All Dressed Up For the Dance

Hello there!

It's Fat Pages And Card With Attitude time!  We had a great turnout last fortnight with 3 sponsors!  So 3 winners of wonderful images.  Isn't that great to have more than one chance to win?  I think yes!

I am trying to think if I have something funny to share with you, but alas, not really.  Except for my pup U-Lee singing Happy Birthday with us to my Mom!  I am guessing our singing hurt his ears!  Wish you could have heard him.  He carries a good tune!  Oh how funny, our theme is Music/Anything Goes!  He fits right in with this challenge!  Good Boy, Ulee!

Back to Fat Pages- this fortnights sponsors are Meljen's and Beccy's Place.  Great sponsors and with such wonderful creative images.  The theme-- Anything Goes/Music.  You can't go wrong!  Here is my card made with a sweet fairy from Beccy's called Carnation Fairy.  Beccy has created a birth flower fairy for every month!  Carnation is the flower for January.  I guess I am a few months off!

 

I was thinking of our optional theme Music and the song "A white sport coat and a pink carnation....I'm all dressed up for the dance."  That's the only line I remember!  And it keeps swirling in my head!  Remember that song?  So a January flower fairy in August. 

Carnation Fairy is colored with Prisma pencils.  Lace, pearls,  and a traced butterfly cut from a music print sent by a friend.  For the carnations, I sponged them lightly with pink chalk and intertwined them with a crystal hearts strand.  Topped it off with a pink seam binding ribbon.  Most of the products are from WOC.  Looks very pretty live with the crystals.  Super fun image to color. 

Well, another Fat Page completed...only thing missing is you!  Hope to see what you create this fortnight!  Check out the other DT member creations too.  You are sure to be inspired.  And Fat Pages doesn't add any calories!

Manderly
xxxooo 

I am entering into the following challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday's- Friendship (must have a fairy or butterfly!)

The Larakins' Drop By!

Good day, Friends!

The Larakins?  Well, they are fun and cute little visitors!  Let me show you:

 Aren't they the sweetest?  You can win the Larakins, or another image of your choice, by entering into this fortnights challenge at A and T Emerald Fairies!   The theme is Punches/Dies.  We also have the A and T Challenge still running, with an Anything Goes theme, so you can enter both challenges!  A and T also has a store with lots of super images, and lots of great freebies for you to use, too!  So, 2 challenge blogs and 2 stores to pick images from, and a Design Team on both blogs that is out of this world! Literally!  Fairies are so, so fun!  We would love to see what you create with them but if you don't have an EFG image, or an image by Anita at A and T, that's alright.  Grab a freebie or use an image you have and share your creation with us.  We love seeing what you make!  And you just might win a Larakin of your own!

The Larakins were colored with Prisma pencils, sprayed with hairspray and fussy cut.  They are hanging from a bird die cut sent from my bestest friend.  The clouds, fence and grass are also die cuts sent as a gift!  The flowers are from WOC.  All placed on blue card stock, then a checkered blue and green dp, with kraft as the card.  The inside has a panal of blue card stock and scalloped checkered top and bottom strips.  I think in the upper right corner I will add a small tag that says "Dropping by to say...", and then on the inside, "have a very Happy Birthday"!    And I think the Larakin's need a butterfly to play with.  Then they will be ready to send off!   

That's it from me today.  As always, wishing you those bright spots in your day.  We all need one or two, don't we?  Some of us three or four.

Manderly

xxxooo

Whatever!

Well, well, Sunday morning.  Hello!  Sunday- that means it's time for another OSAAT (One Stitch At A Time) Challenge!  My very first as a Design Team member! I am super excited to be on this fantastic team with such talent.  You'll see what I mean when you get to the challenge blog and check out their creations!  Out of this world!

OSAAT is a weekly challenge although I will only be doing a project for them every other Sunday.  Be sure to check us out every week though, as there are great prizes to be had and always a fun theme to follow!  This week our sponsor is:

Joanna Sheen 

Challenge #127's theme is - Back to School!  Whatever Back to School is to you, create it and submit your project.  If you use a Stitchy Bear image or product, you have a chance at winning from this fantastic sponsor.  Don't despair if you can't use a Stitchy Bear image this go- you can use any digital image and have a chance at winning from the Stitchy Bear Store!

There are so many great images by many of your favorite artists right there in one store!  So Fab!  Go take a look around.  One stop shopping!

Here is my Back to School card:

Guess what her name is?  Yep, it's WHATEVER!  Doesn't she just look like she is saying Whatever?  No words needed really!  She was created by Stitchy and you can get her in the Stitchy Bear Store.  Miss Whatever is colored with Prisma pencils, pop-dotted onto green card stock that I rubbed with a little row of houses.  Added a twine bow and set her atop some books I drew, with one in her hand.  Can't you just picture the attitude?  The rub-on stickers, twine, butterfly and paper are all some of those gifts I talked about last post.  So, so thankful to have these things to work with!

I think that's it for today!  I'll be back soon.  A few busy days ahead.  If I had to do a poll, I would like to know-- do you make your craft projects better under pressure, with a deadline to meet or better when done at your leisure with no deadline?   Curious.  Bye bye for now!

Manderly

xxxooo

Fancy Dresser

Hallo again!

A quickie for you:

This card was for my nephew, Nicholas.  Now Nick is a very interesting young man.  Super intelligent, the sort that you wonder what he is thinking, but he is also a, well, how do I put it, ummm, quite a "different dresser" than most.  But funny, he makes it work!  When I received this steampunk freebie from Colleen at Making Our Mark, Nick came to mind.  So, here you go, Nick's 28th birthday card:

Nick spent many years in France for being so young.  First, going with his High School for 4 semesters, then later, after getting his credentials, teaching in Paris  That is why the Paris post card background.  The background came as a gift from a friend.  Other than that, everything is from Making Our Mark, colored with Prisma pencils and placed on birthday DP.

Speaking of gifts, I want to thank my 3 Amigos for sending me such fun and often necessary card making supplies!  The other day as I was fnishing up a card I thought to myself, "Self, if not for this embellishment, you wouldn't have a card!"  Just a thought.  Thank you again, my friends, for sending me such great things to use when card making.  And most of all, thank you for being my friends.

Bye for now!  See you in the morning with my very first DT card for One Stitch At A Time (OSAAT)!  

Manderly

xxxooo

Kicked off of Route 66 and a Birthday Picture!

Hello!

How are you?  I wish that when I ask "How Are You", that I could have an answer!   Being on a Design Team, I see many of your creations each week and I often wonder...how is this person?  Or say to mayself...my goodness, she/he is so creative!  But the computer gets in the way of really knowing someone yet at the same time, we wouldn't have the opportunity to meet each other if not for it!  Quite a conundrum, huh?  Being silly again so I better get on to the the good stuff.  Well, I hope it's good stuff!

Here is my hubby's birthday picture.  The image is called Music Man Joey by Anne Fenton.  I believe I picked up the image as a freebie from the Outlawz site.  Anne is so very talented.  I placed Joey on a background scene by Spyder.  Another freebie from a super talented lady.  Soyder has the greatest freebies on Wednesdays and often has a game going to find the image.  Super fun and well worth it!

Joey is colored with Prisma Pencils then cut out.  Pop dotted him onto the background, put him a frame, and voila!  Hubby's Birthday Gift!  I chose this image because it reminded me of the stories I hear my hubby tell of when he was a small boy.  He comes from a very musical family.  Old style musical.  You know, the kind where the whole family sat around on a Saturday night playing their guitars and singing.  My hubby's Dad could even play the "harp", (harmonica) while playing the guitar!  I'm told he sounded just like Merle Haggard.  I so wish I was there.  Anyway, this is how I have my hubby pictured in my mind of when he was a kid.  I hope you like him.

And even though I can't hear you or even see you when you read this, I DO pray that whatever is going on in your life, that you find peace and wisdom.  And that you can sit and create something for someone else to see.  It really will brighten their day, too.  You brighten mine.  Thank you to my new followers!  I am always so pleasantly surprised!  I scan over your picture and see your names.  As soon as I catch up from the Route 66 trip, I plan on visiting each of your sites.  I just know you have beautiful creations and parts of your life to share! 

Manderly

xxxooo

 

(PS.  The pic is a little distorted because I shot it with the glass already in place...I think that is a no-no!)

Sisters

Hi there!

I had this ready yesterday for you but forgot to get it out of drafts!  Funny, I have been doing things like this lately.  Found a text I had written a week ago confirming plans with  friends while here in California and forgot to hit the send button!  Have to laugh at myself, right?  So, before I forget, I better hit the publish button and get this out to you!

Challenge 18 winners are posted for ATC's and Cards with Attiitude.  It would be nice to hop on over there and check out our the talented Design Team!  And if you entered your card in our sister challenge, here is the link for you-  Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude Challenge.  We had great sponsors for those challenges and like we try to do for you, fantastic sponsors for Challenge 19 too- Delicious Doodles at Fat Pages, and Sassy Studio Designs and LEJ Designs for the ATC challenge.  Remember, you can enter both of our challenges with your same card.  This go, both challenges are Anything Goes!  But get ready, we have some fun themes coming soon!

Being on holiday, I only did one project this past fortnight, and the image is Pocahontas Honey from Sassy Studios.   Their images are so fun to color.  They have quite a series of Honey's depicting real life and fairy book themes.  Super fun to work with.  

I have to ask you...have you ever had a project almost finished and messed up on something important that you just couldn't fix or hide with a flower?  Well, that's what happened with Pocahontas here!  Tore the whole thing up and in the trash bin it went.  Seems funny to me that when I have to, I can get a card done pretty fast!  Tore it up Wednesday late afternoon and had another made by Thursday afternoon!  Proved to myself at least that it can be done!  Without further ado, let's unveil Pocahontas Honey, (see if you can spell this correctly without cheating...I'd like to know if you spelled it right...serious!):

Because I was limited on time, I chose a super easy mounting.  To make a topper like this one, cut a piece of dark brown card stock your desired size.  Mount on turquoise, then pop-dot onto kraft.  Cut a piece of suede to fit along the bottom.  I put one of the Native American Indian symbols for sisters in the corner with a brown Prisma pencil, and added a bugle bead do-dad my sis made in the other corner.  Took 4 feathers and glued them onto the card stock then pop-dotted Pocahontas on top.  She was  colored with Prisma pencils.    Added another beaded do-dad, in the upper right corner.  I think it is an earring my sis started to make.  She does beautiful bead work.  Oh yes, I added seed beads along Poca's waist, bottom of her dress and around her neck.  And earrings.  That's it!  Pretty simple, huh?  I love the color combination.  I hope you like her.  After the picture was taken, Pocahontas went to my sis who loves and collects anything Native American! 

That's it from me!  I'll see you tomorrow or the next with hubby's birthday card.  Actually his birthday is today but he went on a small camp trip with our nephew so I have an extra day to finish his card.  Whew!  

Thank you so much to new followers.  Feels very nice that you would add me to your blogs list!  I would love to hear from any of you. You are such a special bunch.   That's the truth!

Manderly

xxxooo

Kicks on Route 66!

Hi!

Route 66 from Oklahoma all the way to Sunny California!  It's called I-40 now, but one can take many little side tracks off the freeway to stay on the original 2 lane historic Route 66.  Only problem now is that I can't get that song out of my head- Get Your Kicks on Route 66!  We didn't do much kicking on the way.  It is mostly a desolate desert except when going through the mountains that take one to the Grand Canyon.  Over 1,500 miles from where we live to California.  An hour and a half from our house to Route 66....don't get off and you will find me!  We will be heading home sometime the 2nd week of August.  I'm glad we have a big neighbor down the way, over the creek, named Earl.  He keeps his shotgun in his truck.  Good ol' Boy you would call him.  Great neighbor!  I am missing home but loving to see my family and especially my son.  It has been a full year!  EWWWW (a delighted squeal) I squeezed him so hard and even got a lip kiss from him!  Pretty good from a 38 year old grown man.  But he loves his Momma.  And I sure love him.  We lost his 22 year old sister sometime back.  My son is extra special to me, as I am sure yours are to you, too.  Sons are great!  Daughter's are great!

Oh, oh, oh!  Almost forgot!  Got featured on Sassy Saturday's Spotlight!  Doesn't that name just get you?  Sassy Saturday's Spotlight is _________ (fill in your name)!  For Dorothy, Follow the Yellow Brick Road.  Very exciting.  A special badge even!  Thank you Mary, at Sassy Studios!

Not sure if we will take Route 66 or follow the Yellow Brick Road home, but we will get there!  I'll be back on Friday for an ATC and Card's with Attitude post and hopefully a birthday card for my hubby.  Wouldn't it be just awful to make cards all year and not have one for my hubby?  Does seem to happen that way sometimes.  Bad me.

Bye for now, ya all.  I am hoping you enjoy a little something this week.  Life is tough for many of us so I really do hope for a bright spot for you.  Talk soon!

Manderly

xxxooo

Coral Mermaid at the Beach

Hi again!

I'll keep this one short since I yapped so much on my last post!  Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude Challenge 17 has it's 2 sponsored digi winners and Top 3 posted.  Did you notice that- 2 sponsors, 2 winners!  And Top 3 to boot!  What a challenge site!

We also have our new challenge ready for you to start making your cards for- Challenge 18, Anything Goes, sponsored by Limited Runs!  Pretty good, huh?  Limited Runs has fantastic digis for you to create with.  I made up Coral Mermaid.  Isn't she cute?  So, so fun to color and make into a card!  Here she is:

To make Coral, I colored her with Prisma Pencils, cut her out, added pearls (WOC) and gems, then pop-dotted her onto a die-cut round colored with a sand castle background from free coloring pages.  Added this to a lacy square covered with pink paisley DP then pop-dotted all onto a very dark green easel card, which has the inside covered with the same pink paisley DP.  Colored up some sea shells too and added Glossy Accents to them and Coral's lips.  Glued the sea shells around and added a bow, stamped 3-d dragonflies and hung a sea shell from the corner.  I glittered different colors here and there- green strips in Coral's hair, clear on her freckles, and light pink sprinkles on her tail, the dragonflies, around the Happy sentiment, and a few dashes here and there.  Cut out a wave, also from free coloring pages, adhered and bent the top upward for the easel to rest against.  Inside is a round Happy Birthday sentiment.  Pretty simple and so, so fun to make.  Just loved coloring Coral Mermaid!  I hope you like her, too.

Question-have any of you ever had a reaction to glitter?  You know how glitter never stays where you put it, no matter what you do?  Well, I ended up with spots of glitter on my arms, face, and legs, lol, and I started feeling like I was being cut with tiny scalpels!  Owwww, it hurt!  Tried to wipe it off, then tried a wet rag, then the sink, then finally the shower to get it all off of me and stop hurting.  It was awful!  Picked up some paper yesterday that had some of the glitter on it, got a little on myself, and the reaction started all over again! I had never used this particular glitter before.  It is the very fine type.  Never had this happen when using glitter!  

Back to the good stuff. Head on over to Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude, check out my talented teamie's creations, and enter yours!  We love seeing what you come up with!

Manderly

xxxooo

A note from me:  

A special, special thank you to my new followers.  Wow, I am amazed and very thankful that you like what I make.  I try to visit your blogs also and I have to say, you are all very, very talented.  I hope to see more of what you make, too!

I have been accepted to a new Design Team!  One Stitch at a Time or OSAAT for short!  Wonderful challenge blog.  I am very honored to have been chosen by them and given the opportunity to work with such a talented bunch.  OSAAT's challenges run weekly but I will be posting my creations every other week on Sunday mornings.  I start mid August.  If you get a chance, stop by OSAAT.  I think you will like it there, too!

Hoping you have a wonderful weekend and can craft all you want.  No matter what is going on, seems we can get lost and away from it all when our heads are buried in paper!  

M

xxxooo

Coral is in the following challenges:
The Crafty Bloggers Network- # 1 Anything Goes 
Whoopsi Daisy- Make your own embellishments
The Ribbon Reel- #32 Photo Inspiration/Sweet Sparkles
Incy Wincy- Summertime
Love to Create- Photo Inspiration