Happy Halloween

This is going to be a different Halloween for me. My kids are 16, 13 and 12. My sixteen year old is working at his first job at a local grocery store and he's scheduled for tonight. Not that he would have gone trick or treating anyway-but it's different that he has a job and that's what he'll be doing tonight. My daughter, the 13 year old, is going to a friend's house to trick or treat and then is spending the night. (My kids go to Catholic school so they are all off of school tomorrow for All Saint's Day, in case you're wondering how kids do sleepovers on a Sunday night.) That leaves my 12 year old son. One of his friends is coming over to trick or treat in our neighborhood (but he's not spending the night since both my husband and I have to work tomorrow, like normal people!) and my daughter asked me the other day if I was going to walk around the neighborhood with Brendan and Ethan while they trick-or-treated. My answer was, of course, "yes" because that's what I've always done. She told me that I was babying him, after all, he IS in seventh grade. That got me thinking...do I baby him because he's my youngest? I talked about it with my husband who didn't quite come out and say I was babying him, but told me that he felt that Brendan and Ethan are more than capable of making their way around our neighborhood without my escorting them. I mean, I wasn't going to go up to the door with them or anything, I was just going to be in the street or on the sidewalk-you know, just around, just in case. Hmm...I guess I'm overprotective. I don't know. We live in a very safe area, both kids have cell phones if a problem should arise, and they both know to not go into someone's house so they should be fine...right? I'm not saying that I'm for sure staying home and not walking around....I still have 9 hours to decide...
In the meantime, I'm going to be making cards. Not Halloween cards, I'm finished with those. Here's a card I made with a Bugaboo Jesse Bear image:

Challenges:
Teddy Stampers-anything goes with a teddy bear
Just Cute Bears-sketch
Picture Perfect Creations-olive, tangerine, dk purple light brown
If you haven't heard, Bugaboo is having a DT call. Check out the details on how to apply HERE.

Bugaboo DT Call!

HEY! Have you heard? Bugaboo Stamps is having a DT Call and you can find all the details HERE. This is an AWESOME DT to be a part of so I hope you'll consider applying and if you do...GOOD LUCK!!

Catch the Bug Challenge Time

How do you like the new, weekly format of the Bugaboo Catch the Bug Challenge? I love it because it's more chances to see your fabulous creations. If you use a Bugaboo image (and why wouldn't you since there is a new freebie offered every Friday!?) you can win 7 images of your choice! Anyone, using any image in the challenge, can win second or third prizes which are 4 and 2 Bugaboo images of your choice. I hope you'll play along this week where the challenge is:
Whirling, Swirling, Twirling Autumn-use autumn colors or themes on your card. Easy Peasy, right?
You know I HAD to choose something from the AKV Fall line so I used this cutie:

I hope you'll join in the challenge, I'd love to see what you make! I'm entering this into the Raise the Bar challenge which is GO GO GO...use anything with wheels.

Freebie Friday!

Hooray for Friday, one of the best days of the week for many reasons. The main one being that you can always count on a fabulous free digi image from Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps. Jodie figured you were all "Halloweened out" so she's moving on to a new holiday with this week's FREEBIE. Yep, you guessed it...it's time to start working on your Christmas cards so get going with this adorable new Santa image:

If you like this one, you'll want to head over to Bugaboo to check out the rest of the line. I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed.
This card is going in the ABC Christmas challenge which is V for Vertical. You're supposed to use two other V words on your card so I'm chosing VIVID and VIVACIOUS to describe the colors and the character of the santa. This also works for the Moving Along with the Times challenge which is "something for a child" and the Digi Doodle Shop's Best challenge which is "Anything goes".

Cutesy Cover

Have you ever been to "My Time Made Easy"? They offer templates so you can make all kinds of super cute things, like this one called The Cutesy Cover. This one is a freebie so you can check it out and see if you like it. I know it has inspired me to see what else they have available because this little cover is so cute. Of course, what prompted me to do this is the Just Us Girls challenge but I dragged my feet a little too long and now I'm too late for that challenge. Oh well-the challenge still got me to try something I don't normally do so that's cool.
Oh, and this image...it's called Poppi Christmas and it's a freebie if you subscribe to the Bugaboo Newsletter. The next issue is due out Monday. Head over to Catch the Bug to subscribe (on the right hand side bar) so you don't miss out.

And it opens like this:

Challenges that I wasn't TOO LATE for:
Speedy the Cat-die cuts or punches
One Stop Craft Challenge-photo inspiration
Sparkle Creations Christmas Card-use flowers on a christmas creation
Spoon Full of Sugar-die cuts or punches

More Fall Fun

You only have a few more days to make Halloween cards, but it's going to be Fall for another month and a half so there are plenty of opportunities to use some of Jodie's Bugaboo A Kid's View Fall images like this one:

Challenges:
All sorts-spots and stripes
Sketch and Stash-sketch and new stash (buttons for me)
Paper Sundaes-female and something in nature
Crafty Hos-inspiration photo-tree, fall colors

Oldie But Goodie Day

Okay, last chance for a super cute Halloween card made with and adorable Bugaboo Bobblehead Halloween image. Head over to Bugaboo today and pick this one up, you still have time to make something cute for your favorite little goblins!

Challenges:
Our Creative Corner -use green. orange, purple and black.
Treehouse-things that go bump in the night
Pixie Dust Challenge-halloween theme
Paper Play Challenges-a haunting we will go

Almost the end of the Halloween Cards

Yes, it's true. With Halloween just a few days away, you are running out of time to get and use some of these adorable Bugaboo Halloween images. This Goofy Cat is just one of many cuties you can get and turn into something fabulous for Halloween:

Challenges:
Pixie Dust Challenge-sketch and halloween/pink/or fall theme
Raise the Bar-orange black and purple
Little Red Wagon-halloween theme
Crafty Creations Challenge-halloween theme

New Release Day at Bugaboo

Hooray for Tuesday! It's new release day at Bugaboo Stamps. Today, Jodie is releasing more Fancy Sunbonnets, including this one that is just in time for Halloween. Head over to Bugaboo to check out the rest of the new images today!

Challenges:
Crazy 4 Challenges-halloween theme
Corosive Challenge-halloween theme

A Simple Snowman

Don't you just love the Marshmallow Snowmen from Bugaboo Stamps? You know I love all things snowman related and these Bugaboos are just perfect for any winter type card you want to make.

Challenges:
Colour Create Challenge-aqua purple and white
Digi Doodles Challenge-keep it simple, no DP and one embelli only
Stamp Scrap N Doodle-Christmas with no red or green

More Gus

Did you know that Jodie at Bugaboo stamps recently released some new Gus images. Birthday images to be specific.

The sentiment for this image is "If these are the Golden Years, I am NOT impressed"
Challenges:
Paper Play Challenges-blue orange and olive green
Cute Card Thursday-sketch

More of the Chosen One

Have you seen the line of Harry Potter inspired images from Bugaboo Stamps? If you are a HP fan, you have GOT to go check them out. They are wonderful as you can see from this image, called "The Chosen One":

I used the sketch from one challenge and the colors from another challenge that I am too late to enter now! But I am including it in the Cards for Men challenge this week which is "Anything Goes" as long as it is a male-themed card.

Back to My Favorite

You know that I love all things Bugaboo and I often say that this is adorable or that is fantastic. One thing that remains the same is that Sean, of the Bugaboo Brats line, is still my favorite. There is just something SO cute about him, no matter what he is doing. And in this case, how much sweeter could he possibly be?

Challenges:
Crafty Creations Challenge-red brown and green
Midnight Madness Sketch-sketch

Just Cause Challenge Time

Did you pick up the Friday Freebie that Jodie from Bugaboo stamps gave away yesterday? You're going to need it today. The challenge this week at Catch the Bug is to make a card that represents a cause that you believe in or that has affected your life in some way. I used the bear again and this time I colored the ribbon gold to represent Childhood Cancer awareness.

In the summer of 1977, my then nine year old sister fell off the monkey bars on our backyard swingset. My mom called the doctor because she was having some pain in her back but it wasn't that serious of a fall so the doctor thought there was no need to come in. After several more days of the pain not subsiding, my mom brought her back to the doctor and this time insisted they take x-rays. The doctors and my parents were shocked to find out that the pain she was having was not from the fall, but from the cancer that had invaded her kidneys. What followed was a series of operations, chemo therapy and radiation. I don't remember a lot of details, but I do remember her losing her hair, being very sick from the chemo and crying out in the night that she just wanted to die. She did die, on January 5, 1978 at the age of ten. I can't think of anything worse than watching your child die, and I honestly do not know how my parents survived that. My heart goes out to any family with a child with cancer. Hopefully, with awareness and funding, we can make childhood cancer a thing of the past.
If you are interested in reading more about the Childhood Cancer Advocacy Group, you can find them HERE. Another great organization is the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. You can check them out HERE.
I hope you'll join in the challenge at Catch the Bug. You can win your choice of seven, four or two images of your choice. We'd love to see what you make and hear about the causes that are close to your heart so please join in.
To make this card, I used the Sketch from Papertake Weekly.

It's Time for a Freebie Friday

You know that Jodie couldn't let the month of October pass without some sort of acknowledgement about October being breast cancer awareness month. I know, everyone knows that it is, but it's still nice to take a moment to think about those we know who have lost their lives to breast cancer, thank God for the survivors(my mom!), and look forward to a day when we can really say there is a cure. Jodie's freebie today is this adorable little bear with a ribbon. Of course you can color that ribbon whatever color you would like, but since it is October, I chose pink. There is also an adorable bunny up for grabs today. Head over to the Bugaboo store to get yours and see the rest of the sets.

I'm entering this card in this week's Crafty Cardmakers challenge which is to use a freebie and the Teddy Stampers challenge which is an open theme this week, as long as you use a bear. It's also going to Stampin Royalty whose theme is "ribbon" this week and the Treehouse Stamps challenge which is "what are you thankful for" and I am thankful that my mom is a breast cancer survivor.

Fancy Flowers

Have you seen the Bugaboo stamps line of Fancy Sunbonnets? This is one of my favorites, her holding the flowers. There are all kinds of sunbonnets and fancy sunbonnets over at Bugaboo. If you like this one, you'll find many more favorites over there.

Challenges:
All sorts-buttons flowers stickles (from the bingo board)
ABC Challenge-f is for flowers
Incy Wincy-pink and brown
Sketch Saturday-sketch

A Picture Perfect Ho

Have you played along with the Crafty Ho's challenge? If not, you should check it out. They have a fun new challenge every week and this week, it's a sketch. I combined their sketch with another one of my favorite challenges, the Picture Perfect Creations challenge. It's always a color challenge and this week, the colors are pink, turquois and chocolate chip. I used this bird image from Bugaboo Stamps.

Oldie But Goodie Day

Hooray for Thursday because that's when we all get to add to our Bugaboo Stamps Wish List. How do we do that, you may ask? Well, we check out the Oldie But Goodie day at Catch the Bug. That's where you'll see the Bugaboo Design Team has used some of their favorite images from the past. Some pretty old, some not so old but all of them adorable and wonderful and maybe, just maybe, you forgot about them. Today I used another image from the A Kid's View Fall line of stamps.

Check out Catch the Bug to see what the rest of the DT wants to remind you about today. Then head over to the Bugaboo shop and pick up some of those items on your wish list.

It's a GREAT DAY!

Woo hoo! It's Tuesday and that means it's New Release day at Bugaboo Stamps. Today, Jodie is showcasing some new "Gus" images which are always a riot. In addition to that, there are some new Brats! How awesome is that?
First, here is Gus:

This card is being entered into the Tuesday Throwdown challenge which is Anything Goes.
And now, some new Bugaboo Brats, along with some accessories. The Witch and the Wizard are images and the broom and the bench are separate images. I combined them, which is a first for me!

Challenges:
One Stop Craft Challenge-Halloween
Spoon Full of Sugar-halloween
There She Goes Challenge-orange black and green

Challenges:
Our Creative Corner-3 different embellies (stickers, button, ribbon)
Crazy 4 Challenges-fall autumn
Crazy challenge-halloween
Pollycraft-purple green and one other
Head over to Bugaboo and pick up these new cuties for yourself.

Sweetest Day Challenge

Have you heard of "Sweetest Day"? Well, if you don't live in the Upper Midwest of the United States, you probably haven't. Turns out Sweetest Day is kind of a regional "holiday" which explains why I knew about it growing up in Chicago but can honestly say that in the 20+ years I've lived in St. Louis, I don't believe I've heard it mentioned. :) Well, despite that, it IS still Sweetest Day so Bugaboo Stamps and Catch the Bug are having a SWEET challenge for you...create something that features something sweet, or just something "love" related, either one. Enter your creation at the Catch the Bug blog and be in the running for free Bugaboo digis.
Here's what I made using the Teddy Cupcake image:

Challenges:
Paper Play Challenges-photo inspiration-colorful cupcakes

Freebie Friday!

You know I love the line of stamps that Jodie from Bugaboo Stamps draws that is called "A Kid's View". They're all just so CUTE and most recently I've been loving the AKV Fall images. Today, Jodie releases these AKV Halloween images and they too are ADORABLE! Check out this one that is called "AKV Witch":

Head over to Catch the Bug to see what the rest of the Bugaboo DT did with this image and check out Bugaboo Stamps to pick up the rest of them.
Challenges:
Stampin Royalty-spooky kooky halloween
Moving Along with the times-halloween

Toppers

Have you been to the Bugaboo store and scrolled through the many varieties of images Jodie has for sale? You could spend days looking at all of it and of course, your wish list would be a mile long. Have you ever checked out the "Toppers"? I'm not really sure why they're called toppers or how they're actually meant to be used but since they're digis and can be resized, I don't see why you can't just use them as the main focus of your card.

This guy, like I said, is from the Toppers collection and he's called, quite simply, "boy". :)
Challenges:
Crafty Hos-red green and brown
Sketch Saturday-sketch
Digi Doodles Challenge-use an image of a person

At It Again...

If you've read my blog much at all you know that I have a problem actually getting my projects posted. I don't know why. It's not like I dislike using Blogger or find it difficult. I have everything I need to do a post yet I put it off and put it off. Well today is the drop dead day for two projects so I have to get them posted in time to meet some challenge deadlines.
The first one is using a Tooth Fairy image from Bugaboo:

Isn't she adorable? All my kids are past losing their teeth (sigh) but I do have a niece that would probably love this card so it's going to her next time she loses a tooth.
Challenges:
City Crafter-something with wings
Little Red Wagon-something old something new(new-image, old-embroidery floss)
Midnight Madness Sketch-sketch
Pollycraft-fairytale
Cowgirl Up-girly card include pearls

The Chosen One

Have you seen Jodie's new line of Harry Potter inspired images? They're all fantastic. Head over to Bugaboo to check them out, including this one of The Chosen One himself:

Challenges:
Speedy the Cat-stripes
Create for fun-use digital stamp

Oldie but Goodie Day at Bugaboo

It's Thursday again so it's time once more for Oldie but Goodie day at Bugaboo! Time to see some older, possibly forgotten Bugaboo images in a new light. Head over to the Catch the Bug Blog to see what the rest of the Bugaboo DT chose to work with this week. You might find yourself adding to your wish list. This week I chose another adorable image from the A Kids' View Fall line:

You should go check these out. I think you'll fall in love with each and every one of them. I'm serious, one is cuter than the next.
Challenges:
Paper Sundaes-change of seasons
Daisy Doodle Stamps-use digi, manly card, autumn theme

Have you Seen The Brave One?

Have you seen Jodie's new line of Harry Potter inspired images at the Bugaboo shop? There is a blog hop going on that you still have time to join in on, and a challenge...there are four opportunities to win free Bugaboo images, including the new HP inspired ones. This one is called "The Brave One"

Challenges:
Colour Create Challenge-pink green and cream
Raise the Bar-raise the bra-pink with female image or any awareness theme

Falling for Teddy Bears..

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the weather, the holidays...you name it, I love Fall. It's great that a lot of challenges at this time of year challenge us to use fall colors...perfect, no problem! My latest is this boy bear image from Bugaboo:

Challenges:
Paper Play Challenges-sketch
Teddy Stampers-teddy and fall colors

New Release Day at Bugaboo

I know you love Tuesdays as much as I do because it's New Release Day at Bugaboo! Woo hoo! This week, Jodie is releasing these adorable Goofy Cats!

How cute is this guy? I know, adorable, right? Head over to the Bugaboo store to check out the rest of the line, you will NOT be disappointed.
Challenges:
Stamp Scrap and Doodle-halloween or fall projects
Treehouse-orange purple and black
Digi Doodles Challenge-use orange

A Magical Birthday Wish

Have you seen the new Harry Potter inspired stamps from Jodie at Bugaboo? If not, head over there and check them out. There is still time to get in on the blog hop and the challenge with lots of chances to win free images. AND if you buy the whole Har Repotter set, you get a whole set of Magical Tidbits for free. This is a birthday card I made using "The Chosen One":

Challenges:
Digital Tuesday Challenge-stitching (faux or real) and a digi image
Crazy 4 Challenges-birthday
Cards for Men-birthday for a boy or man
Our Creative Corner-sketch
Secret crafter-distressing
Incy Wincy-faux it up (stitching)
There She Goes Challenge-kraft base-black white splash color-dry embossing

Happy Monday!

Did you all have a good weekend? I did but as always, it went waaay too fast. Back to work today for me, though two of my kids and my hubby have the day off. Booooo. I hate coming to work on days like this. You know what cheers me up is thinking of how close we are to the holidays! It's always a good day when you can post a cutie Christmas card made with a Bugaboo image:

Challenges:
Bah Humbug-favorite christmas cuties
Midnight Madness Sketch-sketch
Simple doodles-winter warmer

Bugaboo Stamps Har Repotter Blog Hop & Challenge

Hello! Welcome to the Bugaboo Stamps Har Repotter New Release Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from Sandye's Blog. What did you think of her "Spoiled One" card? Pretty awesome, huh? Do you know the answer to her Harry Potter Trivia question? Hmm...

HEY! If you arrived here by accident and didn't know about the blog hop, go back to the beginning, you do not want to miss out on any of the fun and chances to win prizes. The hop starts HERE at Jodie's blog. Jodie, if you don't know, is the creative GENIUS behind all of the fantastic Bugaboo images....including the latest Har Repotter set. Did you see the Freebie "Gentle One" yesterday? Isn't he AWESOME? He looked kind of like this, didn't he:

I got to work with Jodie's new "Wise One" image for my project.


Your next stop is Scrappy.
Here is a complete list of the blog hop order, in case you get lost along the way:
Jodie Mackrell
Paul Ford
Joy Stagg
Jackie Rakoski
Tammy Miller
Rae Anne Springer
Audrey Ernst
Cammy Wall
Melissa Sackman
Jackie Randolph
Sandye Curry
Lori Padberg
Scrappy
Michele L
Jenny Erichson
Min Kwiatowski, GD for 10/2010
Deanne Kay, Biggest Fan for 10/2010
Have fun on the hop and good luck!

The BEST Freebie EVER

I'm not kidding. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this freebie that Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps is giving away today. I mean seriously, is this not THE MOST AWESOME freebie you've ever received? How perfect is this drawing of a certain Gentle Giant (or half giant!) I absolutely love it. If you're not a fan of the Harry Potter books then I guess my excitement is lost on you but I think you can still enjoy him as a friendly fellow. :)

Be sure to come back tomorrow for a blog hop where you can see the rest of the new Har Repotter images ( no, that is NOT a typo) that Jodie is releasing..AND you have lots of chances to win some of your own!

Challenges:
Stamp Scrap and Doodle-anything goes
Digital Tuesday Challenge-ribbons buttons bling(any or all-I used a ribbon) and a digi

Best Buds

Some of the first images from Bugaboo that I totally fell in love with were the Bugaboo Brats. These are some of the most adorable kids EVER, including these two from the Bugaboo Brats line. This image is called Best Buds:

Challenges:
Crafty Hos: Something for a child
Create for Fun: sketch

A Flowery Thank You

In addition to all the sassy characters, adorable children and animals, and Bobbleheads, Bugaboo stamps has a wide variety of floral images too, like this one from the Flower Watercans line of images. This one is called Daisy:

I used the sketch from Card Patterns this week to make this card.

Oldie but Goodie Day at Bugaboo

And once again, Thursday rolls around. One of the best days of the week because you get to see some long forgotten Bugaboo images that the DT rolls out for Oldie But Goodie Day. I admit, this one is not THAT old...a couple of weeks or so...but in case he got lost in all the Halloween scariness that is out there, I wanted you to take another look at the Halloween Bobbleheads. How cute are these guys?

Head over to the Catch the Bug Blog to see what the rest of the Bugaboo DT chose for their Oldie but Goodie projects today. Who knows, you might have a few additions to your wish list.
This card is for the Cowgirl Up challenge which is to make anything Halloween related and the City Crafter challenge which is to make a card for any holiday.


I didn't forget about those of you wondering what all the fuss is about with the spooky sidebar image, the sneak peeks, etc. Here is your sneak peek for today:

Are you still wondering? Do you have any guesses? Come back tomorrow to see more...

More Bobbleheads

But this time, it's Bobblehead Christmas. I just love all the Bobbleheads that Jodie at Bugaboo stamps creates. This Bobblehead Reindeer is no exception:

Challenges:
Sparkle Creations Christmas Card-fave christmas movie
just us girls-sketch
You can also find a Bobblehead Snowman, Gingerbread Man, Santa, Mrs. Claus...just go check them out!

Sneak Peek Number Two

Did my post yesterday get you wondering? Are you still wondering what the big surprise could be on Saturday? Well.....


You'll have to wait till Saturday of course! But, I promise you it will be worth it. To tide you over one more day, here's another sneak peek:

Hmm...any guesses?

More Marshmallow Snowmen

I never get tired of these Marshmallow Snowmen from Bugaboo Stamps. They are so cute and perfect for holiday cards.

Here's a closeup so you can see the sparkle:

Challenges:
Corrosive Challenge-turquois pink and red
Spoon Full of Sugar-sparkle and shine
Incy Wincy-glitter

A Gift for You

How cute is this little Bobblehead Scarcrow from the Bugaboo Bobblehead Thanksgiving line of images? TOO cute, seriously.

I colored him with Copics and used my Houndstooth embossing folder for the background papers. This card is for the Crazy4Challenges challenge this week which is to use pumpkin, green, yellow, black and kraft.