What's on My Kitchen Counter

The new Can You Digi It? challenge is Not A Creature Was Stirring where the creations should have a creature and be about the holidays. I decided to go with another verse from The Night Before Christmas and use the super fun Betty Edwards Reindeer image available in the store. I am sure you could use one more holiday card or you could get a jump on next year or you could even make a New Year's card - but it must have a creature. The prize is a gift certificate to the CYDI? store. Other supplies used include the Tim Holtz Pine Tree die, Poppystamps Grand M. Window die, CB snowflake EF, SU! Dazzling Details, and SU! paper. Hope you are close to getting done with your holiday planning, shopping, etc. I am finding all kinds of things I forgot so I am in a small panic - LOL! My computer is acting up too - it is redirecting me to sites that I don't punch in and my security software says there is no problem - I am going to have to do something soon as it is driving me insane

Today's Featured Stamper at SCS is GailNM and I picked her Winter Chickadee card to case. I used the Cardinal on Branch from Pattie's Creations and layered it on a Delicous Doodles image. I am entering this card in the Pattie's Creations Challenge #58 - Red and Green. My DD needed a thank-you card for a neighbor who helped her and her boyfriend move some dirt. He used his tractor and saved them a lot of time. I love this Tim Holtz pine tree die! Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Hugz!

I had some time to participate in the Teapot Tuesday Challenge at SCS this week. The goal was Christmas images with a touch of pink and our creations are going to bring some Christmas Cheer to someone who needs a little more Christmas Spirit. If you have never participated in this challenge, you should consider it ( HERE is the link to this particular one). Every week the story is so fun, the pictures are inspirational, and there is always an optional destination to send your card (they go to bring love, encouragement, and cheer to someone). The group sent my MIL cards when she was in her last months, and I can't even express the joy it brought her. The cards that were sent were all beautiful and she kept them in a basket by her recliner. She told everyone that she had new friends from all over the world, and she would smile when she showed them to everyone. She even kept the envelopes so she could tell everyone what country or state or city they were from. Few things brought

There's Magic in the Air/Paper Cupcakes has a new release image called Little Snow Friend and you can get it free on the blog if you snag it fast. If you are too late, you can pick it up in the store along with tons of other wonderful fun images. i just love that cute little snowman on the big snowman's arm! The challenge running for the next few weeks is Anything Goes with a Christmas or Snowman theme so it is a great opportunity to make another Christmas or Winter card. Hope you will join us for a chance to win some free Paper Cupcake images. I sure enjoyed my Guest Designer spot with There's Magic in the Air/Paper cupcakes - that Nina is one talented artist. Hugz to all!

The CAS challenge on SCS is celebrating its 200th challenge with a big birthday celebration during December. There are lots of challenges that posted this weekend and they run through December. Challenge C is to use the Dazzing Diamond Dust technique. I couldn't get get to my Embossing supplies due to the continued remodeling in my craft room, so I had to cheat and use glossy accents and some Dazzling Diamond Dust. If you are interested in joining the challenge here is the link and the code: CAS200PARTYC . I used my very favorite stamp set from SU!, Wild Wild West. It retired several years ago and I totally love it. I needed a birthday card for my niece, Holly. She loves horses so I focused just on the horse in the canyon scene. I had to cut out DA MAN, but he can't ge the star all the time - LOL! This card was done for the Featured Stamper challenge at SCS. This week's Featured Stamper is Mayodino. I cased her card here . This is for my husband's birthday

It's time for the newest Can You Digi It? challenge: Baby It's Cold Outside . I had to use my imagination because here in Central Alabama it is still pretty warm. I am hoping for some cold weather soon - we have to kill off those bugs! I used KiniArt's Baby image all snuggled up for winter in some great Delightfully Distressing Designs Winter Wonder digi paper . I am entering this card in the following challenges: For Fun Challenges - Christmas Sparkle (there is sparkle in the centers of the snowflakes on my dp that I added with Stickles) Challenges4Everybody - Anything Goes I had so much fun with the Delightfully Distressing Designs paper, I decided to do another card using Betty Edwards' Winter Cocoa image. You don't have to use a CYDI? image or product to enter, and the challenge prize is a $10 CYDI? gift certificate. Hugz!

I was able to make several cards this weekend - hope you had a productive weekend too. I found some extra time in some unique ways: *I made a pasta salad and forgot to take it to a crop so didn't have to make dinner Saturday night. *I bribed my youngest daughter to put up the Christmas trees. *Today I got some hair die in my eye and had to flush it out for awhile so I was able to skip the weekly grocery trip and a shopping trip to Birmingham (of course it made it hard to see my cards - LOL - but now I am fine so don't worry). These are a few cards I made with my found time: I am still in love with this fun Whimsy Stamps image done by Liastampz (Aisha with Friends is the name I think)! I was inspired by THIS card done by Sharri (sseffens on SCS). Sharri's card is such a darling card, and I tried to capture her fun style and use of color. I am entering this card in the following challenges: Pile It On #49 - Pile on the Embellishments Stampin' for the Weekend

It's time for the New Release Blog Hop at Dude Time Doodles ! I am thrilled to show off Elmer Elf - just one of the four new images. I love them all and plan to make Christmas cards with every single one of them. Be sure and pick them up soon in the store if you like them because all the Dude Time Doodles Images will be retiring in the next few weeks - sniff, sniff! If you came to my blog from Sharon's amazing blog you can continue on to Mags who has another wonderful creation to show you. Dude Time Doodles blog hops are easy as you can hop on at any point and just continue around. Be sure and leave comments because one of the DT members is the mystery host/hostess and one of the commenters on their blog will win free images from the store. Hugz!!

Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle is the theme at Paper Cupcakes/There's Magic in the Air . I used the lovely Angel image and added sparkle everywhere even though you can't tell from this picture. I should have redone the picture, but I gave the card to my boss when she was ordained as an Evangelist last week. She loved it. There is sparkle on the halo, the wings, and the raised parts of the embossing on my panels. Hugz to all!

I am so excited to be able to play in the Octopode Challenge this week. The theme is "words." I couldn't resist digging out Capt'n Jack. I googled Pirate and Christmas and found this fun little saying - not exactly sure what it means, but the person I am sending it to will love it because she loves anything with this Capt'n Jack image on it. I am also entering this in this week's Dilly Beans challenge which is Anything Goes. Ho, Ho, Ho and a Bottle of Rum (for the Eggnog right? - isn't that what a Pirate would say at Christmas?) Hugz!

I had planned to have all my Christmas cards done by Thanksgiving so now I am in a full blown panic - LOL. I made 6 of these cards so I am feeling a bit better. I put lots of glitter on this so it would qualify for the F4A144 challenge on SCS which is GLITTER! I love this Rubber Stampede image - makes me smile everytime I see it. Hugz!

Today's Inspirational Challenge at SCS has participants visiting GelaSkins to get inspiration from one of their wonderful works of art. I selected this great work from Namami Cowdroy for my inspiration. I used the SCS#412 for my layout. My image is from Whimsy Stamps - I just flipped the image so that it would look like two cozy fish. The current Whimsy Stamps challenge (#53) is to use traditional Christmas Colors and I am entering this card in that challenge. Another Christmas card down - 29 more to go!

Can You Digi It? is having a 25% off Thanksgiving sale starting today and ending on November 30th. EVERYTHING is on sale so you need to stop by the store and check it out.

At Dude Time Doodles , the challenge this week is Happy Holidays. This is a great challenge theme for me because I have a bunch more Christmas cards to make. The prize for this week's challenge is a $50 certificate to Its Cheaper than Therapy.com (OM - you have got to check this place out if you love die cuts and Sizzix - which I do). I used Lure 2 on my card. This image is soooooo cool and it is only 49 cents. You can use it so many ways and it works great for a fisherman. I showed it to my Bunco group last night, and they all flipped over it! Can't you visualize how fun it would be with hearts on the little hook instead of snow for Valentines? I am in a CAS mood lately (must be due to the fact that I still need a zillion Christmas cards. I am entering this card in the Addicted To CAS challenge #1 (ATCAS#1). If you don't know about this new challenge blog, you need to check it out. Their first challenge has the code word SNOW. The guest designers are some cr

Today starts the newest Can You Digi It? Challenge and it is "Clean and Simple." I use to run when someone said CAS, but now I love it. It is a challenge for me though as I love me some layers and paper and embellishments. CAS is super easy when you have a great image and some awesome paper which I just happened to have. I used one of the Christmas Ornaments out of the LilyPink Christmas Baubles set and layered it on top of some of my favorite Walk on the Wild Side Digi Paper from Green Goddess Creations. To make the circles pop a bit, I colored them with a light Copic Marker and then I covered the outline of one of the circles with some Zva Crystals out of the Crystal Wheel which is still unbelivably priced at $3.50 for a ton of crystals in various colors. I still have a bunch of Christmas cards to finish up so I totally love this challenge! I need a few birthday cards as well so I may make this a CAS weekend coming up. If you are celebrating Thanksgiving, I

At Dude Time Doodles , it is Guest Designer/Freebie time! These pilgrims are the free images available. Aren't they fun? If you want to enter the challenge, you can get them free so you can create something fun with them right before Thanksgiving. Kenny is debating doing Fried Turkey for Thanksgiving because he says cooking oil prices have risen this year. I told him that when people wait all year for Fried Turkey, he should not be a cheapskate. He smiled so I think we will still get it this year! Yay! Hugz to you all!

Paper Cupcakes is letting me be a guest designer for November and December - fun, fun, fun! The company has some super fun images so this should be a fun 2 months. The newest Paper Cupcakes/There's Magic in the Air challenge is to use this fun Snowmen with Tree image AND to include at least one snowflake on your creation. This cute image is free for short time on the There's Magic in the Air blog so head over there quick, grab it, create something magical, and enter it in the challenge. What a super free image, and you may win a free image if you win the challenge. If you are too late for the free image, there will be a link to the store so you can purchase it and still play in the challenge. Here is my card: I used some rusty metal stars from Hobby Lobby instead of snowflakes but stars and snowflakes are very close cousins don't you think? I love the image so much that I made a tag too: Hope to see you in the challenge! Hugz!

At Dude Time Doodles , the challenge this week is Fall Colors. I had to think a long time about what great image to use. I finally settled on the Who Brought the Broccoli image. I needed to make some lunch for a friend who just had surgery so I made some Broccoli Cheddar Soup and decorated it with this totally fun image. Here is the container and loaf of bread. Here is a closer picture of the top. This Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup gives Panera Bread's soup a good run for its money. Here is the recipe: 2 16 oz packages of frozen chopped broccoli 2 10.75 oz cans of cheddar cheese soup 2 12 cans of evaporated milk 1/4 cup of finely chopped onions 1/2 tsp solt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese bacon bits Combine all the ingredients except the shredded cheese and bacon bits in a slower cooker, cover, and cook on low for 8-10 hours. About 30 minutes before done, add the shredded cheddar. Garnish with bacon bits when served. Serve with really good bre

The current challenge at Can You Digi It? is to use our Favorite Critter. My favorite critter changes constantly - last week it was one of my cows and then it was a cute dog from a picture someone sent me at work - usually is is an adorable dog. My favorite critter image right now is this adorable Kiniart image from Can You Digi It? called Westie Santa Moon . I love how the Moon looks like Santa and the Westie looks so expectantly at Santa - just precious. I am entering this in the following challenges: Pile It On #45 - Make It Sparkle Sweet Stampin Challenge - All that Glitters O LLCB - Christmas Crafts and Me #106 - Bling It Up Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Anything Goes ClearlyiStamps - Critters So grab your favorite critter image and join us in the Favorite Critter Challenge at Can You Digi It? If you need a new critter image there are a bunch of them including this adorable Westie image I used in the Can You Digi It? store . You should also check out the o

This week's Teapot Tuesday challenge on SCS MMTPT223 is all about making an outdoors card for a very wonderful destination - to let Charlene's (Crystaldolphins on SCS and a former Dudette on Dude Time Doodles) Dad know that others are thinking of him while he goes through a really tough time. One of the suggestions was to use deer so I instantly thought of this wonderful deer image fron Delicious Doodles. I used the Sweet Sketch Wednesday Sketch #178 and I am entering the following challenges: Teapot Tuesday - Outdoors Card Delicious Doodles - Embossing Sweet Sketch Wednesday Sketch #138 - Sketch All Sorts Challenge - For Men Only Hugz to all and special hugz to Charlene and her parents!

I am crazy about Cupcakes so the Paper Cupcake Images are perfect for me (except when I see them they make me want real cupcakes - LOL). I just love this Christmas Cupcake image . I had fun popping up the layers on the candy on this one, and I used a fun ribbon that came on a package I received lately. My papers are from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) and come from a Christmas stack (my mother and I both purchased a stack yesterday). Only 50 more Christmas cards to go!!! I am entering this in the Paper Crafting Journey Ribbon or Twine Challenge . Hugz!

My fellow Punchkateer, Audrey (aka AudreyAnn) was selected as Queen for the Day on the QFTD challenge at SCS so I had to case her. I looked and looked through her cards and it just became overwhelming as she has 8 kajillion great cards. I finally just closed my eyes and picked one (click HERE to see it). I love all her colors and the card shape, but for some reason I just went with simple and white). Audrey is one of the most talented paper crafters out there and she is sooo sweet. I could go back and pick 100 cards to case, but I would not be able to do them justice. I am thrilled that she was able to inspire others this week by allowing us to case her past work. Special hugz to you Audrey! My image is a digi from A Creative Need (available at Can You Digi It?). Yesterday, I was able to make several cards AND take a nap - what a wonderful day! This is one of the cards I was able to make. I am hoping you all had a productive weekend. HUGZ!!!

At There's Magic In the Air with Paper Cupcakes , Shirley thought it would be good for people to celebrate Pink at least one more time with a "Pretty in Pink" Challenge. Extra points are given if your card is obviously for someone who has battled or is battling Breast Cancer or represents Cancer Awareness. I started out along those lines, but as my card progressed, it became a card for my friend Carol who just had a serious and very new kind of back surgery which is allowing her to stand up straight again! We are so excited because she hasn't been able to stand straight in over a year. Actually the card changed again after I made it because as I loaded it, I realized it needed something else so now it has a heart shaped pearl in the middle of the paper pierced heart (don't you love the new SU! paper piercing template? - wish you could see it better). I used the new Spoonfull of Sugar image available at Paper Cupcakes. I am entering this in the There's M

Exciting News! Dude Time Doodles just turned TWO! As part of the celebration, the store is offering ALL Christmas images at 50% off from October 31, 2012, through November 13, 2012. That is super exciting! For our month end Blog Hop, the Dude Time Doodles design team has created some fun items showing off some of the great images in the 50% off sale. I used Kris Jingle - isn't he fun? You probably arrived at my blog from the Dude Time Doodles Blog (if you didn't you might want to check it out), and next on the hop after me is Sharon . She has created a SUPER FUN card using one of my favorite images! Be sure and check out all the design team creations and stop by the store and pick up one of your favorite images at 50% off (one of the DT members is the mystery hostess and will have some candy so be sure and leave comments when you visit).

Dude Time Doodles is sponsoring Pile It On - Challenge 44 For the Birthday Boy this week so I just had to participate! I have been looking for a fun reason to use Leif Blower . Leaves are everywhere around here this weekend as the wind has been crazy. Good thing my DH has a tractor with a rake and a brand new leaf blower. He pointed out that his leaf blower is red and not gray like on my card, but I told him that red didn't go with the Fall colors I picked out for my card. I used the Seems a Little Sketchy Sketch for my card because it is such a fun one. My daughter told me it doesn't look like a birthday card on the front, but birthday presents make a great harvest! I know this because I am harvesting them now (my birthday is Thursday) - today I got a Press and Seal from my youngest daughter - I have been playing with it and it works great. I am entering this card in the following challenges: Pile It On - #44 For the Birthday Boy Seems a Little Sketchy - Sketch #24

This week at Dude Time Doodles it is like Homecoming! A bunch of our wonderful Guest Designers from the past, former Design Team Members, and current Design Team Members all played with the same two images. It is so fun to see all the different ideas everyone had for the Great Punkin and Dedazzled Beth images. I played with Bedazzled Beth because she is so confident and fun! I plan to play with the Great Punkin later this week. Hope there is a little magic in your life this week! Hugz!

The newest Can You Digi It? challenge is is Giving Thanks. The inspiraton board is incrediably fun: I zeroed in on that turkey as I am seriously craving one of my hubby's fried turkeys! He does such a wonderful job with them and makes at least two every Thanksgiving so I always get plenty! I used the fun new Betty Edwards Turkey image available at Can You Digi It? I realize now that I should have colored the garnish green so it doesn't look wilted, but I am going with this anyway as the friend I am sending it too will laugh even more because of the wilted garnish. My bg is a page out of a recipe book. For those of you who are wondering what the inside says... "It is all about the best ingredients, a good recipe, and just the right amount of time in the heat." Hope you are all having a wonderful week! Hugz!

At Dude Time Doodles it is inspiration week, and this week the inspiration is Halloween. I used Pumpkin Head Hal because he is soooo cool and devonaire. This image is so versatile! You can see I printed out and extra head and pumpkin to use on the card as well. I have to warn you that his bow tie doesn't look like this one. The bow tie underneath is very elegant ( see it here ), but I had a little mishap and had to draw a larger bowtie to cover it up. I like the larger one too - it adds a bit to the humor of the card. Come join us at Dude Time with your Halloween inspired Dude card. The winner receives two free images from Pattie's Creations (our wonderful sponsor who has some seriously awesome images - yes I am addicted to them as well) and the admiration of Dude and Dudettes from around the world (literally). I am also entering this in the following challenges: Papertake Weekly - FRIGHT NIGHT ,,,,,,,, BOO !! :-) Alsorts challenge blog - Too Cute to Spook Hugz t

This week my sweet friend Shirley Quarry is the Queen for the Day at SplitCoast Stampers. To honor Shirley, I picked this card to case. If you are not familar with Shirley's work check out her blog My Pinkie is Inkie in Boxertown . Shirley has a fun style, a big heart, and lots of talent! I selected the card I cased because I loved her image and the way she framed it. I used a teacup image from Pattie's Creations , and tried to keep the same style of framing that Shirt (Shirley's fun nickname) used. My paper is from Free Digital Vintage Stamps , my border around the image is made with cut up mini doily dies from MFT, the rolled roses are mini dies from MFT (I purchased both MFT dies from Can You Digi It?), and the folliage was punched using Martha Steward punches. This card was made using the bats from the Batty Tiddly Inks image and papers from GCD (Parisan Nights) and the Haunted Paper Pack from Green Goddess Creations (I digitally changed the color). I cased t

It is Freebie/Guest Designer week at DudeTime Doodles . You can get this Tyler Tailback image free if you enter the challenge and make a card for a Dude with it. The winner of the challenge gets to be next month's guest designer and hang out with the Dude and Dudettes! How cool is that? So rush right over to the blog and join us! Hugz!

If you are looking for the Can You Digi It? post, it is here . My sweet friend Marisa makes the coolest cards and sometimes they call me and say,"Hey Nancy, come make a card using this sketch too." That is what happened to me yesterday when I saw this card . I love her clean lines and the lovely patterned paper, and that sketch is so fun. I thought about it all day and decided to do one myself last night. I started with a white card base like Marisa, but then I never got another color and this is what happened. I love this JUGS sketch! I am entering this in the JUGS#157 Sketch challenge . I love rolled roses and these fun efs (Sizzix and SU! and the dies are from Cheery Lynn and MFT). Since I had my ef collection out and needed another birthday card, I played in the CAS challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. The theme is Plaid so I used my new SU! Big Shot Holiday Frame ef, added a punched sentiment and some gems (from the Zva Crystal Wheel which is available at CYD

The new Can You Digi It? Challenge is called Creepy and Kooky - how fun! I used the LilyPink Designs Halloween Scene Set . I love how all the pieces of the image also come seperately. I colored the image with Copics and added shimmer, framed it with a Spellbinders Circle die and the Sizzix Framelits Fancy Tag Die (on Lost and Found and SU! Cardstock), and lastly added some pretty Zva Crystals . Behind the die cuts I used parts of a Tim Holtz tree die. Come join us at the Can You Digi It? challenge with your Creepy and Kooky creation. Hugz to all. Note to the Punchkateers: My punch count is 10!

Life is full on Monsters and some days the Monsters seem awfully large. I have a lot of friends that would appreciate this card, but I think I am going to keep it and put it on my desk at work. I am entering this in the Haunted Design House Challenge "Creepy Cryptids" (HDH153) . Cryptids have something to do with a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but is unrecognized by scientific consensus and often regarded as highly unlikely. My Cryptid is the Kraken - the giant sea monster with special powers. I used the Capt'n Jack Octopode - one of my fav images (reminds me of Johnny Depp). Hope your monsters are small today! Hugz!

The new challenge at Dude Time Doodles is Home Improvement so I used Grease Monkey Mike . He was trying to help me figure out where all my socks go, but he wasn't successful. I still think the dryer might be eating them, but leave me a note if you know the answer. We would love to see you join in the fun and make a card for a Dude involving Home Improvement. You don't have to use a Dude Time Image to enter, but of course it would thrill us beyond belief if you did! Hugz to all!

This is my first Robert Jackson image and it is called Dance and Praise . To be honest, I have been stalking the site for a month trying to decide which of the incrediable images to collect first. My DD, Crystal, actually picked this image - she thought it would be perfect with this saying that she has been carrying around in her collection of great quotes and sayings. She spent a few hours with me yesterday and we made this card together. I am entering this in the following challenges: Oldie But A Goodie - Ribbon (my ribbon is several years old but I love the black and pink together) A Gem of a Challenge - For the Girls We were going to enter our card in the Jackson's Digital Expressions Challenge #24, Pink or Breast Cancer Awareness but the collection was closed because I took so long to post this (sad face). My pretty bg paper is from Free Vintage Digial Stamps . Hugz to all!

Today, I stayed in my jammies and made a few cards - fun, fun, fun. I made this card for the following challenges: SCS - FS295 (click here to see Vicki's card that I cased) SCS - Twisted Sisters (to use Fall Leaves) Fresh Brewed - Apple Tree Photo Inspiratin Pattie's Creations - #53 Anything Goes Digistamp4joy - All The Leaves are Brown (but I have green ones too) My image is called Pork-o from Loopy4digis and it is available at Can You Digi It? and the green strip of paper is from Green Goddess Creations and is available at CYDI? too. This card is for the Haunted Design House Challenge #152 Chain Me Up, Chain Me Down challenge. I had to wait for time to make this one as I had to work a bunch of overtime this week. Marley is from Mo's Digital, and I had to use it for this interesting challenge. My bg paper is digi paper from Green Goddess Creations -I just changed the color and blurred the skulls.

Shakespearean greeting inspired by Much Ado About Nothing (I have a a book of Shakespeare's plays so I am counting this as from a book). I only had 30 minutes to do this card so I could get into the Octopode Challenge which ends before I get home today and is all about BOOKS (which I love, love, love so I couldn't miss this challenge). Love Shakespeare and this Octopode image is sooo great. I used some Delightfully Destressing Butterfly Bliss papers available at Can You Digi It?. Hugs and hope you have a wonderful day!

It's time for the Dude Time Doodles September Blog Hop, and there are some awesome new images. If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come here from Dawn (wasn't her card wonderful?). If not, hop on and just continue on in a circle. Be sure to leave comments everywhere because the blog hop prize is selected from the mystery DT member. I love wolves and warewolves so I am thrilled to showcase the new image Wifred Wolfenstein. Now it is time to visit Anne and see the fun card she has designed. Hugz!

Can You Digi It?'s new challenge is Indian Summer and here is the inspiration board: I love the colors of Indian Summer and Fall, and this year I am going to really celebrate them because this past Summer in Alabama was tough. I am praying for nice cool weather and a really cold Winter (at least cold enough and long enough to kill the bugs who are my evil nemesises). I used Green Goddess Creations' Walk on the Wild Side paper pack and Zva Crystals which are both available in the CYDI? store. I changed the background colors on the papers in MS Word so that they would go with the theme. The leaves are cut out with Spellbinder Leaf Dies and the little branches were made with the Martha Stewart Branch Punch. Before I close this post, I wanted to thank everyone who comments on my blog. You are all so wonderful and you make me feel so much more connected in the world of crafting and blogging. I appreciate your time because I know how valuable it is! I promised to give awa