LOVE for Cardabilities and Jillibean Soup - Anniversary

  I really enjoy using paper scraps, especially when I eke out a card from them.  This card in particular makes me happy...I fussy cut the hearts from a scrap and the floral pattern is also a scrap piece.  Even the card base and matching envelope are the last of a package.

  And of course a great Cardabilities sketch is always helpful:

  I hope you will play along with this sketch challenge...you have until April 14th to play along!

Supplies:
papers:  Jillibean Soup kraft card base (and envelope, not pictured);  Jillibean Soup "Hearty Barley" papers; SU early espresso card stock
gel pen:  SU
scallop border punch:  SU
rub-on sentiment:  American Crafts "Ginger Sidekicks"

Happy Saturday!

Seize the (Masculine) Birthday!

  I am enjoying having my daughters home for Spring break.  We have had fun playing games, doing puzzles, and visiting family.  And I have been able to squeeze in some craft time too...I have made three cards in the past three days!  I made this one this morning after coming across the "Seize the Birthday" challenge to create a masculine birthday card.

  The pennant pieces and scallop border strip are scrap pieces lying on my craft table (from my BasicGrey "life of the party" kit), so I started with those bits.  Then I perused every collection I own for some masculine papers yet fun colors and patterns.  I opted for the Echo Park orange chevron (from "a walk in the park") and Echo Park green hexagon (from "for the record").  I stamped "Happy Birthday" (My Pink Stamper "Birthday Crazy") and added the "BIG" alpha stickers (Creative Memories).  The black gems are Imaginisce...I love that i-rock tool and the adhesive gems; so easy and they adhere so well.

  I looked through my Thickers stash to add "wish", but I was out of "w" and "s"!  I opted for some very old alpha stickers by Making Memories.  They didn't stand out, so I stuck extras on top of each letter (for a total of four each).  A good way to use old sticker alphas :)
  The "wish" still washed out a little, so I traced around each letter with a fine tip black marker and added other doodles:

I hope you are all enjoying time with people you love for the holiday weekend.  Happy Friday!

Victoria Gardens and Style Essentials

  I recently purchased a new Cricut Cartridge called "Creative Cards."  I think this cartridge is going to see a lotta love from me.  I thought this particular card would work well with a large floral print behind the trellis cut and possibly with a quatrefoil patterned paper.  What do you think?

  My Echo Park 12x12 papers came out to play today!  "Victoria Gardens" works well for Spring and for Mother's Day and "Style Essentials" is a great collection when I need a coordinating paper.  I have used "Style Essentials" with other Echo Park collections as well as My Mind's Eye and Carta Bella; it makes terrific monochromatic cards too.  I also used my i-rock heat tool and black gems on my sentiment tag.

Supplies:
paper:  Echo Park "Style Essentials" pink quatrefoil (background); Echo Park "Victoria Gardens" Rose Garden (large print), Wind Chime (trellis), and Rose (small green floral print on sentiment tag); card stock by Stampin' Up! (old olive)
Cricut cartridge:  Creative Cards
punches:  Stampin' Up! (sentiment tag)
sentiment:  Stampin' Up! Teeny Tiny Wishes

Happy Thursday!

Lucky Challenge

inside:

  There are just two more days to enter the "Lucky" challenge at the Shop Pumpkin Spice blog...and a chance to win $25 worth of product from the Shop Pumpkin Spice store.  I purchase all of my 6x6 paper pads from Shop Pumpkin Spice; they are always priced at $4.20, which is a 30% savings over my LSS.  I used Carta Bella "Traditions" 6x6 papers to make this card.  I may need to use this collection to make my Mother's Day cards this year.

  I hope you will play along and link up your "Lucky" card here.  Maybe you will be the lucky winner :)

Supplies:
paper:  Carta Bella "Traditions" 6x6 papers
brad:  My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Two Blush "Beautiful Girl"
sentiment stamp:  My Pink Stamper "Friend-tastic"
Cricut cartridge:  Creative Cards

Happy Wednesday!

Thanks a Melon, Joy!

  This is my final post for the Joy's Life Winter 2013 design team.  But it is not goodbye!

I am sure that her sentiment stamps will continue to inspire me.  Joy is super sweet to work with, as are all the ladies on her team.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent Joy's Life stamps.

My card today was completely inspired by the

"Thanks a melon" sentiment from

Yummy Pun Stamps:

Supplies:

stamp:  Yummy Puns Stamps

papers:  Three Bugs in a Rug "ellie" (striped background paper); Echo Park "Style Essentials" Runway collection

ink:  My Pink Stamper "Darkest Night" hybrid ink

gems:  Imaginisce i-rock tool and black hot rocks

Cricut cartridge:  Pretty Pennants cut @ 5 1/4 fit to length

banners:  PTI die

Happy Tuesday!

Inspired by Nature Joy's Life blog hop

Welcome to the Joy's Life "Inspired by Nature" blog hop!
You should have arrived here from sweet Patty,
a long time blog friend of mine :)

If not, please start at Joy's blog!

 I am ready for Spring!  Spring makes me think of Echo Park's "Country Drive" papers and stickers.  The adorable Country Drive lady bug and bee stickers caught my eye, so I sorted through the papers for a paper combination that inspired me.

  I really liked the white and yellow flower sticker too, so I attached it to a scrap of white card stock and fussy cut it out (as well as the bee).  Bees make honey, honey is sweet, so I chose "Friends make life SWEET" for my sentiment.  This sentiment comes from Joy's Life "Yummy Puns" stamp set:

Supplies:
sentiment stamp:  Joy's Life "Yummy Puns"
papers:  Echo Park Country Drive "Bees Knees" and"Just Dandy"
stickers:  (bee and white/yellow flower)  Echo Park Country Drive Element Stickers
brad:  My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two Rosy "Ordinary"

blossom:  Bo Bunny Denim Blue Blossoms Bouquet Flower

Your next stop is:  Jenny

Happy Hopping!

Rainbow challenge

  Have you entered this week's RAINBOW challenge at Shop Pumpkin Spice?  There is still time...you have until tomorrow at midnight EST/ 9pm PST Friday, March 22, 2013.  This is my entry...a layout!

  I much prefer to create cards (instant gratification).  A card can take me anywhere from an hour to a day, but a LO takes me at least a day. This one actually took a few days.  I agonize over it and want it to look like fab LOs that I see from my personal blog idols like Jana Eubank, Linda Auclair, and Stephanie Buice.

  This LO is of my dd Julia in 2005.  Yes, that is where I am in my scrapbook...spring 2005.  I developed the pictures years ago and my goal for 2013 is to finish up LOs from 2005.  I have made LOs of every month of my twin girls from birth (2002)-2005.  I have made a few LOs in the past few years, but I no longer stress over chronological order.  After I finish 2005, I probably will develop pictures from 2006, but I won't worry over getting pictures from every single month.  I will let the pictures inspire me for holiday LOs or the girls at play.  That's the plan anyway :)

Supplies:

Cricut cartridge:  Elegant Edges (scallop border) p. 24 cut @ 1"; Doodlecharms (flower stem) p.96 cut @ 4"; Plantin Schoolbook font ("GROW")

paper:  Doodlebug Bazzill (purple card stock); Doodlebug "Hello Spring" collection

stickers:  Doodlebug "Hellow Spring" collection

I purchased the Doodlebug "Hello Spring" collection from Shop Pumpkin Spice.  Link up your RAINBOW project HERE for a chance to win either a $25 prize package or a full refund of your March order at Shop Pumpkin Spice store. 

Happy Thursday!

We are a great PEAR card

  When I started stamping more than a decade ago, I collected several pear rubber stamps.  I still love pears, and this one was cut from Jillibean Soup papers my Cricut "Preserves" cartridge.

  I enjoy punny sentiments, yet I have not made any punny cards recently.

I perused my Joy's Life"Yummy Pun" stamps

and this pear sentiment caught my eye: 

Here is a peek at the entire set:

Supplies:

sentiment stamp:  Joy's Life "Yummy Puns" stamps

ink:  SU chocolate chip

papers:  Jillibean Soup "Dutch Mustard"

Cricut cartridge:  "Preserves" p.26 cut @ 2 1/4"

embossing folder:  Cuttlebug "Floral Fantasy"

corner rounder:  Creative Memories

Happy Tuesday!

For the Record, it's also the Sweetest Fancy Pants

  I just got my order from Shop Pumpkin Spice...getting a little new stash really rejuvenates the mojo!  My order contained a Fancy Pants "Country Boutique" 6x6 pad (chevron), My Mind's Eye "The Sweetest Thing" layered stickers and stamp set!  The faux stitches and sentiment are two of the stamps in the set.  I added two scraps of Echo Park "For the Record"  ("Lace Stripes" and "Vintage Linen") papers behind the layered sticker to create this quick card.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Cardabilities Sketch #71 Reveal

   This is my first post as a design team member for Cardabilities.  I have been a fan of Karan's sketches since the beginning of Cardabilities, which is nearing its third blogoversary.  I have always wanted to be on a sketch design team and I can hardly contain my excitement!

  The pennants caught my eye and I immediately thought to look through my stash of My Mind's Eye glazed brad collections.  The "Blush" brads are particularly pretty, so then I perused my "Blush" papers for my paper combination that I liked.

  Lastly I went through my giant tub of rub-on sentiments.  Voila!

  Please stop by the Cardabilities blog to see what my design team sisters have created.  I tend to use sketches quite literally, but I am amazed and inspired by the diverse and lovely interpretations of the same sketch by others.

  I hope to see you play along...you have until March 28th!

Supplies (links embedded):
papers:  My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two Blush

• "Favorite" Dance
• "Better" Blossom (both sides)
• "Princess" Special

white card stock; black card stock

brads:  My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two Blush "Beautiful Girl";
My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose Hattie "Happy"

sentiment:  American Crafts "Ginger Sidekicks" rub-on

Happy Ides of March!

Doodlebug "Hello Spring"

  I am ready to put away my bold Winter papers for some brighter and happier Spring papers.  These Doodlebug "Hello Spring" patterned papers, twine, pearls and Doodlebug Bazzill card stock (purple) were just the ticket to put a smile on my face.

Supplies:
papers:  Doodlebug "Hello Spring"; Bazzill card stock; Bazzill white card stock
embossing folders:  Cuttlebug "Seeing Spots"
twine:  Doodlebug (Bright assortment)
pearls:  Doodlebug (Spring assortment)
die cuts:  tag (PTI); QuicKutz flower dies
punches:  Fiskars cloud punches
stamps:  Neat and Tangled "Fresh Blooms"

  If you need any delightful Spring crafty supplies, I hope you will shop at Pumpkin Spice!

Happy Thursday :)

Anniversary Love Birds - card

  As I was straightening up my worktable I came across a partially made card.  It was originally planned to be a duplicate of this card:

...except when I went to cut a second red star, I cut incorrectly and I didn't have enough paper to duplicate it and I set the partially made card aside.  Today I was determined to complete this card.  I perused the same paper pad and found this fun stripe pattern.

Now to find an image...

I still had my Echo Park Country Drive Element Stickers out and I thought the two birds would make nice love birds :)

I combined two sentiment stamps together for my "happy anniversary" sentiment form Joy's Life "Everyday Occasions" set:

Supplies:

sentiment stamp:  Joy's Life "Everyday Occasions"

paper:  Echo Park "So Happy Together"

stickers:  (birds)  Echo Park "Country Drive" Element Stickers

twine:  My Mind's Eye "All is Bright"

Happy Tuesday!

Never to late to say "thank you"...

  After having a snow day just four days ago, it is warm, sunny, and 60 degrees today!  This wonderful weather really energizes me.

  2013 started off with lots of road blocks.  Our beloved furry girl had cancer and we had to put her to sleep, my husband hurt both of his feet, and the basement flooded.  We still miss our sweet kitty, Skeeziks, every day but the initial grief is behind us.  Doug still can not be on his feet for long, but he is able to help out around the house a little now.  And the basement issues are resolved except for my craft stuff LOL.  Before I tackle that large task, I need to catch up on other important stuff.

  This wonderful weather makes me feel like the Energizer bunny.  Today I cleaned out the laundry/mud room, re-organized the hats, gloves, and scarves in the coat closet, and loaded the car with items to donate.  And I started writing out my *gasp* Christmas thank you notes.  There is one special friend (hi, Sally!) who gave me a 6x6 American Crafts "Hollyday" paper pad for Christmas, so this afternoon I had to play with these fun papers to make her Christmas thank you note.  I added a Paper Smooches "Word Up" sentiment.  Now I am off to finish the rest of my Christmas thank you notes :)

  Next agenda item:  catching up on blog surfing!  I have missed visiting my bloggy friends, but I want to let you know how much I have appreciated every single comment you have left me.

Make it a great (and productive) week!

TIME challenge

  It's Saturday, and that means it is time for a new challenge at Shop Pumpkin Spice blog.

This week's theme:  TIME.

  I chose to make my card "Tea Time" using two stamps from

this stamp set by TPC:

  This set is available at Shop Pumpkin Spice Store for $5.59...my LSS had it for $10!  16 stamps for $5.59; a terrific value.  I also used "pea pod" twine, which is $1 for 5 yards (a lifetime supply!)  I stamped in "Texas Chocolate" hybrid ink and my papers are by October Afternoon.

  How will you interpret the "TIME" challenge?  You have until Friday, March 15th to link your project.  Link up HERE for a chance to win either a $25 prize package or a full refund of your March order at Shop Pumpkin Spice store.  Now those are two great reasons to play and shop at Pumpkin Spice :)

Happy Saturday!

Masculine card - Get Well

  I am still in love with Indie Chic papers.  I have two of the Indie Chic collections and they are both down to scrap pieces; similar to my Echo Park "a walk in the park" (my personal all-time favorite collection) and Echo Park "For the Record."

  My card stash has no "get well" or "sympathy" cards, so that is what I decided to attempt today.  I created the card, then noticed I didn't leave room for a large sentiment.  I found a perfect fit with this "get well" from Joy's Life "Everyday Occasions" stamp set:

Supplies:
papers:  My Mind's Eye Indie Chic "Nutmeg"; 100 lb. white card stock; Bazzill card stock
button:  My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Saffron "Dreams"
ink:  My Pink Stamper hybrid ink "Serendipity Skies"
embossing folder:  (chevron pattern) SU
corner rounder:  Creative Memories
floss:  my stash

Happy Tuesday!

Cardabilities Sketch challenge #70

  My husband and I have been slowly cleaning up our basement from our flood on January 31st.  It is looking good, with the exception of my craft stuff.  I really am motivated to work on it...if there were only a few more hours in the day :)

  A few weeks ago I decided to purge my craft room first (which is upstairs).  I finished in just a few hours, and it was so much fun shopping my stash for inspiration.  In the purge, I came across an Artful Delight kit from September 2012.  I have not played with it in a while, so I went in search of a sketch to jump start my creativity:

    Karan created a super cute sketch!  I really love all the pennants.  Come play along with me at Cardabilities...link up by March 13th.  I made my flag using October Afternoon "Woodland Park" washi tape over white card stock.

Happy Monday!

Pumpkin Spice Hop and Challenge

    Happy March and welcome to the Pumpkin Spice blog hop.  You should have arrived here from sweet Carissa's blog.  If not, please start at lovely Cheryl's blog!

The challenge, should you accept it:

Green + 4 of something

  My alpha stickers and adhesive crochet leaf are green, and my "four of something" are four different papers from different Echo Park collections.  Both my red crinkle ribbon and crochet flower are from retired Pumpkin Spice kits.

  I like to make quirky St. Patrick's Day cards so that I could use them for other occasions too.  I really like to use the sentiment "lucky in love."

Supplies:

papers: Echo Park For the Record "Lace Stripes", "Vintage Linen", "Apron Strings"; Echo Park This and That "Quilt"

alpha stickers:  Echo Park Country Drive "Alpha Stickers"

Cricut cartridge:  Elegant Edges p.29 cut @ 4"

Now it's YOUR turn!  

Create something with Green + 4 of something

for a chance to win great product from

the Shop Pumpkin Spice store.

Link your project here.

Your next stop on the hop:  Lezlye!