Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thinkin' Pink with Sassy Cheryl's


I had planned on trying to play along with the ladies at Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog  last week but never got anything made so I tried harder this week,lol.
Their theme this week is "Thinkin' Pink"

I am using Cheryl's image "Artificial Flower Girl".

I colored her with my Spectrum Noir markers and a Spica stardust pen.
My flower was made using the same paper with Spellbinder Rose Creation dies and a Making Memories flocked brad.



I love the images at Sassy Cheryl's---I am sure you will as well so
please take a look around the store and be sure to sign up for the 
newsletters -- there is a sale on select images each week.

Card Details:
Paper: Stampin' Up card stock, Prima Sparkling Spring
Sassy Cheryl's "Artificial Flower Girl",
Spellbinders Rose Creations dies, MM brad, Pebbles twine
Spectrum Noir markers, Spica pen, Distress inks


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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

2 New Challenges


I love finding new challenges and these are usually found through my visits with you!

So I hope that if these are two new places for you as well as for me, that you will enjoy finding
them as much as I have.

The first is Muse where the challenges just started last week. The focus is on a Muse inspiration card that allows you to interpret it in your own way, listing your interpretation and a link back to Muse. They
call themselves a card making club because they ask all of the participants to join in by commenting on  
at least 3 of the entries and then voting for the top 3.

Here is the Muse card:

For my inspiration I took the hearts, scalloped border and the pinks to fashion my card.

I am also using  sketch #173 at Tuesday Morning Sketches .  


Lol, I just can't seem to get away from all of the great sketches lately! So much fun....

Last week in my reader I saw a hop going on at DayDream Designs Have you seen their images? Gorgeous. I had a blast doing the hop and seeing all of the inspiring projects by the girls! 

Imagine my surprise and delight when I learned that I had won the $20 gift certificate being given as a prize. I had a difficult time deciding on just what to buy.
I picked up papers, sentiment sets and images and can't wait to show you some
of these in the next few weeks.

Today's card uses the Sweet Warm Ups Papers and Color Digi set

I used the Cameo to trace the mug, create a mat for the mug and cut the snowflakes and border.
Love that machine! It is so wonderful to able to integrate it 
with all of the wonderful digital things that I own as well as the Silhouette files.
I was able to use the color picker to match the color for my mat and center
panel perfectly from the digital paper.

I had so much fun playing with the images and designing this card. 
Now, I have given you three places to check out, so what are you waiting for?

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me!


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Monday, January 28, 2013

Word Art!


Do you love word art?

At Word Art Wednesday they give a different piece of inspirational and lovely word art for you to use in your project each week. You may use this or any other encouraging or uplifting sentiment.

I used this week's beautiful verse from Word Art Wednesday to create my card.

Be sure to take a look at this wonderful challenge blog and there is still time to play along 
in this week's "Anything Goes-#64" challenge.

Hope to see you there.

Card Details:
Paper: Stampin' Up black, Webster's Pages dsp (Collection Triple Pack)
Spellbinders peony die and Labels 18
Making Memories brad, satin ribbon


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Fun with CAS(E) this Sketch


I have been playing along with some really great sketch blogs lately and CAS(E)This Sketch is one of those! I love their great sketches and the DT always has loads of inspiration
to share with us.


Today I am letting these gorgeous papers help me with the vision I saw in my head.
I stamped the sentiment in Distress Ink Walnut Stain and used foam dots to add some
dimension.


Stop by and visit the blog and I think you will be hooked.


Thanks for stopping by....love to have you visit!

Card Details:
Paper: Stampin' Up mellow moss, Prima Botanical, Recollections brown
Stampin' Up "Happy Harmony" stamps, Spellbinders Labels 19 Studio G pearls


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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Another Sketch


Have you been playing along at the new challenge blog Seize the Birthday ?  They are on to sketch #3 which means we are working with a feminine card this week. 


They use the same sketch two weeks in row with the first card being created in a feminine fashion and the next week-masculine. Isn't that a great way to build up your stash of birthday cards.

I am selling my cards in a couple of local shops and seems like lately since I wasn't playing in very many challenges I was struggling to keep enough to stock my racks, so I have made 
a decision to try and get back into playing more. It also helps with my mojo and that 
never hurts!

I have wanted to try a pinwheel for quite some time, so with that in mind I went shopping at the 
Silhouette store and found this goodie. Don't these Echo Park papers make you smile?
I created the balloons by punching a one inch circle and attaching some twine.
The button brad was a perfect color match, that also makes me happy!


I love to use some of my scraps to decorate the inside, for this I wanted to keep it clean and simple.



Don't miss out on this fun new blog, go on, you know you what to play.....

Card Details:
Paper: Stampin' Up baja breeze, Echo Park "So Happy Together"
Silhouette pinwheel cut file
Making Memories button brad, 1"circle punch, SU white twine
SU stamps "Stem Sayings"


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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Freshly Made Sketches...more fun



I have decided to stretch myself to use some of my many neglected supplies which have been
left alone way too long. I do love all of my items but I am sure you understand how difficult it can be
to play with all of our goodies, does that mean I have too many, surely not!!

These are some chipboard pieces that I fell in love with and had to buy but have not used very many of at all.

I decided to try something a little different for me and use these for the fantastic sketch now at Freshly Made Sketches this week. Each week they have a sketch they ask you to use in your creation simply 
making it clean lined and fresh.

Don't you love this bird? Using elements from my paper pack I added the butterfly sticker and 
my sentiment letters to the layered tags.

The challenge runs through noon on Tuesday the 29th, so you still have time to join me and 
play along as well.

Card Details:
Paper: Rubber Cottage textured white, DCWV scrapbook in a stack green and striped
Making Memories chipboard and stickers, Papertrey Ink button, Stampin' Up twine

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Sugar Creek Hollow and Lots of Layers....




This week at Sugar Creek Hollow we are looking for lots of layers in your shabby chic/ vintage cards. 
Hope that you can join us for our challenge. Please stop by the blog for all the details.

Loving the way my card turned out this week, lol, even if I did make it myself. I digitally layered a rose journal card inside a black frame, the journal card is free from the kind heart and talent of Emily at Sweetly Scrapped    and I found the great frame at Shabby Blogs whee Megan has some yummy shabby goodness for all of us fans.  I hand cut this after printing adding a bit of sponging and distressing. All of the fab papers are from Prima's "Almanac" 6 x 6 paper pad including the tag. I added a love sentiment and the Best Wishes from Stampin' Up's sets Noteworthy and Sincere Salutations. I used Spellbinders "Rose Creations" to create my leaves and part of the flower --topping it with  one by Recollections. I used foam dots to give some dimension to my layers and my favorite  satin ribbon for a bow!


I hope you will take the time to stop by our challenge blog to see what the rest of my wonderful team mates 
have created for you this week, beauties I assure you!

We love to see you join in and I am hoping to see your name there on the link.

Have a great weekend!



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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Playing at Annabelle Stamps


This will be my first time playing along at Annabelle Stamps  where at their challenge 154 they
are using these colors:



Since I do not currently own any Annabelle Stamps and they are required to play along I was so 
pleased to find their free digital images on their blog!

I used this beautiful floral and sentiment to create a set of note cards.



For two of the cards I created a sponged background before printing the set.
I used one sheet of card stock and created my layouts in the MDS software which helped me to create all 4 cards quickly and simply.




 

I am sorry that I am posting this so late but I have had too many problems with my card reader
and printer the past two days that I am pulling my hair out!
Maybe it just wasn't meant to be but I am going to post them anyway.

I had such a grand time during their hop recently and loved the beautiful
creations the team created, so be sure and stop in for a visit.



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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Something else for Justrite



I have a dear friend that did me a great favor so in repayment for her kindness I created this prayer journal for her which I designed using the sketch at Justrite that I used for my card earlier this week. The challenge runs through tomorrow 6:00 central time so give it a try if you have some time and Justrite stamps.
They have some great prizes up for grabs.

JRSketch88

My journal was a find ages ago and taking a cue from the beautiful colorful flowers I used
the sets "Kalidoscope" and "Stitched with Love" along with matching card stock from my 
scrap stash. The berry red is textured and I added texture to the golden paper with an embossing folder.
A punched border, ric rac and some buttons across the top and my layered sentiment and heart which 
I colored with the Spectrum Noir markers and it was finished.

I love how this turned out and she seemed very pleased. She has a wonderful giving spirit 
and I knew she would put this prayer journal to good use.

Love my Justrite stamps, would love to have some more!



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Doodle Pantry Roses



Yellow roses are my favorite!

I love this new set at Doodle Pantry Rose and Bud which is new this month. 

The papers from My Mind's Eye "Sunshine" pack are so beautiful and love how they go 
so very well with this image and the sentiment which is also part of that set.

My coloring was done with distress inks.

You still have a couple of days to join our challenge at the Doodle Pantry Blog

Have a wonderful day....




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Monday, January 21, 2013

Seize the Birthday!


Back for a second post today so that I can get my card in before the deadline at Noon tomorrow at Seize the Birthday where it is sketch #2 which means this week we are creating a masculine birthday card using the same sketch as last week.  


In my earlier post last week I told you about this wonderful new challenge blog geared to getting us creating birthday cards for this coming year. They will use the same sketch two weeks in a row with the twist that for one card you will go feminine and for the next masculine.

My card was so easy as I let these gorgeous papers do all of the work. I bought these Farmhouse Paper Company "Fair Skies" papers and some embellishments last year and have used them a couple of times. Do you ever get those papers and love them so much you sometimes hate to use them.
This is the way I feel about these but I must share so some lucky guy will get this card using them.

My hot air balloon is made from a 3-D cut file at Silhouette. My Cameo is my new second love!

I distressed the edges and sponged vintage photo on my papers.


Now, if this is the first time seeing this challenge hurry on over and check it out as I know you will love working with their wonderful sketches. I know that I am looking forward to the months ahead creating more birthday cards.

Thanks for stopping by again today and if you missed my earlier post please check it out as well, as I have another great sketch challenge blog to introduce you to.

hugs my friends.....




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CAS(E) This Sketch....



Whew, I am running a bit late getting my card ready for the challenge this week at CAS(E) This Sketch but not too late, thankfully!  I enjoy their sketches and they stretch my imagination.


I did a wash treatment with distress inks on watercolor paper which I can't wait to try again...love the effect it gave. I cut a square and using stamps from Inkadinado's set "Special Thoughts" and Fiskers " Squarely Sentimental" I created the focal image. Punching the small block with my 3/4" square and popping it up with foam dots gave it some dimension. Love the watercolor effect I got with these stamps and inks.


Not wanting to waste anything, lol, I used the leftover strip from my original wash treatment to decorate the inside. Since my sentiment can be used for any occasion I decided to leave the inside blank and wait to stamp one there when I send it out.



Hope you can find time to visit CAS(E) This Sketch and take a look, think you will like what you see.  Hope your week is starting out great!



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Saturday, January 19, 2013

Want to Play????


Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic Tac Toe that is....as you can see above we just need you to pick three items in a row
and create a shabby chic or vintage project to enter this week's challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow . The team has created some beautiful things to inspire you this week, so be sure to stop by the blog, get all of the details and join us, we will be by to visit. 

We are pleased to have a Guest Designer this week.  Heidi Augustson (a.k.a. Filharmonica) from Norway is joining us so  please make her feel welcome.


     Here is my card for this week:


I used a collage sheet created by my friend Sharon at Plumrose Lane . You have heard her name before here on my blog as I have used her wonderful creations before and in the context of my blog extras. In fact my beautiful bird background is one of hers. You can find the sheet "My Heart Belongs to Paris that I used at her Etsy shop .  I fussy cut all of the pieces and distressed with distress inks. The three hearts were layered and hand sewn together and placed on a die cut scalloped heart. After using my scallop punch to punch out my flower I cut between the petals, sponged the petals and then layered with another circle punch flower and a flower in black.
Have you figured out which line I used???? See those pearls?
That puts me with a line straight across the bottom, which one will you use?



I love the way my flower turned out, enlarge the photo and I think you can see the beautiful colors and the depth to this great element.


Have a great weekend my friends, Rick and I are off for a quick adventure this morning.
Hope you have something fun planned.

See you soon....



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Friday, January 18, 2013

Justrite and Snow....


Hey guys, I had hoped to have this card posted earlier than this but unfortunately I have
been a bit busy shoveling, watching our kind neighbor help us scrape our drive out and cleaning
my car off! We got around a foot of snow last night.
I never thought we would get any where near this much as our ground was so saturated from 
the previous three days of rain we had gotten and the all day rain leading up to the 
snow starting around mid afternoon yesterday...shows you why I am not a meteorologist doesn't it?
I have some pictures of the snow after my card if you want to see those.

Last year I purchased my first clear Justrite stamps and fell in love so when I saw this sketch challenge at the Justrite blog, I just had to play along.

JRSketch88

I used two different sets to create this card..."Shabby Chic Labels 4" and "Bon Voyage"

I stamped on my design paper using the Eiffel Tower and Paris stamps, aren't they lovely on the Moulin Rouge papers from Prima.....how appropriate!

I used my Silhouette Cameo to create my banner shapes and inserted a free cut file from a
very talented lady whose blog is called Bird's Cards . She is not only super talented but also super generous with her lovely cut files. You can find the Swirl Border that I used by going here and while there I know you will want to look around. I used the swirl on both banners and then layered these over the dsp.
I colored my label with Spectrum Noir markers, added some lovely trim from a local
outlet and a button from my stash and we are done.


On the inside I used more of the stamps from these sets and added the swirled border that I cut
from my banners to decorate the inside.


I hope you will check out this challenge as it will be open until
Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:00 pm central time.
Did I mention they are giving away some great prizes.
I hope to be back with another entry as you can enter as many times as you want.




Now on to my snow pictures!

This is the play house Rick found a few years back, purchased and moved onto the back 
corner of our lot for our outside cats. It has shelves for the cats to sit and look out the 
windows and lots of warm cozy beds. 
The trees are on our neighbors side of the line and have thin branches that hold onto
their leaves and drop off in the spring so the snow latched on.
Will have to wait and see if they return to an upright position or there 
will be more work ahead as in trimming.



The next couple of pictures look across the street from our back door where we have around 11 acres
of land and an open field and barn. We are blessed to have all this green 
space inside town limits or I guess at the moment it is all 
white space!



Those in the path of this storm, I hope and pray you are all safe and sound.

Wishing you a wonderful afternoon.

Be sure and keep an eye out for my Sugar Creek Hollow post in the morning.


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