Such a HAPPY Day!

... but any day is a happy day when God is in it!

I have to tell you that my family and I have been so blessed.

Not with riches or fame or any of the stuff many seek after, 

but we have so much love and such a wonderful family life. 

I can't ever thank God enough for the life he chose for me! 

This post will be short and sweet, text wise, but filled with pics

otherwise :) That's still good for you, right?

It has been a busy week, so prepare yourself for photo OVERLOAD!!!

First off let me share a card I created for this weeks Word Art Wednesday.

I am so humbled to be the guest designer of this faith filled, Jesus loving, not afraid to 

praise His name, Challenge Blog. 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge 146

This weeks inspiration:

I HAVE BLOG CANDY!!!

Since I am the August guest designer for Word Art Wednesday,

I thought it fitting that I have a small giveaway.

The big prize in my  package is this movie:

God's NOT Dead: DVD

Of course I will have a few crafty things to throw in the mix, 

but this is the main prize. 

To be entered in the Blog Candy Give-Away,

This candy will be available for the whole month! 

All you have to do is enter one of the WAW challenges for August. 

Simply link up to one of the challenges and then leave me a comment here on my blog post

 letting me know you entered! 

I will add a badge to my sidebar with a link so you can find it easily.

(I am accepting comments on all of my WAW  blog posts ... you do not have to comment on 
all or one in particular to win. Just link up to WAW! Thanks :)

NEWS THIS WEEK!

My little man turned 10 years old

And my beautiful little girl, Hannah, asked Jesus into her heart this past Sunday!

She cried, raised her hands in praise, and welcomed Jesus into her heart.

What a beautiful and special day it was! 

And my mom, dad, husband and I were all there with her.

Praise God!!!

Thank you for stopping by!

I hope you have a blessed day.

                                      Heather

Who's ready for some watermelon ... and a sketch!

Good Morning!

I am here to let you know that FBD is sponsoring Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 this week.

Sally and Linda are both a part of this team at SSW and being the team we are (they are two of my wonderful friends... not just DT members), I love to support them

and do all I can to show them how much I appreciate them. 

SSW was one of the first (and only) DT's I have ever been on. 

They gave me a great start, encouraged me, helped me learn and grow... but more than that

I was able to meet wonderful, true friends.  I am very thankful for my time there. 

Sally's computer has been on the fritz, so she had a blast from the past 

sketch to share for this weeks challenge. 

 *ENTER THE CHALLENGE HERE*

Here is a card I created yesterday, as a stress reliever,

 following this lovely sketch:

Watermelon Girl Digital Stamp

Watermelon Boy Digital Stamp

This card was really fun to make. I admit, I was intimidated by the

diamond shape. I have been intimidated by a lot of things lately.

I haven't had time to focus enough to be grounded and assured I guess. 

Anyway, after I got started, it all sort of fell together.

I was very happy about that! :) 

*photo showing  layers*

I added gloss to her hair bows, the watermelon seeds and

both kids pairs of shoes. I was going to add glitter too, 

but felt like I put so much time into shading that I didn't want to 

cover it up. 

*photo showing gloss*

SO ... That's my card. 

A rarity as of lately, I know. ;)

I am so happy that I was able to sit for a few minutes and create!

It felt really good :D

Check out all of the SSW cards featured on our blog today >>HERE

THERE ARE A LOT OF FUN THINGS HAPPENING HERE AT FRESHLY

BREWED CHALLENGES FOR APRIL.

STOP BY AND READ THIS POST FOR ALL OF THE DEETS!

We are going through a few little things right now in my house.

We all have broken hearts and broken spirits.

Nothing that God can't handle. but we are hurt. 

Please say a prayer for us. 

We would truly appreciate it!

Big hugs and lots of smiles

Heather

Challenges:

SSW2 - SKETCH

{Pin}spirational W - Photo Inspiration*  #102'

Love to Create - W, 3E - Anything Goes for Kids

613 Avenue Create - W - #66 Anything Goes

Pile It On - W - #14 Feminine

LOVE!!!

Who doesn't LOVE love?!?

I remember being in kindergarten and making my first little stapled together heart pocket for my desk to hold
all of the little valentines from my class mates. As time passed by my Valentine's Day seemed to turn into the sort of day that poor ol Charlie Brown had, lol!!! I was one of those anti-Valentine's Day kind of gals ;)!!!

BUT then (years later in 1998) I met my husband. One of our first dates was on Valentines day. He gave me roses, chocolate and some ty beanie babies: A leopard for me (because I loved leopard print) and a pig for him! (either because he is a cop or he eats alot? there was a REAL reason, I just cant remember HAHAHA!!!) and a funny / sweet Valentines day card with a couple on a roller coaster. I have it still in my box of special things in my closet. Looking at it now makes me smile because of what the card said and what he wrote inside. We had only known one another for 9 days... if he only knew how true those words in that card would end up being.

 We have now spent (coming up on) 15 Valentines Days together. We do not really celebrate it for us now. It is mostly for the kids.  I make the kids (and him) a special dinner. He usually buys us a bag of chocolates or something... but we usually wait until they go on sale AFTER the fact! HAHAHA!!!

All of this rambling leads up to this little card. 

These are some new little digis I drew up earlier this week. 

Valentine Boy and Valentine Girl digital stamps

(they are sold separately, but each image comes with two:

you get a boy or girl holding a blank heart and holding one with text)

I created this card using ALL SCRAPS! Go me!!!

The image is colored using prismacolor markers and copic markers. The arrow diecut is

from a hero arts set. 

This card was created using this weeks SWEET SKETCH WEDNESDAY Sketch. 

other challenges for this card include:

Don't forget, we are giving away DIGIS at FBD!

Stop by our challenge blog and read one of the last three posts to find out how you can win! 

And don't forget to save the date!

Our rubber stamp release and blog hop starts NEXT WEEKEND!

WOW!!!

What  a busy week I have had!

I am working on around 200 cards to try to sell at my daughters show choir Christmas show. 

I created a few fun digis just for them, and a few to share with you as well. 

Welcome to the Fresh Brewed Designs family:

Girl with a Snowman

And 

Boy with a Candy Cane

I have about thirty of these colored and cut and a few more to make... 

I have the card bases cut and ready to go...

it is almost time for my assembly line.. a huge pot of coffee.. and TAPE

What a fun night that will be :D 

You DON'T want to see that pic of me the next day. hehehe!!!

We have a fun new challenge at Freshly Brewed Challenges: Christmas

It is our only challenge for the entire month.. and lasts all month.. and has a few prizes to be won, so come check it out and play along if you can!!!

These cards are being entered into the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew Tis The Season, Lexi's Creations - One For the Lads", The Crazy Challenge -  Anything goes, The Cutie Pie Challenge -Pastel Christmas, Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Christmas images & colours, Christmas Card Challenges - One Layer, Come and Get It Challenges - Anything Christmas, Here Come the Boys -  For the Man/Men in Your Life, Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration* , 2 Sisters - #68 Punches and/or Dies, Stamp, Scrap and Doodle -  Make a Holiday Card,

In the meadow we can build a snowman

Hi everyone!!

Remember yesterday when I shared that we were having a weekend filled with new image releases at FBD?!?!

Well, I wasn't kidding you, we are! :D hehehe!!!

TODAY we have three MORE digis to release and share with you.
They are all perfect for this super cold day we are having today too!

First up is a card that I was able to use two digis on!
This card is featuring We Can Build a Showman (Hannah Belle and Tommy) and Christmas Topiary

 

I used my cricut to create the window. I placed double sided tape along the edges and then fit a piece of Papertrey Inc Clear cardstock to the back of the PTI chocolate brown frame. 

I then added glossy accents and glitter to make the snow. 

After I shook off the remainder of the snow,  I created the icicles with more glossy accents.

 

 

The images are colored with prismacolor markers. The snowflake stamps are by Martha Stewart. I used designer paper that was raked to me from my friend Rhonda.

I think it makes lovely wallpaper, don't you?!?!

NOW, I do realize that if I had done things differently I could have avoided hiding the snowman so much... but now I know and can adjust it for the next card if I choose to make one :D

BUT if you angle the card just so, you can see him peeking out :D

This card was created using the Sketch at EAT SLEEP STAMP

other challenges include: Bah Humbug - must be Christmas - snowmen, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - must be Christmas - use your favorite sketch, Jingle Belles - Christmas - at least one see through element, Colour Create - 2W, 1E - (1st week) Color Inspiration* Turquoise, Deep Pink and Ivory (ends 17th Nov), Crimbo Crackers - 2W, must be Christmas - (2nd week) Anything Goes (ends 9th Nov), Crop Stop - 3E - Create a Snowman, Sarah Hurley Challenges - 2W, C10 - (1st week) Use More Than TWO Images (ends 13th Nov), Top Tip Tuesday - 3E - #58 Make your own Backgrounds, By the Cute & Girly - M, 1E/craft type, P1 - Christmas Girls

 

 

 

Next up is Tommy's Snowball Fight

I created this little card using scrap snowflake paper from last years stash, American Craft orange cardstock, twine from the Twinery, prismacolor markers and diamond stickles. 

 

challenges include: Samuel Taylor's Challenge - M, C3 - (November) Christmas Cards, Clear It Out! - 2W -Use Old Supplies - Your Favourite Holiday 1st Week, Ribbon Carousel Challenge - must include spooled item - Anything Goes, Glitter Fairies - M, P1 - Non-traditional Christmas, no red or green, The Craft Garden - M, P1 -  Christmas but NO Red or Green

I did have to reassure my husband that I just used orange because I like orange and am entering a challenge that requires no red or green, so this is what we got! It has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the Clemson football team ! HAHAHA!!!

Thank you for stopping by today! Please don't forget about our customer appreciation challenge  that includes blog candy! Check it all out here

Brrrr...

well,  I wish it was a little cooler anyway. 

I am pretty sure it reached 90 degrees again today ..

but we are hopefully getting some cooler weather in the next few days

This card is a quick and simple little card I created using the sketch at I heart to stamp - I heart sketches.

Cutie Pie Ice Skating Rubber Stamp

I used atd cardstock stack for this entire card. I usually mix and match, but not this time :)

I used my snowflake cuttlebug embossing folder and a lacy circles nestability die. I took some tulip snow paint and traced around the inside circle of the die, although it is hard to see it good in this picture. 

I am off for some coffee and an early trip to bed. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

See you all tomorrow!!! :)

Here is a video of my little man singing about his recent tooth loss if you wish to see it :D
hehehehehe!!! 

You are my Sunshine!

Good Morning everyone!!!

I hope the sun is shining and today is a lovely day for you. We need rain here! My garden is not doing well, it has been almost a month since it rained last.

This week at Freshly Brewed Challenges we want you to put a little song in your heart and create something with a song theme. I appropriately chose the song You are My Sunshine. This song has many meanings and childhood memories attached to it for me and always makes me smile. I also add the rainbow, because in order to have a rainbow you need sun AND rain!!! :)

Cutie Pie in Clouds Rubber Stamp
Fairy Dust Inspirations Paint

This card is just a card base using white Papertrey Inc Cardstock.
I painted this rainbow with inks then added doodles and a handwritten sentiment. I painted over the rainbow with Fairy Dust Inspirations Paint to give it extra shimmer. I then colored, cut and popped Cutie Pie in Clouds on the side of the card. To fill in the void below the rainbow, I drew a small cloud to match Cutie Pie. Very simple, bright and happy little card, don't you think??

So, what are you waiting for? Create a song themed card and join us this week. You can read all the details AND see what songs inspired our DT by going HERE!

Have a beautiful and blessed day!
HUGS
Heather

KIDS CHALLENGE AT The Latte Lounge

Fresh Brewed Designs is sponsoring the June Kids challenge at The Latte Lounge! Here's what the ladies at TLL had to say :

We LOVE Junior Crafters!

And we LOVE to give out prizes!!

We are ready to start our JUNE challenge!

We have chosen a theme of

Dreaming of a Sunny Day

We know that while school is out for summer

most of our young artists have other things to do

and like to play outside and run around!

But there are rainy, yucky days

when you get SO BORED!!

Instead of saying there's "Nothing to do"

why don't you make a card or art project?

Post a picture of your project in our

June Kids' Challenge

and you'll have a chance to WIN prizes!!

Here are a few cards my little Hannah made for this challenge. It was so sweet... when I asked her if she wanted to make some and showed her the challenge she was ALL EXCITED (knowing I was sponsoring) and asked me which images she won if she won! lol. I told her that hers would not count, but she would have fun creating. She picked out some of her favorite 'Sunny Day' images as well as Pinata Payback which turned into a card about a boy she 'does not like' lol :D

Well, here they are. I think they turned out really cute! The only thing I did to help her was cut the card base and the patterned papers. she layered them herself. I just gave her the markers, paint, giltter and tape and said, have fun!!! I think she did :)

Hannah Belle Lady Bug

Grace Summertime

Cutie Pie in Cloud Rubber Stamp

Cutie Pie in Cloud Rubber Stamp

For the Fridge

Here are some drawings my kiddos surprised me with today :D

...and of course I had to share them with you :D

Hope they make you smile too.

Sending Smiles

These are some cards my kids made for Card Cupids.
You can find out more about the organization, how to support, help and send smiles to children in need HERE.

Hannah age 8

Tommy age 6
The challenge this week is to use your favorite tool.
Their favorite tool this go round was the shaped scissors.

Thanks for stopping by :D

Pics :)

Here are a few pics of my sweeties before church. They decided to dress themselves... :) Han was fine, TR seemed to not care that mom told him it was almost 100 degrees outside.... :D

They are pretty cute if I do say so myself :)

Hope you are having a blessed weekend.

Summer Summer Summertime

What do kids like best in the summer? Well Ice cream of course!!! I know my kids do! (WEll, Hannah is getting used to the Soy kind ... some taste like cardboard, but we are not giving up)

I created a few seasonal coloring pages for my kids and thought you could use one for your kids on a rainy summer day to give them something to do. My kids actually sat for almost an hour coloring this morning :D EEeee! :) lol!

Summer TreatThere may or may not be more of these printables floating around the other Fresh Brewed sites! hint hint!

AND I also added some new images to the FBD Shop!
They are SUPER SUPER :D ! Check them out HERE

5 Days until Christmas

Can you believe Christmas is almost here?!?! I can't. Things have been busy so I have had less time to post. Daisy (my dog) had surgery and is home today. We are still waiting to see if this helped anything. The kids had a cookie party at ballet and now are on a 2 week break (whew! We needed that, lol!) And today we had breakfast with Santa (I brought the kids food with me:) They had a wonderful time. Here are some pics of the past week or so.

Have a great weekend.

Egg, peanut and milk free treats

Breakfast with Santa

A very short snippit of the Breakfast with Santa on the local news.
Don't blink and you may be able to pick us out.
Tommy Ray the one in Santas lap in the end :)
See it HERE

my new glasses

kids and daisy

cards for Tommys coworker

Kid's Stuff

I wanted to share with you some projects from the kids. While Hannah made the Purple People Eater treats, Tommy Ray asked me to draw him a karate boy for his friends in his class. While I did not do a wonderful job, I think he is still cute. Tommy Ray likes them and that's what counts :). I love his big proud smile and his friends liked them as well ... except for the little girl that got a root beer sucker and started to cry :(. Good thing we had one extra and TR it traded with her :). Everyone left happy.

I have been drawing these little girls for a while now. I was going to save them and release them all together ... but Hannah made the cutest card with one and I just had to share it. Consider this a peek of what is to come. I have 4 girls ready so far and have been able to hold on to them for months now. (they are not part of my Friday release next week) I hope you like her. They are called Hannah Belle's (a nickname we used to call our Hannah). Anyway, I came back in the rook after Hannah had colored her and was just so surprised how Han had colored her. I love the little skull on her dress. Hannah then told me all the other ways, colors, and holidays she could be used for :D. She is so creative. I hope you have enjoyed this post. I will be back tomorrow with one last card before Halloween, then you get a break from me :) lol. Hannah has a 2 dances on Saturday and church on Sunday so I will not be around much to create. Here is a pic of her in the

hairbows I made for her jazz class. I will be sure to check in on you all and leave you love :)