Still on Holiday....

Will be back on line in April.

Southwest Card

Having lived in Arizona, I was able to accumulate several stamps fitting of the area.  However living now in the Midwest I don't often get a chance to show off some of these beautiful detailed stamps that I own.  This stamp is made by Taylored Artworks, who make a wide range of stamps reflecting the southwest.

Think Monday ATC.....Roofs of Our World

This weeks theme is Roofs of Our World.....

Stamp images: Inkadinkado and Taylor Art 

coloring done with markers

12 on the 12th ?

Since I made an error on my January's page of not counting the number of pictures correctly I figured I would continue throughout the year doing 11 on the 12th.  Only we who are partaking in this challenge will only know once my album is done.  

Since it was a babysitting day for me photos came a little easier this month.  The boys are willing participants and enjoyed having their picture taken with their new little brother and Aunt.  We of course had to take Nemo picture, which is a favorite stuff animal of the oldest Grandson.  Some of the other pictures taken this day are a picture of a card I received from my granddaughters, a shot of my computer screen, my front door decoration that I put up that day, a breakfast meal  and a trip to Taco Bell. 

Happy Valentine's Day

One of our friendly blogger "Something About MaryC"  had a frugal idea for Valentine's Day and I took hold of one of her suggestion and the results are above.  Thank You Mary!

The little cakes are  strawberry with a coating of  vanilla frosting and a dusting of pink sugar.  I used my heart stencils from scrap booking to form the heart. 

 

So the next time your decorating a cake get out those stencil and decorate the tops of your cakes.  Dusting colored sugars can be purchased at most stores that carry cake decorating supplies.

  

Check out this site for decorating supplies, recipes and ideas:

http://www.wilton.com

Theme Thursday....Game Pieces

This weeks theme at Theme Thursday is game pieces.  My game piece is the eight ball in the game of pool.  

Think Monday-ATC Mail

This week is all about mail at Think Monday-ATC's.  

Theme Thursday...Borders

This weeks theme is Borders at Theme Thursday.  I stamped a classic border by Penny Black on my 4x4 card, other stamp used is by Stampsmith.  

Wednesday Stampers...KISS KISS

Wednesday Stampers says Love is all around us, so they want us to KISS KISS this week.  They are looking forward to our interpretation of this weeks theme of KISS KISS.  Above is mine an Eskimo Kiss....stamped used Hero Art; card stock: Bazzill and Paper Choice

Think Monday ATC

We are to show our favorite rock star, or rock band, or anything related to hot music is the theme this week at Think Monday-ATC

Stamp: from the Elvis Presley Series-Cornish Heritage Farms, colored with Chalk and markers prismacolor

Marvin Moose

Well their are no moose in our area but I do love this stamp of  "Marvin Moose"  a stamp by Whipper Snapper.  

I surfed around and found some cute sayings that can be used with this stamps.....

1. Merry Moosemas!  (great for a Christmas Card)

2. It Moose be love  (Valentine's Day)

3. Will do moose things for stamps

4. Hand stamped under the influences of chocolate moose.

5. I moosed up please forgive me.

If you can think of any sayings please put your suggestions down in the comment section, would love to hear them.

I Love You

Pictured is my daughter and my 2 granddaughters. Size 8x8 scrapbook page

Materials used: Making Memories Patterned Papers, embellishments; ribbon Martha Stewart

Themed Thursday 4 X 4's !

This week's theme is 4 X 4.  One can use any theme you like this week but it must be this size.

Use collage images, photos, rubber stamps, fancy paper, embellishments or any other art supply that one has.

I chose to use all rubber stamps......Nature's Blessings, Art Impressions and Inkadinkado, median is markers by Prismacolor and Copic

Think Monday ATC---ICE BLUE

"It is still winter and the dominating colour - given that the sun is shining and we can see a cloudless sky - is ice blue. This wonderful bright & blue colour, which causes a feeling of iciness, is our theme. Show us your ice blue ATCs!" That is the challenge at Think Monday ATC.  This is a stamped image that I altered and colored, just trying something different. stamp: Penny Black

I was photo tagged......

The photo is my husband coming out of a phone booth as if he was Superman. ( I know its at silly photo but it was in that 6th folder and the 6th picture, explanation below)  The booth stood in the middle of a camp ground that we were staying at in Clear Lake, Ia. this past year. 

 

I was tagged by Nicole for a photo tag, thingy. Here is how it works:

1. Go to your picture folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

2. Go to the 6th folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.

3 post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.

4. Tag 6 other piople that you know or don't know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an email letting them know you chose them.

3 More Cards from the Snowman Swap Kits

  

All the kits offered a ray of patterned papers and embellishments to work with and most of the kits held enough material to make two cards with.  I really enjoyed the challenge each kit held and can't wait to see what the other girls did with theirs.

New Grandson & Bald Eagle Watch Weekend

Introducing my new grandson: Name Rev Archer, he is 8 lbs 4 oz and 20 in long. 
This weekend I went to see the Bald Eagles at Starve Rock.  The weekend is sponsored by the Illinois Audubon Society, US Army Corps of Engineers, Starved Rock, Foundation, Audubon and the lodge.

Here are some interesting facts I learned this weekend about the eagles.  They stand up to 3 ft tall with a wingspan of 7-8 ft.  Although make and female eagles share the same plumage, females, as in most birds of prey, are somewhat larger then males.  

The adult birds are characterized by their white head and tail and yellow beak and eyes.  Immature birds exhibit a brownish plumage and they will not attain the white head and tail 

 until they reach maturity at a 4-5 yrs of age.  They are found only in North America. (click on picture for a close up of birds)
Here I am holding a snake....eck!!! I did this too show my grandsons who are always teasing me with their toy rubber snakes.   

Cards from Swap Kits

Here are two cards I made from the swap packages I received this week.....its fun and a challenge. Hope you like them and thanks to the girls who sent these kits.  I have several more kits to go play with...........

Card Kit Swap

Here are two of the kits I received from a snowman card kit swap that I had joined.   The kits must include: 2-6x6 in. patterned paper, embellishments, a stamped image of a snowman and 12 inches of  ribbon, enough material to make at least one or two cards.  Our hostess used the theme snowmen, however one can use any theme for any holiday or stamp images.

Now to go and play with my kits......

Butterfly Love

Making Memories products used, Hero Gems, Martha Stewart punch, I used ink pads to add color to my butterflies 

Working with water colors

stamp: Hero Art; Making Memories: transparencies, card stock: Bazzill; water color paper

Forever

Winter.....

The card above was inspired by our weather here in Illinois.  This is a view outside my back door.  Bitter cold is the only forecast I'm hearing these days so even sledding and ice skating isn't even in the picture. We are even being warned to leave our snow mobiles parked because of the frigid weather.

First Layout for 12 on the 12th Year in Review

Having decided to do an 8 x 8 album, I had to figure out how to fit 12 photo's on one page.  My son suggested I use the Adobe Photo Shop program to create my page.  After giving me a fast tutorial on the program he left me on my own.  Several hours later this is the results of trial and error.   The one major error is I only scrapped 11 pictures....oops!!!

OBP....Having A Sale

Odd Bird Planet is having a sale from Jan 16 thru Jan 23.   Check out the sale at.......

                           http://www.justjohanna.com/

The cards above show a few of the stamps that are featured in the sale.  Check out the gallery for more ideas when you visit the site.

Wednesday Stampers.....Openings

This weeks theme at Wednesday Stampers is Openings, we are to show a favorite opening as in windows, doors, keyholes or just surprise them.  One rubber stamp must be used in your entry for the challenge.

stamps: A stamp in The hand and Posh Impressions

Paper Choice

I worked on several cards yesterday using paper from Making Memories Sabrina collection. The softness of the black and pink is what drew my attention to these papers.  They make up for some beautiful cards I feel.

Patterned Paper: Making Memories;  card stock: Westrim Crafts; ribbon: May Arts; ribbon brads: Making Memories; slider: Pebbles Inc.; trim: Making Memories

12 on the 12th.....6 of my photo's

Husband checking out things on the computer.....a morning occurrence
I'm embarrassed to say but this is my desk this morning, while I worked on cards for the blog.
At a meeting for the Windy City Winnebago group we belong to.
The meeting was held at the Schaumburg Regional Airport and this is a view outside one of the windows.
Here are some friends having lunch with us after the meeting.Today's dinner at home one of our favorites: mostaccioli, salad and bread

The Challenge:

You take 12 pictures on the 12th of each month and then you scrap the photos.  Kind of like a little year in review type of thing on what you did each month. This is the challenge a group of us ladies gave ourselves. So above is some of the photo's I have taken today that I will be scrapping.  

Think Monday-ATC (Auto)

This weeks theme at Think Monday ATC's is Auto's

Stamps : Inkadinkado and a bit of free hand works

Practice......

Today I spent several hours practicing using markers, I'm determined to get some what proficient in using them.  The above cards are the fruits of my labor, although not perfect I'm pleased with the results. 

The first card has one of my all time favorite stamped images by Penny Black, the candy card stamp is by All Night Media. Sentiment: Paper Studio Stamps. KI: Icicles candy embellishment;  K&Company: adhesive pearls. Card stock: Bazzill and Paper Studio