Grandma's Heirlooms

Happy Halloween! A couple years back my mother made the boys their costumes, the oldest was a cowboy, the youngest an indian. When they are little you can dress them up in such fun and cute things. This year: a wizard and Spiderman. Funny thing is that we don't really do the normal trick or treating-we just stop by the grandparents, great-grandparents and a few aunts and uncle's houses and the boys get enough treats that way!

I have a Creative Contributor post up today over at The Project Girl (Jen Allyson's blog) where I am featuring the Gertie "Girly" Stamps from the Stella and Rose Collection. Beautiful doily stamps I must say! This is one of three cards showcased in an inspiration parade. I'd love for you to stop by to check out the post and the other two cards!

This past weekend (October 29th) I also had a project go live on the Clear & Simple Daily App! A little crafty goodness in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Butterfly Kisses, Dandelion Wishes

"All the precious time
Like the wind the years go by
Precious butterfly
Spread your wings and fly"

~Butterfly Kisses

I don't have any girls of my own, but I was once a little girl.

My father was always there for me and always encouraged and supported me in anything I did.

Nothing's changed even now that I'm older, I'm only lucky girl.

Sweet little image, isn't it?

For some reason, I couldn't really get this to photograph well, probably because I have a million things to do today?

Trying to maximize my time so I'm playing in a couple of challenges, what a way to kick start the direction of a card when you really don't know where to start...

The Craft's Meow October Card Sketch Challenge...designed by uber talented Lynn.

The CR84FN Color Challenge...yummy soft colors...

And the Wee Memories Challenge to use Brad's Buttons or Bows..

I went with a simple bow from floss.

Supplies:

Cardstock: (White) Office Max
Patterned Paper: (Life's Portrait) Webster's

Stamp: (Butterfly Kisses) The Craft's Meow

Ink: (Basic Gray Pigment) SU

Fiber: (White Ruffle) May Arts

Other: (Markers) Copic, LaPlume

Tools: (Tag Punch) McGill

I'll Listen

two cleaned out tin cans + one length of really long string=

countless memories and funny conversations

CAS-ual Fridays has another great clean and simple challenge this week, a sketch designed by Laura.  And, the fabulous sponsor is the super cute, super sweet Lawn Fawn!

My card features an oldie but goodie set by Lawn Fawn, Just My Type. I colored the phone, trimmed it and then mounted it onto a misted panel that had been printed with a sentiment (done up on my word processing system). A long piece of floss replaced the stamped cord and wraps around the card front. Kind of reminds me of the Telephone Game where you take two tin cans and a length of string...

Check out the blog for the details, rules, sponsorship prize and all the great inspiration from the Girl Fridays over at the CAS-ual Fridays Blog!

Supplies:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max
Stamp: (Just My Type) Lawn Fawn
Ink: (Tuxedo Black) Momento
Markers: (Copic)
Other: (Mist) Mr. Huey, (Floss)
Tools: (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers

Are YOU the Winner?

 

May Arts has teamed up with Creative Impressions/Luminarte this week!

I have a tutorial showcasing some quick and easy holiday gifts and an elegant card.

Tip: to my readers with school age children, this post may be just what you are looking for.

I would love for you to stop by the blog to check it out and let me know what you think!

(Word on the street is that there are a few giveaways going on there!)

Speaking of giveaways...

  My mother has been asking most every day if I've drawn a winner from

The Big Birthday Givaway Game

so I figured that since mothers are always right, that it is high time I posted one!

I wanted to say thanks again for everyone that chimed in! THANK YOU!!!

(PS...I have big plans when I reveal my favorite color, that will come soon.)

From the five posts, Random.Org chose the third day.

Then he decided to chose commenter number 47 who is...

 lisa arana!

 (Lisa, please email me your mailing address and I can get the goodies out to you this weekend!)

Let me tell ya, I had a super fun time with this whole giveaway thing
so there will be more to come, probably won't stretch it out over five days though...

(birthdays only come once a year so I had to make it big!)

And, I didn't want to write up this whole post without showcasing a card.

I made this using a variety of Wplus9 stamps.

One layer.

Little bulk.

Perfect for mailing.

Can you see the flocked snowfakes?

Sorry I've Been...

Husband (as he walks past): Hmrfphh...
Me (as I work photograph the card): Excuse me?
Husband (pointing to the card): Is that for me?
Me (with a puzzled look): What? No. I never give you cards.
Husband (looking smug): Well, it should be for me, Crabby.
Me (looking irritated): Oh, go away.

I'm pleased to bring back a Carbon Copied post after having taken a week off. This time Chari, from Little Miss Littleness is joining me. (Wow, talk about the talent that girl has!) It's a small world, turns out that Chari and I went to the same college! Go Wolfpack! So fun to make connections in the blogging world. Chari is part of the Lawn Fawn Design Team and her cards are always so amazing, fun and playful!

We are teaming up to participate in the current Lawnscaping Challenge: Paper Piecing! Both of us are showcasing the cute Lawn Fawn set, Critters in the Sea. I paper pieced the little crabs from the set with some scrap misted paper for the shells and red patterned paper for the bodies. They are holding a customized paper pieced banner. I knew I wanted to use that cute little crab in the set as it hadn't seen ink yet, so I came up with a pun and just went with it. The crab on the right was reversed stamped, I think that is called.

Please hop on over to Chari's blog if you haven't done so, I know she is going to have something out of this world. Check out this card she posted just yesterday-goodness, the idea alone is fantastic not to mention the skills and techniques represented in the card!

(**If you are interested in learning more about Carbon Copied or to sign up to participate with me, please click the badge on my sidebar to read more about it!**)

Supplies:
Cardstock: (White) Office Max, (Cranberry Crisp) SU
Patterned Paper: (Blues) Basic Grey, (Red) unknown
Stamps: (Critters in the Sea, Bannerific) Lawn Fawn
Ink: (Jumbo Java Veramagic Chalk) Tsukineko
Other: (Mustard Chalk Mist) Tattered Angels, (Marker) SU
Tools: (Dot Impression Plate) PTI

Eagle Eye

One of the proudest moments of my young childhood (that I can remember!) is when I found a small nail in the carpet that was dropped by my grandmother. As she took it from my hand and said thank you, she also commented that I was so sharp, I had an eagle eye! Tickled, I tell you, to be recognized in such a manner by a such fine woman! The colors from this combination of a bird's eye was so captivating, I wanted to try out a similar palette. Instantly I thought of the memory too, and it brought good vibes!

Onto this week's Skipping Stones Deign Sketch Challenge with another fabulous sketch from Cristina. I stamped the tiled image from Timeless Textures and a sentiment from Heartsong onto a panel and then adhered that to a series of two die cut mats. I knotted and wrapped twine at each end of the mat and ahdered the entire piece to an embossed cardstock base. I enjoyed working with these soft colors.

There are some great samples on the blog from the team members and guest designers, Tammy, Andrea and Karen! Please go check it out and then link up your original creation for a chance to win!

Supplies:
Carstock: (Soft Stone) PTI, (Natural Ivory) SU, (White) 

Stamps: (Timeless Textures, Heartsong) Skipping Stones Design

Ink: (Certainly Celery Pigment) SU, (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger

Fiber: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts

Tools: (Linen Impression Plate, Mat Stack Die) PTI, (Die) Wplus9, (Corner Chomper) WR Memory Keepers

Quite the Pear

Pears were on sale during the last trek to the grocery store. Figuring that they were a cheaper alternative than apples, she picked them up for her sons. She wouldn't eat them, pears were a fruit avoided probably since her mom fed them to her from a baby jar. However, that night she peeled them for the boys and they gobbled most of them up. "You really gotta try these, Mama" the oldest said. Trying to set a good example, she nimbly took a small bite and was pleasantly surprised.
Goodness, she liked them! So the moral of the story is that she thinks she will have to try the other food items dutifully avoided for many, many years (like the mac n cheese out of the box)...

Having been very, very inspired by The Play Date Cafe's Color Challenge this week (happy birthday to them for two years of great challenges!), I pulled out one of my few Hero Arts Sets, Engraved Fruits, and created an anniversary card. Remember the puns?... "You are Quite the Pear", "The Perfect Pear", etc., well, I just think that it alludes to a life long happy marriage. Plus, those two pears in the inspiration photo look like they are saying: you lean on me and I'll lean on you.

I pulled my inspiration from the Hero Arts October Sketch Challenge-the one in the top right, flipped on its side. Simple and classic, I embossed the card base after printing the sentiment, added a patterned paper banner and then adhered my copic colored pears. The pears were then tied together with some string.

Finally, I really can't pass the Free for All Challenge up over at Wee Memories!

**Of note on The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: I intend to draw a winner later this week, you still have time to comment on the five posts for a chance to win!**

Supplies:
Cardstock: (So Saffron) SU
Patterned Paper: (Curio Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Engraved Fruits) Hero Arts
Ink: (Vintage Photo Distress) Ranger, (So Saffron Pigment) SU
Fiber: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts
Tools: (Linen Impression Plate) PTI
Other: (Markers) Copic

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Final Day

Before I get to the details of the last day for my Big Birthday Giveway Game,
I thought it fitting to post a card celebrating the occasion, since it's also been two years of blogging:

It just so happens that Market Street Stamps is also celebrating this week in big style,
and they are hosting a special edition Block Party Challenge
to create a birthday or anniversary card.
My parents just celebrated 38 years, (yes! 38!) married years together last Thursday.

(Note to self: check back around this time next year so I know how many years they've been married!)
 The wonderful, beautiful Cane Background and peach rose are in honor of their day.
Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad, and here's wishing you many more.

Now, on to the details of

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Final Day

The last four days a prize was revealed and
one lovely reader will win the entire prize package.

(selected at random from all comments on all Birthday Posts).

Today's post is the last time to enter for a total of five chances to win

this AMAZING GIVEAWAY!

Here's today's product of the giveaway:
 5 yards each of May Arts Burlap String
(Natural, Linen, Black, Chocolate, Navy, Pink, Forest, Cranberry, Rust only)

In addition to the fifty yards of my all time favorite fiber,
one lucky reader will win:
Two unopened, brand spankin' new Zva Creative Crystals

  A brand spankin' new Skipping Stones Design Green Birthday Stamp Set

A brand spankin' new YG03 Yellow Green Copic Marker

 A brand spankin' new Vintage Notepad Background Stamp from Market Street Stamps

Here's today's (10.22.11) question:
What are your thoughts on The Big Birthday Giveaway Game?


If you happened to miss a day of commenting- i.e. an entry, please feel free to backtrack!

P.S. This is open to all my readers, wherever you are located! I so much appreciate your visits!

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Day 4

***For my CAS-ual Fridays post, please click here!***

I am blessed with so many things.

As my birthday week ends and the month of thanksgiving starts shorty

I recall just a few things I am thankful for:

My two wonderful, full of life and health boys,

my handy husband, doting parents, superb sisters,

an old dog who acts like a pup and a breath of fresh air.

I am blessed to have a hobby I love,

strangers that I call friends who support and encourage me,

inspiration that I find by visiting your blogs

and tips, tricks and lessons I learn when you share your creativity.

Welcome to

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Day 4

A quick recap.Each day a new prize will be revealed and added

along with a new question to be answered right here on my blog.

One lovely reader will win the entire prize package

at the end of my birthday week
(selected at random from all comments on all Birthday Posts).

So, that means that you will have a total of five chances to win

one AMAZING GIVEAWAY!

The final, complete giveaway package will be revealed on the last day...tomorrow...

Here's today's product of the giveaway:

Two unopened, brand spankin' new

Zva Creative Crystals(Taupe Leafy Branch-love the brown rhinestones in here!)
(Clear Leaved Branch-break this apart for almost limitless usage!)

Revealed in previous posts, the giveaway also includes

  A brand spankin' new
Skipping Stones Design Green Birthday Stamp Set

A brand spankin' new YG03 Yellow Green Copic Marker

and

 A brand spankin' new Vintage Notepad Background Stamp

from Market Street Stamps

(So, now one person has the chance to win two stamp sets, a marker
and can't live without embellishments...
just leave a comment with your answer to the below question for an entry!)


Here's today's (10.21.11) question:
What technique, tip, or product that I've featured here on
The Bald Dragonfly has inspired you to try out for yourself?

I look forward to your visit tomorrow
where you will discover the final product(s) from the giveaway loot
and to answer another (easy) question for your last entry!

P.S. This is open to all my readers, wherever you are located! I so much appreciate your visits!

Rusty Bucket

I will admit it. It's OK. I've come to terms with it.

I have a fascination with rust.

I admire how it can transform an everyday common metal object into something unique,

something that has a character all to its own.

I imagine the wonderful stories that the rusty object would tell of its life if only it could speak.

Rust, oh how I love you.

(er, maybe not when you are on my car though, Mr. Rust, then I don't like you too much...)

What a wonderful challenge we have for you at the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog
-Just Add Color!

Clear and Simple Stamps is the sponsor this week and they let us play with their amazing new crafty stamp set, Craft Room. I wanted to showcase how this set is useful beyond a crafty setting, and the bucket called my name. With a few markers, I transformed it to a rusty old piece, full of bounty now as it has been in the past. Once again, I trampled out to the side yard to pick some wheat grass. I'm really happy with how the bucket, and the card itself, turned out, can I say that here on my own blog?

In addition to finding more details about the challenge, the awesome prize, the rules and inspiration from the Girl Fridays over at the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, Clear and Simple Stamps is offering up this bonus incentive:

Use the html code below to add the CSS blinkie to your side bar, and leave Clear and Simple Stamps a message (click on the link, it will take it right to where you need to go!) with a link to your blog and we will randomly select (3) blogs featuring the CSS blinkie with the Limited Edition Crafty Bonus stamp set! {bonus closes Thursday 10.27.11 at midnight, EST}

BLINKIE HTML:

http://www.clearandsimplestampsonline.com">http://www.clearandsimplestampsonline.com/cssbadgeanim.gif" />

Really looking forward to what you come up with and....

Please check back at 10:58 am CST on

Friday, 10.21.11 for the fourth installment of my Big Birthday Giveaway Game!

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Day 3

Are you having fun? I am!
It's been a joy reading your comments/answers.
I'm sure that a lot of people will agree when I say that comments are
a big part of what keeps people blogging. I enjoy reading your thoughts,
the good or the bad (i.e. constructive criticism).
They cheer me up, they help me to improve.
I know it takes time to leave a comment, and I know time is so valuable,
so each and every comment I receive is so valuable.
(Ok, maybe not the spam ones!)
Thank you for your comments. Please keep them coming.

Welcome to

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Day 3

(check out this post for Day 1 and this post for Day 2!)

A quick recap.
Each day a new prize will be revealed and added

along with a new question to be answered right here on my blog.

One lovely reader will win the entire prize package

at the end of my birthday week
(selected at random from all comments on all Birthday Posts).

So, that means that you will have three more chances to win

one AMAZING GIVEAWAY!

The final, complete giveaway package will be revealed on the last day... 

The answer to yesterday's question:

Tune in later to find out!

Here's today's product of the giveaway:
 A brand spankin' new
Skipping Stones Design Green Birthday Stamp Set
A must have for the PUNNY side of your personality!
(I had to have a birthday product in the giveaway loot somewhere, right?!)

This punny stamp set is part of the grand prize, along with two revealed previously:
A brand spankin' new YG03 Yellow Green Copic Marker

and

 A brand spankin' new Vintage Notepad Background Stamp

from Market Street Stamps

(So, now one person has the chance to win tow stamp sets and a marker,
just leave a comment with your answer to the below question!)

Here's today's (10.20.11) question:
How did you discover The Bald Dragonfly?
This answer could be a vise verse- perhaps I found your blog! 
The answer "I'm not sure" won't work here!

I look forward to your visit tomorrow to find out the next product from the giveaway loot
and to answer another (easy) question for your fourth entry!

P.S. This is open to all my readers, wherever you are located! I so much appreciate your visits!

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game: Day 2

I'm helping May Arts celebrate a week long swap
with Core'dinations and Petaloo
by featuring this quick tutorial
Stop by the blog and leave a comment
for a chance to win some amazing products from all three companies.


NOW......

Thank you to all the

amazing, wonderful, talented

individuals that left me birthday messages yesterday!
You sure know how to make a girl feel special.

The answer to yesterday's question:

The year I turned two was in 1980!

Now, let me tell you a little story...

(I couldn't do a post without one, right?!)

I started with one little lonely Copic Marker that I won one day from a blogging pal.

It was Mustard Yellow.

Who would have imagined all the things that looked so good in mustard!
I was hooked after that single marker

sigh, and now have quite a collection.

One color, however, was missing for quite a while from my collection,

and that color was yellow/green.

The epitome of nature. A grand color.

Oh how I needed the yellow/green color for my crafty projects!

 

If you are just joining in, here's a little recap of

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game

(a way for me to say thank you to all my readers out there!)

Each day a new prize will be revealed and added

along with a new question to be answered right here on my blog.

One lovely reader will win the entire prize package

at the end of my birthday week
(selected at random from all comments on all Birthday Posts).

So, that means that you will have up to five chances to win

an AMAZING GIVEAWAY

The final, complete giveaway package will be revealed on the last day... 

You won't be disappointed, I promise!

Here's today's product of the giveaway:
A brand spankin' new YG03 Yellow Green Copic Marker

I finally caved in and ordered two right away,
kept one for myself and waited for the perfect time to give away the other.

Here's today's (10.19.11) question:
What do you think is my favorite color and why?

Here's was the first product revealed of the giveaway:

 A brand spankin' new Vintage Notepad Background Stamp

from Market Street Stamps

(So, now one person has the chance to win a stamp and a marker,
just leave a comment with your answer to the above question!)

Once again, please do come back tomorrow to find out the next product from the giveaway
and to answer another (easy) question for your second entry!

P.S. This is open to all my readers, wherever you are located! I so much appreciate your visits!

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game

**Click here for my Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge Post**

Here's to wishing my brilliant, pretty and wonderful sister a very happy birthday!
{.She's the one in blue.}

(And that handsome man with hardly any hair? Well, he's the lucky grandfather that turned 49 the day his twin granddaughters were born and happily shared all the Cookie Monster and Barbie Doll cakes...Happy Birthday Grandpa!)

Today also marks my second year of The Bald Dragonfly.

What a wonderful year it's been. Thank you!

To thank you, and in honor of my birthday and blog's birthday/anniversary, I'm hosting

The Big Birthday Giveaway Game

What's The Big Birthday Giveaway Game, you ask? 

Each day a new prize will be revealed and added

along with a new question to be answered.

One lovely reader will win the entire prize package

at the end of my birthday week
(selected at random from all comments on all Birthday Posts).

So, that means that you will have up to five chances to win

an AMAZING GIVEAWAY

The final, complete giveaway package will be revealed on the last day... 

You won't be disappointed, I promise!

Here's the the first product of the giveaway:

 A brand spankin' new Vintage Notepad Background Stamp

from Market Street Stamps

And here's today's (10.18.11) question:

~I'm two years old in the above photo. What year do you think it was?

Please do come back tomorrow to find out the next product from the giveaway
and to answer another (easy) question for your second entry!

P.S. This is open to all my readers, wherever you are located! I so much appreciate your visits!

O Holy Night

"O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining. 

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth."

 Such a gorgeous stamp and clean and simple sketch 

deserve a bit of richness and sparkle,

so I pulled out the last remaining gold paper and some gold embossing powder

along with one of October's featured stamp set, Wisemen

for this week's Skipping Stones Deign Sketch Challenge.

There are some great samples on the blog from the team members and guest designers,

please go check it out and then link up your original creation

for a chance to win!
Cristina has created the amazing sketch, and we are welcoming Tammy, Andrea and Karen!

So as promised,

I'll be back with another post at 10:58 am CST

(hah! my mother will appreciate that specific time!)

for the start of my BIG giveaway game!

Hope to see you then!

~kb

All Hallow's Eve

Psst...

So, I've been sitting on some pretty exciting news.

Perhaps it might have just taken time to register.

Ever heard of that company called My Mind's Eye?

And that wonderfully, super talented designer that they have by the name of Jen Allyson?

Her most recent lines include the likes of Stella & Rose,
Lost & Found and Lime Twist to name a few?

Well...I'm proud to announce that I'm a new Project Girl Creative Contributor over on her blog
and get to work with these fabulous products!

I have a feature over on The Project Girl on Ways to Use It-
Vintage Findings:All Hallow's Eve Digital Kit.
**yay! it is now up**

This card uses the spec sheet available with the digital kit.

I simply cropped the piece showing what patterns are available,

scored between each line, inked the lines and edges and added a few embellishments!

Perfect for this week's The Pink Elephant Challenge featuring scoring!

(Stay tuned, I have some pretty fun happenings on my blog for my birthday tomorrow!)

Supplies:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI

Patterned Paper: (Vintage Findings: All Hallow's Eve Digital Paper) Jen Allyson

Ink: (Walnut Stain Distress) Ranger

Embellishments: (Wood Button from the Lost and Found Collection) My Mind's Eye

Fiber: (Natural Burlap String) May Arts