Ice Cream and A Few Challenges...

Good morning!

I'm suffering from the "where did our summer go?" phenomenon this morning. Yikes. Kiddos go back to school a week from today. I'm bummed. I will miss them. I do this every summer. By the time I feel like I get it together and settle into a summer routine, it's time for them to go back!

We had a quiet evening yesterday after running around all morning after church and picking up Miss Priss from her first ever Youth Group trip. (I can't believe she is old enough for that. Seems like she should still be toddling around taking care of her baby brother.) She was exhausted and just wanted to chillax in front of the TV and BD fell asleep on the couch like he usually does. :) The Sultan played Xbox and I played in my room. A nice afternoon!

I made a couple of cards and laughed at myself when I finished and realized I'd made both of them with ice cream images.

Here is my first card, inspired by the MFT color challenge over at http://www.cardchallenges.com/

Here is my card using Blueprints 22, 25, You're The Sweetest stamp set, Sweet Treats DieNamics, and Diagonal stripes background stamp. 

I diecut the ice cream cone elements and stamped Ripe Raspberry ink and Limelight ink for the sherbet layers. The cone is diecut using Bamboo CTMH cardstock, and the cherry diecut from scraps I had laying around. I used Fog Avery Elle ink to stamp the stripes on Soft Stone PTI cardstock since I don't have any MFT Steel Gray. The sentiment strip is on a scrap of Webster's Pages patterned paper that matched the Limelight perfectly. The green background panel is die cut from Blueprints 25 from Stampin' Up Moss Meadow cardstock, as close as I could get to the Jellybean Green. 8-)

I'm also playing along with 613 Avenue Create's Anything Goes with a Birthday twist Challenge, Cards in Envy Birthday Challenge, and Addicted to Stamps Photo Inspiration challenge. 

                              

My next card is some more of my favorite playthings - Paper Smooches stamps. I love to color them. 8-) I wanted to play along with the Anything Goes challenge over at SPARKS this week. 

   

I used my Sugar Rush stamp set and Icognito stamp set to make the cute little girly ice cream cone. It's all colored using PrismaColor Pencils and gamsol. The background is a Kraft (PTI) panel embossed with MFT's Proof Positive die plate and die cut from Blueprints 13 stitched rectangle panel. I die cut two of the larger Curly Clouds die and pushed them together to make my background for the focal point. The ice cream cone is hand trimmed (Boo! I need that die set!) and adhered using foam tape. I stamped the sentiment from the My Peeps stamp set. The card base is Ripe Raspberry cardstock from MFT. 

I'm also playing along with 4 Crafty Chicks Anything Goes, AAA Cards It's So Hot challenge, and As You See It sketch. 

 

     

That's all for me today! Hope you liked my cards. I hope to make it upstairs for my crafty time later today. 8-) So check back later this week for another share. Thanks for visiting!

God Bless, 

Mandy

Romans 12:18  NKJV  (New King James Version)

      If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 

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From My Barn To Yours

Hello -

I had a crafty break this morning to get off my feet for a bit after doing household chores and now this afternoon another break (this time from the kitchen, can you say homemade salsa? YUM!) so I can share my card here. :) It's working out pretty perfectly.

I wanted to play along with the current MFT Challenge because I haven't been able to play in quite a few weeks. And I recently got this super sweet stamp and die set, The Whole Herd, in honor of my sister who loves all things farm/country related. :) And, it doesn't hurt that it's super fun to color.

Here is this week's sketch:

 

And, my take on it:

 

 

 

 

I stamped the images on PTI Rustic White cardstock masking off to create the scene. The two cans stacked in the trough, the hay and bin behind the trough, as well as the eggs in a nest peeking out from behind. I then colored them while listening to an old episode of Murder, She Wrote. Hee, hee. A perfectly relaxing time, if I do say so myself. :)

 

The PTI Kraft cardstock used for the card base is embossed using my PTI Canvas & Linen impression plate. I've also used the Stitched Circle Stax DieNamics and Gerbera Daisy Dienamics from MFT. The patterned paper is from DCWV 6x6 Paper Pad.

 

I'm also playing along with CASology's "Wings" Cue Card this week.

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. Please do so again soon! ;)

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

Matt 6:34   NKJV   (New King James  Version)

     Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

 

 

 



 

 

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CAS(E) this Sketch! Birthday

Hello!

I was able to take some quiet time this morning while The Sultan had a friend over to play and Miss Priss was at church for Middle School Campaign. I'm not feeling 100% for some unknown reason the last two days, so I chilled in my room this morning and played along with CAS(E) This Sketch. Hard to beat that for a relaxing morning, right?

 

I already had these inlaid circle panels cut and laying on my desk (for several weeks). After I cut the inner circle, I couldn't decide exactly what I wanted to do with it all. I was mostly playing around with my PrismaColor Pencils when I first got them earlier this summer.

 

I used my Paper Smooches Blossoming Buds stamp set, white heat embossed on PTI Kraft cardstock. The sentiment die and stamp is SSS.

 

 

My card base is PTI Rustic White and sequins are PPP. The banner under happy birthday is stamped from the same SSS set in MFT Limelight ink. I then hand trimmed it and stamped the sentiment on it.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Please do so again soon!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

Col 2:8     NKJV  (New King James Version)

      And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  

 

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Lovely Thinking of You

Hello!

I'm popping in with a quick late night post. I'm cutting it close with a Muse Challenge share. I had a little spare time this afternoon before we went back to evening worship services and I was inspired by the Muse Challenge. It was the perfect excuse to ink up my recently acquired Hi Lovely stamp and die set by SSS.

This pic is the cute inspiration piece:

 

 

Here is my interpretation:

 

 

 

 

I used the above mentioned stamp and die set for the flowers, sentiment and stamped dots at the bottom of my panel. The dots are clear heat embossed over Black VersaFine ink. I then sponged Distress Inks, (Peacock Feathers, Broken China, and Salty Ocean), before diecutting the whole panel using the stitched rectangle from MFT's Blueprints 13. The glitter banner is Shimmer Tape from CTMH. My card base is True Black PTI cardstock.

 

More of my inspiration came from a recent Jennifer McGuire video I ran across while doing some searches for PrismaColor tutorials. I loved the idea of adding depth and details to stamped images using the color pencils. I loved her easy method for tucking a twine bow into the flowers and used that tip here. Even I can do it! :D

 

 

I am also playing along (again) with CASology's "Line" Cue Card challenge this week and CASual Friday's "Embossing" Challenge.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

 

Acts 5:29    NKJV  (New King James Version)

        But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

 

 



 



 

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All by my lonesome crafting!

Hello!

I've had an interesting end to my week. The Piglets went back to West TN with my sister a couple of days ago and I had Friday ALL to myself at home. Even BD worked late so I didn't have to interact with anyone socially until nearly 6pm last night. (Other than the clerk at the market who sold me my Starbucks Energy drink and texting throughout the day.) It was quite the sweet little vacation day. I've never really had babysitters much or even had family keep them because none of them live close. Now that the kids are older, we are all more comfortable with an overnight stay back with my family. I will leave to go get them a little bit later today. They will probably have horns and be rotten and cranky tired. Eep!

Before I have to leave, I wanted to share the cards I made yesterday. I had fun and the time FLEW by, of course.

The first is my favorite and the one I spent the most time on, especially considering I made an oopsie stamping one of my birds - after I had colored the first one up. Stupid rookie mistake! I knew better than that.

 

I used my Paper Smooches My Peeps stamp (new to me) and I lurve it. I colored my cute little birds using my Zig Brush Markers (I can never remember the exact name of those things and I'm too lazy to go look! I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about anyway.) so these are stamped and heat embossed on watercolor paper. I used the sketch over at Sweet Sunday Sketch to inspire my layout on my card and Anything Goes challenge at Paper Smooches SPARKS for the theme inspiration. (Well that and using my new stamp.)

 

 

Next, I played with more Paper Smooches stamps, Leafy Greens and Spiritual Sampler, for a quick CAS card.

 

 

 

This card was inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch! The panel is die-cut using the Stitched Rounded Rectangle dies from Lil' Inker Designs. I used PPP turquoise sequins and little brown pearls from CTMH.

 

 

I'm also playing along with Anything Goes at SPARKS again and Stampin' Royalty's Keep it Simple challenge. 

Lastly is a card I made a little earlier this week, playing with some Lawn Fawn stamps. I wanted to play along with the current Lawnscaping Challenge, COLOR, using Rainbow colors on your project (one of my fave ways to stretch my stamps).

 

 

I stamped the little birdies repeatedly from my Chit Chat stamp set and then colored with PrismaColor Pencils. The sentiment is also from Chit Chat and white heat embossed on black cardstock and then hand trimmed before popping up with foam tape. I layered my little birdie line over some Lawn Fawn paper (I LURVE their pattern papers.). My panel the birds are on was die cut using MFT Stitched Fishtail banners and the banner ends trimmed off to make a stitched strip. :D That was a happy accident, I now have to remember to repeat. I finished it off by tying on some Lawn Fawn Lawn Trimmings twine. (I lurve how it's stiffer and SO easy to make a neat bow with their twine.) :D

 

I'm also playing along with the Casology Cue Card "Line", Addicted to Stamps "Clean & Simple" challenge and 613 Avenue Create's "Anything Goes" challenge.



 

Thanks SO much for stopping by to visit! I finally seem to be back in my crafting groove as summer winds down and I've now adjusted to The Piglets being here all day. Every day.  :D   EVERY. SUMMER. I get in the groove about time for school to start back! Ha!

Please visit again soon!

God Bless,
Mandy


Gal 6: 9-10           NKJV  (New King James Version)
          And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
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A Quick Share...

Hello!

I'm back again -- still hanging in here like a hair on a biscuit. I managed to eke out one card this weekend and I quite liked it so I wanted to share it here.

I was inspired by the sketch challege at MFT Challenge & Inspiration and some scraps that were laying on my desk already die-cut from pretty patterned papers using Blueprints # 25. I've been wanting them out of my way for weeks now, but can't make myself trash them.

Here is the sketch:

I used a PTI Kraft card base and panel with the Proof Positive cover up die to emboss rather than cut. I love the effect this one has with the embossing. Just enough background to add some visual interest without overpowering. 

As you can see, I have the sketch reversed and on the left hand side. For some reason, I could not get the right side in my head. NO matter what I tried over there I didn't like it. "Feel Better" is stamped using Black Licorice Hybrid Ink on a hand-cut white banner from the Get Well Wishes stamp set and the flower is a die cut Gerbera Daisy from Ripe Rasberry cardstock and Cocoa (CTMH) cardstock. This one is a cheat, also. I had die-cut it before and didn't like the size at the time, so I saved this one in my die- storage envelope. I was so glad that I could be lazy and not cut a new one. ; D I finished it all off with a twine bow.

 I really like this one - colors and all. I even lightly embellished the inside of to coordinate -- of course, if I were clever at all I would have photographed the inside...but I don't think that subject is even up for debate anymore. Wha-wha....Insert  Debbie Downer face here _____. 

That's all for me! I am pooped after a busy day (again). I don't know where the time goes! The days are flying by me and I can't seem to slow them down. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! Please do so again. 

God Bless, 

Mandy

James 1:12     NKJV (New King James Version)

      Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

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Summer Update and some challenges!

Hello!

I'm popping in with a few cards I've made lately, while getting to squeeze in a limited amount of crafty time. I, also, thought I'd share some of the fun, crazy, busy summer I'm having since I haven't been sharing as many cards the past four weeks! It's fun and I wouldn't change it for anything, but I also miss my routine. (I'm such an introverted nerd!)  8-)

First up is a card I made this afternoon while the kiddos were playing at a friends house. I had a whole THREE hours to myself! I loved it. I tried to squeeze in several solitary activities.

I wanted to play along with Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge this week:


I used my Paper Smooches favorite stamp - Green Thumb.

 

I colored my hanging garden tools with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens and totally cheated. I didn't use water or watercolor paper, just used them as straight markers being careful not to mess up the paper or make my stamped image bleed. I'm sorta "in between" markers right now. My Spectrum Noir markers have all been adopted into a new home and I have very few Copic markers at this point. I've never colored very much, but have found an increasing interest in it and hope to expand my collection of coloring mediums since I'm enjoying it so much lately. After coloring everything in and hand marking my "shadows", I masked off each image and stamped a very light background for the "wall" using Latte pigment ink by Amuse Studio and the "Envelope Pattern" background stamp for Hero Arts. The strings are hand-drawn using a journaling pen.

 

I'm also playing along with the "Anything Goes" Challenge over at 613 Avenue Create, with the optional Create Your Own Challenge twist. I used A2 size, Encouragement for Event, and Burlap for the trend.

 

I have a second Paper Smooches card for the SPARKS challenge. I love playing with the fun PS images and coloring them, especially my favorite set "Sugar Rush" (See what I did there? They are all "my favorite".) 8-)

 

 

 

These were also colored with my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Pens. But I did the real deal with Watercolor paper and a watercolor brush. These markers are so fun to use. I just stamped the popsicles in an arc similar to a rainbow and used rainbow colors. I'm a sucker for the rainbow combination!

My last card is some MFT fun. My new favorite supply enabler. When I find myself getting "bored", I just try some new goodies and go from there. I wonder if I'm drawn to the shopping as much as (or more than) the crafting. Insert shameful face here ____. Yikes. Let's keep it our little secret.

 

This one was made with all MFT products and Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, and Worn Lipstick, a combination I fell in love with after seeing it in an Online Card Class session by Laura Bassen. I didn't come up with it by myself. Snap.

I sponged the inks onto the Circles Background stamp for the card base and used that same ink combination over the Diagonal stripes stencil in the background of the Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner. I diecut the donut, icing, and sprinkles using the Donuts & Sprinkles stamp set. This set was also used for the sentiment. It was a sweet little card for a birthday party Miss Priss attended.

 

I'm playing along with Curtain Call's "Celebrate" challenge, Inkspirational's "Grunge" challenge, and 613 Avenue Create's "Anything Goes" challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

Now that the card share business is taken care of, I thought I'd share some photos that show what I've been up to this past month. 8-)

 

Lots of family time this summer!

 

 BD was off for two weeks of shutdown and we did some work around the house, took the kids to the movies, grilled out, and did alot of nothing! (The cats love having us here to be at their beck & call!) 

 

A visit to a specialist revealed Little Man, most likely, does not have allergies like he's been treated for since he was 2 - BUT he was diagnosed with asthma and is now on a daily inhaler.

 

Each kid chose a week-long day camp to attend at their school (Baseball for Little Man and Art for Miss Priss) and we've had two visits already back home with the cousins.

 

I have enjoyed a lot  of reading time and keep my Kindle or a book nearby every night. I've broke some of my "records" for amount of books read in a month already this year! 8-)

 

 

I've been doing alot of painting - both on the walls and nails! :) I keep up my manicure weekly and now that's extended to painting my Bestie's nails once a week and Miss Priss's, as well.

 

One of our "shutdown" tasks was freshening up some paint in the house and I mastered the skill of "cutting in" with this round. (SO much better than taping everything off!)

And, last but not least, is the garden! I've tackled some new fun this summer in the "pickling" department. I've made two rounds of Refrigerator Pickles in the past two weeks and they were a huge hit around the house. Just for BD, I've mastered another Refrigerator Pickling recipe for Banana Peppers. He LOVES it. I planted 5 Banana Pepper plants just for the sole purpose of pickling them for him and he was so excited. I even like them. :)

 

This particular jar of pickles went to our next door neighbor who is so generous to share garden goodies with us. She brings me extra plants and I'm always up for sticking them in my garden with a laissez-faire "Why-not?" mentality. Ha! As a result, the garden is overloaded and if I keep it up, BD is going to make us another box next summer. :)

 

My sweet little "Thanks So Mulch" tag was made using more Paper Smooches fun! I used the Green Thumb stamp set, dies and PrismaColor Pencils to color the sweet little vegetable images. After die-cutting them, I placed them to make a wreath of garden sweets. The sentiment is a combination from Green Thumb and Sentiment Sampler sets. It's one of my favorite projects I've made all summer! 8-)

 

Well -- that's all for me tonight. Thanks for hanging with the super long post! I was excited about the idea of sharing what I've been up to, since I've been absent this month. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as we are, despite the fact that it is flying by us!

 

THanks so much for stopping by to visit!

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

 

I Peter 1:3-4 NKJV (New King James Version)

 

      Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

 



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