Happy Anniversary

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  As it is the 5th Wednesday of the month, we have a fabulous sketch for your inspiration:

And here is the card I created using the sketch:

My husband and I are celebrating out 20th Anniversary today!!  This is the card I made for him.  When I first saw the bottom horizontal element of the sketch, I thought right away that it was perfect for ribbon and a bow.  But once I started thinking about using the sailboat, I thought it would be fun to turn it into a nautical type knot.  I used some leftover twine that I received as some packaging and I think it turned out pretty cool.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you hop over to the House blog for all the details and to see what the rest of the team created.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, make sure you check out the 10% off your entire order coupon over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Sailboat" and "Happy Anniversary"
Dies: MFT "Designer Label STAX", "Blueprints 12" stitched circle and "Blueprints 13" fishtail banner

Challenges:
Creative with Stamps #40--stripes

Creative Craft Cottage #120--summer
Sweet Stampers #34--summer
Stamplorations Theme and Sketch--anything goes

Moving Along With the Times #102--splish splash
Make My Monday #101--for a guy
Crafty Catz #472--anything goes with the optional twist: on the beach
Crafty Friends #113--summer colors (I used the cool blues of the ocean and the hot corals of the tropics)

Shine

I have one last chance to play along with my crazy cousins over on the Double Trouble challenge blog and it starts today.

WELCOME to Challenge #34 -

Let the Troubles Begin!

"Grab your Stuff" 

THING 1: Trouble Maker

says, "This is a 1-Week Free-for-All Challenge so have a little fun creating with "Some Thing", "Any Thing" and "Every Thing".  

It's time again to grab your bone folder, your stuff, and create something new. We think this is easier than folding a fitted sheet! It's time to use "stuff" you have in your stash (new and old).   

You can Stop here...OR  

THING 3: Twisted Sister
says "Sunshine on my shoulder makes me Happy."  Click HERE and Sing-along with John Denver.  Use paper and/or techniques (stenciling, embossing, sponging, masking, die cutting) and create your impression of Sunshine, Sunburst, and/or sunrays.

This is an OPTIONAL twist but would make Twisted Sister even Happier and give you an additional chance for Double Trouble's random draw.  

THING 2: Double Dare

dares you to multiply the fun and link up your project with any of our previous partner(s) below for extra chances to our Random Draw. Make sure you read their guidelines carefully and observe their dates. We don't want you to get into Trouble with them.

This means: each time you link with a previous partner, or multiple partners with the same card, you gain additional chances for each partner challenge you entered. Please make sure you identify them in your blog along with our Double Trouble link.

Pile It On 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies 

Retro Rubber Challenge 

Three Amigos Blog Hop

We are saddened by the announcement of the closing of this challenge July 31st 

and thank them for their support in partnering with Double Trouble.  

There is still time to combine and enter their July Challenge.  

Adios Amigos.

Color My Heart Color Dare

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Heart2Heart

Try Stampin' on Tuesday

Brown Sugar

The Crafter's Café 

The Paper Girls 

Use Your Stuff  

Cupcake Inspirations 

Creative With Stamps 

The Joy of Sets - TicTacToe 

And here is my last creation for you for the month:

I took full advantage of the free for all and created another Christmas card for my stash.  I used the current sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday (for Thing #2's challenge), but I completely missed Thing #3's challenge to use something representing sun or sunshine.  BUT, I do have the word "Shine" in my sentiment . . . so . . .   Anyway, the stamped snowflake strip was in my bits and pieces stash just begging to be used and since it was perfect for the horizontal element in the sketch, I was happy to oblige.  I used a brand new embossing folder for the background and inked the edges and the raised script with a light gray ink pad to bring more attention to the embossing.  The snowflakes were die cut out of some very glittery paper and the sentiment was stamped onto a tag die cut that I turned into an ornament.

Thanks to Suzanne and the rest of the Double Trouble team for letting me play along with them this month, it's been a lot of fun!

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Beyond Measure" sentiment; PTI "Fab Flakes"

Dies: PTI "Tag Sale #4" and "Fancy Flakes"; Elizabeth Craft Designs "Beautiful Baubles" ribbon die

Park Lane embossing folder

Challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes with the optional twist: Christmas in the sun (I did not use the optional twist)
Divas that Cut--anything goes with the optional twist: patriotic (I did not use the twist, though I did use red, white and blue!)
Crafty Calendar--Christmas in July
Power Poppy Creative Spark--Christmas in July
Sheepski Designs--Early Christmas/winter
ABC Christmas--N is for no peeking, O is for ornament
Merry Little Christmas--anything goes
Shopping Our Stash #400--Christmas in July
Word Art Wednesday #397--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crimbo Crackers #189--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #357--anything goes with snippets (the "patterned" strip was in my bits and pieces stash and the small snowflake, ornament and hanging ribbon were all die cut from scraps)
Try Stampin' On Tuesday #418--sketch

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--get ready for Christmas
Crafty Creations #395--anything goes
Mod Squad--all that sparkles
Creative Moments #173--anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #592--no patterned paper
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #448--anything goes with the optional twist: twine or ribbon

Birthday Kitties

It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is:  Things with Wings or Tails
And here is my card for your inspiration:

I chose to go with tails as kitties are my favorite animals.  I colored up these guys to resemble my own two cats.  At first I thought the patterned paper was Fallish, but now I think the colors are kind of summery, too.  

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "A Purrfect Day" digi

Dies: Spellbinders "Labels One"; Verve "Pennant Trim"

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Divas That Cut--anything goes with the optional twist: patriotic (I did not use the twist)
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #36--anything goes
Dies R Us #124--birthday
2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes
Craft Rockets--animals
Double D--birthday
As You Like It--favorite bird or animal and why? (cats are my favorites of all time.  they are so soft and adorable.  They can be aloof but they can also be very lovey and snuggly.)
Cardz TV #94--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #110--anything goes
The Paper Shelter--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #440--anything goes
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #164--sketch

Cut It Up #174--critters

Are you Dragon?

My Favorite Things hosted Camp Create last week and one of the challenges is: Remarkable Resist.  I so wanted to play along, and here is the card I created:

 I started by stamping a typewriter text background with black ink, then used a stencil and versamark ink as an overlay.  I pressed the ink pad down onto the stencil, making sure all the opening were well inked and then heat embossed with clear powder.  Then I used pink and black distress oxide inks as well as Antique Linen distress ink and sponged on the color.  It's an idea I've had for a while and finally decided to try it.  You can see the shine from the embossing and the sparkle on the dragon's belly and wings in the photo below:

I just love this dragon set and couldn't resist using this cutie and the fun sentiment to create a Get Well card.  I finished everything off with some silver and clear sequins and a little puff of very sad smoke.

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT "Magical Dragons" and text background stamp
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle and 'torn' strips
Stamplorations stencil

Challenges:
MFT Camp Create Day #2--Remarkable Resist

The Paper Girls #180--magical Monday
Word Art Wednesday #397--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Pink Gem--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #110--anything goes
Addicted To Stamps #351--anything goes
The Paper Shelter--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #440--anything goes
Crafty Creations #395--anything goes
Creative Moments #173--anything goes

It's your birthday

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week it is a fan favorite: Anything Goes!! And here is the card I created for your inspiration:

 We attended a birthday party for a young man (and his sister) in our family, and I had this really great idea for a card for him.  I've actually had this idea ever since I got the stamp set and finally decided to see if I could make it a reality.  Well, I was having so much fun that I forgot to check the guidelines for our challenge last week and when I went to upload it, realized it had NOTHING to do with the challenge!!  Luckily, it definitely fit this week's Anything Goes theme.  As soon as I saw this box and box top, I thought it would be really fun to create a sliding mechanism that lifted off the top to reveal a surprise inside.  So (and I was really proud of myself for this) it took me a while, but I did!  For this particular card, the top lifts off to reveal . . .

 . . . the number 19 as that is how old the young man turned.  Isn't it fun?!  He sure thought so, and had a great time sliding the top up and down.  I started by embossing the background with a number plate and then sponged on some Antique Linen Distress Ink to bring out the numbers a little and help draw the eye to the present.  I figured out where I wanted the slide channel to go and die cut it out of the background panel and the inside of the box which I had stamped, paper pieced, colored AND fussy cut to get the look I wanted!  I used two strips of clear acetate to hold the numbers and finished everything off some sliver and clear stars and sequins.  While I was at it, I definitely learned a few things I should have done differently, but I was quite pleased with how it came out.
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "It's your birthday" from the Holy Crap set, "Gift box" and "Gift box top"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched rectangle; Lawn Fawn "Slide on Over";
PTI numbers impression plate

Challenges:
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Dies R Us #125--birthday
Stinkin' Inkers--stars and/or stripes (star sequins)
Creative Inspirations--anything goes
Creatalicious #167--anything goes with the optional twist: bright and fun
Dare 2B Artzy--masculine birthday
Cardz TV #94--anything goes
Creative Fingers #168--anything goes
MFT Camp Create Day #4--Sensational Sliders

Word Art Wednesday #397--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Double D--birthday
Pink Gem--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #110--anything goes
Make My Monday #101--for a guy

Time to celebrate!

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week we have a beautiful inspiration photo for you:

And here is the card I created:

This was thrown together in about 10 minutes (super fast for me) and I am so pleased with how it turned out!  I spent all afternoon yesterday making an interactive card for the challenge, just creating and having fun with the process.  When I went to upload it, I realized it had absolutely nothing to do with the inspiration photo!  Ugh!!  So, quick, run downstairs and make something to FIT the challenge without taking a lot of time!  I used a dotted stencil from Tim Holtz to create the background.  I started with some yellow ink and then some pink just in the center.  Stamped the ice cream bar twice and colored them to match the picture, fussy cut them and adhered to the background.  Stamped the sentiment and added the sequins and done!  Moral of the story=make sure you know what the guidelines are first.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Cool Treats" (I used only one of the images) and "Time to celebrate" from the "Holy Crap" series

Challenges:
Pattie's Creations #160--food or drinks
Brown Sugar #291--anything goes
Penny Black--summer colors
Creative Craft Cottage #120--summer
Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenge--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the pink and yellow and the frozen treat in the bottom row)

The Paper Funday #7--Patriotic and/or summer
Stamplorations Mixed Media Summer Challenge--anything goes with a stencil

Stamplorations CAS Summer Challenge--anything goes

Cute Card Thursday #590--pink
Aud Sentiments #231--bingo (I used the middle row: 3D item {sequins}, digi or stamp, markers or pencils)

Creative Fingers #168--anything goes
Sweet Stampers #34--summer
Cupcake Inspirations #474--shades of pink

Monkey Birthday

Since I am playing along with my Crazy Cousins over on the Double Trouble Challenge this month, I have another project to share with you for challenge #33.

WELCOME to Challenge #33 - Let the Troubles Begin  

"Birthday/Special Occasion for our Kids and Babies" 

THING 1: Double Trouble
says, "I'm not kidding...Let's create a Birthday/Special Occasion card or scrapbook page for our "Kids and Babies".

You can stop here ...
Or you can use Twisted Sister's Optional Twist below so that you can enter into a our partner's challenge. 

THING 3: Twisted Sister

says, "Can you believe I got in trouble for singing:
     Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You!
     You look like a monkey! And act like one too!
Who would have thought? Especially when monkeys are so adorable and fun." Enjoy another verse of Twisted Sister's Happy Birthday Song.

Twisted Sister's optional twist is to use a monkey or any Zoo animal on your project and earn another chance in the random draw and also be eligible to enter in Double Dare's dare below.

THING 2: Double Dare

dares you, if you have created a special occasion kid and/or baby project and have included an animal you can enter into "Crafter's Café Challenge too".

Click HERE to enter and earn another chance for Double Trouble Random Draw.

Here is my card:

A couple weeks ago, I made a never-ending/infinity card (using this tutorial) for a graduation and my daughter told me it was the kind of card she wanted me to make for her birthday.  Since she LOVES monkeys, this was the perfect opportunity to get a jump on things, so I made her a birthday card.  Since the card is never ending, it really doesn't have a "front" or "back", but this is what I consider the "first" panel.  The sentiment reads "It's Your Birthday Go Bananas!"  This is what it looks like as it turns into the second panel:

This is the second panel:

As it turns into the third panel:

The third panel (she is going to be 11):

As it turns into the fourth panel:

And the fourth and final panel:

I left the bottom panel blank as that is where I will write a little something to her.  But, these cards are so fun and the fun doesn't stop!  So, the fourth panel also opens to turn back to the first panel:

I know she is going to love this, with all the adorable monkeys and the fun fold!  Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will head over to the Double Trouble blog for all the details and to see what the Twisted Sisters came up with.

Supplies:

Stamps: Sugar Pea Designs "Chunky Monkey" (monkeys and accessories and sentiment on the first panel); PaperTrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes" other sentiments

Dies: PaperTrey Ink number dies

Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe #223--animals and/or ATC

Scor-pal #61--anything goes with the optional twist: Patriotic (as long as it has more than one score line)

Unicorn Challenge #45--baby or for a child

Pattie's Creations #160--food or drinks (bananas)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #36--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes

Craft Rocket Challenge--animals

Crafting By Designs--anything goes

ART Impressions #260--birthday cards

Cardz TV #93--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #101--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #438--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--use a number

Crafty Creations #394--anything goes

Creative Moments #172--anything goes

Christmas Joy

It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Christmas in July
And here is my card for your inspiration:

This is one of my favorite Di's images (hmm . . . I might say that about all of them!); that mouse is just so cute!!  I made a fun paper pieced background with paper scrap strips.  I love the bits of black, they really make this sweet image pop!  I finished the card off with a heat embossed sentiment.

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "Poinsettia Mouse" digi; Verve "Beyond Measure" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle; MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched rectangle (on the background panel)

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes with the optional twist: Christmas in the sun (I did not use the optional twist)
Cards Galore #65--anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Crafty Calendar--Christmas in July
Power Poppy Creative Confetti--Christmas in July
SheepSki Designs #28--early Christmas/winter
Brown Sugar #291--anything goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes
Craft Rockets--animals
Merry Little Christmas--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Time Out Challenge #139--inspired by the word "flowers"

Crimbo Crackers #188--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #356--anything goes with snippets (all the paper strips were scraps or cut from scraps)
Try Stampin' On Tuesday #416--sketch and theme: Christmas in July

Crafty Sentiments--add a sentiment
Penny's Challenge #438--anything goes
Crafty Creations #394--anything goes
Little Red Wagon #505--it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Krafty Chicks #463--anything goes with optional twist: Christmas in July

Deepest Sympathy

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a fun Tic Tac Toe board for you:

  

Here is what I created for your inspiration:

I used the left hand column: insects, eyelets, vellum.

Our neighbor passed away last week so I was making a sympathy card to give to his wife.  As I was getting ready to cut the angled panels, I realized it would be just as easy to create two cards (which worked out well as I also needed a seconded sympathy card for a lady at our church).  So, I cut two rectangle panels of patterned paper, stacked them together and made the angled cut through both layers.  That way, they line up perfectly with each other.  I added some ribbon, stamped the butterfly on vellum and layered that on a third patterned paper piece.  Added some eyelets and a sympathy sentiment, and two cards finished in almost the same amount of time as making one!  Here is a closer shot of the first card (this is the one I like the best):

 And the second:

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Butterfly (sm.)" and "Sympathy"

Dies: Verve "Classic Labels"

Challenges:
Crafts Galore #65--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #36--anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Brown Sugar #291--anything goes
Creative Inspirations--anything goes
Creatalicious #166--anything goes with the optional twist: more than 2 patterned papers (I used 3)
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Crafty Catz #469--anything goes
Cardz TV #93--anything goes
Pink Gem Challenge--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #109--anything goes
Atlantic Hearts Sketch #324--sketch

Use Your Stuff #366--birds, bees, or butterflies
Crafty Sentiments--add a sentiment

Red, White and Blue for You

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week is a Designer's Choice Challenge and Donna has chosen: Red, White & Blue

And here is the card I created:

I just love this Flower Power background stamp!  It's so pretty and it looks fabulous no matter what colors you use it with.  This is actually quite a pretty color combo.  I love the red and the light blue and when I threw in the darker blue; it really added a lot of interest and depth.  I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and finished off the flowers with pearls in various colors and blue enamel dots.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this challenge (if you are American, it will definitely make you feel patriotic!).  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Flower Power Background" and "I'm so glad . . ."

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Crafty Creations #393--anything goes
Creative Moments #171--anything goes
Aud Sentiments #230--anything goes
Creative Fingers #167--anything goes
Cut It Up #177--red, white and blue
Crafty Friends #113--things beginning with "B" (I used blue and blooms)
Simon Says Stamp Monday--make your own background
Tuesday Throwdown #435--anything goes
Crafts Galore #65--anything goes

Beach Santa

So, a little while ago, I was asked to play along with my cousins over at the Double Trouble Challenge blog.  How fun, right?

And the challenge is:

"Christmas in July - Something Square" 

THING 1: Double Trouble

says "Have some fun and help us celebrate Christmas in July while singing along with Bing Crosby to the Hawaiian Christmas Song Mele Kalikimaka for inspiration." Make a square card, scrapbook page, gift box or use squares on your project.

If you use a stamp that is at least one year old (rubber or acrylic) you can also play along with Thing 2 who Double Dares you to join in at Retro Rubber Challenge below.  Digital Images Not Acceptable.  

THING 3: Twisted Sister

says, "In July Santa hangs 10 at the North Shore rather than the North Pole."  

If you create a beach scene with Santa you can earn an extra chance to our random draw. This is an optional fun twist and we would love to see how you think Santa spends his time at the North Shore.     

THING 2: Double Dare 

dares you to use a rubber or acrylic stamp older than one year and since you already have your Christmas theme, you can enter Retro Rubber Challenge #113. Must include the age (or approximate age) of the stamp in your blog post. After all – Retro wants to give these old stamps some love!

And here is my card:

I bet you didn't know, but just before all the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve, Santa takes a quick little vacation to the beach.  He relaxes and even builds sandmen (instead of snowmen).  After the little bit of rejuvenation, Santa is ready to do his deliveries.  I hope you will play along with us.  I can't wait to see how you interpret the challenge.

Supplies:

Stamps: YNS "Holiday Snow Globe" santa, snowman, sentiment; Repeat Impressions "Large Palm Trees"  and "Sandcastle" just used the birds

Challenges:

Retro Rubber-- (the snow globe set, is the very first YNS set I ever bought.  It's probably close to 10 years old and still has some of my most favorite little Christmas images.)
Time Out Challenge #138--funny
Moving Along with The Times #100-- CAS
Cardz TV #92--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--Christmas
Penny's Challenge #436--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Crafty Creations #393--anything goes
Creative Moments #171--anything goes
Aud Sentiments #230--anything goes