Happy Easter

I had my whole family over for Easter dinner.  Here are a couple pictures with my 2 girls, Joe (Brittni's boyfriend) and my nieces and nephew - Chelsea, Spencer, Autumn, Chloe and Myah.

WOYWW 199

My poor desk is embarrassed that another WOYWW has rolled around and it doesn't have many changes.  I do have proof that I have been doing something though.  I also have my sob story.  :-)
First let me share with you the website where the lovely Julia brings us together on Wednesdays to show off our work area Stamping Ground.

Now for my sob story.  I'll keep it brief.  My kids moved out.  The oldest one quite a while back; the youngest last November.  Due to unforeseen circumstances they both moved back in and one of them brought a boyfriend, 2 cats and a rabbit with her.  So I went from empty next to overflowing tree.  I knew that I would pay for all the peace and quiet.  :-)  But my craft room is staying in tact so I can live with the extra bodies.

Here is my poor pitiful desk:

And here is proof I have been doing something:

I hope everyone has a great day and be inspired.

WOYWW 197 - Quite Neglected

It is Wednesday once again - they come so quickly!  Although I have been doing some crafting, my desk has been quite neglected.  I've been stamping images and coloring them.  At some point they will become cards.  :-)

If you would like to join in on the whirlwind of work desks on Wednesday tour go here:  Stamping Ground where Julia brings everyone together.

Have a great day and be inspired.

Sister Act Design Team Post - My Submission

There is a new challenge blog called Sister ActCard Challenge and this is my submission for their design team call.

This is my favorite card - right now:

The ladybug is a digi stamp.  I forget where I found this digi.   If I find it, I will update this post.  I colored the ladybug with colored pencils from Faber-Castell and used a Stampin Up blender pen to blend the color.  The googly eye came from a big pack of googly eyes from Michaels.  I adhered different sized black cardstock circles on red card stock and ran it through the Big Shot using  the Stampin Up chevron embossing folder.  I used black and white twine to decorate the card.  I just love the way she turned out.  :-)  And yes - I am assuming she is a girl.  LOL

This is my next favorite card:

This kitty is another digi stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps.  I colored the kitty with Copic markers.  I created the stripes using the markers.  I used Authentique paper for the background.  The tag with 'Love you' was created using the Silhouette Cameo.  I inked the edges of all the cardstock, placed them on a card base and added three buttons.

And this is my last card for my entry:

 The stamp is from the House-Mouse.  I used Spectrum Noir markers to color this cute little image.  I adhered the stamped image to some cardstock.  The tag was cut out using the Silhouette Cameo and stamped with a happy birthday sentiment.  I added some bling and put on a card base.

I like to create all different kinds of cards and often times am inspired by the cards of other crafters.

If you would like to get more information about the Sister Act Challenge Blog go here:  Sister Act Card Challenge

I can be reached at april(underscore)storyathotmaildotcom.

Have a great day and be inspired.

Less Is More - Spots and Stripes

I like all kinds of cards.  I like to color, cut, emboss, stamp, sponge, die cut, mist and anything else you can come up with.  One type of card I am drawn to lately is the CAS card.  So this is my entry into the Less Is More weekly challenge going on here:  Less Is More

 

I used a Hero Arts background stamp for the stripes.  I used a Stampin Up splatter stamp from the French Foliage set and the sentiment is from a Unity Itty Bitty stamp set from stamp of the week.  I used Distress Inks in the colors of peacock feathers and ripe persimmon.  If I'd been thinking I would have used a sentiment from Inkadinkadoo with quotes from children,  I like the one that says 'If you're feeling blue try painting yourself a different color.  Hannah Cheatem age 8  I will make another one of these cards with that sentiment to donate to OWH.

Have a great day and be inspired.

P.S.  It is hard to photograph a card that is mostly white.  :-)

WOYWW 197 - A BIG Mess

It is once again Wednesday and this week my desk looks like a hurricane went through.  I worked on cards this weekend for Mother's Day and for a 10 Minute Craft Dash Challenge.  If you want to see work desks from around the world and spend the next week checking out some awesome blogs - visit Julia here:  Stamping Ground

Meanwhile here is my messy desk and my new purchase for my alcohol markers.

I found 2 of these divided wood crates at Joanns and thought they would be a pretty way to store my ever growing collection of alcohol markers.  I am a mix and match kinda gal and I have Copic, Prismacolor and Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  This way I have them organized by color and I can easily carry them upstairs to color while I watch TV.

Have a great day and be inspired.

My March Swap Cards - CASE the Beach

Here is my latest attempt at CASEing Michelle Zindorf.  I haven't decided if I'm happy with the results of not.

You can see her card here:  Michelle Zindorf

Here is my rendition:

I made some more without coloring the umbrella green.

I used Stampin Up Tempting Turquoise, but was unable to drag my ink pad across the cardstock to get the sky and the water.  I sponged in order to get the sky and water.  I wanted sun so I added the sun with Stampin Up Daffodil Delight.  I used a Hero Arts Stamp and Cut set for the umbrella.  I tried stamping the umbrella from the Rain or Shine set from Stampin Up, but my blue background was too dark.

Have a great evening and be inspired.

10 Minute Craft Dash

Here is my entry for the 10 Minute Craft Dash at Pretty Pink Posh

It is kind of hard to see, but there are music notes in the background on the green.  It took me 5 minutes and 44 seconds to create this card.

Go check it out - I wish all my cards took 10 mintues or less to make.  :-)

Have a great evening and be inspired.

CASE Michelle Zindorf - Sympathy Card

Okay (because every sentence should start with Okay) - I don't remember exactly what CASE stands for, but my understanding of the acronym is that you find something you like that someone else did and you copy it.  So here is where the original idea came from because I want to give credit where credit is due:  Michelle Zindorf's Card Tutorial

And here are my two versions:

I like hers better.  :-)  Her crafting is way more sophisticated than mine, but I will get there.

Have a great day and be inspired.

WOYWW 196 - A New Treasure

What is on my work desk this Wednesday is a new treasure.  I've seen them on other work desks and thought what a great idea.  I knew my Mom had one and since she doesn't throw anything away - I asked her if she still had it and if she did - could I have it?  She still had it and now it has been passed down to me.

But before I reveal my new heirloom - if you want to see other work desks from around the world and spend the next week perusing awesome blogs and getting wonderful ideas go here Stamping Ground
where Julia is having a big snoop party.

Here is my new treasure.  This is the manual typewriter that I first typed on.  And that I used even while I was taking typing at school on an electric typewriter.  Mom said she thinks she paid $25.00 for it and that she had to work about 100 hours to pay for it.  It is 'portable' and I have the case and the original documentation that came with it.  I just LOVE it.  :-)

   Have a great day, enjoy your treasures and be inspired.

OWH - 21 Down and 7 Short

Well I didn't quite make the 28, but I finished 21 cards.  I'm sending them out tomorrow.  Hopefully I will make up the 7 cards in the month of March.  Which means I better get busy because I need to send them out on the 26th.

Here are a few more of the cards I made:

Have a great day and be inspired.

Progress on Cards for OWH - 16 down 12 to go

Well I did make some progress yesterday on my card marathon.  I've decided what ever I get done today, along with the 16 cards that I finished yesterday, is going in the mail tomorrow.  I need to start my Mother's Day Cards because those need to delivered to OWH by March 31st - no procrastinating this month.  LOL

Here are some samples of the cards I made:

I am linking this up for Sketch 161 on OWH.  If it's not too late.  A new sketch has already come out.  I really enjoy the sketch thing.  It gives me a guideline - especially if the mojo hasn't kicked in.  :-)

This stamp is on of my favorite itty bitty stamps by Unity.  I've done it in multiple colors, pink, yellow and orange.  It just makes such pretty cards.

I am particularly proud of this card.  I thought the Stampin Up owl stamp looked like a tulip (minus the feet of course).  So I punched out the owl (cut off the feet - OUCH!) and then punched out the middle of the tulip using the Stampin Up Build a Petal punch.  I just free handed the stems and leaves.  I need to find a vase stamp because I think that would be pretty, too.

Off to make more cards.  I think I can make 12 cards - they may all be the same - but there will be 12 of them.  ;-)  Wish me luck.

Have a great day and be inspired.