Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #113 Bugs or boys May 30, 2011

Every Sunday there is a different challenge at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. This week is #113 Bugs or Boys! Our project must contain bugs or boys or both! I searched thru my stamps and I don't have a "boy".... lots of boy toys but.... wellllll needless to say some retail therapy is in my future.... hahahaha

I got so carried away with the bugs that I ended up doing two cards. Here they are:

This first one uses my Buzzy Friends stamp from Stampabilities colored with my copic markers. The one background piece and the bee paper ribbon is from the Nature Walk set by Stampin UP.

Some fussy cutting, some glitter and some pop dots and tada "BEE Cuz it's Spring" is done.

This second card is BEE cuz I had several pieces of background left over. I custom cut the card to 5 1/4x 5 1/4 THEN with my 1 1/4" square punch I punched out 8 squares of two color backgrounds. Cut them point to point across and then put them back together like a quilt. The quilt Pattern is called PINWHEELS. I used my Betty Bee bow maker and stick pins made from shrinky dink sheets of bees... a little free hand bee fly trails....BEE-U-TI-FUL... and tada "Just BEE Cuz" two is done!

Now please let me know what you think! check out Stamptacular sunday challenge for the other many, many paper crafters version of this week's challenge!

jingle belles rock Card 22 Challenge We Three Kings

Every Friday at Jingle Belles Rock we are challenged to do a Christmas Card to avoid the rush at the end of the year! This week for Card #22 the theme is We Three Kings. Judy Ford

This is my version of the theme where we are suppose to use at least 3 different patterned papers.
Here I actually used 4 different patterned papers. I used my SU Lattice die to cut some corregated cardboard. I reminds me of a stain glassed window so I fussy cut some Red Poinsetta paper; green Ivy and for accent some MS Christmas paper for the star accent. Then I used paper #4 for the background. Some white flowers with bling centers with cardboard leaves (left overs from the cut) to finish the frame.

Trouble is I couldn't stop there! I had two other Sizzix dies in my aresenal so here we go.... there's only 3 patterned papers in them but I like how they turned out too....

Sizzix Christmas Tree #2

Sizzix Frame with Scallops

Sizzix Frame with Scallops inside frame piece!!!!

Waste not want not!!!

Take a look over at Jingle Belles Rock . AND I also will be showing these cards for a future challenge at Betty Bee's Buzz to use corregated cardstock in a project.

Jingle Belles Rock Card 21 and Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 112

these are two blog site challenges that I haven't done since my surgery and I'm FINALLY able to drag myself upstairs and do some crafting.Judy Ford

This one is for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge # 112 Bear-necessitiesI used a Gruffies stamp from House Mouse and colored it with my copic markers. Then I used my cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder and hand tore a hill for sledding... the blue sky background is from my old stash... I added the ribbon to give it a pop of color to match his flying hat.... looks like he's crossing the finish line first!!!!
This one is for Jingle Belles Rock Card # 21 - Visions of Sugar Plums... they did a beautiful story board and the challenge was to use what inspired us from the space... I loved the pinks and mauves but looking over my stash I am sadly lacking in these girly colors!!! Will have to do some retail therapy but until I'm released to drive myself I had to use from my stash... dh is wonderful in so many ways but just wouldn't understand I don't have the right paper...lol
I loved the snowflakes and there are some blues there too.... some diamonds sparkles.... some snowflakes and bling.... here you are... I cut diamonds with my Cricut and added the border to make the back snowflake and then two snowflakes from my stash....

It's good to be creating again.... hope my strength and stamina get better... I'm tired and I only did two cards!!!! Oh well, tomorrow is another day....

check out the two blog sites to see what the other papercrafters came up with.... there is a ton of talent out there that share their creations!!!!

Summertime album May 2011

This week at Betty Bee's Buzz Monday Motivational I showed how to make a lunchbag album to do something for Summertime - Living is EASY! This challenge is dedicated to summer and my youngest grandson, Jackson. Judy Ford

When I asked Jackson what plans he had in mind for his summertime he had lots of Ideas! He wants to have an adventure at the zoo, he wants to play in the sunshine, he wants to play at the lake, go fishing , and tube behind Grandpa's boat, he wants to make smores.

I used 3 white lunchbags for the summertime album. First I sewed down the bottom to make pockets. Then I alternated the openings of the bags and sewed them together in the center to make the book.

It could be secured with staples or punched and weave ribbons thru..

You could make it bigger with more bags.

I used All About Boys paper stack for his zoo adventure pages. The insert is 4 3/4x4 3/4 cardstock with a double image for the tab..

I used the Life's a Beach Cricut Expression Cartridge.

Several of the title words worked well for Jackson's summer wish list.

His lake page is one of the pockets. I cut the 5x5 paper at 2 7/8 for the pocket cover and lined up the rest of the sheet for behind the pullout.
I used my drippy goo punch on the edge for a pull out.

This pullout cardstock was about 4 1/2x 3 1/2 -whatever size accommodates your stitching.
Another of the pocket pages I used the Paperdoll cartridge for his smores experience. I used my ant border punch for the edge of this pull out. We can use it for journaling or pictures.

This is his heatwave page - IF it ever gets warm in Michigan we'll have a page ready for the pictures.... this will probably stay blank...hahahahaha


Jackson loves fishing with his Grandpa.
I did two page inserts with fishy tabs - 1 coming - 1 going
for all his fish trophy pictures!
You can add any number of inserts for the bag opening side.

This is the album open. I used Rubons from my stash for his name.

I might add some twine or ribbon tied around the middle.

he could practice his bow tieing that way for school.

It's pretty bright already so not sure I want to girly it up with more stuff....

This is a closer view of the front with his name from rubons. I used two porpoise images sandwiched together for the tab.... "all porpoise" page?

This is the back of his lunchbag album.

I'm thinking he can take it to kindergarten with him in the fall.

Ok so now it's your turn...So what are you planning for your summer????

try making this album, it's easy and small enough to carry along as a brag book!

Link up with Betty Bee's Buzz and let us see your summertime project!

Honeybee Showcase - Amy Sheffer - May 18, 2011

Every Wednesday at Betty Bee's Buzz is HoneyBee Showcase. The Honeybees submit their version of the Monday Motivational. May 16, 2011 Guest Designer Amy Sheffer from Pickled Paper Designs challenged us to use the wedding theme in our projects.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Here is my version of that theme.

Something old - ME, cuttlebug embossing folders - snowflake, snow dots, winter house

Something new - sizzix die - Tree, Christmas #2; card 5x7 I usually do A2 size

Something borrowed - torn tree technique from my friend Lauren at Jingle Belles Rock

Something blue - chalking at edge of snow layers, blue in the "blue spruce" and the card itself

This is the first I've been in the craftroom for 2 weeks! Felt good to be creative
but tired and ouching way too fast!!! Judy Ford

Check out the other Honeybee's versions of this challenge at Betty Bee's Buzz! Join in the fun and add our version via a link. Come on play along!!!

Let's see what old, new, borrowed and blue in your craft room!

Mother's Day Jewelry May 2011

This is what I made for my mom for mother's day. Now I just have to get strong and healed enough to take her out so she can wear it!!!

Dagger bracelet and Necklace and Earrings set.

the main beads are called daggers. but they are not sharp at all. in fact the bracelet is so fluidy you just have to keep petting it!

mom's favorite color is pink and I also used white iridescent cubes and beads. it turned out so delicate and so mom like.

I found the button closure at Joanne Fabrics! thanks to Debbie Blamy, my beading instructor and friend, from Beading Elements in Sarasota, Fla! I changed the earring pattern for mom a little from what Debbie taught me (see the previous post for the green and black set (4-1-11)I made for myself in class this winter)... that's the great thing about Debbie, she's a very positive and supportive person... she says you can do anything....and oh yeah she gives great hugs too!

Oh dear another hobby.... Don's at least happy it doesn't weigh a ton.... yet.....hahahahahha!

Happy Beading!!!!

Buzz, Brag and BEE Happy Friday May 13, 2011

Every Friday at Betty Bee's Buzz we are able to Buzz, Brag and Bee Happy. Telling everyone what we have been up to this last week.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO Friday the 13th! Good thing I'm not superstitious! This Friday I would like to say Thank Yous to all who have been sending positive thoughts and praying for me. Keep up the good work!
The doctor was right! This first week has been ROUGH!!! Wednesday was my first postop visit - a 1 1/2 hr drive one way from our house (OUCH). Doctor is pleased with my progress so far. No infection! Dr pulled one of the four drains he put in after surgery. Don, my dear husband and caretaker, said it was 8 inches long...it felt like 8 feet with treble hooks along the way! 1 down, 3 to go! Doctors says I can increase my activity a little and try the stairs.... so hopefully tomorrow I can get up to my craft room and do some creating!!! Please go check out Betty Bee's Buzz and see what all the other honeybees have been up to this week!

Hug your family, say thank you, and smile!!! - it increases your face value!

Judy Ford

Honeybee Showcase Altered photograph - May 11, 2011

Every Wednesday is Honey Bee Showcase over at Betty Bee's Buzz! This week Honeybee Rosemary did a Monday Motivational tutorial on altered photograph. I'm doing a scrapbook page for my parent's 75th wedding anniversary.




I used my printer to make 4 copies of my parent's wedding picture on photo paper. One copy is complete. The other 3 copies I cut down. One copy I cut out mom and dad. One copy mom. One copy bouquet. I used 3D dots in between the layers.

I used my copic markers to color mom's bouquet. She said it was in shades of pink.

Still her favorite color at 99!!The embossed paper is from Tuesday Morning from a paper packet. The sheet music I downloaded from the internet. The Lace is from my stash.

This was easier than I thought it would be and quite dramatic effect.

Hope you check out all the other honeybee's projects! and try it yourself!!!Judy Ford

Surgery 5-5-11

As some of you know I've lost a lot of weight in the last year and a half. Actually 169 pounds all together.

This is me right after the surgery in Nov 2009. I was about 312 here. Size 32W - 5X! I had already lost 32 pounds before the surgery. My highest, I'll admit to, is 344 when I was working for the Michigan Department of Corrections.

With Don's support, help, encouragment and lots of exercise.... walking, riding bikes, fishing...

ttttaaaa ddddaaaaahhhhh!!!

Here I am April 2011. Size 14!!

so tomorrow my deflated balloon tummy is going to be TRANSFORMED!!! My hourglass figure will be back!!!

....actually it's been so long since it was hourglass I don't even remember...maybe 16???

The surgery is suppose to take 3-4 hours. according to the doctor the first week is "rough"!

no lifting, exercise, swimming, etc for 6-8 weeks!

Please keep me and my family in your positive thoughts and prayers!

three tiered slider card for Mother's Day May 2, 2011

For my Monday Motivational Challenge I want to show you how to do a three tiered slider card. My inspiration was from Splitcoaststampers by Heather Summers. The one I'm making has different measurements and will be for Mother's Day. Gather together: 4 different patterned papers (Base piece 12x 4 1/2; Middle piece 11x3 1/2; top piece 9 1/2 x 3; 4th color matting and accent) 2 pieces of cardstock 1/2 x 3in for slider tabs Matted pieces 1 x 2 for top image; 1 3/4 x 3 for middle image; 2 x 3 1/2bottom image Paper Cutter Ribbon or tap for top Pull Adhesive Stamps and Ink, Cricut Cuts, Punches or Embellishments as needed. Starting with the base piece 12x 4 1/2. Fold in thirds. (When folded will measure approx 4 x 41/2). Crease folds. (Open back up - face down). On the right side third you are going to make two slots with your papercutter. Tip: On the orage cutter is a pointer - that's where the blade will cut. One slot will be 1 inch from the foldline on the left and 1 inch from the right edge - 1/2 inch from the top and bottom. Slots will be about 3 1/2 inches long. then with the middle piee 11 x 3 1/2. Fold in thirds. Cut two slots with your papercutter as you did on the base piece. 1 inch from the fold line on the left and 1 inch from the right edge - this time 1/4 inch from the top and bottom. (slots will be about 3 in long)top tier - Fold in thirds. Place adhesive on far left edge to secure closed. Make a bee-utiful bow with your Betty Bee Bow Maker and attach to the top edge or you could use a tab pull.Take the middle piece and place face down on your work surface with the slots to your right. Weave the cardstock slider piece thru the slots. Fold the patterned paper over and gently fold the ends around it. Move slider to the top of the slots. This creates the sliding mechanism for this tier. Center the top piece in the center third with the right sides face down. the bottom edge should be inline with the slider bar. apply adhesive to the slider bar. Fold over and attach to the bottom edge of the top tier. Apply adhesive to the far left edge and close this third making sure not to adher the slider mechanism. Now pull on the ribbon gently and see how the tier slides!!! Repeat the steps to attach the middle tier to the base piece. Add your matted pieces and embellishments. Your card is now finished!!!here is the card opened and embellished for my mom!! I used by Martha Stewart corner punch and lots of bling embellishments because Mom loves pink and bling. When you're 99 you should get lots of things you love!!! A few extra tips: it's only paper - don't be afraid to give it a try! Use patterned paper for this card, except the slider bars, as the thinner paper is easier to slide. Don't do too many layers on the top and middle tiers, if it's too thick it will be hard to slide. You can place a gift card in the top tier slot if you'd like another surprise for your mom!!!

Thanks for looking! Give it a try! It is MUCH easier to do than it is to explain!!!

Slider cards are in your future!!! Have Fun!!!Judy Ford