Looking for any help on my blog

If you've stumbled across my little blog and would like to make some suggestions on how to improve the layout or looks, please feel free. (Only nice help, please. If you don't care for this blog so be it, happy surfing in other places, ok?)
I consider myself quite technically challenged. But I have spent some time figuring some things out, like how to add the box over to the right for viewers to receive my blog updates via email. Piece of cake thanks to some kind soul's blog post.
The other thing I'm so happy I discovered is how to post a blog link without listing the whole thing, that is, http:/thegreatblog/blah/blah etc.
My contribution: Find the link you would like to copy and highlight and then right click. Choose copy. (Or you can highlight then chose Edit-Copy). Go to the page you would like to place your link. Type the word "here" or "Great blog" or whatever. Drag your mouse to highlight the entire word or words. Then look for link shortcut (looks like a metal link) and click on it. A pop-up box comes up. Right click on the URL (starts with http...)and click paste to replace the one in the pop-up box with the one you had copied. Enter and you are done. Viola!
I found this VERY helpful tip on this wonderful blog. See how nice it is to see a small word like "Blog" instead of the whole long address! And did you notice I even changed the font color after I highlighted the word blog, but before I clicked on the link shortcut.
I hope in some small way this made sense. If I can think of a better way to explain it, I'll get to it.
Blessings,
Colleen

All the difference!

Here's my week 4 entry for CHF: Create a Scene. (See my previous posts for details).

I don't think I'm very good at making scenes. Well, at least on paper!

So my thought was to do a pop-up card. A very time consuming idea, so I wanted the front of the card to be very simple. I'm not sure this is a home run, but my kids just kept checking on my progress and were completely wowed by it.

Let me take you into my mind for a minute... You have to understand this card started with the movie, "The Wizard of Oz". If you remember, part of the very cool effect of the movie was that early in the movie, when Dorothy was in Kansas, the movie was filmed in black & white. Then when she wakes up in Oz, it is in this amazing technicolor--as if to emphasize the fact that it is a totally different world. So there you go. The first photo here is the front of my card...my attempt at black & white (or shades of gray, here) and making the scence look rather dull and flat. The second photo is of the inside of the card. Amazing technicolor! A mix of a pop-up card and diorama elements. I used copics for most of the coloring. I used a collection of Kim Hughes elements mostly from Spring Trees, Christmas Critters and Forest Friendzy. I also used the wonderful sentiment by Robert Frost. I hope you can see my effort to reinforce the idea the road less travelled, REALLY DOES make all the difference.
I'm not sure my photos were very good. After loading the pics, my kids asked if I was going to win. Matter-of-factly I said maybe not because there are some incredible entries. My 8 year old came over to me put one arm around my shoulder and said, "Well, Mom...you would definitely win the best Mom contest 'cause you're the best Mom in the whole world" (Completely sincere!).

And that, my dear friends, is indeed a contest worth winning!

CHF weekly winner? Nice. Having your kids think you are the greatest? Priceless.

Blessings,

Colleen

It's a Party!

I guess I never posted my Cornish Heritage Farms entry for week 1 of their Summer Design Star Challenge. (It's 5 weeks of themed challenges. You can catch all the details here: http://becreative.cornishheritagefarms.com/?p=808)

Anyway...this card was a labor of LOVE I tell ya! Don't ask me how long it took. Lots of stamping, coloring, paper piecing, stickles, pop dots and bling. Each little party hat was cut out and popped up on each little animal. It was all worth it as I made it for my dearest mother-in-law. When I visited her a couple of weeks ago, I noticed she had gotten large (2'x4') shadow box frames and had framed all the cards I had sent her! She has them proudly hanging in the entry way of her home for all to see! Is she not the biggest sweetheart ever?!! She truly is a second mother to me (and that's saying a lot, as my Mom is so GREAT) . Sometime I'll tell you more about my 2 great Moms!

But...I digress.

So here's the PARTAAY card! I was so happy with this card (and so was Mom K!).

Honestly? I thought this card was a winner. Really! I was kind of bummed it wasn't selected as week 1 winner.

We grow stronger by our attempts at new things, right?

{Me flexing muscles here}

Blessings to you!

Colleen

Oh Bebe!

This is my entry for week3 of the summer design star at Cornish Heritage Farms. The challenge this week was to use resist. This is like my 3rd attempt! My first attempt didn't make it pass the trash can -ha! I had my 2nd attempt all laid out in my mind when I went to bed. The next morning, wouldn't you know, a design team member had submitted an eerily similar card! Freaky! Of course I didn't want to be know as the entry that copied someone else :) so I went back to the drawing board and ended up with this little sailboat baby card:

Cute huh? I embossed the large polka dot background on white cs using clear embossing powder. Then I brayered not quite navy over the top. I cut the semi-circle using my CM circle cutter and hand cut the triangles. I dry embossed the kraft cs using the polka dot and swirly cuttlebug folders. I popped the sailboat up on pop dots on top of a chipboard rectangle. I finished the card using a stamp from the Kim Hughes baby set, a bit of ribbon and floss.

My 4 year daughter's nickname is Bebe, especially by my hubby. You can sure tell she is the youngest of 4. And a total Daddy's girl.

So not my greatest work ever, but I thought it was a refreshing entry as most of the cards used flowery type-softer images.

So onto week 4 challenge--creating a scene!

Blessings,

Colleen

My Dear Friend (in pink)

Here's a very feminine card I made with the SU! set. You could easily replace my sentiment with one of your own. I used the polka dot background stamp (SU) on pink, then layered with some sparkly designer paper. The main image is stamped on a piece of acetate using Staz-On black ink. I then took an acrylic paint daubber and swiped the back in pale pink to help set off the sentiment. Finished with some flowers and misc black accent (from the stash).

This is my very weak: "I Wanna Be Like Julia Stainton" http://bellepapier.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ That woman creates BEAUTIES!

It is hot, hot, hot in Kansas today. Hot like in Fiesta weather. Probably means more thunderstorms tonight. But dare we hope to believe in the weather forecasters? The rest of week for low-mid 80's and, you might want to sit down for this, VERY LOW HUMIDITY.

2 words: Bring it!

Blessings to you!

Colleen

Embossed chalks

Thought I would try a fun techniqe with the SU set, Upsy Daisy. I stamped the main image in Versamark on white cs. Then I used my chalks and applicator to gently swirl on color. A couple of runs with my sewing machine and some pretty dp finishes this one off. Soft & pretty!

Ta Ta For Now (ttfn) :)

Colleen

Let's Celebrate! Week 2 challenge

Umm..I've been busy.

Enough said, hmm?

This one's for you Jen, for inspiring me to post again. Here's my entry for Cornish Heritage Farm's Summer Design Challenge. October Afternoon DP, and MUCH, MUCH paper piecing. A little stickles on the eyelids and hat tops. Momento black ink. Stamps: UR A Hoot, The Landing Pad, and Forest Friendzy (all by Kim Hughes at CHF).

Week 2 challenge was paper piecing. (Let's hope wild and crazy DP counts for something too). There's a $50 prize gift certificate for each week's winner. Cross your fingers for me, ok?