It's the Anniversary Squirrel! {Being A Little Squirrelly }

Waving "hello" to my blogging visitors!

 It's the Anniversary Squirrel! (another Bugaboo cutie) Sigh - I sure miss Jodie. What a fun artist!

This is the 49th anniversary card for my hubby. He enjoys nonsensical, humorous cards. Since I'm a little nutty by nature, it was only appropriate to use this squirrel - not to mention the fact that we live in an oak hammock where acorns are plentiful, and we are frequently over-run with the little varmints in our rural area.

Colored with Copic Markers and Distress Oxide inks, this little cutie is another of Miss Jodie's quirky creations. Jack prefers non-mushy cards, although he always finds the most beautifully meaningful cards for me. Being a sentimental fool, I've kept all Jack's "love letters/cards". After 49 years the container is huge!

 Do you save love letters and cards from your honey?

PAPERS: BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE BY LIS ROBSON, and green handmade by me(!), and SU Early Espresso, MS Lace Heart Edge.

Lis has an amazing paper-making business, incorporating every technique, texture, and natural element imaginable! Here are the three I used:

I also made some paper. The texture was accomplished by pressing between pieces of old, old, rubbery, lacy shelf/drawer liner "paper" (do you remember those shelf liners?) Like mulberry paper, a wet brush was utilized to "tear it apart to the desired size.

Here are the unassembled pieces:

The fun interior, using a "flipped" squirrel, gathering more nuts:

Finished Creation:

Products: Bugaboo Digital Squirrel, Copic Markers Spellbinders S4-306 Wonky Rectangles, [Oxides in lucky clover, twisted citron, vintage photo, salty ocean] Brilliance Ink in Tri-Mineral, Teresa Collins Love Triangles Craftwell EF, home-made digital sentiments, PAPERS: BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE BY LIS ROBSON, and green handmade by me(!), and SU Early Espresso, MS Lace Heart Edge.

Challenges:

1. Crafty Animals #97 (AG with animals) 8/28
2. Critter Crazy Challenge #101 (AG with animals) 9/1
3. Ally's Angels #97 AG 09/12
4. Heart's Quest for Love Challenges Blog HQCOLCB #8 "BEWAS themes" Mine is an Anniversary for hubby 8-31, (9/7)
5. Neglected Stuff Challenge (Aug 3) Use at least one neglected item (handmade papers which have not been used for 15 years or more.) ends 8-28 (9/7)
6. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #8-2025 AG ends 8/28 (9/30)
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2533 AG 8/25
8. Crafters Cafe Challenge #322 AG using Patterned Papers 9/23

Wishing you a beautiful day, filled with ordinary moments that comprise a life well-lived.

hugs,

Remember Those Cute Bugaboo Characters?

Hello, my friends! Another post from me! (giggle)

Today's cards are doubly sweet - made with fond thoughts of Jodie (former owner of Bugaboo Stamps), and also for a dear friend who loves her little white mischievous puppies! Her birthday is drawing near, so it was the perfect opportunity to showcase Jodie's silly images for a person who will appreciate them. 

Copics, inks, paper-piecing techniques, and recycled ribbon comprise this 5 inch square card. 

Does anyone know the name of this fun fold card? 

I think it might be called the Triple Panel Pop Out Fold?

Anne Buckingham taught me the mechanics in making the fun fold last year, but I don't know the name of the fold. It's really simple to make. Cut a piece of cardstock that matches the card base - 4 inches wide by however tall your card is (in this case, it is 6" tall). Score the piece at one, two and three inches. Fold into a "square tube". Apply adhesive to the two ends of the "tube" - first and last segments - and adhere both on either side of the card base fold. Be sure to fold the card while your glue is drying to make sure you have placed it perfectly on either side of the card fold. NOTE: It was easier adhering the sentiments after the tube was in place. Decorate with all sorts of ephemera, images, sentiments, die cuts - so cute ~ !

Thanks for popping by!

Products: Baxter Puppy from Bugaboo, digital sentiments, Dies: Darice Nested Ornate Rectangles, Surprise Creations Large stitched rectangles, Tutti Stitched Rectangles, LaLaLand Flag Banner, Spellbinders Fleur de Lis, Embossing Folder: We R Memory Keepers Next Level Woven 2, Coloring: Copics and Distress inks, Patterned Papers and cardstock from stash, Glitter, Ribbon

ALWAYS THANKFUL FOR THE DESIGN TEAMS AND HOSTS OF ON-LINE CHALLENGES:

1. Critter Crazy Challenges #95 (final challenge SOB!) AG with Featured Critter 2/25
2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2508 AG 11/25
3. CD Sunday Plus #152 Anything Goes (3 digital images, several digital sentiments as shown on the fun fold card - I hope it fits the rules of your challenge). 2/25
4. Snippet's Playground Challenge #500 CELEBRATE 500! (in the fun fold card I used snippets for interest in the bottom portion of card front, and lots of snippets from scraps of designer papers in the flags/banners. The yellow glitter border is the "negative" left over portion of a die cut. The interior also uses several snippets of left over lengths of cardstock and pattern paper - thanks for the fun challenge! 2/25 (playing JFF for top 3 spot)
5. Love those Pretty Papers (a D&D challenge) Feb 1 Use pattern papers 3/1
6. Creative Fingers Challenge #295 Anything Goes 3/8 (products I used are listed above - hybrid layering. Thank you!)
7. Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love Challenges Blog #2 (Feb2) BEWAS - using birthday cards, one is pop out. 3/2
8. Halloween & Other Occasions Crafts Year Round (Feb 1) Birthdays and Dogs 2/28

Stamping Hugs,

Non-Traditionally Colored Valentine for my Sweetie

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! My bestie is also the love of my life, so it was fun making a card for him.

 Actually, my time creating the card felt like I was in Leslie Miller's craft room. We both enjoy Bugaboo's fun, quirky images (so sad Jodie is no longer on-line). We both are married to wonderful guys who love the outdoors (Leslie with Rich, I with Jack) and who prefer comical to mushy. 

Will share my major boo-boo at the bottom of this post.

Valentine Bird is colored with Copic Markers, and distressed with the inks shown at left.

The brads were also colored with Copic Markers.

Being inspired by many of my dear crafting friends, I attempt to use "old stuff" from my stash on each card. Here three yellow star brads were utilized - each was altered with a different color yellow alcohol marker for visual interest.  OLD OLD OLD burlap is a "break" between two designer papers, which are also at least 7 years old.

At the very end of assembling this card, I picked up a "love" stamp, inked it up and promptly dropped its wet, inky self onto the image, picked the stamp up again and dropped it again, so TWO "love" images ruined the main element. Then I pondered stamping "love" multiple times, thinking it might look intentional. THAT DID NOT WORK. So here is the boo-boo scene:

Fortunately, a quickie home-made sentiment die cut with a tag, covered up most of the mess.

Because the message was exceedingly corny, and personal, I blurred out the bottom message in Photos, but thought you might enjoy seeing the finished product:

Who could possibly resist this love-struck little birdie full of happiness?

Products: Image: Bugaboo Valentine Bird #2,  Dies: La-La Land - Flag Banner,  Surprise Creations Double Stitched Tags, LifeStyle Quickutz Nesting Hearts,   Papers: Studio G designer & SU "turquoise", Colored with Copics, Inks: DI Speckled Egg, D Oxide Stormy Sky and Iced Spruce, Other: Star Brads, Burlap

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Try It On Tuesday - Feb 6 - Hearts and/or Flowers (heart balloon, die cuts, heart eyes, little flowers) 2/20 (check 2/27)
2. Dragonfly Dreams Challenges Feb 4 - Hearts (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 3/3 (check 3/10)
3. Allsorts Challenges #767  Feb 10 Hearts- (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 2/16
4. Inkspirational Challenge #309 Feb 10 Hearts (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 2/20 (sep post)
5. Cut it Up Challenge #297 Feb 9 - Have a Heart (LifeStyle Quickutz nesting heart dies) 2/21
6. Pearly Sparkles Challenges Feb 1 #92 - Love/Have a Heart 2/28 (check 3/1)
7. Moving Along With the Times #163 Feb 1 - Love/Hearts 3/1 (scroll down in post)
8. Crafty Gals Corner #252 Feb 14  Add a Heart (heart balloon, heart die cuts, heart eyes) 3/13 (sep post) 
9. Critter Crazy Challenge #83 Feb 1 - AG with a Featured Critter (bird here) 3/1 (sep post)

Sending Friendship your way,

Puppy Celebrating new Inspiration Station Challenge!

 Hi! Did you know there is a brand new challenge on the block? 

It's called Inspiration Station. Although there is an inspiration board, the interpretation is quite broad, so I invite you to take a look and see what you think!

DESIGN TEAM CALL, TOO!

The inspiration board:

(I am inspired by the colors, cuteness factor, and the celebration of life!)

Using elements from Nitwit Digital Paper Collection "Enchanting" and Turquoise and White Cardstock, Bugaboo Birthday Puppy is celebrating in style. The edges are distressed with loose copper glitter, and loose clear glitter. Such cuteness!

Please check out the new challenge, and see what motivates you in your creation. Is it the colors? The shapes? The textures? The subject matter? Or something else entirely. 

Products: Bugaboo Birthday Puppy Set, glitters, inks, Nitwit Digital Paper Collection "Enchanting", Turquoise and White Cardstock.

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Two Crafty Critter Crazies #48 AG critters! 4/1
2. World Wide Open DT Challenge #3 AG DT 4/15
3. Always Fun Challenges #205 Spring 3/22
4. Inkspirational Challenges #234 Photo Inkspiration 3/20 sep post

Stamping Hugs,

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - A Little Sunshine

Hello, Christmas Lovers!
If it snowed in Florida, would we still be called The Sunshine State?
I hope so, and so do my little characters today.

Today begins a new challenge at 

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!

My brilliant teammates have fantastic samples to share! The challenge is ANYTHING GOES for ANY Christmas theme craft project. July's Challenge is open until August 10 and has an optional theme of Sunshine!

This cute Snow Couple was colored with Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Color Pencils and Gamsol.  Such a loving couple, I cannot help but be attracted to them. 



The sunshine is stenciled, contrary to our Florida Sunshine, which is vibrant all year!

• Bugaboo Snowmen Couple
• Dies: SB Scallop Labels One, SB Grand Scallop Squares
• Inks: Adirondack Stonewashed Denim and Pool, Distress Lemonade and Straw, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Colored with: Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Color Pencils and Gamsol

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Merry Little Christmas Challenge #12 Anything Christmas Goes 8/1
2. Cute N Crafty Challenge #29 Christmas in July 7/28 (sep post)
3. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #52 Anything Goes Christmas 7/28
4. Kerst Christmas FB Challenge #7 AG Christmas 8/2
5. Crafty Calendar Challenge (July) Christmas in July 8/3
6. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge #445 Christmas 7/14
7. CCC Digi Creations #105 Christmas in July 8/3
8. Jingle Belles Rock (July 5) Tie-Tac-Toe (diagonal Snowman, Red or Green, Diecuts) 7/18

Wishing you a great day!

It's A Girl Thing - Turner Syndrome Awareness Blog Hop

  Welcome to my post for the MEGA

"It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome Awareness Inaugural Blog Hop!  

Turner Syndrome is a genetic disorder where a female is born with only one X chromosome, instead of two, leaving her with life-long medical issues and learning disabilities. This condition occurs one in 2,500 female births worldwide, but is more common among pregnancies that do not survive to full term. 
Turner Syndrome Females are considered MIRACLES.

The one trait I find most interesting is how vital it is for our chromosomes to be healthy so that the correct hormones, proteins, and bodily interactions can take place to help us develop normally. For a quick pictorial explanation of some TS symptoms, please click here. 

Nineteen caring Sponsors and eleven DT Members have partnered with us to bring Turner Syndrome Awareness to the Public. For details on how you might win any of these fabulous prizes, please see Lori's TS home page. Thanks for learning About Turner Syndrome. 

My TS cards use a few colors from the TS official color board.

Card One:

Card 1 Products:

Bugaboo Image Bella Kidz Support Ribbon digital stamp

Interior - "Ridiculously Adorable" soon in Bugaboo's store

Cottage Cutz Bunny Mini die set

SB Grand Scallop Square die set

SB Classic Scallop Square die set

SB Triple Tear Circle die set

Copic and Prismacolor Markers, Distress Inks

Inside of card (sentiment soon available in Bugaboo's store):


A cute little bunny to keep my darling little TS character company!
Bella has been colored with Copic and Prismacolor markers:


Card Two:

The front of the card is wrapped with ribbon and tied, like a present:



Colored with Copic and Prismacolor markers, and distressed with inks, there is also a bit of dimension with 2 of the flowers and little Bella popped up.

Card 2 Products:

Bugaboo Bella Trio digital stamp set

Interior - "Being Different" soon in Bugaboo's Store

Front sentiment soon in Bugaboo's Store 

SB Scalloped Labels One

SB Grand Decorative Labels One

SB Grand Labels One

SB Labels One

The interior is using a sentiment that will become available in the Bugaboo Store soon:



For the exterior sentiment, I used a dimensional glue, and sprinkled clear glitter on it. After it dried, I inserted more drops of glue, and coated in green glitter, and then added more glue, and coated the remaining drops in blue glitter to create a sweet, dimension, sparkly frame:




PLEASE:

Remember to visit the "It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome Awareness Inaugural Blog Hop page to become eligible for prizes.

To see the details for this fun TS card, please click here:



I am also randomly awarding this prize of four SNS stamp sets to one lucky hopper who comments on my blog. Winner to be announced February 15:



ON A PERSONAL NOTE: 
I was trying to capture the hundred or so robins in our holly tree, stripping it of the bright red berries, but instead, my camera captured the sun's rays! It was 42F (5.5C) that afternoon - yes, here in central Florida! We had a heavy frost that morning, so the "green" looks weary.

Challenges I would like to support:

1. Moving Along With the Times  #90 - Add A Sentiment (added a digital sentiment to card 2's design) 2/14
2. Scrapy Land Challenge #106 AG SL dies (dies listed under each card) 2/6 sep post
3. Addicted to Stamps #326 "Go Nuts! AG!" 2/5 (check on #328)
4. Try Stampin' (or not) on Tuesday #392  Sketch (2nd card) 2/3
5. Joe's Scrap Shack #267 AG 2/8 (sep post 2/11)
6. World Wide Open DT Challenge #1 AG DT (TS DT) 2/15 sep post
7. Colour Crazy Challenge (Week 4 Feb 1) this is my 2nd entry  2/17 (btm post for T3)

Thanks for stopping by!

de