My Mother's Apron

Today is another Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow and our challenge to you this week is to create a card or other paper crafting project and use buttons and bows.  This reminds me so much of the type of apron my Mother wore when she baked when I was a youngster a zillion years ago:)

I found some wonderful digital paper at Raspberry Road to use for the apron and then used a couple of the blue papers in the pack along with some red gingham from my paper stash.  I think this apron is such a fun image from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe and lends itself so nicely to paper piecing so that is just what I did and then popped a second image up with foam dots.  The baking powder ad and the old handwritten recipe card came off the internet and I apologize but I forgot to make a note of the sources.  I added some wonderful crinkly ribbon that was a gift from Tracy, the owner of Sugar Creek Hollow along with some red buttons and cooking themed buttons.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

AI Factory  - In the Kitchen
Digi Doodles Best Shop - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up - Dots
Outlawz Challenges/Prisma and Other Mediums - Anything Goes (Western Optional)
Shelly's Images Blog - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Buttons & Bows

Image:  Apron (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock:  Cream (Wassau)
Papers:  Gingham (Doodlebug Designs), Blue, Blue Dot & Floral (Raspberry Road)
Tools & Embellishments:  Buttons (Dress it Up), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Crinkle Ribbon (Sugar Creek Hollow), Baking Powder Ad & Old Recipe Card (Online)

Sunshine Fairy

Our challenge to you this week at Phindy's Friday Challenge Blog is to create a monochromatic card.  It is so dull and dreary here with piles of snow still on the ground that I decided I needed to make something cheerful and I thought this would fit the bill.  You are going to be blown away by the inspiration provided from the rest of the Design Team.

I don't usually like to work from a sketch unless I have to and this week I didn't have to but for some reason decided to follow this sketch from Sketch Saturday.  The senior mind is an weird place, isn't it?

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me Challenges - Things with Wings
Stampavie & More - Monochrome
Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Ooh La La Creations  - For Someone Special
4 Crafty Chicks - Fairy/Angel/Butterfly
Digi Doodles Best Shop - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare Card Challenges - Sparkle/Glitter/Bling
Stampin' B's - Monochromatic

Image:  Flower Top Fairy Rose (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Create with TLC
Card Stock:  Recollections
Papers:  Swirl (Online Freebie), Yellow and White (My Stash)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Mungyo), Ruffled Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Iridescent Glitter (Stampendous), Gems (Michaels), Swirls Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Labels 10 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Winter Bear

So the weather man has decided to mess with our heads. Yesterday it was actually starting to warm up and then by about 4:00 p.m. it had dropped six degrees. This morning it was -13C when I started out to do my morning kidlet chores and by Thursday it is going to be +13C - go figure.

Our challenge to you this week at Delightful Challenges is to make a card or other paper crafting project featuring animals.  Since we still have a pile of snow, I decided to go with this cute waving bear.  I think he is waving because his toboggan went down the hill without him.

Our challenge this week is generously sponsored by Michelle's Scrapbooking & More who will be supplying the random winner with a gift certificate to the store.

I am entering this card in the following challenges;

Creative Craft World - Use a Square
Simon Says Stamp - Make Your Own Embellishments
Digital Tuesday - Use a Die Cut
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz
Lexi's Creations - Bears

Image: Waving Bear (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Create with TLC
Card Stock: White (Staples), Turquoise & Blue (Recollections)
Papers: Snow Flake (My Stash),
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Snowflake Gem (Michaels), Label 11 Nestabilities & Snowflake Shapeabilities (Spellbinders), Ribbon (Michaels), Stardust and Turquoise Stickles (Ranger), Snowflake Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)

Non-Tradional Valentine

It is another Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow and today we want you to make a Non-Traditional Valentine.  We want to see non-traditional colours - no red or pink.

Each week we will choose one random winner, who will receive a free digi of their choice from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe and a badge to display on your blog.  If you use a Sugar Creek Hollow image you will get two entries in the random draw.  Just follow the instructions on the sidebar to link your second entry.

Each week the Design Team will choose a Card of the Week and the creator of that card will get a badge to display.  One overall winner will be chosen each month from the Cards of the Week.  That person will be invited to be a Guest Designer and participate in the next challenge.  An image will be provided to them to work with.  The Card of the Week prize will be awarded once we reach a minimum of 10 entries.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Cardnadfairy's Digi Days -Romance
Card Makin' Mamas -Valentine
Crafty Catz  - Valentine/Love
Frosted Designs - Use the word Love
Fairy Knoll - Hearts
Raise the Bar - Valentine, no pink or red
Sew Many Cards - Valentines
Stampin' for the Weekend - Valentine's Day

Image:  I Love You Label (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock:  Recollections
Paper:  Basic Grey
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Large Flower (Recollections), Rose (Wild Orchid Crafts), Ribbon (Arton Bead Supply), Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Gold Stickles (Ranger), Sentimentals Cartridge for lock and key (Cricut), Heart (hand cut), Pearls (Dollarama), Doily (Wilton), Petite Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Spring is in the Air or Is it?

The challenge this week at Phindy's Friday Challenge blog is to create a card celebrating Springtime.  For those of us in traditional snow belts, spring is ages away yet and we can only dream that it is in the air.

When I was a kid, we had a really long clothesline and no dryer so everything was hung on the line all year round.  In the kind of weather we are experiencing now, the sheets came inside frozen stiff so then my Mom would have to drape them over every chair to allow them to thaw and warm up.  The clothes smelled divine when dried on the line but the best was the way they smelled in the spring.  My dryer broke last summer and I had to put some clothes outside to dry on a rack and even with warm weather, the clothes took ages to dry and weren't soft and fluffy so I concluded that I am sticking with a dryer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Pile It On - Bright and Breezy
One Stitch at a Time - Do it with a Digi
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge  O is for Orange

Image:  Spring Breeze (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  My Design
Card Stock:  Orange (Recollections)
Papers:  Floral (Sandylion Sticker Designs), Orange polka Dot (My Stash), Orange (Provo Craft)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prosmacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Label one Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Chalk (Mungyo), Orange Peel Stickles (Ranger), Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts), Branch Punch (Martha Stewart)

Dragon Valentine

Today our new challenge for you at Delightful Challenges is to make a card or other paper crafting project using your punches or die cuts.  I made this cute little Dragon into a Valentine's Day card for my 22 month-old grandson.  He is really starting to talk and string words together but most of them start with My so I suspect this will be "My Card" - LOL.

Our challenge this week is sponsored by Baby Bud Designs, who are offering two stamps as a prize to our random winner.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - For a Loved One
For Fun Challenges - Hearts
Stampin' Royalty - Hearts
Tiffany Doodles - Valentine
Scrapbook Sisters - Valentine
Digital Tuesday - From the Heart - Valentine (must use digi)
Everybody-art - Valentine
My Time to Craft - Hearts & Flowers
Papertake Weekly - Have a Heart
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Image: Augustus the Dragon (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Card Stock: - Yellow & Green (Recollections), Red & Red Checked (Lasting Impressions) Papers: Stripe (Sandylion Sticker Designs), Floral (Wild Rose Studio)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)Tools & Embellishments: Heart Brads & Yellow Brad (Making Memories), Flower Punches (EK Paper Shapers), Heart Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

February Sketch from Sugar Creek Hollow

I am back from my trip to Cayo Largo, Cuba and the weather was fabulous. Of course, I got too much sun despite all the sun screen. I read 2 1/2 books, taught my friends how to play cribbage and ate way too much. Now I am sitting here in my warm and fuzzies wishing I could have stayed longer. Oh well, it will be fun to craft again.

It is Sensational Saturday again at Sugar Creek Hollow and today we have a sketch to challenge you with.

I decided to create a birthday card for my Sister-in-Law using this February Violet Label from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe.  Unfortunately for me but fortunately for her I won't be able to give it to until after her birthday because she and my brother are also relaxing in the Caribbean.  We sure get sick of the snow about now here in Canada:)

Image:  February Violet Label (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock: Recollections
Paper: Flourish (Online Freebie - I'm Sorry I Can't Remember Where), Mini Floral (Wild Rose Studio)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Ribbon (Fabricland), Pearl Spray (Excelsior Wholesale), Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Silver Paste (Jaquard), Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Wild Thing

I am a little sad today because I am on my way home from my week in Cuba, which means a return to cold and snow - brrr.

The challenge this week at Phindy's Friday Challenges is to create a card or other paper crafting project with embossing.  You can use dry embossing as I have or you can do heat embossing. 

I was scrambling to get all my DT commitments done before I left on vacation and this was the last card I made and wouldn't you know it, the design in my head forgot to make its way to the finished card so this isn't quite what I hoped it would be but I am sure that happens to all of us.  The important part is the fabulous image and she looks pretty happy kicking up her heels.

Image:  Mrs. Comfy Celebrates (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Create with TLC
Card Stock:  Gold & Blue (Recollections), Copper Metallic (DCWV)
Paper:  Basic Grey
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Party Texture Plate (Fiskars), Cuttlebug, Chalk (Mungyo), Buttons (My Stash)

Blast Off

As this post goes live, I am finishing up my week in Cuba.  When I get home I am expecting to brag to you about the warm weather, the fabulous scenery and the great food.

Our challenge to you this week at Delightful Challenges is called Come Fly With Me and we want you to make a card or other paper crafting project  with anything that flies.  This image is from one of the new releases created for February.

Image: Billy and Rocket 2 (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Card Stock: (Bazzill)
Papers: (Recollections)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Chalk (Mungyo), Card Candy (Craftwork Cards)

Sweet Vintage Valentine

It is Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow and we would like you to try your hand at making a Vintage Valentine card.  Even though there is no Valentine sentiment on the outside of this card, I have included one on the inside.

If you use a Sugar Creek Hollow image on your card, don't forget to follow the instructions on the sidebar and enter your card twice.  If you haven't checked the Shoppe lately, there are some freebies still available.

Image:  Valentine Bird House (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock:  Grey (Recollections)
Papers:  DCWV
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Tattered Rose Distress Ink (Ranger), Edge Punch & Lattice Heart Punch (Martha Stewart), Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts), Bird (Sentimentals Cartridge and Cricut), Heart Charm (My Stash), Ribbon (Arton Bead Supply)

Dreamy Baby

As this posts, I am winging my way to Cuba for a week.  I am going with two ladies from the neighbourhood for a week of sun and relaxation on the island of Cayo Largo, which sits in the Caribbean Sea.  I sure hope my husband manages without me :)

Today the challenge at Phindy's Friday Challenges is to make a card using this sketch.

We have friends that are going to be first-time Grandparents in February so I thought I better get a card ready to go with a gift or two that we will be giving to the new parents.  Since they don't know whether they are having a boy or a girl, I had to make a card that could be used for either and I chose this dreamy baby and a pale cream palette.

Image:  Counting Sheep (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  Recollections
Paper:  Shabby Princess
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Old Paper Distress Ink (Ranger), Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts), Lace (My Stash), George & Basic Shapes Cartridge (Cricut), Pearl Strand (Michaels)

It's All About Love

Today the challenge at Delightful Challenges is to make a card or other paper crafting project about Love making sure it has hearts on it.  I think I managed to get this right because there are hearts all over this card.

Our sponsor this week is Whiff of Joy who are offering a stamp of the winner's choice to our random winner.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe Crafts  - Love is in the Air
Craft Your Passion - Use Two Patterned Papers
Lexi's Creations - Valentines
Pile It On - Love is in the Air

Image: Cutie Pie Rosie (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Card Stock: Recollections
Papers: My Stash
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Buttons (My Stash), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Cotton Candy Stickles (Ranger), Tattered Rose Distress Ink (Ranger), Scalloped Heart Shaplie (Penny Duncan Creations), Cricut

A Splash of Colour

 

It is another Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow and we have a colour challenge for you.  We want you to use mostly black and white and add a splash of one other colour.  I chose yellow but the leaves on the image needed to be coloured so I had to use green but made sure it was a very yellowy green.

You don't have to use a Sugar Creek Hollow image to enter but if you do, make sure you follow the instructions on the sidebar to enter your card twice as you are entitled to a second entry in the random drawing.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Digi Doodle Shops Best - Anything Goes

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Stampin' Royalty - Anything with Wings

Kaboodle Doodles - Black & White plus One Other Colour

Image:  Bee Tile (Sugar Creek Hollow)

Card Stock:  White (Staples), Yellow anbd Black (Recollections)

Paper:  Shabby Princess

Colouring Medium:  pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)

Tools & Embellishments:  Button (My Stash), Flower (Dollarama), Pearls (Recollections), Flourishes (Cindy Loo Cartridge with Cricut)

Pearls and Lace

It is Friday and that means time for another of Phindy's Friday Challenges.  This week we want you to use pearls and lace on your card or other paper crafting project. You don't have to use a Phindy image but if you do, just follow the instructions to get two entries in the random drawing.  Phindy has lots of images that lend themselves to this week's challenge and this image is perfect I think.  This gal is today's working Mother - able to do major multi-tasking unlike the man in her life, of course.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Ribbons and Pearls
Pollycraft - Pastel Colours
Corrosive Challenges - Lace and Pearls
Pile It On - Anything Goes
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shops Best  - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up - Think Pink

Image:  Busy Lizzy (Phindy's Place)
Card Stock:  White (Staples)
Papers:  Pink Brushed (Provo Craft), Butterfly (CuddlebeezScraps Freebie No Longer Available)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Mungyo), Lace (Bridal Supply Store), Butterfly Punch (Marvy Uchida), Pearls (Recollections), Satin Ribbon (Fabricland)

Let's Celebrate

The challenge this week at Delightful Challenges is called Let's Celebrate.  We want to see your cards about occasions that you celebrate such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.  This little cutie is so excited, he is popping out of the cake.  Maybe I should have made a celebration card for a bachelor's party - LOL.

This week our challenge is being sponsored by Crafty Emma's with a package of Black Magic card stock as the prize.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Gingerloft - Celebrations
Pile it On - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers - Use Pencils
Catch the Bug - Birthday
Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes
Scrap, Stamp & Doodle Saturdays - Anything Goes
Fairy Fun Fridays - Happy Birthday
Sew Many - Birthdays
Totally Papercrafts - Birthdays

Image: Birthday Pippin (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: ( Create with TLC)
Card Stock: Staples
Papers: Stripe and Mottled Blue (Provo Craft), Purple Heart (Memories Forever), Yellow mini Flowers (Bo Bunny Press)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Chalk (Mungyo), Flower Punches (EK Paper Shapers, Button (Dress it Up)

Its Fabric

 

The challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow is to make a card with fabric on it (other than a bow).  You can use fabric as your background, make a flower from it, print your image on it or use it in whatever way you can dream up.  I guess you could call the lace fabric but the real fabric on this card is the background with the little girls.  I covered the edges with ribbon so they wouldn't fray but if I had left it I am sure you would have called it a distressed look.  I hope you will give this challenge a try.  If you aren't sure how to use fabric, there are lots of videos on the internet that will show you how to make a simple fabric flower and if you combine that with a favourite image, you have a card you can enter.

I found that the best way to adhere the fabric was to iron it onto paper backed fusible webbing first, peel the paper off and then iron it to card stock but I know of a wonderful card maker who just glues it to the card stock.  Now that I know it is really easy to work with, I am going to use fabric more often because I have some fantastic fabric by Loreli with images that would make the most fun cards so stay tuned.

The random winner of our challenge will receive a stamp of their choice from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe and when we reach 10 entries, the design team will pick a Card of the Week and that person will be in the running for a Guest Designer spot.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Fairy Tale Challenge  - Flowers

Digi Doodle Shops Best - Pink and Green

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Digi

Paper Play - Cutie Patootie

Sassy Studio Designs - Use something a year old  (the fabric has been in my sewing cupboard for ages)

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

Image:  So Sweet Label (Sugar Creek Hollow)

Card Stock:  Bassill

Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)

Tools & Embellishments:  Fabric (Fabricland), Lace (My Stash), Doily (Wilton), Tattered Rose and Old Paper Distress Ink (Ranger), Heart Pins (Maya Road), Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Ribbon (Fabricland), Pearls (Recollections)

Romantic Moment

It is time for another challenge at Phindy's Friday Challenges and this week we want you to make a valentine card for a loved one.  Shhh - don't tell my husband but this is the one he is getting this year.  It is back to clean and simple this week because that wild heart paper would fight with too many embellishments but I love the paper and just had to use it.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

One Stitch at a Time - Love and Valentine
Wags 'n' Whiskers - Valentines
Scrap Creations  - Love is in the Air
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Love is in the Air
Crazy Challenge - Animals
Paper Crafting Journey  - Let's Get Digital

Image:  Romantic Moment (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  My Design
Card Stock:  Recollections
Papers:  Summertime Designs
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Pink Ink (Color Box), Clear Pen (Sakura), Card Candy (Craftwork Cards)

Cupid Riley

Today, the new challenge at Delightful Challenges is to make an easel card.  Each member of the design team is using stamps from the January new releases and my stamp is called Cupid Riley.  It is that time to make Valentine's Day cards for the ones you love and this one will likely go to my Granddaughter who is a very loving 4 year-old.  Besides, she helped design this card making sure I applied the buttons the way she thought they should be.

The sponsor this week for our challenge is The Cutting Cafe and they are providing 3 sets of your choice if you are the random winner.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Challenges - Black, White and One Other Colour
Crafty Cardmakers - Red and a Die Cut
One Stitch at a Time - Love and Valentine
All Sorts - Fancy Fold
Wags 'n' Whiskers - Valentines
Stamp Something - Use a Digi

Image: Cupid Riley (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Card Stock: White (Staples)
Papers: Red Dot (Recollections), Red Scribble Heart (Online Freebie), Black Gingham (My Stash)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Buttons (Dress It Up), Label One Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Chalk (Mungyo)

Goose Riders

I don't know how I always manage to work until the last minute creating a card for the challenge at Sassy Cheryl's but I do it every time.  I love to play in her challenges because I love her images and this one is my new favourite until I work with the next one and then it will become my new favourite:) 

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl's - Blue
Crazy Challenge  - Animals
Alys Sunday Challenge - Things with Wings
Crafty Ho's - Monochromatic
Sentimental Sundays - Anything with Wings (and a sentiment)
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Wings
Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes
Crafty Emma's - All Creatures Great and Small
One Stop Craft Challenge - Card for a Child

Image:  Goose Riders (Sassy Cheryl's)
Sentiment:  Create with TLC
Card Stock:  Recollections
Paper:  My Stash
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Mungyo), Arch Edge Punch Martha Stewart), Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Ribbon (Michaels), Charm (Arton Bead Supply), Pin (Dollarama)

Hugs and Help for Katie

When I first became active in the blogging world and on design teams, one thing really struck me - the paper crafters out there are not only super talented but very compassionate and caring people. 

A number of artists and companies that know and love Katie (known for her Tuesday Tutorials on the Clear Dollar Stamps Blog) have banded together to help Katie and her family in this time of need.  When I heard of this from Wendy Hall, Owner of Digital delights by Louby Loo, I wanted to do what I could to help in any way that I could and I hope that you will too....please read on:

A little about Katie: Katie Emmerson Renz married to Kevin with 3 beautiful boys, the twins Nate & Will, aged 5, and Hunter aged 10, had some news just before Christmas that has rocked their world as they know it. Katie has been diagnosed with stage 4 Stomach Cancer and is currently undergoing her only option which is Chemotherapy

 

Katie is a fellow crafter and is loved within the crafting community. You can read Katie's story on her own blog.

Jak Heath is a crafting friend to Katie and has organized a special digi benefit to help raise money for Katie's treatment and to give her lovely boys a treat too.  As I mentioned, a number of artists have created special stamps for this benefit and you can get all of their designs for donating £15 (appoximately $23 USD).  Visit Jak Heath's blog to purchase this set.

Jak also has some wonderful prizes on her blog that will be given to someone who donates to help Katie. Every time you make a donation you will be entered into a drawing for the prizes and if you donate twice you will get 2 chances to win one of the prizes. The drawing for the prizes will be made on February the 10th.  Visit Jak's blog to help this worthy cause for a fellow crafter.

Katie and her Family would like to say a very special thank you to all of the artists that gave up their time to help make this happen

January Sketch for Sugar Creek Hollow

This week we have some changes for you at Sugar Creek Hollow and a wonderful sketch for the first challenge of 2011.

Everyone is invited to enter a card using this sketch and you are not required to use an image from Sugar Creek Hollow but if you do you will get two entries into the random prize draw.  The winner of that draw will receive a digi of their choice from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe and a badge to display on their blog.  Once we reach a minimum of 10 entries, the Design Team will select a Card of the Week and the creator of that card will receive a special badge to display on their blog.  Every month there will be a Guest Designer chosen from the Cards of the Week and that person will be invited to join the Design Team in a challenge.  There are lots of reasons to enter so we can't wait to see your fabulous creations.

Did you know? - - - The proceeds of sales from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe go to provide food, clothing and shelter for those who are less fortunate.  If you don't have any images from the Shoppe yet, check it out and when you buy something to use on your creations you can say that you have helped out too.

My card this week features the Vintage Hot Air Balloon from Sugar Creek Hollow and I have coloured the basket with my Prismacolor pencil crayons and paper pieced the balloon.  I created the sentiment on my computer and then mounted it under a heart I cut with my Cricut.  The border was cut with a new Martha Stewart punch.  A vintage post card, some flowers and some card candy finish it off.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

My Time to Craft  - Up in the Air
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Flower Power
Stamp Something  - Use a Digi

Image:  Vintage Hot Air Balloon (Sugar Creek Hollow), Valentine Postcard (Clearly Vintage)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  Recollections
Papers:  Vintage Wallpaper & Stripes (Summertime Designs), Vintage Tee (Basic Grey)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Tattered Rose Distress Ink (Ranger), Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Red Roses (Execelsior Wholesale), Mocha Flower (Wild Orchid Crafts), Mini pearls (Dollarama), Cindy Loo Cartridge (Cricut), Edge Punch (Martha Stewart)

So Sweet

The new challenge this week at Phindy's Friday challenges is to create a card with Distressing.  This wonderful image that Phindy created is called Nana Pies and I thought it would be perfect for this challenge and would make a great vintage style card.

We had a wonderful response to our last challenge and we are looking forward to having everyone back again this week.  Phindy will once again be offering an $8 gift certificate to her store as a prize for one randomly chosen winner.  Phindy's Design Team will choose one card each week as Card of the Week and the creator of that card will be in the running for a Guest Designer spot and will receive a 20% discount voucher to Phindy's store.

I am entering this card in the following challenges;

Fab 'n' Funky - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (Lace Optional)
Karbers Weekly Challenge - Digi Stamp and Flowers
Gingerloft - Distressing
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Sentiment with only two words
Paper Crafting Journey  - Use a Digi

Image:  Nana Pies (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Create with TLC
Card Stock:  Recollections
Paper:  October Afternoon
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Lace (My Stash), Fancy Tags Die (Spellbinders), Petite Scalloped Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), George & Basic Shapes Cartridge (Cricut), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Ivory Rose (Wild Orchid Crafts), Red Roses (excelsior Wholesale Supply)

Scotland Fiona

Our challenge to you this week at Delightful Challenges is to use buttons.  Just for fun I thought I would use this cute set called Scotland Fiona for my card..  Wendy, the owner of Digital Delights by Louby Loo is originally from Scotland so I hope she isn't too critical about the artistic license I took with the colouring of the skirt on this little cutie.  I don't think it is intended to be a kilt because of the shape of it. The set included a thistle so instead of using it as a separate element on the card, I created the yellow paper with it.

The challenge this week is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who is providing a $20 gift certificate to one randomly chosen winner.

There will also be three top picks chosen by the design team and the number one pick will be invited to be a Guest Designer for one week so we hope you are back in the creating mood after the holidays and will join our Buttons challenge.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Alys Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crazy 4 Challenges  - Celebrate Something
The Secret Crafter - Buttons and Bows

Image: Scotland Fiona Set (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Card Stock: Red & Green (Wassau)
Papers: Green Mottled (My Stash), Thistle (My Design using Thistle from Scotland Fiona Set), Tartan (Online Freebie)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Buttons (Dress It Up), Classic Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Ribbon (Fabricland)

Bear Birthday

Well, the holidays are officially over and it is back to working on cards for my different Design Team commitments but before I do that I just had to make this card for the current challenge at Sassy Cheryl's.  The challenge is all about bears and the deadline is tonight - nothing like leaving it until the last minute.  I think this trio is so much fun all dressed up for a party. 

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl's - Bears
Digital Tuesday - A digi & Anything Goes
The Pixie Cottage - Party/Celebration
Simon Says Stamp - Time to Party/Celebrate
Digi Doodle Shops Best - Anything Goes
Southern Girls - Anything Goes
Stampin' B's - Make A Celebration Card

Image:  Birthday Bears (Sassy Cheryl's)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  My Stash
Papers:  Green Spatter (Provo Craft), Stripe and Bursts (My Stash)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Chalk (Mungyo)

An Award

What a nice surprise to start 2011.  I received this award from three different people.  Thank You Heide, Renee and Lisa.  Now there are rules attached to this award.  First you must tell 8 things about yourself that people might not know and then send this award on to 8 more people.

Things about me:

1. I have been called Cec since I was 17 but my name is actually Cecylja (pronounced like Cecilia) - mine is the Polish spelling.
2. I have the most eclectic taste in music but jazz is by far my favourite and I really dislike heavy metal, acid rock and rap.
3. I love to cook and bake and am pretty good at it - at least so my family and friends say.
4. I have been retired for a year but prior to that worked in finance and accounting for over 45 years mostly in not-for-profit organizations.
5. I love to travel and am hoping someone rich will adopt me so I can do more of it.
6. I hate to exercise but walk because my doctor forces me to.
7. I have always done some volunteering and now am helping out a couple of times a month in my Granddaughter's Junior Kindergarten class, which requires an enormous amount of patience and copious amounts of headache medication.
8. I do enjoy an adult beverage while I am making dinner and the beverage of choice is a single malt scotch but I won't turn down a very dry red wine.

I am sure these are things you really couldn't wait to know - lol.

I am going to send this award on to these wonderful ladies who are just a very few of the lovely blogging friends that make my day:

Susan & Emma

Shirley

Tammy

Karen

Marlena

Anne

Katie

Barbara

Happy New Year and DT Call

Happy New Year to all my new cyber friends.  It has been one year since I retired and one year since I got involved in blogging.  I have loved spending most of my time creating and I thank all of you for your kind words throughout the year and for your inspiration.  I look at how my creations have changed and my crafting resolution for the New Year is to kick it up a notch.

On another note, I have news from one of my absolutely favourite designers.. 

Phindy's Place Challenge Blog is having a Design Team call!

We are looking for creative designers to work with Phindy's Place digital images, for a six month term, from February 1st until July. You will be expected to create a card or project each week to be published on the Challenge Blog (currently Friday) as well as to your own blog and occasionally there may be further requirements such as a blog hop. You are also expected to comment on a proportion of the entries to the Challenge Blog. Membership of the Paper Craft Planet Group is encouraged and you need to upload your weekly cards to the PCP gallery so that they can be uploaded to the slide shows for the group.

The ideal team member need not have experience of being on a Design Team, however their commitment and enthusiasm are important. It is important to have a regularly updated blog, to comment regularly on entries to the challenge and it is important to meet deadlines.

What is in it for you?

• You will get a generous allowance of digis from the Phindy's Place shop to work with each month, more than enough for each month's challenges
• You will received an additional discount on designs from the Phindy's Place shop
• You will get the fun of working with brilliant designs, sometimes before their release to the public and being part of a close-knit and friendly team

Successful applicants will receive more specific details of the benefits!

If you would like to apply, please email Anne at raypack@btinternet.com with the following information:

• Your blog address
• Links to any online galleries of your work
• Photos of 3 cards/projects that you feel are typical of your work
• Details of any Design Team/ Guest Design Team experience
• A little info about yourself and why you would like to be part of the team

DT Call closes January 22, 2011

Changes at Phindy's Friday Challenges

As we mentioned last week, we have some changes to tell you about at Phindy's Friday Challenges. We have decided to open up the challenge to all cards, not just those that use Phindy's Place images. However, we still love to see your cards that use Phindy's fabulous images and so those of you who use a Phindy image will get two entries into the random drawing for the prize - just follow the instructions to link your entry twice. The first open challenge will run for a two weeks, to give the hard-working DT some well-earned time off over the holidays and will close on  January 7, 2011.

As ever, there will be a great prize of $8 to spend at the Phindy's Place web store, chosen by Random.org and the DT's Pick of the Week wins a 20% off voucher for the Phindy's Place store. Don't forget that once a month we will choose an overall winner from the weekly winners and they will be offered a Guest position on the DT - and of course a free image from Phindy's Place to use for that week's challenge!

We are challenging you to make a Thank You card with scraps as an optional extra theme.  Since this challenge runs for two weeks, this is a perfect opportunity to make the cards you will need to acknowledge all the gifts you are going to receive for Christmas (craft supplies - maybe).  Don't forget that there are lots of wonderful images in Phindy's store that are perfect for any type of card, including a Thank You card.

After the drain on my finances with the postage for my Christmas cards I am still on an austerity kick so this is another clean and simple card.  The embellishments are really calling me though so I don't expect this will last long.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes
CES Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Ann's - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge  - K is for Keep it Simple

Image:  A Helping Hand (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  White (Staples)
Papers:  Stripe, Squares and Swirl (Provo Craft), Branch (Memories Forever), Gingham (Can't Remember)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Mungyo), Corner Rounder Punch (Marvy Uchida), Buttons (Dress it Up)

Sassy Snowmen

I haven't had an opportunity to play in Sassy Cheryl's challenges lately but knew I wanted to get back there soon so I carved out some time to create this funky card for the Snowmen challenge that is running this week.  Cheryl draws the best snowmen and I think this little group is so festive and they make me smile.  I am calling this card funky because of the papers.  They certainly are non-traditional Christmas colours and are from the Krafty Christmas collection from Cuddlebeez.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Sassy Cheryl's - Snowmen
A Spoonfull of Sugar  - Christmas Cards

Image:  Box Top Snowmen (Sassy Cheryl)
Sentiment: Create with TLC
Card Stock:  Kraft (My Stash), Turquoise (Recollections)
Papers:  Krafty Christmas (A Cuddlebeez Christmas)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Deckle Scissors (Fiskars), Snowflake Punches (Martha Stewart), Gems (Michaels)

Not a Christmas Card

Today is Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow challenge blog and we were asked to create a card using one of the digi stamps from the winter collection that had not been used before.  I know with that flower my card may not look particularly wintery but I have decided that I am tired of winter already (I know it doesn't even arrive until next week but enough with the cold miserable weather already) so I am being a rebel and adding a little spring to the card.  I also happen to be tired of making Christmas cards and I never though I would say that.

I tried something new and cut this gorgeous bluebird, which can be found in the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe, so that some of the tail feathers were hanging over the edge of the Nestie.  I have seen it before and always wondered how it was done so I found a tutorial and it turned out to be very easy.  The bird was coloured with pencil crayons.  The sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC and I have sponged the edges of both the image and sentiment with Weathered Wood and Old Paper distress ink.  The flower was made with a couple of punches and curled around a skewer.  The branches were cut from the Cindy Loo cartridge and my Cricut.  They were then glittered, although it is hard to see in the photo it is still on my desk.  I did some punched strips with my Martha Stewart Double Loops edge punch and added a few gems to finish everything off.

Image:  Eastern Bluebird (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Sentiment:  (Create with TLC)
Card Stock:  Blue & Black (Recollections), Peach Multi (DCWV)
Paper:  Linen Paper (Victoria & Albert Museum)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Weathered Wood & Old Paper Distress Ink (Ranger), Gems (Michaels), Double Loops Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Label 1 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Cindy Loo Cartridge (Cricut), Onyx Glitter (Martha Stewart)

Miss You

Today the challenge at Phindy's Friday Challenge is to create a card or other papercrafting project with animals so we are calling it All Creatures Great and Small.  You must use a Phindy image on your project but there are lots of animals in her store if you don't have anything suitable.

The Christmas Eve challenge will be our last challenge for 2010 and will run for two weeks.  Make sure you come back to check it out because we are going to have some exciting changes to announce that day. 

I sent my husband to the post office with my Christmas cards a couple of days ago and he called when he got back to his office to inform me that he had to stand and add more postage to each card.  Needless to say, he did not sound happy.  As it turns out they weren't too heavy but they were too thick because of all the embellishments so they were considered large envelopes and as a result they cost $1.34 CDN each to mail.  As a result, I have vowed to try and make at least some of my cards in a more clean and simple style and this is one of them.

Image: What's Up With You (Phindy's Place)
Sentiment: Computer Generated (My Design)
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Red (Recollections)
Paper:  Ladybug (Page Maps), Stripe (Sandylion Sticker Designs)
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine), Chalk (Craf-T Products)
Tools & Embellishments:  Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers)

Party Mouse

This is our last challenge for December at Delightful Challenges so we want to see your New Year cards.  By the time we come back on January 6th with our first challenge of 2011 perhaps this little mouse will be over his hangover.

This week we are sponsored by our own Digital Delights with a $10 gift certificate for the store as the prize.

Don't forget, you do not need to use a Digital Delights image on your card or other paper craft project but if you, follow the instructions and enter twice.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Raise the Bar  - Silver, No Ribbon, One DP, Wording
CES Challenges - Anything but a Christmas Card
Stamp Something - Use a Digi

Images: Party Pippin & Happy New Year Sentiment (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Card Stock: White, Black & Red (Recollections)
Paper: Black & White Dot (Recollections)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor & Koh-I-Noor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Card Candy (Craftwork Cards), Ric Rac (My Stash), Party Texture Plate (Fiskars), Cuttlebug, Confetti (Handcut from scraps)

Red & White Christmas

Today our challenge to you at Sugar Creek Hollow is to create a red and white card or other paper project.  This is a great challenge if you have some last minute cards to make.  If you enter your project you could win a digi of your choice from the Sugar Creek Hollow Shoppe.  Please make sure you check the work of the other designers as they will have lots of inspiration for you.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges.

Dutch Dare - Christmas
Cooking It Up With Kate - Layer Me A Red Christmas
Little Red Wagon - Use a die cut
Penny's Paper Craty - Christmas
Stampavie & More - Christmas
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Christmas

Image:  Flourishes Red Sleigh & Believe Sentiment (Sugar Creek Hollow)
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Red (Recollections)
Paper:  Summertime Designs
Tools & Embellishments:  Red Ink (Color Box), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger), Oval & Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Ribbons (Fabricland), Pearl Stickers (Kaiser Scrapbook), Cindy Loo Cartridge (Cricut)

It's Winter

The challenge this week at Phindy's Friday Challenge Blog is to create a winter card using a Phindy image.  The weather here in southern Ontario Canada is very wintery so this is an appropriate card right now.  One community about 1 1/2 hours away received close to 50 inches of snow in a 48 hour period at the beginning of the week.  We got 4 inches but another town about halfway between didn't get a flake - go figure.  I will be using this as one of my Christmas cards so there is a holiday message inside.

Make sure you enter your card by Thursday night for a chance to win an $8 voucher to Phindy's store.  In addition the design team will pick a card of the week and the creator will receive a 20% off voucher and have a chance at becoming a Guest Designer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crazy Challenge - Christmas
Lexis Creations - Blue & Silver
Paper Playtime - Snowflakes
Stamptacular Sunday - Blue Christmas
2 Sisters Challenge - Sparkly Christmas
The Secret Crafter - Christmas
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges  - Christmas
Stampavie & More - Christmas

Image:  Back to Nature (Phindy's Place) 
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Card Stock:  White (Staples), Blue (Recollections)
Papers:  Provo Craft
Colouring Medium:  Pencil Crayons (Prismacolors) and OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments:  Chalk (Craf-T Products), Snowflake Punch Around the Page Set (Martha Stewart), Stardust Stickles (Ranger), Snowflake Gem (Michaels), Large Snowflake (A gift from Tracy Vinson, owner of Sugar Creek Hollow)

Sweet Princess

The challenge at Delightful Challenges this week is to create a paper craft project with embossing.  In my case I have chosen dry embossing.  This little cutie is actually called Madison the Bride but with a four year-old granddaughter, princesses are a big thing so she is now a princess and this is a girlie card.

You are not required to use an image from Digital Delights but if you do use one make sure you enter your project twice.  There will be a random winner who will win a $20 store gift certificate from our sponsor this week, Simon Says Stamp.

In addition to the random winner, the design team will choose the top three cards and the number one pick will be given an opportunity to be a guest designer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Woodware USA - Birthday
The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Image: Madison the Bride (Digital Delights by Louby Loo)
Sentiment: Computer Generated (My Design)
Card Stock: White (Staples), Pink and Lavender (Recollections)
Colouring Medium: Pencil Crayons (Prismacolor) with OMS (Taltine)
Tools & Embellishments: Punch Around the Page Set & Frond Punch (Martha Stewart), Circle Punches (EK Paper Shapers), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Pearl Stickers (Recollections), Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts)