Gorgeous

Ack!!!  It's March already and I just realized I totally forgot to schedule a post for the new Love To Scrap Challenge!!  Yikes!  Anyway, this month's challenge is: Anything Goes and our fabulous sponsor is DRS Designs:

And here is the card I created (luckily, I didn't forget to make it, just to post it!):

 Several years ago, I got this gorgeous Pussy Willow stamp and I love it!  I just always forget about it.  It's so beautiful and delicate, just like the actual plant.  I added some glue to each of the buds and topped it with some flocking powder.  It doesn't show up very well in the photos, but it gives a nice fluffy feel, just like the actual plant!  You can see it a little in the photo below.

Thanks for stopping by; I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this month!  I'm always so inspired by visiting your blogs and seeing what you create! OH!!  A little hint: this month we are celebrating our 6th birthday at the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog, so make sure you stop by there on Monday as there is going to be something fun going on!!

Supplies:
Stamps: DRS Designs "Bush Pussy Willow" rubber stamp; Raising Boat "Flourishing Thoughts" clear sentiment
Dies: STAMPlorations "gorgeous"

Challenges:
Creative Fingers #158--anything goes
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Penny's Challenge #418--anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #276--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafty Creations #385--anything goes
Mod Squad--use stripes
C.R.A.F.T. #503--Mother's Day/female
Retro Rubber #105--sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday (I have had the pussy willow stamp for at least 3 years, possibly 4 or 5, and the Raisin Boat Stamp set is at least 2 years old)
Try Stampin' on Tuesday #397--sketch

Fa la la la la . . .

Recently I won a Guest Designer spot with the Feeling Sketchy Design Team.  Today is my chance to design with them and I am so honored.

The sponsor for this challenge is Just Me Digital Stamps (their images are always super adorable!)

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card using the adorable Llama image from Just Me Digital Stamps:

I have to say, I was a little unsure how to make this sketch work with the image, but once I got working on it, ideas kept flowing and I really like how it turned out!  I did turn the sketch on its side.  The die cut button was in my bits and pieces stash, and it was the inspiration for my color combo and all the layering.  I was looking through my embellishments for  . . . something, I can't even remember what, and came across some felt snowflakes that I've had for a long time.  So, the snowflake right behind the llama's head is one of those; it adds a fun texture.  This image actually comes with a sentiment, but it didn't fit with my design.  So, I used a sentiment from "Fa La Llama" from Neat & Tangled, but that set was designed by Elena Roussakis who is also the artitist/designer behind Just Me Digital Stamps; I thought it would fit ok since they were both created by the same artist.
Make sure you hop over to the Feeling Sketchy blog for the full details and to see what the Design Team created.

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Me Digital Stamps "Llama" digi; Neat & Tangled "Fa La Llama" sentiments
Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" and "Layered Poinsettia"; Memory Box "Lindeman Snowflake"; PTI "Button Bits"

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Cupcake Inspirations #464--use a button

Double Trouble #22--Thing #1: tic tac toe (I used the right diagonal: blue hues, image, dies/punches)
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #44--anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes
Aud Sentiments #221--bingo (I used the right diagonal: die cut, digi or stamp, ribbon)
Creative Fingers #158--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #426--anything goes with the optional twist: use some gold
Crafty Friends #104--gemstones/pearls (little rhinestones on the center of the poinsettia)
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Lucky Me

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 The Cutting Cafe.

I was given this fun file set called "Lucky Me" and this is what I came up with:

 The file comes with two different sentiment sheets all with the large "LUCKY" and various sentiments to go along with it.  Then there are 3 different choices; the "LUCKY" can be green, black or clear.  I chose clear because I wanted to create an ombre effect.  Then there are several different sheets full of shamrocks in a variety of colors and patterns.  I chose to use three of the greens, a large, small and little tiny.  Since I decided to to create a shaker element, I wanted to keep the rest of it rather simple.

 I love shakers; they are just so fun (a bit of a bear to put together, but the fun is worth it)!  I used gold and green sequins and gold and clear seed beads.

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 March 8th by 12:00AM  (eastern, USA) time to link up.

All winners will be announced during the week of March 10th.

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

Supplies:

Cutting Files: The Cutting Cafe "Lucky Me"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" I used the fishtail banner element to cut the interior of my frame.  I partially die cut it and then flipped it around and die cut the opposite end to they would both be straight.  It was the only die I had that was even close to the dimensions I needed.

Challenges:

Krafty Chicks #444--anything goes with the optional twist: shimmer and shine (I used lots of sequins and beads)

Moving Along with the Times #92--Sentiment only, no images

Cute Card Thursday #571--greens

Crafty Creations #385--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #376--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #418--anything goes

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown #426--interactive (shaker element is interactive)

Cut It Up #168--clovers

Masculine 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:

I was definitely time crunched for this one, and when that happens, I definitely look for a CAS creation.  And it's more ideal if I don't have to color anything as that takes me a bit of time.  So, I was flipping through my Repeat Impressions stamps and came across this motorcycle which I haven't inked up yet being a little intimidated by it.  But I figured I could go with a black and white scheme and not have to color it.  Then when I stamped it, I realized you don't have to color it anyway and it looks fabulous just as it is!  I die cut a silver "happy" and heat embossed the "birthday" and was finished as quick as a wink (almost)!
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 "Harley" and "Belated Birthday"
Dies: MFT "Happy Trio"

Challenges:
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #31--anything goes
Power Poppy Creative Confetti--take 10 (a ten minute card)
CAS(E) This Sketch #310--sketch

Aud Sentiments #221--bingo (I used the top row: patterned paper, embossing, die cut)
Crafty Catz #450--anything goes with the optional twist: for a boy (man)
Creative Fingers #158--anything goes
Crafty Friends #104--gemstones/pearls (I used black pearls)
{Pin}spirational Challenge #233 (inspired by the color combo)

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Cardz 4 Guyz #124--CAS

Spring Bear

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

The challenge this time is: Include an Animal
And here is my card for your inspiration:

I just love all of Di's images; they are all sooooo adorable!!  This little guy was just screaming to be colored up.  I'm definitely ready for winter to be over, though I would REALLY like to have one good snow storm first!  We've had several predicted, but then they've just turned to rain.  My kids and I are still hoping . . .  After that, I will be ready to see some cute little Daffs poking their heads out of the ground!  I had a bit of a problem coloring up this image.  I was trying to fix things and it just kept getting worse, so, I'm not super happy with how the bear turned out, but didn't really have time to color it again.  And then, my marker slipped and made a long brown line right out of his backside.  Ugghhh . . . I was able to mostly fix it with a blender pen, but had to hide it with the hello die cut; which is a fun addition anyway.  I die cut the "hello" three times and layered them together the sponged the edges with a little bit of dark brown ink to set it off a bit.

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 "Daffodil Bear" digi

Dies: Simon Says Stamp "Painted Hello"; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Picot Circles"

Challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #154--sketch

Crafty Sentiments--Spring is springing
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #100--anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Craft Dee BowZ--anything goes with handmade bow

Happy 25th

We have a 25th anniversary party to go to tomorrow--a couple in our family.  I went with the traditional silver color and added a fun pop of pink with the roses.

These roses from PTI are my absolute favorite!!  They are so gorgeous and detailed and can be stamped in any color combo.  I went with  three shades of pink and stamped the leaves in two shades of gray.  I was going to go with green for the leaves but wanted to keep the only color with the roses.  The silver frame around my circle element was created by die cutting two different pieces and layering them together on the back of the circle; I think it turned out really cool.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Sweet Life"; Sweet n Sassy Stamps "Celebrating Milestones"
Dies: Papertrey Ink "Sweet Life" and "By the Numbers" border die; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Filigree Delight"; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle
Cuttlebug Mania damask embossing folder

Challenges:
Creative Fingers #158--anything goes
Aud Sentiments #221--bingo (I used the right diagonal: die cut, digi or stamp, ribbon, I also used the center column: embossing, digi or stamp, stitching)
Double D Challenge--pink and white
Mod Squad--brand name clear or rubber stamps (all clear stamps used on this one)
Cuttlebug Mania--marriage (an anniversary is a celebration of marriage)
Tuesday Morning Sketches #491--sketch

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #100--anything goes
Alphabet Challenge--X is for xtra bling
{Pin}spirational Challenge #232--inspiration photo (those gorgeous pink roses; need I say more!?)

Crafter's Cafe #213--fancy folds or embossing

Frosty Christmas

I've been leaving my (quickly decreasing) bits and pieces stash out on my desk so I can keep looking through it and keep the pieces fresh in my mind.  So, when I see a sketch the one of those pieces will go with, I can jump right on it.  This is how this card came about: I saw the sketch and almost instantly thought of this piece of ribbon that was in the bits and pieces stash.  I wasn't thinking pink at first, but as I was looking through a paper pack I came across this scrap of pink and all I had to do was trim down the width of it, which I used to paper piece the little snowman's cute hat and scarf.  I colored the snowman with colored pencils and gave him some snowball sequins to juggle.  So cute!

Supplies:
Stamps: Your Next Stamp "Holiday Snow Globe" snowman; Verve "Merry & Bright"

Challenges:
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #44--anything Christmas goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything Christmas goes
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--carols & songs (Frosty the Snowman)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Stinkin' Inkers--baby it's cold outside
Merry Little Christmas #7--anything goes
Moving Along with the Times #91--a little shabby chic
Crimbo Crackers #178--anything Christmas goes
Cardz TV #83--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #346--anything goes with snippets (the ribbon and the patterned paper--both scraps)
Make My Monday #90--make it krafty
Fab n Funky #428--Christmas
Mod Squad--brand name clear or rubber stamps (I used both: unmounted rubber by YNS and clear stamp by Verve)
Little Red Wagon #485--baby it's cold outside
CAS(E) This Sketch #310--sketch