You know phone calls in the night are never good.
We got a call at 2:30 am, my husband's best friend had
just passed away and they wanted him to come. Its been a long day
but not sleepy yet so thought I would share last weekends things.


Last Saturday I spoke at a little mini day retreat up in the Hualapai Mts.
It was a glorious day, storm clouds off and on with some thunder,
a few sprinkles and a little breeze in the pines. Wonderful
respite from the hot desert. We set
up at a camp site on the mountain and looking over the valley.
We had a wonderful time in the Word, prayer and
fellowship and of course lunch. Pastor's wife asked me to
make up a little take home bible study booklet.I
water colored the front, stamped some flowers
and added the title cut out with Spellbinders,
made a couple little flowers for each and then
stapled it together like a regular book and tied
each one with some fibers.


I also made a booklet with a poem, the scriptures I
was speaking about and a few other encouraging items.
These were decorated with a punched edge and tied
closed at the top. Used a Spellbinder to cut the title and
decorated with a flower. The bottom half of each
front was also embossed. I also made up bookmarks
with a variety of scriptures and

designs for each lady. So in all I made 50 books and 25
bookmarks. Doesn't look like much but it was a lot of work
as there were 21 pages between both booklets plus covers .

Pastor's wife, myself and our new Youth
Pastor's wife stayed and hiked up to the top of the mountain

and enjoyed the fabulous view then went down the Mt
to the lodge and spent a little time showing Michelle
around then back down the Mt and home again.

The Pixie Cottage Challenge & Passionately Artistic Challenges

Here we are Wednesday already :) Two posts today
First is The Pixie Cottage and as usual you can use the sketch and/
or theme...Pop it Up. I popped up in several ways. Don't you
love this image called Fall Wagon Wheel, found at Michelle's
Scrapbooking & More.

I water colored the image and cut it out two of the images.
Cut out an extra wheel and top two sunflowers and
popped up then popped up the image itself.
Next I punched out a bunch of leaves, added some
veining, scrunched a bit and scattered
all around the image.

Using a punch I made the pumpkins and popped up.
Tore, textured and added the brown to the corner along
with the little sale sign.
Made a tag for the sentiment and tied on
with raffia.

I used Mona's Color Challenge for my card

Entering Challenges:
Creative Card Crew: Easel Cards
Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
House of Gilli: Fall
Paper Pretties: Fall
Woodware USA: Fall
Crafty Catz Weekly: Autumn

Second is PASSIONATELY ARTISTIC

Made a pretty simple fall card with SU dp and papers.
The leaf images were made using the water color
technique. Love the way it turned out!

A little ribbon and buttons tied with
a little twine. A punched sentiment completes the card.
Be sure to stop by and join the party. Always great gifts
to win.
Entering Challenges:
Celebrate the occasion: Use ribbon
Paper and Such Design: Use three of list...ribbon, twine & 2 buttons
Card Cupids: Fall...do double duty make HB to donate
Fussy and Fancy Friday: Try a new technique
Crafts 4 Eternity: Autumn Days

TUESDAY THROWDOWN CHALLENGE

Tuesday brings a new challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown.
Come on over and join us. Our theme is Thinking of You.
Our Sponsor is My Grafico and image is from
the Posh and Trendy set.
Operation Write Home needs thinking of you cards so
we are linking up with them this week. In case you dont know
about them they send cards to our troops you can read all
about the requirements for the cards Here.
Please consider sending your card or maybe a box full to them this week
they also need funds for mailing !
I chose to use the phone...such a fun image. Used B&W
just because it seemed fitting with the phone :)
Simple with some fun B&W dps. I love dots and
especially love this dotted ribbon.Did a little stitching.
Used MS Zig Zag punch for the edge. Made the back side of
the card wider so that the front punched edge would
fit right into the bottom punched edge.
Stop on over and join us

Entering Challenges:
Critter Sketch: Anything Goes
Oh La La Creations: Punches/dies
Make It Monday:Anything goes
There's Magic in The Air: Punches and/or dies..at least 3
Little Claire's Designs: Black & White

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge

Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was very busy. I spoke at a

Mini Retreat up in the Mountains on Sat. also made the booklets
and favors... Maybe will have time to share some
pics later in the week. Today at Heart Song Inspiration our
challenge is use Ribbon and/or a Tag.

I made a little pocket card with a tag and another little
tag for the sentiment. My image is the Wedding Bouquet
water colored and cut out with a Spellbinder and
foam dotted on. Used a MS arches punch for the border
on the pocket. A punch for the flowers on the tag and
the sentiment, all finished with some hand dyed ribbon.


Entering Challenges:
Birthday Sundaes: Birthday using buttons
Dream Valley: Buttons
The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan: Buttons
Stamp Scrap & Doodle: Use your favorite color or colors...green
Card Making Mamas: Get punchy

The Pixie Cottage Challenge & Passionately Artistic Challenge

The Pixie Cottage has a sketch and/or theme.
The theme is Buttons, Brads & Bows. I used one of the new
Pixie Cottage images called Best Hugs. Don't ya love it!!
I water colored the image and cut with a Spellbinder
label #14 which was foam dotted on.

The green stripe was placed on the diagonal and then
stitched onto the green. I cut out the little blue corner
designs and added the ribbon. The sentiment was punched
with Su Scalloped and plain ovals. A couple brads
added and foam dotted on.
Check out the great cards the team has for inspiration.

Entering Challenges;
One Stitch At A Time: Punch it
Anything Goes: Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp: Dies and/or Punches
The Paper Shelter: Anything goes



For Passionately Artistic I have created a little wall hanging
a friend asked me to make. She wanted a Scripture and
flowers so I made a variety of sizes and colors.
I started with a distressed oval to put the
different flowers and leaves on. The scripture was cut with a
Spellbinder label #1, distressed and embossed with a dotted swiss
folder. I also cut a pocket with a Spellbinder label #1 .
Glittered up my butterfly and some of the flowers.


The four scriptures were made into
tags and put in the pocket.
I used some tea stained scrim on different
parts of the background.
Be sure to stop by and join the party!

Entering Challenges:
Die Cut Dreams: Flower Power..at least 5
Get Hippity with Ippity: Buttons, bows & bling
House of Gilli: Embossing
Ooh La La Creations: Punches and dies
Stamps & Fun=Creativity: Use Shapes or die cuts
Gingerloft: Vintage or Distressed
Sweet Stamps: Anything but a card

TUESDAY THROWDOWN CHALLENGE

Our sponsor for Tuesday Throwdown is Sweet n Sassy and Fall Days is
our theme for the week. It has cooled off a bit here in the
desertand its now nice a green . I used fall colors to go with
the image but they seem a little hot as its
still over 100 here.After water coloring the image I cut it out
with a spellbinder scalloped oval. The SU dp was
cut in triangles and stitched onto the solid rust. I used
a small leaf stamp on the central area then mounted the
image and tied the raffia bow. I used a round and
oval punch to make the pumpkins.

Entering Challenges:
The Corrosive: Punches and/or Dies
kaboodle Doodles: Lots of layers
Stamp with Fun: Anything goes
Our Daily Bread Designs: Fall colors or theme
Crazy 4 Challenges: Use a pumpkin
The Squirrel & The Fox: Anything goes

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge

Ahhh a new week, a fresh start is always good. Our challenge today at
Heart Song Inspiration is orange and/or buttons. I used the lovely

Tea Cup image. Be sure to stop by the store to see
all the wonderful images.


After water coloring I cut a frame with the looped square
Spellbinder. The mat for the sentiment was cut with a
Spellbinder beaded circle. The dp is
Kaiserkraft Devonshire stitched onto the orange.
A bow made from some hand dyed ribbon
and tied buttons finish it off.
Check out the talented team creations.

Entering Challenges:
Aly's Sunday: Bows
My Sheri Crafts: Sew Simple
Card Cupids: Anything Goes
Dream Valley: Buttons
Pile It On: Colors of Fall

The Pixie Cottage Challenge & Passionately Artistic Challenges

It's Wednesday and we got a real treat... rain yesterday and last night.
Now if you don't live in the desert you might not realize what a wonderful
thing that is!
Are you ready for a new challenge today. Here at The Pixie Cottage.
as always we have a sketch you can follow or the
theme is Fussy & Fancy. I started with a round card and the
Tea for Two image by Artish found here.

Stop by to see the talented team's creations and join us.

After water coloring the images I cut them both out and foam dotted

on the other embossed layers. Then stitched on the punched flowers
all around the edge and a big lace bow.

Entering Challenges:

Forever Friends: Paper Piecing

Craft Your Passion: F word...flowers
Daisy Doodles Creative: Embossing
Make It Monday: Always Anything Goes
House of Gilli: Embossing



Post for Passionately Artistic
A clean and simple card for today.
My card is made using and old SU flower set. I stamped them in
very pale colors and then made a little paper flower for the center one.
I colored the little tags then stamped the letters and attached
with the eyelets. It was all stitched onto the purple.

Entering Challenges:
Ladybug Crafts Ink: Flowers
Hooked on Craft: Spring has Sprung
Lollipop Crafts: Eyelets or brads

TUESDAY THROWDOWN CHALLENGE

Our new Challenge this week at Tuesday Throwdown is an easy peasy one pearls. Our Sponsor this week is Stitchy Bear Stamps and
I've used their lovely image called Isobelle. She is watercolored
and a little stickles to her skirt edges and pearls to her head band.
Be sure to stop by and join us!

As you can see layers, lots of pearls,bows, a doily, beads and the
little pennant finish off the card.The colors
are soft but not faded I just couldn't seem get the lighting
right for the pic


My little granddaughter goes to ballet class and this
reminded me of her. It will be her HB card.


Entering Challenges:
Crafting When We Can: Do It Your Own Way
The Crazy Challenge: Birthdays
One Stitch At A Time: Anything Goes
Pile It On: Layer It
Catch the Bug: Dies & Punches
Ellephantastic: Here Comes The Girls
Liz Stampz: Birthday

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge

Isn't this year zooming by?? Here in our part of the desert it is starting to

cool a bit!! Am I so happy for that. A couple more weeks and it will be cool
enough to get my garden started, its all ready to go... Well anyways
enough of that. Hoping you will join us at Heart Song Inspiration this week.
The theme is glitter and/or chipboard and I chose to use both.
Stop by Heart Song to shop for a fab selection of images
for every occasion.

I made a simple purse to use as a little goodie bag. The dp
is glittery. I water colored and cut out all the flowers
and pop dotted them up. Lots of stickles to make a
glittery yummy cupcake. Its pop dotted on the embossed
pink.

Made a flower out of the same pink to match
the flower images. A glittered chipboard decorates
the top and a little handle finishes it off.

Entering Challenges:
Wags 'n Whiskers: Anything but a card
Stampin' for the Weekend: Tickled Pink

Cuddly Buddly Crafts: Add a Tag
Card Makin Mamas: Go Digi
One Stop Craft: Food or Drink
Creations by Gill: Cute as a Cupcake
Challenge up your Life: Paper Piecing

The Pixie Cottage Challenge & Passionately Artistic Challenge

Happy Wednesday...Today at the Pixie Cottage you can use the
sketch or the theme is Mellow Yellow.

This pretty image is called Star Gazer by Artish from Michelle''s
Scrapbooking & More


I stamped the image twice and water colored. I cut some of the
petals out of the second image and pop dotted on. A punched border
layered and a couple pearls added. Stitched the dp onto the yellow
The dp is covered with big butterflies so I used this
pretty charm from my friend Martha.

Supplies: My Minds Eye & Bazzil papers,
misc, charm, ribbons, foam dots and pearls,
MS dotted scallop punch.

Entering Challenges:
Crafty Boots: Anything goes
Bearly-Mine: Flowers Flowers
Easy Craft Projects: Yellow
Creative Craft: Just Charming

Ribbon Carousel: Anything goes w/ ribbon twine etc


This card is for Passionately Artistic
Be sure to stop by and join the party this week!
Very simple B&W made with an old Stampin Up set and
papers are SU and My Minds Eye.

Entering Challenges:
Make it Monday: Anything goes
Catch The Bug: Anything Goes
Creations by Gill M: Anything that flies
Sweet Stampin' : Anything but a birthday

TUESDAY THROWDOWN CHALLENGE

Today we have a recipe challenge at Tuesday Throwdown. The
recipe is 3 dps 2 buttons & 1 ribbon. Our Sponsor is Robyn's Fetish.
Looking forward to see all of your lovely creations

I used two images Tea for Two & English Tea Cup.They were
water colored and then gold touches and beading added to look like
my grandmothers old set. If you enlarge them you can see it better.

Thought it would be fun to make an easel card and put one image
on each part. Added on the curvy embossed top section, tea dyed
the ribbon and made a little rose and leaves for the center.
I also made the little tea bags to hang from the bow.
Stitched around the whole card top and bottom. I
cut out a striped dp to set the teapot on.
They are all pop dotted up.

Although you can't see without enlarging the creme paper
has faint butterflies on it so the others go with it. Added a blue and beige
print to the top and another torn piece to the bottom.
It was all distressed for an aged look.



I painted, distressed and dotted the chipboard flourish to set the
sentiment on. The sentiment was outlined with gold and
beading added to it also. Used my 2 buttons as stops. I
made the rose, bud and leaves for the front corner.
My sweet husband bought me a tackle box from the thrift
store full of pearls, pins, beads and other dodads
plus these wonderful little tatted doilies that
I used under my tea cup.
Stop by and see all the other wonderful creations
my teamies made!

Supplies: Maya Road flourish,
My Minds Eye, DCVW & Bazzil papers,
Spellbinder Scalloped circle & label 20 & 13

Entering Challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Easel Cards
Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes with Flowers
House of Gilli: Easel card with flowers
Incy Wincy Designs: Make your own flowers
Pile it On: Anything starts with a B..buttons, bows brads etc.
Paper Creator's Craft: Easel Cards

Heart Song Inspiration Challenge

Hope all you in the US are having a great Labor Day...Im off today YIPEE!! So are you

ready for the new challenge at Heart Song Inspiration?? This week you have your
choice of Distressing or Paint.
Since purple is my favorite color I started with purple and stamped
a little leaf design with some white paint. Used a couple dps and
white stitched & distressed layered panel.

Don't you love this image, Chrysanthemum one of the HS birth month
flowers. My friend Martha sent me some Copics so I used them to
color. Definitely need lots more practice with them :) cut
out and foam dotted on.

Made a frame for my sentiment added a flower, leaves and
ribbon for little some embellies.
Be sure to stop by and see all the other talented ladies creations.

Entering Challenges:
Our Daily Bread Designs: Dots or Stripes
Aly's Sunday: Add a bow
Birthday Sundaes: Birthday Wording
Card Cupids: Cards with Stitching
One Stitch At A Time: Use a Digi
Charisma Cardz: Anything goes