State Fair Contest Winner!!!

Today at the Oregon State Fair, I competed in a card making contest sponsored by Craft Warehouse. It was VERY difficult! Each contestant (there were 25) was given an envelope with a card base, a white envelope, four felt flowers, six brads, six strips of paper, and some glue dots. On the table, there is a basket with one pair of scissors (to share between four women), a glue runner, and one marker. On a different table, there are a few paper punches that you can use...although you have to leave the supplies there, so each contestant has to go to that table to use them and then return to their "spot" to finish working. Did I mention that we only had TEN MINUTES to do this? It was incredibly stressful!!! But I can tell you that for all of the stress, it was worth it! I won!!!! Yes, this thrown together card won 1st place. This was one of those contests where the announcer says, "Okay, you're half-way done with the time now"...and then she says, "Two minutes remaining"...and then "ten seconds...everybody count down with me now...ten...nine...eight...seven...etc...." and you can be sure that I was still bending a brad when the count down was at one second. Whew!!! I am just so excited!!! My prize is a gift certificate for $75!!! I had to really show a lot of restraint to not jump up there and give her a hug!!!

This card works for two contests!

This card works for Julee's challenge at Poetic Artistry. Her sketches are always so easy to follow and they always turn out so nice!

And since I used punches on this, then it works for Barb's bingo at Barb's Card Creations!

I used more of the beautiful INFUSE paper from Basic Gray. The background paper is from a Creative Memories set and I used a Michael's $1 stamp here and there, as well as a butterfly stamp from a different little $1 set.

Another Infuse...

This is my second Infuse card with this

incredible paper. I need to go get more!

The stamp is from a Michael's $1 set.

I used my daisy punches to make the flowers, then I popped them out. I was pleased with how well they went with the paper!

Was there ever a cuter card?

This is an incredibly adorable card that I received from M.J. Her blog, Beauty Lies Within, is awesome...be sure to check it out. I've already shown this card off a bit and everybody just ooohs and aaaahs!!! It's incredible. Now I want this stamp set!!!

Can you just see the detail? All of the animal heads are popped out and SO fun! I'm thrilled! Talent abounds!!!

Infuse...isn't it gorgeous?

This Infuse paper from Basic Grey is incredible. I am loving it! We have a new little scrapping store...finally and I could not pass this up. I was practically forced to buy it...my arms twisted so I had no choice but to give in.



I did cut around a few of the flowers and then I slipped the sentiment mat under them.

Nana's Kids paper...adorable!

This tri fold card uses DCWV background paper and the CUTEST little from piece from the Nana's Kids stack. The sentiment is a Michael's clear stamp.

Isn't this paper adorable? I can just imagine so many possibilities with monkeys, elephants, and trains! The colors are fantastic too. Both stamps used are from Michael's clear sets. I used faux stitching because I'm too lazy to drag out my sewing machine...but I love the look of it.

Finally...more!

This is a special Thank you card for a wonderful friend of mine. She gave me the "Nana's Kids" paper stack!!! See the next post for cards made with that incredible paper!!! I love it!

Family reunion!

Well, it's not everybody, but it's most of my hubby's immediate family. We met up in Polson, Montana on beautiful Flathead Lake. My DH is #7 out of 12 children, so the picture you see includes most of his siblings and most of our nieces and nephews, though not all. My tall DS is in the back right in the orange shirt. One of my DDs is smack dab in the middle directly behind the coffee table. My other DS is looking around to see who is paying attention and my DH is right front sitting criss cross applesauce. It's quite the smattering of kids...tons of love and fun all around! My four children have 31 first cousins, 12 aunts, and 10 uncles! (I have one sister and one brother) Grandpa is an only child and Grandma had only one brother!

Here is my youngest DD jumping in the lake. They had such a great time!

Gorgeous wedding card!

Well, I finally made the card I've been wanting to case! I think it turned out beautifully! The gal I made it for really appreciated it too! I cased it from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts. I knew I had to make it as soon as I saw it! The original template is from Jan Tink! Thank you Jan!!! She has the blog Stamps, Paper, Scissors...be sure to check out her fantastic work! Another great example is at Ink Something!

The bouquet on my card is made from tiny stick on flowers that I grabbed quickly at Wal-Mart in Montana!

BIG family reunion...

Did I ever mention that my hubby is #7 out of 12 children? We are in Montana, on beautiful Flathead Lake, for a family reunion. Can you imagine? Last night for dinner there were 49 people...and that ONLY includes Dad, the children, and the grandchildren. Dad has 32 grandchildren at this point...four of which are ours. Not quite all of the grandchildren could make it, but the vast majority did. There are still two more grandchildren coming today, but some of the people had to leave...maybe it will balance. The grandchildren range in age from about 28 down to almost one. There are about five great grandchildren...I got to meet a great niece yesterday and there will probably be another introduction today. One thing about it...there's almost always somebody "your age" to play with so the kids have it made. Our 16 yo son, though, has only girl cousins his age...but they are all just gorgeous and nice and fun! He's not complaining. I'll post pictures when we return home.

Pieced frog...

This frog is made from the teddy bear paper punch...two of them for each frog. The eyes of the frog are the ears of the bear...and the back legs behind are the teddy bears arms (turned upside down). Have you seen the adorable babies that are made from the bears??? Debby made the cutest card! I've made puppy dogs from the bear punch too, but I must've given the card away without taking a picture :c(

Paper Piecing...

I had several special requests for Christmas cards last year so I made custom cards. The cactus was for somebody that lives in Arizona. I didn't have as many "lights" as I thought I had (see the car card), so I ended up making a b'zillion lights out of sculpey and glueing them on. Ugh! I made 35 of these for one order, so you can imagine the pizza pan FULL of sculpey lights baking in the oven!







The car card was for a 16 year old boy that also loves the guitar.
















The dove card was a favorite of mine. I made about 25 for a special order, but I love the way it turned out.







The nativity was also a favorite...but too much work! There were quite a few punches used to assist, but quite a bit of free cutting as well. Baby Jesus is made from the cherub punch.














The "stocking" was just a really fun one I cased...I think from a magazine. Very fun design and fun to make.

Flowery...

I'm experimenting with this one! I stamped the SU image in white Staz-On on the vellum. Then I used the SU craft pads to get enough ink to paint them on the backside. Then I wadded up the vellum several times then ironed it flat again. I added dragonfly brads, dark olive ribbon, and found matching paper in my DCWV cardstock. This is also supposed to fit the bill for the "flowerful" card on the blog "by samm".

I actually tried a sketch!!!

I am giving a shot at Marie's sketch for her sketch #2 challenge. The adorable little duck stamp is new and I've been wanting to use it so this was the perfect chance!

The puddle and the raindrops are embossed and then the raindrops are punched out. (There was a punch requirement).

I made the background paper by using the brayer, two of my favorite SU colors, and then sprinkling water on it. I'm not sure where this card will end up, but I sure think it's cute!






Here's a close up of the adorable duck and the "water".

You can't go wrong with chocolate...

This is my favorite quote of all time! I love making cards with it. I usually add a little clay chocolate kiss, but I thought this card could do without it.

Penelope is growing!

Oooohhh...look at me! Linzi decided I needed a hairdo!










Here's my pose for you...


I am a lionhead/lop mix, and I'm just stinkin' cute!!!