Hope House Home for Boys

The cards that I sell here in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico benefit the dental program for the boys at Hope House in the nearby village of Ixlahuacan. There are close to 30 boys at the home and many of them come to the home having received no dental treatment. If you live here at Lakeside and would like to order a quality, hand crafted card for a special occasion and help me contribute to this worthy cause, please e-mail me at bettyinchapala@yahoo.com Card price is 50 pesos; the entire sales price is donated to Hope House.

Followers -- Some of my favorite people!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Terrific Sketch


I used Melissa's sketch challenge at stampTV to create this card. All the papers are from Basic Grey's Origins. I stamped the butterfly from Gina K. Designs stampTV kit, Spring Mix, in brown on SU So Saffron card stock. The sentiment is from GKD Inspiration Mosaic. I really do like this sketch; when I first saw it I though it was going to be difficult but it worked up easily with the Basic Grey Paper Pack.

Well, rats! I went over to stampTV to get the link and a copy of the sketch and realized that I had left off the little circle "thingies". So, I'll have to doctor up my card! Here's the sketch:

Here's my corrected card with circles punched out from the Basic Grey Origins paper pack:

Betty

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Cards Patterns & Colour Q


The sketch for my card comes from Card Patterns 70 and the color combo from Colour Q 39. Here are the sketch and color inspiration:

My card base is SU Bravo Burgundy and the next layer of Whisper White is punched with Marth Stewart Arched Lattice punch. The "medallions" are from SU's Boho Backgrounds and were stamped in the challenge colors and then punched out with a 1" circle punch and adhered. There's a smaller mat layer of Bravo Burgundy with a white satin ribbon tied around it and a white layer for the image and sentiment which are from Gina K. Designs Eclectic Summer and Eclectic Summer Sayings. The kite was paper pieced and the bows on the tail are the challenge colors. Sponging on this layer was done with Brocade Blue and NIght of Navy.
Hope you stop back by and see me again!
Betty

Monday, June 28, 2010

Kitty Treats?


Here is my card for the challenge at There's Magic in the Air.. Olga Jewell wants us to use a Paper Cupcakes image and showcase it on a container of some sort, bax, bog, etc. My container is a Diaper Fold Pouch and the tutorial is here at Splitcoast Stampers. It's very easy to make and very cute to give! Thanks for coming by!

Betty

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Inchies In Color


This is my second attempt to make a card for the ColourQ Challenge to use Red, Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Bordering Blue and White. I added Black as a neutral color to make the others pop! Have you ever made a card that you absolutely did not like in any way, shape or form??? That was my first attempt; I tried a couple of different ways to "fix" it but ended up tossing the whole thing in the trash! Decided to persevere and try again and I'm so glad that I did 'cause I'm liking this one! It qualifies for the Cuttlebug Challenge to use inchies and a cuttlebug folder -- the one I used is Stylized Flowers. Speedy the Cat's Friends has a challenge to use 3+ flowers -- can you spy the three flowers on my card? Squint real hard and look in the upper right corner of the inchies!! There's a black heat embossed flower on each one. There's also an embossed flower on the first layer of Bordering Blue (that's the +). I also sponged the edges of the white card base with bordering blue.
The moral of my story is "if at first you don't succeed......try, try again!"

Betty

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Prancer


Hello to all! I had fun making this card -- it made me feel a bit like dancing! I followed the guidelines from three challenges as I created this card. Here they are ~~
Roses Challenge -- our hostess is Olga Jewell and she wanted to see an animal on our card. My reindeer is part of a new set that I purchased from Layers of Love called Reindeer Waltz. (Remember, I said this card made me feel a bit like dancing??!)
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge -- is a challenge to use Black, Lilac and Lime Green. I did not have any lime card stock so I got as close as I could. I think these colors make a super combo!
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Sketch Challenge -- sketch can be found below.

Thanks for coming by! See 'ya later!
Betty

Friday, June 25, 2010

Inchie INKling


This card was made following a sketch at Inchie INKlings. Don't you just love this tiny bouquet of flowers? It was my prize for winning Challenge #6 at this site. Just perfect for an inchie! I found the flower trim in my mother's old sewing box. It had to have been in there since the early 1970's -- and it's not ready to disintegrate or anything! The sentiment stamp is from Gina K. Designs stampTV kit, Spring Mix. I consider everyone who stops by here a friend; come again and bring a little happiness this way!
Thanks, Betty

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Isabella's Color Blast


I was really pleased when I finished this card! I love the colors and the digi image and the ribbon and button with flourishes on them to complement the flourishes of the stems of the image. And I used my favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder, Swiss Dots. I have three challenge sites to thank for inspiration for this card. The digi image is from Isabella's Sketchbook and the challenge is to make a card based on a summer memory. I love beautiful blooming flowers in the summer. My flowers are actually paper pieced and the two larger one are popped up although you really can't tell that in the photo. I used buttons for the flower centers. The color combination of Old Olive, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla comes from The Color Dare Challenge #70. Linda Payne's challenge at Stamp TV Blast From the Past is to use an unusual button on a bow. I made my bow with a ribbon that has a pretty flourish on it and the button also has flourishes on the edges that go well with the flower stem flourishes! Hope you all enjoyed this one and come back again for more!!

Betty

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

CD69 and MMSC59


I have to quickly post another card because time is running short for The Color Dare #69 to use Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Tempting Turquoise. I only have one of these exact Stampin' Up colors but I have used the basic color pallette of yellow, aqua, and turquoise. I used Cuttlebug's Bloom Dots embossing folder to emboss the solid color panels. Paper pieced one of the circles from the dp on the turquoise embossed panel, then stamped with pieces from three different sets! Nestabilities cut out the ovals and a pretty bow completes the process. Hope you enjoy the colors as well as the sketch from Midnight Madness. I used their "plainer" sketch rather than the one that is "all dressed up"! Both are shown below.

You're In My Thoughts


This card was lots of fun and the color challenge from City Crafter is also fun (especially when you chant it!) Pink, Purple and Pearls; Pink, Purple and Pearls! I've used Stampin' Up's Pretty In Pink, Lavender Lace and Blush Blossom. I've also used Glossy Pearl card stock and embossed the Blush Blossom panel with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots Embossing Folder to add a little interest and to meet the challenge at Speedy's Friends to use embossing. The pink and purple flowers with matching colored rhinstones were a gift from my sweet friend in Canada, Connie Legath. The sketch challenge was also a fun one that came from Melissa at StampTV.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Yum Yum!


Can I interest anyone in a nice bowl of ice cream? My card is for the challenge at Just Us Girls to use the colors light pink, chocolate and vanilla. Those colors don't say anything to me except "ICE CREAM!" I paper pieced the bowl and all the dp is digital paper from Gina K. Designs. The ice cream stamp is also from Gina K. Designs and the sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up. The sketch is from Creative Clear Stamps. Thanks for taking a look at my card -- now, go get yourself that ice cream!

Betty

Monday, June 21, 2010

Patti's Blog Candy and a Card for Her Friend


Patti Nelson has posted a blog candy with a card request for a friend who is in the hospital. Please check out her blog, Stampersize, for all the details. This is the card that I am sending to Jessica. The "edgie" is from Pam Lefors Designs and the sentiment is from Gina K. Designs, Say It With Flowers. I used Nestabilities Ribbon Tags and two different ribbons with a piece of Blush Blossom card stock from Stampin' Up to accent the sentiment. Here is a look at the blog candy that Patti is offering.
Hope you can help too!

Betty

Seeing Spots??


I hope you're seeing spots because that's the challenge from Pat Pedder over at There's Magic in the Air today. We are also to use this cute free image from Paper Cupcakes so hurry over to the TMITA site and snag the image so you can play along too! I found a piece of 12x12 dp with pretty pastel spots that matched well with Gina K. Designs' Pure Luxury Ocean Mist card stock. Also found a piece of spotted ribbon that I purchased at Michael's -- the brand is Winter Whispers. The Color Challenge over at stampTV this week is to use pastel colors -- hoping my pastel background will work for that! I colored my image with Bic markers and sponged the blue and green areas with Garden Green and Bashful Blue from Stampin' Up. The design team at TMITA inspired me to get spotty and I hope that I've helped to inspire you!!

Bye! Bye! Betty
(does that make anyone think of Bye, Bye Birdie! ???)
I'm showing my age now, aren't I?

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Urns


I've been busy this weekend helping my daughter make curtains for her apartment so I'm posting a card that I made a while back and never posted. I've used the stamp set "Her Majesty's Urns" from Layers of Love. This set has eight different decorative urns -- so pretty! Stamped the urns on a "speckled" piece of dp that gave them an interesting look. The ribbon along the top and bottom edge is from Michael's. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Betty

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Christmas Tag


Here's my entry for Giovana's Christmas challenge at StampTV to make Christmas Tags. This one was cut with the Top Note die made by Sizzix for Stampin' Up and Nestabilities Ribbon Tags Trio die. The stamp is from Stampin' Up too, but I'm not sure of the name of the stamp set.
I also made a card with a Christmas theme yesterday for the sketch challenge over at StampTV. The stamp is from Layers of Love, "Reindeer Waltz", the dp and card stock from Stampin' Up. Why am I thinking Christmas when the heat index is over 100 degrees F. here in Texas???

Betty

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Annabelle Stamps


My post today is all about Annabelle Stamps. This card combines both their sketch and color challenges since they said it was okay to combine the two. Colors are pink and green and here's the sketch. There's a prize to be won with the sketch challenge -- check out the Design Team's projects -- wonderful!
Annabelle's has a new stamp release coming up, with previews beginning on June 22. Check it out here -- you may be one of four lucky winners by advertising their new release and there will also be more prizes once the previews begin!

My card is an attempt to case my friends Selma Stevenson and Olga Jewell; here are a few more of the details:

Paper: Gina K. Design's Innocent Pink Pure Luxury card stock and Stampin' Up's Wild Wasabi card stock and dp.
Ink: Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose, with addition of Pixie Pink and Pretty In Pink Stampin' Pastels. Wild Wasabi and Garden Green for the leaves.
Tools: Martha Stewart Garden Trellis Punch and Big Shot with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder. Stampin' Up small oval punch for the sentiment.
Stamps: from Gina K. Designs, A Year of Flowers and Pressed Flowers.
Ribbon from Michael's.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Speedy Play Date


Made this card for Speedy's Friends Challenge #7 to make your own designer paper. I used Stampin' Up's background stamp "Posy", stamped in Purely Pomegranate on Whisper White cardstock. The color combination of Raspberry (I used Purely Pomegranate), Aqua, Kraft, and White is for the challenge at Play Date Cafe #33. I used the sketch from StampTV but was about 3 hours too late to enter their challenge. Oh well, I did enjoy the episodes of Ghost Whisperer that I watched tonight instead of finishing up my card!

Later, Betty

TMITA Monochromatic


I didn't get to play with this cute little guy from Paper Cupcakes last week so here he is on my monochromatic green card for the challenge at There's Magic in the Air this week. The image is colored with pencils, blended with baby oil and the sentiment is Stampin Up's Boho Backgrounds. Ribbon is from Michael's. I'm so glad to be feeling better today -- spent 6 hours ine the ER yesterday with a horrible stomach virus. Didn't think I'd ever stop throwing up!! Bless his heart, my DH told me a while back that when he promised to love me in sickness and in health, he didn't realize how much sickness there would be! But he's stuck with me for over 30 years now!

Betty

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Always on My Mind


I love Sketch and Color Challenges -- don't know if I'd be able to make a card without them. Well, I know I could but the planning process would take a heck of a lot longer!! Anyway......I have used the sketch from Isabella's Sketchbook and the color combo comes from Flourishes Timeless Tuesday (to use black and white plus one other color of your choice). I love the elegant look of black and white cards, and adding one other color is just plain fun! The ribbon was the starting point -- with it I met the color requirements and the background requirements of the sketch. I cut out my ovals with Nestability ovals and stamped the flower from Gina K. Designs Elegant Flowers. Sentiment from Stampin' Up's Always was heat embossed with white ep. A little adhesive and I was done! Hope you like!
(Well, darn it, I just went over to Isabella's to get the link and I won't be able to enter this in their challenge because you must use one of her images -- I do have several, so may make another card with this sketch). So, I'll just give her credit for a wonderful sketch!

Betty

Friday, June 11, 2010

I'm Blue


I have another card today that I've made for Operation Write Home. I used Sketch #52 from Midnight Madness and the color challenge from Curtain Call, Act 33. My lady bug stamp is from Inkadinkadoo. Hope you enjoy it and come back again to see the next one!!

Betty

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Pretty Little Princess

I made this card for the following challenges:
MyGrafico Challenge (use some type of pattern -- I used dots)
StampTV Color Challenge (orange, pink, green & neutrals)
Speedy's Friends (use buttons and bows)
Frosted Designs (use buttons) Oops; too late to enter challenge
Tuesday Trigger (I used colors from the inspiration picture)

The digital image is by Primsy Doodles and is available as a freebie at MyGrafico Digital Stamps; the sentiment is from Stampin' Up's set "So Many Sayings". I did some paper piecing on this card and want to thank my sweet daughter Amanda for helping me with some of the intricate cutting (if you didn't hear, I broke the ring finger on my right hand while attemping to swing on the playground with my grandkids!)
Come back again!
Betty

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

June Flourishes


I'm finally back with another post. I broke my ring finger on my right hand this past Sunday while swinging with my grandkids on the playground. Attacked by a swing -- who woulda thought?? Got to keep a splint on it for 2 weeks and then get another x-ray to see if it's healing -- I'm hoping there are no complications.
I've made this card for the Sunshine and Blue Skies challenge at Flourishes. We are to use any shades of blue and yellow. How much fun would it be to win all of the new stamp set releases from Flourishes --- why don't you join me?

Later, Betty

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Flowers and Bees


I have a bright and happy card to show you tonight (we've been needing a little bright and happy around here!). The sketch is from Midnight Madness which I made horizontally rather than vertically. The image is one I won from MelJen's Designs -- you've got to check them out -- soooooo cute!! Patterned paper is from Basic Grey's June Bug Paper Pad. I made the embellies with little pieces of ribbon and brads.

Found a neat tutorial at the OWH Stars and Stamps blog and made a card that I entered in the Sketch Challenge at stampTV. Check out my card here.
Betty

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Inchie-ing Along!


Here's another card made from an inchie_INKling sketch from Lisa Strahl. Some things that have not seen the light of day in a very long time are my Stampin' Up rollers. Well, I pulled one out of its box and rolled a little line of flowers. Punched them out with my 3/4" punch and added a border to make it (guess what) an INCHIE! I used a gorgeous piece of paper from Basic Grey's Origins Paper Pad and punched out the sentiment with a word window punch. Love is just growing all over!! Here's a copy of the sketch:

Betty