Let's get CREATIVE

sponsored the Creative Cowgirls this time around!  What a gorgeous digi I was gifted to work with!  This image is named "Lover Boy" ~ I think it is very appropriate!

I used him to make a variety of gifts to celebrate Valentine's Day.  To the left, is a card that measures 3 by 3; in the back, the tall one holds a packet of mini M&M's that are pulled up by the ribbon,7; and in the front is a very simple candy bar holder.

I wanted to show that you can turn the simplest of scraps in to delightful gifts!  All materials are out of my scrap pile!  I know that it seems neverending, but I am on a buying freeze and determined to use up what I have!!

Please stop by the ranch and check out this challenge!! Can't wait to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by on this last sunday of the month!

Huggz,

April

I'm a CALENDAR GIRL

Hmmm....what's a calendar girl, you ask?

We are a group of SCS'ers that decided to support each other's blog and set out a monthly challenge to one another.  See my sidebar for all the "Girls".

We were 'asked' to make a card depicting our month.  I am Miss March and chose that because it is my birthday month.  It also is the month that makes me think of Spring and how the NorthEast is about to rejuvenate itself!

We were also challenged to use our newest tool - mine is a ScorPal, so decided on a card that needed to be folded!  I love this SpringFold card!  It looks so fancy, but is soooo easy!!

Thirdly, we needed to use our favorite embellishment.  I will be honest and tell you that mine changes almost daily, but lately I have been in love with these little half pearls! 

Thanks for stopping by,
Feel free to leave some love at the other Calendar Girl's blogs....
Huggz,
April

PHEW - it's Thursday....already??

Not sure where my week went.  I blew my last week's resolution to get a project done for Delightful Inspiration and the progressive challenge before Thursday of this week.  BUT, I did get it done before the deadline.

Bear's Big Gift was wonderful to work with.  I had hopes of paper piecing the gift and the boots, but time got away from me :-(

You know the deets ~scraps and Copics....lol

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

ps....Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a new monthly feature....

A Crafty Ho Challenge

I am sad to say that since the holidays, I have been lax in getting around to the many blogs I follow.  This is my week to get back in the groove of doing so.

First stop - the HO's....  They are an inspiring bunch of crafters and you never know what they might be looking for in their weekly challenge.  Today, it is a photo to inspire and get the creative juices flowing.  You really must check out their blog/challenge and get a peek at some great eye candy!

My card features two Stampin Up sets - stamped in Tuxedo Black Momento on plain white cardstock.  The black CS is from my scraps and the pearls and rhinestones were left-overs from some holiday crafting.

I must say that I took inspration more from the fact that is was a black and white photo, but think the quote I used is very appropriate!

My cardholder today is my son, Kyle!  He wanted to be included....lol

Thanks for stopping by today.
Huggz,
April

It's one of THOSE weeks...

Well, here I am again....
Today's card features the latest progressive freebie over at Delightful Inspiration.

I am so in re-use it mode, and therefore, it is made of all scraps.  Well, except for the pearls on the little border.  I was all done when I decided something was missing in the top corner so turned a tiny scrap into a fun little embellie!

Deets - paper is CTMH and used Copics to color up this delightful image....

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

Anyone up for a challenge?

Well, it is Sunday and that means time for a challenge....

BLACK (or BROWN) and TURQUOISE to be exact....

Creative Cowgirls is being sponsored by Tellen's Place this time around - deets can be found here - and here is my creation this fine day!

All paper is scraps, silver rhinestones from Michael's, colored with Bic Mark Its.

Thanks for stopping by - be sure to check out the challenge!


Huggz,
April

Dazzling, baby, dazzling......

Hi everyone!
It's the fifteenth of the month, so you know what that means....yeppers, time to duel it out!

This month's kit came all the way across the country from Paola in British Columbia.  Yep, I realize that is a different country even, but still is west coast to east....lol  The theme is "Fun and Laughter for ever after!"

Here's a list, so you can check them out and leave them love!

Dazzlers        Divas

April (me)     Barb

Debbie       Carol

Jeanette      Jamie

Melina          Joan

Michelle       Judy

Paola           Kelly

Terry           LJ

Thanks for stopping in!  Next month, I get to pick the theme and kit, so I hope you will all stop in and see what is going on!

Huggz,
April

oops ~ didn't mention what the kit included, so here it is:

*Penny Black -'Best of Luck' #2349K
*SU! -Perfect Punches (B-Day sentiment)
*Designer Paper: 'Lovely' (doublesided) by K & Company and 'Paisley Bloom' by Daisy D.
*1 -11cm.round- white paper doiley from Dollar store
*3 strips of Ribbons: Mellow Moss taffeta 3/8" by SU!
*Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain 5/8" by SU!
*Burgandy stitched organza 3/8" by Michaels
*3 self-adhesive red candy dots by Pebbles Inc
*3 flowery gems (2 red ,1 green) by Forever in Time
*3 red small gems by Forever in Time
*3 ivory sm. five petals flowers from Michaels
*2 small rosettes from Michaels
*1 olive-green button from Walmart

Bunnies....

Well, here I am with a card featuring the set  ALL EARS from Deedee's Digis.

I love how I colored this image - thought of my BFF (during a break from college we had these pastel outfits that I based the card on).  I don't alway tell her how much she means to me and distance sometimes puts a damper on seeing her, but no matter what, we are always there for one another!

All scraps were used to make this card and Bic's to color it up!

Thanks for stopping,
Huggz,
April

ps....if you are a friend on FB, you are able to check out our pink outfits.....lol

SOTC

The January theme for the elusive 'traveling' card was weather. Specifically, the weather on the first day of the year.

Mother Nature has been playing tricks this winter on Western New York, and instead of dumping the normal snow on us, gave us RAIN.

This card features an image from Deedee's Digis.  I used mostly scraps on this - I am still in my 'use it up' phases.

The card stock is all Bazzil and it was colored with my Bic's.  The cloud has a bit of sparkle to it, courtesy of Stickles....

I apologize that the picture isn't the best.  There just seems to be no good place to take a picture today.

Thanks for stopping in~
Huggz,
April

"Delighted" to show you this.....

Well, I have some of my pre-holiday mojo working.

Today's card features the free image over at the Delightful Inspiration Progressive Challenge.
The holidays certainly threw me off with blogging and crafting taking a back burner to cookie making and present wrapping....

It is intentionall skewed - looks better IRL....

I only used scraps and prezzies for this card, so out of pocket cost is at a minimal. I am truly watching my craft budget at the moment since my DH was not allowed an extension of his Unemployment Benefits.... :-(

Thanks for taking a peek in here today.
May your day be bright!

Huggz,
April

Hoppy New Year!

Well, it is the 7th of the month and here I am posting a New Year's card...

Better late than never??

The image and sentiment are from Deedee's Digis....

I used my Bic Mark Its to color - along with a black and green gel pen....

The paper and card stock were out of my never-ending file of scraps...

Thanks for hopping in today!

Huggz,

April

A Gift for my BFF

I am bound and determined to keep my New Year's Resolution.  I know it isn't a conventional one, but I am going to send the cards I make in a timely matter...my BFF, Cheryl, should be getting lots of happy mail this year....(Everyone cross your fingers that this happens!!)

Today's post isn't about a card, but rather a little altered notebook.  I found a set of three mini notebooks in the clearance section of WMart before the holidays and have just opened them....

This past Monday over at Deedee's was a "Fellowship" Challenge.  The first Monday of the Month, Deedee asks that we think of someone else when entering her challenge.  I think of my BFF often, and as much as I know she is always here for me, I need to be better about showing her that I am here for her also.  I chose to use this week's free digi - Never Forgotten  - to alter one of the notebooks.    I didn't use the sentiment quite as written, but rather just the first part which fit my project. 

This little notebook will be headed out to my BFF by the end of the week.  I hope she uses it to jot down all those little details she might otherwise forget~

Huggz,
April

Deets:
Image - Deedee's Digis

Paper - CTMH
Embellies - generic



 

Creative Cowgirl Challenge....

Happy New Year, everyone!

The Triple C girls are at it again!  A new challenge has been thrown down!

Pollycraft gifted me with this adorable little fairy - just what I needed to lift my spirits from the drab weather we have been having since Christmas.  There are so many images from them that have that same affect - check them out for yourselves!!
So, like I was saying....a new challenge.  I was sooo excited about the image, that I didn't really read the challenge and made a very cool card....  Despite it being a new image - it wasn't trying something new...

So, I went back to the drawing board.  I have all sorts of cards, from various swaps and DT committments, that I need to find new homes for.   Over on SCS, I found a tutorial for this nifty little card purse!  I did leave off the scallop around the top cut out (note to self, find a scallop punch in the new year), but otherwise, followed the tutorial.
I think this is the perfect way to gift some of those many cards away; and will be making more in the near future!

I hope your New Year is off to a great start and can't wait to see what you design for the newest challenge!

Huggz,
April