Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Like many of you, I love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but I am not Irish!  But like they say, "I'm Irish for the day!"  Here are some cards I did in celebration.

Entered in the following challenges:

Just Add Ink ~ Just Add Green
Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps ~ Go Green 

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE and CARDS CHALLENGES and GREAT NEWS!!!

Welcome to challenge #34 at CC&CC!  I have some VERY exciting news!  I am now the official owner and blog master of Chocolate, Coffee & Card Challenges!  Jenn, the former owner had to step down.  I wish her everything good and positive, and she will be missed.  I am very honored to be following in her footsteps.

So, lets get to it!  First off, I had the pleasure of introducing our new DT, a super group of talented ladies.  Be sure to drop by and get introduced and see their lovely creations.

Our generous sponsor is Crafty Sentiments.  I have used their cute image called Mia.  Our theme is BANNERS, fun!  I colored my image with my Copic's and framed her with a die cut frame.  I then added the glitz, lace and flowers.  I made up a new fold and call it "The Flying Nun Fold" because it reminds me of Sally Field's hat in that program, lol!  I added two pieces of balsa wood (painted with pink nail polish) to the top of the card to hold up my banner tied with pink and white twine.  The banner pieces were cut with my Silhouette and then I added the peel off letters.

Please come join us for this fun challenge at CC&CC and a chance to win 4 free digis from Crafty Sentiments and meet our new DT!!  See you there!

MAHALO! (thank you!)

As I was working on a few things here on my blog today, I started reading lots of past comments that you have posted.  It got me thinking about how fortunate I am to have your support.  So, no card today, just a very sincere THANX for taking the time to drop by!  Whether you leave a comment or not, your visits are so appreciated.  And to those of you who do leave comments, your kind words and interest in me and my blog hold a special place in my heart!  Without your support I probably wouldn't be sharing my creations with you.  I love visiting your blogs so much and am so inspired by all the amazing talent I see!  LOVE YA'S!!  Have a great week!

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGES #33

Aloha blogger friends!  Are you ready for another great challenge over at CC&CC?!  Our sponsor this challenge is one of my favorites, Bugaboo Digi Stamps!  Their images are so great and I love using them.  This time our theme is "Buttons and Bows", how fun!  I chose this cute image called JJ Sewing.  I colored her with my Copic's and paired her up with some adorable papers by DCWV called The Crafty Stack.  I thought they were perfect because they had buttons and scissors which matched JJ.  I also really liked the colors.  Of course I then had to add more buttons and the ribbon bow.

So hop on over to CC&CC and join us for this fun challenge.  Our DT team has made some lovely cards that are bound to be inspiring!  I know you have an idea brewing and ready to be created!  See you there!

SNOW IN PHOENIX?!!?

Hello all.  This is not card or craft related, but I just HAD to share!  Yesterday we had a real cold storm with lots and lots or rain.  Then late in the afternoon we got a BIG surprise!  SNOW!!!!  Now that is something you really don't see HERE very often!  In fact I have NEVER seen it here in the city like this!  Usually if we do get some, it never sticks to the ground, it just melts as it nears the ground.  Some areas of the city really got socked!  Take a look at what we had yesterday!

It didn't last long, and in our area it was only a dusting, but it sure 

made my day!

FRIENDS ARE LIKE TRUFFLES

Hello, and happy Wednesday.  Hang in there, only a couple days till the weekend!  I want to start the day with this card, another Valentine that I made but didn't post.  I made quite a bunch that didn't get posted, so forgive me if Valentine's keep popping up from time to time, lol!

 I really like the sentiment with this one, I think it is so true!

I used a die cut for the base beneath the image which I colored with Copic's, added some flowers, lace, ribbon and embellies.

Then I made up this sentiment for the inside:

Mahalo for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Entered in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine ~ Lace, Ribbon Twine
City Crafter ~ All that Glitters
Digital Tuesday Challenge ~ Pink and White
Flourishes ~ Use Red
The Ribbon Carousel ~ Love Is In The Air
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT ~ Pink +

SLOW DOWN

Another Monday and a brand new week!  I'm starting it out by posting a card I made for a dear friend who broke his knee and is laid up for a while.  He's having a hard time keeping still as he is a very active person.  So I thought I would try to cheer him up a bit.

I kept it very simple with just a few layers for color and the image is colored with my Copic's.  Add several buttons and the sentiment and voila!

Mend quickly my friend, I miss you!

Entered in the following challenges:
 Cards In Envy ~ Polka Dots and/or Stripes
Forever Friends & Co ~ Animals and/or Butterflies and/or Birds
Ink It Pink ~ In The Garden
Squigglefly ~ Use A Sentiment
Craft Room Challenge ~ For A Man
Loves Rubber Stamps ~ Lots Of Layers
Through The Craft Room Door ~ Anything Goes 

VALENTINE FISHES

HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY ALL!  I wish you love and happiness whether you are a single or a couple!  Today's card is the one I made for my sweetie.  We had a big laugh because the one he gave me is the same subject (kissing fish) and also most of the same colors!  I guess after 26 years together we are still on the same wave length, lol!

The image is colored with my Copic's, mounted of a die cut, then I added glitter and ribbon.  This is the card I made for him:

This is the card he got for me!  It even has glitter on the fishes fins too!

LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL

I really do believe that love is beautiful, all kinds of love.  Because I think it all boils down to respect, admiration, dedication, and loyalty to our partner in life.  This card was made for a very dear girlfriend and her lovely partner of ten years.  They are two of the sweetest gals you will ever meet.  I wanted to do something very special and personal for them.  I went vintage and really enjoyed doing this card.  I used lots of distress ink, pearls and lace.  I also added a cupid charm, twine and a flower made of fabric and pearls.  The image was an old post card I found in an antique shop.  I really love how it all came together, and I am so happy they were thrilled to receive it.

VALENTINE DAY KITTY HUGS

Aloha all, another week has started and I'm busy getting ready for Valentine's Day!  I really enjoyed making Valentine's this year, but I didn't make as many as usual.  I had to apologize to some friends and family because I just wasn't able to get to all the loved ones on my list.  Thankfully, they understand!

This card is for my daughter.  She told me she would like a card with a cat and a fleur de lis, both things she loves.  So here is the end result.

 

 The image is by Dearie-Dolls (soooo cute) and was colored with my Copic's.  I used a Martha Stewart around the corner heart punch for the background, added a die cut corner frame, flowers and various other bits of bling.  She got the card in the mail and called me to tell me it is her most favorite card I've made her!  Success!

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Come and Get It Challenges ~ Show us Your Heart

Corrosive Challenges ~ Hearts and Flowers

Glitter n Sparkle ~ Girls Are Made Of

Great Impressions ~ Have A Heart

PanPastel ~ Love and Romance

ABC Challenges ~ Red, Pink, White/Vanilla
Card Mania ~ Love
Craft Your Passion ~ My Valentine
Creative Creations ~ It Must Be Love
House of Gilli ~ Pink and BLing
Kaboodle Doodles ~ Valentines
My Craft Spot ~ For Your Sweetheart
Ooh La La Creations ~ Love Story
Paper Playtime ~ Border Punches
Victorine Stamps ~ Valentine's and Hearts

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGES #32 ~ HOBBIES

Welcome back to another fun challenge at CC&CC!  Let's give a BIG drum roll to  announce our new Design Team of very talented ladies!!!  We are so lucky to have them on our team.  I know they will bring you LOTS of inspiration in the months ahead.

HOBBIES!  I know you all have at least one, and probably many more!  Join in and make a card showing us your favorite one!  Our super sponsor Milk Coffee gave our DT a variety of images to choose from and this cute chickie family was my choice, tooooo cute!  I colored it with some new markers I purchased.  They are Spectrum Noir.  On the whole they are very cost efficient and work pretty good.  They have a few things I find negative, but are quite useable.  They will NEVER replace my Copic's, but I didn't expect them to!  (I may do a full review sometime soon.)  In any case, after coloring I mounted the image on a circle cut with my Cuttlebug and added the little flowers and the sentiment.  

Here is the result.

OK!  Now it's your turn to join in and have some fun.  Show us your creations and also, be sure to stop by and say hello to our new DT!

KOALA BEAR

Hello.  I have finally gotten around to posting a new card that is not for a challenge, lol!  My cousin has a birthday on the 1st of Feb. and this is for her.  She loves koala bears.  This image is in an instruction download I purchased that shows different coloring techniques with Copics.  It was perfect for her.

Thanx for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your week!

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGES #31

Sorry for posting this a bit late, but life is still throwing some punches at me!  With that said, onward!

This two week challenge over at CC&CC is titled ROCK ON!  We are being sponsored by the great Kenny K digi stamps.  They have a great selection of really "hip" images.  I chose to use this cutie called "Tracy Champstamp".  For the background I used a paper that has deep blue glitter on it.  I cut out the pink glitter letters with my new Silhouette, colored the image with my Copic's and added some blue glitter on her jeans, pink glitter on her top and a bit of black on her hair.  The final touch was some pink and black dew type drops that match the pattern of the background paper.

 

  Be sure to come by and join in on this fun challenge!  And while you are there, don't forget to check out the great cards done by our guest designer and our super design team!  YOU ALL ROCK!!!

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGES #30

ALOHA!  Please accept my wishes for a Happy New Year even if they may be a bit late.  It has been quite a while since I have posted anything on here.  Well, life took some unexpected turns as it sometimes does.  I woke up Christmas morning to my Pop being violently sick.  Horrid flu!  All I did most of the day was keep him cleaned up.  I washed 3 loads of laundry and washed the floor 4 times along with the carpet twice.  Then the next day I came down with it, what a mess it was!  We just celebrated Christmas dinner on the 6th of January!  There were still unopened gifts and our full stockings hanging over the fireplace!  I sure hope I have seen the last of that nasty bug!  On top of all of this, my daughter and her husband arrived Christmas day!  Thankfully they were staying in a lovely condo near by and avoided our bug.  BUT, now they have it on their return to Oregon.  YUCK!

ANYHOW, it is time again for a new challenge at CC&CC.  Our generous sponsor this challenge is Robyn's Fetish, and our theme is "For The Birds".  Use a feathered friend on your card!  My image is called Sailing, Sailing.  I printed out the word "onward" on the sail with my computer, colored the image with my Copic's, added the ship's wheel cut with my NEW Silhouette Cameo (my Christmas present from my Pop!), and the button and mini sand dollar.

 

 I am sending this card to my daughter and her sweet husband as a thank you for my Christmas presents.  They treated me royally!  The word "onward" represents them bringing me out of the dark ages of my old cell phone and into the new world of technology ~ they got me a new iPhone!  What an amazing gadget!  I must say I do love it and it is not as hard to use as I thought it would be.

So there you have it.  Another great challenge at CC&CC.  OH, and I almost forgot, we are looking for new DT members.  I am happy to be staying on for another term, my 3rd one!  So if you are interested be sure to drop by and apply!  See you soon, thanx for dropping by!

Entered in the following challenges:

Crafts for Eternity ~ Moody Blues

Creative Corner Challenges ~ Cute As A Button

Joyful Stamper ~ Anything Goes

Card Crafters Circle ~

Fairytale Challenge Blog ~ Animals & Pets

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGE # 29

WELCOME!  Christmas day is quickly approaching!  I hope you are ready for the big day.  We are celebrating at CC&CC with this challenge.  Our theme is SNOWMEN!  I love them, and I had such a good time doing this card.  The image is by Stamp Fairy, our generous sponsor this week.  It is called Cocoa 

and is a real cutie!  I wanted to do something a bit different from the traditional red and green.  This paper pack by The Paper Studio called All Seasons II was perfect.  It's filled with coordinating color papers making it so easy to create the perfect combo of papers.  The layers of paper make Mr. Snowman really pop!  He was colored with my Copic's, I added the ribbon, snow and the snowflakes, and that's it!

 

 

 I know we are all busy preparing for Christmas Day, but I hope you can find the time to join us for a bit of fun!  

I send love, hugs and a big MAHALO to all my followers and my great blog buddies for your kind support.  I know how busy we all get, and taking the time to stop by and say hello really means a lot to me.  Have a very blessed holiday and all the best to you in the New Year!

MELE KALIKIMAKA, ALOHA NUI LOA!!!!!

SANTA IS HERE

Well, the tree is up, all the decorating is finished and my Christmas cards are in the mail ~ heavy contented sigh!  Only cookies to be baked and that leaves me time to enjoy the holiday festivities.  Now I can post some of the cards that I have made.  This one is a scene using my window die and a lot of pine branches cut with a punch.  I made the branches into a wreath, added red Stickles for berries then the bow.  The scene outside the window was printed with my computer onto a partially inked area, then colored with my Copic's.  I also added a bit of white glitter here and there for sparkling snow.

I hope you are making progress on all your holiday preparations and enjoying the joy of the season.  Thanx so much for taking the time to stop by.  

Merry, Merry!

CHOCOLATE COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGES #28

Well, it's time for another fun challenge over at CC&CC!  This week we have a recipe for you:

3 Flowers

2 Design Papers

Ribbon

Our sponsor this challenge is the lovely Sassy Design Studio, such great images.  It was hard to pick just one to use, but I decided on this cutie called Santa's Helper.  My 3 flowers (I used 4, uh-oh!) are poinsettias that I made.  I cut them on my new Cameo, LOVE that machine!  The image is colored with Copic's.  The blue glitter paper flourish is a die cut.

Now it's your turn to get busy and show us what you can do!  You may even win a prize!  Good Luck!

Entered in the following challenges:

Sassy Design Studio ~ #154 A Celebration
Divas By Design ~ Snow
Fab N' Funky ~ Not A Traditional Christmas
 Freshly Brewed Challenges ~ Christmas
Shopping Our Stash Challenge ~ Winter Holiday or Snow
Ruby's Rainbow ~ Non Traditional Colors
Whimsey Stamps Inspirations Challenge ~ Festive
Crafting For All Seasons ~ Flowers
Celebrate The Occasion ~ No Red Or Green
Crazy Amigo Challenge  ~ Surprise
Die Cuttin' Divas ~ Holiday Spirit

LAMP POST IN THE SNOW

Well, I am finally just about done with my Christmas cards, whew!  Now I need to take the time to post a few, lol.  This one was fun to do.  I colored the image with my Copic's then added some Flowersoft for the snow and the wreath.  I set it all off with a bit of ribbon and that was that!

Thanx so much for dropping by!  I hope you are having a good week and are getting into the Christmas spirit!

This card is entered in the following Challenges:
 CanYouDigiIt ~ Baby It's Cold Outside
Clean  It Out Challenge ~ Christmas (red, white & green)
Everybody-Art Challenge ~ Christmas
Jackson's Digital Expressions ~ Inks and Such
LEJ Designs ~ Countdown to Christmas
Love To Create Challenge Blog ~ #44 Holiday Cheer
Oldie But a Goodie ~ Let It Snow (Flowersoft)
Papertake Weekly ~ Anything Goes
Paper Play TIme ~ #90 Christmas Colors
Shopping Our Stash ~ Winter Holiday or Snow/ Winter Theme
Squigglefly Challenge ~ #48, SFC4812 Winter Wonderlan
Sweet Stamps ~ #94 Winter Greenery
The Stamping Boutique ~ Holiday Cards
Tip Top Tuesday ~ #91 Christmas

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARD CHALLENGES ~ #27

CLEAN & SIMPLE

That's our challenge this Friday at CC&CC!  Ezy-Pzy!  Sometimes using less can make a bold statement.  Try using a solid color and a small simple design, it works!  Our great sponsor this challenge is Delicious Doodles and I have used their image called Christmas Candles.  I colored the image with my Copic's and framed it with embossed edges, added a bit of gold Stickles and a tiny bow and that was that!

Hop on over to Chocolate, Coffee & Card Challenges and give it a go.  I know you will have fun coming up with a clean and simple design!

NOTE:  This challenge will run for ONE week only, not our normal two.  Next Friday we will have another NEW challenge!

SANTA CAME EARLY!

Oh boy, oh boy!  Santa delivered my Christmas present early!!!  A few weeks back I did an terrible thing...  I dropped my Cricut as I was picking it up off the floor where it sits when not in use, and I dropped it!  I was so upset!  It rattled the insides and will no longer put enough pressure pushing down the arm that holds the blade to cut ~ it's cutting air!  I was sick to my stomach!  I cried!  When I told my Dad he said, "Well, I guess Santa will have to bring you a new one."  So, I started researching the new machines and settled on the Sihlouette Cameo.

WOWSERS!!!

It is amazing!  Cutting machines have come a looooooong way!  I wanted a machine that I could use all my SVG files in, my Sure Cuts A Lot program, importing and tracing was very important to me.  Well this new Cameo does all of this and SO much more.  I am having so much fun designing and can't wait to get started.  FUN!!!  THANX Pop!  Four years ago he got me my Cricut and now he got me my Cameo, he is my Santa!

THANKSGIVING GREETINGS

Well, to all of us on this side of the pond, do you have all your goodies together for the feast on Thursday?  I finished up all my food shopping yesterday and am ready to go.  I love the Autumn and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I'm trying a new stuffing in the turkey this year, orange and cranberry.  I know I'll love it, but the family might not be happy with the change from my traditional stuffing.  We'll have to wait and see!  To those of you on the other side of the pond, I send wishes of good cheer and many blessings!

The little pilgrim on this card is a die that was a bargain purchase from the stamp sale I went to a few weeks back.  (I also got the girl.)  I framed this little guy in my window, added the curtains and plant with flowers. The background is embossed with a Sizzix folder.   The sentiment frame is also a die cut and I added the sentiment and a tiny leaf button tied with thread.

  He's saying hello and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

I'm thankful for all of you and the wonderful friendships I've made all around the world in blog land!  And for all the amazing creative people out there who have inspired me and keep creating every day!

Wishing you all a Thanksgiving full of love, family, joy and many blessing you are thankful for!

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARD CHALLENGES #26

It's Friday and you know what that means?  Every other week we have our challenge at Chocolate, Coffee & Card Challenges ~ three of our favorite things all at once!  This time our DT leader, Jenn, came up this great sketch for our theme:

I love this sketch!  I had a lot of fun with it and I know I will use it again.  I chose an image by Mo Manning called "The Big One".  I have always thought it was the cutest image!  I colored it with my Copics, embossed the middle strip of paper with leaves and added the glitter pumpkins.  Perfect for Autumn and Thanksgiving!

Be sure to come join us at CC&CC and join in on this fun challenge.  While you are there, be sure to check out what out talented DT has done to give you lots of inspiration!  See you there!

BABY BOY

Oh boy, oh boy!  I get to make a baby card!  I love making them, but don't have many chances to do them.  This one is for my cousin's daughter who is going to have her baby BOY on the 15th of November ~ yes it is a scheduled birth.  I was at a great stamp and scrapbook fair last weekend and had so much fun.  This stamp was one that I purchased while there.  I knew it would be perfect for the upcoming event!  I liked that it can be used for a girl or a boy, depending on how you color it.  I also purchased the ribbon that is along the bottom of the card that says "baby boy".  It seems to make it a little more personal for the boy theme.  I colored the image with my Copics, cut the lace background with Martha Stewart punches, then added the ribbon and bow.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.  I'm busy crafting and loving it!  

Aloha!

SWING TIME

Ahhh, TGIF!  It's been a busy week taking my Pop for Dr. appointments, getting his car repaired an a lot of errands.  I'm ready for some fun crafting time!  I did manage to get this one card done. It's the second Sassy Sally image I purchased from Sassy Cheryl's Digis.  I really love her cute images.

This one is of Sally on her swing.  I colored it with my Copics and because the image was so adorable and speaks for itself, I kept the embellies to a minimum.  I just added the sentiment and the sunflowers with the leaves.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.  Hopefully you will be able to get some crafting done!  I plan to relax and work on my Christmas cards ~ they are half done thank goodness!  Aloha!

Sally is entered in the following challenges:

DL ART ~ Thanksgiving
DYSU ~ Leaves and Trees
Pixie Dust Studios ~ Fabulous Fall Colors
Paper Crafting Journal ~ Anything Goes
My Heart Pieces ~ Anything Cute
Crafting For All Seasons ~ Falling Leaves
Scrapalicious ~ Fall 

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARD CHALLENGES ~ #25, STRIPES

So sorry this post is a bit late, I got distracted with real life, lol!  It's that time again over at Chocolate, Coffee & Card Challenges, a new challenge starts today.  This time our theme is STRIPES!  Use them anywhere or anyhow you like on your card.  Our great sponsor this challenge is my fave, Bugaboo Stamps.  I love when we get to chose one of their images to showcase, but I always have a hard time deciding which one I want!  There are so many great ones!  Since it was near Halloween I made my choice of this the adorable cat called Black Cat Shoe Peek.  So cute!  I printed the image on the paper that the shoe is made from to give if a little more interest than just plain black. I used my Copic's for the rest of the image.  Lots of layers and those perky stripes, then the bow and BOO!

Please stop by and join in the fun and a chance to win some great images by Bugaboo.  And while you are there, be sure to check out the great creations by our fab Design Team!