31 Days of Crafting - Day Thirty-One - BIG Birthday Box Card!!

WOW, I made it!  Every year I hope to finish this month exactly how I want to and there is always a hiccup!  This year I am super proud of my final project to share, a GIANT birthday box card that was a custom order.  There was a LOT of work involved in this project, lots of layers and test projects to get it just right.  In the end though, I love how it turned out!!

This card is too sparkly, said NO ONE EVER!!

I mean, really.  I love custom jobs because they make magic happen.

When the card is flattened, it looks like this:

The large purple panel is for the personal message.

This is how the card looked all full of tickets.  This was possibly one of my favorite projects to make, EVER!!!

LOTS of challenges for this fabulous project:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday - #641 Anything Goes 3/5
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes 3/5
• Mix It Up Challenge Blog - #70 Anything Goes 6/8
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #226 Anything Goes 3/3
• Crafty Gals Corner - #253 Anything Goes 3/3
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Thirty - Orange Love

Happy Friday!  I cannot believe this crazy, crafty, exhausting month is already almost over.  I don't know if I'm sad or relieved honestly.

So today, in honor of Jason Dohring's birthday, I made a Veronica Mars themed card.  The combo of the orange and the LOVE?  I'm so happy with this card.

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #226 Anything Goes 2/3
• Word Art Wednesday - #641 Anything Goes 2/5
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes 2/5
• Crafts Galore - Anything Goes 3/3

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Twenty-Nine - Pooh Birthday Banner

Earlier this month, I shared the birthday card I made for my niece's first birthday.  Her party had a Winnie the Pooh theme, and I also made two banners and other decorations.  Today I wanted to share the banners that I made, I'm really proud of them.

This is the main banner I made.  I wish it was easier to see it up close and still see the whole thing but it was quite long lol.

You can see the detail and the Pooh font a little better in this photo :)

Here you can see both banners before I added the photos to the second banner.  It was hard to get it to hang well because the clothespins I glued on to hang the photos made it quite heavy.  I didn't want to share the photos but everyone was super happy with it.  YAY!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes 1/5
• Word Art Wednesday - #641 Anything Goes 1/5
• Crafty Gals Corner - #253 Anything Goes 2/3
• Mix It Up Challenge Blog - #70 Anything Goes 5/8

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Twenty-Five - Grinchmas Cocoa

Happy Monday all.  Are you dragging your feet as much as I am?  It’s been a HARD one lemme tell ya.  This card was soooooooo fun to make though.  I could not wait to use this Grinch mug die the minute I got it in my caffeine-loving hands because every time I've tried to buy it it's been out of stock!  I just love how it pops against that patterned paper.  Echo Park for the win!

Just a few challenges:

• 
  
• Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge - #27 Green 
• Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers - Sketch #43**WINNER**
• Mix It Up Challenge Blog - #70 Anything Goes 4/8

Thank you so much for looking and happy caffeinated Christmas crafting!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Twenty-Two - Love It!

Hi everyone!  These quick cards make it so easy to make a stack of cards to donate to Cards for Soldiers in an hour or two.  Plus I use up odds and ends and scraps.  The more stuff I use, the more I can BUY!! 😎

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Twenty-One - Foiled Egg Fantasy

I almost feel zen when I use my Anna Griffin dies and folders with foiled cardstock, don't you??  Positively dreamy!!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #713 Easter/Spring 1/2
• Crafty Gals Corner - #253 Anything Goes 1/3
• Word Art Wednesday - #640 Anything Goes 2/5
• Mix It Up Challenge Blog - #70 Anything Goes 3/8
• Penny's Paper Crafting Challenge - Anything Goes 3/3

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Eighteen - Be Fearless

I don't really like CAS cards.  I don't honestly really even like this card, and I'm the one who made it.  But here it is anyway.  I'm not really inspired today at all, can you tell??  (I'll be honest again, I almost entitled this post, Spring?  Bitch, please.  So yeah, mojo went on vacay today.)

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Seventeen - Gingerbread Christmas Wishes

The only thing I like better than a Christmas card is a Christmast cocoa card!!!  (Or coffee or tea!)  I actually made peppermint hot cocoa the other morning because it might be March, but Michigan weather doesn't know that. 

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge - #27 GREEN
• Peace on Earth Christmas - #60 Anything Christmas Goes 1/3
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Green 1/3
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - A Bit O Green 1/5
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - A Bit O Green 1/5
• Mix It Up Challenge Blog - #70 Anything Goes 2/8

Thanks so much for looking and happy caffeinated Christmas crafting!  Laters!!

**ANYTHING GOES** New Challenge with The Creative Crafters!!

Happy middle-of-the-month!  It's the fifteenth and that means it's time for a new challenge at Creative Crafters!  As always our challenge is Anything Goes!!!  I just found these Anna Griffin dies in my stash, so I wanted to play with them.

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Dragonfly Dreams - Circles 2/3
• Crafts Galore - Anything Goes 2/3
• Penny's Paper Crafting Challenge - Anything Goes 2/3

Be sure to visit the blog, play along with us and check out the other DT's projects as well!  Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Thirteen - He's JUST Ken!!!

Look, ya'all.  He's JUST Ken.  This "I am Kennough" BS really pisses me off.  He's the boyfriend.  The side piece.  And let's be HONEST.  In the movie, Ken is portrayed as douchey and a complete and total waste of Barbie's time.  (And NO I haven't seen the movie but I do have eyeballs and a brain so I can think for myself, thank you!)  And maybe you didn't come here to hear a diatribe on all the things that are wrong with the Barbie movie (there are a lot of them!), you came here to see a card.  And we'll get to that.  But as it is MY blog, I can rant if I want to.  And I'm going to!

I mean in the pictures I've seen, the movie captures many of Barbie's sides.  I don't recall a creepy, douchey Ken doll that looks somewhat stuck in the 1980s, do any of you??

I make a card for Barbie every year, but I haven't made one for Ken in awhile.  Five years, in fact.  It's not that I dislike Ken, because I don't.  It's just that, well, it's NOT ABOUT HIM!!!!  It's about HER. BARBIE.  That's how it's always been and that's how it always should be!  And the way the movie twisted and turned everything makes me kinda sick.

There will be more at the bottom of the post if you so desire to read further ranting.  Otherwise, here's my card!

Yep, I put Barbie on it too this time, probably because original Ken, while reflective of the times, is not cute at all.

Just a few challenges:

Thanks so much for looking (and reading!) and happy crafting!  Laters!!

**I haven't watched the Oscars in years, but the fact that everything at said Oscars was about Ken is just barfy.  My SIL wanted me to watch Ryan Gosling's "performance" and I really have no words.  Everyone says "Oh you can tell that's his voice!" to ignore the facts that A) he can't sing and B) he can't sing and C) the song sucks.  All valid points that everyone seems to ignore.  NOW a friend wants me to point out that Ryan's "singing" isn't as abysmal as say Billie Eilish or Taylor Swift, and I will admit that, okay?  But he's still an actor not a singer, and you can't change that.  But REALLY.  What was his hair in the movie?  His wardrobe?  And why should we feel bad for Ken?!?!?

**SPRING INTO CARDMAKING IG HOP** Week One - Birth Month Flowers

We're back!!  Welcome to Week 1 of the Spring Into Cardmaking Hop hosted by @kellysantidesigns!  Each Wednesday we will share a themed card focusing on the joy of spring.  This week's theme is Birth Month Flowers.  If this theme inspires you, please share your creation on IG using the hashtag #springintocardmakinghop.

I actually had so much fun making this card.  I had to research what November's birth flower is, and it's chrysanthemum, and then I had to raid my stash for something I could use.  I got this set from Unity Stamp Co. along with some astrological stamps last year and had forgotten all about it.  The stamps are TINY but I made it work.  And I just love this card sketch, you might see different variations of this card in the future :)

Just a few challenges:

• Fab n Funky - #591 Spring
• Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #568
• Stamping Sensations - Spring 1/3
• Dragonfly Dreams - Circles 1/3
• Penny's Paper Crafting Challenge - Anything Goes 1/3

Thanks so much for looking and be sure to visit my Instagram to view the whole hop!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Eleven - Baby Boy Joy

Happy Monday!  I hope you have something fun to do today, I'm off to a baby shower!!  (In the evening.  I have no idea why this was planned this way, I think it's kind of weird myself.)

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Nine - Bombshell Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBIE!!  My favorite doll turns 65 today, and as always, I made a card to celebrate it!

I also want to note that while I have been posting birthday cards I make to honor Barbie here on my blog since 2014, I don't really know that the world made such a big deal out of "National Barbie Day" before the whole movie/speech/Kennough thing.  (Want me take on all of THAT?  Scroll to the bottom, or wait until my post on Wednesday!!)

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore - Anything Goes 1/3
• Crafty Catz - #667 Anything Goes 2/5
• Word Art Wednesday - #638 Anything Goes 3/5
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

***BARBIE PSA HERE*** As a lifelong Barbie lover, I have made the not-at-all difficult decision not to watch the movie.  It's nothing against Margot Robbie who, from what I've seen on television, plays the part--despite that RIDICULOUS SCRIPT--quite well.  She has the look and the personality to embody the doll we all grew up loving.  But that's where all the good about this movie ends.  Let us not forget too, that Greta Gerwig initially wanted that COW^ Amy Schumer to play this role!  The movie is just not what Barbie is about.  And look, it's CALLED Barbie, and yes, it features many, many, many Barbies (one of the better aspects of the film), but it's too much about Ken.  Poor Ken.  Oh get over yourself!  Women have taken a backseat to men everywhere since the beginning of time, and she goes and makes the Barbie movie about KEN?  Are you kidding me?  And then there's Gloria and her "speech".  Have any of you seen or read the speech?  It's RIDICULOUS.  It may have held some water had it been written in 1959 when Barbie was introduced, but today?  It's utterly indulgent and insulting to women everywhere!!!  I've seen women in shirts with this speech printed on it, and I just shake my head.  Do they actually agree with all that BS, or do they just support it because they think they're supposed to?  UGH I hate it.  I hate it all.

^I apologize to cows everywhere for that analogy, I think most of us would rather have a real cow in our homes than be anywhere near Amy Schumer 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

31 Days of Crafting - Day Eight - Caffeinated Cuties

So last year, I didn't make a card for International Women's Day because I wanted to rebel against all the propaganda the media puts out there.  We don't deserve awards just because we're women, we want recognition for who we are and what we do, without attaching our genders to it!  Sorry, rant over.  Anyways, this year I DID want to make a card for women because I was watching Gilmore Girls, which I adore, and while yes, there are plenty of men in Stars Hollow, at the core, the show is about Lorelai and Rory and their relationship.  So I made this card in celebration of THAT.   

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• We Love Stamping - Feminine 1/3
• Crafty Catz - #667 Anything Goes 1/5
• Worldwide Crafters and Colorists - Anything Goes 2/3
• Word Art Wednesday - #638 Anything Goes 2/5

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Seven - Happy 1st Honey Pot Birthday!

When my niece turned one last year, we had a Winnie the Pooh birthday because she LOVES Pooh Bear and Kanga and Roo.  This is the card that I made for her.  I loved how it turned out and am so blessed to be able to use my art to help make her birthday special.

Just a few challenges:

• Word Art Wednesday - #638 Anything Goes 1/5
• Mix It Up Challenge Blog - #70 Anything Goes 1/8
• Polkadoodles - Week 8 Anything Goes 2/2
• Ally's Angels - #79 Anything Goes 8/8

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

**ANYTHING GOES** New Challenge with The Crafty Addicts!!

Hi everyone!!  It's time for a new challenge at The Crafty Addicts!!  Our theme is always:

ANYTHING GOES!!!

I came across this cut and emboss stencil in my stash the other day, and I'd never used it so I decided to make a card with it.  While I do really like how it came out, I'm also not sure it doesn't need something additional!

It's hard to photograph shaker cards vertically, because all the filler goes to the bottom!

There, that's better!!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• 
  

Be sure to check out the blog and see what the rest of the DT created.  Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Five - Christmas Bells

Happy Sunday!  I've got a sweet Christmas sketch card to share with you today!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• 
  

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

**SING A SONG** New Challenge with Get Creative Challenge!

Hi everyone!  It's a new challenge at Get Creative Challenges and our theme is Sing a Song!!  Music, lyrics, instruments, we can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Just a few challenges:

• Tawny Owl Paperie Sketch #19
• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Be sure to visit the blog to see what the rest of the DT created.  Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!! 

**ANYTHING GOES/HIP TO BE SQUARE** New Challenge with A Place To Start!!

Happy Monday!  It's a new challenge at A Place To Start and our theme this month is Hip To Be Square!  Sure we always have an anything goes option but square cards are easy (unless you're trying to mail them! 😝)

I have been having a blast turning these stickers into cards, and I love how this one turned out!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - #705 Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday - #637 Anything Goes 3/5

Be sure to visit the blog, play along and check out all the other DT's awesome projects!  Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting!  Laters!!

**SCOTLAND OR IRELAND** New Post with Fantasy Inspired IG Hop!!

Good morning, everyone!!  Today is the first Sunday of the month, and that means it's time for the Fantasy Inspired Instagram Hop!  I'm sharing my card here as well as on my IG, @royalpumpkinart.

Our theme this month is Ireland or Scotland, and honestly I've got a tiny bit of each in my ancestry, but I really don't think I have any Scottish stamps or dies (except maybe for a Scottie dog!) so I went with Ireland.  I used old Spellbinders dies to create this card and added the fairy for a bit of fantasy and whimsy!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - #705 Anything Goes

Be sure to visit Instagram to follow along with the rest of the hop and see how everyone else was inspired.  Thanks so much for looking and happy stamping!!  Laters!!

31 Days of Crafting - Day Two - Friends Forever

HAPPY NATIONAL CRAFT MONTH!!!!  I had DT posts yesterday, but I just had to get that out of my system.  I'm so excited, I love March.  I love the shopping and the new products and the creating and all the projects I'm trying to make and share. It's hysteria but I LOVE it!

Another thing I love?  Friends.  My favorite show of all time.  I absolutely had to get this stamp and die and paper collection when it came out, but it occured to me about a week ago that I could REALLY challenge myself creatively by using the colored die cuts that came in my bundle INSTEAD of the stamps and coordinating dies!

It was definitely a challenge.  For starters, I'm not a fan of the white edging on stamped images so I fussy-cut the white edge off of allllllll the die cuts.  It was a bit tricky with the lobster's antennae and Phoebe's guitar but I made it work.  I also had to darken Chandler's hair, because the precolored shade was just too pale.  It was almost the shade Chandler had briefly in S4 while Matthew Perry was doing reshoots for Three to Tango, but still too blonde.  So I changed that.

I kind of hid Monica behind the couch a little bit lololol.  But overall I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - #705 Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday - #637 Anything Goes 2/5

Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

**ANYTHING GOES** New Challenge with Morgan's Art World!!

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm so excited to announce that I've joined the Creative Team at Morgan's Art World!  I'm super exciting to be creating with Morgan's amazing art every month.  This month I'm working with Shades of Green, and as always our challenges are

ANYTHING GOES!!

I wanted to create a card that was more St. Patty's Day inspired than actually a St. Patrick's Day card, and I absolutely love how it came out.

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - #705 Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles - Week 8 Anything Goes 1/2
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #710 Female 1/2
• Worldwide Crafters and Colorists - Anything Goes 1/3
• As You Like It - Feminine or Masculine 1/3 (I'm a very girly girl and I don't really like making masculine cards, it's a struggle for me)
• Ally's Angels - #79 Anything Goes 7/8

Be sure to visit the challenge blog and see what everyone else has created!  Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!

**BUNNIES & BLOOMS!!** New Challenge with Simply Create Too!

Happy Friday!  It's a new challenge at Simply Create Too and our theme this month is Bunnies and Blooms!!!  With Easter at the end of this month, there's tons of opportunity for inspiration for this challenge!

Just a few challenges:

• Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks - #705 Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday - #637 Anything Goes 1/5
• 
  

Be sure to visit the blog to see what the rest of the DT created!  Thanks so much for looking and happy crafting.  Laters!!