Sassy & Sexy

Well, I don't usually have two posts in one day, but today is the deadline for the DT call over at KennyK's Krafty Krew. They have been looking for 6 new designers and 4 VIP guest designers to join their Krew. If you are not familiar with his work, you really need to check out his blog. His images are fun, a little edgy and some of them have that Sassy & Sexy feel

 

This is my first card I made using one of his images, but I picked up a few on black Friday yesterday where he is offering 30% off of all of his images over at Kenny K Downloads.This sale is actually going on through Monday, so if you have been wanted to try some of his images, now is the time.

Here is what I did: I colored the image with my Artist's Loft pencils and blended with gamsol. The background paper is from DCWV "Teenage Dream Stack". I had turquoise glitter tape that I attached to the corners and added 2 Vintage Trinkets from Tiny Junkyard Findings. The trinkets have "JEANS" on them, so I though they were perfect for this card.

Well, I hope you like my card. I love the colors and I think it will make a cute birthday card.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges:


Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge # 5...... Anything Goes


It is that time again. Another fun challenge at Suzy Bee's Bloomin  Challenges. This week it is anything goes. So no excuses. Everyone can play along! It is Team A's week, but I wanted to play too. I have been making so many Christmas cards, it is a treat to create something different. So I went with Friendship! We think about friends a lot over the holiday season, so I made this special card in honor of all those "unlikely" friendships. We never know where our friends will come from, and typically the least obvious friendships become the strongest.

Remember, there are no size restrictions, CD Printouts also are acceptable. Your entry does not even have to be a Card.




Our sponsor this week is Eureka Stamps. Pop on over if you have a chance and take a look at all of her wonderful products.

Here is what I did:

Images were colored using my pencils from Artist Loft and Gamsol blending solution. I added two star punches and a boarder from Spellbinders shapeabilities "Asian Accents". The paper was from my stash and the sentiment I made up myself. I even went a step further and completed the inside of my card with matching paper and a paw stamp.

I hope my card has inspired you. I was very pleased with the way it turned out, now I just have to decide what special friend I will send it to.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Bit by the Bug Beginnings: Another Bug is Born


You are going to want to go and visit Creative Bug on the Loose today because a new Bug has been born. Come and check out the newest Creative Bug digital image:



Christmas Tree
Christmas Tree is a traditional digi image and is so versatile for all of your Christmas projects. It is a great way to start off the Christmas Season. It can be used for a variety of layouts this holiday season. Here is what I came up with. I went for an "old time" vintage look using distressing ink and distressed looking card stock. But the possibilities are endless.




Now, how would you like the opportunity to win a copy of this new release?


Creative Bug on the Loose is having a draw to win a copy of Christmas Tree. To find out what you need to do, make sure you head over to the blog and follow the directions that have been laid out.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:



Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Head over to Creative Bug on the Loose NOW!



I've caught the bug,
have you?











Giving Thanks

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and all through the house...Well in my house, there is a lot of stirring going on. The stuffing is getting made, we make it from scratch, Pies are being baked, again from scratch and last minute ingredient inspection to ensure we have everything we need for the big day. Now I know that many of the grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving day, but I just hate having to run to the store for something I forgot.  There will be no card making for me today or tomorrow, too much to do. So I made sure that I completed this little cutey a few days ago.

The theme over at OSCO this week was giving thanks. Giving Thanks should not be limited to one day a year. There are so many things I am thankful for, and I count my blessings everyday. One thing I am very thankful for is finding this on line community of card challenges. I have really enjoyed making cards this year and playing along. I have even been able to sell a few of my handmade cards along the way over at Taylormade4u and at my Etsy Shop. These are two sites I opened this year and they have been a lot of fun.
I also became part of two design teams. I am thankful that I was given the chance to participate, even though I had never been on a DT before. So a big Thank You to everyone who has visited my blog this year, commented on my cards and allowing me to play in this big sandbox around the world. It has meant a lot to me.

This image is part of the Creative Bug Digital Collection "Girl Praying Giving Thanks." If you remember, she is the "freebie" over at the Creative Bug on the loose blog until December 2nd.


Thanksgiving Girl
The sentiment is from one of my Stampin up sets, but I think it works perfectly for this card. I didn't necessarily want to make a Thanksgiving card, but instead a card that symbolizes the giving of "Thanks", and I think I accomplished that with this card.
 Be safe on your travels, and I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday weekend!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:



Retro Christmas Cards

So I was feeling a little nostalgic this weekend and decided to make some Retro style Christmas cards. There are so many sites that offer free digital downloads, it didn't take me long to find an image I wanted to work with. The Graphic Fairy has some great free vintage digital images available for download. I found three black and white retro Christmas images from a 1940's printers book. They all had holiday shopping Christmas theme. I chose this one to work with. This poor husband is following his wife around carrying all the Christmas Gifts while she reviews her Christmas list.

I decided to stick with the black and white theme and not color in the image. I used Heather's sketch that is currently being used for the Simon Says Challenge. Here is what I came up with:
Very fun card and did not take long to put it together at all. I love making black and white cards. They are so classic, and work great for vintage or retro designs.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Ends Nov 27 - Simon Says - Sketch
Ends Dec 2 - MIM - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 30 - Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 30 - Sister Act - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 27 - 4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 27 - 4 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 30 - Opus Gluei - Shopping
Ends Dec 2 - Robyn's Fetish - #187 Vintage
Ends Dec 9 - Scribble & Scrap - #6 Anything Goes
Ends Dec 16 - Christmas Inspirations - Black & White
Ends Nov 30 - CHNC - Christmas Anything Goes
Ends Dec 2 - Crafting From The Heart - #1 Anything Goes




Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challeng #4 - DT Choice - Buttons



Happy Saturday fellow Crafters. Today is the start of another challenge over at Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge. It is DT choice thise week and I have been selected to make the choice. So without further ado, the theme is...Buttons!

Remember, there are no size restrictions, CD Printouts also are acceptable. Your entry does not even have to be a Card, as long as you use buttons. Our wonderful sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish so be sure to pop over and check out all her digi's.

To help you get your creativity flowing, I have created a card using the image "a little bird told me".

Image was colored using my pencils from Artist Loft and Gamsol blending solution. I added my three buttons to the flowers and used paper and ribbon from my stash. "The early bird catches the worm" is the sentiment I stamped on the card.

Well I hope I have inspired you to play along!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:


It's the details that make the card

T.G.I.F. Happy Friday everyone. We made it. I woke up to a rainy morning here is Phoenix, Arizona, but not gonna let it get me down. I have been working hard putting together Christmas Card kits, sets and making individual cards for my 1st annual Christmas Card Make and Take that my neighbor is hosting on December 1st. It should be a lot of fun! I did take a break and made something other than a Christmas Card. I got my inspiration from a photo inspiration challenge over at Ike's world. Ike was kind enough to leave me congratulatory greetings yesterday on my blog yesterday and invited me to check out hers. I popped over and what did I see? My favorite flowers...Sunflowers.

 I just love those big Sunflowers. So of course it enticed me to play along. To win, you must use one of her images, and of course I did not have one. But never fear, one was offered up for free, just have to scroll down a bit. Well, here is what I came up with:

The image provided was the Seed packet. Typically when I see something, I have an idea what direction I want to go, and I did with this one. I new I had the Sunflower rubber stamp and the mini seed packets, just had to put them together. Now once I had the basic layout of the card, it was time to work on the details. To me, the details are the funnest part of the card. This is where you get to embellish and add the perfect sentiment. This sentiment works perfect with this layout showing what possibilities there are with meager beginnings.
 Whenever I have enough paper, I love to make matching envelopes and coordinate the inside of my cards. To me, this is what differentiates hand made cards from store bought cards..it is the details.
So even though it is a rainy day today, this card brings out the sunshine in me. I sure hope you enjoy it, it certainly was a lot of fun to put together.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

I've Caught The Bug!

Good morning all! I have some exciting news to announce. I have been chosen to be part of the design team for Creative Bug. I will be on the "New Release" Team, which will feature a new Digital Release every other Thursday. But wait, there is more, Every other Tuesday, a "Freebie is offered, and who doesn't like free digi's? This will be a great way to start or add to your collection of these wonderful images. These images are created by Naomi Edwards and can be found over at Creative Bug on the loose. If you are not familiar with with these stamps, please stop by her blog and check out all she has to offer. Her digi's are only $1.00 and they are so fun to work with. In honor of this special occasion, I created a special card to Celebrate my joining of design team.
Monkeys jumpin on the bed
When I saw this image, it looked like a celebration to me. These Monkeys are part of the Manchester family and can be found in her Misc Collection. If you recall, I featured Manfred, the Sock Monkey a few days ago on my blog.

Time to Celebrate
To create this card I used a white card stock for the base.

  • Embossed the red cardstock with Cuttlebug - Houndstooth
  • Red & White Cardstock is from Imaginisce - Circus collection
  • Red & White Twine from Recollections
  • Celebrate stamp I picked up at a yard sale
  • Image colored using Artist's Loft colored pencils and Gamsol blending solution
Really fun card and of course always the matching envelope!

So stop by if you have a chance, but prepared...you may just catch the Bug!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:



I've caught the Bug. Have you?

Dachshund (Weiner) Christmas Note Cards

CJ & Dot
CJ as a puppy
Happy Wednesday! We are mid way through the week, only two more days to go until the weekend! Hang in there.  I wanted to share with you  my latest card, along with my photo inspiration. While I only have one son, I am a mother to three. Yes I have two Dachshunds and I love them like they were my kids. They are the sweetest and most annoying little dogs. I say annoying, as they truly think they are human. We found CJ last night tucked into my sons bed with his head on the pillow. He did this himself. And boy do they have attitude when you put them outside for a while. They just don't understand why they have to be locked up outside when the rest of the family is inside. My neighbor bred both of these cuties..She has five Dachsunds, and yes she calls herself "Grandma" to these little pups. She has been "hounding" me to make some Dachshund cards, so I thought I would surprise her.
Dot as a puppy
 I plan on making a matching card holder box to house these cute little note cards. I have a paw print stamp that will work perfect for that.

I purchased the digi stamp from an etsy shop called paperaddictions.

  • White card stock for base of the card. 
  • Embossed black card stock with cuttlebug - houndstooth
  • Paw print paper from Recollections
  • Santa hat from Recollections

I would like to enter my "weiner" dog cards into the following challenges:

Ends Nov 25 - MIM - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 24 - Challenges for Everybody - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 24 - Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 21 - 7 Kids College Fund - #86 Anything Goes
Ends Nov 26 - Fab n Funky - #194 Anything Goes
Ends Nov 25 - TTCRD - Anything Goes
Ends Dec 9 - Anonymous Stamps - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 25 - HMFMC - Favorite Things
Ends Nov 24 - Scrapbook Stamp Society - Embossing
Ends Nov 30 - Without Words - Getting Ready for Christmas
Ends Nov 21 - Moving Along with the times - Furry Friends



Let the Shopping Begin!

Good morning! Hope everyone had a great weekend, I know I did. I officially started my Christmas shopping. Every year I say that I am going to start early and get all my shopping finished so I can enjoy the few weeks before Christmas. This is the time I like to bake and just enjoy time with the family. So with one present down, perhaps I will actually meet that goal this year.

I wanted to share with you my latest card. I just LOVE this little girl. Her name is "Maddie" and she is from the Lacy Sunshine Collection. Her friend "Clover" has accompanied her on her shopping trip in style by sitting on top of her head. The look on her face is classic. Kinda looks like me after I have done a full day of shopping. But She certainly has the right idea and appears to have completed most of her shopping!

I embellished the card with a Christmas Tree in the background and decorated it with gems. I also included a wrapped Christmas present to sit underneath the tree.  I finished the card off with a simple message of "Season's Greeting."  This has turned into one of my favorite cards. I hope you like it.

Maddie & Clover Shopping
I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:


Challenge #3 - Shaped Cards

Good morning Card makers! It is time for Suzy Bee's 3rd Challenge. This week the theme is Shaped Cards sponsored by Eureka stamps.  

                 

  The image is entitled:  "Best Friends"
   
     

I used my Big Shot to cut out the shape of this card with my Labels die cuts. I matted the image in purple card stock and layered it on top of a paper doily.  I stamped out the sentiment "Friends" and added ribbons and gems.

 The inside of the card reads:
 "My girlfriends are the sisters I picked out for myself".

I saw this saying somewhere and thought it would be perfect for this Friend card.  Hopefully I have inspired you to buzz on over to Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge with your creation. Can't wait to see it.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:


Kids Birthday cards

TGIF! I wanted to start my weekend off early with this fun little card. It seems the only cards I have been making recently are Christmas Cards, so I was very excited when I found this image over at The Creative Bug. I knew instantly what I would do with it. I have some paper that is Circus theme'd and it worked perfectly for this little card. The image is fun and very cute! I like this card so much, I think I will make a few of them. The image is currently being offered for free, so check it out if you have a chance. All of her digi's are only $1, so they are very affordable and are fun to work with. I am sure I will be using more of them in the future. And now for my card:

Happy Birthday Little Monkey
May every part of your Birthday have Happy in it!



I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:


Turn that Attitude into Gratitude

It is common practice that thank you cards are sent out for wedding and shower gifts. The bride will typically recruit a guest to document gifts as they are opened to capture who the gift was from. So why do we not practice this same etiquette at Christmas? Are we so excited and overwhelmed on Christmas morning that we forget our manners? As  a child, we always wrote thank you notes after Christmas, and I have carried on this tradition with my son. This was not my most favorite thing to do after Christmas, and it is not for my son either.  As he gets older, he doesn't understand why he can't just text or email his Thank You's, but I have always felt the written card has much more meaning.

As a card maker, it is easy for me to keep the tradition going and sending out my Christmas thank you cards after the holidays. As a teacher, my husband gets many gifts around the holidays and he practices this as well. He is very organized with the gifts he has received to ensure he knows who gave what gifts.

As parents, I believe it is important to set the example and take time to thank the person for the gift. You can thank the gift-giver and tell them why or how it is appreciated. Even if you get a gift card, you can say what you intend on buying with the card. You can also use this card to tell this person something special about Christmas and wish them a happy upcoming New Year.

But when it comes down to it, if you cannot find the time to send a handwritten thank you card, then a text, email or phone call is better than nothing at all.

I found this Tim Holtz card making kit called Christmas Cheer at a shop called Archiver's when I was in Ohio last month. There are four stamps in this set, including a wreath and stocking, which are not shown. The stamps are smaller and intended for mini cards or tags. I thought these would be perfect for Thank You Cards, so I am making sets of four which I plan on listing in my Etsy shop as well as using them for my own personal Thank You's this year.

I would like to enter these cards into the following challenges:




Google+ Link Party - GROW your Circles

Are you looking to grow your circles on Google+?  Do you want better SEO and increased website exposure? Then this is the place to be!

Welcome to the mommy is coocoo Google+ Link Party HOP!
google+ link party http://www.mommyiscoocoo.com/
Pin It

If you want to get coocoo with us on Google+ you must:

1. Add all of the cohost to one of your circles.

2. Link up your Google+ url NOT your blog url.

3. Share a post on Google+ and include the hashtag #mommyiscoocoo.

4. Socialize - The more shares a website or blog post has the better chance it has of ranking well.
  • Add new friends to your circles.
  • Comment and Share posts you really enjoy!
  • Throughout the day +1 posts with the hashtag #mommyiscoocoo on Google+

*This is a weekly party!*

*If you want to grow your presence on Google+ email (me) Amanda at mommyiscoocoo(at)gmail(dot)com to cohost.


Blending Colored Pencils with Baby Oil

Of Course I've been good
This little cutie is an image from Lacy Sunshine called Angel Boo. The moment I saw this image I knew what caption I would use. she just looks so innocent, makes you wonder what she has been up to. I have been working with Digi Stamps for almost 2 months now. I am still using Artist's Loft Colored Pencils and blending with baby oil and Blending Stumps. This was a technique I found on You Tube. I plan on getting some Gamsol Mineral Spirits blending solution and trying that out. Here is a video on You Tube showing how to use the baby oil for blending. If you are new to this technique and not sure if you want to go down this path, this is a good, inexpensive place to start. But I warn you, it is addicting.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Ends Nov 19th - Fan Tastic Tuesday - #9 Stars
Ends Nov 26th - Lacy Sunshine - #21 Bling Thing
Ends Nov 18th - MIM - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 19th - TTCRD - Anything Goes
Ends Nov 19th - Use it Tuesday - Stick it
Ends Nov 18th - Artistic Inspiration - Use a Sentiment
Ends Nov 26th - Cutie Pie #57 Little Cuties
Ends Nov 30th - Imagination Crafts - #5 Glitter and Sparkle
Ends Nov 30th - Sparkle & Sprinkle Anything Goes with Glitter

History behind Veterans Day

Our Scavenger Hunt theme this week is Veterans. Being that it was Veterans Day yesterday, this seems appropriate. I, like most people have had family members in the military. My Dad and Uncle were both in the Navy and I have another Uncle in Colorado that was in the Air Force. But do we really know how Veterans Day began? I do now.

Many people believe that Veterans Day is the day America honors military people who have died serving their country, but this is not the case. Veterans Day was established to honor ALL American Veterans, both living and dead. It is a day that America says thank you for all the sacrifices they have made in their lives to keep our country free.

Veterans Day started out as Armistice Day. On November 11th, 1918 ceremonies took place to celebrate the ending of World War I. To commemorate the end of the War, an "unknown soldier" was buried in England at Westminster Abbey and in France at the Arc de Triomphe. In 1921, the United States followed France and England by laying the rest of the remains of a World War I unknown soldier on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River and Washington DC. This site later became known as the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier."

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. In 1968, Congress passed legislation to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, but due to the significance of the historic November 11th date, the legislation was reversed and it was subsequently returned the holiday to the original date.

On my scavenger hunt, I found this Battleship New Jersey Lapel pin.
Battleship New Jersey Lapel Pin
It has the Stars and Stripes background and a silhouette of a ship on top. I like this item not only because it represents military memorabilia, but because it is Vintage, and I love Vintage.  This item can be found over at the Eccentric Thrifter. where you can find other every day items as well as Vintage. Stop by and take a look if you have a moment.

Blog Candy Winner

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I had a big order come over through my Etsy shop, so I was making and packing Christmas cards all weekend. Thanks to everyone who participated in my drawing. I had hoped to get more entries, but this makes it that much better for the 7 that did participate. And now, without further ado...the random pick was number 7 - Robyn L. Congratulations to Robyn - please email me with your contact information. Your December calender and set of 4 Christmas Cards will be mailed out by Wednesday!  Thanks again for playing.


December Calendar Card and a little Blog Candy

This post will stay at the top until November 9th. Please scroll down for newer posts.

Hello all. You may not know, but I am fairly new to the blogging community.  I started this blog  on July 31st. My very first post was entitled Are greeting cards an endangered species. Well by the amount of card makers I have run across, I would say not.  I thought this blog would be a fun way to share ideas and new techniques as well as showcase some of the cards through card challenges...while making a few friends along the way.


Since then, I have become part of a Design Team (DT) for a newly forming Card Challenge Blog called Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog. Challenges will begin on Saturday November 2nd and run weekly. Details of the first challenge will be posted on Saturday October 19th. The first challenge is offering a $20 Gift Certificate by Lacy Sunshine and Suzy is also offering a drawing for some Blog Candy. That drawing will be held on Saturday December 14th, which is just in time for Christmas.  Pop over and become eligible to win this fun prize.  
Suzy Bee's Blog Candy
I also recently created a Blog Button For TaylorMadeCards4U and wanted to share it with everyone.



I thought it would be fun to have a give-away while sharing my Blog button, so I decided to have a drawing for one of my December Card Calendars and a set of 4 Holiday Christmas cards. The drawing will be Sunday November 10th,  just in time for the holidays. In order to qualify for the drawing you have to do one of the following (yea I know there is always a catch)...

  • Follow Me on this Blog through Google Friends Connect (link located on my blog)
  • Follow Me on this Blog through Network Blogs (link located on my blog)              
  • Like me on TaylorMadecards4U on Facebook                                                             
                                                   AND


  • Leave a Comment on this post to let me know what you did.

If you are already a Follower, just leave me a comment to become eligible for the drawing. 
Here is a picture of the December Card Calendar.

Believe

It will fit perfectly on any Desk or Counter and something fun to display all month Long. I am leaving the Holiday Cards as a surprise, but you can see a sampling of my work at TaylorMadecards4U.com.

Who doesn't like free stuff...right? So here is how it will work.

  • Entries will end on Saturday November 9th at 23:59                                                      
  • Winner will be announced on this Blog on Monday November 11th                                 
  • If you are the winner, you will need to email me within two days with your postal address.
  • Parcel to be sent out on Wednesday November 13th                                                      
  • One comment per person please                                                                                      

Hope to see you all in Blog Land!

Featured Post

Challeng Winners - February & March 2023

   Hello everyone. As you may have noticed, I have been MIA for the last couple of months. Life has been very busy and it has been difficult...