CFC# 72 - Toot Your Own Horn

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!!  This Sunday morning - I wanted to do a bit more crafting - and I decided to make another card for the latest CAS-ual Friday Challenge.  This week its all about "ME" - haha - You draw inspiration from you own blog - which is different and fun!  To talk about my own blog - I, probably like a lot of us crafters/bloggers are proud of our blog - and how its turned out.  I've had my blog up and running for two years now and its flown by so fast, but feels just like yesterday too when I decided to create a blog.  I didn't know what they heck I was doing - so I must say I am proud of how far IT and I have come in two years!!  Onto my card that is inspired by my blog!

I drew inspiration from my caricature.  It was actually drawn for me at a craft fair here where I live, and I brought it home and my hubby did his magic on the computer with paint shop and added color as you see it now!  I knew I wanted it to be the focal point of my blog - I never get tired of it!!  I am a card maker - and what more to represent my blog than to create my CAS card with supplies :)  This fun stamp set is from TPC Studio called "Card Crafting".  I actually bought the set off of EBAY. I first dry embossed my white card base with the "Fancy Fan" embossing folder from SU!  I stamped out the envelope, and the glue bottle from white card stock, and added color with some Copics.  Then I thought it would be fun to stamp and emboss my "card" from a piece of Lucky Limeade card stock from SU!  Then, from the Tiny Tags set from SU!, I stamped the "4 YOU" and punched it out with a small heart punch, also from SU! I added some washi tape ( because it seems I can't make a card without it anymore) to represent ribbon and my fun sentiment from the same TPC studio set.  To finish the sentiment off, I added some green jewels from Little Yellow Bicycle.  

Here is another closeup of my card - 

 

Where do you draw your inspiration???  It is all around us - even within ourselves :)  Have a nice rest of the weekend!!

Sweet Stamp Shop and Epiphany Crafts!

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to pop in and invite you over at the Sweet Stamp Shop blog as we are teaming up with Epiphany Crafts this week!!  These tools are so fun to work with and you can make some fun embellishments or just use the punched out pieces for various other uses!!  Today I show case two cards using the Star shape and how cute they are used with Sweet Stamp Shop stamps!!

Here is a sneak peek of what you will find over at the blog today!

There is a great prize pack to be won just by leaving some comments!!  So I would head over now for your chance!!  :)

CAS-ual Friday - #71 Fall Fun

Hope all of you are having a good Monday - I won't even go into the Monday I am having - so I will digress and share with all of you my project for the latest CAS-ual Friday Challenge.  You can tell around my area that fall is here - the cooler temps, the turning of the leaves - my favorite time of the year.  So - it was fun to create this fall themed card!

I started out with a 4.25 square piece of Vintage Cream card stock from PTI - and used my Hero Arts Woodgrain background stamp to add texture to my card stock.  I stamped out some leaves from Stampin' Up cling set called "Gently Falling" - this is actually a two step stamp set - but I just used the outlined portion.  I stamped out all of my leaves onto pattern paper that I purchased from Michael's that is a 6 x 6 pad from AC.  I then "fussy cut" out all of the leaves.   I added some pretty Glitter tape from AC as well as some Perfect Pearls Mists for some shine and shimmer to my fall card.  My sentiment comes from a Lawn Fawn set called Many Thanks.  The stamp is actually one line - but I stamped it out into a two lined sentiment.  I punched that out with a Stampin Up punch - I forget the name of this punch ( sorry).  

Here is a close up of the shimmer if you can see it.  

Are the fall colors turning where you live????  It would be fun to capture that in pictures :)

**By the way I wanted add that Katie from KB Stamps and Chari from MossyMade nominated me for the Liebster Blog award.  I am honored that these talented ladies thought of me for this award.  Thank you to you both!!

ABOUT THE AWARD

This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you award it to blogs that you like that have fewer than 200 followers, to encourage new visitors to visit these new blogs.

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have fewer than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

PAY IT FORWARD
Here are the five blogs that I'm nominating. These ladies are fabulous!!  You won't be disappointed by the talent that these ladies bring to the blog world!!  Check 'em out!!

1) - Yainea - I can't say enough wonderful things about her!  Her talent is out of this world and she is an absolute sweet heart!! 

2) Rachel - She was my first blog/crafty friend so she holds a special place in my heart and she loves her Paper Smooches stamps :)

3) - Kelly - This girl has a heart of gold and she is uber talented! I just love her style!!

4) - Kim - Fellow DT member with Sweet Stamp Shop and all around fantastic crafter!

5) Stephanie - The moment I saw her blog I was hooked and she's done some awesome video tutorials as well! Very talented!!

Again Thanks to Chari and Katie :)

LSC # 42 - Getting Texty

**This is my second post for today(9-22-12) - if you are here for the Sweet Stamp Shop Challenge post- please scroll down**


 Happy Fall Ya'll!!  It's that time again!  Another fun Lawnscaping Challenge!  Have I mentioned how much I love this challenge blog!  I never try to miss a challenge, but sometimes I don't make it - but not this time!  I've got a card to share with you for this challenge which is "Getting Texty" - add text to your project.  For my card I used 8 different LF stamp sets!!  Yes you read that right - EIGHT!  - by the looks of it, my card doesn't look like it had to take eight sets - but I am about to explain :)  First - here is my card.

First - let me list for you all the sets I used!  A Birdie Told Me, Critters in the Forest, Critters in the Sea, Critters in the Snow, Critters on the Farm, Grand Greetings, Just My Type, and Sophie's Sentiments.  WHEW!  LOL 

I used some Vintage Cream card stock from PTI - I took from each of the sets I used the "hello or hi" sentiments.  I stamped out the speech bubbles and the sentiments in Gray Flannel Memento Ink.  I then added washi tape ( because if you follow me - you should know by now I am obsessed with it) for a fun element.  I stamped out the cute telephone from Just my Type onto some pattern paper from Basic Grey's Little Black Dress and then used black sparkle Sukara Pen for something extra to the phone.  I then added some Lawn Fawn trimmings and then popped phone image for dimension.  I adhered my card panel to some dark teal cardstock ( I forget where this is from) and then added that to a Vintage Cream card base.

It was a fun card to make.  These challenges always  get my creative juices flowing to see how far it will take me in my creativity.  Of course it also helps that I just love my Lawn Fawn stamps!!

Sweet Stamp Shop Challenge: Embossing

Hi everyone!!  Sorry I am been away from my blog for a little bit - but I've been super busy with work mainly - but I've been able to carve out some time to get crafty!!  My favorite thing to do!!  I wanted to share with you my card for the Sweet Stamp Shop's Challenge : Embossing.  If you haven't heard already - SSS is now doing a challenge on the blog.   Here is my card for the challenge.

I heat embossed a couple of the hexagons from Pattern Craze, and then did the emboss resist technique with some Distress Inks - Shabby Shutters, Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw, and Broken China and for the edges I used Walnut Stain.  To finish it off, I added some fun washi tape with coordinating colors and some buttons.  My sentiment comes from Packaged Pretty.  I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  You can't tell but I sprayed some Perfect Pearls as well for some sparkle.  So pretty :)

Head over to the blog and have fun participating in the challenge!  There is a great prize package waiting to be won!!  There are some great DT samples sure to get you inspired!!

Have a great weekend!!

LSC #41 - Sketch

Hello my blog readers - Today, I wanted to share with you my entry for the latest LSC.  It is based on a sketch - and I will tell you right now - for some reason - I am not very confident in my creativity when it comes to the sketches for some reason. You would think it would be pretty simple - but leave it to me to make it difficult for myself.  Anyhoo - for my card for the challenge - I am pretty happy with the result.

My card base is the beloved Hero Arts Kraft note cards I love so much ( that I am hoarding as much as possible).  They are hard to find in stores or online - this pack come with the note cards and envelopes.  I started with a washi tape back ground scene ( love this washi tape), and then added the scalloped border at the bottom.  I had some POW glitter paper, and used my Fiskars Cloud punches to punch out some clouds. I then stamped out my airplane from Lawn Fawn's Bon Voyage - and paper - pieced it with some papers from Basic Grey What's Up 6 x 6 pad.  I popped up my airplane with dimensionals,  then stamped out my sentiment from Grand Greetings from Lawn Fawn.  

I just might send this card to my cousin that lives in the Chicago Area - she is a pilot for United Airlines - this would be perfect for her!!

Here is the sketch that I had to follow - 

See what you can come up with!!  :)

Sweet Stamp Shop Sept Release - Day 3

Welcome back SSS fans!!  Hello to Day #3 for the new release blog hop!  Today we are focusing on another awesome set - Dream Ocean.  I'm your first stop today :) .  Here is my card for this dreamy set Dream Ocean.

This card was fun to make.  It is relaxing to looking at these colors.  These images looked like they were just sitting in shallow beach water.  I actually did some masking with  the snapshot fun dies.  I die cut from the die some masking paper and created my scene here, and then I "fussy cut" the whole image out. All my inking for the contrasting colors from "sand" to "water" are Memento Inks - Toffee Crunch, Teal Zeal, and Summer Sky.  My patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye.  The colors were perfect with my "picture" I created.  I added some stickles to the starfish, and glossy accents for extra dimension on the sand dollar.  

To finish off the card - I added some stitched borders from Basic Grey, some twine and a key that I thought would add to the "serene" feel.  Hope you all like it!!  OK - I can't keep you any longer!  Time to turn you loose onto the oh so awesome Stephanie.  Thank you to all that has left wonderful comments!!  YOU are the ones that inspire US!  

SSS Blog- http://sweetstampshop.blogspot.com

Kari- http://www.kwcarddesign.com - ME

Stephanie- http://www.handmade75.blogspot.com

Michelle- http://outofmybook.blogspot.com/

Kim- http://paperiepetals.blogspot.com

Nicole- http://www.onesweetromance.com

See you all soon!!!

Sweet Stamp Shop SEPT. Release Blog Hop

Welcome all again to another blog hop release for Sweet Stamp Shop!!  This week the design team will be showing you sneak peaks into 3 new sets designed by the wonderful and uber talented Nicole!!  You should have arrived to me by the way of the awesome, and of course talented Laurel.  If not - never fear - you can just head back to Sweet Stamp Shop's blog or you can just use the line up for reference.

SSS Blog- http://sweetstampshop.blogspot.com

Kelly- http://disp6194-kellyscraps.blogspot.com/

Laurel- http://laurelbeard.wordpress.com/

Kari- http://www.kwcarddesign.com

Ellen-  http://www.closeyourears.blogspot.com

Misty- http://www.mistylynnwhat.blogspot.com/

Nicole- http://www.onesweetromance.com

Today we are introducing to you It's Raining.  I love this little set.  There are so many possibilities :)  I wanted to share with you two cards I made.  First up - this card....

I stamped out the super cute umbrella from this set on a scalloped circle, and then paper- pieced the umbrella top, and handle using some patterned papers from Echo Park.  I, then stamped out this beautiful sentiment onto vellum card stock in Staz- On ink.  I chose vellum, because I didn't want to cover up my cloud back ground which is also patterned paper from the same pad from Echo Park.  I heat embossed the rain drops in white.  I added three gem stones for a little bit of "bling" to the sentiment, and one for the top of the umbrella.  

Then I couldn't stop there.  I was having so much fun, and on a roll creating with this set that I used some "scraps" that were left over, and came up with this card as well.

For this card, I used up what was left of my cloud background paper and stamped, then heat embossed the rain drops this time in silver for something different.  I had some white card stock left from when I die cut my first scalloped circle and I stamped my sentiment again, and punch it out with a circle punch, then took a smaller circle punch and created scallops on the bottom, to make the circle look like an umbrella.  I thought the sentiment was so neat looking in an "umbrella" shape.  I stamped out the handle from the umbrella stamp onto vellum and heat embossed it with black embossing powder.  I popped up with umbrella onto my strip of clouds and cut a "banner" edge at the bottom.  To finish it off, I added some yellow bakers twine from The Twinery, and a few gem stones.  The background paper is from that same Echo Park stack.  

So two different ways to showcase this cute and fun set.  

You are off now to visit Ellen, and I am sure you won't be disappointed for what she has in store for you on this set too!!  Be sure to leave comments along the way - a fun prize pack awaits!!  See you soon!!

Sweet Stamp Shop/Petaloo/Core'dnations

All this week Sweet Stamp Shop has been teaming up with Petaloo and Core'dinations.  Go check out today's blog post over at Sweet Stamp Shop.  It will be worth your while!!  Some prizes are involved to be won!!!

You will get to see my project that I made for this fun promotion, and my fellow DT member Michelle's along with a fun tutorial from Nicole herself!!  Go check it out!!  Have Friday everyone!!  Have a nice weekend!

CAS-ual Friday Challenge # 67 - Banners/Flags

Good Evening my friends - I wanted to share with you my submission for the latest CFC - Banners and Flags.  I haven't played with CAS-ual Fridays in several weeks - and thought this would be a fun one!!  I will just get right into it.  I used my Stampin' Up Mini Banner Framelits to die cut out several different pattern papers from the Echo Park Sweet Day 6 x 6 pad.

I adhered all of my banners to a piece of Kraft card stock and, then I dry embossed the whole panel with my Herringbone embossing folder.  It gives the effect that the banners are already in the kraft card stock!!  Love this look.  I made my own custom sentiment with some Hero Arts Micro White Letters.  I did use my Copic marker in Prawn R24.  I used dimensionals to adhere my sentiment to my card panel, and then adhered that to my SSS 120 lb. card base.  

Here is closer look at the embossing.

This card would be a great card for a student, since school is just starting!!  It would be a great encouragement card to keep them motivated through the upcoming school year!!

Have a great remainder of the weekend!!!

Today on Sweet Stamp Shop

Today I am over at the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog showing off this fun project using the cute set Happy Bugs!!

See you over at the blog!!

You make my day BRIGHTER!

HELLOOO! I'm back to share with you my submission for the LSC - Make your own Pattern Paper and the YCU Challenge - Hot Trends.  It feels like forever since I play in the Lawnscaping Challenge!!  I was honored however to be a guest designer in last week's challenge!! I will treasure that forever!! This is the first time that I have submitted for the YCU challenge.  Today's card you sure can't miss for sure!! Neon is a trend that is coming back!! I feel like the 80's child I was all over again!!  Check it out!

I started out by creating a neon background with my deco tape, not washi tape.  I still would like to have some neon washi tape, because it is easier to work with.  I need to use this tape up though.  The stamps I used was Lawn Fawn's How Delightful, one of a couple of Lawn Fawn sets I hadn't used yet.  I heat embossed the "shine" images in white - stamped out the light bulb in Versa Fine black ink, and the lamp shade "pull" in Rose Bud Memento Ink.  This set has a sentiment "You make my day brighter" but I wanted the sentiment to bigger- so I recreated it with Harold's ABC's and some white sticker letters.  

Here is another look at my card:

I love these challenges, because I love Lawn Fawn and these bright colors!!  Thanks for stopping by!!!  

Birthdays, Birthdays, and more Birthdays!!

Hi all!!  Sorry I have been MIA other than posting for Sweet Stamp Shop's August Release.  Hope you all enjoyed the release!!  It was fun seeing all the DT projects and being active for my first DT!!  OK- switching gears here!!  Thought I would post three birthday cards I've made recently.  These birthdays happened all within the last week!! Two on the same day :)  Here is a look at card #1.

This card features a Gina K. Designs set called Holiday Basket.  I just LOVE this basket - so much fun to play with!!  I also used the sunflowers in this set.  I colored directly on the stamp of the sunflowers with various colors of Memento markers.  I colored the leaves with Copic marker G05.  I stamped the basket directly onto my card base, and stamped it again onto some pattern paper from the Basic Grey 6 x6 paper line Shine On - it was a line exclusively for Joann craft stores.  I added some dimensionals to pop it off the card.  I added a few embellishments to tie everything together - like the copper brads on the basket - a button in the middle, and used some hemp twine and tied a bow and added it to the single sunflower.  I added some sunburst washi tape.  My sentiment is from Lawn Fawn - Grand Greetings.  

OK- Card #2

This card was a simple card to make but with lots of color!  The fun element to this card is of course the cassette tape.  It is from a set from TPC Studios - Retro.  The pattern paper comes from Amy Tan's Sketchbook.  For the sentiment - I added some various Thickers :)  Quick and simple!!

Card #3

This card features The Stamps of Life set Candy2share.  The border on this card was cut using this die from Memory Box.  Love this design!!!  The pattern paper that is behind the die is from the same Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad Shine On.  The birthday sentiment comes from Studio Calico Hey Day sentiments.  You can't use this candy images without using some glossy accents to bring the to life!!  Such a fun and happy card!!  Here is a closer look at the glossy accents on the candy - it really makes the shine!

Hope you all like these three totally different birthday cards!!!   They were fun to make and even more enjoyable - giving to them to the recipients with a smile on their face!