Fabulous Friday: You are a Woman of Beautiful Countenance

Happy Friday girls! By the time you read this, I'll be enjoying some time with a few dear friends that are coming over in the morning with their little ones for a playdate! I'm so excited to get to spend time with them as they are lovely women who I cherish so dearly!

This week the designers from Sugar Creek Hollow are sharing a Mother's Day Card with you. It'll be here before you know it! I used the Mirror image along with one of the Cameo ladies from the Cameo set released in April to create my focal image. I simply spent some time selecting the woman image and transferring her to a transparent background and layered her over my mirror image. I did have to erase a bit of her collar to fit --- much like "masking" if this was a card made using traditional methods. Then I used the text tool to add my sentiment. It's based on Genesis 12:11. I thought it was perfect for the recipient of my card! Her beautiful smile always brings me joy!

Please take a moment and visit the rest of the Sugar Creek Hollow designers for their creations. I've seen some peeks and they are so lovely! You'll be happy you took the time! Be sure to visit Martha (linked below), our April guest designer with well-wishes. I also want to welcome Bernadette, our May guest designer (also linked below). Please go see her!! She is very new to blogging but not to creating! Her cards are so pretty and she is a lovely person as well! So go leave her some blog love. And then leave everyone else some love too!!

 Cheri ♥ Dani ♥ Donna ♥ Joan
Joseline ♥ Kristina ♥ Linda ♥ Loretta 

Marsha ♥ Nancy ♥ Sarah 

Stephanie ♥ Tracy ♥ Kelly

April Guest Designer
Martha
May Guest Designer
Bernadette

Don't forget to visit the store blog! There is a free image today and you HAVE to see Tracy's card using it! AH! Sooo gorgeous! And keep checking back as there is a new release just around the corner!

The Diedrich Dare: Spring Fever!

Hello girls! It's so good to see you! For this week's Diedrich Dare challenge, Madelynn challenged us to create a spring card!

The Greeting Farm has been our super wonderful, so generous sponsor this month. I can't remember if Nurse Anya was my first or second Anya but she's absolutely a favorite! As I was thinking about this challenge, the concept of spring fever came to mind. I taught high school for 11 years. And I know Jessica recently posted a card she made for Madelynn on her blog wishing her luck with the state tests. Those are happening *this* week here in Texas and I remember how spring fever set in after they were over. It was like you could heave a big sigh of relief. And with the warmer weather, my kids would came alive and beg to have class outside. So that was my inspiration for today!

I had a lot of fun paper piecing Nurse Anya's "scrubs". Isn't it so fun to see all the bright and happy patterns that nurses wear? At least the pediatric nurses which are the ones I have the most interaction with these days!
I'm really happy with my coloring on this card. I watercolored her and was channeling DareDevil Alumni Sandra the whole time! I even got some pink cheeks on her that look halfway decent! I hate to toot my own horn, but this is definitely a skill that has to be developed so I feel like I made a big leap here!

And here's the inside:

So - how will spring inspire you today? Create a spring card of your own and link it up over at the Dare blog! Be sure to visit the rest of the DareDevils too and see their spring cards!

Kris is the featured team member this week and her card is so stinkin' adorable!

Andrea Murdock ♥ Darla Wilson (on hiatus)  ♥ Heather Schlatter 

 ♥ Jacquie Peifer ♥ Jessica Diedrich ♥ Kim Ross  

Kris Palakiko  ♥ Krista Vantol ♥ Randi Wall ♥

Rebecca Ednie ♥  Sara Henton

Fabulous Friday: Barn Swallow Card

Hi girls! It's another Fabulous Friday - here at home and certainly over at Sugar Creek Hollow! Part of the fun is a free digital image that Tracy posts each week. This weeks is a really cute image perfect for summer! Be sure to go over and pick it up!

I have used the sketch for tomorrow for today's card --- and I have to say that I went a little overboard on this card. It's also one of my favorite cards ever! I really love how it turned out!

Yep - look at all those rhinestones. And I edged my flower in stickles. And some rhinestone swirls. And lace. And flowers - TWO of them!

I used the Barn Swallow image from Sugar Creek Hollow, one of my favorite images. I flipped it in Photoshop before printing it out so that my little birdie was facing the direction I wanted for my card.

Before I sat down to create this card, I went to the Daily Dare and decided to see if I could find any other challenges that I could incorporate into my card. I had a basic idea of what I was going to use. I found an old hymnal at a thrift store earlier in the week and knew that would factor in. As I explored each challenge, my card began to take shape --- and amazingly, I actually remembered each little thought that I had!!!!

Another look at my card -- this one all fancied up with a background and stuff. Which do you prefer, a blank background or the "styled" background?

Okay, here are all the challenges that I incorporated into my card!
Sugar Creek Hollow - sketch - it will post tomorrow on the store blog, but you can get a jump start today!

SCS Ways to Use It: Mixing Patterns
SCS Free for All: Take a Vacation - for the last few summers, my family has gone to the mountains. I love the peace and quiet. I love the less hurried pace. I LOVE waking up in the morning to a cool, crisp morning and hearing the birds sing. Watching the through the mountains....hence the hymn I chose - Behold the Dawn.
Something Completely Different: H - I knew I was going to use a humn in my sketch - that counts, right?
Dare U 2 Digi: Use Flowers
Clearly iStamp: Use ribbon - I used lace, that's the same, right?
S2G - Use flowers
The ABC Challenge: S is for Sparkle - I don't know if you can see in the photo, but the paper I pieced my bird on -- has a shimmer to it. It's really cool! It's from a GCD stack I got at Hobby Lobby.
The Belli Challenge: Use Die Cuts - my little branch for my birdie. I trimmed him off the branch he's drawn on and mounted him to this instead.
Fab 'n Funky: Get it All Out - use a guilty stash item. The stickpin is mine. It's a Making Memories that I bought forever and ever ago. It's one of those things that I find hard to use --- because then what if I don't have it in the future? Crazy, huh? I did add a little rhinestone to it as well.
Little Red Wagon: Ruffles -- this is the first time I've done this I think. Wow. That took some time! Worth it though, don't you think!?!
The Pixie Cottage: Make a card for Mother's Day or a Special Lady
Stampotique: Make a girly girl card. It's not pink but I think it's pretty girly!
Tellen's Place: Ink Distressing I did quite a bit of that on this one. The gingham in the background was black and white - I just smeared it with Antique Linen ink. Inked the edges of the decorative left panel and the hymn block. The gingham flower was also white and I inked it with a copic marker to darken it so it would match.
Wild Flower Patch - use paper piecing. Can you resist a polka dot bird? I sure can't!

Thanks so much for stopping by today ladies! I just love seeing that you swing by for a look-see. Don't foget to head over to Sugar Creek Hollow and pick up today's free image (click on the Fabulous Friday tag on the left). You can also shop for lots of digital images, including my barn swallow from today. For just a few dollars**, you can have instant gratification. We'd love to see you join in the sketch challenge too!
**Did you know that Sugar Creek Hollow funds a ministry at Tracy's church that feeds the hungry in her community? That's pretty cool in my opinion!

You should also go see what the other designers have for you today!

 Cheri ♥ Dani ♥ Donna ♥ Joan
Joseline ♥ Kristina ♥ Linda ♥ Loretta 

Marsha ♥ Nancy ♥ Sarah 

Stephanie ♥ Tracy ♥ Kelly

April Guest Designer
Martha

Girlfriends share all the good stuff!

Hey girls!

Oh my gosh --- I just came across the sweetest little blog candy offering. I HAD to sign up! Had to! I really want you to go see it also --- if you love shabby, vintage then you'll love it as much as me I'm sure!

GO HERE!!!!

Jen is just opening her vintage store Vintage Distractions and the candy is in celebration of her opening!

Bee-uatiful Color Combo

Hi girls! Time for another Diedrich Dare on this Whimsical Wednesday! This week we have a color challenge. These always stretch me outside of my comfort zone. I really think this is a great combo and hope that you'll join in with us this week! Be sure to link up your card over at the Dare blog!

I used the Bee Tile from Sugar Creek Hollow that was the free image this past week. This is one of my favorite images from SCH. I love the collage look and this is already done for me! Got to love that! I used this week's sketch from SCS for the layout.

I added a little color to the flowers and vine with some colored pencils. The bumblebee body was colored with a Dove blender and Pearl Ex and the wings were painted with Radiant Pearls. It's very sparkly in real life - perhaps you can get an idea from this next photo:

Take a spin over to the Diedrich Dare blog to see the featured team member this week. And check out the rest of the team members too!

Andrea Murdock ♥ Darla Wilson (on hiatus)  ♥ Heather Schlatter 

 ♥ Jacquie Peifer ♥ Jessica Diedrich ♥ Kim Ross  

Kris Palakiko  ♥ Krista Vantol ♥ Randi Wall ♥

Rebecca Ednie ♥  Sara Henton

Another Sketch Saturday by Sugar Creek Hollow

Have you seen the sketches Tracy is putting out over at Sugar Creek Hollow? They are wonderful for layering and embellishements galore. We'd love to have you play along! Here is this week's sketch; upload a link to your creation using the sketch over at the store blog!

I used the apron and one of the sentiments from Mama's Apron Strings, a set from the latest release. This apron was made for paper piecing! I thought it would look really neat to have the retro design made up using modern papers. This is such a fun image to use to celebrate Mother's Day!

You can find this set along with all the others from this release HERE under the New Releases. Make sure to click on the Fabulous Fridays tab too for the free digi images!

Vintage Baby Dress

Hello girls! Did you survive the week? I did get our taxes done and the extra time and effort really paid off. But I am glad that it's over!
Today is Friday and that means it's Fabulous Friday at Sugar Creek Hollow. One reason they are Fabulous is because Tracy gives away a free image on Fridays. Sometimes two - like today! So be sure to head over and grab them. I know one is making an encore because so many missed it the first time. And you can also pick up this sweet little dress for free today too.

Please visit the rest of the designers from Sugar Creek Hollow to see what they are sharing today. Today is the last day to enter your card for this week's sketch. There will be a new one up tomorrow, Saturday, April 17th.

 Cheri ♥ Dani ♥ Donna ♥ Joan
Joseline ♥ Kristina ♥ Linda ♥ Loretta 

Marsha ♥ Nancy ♥ Sarah 

Stephanie ♥ Tracy ♥

March Guest Designer

Kelly
April Guest Designer
Martha

Spring Doorway

Good morning girls! Spring is my favorite season. I love the warm/cool temperatures and the way the plants come back to life. The Diedrich Dare has another great sketch this week to play along with. I love how basic and simple it is. Love all the layers although I think I eliminated one or two.

I used a little bit of flower soft on the flowers in the basket. Someone sent me some ages ago and a gal used it last night at stamp club. Her projects were just gorgeous and so I decided to use an image that would work with the mix that I had.

I'm sorry this is up later in the morning. I was embossing my green layer when my little man woke up not exactly screaming, but crying so very hard. I'm still not sure if it was a bad dream or his tummy hurting. Regardless, he launched himself into my arms and asked to go to my bed. I added my favorite script stamp to the base for more dimension/texture/interest and assembled it this morning. Hope ya'll have a wonderful day!

Take a spin over to the Diedrich Dare blog to see the featured team member this week. And check out the rest of the team members too!

Andrea Murdock ♥ Darla Wilson (on hiatus)  ♥ Heather Schlatter 

 ♥ Jacquie Peifer ♥ Jessica Diedrich ♥ Kim Ross  

Kris Palakiko  ♥ Krista Vantol ♥ Randi Wall ♥

Rebecca Ednie ♥  Sara Henton ♥ Valerie Urtiaga

Ask, Seek, Knock

I wanted to share a card I made using one of the newest releases from Sugar Creek Hollow.

I love the way Tracy laid out this verse from Matthew. And the door image is just wonderful too. Be sure to go see the rest of the images that come in the set!

A little Note from Cassie - via friend Heather

 Happy Wednesday Everyone,

This is Cassies friend Heather here she called me this morning from her Mother In Law's House and is having Computer issues she can not get into her computer files or on the Internet.

She just wanted me to pop on and let you all know she will be posting her creations when she gets back home tonight and can connect to the Internet again!!!!

Drive Safe Cassie Girl!!!

Heather

Thanks Heather! I didn't have a chance to complete a card using traditional methods before leaving town for a bit so I opted to create a digital card for this week's Dare challenge. This week is an inspiration challenge using the photo below. I loved the pink and brown with all the white. My card doesn't have white like I would've used if I'd used traditional methods but I'm still learning so much about Photoshop.

The Greeting Farm is sponsoring the Diedrich Dare this month and I used one of the Ebony digi stamps. The sketch is from this week's sketch challenge at Splitcoaststampers and all the digi papers are from Summertime Designs.

Thanks for looking! I hope you've been by to see the rest of the Daredevils to see how they were inspired by the photo!

Sugar Creek Hollow Blog Hop

Hello girls! Today is a brand new day at Sugar Creek Hollow. We have some exciting news, new digis and a blog hop game to play today. And don't forget to pick up this week's free digi image. Oh my goodness girls it is SPECTACULAR!
First up, we want to welcome Martha from Creating Is Fun as our April Guest Designer. We also want to share that Kelly our March GD from Sandcastle Stamper has joined the SCH family as a full time designer. Please help me welcome these talented ladies to the team!

Now it's time to play and have some fun!!! Today is new release day. And Tracy is providing the sweetest prize pictured below along with 2 digi images from the store.

To win, you need to play along in our game! Start HERE at Stephanie's blog if you haven't already.
Each designer has a secret letter hidden on their blog. Leave a comment on each blog with their letter.
Put all the letters together (in order) and you'll have the secret word. (My letter is L)
Once you have found the secret word, post the entire word on the Sugar Creek Hollow website.

I used the frame from the Cameo Ladies set and layered one of the sentiments from Mama's Apron Strings set to create a card for my mom for mother's day. She mentioned the other day that she loved blue and yellow together so that inspired my color combo. The papers are Anna Griffin and I've distressed the edges with Old Paper and Tea  Dye ink. Some ribbon, pearls and flowers finish it off.

We were given the option of sharing our favorite verse and for the last several months mine has been Jeremiah 29:13-14a

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity;"

Click the button below to visit the next blog on the list! And in case that doesn't work, click HERE!