Happy

 Can you see the glittery pinwheels and the sheen on the clouds (look upper left)?  These KaiserCraft papers are luscious!  I fussy cut the pennant banner from the same KaiserCraft 6 1/2" pad that comes in the September 2012 Artful Delight card kit.  I stamped with one of the KaiserCraft sentiments on October Afternoon "Confetti" paper (both included in the kit.)  The orange Bazzill card stock pictured is also included in the kit.

  This card kit includes TWO clear stamp sets from KaiserCraft!  My button is from the March 2012 Artful Delight kit and the twine from the July 2011 Artful Delight kit....the kits that keep on giving ;)

  For more inspiration, go to the Artful Delight blog; you can also see the October Artful Delight kit reveal...pre-order yours today!  See you over there :)

Happy Saturday!

Button & stamp tip: Bling it on!

   My mom came to visit Tuesday & Wednesday this week.  She asked me to re-create a card she saw, but she did not have a picture of the card.  She told me it was in peach and brown, white card base, brown mat, cross-hatch dry-embossed peach mat, top note in brown, top note in white, with a peach flower and green ribbon.

  I went to my Stampin' Up! (SU) card stock pile and chose chocolate chip with cameo coral.  I cut my layers (I used my Cricut "Elegant Edges" cartridge for the top note layers) and embossed the coral with my SU "Square Lattice" embossing folder.  Then I went to one of my favorite SU stamps and colored the rubber with my SU markers.  Then I went to my brown ribbons scrap jar and found this SU ribbon.  (My blog friend Leslie sent me her ribbon scraps, which I sorted by color...thanks, Leslie!)  then I went in search of a sentiment.  My image made me feel like Spring and new beginnings.  I found this My Pink Stamper sentiment in the "Never Give Up" stamp set.  I added SU pearls to the center of each flower.

New technique tips I learned from Jennifer McGuire:

• add tiny pearls to your button rather than thread or twine (I like this!)
• the stamp stem actually ends at the top of the ribbon.  I wanted it to come below the ribbon, so I drew a tiny stem below the ribbon with my marker.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

1. Young Crafters Unite:  Learning is Fun!
2. Stamptacular Sunday Challenge:  Bling it On!
3. Crafty Ribbons:  Anything But a Square

Happy Friday!

Echo Park wine bottle pocket tag tutorial

   My intentions have been good to welcome our new neighbors who moved in across the street....2 months ago!  I had purchased a bottle of wine for them after they first moved in and I wanted to make a pocket tag for it.  The tag is a journaling card and the alphas and house are stickers; all from Echo Park "Life is Good" collection.  The card stock is early espresso by Stampin' Up! and the ribbon is from my scrap jar.

  Then I went to sweet Bonnie's blog and saw that she made a wine tag for the current Crafty Ribbons challenge:  Anything But Square.  Perfect timing!  Also, fabulous Carla (of Shopping Our Stash fame) has a new challenge blog called "Anything But a Card."  I pretty much only make cards, but I want to support Carla whenever I am able.  This week's challenge at Anything But a Card:  "Texture."

 I have multiple popped up layers (grass, small heart) as well as mini brad door handle, and glossy accents on the window and tiny heart.  I also used my grandma's sewing machine to sew around the edges to create the pocket to hold the tag with our names and home phone number.

Thank you for stopping by!

To make a pocket wine tag:

• Cut card stock @ 2 1/2" x 10 1/2"
• score @ 2 1/2" and 8"
• decorate as desired
• sew or use red line tape/photo tape to create pocket at the bottom

Happy Thursday!

Triple challenge, marker organization, black foam tape, & embossing technique

  I love both red and polka dots, so naturally I adore lady bugs.  My newest stamp set, Neat and Tangled "Fresh Blooms", has an adorable lady bug.  I was looking for inspiration and I shopped my stash for something old to use up.  I came across three fabric brads that I thought would be perfect to use with the little lady bug stamp.

  Then I went in search of a sketch to use my brads and I found it at Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge blog:

  Now all I needed were some papers with a red to coordinate with my brads.  I chose Echo Park "Yours Truly" papers and the black dot from Echo Park's "Chillingsworth Manor."  And then a red marker for the lady bug herself; I was scribbling each red I own and then a thought occurred to me, "grab a scrap of white card stock and scribble the colors to match for future projects."  Why didn't I think of this before?  No more scribbling my Birthday Doodles or Yankee Doodles Promarker sets to match colors:

  This week at Shopping Our Stash the challenge is Emboss it!  And the challenge at Young Crafters Unite (sponsored by Neat and Tangled) is to use a technique you've recently learned.

  Last week I learned (via Jennifer McGuire) to dry emboss dark card stock and lightly apply white pigment ink to the embossed paper, then heat set.  I dry embossed with Cuttlebug "Victoria" embossing folder.  I stamped my lady bug twice, then added glossy accents to the one i wanted to pop up on foam tape.  While I was waiting for the glossy accents to dry, I was concerned that the white foam square might show...so I colored the edges with my black marker.  It worked!

  I love to use challenges to spark inspiration, and I need to create immediately while the inspiration is hot.  Sometimes when I wait I can't remember what I wanted to use or do with the inspiration :)

Happy Monday!

Felt & Anything goes with BasicGrey June Bug

  I am slowly working on cleaning up my craft room...little time to create or blog lately, but I hope to remedy that soon!  My mom asked me to show her how to create a card with this sunburst pattern.  I am usually a very slow crafter, but I wanted to show her how to do this as quickly as possible.  (My dear friend, Lauren, wrote a tutorial here.)

  Some of my paper collections I *love*, but then have difficulty working with them and then there are  other collections that are not necessarily a favorite, but projects flow more easily.  I knew I needed a collection that easily went together, so I grabbed my old BasicGrey "June Bug" 6x6 pad.  Using mostly scraps, I showed my mom how to create the sunburst pattern.

  All I needed was an embellishment, and I went looking for my BasicGrey Woolies.  This felt flower was exactly what I needed!  Voila...a kinda quick any occasion card:

 I am entering my card at the following challenges:

• Pile it On:  Fabric or Felt
• Simply Create:  Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door:  Anything Goes

Happy Sunday!

Celebrate! Artful Delight kits make me happy

  Last month I won the sketch challenge on the Artful Delight blog.  For my prize I could choose either the September scrapbook kit or the card kit.  I chose the card kit, which includes a 6 1/2" KaiserCraft pad, two KaiserCraft clear stamp sets, buttons, twine, felt gem flowers, die cuts, washi tape, Bazzill card stock, and so much more.  For my card I chose three coordinating papers from the KaiserCraft 6 1/2" pad, a KaiserCraft stamp, and twine to make the first card, adding a button from the March 2012 Artful Delight kit.

  But I originally cut my scallop circle and pennant circle too small and the "loops" print in my banner were going the opposite direction of the loops border punch I used on the early espresso card stock (not included the kit)....oops, I meant to do that...so I used paper scraps from the first card, another KaiserCraft stamp, and the too small scallop circle and pennant paper circle to make a 4x4 mini card:

  There are actually still some kits available...how rare!  Grab yours now, before they are gone forever...

Happy Saturday!

Shop Pumpkin Spice for Carta Bella & Echo Park

  You may know that I purchase most of my crafty supplies from Shop Pumpkin Spice because I can always find my favorite collections for 30% off.  Today I played with my newest purchases:  Echo Park  "Chillingsworth Manor" papers and sticker element and a Carta Bella "All Hallow's Eve" glazed brad (Carta Bella is a sister company to Echo Park.)  I added a bit of Twinery "Honeydew" twine to accent the green in the sticker.

   I enjoy choosing a sticker as my focal point, mounting the sticker on card stock, then popping it up on foam tape.  A relatively quick way to create a card...and a sketch also helps me too:

  Last week my mojo really needed a jump start and I found it at Freshly Made Sketches.  What gets your creative juices flowing?

  I hope you like my Halloween card...if you are in need of crafty supplies don't forget to Shop Pumpkin Spice!

Freshly Made Sketches V

  I love this adorable My Mind's Eye "Blackbird" paper collection and brads.  The buttons are also by MME "Lush 2" collection.  I punched three circles from the argyle paper  and popped up that rectangle with foam tape.  The twine is "Honeydew" by The Twinery.

  My inspiration comes from this wonderful Freshly Made sketch:

Freshly Made sketches is celebrating their one year anniversary...there is still time to join in the fun today...use any one of their 51 sketches.  I promise you will be inspired!

Happy Monday!

Freshly Made Sketch challenge, part IV

 
  I have found my mojo using Freshly Made Sketches!  This week they are celebrating their one year anniversary and the challenge is to use any sketch from the past year.  One lucky winner will be chosen as the "Queen of Clean."  If there were a prize for the person most inspired by this challenge, I think I would win :)

  This time I chose this delightful sketch:

  I perused the piles on my craft room floor (aka recent crafty purchases I want to use before putting away.)  I have 3 *new* 6x6 pads among my newest stash.  I looked over at my basket that holds my 6x6 pads, and it is stuffed to the gills.  I can not fit even one more pad in that basket.  Hmmmmmm...

  I need to make some sympathy cards, and I decided BasicGrey "Ambrosia" papers would work well.  I layered on dark grey Bazzill card stock, and added a Stampin' Up! charm and sentiment.  While I had the papers out I decided to do a little mass-production to use the maximum amount of  6x6 paper:

    A set of four cards!  I thought I might challenge myself to actually use this pad up, but I have learned that I prefer to finish one project, clean it up, then go in a different direction.  Perhaps it will all get used up eventually...in the mean time I am having loads of fun using as much of my scraps as I can while playing along with Freshly Made.

Happy Sunday!

Neat & Tangled debut; Freshly Made, part III

 
  On Friday I began playing along with the one year anniversary challenge at Freshly Made Sketches:  Choose any Freshly Made sketch from the past year. One lucky gal will be chosen as the "Queen of Clean."  I took it literally and began using what was in my immediate workspace to make a card AND clean my table of bits, bobs, and scraps.  My table is not exactly pristine, but I now have table space...time to look to the piles on my floor...

  The first thing I saw is my recently purchased Neat & Tangled stamp sets, but they have not come out to play.  I noticed that Neat & Tangled is sponsoring the current challenge at CAS-ual Fridays:

Create a clean and simple project that is black and white plus one color of your choice

Using my Neat & Tangled "Fresh Blooms" stamp set, and scraps of Echo Park's Country Drive "Bee's Knees" paper, glossy accents, a black snap from Making Memories, and this sweet sketch:

another card emerged from my paper scraps!

Happy Sunday!

Halloween Hop at Shop Pumpkin Spice - Win $20!

Welcome to the Shop Pumpkin Spice Halloween Hop and referral challenge:

  Tell your friends to follow the Shop Pumpkin Spice blog, then ask them to leave a comment on the Shop Pumpkin Spice blog that YOU sent them.  The person with the most referrals will win a $20 gift card to the Shop Pumpkin Spice store!  The contest runs through September 30th and the winner will be announced October 5th on the Shop Pumpkin Spice blog.  Remember to post your own comment!

  My card...usually I am a "less is more" kinda girl, but today I think I went "more is more" :)

I purchased all of the papers and embellishments from the Shop Pumpkin Spice store:

• Penny Black cling stamp "Pumpkins"
• My Pink Stamper "Darkest Night" black hybrid ink pad
• kraft card stock
• Core'dinations Black Magic card stock
• My Mind's Eye "Mischievous" decorative brad
• Echo Park "Chillingsworth Manor" Shop pumpkin Spice COMPLETE set (includes solids): element sticker, "Pumpkin" paper, "orange/tan" paper, "spiderweb polka dot" paper, "orange floral" paper, and "green/grey" paper
• Bazzill card stock (card base)

Be sure to check out the Shop Pumkpin Spice monthly kit.  These kits will sell out fast, so grab yours today.   Lezlye is the featured designer this month and she rocked the kit!  Hop a long to see lots of Halloween inspiration and Lezlye's kit creations:

Saundra

Carissa

June  *you are here*

Diana

Court

Lezlye

Shop Pumpkin Spice blog (follow, leave a comment, then have your friends follow and comment that YOU sent them for a chance to win $20 to Shop Pumpkin Spice.)

Happy hopping!  I hope you win :)

Birthday Fun with Artful Delight

   I am playing with my September Artful Delight card kit (scrapbook kits available too) that I won last month.  Both of these cards are 100% of the papers and embellishments included in the kit.  I chose these two scallop die quotes to use as they focal point for each card, then I chose papers to coordinate.  For both cards I added faux stitching and foam tape for dimension.  On the first card I attached a scallop border die (from the 6 1/2" Kaiser Craft pad included in the kit) and some of the gem felt flowers, then I ink-disteressed the edges with my Tim Holtz "Wild Honey" distress ink pad.

  For a chance to win the October kit, go to the Artful Delight blog and link a card or LO using the sketches on the right-hand side bar.  See you there!

Happy Saturday!

Freshly Made Sketches Anniversary, part II

   I'm back...after clearing off the itty bitty hexagons from my Indie Chic "Nutmeg" 6x6 papers (see previous post), I uncovered my Indie Chic "Saffron" 6x6 scraps.  I have demolished both pads; they are so thin.  There are hardly any papers that have not been cut...I got them out last week to try to use them up.  I pulled out scraps of two patterns and matched a dark grey Bazzill from my Bazzill scraps bag...score!  I opened up a package of Making Memories charmed plaques (these have been in my stash for YEARS), and I used up the very last rub-on sentiment from a package of Making Memories rub-on wedding sentiments...score again!  Oh wait, I have another entire package of Making Memories wedding rub-ons in my over-stuffed rub-ons rubbermaid container.  Baby steps.  

Okay, so I can only eke out this one-of-kind card from that 6x6 pad, but I got a card made using Freshly Made Sketch #51:

This time I followed the sketch literally...just in case rotating a sketch is illegal.  If the challenge blog police are after me, they should know I am armed with a large pink ATG!

This is for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches:  choose any Freshly Made Sketch from the past year and link your card here for a chance to win the title "Queen of Clean."  This challenge is super fun...I am off to play some more, after I put my Saffron 6x6 pad away and see what else is buried underneath.  I am using these fabulous sketches to clean off my workspace, rather than just putting all this stuff away :)

Freshly Made Sketches: One Year Anniversary

 
   Happy one year anniversary, Freshly Made Sketches!  One lucky crafter will be chosen as the "Queen of Clean"...pick me...

  Bloggy friends, will you play along with me?  Use any past Freshly Made sketch and link up here at Freshly Made Sketches by noon PST on Monday, September 17th.

 I was inspired by sketch #49 (I rotated the sketch):

My craft table is a mess.  Thank you, Freshly Made, for the inspiration AND for helping clear off a bit of workspace....I had all of these little hexagons leftover from my hexagon cards I made last week.  I saw this sketch and decided to glue the little hexagons as the blue strip in the sketch, then I stamped my sentiments.

Now I am off to play with another Freshly Made sketch...I hope to see you over there :)

Remembering Sean Smith - call for cards

  My long-time blog friends know that my best friend is Kaye.  Kaye and I met eleven years ago at a local stamp store.  We formed an instant bond over card-making, but we both also enjoy knitting and other crafts.  One of the most striking qualities about Kaye is her love for her family.  Kaye is pure sunshine; she oozes joy, especially when talking about her two daughters and her son-in-law.  In April 2004 Kaye and her family welcomed a second son-in-law, Sean Smith.  What fun Kaye had creating wedding favors and hostessing a beautiful wedding in her home for Heather & Sean.  About thirteen months later, Heather gave birth to a perfect baby girl and a year after that a handsome baby boy.

  Kaye regularly makes beautiful cards, mini albums, crochets, knits, and sews gifts for her family.  And they all appreciate her talents, which makes it even more worthwhile.  Kaye also dedicates Wednesdays to making cards for Operation Write Home.

  On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, Sean Smith (a U.S. foreign service diplomat) was one of the Americans killed at the embassy in Benghazi, Libya.  My heart goes out to Heather and her two young children.  Heather has the best family support imaginable in both of her parents, her sister, and her brother-in-law.  They are a remarkable family and have such strength of character.

  I am asking you to please send cards; sympathy card(s) to Heather and her two children and/or cards for Operation Write Home in memory of Sean (a U.S. Air Force veteran).   If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, please contact me.  I will collect your cards until September 27th, and I will send them to the family.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

September Artful Delight kit - and a chance to win

   Are you addicted to kit clubs?  If you follow my blog, then you may know that my personal favorite is Artful Delight.  Each month there are TWO kits to choose from; a scrapbook kit or a card kit.  This month's card kit includes two KaiserCraft clear stamp sets, "Save the Date" and "Save the Date - Pennants."  I used both stamp sets on each card pictured, as well as buttons and twine included in the kit.  The popsicles paper in the "happy birthday" card pictured above comes from the 6 1/2" KaiserCraft paper pad that is included in the kit.

  Artful Delight kits sell quickly, so be sure to get yours before they are gone forever.  The kits are a good value, and you can save even more by getting a 3-month, 6-month, or yearly subscription.  I actually won this month's kit!  Artful Delight has two monthly sketches; one for LOs and one for cards.  One random participant is chosen to receive next month's kit! Check out the sketches on the right-hand side-bar on the Artful Delight blog.  Link your project, and peruse the inspiration by the Artful Delight DT while you are there.  And don't forget to mention that June sent you :)

Happy Saturday!

Shop Pumpkin Spice is très chic!

 My favorite online store is Shop Pumpkin Spice.

The prices are 30% off retail and the shipping is low!

I created the "Birthday wishes" card with:

Stella & Rose brads

6x6 My Mind's Eye Indie Chic "Nutmeg"

My Pink Stamper "Birthday Crazy" stamp

kraft card stock

I created the "Happy Birthday" card with:

Indie Chic Citron "party" stickers (banner)

6x6 My Mind's Eye Indie Chic "Nutmeg"

My Pink Stamper "Girlie Doodles" stamp

kraft card stock

I was inspired to make the second card by the talented Debbie Olson's card here.

Happy Thursday!

EAD happiness

Last month I finally broke out my EAD "Owl Friends" stickerz and I created four mini cards:

Then I decided to try to use the rest of the EAD stickerz, so I created a large card (inspired by sweet and awesome Amy Tsuruta's card here.)  I wanted to add something, but I wasn't sure what...I got a little help from my friends:

This is me and two blog friends, Leslie and Lisa, while we were on a field trip to a LSS.  After our shopping spree (and late lunch at Five Guys), Leslie and Lisa followed me to my house.  I showed them my card and I felt like it needed something...Lisa suggested the cloud doodles and border dots.  Crafty friends are the best!

Here is the finished card:

(Echo Park "Paradise Beach" Sunshine; 

My Mind's Eye "Fine and Dandy" trim;

My Mind's Eye Life of the Party "Sweet" Cupcakes paper)

This week I had just two more owls and two more branches, so I made two more mini cards:

My Mind's Eye Life of the Party "Charmed " Trees paper (striped cloud);

My Mind's Eye Indie Chic "Nutmeg" 6x6 papers;

Stampin' Up! "Cheep Talk" sentiment

I entered the original four mini cards in the August monthly customer showcase drawing, and I won!  More EAD goodness is on its way :)

I hope you will come back tomorrow...I have some Indie Chic masculine birthday cards posting.

Happy Wednesday!

Labor Day Shop Pumpkin Spice hop - WIN a stamp set!

 Welcome to the Shop Pumpkin Spice monthly blog hop!  My card was made for My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline - Fiddlesticks" papers, the glazed brad is MME "Stella and Rose", and the My Pink Stamper "Yankee Doodles" stamp set.  Please join us for a chance to win this My Pink Stamper stamp set...sold exclusively at Shop Pumpkin Spice:

 Do you see the "Happy Birthday America" above the hat?  Yep, I just inked the "Happy Birthday" and stamped on my card...but in previous posts I also made some boy birthday cards and some festive brownie toppers:

Here is the line up:

Lezlye (today is Lezlye's birthday...pop over to wish her a happy birthday!)

Lenae

Diana

Carissa

June *you are here*

Saundra

Court

Shop Pumpkin Spice

Please leave a comment along the way for a chance to win the Yankee Doodles stamp set.

Have a safe & happy holiday weekend!