In My Garden!

Good Morning to all of my friends and family!  I want to shout out some appreciation for all of your lovely comments!  They have made me feel that my efforts here are very inspirational.  I love knowing that I can bring a smile to so many people!  I appreciate ever last one of you more than you'll ever know!

As my 6 month Blogversary Candy is still running till 8-30 or goals are met, there are two prizes left up for grabs, so enter into the linky at the top of my page and WIN! WIN! 

herb tags inside slots

Sentimental Sundays is Challenging us to make a card or project using something in our Gardens + Sentiment!  Sounds really simple!!  Then you actually have to think about your garden and what is in it!  Not a lot of my generation even plants a garden!  However, I never go through a summer without my favorite Herbs!   I dry them out and store them for all year but to use for this project, I wanted the labels and pics from the labels so I used store bought herbs.  I used some 3L envelopes, labels from store bought herb jars, and illustrated again just how easy this was.  You'll notice a still inky thumb too, the last project was really fun to do... but that stuff just won't come off! lol

Card image with Herb tags out

Our Sponsor this week is Raindrop Echo Designs and on August 7th, some of the Design Team has decided to participate in a wonderful project to assist a family through a very difficult time.  There have been some digital stamp images, that will help fund this charitable endeavor, available for purchase from Raindrop Echo!  If you can, and would like to, participate with either a donation or the purchase of these images please check out the information below.  We appreciate all of you support, and invite you to spread the word regarding this charitable project.


Kim (http://kimsherrodstudio.blogspot.com/) is having a fundraiser for her dear friend whose son was admitted to the hospital for heart problems.  To help with the fundraiser, some stamp sets that are going to be sold as digital stamps, but will also be available as clear stamps for those who prefer it will be available. "Happy Children" and "Floral Fancy" are the two sets.  

           Here's the link to the page where she's selling the digis and stamps:                                  

On to the details of my project this week;

INGREDIENTS:

Image ~ Watering Can Tilda from Magnolia/Pauline

Sentiment ~ Raindrop Echo Designs w Whimsy

Bazzill Stock

Crate Papers "Restoration Collection DP 

The Paper Studios Blank tags Large

3L Scrapbook keepsake envelopes medium

 MEDIUMS:

Ranger Distress Ink:  Faded Jeans, spiced Marmalade,

Wild Honey, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Walnut Stain

Copic Colors Skin: E0000,E00,R20,E11

Hair:  E41,E42,E43,E50,E19

Clothes:  B91,B21,,BG05,B00,YR02,YR00,YR65,RV0000,RV00,RV34

Extras: C00,C3, E43

Signo White pen

Gelly Roll "Clear Star"

challenges entered:  
Crafty Anne's ~ Summertime
Fairy Tale Challenge ~ Summer,Sun, Summertime
Fashionista Fridays ~ Summer
Pattie's Creations ~ stamped image, faux or real stitching
Polka Doodles ~ In an English Garden
Stamp Something ~ Summer Fun
Paper Play ~ In the Garden
Little Miss Muffett ~ Summer
Papercraft star ~ Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious ~ Buttons and Bows
Do It With Digis ~ digi sentiment summertime

 EMBELLISHMENTS:

Wild flowers from stems at Hobby Lobby

Jolee's sunflower garden sticker "bee"

Micro check black ribbon by Offray at Michaels

Wedding Ribbon (flowers) from stash

Thyme Leaves by Spice Supreme (and label)

Rosemary Leaves by Spice Supreme (and label)

 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton

 Thank you for visiting,

 

The Beauty of Spring!

I've been going outside of the box a lot lately but today I thing I've gone right past the box and onto the floor with this one!  I've never done anything like it before but because this digi image is so open and whimsy and delicate, I didn't want it to be precise and defined so I went from digi image onto white paper to spotting Ranger Distress in in two different colors by hand with a distress sponge.  But before that I thought it would be an ideal look if the shape of leaves were masked off first.  So I played it by ear and went for it and in the meantime, I took loads of photos.  I hope you get inspired to try it and enjoy it as well!  

I have to warn you, It's really messy!  But a ton of fun!

 "removeable" tape runner on leaves

spray from 8 inches to cover pad and combine colors

be sure to get close to leaves to enhance their shape

dry first then remove leaves and add highlight color

Wow, Friday already!  And today we are showing off some of our favorite stamps from Stamping Dragon Designs.  There are so many new stamps and great deals right now as well so don't miss out!  Also, join us for the Bugaboo sponsored Recipe challenge running until next Friday. 

Three 3 papers, Three embellies and 1 image!

INGREDIENTS: 

Bazzill Stock " French Vanilla"

Tim Holtz Distress tool

McGill Punch "leaves"

Martha Stewart "leaves"

Image is "Spring Beauty" ~Dragon Designs

Sentiment was saved under Marion with Create TLC

with sentiment on front 

with Sentiment inside

 MEDIUMS:

Copic Markers for altered flowers

Ranger Distress Ink:  Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick, 

Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, Spun Sugar

Tattered Angels glimmer mist "Saphire" and "Meadow Green"

Smooch "Nautical Navy" and "Shabby Pink"

Signo "White"

 EMBELLISHMENTS:

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers/ altered

Rope Ribbon from stash

 Prima Flowers "Ameruse Duchessmix"

Challenges Entered:

AI Factory ~ Handmade color on image or DP
Craft Us Crazy ~ Anything Goes
Paper Play ~ In the garden
Digi Doodles ~ Anything Goes
PaperCraft Star ~ Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of crafters ~ simply Handmade
Aud Sentiments ~ Make your day or smile
Digi's with an attitude ~ Anything Goes 

 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 

You must do the things you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

 Thank you for visiting,

Girls and their best friends!

There are 3 or 4 things to share with all today so I wanted to get right to it!

My first blogversary goal has been reached!  Woo Hoo! 150 followers already.  I know it appears to be 149 right now, however, it's only because this very undesirable creepy person needed to be blocked and deleted immediately!  Anyway, the Random chosen winner out of 38 entries is #19!!  That's Alethea from Lilodesigns!  I've notified her and just waiting to hear which of the three packages to be forwarded on!

Thank you every one of my friends and followers.  I truly want to say thank you for all of  your lovely comments, constructive criticism and inspiration too!  All of the entries till 8-30-2011 or 250 followers have two more opps to win!  So thank you for your help and I wish you all good luck!

Sponsor for Little Darlings

I've been given the opportunity to serve as a Guest Designer for the wonderful Little Darlings Challenge for the month of August!  I'm so honored and thrilled to get started working with the very talented DT!  Also, I can't wait to work with the very elegant and playful Little Darling rubber stamp images!  There is a challenge right now called "Girly" and I've decided to enter the projects on today's post in their challenge!  Come by and join me, they have great inspiration and wonderful prizes from Love to Stamp store where there are some terrific sales right now!

Lastly before my projects, I may be really late by comparison to some veteran bloggers to have found The Feline Playful blog!  A fabulous blog that lists the challenges ~ keeps them current per day or month etc ~ lists what the challenges are~  then, yes, believe it or not ~ announces the winners too!  I simply had to share Feline Playful blog with all of my followers.  They found me when I commented on a blog and she responded by telling me she posted my candy there!  They list current blog hops, candy available, DT calls, dictionary too!  If you havn't found them You've GOT to check it out!  

This is not my week and the post may be a little late as well, but better late than never when it comes to the sharing of great challenges for all of you to participate in!  Yep, the Diva's By Design challenge is new as of Wednesday and goes for two weeks.  The challenge is "Summer".   Please come by and join us and check out the Inspration from the DT's as well!  The sponsor is Di's  Digi Downloads with some great prizes!

So, having shared all of that,  here are my cards:  

Some of the info is scanty because I used up scraps on about 50 of these little beauties the other day so the DP's and copics are various this time.  However, I will always do my best to list them normally as I have followers that truly get assistance with the copic use from it!

INGREDIENTS:

Color Bok stock Paper

Misc DP

NB Label 17
Images by Stampavie
Sentiments are by Whimsy and Crafty Sentiments digi

MEDIUMS: 

Copic skin always E00 and E11

Various Ranger Distress Ink for shadows

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

Offray ribbon and misc bottons bows and brads

Challenges entered:
Little Darlings ~ Girly
Paper Craft Star ~ Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp ~ shaped cards

 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 

Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.

- Andrew Carnegie

Thank you for visiting,

 

Girly Girl Maggie

Today my "baby" brother celebrates his birthday!  He lives in Florida and I am unable to visit but I was sure to leave a message on Facebook for him.  Probably one of the first because it was about 2 am when I left it!


On another subject I registered today for another craft show in August.  That make 5 this year already to make inventory for so I'll be extra busy with Christmas coming up, the DT work and all the shows to supply!  Always better busy than bored they say!

Well . . . you know me, I love the Tuesday Challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday!  This week we are looking for you to "Make it Girly".   Today's Host is Paula and the tutorial is on the Slider card so be sure to pop over to Top Tip Tuesday for inspiration, information and a great challenge!   I made the card today from scratch, however, the image was colored up and taken off of another card that was made a year or so ago and it was accidently destroyed while packing for a sale and I reused the Magnolia image!  I have some pictures of the previous card under the Inspirational thought for the day, I just couldn't waste her!

Top Tipper Prize..... is from  Stash Books

Prize of one of their amazing books!

Random.Org Prize....Pizzazz Aplenty

 

 is offering a fabulous $10.00 Package of Goodies from Pizzazz Aplenty.

I wanted to make sure that my two tips for today are shared with you before I get to my card of the day, so here they are: 

1.  Stamp an image, cut it out & pop it up for a 3D effect

2.  Mix Ribbon textures and colors in the bow for color coordination and feel of the card ie. Romantic but fun too!

INGREDIENTS: 

Bazzill Stock

DP from stash

Magnolia Stamp ~ Wrapped Tilda

MEDIUMS: 

Copic Sketch markers colored to long ago

Ranger Distress Ink "walnut stain"

Signo "white"

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

Offray Organza Ribbon

The Paper Studios Ribbon Jar

Martha Stewart Flock "White"

Stickles "Orange Peel"

Jolee's Boutique "Together Blossoms" stickers

Challenges entered:

Crafts and Me ~ Ribbon

7 Kids Challenge ~ texture

Deep Ocean challenge ~ Ribbon

 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Waste not . . . want not !  

I've gotten better at pictures apparently! (hehe)

 Thank you for visiting,

  

The best Sentiment of All!

Before I get to the new challenge and card I just want to say;
Happy Birthday! to my twin Neice (Faith) and Nephew (Kevin) who are 4 years old today!  I plan on spending the entire day with them and my fabulous Sister In Law Laura.  It's going to be another scorcher today . . . but with all the hugs and love I'm gonna get it will feel like heaven!

There is a super special challenge that starts today at Sentimental Sundays!  The challenge is to make the Sentiment the focal point of the project!  How fun and out of the ordinary is that?   I really had to put the brain to the grind stone to come up with a card for this as all of my creations need to be something for anyone!

1.  First starting with the occasion ~ easy enough, WEDDING/ANNIVERSARY. 

2.  Then come up with an extremely appealing color ~ (did you know that "Pink" is a color women can wear

     to bring out the protective side in a man!  Check out my Thought for the Day, you'll love it!

3.  The Sentiment of choice had to be just specific but just general enough to fit either a male or female

     consumer.  

Afterwards, you get this pink and white rose covered NB label shaped card with a LOVEly Sentiment that I enjoyed making and hope you get inspired by!

Don't forget to hop over to for the new challenge and terrific inspiration. It starts today and is sponsored by Raindrop Echo Designs w Whimsy and a freebie Sentiment choice of "MINE"!!  All beautified by my favorite Sentiment maker Ann V!

Thank you so much Ann!  You can get what you need from Raindrop Echo Designs for sure!    I can't wait to see all of your lovely projects?
On to the details:

INGREDIENTS:

Sentiment by Raindrop Echo Designs w/whimsy

Tim Holtz idealogy paper "Vintage Shabby"

NB Label 17

Martha stewart punch for leaves

The Cuttlebug embossing folder "Texture"

MEDIUMS:

Printer ink!

Challenges entered:

Do It with Digis ~ Summertime (weddings and roses)

EMBELLISHMENTS:

Silk roses from Hobby Lobby

Color me Crazy jeweled florettes

Stickles Diamond and Fruit Punch

 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: (from the attached link)

http://desktoppub.about.com/od/choosingcolors/f/womencolors.htm

Men May Like Women in Pink

Most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color, the color for little girls. Does that mean women prefer pink? Not necessarily. The color pink and women is likely more of a cultural association than a strong preference. However, this cultural association could mean that pink is not the ideal color for targeting men.

"...when it comes to attracting the opposite sex, women will find that the color pink is a safe bet. While flattering, it also makes then appear vulnerable to men, and brings out a mans protective nature. Women who don’t want to attract a man who sees them as needing to be looked after, may decide to wear the statement color red." — Secrets of Attraction Two: Color

 Thank you for visiting,