Batty for you (CYDI?20)

Hey folks! I am here with my first ever DT post for Can You Digi It? I have to admit, I was a little intimidated to take on this job, because digi is generally not my thing... but I figured, we all need to learn new things! Ha! So far so good, I think this turned out ok. As I go along, maybe I will figure out more programs, tricks, etc. But for this bad boy, I just copied and pasted the image into Excel, and resized, then printed out and punched it out. Pretty easy! I ended up doing an all neutral card, and decided not to even color this. LOVE this image! Isn't it cool? It comes with several layers as well as in the whole scene like I used here.

So, the challenge for this week is "Creepy and Kooky" definitely brings up Halloween, wouldn't you say? Here is the image board to get you going:

I also used this week's Mojo Monday 262 sketch, just too perfect!

It appears that EK Success must have made this card for me! LOL, last year's Martha Stewart Crafts papers, 2 EKS punches, a Jolee's pumpkin cabochon, and some SMASH tape! I also used some jute from the Ribbon Carousel.

Love the way this turned out, I really like the elegance that the all-neutral palette gives to it. I used the repeated element of the bats, on the DP, the digi image, and the cabochon. I also used an old cork cloud (layered behind the digi) from my "bits and pieces of things I need to use up box."

And that is it for me today! Hope you will come play with us this week at CYDI? I would love to see what you'll come up with! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: digi stamp: CYDI?; DP: Martha Stewart Crafts; cabochon: Jolee's Boutique; punches: EK Success; washi tape: SMASH; jute: Ribbon Carousel


DUST IT OFF!: An old cork cloud I was given in a SWAP makes a great backdrop for this cute image!

Witchy Woman (CQC158)

Hey all! Well as you probably saw yesterday, I have already scrapped up all my Halloween pics, so I am down to cards (and maybe some fun goodies) for the next few ColourQ challenges! Love this one, don't you?

LOVE Jim Shore! This is a darling box, if only I didn't already have waaaay too much holiday decorating junk! ;) 

I did a pretty CAS card. The hardest part was lining up that pumpkin stamp just so, the Stamp-a-ma-jig came in handy! It's actually a bit hard to tell in this photo, but the moon is punched from the More Mustard card stock. It looks pretty orange here, I think.

I wanted to include the witch as an homage to this cool Jim Shore witch hat! The silhouette was a perfect way to incorporate.

The sentiment came in on a "happy halloween" sticker that was handy! 

and that is all she wrote ;) -my Papa used to say that! Hope you all have a stellar day, blog friends! Be back soon! 

xoxox, Noelle

supply list: stamps: Inkadinkado; pattrened paper: K&Company; sentiment sticker: Doodlebug Designs; Copic Markers; large circle punch: EK Success; stamp-a-ma-jig for alignment

Autumn/Halloween Layouts from crop

Hey all! I promised you scrapbook photos and here's the first batch! When I go away on a crop or retreat, I try to zero in on 2-3 themes for scrapping. It seems I always take too much junk along with me anyway, but this helps me focus on what the best things are to bring, KWIM? For this crop that happened at the end of September, I worked on Christmas/Winter pics from the last 2 years, Autumn/Halloween pics from the last two years, and a few Mexico pics, and a train ride up the mountain. Worked out pretty good! Today's layouts are the Halloween/Autumn LOs. Enjoy! Any questions on manufacturers? Comment here and I will try to figure out what's what. At the very least I will make an educated guess! ;)  Hope you all are well blog friends!

xoxo, Noelle

Both this LO and the one above are from Ev's Fall parties
at school. One from 2010, and one from 2011.
Guess I shoulda thought twice before putting him in the
same shirt for both parties! LOL

Happy WCMD!! :)

Hi all! Crazy day, crazy day yesterday, too! But I couldn't let World Card Making Day get by without at least a couple little cards! ;) Actually when I sat down, I just wasn't sure if I had it in me, my mojo has been so touch and go lately, oy! But I was pleasantly surprised with the results, check it. I've got a birthday card (my favorite of the 2) and a cute thank you note as well:). What are you making today? Include your WCMD link to your blog if you choose to comment. I'd love to see what you came up with as well! :)

Well that is it for me today! I am hoping to get a few more done to send in to the contest before the postmark deadline on the 15th. Big hugs, blog friends!

xo, Noelle

CSI Pegboard Storage Post

Hey guys! My latest post for Craft Storage Ideas is live! Check out using pegboard as a storage solution tips! Be back soon:)

Noelle

You Make My Heart Soar (TCPTUES228)

Hi there blog friends! Hope you are all doing well and had a great weekend. I went to the crop and got 40 pages done, so I will have more pretties to show you as soon as I get them photographed! I am returning all comments tonight, can't wait to get around and see what all of you have been up to! I've found it's just easier for me to do a whole lot at one time than just a little here and there. So that's how I'm rolling! ;)

I just haven't been feeling my normal amount of mojo lately, though....

In my own defense, I've been really busy, have spent a lot of time cleaning out my studio, writing my next several posts for craftstorageideas.com, and also I have been asked to join a new team, I am now an "It Girl" at Can You Digi It?, more deets on that to come.... but I don't know why I just haven't had much urge to create things with paper and ink as I normally do! I guess artists get "blocked" sometimes just like writers do! So, today I thought I would push myself out of my mood, and into my studio and actually tackle a challenge. Love these colors at Dancing In Pajamas....  (Daffodil, Navy, and Olive) so right up my alley! :) Having a hard time getting the challenge color photo over here, so I'll see what I can figure out after I pick up the boys :)

I pulled out goodies from TCP, recently won a 10$ voucher from there and that gave me the excuse to buy this set I've had my eye on for ages! Love this gorgeous bird stamp set and coordinating CutUp :) I also pulled another little birdie from Nesting to perch on the edge of the birdhouse.

I felt the Cloud Border CutUpwould be a great place for the sentiment to "land." I found this yellow embellishment in an unopened package of cute paper flowers, all different colors. the yellow one looked like it would make a nice "sun" to me, and it was super easy peasy :)

That is all for me today, be back soon with some pretty pages and more fun stuff for you to see!

hugs, Noelle

supply list: dies and stamps: the Cat's Pajamas; patterned paper: K&Company; yellow embellishment: American Crafts

DUST IT OFF! Some years old patterned paper still made a great background for this card. 

Lightning McQueen/Cars Birthday Party: KA-CHOW!

Hey there! I wanted to share a few pics from Ev's recent birthday party. He is FIVE now, I just can't believe that my baby is 5. 

We actually have had quite the week with our little 5 year old... he went to bed as healthy as a horse on Monday night, then woke us up Tuesday morning at 145am totally gasping for air. He was so breathless and losing color fast, and after the 911 operator heard him breathing, we ended up taking our first ever ambulance ride to the hospital. Not an experience that I ever care to repeat, but I have to say that the First Responders/firefighters in our little community were so amazing and kind. We are so blessed here, so many incredible friends too. One who came over to sleep on our couch at 2am so hubby could join Evan and I at the hospital, and another who brought an amazing homemade lasagne meal over the next evening. I have been moved to tears so many times this week. My mom came up and helped me with kid-sitting and cooking and cleaning. So many people prayed for us.... we are just so blessed. God is so good and He had a close eye on my baby Monday night! It turned out to be croup. I had no clue it can come on that fast! Evan had had it to that extreme before, so I knew that it could be that severe, but no clue that it could get that bad that fast. 3 rounds of steroids and 2 x-rays later (to rule out any other possibilities) we got to come home. HOME looks pretty amazing after a hospital visit with your little one. Sure with 3 boys, we have been there several times before, and will likely be there again! But no fun that's for sure.

Anyway, Ev is a kid that just becomes fixated on one thing at a time, and right now that thing is Lightning McQueen and the whole Cars gang. He knows the names of every single car. He is on a quest to find himself a die cast Chick Hicks and Darrell Cartrip. He is going to be Lightning for Halloween. he even convinced the majority of his pre-k class to vote on naming the class fish "Lightning McQueen." LOL! 

So, OF COURSE, his birthday party had to be Cars, there just wasn't another choice! I didn't make as much of the party decorations as I like to do. Knowing how much Ev loves Cars, my Dad's wife had bought Cars birthday decorations to celebrate my DAD's birthday when we were out there. Heehee, I am sure Dad really loved that! ;) haha! Anyway, we brought home some plates, napkins, and a big "Happy Birthday" banner home from Dad's birthday to start us off. Cars is such a popular theme right now that Party City, and even Target had all the party stuff, and I was even able to order a Cars cake from our local Safeway.  

I did manage to make the centerpieces, and the thank you notes. We didn't do invitations this year, I did a facebook message instead. It's a good thing, too. Because I was THRILLED to get this Cars Cricut Cartridge on clearance for only 17$. But was bummed to learn that each car has like 15 layers! Holy smokes, just making these 3 took hours.

And in case you don't know the name of every car... the green/purple one on the left is Wingo, and the little forklift is Guido. ;)

I DID manage to make the thank you notes! This "Team McQueen" was on the cartridge too. My hubby, my other boys, and myself have certainly felt very much like "Team McQueen" these last weeks! A friend asked if it looked like Lightning McQueen threw up in our house? Yes, it kind of does! LOL. But Ev is so cute about it, he cracks me up! :) Here's the cards. I "stole" a few small Lightning stickers from Ev's 40,000 Cars stickers for the front of the cards. ;) 

I gave Ev the choice between the circles embossing folder and the stars. he picked circles, and after I started using it, I realized that was a great choice, since they look a lot like tires. 

We also had a Cars piñata and Cars game....

I made some pretzel pops with this Race Car Pretzel Mold and some red Candy melts. they were really easy! I recommend them for even those who don't have good cake decorating skills, like myself! Just melt and pour. Besides who doesn't like candy covered pretzels? Salty and sweet, YUM! :)

In my opinion, a party just isn't a party without a few helium balloons. truly I think I buy them more for myself! I love them! 

And, that sweet 5 year old who LOVED his party and all his (mostly Cars) presents. :) I love birthday parties! 

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Well, I am really excited because I'm going on a crop this weekend! So I will have lots of fun things to show you next week. Sorry I have been so sporadic. I'm getting in a good groove of returning comments, but it's usually only once or twice a week that I do so. I'm NOT ignoring you and will get back to you ASAP! :) Love you, blog friends! 

Noelle

supply list: assorted solid paper: generic; Cars Cricut Cartridge; Xyron laminating cartridge; Cuttlebug embossing folder; red glitter gems: Recollections; banner die: PTI; scoring board for medallions: Martha Stewart Crafts; pretzel mold and candy melts: Wilton