February Challenge with the Calendar Girls

THIS IS MY SECOND POST OF THE DAY
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT MY HAPPY MONDAY CHALLENGE CARD ;-)




Kelly is our 'Hostess' this month within our Calendar Girls....and, she certainly challenged me!

Here's what she had to say at the beginning of the month:
"Since its’ the month of LoVe, and the color red is so prevalent, I’m going to think outside the box and get really creative! Here are your challenges for your card, it’s a three-fer!

Hear ye, hear ye! By royal proclamation …… I Welcome you all to Ms. February’s Ball!
Each of you beautiful belles – our lovely Calendar Girls - are cordially invited to the Calendar Girls Ball! It’s a month of love, admiration, and red hearts, my lovelies!
What will you wear to this ball? More like what will your CARD wear?! This month – fabulous Calendar Girls,- show us your STYLE! Your card should reflect a representation of what your dream dress would be and the moment each of you beauties walks into the ballroom, we’ll be dazzled by what you (your card!) has on!

Challenge 1 -- What’s your style?! Will your card be sleek, sexy and black? Will it be a pink and frilly with flowers? Lavendar and lace? Will it have Bows? Buttons all down the back? {etc!} You may use any stamped image you like - it should not be a dress stamp, lol – your card should speak for itself with it’s colors and style! Make sure your card has the representation!

Challenge 2 -- Show us your true colors at this ball! Add your favorite color somewhere to your card, even if it’s the smallest of a brad or a little flower – it might not match your “dress personality” but that’s the whole challenge! In the words of Tim Gunn, “Make it work!”

Challenge 3 -- Shape up for this ball!! Well, this will be one of your EASIEST shape ups evah! Tee hee! on the same card, you must use a SHAPE somewhere on your card! Make your regular card but add a Big-shotted, Cuttlebugged, hand cut out shape to your card. (Ms Feb. will find samples and post to the thread!) Add your image to a nestie, to a hand cut heart, to a circular pattern – etc! Shape up, show your true color and your style!!"


I will tell you, before you scroll down and see the card, that I didn't "completely" follow Sweet Kelly's directions. 

I used multiple stamps from Close To My Heart's "Be Yourself" set.  Three of the images are heat embossed with clear powder over versamark and the other is clear over cream pigment ink.  The sentiment is stamped with CTMH Vineyard Berry.  I hope that hand cutting out the sentiment works for Challenge 3.  My color (Challenge 2) would be the burgandy!  And, I really like simple cuts of dresses (Challenge 1) without much glitz and glitter.  In fact, my family calls me Marge (as in Simpson, because I like my pearls). 

{{I sure hope that the Calendar Girls forgive me for using dress stamps}}

Make sure you check out what the rest of the Calendar Girls created for this wonderful challenge....and, don't forget to leave some

LOVE

Barb

Carol 

Debbie 

Jeanette

Kelly

Michelle

Paola

Tami 

Terry 

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

It's Happy Monday!

I just love Mondays-- Well, the part where I get to show off a card using Deedee's Digis!!

Today it is "Fellowship Monday" and our challenge is to make a project/card to make someone smile.

Totally, not a hard thing to do when there are so many happy choices in Deedee's new store!!

I have used the dollar digi called "To See You Smile." I colored it with my Bic's, used my Nesties to give the card some shape and used some fabby paper from Close To My Heart.  The paper floss connected to the balloons is also from CTMH.


The inside of the card is a hand written sentiment which says: "Hope your day is as GREAT as you are!"  and the side is a little pocket to put a gift card in!  Who wouldn't smile if they received this??

Not a very good picture, and I apologize....but, I  think it is better than nada....lol

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

The Creative Cowgirls are at it again....

This week was a tough Creative Cowgirls Challenge for me.  I loved the image that was gifted to me from

But, I had no idea what to do with it or the challenge despite them going hand in hand.

So, I made a beach scene!  I printed my mermaid onto both teal and peach papers and cut the peach for just her body.  I used gel pens to color her and in real life, she looks almost like an enameled pin!  In part of my mind, I wanted the hair to look as if it was flowing throughout the water.  The papers were all out of my stash.  I just love the rocky looking one, not sure where I picked it up, but am so sorry that I didn't buy more of it!  I added the hand written sentiment because it is going to a special friend that could use a turn of good luck~

Thanks for stopping by and I do hope that you stop in to the Challenge blog with a submission for this week's challenge!

By the way, we are getting ready to hop and are so excited that we don't want anyone to miss it.

If you help spread the word by posting our badge please leave a message on the blog and you could win $50.00 worth of goodies!!!!

Huggz,

April

Claudia and Company Customer Hop

Hello and Welcome to Claudia and Company's first ever Customer Blog Hop!

We’re so excited to have you join us!

Today Claudia and Company is celebrating all of US; their dear friends and customers and that includes YOU!

If you’ve just joined the fun, be sure to pop over to the Claudia and Company Blog to start the hop and get all the deets!

I followed the recipe of the current challenge for my card -

1 sticker (hope the butterfly on her wand counts)

ribbon (from Michael's)

2 buttons (from an estate sale)

1 tag (homemade)

All papers are from Close To My Heart

Be sure and leave a comment on each of today’s fabulous posts, to be eligible for the prizes that are up for grabs! You'll have until Monday, February 28, 12pm EST to comment. Winners will be announced on March 1, during their Release Day Showcase.

Here is the complete list of stops on the Hop! Thanks for joining us and happy hopping!

Lori

Tracy

Sheri

Sandra

Krista

Kadie

Piali

Joni

Gwen

Sheng

Margie

Kelly

Jeanette

Cara

Kimmarie

Arielle

Hannah

Beverly

Sharette

Joy

Susan

Carol

Nicole

Paola

Mary J

April (ME)

Barb

Lorie

Sarabeth

Catherine

Veronica

Jessica

Judy

Taylor

Lysa

Jen

Jess

Pam

Heather

Mary

Claudia

Huggz,
April

Delightful

WOO HOO!
I am even a day early with this post!  That is music to my ears this week.  I was doing great, crafting away, when I realized that some things due this week were yet to be done.  So, I decided to blog and schedule what I have and then get off my duff and go make the card that NEEDS to be done....PHEW.... Plus, the electricity was off for part of the day and my DS, Kyle, needed to go to CSI camp, and because of that, my DH, Mike had to be taken and picked up from work....sure has been a busy day and I'm not done yet....lol

Here is my card for the progressive challenge over at Delightful Inspiration.  The image is called Appliqued Tree and I didn't color it this time around.  Rather, I printed it out on cream card stock.  I made a quilted border and then added modge podge over the whole thing.  I then sprayed some Smooch on it and wiped it off to make it look more antique.  The card on a whole makes me think of a quilt my grandma once had.

Thanks for stopping in today!
Huggz,
April

Happy Monday~

I love Mondays!  Go ahead and ask "WHY??"

Because it means a new challenge over with Deedee's Happy Monday Challenge Blog (DUH).

This week, it is a SKETCH CHALLENGE that can be found on the Happy Monday Challenge Blog!  I used the super cool Friends are Flowers which you can pick up for just a $1, yep ~ one dollar!!

I hope you give this challenge a try - anyone who enters using one of Deedee's Digis will get the newest dollar digi for FREE, and if chosen by Random.org will 'win' a set of their choice.  Whatcha got to lose?

Thanks for stopping by - see you all soon!

Huggz,

April

Mystery - Solved

Gael was our hostess this round, and I must admit that I colored up the images as soon as I received them!

This little girl reminds me so much of me as a pre-teen!  I always had a book in my hand and read whenever and wherever I could!  My mother always made me wear shoes though - probably why I only wear them when I must now!!

Deets:
Images from ARTful Inkables Think Big set
Sentiment from SU
Colored with Copics and a gel pen
Flower is Prima with the center punched from ColorBok glitter paper using SU punch and a cool brad from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

Is it Spring Yet?

I loved the progressive freebie from Faith this week.  You can see Spring Kaela below.

I colored her up with my Bic's and used designer paper from Close To My Heart.  The corners are accented with little green rhinestones which didn't photograph well tonight. :-(

A big Thank you to my son for letting me use his back as a table....WTG Kyle!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

Since I have been celebrating LOVE

Just a quick post to show you my recent Valentine's Day cards.
I didn't want to post earlier because I am never sure when my family is going to peruse my blog....lol

For Kyle, I used a Claudia &Co. stamp (Cowboy McCoy) and kept it simple with a criss cross fold!  DP is from Close To My Heart.

For Mike, I used a digi from Deedee's and made a very cool side step card!

Thanks for stopping by today - I will be back tomorrow with another post!

Huggz,

April

DDD is in LOVE

It is the month of LOVE and what better a theme than love for the Dueling Darlings?


I was the hostess for the Dazzlers and sent:

• a cupid and sentiments from Close To My Heart
• silver foil CS, black glitter CS, and dp all from ColorBok
• light pink, dark pink, and teal blue ribbons from Michael's; along with some wired pompom ribbon
• 6 each pearls in teal and silver

I used some hot pink card stock as the base and used my favorite (at the moment) fold!


Thanks for stopping by to check out today's post.  Please stop by the rest of the Dueler's blogs and leave some love!

Dazzlers          Divas

April (me)         Barb

Debbie              Carol

Jeanette             Jamie

Melina               Joan

Michelle                Judy

Paola                Kelly

Terry                    LJ

Huggz,

April

A Happy Monday Challenge!

Have you been over to Deedee's Digis?  We have a new design team - and a new set up - and a new challenge blog....and....a new STORE....phew...  Hope I didn't forget anything!!

This week, our challenge is to use BUTTONS!!

In case you missed it over the summer, I ADORE buttons!  I even go to estate sales and look for them!  All of the 'real' buttons on my card came from one of my summer sales....the image is Deedee's (of course) and it was colored with my Bic's.  I did give the image some dimension - what do you think of it?

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

How Creative are you feeling?

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Today I am asking you all to stop over to the Creative Cowgirls Challenge Blog and take a look at the new challenge.....easy peasy....hearts on your project....

DZ Doodles gifted me with the awesome digi I used on my cards - yep, not one, but two colored up cards with it for today!



Like I said, easy peasy challenge today, so I expect y'all to stop over to the ranch, get the details and submit a project or two!!

Huggz,

April

SURPRISE ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEDEE!

What a great Friday!
Not only do I have the weekend to look forward to, but the DT at Deedee's is surprising her with a giant card - or rather, a few cards shown off by this HOP!

As well as wishing Deedee a happy day, please check out everyone's greetings and leave love along the way!

Here's a lineup - visit at your leisure!

April (me)

Jeanine

Helen

Darsie

Michele

Lawren

Sandy

Kathy

(Make sure you leave birthday wishes here too!!)

Jerusha

Robin

Melissa

Kelly

And, the DT at Deedee's is so very excited about changes that are taking place - wait until you see the new store and check out our new team set up!  Be sure to stop by Deedee's to check it all out!

Will you be my Valentine?

I wonder what makes the "pur-fect" valentine?  I don't have a cat, haven't since I was a young girl, but this one resembles my Puff.  And to make him even cuter is the fact that he holds a package of mini M&M's on the back side.

By now, you should know that if it is Thursday, I am submitting to the weekly, progressive Delightful Inspiration challenge.....lol....I think I procrastinate just so I have a Thursday post..... What do you think?

I used a left over half sheet to make the base, colored the image with Copics and a gel pen, added some bling and made a computer generated sentiment~

Thanks for stopping by!
Huggz,
April

A little bit of sunshine?

Okay, maybe I didn't see the sun out today....

But, I did make a card with a sun on it..... Does that count?

This card could be submitted to this week's challenge over at Crafting with Deedee's Digi's....
I know I can't since I am on the DT, but thought I'd throw out the challenge for all my faithful followers....

The image was cut out, as were two extra clouds and added in two layers to give real dimension to the card.  I inked up the sides of the sentiment and freehanded some bling around the card.  The background was hand stamped - I used a fourth cloud to ink around in three different shades of blue.  I have to add that IRL, it is a much better looking card!

Thanks for stopping in today.  I have a special surprise planned later in the week with some very special friends, so I hope you keep checking in......

Huggz,
April

Under the Wire....AGAIN

I am afriad that I am not doing so well with keeping up with posting early my Delightful Inspiration progressive challenge.

My card has been done since the beginning of the week, but my camera battery was dead and then I procrastinated - until I realized that it was THURSDAY already....egads!

I used Card Patterns Sketch 100 for the card - and the papers came out of my file.  Colored with Bics and added some glitter to accent the hat!

I do apologize that my picture seems out of focus - I think it is more my lighting - or lack there of!

Hope everyone is staying warm and I hope to be back tomorrow!
Huggz,
April

February, already?

Hi everyone!


I am hoping that everyone is starting off their week in a positive manner. Can you believe it is the first day of February already??

Over the weekend, I was checking out my schedule and saw that I needed to post this week for Deedee's Digis.  I was going to rush down to my "desk" and get crafty with one of the many new images Deedee has drawn up in the last week or so, BUT (I know, there is always a catch) decided to rather use a card I made at the end of last week.

It is never a great feeling when a friend of the family passes away, but it does bring me peace to make a card specifically for those friends.

This card features "Amazing Love" and was colored up with my Copics. I cropped the image close and used a Nestie to cut out the sentiment; then layered them over a piece of green card stock that I embossed with Swiss Dots. The edges were inked with some CTMH ink, and I added a gold ribbon and some gold rhinestones; and voila, a card worthy of our friends.

I hope that my card brings solace to our friends; and gives you inspiration for those not so great times that a card is needed.

Huggz,
April