Yay!!! Friday is here....

...and like most people, Friday has always been one of my favorite days.  I think that still goes back to my working days, but even now I look forward to the end of another week and a weekend that I hope will be fun and creative.

    Today, I was up and out of the house for the first time all week -- I have NO problem staying home and actually LOVE it, especially in these winter months when it's super cold and lately, also very snowy.   Today, is a pretty day, if you look in the distance and see the bright blue skies against the soft white "untouched" snow...it actually glistens in the sunlight and that's the one time I can say that I kind of like it.  It's also melting, albeit slowly -- and that has icicles hanging from all the house, which can be a bit scary, especially if one falls near you, as it did to me when I took the dogs out..thankfully, it didn't hit anyone, especially Zeva, as she was close by -- but it did scare her and me both and she was quite happy to go back in.   I think the dogs have also had enough with the cold and snow and are looking for Spring, warm temps and some nice green grass to play in.

    After I did my errands and had my hair styles (loving that pampering), I came home, gave the pups all a special treat a "rawhide" chew, which I hardly ever give to them, because some say that are NOT very good for them, but boy do they LOVE them and they spent well over an hours chomping on each one, but you better not go near them, when they are in the mode, as they would NEVER want to lose that treat and when the first one is done, she (Skye) thought she might to and steal Scout's or Zeva's, but NO way was that happening -- they cherish them and growl at the thought of either of the others trying to take their treat!!! LOL!!

    The best part for me was the FREE time I had to create and not be wondering "what" they might be up too.  Scout is older and always goods, but those two sister puppies, well you just never know.  I was excited to get back to cardmaking, after spending so much time getting things done and moved to the new computer.  My first idea was to make a card for the newest challenge at "Cas(E) This Sketch", using this week's sketch, which I'm sharing here.

  My first thought was, "Oh this looks like an easy one", so I went to my stamps and new I wanted to use  a flower image, just like the Sketch.  I started with this new set "Dauber Bunch CL751" - from Hero Arts and decided I would paper-piece the flower for a different look, rather than coloring it with daubers, which in hindsight I think I would have liked better.  So as it turns out, this was my first attempt and what I call my first FAIL of the day --!!  It just did not come out like I hoped and I felt like it was simply TOO plain.

   That had me moving on to the idea of coloring a flower, so I quickly went to my digital image files and decided to try this fun "digital flower" which is from a set of Hero's older digital images.  I now own the CD that has oodles of their flower images, but at this time, I bought this in a set and I think it was called "Watercolor Flowers".  

    It sure was easy to make this card, because all I did was print the flower directly onto some of my favorite white cardstock "Cryogen White", which has a wonderful hint of shimmer and is also my go to cardstock for coloring with my Copics.  I then cut it down to a size and matted it onto some bright pink "Shimmer cardstock" and use another new Hero Arts - "Messages with Flourish" CL738 set to add my Sentiment.  I felt like it 'needed' something more, so I used colored over the image with a Clear Wink of Stella marker and then coated it with Glossy Accents, a fun new tip I learned from Jennifer McGuire.  For some reason, when you add Glossy Accents over the Wink of Stella, it makes it sparkle even more.    And although I like this card better, I still felt like it was NOT the look I wanted.

   I almost moved on to a new challenge and decided instead to see if I could combine this challenge with another, to give me some new ideas and that's exactly what I did after checking out the new card The Card Concept, where the theme this week is "Monochromatic Pinks".  I could make an ALL pink card, using the sketch and then "hopefully" submit it to both challenge.  

  I was back to my digi file and this time, printed out a fun little flower that is like a "Doodled" flower, (sorry to say, I do NOT recall where or when I bought this), it's one of those files I had long before I started to keep them filed by artist?  However, if YOU know, please share and I'll be happy to update my post and my digi files.   I also printed this one onto more Cryogen Cardstock, knowing I wanted to color it with my Copics, which I did using a Variety of RV Pinks.   Like the card above, once it was all colored, I went over it with a Clear Wink of Stella Marker and then coated it with Glossy Accents.  I love it does add more dimension and extra sparkle.  I also used the same Sentiment Set -- Messages with Flourish, which I now LOVE and this time stamped it in a deep pink to match the card base, also a deep pink shimmer!!   And success....I think I have a card that I now will happily submit to both challenges....!!

  This card is also being submitted to the current "Flowers" challenge over at "A Blog Named Hero".  Come on over and play long!!

  And now I am off, but want to say that I hope you "have a great day" and also play along in each of these fun challenges.   If you love "Scrambles" like me, you can also hop on over to the Hero Arts Flickr Group tomorrow at 4 PM Eastern Time, where Barb will be hosting the latest 90-Minute Scramble.   They are also a LOT of fun and I'm sure with her amazing talent, it will be exciting and fun...the only hint that she has mention is "one of her favorite colors".    I am not sure what those are, but after viewing her Gallery, my guess is light green, or more like Aqua and Teal, two colors that I also LOVE, especially when it comes to Hero Products!!

Yippee!!!

....at last I am pretty much back online and have moved all my files over to my brand new computer, which I am LOVING!!  It's also worked out perfectly since we had another snowstorm yesterday, after a light amount Sunday night and Monday, making this a very easy week to stay inside and get this done!!

    My new computer arrived on Monday, and I had it set up on my craft desk during the time I was slowly moving over each and every file very carefully, so that nothing was lost or missing.  I also had to set up new folders, my email and so much more, but now that it's pretty much all done, I'm thrilled and I'm also LOVING having a wonderful new larger monitor that is also a "Touch Enabled", which reminds me of my iPad and phone.   I also LOVE that I went with an "All in One" unit and no longer have a big tower at my feet.  It's so nice and compact and although the monitor is larger, it really takes up less space overall!

   Now that I have this done, I'm very anxious to get back to creating and actually did put together one very fun CAS card for the newest challenge at CASology.   I had a lot of different ideas some to mind when I first say the new Cue Card and my first thought actually - Hugs and Kisses!!  But, the more I thought about that, I figured it might be pretty popular with Valentine's Day so close, so I tired to come up with something unique -- hope you like it.

My Card

   As you can see my idea was to use "Up and Down" as my key words and I decided to go with little arrows to give the same visual effect, all of which I quickly cut on my Silhouette and then colored up with my Copics.  The word UP is actually colored in a lighter shade of red, but in the photo the two shades look a lot more alike, than they are in person.  DOWN, was colored in R37, a bluish red and UP in R22, and R24, a more pink and orange like red!   The "And" ampersand was colored in Black 100 I also embossed the outside of my card front, in a frame look using the "Stately" Embossing Folder, one of my older folders which is from Craft Concepts.    

     And now I'm heading back to my desk to pick up the mess, not to mention the mess in my entire room, now that I have two computers here!  My son, Alex is going to take the old one, reformat the "Hard Drive" and then put Windows XP back on it (that's HIS favorite Windows OS) and then he's giving it to his girlfriend with his nice 23" monitor that I had borrowed for the last year.  It will be an extra 'back up' to her laptop, which see uses most!!  I'm glad to know it's being put back into use and hope that will resolve some of the ongoing issues I have had with it.   This new system is also wireless ready and a LOT faster, which is such a plus!!

     Tomorrow, I'll be back to more challenges after I have my hair styling appointment and run a few errands.  After being in the house ALL week, I want to get these things done, before our next storm arrives on Sunday!  YUK!!  I am SO ready for Spring and nice warm sunshine and I think it's going to be awhile, before it arrives!!

    In the meantime, I sure am happy to have this amazing hobby to keep my busy and also have lots of time to spend and play with the pups, who also do NOT love the cold or the snow!! 

Super Sunday....

...and to me it's not necessarily all about football!!  I am excited because I have had a really great day and accomplished a lot of things I had wanted to do.  Woohoo!!

   My day started by giving all of the dogs a nice bath, not that they really thought it was so nice, but overall they all did well and now they are all super soft and clean and smell with Watermelons!!   I typically send Scout to a Groomer, but since he had a seizure again last week, I'm not comfy in doing that and he is the one who needs his baths the most...!  The old guy can get kind of stinky, whereas the girls stay clear and near!!  LOL!!

   One that was done I did my chores and thankfully Hubby was home and did four load of laundry, which was a huge help.  Now, we are totally caught up and even thought that will last about a day, it's always nice when it's all done and put away. I also took a long leisurely shower, which really felt good after bathing the pups, even though I pretty much ran out of hot water at the end.

   My next big accomplishment was hitting my craft desk and getting to work on some really cool new challenges, as well as my card for this month's Card Chain, which is a swap I do with craft gals from all over the world.  It's hosted by Deborah, on her SOS blog and is something she has been doing for a few years. I've only recently started to join it, and I really love it.   If you are interested in playing along or finding out more about it, please head over to her blog HERE, where you will see the Card Reveal for January!!!   The sign up for February is direct below and you can contact Deb for any other details, she's awesome!  THis is the card that I created in January, based the color combo!  My card was sent to Linda in Indiana!!

  For February, we have a new color combo, or you can also pick from a variety of themes or even base your card on a sketch.  I can't share my card now, as I don't want to ruin the surprise for the recipient, but I am happy to have it done and can tell you that I did use the Color Combo and the Sketch for February!!   We wont' be assigned names until the 15th, but it is required that you have your card done and emailed to Deb before that time.  You also need to mail you card pretty much as soon as the names are posted, so it's always wise to get them done early!

   My next card was created for the brand new challenge over a FUSION, where you have the choice of using a sketch or the photo inspiration that is provided for each challenge and of course, you can also "FUSE" them both together which is what it did for my card.  I'm also sharing a copy of the "FUSION" below and hope you'll play too.  

Fusion # 3

My Card

   This is probably one of the quickest and easiest cards I have created and I am very proud of myself for learning more and more every week about how to create "Clean and Simple" cards and about how sometimes, less can be best.   As soon as I saw the FUSION, I had the idea right away to use my new "heart string" die, which is from Penny Black and one I bought at my LSS on Tuesday.  We have used it for one of the cards in class and I loved it, so I had to bring one home  I cute it from Red "Punch" Hero Layering Paper and also used the same sheet to create my card base.  I then added one a layer of white cardstock and stamped on my Sentiment in red, which is from a new Hero Arts set that I absolutely LOVE.  I am loving the font style from this set and have already used it a few times.  It's from the newest release and is called "Messages with Flourish" - CL 738.   I then added a few little gems to finish off my card.

  In addition to the FUSION Challenge, this card was also created and inspired by the new LOVE themed challenge over at "Addicted to CAS", another of my favorite "Clean and Simple" card challenges!!

   Next, I worked on another very Clean and Simple card and this one is for this week's "Cas(E) this Sketch CHallenge".   I am also sharing a copy of the sketch for you too see.

Sketch # 62

My Card

  This card was basically created from a variety of "card scraps" that I pulled out of my scrap in.  I started with a simply whit card base and then added on a pretty light sage free top.  Next, I pulled out some matching patterned paper and cute the diagonal strip that runs down the front.  I also grabbed another piece to cut the yellow strips, which matches with the center that is adorned with tiny white and yellow hearts.  I'm sorry that I can't tell you exactly with company made this paper, but I do believe it was left over from one of my Simon Says Stamp monthly card kits??  The "Love you" die cut Sentiment is from SSS and it's another of their fabulous exclusive dies, created in Kristina Werner's fabulous handwriting!!!! Love love love!!

  And next is a card for Operation Write Home, that was created using today's weekly sketch, which you can find over at the Stars & Stamps Blog HERE!!  They host a sketch challenge every Sunday and it's always been one of my favorites.  This week we are working with Sketch #210, which I am also sharing below!!  I loved it form the moment I saw it and was able to make this card in a matter of about 15 minutes, using elements that were pretty much on my desk, from all the other cards I have been working on today!!

Sketch #210

My Card

  As this point, I was still excited to continue and actually created two more cards.  The first is for the brand new "Birthday" Challenge be hosted by Hero Arts.  There are several "birthday" themes that you can select to use for your card, or you can also create a paper projects that would be perfect for "party decor".    You can find all the details over on the Hero Blog HERE!!   Other than created a Birthday card (or Party Decor), the only other rule is that you must use at least ONE Hero Arts Stamp on your project.   For my card I actually used two and started with one of my new Background Stamps, which is a very popular wooden stamp called "Tiny Flags".   Today is actually the first time I've used this stamp and I know I'm going to love it.  I wanted to go with the "Metallic" them and started by inking the stamp with Versamark and then added a nice layer of a Ranger Embossing Powder in a new color, (or I should say, new to me), called Liquid Platinum.  I saw a great video that Jennifer McGuire shared recently, about how much she loves this color and she even compared it to Silver so that you could see the difference.  It's almost like it takes on a gold or silver-like tone depending on the lighting and that's another thing I loved about it.    this color and immediately ordered it the same day.  I love how it's so unique in color and think it will be one I'll use often.   

   I heat embossed my "flag background" onto a piece of Hero's Red "Punch" Layering Paper and then die cut a second piece to match and dry embossed that in my Cuttlebug.  I layered both pieces onto some shiny black lustre cardstock and then created my "Happy Birthday" Sentiment, on another scraps of red cardstock using the wonderful "Messages with Flourish" stamp set that used on an earlier card.  To to finish it off I added a few black sequins and also rounded the corners of my card. 

  Here is a slight different close up view that shows more of how this cool Liquid Platinum embossing powder looks once it's heat set!!

  And that brings me to my final card of the day, which I just realized was also done in a red, black and white color combo, again because I am using lots of the papers and pieces of cardstock and such that is now piled high on my desk.  This card is also another new Birthday Card and was created for the new "Sketch Inspired" Challenge (Sketch for you to Try - SFYTT), hosted over at Reverse Confetti.  This is a copy of the sketch that inspired my card.

SFYTT #9

My Card

  I started this card with a deep grey card based and used my "Tag Me" die set (from Reverse Confetti) to cut the large black and white tag.  I love that this tag set even comes with a little die for the tag hole, which I now love to add in a contrasting color.  I then pulled out some red and black cardstock to create the other layers and then adhered them directly to my card front.  The sentiment is from Reverse Confetti's "Lot to Say" set and was stamped directly to my card front in Versamark and then heat embossed in Black Sparkly powder from Ranger.

  And now, I am a tired girl, so I don't expect that I be awake to watch the entire Super Bowl, but that's okay with me, because my team, sadly, is not playing.  But, I do want to catch some of those new "commercials" and hope to make it to Half Time and see the show.  In the meantime, I'll be watch the Puppy Bowl over at ANimal Planet!!

   To those of you who have a team playing tonight -- Good Luck and may the best team win.  I am routing for the Seahawk's as I tend to like to hope the underdogs can win!!   

Cards for a Cause....

  As much as I LOVE making cards and playing in challenges, one of the best benefit is having a wonderful collection of cards, always ready to send.  When I first started this wonderful hobby, seven years ago this month -- I was constantly sending out cards to all my family and friends to see what they thought of them. Of course, the postage rates were much lower then and I really need their input and that made it fun, plus they ALL loved all the cards arriving in the mailboxes.  I also took part in quite a few card swaps and have my own collection of card made by fellow crafters that I will always cherish!!

  Another wonderful way to share your cards is to donate them to a cause and I'm very proud to have been creating cards for Operation Write Home for about four years now as of December 31, 2013, I have donated 427 cards to OWH! Woweeeeeee, even more than I thought!!   I also have taken part in several card drives and I am always happy to give my cards away or donate them to causes that mean a lot of me.   This past Summer I donated almost 50 cards to Little Paws Dachshund Rescue along with several boxes of craft and household items for their Fundraiser Yard Sale.  I am also now putting together a new donation of goodies for the upcoming Spring Yard Sale!!  

   So, when "Arleen" of Furever Dachshund Rescue, (who also just happens to have been "Zeva's" amazing Foster Mom), asked me if I would be interested in donating some cards for FDR so sell in their Etsy Store, I was excited and happy to do so and have been working on them for a few weeks.   Today, I am happy to say that I have finally packaged up 25 cards and will be shipping them off to Arleen on Monday.   It was a pleasure to once again donate for a cause so near and dear to may heart and I really do hope they cards bring in some extra funds for the pups!

  Each card has been matched up with it's own envelope and I have placed them all in clear cello card bags.   I have also noted which cards will like require extra postage and also included some thin foam padding for those that need extra protection for mailing!!    

   Oh, and speaking of Furever Dachshund Rescue, which is the Rescue that brought both Skye and Zeva into my life, they also have two adorable Pups who will be part of Animal Planet's 2014 Puppy Bowl, which will be held at 3 PM tomorrow!  Just before the big game!    You can see a picture of the adorable "Mandy" on FDR"S home page HERE and also read more about the Puppy Bowl HERE!!  How cool is that!!   

   And now it's time for me to go, because my dogs are ready to get outside for a bit before it's dark again.  We've had a nice break from the frigid cold and it's been up in the 30's today and may be even warmer tomorrow!  WOOHOO!    Lastly, if you ever decide to bring a new pet into your home, PLEASE adopt through a Rescue, I'm so happy I did!!

Woohoo!! Lots of NEWS to share!!!

....and I am so happy and excited to say that I found out this morning and I was one of the lucky three winners who took part in the Hero Arts 2014 Catalog Blog Hop last week.   I also want to say Congratulations to Trinh and Michelle, who I also know must be equally thrilled to be a winner!!   We will each be receiving a Prize Packet full of wonderful goodies from the new 2014 Catalog!   WOOHOO! Thank you to HERO ARTS and to all the Hero Hostesses who put on a great hop. I'm so pleased that they spread it out over a full week, so that I could join the fun and not let Fibro, win out!

   On top of that exciting news and after having two weeks of issues with Verizon, between my phone line and my wireless router, not to mention my very old PC which still runs the dreaded Windows Vista, I have now decided to order a brand new All In One -  23" TOUCH Computer from Dell!!  Hubby bought himself a new Dell Laptop with the Touch Screen last week, so I figured it was now time for me to get a new computer too!   Now we will ALL be updated and I do HOPE that will resolve some of the Wireless Networking issues!!   Plus, I have wanted to "All In ONE" unit for some time now and it'll be great not having a big tower right in my way!!    I thought long and hard about what I wanted and since we have owned about six different Dell's now and always been VERY pleased with them, I decided to stay with Dell, plus we a Dell Card, which offer free 6 month financing on any systems!!  Love that!!   Had I been a born a rich girl, I would have gone for an iMac, but then I would have needed ALL new software and that just was not in the budget!!

   Today, I'm catching up and sharing lots of new cards, a few were cards that I started working in Card Club at my LSS on Tuesday, and the rest are cards I have been working on yesterday and today for some of my favorite challenges.

    First, I am starting with some of my favorites from Card Club and this first card is one I am also submitting to the new The Card Concept Challenge, where the current theme is "Texture"  and this card is full of it and was also very easy and fun to make.

   I think I would have to say this is probably my favorite from Card Club too.   I love how using an embossing folder along with some silver foil cardstock really make it look like you created a metal heart on your card.    

   These next few cards were also super easy and were all made from the same set of Patterned Papers which is the Smitten collection by Authentique.   And even though we used some of this paper on most of the ten cards, I still have a large supply left that I'll put away for next year.

  The heart on the card above, was again cut from a piece of the Smitten Paper and then stamped and heat-embossed with the floral heart from this Penny Black Set.  The heart was then popped with foam dots and I tied on a little pink bow, at home.

   

   This entire background from another piece of the Smitten Set, along with another Penny Black clean stamp (from the same set, as above), also stamped and then heart embossed and popped up off the card base.

  This card started with a plain card base, that we stamped our own Background using the new Hero Arts "Five Line" Wooden Stamp, that we inked first with Memento "Lady Bug" red Ink.  The "Playing Cards" were cut from one of the pieces of Authentique Cardstock and the Hugs & Kisses and layered Red Hearts are Die Cuts, that were already pre-cut and given to use in our class packet.  The Hugs and Kisses are from Penny Black, but I' not sure on the hearts.

  And next is this fun "I Love You" card that was created with using more of the same patterned paper along with two large hearts, that were both inked in Distress Ink (Festive Berries) and one was also stamped with the same Hero Arts "Five Line" stamp.   The card was completed with this sweet "I Love you" die!

    Penny Black Mice along with a nice "Birch Tree" background created also with a Tim Holtz Texture Fades  folder and then lightly shaded the Gray Pan Pastels.  The little pink hearts are also die cuts and I added the sentiment at home, an older Inky Antics stamp from my stash.  

     My next card was creative exclusively for this week's challenge over at CASology and to stay that I was excited about this week's cue, would be an understatement, especially since it's PURPLE -- which I'm guessing you might already know is my FAVORITE color and a color I personally LOVE to create with!! And a LOT of my friends have emailed me to tell me that this challenge is one I must NOT miss!   Thanks for all those hints and reminders!!  :)

  And next is a very fun little square card that I created for this weeks' new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp, where our theme this week is Anything Goes with "Twine or String".   This is also another very simple card that all started with an adorable Stickeroo, by Penny Black!   Although this is from a retired set called "Collage Hearts", they still make a wonderful variety of Stickeroos, which you can see HERE!!   These are the perfect stickers to have on hand when you are a card-maker and need a quick and easy card and they are all gorgeous!   I simply mat them and create a card base and add on a few embellishments.  In this case it was twine to make this super fast card!!!

  That brings me to my very last card tonight and this one was inspired and created based on the gorgeous MUSE card, designed by Marion Vagg!

   I am happy to share a photo of Marion's Card!

   Oh and before I forget, I had a great time in the Stenciled Class and hope to be sharing more cards that feature what I learned in class in the next couple of days. The class was awesome, as always and now I am looking forward to the next Online Card Class in March, which will be their third "Clean and Simple" class...!!  Love love love that style and can hardly wait to sign up!

   I am also working on making cards for another cause and this one is that helps "Dachshunds" of course!  I'm going to be making cards for the "Furever Dachshund Rescue" to sell in their ETSY Store with all the proceeds going to the group.  And for those of you who may not know, that the group that brought Skye and Zeva into my life, so I am very happy to help out in my own little way.  They also have the honor of having two of the sweet Doxies who is part of this year's Puppy Bowl, and you can learn more about that on their Webpage HERE!!  Isn't Mandy adorable - I hope she wins!!