db designs

Life's Simple Pleasures

  It has been sooo long since I have even thought about posting a card here. That is until my friend Jennie asked me to post my latest creation. I haven't stamped in over a year! I had to pack up all my crafting goodies when we moved and the house we are in now is so small I don't have room to spread it all out. I left it all boxed up until recently. I have been yearning to get back to crafting. It feeds my soul. So, Jennie, this one is for you. I love you and miss you very much!

  

A Muse *Pajama Party* challenge #1

Pajama party cards, you say? Yes, I attended a pajama party last night. I know...kind of odd for a person my age, right. Well this particular pajama party was actually a "virtual" one over on the A Muse Lounge. Four of the Muses posted challenges for us to do in 30 minutes or less. If you didn't get to play along and still want to, head on over to the Lounge and you can find the details here. You have until 8pm tonight to get your cards posted! I actually got three of the challenges finished while the party was still going on. I finished the fourth one shortly after it ended. That never happens for me. I usually get so involved in the chatting that we do through yahoo that I don't get any stamping done. This card is for the first challenge that was posted.  You had to create a card inspired by your favorite Halloween candy. I think mine is pretty obvious...candy corn! This card came together almost too easily for me. I guess my mojo is back. It felt so good to just sit down and create something. It's been way too long.

A Muse *Pajama Party* challenge #2

For the second challenge we were to make a card drawing our inspiration from the colors of fall. Fall is my favorite season of all. Growing up in the midwest afforded me the opportunity to see all the beautiful colors this glorious season has to offer. I loved everything about it. My wonderful friend Mary and I used to build forts out of the piles of leaves we raked and hide in them. I love the feeling of the cool crisp air and the chill it brings to your nose and cheeks. Ah, sweet memories!

A Muse *Pajama Party* challenge #3

The third challenge was to make a card based on your favorite tv show/series that was returning this fall. Can anyone guess what mine is? LOST!!! Technically it is supposed to return in January...yeah, what's up with that? And this is supposed to be the last season for it. Yikes, whatever will I do without my LOST! The story line no longer makes sense and actually hasn't for several seasons now but the characters keep me coming back show after show. That and the incredible scenery!

A Muse *Pajama Party* challenge #4

And finally for the fourth and last challenge we were to make a "thank you" card! I loved this challenge because it just left everything wide open. I used my drippy goo punch on this one and I think it came out pretty cool. I was drinking some coffee when I made it so the inspiration was already in my hands so to speak.

I had so much fun at this pajama party and I'd like to thank all of the A Muse ladies who made this happen! I would also like to thank Sherry for having her web cam on...let's just say it was priceless! I can't wait till the next one. I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks so much for taking a peek at my blog today.

AMC07 Ink It Up

I am so excited to be posting this card. This is the first challenge I have done in ages. Maybe I'll even get to Glenda's challenge before it's over. This card is for the Ink It Up challenge over on the A Muse Lounge. Jennie posts a challenge every month. This time we were supposed to *ink up* a stamp we haven't used before. I got this stamp in anticipation of A Muse A Palooza. I thought I'd be able to play along with the challenges then and this stamp was a must have. I wasn't able to use it then so I thought now would be the perfect time. I also picked up the drippy goo punch a little early this year. I ordered it online. I missed out on it last year and didn't want to make the same mistake again this time around. This card was so easy but it gave me such a thrill to finish! If you have time stop on over to the A Muse Lounge and play along with this challenge. I have some other stamps that need some new ink on them as well. Maybe I'll even finish another one! Thanks so much for looking. Have a wonderful week.

Thanks

Today is the last day of school for my kids! Our school is 12 months and the track we are on has an extremely short summer break. It is only two weeks! After that they start the year all over again in the next grade level. We have other breaks throughout the year so we are in school the same number of days as a 9 month school. I made this card for one of the teachers to go with her gift. I used my Cricut to cut out the apples. I think it turned out nice. I made another one using polka dotted paper and it is really cute as well. I didn't get a picture of that one before I gave it to the teacher. I don't know what I was thinking. The kids are in school for just a half day today so I am trying to get as much done as I can before they are home for a couple of weeks. I hope you have a wonderful Friday!!

Visions of Adventure

As I was redoing the banner for my blog this morning I had the extreme pleasure of looking back at the pictures we took when we were in Hawai'i. This picture was taken on Kaua'i at Kipu Ranch. We took a private atv tour of the ranch. This was our second time on the ranch and by far our favorite tour yet. This time I had my own vehicle and for the first part of the tour my son rode with me. After our lunch break we switched and my daughter rode with me. Our tour guide was Troy. He was also one of our guides the first time. This time we did a private tour so we just needed one guide so we requested Troy. He is quite knowledgable of not just Kipu Ranch but the entire island of Kaua'i having grown up there. If you ever have the pleasure of going to Kaua'i I highly recommend Kipu Ranch and please do yourself the favor of requesting Troy for your guide. You will forever be grateful that you did. I loved hearing about all the flora and fauna and some of the many legends that surround this incredible island. Troy took us up to a lookout point near the top of the mountain that is behind us in this photo. At that very point is where I took the picture that is now my banner. It is called Kipu Kai. The word kai means water or ocean so it means we were on the water or ocean side of Kipu Ranch. Troy told us that only about 2% of the natives that live on Kaua'i have ever been to that lookout point. One doesn't need to know that statistic to make the view anymore magnificent than it already is. I could have camped out in that spot for the rest of the day. We had some incredible experiences while we were in Kaua'i; being the recipients of a few random acts of kindness by some of the islanders. It felt as if we had stepped out of time and my husband and I knew we were in the midst of making these incredible memories that would stay in our hearts and minds forever. Having that realization of the experience while we were in the experience was a gift in itself. Does that make sense? I will surely be sharing some more pictures and stories with you in the future. I am going to make a separate photo album of my Hawai'i pictures so you can just click and view whenever you want. Thanks so much for checking in. I hope you have a sensational Sunday!

Fabulous Friday!

Happy Friday! This week has gone by pretty quick for me, how about you? I am so happy to have something to post today. I made this card for one of the challenges on the A Muse Lounge. Last weekend was the pajama party and the Muses posted challenges and we had the opportunity to play along. You had to make your card in 30 minutes or less and follow the theme set for that particular challenge. The challenge for this was to make a card to send to your best girlfriend. I think my card came out pretty cute. I use this layout a lot. The card was quick and easy. I like to keep it simple these days and I think it has a nice clean look to it. I didn't get it posted in time to qualify for the chance to win a prize but here it is now. I like how the red stands out against the white.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. We are in the midst of some scorching summer temperatures so I am pretty sure we will either be in our pool or inside the house this weekend just chilling out. Ah, that sounds so nice and a great opportunity to do something crafty. :)

 

How ya bean?

Hi! I just love this to go cup and this sentiment. I think it is so cute. I paper pieced the cup as you can see with some funky pattern paper. The yellow background the cup is on was super basic and easy. I used post it notes to block off a square on my card and then stamped direct to paper. I gave it a second to dry, peeled off the post it notes and voila my square background was done and looks pretty cool. The darker lines were created from the stamp pad as I overlapped. I mounted the cup with some pop dots to lift it off the card a little.

I think I am finally done converting all my old files to my new computer. Luckily I had saved everything to an external drive so I just had to plug that in and copy. It truly saves a lot of headache if you back up your files. I am so happy I did. I have a few programs to install that I only use occasionally and that should be it. It took a long time to copy my pictures over. I like to have multiple copies of them and I like to have them on my laptop so they are at my fingertips. 

I completely rearranged my craft room last weekend and finished it this week. It was quite a project. I didn't do a lot of crafting while my computer was down. I just came in my room and dumped stuff off. It was pretty cluttered as you can imagine. As I was getting my laptop set up I figured I would clean up my clutter and get ready to "create". Well one thing led to another and I ended up taking off my closet doors and my dh put up a new shelf for me and I moved one of my tables into the closet. It sounds a little bizarre but it looks really cool. I saw it in a magazine a long time ago and just loved it. Now I need to paint. My walls are still white. Our entire house is painted except for the laundry room and my craft room. I guess I need to pick a color and take it from there. I definitely feel renewed and ready to get crafty! Thanks so much for checking db designs today. I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Aloha!

Earlier this week my new laptop arrived! I am so excited to be back in cyberspace at the click of a button. Long story short my old computer bit the dust and my wonderful hubby ordered me this new one. It is absolutely beautiful and I love it. It came with Windows Vista on it so I am trying to get used to that. I have been busy installing my programs and trying to get used to it. I still have a lot of work to do it seems. Old habits die hard as they say and this new operating system has slowed me down a little. I love electronic gadgets so it is fun learning what my new computer can do.

Last night was the Pajama Party on the A Muse Lounge. I get so caught up with the chat that I have trouble focusing on what I am supposed to be stamping. I did get some of the challenges done and now I have to upload my photos. I haven't attempted that yet so hopefully it will be as easy as it was before. It was a lot of fun! The Muses that were on the chat worked so hard to keep the lines of communication open despite some technical difficulties. Great job ladies! Thank you so much for the fun!

I will be back later to share some new cards with you. It is going to be another scorcher here in the valley today! We had excessive heat warnings up the past two or three days. When the mercury goes over 110 that's when I either stay inside or go out to get in the pool. It is just too hot to be out running around. I say the same thing every single year. And honestly I am a water person not a desert dweller so I'm not really sure why I'm still in the desert. Oh yes, I can't sell my house in order to move...but that is another story altogether and we just won't go there. Bye for now!

Down time again

Yes, it is true! It has been sporadic at best for the past two months and now it is down for good. My incredibly wonderful husband has come to my rescue and bought me a new laptop that will be arriving in a few short weeks!! Thank you so much, honey! I am so lost without my computer it is crazy. I will be out for a short time and then I will be back. I am using one of his to post this and will be able to get online to check my email as well. I hope I don't miss out on too much especially all the A Muse A Palooza fun.

Have a wonderful summer...see you soon!

Popsicle Pink

Aloha! It has been a mighty long time since I have posted anything at all. Summer time hits and we are busy, busy, busy. I am sure it is the same in your home.

I made this card for a swap I recently participated in over on the A Muse Lounge. I didn't want to post it until I had sent it in and the swap was over. I love swapping my cards. It really gives me the opportunity to see other people's work and have some different cards in my stash.  

There is a lot of excitement going on over at A Muse these days. They are gearing up for A*Muse*A*Palooza with a lot of contests and give aways. Click on the link and enjoy the festivities! I haven't had much time to play along but I am hoping that changes very soon. I miss my creative time very much!

Well thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day and a fabulous Fourth of July weekend!

What's Brewing?

Hi! It's been awhile since I have had time to post anything at all. I haven't had time to make anything and my reserve is all used up. I whipped this baby up in no time today thanks to my A Muse notecards that I had. I used my cuttlebug to cut out the scallop covering the window. This is for Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge 24. The challenge is to make a window card. I love making window cards so this challenge was right up my alley. Thanks so much, Glenda! She will be posting a new one tomorrow.

We have been so busy and I haven't any time at all to blog hop. A Muse is showing their previews for their new release and they are out of this world. I need to set some money aside for this one because they are that adorable and fun.

I hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Take some extra time to thank our service men and women for the sacrifices they make in this day and age. I live in a heavily populated military section of town and I see the sacrifices many of these families make having a loved one deployed. I can't begin to imagine not seeing my husband for more than a week, let alone month after month. Thanks for stopping by!

GRAC 22

Last week was super busy for me and I didn't get the chance to post my card for Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge 22. The challenge was to use pink and green on your card. I don't frequently use this color combination but between the layout of one of Glenda's cards and all the amazing cards I saw from the other *players* in the challenge I had an abundance of inspiration. This is my card. I think the bunny's outfit looks adorable in plaid! I need to maybe add some stickles to the magic wand to give it some sparkle. Thanks for looking!