It's starting to look a bit like Christmas....NOT!

I am on a mission. Not only do I want to create cards for challenges, not only do I have to build up "inventory" for some craft shows that I have entered with my sister, but I am determined to dwindle down my stash. It is so out of hand that I get nervous when I walk into my dining room. Too many things to look at, at once. Too many wonderful supplies calling my name, that I don't know where to begin. So I made a decision to clean. To purge. To move it out of here, in one form or fashion (have you ever thought about that phrase and what it really means??)

So, these cards were made with 2 challenges in mind. First, Cute Card Thursday. Challenge #77, Strawberry Mint Julep is the title. To make a project using the colors pink and green. The second challenge and my second posting entry is for Caardvarks, to use one of 3 sketches provided, I used all 3 sketches to make this cute gift set.

The Christmas papers are a retired set from Anna Griffin. I love the lime greens, holiday reds and bright pinks in this palette. The Christmas tree stamps are CTMH, Evergreen- using sweet leaf and black inks, and using rhinestones also from CTMH. The green glitter is a bargain from Martha Stewart that I picked up at Walmart. Miscellaneous pieces of ribbon to complete the look.

The sparkle and shine, the true colors really get lost on a computer screen. Front window shots help, but this coastal storm we have been in for the past 2 days doesn't help my lighting.

Thanks for stopping by today. I am off to work on more purging- speaking of which, ever check out Use It! ? This site offers a challenge each week, with 3-4 requirements to complete your project and to help you move out your hoardes. This week, my cards don't fit the criteria, but I kept it in mind as I was crafting!

totally thursday

Thursday. One more day to get through before the weekend. School holidays are really messing with my head, can't keep the schedules straight! So, back into a groove and trying to get some creating done. Today, I actually completed a sketch that is about 2 weeks old. Love this site, Twisted Thursdays (aka s2gcraftingchallenges.blogspot.com)- this was a sketch challenge with a twist of red being the primary color of the card. Used a digi stamp of theirs, fruitcake angel. Can't really see the sparkle of the angel wings, but they are there! Papers are Flair, generic red cardstock and I think bobunny ribbon (scrap).

This card is a sketch challenge at Caardvarks. One of 3 to choose from, I went with this sketch #2. The image is a digi I won from Soft Pencil (cute cute cute stuff!), colored in with markers. My eyesight ain't what it used to be and even with my glasses, have a hard time getting those small places! LOL!!!. Sentiment from CTMH, prima flowers. Glitter on her wings and the dust on the flower. Papers are from Debbie Mumm, Baby Boy pack. Now, to pick up my kids from the bus, library for research, dinner, homework, and some time with hubby.

Have a great evening! See you tomorrow. Don't forget to come back on Saturday for a new challenge from Sherrod Studio and next week we have some sneaks of new stamps arriving in the store on 9/19. They are AWESOME!!!

Baby Baby don't get hooked on me.....

An old Mac Davis song. My mother used to play his one record over and over again. Sultry, maybe country, but when the word baby is said, my head immediately thinks of these lyrics......makes me miss my mom (she passed away 19 years ago and not a day goes by that I don't miss her or think of her).

I digress, as usual. The challenge this week at Caardvarks is to make a baby card or bridal shower card. I am beyond both of these stages in life, but know more people having babies than getting married (boy do I feel old!) I have spent the last 2 days cleaning my living room/dining room and have been on a purging expedition (besides dusting and vacuuming!) Cleaning out books off of the 20ft bookshelf, passing on some good reads- even going to have a book swap in September! My dining room is where most of my scrapping stuff is and even I am feeling overwhelmed with all of the stuff that I have. No buying new yet. So, Kris (check out her blogversary contest for a chance at blog candy!)passed on some great Anna Griffin baby paper and I can say that I have used most of this line for some cards. The rubons were AG as well, and the teddy bears (how cute are they?) were a dollar store find! These are just the cutest 6x6 cards!

Enjoy your day and as I clean and purge more, maybe I will sneak in a card or 2!