Sweet Bear

Wow, it's September, can you believe it!?  That means it's time for a new challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is an Anything (Christmas-related) Goes, month long challenge.  Our sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice!!  Here is my card for your inspiration:

I used the super cute "Poinsettia Bear" which unfortunately seems to be retired.  :(   So sad about that.  I love his little face, he looks surprised like he was caught in the act of . . . stealing the poinsettia?  I hope you get a chance to play along with us this month.  Christmas is coming!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Poinsettia Bear" digi
Dies/punches: Spellbinders "Floral Doily Motifs"; Martha Stewart scalloped border punch

Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas #281--anything goes
Christmas Card #38--anything goes
Hiding In My Craft Room #264--any holiday
Little Miss Muffet #145--anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Crafting By Design--anything goes
The Paper Shelter #262--make it digital (digital image)
Penny's Challenge #293--anything goes
Crafty Gals #87--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #101--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Creative Inspirations #256--Christmas in August

Fall is coming

Happy Wednesday!!  That means it's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a fan favorite: Anything Goes.  It doesn't get any easier than that!

I LOVE summer.  I hate being cold and I love being able to have the windows open letting the air flow in.  But, it has been hot and pretty humid here in southern New England for the past several weeks and I am ready for a bit of Fall weather.  That and I just received some new Repeat Impressions stamps in the mail last week.  It put me in the mood to make a fall card.  Because, I also LOVE fall!  Love the leaves, the pumpkins, the apples . . . And sweaters . . . and I could go on and on, but I won't.  So, here is my inspiration card for you:

 Everything except the brown card stock is from the same paper pack, even the leaves.  I love this pack as it is fall themed, but has some great color combos that you wouldn't necessarily think of for fall. The little rafia bow was left over from something (no idea what) and is one of those things I just couldn't throw away, 'cause you might need it sometime, right?  Here's a close up of my cute little plaid pumpkin:

The sentiment is actually from a larger stamp; I masked the part I didn't want to use and ended up with "give thanks".  The entire sentiment reads "Let us Give Thanks", but I only needed a small sentiment so the masking worked out perfectly.  Remember, if you "NEED" any of the stamps I used, I have a 10% off your ENTIRE order code over there in my left sideboard.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Tall Pumpkin" and "Let us . . ."
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Teardrop Circles"; MFT leaves
Papers: Authentique "Grateful"\

Challenges:
Die Cutting Divas #281--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #244--anything goes with snippets (only the card base and the base layer grid paper were from whole sheets.  The rest are all from snippets.)
Viva La Verve September week 2--sketch

As You Like It--favorite shaped card base (I almost always use an A2 rectangle as you can get two cards from a sheet of 8x11 card stock)
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps--vintage/distressed (my papers are kind of vintage-y and I distressed the edges with caramel ink)
Craft Dee Bow-Z--anything goes with handmade bow (It's not a ribbon bow, but I did tie a raffia bow)

No RULZ Blog Hop

Welcome, everyone!!  The Love To Scrap Challenge Blog DT is continuing our yearly tradition of a challenge with no rules! We're happy to bring you our "NO RULZ 2" Blog Hop! We're being sponsored by Pink Gem Designs, so come on over and hop with us for a chance to win two single images of choice!

As you hop, leave comments on all the blogs! The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win those amazing Pink Gem Designs images!

Here is my project:

 I just couldn't resist this sweet image, specially that adorable little lamb!!  Oh, my goodness, so cute!  I had to print out a second image, just so I could cut out his cute little head and pop it up for dimension.  Here is a closer look:

To inspire you to play, the Scrappy Girls are proudly showcasing projects we created with gorgeous Pink Gem Designs images! Remember to leave love at every blog hop stop because the more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!

Here is the line-up:

Amy
Ann
Heather
Julie
Leslie
Lillian A
Robin
Tina

We hope you find this 'no rules' blog hop lots of fun, and if you get lost along the way or have landed here in the middle of the hop and want to get in on the fun, head on over to the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog to start from the beginning!

Happy hopping! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Pink Gem Designs "Philip and Phoebe Nativity"; JustRite Stampers vine background

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Picot Circles"

Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:

Christmas Card Challenge #38--anything goes

Sweet Stampin--no designer paper (my bottom panel was stamped)

MFP #35--anything goes

Hiding in my Craft Room #264--any holiday

Crafty Gals--emboss it

Crafty Catz #335--anything goes with the optional twist of hats (My little shepherdess has a head dress; it's like a hat)

CraftDee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Unicorn Challenge #12--animal kingdom (my cute little sheep)

The Paper Nest Dolls #8--anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #114--anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Holly Jolly #79--non-traditional colors

Creative Inspiration #256--Christmas in August

Crafting By Designs--get ready for Christmas

Mod Squad--teacher's pet (my cute little lamb)

Inspiration Destination #100--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--it's hip to be square

Dirty Word

Happy Friday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack!  This week we have a fun one for you: Cut It Up!  All you have to do it use your die cutting machine and some dies.

Our fabulous sponsors for this challenge are Little Blue Button Stamps and Bugaboo Stamps

I chose to work with this image from Bugaboo Stamps that I won a while ago.  The sentiment totally cracks me up (even though I really do love to exercise!).  I love chocolate, so any excuse to eat some is good with me. : )

I had two strips of this dotted paper that weren't big enough for much else, but they were perfect for accenting this fun image.  I die cut the word chocolate out of "chocolate" brown card stock because, or course, chocolate is brown!  I had a really hard time with the placement of the word, but finally decided I liked it where it is the best.  Some hot pink ribbon and clear rhinestones finish it off with some class, 'cause I'm sure this lady is classy.
I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week; it's an easy peasy challenge and we love to see what you come up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Ruby Chocolate Dirty Word" digi and sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A"; Verve "Chocolate"

Challenges:
Cutie Pie Challenge #122--work, rest or play (she's been "working" out)
Pattie's Creations #125--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
A Blog Named Hero--pop of color
Fab N Funky #316--anything goes
Sugar Pea Designs #12--sketch

A Bit More Time To Craft #26--anything goes
Hiding In My Craft Room #203--yummy (chocolate!)
Lacy Sunshine--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #308--make it sparkle
Crafter's Cafe--bling
Penny's Challenge #292--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #100--anything goes
Little Miss Muffet #145--anything goes
As You Like It--Favorite Shaped card Base (I am boring and my favorite is the A2 rectangle.  Mostly because you can get two bases out of one sheet of card stock, but also because it's easy to get envelopes to fit them.)

Happy 4th Birthday

My niece's birthday is tomorrow and I have been struggling with actually getting up the mojo to make her a card.  I don't know if it is because I was sick all weekend, or what, but I was just not feeling it.   That is, until I saw the MFT sketch this week AND remembered that I have this ADORABLE elephant stamp that is just perfect for paper piecing.  Then, I started to feel it.  Isn't that little guy soooo cute?!

I think I stamped the image (or part of it) 8 different times so I could get all the pieces.  Even the "ribbons" on the packages and the fluff on his party hat are cut out and layered.  All the papers are scraps from the same paper pack.  One of my favorites and now I'm just down to bits and pieces which is sad, but at least they are still perfect for this kind of thing.

Supplies:
Stamps: Wild Rose Studio elephant; YNS "Silly Monsters" sentiment
Dies: PTI "By the Numbers" border die (I only cut out the 4); MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Inspiration Destination #80--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #292--anything goes
MFT #295--sketch

Mod Squad--Teacher's Pet
Shopping Our Stash #266--stand up and be counted
Die Cuttin Divas #280--birthday
A Bit More Time To Craft #26--anything goes
Crafty Catz #334--anything goes with a twist of birthdays
Cute Card Thursday--words/numbers
Southern Girls--anything goes
Fab n Funky #316--anything goes
Unicorn Challenge #12--animal kingdom
Cutie Pie Challenge #122--work, rest, or play (I think this little guy is playing!)
Card Mania #83--Let's Party
The East Wind--paper piecing

Love

And, it's Wednesday again!  I don't know how that keeps happening!!  Anyway, since it is Wednesday, we have another What If? Wednesday challenge for you from The House That Stamps Built.  This week it is a fun sketch:

My brother and his wife will be celebrating their 10th anniversary next week and I thought the circles in the sketch would look perfect as hearts to help them celebrate.  

That's one of the great thing about sketches, as long as the basics are there you can make them do whatever you want.  I stamped the "Love" in what I thought was going to be a bit more subtle pink than it turned out to be, but that's ok, because now it really stands out.  I masked the smallest dotted rectangle from the new "Frames--Rectangles & Marquee Series" and stamped it in a nice pale gray just to add a little bit off interest and ground the sentiment a bit.  It doesn't do a lot, but it does help take your eye away from all the white in the bottom of the oval.    I hope you'll get a chance to play along with our sketch this week.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Dotted Rectangle Frame (sm)" and "LOVE"
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Filigree Delight"; MFT "Stitched Heart STAX" largest heart; Sweet n Sassy Stamps 2 smaller heart dies

Challenges:
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #243--anything goes with snippets (all three of the hearts were cut from very small snippets of patterned paper, and the white oval was a scrap.)
MFP #34--anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #26--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #244--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Craft Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Peacful watcher

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

Isn't that beautiful??  Here is my take on the challenge:

Mmm . . . I just love how this one turned out.  Sometimes I impress myself. : )  Ha!  I started out with a stitched rectangle (from MFT), masked the moon and the horizon line and sponged the sky.  Then I stamped the lighthouse image so I would know where to place the darker shadows by the shoreline.  After I sponged the water, I colored in the stamped image with a black marker to make it a silhouette image instead of the line image.  I finished it off with white gel pen on the waves.  Head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the DT has done with this challenge.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Bass Harbor Light (lg)" and "Just Because . . ."
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Verve "Flag It" banner
Marvy Uchida 1 1/4 inch circle punch

Challenges:
Come and Get It--punches and dies
Creative Fingers #119--anything goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #112--anything goes
Give a Crafter a Cookie #50--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the dark blue, purple and the ocean theme)

Cards Galore--use a stamp or digi
Crafting with An Attitude #18--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #307--anything goes

Oooo la la

Good morning and welcome to another challenge from Love To Scrap Challenge Blog!  This time it is Anything Goes!  Our three sponsors are:

Lawn Fawn

Heartfelt Creations

Julia Spiri Digital Stamps

I was given this beautiful image from Julia Spiri to work with.  It is actually sort of a collage with the woman image and a bunch of other accessory images.  

So, I colored her and the hat image and fussy cut them both out and layered them together.  So sassy!
I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this challenge.  It's always so fun to see what you guys come up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: Julia Spiri "Fashion in Paris"; JustRite Stampers "Scroll" background stamp
Dies: Spellbinders "Floral Ovals"; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; Fisars "Upper Crest" border punch

Challenges:
Come And Get It--punches and dies
Hiding In My Craft Room Birthday Celebration #3--buttons & bows
Creative Fingers #119--anything goes
Cas-ual Fridays #154--Time to Color
Brown Sugar #211--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #438--dressing up
C.R.A.F.T. #376--anything goes
The Paper Shelter #259--punches and dies
Julia Spiri--anything goes with a touch of vintage (the button and lace say vintage to me)
A Gem of a Challenge #175--buttons and bows
{Pin}spirational Challenge #171--inspiration photo

A Blog Named Hero--Pop of Color
Scrapper's Delights #58--anything goes
The Paper Nest Dolls #8--anything goes
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Project of the Week

Hi, it's Heather.  Today, it's my turn to post a Project Of The Week for the House that Stamps Built.  My project is a fun (and really cute) gift card holder, treat box combination.  I learned how to do it following this video tutorial I found on Pinterest.  If you want to see the full, step-by-step instructions, make sure you check out the video as I am going to give abbreviated instructions in this post.  What you will need:

-scoring tool (I used my scor-pal, the woman in the video uses her paper trimmer)

-sheet of card stock 7" x 9 3/4"

-patterned paper to decorate your holder

-strong sticky tape (I use scor-tape)

-circle hole punch (mine is 1 1/4)

-a die to cut out the window in the front

-a sheet of acetate for the window opening

-stamps (I used a sentiment from the newly released "Holy Crap" set: "it's your birthday" and two flowers from the Flower Power sheet: Daisy Outline, large and Daisy Outline, small)

-embellishments of your choice (I used ribbon and pearls)

 Along the 7 inch side of your card stock, score at 1" and 6".  Turn the card stock 90 degrees and score at 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 7 inches.

 Trim off the panels as seen in the photo below.

 Adhere your patterned paper (and the decorated front panel). You could decorate all sides, but I chose to decorate only the ones that would show from the front.

 Line up your window cutting die and run it through your die cutting machine.

 Adhere the acetate to the inside behind the window opening and adhere the holder together using your sticky tape.  And here is my finished project;

 This last photo show the gift card in place.  I would have filled the treat section, too, but all I had were mini reese's peanut butter cups and they didn't quite fit.

This will be a great way to add a little something special to a gift card.  To see one I decorated up for Christmas, check out this post.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "it's your birthday", "Daisy Outline, small" and "Daisy Outline, large"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" window cut out and "Blueprints 12"stitched rectangle; Marvy Uchida circle punch

Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. #376--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #98--anything goes
Addicted To Stamps #206--anything goes
One Stitch At A Time #268--boxes & bags
Brown Sugar Challenge #211--anything goes
Scor-pal #29--all about birthdays
Crafting Musketeers #46--anything but a card
Sweet Stamps--anything but a card
Sketch n' Scrap #79--sketch (turned on it's side)--unfortunately, I did not read the guidelines and therefore am not eligible to actually enter the challenge, but am still giving credit to them for the sketch I used.


Hiding In My Craft Room Blogiversary #1--super scraps (the papers are all scraps, even the pink paper the flowers were stamped on)

Christmas Treats

Well, here it is the middle of August, already!  So that means it's time for some mid-month inspiration from Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, we are a month-long anything Christmas related goes challenge.  This month, I decided to create something other than a card.  It's a really cute treat box/gift card holder combination.  I created it following this tutorial that I found on Pinterest.

Here is a photo of the gift card holder part of the box:

It is a really great way to add a little something extra to giving a gift card.  I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this month.  It's time to get working on those Christmas cards and this is the perfect reason to do so.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Noel"
Dies: Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettias"; MFT "Blueprints 13" banner used as the window die
Marvy Uchida 1/14 inch circle punch

Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. #376--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #98--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #290--anything goes
Fab N Funky Challenges--Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas--anything but a card
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes ( and I used the sketch)

Simon Says Stamp Monday--contain yourself
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #242--anything goes with snippets (the patterned papers were all scraps and the flower was cut from  a piece of partial card stock that was on my desk)
One Stitch At A Time #268--boxes & bags
Time Out Challenge #63--holidays with the optional twist of no stamping
Crafting Musketeers #46--anything but a card
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Dragons Lair--Christmas in July

Hello, friend

It's Friday!!!  So that means it's time for another Challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack:

One of our sponsors this week is Little Blue Button Stamps.  I won this sweet image quite a while ago and decided it was time to finally color it up.  I chose it originally because the lizard totally reminds me of Pascal in the Disney cartoon "Tangled".  I think it is my favorite Disney Princess movie and part of that is because I love Pascal.  He's just so funny!  So anyway, I colored up these little cuties to look like Pascal and Rapunzel.

For my recycled scraps, both papers were scraps, the hot pink sparkly ribbon (which you can barely see) is actually two small pieces that were in my bits and pieces stash.  The oval tag that I stamped "hello" onto and the aluminum tape I cut the other tag from were also in the bits and pieces stash.  And my card stock was from a full sheet that had already had a portion cut out of it.  I added a bit of texture to the second tag to give it some interest.
Hop on over to Jo's blog for all the details and to see the rest of the projects from the DT.

Supplies:
Stamps: Little Blue Button Stamps "Lilly and Toby" digi; Raisin Boat "Flourishing Thoughts"
Dies: Verve "Charming Ovals"; Spellbinders "Floral Ovals" (I finally got this, I have been eyeing it forever!!!)
Cuttlebug Damask embossing folder

Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. #376--anything goes
Little Miss Muffet #144--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--let's go wild (chameleons are wild)
Inspiration Destination #98--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #290--anything goes
Lacy Sunshine--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #241--anything goes with snippets
Cut It Up #102--summertime memories
A Bit More Time To Craft--anything geos
Viva La Verve August Week 1--sketch

In the Pink #100--anything goes (with pink)
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Crafty Calendar--summer fun
Crafting with Attitude #18--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Pattie's Creations #125--anything goes
Cutie Pie Challenge #102--work, rest or play (at rest)
Craft-Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Best Wishes

Happy Wednesday!!  That means it's time for another What If? Wednesday challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week is a Designer's Choice and Kathy chose: Circle Cards.  I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of making circle cards (sorry, Kathy!)  But that's why they are called challenges, right?  And I do really like how this one turned out.

It's small enough that it would make a perfect card to attach to a package.  And I think it could be used for either a birthday or a wedding/shower gift.
I hope you will take our challenge and show off your circle cards.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Butterfly, small" and "Best Wishes"
Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Scalloped Circles, large" and "Standard Circles, large"; MFT "Fancy Flourish"

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #343--birthday wishes
Southern Girls--anything goes
Sugar Pea Designs Mix It Up #10--sketch (I turned it into a round sketch, but the elements are still there)

Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #240--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative with Stamps #5--Geometric (circles are very geometric)

Scrapper's Delight #58--anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude #18--anything goes

Marvelous

Time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a color challenge for you:

I chose to use the pink along with the black and gray and here is my card:

I found this card on Pinterest a while ago and remembered it when I was looking for a quick and easy make for this challenge.  Unfortunately, the link does not go directly to the card post, so I don't know who to give credit to.

I love how my pink snowflake makes it all soft and dreamy, and the crystal button and pearls make it extra classy.  I hope you'll get a chance to play along with us this week.  Head on over to The House Blog; the DT has rocked this color challenge, I promise!

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Snowflake Solid (lg)" and "Nature"

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes
Christmas Cards All Year' Round--anything goes
Christmas Card Challenge--anything goes
Fab n' Funky #315--Christmas
DRS Designs #237--naked stamping (no coloring)
Crimbo Crackers #112--anything goes
Brown Sugar #209--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge  #292--anything goes
Hiding in My Craft Room #261--freestyle with a twist: Christmas
Sweet Stampin'--Christmas in July

Sucker for You

This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 17th Anniversary!!  Wow, how time flies!  This is the anniversary card I created for him:

He enjoys a little cheesiness once in a while. : )  I stamped the ink splatter background a couple times to get it to cover the size of the area I was working with and I added a few red sequins as embellishments.

Supplies:
Stamps: Your Next Stamp "Cool & Sweet" and "Large Ink Splatter"

Challenges:
Cards Galore--use a stamp or digi
Simon Says Stamp Monday--celebrate (celebrating our anniversary)
MFP #31--anything goes
Brown Sugar #209--anything goes
Creative Knockouts #152--anything goes
Addicted to Stamps #204--CAS
YNS #44--sketch

Taking Time Out #62--inspiration photo

Happiest Birthday

Welcome to another challenge from the  Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  This time it is "Take Two": make sure you use two of something.  Our sponsors are:

Imagine That! Digis by Kris

Sheep Ski Designs

SLS Lines

I was given this beautiful image from SLS Lines to work with:

I had a thought in mind and was blissfully making it a reality without thinking about anything other than completing what was in my head.  After I got the card finished, I realized I hadn't given any thought to the theme of this challenge and had a big "Oh No!" moment.  Luckily, I had plenty of twos: two flowers, two patterned papers, two sentiments and two groups of pearls.  Head on over to the LTSCB blog for the full details and to check out the rest of the DT's creations.

Supplies:
Stamps: SLS Lines "Dahlias 2"; Craftin' Desert Divas "Wishful Thoughts"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Sweet Stamps--anything goes
The Paper Next Dolls #7--anything goes
Cuttlebug Mania--summer
Word Art Wednesday #240--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #240--anything goes with snippets (the patterned papers are all scraps)
Crafty Cardmakers #169--summer
Addicted To Stamps #204--CAS
C.R.A.F.T. #374--summer
Fussy & Fancy #169--a walk in the garden