My Anchor

I made this card for my husband for his birthday.  He definitely is my strong anchor and I knew this set from Verve was perfect for his birthday.  Love it!!  Don't you love the embossed diagonal stripes in the background?

 I mixed it with this fabulous sentiment from PTI; perfect for my husband, too.

Challenges:
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #48--Anything goes with red
Crafty Catz--birthdays
Sister Act Card Challenge #76--anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #43--anything goes
The Stamping Chef #48--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #151--anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
The Squirrel & the Fox #78--happy birthday
Viva La Verve September week 2--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Strong Anchor"; PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" inside sentiment; Sweet 'n' Sassy "Celebrating Milestones" numbers; YNS "Silly Monsters" happy birthday
Dies embossing folder: Verve "Strong Anchor" dies; Darice diagonal stripes embossing folder

Candy Canes

Happy Friday!!  Time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week the challenge is "No Traditional Colors".  Our sponsor is DRS Designs and the winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to their shop (for rubber stamps!!)  I was totally going with purple as I think it is awesome for Christmas projects and is definitely not traditional.  Then I received this beautiful candy cane image to work with and realized the purple was not going to work.  I know there are non-traditional colored candy canes out there, but I just couldn't do it!  But as this image has double stripes, sometimes there are pink in those kind of candy canes and that is the direction I went.  And my all time favorite color combo is pink and green.  I do realize that green is traditional, but I don't think this shade of green really counts as it is more of a mint.  Anyway, enough blabbering; here is my card:

 Here is the sentiment on the inside:

Challenges:

September Verve Diva Dare--Terrific Trios (use 3 of something--I used three pearls and three sentiment stamps)

Holly Jolly--ribbons or lace

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesdays--anything goes

Treasured Times #25--anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge #43--inspiration photo

Tuesday Morning Sketches #268--sketch

Sweet Stamps--favorite embellishments (ribbons and pearls)

Crafting By Designs--Get ready for Christmas

The Stamping Chef #48--anything goes

Fab 'n' Funky #230--Christmas

Supplies:

Stamps: DRS Designs "Candy Canes" (mine is a digi, but the real image is rubber); Verve "Merry & Bright" sentiments and snowflakes

Dies: Spellbinders classic circles, large and a scalloped circle I just got; don't remember the name; PTI "Frosty Flakes"; Verve "Flag It" dies

Beautiful Baby

Last month I went out to visit my brother and sister-in-law and their new baby.  I know having company when you have a newborn can be stressful, so I made this card for them to stress how much I appreciated them letting me come.

Challenges:
{Pin}spirational Challenge #124--inspiration photo

Crafty Creations #272--vintage
Pattie's Creations #100--vintage
Eureka #107--vintage or distressed
Southern Girls--girly or shabby chic
A Day For Daisies #105--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: ADFD "New Baby" digi; PTI "Hands of Time" sentiment
Dies: spellbinders ovals, large, and Floral Doily Motifs (brackets)

Lots of Layers

Happy Friday!!  It's time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  I have a lot going on for this weekend and I am the Queen of Procrastination so I was thinking my project this week would be quick and easy: CAS for sure.  Probably even one layer.  Then I checked the challenge details and realized it is: Lots of Layers!  Now for me that is anything BUT quick and easy.  Groan . . .   But as you can see, I didn't get too crazy.  I do have lots of layers, but I kept it relatively simple, just a few embellies.  I actually really like how it came out.  The color combo is really fun (and it really is Christmas paper, too.)

Now, it's your turn.  Head on over to the CSAYL blog for the full details and to see how the rest of the DT layered it up.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve September week 1--sketch

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #46--anything goes
Love to Scrap Challenge #38--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #150--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
The Stamping Chef #47--anything goes
Holly Jolly--ribbons or lace (isn't that pleated ribbon so fun!?)
ABC Christmas--S if for something festive
The Paper Shelter--ribbon, twine and/or floss (must use at least one)

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Richly Blessed" sentiment, and "Merry & Bright" snowflake
Papers: American Crafts
YNS gumdrops
Dies: Verve "Flag It" die

Apples

I just love Fall; the crisp air, apple, pumpkins, leaves (well, not when they fall in my yard), and all the yummy Fall scents.  Love it!  I've had this cute little image for a couple years, and have never colored it up before.  I finally got the chance and I think she is just adorable!!  

Challenges:

Sweet 'n' Sassy--Fall colors

The Cutie Pie Challenge #78--cute with shades of autumn

Milk Coffee Challenge--colors of autumn

Supplies:

Stamps: Stamping with Dragon "Bushel Apples"; Flourishes "Apple of My Eye" sentiment and apple image on background

Dies: spellbinders "Labels One"; PTI maple leaf

Snowflake

Can you believe it is the 15th of September already?  Well, it is and that means it is time for our mid-month inspiration from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is anything goes all month long!!  Doesn't get any easier than that.  Here is my card.

Quite quick and easy, actually.  Well, at least it was supposed to be, but even quick and easy seems to take me much longer than it should!  I die cut the snowflake from the blue paper (don't those white dots make you think of falling snow?  It does to me!) and also from white cardstock.  I placed the white snowflake inside the outline on the blue paper to use as a template for gluing the little blue pieces back into place.  That way  the snowflake is cut "into" the blue panel instead of being on top of it.  In real life it gives a bit of a fun look.  Then I stamped the sentiment on another white panel and scored lines on either side of it (it's hard to see in the photo, but if you look closely, you'll see it.)  Then adhered the blue sequins and it's all set to go.
  If you haven't started yet, it is definitely time to start on those Christmas cards!  I don't even want to mention how quickly it is coming!!

Challenges:
Southern Girls--we've got the winter blues
Delightful Challenges--simple times (clean & simple card)
C.R.A.F.T. #276--Christmas
Sister Act Card Challenge #74--anything goes
Crafty Catz #246--CAS

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Ornamental Christmas"
Dies: PTI "Fancy Flakes"

One sheet box

Hello, all!  Friday has arrived once again and it is time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: make a Christmas project that is NOT a card.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.  Here is my project:

 I was surfing through Pinterest the other day and came across a tutorial for the adorable little box.  It uses a complete 12x12 sheet of paper and involves NO cutting.  Nice and easy; my kind of project. : )

 As you can see, I created a little belly band and decorated it with a couple tags and my all time favorite Bugaboo image: "Plush Reindeer".  He is just so cute!!!

 When you open up the box, it is just the perfect size for a container of SU! brads (or whatever else they sell in these little containers these days).  So it's perfect for just a little something that you want to make appear extra-special.

Without anything inside, the box folds down flat.  Perfect for storing until you need to use it, or so the recipient can save it and use it to give a gift themselves.  And as you can see, if you use a double-sided paper, you get a fun little surprise on the inside.  Now it's your turn.  Can't wait to see what non-card projects you all come up with.

Challenges:
Fussy and Fancy #122--more than one fold (this one has a LOT of folds)
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #45--anything goes
Treasured Times #24--anything goes
One Stitch at a Time #219--anything goes with a die
The Stamping Chef #46--anything goes
Divas By Design--anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Little Miss Muffet #94--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #276--Christmas

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Plush Reindeer" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettias" and "Scalloped Tags"; Verve "Sprightly Sprigs"

School Time

Within the past month or so, I have posted cards made by my two younger daughters.  Not to be outdone, my oldest also had to make a card.  She's eight and what she lacks in technique she more than makes up for in creativity.  This card was entirely her own idea.  She made the chalkboard all by herself (I only suggested that she use white ink as the "chalk") and she drew the desk and chairs.  She also put the little shiny spot on the apple all on her own.  I didn't even notice it until just now.  She watches everything I do and never misses a thing.

Challenges:

Milk Coffee--back to school

Sentimental Sundays #222--back to school

The Paper Girls #63--back to school

Through the Purple Haze #57--anything goes

Creative Inspirations #279--Back to school

C.R.A.F.T. #275--back to school

Sister Act Card Challenge #73--anything goes

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI "Fresh Alphabet"

Happy Snowman

Happy Friday!  And Happy September!!  Less than 4 months until Christmas.  That means it's time to get to work on those Christmas cards.  What better way than to join us at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long?  This week our challenge is: use only ONE stamp.  Our sponsor is Di's Digis and the winner will get to choose some of their adorable images.  Here's my card:

Doesn't that snowman look so happy?  I just love him.  Now, let's see what you can do.

Challenges:
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #44--anything goes
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #44--snowmen
Cards Galore #9--make a card
Cuttlebug Mania--anything embossed
Sweet Stamps #185--embossing
Loves Rubberstamps #119--anything goes
Holly Jolly--choose R or E or D (I have R-red rickrack, E-embossing, D-snowflake die)
The Stamping Chef #45--anything goes
My Favorite Things #192--sketch

Shopping Our Stash #167--don't crimp my style (I don't have a real paper crimper or corrugated cardboard, but I did find some rick rack in my stash)

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Snowman Topper"
Dies/embossing folders: Papertrey Ink "Fancy Flakes"; cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Yummy

This past weekend, my family and I spent some time with some Amish friends in PA.  Labor Day is their annual "stamping day" and a whole bunch of them get together and stamp for the entire day.  My mother-in-law and I joined in and stamped away.  This is one of the cards I put together.  I've had this image printed out for a long time; I brought a bunch of stuff that needed to be used up and this is one of those that finally found a home.

Challenges:
Digi Stamps 4 Joy #100--celebrations
{Pin}spirational Challenge #123--inspiration photo (I went with the cupcakes)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Sister Act Card Challenge #72--anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #100--birthdays
Time Out Challenge #13--if music be the food of love, play on (I was inspired by the food)
Seems a Little Sketchy--sketch

Your Next Stamp--sketch or inspiration photo (I used the inspiration photo)

Raisin Boat #26--Happy Birthday

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Hands of Time" sentiment; can't remember where the cupcake came from (it was a freebie)
Dies: spellbinders "Scalloped Tags", Classic circles and scalloped circles, large; Papertrey Ink button die

Baby Jesus

Happy Labor Day!  And happy September 1st!  My how the time is flying by.  Since it is the start of a new month, it is also the start of a new challenge at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra and as always it is anything goes all month long.  Our sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.  Here is my card:

Isn't this image cute?  Now it's your turn; show us what you've got.  It's time to get busy with those Christmas cards.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve August week 4--sketch

Creative Inspirations #278--flower power
Crafter's Cafe #74--use your punches & dies
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesdays--anything goes
Delightful Challenges--layer it
Little Miss Muffet #93--blues & greens (I have used other accent colors, but my main colors are blue and green--hope it's good enough)
Brown Sugar Challenge--anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #72--anything goes
Completely Christmas #26--anything goes


Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Christmas words--Jesus"
Dies/punches: Spellbinders "Fleur Di Lis Squares"; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" star border die; Martha Stewart scalloped border punch
Papers: American Crafts