Raise the Bar challenge #7, Get Sketchy #27 & Cute Card Thursday #101! A 3-fer!

Hello my friends! I just could not wait to share this with you all! I fell in love with this Crafting Cuppie from Taylored Expressions when my bff, Cassie sent me an adorable RAK sketch book and card made with this very set. (you can click on Cassie's name to see what she made with this stamp set) I am always e-following Cassie around blogs and online crafting stores, so of course, I had to add this set to my stamp collection.  I made it with three challenges in mind: First, another favorite challenge of the week, the Raise the Bar challenge, its called: "Three's Company" using incriments of 3 anywhere on your card. Second, the sketch challenge at Get Sketchy.

And Third, Cute Card Thursday's challenge #101, Ribbon-Tastic - which calls for Ribbon - a little or a lot on your card or project.

As always, I had totally different papers in mind for this card, but what happens happens, and it seems the card kind of makes itself... but when that happens, I seem to always be the happiest with the results.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Details:

Stamps: Crafty Cuppie (TE)

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa

Tools/Accessories: Real Red wide Ribbon, Bermuda Bay Ribbon, Real Red Corduroy brads, Labels 4 & Classic Lg Oval Nestabilities, Ticket Corner Punch, Corner Rounder

Clearly Inspired Challenge #8

Yeah! It is once again time for my most favorite challenge. The Clearly Inspired Challenge by the wonderful and talented ladies at Clear Dollar Stamps. This time around, the challenge is "Its Hip to be Square" no, the challenge is not to make a Huey Lewis & the News themed card, (lol) it is to make a Square Card. Simple enough, right?  So I thought.
My first attempt was somewhat of a disaster, I gave it a chance though, and even after walking away and looking at it again, I knew it was not the card for me. Still, to prove my point, I am including it on this post, -- at the end --.
My real submission is in fact, the card above, and here are the details:

Stamps: May SOM - Walk in the Park (CDStamps),
Bee-lieve (CDStamps - sentiment)

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Sweet Pea dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink

Tools/Accessories: Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, Modern Label Punch

Pretty in Pink flower brads, sponge, dimentionals

Now, to show you the rejected card:

Stamps: Let's chat (CDStamps)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Sweet Pea dsp, Whisper White

Ink: Tempting Turquoise

Tools/Accessories: Labels 4, Prismacolors

You all are always so nice and supportive, and I appreciate that. I looked at this finished card and all I could think is how elementary and simple it is, and not simple in the classic "clean and simple" way either. So, why add it to my post? I am not exactly sure, maybe because it isnt so terrible that it belongs in the trash, and since I went ahead and finished it, posting it is the last step, right? (chuckle)

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I really appreciate your visit and your comments so very very much!

A Sweet Three in One

Hello Everyone & Happy Thursday! This card was so much fun to make,  I had to post it right away! Dont you just love when your creation makes you so happy?  This card actually fits into three challenges! Usually a stretch for me to go past two, but I guess today is an exceptional day!  The first is The Color Throwdown, where we are challenged to use Brown, Pink/White & Olive. Probably one of my most favorite color combinations ever. The second challenge is the sketch at Papertake Weekly, and finally, the third challenge is the "Stamper no Stamping" challenge at Raise the Bar. The only stamp allowed in this challenge is one sentiment. I do love those kind of "out of the box" challenges. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Details:

Stamps:Critter Tales (CDStamps - sentiment)

Paper: Old Olive, Sweet Pea dsp, Whisper White

Ink: Rose Red

Tools/Accessories: Labels 3 Nestabilities, ExLg 2-step Bird Punch (su), Sweet Pea felt flowers, Modern Label punch, lg Chocolate Chip Brads, White micro brad, Dimentionals, Glue Dots, Sponge

The Color Dare # 57

Hello Everyone! This week The Color Dare has some awesome colors for us to work with! BASHFUL BLUE, RUBY RED, KIWI KISS (old olive) & WHISPER WHITE. I love this color combination! Today, I chose to use Sip by Sip and this great dp from Cosmo Cricket called Early Bird. How fun is it that it features all the colors for this week! Ok, now go on and create!
I cant wait to see what you come up with! PS: Please excuse the fact that my sentiment is crooked, I have the hardest time with this stamp and this was the best of my attempts! :0)

The Details:

Stamps: Sip by Sip (su)

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Early Bird, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Ink: Ruby Red, Basic black, Bashful Blue

Tools/Accessories: Dahlia & Lg Circle Nestabilities, Corner Rounder, Sponge

Get Sketchy #26 with Feb. Key Ingredients

Hello! My first Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kit came in the mail this weekend! I was so excited that I got straight to work with it! The black and white dp reminded me of these adorable ladybugs so it was a perfect combo for me! The sketch is from this week's Get Sketchy blog. I did add a bit more embellishments than the sketch called for, but for the most part, I followed the sketch. Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Details:

Stamps: Loving Ladybugs (CDStamps)

Paper: Feb Key Ingredients kit

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Tools/Accessories: Lg Oval & Lg Scallop Oval Nestabilties

Sponge, Prismacolors, Real Red Epoxy Brads

Yellow Ribbon & B/W flowers - key ingredients

Raise the Bar Challenge #6 - No Stamping Allowed!

Hello! This week's Raise the Bar challenge is simply "No Stamping", well, except for one sentiment. I really like making cards with images other than stamps, I think its a fun way to "think out of the box". I chose the adorable Sweet Pea felt flowers and Flower Fusion as my focal images. I was also inspired by the sketch at the Truly Scrumptious blog. I think the two challenges really worked well together.

Details:

Stamps: Trendy Trees (sentiment) SU

Paper: Sweet Pea dsp, Old Olive, Rose Red

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories/Tools: Corner Rounder, Modern Label Punch, Word Window, Flower Fusion, Sweet Pea Felt Flowers, Old Olive brads

I made this card for a friend who invited Connor and I over for dinner this weekend. I also made her this list book since I love to a) make things for people (who probably wont put it in a drawer) and b) cover things with dsp.

So as a *bonus* here is the list book:

Details:

Stamps: Critter Tales (CDStamps)

Paper: Pink Flamingo dsp

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Cameo Coral

Coloring medium: Prismacolor & Gamsol

Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, Paperblooms,

Tempting Turquoise brads, Summer Sun Cordurory brad,

Pretty in Pink Ribbon

Butterflies in Sweet Peas

Hello! Every time I go into Target (which is quite alot) I always check the clearance in the office supply/scrapbook area. And alot of times, I find some great treasures.  The other day, I found this awesome box for 75% off! Sweet!

As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted to use it for.

I, of course, covered the box with dsp, this time, the new Sweet Pea dsp. The box was originally a pumpkin pie orange, so this selection of the sweet pea seemed perfect. When I started, I had totally different sheets of dsp set out. That always seems to happen! I measured out dsp for the bottom of the divided sections as well as the top, bottom and all sides. I added coordinating felt flowers on the front and Butterflies Shapeabilities (which Cassie gave me!) on the top cut out of the same Sweet Pea dsp.

Stamps: Friendship Flowers (su)

Paper: Sweet Pea dsp, Whisper White

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal

Tools/Accessories: Swiss dots embossing folder, Butterflies Shapeabilities, Labels 3 Nestabilities, Flower Fusion, Rhinestone Brads, Dimentionals

The Color Dare # 56

Happy Belated Valentine's day everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful day with your significant others! Me, well, Valentine's is my husband's birthday, and I always want it to just be that. He is deployed right now, so I hope he had a good birthday considering he is away.
Anyway ... Today's Color Dare is this: We dare you to use RICH RAZZLEBERRY, PALE PLUM, TEMPTING TURQUOISE & BASIC BLACK on your project this week. I cant wait to see what all you talented ladies do with these beautiful colors!

Details:

Stamps: In full Bloom (su), teeny tiny wishes (su)

Paper: Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black,

Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Stazon JetBlack, Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum (marker),

Tempting Turquoise

Tools/Accessories: Aqua Painter, Swiss Dots embossing folder

Lg. Oval & Mega Rectangle Nestabilities, Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, Sponge

Card Patterns #51 and Color Challenge 258

This week over at Splitcoast, the challenge calls for Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Soft Suede, yep! That's why its called a challenge. This was definately a challenge for me anyway! I love to combine a color challenge and a sketch challenge, so I used this week's sketch over at Card Patterns.

Fun sketch, right? Of course any shape can be substituted for the hearts. Maybe with Valentine's day just passing, we all need a little break from hearts, I know I do! lol Thanks for stopping by the ole' blog today! =)

Details:

Stamps: Get off Your Tuffet (CDStamps)

Paper: Pale Plum, Watercolor, Perfect Plum, Throughly Modern dsp

Ink: Basic Black, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Soft Suede (markers)

Tools/Accessories: Labels 3 & Lg Oval Nestabilities, Leah's Crocheted Flowers,

Rhinestone Brads, Sponge, Dimentionals, Aqua marker,

Soft Suede Ribbon, Plum Satin Ribbon from CDStamps

Raise the Bar Challenge #5 - Be Mine Forever

Happy Happy Valentine's day! Ya know, I just now noticed that my dsp has hearts on it! How fitting right? lol .. Anyway, this card is for the Raise the Bar challenge #5. The "Be mine forever" challenge. Well, its not what you think when you first read the title. The challenge is to use a stamp set/item ect that you will never sell or give up.

This was a tough choice for me... I just went thru my stampin up stamps a couple weeks ago and took out all the sets I could actually live without and sold them on ebay. So, several of the stamp sets that remain I cant see living without.

BUT, in the end, this set, Loads of Love (su) is the winner for this challenge. Loads of Love is the very first stamp set I ever purchased. My BFF, Cassie, was a SU consultant and she showed me all about stamping and I was immediately hooked, and still hooked some 5 years later. She is still my stamping mentor and BFF even though we now live 1600 miles apart.

So, to sum it all up, Loads of Love (+accessories stamp set) is a stamp set that will Be Mine Forever.

Details:

Stamps: Loads of Love & Accessories (su)

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Welcome Home dsp, watercolor,

Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay

Coloring Medium: Prismacolor & Gamsol

Tools/Accessories: Ticket corner punch, Corner rounder,

 Labels 4 Nestabilities, Sponge, Pumpkin Pie brads

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I would love to hear what you think!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #7

Yeah! It is time again for my favorite challenge of the week, the one I look forward to the most, the Clear Dollar Stamps - Clearly Inspired Challenge. This week the challenge is to Glam it Up -- add sparkle or bling to the project. I chose to add Waterfall Sticklers to my ballernia's skirt and to the brads. The thing is is that I kept touching the sticklers before it was dry!! I think that is why the skirt doesnt look as sparkly as I had hoped.  Well, anyway, I did have fun with it, and that is the most important part of this whole thing. F U N.

Details:

Stamps: My Little Ballerina, Plumes & Blooms (CDStamps)

Paper: Whisper White, Night & Day dsp, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Stazon JetBlack, Old Olive, Melon Mambo,

Taken w/Teal, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry

Tools/Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Melon Mambo ribbon

Waterfall Sticklers, Brads, dimentionals, corner rounder

Thank you for stopping by today! I really appreciate the comments!!

Skipping Stones Design Sketch SSD011

Ok, so I went back and forth about even posting this card.. I'm just not excited about it! But, since I had this idea in my head since I received this dsp, I figured I should go ahead and share it. Maybe you guys will like it more than I do, and maybe you all have suggestions on how I could have made it better! =)  I used the sketch from Skipping Stones Designs as inspiration.

Details:

Stamps: Trendy Trees

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Taken with Teal,

Whisper White, Sweet Pea dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Pretty in Pink

Tools/Accessories: Word Window, Corner Rounder, Swiss Dots embossing,

lg Chocolate Chip corduroy buttons, sponge

The Color Dare #55

Wednesday is here and it is time for another challenge at The Color Dare! This week Riley has challenged us to use the following colors on your project: CRUSHED CURRY, KIWI KISS (old olive), BRILLANT BLUE, KRAFT & WHISPER WHITE. I admit, I was stumped. Finally, after much deliberation, I decided to use one of my favorite Stampin up sets, Laundry Notes. I was inspired by the Valentine's in the air, and how a foofoo pink card with hearts and flowers may not be a DH's cup of tea. And in the end, this is what I came up with!

The Details:

Stamps: Laundry Notes (su)

Paper: Brillant Blue, Crushed Curry, Whisper white, Urban Oasis dsp

Ink: Stazon JetBlack

Tools/Accessories: Kiwi Kiss & Crushed Curry Ribbon, lg hemp twine (?)

Technique: Paper Piecing

The Pink Elephant #53 - Mushy Gushy Valentine + a bonus!

Today's Pink Elephant Challenge is to make a "mushy gushy valentine" and to be perfectly honest, I was not so inspired to break out the stamp & ink. Maybe because Valentine's day just happens to be my husband's birthday and he just happens to be deployed (again) this year. So, I had planned on passing on this challenge... Until this awesome stamp set came in today's mail from Stepping Stones Designs Stamps. You may be questioning my choice in stamp for a "mushy gushy valentine". Well, here's my thinking: Just about all of us look like this when we get up in the morning. And yet, despite this "give me my coffee" look, our husband's love us all the same. And that, ladies, is the real love on Valentine's Day, and that is why this stamp inspired me for a "

"mushy gushy valentine". 

Details:

Stamps: Instant Human (Stepping Stones Designs), Teeny Tiny Wishes (su)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Sending Love dsp

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red (marker)

Accessories/Tools: Labels 4 Nestabilities, Flower Fusion,

Real Red Corduroy Brad, Word Window, Real Red wide Ribbon

Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Sponge, Dimentionals

BONUS:

I was having so much fun with this stamp, I went on to make another card! I used the same layout, just a pared down version. I again paper pieced her robe, coloring in the robe trim, this time with prismacolor pencils. For this card, I used Sweet Pea dsp and Whisper White & Taken with Teal cardstock/ink.  Thank you so much for stopping by!! I would love to hear what you think!

Raise the Bar challenge #4 - Hearts & Truly Scrumptious Sketch #25

Hi again! Second post for today. I guess I was on a roll! This one I made for the Raise the Bar Challenge, which this week is to include hearts on a card and for the sketch challenge at Truly Scrumptious. I kept wanting to add more and more to this, and as you can see, I added an awful lot. ha ha.. It was also very hard for me to only color in those love monkeys, I have a hard time leaving things un-colored. But, it is the effect I wanted, and I wanted the focus to be on those cute little monkeys.  Thank you so much for stopping by today! I would love to hear what you think!

Details:

Stamps: Monkey Love (CDStamps - Shawne)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Real Red

Sending Love specialty dsp, Watercolor

Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Real Red (sponging)

Pretty in Pink (sponging)

Coloring Medium: Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol

Tools/Accessories: Labels 3 and Lg Circles Nestabilities

Sponge, Real Red and Chocolate Chip ribbon

Corner rounder

OCCC Masculine Valentine's Day Card

Hello! This weekend at Our Creative Corner, the challenge is to make a masculine valentine's card. Talk about a challenge! My husband is not a "card guy" He supports my habit - err I mean hobby,  but isnt really interested in the card itself. And to top it off, Valentine's day just happens to be my husband's birthday, (I know, how sweet, right?) So I always want to focus on his birthday vs the "holiday" itself. Either way, he isnt all that interested in Birthday cards or Valentine's day cards, so, despite that, I thought of him as I made this card. I used the sketch challenge at Card Patterns for inspiration along with my husband and the OCC theme. Thanks for stopping by today! I would love to hear what you think!

Details:

Stamps: Laundry Notes (su) Teeny Tiny Wishes (su)

Paper: Soft Suede textured, Throughly Modern dsp, Very Vanilla

Ink: Soft Suede, Rose Red, Basic Black

Tools/Accessories: Soft Suede ribbon, Lg Circles &

 Lg Pinking Circles Nestabilities, sponge, dimentionals

John 3:16 with Bitty Botanicals

I was inspired to make some inspirational cards for our church's upcoming silent auction. I took the colors from the splitcoast color challenge I participated in earlier this week, omiting the basic grey this time. I used the rectangle nestabilities as a stencil and sponged the crushed curry on the very vanilla cs. I then stamped the bitty botanicals in the same crushed curry ink on top of the sponged rectangle. I was just so pleased with how it turned out, so I just had to share with you.

Stamps: John 3:16 & Bitty Botanicals (clear dollar stamps)

Paper: Bravo Burgandy, Razzleberry Lemonade dsp, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bravo Burgandy, Crushed Curry

Tools/Accessories: Corner rounder, Sponge, Labels 7 &

Retangle Mega Nestabilities, Crushed Curry Ribbon

Clearly Delightful 2 & Cute Card Thursday 98

Greetings from El Paso! Today feels like spring. It is beautiful day here in the desert southwest. It has been a cold winter here (for the southwest), so today is a gem. That's what really inspired this card, spring knocking on the door. I made this with two challenges in mind, Clearly Delightful Challenge #2, where the theme is Ducks, and the Cute Card Thursday challenge in mind, the challenge this week is to use spots and dots. I just wish my spots and dots showed up more.

Stamps: Your my Peep (CD Stamps)

Paper: Taken with Teal, Watercolor, Sweet Pea dsp

Ink: Stazon JetBlack, Pumpkin Pie

Tools/Accessories: Labels 9 & Lg Oval Nestabilities, Top Note Die

Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today! Thanks for your comments!

Finally, the package arrived!

Hello! Its always a happy day when a package full of crafting supplies arrives at your doorstep. But, it is ever so frustrating when something that is supposed to take 5 days to arrive ends up taking more than twice that long. Whatever detour my package took, it is here now, which inspired me to get creative with the new Sweet Pea dsp, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt flowers and this super cute collage frame my DH gave me.

Those who know me, know I like a picture frame for alot more than framing pictures! I have been known to frame some cute dsp in my day, in fact, this makes the fourth grouping of framed dsp I have in my house, and my wonderful husband doesnt even mind it! I guess it helps that he has been deployed for 9 months now.. ha ha .. really, he doesnt mind anything I do with my craft goodies as long as I am happy.

I just fell in love with these stitched flowers! And this paper too! I dont know why it suprises me, but yet it always does ... I had three different sheets of Sweet Pea dsp set out for this project, but yet, none of them ended up making the cut and, well, I guess most the time the dsp knows better than me! ha ha ha!  Here, I adhered the flowers to the outside of the glass with the tiniest strip of old olive cardstock I could cut with my paper cutter. The middle flower is made from the flower fuison collection with a sweet pea center. I just love how the two work so perfectly together with the dsp.

Well, that's it for today! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today! I really do appreciate each of your visits!

Skipping Stones Design Sketch SSD010

Hi Everyone! Today I have discovered a new challenge blog and store, Skipping Stones Designs. They have some cute stamps! I cant wait for the one I ordered to arrive! hehehe Anyway, along with cute stamps, they have some great sketches! These cards were made based on this week's sketch, SSD010. Thankfully, this sketch worked perfectly for these scripture stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps, I am working on putting a pack of inspirational cards together for a silent auction we are having at our church. I hope that they will accept these cards as a donation for the auction!(I havent asked yet,just started creating!)

Details:

Stamps: Romans 12:2 & Phil 4:6-7 (CDStamps_

Paper: Rose Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Sweet Pea dsp

Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive (marker)

Tools/Accessories: Sweet Pea Stitched felt, flower fusion, Old Olive Ribbon

Spots & Dots Embossing Folder

*Isnt it so neat how the embossing folder matches the dsp??

Splitcoast Color Challenge CC256

Good Evening everyone! Today, in the desert southwest has been a cold rainy day... perfect to get creative in the craft room! (sigh) just what I needed today.  This card, I made for this week's Splitcoast color challenge. The challenge calls for: Basic Grey, Bravo Burgandy, Crushed Curry with Kraft, White or Ivory as our neutral choices. I wasnt so sure about this card until the very end. The layout was boring and typical. I just could not think what different I could do... then I put the ribbons on an angle. Bam. Done.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I so appreciate your visit!

Details:

Stamps: Of the Earth & Warm Words (SU)

Paper: Bravo Burgandy, Very Vanilla, Urban Oasis dsp

Ink: Bravo Burgandy, Crushed Curry, Basic Grey

Tools/Accessories: Mega Nestabilities Rectangle, Labels 7 Nestabilities

Modern Label Punch, Rhinestone Brads, Sponge

Basic Grey Taffeta Ribbon, Crushed Curry Ribbon

The Color Dare #54

Hello everyone! Welcome to another great week at The Color Dare! This week's colors are among my favorites: KIWI KISS (or old olive), PACIFIC POINT (or brillant blue), BAJA BREEZE (or bashful blue), BASIC GREY and WHISPER WHITE. I was able to use the In Colors from year, except pacific point, I did substitue brillant blue there. Cant wait to see what you all come up with this week!

Details:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy & Heard from the Heart (SU)

Paper: Baja Breeze, Basic Grey, Whisper White, Urban Oasis dsp

Ink: Basic Grey, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze & Brillant Blue

Tools/Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Ribbon, Sponge, Basic Grey bling,

Lg rectangle & labels 4 Nestabilities