Hooray!!

It's SOFTPENCIL ANNIVERSARY BLOG HOP TIME!!!


Welcome! I hope you have arrived here from AUDREY'S BLOG. If not, please go to the SOFTPENCIL BLOG to start from the beginning! I'd hate for you to miss out on all the fabulous creations and surprises along the way!! We'll be blog hopping through Sunday, May 30th at 8pm EST so be sure to join in on the fun!

I think that sums it up nicely...HOORAY! It's party time! For my creation I made a birthday card using a new image MICHU & THE BIG FLOWERS!

Doesn't he look so happy? I think he is totally jumping for joy! Michu loves a party!! I used an old sketch from AmyR (you can see it HERE) for my layout. It was perfect to highlight the wonderful image from Elizabeth.

So whatcha think? I hope you like it! Now you'll want to visit MELISSA'S BLOG to continue through the blog hop!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Good Friend

So glad it's Thursday...it means the weekend is ALMOST here AND I get to share a Softpencil creation. Our challenge this week was to use the image GOOD FRIEND and make a FRIENDSHIP CARD.


Isn't it such a cute image? I had to color the bird red since my favorite bird is the Northern Cardinal (or red bird as Abby likes to call it). After that I just used colors found in my pattern papers. I couldn't fit everything on the front of the card so I continued on the inside as well

I used TAC's SEEDS OF BLESSINGS for the sayings. It's the set I usually turn to for those perfect friendship sayings. I colored the image with colored pencils and OMS and used scrap papers from my stash. I also used the Stardust Clear Gelly Pen to add some sparkle to the bird's wing, the snail's shell and the front sentiment. It's hard to see that detail in the photo though.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges: Amy R's Friday Sketch - AMYRTFS7 and Paper Sundaes Challenge #14 - No people.

Softpencil's one year anniversary is in MAY and guess what that means - PARTY!! Be sure to be a part of the fun, by joining us on the Paper Craft Planet group...it's going to be a BLAST!! Also, Elizabeth just released some new CA-ute sets that would be perfect for MOTHER'S DAY...check those out plus all her other fantastic images by going HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today - hope your day is a good one :)

Painting Eggs...

with Michu & Ratiny, that is!! Are you thinking - what the heck is she talking about? Well never fear it's another SOFTPENCIL THURSDAY and today I'm going to share a card using the image Painting Eggs with Michu & Ratiny :)

Now let me explain something - Michu is a cat and Ratiny is a mouse. The reason I have to tell you that is in case you were unsure about my card like my daughter was. I showed it to her and she says "Mommy why is that Bunny's face brown? The Easter Bunny isn't brown?!" I had to laugh at that one.


The image is perfect for an Easter card. And since they are painting eggs, I had to make the card colorful - just the way I like my Easter eggs! I saw that AMYR had a sketch posted (yippee, I've missed them) so I used her sketch for my card (AMYRS77). Here is a closeup of Michu & Ratiny:
They were colored with my Copic markers. Funny thing I colored like 4 images with different mediums and finally the last one was with my Copics and I thought it turned out like I envisioned it. Bright and fun!

We have a few new girls joining us this month on the Softpencil design team..please welcome guest designers Lisa and April! Also, Betty is joining us for the first couple of weeks as she won the Softpencil St. Patty's challenge over at PCP. Welcome ladies and I look forward to seeing your creations. You can find links to everyone's blog under the Softpencil badge on my sidebar.

If you'd like to own your own Painting Eggs with Michu & Ratiny or any other Softpencil digi then visit Elizabeth's blog! You won't be disappointed in the Easter images...A-DOR-ABLE!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a terrific Thursday!

Christmas Challenge #24

So did you have a good holiday weekend? I did! Saturday our neighborhood had a parade in the morning, my parents and sister came to spend the day with us, we went putt-putting, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, went to the lake for the firework show and then had our own firework show...yes, we did all that and I can tell you it was a lot of fun but I was TIRED!

Here's a fun picture of Abby - You can't really tell but she decorated her bike for the parade - it had stickers, stamped images, streamers, pipe cleaners...she's very crafty (not sure where she gets it, lol!)


Here's a family shot of us. It's right after the parade (hence my cheeks are a little red & Jay is wearing that hat). Abby rode her bike and we walked...not sure how we thought we'd keep up with her. Jay ended up cutting through so he could catch up with her. I went the whole route - figured if I was out and walking might as well do it all!

So I'm sure you are here to see my Christmas card for the week. I had so much fun with this one. The challenge was given to us by Vickie and it was to go stampless - no stamps to be used except for the sentiment. I have a bin full of my Christmas embellishments so I knew I was going to use those. I ended up making 3 cards - I used up the full package of stickers that I had, yeah for me!!!

The cards are pre-made from DCWV which I got on clearance last year. I used Amy R. sketch from here - leaving out the embellishments in the corner. The only stamping I did was for the sentiment and I HAD to use it - it's a new sentiment from the Thinking of You set by TAC that I got at seminar last week. I LOVE this set!! I also inked the edges of the cardstock since I didn't want to mat all the layers. I do that so I can keep the postage down when I go to mail these babies out at the end of the year.

Be sure to stop by the Stampin' All Year Long blog to see the other fabulous creations by the design team. Why don't you play along - July is known as Christmas in July...

As always thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and leave me comments! It means the world to me and I so appreciate it!! Hope you have a wonderful Monday!!

Flutter By Wednesday #16 & AMYRS65 Sketch

Happy Wednesday to you! Today I'm so freakin' excited to share some wonderful news. This week our guest designer is none other than Lauren Meader!! Have you seen her work?? I just love it and she also designs the Timeless Templates for PTI which I'm in love with!! They are awesome!! And if that wasn't enough, Jodi is the featured team member!! She is so nice and talented as well! Be sure to check out her blog to see her amazing creations!! Ok, on to my card - this week there was no specific challenge so we could do whatever we wanted as long as we used a butterfly or a fairy! Well, my friends, I used both! For my card I used Amy R.'s sketch #65 shown below:

cool sketch, huh? And here is my card:

See the sparkle??? Isn't she beautiful? I'm digging this image - and for those loyal readers out there I colored her hair blond - yep!! Can you believe it?? Normally I use brown just cause I'm used to those copic colors but today I dared to do something different. The image was given to me as a RAK from Kristie - Thanks so much! Can you see the little butterfly I added?

A few more things - if you want to play along just visit Danni's blog to leave a link to your creation. While you are there you'll need to check out her card - I'm sure it will be absolutely adorable as they always are!! To see the other team members cards, just visit their blogs which are on the right side of my blog!

I'm going to try and schedule some post while I'm out this week. Tomorrow is my surgery and even though I'm supposed to get out soon I probably won't feel like walking up and down the stairs to the computer for a few days :o). Thank you to everyone for your kind words - they mean a lot!

Thanks for stopping by and happy flutter by!

Card Details:

Stamp: PMS (image) & TAC (sentiment)

DP & Cardstock - SU

Other: button, scrappers floss, copics, crystal stickles, martha stewart butterfly punch

AMYRS58

I needed to make a thank you card to the young lady who gave me all those goodies. I was so excited to find AMY R's sketch as it worked with it perfectly!

I really am loving those hedgehogs. If you know the name of the set that this one is in from SU! will you please let me know. I like to label my stamps and I have no idea what this one is. The flowers are from Making Memories Embellishment jars and match the paper perfectly which rarely happens for me!

Well this week the sickness train has made its stop here. My Mom watched Abby last weekend while Jay & I were in KC and she got sick. We picked Abby up and Monday she didn't have school but that night she got sick. She missed school Tuesday and Wednesday. Then last night at about midnight, Jay got sick. He's home now trying to recover. I just HOPE I do not get it! I'm staying away but I was around Abby more than Jay was so what's that say?

I hope you have a great Thursday and thanks so much for looking!

Flutter By Wednesday #6

Happy Wednesday - time for another Flutter By Card! This week our challenge was to create a card using a butterfly, buttons and sparkle. I found an old set, Bug Me by TAC with a butterfly that was perfect for adding sparkle too. Next, I decided to use an AmyR Sketch that I never had a chance to use. Then I located this wonderful BasicGrey paper and TAADAA my flutter by card was born!! I was hesitant to use this saying as I usually only put general sentiments on my card. So I have a question for you card makers out there (and PLEASE leave a comment or email me your thoughts cause I REALLY want to know this) if you use quotes or sayings on your cards when do you give them/use them? I mean are they just general "how YOU doin" (said in my best Joey voice) cards? I tend to over think things so I really want feedback here.

Below is a close up of all the sparkle on the butterfly. I was going to use glitter but didn't feel like going to bed with it all over me. So I decided to use Stickles instead.


So whatcha think? You've gotta check out the other team members blogs to see their wonderful creations as well. (The links are on the right). Also, stop by Danni's Blog to see who the guest designer is for her Flutter By Team. Remember we'd love to see your Flutter By creations - so get busy and share it with us! I know I'd love to see it! If you upload to an online gallery like SCS or PCP, use the keyword FBW44!

Hoo Loves You

Owls are very popular right now so imagine how happy I was to get this image in my mailbox! I was looking for something to use on another Amy R. sketch and thought these owls would be perfect!

Now I know there really aren't pink & red owls but isn't it cute???? In cardmaking it's acceptable, right?!

I have to tell you a funny - and I'm sure we've all been there (at least I hope I'm not the only one!). I was looking at Tina's blog and she used this awesome border punch on a couple of her cards. I kept looking at that going man I wish I had that. Well today, I looked at my punch swatches and guess what? YEP, I HAVE IT!!! I was all ready to go buy it this weekend. NOW you know why I have an "inventory" book, a stamp book and a punch book! If not I'd be double buying a lot and it's not like I can afford to be doing that!

Thanks so much for looking!

Hey Cupcake

Before I share my card for the day, I want to give you a little insight about me. I'm a bad blogger. I get busy and it never fails that I don't get something posted. Then I realized that I can schedule my posts! Yippeee that will help! So usually Sunday evening I sit down and prepare my posts for the week. In the past, I haven't had enough for each day. BUT this week it's different!! Not only did I have enough for the week but I even created and completed a few new cards TONIGHT!!! AND what's even better is that I met some challenges and their deadlines!! Now, I'm not bragging cause I'm sure it won't last long but it feels good to create and LOVE what I make. That doesn't always happen. The mojo goddess must be on my side!!

Ok enough about that, on to the card, right??? Well this yummy beauty comes from another Amy Rysavy sketch. I really enjoy her sketches and I love that I'm using embellishments again. Adding that extra something can be difficult for me. So here's the card:

YUM-O right?! Want the details? Here they are: Great Impression Stamp, DCWV Sweet Stack, Brown Cardstock, Ribbon and Buttons. I stamped the image with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic and then embossed it with clear embossing powder. I did this cause VersaMagic takes awhile to dry and I'm inpatient, lol! Next I paper pieced the cherries & cupcake "holder" (for some reason I'm totally blanking out what to call this...maybe cause it's 1:30AM?!?!?) with DCWV paper. I colored the hearts with a light pink and then added crystal Stickles to them to give them shine!

Thanks so much for looking! Feel free to leave me a comment as I ALWAYS appreciate and LOVE to hear what YOU have to say!! While you are there tell me if my pictures are horrible...I always think they look pretty good then I upload them and think they look dark. Am I imagining that? Are they horrible? I really hope not!!