INDULGE!

We all need to "indulge" a little every now and then!  My blogging buddy Christine sent me this adorable Bella stamp.  I've been wanting to use her and tonight I decided it was time to get with it!  It's a birthday card for a very good friend who lives way too far away.  I entered it in the challenge going on over at Truly Scrumptious.  They are using a super layout, and Christine is also their guest designer this week - you go girl!  For the coloring I used my Copics and also Prisma's and Gamsol.  I also added a little Liquid Applique on the pop corn to make it look a little puffy.

Here is the layout:

KING OF THE ROAD

Don't you just love it when you find something special that you need for a card - in this case paper for a guy card.  As you are scrounging through your stuff, searching, you come across a set of paper you bought, put away and forgot about!  You see it and BINGO, it all falls into place!!!  Well, this is exactly what happened today with this card.  I had the stamp all picked out and then thought, uh oh, what paper can I use?  This is for my SIL's birthday.  He is a total hot rod and classic car guy, he builds and restores them for a living.  Some of the cars he's done are so beautiful, they're like a work of art.  I sure hope he enjoys this as much as I enjoyed making it.

The paper is by COLORBOK, one of their "patterned paper packs" and I think the title is " Kiss".  I colored it with my Prisma's and Gamsol, a silver metallic pen and added the rhinestones.  I know it's for a guy, but hey, it's for a "King" so why not!  The banner and car are raised with pop dots.  On the inside it says, "Today and Always!  Happy Birthday".

CAUGHT A BUG...

My BFF had a terrible cold and flu and needed some cheering up, so I made this for her.  She loves ladybugs, so it was perfect for her.  I used the Doodlecharms and Walk In My Garden cartridges.  I did a little sponging with light blue ink pad, added the bow and flower and a leaf punch from Marhta Stewart - I sure have been using that a LOT lately.  Simple card, but oh so cute!

EASTER DUCKIE!

This little duck stamp is so cute, I just love her bonnet, so full of Spring.  On it I used Flower Soft and added a few tiny cut out flowers to give it a bit more zip.  From the bow I hung an Eater egg charm, then glued on a tiny sparkly butterfly.

CROSSES FOR EASTER

Here are several cards that vary a bit, but all of them use the Spellbinders Shapeabilities Cross Collection.  The inspiration and scraplift came again from the fantastic SusieB.  Her designs with white on white are the prettiest I have ever seen.  As I did with the egg designs, I made one also in a soft pastel.  I really like the result.  Hope you enjoy them too!

This first one is layers embossed with the Cuttlebug.  The cross was decorated with some tiny pearls and white satin ribbon.

This one is the pastel.  I embossed the plain background using the Cuttlebug, then decorated the cross with some tiny matching pearls and the ribbon.

This last one is a bit different.  I used a SCAL cut that I designed to cut the frame around the cross.  I backed it with crinkled aluminum foil to match the silver foil on the paper, then decorated the cross with silver dots and added the ribbon.

SPRING BOUQUET

I really like the background paper used on this one.  It's Mulberry paper and it has so much color and texture.  I thought it was perfect for this bouquet of flowers.  The flowers are all miniature artificial ones that are arranged and glued on.  The vase is from my Cricut cartridge, "A Walk In My Garden".  The sentiment tag was a SCAL file cut.  It's a pretty simple, straightforward card, but I like it!

HI!

A fun challenge is going on over at Crafty Creations Challenges.  The challenge is to "Make Your Own Flowers".  Geeze, scroll down my blog page and see all the flowers I've made lately, LOL!!!  All those flower seed bags wore me out - I didn't think I'd make another flower for a looooonnngggg time, but here I am, at it again!   Thanx for dropping by, aloha!

LOVE THESE MONKEYS!

I love the Changito monkey stamps!  When I saw these new ones for Easter I had to have them!  They just make me smile and giggle.   I think I've got a "Conga Line" theme going on this Easter...  I think the monkeys and the chickies need to get together and party!  On this first card I used some cute trim that I got in Phoenix my last trip.  I also added a few dew drops on the eggs.  Don't they just make you smile!?!!

This second one has trim and a flower that I got up in Salem while visiting my daughter.  Guess these cards will always remind me of where I've been!

BUNNY WITH EGG

I found this cut file on line, but it was just a picture of the pieces for the bunny.  So I manipulated them and imported them into my SCAL program and, voila!  I got the little cutie!  I like him, but I'm not too sure about the background tulip paper...?  I really like the paper, but it seems a bit "busy".  I'll have to experiment with it on some other projects and see what I come up with.  All in all, it's an ok card, but for some reason it just doesn't seem to be "up to snuff!"  Mahalo for stopping by and have a great day!

BUTTON SPRING FLOWERS

I forgot about these buttons that I bought a long time ago.  I came across them today and really wanted to use them, and this was the result.  I cut the flowerpots from Walk In My Garden Cricut cartridge and inked the edges, the stems were by hand and the leaves are from Martha Stewart punch, but trimmed off and glued separately.  The background paper is from a pack I really like called Citrus Matstack by Premium Stacks.  Added a little ribbon trim, a couple of bows and a pre-made sticker that says "Spring".  Sping is in the air!

THE PLAY DATE CAFE CARD CHALLENGE PDCC19

This is a fun challenge going on over at The Play Date Cafe.  The theme is two shades of yellow.  How could I resist not using the cute little chickies again!

ELEGANT EASTER EGG TRIO

For those of you who don't look at the Cricut Message Board, here is something too see.  We have a lady called "SusieB" who does the most amazing cards you have ever seen - check out her gallery and you'll see what I mean!  She inspires all of us to strive for greatness in our creations.  She recently posted a card called  "Elegant Easter Egg" that led to the cards below.  I fell in love with her beautiful simple design, it's so elegant and classy looking.  Mahalo nui loa Susie for you wonderful creations and inspiration!

PASTEL BIRTHDAY

I've been so busy with wedding things for my daughter that I nearly forgot an important family friend's birthday!  I made this one quickly and got it to the post office pronto!  Lattice trim from a Fiskar's punch, Cuttlebug embossed paper, stamped the sentiment and used SCAL to cut the flower from a collection they have called 3D Mums and Fall Flowers.  I don't care if it isn't Fall, I like the flower!

MONKEY BUSINESS

 A lady on the Cricut message board did a card with this adorable little monkey, and all of us who saw it went gaa gaa over it!  Of course we all wanted to know where to get the cut file.  It turns out it is one of the files that goes with "Make The Cut", a program like SCAL.  Well, I was determined to find the file and convert it or SOMETHING to get it!   After a lot of research, trial and error, I GOT IT!   I even made a special trip up to Waimea to the craft store to get those googly eyes!   There is a challenge going on over at Crafty Creations and they want you to "CUT it OUT and POP it UP", and this fit right in.

You see there is a VERY special little girl I know who ADORES Curious George, and this little guy looks just like him - I HAD to have this!    She is going to be one happy little girl!  Hugs to you Lahela!!!

MARGARITA TIME!

This is for my BFF, it's her birthday - Hauoli La Hanau Missy B!  I have to admit it is a scrap lift...  Missy B. just loves tequila and margaritas so when I saw the card I knew I HAD to do one similar for her.  It's my first pedestal card.  I have been wanting to do one for a long time and I really like the result!  I digi stamped the drink, colored it with Prisma's and Gamsol and cut it out, then I added some Liquid Applique with glitter on it to make it look like salt on the rim of the glass - I LOVE that stuff!  I printed all the sentiments with my computer.  The little rhinestone flowers came off of a nail file I got at the Dollar Tree!!!  I knew when I bought it that I'd be using them specifically for that purpose - hey get it where ya can, right!

 

 

CELEBRATE SPRING!

I just love these cute little chicks!  Every time I look at them I have to smile, they look so happy and like they are having so much fun!  I cut the border on the left with SCAL,  and used the Cuttlebug to emboss the background paper.  I colored the stamp with my Prisma's and Gamsol, then added a little Flower Soft to their bunny ears.  The sentiment was printed from my computer then cut out with Nestabilities (also the oval the stamp is on), added a few Dew Drops and there we have it!  Party On!!!

TSUNAMI UPDATE

HUGE sigh of relief!  No injuries or damage, thank the Lord!  It sure was interesting to watch the ocean receding and purging back in, I've never seen anything like it - and I hope we never see it again!  Mahalo for all your good thoughts and prayers!

TSUNAMI WARNING

We are sure hoping that things are not too bad!  It's supposed to hit at 11:05 am this morning - it's appx. 8:15 am our time now.  I live on the west side of the island at 400 ft. and we are safe.  The southeast end where Hilo is located will most likely get the worst of it.  They have had quite a few tsunamis over the years and some have been devastating.  At the moment we can here the warning sirens blaring.  All of the islands of our state could be affected, so pray for everyone!

SENDING HUGS

One thing I was looking forward to upon returning from my trip was having fun with some super stamps my wonderful blogger friend Christine sent me - MAHALO sweet lady!  This is one of them.

I have a very dear friend who is going through chemo and radiation therapy and needs all the hugs she can get!  When I looked at this stamp I knew it was for her!  I entered it in the challenge over at Creative Inspirations in which their theme is "monochromatic", and also at Lexi's Creations where "anything goes"!  The scallop frame was cut using SCAL, colored with my Prisma pencils and Gamsol, then a touch of clear embossing powder on the little red hearts for a bit of glimmer.

Isn't it wonderful how one friend sends something to you, and in return you can send it on to another!  I love it!

SPRING IS HERE

Since I am on a real flower kick at the moment, I thought this challenge was quite appropriate!  I used one of the cut files that I had for the flower seed bags.  It was perfect for these.  The challenge is at The Sweet Stop and their theme is Spring and flowers.  I love the simple, "sweet" layout.  So many of you are so ready for warm weather, I know!  So go on over and join in the fun and get ready for Spring!

 

LAYOUT

WEDDING FAVORS

First off I have to say MAHALO to all of you SUPER ladies for you kind and warm messages!  I SO APPRECIATE every one of you and all of your support- YOU MAKE MY DAY!!!!  Mahalo nui loa from my heart!

SO, here we go:  My daughter and her fiance, Travis, want a very simple wedding, not a lot of fuss.  And, as it is THEIR wedding, they deserve all of us to make it their special day the way THEY want it!  I am so happy to do so!  The main theme of the wedding is wild flowers.  Mindi adores sunflowers and also wants to include them.  Her bouquet is to be just a simple bunch of sunflowers tied with yellow ribbon, her main color.  The paper the invitations are being printed on is hand made with bits of yellow flower petals in it, AND real wild flower seeds!   You "plant" the invitation and wildflowers will grow!  For a remembrance favor she has adorable various colored little bags that will be filled with wildflower seeds.  I have made paper flowers that were cut with my Cricut and hot glue gunned them to the bags:

 

Here is a sample of some of the finished bags:

 

I'm so glad she really likes them!  They were lots of fun to do.  My only concern now is the printing of the invitations....  The paper arrived today and it's beautiful, but it's much thicker than we realized.  I am just hoping that my printer can handle it!  Wish me luck!

HOME AGAIN!

What a WONDERFUL trip I had to Oregon!  I love it there.  I wasn't ready to come home, I so enjoyed the rain and cold weather.  I didn't get to be in any snow, but I saw quite a bit on the mountains.  Here's a shot of Mt. Hood taken from our hotel room in Portland.

We had a successful trip for my daughter's wedding dress!  She is getting married June 19th and we had so much fun working on all the plans.  The wedding is going to be at her fiance's parents home, outside.  It's a beautiful setting with views of the Willamette River.  I'm doing the invitations and some of the decorations.  FUN!

We also went up into the Gorge for 3 days and had a blast!  We visited museums, awesome waterfalls, hiked, ate great food and had delicious mother/daughter time!  The highlight was our 48 degree hotel room in Cascade Lockes!  A transformer was down at the Bonneville damn and the whole town was without electricity from 10 am to 6:30 pm!  We drove across the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River to Stevenson, WA to eat dinner then came back and snuggled under a ton of blankets till the electricity came back on.

 

I really enjoyed visiting The Viewpoint Inn where they filmed the prom scene in the 1st Twilight movie.  I'm standing under the sign they used in the movie when they went into the prom.  Dig my hiker boots!!!  I got them in Salem and wore them nearly everywhere I went, lol!  My feet were comfy, dry and warm!

 

  

  

Everything was so fresh and green and beautiful! It's hard to choose my favorite place, but I think it was up in the Gorge at Multnomah Falls - AWESOME!!!!  I can't put into words how gorgeous it was.  That little speck on the bridge is me...

Mindi and I!

I must say I did miss my card making!  Of course I visited several big craft stores and some great rubber stamp shops.  Sure wish I had some of that variety here!  And I did purchase some new papers and a few other supplies.  I have to get busy and use some of them!  But at the moment I am working on a project for the wedding - favors for on the tables.  (I'll post them probably tomorrow.)  ALOHA to all of you, you were missed and I will be visiting you soon and look forward to seeing all the great things you've done while I was gone.  HUGS!!!!

LOVE

No, I'm not home yet, lol, but I had to enter this card in this weeks challenge over at Just Magnolia and also Totally Gorjuss. I made it before I left for Oregon and it fits into their challenge perfectly, so I decided to post it.  I didn't put it on here earlier because I didn't want my friend to see it before she received it! 

PALM TRIO

Well, this is my last card for two weeks.  I'll be going through card withdrawal!  I am off to Oregon to visit with my sweet daughter and her fiance'.  I am so anxious to see them!  I am also looking forward to the rain, cold and maybe even some snow!!!  YES, looking forward to it!  The climate here is fantastic, and believe me I am not complaining, but believe it or not, it can get a bit boring.  I know, I know, you're saying, "BORING, she's nuts!  Give me boring!"   Let's just say we all need a little variety no matter where we are.  So all of you take care and keep creating!  I look forward to visiting you all when I return and seeing what you have been up to.

OH, yes, the card, LOL!  I did a background with a roller using three colors.  Then I printed the graphic picture of the palm over it, which I tripled in a row.  I love the look, and it was fun to do!  Take care, ALOHA!

BLOGGING BUDDIES

I love the internet!  Because of it I have been able to connect with people form all over the world who share the wonderful passion of making cards and scrapping.  Then along come the miracle of "blogs" that enable us to be OUT THERE cruising the WORLD!  It has also given us the marvelous gift of making new friends, which to me is the best of all - you all know who you are!  One of my blogging buddies is Christine.  She does amazing creations, and always inspires me.  She sent me the most adorable stamped images!  She saw the card with the martini and asked me if I would be interested in a couple stamped images of martinis - of course I would!  I got them yesterday along with a super variety of other images she took the time to make, they are great!  MAHALO Christine, I can't wait to get back from my trip so I can dig in!  And to ALL my blogging buddies who take the time to stop by, mahalo for all your support and fun correspondence.  You all make my day!!!  Aloha....  J : )