Spirit of the Moment

May Baskets have all been delivered and the promise of a very warm spring is here in the "Valley of the Sun."  Another fully too long hiatus has brought me back into the fold to reunite with my blogging buddies with a new banner and my latest show and tell. 

A little mini quilt in preparation of Memorial Day created on my lovely little 380 Bernina and the help of my friendly teacher and project designer, Denise, at Sew From the Heart.  It is called a "table top quilt" and is designed with a flap on the back to slip over an upright plastic sign holder.  A great little project that inspires to create other seasonal versions so that the "sign" will convey the spirit of the moment.  The star was cut with a Go Cutter -- I am hopeful that I can enlist my Sizzix to do the same thing.  Another reason to have a "laundry room" full of 'tools."

And, if I had paid attention in class, I would have known to cut my binding at 2 1/2" instead of 1 1/2" and it would have been a lot less trouble.  But, I love a challenge.  What next will be the spirit of the moment?  I know Denise has some ideas.....

Rock Star

Rowlf  -- the Muppet pianist (Inkadinkadoo) was perfect for a musician and song writer friend of mine.  Rowlf is a three layer dimensional and lifted with foam mounts on top of the piano keys.  Accents are a red gem for a cufflink Sizzix die cut stars from sparkly fun foam (a new discovery from visiting my blogging stamping friend Sue Drees), a Sizzlet guitar and DP from stash.  The background for Rowlf was direct to paper - die cut panels from Nestabilities, "Rock Star" by Hampton Arts (Michael's Dollar stamp). 

A Purrrfect Thank You

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, thank you cards are a favorite challenge theme this month. I am meeting the challenge with this card by posting at Pause, Dream, Enjoy -- Simon Says Stamp Challenge -- Papercraft Star Challenge 121

A Sizzix die cut embellishment attaches the Delafield cat image (one of my very first stamps!!) and still a favorite.  The image was stamped and  colored on the reverse side of vellum and mounted on cardstock, before matting with another layer and then silk leaves and a ribbon from stash for the finish.  The Hero Arts "Thank You" was punched out with an Emagination tag punch.  And speaking of Thank yous -- I wish to thank you for stopping by - please let me know what you think. 

More than two Peas in a Pod

New Year's Resolution Number One: blog up to the plate! Here's my first fast and quick with Sizzix dies. Such fun and so easy peasy. I'll be visiting all my blogging friends in the next few weeks as I rev up my mojo and start working on my "laundry list."

Happy New Year to all!

T Bear Spring

I have just returned from a fun-filled "girls' week" in Las Vegas where we attended the Bead and Glass Expo. So now that I am back home, I'm doing "double duty" in the laundry room. Washing and playing at the same time. With some Sizzix die cuts, an embossability, a cuttlebug embossing folder, and bits of paper this was assembled before I could load my first batch of clothes in the dryer.

Spring

Happy Birthday -- My Dear AZ SIS!

Spring is here! What's more fun on a beautiful spring day then to go for a ride with friends? This bicycle bovine with chick friends is such a happy image I couldn't wait to create something with it. Visit the Penny Black challenge spot for lots of great Spring ideas because the challenge this week is "Spring is Sprung."

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I'll surely return the visit!

Stuff I used: Penny Black, All Night Media, G (Michael's $ stamp); Sizzix dies, Cuttlebug embossing folders, McGill punches, Tim Holtz distress inks, Coloring by Prismacolor markers and watercolor pencils, Mystic Fire embossing powder, pop dots, Pilot gold pen, ribbon and flowers from stash.

In the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

While I am "green" thinking, I got out Sizzix dies to create this simple and quick card. The frog's chest is bleached so a little hint of pink could be added, and then he was run through the cuttlebug with the dots embossing folder for a textured skin. The Lily pads and background are also cuttlebug embossed and some of the items are raised with pop dots. But the most fun of all was to make his tongue out of a rubber band -- look out all you flies out there.

Other stuff: watercolor pencils, Pilot Gold marker, Tim Holtz distressed ink, (eyes: super adhesive tape, mystic fire embossing powder).

Treasure the Moment

This week in honor of St. Patrick's Day, the Penny Black Saturday Challenge is to create in green. What could be easier when you choose to stamp a Penny Black frog! For more information on this challenge go take a look at the DT creations. I treasure every moment I am able to sit with a book and so does this darling little frog. His book is raised with pop dots for dimension. Other moments I treasure are when I have time in my studio and when I visit my blog friends to view all their beautiful creations.

Stuff I used: Stamps - Penny Black, PSX, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Sizzix dies, McGill Word Tag punch, watercolor pencils, Diamond Glaze, DaisyD's paper and gems

Mikey Likes These

My granddaughter has a visitor at her house this week: Mikey.

Mikey is her class teddy bear who visits each student for one week during the school year. During his stay, the host family for Mikey takes pictures to log his adventures to share with the class. Each student then gets a copy of the photos and maintains a journal of Mikey's travels.

This week, Mikey spent time with us helping to create his favorite kind of cards - Teddy Bear Cards. Here are a few of "our" creations.

Mikey likes these -- they are all variations of the Teddy Bear Sizzix die - layered and mounted with pop dots, cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha Stewart border punch, and Shayna's heart punch.

Shayna and Mikey also made 22 boys and girls from Sizzix - complete with clothing and bright colored hair for "wild hair day" at school.

Snowflake Kisses

It is a rarity for two of my favorite challenge spots to offer up a challenge that I can put into one card. This week it happened! Stampin' Sisters in Christ asks for weather and Penny Black says "Let it Snow" -- and soon it will -- or already has in some places! (awesome DT cards here and here.) Here in the Arizona desert all we can do is dream about snow so little Hedgie is in a snow globe. The snow globe (stamp by Embossing Arts) is stamped on acetate and the contents are raised for dimension.

Rain, shine, or snow, I hope your day is filled with winter wishes and snowflake kisses.

Other stuff: Martha Stewart border punch, sizzix, cuttlebug embossing folders, gems, phrase by my hand, glitter glue, ribbon, snowflakes from stash.

Danger

My grandson is growing up (13 already and is as tall as I am) and I know that he won't be "scared" for not one second with this card -- but I do hope he enjoys it! This was inspired by GinaK's latest StampTV tutorial on making a gatefold with a twist. The twist being that there are two outer components --the skull image attached to one side; danger, attached only to the other side allowing the card to open.

The best fun was creating the inside. The Mummy is attached by a black thread at just the point that will allow him to "spring" from his tomb when the card is opened! There's no danger in having fun!

Details: Stamps: Stampendous, Inkadinkado, Cuttlebug folder, Sizzix die cuts,

Stickers from Stash

Still Counting Blessings

House Mouse in and of itself is as much an addiction as stamping. This little guy (Mudpie) was still on my stamping table from a previous House Mouse challenge I called "Sweet Dreams" and he found his way into this colander of fresh fruit - still dreaming away -- but this time counting his blessings. He's colored with watercolor pencils and the grapes are enhanced with crystal lacquer and foam mounted for dimension. All the fruit and colander are sizzix die cuts -- the pear was cut from some tea stained paper I had made for another project. Lace edging by Fiskars border punch. Phrase from Stampendous. Assembled by yours truly, Martha Kay.

Leaves of Fall

I am counting my blessing on these leafs while I am away from my stamping studio. The leaves are sizzix die cut, stamped on and cuttlebug embossed and are attached by the stems only so that they can be moved about to read all those uplifting and encouraging words. Word stamps from PSX, Stampendous, etc. Underlying frame stamped with Too Much Fun Leaf background stamp. Simple but fun to receive yes?

Casino Royale

I learned how to make paper medallions last week for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge and it was so much fun that I made more than I needed. This week's movie "Casino Royale" (challenge 89) was a perfect follow up as I began to see poker chips in those medallions. The challenge, however is to use a silhouette. I've created my dapper 007 silhouette (Sean Connery in my mind's eye) from a Stamps Happen image of Fred Astaire! He is reveling in his Royal Flush which is indeed a lucky draw from my old gin deck. The edges of the poker chips were touched with Top Boss and dusted with JudiKins Black Diamonds ep. Thanks Cinema Saturday for another great challenge and a reminder of those great 007 flicks!

Other stamps and stuff: Art Impressions, gold gift wrap, Sizzix, EK Success border punch, pop dots, McGill and Marvy craft punches, MS metallic pen.

In my series, this is card trick Number 12 -- to see other card tricks: King for a Day,Drama Queen, Gogh have great Birthday, A Perfect Pair,Lucky Draw, Queen of Diamonds, Queen for a Day,High Handed, Make it a Royal, Friends, Mr. Personality.

Woof!

A new record for me! A daily post for 6 days running! -- I'm all out of breath. I am headed back home to my studio and my favorite pal, Mr. Lucky (a Weimaraner) tomorrow but before getting packed up, I revisit the Clean and Simple sketch this week. This time a traditional card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. This sketch is a real keeper as it works great for this size too. For details on the Clean and Simple sketch and to see my previous contribution -- go here. Mr. Lucky, here I come -- Woof!

Stuff I used: Sizzix, rose, gems, dp paper from my suitcase

Best Buddies

I am away from my studio and I am working out of my suitcase but was delighted to find that I had the tools for a new technique as a challenge from Cinema Saturday. The movie: "Best in Show" ; the technique: paper accordian medallions. (There are links for tutorials on the challenge posting or go here.) My answer to the challenge: these little dogs with their jeweled collars are best buddies and just for fun, can be removed from their basket. I didn't have any blue paper to make a first prize rosette for these "Best in Show" dogs, so I gave them their "blue ribbon" on the basket handle and made the polka flowers for them to gaze upon while they reside in their basket. Best buddies -- Best in Show!

Die cuts by Sizzix;E K Success flower punch, Michael's $ stamp "best wishes"; paper, ribbon, gems from my suitcase

Plans

Something built with a set of plans, this is what the DT hostess, Grace, wants to see at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week (Challenge #48). She draws her inspiration from Psalm 127:1a . "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" I am away on vacation and had no idea what the challenge was going to be but I don't go anywhere without a "few" of my favorite things so I was able to find something in my "suitcase" to play along. This card not only fits the "built with plans" but will certainly bring some nostalgia with it (it certainly does that for me). I love it when a plan comes together!

Stuff I used: Stamp by Mostly Animals, "doodads" by Sizzix. I begged my DH to take me to a Michaels so I could add the little stars and gems. Isn't he a gem?

Find Peace

What image for you might symbolize peace or rest? That is the challenge proposed by Miesje, guest designer for Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week.

To me any outdoor quietness brings peace to me and brings me rest and a feeling of calm. The card I have created, and the Bible verse that inspired the challenge both bring that to me: Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." I can just envison this scene up in the northwoods on a lake with a loon floating across the moonlit water.

Stuff I used and a few details: Vellum Flower Kit by Cloud 9 Designs (red tag at JoAnns!); Stamps: Embossing Arts, PSX, The Pines (I think I bought this loon stamp in Wisconsin), Sizzix frame, Sizzlets corners, the Loon is dry embossed on the breast, painted with nail polish for sheen and dusted with Art Institute Glitter, and set atop it all with pop dots.

What image brings you peace? You have until this Saturday 7/17 to post an answer to this challenge.

Crazy

Yup! Who wouldn't be crazy for ice cream? --- Even Penny Black's frog knows the answer for a hot summer day! C.R.A.F.T challenge knows it is the answer for a hot summer day too -- that's their challenge. The best things about making the little ice cream cone with a sizzix die is that it didn't melt and it didn't put any weight on me! The "Crazy 4 you" is a sizzlet die cut. I'm crazy 4 your comments. Have an ice cream kind of day!

Stuff I used: Penny Black stamp, Cuttlebug embossing folders, craft punches, Sizzlets, prismacolor pencils, Art Institute Glitter and DeNami Glitter, pop dots

Green & Purple & Gems

Green, Purple, and Gems. What could be a more fun challenge? This is C.R.A.F.T.'s request this week -- great colors and who doesn't like gems? It was also suggested to consider a medieval theme and I think the image fits for that too. Several layers are attached with pop dots for more well, "pop" -- the gold corner swirls are by Sizzix. My son, the artist, approves this post -- green, purple and gems too! Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Other details: Stamp created from one of my son's drawings, Cuttlebug embossing folders, metallic rub-ons, image colored with Prismamakers and OMS, DP DCWV,

ribbon, gems from stash.