What's on My Kitchen Counter

It's raining hard outside so it is a great time to craft and catch up on a few Hallmark movies. My friend Pauline posted THIS fun card which led me to the Winter Wonderland Challenge . The challenge is all about doing holiday cards and this week the theme is fashion. I thought I would use this fun new image by Cheryl Grant Alger/Sassy Cheryl which will be available at Squigglefly on January 4th; it is called Bum Snowman in love. I am only showing a part of the image on this card as I wanted to focus on his sweet face and his hat, scarf, and mittens since the challenge is about fashion. The papers are from The Paper Studio splashed with a bit of white craft paint, the dies are Spellbinders and Tim Holtz, and the flowers are from Thepiecebypiece shop on Etsy. Over at the Sassy Cheryl Blog, everyone is posting their favorite Sassy Cheryl Creation from 2013. Here is mine: This card was made with the Play Hard or Go Home image available at Squigglefly and the Sassy Chery

It's time for the MFPSpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge . This week's pictures are some super cute cookie jars, and they are very inspiring: I was inspired by the colors in the snowman jar but also in the whole cookie/baking concept. I used the Recipe Card Starters set from Mark's Finest Papers. I used papers from SU! and Graphic 45, the berries are from Dollar Tree with punched pine branches made with a Martha Stewart punch, and my ovals were made with Spellbinders dies. Hope you will join us!

The MFPSpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge (#42) is about the inside of Glampers, and you have to check out these fun images: I was so inspired by the pictures that I did two cards! This one was made with the MFP Lots of Words set: This one was made with the MFP Holiday Tags set: . Hope you will join us with your inspired cards

I went to see Black Nativity with my daughters a few weekends ago and discovered Langston Hughes. I have now read many of his poems and I love A Dream Deferred : What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? I like how visual he wrote, and for some reason, I have been thinking about all the meanings behind this poem. We all defer dreams. I have a ton of deferred dreams in the back of my mind, and a bunch of my deferred dreams have already exploded. This poem has inspired a few card ideas in the back of my mind and here is one: I used the Sketch from Seems A Little Sketchy #54 , computer generated my sentiment (a poem by Mark Twain) and used a ship from Squigglefly artist, Graham Gamble, called Tall Ship . I received this image free because for every $15 you

I just love this sweet image from Sassy Cheryl called Catch a Falling Star (it is available at Squigglefly and the Sassy Cheryl store). In making this card, I used THIS lovely card by sistersandie at SCS (she is this week's featured stamper - FS358). I also used the Christmas Poinsettia by Elizabeta Kushner. I am entering this in the Sassy Cheryl challenge for this past week which is Ribbons and Bows - my image has both on it. I passed my test so now I am a Certified Quality Auditor! I have to tell you I was worried about that one! Now I am so far behind in my Christmas preparations that I am going to have to PUNT (seriously!). I promise I am going to get around to everyone's blogs and catch up soon! Hugz!!!

The new Pattie's Creations Challenge #82 is SNOWY SCENE - WITHIN THE IMAGE . I used the Reindeer in Snow image from Pattie's Creations. The image has snow within the scene, but I decided it needed to look like it was snowing too. I keep hearing about everyone that is getting snow and I am kind of jealous. We don't get much snow here - maybe a 1/2 inch to 2 inches all year and it typically melts immediately. I guess it is a good thing we don't get snow because no one around here can drive on ice or snow (including myself), and the counties and cities throw dirt on the ice and pray because they have no other resources. This just makes dirty ice and isn't much help. It is cold enough to snow this morning. Hubby is going out hunting and he told me he is too old for cold mornings - maybe the deer will have a bit of a chance today because he is bundled up heavily. Dig out your snowy image and ideas and come join us! Hugz!

Have you ever heard of a Glamper? I want one!!! This week's MFPSpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge is all about Glampers (the outside of them) and here are some super fun pics: I tried several different ideas until I found some fun paper that worked (by The Paper Studio - designed by Kirby Teesdale Studio). I used the Mark's Finest Paper's Stamp Set called Huge Blooms . Come join in the fun - you have until next Wednesday! Hugz

The test I have been dreading studying for weeks is over. Sorry if I have been absent from commenting lately, but that test was really weighting on me. I don't know if I did good or bad because I did a lot of guessing between two answers that looked right. I find out in 7 to 14 days. On to my card. Few gifts are as wonderful as a baby on the way! My niece Wendy is expecting soon so I thought it would be fun to make her Christmas card with a baby theme. This week's Squigglefly challenge is to use Christmas paper, ribbon, or image on your card . I took this challenge literally and used my Christmas wrapping paper on my card (that kraft colored paper with the red images and writing on it). My images are from Fawn Palmer ( Onesies Set ) and Elizabeta Kushner ( Christmas Poinsettia ). Both of these great images are available at Squigglefly along with a bunch of other adorable baby images, Christmas images, and fantastic sentiments (the sentiment I used is from the Onesie

This week's MFPSpeedyTV's Inspiration Challenge has the coolest inspiration pictures: Aren't these fun? I was inspired by the windows in the pink chicken coop and the colors in the blue and white one. I used the Mark's Finest Papers Ice and Snow stamp set and a sentiment from Glad Glads . The window was cut with a die from MFT, the sky is done using SU! ink, the snow is Recollections glitter, the sentiment is punched with a tag punch from SU!, the white paper is from Mark's Finest Papers, and the metal snowflakes are from my stash (I bought them at a CK convention but they were loose and not labeled and I wish I had bought more!). I am thinking of showing these chicken coop pictures to my hubby and seeing if we can have a go at chickens. Hope you can find some inspiration on these pictures - we would love to see how you are inspired. There is another great prize this week. Hugz!

I took a break from studying last night and today (I am studying to take a Certification at Work - I take my test this Saturday so wish me luck) and made a few things. This card is a case of the FS356 at Splitcoast Stampers and I cased THIS card. The image and sentiment I used are sneak peeks of images done by Elizabeta Kushner and they will be available at Squigglefly this coming Saturday. I colored the image by dragging my ink pad across my kitchen counter, spritzing it with glitter spray, and then dragging my image through it. I learned this technique from Carol at ChocolatecraftsandBearsohmy. . The papers are from Glitz, SU! and The Paper Studio. This is one of the Christmas cards I am sending this year. I reworked a card I made with my DD for her Ugly Sweater Party. I think it came out fun. I did the base in Word and if you would like the file, just let me know and I will send it to you. The MIX challenge at SCS this week is to make something that hangs. I made thi

At Pattie's Creations the challenge is Christmas Cards and if you are like me, you need a few more of them. I made this one with one of my favorite Pattie's images called Magnolia Branch . I colored the flowers and leaves using the Tim Holtz Wrinkle Free Distress Method (my favorite way to color flowers and leaves) and some handmade Marshmallow Glimmer Mist. I popped a layer of flowers up to give it some texture. I am not sure most people think of Magnolia's at Christmas but their leaves are very popular in traditional Southern holiday decorating. Come join in the fun - you don't have to use a Pattie's Creations Image (but we would love it if you did). Hugz!

It's Thursday and time for MFPSpeedyTV's Inspiration Challenge . This week Shirley has picked out some Interesting Tattoos to inspire us: I used images from two sets from Mark's Finest Papers: Koi Fish (the flowers) and Pandas (the Panda and the sentiment). My youngest daughter's sorority has a panda as its symbol so this will be going off in the mail to her. The prize this week is a stamp I have had on my wish list a long time! If you enter the contest you could win the stamp, and we would love to see how these fun Tattoo pictures inspire you. Hugz! PS: Mark's is having a 30% off sale until December 2nd.

This week's Squigglefly challenge is BANNERS . You can use a banner on your card or an image that has a banner. I was in an orange mood so I made an orange card and used a new image by Judith Hart called I Smell Carrots . Come play with us this week and remember to use a Squigglefly image to win (there are free ones in the store ). Hugz!

On Saturday, my daughter Crystal and I were shopping and found these great letters on sale at Hobby Lobby for 98 cents each. She had seen this idea on Pinterest so we tried it out. I love how fun this makes my china cabinet look. There was also a card on my Kitchen Counter today (along with a broccoli and rice casserole in the crockpot). I cased THIS wonderful card in the Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers (Julie Dinn is the Featured Stamper). Crystal and I also made lots of fabric rosettes yesterday and I thought one would look great on a card. I am so in a Christmas Spirit! Hope you had a great weekend. Hugz!

Shirley has come up with some more super fun inspirational pics in this week's MFPSpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge #38: I was inspired by the last picture and here is my card: I used Mark's Finest Paper's Huge Blooms set layering both flowers in the set twice each. I just bought this set and I love it! It comes with two beautiful flowers and 9 sentiments you can use with them. I bought the button card at a thrift shop on bargain day (that was fun), the paper is from my stash and Mark's Finest Papers, the micro-beads are from Recollections, and I purchased the lace at Hobby Lobby. Come join in the fun at MFPSpeedyTV where there are lots of challenges every week. Hugz!

I hardly ever use birdhouses on cards and now I have done two in a row! Squigglefly has some awesome birdhouse images. This one is a new one by Marla Shega called Cardinal Birdhouse . I couldn't wait to color it up especially after I saw how gorgeous my friend Sue colored up hers (see Sue's card HERE ). At Squigglefly the challenge is ribbon or lace so I am playing along even though it is our team's off week. You should play too. Hugz!

Last night we went on a special river boat cruise in Montgomery along the Alabama River. The cruise was featuring a play called "Frankly, Scarlet You are Dead." Two of our friends starred in the play and another was helping behind the scenes, and 11 of our family and friends sat together - it was so fun! We don't go out much so I especially enjoyed it. At Splitcoast Stampers mr33634 (Marion) is the Featured Stamper and I cased THIS card. My image is from Cheryl Alger (Sassy Cheryl) and is called Backyard Vacation . I made the image work for Winter by adding some snow and snowflakes (my snowflakes are from a Sizzix Tim Holtz Die and a small ornament available at Hobby Lobby). I am entering this card in the Sassy Cheryl challenge for this week which is Fav Holiday colors . Hugz!

The Pattie's Creations PCDC#80 Challenge is Giving Thanks or Thank-You . We can all use more Thank-you cards and this is a big Giving Thanks month in the U.S. I chose to use Pattie's Mums in Basket image as I knew it would be easy to color up with Fall and Thanksgiving colors. I made a thank-you card to send a friend, but I am definitely very thankful this year. I have a zillion (seriously) things to be thankful for, but today the situation I am most thankful for is that my Mom is still around. Earlier this year, we found out her Breast Cancer had returned and it had already spread to all her bones in her upper body (stage 4). It came back 5 years after her mastectomy, and after rounds of radiation, pills, and frequent monitoring. It shocked us all and we really didn't know if she would still be here for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Needless to say, it has been a rough year. Happily, the chemo has kept the cancer at bay and she has been happy and enjoying life all year.

We can be inspired by anything! I would never have guessed that fingernails could have inspired me to make a card, but that Shirley found the most inspiring fingernails for the newest MFPSpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge (#37 - Fingernail Art): Since I am an Auburn Fan (and an Alabama Fan too but there were no Elephants in these pictures Benzi), I chose the tiger nails! I used the Natures Brushstrokes and Lots of Words sets from Marks Finest Papers. My bg(s) on the image panel and butterfly were colored using chalk. I glittered up the butterfly using Sparkle n Sprinkle glitter and SU! Dazzling Diamonds. Papers are SU! and SEI. Come join in the fun - there is a great prize and you have to admit these fingernails are pretty inspiring! Hugz!

This week's Squigglefly Challenge is Polka Dots - how fun is that! I used a new image to Squigglefly called A Perfect Angel by Cheryl Grant Alger. I cropped part of the image so I could really focus on her sweet face and wings. I colored her with Tim Holtz Distress Markers, Copics, some Stickles, and a white gel pen. The sentiment is computer generated. I am also entering this card in the Sassy Cheryl Anything goes challenge (as long as you use a Sassy Cheryl image). Hugz!!

My sister Sharon and our cousin Carol came over today and we made Christmas cards. My daughter Allie came by too, and we all zipped over to my Mom's house (she lives next door) for some fresh baked Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip cookies. What a great day! This one is made with a new Squigglefly image called Bare Tree by Pamela Lehto. Such a cute image! I am entering this in the Christmas Card Challenge #49 - Dimension. I did this one for the MIX41 Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. The challenge is to use no paper other than as a card base. I used some foil tap which I embossed and cut out using the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower die. The center of the flower is a Jolee's sticker given to me by a sweet friend for my birthday. I added a bit of Stickles to the greenery from a Dollar Tree pick. This card is made with an image new to Squigglefly by Dawn Collins called Patchwork Bird . I love this bird and I have several more ideas for Christmas cards made with it. Hugz!