It's my blog's birthday!

**COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED**


Happy Sunday everyone - for those that are involved in the time change - are we enjoying the extra hour??  I  know I am!!

Today, I just wanted to say that I am happy that my blog is now 2 years old!  It has passed so fast!!

In the three years I have been crafting - I have learned and grown so much as a crafter, not to mention - my craft room and the supplies in it as evolved so much since that point.  I find myself thinking back to Aug 2009 often, and seeing my first cards I've made - to this point - and WOW - such a big difference!  I love creativity and how it makes me feel!  

Thank you to all of YOU that follow my blog!  I wouldn't have a successful blog without you and your support!!

So - I would like to do a little giveaway - this is open to International followers as well.

All you have to do is simple - just leave a comment on this post - Easy Peazy!  

This is what's up for grabs - 

What you see here are 2 6 x 6 pads - one from S-E-I called "Vanilla Sunshine", and the other is a by My Mind's Eye called "Dwell".  Then - there is one bottle of Perfect Pearls by Ranger in "Perfect Pearl", and two stamp sets from Inkadinkado.

**I will close comments for this giveaway on Sunday Nov. 18th  - and I will choose the winner using Random.org and will announce the winner on Monday Nov. 19th**

Please spread the word about my giveaway to your crafty friends, and if I get new followers out of this - how happy would I be!?!  **GRIN**

Thanks again for all of your support!!

Getting Retro with Sweet Stamp Shop

Happy Sat Everyone!! - Today I am getting retro with Sweet Stamp Shop.

I recently received my order of the Hero Arts Neon Ink, and I wanted to play with those.  So - I started out by stamping out onto white card stock and heat embossing SSS Against The Grain background, and I embossed it with black embossing powder. Then, I did the emboss resist technique - I added color with the neon inks to the background, and with various sizes of circles with circle punches.  

I added the circles randomly on my black card base, and then for my sentiment which is from Packaged Pretty, I strip of white card stock left over, and took the Neon Blue color, and using the ink pad directly onto that card stock, and made my strip blue - then stamped my Thank you sentiment.  - for interest I added a banner shape to the sentiment strip, and then used dimensionals to pop it off my card.  

Where do you draw your inspiration?

We all draw inspiration from many places - even things we see everyday ( or at least I know I do).  Today - I was just playing around and thought - my bedspread would make a pretty card!!  So - this is how my card turned out...

And, this is what my bedspread looks like....

Like looking in a mirror, huh?!  I love these colors together.  So serene!!  I used Hawaiian Shores from PTI as my card base.  Then, I took my *very hard to find* Doilies stamp set from My Mind's Eye from the Stella and Rose Collection, and stamped various blues and greens over my card base.  Then, I took some strips of some patterned paper from the same line, and added it to the bottom of the card base.  I decided to use the sentiment "Thinking of You" from the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive set For The Record and stamped that out in Versa Fine Black Ink.  To finish off the card I added some bling with them gemstones I had in my stash.  

Thanks for stopping by!!  See you soon!

*Hero Arts Shadow Ink Pad GREEN HILLS Mid-Tone 2012 AF209 *Tsukineko Memento Ink Pad PARIS DUSK Navy Blue *Hero Arts Shadow Ink Pad TIDE POOL Mid-Tone 2012 AF223 *Doodlebug SPRING MINI PEARLS

InLinkz.com

Sweet Stamp Shop Day 3 Sneak Peek!

Hi all!!  Welcome back for Day THREE of Sweet Stamp Shop's OCT release Sneak Peek!  Today we are giving you a peek into another adorable set called Geek Chic.  You should have arrived to me by the way of oh so sweet and talented Misty.  

I think you are just going to love this set, and have so much fun with it.  Here is my card - 

I started out by stamping onto a white card base panel a great background stamp from Sweet Stamp Shop - Against the Grain in a bright lime color of green.  Then, I stamped the "male worm" onto my card stock, and paper - pieced him with a woodgrain piece of pattern paper.  Originally the pattern paper was brown, and then I took my G24 Copic marker and colored it the green tint.  I paper pieced his glasses, and his cute little bow tie.  I just love this sentiment too - "You've wormed your way into my heart".  I stamped that and die cut it with one of my Apothecary Framelit dies.  I created a red border by tracing around the outer edge of the die.  It really makes the sentiment pop!!!  I added a red heart - and applied some Glossy Accents, and some fun red heart washi tape.  I think the green and the red together are a good combo!!  So fun, and happy!!  What a whimsical card!!  

Trust me - this set you will adore!!  And, remember all of the new sets being released are just $10!!!  That's so great of Nicole!!  

Be sure to leave comments along with way, because as always there are great prizes to be won!!  Here is a list of the hop order in case you get off track.  

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

Emily - http://www.createserendipity.net

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

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

Michelle - http://outofmybook.blogspot.com/ - Your next stop

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

Nicole - http://www.onesweetromance.com

 Head on over to Michelle's blog, and enjoy the rest of the inspiration trail!!  :)

Sweet Stamp Shop OCT. Release Week!!

Hi crafters!!  Welcome to Sweet Stamp Shop's Release Week.  It is so excited to do the new releases!!  Nicole really has come up with some adorable images that we know you will love :)  You should have come my way by sweet ( and oh so crafty) Stephanie.  Today we are giving you a sneak peek into the new set called Chemistry.  I will say this one of my favorites - so many cute images and sentiments with this set.

Here is my first card with this set.  This is a bit in a different direction for me - I used spray mists on my card.

I used three colors of sprays - Two from Studio Calico - Sherbet and Estate Green, and the orange mist is from the Dylusions line from Ranger called Pure Sunshine.    The cute splatter image is from the new set - and I inked that image up with some inks that came as close to my spray mists as possible.  Then, I wanted to add some glitter in to the mix - so I did the same things as I did with the inks - and pulled out some Stickles to match as close as possible to the ink colors.  This cute sentiment is adorable - and can be used for many things - like home made goods with the recipe :)  I can't make a card it seems without incorporating washi tape - LOL.  I have enough to go around - to where I will have it a while.  Here is a closer look at this card, and the glitter goodness.

My second card is featuring another cute "element" to this set - and I love the sentiment. 

I just think these "table of elements" are so cute and I've not seen it in any other stamp set.  I punched out a heart with a heart punch from SU! from some Vintage Creme card stock - and then stamped with Staz On ink the "gold" element onto some glitter card stock/paper.  I stamped in Gold the border at the top of my card panel and then added some gold washi tape.  I added some bakers twine and popped up my card panel from my black card base.  I then heat embossed in gold the sentiment " You have a heart of Gold". 

Two different cards - both so fun!!  Be sure to make comments along the way - there are prizes to be won! - and remember that these NEW releases once revealed  - are only $10!!!!  That is a bargain!!!  

Now head over to Ellen's blog - I am sure she has something fabulous to feast your eyes upon!!

Lawnscaping Challenge #44 - New Technique

Hello Crafters!

So happy its the weekend - but as always it will go so fast!  I enjoy my time to be able to craft and the weekend is a good time for me to do DT projects, challenges, or just be crafty in general!!  I wanted to share with you my project for the next Lawnscaping Challenge - Try a New Technique.  For my technique - I've always wanted to try stamping with bleach.  I've seen so many cool projects done with it, and how it gives such a neat look.

To tell you the truth I actually did another card previous to making this one - but I felt this one turned out a bit better overall.  

I first made a "bleach pad" by layering up a piece of paper towel and saturated it with bleach.  I chose the microphone from Stay Tuned from Lawn Fawn and stamped it out first with the bleach.  The image wasn't as solid as I would have liked - but still gave it a neat look.  I, then stamped the image again with Memento Morocco Ink and offset the stamped image a bit.  Then, I stamped my microphone image with black Staz On ink.  I took one of the speech bubbles from A Birdie Told Me, and stamped that above the black microphone.  Above the others, I stamped in the Morocco Ink the music notes from Stay Tuned.  My sentiment also comes from Stay Tuned.  

I wanted to add some texture so I turned to my basket of washi tape - and found this gray diagonal pattern and a thin mustard yellow pattern.  For some embellishments- I added some gems and pearls.  I forgot to say in the beginning - I finally was able to purchase the sampler pack of the Bazzill Card Shoppe cardstock, and I love it!!  Like they say - its great for card makers - my card panel is the Circus Peanuts color, and the Licorice Twist is my card base.  

Here is another look - 

As always I enjoy participating in the LSC. It is my favorite Challenge blog :)  I'll meet you back here soon! 

HELLO THERE!!

Hi all!!  It's been a busy, busy week - sorry my blog has been quiet the last week!  Today, I wanted to pop in real quick and just share a card I made last week.  I didn't make this card for a challenge or anything - just wanted to be crafty and this is what I came up with.  I did actually give this to a friend of mine.

I was in the mood to use my Distress Inks ( who am I kidding, I am always in the mood for DI).  I took an older background Paisley stamp from SU! and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  Then, I took Ripe Persimmon, Peacock Feathers, and Wild Honey, and blended that onto my background.  So fun, and gives such an awesome look.  I stamped out my sentiment "Hello There" from the Hey Day Sentiments set from Studio Calico.  I first stamped it in Butter Bar Midtone ink from Hero Arts - then stamped it again with Gray Flannel Memento Ink.  The gray ink turned a greenish color - which I didn't intend to do - but it turned out fine.  I then added some ribbon from SU! and a dimensional flower sticker from Sassafrass.  I wanted a different element for my sentiment instead of just placing it onto my card panel - so I took out some  Memo Pins from Tim Holtz - and it added that "something" that I was looking for.  I added my card panel to my card base with is a A2 size which is Summer Sunrise from PTI.  

Turned out cute, I think.  Hope your weekend was a good one!!

Lawnscaping Fall Blog Hop

**Since I need to keep this post at the top of my page - I just wanted to say Happy World Cardmaking Day (10-6-12) to all of the wonderful card makers out there!!**


Hi blog hoppers!! Welcome to Lawnscaping's Fall Blog Hop!  You've made your way to me by the lovely and uber talented Joe Shien Shien. Today we want to inspire all of you with the colors of fall or what represents Fall to you!  Being able to combine Fall and Lawn Fawn stamps is so super fun to me!  Lawn Fawn inspires me to take my stamps and creativity as far as it can go!!  Today - I am happy to be apart of such a wonderful group of talented crafters for today's hop!!  For my card - I used Lawn Fawn stamp sets - Critters in the Burbs, Gnome Sweet Gnome, Hats Off to You, Critters on the Farm and So Thankful for You.

I did a lot of paper piecing for my card.  I used pattern papers from Autumn Spice from Lily Bee Design, and an AC 6 x6 paper pad I purchased at Michael's Craft Store.  My card base is an A2 sized card base and its made from Gina K. Designs called Soft Sand.  My card panel is a piece of Vintage Creme Card stock from PTI.  I used the In the Meadow Die from PaperTrey Ink to create my hill tops.  I am not talented enough I feel to create these free hand - that is why I love these dies so much.  Then, I stamped out all my pieces cut them out, and paper - pieced  the trees, the hat for "pilgrim gnome" and my pumpkins.  I added more color to my "pilgrim gnome" by using my Copics.  I added some Star Dust stickles to my pumpkins and leaves for that extra "something".  

Here is a closer look at that glitter goodness - 

I can't express to you how much I enjoyed making a card for this blog hop!!  I love all things Lawn Fawn and I hold all of my collections from stamps to paper from them dear to my heart!  

Well - its time send you on your way to the awesome and sweet Rachel!!  Be sure to leave comments along the way - there just be a chance to win something wonderful!!  

Thanks for visiting!!!

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!!