Happy things....

    This afternoon, I am back to share to fun and happy cards.    I have two cards to share and both were created for new challenges over at 'The Outlawz'.  The first is for the CAS Challenge and this is one area I have been trying to work on and improve my skills.   Our challenge this week was a color combo challenge and it was to create a card with light pink, dark pink and green.

   This is my card, which features a sweet image from 'By Lori Designs'  - This is one of the Bug N Roo images and she is Addeline and can be found in the store HERE!  I just LOVE her sweet little Bunny Slippers!  :)

   I started by paper piecing a cute little dress for Addeline with some wonderful new digi papers I bought from Shery K Designs.  I then colored the rest of the image in the Challenge Colors with my Copic Sketch and Spica Pens.  I used my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss a scalloped circle for my background and also also a sweet little Prima Butterfly that matched perfectly with the colors.  I thought about adding more, but since this is a Clean and Simple Challenge, I thought this was best.  

   My second card was created today for the new 'Greeting Card Challenge' also over at The Outlawz.  This week our theme is called 'April Showers - Bring May Flowers' and it's pretty much up to you as to how you show that theme in your project.   I colored up this cute little image from my digi stash and then found a digi sentiment that I thought worked well for Spring.  You can find a great selection at Rainbow Echo Designs which is where I bought this one.  

  I used my Tim Holtz Distress Ink In  to blend in a background for the little digi, which is from Bugaboo Stamps.  I'm using all the new techniques I learned in some recent classes and it's been fun.  I am excited about having more time to devote to classes and that will be a lot of fun.  My next big event is a full day of Workshops being taught by Jennifer McGuire at my LSS! 

  And that's it for today --  I am now wiped out and plan on resting for the rest of the day.   I also wanted to remind you all to HOP on over to the 'Through the Craftroom Door' Site this week as we all continue to celebrate the One Year Anniversary of the Publication.   All are welcome to stop by and join in the fun.

  Tomorrow I have two new cards I hope to work on and the first will be for this week's new sketch challenge over at Operation Write Home.  You can find a copy of this week's sketch over at the Stars and Stamps blog HERE!  

   You are also invited to join us for the bi-weekly Copic Coloring Challenge over at the Color Me Creative Classroom.  You can find the new challenge HERE and it's a brand new one that started today.   Come on over and have some FUN!!!

  

Buzzing by....with some bittersweet news!!

  Today is a bittersweet day for me as this will be my last card as a Design Team Member for StampFairy.  It's been a very difficult decision for me to have to step down from my tole on the team, but I know it's for the best.   I have totally enjoyed being on this wonderful team and it's been such a pleasure to create with so many talented ladies.   I'm so grateful for the opportunity that Gerda and Jackie have given to me and I am going to miss being on the team very much. 
 
  My choice to leave is strictly for health reasons, simply one of those times, when I feel like Fibro is winning me over and telling me to get more rest!   It's hard to have to give up somethign you LOVE, but I know that sometimes it's best to take some time to heal and start fresh.  My mojo is just not there and making cards is starting to feel like 'work' and taking away the fun.   I do hope that once the weather is warmer, and once I start to feel better, that I can actually get outside, and hopefully spend some time at the beach.   I can not WAIT for warm sunshine and Summer is always when I feel the best. 

   On a happy note, I am excited to let you know that StampFairy has a added a brand new Team Member, Annette (Netty), who had been the Guest Designer for the month of March.  I am very excited for her and totally enjoyed the time I had with her on the team.   I am also happy to announce that Larissa will be joining the Team as the Guest Designer for the month of April.  Larissa has participated in many of the challenges and is another fantastic designer.  I know both of these gals with be fabulous additions to the team and I wish them both lots of fun and success.  I will truly miss you ALL very much.

    I could not leave without taking part in one more challenge and today I have a really FUN and HAPPY card to share.  It will be my last card as a Design Team Member and it's very special to me for that reason.  I'm also happy that this week we had a really fun new Sketch Challenge and a gorgeous sketch to inspire us.  You can find all the details over at the Challenge Blog and I hope you'll all play along!

 Challenge Sketch

  Created by Gerda

My Card

Featuring Lenny Bee

   
  You can find Lenny Bee and all of the adorable StampFairy images in the store and now is the perfect time to shop as Gerda is currently running a fabulous 50% off SALE!!  Woohoo!  You can bet that I'll be doing some shopping myself!!   

Shop Here!

     I can say one thing for sure, I will continue to craft and create and the adorable StampFairy images will always be a part of my digital collection and you'll continue to see them often on my cards.  It's been so much fun to be part of the team and I will miss it very much!   My very special THANKS to Gerda for giving me a chance, despite my limitations.  It's been my pleasure to create with your adorable images and I am very lucky to have had this wonderful opportunity.  I wish you and all the girls continued success and much happiness.   Thank you!

April Is Autism Awareness Month!

    I am very help to do my little part to help promote Autism Awareness during this month.  I was very touched with I read about all the cities that took part in the 'Light it up Blue' Activities that took place on yesterday (April 2, 2011), to promote World Autism Awareness Day!

    Additionally, I was very happy to create a card to help promote 'Autism Awareness'  by taking part in a challenge this month over at the Copic Musketeers.   Everyone is welcome and invited to join in and you can find all the details on the challenge and how you can also help to donate by hoping over to the Blog --  HERE!

   My card was created featuring the 'Autism Awareness Ribbon', and this touching image was the 'Freebie' donated by Stef - of Glitterbabe's.   I also was very honored and happy to buy the other images she created to for this special project.  All of the proceeds will be donated to Autism Awareness/Research, a truly wonderful cause.

    Below is a picture of the Autism Awareness Ribbon that online.  I am also including a link to a wonderful article on the History of the Autism Ribbon, on the Bright Hub website and you can find it HERE!

   And lastly, this is the card that I created based on the challenge and also to help promote Autism Awareness.   I hope that it will inspire you to donate to this cause and to also learn more about Autism and all those who live this will illness daily. 

      My card was created in a clean and simply style and I wanted the focus to be on the Awareness Ribbon.  To make the main focus, I actually created it in layers.   I printed out the image twice in them same size.  I used my Copics to color the first ribbon and then cut that out.  I then color the second ribbon to match and  layered it on top with pop dots for more dimension. I searched online for Autism sayings and then added it digitally to my card to complete it. 

       I hope I have now inspired you to join the challenge, donate to this wonderful cause and also teach you a bit more about Autism.  If you would like to help in other ways, please contact the Autism Society at this link! 

Fun News and a special Invite!!

  I am very happy and excited to find out that I won a challenge over at the Copic Musketeers!   My special thanks to the group and also to Crop Stop, who sponsored the challenge and awarded me a Gift Certificate to the store!! -- THANK YOU!!!  I also want to congratulate Cheri and Susie, who were also winners in this month's challenge!!   Yaay for all!!!

   Here is a part of the post I read this morning over at the blog!!!    Thank you all again for such a wonderful prize and challenge and I'm even more excited to take part in the April Challenge and help spread the word about Autism!   

...."Waiting for Spring Winners

by Melanie 

   Another challenge has ended and we have three lucky winners for our Waiting for Spring Challenge. Our grand prize winner is Lisa, YAY, you have won a $25.00 gift certificate to Crop Stop.....  "

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   And this is card that I submitted to the challenge in March!   Thank you all so much!!   YIPPEE!!!  You made my rather snowy, cold day.....much brighter and happier!! 

 ************

   I also want to take this time to INVITE you all to hop on over to the Copic Musketeers and join the current challenge, which is even more special -- as it's all about Autism and we hope it will help to promote more Awareness during April -- which is Autism Awareness Month!

     You can find ALL the details on the challenge blog HERE and I plan to start working on my card this weekend!!   I HOPE I can inspired you ALL to join this wonderful cause and help support a wonderful cause!  Please visit Glitterbabe's store HERE to purchase the fabulous images that she created for this challenge.  All of the proceeds will be donated to this wonderful cause and I thank Stef, the owner and creator of Glitterbabe,  for her kindness in creating these sweet images!  Thank YOU!!   

     I'd also like to send out special thanks to Patricia from 'The Paper Temptress' who has also been a generous sponsor at the Copic Musketeers and who is also sponsoring a prize for this challenge.  

     I HOPE you will all take a little time this month to join this fabulous challenge and also help support such a wonderful group!!

Are you ready for the beach???

    I know I sure am, especially the our  never-ending winter weather!   Can you believe that we have snow here again, it's true and I promise you that is not an April Fool's Joke!    Thankfully, here on the coast - we will only have a few inches, and as much as I can barely stand the thought, it's a lot better than the 10-12" that some areas of the State may get!!   Yikes!!

    I'm trying avoid even looking out this window today and instead, I will dream of lounging in the sun on a warm beach!   It's also been easy to picture myself on vacation, as I'm trying to live vicariously this week, along with Brian and Alise, (my son and his wonderful girlfriend), who are currently having a fabulous vacation in Belize.   From what I've heard from them, it sounds very much like a wonderful little paradise and place and is perfect for those who love the ocean and beach.    They are actually on a tiny island off the coast of Belize, called Ambergris Caye.    Maybe it's a vacation spot I can add to my wish list, for the future.

    Today, I have have a really cute new release from StampFairy to share today and this also has helped me thing of Summer days at the beach and warm sunshine!  Introducing 'Herb Summer'  - who is available in the store today and he is also enjoying his own little beach vacation -- Lucky little guy!!

  This is a preview image of the entire set and now that I have seen them ALL,  I have already ordered more for my collection!   He's adorable and one of my favorites is Herb with his Surfboard and also the cute little image of him enjoying some watermelon!   How fun!! 

    I also have two new cards to share with you and both feature this cute cuddly bear.  I seem to be missing my mojo this week and after making three different cards for this release, I just wasn't really loving any of them.  The first card has already gone to the recycle bin and I'm sharing both my other cards today and I'll let YOU decide which one YOU like best!   I simply could not make up my mind and maybe you can help me.

 Card One

You are my Sunshine

  This fun card is also being submitted to these new challenges:

• Creative Card Crew - Card for a Child
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - # 50 -  Recipe Challenge
• Craft Your Passion - Challenge # 51 - Use a Bear

Card Two

Life's a Bear

 

  My 'Life's a Bear' card was also created and inspired for these challenges:

• The House that Stamps Built - Designer's Choice - Create a Scene
• Digital Tuesday Challenge Blog - One for the Kids!!
• Charisma Cardz Challenge -  # 13 Bling & Sparkle

     I'll be curious to know which you prefer, so please leave a comment and let me know.   I also want to invite you over to the StampFairy Blog to check out the FABULOUS card the rest of the Design Team created.  They are ALL awesome and seeing how wonderful they were, is when I became frustrated, as I really like them ALL so much more than my own.   Just one of those weeks, and I know we all have them.

 

  I also want to remind you that there is still time to play in our current challenge, which is over at the StampFairy Challenge Blog.  The girls have also put together some fabulous inspiration and we would LOVE for you all to play along!!  

   Have a Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!!!