Feels like Fall

Hi friends,
So in keeping with bringing balance to the force (and YES! I am looking forward to the new Star Wars movie *Ü*), I bring you a couple of Fall-themed cards.
Here's the first:

 It's bright, I know- lol. I hadn't played with MFT sketches in a while, so I thought I would check out this week's sketch:

I couldn't get past the stars because I'm so literal when it comes to sketches, but i decided to challenge myself & my card was born. It is colored with Copics and the background is blended with Distress Inks. I'm going to send it to my Grammy because I haven't sent a card in a while :(

Here's card #2

I made this one to send to my friends that teach at my former school.
Here are the innies:

Thank you for popping in today! Have a great week *Ü*

Good Times, dear chalkboard

Hi friends,
I remember, when I was a little girl, playing school with my stuffed animals and Barbies (as many a little girl does) *Ü* One of my favorite things to do (besides passing out stickers for a job well done) was writing on the chalkboard. Well, years later when I became a real teacher, I looked forward to writing on a real, legit chalkboard! I loved it!!! I was living the dream... Then my dream was erased away when whiteboards started replacing them. I understood that some children's allergies were made worse by all the chalk dust, but white boards just weren't the same... I missed my chalkboard...  But chalk it up to this wonderful hobby, as now, I get to once more enjoy the chalkboard... at least the look of it through the oh so popular chalkboard technique.

Here's my card:

 I used a sentiment from MFT's Chalkboard Greetings stamp set. I embossed it in Hero Arts white embossing powder & tapped it with my frost white ink pad. The flower is my fave MFT flower die- mini hybrid heirloom rose. It absolutely makes the preeeettiest flowers *Ü* and if you get that, you've gotta get the Royal Leaves---> They go together perfectly! All the papers are Anna Griffin. The border, cut from gold cardstock, is from Cheery Lynn. Ahhh, sweet, sweet chalkboard... you're still the one...

I used this week's MFT sketch (rotated):

Well, after all of this, I don't want you to think I'm a dinosaur resistant to change. I am so happy to be rid of the overhead projector. I luv, luv, luv my Elmo document reader that took it's place. Now, if someone can find a replacement for grading essays, I'm all ears!

I'm playing along in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes challenge #40
Creative Craft Challenges: Anything Goes
Tip Top Tuesday: Flowers  My tip: for heat embossing use an embossing buddy to prevent fly away powder. Hero Arts white embossing powder leaves a thick, smooth, solid imprint. I call it Jaws because it really is a great white. ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Until next time...

Creative Card Crew Challenge: Things with Wings

Hi ya friends,
Welcome to a new challenge at Creative Card Crew! This week, the challenge is "Things with Wings"
Here's my card:

 My winged things are those beautiful butterflies. They're from Amy R's set called "Butterfly" I absolutely LUUUUUV this set. The butterflies are so realistic & diverse. The sentiments are wonderful as well. I stamped the butterflies on the same pattern paper, cut them out, & popped them up with foam tape.
Here's a closer peek:

 and from the side so you can see how they look like they're going to fly off the card!

The sentiment reads: "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly." So beautiful- one of my fav ever :) I thought I would be clever & stamp the sentiment twice to create a shadow---> ah nooooo :( I'll need to redo that :( but I do like how the stamped butterflies look behind it. I also used last week's Mojo Monday sketch (squared) but not in time to enter it.

Our sponsor this week are our friends at Simon Says Stamp and they're offering a fab prize up for grabs. This set is available at Simon Says Stamp if it tickles your fancy---> Here.
Remember you've got til Monday night to Linky your card creation & please stop by the Creative Card Crew & check out the wingy inspiration from the rest of the DT.

Thanks so much for peeking!
Two more weeks & I stick a fork in this school year!!! Yay :)
Bye for now!

The 411

Stamps: Butterfly- Amy R
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel- SU
Paper: Que Sera Sera- K&Company, Bazzill cs
Tools: Butterfly punch- MS
Other: Viva Decor Pearl pen, ribbon

Mommy Time for Mojo

Hi ya friends,
The Hubby called to let me know he was making dinner which gave me some play time in my craft room! Yaaay! So I checked out this week's Mojo Monday sketch & I was game!
Here's the sketch: (I flipped it)

 Here's my card:

I've been making several Valentine's Day cards for some reason, so I hope you're not over it already!

The Deets:
This card uses lots of my favs! I used my fav V-Day Collection of DP from last year- Pink Paislee's Cupid Collection (luuuv it!) Another one of my fav things I just picked up is this key & lock Die set from CC Designs- you will be seeing lots of these- I'm warning ya in advance! It comes with 3 different keys & a lock & has been rocking my world! Yup, my world is easily rocked ;) Can you guess what my other fav thing is? Uh huh, my Viva decor Pearl pen -around the heart (which I embossed with the hearts CB embossing folder).

This will be quite the busy blog this week- some reveals, a tutorial, & Saturday is Cardabilities Birthday Blog Hop- it will be so exiting with lots of surprises! I can't wait!!!

This card also qualifies for:
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge: Use red & a die cut (heart, key, lock)
Cute Card Thursday: Out with the old- use something old from your stash (DP)
Paper Sundaes: Circles- my button counts :) they said so! plus there are circles cut out of the key :)

Thank you so much for stopping by my little blog. Dinner is done, and so am I!
Gotta Go!

Bikini Honey

Hi friends,
We're planning to move soon, so I'm busy running around from house to house :( so it's a quickie post today.
Here's my card:

It's an easel style card :) I used Mudd Puddles for the sand, & punched a border in sand-looking paper. I embossed the blue paper with the d'vine swirls folder to create the look of waves. I went over those with Stickles. I cut the flip flops out of the DP & the sandcastle from the extra piece of the border. The stamp is Bikini Honey from CC Designs- colored with Copics.

Here's a closer peek at the sand border, waves, & mudd puddles.

This card meets more than one challenge & it actually meets more than I've ever done before! whaaaaaaaat!!!

Caardvarks- Embossing (waves)

Creative Card Crew- Easel card

Paper Play- Something old from my Stash (DP)

Stamp Something- Summer

ABC Challenge- Xtra Dimension

Mojo Monday- Sketch

speaking of sketch... here it is:

Off to go look some more!
Gotta Go!

The 411

Stamps: bikini Honey - CC designs

Paper: Summer Stack -DCWV, Ballet Blue- SU!, Very Vanilla- SU!, Cream CS- Neenah

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Creamy brown- Colorbox

Accessories: Mudd Puddles- Malibu, Copics, beach border punch- EK Success D'vine Swirls CB E, Waterfall Stickles

Sunflower Wishes 4 Glitterbees

Hi there friends,
Today I have a card for the Glitterbees Challenge. This time Tami is our hostess with the mostest & she has issued this sketch:

So here's my card:

The Deets:
I stuck with the sketch for the most part, just didn't add the ribbon. I thought I had enough embellies on my card. Much like donuts, you gotta know when to say when :) One of my New Year's Resolutions (that I haven't broken just yet ;) is to use the toys I have. I have toys I've never even played with! I know, bad Karli :( So I used this Sunflower Spellbinders die I've had for the longest & haven't used. I highlighted it with Dusty Durango & More Mustard. The sunflower embossing folder isn't new. It's the Petals-a-Plenty (SU!) embossing folder that I used loads of times as poinsettias. I turned them into little sunflowers :) & colored them with Copics. The main image is Birgitta with Sunflower by CC Designs. Her wings are glitterfied.

Thanks so much for peekin' today! To see all the glitterbees' creations with this sketch, and to participate too, click ---> HERE. Happy Humpday (Wednesday, OK!)
Gotta Go!

The 411:

Stamps: Birgitta with Sunflower (digi)

Paper: White, SEI Bridgeport, Yukon Gold- Bazzill, Close to cocoa SU!

Ink: More Mustard, Dusty Durango

Accessories: Copics, Dew Drops, Sunflower Spellbinders Die, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder- SU!, Cinnamon Stickles

SC258 Cocoa with Marshmallow Wishes

Happy Monday friends,
I made this card for one of the little girls my grandma used to babysit. I used this week's card sketch on SCS. I have to admit I don't love it :( Ugh.
Here's the sketch:

Here's my card:

 I used a digi image of Emma with Cocoa (CC Designs). I made some comfy marshmallows for her to sit on and I used liquid appliqué to create some in her cocoa mug.

Thanks for peekin' today. Hopefully this little girl is not too picky & easily impressed :) Hee! Hee!
Gotta Go!

Be Merry Trevor

Hola friends,

Today I have this card to share with ya. This is a digi image of Trevor with ornaments from CC Designs. Isn't he such a cutie? This image just makes me giggle. Doesn't he look like he's saying "My mom is making me hold these ornaments for this picture." (Pout, pout!) I HAD to use the sentiment "Be Merry"  because Trevor reminded me of my oldest son. He hates it when I try taking pictures of him & he hates it even more when I "make him" smile. So Trevor looks just like my son would if I made him try to take a nice Christmas picture of him holding holiday ornaments! Trevor, be merry!
Here's another peek :

I used many of the same papers as yesterday. I inked to shade around him & colored with Copics. The sentiment is embossed with detail gold. (sorry it's hard to tell :(

Here's a peek at the inside:

I used the Imaginisce Snag'em stamps ornaments (from YMH Store---> here) to hang down the side. I traced them with my Stardust glitter pen so they're sweetly sparkly. Clean & simple embellies :) Did you notice something about this card??? Look ma, No sketch! I guess I can create a card without a sketch, but it's so much easier for me if I'm using one. (This bird isn't quite ready to leave the sketch nest :)

Thanks so much for peekin' today! I so very much appreciate your visits & comments. You are all so kind & I appreciate it very much! 8 parents down, 12 to go for conferences. Tomorrow I have 7 to do, so........
Gotta go!

The 411

Paper: Jolly by Golly- Cosmo Cricket, Soft Suede, Close to Cocoa- SU!
Stamps: Trevor with Ornaments- CC Designs, Stocking Set (snag 'em stamps)- Imaginisce, Warm words- SU!
Ink: Close to Cocoa- SU!, Chestnut Roan- ColorBox
Tools: Top Note Die- SU!, Ribbon Tag Trio- Spellbinders
Other: Stardust gel pen, ribbon, gold detail embossing powder, Copics

Nora's Debut & YMH Sale News

Hi friends,
Today I'm sharing a card I made for this week's:

as well as using this week's MOJO Sketch Challenge:

to create this card:

I used this new Pixie Stamp for my main image & added liquid appliqué so she would look like she's in the middle of a snow flurry.

I don't know why my camera was not loving photographing Nora's hair, but it actually looks alright IRL. Because I was chosen for last week's Audrey Award, I get to be next week's guest designer!!! Yahoo!!! I can't wait for you to see what I have created for next week's movie, Tee! hee!

Good News! YMH Store is having a 40% off all Bind-it-All products, but it's only for 48 hours and limited to stock on hand. So stock up & save! Check it out---> here and here.

THANKS SO MUCH for peekin' in today! I'm so tickled you did :) See ya on Saturday with Cinema Saturday Challenge---> say that 3 times fast!
Gotta Go!

Sweet Dreamers' Challenge #7 Share a Hug

Hi friends,
Today I have a card I created for this week's Dreamers' Challenge: "Share a hug with a fold in the middle." Our challenge this week was to create a card for someone who needs some "cardstock cuddles"--- you know, someone who needs some cheering up & a handmade card is the way to do it. I was so touched by Mary's link to Paige's Story. It's a tragic story about a young girl who recently lost an arm in a boating accident. I decided to make this card for her:


It's a spinner card. The little sun spins (this is where video would be great!!!)
I used the Heidi Swiss Pixie stamp. Isn't she so sweet? I added Stickles to glitterfly her wings. I'll be putting it in the mail on Monday & I hope it brings a smile to her face :) If you'd like to join those of us who are sending Paige a card, here's where you can mail it:

Paige Welch
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115

If you send a card to Paige, make sure to link your card/blog post on Erin's blog. She has lots of fabulous blog candy to share.

Thanks for peeking at my card today! I'm off to get some more "cardstock cuddling" done before the weekend is gone---> Gotta Go!

The 411
Stamps: Heidi Among the Flowers (Swiss Pixies)- CC Designs, Scattered Showers Additions- PTI, Lily at the Beach -Pink Cat Studio
Ink: Tuxedo Black- Memento, Fresh Snow- PTI, Summer Sunrise- PTI,
Paper: Twitterpated- Imaginisce, Bashful Blue- SU, Summer Sunrise-PTI, White CS
Other: foam tape, Copics

Sea Shell Trevor

Hi friends,
Today I have this card to share with you. I've been playing with different Copic colors for skin tones and poor Trevor looks a little jaundiced! Yeah, not a great color. Of course did I remember which color marker I used? That would be -NO. So you might see another jaundiced kiddo sometime

This is another panel I cut out for the background. I added crystal lacquer to make the shells look wet like he just picked them off the beach.

Thanks for peeking today! I'm off to get ready for CKU (Creating Keepsakes University) Pasadena! Woo Hoo!!! This is my first time and I'm super excited. By the way, tomorrow is also my birthday, so what a great birthday it will be!! I'll share all the juicy details when I get back- gotta go!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Sea Shell Trevor- CC Designs @ all that scraps
Beach Scene- CC Designs
Paper: Sand Paper: DCWV Summer Glitter Stack
Boardwalk-Flair Designs
Other: Crystal Lacquer, Copic Markers

Bathing Beauty Emma

She is a total bathing beauty, isn't she? I cannot resist these cute Sugar Plums from CC designs- I'm so smitten! Again, I used one of the panels as part of the background. I dusted off my heart hand punch to punch two little hearts on the purple strips to coordinate with the little hearts on Emma's cap & swim suit- yes it's a one piece today I know the colors are a little Halloween-ish (purple & green) but it works, I think.

Thanks so much for peekin' today at my bathing beauty. Today was the last day with my kiddos for this year. Let me tell you there was not a dry eye in the house at our goodbyes today.

We get used to each other & we get close. I know that I spend more time with some of these kids than their parents do (because of work & other issues i.e. jail, rehab, and so on) so I get to know them and care about them like they were my own kids. When they look back at their time spent in Third Grade, I want them to have warm & wonderful memories of the learning & growing they did. I'll leave you with this little message I leave them with:

A Teacher's Farewell

You're a very special person
And friend, you should know
How I loved to be your teacher,
And how fast the time did go.
One thing I tried to teach you
To last your whole life through,
Is to know that you are special
Just because you're you.
Follow your dreams for when your dreams come true,
so do mine.