Making Cards with the Girls

Mo is having a challenge for kids this week. The deadline is nearly over and my girls are working hard to beat the clock. I'm not sure if we'll make it but I will post them here so they can see their efforts on the computer.

In the mean time...

I found this quote and it touched my heart. Thought I'd share it with everybody.

Be back soon to post some little Mo Manning Image cards made by my two little ones.

SMiLeS!
GWeN

Teacher Card

Well, as most Moms know, the end of the school year is a special time to say thank you to the teacher (or teachers) who have taught and cared for our little darlings. So, I decided to make a card to go with the little gift (believe me its minuscule) that we will be giving to Mrs. Howard tomorrow for Bekah's last day of Kindergarten.

I'm not going to leave a huge list of items used but will acknowledge that the image is by Whimsie Doodles and she was a freebie...super cute for the purpose of this card. The DP is from the Paper Studio 6x6 Love You pad.

I added the sentiment to the top of the inside and left a blank note area to personalize the card. Of course we will have to have Miss Bekah sign too.

 Had to include the full front. Its the only pic that the stickles showed up on. I also love the way the coloring turned out on this one. Why green? Well, aside from the nice contrast to all the pinks/roses/cream and kraft...it just happens to be Mrs. Howard's favorite color. I asked an expert on the matter and she wasted no time in her very definitive reply..."GREEN!".

Sure hope she likes it. I sincerely forgot how much time it takes to make a card like this one. I'm so beat, I'm about ready to fall asleep at my work station.

Night all!

Keep Your Hands Busy!

SMiLES!

GWeN

Hopping for Dorcas

If you are here for the hop then you came from Jen's Blog. If you need to start at the beginning then read on through and click on Stacey's link below. Stacey was our first stop on the hop.

Okay everybody if you don't know who, Dorcas is you should. She is a very talented crafter and super friendly sweetie-pie that authors Dorcas Designs.

This has been a rough week for our very caring friend so we are hopping to send her some happiness and smiles.

So here is a little card I made to send her way...

 Hoping to brighten and cheer up her day...

(Insert my photo here if I can ever get things to work properly...UGH!)

Dorcas you are truly a wonderful person.
Enjoy your hop!

Just so everybody can keep on track with the hop...your next stop is with

PEARL

If for any reason you get lost or need to start the hop from the beginning just click on Stacey's link below.

STACEY

SMiLES!

GWeN

Sew Many Cards Challenge #79

This week at SMC our challenge is all about COLOR!

Creat a project using PINK, YELLOW and TURQUOISE.

(Bare with me, blogger doesn't really have a turquoise option. Just use your imagination...hehehe.)

So, what did I do?

Using the wonderful Ribbon Butterfly and a little digital magic in Word, I made this little card...

Image: Ribbon Butterfly by SMC

Sentiment: Lucky Bunnies - The Greeting Farm

Border Punches: Martha Stewart

I sincerely hope you can join us for this challenge. I had so much fun working with these colors and I have no doubt that you will enjoy it too.

Stop on by and see what the team did and while you are there you can...

 

...say hello to the newest little fellar (yes I said "fellar") on the pond...EDDIE! He is a little froggie of the cutest kind. Not only does he come on his cute lily pad, he has a fun little dragonfly to keep him company. This frog has an alternate image too. A frog for a cause complete with the awareness ribbon you can color for your cause of choice.

Image: Eddie

DP: Bo Bunny Vicki B. Collection

Card stock: SU!

Spellbinder: Circles and Lacy Circles

Letraset Markers

Stickles: Icicles

Misc. Ribbon, button, twine

Isn't he just adorable? I had a lot of fun coloring this little guy. I'm sure you will too. Hurry and find him on the store blog. He is a special character listed on the top left side. Get him before he hops along.

SMiLES!

GWeN

Sew Many Cards #78 - Circles

This week at Sew Many Cards we are focusing our sights on circles! Create a project that uses a circle for the main image. Create a mat or what ever floats your boat.

Here is what I did using Bailey...

Image by SMC Bailey with heart

DP: Not sure it was in a group of samples

Spellbinders: Floral Doily Motifs & Buckles Dies

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots

Sentiments: Whimsy Stamps Friendship Ticket Sentiments & Ticket Die

Hope you can join us for our challenge this week at Sew Many Challenges.

See you there!

Smiles!

Gwen



Sew Many Cards

That's right! Somebody is on a new design team and I'm so excited to be sharing this news. Thank you so much Deanette and Marie for the opportunity to work on this team. I'm very happy to be part of it and I'm "sew" looking forward to all the creativity and inspiration along the way.

Want some more excitement?

Sew Many Cards is having their Grand Re-Opening TODAY!

Stop by and join in some fun and the introduction of some new images sure to make you smile. Images like this adorable little Eris with the hanging heart.

Image: Eris Valentine

DP: MME Blink of an Eye

Card stock: SU!

Spellbinders: Squares and Lacy Squares

Fiskars: Treading Water border punch

Marvy Le Plume Markers

Stickles: Xmas Red

Misc: Ribbon, chalk, gems

 

Don't forget to stop by the Sew Many Challenges Blog to join in all the challenge fun. There are freebies you can use if you don't already have an SMC image to use. This week we are doing "Anything Goes". So you can't go wrong if you play along. Join us! It'll be "sew" much fun!

Smiles!

Gwen SMC DT

New Cards, New Challenges

Okay, I decided to create a few cards for some fun challenges. I have felt pretty creative lately and its so nice to put some cute cards together to keep around for all those special people in my life. You just never know when somebody will need one.

The Pink Elephant #129 Challenge - Anything Goes

Digital Pencil Too - Anything Goes (Using a Mo Image of course)

Here she is:

Image: Georgia by Mo Manning

DP: Bo Bunny Vicki B. Collection

Cardstock: SU!

Sentiment: So Random by Claudia and Co.

Then there is the fun Friday Spy Day Casing Challenge over at

The Greeting Farm FFC.

Here is what I made for that.

Image: Audrey Digital by TGF

DP: MME Blink of an Eye

Sentiment: An oldie but a goodie, so cannot remember who makes it, sorry.

Embossing Folder: Indentz Lines and Dots

Cardstock: SU!

Hope you enjoy my little cards. I will be posting more later. Got the stuff out, might as well make good use of it before I put it all away.

Smiles!

Gwen

TGF Color Challenge

Made this little card for a TGF Farm Fresh Challenge. Colors were the target this time, blue, white and one other color. I went with red.

Image: TGF

DP: Picadilly

Markers: Letra Set

Sentiment: So Random by Claudia and Co.

Smiles!

Gwen

Fave Mo Card Challenge

DP2 Challenge has a challenge this week that is pretty simple. Choose the card you've created in 2011 using one of Mo Mannings gorgeous digital images, that is your favorite and link it up. So, I'm going to play along. I love Mo's images, have for a long time. I don't quite do them justice but I enjoy working with them each and every time.

Here is one I did last week. Her name is Shy. I posted her previously with group of cards so I'm simplifying things and listing her all by her lonesome. She really is darling.

A recipe was placed on earlier post.

Smiles!

Gwen



New Cards and Projects

So, I decided to work on a couple of cards while I stripped the paint off a desk. Sounds crazy but the cards gave me something to do while I waited on the stripping agent to work. So here is what I did in the order in which it was completed...

The desk...

This is after I took off some of the top. The top had the same deep primary tones in the alphabet just like the side with the numbers. It needed a little TLC and second coat to get through those dark pigments.

Card One...

Got a little "Blink of an Eye" DP, Whimsy Stamp, Image is digi by Sassy Cheryl Stamps.

Back to desk...

A couple hours of scrapping and scrubbing later, the paint is gone. The rings are just wet spots where I had to wash off residue. Its all dry now and looks much better. I will need to refinish the top, the stripping agent took it down to bare wood. I'm thinking I'll start on the drawers tomorrow. By the end of the week I hope to have it all done. I've already comissioned a local artist to do some pretty florals on the right side. She is really excited to do this project because she loves her little sister so much. That's right! Anna is getting so good at her painting that I'm letting her paint the furniture for me. Can't wait to see it come to life. She sketched out some poppies tonight and did a little practice with her acrylics...they were exactly what I wanted and so pretty. Mums the word though, we want to suprise, Bekah when she comes home from a visit with Uncle John, Aunt Kimberly and Cousin Mason this weekend.

Okay...Card Two...

Same DP as the first, Image is Winter Pixie by CC Designs, Sentiment is from Keep Cozy Set by TGF.

Well, I'm off to bed. Blogger is making me angry with its blatant refusal to load my photos. My hands are puffy from working with the latex paint (yeah, I'm allergic to latex...even in paint). Mom is coming in about 6 1/2 hours for a visit and I should probably get some rest. I hear it helps...LOL!

Smiles!

Gwen

Cards Made...Finally!

I'll be short and sweet because I'm so tired. Its going on 4:00 AM. I know I won't have time to do this tomorrow, so I'm throwing it up now.

Winter Cards

Snowman 1

Image is from Whimsy Stamps. A digi. Thought this was too cute and I love snowmen.

DCWV papers from last season. Ribbon-Michaels.

Snowman 2

Image is also Whimsy Stamps digi. Love the little penguins.

As you can see, I kept it really simple on the snowman cards.

Other Cards

A Mo Manning image. Wanted a casual fun card. The papers are Picadilly. Used 1/4 inch strips to create the weave element. Just added a little Helmar Craft Clue to tac the ends down. Its great stuff that glue. Drys so quickly and clear...AWESOME stuff! The ticket is a Whimsy Stamp set...LOVE these ticket stamps. They coordinate with a die shape and come out perfect.

Another Mo Manning image. Tabitha, I think is the name of the fairy. Used DCWV papers here too. Lots of glitter on her and some glitter paper too. This is so pretty in person, glitter never quite comes through like you want it to, does it?

Isn't she precious? She is Shy from Mo Manning of course! Love this little darling and her floppy bunny. Tickets are Whimsy Stamps and the sentiment is from The Greeting Farm, Keep Cozy set. I think I used Picadilly papers here too, but I can't swear to it at this point.

The Lot of Them

There they are. My five cards of the day. Its been a while since I made a card and it felt really good to finish these. Now, who do I send them to? I've got six more to make and then I need to figure out where they will go. My little ones are trying to dictate who gets them. So cute.

Night all!

Gwen

So Honored!

I was checking through my email today and came across a Top Crop Tuesday post by Farmer Becca at The Greeting Farm. I was so in awed by the first featured card that when I scrolled down to view the others, I missed my name and nearly had a gasp attack when I realized "MY" card was the next featured! This is such an honor for me, I love The Greeting Farm and it was a total suprise and shocker. Little Bekah was sitting near by and saw my card and got so excited. I love that she got excited too. What a fun way to perk up the morning. Thank you, Becca for picking my card out of the many, many beautiful cards in the TGF Gallery.  To see the post just click HERE.

This is the card she featured...

Thanks for stopping by...Keep your hands busy!

SMiLES!

GWeN

Bonnie of the Blush Society

I have a wonderful new image that was released earlier this month...as if its been a while...LOL! Her name is Bonnie and she is one of The Greeting Farm's newest members. Bonnie and her friend Babette belong to the elite Blush Society Collection. The are so sweet and wonderful, I really can't wait to see what else Marie has in store with this collection.

I also used some of the tips on photographing indoors from the ever talented, Jen Shults. She wrote up a great tutorial for TGF and posted it yesterday. If you click HERE you can read it. Now, ladies and gents, if I can follow this one and get improvement...ANYBODY can do it. I'm so not the techy-kind-o-gal and I can really see a difference in my photos by using the suggestions, Jen gave. Thank you, Jen!

This little card is full of depth. The bow and the layered butterfly are adhered with Helmar's Scrap Dots...LOVE this product! You can build on it to add demension.

Oh, on a sidenote...I was one of two winner's at the Helmar DT Blog for the June Challenge!!!! I'm looking forward to the products that Tracy mailed out today...more Helmar goodies. YEAH!

Also, I've got some SU! Demensionals in there too adding depth to our dear Bonnie.

Isn't she pretty?

I think this may be my favorite view of this card. A little peek-a-boo from the inside decor and a great shadow cast by that MS butterfly embellie. I'm really, really happy with this one.

So, what did I use?

Image: Blush Bonnie - TGF

Sentiment/Rose: Dear Lizzy Stamps - AC (which I got for just $2 at Odd Lots!)

DP: Cappella - Basic Grey

Adhesive: Scrap Dots - Helmar; Demensionals - SU!; Misc tape runner

Color Med.: Interior Design Tria Set - Letraset Markers

Punches: Butterfly/Border-MS; Ticket Punch - SU!

Ink: London Fog/Tuxedo Black - Memento

Opaline Pearls; May Arts Ribbon; Prism CS; Charm(?)

Keep your hands busy!

SMiLES!

GWeN



Relax Card

I made this card this afternoon while the girls and I played with our crafty things. I got the water color pencils out and colored my little Anya and the water lillies with them. I have to say, she looks a bit pale but I do like the soft muted tones this technique rendered.

I'm not overly satisfied with this card. Most of which is my fault of course. I've managed to misplace my medium sized butterfly punch and I really thought it would have looked better than the tiny mulit butterflies...but, what are you gonna do? So, this is the result:

Here you can see the three layers I did for Anya and the two layers on the water lillies. I wanted to give it a lot of depth.

Here is the full front of the card. 5.5x4". The inside has a single colored water lilly on the bottom right corner. I like to do a little something on the inside but leave plenty of room for a nice handwritten note.

I may enter this in one of The Greeting Farm's blog challenges. I think FFF was to create a relaxing project with a throwback stamp. I think I managed to do that. So, why not?

Woops! Apparently I messed that challenge up with another, so I won't be entering this in anything. Told you I was bad about finding the challenges...LOL!

Keep your hands busy!

SMiLES!

GWeN

Recipe:

Image: Relax Anya Set by TGF

Color Med.: Watercolor Set by Kimberly Co.(?)

DP: Origins by Basic Grey

Misc. Twine; Opaline Pearls; CM butterfly punch; Tim Holzt Tiny Attacher; SU! Demensionals

A Card for Brooke

Here is a little card I whipped up for Brooke. She is having a belated Graduation Party tomorrow. The party is being hosted by her maternal side of the family. Since it is the 4th of July, I'm guessing most of her family will have the day off tomorrow and it was convenient for everyone to gather together for her. Sounds good to me. The kid deserves to celebrate her acheivement.

Since I've already given her a couple of uber sentimental and lovey-dovey-I'm-so-proud-of-you cards, I went a different route this time. Using one of Mo Manning's delightful images I put this fun little card together for our "Superduper" Graduate...

I'm not entering this in any challenges. I just wanted to share it. Matter of fact, I'm not sure I'll be doing too many challenges in the future. It just takes so much time and I'd rather use that time to craft. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, I dunno, it seems like I'm spending too much time researching what challenge is happening here and there and how to create a project to fit this one or that one and truth be known...I'm WAY too lazy for that...LOL!

In all  honesty I've got a lot I want to play with and hope to have some fun projects posted for you all to see. I like sharing ideas and I'm thankful to those who have also shared. Dorcas of Dorcas Designs has posted some wonderful tutorials on coloring that I'd like to play at for a while. I really would like to enhance that aspect of my card making. What kinds of things would you like to master in your craft? Please share, like I said...sharing is one reason why I do this.

Well, I'm off for now. Got to get my beauty rest and energy stored up for tomorrow. Today was a sicky day for me and I'm drained.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

SMiLES!

GWeN

Recipe:

Image: Mo Manning - Superduper Girl

Color Medium: Letraset Tria Markers

DP: Basic Grey - lemonade

Spellbinders; Misc ribbon; Misc rhinestone

SU!-Demensionals

Princess Anya Card

Well, can you believe it? Another post...the second of the day. It seems I may be getting in the old blogging groove again...LOL!

I'm excited about this little card that I want to share with you. She is a new stamp from The Greeting Farm and was picked by all of my girls and myself. She's a sweetie! I created this card to work for several challenges however, no sketch...I looked and I just couldn't find one that felt right so I designed this one myself.

Recipe:

Image Main: Princess Anya 3 - TGF

Background: Inkadinkado

Sentiment: Magical Wishes - CC Designs

Also: Pink Paislee's Parisian Anthology Set; Misc. Paris Based Set that I don't have packaging on...sorry.

Papers: Kraft CS; Prism CS-White; Making Memories-Just Chillin'; Basic Grey-Kioshi

Inks: Memento-Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Peeled Paint & Vintaged Photo

Flowers: Prima; Charm: Trinkets; Bling: Jolee's

Adhesives: Helmar-Scrap Dots; misc.

Cuttlebug-Machine and Swiss Dots Folder

Okay, now I'm going to attempt to enter this one in several challenges. I hope I made them all its the most I've tried in...well, EVAH!

TGF - FFF Sentiments & Week 3 Royalty Challenge

The Shabby Tea Room - Pink/Green/White or Dots/Gingham

Flourishes Timeless Tues. - Brown Bag or Kraft CS

Whoopsi Daisy - Flowers

Crazy Challenge - Weddings

Pile It On - metal(charm)

My Time To Craft - Mulitple Images (Princess/Background/Butterflies)

TGS Clear Stamps - Use 3 different stamp sets (see recipe)

Keep your hands busy!

SMiLES!

GWeN

New Card...

I've got to say that I'm so happy with this little card. I just got this image a few days ago and I wanted to do something special with it. Its really precious and if you like faeries like we do then you will love the Emerald Faerie Garden Images. Deb is such a sweetie and she gets the digis out very quickly.

I also used a sketch from Helmar as my base inspiration. I used it once before but didn't own any of their glue, so I couldn't join in the challenge. Well, I'm happy to announce that I now own their Scrap Dots Glue and its pretty cool. It came in very handy when I glued my card together. The embossing makes the flat adhesives have a little trouble staying put. So a dot here and there on my little banner and blossom, a touch of pressure and wha-la! Its staying put and looking great!

Okay, enough about how I made it, I'll add a recipe list after the photo. Hope you all like this one...

Image: Emerald Faerie Digi

Sentiment: Clear Dollar Stamps

Adhesives: Helmar Scrap Dots; Xyron; Scotch; 3-D squares

Banner: PinkPaislee Stamps-Parisian Set

Coloring: Copics

Glitter Glue: Studio G

Bling: Misc.

Spellbinders: Blossom and Lg. Circles

Sizzix: Blossoms Dies

Quickutz: Flourishes 4x4 die

CS: Prism, BG-Origins, Misc, scraps.

Ink: Memento - Rich Coco; Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Peeled Paint

Ribbon: May Arts Crinkle Ribbon - Parrot

Cuttlebug: Machine and Cherry Blossom Embossing Plate

Okay, now that you know what I used, here are the challenges I'm going to enter:

Emerald Faerie Blog - Petals (flowers)

Helmar DT Blog - Sketch

Flutterby Wednesday-Pink/Orange/Green(green everywhere, pink/orange in coloring and flowers)

The Shabby Tea Room - Pink/Green/Neutrals/Flowers(I'm stretching this one but they are all in there)
Note: I missed the challenge at The Shabby Tea Room...oops!
Flourishes - Shapes (one circle and one square at least)

Well, thats it for now, smells like dinner is done and I don't want to push my luck by entering too many challenges. LOL!

Keep your hands busy!

SMiLES!

GWeN

Simple Graduation Card

I just made this very simple graduation card featuring little Anya in digi from The Greeting Farm. It is very basic, due to the fact that I started this about 3:00 AM and I was too tired to worry about anything "fancy". My daughter's step-sister has a special graduation ceremony tomorrow and I couldn't let her get away without at least a card to give to this sweet girl.

Yes, the card is a bit out of focus, however, I took it in night mode in a pitch black room. No sentiment on this one, Anna wants to write her own message to Mandy.

Grad Anya-digi

Copics

Petal Pushers-DP

Studio G Glitter Glue

Ribbon - WalMart (Maybe?)

SMiLeS!

GWeN

Connie's Card

Okay, okay, I said I was going to focus on scrapbooking...but, my friend, Connie is very ill and I wanted to send a little smile her way. This card was created with some kraft cardstock, papers from a 6x6 Sample Pack at Claudia & Co. (I can't remember the name...sorry.) and an AWESOME digi image from the talented Lori Boyd.

The image is called Grandparents but it looks so much like Connie and her hubby, Bill, I had to have them. This is my first use of them and I love how much they really remind me of this very special couple. I hope it brings a little smile to Connie's face.

I'm thinking I'm actually going to enter this in a challenge too. Claudia & Co. is doing a Clean and Simple Challenge right now and I think this fits the bill. Its been a while so, why not?

Hope you enjoy!

Challenge #69 - Tag It With Love!

At Claudia and Company we have a new challenge for you at our new home. This week we are working with projects that include a tag.

Working with the American Crafts Love Collection from the Claudia and Company (store formerly Die Cuts R Us), I came up with this little card...

American Crafts Love DP; AC Love Tag; Kraft CS; Image: Claudia and Co. ©Jane's Doodles; Copic Markers; Memento Ink; Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Misc.: Ribbon, adhesive, punch border

The image I used is a new release by Jane's Doodles. It actually is two separate images, however, with the magic of Adobe and the wonder of a digital image I merged them. My little house became the home to our cute sentiment. Aren't digis so much fun to play with?

We'd be so happy to see you at the Claudia and Company Blog for our first challenge there.

SMiLES!

GWeN