GOD Bless America - Patriotic

Hello Lovelies,
I hava a card to share with you today. You will notice that TEXAS is blinged out-lol. Again, thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linking up to Whimisical Wednesdays Challenge!
Linking up to Cricut Cardz Challenge! Thanks Lisa!
Linking up to Creative Cutter Room Challenge! Thanks Lisa!

BLOG AWARDS

Hello Lovelies,
OMGoodness, I have some very exciting news to share with you.  Amy at "Redheaded Crafter" has given me my second, third and fourth blog awards.  How exactly do you say thank you to someone who does that?  I'm not sure right now but I am really going to give it a try.  Amy, is a really nice lady that is super creative, she rocks totally and did I mention that she is so modest.  Thanks again Amy!
Hugs,
~Shen

The "rules" of this award:

1. Thank the person who sent it to you
2. Tell 7 things about yourself
3. Send this to 5 fellow versatile bloggers

THANK YOU SO MUCH AMY!

7 things about me:
1. I am so very grateful for all of the wonderful and amazing people that I am meeting.
2. I am loving all of the challenges that I participate in, they are FABULOUS!
3. I am on the computer way too much, an admitted addict, lol.
4. I am always excited when I receive comments from you ladies.
5. I love learning new and different things, your creations totally inspire me.
6. I really, really want to learn how to use my Gypsy, but my patience is in the way.
7. I love GOD and every awesome and amazing thing that he has done in my life.
I am passing these FABULOUS awards to (5) bloggers. They are amazing and always have a super cool project to share, daily.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!

1. Lisa @ http://indymermaid.blogspot.com
2. Diana @ http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com
3. Gigi @ http://thecricutbug.blogspot.com
4. Deanne @ http://deannescreativejuice.blogspot.com
5. Amy @ amyscraftingspace.blogspot.com
Thank you again Amy!

Preserves Watermelon Tag

 Hello Lovelies,
I have another card to share with you today.  This is an A2 size card that I attached a tag to, using the Preserves cartridge. I hope you like and as always, thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linking up to the Cooking With Cricut Challenge!
Linking up to More Than Favors Challenge!
Linking up to The Paper Variety Challenge!

  

Paisley Gossip

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card to share with you today. I was doing my usual blog thing, you know where I look at all the beautiful creations and gather inspiration and decided to play along at MAG.  In this challenge, you could only use the Paisley cart and only die cuts from page 39.  Let me be honest here, the cuts on page 39 were not appealing to me at all, but I wanted to challenge myself to do something less enjoyable than say a cut from Create A Critter.  This is what I came up with, I hope you like. Thanks for the visit.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linking up to the MAG Challenge!

Free 4 All

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card to share with you ladies today. This was a "Free 4 All" and I had a blast.  I had been wanting to use the giraffe cut on Create A Critter but had so many other ideas that I never got around to using it until today. I hope you like and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Black and White With A Splash Of PINK

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card to share with you ladies today.  This was for a challenge of course...I like being challenged, it inspires me.  The rabbit was chosen to help someone with the cut...hope this helps. Thanks so much for visiting me. Enjoy the day.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linked up to the Frosted Designs Challenge!

Yet Another Sketch Challenge

Hello Lovelies,
I have yes, another sketched card to share with you.  This card angered me so today.  I started working on it earlier in the day, got my measurements done, that part was easy to me and laid the card out, still no problem.  I chose a DCWV Linen Textured paper stack and I don't normally do that because I like to layer cards with thinner paper, who am I kidding, that didn't matter...I was looking for an excuse actually.  Anyways, I don't throw projects away anymore when I get frustrated, heck I don't get frustrated often because I love creating, so I put it aside.  I took an extended nap and when I got up, I went into my scraproom and there was this card looking at me or so I thought.  I went straight to my cartridges and went to work and voila! I hope you like and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linked this up to Card Positioning Systems Challenge! 

Another Sketch Challenge

Hello Lovelies,
I have another card to share with you today.  This card was created just for this challenge...can you tell that I am getting a little bit more comfortable with the sketch challenges? I hope you like and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linking up to the Card Patterns Challenge!
Linking up to the Sparkles Forum Challenge!
Linking up to the Paper Take Weekly Challeng!
Linking up to the Fab n. Funky Challenge!
Linking up to the Stampacular Challenge!

Sketch Color and Theme

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card that I want to share with you. This card is the result of a sketch challenge that encompasses three elements...sketch, color and theme.  I followed the requirements and used Doodlecharms, performed a little surgery on the cut-lol and voila! I hope you like. Thanks for visiting me.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linked up to the Triplicate Trials Challenge!

Pink and Orange - What A Combo!

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card to share with you today and blogger has been really mean to me, but nevertheless, perseverance is a must, we don't quit over here.  Oh, btw did you ladies notice that we are rapidly approaching 100 Special Friends (followers)?  Wow...now that is super cool and dynamite. Oh so FABULOUS, so to celebrate when we reach 100, we are going to have a blog hop, more details are forthcoming. Thanks again as always for visiting me and do hurry back soon.
Hugs,
Shen

Linked up to the Celebrate The Occasion Challenge!

Linked up to the My Sheri Crafts Challenge!
Linked up to the Crafting For All Seasons Challenge!
Linked up to the Alota Rubber Stamps Challenge!
Linked up to the Sentimental Sundays Challenge!
Linking up to The Paper Shelter Challenge!
Linking up to the Bearly Mine Challenge!

Love Bug Ladybugs - Create A Critter

Hello Lovelies,
I have another card to share with you today. I like new and different so, I decided to make a standard business envelope size card. I've never done this before...I've done the smaller size business envelope and I'll do another one and post in a day or two.  Anyhoo, thanks again for visiting me and to all of my wonderful followers, thanks so much, I really, really appreciate you.  Please know that I will visit your blogs often and leave you a nice comment to offer you support. Thanks again and I honestly do appreciate you visiting me.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linked this up to this weeks Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge!

Link Up Love Party with K Andrew

Hello Lovelies,

I have some fabulous news to share with you all today.  Want to meet new people in the blog world? Well, K Andrew has got an awesome way to do so...check it out!

Link Up Love Party: How it Works

*Link Up Party runs from Tuesday 6/21 to Tuesday 6/28. Winners announced 6/29

*Grab K Andrew's blinkie and post on your blog's sidebar

*Be a follower of her blog

*Create a new blog post that is titled Link Up Love Party with K Andrew. In your post, you must mention that the link up love party is a way to get to know each other and find new blog inspiration, mention my blog, with a link back to my blog .

*Post your favorite project that you've done in your blog post WITH ONE thing you are grateful for!

*Copy and paste the link up code into your blog post so the Inlinkz will show up on your blog

*Spread the word so everyone can join in!

*You must visit, follow, and comment on the 5 people before you AND the 5 people after you in the Inlinkz. It would be fantastic if you would visit as many as you can--maybe everyone? If you are one of the first 5 then you will need to blog the ones before you and a few more after--as long as it's a minimum of 10 near you in the link up tool/gadget)

If you do not do the above your link will be deleted, because it's just not fair to those who work so hard linking up and showing love to the ones on the list. She has two moderators that will be checking this out to keep it awesome and fun!

I am grateful to GOD for his awesomeness...just when I'm thinking about giving up, he gives me the encouragement I need to persevere.

This is my favorite because it was so difficult and just when I was about to throw in the towel, GOD showed me just what to correct. How awesome is that?!

Poodles of Thanks - Creat A Critter

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card that I want to share with you today.  I am linking this card to a challenge over at Deanne's...super cool blog and a really nice lady too. The challenge is to make a card saying "Thanks" and you know my FAVORITE cartridge in the whole wide world is what? Yes, Create A Critter. Someone asked me the other day if I had any other carts, lol and I answered, yes...over 100 now, but I stopped counting a long, long, long time ago. Create A Critter, just makes me happy.  This cart makes me want to create cards and yes, I will use some of my other ones soon. I am just now figuring out my style. As always, thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linking this one up to the Deanne's Creative Juice Challenge!

Create A Critter - Tri Fold Card

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card to share with you today.  I was once again doing my usual, which is why I can't create more than 5 or 6 cards a day but nevermind that.  I saw an adorable "tri fold" card but the link to the tutorial was to an "invitation only" blog. I wasn't invited and very determined that I was going to make the card anyways, that is usually my take on things, when life gives me lemons I make a huge pitcher of lemonade and have a go at it.  Next, I was going through my list of blog challenges and came upon one of my favorite blogs, they are super nice over at My Craft Spot.  This week, the challenge is "Sweet," and my favorite sweet treats are cupcakes and ice cream.  No ice cream on Create A Critter so, cupcake it is, hope you like.  As always, thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linked up to the weekly My Craft Spot Challenge!

Create A Critter - Z Fold

Hello Lovelies,
I have a card to share with you today.  I was doing my usual blog thing and came across the Paper Playtime blog.  They have a challenge going on and it is to create a Z fold card. Now, I have seen these cards before but never the ones that they were displaying...talk about fancy.  Remember that I love to learn new things...I was on a mad search for a tutorial but nothing.  I reached for my trimmer and some cardstock, cut my paper but my card was too tiny and not wanting to send another perfectly good piece of cardstock to the scrap file,  I went searching again for some sort of tutorial and voila! I also found the Fantabulous Cricut blog and every knows my favorite world is "FABULOUS," how cool is that. Thanks for visiting, hurry back.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linked up to the Paper Playtime Challenge!
Linked up to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge!

One Whale of a Dad - Create A Critter

Hello Lovelies,

I have another card to share with you all. My nephew is 22 years old and a father...I sometimes forget this because we are super close so he's more like a little brother to me, nevermind the fact that I am much older than he is, but nonetheless, I forget. So this card is for him.  Auntie loves you OJ! Thanks again for visting me.
Hugs,
~Shen

Linking this up to the Paper Cutz Challenge!

Linking this up to the Cricut Cardz Challenge!

Linking this up to the Frosted Designs Challenge!

Linking this up to the Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge!



Cat Purrfect - Create A Critter

Hello Lovelies,

I hope everyone enjoyed an awesome Father's Day with their families. Today, I have a card that I want to share with you all.  This card is a "Center Step" one...let me take an opportunity to vent for a second.  I was blog surfing/lurking/leaving comments, etc...like usual, nothing new there and came upon a super cool post that also provided a link to a tutorial on how exactly to make this type of card.  I click the link, you knew I would, right?  I love, love, love, did I say love? to learn. Anyhoo, it was an excellent tutorial but silly me didn't want to do my all time favorite thing in the whole world, with the exception of scrapping, again, I am side tracked here-lol. Ladies, I love to READ! I scrolled down past the written directions just checking things out before I reached for my paper trimmer, you know...then I saw a darn video and you know I watched it instead of just reading the written directions, smh.  Let me tell you, that thing had me all kinds of confused. I know you want to me to get done with this already and I promise I am about to stop typing but all I have to say is OMGoodness!  This has never happened to me...never until today that is.  Needless to say this was a first for me but I am loving this type of card, NOW...can someone please help me with this freaking GYPSY! Thanks a million times over for reading-lol. Hurry back to see, you are staying away far too long, thus leading to my rambling sessions. You ladies are truly awesome and I thank you so very much for visiting me.

Hugs,

~Shen

Linking this one to the More Than Favors Challenge!
Linking this one to the You Had Me At Craft Challenge!

Hope (Non-Cricut) card

Hello Lovelies,

I have a Non-Cricut card to share with you all today.  I was blog surfing again and happened upon a blog, can't recall which one but anyways, there was a link to a fabulous site that has digital images that are to die for. Thanks for stopping by and hurry back.

Hugs,

~Shen

MelJens Designs

Birthday Bash meets Create A Critter

Hello Lovelies,

Now that Chace's birthday has come and gone well thankfully, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief...I have a card to show you all.  I had so much fun over at Birthday Sundaes last week that I decided to dig in for round two and lookie what I came up with.  I really like that blog...they have a fabulous DT also. Don't you just love it when you can get two for one? I absolutely do, so My Pink Stamper is having a challenge as well with the same theme, yippee, how super cool is that. Thanks for visiting me.

Hugs,

~Shen

I linked this one up to this week's Birthday Sundaes Challenge!
I also linked this one up to the My Pink Stamper Challenge!
Linked up to Cricket's Cricut Challenge!

~ ~ SUNDAY PRAISE ~ ~

Ephesians 4:16

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (NIV)

 Rubie Tuesday Scripture Freebie

This card is for my dad on Father's Day, today. He is the head of our family and his wisdom, kindness and understanding is undeniable. My parents were joined together in marriage and my sister, brothers and I are the ligaments that combined with their love holds the family together. We have grown into super cool adults with families of our own now, and my dad ROCKS still.

The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award

Hello Lovelies,

I am so excited to share with you today that Lisa at "A Mermaid's Crafts" gave me my very first blog award. Now, this is extremely precious to me because first of all, it came from Lisa (if you haven't visited her blog, go...she is amazingly talented, so super sweet and down-to-earth) and secondly because I never thought I would be good enough for anyone to want to stop by for a visit, let alone always leave me such motivational comments. So, Ms. Lisa...thank you very much, I truly appreciate you. I love strawberries too-lol.

The rules for the award are the following:

1) Send a thank you to the person who nominated you and include their link.
2) To accept this award, answer 7 random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award on to at least 8 other awesome blog buddies.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH LISA!!!!!!!!!!!

RANDOM FACTS:
1) I am grateful to Lisa, Kelly and Tracy for their kindness and inspiration.
2) I am obsessed with this hobby.
3) I spend way too much time blog surfing and/or lurking.
4) I have a Gypsy that I don't use because I don't have the patience and skillset.
5) I heart my Cricut(s)...Baby Bug, Create and Expression, don't ask why I need 3.
6) I am completely infatuated with the Create A Critter cartridge.
7) I love GOD and every awesome and amazing thing that he has done in my life. He has a sense of humor when it comes to me, how about my son's are 9 years apart.

Now, I am passing this award on to (8) fabulous BLOGGERS.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!

1) Kelly at Kelly
2) Tracy at Tracy
3)