As We Speak...

Learning new things in Photoshop Elements
Loving how green and lush my gardens are
Enjoying all the free time I have
Watching every home renovation show I can :)
Reading The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Craving chocolate! So what else is new!
Accomplishing lots of creative endeavors
Thanking God for my family, especially my amazing husband
Hoping to travel soon
Wishing I lived closer to my sisters
Dreaming about new cars
Drinking lots of fresh fruit smoothies!

Little Red Wagon #295 - Cute As A Button

Tracy wants to see cute and buttons this week at Little Red Wagon.  How much fun is that?  I found this totally adorable digi from A Day For Daisies and decided he was about as cute as cute can be so I used him on my card.

Of course I colored him up with my Copic markers and I also did some paper piecing on his shirt and shorts.  I kept the image very soft and pastel to increase the cuteness factor.

I also added some die-cut clouds and some paper tape that looks like lace.  Last, but not least, I added three buttons!

I really hope you decide to join us this week and link up your Cute As A Button card!  See you there :)

#grateful

While I was away cropping a few weekends ago, I managed to get a couple of layouts designed, along with some cards.  This particular layout happened totally by accident as I found the photo tucked into my supplies and I was suddenly inspired to put it on a page!

With no particular plan in mind, I dug through my papers, punches, stamps and embellies and came up with a page that I am quite happy with!

When I found the #grateful wooden embellishment I knew I had found my title.  It really says it all.

For the background, I started with one of my coveted peeling paint pattern papers.  Then I used three different BoBunny background stamps to add some interest.

One of my favorite go-to elements are my doilies.  I think they work so well with all sorts of layouts and cards.  On this design, it added just a hint of 'pretty' for the one female in the photo - ME!  I also couldn't resist adding some sequins for just a touch of bling.

I am entering this layout into a challenge over at Challenge YOUrself.  It is anything goes this month, as long as YOU are in the layout!  This great challenge blog has been around for a while, and I have always wanted to play along.  Thanks for stopping by :)

Little Red Wagon #294 - Stitching

Jan has posted the challenge this week at Little Red Wagon and she wants to see stitching.  It can be hand stitching, machine stitching or faux stitching - she isn't fussy!

I decided to pull out my trusty sewing machine to add some stitching to my card.

I started with this awesome digi image from A Day for Daisies!  Isn't he just the most handsome rooster you have ever seen?  I colored him up with my Copic markers and then paired the image with some papers from Farm House Paper Company (I kid you not!).  I have had the papers for a very long time and this was the perfect opportunity to pull them out and put them to use.

Then I created my sentiment - which my friend JoAnn came up with - using my computer.  I also added lots of stitching, some twine, some brown enamel dots, and a couple of buttons.

I hope you decide to join us this week and add some stitching to your card.  If you do, be sure to link it up at Little Red Wagon and we will be sure to stop by your blog. See you soon :)

Little Red Wagon #293 - Old MacDonald Had A Farm

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  We are down on the farm this week at Little Red Wagon.  For this week's challenge, I would like to see a farm animal on your project.

Since my BFF and fellow DT member, Carolyn, has just celebrated her birthday, I decided to make her a birthday card with her favorite farm animal on it.  Cows!

I found a sweet cow digi image and I knew it would make Carolyn say, "Awwww!", so I incorporated it onto my card.   

Then I die cut a picket fence using my Silhouette Cameo and created a little sign with a birthday greeting to hang on it.

I know it is hard to tell, but I actually used my craft knife to cut around the cows' snouts so they would hang in front of the fence.  Pretty clever, huh?  lol  Other than that I kept it pretty clean and simple.

I hope you decide to join us on the farm and create a card to link up!  Just pop over to Little Red Wagon and join in the fun.  See you there :)

P.S.  Happy Birthday Carolyn!  I hope you like your cows ♥

Pocket Letter

I saw a fun idea on Pinterest a while back and I decided to create one for my sister, Mary, when we went scrapbooking recently.  It is called a Pocket Letter!

The idea behind this project is to take a baseball card sleeve, add things to the pockets, and then send or give it to someone.

When it is ready to go, you just fold it into thirds and pop it into an envelope or tie a ribbon around it like I did.

There are probably different types of Pocket Letters, but I decided to make one that had scrapbooking goodies in each pocket that Mary could use on her own layouts or cards.

For the base of my pockets, I used a single sheet of paper from Amy Tangerine, Rise and Shine. The cards on the paper cut into perfect pieces for the pockets and I loved the sweet colors and quotes on them.

Then I proceeded to fill each pocket with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  I added little tags, wire clips, enamel dots, wooden embellies, sequins, a small stamp, washi tape (that I wound around an acrylic square), and a tin pin!  And yes, she loved it when I gave it to her!

Thanks for looking ~

Little Red Wagon #292 - Use It Up!

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  Heather is our host this week at Little Red Wagon and she wants us to 'Use It Up' - use something you have in your stash and have never used.

Well that was a fun challenge!  I found it interesting to dig through my wagon of goodies to see what would qualify and I found a sweet little stamp from Stamping Bella called Pair of Heart Purses.

How darling is that image!  I can't believe that I have not used it before! 

I also added some pearl accents from a package that had never been opened :)

Now, I know we all have things that we probably don't even remember that we have, so why not dig through your stash to see what treasures you can find and join in our challenge this week!  Then pop over to Little Red Wagon and link up your card.  We will be sure to stop by to see what you have created.