Cowgirl Journal

Time to get your creativity flowing for a new challenge over at Cut It Up:  Alter a Notebook!  I have to admit, this challenge was right up my ally since I love school/art supplies!  I have notebooks, notebook themed stamps, clipboards, clipboard themed dies and stamps, pencils, pens, markers, clips, folders,,,, you get the idea!  I have Mead Journal Notebooks for everything.  I take them to classes, right notes, etc.  So, to share this obsession....I mean love....for such things, I made this notebook for my grand-girl to write down her horsey ideas.  

I covered the journal in Kraft Paper.  I used a variety of stamps to stamp the paper and used paper/vinyl cuts to decorate the front.  I painted over the entire front with Gesso to keep everything down and protected since this might go out to the barn and trailer.  Of course, we needed a little bling and a big bow to top it off!  

Material List:

Mead Journal Book

CTMH Paper/Cardstock:  Kraft, Pixie, Cotton Candy

CTMH Stamps:  Love Life, Genuine Country (retired)

Dark Brown Vinyl

Gesso Clear

CTMH Embellishments:  Canvas Ribbon, Bronze Shimmer Trim

Cricut Cartridges:  Old West

This week our challenge is sponsored by as Cute as a Button; they have some adorable embellishments over there!  Please pay them a visit and see what they have to offer!

Ok, so how will you alter your notebook?  This is a great time to dig through those drawers and find an old note book you could turn into a folder or card.  Let your imagination run wild and show us what you make; remember to use a die cut!  Be sure to drop over to Cut It Up and check out what the rest of the team has made and the prize details!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to peruse other posts/pages, leave me a question/comment, shop, or just hang out for a spell; it's great to have you here!

Mr. Fuzzy!

If you want to know more about this project, it will be in the May/June TTCRD magazine.  If you don't have a subscription to this online magazine, you can find information HERE.  

I can tell you this adorable image, "Fuzzy" is by Andrea Norris from Sheepski Designs.  There will be more beautiful images and information about her in the upcoming magazine!

This little cutie is off to the following challenges:  
Outlaws Colour Challenge:  Tic Tac Toe: Colors  are diagonal and Materials are top row
613 Avenue Create:  AG

Thanks for coming by today.  Please make yourself at home and know you are always welcome here!  Feel free to check out other post/pages, shop, leave me comments/questions, or contact me.  Have a great day!

Mother's Day Bag

All the info for this gift bag will be shared in Through the Craft Room Door Magazine!

The new edition is coming in May!  You will find great tutorials, crafting articles, challenges, and freebies and lots of fun included!  If you don't subscribe to this online magazine, you can check out the details HERE.

I'm sharing this over at the following challenges:

Outlaws Monday Greetings:  Anything Goes

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge:  Mother's Day

Dragonfly Dreams:  Spring is in the Air

613 Avenue Create:  AG

Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Sisters of Craft:  AG

Beautiful Mess:  AG

Brown Sugar:  AG

Thanks for coming by today!  Hope you all have a wonderful day; feel free to leave me a comment, peruse other posts, and make yourself at home.

Born to Farm!

This was such a fun digi for me!  My son graduated last year with a degree in Agricultural Systems Management and started his first career job in the fall.  Of course, I had to scrap some pictures and this license place sentiment from Scribbles Designs was the perfect focal point!

Have you been over to the Scribbles Designs Challenge?  I'm having such a great time as a guest designer there!  They offer a wonderful prize and there is always great inspiration from the design team.  Check out the challenge rules HERE.  

Material List:

Scribbles Designs #010 Born to Farm Plate

Cardstocks/Papers:  CTMH Fundamentals, Topiary, Urban, Sweet Leaf, Cocoa; Photo Paper 

Inks:  CTMH Pear, Pacifica, Archival Black, Canary; 

Sprays:  Bo Bunny Glimmer Sprays (Shimmer and Bronze)

Embellishments:  CTMH Durable Studs, Burlap, Cog from stash

So, my farming kid is off to:
Celebrate Earth Day at Outlawz Festive Fridays Challenge
All About the Boys at Inky Impressions Challenge

Thanks for dropping by today.  I'm excited to see what you have to share in the Scribbles Designs Challenge.

TTCRD Magazine Challenge!

Through the Craft Room Door magazine Challenge!
Yes, there is a fun challenge coming in the May/June edition of the Through the Craft Room Door Magazine!  If you don't subscribe to this online magazine, you can check out the details HERE.

The material list for this piece will be in the magazine along with several great tutorials, project ideas, free items and the magazine challenge!

My Canvas is off to the following challenges:

Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG with Tic Tac Toe Twist ~ diagonal row:  flowers, lace, twine
Polkadoodles:  Floral Frenzy
613 Avenue Create:  AG
Heart 2 Heart:  Photo Op
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge: Babies
Crafting for All Season:  Tic Tac Toe ~ Sparkle, Lace, Girly or Sparkle, Die Cuts, Flowers

Thanks for visiting with me today; always fun to have you here.  Please, make yourself at home and peruse other posts/pages or leave me a comment/question.  

All About the Fabric!

It's time for another Through the Craft Room Door challenge and as always it's Anything Goes; so, show us your latest creation for a chance to win a great prize sponsored by Karleigh Sue Designs. 

This is a Mother's Day card for my mom who loves to sew!  I thought this image of a depression era seamstress would be perfect for her since she loves to sew and grew up on a farm.  She knows all about feed bags and repurposing items!  

If you want to know more about this project, it will be in the May/June TTCRD magazine.  If you don't have a subscription to this online magazine, you can find information HERE.  Now, head on over to TTCRD Challenge Blog and show us what you've created!  

My seamstress is showing her goods at the following challenges:  

613 Avenue Challenge:  AG use up-cycles items (old thread laying on desk, scraps of paper and fabric and the theme of the image is up-cycling!)

Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG

Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Sisters of Craft:  AG

Beautiful Mess:  AG

Brown Sugar:  AG

Thanks for dropping by today!  

Grace

I can't believe we are half way through April; that means it's time for a midway post on Grace for Path of Positivity.  When I think of the word grace, I think about saying grace before meals.  This has always been an important part of our day.  There's just something so familial about gathering around the dinner table and showing our thanks through prayer.  

Growing up, we were always taught that being thankful and expressing that was a graceful, charming way to be; it was simply part of polite society!  In other words, if we didn't write the thank you, we didn't get the gift!  I, in turn, had the same rule for our kids.  They are both great about sending thank you's to all the relatives.  

When I saw this beautiful paper and frames from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, I couldn't wait to make a thank you note.  This entire top layer was created in Design Space.  I started with the lovely digital pink and then layered the sheet music.  Then I alternately stacked the two frames to create these lovely flowers!  I added a treble clef from Design Space (Quarter Note) and the sentiment (Chloe font).  I printed this layer off onto glossy photo paper and layered it onto black CS.  I finished it up with some pretty peach gems!

*   *   *   *   

Now, you've read my ideas on grace; what's your story?  What do you think of when you ponder this concept?  Share your thoughts with us through craft/story/art at Path of Positivity for a chance to win some great prizes!  Our sponsors this month are Pickled Potpourri, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, and Creative Bug Digital Snapshots.  So, pop on over to PoP and see what Design Team has to share and check out the prizes.  We can't wait to see what you create!

Material List:
Decosse's Dynamite Doodles:  Living on the Edge (Pink BG), Flower Power (Frames creating the flowers), Familiar Refrain (Sheet Music)
Design Space:  Quarter Note, Chloe
Gems:  Bo Bunny Double Dot
White and Black Cardstock:  CTMH

Thanks for coming by today and sharing in my thoughts!

Flower Girl

Cut It Up has a very fun spring-like challenge that's just right for everyone:  Spring Flowers!  Yes, that's right, Spring Flowers....how fun is that?  

 Bugaboo Stamps is our sponsor this month and they are offering a great prize!  You'll want to click on over to Cut It Up and check out the beautiful flowers by our Design Team and the prizes from Bugaboo!  

I had a lot of fun with this card!  I used Design Space to attach (actually used the 'flatten' tab) my image to the cut from Artfully Sent.  I really liked the result!  Then I used 3-D Foam tape to pop it off the card base to accentuate the cut-out even more.

Material List:

Girls-Flowers Image:  Bugaboo Stamps 

CTMH Paper/Cardstock:  Gypsy, White Daisy

Copic Markers

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Stamp:  CTMH Artiste Word Balloons

Gems:  Studio G

Cricut Cut is from CTMH Artfully Sent

Cricut Design Space

This little sweetie is taking her flowers off to the following challenges:

Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG with Fav Color Twist ~ Blues plus Purples --actually Periwinkle
613 Avenue Create:  AG
Polkadoodles:  Floral Frenzy
Heart 2 Heart:  4  Four pink flowers

Thanks for dropping in today!  As always, feel free to peruse other posts/pages, shop, or leave me a comment/question.  It's great to hear from you!

It's wild around here!

Yes, it's wild around here!  I'm excited to share with you today not only this fun layout, but some really wild news ~ the next three months  I am a guest designer for Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog!  This is so fun because I get to show off some great digis from Scribbles Designs.   If you've not been over there, you should pop by to check out all the wonderfully creative images!  There is certainly something for everyone.  

Now, about the challenge....  You do not have to use a Scribbles Designs image; however if you do, you have more opportunities to win.  Check out the rules HERE.   I also want to add, Sandy is so generous with freebies over there.  If you are new to digital stamps or short on resources, you can download chosen digis for free to try out digital stamps.  When you go to the site, simply look for the freebies; I linked you right to it!  So, there's no reason not to try out some of these amazing images.

The current challenge is A Song in My Heart.  As a guest DT I don't have to follow the theme, but I couldn't turn down this theme!  The other day I picked up my littlest grand-girl and she was wearing this little sleeper with a fox and on the way home we heard Fox On the Run by Sweet.  (Yes, we listen to '70's Satellite Radio!  hahaha  If you'd like a flashback to this song ---and "who wouldn't?" she says sarcastically --- visit YouTube.)  Anyway, I remembered these adorable images of the foxes and couldn't resist!  Then I saw the wonderful music over at Scrap It With a Song and this months song is Circle of Life…..wow, that's inspiring for this LO, also!  Ok, time to stop rambling and tell you about this LO.

Of course, I started with the pictures and those adorable foxes.  I love the Peek a Boo Fox; he is way too cute!  I'll be using him again on a card, I'm sure.

Material List:

Scribbles Designs:  Foxy 2 Image #716 and Foxy Peek a Boo #714

Copic Markers

CTMH Cardstock/Paper:  Hopscotch, Georgie, Daisy White, Cocoa, Black, Sweet Leaf, Champagne, Fundamentals, Bamboo, Glacier

CTMH Inks:  Archival Black, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Topiary, Sorbet

Stamps:  CTMH Adorable Backgrounds

Embossing Folder:  CTMH Woodgrain

Cricut Cartridges:  Artistry, Art Philosophy

When you head over to the Scribbles Challenge Blog, be sure to peruse the other pages and see all of the beautiful projects from the Scribbles Design Team and Dawn, my GDT cohort!  Can't wait to see what you share at the challenge!

My wild little critters are off to the following challenges:

Outlawz Twisted Thursday: AG Twist: Anything with Wings
613 Avenue Create:  AG
Heart 2 Heart:  4 ~ 4 words in the title; 4 layers in much of the LO; 8 pics of wild animals divided by 2 = 4……ok, that was a stretch!  hahaha
Scrap It With a Song:  Circle of Life by Elton John

Thanks for coming by for a visit today!  As always, it's great to have company; make yourself at home here and leave me a comment/question if you like.  

FLY

It's time for another Through the Craft Room Door challenge and as always it's Anything Goes; so, show us your latest creation for a chance to win a great prize sponsored by Pickled Potpourri!  

April is Autism Awareness month.  As some of you may know, I have a son on the spectrum and I also have a therapeutic horsemanship program catering to the needs of those with different abilities.  The majority of my kiddos in the barn are on the spectrum.  

I have been blessed to learn so much about this lifestyle and work with kids who just want to fly!  They want to achieve and succeed like everyone else; many of them are determined to do just that ~ soaring above what anyone could have predicted!  

This image and sentiment from Pickled Potpourri was the perfect way to express those feelings in my book.  I just love this little child flying amongst the puzzle pieces of his/her life.   

If you want to know more about this project, it will be in the May/June TTCRD magazine.  If you don't have a subscription to this online magazine, you can find information HERE.  Now, head on over to TTCRD Challenge Blog and show us what you've created!

My little one is flying off to the following challenges:

Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG

Bit More Time to Craft:  AG

Sisters of Craft:  AG

Beautiful Mess:  AG

Brown Sugar:  Easter

Thanks for visiting today!  Always glad you dropped by!

Dance Through Life

It's time for another Path of Positivity Challenge and this month it's all about Grace.  As always in my PoP posts, I want to explore the theme a bit before I commit to one path.  Grace is an interesting word with so many different ideas from meal time prayer to beauty/elegance/poise.  Now, although this image from Pickled Potpourri is very beautiful and elegant, I'd like to take this in a different direction......don't I always!  ;)

Lately in my own personal life, I have had to accept some changes that have been somewhat difficult for me.  Due to several sinus surgeries and chronic sinusitis, I am all but retiring from my professional music career.  

For those who are musicians, you know this means not just leaving your job but leaving behind an identity.  Having been practically married to that oboe for over 40 years, it really does define me...it's who I am.  I've carried that thing around for 80% of my life!  I've taken it everywhere with me including vacations and restaurants (you can't leave an oboe in the car--ever!).  

I have decided I have a couple of choices.  I can either sit around and pout, cry and mourn that piece of me OR I can recreate my identity, my purpose,,,,,, my life.  I will admit, I have done some mourning, but at the same time I have been recreating my life all along.

Now, what does this have to do with grace?  Well, I suppose it is this: I am choosing to accept this part of life with grace.  I will be willing, and I will ungrudgingly accept my changing life.  I will not stomp around mad; I will "Just Dance" with grace through these changes!  We all have to make changes; change is how we grow and evolve in our thinking.   .....and it's all going to be ok.  Better than ok!  Less reed making and practicing means lots more time for grand-girls, horses, and CRAFTING!  YAY!  

This candle will remind me to "Just Dance" through the tough times!  

*   *   *   *   

Now, you've read my ideas on grace; what's your story?  What do you think of when you ponder this concept?  Share your thoughts with us through craft/story/art at Path of Positivity for a chance to win some great prizes!  Our sponsors this month are Pickled Potpourri, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, and Creative Bug Digital Snapshots.  So, pop on over to PoP and see what Design Team has to share and check out the prizes.  We can't wait to see what you create!

Material List:

Just Dance Image and Just Dance Sentiment  are from Pickled Potpourri 

Pillar Candle

Black Waxed Twine

Pink Embroidery Floss

Satin Flower from Stash

She is dancing off to the following challenge:

613 Avenue Create:  AG optional twist Whiter Shade of Pale

Thanks for dropping by today.  It's always fun to have visitors!  Make yourself at home here and check out the other posts/pages, leave me a comment/question, or contact me!  I love hearing from you.

April Fools Day ~ Joke

Happy April Fool's Day!  

Hey, all kidding aside, Cut It Up has a super fun theme this time.  Tell us a joke or riddle in your project!  Yes, that's right.....make us laugh!  Remember to use a die cut to be eligible to win a great prize from our sponsor: as Cute as a Button!

This card tells the oldest horse joke in the world.  Every time someone tells it, we all groan!  I thought this picture was perfect to highlight this horrible joke!  hahaha

I imported the picture of my grand-girl and Thunder into Cricut Design Space.  Then I chose the squares, cloud bubble from CTMH Artiste and grouped it.  I copy/pasted it.  I welded the copy.  I returned to the first set and added my text from Chloe Whimsy Text and finished it by flattening it onto a rectangle.  I used the Print and Cut Feature for the set with the printing.  The 2nd set was used to make a mask.  

Once printed, I placed the mask on top and used a stamp to put in the paint strokes to match her dress.  I adhered it onto a card front and added the little embellishment -THAT'S SO FUNNY- from Graphically Speaking!

The video below might be more helpful if you'd like to try this in Design Space!  

Material List:

CTMH Cardstock/Paper:  Daisy White, Sapphire, Crystal Blue

CTMH Ink:  Blush, Crystal Blue, Sapphire

CTMH Stamp:  Brushstrokes

Cricut Cartridges:  CTMH Artiste, Graphically Speaking

Text:  Chloe Whimsy Text

Cricut Design Space Print and Cut

My horse is laughing his way off to these challenges:

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge:  Farm Animals
Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG
Die Cut Diva's:  April (see site for details)

Ok, get ready to LOL and visit Cut It Up to see what the DT has in store for April Fool's Day!  Thanks for visiting!  Always great to have you stop by!