Thanks A Lot! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Chrissy who has hosting duties and the challenge is "Thanks A Lot!" which just means she wants to see those thank you creations.

This is what I did.....

Keep this one pretty CAS.  Image is from Graciellie Designs and (I believe) the sentiment is from Lawn Fawn.  Not really much more to say than that.  (:

Why not give our challenge a go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Ellibelle's:  anything goes

613 Avenue Create:  anything goes

Crafty Calendar:  anything goes

Creative Fingers:  anything goes

Cut It Up:  layer it up

Cardz 4 Galz:  thank you

CRAFT:  anything goes

Creative Inspiration:  anything goes

Krafty Chicks:  stamp act

A Place to Start:  anything goes

So Very Thankful! @ Little Red Wagon

 This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "So Very Thankful!" which just means that she would like to see thank you projects.  We can always use a few of those in our stash!

This is what I did.....

Unfortunately, I didn't include the artist's name with this digi, so I don't know who it's from.  I'm thinking it might be a colouring page which is why I didn't label it with the artist's name/shop??  Anyhoo, thought these happy cacti would make for a cute image for a thank you card.  Kept it very generic so it could be used for almost anything.

Why not give our challenge at go this week and join us?  And, if you'd like more inspiration, be sure to check out what the Girlfriends have made.

Also for:

Allsorts:  add a sentiment

Crafty Creations:  anything goes

Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes

Through the Craftroom Door:  anything goes

Reuse/Recycle! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Reuse/Recycle!" (Actually, I'm the one who added the "!". I don't think she's being quite so forceful/demanding but the title without the exclamation mark just didn't look as exciting so I thought I'd punch it up. (:) As you can guess, she wants to see projects with a reused or recycled element.

Excuse me for a moment....*activates megaphone* "MOJO! IF YOU COULD KINDLY GET YOUR FLIPPITY-FLAPPITY ASS BACK HERE, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT. Where the absolute frickity-frack are you even going anyway...THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO! You gonna go hang out in line to get into Walmart? I told you, all the Easter chocolate is already gone. So, c'mon back, and I promise to pour at least half a cup of chocolate chips down your throat, 'kay?"

Sorry 'bout that. As you can see, my mojo has left the building. And, that left me struuuuuuuuuugggggggglllllllling to make a card for this challenge. Geez, this was a two day process, with many false starts including a poor Rosie digi that got ripped into tiny little pieces in a pique of anger. Poor girl. She deserved better.

But, this is what I ended up with.....

I used a couple of different R/R items.....see that bit of corrugated cardboard there that's the sleeve?  Well, you'll never guess where it came from....

....it came from hot beverage sleeve!  Imagine that!  Am I a radical thinker or what?  (Because not only does my creativity suffer when my mojo takes off, my imagination suffers too.)  The other thing is that bit of sting there.....and while I would love to say came from a tea bag so this could be the most literal card EVER, it actually was part of the packaging for some burlap tags I used on this project over a year ago.

The Cozy Coffee Die is from Paper Smooches.  I love how it's got the outline so you can cut it out in a contrasting colour if you want.  I made the little tea tag with one of the dies from Bitty Bows (also Paper Smooches.)  Sentiment is computer generated.

Why don't you give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fabulous projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Aud Sentiments:  anything goes + sentiment
Allsorts:  anything goes
QKR Stampede:  anything goes
Arty Divas:  anything goes
Stinkin' Inkers:  in the bag - Does a tea bag count??
Unicorn Challenge: use dies
Dream Valley:  favourite colours - My fave colour is blue!
Incy Wincy:  anything goes
Corrosive Challenge:  anything goes
Paper Smooches:  thank you

Everything's Coming Up...@ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Everything's Coming Up..." which just means that she wants to see any flora! Perfect for spring!

This is what I did.....

I went cas for this challenge.  I adore this image, it was a colouring book freebie if you can believe it.  I tell ya....I've really gotta splurge on some more die cut words.  I am making too many thank you cards for what I ever use (seeing as I'm almost never needing a thank you card) just because I happen to have some wonderful "thanks" and "thank you" dies.  Now, isn't that crafty laziness in the extreme?  Rather than making a bit of effort and die cutting individual letters for a card that I might be able to use, I just make yet another thank you card to sit in the card bucket pretty much indefinitely.  If anyone has a suggestion on a good die cut word set, please, please, please leave me the name or link in the comments.  As the card says, thanks.  (:

Why not give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fantastic projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Always Fun: cas
Artistic Inspirations:  anything goes
The Male Room:  anything masculine goes
Simon Says:  anything goes
CAS(E) This Sketch:  sketch
Craft Rocket:  for men/boys
Moving Along With the Times:  that spring feeling
Pile It On:  use scraps
Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
Try Stampin' On Tuesday:  sketch

Mahalo Nui Loa! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Mahalo Nui Loa!" which is Hawaiian for "Grand Thanksgiving" according to Google Translate. I'm thinking it's more like "thank you" when you don't ask The Google to do the translation for you but we all'll just have to pop on over to Brenda's blog to see for sure. And, while we're there, we can all be jealous of her because she gets to live in Hawaii and she probably didn't have to park her van in the shop on Monday night so she could avoid having to scrape off layers on freezing rain on Tuesday morning.

So, it's "thank you" projects this week! And this is what I did....

I used a digi from Digistamp Boutique which is no longer in business. I do believe that it's supposed to be a robin but I went for more of a winter bird seeing as it's all dressed up for winter. Not that you don't see robins in winter weather at times.....there's loads of times 'round here when winter decides to show up for a day or two (or more) in April and/or May. You should see the robins then....all hopping around looking all confused, poor things. But that's pretty much what we're all doing when snow comes in the spring though.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the fantastic projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Sweet Stampin':  spots & dots
Crafty Gals Corner:  snow much fun
The Male Room:  anything goes
Craft Rocket:  winter
As You Like It:  anything goes
Alphabet Challenge:  U is for Use Some Stitching
Make My Monday:  use words or sentiment
Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
Shopping Our Stash:  winter blues + old stash - patterned papers are a few years old
Dream Valley:  anything goes

Thankful For You @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Heather's turn to choose the challenge and she's saying, "Thankful For You" which just means that she wants to see those thank you cards. Love that this challenge is coming just after Thanksgiving too.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, you guys, I made a most delicious dessert for it.....Caramel Pumpkin Poke Cake. It doesn't look fancy, but I long ago realized that the looks/presentation of food meant NOTHING to my brood so now I don't worry about it all. No fancy layered cakes, a 9 x 13 pan will do just fine. No beautiful drizzled syrups or fruit decorations, you want 'em, here's the bottle and the raspberries are in the fridge. So, that means desserts tend to be fairly easy....and this certainly fell into that category. Recipe is here if you'd like to take a look or give it a try. My famjam loved it, they are already requesting it for next Thanksgiving.

Okay, enough about Thanksgiving, it's card time.  And, just to tie it in with the above paragraph, I made a card featuring something that would (probably) go quite well with Caramel Pumpkin Poke Cake.....

I say probably because latte is coffee and coffee is bleck.  But, latte puns go well with EVERYTHING.  Digi was a past freebie from Tiddly Inks.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Shopping Our Stash:  giving thanks
Incy Wincy:  blue & buttons
Always Fun:  lots of layers

Fall Inspiration @ Tiddly Inks

This month at

we've got a colour challenge for you! This is what it looks like....

Very autumnal!  And this is what I did with it.....

This was one of those times it looked better in my head.  It just seems to be a bit lacking, kwim?  I think if the die cut thank you could have picked up more colour that would have helped.

Hey, guess what?  This image was a past Tiddly freebie, and it's been made available again - yay!  (And I'm going to pretend that was the plan all along not that I, yet again for I think about the sixth time, boneheadedly used a freebie or a yet unreleased digi or a retired image for a challenge. D'oh!)  So, you can pop over to the challenge blog and snag it if you missed it the first time it was offered.

Why not grab a Tiddly Inks image, (even the free ones count!) and join us for the challenge?  And be sure to  check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

Also for:

Alphabet Challenge:  N is for nature
Crafty Catz:  colours of autumn
4 Crafty Chicks:  happy fall y'all
Moving Along With the Times:  fall
Allsorts:  autumn glory
Crafty Gals:  anything fall goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters:  fall is in the air
As You Like It:  favourite season - My fave season is fall.  The humidity of summer is gone, but we've not yet been subjected to the freezing coldness of winter, I love the way the air smells....and pumpkin is in EVERYTHING!

Christmas Critters @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Kate's turn to choose the challenge and she wants to see those holiday animals. Perfect challenge for this time of year, right?

This is what I did....

I made a pop up gift card holder.  Thought this digi from DigiStamp Boutique would be perfect for teacher gifts.  Hmmmmm.....I must say, I could have blended out my colouring better.  I guess when you're looking at it after midnight, for a challenge that's due in about seven hours, the colouring job will look spot on.

I was just happy the constructing, folding, etc. of the holder went (basically) according to plan.  I'm usually terrible at figuring out these types of projects.  I did have one minor glitch.....I had originally used a different sweet little border die to make the detailed edge.....but I ended up getting a stand alone sweet little border rather than a sweet little edge.  I blamed it on the die, rather than the user, of course.  Usually I'm good about putting my dies back in their package so I don't worry about losing them (though I'm not so good about putting the package back) but I was pretty mad at this one so I taped it to the desk with washi tape so it could think about what it had done.  I was just all kinds of relieved that the flap was long enough and I didn't have to make a whole new one.

I didn't bother with a photo of the inside as I'm sure most of you know what a pop up gift card holder looks like (and if you don't you can see the one from the tutorial I used)......and because this piece of patterned paper was just the right length with the manufacturers information still attached.  I'm doubting my daughter's teacher will notice, much less care, but I know if a fellow crafter saw it, it would look like a lump on plate glass.  So, remain closed, it shall.

Why not give our challenge a go this week and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Crafty Sentiments:  snowflakes
The Cutie Pie Challenge:  snowflakes
Use Your Stuff:  Christmas is coming
Allsorts:  snowflakes
Aud Sentiments:  Christmas + sentiment
The Male Room:  Christmas

Thanks Bunches! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Heather's turn to choose the challenge and she saying, "Thanks Bunches!" which means that she wants to see those thank you projects.

Now that I'm typing up the post I remembered that I was planning on making a card with a bunch of flowers on it, you know, for the "bunches" part....but it turns out I forgot about that. Oh well, no biggie as I found a digi I thought was just awesome and I used it instead.

So, here's my make.....

Bwahahahahahahahahaha, isn't that dog just super?  Makes me snicker every time I look at him.  He's from Bugaboo Stamps.  I know he's maybe not a first choice for a thank you card but I think I made him work.  The sentiment inside reads, "YOU'RE PAWSOME".  See, and it all makes sense.

So why not be thankful and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

Crafty Gals:  do it for the dudes
Crafty Friends:  man/boy
Simon Says:  use plaid
Freshly Made Sketches:  sketch

Punny Projects @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Kate's turn to choose the challenge and she's going with "Punny Projects" which means she wants to see a make with some sort of pun on it. So much fun!

This is what I did.....

Yeah...I'm a little disappointed with my pun game. Pretty basic, especially for someone who loves pun.  I'm hoping the cute factor of this digi from 2 Cute Ink makes up for it.

So, why not tickle our punny bone and head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up? And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Thank You @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Donna's turn to choose the challenge and she saying "Thank You". I don't think that needs any explanation!

This is what I did....

(I realize that this is a bit self-serving but...) Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!  I don't think I've stopped snickering since I made this.  I'm telling you, if you don't find that sentiment at least a teeny touch amusing, then honestly, I don't even want to know ya.  Digi is from DigiStamp Boutique.

So, why not show us your grateful side and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Also for:

CAS on Sunday: black & white + one other colour
The Paper Players: black & white + one other colour

Resolutions @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Brenda's turn to choose the challenge it's she's got a neat one.....it's called "Resolutions" and she wants to see projects based on your New Year's resolutions....how cool is that? (In case you're not sure of the answer it's: Very cool.)

That said though....I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I'm not against resolutions per se, I just don't think they should only be made at New Year's, so, because I'm me, I purposely don't resolve to do something in or around the New Year mark....even if I should really make a change about something at that time.

Now, that said, I do have some resolutions I have made, (though either far enough before or after January 1st to satisfy my me-ness as explained above) or in the case of the one, is kinda of an ongoing challenge I've had for ages. I think I'll go ahead and show my card then we can discuss.....

Okay, so my ongoing resolution is to eat healthy.  I do eat fairly healthy, in fact lunch is almost always a salad.  Sounds good, right?  A nice healthy bowl of romaine or baby spinach or spring mix usually with strawberries or apples or even sometimes pears and dried cranberries or if it's one from the grocery store with chicken and nuts or a bit of cheese....but the issue is that if I don't have any salad fixings I'll eat something like a bag of chips.  There seems to be no in between.  For my meals I  channel either a pregnant yoga instructor who has a degree in holistic nutrition or hungover college student who's late for class.  So, that's what the pineapple symbolizes, a reminder to eat healthy, that if I don't have salad I could have some sort of other normal healthy lunch item....and not chocolate chip cookies dipped in chocolate pudding.

The other part of my Resolution card is to break out of my same-old-same-old a bit.....it's funny, if I really like another crafter's card it usually looks nothing like something I would make....so I'm thinking it would be nice to try some different styles.  That why I went cas with this.  Also, I want to use some of my supplies that I have been religiously ignoring, more specifically my Inktense pencils and Distress Inks.  Since I haaaaaad to have both, it annoys me that I never use them.  So, I used both of them on this card....the Inktense pencils much more prominently than the pale background of Distress Ink but, hey, they're both on there.  I also used a sentiment stamp and did some heat embossing in gold, in hindsight it would have worked much better if I hadn't used textured cardstock, but I thought it matched the funky pineapple so I just went with it.

And, there you go.  My long explanation as to how this is a card about Resolutions. Digi is from Melonheadz Illustrating.   

So, why not show us your resolutions and then head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up?  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Thank You @ Tiddly Inks

For the next two weeks at

we're all about gratitude. The challenge is "Thank You" which simply means that we want to see thank you projects, including a Tiddly Inks image, of course!

Lately I've been on a clean & simple trend, and this week is no exception....

You might be asking, where's my Tiddly Inks digi?  Well, while Christy is known from her super cute Wryn's and other characters, whimsical stamps and sweet animals, she does have other images too.  This wonderfully grungy sentiment stamp is from the Type Me Some Flowery Wishes - Mega Pack. Just goes to show that you don't have to be a colourist to use Tiddly Inks digis!

Why not create a thank you make and enter the challenge?  And be sure to also check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

Also for:

Tuesday Throwdown:  add gems or pearls
The Crazy Challenge:  thank you is the magic word
Pile It On:  thank you
Creative Corner:  thank you
Aud Sentiment:  anything goes + sentiment
Simon Says Stamp:  thanks
AAA Cards:  thanks

Thank You @ Tiddly Inks

For the next two weeks at

we've got a pretty easy challenge for you. We're asking you to be grateful, by showing us your thank you projects....using a Tiddly Inks image, of course!

This is what I did.....

I used Beary Sweet.  Isn't she adorable?  I coloured her up to look like my daughter....though she's turning 11 in three months so she's lost a lot of her little girl look and is definitely heading into the tween style of look and dress.  Well, I got the hair colour right at least.  Thought she could give this to her teacher at the end of the school year in July.  I know, I know, talk about getting it done in advance!  To tell the truth, I don't have much need for thank you cards other than for teachers.  Not sure if that means I don't get stuff done for me that I should be grateful enough to send a card or if I'm just a grumpy old sour-puss who's never thankful - ha!

So why not grab a Tiddly Inks image, and a bucket of gratitude and enter the challenge?  And be sure to also check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

Also for:

Incy Wincy:  tic tac toe - twine, red, button (I know it's lacking in the red department but there is some on there....)
Allsorts:  girly & sparkly (Those are glitter Thickers on there....that are apparently shy and don't want to sparkle for the camera.)
My Sheri:  feelin' fussy
Aud Sentiments:  thank you sentiment
As You Like It:  paper or non-paper projects - I always use paper when I'm crafty so paper projects are my fave.
Moving Along With the Times:  spots & dots
Inky Chicks:  anything goes
QKR Stampede:  lots of layers
Use You Stuff:  3 or more patterned papers
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Crafting-With-Friends: anything goes
Simply Papercraft: anything goes
Crafting With An Attitude: anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Craft Your Passion: anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door anything goes
Creative Fingers: anything goes
Our Crafty Corner:  anything goes

Thanks! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Mandy's turn to choose the challenge and she wants us to say "thanks" and show off thank you projects.

I thought this would be a good time to say thank you to all of you. I truly appreciate all your comments and the fact that you've taken the time to read my (sometimes very long and rambly) posts. I don't have a hoard of crafty-friends irl (heck, I don't have a hoard of friends period, but that okay 'coz that's how I's likes it) so I am happy that I've made some online friendships through blogging. So, thank you!!

On to my card......I actually made this early last fall using a technique I read about from Karen at Snippets.  And here it is......

I made an error when I did my card though (I don't know why I always think I remember stuff perfectly rather than taking the two minutes of time it would take to reread what I had read earlier), I didn't leave the leaves on until they dried.  I think the leaves would have been darker if I hada done that.  It still worked out okay though.  I'll let Karen tell you all about how this is done.  (I'm thinking you all will love how easy it is.)  And her card is just lovely.  Clicky here to see it.

So why not be thankful this week and join us for our challenge?  Then you can head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up.  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created. 

Fall Is In the Air @ Melonheadz Friends

For the next two weeks at

we are celebrating fall! Gotta love fall. It's not too hot, not too cold and I don't have to feel as guilty for being neglectful about my flowerbeds.

This is what I made to celebrate....

What says fall more than apples?.....and if you think of the fact that they grow on trees they're "in the air" too - ha!  This digi came from the Feeling' Fruity bundle.  I've linked you to the combo pack so you can get both the black & white AND coloured images.

So why not get into that autumn frame of mind and enter the challenge? And be sure to check out what the rest of the DT has made.

Also for:

Aloha Friday:  buttons
Crafting for All Seasons:  layer it up
Through the Craftroom Door:  anything goes
613 Avenue Create:  anything goes
Artistic Inspirations:  anything goes
Crafting From the Heart:  anything goes
Craft Your Passion:  anything goes
Come and Get It:  use a stash item - Nothing new here....in fact that green paper is probably five years old!
Fresh Brewed:  3 or more patterned papers
Crafty Creations:  it take two - two pairs of buttons, two words
As You Like It:  sweet or savory - I like sweet.....so yummy!  I like savoury too actually.....so yummy!  Food.  I like food, period.  :-)
Jo's Scrap Shack:  anything goes
Shopping Our Stash:  show us your smile + old stash - Nothing new on this card.....and it's got some paper that's about five years old.