Sir Chester

Sir Chester
Sir Chester

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Oops - Forgot to post the Friday Freebie!!




I totally forgot to post the cute little snail, the Sew Many Cards Friday Freebie this week. He is sending out a Friendship card. Looking for a friend, a companion, another card maker (okay maybe not a cardmaker).

Maybe he could be friends with the little mouse from Phindy's Place. That strawberry and chocolate cake looks delicious. There is more than enough to share.

If you were looking for the Sew Many Cards Blog Hop just scroll down. It is just a short way down.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Prairie Fairy & Copic Colour Challenges



A moose on a Valentine? It works. I had fun with this image. He has such a nice face. "I Love You the Moost" is on the signpost. "To Boldly Go Forward......Together" So this doesn't have to be a Valentine, it can be a love note at any time. I used paper from Great Outdoors Paper Pizazz, moose brads from Paper Wishes and the moose digi from Prairie Fairy.
Triple Decker ice cream cone - the kind the drips all over before you can eat it, unless you like brain freeze. But we order them and enjoy them anyways. The copic colours this week were skin white (vanilla ice cream on top) and sand (the lighter color on the cone) the 3rd color was flesh and I didn't have that one. I used sugared almonds pink for the strawberry ice cream and caribe cocoa for the chocolate. With the snow coming down, a summer scene was so nice. The cone digi is also from Prairie Fairy.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Sew Many Layouts Challenges - Upcoming Blog Hop



As I said about a month ago, we had all 3 grandsons together for Christmas. The February Sketch Challenge Layout was the perfect design to show off 4 pics of the boys playing with their cars. They had spiral track and another track that launched a mini plane when the car went past. They had the big boys: Daddy & Uncle Mike (Aunt Cate's boyfriend) on the floor with them. Even Grandpa isn't too "old" to play with cars.

The 2nd Sew Many Layouts Challenge asks us to use 8 punched circles. All of my circles have photos on them. Some are free standing and some "magnify" a part of a larger photo. Max & Mason went to Fossil Ridge which is near Dallas shortly before Christmas. It is a B&B type place from the way it was described to me. But the mini safari was the big attraction. They were the only people there that day so they got a private tour. There was quite a variety of animals. I didn't realize how large a giraffe's head was until I saw him nuzzling Mason. Lauren took some great photos to share with Papa and me (Gramma).

Next week - February 6-7 - will be the first Sew Many Layouts Blog Hop. Check back for more information. Prizes!!!

Now get out your photos, just a handful if you are intimidated by the pile and try a layout. The February Challenge Sketch look good to you?? Or the biweekly Sew Many Layouts Challenge? Do both! That's a few more photos taken care of. Have fun!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Sew Many Cards Blog Hop begins January 29


Welcome to the Sew Many Cards New Release Blog Hop!! We’re so glad you could join us this week for a chance to see Angela’s new releases and to win some great prizes!!

Our sponsors for February are: Wags N’ Whiskers and Simon Says Stamp! See badge links along the right side.

How would you like to win...........................
  • a $25 Gift Certificate to the Wags N’ Whiskers Store and a new release stamp from Wags N’ Whiskers?...then you need to visit each team member's blog and leave a comment about the new release pictured there. It is a journey with many stops, but well worth the trip, er hop.
  • a $10 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp and the entire line of Sew Many Cards new releases?… then we have a special challenge this week for you during our blog hop -> all the details are on the last stop


Kym B: You were at Kym Kreates

Mary S.: Purrfect Sentiments: You are here, now!!

Sarabeth – SMC LO Coordinator: On your way



If you lose your way or take a break, the list for the order is here at Sew Many Challenges:
Sew Many Challenges Blog

Enjoy the trip. Leave your comments, gather your ideas and just have fun. Join the Sew Many Challenges and the Sew Many Layouts Challenges. There are links to both on the right. Stretch your creativity. Relax, get inspired, create!

Paper Cutz Challenge - Masculine Bday Card - with Pink?


A masculine Birthday Card with Pink is the Paper Cutz Challenge for this week. Rock 'n Roll, guitars and party party party music is good for everyone. Pink balloons are in the mix of decorations. The technical sound systems have (or at least used to have - showing my age) the bars of color that went up and down with volume, bass, etc. The pink and gold and green pearls and crystal on the right are representative of those bars. "Sing & Dance....... It's your Party! It's your Birthday!!"

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

State of the Blog Address




Sir Chester decided it was time to give his first annual "State of the Blog" address. He also felt that he needed to get up close and personal, thus the new photo.

Sir Chester is very happy that we have 30 followers and hopes that the upcoming Sew Many Cards New Release Blog Hop and the Sew Many Layouts Blog Hop will bring us even more followers.

We are working towards opening an Etsy shop with handmade cards and cards made to order. If you like the digi from one card, but want a different sentiment, colors, etc. It can be done. Chester feels that we can be competitive with the Big Names. Coming from Kansas City (you know who we mean) that is saying something. If you don't know who we mean think about "Halls" Department Store and "Crown" Center - hint hint - got it now? Plus, each card is a little different. Have you ever gone to a Baby Shower, Birthday Party, Wedding and the card you so carefully selected has 3 clones in sight??

We realize that many of our followers already make their own cards, but some are strictly scrapbookers. You may also have friends that would like something different and could pass our name along. Keep watching Purrfect Sentiments Blog for updates. We are shooting for mid March in order to have Easter cards available along with Birthday, Graduation, Thinking of You (Get Well, Retirement, Sympathy) and even summer party invitations.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Two Entries


Phindy's Place Challenge is to create a birthday card using mainly brown & red. "Katie" is a Phindy digi. I used paper from Paper Pizazz

Paper Wishes (www.paperwishes.com click on contest tab) has a contest ending this weekend. At least the entries need to be in this weekend. Then Feb 1-5 is the voting. Consider checking it out and casting your vote. I have a second entry, but I'm not going to tell you which one that is.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Layout Challenge & Contest Reminders

Just a reminder to finish up your layout challenge and the January Layout Contest entries for Sew Many Cards. You may use any digi in your layouts, but if you use a Sew Many Cards digi then you get 2 entries for the prizes. Freebies are available. The links are:

www.papercraftplanet.com/group/sewmanycards Contest


www.sewmanylayouts.com Challenge

I know you have plenty of photos that need scrapping. The sun just came out after 2 days of rain by me. Time for a movie and plenty of scrapping stuff.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Mrs. Comfy Crafting


There is a part of me that wishes I had the guts to cut my hair that short and color it hot pink. I'd also like to be that thin and be able to play all day. Oh well. Mrs. Comfy Crafting is a new digi from Phindy's Place at Paper Craft Planet. She tends to have digis that are more detailed. This one was quite intimidating until I got started. Colored the dog (Chester & I still feel a kitty should have taken precedence over the dog, but we lost) and the cabinet then Mrs. Comfy's hair, table legs and gradually worked into the tinier places. The photo does not do the coloring justice. Think Hot Pink, Acid Green and Neon Yellow.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Friday Challenges




Fridays are busy days in the Challenge world. I can never remember if the order I upload the photos is the order they appear or if it is reversed. Bear with me.

Paper Cutz Challenge this week is to use a farm animal digi. I used Duncan Duck from Sew Many Cards and the horse from Squigglefly. The photo background is of the barn on my son's farm in Freeman MO. "Thanks you........(inside)for understanding." A card to acknowledge someone's help when you needed a hand, an ear or a favor.

The Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards is the Wheelbarrow of Hearts. The Friday Freebies are now available on the Challenge site (click on the badge in the right column). This is a simple, quick to color Valentine digi.

The SMC Challenge for this week is a color challenge - purple & white with a splash of black. Cosmo Cricket is the sponsor for this challenge and they have donated the prize. I chose deep purple and stark white to set off the black lettering "Thank You" for a card appropriate for male or female sender/receiver.

Next Friday will start another Blog Hop for Sew Many Cards so be sure to check in and join us! Participate in challenges and you'll be surprised how much talent you really have.

Don't forget about the SMC Layout Challenge also. It is a two week challenge that started on January 16th so you still have time to enter. I know you have photos from the holidays or even before that (I have some from last June!) that need to be scrapped. Get them out. Join the Layout Challenge!!

Feeling a bit better so back to school tomorrow.

Happy Scrapping!!

Green, Green cards



Two more challenge entries. Little Katie is a Phindy's Place digi. Her green dress is appropriate for St. Patrick's Day. Notice that Sir Chester is riding in her buggy. The digi is colored with Copic markers, background paper (Paper Pizazz), Gold accents (Dazzles)are from Paper Wishes and the shamrock brads were in my stash.

For the Copic Marker Wednesday Colour Challenge I used the Sew Many Cards digi of the boy with Cammi. The colors this week are smoky blue (pants, vest), rose (bucket) and lime green (bow, Cammi). The paper is from Paper Pizazz and the Birthday Dazzle is from Paper Wishes. The bee brad was in my stash and the iridescent flowers were also from Paper Wishes.

I am home sick today. Lost my voice yesterday at school. Coughing last night and then dizzy, nauseous this morning. Headache is still here. Decided that driving was not a good idea. I had left lesson plans just in case. I plan to sleep today and when awake to do some layouts. It is grey and rainy and yech outside. Good day to be in. Wish I had someone here to build a fire in the fireplace. That would be perfect. I do have my portable furry space heater (Sir Chester)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Still Hunting Challenges


Prairie Fairy Friday Challenge. This is my interpretation of the Week #2 sketch. The cat in the flower pot is a Prairie Fairy digi and the photo is (of course) of our CEO Sir Chester. The papers are from a Card Pack from Paper Wishes and the sentiment digi is from Squigglefly. The large brads were in the stash. "Hello" is a Dazzle from Paper Wishes. This is just a fun card. It is s "thinking of you" or birthday card for a cat lover. Just wanted to share.

Happy Birthday Poppa. We miss you.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Roaming the Challenges


Been checking out some other challenges (like I don't have enough to do)and found a challenge on Squigglefly to make a clean and simple card with blue. So this New Baby Boy card (inside: Welcome Little Man) seemed perfect. I used paper from Paper Pizazz, Teddy Bear ribbon from Michael's, silver heart brads, Blue metallic brad, silver "SMILE" tag and a digi from Squigglefly colored with Copic markers. Lots of fun. Simple. and BLUE.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Copic Color Challenge #47


This is the first time I've entered the Copic Color Challenge. The challenge colors were the grey, the acid green and one of the blues. The digistamp is from Squigglefly. The Prima Flowers, the leaf ribbon and the Dazzles border were purchased at Paper Wishes. "Cherish" is a Spare Parts product.
Remember to cherish your friends and family. They are the most important ones in your life.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Sew Many Cards FIRST LO Challenge


Today is the debut of the FIRST Sew Many Cards Layout Challenge. This will be a biweekly challenge. This is my interpretation of the challenge. You can find out all the details at www.sewmanychallenges.com or just click on the Hershey Badge in the right column.
I have so many photos to get caught up with - back to last July - and I've never been more than a week behind. Joining the Design Team for the Layout Challenges will help me get caught up AND have some new and interesting layouts.
Check it out, join us. NO Excuses for not scrapping.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Paper Cutz Challenge


The Paper Cutz Challenge this week is to help us forget about the cold and snow and think summer, beach, and all the warmth. Our family competes in the Lenexa BBQ Battle at the end of June each year. It is a 2 day, smoky, hot, fun time. Friday is set up with a giant party that night. There are usually about 175 teams + families and friends. We're lucky to have a spot alongside the pond with some large trees for shade. Mike cooks with help from Lauren, John, Cate and other assorted family members. Even the grandsons get in the act. I am one of the official taste testers. No cooking for me. Gave it up years ago. Sooooo I thought a BBQ invitation was a good card to make for this week. Show us what you can come up with.

Happy Birthday DH. 39 years old (again). Love you

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Sew Many Cards Challenge & Friday Freebie



The new challenge and the Friday Freebie can both be found at the new Sew Many Cards Challenge Site. We hope that by putting all challenges (cards, layouts) and the Friday Freebie in one place it will be easier for all you to find.

As always, Angela comes up with the perfect digis at just the perfect time. I loved all of the new releases last weekend. Oliver Owl is one of the them. He seemed perfect to go with the picture out my scrapbook room window of the cove during the snow days. I was quite content to stay in and scrap.

Squigglefly Challenge



This is my entry into the Squigglefly Challenge for this week. The challenge said "no cards". I love the "Old lady with the Cats" image and there are several other cats that go along with the one playing with yarn. The Paper Wishes Sara Surfaces Fry Box seemed just the right size for these images. The fry box could hold kitty treats or people treats. This was a fun project.

Paper Wishes Swaps Signups for February

February swaps for Paper Wishes Message Board are going up tonight and tomorrow. We are shaking things up a bit. I oversee the Papercrafting swap this month. The theme is "Sweet Treats & Flowers". You can make anything EXCEPT a card and you must use an element of Paper Piecing. Paper Wishes had a webisode earlier this week about paper piecing and double stick Dazzles. There were some free paper piecing patterns available. Other patterns can be found on the Internet or in magazines and books or even ready to cut out at your local scrapbook store. There will also be a card challenge and a scrapbook challenge. Some bonus challenges are also in the works. Check it out at www.forum.paperwishes.com

Monday, January 11, 2010

The winner of the Kitty with Heart digi is.....

The winner drawn from the 40 people who left comments on the post regarding the SMC blog hop is Sandra Baldwin aka Rose Petal from the UK. Sandra, you will be contacted soon most likely by Jeri about sending you your digistamp of the "kitty with heart". We hope you enjoy using it.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who visited some or all of the blogs during the blog hop. I know I have back tracked and looked at some of your blogs too. There are so many talented people out there. We hope you will enter some of the SMC challenges. The challenges will have their own link and be posted on Fridays. Also you will be able to pick up the Friday Freebie at the Challenge site starting this Friday, January 15th.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

One day Left on SMC Blog Hop


Reminder: The Blog Hop end at midnight EST January 11th (Monday night). About 40 visitors have come through Purrfect Sentiments and left a comment. If that is why you are here, leave your comment on the posting below this one.

Sir Chester decided that new year = new photo. He thought the new photo showed off his handsome face and athletic inclinations a bit better.

The card above was my entry to the Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge that ended last night. Angela (owner of Sew Many Cards) was the guest designer for that challenge. I used one of the new release images to complete the card. The theme was to make a card for a new baby or a new convert. The paper is from Paper Pizazz (Paper Wishes). I just love the fine pattern in the green stripes. Of course the digis are just awesome plus Sir Chester is partial to other felines. The crosses were cut from the newly released Cricut cartridge for Easter on some new gold metallic vinyl from Oh My Vinyl (at Oh My Crafts). Dazzles (bird, butterfly,Guardian Angel)add just a little extra.

Stay warm & safe.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sew Many Cards Blog Hop




It's time for the Blog Hop!! We have a new kitty in the neighborhood just in time for Valentine's Day. Remember to leave your comments at the bottom of the page.

Also this week's Friday Freebie is Toga bringing a couple of flowers to a friend. The Friday Freebie is available in the newsletter so if you aren't signed up yet, and you like these wonderful digis, then get signed up so you don't miss any of the Friday Freebies and other information about challenges and new releases and other important things.

You need to visit the blog of each of the design team members and leave a comment regarding the new release. Each blog will have one winner of the new release showcased there. Also, those that complete the entire hop, leaving their comments along the way, will have the opportunity to win a prize from Doodle Beans, this month's sponsor. Get all the details at your first stop. If clicking on the URL does not work, you may have to cut and paste the address to your browser. The blog has been a bit tempermental lately. Have FUN!!

SEW MANY CARDS NEW RELEASE BLOG HOP LINE UP

SEW MANY CARDS -- http://digital.sewmanycards.com
Amber H -- http://ambersantics.blogspot.com
Audrey E -- http://hippieaud.blogspot.com
Ceal P -- http://simplybeautifulcreations.blogspot.com
Cheri G -- http://creationsdecheri.blogspot.com
Dawnn S -- http://scrapingd.blogspot.com
Deanette W -- http://deanettesdelight.blogspot.com
Gloria M -- http://craftergm.blogspot.com/search/label/Digital
Jeanette C -- http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com
Jeri Moody -- http://craftyjsplace.blogspot.com
Jessica K -- http://mysanitydependsonstamping.blogspot.com/
Kim G -- http://kimsscrappyspace.blogspot.com
Kym B -- http://kymkreations.blogspot.com
Kym W -- http://nanaskeepsakes.blogspot.com
Maria L -- http://www.riacreations.blogspot.com/
Mary D -- http://marydemmons.blogspot.com
Mary S -- http://purrfectsentiments.blogspot.com
Melissa W -- http://melissasuewright.blogspot.com
Michele L -- http://enchantedstamper.blogspot.com
Patricia G -- http://patriciagrc98.blogspot.com/
Patricia St. M -- http://rubberstampingismygame.blogspot.com/
Sarabeth Burke -- http://scraphappie.blogspot.com
Sarah T -- http://auntbeespickles.blogspot.com/
Sherry L -- http://thepaperpalace21.blogspot.com
Suzanne K-- http://justlovestamping.blogspot.com
Tammy M -- http://createwhenican.blogspot.com
SEW MANY CARDS NING COMMUNITY -- http://sewmanycards.ning.com/group/sewmanyreleasespartyspot/forum/topics/january-new-release-blog-hop

Have fun and enjoy seeing all of the great new digis!!

Paper Cutz Challenge - 1st for 2010


The Paper Cutz Challenge is to use only Black/White/Red/Green. This Happy Birthday Car Card would be great for a little kid into toy cars or maybe someone turning 16 and getting their driver's license soon. I used the shaped card from Oriental Trading, The wheels & words were cut on the Cricut using Accent Essentials & Beyond Birthdays cartridges. I cut them out of Oh My Vinyl sticky backed vinyl in green and red. The background paper came from a mat pack, but the cover is off so I don't know brand. Red and green accents were added with Copic markers.

Make a New Year's resolution to try at least one challenge or swap a month. It's amazing how much you learn when you are trying to meet the requirements of activity.

Snow day + new stuff = Scrapbook Fun




Some pics of the snow around the lake house. I may need to scrapbook some of these. It is really quite pretty if you don't have to go out there. My car is buried.
I was productive last night and made the card to enter in the Copic Challenge on Paper Craft Planet. The digi is from "Cute Daisy Mae". The background paper is HOTP Paper Pizazz "Memories". The ribbon strip is "American Crafts" premium ribbon. Of course I had to add some Dazzles border, sentiments and hearts. I think Dazzles give a spark to almost any card.
Be sure to check in after midnight for the Sew Many Cards Blog Hop. See the banner above. Stay warm.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Life is Good!!

Got out of work early today and snow day tomorrow!!!! Got home and there were two 2 boxes of scrapping stuff. One from HSN and the other from Paper Wishes. Snow day + new scrapping stuff = FUN.

Check out the banner above with the Sew Many Cards Blog Hop link. Starts Friday. See the link for details. Angela has outdone herself with wonderful new release images. So many ideas just looking through them! Valentine's Day..... Spring weather..... Something for little boys...... New animals...... You just have to check it out!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Snow Day Tomorrow

Already got the call, mid afternoon that there is no school tomorrow. An extra day to Christmas break. I think we'll have to make it up in March or April, but that's ok. It is cold out there. Temps in mid teens. I'd rather stay curled up in the house surrounded by my scrapping stuff.

Stay warm

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Sew Many Cards Layout Challenges


Sew Many Cards will be starting a LO challenge every other week. Yours truly is on the design team. I will still be doing some (most) of the assignments for the main design team too. They heard about my backlog of photos....
Hope you will check in next week and take some of the layout challenges.
Also the blog hop for the release of the new digis will start on Jan 6th. You will have to visit all of the DT members sites and make a comment about the digi. There will be a winner at each site for that particular digi and for those that complete the full hop, one winner will be chosen for a bigger prize provided by our sponsor. Get the details next week.