Trick or Treat!

Wow, two posts in one week!! Only because I had off last Friday & actually made three cards ... so yes there will be yet another posted in a day or two. 

Of course, in order to make 3 cards in one day I had to keep them on the simple side. This Penny Black image was colored with Copics & sprayed with Glimmer Mist (do people still use Glimmer Mist?? I have many many bottles lol). The papers are an old Basic Grey & Pumpkin Pie embossed with a spider web folder. Added & sentiment & a few other little extras & we have a Halloween card!!!! Do people really send cards for Halloween? Well, who cares. I enjoy making them :)

This poor mouse really got Glimmer Mistified! But it's ok, I think the color is Pumpkin something so at least it all ties together lol

Ok, looking at this closeup it looks like the mouse isn't the only thing that got in the way of the Mist. Guess I got a bit carried away :)

~ entering this one into just one challenge ~

Simon Says Stamp ~ Anything Goes {my favorite}


One more quick little tidbit .... and I'm probably the last to know {as usual} .... but I learned that Ms Gina K has an actual store about 10 minutes away from where I work!! I knew she moved from the Madison area to the Milwaukee area a year {or two?} ago .... but I assumed her only shop was online. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across her Facebook page, which led me to THIS Facebook page .... & I knew I had to go. I chatted with her a bit through Messenger to make sure I had my facts straight ... & I went yesterday after work. It's beautiful. The paper ...... ohhhh the paper ... in fact, I think that's how I wound up on her online store page. I needed more white base cardstock & I've only ever bought Papertrey. I decided I was going to give Gina's a shot, & that was before I knew I could just run to her store. Anyway, a few packs of paper later ....... needless to say I will be back. Again .... & again .... & again ....

So, if you happen to be in the Greendale area, she's located right in the Village. It's a beautiful area with many shops & restaurants so you could make a day of it!

The time has come

Well, peeps .... it's here. I've organized enough of my new craft area to actually be able to ENJOY it. I have a few things left to put away .... those things that I'm not quite sure what to do with but if I leave them on the floor next to my desk long enough I'm sure inspiration will hit .... but everything else has a home. 

And, of course I couldn't wait to start playing. It's weird to actually be able to sit in my own area far far away from everyone else & do my thing. I could barely hear my son jamming on his guitar just 20 feet away from me! {Ok, I may have just been ignoring him}...

So ... here is the product of my first session in my new cave:

 I have to say, I was a bit overwhelmed when trying to decide what to use. I had bought a few new stamps before I took my very long break ... & maybe a few when I decided to create my palace & get back into it .... & some dies ... & probably some paper ....old habits die hard I guess.

I wasn't quite up to the challenge of using Copics so I stayed in my coloring comfort zone: Prisma pencils. Oh how I've missed the smell of Goo Gone :) 

I found a new (to me) product at my stamp store, a Stella something pen. It's like glitter in pen form! Don't know if you can see in this photo, I used some on the tips of the flowers & a little on the leaves. I think I should stock up on those! 

I also used Stella on the flower. Just a touch of sparkle, that's all I need :)

And a bit of shimmer on the butterfly, which is 3 layers. I've had this polka dot paper forEVER ... it was in my scrap stash which is something I need to get better about. USE my scraps or LOSE them. I have a whole box & there is just no way that is getting organized! 

Thanks for checking out my first card made in my new happy place! The first of many, I hope! 

Enjoy your week!

Starting the year off right!

Look!! It's only the middle of January & I made a card! 

Here's how this happened ....

Sunday my son drove me to the clinic in town because I was just not feeling well. When he grabbed his scraper from the back of his car (because it's January & we do live in Wisconsin) the door wouldn't shut all the way. He finally got it to at least stay closed & said "good enough". 

Except, it wasn't. The next morning when he went to warm up his car (because it's January & we do live in Wisconsin) ....it wouldn't start. In fact, it wouldn't do anything. Not even a click. *car fail*

And where do you suppose he parked his car the night before??? Right in front of the garage, in front of my car. So not only would his car not start, but he had my car blocked in. 

My husband leaves super early for work, so he was not able to assist us in charging the battery. So Matthew called one of his friends whom he usually drives to ask if he could possibly drive. His answer .... "I hate driving in the snow" .... well duh. Nobody LIKES driving in the snow. But it's January, & we do live in Wisconsin. So he said "Suck it up, Buttercup" & they were on their way to school. 

But that didn't help me get to work. I had no one I could call, no one who could drive me, so I had to call in sick parked in. It actually worked out well for me. I didn't have to go out in the snow & cold, & I was able to catch up on everything I didn't get done over the weekend because I was sick. 

After 20 minutes of chores I was done. lol .... I was still recuperating so I decided I'd better just relax (self diagnosis)   & thought since no one was home it was the perfect time to try to make a card. I didn't think I'd actually finish one! I'm kinda proud of myself. Even though I don't love it, it felt good to sit down & make something all at one time. In just a few hours. Not months. Hours. 

PS --- check out the gauze paper! Gauze paper??? New to me! I have missed out on a LOT of fun things!

And I'm even going to enter this in some challenges:

Deep Ocean Challenge Blog ~ something new 

Shopping Our Stash ~ something new

Inky Chicks ~ anything goes

Simon Says Stamp ~ something new (I'm seeing a theme here)

Penny Black ~ anything goes


Have a great week!

What?? Another card?

Holy hedgehog .... yes, I made another card. It was a few weeks ago .... before I got this CRAP they call a sickness (I call it near-death) .... & I don't remember WHY I had time to make a card. Maybe I was supposed to be cleaning my area & purging, & decided to slack off instead. Whatever. 

These Penny Black cuties are just some stamps I will never ever get rid of. Ever. The colors are really wacked in these photos, must not have been a great natural light day in the abode. My poor hedgie looks blue. He's gray. Really. 

Hey look .... I even used Copics!! I'm surprised they aren't all completely dried up LOL.

And look at the flower .... a little bit of shimmer. Because all flowers shimmer, right? 

In other news .... my son got his driver's license yesterday. As proud as I am of him, I just want to wrap him AND the car in as much bubble wrap as I can get my hands on. 

Don't get me wrong, he is a GREAT driver. It's all the other dunderheads on the road I'm worried about! 

Happy Easter to all!

More than a year later .....

I did it! I was able to sit still long enough (I have crafting ADD) & actually put together a semblance of a card! I mentioned I had bought a gift card for my niece (Xmas gift, since I hadn't seen her since before the holidays) & instead of just handing her the gift card, I thought I'd buy a card to put it into to. Or ... wait a minute ... I used to MAKE cards. She's 13 years old, she might like a handmade card. Or, she just might think it's dorky & stupid. Either way, I gathered what supplies I could find & came up with this:

There are some stamps I will never part with, no matter what. If an unfortunate accident should take away my ability to use my hands, I still would not give up my Penny Black hedgies, my High Hopes stamps, or my Magnolias. I could learn to color with my mouth, right?

So ... after filling a big mason jar full of gummy worms & Swedish Fish (that was the easy part!) & decorating it a bit, I started the hard part. Actually, I have missed coloring. I love to color. However, when it came time to start putting it all together ... well I think that's when I took a coffee break. 

Not only is my stuff in boxes & not organized at all, but I clearly have forgotten the ABC's & 123's of putting colors/ papers/ embellishments together. But it's a hedgie, & a hedgie will look cute no matter what, right?

I did take a picture of the jar, which turned out pretty cute, but as luck would have it my photography skills have also gone by the wayside. Did you KNOW that if you don't keep up with a hobby, you tend to lose a lot of the knowledge & skills needed to bring your "A" game? Anyway, no jar photo.

So .... did I enjoy it?? Will I do it again in the near future?? I have no idea. Like I said, I loooove coloring .... & if I could just color a bunch of images I'd be happy. It's the making-the-image-into-a-card part that trips me up. BUT -- when my niece opened her card, she said "Oh my gosh, it's a hedgie - so cute! Did you make this?" & when I told her I did, she said "I love making cards!!" So there you have it. I now have a niece who loves making cards. If she wants to partake in this craft with me, who am I to say no?? 

However, I think I'll let HER take the pictures :)

A card and a good-bye

I'm sure you were all waiting with bated breath to see this card that I told you I had made a few weeks ago for a very special someone. So here it is ..... don't everyone bombard me with your gratitude all at once :)

I had found this stamp at Michael's just after Thanksgiving & even though I'm supposed to be selling all my stuff - not buying - I knew I had to have it even if I only made this one card with it. 

As you can see my "photographing red" skills have not improved in the least.

I colored the image with pencils & used lots of that furry glitter stuff & the snow stuff - lots of texture on this baby!

I wanted to keep the rest of the card simple & focus more on the way-too-cute image. 

I found the sentiment that I used inside the card in an old winter SU set - something with snowmen. LOL can you tell I'm too lazy tonight to actually go all the way downstairs & look up the proper names of everything? Anyway, this sentiment was 200% perfect for the card's recipient. 


I made this card for my grandma, along with some Christmas cookies, a couple of weeks before Christmas. I'm so glad I did ~ she was so thrilled & was showing everyone my card & insisting they have a cookie. My grandma, who has been there for me my whole life, who taught me so much (including how to bake cookies) & was truly my best friend, passed away Monday morning after being diagnosed with lung cancer just before Thanksgiving. She was 94 (and a half, she would proudly say) years old. My kids & I are completely devastated & are deep in mourning. The anniversary of my dad's death is in just a few days, so that makes this even harder. In her honor, please call someone dear to you & tell them how much they mean to you. Make someone a card, just because. Hug your kids a little tighter tonight. 

~ rest in peace, Grandma ~ I will always love you ~

For those of you who guessed I made a card ....

you are correct! I did, in fact, make a card this weekend. Here's how it went down: 

Friday night I was going through my stamps to see what else I wanted to list for sale. I came across my Penny Black stamps. Ohhhhh how I *heart* the PB's, especially the hedgies! I set those aside & went on with sorting. 

Saturday morning I was up at about 6. I KNOW!!!! How rude is that?! I heard my husband get up to go to work & I just couldn't get back to sleep. So I thought I'd go down & do some more sorting. But then I thought "my kids won't be awake until at least 8:00. That gives me 2 whole hours!". So while I DID do some more sorting, I also decided to make a card with one of my very favorite hedgies. To celebrate the fine spring weather we are finally having!

Please remember I am wayyy out of practice & I have no idea what is popular these days. I don't follow challenges anymore. I rarely get to read stamping blogs anymore. I don't go on SCS anymore, except to post what I have for sale. So I felt a bit blind. But ... I do like how it turned out. I could maybe have used some springier, brighter papers, but .... it is what it is (I've said that a lot over the years hahaa).

I have sold some of my Copic markers, but I'll never get rid of my Prisma pencils! They will always be my favorites. But I think my Goo Gone evaporated, lol - I had just a few drops left in my container & I *know* there was more than that when I last colored!

I even found a dollar stamp from Michael's that I had never used. Spring Fling - yep, spring is definitely flinging around here :)

And in case you want a peek at what I had to work with -- this is just a sampling of what my space now looks like:

If you recall, last summer my son wanted to steam clean the carpet in the basement, but my stuff was everywhere. He said "You have too much stuff! You will never use it all!" & that is the moment I decided he was right. Too much stuff. I hadn't touched it in months. It was time to get rid of it. Obviously I haven't gotten rid of it all, but I've done pretty well. But just try to find some pearls in that mess!!! 

I'll be back in a few days with a really yummy recipe I just have to share with you!

Have a super week!

You are my sunshine

Happy Monday! I know what you're thinking! "What the heck?? It hasn't even been a week since she last posted!" What can I say -- I had a burst of energy & a bit of free time! 

I really wanted to play along with the Sketch Saturday peeps this week & I've also been dying to ink up a Penny Black stamp. Any PB stamp would do, it had been way too long since I've visited my adorable critters! 

This cutie is called Kickin' --- ahhh that's what I'd like to be doing right now! And I'm pretty sure my lemonade (or is that a cherry limeade perhaps) would have a lil shot of somethin' in it :)  The sentiment is from Amuse - I just love their sentiments!

The image was stamped onto Cryogen Shimmery White paper & colored with Copics. I added a bit of clear glaze to his beverage for a bit of shine. The papers are Basic Grey Sultry -- remember that collection? I've really been digging into the paper archives lately! Use what you have, right? I also used SU's Pink Passion since it was pretty much the same exact pink, & for the first time ever -- Early Espresso! I just received my first Stampin Up order in about 2 years. I hadn't even heard of half the colors! I like Espresso -- a nice deep rich brown. Now that I've found it, they will surely retire it. 

I sponged the tips of the pink flowers with Pink Passion & spritzed them with Glimmer Mist for some shimmer -- I was hoping to capture that with my extraordinary photography, but I don't quite think I got it. Perhaps if you click on the picture? 

Besides Sketch Saturday, I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday  -- Sing-A-Long ("You Are My Sunshine" -- yes it's a song!)

The Pixie Cottage -- Cuddly Critters

Make It Monday -- Anything Goes

Hope you all have a super week! I'm about to watch ma MAN do his THANG on DWTS -- nice way to end a Monday :)

Hedgehog birthday

Happy Monday everyone!! Yay for me -- I was able to finish not just my card but my matching envelope as well!!

Long before Magnolia there was Penny Black. I have a slew of PB stamps & they have seen no love lately. In fact, I'm pretty sure I hadn't used this stamp EVER -- what a sin!




This is Hedgehog Birthday & yes I made another easel card! Love these, now that I've figured out how to fold the darn things! The image is colored with Copics -- sorry someone yelled at me lately because I don't list my colors. I put them away as soon as I'm done using them -- & the papers are Bazzill Bling & Basic Grey Two Scoops. Everything is spritzed with Pearl Glimmer Mist for some extra bling!




The sentiment is from Hero Arts -- it's a set of 6 & I use them ALL THEM TIME!! One of my best investments ever!





The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts -- my one & only purchase from them, although I *love* their flowers! Just one of those things I never got around to ordering more of.





Can ya see the shimmer a little bit?? Well it looks gorgeous in real life, you'll just have to take my word for it!

And since I'm so ahead of the game & made the envelope box already, I will be listing this tonight when I get back from my son's baseball game......

Speaking of......gotta run! Have a super week!

Witchy mouse

Good Thursday afternoon to you all!! Gorgeous fall day out here in Wisconsin! In fact we have been having EXTRAORDINARY weather lately!! But wow are we infested with box elder beetles (we like to call them harvest bugs in our house, lol). They are *everywhere*, I can't even open my front door without them dive-bombing my head! They are harmless & I can think of a lot ookier bugs out there.....& it's fun to watch my 15 year old cats suddenly become kittens again with all those beetles flying around!! Hours of entertainment for a feline!



Well my photo didn't turn out that great but I can't spend any more time on it. Reds & purples....my camera hates those colors! I can't seem to get it right in my photo editor either, so it is what it is. The stamp is Penny Black Witchy Mouse --one of my favorite Halloween stamps ever!! There wasn't much to color but I did make it 3D so it was still a lot of work, lol!! If you read my blog you know how much I LOVE to cut (rolling my eyes). Added some sponging & some stitching & a charm.....all very spooky :)




Ok I have about 10 minutes of quiet before my kids come home & a ton of things to do so I'm off! Thanks for visiting, & for being patient with my very sporadic posting!! I appreciate all who visit!!