Monday, February 28, 2011

I Miss Arizona

Many of you know that I grew up in Arizona. So probably now, many of you are thinking "desert."  Most of Arizona, is desert, yes. But I grew up in Northern Arizona, in Flagstaff.  However, at this point in Nebraska winter, I am longing for the desert heat of my home state.  And so the best I can do about that is to make a card that depicts what I am missing!

Doesn't that just warm you right up? I made a sheet of "sunset sky" using the Ink, Spray and Smash technique and then stamped my image. I used Cactus Silhouette by I Brake For Stamps for my image.  I stamped it with Neptune VersaColor and then embossed with Eggplant Embossing Powder. I have seen many Arizona sunsets that look just like that!

Must be time for a visit to my sister in Tucson. . . .

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges for this card:
Guylou's - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - silhouettes

Recipe:
Stamps - Cactus Silhouette by I Brake For Stamps
Ink - Neptune VersaColor, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral
Cardstock: Glossy White, Ruby Red, Elegant Eggplant, Textured Purple, DP by K & Co.
Accessories: Pewtwe Pearls by Kaiser, organdy ribbon, paper piercer

Friday, February 25, 2011

Island Warmth and Sunshine!

It has been a long ten days since I have been able to participate in a Splitcoast challenge and I miss it! Today's Free For All Challenge fit perfectly with what I wanted to do today - FEEL WARM!  It's all about islands and sunshine and warmth!  You can read about the challenge here.

I used Island Beauty from Rubber Stamp Tapestry for my stamped images. It is a perfect stamp set for the challenge today!

I sugared up some of the flowers with
Bubble Gum Glitter, and also added that to the chipboard heart. Click on either photo for a close-up view!

Be sure to take a trip to Rubber Stamp Tapestry's blog today. If you have never been there, you will love what you find.  Susan's tutorials and designs are amazing!


Thanks for stopping by today!

Other challenges for this card:
Crafty Sentiments - spring 
DYSU - anything goes 
Create With Connie and Mary - inspiration 
Shelly's Images - ribbon 
Bunny Zoe's - spring flowers 
Creative Cottage - fabulous florals
Stampin' B's - flower 
Stamps: Love Life and Island Beauty by Rubber Stamp Tapestry
Paper: Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, PTI White, Glossy White, Imaginations DP
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, Kiwi Kiss, Certainly Celery
Accessories: rhinestones by Studio 18, photo corner punch, Just the Edge by Bazzill, organdy and satin ribbon, chipboard heart, Sparkle N Sprinkle Bubble Gum Glitter, tag

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Join Us For "Anything Goes!" at Paper Romance!

Today's challenge at Paper Romance is  
"Anything Goes!"
Come join us and play along!
You can check out the deets about the challenge and prize HERE.

I used images from the Cute Companions Celebration set.  It is on sale right now; grab it while you can, as it is a darling birthday and celebratory set!
I stamped my cupcake in Memento Tuxedo Black, then colored in using Copic Markers.  I added Bubble Gum Glitter to the frosting. It looks yummy enough to eat! Click on either photo for a close-up.


Check out what the other Design Team members did here! You will love their creations!

Other challenges for this card:
Paper Pretties - glitter
A Spoon Full of Sugar - birthday wishes 
Scrap Creations - birthday 
Tip Top Tuesday - Bling It On 
Cupcake Craft Challenges - cake 'n' ice cream 
Incy Wincy Designs - punches or dies 
KB Cute Monday - glitter 
Ooh La La - pink, pink, and more pink 
Simon Says Stamps and Show - stripes 
Pals Paper Arts - scallops 
If the Shoe Fits - birthday 
One Stop Craft - birthday
Stampin' With the Dragon - birthdays
Southern Girls - brads/gems/dewdrops



Recipe: 
Cardstock - PTI White and Scarlet Jewel, DCWV The Sweet Matstack 
Accessories - celery grosgrain ribbon, EK Success Candle Border and Scallop Border punches, SU! Small Oval punch, Jillibean Baker's Twine, Dress It Up candles, Sparkle N Sprinkle Bubble Gum Glitter, The Robin's Nest pink dew drops
Stamps - Cute Companions Celebration
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Got Your Dancin' Shoes On?

It's Wednesday, and that means time to get on over to the Hambo Hoedown! 

Today's challenge is brought to you by Bird Hero and a sketch!

I really like this digi image, as it can be used for lots of different occasions. My card is patriotic in theme, but check out what the other Bacon Bits did HERE.


While you are there, join in the next challenge! If you play along, you get in the rotation for a free image from Hambo Stamps every week! There might even be a special deal going on that you won't want to miss........
 I used Copics to color my images and added atyou Spica Glitter pens to his feathers and beak and feet. I wish I could get that to show up in the photo. The little medal is a 3D sticker by The Paper Studio with glitter along the top.


Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you will join the Hoedown! No dancing experience necessary!


Other challenges for this card:
Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes
Craft Your Passion - male card

Recipe: Cardstock - DP by The Paper Studio, GP White, Real Red, Night of Navy; Accessories - Cuttlebug Star Embossing Folder, star brads and 3D medal sticker (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders Oval and Scalloped Oval die cuts, Word Window Punch (SU!)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sun and Stars Shine On


I hope you all have had a great weekend! Today I want to share with you I card I made using #RBG087 Sun & Stars available at I Brake For Stamps.

I stamped the image in Canary VersaColor, then embossed it with Dark Night Embossing Powder and colored in with Copics. I added some Celestial Glitter and Crystal Ice Glitter for a sparkly touch. The ribbon is 7/8" Yellow Gingham from Really Reasonable Ribbon. A little Cuttlebug Swirl Embossing Folder, some circles, a few buttons, deckle scissors, and a distressing tool, and it was done!


Thanks for stopping by today!
Challenges I am entering with this card:
Card Cupids - buttons and/or lace
I Did It Creations - anything goes
2 Sisters - embossing
Allsorts - inspired by nature
Sugar Creek Hollow - buttons and bows
Anabelle Stamps - yellow

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Today is Paper Romance Challenge Day and I Am Wingin' It!

Hey stamping friends!

Over at the Paper Romance Challenge blog today we are using buttons, ribbon and lace! Come and join us! Click here for deets and to see what you could win!  The PR team has made some fun creations to inspire you!

My card today is made with Wingin' It Duck and Waddle I Do Without You by High Hopes Stamps, both available at Paper Romance. How can you not be cheered up by this cute little guy? 

I stamped my images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored my duck with Copic markers. He makes me smile, and I wish I could do a handstand! My designer paper is from the Garden Variety Collection by Cosmo Cricket.

I hope you are having a great day! My daughter and husband are off again, this time to North Carolina, for the last two college theatre program auditions.  I am very jealous, as they will get to have dinner with my son and his darling wife tonight.  I have a musical that I am helping to direct that opens tonight, so I was unable to go along.  I will be excited to hear about the two schools they are going to and what the results are -- where will my daughter go to college next year!?

Far away....too far!  Anyway, this card is for her - I will save it for her first college care package!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Other challenges I am entering with this card:
Crafts and Me - anything with wings
Creative Card Crew - friendship
Creative Craft World - square card
Forgotten Scraps - spring or flowers
Karen's Doodles - Animal Friends
Paper Pretties - card for a child
The Paper Shelter - buttons and bows
My Time to Craft - circles
Scrap Creations - spring fever

Monday, February 14, 2011

Let's Go Fly A Kite

If you missed the Blog Hop yesterday with Sparkle N Sprinkle and Really Reasonable Ribbon teaming up, make sure you read this post, as it was tons of fun with lots of neat ideas!

Yesterday I used images from Spring Swirl (Sparkle N Sprinkle) on both projects, and I want to show you another card using that same stamp set.

This is for the Splitcoast Tuesday Teapot Challenge. I am sending this card to Sean, the son of my friend, Kathe. Sean is 23 and is suffering from stage 3C testicular cancer. I hope this will cheer him up! You are more than welcome to read about the challenge and join in!

Check out the Spring Swirl stamp set! The kite is embossed with Blue Ribbon embossing powder. Both are available at Sparkle N Sprinkle.

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy Valentine's Day!

Stamps: Spring Swirl by Sparkle N Sprinkle
Paper: GP White, Ballet Blue, DP by The Paper Studio
Ink: VersaColor Cyan, Copic C3, Brilliant Blue
Accessories: button, silver cord, Spellbinders dies, MS punch
Techniques: embossing

Sunday, February 13, 2011

It's a Double Hop!

Today is a fun hopping day with Really Reasonable Ribbon and Sparkle N Sprinkle teaming up for some great designs featuring beautiful trims and sparkling glitters and embossing powders! If you arrived here from Joan's blog, you are in the right place! If not, you will want to start at the beginning at the RRR blog HERE, so you don't miss a thing!

Everyone received the springtime February Ribbon Kit from RRR to use on their projects. There are a lot of great pastel designs to match up with Sparkle N Sprinkle's beautiful glitters, flocking, stamps and embossing powders.

I made two simple projects today. I am trying for fewer layers and less fuss in my projects this week. My card is made with Spring Swirl stamp set. I embossed the umbrella with White Detail Embossing Powder.  The sentiment is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. My tag is also using a sentiment from Spring Swirl.  I embossed it with Firefly Embossing Powder. I seem to have different ribbon than everyone else on the hop, but you can find what I used here and here. I added some Oyster Baker's Twine to the card.


In addition to the blog candy Really Reasonable Ribbon is offering, Sparkle N Sprinkle is giving a stamp set to one lucky hopper!  Leaving a message on every blog increases your chances of winning, because it's a mystery which of the artists' blogs has been chosen to house the prize! On Tuesday, February 15, a name will be drawn from the comments on the mystery blog. Winner gets to choose a stamp set of their choice from SparkleNSprinkle.com!

Next up is Cheryl, and you will love the amazing design she has to show you! Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, February 11, 2011

A New Release from I Brake For Stamps!

Today I wanted to share one of the wonderful new releases with you.  It is called Bird and Blossom Post.  You can find it at the IBFS store as a single stamp, or in the Beloved and Postage Sheet.  They are all beautiful collage stamps! 

I used the Ink, Spray & Smash Technique on Glossy White paper and then stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  The sentiment is from Penguins and More. All stamps are by I Brake For Stamps! Love 'em! You can get 10% off by using this code: SAVE10JUDY

And now for a "Joy." You can read about my 100 Joys here. Today is #15.  This past weekend my husband and daughter traveled to Chicago for the National Unified Auditions for undergraduate B.F.A. programs in theatre. She had two auditions scheduled, and also did a walk-in audition.  She had to have two prepared monologues of different types and also a song prepared to sing a capella. Anyway, they went really well. In fact, she impressed one school so much they accepted her on the spot! She will travel to North Carolina for two more auditions next week, and then we will see what happens! I am proud of her! 


Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenge entries for this card:
Delightful Challenges - punches/die cuts (I used slit punch for scallops)
DYSU Challenge Blog - ribbons (I curled mine with a heat gun)

Stamps: Bird Blossom Post by I Brake For Stamps
Paper: Glossy White, Basic Black, River Rock, Mariposa by DCWV
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, various reinkers
Accessories: slit punch, black organdy ribbon, black brads, paper piercer

Thursday, February 10, 2011

VERY Clean and Simple!

Over at the Paper Romance Challenge blog, the Design Team has made some Clean and Simple Valentines for today's challenge.  I am not usually a CAS stamper, and decided to go VERY simple and use lots of white space.  


Jack and Jilly Jelly are adorable stamped with Encore Silver Metallic ink and then embossed with Ice Rink Embossing Powder. I sponged Silver Metallic ink on the oval edge. The sentiment is called Turn to Jelly. Click on the photo for a close up!

I scored three lines and used my Spellbinders Heart dies to cut a heart out of Basic Grey DP. I think I need to move my heart though, so the lines on the DP line up with the scored lines.  What do you think?

Come play along with us! "Clean and Simple" means different things to different people, and you will find all sorts of inspiration HERE.

Other challenge entries for this card:
ABC Challenge - Neutrals (white is a neutral!)
Creative Card Crew - For a Loved One
Creative Craft - Love theme

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

You're Just Too Good To Be True.....Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You!

Head on over to the Hambo Hoedown, where this week's challenge is to use any Hambo image and a heart on your project!  This week's freebie for challenge participants was this adorable Eye Monster digi and two sentiments. Check out what the Bacon Bits did with this cute guy HERE.

Play along with us and you could be crowned Queen of the Hambo Hoedown!

Congratulations to Monique at Naturally Me Creations for winning my blog candy! Email me with your info, Monique! 

Other challenges for this card:
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Let's See Some Love
Digital Tuesday - Valentines
Karen's Doodles - red heart/sweet sentiment
My Time To Craft - hearts and flowers (my flowers are on my hearts!)
Papertake - Have a Heart


Stamps: Eye Monster - digi by Hambo Stamps
Paper: Real Red, Green Galore, Lovely Lilac, GP White, Textured Purple & Designer Paper by The Paper Studio
Ink: Copics
Accessories: felt hearts, Spellbinders dies, Cuttlebug Emsbossing Folder, designer label punch

Thursday, February 3, 2011

It's Paper Romance Challenge Day and Some Candy Too!

Today's Paper Romance Challenge is brought to us by DT member Donna, who chose red, cream, and gold Valentines for her challenge to us.  I used Squirrel in Love by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

I kept it very simple, adding embellishments and rub-on letters (Making Memories) for my sentiment. The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, and then I colored in the heart with a Lipstick Red Spica Glitter Pen. I used Faux Stitching along the bottom and attached some gathered lace and a loop of red and white patterned twill. The brushed gold paper is from The Paper Studio's Pearlized Collection.

See what the other DT members did HERE. Play along and you could win a $5 gift certificate to Paper Romance!  While you are there, check out Amy's great SALE - lots of stamps up to 50% off!

And while you are here, take a look at my blog candy.  It is in celebration of 200 followers! Thank you to all who support my habit :) To have a chance at winning my candy, just leave me a comment on this post! It's that simple! Double entry if you post a little something about it on your blog! I will choose a winner on Sunday night~

Candy includes:
Verve Stamp Set - Harvest Blessings
Our Craft Lounge Stamp Set - For the Love of Birds
Spellbinders Impressabilities Paisley
EK Success - Trace a Tag Kit
Color Box Evergreen Pigment Ink Pad
ColorBok Metal Dots
Etcetera Adhesive Photo Collage Deeptones 2
EK Success Handmade Sticker Collage
Arctic Frog 6 x 6 Patterned Paper Pad
Button Ups Adhesive Buttons (Green and Yellow)
American Crafts Ribbon