Happy Birthday to ME (and a gift for one of you!)

Boy was it a HOT ONE!  98 degrees when I left my classroom today, but it was a wonderful day full of smiles. :)

When I got to my classroom this card was waiting for me. :)  My friend Lynn made me this card for my b-day and she made me the most FABULOUS earrings!!!  I put them on as soon as I saw them!

Aren't they awesome?!?!  Email me if you are interested in her website.  She does custom jewelery and specializes in weddings (but can make stuff for any occasion).  Sorry folks these beauties are not going in the blog candy goodie box. LOL!

And now on to BLOG CANDY WINNER TIME!!!!!!!

And the Winner is...



Wait.........









For.......






It.....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

16 

Timestamp: 2010-08-31 21:50:17 UTC

16 = WeirdCat said...

Great candy, my favourite holiday is Christmas, not the massive run up but the week before up until New Year, just feels so special. Enjoy your birthdays and your summer, we don't have a summer in the north west of England, it has forgotten us again!

Email me (contact info is on my about me page) with your address WeirdCat I can't wait to send you all the goodies. :)

Thanks to everyone who left comments!  You were all so sweet.  I learned so much about all of you and your favorite holidays.  It was fun to see who liked what and why.  I'll keep all your favs in mind when making and posting cards.  Keep your eyes peeled to see if I post a card for your holiday. :)

It must be a new season

If you are reading this, then it must mean that school has started.  Today is the first day back for the teachers in my district.  It's one of only a few days all year that find us all together at one time.   Ah the start of a new year.  Fresh faces, fresh haircuts, new kicks and new clothes.  Here's to autumn and all the promise it holds.
Don't forget today is the last day to enter for a chance at goodies!

Same but Different

Happy Sunday everyone!  As my last few hours of summer vacation count down I thought I'd share some of my summer creations.  BTW -I've completed all but #6 from my Summer Resolutions list!  Thanks to all of you for the wonderful encouragement!  I can't wait to tell everyone about this tomorrow at school. :)

Here are a few more cards made from images I colored on my vaca.  I thought I'd go with a different point of view with this image and see how same/different I could make these cards.  All 3 use a Hero Arts image stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa, BG Olivia paper, and a Hero Arts flower image stamped with Memento London Fog on the card base.

The pink card has a pink card base from Memory Box.  I used pink flocked/velvet paper ruffled along the edge and as a mat.

The one got some blue flocked/velvet paper ruffled on the bottom and as a mat.  It also has a Memory Box card base.

For the yellow card there's a yellow card base from Memory Box, two rows of yellow flocked/velvet paper ruffled through the middle and as again for the mat.

Couldn't leave the envies naked!  An Amuse sentiment adorns the back flap to cheer the recipient (& the mail carrier). :)  Hope you enjoyed the SBD trio (You can check out another one here)!  Don't forget only 2 days left to enter my blog candy!

I'm letting these fly at:
Craft Your Days Away
Let's Ink It Up
Crafty Emmas 
Color Throwdown

Blueberries for Me

We're having fun again this week at Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle Saturday with a great challenge!  Create a get well or congratulations card.  Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!  Our Sponsor is Digi Doodles and they were kind enough to give all of us on the SSDS design team some of their images to use in this weeks challenge.

I was chatting with a friend last week about using my Copics and how I wished I could take the certification.  The timing for the classes is always bad for me, nevermind the cost of staying at the hotel.  She's had the chance for training, but thinks the best way to learn is to keep playing with them.  So I decided to really take a chance with this card.  I'm not always good at figuring out shading.  I get the "light source" concept, but I can't seem to picture it.  This time around I thought I'd use an already colored image to help guide my coloring.  I did a Google image search for blueberries and found this image:

I can't read the artist's name, but I found it here.  I'm pleased with how close I got with my image to this one and will probably try it again to see if I can get even closer.  I'm not usually one for copying exactly, but in this case I figure it will help me learn the technique.  Kinda like the art students who go to museums.  Wouldn't it be fun to go to art school?!?  I digress.  Please join us this week at SSDS and you'll have a chance to win a $10 GC from Digi Doodles.

I've joined in the fun here:
Craftalicious Challenges
Stampin' for the Weekend
The ABC Challenge

Cooking It Up Challenge

Cooking It Up With Katie is hosting a fella challenge!  We've got a recipe in store for you and we wanna see a card made with a boy in mind.  

Pixie Dust Studios is our sponsor this week and they gave each of us on the DT a chance to place with of of their images.  I thought this cute and cuddly fella was just perfect for a baby boy card.  I'll be honest.  I totally thought the water at the base of the barrel boat was grass! LOL!  It just seemed like pretend playing in the yard to me.  I'm already "outside the box" with my colors for a "new baby" card so consider it more "outside the box" thinking on an image.  :)  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

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So here's the challenge.  Make a card using a plaid/gingham/check pattern, add some brown, and keep a boy in mind.  Do all of that and you're eligible to add your card to the challenge for a chance to win goodies from our sponsor Pixie Dust Studios.

So I used an amazing number of Copics to make this image, but I'm wicked excited with how it all worked!  Big thanks to my MIL and FIL for my early birthday gift of a BUNCH of Copics for coloring hair and fur!  I totally couldn't have made this bear without my E17, E18, and E19.  In addition to those 3 markers, I also used E33, E35, E39, B00, B02, B05, R81, R83, YG11, YG13, YG17, YR12, YR15, YR18, YR23, YR24, Y23, Y26.  Whew!  Come join us for some good boy, bad boy, little boy, big boy fun.  Let me know if you enter this challenge.  I'd love to check out your creation!

A New Love

There's a lotta marker stuff here, but I promise there's a project.  Stick with this post and you'll be rewarded!

This is my new love.  This little Copic "checkbook" is AWESOME!!! I'm still new to Copics and in the few days that I've had this in my hot little hands it has helped me SO MUCH.  So each page is a different family of markers and it's divided by those that play well together.  Wait 'til you see the card it helped me make in tomorrows post.

I used to house my markers in a drink mix bucket that a friend had given me but with my recent additions I have run out of room and now everything is in a mailing box.  I know lots of folks have their Copics stored by color and I hope to get there soon, but I NEED to transport my Copics.  When I visit friends to play and be crafty I want all my Copics with me so I can be ready when inspiration strikes.  I have yet to find something that will let me bring ALL my toys with me.  I'll probably have to get my DH to build me something.  Maybe for my birthday...hint...hint.  Barb, maybe mention this to your son?

So I had intended to post this for a challenge last week, but things got away from me.  Oh well.  The ribbon is actually 2 ribbons layered and adhered to the card front.  I used a Hero Arts flower and stamped it on the card base with Memento London Fog.  The designer papers are from Basic Grey's Olivia line and the polka dots were my inspiration for the coloring of the teacups.  I used my Copics R30, R32, T4, T6, YG11, YG13, YG17 and the Blender.  I'm pretty sure that the sentiment is from Amuse (possibly the Saltbox).  The teacups are the same ones I used on this card and the image is from Stampington & Co.

Feel Better Soon

I really do adore this stamp.  I have a set I hope to post using this flower from Memory Box, but I'll post some other stuff first so I don't wear you all down with flower overload!

 

My cousin is a bit under the weather right now, so I sent some snail mail cheer to her.  Better than real flowers 'cause this doesn't need any water and won't wilt so the cheer lasts longer. :)    To "trick out" the card I punched the bottom and then ruffled a ribbon and attached it to the back of the cover.  It kinda looks like a little petticoat or somethin'.

Hope you enjoyed this card.  Here's a challenge for you today.  Get a card and send it to someone "just because".  We all get so much yucky mail.  Take a moment to send joy mail to someone you love, someone you haven't talked to in a while, or someone you know who may need a lift.  Don't wait 'til Christmas or a birthday.  Practice this random act of kindness and you can make the world a little sunnier.

I "planted" this card here:
Paper Cutz Challenge- Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant- Ribbon and sparkle

Sassy Saturday!

It's Saturday so you know it's time for another great challenge from Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle Saturday!   This week our sponsor is Sassy Studio Designs and they were so sweet to give all of us a chance to play with some of their images for this challenge.  Thanks SSD!

Wicked easy rules this week.  Make a card/project using kraft colored paper and you can win 4 digi's of your choice from SSD.  C'mon could we give you an easier one?!?

So now I tip my hat to you and ask will you join us?  Leave me a comment if you do.  I'd love to give your "krafty" creation some love!

Only 4 followers away from adding more stuff to my blog candy!  Don't forget to leave a comment here to be eligible to win!

I'm riding the wave with this card here:
Party Time Tuesdays- pink & brown

Have a cuppa

I played around with my Copics over vacation last week and am getting around to actually using some of the images I colored. LOL! :)

 

I tried going what I consider "a little funky" with the colors here.  I've made so many brightly colored things lately I thought it was time for a more muted look.  Maybe my brain knows that it's almost time for school to start back up and fall is around the corner.  GASP!  I haven't been back to school all summer and will likely head over today and tomorrow to assess and set up my station of the room I share.  YIKES!  Nothing like unpacking boxes, cleaning, copying, and decorating in 90+ heat.  Oh well, soon enough I'll be freezing cold and digging out those boots.  Bigger YIKES!  I digress.  On to the new candy additions!!!!

I didn't want anyone to think I had forgotten my promise to add to the blog candy kitty!  These BoBunny and Basic Grey papers are going in the goodie box and maybe...

If I get to 60 followers by August 31st this stamp set will make it in as well.  All the details for candy eligibility can be found here.

If you are itchin' to know the deets on the card above *smile*... Copics R24, 27, 29, B95, 97, 99, E00, 33, 57 and blender.  Basic Grey paper Ambrosia- Tangy, So Sophia paper Possibilities

It's Your Polka Dot Day!

I recently got some new Copics and wanted to try them out.  I haven't had much practice using my Copics to color people.  Faces and hair are so tricky for me! Wouldn't this be a great card for a little girl?  There are so many happy colors and patterns, it's a party in an envie. hee-hee! :)

I thought I'd try my hand at the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations- the colors and trees
Craft Your Days Away- favorite things (my Copics)
Sentimental Sundays- ribbon or lace
City Crafter- Isn't She Lovely challenge


Since I'm over 50 followers I am adding to the blog candy!  Stop by tomorrow for pics of what's being added. :)

Mini Messages

Here's a short post for a quick project.  I've got a short attention span and can finish small projects.  I think that's why I like mini projects.  This one is all about mini memo pads that have been upcycled to stylish little message books!

I took the mini memo pads apart and adhered patterned paper to the fronts and even the backs.  Punched holes in the tops and rewired everything.  Then I rummaged through my stash for bits 'n pieces that caught my attention.  These are so much fun!  It's all about the icing.  Right away I got to bling these little babies up with Stickles, rhinestones, ribbon, and dew drops.  I'm going to package these up for my church fair in September as soon as I can decide on ribbons for the geisha pad.

Going for gold here:
I Did it Creations- Anything Goes (both mini notepads)
Pixie Dust Studio- Pink (the birdie pad)
OCC- Back to school (I used homework notepads)
Wild Orchid Challenge- For the Girls (what girl wouldn't want a blinged notepad?)

Mini Friends

Hi Gang! Did you miss me? I've been up in ME for a kinda family reunion, but I'm back now with what I think is a cutie patootie album. (WARNING:  Photo heavy posting, but worth it!)

I made this mini album ages ago with the idea that I'd give it away or sell it.  I just can't do it!  This paper is just to yummy for me to part with, so I figured I should at least share the view. ;)

I played with lots of punches and bits of various scraps to create this 4x4 album.  It's so tiny that stuff that would otherwise be tossed was the perfect size for this pocket album.

I figure if I ever use this I could put wallet size photo's on the pages.  Hey I'm a teacher.  We get wallet shots of ourselves every year on picture day.  I'm sure I could get my friends to hand over some of their pics.  Although school pics tend to be more flattering the younger you are. :)

The best part of this album was that I could lay out all the pages on my table and still have TONS of room to work!

I only used StazOn black ink and a Technique Tuesday swirl stamp as far as stamping in this album goes.

I also went back to different pages and added Liquid Pearls or Stickles for some eye candy.

Tiny pages mean you really have to be CAS with your style, but I think this makes for a quickly finished project!

Some pages got distressed with cat's eye size chalk inks.  I have a bazillion of them that I keep in a zippy bag in my class tote so I always have them handy to punch up a project. :)

The other way I punch up a project or page is with glitter pens.  You can't see it well from the photos here, but I added some glitz via pens on several of the pages by just following the lines of the patterns or swirls.

Less really is more with this mini!  Only one photo left.  Great job sticking with me 'til now!

Last pic.  This is the back cover of the album.  Hope you enjoyed this not so mini tour of a mini book. :)

So, does this put you in a mini mood?

I'm reaching for the brass ring at these hangouts:
Fab 'n' Funky- favorite colors
Marks Finest Papers - think flowers