Mid-Month inspiration

Just popping in with some mid-month inspiration for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  Think of it as a little reminder to come play along with us.  It is a month-long Anything Christmas Goes challenge.  Doesn't get any easier than that!

Challenges:
Crafty Creations #256--For the Birds
Tuesday Throwdown #182--Roses are Red, Violets are Blue (I know this was probably intended as a Valentine's Day Challenge, but I do have red and blue, and there are even flowers in my patterned paper)
The Stamping Chef #16--anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #6--sketch

C.R.A.F.T. #246--Christmas in February
Sparkles Christmas Challenge--#37--anything goes
Brown Sugar #81--Use a die cut or punch
Sister Act Card Challenge #44--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps "Christmas Cardinal" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment;
Dies: Sweet n' Sassy snowflakes dies (I spritzed them with a bit of Snow Queen Glimmer Mist for a fun sparkle)

Birthday Wishes

I created this card for the Papertrey Ink Challenge of the Day (Feb 13) to create a card using different "building blocks" from each of their designers.  These are the elements I chose (some random, some with a little bit of strategy to go with supplies I actually have)
Ashley--dark chocolate: color 1
Betsy--sweet blush: color 2
Christina--new leaf: color 3
Danielle--Whisper white--neutral color
Dawn--sketch: #4
Erin--Birthday: occasion
Heather--heat embossing: technique (I heat embossed the sentiment)
Lauren--pearls: embellishment
Melissa--ribbon: fiber

Other Challenges:
Verve Floral Fantasy Challenge--add flowers
Sweet n' Sassy Celebration--think spring (flowers--we could definitely use some spring)
Mod Squad--Thinking of Spring
Milk Coffee Challenges--girly
Crafty Ribbons #76--ribbons and bows

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Damask Designs" sentiment (selectively inked); Verve "Joyful Blooms" flowers
Dies: PTI border Die
Cardstock: PTI sweet blush; SU! Chocolate Chip

Last batch

Here is my last batch of Valentine's Day cards.  I finished and mailed them out yesterday.  They might arrive in time.  The first one uses a non-traditional color scheme and  a very unique layout.  I think I like it, but not quite sure. : )  I was able to use up some little strips of paper that I just couldn't throw away.  And the butterfly is from my "bits and pieces" stash.  It is slowly growing smaller!

Challenges:

Southern Girls--Bling it, bling, bling

Sentimental Sundays #193--add sparkles, bling, and buttons

Seems a Little Sketchy #58--sketch

Our Daily Bread Designs #190--Love/Valentine's Day with non-traditional colors

Scrap Creations--Valentine's Day

Crafter's Cafe #50--must have hearts (the little orange "flowers" are made out of tiny punched hearts)

Delightful Challenges--Love Notes (hearts, music, letters)

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain jane

Punches/dies: PTI leaf die; McGill hearts punch; Fiskars heart cutting template; Martha Stewart butterfly punch

I think this one is so adorable!!  I know the House Mouse mice are usually brown, but gray went with my color scheme much better.  Plus all the mice I have ever seen are gray.

Challenges:

{Pin}spirational Challenge #94--inspiration photo

Tuesday Morning Sketches #236--sketch with the twist of lace & pearls

Sweet Stamps #156--Love

Paper Pretties #297--red, pink & white

My Heart Pieces--Red is the symbol of love

Supplies:

Stamps: House Mouse; Verve "Take Note" sentiment (heat embossed with white embossing powder)

I loved the color/paper combination on the previous card so much, that I used it again on this card.  Plus, I already had all the papers out.  And I even used a piece from my "bits and pieces" stash: one of the white doilies.  It actually has blue patterned paper on the reverse, but the white side works just perfectly for this.  I just die cut a second one to match.

Challenges:

Viva La Verve February week 1--sketch (and I used the red, pink, and gray color scheme)

Cuttin and Stampin--writing instrument (the pencil)

Creative Inspirations #252--Love

Word Art Wednesday #119--anything goes

Crafting by Design--anything for love

Fab n' Funky #203--Love/Valentine

Divas By Design--with love

Charisma Cardz #4--Inspired by a movie (You've got Mail)

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Take Note" sentiment, envelope and pencil

Dies: spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs"

Perk Up

This card if for my Grandmother for Valentine's Day.  She enjoys a good cup of coffee; I thought she would appreciate the coffee theme. : )  Don't you love that little heart button?  I found it in my stash.  No idea where it came from, but it was perfect!

Challenges:

Verve Diva Dare--Perk Up

The Squirrel And the Fox #63--Love

Mojo Monday #332--sketch

Eureka Stamps #76--Love is in the air

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI "Heart to Heart #1"; Verve "Take Note" sentiment; Our Daily Bread Designs "Crochet" background stammp

Dies: PTI "Heart to Heart #1"; 

I love you

Isn't this little cutie adorable?  I thought she was perfect for some paper piecing and even added a little bit of lace for trim on the apron.  And the little speech bubble?  It's adorable too.  I won this set of all sorts of speech bubbles and I figure I would probably never use it.  But I had speech bubbles on the brain and when I went looking I found this one with the heart.  The little heart is embossed and then I inked it up before I took it out of the die.  CUTE!

 Here's a close up of the little sweetie.

Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe #49--1 ribbon, 2 designer papers, 3 die cuts, 4 pearls

Patties Creations #83--use red in your IMAGE

Your Next Stamp #9--sketch

Wags 'n' Whiskers #122--bingo (I chose the row "pearls, heart, ribbon"
Card Mania Challenges #40--Love is all around
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #90--paper piecing

Supplies:
Stamps: There She Goes "Farm Fresh"; Verve "Take Note" sentiment
Dies: spellbinders A2 rectangles, "Say What?" die; Sweet n' Sassy heart die

Manly Valentine

This is a nice masculine card for my Brother-in-law.  Nothing too froofy.  I think the eyelets add to the masculine look and feel.

Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas--sketch

Brown Sugar #80--Valentine's Day
Crafty Catz #217--Love is in the Air
Di's Digis Challenge--Love and/or Valentine's Day

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain jane
Dies: spellbinders A2 rectangles; Sweet 'n Sassy hearts dies

Warm and Fuzzy

This is my Valentine's Day card for my niece.  She's 1 1/2 and just the sweetest thing.  I thought this adorable little lamb and the cute sentiment were perfect for her.  I even managed to use an item from my "bits and pieces" stash: the focal circle.  I think It has blue patterned paper on the back, but the white part worked for me.
 
Challenges:
My Favorite Things #162--sketch

Sister Act #43--anything goes
Fussy & Fancy #67--Be my valentine
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #14--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: There She Goes "Farm Fresh"; Verve "To the Moon" little hearts
Dies: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio Die"; Spellbinders classic circles, large and scalloped circles, large

Adoption celebration

What kind of card do you make for an adoption celebration (celebrating the day someone was adopted)?  I was at a loss for a bit, but then while looking at my stamp sets, I found the one that had these mix and match sentiments.  And I thought it was just right.  It's for an almost 14-year-old boy, so I went a little bit more graphic and distressed than usual.  And it's kind of fun  I even managed to to add a little bit from my bits and pieces stash: the little red circle.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday #331--sketch

Cuttlebug Mania--add a touch of red

Creative Inspirations #251--anything goes 

The Stamping Chef #15--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday#118--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Sister Act Card Challenge #43--anything goes

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Take Note" envelope, heart, sentiments, "Blue Skies" notebook paper, "Borderline" both arrow strips

Dis: Verve "Classy Labels" die; spellbinders arrow

Non-traditional Valentine

I know that purple and orange are NOT your traditional Valentine's Day colors, but I really wanted to use the two small butterflies that are in my "bits and pieces stash".  So, I started with them and went from there.  The large butterfly was also in the stash, I just stamped some flourishes onto it and just like that: 3 pieces used!

Challenges:
Mojo Monday #331--sketch

Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Divas By Design--die cuts
Delightful Challenges--anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #75--anything goes with ribbon
Stamping with Dragon--Love is in the air
Crafting Musketeers--butterflies

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain Jane
Dies/punches: PTI butterfly die; Verve "Classy Labels" die; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; SU! corner rounder punch

Shaker Valentine

 This Valentine's Day Card is for my husband's Grandfather and his wife.  She is really into cloches and that kind of thing, so I thought this apothecary jar would be a great image to use and I was thinking of masking it and stamped conversation hearts in it or something like that.  Then I thought how fun it would be to make it a shaker card.  In my quest to use up my "bits and pieces" stash, I chose the color scheme to match a heart that I already had die cut.  But I just couldn't make it work.  So, I added it to the inside to go with the sentiment.  I just HAD to use it.  As I was looking through my cardstock to find a piece that matched that heart, I found this piece that had flowers stamped on it already.  I don't know what it was from, but I thought the subtle pattern was a great addition.

Challenges:

Sarah Hurley--All embellishments, just one shape (everything I used is a heart, even the pieces in the shaker and my border die)

Tuesday Morning Sketches #233--sketch

Paper Pretties #296--Valentine/Love

Digi Stamps 4 Joy #85--hearts

Mod Squad--hearts and glitter (my glitter is inside the shaker part)

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain jane; PTI "Damask Designs" sentiment inside; "Apothecary Jar" digi (I thought it was from Scribbles Designs, but couldn't find it on their site, so not sure where it came from)

Dies: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" heart border die; spellbinders classic ovals, large

Precious

 A sweet little card for a baby shower I am going to tomorrow.  This cute little elephant needed a little something extra so I pieced his ears with the polka dotted paper and then popped his head up on foam tape.

Challenges:

The Paper Nest Dolls #3--anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown #181--sketch

Word Art Wednesday #118--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Fab n' Funky #201--Calling all brads

Art Impressions #127--Pop It Up

DRS Designs #103--feeling green

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Emory" plain jane, "To The Moon" sentiment, "Take Note" abc's

Dies: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" border die

Mugs of love

 I think this little image from A Day For Daisies is just so adorable.  At first I thought the little puppy was carrying a pillow, but it is actually a bag of marshmallows (you can see, though not read, the word in my second photo)!  And there are little hearts on the mugs.  So cute!

All my life, I've thought that red and pink DO not go together, so all the red, white and pink challenges were . . . well . . . challenging for me.  I made the combo a little easier for me by using a red, a dark pink patterned paper and then a lighter pink.  And I think it came out really cute.  AND I got to use that gigantic flower that has been sitting around in my "bits and pieces" stash for a while.  The stash is getting much smaller.  Now, I'm getting down to some definitely hard to use pieces.  I'll have to get creative.

Challenges:
A Day For Daisies #88--use red & pink (plus an ADFD image)
Cards Galore #2--add a gem, or glitter, or candi or any bling (I used 4 pearls, 3 rhinestones and glitter pen on the pompom on her hat)
Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered in patterned paper
Lacy Sunshine #26--use a sentiment
The Cutie Pie Challenge #62--my Cutie Valentine
Eureka Stamps #75--red, pink, white
Desert Island Crafts Challenge #71--use at least 3 of the following (I used #5, 7, 8)
1.  birthday
2. party
3. cake
4. ribbon/twine
5. add sparkle
6. emboss it
7. 3 design papers
8. 3 different embellishments
9. favorite colors
10. it is a gift
Sweet Stamps #150--red, white, and pink
Tuesday Throwdown #181--sketch

V's Sweet Ideas #20--red, white, pink
Love to Scrap #23--who loves you, baby? (use the work LOVE)
Timeless Tuesday #257--red & love


Supplies:
Stamps: A Day For Daisies freebie to use with this challenge; Verve "Take Note" sentiment
Dies/punches: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" heart border die; SU! Scalloped circle punch used for flower

http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabulous vintage

 I don't usually make vintage cards, it just isn't my "thing", but I had the challenge from Divas By Design--vintage, stuck in my head as I was looking through my digi images on my computer.  And when I came across this image, I knew it would work!  And it did, but unfortunately, by the time I got around to finishing it, the challenge was over. : (  Oh well!  I think this image is gorgeous, and have had it for quite a while.  Just wasn't sure how to use it, or for what occasion.  This card is going to my best friend for Valentine's Day and it just the right occasion, I think.  The feather was the perfect finishing touch AND it came out of my "bits and pieces" stash that I am slowly whittling away at.  And the piece of lace, though not in the stash, was just barely long enough for the card and is now used up, too.

Challenges:
Brown Sugar #79--feathers
Viva La Verve January week 5--sketch

Lexi's Creations #109--Love/Valentine's Day
{Pin}spirational Challenge #93--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the red and gray books and the "classic" theme--it's like vintage)

Our Daily Bread Designs #189--L.O.V.E. recipe (use items that begin with the letters of love)--I have Lace, Oval, Vintage, Embellishments (feather, rhinestones)
Cuttlebug Mania--a touch of red
Word Art Wednesday #118--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Supplies:
Stamps: Rick St. Dennis "1935 Hat" digi; Verve "So Happy" sentiment, "Happy Valentine's Day" plain Jane; Clear Dollar Stamps "Elegant Flourishes"
Papers: Basic Grey; recycled encyclopedia paper stamper with flourishes
Dies: spellbinders classic ovals, large; Verve "Charming Oval" dies

Skipping a Beat

 I won this adorable stamp set from My Favorite Things and it just came this week. As soon as I saw this cutie and the so sweet sentiment that came with it, I knew it had to be used for a Valentine's Day card for my husband.  I mean, seriously . . . "You Make My Heart Skip a Beat"?  It just had to be!

The card was almost completely inspired by challenges that had expired by the time I got it finish. : (  But I had them stuck in my head and it looked like I imagined so I kept going with it anyway.  I did manage to use up an item from my bits and pieces stash: the white scalloped circle.

Challenges (and inspiration from past challenges):
Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes
My Favorite Things #161--sketch (unfortunately, I didn't finish in time, but I still like the sketch a lot)

One Sweet Challenge--Love
Cutie Pie #62--My cute valentine
Love to Scrap #23--Who Loves you Baby? (use the word LOVE)
The Paper Girls #49--Love your Love
Cuttin' and Stampin' #5--Sweethearts (I was also inspired by the color combo of their previous challenge: pink, orange, gray; sadly, I was also too late for that one!)\

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Text Objects" sentiment, "To the Moon" little heart trio inside, "Happy Valentine's Day" plain jane; My Favorite Things "Jump For Joy" image and sentiment inside
Papers: My Mind's Eye "Collectables";
Dies/punches: spellbinders standard circles, large; SU! scalloped circle punch

Princess Jasmine

Last but not least, my oldest daughter's favorite Disney princess is Jasmine.  I've really loving the look of stamping on patterned paper lately, so I decided to give it a try myself.  My parents had an OLD encyclopedia set that they were getting rid of, so I snagged one to use for text paper.  It worked perfectly to add stamping to it.  So fun!  The largest butterfly was in my "bits and pieces" stash; I just punched two smaller ones to go along with it.  The stash is growing smaller!

Challenges:
Seems A Little Sketchy--sketch

Raisin Boat #19--Valentines
CRAFT #244--Love/Valentine's
Time-Out Challenges--Love/Friendship
Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes
One Sweet Challenge--Love

Supplies:
Stamps: Sassy Studio Designs "Jasmine Honey" digi; Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain jane; Clear Dollar Stamps "Elegant Flourishes"
Die/punchess: spellbinders rectangles; Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Princess Ariel

My youngest's favorite princess is Ariel and who can blame her?  I mean, look at that red hair!!  This is the first card I have made in a while that doesn't use something from my "bits and pieces" stash.  I was on a good roll for a while, but don't worry I'm still working on it.  The hearts ARE left over from a border die I used on a previous card, so in a way they are scrap pieces.  But I wouldn't have held on to them, so I don't know if it counts.

Challenges:
Raisin Boat #19--Valentine's
Our Daily Bread Designs #188--use pink, red & white ONLY
Tuesday Throwdown #180--one-layer
Creative Inspirations #250--stamping
CRAFT #244--Love/Valentine's
Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes
Crafty Catz #216--anything goes
V's Sweet Ideas #20--red, white, pink
Cards Galore #2--add a gem, or glitter, or candy or any bling ( I added two rhinestones for her earrings and three for the barrette in her hair; I also added glitter pen on the white parts of her dress)

Supplies:
Stamps: Sassy Studio Designs "Ariel Honey" digi; Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain Jane

Belle of the Ball

My three girls love all the Disney movies, specially the ones with the princesses (surprise, surprise!)  I won some digi stamps from Sassy Studio Designs a while ago, and when I saw the princess "Honeys" I HAD to get them.  My middle girl's favorite is Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" so this card is for her.  I managed to use an item from my bits and pieces stash: one of the yellow flowers.  So, I punched out a few more and stuck them together and they work beautifully.  The little hearts, though not technically from this stash were leftovers from a border die I used on a previous card.

Challenges:

Seems a Little Sketchy--sketch

Raisin Boat #19--Valentine's Day

Eureka Stamps #74--anything goes

Milk Coffee Challenge--Valentine's/love

Just Add Ink #200--inspiration photo (I think you can see where my inspiration came from)

Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #14--flowers

One Crazy Stamper--anything goes

Supplies:

Stamps: Sassy Studio Designs "Belle Honey" digi; Verve "Happy Valentine's Day" plain Jane; SU! hearts background stamps

Dies/punches: Spellbinders rectangles; PTI leaves; flower punch

Dance Partners

Isn't this image so cute?  She just looks like she is dancing her little heart out.  If you've been visiting my blog anytime during the past week, you know I'm working on whittling down my "bits and pieces" stash--those scraps that you can't throw away because it could work for something!  Well, I had one layer of one of these flowers in that stash.  So, I punched out 5 more, crumpled them up and voila!  The stash is disappearing very nicely. : )

Challenges:

Squigglefly #4--Have a Heart, please (they are little and faint, but I have 6 hearts around my sentiment)

Sassy Cheryl #201--Don't be square (my base is a rectangle, and then the circle added to the top.  Definitely NOT a square)

Sweet Stamps #154--lace and hearts

Loves Rubberstamps #88--use lace

Crafter's Cafe #98--use ribbon and/or lace

Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #14--flowers

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge--anything goes as long as it is covered in patterned paper

Supplise:

Stamps:  Squigglefly Stamps "Dance Partners"digi by Cheryl Alger; Verve "Happy Valentine's Day "plain jane

Dies/punches: spellbinders Floral Doily Motifs; flower punch

Mr. Spike

Time to start on the Valentine's Day cards.  I love sending them to family and a few close friends, specially elderly relatives that probably don't get any other cards.  They need to be reminded that people love them, too.  As I was looking through my digi images, trying to find some that I haven't put in the proper folders yet, I came across this adorable Mr. Spike.  I just had to print him out.  Oh, I almost forgot!  I did manage to use up another scrap from my "bits and pieces" stash: the brown oval.  And do you see the little tiny heart on the the sentiment panel?  It is one of the cut outs from the border: a perfect embellishment.

Challenges:

Wags n' Whiskers--sketch

Word Art Wednesday #117--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Winter Wonderland--Digi Days (for this month it can be non-holiday related)

Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes

One Crazy Stamper--anything goes

Crafty Hazlenut's Patterned Paper Challenge--anything goes, MUST use all patterned papers

Supplies:

Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Mr. Spike" digi and sentiment

Dies: spellbinders classic circles, large and standard ovals, large; Sweet n' Sassy heart dies; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" border die

Penguins

Welcome to February!!  That means it's the beginning of another month-long "Anything Goes (as long as it is Christmas related)" challenge at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  Seriously, it's "anything goes"; it doesn't get any easier than that!  The sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 of their adorable images.  This month, I got to work with "Little Winter Penguin".  I think he is soooooo cute.

 So cute, in fact that I couldn't make just one card.  I "had" to make two!  And on both, I managed to use up some items from my "little bits and pieces" scrap stash.  On the black and white one, I had a little bit of the star border hanging around, so I punched a second piece out for the bottom  border and cut a bit off to finish up the top.  The join is behind the little penguin.  I really shouldn't tell you that, but maybe it can be an inspiration to use up some of those little bits you are hanging on to.

The second card didn't use up much of the stash, but the ampersand was hanging out there and it was perfect for this sentiment after I did a little bit of masking and embossing.

Now is the time to getting working on those Christmas cards so you're not all stressed out about it come December!  Come on and play; head on over to the Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra to link up.

CARD ONE:

Challenges:

Your Next Stamp--sketch and inspiration photo (I chose the sketch)

Christmas Card Challenge--anything goes (Christmas)

Eureka Stamps #74--anything goes

Paper Pretties #295--texture (embossing folder, rhinestones and popped up image)

One Sweet Challenge--black and white

Fab n' Funky #201--Christmas

Winter Wonderland--Digi days (must use a digi)

Supplies:

Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Little Winter Penguin digi"; Verve "Merry And Bright" sentiment

Dies/embossing folders: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" star border; cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

CARD TWO:

Challenges:

The Squirrel and the Fox #62--embellishments (use at least 2)  I have SU! jeweled brads, ribbon and dies/punches

Tuesday Morning Sketches #234--sketch

Scrap-creations--favorite embellishment (mine is definitely ribbon)

Cutie Pies #61--cute January blues

Lexi's Creations #108--fancy folds (I forgot to take a picture but mine is a gatefold card, top and bottom; the white scalloped border is where it opens)

Frosted Designs--winter blues

Sister Act Card Challenge #42--anything goes

Supplies:

Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Little Winter Penguin"; Verve "Merry and Bright" sentiment

Dies/punches: Spellbinders Fleur De Lis squares; Martha Stewart scalloped border punch