Thanks much for following my cards! It's such a delight to have you!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Happy Saturday and Gingerloft Winners!

This is a quick one.  Oh, how rude of me....Hi there!  Niceties first!  You all deserve a nice, polite greeting, that is for sure!

Just wanted to let you know that the winners of Gingerloft's "Love is in the Air," have been posted, as well as the Top 3.  So sorry we are late.  :-(  Random winner of the free digis from GL's great selection is....#88 Teri Sherman!  Yea!  Congratulations, Teri!

We have our Top 3 also and let me tell you, these creations are BEAUTIFUL!  Please go take a peek as it will be well worth it.

Don't forget our current challenge going on at Gingerloft- "IT'S A ZOO".  Any animal will do.   Hey, that rhymes!  Plus, you have one more week from today to enter!  Our link is on the side-bar(s).  We hope to see you over at Gingerloft!

Told you this was a quick one.  Even surprised myself!  Wonderful weekend wishes to you from...
Manderly
xxxooo

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Just Sittin' Here...

Hello!
My goodness, Tuesday already!  I have been wanting to use Audry, the cutie little girl freebie image from The Stamping Boutique, on a card for weeks now!  So that is just what I did over the weekend and on Monday.  She was perfect for Stamping Boutique's challenge this week--  Stitching.  I've had Audry colored for awhile now but haven't had an opportunity to make her into a card.  With this card, unlike my others, I had an imported scallop, little imported butterflies and imported leaves to decorate with.  Please notice that I said imported.  Imported all the way from New Zealand...by Chrissy of Chrissy's Cardland!!!  She so kindly cut me lots of pretties with her Cricut and punches-- circles, squares, hearts, stars- all sorts of neat paper do-dads to work with.  Wasn't that fantastic of her?  As I was putting the touches on Just Sittin' Here, each time I looked through one of the envelopes of cut-outs she had so patiently put into labeled envelopes, as I chose and glued, my thoughts went to her.  Thank you so much, Chrissy!   She also made me a card.  A delightful teddy that says, "To A Special Friend".  Believe me, it is a work of art!  Something a person would definitely want to frame.  And that is exactly what I will do!  Her artistry is even more beautiful in person than the pictures she posts.  Do stop by and visit Chrissy.  You will be amazed and inspired by her talent.  Okay, here is Audry, just sittin' on a fence...


Beside the cut-outs from Chrissy, Audry from The Stamping Boutique was colored with Copics.  I paper-pieced her hat and used a stylus on the back of her face and tummy, slightly bending her at the knees, and sat her on the fence gate.  The fence is a digi from Make it Crafty.  I cut it out so that the gate swings open.  I didn't think of it and may still do it, but it would be nice to put a little something behind the gate, a name, a heart, just a little something special for the receiver.  Yes, I will go back and do that.  Other than that, I think Just Sittin' Here is made up of paper and glue.  Oh, and a sewing machine!  I drew the mountains, snow peaks, sun and path, cut them out  and sewed them onto the blue sky piece.  The flowers I cut with 4 petals, smashed all up, glued the middle down tight and added a button.  Not special, imported buttons though.  Wait, they may be imported!  They are those buttons you get as extras when you buy new clothing!  So useful and I never remember what button goes with what clothing anyway!  Colored them yellow with a Crayola marker.  Also, almost forgot, the little God Bless You was a freebie from TLC.  I have sentiments made up for the inside that say "Just sittin here...thinkng of you".  I also made up "thanking you" and "loving you" to place inside for whatever occasion will fit.  I had planned to originally put "Just sittin' here..." on the front, but things change when making a card...you all know that!  I purposely tried to keep the extras to a minimum so as to not take away from Audry.  She really is cute.  

I won some stamp goodies from Kraftin' Kimmies blog hop Sunday!  Their link is over there on the right-- Krafty Girl Challenges.  Wow, what a DT!  KK also has a real cutie named LuLu.  And other new releases too, like Superheros, Tweets and Stitches.  I usually don't care for superheros, but these made me change my mind, they are that good.  Kimmie's new stamp sets just make you want to get your fingers all dirty!  Hmmm, I wonder which one I will get.  I will be happy with whichever one they decide to send!  

Without further ado (I think I wrote that same phrase last night), I will say my good nights/good-days to ya all (Okie talk).  See you around the block!  Or would that be blog?
Manderly

Monday, February 20, 2012

Part 2 of Dolphins, Giraffes and Serenity, hmmmmm

Hi again!
Okay, on to the next part of Dolphins, Giraffes and Serenity.  Having taken care of the dolphin part (please see below), what do giraffes and serenity have in common?  Well, Tami at Gingerloft created several new fantastic stamps to give away for a live event last Sunday at CDAC , Crafter's Digital Art Community (I think that is what the initials stand for...I'm close!).  She needed a card showing her new release of Giraffe and Serenity.  It just happened to be my folks 61st anniversary, so as you shall see, I decided to combine the images.  Here you go:

Ta Da...Giraffe and Serenity!  Of course there has to be a story behind this card also.  Clearly Gingerloft's new Serenity image, used as a background, is very, well, serene.  Oh, the word is right up there in the left corner!  Silly me.  A very pretty image.  I had the idea to add the new Giraffe digi in front as if he is saying the word "Serenity" because when you open the card the sentiment shouts in large bold font, "YA RIGHT!!! (Below in smaller font it says Happy 61st Anniversary, Daddy & Momma.")  Not that they have had an un-serene marriage, after all they have been together for soooo long, but, well, you would have to know my Mom and Dad!  They will crack up when they receive this card.  It's late.  Oh, back to the card. I used the mask technique, adding a few clouds to the Serenity background image.  What is so cool about this image is that it can be used as a lake/ocean-type image or as dry ground.  Check out Serenity at Gingerloft and you will see what I mean.  I put Giraffe in front on sponge dots to lift him out.   I next crafted a fence out of some wood that peeled off an old box, gluing the whole fence together before gluing it to the card.  Then I just added some bright blue flowers that I colored with Copics and cut out, also using a few pop-out dots here and there, and cut a few pine trees for along the mountain.  I found those larger purplish paper flowers in my stash.  I think I got them in the mail.  I usually make my own flowers so it was a treat to be able to grab a few that were already made-almost!  All I had to do was add some purple ink to the edges, put a few together with a white brad and place!  Fast!  I could get use to this pre-made flower stuff real easy.  Although I enjoy making my own, too.  
I think that's it!  I hope you get a little chuckle out of the "Serenity-Ya Right" part of this card!  I can't wait for my folks to open it!  Okay, enough damage done for this evening.  I'm starting to wear down.  Can you tell?  I hope you have a real nice night/day.  I have one more card to post and will do so tomorrow.  Bet ya can't wait.  YA RIGHT!!!
Manderly
 

Dolphins, Giraffes and Serenity, hmmmmm

Hi Everyone!
I hope this finds you well.  If not, I hope you are on the mend.  I use to say, "It will be okay," but I don't say that anymore.  Sometimes things don't turn out "okay."  But, we usually make it through, hopefully stronger.  Anyway, whatever is going on with you, I hope you have some of those "little bright moments" come to your day, so as to give you little glimpses of hope and peace.

Oh dear, started out off track....again.  I sure seem to do that quite often!  Down to business--What do Dolphins, Giraffes and Serenity have in common?  You shall see!  First, the dolphins- a card for Gingerloft's new challenge, It's a Zoo!  Ewwww, sounds so fun!  It's a Zoo challenge runs until March 3rd.  This card is also for Joy, my sister-in-law.  It's her 40th birthday.  I'm sure she will appreciate that I am letting you all know!  Happy Birthday, Joy!  So, without further ado, here is my rendition of Gingerloft's Dolphin Silhouettes:

Here is a close-up of the sentiments:
See the cute little Gingerloft Bee?  I have a card crafter's dilemma story.  This is an easel card,..I guess!  Well, it was supposed to be but now the bottom portion is filled with 10 pennies to make the card stand up.  Yep, you guessed it!  As I was scoring to make an easel card, I scored wrong, thus came out the black waxed cord tied to sea shell beads with the "easel" portion folded backwards, full of pennies!  Sometimes a mistake leads to the necessity of an idea and even to a nicer card, which I think is the case with this one.  I hope you think so!  Other than that, the background was masked and sponged with Colorbox pigment ink; the mask just torn paper which I spread slightly apart after putting in my colors, to then add the black line.  Joy loves the ocean so I think she will like these embossed playful ones from Gingerloft.  By the way, a hair dryer works to apply heat for embossing, although the paper has a tendency to be blown about!  Oh, the woes of a card maker!  

Having seen how long (winded) this post is, I think I will do this in two parts, sooooo this is The End of Part 1.  Please continue on to Part 2 of Dolphins, Giraffes and Serenity, hmmmmm....see you in a sec!
Manderly


Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Stamping Boutique

Hi!
News Flash: I made Top 3 at The Stamping Boutique!  I had to share this with someone!  My jaw hit the floor-flabbergasted, when I saw Love is in the Air, right there on Stamping Boutique's page!  Wow, thank you Stamping Boutique!  Their link is right over there on the left side-bar.

I will be posting 2 new cards on Monday for Gingerloft.  Come and enter our current challenge, Love is in the Air.  It's open until Saturday.  Gingerloft's next challenge starts Monday the 20th.  The theme is Spring.   Also, Tami has created some wonderful, new digis that will be released soon, along with new freebies.  Fun! Have you heard of CDAC?  It is a community of crafters.  Gingerloft will be there on Sunday, the 19th, giving away freebies and prizes. Check CDAC out and on Sunday follow Gingerloft's link and have some fun! http://priscillastyles.ning.com/group/gingerloft?xg_source=activity#..

Thank you Lucia and Marie for becoming followers.  You both are very talented, Ladies.  It's so nice to have you as a followers.  And as new friends, I hope.

That's it for today.  Short and sweet?  Well, kinda.  Talk to you soon, friends.

Manderly
xxxooo

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Giving a grateful SHOUT OUT!

Hello,
I want to give a huge shout out to the new (and old :-)) followers of my blog-THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!  You know, there are so many talented people out there.  I mean sooo super talented, that I often wonder why I would receive any notice at all!  I am quite honored that you would want to follow me, look at what I have made and just maybe like it!  Wow!  What a great feeling!  I very much appreciate you.

I have been thinking (my husband would say that was my first mistake!), I guess it would be reminding, that I make cards because I love to make them.  I love the people I make them for and they in turn love getting a little extra attention.  They feel special.  (Having a follower is like that-makes ya feel a little special!)  I have a feeling that others just might make cards for the very same reasons I do-we love to make things, especially cards and then we love to share them.  We don't hoard them or put them away in a box!  I'm not quite sure if there is a point to this part of my post, except to say that in the end, I believe that even if not the best of card makers, it’s the making and giving, and the encouraging of one another that counts the most.  I need those super talented ones though- they inspire and teach.  But I bet it’s their love of crafting, the giving, and the encouraging of others that is most important to them, too.  It's these things that bind us together.  In the end, I think that’s what counts.  So, thank you, Friend.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Nominations for Liebster Award

Hello Everyone!
I went searching for whom I thought should receive the Liebster Award and I was so surprised at how many wonderfully creative bloggers there are that have less than 200 followers.  What I mean is, I would come upon a site and think to myself, "They must be very popular.  Their cards are sooo good."  Then I would look at the follower numbers and be so surprised when I would see that they had less than 200 followers!   I believe the artists I have chosen are wonderfully talented and deserving of recognition.  Please go and visit their sites. I think you will be as pleased as I.  My nominees are:
I hope you are crafting to your heart's content!
Manderly
xxxooo

P.S. Most of the sites I have chosen have less than 100 followers!





    Nominees,
    Please follow the guidelines below when accepting your Liebster Blog Award.  Congratulations! I believe with my whole heart that you deserve this recognition!

    When one accepts the award they agree to:
    • Thank the person who gave them the award and link back to that person’s blog
    • Copy and paste the award to their blog (I linked my award to the one who gave it to me)
    • Reveal the next 5 blogs they have chosen to receive the award, commenting on their blog to break the happy news!
    • And lastly, hope the artists nominated will do the above and keep the award going by accepting and awarding “The Liebster Blog Award” to 5 special bloggers that they too would like to honor.

    Monday, February 6, 2012

    First Design Team and an Award!

    Hi again!
    I want to share some exciting news- Gingerloft has graciously asked me to be on their Design Team!  I am flabbergasted!  Honored!  Happy!  Excited!  You name anything good, and that is what I am right now.  Yea!  Go Team Gingerloft!  I am looking forward to getting to know Tami and working with the other team members.

    My second exciting news is that I have been selected by Kenzie at Krafty Hugzz to recieve the LIEBSTER AWARD! Quick side-step- Kenzie's link is over on the right sidebar-cute, cute site.  She is a very unique person- please check out her blog.  You will be pleasantly surprised.  Back to the Liebster Award- it is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and passed from Blogger to Blogger, each hand picked by the previous recipient.  This award is not given lightly and takes much thought as to who will receive it.  There is a history to the Liebster Blog Award- it originated in Germany and means dearest or beloved, and Liebe is the word for love.  When one accepts the award they agree to:
    • Thank the person who gave them the award and link back to that person’s blog
    • Copy and paste the award to their blog
    • Reveal the 5 blogs they have chosen to award, commenting on their blog to break the news!
    • And lastly, hope those people nominated will do the above and keep the award going by accepting and awarding “The Liebster Blog Award” to 5 special bloggers of note that they too would like to honor.
    I will be posting my award nominations very soon.  I want to take my time in picking small creative bloggers that deserve notice and such a privledge as the Liebster Award.

    Oh, oh, I almost forgot.  I mentioned it in my last post but this added to the excitement of my weekend so I will tell you again that Chrissy on Make it Monday chose to spotlight my Patchwork Angel card and blog!  I am so delighted.

    Well, it's been an exciting weekend for me.  I can tell you, I was so overwhelmed with joy yesterday, and a lot nervous too! Overwhelmed from such wonderful news swirling and swirling in my head!  The news of being asked and accepting to be on Gingerlofts Design Team, receiving the Liebster Award and spotlighted by Chrissy at Make it Monday.  I am truly blessed.  I hope your day is blessed too!  Super blessed.  Good things do happen.
    Manderly
    xxxooo


    Love is in the Air!

    Here is my card for the Gingerloft Guest Designer spot.  The theme-Love is in the Air!


    All those tiny hearts should tell someone I love them...like Gingerloft and the opportunity to be a guest designer!  Thank you! The heart balloon and cloud images are from Gingerloft.  Check out their new digis.  You'll find lots of great ones to create with, variety and some freebies too!  (I believe the sun was a freebie from Paper Smooches and I labeled the tree digi "LDS" but I don't remember now what the initials stood for :-(  I was trying to be so organized too!  The butterfly came from an embroidery site).

    I have to tell you a quick silly story in making this card...I cut apart each section of the balloon and resewed them together.  Now why did I do that?  I realized after I was done and had a few needle holes in my fingers, that I could have just kept the image whole, faux sewn the pieces and received the same effect.  You would have laughed to watch me so the small side pieces on and have them line up correctly.  Silly, silly me!  Heart Balloon is a great image to work with because there are so many ways you can use it:  patchwork and pieced as I did, as a background image, elegant, blinged, country, vintage, just to name a few. possibilities.  Try it out!

    You know, I didn't realize how hard it is to work with RED until this card! My hat is off to those whose creations I have seen, like the ones at Chrissy's Cardland.  Just take a look at Molly and Sam and her Cute as a Bug in a Rug cards!  I have to give a huge thanks to Chrissy also for mentioning me at Make It Monday!!!  I was quite surprised and very pleased!  Thank you Chrissy!  You are the best!  And I am looking forward to the "bits and bobs' box she is making up to send me that will have different shapes cut from her own lil' ol' cuttlebug!  It is so wonderful to have blog friends that help each other.  I really, really like how we treat each other-we help one another to create, to be and do our best and also be a friend.  Wow!

    I hope Love is in the Air for you today!
    Manderly
    xxxooo

    I am joining in the following challenges:
    Make it Monday- Anything Goes...always!
    Sassy Studio Designs- Valentine Cards
    Party Time Tuesdays- #53 Anything Goes!
    The Stamping Boutique - #25 Valentine's
    Truly Scrumptious - Love and Hearts
    Digital Tuesday- Use Red and/or Pink
    Ditzy-craftymess- Anything Goes (In "other" words; this is their first challenge and I think a site to keep one's eye on!)
    Crafty Ribbons- For the Boys/Men (I think my card can be given to a man with a sentiment inside of "Fly me Away" or "Your full of Hot Air but I love you!" lol!)
    Sassy Cheryl's- Be My Valentine
    Dream Valley- Valentine
    Lollipop Crafts- Valentine's Day Card
    My Craft Spot- Valentines!

    I keep seeing challenges for hearts (ummm, I think it's close to Valentine's Day...duh!  So I figure I will put cutting those tiny hearts to good use and enter some more challenges.  The following challenges I am entering are really cool sites!
    Stamp With Fun- #146 Love (Liebe!)
    Stamps & Fun- #85 Hearts
    Stamps are Us- Valentine/Love
    Oh- La- La Creations- Be my Valentine
    Crafty Boots- Valentines
    Creative Stamp Friends- #44 Valentine
    iCopic- #68 Hearts