Monday Montage #29

Sometimes I just BLINK and it's Monday again!! And Monday Montage, no less!! (We only do Monday Montage every two weeks ... and it comes in a SNAP!)!!! It's always the BEST to see what everyone has to share with their WIZARDLY creative minds!! Let's get rolling!

Yeah ... I did it again ... I kinda didn't know when to say "Stop!"  I just kept adding and adding and adding (and yeah ... I did it again ... Burlap Ribbon and Gold Sequin Trim ... can't get ENOUGH of those!)  I think I kinda went overboard on this one ... it's for my cousin's 8-year-old birthday.  The CTR stands for "Choose the Right" ... she got baptized and the "CTR" is kind of a "thing" to help remind them of who they are and the commitments they make when they are baptized ... a little corny, but I know she will like it!!

Stamps:  Work of Art, Something to Say
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Flowerpot DSP, Gold Foil Sheet
Ink:  Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry
Accessories:  1 1/4" Square Punch, Star Framelits, Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Large Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Burlap Ribbon, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (Star), Gold Metal Buttons, Linen Thread, Gold Sequin Trim, eCutter (Silhouette), Sewing Machine
SVG Download: CTR Shield (non-SU)

And one more little thing to share ... I had my Frightful Wreath Class last night (SOOOO much fun to get together with my stampin' friends and play ... and visit ... and laugh!!). In addition to making the funtastical wreaths, we made these little treat bags ... they just took a couple of minutes ... aren't they cute?? (And can ya SEE that little bit of white yarn shooting across the left side of the photo??? It's from my Halloween spiderweb on my porch ... yeah ... I'm THAT girl ... house is already decked out for the little spooks!)

Stamps: Merry Everything
Paper: Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Note Tag Punch, Basic Black Chevron Ribbon, Tangerine Tango/White Two-Tone Trim, Chevron Tag a Bag Gift Bags, Candy

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... Love them and all their talent!!

Fab Friday #51

It's FAB FRIDAY, people!!! (Isn't EVERY Friday FABULOUS???) I'm particularly excited about my creation this week. I seem to be having a love affair with all things natural ... burlap, natural ribbon, linen thread, wood elements ... so for the sketch challenge this week I kinda let myself go!

The little Autumn Wood Elements kinda have my heart right now ... they are so.stinkin.adorable!!! I am kind of at that spot where you LOVE them so much that you hate to actually USE them!!! (and I have TONS of little containers, packages and boxes FULL of lovely little embellishments I just couldn't BEAR to use lest I ran out of them!! Sigh ... it's kind of a problem at my house ...)

Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Color Me Autumn DSP, Motley Monsters DSP
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Bitty Banners Framelits, Autumn Wooden Elements, Linen Thread, Burlap Ribbon, Chevron Natural Ribbon, Gold Sequin Trim, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Don't let the stars intimidate you into actually having to USE a STAR shape ... once I was able to unhinge my brain from THAT, the rest came easily ...










Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

I ALSO used this card for my hostessing duties over on SCS ... today's Free for All Challenge was entitled "Au Naturale" ... I felt VERY inspired by natural fibers on this one!

TGIF!!! Woot!! WOOT!!!

MDS Blog Hop - What Are YOU Working On???

Happy MDS Blog Hop Day!! I have actually been working on a LOT of MDS stuff since last weekend ... and SADLY I can't share ANY of it!! (A wedding announcement that the bride hasn't even gotten the copies of from the printer yet, and a couple of blog headers for some friends who asked for help revamping their blogs ... which are ALSO not completed yet!)!! HOWEVER ... I have been wanting to "digitize" these photos ever since I had them taken a few weeks ago ...

So this became what I was working on!!! And ... I guess now you all KNOW I'm not 27 (I know, I know ... I HATE to have been disillusioning you all this time ...) Although these photos are of me with a 1965 Mustang (apparently LOTS of good things came outta 1965!! The BEST!), I drove a 1968 Mustang with original paint and interior when I was a senior in high school and freshman in college (it was actually my brother's car ... and he was serving a mission for the LDS Church at the time, so I kinda "borrowed" it while he was out of the country ... and can you BELIEVE he wanted it BACK when he returned??? How RUDE!)!!

I LOVED that car!! It was FUN and FAST ... and, quite honestly, I made that baby look GOOD!! (At least that is what my husband says ... we met while I was driving that car ... and he said he was already whooped on me, and seeing me in that car kinda CLINCHED the deal!!) "Mustang Wendy ... guess you better slow your Mustang down!! Ride, Wendy RIDE!!" Sorry ... couldn't help myself!!

MDS Downloads:  Be Yourself
Stamps - Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Distressed, Travel Journal (Pattern 10), Tickets and Tags (Tickets and Tags 4), Then and Now (1),
Embellishments - Candid Frames (film frame), Burlap Ribbon (flag and triangle), Mis-Stitched (espresso 6b), Number One (label 5), Family Fun Photobook (string and knot), Top Notch Woodcuts (best ever)
Punches - Flag Punch, Timeless Type Junior Numbers (6 & 5)
Fonts - Berlin Sans FB, Century Gothic, Clementine Sketch

Next up??? The Amazing Amber Meadows!

Halloweenin' with the Freaks!!

FREAKIN' HALLOWEEN!!! OhMyGosh!! I can't BELIEVE it's ALREADY time to start putting up Spooky decorations AND ... it's time to start making Halloween-y goodness. Did you just come from the freakin' amazing Melissa Davies??? SPOOKTACULAR, that girl!!

I decided to see HOW different I could make two cards with basically the SAME layout ... so that was the challenge I made for myself. In the end, I'm kinda happy with what I made!!

This first card features something close to my heart ... a WITCH!! (Long story short, my blog was named because my son believed me when I told him I was the Wicked Witch of the West when he was little because I had pointed out that we had the SAME initials ... WW ...) Eee-heee-heee-heeee!

I cut the witch out using my Silhouette eCutter and MDS. I used a fun Halloween-y sorta download from last year called "Halloween Hello" ... Love me a good ol' witchypoo!!

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Motley Monsters DSP
Ink: Cajun Craze (to sponge the moon)
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Tangerine Twist Thick Baker's Twine, Little Letters Framelits, Tiny Triangle Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Spiral Border Punch, eCutter
MDS Download: Halloween Hello (witch)

And here is the same sorta layout with a WHOLE different twist ... I made a frame using two of the Chalk Talk framelits (once inside the other). I also made a sorta "spiderweb" with the Gold Baker's Twine ... cool, eh??

Stamps: Freaky Friends, Project Life Holiday Cheer
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Motley Monsters DSP
Ink: Whisper White
Accessories: Chalk Talk Framelits, Wide Oval Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Sweet Sadie Washi Tape, Beach House Washi Tape, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Gold Baker's Twine, Gold Sequin Trim

Coming next??? My good friend and VERY talented crafty girl, Cindy Elam! Check it out!!

Monday Montage #28

Woot! WOOT!! Monday Montage is BACK AGAIN!! And THIS week I played a little bit with the "Calling All Heroes" photopolymer set ... and I KNOW I'm a little behind the crowd on this one!! Seems EVERYone has played with this set but ME!!! My BFF, Bree, gave it to me for my birthday!! How AWESOME is THAT???

My little cousin, Josh, turns SIX this week. I couldn't think of ANYthing that little guys of SIX like as much or MORE than they like their super heroes!! When my boys were little, it was POWER RANGERS, baby!!! They were OBSESSED, I tell ya!! It's kind of a fun phase ... BUT I hafta admit even I was FLOORED when I showed up to parent/teacher conferences only to discover that the teacher thought that my oldest son, Devan, went by the name "Tommy" (which is what HE told her!) ... all of his folders and homework said "Tommy" on them ... Tommy was the green Power Ranger ... yeah, Devan was DEFINITELY having an identity crisis!! The teacher and I laughed and laughed about that one ... and she assured me that he would definitely NOT be getting called Tommy in class any more (I saved the green homework folder that said "Tommy" in big bold letters on the front ... STILL makes me giggle!)!

Stamps:  Calling All Heroes
Paper:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red, Pacific Point
Accessories:  1 3/8" Square Punch, What's Up Punch

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... SOOO much talent with these two ladies!!!

Frightful Wreath Class!!

BOOO!!! Who's WITH ME??? I would LOVE to have y'all join me for an evening of creativity, friends, food and FUN!!!

Fab Friday #50

Can you BELIEVE it???? Fab Friday is turning 50 today!!! I am happy to have been involved with this awesome challenge team since the beginning (two years ago!) ... and I think I have only missed playing along with THREE of these challenges up until now!! I am ALWAYS inspired by our sketches and color challenges and what not only my fellow team members come up with, but also with the beautiful creations made by our friends and Fab Friday Challenge participants! SOOOO much fun!

This week we are celebrating with a little bit of gold ... or a LOT!! Our color challenge is gold and white (and another neutral color if ya need one!)!! I threw in a little Crumb Cake ... 'cause you can NEVER have too much Crumb Cake (and if SOME of you are confused as to whether I am talking about the COLOR or the FOOD ... I'll just leave it up to YOU to decide if I'm talking about one or the other ... or BOTH!)!

Made this card up for my brother and sister in law who are celebrating their anniversary this week ... so blessed to have them in my family AND to be able to include them amongst our best friends as well!

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Gold Encore
Accessories:  Fun Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits, Linen Thread, Gold Embossing Powder, Gold Sequin Trim

Purdy colors, right??? Plain and simple and elegant ...







Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Happy Friday and have a FANTASTIC weekend!!

MDS Blog Hop - What Are YOU Printing???

Welcome to the MDS Blog Hop, my friends!! To be honest, I am STILL trying to get myself back to "normal" since returning from my Grand Adventure to Disneyland. It seems I have been running like a frog on a hot rock since I got back!! Why IS it that it takes longer to get OVER a vacation than it does to actually TAKE one??? I'd really like to know ...

This week we are featuring projects that we have either had printed or PLAN to have printed that we have created in MDS. Since actually having a printed project DONE and in my HANDS to show you would have actually taken some foresight and PLANNING (neither of which I seem to have been able to wrap my brain around!), I am sharing something that I would like to have printed and framed for my craft room ... I am SO proud of myself for having trained to a point where I can actually FINISH a half marathon. And going to Disneyland and doing one for my birthday with my BFF??? The BEST!!!

I totally SWIPED the idea for the "stitched Mickey" from Bree (Bree Renwick - aka craft-somniamomma!). I thought it was so CUTE on the layout that SHE did from our Disney Adventure that I could NOT help myself!!

MDS Downloads:  Be Yourself
Stamps - NONE
Embellishments - Be Yourself (Color Wash 1 & 2, Frame 1), All Time Fave (Film), Simple Stitches (Circle 4)
Punches - NONE
Fonts - Thirsty Script, Waltograph

Next up??? Amber Meadows!! Her postcards are DARLING, ADORABLE and INSPIRING!!

High Five!!

Well, DANG!! Where on EARTH did THIS week go???? After the super-amazing-whirlwind-fun long weekend I had last week with my bestie, Bree Renwick, at Disneyland for my birthday AND to run the Disneyland Half Marathon, I have STRUGGLING to get back to SOME sort of NORMAL!!! (WHAT IS that, really???) I'll get back to our adventures in a minute ...

First off, however, I have been DYING to share this uber-large card with y'all. I made this card as a "thank you" for Bonnie Oscarson. She is the General Young Womens President for the LDS Church. We had the blessing of having her come and speak with our girls up at camp in July. She was AMAZING!!! (and I HAD to drag out my "old-but-not-forgotten" retired "I'm Here" stamp set!! Soooo glad I haven't gotten rid of this!) She taught the girls all about the importance of "high fives" ... the card is 8"x8" ...

See the inside? I was really happy that we got the girls' signatures to fit just PERFECTLY on the strip of cardstock I was carrying around camp as I chased each of them down to sign it!

Here are the "high fives" ... goals that Sister Oscarson wanted the girls to think about each time they saw/participated in a "high five" with someone ...

I made this "high five" using MDS and my beloved Silhouette eCutter. I had to manipulate the arrow a bit. Since this particular image is an embellishment, the arrow that was "behind" in when I imported it into the Silhouette software wasn't showing up. So, I improvised and used a DIFFERENT arrow (which I kinda had to crop and stretch out of shape to make it work). Not NEARLY as complicated as it sounds!! VERY happy with how this turned out!!

Stamps: I'm Here (retired), Alphabet Rotary, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Coastal Cabana, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Fresh Prints DSP (retired)
Ink:  Crumb Cake
Accessories: Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (Star), 1/4" Circle Punch, Banner Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Spiral Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Linen Thread, Gold Sequin Trim, Sewing Machine, eCutter (Silhouette)
MDS Downloads: This and That Retro Fresh (High Five), Hooray for Today (Arrow 2)
Font: Thirsty Script (cut out with Silhouette)

Now ... on to our Disneyland adventure!!! Yeah ... we dressed up!! How can you NOT dress up when it's a Disney event????

Here we are JUST after we crossed the finish line!! (I hafta admit, Bree looks MUCH better than I do!)! 13.1 miles of FUN stuff to see and do!! We even got to run through Angels Stadium with a HUGE crowd of cheering fans!! It.Was.Amazing!

And here we are all cleaned up ... had the BEST time with this woman on my birthday!! We came home TOTALLY wiped out from all the walking, running, eating and playing we did ... but it was WELL worth it!