SVG Cutting Files May Challenge - Graduation Fishes

I'm taking part in the SVG Cutting Files May Challenge and  have a graduation project to share with you today.  This is the SVG Cutting Files Fintastic Fish and I've not cut him in traditional fish colors.  I've placed him on a PP-695 Holiday Antibacterial Soap Holders. 

 #2788

Supplies I used are:  Cornish Heritage Farms graduation hat, Penny Black Tagged Dies, Kraftin' Kimmie Mermaid Sentiments, PTI Happy Day and Chocolate Remix Paper pad.  Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a productive day.

Happy Valentine's Day...

 #2742
Supplies:

Penny Black Wonderful & Jolly, Every Which Way; Kraftin' Kimmie Sentiments

Martha Stewart Heart Punch

Back in the saddle again....

We spent the morning working on the pond.  A low side in the top pond has allowed lots of water to escape forcing us to add water daily.  Carl got into the upper pond and pulled all the rocks off of the liner, added soil under the liner, remortored the rocks and put them all back.  Now we just have to wait for the mortor to dry and we can turn on the waterfall again.  Hard telling how many tadpoles have gone to that great pond in the sky because they got stepped on.

Since it's been so hot, I've been staying in the air conditioning, watching Netflix and making cards for a craft sale in August.  Here are some I've finished:

This is a CAS card - stamped with Saturated Canary's Genie and Kraftin' Kimmie's sentiment.  The image was done in chalk - I'm doing this card again with Copics.

This is Saturated Canary's Tilly with again, a Kraftin' Kimmie sentiment.  Also done in chalks, Pebbles Inc., and pastel pencils.  Lots of Spica and Sakura pens.  Again, I want to do this with Copics.

This is a Penny Black stamp with a My Favorite Things sentiment, also done in chalk.  The dots in the flower have been dotted with a Spica clear pen so there's some sparkle.

And, finally, this is the card I made for my husband for our 9th anniversary Sunday.  Memory Box Deer Trio and Tall Birch.  It was an easy card but so right for my hubby.  And there you  have my last couple of days.  I'm on a roll now so will have lots of new stuff in the next week.

Hot chocolate for all....

I've managed to combine two of my favorite companies in one card - Kraftin' Kimmie for the snowman (isn't she just delicious?) and Make It Crafty for the background.  I've often expressed my love for digital images and MIC is just the place to get them.  Zoe has released an entire line of winter backgrounds that you can find here.  Mix and match, lots of choices.  I do believe I have every digital image on her site.  And I'm a big fan of the Moonlight Whispers stamps from Kraftin' Kimmie but the snowmen in the new release are too cute.  How lucky was I to find brads that matched my paper?  Looking at this card, I think before I mail it, I will add a little blue chalk on the top of the image, it seems too white for me, even for Christmas.  I plan to give this card to our wonderful post lady.

Paper:  Stash, Cricut; Stamps: Hot off the Press, Kraftin Kimmie, Make It Crafty; Brads: Bo Bunny; Stardust Stickles; Copics:  B01, B02, G24, R81, R83, BV04, BV02, BV01, R22, R24, E35, E34, R11, N0, Y18, Y19, YR61, R17

Snippet 16: Excerpt from Housekeeping Monthly - 13 May 1955

The Good Wife's Guide:

"Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity.  Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have no right to question him."

It's yarr birthday.....

The SSCC 'masculine' challenge was an appropriately timed challenge for me.  My husband's birthday is at the end of May so I used this challenge to make his birthday card.  He was a sailor on an aircraft carrier back in the day so Pirate Edwin is right up his alley.  Although he wasn't a pirate, he kept in touch with the water using a ten foot john boat he used to row up and down some of the little lakes around our city.  He had a trolling motor, but I think the exercise was something he really enjoyed.  He hauled that little boat around in a Ford S10 long bed pickup until it had a fateful encounter with a big buck deer several years ago.  The pickup was destroyed, as was the buck, and the john boat waits patiently behind the shed for a new pickup that may never arrive.  My husband is embarking on his second career as a 'retired gentleman' as of May 31.  He plans to travel with camera in hand, taking pictures that usually make me gasp.  He has a wonderful eye and seeing things through it causes me to take a second look at everyday objects.

The classic oval diecut was embossed with the Cuttlebug Clockworks embossing folder.  The barrel was popped up and Edwin layered on top of the barrel.  The sentiment was stamped on pearlescent vellum.  He's a little cutie, right? 

Paper: Kaiser Scrapbook, Bazzill, Cryogen; Stamps: Magnolia Barrel, Anchor & Scull, Pirate Edwin, Kraftin' Kimmie; Cuttlebug Clockworks Embossing Folder, Spellbinder Classic Ovals Large; Copics: [Barrel E31, E33, E43, E57, C5, C3][Anchor C5, C3][Scull N1][Skin E00, E11, R20][Boots N2, N3, N4, N5, N8][Hair C1, C3][Hat N3, N5][Shirt R22, R24, R27][Pants B97, B95, B91, R24, R22]

Was Santa good to you?

I made out like a bandit this Christmas. My husband got everything on my list, I got all the new DCWV pads: The Lodge Stack, The Four Seasons Stack & Cardstock Stack, The Gone Wild Stack, and The Cotton Bloom Stack. My favorite is the Gone Wild stack. The crocodile prints are awesome. If you have guys - The Lodge Stack is filled with outdoor stuff, real guy paper. I also got the Ironworks Cuttlebug folder, lots of rhinestones for cards, a huge pile of York Peppermint Patties, gift cards, a gift certificate to the Kindle store (what a treat - the gift of books). My secret Santa on the design team got me what she calls a 'sweet indulgence' package. Gourmet hot cocoa, mini marshmallows, a HUGE cup, lots of chocolate and two new Gilli stamps (thanks, Anary, you're an angel). All in all, lots of new toys to play with, lots of new challenges in the future. This year I'm going to try to focus my challenge days on containers. I have lots of container dies, so I would like to introduce you to them. And I love making containers.

Today's a great day to head out and get supplies for next year. My daughter, who works at Michaels, sent a bag home with her dad for me. I got jingle bells in lots of colors and sizes and Christmas buttons for cards which are just wonderful. A big surprise was the MS Holiday Cakes cartridge that was on sale for $14.99. I don't have the Cricut Cake, but this cartridge (for the price) has lots of stuff I can use on cards. I stopped by Big Lots yesterday and purchased their last four gold chargers (we had so many people for Christmas dinner that I ran out of them). Big Lots was having a 50% off sale on their Christmas items so I picked up some wooden napkin rings (I was using my Thanksgiving napkin rings for Christmas dinner) and four packages of tiny ball ornaments to decorate containers with. All for less than $12.00. My husband and I are headed for the big city today, we have to pick up the cards I had for sale at our local nature center's Christmas sale, a short trip to Walmart for Christmas wrapping paper for next year, and dinner and a movie. We thought we'd see what all the buzz is about concerning the new version of True Grit. And Red Lobster for dinner, it's been ages since we did Red Lobster.

Also, let me give a great big shout out to Froggy - the 27th is her birthday. And since I've already mailed it, this is her card:

It's the first time I've inked up this image. I was pleased with the coloring and the dots on the paper matched the bubbles perfectly.

Paper: Debbie Mumm Baby Girl; Stamps: Bubbling Tilda, Kraftin' Kimmie Sentiment; Smooch Illuminate; Spica Pink, Crystal Stickles; Sparkling Ice Glitter; Spellbinder Classic Squares, Fancy Tags; Copics: [skin E000, E00, E01, R20][Dress R83, R85, R81][Hair E30, E21, E33][pipe B02]

Magnolia Stamp Lover's Challenge - Edwin

This is the card I created for the Magnolia Stamp Lover's Challenge on Edwin. I like the way the Cuttlebug Allegro Embossing Folder emphasized the guitar. Simple, but elegant. If you haven't joined an MSL Challenge, please do - you can find them here.
Paper: Stash; Stamps: Magnolia Guitar Edwin, Sentiment - Kraftin Kimmie; Spellbinder: Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals, SpellbinderTag; Cuttlebug Folder - Allegro; Spica: Clear; Copics: [Skin E11, R11, E00][Hair E37, E35, E34][Shirt B91, B93][Tie B63][Pants T2, T4][Stool E57, E59][Guitar E55, E57, E50][Shoes B95, B97, White Opaque Pen]

A song in my heart....

I saw a cute challenge while I was surfing yesterday. Of course, I can't find it now but the challenge was to make a card for a song. With a nod to my friend, Diane and apologies to my "practice husband", I offer this card. The song I picked was "True Love Never Runs Smooth" by Gene Pitney. I still play his music today; he had a great string of hits in the 60s. When I was married to my practice husband, there were numerous times I wanted to find a truly good voodoo doll and fill it up with pins. Fortunately for both of us we are now married to other people, I found my prince and he found someone to make him behave. I am very taken with these Kraftin' Kimmie stamps, they appeal to the dark side in me. They were designed by artist Annie Rodrigue who must also have a dark side.

Paper: Stash; Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie, skull stamp unknown; Distress Black Soot; Spica Clear, Lilac, Cloud 9 Design Hearts, Martha Stewart Ribbon, Copics: [Skin R11, E00, E000][Hair BV04, BV01, BV00, BV13][Eyes RV000][Clothes T2, BV11, BV04, BV01, T3, BV13, BV02][Doll R12, R21, R22]

Dancing Cranes

We saw a lot of animals in the three national parks we visited this year: Moose, grizzly, antelope, mountain sheep, elk, bison and coyotes. But the one I'll remember the most for being unique is the dancing crane. We saw three cranes in the Hayden Valley (the only ones we saw in Yellowstone) and one was dancing. This display is mating behavior for cranes, and although I've seen it on television, I had never seen it in person. Awesome.

We love the Rockies and all the parks that border them, but the Tetons occupy a special place in my heart. I call them "the in-your-face" mountains. In other parts of the Rockies, you go through the hills, then the lesser mountains, while looking up at the heights. The Tetons pop up out of the prairie immediately. They don't rise gracefully, they just are. The only way to get on them is to hike, there are no roads. This picture shows an old homestead in Grand Teton National Park. How would you like to wash dishes while looking at that view?

This card is from the new Bon Voyage collection from Magnolia. I just received them after arriving home from vacation and just inked one up. I do plan to use them all soon.


Paper: Debbie Mumm Baby Girl, Bazzill Basics; Spellbinders Label Eight; Elements Hemp Jewelry Cord; Stamps: Dangling Sea Tilda, JustRite, Kraftin' Kimmie; Distress Ink Shabby Shutters; Pebbles Inc. Pearlescent Chalk; Copics: [skin R20, E00, E000][anchor T2, T3][clothes B12, T2, Y11,Y18, Spica Baby Blue][rope E34][Shoes N1, No, Spica Baby Blue][Hat B12, T2, Spica Baby Blue][Hair E37, E34, E35]

Planning a vacation

When my husband and I plan a vacation, we really plan. He's got a list and I have a list. Usually we travel in places where multiple seasons of clothes are necessary. Since mountains are almost always on our list, sometimes we scrape frost off the windshield and sometimes the heat melts the tar on the road. So, we have to be prepared. Our favorite park, Yellowstone, has long stretches of road between cold drinks and snacks. And it's not just the length of the road, but the tourists who get in your way. The speed limit is 45 mph, but in fear of missing something, tourists (we don't consider ourselves tourists, btw) will drive 10 mph. And then there are the buffalo jams when you become one with the buffalo as they come down from the hills to drink at the river. Traffic comes to a complete stop as they mill around the cars. I once had one scratch himself on the nose mask of my brand new Eclipse. Nothing you can do but scream - and they don't react to screams. So, we need to pack a cooler and cold drinks which means ice every morning for the cooler. Then there is my husband's photographic equipment, cameras, tripods, wind screens (which come in handy for protecting scrapbooking paper), lenses, filters. Since he can't just walk into the house and get what he needs, it all goes with him. I used to pack a bag of books but since he got me a Kindle, we've reduced tonnage in the car. But, I have a snack bag and a "keep Cindy occupied" bag which holds the portable DVD player, my computer and DVDs. In Yellowstone there is no TV and no telephone. And, after dark, nothing to see. There are no street lights in Yellowstone.
This is my 'travelin' girl. She has more adventure in her little finger than a lot of people have in their whole bodies. I think that's a map of Yellowstone she has in her hand.
Paper: DCWV Safari Chic, Bazzill; Stamp: Kraftin' Kimmie Genevieve; Punch: EK Success + Martha Stewart; Spica: Mint, Clear; Ribbon: Sweet and Sassy; Sentiment: Stash; Copic: (skin E11, R20, E00, E000, eye BV0000) (Dress G24, G21, E43, E44) (Gloves E55) (Map E53, E43) (Goggles E39, E35, N2, T2) (Hair Y11, Y28) (Airplane E42, E43, E31, E50, T3, T4, B000)

Time for some sillyness

You can tell I really feel better when I start doing the absurd. As you may have seen on some forums, Cricut is selling some cartridges exclusively at Walmart, supposedly due in July. I have seen images from all the cartridges and only two caught my eye - Botannicals and Splish Splash. I have an extensive collection of "sea" stuff - mermaids, ocean creatures, pirates, etc. The images are flourished fish, dolphins, seahorses, and this little beauty. You find friendship in the strangest places, eh? The octopus has been texurized with a Cuttlebug folder - it really adds a pop to the card - so was the anchor. And Tilda, being the kind sweetie she is, loves everyone - a little diversity is good for the soul.

Paper: Making Memories Travel; Stamps: Magnolia Jolly Roger Tilda, Kimmie Stamps Sentiment; Cricut Splish Splash Cartridge; Cuttlebug Folder, Kaiser Pearls; Copics: [Skin R20, E00, E000][Hair E33, E31, E30][Clothes B93, B97, B95][Boots N8, N5][Map E43][Hat N3, N5, N1][Flag N3, E57] Spica: Clear

On a personal note, during my bout with kidney stones I was so sick to my stomach most of the time that I couldn't eat. After 3 weeks, I'd lost eleven pounds. It's been seven weeks and my eating habits have changed. I no longer eat "everything on my plate", I get full much faster than I used to, I snack during the day (fruit mostly) and find I don't have to eat a meal for supper. Sometimes just a salad and some fruit. Consequently, I find T-shirts that used to bunch at my hips now fall smoothly their entire length (this means you can actually read the back of the T-shirt now - lol). I haven't weighed myself lately but plan to do that at the doctor's office on Tuesday. I had my last x-ray on Monday and will find out if I have more stones to pass or if I'm 'good to go'. I don't recommend kidney stones as a weight loss program, but if there was a silver lining, this is it.

Magnolia Stamp Lover's Challenge #12

I love to combine images and I think these two work wonderfully well together. I can see Edwin growing up to be just like dad, can't you? Put on your thinking hat and see if you can't mix and match a few stamps with your Magnolias, come up with something outside the box and enter this challenge. Supplies for this card (with the exception of Captain Scurvey and the treasure chest) can be found at StampingScrapping.com where the very best customer service awaits.

Paper: DCWV All About Boys; Stamps: Magnolia Pirate Edwin, Kraftin' Kimmie Captain Scurvy + Treasure Chest, Magnolia Barrel, Anchor; Edwin: (Skin E93, E11,. E00, E000) (Hair E55, E53) (Shirt W3, R35, W5) (Pants B45, B34, YG41) (Hat + Boots C7, C5, Spica Clear); Barrel: (E57, E33, E43, E31, C3, C5); Treasure Box: (E57, E43, C3, C5, E3, Clear Spica); Anchor: (C5, C3, C1, C00); Captain Scurvy: (Skin E02, E00, E000) Coat (Y28, B29, B28, Spica Clear) Pants (Y28, B29, B28) Boots (C5, C3) Sword (N5, N3 Spica Gold) Hat (B29, B28, Spica clear + gold) Eye (B0000) Tag: Stampin Up, E31 Airbrushed

Did ya ever?

Did you ever have an ephinany about the perfect embellishment for a card after you'd posted it for a challenge? You realize that the perfect flower was actually a die cut rather than a ready-made? Do you have flower embellishments in drawers and shoe boxes and jars? Do you have dies and punches and digi-art in flower form? I'm actually not a girly girl. I prefer my flowers in my garden or in vases. But Anary has changed my mind. Anary of the Magnolia Stamp Lovers design team sponsored by ScrappingStamping.com is a true girly girl. She of the flowers, ribbons and bling has changed the way I do cards. Who says one person can't make a difference?

If you look at my early work you will see that I tend toward simple and plain. I haven't typically used flowers, buttons, or bows (although I have a ton of each lol). Since I've approached card making in a new way, I've had to reorganize my craft room which, in a round-about way, brings me to my subject. I had flowers scattered everywhere in one form or another. Last week I spent some time just looking at my supplies and thinking about the new way I design. I think one of the reasons I didn't use all of my embellishments is that they were so scattered that when I wanted a flower, I didn't want to have to tear my room apart so I either didn't use one or I used what was to hand. So, one day last week, I took a little trip to Office Depot and purchased several Really Useful Boxes - Plastic Storage Box, 17 Liters, 7"H x 14"W x 19"D, Clear (0659275).

These boxes are really rugged, you can stand on them. One box holds all of my flowers. It holds all of my Sizzix dies that have flowers on them, all of my cuttlebug dies, all of my Spellbinder dies. It holds all of my Prima, Michaels, and crocheted flowers. It holds all of my punches (except border punches) - my Nellie Smellen, Martha Stewart, and Marvy Uchida. It holds flowers I made that I didn't use, it holds flower centers that I've purchased as wells as pearl sprays. If it's flower related, it's in my box. I also have all the punches and dies that have leaves on them; what's a flower without a leaf?



Now, when I want a flower, I know where they all are. It's an inspiration box. Instead of just seeing one flower, I'm seeing all the possibilities for flowers. These boxes are stackable and take up very little floor space. They have excellent handles for carrying and I don't think bugs could get into them if you want them for attic or basement storage. And, no, I don't work for Home Depot, I just recognize a good product. If you have unusual storage ideas or a different way of organizing, please leave a comment and share. We all love new ways of doing things, eh?

This card is for the Kraftin' Kimmie 'One for the Boys' Challenge.



Paper: Mind's Eye Home; Stamp: Kraftin' Kimmie Babette; Diamond Glaze; Spica: Clear, Mint; Buckle, Ribbon: Stash; Copics: (Skin R20, E11, E00, E000, E0000, RV13) (Clothes G82, C3, C5, G40, BG11, BG000, BG0000) (Hair E43, E53, E51, E50)