That's Just Crappie...

WOWZA.... this month has absolutely flown by.  I can't believe it's almost April which means... I really had to get my caboose in gear to get March's SFYTT completed.  Just a couple of days left... and I got it done. Wahoo!!! I've had the a la Mode "Something's Fishy" since shortly after it came out and believe it or not, this is the first time it has finally seen ink.  The inspiration for my watercoloring came from the MME Stella Rose collection.  I had so much fun watercolor with my Tombow Markers and then paper pieced both the boots and the fish.  See the sponging around the edge?  Well... that's covering up an oops....  I was pretty much done the card, ready to assemble it and I decided to take the stamp off the clear block, it slipped out of my hands and of course landed upside down onto my colored image.... Argh.... but I knew a little bit of ink would cover it up. 

Well... that's all for me today... I'm starting to not feel well and don't have time to get sick so I'm trying to lay low, get a bit of extra sleep and keep drinking lots of fluids... here's to hoping I miss the flu bug....

TSG100 Sweet Pea

This week’s challenge is being issued by our Trendsetter of the Week, Kim at There She Goes! She wants us to create a card that uses NO MARKERS…no Copics, no Tombow Markers…NO MARKERS AT ALL! Can you believe it?  Reach for those pastels, colored pencils, or other coloring mediums that you’ve been neglecting and show them some love this week! And as always, we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Now, I love my Tombows and it's rare that I put them down but if challenged... I guess I have to go to something else right?  So I pulled out my watercolor pencils.... I don't use them often enough but when I do... I love em....I've had the Sweet Pea mini set from There She Goes for quite some time but I haven't used it... I know, I know... it's horrible to think of un-inked stamps... but un-inked no more....  And guess what!!! It's on sale this week for our "Out with the Old" Sale.  The layout for my card comes from this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge at Karen Giron's blog (one of our new Trendsetters at TSG).  Because sweet peas are so gentle and soft looking, I decided to use some of the softer DP's from My Mind's Eye Stella Rose collection - I've had it since shortly after it came out and this is the first time I've used it.  A lot of firsts for me today it looks like right? 

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that utilizes no markers, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (Apr 3rd). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG100 so we can check out your beautiful work!
 
Thanks for popping by today!!! Hugs!!!
 

Man's best friend

Hey there everyone!!! I hope you've all had a wonderful week - we finally had some Spring weather so this chicky was one happy girl!.  I had a little bit of free time this week so I decided I just had to color up this cute Sugar Stick Dog from Lori Boyd Designs.  I printed this cute puppy off and then watercolored it with my Tombow Markers and then sponged around the edge of the image with Wheat Versamagic Ink.  Last year when this Max and Whiskers Basic Grey DP came out, I just had to have it because of the animal theme and then haven't used it so this card was perfect for it. The layout for this card was based on last week's Mojo Monday challenge that I altered slightly.  

Well I'm off to put my feet up for awhile... it was a long day working in heels... Love the fact that it's now Spring but getting used to the cute sandals again... OUCH! 

TSG Sneak Peek - My Little Friend

Welcome back for Day 3 of this month's There She Goes Sneak peeks!!! Aren't the new stamp sets absolutely fabulous this month?  I think it's my fave release so far!!!  I'm the first official stop on the blog hop today after the TSG blog. 

There’s no place like GNOME! Yep…you guessed it! Torico has created a fabulously whimsical set featuring some outstanding gnome images and coordinating sentiments. Clean designs and adorable images characterize Torico’s style, and this set is no different!

My goodness!!! I absolutely love this set and was giddy when I saw it.  The images are adorable and the sentiments - fabulously funny!!!! LOL...I had so much fun making this card and knew that creating a scene was the way to go complete with hills, grass, clouds and sky.  How much fun!!  The image was then watercolored with my Tombow Markers and sponged around the edge with corresponding inks. 

My Little Friend is a 6x8 stamp set that includes a total of 31 stamps and will sell for $24.

Would you like a chance to win the My Little Friend stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their My Little Friend Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own My Little Friend stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Mar 26th) during the Release Party Chat.

 

Now head on over to the fabulous Ann's blog!!! 

 
 

Hannah's ready for Spring

*** Please scroll down a little for my TSG Sneak Peek****

It's been so rainy and icky here lately that I decided I needed a bit of Spring so I made it for myself.  (Of course as I write this post,  the sun is finally shining....).  I found this fantastic DP that had a colour pallette that was to die for.  Love these colors together (although I'd never dare wear them together in clothing).  This Lollipop image called Hannah from Lori Boyd Designs has been printed from my computer and then watercolored with my Tombow markers.  The layout came together really quickly and I think I'll be using it again soon. 

Have a great day!!! I'm off to get ready to enjoy the sunshine!!

TSG Sneak Peek - Technology Bytes and Tulip

Whether you’re one of those individuals who suffers from technological meltdowns, or you’re one who has the world of technology all figured out; you’ll roll on the floor laughing when you get a look at this hilarious set illustrated by Jessica! She’s covered all of her bases, too…from cell phones to PCs…and she’s included sentiments that will crack up anyone that receives a card created with the set.

** I'm the first official stop on the blog hop today.  There will be a master list on the TSG blog if there is a break somewhere in the hop. 

My goodness.... this stamp set has so many funny sentiments... it'll keep you laughing for quite some time. Perfect for so many occasions and if you have some "technology" lovers in your life,  it's a must have.  For my card, I decided to take the cue from the DP (Bella Boulevard) and kept the coloring simple.

Technology Bytes is a 4x8 stamp set that includes a total of 20 stamps and will sell for $18.

Would you like a chance to win the Technology Bytes stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Technology Bytes Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Technology Bytes stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Mar 26th) during the Release Party Chat.
 

Spring is in the air, and nothing says spring like tulips! This new set from Chris Dark showcases her flawless and realistic illustration of a single tulip and is paired with several sentiments that coordinate with the image. This set is a must-have for any flower lover!

I love flowers and tulips are one of my favorites. For some reason, this tulip screams vintage to me so I pulled out some lace trim, organdy ribbon, and some of my more elegant Nesties.  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and then sponged around the edge with some Wheat Versamagic Ink.  Each layer of DP was dry embossed with some of my Cuttlebug folders and then sponged with Close to Cocoa ink to make it look a little more vintage. 

Tulip is a 3x4 stamp set that includes a total of 8 stamps and will sell for $7.

***** Now head on over to Ann's blog for your next bit of eye candy today!!!

Would you like a chance to win the Tulip stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Tulip Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Tulip stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Mar 26th) during the Release Party Chat.

TSG Sneak Peeks - Out of This World

Wahoo!!!! It's the first day of sneak peeks for this month's release at There She Goes.  Do you know someone who is out of this world, or maybe even someone who could have come from another planet??? If so, then you’ll definitely love this new fabulous and whimsical set illustrated by Melyssa Connolly!

I'm the first official stop on the blog hop after the TSG Blog.  If there are any breaks along the way, there will be a master list at the TSG blog.

I had so much fun with this awesome new set.  As soon as I saw this image, I knew I had to use it and the sentiment... love it!!!  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and then sponged around the edge with Canteloupe Memento Ink. 

*** Now head on over to one of our new Trendsetters,  Ann's blog!! She'll have some amazing eye candy for all of you!!


Out of This World is a 4x8 stamp set that includes a total of 19 stamps and will sell for $18.

Would you like a chance to win the Out of This World stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Out of This World Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Out of This World stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Mar 26th) during the Release Party Chat.

Take time for yourself

WOW... I know I say this quite a bit but it's been a busy week again in my life.... But you'll like what I've been doing (one of the things I've done is work on my samples for next week's TSG release - OMG!!! You'll love this release).  Another thing I worked on this week was a cover for a "Memories" book for one of my brother's co-workers who is retiring.  It's so hard to make something when you don't know the person and you know that a lot of people are going to be looking at your work.... it's terrifying!  One thing my brother did tell me is that the lady retiring loves the color green so I knew I had to get a bit of it onto the cover.  I actually had these papers out for a different project but I loved them so much together, I thought I couldn't go wrong with this color combo.  The image is one of the a la Mode's from MFT (sorry it's currently out of stock) and has been watercolored with my Tombow markers (Imagine that eh?)... LOL!

Well, I'm off to grab a bite for supper but I'll  be back over the next couple of days with more cards.

Wishing you the best

You're probably thinking you've seen a card almost identical to this from me and you'd be right.... this is the second card I made using the same layout when I was at Corinna's last month.  I wanted to get a few quick CAS cards done and I thought that this fit the bill.  I've used some Amuse cardstock, the TSG set called "Everyday Greetings", a bit of lace trim, a few rhinestones and there you've got a great 5 minute card (and who doesn't love a 5 minute card now and then). 

I know my blog has been a little quiet lately but a lot has been going on in life and I just haven't felt like crafting.  I promise I'll be make a few cards this week (some will be for next week's TSG release), but you'll definitely see something frome me soon. 

Hugs!!1

TSG98 When I said I do....

This week’s challenge at There She Goes is brought to us by our Trendsetter of the Week, Danielle! She has created a fabulous sketch for us to work with, and we are so excited to see what you will create with this layout as your starting point! Isn't this sketch fantastic? There are so many fabulous TSG sets that would work so well with this sketch that I had a hard time deciding which one to use...I eventually settled on using "Loads of Fun".

 

As you can see, I've flipped the sketch on its' side to work better with the image that I wanted to use.  The image has been stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and sponged around the edge with two shades of chalk ink in blues.  Both the sun and grass were cut out using some MFT Die-namics and then were sponged with corresponding colors of ink for a bit more dimension.  The DP is from My Mind's Eye and Bella Boulevard. Loving how well the patterns are working together. 

Now for a bit of the fun info....  Would you like to win $5 to the TSG store or be in the Trendsetting Spotlight?  If so, check out the TSG blog for more info. We'd love for you to participate in this week's challenge!!!  Wahoo!!!

 

Diet Starts Tomorrow...

LOL!!! Isn't she just too funny?  What I wouldn't do for a cupcake right about now.... I've been trying to lose weight lately so I've been trying to be good.  I guess it's better to have a cupcake on a card rather than in the belly right?  For my card, I've used the set "Bakery Business" from Taylored Expressions that I borrowed from my buddy Corinna when we were at her house in February. I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear Embossing Powder. I then watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers.  The DP I've used is from Echo Park and Bella Boulevard. I'm loving how it pops with the Basic Black matting. 

Thanks for dropping by!!! You'll see me again over the weekend... I plan on getting a little crafty. Hugs!!

Just "Bee"cause...

Hello!! I hope you've had a great day and that there is a bit of sunshine in your life.  I woke up this morning to rain... pouring rain... makes you not want to get out of bed rain... Yup... the icky rain!  And to top it all off, I was waiting for my new couch to arrive (thank goodness the rain let up long enough for the delivery).  To brighten up my day, I decided to watercolor up this cute "Lollipop Bumblebee" from By Lori Designs.  I also have the ladybug that I'll be coloring up soon too.  I tried to keep the color combo true to the colors of the bee so I used some Pebbles and October Afternoon DP's.  The layout is from this week's CPS sketch.

Thanks for dropping by!!! I'm off to enjoy my comfy new couch...

TSG97 Appreciate Kraftiness...

Wowza... It's been a quiet few days on my blog here... I think my mojo up and took a hike when I decided to re-organize my living room, basement etc for the arrival of a new couch... Old couch gone... New couch... well, that's another story.. It's still at the store waiting to be delivered...

With my mojo lacking, I decided to make a CAS card for this weeks'  TSG Challenge by the Trendsetter of the week, Jodi.  She has issued a challenge to use KRAFT CARDSTOCK somewhere in your creation. You can use it as card base or as mats to your different layers, or as your focal panel, or you can create a masterpiece that showcases only Kraft…the choices are endless!

For my card, I've stamped the sentiment "I appreciate you" with Close to Cocoa from  the set "Sentimental Thank You" as the focal point. I've dry embossed part of the Kraft Panel with one of my Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (If I remember correctly, it's the Victoria one).  A little bit of ribbon, a button, twine, a few half back pearls and voila... done.... I also made this card for this week's "That's Krafty Thursday" at Jeanie Whitmer's blog.  Love her stuff!!!!

We'd love for you to participate by making a card that incorporates Kraft Cardstock, and then go back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (Mar 14th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG97 so we can check out your beautiful work!

 
 

BLD Blog Hop

Wahoo!!! Welcome to the By Lori Designs Blog Hop celebrating this month's release at By Lori Designs.  If you just happened upon my blog today, you'll want to go back to the beginning at the BLD Blog. If you arrived from Arielle's blog,  then you're on the right track!!!

For my card today, I`ve used the new release Puddle Jumper with Landon and Henry  called "Brotherly Love" which has been edited by DT member Mercy Kerin.  Aren`t they just too cute- looking like brothers or friends?  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers in various colors to match the DP.  The layout is from this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

The next stop on the blog hop is the amazingly talented Kadie.  You'll want to make sure to comment on everyone's blogs today because there's a prize somewhere along the way... 

Ready for the Rain

This cutie pie PI Image from My Favorite Things (sorry it's out of stock right now so I can't link to it) may be ready for the rain but I can tell you, that I've had enough of the rain. I know I shouldn't be complaining about the weather but over the last few weeks, we've had a few dumps of snow (and it wasn't melting because the temps weren't getting high enough), a lot of rain and a good old wind storm.  I actually made this card in early February at our girls stamping weekend at Corinna's in WA state but I never got the chance to post it so I thought now would be the perfect time.  (I've been trying to re-organize my place because a new couch will be coming sometime over the next few days so I haven't done any crafting at all).  Do you recognize this DP combo from my blog recently?  I used these exact same papers on a card for the recent TSG release and I think they go so well with "rainy" type images.  The image has been watercolored with my Tombow markers and I then paper pieced the umbrella with one of the DP's from the Cosmo Cricket Togetherness line.  I then sponged around the edge of the Nestabilitie with Crumb Cake ink.  I absolutely love Jeanie Whitmer's That's Krafty Thursday Challenge and I noticed a new one is up so I'll be entering this card into her challenge (It's on a Kraft Colored Base).

Now I'm off to head out into the sunshine while we have it.... but don't worry I'll have my umbrella ready!!