Get the Midas Touch!

  My lovely friend Leslie (aka The Crooked Stamper) is this week's guest star designer at Jingle Belles!  Leslie and I have been blog friends for 3+ years and we actually only live about an hour's drive apart.  On occasion we meet halfway between our homes at a LSS (local stamp store) to shop or even take a class together.  You may know Leslie as a regular participant at Jingle Belles or as a DT member at Shopping Our Stash weekly challenge blog.

  Leslie set the challenge as "Midas Touch", but added that our cards may be gold and/or silver  with the addition of white and/or cream.  I have actually agonized in my brain as to what I would make for this challenge since early Friday morning.  I thought to myself, "what would Leslie do?"  The answer, "shop your stash!"

  I decided to get out some of my oldest stash…cream suede paper, Encore gold pigment ink pad, gold embossing powder, and a poinsettia stamp by Magenta; all of these products are at least ten years old.  I stamped and embossed with gold on the suede paper (3 times), then I fussy cut the blooms.  I searched my stash for a decorative brad (by Making Memories) for the center of the flowers.  Using foam tape (Stampin' Up! dimensionals) I double popped the top and middle layers for dimension (it looks much better IRL.)  I found some cream textured card stock and gold card stock in my scraps and created this 5"x5" card.  I had envisioned a shiny gold card and the embossing came out muted, but I am happy with the end result.

Happy Wednesday!

Shop Pumpkin Spice for Country Drive

  I ordered my Echo Park "Country Drive" papers from ShopPumpkinSpice.  I think this may be my second favorite Echo Park collection!  I found the patterns really easy to work with.  My background cloud paper is from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Out of the Blue"  and my sentiment is from My Pink Stamper "Punny-licious" stamp set.

  Check this out:

12x12 for $9.79

 

6x6 for $4.19

  I'm just here to enable :)

Other supplies:
Cricut cartridges:  Kate's ABCs (cut @ 3"); Accent Essentials (p.79 cut @ 4 3/4")
ink:  Stampin' Up! chocolate chip
ribbon:  upcycle from a present
adhesive pearls:  Stampin' Up!
white gel pen:  Uni-Ball Signo for Stampin' Up!
pink mini brad (pocket):  DCWV
white flower (pocket):  Queen & Co.
foam tape dimensionals:  Stampin' Up!
card stock (flesh):  from my scraps

My Pink Stamper - *new* School Days stamp set

 

  I am so excited that school is starting next week.  My twin girls will be starting fourth grade this year, and I absolutely adore their teachers.  I made this card for one of the teacher assistants in their class, "Miss Lynn", who has known and loved my girls since the girls were in kindergarten.  I will certainly miss my sweet girls, but we are all looking forward to the school routine.

  For my sentiment I used the new release "School Days" by My Pink Stamper:

I entered this in the Cricut Circle ABC/123 challenge.  I used:

1 ribbon

2 brads

3 Cricut cuts

My pop is the green worm :)

Supplies:
Stamps:  My Pink Stamper "School Days"

Cricut cartridge:  Plantin Schoolbook (scallop shape cut @ 5 1/4"; circles cut @ 4 1/2" and 4 1/4 "); Create A Critter (apple cut @ 2 3/4"; worm cut @ 2 1/2")
papers:  Best Creation Inc Back 2 School; black card stock (AC Moore); "chocolate chip" card stock (Stampin' Up!); "ponderosa pine" (XPEDX)
ink:  Memento
red glitter:  Stickles
ribbon & googly eyes & foam tape:  from my scraps
brads:  Making Memories
pen doodles:  Creative Memories black marker
other:  Glossy Accents

Happy Tuesday!

Blog Candy WINNERS!

#1  For those of you who participated in the ShopPumkinSpice blog hop earlier this month, the prize was not claimed, so I chose another winner…drumroll…

the winner of the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection is:

 Savannah O'Gwynn said...

SUPER pretty card--love those flowers! Thanks for the chance to win:)

 

#2  For those of you who participated in The My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious blog hop, the winner of the Even More Punny-licious stamp set is:

 

 Mel said...

I can't believe I am going to say this... I like the apple and ant card. (we are battling ants in the house this week, lol)

Ladies, congratulations!  Please email me with your home addresses :)

Jingle Belles CAS Stamping Sketch challenge

   I love a great sketch...the simpler, the better.  This one was designed for Jingle Belles by Natasha of Clean and Simple Stamping.  I was super excited when I saw this challenge because I have been itching to play with my stamps and copic markers.  When I sit down to create a card, I no longer think about whether or not I will stamp.  I don't even notice anymore if I stamped or not.  But I do notice after a while...in this case a long while...if I have been neglecting my stamps and coloring mediums.  I have actually been missing them!

So I started with a small scrap of BasicGrey Blitzen paper (I love to use up scraps!)  I looked through my Cricut cartridges in search of a cute border and circular frame for the image to meet the sketch challenge.  Then I just started playing:

  I'm not sure I managed CAS, but I had lots of fun playing. Than you for terrific sketch, Natasha; I will surely use it again.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridges:  Accent Essentials p.61 shadow button (frame cut @ 2 3/4");  Winter Frolic p.57 border (cut @ 1 1/4")
paper:  BasicGrey Blitzen; kraft card stock; white card stock
ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Whisper White
stamps:  trees (dollar bin @ ACMoore); Hero Arts Cling Dot; Savvy Stamps warm wishes
punch:  Creative Memories corner rounder
markers:  Copic; Uni-ball Signo white

Happy Tuesday!

Thinking of You, Artful Delight

  I have had so much fun this month as guest designer at Artful Delight.  Working with kits helps me create a little faster.  Have you ever sat down to create, but can't decide what papers and embellishments to choose?  I think my craft room has too many choices...a good problem to have sometimes...but I have had many years of "collecting."  This is where the kit is particularly helpful.  Your ribbon, buttons, flowers and papers are all coordinated and ready for you to just come up with your design.

  When I opened the August kit, this double-sided paper immediately spoke to me.  Those yellow roses are so pretty and the chevron pattern is part of the design too.  And that Tim Holtz button?  Gorgeous!

  Thank you, Leeanne, for inviting me to be a part of your team this month.  I am so grateful to you and your talented DT for making me feel welcome.

Supplies:
paper:  Glitz Design "Dance in the sunshine" floral and black card stock (from kit)
button:  Tim Holtz idea-ology button (from kit)
border punch:  EK Success
Cuttlebug embossing borders:  "Just My Type" by Provo Craft
sentiment:  Surska stamps
die:  Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants

Happy Sunday!

Shop Pumkin Spice for your Echo Park papers!

   "All Things grow Better with Love" is a decorative sticker from the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection.  I enjoy the soft colors!  If you mix these papers with a little Echo Park For the Record...

  ...you can see the versatility of these collections ;)

Victoria Gardens 12x12 for $9.79

For the Record 6x6 for $4.19

  I have never seen prices so low than at ShopPumpkinSpice.  Her shipping fees are also very low, and free for orders over $50.

Other supplies:
All Thing grow Better with Love card
- papers:  "Picket Fence" and "Windchime" from the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection
- sentiment sticker from the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection
- card stock:  black (AC Moore) and whisper white (Stampin' Up!)
- ribbon (Michael's)
- mini brads:  Making Memories
- scallop oval die:  Spellbinders Nestibilities
- ticket corner punch:  Stampin' Up!
- ink doodles (black dots):  Creative Memories marker
- Glossy Accents (on ink dots)
Vampire card
Cricut cartridge:  Mini Monsters (vampire cut @ 5")
stamp:  My Pink Stamper "Spookalicious"
papers:  "Stone Path" and "Windchime" from the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection;  "Stamp of Approval" and "Picket Fence" from the Echo Park For the Record collection
embossing folder:  Cuttlebug "D'Vine Swirls" by Provo Craft
- Glossy Accents (hair)


"See" you next Thursday for more reasons to ShopPumpkinSpice!

Bling on the holidays with a Delightful sketch

   The Jingle Belles challenge this week is to "bling on the holidays" with anything sparkly.  I used metallic ribbon from my scrap jar and adhesive gems.  I also wanted to combine this challenge with this Artful Delight sketch:

  The Artful Delight sketch challenge closes on August 23rd...the prize is the September monthly kit!  I have had so much fun with the July kit and I have enjoyed being the August guest designer; I can hardly wait to see what goodies will be in the September kit.  I think there may be a few August scrapbook kits left.  You may recall it contains gorgeous papers by Authentique and Glitz Design as well as Jenni Bowlin butterflies, Tim Holtz buttons, and yummy seam binding...I recommend you get one while you still can.  The August card kit is sold out.

Supplies:
paper:  BasicGrey 6x6 "Wassail"
adhesive gems:  Colorbok and Prima "Say it in Crystals"
sentiment:  Stampin' Up! "Teeny Tiny Wishes"
ribbon:  Offray
punches:  Stampin' Up!
adhesive:  foam tape

Happy Tuesday!

Feeling Sentimental

* If you are looking for the My Pink Stamper blog hop, click here.*

  The Betty Bee's Buzz HoneyBees are taking flight!  We are a group of bee-u-tiful friends invited by Betty to share our love of paper crafting and paper trends at Betty Bee's Buzz.  Even though our friendships will endure, Betty Bee's Buzz challenge blog is closing.  Today marks the HoneyBee's final buzz celebrating our fun together.

  I created this aperture card because it was Betty who taught me how to create an aperture on my Cricut Expression.  (Aperture tutorial here.)

My bee hive was completely inspired by this card by former HoneyBee, Court.  As soon as I saw her card, I wanted to own the Cricut Sentimentals cartridge...guess who bought it for me?  Yeah, Court's a Sweetie Bee.

My patterned paper and stamp are on sale at ShopPumpkinSpice.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridge:  Sentimentals cut image, layer, and shadow @ 5" (hive); bee cut @ 3"
Cuttlebug embossing folder:  D'Vine Swirls by Provo Craft (hive) and Morroccan Screen by Provo Craft (bee)
paper:  Echo Park Country Drive "Bee's Knees" double-sided 12x12; ACMoore black and yellow card stock;  Stampin' Up! whisper white
sentiment:  Punny-licious by My Pink Stamper
ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
other:  Glossy Accents; ribbon from my stash

Celebrate Artful Delight!

* If you are looking for the My Pink Stamper blog hop, click here.*

  I created this card with the August Artful Delight kit.  I believe there are only two kits left…I hope you will be the proud owner of this beautiful kit.  The black seam binding, the Tim Holtz Idea-Ology button, Jenni Bowlin stickpin and butterfly, and Glitz Design papers are so elegant.  I used my sewing machine to stitch across the top and added a My Pink Stamper sentiment.  Quick and easy :)

  The Artful Delight DT has made beautiful LOs, cards, and projects with papers from this August kit.  Hop over to Artful Delight for more inspiration!  I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be the August guest designer at Artful Delight.  I love working with their kits!

Supplies:
paper:  Glitz Design "Vintage Blue Motif" and "Dance in Sunshine Damask"
Jenni Bowlin:  stick pin and adhesive butterfly
Tim Holtz:  Idea-Ology button
ribbon:  black seam binding by Reasonable Ribbon

Happy Saturday!

ShopPumpkinSpice blog hop winners

* If you are looking for the My Pink Stamper blog hop, click here.*

For those of you who participated in the ShopPumkinSpice blog hop last week….drumroll…

the winner of the Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

62

Congrats to:

Amanda said...
Beautiful card! Love the colors!!
Amanda, please contact me with your address so I can get this in the mail to you!
*********************************************************************
The winner of the $20 gift certificate to ShopPumpkinSpice is:
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
68

 Sarah Moura said...
It's beautiful! 
I'm your new follower and I'm participating!
Sarah, please email me with your contact information.  Happy spending!
*********************************************************************
Thank you to all who participated in our first ShopPumpkinSpice blog hop.  I hope that you found lots of inspiration.

My Pink Stamper Pink-alicious blog hop!

  Robyn's challenge for us this month is to create a card, LO, or project using her newly released stamp sets.

You should have arrived here from Alex's blog (You had me @ Craft).  If not, start at My Pink Stamper's blog!

  Since school is just around the corner, I created cards for my daughters' teachers:

 Both sentiments are from the new School Days stamp set!

  My girls have a wonderful teacher for fourth grade...I think I am more excited than they are about the upcoming school year :)

 If you want to find out how to order this stamp set (or any of the new release sets), go to My Pink Stamper.

Supplies:
card #1
Cricut cartridge:  Kate's ABCs (cut @ 2 3/4")
paper:  Echo Park Country Drive "Clover", "Picket Fence" and " Dandelion"; Stampin' Up! chocolate chip, kraft card stock
border punch:  EK Success
other:  Stampin' Up! library clips
card #2
Cricut cartridge:  Elegant Edges (cut @ 2 1/4"); Plantin Schoolbook (circles cut @ 1 1/2" and 1 3/4 ")
papers:  Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup 6x6 mini pad
ink & ribbon:  Stampin' Up!
twine:  Cappuccino from The Twinery
buttons:  BasicGrey
sketch:  Mojo Monday #202

Your next stop is Angela's blog, Simple Creations Paper Crafts.
*Leave a comment here first for a chance to win a My Pink Stamper Even More Punny-licious stamp set.

In case you get lost along the way, here is the entire blog hop order:

Robyn (My Pink Stamper)

Andrea

Carissa (Sprinkled with Glitter)

Agnes (Flowerdisco)

Chelle (Paper Krate)

Alex (You Had Me At Craft)

June

Angela (Simple Creations)

Missy

Courtney (Court's Crafts)

Renee (RockinRenee)

Cristi

Roberta

Edna (Create With Expression)

Sharon

Helen

Julie (readysetstamp)

Kassidy

Michelle (Meesh's Pieces)

Shelley

Tracy (CraftJunkieToo)

Maria

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Soup's On at ShopPumpkinSpice

  I created both of these cards using 6x6 papers by Jillibean Soup from ShopPumpkinSpice.  I found these collections of papers irresistible in both patterns and price...just $4.19 for 24 patterned papers; three of each design.  For the owl card I used papers from Spotted Owl Soup and Dutch Mustard Soup.  For the butterfly card I used papers from Watermelon Gazpacho Soup and Blossom Soup.

My inspiration for the owl card came from my friend, Amy Sheffer. She made these cards from an older collection, Egg Drop Soup.

I hope you will pop by every Thursday for more reasons to ShopPumpkinSpice!

Other supplies:
Owl card
- chocolate chip card stock by Stampin' Up!
- felt ribbon from JoAnn's
- sentiment from American Crafts rub-ons with Ginger font
- punches:  corner rounder by Creative Memories; border punches by Martha Stewart, Fiskars, EK Success, and Stampin' Up!
Butterfly card
Cricut cartridge:  Wall Decor and More (butterflies cut @ 1")
- metallic silver paper from XPEDX
- bling from Heidi Swapp

Happy Thursday!

From Our Home to Yours With Love

  I created this card entirely from the August Artful Delight kit.  Only the gems are from my stash and the sentiment is from the brand new Winter Treats & Sayings release by My Pink Stamper.  These papers are so rich and lovely that I knew I had to go formal with them.  I hope this inspires you; for more inspiration stop by Artful Delight and check out all the cards and LOs the Artful Delight DT have created; they are all unique and beautiful.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridges:  Everyday Pop-up (chandelier cut @ 2 1/4") and Sentimentals (chair cut @ 3 1/4")
paper:  Glitz Design Vintage Blue "floral"; "stripe"; and Dance in Sunshine "damask"; black card stock all from the kit
ribbon:  Reasonable Ribbon from the kit
stamps:  My Pink Stamper "Winter Treats & Sayings"
tools/gems:  i-rock by Imaginisce

* Reminder:  My giveaway ends on August 11th.  Click here for details.

Happy Wednesday!

Jingle Belles take shape

  This week's Jingle Belles challenge is to create shape card.  I took advantage of last week's sale at JoAnn's to purchase the "Kate's ABCs" cartridge.  This house caught my eye and I decided to use the house as my shape.  I needed a Santa, and I found him on my "Winter Frolic" cartridge.  Rudolf, the trees, and the strings of lights are from "Create A Critter".  I added glossy accents to the window panes and to the light bulbs.  Santa's fur and Rudolf's nose are Stickles.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridges:
Kate's ABCs - house cut @ 5 1/4"
Create A Critter - lights cut @ 1" and reindeer cut @ 2"
Winter Frolic - Santa cut @ 2"
paper:  Lasting Impressions, Stampin' Up whisper white, Bazill (browns), ponderosa pine linen card stock, and blue, green, and yellow scraps
other:  glossy accents and stickles


Did you notice my new header?  My previous header was created by a dear blog friend, Kristie.  It was lovely and very June-style, but I was ready for a change.  I asked for help from my lovely friend, Lauren.    
I think she also captured "me" quite well.  I wish you could have seen the look on my face when I opened her email with the new header!  Thank you, Lauren.  I *love* it!!!

Thanks a Ton!

  I am completely enamored with Artful Delight's monthly scrapbook kits.  This card is made from papers in the August Artful Delight kit.  When I saw this fun Authentique paper my brain thought, "Morocco...Africa...elephant!"  It is helpful to me to have a kit to create from; the coordinating papers are chosen for you.  Only the rub-on sentiment from my stash.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridge:  Everyday Pop-Up cut @ 4"; Elegant Edges cut @ 4"
Paper:  Authentique "Voyage"; blue card stock; ivory card stock
Punch:  Martha Stewart (grass)
Sentiment:  American Crafts miniMARKS rub-ons "Kate"
Embossing folder:  Cuttlebug Morroccan Screen and Distressed Stripes by Provo Craft

Shop Pumpkin Spice blog hop

Welcome to the blog hop for the first ever design team for ShopPumkinSpice!

Here is today's lineup:

Carissa

Lenae

Court

June (you're here!)

Ann

Shop Pumpkin Spice

and my card:

  I imagine the girl asking, "Are you my Prince Charming?"  My inspiration came from the current challenge, "A picture is worth a thousand words" at Order of the Opus Gluei.  I was also inspired by this card created by my lovely friend, Lauren.  I really enjoy the ladies at Order of the Opus Gluei challenge blog, though I have not played along in awhile.  I don't believe every card requires a sentiment, so this challenge was right up my alley :)

  I made my card using papers from the 8x8 Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime collection:

Graphic 45 8x8  $ 6.99

  I am so grateful for my blog friends and new followers that I am giving away TWO prizes: a $20 gift certificate to Shop Pumpkin Spice and a 12x12 Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection pack to two lucky people.  You do not have to be a follower to win, but you do need to contact me if you win.  Contest closes on August 11th.  I will announce the winner early on Saturday, August 13th.  If I have not heard from the winner by August 22nd, I will redraw.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridge:  Elegant Edges cut @ 5 1/2" border using fit-to-length button
paper:  Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime collection:  "Woodland Fantasy"; "Primrose Cottage"; "Fairy Folk"; "Enchanted Forest"

embossing folder:  Cuttlebug "Floral Screen" by Provo Craft

ink:  Stampin' Up! chocolate chip

tools:  Xacto knife (to fussy cut the floral frame)

Your next stop on the hop is Ann.

Happy Friday!

Shop Pumpkin Spice for Echo Park

 

  This is my first official post for the ShopPumpkin Spice design team!  I made this card with papers from the Echo Park For the Record collection pack.  I used various border punches, ribbon, and some alphabet stickers from my stash.

  Tomorrow, August 5th, kicks off the design team's first blog hop.  I will be giving away a 12x12 Echo Park Victoria Gardens collection pack from ShopPumpkinSpice.  I hope to "see" you tomorrow :)

  My sweet friend Court introduced me to Shop Pumpkin Spice.  I am always looking for the best bargains, and I have never found a better deal than at ShopPumpkinSpice.  The prices for both product and shipping are the lowest I have found.  I have received my products very quickly too.  I have become a huge fan of Echo Park papers this year thanks to Court.  If you like these papers or want to create a card similar to mine, this same collection in 6x6 is on sale for $ 4.19!  The individual 12x12 sheets that I used are also on sale for fifty-five cents each.

  Echo Park - For The Record 6"x6" Paper Pad

Soar

 

  When my August Artful Delight kit arrived in the mail I practically drooled over all the goodies packed in the box.  I had never seen papers by Authentique; they are a really nice weight and slightly textured!  When I saw the stars pattern, I knew that I wanted to make a hot air balloon scene card.  All of the papers are from the August Artful Delight kit, but the chipboard clouds are from the July Artful Delight kit.  Only the chipboard alphas are from my stash.

For more inspiration, please go to Artful Delight to see what the design team members' creations.  I am thrilled to be guest designing for Artful Delight for the month of August.  I am having a blast!

Supplies:
Cricut cartridge:  Everyday Pop-Up cut @ 3 3/4"
Paper:  Authentique  Journey collection "Jaunt" and "Promenade"; blue card stock; ivory card stock
Sentiment:  Thickers chipboard stickers "Hat Box"

October Afternoon - Create a Grid challenge

  I really enjoy quilt-style cards.  I have not had a chance to actually sew on one before today.  I cut 1 1/4" squares on my Cricut from various October Afternoon papers, then used a zig-zag stitch around every edge to create a grid.  The frame for the sentiment is also cut using my Cricut, then I used foam tape to pop up the frame panel.

I was inspired by the October Afternoon "Create a Grid" challenge.

Supplies:
Cricut cartridges:  Plantin Schoolbook (squares) and Elegant Edges (oblong frame)
Papers:  October Afternoon "The Thrift Shop" and "Modern Homemaker"
Stamp:  Stampin' Up! Well Scripted
ink:  Stampin' Up!  real red and bordering blue

August Artful Delight Sketch

I am absolutely delighted to be a guest designer for Artful Delight!  The monthly kits are filled with beautiful *new* 12x12 patterned papers, coordinating 12x12 card stock, and embellishments.  I really enjoy the sketch challenges at Artful Delight; I find them easy to work with.

I took this opportunity to scrap a picture of me at 19 months old.  Wasn't I cute?  I used alphas and decorative papers by Authentique, yellow textured card stock, and an antique button all from the August Artful Delight kit!

Won't you join in the fun?  I hope you will try this sketch for your own LO or card and link to Artful Delight.  I'm off to play with more of my August kit papers :)

Supplies:
Cricut Cartridges:  Elegant Edges oblong cut @ 4"; Birthday Bash alphas cut @ 1 1/4"
Kit Paper:  Authentique "Felicity" and "Euphoria" from the Blissful collection; yellow textured card stock
Kit Alphas:  Authentique Petite Type Square Alphas
Other:  prima flowers; American Crafts ric-rac; Bazzill card stock (coral, dark brown); Cuttlebug "Seeing Spots" embossing folder by Provo Craft; photo corners from Michael's; Creative Memories corner rounder

Happy August!