First Christmas Tag Swap!

Have you ever made something so cute that you just couldn't stand yourself? I don't often feel that way about my creations, but that's how I feel about these tags I made for my BFF, Kyoko's, first tag swap!!! My partner was ManLe of Pineapple Cove and when I asked Kyoko who her partner was, she made a sad face and said that she didn't have a partner because everyone was already paired up! So sad yeah?!? So of course I instantly became her partner! What are best friends for, right? Here's what I made ...

Close up view (so stinkin cute!) ...

Back of tag ...

Please visit Kyoko's blog as she's taking sign ups for the September Tag Swap now! Hope you have a chance to play! It's so much fun!

"One of the secrets of life is to keep your friends within hugging distance." Anonymous

Karber Challenge #3

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend - I sure did! Well, since it's Monday, it's time for another challenge from Karber Digital Images! Don't forget to check out their blog for all the deets, and become a follower so you'll be kept up to date on all the upcoming challenges! This week's challenge is to make a thank you card. I used "Lei Millie" and you can find her here.

Hope you will find some time to enter this week's challenge! Thanks for stopping by and until next time, take care.

"To speak painful truth through loving words - that is friendship." Henry Ward Beech

My August OCS Card

Happy Monday all! I just finished my OCS card for my partner Claudia and wanted to share it with you. If she reads my posts, she'll see it before she gets it, but that's ok! I'll post a picture of her card as soon as I receive it.

This month's challenge was to make an asian-themed card. Here's what I came up with ...

The sketch was adapted from an old Mojo Monday sketch. Close up of my coins and pearls ...

I think this may be only the second time I've decorated the inside of a card.

Well, that's it for today. I still need to work on my tags for Kyoko's tag swap, a M&T project for a get together this weekend, some RAKs and more challenge cards. I sure am glad that my mojo has finally returned! Thanks for stopping by and until next time, take care!

"Every time we encourage others, we give them a transfusion of courage." Chuck Swindoll

Karber Challenge #2

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend! I sure did ... I can't believe that it's almost the end of August! Gee, where did this month go ...

Anyhoo, this week's Karber Challenge is to make a birthday card! I used Karber's digital image called "Gift Millie", and the sketch challenge from Tamiko's. You can pick up Gift Millie and many other super cute images at the Karber Shop here. Here's what I came up with ...

If you haven't had a chance to check out the Karber Challenge Blog, please do so and also become a follower! I know there will be lots of fun challenges in the coming weeks and I hope you have a chance to play along! Have a great week everyone and until next time, take care.

"Be kind. Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Harry Thompson

Wild Flower Wednesday Challenge #29

I'm really starting to enjoy all these different challenges on various blogs. I made this card for the Wild Flower Wednesday Challenge #29. Can you tell from my card what the challenge was? It's obvious to me because I know what it is, but I guess maybe it's a little hard to tell. The challenge this week was POLKA DOTS! Ok, so this was a real challenge for me. I'm not one to really use polka dots on my cards, but ... I'm really liking the way this card turned out!



I used Beach Ivy from The Wild Flower Patch "Fun In The Sun" set, and added polka dots to her hat, her beach bag, and her bathing suit bottom.



Do you see that shiny layer of DP? It's made by TPC Studio and it's called Undersea Adventures Bubbles. I bought a stash of it from a girlfriend and have some to give away! It's a 12x12 sheet which I will cut into four six-inch squares and mail to you, if you're interested. I have 15 sheets to give away, so comment on this post and let me know if you'd like a sheet!

The color of the paper is actually blue and green, but because it's almost like a mirror, when you turn it a certain way, all the colors of the rainbow come out! It's really neat!

I'll be posting my August OCS and my tags for my Tag Swap partners in a couple of days. Thanks for stopping by and until next time, take care!

"To speak painful truth through loving words - that is friendship." Henry Ward Beech

Tiddly Inks Challenge #17

Tiddly Inks Challenge #17 is to create a card inspired by your favorite summer movie. Well, my faithful followers, you should all know what MY favorite summer movie was/is. If you guessed ECLIPSE, you're absolutely correct! I went to the midnight opening with my hubby and some friends, saw it again the very next day with my sister, and then saw it once more that weekend with more friends! Yes, I believe I can safely say that ECLIPSE was my favorite summer movie!!!

I used the Tiddly Inks image "Stand Out In A Crowd" for my ECLIPSE inspired card. I wasn't too sure about using this background paper, but I think it turned out ok. The more I look at it, the more it's growing on me. Check out the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog here for more info on Challenge #17.



I have a few more projects I'm working on so I hope you'll come back soon. Until next time, take care.

"Rare as true love is, true friendship is still rarer." Francois De La Rochefoucauld

SEPTEMBER OCS SIGN UP

Happy Sunday everyone! It's time to sign up for the September One Card Swap! Thanks to all of you for keeping this swap alive - you are all very talented ladies! If you know anyone who might be interested in playing, please have them sign up. The PERPETUAL PLAYERS are listed below:

Kyoko
Teri
Tamiko
Michelle U.
Joy U.
Janice M.
Grace W.
Kelli B.
Teresa M.
Brenda B.
Gail W.
McCine
Cindy A.
Chris D.
Claudia
North Shore Craft Girl
Dori T.
Shani Kulani
Sharon B.
Sherri M.
Janis K.
Jayne C.
Mary B.
Jodi
Jamee
Denise
Colleen K.
Jenny S.
Joni H.
Kim Y.

If you ARE NOT able to play in September, please let me know. The deadline to sign up is AUGUST 30, 2010. Since summer is almost over, let's create a summer themed card. I can't wait to see all your wonderful creations! Thanks for playing and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll have a few new players this month (Joy S., Debi from Hilo, Leanne?) Have a wonderful day and until next time, take care.

"Our journeys through life are brightened by the acts of kindness and caring of the friends we make along the way." Unknown

Island Girls Summer Social #2

What an awesome day! I had so much fun at the Island Girls Summer Social #2, organized by Teri of Big Ideas From A Little Girl. I know she's been working her butt off for this gathering and I want to thank her for doing such a great job!

One of the fun things we did today was a card contest and all of the cards received are going to be donated to a local charity. Such a great idea! Since our sponsor for the Social was Tamiko's, we were to make a card using her colors, pink, green and black. Here's what I created:


Once again I used my Cricut and the Create A Critter cartridge. I'm not sure you can see it, but the pink layer is actually glitter paper from Doodlebug and I love it! In case you didn't know this about me, I LOVE PIGGIES! So of course I had to use this cutie patootie! And look at her little happy face flag! It's so cute I can't stand it!!!

Before I share the projects we made, I have to show you a picture of the food we had ...



Salad, spring rolls, fried saimin (super ono!), garlic chicken, teriyaki meatballs, and deep fried mushrooms. See my dessert in the background? Man, that brownie was so fudgy!!! Mmm, good!

On to the projects. We made four things. First up, this cute treat box, using the Big Shot Pro. Such a silly looking pumpkin yeah? I love his missing teeth and his googly eyes!

Next up is this adorable panda card! It came together super quick because the panda was made using the 3M Post-it Brand Craft Paper. This paper definitely makes your Cricut projects super fast!

The last projects were a couple of gift card holders. Check out the GCH on the left - I thought the flowers were cut from a die, but it's actually a Martha Stewart punch! I gotta get me one of those ...

Hope you all enjoyed your day as much as I did! I got to meet some bloggers that I've never had the chance to meet in person, made some new friends, and also got to catch up with some old ones. Until next time, take care and I leave you with this ...

"The greatest blessing is a pleasant friend." Horace

Another cute bag (I think it is)

I've made this Box in a Bag several times before, but I changed the one I made today just a little bit. This great project is from Split Coast Stampers and was created by Diana Gibbs. This is such a quick and easy bag/box to make that if you haven't tried it, I hope you will!


Side view ...

Thanks for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments for me! I really appreciate every single one of them! I very recently received a lovely book from a special friend. It's called "Friendship Is A Blessing" and I'd like to share some of the quotes from the book with you at the end of my blog posts. Until next time, take care.

"Women don't just have friends. We have soulmates ... and that is powerful compensation for life's other hardships." Alarie Tennille

Lollipop Crafts Challenge #3

Wow! Second post today - is it gonna snow in Hawaii?!? Hahaha! I crack myself up ... anyhoo, Lollipop Crafts is having Challenge #3 this week and it's all about pets! Check out the details for this challenge here.

Before I get to my card, I'd like to share something with you ... my son has allergies to animals (as well as many other things) so we were never able to have a furry pet around the house. Recently his doctor said we could start exposing him to animals (and the other allergans) to get his immune system in check. So ... he just started volunteering at an animal hospital/shelter this week! He doesn't hate it ... but at least all his comments have been more positive than negative. Just today I got my tetanus shot so I can volunteer as well! Since we can't have a dog or cat in our home just yet, volunteering at the hospital/shelter is the next best thing! Don't you agree?

Ok, on to my card for the challenge. I went through my stamp collection and couldn't find a single stamp of a dog or cat that I wanted to use. So I decided to use my trusty old Cricut and the Create A Critter cartridge. Look at that little pet food bowl! So cute! I stamped the background paper with some clear stamps from a stamp set I found at Pricebusters. Hey, Kyoko, doesn't she look like your Bella?

I've had a productive day today and I feel like there's more I can create so I better hop to it! Thanks for stopping by and leaving all your wonderful and encouraging comments! I really appreciate your taking the time out to do so! Until next time, take care!