Citrus colors

This card is a little sneak peek for the upcoming challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  But you'll never guess what it is from my card, so I think it's ok. : )

As soon as I saw the photo inspiration from the current challenge from Your Next Stamp, I knew I had to use this fun citrus slice image and this it what I came up with:

Make sure you come back on Wednesday and see how this fits with the challenge; it's a fun one!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Citrus Slice" and "I'm So Glad . . ."
Dies: PTI loopy die; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitch die

Challenges:
Stinkin' Inkers--summer heat
Tuesday Morning Sketches #410--sketch and use a die cut

Addicted to Stamps #249--CAS
Word Art Wednesday #290--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Creative Fingers #134--anything goes
Your Next Stamp #68--I used the photo inspiration/color combo

Stamplorations CAS--anything CAS goes

Addicted To CAS #115--summer
Cardz TV #5--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes

Cup template

Happy Friday!!  It's time for another challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack.  As always, we are now an Anything Goes challenge and our sponsors this week are The Cutting Cafe and Stars Stampz.  

I was given this really fun mug template from the Cutting Cafe to work with, and I created two projects with it for your inspiration.  My first project uses it as it was designer: to create a 3D mug:

 Oh, my goodness, this turned out exactly how I pictured it in my mind!  Doesn't it look exactly like a mug!!??  My husband and I will be celebrating our 18th anniversary this month, so I made this for him as he IS the world's best husband (sorry to disappoint all you other ladies).  I don't have an electronic machine, so I had to cut all the pieces out by hand.  After cutting out all the pieces (the mug body, two black handles and one out of cardboard for stability, two black bases pieces and one out of cardboard as well), I heat embossed the sentiment on the mug body.  And it looks just like a mug you could buy in a fun gift shop, don't you think?  The mug is the size of a small coffee cup; just large enough for an entire bag of peanut butter cups! : )

 I could also see adding a gift card for a coffee shop.  And a stack of cookies could fit in there perfectly, too.  There is also a couple different layering pieces in the template in case you would like to create a patterned cup.  Which I did for my second project.

I wanted to use the template on a card and create a fun dimensional element.  So, I cut a portion of the cup body out of gray card stock as well as one handle.  I used the larger layering piece to cut out a pattern for my mug.  I made a score line about 1/4 inch from each edge of the mug so I could fold them under and adhere them to the card with a bit of a curve to create the dimensional element.  For this card, I also used one of the sentiments that is included with the template.  There are close to 20 coffee/tea themed sentiments that come with it.

My 11 year-old daughter helped me out with brainstorming on this one.  I was having such a hard time getting beyond the mug in my mind.  It was her idea to add some "steam" (which I think is a brilliant idea!) and a button.  I think she nailed it on both accounts.  I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week.  I love being inspired by your projects!

What do you need to do to enter?

Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool on Jo's blog. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 

The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date and the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge prizes

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements

WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo

All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.

You have until July 13th by 6:00PM (eastern, USA) time to link up.

All winners will be announced during the week of July 17th.

Have fun and we look forward to seeing what you create.

Project #1:

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "World's Greatest"

Templates: The Cutting Cafe "3D Cup"

Challenges:
Penny's Challenge #336--anything goes
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #12--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Crafty Gals #130--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #290--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Card #2:
Supplies:
Stamps: The Cutting Cafe "3D Cup" sentiments; Mark's Finest Papers "Java Time" coffee rings
Template: The Cutting Cafe "3D Cup"
Dies: MFT "Fancy Flourish" and "Label STAX"

Challenges:

Southern Girls--ribbon or twine (I used both)
Craft D Bow-Z--anything goes with handmade bow
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Sheep Ski Designs #4--square cards  (it's not an exact square but pretty close)
Crafty Creations #345--anything goes
Inspiration Destination--anything goes
Cards Galore--anything goes

Flying High

Happy Wednesday!!  I am so confused this week!  My kiddos went away for the weekend on Thursday, so it was just my husband and I for 3+ days!!  Which was awesome, but it kind of threw me since I spent Friday cleaning the garage for our 4th of July party, Saturday was spent mowing the lawn, etc while my husband worked on a project for me.  Sunday wasn't normal without the kids around, and my husband took off Monday, then with the holiday, I could not keep track of what day it was!  But, today is Wednesday which means it is time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  It is a Designer's Choice challenge and Deonna challenged us to create a scene (in a good way of course!)  Here is the fun, summer scene I created:

I started by die cutting the stitched rectangle and then sponging on the clouds using a scalloped oval as the mask.  Then I added my die cut sun and "hills" so I would know where to stamp the balloons.  I stamped them and then stamped each one again, the two smaller ones on scraps of patterned paper and the large one on a scrap of white card stock.  I fussy cut the second stampings and added them in place.  To finish it off, I stamped "Happy Birthday" on the hill and added a few die cut clouds to add dimension.
Make sure you stop by the House blog to see the scenes the rest of the DT created; there are some pretty cool ideas.  And then get inky and play along, I can't wait to see what kind of scene you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Hot Air Balloon Cluster" and "Birthday"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle, Sun; Lawn Fawn "Stitched snowbanks"; Paper Smooches "Cute Clouds"

Challenges:
Cute Card Thursday #484--anything goes
Cut It Up #125--Patriotic: red, white and blue
Card Mania #94--summer fun
Through The Purple Haze #128--spots and/or stripes
Creative With Stamps #16--celebrate

Dare 2B Artzy--bright colors
Crafty Calendar--anything goes
Dies R Us #76--layers
Come And Get It--colors of your nation (red, white, and blue--USA!)
Simon Says Stamp Monday--red, white, and/or blue
Pixie's Crafty Workshop--anything goes with snippets (everything except the card base and stitched rectangle was cut from snippets--die cut and fussy cut)

Fuschias

Happy July!  It's time for another challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  This month we have a nice easy one for you: Anything Goes! We have three awesome sponsors this month:

Little Blue Button Stamps

Limited Runs Stamps

SheepSki Designs

I was given this gorgeous image from SheepSki Designs:

The colors of fuschia flowers are so bold and beautiful!  I resisted the urge to use hot pink and dark purple, instead I used a pale purple and a bit of sparkly gold to accent the gorgeous pink patterned paper I found.  And I had some irridescent purple/green rhinestones to finish it off, plus a bit of pink ribbon from my bits and pieces stash.
Hop on over to the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the DT has created for this challenge.  I hope you will then get a chance to play along with us this month; I love seeing what you come up with.

Supplies:
Stamps: SheepSki Designs "Fuschias" digi
Dies: Spellbinders "Fleur Di Lis Squares"

Challenges:
Crop Stop Challenge #29--anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs--sparkle or shine
Creative Fingers--anything goes
A Gem of A Challenge #197--summer colors
Tuesday Morning Sketches #409--sketch

Crafty Gals #129--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmi Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #422--add ribbons and sparkle
Southern Girls #163--ribbon or twine

Wishing you

It's July!!  Ack!  Where is this year going?  Have you gotten started on your Christmas cards yet?  Well, it's time.  And we have a new challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra to help you along.  As always, we are a month long, Anything Goes (as long as it's Christmas-related) challenge and our sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps.  Here is the card I created using one of their adorable images:

 Isn't that angel just the sweetest?!  I colored the letters with a very subtle ombre and added some wink of stella on top.  I also added it to the wings of the angel.  You can see it a bit in the next photo:

The ribbon was a little bitty scrap from my bits and pieces pile and the button was left over from a long ago sewing project.  Together they were the perfect finishing touches.
I hope you will play along with us this month, I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Bug PLJ Angel" digi
Dies/punches: MFT "Blueprints 12" square; Fiskars "Apron border" punch

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes and I used the monthly sketch

Incy Wincy Designs--sparkle or shine
Word Art Wednesday #288 and 289--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Fussy and Fancy #190--punches and dies
Alphabet Challenge--H is for hearts (heart on the "y")
Hiding In My Craft Room #306--any holiday
Mustard Seed--Joy: what brings you joy (I used the word "joy" and I love using patterned papers and ribbon.  plus, Christmas brings me joy)
The Holly and Ivy #9--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--Christmas
Fab n' Funky #357--Christmas crackers
Crafty Gals #129--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Inspiration Destination #131--anything goes
Little Miss Muffet #166--anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #422--add ribbon and sparkle
Cute Card Thursday #484--anything goes
Crimbo Crackers #135--sentiment
Brown Sugar Challenge #257--anything goes

What's Up

Here I am popping in with a fun, masculine birthday card.  For male cards, I find myself reaching for this smartphone die/stamp set from MFT.  It's just perfect for the tech savy among them.

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT "Friend Request" and "Typewriter" background stamp; YNS "Large Splatter"
Dies: MFT "Smartphone" and "Blueprints 12"; Lawn Fawn "Stitched Hills"

Challenges:
Unicorn Challenge #22--for the guys
Crafty Calendar--boys will be boys
Creative Craft Cottage--no patterned paper
ART Impressions #211--create a background
Time Out Challenge #86--celebrations with the optional challenge of one layer
Less Is More #334--sketch (I used the sketch but am not sure if mine counts as less is more)

Tuesday Throwdown #349--creative borders
MFT color #70--blueberry, blue yonder, cement gray and cherry crisp (I used colors as close as I could get them)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #484--anything goes
Brown Sugar #257--anything goes
Cardz TV #5--anything goes

Congrats, Grad

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  And this week it's nice and easy: Anything Goes.  We've been having a downturn in our participation, so hopefully this nice, easy challenge will entice you to play along.  This past weekend there was a graduation party for a young lady in our family.  I had a lot of fun creating this card for her:

 If you have never created one of these box cards, they are really quite easy and fun!  Here is a link to the tutorial I followed.  I started with a deep purple base and then layered it with purple and gold foiled papers for some shine.  And for the numbers, I die cut them once out of black cardstock for stability and a second time out of some gold glitter paper for some sparkle!  then I went to town stamping, coloring, and fussy cutting a bunch of graduation caps so I could place them so it looks like everyone had thrown their caps up in the air.  So fun!!  Making a card like this doesn't leave much room for writing a message, but there is a place on the back, so  I decorated that up as well, and it's also where I wrote a small message.  Here's a photo of the back:

 And here is a picture of it all folded up ready to go in the envelope:

 It also shows the two patterned papers I used.  I wanted one of the caps to sit on top of one of the numbers and I wanted it to be extra special, so I actually stamped two images, cut the flat part (the board) out and adhered it to the first image with a bit of cardboard in between to give it some dimension.  But before I adhered them together, I made my own tassel out of embroidery floss for a fun touch and added it through a hole I poked in the top piece of the cap.  It added such a great touch, I think!

 For the other side, I stamped the diploma image, fussy cut it out and tied a little bow to adhere on top of the ribbon in the image.  It was perfect for using up a tiny scrap of ribbon I had on hand.

 And here's one more picture showing all those caps flying in celebration:

I got the stamps I used on this card last month knowing I was going to make a graduation card for this young lady, but I am sure they are going to get a LOT of use in the coming years as children of lots of friends are approaching graduating age.  If you NEED any of these stamps, I have a 10% off your ENTIRE order code over in my left sidebar.  Head on over to the House Blog to see what the rest of the DT has come up with for this challenge and then get inky and play along.  I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Class of", "Grad's Cap and Diploma" (I actually cut them apart to make them easier to use the way I wanted), "Dreams take Flight", and "New Arrival" I masked it so I could use only the "congratulations"
Dies: PTI "By The Numbers"

Challenges:
Craft-Dee Bow Z--anything goes with handmade bow (It's tiny but the bow on the diploma was tied by hand)
Scor-pal #38--ribbon, lace, trim (ribbon on the bow and embroidery floss maybe counts as trim?)
Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
The Paper Nest Dolls #6--anything goes
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #11--anything goes
Dies R Us #75--celebrations
A Bit More Time To Craft #46--anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs--sparkle or shine
Creative Fingers--anything goes
Cardz TV #4--anything goes
Sweet Stampin--lots of layers