Even more Annies

Sweet and talented Virginia is hosting a challenge to create a card that will "beat the winter blahs" and have a "wow" factor. I'm hoping the bunch of flowers that Annie is holding is enough of a "wow".

Visit her blog and join in on the fun! She has great prizes and the deadline is February 5 at midnight, Eastern time. Thanks for a fun challenge, Virginia!

I'm glad that I could play along.

This Sugar Nellie "Blossom" image was on sale at Funky Kits so I ordered her and two others that Alice shared with me. I love coloring Annie!

And my dear friend Jo sent me this "Day Dreamer" Annie and I was thrilled because it's been sold out at Funky Kits for a loooong time. Thank you, Jo! I love her!

***

And congrats to Vera, Linda , and Arlene for rounding out the number of Hero Arts' hostesses to six. I know they'll wear their aprons proudly!

Stamps: Hero Arts Dots Cling background, sentiment, Sugar Nellie Blossom, Sugar Nellie Day Dreamer

Ink: Versamark, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick distress inks

Other: Nestabilities label dies, clear embossing powder, Copics,

Cuttlebug embossing folder, Fiskars border punch, pop dots, ribbon, twine

Frog Prince Ian

The Greeting Farm ended the CHA relay due to technical glitches, but we all got free Prince Ian digis! You can grab him here compliments of The Greeting Farm.

I'm entering this card in Club Anya & Friends' Wild Card Wednesday Metal Mania challenge, to use metal on your card.

It was challenging to use the Crop-a-dile to attach the eyelets, because of the flat top...but I managed. I can't remember the last time that I used eyelets on a card. It must have been during the "caveman days" when I used a small hammer and setting tool. The Crop-a-dile has made life so much easier....love it!

Stamps: Prince Ian digital image; Hero Arts wood background, frog, sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink white, Stampin Up

Ink: Versafine, Walnut Stain distress ink

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities die, Stampin Up leaf Sizzlit,

brass flat top eyelets, Crop-a-dile

My HuggABugg cards

Just wanted to share that Christy Croll, designer of Tiddly Inks' HuggABuggs, is featuring my cards in her Etsy store as samples! Okay, it's not the same as being published....but it's there!

You can see the photos here and here. And waaaaay down on the bottom, she mentions my (first) name and my blog, too! Quite thrilling....just wanted to share!

And yes, I'm continuing on with the Greeting Farm relay! Kelly said I simply must finish, and I don't want to let her down!

Here's Toby, who we received after completing a card made with Charlotte...and I believe I turned him into a girl!

Three days done, two more to go!

Stamps: Toby cub digital image, Greeting Farm Oh Baby (sentiment)

Hero Arts flower background

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Versamark, Worn Lipstick distress ink, Versafine Onyx Black

Other: Clear embossing powder, Nestabilities dies, buttons, ribbon

***

Congrats to two more Flickr friends who will wear their Hero Arts' hostess aprons for a new term: Jill Foster and Susan McRae! Can't wait to see who rounds out the rest of the group. Way to go, Jill and Sue!

The race (and pressure) is ON!

Since CHA is happening right now, The Greeting Farm is keeping those of us who couldn't make it there very busy! There's a relay going on and it's a great way to get free digis. Plus there's an added bonus of an exclusive digi if you complete the whole "race".

I just got WS Charlotte after linking Mer Ian and posting him in the Gallery. He's super cute and a great partner for Mermaid Anya.

When I first saw Charlotte, she looked like she had an attitude and I was going to add the sentiment, "Whatever!" next to her. Then I thought I'd change my attitude and turn her into a Valentine card. And who could you give a "Whatever" card to, anyway?

I hope I can keep up with this relay. It's sure keeping me on my toes! Tune in to see if I survive...

Stamps (for both cards): Greeting Farm digital images, Hero Arts Dots

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Other: Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug folder, leaf punch, ribbon, heart stickers,

pop dots, Copics for coloring

***

And a big shout out to Flickr friend Suzanne Czosek (stampersuzz) for getting her Hero Arts hostess apron today! Check it out here. Way to go, Sue! Lookin' goooooood!

Caardvarks' Red ♥ Challenge

Alice did it again. She twisted my arm and enabled me to get these Pink Petticoat digis and I fell in love with the little birds. At first I colored the heart an orangey color (Copic R02) but added some red and decided to enter the card in Caardvarks' red heart challenge.

I made another dotty background and added lots of Glossy Accent to the heart.

Hope you're all having a great weekend. It was so gloomy here today, thanks to the vog and lack of tradewinds. But I shouldn't complain because a lot of my friends are having tons of rain and tornadoes, too. Be safe, dear friends!

Stamps: Pink Petticoat digital image; Hero Arts Dots, sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Walnut Stain distress ink, Versamark

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities dies, Glossy Accent,

clear embossing powder, gemstones, pop dots, Martha Stewart ribbon

Meet some Buggs

My friend Alice is so sweet...and so naughty! She is always enabling me to new, cute digis! First it was Sugar Nellie Annies and now, it's Christy Croll's Tiddly Inks.

Of course I loved them and bought some, and there's a savings when you buy four. I colored them and made these cards in about an hour. They're little fairies known as HuggABuggs.

Meet Daisy Bugg,

Joy Bugg,

and this is Star Bugg. All of the scribbles were handwritten. You can find them here at this Etsy store. They're quick to color and make for fast and easy cards.

Thank you, Alice, for being a great enabler! I'll be sending these to the ongoing Cards for Kids card drive. I'm sure these little Buggs will bring a smile...

Stamps:Tiddly Inks digital images

Cardstock: Papertrey, Stampin Up

Other: Copic markers and multiliner pen, Nestabilities dies,

Sizzix embossing folder, ribbon, pop dots, Stickles, gemstones

Friends and Flowers

Followers of Dawn McVey have been making her cute poofy flowers, and since I have a scalloped circle punch and tons of brads, I decided to make some, too. I used my pack of Jenni Bowlin papers and could punch out 4 circles from one sheet. Boy, are they fun to make! Now to decide how to use them....

I attached one to this card. My daughter thought it looked "neat". I think the size competes with the image.

The little Ketto image was sent to me by Jo, all the way from the UK! I've always wanted to own some Ketto stamps, and didn't realize they were so tiny, which makes for super quick coloring. Thank you, Jo!

Hope you're all off to a great week!

I don't know who this couple is...

...and I hope they're not siblings! I'm not a "Twilight" person. All I know is there's a guy named Edward, who's a vampire. Period. That's all I know.

That being said, I entered the Monday Mania challenge at Club Anya & Friends called Caz's Couples. The challenge is to use a couple on a card and I decided to use Dressy Jeremy and Dressy Ebony. I made a Polaroid card with them and now I'm worried. I should have asked a Twilight fan if these two could possibly be a couple.

If not, well.....my apologies! I just love Jeremy's sulky look and I tilted Ebony's head a bit to make them look more lovey dovey. So can someone tell me who they are...

and if they're related? I'm so clueless...

Stamps: The Greeting Farm digital images

Handwritten photo caption

Cardstock: Gina K, Stampin Up

Ink: Worn Lipstick Distress ink

Other: Copic markers, Cuttlebug embossing folders

A banner idea

Sometimes I just can't fit a sentiment on a card, and instead of trying to squish one on, it often goes without.

Kristina Werner shared how she makes a little sentiment banner here. You can do it with any clear stamp which can be curved before it's stamped.

Trim out the sentiment, and curl the paper so it looks like a real banner. Attach it to your card with pop dots....done! Just a novel way to put a sentiment on your card.

Stamps: Pure Innocence digital image, Hero Arts sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts notecard

Ink: Distress ink, Staz On black

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, twine, puffy sticker, pop dots

I may or may not enter this in TESC 97. I really stink at sketch challenges, but I love Taylor's sketches. They're simple and not intimidating for someone who keeps reaching for her Nesties to make a card. I think I have a few more days to decide...more like 48 hours.

Stamps: Pure Innocence digital image

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities blossom, twine, pop dots

Lucky me!

My winning streak got a little longer when I found out that I won a not yet released digital stamp from The Greeting Farm. The newest Hope and Grace image is called "Rain, Rain" and she is such a cutie!

Marie sent the image to me this morning and I wanted to color her right away. I've always wanted to make an easel card and followed this great tutorial by Lysa on the In Style Stamps blog. I can see why it's so popular--easel cards are fun and quick to create! Thanks, Lysa--it really was easy peasy!

Rain, Rain will probably be offered to the public sometime soon, but for now I'm thrilled to know that myself and four other people are the first to own her. Thank you, Marie!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm, My Sentiments Exactly

Ink: Versafine, Colorbox

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink

Paper: Sassafras Lass

Other: Copic markers, Nestabilities, Basic Grey pearls, Glossy Accents,

Liquid Pearls, pop dots

Stella's here!

card by Amy Young

The Greeting Farm came out with the cutest new Sprouts, all designed by Amy. Followers of her blog know that she had preview giveaways of all four Sprouts which included a handmade card and tons of candy to go with it. Well.....I won Stella!! Yessssss! I love them all but Stella was my favorite. I think it's her hairdo and that billowy skirt.

She is a cutie!

The card and goodies arrived yesterday and it's the most amazing card I've ever seen. Her attention to detail, the embellies she uses, not to mention her coloring which is just fabulous! Even my daughter, who was scrutinizing the card up close said, "I like her lips" and it was then that I noticed a bit of sparkle, probably from a Spica pen. Just amazing! Thank you, Amy!

Stamps: Inkadinkado, Hero Arts sentiment

Cardstock and ink: New! Hero Arts Hues in Grass

At the other end of the spectrum is my simple, one layer card. I found some Inkadinkado butterfly stamps and upon close inspection, there are other really cute bugs in the set, too. This weekend will be dedicated to stamping up some boyish cards for the Cards for Kids card drive.

This card took a whole 5 minutes to make from start to finish, including drawing in the little eyeballs! Can you spot the angry looking caterpillar? (He's under the "hello")

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Twin awards....again!

Thank you to Jo and Jill for honoring me with an identical blog award. I'm supposed to share seven things about myself and pass the award on to seven other bloggers. Okay, here goes with the share:

1. I take photos of my cards in my living room. I put a backdrop of two sheets of 12x12" cardstock leaning against the bottom part of our television set, place the card on top, and shoot. And yes, I'm lying face down when I do this.

2. I want to start a Paper Pad Shopaholics Anonymous group. My inventory is now a tower. Height: 22 inches. Wanna join?

3. I love Walmart's Pure 'n Gentle baby wipes. It comes in a pop up dispenser--140 wipes for a little over $2, smells nice, and leaves no lint on your stamps! It wipes off all types of ink really well, and from your inky fingers, too.

4. I love to watch "Glee". With my daughter. We're Gleeks. She downloaded all the songs from the show and made me a CD for Christmas. Best gift, ever! Next to my Sony T-900 digital camera.

5. I have yet to, but want to and will have a giveaway on my blog in the near future. Probably paper? Definitely paper, said my hubby, after seeing the tower. Stay tuned.....

6. I love the color brown. No surprise to my Flickr friends!

7. I am shocked that I now have 83 followers on my humble blog. Thank you all for joining in when you did and for your visits and much appreciated comments. Group hug!

I see that this award has been making its rounds in blogland so I'd like to pass it on virtually to all of you. Feel free to grab it and pass it on if you wish. And please visit Jo and Jill on their wonderful blogs for lots of inspiration and ideas.

Lots of dots

I ♥ dots. I'm hoarding a ton of Bo Bunny dotted papers in assorted colors, and I have over two dozen stamps with dot designs, not to mention several dotty embossing folders.

And I didn't hesitate to buy yet another dot stamp--Hero Arts' new cling Dots (CG139). It's a card sized stamp and I wanted to use my favorite technique by Jennifer McGuire to create colorful backgrounds.

I think dots give cards a whimsical touch and I know I'll be using this stamp to make even more dotty backgrounds.

Stamps: Pure Innocence digital images,

Hero Arts cling, Hero Arts sentiment

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Ink: Distress Inks in Faded Jeans, Pine Needles,

Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick;

Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark

Other: Copic markers, clear embossing powder,

Assorted Nestabilities dies, ribbon, pop dots

You're the Best!

For the Hero Arts blog hop, I helped my friend Karen upload her photos onto her Flickr photostream so hoppers could visit her there and see her wonderful creations.

Since she lives in Michigan, with the time difference in Hawaii, we were on the phone until the wee hours of the morning (for her), having a lot of fun trying to put a mosaic together. It was a successful tutoring session and blog hop, and now Karen knows how to link....Yay!

A few days ago, Karen sent me this new stamp set from Hero Arts. I love that it comes with a sentiment and gems.

I made this card by stamping two girls and giving them different hair colors. I also used black gems for the eyes and a white gel pen to put a sparkle in their eyes.

The stamp is a cutie, and I know I'll be using her many times over. Thank you, Karen! You're the best!

Stamp: You're the Best

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Other: Copic markers, Hero Arts gemstones, sheer dot ribbon,

K&Co puffy stickers, Nestabilities Label One dies, Sizzix dot embossing folder,

pop dots, Inkssentials white pen

A New Year's breakfast

Traditionally, most Japanese households serve ozoni on New Year's morning. It's a broth filled with vegetables, together with mochi--glutinous rice cakes. As a child, I used to dread coming to the breakfast table and coming face to face with my bowl of ozoni. And my mother reminding me to "chew the mochi really well because a lot of children and old people choke on it." Great....a hazardous breakfast.

This year, instead of our usual pancakes, I served French toast made with thick slices of Portuguese sweet bread paired with REAL Wisconsin maple syrup. I even dusted it with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. And after trying the real stuff, I can't go back to Log Cabin or Mrs. Butterworth's ever again.

Yes, I did make a small pot of ozoni--because it's tradition--and we chewed it really well.

Happy New Year to all!

*Edited to note: I didn't mean to make light of the fact that people have choked on mochi and there are indeed reported cases of death. I apologize if I've offended anyone who experienced this firsthand.