Totally obsessed!

I am leaving in a couple of hours for a week long trip. Things are not ready and I am making another challenge card..... Can we say obsessed. At the last minute I will be staying with the brides grandmother on this trip. Of course I have never met any of the brides family..... So I threw together a gift basket of things from Georgia to take as a hostess gift. The wedding is in Wisconsin

Went to make the card and had the Peachy Keen sketch stuck in my head so here we are.Why I decided to get inspired and do more challenges 2 days before a big road trip not sure but truly hoping my inspiration comes home with me!

Thanks for looking and will see you when I get back. looks like a 250 follower giveaway will be soon!!
hugs, Brenda

Sympathy card

this is the same gate card I have made before as a sympathy card. I just really like the peaceful look. So today's twist was that I alcohol inked some paper for the " garden" This wa in response to the Tuesday tutorial at OWH. I have tried this before but not quite the way she did it. My results were not quite as cool as hers either but I decided that this one actually looked like I wanted for this card.

Thanks again for stopping by.
Have a most blessed day.
hugs, Brenda

Hambo Hoedown

I found this website Hambo Hoedown while looking at challenge submissions at the OWH site Came over and love the digis so snatched myself a free one and entered the challenge. Don't you just love this "cool cat"!
The challenge was to use twine no ribbon(yep that is hard for me lol)

Thanks for letting me play! My granddaughter is going to love this card!!

Live today as if it is your last!
hugs, Brenda

OWH sketch challenge

It has been so long since I have done anything as a challenge (I know with the exception of Getting Cricky) But I am trying to work on my confidence level and sharing things that I make. I love this organization and truly want to get some cards made for them. Every time I think I will make some I see everyone else's cards and can not bring myself to send mine. But if you have been following you know that I am working on this issue slowly but surely.
So I decided to start with a sketch challenge to get moving in the right direction.

I did this first one and had not paid attention to the sizing on the strips. So mine does not quite meet the requirements but I really like the way it came out. Jeff has been bringing me papers from work that were slated for the trash and there is quite a bit of metallic in them. I love it and really like the way it looks on this card. I had a bit of trouble photographing it without making a shadow....

This second card follows the dimensions a bit better......lol

Thank you so much for stopping by.
Remember to Enjoy the process.
hugs, Brenda

Another Simply Sunday Challenge

This week Kristal at Getting Cricky really wrote an inspiring blog post to accompany her Simply Sunday challenge. If you are not a follower of hers you should head over and check it out. Kristal always inspires me to not only be a better crafter but also, and much more importantly, to be a better person.
I am still trying to get the hang of doing some simpler cards. I am just now getting to the point where I have enough confidence to send a card to someone that I do not know i.e. shareacard etc. I get so caught up in making something elaborate that I either only do one or often none at all. So really trying to pay attention to others work and try some things that would make my cards a bit simpler to make but also to convey that they were made with love.
This week the challenge was to use pen somewhere on the project. That is an easy one for me as I rarely make a card without using the pens in my cricut. I have seen cards where they mounted two different papers on a card and made it work so that was the technique I wanted to use. So here is what I came up with.

The papers are from the first smaller paper pad I have ever bought. I really like having these smaller pads so thinking that I will end up with some more in the near future.

Paper from Martha Stewart mat pad brights
The sentiment was drawn on with my Cricut using Amy Chomas gel pens and MTC
The font is brush script mt
The butterflies I bought yesterday at Hobby Lobby on sale so I knew they MUST go on my next card. They are Paper Studio bubble- a- bilities.
The ribbon is also from Hobby Lobby.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog.
Remember that today is only going to be here once so LIVE IT.
hugs, Brenda

Simply Sunday challenge at Getting Cricky

This weeks challenge at Getting Cricky was to make a card that has a "face". I actually pulled out my Create a Critter cart for this one.
My SIL is going through a rough time so I wanted to send her a cheery card. This little zebra just made me smile so hope it will bring a smile to her face too.

Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Brenda

Misc cards from the last few days.

Still really struggling with getting myself in gear and getting into the craft room and getting some things done. I tend to want to plan out the entire project and then go to work. When the reality is that I spend way to much time thinking and not enough time doing. I do not enjoy the thinking part so I need to do a little less of it! When I actually do go and get started I rarely end up with a finished product that is anything like I thought it would be...... thus all that thinking was a waste. What a vicious circle I put myself in.
This first card is for my daughters boyfriend. He is young and a techie so really struggled with what to do.

I really liked the affect of the holographic papers. These were pieces that my hubby rescued out of the trash pile at work. I am so glad he did because it really made for a fun card.

This is a get well card for a friend in my Sunday school class who is having surgery this week. This is a free digi stamp from Birds cards I discovered this blog recently when I decided that I really like working with digi stamps and wanted to get a few free ones to play around with as I am trying to learn to color a bit better. The paper is a bit ragged not sure what is going on with my paper cutter have changed the blade but still ragging the edges I am beginning to think it is yuck paper and high humidity that is the problem. Next payday I am investing in some better paper!

This is one of the four graduation cards I got done. These are the ones that have really left me in a quandary and kept me out of the room. THEY ARE DONE...This is not even close to what I thought I would do but going with it anyway! So hoping tonight I will get myself back on track??
I used a file from the MTC gallery for this card.

Thank you so much for stopping by.
hugs, Brenda

Link up love party with K Andrew

Kristal Andrew of Getting Cricky has a monthly link up party. This is a way to get to know each other and to get inspired through the work of others.... and of course to share a little love! I always love seeing what all you creative folks come up with. So everybody join in because we can all use a little inspiration and a lot of love!
Kristal has asked that I share one thing that I am grateful for. It is so hard to narrow it to one thing but I will follow directions. I am grateful that I was able to cut my work hours for the summer so that I can spend more time with my family and especially my hubby. I am so thankful that he is healthy enough to actually go and do a few things this year. I am thankful that we can have this time together. I am thankful that not only has God restored his health but that he is providing for us while I am working less. Our God is truly an awesome God!

Thank you for taking a few moments to visit me.
Have a truly blessed day and share the love!!
hugs, Brenda




This is the first vinyl I have ever cut for the wall. There a mucho mistakes but I love it. It is on the wall right in front of my computer in the craft room. I learned a lot doing this project and though I see it's imperfections it makes me happy!

Fathers Day

I am so happy with both of these cards. I am blessed to have 5 wonderful grandchildren. I am so very proud of the man that my son has become! It makes my heart dance whenever I am fortunate enough to get to watch him in his role as Daddy. And Chris is absolutely adored by his boys. What greater thing can be said about a man than his children call him hero.
I know that I am not great at "coloring" but I am determined to learn...... These cards used digistamps from Karens Doodles.there is really some cute ones in her store and she currently has a sale going on, so run and check her out.
sorry about the lousy pictures. I left my camera at my daughters so having to use my phone for a few days.

I used MTC to cut and write the sentiment on the tags.
I used bic mark its for the coloring.
The striped paper is a recycled shopping bag.





I absolutely love the versatility of digi stamps!!
I am entering this in the anything goes challenge at Getting Cricky

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my cards,
hugs, Brenda

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Made it my self Monday

I had wanted to post this last week for made it myself Monday but just could not get it together. My son had been up for the week end to help paint the living room and here it is a week later and I am just starting to feel like I am somewhat caught up. So back to the craft room I go!!
I recently posted these on my blog because I was just so happy with them.I had been to a local farmers market and someone was selling some of these tumblers.I had 3 extra at home and all the vinyl so whipped them up to take to the grands. They were just so much fun and a super simple project. They loved them and so has everyone else. I just ordered a case of 30 tumblers!!! I just absolute love it when something so simple will bring out a smile (especially in my my grandkids!)

I used the Curlz font.


Thank you for stopping by.
Live the life you've imagined.
hugs, Brenda

Simple but really pleased.

Had to make yet another sympathy card. The woman it is for is quite dear to me so I wanted something that was a little nicer than what I have been making recently. I used the garden gate card from the MTC gallery. Thank you user 4348! The background paper I printed a floral (Monet ish) I found in google search on a semi gloss paper, the picture does not do the background justice. The roses are from my stash. But what really makes me happy is that I found a simple sentiment that I really like and am sure that it will be used many times (unfortunately)

Thank you for sharing your day with me.

hugs, Brenda

Double duty

Okay fellow crafters I need an opinion before this hits the mail...My hubby said it was just too weird. I kinda like it but then again I am a little odd myself, therefore I ask for your true opinion. I am not asking for critic on the cards themselves but the concept. My fathers birthday coincides with Fathers Day so I wanted to make a dual purpose card. Somehow this evolved out of that thought. I have included sentiments for both occasions going in the corresponding direction. There is no back to the card just 2 fronts with one opening on the side the other longways. Not sure if that is a decent explanation or not.

front of card happy birthday

back of card happy fathers day

this is the card open

Hope the pictures make my question clearer. I really do value your opinion as I have no "touchable" crafty friends. Thank you for taking the time to look and tell me what you think.

Live the life you've imagined.
hugs, Brenda