Pansies

Welcome, everyone!  The Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog is turning TWO this month! To celebrate, we're excited to bring you our "We're Turning Two" Blog Hop! We're being sponsored by AuroraWings! Come hop with us for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to the AuroraWings Etsy Shop!

As you hop, collect letters at each stop and be sure to leave each designer some love. Once you have collected all the letters, unscramble them and email your guess to ltscb@mail.com - then all the correct guesses will be entered into the drawing for the Aurora Wings gift certificate!

All of the LTSCB designers are using 'two of something' on our inspiration projects. Everyone participating in the blog hop is invited to link up a project using 'two of something' for an EXTRA entry into the drawing! **Be sure to use the same email address to email your guess and to link up your project so we can make sure you're given two entries into the drawing!**

Here is my card using the gorgeous "Pansy Girl" image:

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pansies!  They are my absolute favorite flower.  Given the choice between receiving a bouquet of roses or a flat of pansies, I would take the pansies!  So, when I saw this image, I knew I HAD to have it.  My mom also loves pansies and her birthday is coming up, so I put together this card for her.  I have a lot of "Two of Something" on here: two die cut pansies, two punched butterflies, two colors, two "patterned papers" (I stamped them), and two words in my sentiment.  I think that covers it all. : )  Here is a close up of the gorgeous image:

When I saw all the bubbles on the image, I thought they would look awesome decorated with a pearl pen, and they do!  It really adds a lot of texture, too.

My letters are R and E.

Here are your blog hop stops:

Ann

Brenda

Heather--that's me!

Leslie

Lillian

Linda

Tina

We hope you are enjoying the hop and if you get lost along the way - or if you landed here in the middle of the hop and want to join in the fun - head over to the Love To Scrap!Challenge Blog to read all the details and start from the beginning!

Happy Hopping!

Challenges;
Crafty Catz #272--whimsical fantasy

Sister Act Card Challenge #99--anything goes

ART Impressions #156--spring colors

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

The Paper Shelter #196--Blooming

Crafter's Cafe #109--Spring Flowers

Crafting by Designs--flowers with a twist: use punched and/or die cut flowers

Loves Rubberstamps #144--create your own background

Tuesday Morning Sketches #295--sketch

{Pin}spirational #136--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the flowers, lavender, and green)

Your Next Stamp #10--this time I went with the color combo

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #273--Easter or spring
Sentimental Sundays #252--Springtime . . . flowers
Lacy Sunshine Challenge # 55--Butterfly kisses and springtime wishes
Aurora Wings #13--anything goes with handcolored image

Supplies:

Stamps: Aurora Wings "Pansy Girl" digi; Verve "Be Blessed" sentiment "JustRite Stampers "Stitched" background stamp; PTI "Turning a New Leaf" and "Guide Lines 2"; Hero Arts French Script (stamped over the backgrounds to add more interest and tone down the colors a bit)

Dies/punches: Spellbinders "Fleur De Lis Squares" and "Pansy"; Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Blessed is She

I made this background a while ago and it just didn't work for the project I was working on, so I held onto it.  I finally decided to make it work and made this pretty little floral number.

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge #99--anything goes

Creative Knockouts #82--spring is in the air

ART Impressions #156--spring colors

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes

Sugar Pea Designs #14--celebrate spring

Crafter's Cafe #109--spring flowers

Word Art Wednesday #176--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

One Stitch At A Time #233--nature

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Joyful Blooms" and "Luke 1: 45" plain Jane; PTI "The Sweet Life" flourish

Dies: PTI "Turning a New Leaf"

God's love at Easter

This card was made possible by my favorite little crafter, my youngest daughter (she's 6).  Almost every time she sees me making cards, she wants to make some too.  I have a bunch of papers that I'm not real fond of (read: never use) so I let the girls have free range with them.  Well, she pulled out this purple floral to use and when I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for the Easter card I was making.  Purple is the color associated with royalty, after all.  So, here it is:

 I only have one Easter set with sentiments and both sentiments were way too big for the front of my card.  But then I thought that there is no better sentiment to express Easter than the word "love" since it was pure love that caused Christ to die on the cross.  Then, to finish off the inside:

Challenges:
Jo's Scrap Shack #81--Easter
Brown Sugar Challenge #139--Easter
Meljen's Designs #253--Easter
Sugar Pea Designs #14--Celebrate Spring (to me Easter is the unofficial start of spring)
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch (I turned mine on it's side)

Word Art Wednesday #176--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Fan-tastic Challenge #78--Easter (must be a square or a rectangle)
Our Daily Bread Designs #231--Easter/Spring Religious inspiration
Crafty Cardmakers #135--Spring has sprung
Eureka Stamps #133--think Spring
Sister Act Card Challenge #99--anything goes
Wags n' Whiskers #150--monochromatic
Crafty Ribbons--anything goes
Craftin' Desert Divas--Easter
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Supplies:
Stamps: Eureka Stamps "Small Draped Cross with Thorns"; Verve "Text Objects" outer sentiment; Flourishes Easter Set sentiment on the inside
Dies: Verve "Charming Ovals"; Spellbinders "Radiant Rectangles" and Gilded Life embossing strip

Sweet Anniversary

Friends of ours are celebrating their 25th Anniversary this weekend (well, the surprise party is this weekend, anyway).  I had a fun time creating the "papers" for this one for PTI's Make it Monday challenge this week.  It makes me wonder why I don't do it more often.  You can see a better shot of the patterns and a description of each at the end of the post.

 Here is the sentiment on the inside:

 Here are the "papers" without anything covering them up:

The largest panel was created by stamping 3 different medallions from "Mehndi Medallions" in aqua mist, sweet blush and new leaf, then I stamped a French script over top with grout gray ink.  The flower panel was made with the flowers and leaves from "The Sweet Life" using sweet blush, berry sorbet and new leaf.  I then stamped the same script in grout gray.  The little banner was stamped with "Distressed Stripes" in aqua mist.

Challenges:
Cards Galore--anything goes
Cuttin' & Stampin' #10--girly
Crafty Creations #285--chevrons or stripes
Crafty Ribbons--anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #98--anything goes
Crafty Catz--no patterned paper
Fussy & Fancy #135--girly
Viva La Verve March week 3--sketch

Fashionable Stamping Challenges  #94--Favorite "Go To" stamp (mine has recently become "The Sweet Life"; I've used it a LOT the last couple months; also "Damask Designs is one I reach for all the time for it's sentiments)
Make It Monday #206--stamping & mixing patterns
Loves Rubberstamps #144--create your own background
Top Tip Tuesday--buttons or bows
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "The Sweet Life", "Mehndi Medallions", "Damask Designs" (outside sentiment)  and "Distressed Stripes"; Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps "Anniversary Innies" inside sentiments
Dies: Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs"
PTI aqua mist cardstock and ribbon (made using my Bow Easy)

Little Cowgirl

My little cowgirl turns 9 tomorrow!!  Yes, even though we live in Southern New England, I have a cowgirl.  Her grandma has horses and the girl is following in her footsteps.  She wears her cowboy boots everywhere and just got her new cowboy hat for her birthday (the other one wore out months ago!) so this sweet image is absolutely PERFECT for her.

 I made a little polaroid type frame for her and filled it with sequins for a fun little shaker.  Here's a close up of it in action:

Challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown #237--Shake it Up (make a shaker card)
Sentimental Sundays #251--buttons, brads and/or bling (I have a pearl brad, gumdrops, and lots of sequins
YNS #10--sketch

Jo's Scrap Shack #80--special birthday
Sister Act Card Challenge #98--anything goes
Brown Sugar #138--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #303--Mather's Day or for a Female
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #175--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Cuttlebug Mania--Freeze Frame
Sugar Pea Designs--Shake That Thing
The Paper Girls--Shakers
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper

Supplies:
Stamps: The Paper Shelter "Adorable Cowgirl"; MFT "Delicious Birthday"; PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" inside sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics" rectangle; MFT cowboy charms; PTI "By the Numbers" number 9
Papers: DCWV

Frosting on top

This might be my new favorite birthday stamp set (Delicious Birthday) simply because of this sentiment.  I LOVE frosting and it's the reason I eat cake. : )

 I actually used three stamp sets to create the card.  Two different sentiment sets and the cupcake set.  So fun!  Here is the (combined) sentiment on the inside:

Challenges:
Verve's Diva Inspiration Challenge--birthdays

Word Art Wednesday #175--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Frosted Designs--think pink
Sister Act Card Challenge #97--anything goes
As You See It #78--sketch

Suzy Bee's #71--spots and/or stripes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Through the Purple Haze #82--for a woman
Cuttin' and Stampin' #10--girly
Crafter's Cafe #68--chevrons or stripes

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT "Delicious Birthday"; PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" and "Baker's Dozen"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13"
Papers: MME "Kate & Co."

Retirement

I've had this stamp set for several months now and have been waiting for an occasion to use it.  Well, finally, the occasion has arrived.  A man at our church is retiring, so I made him a cute little retirement card. 

Don't you just love his hat?!  Here is the inside :

I'm also linking it up to The Daily Marker's 30 day coloring challenge.

Challenges:
Pattie's Creations #108--use green in your image (the little fish is small, but he's green!)
Southern Girls--boys, boys, boys
Sister Act Card Challenge #97--anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes
Sugar Pea Designs #22--sketch

Raisin Boat #32--It's a guy thing

Supplies:
Stamps: Sugar Pea Designs "Great Catch" image and sentiment; Verve "To the Moon" congrats
 sentiment; MFT "Typewriter" background stamp
Dies: Verve "Flag It"
YNS gumdrops

Lucky Charm

We don't really celebrate St. Patrick's Day, so I don't think I've ever made a St. Paddy's Day card.  But I had these "charms" in my bits and pieces stash waiting to be used, so I made a little card to stick in my husband's lunchbox.  A little surprise to say "I Love You".

 Here's a close up of the charms and a bit of the shaker element.

Challenges:
Craft Hoarders Anonymous--Go green
Southern Girls--boys, boys, boys
Jo's Scrap Shack #79--Lucky clover
Lacy Sunshine #54--go green
Eureka Stamps #132--the color green
The Paper Girls--shakers
Sweet Stamps--Luck
Digi Sketch Challenge--Theme: anything goes, sketch

Raisin Boat #32--It's a guy thing
Sugar Pea Designs--Shake that thing
Cuttlebug Mania--Freeze frame
Loves Rubberstamps #143--a touch of metal (aluminum tape is metal, I think)

Supplies:
Stamps: Flourishes charm bracelet set (can't think of what it is called), PTI "Damask Designs" sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics"; MFT "Blueprints 13 Die-namics"

Peeps

Hi, everyone!!  This is my inspiration post for the new Love To Scrap Challenge Blog challenge: Anything goes.  We have several fabulous sponsors:

All Dressed Up Stamps

prize is 2 images

Leslie Turner (the owner of LTSCB!"

a surprise grab bag of goodies

DRS Designs

$10 gift certificate

I was able to choose an image and sentiment from DRS Designs to work with and I chose the new "Simple Easter Bunny" and "Favorite Peep Greeting" because, really, who doesn't love a Peep!!??

 As you can see, I actually made 4 cards because I just couldn't resist.  I printed out four peeps on four different peep colored card stock then covered them with coordinating glitters to make them look all sugary like the real thing.  Aren't they just adorable!!??  I used the same layout for all four, just switched up the card stock color and I had to use two different floral papers to match up better with the card stock.  I started with this one for my grandmother because her favorite color is yellow.  This one is actually my favorite; it looks the most realistic.

 The pink one will probably go to my parents.  My mom shares my love of Peeps.

 The green is for my brother and his wife.  The green is the most "masculine" even if it does have pink, flowery paper.  : )  My brother says he does NOT like Peeps, but I think he just doesn't want anyone to know.

 And this one will be for my sister and her husband, but mostly for her because she also loves peeps, but only when they are stale.

Phew, you made it!  Sorry for the long post, but you just had to be able to see each of them.  Now hop on over to LTSCB and see what the rest of the DT has whipped up.

Challenges:
Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Crafting by Designs Monthly Challenge--anything goes
Your Next Stamp #9--sketch

Wags n' Whiskers #149--ready for Spring
Crafty Cardmakers #134--for a special woman (these are almost all for the special women in my family)
Word Art Wednesday #174--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
DRS Designs #165--flowers abound (all over my papers)
Frosted Designs--think pink
Sister Act Card Challenge #97--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: DRS Designs "Simple Easter Bunny" and "Favorite Peep Greeting";
Dies: Spellbinders "Matting Basics" rectangles; Sweet n' Sassy grass die
Papers: MME "Kate & Co."

The Star

Happy mid-March!  This is my mid-month inspiration for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra:

Remember that we are an anything goes, month long challenge.  All you have to do is make a Christmas card, any kind you want!  Our sponsor, as always, is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.

Challenges:
Christmas @ Sweet Stamping--Blue Christmas (the papers look kind of green, but they are more blue in real life)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Crafting By Designs Monthly Challenge--anything goes
Eureka Stamps #131--anything goes
Sweet Stamps--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #174--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting By Designs--Get ready for Christmas
C.R.A.F.T. #301--Christmas
Winter Wonderland--blue Christmas (the papers look kind of green, but they are more blue in real life)
Sister Act Card Challenge #97--anything goes
Viva La Verve March week 2--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Word Art By Karen "Matthew 2:10"
Dies/embossing folders:  Verve "Classy Labels" die; Spellbiners "Standard Circles, large" and "Standard Scalloped Circles, large"; Darice snowflake embossing folder; Sizzix star die
Papers: MME "Kate & Co."

Love

I am in love with this card!  I don't know if you are really supposed to say that or not, but I just do!  It is for a young friend's bridal shower.  I created the "patterned paper" with a script sentiment stamp and a damask stamp that I stamped off on scrap paper before stamping it on the panel.  

Here is a close up of this gorgeous image.  I was at a loss as to how to "color" the veil part since I knew it should look different than the unveiled part of the image.  Then I had the genius idea to use vellum.  I cut out just the veil section and layered it over the original image after I colored it.  It is sooooo perfect!!  Subtle, but if you study it, you can see the effect.  Then I used a viva pearl pen to add little pearls to the veil.  Some antique silver frantage embossing finished it off.

Challenges:
Southern Girls--get your girly on
Frosted Designs--homemade flowers & recycled materials (the lace is a piece I cut off one of my daughter's shirts that was too stained to pass on when she grew out of it)
Sister Act Card Challenge #95--anything goes
Crafting Musketeers #23--ribbons and pearls
One Sweet Challenge--pastels, ribbon, lace AND pearls; use all three (I hope my blue is pastel-y enough)
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Lacy Sunshine Challenge #53--a passion for fashion
Sweet Stamps #211--all girly
Digi Sketch challenge--sketch

Clear it Out Challenge--Theme: anything goes; Stash: anything goes
Creative Inspirations #303--something old (the blue card stock is probably at least 10 years old)

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! "Noteworthy" sentiment; A Day For Daisies "Wedding Veil"; PTI "Damask Designs"; Hero Arts French Script
Dies: Spellbinders "Fleur Di Lis Squares"; Verve "Charming Ovals"; Sizzix star die (flower "leaves")
Fiskars flower punch

Sympathy 2

I've had to make not one, but two sympathy cards this week.  As I said in my previous post, I'm really trying to be better about sending them out.  I know they are really appreciated.

Challenges:

Word Art Wednesday #172--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Crafting By Designs--thinking of you

C.R.A.F.T. #300--Get Well/Sympathy/Sorry

Sister Act Card Challenge #95--anything goes

The Paper Nest Dolls #3--anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown #234--circles

Time Out Challenge #25--Rock Around the Clock

Shopping Our Stash #191--no-so-heavy metal (use your oldest hardware)--remember when eyelets were THE embellishment?  : )

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI "The Sweet Life", "Hands of Time", and "Boutique Borders: Sympathy"; Hero Arts musical background

Dies: PTI "The Sweet Life"; Spellbinders "Standard Circles, large" and "Classic Scalloped Circles, large"; Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch

Papers: MME "Kate & Co"; SU! rose red card stock

Inks: PTI sweet blush, berry sorbet, new leaf; Memento "Grout Gray"

Sympathy 1

An older woman at our church lost her sister this week.  I haven't always been very good at sending sympathy cards, so I'm trying to do better.  I know they can really be encouraging.

 Here's a close up of those gorgeous little Lilly of the Valley flowers.  Can't wait for them to come out this spring; the smell is so heavenly!  I used a second Lilly of the Valley stamp to create a background on the kraft layer, but unfortunately the focal panel obscures most of them.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #172--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafting By Designs--thinking of you
C.R.A.F.T. #300--Get Well/Sympathy/Sorry
MFT Color Challenge #16 (I didn't end up using any yellow, just couldn't make it work; I hope it's ok)

Wags n' Whiskers #148--use kraft
Suzy Bee's #69--embossing (the lacy background is heat embossed)
Sentimental Sunday #248--anything goes
Mojo Monday #387--sketch

Card Mania #66--spring

Supplies:
Stamps: Fred She Said "Lilly of the Valley" digi; PTI "Boutique Borders: Sympathy" and "Year of Flowers: Collection"; Our Daily Bread Designs "Crochet" Background
Dies: Spellbinders "Standard Circles, large" and "Large Scalloped Circles"

Spring Is Coming

I have exciting news!!  I have been asked to join the Design Team from Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog!!  I am so excited and so honored to be asked to be part of the team.  Today is my first challenge as a team member and the challenge is "Buttons and Bows".  We have a fabulous line up of sponsors and prizes:

A Day For Daisies: $12 gift certificate

Bugaboo Digital Stamps: 7 images of choice

Limited Runs Stamps: 3 images of choice

I was able to choose an image from Limited Runs to work with and I chose this beautiful "Birdhouse #1":

 I paired it with some gorgeous MME paper and some sparkly frantage around the image.  You can see it a bit better in the following photo.

In keeping with my personal challenge to use up my "bits and pieces" stash, I used the little bit of picket fence.  It really adds to the garden feel of the image.  Now, it's time to hop on over to LTSCB and see the projects from the rest of the DT.  Then it's time to get inky and play along.

Challenges:
Fussy and Fancy Challenges #133--tic tac toe (I used the lace, pearls, sparkle column and the die/punch, ribbon and wet embossing column)
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #140--use ribbon and/or lace (I used both)
Shopping Our Stash #190--out of the jar (frantage embossing powder)
Creative Inspirations #302--luscious lace
The Crafter's Cafe #105--lots of layers
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

The Paper Shelter #192--make it digital
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Art Impressions #154--Tie it up
Winter Wonderland--tie a bow
Sister Act Card Challenge #95--anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #135--anything goes
Meljen's Designs #249--seeing spots

Supplies:
Stamps: Limited Runs "Birdhouse #1"
Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Stamps fence die
Papers: MME "Kate & Co"; PTI Aqua Mist card stock

Cutie Bear

Happy March!!  That means spring is coming, right?  I hope so, 'cause we are still buried in snow and I think I heard more is coming mid-week.  Anyway, since it is the beginning of the new month that means it is time for a new challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is anything goes (as long as it is Christmas related) all month long.  Our fabulous sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.  Up to this point, "Plush Reindeer" has been my absolute favorite Bugaboo image, but as I was trolling through the images I came across this adorable bear.  He is soooo cute!!  

I have exciting news:  I've been asked to join the Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog design team!!!  Yippie!!  So excited and so humbled that they wanted me to join them.  The next challenge starts tomorrow and it will be my debut.  So make sure you come back to see how it goes. : )

Challenges:
Cuttin' and Stampin' #8--anything goes
ABC Christmas--D is for Die cuts
Through the Purple Haze #79--anything goes
Digi Sketch Challenge--sketch

Tuesday Throwdown #233--anything goes
Clear it Out--Theme: animals  Stash: striped papers
Crafter's Cafe #105--lots of layers
Fab n' Funky Challenge #248--Christmas: let's see some snowflakes
The Paper Shelter #192--make it digital
DRS Designs #163--All ears
Sister Act Card Challenge #95--anything goes
Crafty Catz #268--use your dies/punches

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Polar Bear"
Dies: Spellbiners "Layered Poinsettias"; PTI "Fancy Flakes"; Whimsy Stamps snowflake
Papers: American Crafts "Jolly"