Fathers Day Challenge

Here is my Fathers day card for My Pink Stamper challenge. The prize is a Cricut Expression. What a prize.

In the good old summer time, oops not summer yet

Can you believe it is nearly 90 degrees here today and I just got the best idea for a Christmas card. Oh well I take the ideas when I can grab them. It was from My Pink Stamper and I gave it my own twist and version. I will post pictures when I get it all put together. Think it is time for some good cold ice tea. Later from Penny and Coleman

Graduation and Get well cards

Here are a couple cards I just finished. Get well card for friend in hospital and graduation cards.

My Crafting Area

This is where I do all my work. Just behind me is my tiny kitchen. But who needs to cook when you have all this fun stuff to play with.

Well another week is here to enjoy. Last week was such a great one. I have learned so much from the different crafters that I have become aquainted with. They have inspired me so much and taught me so many things about all the wonderful crafing stuff I have. I want to share my craft work area with you. Nothing fancy but you make do with what you have. And believe me I dont have much room to work with.

Hey Big Dog card

This is the card I made for Grandson Rob for his up coming birthday and also for the PKchallenge. Think it turned out pretty good.

A New Week

Well this is Monday, the start of another week. What a day, has gone from nice this morning to absolutely miserable this evening. It is raining and windy and raw. Only in Iowa.
I started my day working on making directions for my cards so that if I ever want to repeat them, I have all the cuts and sizes and locations on a form. More of my obsessive compulsive need to be organized and have everything at my fingertips for reference.
Then I went with friend to VA for an eye check up. Which thank goodness he got a good report and doesnt have to go back for 2 months. Then we had lunch at the Village Inn and went to Staples and came home. By then the weather had turned cold and started to rain. Sure glad to be home and inside .
Spent the rest of the afternoon working on reference pages. Think once I get a design and form I like it will go easier, plus if I do then as I am making the project is wont be so time consuming, all the information will be fresh, and I wont have to go back and locate everything. Oh well I love doing it, and will be worth it later on. Between the Cricut cheat sheet and the cartridge indexes I did of all my cartridges, locating what I am looking for is so much easier. Before, I spent all my time trying to find what I needed. Now I locate what cartridge it is in with the cheat sheet and then go to the index for that cartridge and locate the page before I ever open the book.It isnt 100% fool proof but 99.9% so. In just a fraction of the time I know what I want and where it is at and am ready to crank up the Bug.
Well, it is time to shut down for the evening. Everyone have a good one, later, bye.

Embellished Card

Compare the card now after I have embelished it compared to the original card I entered in the NSD challenge.

My Super day of Crafting

Oh my gosh, get me away from this computer. I started the morning with some very productive internet searching to find a good deal on a Zutter Bind-it-All. After watching the Bug Junkie tutorial on Youtube last night on how to make a shape book, I knew I had to have one to give my books the finishing touch to bind them together. Well you know me I dont quite til I have searched and researched and found the most bang for my buck. Got a really good deal with an ebay seller, Flip Flops and Roses, just want I wanted and FREE SHIPPING. Also spent some time researching some of the other products she used. Some I have already and others after reading reviews, will think about. So by 10am I had indulged myself and was ready to start on my shape book.
I had may layout and went to work. Well of course you know me, have to do it wrong first. But her videos were so good and I went right to town. Even figured out a thing or two on my own. I think I could get hooked on these shape books. I have it about half way done. Took me a long time to decide on just what paper I wanted to use and how I wanted it layed out. I love the designing and the layouts and paper choices, and now that I know a little more about my Design Studio, I even like the doing.
I wish when I had started there had been a guide to tell me some of the basic things that make it easier. The first one would have been the cheat sheet that tells you were to find stuff. I am a very organizational type of person so I spent alot of time making spread sheets of each cartridge so that I could look at the sheet and see what it has and what page it is on. When I start I like to have all the info at hand for reference. It has all paid off and led up to my finding all the great tutorial on Youtube.
And along with all this great scrapping and shopping I have been texting back and forth with my oldest son and his wife who are riding a train to California to see their son who has just returned from 7 months in Afghanistan. So far they have been really enjoying the trip. Last I heard they had a 1 hr layover in Albaqurqe, know that isnt spelled right, New Mexico. They should arrive in Oceanside sometime tomorrow. I think he said they should get there about noon. Know they will have a great week out there with son and his wife and little boy.
Well I really think I am going to finish up and go watch some tv. Would rather stay right here but think I have had enough. Later, bye. Couldnt stand it, had to go see how to spell Albuquerque, right. Well guess I was a little off. Good night from Coleman and I.

Rainy Friday

It is one of those dreary rainy kind of days but do have to admit, it was kind of neat sitting and watching it rain early this morning. It was just a nice gentle spring rain. Had my coffee and sat back to enjoy and then realized I didnt go to town yesterday and refill my prescriptions. Oh well , so much for lazy rainy morning at home.
But the good side was I met Michael at the Frontier and we had breakfast together before they leave for California this evening. Know they will have a great time.
But now I am back home and sure like my efforts from yesterday, rearranging stuff. Cant wait to dig in and use it. But alas this is Friday and that means back to the Frontier this afternoon for our weekly Broc soup. They make the best. But I will play this evening, or tomorrow, it is here just waiting for me. Sometimes I think I like the organization of stuff almost as much as the using it. Oh well guess I could have worse faults, well maybe not, it ranks right up there with my bed making compulsion.
So for now, I am watching my soap operas and waiting to go for soup. Catch you all later, bye.

The Skys are getting dark

Well it is Thursday afternoon and the sky is getting darker. I think the rain they have been talking about my get here tonight. But let it rain. All the better excuse to sit and play with my Cricut and see what I can learn now on it and what I can create. Do have a cute idea for a christmas card am going to work on for an example so I dont forget how I think it should go.
I spent the day today rearranging my shelves with my craft supplies. Well I spent the afternoon doing that. I live in a small one bedroom apartment and do my crafting in the kitchen where my computer is. But all my craft supplies were stored in my bedroom. This afternoon, I did some creative moving of shelves and got my craft stuff a little closer. They are in the hallway by the kitchen. This will work. Now if I could just get my paper stash out of the bedroom, but then I would never get up out of this chair. This morning I made the mistake of checking out a great 2 day sale at Joanns and found some great deals. And then I needed to get some more refills for my OMC glue glider and found a great deal. The scrounger I am wasnt happy til I got some free shipping and some good deals. Pays to have plenty of time on your hands.
Well I just wanted to drop in and tell you what I had been up to today. When I get some more cards to show I will post them. Everyone have a good evening, think I will see what I can find for supper and then see what kind of trouble I can get into on here. Later, see ya.

Welded folded shape card

This is the folded cupcake card I made using my Design Studio. I used the weld feature to make the attatched mirror images. Then I also figured out how to do the emblishments for it on the same page. Then I figured out how to position the different papers for the different elements on the mat using the least amount of paper. I had it all laid out and only had to load and cut one time. By golly Ollie, I think I figured it out. Sure glad, really felt guilt for all the money I had spent upgrading my computer to be able to install the Design Studio, plus the price of the program. Never let it be said I give up, will keep trying til I get it or know the reason why.

If my shoulders werent so tired from hunching over this computer trying to get this figured out, I would pat myself on the back. But dont think I can reach it right now. Time for a break, althought I would love to stay here and just keep creating. I think I have CREATED A MONSTER. See ya, love ya all.

What a Wonderful Morning

What a great day this is today. I have been trying to use my Cricut design studio to weld a card. Absolutely no luck. I was so excited about getting this program and so disappointed with it. It is a great idea but there is just no info about using it. However I looked on youtube and found a wealth of info by devoted crafters willing to share their knowlege. I found a wonderful crafter called the Bug Junkie who had a video that covered exactly what I wanted to know. I will post a pic of my efforts when I get it done.
The only problem with all the video tutorial, I could spend all day sitting at this computer. Oh my what a shame, not. I love it here and what I can learn. Thanks to all you great crafters out there. See ya later.

New Button

Found a new button on the tool bar to check out. You know me, I am as curious as Coleman, the cat, when it comes to pushing a new button. Going to publish this and see if it did what I think it will do. Hope to see this on my blog.

"How does my garden grow?"

When I moved to the retirement village here 5 years ago, my wonderful children brought starts of all my plants from my home of 30 years and set me up a little pond to remind me of the one I had. Last fall it develeoped a leak, so this spring I decided to fill it with soil and see if I could have a little patio vegetable garden. I have a tomato plant, cucumber, sweet basil and eggplant in it. I think I am going to try poking holds around the outer edge and planting a beet seed in each hole and see if they will grow. My passion for flowers and gardening is only outranked by my love of cardmaking and scrapbooking. I will try to keep you updated on "how does my garden grow". Bye

Laundry day

This might explain why doing the laundry at my house is a challenge. Coleman, the cat, thinks the laundry cart is for him to sleep in. He isnt picky, dirty or clean, he sleeps on them all, but he does prefer them warm out of the dryer. One of these days I will tell you the story of Coleman and how he came to live with me.

Another beautiful day

Well it is Tuesday afternoon and another beautiful day. I didnt get anymore of the challenges from this weekend done, but I am so proud of the fact that I did complete 6 of them. I got so many good ideas from everyone, I just couldnt believe the creativity and ideas people had and used. They gave me so much food for thought, and I hope to do the other challenges even though the contest is over. I have some good ideas sketched out, now just have to make them. See ya

Off to Bed

Well I feel like I have accomplished alot today. I completed 4 more of the challenges, now have 6 out of 12 done. Have til midnight tomorrow night to finish them all. Dont know if I will be able to do it but I sure have enjoyed myself. Think we need to do NSD once a month, just to keep my juices flowing. Coleman, the Cat is a little upset with me, he cant understand why he cant help make the cards too. So I have everything packed up, put away, and now it is time for he and I to head off to bed. Sleep tight everyone. See ya.

Challenge #11

Challenge #8

Challenge #9

Challenge #5

Beautiful Sunday Morning

Well I am up, the coffee is brewing and I am ready to jump right in and start on the rest of the challenges. I have three done, only nine more to go by midnight Monday night. I am going to acomplish it just for me. To win a prize would be nice, but to actually have made 12 things with my Cricut, when I havent made that many in the whole year and half I have had it. I have to thank Pink Stamper and all her great followes for the ideas and inspiration to just get in there and do it. And so many ideas and techniqes that I would never have known, Provo Craft you could take a lesson from these guys about teaching us how to use your products. I love you all and my little green bug, and my family, friends and most of all Coleman, my cat. Gonna get my first cup of joe and start in. Hope the camera is charged and I have lots to show you by the end of the day. See ya.

Challenge #7

This for Challenge #7. I made it for my great-grandson to give to his dad for fathers day. He has just returned from Afghanistan.

I am Pumped

I have finished two of the challanges for the NSD. Got the first one loaded but as usual the batteries are dead in the camera so will have to wait to download the second one I got done and enter it.
This is so much fun. Cant believe what I have been missing out on all this time.
Coleman, the cat, is trying to help me, so cardmaking is a challenge of its own.
Later, GP

Challenge #2

Here is my entry for challenge 2 using scraps.

Facebook | My Photos - Wall Photos

Facebook My Photos - Wall Photos

Good morning

Well it is Sat morning and I am up and raring to go. The coffee is perking and the computer is warming up, Coleman has had his morning treats and all is right in our world. Got to be at Chris's at 8am to watch Colten while they help friends move. Will be an all day thing. Then home to take part in my first National Scrapbook day. Dont know why I am so excited about it other than I love anything to do with paper, and it is learning to do something new on the computer. Oops, coffee is done, gotta go get a cup. Catch ya all this evening. Bye