"The Cowboy Way Of Life"

Good Afternoon Everyone! Today I have a new creation to share with you, one that is in a completely different direction for me. Recently my brother, Randy has opened Rocky Run Saddle Tack & Trailer in Gleason, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Donna have a large selections of saddles, tack, and other related items! If you are a horse enthusiast and are in need of anything, feel free to contact Randy or Donna Ryan via Email or Phone: 715-873-4582. (They are willing to ship items via UPS, just contact them for details!) Now you understand the reason for me trying something new! LOL! 

I created this wonderful cowboy card using the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I really enjoy creating with their wonderful sketches, they help me to bring my thoughts together and I always end up with an awesome card! I will be submitting this card into their challenge #82. Don't despair as you have plenty of time to submit your own creation using this sketch. The close date and time is Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 8pm CST.

You're most likely wondering where I found such a wonderful cowboy image... Well I will tell you... at the Digi Doodle Shop. Judy and her Mother are the artists behind all of these wonderful digi stamps! I am sure you will find something that you love and there customer service is top notch! Also, currently they are having a 50% sale for the month of December! You still have another day to take advantage of this sale! I will be submitting this card to their store challenge blog, Digi Doodle Shop's Best. The theme of challenge #39 is "Anything Goes". The deadline for this challenge is Wednesday, January 5, 2011. So you will have plenty of time to shop their sale and submit your creation! I hope you decide to come and join in on the fun!

Material List

Stamps ~ Digi Doodle Shop (Image)

Designer Paper ~ Out Of Stash & Imitation Leather Fabric

Card Stock ~ X Press It & Stampin' Up (Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, & Handsome Hunter)

Nestabilities by Spellbinders ~ Petite Oval Large & Petite Scalloped Oval Large

Ranger Distress Ink (Weathered Wood & Faded Jeans) / Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool with Foam Pad

Punch ~ Stampin' Up

Suede Cord ~ Darice Jewelry Essentials Naturals

Silver Half Pearls ~ Recollections (Micheal's Stores Inc.)

Copic Sketch Markers

Cowboy ~ Hat, Vest, Belt, & Boots ~ E71, E74, E77, & E79

Shirt ~ B60, B63, & B66

Jeans ~ B91, B95, & B97

Hair ~ E25, E31, & E50

Skin ~ E000, E00, E21, & R02

Mug ~ C0, C3, & C5 

Log ~ E13, E15, E17, & E18

Grass ~ G09, G19, & G29

Fire Pit ~ Rocks ~ E71, E74, E77, & E79 / E11, E13, E15, E17, & E18

Flames ~ Y000, Y11, Y38, & R08

Coffee Pot ~ C0, C3, & C5

Ground ~ E71, E74, E77, & E79 / E11, E13, E15, E17, & E18

Shadow ~ B60 & C0

Atyou Spica Glitter Pen ~ 00 Clear (Fire Pit, Flames, Coffee Pot, Mug, & Accents On The Clothes)

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)!

Happy New Year and Happy Creating!

Sara

"The Beauty Of Myths"

Good Afternoon To All! I hope your Christmas Celebrations were wonderfully blessed! Today I have a wonderful card to share with you. This is my first time using my Sweet Pea Stamps... which I have found that I love them! If you have not seen or tried them before, you must pop over and browse at the selection that Lynette has at Sweet Pea Stamps. I am sure you will find something you will love! I am entering this creation into the In A Sweet Pea Dream Challenge #7. The theme of the challenge is "Anything At All Sweet Pea", there is still time to join in on the fun! I will also be including this card into the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge. The theme of this challenge is "Anything Goes". You can submit your creation until Sunday, January 14, 2011 at 6pm CST. I hope you will come and join me! This card was created with another wonderful sketch from Priscilla Styles Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. I will be entering it into her challenge, the sketch is MMSC #83! I had so much fun coming up with new embellishment combinations for this creation! There is still plenty of time to check out the sketches and enter your creations into the challenge. Let's see, there are 6 sketches available to be used #82, #83, & #84; each number has two different versions for you to choose from. The deadline date and time is Monday, January 3, 2011 at 7pm CST. I hope you decide to come and join me!

Material List

Stamps ~ Sweet Pea Stamps ~ "Fly Butterfly" by Ching-Chou Kuik

Designer Paper ~ Karen Foster Design

Card Stock ~ X Press It (Image) & Stampin' Up (Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, & Pale Plum)

Nestabilities by Spellbinder ~ Labels Eight

Lace ~ Out Of My Stash

Ribbon ~ Stampin' Up (Mauve Mist)

Stampin' Up Ink (Bashful Blue) / Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool with Foam Pad (Edge Of Image)

Cuttlebug Large Folder ~ Not Exactly Sure Of The Name

Half Pearls by Recollections (Michael's Stores Inc.)

Flowers ~ Iced Got Flowers? (Michael's) & Prima

Punch ~ Martha Stewart Punch ~ Branch

Stickles by Ranger ~ Star Dust (Wings, Spots On Her Dress, Edges Of Layers, Flowers, & Branch Punch Outs)

Copic Sketch Markers

Dress ~ B21, B32, & B41

Wings ~ BV00, BV11, & V17 / V01, V12, & V15

Hair ~ E25, E31, & E50

Skin ~ E000, E00, & E21

Eyes ~ B21, V12, & V15

Make-Up ~ V01, V15, B21, R20, & R85

Sun Spots ~ Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17, E31, & E50

Shadow ~ C00 & B0000

Atyou Spica Glitter Pens ~ 00 Clear (Dress, Hair, Make-Up, Wings, & Sun Spots)

10  Black (Eyes)

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)!

Happy New Year and Happy Creating!

Sara 

"Holly Season"

Good Evening Everyone! Happy Holidays to you all! This creation is a last minute Christmas card! LOL! Okay all of my Christmas cards were last minute this year. My planning wasn't as good as it should have been! LOL! Anyways, the sketch that I used for this card is by Sweet Sketch Wednesday Challenge #80. I just love working with their sketches because they make me think outside the box and my creations come together so much quicker! If you have some time, stop by and take a peak at the wonderful creations that the Design Team and other entrants have submitted!

Material List

Stamps ~ Stampin' Up (Bells & Boughs Set)

Designer Papers ~ Out of My Stash

Card Stock ~ X Press It (Image) & Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, & Real Red)

Nestabilities by Spellbinders ~ Classic Rectangles Small & Large

Rangers Inkessentials Blending Tool with Foam Pad (Edging on Image) &

Stampin' Up Ink (Creamy Caramel) 

Crystal Effects ~ Stampin' Up

Sharpie Paint Pen (Extra Fine Point0 ~ White

Ribbon ~ Celebrate It Holiday by Michael's Stores Inc. &

Bow Easy by Posi-Bendr Co.

Gold Half Pearls ~ Recollections (Michael's Stores Inc.)

Stickles by Ranger ~ Diamond

Copic Sketch Markers

Leaves ~ YG03, YG63, & YG67

Berries ~ R29 & R59

Branch ~ E13

Atyou Spica Glitter Pen ~ 00 (Clear)

Other Challenges...

Creative Belli Challenge ~ #106

Freshly Brewed Designs ~ Merry Christmas

A Spoonfull Of Sugar Challenge ~ #133

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)!

Happy Holidays and Happy Creating!

Sara

"Don't Ask!"

Good Morning To All! The creation that I will be sharing with you today was a challenge for me! I can say that I loved it! I have never made a card this fancy before. But it sure looks perfect, I think! LOL! What do you think? I used the wonderful sketch from Priscilla Styles Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #84. You still have plenty of time to enter her challenge, as she is having the last 3 sketches of the year (#82, #83, & #84) run until January 3rd, 2011 at 8 pm CST! So if you are looking for a way to unwind from all the holiday stress, hop on over to her site, take a look at the sketches and allow yourself some time to have fun!!!

Material List

Stamps ~ Whipper Snapper Design (Front Image), Stampabilities (First Inside Sentiment), & Stampin' Up (Second Inside Sentiment ~ Christmas Cheer Retired Set)

Designer Paper ~ Karen Foster Designs

Card Stock ~ X Press It (Image) & Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, & Brocade Blue)

Nestabilities by Spellbinders ~ Deckled Rectangle Small & Large

Crystal Effects by Stampin' Up (Nose, Collar, Light Bulbs, & Eyes)

Ribbon ~ Celebrate It Holiday by Michael's Stores Inc. (I used my NEW Bow Easy to make the wonderful bow!)

Sharpie Paint Marker Ultra Fine Point (White Accents on Image)

Stampin' Up Ink ~ Brocade Blue (Around Image)

Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool with Foam Pad (To Ink The Edges Around Image)

Stickles by Ranger ~ Star Dust

Rhinestone Swirls ~ Recollections (Michael's Stores Inc)

Copic Sketch Markers

Reindeer ~ Antlers ~ E11, E13, & E15

Face ~ E11, E15, & E17 / E11, E13, & E15 (Colorless Blender With Both Combo's)

Nose ~ R32, R35, & R37

Ears (Inside) ~ R20, R21, & R22

Collar ~ R32, R35, R37, C1, C3, & C5

Light Bulbs ~ R43, R46, YG23, YG25, B21, B23, Y04, Y06, & C5

Shadow ~ B0000

Atyou  Spica Glitter Pen ~ 00 Clear (Light Bulbs & Bells)

Other Challenges...

A Spoon Full Of Sugar Challenge ~ #133

Creative Belli Challenge ~ #106

Creative Card Crew Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Freshly Brewed Designs Challenge ~ Merry Christmas

Lexi's Creations Challenge ~ #28

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge ~ Christmas Inspired

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)! Comments are always welcome!

Happy Creating! Sara

"Can You Help Out?"

Please see the request below from a friend and fellow stamper:


Hi friends!

I need your help. I have a dear friend and fellow demonstrator (Bonnie Resch from Wittenberg) 6 weeks ago Bonnie's 19 year old son Braydin, fell out of his tree stand and was injured badly and may never walk again. He is paralyzed from the waist down and currently has use of just one finger. He is in the hospital in Milwaukee where he will undergo physical therapy 4 hours every day for the next 12 - 18 months. There is no guarantee he will ever walk again but Braydin is determined and will not quit trying.

I just got off the phone with Bonnie as she was driving home from Milwaukee. She has 3 other children at home to tend to so her and her husband take turns staying with Braydin in Milwaukee.

When you hear stuff like this - we sure have a lot to be thankful for!

Here is where I need your help (and I think I've come to the right source!) While talking to Bonnie I asked if there was anything I could do to help her out and she told me that Braydin loves getting mail. When you are sitting in a hospital room all day, everyday sometimes it's the little things that you look forward to and in Braydin's case he now lives for the mail.

So..... if you are up for doing a good deed, would you please send Braydin a card.

His address is:
Braydin Resch
5SE-Room 13
Froedtert Hospital
9200 West Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Thanks for helping if you can- and remember he will be there a long time so maybe after the holidays and every so often you could send another one too. And share this with as many stamping friends as you can. Stampers are the most caring people I know so like my friend Connie said, I know I have asked the right people to help out!!
Stamping smiles, Karen

As my friend Karen stated... if you can help at anytime that would so wonderful! We sometime forget how lucky and blessed we are; until something like this happens to someone that you know! Please if you wouldn't mind sending this on I would really appreciate it! Thanks to all of you that are able to send a card!

Happy Creating! Sara

"Christmas Bells Ring... Are Ya Listenin'?"

Good Evening Everyone! I am back with some creations to share with you! These creations are made from the same sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday #79. It is an awesome sketch and so versatile for any occasion; but since I am behind on some Christmas cards that is what I used it for. You still have a little time to upload your creations with Inlinkz. (Let's see... You can upload until 8 PM CST tonight!) Yep, I am just getting it in under the wire, again! LOL! Anyways, on to the material list...

Material List

Stamps ~ Stampin' Up (Front Image - Bells & Boughs Set & Inside Sentiment - Christmas Cheer Retired Set)

Designer Paper ~ Paper Pizazz

Card Stock ~ X Press It, Stampin' Up (Going Gray, Glorious Green, Handsome Hunter, & Real Red), & Wausau Papers - Metallic Series

Nestabilities by Spellbinders ~ Standard Circles Small & Petite Scalloped Circle Small

Black Micron Pen

Sharpie Paint Pen ~ Ultra Fine Point

Crystal Effects ~ Stampin' Up

Punch ~ Martha Stewart Holly Border Punch

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder ~ Happy Holidays (I Think)

Ribbon ~ Holiday Impressions by Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.

Stickles by Ranger ~ Crystal, Green, & Christmas Red

Copic Sketch Markers

Holly ~ G05, G07, G09, R24, R27, & R29

Ribbon ~ R29, R39, & R59

Bells ~ C1, C3, C5, R59, & G07

Shadow ~ C00

Atyou Spica Glitter Pen ~ 00 (Clear)

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)! I love comments, by the way! LOL! 

Happy Creating! Sara 

"My Very First Ever Blogger Award"

Good Morning Everyone,

I woke up to a wonderful surprise today! "The Stylish Blogger Award" has been given to me by one of my fellow blogger friends... Joynana a.k.a. Joyce! She is a wonderful person and oh so creative... she just had her first year blog anniversary! Congrats Joyce! (I happened to be the winner of her wonderful, yummy blog candy! LOL!) If you have time, please check out Joyce's Blog ~ LOVE THAT PAPER! As you can see below... is the beautiful award, that I will proudly display on my blog! Thanks so much Joyce for thinking of me!

Now there are a few instructions that go with this wonderful award... I need to tell y'all 8 things about me that you don't know!

1. I am the youngest of six siblings. I was raised with "old school" values. Do what you can for others as it will make it's way back to you and never judge a book by it's cover, meaning do not judge someone by sheer appearance... do your best to get to know them!
2. I was raised on a dairy farm in Northern Wisconsin. We often didn't have much, but did our best to be happy with what we did.
3. I am OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), I have to keep things in order, tidied up, and I have a bit of a problem with impulsive buying at times (especially when it comes to crafts and sales)! LOL!
4. I am divorced with no children. I am currently engaged to a wonderful man; Michael, who is the driving force behind my creative success. He is the one who has taught me the real meaning of dreams and has kept me working at them!
5. Christmas is my favorite holiday! It has nothing to do with presents, (not saying that they aren't nice) but it is more of the warm feeling you get when you decorate a tree, hang up some lights, and/or talk to someone who you haven't had a chance to in awhile. Life is so busy and hectic sometimes, that you forget to keep in touch... for me Christmas is the time of year in which I do this, whether I send a card, make a phone call, stop for a visit, or even send a wonderful catch up email. (With today's technology you have to roll with the times! LOL!)
6. Crowds SCARE Me, I will do my best to stay away from them if at all possible! Michael has been wonderful with this, he will accompany me, so that I can feel more comfortable. Previously I would just not go to any functions because of it. I had never traveled until I met him. 
7.  My favorite flowers are Yellow Roses! They were also my mothers favorite. She has been gone for 16 years now.
8. Last; but not least, I can very stubborn and pig headed! LOL! Bet you would have never thought that of me, but it is true! When I get something stuck in my head, very little will change my mind! (Not such a good value... but no one is perfect! LOL!)

The last instruction of the "Stylish Blog Award" is to pass it onto 8 other bloggers who inspire me...

1. Aletha at AJSDesigns
2. Colleen at Distinctive Touches
3. Bob at Happy Cardmaker
4. Karen at Karen's Kreative Kards
5. Kate at A Paper Reality
6. Pat at PJ's Place
7. Suzanne at Scrap Bitz
8. Heidi at Stamp Shoppe Creations

They are so many more bloggers out there that inspire me, but I would be here all day trying to list them all and I am really looking forward to doing some coloring and creating today! LOL!

I hope that everyone will continue to pass this on to others, as I feel this is a very positive way to go into and get through the holidays! I am sending wonderful thoughts to all of you, that you will have an awesome day/week!

Happy Creating! Sara

"Over The Weekend Blizzard"

Good Evening Everyone! I am sharing with you "Our Weekend Blizzard"! Michael took these pictures tonight around 8:30 PM. I think they turned out wonderful!

This is our home with all the Christmas Lights and Inflatable Decorations! Remember Christmas is my holiday! (I am like a little kid! LOL!)

In the above picture, is the road out in front of our home! We ended up with about 2 feet of actual snow! But with the blowing and drifting... it is more like 3 feet! It seems that our neighbors snow ended up in our yard too! LOL!

In the picture above, is the little park that is next door to us! After the plow came through today... you will not be able to get into the park, unless you want to climb over the snow bank; which is about 4 to 4 1/2 feet tall! LOL! (We will not be going over there anytime soon! LOL!)

This last picture is across the street from us... as you can see, MORE snow! LOL! It will definitely be a "White Christmas" for us this year!

I hope you enjoyed seeing what kept us busy over the weekend! LOL! We planned on having a quiet and relaxing weekend, well it was quiet for awhile until everyone decided to snow blow, plow, or shovel there driveways and sidewalks! Michael and I snow blowed and shoveled twice on Saturday and Sunday! Never fails... when you think you got it done... the plow truck or grader comes by and fills the end of the driveway up again! LOL!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! In spite of all the snow we did! And we got some holiday baking done in between also! As always thanks for stopping by... comments are always welcome!

Happy Creating! Sara

"Prairie Fairy ~ Spread The Word Blog Candy & Update

Good Evening Everyone! I wanted pop in and do a quick post about Prairie Fairy moving back to Blogger! She is offering some awesome blog candy! Check out the link to see what you need to do to enter! December 24th is the last day to enter... the drawing(s) will be held on December 26th! Good Luck To All! Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Creating! Sara

"Frosty Hug"

Good Morning Everyone! I am back... I am kicking this colds butt! Yay! LOL! Today's creation is serving several purposes! First off it is for a new challenge group I have found... Suzanne J. Dean's Scrapbitz Copic Ning Group Challenge . What an interest challenge she has going on until December 29, 2010. I have never done a challenge quite like this, you take different elements from some pictures she had chose and then create a project or card from it. She has some other criteria to follow, it really made me think! I like that... a new perspective on things! (One of my goals for 2011!) In order to make this creation, I used the Mojo Monday Sketch 168 . They fit together perfectly! With all of my other commitments the past few months, I did not have a chance to make any handmade Christmas Cards! Can you believe that? LOL! So this is serving that purpose too! Anyways, onto the materials...

Material List

Stamps ~ Stampin' Up (Front Image ~ Retired Snow Angel Set, Front Sentiment ~ Retired Mini Mates Set, Inside Sentiment ~ Retired Christmas Cheer Set)

Designer Paper ~ KI Memories (Winter Weather)

Card Stock ~ X Press It, Stampin' Up (Brocade Blue, Lavender Lace, Regal Rose, Going Gray, & Shimmery White)

Nestabilities by Spellbinders ~ Deckled Rectangles Small & Large

Ribbon ~ Stampin' Up (Going Gray)

Ole' Fashion Glitter ~ Stampin' Up - Dazzling Diamonds (On The Child's Hat & Coat)

Half Pearls ~ Recollections (Michael's)

Stickles by Ranger ~ Diamond (On Edges Of Nestabilities Cut Outs)

Copic Sketch Markers

Child ~ Hat, Coat, & Boots ~ B93, B95, B97, C5, & C00

Mittens ~ B93, B95, B97, BG11, BG13, & BG15

Scarf ~ BG11, BG13, & BG15

Hair ~ Y00, Y11, & Y15

Face ~ E00 & E53  Cheeks ~ E02

Snowman ~ Scarf ~ BV00, BV02, BV04, RV11, RV21, & RV13

Ear Muffs ~ RV11, RV21, RV13, & C5

Twig Arms ~ E13 & E17

Carrot Nose ~ Y38

Snow Body ~ C00, C1, & C3

Broom ~ E13, E15, & E17

Shadow ~ C00, C1, C3, & B000

Atyou Spica Glitter Pen ~ 00 Clear (Only On Snowman Snow Body)

Other Challenges...

A Spoonful of Sugar ~ Challenge 133

Creative Card Crew ~ Challenge Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly ~ Non-Traditional Christmas Colours

Tuesday Throwdown ~ Challenge CAS (Clean & Simple)

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)!

Happy Creating! Sara

Suzanne J. Dean's Big Blog Annoucement & Gift Give Aways

Good Morning To All,

I wanted to put out a quick post about a wonderful cause that Suzanne J. Dean is having through her Scrapbitz Blog. She is having a charity events to help the Fisher House. When you make a donation to this wonderful cause for our Military and their families, you will be entered into two gift give aways! I must say, they are awesome! If you have a few minutes please stop over at Suzanne J. Dean's Scrapbitz Blog and read all about this wonderful cause! Not to mention, if you are able to donate... what wonderful gifts she has to give away!

As always thanks for stopping by, if you have any questions feel free to leave me a message with a way to contact you (email or blog address)!

Happy Creating! Sara