New Beginnings

It's New Year's Eve! Hard to imagine that a whole year has passed already!!! This time last year, I was still recovering from surgery ugh... but now I don't have any excuses, back to the gym!!!

I've been afraid to step on the scale lol! I KNOW that I've packed on the pounds during all the yummy holiday gatherings I've attended. It's so hard to resist, isn't it??? I have a pantry filled with goodies that Santa left in our stockings. I don't think that it should go to waste (or even better, it shouldn't go to WAIST hee hee).

So did you receive what you wanted for Christmas? I know that you had your heart set on some crafty goodness. The gifts I received were ALL wonderful! I have an amazingly generous family who loves me : )

Well... I'm back being a Fairy Princess! I'm happy to say that Roberta has asked me to come back to join her fabulous DT. Thanks so much, Bert : ) I have so much fun with her images! She's an awesome artist and it's always exciting to see what she's cooked up next.

Today (and every other Friday) is Fairy Fun Friday. Our challenge is 'New Beginnings.' Here's what I came up with using the oh so ca-uuuute Baby Emily...

Isn't she fun??? When I saw the challenge theme, I immediately thought of a baby card! I need to make more of them : ) I've also included a New Beginnings symbol using my MS punch for the butterfly.

I decided that Baby Emily needed gold posts for her ears...which then turned into a gold party for the whole card lol! She's colored with copics as well as the colorless blender to keep the colors softer. Here you can see that she's wearing gold rimmed glasses. I have a NEW MYSTERY PRODUCT that I've used, but I can't tell you yet what it is yet hee hee! As you'll see in the photos below, this GOLD product is ultra sparkly!!! I hope they also have silver! Anywho, the glasses needed to get a coat of Diamond Glaze on them, otherwise she might poke her eye out ha ha ha ha!

I actually punched the butterfly out twice. The first layer is from the pink dp which is behind the image, then I punched another one out of white cs. I used two coats of my MYSTERY PRODUCT on the butterfly. Papers I've used are from Nitwit. Nitwit has such yummy digi papers! You gotta take a peek!!! I picked up the flower at JoAnn's. It was sheer white, but I covered it with my MYSTERY PRODUCT...

Here's what two coats on a larger area looks like.
To make the pearls, I've used my fave Viva Decor Opal Paper Pen!

And this is three coats on a small area. After it dried, I gave it a coat of Diamond Glaze.

I hope you enjoyed my little card and are intrigued about what the MYSTERY PRODUCT might be : ) Come back soon to hear more!

May the New Year bring tons of FUN and JOY to you and your loved ones. Here's to a year filled with love and blessings!!!

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

I'm a Guest Designer!

Happy Friday!  YaaaaaaHoooooo!  We made it, didn't we?  I have a special announcement today.  I know someone who is having a BIRTHDAY!  It's my friend, Vickie!

*la la la la*

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday, Dear Vickie...

Happy Birthday to you!

She's away on vacation, and I sure do miss her.  Don't tell, but I haven't been working out everyday.  Monday was movie day, Tuesday I went to the gym, Wednesday I played hooky, Thursday I went to the gym, TODAY I'm headed to the gym.  There.  I went more than I stayed - lol!  When Vickie is home, we usually go every weekday and then head to Starbucks *yummy.* She loves chai tea - which leads into the theme of my card today!

The image I've used is from Prairie Fairy called Tea Time.  It comes with a teapot and teacup.  Sooooo adorable!  I printed out the image three times and used all three teacups (I'll save the three teapots for another project).  Ta Da!!!  I have two firsts... This is my first Tent Card.  I don't think I did it right - lol!  My second first is that I am Guest Designer this week for Fairy Fun Fridays - yay!!!  Thanks, Roberta : )

I used Dena's tutorial at Simon Says Stamp Here.

In case you missed it, here's the charm!

I 'stole' this idea from Lacey at Stamp and Create.  After I cut the 'stem' from the flower, I wrapped it around the handle of a paint brush.  Can you see the little curlie-q's?  I really like the added texture it creates.  Thanks, Lacey : )

A close up of how I hung the teapot...

Copics

B02 B01 B00 B000 B0000

R85 R83 R81

G28 G24 G20

Digi Image:  Prairie Fairy, Tea Time

DP:  BasicGrey, Eskimo Kisses

Circle Nesties

MS punch

Lace:  i {heart} papers

Pearls, charm, ribbon from Michael's

Doily from Walmart

Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp - Tent card with charm 

Cupcake Craft - Blooms and charms
Die cut Dreams - Lace
BasicGrey - Punch It
Pollycraft - Summer Blooms
Crazy Challenge - New (pearls)
Pixie Dust - Pearls
Creative Inspirations - Punches
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Cute & Girly
Papertake Weekly - Flowers
Little Red Wagon - Window
Charisma - 3D
S2G - Fav color (pink and blue)
Saturday Challenge - Metal

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend  : )

Dont' forget my CANDY is still open... ends June 10.  You can find it Here.

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

Lori

Going Digital Blog Hop

Welcome...

to the GOING DIGITAL blog hop!

hosted by
Prairie Fairy Digital Stamps and The Paper Temptress

Follow the crumb trail to find the DT's creations along the way!

  If you came here from Kelly's Kreative Korner then you are on the right track!

If not please start at the beginning of the hop  HERE.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, it is a lot of traveling LOL! But don't worry, you have until the end of the day Monday to follow the trail and enter the giveaway (and the sale)!

Complete the Prairie Fairy DT part of the hop on Friday to enter the draw to win a $15 Gift Certificate from Prairie Fairy and Paper Temptress.
Complete the Paper Temptress DT part of the hop starting Saturday to enter another draw to win a $15 Gift Certificate from Prairie Fairy and Paper Temptress.

You will have until the end of the day on Monday to follow the crumb trail AND you NEED to enter a comment on both design team's end blogs for an entry to each giveaway.  Please make sure to leave comments on the DT's blogs (you know how much they love comments) just know that those comments will not enter you into the giveaway.

BOTH DRAW winners will be announced on Tuesday.

PaperTemptress carries many perfect cardstocks to use with digital images, so starting on Friday and going all the way thru Monday, all cardstock listed under the Digital Paper Category will be 25% off. 

Be sure to use the code digital when placing your order to get the discount!

Go and check it out!

Both teams have created some amazing eye candy for you with some Paper Temptress papers and Prairie Fairy digital stamps!
Make sure you go and visit everyone to see their lovely creations!

Here is my card:

 

 I found a great tutorial from Jeanette on how to make this criss-cross pocket card.  What is that peeking out of the pocket?  Oh... you should see some of the adorable images that the Fairy Princess has cooked up for us!  This is called Mug of Love which is available for purchase at Prairie Fairy Designs.  I'm not sure how old the Fairy Princess is, but she sure is talented!!

Here's the card insert...  I thought the sentiment dangling from the handle worked pretty well : )  If you are not a coffee drinker, the contents of the mug could be chai tea!  I'm a Starbucks junkie - my latest is decaf misto.  Today I brought in my own mug and saved a whopping 10 cents!!!

The challenge this week at Fairy Fun Fridays is to use a twig!  Yes, you read it right.  Hee hee... I snuck it in quietly.  Pretty cool, huh?  At first I thought the mug needed a cinnamon stick (which sorta resembles a twig!) but I didn't have any : (   So, here's my plan B!!!

Copics:  G99 G85 G82 G00 G000 RB95 RV93 RV91 E51 E50 C1

In case you get lost, here is the Prairie Fairy Hop list:

1. Prairie Fairy

2. Crafting Creatively

3. Free For Ever

4. Just Ducky

5. Kelly's Kreative Korner

6. My Comfort Cottage

7. Oh Bumble Is Me

8. Scrapcandy

9 Wishcraft

10. Queen La Rubbah

11. Prairie Fairy Fridays

I hope you enjoyed your visit here with me! Your next stop along the crumb trail is Oh Bumble Is Me

Happy hopping!!!

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

Lori 

For Your Birthday!

Hey there!  Just little ol' me again...  I hope that your week has been going well.  Today I see sunshine - yay!  We even have the backdoor open (gasp!).  As I am preparing this post, my DH is cooking.  Backyard on the grill we have some yummy smelling chicken cooking.  I cooked (if you could call it that - lol!) the past three days, so I told him that he could cook today.  He really is a good cook.  Much better than I will ever be!  You know what?  I am totally OK with that : )

Did you know that Prairie Fairy is having a Design Team Call?  You have until Midnight on Friday, April 16 to enter.  Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 18.  Roberta is the BEST Fairy in town, I tell ya  : )  Why not give it a try? 

I have a totally FUN card to show you today.  I've used Gerry's Birthday Set.  This digital set comes from Prairie Fairy Designs and includes a giraffe, gifts and an adorable cake - which I obviously didn't use this time.

The challenge this week at Fairy Fun Fridays is to use eyelets and string.  I don't mind telling ya that I had a terrible time with this card.  It was one of those days that nothing was coming together.  This is the third image I colored...  It was my fault the other images didn't turn out.  They were UGLY!  The colors I used were really, really bad - lol!  I finally settled on this.  At least the colors complement each other!!!  The most fun I had was doing the eyelets.  That part went flawlessly - whew!

I finally planned ahead of time (because Roberta gave us this great challenge) where I wanted to place the eyelets.  I marked on the dp and hammered away!  Usually, I have the papers glued down and then realize that it's too late to include them.

...and here's Gerry!  Isn't he cute?  I love him all ready to party with his hat and big bow tie.  Don'tcha just want to take him home with ya?

Copics

E37 E35 E33 E31 E18 E15 E13

B37 B34 B32

Yellow atyou Spica pen

Stardust Stickles

Yellow eyelets

White embroidery thread

Offray Ribbon

It's now time to eat that scrumptious dinner awaiting me...  I wish you could have a taste too.  I'll let you know how it is : )

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

Lori

In the Garden

Oh... yesterday was sooooo beautiful!  The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect.  I even went for a bike ride with DH!  I'm thinking that today will be just as nice.  Not too hot, not too cold.  I love Spring!  It is my favorite time of the year.

Tomorrow is Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge, but I have two other cards I need to post, so I'm posting this a little early.  We have an inspiration photo for the Challenge this week.  You'd think that this would be a good place to insert that photo, wouldn't ya?  Ok... so here's my story.  It all started when I was just a wee little babe.  I wouldn't do that to ya :)  The real story is that I deleted it.  How boring is that?  Oooops!  I just keep making mistakes.  I'm gettin reeeeeeeal good at it too - lol!

I do have a card to show ya today.  At least I didn't delete that, thank goodness!

I've used the fab digi image from Prairie Fairy Designs "In the Garden".  Isn't it gorgeous?  You'll just have to believe me when I tell you that this card has inspiration photo written all over it - ha ha!  In case you need to see to believe, head on over to Fairy Fun Fridays to see what Roberta and the DT have cooked up using the (invisible) photo as inspiration...

Copics

RV34 RV32 RV11 RV10 RV00

E31 E18 E17 E13

G28 G24 G21 G20

It may look like I've placed the nesties cut oval on top of the dp, but actually, I cut the oval from the dp and placed the image behind it - like a picture frame.  The rim around the oval was achieved by cutting the oval shape as usual, but then I left the die in place and traced around the outside edge.  I carefully cut the thin "rim" and glued on top of the dp.  Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink was used around all edges.  Maybe you have an easier way to frame the oval.  I'm all ears!  Tell me your tips and tricks.  I only have one set of ovals though...

Challenges Entered:
Creative Card Crew - Vintage
Cute Card Thursday - Mono Mania

That's it for me today.  Thank you for stopping by and saying "Hi".

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

Lori

My Second Easel Card!

Wow... twice in one week!  What's up with that?  Even though I am the last person on the face of this planet to make an easel card, I've decided that I am gonna make up for it - lol!  Actually, the challenge at Fairy Fun Fridays this week is to make an easel card.  So now I'm getting in some good practice.  I've visited many of your blogs and found lots of beautiful easel cards.  Each of you have stated that it was very easy to make and loads of fun!  Well, you were right : )


Here is my easel card featuring Honey Beary from Prairie Fairy Designs.

 Yep... it really is an easel card as you can see!  Ta Da!!!

Here's what my DH came up with when I asked him what sentiment should go on this card.  Thanks Honey (Beary)!

Copics

E37 E34 E33 E31 E30 R20

B97 B95 B93 B91

G28 G24 G21 G20

Sakura:  Stardust Pen

Buttons and brads from stash

Hot Off The Press:  Brown Leather, Tan Leather

DCWV: Indigo

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - #105

S2G - #49

Pile It On - #11 

Now don't forget that tomorrow is Fairy Fun Fridays!  While you're there, you'll find some great inspiration from the DT to get your creative juices flowing.  If you've never made an easel card before, I have some reassurance for you:  If I can do it, anyone can!!!  Show us your easel cards : )

Thanks for stopping by... and don't forget to say 'hi'...  See you back here tomorrow, my friends!

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

All Cracked Up for Easter

Another Friday is here!!!  Did your week fly by too?  I gotta tell you what's been happening in my neck of the woods...

Did you know that dogs can get gastroenteritis?  No, I didn't know how to spell that, I used spell check - lol!  I didn't even know gastroenteritis existed until a friend had it.  Not fun, so stay healthy!  Anyway, on Sunday, my little puppy dog was out of sorts... then it all happened.  It wasn't pretty, I'm tellin ya.  I'll spare you the gory details - I'll just say that I did A LOT of cleaning up!  After two days of this, I decided it was time to call in back up.  I got the only appointment the Vet had that day.  LOTS of money later, we found out what they thought he had (and also tests to show what he didn't have).   Sammy is his name.  He is three years old and the cuddliest little 'puppy' you'll ever find.  All week he wanted his mommy!

So here we are on Friday and he is getting small doses of Pedialite and cottage cheese/rice.  I haven't had to clean up any messes today - yay!  This is progress...  Hopefully, he'll be able to eat and drink normally in a few more days.  Have you ever had to shove a disgusting tasting pill down your dog's throat without the aid of cheese or peanut butter?  Not a pretty site I tell ya!

Except for having to go back to the dentist for my permanent (crown), that's pretty much been my week.  Oh... I think this is hilarious!  The last day of work for my DH is April 1.  No joke!  How ironic is that?  Sigh...  On the bright side, we've had the money to pay for the vet, for the dentist, for the notary...  God is good and He always provides : )

Now for the real reason you've come...  Ta Da!  It's another Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge.  This week, the Fairy challenged us to use complimentary colors - red and green, blue and orange or yellow and purple.  I've used 'All Cracked Up' which is a freebie Here.

* I've used the fab sketch from Create4fun Challenge. *

Copics

Y21 Y15 Y13 Y11 Y00YR02 YR 04

V17 V15 V12 V01 V000

Nesties

Oval, Fancy Tags

Punch

Paper Shapers -Wave Flourish

Paper

DCWV - The Glitter Mat Stack

Sentiment

Computer generated

Challenges Entered:

Create4Fun - sketch 
SophistiCat - New Beginnings
The Pink Elephant - Spring
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Easter
Creative Card Crew - Going Dotty
My Time to Craft - Lovely Lace!
Papertake Weekly - Lilac and Lemon
The Creative Cottage - Flowers 
S2G - Pastels  Crafty Calendar - Flowers/Pastels
Crafty Catz - Spring 
Stampin' for the Weekend
One Stop Craft Challenge - Spots and Dots
Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Saturday Spotlight - Slick (Glaze on nose, slick flowers)
Rosie-D's - Spring 
I Love Digi - Easter
Susie's Sassy Challenge - Easter

Now hop on over to Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge Blog and see what fabulous ideas the other DT has come up with.  Grab your digi and have some fun!

Thank you so much for dropping by!  I'll have another project you'll want to check out later today : )

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul ~

Go Green at Fairy Fun Fridays!

Hello my friends.  I pray you are all healthy and the sun is shining in your heart (whether the sun is shining outside, or the sky is gray!).  Life is waaaay too short to live under a constant cloud...

Can I just tell you that yesterday was a mess?  I thought I had everything prioritized and ready to complete my projects on time, including dinner (which is always a miracle in itself!).  But THEN I found out that I not only had a dentist appointment, but also a doctor appointment.  Grrrrr!  At least they were not at the same time.  It was raining here in California yesterday, the sky was gray and I had to do two of my least favorite things.  How was I ever going to get it all done?  Ok... just one thing at a time.  Doctor #1 (check)  Doctor #2 (check) Dentist - yikes!  Can you believe I was there for over two and half hours?  I'm telling ya it was torture!  But (check) got that done too.  I made an appointment to get my permanent tooth (crown) in a couple of weeks (double check).  Hey, what's a little numb face for a few hours?  So... to reward myself, I went to Joann's!  Go ahead and tell me that you haven't done that too - lol!

Well, I have good news and I have bad news...  Which one do you want to hear first?  The bad news is that my DH is losing his job at the end of this month.  He works for New United Motor in Fremont, California.  They are shutting down after 26 years.  The funny thing is that my DH worked at that same plant when it was General Motors for 17 years before they closed.  Sigh...  I know that everything happens for a reason and God will take care of us.  That I know for certain.  How?  When?  Only He knows...

So here's the good news!  When I went to Joann's yesterday during the downpour, miserable from all my appointments, ready to shop...  I left the store with only one very small bag which held two spools of ribbon.  Yay for me!  Why is that good?  Because I am restraining myself from spending money which we may or may not have next month!  Yippee!  I was so proud of myself - lol!

Are you thoroughly bored now?  I have more bad news...  I have a 'dreaded' boy card to show ya.  The good news is that the theme this week at Fairy Fun Fridays is GREEN!  I chose this image called 'Party Animals' because I kept thinking 'Go Green' - go - car - color it green... hee hee!  You can purchase this digi from the Fairy Here.  It really is a fun image, don'tcha think?

I've colored with copics then used Diamond Glaze on the headlights and bumper.  It looks much better in person - lol!  Seriously... you can see more of the dimension.  The green part of the car is a second image I cut out and colored then glued on top of the first image.  In person it looks like it's gonna jump right off the paper : )

The sentiment is computer generated... hmmm... sounds familiar - 'yippee!' Where have I heard that before?  So there you have it.  Plain and simple.  I say, 'Bring on the girlie stuff!!!'

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
The Pink Elephant
Cute Card Thursday
Creative Card Crew - Celebrations
Penny's Challenge - Going Green
Crafty Catz
Saturday Challenge - Stitching (faux)
Shirleys2Girls - Green


Thanks for stopping by : )

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~