HB Grammy

Hi friends,
It's Grammy's birthday! She's 88 years young and still lookin' fierce!
I made this card for her:

My Grammy and I luuuuv orchids so I had to make her card with these pretty vellum ones. It's one of those where my terrible photog skills don't do it justice :(   I have many different orchid dies, but these Magnolia dies are by far the easiest to use- and the orchids come out sooooo prettyful!!!

I also added a couple of peacock feathers in gold cardstock (also Magnolia dies). I think Grammy will like it *Ü*

That's it for today. Thanks so much for peeking!
Ciao bellas,


The 411 
Stamps: Elegant Happy Birthday-Rubber Stampede
Paper: Blush Blossom cs, Whisper White cs-SU, gold cs, vellum cs-SU
Tools: Orchid Dies, Peacock feathers dies-Magnolia Doohickeys, Leaves and Diamonds EF- Sizzix, Labels 5 dies- Spellbinders, Viva decor pen
Other: pearls, gold gel pen

Twofer

Hi friends,
 After my CAS card casualties (from my last post), I decided to get help for my problem. I admitted to having a problem (creating CAS cards) - the first step, so the next step was to do something about it. So as they say, "Those who can't... take a class from those who can!" I signed up for a CAS class online :) Hopefully, that will help some.
Since I had my Maggies out as well as my Prisma pencils, I decided to make another card.
Here it is:

 and a closer peek:

 I played along with this week's sketch at the Sweet Stop:

Of course as soon as I saw this sketch, I thought ---> envelope. So I had to do that too *Ü*

It's 1/2" deep since I can't keep it CAS! ;) I made the envelope from pink vellum as are the Royal roses (MFT).
ETA: I usually create my eveloboxes on the Crafter's Companion board or the Martha Stewart Score board. Here are the measurements for an A2 size at 1/2" depth:
Paper: 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Score: 2 5/8" & 3 1/8" & on the opposite side
turn & score remaining 2 sides: 3 1/4" & 3 3/4"

Well, that's it for now.
Thanks for peeking today :)
Tootles!

CAS...???

Hi ya friends,
Hope you're weathering the weather in your neck of the woods. It's been rainy here in Socal but it's finally looking like we're gonna catch a break. I know... I know, it rains for two days in Southern California & we're taking out the tire chains! Ha!

Anyhoo, as a crafter, I sometimes try to do things that take me out of my comfort zone. My biggest discomfort zone is ---> CAS cards. Yes, I call that my Kraft Kryptonite. But I was really drawn to a CAS sketch & thought I'd give it a go.
So here's my card:

 Oh! & here's the sketch: CAS Colours & Sketches

 I triiiiiieeeeed, but somehow I had to add a little more of this & a little more of that.... sigh...ugh.
It's not that I don't like how it came out, but I wouldn't call this a CAS...exactly...but I did stick to the sketch pretty much *Ü*

Here's a closer peek at them:

They're colored with Prisma pencils & Gamsol. They are 2 separate images but I nestled them together. That's Edwin with Tie & Tilda with Big Ribbon--->luv!

Here's a peek at the innies:

I tried to keep that CAS too *Ü*

So I felt like this card was an epic fail, & I heard the voice of wisdom speak to me..."Try again you must" ---> Star Wars was on tv ;) so as Yoda instructed, try again I did.

Here's take 2:

Better??? I made a heart pocket I added to the heart Nestie die cut.

In the pocket I tucked in:

a few lip smooches I stamped onto vellum hearts. No, those are not mine... they come from stamps *Ü*

And did you see that preeetty bloom?!?!

I luv how soft & romantic it looks. It's the Mini-hybrid Heirloom Rose from MFT. I almost didn't get it cuz I need another flower die as much as... well...I need yet another flower die, but I'm SO glad I did cuz it's beautiful, especially out of pink vellum. Ahhh...happy sigh...

Here's a peek at the innies:

That's pretty CAS, right?

So if you've made it through this far, I thank you! I used my newest, favorest paper called In Bloom from MME. The colors are pure luxe, I tell ya! Soft pinks, peaches, grays, saffron---> I *heart* it!

While I don't think I've come close to capturing the CAS style, I do think I have a managed to make a couple of sweet cards, eh?

I'm going to play along with the following challenges & hope to have better luck with those:
Marvelous Magnolia: Tilda & Edwin on the same card
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Anything Goes
Dutch Magnolia Lovers: Bingo: Distress, Die, Embossing
Magnolia-licious Highlites: Love
The Pink Elephant: Hearts

Oh, if you want to know how to make this super easy heart pocket, I have a video tute I created a while back on this post ---> HERE. (Scroll down to the bottom for the tute.)

Thanks so much for peeking!
Gotta Go!

Oh Baby!

Hi ya friends,
Spring has sprung with some of my friends. Many are planning for babies, waiting on arrivals, & just boarding the 9 month voyage to motherhood! While my baby days are way in my rear view mirror, my friends are just getting started! It's not that I started super early, but they're in their 30's so it's about time! Well, the great news for me is that means I get to make some of my fav things to make- baby cards *Ü* One that I have to share today that's going to a friend who is having her first baby boy!
Here's my card:

  I HAD to use a sweet baby Edwin, of course! He's colored with Prisma pencils and Gamsol. I love coloring baby images with my Prismas cuz it gives it a soft, angelic look, don't ya think?! I used my fav baby papers from Graphic 45---> happy sigh... and then made a little garland of sorts with MS punches- a little sheep, teddy bear, bow, button, elephant, heart, & safety pin. I also used the Beaded Circles Nesties because it reminded me of baby beads Ü. The strip going across are embossed buttons.

Here's a closer look at this cutie:

I used Stardust Stickles on the stars though it's hard to tell...

I recently came across a new (to me) Magnolia challenge blog called Marvelous Magnolia & I was so tickled cuz so many Magnolia blogs have closed :( so I'm playing along with their current challenge: New Beginnings.

I also used this sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp:

I'll also be playing along in the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Monthly Challenge: Anything Goes
Created with Love: Anything Goes
Dutch Magnolia Lovers: Bingo: Distress+Die+ Embossing
Totally Papercrafts: Embossing

Thanks for stopping by today!
Gotta go!

Tilda with Many Hearts

Hi friends,
It's been so great having so much extra crafty time during Winter break. I sure will miss it :( so I thought I'd get a jump start on my Valentine cards.
Here's the first:

 I feel like it's been forever since I inked up a Maggie! She's Tilda with Many Hearts colored with Copics. I paper pieced her dress & her little UGGs  Ü  All those hearts she's carrying were Stickled in different shades of pinks & reds.
Here's a closer peek at that:

Here's a quick peek of the innies:

I used this week's awesome sketch at The Sweet Stop:

Tilda is going to play nicely with others in the following challenges:
Divas by Design: Anything Goes
MDUC: Anything Goes
Magnolia-licious Highlites: Jan Challenge: Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for peeking today!
Have a goodie!

 The 411 
Stamps: Tilda with Many Hearts, Short & Sweet -SU
Paper: Crazy Love- BoBunny, Close to Cocoa, Pink, Cream
Tools: lace heart border punch- MS, copics, Stickles, Ribbon Banners dies, Conversation Hearts CBEF

Oh Boy!

Hi ya friends,
 How goes it this fine weekend? Hope you're enjoying some lovely crafternoons :)
Well, if you follow my blog, you know I like 3. Three is a good number, so today I bring you the 3rd Magnolia card.
Here it is:

 This sweetness is called Baby Edwin. So Adorable! I know I say that about them all :)
Here's a closer peek:

He's colored with Copics. I added some blingies to his crown & gold Stickles to the little stars. The papers are from the Little darlings collection from Graphic 45. (This collection of papers is exquisite! Baby perfection!) I added faux stitching around the edges, and sprinkled a few pearls with my Viva pen. The ticket is a Whimsy stamp called Whimsy Ticket Sentiments (luuuuv). That's a Fair Isles Pendant Spellbinders die Edwin is on. It looked like a baby blanket to me :)

Now for a peek of the simple innies:

 I punched some buttons with the pattern paper scraps using the MS button punch.

I used this week's sketch at Just Magnolia:

Baby, I'm joining the tots in the following challenges:
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards: For the Boys
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge: New Baby
Hot Shot Crafts: Die Cuts
All That Scraps: Anything Goes
Creative Belli: Baby/ New Arrival
Whimsy Inspiration Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for peeking today!
Gotta Go!

Princess Party

Hi ya friends,
It's almost the weekend, and I am sooooo glad! We've got 3 weeks of school left & we're all antsy to start summer vacation!
Today, I have another one of my new Maggies to share.
Here she is:

 This little girl is called Princess Party Tilda. Look at that glorious hair! Luv it :) She's colored with Copics. Her crown got a good dose of Stickles for a diamond-look and her shoes got some Glossy Accents for the patent leather look. The papers are from the Olivia collection from BasicGrey.
Here's a closer peek:

 That swirly die is called Fanciful Flourish by Cheery Lynn. the flowers are WOC. All the edges were distressed with my T!m Holtz Distressing tool & then I used my Viva Pen & sprinkled a few pearls around.

Speaking of T!m, guess what I got in the mail???? Yes! I got my prize for the 12 Tags :)
Here's what I got:
THE *NEW* DISTRESS INK COLORS!!!!

I was SOOOOOOOOOOO happy cuz I was waiting for more to come in stock online, but now , thanks to Mario & T!m I have my set. Yaaaay! So I guess I better get going on my May tag so I can break in these bad boys ;)

Now, back to my card....
 I used this sketch from Magnolia Down Under + the doily

I'd also like to play along in the following challenges:
Totally Tilda: Princess Tilda in Pink Dress
Cute Card Thursday: A bit of sparkle
Divas by Design: Tickled Pink
Truly Scrumptious: Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps: Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash: BINGO- glitter, pearls, distressing, blue, & flowers
BasicGrey Challenges: Anything Goes

Hope you have some lovely crafternoons this weekend!
Gotta Go!

Ballerina Tilda

Hi there friends,
I have a card to share using one of my new Maggies. I thought the Prince & Princess collection was a really cute one so it was hard to exert some self-control & not buy 'em all :)
Here's my card:

 This one is one of my favs. It's called Tilda with ballet shoes. Isn't she so cuuuute!?

Here's a closer peek at her:

She's colored with Copics. I've been looking for a good color combo for med African-American skin, but just haven't pinned down the right one :( I used E33, E35, & E37 for her. Hmmm, I gotta keep looking... well, her tutu & the flower on her headband got a double dose of Cotton Candy Stickles. I let the thick layers dry in between applications & that helped to create a chunkier effect. The tulle flowers are from Prima & I've had them forever! They finally found the right card to make their debut. The papers are from the London Market collection from Pink Paisley.

I used this week's sketch at The Cutie Pie Challenge: but I forgot it's also supposed to be an easel card. Doh! No can do this challenge :(

I'd like to play along in the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Anything Goes
Make it Monday: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show: Anything Goes
Magnolia Stamp Lovers: Flowers
Do You Stack Up: Use a flower

Thanks so much for peeking.
Gotta Go!

A Lesson or Two

Hello friends,
I have a card with sweet little Tilda for ya today.  I have a couple of amazing artists in one of my Spanish classes who have been asking & asking me to show them how I color with Copics. So I brought my markers to school along with this Tilda image. Thank goodness my coloring turned out OK cuz it made me so nervous to have the girls watching me color!!! THE PRESSURE! haha :) But I think it's good for our school kiddos to see that we have interests & talents of our own outside of the classroom. Through those experiences, we as teachers become real people to them. I think some of them think we're hermits with no lives that live at school or something! Anyhoo, so I had a colored image but what to do with it??? Make a card for sweet Tilda to adorn, of course :)
Here it is:

 My good friend's birthday is coming up so I decided to make this card for her. This stamp is called Tilda with Hawaii Flower. I luv all the little butterflies fluttering all around her. I added Stickles to all of them so that they would match the one I added on the corner. The flowers are all WOC. The papers are from the Little Darlings Collection from Graphic 45.

Here's a closer peek:

The girls were very excited to become new Copic Coloristas... until I told them how much they cost! TeeHee! So they said "¡Mucho dinero!"--->they'd stick to pastels for now ;)

Tilda will be playing along in the following challenges:

JUGS: Challenge #128 Pink, spring moss, cream
The Sweet Stop Sketches: SSS150 with a spin of green
Just Magnolia: Green
Make it Monday: Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes: Photo Inspiration (it's sooo preeetty!)

Thanks so much for peeking today.
Just a few more sleeps till the weekend!

Sweetness

Hi ya friends,
I'm back today with one more card to share. This will be another busy week for me so I thought I'd get all the play time I could before I start on my school stuff.
Here's my card:

 There's a color challenge this week at Magnolia Down Under of pink, orange, & white. I know that's my blog pal's, Kathy's, fav color combo, so I thought I'd use her sketch & her color combo to make a card & play along in a few challenges. :)
This is 60's Tilda enjoying a lolly (that I colored & glittered with Stickles).
Here's a closer peek at her:

She's colored with Copics. I think that she's the perfect Tilda for those that don't like the no mouth & nose thing cuz they would be hidden behind her lolly ;) The flowers are from WOC, the border punch is doily lace by MS, on top of the doily is the Picot Edge Circle Nestie. I punched out & layered the SU punch & wrote the sentiment on it. I like my stitching how I like my fur---> faux, of course ;) Oh, the papers are from the Tickled Pink collection from MME. That's pretty much it.

By the way, here's Kathy's sketch for Tuesday Morning Sketches:

 and my Tilda will be playing along in the following challenges:
Magnolia Down Under: Color Challenge
Just  Magnolia: Use a Doily
Totally Tilda: Die Cuts & punches
Magnolia Stamp Lovers: Punches

Thanks for peeking! Gotta Go!

Lady Tilda

Hi friends,
I was gifted a 3 day weekend (thank you presidents:) and I did nothing crafty :( so sad. But I did clean my house, washed a mountain of laundry, and veged out in front of my tv :)  Now that my house is in order & the laundry is done, I feel a lot better about spending some time in my craft room.
Here's my card:

 This is Lady Tilda from the Fairytale collection- so cuuute :) She's colored with Copics. This was my attempt at defining folds, so as you can see I need more practice- I find coloring folds one of the hardest things to do, so if you have any pointers, I'm all ears! I wanted to keep her skin color muted & a bit soft.
Here's a closer peek:

I was very inspired by the pic at The Shabby Tea Room this week:

How pretty is that??? I would luuuuv a set :) I thought the Howdy Doody papers from MME would go perfectly. I added a gold doily to complement the gold on the teacup set. I also die cut the nestie out of vellum so the pretty floral paper would still peek through. Her headband & ruffles have Stickles for extra sparkle. To finish it I added some WOC flowers & leaves from YMH.

I used this sketch from Magnolia Down Under:

I'll also be playing along with the following challenges:
Magnolia Stamp Lovers: Fairy Tale
TOMIC: 3-2-1 Recipe: 3 pattern papers, 2 + embellies, 1 stamped image
Magnolia Highlites: Shabby Chic-vintage

Thanks so much for peeking!
Hope your day is like a fairy tale :)