Hi Chick!

Happy Wednesday!  Half way through the week, and I'm sure a lot of you are anxious for the weekend.  One nice thing about being retired is that it's the weekend every day. Lots of time for card making!

Today's card is another birthday card for a friend.  She LOVES chickens, so here we go!  I have been having a lot of fun lately really using my Silhouette.  I LOVE THAT MACHINE!!!  I have so many cut files from My Scrap Chick - they have such a great variety of files to choose from, and their prices are so reasonable.  This is "Shirley" from a group of 3 cute chicks called "Shirley, Goodness & Mercy".

I hope the rest of your week flies by and that you have a GREAT weekend!

This card is entered in the following challenges:
Amusing Challenges, No Digis - Anything Goes
Lacy Sunshine - Lots Of Layers 
Love To Create - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Use A Sentiment

Special Day

Hello, and thanx so much for stopping by.  It's a lazy kind of day here today, no sun and it's nice and cool, love it!  Perfect day to get some cards made - but then, every day is a good day to make some cards, lol.  This one is for a family friend for her birthday.  I really like the paper combo on this one, and the die cut.  The overall effect is really lovely I think!

I just love using the paper roses, they are so soft and feminine.  I sure hope she likes it!

Sunflower Cow

I spent a nice Sunday afternoon making this cute card.  It was just for fun and I think I will send it to my daughter.  She loves sunflowers and cows, so I'm sure she will love it.  

The sunflower and the grass were cut with my Silhouette, and what little coloring there is was done with my Copics.

It was a pleasant afternoon with a nice result.

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #59

Time sure is flying past.  We are almost into March and I feel like we should still be in January!  It feels like our challenges at CC&CC are getting closer and closer together ~  I think I need to slow down!

 This challenge we are doing a fun and easy one, Teddy Bears.  Everyone likes cute, little soft and cuddly teddies.  Our DT had a fun time with the great images we used from Ladybug Crafts Ink.  Stop by and see all the great things they have to offer.  Not only digis, but also lots goodies for crafting.

My digi is called "Baby Billie's Blanket".  I colored him with my Copics and cut him out to sit on the moon.  The moon is an SVG cut file from My Scrap Chick that I did on my Silhouette titled "Goodnight Moon".  I added some tiny, blue crystal stars and the sentiment.  It was such fun to put this card all together!

 We would love to see you at CC&CC.  We have a whole new look too!  Not by choice, lol, but that's a loooooong story for another time!  Come join us and share your teddy bear love!

Valentines

I sure had fun doing Valentine's this year.  I love all the hearts, flowers, ribbon, etc.  I did some fancy ones and some simple ones.  Not sure which ones I like best, lol!
Here are just a few.

#1

#2

#3

#4

I hope you all have a very Happy Valentine's Day!


 These cards are entered in the following challenges:

#1 Scrappy Hands ~ Embossing
2 Sisters Challenge ~  Embossing

#2 A Gem of a Challenge ~ All You Need Is Love
My Sheri Craft Challenge ~ Valentine 
Soartful Challenges ~ Flourishes In Shades of Red

#3 Corrosive Challenge Blog ~ Feel The Love 
Kitty Bee Designs ~  Valentine's/Love
Sunflowerfield ~ Valentine's Day/Hearts

#4 Crafty Calendar ~ Love Is All Around
 The Squirrel& The Fox ~ Love
Less Is More ~  One Layer

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges ~ #58

It's time again for another great challenge over at CC&CC!

If you are anything like me, you love putting all the finishing touches on your card projects.  Finding that perfect little "something" to make your design pop!  So get out your embellies because we are using 

"One Button, One Bow, One Flower".

Our great new sponsor is Mel Jens Designs.  All the images are drawn by hand with lots of love by Melissa.  Be sure to check them out, they are so adorable!  The image I used is called "Chocolate Diva", so cute and so much fun to use.

I had such fun picking out my embellies.  It is a bit of a challenge to use just one flower!  I kept thinking I needed to add more.  So to balance it out I used a bigger flower.  I think it worked.

Come have some fun with us at CC&CC and use your button, bow and flower!

Just For You Valentine

I finally got all my Valentines done!  They will be in the mail tomorrow, yeah!  I really enjoyed doing them, lots of pinks, reds, hearts and flowers, fun!  On this card I used two new techniques that I came across.  1) Using vellum in my Cuddlebug and 2) Filigree hinged card.  For the vellum I used a rose patterned embossing file.  I cut out one of the extra roses to use on the inside of the card.  The hinged top of the card I really like.  You still see the lovely cutouts without having to mount it on a larger piece of paper, nice!

Give these a try, I think you will like the results!

Late Birthday

Life has been a bit hectic lately.  My Dad was in the hospital again, thankfully he is home now.  But the Dr. appointments seem to be never ending.  With being so busy I overlooked one of my cousin's birthdays.  Last night I took the time to make her a card.  I love these stamps from the set called "Furnished With Love" from Stampin Up.  They fit the occasion perfectly!

I really like this layout!  I have used is numerous times.  It's easy and has the clean and simple tailored look that I love.  For the lampshade I stamped it on the patterned paper to match.  The coloring was done with my Copics.

It's Friday and the start of the weekend.  Now I hope I can find some time to finish up my Valentine's!  Happy crafting everyone!

Chocolate, Coffee & Card Challenges #57 ~ Sketch

Boy did our DT ever design some AWESOME cards for this challenge at CC&CC!!!  I am so lucky to have the gals that I have on my DT, they are amazing!  We are sponsored this time by Whoopsiedaisy, and their images are soooooo cute!

Here is the sketch that we used:

I had so much fun with my digi!  I had a hard time deciding what colors to use, lol.  I know I will be doing it again and again just to use a different color combo.  This time I went with greens and yellow.  I like how it turned out.

Be sure to drop by CC&CC and take a look at the FAB cards the team have done and join us for this fun sketch challenge.  And also, visit Whoopsiedaisy for some fun digi shopping!

Experimenting With New Stamps

Well, today was another fun one!  I was playing with some new stamps I got for Christmas.  I was doing a mask technique that is sooooo simple, but looks really sharp!  I did it in three different colors, and the first two cards will be for a mans birthday.  The third one is for a lady.  I am trying to get a jump on my upcoming cards for friends!

I'm glad I got these done today as I am starting to not feel well.  I am running a low grade fever and am so cold - not good.  I had my flu shot, so I hope it helps!

Happy Crafting!

Chocoalte, Coffee & Cards Challenges #56

Time for our first challenge of 2014 at CC&CC.  We're starting off with a fun challenge, "Let's Go To The Circus!".  We have some GREAT new sponsors with us this year, and Digital Delights is one of them.  I am using their adorable digi titled "Circus Tent".  I colored it with my Copics, then added a printed out ticket and two stick on's; a bouquet of balloons and a lollypop.

 Be sure to see the great cards that out DT have for you too!  I am so proud of our team, they are the best gals and are so creative!  And our fab DT member SUE has been published!  WAY TO GO SUE!!!  CONGRATS

Hop on over to CC&CC and join in the fun!  See you there!

FUN, FUN, FUN!

Today some goodies I bought on line arrived in the mail!  I used some of my Christmas gift money to order a 3 new sets of stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps.  I love them!  For those who don't know what they are, you are in for a treat!  They are stamps that you ink in layers.  The finished effect is awesome!  Here is one of the sets called "Hearts and Roses" that I am using to make some of my Valentine's cards.  I embossed plain white card stock using  my Cuddlebug and then applied the layers of different color inks in layers.  What a stunning result!

Now I have to trim up the stamped pieces and apply them to the card base.

Nice, fun and easy.  I am so anxious to use the other sets!

Here are some of the color combos that I have experimented with:

New Home

First I have to tell you that this card is a copy of a lovely one done by a very creative gal, Kendra, who entered her card in our CC&CC New Beginnings challenge.  It was a perfect card for my Aunt who just moved into a beautiful new home.

Kendra's card is made with all die cuts.  I don't have any of the dies, so I MADE ALL the pieces of the house.  The only ones that are die cut pieces are the greenery and flowers.  EVERYTHING else I designed in my paint program and then imported into my SCAL program and cut them with my Silhouette!  I LOVE that machine!!!  Here is the result.

Thank you so much Kendra for you amazing creation that inspired me to make one of my own.  I am very happy with how it turned out, and I know my Aunt is going to love it!

Happy 2014

Well, here we are racing into 2014.  I hope that it is a good year for all of you.

This card is for some friends that I did not get a Christmas card made for.  With my surgery scheduled in the middle of the holidays, I got so behind!  In any case, I wanted to make sure that they knew I hadn't forgotten them.

I cut out the letters, numbers and champagne glasses with my Silhouette, added the ribbon and that was it.  I kept it very simple!

Happy crafting in 2014!

Chocolate, Coffee & Card Challenges #55 New Beginnings

Well, Christmas is over and 2014 is nearly here.  A new year brings so many new beginnings, and that is what we would like to celebrate for our last challenge of 2013.  It could be the new year itself, a new baby, a wedding, and engagement, retirement; anything that starts a new adventure in your life.

Our sponsor Milk Coffee graciously gave each of us at CC&CC a choice of image to use for this fun challenge.  My image is called "Senior Couple", and I used it to make a retirement card.

So come join in the fun and share your new beginning for 2014 with us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #54 ~ Happy Holidays

Tis the holiday season and we are ready to celebrate at CC&CC!  We would love to have you join us for our theme of "Happy Holidays" being sponsored by the fab Eureka Stamps.

Our super design team has some beautiful inspiration for you, so be sure to take a peek!

The digi I have used is called "Three Kings".  I embossed a silver background, colored my digi with Copic's, then cut it out and mounted it on top of a lovely die cut star design.  There are also quite a few tiny rhinestones on the kings, but they are hard to see in the photo.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Dreamtime Design Craft Challenges

Welcome to our Dreamtime Design Craft Challenge for December!  We sure hope you enjoy this one.  Our theme is "Christmas ~ Use a New Technique".

When I first started to really think about something new I would like to do, I was at a loss.  So, I hopped on the internet and started checking out all kinds of crafts and techniques.  At first I thought maybe I would do a gingerbread house, as I had never done one.  But in the process of looking at designs and instructions to make one, I came across this technique!  It is designing with frosting!  Yes, Frosting!  Royal frosting made with meringue powder and powdered sugar.  The results were amazing!  When I saw this picture of a church made with it I was sold:

The first thing I did was print out the pattern for all of the pieces I planed to make; roof, steeple, cross, 2 sides, front & back, and trees.

Then I cut all the pieces out of paper and assembled them to make a model and be sure all the pieces fit and were of the right size ~ they were!

I got all the supplies I needed to make the church:

The recipe for the frosting

Disposable Plastic Decorating Bags

#3 Frosting Tip & Screw Tops To Hold The Tip To Bag

Cardboard Pieces

Wax Paper & Tape

Printed Pattern Pieces

LOTS OF PATIENCE!!!

First tape you pattern pieces to the cardboard for stability and cover with wax paper.  Be sure it is secured snugly.  Make your frosting and put it in the assembled decorating bag.  Start squeezing the bag to get a nice flow and cover every line of your pattern pieces.

I designed the stain glass windows from examples give in pictures:

After you have done your pieces make sure you let them dry for at least 24 hrs.  I then used a large, thin spatula to gently insert under the pieces to lift them off of the wax paper.  Work VERY slowly, don't rush it!  It is very, very delicate!  There will be breakage, but they can be done again.  It is time consuming but not difficult!

Now it is time to assemble the pieces.  Patience is your best friend, lol.  You "glue" all of the pieces together with more frosting and let dry.  I added tissue paper to the inside of my stained glass windows for some color.

I then made a base to sit the church on from foam board and covered it with aluminum foil.  I cut a hole in the middle to put a candle in so the church would glow from within!  I sprayed it all with fake snow.  Next I needed to put on the roof and the steeple.  Time to sit the church upright and begin.

 Oh so VERY gently I put it on the base.  I started to glue on the roof pieces.  One went on very well, the other would not quit slipping down.  I decided to tilt it to more of a flat angel so it wouldn't slip so much.  Then the WORST that could happen DID!

WAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

Oh well, doodoo happens, lol!  I have to tell you I was a bit upset, only because I was so looking forward to the final result.  But you know, these are the things that can happen when you try a new technique!  Practice, practice and MORE practice, lol!  I learned a LOT on what to do and NOT to do.  The most important thing is DO NOT RUSH what you are doing, and you have to have the lightest angels touch when handling your pieces!  GO SLOW and GENTLY!  I will do it again, but will do it on a smaller scale.  Large pieces are VERY hard to work with as they are sooooooo delicate!

Here are a couple of the trees that were going to be placed around the church, they survived, LOL!  I would love to do a few little houses and the church and make it like a village.....  Some day!

To sum it all up, I will say I VERY much enjoyed the project even though it ended in catastrophe!  When doing a new technique it is a LEARNING experience, and I learned a lot!  So, goal completed!

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #53 So Grateful

I apologize for this post being late.  But, you know how life goes along and all is well, and then it just explodes, lol!  Well, this past week that's what it it for me.  Thankfully I think all is under control again, but it sure messed up my crafting time!

On to our great current challenge at CC&CC!  What are YOU grateful for?  I'm sure there are many things in your life you are blessed with.  Now is your chance to express it in a card!

Our super sponsor is Stamp Fairy.  Such adorable images they have!  The one I am using is called Molly Throughout The Year - May, and she sure is a cutie!  I did a double gate fold card to show her off!

We sure would love to have you join us at CC&CC and see what you are thankful for!

Have a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #52 Monochromatic and Great News!

Can you believe we are into November already?!!  I swear, the older I get the faster time goes by.  So I guess I better get right down to business!

First I want to announce that CC&CC has THREE NEW DT MEMBERS!  We are so happy to welcome Cindy, Mikha and Samantha to our team.  Be sure to stop by and meet them!  And while you are there take a look at the great cards all of our DT have done for you.  Join in the fun and play along with us!

For our first challenge in November CC&CC is doing a monochromatic theme.  I like doing these, but sometimes they me think a bit harder.  Our lovely digi images were provided by our sponsor Robyn's Fetish, and the one I chose is called "Cornucopia" and is perfect for Thanksgiving.  Now usually when I look at an image like this one, I imagine it colored with lovely Autumn colors.  But for this challenge I couldn't do that.  So on went the thinking cap!  I decided on brown as my basic color.  Burlap and jute are really a hot item right now, and I just happened to have purchased some!  It looked perfect with the shades of brown.  I attached a burlap flower and added a gold turkey charm, then wove some dark brown ribbon through the burlap piece.  The image is printed directly on to the patterned paper and then run through my Cutlebug with a die for the shape.  The sentiment was a small stamp I had in my stash.

I am very pleased with the result, and want to do some more Thanksgiving cards with the burlap.  I really like the texture and the way it looks.

One of our DT members has been ill and could not complete her card.  So I used the digi assigned to her and made a second card with the image.  The digi is called "Welcome Fall Turkey".

Be sure to come over to CC&CC and show us your monochromatic creation, and maybe win some great digis of your choice from Roby's Fetish!  And while you are there grab our blinkie for on your sidebar!