Jesus

Happy July 1st!!  To me, the first of July always signals the beginning of summer, so, Happy Summer!  With that said, it's time to shift gears and think about Christmas!!  Today begins the start of a new challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra!  As always, it is Anything Goes as long as it is Christmas related, and you have all month to play along.  The sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice!  Here is my card for your inspiration:

I'm really trying to use up the last little bits of patterned paper from a Christmas pack that I have had for many years.  Both pieces I used on this card are from that pack and I think I managed to use both of them just about all up.  One of the remaining pieces might be small enough to throw away, but I'm just not sure. : )  There was a little strip from the dotted paper that I ended up cutting off, but I added it to the inside, you can just see it peeking out in the picture.  I hope you will get a chance to play along this month.  We are more than half way to Christmas, so it's time to get working on those Christmas cards!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Christmas Words--Jesus"; Verve "Richly Blessed" sentiment (heat embossed on the blue paper)
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:
If You Give a Crafter A Cookie #47--inspiration photo; anything goes (I was inspired by the cream and chocolate colors of those yummy looking cookies!)

Cute Card Thursday #432--add a banner or flags (my sentiment banner)
As You Like It--Markers, inks or pencils and why (I prefer using markers, I love the rich depth you can achieve using them)
Little Miss Muffet #141--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #90--anything goes
Crafty Gals #78--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #284--anything goes
Fab N Funky Challenge #311--Christmas
Crafty Creations #318--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge #30--anything goes
Sweet Stampin--seeing stars
Hiding In My Craft Room #256--any holiday
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #287--use a sentiment
Crimbo Crackers--anything goes
Sugar Pea Designs Mix It Up #1--sketch and/or photo (I used the sketch)

Beautiful Days

Hi, everyone!!  It's Wednesday again, can you believe it?!  That means it's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week is a fan favorite: Anything Goes.  He is my card using my favorite sentiment and favorite flower set from Repeat Impressions:

Don't you just love that sentiment?  It's sooooo beautiful and really can be used for so many occasions, wedding, anniversary, birthday, thinking of you . . .  And the new frames just released last week are perfect for adding interest and grounding those sentiments!  I was able to use up some dp scraps on this one (the two on the ends aren't even long enough, but by cutting them in half and adhering them to the back of the sentiment panel at the appropriate places, they work out perfectly!  And the leaves were already in my bits and pieces stash, so I feel like I was able to use up a few things (even if they were really small things).  I hope you get a chance to play along and remember, if you "need" any of the stamps I used or have others on your list, I have a 10% off you entire order code on my left sidebar!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions: "Flower Power Separates: 'Daisy Outline, small' and 'Daisy Solid, small'", "Dotted Rectangle Frame, small" and "Beautiful Days"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Darice sheet music embossing folder

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #258--how does your garden grow (flower)
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #235--anything goes with snippets
One Stitch At a Time #265--flowers
Creative Fingers #112--anything goes
Brown Sugar #204--anything goes
Southern Girls--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #236--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
The Paper Girls #106--use your scraps
Viva La Verve June week 2--sketch

Fussy and Fancy #166--Say it with Flowers

Just because

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a fun sketch for you to try:

I decided to go all soft and dreamy with this one.

This aqua blue is just so beautiful, and I love it paired with soft gray, too.  I started by stamping the background stamp with a pale gray.  Then I stamped the image on two of the circles using versamark ink and white embossing powder, and sponged the aqua blue ink over the image to make it pop.  Added the sentiment to the smallest circle and finished it off with three tiny rhinestones and a bit of sheer ribbon.
I hope you get a chance to play along; I can't wait to see what you come up with.  Hop on over to The House blog for the full details and to see what the rest of the team has created.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Flower Power Background", "Because" and "Dandelion Breeze"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"

Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania--mid summer (use flowers and/or wreaths)
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #336--flowers
Fussy and Fancy #166--say it with flowers
As You Like It--favorite die & why (still lovin' this stitched rectangle.  I really use it all the time)
Fashionable Stamping #112--beautiful blooms
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Unforgettable

Hi, so glad you stopped by!  Today is the beginning of a new challenge on The Love To Scrap Challenge Blog: Anything Goes.  We have three fabulous sponsors:

Sweet Stamps

Lemon Shortbread

Angie's Digital Stamps

I chose this adorable image from Angie's Digital Stamps, as I felt she was perfect for a summer card.  She has such a yummy looking ice cream cone.

I pieced her dress with some scraps and put her in a polaroid frame to creat a fun little "scene".  I used some scraps from the same patterned paper pack to the rest of the card and finished it off with some sweet little buttons.  I hope you will get the chance to play along with us.  Now, hop on over to the LTSCB blog for the full details and to see what the rest of the DT created for the challenge.

Supplies:

Stamps: Angie's Digital Stamps "Daisy May with an Ice Cream Cone"; Raisin Boat Stamps: "Flourishing Thoughts"

Dies: Lawn Fawn polaroid die; Verve "Flag It" larger banner; MFT "Blueprints 13" small banner

Challenges:

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #234--anything goes with snippets (all the paper on this card is from scraps except the yellow stripes)

Di's Digis--summer

Creative Knockouts #146--summer fun

Crafty Ribbons #156--anything goes (the white horizontal "strip" is a satin ribbon)

Crafty Gals #76--summer fun

The Paper Shelter #253--ribbon and buttons

Shopping Our Stash #256--Let me take a selfie

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes AND I use the monthly sketch (rotated on it's side)

So glad

Hi!  It's my turn to share a Project Of The Week over on The House That Stamps Built blog.  

This week, I'm going to show you how I change the look of my sentiments with a masking technique.  It's really a nice easy technique and gives you lots of options for using the same sentiment and making it fit your project.

Supplies I used:

--Sentiment (Repeat Impressions "I'm so glad . . .")

--Desired card stock or paper

--washi tape (or other low tack tape--I use scotch tape a lot, too)

--ink

--stamp-a-ma-jig

As you can see, my sentiment is long and thin, and I want it to be stacked up the corner.

 I start by lining up the clear sheet in the corner of my stamp-a-ma-jig, and then stamping the sentiment, also lining up the clear block in the corner of the tool.  After you stamp the sentiment, make sure you clean your stamp really well.  You don't want any stray ink!

 Using the plastic sheet, line up the sentiment where you want it.  I wanted to start with the end of my sentiment, so I made sure the "there's you" part was lined up in the correct place.  Then place the tool right up against the corner of the sheet.  Then remove the sheet, careful not to move the tool.

 Place a piece of tape over the part of the sentiment you DON'T want to use and ink up the stamp like normal.

 Remove the tape, line up  your block in the corner of the tool and stamp.  Because the tape took the inking, you're left with just the part you wanted to use.  Remember to clean the stamp really well, again.

 Using the plastic sheet, I then lined up the rest of the sentiment, placing it just over the part I already stamped.

 Place the tape over the part of the sentiment you already used and ink up the rest.

 Using the stamp-a-ma-jig like before, I stamped the "I'm so glad" part of the sentiment.

 And here you can see the difference between how I stamped the sentiment and how it was designed (on the white card stock).  This technique really stretches the usage you can get out of your sentiment stamps.  You can do the same thing for sentiments that are stacked that you want to be side by side, or even use it to stamp only a word out of the sentiment (like I did on this card here).

I hope you'll give this technique a try!  Here's my finished card:

I also used Repeat Impressions "Butterfly, small" to finish my card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Butterfly, small" and "I'm so glad . . ."
Dies: Spellbinders "Standard Circles, large" and "Teardrop Circles"; Verve "Flag It" large banner; MFT "Blueprints 13" small banners

Challenges:
Crafty Catz #329--going dotty
Cute Card Thursday #430--little bugs or butterflies
Inspiration Destination #90--anything goes
Penny's Challenges #282--anything goes
One Stitch At A Time #264--layer it up
Sugar Pea Mix it Up #2--I used the sketch

Word Art Wednesday #234--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
The Paper Nest Girls #6--anything goes

New Release

Repeat Impressions' Frames - Rectangle & Marquee Release! 

Please join us at The House That Stamps Built this week as we celebrate another new release in Repeat Impressions' online store. This latest stamp series is called Frames - Rectangle & Marquee. This Thursday thru Sunday some of the RI Rock Stars are posting their wonderful creations to showcase the new series. 

These stamp designs are all now available as wood mounts, cling mounts, and as plain, unmounted rubber in the Repeat Impressions online store. This series is also available as one plain unmounted sheet of rubber so that you can get ALL 4 stamps in this series at a big savings. 

To view the complete series and purchase any of the designs please visit the Frames - Rectangle & Marquee page of Repeat's online store at... http://www.repeatimpressions.com/framesrectangle.html 

Please visit The House That Stamps Built blog each day... Thursday, June 16 through Sunday, June 19, and leave your comments there to be entered into a drawing to win an unmounted sheet of RI's Frames - Rectangle & Marquee series. To qualify for this free giveaway your comments must be left no later than 5pm eastern time on Sunday, June 19.  On Monday, June 20,  Wendy will announce the winner on Repeat's Facebook page so be sure to "Like" and follow them there if you don't already. 

Comment on RI's blog... http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com 
Follow RI on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/RepeatImpressions

Now, onto my projects:

 For the first card, I used the Flower Power Separates set that we released last month.  I just LOVE this set.  So gorgeous!!  I also used some small flowers from the newly released Flower Power Backgrounds and Borders.  And of course, I used one of the new marquee frames.  I think I'm going to love these, too.  I guess technically this is a 2 layer card, but other than the base it is all one layer.  I started by stamping the frame onto the center of the panel.  Then I stamped it on scrap paper and cut it out to use as a mask.  Then I stamped the flowers and leaves, removed the mask and colored the images.  I used my craft knife to cut a slit on either side of the frame so I could thread the ribbon through.  I popped up the small flowers and added pearls to the center.  LOVE it!!

For card #2, I used a sort of reverse spotlight technique, with the image outside the frame being colored and the inside left uncolored to allow the sentiment to show.  I used the larger of the marquee frames on this one and stamped it in the center of the main panel.  Then I stamped it again on scrap paper and cut it out to use it as a mask.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the lighthouse scene in black letting it extend onto the mask.  Then I removed the mask and used the stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the image again with a light gray, so it would show up faintly inside the frame.  Then I colored the parts of the image that are outside the image.  I really, really, really, like how this turned out.
Don't forget to hop over to The House blog each day and leave a comment to be entered into the drawing to win this fabulous set.

Card #1:
Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Flower Power Separates "Daisy Outline, large", "Daisy Solid, large", Daisy Outline, small", "Daisy Solid, small", "Leaf Outline, large", "Leaf Solid, Large", "Leaf Outline, small", "Leaf Solid, small", "Leaf Cluster Outline", "Leaf Cluster Solid", "Flower Cluster Outline",  "Marquee Frame, small" and "You Make Me Smile"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
If You give a Crafter a Cookie #46--inspiration photo (Inspired by the flowers)

As You Like It--Favorite die and why (this challenge is sooooo hard because I just love dies!  But I have to say that this stitched rectangle die from MFT Blueprints 13 is my favorite; it just give the perfect base layer to any card)
Crafty Ribbons #156--anything goes with ribbon
Penny's Challenge #282--anything goes
Fashionable Stamping #112--beautiful blooms
In the Pink #96--inspirational photo (I was inspired by the pink, flowers, and pearls)

Sketch N Scrap #75--sketch

Crafty Creations #317--tic tac toe (I used the text, flowers, leaves column)
Creative Craft Cottage #65--favorite color combo (pink and green are my favorite combo for cards)




Card #2:
Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Marquee Frame, large", "Bass Harbor Lighthouse, large" and "A father is . . ."
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13"

Challenges:
Time Out Challenge #46--masculine with the optional twist of mixed media
Little Miss Muffet #140--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #90--anything goes
Die Cuttin' Divas #270--father's day
Crafty Cardmakers #166--for a special man
Eureka Stamps #197--For the guys
Word Art Wednesday #234--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Craftin' Desert Divas--masculine
Pattie's Creations #122--Father's Day or Graduation
Crafty Calendar--Father's Day
Creative Inspiration--spring into summer

Happy Day

Yeay!!  It's Friday!  I'm so excited because tomorrow is the New England Tough Mudder!!  Woohoo!!  It will be my 7th.  For those who don't know, it is a mud-run, obstacle course race, and it's soooo fun.  (Check it out on www.toughmudder.com)   But, that's not why we're here.  Today is the start of a new Funday Friday challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack!!

This week we have a really fun sketch for you.  I love sketches and use one to start almost every card I make.  If I don't have one to use, it's trouble!  Here is the sketch:

Robyn's Fetish is our sponsor this week and I used this super cute bunny image for my card:

I just love how this one turned out!  The papers are so fun, and the layout was perfect for those cute little clouds and the sun peeking out behind them. I pierced the stitching holes using a stitching template and then stitched the zig zags by hand.  The strips of paper just needed a little something to help separate them from each other.
Head on over to Jo's blog to see what the rest of the team did with this sketch, and them come play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Robyn's Fetish "S.S. Hoppity"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large", MFT sun die; Paper Smooches clouds

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--animal magic
Crafty Gals #76--summer fun
Simon Says Stamp Monday--world traveler
The Paper Girls #105--the great outdoors
Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Crafty Ribbons #156--anything goes with ribbon
Creative Knockouts #146--summer fun

Dream

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have an inspiration photo for you:

Fun, isn't it?  Well, I don't have any heron (or bird other than a cardinal) stamps from Repeat Impressions so I had to get creative.  So, since I live in a beach area, and these are the types of birds we might see in the marshy areas, I went with a beach theme.  I started with a dark gray base to pull in the color of the bird, than I added a woodgrain embbossed layer to capture the feel of the planks and the light background of the photo.

I added in some kraft card stock stamped with the sand dollar image to pull in the color of the wood.  And then I created a little beach scene with a water colored background, some stately palms and the word "Dream" which is part of a much longer sentiment (on Monday, I will be showing how I mask my sentiments on The House blog for my Project of The Week).  I hope you get a chance to play along, I can't wait to see how this photo has inspired you.  And make sure you head over to The House blog, because the rest of the team did a fabulous job with this challenge!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Sand Dollar", "Dreams Take Flight", and "Large Palm Trees"
Dies: Spellbinders "Matting Basics A" rectangle; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle
Darice Woodgrain embossing folder

Challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown #298--watercolor
Simon Says Stamp Monday--world traveler
Sketch Saturday #416-sketch

Open Minded Crafting Fun #6--seasons/holidays (summer)
Addicted to CAS #90--aloha
Creative Fingers #109--anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #202--inspiration photo

Creative Inspirations #65--spring into summer
The Paper Girls #105--the great outdoors

Fun Friends

Hi!  I was asked to be a guest designer for Crafting by Designs for this week's challenge: Getting Ready for Christmas.  I make more Christmas cards than any other kind, so this challenge was perfect for me.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

Oooo . . . aren't they so cute??  I was looking for a ribbon to use as the divider between the two patterned papers and I came across this bit of chocolate seam binding that was just the right length!  I found what I needed AND used up some ribbon that wouldn't have been enough for much else.  Love it when that happens!!  Thanks for stopping by, I hope you will get a chance to play along with us at Crafting By Designs and get a jump start on those Christmas cards.

Challenges:
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #233--anything goes with snippets (my ribbon, and all the die cuts were cut from snippets and the blue dotted paper was a scrap.  Only the green card stock and the gingerbread man paper were from full sheets)
YNS #41--sketch

Open Minded Crafting Fun #6--season/holidays
Hiding In My Craft Room #254--super scraps Saturday
Crafty Catz #328--animal magic (the magical reindeer)
C.R.A.F.T. #367--inspired by a film (the cartoon "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer")
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin'--warm winter clothing (the snowman's hat and scarf, and Santa's hat)
Sparkles #65--use 2 dies

Supplies:
Stamps: YNS "Holiday Snow Globe"
Dies: Repeat Impressions "Flip Fancy Die Set"; Verve "Flag It"

Calm

Mid June already???!!!  Where is this year going?  Since it is the middle of the month, it's time for some mid-month inspiration from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  Here is my card:

It all started because I wanted to use a bit of this lace and the rest just went from there.  I love the elegance created by the silver and the white on white background/embellishments. I used a damask embossing folder to add a little texture and interest to the horizontal strip on the background, and added a tiny clear rhinestone to the star in the sentiment.
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you get a chance to work on (or get started on) your Christmas card stash and come play along with us.

Challenges:
One Stitch At A Time #264--layer it up
Christmas Card Challenge #23--religious
Sweet Stampin'--lots of layers (even my ribbon and lace are layered)
Open Minded Challenge #6--seasons/holidays
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #235--silver
Creative Fingers Challenge #109--anything goes
Winter Wonderland--add a ribbon and a bow
ABC Christmas--L is for things beginning with L (lace)
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Word Art Wednesday #234--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Scrapper's Delights--anything goes
Craft Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow
Sparkles #65--use 2 dies (I used 2 from the same spellbinders set)
Skipping Stones Design--4 embellishments (4 rhinestones)

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Peace On Earth"
Dies: Spellbinders "Radiant Rectangles"
Cuttlebug Damask Embossing folder

Classic Dad

This is the birthday card I made for my husbands father.  He really likes classic cars and even has a car similar to this one; so it was very fitting for him.

 Look, I added ribbon and rhinestones to a male card, and it doesn't even make it look girly!  : )  Here's a view of this inside, too:

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers "Classic Dad"

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--Father's Day/For a Guy
Inspiration Destination #89--anything goes
Penny's Challenges #281--use your favorite embellishments (ribbon and rhinestones/pearls)
The Paper Shelter #252--sentimental
Tuesday Throwdown #297--Man's World
Craftin' Desert Divas--masculine
Sweet Stampin'--Father's Day/special male
Viva La Verve June week 1--sketch

Crafty Calendar--Father's Day/For a male

Life's a Beach

Well, Hello!  It's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week is a Designer's Choice and Deonna has chosen the challenge of using at least 2 stamps.

This week it feels like summer is hitting us full swing!  Yeay!!  Last night I went for a walk on the sea wall with my good friend and today my sister and I took my three girls on a "field trip" to walk on the Cliff Walk, so I definitely have the beach and ocean on my mind.  This time of year is the best time to live in/around a beach community.  Anyway, I digress.  I started out by using my clear block and some aqua mist ink with a spritz of water to create my "sky".  I did the same with Creamy Caramel ink for my "sand".  Then I stamped my sandcastle with a dark brown and used the Creamy Caramel with my SU! blender pen to watercolor the sandcastle.  I used Grout Gray to stamp my clouds in the sky.  I used the aqua mist again to sponge around the edges of my second layer to tie in the colors and then distressed the edges for a less perfect feel.  I ended up using 4 stamps: Sandcastle, clouds, sand dollar and sentiment.  Thanks for stopping by, I hope you get a chance to play along.  Hop on over to The House blog for all the details and to see what the rest of the DT has done with this challenge.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Sandcastle", "Clouds", "Sand Dollar" and "Life's A Beach"

Inks: SU! Creamy Caramel; PTI Aqua Mist; MFT Grout Gray and Chocolate Brown

Challenges:

Where The HeART Is #10--anything goes

The Paper Girls #105--the great outdoors

Mojo Monday #451--sketch

Hiding in My Craft Room #253--summer colors (the colors of the sand and sea)

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #333--summer

Sweet Stamps--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #150--vacation

Big Stick

It's time for another challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  I hop you enjoyed our blog hop last week; this week's challenge is "It's A Boy Thing".  Our sponsors are:

The East Wind

Lacy Sunshine

DRS Designs

I chose this ADORABLE image from DRS designs:

 Don't you just love this?  I can totally see a dog attempting this.  We have a black lab and we've had two more previously, so this cutie definitely had to be a black lab.  The clouds and the paw print background were in my bits and pieces stash and both were perfect for this card.

Here's a close up of the sweet puppy:

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this challenge.  Hop on over to the LTSCB for the full details and to see what the rest of the DT has made for your inspiration.

Supplies:
Stamps: DRS Designs "Doggie Dilemma with Fence" digi; Verve "World's Greatest" DAD
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Scalloped Circles, large"; Cloud dies (I can't remember who they are from)
Darice "Paw Print" embossing folder

Challenges:
As You See It #136--Father's Day theme
Brown Sugar #201--use a new technique (the background was created using the Faux Patina Technique from MFP stamp shop)
Cute Card Thursday #428--Father's Day
Southern Girls--layers
Pattie's Creations #122--Father's Day or Graduation
Dragon's Lair Challenge--one for the guys
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--mask it (I used a scalloped oval die cut to mask and sponge the clouds)
Penny's Challenge #280--anything goes
Lacy Sunshine--anything goes
Cuttlebug Mania--embossing
Creative Inspiration #252--sketch (I turned the sketch upside down and used my clouds as the flower elements)