January DCWV Stack-a-holic Card Sketch Challenge

     Well, I'm just under the wire finishing up this one.  Life got in the way this month.
     I found the sweetest graphics at freedeariedollsdigistamps.blogspot.com.  I knew right away that I wanted to use one on the tag of this sketch.  Isn't she the cutest little gardener?  Looks just like me!  I can see using lots more of these.

DCWV Inspiration

     All my papers are from a very old DCWV matstack, Bright Prints and Cardstock.  I bought two of them.  They are very dependable when I want to play with primary colors.  The "Hello" is a Spellbinders Inspire Celebrations Two die.  I used a little Wink of Stella to highlight some parts, but it doesn't show much in the photo.
     Thanks for coming to visit me.

DCWV January Stack-a-holic Challenge

     When you know you need to choose papers from a limited supply, not the entire stash, and the sketch is already determined, the hardest part becomes choosing the pictures.  In this case, that wasn't too hard either.  I'm filling in the missing months in DGD's page-a-month album, and for some reason I only had three pictures from which to choose.  And they were all a little blurry!  :o(  Every other month I have scads of pictures.  I think I was pretty sick back in September 2010. 

DCWV Stack-a-holic Challenge

     I used DCWV Kidlet Stack for almost every part of my layout.  I used the Fiskars notebook border punch with a sheet from DCWV Christmas Letter Stack for one layer.  DCWV did most of the work for me on this one.  Thanks for the fun!  :o)

PaperCraftersCorner Magazine Monday, #84

     I can't begin to tell you how many times I changed my mind about this challenge.  I was going to go with a favor box, but nixed that.  I was going to go with a card using kraft as the background, like the PCC inspiration.  I really liked that idea, and still may do it, but in the spirit of Magazine Monday, I decided to use a page from a magazine as my background. 
     I did know from the beginning what I wanted to say on my project, whether it be a favor or a card, but wasn't sure how I would get it there.  My FiskaFriend Tona sent me happy mail some time ago containing Tim Holtz mustaches.  That solved one problem.  So now I had to get brave.  LOL!  I've been reading and watching  tutorials on the Cricut Expression since I won one from the dear gals at PaperCraftersCorner, but I've been afraid to actually try it.  I did it!  And it worked! 
     I love die-cut words, but needed another option than buying a metal die for each word.  Now I have it!  It was very easy to weld the letters and cut words using the Cricut Craft Room.  I think I will use a thinner font next time, but I hadn't found one when I did this.  Still, I think it turned out fine, and I can't wait to cut more.  I bought a couple of cartridges on eBay and DGD can't wait to cut out Disney Princesses.  Tomorrow. . . .
     Back to the challenge, I was inspired in one direction and took another.  But Valentine, magazine page and my new Cricut, all with inspiration from and thanks to PCC.  Hope you like it.  Thanks for looking. 

PaperCraftersCorner Magazine Monday, #83

PCC Inspiration

     Lots going on this weekend.  Didn't think I would get this done.  In fact, I had pretty much decided I wouldn't pressure myself, but, hey, it's papercrafting.  Or papertherapy!  I needed that alone time in my craft room just me and my toys. 
     I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I saw the inspiration.  I have this stash of little pencils, perfect for this.  :o)

 Gotta run.  More weekend company due any minute!  Thanks for looking!

ODBDSLC221 Sketch Challenge and Craftin Desert Divas' Linky Party #46

     Oh, dear!  Computer problems all weekend.  The repairman is supposed to be back in the morning.  So depending on what time zone we're  talking about, I may or may not have done this in time for the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge.  I'll keep trying and hoping everything works.
     Love this sketch.    I took the challenge at Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party and did it in Blue & White, my first time playing there. A two-fer!
     I used a stamp from ODBD's Flourished Verses.  Love it!  The papers are all shared to my scrap box from a friend's scrap box.  I like that, too!  It's before 7 p.m. here on the Pacific Coast.  Will I make it?  Gotta run!  Thanks for looking!

PCC's Magazine Monday, #82, and my 'New" Christmas Tree

     So glad to be back into the more normal swing of things.  I've missed PaperCrafter's Corner's weekly challenge and am ready to play again.  I was thrilled to win the Cricut Expression during their 12 Days of Christmas.  I mean really thrilled, but it didn't come in time to set it up and learn to use it for this competition.  Next week! 
     There was something else in the box that I used!  A magazine!  Steph, you are so sweet!  The box even had some of the red polka dot paper on the outside and the Day 12 tag inside.  Fun and festive.  Even DH was tickled.
     Back to the magazine.  Steph encouraged us to use a magazine in our project.  I used a page from the magazine in my prize box, one that didn't have recipes on it, of course.  The paper has a nice weight to it, so I die-cut the letters for my title, punched a border, and used a strip for a horizontal embellishment.  Can you see it?

     DGD turned 5 just after Christmas.  She had been talking for months about having a "Frozen" birthday party, but she also loves to say "gato morado."  I guess it just flows off the tongue.  I dunno.  It's her favorite thing to say in Spanish.  When we tell someone she is in dual immersion preschool, she likes to add, "And I can say purple cat in Spanish!  Gato morado!"  Anyway, just a few days before her birthday, she changed the theme.
     The inspiration piece had a bold title and a purplish background with a scattering of shapes and confetti-like bits.  I used those elements, but didn't go so much with the pastels.  I used pop-dots on most of the "gatos morados."  Wasn't sure I liked it, but when DGD saw it, she loved it.  So I'm happy.  In the end, that's what it's all about.
     And to my Christmas tree!  I decided, after 45 Christmases with my DH, I am through putting up and taking down a tree.  I lifted an idea from Pinterest.  I've spent several days, and a couple of blisters, hot gluing all our ornaments on to a 4 x 6 foot cork board.  I'm very pleased with the results.  When I get it out next year, I will add lights, maybe some ribbon, and be done!  :o)
     Thanks for looking!