Angel Lala and Blog Candy!

Hello my friends! Today is Wednesday, so that means it's time for another fun La-La Land Weekly Wednesday Challenge! Our hostess this week is the wonderful Maureen Wong. Hers is a 3-2-1 recipe challenge: 3 different designer papers (my card features three of the patterns from SU's Bella Blue collection, one of which is tucked behind the decorative strip - check), 2 different colors of cardstock, one of which can be a neutral (Kraft and Not Quite Navy - check), and one type of embellishment (blue Kaisercraft rhinestones - check).

Angel Lala is one of my favorite Lala stamps. Isn't she sweet? Angels hold a special meaning for me because my mom LOVED angels. She collected them. I like to think of her as an angel in heaven, watching over me and my kids.

Wednesdays are also fun because it's time to play in Whimsical Wednesdays: The Diedrich Dare! This week is a sketch challenge, drawn by Jessica's son Jack. It's perfect for the LLWWC challenge requirements! Here's what I'm thinking... why not play in both challenges this week, too? There's a prize awaiting one lucky player in the La-La Land Weekly Wednesday Challenge, and Jack's sketch is, as I said, perfect for the recipe challenge! There's also a prize being offered for players in The Diedrich Dare!

To get you started, feast your eyes on what the rest of the Daredevils have created for your inspiration and delight:

• Cassie Larson
• Darla Wilson
• Debbie Lee
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Slusser
• Randi Wall
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra MacLean

I hate to say it, but this is my last challenge as a Daredevil. I have to step down to better balance my DT duties. I want to thank Jessica with all my heart for allowing me the privilege of being one of her Daredevils. That girl rocks! She has endless energy, amazing talent, and a truly upbeat and friendly personality. We most definitely will stay in touch and continue to be friends via blogland! And thanks to Jacquie and all the other Daredevils... you all are so sweet, talented and fun to work with. I'll "see" you around in blogland, too, I'm sure! Hugs to you all!

I tell you what... I just decided this. If you play in BOTH of the above challenges, come back here and leave a comment after you post your cards/projects on the respective blogs, and I will draw a winner of this adorable Sweet Rosie stamp from La-La Land Crafts. How's that for more incentive! Three chances to win a prize! Yes, you can combine both challenges, but you must post at both challenge blogs by the respective deadlines. I will draw for the winner next Tuesday night and announce the winner Wednesday on my blog. Let the challenges begin!

Thanks for being my friend...

...and I DO mean THANK YOU! What a blessing you all are to me!

Hey everyone! It's Wednesday, and that means a double challenge day for me! First up, La-La Land's Weekly Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is to make a thank-you card. I love making thank-you cards! My mom raised me to send thank-you cards, and I've tried to do the same with my boys. It's definitely the right thing to do...and hand made is the best kind, don't you think?

That sweet image is Rosie With Bird. The greeting is from a retired Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set. I made the tag using my Labels 5 Nesties. I first cut the white tag, then adhered it to cardstock and cut around the edge by hand. The fabulous paper, ribbon and buttons are from a Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit. Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE and depend on TE Key Ingredients Kits? (*grin*) Hi Candace!

You MUST play along this week because there's an AWESOME blog candy to be had. The winner of these goodies will be randomly selected from all entries:


The second challenge for the day is, of course, Whimsical Wednesdays: The Diedrich Dare. This week's challenge by Jessica's DD Madelyn is to make an easel card. I hadn't tried this technique before, although I've seen them on lots of blogs. It's actually a pretty cool technique. I think I'll have to try it again.

If you don't already know how to make an easel card, there's a good tutorial here, which is also illustrated on The Diedrich Dare challenge blog. (Note there are two pages to the tutorial.) Mine is 5 1/4 square because that's my standard size for square cards and I have the envelopes to match.

For more inspiration, be sure to check out what the other Daredevils have created:

• Cassie Larson
• Darla Wilson
• Debbie Lee
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Slusser
• Randi Wall
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra MacLean

Thanks so much for stopping by. Why not go and hug a friend today? I'll see you back here tonight at 8:00 pm PDT with another great blog hop for Gina K, featuring stamps by my friend Nina Brackett!

Two Wednesday Posts - Oh My!

This is my second post for today. Please scroll down for my La-La Land Weekly Wednesday Challenge post. Thanks!

If it's Wednesday, that means it's time for another fun challenge at Whimsical Wednesdays: The Diedrich Dare! I'm proud to be the hostess for this week's challenge, which is an inspiration piece by Jessica's DS Jack. (Check out what it says on the green mug... too funny!)

I took my cues from the two mugs and the colors. I absolutely ADORE the Early Bird DP by Cosmo Cricket. Paired with Warm Happiness by Papertrey Ink, this card came together quickly...which was a good thing since at the time I was suffering the after-effects of some pretty heavy dental work. All I could think was "get done, take drugs and lay down!"

I used a bit of dark brown Sparkly Fluff for the "cocoa," and some Bo Bunny ribbon to give my card a bit of zip. The paper piercing is inspired by the Stamping A Latte girl herself, Jodi Collins. I used the Stitch Doodle Dot Template from Taylored Expressions to fill in that empty space at the top of the card, and I LOVE how it turned out. My card also happens to follow this week's sketch at CPS. Have I mentioned lately that I love a good sketch?

Don't forget to check in on the rest of the Daredevils to see what they've cooked up for your viewing pleasure:

• Cassie Larson
• Darla Wilson
• Debbie Lee
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Hjulberg
• Lisa Slusser
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra MacLean

Before I go, I want to thank the good folks over at Our Daily Bread Designs Blog for featuring my card, Know That The Lord is God, as the "Customer of the Day Card." You have no idea how humbled and honored I am! To God be the Glory!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me twice today. Don't forget to HUG a veteran and say thanks!

Rosie Wishes You Happy Holidays!

Rosie is very anxious for Christmas! She can't even wait until after Thanksgiving to start celebrating!

Hello my friends! Today is Wednesday, so that means it's time for another wonderful challenge at La-La Land Crafts. Sweet Kim Yu (love that girl!) is our hostess this week, and she chose PINK as her challenge. That's a-okay with me! I think you might have noticed that pink is the new red for Christmas this year...ha!

This sweet image is Christmas Dress Rosie. It makes me wish we dressed up for Christmas. I'm lucky to get out of my jammies and into some jeans! I always tell everyone not to take any pictures of me until I at least have something other than a bathrobe on, my hair done and a bit of makeup. But who am I kidding? I'm the only one who takes pictures, so I'm rarely in any of them (which is actually a good thing). Except when Grandpa Jim was around... he was the happy snapper. Poor guy took the worst pictures, but he was so into Christmas, you couldn't help but love him. I sure do miss him.

But I digress. (I do that a lot!)

Rosie is colored with my Copics. The DP is Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses. The greeting and ribbon are Papertrey Ink. The cardstock is Prism. I'm loving Prism cardstock. I hate to be a traitor to SU, but I really do!

If it's Wednesday, it's also time for another Whimsical Wednesdays: The Diedrich Dare challenge! If you follow my blog, you might recall that last Wednesday I whiffed and used the wrong sketch so (I said) I couldn't post my card. I can tell you now that my Lala Santa card was the one that followed this week's sketch... just turned sideways.

For my card today, I stayed true to the sketch, and I love the way it turned out! Jessica's daughter Madelyn is the awesome designer of this week's sketch. Why not come along and play? But first, feast your eyes on what the other Dare Devils have created for your viewing pleasure:

Cassie Larson

Darla Wilson
Debbie Lee
Heather Schlatter
Jacquie Peifer
Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
Kim Ross
Lisa Slusser
Randi Wall
Rebecca Ednie
Sandra MacLean

I'm so glad you stopped by today. I hope you'll come back tomorrow when I'll have a very special post as part of a very special blog hop. Stay tuned! I hope you have a very PINK day!

Santa Lala

Hello dear friends! Have you missed me? I'm attending a class this week related to my work, to which I have to commute in the infamous California traffic. Trust me, it's just as bad as you might have heard, maybe even worse. I honestly don't know how those who commute for a living do it. I'd probably take up boozing if I had a steady diet of this. Not to mention, no way would I have time to stamp! Anyway, it's taking a lot of my time and energy right now, but I'll be done by Friday and back to regular posting this weekend. Hopefully, all this left-brain activity won't steal my mojo!

If it's Wednesday, it's time for another challenge at La-La Land Crafts! Lucky me is your hostess this week! I chose RIBBON as my challenge. I LOVE ribbon. I can hardly stand to make a card without it. Ribbon comes in so many beautiful colors and textures, it can actually be the inspiration for your card... or the perfect finishing touch. Either way, I hope you'll join us this week. And guess what! The challenge winner will receive Santa Lala as a prize!!! Yep, it's true! So please join us!

My card, of course, features sweet Santa Lala. I can't tell if she's been naughty or nice, but she sure is cute, isn't she?

Be sure to click over to the La-La Land Crafts Blog to see all the goodness cooked up by the Design Team, and to wish our Guest DT for August-October a fond farewell. They most certainly will be missed!

The cardstock, DP and ribbon are from Papertrey Ink. The Christmas tree is by Me and My Big Ideas (thanks Irina!). I couldn't resist using some Liquid Applique for the fur trim, which I heated up for "puff" then dipped in glitter for a bit of sparkle. Gotta love sparkle!

If it's Wednesday, that also means it's time for Whimsical Wednesdays: The Diedrich Dare. I totally whiffed and modeled my card after the wrong sketch!!! I have no idea how that happened. I'm not usually so lame. It must be a case of Old Age Setting In. And there was no time to make another card by the time I realized it (for the reason, see the first paragraph above). But I really hope you'll hop around and see what the other Daredevils have created using the right sketch. I'm sure you'll love what you see.

• Cassie Larson
• Darla Wilson
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Slusser
• Randi Wall
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra MacLean

Forgive me, girls, for this gaff! I'll be back next week with the right sketch!

I hope to catch up on blog surfing and emails this weekend, so please bear with me. I'll post again on Friday for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. In the meantime, wish me luck with the traffic...and on the exam!

Have a la-la lovely day!

Pirate Rosie

Happy Wednesday! If it's Wednesday, it must be time for another great challenge at La-La Land Crafts! This week Jane challenged us to make our cards SPARKLE with glitter, Stickles, atYou Spica pens, or the like. Since Halloween is drawing near, I want to make just a few more cards with all the cute stamps I have, so I reached for Pirate Rosie. She's one of my faves!

I know it might be hard to tell from the photo (the light reflects funny), but I used my atYou Spica pens to glitter up Rosie's hat, belt and boots. I also found that cool sparkly ribbon in my Taylored Expressions Halloween Key Ingredients Kit (along with the orange polka dot ribbon and that fun brad of the moon and stars).

The background DP is from Basic Grey's Indian Summer which, by the way, matches well with SU's Rich Razzleberry cardstock. The "map" paper is from a piece that Irina sent me. It was perfect for another Wednesday challenge: The Diedrich Dare! This week, Jessica's son Jack picked the inspiration piece, this cool pirate map.

Be sure and stop by the other Daredevils' blogs to see what they've created for your viewing pleasure:

• Cassie Larson
• Debbie Lee
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Slusser
• Randi Wall
  
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra Ma

And don't forget to hop on over to the La-La Land Crafts Blog to see what the uber-talented Design Team has created for the SPARKLE challenge. You are sure to be wowed! And while you're at it, why not join us! It's fun, and we'd love to see your SPARKLE creations!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a sparkly day! And if you run into any pirates, I hope it's Jack Sparrow!

Introducing Candy Cane La-La!

Here she is, the girl you've been waiting to see... Candy Cane Lala! Isn't she cute! Last Wednesday, we gave you sneak peeks of all the new Christmas stamps being released today at La-La Land Crafts. Today we reveal them in full and announce the winner of the ginormous super delicious blog candy on the La-La Land Crafts Blog, and the winners of blog candy being offered by individual members of the Design Team... including mine.

Without further ado, the winner of Window Lala is:

Kristine! Woo hoo!!! And I swear it wasn't rigged. I've shown the results from Random.org above, plus I counted like 10 times to make sure I got it right. Congratulations, Kris! I'll get Window Lala in the mail to you asap.

My sincere thanks to each of you for entering to win. Come back soon because I'm about to post a HUGE blog candy opportunity for which there will be THREE winners! All my blog followers will be eligible to win!

Be sure to click on over to the La-La Land Crafts Blog to see all of the new stamps, and then hop on over to La-La Land Crafts and fill your basket with some of the cutest images around! We also hope you'll join us in this week's challenge, which is to make a card or project with a Christmas or Winter theme. How easy is that! What are you waiting for?

Speaking of challenges, my card follows this week's sketch challenge at The Diedrich Dare by Jessica's daughter Madelynn. The DP is Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey. Please come play with us this week if you can. To get you inspired, check out what the other Daredevils have in store for your viewing pleasure:

• Cassie Larson
• Darla Wilson
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Slusser
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra MacLean

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a la-la-lovely day!

You might have to kiss a lot of frogs...

Happy Wednesday!!! This is my second post for today, so be sure to scroll down to see the other one... and for a chance to win some Blog Candy!!!

If it's Wednesday, then that means it's time for The Diedrich Dare! This week's challenge is an inspiration challenge (DDSC5) chosen by Jessica's son Nicky. The picture is from Cupcakes Take The Cake. How cute is this (not to mention the other yummy cupcakes to be seen on that website)!!!

I just love this frog stamp from Down by the Pond by The Greeting Farm. I bought those green jeweled crowns (Heidi Swapp) a long time ago to make just this sort of card. I paper-toled the frog's head to make the crown fit properly. The cardstock and DP are from a Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit (surprise, surprise!), and I colored the frog with my Copics.

Now, be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Daredevils have created for your viewing pleasure, and then join in the fun!!! I can't wait to see what you create! And guess what's even better??? Marie is donating Down by the Pond as a prize for this week's challenge. Woo Hoo! So what are you waiting for!!

• Darla Wilson
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich (a.k.a.Mom ;)
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Slusser
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra MacLean
• Taylor Usry

Have a very hoppy day!

Witch Lala

Happy Wednesday! If it's Wednesday, that means it's time for another challenge at The Diedrich Dare!

This one is a sketch challenge by Jessica's son Jack. How cute! I hope he doesn't mind that instead of using stars and hearts, I used these cool Halloween buttons, part of the Taylored Expressions Halloween Key Ingredients Kit... also the source of the DP, cardstock and ribbon.

This super cute and whimsical stamp is Witch Lala from La-La Land Crafts. I just LOVE these images. They are also so much fun to color.

Be sure to pop by and see what the rest of The Daredevils have in store for you today using this sketch. And why not come along and play with us? It's fun!

Cassie Larson
Darla Wilson
Heather Schlatter
Jacquie Peifer
Jessica Diedrich
Kim Ross
Lisa Slusser
Rebecca Ednie
Taylor Usry

(Daredevils Debbie Lee and Sandra MacLean aren't able to play this week.)

Speaking of La-La Land Crafts, my next post will be for the La-La Land Weekly Wednesday Challenge, so stay tuned!

Hugs,

Hey There Chickadee!

This is my second post for today. Please scroll down to see my first post for the La-La Land Weekly Wednesday Challenge. Thanks!

Guess what, guess what, guess what! I am now officially a Daredevil! A what? Me? A daredevil? Anyone who knows me knows I'm not intrepid in the least. In fact, I'm probably more in the category of scaredy cat (ha!). But this kind of Daredevil is my cup of tea! I'm a Daredevil for The Diedrich Dare! This is a new challenge blog started by the sweet Jessica Diedrich. Her three kids make up the challenges each week.

This week, the challenge is to use the colors green, blue and orange. I have to say that color challenges are REALLY challenging for me. Give me a sketch, and I'm good to go. Give me a color challenge, and I start biting my nails!

For this challenge, I went fishing through my scraps pile and sewed some strips I found in the challenge colors onto my card base (SU's Kiwi Kiss). I then pulled out one of my very favorite Papertrey Ink stamp sets... Everyday Button Bits... and created my bluebirds. The swirl is from another PTI set called Fancy Flourishes, a must-have staple in your stamp collection.

So hop on over to The Diedrich Dare and join us this week, okay? I wanna see how the pros tackle a color challenge! Speaking of which, there is lots of great inspiration from the rest of the Daredevils that you won't want to miss!

Darla Wilson
Debbie Lee
Heather Schlatter
Jacquie Peifer
Jessica Diedrich
Kim Ross
Lisa Slusser
Rebecca Ednie
Taylor Usry

(Daredevils Cassie Larson and Sandra MacLean are unable to play this week.)

Thanks so much for stopping by!