Thank's Deva!

WOW IS IT HOT!!!! the weather is soooo stinkin hot here that it makes for a perfect day to sit in the air conditioning & get crafty!!! Kind of like the dead of winter in the Midwest. I have been racking my brain trying to think of a thank you gift for my sweet friend Deva (not to be confused for Diva). She lent me a bunch of 4th of July decorations for my party last weekend...Thanks Deva!! As I was blog surfing this a.m. I came across a rumble challenge over at Clear Artistic stamps that gave me a perfect idea for a gift!! Thanks Wendi for the idea!!! :) The rumble challenge is to create something altered..that's it! So I created this altered clipboard, butterfly & Prima gift.

Now at first glance it just looks like a clipboard BUT over the flower stems & the grass I put a piece of clear card stock & then stuck the altered butterflies & Primas with pop dots SOOOO that she can easily peal them off & use them like stickers!!! ****If you double click on the picture you can kind of see the clear card stock***Good idea huh??? she is a butterfly lover so I thought this would be perfect! Hope she likes it! Now I need to get back to my craft room & come up with a couple of cards 2 birthday & 2 thank you's to be exact...so I better get to it!! thanks for today's visit!!! ******************Gwen********************

Wow...what a weekend!

What a fun weekend it was! The party was a nice success, so fun to spend time with family! The 3erd was spent preparing for the party...my DH got the whole back yard set up & then wouldn't you know...a storm came & we had to quick take it all down!! Bless his heart! Then he had to clean up & set it all up again on the 4th. My DD was such a dear to come & help me with some last minute decorations. This is a cute little button bouquet decoration I made...
This is the BD cake & cupcakes..I made the fan bouquet to help people cool off & my DD Angie made all those cool white puff balls to hang all over in the tent... Then of course I had to make a picture board....I always love old pictures celebrating a persons life at birthday parties!These were so quick & easy...I think an idea from Martha Stewart...just cupcake holders over white Christmas tree lights! I loved this idea!! so festive! The beautiful birthday girl, My dear MIL Orpha...I hope I look that good at age 80!!!
Seems like everyone had a really good time! So then after all that fun yesterday we decided to spend Today at Sun splash so we got up early & spent the day in the wave pool & one the water slides....sorry for the looooog post! just wanted to share the fun! I hope to be back to my regular crafting in a few days, thanks for today's visit!! I will leave you with a few pics of the fam at sun splash! Aunt Mo & AmandaOK.....That's enough of my weekend!! TOMORROW will be a MOST embarrassing day I am sure! as our poor Little last place volleyball team has to play the first place team in a tournament!! GRIPES!!!!! :( Oh well....back to crafting next week!!
Gwen

Time Marches on......

Oh my gosh!! today is June 28th already??!!! Time, time, time I need more of it or at least to slow it down a bit! Sorry to be gone so long, but crazy busy these days. We have only 2 weeks left of volleyball & this was my last week of photo class, so maybe things will slow down a bit.
On July 4th this year my MIL Orpha...(not to be confused with Oprah)LOL!!! Is turning 80!!! We are having a party for her at our house. I have been busy creating some decorations. Because it is on the 4th of July I am keeping with the USA, red, white & blue theme. I made this little picture frame (they come plain wood for only a dollar at Michaels). thought it was perfect for this cute picture of Orpha in her band uniform! She is just the cutest little thing! even though she looks like about a 2ed grader it the photo my husband tells me she is actually 16!! Well she is only 4' 10" now!

You can actually see it better if you double click on the picture
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I first painted the frame navy blue, then painted some of that crackle stuff on it. Next painted it white. The stars were made with a Sizzix multi star dye. I stamped some words on it with the stars with the latest PTI background text set. Used silver stickles on the edges & stuck a flat sided pearl in the center & hot glued them on. Then (with the help of my BBGF Marge) Made the little fan flower,added another star & a pearl & hot glued that to the top...I am happy with the way it turned out!!! Now it is back to the craft room for me!!! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!! Thanks for visiting today!!!

******* Gwen*******

Wishing you all a happy life!

Greetings from sunny Arizona! we are having unseasonably cool weather here & it is just gorgeous! in the 90's instead of the 105's...really makes a big difference.
A quick post from me today. I originally made this card for a contest & then decided not to enter it. It is cute I think however not WOW material. No sketch to follow, just to make a summer themed card. Nothing says Summer like ice cream cones!

This is a close up of the edge. Both the to top & bottom are pin hole punch with this cute flourish design. Really pretty! But a bit time consuming! LOL!!!!


Everything I used on this card is from PTI, except for the nesties shape & the Martha Stewart glitter on the ice cream cones. That's it!! Thanks so much for today's visit!!!

Wishing you all a happy life!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~ Gwen ~~~~~~~~~~~~

I made a scrapbook page!

So this is my first scrapbook page challenge! This is the sketch:


I can not believe it is Monday already! Poof! went the weekend! :(
I am not really a scrapper...but came across this new scrap challenge blog & the sketch seemed pretty easy so I gave it a try! I think it turned out pretty good! This is my page:

This is a closer look at the signs of summer:
I think I followed the sketch pretty good & we were also to use a summer theme & stamp at least twice. Some things I used from my stash....

Martha Stewart fence punch, PTI buttons, Flourish stamps & yellow paper, SU scallop punch, paper flowers, no idea where the red & blue paper is from.

That is it! time for me to get ready for the work week! have a good one...& as always...Thanks for today's visit!!

Gwen

Raspberry Suite color challenge #8

Happy Saturday everyone & Happy 28th Anniversary to me & my hubby!!! Before I show you my card I wanted to let you know that I am taking a photography class....so you may see some different....sometimes strange photos of my cards for a while ;) I am killing 2 birds with one stone. Sill want the time to make my cards....but need to practice taking pictures (for homework).Now if I could only figure out how to take pictures while I play volleyball LOL!!!!! I am very busy these days! work full time, on a volleyball league & taking photo class!! Still need to do my crafty stuff too!!! That is a must! Any way....for today's creation I played along with Dawn's color challenge.....here is my card:
Some things I used for my photo.... from my stash.....Cuttlebug folder, ribbon from Michael's, Martha Stewart glitter, Nesties, Stamp set & all paper, PTI. Marvey punches. Background...One of my plants that is not dead from the heat!

On a side note....speaking of photography, I found this amazing Magazine at Michael's By scrapbooks etc. It is chocked full of tips & ideas well worth the money! I have read & reread, & will read it again!! the more I learn the more I want to learn :)
Thanks so much to today's visit! And thanks for the Challenge Dawn!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Gwen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tamara sketch #97

Good Saturday morning from mostly sunny Arizona! :) Hope you are all enjoying a beautiful weekend! Today's card is inspired by the sketch #91 over at Tamara sketches I tipped mine over on it's side & this is what I came up with:

This is the sketch:

And this is my card:

I LOVE bird houses!!! So I just could not resist this new little set from PTI! IT"S DARLING!!!! I have a little bird house collection...so just had to use one of them in my photo. The papers are all from PTI....The stamp set is new from PTI "Bird Watching" ....The little daisy trim is from the fabric section at Wall mart. And that's it for this one! Now I actually have a couple of other sketches to get to...so make it a good one!!! Thanks for the visit & all the wonderful comments!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~GWEN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cupcake Friday CUPCAKE SAMPLER OF THE WEEK

Happy Friday! Don't you just love a short work week!!! It is also Cupcake Friday again with another fantastic sketch from Taylor at Taylored Expressions. This one is going down as one of my very favorites as she has chosen me to be the Cupcake Stamper of the week!!! Woot!! Woot!!! I am just so excited!! :) THANKS TAYLOR!!!

Below is this weeks fun & fabulous sketch.....
This is my take on the sketch & my card.......

I did flip the sketch around a bit....which I love doing by the way ;) I can not believe I did not do any stamping on this card! It is all done with just paper & a rub on....all supplies are from a Piggie Tales paper Kit, Except for the ribbon & the bling are from Michaels. Taylor has some fabulous paper "Kits" on special now & hers come with Matching Ribbon & chipboard pieces...Kits are so fun & easy as all the hard work of matching everything up is already done!!! just add a great sketch....cut...and paste & waaaalaaa...instant card!!! You seriously need to go check out her Design Team samples of using the kits.....AMAZING!!

Well that's it for now...go on over & play along with the sketch if you have time! Thanks for stopping by today!!

~~~~~~~~Gwen~~~~~~~~

May Blog Hop!

Yep! that's right!! it's PTI blog hop time again! For this month's challenge....we were simply to make a card or project using the color yellow. This is my card! Kind of different from the colors I would normally use.... but It has been so stinkin' hot here latley (in the 100's)These colors seem to scream IT'S HOT!!! LOL!!! Plus I have been planting lots of flowers yellow & orange ones & yes some of them can survive the heat!

As you can see I chose the ever so cute Tea for two & Everyday classics. All of the yellow paper is from PTI but the orange is from SU.The Little pearls as well as the ribbon are from my favorite Craft store, Michael's. The darling little roses I found a long time ago at one of our local scrapbook stores. When I saw Melissa (you can see her darling card here) use them like this on her tea pot I just had to case that Idea! The white dots I made with Martha Stewart's Opaque markers...LOVE them!! comes in a set of 5...love the size of the tips! And that about does it!!! thanks for visiting!!! Hope you all had a safe & happy Memorial weekend! Can not believe tomorrow is back to work already! Wasn't it just Friday a couple of hours ago???

~~~~~~~~GWEN~~~~~~~~~~

Clear Artistic Stamps cottage rummble # 7

So here is my third post for today! Clear Artistic Stamps is hosting a challenge! Such a fun one too!!! I am loving using glittered Chipboard & this challenge is to just use some kind of chipboard on a card or project! So I glittered up some chipboard flowers & put them on this card...I am loven' it...kind of has a 70's feel to it :)This is my entry for the challenge:

The paper is from Memory Keepers...I got it at the CKC scrapbook convention. I also got the chipboard flowers there too...a REALLY great deal!! a whole pack of chipboard for a couple of bucks! doesn't plain old cardboard look so awesome with a little glitter on it! I spray mine with spray adhesive & use Martha Stewart glitter. This is a close up of the flowers:
The celebrate stamp is from Clear Artistic Stamps.
Well that is truly it for this weekend...I can't believe Tomorrow is Monday already!
Thanks for today's visit!
Gwen

Dawns color challenge #6

Wow 2 posts in one weekend! lucky me...that means I have (or took) a little time to be crafty :)
This post was inspired by Dawn Mcveys color challenge #6 The challenge is to make a card or project using these colors: I just love these colors! aren't they beautiful!! This is my card:

The colors are all from PTI, Brown, White, Aqua Mist & Berry Sorbet. The Stamp sets are also PTI. Wishing you & Polka Dots Basics. The Ribbon is from Michael's & the buttons are from Stmpin up.

Now I have a few other projects that need to get done! so I better get to it!!! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Gwen

Happy Birthday Marge!

Happy Saturday! & a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my BBGF Marge!!! Well her Birthday isn't until Monday But I saw her today & gave her her birthday card. If you get a chance hop on over to her blog & wish her her a happy one!!! I used the sketch from Taylored Expressions Friday cupcake challenge as the inspiration for my chard. I just flipped the sketch to give a different look....Marge is a flower lover so I chose PTI's New Tulip set as my stamp set.


I also used all PTI papers & Ribbon...the cute little fence was made using a punch by Martha Stewart. Even though the card looks so fresh & spring like...we are having some kind of freak heat wave & the temperature has been over 100 for the last 5 or 6 days!!! Not so nice!! If you can imagine!! Well my hubby just put in the movie Benjamin Button so I guess I'll go watch...I have not yet seen it...have you???
Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Gwen

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day all you lucky mothers out there!! This is the card I make for my own mother this year. Things have been so crazy, busy at work for the last couple of weeks I am lucky I even got this done & in the mail on time! My children (age 24, 22, & 20) are coming over today to cook & have a BBQ for me! I may have mentioned you before ....they are all renting a house together not to far from here. It just warms my heart to know that they are so close & get along so well. They really do look out for each other.
Any way.... my card is made from all things purchased at CKC (creating keepsakes convention) some of it last year & some of it this year. It really sparkles!! I glittered the chipboard with spray adhesive & Martha Stewart glitter. Don't you just love the little pink roses??? They come in a tiny little bouquet & I just cut the tops off & glued them on the card.
Well that's it for today!! I hope to carve out some time today to do a little blog hopping! It has been way to long!!
Have a great day & thanks for the visit!
Gwen

Spring fling challenge

Wow I have spent most of the day in the craft room!! My husband is off playing golf so I get a crafty day! I Spent most of it making Mothers Day cards...I won't post those until next weekend :) I did take a bit of a break to make a quick & simple card for Paper Trey Inc's spring fling challenge. All the designers have a color challenge up & I chose to go with this one:
I just love the purple color....wish my card was a pretty as the photo! Well anyway this is my card:

Just a quick & easy one!! everything about this card uses Paper Trey products except the ribbon & that is from Michael's. Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend & finishing up those Mothers Day cards & projects!! That is exactly what I am going to do right now!!!! Thanks for the visit!!!

Gwen

Saturday sketch on Friday??

Greetings!! And happy Friday...almost Saturday!
I decided to participate in Lauren Meader's Saturday Sketch....Actually it's from last Saturday!! this is the sketch I chose:
This is my take on the sketch:


Oh my gosh! do any of you have any of this yummy paper yet from PTI!! LOVE IT!!! Soooo beautiful!! Such lovely colors!! All paper & stamps are from PTI.... the cute little fence is made with my current fave Martha Stewart punch, The buttons are from SU. I am so loving the color green lately! Maybe it's all the talk lately of Earth day....& isn't this little tree just perfect!
Well that's it for this post! Tomorrow is another day!! Make it a good one!!!
Thanks for the visit & I always enjoy the comments!!
~~~GWEN~~~

Lauren Meaders first template Challenge

Happy Administrative assistants day!!! And Earth day!!!
I work with 2 sweet gals at my dental office & wanted to create some sort of "appreciation" gift for them for today & lucky for me I have several of Lauren Meaders templates AND she is having a template challenge right now to create something with a template inspired by a bath product & this is what I came up with....personally...I think they turned out just darling!!! (if I do say so myself) ;)

I used the same template for both projects....once you make one you can just crank them out...lickity split!! Wanted the clear card stock to have a little texture so I ran it though my cuttle bug!! LOVE IT!!! for this one I used the script embossing folder...just seemed to go with the mellowness of the warm sugared vanella colors. Here is a bit of a close up of it so maybe you can actually see it.
If you can't see it...take my word for it....looks really cool OR give it a go yourself. For the next one I gave it texture with the swiss dots embossing folder...thought it looked like little dew drops to go perfectly with the "dancing waters" bath product.....I was thinking....wish cuttlebug would come up with a raindrop embossing folder!!!!! THAT would be cool!!! oooohhhhh think of the possibilities!

All of the paper I used is from Papertrey inc. Everything else is from my stash! some of it new from the CK convention.....ooooohhhhhh sooooo much product so little time!!! well gota run & delive my goodies!!!!! have a fantastic, crafty day!!!!!!

Thanks for the visit!!

Gwen

CPS Sketch

Greetings from Gilbert Arizona!!!!!

We had an absolute blast at the CKC....great classes, fun shopping & fantastic friends!!!! Our weather is crazy right now!!! how about yours???? Thursday the high was in the low 60"s & now today we are nearly 100!!!!! I am NOT turning the air on yet!!!! LOL!!!! Anyway.....Thought I would give the CPS sketch a try today...(it has been a long time).This is the sketch:




This is my Card:

Just a quick one today as I have been having fun all weekend & I am not ready for the work week!!! So off I go to finish the laundry & clean up a bit!!! thank's for today's visit!!!

Gwen

Vacation & a side job

Wow!!! long time no post!!! Took a little vacation (much needed) with the whole family!! we rented a motor home & went to Country Thunder for 4 days! Had a BLAST!!! I could write a whole 2 page post on just what we did & who we saw...But I will not bore you with all that.

Then when we got home I had to get right to work as I promised a girl I work with that I would make all of her daughters graduation announcements! YIKES!!!! what was I thinking???? I have only done something like that once before & that was for my parents.......So this is what I ended up with: She had 2 different pictures...such a pretty girl huh!!! so I made half like this and..... And the other half like this. Tried to keep it pretty simple & easy to recreate. Then I had to figure out how to box them up & this is what I came up with for that: Luckily....she loved it all!!!!! So now I can cross that off my list & it is to the next. This weekend is the CKC scrap booking convention!! Woot Woot....Sooooooooooooo excited!!! Signed up for a few classes & hope to learn some cool new stuff & of course do a bit of shopping!!!

Well better go clean my craft room (make room for some new CKC stuff)!!!!! :)

Thanks for today's visit!!

~~~Gwen~~~