It's a Boy!

Hello and welcome to my last Thursday with AiFactory DT Challenge. I've been with AiFactory for 2 terms now and I've had a blast! I will miss the DT girls but I'm sure I will be entering a challenge or two :)

This week, the challenge is:

BUTTONS

We got to use some ADORABLE, absolutely cute baby digi's this week. And just in time since I have a baby shower to attend soon. Actually, I probably won't make it to the party since I'll be recovering from surgery, but I'm sure the mama-to-be will understand.

OK, so I almost left out the buttons. So I added one on the sentiment. The papers are printed, and I got these from Pink Petticoat. The digi is AiFactory, printed once on white and a second time on the DP. The flourish is from Cricut cart Home Decor cut at 1" (regular and shadow).

I also used plenty of pop-dots between the layers, and also noticed there are buttons on the onsie!!

The layout is from Sweet Sketch Wednesday #47.

So show us some BUTTONS and enter at AiFactory Challenge Blog for your chance to win one of this weeks digi sets. Also, don't forget to check out the rest of the DT blogs for more inspiration. Their blogs are to the right ----->

Thinking Bee

I have a good friend, DJ, and 13 years ago, we went to a pet store and picked out Shaggy together. Shaggy had lots of character and lots of hair. It got to the point where his people (DJ and her DH) had to let go...so He passed this Sunday. This card is for them:

The deets: K&Co Wild Saffron DP, bee is from Cricut Sentimentals, nesties, chalk ink, stazon, Stampin' Up's Trendy Trees for the sentiment.

I know DJ is really hurting...and it made me think of Max. It's so hard to lose our furry loved ones...and some people dismiss the hurt because it's "just a pet." But I know it's more than that. I really hope this brings a smile to her face.

This meets the following challenges (challenges really help me focus):

• Card Positioning Systems - layout CPS 164
• BBTB2 - use the bee from Sentimentals

Elephant Wish Birthday Card

I thought I'd make a few birthday cards to add to my stash. My DH shakes his head at me when we have a birthday to attend and we don't have a card. "You make cards!" is all he can say.

It's difficult to see, but there's a little "embellishment" above the "wish big"...it's a stitch from my somewhat new sewing machine that I've been wanting to try out. They're little flowers/stars.

The digistamp is Dustin Pike, sewing, Fiskars border punch, K&Co Berry Sweet, nesties, copics, and Stampin' Up's Short & Sweet sentiment.

This meets the following challenges:

• Doodle Dragon Studio - layout
• A Spoon Full of Sugar - #100 Happy Birthday
• ColourQ - #29 Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango, Yoyo Yellow, Green Galore, White

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all are having a great weekend!

Emo Rain

I just can't get enough of these Emo digistamps from MyGrafico.

I felt like playing along with some challenges this week - to de-stress. I've been working on a couple of papers for school, and they are kicking my butt. I've got a topic for my thesis, but for some reason my prospectus just isn't coming together. So I consider time in my room as healing.

I just love this paper pack - I believe it's Cosmo Cricket. The digistamp is MyGrafico, colored with Bics and Copics. I'm still out of my blender pen, so making a mistake is NOT an option! I don't know if you can see, but I sewed down the middle. The sentiment is Stampin' Up.

This card is for the following challenges:

• MyGrafico - sketch #45
• Color Dare - old olive, summersun, certainly celery, and very vanilla
• Digital Tuesday - #55 April Showers

I really AM grateful for the rain. We don't get much in New Mexico, so it's a real blessing.

It's Not a Pig

Have you ever had one of those cards that just doesn't work out? Well, this was one of those moments where nothing really seemed to fit. Oh well, I did what I could to make it presentable. This is a "baby card" for my DH's cousin who is having a little girl very soon.

So I finally give up and show it to Jay. He says, "it's a pig" and I give him this look and say "no, it's a hippo." Bean sees it the next morning and says in her cute little voice "awww, I sure like your piggy." I said "thanks sweetie" and mumble "it's a hippo."

It doesn't matter anymore. I'll be packing it in the box with the present and won't think about it again. What's in it: Cricut's Create a Critter (cut at 2.5"), Ranger's Ink Worn Lipstick, felt, sewing, PTI, M's Just Chillin DP. This does fit two challenges:

• Card Patterns - #60 layout
• Cute Card Thursday - #108 Touchy Feely (the felt is nice and soft)

Thank you Sheryl

I received an award last month (and I'm barely posting it now!) from the super sweet Sheryl.

Thank You!!

I prepared a speech....oh where did it go? Either way, I want to thank my family, friends, and all those who visit my blog....because this would not have been possible without all of you!

Now, to pass this along to 5 others....and there are so many to choose from...Here are my five:

• Jeannie - for some of the most inspirational Cricut cards ever
• Sandy - who just won a Cake Cricut Machine woo-hoo!!!!
• Erin - queen of vintage
• Penny - who is a great DT member
• Enfys - who is not only talented, but tells the funniest stories ever

Born To Ride

Happy Friday! Today I want to show you a super cute image I recently got from Bugaboo. Their kids are just the cutest.

I personally ride on the back of a Harley, but I think motor scooters are so sweet. I finally broke out my Martha Stewart button punch. It was a little hard to make it work, but that probably means I need to do some weight training. The DP is M's Cheeky, digistamp is Bugaboo colored with Copics, PTI, Fiskars border punch, and computer generated sentiment (on the inside lower right).

I didn't really make this for any particular reason - simply to use the stamp.

This card also meets the following challenges:

• Die Cuts R Us - layout
• Pollycraft - #39 colors - pink and brown PLUS yellow OR green

Well, hope everyone has a great weekend and thank you so much for stopping by. I really do appreciate it!

Mermaid Ella - Rated PG13

OK, it's not really rated, but as I was coloring her in, I realized she was half naked! Anyway, welcome to Thursday with AiFactory. The challenge this week at the AiFactory Challenge Blog is:

Happy Birthday

Birthday cards are great since they always come in handy. I got to work with the lovely Ella. She is one of my favorite characters.

She is colored with Bics and Copics, and I used Ranger denim ink for the shading. The sentiment is computer generated and the lovely flower die cut is a nestability.

I used two different cuttlebug embossing folders to add a little texture. I used DP that I've had forever and never imagined using before...but I thought this card called for water.

This card meets the following challenges:

• Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #69
• SP Color Combo #43 (yellow, green, brocade blue)
• Creative Card Crew - Happy Birthday

So play along this week at the AiFactory Challenge Blog for a chance to win this digi or the other equally adorable digi set being used this week. Please don't forget to take a look at the rest of the DT for more inspiration. Their blogs are to the right ------->

You don't need to use an AiFactory digi, but we wouldn't mind seeing one in your creation - check out the FREEBIE section!

Thank You Turtle

I've been wanting to put a card together for my little cousin. We had an excellent time for Easter and I know she helped with the planning and the cookies and everything. I already made a card for my Auntie, but I have to give credit where credit is due.

This little guy was a freebie over at Bugaboo stamps and I couldn't wait to use him. BTW, they have an excellent selection of digis...time to break into DH's paypal :) I've been working on my shading...I wonder if the Copic's class is worth the money?

Sorry I don't know the name of the paperpack I used. I use it often - it's one of my favorites. I added a little sewing and the layout is from Prairie Paper & Ink AMRS8.

SIDE NOTE: We went to a goat farm this weekend and had a blast. Here's Bean feeding a "baby" goat. OMG these little guys were SO cute and friendly.

A Panda Wish

Happy Friday! Last night I took advantage of a little quiet time and made my big Brother's birthday card. He doesn't talk to us anymore since he met his fiance (she doesn't like us), but I still want him to know I remember his special day.

Hopefully he won't think it's too girly. I was going more for Asian. I used the Pagoda Cricut cart. The panda is cut at 2.5" and I ended up making the white eye parts with my cropadile. The pink flowers are cut at .75". The layout is Card Positioning Systems CPS161.

The nesties are new, and so is the sentiment stamp (Stampin' Up's Small Script). I recently found an inspiring blog and saw that she (Amy) was selling some of her stamps...so I got a super deal on 4 stamp sets!

The DP is Paper Studio's Pink Armadillo and I used plenty of 3D dots. I hope he likes it...I hope she doesn't throw it away before he sees it!! Women!

Mother's Day with AiFactory

Hello all. I've been MIA lately due to yet another sinus infection. Good news is my ENT said we can stop the frequency of my getting sick...the bad news is it requires surgery. Well, that's not till early May, after Bean's 3rd Birthday, so till then, I will try to remain optimistic.

Anyway, on to the Thursday challenge with AiFactory Challenge Blog:

MOTHER'S DAY

Mia gave us some charming digistamps to work with this week. Here is just one example:

I just got some great digi papers from Pink Petticoat and was dying to use the clouds...ok, I wasn't really dying. Just excited. The AiFactory DT was also challenged (by me) to enter at least one other challenge out in blogland, so I'll list those at the end.

I'm thinking I should have photographed this with a solid background so it doesn't look so busy. Well, that's how I learn. Anyway, the digistamp is AiFactory, the flowers are from the George Cricut cart (1.5" and .5"), nesties through the Cuttlebug, copics, papers from Pink Petticoat, chalk ink.

And here is my Proud Mama moment (with Mother's Day in mind): this was Beanie's first chocolate bunny. Last Easter she was still figuring out the basket, egg, Easter thing. But this year she moved up to the eating of the Easter Bunny ear!

So make a Mother's Day creation and join us at AiFactory! Don't forget to visit the rest of the DT to see what digistamps they are using: Carole Cheri Kerry Monica Fink Carlie Laurie Michelle Fliss Penny Angie

This card meets the following challenges:

• Prairie Paper and Ink - AMYRS78 layout
• The Pink Elephant - #61 nature
• Cupcake Craft Challenges - #85 Make Your Own Flowers
• Digital Tuesday - #53 color combo Blue, White +1 (Yellow)
• Simple Doodles - #14 layers
• Just Add Ink - #11 Anything Goes
• For Fun Challenges - April 7 April Showers Brings May Flowers
• Pollycraft - #38 Anything Goes

Fishy Kisses

The TCC DT is on break this month but I just can't keep still. I HAD to make something, right? So I pulled out one piece of white CS, used layout #57 over at Card Patterns, and turned on the Cricut!

Like I said, I only used white CS. I used the following Ranger inks for my colors: faded jeans, peeled paint, fired brick, and spiced marmalade. I recently saw some new colors, so I'm sure I'll be at Michael's this weekend!

All cuts are from Cricut's Animal Kingdom: fishbowl and shift at 3", plant at 2", fish (head) and shift at 2.25". I added glaze on the lips and fins, google eyes, and pop-dots. The water spots are created with: water! One of the things I love about the Ranger inks. The sentiment is computer generated and I used my all time favorite punch for the holes.

Bean loves giving fish kisses to her Grandma, so I'm sure this card will go to her sooner or later.