Ups and Downs

Hi all!  Have a few LO's to share tonite made with goodies from July's Sampler Kit from Scrapbooking Supplies R Us.  The kit will be available any day and it is loaded with fabulous goodies!  So get ready to shop!!!

First up is a LO I made for this week's Sketchy Thursday challenge:

And my LO:

Ahhhh fun in the sun!  Love doing layouts of vacation pictures.  Perfect ways to preserve great memories. 

Up next is a LO made for Sketchy Thursdays Guest Designer for August:

Here's another LO:

Logan, my nephew, loved kite flying at the beach.  Such a fun picture opportunity! 

This week has been full of ups and downs at the barn.  My duck Fredda has ducklings!  Yes, after 2 years of infertility she's finally a Momma!  She had 3 little ducklings hatch and now is down to 2.  Hoping and Praying the 2 remaining make it:

My rooster Quagmire, who I've had for at least 3 years, has had a bad foot for a while now.  Today it finally got so bad he couldn't walk or use the foot so we made the difficult decision to put him down.  It just kills me to decide between life and death and weigh the quality of life he had. Here's a LO I did in 2009 featuring Quagmire:

He was a beauty!  The barnyard always has one rooster that steps up to be the ruler.  Quag was our leader and I'm anxious to see who steps up and takes over.  There will never be another Quag!

Pretty In Pink

Anyone else a blog slacker this Summer?  There's just so much to do with my days and so little time!  Here in the country Summer's are the best.  Long days, plenty of sunshine, and watermelon.  We're already getting corn, green beans, cucumbers, and potatoes out of the garden, yummo.  There's nothing like fresh corn on the cob! 

I've got a LO to share tonite that I made using The Sampler kit for June:

I posted this flower picture a few months ago and thought it was scrap worthy.  It was one of the first signs of Spring I saw this year.  I used Adobe Photoshop and made the purple of the flower a little more vibrant.  There's so many different definitions of art - mine is crafting.  Someone else may be drawing.  I love that we can all decide what art means to use and create away. 

There's a new challenge up at If The Shoe Fits - it's a patriotic challenge.  Sign up now if you have a late 4th of July or Patriotic card you'd like to share.

Speaking of art, tonite I purchased a new goodie from Amazon:

I got a Pretty Pink Smashbook from K & Co. and goodies to go with it.  OK, why didn't I think of this book???  I've been keeping diaries and scrapping for years, I'm a pack rat of anything that could some day hold a memory or spark an idea.  I'm so excited to get my Smashbook and found a great Smashbook blog by K & Co. 

I've really found how important it is to keep my memories preserved since Papaw passed away.  I told you I had started a heritage album years ago.  Well I found all my notes and stories Papaw told me that I had already forgot...I was so happy!  And I have been doing a little ancestory research and found when my family originally traveled from Europe to the United States.  Just amazing! 

Got a beach picture to share with you tonite of me and my nephew Logan.  We had such a great time at Ocean Island, NC.  Highly recommend it to everyone who likes to laze on the beach without the crowds:

Logan's almost as tall as me, hehe!  These pretty little sunglasses were lost at see later that week!  I'm sure there's a shark wearing them as we speak. 

Things have been going good at the barns.  My little chicks have been keeping me busy.  We have many chickens that are new Momma's, but most of them only have a couple of chicks so the numbers are easier to deal with.  I showed a picture of my 5 baby ducks a few months ago, we only have 1 left.  We still have Frank and Fredda Quackers and Fredda is sitting on a nest of eggs again.  That duck really needs medication, she's nuts!  So Frank has befriended one of my baby ducks that is definitely a girl and we've named her Daphne.

She's going to look just like Fredda when she grows up, same type of duck.  Aren't the precious?  Daphne loves lounging around the barnyard, eating bread, and taking a dip in our water trough.  She's got the good life!

And last but not least.  You have to visit my friend Annette's Blog and check out the rattlesnake she found in her dog kennels, eek!  Plus you might want to look at her AMAZING cards also : )

Sorry this post skips around everywhere, but I didn't want to miss anything! 

Enjoy!!!

Cardabilties Sketch 34

Hi guys!  Time for a new challenge at Cardabilities.  My design team term is up after this reveal and I'd like to thank Karan for being such a fabulous leader!  Honestly an amazing DT to be a part of and I'm so happy I get to add it to my resume.  Who wants to see the sketch???

Robyn's Fetish is the Sponsor for Challenge 34.  I used her Birdie's Nest digi stamp.  Adorable!  Here is my card:

I decided to do a little paper piecing and add a sunshine instead of a banner.  I kept the edges around my digi rough, not a perfect cut.  My cardstock, stamps, and ribbon is Papertrey Ink.  I used my Copics and a button from Crate Paper.

Visit Cardabilties to see the Design Team's darling creations and visit us at the Cardabilties Forum to do a little crafty chatting. 

Terrific Tuesday

Hi all!  How's your Tuesday been?  My work schedule allows me to be off a lot during the weeks, so I love Tuesdays.  It's quiet and relaxed.  Have a little card to share tonite that I'm entering in the following challenges:

The Shabby Tea Room #68 - Use favorite papers and embellishements.
The Crafty Pad Challenge 127 - Bold & Bright Colors

Here's my card:

Who couldn't love these bright fun papers?  Love the colors, so vibrant and some of my favorites of the Summer.  My newest favorite embellishments are these Vintage Fabric Tags from Amy Matte's Designs.  Oh the possibilities are endless for these cuties.  And I had to add a little strip of teal glitter paper to make things blingy. 

Id also like to give a big thanks to the Color Throwdown for listing me as one of their favorite cards from the past week!  And a shout out to The Front Porch Kits Blog for liking my use of their adorable garden glove! 

Last but not least, I've decided to start a Family History Scrapbook.  I started one a few years ago, before blogging, but didn't finish it.  Since my Papaw passed away, I feel like I need to record things he's told me about our family before time diminishes those memories.  I got the book Scrapbooking Your Family History from Creating Keepsakes and the workbook a few years ago.  I got them back out and have all my tools ready to get to work, so wish me luck!  I'll post pictures as I go along.    Have any of you created a project like this, any tips?  It's a bit overwhelming to think about where to even begin! 

I've got a picture to share before logging off.  You know me and my camera!  I love snapping pictures in the barnyard.  Here's a cute one I took the other day:

Chickens love watermelon!  No matter the age, size, and breed it's one thing they all seem to have in common.  This little chick got his first taste of melon.  He watched his Mamma eating and had to join in the fun.  It's just so adorable.  Here he's (or she) is drinking some juice from the watermelon.  Isn't Summer grand! 

If The Shoe Fits

Hi guys!  Time for a new challenge from If The Shoe Fits...Scrap It.  This week we're thinking "roses".  This month we're celebrating June's birth flower - the rose.  So make a project and use roses, rose colors, rose papers, the possibilities are endless.  I also entered this little card in the following challenges:

Stampavie and More #145 - Butterflies
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Pile on those flowers.
Color Throwdown #147 -

And here is my card:

I used Papertrey Ink Stamps, Prima Flowers, My Mind's Eye Patterned Paper.  I used my Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch and lace from Crate Paper.  Visit The Shoe to see the Design Teams take on our rosie challenge and play along! 

Now who wants to see a new picture of my Silkies???  They are growing up, love these little guys. 

Aren't they adorable?  And they stay so very clean.  They love to stay in our "community center" of the day and come out in the barnyard of the evening when the shades over. 

This week has been a happy one.  My turkey Shanana hatched 2 baby turkeys, so everyone's tickled about that.  I got Shanana last Autumn.  She obviously had it rough and we think she lived most of her life confined to a cage.  She has to be the ugliest turkey I've ever seen, but she can't help that.  Now she's a Momma. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right???  She's so proud of her 2 baby turkeys and I couldn't be more pleased.  She's an excellent mother and I'm so happy we've given her the life she deserves and to never be in a cage again.   Will keep you updated on her wee ones.

Cardabilties Sketch 33

Ready for a new sketch from Cardabilties?  Sketch 33 is fabulous and so fun to work with:

This week our Sponsor is Whimsie Doodles.  They have oh so cute digi stamps!

I used a new digi in the store for June - Hooties Graduate.  Loved coloring this little digi with my Copics.  Here's my card:

Hootie was a hoot to work with.  I used Papertrey Ink Cardstock.  My ribbon is Crate Paper.  My patterned paper is Echo Park. 

Visit Cardabilties to see the Design Teams take on Sketch 33 and upload your creation to the Cardabilties Gallery.  We'd also love for you to visit the Cardabilties Forum where you can get to know the DT and fellow crafters. 

Enjoy!!!

TGIF

Hope you've had a great week and looking forward to the weekend.  I'm working and getting ready for vacation next week.  Very excited!  I've got a few cards to share with you tonite.  First up is a card I made for this week's If The Shoe Fits...Scrap It.  This week's  Fashionista Friday challenge is to use June's Birthstone - pearl.

Don't forget, they're a girls best friend!  And here is my card:

Pearls are a girls bestf riend when crafting!  I use them all the time in different colors.  This little card was made from supplies from previous Sampler Kits at Scrapbooking Supplies R Us.  Visit If The Shoe Fits to check out the DT's darling creations with pearl.

My next card was made with a few challenges in mind....The Play Date Cafe Challenge 85:

The Shabby Tea Room - embossing:

And Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger:

And here is my card:

There's just something about this card that I love.  I embossed my paper and lightly dusted it with a rosy pink ink.  I then added some Amy Matte's Designs Vintage Fabric Flags from One Pink Lemon.  I decided to keep this card on the shabby side.  Very easy to make! 

Enjoy!!!