Like, Toad-ally!

July's sketches are up at My Sketch World!  Since it is summer and there is lots going on, Lucy has decided to just have one set of sketches for the months of July & August.  There's lots to do at the MB however, so come on over and check us out!  There are some really creative challenges this month!

Here is the July Card Sketch:

Here's my card:

Yes, that is a paint chip.  When I was looking through my stash I ran across 2 of these.  I thought the strips of color were perfect for the stripes in the sketch.  I used the second chip to punch a small scalloped border for 3 of the colors.  Added a very old rub and some pretty punched butterflies and called it done.

Here is the July Layout Sketch:

Here's my layout:

Brian is so much like me as a kid.  I brought home all sorts of animals.  We had a pool when I was little and we used to have the occasional toad that wanted to take a dip.  I used to tie a string around their belly and take them for a "walk".  I bet they never came back to our yard again.  *laugh*

Happy Friday, friends! Hope you have a terrific weekend!

Creative Cuts & More: Project 1

I was so excited when Chris asked me to be a Guest Designer over at Creative Cuts and More for the month of July!  My friend,  Kayla is a designer over there and was sweet enough to recommend me.  Thanks, girl!  I went with a card for my first project.  Big surprise, right?  *laugh* 

I love the fact you can get these cards with the shape already cut out!  Creative Cuts and More has a wide variety of different cut out cards!  You can find them here.   I decided to play off the star and make it a little boy's space themed birthday card.  The inside reads, "is out of this world!". 

I will be featuring a new project every week for the month of July.  Creative Cuts and More will also be having a blog hop (my first ever!!) on Monday, July 14th. 

Happy Monday, friends and thanks for stopping by!

234 Years Young

Happy Birthday America!

Of course I wasn't just being patriotic when I made this. *laugh* I made it work for a couple challenges too.

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings is having a Patriotic Challenge.  I applied some Ribbon Stiff to some lovely red and white Strano Ribbon and wove it in a basket weave pattern.  Punched some stars for the blue squares and used my Slice for the big star.  Scored and folded it to give it some dimension and popped it up with some foam dots.  Added a layered sentiment and a star button and there you go!

This card also worked for the challenge over at Party Time Tuesdays.  They are having an "Anything Goes Birthday" challenge this week.  To be considered for the top 3 you need to have your card linked to them no later than 8:00 EST tonight.  They post a new challenge every Tuesday. 

Have a safe and happy 4th, friends!!

[randomness]

Here is a hodge-podge of projects I've done over the last week or so.  Just thought I'd share.

Using 2 sketches of Carly's over at Scrapdango:

and

 I did this layout for Cartwheels in my Mind, to celebrate the "different flavors in my life" that make a complete me.  As you can see, these pictures are old.  I'm not going to say how old exactly, but old enough.   In high school I played 4 sports and was Prom Princess & Homecoming Queen.  Jockett & girlie girl.  Now my jockett side is expressed playing around with my boys and my girlie girl gets her groove on making pretty cards. 

I couldn't let the week go by without making a card.

Thanks for indulging me.  :)  Happy Saturday, friends!

[old school]

Talk about old school! I can't believe this EK Success Paperkin has made it through the various purges I have had over the past 10 years!   When they came out in the year 2000, I had 2 young boys. These dolls were so cute and they came in a variety of adorable outfits.  Back then cute boy embellies were hard to come by, so I bought a lot of these.  Must be why I still have a couple hiding in the dark recesses of my stash. 

Anyway, Scarlett over at My Sketch World has a cute "Play Dress Up Challenge" card challenge this month and the challenge over at Party Time Tuesdays is to use red, white and blue so this little guy covers all the bases, pardon the pun.  *laugh*

Happy Sunday, friends!

Got Challenges?

I {adore} challenges. I do some of my best work with a little prompt from a challenge. I can't even tell you my favorite type of challenge. I guess it depends on the day, how I'm feeling, if my scrap room is clean and what sparks my interest. Yesterday, I found a couple that I liked. One is from a blog I've never been to so I don't know how long they have been around. The other is from a brand new blog that I just love.

Here is the first. The blog is Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings and the challenge was to create a border using ribbon. Anyone who knows me knows I love me a little ribbon.  :)  I tried to think of something a little out of the box for a border and here is what I came up with:

Will be in the 2011 issue of CARDS!

The second challenge I did was for a new blog, Cartwheels In My Mind.  It is a very cool, kinda artsy, sprinkled with some beautiful photography kind of place.  Loads of eye candy.  You've been warned!  :)  Theirs was a "Hello. Nice to meet you" challenge.  One of the prompts for this challenge was if you had a personal greeting.  I do. It is "Hi friend".  If you are standing anywhere near me when I say this you will probably get a hug too.  I use it a lot in my emails too.  I made a simple card with my greeting.

Let me know your favorite challenge blogs! 

Happy Monday, friends!

Goodbye School, Hello Summer!

Today was the last day of school for all three boys!  They all had a half day. It is blazing hot and we have already been to the Splash Pad.  Soccer in the yard with friends and video games have been played.  For my oldest there will be roller skating tonight. Toy Story 3 is on the agenda for this weekend. That has me almost as excited as not having to set the alarm for 6:00 for a couple months!

Brian goes to a great Elementary School.  The teachers and staff are the best. I like to do a little something for his teacher, the principal and the gals who work in the office, just to let them know how much we appreciate everything they do day in and day out!  Everybody got a GC this year except Brian's teacher.

Brian and I made this for Mr. Centers. 

Brian chose the words he wanted and I put it together.  I have made these for about 10 years and they are a big hit with the teachers.  Some have had them framed in shadow boxes and they look great!

Happy Friday, friends! Thanks for stopping by!