Little Red Wagon #283 - Call The Vet!

Susie wants us to 'Call the Vet' this week at Little Red Wagon!  Not literally, I hope! lol  She actually wants us to use an animal or animal print on our card.

I went with a sweet image from Sassy Cheryl for this week's challenge.

I just love this image (Thick as Thieves) and I colored it with my Copics to match the fabulous papers I had!

I even did a little paper piecing on the dog house and bowl!  I cut out a second one of each and layered them on the card for some extra dimension.

Will you join in the fun this week?  Just simply make up a card that has an animal or animal print on it and link it up at Little Red Wagon!  We would love to see what you create :)

Little Red Wagon #282 - You're A Star

We are seeing stars at Little Red Wagon this week thanks to Carolyn! She wants us to use stars on our project.

Easy peasy!

I created this fun shaker card and I used some stars on the background as well as part of the shaker confetti!

Are you seeing stars?  We hope so!  Stop over to Little Red Wagon and share your stars with us.  Just link up your creation and we will be sure to visit your blog :)

Little Red Wagon #281 - All Tied Up

Happy Wednesday!  Tracy's challenge at Little Red Wagon this week is All Tied Up!  Literally!  She wants to see ribbon, twine, bows, etc. on our projects :)

I made a simple card for this challenge:

I had a left-over piece of paper from the Simple Stories I AM line that had a typewriter on it.  So I added the 'thinking of you' sentiment, a couple of enamel dots and some Glossy Accents on the keyboard!  The keyboard looks and feels really cool in real life because of the dimension from the Glossy Accents. Just ask Jan because she had a sneak peek at it ;)

Then last, but not least, I used some crinkled and dyed ribbon from my stash (that I normally hoard) to create a yummy bow.

Check out what the DT Girlfriends designed for more inspiration and then link up your own creation at Little Red Wagon.  We would love to see your take on this challenge :)

Little Red Wagon #280 - Cute, Cute, Cute!

It is Jan's turn to issue the challenge at Little Red Wagon this week and it is all about cuteness!  She wants to see any design that is cute, cute, cute!

Here is my 'cute' card...

I used a stamp from C.C. Designs, Snowy, and colored it up with my trusty Copic markers.

I then paired it with the perfect snowflake wood paper, added a couple of die-cuts and some ribbon and created a sentiment using my computer.

I even added some pretty glitter to make the snow all sparkly!

I would love to see your 'cute' design so I hope you play along with Jan's challenge!  Just head over to Little Red Wagon and link up your card.  We will be sure to visit your blog :)

Little Red Wagon #279 - Birds of a Feather

Happy Wednesday!  It is my turn to post the challenge at Little Red Wagon this week and I want to see birds or feathers (or both!).

I made up this card for inspiration.

It is a postage stamp shaker card with a beautiful red cardinal.

Sweet and simple!  Now it is your turn.  Stop over to Little Red Wagon, check out the other Girlfriend's creations and then link up your own.  Easy peasy!  See you there :)

Little Red Wagon #278 - Beachy Keen!

Is it even possible to think warm, summery thoughts when it is one of the coldest winters on record?  Well, that is what Heather at Little Red Wagon wants us to do.  She wants to see some summer-themed projects this week.  Maybe if we all think summer it will come?

I had fun with this challenge.  I started by creating a water color background using water color paper, distress ink and a water brush.

Then it was all about the flip-flops!  I found this adorable file on the Silhouette store and thought it was perfect for a summer card.

The clothes line actually had bows at the end, but I decided to replace them with little clouds.  Then three pairs of flip flops and a fun sentiment finished off my design.  Yes, I feel warmer already!

Now we want you to think summer!  Create something summer-themed and then link it up at Little Red Wagon.  We all need some warm thoughts to get us through this winter :) 

Little Red Wagon #277 - Round & Round We Go!

Welcome to Wednesday and another great challenge from Little Red Wagon!  Collette is up this week and she wants to see a card that does not have any sharp corners.

I went with a round card for this challenge.

I began with a sweet image that I stamped onto a circle cut with a stitched circle die.  Then out came my Copic markers and some matching embellishments.

Be sure to stop by each of the DT Girlfriend's blogs to see what they created for this challenge.  Then link up your own creation for us to see! We will be sure to visit your blog :)

Inspiration Elevator - February 2015

Inspiration Elevator has issued their very last challenge this month.  They will be retiring and it is sad to say good-bye to such an awesome and talented group of scrapbookers.  I am honored to have been a part of the Inspiration Elevator team and I will miss the creativity that the challenges inspired in me.

Here is our last challenge in Ann's words:  

"After some thought and consideration, the time has come to retire Inspiration Elevator. But before we go, we need to hold a big retirement party, so we've invited everyone who's been involved with Inspiration Elevator back for one last reveal. This month's challenge is simple, but I hope, challenging, as well.

Here's the challenge: Inspiration Elevator launched on May 15, 2012, and at that time, we explained our purpose as, "Welcome to Inspiration Elevator! What a thrilling day! Today is the launch of Inspiration Elevator (IE), a challenge blog created by my dear friend Christa Uttley and me. We chose the name Inspiration Elevator because it is our intent to raise our creativity to heights through challenges issued every month. We want to raise our designs from the ordinary to the extraordinary. We hope you'll join us on our journey!

IE is a group of like minded scrappy friends who want to raise the bar in their own creative process through unique challenges that we issue to each other once a month. These won't be run of the mill challenges and we hope you'll join us each month and be inspired by the creative designs we've created."

That vision has remained unchanged over the last (almost) 3 years. The challenge this month is to just create - no holds barred. Take some time, or challenge yourself to do it in 1/2 hour if time is tight, but think about what you'd like to create if there were no agenda, no design team requirement. In other words, create for you, and enjoy the process!"

What a wonderful way to celebrate the retirement of this challenge group - just to create a page totally for ourselves with no expectations or requirements!

Considering that I just picked up some new paper from the KaiserCraft Sandy Toes collection and that I had a favorite photo of my sisters and myself ready to go, I decided to combine the two onto a single-page layout.  I enjoyed using some of my go-to techniques and embellies, including stitching, layering, misting, inking, sequins, and twine.

I started by misting a couple of different colored inks onto my background cardstock and letting them drip down.  Then I also splattered some ink onto the background to get the look I wanted.  I always think of Ann when I get a bit messy on my pages.  Ann has taught me by example that it is good to just let go and be creative in any way I feel.  I admire her beautiful art journal pages and creative layouts and how she has explored her 'artist within'.  Thank you Ann!

Next I layered a few coordinating papers and added my photo and a quote. 

In my stash, I found an Amy Tangerine foam word - cherish - that worked perfectly with my page! That one word describes how I feel about my sisters better than anything!  That is why I did not feel the need to add any other journaling to my layout, aside from the date that the picture was taken.

When the papers, photo and title were in place, I just had fun with some embellies.  I added some random, messy stitching to my page (something that I have always admired on Christa's pages), a sunshine clip and clothespin, a couple of white rub-ons and some bling!  Just a few of my favorite things :)

Thank you Ann, Christa and all of the wonderful designers that I have had the privilege of working with on this team.  You have inspired me to dig deeper and reach higher in my creative process.  It has been a wonderful ride and I will miss you!

Please visit all of the designers that are participating in our last challenge. 

Audrey Yeager

Christy Riopel

Denise Morrison

Jodi Wilton

Laura Whitaker

Laurel Seabrook

Shelby Dwyer

Jayne Morgan

Joanne Burton

Katherine Sutton

Lisa Moen

Lisa Spiegel

Michelle Hernandez

Wendi Robinson

Christa Uttley

Ann Jobes

May your creativity continue to take you places that you have dared not go before ♥

Little Red Wagon #276 - Winter Washi Land

We have another great challenge this week at Little Red Wagon.  Susie wants to see washi tape on our project.  I love washi tape and I have used it many times, so I wanted to do something totally different for this challenge.

I found an idea similar to this on Pinterest and thought it was so adorable that I had to give it a try.

I started with digi images that I cropped to allow only the head of the image to print. Then I colored away using my Copic markers and added some washi tape as scarves to them! lol

For some reason I laugh out loud at these silly little cards every time I look at them!  I created the frame using a new Lawn Fawn die set and I really had to resist the urge to add more to the cards! No ribbon, buttons, sequins, glitter... just a silly little floating head!

Now what can you do with washi tape?  Create something fabulous and link it up at Little Red Wagon.  We will be sure to visit your blog :)

Little Red Wagon #275 - Peek-a-Boo!

Carolyn has issued a really fun challenge at Little Red Wagon this week!  We are supposed to create a card with a window in it!

I created a card that has a window tag on it and I made it into a shaker card!

Everything was cut with my Silhouette - of course - and the shaker element was filled with pretty sequins and glass beads.

Such a fun and happy card! Now it is your turn to show us your window card.  For more inspiration, be sure to visit all the DT Girlfriend's blogs.  It will be fun to see how each of them interpreted the challenge.  Then be sure to link up your own creation at Little Red Wagon.  See you there :)

Little Red Wagon #274 - Winter Blues

Do you have the Winter blues?  Well, we do at Little Red Wagon this week!  Tracy wants to see mostly blue on our cards.

I have had a Martha Steward Pine Branch Punch for forever and I have used it very little, so being true to our Little Red Wagon mandate to use our stash, I pulled it out along with a scrap of blue paper.  After punching about 30 branches, I created a wreath on an embossed card.

Then I added a blue bow, some blue gems and a white dove that I cut with my Silhouette.  Simple, but so sweet!

Why not join in our Winter Blues challenge this week by creating something blue.  Then link it up at Little Red Wagon and I guarantee you will chase the blues away! 

Little Red Wagon #273 - Shhhh!

Shhhhh! That is Jan's challenge at Little Red Wagon this week.  She wants us to create a card with no words at all, no letters at all, no text of any kind.  How fun!

I decided to try something totally different for this challenge.  I went vintage!

Vintage is not necessarily my style, but I really think that some vintage cards are quite pretty.  I started with a bird print that I found on the internet and printed out using my computer.

Then I decided to just have fun with layers and embellishments.  I added some machine stitching, a pretty die-cut doily, lots of flowers, cheesecloth, lace, twine, buttons, a wooden butterfly and some embossing powder that was randomly sprinkled on. And not a word to be found!

We hope you give this challenge a try.  Create a card with no words on it and then link it up at Little Red Wagon.  Your design might be picked as our feature next Tuesday!  See you there :)

My 2014 Book List

I love to read! It is such an awesome way to wind down after a long day and to escape my surroundings for a while. Not that I need to escape - I live quite a happy life - but it is fun to visit another place and time.  I also find that I learn quite a bit when reading, especially when indulging in my favorite genre, historical fiction.

This is the list of books that I read in 2014.  It was a most enjoyable list that took me around the world and back! Some made me laugh, some cry, some question, some wonder, some take a second look at the people around me!  It has been a great journey.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Damaged by Cathy Glass

The Forgiven by Marta Perry

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor (BC)

Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark

The Seventh Mother by Sherri Wood Emmons

What The Psychic Told The Pilgrim by Jane Christmas (BC)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Promise by Robyn Carr

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (BC)

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Good Grief by Lolly Winston

The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Four Friends by Robyn Carr

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (BC)

The Last Bride by Beverly Lewis

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre (BC)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Selected Stories by Alice Munro (BC)

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain

Book Club Pick = (BC)

Little Red Wagon #272 - Frosty

I don't know what it is like in your part of the world, but here in Ontario it is really frosty!  With that in mind, my challenge this week at Little Red Wagon is to create a card with a snow theme!

I colored up this adorable image from Mo's Digital Pencil called Valerie in Winter.

I haven't done an easel card in a while, so after I made up the card front, I attached it to an easel base.

The snowman was frosted using a combination of fine glitter and Sparkly Fluff. 

I do hope you will join in my challenge this week.  Create a frosty-themed card and then link it up at Little Red Wagon.  For more inspiration, stop by the DT Girlfriend's blogs which I have listed on my side-bar.

I am also linking up my challenge at Love to Create, Stamp and Create and Deep Ocean Challenge!

Little Red Wagon #271 - Sparkle & Shine

This week's challenge at Little Red Wagon is brought to us by Heather and it is Sparkle & Shine. Hmmm... this one stumped me a bit.  I think I was thinking about it way too much and I couldn't think of how to interpret the challenge. Then it came to me - a star! Stars sparkle and shine, right?

This image from Mo's Digital Pencil, called Hanging the Star, was just perfect!

The image was just so sweet and I couldn't wait to get my Copics on it!

After I colored the image I added some microfine glitter to the star - ooh, so sparkly! And the brads and gems add just the right amount of shine :)

I cut out a star border using my Silhouette and I used my Copics to lightly color the edges.  I even colored the ribbon, which was originally white, to match the blue on the card using my Copics, which then gave me the idea to color a few gray hairs on my head with my Copic Markers!  Seriously! And it worked!!!! LOL But that will remain our little secret. (hahaha)  

Anyhoo, if you feel so inclined to create something that sparkles and shines, please link up your project at Little Red Wagon.  We will be sure to visit your blog.  Also, don't forget to visit the DT Girlfriends blogs, which you can find on my sidebar. We have added two new Girlfriends to the team and I am sure they will give you lots of awesome inspiration.