Magical Monday Challenge #14 Flowers

This week's Magical Monday Challenge is "flowers."  Check here for details.  I've had these pot roses for years (probably decades).  Since they sit so high on the card, I had to make SCS's tutorial for this week "envelope gift box." Click here for tutorial.

And here they are as a set:

Thanks for looking!!

Stamps:  Sweet Pea Stamps - Blue Rose Tatoo

Ink:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, Copic, Bic, and Faber-Castill markers

Paper:  K & Co., DCWV Cardstock, GP 110

Misc:  scrap lace, pot roses, scrap decorative trim 

*I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

Magical Monday Challenge

This card was created for Magical Monday's Challenge, Gothic Angelz.  You are to create a card with a "dark angel."  I know this is a fairy image.  All my angel images are too wholesome.  She was fun to color and I love deep purple, so it was win-win for me.  Thanks for looking.

Paper:  DCWV (Black Currant Stack), Gray Bazzill card stock, Black American Crafts card stock

Image:  Sweet Pea Stamps (Red Heart)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers and Bic Markers (did you know they are alcohol ink?)

Misc:  Ribbon (Dollar Tree), button, rhinestone

*I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

Blog Candy Winner - Dawn Mercedes - Congratulations!!

 Well the time has come to pick a winner.  Here's how I numbered everyone, from my dashboard I listed all my followers of "Gardner's Basket" in order they appear on the list.  Then I added the followers for "Gardner's {ippity} Basket."  Next, if you had left a comment on a "Gardner's Basket" posting between the announcement of the Blog Candy and when I woke up this morning (7:30 AM EST), I added your name (have to show love for the ones who give me love).  Finally to the end of the list I added my followers again.

1.  Becky                                                                                                                                  
2.  The Navy Wife                                                    
3.  Julie Short                                                                  
4.  Cards by Candy                          
5.  Diane (djuseless)                                 
6.  Danie M                                            
7.  April O'Connor                                 
8.  Jen (Jen's Cup of Creations)               
9.  Dawn Mercedes                                
10.  LonePineDesigns                             
11.  Lynn McAuley                                  
12.  EmKay                                             
13.  {jennie}                                            
14.  Beatriz Rubio De Kimmel                 
15.  TammyLee                                        
16.  Julie E                                              
17.  Rose                                                 
18.  kgilbert                                             

19.  Lynn (Millers-ink)                              

20.  Cindy                                                
21.  Jenn (Jax Bean Stalk)                        
22.  Tammy Hair                                      
23.  Betty Wright                                     
24.  Sweetieshop                                      
25.  pschultecrwx2002                              
26.  jennifer mitten                                    
27.  dan g                                                  
28.  Vickie                                                 
29.  Traci S                                               
30.  camishel                                            
31. jimlynn01                                            
32. coolmom210                                       
33. creative patti                                       
34.  Sheryl Kelly
35.  heatherboulicault                                    
36.  Stephanie Zito                                     
37.  cpowers356 
38.  jimlynn
39.  lynn (millers-ink)
40.  Tammy Hair
41.  LonePineDesigns
42.  PurpleCardLady
43.  Dani M.
44.  Julie E
45.  Traci S
46.  Jen Mitten
47.  Jenn (Jax Bean Stalk)
48.  {jennie}
49.  Kelly Smith
50.  pschultecrwx2002
51.  sweetieshop
52.  jimlynn
53.  lynn (millers-ink)
54.  Karen
55.  Purple Card Lady
56.  Dani M
57.  Lynn McAuley
58.  MollyD
59.  Kelly Smith
60.  Traci S
61.  MollyD
62.  Becky
63.  jimlynn
64.  LonePineDesigns
65.  Julie (Time to Create....)
66.  Lynn McAuley
67.  Tammy Hair
68.  Jenn (Jax Bean Stalk)
69.  Dawn Mercedes
70.  EmKay
71.  Julie (Time to Create....)
72.  Tammy Hair
73.  LonePineDesigns
74.  Becky
75.  jimlynn
76.  EmKay
77.  Traci S
78.  Paige
79.  Lynn McAuley
80.  MollyD
81.  Karen
82.  Kelly Spivey
83.  Kelly Smith
84.  Dani M
85.  LonePineDesigns
86.  Becky
87.  Rose
88.  Traci S
89.  Tammy Hair
90.  Dani M
91.  Dani M
92.  Julie (Time to Create....)
93.  LonePineDesigns 
94.  Becky                                                                                                                                  
95.  The Navy Wife                                                    
96.  Julie Short                                                                  
97.  Cards by Candy                          
98.  Diane (djuseless)                                 
99.  Danie M                                            
100.  April O'Connor                                 
101.  Jen (Jen's Cup of Creations)               
102.  Dawn Mercedes                                
103.  LonePineDesigns                             
104.  Lynn McAuley                                  
105.  EmKay                                             
106.  {jennie}                                            
107.  Beatriz Rubio De Kimmel                 
108.  TammyLee                                        
109.  Julie E                                              
110.  Rose                                                 
111.  kgilbert                                             
112.  Lynn (Millers-ink)                              
113.  Cindy                                                
114.  Jenn (Jax Bean Stalk)                        
115.  Tammy Hair                                      
116.  Betty Wright                                     

117.  Sweetieshop                                      
118.  pschultecrwx2002                              
119.  jennifer mitten                                    
120.  dan g                                                  
121.  Vickie                                                 
122.  Traci S                                               
123.  camishel                                            
124. jimlynn01                                            
125. coolmom210                                       
126. creative patti                                       
127.  Sheryl Kelly
128.  heatherboulicault                                    
129.  Stephanie Zito                                     
130.  cpowers356 

Molly's Challenge

Molly from our blog group, Tangled Up In Creativity, is currently hosting a challenge.  It is open to everyone.  Check it out here.  "The Challenge: Find something you were given for Christmas that inspires your creativity - take a picture. Make a card with that inspiration."

My Secret Santa (my school's secretary, Betsy) gave me this angel by Jim Shore.  It is titled "Gifts from the Garden."  She's beautiful.  I've threatened the boys' (hubby included) lives if one of their indoor hockey games brings harm to this angel.  They broke one of my Willow Creek angels with one of their hockey games last year.  

Here's my card (not as lovely as the angel, but a good try):

Paper:  Echo Park, Bazzill cardstock
Image:  Bildmalrna Stamps (Mimosa's Flower Basket) just a note Paper Jewels is closing and has some stamps marked down, Paper Jewels.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers and Faber Castill India Ink Markers
Misc:  Flowers with brad centers.
*I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

Dani's TUIC Challenge

The first challenge for the Tangled Up In Creativity Blog Group (TUIC) is hosted by Dani May (D-Dazzled Designs).  She posses one of the most caring hearts.  This year she has dedicated a lot of her time to different charities, and has even created a challenge blog devoted to charities, A Cause for Cards.  Please visit and join us in helping her with her selfless work. 

Back to the challenge, in honor of Australia Day we had to:

a) incorporate the Colours Green and Yellow into your card

b)  make a card only utilising Cardstock - no papers, no ribbon, no bling etc

(only stamping and more cardstock, you can of course emboss, distress and cut cardstock)

You cannot imagine how hard this was for me.  I put bling on everything if it sits still long enough (hubby gets worried when he comes home and rhinestones are stuck to the boys).  Thanks for looking.

Here's a close-up of the image

Paper:  Bazzill Cardstock

Image:  Raisin Boat Stamps (Baby Face Set)

Ink:  Palette Ink (Haystack, Black) Memento (London Fog), Copic Marker for face

Misc:  Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder

*I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

Sweet Pea Stamps

Sweet Pea Stamps Dragonfly Fantasy

Sweet Pea Stamps Midnight Waiting

Sweet Pea Stamps Storytime

As you can see, I'm still playing with my new toys (Copic Markers). 

The Greeting Farm

TGF Dahlia

For Christmas, I bought myself a few Copic Markers.  I decided to start with colors for hair color and skin tone.  A few months ago, I also participated in a The Greeting Farm image swap.  Just like a small child, I had to play with my new toys.

TGF Nahla (Roll Call Set)

TGF Summer (Roll Call Set)

TGF Flirty Anya (I love Clean House, here's my tribute to Niecy Nash)

Thanks for looking!

So Surprised!! Thank you Karen!!

Karen (Simply Said with Karen), one of my Blog-mates surprised me with this award on Friday.  Please visit her blog, here, she creates the most beautiful projects (especially cards).  Thank you so much for this award.  Well the rules for receiving this honor are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. Thank you Karen.
2. Share 8 things about yourself.
3. Pass it on to 8 bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award.

8 things about myself
1.  I am a mom to 2 boys (Brendan 4, and Damian 2)
2.  I am a teacher (previously a classroom teacher from PreK - Gr.4), currently a Reading Teacher
3.  I LOVE to craft! (Paper or Sewing)
4.  My favorite foods are Chocolate and Chips with Guacamole (but not together).
5.  I was a licensed Make-Up Artist (state of MD no longer issues such a license).
6.  I love to learn new things (just not in a Lecture Hall setting, main reason I have not started my Masters in   Ed.).
7.  I want to live in Colorado or Utah.
8.  Monkeys make me smile.

I pass this award on to:
1.  Rose (Pink Lemonade)
2.  Danie (D-Dazzled Designs)
3.  Julie (Time to Create Handmade Treasure), you really need to visit this post.  She wrote her on version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  All of the members of TUIC were the characters.  It is so cute and clever.
4.  Kelly (Crafty Twin Mommy)
5.  Traci (He IS Able)
6.  Lynn (Millers-Ink)
7.  Loretta (Stamping with Loretta)
8.  Candy (Purple Card Lady)

Please visit each of these wonderful ladies.  I promise, you will be amazed!!!

*Don't forget to enter for a chance for some Blog Candy, here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR (and Blogiversary to me)!!!

To celebrate my Blogiversary, I'm giving away some Blog Candy.  This little tote (about 8 in. high and 12 in. wide), made by me is packed with paper crafting goodies.  Wanna see?

Here's a list:

24 (6x6) sheets double sided paper (from October Afternoon, Echo Park, & Heidi Grace Designs)

46 (6x6) sheets single sided paper (from DCWV, Heidi Grace Designs, & Making Memories)

2 Hampton Art clear stamp sets (one has 25 stamps the other 29)

4 pkgs. self-adhesive rhinestones (Michael's)

2 Studio g stamps

24 Mini Glue Dots

2 pkgs Petaloo Flower Pebbles

1 small acrylic block

1 Palette Ink sample pad (Burnt Umber)

and the little tote bag

All you have to do is become a follower (if you are already a follower, you have 2 chances in the basket), and of course leaving a comment gets you another chance.  I'll pick a winner on January 16, so you have until 12:00 AM on the 16th.  I'll announce the winner around 6:00 PM on January 16.