Anniversary

Happy September!  Boy, time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it!?  The start of a new month brings a new challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog: Anything Goes!  We have three fabulous sponsors:

Sparkle N Sprinkle

Prize: $15 gift certificate

Dr. Digi's House of Stamps

Prize: 2 images of choice

Leslie Turner

Prize: Goody bag of craft supplies

I created this card for my brother and sister-in-law for their anniversary:

I started by die cutting the stitched rectangle and then stamping it with the Damask motif (I've had this stamp set for probably 8 years and it's still one of my favorites).  I die cut the tag and to help it stand out, I added a frosted piece of paper (I think it came as a protective layer in some product or other, but it worked perfectly for this purpose) between it and the background layer.  Added the stamps roses and the bow to finish everything off.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Sweet Life" roses, leaves and flourish, "Mat Stack 3" sentiment, and "Damask Designs"
Dies: PTI "Sweet Life" and "Tag Sale #4"; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle
Inks: PTI  Lemon Zest, Berry Sorbet and New Leaf
PTI "Pure Black" card stock

Challenges:
PTI--Ten Minute Warmup  (I used this color scheme and added color on the roses for a pop!)

Sweet Stampin'--swirls (the flourish stamped on the black tag)
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Crafty Creations #349--anything goes

Ornament

Welcome to September!!  How did that happen already??  Less than 4 months 'til Christmas; are you ready?  One great way to get ready is to play along in our newest monthly challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  It's anything goes as long as it's Christmas related.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

One of the challenges from Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-Faire last weekend was to use paper to create an embellishment.  So, I took on the challenge and used paper strips to create my bow.  Fun and cute!  I had this tag pre-made with strips of paper from a Christmas pack I was working to use up.  It was the perfect resting place for this adorable snowman.  I hope you will play along with us this month; I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Snowman Ornament 1" digi; PTI "Sparkle & Shine: Holiday" sentiments, "Damask Designs" pattern down the left side
Dies: PTI "Fancy Flakes"; MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched banner; Spellbinders "Scalloped Tags"
Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Challenges:
PTI--paper embellishment
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes
Creative Sketchy Girls #14--ribbon, rope, lace or pearls (I used three little baby pearls on my sentiment strip)
Crop Stop--anything goes (spellbinders tag die)
Aurora Wings #55--the elements (I used water=snow & snowflakes)
Open Minded Fun #17--airy in August (I used snowy weather)
The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge #13--anything goes
Little Miss Muffet #170--anything goes
Cardz TV #10--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #348--use something old (the strips of paper on my tag are at least 6 years old and I've had the snowflake embossing folder for years and years)
Hiding In My Craft Room #315--any holiday
Die Cuttin' Divas--sequins, gems, or pearls
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Merry Christmas Challenge #32--anything goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches #418--sketch

Life is Sweet

Last weekend was Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-Faire, which I had to miss due to a funeral out of state.  But, I tried to play along with a couple of the challenges, and this card is one of my creations:

This one is for the 4th Anniversary Tradition: Linen (create a project featuring a frame backed with stamped linen).  When I was a teenager, I did a lot of cross-stitch and was aided in my addiction by my grandmother.  When she died 10 years ago, I got a LOT of cross-stitch products from her stash.  So, this linen was in the stash, and I was actually able to find it!  I was impressed how nicely the stamps actually stamped on the linen.  I might have to give this one a try another time.

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Life Is Sweet"
Dies:  Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; PTI border die

Challenges:
Papertrey Ink--linen challenge
Mod Squad--for a friend
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Crafty Creations #349--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Give a Crafter a Cookie #76--inspiration photo

Alphabet Challenge--L for lovely lace

Dreams

Good morning!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built!  This week we have a sketch challenge for you:

(But remember that ALL of our challenges this month are open for the entire month, so you still have time to enter any of this month's challenges.  We would love for you to play along.)  Here is my interpretation of the sketch:

This card is so full of texture, both visual and tactile, and it was really fun to create!  I stayed pretty true to the sketch, except I added the little striped panel down the left hand side, because it looked so empty over there, and no matter how hard I tried to line everything up perfectly straight, it looked like my main panel was adhered crooked.  I think it was because of the embossed lines in the background that aren't exactly straight and it just threw everything off, but by adding the little strip of paper, it looked much better.  And the fun thing about that strip is that it really should have been trash: it is the perforated section at the top of a 6X6 paper pack that has the hole in it for hanging the pack at the store and really it should be thrown away.  But I liked the pattern on it so much that I've been saving it and by cutting it off just before the hole, it was the perfect length for my layout.  So, it's the ultimate scrap salvage!!
  Here's the quick version of how I made the card.  I started by die cutting the red panel and stamping it with the Metro background stamp.  I die cut the blue layer and then cut it in half to make it a bit wider; adhered to the back of the red, you would never know it wasn't solid.  I die cut the white circle and stamped the plane image as well as several clouds, then matted it with some torn mulberry paper.  The sentiment panel is also matted with the same navy mulberry paper.  I embossed the background (after die cutting it with the stitched rectangle) and swiped a light gray ink pad over it to bring out the texture.  And finished everything off with gray enamel dots, gray baker's twine and the scrap of striped paper.  I have a lot of masculine birthdays coming up so this will work perfectly for any number of them.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Bi-plan Silhouette", "Dreams Take Flight", "Clouds" and "Metro Map"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched rectangle, "Blueprints 12" stitched circle, and "Labels STAX"; Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle
Darice Woodgrain embossing folder

Challenges:
Love To Craft Challenge Blog--anything goes
Fussy and Fancy #179--things with wings
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #295--anything goes with snippets
Southern Girls--retro challenge: smash your stash (I have had the mulberry paper for probably 12+years)
Cardz TV #10--anything goes
Come And Get It--2 or more different embellishments (I used enamel dots and twine)
{Pin}spirational #198-- inspiration photo (I was inspired by the red, the vintage feel and those red and white stripes!)

Golfing Buddies

Good morning, everyone!  It's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Stamps.

This week we have  a fun one for you: Bright Colors.  And here is my card with LOTS of bright colors:

 Isn't this little teddy super cute!??  I chose this sketch partly because the triangle element looks a lot like the flag that would be in a golf course hole.  So, I added a little tiny strip of dark brown card stock to be the pole.  This will be perfect for any number of male birthdays I have coming up.  And did you  notice the cute little lady bug that had jumped up on his tee?  Here's a close up of the image so you can see it better:

I sure hope Ted doesn't hit him instead of the ball!  So, come along and get inky with us; this is a fun and easy one for sure!

Supplies:
Stamps: Di's Digi Designs "Ted In the Rough" digi; Verve "Be Blessed" sentiment
Dies: Spellbinders "Labels One"; MFT "Blueprints 25" sentiment banner; Paper Smooches "Cute Clouds"

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Crafty Gals #137--punches and/or dies
Penny's #343--anything goes
The Paper Shelter #306--pearls, gems and/or enamel dots
Die Cuttin' Divas #331--birthday celebration
Incy Wincy--go wild (bears are wild animals)
A Bit More Time To Craft #30--anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Crafty Creations #348--anything goes
Cutie Pie #114--Boys will be boys
The Paper Nest dolls #7--anything goes
Scrapper's Delights #69--anything goes
Divas That Cut--anything goes

At the Beach

Hello, everyone!  Today begins a new challenge on The House That Stamps Built blog.  It's a fan favorite: Anything Goes!!  Here is my card for your inspiration:

When I was thinking about what I wanted to make, I was pretty sure I was going to make a Christmas card as I always need more of those.  But, as you can see, I most definitely did not end up with a Christmas card!  : )  Don't ask me what happened, 'cause I just don't know.   This may be THE only actual one-layer card that I have ever made.  First, I used a rectangle die to cut a rectangle out of a piece of copy paper to use as a frame for my little scene.  Then I used a torn post-it note to use as a mask for the sand.  then I used the other half of it to mask the sand and sponge in my clouds using a scalloped oval die cut as a mask.  When I removed all the different masks, it looked a bit strange and I realized, I had forgotten to mask the horizon line for the water!  My sky went all the way down to the sand!  So, I quickly (and carefully) lined up all the masks and sponged on the water.  Much better.  I stamped the palm trees in black ink and then used a sharpie to color them in to make a solid image (it is only an outline stamp).  It looked a little plain, so I used the same sharpie and a ruler to draw the frame around the scene and then stamped the sentiment using some selective inking.  I think it will make a perfect masculine birthday card.  I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week; I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Birthday" and "Large Palm Trees"

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle for frame masking

Challenges:

Less Is More #342--perfect holiday

Cardz TV #9--anything goes

Stamplorations Summer CAS challenge--anything CAS

Southern Girls #166--add some stamping

MFT Camp Create--Magnificent Masking

Just a note

Happy Friday!!  It's time for another challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack.  As always, we are now an Anything Goes challenge and our sponsor for the week is Digital Delights by Louby Loo. 

As always, it is an anything goes challenge, BUT this week we have an optional twist if you want to challenge yourself a little bit.  The twist is to use this sketch:

The design team was given this adorable (and sweet) little bee image to work with:

This image would be absolutely perfect for a school related card: teacher thank you, happy first day of school, or just a little thinking of you at school.  But, I am a homeschool mom, so I don't need any of those type of cards.  So, I thought it would also make the perfect "just a note" card as the bee is holding a pencil; maybe he just finished writing a little note.  For the flowers, I stamped them on the same paper as the background of the card and then added shading  with a Spectrum Noir marker.  For the largest flower, I stamped it twice, cut out just the center of one and adhered it to the center of the other with a bit of cardboard to give some dimension.  Then I stamped the leaf image twice, leaving one whole (the long one rising out of the top of the large flower) and cut the second one apart to add around the other flowers.  To finish everything off, I added liquid pearls to the stamens of the flowers and colored the bees wings with wink of stella for a nice sparkly finish.  It can see all the fabulous sparkle in the photo below: 

I forgot to take a picture of it, but inside, I stamped the sentiment "Feel Better Soon" so the completely sentiment reads "A note to say . . . feel better soon."

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week, and I would LOVE for you to tackle our sketch!

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 August 24th by 6:00PM (eastern, USA) time to link up.

All winners will be announced during the week of August 27th.

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

Supplies:
Stamps: Digital Delights by Louby Loo "Pencil Bee" digi; Verve "Take Note" sentiment and "Joyful Blooms"
Dies: Spellbinders "Labels One"; MFT "Blueprints 12" rounded rectangle and stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Crafty Creations #348--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #296--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--add a sentiment
Penny's Challenge #342--anything goes
The Paper Shelter #305--punches and dies
Fab n' Funky Challenges #361--anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #256--anything goes
Sweet Stampin'--flowers
Little Miss Muffet #409--anything goes
Divas That Cut--anything goes