When the buck's away .....

the doe will play with her stamps! My hubby went deer hunting for about 9 days .... & somehow, I just seem to have more free time when he's gone :)  

Found an old Hanglar image that someone had sent me .... is that company still around? I know they were actually selling to the States for a short time .... but I don't see Hanglar cards at all anymore. Too bad, because they are so cute!

I used my pencils & Goo Gone ....and some old Basic Grey papers .... and an old die .... and an old sentiment ... LOL. A new card made of old stuff. That's ok, I still think she turned out ok, even if she is old!

Oh yeah, looking at this close up  .... how could I forget the Stickles & fluff. Anyone still use this stuff? Just like in life, I feel behind the times.

This sentiment was from one of those clear Studio G sets from Michael's. Such cute sets, mine are black from being used so much. 

When I was done I spritzed the whole card with Shimmer Mist. No ... Glimmer Mist. You know, that stuff in a spray bottle that comes in all different colors. Ok, I probably just described about 35 different paper craft products :) 

I do plan to make one  more card ... for someone very special ... then I'm done for a while. This was a fun binge, but now any spare time I have will be spent baking (yay!) & shopping (boo!) & wrapping (double boo!). I will still post photos & little tidbits throughout the holiday season .... I know, you will wait with bated breath. 

I *heart* Hanglar

Howdy everyone! I can't believe in just a few short hours it will be Monday again *sob* -- the weekends just go too quickly, there is way too much to do -- & I have to admit I am NOT looking forward to a doctor appointment tomorrow. It just seems wrong to have to go see a doctor on a Monday. On the other hand, Mondays completely stink -- so why not get all the yucky stuff out of the way in one day, right? 

So I'm moving at my normal snail pace -- it took me a week to finish this card -- & another 3 days to take the photos -- 2 days to edit -- & I finally added the watermark today LOL. Efficient, no? What can I say -- too much to do!

So in the spirit of the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday -- I spied this adorable Hanglar that I thought was perfect. 

If I had to guess, I would say my friend Tammi sent this image to me -- she's like my crack dealer for Hanglars, lol -- she keeps me well stocked :)

I kept it fairly simple -- I colored the image with pencils -- had a bit of a mishap with the heart -- after clear embossing it, it CRACKED. All I did was try to uncurl the image which had become a bit warped after heating it --- & it CRACKED. I am sending this card to a friend & I really didn't want to send a broken heart!! So -- luckily I did have another image (see -- well stocked) so I colored the heart again, embossed it again, cut it out,  & was very careful when gluing it on. I think I see a hairline fracture -- but I'm not doing it a third time, lol!

The white paper is all shimmery card stock ---- *love* that stuff -- embossed with the Paisley & Dotted Cuttlebug folders. Some red ribbon -- a few small flowers -- very simple!

I must be a freak but I just love this time of year. I love that the only holiday in the near future is Valentine's Day. No stress. Even our winter this year is fantastic. A few snowstorms -- & hairy drives to work -- but really some wonderful temps. This whole week is supposed to be in the 40's -- 40's?? In January? In WISCONSIN??? Lovin' it! I get the snow --- but not the zero degree temps that make your snot freeze!

I hope you have a wonderful week -- so many at CHA this week, lucky ducks! My week consists of work --- parent teacher conferences -- & HEY a Pampered Chef party on Friday! Not CHA but not too shabby either :)

Gardening Hanglar

Hi all -- this will be quick, as I have been feeling like CRAP all week. It's been quite rainy & chilly here & it's doing a number on my sinuses. Thankfully I have the day off tomorrow & it's supposed to be 60 degrees & SUNNY!!! That should cure me :)



I'd been trying to get to this card all week, knowing I wanted to enter a couple of challenges. But I just couldn't get to it until tonight. This lovely Hanglar was sent to me by a friend -- in fact ALL my Hanglars were sent to me by friends, lol. I still haven't bought any from their site -- I'm so excited to be able to, but my checkbook is screaming "Nooooooooo".....

I colored her with Prismas & cut her out --- she's a bit crooked, maybe a bit too much time in the sun planting her goodies, lol. The papers are K&Company Julianne -- sentiment is from Michael's, one of their fabulous dollar stamps -- now THOSE my checkbook don't mind, lol.




This is for 2 challenge blogs ---

Just Magnolia -- a FAB sketch (ok after I posted this I realized I completely missed the boat -- but it's still a great sketch!!!! Maybe I'll be on time for the next one LOL)

Hanglar Only -- Use your favorite stamp. Well, um, ok.....they are ALL favorites!!


Off to pick up my son from his friend's house, then we'll be hunkering down to watch American Idol. I voted for James as many times as they would let me last night ---- he is amazing! He has not had one bad week & every song he performs, I am there on YouTube the next day watching it 10 more times! Love him!!

Thanks for visiting!! Big hugs & good thoughts to all those in the south & midwest affected by the tornadoes --- it may be raining here but I'm thankful it's a CALM rain!

You make life sweet

Hello blog peeps!!

Well I do believe I have not posted since the SUPER bowl on Sunday ----& unless you live in a cave, you know how that went!!!! I *heart* my Green Bay Packers ~~ they definitely deserved this & I look forward to seeing them win it again next year!!!!!!!!

Ok enough football talk ......I wanted to do a card for the Just Magnolia challenge this week --anything goes with the added option of using ribbon ---& I just squeaked this one through!! Even though I only have one Hanglar stamp, I *adore* them & am thrilled that the Magnolia challenge now includes Hanglars!



So here is my card, using one of the adorable Hanglar images my good friend Tammi sent me. She is always sharing her goodies & I just love her for it! So generous --thank you Tammi!

Anyway, Miss Hanglar (do they have names?) was colored with Prismas & cut out --the papers are all K&Company Que Sera Sera edged with Crackle Paint. The heart also has Crackle Paint on it & is sprayed with Glimmer Mist, although I could not get a picture of the lovely shimmer. The sentiment is Amuse ---I was thrilled when my LSS started carrying Amuse although they of course do not have the ones I HAVE to have!




Here's a close up.....she has Stickles on her hair bows, the heart of her apron, & the frosting on the cupcake. Not sure why she's looking so washed out....quick, shoddy photography, I guess. I have been in such a hurry with everything I do lately, everything is being done not very well......sigh...is it better to get everything done at less than 100%? Or to really focus on each thing as it comes & not get around to everything? I'm feeling spread a bit thin these days :(





Here's a close up of the flowers, which I sprinkled with Glamour Dust. Man that stuff sticks to everything! Miss Hanglar has glitter in places nobody ever should!

I actually made this into just a topper, no card base. Some of my favorite stampers make toppers only & I think it's a great idea --that way they can be used on a scrapbook page or put in a frame. I will be listing this on Ebay shortly ---you know ---as soon as I do the other 82 things on my list for today!!

Thank you so much for visiting ---hope you're staying warm!

Laydbug Hanglar

Happy BLACK FRIDAY!! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, & that those who went out early got some gooooood deals!! I bought a couple of things online today but that was it for me! I like sleeping in way too much & it was FREEZING here today. No WAY I was going anywhere!

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know I *LOVE* Hanglars!!! My wonderful friends have sent me images over the years & I just adore them. Imagine my joy when I scored one on Ebay recently!!! And it wasn't even from the Hanglar store ---it was just a random person selling a random Hanglar --& it's mine :)




Ok I don't even know the actual names of any of the stamps, but of course we'll call this cutie Ladybug Hanglar. I colored the image with Prismas......& believe it or not the papers are NOT Basic Grey! They are Wild Asparagus & I've had them for about 3 years LOL! The sentiment is Hero Arts --- I don't have many sentiments but I have 2 sets of the Hero Arts --one regular & one Christmas & I love them. I added a doily that I sponged with SU Basic Gray ink, some Stickles & some flowers.




I keep complaining that I can't take good pics of anything red ---yet what color do ALL my cards seem to have in them?? It's not even a Christmas thing, I just like red. But it has to be darker red, not RED red. For this card I used SU Cranberry Crisp, which was one of my favorites. I think I bought 5 packs lol.

I didn't get much done in the way of decorating today. I've become a Scrooge --I used to love decking the halls & now I dread it. Last year I didn't even put up our big tree --I had the boys put theirs up & that is what I'm doing again this year. Christmas ----bah humbug!!!

You still have a couple of days to enter to win my blog candy. Click HERE to view that post --I will draw a winner on Monday!!

Enjoy the weekend!!

Hanglar witch

I know what you're thinking!! 2 cards in one week --HOLY CRAP!! Well Halloween is my most favorite time of year to make cards & I didn't do nearly as many as I wanted to. And since I don't want to still be making them AFTER Halloween I figured I'd better get my behind in gear!




Everyone knows how much I looooooove Hanglars! I recently was able to purchase one --my very first one, so exciting!! Not this one. This one came from a friend last year who sent me a bunch of Hanglar images. I colored her with Prismas & cut her out, figuring she's look spooky perfect with this paper from Basic Grey. Wow those bats eyes are kinda creepy, lol. They do look ok in person.....but now I may not be able to sleep tonight (well I don't sleep ANY night, but not usually because of glowing bat eyes LOL)






I couldn't get a good photo --the Hanglar looks washed out but the papers look dark. I need to finish the inside so I can get it listed. I know kind of late to be listing Halloween cards ---- but hopefully there are others out there like me who don't get cards sent until AFTER the holiday!

Have a great weekend!!

Hooray for Hanglars!!

Hello & Happy Friday!! I hope you've had a great week!! Nice & warm here....about 50 degrees right now & while I'm lovin' the warmer weather...I could really do without the brown, squishy, muddy ground that comes with it. Can't we just fast forward to GREEN?!!

Speaking of green, I was digging through my Hanglar images sent to me by a good friend recently, & came upon this cutie. I didn't mean for her to look like a leprechaun, but that's what she reminds me of!! Good thing St Patty's Day is coming up!




She is colored with a combination of Prismas & Copics.....papers are SU's Garden Green & Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety (hey, I used all garden papers, lol!)....I added Glossy Accents & glitter to her heart...& sprayed the whole image & the flowers with Pearl Glimmer Mist....this is the first time I've used this (although I have used Glimmer Mist, the Pearl is new to me).....ohhh is it pretty!! So shimmery....




A close up ...hopefully you can see the sparkly heart. Oh & for the first time I used chalk for the background!! My LSS had a 4 pack of chalk for just $1 so I thought I'd try it out....very soft & easy to blend....great for those skies!!




This photo is a bit on the light side but I was really trying to capture the glimmer....so shimmery & pretty :)

Well I'm off....our school dance is tonight & I have a gamillion things to do beforehand. I'm really looking forward to it though...almost as much as I used to look forward to my own dances!! Except now I don't have to listen to all the gossip & drama from my boy-crazy friends.....who likes whom....who was holding hands...he's dancing with who???? I don't like her outfit! Oh the memories....lol...

Hanglar, High Hopes & one heck of a storm!!

Wow...is it really Friday already?? It has been a busy week here.....& this post is going to be long because I have a lot to say :)

(quit rolling your eyes....I know I *always* have a lot to say!!)

First off, my Hanglar card....



It's no secret that I looooove Hanglars! It's also no secret that you can't buy them in the US!! So I rely on great friends to send me images! I'm not sure who sent me this one....but thank you!! It was actually stamped onto a textured paper.....like Bazzill....so it was a bit harder to color with my pencils (not complaining!! I will take Hanglars any way I can get them!). I do like how it turned out, NOT lovin' the green though! I knew I wanted to use Basic Grey Porcelain papers....& I had them in front of me...& some of the papers have lots of green so I colored her jacket to match. In the end I liked these papers with the image but after I was done with the card I thought "Well that looks silly.....there's hardly any green in this paper" lol...oh well, people tell me I obsess a bit too much about matching anyway!

So to keep it short...colored with Prismas....papers are SU's Chocolate Chip, DCWV (sanded the edges a bit) & the BG Porcelain.....Liquid Applique & glitter on the snow....Martha heart border punch....heart Nesties....sentiment from Hero Arts...I doodled AFTER the card was all done....it looked bare....THAT was not the time to doodle! What if I'd messed up? Yes, you can mess up doodling!!




A close up of the bunch o' hearts...I added some punched leaves around it...because it also looked bare...lol..




In High Hopes news.....many of you know a release is coming up soon!!! I have the stamps in my hot little hands & have been trying very hard to find some time to do something with them other than just stare at them. 7 Kids College Fund will be receiving their latest order of HH stamps in the next week or two (this of course does not include the new release......HH is releasing the new stamps later this month). You can find those RIGHT HERE....including the ever popular LUIGI & the PIZZA MY HEART sentiment!!!! Luigi's da man!!!! And because I've been too busy to make a new card with Luigi, I am again posting the one I made last spring....





I also wanted to post another card that I did last year.....because I think this image is also just the cutest for Valentines Day!!!!

This is Sow Soo-eet Piggy.....look at that little chubbykins!!! Looks like me when I'm scarfing down chocolate.....which these days is pretty often!!!





And last but not least......the snow. We got pummeled once again yesterday....it started sometime after midnight & didn't stop until early this morning. Not sure how much we got....does it really matter at this point?? I know you can't tell how deep it is from this picture, but I thought it was funny that half of my wrought-iron heart (you know, that summer item I never put away) was peeking through the snow. The poor thing is suffocating :(






Here's a shot of our front walkway, with part of the flag stuck in the snow...lol....




Next July when I'm complaining about the heat....remind me of these pictures, would ya????


Have a great weekend!!!

Hanglar Halloween

Hello & Happy Hump Day!! I'm apparently still on the mend from my sickness....today I'm extremely tired & my face hurts, lol. This weather isn't helping....it's cloudy & rainy & about 45 degrees.....brrrr....it's too early for this!!

I was going through my images that people have sent me & found this cutie pie Hanglar! I *love* the Hanglars.....each & every one of them are just too cute!! If anyone knows anyone in Sweden or Norway willing to purchase some of these for me, feel free to send them my email address!!! =)



I used my Prismas & gamsol to color her.....& the layout is this week's Sketch Saturday sketch. I had to flip it to make it work but that's allowed! LOL!! The papers are SU's Basic Black & My Mind's Eye. The sentiment is from Michael's back when they had the little wooden stamps 2/$1 a couple of years ago. I used my circle Nesties to cut it out, & added some green tulle, some Primas & a couple of swirls.



That's it from me today....short & sweet!! I'm going to go have a cup of hot chocolate to warm up before I have to go back out in the rainy cold to pick up my kids from school. We picked out books at our school's book fair yesterday, only to find out today we won a $15 gift certificate to use there! It's a good thing we love books & I'm sure the boys will have no problem picking out a couple more!!! Stay warm!!

You're special

Ahhhh....summer vacation. I still feel like crap & we reached a high of about 60 today. We had a storm come through around 3:30....tornado warning & everything. In fact, I believe a tornado actually did touch down in the next town over. Lots of trees down, & power outages. My husband called from work, frantic when he heard a tornado had come through. But we got very lucky. Just a rainstorm....no wind, nothing. We actually had quite a storm overnight as well....I woke up around 3 & checked our basement, it was that ferocious. Welcome to June in Wisconsin!




If you are a regular visitor, you know I *heart* Hanglars. My friend Nikki sent me some a while back.....& they're almost all gone! I've seen some of the newer images & they are soooo cute. *hint hint* I colored this cutie with Prismas & gamsol, & used DCWV papers (solid) & The Paper Studio (pattern). The tag is from a huge container I got about a year ago at Michael's. The flowers were a gift last year from Tina, the owner of High Hopes. I sprayed them with Glimmer Mist......I don't think you can see the shimmer but they are really pretty IRL.




Here's a close up.....I also have a boy Hanglar on a bike...hope to use that one soon....I could add some bandages on his knees & he could be my son!! LOL!!




Here's my attempt at photographing the shimmer on the flower....but it looks like it's just a flower...lol....




My clematis is blooming, but it's very patchy.....I can never seem to do right by this plant. Some say cut it in the fall, some say leave it alone. No matter what I do I just don't get the abundance of flowers that I've seen others get. Well, this clump is very pretty.....just pretend my whole plant looks like this!!

I also wanted to let you know.....for anyone who cares....that by the end of the month I won't be listing cards on Ebay anymore. It has become wayyyy too expensive...all the fees....& now the FREE listing service I've been using since I started listing has decided to start charging per transaction. As well as my cards do on Ebay, I feel I'm giving half of it back....to Ebay...to Paypal...& now to the listing service. So, all my cards will be listed in Etsy from now on. Here's a link to my store. There's also a link in my sidebar. I've had it up & running for a while now, but haven't had much time to get a lot listed. I'm hoping to get a lot more in there in the next few weeks. I thank all of you who have bought from me on Ebay, & hope you will continue to do so now that I have moved! I have a couple of listings left on Ebay, which will end in a few days....& I will still continue to list stamps & other miscellaneous things there.....but my cards will be all Etsy all the time. Thanks so much for all of your support!!!!!

How can it be Wednesday already?

Seriously, how does that HAPPEN? It was *just * Monday.....the kids were groaning about going back to school.....hubby was groaning about going back to work....where did the last couple of days go??

Well I whipped up this card this morning, since I've been working on some High Hopes stuff that I can't show you yet. I had to show you *something*! But.....I didn't realize how PINK this card is, until I was editing my pictures!! Yikes!!! Fluffy cotton candy pink!!!



I know I've mentioned before how much I adore the Hanglars, & how unfair it is that we can't buy them in the US.....but thanks to friends like my fellow diva Nikki, I do have a few images to play with. I was recently blurfing, & saw card with a Hanglar with a STRAWBERRY! Is that one new?? Oh, how cute it is.....hint....hint...for anyone out there that can get a hold of these stamps :)

Anyway, this girlie is colored with Prismas & gamsol. Went wayyyyy overboard with the Basic Grey Bittersweet paper....added some flowers, a flourish, & some pearls. I think it still needs something, like a charm, but that would have to be attached to the flower & no way I'm taking that apart!! I added some mesh behind it & it took a lot of doing to get it exactly how I wanted it, so it's staying put!!! I will just have to be happy with it the way it is.




Did I mention that High Hopes is releasing MORE stamps this weekend?? It's true......more fun stuff is being released this Sunday, & the divas are going to start posting sneakie peekies on Thursday. Watch the High Hopes blog to see who has peeks!! I'm scheduled for Saturday, I'm going to try like heck to do another day but I seem to be moving in slow motion this week so we'll have to see. But I will definitely have something fun for you on Saturday!! Oh, there's also some GREAT news as far as shipping to the US goes......it's posted on the blog right now so go read it!! You'll be thrilled!

In other news....I finally got my sleep study scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd. I was supposed to be there overnight, & then the whole next day, but they can't find anyone to do a day on the weekend. Dumb, huh?? So I'm skipping that part. It's only needed if they don't find apnea, & I'm pretty darn sure apnea is my problem. So we'll see....cross your fingers that I have apnea, I get a mask AND I have no problems with it. I've read about lots of people not being able to get used to the mask so they're then back to square one.

Also, my husband is going back to the hospital next week Friday for another procedure, to find out what's up with his esophagus. Lord help me if he needs another surgery & will be home for 8 weeks again!! Argh!!! Work is still shaky......they did lay off more people on Monday, but not hubby. He said he's almost next in line though, so if any more happen, he'll be on that list. Keep crossing those fingers for us.....I have no idea what we will do if he loses his job. I'm seriously considering getting a pt job at either SuperWalmart or Sam's Club, just for the summer to help with the bills. Working for the school district is great, except for some reason they don't pay you in the summer!!!!!!

Thanks so much for visiting.......& if you're reading this, thank you for listening to my ramblings, lol!! Sometimes a girl just needs to chat!! LOL!!

Hanglar fun

You can tell Christmas is over, because I have time to play again! My friend Nikki had sent me a bunch of adorable Hanglar images a few weeks before Christmas, & I'm happy to find some time to play with some of them. I adore these images, & I'm sure some day soon we'll be able to buy them here in the US!


I colored this lovely gal with Prismas & gamsol & cut her out. I used my Nesties for the olive & white layers, & the white background is embossed with my Cuttlebug snowflake folder. The designer paper is from Basic Grey Mellow, which I happily got at Michael's for 40% off. I'm so thrilled they're carrying at least a few of these fun pads! The sentiment is from Hero Arts, & the snowflake charm is from a stash I scored on Ebay. The Primas in the corner have a bit of raffia attached. Notice the Dew Drops in the corners?? Those were not planned, until I went & did some zig zag stitching & guess what ~~ all 4 corners turned out differently!! LOL!! I hate that, I like everything to match & to be uniform. I'm sure there's some secret formula out there to get perfect corners, but until I figure it out I will be adding a lot of brads/Dew Drops/other bling to my corners! I'm just happy the zig zags turned out straight!! This is the first card I've tried stitching that way & am surprised it turned out okay!!

Speaking of sewing, I bought the Sew Mini the day after Thanksgiving. Hancock had them for $39.99, & they only had one left. It was fate. But I also had my friend's machine, so it sat in the box. Well, tired of lugging around her 1000 pound Kenmore, I finally packed that one up & opened up the box to the Sew Mini. I was shocked when I took it out, how light it is!! This is going to be so much nicer! It's half the size & about 1/100 of the weight! I haven't set it up yet, but I'm anxious to try it out!! That will be my project tonight, after everyone is in bed & can't hear me swearing, lol!!! Seriously, it does look pretty easy & Gina K wrote a great tutorial with lots of pictures on how to set it up & use it, for us non-sewing types. Wish me luck!!

My first Hanglar!

Wow, it feels like it should be Friday, but it's only Tuesday!! LOL!! Not a sign of a week going well. I've been crazy busy with work, helping at school (which is doing pretty much the same thing I do when I'm working, only I don't get paid, lol) & wrapping up Lego League. The competition is Sunday, so we have meetings tomorrow, Thursday & Saturday. The competition is Sunday ~ all day!! We have to be in Milwaukee (contrary to my SCS id, I actually live outside of Milwaukee) by 7:45 AM & the awards ceremony isn't until 5:00. That will be a looooong day, but the kids have worked hard & I'm really looking forward to it.

Anyhoo ~~ on to the reason you visit this blog ~~ cards! Well, A card. This sums up what I have done since Friday, stamping-wise. I love love love the Hanglars & as you probably know, they are not available in the US. So...my wonderful friend & fellow High Hopes Diva Nikki stamped some off for me ~ I couldn't be more thrilled!! The hard part was deciding which image to use first!! I settled on this cutie with her hat & scarf, since we have already seen snow here in Wisconsin.


She's colored with Prismas & gamsol, of course. I really need to work more on coloring in other ways! The rose & green papers are Bazzill Bling, & the designer paper is K&Co Margo. I love this pad ~ the colors are so rosy & beautiful. I think I'll be going to this stack a lot for my Christmas cards. I kept the card rather simple, adding a bit of Stickles to the snow, some ribbon & some beautiful Primas that were a gift from Tina Russell, the owner of High Hopes. The tag came from a big ole box of tags I bought at Michael's about a year ago, this is the first that I've used. Only about 999 left in the box, lol. A bit of faux stitching around the outside of the card & it was done.


Clearly I've slowed up a bit lately in the cardmaking. I'm done on Ebay except for a few I will list during a charity auction to which I donated a card (I will link the auction when it's running). As I've mentioned, I must get going on making some Christmas cards for personal use. It's very hard for me to make cards when I know I HAVE to make them. I get very stressed & un-creative. I feel like throwing all my stamping stuff away. Luckily, the feeling will pass eventually. It better, because Christmas is not going to wait!!