Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

For Don, my soul mate & the love of my life. 

We'll be married seventeen wonderful years in April.

He treats me like everyday is Valentine's Day.

A handmade bottle bib & our favorite wine, 'Hoodsport Rhubarb Wine.'

 I love this bottle bib.  The idea & instructions came from Helen Croft at the 'Scrap a Little' blog.

A fan folded flower & leaves.  A totally fun project.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.

I entered this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks-- 'Love is in the Air' Challenge

DYSU Blog -- Challenge #58  -- 'Love"

Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge -- 'With All my Heart.......'

Lexi's Creations -- Challenge #58

PaperPlay -- Challenge #12  -- 'Love Letters'

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays -- Red, White & Pink Challenge

Totally Gorjuss -- Lurve Challenge

A Clown Doll using the Kusudama folding method..........

I made this origami sitting clown doll for my sister's birthday in place of a card. 

It was really a fun project.  I think it turned out cute.

He's made using the Kududama method of folding. 

I used two complimentary pattered papers for the arms, legs, hat & body. I used solid red paper for the collar & a small piece of solid yellow for the hair.  There are little pom poms for the hat, hands & feet.  The only other needed supplies are glue, a needle & thread, a couple of toothpicks and a pipecleaner.

 The head is a wooden bead.

At the bottom of this page is a link to a wonderful tutorial for making this doll.

I submitted my clown doll to the following challenges:

Pile It On -- CHALLENGE #19 -- Funny Bone

Charisma Cardz Challenge -- No cards allowed.

PaperPlay Challenges -- Show us your Style

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Anything goes

The Shabby Tea Room -- 'Ruffled Up'

Divas by design -- Our first challenge Anything goes!

One Stop Craft Challenge -- Birthdays

Here is a link to a YouTube video that is a great tutorial for making this clown doll.  I made a couple of minor changes when I made my doll but for the most part followed the tutorial.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Another fun side step card..........

I love this little penguin digital stamp.  I think it's adorable.  I colored them with watercolor pencils & used a blenderpen. 

I submitted this card to the following challenges.  Thanks for all the great challenges.  Happy Holidays.

All Sorts Challenge Blog - Free and Easy - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #133 = Merry Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday - christmas

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 72 - use NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colours

A sidestep Christmas card.........

This is such a fun card.  Everyone I have ever sent one to has raved about it.  And.................it's really, really simple to make.

 Love it.

This card was submitted to the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'H' is for hat

Penny's Paper Craft Challenge Blog #44 - 'Merry Christmas'

Freshly Brewed 2 Week long Challenge 27 - 'Merry Christmas'

4 Crafty Chicks - 'Snowmen'

Creative Belli Challenge #106 - Christmas Embellishments/Papers

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 72 - use NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colours

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #89 Sparkling Christmas (plus digi)

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Show Us Some Snow!

For anyone interested, there is a great tutorial for making a side step card at Creating Cards with Andrea.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all.

A trifold Christmas card. A super fun cards to make.

I think the trifold card is truly one of my favorite cards to make.  I have a rediculous passion for paper and love having the opportunity to use such a variety of designer paper on one card.  These cards are attractive, unique & fun to make.  The ovals were cut using my Sizzix Big Shot with Spellbinders Nestabilities.

I love card challenges and this card was submitted to the following challenges.

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'H' is for hat

Crafty Cats Weekly Challenge #63 - Your Choice

4 Crafty Chicks - 'Snowmen'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog #44 - 'Merry Christmas'

Freshly Brewed 2 Week long Challenge 27  - 'Merry Christmas'

Creative Belli Challenge #106 - Christmas Embellishments/Papers
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #89 Sparkling Christmas (plus digi)

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Show Us Some Snow!

For anyone interested, there is a great tutorial with instructions for making these fun cards offered by Splitcoaststampers.

Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Holidays.

Christmas cards and flowers...............

I totally love challenges. They inspire me to try new things. They encourage me to use and combine colors I might not consider trying. I love to see what others have done while participating in the same challenge or how they interpreted the same sketch. Sometimes the results surprise me. Sometimes the results are even amazing. Most of all, challenges are fun.

My new passion is paper flowers.  That's what I have been doing for the past several evenings. I love creating them.  The possibilities are endless.

I decided earlier this evening I really need to get to work on my Christmas cards.  I have several done but will need a few more.  I started visiting my favorite blogs looking for challnges I could have fun with while creating my Christmas cards.  I also wanted to be able to use my flowers.  I was really pleased to find several.  There were several 'Anything Goes' challenges this week.  Those are always fun.

Here is my first creationusing my flowers while making a Christmas card.

The bird is a digi stamp colored with watercolor pencils blended with a aqua-painter. The flowers are torn paper flowers.  You can use paper or cardstock to make them.  I love 'em.

I'd like to thank Gabi at 'Such a Pretty Mess' for the fantastic and easy to follow tutorial for these great flowers.  I love her blog. 

I submitted this card to several great blogs. 

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round -- Card size other than the norm.  Must have gold, silver, crystal or pearl.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge -- Use purple & Silver.

Totally Gorjuss Challenge -- Christmas

Paper Romance -- Handmade flowers

Alphabet Challenge Blog -- 'V' is for vintage.

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

Crazy for Challenges -- Bling

AiFactory -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- challenge #61-- Anything Goes

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Make your own flowers

Tellen's Place Designs -- Bling!!

Delightful Challenges -- Make it Sparkle

Happy Christmas card making.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday, 'with love'..........

I made this card 'with love' for my dear Uncle Allen's birthday.  He's a sweet & wonderful man in his 90s. I love him & his beautiful wife, Aunt Judy, very much.

 This little guy & his balloons were colored with watercolor pencils with the help of an aqua-painter.

I submitted this card to the following challenges.

Pile it up--Cute & Charming.

Spoon Full of Sugar -- Spots & Stripes

Allsorts Challenge #71 -- Plain & Simple

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

AiFactory -- Challenge & Digital Blog -- Challenge #49 -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- Challenge #61 -- Anything Goes.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

'Exploding box with a twist' graduation card

Ryan

Class of 2010.  South Kitsap High School.

I wanted to make a very special card for Ryan's Graduation.  I chose an exploding box because adding pictures and momentos turns them into a very special keepsake.  They're time consuming, but I love them.

I used one of the name cards from Ryan's announcements to personalize the lid of his box.

I cut up a couple of graduation announcements and used the pieces to create his personalized box.  Above is a picture of the inside of the box lid.  This piece has all the ceremony information that was cut from an announcement.

This is the box with the lid off but not allowed to explode. 

All the pictures in the box relate to his senior year. Pictures include his 18th. birthday, homecoming, the senior prom, senior portraits, spirit day, he and his best friend camping and more.

The school crest, motto and mascot, (the wolf), were all cut from his announcements.

I did most of the work on this box while he and his beautiful girlfriend were at the senior prom.  It took several hours but I was very pleased with the results.  It was worth the time.  This is a very special box for a very special boy. 

I love you lots, Ryan.  I'm proud of you.

'Just my Sketches' March card challenge

This is my card for the March 15th. 'Just my Sketches' card challenge. This challenge is generously hosted by Deanne Burton of Newfoundland.

This challenge is a little different. Each month Deanne posts sketch challenges for two scrapbook layouts and two cards. She also lists the titles and lyrics for five songs. The challenge is to choose a song and then tie the song in with the sketch while creating your card or layout. You can use the song title, theme or a stanza from the song. It adds a new spin on the scrap/card challenges. It's fun.

This cute 'Barnaby the bunny' stamp came from Digital Delights by Louby Loo. I colored him in with watercolor pencils. He's a cutie.

The song I chose is 'More Beautiful You' by Jonny Diaz.

This is the sketch.

and......my card.

The inside.

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--March challenge

Here are the five cards I submitted to the 'Christmas Cards all Year 'Round' March challenge. This challenge was hosted by Deanne Burton.

I absolutely love this monthly challenge. It motivates me to get my Christmas cards made early and it's always fun.

This months challenge was to create five Christmas cards that were predominantly green and also includs a snowman. The green is for St. Patrick's Day in March.

All five cards were completed by March 19th.

Thanks again, Deanne, for a fun challenge.

Happy Birthday, Ryan !!!!

Today is my little brother's 18th. birthday. He has grown into a fine young man. He will graduate from high school in June. He lives with my husband and me. We're very proud of him.

Happy Birthday, Ryan!!!!

We love you.

This beautiful cake was made by our very talented sister, Teri. The cake was decadent chocolate. It was wonderful.

This is the card I made for Ryan's birthday.

It's called a plastic bag double slider card.

When you pull the ribbon at the top of the card, a slider pulls out of the top while another simultaneously pops out of the bottom. It's really a fun card.

And...........super easy to make.

I hope everyone is having a great evening. Thanks for stopping by.

StampARTic Sketch Challenge for March..

This is my card for the StampARTic online magazine March sketch challenge. I love sketch challenges. They inspire me to have ideas that wouldn't otherwise occur to me. I love to see the projects other cardmakes and scrappers create following the same sketch. There were some really beautiful cards done for March.

The stamp I used is called, 'A Tasty Read.' It's a digital stamp designed by Elisabeth Bell. I love it. She is my favorite, favorite stamp designer.

This sketch was especially fun to work with. It offers the opportunity to use a wide variety of embellishments in one sketch. I used metal flowers, ribbon, punches, foam squares and more. The sketch was created by Marianne of Norway. Thank you Marianne for a truly fun sketch.

Some projects to share.

Some of my more recent projects........

These are a pair of birthday cards. I made one for my mom and the other for a close friend. I especially like this card. It's unique, but very easy to make. It folds perfectly flat like a regular card, but is a little fancier when opened. It's fun.





My stepson graduated from high school from South Kitsap High School last month. I wanted to make something a little different for him. I took one of his graduation invitations and cut out the mascot, year and crest. Using the class colors, this is what I came up with. He really seemed to like it.







On Mother's Day, Don & I got together with my mom and a couple of close friends for breakfast. My best friend, Terri, was supposed to join us, too. Unfortunately, Terri unexpectedly ended up in the hospital. I made an exploding box card for each of the ladies. Each box has pictures of their own husbands, children and grandchildren. They really loved them. It takes me several hours to make one, but I think they are my very favorite type of card.







I hope everyone had a Happy 4th. of July. Thanks so much for visiting.

April 7th. is our 14th. wedding anniversary.

I wanted to do something a little different for my husband's card. Something special for a very special husband. He's the love of my life.

I made Don this little box card. I think it's really cute.First you remove the lid.

The sides fall open. Each side has three pages.Each page has a picture or special sentiment on it. One picture is from our wedding.

A few pages represent things we like to do together.

I think this little box was what I was looking for........something really special.

Thanks for stopping by.