Friday Faves

Chips & Salsa card by Tosh - sooooo cute!

Check out the ribbon lattice background that Laurie did on this card - just beautiful.

The striking color combo on this card by Julee is amazing!

These "freaky girl" cards by Michelle.


Did you see something fabulous on the web this week? Did you discover something that I missed? Be sure to leave me a link so I can share it!

I'll be back tomorrow with a sketch challenge from Lauren!
See ya then!

A sketch challenge...

Seems like forever since I played along on a sketch challenge just for fun.
This was the sketch posted on Splitcoast last Wednesday....

Better late than never right?
I just got these cuties from The Greeting Farm and had to ink them up right away!

Here's my interpretation of the sketch...And since I was playing with a sketch challenge, I also whipped up a quick Christmas card...I used images from SU's "Spotlight on Christmas" and "Winter Post"Another quick post for me.
I'm finally starting to feel like myself again and get some energy back. I've got soooo much to catch up on! Thanks for all the get well wishes - you guys are really sweet.

I'll be back tomorrow with some of my favorite finds from the web this week.
Hugs,

Hambo Hump Day

Recently, I got a request from a friend with a 4 year old son. His dinosaur themed birthday party is coming up and she asked me to come up with something "clever and fun" for his goodie bags.

Instead of a bag-o-crap from the $1 store, each kiddo will get their very own Hambo t-shirt! So much better don't you think?

Here's what I did....
I took the digital image of a dinosaur necktie and enlarged it on my computer. Then I printed a bunch of them out onto iron-on transfer paper and ironed them onto plain white t-shirts that we picked up at Michaels for $3.
(this image comes as part of a set of 3 for only $2.75!!)

Then I added some fabric markers and tucked everything into a clear plastic bag for each munchkin.

And finished off with a little dinosaur tag. Really simple to make, but I think the kids will have fun with them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Still horizontal....

Well, I'm still in bed with this kidney infection. Thought I was feeling better and tried to take the kids out yesterday, but I didn't even make it to the garage before I had to go lay down again. What a bummer!
So here I lay, in a pile of kitties trying to get some rest and the neighbors dog has been barking ALL morning. Seriously....how can a dog bark for 3 hours straight?! Grrrr.......
Okay, I'm done complaining.....for now.

Today I thought I'd share a card a made a few months ago and never posted. This one is a 5.5" gate fold card done with Kraft cardstock and Bella Bleu patterned paper from Stampin Up. The sentiment is from SU's "All Holidays" and the butterfly image is from SU's "Great Friend" set.
To finish it off, I added some vanilla ribbon and pearls.

I'm off to la-la land again, but be sure to check back tomorrow for a fun project I made with a Hambo digital image!

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long

Monday already?!
Thanks for the comments and e-mails regarding my kidney infection. Yesterday was a rough one, but today I'm finally starting to feel like I'm on the mend. Still trying to take it easy though, so today will be another quick post.

Today is challenge day over at the CSAYL blog.
The challenge for today is to use a snowman as the main image on your card.

Here's what I came up with... The cute snowmen and sentiment are by Hambo.
I added some Doodlebug Sugar Coating for a little sparkle and sponged white craft ink around the edges of the main panel.

I hope you're going to play along with us this week. You can upload your snowman creation on the challenge post on the CSAYL blog. There were some great entries last week for the sketch challenge, but this one by Michelle was my favorite!

Happy stampin!

"My Time" to create...

I'll be doing all of my blogging from bed for the next week. I've got a kidney infection and kidney stones......again. The next few posts I make will be short and sweet - before the meds kick in and knock me out!

Today Lauren has issued a template challenge using the following photo as inspiration.I decided to use the "Filled with Flair" template and this is what I came up with.
My friend has a birthday coming up, so I made the template and filled it with six matching monogrammed cards.
I believe the patterned paper is from SU's collection called "Urban Garden". The monogram letter is from a Martha Stewart monogram stamp set. I picked it up ages ago in hopes of making monogrammed card sets as gifts, but this is the first time it's finally seen some action.

Here are some detail shots of the cards.
I made two each of three different patterns and tried to keep them clean and simple.

Here they are all together.

Hope you're inspired to play along with us!
You can check out all of Lauren's fab templates here.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the DT gals did by going to my sidebar.
As for me, I'm of to la-la land....

Friday Faves

Here are my favorite discoveries from the web this week....

Zombie Hello Kitty cake - Love it!

This gift set of cards by Laura Fredrickson - BEE-U-TIFUL!!

FREE digital downloads from Hambo and Dustin Pike!

This stamp workshop - oh how I wish we had basements in California...

All in the Family - In Color style

I just love how this card came out! I've had "All in the Family" for almost three years and hardly ever use it. I came up with this little beauty at a Stamp Camp that I attended. Of course I took the same supplies, totally changed the layout and made it my own - I never follow the rules.

This card uses all of the new In Colors and they are DELISH! I wasn't really sure about them when I first saw pics online, but when I actually got to play with them and get my fingers inky, I fell in love.

This card measures 3 1/4 x 6 1/2" and fits perfectly into the "Small Open-End Envelopes" in the SU catalog. The base is Bermuda Bay and the main panel is matted onto Melon Mambo. The little munchkin was stamped with Staz-On onto glossy white paper and then colored with the new In Color markers. The cool swirly circles stamped on the background are from "Circle Circus". I did some piercing on the top and added a sentiment to the bottom with the new Modern Label punch.

Such a fun colorful card - perfect for any kiddo!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,

Hambo Hump Day

It's a sad day in the Bruckler house today.
The last day of summer swim lessons.

Every summer the kids take lessons at the local aquatics center with instructors who are high school students. Sometimes it's hard to tell who's having more fun - the kids or the instructors!
They are amazing with the kids and I always like to give them a little something at the end of each session. This year I made gift card holders and filled them with some Starbucks goodness. I thought these two images by Hambo were perfect for a swimming themed gift.
Here are close ups of each one...

These little things are SO EASY to make.
Seriously, you can have one done in 3 minutes and then all you have to do is decorate the front!

First take a piece of cardstock and cut it to 4 1/4" x 11".
Then score at 3", 5 1/2" and 8".

Fold on the score lines into an "M" shape and apply adhesive where shown below.

Once adhered, it will look like this.

Next, take your word window punch and remove the part shown below on the middle fold.

Repeat on the right side.

This is what it will look like now.
(your gift card will slide down into this part)

Then take a circle or oval punch and remove the part shown below.

Ta-Da!
Pretty cool right?! And SO simple!

Now just slide your gift card into the little pocket you've created with your punches.

And decorate the front!

My kids thought these were super cool. I let them pick out the papers and write a special note on the inside. They can't wait to give these to their instructors today.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Be sure to hop on over to the Hambo blog and check out the contest that's going on until Sunday!

And you thought I could only make cards...

Today I wanted to share a special project that I was working on all of last school year. Parents from Kindergarten and 1st grade have been ordering memory books from me for the past three years. I usually start the albums during the first couple of months of school and then meet with the teachers every month to collect photos of each student. By the end of the school year, I have lots of pics to add to the books and deliver the completed project at Open House.

The first two years, I made paper bag albums, which were beautiful, but a TON of work. This year I had triple the amount of orders, so I decided to change my book to a simpler design to maintain my sanity.

This is what I came up with...

Isn't that owl the cutest?!
I discovered him by accident on one of my Disney princess Cricut cartridges. He's part of the Sleeping Beauty collection. The pencil was just paper pieced together and then I added the grade as the title with the "Opposites Attract" cartridge.

These clear envelope albums are SUPER simple to make!
You can check out a tutorial here.

Quick post for me today, I've got a date at the bowling alley with two munchkins!

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long

Happy Monday kids!
Today brings a new challenge from the CSAYL blog!

Today's challenge is a sketch by the uber-talented Maria Bell.

Here's what I came up with...

A little disturbing? Perhaps...but I had someone specific in mind when I made it!
The snowflake images on the background are from SU's "Winter Post" set and the skull is from SU's "Just Jawing". The funny sentiment is a little gem I discovered in a GIANT bin of rubber at an expo I went to a few years back.

I cut some mini holly leaves out of Garden Green cardstock and added some jewels for the berries.
Then I added some Doodlebug Sugar Coating to the eyes, nose and one tooth to give that extra little *holiday sparkle*! The skull is mounted on a piece of Real Red cardstock that I embossed with a Cuttlebug "D'vine Swirl" folder.

I hope you're inspired to play along with us and get a head start on your holiday cards! I loved what everyone came up with last week for our "Inside Out" challenge, but this one by Mary was my fave!

Be sure to check out what the rest of the DT came up with and upload YOUR card by hopping over to the CSAYL blog.