte.  I am a digital stamp designer and have Floppy Latte’s Digital Designs.  I’ve been designing stamps for almost 2 years but drawing and creating as long as I have been able to hold a crayon!  At FLDD, I offer papers, digi stamps, and digital die cut files for crafters!  I love to draw and this seemed the perfect venue for that passion.  I have an active blog and the store always has a freebie on line for you!  I do hope that you visit Floppy Latte’s Digital Designs.  I am sure there is something there that you will love!

And what makes this HOP so special is that one random winner will receive a $10.00 Gift coupon toward your purchase in the FLDD catalog!! 
Check out the cards made using her images.  Leave a comment on each blog along the hop.  It's that easy!  One lucky person who leaves a comment on all the blogs will get their name in the draw for this awesome prize!!

Ship II digi image



Toy Train digi image

 The theme is FUNNY or Surprise me, so here are my cards to tickle your funny bone today.  the card above reads, "Someday my ship will come in..."
The inside (punchline) reads, "And with my luck I'll be at the airport."
The second card reads, "I never worry about losing my train of thought..." and the inside reads, "Sometimes it doesn't even leave the station!"



Here's the complete list of Blogs in the Hop.  If you get lost, come back here.

Mel

Karissa

Susan

Linda

Carolyn

Pammie 

Pat M

Your Scrapbook Place