What's on My Kitchen Counter

The TOFF#80 challenge this week is "Bling It On." How fun is that? They even let me be a guest designer which is even more fun!!! This is my creation: I used one of the flowers in the Whimsical Lupin image sheets (the sheet is such a deal because it comes with several different kinds of flowers and leaves, but it is priced like one image). I added some Zva Crystals from CYDI? and lots of Stickles (I added some to every dot on this SU! dp). Then I filled the shoe with Snickers Snacks - that counts as bling too, right? It does in my book because I can't eat them (on a diet you know - and Benzi just because I use them on my card or talk about them doesn't mean I am cheating on my diet- LOL) and they are beautiful! I used the shoe template available from Ellen Hudson to make the shoe. When I went back to the store to get the link, I found a witches shoe that I think I am going to get this weekend - you need to check it out here . I love to make 3-D projects!!!

Dotty Peacock Haute Couture Don't you love when the stars all align? Like when you make the cutest cake ever, find a wonderful new coffee to try, and clean your house - then someone drops by unexpectedly and your house looks spotless AND you impress them with your cake and coffee? Nah, that never happened to me either, but I was able to make a card that fit three of my fav challenges! The newest Can You Digi It? challenge is all about peacocks (the colors, the feathers, the beauty). Be sure and check it out because there is a chance to win a $10 store certificate. I used the Chic Dress & Frame digi from LilyPink Designs which you can purchase at Can You Digi It? I love LilyPink Designs - I sure hope Dawn doesn't think I have become a stalker or something since I use them soo much! LOL!. I also used these great crystals from the Ziva Creative Crystal Wheel that you can get from Can You Digi It? - the best thing is you get a ton of crystals in beautiful colors for only $

My first card is for this week's boytastic "Boys will be Boyz" challenge at The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge . Any male related theme works for the challenge, but my only boy/male Octopode image is Captain Jack so I pulled him out again and made him the center of my card (literally). Some Le Petite pirate stickers from Hobby Lobby along with DWVC Far East paper helped with my Pirate-y theme. I colored my image with Copic markers from my limited and cherished collection, and I sponged the Spellbinders circle while it was still in the die with some SU! ink pads (Carribean Blue, Green Galore, and Chocolate Chip). I think it came out cute, and my oldest daughter loved it. She didn't get the sentiment until I explained it means "understand?" - she didn't really like the movie but she thinks Johnny Depp is wonderful (who doesn't?). My second card is for the Dilly Beans Designers & Friday Challenge Blog Challenge which involves Stars. A

Who doesn't love a pretty garden full of flowers? This is actually a Spring garden but since my quote is about a summer garden, I had to go with Summer. The latest Can You Digi It? challenge is all about rainbows as you can see from the link here and one of the inspiration photos I have included below. To make this card, I used the Revidevi Retro Garden Fairy set available from Can You Digi It? ( just click here to find it ). I cut out several prints of the flowers, colored them, and then used the cupping technique to give them some depth (to do this, you turn your image upside down on a soft foam board like a mouse pad with foam and you take a large ball stylus and press in a circular pattern). I then put some popdots under the flowers and arranged them into a garden looking pattern. The bottom needed something, so I took some moss and tied it in a bow (shhhhh...I stold that moss out of the bottom of a fake tree we have in the house - don't tell my husband). I added some

This is for my friend Samir. Samir was a consultant on an ERP implementation we had at work. Anyone who knows me very well, knows that I am not a big fan of consultants after several giant consultant snafaws at a previous job (hey, I use to be one even. Luckily, Samir and his co-workers restored my faith in consultants. They were (and are) so helpful and so smart - especially Samir. Over a course of the last 10 months, Samir and I became very good friends - forever friends. We think a lot a like (although he thinks like 20 planes above me in most things) about the important things in life. It is really strange because we are also so different. I grew up in the lazy world of America, and he grew up in India where great effort is put into even the smallest of things. He studies and reads and stays up all night pondering important issues and working and growing his mind, and I go to bed faithfully at 8:30 and grow in size only (LOL). Even with all our differences, we became fast fr

Let me just go ahead and apologize if anyone is offended by the political statement on my card. I have met some Congressmen and they all seemed very nice; however, as a whole, I am unimpressed recently. I am a huge Mark Twain fan, and I just ran across this quote and had to use it somehow. I thought these Dilly Bean dunce cap skeletons would be perfect paired with the quote. This week's Dilly Bean challenge is to use green and black on your card. I love the colors together! Here is the link if you are interested in playing. To make my card, I used a lovely card designed by StampingQueenJar who is the 102nd Queen for the Day/Week on SplitCoast Stampers. Judy makes the most amazing cards. Her work is so detailed and so pretty - she adds some gorgeous touches to everything she makes. Judy, I tried to capture the same attention to detail in my card, and I kept your basic sketch (a fun one) - I really didn't change much..ha..ha...ha.. Here is Judy's lovely card - you really

I love challenges that stretch your imagination so I was so happy to see this week's Octopode Factory Friday challenge: Mushrooms. I own one little mushroom image, and it just wouldn't work for this challenge. I ended up drawing my own 'shrooms, and I love how they came out. The Alice with Teapot Octopode image seemed to fit perfectly in this mushroom forest. I love easel cards so I assembled it all on a scalloped circle easel card vase and added some handmade flowers made with the Spellbinder Blossom die and the EK Sucess 5 petal flower punch. I wet the 5 petal flower punches and twisted them to get this look. On the Blossom flower, I broke down the SU! cardstock with a stylus until it seperated and then cut the petals so they curled up. I love this quote from Alice in Wonderland it seems to fit today's political environment perfectly. LOL! If you are interested in playing in the mushroom challenge (TOFF#36) click here . Hugz to all!!!