South Dakota Rocks

I've had a few friends tell me that there is lots of stuff to do in SD. Boy were they ever right! We took a short family vacay and had a terrific time! We were only there for a few days but we could have stayed a couple of weeks and would not have had enough time to see and do it all.

We had to see Sturgis. My husband loved this motorcycle museum.

 Saw these buffalo at Custer State park.

The Crazy Horse Memorial-WOW! Amazing project!

Mount Rushmore National Memorial-very impressive.

Although the bear population in the Black Hills of SD were wiped out there is a drive-through wildlife park where they (as well as many other cool species) are thriving.

Another interest of my husband...planes. My cousin, who is retired from the Air Force, told me that many bases across the country have compiled planes of historical significance to that base and now have them on display, so of course we had to check out Ellsworth AF Base.

The Reptile Gardens was a huge attraction-I stayed away from the snake and prairie dog exhibits-we have enough of those at home. lol

We finished off our trip with a  ride on a restored steam locomotive. Very fun!

There was some glo in the dark mini golf, panning for gold, maze racing and cave exploration. No wonder I'm tired. Sure that's it...my age has nothing to do with it. I'm sticking to that story. lol

DYSU Challenge #78-Blue Sky and Clouds

It's time for a new challenge at Do You Stack Up. The challenge this week is to create a project inspired by blue skys and clouds. Just wait until you see some of the amazing takes on this theme by my talented fellow design team members-you will be blown away! Come on over to DYSU and join the fun!

Our sponsors this week are-

Crafty Sentiments - http://craftysentimentsdesigns.co.uk/

* Winner's Choice of 4 Images

The Paper Shelter - http://www.thepapershelter.com/

* $20 Gift Certificate

Gecko Galz - http://www.geckogalz.com/

* Entire July Collection (The Digital Paper Pack "Great Adventures", 6 different collage sets including Vintage Travels & Wild West dominos, and a digital stamp set "Mermaids Garden" a prize pack worth $30)

The soft colors of the inspiration pic helped me decide to try using a pastel color scheme which is very unusual for me. I tend to gravitate to heavily saturated colors. I used this terrific  Wishing Well image from The Paper Shelter for this card. If you buy this digi stamp you also get a pre-colored image that is amazingly colored! Love!!

What's Playing?

It's time for another fun challenge over at DYSU! Create a project inspired by a movie. So many movies, so little time. lol There are so many possibilities for this challenge-a title, a scene, a line...come on over to DYSU and play! There are some fantastic projects from the talented design team to get your mojo started!

The Alley Way Stamps - http://www.thealleywaystamps.com/

* $20 Gift Certificate 

Tiddly Inks -  http://tiddlyinks.com/

* $12 Gift Certificate

I got to use this oh so fun ei-ei-o stamp set from our generous sponsor, The Alley Way Stamps. I really wanted to use the hilarious outhouse image for my project but the pig and barn were just too perfect for my movie inspiration. Can you guess the movie that inspired my card? Maybe I should have included a spider somewhere. lol I went with the scene from Charlotte's Web where Charlotte is teaching Wilbur her "fancy way of saying hello".

Clear As Day

The challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays this week is to use vellum or acetate. Since I have no vellum (gasp-and I call myself a card maker) acetate it is. Since my daughter thought the Father's Day card I made to give to my husband was too feminine, I decided to try another and she thought this one was better. I'm still giving him the first one because it's pretty specific to us. lol

I wanted to use a couple of images from this fun Mustache Mania digital set that I've had for a while. I thought acetate would be perfect for the glasses. My picture doesn't show it, but the acetate is in between the glasses and the text behind them. Used Glossy accents on the images-not too smart on the day of card giving. It did dry enough that I can stick it in an envelope right before I give it to him though. Whew. lol Hop on over to CAS-ual Fridays and join in the fun!

The inside-

Just in time for Father's Day weekend, our challenge this week at DYSU is all about the men and future men in our lives. I know I can always use some ideas for masculine cards so hop on over and play with us this week. Let's get that masculine mojo going! This week also marks the debut of our fabulous new design team members. Be sure to come on over to DYSU and check out their amazing creations!

  Our sponsors this week: 
 

$15 Gift Certificate

Winner's Choice of 7 Images

Winner's Choice of 5 Digital Stamps (not from Sets)

I went with a very simple Charlie Brown inspired card this week.

 

Roll out the Barrel...

This cute little phone is another PTI stamp and die set I just had to have. I have no will power.

I made this card for the polka dot challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays. It was late last night when I was thinking about what I wanted to make for this challenge. I must have been tired because I was stuck on the idea of making a card with accordions, rolling barrels and beer. I had to keep telling myself "polka DOTS, not polka".

Hop (or roll) on over to CAS-ual Fridays and have a barrel of fun with their polka DOT challenge.

Houndstooth?!

Hmmm....the challenge over at the Runway Inspired Challenge blog is to create a project using an inspiration pic that has a lot of houndstooth.

I have to admit...I've always thought houndstooth was U.G.L.Y.! I couldn't find one single piece of paper with houndstooth in my stash. So I printed a houndstooth pattern on some white cardstock because, after all, what is a challenge for if not to make you think. It actually was pretty easy to work with and looks better than I thought it would. I swear that flourish is pink IRL lol Hop on over to Runway Inspired Challenge and see what I'm talking about. You might be inspired to step out of your box as I was.

Thanks

The challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays this week was to create a CAS project using bling. I knew they'd get a lot of entries for this challenge as bling is a card maker's best friend. lol I've been in masculine card making mode with hubby's bday and Father's Day coming up so it was hard to switch gears, but I managed to squeak one in. AND... I got to use my new PTI stripe embossing plate. LOVE!! Not the greatest pic-it's rainy and dreary here today and this was the best I could get. If you can't see the stripe detail, take my word for it-it rocks!

DYSU Challenge #75

It's time for another fun challenge over at DYSU. This week's challenge is paper piecing. I love this fab inspiration pic! Our design team has put together a terrific selection of inspiration projects. Hop on over to DYSU, get inspired and inspire us!

   
Our sponsors this week: 
 

The Digis showcased by the DYSU DT

$15 Gift Certificate

Winner's Choice of 3 Digis

I was provided with this joyful Rajasthani Girl image from our generous sponsor, My Heart Pieces. Go check it out. They have many unique and lovely images! I probably should have chosen a simpler image for a paper piecing challenge as I lost some of the image detail by using this bold patterned paper. But I am happy with it nonetheless. lol

DYSU Challenge #74

Our generous sponsors for the week are-

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

* $10 Gift Certificate 

The Stamping Boutique

* Winner’s Choice of 3 Digis

Melonheadz -  http://melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com/

* $15 Gift Certificate

I had fun with this theme! Summer's almost here and what an appropriate subject for the warmer weather we've been having. Come on over to DYSU, check out all the fab inspiration cards from my fellow design team members and link us up to you creations!
 
I used this darling Sweet and Sassy clown fish image for my first card.

This fun dolphin from Melonheadz was a blast to use!

And last of all I used a clear stamp from my stash for this snappy card.

You + Me

When tasked with using patterned papers, I tend to fall off the CAS train. lol The challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays this week is to create a CAS masculine card using designer papers. I took some solid digital images of a mustache and lips, converted them to an outline in PSE, and printed them on patterned paper to cut out. Hop on over and give it a shot!

DYSU #73 - A Little Birdie Told Me

It's time for another challenge over at DYSU and this week we're asking you to use Birds in your creations!  So, get your thinking caps on, and lets see your interpretation of Birdy themes! Can't wait to see all your tweet creations!
 

Meljen's Designs - http://www.meljensdesigns.com/
* Winner Choice of 4 Images

Robyn's Fetish - http://robynsfetish.com
* Winner’s Choice of 5 Digital Stamps

Little Claire's Designs- http://www.littleclaire.co.uk/

I got to use a couple of darling images from our lovely sponsor Robyn's Fetish. Isn't this sailing duck fun?!

This little bird is so tweet!

Hop on over to DYSU and join us for the bird challenge!

Sympathy Card

There is no card harder to make than a sympathy card. You want them to be perfect. To me, plain and simple always seems the best way to go. Sadly, I needed one this week. (see my prior post)

I used a die to cut the flowers from shimmery blue paper and embossed the sentiment. Then popped the entire layer up. Entering it in the CAS-ual Fridays Punchy challenge, to use punches or dies.

Cancer sucks!

Last Thursday was a sad day for us. We lost another friend to cancer. Mike was a kindhearted and generous man. He and his family always hosted the neighborhood 4th of July celebration and other spur of the moment get togethers. When my husband started working out of state, he would always come plow me out whenever it snowed. He was just one of those people that was always there to help in any way he could. His wife and teenaged daughter will miss him greatly, as will all the friends he's touched throughout the years. Rest In Peace Mike.

DYSU Challenge #72 - Landscape

It's time for another challenge at DYSU and this week we're asking you to Create A Landscape!  So, get your thinking caps on, and lets see your interpretation of landscapes!

We have 3 wonderful sponsors this week:


Copic Marker Scrapbooking 6 copic ciao marker (North/South America), Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world) 

Pink Cat Studio Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis

The Ribbon Reel £10 Gift Voucher

 

For my first card I chose to make my hunting loving husband a Father's Day card and a bookmark to use for all his hunting related reading. Love using Divine Twine for these kind of projects. The manly man would balk at anything feminine. lol Our lovely sponsor, The Ribbon Reel, has a terrific assortment of Divine twine as well as a fantastic selection of ribbon. Go check it out here!

This card is definitely a hybrid. The background is a digital image and the rest is made from stamps, punches and dies. I love making scenes on cards so this challenge was fun for me!

Hope you'll join us this week at DYSU! I can't wait to see all your landscape cards!