What's on My Kitchen Counter

This week my kitchen counter has had a little bit of everything on it! New credit cards because I lost the ones they sent me in February (and found them the minute I hung up with the credit card company - it is painful getting older), lots of new recipes, a bunch of card making supplies, 200 beads and assorted necklaces saying Vote for Alex for Senior Class Secretary, and the grocery list I forgot when I went grocery shopping yesterday (so now I get to go again since we are out of coffee filters which you have to have - did I mention how painful it is to get older?). This card is for the Eye Can See You challenge at Haunted Design House (HDH130) - the challenge ends today so hurry if you want to participate. The rules are to make something with Eyes on it. I used the Octopode Moon. That moon always makes me smile and I always do it in blue. I used the cracked glass technique on my panels. The paper is K&Co and SU!, and I used Versamark and some Clear EP from SU!. The eye o...

The new Can You Digi It? Challenge is about Sunrise and Sunsets with some truly awesome inspirational photos. I used the ReviDevi Sail Away with Us set. It has so many cool sailing related images including this lighthouse, several boats (including a tug boat), a couple of anchors, the cutest little boy and little girl sailors, and the fun banner I used on the side of my oval die cut. I love sunsets! I think the prettiest sunset I ever saw was on top of Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was every shade of yellow, pink, and orange, and it made the mountain look like it was watermellon color. Stunning! I sponged the Spellbinder die cut while it was still in the die. I masked and blended the best I could. I then cut out, colored (with Copics and SU! markers), and popped up my lighthouse and sail boat. I used the SU! The Open Seas ledger stamp to make the bg panel. The corner embellishments are from a 3-D Sticker set by La Petite (Hobby Lobby). They add elements of whimsy...

The current Dilly Beans Challenge theme is Spring. I used the Amalia & Laylah Dlly Beans image because it totally makes me smile. This image is going to be the one that I learn to color hair on. This is my first attempt, but I am going to practice, practice, practice until I get it! Aren't these girls sweet? I added some Martha Stewart punches (leaf and hydrengea) and sponged the image inside of a Spellbinders circel die. This cute little card is going to a sweet friend for her birthday. At The Octopode Factory the challenge is all about Fashion. I purchased this wonderful William Shakespeare image from The Octopode Factory a few weeks ago, and I am having so much fun with it. There are a million Shakespeare quotes you can pair with it - that man was so prolific. I also used a Lilypink image - the designer loves The Octopode Factory and actually got me hooked on Octopodes so it was only fitting! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Hugz!!!

I would start this post off with Pirate talk, but I just don't want to butcher the language. The current challenge (going on until Sunday) at Haunted Design House is Pirate's Booty. Crafters are encouraged to make a scary Pirate related creation (you have to check out with the design team and the participants have made - some of the best Pirate stuff I have seen in awhile - really!). I have to tell you that I tried to be scary, but this was about as scary as I could get. I could have made Capt'n Jack a little sinister but Johnny just can't look sinister. Even when he was Edward Sissorhands, he was cute, cute, cute. I could have used a scary sentiment, but I really needed a card for a friend who loves Pirates and is sailing some pretty stormy seas and battling some really big sea monsters! That is scary enough!!! Inside it reads: Luv, I have been labeled a traitor, captured by cannibals, pursued by zombies, sacrificed to monsters, left for dead on a deserted i...

The Dilly Beans Challenge this week is Shades of Pink and Black (two of my favo colors together). I used this fun heart/flower image called Posie Heart that was sent free with the Dilly Beans monthly update. I layered the flower part of the heart three times and then covered it all with Modge Podge (one layer had Dazzling Diamonds of course). I did the same on the bottle template which came in the Spring Version of the Stamper's Sampler (I love that magazine - just discovered it but is it wonderful). I used SU! card stock, the Martha Stewart Hydrengea Punch, tons of Dazzling Diamonds from SU!, and lots and lots of Modge Podge. This is also for the Greatimpressions Challenge which is Flowers...lots of flowers. A little different cardshape, but I think it is so cool! Hugz!

The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge this week is Anything Goes. What fun! Tags are not something I make very often so I decided to tackle one using a piece of an old box. I used the Alice with Teapot Octopode, but I cut off the Teapot and replaced it with this little note stating: "I am out of my box and I am thinking." This is going to my friend Susie. We worked with someone who told us that she only wanted to work with people who could think outside of the box... so it is kind of a private joke between us. I thought it was especially funny since I made the tag out of piece of a box. The Haunted Design House Challenge is Homage to Hitchcock (HDH28). The requirement is to make something inspired by either something Hitchcock wrote or something he directed. I really wanted to do something around his short story he wrote about eating peas, but I couldn't find anything with even a line from the story (I guess 1920 was a long time ago). I went with North by No...

This week's Octopode Challenge is about Easter (TOFF#41). I love Easter, but I am not really into the eggs part of Easter unless they are in the potato salad or the cupcakes. So my Easter creation is a vertical criss-cross card with a recipe for strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese icing. The saying on this card is hard to read in the picture - it says: I can think of better things to do with eggs than hiding them. I used the Octopode Jolee image - isn't she the cutest???? I even got my White Lily flour bag in the picture - thought you would enjoy that Lily!!! Got to run to work, so many hugz (and if you want that recipe, let me know).

The new Can You Digi It? Challenge is called "Secret Garden." The inspiration photo is gorgeous: You don't have to use Can You Digi It? images to enter. The store awards a generous $10 store certificate to the winner. I made this card for the challenge using the ReviDevi Retro Garden Fairy Set. The set is so fun; I use the fairies sometimes, and sometimes I use the flowers. I needed a card for my friend Sheila. She has been out sick for a few days, and we wanted to brighten up her day a bit with a card. I used some super fun SU! dp and my new fav SU! cs color - Poppy Parade. I also put in some Martha Stewart branch and leaf punches, a rolled ribbon flower from my stash, and a great film die cut I have had forever. Leave me a note here if you do participate. There are two CYDI? challenges each month. At the end of April, I am going to randomly pick one of my blog flowers who participates. The winner will get a special CYDI treat (they have all kinds of cool ...

This is a picture of my husband Kenny trying to keep things in order at my house while I go through Medically Induced Menopause (LOL). I know he feels like he is hearding wild cattle or cats or something. The doctor said I could get some hormones when things got a little rough, and poor Kenny is practicing talking like me so he can call in an order now. This is the exact hymn he has been singing over and over like a prayer to God to deliver him. The Twisted Sister Challenge at SCS this week is to make something in brown with one other color, use two dies or punches, and use ribbon or twine. I think I got this one right. Do you think God feels like he is constantly herding us, trying to keep us from running off a cliff, drowning in a rushing river, getting trampled when we try to follow the crowd, or being eaten by a coyote? Just a thought. Easter Hugz to all!!!

It was a Dilly Beans kind of morning. I checked the Dilly Beans Challenge and saw the theme was Easter; then I found a new challenge called the Corrosive Challenge and they are being sponsored by Dilly Beans this week. So glad I found a new reason to use my oh so fun Dilly Beans images. My first card is for the Easter Dilly Beans Challenge : I used my fav snowman image - probably the last time I get to use him until I start my Christmas cards (but you never know...). My papers are all SU!, the North to Alaska strip was typed and then distressed, and the snowflake looking thing in the bottom corner is from K&Co. I added a bunch of Stickles and fake stitches. It is my belief that snowmen never die, they just go to Alaska and wait for Winter to come back down South. (If you can't read my sentiment, it says: Every year when that bunny comes, I am forced to move to Alaska and reinvent myself...stress kills!) My next card is for the Corrosive Blog Challenge which is all ...

I discovered another incrediably inspiring challenge at Quoth the Raven, Nevermore (what a fun blog name). The blog challenges are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's writings, I have always been a fan of Edgar so I was so excited to find this challenge. The current challenge is based on Poe's poem, To Helen . This is my creation: I printed out a great vintage image of a woman by the sea from the Graphics Fairy, and I distressed it a bit. I glued it to an old box and covered it with layers of Modge Podge and Sparkle Mist. I printed out the words to the poem and with the graphic image as a watermark behind it. I made the flower out 4 punches from a Punch-A-Bunch Flower Punch. After I distressed and glued the layers together, I coated it with a layer of Modge Podge so it would blend with the texture of the box. My Mom loves Poe so I thought I would put some of his poems inside the box with a few fun things for her to put on her cards (she is 76 and loves to make cards) and give...

I love William Shakespeare - I don't mean I love to read him, but I love to watch his plays, movies made from his plays, and specific parts of his writings. I love the cool parts of Hamlet - like the "To Be or Not To Be" speech. I also love Edward Sissorhands (actually I love Johnny Depp but since he played Edward, I love Edward). So when I saw the Haunted Design House challenge for this week, I knew I wanted to use these two Octopode Images. The challenge is called "Off With Their Heads." I put Edward's head on William and William's head on Edward. I had a little fun with William's writings as well. What fun to play with these characters. I think Wiliam would think this is great (look how cool he looks - how could he not think this is great?). Johnny, I mean Edward, might not be too happy about it. I copied some parts of Hamlet onto some plain white cardstock, printed out Edward/Johnny and William on another sheet with the same parts of H...

I love Jan Karon. I haven't read one of her novels in a long time (note to self: scour the flea markets for Jan Karon books), but I pull out Patches of Godlight from time to time. It is suppose to be a journal of favorite sayings and quotes "written" by one of her main characters, Father Tim. I love how it is all done in his handwriting and on his old typewriter (complete with typos and corrections). Inside the book are many jewels that inspire me. The quote on this card is an example. When I focus on this quote, it grabs my heart and takes my breath. I am reminded of the many times I have thought things were impossible, then they just seemed difficult, and then they were done. Wow! After my Sister and Dad died, I thought I would never feel safe or happy ever again. But God put happiness and safety back in my life. He even guided my Mother to a new love three years ago - that resulted in the most wonderful Step-Dad ever and the sweetest Step-Sister (who had be...

I think Dilly Beans has some of the cutest creepy images. This week's challenge is Skulls and Skellies which was the perfect opportunity for me to dig out my skellies with dunce caps image (one of my fav Dilly Bean images). Something about skellies and messages combined together just seems to make the message so much more important. If skellies could talk - I imagine they would only give us important messages. Ok, I digress.... here is my creation: I play cards with the Sassy Scrapper and her gang once a month and she gives us some really fun "card kits." We can make them there and follow her lead or we can take them home and give them a totally different life. I know that Kelly will laugh when she sees the life I gave her circle plaque kit. I used the circle plaque and papers from one kit and the bow and die cutz from another and combined them with my Dilly Beans images, a flower, and a fun computer generated sentiment. I am giving this to my youngest Darling Da...