Birthday Challenge

Next week will be all about birthdays here.  My grandmother will be turning 90, and we are having a blowout celebration for it.  Our family is scattered all over the southeast, and several will be coming in for this special event, many of whom I haven't seen in years, so this is exciting.  
I will be so busy with the preps. next week that I'm afraid I'm going to miss a lot of good stuff concerning CHA.   So blogging buddies, if there is something "out of this world, you don't won't to miss" please let me know.
There are several challenges this week for birthday themed projects.  I'm entering this card in 3 of them.
Cooking w/ Cricut, Paper Playtime, & My Pink Stamper. 
Have a great weekend everyone. 

A Valentine for my nephew- -my "Up" buddy.

I'm having a "tuff" time making cards for Valentine's Day.  I want to do really prissy, frilly, girly cards, but most of the people (family) I will be sending them to are males, so no ribbons, bows, lace & stuff.
I am going to enter this one for a couple of challenges.   The first is CCCC #3 at 2 Scraptastic Girls with the challenge being anything using Create a Critter.  The second challenge is over at Cricut Cardz Challenge (#59) a Valentine for a child.  This little monkey is my nephew made over, (yes, he would try to fly using balloons if he could, and would probably find a way to succeed!)  He was responsible for me watching the movie "Up" which I did NOT want to see, but fell madly in love with after watching it.
Just finished my project for my first blog hop coming up in a couple of weeks.  Now I'm just wondering how many times I will change my mind about it before the hop.
Thanks for stopping by-Have a happy day!

Imaginisce is having a giveaway- check it out.

http://www.imaginisceblog.com/2011/01/cha-sneak-peek-berrylicious-little.html?showComment=1296048209397#c133152175422

   

A valentine that's not too mushy or too frilly

I think I'll just call this the "prototype" and now that I've made it & found out the do's & don'ts, I'll make another one for real, I just don't know if I'll have a chance to get a picture of it posted.  
It is a fun card to make (& to open,) there are just some things I know about it now that will make the next one better.   Hope you have a happy day!

You win & I win too....
Click the link below to enter to win a new, unreleased Core'dinations assorted pack.   By using this link, if you are picked as a winner, then I win too.
http://pages.email.darice.com/core2/p?eKey=ulEF7mDT3wdlg0XSgE

Super Simple Valentines

I haven't posted in a few days & just thought I'd put up a few simple cards I made.   Hope everyone has a great weekend.  It's supposed to be rainy & cold here again, so... craft room, here I come (I hope.)

Love Struck 2010

I got the Love Struck 2010 cart. when it came out last year & never used it.  So I got it out & started playing around with some of the cuts.  This is the first one I tried.  I was afraid it was going to be 'tuff' because it's one of those intricate designs, but am happy to say it cut out just fine.  I'm going to enter this card at The Paper Variety for their Pink, Black &/or White Challenge. 

Unchained Melody

I

I made this card last weekend and the entire time I was working on it the old Righteous Brothers' song, Unchained Melody kept going thru my mind.  This week the challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot is anything inspired by a song. so I'm going to enter it over there for one reason more than anything, to try & get ...

HELP!**If anyone reads this post and can give me some tips on trying to photograph these cards PLEASE do.  (Extreme desperation & frustration here.)  I tried 2 different cameras, and 4 different locations, with flash, without flash and just finally gave up.  There's got to be a way (without taking a photography course) in making decent pictures!

As I said in a previous post, I have a whole list of beginner's questions I would love to ask all the crating "cyberlebrities" and I just may send it out & see if I get any responses.

_________________________________________________

 AAAHAA!  Someone suggested that I use natural light, well that wasn't working inside, so dodging the melting ice & snow drips I tried taking a pic. outside.  It does make a difference I think.  Will try more when everything stops dripping.

A Family Collaboration

Today was day 2 of "Winter Storm 2011".  Everything has been at a standstill in our community.  No school, and most businesses are closed.   We probably won't get another shutdown for snow for another 5 or 6 yrs.  That seems to be about the norm.   So, we've enjoyed it while we had it.  One of the best things about snow to me, besides the beauty of it, is that you walk outside to the most serene quiet and feeling of peace.  

I got lots of help today on this card.  Husband, daughter & son all had input on it.  It's not such a big deal for daughter to be in my craft room, but for Hubby to be in there, let alone suggesting I try this or that, now that's a red letter day!  He must really be getting a case of cabin fever.
I'm going to enter this card at Jitterbuggin for their sketch #29 challenge, then it's of in the mail with some snow pics inside for the grandparents.  (Yes, we still do "print" pics, very few emailed ones.)
Have a happy week everyone!

Check it out!

100 Followers Blog Candy #1

100 Blog Followers Candy #2

How's this for some nice candy!?  For a chance to win, pop over to http://karens-kakes-krafts.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-followers-bllog-candy.html and become a follower, and while you're there check out some of her amazing cakes & beautiful cards.

My first blog hop!

I've been invited to participate in my first blog hop.  I'm so excited.  I'd just like to thank Jillian http://princessandthepaper.blogspot.com/ for inviting me and Karen  http://karens-kakes-krafts.blogspot.com/ for suggesting me to Jillian.
I've already got my blog candy to give away, now I've just got to come up with a project!  I hope you'll all hop with us & if you post the hop button on your page, let me know.  I will give you an extra entry for my blog candy.  If you tell anyone about the hop be sure they leave me a comment with your name/blog page telling me that you sent them and you'll get another chance for that too. 

A Hug for a Friend

I'm making this card twice for 2 friends that both had really bad weeks, and I used my Action Wobbles to make them a little more fun. I'm also going to enter it in a couple of challenges, Emma at My Creative Time with Emma wants us to make anything using our older cartridges (I used Doodlecharms) and make sure it has a heart somewhere on it.  (The visible heart is small, but the "heart" in the message will be much bigger.)  I'm also entering it over at Card Cupids.  Their challenge was "anything goes".   Happy weekend everybody, and yes, I'm still waiting and hoping for snow tomorrow.

Snow on the Brain

Our annual ski trip is getting closer and (fingers crossed big time,) we may even get some snow here this weekend.   Please understand, we almost never get snow here, so it is a big deal when we do.  I'm going to enter this in Momo's challenge which is anything to do with snow.
The weatherman is calling for a Wintery Mix here for this weekend, sounds like a crafting & staying inside by the fire kind of weekend to me.  Where ever you are, I hope you will stay warm & dry.

Thank you Karen!

My new friend Karen over at http://karens-kakes-krafts.blogspot.com/ gave me this award.  Ha, Ha, Karen, not only did I get it to post, but I actually "linked".  I'm moving up!
I'm supposed to post 3 things about myself, so hmmmm, here goes.
1)  Some of my favorite things are: the color blue, snowflakes, bunnies, flowers, anything sparkly, and chocolate!
2)  I can't wait to be a grandmother- not that it's going to happen anytime soon I hope!  My daughter's not married yet.  She and her sweetie are waiting till she graduates from nursing school this May, so 2-3 more years at least.
3)  I am a sinner saved by grace thru the precious blood of Jesus and I look so forward to seeing Him some day.

Well........ it's different.

Why on earth would you post this?  
Oh, if you only knew!  I'm posting this one so I can look back & laugh one day.  (I'm not laughing now.)  
But in my own defense, it doesn't look as bad in person as it does in this photo.  I think just about everyone can relate to that problem.  This thing was re-stamped & re-photographed I CAN NOT tell you how many times. 
Anyway, I'm still trying to get my feet wet when it comes to stamping, and well, let's just say, there's a lot of little tricks to stamping that I'm learning & still have to learn.
This WAS for a challenge over at "Holy Cricut" calling for patterned paper, a snowman, ribbon & Stickles.  This patterned paper was in a stack & I just really didn't see me using it for anything else, so I thought why not try this challenge & use it for that.  I haven't entered many challenges & really wanted to start off the new year by making myself enter more.  I don't know about this one, gonna have to think about it a little.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

TO MY FOLLOWERS:  I have been having big issues with my computer this week & every time I think I've got them worked out they pop up again, so I haven't been able to leave comments on many of your sites,  but I have tried, just know that I am still checking on all your wonderful creations & posts.

2 Birds With One Stone

 

For the past several years my family has been going skiing with others from our church.  This year I wanted to do just a little something for the other ladies that are going.  So, as corny as it may be I made soap snowballs for them.  I've done these and seen them done over the years but recently is the first time I've ever seen them called "Snoapballs", (I'm not sure but I think that it was at a site called Greenbean's Crafterole.)  I only have to make 5 of them so it won't be too much of a task.  I'm also going to enter it in a challenge or two.  There are several this week that have SNOW for the theme.  Hope everyone is having a great week.

To Hallmark, or not to Hallmark, that is the question.....

Hey Ya'll, Happy New Year! 
This Friday is my parent's 50th anniversary and  I have agonized (that may be a little overly dramatic description) over this card.  Such a very special & momentous occasion calls for "the very best" so I really am thinking "Hallmark" but I also know Mama would probably rather have one that I made, (Daddy won't care one way or the other, typical man you know, lol)  so I guess this one goes in the mail today.  We got to spend the holidays with them & have something planned for later as well, but I still wish I could be with them on this special day.  50 years and what a love story their's is!  Happy Anniversary Mama & Daddy!