Black and White

 Just a couple of black and white cards I did the other day.  I recently bought a black and white paper pack from My Favorite Things and felt like I had to use it.  Of course!

This first one is using my favorite Memory Box die.  Very simple and I used a small strip of some of the black and white patterned paper down the side.  I added some Nuvo drops and keep thinking I need more.

Second card -  the bird image is from Unity Stamps.  The background is a black plaid but you can barely see it in the photo as it looks more like a solid black.  Anyway.....It is what it is.  I was tempted to at least color the berries on that branch but at the last minute decided to leave it just like it was.  The white framing was a piece in my scrap box and it fit pretty good so figured I'd better use it.  

So, there you go.........nothing special but a couple of black and white cards

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Time to Smile

 I really thought we were on the downhill side of summer since we started having temps that were only like 96 to 98 - and then blam.....up again to the 100's. Hot is hot I guess.  Oh well, winter will be here soon enough but in the meantime it's still summer and hot..........

This goes to show I don't know what I'm doing about half the time.  I've had this card in my mind for several weeks and knew exactly what it would look like when it finished.  I started working on it and got all the little seahorses, bubbles, anchor, etc on there and blah!  Just boring no matter what I did --- so I added a fish from Rubbermaker!  I used all sorts of stuff on the background - Frost White Ink, Maymade Made it stamps (that I won from Brenda recently), Oxides, Perfect Pearls......you name it and it's on there (which is totally not me!).  I even Googled seahorses to see kinda what colors they'd be and they can actually be all sorts of colors.  So I used some distress inks on them and then off-set them to give a little dimension.   The "netting" is from some packaging for avacado's. I attemped to color that more of a neutral color and it wasn't happening. I just HAD to add that little fish though - I mean, why not!  Right?  Gave it a little pizzaz anyway and a smile to take you into the weekend...... 

Thanks for stopping by......and keep smiling!

Lynn 

Celebration!

 Not real sure what I'm celebrating here - if anything - but I do have a card today, so maybe that's the celebration.  

I've been watching Youtube.......now I realize that's sorta like looking at Pinterest.  You see all these wonderful things everyone does and think "I can do that too" and then you don't.   Anyway,  I was watching one of the Youtube videos the other day where they were using all kinds of washi tape.  So, hey......I can do that!  They were mainly using  the big wide ones but of course I don't have any of those but I do have a little cigar box with the skinny ones in it so I hauled that out to see what I could do.  (Note - No, I don't smoke cigars but those little boxes with the flip lids are wonderful to hold all sorts of treasures!)

So, here's my take using the washi tape.  Super simple card, washi strips, and a celebrate die...........

Thanks for stopping by............and keep smiling!
Lynn

2nd Mess

 I called that card I did last week my first mess - here's the second one.  Not my usual style at all but it's always good to try something new too I suppose.  

As far as what I did........whew!  I had "stuff" all over my desk and I know it ended up taking several hours to make this.....Like I said - not my deal at all.  Anyway........I used several colors of Oxides for the background, stenciled in some stars with texture paste, stamped a couple of different "whatevers" on the background, added more of the stamped die cut shapes like I did on the last card, and the cut out the image from AALL and Create and popped it up on the card.  The image was colored in Copics and I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the dress.  

In comparison - this is more me.  It looks VERY plain compared to the other card but whatever........I will still have two birthday cards to send out when needed!

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Way Out of the Box

 I've always been those that will try anything at least once.....for the most part anyway.  Some of the things have been pretty wild - especially when I was younger - but that's a whole other story.  

So, anyway,  when Brenda over at Friends Craftin' with Friends did her last post, I just had to try what she did....(nothing wild at all but very pretty - go over and take a look).  So, I watched the video by Lou Collins to kinda see what to do like Brenda did.  

All I can say is holy moley!  This is so not me at all.  I gathered up whatever I thought I could use which wasn't much since I'm more of a CAS type person.......but I actually dug deep enough and found some things to use.  Now, don't ask what all it was but my desk was completely covered in "stuff".  I used some Oxides, embossing paste, stamps, die cuts, sentiments, and whatever.........

Do I like it...........um.......not sure.  I think it's something that would have to grow on me since it's not my usual style.  However, since I had all the "stuff" out I went ahead and actually made another card and will post it next week.  Something different anyway.  

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!

Lynn

The Bird

 I'm giving my son the bird..........

What's not to love about this crazy bird from Katzeldraft!  I did a little stenciling with some distress inks and colored him with Copics....added some googly eyes, twine, and a sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp) that says it all.  Several years ago we all decided that the only one getting birthday gifts would be the grandchildren so my two kids don't get a birthday gift and neither do I.....the card is the gift (and not even any money included)!

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Cats and Hairballs

Rambo would be very upset if he knew I was posting a picture of a cat.  To him, cats are to be chased and barked at - kinda like a squirrel ....although when he was really little, his best friend was our cat named Black (such an original name).    
Anyway, this is a very old stamp from Stampin' Up.  I had this out the other day working on a different card and every time I'd look at this I'd start laughing.  It's very simple I know but with a sentiment like this you really don't need to do much else for the card.

The Alphabet Challenge is C - for cat - and I'll enter it in their challenge.  

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Too Many Froggers

 For some reason - and not just because I really like frogs - I ordered several sets of frog stamps lately.  So.....get ready because you may be seeing lots of frogs in the next month or so.  Frogs really are cute little guys.  Maybe not if you don't like them, but I do.  They feel all squishy and just fun.  Rambo actually hates the little devils. One spit in his eye several years ago and his entire eye swelled up and shut.  He wasn't a happy little dog at all!  Anyway............  

Here's a couple using stamps from Aall & Create (sentiments from Art Impressions).  

On this first one I used some background wavy paper from Paper Studio and then some polka dot vellum.  On the circle I lightly stamped some marks with an old SU stamp, added the sentiment, and tucked in some flowers on the side.  I'll enter this in the challenge over at Sketch Saturday (sketch).

This second one.........ah.......he kinda looks like he's walking on water.  Who even knows what I thought I was doing on this one.  I used a stencil from Newton's Nook for the waves and then perched him on top of them.....why? - I really can't answer that one!  He really does look like I feel on a lot of days though.

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Birthday Girl

 I think I only have one birthday for someone coming up this month so I went ahead and made a card for her.  I'm so good at making the cards and yet so bad at mailing them.  Sometimes if I have a bunch to do for the month I'll mail them all on the first no matter what day their birthday is.  Pretty awful I know.  I'm really going to try and time this one though so it's received on her actual birthday (as if that could really happen with the postal system)!  

The image is from All Dressed Up (Country Girl) and I've colored it in Copics.  I did a little sponging with distress inks in the background, adding in the sky, and then framed it with a My Favorite Things die.  The patterned paper is from Unity.  

I'll enter this in the challenge at All Dressed Up (anything goes with an All Dressed Up image). 

Thanks for stopping by.....and keep smiling!

Lynn

Lavender.....Purple

 I assume this is lavender anyway.  It's purple - although I could have colored it pink I guess.  We'll go with lavender though.  I had this image all printed, colored, and die cut and then it sat...and it sat, and sat, and sat.  I've tried at least 10 different things with this and patterned paper, solid card stock, embossing, and whatever else I could think of and it just wasn't gelling at all.  I even dug out the texture paste - and of course it was all dried up.  Figures.  So.......here you go with another very clean and simple card.

.....and while I'm on the subject of flowers.  It's starting to get a little warmer in this part of Texas and my pansies are finally looking a little like someone probably stepped on them.  They're still hanging in there for now though and I just had to snap a picture before it was too hot and they all died......

......and last but not least.  (I know you're getting tired of reading this)  This part of Texas is not only warming up but it's also dry.  Bone dry!  The last couple of months we've had winds like you can't even image.  Combine the wind and the dry weather and that equals tumbleweeds around here....thousands of them - to the point where they had drop off points around town and you could haul your tumbleweeds there and they'd dispose of them.   These are some that got stuck between two homes here in town (thankfully it wasn't ours)!    

That's it and yes, I realize you really ARE tired of reading now............so......

I'll enter this in the challenge at Crafty Calendar (die cuts) and Inkspirational (clean and simple)

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Double Cluck

 A couple of clucks here today.......what else can I say!

Both are using a stamp set from  Essentials by Ellen

First Cluck..........a window die from My Favorite Things, couple of embossed clouds and some sponged clouds.

Second Cluck........just the chick image and some little footprints.

Two VERY clean and simple (fun) clucks for some birthdays coming up on the calendar.

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling........

Lynn

Birthday Gnome

 This is for a special friend who has a birthday coming up next week - and it just so happens it's on St. Patrick's Day too - so I had to add a tad bit of green to the card of course.

The stamp set I used is from Inkadinkado.   It reminds me of spring (which I hope is coming pretty quick around here as I'm tired of cold weather now).  Anyway,  he's colored in Copics.  The banner....ah the banner.........I got it  made with the intention of placing it vertical and not horizontal.   However, it got slapped down on the card and I knew if I tried to get it up and re-position it, I was going to wreck the card - so.........

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling........

Lynn

The Girly Birdie

 We had the bird and now we have the girly birdie for the sister in law.  I always try to do her birthday cards in pink because she's a breast cancer survivor and that's my way to tell her I'm so thankful she's celebrating another cancer free birthday.  Besides that, she's a pink type of gal.

 The stamp I used is from a very old set from The Alley Way Stamps.  They are sadly no longer in business and but had the cutest stamps.   Anyway.....I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches and will enter it in their challenge.  This is colored in Copics, some pink clouds added, patterned paper from My Favorite Things (I think) and a small die cut pink heart.  

Thanks for stopping by.......and keep smiling..(Oh, and shake those tail feathers too)!!

Lynn

The Bird

 This started out as a nice little girly birthday card for my sister in law........not sure what happened to all those thoughts but they seem to have gone out the window once I started making the card.  The stamp is from Unity and I was going to color it in all the pretty pinks....DUH!.........So, now we have a blue/green/yellow/brown bird - done with colored pencils.  I think I'll have to try again on the girly looking bird and maybe put a nice little bow around her neck or something......We'll see.........

Thanks for stopping by.......and keep smiling........

Lynn

WooHoo

 I actually started on my cards for Christmas and then discovered this stamp from Art Impressions I hadn't used in a while.  So......stopped what I was doing and switched gears from Christmas cards to whatever cards.  Just needed something to smile about today I guess...and this little gal really makes me smile.

As I said, the stamp is from Art Impressions and I've had it for several years. I did a little paper piecing on her skirt and then added some red gems (diamonds) for buttons on her blouse and of course some pearls on her earrings.  Ladies are not completely dressed without their pearls you know!  

I'll enter this in the challenge at Art Impressions Challenge Diamonds and Pearls #340

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!

Lynn

One More

 This could be the last of the birthday cards I have to make for this year - maybe.  I think there are a couple more birthdays but I can always use some stashed away cards I made before for those.  We'll see.

On this one I used an All Dressed Up image and sentiment from The Alley Way Stamps (closed shop).  It's colored with Copics.  All those little dots you see..........ah.........when I printed out the image, all these black spots appeared so I just covered them with the Nuvo drops - in all different colors.  I guess I need to clean the printer.  

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling.

Lynn

It's Fall - Somewhere

 It's fall - but I don't think Texas got the memo.  We're still in the 90's but the weather people keep saying it'll cool down to the 80's (like 87 - which really isn't any kind of a cool-down if you ask me)!   I thought fall was supposed to be crisp air, leaves blowing in the breeze, pumpkins, and football.  About all we have is the football.  Oh well, winter will be here before we know it and then we'll be looking forward to spring and summer.  

I realize this is a complete shock.......but it's another birthday card!  It's already been received so I can post it now.  The images (from Sunny Studio) were given to me as a "just because" gift and I love them.  They're so cute and fun.   All were stamped, colored with Copics, cut out and placed on the card. 

So......a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY goes out to Carol today!  

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling.........

Lynn

Another Birthday

 I'm really knocking out birthday cards lately.  I have so many to do before the end of the year and since I've been pretty well worthless I haven't done them like I should.  It really does make me wonder why I'm even bothering - other than the fact the card is homemade and I guess that means something.  I mean you can go to a dollar store and pick up a card for a dollar now.  I was also in the post office yesterday and they had some cute ones for something like $2.99.  Our homemade ones probably run about $85 each when you think of all the supplies we buy!  Yikes!

Anyway, this is the latest birthday card - for a friend.  I used a Taylored Expressions stamp and the rest of the card is pretty self explanatory. 

.......And.......as far as going gray......what can I say!  I used to color my hair.  Now, what you see is what you get!  

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Spinning Around in CIrcles

 The story of my life at times is like this mouse - spinning around in circles - but this one is spinning around to celebrate!  Just a birthday card that I'm sure I'll be needing in the next month or so.

  The image is from Colorado Craft Company and the rest of the card came about from scraps from  my desk.  I'm really trying to use up some ribbon now since I have enough for an army.  Ribbon is something that's just so pretty you can't pass it up - and then it starts breeding in the craft room.

Moving right along.......... I thought I'd show you one of the quilts I'd done a while back.    It's a log cabin quilt and instead of quilting it on the sewing machine I hand tied it.  Just something different but  I think it made it fluffier.   Another one for Goodwill when I die I guess!

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling.

Lynn

Wobbly Old Man and a Dog

 Popping in with a birthday card for my brother.  He's not chubby like this little guy, and he's not bald either.  He's maybe a little wobbly and definitely OLD though!  The guy and sentiment are from My Favorite Things and I used a scrap of patterned paper cut out with a rectangle die.  I mounted him on one of those wobbly things and so it looks like his belly is bouncing when you move the card! 

 I really think I'm going to have to go back to using my regular camera instead of the phone to take photos.  Everything is still fuzzy looking.  I'm a work in progress..........

  

Now on to more important things........like Rambo!  Yes, it's the 'dog' part of the title.  Rambo is doing just fine and getting older now (but aren't we all).  He'll turn 14 in January so he's getting up there in dog years.  He's getting a little more frosty in the face and feet and liking his sleep more.  Ever so often he'll get a burst of energy though and do zoomies.  They don't last long. 

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling!

Lynn