Cardabilities Sketch 32

Time for a new sketch by Cardabilties.  Sketch  #32 is fabulous and inspires the creative girl in all of us. 

Take a look:

There's so many different ways to approach this sketch.  Here's my card:

I used Papetrey Ink cardstock andn stamped sentiment.  My patterned papers are Girls' Paperie and 7 Gypsies.  I used an Elle's Studio tag.  My flowers are Prima and my pearls are Creative Charms.  I used my Spellbinder Nestabilties to cut out the scalloped circles.  And I added a little glitter glue to my white flower. 

Visit Cardabilties to see the Design Teams take on Sketch 32.  We'd love for you to join the Cardabilities forum and gallery.  Thanks!!!

Sketchy Thursdays

Hi all.  Made a new LO for this week's Sketchy Thursdays Challenge:

Isn't this a darling sketch?  Here's my LO:

That's my Hubby in his bee suite.  We live on a farm and Hubs plus my FIL have several bee stands that they rob a few times a year and we get wonderful, fresh honey.  Sometimes in early Spring there will be bee swarms...to make a long story short only 1 queen can stay in a bee stand, it's a dominance thing.  So the ousted queen takes a bunch of bees with her and they set off to find there own bee stand/hive if there's more than 1 queen.  When this happens and you actually see where the bees land when they swarm it's possible to catch the bees and put them in an empty stand.  It's all complicated and confusing, but who would have thought a honey bee could be so smart???  The bottom picture is the actual bee swarm in a tree.  It  truly makes me appreciate honey more!

For this LO I used Heidi Grace Designs Papers.  My Chalkboard Sticker, Letters, and Tag are Pink Paislee.  And my flowers are Prima.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Spring so far.  Here's what I "try" to spend my days doing:

Nothing, haha!  But there aren't many days that work out like that!  This is Sophie, a sweet little pound puppy that Matt brought home in 2007.  She decided she'd rather live with my in-laws than us and moved up to their house.  I made these pictures with Picnik.  If you've not checked out that place, it's a must for a scrapbooker!

Now for a few reminders.  Cardabilties & Sketchabilties is having Design Team Calls.  I encourage you to give it a try, I've loved being on the Cardabilties Design Team and working with their amazing sketches.

There is still time for you to win the The Sampler Kit for May from Scrapbooking Supplies R Us.  Visit Holly's Blog at Experience Life Wisely to play along with this month's sketch challenge for your chance to win.  And here's a sneak peek at The Sampler Kit for June.

And now some sad news.  My Papaw passed away earlier today.  It's really hard for me to write about sad things on my blog because this is my "happy place".  Those who follow me know he's been fighting an up hill battle for a while now.  His main wish was to die at home and he did.  I can't praise hospice nurses enough for all they do.  I've been a pediatric nurse for 10 years and have no idea how these ladies face death every day and keep it together.  I know that my Papaw is now walking the streets of Glory with Jesus and he's once again with my Mamaw.  Please continue to remember my family in Prayers.

Sunshine

Hi all!  Have a quick LO to share tonite.  I'm entering it in Sketch Inspiration 's sketch 221.  Take a look:

And here is my LO:

This is my precious Jack Russell - Jake!  We adopted him in 2004.  He can be a little stinker, but Hubs and I adore him dearly!  I used goodies from The Sampler Kit for March to create this LO.  The mustache Hambley paper is fabulous (and limited edition!). 

Up next is a card I made from The Sampler Kit for March.  I was inspired by this week's Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World:

Oh how I love everything "royal".  The wedding was just amazing.  From Kate's wedding dress to the carriages!  I think a cameo is very elegant and royal.  Here's my card:

This card is entered in the following challenges:

• Creative Card Crew - Cute and Girly
• Divas By Design - One for the Girls

I've had a beautiful couple of days off from work.  These pictures sum up what I've been doing this weekend:

I had told you my duck "might" become a Mom last week "if" her eggs hatched.  Well the day they were suppose to hatch, her eggs disappeared.  So Saturday I went and bought these little guys at the stock sale.  Fredda (my duck) immediately tried to kill them when I gave them to her.  She's a bit crazy.  By today there were only 3 ducklings alive (questionable causes of death for the other 2 - angry Momma duck, snake, chilly nite - nothing confirmed)....they had bonded a bit better, but things are still touch and go.  The ducklings chase her all over the barn lot, they've decided she'd make a good Mom....I'm not so sure????  Ah the trouble that I've went to for the sake of Fredda Quackers and motherhood! 

The Shoe + The Sampler

Hi everyone!  Got 2 projects to share with you today.  First up it's Friday and that means a new Fashionista Friday Challenge at If The Shoe Fits...Scrap It.  The FF Challenge 80 is:

Create a C.A.S.  Clean and Simple Card, LO, or Craft.

Seems like a simple enough challenge, right?  Well undoubtedly I can't make a simple card.  Took a lot of brain power!  Here's my creation:

I used the latest  kit from The Sampler (by Scrapbooking Supplies R Us) to make this card.  My patterned paper is Peebles, lace is Crate Paper, and beads are Prima.  I added a sentiment from Papertrey Ink.

Up next is the latest sketch challenge from The Sampler.  Take a look:

And here is my LO:

This is my nephew Logan.  He's amazed by all of my craft goodies.  Nothing would do him but to have a few of my jewels...and look at what you get...a jeweled boy : ) 

I used May's Sampler Kit to create this LO.  I also used my Sew Easy to stitch around the edges.  My Patterned Papers are American Crafts and Little Yellow Bicycle.  I also used AC alphabet and trim. 

Visit Holly's Blog - Experience Life Wisely to play along with this month's challenge.  The winner will receive their very own Sampler Kit for May! 

Visit The Shoe to play along with the Fashionista Friday Challenge 80 and stop by Scrapbooking Supplies R Us and take part in our sketch challenge. 

Cardabilties Sketch 31

It's May 15th and that means a sketch at Cardabilities. 

Sketch 31 is stunning:

And here is my card:

I started with Papertrey Ink Cardstock.  I then layered on patterned papers from the Girls' Paperie.  I used my Spellbinder Nestabilties and Cuttlebug to make my circle.  My sentiment is Papertrey Ink and I stamped it on a tag from Pink Paislee.  My ribbon is Papertrey Ink and my fabulous button is Tim Holtz. 

I love this sketch because by the time you complete the steps of the sketch, you have a completed card that doesn't need extra work.  The sketch walks you through it. 

Visit Cardabilities to see the Design Team reveals for the sketch.  Don't forget to stop by and chat with us at the Cardabilities Forum and upload your take on Sketch 31 at the Cardabilities Gallery! 

A Little Sunshine

Hi everyone, hope you all had a terrific Friday the 13th!  I've got a little card to share tonite made with Amy Matte's Designs "Happy" Digital Clip Art Kit. 

I decided to play along with Mojo Monday's Challeng 190:

I was also inspired by the new Blog Hop and Challenge @ Polkadot Door Designs.

And this week's Tuesday Trigger from Moxie Fab World - Skirting The Issue:

Here is my card:

My cardstock is Papertrey Ink.  I used Crate Paper and Echo Park Patterned Papers.  My sentiment and flower are "Happy" Digital Clip Art from Amy Matte's Designs.  I used my Fiskars scalloped punch and a Crate Paper Button. 

Now on to a little farming news.  We recently moved two of our Pygmy (or miniature) Goats to a different pasture.  They are two of our weirder goats, Babe and her daughter Corky.  Our Pygmy goats tend to be a little on the strange side.  We've had Babe for at least 8 years and Corky was born on the farm, but they still aren't crazy about humans.  Since we moved them, Babe and Corky like to sit on top of the mountain in the pasture and refuse to come down to eat and drink.  Here's a picture of Corky:

Now keep in mind that Corky doesn't come to my knees she is so tiny, but she is strong and when in danger she goes into "flight or fight" mode!  So Hubs and I decided it would be a good idea to climb the mountain and pack her down (ok maybe that was my idea and he agreed to shut me up)....what a genious idea!  First we had to catch her and she decided to "flight" and got tangled in our woven wire fence.  After we extracted her from the wire Hubby got her front legs and horns and I got her two back legs...Then we began the climb.   Half way down my feet slipped out from under me and I went tumbling.  I still hurt from my waste down and I've moaned and groaned all day! Luckily no goats were hurt in this incident.

Tonite on the phone I was explaining what happened to Mom and she said "Amber you are a tom boy".  Like that's a bad thing!  I don't think anyone has ever called me a tom boy before, not sure what to think about it....will put it in the back of my brain to think about at a later date.  So Hubs dragged Corky on down to the water and feed.  She then proceeded to take one drink and a few bites of food and ran right back up the mountain. 

So let this be a lesson to everyone, you can't change a goats mind!  Don't hurt yourself for it!  Here I was picturing her being forever greatful to us because we showed her where the nice cool city water was, but I was wrong.  Lesson learned the hard way!  Will keep you posted on the Babe & Corky Saga.

Enjoy!

If The Shoe Fits

Time for a new challenge from "The Shoe".  Thanks to everyone who played along with last week's "emerald" challenge.  This week's Fashionista Friday Challenge # 79 is:

Use Black & White with a Splash of Color.

Such a fun challenge, had a blast with this one!  Now for my card:

I love working with neutral colors and adding a splash...of pink of course.  Visit If The Shoe Fits...Scrap It to see the Design Teams take on this challenge and don't forget to add your link to play along.

Enjoy!!!

Happy Days

Hi Friends.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day & National Scrapbooking Day.  I've spent my weekend at home on the farm.  Nothing makes me happier : ) 

I've got 2 cards to share tonite.  The first is for CardPatterns Sketch 114:

And I used The Play Date Cafe's Challenge #80:

And now for my card:

I just love the orange, red, and white together.  All of my supplies are from May's Front Porch Kit - Fresh From The Garden.  And see that dandy stitching???  I finally got a Sew Easy!  And it really is "sew" easy!  I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock and my Fiskars scalloped punch. 

Take a look at the new Ribbon Carousel Challenge:

The challenge is to be inspired by the ribbon carousel.  I was inspired by the blue and green ribbon spools and how the colors compliment eachother perfectly:

This card is made from goodies in The Sampler Kit for May by Scrapbooking Supplies R Us.  The leaves on the paper were originally outlines and I colored them in with a teal Martha Stewart marker.  My cardstock is Papertrey Ink. 

This is a big week for me....my duck's eggs should hatch by Wednesday. 

My duck has suffered fertility problems in the past (ummmm she won't let the male duck near her!).  So our fingers are crossed that this year she may hatch ducklings.  Wish us luck!

If The Shoe Fits Challenge 78

Wowzers what a great turn out for last week's Fashionista Friday Challenge at If The Shoe Fits...125 entries and I'm sure there will be a few last minute additions!  Thanks to everyone who played along! 

This week's Fashionista Friday Challenge 78 is:

Emeralds are the birthstone for May so use the color dark green on your projects.

Isn't emerald green a lovely color???  Now for my card:

I started out with black Papertrey Ink Cardstock.  I then layered a piece of Core'dinations green cardstock on top of it.  I used a Glitz overlay and added Creative Charms Jewels.  My ribbon is Papertrey Ink and my flag is Pink Paislee. 

This week If The Shoe Fits is sponsored by Mo's Digital Pencil - a prize of $15 coupon code.  Visit "The Shoe" to see the Design Teams darling creations with emerald green!

A Little Of This...A Little Of That...

Hi all!  Have a few cards to share tonite from challenges.  I get so busy with Design Team work that I slack on challenges, but they are so fun and really energize my creativeness.  Tonite I made a card for the CR84FN Color Challenge:

Oh my, aren't these colors dreamy???  So Springy.  I also added the CardPatterns Sketch:

And here is my card:

This card was made using goodies from April's Front Porch Kit.  I have loved playing with this kit and can't wait to see Mays! 

Next up is The Ribbon Reel Challenge:

Here's my card:

This card is made with Crate Paper goodies.  The stamped sentiment and cardstock is Papertrey Ink.  Everything else is Crate Paper - gotta love Emma's Shoppe!  Such feminine papers!  Many of the Emma Shoppe papers remind me of vintage sheets and fabric, LOVE IT! 

A little farm news.  My chicks are growing like weeds!  And I have 4 chickens and 1 duck sitting on eggs at the moment...so in a few weeks there will be chicks running everywhere.  I also have a blue bird box in my back yard and they have little ones now.  I adore blue birds, take a look at a picture I found on the web:

Early every Spring I clean my blue bird house out (because they will not build in an old nest, they like to start from scratch).  If I pay close attention I will see the little male and female bird begin work on their nest.  They have already laid their first sitting of eggs this year and have baby birds, I've seen them flying back and forth feeding them.  When these babes leave I'll clean the box out to get ready for the next sitting.  Such a blessing to be able to look out my kitchen window and see these beauties!  I highly recommend if you enjoy nature - do a little homework on blue birds and invest in a blue bird box!