BBTB/GS/Freedom/BlogHop

A WINNER... Janis, you have won the blog draw. Please email me with your address and I will mail the tote out. Thanks to all for playing along and visiting my blog, and leaving a sweet comment. I appreciate all of you.

This week Regina asked us to design with Graphically Speaking.. Here is my design. I sorta love this card although I looked at the scrambled word about 40 times before I could envision any sort of design that made sense.

Onto the BLOG HOP. How I love participating in these fun hops. This time I am offering up a sweet little handmade quilted tote that I did using left over fabric pieces from a small wall hanging. This is a smaller tote by tote standards, and the ribbons have some beads on them. Please leave your name and I will put you in the draw. I will draw the winner on July 6th. Please check back and if your name shows, then please email me then with the mailing details. Thanks for looking...
Now for the blog hop real fun! We are all linked...and hopping around gives you the chance to sign up for blog candy here, blog candy there. Please go visit Penny...oh my you are in for a treat if you haven't seen Penny's talent. Hop here, http://penniannies-penniannie.blogspot.com/sign up for her blog candy too...and enjoy your trip.

I'll be baaaaaaack!

I am doing the Hoppy Dance. I leave tomorrow for Tucson, Az to spend 2-1/2 days with Kris Lancaster, Deb Emrick and friend Sandy for a fun fun fun card-making event. The girls came to my house last January and we decided this was so much fun, we would do it twice a year. Now it's my turn to visit Tucson. I haven't been there since 1987 when I took my son down to U of A for college. I am excited.

Now...as for Heidi Sweetface...


She looks sad. All down and out...! But actually this is a photo taken by Carol Sheetz' girls during their visit. Heidi is doing her usual lay-down-and-wait nap. She knows that my neighbor will stay at the house to serve her demands and needs. Heidi loves my neighbors and they love her too. She'll be fine. So, I will be back on Sunday afternoon and look for a wonderful Blog Hop for the BBTB team. I will have some blog candy and a link to another design team blog hop. It'll be fun. Please check back ...

BBTB/GW/Flower Pot

This week's challenge from Regina was to use the cut from Garden of Words, the flower pot. Well, you should see the ideas that popped into designer heads and the creations that appeared.. Wonderful things. Here is my card. For a full preview of all the wonderful cards, go see http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/

TCC/FathersDay and July 4th

This is a cut from Regina's Cutting Cafe from the Father's Day printables. So many to select from. If you've seen Regina's printables, you know that each "theme" has so many choices. This card features the shirt and tie, with a hanky in the pocket. Now, go to Regina's Cutting Cafe at http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/ and see her offerings. You'll love them all. Shown also is a cut from the July 4th printables I used Wild Card cut from Cricut on the card, and the sentiment inside is Cutting Cafe sentiment.

Best of the Show

We all know how I lovez m' Heidi Sweetface. .... I love to visit Carol Sheetz' blog and see her girls and her sweet Princess-dog and it was such a delight to have the girls meet Heidi. They so doted on her and she so loved every second of it, staring up, woeful eyes. Isn't this the cutest?

Fun Fun Fun

Well today was one special day indeed. My friend Carol Sheetz and her two darling daughters were in Arizona visiting. Carol, Jessica, Emily and Vicky, her mother in law, came to meet me in person. I was so excited...and we had fun sharing our love for making cards and scrapbooking. If you visit Carol at http://crazyforcrafting.blogspot.com/ you will see her wonderful talents and those darling daughters. Here you see Carol and Carole.

This is the lovely family photograph. Aren't they wonderful smiling peeps.

BBTB/PDDU/Car Accessories

Regina asked us to design using the Paper Dolls Cricut cartridge and to use the car accessories.  I had an awful time with this challenge.  I  made 3 cards that I all but trashed and then finally I took my mind off the car and grabbed up a focus.  The Planet Earth!  I used one of Regina's circle shaped printable images, drew in some lands, colored the circle with Prisma pencils and OMS and now I finally had a card with a purpose.  I hope you like it...and do do do go to http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/ to see the awesome creations from the designers.  Stop by http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/to look at the absolutely wonderful printables with an endless selection. 

Cutting Cafe and More

This round scalloped card is designed to show  Regina's Cutting Cafe "Baby" printables sentiment. http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/ I added some punch hearts on the inside scallop.  The diaper pin and sweet baby dress and heart are from New Arrivals.  Of course I ran the base card through my Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots).  A sweet pink and white polka dot ribbon ties two scallops together and on the inside it says "congratulation on your baby girl". 

I LOVE this cupcake.  It is from the Home Decor cartridge.  My dear friend Sandi (Celtic Woman at http://wwwpapertrail-celticwoman.blogspot.com/) sent me scads of these cupcake dies because I so admired them and I didn't have the cartridge (yet.)  The circle sentiment is Cutting Cafe "All occassion" printables.  The papers are new...I got them at the Creative Memories Crop on Saturday.  This paper pack threw me into another pink pink pink card adventure.  I've added some gems, a ribbon, and a polka dot sticker which accompanied the papers.  I've Cuttled again...!!!
I may have posted this pink card from a few days back.  It is for a Hallmark Messageboard challenge.  I like the way it turned out...
Another darling cupcake.  The sentiment is from the Celebrations Cricut cartridge.  The scalloped tag is from Celebrations
Now this card and the inside is a Shortcuts card.  I used one of the wonderful Shortcuts frosted sheets, some of the pink Creative Memories paper, a ribbon, Cuttlebuged the paper, and the inside sentiment circle is Cutting Cafe (of course).  The party hat is Celebrations cartridge.You can see the Shortcuts gallery at http://sheetloadshortcuts.blogspot.com/

Minnie the Mouse

I had mentioned I was sewing 8 Disney Totes to accompany the 8 journals for Open Arms Orphanage in Africa.  Here is one...my fav.... sweet Minnie Mouse. 

BBTB/George/Shortcuts Design

Regina's challenge for BBTB this week is to use the flower on George cart, and to use the products from Shortcuts....wonderful wonderful clear or frosted sheets.  We had a specific layout to use. The designers did some most wonderful cards.  Please visit http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/ 

This is my card.  I LOVE the way the paper just sort of sits mid-air, and to enhance that I put little pieces of paper in each corner.  The flower and sentiment are George, I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder, and the butterfly is a MS punch.  Paper was scrapbin grabs.  You must stop by Shortcuts and see the wonderful designs using their clear sheets.  You can view this at http://sheetloadshortcuts.blogspot.com/

Sewing and Journals

I've  been doing this n' that for about a week.  I was asked to make 8 little journals for sweet children in an Orphanage in Africa.  These were fun to make and I used the smaller pads, double-sided papers, a few of the Cricut carts and the bee and ladybug are from Sizzix Original dies. I added a little jewel on the front, and the inside pocket holds 4 envelopes with die cuts added.  I think the children will enjoy using these to write in.

My good friend Jane is going to be a grandmother for the first time.  I wanted to make something special so I did a baby blue flannel quilt.  The room decor is Noah's Ark.  I used an Anita Goodesign Applique/Embroidery Design CD to create this quilt.  Here is a close up of the elephant design.  so cute....doncha think?

Thanks for looking.  

I Love Your Blog Cards..

Regina  has the best ideas when she is designing her printable images. You simply must go see her 23-Printable Images because these gives us the sentiments to make cards that we can mail to our blogging friends...to tell them their blogs bring us joy and inspiration.  Here is her link. 

http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/the_cutting_cafe/2009/05/blog-set-of-23-printable-stamps.html

Here are two cards I made for just that purpose. 

BBTB/TB/Mushroom/BlogHop

UPDATE JUNE 6. I figured it was June 6th and why not just do the drawing now. So congratulations to DRAGONFLYDREAMER. Random.org pulled up your name in the #1 slot. Please email me so I can make arrangements to mail you the appliqued shirt. Thanks to all for playing along. I appreciated all of your sweet comments.
Wow, what a title!~ It's Monday and time for the BBTB challenge from Regina. We were to design from Tinkerbelle cart and use the mushroom. . I simply cut the mushroom off on two different pattern papers and used those to make the design. The flower is a punch, the scallops are MS and the wide cotton ribbon is a neat summer flower print.

We are also having that fun fun blog hop. I am offering up the black tee shirt, size SM, which has a fabric applique of a flower. On the flower and a leaf I have added crystals. I will draw names on June 6th. If I do not hear from the selected name by June 10th I will do a second drawing. Please check back on June 7th to see the draw results. Now..for more fun, please blog hop to the wonderfully talented Teri. You will see her fantastic projects and sign up for her blog candy as well. Hop here to Teri's blog: http:/teriberi2.blogspot.com Thanks for looking...and thanks for playing along.

Cutting Cafe Precious Stuff

Regina has created some new designs for the printable image on The Cutting Cafe.  Oh  how I love these.  Here are a few: Thank Ewe, Little Lady and Sweet.  I had a lot of fun designing these cards using the images.   

New Zealand at its best..

I took hundreds of photos of Bruce and Jill when they came to America from Dunedin, New Zealand...  And although I love them all, this one I think is my fav.  This is our first meeting after 15 years of emailing, right under the Clock Tower at Farmer's Market in Los Angeles.  We were 3 excited folks. 

BBTB/AK/Bookmark

For the current BBTB challenge, Regina asked us to design with the Animal Kingdom cart and to use the bookmark.  I captured the zebra along with the bookmark ...  stop by www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com and take a look at the absolutely darling projects.  For the record, I hated mine. I had one of those mind blanks on what to do, and as is typical, once she posted the other designer bookmarks, I smacked myself upside the noggin and said "DUH, why didn't I think of THAT"?

Trays and Trays

For the past two days, I have been working on replenishing the die cut trays that I haul to the several scrapbook clubs I belong to.  I sell a lot of these dies and it's a full out concentrated effort to keep the trays up to date.  I haven't worked on the trays in a while so there are many empty bags, and I am adding a lot of new things from the Cricut Carts.  is a picture of the trays. Waiting to be "fed".

Cards, etc., etc.

Here is a card using the wonderful frosted card panels from SHORTCUTS. The BBTB team will do a challenge shortly  using these sheets, and my card for that challenge will be shown then and I will give you the link for their shoppe. . I love the way the design just sort of hangs in midair...




I made a pact. I was going to spend a whole week making cards that were comprised on ONLY scrapbin papers and trays of sitting-around embellished die cuts.  I made about 80 cards, some very very simple, others a little more design-worthy ...  Now, I must admit though...the papers are scrapbin contributions, but on the these cards I  had to seek final designs from the Indie Art and Home Decor carts for sentiments and die cuts. 

BBTB/Storybook/The Cutting Cafe..BLOG STUFF...

UPDATE: I am happy to announce the winner of the draw.  Our winner is: JENNRO. Please email me soon so that we can make arrangements for the win to arrive in your email box. 

Well, this is one exciting BBTB post because there is some fantastic blog candy for you to win.  Our BBTB challenge is to use one of Regina's printable stamps from The Cutting Cafe, and so we have the Cricut in the mix, we are to use the frame cut on Storybook.  This is the card I made. 

 You will see a cupcake on the card.  The Cupcake printable stamp is being offered by Regina as blog candy.  Here is the Cupcake Gallery so you can take a peek at the awesome cards made by the designers. http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/photos/me/index.html

Now, ...we will draw a winner for the Cupcake Printable Stamps on May 23rd. All you have to do is leave a comment here on my blog.  All comments left will be considered for the draw unless you state that you do not wish to be in the drawing.  And if you leave your name, be sure to check back ...in case you are the winner, I will need some information. The winner will  need to contact me no later than May 29th or I will do another draw.  If you want to see more wonderful cards, follow my lead to DeeDee's site, and once there you can sign up for more blog candy. Isn't this wonderful? Now...hurry to DeeDee's blog and drink in her fantastic cards and sign up for her blog candy.  http://deedeecampbell.blogspot.com/, 

Hallmark Challenge/Indie Art

We have so  much fun on Hallmark Messageboard taking turns with challenges.  It was my turn for the next challenge and since I so love the Butterfly cut on Indie Art, that is what I selected. 

There are several cards posted already and I had to hurry to catch up.  Here is my card. The butterflies were cut from a transparency that was colored with alcohol inks.  Shout out to Sandi (Celtic Woman)  http://wwwpapertrail-celticwoman.blogspot.com/ who does a most glorious transparency butterfly and it was from her I learned. 

Frog Blog Candy Winner

There is a winner on the Frog Tote.  Please scroll down to the tote posting for details. 

TCC/Cupcake

These two cards are designed from the darling Cupcake Set on Regina's The Cutting Cafe site. I love this set.

Please...stop by http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/ The little "wish" is from a Quickutz die, and the butterfly on the other card is from my oh so neat Indie Art cart. Be sure to watch out for posts coming up.  A wonderful blog candy will show up. 

You'll love it, I know....

BBTB/WC/SmileyFace

What a challenge!  Regina asked us to use the Smiley/Frown Face from the Wild Card cartridge for the current BBTB challenge and I had no idea what I could make from this.  But here is what I came up with, and I do hope you will hop over to the BBTB site and take in the challenges from the designers.  Wonderful ideas.

Hallmark Scrapbook Challenge/SYI/Paisley

We are trying to put some oomph back into challenges on the Hallmark Scrapbook messageboard.  This week was Deb's challenge choice and she asked all to do a card or design from the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge and to use the Paisley cut.  Here is my take on that challenge.  

BBTB/BB/Vase

Happy Monday night to all.  I am just back from Los Angeles with my friends from New Zealand and they are so excited to be viewing a completely different world here in Calif and Arizona. 

I am so thrilled they are here. 

Meantime I am posting Regina's challenge to use the BB cart, the vase and the word Mom in a card design.  The designers for BBTB are just so so so awesome I hope you will stop by www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com and take a look at their creations.  Here is mine. My mother died when I was just 25 years old,  I was just barely married for 2 months. This card is for her.  TFL. 

BBTB/DC/Border/BLOGHOP

Now....onto explaining what you have to do for the Blog Hop. I am showing my Blog Candy, or as it were "blog fabric candy" and it's this small Butterfly tote done in a yellow striped fabric, embroidery is the Butterfly. Just leave your name on my comments in this blog, tell me you'd love to have a chance to win the Butterfly tote and I will put your name in the hat. If there are a lot of participants, I will use random.org for the selection. The drawing is Saturday, May 2nd. If your name appears on the blog post as the winner, please email me with your email address and I will get your mailing address. I leave for California on May 3 and return May 4th, so I will mail out the Tote on Wednesday May 5th. Meantime, to win even MORE blog candy and to see even MORE wonderful challenge cards, blog hop over to Jen's blog athttp://jenthecrazyscrapbooker.blogspot.com/ 
ATTENTION: Random.org with 67 names has been completed and the winner of the Butterfly Tote bag is...............PAS.  Pas, Please email me at crayola58@gmail.com, and leave me the mailing address.  Keep in mind I leave for California tomorrow, May 3,  for just one day...and I will return on Monday.  I will  mail the tote on Tuesday, May 5th. . IF PAS DOES NOT RESPOND BY MAY 10, I WILL DO A SECOND DRAWING. Thanks to everyone for playing the Blog Hop, and for stopping by to make nice comments on my blog.  I appreciated each and everyone. 

Next blog hop will  have some pretty neat blog candy from me.  Stay tuned!!!

AND HERE IS THE BBTB CARD.
Well...this is most exciting! Regina has put into action a Blog Hop.
And I am so pleased to be not only part of sharing my cards on the BBTB design team, but now I can participate in a new and exciting world of Blog Hopping.
First, I am pleased to show my card using Doodlecharms, and the border cut. We were allowed to use any cut we wanted off the DC cart so long as we used the border cut. I chose the ice cream cone AND the cupcake because I think these are sooooooo darling.
And of course I tossed in the hats as well. 

Frog Blog

Happy Sunday to all.  I am offering up a Frog Blog (Candy) for a drawing MAY 15TH.  For anyone who just leaves a comment on my blog in the Frog Blog Section, I will put your name in the hat for the drawing....and if there are enough participants, I will do the random.org process. 

This little tote is in pink and green with black stripes, and the frog is doing ....whatelse?...Leap Frog over the snail.  Hope you like it, and I hope you participate. 

MAY 15, 2009 ... We have a winner and the winner is....Fi. 

Fi, please email me .... give me your mailing address in the email and I will mail Froggy out.  A big thank you to everyone who stopped by my blog to take a look and join in the Frog Blog Candy. If Fi does not respond with her address by May 22, I will do another Random.0rg drawing.  

UPDATE: I have mailed the tote to Fi.  Thanks to everyone. 

DOIN' THE HAPPY DANCE

For months I have struggled to make direct links in my posts for the wonderful blogs I love to see.  And I simply could not.  Seems I had one little block of instructions secretly blocking my efforts.  But Mone' of Red Rubber Stamps just helped me cure all that stress and I am so proud to announce I CAN MAKE A DIRECT LINK NOWWWWWWW.  Slowly I will get all those apologies wiped clean of the post and see to it there is a direct link to those wonderful blogs and sites I want you to see.