Sunflower Studio

DOVE ORNAMENTS

On top of the crazy snow, our neighborhood was having our 2nd annual HOLIDAY PROGRESSIVE PARTY tonight.  Now, instead of "progressing" we'll just be gathering in one house...OURS!  {I'm off to work on the cleaning next!}  I made some ornaments last year for the guests and now it's a thing.  This is my version for 2009.  I made the dove's out of wool felt according to a pattern that I found HERE.  I dressed them up a bit differently.  I added a tag too...I scanned some sheet music for Joy To The World into the computer and then made it smaller and printed it out multiple times onto Kraft cardstock.  I then cut them into tags and "antiqued" them with the Copic airbrush.  Hope they like 'em!

TRIXIE'S FIRST SNOW

I thought I'd share a few pix of the little doggie in her first snow.  She loves it...OBVIOUSLY!  She doesn't mind at all.  This was early this morning so there's only a few inches.  We're expecting over a foot...for the East Coast, that's a lot!

SNOWMAN LOVE {sfytt}

FINALLY!  It's already been a trying, heck of a day and it's not even one o'clock yet!  Anyway, to the good stuff...it's Saturday, yup, Saturday already, and that mean's its time for another of JEN's SKETCHES FOR YOU TO TRY!  Yea!  I really did intend to have this up on time today - and I've been working on it for over four hours - but other stuff kept interrupting.  Did I mention that we're having a bit of snow here?

I chose the MERRY KISSMAS set from MY FAVORITE THINGS for this week's sketch.  You all know that I love these little PURE INNOCENCE images but just take a look at this little snowman.  He's adorable!  I used Cosmo Cricket JOLLY BY GOLLY patterned papers and a gaggle of other "this and that" for embellishment.  I think when you get interrupted so many times it causes your mind to wander and you end up with A LOT of embellishment...that's my excuse and I'm stickin' to it!

Everybody's busy, busy getting their Christmas together, traveling, and dealing with snow today but do check in with the other SFYTT girls to see what they've come up with...

Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Kelly Lunceford
Susan Liles

and Jen del Muro with this month's special guest.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! 

WHIPPER SNAPPER WEDNESDAY

I'm sharing a few more WHIPPER SNAPPER DESIGNS cards today.  These images are all available NOW as a part of the Winter 2010 new release.

The above images is called FARMTOWN MELODY.  I love the expression on each animal's face.  The little ruffley ribbon treatment is something that I found on Debbie Olson's blog...cute, huh?

This fishing chicken image - by Anna Wight - is called NOT EXACTLY MONDAY.  It just cracks me up...a fishing chicken!  Hee hee!

And lastly...what's Valentine's without a chicken with a big ole heart shaped box 'o' chocolates?  This is another of Anna's images.  It's called JUST A FLIRT.  I think that he's thinking "I bought you this candy but I eated it."  Ha ha ha

WELL...I TRIED

I tried to get the little doggie to wear her Santa hat yesterday.  Uh...yea...that was gonna happen...NOT!  So here she is...

I didn't realized that I took 82 pictures of her until I went to upload them this morning.  And out of those 82, I may have gotten two that are "okay".  She's so wiggly and fast that it's hard to capture her.  And this is all in between her eating the Christmas tree, chasing the cat, eating, peeing, and pooping! I'll include a little collage of her being a rotten doggie and then a calmer shot.  Looks like she needs a haircut already...she's got hair in her eye!

I did take a photo of just the hat...maybe I can cut and paste in Photoshop so that it looks like she's wearing it...we'll see.

 

AHHHHHHHHH....WHAT-IS-THIS?!!!!

This critter was on the patio wall this morning.  This is the same wall where I usually sit while I watch the doggie do her "business" each day....many times a day!  Do you think it's poisonous?  I mean, those capstones are about three inches deep and that thing is at least half that!  IT'S GIGANTIC...GINORMOUS... HUMONGOUS....AHHHHHHHHHH!  RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!  I mean, really, I think it might be a form of tarantula!

TCP TUESDAY - Sketch Challenge

Time for a new TCP Tuesday sketch!  I'm taking a little breather so JEN DEL MURO will be hosting the sketch challenge this month.  She's always good for something new and unusual - as you can see below! {Make sure that you go and check out her sketch card on her blog....CA-UTE!}  I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to play along this week but I wanted to post the sketch so that YOU can.  Grab your CAT'S PAJAMAS stamps and make something festive.  Don't forget to post your card to the GUESTBOOK ON ALMA'S BLOG to be entered into the Swanky Stamper contest for this month.

And, while I'm on the subject of TCP...I thought I'd post another of my holiday creations.  This was one of my new release samples that I sent on to Alma.  I used Mr. Bear from the GIVE A LITTLE set along with the Spellbinders Christmas Tree die and a bunch of dee-lish papers from Cosmo Cricket.  The trees and the bear are the front part of the card and open out.  The striped background would be considered the "inside" of the card....does that make sense?  Anyway, I love Mr. Bear...he's such a cutie!

THANK YOU BIRDIE {sfytt}

Happy Saturday!  I hope you're enjoying a sunny day and that the malls and traffic aren't too much of a hassle. If you're like me, you're still working on that Christmas shopping.  It's crazy out there!

Of course, it's time for a new SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY.  This one has lots of potential and is a great way to showcase a central image as well as lots of patterned papers.  I chose to use a WHIPPER SNAPPER DESIGNS image called CONWAY TWEETIE.  I have issues when I'm coloring birdies.  I feel like they should be actual birdie colors.  Not sure why this is because I have no problems coloring other things weird colors.  So today the birdie is a robin.  The patterned papers are all from Basic Grey in the Lemonade paper pad. 

I've been dying to try one of those distressed, layered paper flowers so he's my try.  I squished up some cardstock over and over and ran it over the edge of my table to weaken the fibers enough to split the layers - meaning peel them apart.  That way you have a "felt-like" texture to the paper.  Then I used various sized circle punches for the flower and the SU! small oval punch for the leaves.  I squished them up some more and then unfolded them and added some PTI vintage ink to "antique" the flower as well.

The sentiment is from A Muse Artstamps - I love all of their little sentiment stamps!  I anchored the sentiment flag with some PTI buttons and button twine.

Be sure to check in with the other SFYTT girls this morning to see what they created with the sketch.  Links directly to their blogs are below.  I'm off to do the same and then back to the Christmas shopping.  Enjoy your day!

Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Kelly Lunceford
Susan Liles

and Jen del Muro with her special guest, Kim Moreno.

Oh, by the way, the birthday card that I posted last night also used Jen's SFYTT for this week!

BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #129 - Birthday

Today's Blogger's Challenge was to create a card with a birthday theme.  This worked out perfectly for me since I really needed a card for a dear friend - belatedly, of course.  I am the world's worst birthday card/present remember-er.  What a terrible trait!

Oh well, I've already mentioned that I'm addicted to the new PURE INNOCENCE stamps from MY FAVORITE THINGS and I'm such a lucky duck that some new ones that I ordered arrived yesterday - plus a little unexpected treat...helps to know people in high places.  {THANK YOU highly placed people!}  These are just the dearest little images.  This girlie is from the PRESENTS FOR YOU set.  I chose to use her for a birthday instead of Christmas - which is what I really think she's meant for.  But cool that she's versatile, right?!

I picked up a few new tricks from some of my blog surfing this week...the airbrushing in the corners and the "string of buttons".  Can't remember who exactly used these techniques but, whoever-you-are, you inspired me.  The patterned papers, including her paper pieced coat, are from a pack by Marcella by K&Co. that I picked up at Target some time ago.  I love the unusual light pink, slate blue, and gold color combo.  I added some Creative Imaginations buttons and a few Dew Drops for interest and the little birthday sentiment is by A Muse Arstamps.

You can check out what all of the other Blogger's Challengers created using the birthday theme by clicking on the button in my left sidebar.  Enjoy!

HAPPY CHANUKAH

Happy Chanukah, or Hanukkah, to those celebrating the Festival of Lights that begins tomorrow.  Before it was too, too late, I wanted to share a few cards that I made using the new SHINE BRIGHT stamp set from THE CAT'S PAJAMAS. The set includes lots of different images that work for your Hanukkah cards as well as other occasions.  It's not too late to snatch up the set for next year's projects!