Exciting News

So, I have some exciting news.  Exciting for me anyway!  I have been asked to join the Design Team over on the Lollipop Ladies Challenge Blog.  So exciting!  The challenges are fortnightly (I think that's the right word) on Wednesdays and my day to post is the second Thursday of the challenge--and that's today.  So please head on over to the blog and check out all the details.  The inspiration for the challenge this fortnight is Nerds with the option of glasses.

Remember these candies?  I don't think I have had nerds in forever!  I went with the colors of the box for my inspiration.  Then I found this adorable image from The Fairy Society and I just had to use it!  She's a "nerd" for sure, but she is cute!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you'll play along with us.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve February week 4--sketch

Supplies:
Stamps: The Fairy Society "Eleanor Bookworm" digi; Verve "Celebrating You" sentiment
Dies/punches: Spellbinders Labels4; Verve "Pennant Trim" die; Martha Stewart scalloped border punch

Peace

Watching snow fall can be so peaceful, can't it?  All those little flakes fluttering down.  Somehow it even manages to muffle all those other sounds that we otherwise hear.  (Sorry to those of you who don't get to experience snow, you'll just have to imagine).  My card today is all about a peaceful snowfall.  Just enjoy the tranquility. : )

Challenges:
Timeless Tuesday #208--I'm seeing red
Christmas Challenges #61--sketch
Winter wonderland--snowflakes falling all around
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge--one word is sufficient
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--any Christmas card

Supplies:
Stamps: Gina K. Designs "Let it Snow" sentiment
Punches/Dies: spellbinders ovals and scalloped ovals, large and circles and scalloped circles, large; SU! snowflake punch (it creates a really gorgeous negative space)

Monograms

Today is a Papertrey Ink blog hop and the challenge is a fun one: create a project with a monogram.  Who doesn't like notecards with their initials on them?  I made this one for myself. : )  'Cause I like personalized stuff, too.

Challenges:
Papertrey Ink Blog Hop--monograms
10 minute Craft Dash #12--turquoise, brown, hot pink in under 10 minutes (mine took 6:38 and the initials are stamped in brown though it is hard to tell in the photo)
Inkspirational #8--CASE (I went with the layout, the mostly white color, and the rhinestones.


Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Damask Designs" (LOVE this set) and "Simple Alphabet"

Ducks in a row

Oooohhhh . . . isn't he sooo cute!!!??  I didn't really need a card for a child, but I just HAD to use this image.

Challenges:
Sweet n Sassy Digi Challenge #93--For a child
Viva La Verve February week 4--sketch

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps "Little Bear Ducky" digi image and sentiment
Dies: Verve "Pennant Trim" and "Charming Ovals" dies

Hugs

A couple that has been at our church for 30 years is leaving us to move to Texas to live with their son and his family.  I didn't know what kind of card you make for that occasion, but I love this little guy and the sentiment "This is a hug" and I thought sending them off with a hug was perfect.  A hug they can take with them.

Challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday #228--sketch (must include a butterfly or fairy)
House of Gilli #50--anything goes as long as you use pastels
Pretty Palette #82--saffron, pink, pear, rose
Cutie Pie Challenges #38--pretty pastels

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps "Little Bear This Is A Hug" digi
Dies/punches: Spellbinders Labels 4; Sweet n' Sassy heart die; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch; SU! scalloped border punch

Karate 2

We just got back from attending the Black Belt Ceremony for two young people in our extended family (a brother and sister--to see the card for the boy, click here).  It is quite an accomplishment and we are proud of their hard work and determination.  It was really quite an impressive ceremony.  And of course, to celebrate, I had to make cards--where could you buy karate cards?

Challenges:
Eureka #27--inspired by a song ("Kung Fu Fighting"--an oldie but a goodie)
Sweet Sketch Wednesday #194--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Digi Web Studio "Karate Kid:1" digi; Verve "To The Moon" sentiment
Punches/dies: Spellbinders oval and scalloped ovals, large; SU! scalloped border punch

Karate

Ever heard that song "Everybody was Kung-fu fighting?"  If so, you know what I'm talking about.  If not, that's ok.  It was the inspiration song for this card.  Ok, maybe that and the fact that a boy in our "family" just completed his black belt training (his sister, too).  That's pretty impressive especially considering that they are 12 and 14.

Challenges:
Eureka Stamps #27--inspired by a song
Delightful Challenges--sketch

Creative Inspirations #202--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Digi Web Studio "Karate Kids:1"; Verve "To The Moon" sentiment
Dies/punches: Spellbinders oval and scalloped ovals, large; Verve "Charming Ovals" dies; Fiskars Upper Crest border punch

Happy Couple

This card doesn't have a specific couple in mind, so it's going to be one for the stash.  I just loved these dragons by Stamping Dragon so much, I just HAD to use them.

Challenges:
Squigglefly #7--Use a sentiment (I used a sentiment from Cinderella Story by Squigglefly)
Seems A Little Sketchy--sketch
Celebrate the Occasion #100--happy anniversary
Fab n' Funky #159--Flower Power
CRAFT #195--recipe: 1 circle, 2 squares, 1 sentiment, use ribbon
The Squirrel and The Fox #38--Fairy Tale or Fantasy

Supplies:
Stamps: Stamping Dragon "Rupert Wedding" digi; Squigglefly "Cinderella Story" sentiment
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders floral doily motifs; Verve "Charming Ovals" die; cuttlebug damask embossing folder

Simple

Welcome back!  It's Friday again and that means time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week the challenge is Clean and Simple.  Our wonderful Sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and there is a prize.  Hop on over to the CSAYL blog for all the details and then get busy and play along.  We love to see what you come up with.

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #112--snow
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--any Christmas card
52 {Christmas}Card Throwdown--love/hearts (must be Christmas)

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Snowman Topper Star" digi
Punches/Dies: Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Sweet n' Sassy heart die

Merry and Bright

This started out being a shaped card, but it is so tiny (or at least seems so) that I thought it would make a perfect tag for a Christmas gift.  It opens like a card, so a little message can be written in the inside.

Challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday #193--sketch

Crimbo Crackers #35--shaped card
Christmas Cards #12--tags
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #112--snow
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--any Christmas card

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Merry and Bright"
Dies/punches: Martha Stewart snowflake punch; spellbinders labels #5, circles and scalloped circles, large

Beautiful You

Another one of those "just saying 'hi'" cards.  And this one should definitely cheer someone up!  I don't usually do bold colors, but I do like how this one came out.  I even stamped a matching envelope; you can see it in the bottom left of the picture.

Challenges:
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday--Be BOLD
Our Creative Corner--sketch
Stamping with Dragon--any project with the blog hop and the code: STAMPING DRAGON

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "Vintage Oval" and "Beautiful You"
Dies/punches: Verve "Vintage Oval" die; Martha Stewart Scalloped border punch
Butterfly was salvaged from one of my daughters barrettes and I added rhinestones to it.

Fluttering by

I usually try to make cards for a specific occasion, but I figured it was time to create some that would work for writing a little note and just saying "hi"

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations #201--sketch
Delightful Challenges--Frilly (scallops and lace)
Pretty Palette #81--celery, orchid, red, eggplant (I had a really hard time with the red!)

Supplies:
Stamps: Skipping Stones Design "Dandelion Dreams"
Dies/punches: PTI "Turning a new leaf" die; spellbinders circles, large and scalloped circles, large; 5 petal flower punch

Little Friends

Don't these three little guys just make you smile?!  I think they are so adorable.

Challenges:
{Pin}spirational Challenges #44--inspirational photo

Our Daily Bread Designs #142--animals
Pretty Pattern #82--sketch
Just Add Ink #154--midnight muse (wasn't sure if this was a deep blue or an almost black--I used navy blue but it looks black in the picture so maybe they are both covered), so saffron, white

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "To the Moon" animals, "Accent Notes" and "Celebrating You"
Paper: SU! Not quite Navy cs; DCWV
Dies/punches: Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch; spellbinders ovals, large and scalloped ovals, large

Princess

 When I saw this pumpkin carriage from Squigglefly, I knew I "had" to have it because it would go perfectly with this "Cinders" image from Flat Friends.  And they really are just perfect for each other.

Here's the inside of the card.  The sentiment all together reads, "Happy Birthday Princess . . . to someone who's made a special place for themselves in this world AND IN MINE."

Challenges:
Viva La Verve February week 3--sketch
Fab n' Funky #158--what's inside (decorate the inside of the card)
Inkspirational Challenge #7--inspiration photo (I went with pinks and roses)

Sweet n' Sassy Digi Challenge--3,2,1 recipe challenge--I used three digi images/sentiments, 2 roses, and 1 ribbon
Eureka #26--swirls & pearls
Squigglefly #6--pink and black
Flat Friends--to die for (use dies)

Supplies:
Stamps: Flat Friends "Cinders" digi; Squigglefly "Cinderella Story" carriage and sentiment digis; Clear Dollar Stamps "Elegant Flourishes"; PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" inside sentiment
Dies: Verve "Vintage Oval" and "Charming Ovals"
The roses had fallen off Barbie dresses and I reclaimed them as card embellies

Valentines

Let me start off by apologizing: there are several photos in this post, but they do all go together.  I homeschool my oldest daughter, so we don't get to have all the fun of making class valentines and giving them out to people at school.  This year, though, Valentine's Day fell on the day that we attend a storyhour at a local church.  The storyhour is for preschoolers (for my younger two) and there is a craft time led by a homeschooling mom for the school aged children.  So, we did get to make Valentine's this year.

 This first picture show the little gifts we made for the leaders.  The one on the left is for the craft leader.  My daughter made the bracelet (she's 6 ok, so don't judge.) and I included a pair of earrings I made as well for both leaders plus two Dove dark chocolates.  Yumm!

 This picture shows the gifts for the girls in the craft time class.  Once again my daughter made bracelets for each of the.  She also made little cards for all the kids all on her own.  She loves creating, just like momma.

 These are for the boys: the car (with the greeting: You're 'Wheel-y' Cool!) is for the one lone boy in the craft class (we didn't think he would appreciate a bracelet) and the boys in the storyhour class all got bouncy balls and a chocolate.

 For the little girls in storyhour, I made two different Valentines.  We have several that are right around 1 year old and I didn't think the mothers would appreciate candy for them, so I put in little plastic butterfly bracelets.  And for the older girls, little candy bracelets and a chocolate.  Let me tell you that they all were a big hit.

These are cupcakes I made for the craft class.  Aren't they cute?  Little (ok, actually quite LARGE) conversation hearts!  From the cupcake book "What's New Cupcake?"  The ideas in there are so adorable! And this one was pretty easy, too.!  And the bonus to all this is that I got to use up some paper that I thought I would NEVER use, and they all looked perfect!

Challenges:
Timeless Tuesday #207--put your heart on it
Tuesday Alchemy #50--My heart's all a flutter (hearts/wings)
Flutter by Wednesdays #227--hearts (with butterfly or fairy)
Crafty Ann's Challenge #83--Love Actually

Supplies:
Paper: DCWV (a pack that I have had for at least 10 years and thought I would never use it up)
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects" heart; sentiments printed on computer
Punches/dies: Martha Stewart butterfly punch; spellbinders oval and scalloped oval, large dies

Caroling we will go

Hello, again, everyone!  It's Friday (yeay!!) once again and that means time for another challenge on the Christmas Stampin All Year Long blog.  This week it is: All Tied Up (use ribbon)  Our Sponsor is Broken Box Stock, and the Design Team got to play with some of their cute images this week.

I chose to use Lydia Caroling.  I know a few others did too, so hop on over to the CSAYL blog to check out their creations and to get the full details of the challenge.  Then get inky and play along, we love to have you.

Challenges:

Sweet Stop Sketches #199-sketch (I flipped it upside down to fit in my sentiment)

52 {Christmas}Card Throwdown-- brown, yellow, white (yikes is that combo hard for a Christmas card!)

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--any Christmas card

Christmas Card Challenge #11--scallops
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #194--Christmas in February

Supplies:

Stamps: Broken Box Stock "Lydia Caroling"; Skipping Stones Design "Timeless Texture" musical score

SU! scalloped border punch

My last Valentine's Day card

Phew, I'm finally finished making Valentine's Day cards, and just in the nick of time!  This last one is for my husband.  Definitely non-traditional, but the colors are more manly.  And without a lot of fluff.

Challenges:
Inkspirational #6--kraft, semi-navy, plum


Viva La Verve February week 2--sketch
Celebrate the Occasion #99--Valentine: Anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Blue Skies" flourish (stamped in versamark)
Dies/embossing folders: PTI "lowercase alphabet" die; Verve "Pennant Trim" die; Cuttlebug "Quatrefoil" embossing folder

I get to choose

Flourishes is hosting a "Pick one" Challenge in order to get ready for their new release coming up.  You have a choice of 3 sketches, 3 color schemes and 3 embellishments.
  I chose the first sketch (tough to tell, huh?),
the first color scheme,
and the satin/silk ribbon option.

Supplies:
Stamps: Flourishes "Summer Blossoms"
Dies/embossing folders: Cuttlebug "quatrefoil" embossing folder; spellbingers ovals and scalloped ovals, large dies

Inspired

My card today is for Papertrey Ink's challenge to be inspired by one of their designer's favorite projects from the past year.  Usually, Melissa Phillips' work, though beautiful, doesn't really speak to me.  She has a gorgeous shabby chic, vintagey and definitely girly style, and as you can see if you have looked at any of my cards, I do not.  But as soon as I saw the first picture on the left in her inspiration board, I was in love!!  I just absolutely love those orange felt flowers.  And the card layout is really awesome, too.   So, I changed up the colors and the flower material, but kept the layout.  And I love it!  Almost as much as the original. : )
 
Supplies:
Paper: Basic grey (stripes) and DCWV (grid)
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Damask Designs" sentiment; Clear Dollar Stamps "Elegant Flourishes"; Verve "Joyful Blooms"
Dies: Papertrey Ink Turning a New Leaf die (trimmed down to use 1 or 2 leaves)
Buttons; Cinnamon Stickles on the flower centers

Hearts aplenty

I have to admit that this isn't one of my favorite cards.  It didn't turn out like I was thinking in my head.  Does that ever happen to you?  And to make matters worse, I used a sketch from a challenge that I discovered is already closed.  Arg.  But, hey, it happens.

Challenges:
{Pin}spirational Challenges #43--inspirational photo (I didn't go as graphic, but used a lot of white space and black sentiment and love of course)

10 minute craft dash challenge #11--hearts in under 10 minutes (mine took 8 minutes 15 seconds, but that was because I messed up the first stamping and had to flip the panel over and stamp it again.)

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Simply Stationery" (medallions) and "Damask Designs" sentiment
Dies: Sweet n' Sassy heart die

Love

Another Valentine's Day card from me.  I thought I was all finished and then found out (when I went to mail them out) that I still need to make 2 more.  So you'll see a few more from me before this week is finished.

Challenges:
Timeless Tuesdays #206--sketch
Delightful Challenges--think spring (use pastels)
DRS Designs #59--"Love"
The Squirrel and the Fox #37--Love
Card Mania #14--Is this love I'm Feeling?

Supplies:
Paper: SU! (old, old, old baby girl pack)
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"
Dies: Spellbinders floral doily motifs; Sweet n' Sassy heart die

Elephant Love

This little cutie is for my niece.  She's about 6 months old, so I know she won't really appreciate it, but isn't that what Auntie's are supposed to do?!

Challenges:
Seems a Little Sketchy--sketch
The Cutie Pie Challenges--Valentine's Day
Creative Inspirations #200--sent with love
Fab n' Funky #157--Valentines/hearts
Just Add Ink #152--just add hearts

Supplies:
Paper: Basic Grey
Stamps: Verve "Emory" plain jane and "Text Objects" sentiment
Dies: Sweet n' Sassy heart die; Verve "Classy label" die

Top Hats

Welcome back to another Friday Challenge at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  I hope you are starting your Christmas cards early this year.  Last year I started at the beginning of the year and tried to make a card or two a week (not too daunting of a task) with the hope of being finished by the beginning of December.  Well, it mostly worked. : )  When December began, I was only 1 or 2 short and my cards actually went out on time this year!  Yeay!!  Give it a try and play along in our challenges--you'll have a really good start and won't have to stress out about it come Christmas time.

  Challenge Details:  Candy Cane--use ONLY red and/or white cardstock or paper.  Our awesome sponsor for this week is Fred She Said 

and the prize will be the choice of some of their fabulous images.  I got to work with this super cute Hat Tipping Snowman.  I thought he was so cute, I had to use him 3 times!
  Hop on over to the CSAYL blog to check out the complete details and the projects the rest of the DT created.  Then get inky and play along.

Challenges:
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #25--anything goes
52 {Christmas} card throwdown--sketch
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything goes (Christmas/holiday)

Supplies:
Stamps: Fred She Said "Hat Tipping Snowman" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Paper: DCWV Christmas pack
Square paper punch

Love is in the air

Challenges:
Squigglefly #4--Have a heart, Please!
Flutter by Wednesday #225--open challenge as long as you use a butterfly or fairy
Stamping with Dragon--love is in the air
JUGS #174--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Damask Designs" sentiment; Squigglefly "Fashionista" digi
Dies: spellbinders ovals large and scalloped ovals large; Sweet n' Sassy heart dies; Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
pink rhinestones for the earrings and ring

You and Me

Don't you just love this image and sentiment?!  They're soooo cute!  And would be perfect for anniversaries, Valentine's Day, friend cards, and I'm sure many others.  I thought it was perfect for Valentine's Day.

Challenges:
Our Daily Bread Designs #140--love
Pretty Patterns #81--sketch
Sweet n Sassy Digi Challenge #90--valentine/love (must use a digi)

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet n Sassy "You and Me" digis
Paper: Basic Grey; PTI ripe avocado cardstock and ribbon
Dies: Verve "Mini classy Labels"

Believe

Another Christmas card down!!  I'm on my way.  You should start now, too.  It feels good.

Challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion #97--green, white and one other color
Sweet Sketch Wednesday #191--sketch

Crimbo Crackers #34--a holiday card for a male
DRS Designs #58--brads
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--any holiday card

Supplies:
Stamps: Fred She Said "Hat Tipping Snowman" digi
Punches: Martha Stewart Snowflake punch; SU! corner rounder