Wednesday, October 31, 2012

It's Candy time...we have some treats for you!!

Well my friends it's time to celebrate and be thankful....and there are so many things we need to celebrate and give thanks for.

But today, we want to celebrate our First blogiversary!! Yay!! Woohoo!! OMG!! I can hardly believe it, about a year ago my dear friend Kathya introduced me to the world of card making and oh boy, I fell in love immediately.  Kathya taught me everything she knew, she talked about the papers, the embellishments, the stamps, the Copics, etc. etc. She also told me her idea of having our own blog to showcase our creations and I couldn't wait a minute. Being a technical person I started researching and learning everything about creating a blog. On October 2011, we started this journey, the journey of card making, crafting, learning new techniques, meeting new friends and we have had a blast!! The world as I knew it before, no longer exists, it is a smaller world, we have friends all over the world and they are just a blog away. 

So, it is time to celebrate and give thanks to all of you for being part of our world, for sharing your gorgeous creations, for your beautiful comments and your support.  Also, for all the happiness and excitement you have brought to our life.   Hugs, Ivonne

Kathya here:  Our First blogiversary! It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since Ivonne called me to say: “Go ahead and check it out, we have a blog”. After the shock, I had to run and grab a pen and paper to sit down and write the instructions on how I was going to do my first post. I was so excited! But nothing prepared me for how my world was about to change. See, in the last couple of years my life has become more of a “home to work to home” kind with my son’s school activities thrown in the mix.

So Ivonne creating this blog has opened me up to a whole new experience in which I now get to share with people that I would’ve never (in a million years) thought of sharing. People from places that I’ve only seen on my TV shows or read in books. These people (you) have now become a part of my life. I read about your life, worry if you go MIA, look forward to send get well wishes your way or congratulate you on joyful occasions, while also commenting on your beautiful cards.
I don’t think this journey would’ve been possible or even as incredibly wonderful without my best friend. To my soul sister Ivonne: Thank you for your technical help and all you do for our blog. For being here when I can’t, for everything you do.
And thanks to all our followers for being with us this first year. Your comments are the motivation that keeps us going! Kathya
And here is what we have for you, three prizes for three lucky winners:

First:
Second:
Third:

The usual rules apply:
  1. Become a follower of our blog, if you aren't already.
  2. Post one of the candy's pictures in your sidebar and link it back to our blog.
  3. Enter your information using the blue frog link below.
The candy will run until November 30.  It is open to everyone worldwide, but please be aware that we won't be responsible for the custom duties some countries impose.  Good luck!!
 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

So Spooky...

I must say, this weekend has flown by. The trick-or-treaters are practically at my door so I better post my Halloween card tonight. You know how that goes when your week starts, and between your kid's school, work, and life. The next thing you know it's Wednesday, and Halloween is here. Boo...how scary it is that you have your card ready but you can't find a challenge to participate in! [Insert smile] I hope you enjoy my spooky Tilda.

Front view:
 
Inside view:
 
Detail of Image:
 
Another view:
 
This card was created using image from: Magnolia Stamps – "So Spooky Tilda"; DP: Pink Paislee "Hocus Pocus"; Sizzix Dies: "Tickets"; Foam stickers: "Holiday Inspirations"; Ribbon and other embellishments are from my stash. This image was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Challenge #55 Girls Only: Lovely hAnglar or sweet Magnolia
Challenge #142: I "leaf" it up to you!: The Order of the Opus Gluei
Fall/Halloween Challenge: Scrappy Frogs Challenge
Challenge #115-Halloween or Fall Colors: 2 Sisters Challenge Blog
20th Challenge "Halloween": Craftymess Challenge Blog
Anything Halloween!!: Di's Digis Design
Challenge #194 Halloween!: My Time To Craft
Challenge 202 Halloween: One Stop Craft Challenge
4 CCC#113-Happy Halloween!: 4 Crafty Chicks
 
 Smooches, Kathya



Saturday, October 27, 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Happy Saturday my fellow bloggers! Can you feel it? I am totally feeling it. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...which is definitely my favorite holiday of the year. There is something magical about it, that captures and warmth my heart.  So, to start celebrating, let me share with you one of my Christmas cards.  

Front view:
View from both sides:

Detail:
Tag detail:
Inside:
Here are my card ingredients:

The super cute stamp is Winter Fairy Halla from Mo' Manning
Markers: Copics
The beautiful papers are freebies from Bearly Mine
Around the page punch: Martha Stewart
Dies: Vintage Tag and Snowflake & Mistletoe Doohickeys
Metal Charm and snowflakes: from my stash

One last view:

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Mo' Manning - #158 Cute and Cuddly w/ Mo image
Inspired by Stamping - #32 Photo Inspiration
Card Making Mamas - Anything goes
Fairy Tales - Monochrome with Dies & Punches
Winter Wonderland - Three Different Punches
Crafty Ribbons - #31 Christmas
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Up to you
Stamp and Create - Winter Wonderland
Christmas Card Challenges - #47 Bows
Stamptacular Sunday - #186 No Rules
The Squirrel and the Fox - #29 Use a Ribbon

Hugs, Ivonne

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Fall is here!

As you may know by now, I live in the sunny state of Florida. We don't experience the four seasons, but we do experience some of it. One thing I have come to realize living here for almost 15 years is that I do like the autumn/fall season. It is a nice break from the scorching, humid heat that is summer for us. And it takes you by surprise! One afternoon you walk out of the air conditioned office building where you work and all of a sudden you realize that it is not muggy outside... and there might even be a nice breeze caressing your face coming out of nowhere. Then it hits you: fall is here! Again this is Florida, the heat comes and goes. But the nights get cooler and more comfortable to be outside, and you may even be able to start opening your windows. I guess you can see at this point why I really, really do like fall! Here is the card I made for the season I'm enjoying so much right now. I hope you enjoy it too!

Front View:

Detail of Image:

Side view:

This card was created using image from: Magnolia Turning Leaves Collection 2012 – "Tilda with Carrots"; DP: Pink Paislee "Hocus Pocus";  DCMV: "The Autumn Melody Matstack"; Sizzix Dies: "Tickets"; Foam stickers: "Holiday Inspirations"; Ribbon and other embellishments are from my stash. This image was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Challenge #54 Ribbon orTrim: Lovely hAnglar or sweet Magnolia
Red, Yellow, Brown: Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog
Challenge #57 Anything Goes: Bearly Mine Challenge
GL Halloween or Fall: Gingerloft Challenge
October Monthly Challenge - Fall: Great Impressions Stamps
Autumn Breeze: Joanna Sheen
 
 Smooches, Kathya


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Kids Corner

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today, I want to share with you one of my daughter's most recent creations.  In a way or another, she has been sharing our crafting passion for almost a year now, and finally this past summer, she started to create cards.  I was delighted with the idea of her and I making cards together until one day, I returned from work and I found out she had used a few of my forbidden papers!! OMG!  Of course I forgave her and rapidly set my favorite papers aside, in a 'safe' place, LOL!!  I also bought some papers for her and here is one of the cards she created with them. 
 

Do you want to know the best part of this story?  Well, I send a few pictures of her creations to the Magnolia Ink Magazine and this card was featured in the Turning Leaves edition, Kids Corner section....YAY!!  Woohoo!! And the 'secret present' she received from Magnolia was AMAZING!! Take a look at the cover of the magazine and part of page 69:

 
That's all for tonight my friends.  Hugs, Ivonne

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl!


Hello fellow crafters! I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Today's card is the one I made for someone very close to my heart: Ivonne’s daughter, Monica.  It is hard for me to explain how I feel about her but I will try.  It’s like this: God blessed me with two wonderful boys; I did not get to have a daughter. But He sent my way a beautiful girl in Monica so that I don’t feel that I missed anything. I don’t live close to them, an ocean separates us. But now we are closer than ever even with that distance. She is such a great soul, makes me laugh so hard sometimes (without knowing that this adult at that precise moment is going through a hard time) and also has the ability to say the most mature thing at the most unexpected moment and I can’t help but love her with all my heart.  Mind you that she is all of these things while still being a normal 17 year old, very smart, very beautiful girl.

She loves animals, especially dogs.  Her dream is to go to college to become a veterinarian and she is studying very hard for it. When I saw this image on the CD I immediately thought of us and printed it for her birthday card.  The dog represents her, for her love of dogs (her hair is brown) and I am the kat (my hair is black) and I am finishing wrapping her gift. The little mouse is my youngest son, Nick (14) giving her his gift and probably telling her what’s inside. This is something he has done since he was able to talk. He can’t help himself!

So here is the card for this wonderful birthday girl. I hope you enjoy it! 

Front of the card: 


Inside view:
 
Front of card with a surprise tag:
(the center flower is a tag holding the "steps" card closed)
 
 
Side view with the tag:
 
Detail of image:
 
Another look at the front of the card:
 
 
This card was created using a freebie image on a CD from Quick Cards Magazine"Summer Celebrations" by Adam Prescott; DP - another freebie from Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine: Fancy Pants Design "Beach Babe"; La-La Land Crafts Dies: Filigree Corner Die; Sizzix Dies: Squares, Scallops; metal charm, flowers and other embellishments are from my stash. This image was colored with Copic markers.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Punches and/or Diecuts for Kids: Send a Smile 4 Kids
Challenge 42 - Go Pink: Dream Valley Challenges
19th Challenge, "Anything Goes": Craftymess Challenge Blog
Animals Acting Like People Challenge: Di's Digi Designs Challenges
Challenge #5 - Flowers: Delicious Doodles Challenges
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge - PWC226: Paper Pretties
 
Smooches, Kathya



Bearly Mine Mega Blog Candy

Hi everyone, just a quick post to let you know about Bearly Mine Mega Blog Candy.  Check it out here.

Happy Sunday!!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Send a Smile 4 Kids - Punches and/or Diecuts Challenge

Happy Saturday everyone!! There is a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and as one of the Top Three winners of their 'For the girls' challenge, I was offered the opportunity to participate as a Guest Designer, yay!!

The theme of the challenge is Punches and/or Diecuts 4 Kids and this time there are three sponsors, which means you will have three chances to win!  Heather Ellis is giving 3 digis of the winner's choice.  The Paper Shelter prize is a $20 gift certificate. And, Scrapping Memories is giving 10 digis or cutting files of the winner's choice! The Send a Smile 4 Kids Team will be choosing their favorite top three cards and the winners will receive a blog badge and an opportunity to be a guest design team member on a future challenge.  So, what are you waiting for? Don't miss the opportunity to win one of these fabulous prizes!

And here is my card.  The cute image is Autumn is Coming from The Paper Shelter, I colored it with Copics.  The papers are from DCWV 'Harvest Gathering' stack.  I used Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly & Doily Lace punches, Magnolia Doohickey Vintage Tag and La-La Land's Hearts Fence.  Pearls and twine are from my stash.

Front of the card:
 
Front and Tag:

 
 
Inside the card:
 
 
Closer look at the sentiment inside of the card: 


A closer look at the image:
 
Detail of the fence and butterfly: 

View from the side:


Alternate View:

 
Hugs, Ivonne
 

Monday, October 1, 2012

From my heart...

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Just a quick post to share this card with you.  I created it using the cute 'Tilda with lovely jam' image and I colored it with Copics.  The papers are from the Nitwit Harvest Delights Collection and the flowers from Wild Orchids Crafts.  I also used Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch.  I hope you enjoy it.
 
Front of the card:
 

Closer look at the flowers:

Closer look at the charm:


Sentiment:


Inside of the card:


Closer look at the Cheesecake recipe...really delicious!!!


I am entering my card in the following challenge:

The Crafty Pad - #190 Floral
2 Sisters - #111 Favorite Stamp
A Gem of a Challenge - #56 For the girls
Totally Gorjuss - #151 Punch and Die
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - #22 Sweet Treats
Stampin' for the weekend - #18 Feeling Floral
Totally Papercarfts - #136 Pretty Pastels
Simon Says Stamps - Anything Goes
Creative Crafts - Anything Goes
Challenges 4 everybody - # 4 Anything Goes

Hugs, Ivonne