Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #203 Dies and/or Punches

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

Here we go-a new challenge at Sassy Cheryls-Dies and/or Punches with a Sassy Cheryl's image :-)

We've gone bi-weekly to allow y'all more time to get your creations made, photographed and submitted.

I know I'm far from alone when I say I'm all set with snow and cold! It's been a winter, hasn't it?! I needed a change of pace so went digging through my stash to find some bright, sunshiny paper...this is "Picadilly"by Basic Grey (circa 2011!)  I just had fun!  I used three Spellbinder dies and one Marianne Designs die cut (threaded with ribbon). 

I used a rubber stamp set to create this card---it included this darling little Sassy Sally, the butterflies, the sentiment (inside). While the rubber stamp is no longer available but you can get her as a digi! She's just perfect for a friendship card, an Easter card, a birthday card...My little gal is already in the mail. I hope she'll bring a smile to a dear friend who is going through a difficult time.

Other challenges I plan to enter:

•  Crafting Musketeers - M, P2, 1E #10  Butterflies
•  Feeling Crafty Challenge - M, P1, E3  #25 Dies and/or Punches

A Day for Daisies

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is in the air, the very cold, watch your breath freeze, pull out your long johns air! What better way to spend a snowy, can't drive down the street without fishtailing, walk out the door without slipping kind of day than making cards. These will most assuredly reach the intended late, but better late than not at all! Love notes are always appreciated-you do not need an occasion to tell someone you're thinking of them and that you love them!

A DAY FOR DAISIES

 My husband noted that the image had "slipped"-

nope, I put it at that angle on purpose…on second thought...

CUTE DELIVERY FAIRY

CUTE FAIRY WAITING

These cherubs are from A Day For Daisies, one of my all time favorite shops. While there's little question that these particular images are cute, they aren't cutesy or funny---don't get me wrong, I LOVE cutesy and funny. These images set a different tone. When I craft a series of cards in one sitting, I generally work with one group of papers, using whatever scraps I create to play off of.

I color with Copics-LOVE my Copics!!!

Challenges I plan to enter:
         A Day For Daisies: A Big Heart

• Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - (W1 of 2) Love is in the Air
• Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #35 Anything goes/Love
• Divas by Design - 2E - Love
• Fab 'n' Funky - 1E, C10 - #203 Valentine/Love

Eat Cake Graphics

Eat Cake Graphics had a marvelous sale, so I decided to treat myself to some much coveted stamps-I get the mountable for the sake of storage and the economy, too, though had I the proper shelves, I'd certainly have gotten these mounted on the wooden blocks so I could just enjoy seeing them everyday!

I want to live on Maple Lane, to live in one of these cozy little houses, to be 7, to play in the snow with my best friends…

These images transport me to another time and place, much like the beloved Laurel Ave. where I spent my early childhood (just around the corner from Maple St. where my BFF lived!) The houses were lovely, smaller scale with just what we needed-a living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms and a bath. The neighbors knew each other, brought over a casserole when someone had a baby or was under the weather. The children made play dates (no Moms needed to set these up!) we wore dresses to school and changed into play clothes after arriving home. We played outside until dinnertime and were in our beds by 8. Life was good! These stamps tell a story, a story of that time and that place…

Challenges I plan to enter:

• 4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W2 of 2) # 11 Anything Goes
• Creative Card Crew 2W - #55 KISS (Keep It Sweet & Simple) (Week 1) 
• Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E, - Always Anything Goes

Sassy Cheryl's

Gabby's MARVELous Adventure

Sassy Cheryl was gone to a bi-weekly challenge, so challenge #202, All About Hearts, is still going on.  

Come on and play, you know you want to :)

But, just because there isn't a challenge at Sassy Cheryl's doesn't mean I' m going to put aside these darling images! No sir-ee!

This little gal is a new character-Gabby, and she just tickles me! Ms. Sassy Cheryl created this little girls as a buddy for Gilbert. She loves her comic books! I loved comic books when I was a child. Unlike Gabby, I wasn't a fan of super heros. I loved Archie, Ritchie Rich, 

and who doesn't love the Peanuts gang?!

I colored this little cutie using both Copics and colored pencils, then cut her out-I'm a hand cutter even though I know I can do it using my Silhouette---but what's the fun in that? Just give me my Cutter Bees! I did use my Silhouette to make the photo frame. The arrow sentiment is from Technique Tuesday, an Ali Edwards creation.

Challenges I plan to join:

• Addicted to Stamps Challenge - 2W, Must use stamp- Challenge #75 (2nd Week) Hearts.
• Catered Crop - 2W (2nd week) Heart of the Matter.
• Challenges 4 Everybody - M, 3E - (2nd Week) Challenge #38 Anything Goes.
• That Craft Place - 2W, 1E - (2nd week) Valentine/Love

Tiddlyinks Release

Dear Angie,
Thanks for introducing me to these wicked cute characters at Tiddlyinks. Thank you for creating wonderful cards featuring them, creations that inspire me, tickle me, make me smile. Thank you for giving me yet another reason to spend money! Ach!!!

Okay, now you know who got me caught up with these cuties. So, then I signed up for the Tiddlyinks newsletter, and wouldn't you know it, some new characters and a special introductory sale. I was toast.

When I get a new digi or a new stamp, I can hardly wait to use it. There's nothing more therapuetic then playing with paper and ink---except, perhaps, snuggling with my grand baby!

Ellie Says Happy Birthday

Chloe and her Friends

Some challenges I plan to enter:

• 4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W1 of 2) # 11 Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - W, C5 - #307 Lots of Love

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge-HEARTS

COME ON GET HAPPY

Are you humming a tune yet?

 "Get Happy" song by FRANK SINATRA: 

"Forget your troubles and just get happy You better chase all your cares away Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy..."

-OR-

 'Come On Get Happy' by The Partridge Family: 

"Hello world, here's a song that we're singin' / Come on, get happy / A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be doin'..."

While the Sinatra version is what first came to mind, I am from The Partridge Family generation!         Isn't it amazing how lyrics come to mind when you hear a turn of phrase!

Ah, but the purpose of my post is not to reminisce about old songs, it's to let you know there is a new challenge over at Sassy Cheryl's, AND the Sassy Boss lady is changing it up! We're going from a weekly challenge to a bi-weekly challenge-the first and third Tuesday of each month. It seems everyone is mighty busy these days juggling work, family, and the business of living so in order to give you a better opportunity to play along, you now have two weeks to join us with your Sassy creation! Ah, but the design team will keep on keeping on---in the off weeks, we'll each post something new using a Sassy Cheryl's image so come on by! Oh, and we (I sure do!)  LOVE comments...it's so nice to hear from you when you stop by :-)

This two week period, our challenge is HEARTS---practical, too as I'm guessing you might be making some Valentines!  I cut this card using my Silhouette.  I use my Cameo Silhouette somewhat sporadically, but I do love and appreciate it.  I got busy with it one day this week and had a blast. I added the black to the inside for some contrast. The Love You Stamp is a Technique Tuesday, Ali Edwards stamp. The banner stamp is by Evalicious. No surprise here, I colored this little fella with Copics! Actually, I had planned to use SMITTEN (an equally cute, but very different image) on this card-in fact, she was glued on-locked and loaded, so to speak. I decided to add a heart to her t-shirt, I liked it-naturally, I wanted to color the heart, and wouldn't you know it, the red bled---ACK! So, I carefully peeled her off and went with a boy instead of a girl-his out stretched arms say, 

"I love you soooo much!"

Okay, then...the clock is running! You have two weeks to join us for the HEARTS challenge at Sassy Cheryl's. Please remember, you must use a Sassy Cheryl's image to be eligible for the prize:)

Other challenges I plan to enter:

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - 2W, Must use stamp- Challenge #75 (1st Week) Hearts.

Catered Crop - 2W (1st week) Heart of the Matter.

Come and Get It Challenges - W - Clean and Simple. 

Dream Valley Challenges - 2W, 3E - (2nd week) Challenge #74 No Designer Paper.

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge # Anything but a Square!

PURE JOY

The challenge at Sassy Cheryl's is "Anything but  a Square".  I immediately decided to make a heart card as I want to get some Valentines made.  I cut the card on my Silhouette.  Then I used a die cut and embellished it with "pearls".  I colored this precious, joyful little girl with Copics and cut her out.  The hearts on strings were also cut on the Silhouette.  To show the card, I tacked some twine to my photo box and then hung the card with mini clothes pins :-)

...and this is the inside-sweet and simple! 

Other challenges I plan to enter with this card:

MarkerPOP Challenge - 2W, 2E, C10, must use Copic or ShinHan markers - DT CALL

Perfectly Rustics - 2W - (Week 1) Love

Baby B Paints...

My kids are all artists, all creative.  My youngest daughter majored in both painting and art education in college.  She's a Momma now to my one and only and oh, so incredibly special grand baby---Baby B!

  

Baby B is 19 months old now-nothing marks time like a baby!   So many changes, so fast---and of course, this Gram-E is gaga over this precious child.  My daughter is a wonderful Momma, but then, I always knew she would be.  Because of her background, I suppose, she frequently provides art opportunities for the baby.  This child learned to use a paint brush before she learned to use a spoon!  

 

This is what she's been working on this month!

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge # 200! Pearls

SMITTEN

PURE JOY

It's time for the latest Sassy Cheryl's Challenge---PEARLS!  Can you believe it, challenge #200!!!

I got out the paper-MME, got out the Copics, I printed some images and off I went!  If you read my "gone fishing" post you'll understand why I can't leave my materials out and about, and it's NOT because I am a neat freak!  Actually, when I create, things get pretty messy!  I decided to play with pencils on "Pure Joy"---yeah, I am a Copic girl...

Do join us this week for the latest challenge.  You could WIN!!!

HaPpY BiRthDay x 2= JOY!

Happy Birthday!  

EAT CAKE GRAPHICS

Webster's His Tilting Head

My youngest, my double dividend, the dynamic duo celebrate their birthday today!  They are my babies though they haven't been babies for quite some time, now!

Kate & Rachel

circa 1985-it wasn't that long ago.  Okay, it was---but, no, it can't be because then I'd be old, 

and I'm not old.  Really, I'm not!

Rachel & Kate

1987-their second birthday.  Can you tell which one is this cutie patootie's Momma?

So, while I had the paper, the Copics, and the stamps out, I decided to get inky and turn out a few more...  I love Eat Cake Graphic stamps.  They tell a story.  

I just placed an order the other day-no, I didn't need them---well, I kind of did.  I got an email saying they were having an anniversary sale, just what I needed!  I spend entirely too much time looking at these images and have quite a wish list so I checked off a few from my list!

In the meantime, I was inspired to pull out some of the stamps I do own...

Webster's Tilting His Head & Farley's a Big Dog

Eloise with her handbag

Sentiment from Eat Cake Graphics, too!

Challenges I plan to enter:

Challenges 4 Everybody - M, 3E - (3rd  Week) Challenge #37 Anything Goes.

Sentimental Sundays - W, must include a Sentiment - Challenge #190 More than 3 Layers.

Instagram this...

My daughters introduced me to Instagram---just seemed like too much.  Another password to remember, another way to connect (but not really)...  It seems more like a younger person's app.  But here I go, at least for a time #OLCBreneCourse.



I am taking Brene Brown's Course, The Gifts of Imperfection.  The format works for me-daily lessons or prompts.  This week, I've managed to stay on top of it in spite of the fact that I had to have dental survey yesterday that totally unglued me.  Actually, as unpleasant as the procedure was, I haven't been dreadfully uncomfortable.  Yesterday, we "connected" with classmates-kind of like I "connect" here which, again, really isn't connecting unless we begin a dialogue.  In any case, people share their journals via Instagram and Twitter (nope, no Twitter-never say never, but for now...)  Once the sharing started, my insecurities grabbed hold---AAAAHHH-NO, I am NOT enough.  I didn't do enough, dig deep enough, create well enough.  This, my friends, is the purpose of this course.  This was the intention of this week's lesson.  So while I created this page, I wrote the words, clearly I do not believe them yet...will I?  At the end of this course, will I decide I am enough?

Another assignment...a list of those you trust with your heart, those you can share with, confide in, feel perfectly safe with, those whose opinions DO matter.  It's intended to be a short, very private list, and it's unlikely that I will ever reveal the names of the folks on that list.  I wrote them down at the same time realizing that because their opinions DO matter to me, I am not likely to share ALL of my deepest darkest secrets.

Now, to dig deep.  I do not have an artsy-fartsy page to share here yet.  It was written while I was in a slight drug haze following the surgery.  Perhaps, not the best decision!  I'm not supposed to have my head down for any period of time so I haven't decorated the page-dressed it up, and the penmanship on this page is not something I'm particularly proud of.  I'm not "supposed" to tear out pages-so, how about I leave it and just do a new one right beside it?  ARGH.

I'm at the end of the first week.  This course is challenging me as it's goal is to literally change the way I function, the way I think about myself!  That's a mighty tall order!  I've held a list of beliefs about myself for a long, long, LONG time.  It has been a list that has at times paralyzed me, made me (and perhaps others) miserable, kept me from trying and/or doing things, stolen my joy.  Old habits, really old habits die hard assuming they can, in fact die.

This is me being courageous, sharing this less than extraordinary "work".  This is me trying desperately trying to let go of self deprecating remarks, and the feeling that I am not enough.  This is me faking it until I make it!