Thankful Hearts at Easter

Today is Easter. For some it is a day for family, for a special dinner, for Easter eggs and candy and Easter baskets. For others, it is a day of renewing their faith with the hope and joy that is promised them. However you celebrate Easter, I hope you enjoy the day.
I am enjoying a visit from my son and his family. Now that they live in another state, I see how fast they are growing and maturing. I also see my newest grandson making room to grow in my DIL's body as he gets ready to meet his family in August. Yep, I'm going to be a grandma again, and I am thrilled!
I am so thankful today for my growing family, for my husband and daughter who share my home with me, for my sisters and mom who live within walking distance. I am thankful for having had a lifetime of love from my gram, who gently fell into God's arms this Holy week, ad hope I can make an impact on the lives of my grandkids as much as she had made one on me.
I am also thankful for the time, space and talent to craft. When I create, I focus on technique, on color, on design. It is my Zen time. Everyone needs Zen time, time to find some peace from a busy and stressful life, time to look within for the muse, time to use the inspiration given freely by others.
I am especially thankful for all the talented artists who offer up a little piece of their souls in their projects, from which I learn and expand my own talents. And that's why this Thank You card is for you, my readers today. I know who you are from your blog posts, pins and challenge cards.
My card features a digi image from Meljens called Zombie Stella. She was peeking out from under a pile of leftover papers, and hypnotized me into using her. I used three pieces of patterned paper from my stash (on top of the image) for my card base. I colored her with Copics, adding a tiny bit of shimmer with some glitter gel pens, and popped her onto a paper doily I sprayed with my homemade shimmer mist (alcohol & dried up kids' markers and Pearl X).
I wanted more of a border for the narrower strips of patterned papers, so I added a string of pearls and some feathery fiber. My acrylic heart reads Thank You. I found a bag of them with gossamer ribbon at the dollar store in the wedding section- 12 for a dollar- can't beat the price! I finished my card off with a few scattered jewels.
And I made it JUST FOR YOU!!

So, today I have some rubber from Simply Betty Stamps. In order to be in the draw today, tell me where you get your inspiration. Is it Pinterest? Blogs you are following? Challenges you enter? Or something, somewhere or someone else? Comment below please (inquiring minds, or at least mine, want to know!).

Challenges I am Enering:

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Use a Doily

Card & Scrap - Spring or Easter

Creative Artiste - Colors

Crafty Calendar challenges - Add a Sentiment (Thank You)
Hiding in my Craft Room - Think Spring!
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

You Can't Skip Them

Skipping your birthday is like pulling a rabbit out of a hat--so you might as well celebrate, like I'm doing, with a celebration that includes blog candy, prizes and games. But first, today's card.
I created this 6x6 birthday card for a very good friend to cheer her up today. Her name is Mel and although I've never met her in person, I consider her one of my besties. I used some background paper from the Dollhouse for the first time, and it definitely won't be the last. It's from the Marta Vaneck's Cabinet of Curiosities collection called Scene papers 02.
This darkly delicious paper deserves a darkly devious image, so I turned to Ike's Art for this digi image called Magician's Hat. Don't you love how those gloved hands just float in the air?
After typing in my sentiment, I printed my photo-shopped scene and popped it onto several layers of Prima patterned paper. I distressed and sanded the edges of my white core cardstock, then added the flowers and pearl flourishes.
I always have such fun going to Ike's Art and making up a wish list of images I need, I mean, want, to play with. For today's prize, leave a comment telling me which one is at the top of your wish list!!
And for those who are just joining the fun, go back to the first post and be sure to comment as asked for freebies and your chance in the prize draw!!
Now this is the way to CELEBRATE!!
Challenges I m entering:
Crafty Calendar challenges - Add a Sentiment
Inkspirational - Neon Colors (pink, orange & purple)
ABC Challenges - G is for Go Digital (background paper & image)
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes
Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes #1
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Naughty or Nice - In Bloom
Our Creative Corner - Color Your World (Spring brings crocuses and snowbells)
Sister Act challenges - 100th challenge Anything Goes
Create and Inspire challenges - Anything Goes Dark

The winner of today's prize, chosen by random.org, is  #3 - Susan S!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.OR
Susan, send me your email and you will receive the Ike's Art image you commented as  being at the top of your wish list!! Congrats!!
Crafters, while there were more than 7 comments, there were only 7 who answered today's question. Of them, Susan S was #3.
Keep checking the other posts all the way up to April 15 for more chances to win.

Birthday Greetings from Holley

Hi everyone, this is guest designer Holley from Holley's Blog today. I feel so honored to post a card on Patacake's Pages today during her celebration. Pat's birthday will be in just a couple weeks so this fun card is what I wanted to share today on her blog.

I hope you will leave a comment to be eligible for her blog candy prize and leave her a birthday wish (you can do it today, but her real bday is on the 15th).  If you love this adorable image, it comes from artist Sandra Caldwell. This image is currently retired, but she has brand new images at Sweet Pea Stamps (click here).

From Pat:
Thank you, Holley, whose fabulous designs really inspired me to get better at coloring with my Copics, and think "outside the box" when it comes to card design. 

For today's prize, I am going to ask you to go over to Sweet Pea Stamps and check out Sandra's images and tell me which one you like best. I love coloring up a Sandra Caldwell, and I even have a signed, framed, colored print of one of her beloved characters hanging in my home.

Everyone who comments with their fave image will be in the draw for today's prize! You will have until the last day of the party to do so!

Thank you for stopping by today, and another big thank you to Holley!! 

Rockin' This Birthday Celebration

Today I want to give a shout-out to Lisa of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Not only did she say she would sponsor my celebration with awesome prizes, not only did she make me a special blog badge for my party, but she also is offering a lovely digital patterned paper for everyone of my followers, whether you have been faithfully following my blog for awhile, or you hurry to add yourself today, or you come back by April 15th, the last day of the celebration, to add yourself as a follower!! That's a lot of paper and a lot of winners!!
Here's a sneak peek of her digi paper just for all you wonderful blogging followers who have inspired me to crawl out of my comfort zone countless times! Thank you all!

And, while I am still a newbie with totally digital projects, here is a quickie of what I made with this delicious birthday balloon paper:

The patterned paper is of course the Birthday balloon paper; cardstock is from DDD Textured Cardstock from the Colors of the Rainbow Paper Pack (Wine); sentiment is from DDD Banner 1 Birthday; Balloons are from QKD's Birthday Set; and image is called "Wishing You a Beary Birthday" from Bugaboo Stamps.
Besides playing with digital papers, embellishments and images completely on the computer, you can also print out everything and color with pencils, markers and ink; layer with other papers; pour n the embellishments, both digital and touchy-feely; and really make it your own. In other words, you don't have to be a tech artist to use them. All you need is a color printer and the world is your crafting oyster! LOL
So, follow my blog and this lovely Birthday Balloons paper is yours! and have fun with it, however you use it!!
Come back tomorrow for more inspiration and fun!!
Happy Crafting!!

Welcome to the Party!

Today starts a 15 day celebration of life. It's my birthday month, and what better way to celebrate than to have some crafty fun. And I want to share the fun by offering up some blog candy. It's my way of saying thank you for the inspiration, the tutorials, the support, the freebies, the companionship and the laughs along the path of creativity that I have been blessed to walk.
I have some amazing prizes from sponsors and favorite designers, including Creative Bug Design, Ike's Art, Simply Betty, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, Stampin Up, Stamping Bella and Queen Kat Designs. In addition, I have some great product from Making Memories, Fiskars, Lawn Fawn, Penny Black, K&Co, Martha Stewart, and a score of others.
In order to maximize your chances of hauling in some great prizes, please start by FOLLOWING MY BLOG, if you haven't already. Next, please help to spread my Birthday Blowout celebration by PLACING MY PARTY BADGE in your blog's sidebar with a link to my blog. Lisa from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles created this badge especially for me and I love it!! O, I forgot one last thing. I ask you to HAVE FUN! That's why we craft, isn't it? LOL
So, what can you expect in the next 15 days? I'll have questions for you to answer, challenges for you to enter and games for you to play. I will be giving away prizes every day from now until April 15.
My card today uses a very special digi image from Ike's Art, again created for my celebration. It's a very special image, as I don't see it in Ike's Store...yet. Hmm, what to do with it, what to do?
I know. How about everyone who wishes me a Happy Birthday today only will receive this digital image. Please give Ike's Art credit when using the digi on your projects, and know that Ike herself gave me permission to do with it what I like. And I like to share!!
How's that for a great start to the party?! When you come back tomorrow, I'll have something extra special for all my Followers!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Inky Chicks - Movie Stars: Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Come & Get It challenges - One for the Girls

Hiding in My Craft Room - Any Holiday (Birthday)

Kit & Clowder - Movie Inspiration (Butterfield 8))

Simply Create Too - Anything Goes

Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes #1

Sister Act challenges - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Humor

Mother Nature is No Fool

They say that April showers bring May flowers, but in Chicago, it's been known to snow in April AND May! However, from the view out my window, I believe the snow is finished, and Spring is finally ready to welcome us into our gardens and short-sleeved shirts. Of course, it is April Fools' Day, and she may just "punk" us with a cruel joke, but I have faith that she is above all that nonsense!
So today, in honor of Spring, I have created an Easter card using a digi image from Angie's Digi Stamps. It is called "Birds in Bird Bath" and I thought it portrayed the essence of Spring. Each morning in Spring, we awake to birds singing and sun shining. Colors start to peek out from freshly green grass. 
My card is bright with Spring colors, and showcases a birds frolicking in their bath, while butterflies dance in the breeze and flowers face toward heaven.
Angie's is this month's guest sponsor at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog, where the theme is Anything Goes. My card for this challenge is a Z-Fold card

As you can see from the picture, a simple fold outward on your front card face gives the whole thing a special look when opened. Here, I chose to match the inside with the outside paper doily, popping the sentiment where my Copic-colored image is centered on the front.

Check out all the cute images at Angie's Digi Stamps. And spend some time crafting with the windows open, so you can hear those birds in their Spring chorus, and catch that breeze. Then go over to Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog and come play with us!! One random winner gets a prize from Angie's!! 

 Did I mention that my birthday is in April?? I am having a big birthday bash, with challenges, games and especially PRIZES. Check out my April 1 post HERE for your chance to win from today through APRIL 15!!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Sentiments - More Than 1 Fold

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers - Spring

Ooh La La challenges - #177 Spring/Easter

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Anything Goes from the Outlawz Freebie Progressive Challenges

Hello, crafters! Today brings a new challenge from the Outlawz Freebie Progressive challenge. If you played in last month's Anything Goes challenge, using Elephant with Birdie from Gerda Steiner Designs, then you will receive the digi image I used above from Encino Stamps. It's called Freddie, and he is so much fun!
The rules are very simple: join the challenge, send us an email and then enter a project made with the image supplied before 6.00pm Outlawz Time on the last day of the month and you will automatically get the next image. If for any reason you don’t get your project made and you would like to rejoin us you can buy the image of the month from the sponsors store and as long as you enter it before the end of the month you will get the next one free and you will then get them automatically each month you enter a project.
I decided to take Freddie into a new color realm, since it ain't easy being green. Using leftover patterned paper from Basic Grey for my background, I cut a lily pad out from cardstock and Freddie hopped into place. I can't remember where I heard the words I used on my card, but it was easy to print them up on Microsoft Word. I drew the flies freehand (don't laugh). I tossed some very fine glitter over the lily pad, and used Stickles on Freddie. To finish my project, I added chipboard stickers and jeweled flowers, and finally a slim piece of ribbon.
If you missed last month's freebie, you can go to Encino Stamps and purchase Freddie and join in the fun. Just remember, you must register at the Outlawz Freebie Progressive challenge and link up your project in order to receive the next month's free digi. We have some wonderful sponsors set up throughout the year-don't miss the fun!! 

Other Challenges I am Entering: