Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #131

Good Morning!  Happy Tuesday!  I am so glad you're here and thank you so much for stopping by.  The week is off to a fairly good start.  The work day yesterday wasn't so bad, after a couple cups of coffee.

This week's sketch is a fun one by Theresa.  I love the simplicity of her sketch because it holds so much possibility as you will see with all the different designs from the team.  I kept mine true to the sketch, clean and simple.  My card features the adorable signature bird image from our sweet sponsor, Laurie Wilson of Doodle Pantry.


I love this color combo.  You know who really ROCKS this color combo?  My friend and DT member Jessica.  Yep, she inspires me every time she creates a card with these colors.

So, I guess we'll see you over at the TMS blog.

Supplies:
Image: Bird on Wire
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Bashful Blue, Real Red
Paper: Nana's Kitchen
Copics: B000, B00, B02, C5, R11, RV000, RV10, Y06, Y11
Tools: Threading Water border punch, Scalloped circle Nestie, circle cutter (CM)

Monday, January 30, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  Well, Monday is here again.  The weekly Paper Pretties post is the only redeeming quality to Monday.  Otherwise, Monday can just skip me.  Heehee.

The weekend was good.  My goal was to complete 6 cards yesterday, I finished 3.  So much for my goal.  But here's my card for this week's Paper Pretties - this week's challenge is....

LOVE


My card features a new digi set called A Tail of 2 Hearts.  I'm not much into kitties, but thought this was really cute.  The sketch is from The Sweet Stop.

Supplies:
Image: Tail of 2 Hearts
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Black
Paper: Nana's Kitchen matstack (DCWV)
Copics: B000, C5, C7, E37, E53, G02, G05, W-0, W-2, W-3, YR07, YR09
Tools: Heart border punch (MS), Word Window Punch (SU!)

Friday, January 27, 2012

Raise The Bar - Guest Spot

Hello everyone!  Happy Friday!!  I am so excited that I have a guest spot on my friend Joni's challenge blog, Raise The Bar.  Joni's challenge blog is all about pushing yourself to think outside the box.  She never ceases to amaze me - she can look at something so obscure and come up with an amazing card design.

This week's challenge is:

Pink, Silver, Tag & Ribbon

Sounds pretty easy, right?  It wasn't for me.  I went so many avenues with everything ending up in the trash.  I started with a trellis and flowers.... well that went into the trash.  So I quit.  I started cleaning my room and then it hit me.  Why not use things that you just had to have, Melissa and then they sat in a box for safe keeping.  Then I set off to find a great sketch and decided the best one was right at my fingertips - this week's sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.


And look what I came up with.  I bought these dies from a seller off the SCS BST forum.  Had to have them, I had just gotten a Cuttlebug so I needed everything.  I think I used the letters once.  And very little stamping - really miniscule.  This is a truly papercrafted card.

Supplies:
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Pink Pirouette, Black
Paper: Silver Embossed mulberry (JoAnns)
Stamps/Ink: Boxes, Bags & Tags (PTI), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Tools: Cuttlebug, Olivia dies
Embellishments: silver pearl (JoAnns), Baker's Twine, white organdy ribbon

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Delightful Challenges

** Please scroll down to for the MTME Pretty Patterns #45 post **

Hi again!  Thanks for coming back.  I do so enjoy your visits.  This week's challenge at Delightful Challenges is a fun one.


Anything but a Card w/Valentine's Theme

Now, I've already shared my sentiments about Valentine's Day - not a huge fan.  But I am a huge fan of fun paper, cute images and chocolate!


I created this bag in a box by following a tutorial on SCS.  This was fun, easy to do and pretty quick.  You can make these for any occasion.  In fact, I think I might make another one with a baby theme.  There's a girl at work expecting, I think this would be adorable filled with binkies and travel sized baby powder and lotion.

Supplies:
Image: Lara Ladybug
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Pink Pirouette, Black
Paper: Pink Gingham checks (unk)
Copics: 100, E00, E02, E37, R11, R27, R29, RV02, RV10
Tools: Heart border punch (MS), Scallop Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), circle cutter (CM), tab punch (SU!),
1/4" circle punch
Embellishments: pink satin ribbon (Offray)
Template: Box in a bag SCS

MTME Pretty Patterns #45

Good Morning!  I hope you're doing well.  I am sooo happy that Thursday is here.  I have been really excited to share this card with you since Sunday.  I love the colors and the Pretty Pattern for this week is great!!

So here's my card featuring So Fortunate....


Isn't she just adorable?!  I am really pleased with how this turned out.  Now head on over to MTME Pretty Patterns to see some amazing designs by the team and since you're there, you might as well play along.

Supplies:
Image: So Fortunate
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Not Quite Navy
Paper: The Cafe Mediterranean matstack (DCWV)
Copics: BG05, BG09, BG10, E30, E33, R00, R11, YR16, YR68

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #130

Good Morning!  It's Tuesday.  I love Tuesday and not just because Monday is already over but because it's time for some more TMS fun!  We have a fabulous sketch by Jessica and a super fantabulous sponsor.  Gerda from StampFairy is here and she shared some wonderful images.

My card is featuring one of the sweet images from her Molly Throughout the Year collection.  Have you seen it?  OMG!! I wish I could afford all 12 images.  Gerda even has calendar downloads for free to go along with these sweet images.


My card also draws inspiration from this week's challenge from Raise the Bar - ring in the New Year. 

So head on over to TMS and play along and as you can see it fits well with other challenges like Raise the Bar, throw in a color combo and you've got a complete card!

Supplies:
Image: Molly Throughout the Year - June
Stamps/Ink: Everyday Sentiments (Paper Pretties), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, So Saffron, Mellow Moss
Paper: Springtime (Echo Park)
Copics: E000, E00, E02, E33, E53, RV10, Y11, Y15
Tools: circle cutter (CM)
Embellishments: olive satin ribbon (Offray)

Monday, January 23, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  It was good here, pretty much laid back.  Yesterday evening was filled with football.  My son is soooo excited that the Patriots won.  I am, too, he was getting pretty grumpy there for a bit.

So let's talk about this week's challenge at Paper Pretties.  We've got a color combo for you....

Pink, Red & White

And we have two new adorable sets releasing.  I am featuring Lancelot.


I love how my card turned out.  Lancelot is such a super sweet bear and the papers I chose.  Ack!  I am sooo happy with my card even though I am not a fan of Valentine's Day.  It used to be fun when my kids were little but not so much anymore.

I did pull some inspiration from some other challenges, too.

Just Us Girls - also Pink, Red & White combo
Unscripted Sketches - Sketch
Crafts 4 Eternity - use office supplies for embellishments

Now head on over to Paper Pretties to play along.

Supplies:
Image: Lancelot (Paper Pretties)
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Pink Pirouette
Paper: Country Drive (Echo Park), Red polka dots (Michaels)
Copics: C8, C10, E33, E34, E37, R00, R02, R11, R27, R29, RV02
Tools: Envelope punch (McGill), Apron Lace border punch (Fiskars), Word Window punch (SU!)
Embellishments: paper clip, gold fastener, pink grosgrain ribbon, pearls (Recollections), Mulberry Flower (Wild Orchid)

Thursday, January 19, 2012

MTME Pretty Patterns #44

Hello again.  Please scroll down for the Delight Challenges post.  But if you're here for the Pretty Pattern for this week - thank you for coming by.

The Pretty Pattern is posted and we're having a great time with the MTME images.  I am really loving the new warm hats set called Winter Knits.  What a fun set.


Now I admit, finding purple flocking in one of the drawers labeled "things that sparkle" is really what started this card.  The great sketch by Tangii is awesome so it all worked together really well.  Now, Tangii meant for this to be a long card, but I went with a standard size card.  I love how the flocking added so much texture to this sweet beanie.

So what are you waitin' for - go to the MTME blog to play along.

Supplies:
Images: Winter Knits Heart Beanie
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Sahara Sand, Lovely Lilac, Bashful Blue
Paper: Just Chillin' (MM)
Copics: B00, B000, B02, B05, BV00, C8, C10, RV13
Tools: Heart border punch (MS), corner rounder (CM)
Embellishments: purple flocking, plaid ribbon (Offray)

Delightful Challenges

Good Morning!  So far it's been a great week and I have accomplished a lot with getting my son's ortho care going again.  It's been far too long and he's been so good about it.  Thank God for my job and spending accounts!!

Anyway - it's time for a fun challenge at Delightful Challenges featuring the wonderfully adorable images available at Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  My card didn't end up the way it originally started - I started with a different image and completely blew it!  So then I headed back over to the store and purchased two images that are available in the Almost Free bin.  This is Luvvy Owl and Tree of Love.  You can't beat for a grand total of $0.70 - but you better hurry.

The challenge this week is:

Victorian/Distressed Look

Not a challenge I excel at, but I think my attempt is pretty good.  I created the a center step card, you can find the tutorial here on SCS by Frances Byrne.  What a fun card!


This type of card really showcases your focal point.

So, head on over and be prepared to be inspired.  Then play along and since you're there, you might as well do a little bit of shopping.

Supplies:
Images: Tree of Love, Luvvy Owl
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Pink Pirouette
Paper: Chocolat (SEI)
Copics: E30, E33, E34, E37, R27, RV02, RV10, YG03, YR23
Ink: Tea Dye distess ink (Ranger)
Embellishments: lace (Offray), pearls ($1 bin JoAnns)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #129

Good Morning!  It's time for a new Tuesday Morning  Sketches challenge.  This week we're sponsored by Cupcake Craftroom.


Now I forgot an element on my card that's on the sketch and I didn't even realize it until I set the post up on the TMS blog.  We'll just chalk it up to an "ooops."  My card features sweet digi paper from Cupcake Craftroom that also came with a sentiment set.

Supplies:
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Night of Navy
Paper: Blue Papers Collections w/sentiments
Stamps/Ink: Flower Fairies (CTMH), Night of Navy
Tools: circle cutters (CM)
Embellishments: navy ribbon (Offray), rhinestones (Recollections)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  Quick post today - as most people we set these posts to auto-post as needed so I'm actually writing this late Sunday night.  I had a super short weekend with working part of the day Sunday morning.  So that severly cut into my normal Sunday schedule.

This week's challenge at Paper Pretties is a color combination....

Blue, Silver & White

I'm using an adorable new image called Slip n Slide.  I love this image and it's sentiments!



Fun right?!!  They are having so much sliding around on the ice!  I used a fun sketch from Sketches by Carly.  I even found some silver paper in my stash.  Wow!

Supplies:
Image: Slip n Slide
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Night of Navy
Paper: Silver paper (unk)
Copics: B000, B63, B95, B97, R02, R11, W0, W2, W3, YG00, YG03, YG6
Tools: Cuttlebug, Snowflakes emb folder, Word Window punch
Embellishments: Diamond glitter glue, felt, white brads (Bazzill Basics)
Stamps/Ink: Stick Together (TSG), Going Gray, Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Delightful Challenges

** Please scroll down to see the MTME Pretty Patterns post **

Hi, me again.  Thanks for coming back for the Delightful Challenges post.  This week we have a new release and a fun challenge.  We've got a color combo to play with...

Pink, Black & Silver

My card features Rockaround Sue. She's one of the nostalgic 1950's images released this week.



I tried my hand at red hair.  Not sure I like it but she does kind of remind me of a teenaged Pebbles Flintstone.  I used the sketch from Crafts4Eternity and I am also playing along with Digital Tuesday (punch it out).

Thanks for stopping by, now head on over to play along with us.

Supplies:
Image: Rockaround Sue
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Black, Pink Pirouette
Paper: Sugared (Basic Grey)
Copics: BG01, BG10, BG15, C5, C7, C8, E00, E02, E04, R02, R29, RV000, RV10, YR04, YR07, YR09, YR16
Tools: Cuttlebug, Labels Two Nesties, Scallop border punch (Fiskars), Scallop circle punch (SU!), silver gel
pen
Embellishments: Sugared brad (BG), silver metallic ribbon (Offray)

MTME Pretty Patterns #43

Good Morning!  How's your week?  Mine is going OK, its really busy at work which is mentally exhausting but we all get over it.

We have a really sweet sketch to play with at My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns.  I am using the SWEET new releases, too.  Have you seen them?  If not, you simply must check them out.  You can find them here.

Here's my card....


These new images worked so perfectly with the Nana's matstack that I have.

You should join us - it'll be fun!


Supplies:
Image: Sweet Treats, Sweet Sentiments
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
Paper: Nana's Kitchen matstack (DCWV)
Copics: B000, BV00, E37, E53, E57, G00, R11, RV06, RV13, RV91, RV93, RV95, Y15, YR16
Tools: Magic Matter

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #128

Good Morning!  It's Tuesday... the kids went back to school yesterday, Hollyanne is back at dance tonight, life returns back to normal.  Yay!

This week's challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches has one of our favorite returning sponsors, Bugaboo, and it's the Judged Challenge.  This week's sketch was created by Marie and it's fun and fabulous.  As you know, with the Judged Challenge there is an added twist which will be to add a Vintage flair.

My card features Roly Poly Chef - Pie.  When I colored this little guy, I figured he looked a lot like Chef Boyardee, so I gave him an Italian base.  The background is a very pixelated old world map of Italy.  Even though it wasn't a great picture, I thought it looked cool!  I added some Desert Sand ink and Tea Dye distress ink and voila - I love this background.


Supplies:
Image:  Roly Poly Chef - Pie (Bugaboo)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Created background with a picture of an Old World Map of Italy
Copics:  100, E00, E02, E30, E33, E34, R11, R27, R29, W-0, W-2, W-3
Ink:  Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa, Tea Dye
Tools:  Corner Rounder (SU!)
Embellishments:  Real Red grosgrain ribbon (SU!), vintage mulberry flowers (Prima), red brads, lace (Wild Orchid)

Now head on over to play along with us!  Have a great week.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  It's Monday and time for new digi images at Paper Pretties and a new challenge.  This week's challenge is probably something we don't think of too often, I know I don't.  This week we're making....

Get Well Cards

My card is featuring Sick Puppy.  Don't you just wanna pick up this little guy and cuddle him til he feels better?


I did use a great sketch from The Sweet Stop to create my card.  I kept it pretty simple, as you all know, I feature cards every now and then that are single postage stamp cards.  This is one of them.  My colors mainly neutrals with black and kraft being the base.  I also sponged the "floor" and then drew in the planks for a wood floor.

Supplies:
Image: Sick Puppy
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Kraft, Black
Paper: Michaels open stock
Copics: 100, B97, B99, C5, C7, E30, E34, E53, G99, R02, R27, R29, YG06, YG09, W-2, Copic liner 0.05
Tools: Silver gel pen, scallop border (Fiskars), word window punch (SU!)

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Sunday Bliss

Good Morning!  It's a lovely Sunday morning.  The sun is shining, I have a big mug of my favorite coffee and I am playing at my craft table - this is one of the ways I define bliss.

I have a card to share with you that I made for 4 different challenges.  I won a challenge over at All That Scraps, so of course, I have to play along with this challenge with my new stamps.  So ATS' challenge is an Anything Goes challenge.  I am also entering this card in the CMC Copic Challenge (Hot Pink, Black & White).  And the iCopic Lover challenge is smooth and shiny hair.  And finally, the card design is from this week's Just Us Girls sketch challenge.  I usually don't combine more than 2 challenges, but this one worked so well.  I have technique, sketch, color combo and the chance to play with new stamps from one of my favorite stamp companies.  Another way to define bliss perhaps?


Supplies:
Stamps:  Coffee Birgitta (CC Designs), Mixed Messages (AmyR Stamps), Polka Dot Blooms (TSG)
 Ink: Tuxedo Black, Lilac Posies, Angel Pink (Memento)
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Black (Recollections), Pink Passion (SU!)
Paper:  Unknown - found in my stash
Copics:  C5, C7, C8, C10, E00, E000, E02, E30, E34, RV02, RV02, RV13, W-0, W-2
Tools:  Square punches (CM), Spring Bouquet punch (SU!), sm Oval punch (SU!)

I really don't like taking pictures during the day.  If this makes any sense, my room has lots of sunshine but its so full of shadows, it's impossible get good pictures.  This one I ended of having to take it with the card laying down on my bed and I shot above it.  Crazy!  Now you can see a bit of my cozy blanket (nope, the bed isn't made yet).  And I'm still losing a little of the element in my card.  Sorry.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

MTME Pretty Patterns Review

** Please scroll down for my Delightful Challenges post **

Good Morning!  It's me again.  Thanks for coming by my blog today.  This week at My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns challenge is a review.  You choose your favorite sketch, please see the MTME blog for your choices.

I used sketch #28....


My card features the sweet images from My Little Friend.  I pulled out some paper that I haven't used in a long time.  This is Basic Grey Porcelain collection.  Such pretty papers.

Supplies:
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Always Artichoke
Paper:  Porcelain (Basic Grey)
Copics:  E00, E000, E51, E53, R00, R02, RV29, RV91, RV93, RV95, Y06, YG09, YG17, W-0, W-2, W-3
Tools:  Sm/Lg oval punches (SU!)
Embellishments:  eggshell satin ribbon (Offray)

Delightful Challenges

Good Morning!  We're back!!  I am so happy that we're back from vacation for Digital Delights and we have a really easy and super fun challenge to start the New Year off with.

Add a Heart

Here's my card - I am featuring one of the sweet images from the Baking Bears set.


I created this card for my monthly card traders group, too.  We had the herringbone technique this month - not my favorite but it turned out OK.  I also used the sketch from Sketch and Stash - my stash is the little heart embellishment.  This was found in a box that belonged to my Grandma, there's no telling how long it's been in there.

Supplies:
Image: Baking Bear
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Red Small Dots, Red Big Dots (Michaels)
Copics: BG10, BG15, E29, E33, E34, E53, R00, R02, R22, R27, R29, RV10, W-0, W-2
Tools: Cuttlebug, Frills border emb folder, oval cutters (CM)
Embellishment: gingham heart (my stash)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches #127

Good Morning!  It's Tuesday and time for another great sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  This week's sketch was drawn by Kathy and it's great!  This week's challenge is sponsored by Sparkle Creations and she's offering a sweet prize.  Be sure to check out all the details on the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog.

Here's my card featuring a sweet image from CC Designs.  Be sure to check out the TMS blog to see the adorable creations that my team created using Sparkle's adorable stamps.


I have had this image colored for a really long time and when I sat at my table this morning trying to decide on how I was going to create my card, I pulled this little cutie out of my stash and made my card.  I think it came out pretty good.

I also created this card with some chalenge inspiration from Really Reasonable Ribbon - Sparkle & Ribbon.  My "sparkle" is all the bling I added and the "ribbon" is the gorgeous lace.

Supplies:
Stamps/Ink: Scarf Honey (CC Designs) Mini Messages (PTI), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest, Kraft
Paper: Latte matstack (DCWV)
Copics: B95, B97, B99, E00, E02, E04, E30, E33, E34, E37, RV91, V93
Embellishments: Rhinestones (Recollections), Lace (Wild Orchid), Rhinestone brads (unk)

Monday, January 2, 2012

Just playing around...

Hi there!  Happy Monday afternoon.  This morning I was blurfing and having a really good time.  I ran into a fun challenge over at Suzanne Dean's CMC Copic Challenge.  I had an opportunity to meet her a couple of years ago, but unfortunately wasn't able to with the move to Florida.  Sad for me but her forum is a lot of fun.  I would love love love to take her Copic classes!

Well her color challenge that I am getting in just under the wire is Gold, Cream and White.  I wasn't quite sure how to accomplish this with Copics since I don't see Copics in white or cream colors.  And when I think gold, I think metallic - however, after looking at some inspiring photos of the DT line up and other participants, I decided that the deeper yellows will work.  This is what I came up with....


Suzanne said it didn't have to be holiday themed, so I went with a Spring time feel.  I brought out my Buttercups stamp set from TSG and had some fun.

I did use a technique that I learned on my sister's blog to ink up an acrylic block to create a background.  I did this using my Copics and spritzed with alcohol.  Although it worked, it didn't achieve what I was wanting so I inked my block up with Memento inks to enhance what I did with Copics.  This was a much nicer effect.  Then I stamped the flowers on top of that and colored.


Supplies:
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest, Neenah Milled Ivory, Mellow Moss
Copics:  Y15, Y17, YG63
Stamps:  Buttercup (There She Goes)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Cantaloupe, Dandelion (Memento)
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Textile emb folder

Paper Pretties Monday

Good Morning!  Happy Monday to you.  It's time for another fun challenge at Paper Pretties - this time we're keeping it...

Clean and Simple

And since it a New Year, it's time for those resolutions.  What is the #1 resolution?  Yep, to lose weight.  So ARTish created a couple of new digi sets to encourage just that.  My card features ZaZa Zumba Hippo... she's so darn cute!!!


I sometime have a hard time with clean and simple cards but I read a definition that CAS means little or no embellishments, straight clean lines.  I think I fit that.  But I did have to add a simple embellishment, a sweet little felt flower with button center and twine touch was just right.  The challenge at JUGs this week is to put felt on your card.  Now this is really simplifying their challenge so I might have to play again this week, but for this will do.

Supplies:
Image: ZaZa Zumba Hippo
Card stock: Neenah Classic Crest
Paper:  Glitter matstack (DCWV)
Copics: BG10, BFG15, BV00, BV02, BV04, C5, C7, C8, RV00, RV02, RV02, RV10, W-0, W-2, W-3
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Flowers die (Cuttlebug)
Embellishments:  Felt, button, Buttercup Twine

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Bee Crafty #58 - Celebrate!

Hi everyone!  I am a bit late on my post today.  It's been a busy weekend.  But Happy New Year and welcome to the first post of the year on my blog.

The challenge this month at Bee Crafty is to create a celebration card.  Here's mine...


This card features a sweet little bear holding his balloon.  I did create this card with a fabulous sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I did a lot of embossing and then a lot of it got covered up.  Not what I had in mind, but it's still cute.

Supplies:
Image:  Bear with Balloon
Card stock:  Neenah Classic Crest. Bashful Blue, So Saffron
Paper:  Glitter matstack (DCWV)
Copics:  BG10, BG15, E29, E33, E34, E37
Tools:  Cuttlebug, Happy Birthday embossing Folder, Just My Type embossing border, circle cutter (CM)
Embellishments:  green satin ribbon (Offray)