Celebrating 40!

Today is overcast and soon to be raining, I think, so I had a difficult time getting a good picture of this card.  I layered a white card base with a smaller white panel, but decided it needed "something" which turned out to be embossing with a clock embossing folder.  You can just see it in the lower right corner.

 I wanted to give the Make it Monday Challenge "Inlay Diecuts" a go, so I embossed the "40" with dots and inlaid it in the white circle.  You can see that better in the photo below.  This card is really so much more interesting in real life.  I really need to work on those camera skills!

Challenges:
Flourishes--Birthday Wishes challenge
Love to Scrap #16--Play some blues (I used light blue and navy--though it might look black in the pictures)
Sister Act Card Challenge--anything goes
Sentimental Sundays #178--Happy birthday--monochromatic--must have a sentiment
Make it Monday #138--Inlaid Die Cuts
Lexi's Creations--birthday celebrations
Tuesday Morning Sketches #222--sketch

Die Cuttin' Divas #139--anything goes
Twisted Tuesday #62--anything goes
Crafter's Cafe #35--birthday celebrations
C.R.A.F.T. #231--for the boys

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Big Birthday Wishes"
Dies: Spellbinders circles and scalloped circles, large; Sizzix star die
Embossing folders: Darice "Clocks"; Cuttlebug dots

Welcome, Little One

Friends of ours are adopting a little boy from Haiti.  It's been a long process but supposedly they are getting closer to being able to bring him home.  So, there is going to be a "Preparing to bring him home" shower this weekend.  Of course, I needed a cute little card to go with my gift.  I handstitched a few "x"s on the top and bottom and added some French knots around the sentiment on the front.

 I couldn't use a traditional "Welcome, Baby" sentiment or something similar, so I created my own using a bunch of different sentiments.  I think it came out pretty cute.  "welcome" is one sentiment;  the second was supposed to read "precious little one" I masked off the "one" so I could add "BOY" which is masked from the sentiment "Baby BOY".

Challenges:
Viva La Verve October week 3--sketch

Crafty Catz #204--spots & stripes
Sweet Stamps Blog #141--Frames
Word Art Wednesday #104--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Paper Pretties #282--Bold is the new black (I think that striped paper is pretty bold)

Supplies:
Stamps: all the stamps are from Verve's "To the Moon"
Dies: spellbinders standard circles, large

A little something different

Today is my day to post my project for the current Lollipop Ladies challenge.  Our challenge is to be inspired by this yummy looking cupcake:

With the additional challenge of "Off the Page"

Now, I am so glad that I am slated to post during the second week of the challenge, because then I can see what the rest of the team creates. : )  So, today, I went with something that actually fits the name of my blog:

 I showed a quick peek of this entire project in my previous post as I actually made the tag for another challenge.  This month is Pastor Appreciation Month and Sunday we had a little celebration after church for our pastor and his wife.  I made this necklace and earring set for his wife.  As you can see, I took the blue and brown colors from the cupcake for my inspiration.  And it is definitely off the page!

This is the package all wrapped up and ready to go.  I made the matching tag also using blue and brown.  Now, it's time for you to hop on over to the Lollipop Ladies so you can play along.

Challenges: (for the necklace set, only--the tag was already entered into other challenges; you can see the info on that here)

Crafty Creations #246--Make it Yourself (I made the necklace all by myself, aren't you proud?)

Fall Wreath

This is just a little sneak peak of a project I will be sharing later on in the week.  You'll have to come back on Thursday if you want to see. : )  I will tell you that this is the tag for a gift for our Pastor's wife.  This month is Pastor Appreciation month and as a church we are giving the pastor and his wife a gift.  I'm giving her a little something else just to say how much we appreciate what she does.  That pretty little frame on the bottom of the tag is where the name is going to go.

Challenges:
Make it Monday #137--dimensional leaf wreath
Crafty Ribbons #67--anything BUT a card
Brown Sugar #65--Autumn

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Mat Stack 2"
Dies: PTI leaf die; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" I used the circles that came out of the border to make the berries

Christmas Tags

I don't normally make tags for gifts.  But I have seen some stunning ones lately, and with the PTI blog hop this month being a challenge to create a set of 5 gift tags, I decided to give it a try.

 I think they came out really great!  I made all 5 the same except I changed up the glitter on the poinsettia.  I started with the full on gold glitter and then decided it might be a little much for a guy's gift, so then I toned it down a bit by using a glitter pen to add just a bit of sparkle and shine.  the frames are all embossed in gold and they look so elegant this way.

 No, I didn't write the names in already, but I discovered how to add text in photo editing a while ago and thought it would be fun to add names to the tags so you could see what they will look like.  Pretty cool, huh?

Challenges:

PTI October Blog Hop--set of 5 gift tags

My Heart's Pieces--anything Christmas

Southern girls--shine on (use glitter, embossing powder, perfect pearls, etc.--I used glitter and embossing powder)

Sweet Stamps Challenge #140--tags

Cards Galore--Flowers
Christmas Cards Challenge #47--flowers
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday challenge--Tag! You're it!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI "Mat Stack 2" 

Dies: Spellbinders poinsettia die

Peace

Hello, all!  It's Friday again and that means another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week the challenge is: Use everyday patterned paper.  That means NO winter or Christmas patterned paper.
Our sponsor is the fabulous Emma Canning and there will be THREE winners this week.

I chose this gorgeous church image to work with and had to come up with something elegant to go with it.  Do you think it worked?

Now, it's time to hop on over to the CSAYL blog to check out all the details and then play along.  Remember NO winter or Christmas paper.

Challenges:

Flat Friends Challenge #13--photo inspiration

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes

Word Art Wednesday #103--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Viva La Verve October week 4--sketch

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #147--peace

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown #22--bling!

Desert Island Craft Challenge #64--choose at least 3 of the following (I chose #5, 6, 7, 10)

1. witches/broomsticks

2. black cats

3. cauldrons

4. stripes

5. sentiments on front

6. use lots of black

7. glitter & sparkle

8. At least 2 ribbons

9. draft

10. die cuts/punches
My Heart Pieces Digital Stamps--anything Christmas

Supplies:

Stamps: Emma Canning "Church" digi; Verve "Star of Wonder" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders Label 4

Papers: Robin's Nest "Black and White Glitter Border Swirl"

Heartfelt Thanks

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts this week that October is Pastor Appreciation month.  This card is for our Pastor's wife as she does a lot of the behind the scenes work at church.  She needs some appreciation, too, right?

 I tried the Faux Cloissone technique from this month's Technique Time Tuesday challenge.  I tried to get a good picture of it, but the shine is quite hard to capture.  I would have liked to have had some darker pumpkins but I couldn't find any orange spots large enough in the magazines I had.  So, I had to use part of someone's face with this peachy/orange color.

Challenges:

Technique Time Tuesday--Faux Cloissone

Crafty Ribbons #66--anything goes

A.R.T. Impressions--perfect papers (3 different patterns or textures)

Di's Digis Challenge--purple, orange, green, black

Sweet Stop Sketches #233--sketch with a spin: Fall theme

Raisin Boat #16--thank you

Eureka Stamps #62--halloween colors

Timeless Tuesday #243--fussy cut (I cut out the pumpkins)

{Pin}spirational Challenge #80--inspiration photo (I used the orange, black and green and the pumpkins)

Twist of Faith #60--Harvest

Inkspirational Challenges--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #103--anything goes

Digi Stamps 4 Joy--embossing (gold embossing on the pumpkins and black embossed sentiment)

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Tall Oaks" and sentiment (freebie); Clear Dollar Stamps "Elegant Flourishes"

Dies: Verve "Classy Labels" (I cut off the bottom half to make it fit the sketch better) and "Scalloped Trim Trio" border die; spellbinders standard circles, large

Look out world!

Ok, seriously, this might be my most favoritest card ever!!!  It came out soooo cute and exactly as I had envisioned it (which rarely ever happens!).   My three girlies and I are going to a birthday party (of sorts--we're going to go jumping at a giant indoor trampoline park!  Fun!!) for a 9-year-old boy.  So, of course, I needed a birthday card perfect for a great little guy.  And here it is:

 Ready for the first surprise?  The top blue panel lifts up to reveal . . .

And surprise #2: it's also an easel card.  

In this last picture, you can see the inside a bit better.  Super duper cute, if you ask me!

Challenges:

Meljen's #182--Peek-a-boo (lift up flap and easel card)

Just Add Ink #187--sketch (loved this sketch and just HAD to use it)

Sister Act Card Challenge #29--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Sentimental Sundays #177--birthday card, shaped or easel with a sentiment on the front

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #75--A trick or treat (the trick is the lift up flap with the hidden sentiment)

Supplies:

Stamps: Meljen's Designs "Superhero" digi; Raisin Boat "It's a bird . . . It's a plan" sentiment; Verve "To the Moon" hidden sentiment and stars; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps "Landscape Sillhouettes" city landscape; SU! "All Year Cheer 2"sentiment inside

Dies/embossing: Spellbinders circles embossing plate; Sizzix star die; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" star border

Fall splendor

I don't imagine that this is a well known fact, but October is "Pastor Appreciation" month.  So, I've created this little card to express to our pastor how much we appreciate him and all he does.  And I think it proves that you can use glitter and rhinestones on a "man" card.  Black rhinestones seem to be less flashy than their counterparts, but still give a polished look.

 I modeled the image after this card I found while browsing on Pinterest.  Love the look it gave.  I didn't have any stickles like were used on the original, so I just dabbed a little glue around on the trees and sprinkled on some SU! diamond dust glitter.  You can see more of the glitter in the picture below.

Challenges:
Your Next Stamp Challenge--sketch (and I used the color orange and the fall theme from the inspiration photo)

Creative Inspiration Challenge #236--autumn/fall
Word Art Wednesday--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Paper Pretties #280--permission to embellish everything
Sister Act Card Challenge #29--anything goes
Pattie's Creations #78--orange and black
Raisin Boat #16--Thank You
Eureka Stamps #62--Halloween colors
Our Daily Bread Designs #175--It is Fall!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! "Lovely As A Tree"; Verve "Tall Oaks" sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders Standard Circles, large
Papers: DCWV

Christmas candy

It's Friday!!!  That means time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long and it's yummy!
The challenge this week is a theme...Christmas Candy - use candy paper, create a holder for candy or use a candy image - anything candy related goes!
The sponsor this week is Eureka Stamps and the winner will receive 5 images of their choice.

And here is my project:

 It is a candy bar wrapper and it was super easy!  I used a tutorial from Splitcoaststamper that you can find here.  I had a giant sized candy bar, so I had to adjust the dimensions, but it was really easy to alter.  For the base wrapper all you need is one sheet of paper (you won't use it all), two score lines and two strips of sticky tape.
Here is a close up of the main panel that shows the beautiful image "Lights Border" that I got to use from Eureka.  I used the same image, repeated several times, to created the background paper.

 The next photo shows how the candy bar pulls out of the wrapper.  The way the ribbon is placed, it allows the candy bar to be pulled out without untying the ribbon.

And now just a final photo that shows what kind of candy bar I used.  Doesn't that sound yummy!!??  Someone is going to have a special Christmas gift this year.

Challenges:

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #33--anything but a card

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes

Mojo Monday #315--sketch

There She Goes #229--Be Prepared (start getting ready for Christmas)

{Pin}spirational Challenge #79--anything goes

Our Daily Bread Designs #174--create your own background (No dp allowed)

Die Cuttin' Divas #137--dessert day (while maybe not exactly dessert, dark chocolate with caramel and a touch of sea salt SHOULD be dessert!)

Crafting by Designs--anything goes

Digistamps 4 Joy--embossing (the red panel under my main panel is embossed with an embossing folder)

Delightful Challenges--Frame It! (add a frame or mat)

C.R.A.F.T. #225--Christmas

Crafty Ribbons #66--anything with ribbon goes

Supplies:

Stamps: Eureka Stamps "Lights Border" digi; Verve "Merry & Bright" sentiment

Dies/punches/embossing folders: Verve "Pennant Trim" die; Martha Stewart snowflake punch; SU! scalloped border punch; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Happy Fall

Today is my day to post a project for the current Lollipop Ladies Challenge: 

Jubes

with the optional challenge of vintage

I decided to go with all those yummy fall colors: yellow, orange, green and I even got in some purple on the dress.  I couldn't quite fit in the red, it just wasn't working for me this time.

 Here's a close up of the image.  I used a glitter pen on the ribbon to go with the sugar on the candies.  Plus, I've seen some really gorgeous fall ribbon that is all gold and sparkly.  That's kind of the look I was going for.

Hop on over to the Lollipop Ladies' Blog and check out all the details.  There are prizes to be won!  But you've got to play along.

Challenges:
Delightful Challenges--distressed (I crumpled up the yellow paper--to hide some creases already there--and sponged tan ink on it to give it a distressed look)
Brown Sugar Challenges #63--anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenges #28--anything goes
Lacy Sunshine #19--Fall colors
Seems a Little Sketchy #50--sketch

Cutie Pie Challenge #54--cute & tag-tastic (I created a tag out of my focal panel)
Eureka Stamps #61--Fall with string or twine
Tammy's Scrapin' Challenge #84--Fall Colors
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #188--punches &/or dies with a sassy cheryl's image
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #74--Fall Leaves or Pumpkins (got 'em both)
Tuesday Throwdown #167--Pumpkin Patch
Twisted Tuesday #61--Celebrate Naturally (celebrating something {Fall} and use something from nature {feathers})
Crafter's Cafe #33--How adorable!
Divas by design--autumn colors
Verve's October Diva Dare--Tag You're It! (use or make a tag)

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly--Cheryl Alger "Polly and her Pumpkin" digi; Flourishes "Apple of My Eye" sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "Labels 4"; PTI leaf die; Verve "Charming Ovals" die

Mailbox

It's Friday!!  Time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This one was a killer for me!  The challenge is to create a card/project without ANY embellishments!  Now, I'm not a girl who loads on the embellishments, but I do like to use some.   The sponsor this week is Meljen's and the winner will get to pick some of their super cute images.

And here is my card.  With NO embellishments.  I did have to use some glitter pen on the snow, but I refrained from using any actual glitter as I thought that might count as an embellishment.

Hop on over to the CSAYL blog to see what the rest of the DT came up with, then go get inky and play along.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve October week 1--sketch

Eureka Stamps #60--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #101--anything goes
Crafter's Cafe #32--use your favorite craft item (I LOVE dies, it's a very rare card that I don't use a die on)
Divas by Design--3 or more layers
My Heart's Pieces--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Meljen's "Cozy Winter Mailbox" digi; Verve "Merry and Bright" sentiment
Dies: spellbinders circles and scalloped circles, large

Butterfly Birthday

Another stunning image that I got from Sweet Pea Stamps!  This is something outside my normal stamping arsenal, but I'm so glad I got it.  The images are gorgeous and really come alive with coloring.  So sultry and elegant at the same time.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve October week 2--sketch

Di's Digis--show off those coloring skills
Pattie's Creations #77--ribbon (the orange strip is some scrap ribbon I salvaged; just enough to span the card)
There She Goes #228--pumpkin, chocolate, aqua
{Pin}spirational Challenges #78--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the girly theme, the pearls, rhinestones and the blue in the background)

Our Daily Bread Designs #173  Fall leaves (I stamped leaves in the design on the white layer and used die cut leaves under the main image)
Sweet Stamps #138--Fall (fall colors and leaves)
Die Cutting Divas #136--used brown
Crafting By Designs --anything goes with ribbon or lace
CRAFT #228--Autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving
DRS Designs #91--inspired by autumn
Crafty Ribbons #65--butterflies

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet Pea Stamps "Serenity" digi; PTI "Guide Lines 2" patterned paper, "Places, Please" leaf in patterned paper and "Hands of Time" sentiment; Verve "Blue Skies" butterfly
Dies: Spellbinders classic ovals, large, Labels 4 and Floral Doily Motifs; PTI leaf die and border die; Verve butterfly die

Rootin' tootin' birthday

My Mother-in-law's birthday is tomorrow and this card is her all the way!  She is completely a country girl.  She owns several horses, a pony, a donkey, 2 sheep and chickens.  And right now she works driving a tractor for hay rides tours at a local farm.  So, you see it fits, right?  And I just think it's so stinkin' cute!

Challenges:
Cutie Pie Challenges #54--birthday plus sketch

Lacy Sunshine #18--stitching
Flutterby Wednesdays #255--show/use your favorite things with a butterfly or fairy (dies are my absolute favorite things to use on card)
Crafty Creations #242--winged things
CRAFT Challenges #227--cats & dogs/pets/animals
Sister Act Card Challenges #27--anything goes
Crafty Catz #201--anything goes
Dis Digis--show off the coloring skills
Sentimental Sundays #175--happy birthday--include a doily, pearls and ribbon/lace (and a sentiment)
Paper Girls #41--sew it on
Timeless Tuesdays #241--Pearls & lace

Supplies:
Stamps: Digi Darla "Rebecca Rides" digi; PTI "Hands of Time" sentiment
Punches/dies: Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Verve "Pennant Trim" die; Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs" and A2 Card Basics Rectangle

Trimming the Tree

Wow!  Can you believe it is Friday already?!  I was away for the weekend and came back home on Monday, so it seems like my week was even shorter than normal.  But, since it is Friday, that means it is time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: Circles.  Yep, it's that easy, but you have to use at least three.  Our sponsor this week is Di's Digis and TWO lucky participants will win $10 gift certificates to the store!

My card at first looks rather square, right?  But when you start looking closer, I use a LOT of circles.  I used two different polka dotted papers; 3 buttons and lots and lots of rhinestone gems.  And I used a circle die to sponge around the outside of my image.  I even have a circle brad in the center of my snowflake.

Now, it's time to hop on over to the CSAYL blog, check out the full details and the other projects from the Design Team.  Then get inky (tomorrow is World Card Making Day afterall) and play along.

Challenges:
Christmas Card Challenges #44--anything goes
Seems a Little sketchy #49--sketch

Timeless Tuesdays #240--paper piecing (I pieced the dress and then cut out and pieced the bow on the dress)
Twist of Faith #57--inspired by a song AND un uplifting sentiment (I was inspired by the song "O, Christmas Tree)
Loves Rubberstamps #172--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--getting ready for Christmas (decorating a tree)
Word Art Wednesday #100--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting by Designs--anything goes
Digi Stamps 4 Joy #77--recycle something and use at least one snowflake (my buttons are recycled from clothes my kids have outgrown)
Delightful Challenges--Holiday spirit
Southern Girls Challenge--sing, sing a song . . . (O, Christmas Tree)

Supplies:
Stamps: Sparkles Creations "Christmas Tree Ruby"; Verve "Merry and Bright"
Papers: DCWV Christmas pack