Guest Designer for The Male Room Challenge

I'm so excited to be the guest designer over at The Male Room Challenge where the theme is Feathers.  It's a fun challenge and all you have to do is follow the theme and make it masculine.

There are so many different directions you could go with the word "feathers" but I just went with a single little feather for my masculine card today. I used a very old stamp from Mark's Finest Papers.  This company is no longer in business but you can probably find some of the stamps on Ebay. I stamped the background feather in Hero Arts Shadow ink and then the Indians and sentiment in Obsidian from Altenew.  After that it was a matter of layering the image a couple of times with the black and white.  Some twine from May Arts was added last and then all was mounted on some textured white cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling!
Lynn

 

Too Many Mice

 There are mice everywhere.  They love it outside, but you do realize that they like to come inside during the cooler weather.....EEP!

This cute set of mice stamps from Sunny Studio was given to me last year and I love using it paired with the wagon, pumpkins, and cheese.  I added a die for the grass, fence, and even some extra clouds over the already distressed background clouds.

We're due up for some cooler weather so I think it's safe to say we won't have any exploding pumpkins from the heat this week.  Gotta love that!  Surely fall actually can't be here now - but we can always hope I guess. 

I realize Thanksgiving is coming up and so is Christmas - and I haven't even started on Christmas cards.... but I'm not sure I'll be sending out too many this year either.  Decisions, decisions.  However, I did make one decision - I've decided to take a short (or long) break from blogging.  I have a few other things I want to do and maybe even try and concentrate enough on finishing a quilt or two.  So, I have one more card coming up on the November 1st next week and then I'll be missing in action for a while.  If I don't get back over here before Christmas, I hope everyone has a nice holiday.

Thanks for stopping by.......and keep smiling - always!

Lynn

Hearts and Hedgies

A really quick and simple little card here today with an image from Gerda Steiner Designs.  Cute little hedgie all bundled up for some cooler weather and keeping warm sipping on some coffee - or whatever makes him happy.  He may even have a Tito's and tonic hidden in that cup and is just fooling everyone with the latte sentiment!   He was colored in Copics and a couple of die cut hearts added.  A happy hedgie.

I'll enter this in the challenge at Gerda Steiner Designs for October- anything goes with a Gerda image.

Thanks for stopping by.......

Lynn

Smelly Feet

 Nope, I don't have smelly feet (I don't think) but this little witch must have them!  Quick card for Halloween with some not-so-scary colors.  I used an old image and sentiment from The Alley Way Stamps (no longer in business) and a witches hat from Tim Holtz that was colored, cut out, and then popped up over the legs.  

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling!
Lynn

Sweater Weather Coming Up

 We actually got a little bit of sweater weather for a couple of days.  It didn't hang around for long but was nice while it lasted.  As a celebration of our weather dropping all the way back down to the 80's, I give you this............

The stamp is from Gerda Steiner Designs (Pumpkin Mouse) and is as cute as can be.  I framed it out in a Mama Elephant die - cut out in blue gingham.  The image is colored in Copics and I did a little bit of masking to get the mouse in front of the pumpkins.  I felt like it needed a little something so added a couple of tiny white clouds.

I'll enter this in the October challenge at Gerda Steiner Designs (use a Gerda Steiner stamp)  

And......since I was already on a roll with fall and blue gingham, I colored another one and did it a little different. It was also lacking in something so I die cut a frame and the just used the corners.

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Falling Leaves

It's fall (somewhere) and the leaves are falling (somewhere) ....but not here!  Maybe soon - we're hoping for a little bit of cooler weather anyway.

This is so NOT me at all. Why I picked up black cardstock I have no idea and then to mount it on white.  Not sure where my mind was going at all but it all came out ok in the end I suppose.  I used an older die from (I think) Simon Says Stamp and then an even older sentiment stamp from Stampendous.  The gold cardstock is from My Favorite Things.  The reason I say it's really not me is because it seemed to take forever to make. I used distress inks and then die cut the tree numerous times, cut out all the tiny leaves AND those buds and then glued them back on the tree (and have I ever told you how I totally hate glue!), and then colored the trunk and branches in Copics.  It's mounted on gold and I gold embossed the sentiment.

I'll enter this in the challenge at Allsorts - Autumn Trees, Leaves and Berries

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling!

Lynn

 

New Stuff

 I've been doing so good and not buying a whole bunch of new things since I already have tons of stuff and I won't live long enough to use it all.  However, every so often I just HAVE to make a purchase to give my life a little oomph.  So........here's some oomph!

I follow a blog called My Pinkie is Inkie in Boxertown and have been drooling over the pre-printed paper she was using so what else could I do but go get some.  Check out her blog - beautiful cards!  Anyway, the paper is from Blue Knight Rubber Stamps and is gorgeous!  I already had this stamp from Blue Knight but paired with their paper really gives it that extra something special. 

I assume this is a coyote and if you've ever seen one out in the wild they're just usually pretty straggly looking - but this one is so majestic!  I guess it could be a wolf too.  It really doesn't matter because it's a great stamp!   

I'll enter this in the challenge at Allsorts - Four legged friends or anything goes....and Pammies Inky Pinkies - anything goes......and ..............Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling!

                   Lynn

Black and White

 Just a couple of black and white cards I did the other day.  I recently bought a black and white paper pack from My Favorite Things and felt like I had to use it.  Of course!

This first one is using my favorite Memory Box die.  Very simple and I used a small strip of some of the black and white patterned paper down the side.  I added some Nuvo drops and keep thinking I need more.

Second card -  the bird image is from Unity Stamps.  The background is a black plaid but you can barely see it in the photo as it looks more like a solid black.  Anyway.....It is what it is.  I was tempted to at least color the berries on that branch but at the last minute decided to leave it just like it was.  The white framing was a piece in my scrap box and it fit pretty good so figured I'd better use it.  

So, there you go.........nothing special but a couple of black and white cards

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Autumn

 I'm dreaming of cooler weather around here.  All the Halloween decorations are out in the stores (as well as Christmas) and pumpkins are everywhere. If we put a pumpkin out on the front porch right now, it'd probably explode from the heat.  Ah....good old hot Texas weather.........but autumn will be here soon (or we may just go straight into winter).  But here you go with a card for autumn.....

The image is from Art Impressions and I've used watercolors on it.....along with some orange paper, twine, and a tiny "autumn" stamp. Super simple. 

I'll enter this in the challenge at Colorful Options - Outrageous Orange and the challenge at Art Impressions - Falling into Fall.

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling!

Lynn 
 

Leaves

 The challenge over at The Male Room is asking for leaves.  I thought long and hard trying to come up with a masculine card with leaves on it.  I've got all sorts of leaf dies but all were just too small for what I was thinking - so finally came up with this pretty embossing folder......not one of the new 3D ones, but a very old one from Provo Craft.  I used some Kraft card stock and some green patterned paper along with a bit of twine and a Simon Says Stamp "thanks" die.  A very simple card but that's ok because I think guys like it like that.

I'll enter this in The Male Room Challenge - Leaves.

Thanks for stopping by........

Lynn

Sunflower Season

 I had to look up when sunflower season was in Texas because we seem to have them in the spring, summer,  and also in the fall.  It appears the season is in September and October (learn something new every day) so I'm still safe posting a sunflower card I suppose.

I used a sunflower die from Simon Says Stamp - and also a sentiment from there too.  The background for the sunflower is a piece of paper done with alcohol inks from last year that I never knew what to do with after I got it done.  The sunflower was colored with distress inks. 

I'll enter this in the challenge at FarmQuest General Store Challenge - anything goes (sunflowers remind me of country living) 

Thanks for stopping by........and keep smiling!
Lynn

Time to Smile

 I really thought we were on the downhill side of summer since we started having temps that were only like 96 to 98 - and then blam.....up again to the 100's. Hot is hot I guess.  Oh well, winter will be here soon enough but in the meantime it's still summer and hot..........

This goes to show I don't know what I'm doing about half the time.  I've had this card in my mind for several weeks and knew exactly what it would look like when it finished.  I started working on it and got all the little seahorses, bubbles, anchor, etc on there and blah!  Just boring no matter what I did --- so I added a fish from Rubbermaker!  I used all sorts of stuff on the background - Frost White Ink, Maymade Made it stamps (that I won from Brenda recently), Oxides, Perfect Pearls......you name it and it's on there (which is totally not me!).  I even Googled seahorses to see kinda what colors they'd be and they can actually be all sorts of colors.  So I used some distress inks on them and then off-set them to give a little dimension.   The "netting" is from some packaging for avacado's. I attemped to color that more of a neutral color and it wasn't happening. I just HAD to add that little fish though - I mean, why not!  Right?  Gave it a little pizzaz anyway and a smile to take you into the weekend...... 

Thanks for stopping by......and keep smiling!

Lynn 

A Bit of White - and Guess Who

 Another very simple card using an embossing folder from Simon Says Stamp (Wildflowers).  It was my intention to maybe use some distress inks over the raised part of this but I just couldn't see messing up something already so pretty.  I love this embossing folder.  It didn't say it was a 3D folder but the embossed area is raised up pretty good on here.  I also sprayed it with a little water before embossing so that may have helped some. The sentiment is a very old one from Stampin' Up.

I completely forgot but National Dog Day was on Saturday - and since I haven't posted a picture of Rambo lately, here you go.  He's aging a little bit faster now (aren't we all) but still gets those bursts of energy at times.  

Thanks for stopping by.........and keep smiling!
Lynn

It's A Daisy

 All the flowers around here are looking pretty ratty now.  It's just been a really hot summer but thankfully we're on the downhill side of that (hopefully) - and fall is around the corner. I even saw mums for sale at the store the other day....no, I didn't buy any.  For one thing, it's still too hot - and also....I kill them pretty quick.  So.....how about a daisy card instead!  

I used a die from Simon Says Stamp and a pre-made strip sentiment....with a bit of distressing on the diecut and also the background.  Not sure why in the world I used pink for that background but they were the colors I grabbed so there you go.

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling!

Lynn 

Celebration!

 Not real sure what I'm celebrating here - if anything - but I do have a card today, so maybe that's the celebration.  

I've been watching Youtube.......now I realize that's sorta like looking at Pinterest.  You see all these wonderful things everyone does and think "I can do that too" and then you don't.   Anyway,  I was watching one of the Youtube videos the other day where they were using all kinds of washi tape.  So, hey......I can do that!  They were mainly using  the big wide ones but of course I don't have any of those but I do have a little cigar box with the skinny ones in it so I hauled that out to see what I could do.  (Note - No, I don't smoke cigars but those little boxes with the flip lids are wonderful to hold all sorts of treasures!)

So, here's my take using the washi tape.  Super simple card, washi strips, and a celebrate die...........

Thanks for stopping by............and keep smiling!
Lynn

What's Happening

If you've followed my blog for a while you already know a few things about me - one of them being that I love frogs.  Yes, I do!  The real ones are pretty cute but they're especially cute when they're on a card.  

This one is from Unity and I love the dreamy look in those eyes.  I don't have a dreamboat to send this too anymore - unless I can find George Clooney's address - so, I just used the "Sup" sentiment from the set of stamps and I guess I'll be sending this to my brother - not a very good substitute for George but he'll have to do!    I also used a wave type stencil from Newton's Nook in the background and then mounted him on a circle die of scrap polka dot paper.  

I'll enter this in the challenges at The Male Room (dots and/or stripes - polka dot circle and wavy stripes) and Critter Crazy Challenges (anything goes with a critter).

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling!

Lynn

A Real Quickie

 This is probably one of the quickest cards ever made.  Brenda, over at Friends Craftin' With Friends posted a card the other day where she swiped mini ink cubes across the paper and then added this gorgeous die......go take a look at her card as it's a beauty. 

 Anyway........I needed a sympathy card and I usually always do a "thinking of you" card instead and even those are so hard for me to do.  So, I took a friends advice and did a super quickie CASE because I need to get it in the mail this afternoon!  

I swiped three colors with the mini distress ink pads, stamped a Technique Tuesday flower image, and added a Sugar Pea Design sentiment........done deal and it's headed to the post office!  This is a very poor CASE of Brenda's card but like I said - I needed something fast!

Thanks for stopping by...........and keep smiling!

Lynn

Going With the Flow

 It appears the stores are already putting out stuff for Fall and Halloween - and I even saw Christmas ribbon at Costco last week!  Much too hot to even think about things like this but like it or not, it's coming.........So, keeping up with the way things are happening I'm here to give you a Halloween card today.  (Note:  I'm also keeping up the frenzy over the Barbie movie and added a bit of pink on my card too)!  

I'll enter this in the challenge at Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge (mood board or anything goes....and I did the anything goes).

Thanks for stopping by.........
Lynn

Sweet Days of Summer

 Ahhhh.......it's the sweet days of summer.  However, if you live in Texas or some of the other states around here,  it's called the "hot days of summer".....and hot it is too!  So, to "cool" things off a bit I thought I'd make a card with this cute little mouse from Newton's Nook hugging that flower.  Even as hot as it is we still have flowers blooming.  I haven't seen any mice hugging them just yet though.

I used one of the images from the Garden Mice set from Newton's Nook stamps...colored in Copics and then mounted on a small piece of patterned paper, with a tiny white frame added.  All of this is mounted on a piece of textured white cardstock.  Now this is where you have to use your imagination because the patterned paper is such a pretty green color - just a bit lighter than the greenery in the image - however, the camera just won't pick up that color good no matter what I do.  

I'll enter this in the challenges at:  Inky Paws Challenge - Summer Lovin',  CAS on Friday - CAS with design paper, and  Allsorts - Anything goes or Mood Board (I used the pink flower the mood board as inspiration.)

Thanks for stopping by..........and keep smiling!

Lynn

                                                  

Howdy-Hoe

 Ok, I realize that "howdy-hoe" is probably a little corny - but if you say it a couple of times you'll start laughing no matter what!  Nothing like a little smile or laugh to start the day........

We're going down on the farm here..........

The Mr. and Ms. are from Art Impressions and I have to smile looking at them.  It reminds me of Jim and I when we had a huge garden....we're talking like 75 tomato plants, row after row of green beans, mounds of squash.....and everything in between.  Lots of work but it sure tasted good.  Now, I have a raised bed area with one tomato plant, about 10 green bean plants, and 3 cucumbers..........plus they're all dead from the heat in Texas.  We've been in a heat wave that just won't let up for some reason.  

I'll enter this in the challenge at FarmQuest General Store - anything goes country and the anything goes challenge at Pammie's Inky Pinkies.

Thanks for stopping by.........

Lynn