Hambo Hoedown - Stripes

Where does time go?  I can't believe I missed last week's Hambo Hoedown challenge which means I also missed this week's digi.  That's okay because I have alot of Hambo Stamps and digis to choose from.  I fell in love with their desgins years ago when I accidentally purchased a stamp off eBay.  When I received it I saw the Hambo insignia on it and checked out their website and I was hooked.  If you haven't seen the site, check it out here http://www.hambostamps.com/.  This week's challenge was to include stripes on our project and I chose to use their cute "possum" stamp. 

I was traveling this week and brought along a few stamps and papers so I could still enter the challenge, but what I can't believe that I did not bring with me was an Alphabet stamp set.  How can anyone be away from home and expect to stamp without an alphabet set?? (rhetorical questiont)  I had to do the "HANG" the old-fashioned way, no die cuts or stamp alphabets, I had to hand draw and cut with scissors!!  Yikes!!  It's amazing how quickly we get spoiled with all the great tools that are on the market.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.



Hambo Hoedown - Sketch Challenge

It's Hoedown time again and this week I received the digi "Monster weights" and some great sentiments from Hambo Stamps for playing in last week's challenge.  The challenge this week was to follow a sketch.

I turned the card horizontally; colored the "monster weights" digi with my copics markers and used one of the great sentiments that came with the digi.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my bog.

Hambo Hoedown - Anything goes

This week's Hambo Hoedown challenge is "anything goes".  It means just what is says, anything goes.  I received the "fortune cookie" digi from Hambo Stamps and some great sentiments to use for the fortune just for playing in last week's challenge. I thought I'd try something different since anything goes.  I've recently been messing around with Zentangle, I'm not very good with it yet but I do enjoy just letting my mind wander and just doodling.  I decided to use my recent Zentangle as my background. 

I colored and cut out the fortune cookie digi and used one of the great sentiments for the message.  I applied everything to a red background to give it a little color.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown - Dragon

Hoedown Time...This week I received the "Dragon" digi and some great sentiments just for playing along last week.  If you haven't played in the Hoedown, you gotta give it a try.  Each week, just for playing you get a free digi for the next week's challenge.  I've received some great digis over the past year.  The challenge this week was to use gold and silver.  I've never really liked to use chalks on my projects because I can't stay within the lines when I'm coloring with them (and that's a big deal to me). The other day I was at the store and I found chalk pencils.  They're great, they are chalk but they're a pencil so when I color with them I have more control and can stay within the lines.  I used dark blue cardstock so I thought I'd give them a try.

I used the "Tree" stamp from Hambo stamps.  I stamped the trees and campfire using a Silver stamp pad.  I masked and stamped the tree to create a grove of trees.  I then used my new chalk pencils to add color or highlight the stamps. The green in the trees isn't very visible in the picture, but it looks really nice on the card. I colored the dragon digi with my copics markers, his belly and wings are colored with gold, but the picture makes it look more like yellow.  I speckled the blue background with a white gel pen to make it look more like night and added a shooting star in the right top corner.  I added the "You light my fire" sentiment! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is just a few days away and I received this great Candy Heart digi to use for this week's Hambo Hoedown. The challenge for this week's project is to add a Brad, Button or Bow.  I printed the Candy Heart digi and sentiment then grabbed my copics markers and started coloring.   I'm not a big bow person and very seldom use them on my cards, so I went with brads and buttons.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!  Thanks for stopping by.

Hambo Hoedown - Bailey Cupcake

Time for the Hambo Hoedown. This week the digi is Bailey cupcake.  I supersized the cupcake to make it bigger than Bailey and decided to make the card in the shape of a bone.

I stamped the background with a diamond stamp from Hero Arts and  used my Copics markers to color Bailey and the Cupcake.  I used the"Bone Appetit" sentiment on the outside and the "Hope your Birthday is tail wagging good" on the inside that was part of the digi.  The Hambo digi's are great, if you don't have any then you have to join their weekly Hoedown.  Each week you play in the hoedown you get a free digi to use in the next week's challenge.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown - Kid's Card Challenge

This week Hambo Stamps is sponsoring the challenge for Send a Smile 4 Kids.  This is a great organization that collects donated handmade cards to be distributed to children while they are inpatient at Children's Hospitals. What a great reason to make a card.  I received the cute puppy digi called  "Bailey". 

I colored the digi with my Copics markers and used the Nestabilities scalloped square dies. The background paper is called DOG from Reminisce.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hambo Hoedown-Two different circles challenge

Each week I say that I am going to post more items to my blog and not just challenges.  Then I'm finishing a card in the last minute to get in the mail and forget to take a picture of it so I can't post it on my blog.  Now that I've admitted this out loud I 'm hoping this will help and I'll get better about posting additional projects.  For this week's challenge for the Hambo Hoedown I received the balloon-cost digi.  The challenge is to use 2 or more different size circles in our project. I took the digi and split the words up and punched out various size circles.

Here is the inside of the card...



Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everyone!   I know the calendar says January 7th, so 2012 has just started and I'm already a week behind. That's okay I'll catch up by Valentine's Day!  I'm not too far behind because I still have time to post a "Happy Newt Year" project for the HamboHoedown Challenge.  I received this cute "Reptile" digi and some Happy Newt year sentiments.  The challenge is to create a project using something new.  For Christmas I got some new Sizzix Tim Holtz Alteration dies.  I used the die called "Ornamental" to create the design.

You can't see it very well but the background paper looks like the skin of a reptile.  As I mentioned I used my new Sizzix Tim Holtz Ornamental die to cut out the design in green and then my digi in white.  I trimmed the white diecut and attached it to the green diecut then added ribbon where the 2 designs layered. The "reptile" digi is another great design from Tim at HamboStamps.  If you haven't seen some of his digi's you have to take the time to check them out at http://hambostamps.com/digishop/.  I colored the "reptile" digi with my Copics Markers and I paper pieced his shirt using the Stampin' Up stamp "Solid Stripes".  I wish you a Happy and Healthy 2012 and hope you find time to stop by my blog throughout the year.

Hambo Hoedown - Show off your corners

Well Christmas is almost here and I still have a long list of things to do.  I love the holiday season, there's always so much to do with decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping and crafting and they usually happen in that order.  My paper crafting and card making seems to get the last few minutes of my available time.  I took a few minutes to play in the Hoedown this week, I didn't receive the free digi since I didn't play last week but I have a good collection of Hambo stamps & digis to choose from.  Staying with the winter theme I used one of the stamps from their Winter release called Snowman Sled. The challenge this week is to create a project that shows off our corners. 

I started to cut the corners to show the snowflakes and ended up almost removing the corners to show off the embossed snowflakes.  The background was created using the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink-faded jeans.  I then applied Stampendous Boss Gloss and hologram embossing powder and heated it.  The stamps are from the Stampin' Up set - Thanks snow much and the white swirl was created with the Die-namic die called elegant scrollwork.  The Hambo stamp Snowman Sled was colored with my Copics markers and then dazzling diamonds added to the swirls. Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown - Dry Embossing

This week's Hambo Hoedown challenge is to incorporate dry embossing on your project. We received a really cute snowball fight digi for playing last week, but I'm having all kinds of computer trouble this week.  So frustrating..... So I decided to use a great Rubber Image from Hambo Stamps called Christmas Window.  The background of bricks were dry embossed using a Tim Holtz/Sizzix embossing folder and then I swiped a white ink pad over the embossing to make the texture stand out more.

I colored the Christmas Window with COPICS markers and then cut it out and attached to the brick background. I stamped the icicle stamp, added dazzling diamond stickles, cut them out and glued them to the top of the window.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown - soft ware

For the Hambo Hoedown challenge this week I received the computer digi and staying with the computer theme we were asked to add software.  Software?? Yeah soft wares..we have to add something soft to our project.  I've got this fuzzy string that is so soft and I've been wanting to use it.  It's official name is Haute Fur and is used in knitting, but today it fills the requirement for something soft.

I used the Memory Mist spray "blueberry shake" and the Glimmer Mist spray "Sapphire" and sprayed white cardstock to create the background.  I then added a red layer to pick up the color in the mouse pad.  I then wrapped the haute fur around the background and attached it to the blue card. I colored the computer digi with my copics markers and then cut it out.  I attached the computer to the card with foam dots so it is raised a bit from the card.  The fur gives the card a festive look so I stamped Celebrate on the computer screen.   Thanks for checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown - Turkey Tag

This week's Hoedown is to incorporate a Tag into your project.  I received this great Wee Henry Turkey digi for playing along last week.  I saw this technique on Splitcoaststampers.com and made a mini tag book last Christmas for a gift.  I decided this would be perfect for this challenge.  The tag holder is made from an empty toliet paper roll.  It's the perfect size to house a tag and strong enough to attach to a ring or chain when you make several (1 holder per tag).  It's super simple, all you have to do is flatten the toilet paper holder and then cover with paper and decorate. Then you make the tag to fit inside. You can seal one end or you don't have to since it's stiff enough where the tag won't fall out.  I covered the tag holder with decorative paper and then used the Hambo Stamp - scarecrow and one of the sentiments I received for the challenge.

As you can see I decided to seal the bottom just because I like the finished look.  The next picture shows the tag sticking out of the holder.



Now here's the tag using the Wee Henry Turkey digi and the other sentiment I received  topped off with a leaf brad.  I stamped some leaves as a background on the tag and punched a hole and added some brown and gold adornment string.

When making each tag as a mini book you can punch holes in one corner of the tag holder and string them on a chain or ring.  I actually made each tag into a money holder for a Christmas gift.  This would also make a great gift card holder.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hambo Hoedown Challenge - You've been framed

The challenge this week at Hambo Stamps is to add a frame somewhere on your creation. I missed the challenge last week so I didn't receive the "free" camera guy digi to use.  Awhile back when I was looking through a magazine I saw this beautiful, peaceful picture of a lake and for whatever reason I thought I could use that somehow in a future card.  I do that alot, I see something and think "that would be great on a card".  I have a whole drawer of little twigs that would make great snowman arms.  Yikes!!  I'm a bit of a packrat so this idea of  "I could use that on a card" fits nicely into my packrat world.  Anyway to get back to my card - I actually used the picture in my card this week.  Maybe there is hope for the drawer of twigs!!  I made the card into a frame and used the picture as the background.

Both monsters are courtesy of Hambo Stamps.  The yellow monster is called Monster and the green monster is called Beast.  Even monsters need a little vacation sometime. Thanks for checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown - It's a little Sketchy

It's Hambo Hoedown time and for this week there's a sketch to follow.  The digi and sentiment I received this week (for playing last week) is called Zombie Bunny and he's just so cute (for a zombie).  Each week we get a great digi from Hambo Stamps to use in the challenge.  If you haven't joined the Hoedown, you gotta try it.  Check it out here.  When do you ever see just 1 zombie??  Check out any zombie movie (old or new), "The Walking Dead", "Plague of the Zombies" even the Michael Jackson video "Thriller" didn't have just 1 zombie.  So I just had to have more than 1 Zombie Bunny for my card.

I shrunk and copied the Zombie Bunny digi then colored them with copics markers.  The Tree background is also a Hambo Stamps digi.  I stretched the trees a bit to make them more proportional to my zombie bunnies.  The background stamps and "Happy Halloween " are from Stampin' Up. The pumpkin embellishment is a Jolee's Boutique sticker and the spider brad is from Eyelet Outlet.  Thanks for checking out my blog.  Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

Hambo Hoedown Challenge - All Wrapped Up

Halloween, my favorite time of year for cardmaking.  There are sooo many great stamps and digis for Halloween.  And the colors for Halloween - Black, orange, purple and green when I think of these colors I think of Halloween.  Those are the colors we were to use for this week's Hambo Hoedown challenge "All Wrapped Up".  Because I played last week in the challenge I received this cute Mummy digi to use this week with the Halloween colors.  If you haven't joined this challenge then check it out here.  Each week you receive a great digi file (drawn by Tim)  from Hambo Stamps to use in the challenge.

I used the Tim Holtz Texture Fades embossing folder called Rays (it looks like a sunburst ). I embossed the 4 Halloween colors and then matched them up and cut them down to the size to fit and attached to a white card base. I colored the Mummy digi with my Copics markers and added him to the card with pop dots.  The sentiment was included with the digi file and I added a squiggly brad then attached both to the front of the card. A simple Happy Halloween sentiment is included inside. Thanks for looking.

Hambo Hoedown Challenge #36 - Alpha Name

I received this awesome digi called Flower Monster from Hambo Stamps to use in this week's alpha name challenge.  If you haven't seen Hambo's digital stamps, you've got to check them out, there are so many great digis. The challenge is to create a project that uses an item that starts with the first letter of your first name.  My name is Debbie so I had to use an item on my card that starts with a "D".  I used dirt.  The Flower Monster reminded me of a monster who ruts around in the dirt digging up flowers to eat.

I created a bunch of flowers for the Flower Monster to pick using the flower trio digi we received a few weeks ago from Hambo Stamps.  I tore the card and smeared dirt on it to make it look like the Flower Monster had been munching on it.  I glued dirt ( D for Dirt and D for Debbie) on the card and on the Flower Monster's hands and feet. I've never glued dirt to a card before,  but that's why they call it a challenge.  Here's a closer look at the dirt on and below the Flower Monster's foot.

I hope you like my card, with dirt, thanks for looking.

Hambo Hoedown Challenge 35 - Case a card

This week's challenge is to CASE a card from the Hambo Card Gallery.  At first I didn't understand what CASE meant (CASE = Copy And Share Everything.)   Wow - the opportunity to copy someone else's design.  It sounds easier then it is.  There are so many awesome designs in the Hambo Gallery and it was hard to pick just one, but then the Silly Monkey card by Judith Rozema caught my eye so I cased it (that sounds so cool, "I cased it").  You can see the image in the Hambo Gallery here

Isn't this card cute?  I love the layout.  I used the Dragonfly digi that we received this week and copied Judith's idea. 

 I used the Cuttlebug leafy branch embossing folder with the core color paper and sanded the image a little to allow the lighter teal color to show through.  I shrunk the dragonfly digi and painted them with my Twinkling H2O paints from Luminart.  The picture doesn't do the colors or shine of the paint justice. I haven't used these paints since I purchased my Copics Markers, I forgot how much I enjoy painting with them and how beautiful the colors are.  They are great to take with you because they come in little jars and are actually a dried hard cake of paint.  All you have to do is swirl a wet paintbrush on the cake of paint and you have a paintbrush full of twinkling paint.  If you haven't tried them - check them out they're great.  I added a ribbon to connect the 3 squares. Thanks for checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown Challenge 34

This week Hambo stamps is teaming up with Operation Write Home to help celebrate their birthday.  In addition to submitting the card for the challenge, we have the option to send  our card to Hambo Stamps and they will collect and send them to the troops that protect and serve our country. Eventhough it's a small thing, what a great way to say thanks.  We received the Pig sub digi and great sentiment to use for the challenge. 

The heart was created using the Quickutz nesting hearts die.  I then punched out a hole in the bottom of the heart and added acetate over the opening.  I shrunk the Pig sub digi and colored it with Copic markers and  inserted it behind the window.  I printed the sentiment on the heart and sponged black ink around the edge..  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.

Hambo Hoedown #33

Well this week the Hambo Hoedown challenge stood up to its name, it was a real challenge. The Hambo Hoedown this week wanted us to incorporate something into our creation that was found around the house that you normally wouldn't use.  I received this great house2-digi to use for my creation, but I still couldn't figure out what to use from around the house.  As I was going through my cupboards it came to me, I decided to add dried parsley flakes to represent the bushes.

Below is a close up of the bush on the right.  I like the look and was pleased with how the bushes turned out.

I colored the house with my copics markers and used the die-namics cloud die to cut out the clouds.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog.