Anything Goes

Hello my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I had a very full day today! Cleaning, cooking a huge Pot Roast, creating a couple cards, laundry, baking brownies for my honey and I watched a movie.    I'm tired.
I finally saw Eat Pray Love!!! Oh my goodness what a great movie. I love the beginning and her first time talking to God. That reminded me of my first time as an adult. It is a very real experience. I liked what she said "what do you say"? Her comment. "Hi I'm a big fan of yours" I bet He was rolling on clouds over that one. I know he smiled and gave a chuckle.
It was a great girls film and I cried several times.

I made a couple cards too. My DH  asked me for a retirement card for his co-worker who is retiring tomorrow . He is a biker and this stamp just called out Ron! I made it very large so everyone in the department can write him a little note.

The second card is for The Paper Players- Anything Goes Challenge. http://www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com    Here is what I submitted I hope you all like it!
I was doing some cleaning the other day here in the studio and came across this great bamboo paper I purchased several years ago and thought I would use it to make a card sometime. Well today seemed like the perfect day to do it.
Let me know what you think .

Okay I am done with this day. Now you all go create something fun.

100th Post today! Wow!

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this 100th post finds you all well and happy. This has been an amazing week 10,000 its, 100th post. Thank you all for stopping by it has been an adventure for sure.
What a weekend non-stop I'm telling you. We just got back from dinner at Macaroni Grille Yummy! I think I skated out of there with under 900 calories total. Good thing I didn't have lunch right!
We are having our friend Ray over for a movie (no dinner for Ray because we went out) We usually have Dinner and a movie with Ray every Sunday. His girl lives far away so he get's a home cooked meal out of me at least once a week. We don't mind at all he is a nice guy.
I think my DH picked Blade III, vampires, blood, guts sort of thing, so I better get posting and get my comfy clothes on a get bundled up on the couch.

Here is May, June and July's pages for my Dates to Remember Book.

Have a great evening now go create something fun.

Blog Candy Winner

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

As I said I would do, all names of those who commented every day went into a box DD was working so DH helped me out. He said "We have a winner"! Anita A from Turlock CA. Congratulations Anita, I will get your goodies out to you this week.

We were really busy with my Brother in laws Birthday Party last night and a dinner party this afternoon. My BIL was really happy with his party, but my DS had to tell him 25 people were coming to dinner so it was not a surprise. He could have picked up an extra shift but declined due to all the festivities.

We went to a CARNE FEST? tonight for an early dinner. (Vegetarians don't listen :) There was a Roasted Pig, Turkey, Salmon, Shrimp, Chicken wings, Tri Tip, Antalope, Meatballs and assorted side dishes. The invitation said BYOV "bring you own veggies" lololol . We had never been to one of these types of parties before. It was really yummy, they smoked, BBQ and Steamed all the meat you could eat. We chatted with old friends made a few new ones and had a great time.

We came home around 8:00pm  so I made 3 more pages for my Dates to Remember Book (May, June and July) that I will share with you tomorrow .

In addition, I made a fun card for Anita. It is an Envelope fold out card. They are fun to make and I believe I have a tutorial on a previous post from this summer.  http://mylittlepatchofdirt.blogspot.com/2010/06/vcrocks-summer-blog-hop-2.html  Now for Anita's card. I made a special envelope for it that will be included in her blog candy as well.

I hope you like it Anita. Then I made a card for my DM. She needed a masculine card that has music on it??? Here you go mom.

I hope he likes it and has a great birthday. I forgot to take a picture of my BIL's card but what's really funny is, I wrote a silly/sarcastic little note inside the card stating not to worry about turning FIFTY , false teeth, going to the bathroom, hearing aid's and that sort of stuff. He has a good scenes of humor and he laughed.
We are tired from a busy day and are gearing down to hit the sack. So, it is your turn go create something fun.

Dates to Remember

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
Sorry I didn't post yesterday I have been working on a Dates to Remember Book. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with a chipboard book my BFF (Hi Carey) gave me, that I had put in my stash. It has a great spiral binding on it perfect for tying ribbon pieces on the left hand side. It has 14 pages so I thought a Monthly Dates to Remember Book would work out great for this amount of pages. I am not done with it yet , but I will show you what I have so far.

This is the cover, see the big spiral binding it has on it. That is so going to look good I can't wait.
Each months page as an envelope for putting names with birthdays, or anniversaries... you get what I mean. I think I will even put a little sheet of paper in the envelope so I can keep a list going of special dates so I do not forget who to send a card to.

This is the inside cover page see the envelope! I embossed each one differently and put a strip of corresponding DSP on it for the flap so my list does not fall out. This is Jan. and Feb;s pages.

March and April is next.

Well that's it for me today. I have to hurry and make two masculine cards. My BIL is turning 50 and we are having a surprise dinner party for him (I hope he doesn't read my blog YIKES). Then my mom is going to a birthday party tomorrow night and asked for a musical card for her friend???? What am I to do? I'll take some pictures when I get them done.
Have a great evening. Don't for get to leave me a comment for some Blog Candy. I'm still taking names and will pick a winner tomorrow. Remember to leave me your e-mail address so I can contact you. Now go create something fun.

Things to Do Today

Hello my blogging friends. I  hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I want to thank everyone who left a comment on my blog yesterday, it really made me feel good and makes me want to do better. Don't forget to leave another message as I am giving away Blog Candy on Saturday. If you left a comment yesterday I tried to contact every one to say thank you, but some I could not reach? Please leave me an e-mail address because if you win I would love to contact you and let you know Ok.
I visit several blogs everyday myself and seek inspiration from my peers via their posts. My hope is, this blog does the same for you from time to time and you get as inspired as I do looking at other crafter's work.

I saw these really cute clip boards at our local Staples in the dollar bins and thought they would make fun Hostess gifts and or gifts for my friends. I had the little note pads and some little pens and knew they would work well together.
I added a little pocket on the bottom to put receipts or coupons in it too. My favorite thing is the little SU Clip on the corner of the pocket. I covered the little pen with DSP and made a pocket for it too.

You can not have a gift with out a gift card, so I made this one up with the same colors and DSP combination's.

Because this is a Things to Do gift set, I thought I woulds make a cover for the date book/ calendar. I had no idea how easy this was to do. You can make one of these in no time.
I know I need a date book/calendar,  I have so much going on all the time I need to write dates, times  and events down. The truth is I forget everything if it is not written down, ask my DH lolol.. The thing is I have to look at what I wrote down because I forget that too lololol.

Here it is all together. I think this will make a great gift. A clipboard that hangs, a datebook/calendar and a cute gift card.
Thats is it for me today! I hope you like it!!! I'll have something for you all again tomorrow. Now go create something fun.

10,000 Hits!!!!

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this note finds you all well and happy! Read all the way to the bottom of this post for some good news and some Blog Candy!
This morning I got up and re-made the two cards that did not save to my camera  the other day. Here they are.

The layout I cased from Becky Roberts over at her blog Inking Idaho  http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com. I have been inspired by her work for years. I really liked this layout and knew they would make fun cards. I embossed the envelopes to match the cards and added a strip of red and purple scallop strips to the inside of the cards.


 Have you ever made a card that you were just not satisfied with and put it aside for a while? This card I must have looked at 5 times before I could figure out what I wanted to do with it??? I thought I should just throw it out all together. Well I had an idea to salvage it and I like how it turned out. What do you think? I'm not even going to show you what it looked like before I fixed it lolololo.

I was very busy this morning creating. This is another Valentine I made. I am so inspired because I must be on a roll :)

I know why!!!!!!
My Little Patch of Dirt reached 10,000 HITS. I am so excited and astonished REALLY! I just added the counter last week and had no idea people were looking at this blog. I am so touched. I do not get many comments usually so I didn't think it was getting any action lolol. I just started the blog in June of last year and hadn't really started to work at in until August 2010. I want to thank all the wonderfully talented crater's who have inspired me to create and to those who have helped me on this journey. You all rock my world and warm my heart! What you all do matters.
THANK YOU.

So to celebrate, I am going to have a little bit of Blog Candy to give away. I am a small time operator compared to my mentors :) but I think a pack of SU Pearls will do the trick. Please leave a comment from today until Saturday 1/29/11 and I will have my DD pull a name out of a hat.

Happy Monday to you!

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
We had a great class on Saturday! Hi  Sandra, Candace, Betty, Lynda and Gladie. I  am really glad you all had a great time and you learned a bunch of new techniques. Thanks for having the class Sandra. See you all again in April. With permission, I took a few photos of the ladies having fun during their class.

It was a very busy weekend. That is why I haven't posted since Friday night.  I was running around since early Saturday morning.
On Sunday I went to a friends Birthday Party (Hi Morgan) This is a little gift I made for her. I  cased the concept for my gift from Becky Roberts over at Inking Idaho. http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com I really like her work, go check her out once you leave here!

I made full cards for Morgan instead of the pocket card that Becky made. In addition, I made a gift box to put the four cards in. I really liked Becky's layout and her choice of colors, so I went from there to create these. I even decorated the envelopes with our SU Embossing Folders to match the embossing on the face of the cards.   Then I added a little decorative strip to the inside of the card that I attached a piece of white card stock so she will be able to write a little note. Let me know what you think. Have a great day- now go create something fun.

Workshop Saturday

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
Sorry I haven't posted this week I was busier than I thought!  One of the things I was doing was preparing for a workshop today.  I finally finished it and here are all the goodies.
The first item is a Future Hostess Gift. I used a old Brad container to make this beautiful Butterfly container. I saw the idea on line last year (Don't remember where sorry) and now see these are coming back :) Whoo hoo,,,,,, they are really easy to construct too. I just ordered the double scallop circle die so I could make it. I used the Butterfly die and the Bird Punch for the leaves and the scallop circle die for the base. I used the new Bundle Designer Series Paper to cover it. I think it came out cute and I hope the new Hostess will like it.

I decided to use the 3 Valentine cards I made last month for the Operation Write Home Blog Hop. However, I did change the cards up a bit for this workshop. The cards have a great layout and you can do so much with them.

Finally, we are going to make these cute little Treat bags. They are filled with our little punch hearts and of course lots of Kisses and an adorable scroll with the 12 Rules of Chocolate written on it. I CASED the rules from Monika's blog (Hi Monika) http://monikastamp.wordpress.com She was the guest designer over at My Digital Studio . net yesterday . Way to go Monika, go check her out when you leave here. http://mydigitalstudio.net/

Here is the class in its entirety. I think they will have fun and this should keep them busy for a while. I really like these ladies and wanted to make something really fun for them.

Thanks for stopping by My Little Patch of Dirt today. I hope this post got your creative juices moving. Now go create something fun.

Diva Coffe Break Challenge 211

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I found another sketch to try out. This time it is from the Diva Coffee Break Challenge Design Team.     http://divacoffeebreakdesigns.blogspot.com   Here is their sketch which I followed it fairly closely this time. This is my first submission for the Diva Coffee Break Challenge so be  gentle on me :). I have admired the Design Teams  work for some time now and thought I would try  my hand at it. These challenges have allowed me to keep up with one of  my New Years Resolution (create more). So I just jumped in and went for it. I hope you like it.

I also added a site hit counter to my blog this week just for fun. I had no idea so many people have visited my blog??? Thanks everyone  who has stopped by from time to time I really appreciate it. I think to celebrate How about a little BLOG CANDY  to say thanks. Maybe,even as soon as early next week by the looks of the counter. When I hit 10,000 I'll do it!
Have a great day and go and create something fun.

Mojo Monday Challenge

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!.
It's Mojo Monday Challenge time and this is my interpretation of it. I usually try to follow along as close to the sketch as possible, but today ... well It's gunna be a full moon and my inner creative side took over. I hope the Mojo Monday creators are OK with this :)
http://mojomonday.blogspot.com    Here is the sketch (Thank you Lisa :) )

 

and here is my take on it. I have 3 circles and a bow so it technically qualifies :) The center circle was made by gold embossing the heart from the Punch Potpourri Hostess set and then coloring it in with my Stampin Write Markers. It is real pretty up close. I hope you enjoy it.

I also wanted to show you  the pictures of our famous Dinner and a Movie night at My Little Patch of Dirt. We do this at least once a month and it is a blast. It starts with a scrumptious pot luck dinner (Lasagna- 2 types meat & veggie some chicken a big green salad fresh garlic bread and Apple Pie, coffee, water and sodas.Yummy!!!

Then a movie. That's when the fun really begins. We pick a film that is a little on the crazy side and then everyone is free to make comments on it . We laugh hysterically, scream, make jokes and comments about the actors or the movie. It is really funny to hear 14 people all at the same time go Ooohhh Aaahhhhh. Saturday night we had 14 people over, 4 new to the group and 10 regulars. At first the new people didn't know what to think with all the commotion going on then they just let loose like everyone else and had a great time. I think my favorite thing is that my friends children love to come and hang out with us. It is a safe place for everyone to just have fun. Enjoy the photos and go create something fun.

Bloggers Challenge

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
I saw another great sketch challenge and thought I would submit a card I made especially for it!

I found the challenge on Pat Huntoons blog The Technique Trail http://patstamps.blogspot.com      

     

Go on over to her blog and check out the sketch layout. Or you can also go to Mary-Jo Price-Williams blog  http://technostamper.blogspot.com I am still not sure how to paste the sketch layout on to my blog yet? Any one have any thoughts on the matter? Well I hope you like it!  I really had fun making this card. Have a good weekend and go create something fun.

P.S. "Thanks to Lisa Somerville for the Hot Tip" I learned how to add the sketch to my blog. It took me a few tries but I figured it out. I love learning new things. Thanks for stopping in.

Sketch Frenzy Friday

Hello my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
I really got inspired today while surfing through my favorite blogs. Sharon Field at Created by you http://createdbyu.blogspot.com has a beautiful card she made for the Sketch Frenzy Friday Challenge  http://sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com that truly inspired me to create this card.

I do not think I have ever created a card so fast, one that a picture of a card just popped into my head and I knew exactly what I was going to do to make it? I pulled out a few colors of paper (usually my biggest dilemma, but not today) and made this card in about 10 minutes. My first attempt at it too!. I guess that is called inspiration, so I entered it in the challenge.  I sure hope you like it and you get inspired to create something fun. Chat soon.

Stamping 411 Cont.

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
I made another card last night for the Stamping 411 challenge. I wanted to do a more masculine shade to see what would happen. I like the effect and think it works. I finished it up this morning but I made a mistake on the center of the flowers while I was coloring it (I know bummer right!) I didn't want to throw the entire card away so I made a little patch with a 1 3/8" circle punch can you see it? I tried to make it show up but I need to re-read my camera manual on how to use the zoom functions lolol. Let me know what you think about the patch job :).  To view Stamping 411 web site click here http://stamping411.blogspot.com/2011/01/hello-and-welcome-to-new-saturday.html

This is a short post not much going on around here today except for laundry, cleaning and cooking... House wife stuff.
I think I will go outside and take a picture of the green mountains near our house while the getting is good. By the time summer is here they will be a yucky brown/beige and not very pretty. Usually we have a beautiful display of California Poppies in the canyon, but last year there were only a few spots that bloomed. I am hopping for a wonderful sea of orange to show you in March as that is Poppy season and it is just around the corner. Keep coming back to My Little Patch of Dirt for updates from time to time.
Chat soon, and go create something fun.

Stamping 411 Challenge

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
How are you all coming along with your New Years Resolutions??? I made Three. 1) Do more Blog Posts, 2) Enter more Blog Challenges and 3) Go back to Weight Watchers.
I sort of stopped going to WW over the holidays,but I didn't wonder too far off track (thank goodness) however, I could tell my meals were getting bigger YIKES. So I went in today and I am back on track and very grateful I didn't gain what I had previously lost :)
The second resolution was to enter more challenges. I made a card tonight for the Stamping 411 challenge # 185.
http://stamping411.blogspot.com/2011/01/hello-and-welcome-to-new-saturday.html . I just had to pick up this set again. I thought it was so elegant when it came out last year and have used several of the stamps individually for other cards. I really like this rose branch a lot and have used it quite often. The Stamp Set is called Elements of Style item # 120045 found on page 133, clear mount is only $19.95. I Stamped the image on glossy card stock in StazOn Ink, heat set it and then colored the roses and leaves in with our Stampin' Write Markers, I used Going Grey , Melon Mombo and Mellow Moss card stock.

I am doing pretty well with my post resolution also looks like every other day for now! I just have to establish a rhythm and make lots of cards and goodies to share with you. Now the next step is to get more regular viewers lolol. My BFF Carey -Roscoe's Mom, her computer is on the fritz, so I could use some love. I like the quote from A Field of Dreams ,   "If you build it they will come"!  I hope you visit often and that you like the card.
Chat soon, and go create something fun.

Valentine Two

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
It's another great day here at my little patch of dirt. I really hope all those who are heading to Tennessee tomorrow for Leadership have a safe and exciting trip! I heard that you all have gotten snow YIKES!!!! Be careful. Carey are you going? I think it is a hop skip and a jump away from you? Let me know alright.
This week I am practicing making Valentine samples for a couple upcoming classes I have. So far I have booked 2 classes for the end of this month and one more for early in February. I am so happy!! I think if I hustle a bit more I might be able to squeeze 1-2 additional classes in for February.

Today I used a Hostess level one stamp set Punch Potpourri and the coordinating Heart Punch. Hostess qualifying orders for this free stamp set is only $150.00 plus you get an additional $15.00 of free merchandise. (Want to book a workshop?) The Heart Punch can be found on page 203 of the 2010-2011 Catalog, Item # 119883 $16.95. All Punches can be found on pages 201-203. I also used a Hostess level three stamp set called Occasional Quotes which has a great assortment of quotes and sentiments. Qualifying orders for this stamp set is $500.00 and you also will receive $60.00 in free merchandise.

I wanted to create a CAS (Clean and Simple) card for you today. I hope you enjoy it. I purchased the Red Polka Dot Ribbon when it was on sale a few months ago purposefully for Valentines cards. I just love how dramatic it looks. I like the way this card turned out clean and simple.

Have a great day and create something fun.

Getting ready for a Workshop

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!
I think I have got a grip on my Holiday cleaning, Finally!!!How about you?  Now just getting everything in storage and out of my Studio will be the last of it.
I've got a workshop in a few weeks and the hostess wants a Valentines theme so for the next few days I think I will create a few samples and go from there as the date gets closer :).

I used the Sweetheart stamp set from the Big 2010-2011Catalog. You will find it on page 58. The clear mount set is only $15.95. It is a very versatile stamp set and you can really use a lot of imagination to create with it.

This is a little something I was playing around with this morning. It took me quite a bit of time and several samples later to get it the way I wanted it to come out. Lining up the hearts finding the right ink and paper combination's just right took some practice.
I tried three of our embossing folders to get the one I felt was the best for the look I wanted to achieve for the red heart. I finally chose Petals-a-Plenty. You will find it on page 214 for only $7.95. I used the Black gingham ribbon that I purchased on our big pre-Christmas sale after Thanksgiving and thought a few rhinestones would add some bling to the heart too. I just love the look of the new
Glimmer brads that we came out with. A pack of 40 brads is only $4.95 that's not bad! See the Occasions Mini on the left hand side of this blog to check out what all is inside the whole Mini. Finally, I  free handed (is that a word lolol) the XOXO for fun. Have a great day and try to create something fun. Let me know what you think of this card OK.

January Swap

Hello my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy! I have a short post for you today as I am pooped out! What a week!!
I completed my swap for this month, finally! The theme for January is Nature. What better way to inspire Naure than to showcase our Stampin' Up stamp set "In Wilderness". Item # 120537 in the clear mount style for only $16.95. There is a really cool sentiment encluded in the set along with an a beautiful eagle and a wolf .

I made two similar cards only I just swapped out the background card stock! If you have any questions on how I made thes cards and or if you would like to purchase the stamp set, please leve me an e-mail message and or go directly to my SU Web Page and order it on line 24/7. Don't forget to add a little something to the inside of your card. I am also going to stamp my name on the back of the card and a little versamark flower for fun.
Hope you like them. Have a great day and go create something fun.