Dabble with Dawn

Hand Stamped Sentiments #105 - Love Is In The Air

2012-02-14T03:00:00.000-06:00

Love is in the Air TODAY at Hand Stamped Sentiments, especially since it's VALENTINE'S DAY!! Happy hearts day to you! I have John Paul Young's "Love Is In The Air" song from 1978 playing in the background as I type up my post! Couldn't get that song out of my head when I read this weeks challenge title...

I've seen many fun felted bobby pin creations on Pinterest and couldn't find a tutorial on heart ones, so I decided to come up with one of my own for a sweet little Valentine.

What you'll need to create the heart bobby pins:

A sheet of felt (or scraps if your'e a craft-o-holic like me)

Sharp Scissors (I LOVE my SU! ones, all 6 pairs of them)

A couple of bobby pins

A hot glue gun and extra glue sticks

I started off cutting out a few hearts and matched up the ones that were the closest in size.

Two strips of felt, which will cover the glue and grasp the bobby pin, it doesn't matter how long they are, since you'll trim them at the last step.

I stuck my strips of felt through the bobby pin top, put a dab of glue onto the back of my heart and then pushed the felt with the bobby pin on top of the glue holding it into place for a bit until it set. Be careful NOT to let the glue get on your fingers, OUCH!

Trim off the excess felt from the strips using the hearts as your guide and voila, two adorable felted heart bobby pins...Which I attached to this sweet little heart card with the appropriately worded porcupine stamp "I'm stuck on you".

The heart card is made out of the retired Bigz XL Petal Card Die from SU! I just snipped off two sides to get my heart shape.

Head on over to see what LOVE-ly creations the Design Team has twitter patted up for you this week and join in on the Lovey fun!

SU! products used:
Paper - Crumb Cake
Die - Card, Petal retired Bigz Die
Other - Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details

Hand Stamped Sentiments #104 - Color Challenge

2012-02-07T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we're singing the BLUE'S with our monochromatic color scheme.

A bit of Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy and a dash of a Neutral makes this challenge a singing delight!

HSS#104

I wanted more of a vintage feel for the layer behind my typewriter, so I cut a piece of Marina Mist and crumbled it up several time to break the fibers...once I saw the paper start to separate on the sides, I peeled it apart and was left with two soft pieces of crumpled up cardstock.

We'd love to see what tune these blues make you sing this week, head on over to the Hand Stamped Sentiments Blog to check out what the Design Team has in store for you and enter your fabulous creations!

SU! products Used:

Stamps - Just My Type, Happiest Birthday Wishes hostess set
Paper - Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy & Very Vanilla
Ink - Basic Black, Not Quite Navy
Other - Marina Mist Ribbon, Icy Bling, EF

Hand Stamped Sentiments #103 - Anything BUT A Card, Gift Items

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we are asking you lovely crafters to create anything BUT a card with this gift item challenge!

There are so many possibilities, I went to my Pinterest boards and narrowed it down to this fun paper pouch. I took photos of each step and will explain how YOU too can create this fun little package!

start with a sheet of paper 5-1/2" X 8-1/2"

attach a piece of sticky strip along the short side, peel off red backing...

and then adhere together into a cylinder shape

pinch one side together and create a fold line/crease about 1/2"...I stuck another piece of sticky strip inside before crimping but you can add the sticky strip on the first step as well.

fill your pouch with desired goodies

and then pinch/adhere and crimp the other side but make sure you pinch the opposite direction of the first pinch. Attach a fun tag, ribbon or other embellishment to personalize your pouch, hand to a teacher or friend and make someone's day sweeter!

Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiment to see what wonderful gift items the design team has whipped up for you this week!

The picture tutorial I spied on Pinterest had been sewn together which would be super cute BUT I don't own a sewing machine nor do I know how to sew. You can check out that tutorial HERE.

SU! products used:
Stamp Set - Just My Type, Itty Bitty Wishes
Paper - In-Color DSP, Whisper White
Ink - Craft Black, Basic Black
Other - Black Embossing Powder, Crimper,
Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon
Square Retired Rhinestone Brad

who's ready for Sale-A-Bration 2012??

2012-01-25T22:50:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again...no NOT Christmas but almost! It's Sale-A-Bration time (can I get a what what!) The time of the year where you receive one FREE exclusive product for every $50* you spend January 24th - March 31st. There are so many fun amazing products in the Sale-A-Bration Catalog (buttons, DSP, fabric, stamp sets and more), click on the link or catalog to check them out!

This is also an AMAZING time to join the Stampin' Up! (r) family. You get not only a fabulous starter kit for $125.00 during Sale-A-Bration BUT you also will receive a FREE paper pack or digital download EACH MONTH for the rest of the year! Click HERE for further details or to sign up.

*not including shipping

Hand Stamped Sentiments #102 - Beach

2012-01-24T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we're turning the heat up a bit with a Beach Inspirational photo...now seriously, who can NOT want to be there right now?! I know I could stand a kiss of sun on this winter white skin!

I looked over EVERY single stamp set I own and sadly couldn't find a beach themed stamp anywhere in the whole lot...but staring dreamily into the inspiration photo and almost hearing the crashing waves at my feet, I thought of non other than sand, crystal blue waters and orange sunsets. Thought my little speed boat looked oh so cool tucked in between the waves as it sped off to pick up the latest water skier or parasailor.

HSS#102

I used a punched circle as my sun, held it in place and sponged Tangerine Tango all around, removing the circle, what remained was a perfect sunset. The water and sand were created by ripping strips of paper and then sponging each with their corresponding ink colors. The little speed boat was heat embossed in Basic Black onto a Basic Grey cardstock with a slight bit of color in the racing stripe. I wanted the boat to look like a silhouette with the sunset in the background.

I hope you enjoyed my take on this weeks photo, head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and check out what lovely 'get away' creations the Design Team has put their sandy feet on and dive right into the challenge yourself, we'd love to see your warm beach' y creations!

SU! products used:

Stamp Set - Need For Speed

Paper - Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Basic Grey

Ink - Versa Mark, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango

Punch - 1-3/4" Circle

Other - Black Embossing Powder, Tangerine Tango Marker

Baby Buggy Shower

2012-01-23T13:31:00.002-06:00

This week at Freshly Made Sketches, I used their sketch to design a baby shower invitation.

FMS#18

A bit of paper piecing on the buggy and tiny round details carry throughout with the EF, DSP and bling.

SU! products used:

Paper - Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Island Indigo DSP

Ink - Night of Navy, Crumb Cake

Punches/Dies - Top Note Bigz Die, 1-3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 3/4" Circle

Map 'py' Birthday

2012-01-20T12:47:00.000-06:00

Over at Moxie Fab World, MAPS are all the rage and we are to incorporate them in an innovative way on our projects. Since most maps I look at now are online or on my IPhone...I had to scramble to find one. But alas, this German/Swiss ski map was tucked into an old folder left over from when we lived in Germany.

I couldn't waste the map, so I made two 5-1/2" X 5-1/2" cards. You can't have a ski trail map without a pair of skis, so I whittled two sets using a 1/2' strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock for each ski. I added a score line down the center of each, snipped the fronts of the skis to a rounded point and then curled them with my trusty pen! A brown button, which looks very similar to the ones attached to all of those funky ski sweaters, some red/white twine and you've got a fun winter(ish) Happy Birthday!

Hello Prince

2012-01-19T23:36:00.000-06:00

This happens to be the very last challenge over at Wee Memories, I whipped up a card fit for a prince (or a king) which I thought an appropriate way to finish in style!

WeeMemoriesLast

I used a piece of scrap paper as my base and cuts 1/2" strips of Bashful Blue and Whisper White, lining them right up against each other. After I had the desired amount, I cut my striped background to the appropriate size, at a slant, before adhering it to Night of Navy.

This is a trifold card and the belted crown slips off to reveal the inside.

A heat embossed golden Hello, paired with the crown is perfect to welcome a little 'prince' into the world...

don't you think so?

SU! product used:

Stamp Set - Artistic Etchings

Paper - Night of Navy, Whisper White, Bashful Blue

Punches - Scallop Border, Scallop Circle, 1-3/4" Circle

Other - Gold Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Gold Super Fine Glitter

Wee Memories

2012-01-19T23:20:00.000-06:00

Huge Giveaway over at Wee Memories...go check it out for your chance to enter!

Deepest Sympathy

2012-01-19T23:01:00.000-06:00

I just have to say I'm soooo excited, it's snowing in Newport and it's sticking!! Hooray! Of course it's now raining on top, which is going to make for a sloppy mess but WOW, does a town look oh so different with a blanket of white! Not to mention my kids are going to be soooo excited when they wake up in the morning, that is if it doesn't melt by then.

Without further weather interruptions, on to my card...

I simply fell in LOVE with the sketch over at the Card Patterns blog and as much as we don't like to make sympathy cards, I was so very happy with how these turned out, I'm making loads more. Sympathy cards are needed more than we'd like to admit, no one likes to talk about death and it's hard to find the right words to say to someone who has lost a loved one or friend. But sometimes simple is best, just saying "I'm sorry" can really let someone know you care, you are willing to talk when they are ready. And you are thinking of them during a difficult chapter in their lives.

CPS148

I chose a black, white and grey color scheme cause rainy days happen to the best of us...and I didn't want to exactly make a sympathy card with a loud color like HOT PINK, too flashy for the occasion, I think so!

I kept it simple but played up the texture with my already embossed DP and patterned papers. The Sympathy sentiment was stamped in Basic Black and I added just a touch of Dazzling Details to the center swirl.

SU! products used:

Stamp Set - Thanks For Caring

Ink - Basic Black

Paper - Basic Grey, Basic Black, Whisper White

Punches - 2-1/2" Circle, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border

Other - Black Satin Ribbon, Dazzling Details, Dimensionals

Quite the PEAR

2012-01-18T22:24:00.000-06:00

Seems to be the season for engagements! When I spotted the colors over at The Paper Players, this pear set grabbed my full attention. I took a bite and went with it, embossing a few of the background pieces and still keeping it simple but sweet.

I used the Sweet Stop Sketches sketch as the base for my card,

SSS141

along with these beautiful springy colors over at The Paper Players blog...

PP#78

and....I don't usually like to combine more than two challenges at once, it gets a bit confusing to say the least BUT I made sure to keep all the elements correct, so I could also enter my card over at Our Creative Corner. The lovely DT at OCC is asking for a bit of paper piecing (my pear), no ribbon (check) and only 1 embellishment (my lonely pink bling).

Many blessing to the happy couple(s)!!

SU! products used:

Paper - Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, SAB Everyday Enchantment DSP

Ink - Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz

Punches - Scallop Border, Ticket Corner

Other - Lattus EF, Dimensionals

SAS Valentine/Sketch Challenge

2012-01-17T16:47:00.000-06:00

The latest SAS (San Antonio Swap) with two of my dear friends back in TX was a Valentine/Sketch Challenge. Here's my take, hope they like it, I know I wish I had made more than two of them!

We used this old sketch from Freshly Made Sketches

FMS#15

SU! products used:

Stamps - You Are Loved

Paper - Real Red, Everyday Enchantment DSP, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla

Other - Cherry Cobbler EP, Dimensionals

Banner Give-Away Featured!!

2012-01-17T08:58:00.001-06:00

I'm excited to tell you about a banner I made that's being featured in a GROUP GIVEAWAY over at Awesomely Awkward! Go check it out, it's listed among a huge slew of other great prizes and you have loads of chances to enter and win something for FREE!! Happy Tuesday!

Made with heavy card-stock, ink and strung on natural hemp twine. This red and natural banner features 7 triangle pennants spelling the words be mine, separated with a heart. Each piece measures 4-2/4" X 3-1/4". The negative letters have been created with a brown/brassy smooch spray.

Hand Stamped Sentiments #101 - Shaker Technique

2012-01-17T03:00:00.000-06:00

It's time to SHAKE IT over at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week!

I had so much fun watching this card come to life before my eyes...I pulled out my SWEET TREAT CUPS and knew I wanted to make a rattle for this challenge...so on went my thinking cap and I was off in lala creative land (or shall I say, shaker land)!

I used one of the flower petals from the BIGS Flower Die as my handle, edging it in brown ink. My little onesie was stamped and cut out, for a fun surprise once the glitter has been shaken the bottom of the Sweet Treats Cup. My circular outline of the rattle was made with first the 1-3/4" Circle punch and then lining up the 2-1/2" Circle punch on top of it. I then used the Lattus EF to bring a little bit of texture to my rattle. A sweet little bow for tiny touch of elegance, so cute! This is perfect for a sweet little boy that was just born to our old neighbors back in Texas. Life's too precious to not add some sparkles and 'shake it' once in awhile!

Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to check out what the Design Team has shaken up this week...put some tunes on your radio and get your own shakin' goin' on!!

SU! products used:

Paper - Bashful Blue

Stamps - retired SAB Whimsical Words

Punches - 1-3/4" Circle, 2-1/2" Circle, Large Oval

Die/EF - Lattus EF, Clear Flower Bigz Die

Other - Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Sweet Treats Cups, Lg. Blue Chunky Glitter

BIG congratulations!

2012-01-15T22:29:00.001-06:00

Freshly Made Sketches has a fun, fresh and simple sketch this week, I flipped it to fit my stamps and send some BIG Congratulations to two of my friends! Way to go ladies!!

FMS#17

I paired the sketch with these fun colors over at The Play Date Cafe, Burgundy, Gold & Plum.

PDCC114

I stamped my b, preggo gal and g directly onto the Brushed Gold cardstock. I thought she could use a little jazzing up, so a bit of Perfect Plum paper piecing gave her some sass. The stripes are small strips of gold cardstock and some of that fun Japanese tape, which my brother brought me for Christmas. I'd never used it before but thought it would be fun to try out on this card and it was!

I showed this card to my DH (dear hubby) and his statement was..."I hope you don't offend anyone with that!" MEN...haha...

SU! products used:

Cardstock - Bravo Burgundy, Brushed Gold, Perfect Plum

Punch - Word Window

Stamp Set - Baby Bundle

Technique: Paper Piecing

Hand Stamped Sentiments #100 - Pleats or Ruffles

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-06:00

Don't RUFFLE your feathers over this challenge!!

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, it's all about pleats, ruffles, or both!

I've been spying these sweet little owl pillow boxes all over the internet and thought they would be cute for this challenge. Of course these two were pretending there was no wing holding going on, I mean come on, check out the guilty look in that little fellow's eyes!

This little lady got the scallop circle treatment, I layered Real Red with Pink Passion card stock to create her one of a kind Valentine feathered wardrobe. And if you look close enough, you can see that she's got her googly eyes on me, hehe!

Presenting Mr. Pinstripe...Not guilty, I presume? Some retired green DSP suits him just fine.

and of course while I was taking a Senior Portrait of Mr. Pinstripe, these two were caught canoodling behind the bleachers...Whooooo do they think they are?

Mr. Argyle is quite cozy in his little blue and tan sweater.

and we can't forget the Prom Queen, dressed to impress in her Regal Rose Ruffles.

If I haven't bored you to tears with the newest rendition of Owl-School Musical, head over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to see what the rest of the design team has created this week. Also try your hand at the latest challenge, we can't wait to see what you RUFFLE up!

SU! products used:

Paper - Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Basic Black, retired DSP, Real Red, Melon Mambo

Punches/Dies - 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Border, Small Heart, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Pillow Box Die

Other - Sticky Strip, Dimensionals, Retired Ruffle Ribbon

I'll be posting a tutorial on how I made these fine feathered friends sometime this week, so check back!

Occasions Mini is HERE

2012-01-04T19:50:00.003-06:00

It's HERE!!! The new Occasions Mini Catalog is live starting today, January 4th - April 30th! It's packed with all sorts of wonderful tidbits and affordable new items to get your craft on in 2012! Click on the catalog above, the link below or the catalog on the left side bar to view it virtually.

I'm also holding a Stamp-A-Stack February 5th, check my Demonstrator Web Site for deets, if you'd like to reserve a spot on the list!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

DabbleWithDawn on FB

2011-12-30T19:50:00.000-06:00

I'm having a random give away at my FB page if I can reach 50 'likes' before the New Year...spread the word!!

DabbleWithDawn

click the link above to be taken to my FB page

A Rainbow of Celebration

2011-12-29T15:30:00.000-06:00

Do You Stack Up is have a beautiful rainbow color/inspirational photo as their last challenge of 2011 and with all of our Christmas decor now packed away in the basement, I thought it was time to let the sun shine in!! Always feels so good when everything is bare and clean again..

DYSU#52

I colored the 'Celebrate' sentiment in a rainbow spectrum of colors and tied up the edge with some sassy red/white striped bakers twine. A stack of packages stamped on the envelope and colored with a few of the coordinating colors adds a fun surprise for the Birthday patron to open something fun amidst the drab daily lull of bills and magazines...

SU! products used:

Stamps - upcoming Sale A Bration 2012 Outlined Occasions and retired SAB Happy Moments

Ink - Basic Black

Paper - Whisper White

Other - Red/White Bakers Twine

Hand Stamped Sentiments #99 - Cupcakes

2011-12-27T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, make something SWEET while keeping the following inspirational photo in mind. Maybe you're a frosting fanatic like me, I can taste that buttercream right now, Mmmmm! Or you just like the sugar sprinkles and silver balls, whatever moves you, go for it! (and make sure to head to your nearest cup-cakery and pick us both something sweet!)

HSS#99

I heat embossed the "happy birthday" sentiment with Tempting Turquoise Embossing Powder, which embosses just beautifully. The cupcake was sprinkled with a bit of pink sparkly fluff, which added a nice touchable texture to my card. Almost like those old fuzzy stickers that were popular back in the 80's. My little lady was colored for my MIL who celebrates her Birthday just 5 days before Christmas.

The Design Team has whipped up some lovely and yummy creations over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, you can check those out HERE. We can't wait to see what you bake up in your crafty studios as we near 2012!

SU! products used:

Ink - Versa Mark, Basic Black

Paper - Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Early Espresso

Punches/Tools - Cupcake Builder, Decorative Label, Crimper

Other - Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon

Hand Stamped Sentiments #98 - Unique Folds

2011-12-20T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we are working with Unique Folds. Grab those bone folders, score pals and you tube tutorials and come and get your crease on with the rest of the design team!

I found this lovely fancy fold HERE and thought it was perfect to showcase this beautiful Sale -A- Bration DSPaper and ink up my Valentine, You are Loved stamp set for the first time...a little sneak peek so so speak!

For my inside fancy fold, I cut the floral DSP the same as my card 8-1/2"X5-1/2" and then

scored at 2-1/8", 4-1/4" and 6-3/8"

with my Bigz Clear Circle Die, I was able to see where it would cut on my page, so I lined it up and ran it through my Big Shot.

I used a smaller piece of cardstock for the inside of my card where I stamped the Happy Valentines Day and scored that down the middle before inserting it onto my card. Then I adhered the top fancy folded piece and added the borders for a little bit of striped fun!

Since my card was a little thicker than normal and kept popping open, I attached some ribbon to tie it closed and then fancied up the front of my card.

front of my card

inside

I loved how this angle creates a heart shape

SU! products used:

Stamps - You are Loved

Paper - SAB Everyday Enchantment DSP, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral

Ink/Markers - Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade

Punch/Bigz - Eyelet Border, Clear Circle Die

Other - Manhattan Flower EF, Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon (from the SAB ribbon and brad pack)

note: SAB is short for Sale A Bration!

Happy December Birthday

2011-12-19T09:42:00.000-06:00

It's time for some December Birthdays, one being my brother, who loves all things motorized! I paired this weeks Play Date Cafe color palate with this fresh and clean sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches.

PDCC111

FMS#15

A simple mailable card for a man is always a plus when it's pulled off without too much fuss. Guys don't like fuss, they like to walk into a store, purchase what they came for and leave. Women on the other hand, tend to like to sit and stay awhile feeling all the fabrics, soaking in all the layers, etc, if you know what I mean!

SU! products used:

Stamps - Need For Speed

Ink - Craft Basic Black, Basic Black

Paper - Basic Black, Whisper White, Island Indigo

Other - Black Embossing Powder

Celebrate 2012

2011-12-19T08:10:00.000-06:00

With Christmas only a week away, I thought it was time to move on to the next big celebration...New Year's!!! 2011 was packed with amazing memories for our family and I'm excited to see what 2012 brings our way.

I chose the following two challenges this week as inspiration for my card. The Paper Players has this warm holiday color palette while Try Stampin' on Tuesdays has a nice and simple sketch to work with, which I flipped.

PP#76

TSOT#45

The 2012, I stamped directly over my little martini glass in Versa Mark before heat embossing them both in gold.

SU! products used:

Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Gold, Very Vanilla

Ink - Versa Mark

Punch - Scallop Border

Other - Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Snow Burst EF

RED HOT DEALS

2011-12-15T17:19:00.000-06:00

Who's ready for some RED HOT DEALS??

save up to 80%

on high-quality products while supplies last!!

click on either button to take you to your shopping cart

Merry Christmas to you!

there are lots of fun stocking stuffers too!!

runs Dec 15th - Jan 5th

Hand Stamped Sentiments #97 - An Old Fashioned Christmas

2011-12-13T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we are challenging you to create any project with an Old Fashioned Christmas theme. Have any of you seen "White Christmas" starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen? The soundtrack is now playing in surround sound in my head, haha! I'mmmm dreaming...of a white Christmasss.... (okay I won't keep hurting your ear drums, wink wink)

HSS#97

When I think of an old fashioned Christmas, I think of reds and gold, books being read while sitting near the warm fire, music being played on an old upright and carolers singing door to door.

I did a bit of sponging on my card...okay, every single layer, to create more of an old fashioned feel. A crinkled up page from an old book (or in this case a pack of SU! DSP). I stamped the tree in Versa Mark and then heat embossed it in Gold adding a touch of bling with the little red rhinestones (which I colored with two shades of red markers).

The ladies on the design team have created some beautiful Old Fashioned creations to use as inspiration for this week, we'd love to see what you cook up in your craft kitchen, along with some cookies of course!

SU! products used:

Stamps - Snow Swirled

Ink - Versa Mark, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake

Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, First Edition Specialty DSP

Ribbon - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

Other - Gold Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestones

Candy Stripe Soap Box

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-06:00

Crankin' out these soap boxes for an upcoming craft fair...this one is candy striped with 1/2" strips of red and white paper with a glittered bottom. A cool blue NOEL, embossed in white adorns the front of this little gift!

I'm entering this into this weeks Wee Memories challenge #79

"Holiday"

Would love to see your little soap box creations as well, leave a link in the comments!

SU! products used:

Stamps - hostess Warmest of Wishes

Ink - craft White

Paper - Real Red, Whisper White, Bashful Blue

Punches - Scallop Oval, Decorative Label

Other - Red glitter, sticky strip

Manger Soap Boxes

2011-12-09T14:47:00.001-06:00

These little boxes are making quite the grand entrance on my dining room table as of late, I've got more whipped up and ready to post but for now, here are these two sweet manger scenes!

The little manger scene stamp was heat embossed in black and then colored with various markers. Some blue glitter inside the little shaker cup adds a bit of fun to this tiny anti bacterial soap holder. Some sticky back velcro keeps the top flap in place and this box can either be set on a shelf as a bit of paper Christmas cheer or hung on a tree by looping a piece of ribbon through the top of the closed box.

Merry Christmas y'all!

I'm entering these little boxes into the following two challenges...

ColourQ #114

OCCC

SU! products used:

Stamps - Come to Bethlehem

Ink - Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Versa Mark

Paper - Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Punches - Scallop Oval, 1-3/4" Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Modern Label

EF - Square Lattice

Other - retired blue chunky glitter, Circle Treat Cups

Snowmen Soap Box

2011-12-08T23:30:00.000-06:00

Saw THIS fab tutorial by the very talented Erica Cerwin at Pink Buckaroo Designs and just had to give it a try...I just LOVE these little hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works and thought this was such a fun and festive way to give one to a friend, teacher or even your postal carrier this Christmas!

I did modify* Erica's measurements just a tad on the small piece and used a different punch for the place where the soap sits but other wise, everything was perfect! Thanks Erica!!

I attached a piece of sticky back velcro to the base and lid, so the flap stays shut. I tried a few different punches but in the end the Oval Scallop won, it's a perfect fit for the little bottle of yummy smellin' clean fun! The little snowmen have been heat embossed in Melon Mambo and the Melon Mambo background square was placed in a snowflake EF for a bit of texture.

*note modifications : on the smaller piece of cardstock, cut it to 6" X 1-3/4" (instead of 6" X 1-1/2") and score the short side at 3/8" and 1-3/8" (instead of 1/4" and 1-1/4")

I'm entering this into the following challenges

Just Add Ink #97

and

Freshly Made Sketches #14

SU! products used:
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Versa Mark, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade
Paper - Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Pool Party DSP
Punches - Word Window, 1-1/4" Square, 1-3/8" Square
Other - Melon Mambo Embossing Powder

Hand Stamped Sentiments #96 - color challenge

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we are asking you lovely crafters to create any card, 3D project or scrapbook page using all or some of the colors listed below:

Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Pear Pizazz and Real Red

HSS#96

I started off with a piece of Blushing Bride card stock and instead of a regular fold, I decided to try a trifold card...therefore the front of my card is only adhered to the left fold, so the card can be opened. Truthfully, I was pretty stumped when I saw the colors but as I perused my stamps, I spotted these little shoes and knew it would work! Of course this set wouldn't be complete without a curtain, so I fashioned a paper one out of a piece of Pool Party DSP. After running it through my crimper a few times I continued to roll the paper in my hands to break the fibers a bit, to make it more forgiving when I was adhering it to my cardstock. Sticky Strip works wonders for pleats and other items you don't want falling off of your card. I should really take stock in the company since I go through so much of it, haha!

I sponged the Pear Pizzazz platform with the same colored ink to give it more of a stomped on look and of course you can't give a graduate a card without tucking a little congratulatory gift inside, so a wee little pocket for money, a gift card or BOTH!

Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to see what the Design Team has whipped up for you and link up to this week's post... We can't wait to see your lovely creations!

SU! products used:

Stamps - Go Graduate

Ink - Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Craft White

Paper - Real Red, Pool Party DSP, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Blushing Bride

Punch - Scallop Border

Other - White Embossing Powder

Advent Trees

2011-12-05T13:20:00.001-06:00

This year I made up these sweet little boxes for a new twist on our advent calendar. We had two bare trees sitting in front of our dining room window, so I just punched holes in the tops, tied a bit of hemp twine and viola, out of the babies reach and they double as holiday decoration!

My 6 and 4 year olds are very sweetly taking turns every other day and the boxes are filled with a little treat plus a note of something they get to do that day...

A few of the notes say....

Sing "Jingle Bells" while jumping up and down

Wrap a present by yourself

Make cookies with your Mom

Give away Christmas hugs today

Have someone tell you their favorite Christmas story and draw a picture of it

Color a Christmas picture and hang it on the fridge

the very last note...which is just a flat ornament #25, says this...

Sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, open presents, tell everyone thank you and know that God Loves You!

So far the candy of course is a bit hit but I'm also glad my kids are excited to see what their notes say!

I'm entering this in this weeks Wee Memories Challenge #78

SU! products used:

Ink - Real Red

Paper - Whisper White

Punches - all seen are SU!

Bigz Dies - Candy Wrapper and retired small bag

Snow, what fun!

2011-12-05T11:39:00.001-06:00

This is one of the cards I had made up for this last week's Stamp A Stack at my house. Missed the deadline to enter it into the ColourQ challenge by a few hours yesterday, so I waited to post till today.

CQC#113

I stamped my snowflakes in a random pattern using Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue and added a bit of sparkle with Dazzling Details to their centers. A tiny strip of Sahara Sand on the outside seam kind of give the card a book binding look. The Dotted Scallop Ribbon Boarder Punch added a nice decorative edge to the binding and my sentiment was stamped in Marina Mist. A few snowflakes on the inside adds a sweet touch with the scrap of Night of Navy left over from my border punch (a great way to use your small scraps).

SU! products used:

Stamps - Snow Swirled

Ink - Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue

Paper - Whisper White, Night of Navy, Sahara Sand

Punch - Dotted Scallop Ribbon Boarder

Other - Dazzling Details

Rocking Horse Congrats

2011-12-04T21:08:00.001-06:00

I was thrilled when I spotted this sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week...so many fun options, it was actually hard to choose just what I wanted to spotlight in the three little panels.

FMS13

I did however, finally decide on these sweet felt little rocking horses that I picked up in Germany a few years ago. I love how striking the red is against the cool blue.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Baby Bundle

Ink - Real Red

Paper - Whisper White, Bashful Blue

Punch - 1-3/8" Circle

EF - Striped

Shabby Winter Tree

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000-06:00

Another shabby holiday dual...with the Paper Players sketch and the Shabby Tea Room inspiration photo and color palette (I liked it so much, thought I'd give it another go).

PP#74

The Shabby Tea Room #90

I had planned to add a sentiment but must've gotten side tracked by one of my munchkins or two...thought this would make a lovely winter wedding congratulations card though.

My tree is heat embossed in Silver and for the extra sparkle, I ran a strip of Sticky Strip across the tree before sprinkling on the Dazzling Diamond Glitter. The little poinsettias also got a bit of bling with three little drops of Dazzling Details on the centers of the flowers. I edged the circle and poinsettia cardstock with a bit of Crumb Cake to help define the lines. The white scrap of tulle was a fab find in my ribbon jar.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Snow Swirled

Ink - Versa Mark, Crumb Cake

Paper - Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Other - Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Dazzling Details

Merry Medallion Christmas

2011-12-02T11:35:00.000-06:00

This week's Sweet Sunday Sketch is the PERFECT sketch to use the Medallion background stamp...which I'm falling in love with all over again!

SSSC145

Isn't my little felt tree sweet? I found a small bag of them at a Christmas market in Germany back in 2004, so as you can see, I've been hoarding them!

SU! products used:

Stamps - Medallion, Come to Bethlehem

Ink - Real Red

Paper - Red Glimmer, Very Vanilla, retired Christmas striped paper
Punch - 1-3/4" Circle
Other - retired Silver Cord, Real Red ribbon, Red Button

A Shabby Feathered Christmas

2011-12-01T15:03:00.001-06:00

Sweet Stop Sketches has a rather sweet sketch to work with this week, hehe...get it, sweet?!

SSS136

which I paired with this inspirational photo and color scheme from The Shabby Tea Room

Shabby Tea Room #90

Brrrrrr.....doesn't that photo make you want to cozy up with mittens, a fur blanket and a picnic basket filled with yummy winter goodies and a thermos filled with hot chocolate and hop aboard a sleigh ride deep in the mountains?!

I heat embossed my silver peacock feathers first before running the paper through the Big Shot with a snowflake EF. The Very Vanilla got kissed with some Frost White Shimmer Paint to add more sparkle as did my little snowflakes. Every layer was edged with a sponge and Crumb Cake, which gives the card a fun shabby feel. The sentiment is a portion of a stamp from Winter Post. To add a little bit more bling, I used Dazzling Details on the eyes of the feathers.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Winter Post

Paper - Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Very Vanilla

Ink - Versa Mark, Crumb Cake

Punches - 1" and 1-1/4" Circle, Snowflake

Other - Silver Embossing Powder, Dazzling Details

Congrats CASE

2011-11-29T10:54:00.001-06:00

This weeks case over at the Case Study Challenge blog looked simple and sweet, so I thought I'd give it a go....

CASE #67

I always forget how stunning this medallion is all on it's own and love the pop of pink and black against the white. In order to mimic the dots on the case card, I put just the bottom portion of my card inside of an EF after stamping both the the medallion and the congrats sentiment onto my cardstock.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Medallion

Ink - Melon Mambo, Basic Black

Paper - Whisper White

Ribbon - Basic Black Satin

HSS #95 - Anything BUT a card, ORNAMENTS

2011-11-29T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments...it's all about decking the halls, trees, mantels, door ways, pretty much anything you can get your sparkly paws on! Create anything BUT a card and use a festive ORNAMENT theme!

HSS#95

I started off cutting the same width of stripes I used for my Bargello card and after layering them in a patterned stack, I cut a hole in one end with my Crop A Dile. I threaded a piece of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon through and tied a knot at one end. After punching another hole through the opposite side of the strips and threading through the ribbon, I squished the top papers down to bit to create more of a rounded look, you can play with yours, if you want it more elongated or round.

I've made these ornaments in the past and didn't like how my pieces would fan apart, so this time I used a mini glue dot towards the top of each piece as I fanned them out in order. A loop of my ribbon, a knot and then I added a bit of pearly bling with some baubles from my old Pretties kit.

Check out what the Design Team has whipped up this week HERE. We can't wait to see what you create with this fun challenge, the sky's the limit! You have until Monday, December 5th at Noon to link up your creation, now go get some sparkle on! (don't forget the Christmas music)

SU! products used:

Paper - Red glimmer, Holly Berry Bouquet

Ribbon - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, retired Silver Cord

Other - mini glue dots, Pretties Kit retired

Merry Monkey

2011-11-28T23:31:00.001-06:00

This is my first go at trying out a sketch over at Stampin' On Tuesdays and I've been itching to ink up my cute little monkey, so I decided to give it a whirl.

Stampin' On Tuesdays #42

OCC

I paired this sketch with the challenge over at Our Creative Corner and monkey see, monkey do, here's my bit of Christmas warmth and cheer!

The sunshine was playing tag with my sparkles, so I snapped a pic then stuck my card on my Christmas tree for the rest of the photos, before hanging the decorations.

My background trees were already so beautiful on the Frost Wood DSP, so I just cut them out and layered them on this fun flannel looking red and green DSP from the same pack. I stamped the sentiment in black and then just the Merry in Versa Mark, hitting it up with a fun Cherry Cobbler embossed shine. The little monkey has bits of Crystal Effects on all his furry white accessories to add a bit of shine since I already had quite a bit of sparkle.

SU! products used:

Ink - VersaMark, Basic Black

Paper - Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge

Other - Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Crystal Effects

"Silver and ???"

2011-11-25T15:26:00.001-06:00

I don't know about you but with that title, I've got the song "Silver and Gold" running through my head with Frosty the Snowman twirling round in a pile of fresh white stuff! This week over at The Paper Players, however, they are switching it up a bit from gold to silver and Night of Navy (or blue). I've paired these fun holiday colors with this weeks simple but stunning sketch over at Sweet Sunday Sketches.

I used a snowflake EF on a piece of Night of Navy and then sponged on Shimmer Paint to create my silver background. The silver cord is hard to see on the front of my card but it's tied between the two pieces of Blue Jean Ribbon. The inside sentiment says, "Giving thanks for God's Gift of Love and the joy we share through Christ the Lord".

Challenges I'm entering this card into:

click on photos below to be taken to each challenge

SU! products used:

Stamps - Come to Bethlehem

Paper - Night of Navy, Whisper White

Ink - Versa Mark, Night of Navy

Die - Bigz Oval Scallop Frame (I left off the scallop portion)

Other - Silver embossing powder, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Blue Jean ribbon and Silver Cord retired

Pastel Christmas

2011-11-24T10:13:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, only one more month till Christmas!!! This month my SAS (San Antonio Swap) girls and I are making pink and green Christmas cards which I paired with the awesome sketch over at The Sweet Stop. I loved my little pastel cards so much I made up another 1/2 dozen for my ETSY shop!

SSS135

The polka dot DP is from my stash...love the soft fuzzy touchable texture of the circles, it makes for a warm and pastel Christmas!

SU! products used:

Stamps - Snow Swirled, Come to Bethlehem

Ink - Versa Mark, Basic Black

Paper - Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake

Punch - Scallop Edge, Modern Label

Other - a mix of 50/50 Heat & Stick Powder and Dazzling Diamonds, Pretty in Pink ribbon, Jewels

Angry Birds (part 3)

2011-11-22T08:48:00.001-06:00

The Birthday party was a success! My four year old was over the moon and all the kids seemed to enjoy playing all the Angry Birds games we had set up, even the cake was a big hit! (although I'm no master cake decorator)

Happy Angry Birdsday Banner

Blue Bird Cake

First the kids built pig towers and colored angry bird coloring pages I had printed off the internet, while they waiting for everyone to arrive.

I found these cute little angry bird and pig erasers at "5 below" and the kids had fun tossing the birds at the cups to see who could knock off the most pigs, we just used bathroom kid paper cups as the pigs tower.

Pin the nose on the pig

Angry bird bowling...I snagged 4 ball pit balls from the baby's room and painted bird faces on them for the kids to use at bowling balls. We already had the pins from an indoor game but you could use empty plastic water bottles too.

King Pig tag...who ever wore the crown (free from Burger King) was the tagger...

The kids made these cute pig plates, which I had pre cut sticky back foam pieces, so all they had to do was stick their faces on, attach a popsicle stick to the back with a glue dot and draw on the black nostrils and eyebrows with a marker...a quick inexpensive craft!

We printed off this awesome FREE angry bird balloon printables HERE, cut them out, scotch taped them on and hung them from the door ways.

Now to start planning for the next Birthday party!! :)

Hand Stamped Sentiments #94 - Winter Wonderland

2011-11-22T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we are asking you all to knock our socks off (or put an extra pair on) and show us your interpretation of a WINTER WONDERLAND in your projects....I know North Dakota winters pop into mind for me, brrrrr!

HSS #94

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without the cold sparkly white stuff, so I made sure to add a TON of extra frosty goodness on my card and coordinating tag. After embossing my snowflake background, I sponged on a bit of Frost White Shimmer Paint. My Scallop Circle got a dusting of Vanilla Smooch Spritz. The skating couple is forever captured in a solid silver sheen with Silver Embossing Powder and they are skating on a fine dusting of Dazzling Diamond Glitter!

Check out what the incredible design team has whipped up this week, get your glittery frosty snowflake sparkle on, Christmas tunes on your ipod and join in...we'd love to see your beautiful winter wonderland creations! I'm going to fetch my slippers...

SU! products used:

Stamps - Snow Swirled, Winter Post

Ink - Versa Mark

Paper - Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Bashful Blue

Punches/Dies - Decorative Label, 1-1/4" Circle, 2-1/2" Circle, Bigz Scallop Circle #2

Other - Crumb Cake Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Silver Embossing Powder, Vanilla Smooch Spritz, Frost White Shimmer Paint

Nuts for YOU

2011-11-21T10:51:00.001-06:00

Since I had all of my supplies out covering our dining room table last night...I was determined to make one last card before stashing away my sanity to make room for dinner! So I meshed this weeks Freshly Made Sketches #11 sketch with the Woodland Animals challenge over at Wee Memories.

FMS#11

WMC77

I was hoping I had a large acorn stamp in my stash for the circular element on the sketch but alas, no...then I got to thinking with all of the punch art I've been doing recently...I went to the drawer where I keep my punches and wouldn't you know it, the ornament punch and the large oval make a PERFECT acorn! I was thrilled! I added a bit of brown fluff to the squirrels acorn top, he looks so fat and happy like all the squirrels in our neighborhood!

SU! products used:

Ink - Basic Black

Paper - Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Soft Suede

Punches - Ornament and Large Oval

EF - Square Lattice

Hot Holiday Deals!!!

2011-11-21T07:13:00.001-06:00

It's HERE...stay in your jammies, browse the deals and enjoy a cup or two of coffee as you shop, all from the comfort of your own home!

Click HERE to check out all the sale and discounted items...

Click HERE to go directly to my demonstrator website...

Happy Shopping!!!

Online Extravaganza is BACK!!

2011-11-19T17:15:00.001-06:00

If you haven't already finished your holiday shopping, now's the time to kick start Santa's helper during Stampin' Up's! Online Extravaganza, which was a HUGE hit last year. Running MONDAY, November 21st - Wednesday, November 30th. Check out my online store starting Monday, November 21st to take advantage of great savings, like FREE digital downloads valued at $40, when you buy My Digital Studio Express... 60% off select Designer Fabrics and 30% off an exclusive ribbon bundle!!

In addition, there will be TWO items on sale for 24 hours ONLY (Nov 21, 12:01 AM-11:59PM mountain time) it's a secret to me too, so make sure you don't miss out!

Angry Bird Pigs

2011-11-17T11:46:00.001-06:00

And so continues the Angry Bird Saga in our home...Here are the promised Pigs, that I made to serve as favor bags for all the little party goers. I stuffed them with some brown 'grass' and they will also house some Angry Bird stickers, home made puzzles and candy. If it were closer to Easter, I'd have some golden eggs too...bummer!

Instead of trying to glue or draw on tiny black circles, I used my Crop A Dile, punched a hole in the white of the eyes and then adhered a small strip of black to the back. I like the clean crispness of the circles, vs. drawing them on. After cutting out the helmets with my Big Shot, I inked the edges and bits of the middle with a small white chalk ink pad from my random stash. Popping the nose up with some HUGE dimensional stickers, also from my stash gives the little pigs an awesome snout!

SU! products used:

Paper - retired in-color (not sure of the green but I think it's Kiwi Kiss), Basic Gray, Whisper White, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Dies - Bigz Clear Circle, Bigz Fancy Favor

Punches - XL Oval, Small Oval, 1" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Word Window

Other - Crop A Dile, Sticky Strip

I'm entering these bad boys over at Wee Memories for their Birthday challenge which is still going on this week...

Angry Birds Birthday

2011-11-16T08:48:00.000-06:00

This week at Wee Memories, they are having a Birthday challenge and this fits the bill for me since I've been working on an Angry Birds Birthday party for my soon to be 4 year old son!

I searched the web, Pinterest and other blogs for inspiration and found some

angry birds punch inspiration HERE and HERE.

Wee Memores #76

After whipping up a dozen of these angry little guys, I needed to take a creative break for a day and cleaned house but stay tuned, more angry birds party stuff is in the works, including some super cute PIGS, which I'm making for treat bags!

sorry for the photo quality, it was windy and the sun was almost gone but I wanted to snap a photo of the whole lot together!

Here are some puzzles I'm putting into the little treat boxes for the kids. They can color them and put them together at home!

SU! supplies used:

Paper - retired Soft Sky, Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Yoyo Yellow, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Basic Black

Punches - 2-1/2" Circle, 1/2" Circle, 5-petal Flower, Heart to Heart (I used the tall large one for the beak)

Challenge #93 at Hand Stamped Sentiments - Bargello Technique

2011-11-15T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we are featuring the Bargello Technique, I'd never heard of it before...not gonna lie, I had to google it and after watching this fab tutorial HERE, I knew I could give it a whirl (or a shimmy). It was so fun and easy, this may just be my new signature background, haha!

I did however NOT cut my paper at different sizes, only at 1/2" width...ooops!

Can't wait to see all of your beautiful creations, don't let this technique scare you, seriously it's sooo much easier than it looks and what a WOW you get from your DSP! Just cut your strips to the desired width, and then stick them down to a sheet of scrap paper. Cut your paper into the same width of strips but with your stripes going the other direction, so it'll look like you have little squares on your strips. Then just place your strips down, in whatever pattern you choose on another piece of scrap paper. I ran mine through my Big Shot with the Top Note die for a nice and simple finished edge but this would also look great as the entire background. (hope this makes perfect sense, if not, check out the video linked above) and then head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to link up your creations and check out all the other fab Bargello works of art the DT has in store for you!

SU! products used:

Stamps - Hostess Warmest of Wishes

Ink/Embossing - Versa Mark, Cherry Cobbler EPowder

Paper - Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Red Glimmer, Holly Berry Bouquet DSP (holiday mini)

Punches/Dies - Bigz Top Note, XL Circle

Accessories - Winter Wishes Stitched Felt, Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon (both from holiday mini)

PDC#107 - Orange Splash

2011-11-13T16:05:00.000-06:00

The Play Date Cafe is splashing it up this week with ORANGE...and since we've got a bit of orange envy in our house, I just had to join in!

The Top Note die turned into a gift card holder, not only is your gift snazzy but also the holder it comes in! I used my markers to color the "For You" sentiment, aren't those poppies fabulous?!

SU! products used:

Stamp - retired Sale-A-Bration Punch Bunch

Paper - Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

Markers - Tangerine Tango, Garden Green, Basic Black

Ribbon - Tangerine Tango Pom-Pom, Whisper White

Die - Top Note

Honor

2011-11-11T07:14:00.001-06:00

Happy Veteran's Day to those who have served and those who are serving...to my husband, friends, in laws and in memory of relatives past. THANK YOU!

Veterans Day

by Cheryl Dyson

On Veterans Day we honor all,

Who answered to a service call.

Soldiers young, and soldiers old,

Fought for freedom, brave and bold.

Some have lived, while others died,

And all of them deserve our pride.

We’re proud of all the soldiers who,

Kept thinking of red, white and blue.

They fought for us and all our rights,

They fought through many days and nights.

And though we may not know each name,

We thank ALL veterans just the same.

Here's a card I put together last night to give my hubby today, he is my very own hero. I LOVE YOU!!

sorry for the picture quality, it was dark and a lamp was my sunlight!

FMS#10 & OCC Challenges

2011-11-10T22:22:00.001-06:00

Squeezing one last challenge in before the weekend...this week over at Our Creative Corner, they are asking that crafters create a masculine card or project using NON-TRADITIONAL guy colors. I paired the challenge with this week's FMS sketch #10.

I've been itching to ink up my little mustache stamp and this was the perfect sketch to give it a whirl. Of course my original plan got flipped once I saw what looked like a face when I looked at the two staches I had stamped. I embossed the top stache with Tempting Turquoise and flipped it upside down, creating a fab set of unibrow or shades (what do you see?)! haha

A pink little nose popped up to reassure the facial recognition and the best part, if you flip the card upside down, it looks like an angry clown, creepy!

I layered the DP on the inside and added this awesome slap happy sentiment.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Many Mustaches

Ink - Chocolate Chip, Versa Mark

Paper - Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Regal Rose

Punches - Decorative Label, 1/2" Circle

PP71 - Recipe challange

2011-11-10T07:35:00.001-06:00

This week over at The Paper Players, they are having a recipe challenge...the recipe is to make sure your card or project has 3 different patterned papers, 2 different ribbons, at least one punch and a sprinkling of glitter.

The Paper Players #71

My three patterned paper are the green, red, blue and khaki stripe, behind the car, the green money paper behind the sentiment and the tiny red and white striped paper at the bottom. I added a blue piece of ribbon towards the bottom and the crumb cake seam binding is holding up my banner. The banner is my punch and I just randomly cut three corners off of a scrap of the tiny striped paper to decorate the tops. My sprinkling of glitter is the inside of the letter I, on the Happy Birthday sentiment.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Hostess Happiest Birthday Wishes, Need for Speed

Ink - Night of Navy

Paper - Crumb Cake

Punch - Petite Pennants Builder

Ribbon - Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Blue Denim Jean

WINNERS!!

2011-11-10T07:04:00.001-06:00

The winners of the blog candy give away this week are.....

1. JAMBA

and

2. the artist

Thanks so much for your comments everyone, hope you enjoy your goodies. Please email me your snail mail addresses and I'll ship your goodies out tomorrow! So glad to be sending a bit of happy your way!

JAI#92 - Tag

2011-11-09T16:21:00.004-06:00

A quick post before I head out for dinner with my DH and a few other couples, sans kids, hooray!!

Just Add Ink is hosting a Just Add a Tag or Bookmark challenge and I whipped this one up for one of my hubby's friends today, so thought I would enter it in the challenge (which I AGAIN missed since I keep forgetting the difference in timezones, ugh).

SU! products used:

Ink - Versa Mark

Paper - Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Gold

Punch - XLarge Oval

Other - Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder and Seam Binding

SSS133 - Bday Coffee Treat

2011-11-08T14:56:00.000-06:00

At The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog this week, I spotted this fun layout and had just the creation in mind when I hung onto my Starbucks coffee sleeve and up-cycled it and part of the gift card holder on my card. There's even a place for a sweet little Starbucks treat to be tucked in the top of the card to warm those double digit Birthday's up this year!

I heat embossed the little coffee mug and Happy Birthday sentiment to add a wee bit of Birthday shine!

SU! products used:

Stamps - retired Like It A Latte, hostess Happiest Birthday Wishes

Ink - Craft Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant

Paper - Garden Green, Elegant Eggplant, Crumb Cake

Punches - Large Oval, Scallop Oval

Other - Black Embossing Powder, retired Orchard Ribbon

Challenge #92 at Hand Stamped Sentiments - OVER THE TOP

2011-11-08T03:00:00.000-06:00

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we are challenging you to think big, over stated, over board, and OVER THE TOP...a card or project you will most likely make only once.

Playing around with tiny sharp pieces of metal seemed a bit on the extreme side but I've always wanted to try my hand at up-cycling a soda can. I used two on my ornament, a green Ginger Ale and a Black Coke can, which I just used the silver inside of. I really liked the green of the Ginger Ale can, although I'm sure the black/red would look great too.

Ater cutting the tops and bottoms off my cans with shears, I cut them into 1/2" strips with my paper cutter. I used a piece of cardstock, adhered a portion of a sticky sheet to it and then peeled the red portion of the tape back with each row that was woven. After I carefully finished, I ran the entire chunk of metal through my Big Shot with the Top Note die, rotated it and ran it through again, creating this fun diamond-like shape. I attached sticky strip around the edges and then added Silver Glass Glitter. A hole punch for the top with my Crop-A-Dile and a bit of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding for a 'bow'tiful hanger. The sentiment was embossed in Cherry Cobbler and popped off of my ornament.

Since the ornament isn't meant to remain on the card, I decorated the front so it didn't feel left out...

I used a scrap of Cherry Cobbler paper and attached the sides down with Sticky Strip for a firm hold, to keep the ornament in position, the paper can easily be ripped apart to free the ornament.

Another close up...

Can't wait to see what beautiful, over the top creations you have in store for us this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments. "May your days be merry and bright"

Happy Christmas shopping and crafting!

SU! products used:
Stamps - Warmest of Wishes
Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
Ink - Versa Mark
Punch - Decorative Label
Other - Sticky Strip, Sticky Sheets, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Silver Glass Glitter, Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Stripes EF

Play Date #106/Case Study #64

2011-11-07T23:03:00.002-06:00

The Play Date Cafe is has a brilliant color challenge this week of gray, yellow and pink with the following photo to use as color inspiration.

I used the following card from the Case Study Challenge blog as my design inspiration

Kryssi Ng's Card (November Muse)

and this is what I came up with...

I sponged the three background colors onto a piece of Whisper White and then heat embossed my flower stamp with Dazzling Diamonds, which I have mixed 50/50 with Heat and Stick Powder. I used my Top Note to create a frame and stamped the sentiment in Basic Black along the bottom. I colored directly onto my butterfly stamp with my Stampin' Write Markers, before cutting out my image and popping it off my card.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Inspired by Nature, retired Sale-A-Bration Bliss

Ink - Basic Gray, So Saffron and Blushing Bride

Paper - Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink - Basic Black, Versa Mark

Bigz Die - Top Note

Other - Dazzling Diamonds, Heat and Stick Powder

Twisted-Fold Man Birthday

2011-11-03T19:25:00.003-05:00

This week over at Our Creative Corner, they are holding a "fancy folds" challenge...I scoured the internet, SCS, SU! and finally found exactly my kind of card on YouTube! With the FAB tutorial HERE.

I paired my fancy fold with the colors over at the ColourQ design blog

and this is my manly soaring result. I love how all the colors came together so well on the card, at first I wasn't so sure and they seemed more in the 'guy' realm then the 'ladies', which is why I went all guy on this card...

For my clouds, I punched both scallop punches with a piece of heavy cardstock, set them on top of my white and then sponged around them. When I removed them, I had nice happy white spaces on my paper. The airplane has been cut out and popped up as well. And isn't that Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder just lovely?

SU! products used:

Stamps - Need For Speed

Paper - Island Indigo DSP, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White and Soft Suede

Ink - Pumpkin Pie, Versa Mark, Basic Black, Island Indigo and Pool Party

Ribbon - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

Punch - 2-1/2" Circle, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle

I'm giving away blog candy this week, check my blog for DEETS! :)

Golden Thanks

2011-11-03T16:48:00.000-05:00

I totally stepped out of my comfort zone on this card...I tend to veer towards bright colors (at least I think I do) but wanted to finally use some of the coveted Spice Cake DSP. I pulled up the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and got to work with my natural and golden tones.

I used a grass EF from my stash for the piece behind the sentiment and sponged over it with Soft Suede to really show off the dimension.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Inspired by Nature

Ink - Versa Mark, Soft Suede

Paper - Soft Suede, River Rock, Spice Cake DSP

Punch - XL Oval

Ribbon - Very Vanilla Seam Binding

Other - Gold Embossing Powder

Birthday Chomper

2011-11-03T16:19:00.000-05:00

This week over at DYSU they are hosting a color challenge where we can showcase TEAL on our projects. I paired a few blues together with a bit of crumb cake, tossed in this week's Card Patterns Sketch #139

and came up with a chomping-ly sweet Birthday card fit for a boy (or little boy blue, in this case).

SU! products used:

Stamps - Hostess Happiest Birthday Wishes, retired Hostess Long Fellows, retired Sale-A-Bration So Happy For You

Ink - Island Indigo, Craft Whisper White

Paper - Island Indigo DSP, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake

Punch - small Star

Ribbon - Crumb Cake

White Embossing Powder

Lawnscaping Giveaway!

2011-11-03T09:37:00.000-05:00

Want to win a FREE set of watercolor pencils for you or your favorite artist, Christmas is just around the corner! Click on the button above to be entered in the give away!

FREE blog candy!!

2011-11-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

As promised in yesterday's post on reaching over 10,000 blog hits, I'm back to announce the candy I'll be giving away this week.

One lucky reader will inherit a handmade paper BOO banner AND a set of 4 Halloween cards straight from my Etsy shop.

While another lucky reader will be on the ball once Valentines Day rolls around with the 4 little treats holders I just made up for this weeks Just Add Ink challenge (but just missed the deadline to enter, bummer). Fill the cellophane bags with the candy of your choice or a pencil for your kiddos, seal and hand out to your favorite Valentine! Four Valentines cards from my personal stash will also be included.

If you would like to be entered to win, just leave a comment on this post, easy, peasy!

For additional entries you may do one or more of the following:

1. Follow Dabble With Dawn's blog

2. Like DabbleWithDawn on FB

3. Favorite DabbleWithDawn's shop on ETSY

(please leave a separate comment for each entry)

This giveaway will close next Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 8pm EST and two random winners will be selected and given 48 hours to claim their prizes before a new winner is chosen.

10,000 pageviews = FREE blog candy!

2011-11-01T22:44:00.001-05:00

In honor of reaching over 10,000 pageviews on my blog, TODAY, I'm giving away TWO lots of FREE blog candy! Check back tomorrow for photos and details!

HSS #91 - Color Challenge

2011-11-01T03:00:00.000-05:00

We've got a cozy color scheme this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments...Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla.

I've been eyeing those cool "door" cards for quite some time now and finally put one together myself. Isn't that wreath fabulous?! I'm on a bit of a felt kick lately since my Pinterest inspired wreath and wanted to create a smaller version for my card, so I made these sweet felt flowers in a mini version. I wanted the leaves to stand out, so I punched a scrap of Wild Wasabi with my 5-Petal Flower punch and snipped off the sections I wanted to keep. I'm a sucker for LOTS of Cherry Cobbler around the holidays, so my Real Red was pulled into the card as the door kick plate, where I added a Season's Greetings Rub On sentiment.

Can't wait to see all of your fabulous creations, put some tunes on your ipod and jingle your way over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to play this week!

SU! products used:

Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Real Red, Wild Wasabi

Accessories - Stitched Felt Wreath, retired Season of Cheer rub on

Punch - 5-Petal Flower

Short Story Featured on Ruche

2011-10-31T22:41:00.001-05:00

After our fun Halloween party tonight, I was over the moon to sit down and find an email in my inbox from Ruche Marketing. I just so happened to type up a very quick short story on the 28th of this month after seeing their blog call for all readers to submit a spooky story. And mine got picked! WOW! I can't stop smiling from ear to ear. You can check it out HERE at Ruche.

Happy Halloween!

Pinterest inspired Wreath

2011-10-31T22:18:00.000-05:00

My new obsession with Pinterest has actually caused me to be even MORE productive if you can believe it! I made this sweet yarn wrapped wreath, felt flowers included, by checking out this fab tutorial HERE. Only one blister was had and I LOVE the results, the best part is whenever I see this wreath, I can proudly say, "I made that!" which I've been doing over and over again in my head, hehe...

(a close up shot of the felt flowers and leaves)

I'm entering my DIY fall colored wreath in the following challenges this week and hopefully I'll inspire others to pull out their own yarn and felt as well!

The Shabby Tea Room

is asking their readers to create a "Homespun Fall" themed project using the above photo as inspiration. I think I took the homeSPUN quite literally since I spun my yarn, around and around and around my wreath!

The Paper Players
are hosting an "Anything Goes" challenge this week and our projects are to contain a fall element.

I've also linked my little wreath over at the Fall Pinterest Challenge at Young House Love and you can check out Sherry's cool Pinterest inspired ornaments, 38, to be exact. Also Katie, Ana & Erin have some awesome projects to check out as well as the rest of the Young House Love followers who have linked all of their lovely creations!

Happy Fall Y'ALL!

Final Halloween MOJO

2011-10-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

Figured I'd sneak one last Halloween card into the mix with this weeks MOJO Monday's sketch challenge. I had fun putting together a little creepy with a little cute on this card.

MOJO212

After smooch spritzing my very vanilla cardstock with Silver Foil, I then took a dry paint brush and dabbed over the top with a bit of Basic Black Ink. The edges were also darkened with a sponge and black ink.

I couldn't resist making the most of this fabulous DSP, so pulled the Treats word out along the bottom of my card and also cut out a nasty black rat, which once I put the red jeweled eye on, totally gave me the chills. The cute little owl was heat embossed with black embossing powder and his little treat bag was cut out and popped up with a left over piece of the Pick Your Poison DSP.

Hope you all have a wonderfully SPOOKY and fun Halloween!

SU! Products Used:

Stamps - Hostess Warmest of Wishes

Paper - Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Pick Your Poison DSP

Punches - Owl Builder, Scallop Edge

Accessories - Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, Black Embossing Powder

note: DSP stands for Designer Series Paper

All for 1 and FREE FOR ALL

2011-10-28T14:10:00.001-05:00

Couldn't help myself with the title of this post...

This week over at Wee Memories, they are hosting a "free for all" challenge. We can choose our own inspiration, theme, etc for our creation. I know Halloween is almost here BUT my favorite holiday of all time is Christmas, so I decided to pull out some buttons and felt and create something cute! Christmas songs are already filling my head but I usually refrain from actually playing them out loud in our house till just after Thanksgiving.

WMC73

I hand cut the glittery stiff felt to fit and then glued them onto my card. Thanks for stopping by!

SU! products used:

Paper - Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler

Accessory - retired Season of Cheer rub on

Pencil Treats

2011-10-28T13:04:00.000-05:00

Not knowing if the schools in Rhode Island allow sugary treats, I picked up some pencils for my kiddos to give out to their friends on Monday. While they stuffed these handy little cellophane bags from SU! I cut the tops and stamped the images they had picked out. For the little witch skirts, Adelaide and I snagged the back of a crafty magazine cut it into strips and then scallop edged the bottom before hand cutting the triangle shapes. Addie glued them on and then wrote her name on the back. She's recently become enamored with the whole "Trick or Treat, smell my feet" ditty, which she learned from school. So, we thought it only appropriate for the ones with feet to say just that!

Dair's pencil treats

Adelaide's pencil treats

Paper Players Sketch #69

2011-10-28T12:24:00.001-05:00

This week over at The Paper Players blog, they have this wonderful sketch on display from Nance Leedy. I've been drawn to chevrons lately via Pinterest and made a mini version for my card.

Instead of flowers or button (that I was originally planning on going with) I decided on stars, to make this fit into more of a man/boy card category. That slot in my card box is always empty!

SU! items used:

Stamps - Hostess Happiest Birthday Wishes

Paper - Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla

Ink - NIght of Navy

Punches - Large and Small Stars

HSS Inspiration Challenge #90 - Giving Thanks

2011-10-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

I've been recently asked to join the Hand Stamped Sentiments design team and I couldn't be more excited to work with such a fabulous group of talented ladies who share the same creative passion that I do!!

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments with the cooler temps, changing of leaves (my first on the East Coast) and pumpkins on every door step, we've got fall on the brain. Create a project with the above photo as inspiration.

I love the green of the leaves in the background behind the glass windows and all those fabulous cake stands, hence all the fussy cutting on my card.

Using a sheet of the Lucky Limeade DSP, I ran it through my Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder, inked the entire sheet up with Versa Mark and then heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder to bring out the shine, before cutting it into strips to mimic the window panes.

I snagged my little cake stands from the RETIRED Hostess Birthday Bakery stamp set and heat embossed them with Silver Embossing Powder. The stems and leaves on my little button pumpkins were created using the leaves on the Bird Builder Punch. I just folded the leaves up towards the stem and then cut off what I didn't want showing. The Silver Embossed Happy Thanksgiving sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

I colored directly onto the wreath stamp with More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers, a bit of huffing (but no blowing down of houses) and then stamped my image onto Very Vanilla. The "empty" leaves looked a bit bare, so I smudged a bit of More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie chalk on them with my finger (the closest tool I could find) and then cut out my image. My recent obsession with Pinterest and all the fun fall yarn wrapped wreaths made me pull out my Linen Thread and try my hand at wrapping, although I'm still going to try my hand at the much larger version!

We'd love to see how you interpret the inspirational photo this week, click HERE to view the rest of the design teams wonderful creations and to upload your creation to the HSS challenge blog.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Hostess Warmest Wishes, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Retired Hostess Birthday Bakery

Paper - Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade DSP, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Ink - Versa Mark / Markers - More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie

Punch - Bird Builder

EF - Square Lattice

Other Medium - More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie Chalk, Clear and Silver Embossing Powder

Accessories - Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Silver Brad, retired Chocolate Chip corduroy button, retired Mustard and Pumpkin Pie buttons

Hanging Wish Lists

2011-10-19T14:14:00.000-05:00

The Paper Players are having a clean and simple challenge this week, using the colors RED & GREEN, so I whipped up these cute and easy Christmas Wish Lists for my three kiddos. They've already started cutting pictures out of magazines to clip onto their strip of ribbon with mini clothespins, can't wait to see what they find! Santa is sure to love this list since he doesn't have to decipher any words, just pictures!

PPC#68

SU! products used:

Stamps - Punch Bunch (Sale A Bration)

Paper - Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Ink - Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black

Punch/Die - Owl Punch, Scallop Square Bigz Die

SAS OCT SWAP

2011-10-19T12:40:00.000-05:00

Holly chose this month's SWAP theme for our little SAS SWAP. We are to use orange, brown and a color of choice with a fall/harvest/Thanksgiving theme. I found the following inspiration photo over at Just Add Ink and got to work with my heat gun, trying to recreate the photo with my own flavor.

JAI89

Tangerine Tango is my new 'IT' color when reaching for an orange, I just love the warmth and it matches my living room decor! I wanted to pull the darker colors out of the photo, so I went with an Early Espresso for my brown and Basic Black.

I just love the new It's a Wrap Holiday stamp set and decided to stamp the "Give Thanks" image directly on top of the first, to create a side border. After stamping the image in Basic Black Craft ink and heat embossing, I added color to my leaves by sponging a bit of Tangerine Tango ink directly onto my image. The little acorns needed a smaller paint tool, so off to the bathroom for a QTip!

The Early Espresso background matting was roughed up with SU!'s Cutter Kit Tool.

SU! products used:

Stamps - Thoughts and Prayers, It's a Wrap Holiday

Paper - Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Ink - Craft Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso

Other - Basic Black Embossing Powder, retired Aged Copper Brads

Bday Scrap Banner

2011-10-18T20:33:00.001-05:00

Sweet Sunday Sketch's just seem to always get my mojo going...that AND I was itchin' to try out my new banner punch!

SSSC139

I started off with a yummy cool palate of Basic Gray, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party and Very Vanilla and started searching for just the right scraps of paper for my pennant & paper pieced presents. Do You Stack Up is asking crafters to use their scraps this week on projects and I did just that pulling out my ever handy SU! demo paper sampler. My dry embossed piece of Pool Party was just shouting for a little attention, so out came a sponge and my Frost White Shimmer Paint (photographed in the afternoon sun to REALLY show off the glamour!). A bit of paper piecing and coordinating ink on the little presents to make them pop, some Grey Taffeta Ribbon and an ever so gentle Wisteria Wonder "Happy Birthday" sentiment to finish it off.

DYSU#41

SU! products used:

stamps - Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess set)

paper - Wisteria Wonder, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Pool Party, retired scraps of DSP

ink - Wisteria Wonder, Basic Gray, Pool Party & Frost White Shimmer Paint

Ribbon - Grey Taffeta

Punches - Large Oval, Pennant, Scallop Border

accessories - dimensionals, sticky strip

Think PINK

2011-10-16T14:01:00.002-05:00

This week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, the challenge is to create a project using PINK, I may or may not have gone overboard with the whole "pink" theme but really, can a girl have too much pink ever?? I think NOT!

HSS challenge #88

I created a friend card and a banner, which I debated on making say "live", "love" or the usual "hope" but in the end LOVE won. I used an array of pink products, all SU! except for the pink ribbon DP, letters & the pink crepe paper. I've listed the products used below.

on my card, I took a scrap of paper and layered 1/2" pieces of the ribbon DP & Pretty in Pink and then ran it through my Big Shot with the top note die creating a fun striped background

My Grandmother had breast cancer and was a survivor, she has now passed but her memory will live in my heart forever. I'm sure you all know someone or by third degree of separation, have heard of someone affected by breast cancer. Early detection is key and what a simple reminder to send your friend a handmade PINK card in the mail this month!

All SU! products used:

Paper - Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink

Stamps - Punch Bunch (from Sale A Bration)

Ribbon - 5/8" Grosgrain Regal Rose, Melon Mambo Pom Pom

Punches - 1", 1-1/4" & 2-1/2" Circles

Bigz - Top Note

Happy Birthday Seat

2011-10-09T10:17:00.001-05:00

For the ladies who used to come to my monthly club meetings in TX, we've started up a monthly swap which I'm calling the SAS (San Antonio Swap), just so I can keep my head screwed on straight, haha! This last month, our challenge was Birthday cards using the Sweet Sunday #134 Sketch.

This week over at the ColourQ, I snagged these colors to work with (basic black, chocolate chip, pear pizzazz, wisteria wonder & white) and without further ado, here's my card.

I stamped the little black chair in Versa Mark ink and then heat embossed with basic black embossing powder for a shiny and raised effect.

SU! products used:

Stamp Sets - Have a Seat, Happiest BirthdayWishes

Cardstock - In Color DSP patterned paper pack, basic black, chocolate chip, pear pizzazz, wisteria wonder & white

Ribbon - Basic Black Satin

Punches - scallop boarder

Ink - Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, Versa Mark, Basic Black

Accessories - retired Chocolate Chip corduroy buttons, black embossing powder

Happy Bean Birthday

2011-10-07T15:24:00.001-05:00

I have to say that I LOVE making Birthday cards, especially when I can imagine the recipient opening their mailbox and finding one of my creations inside, instead of a boring old bill...which comes, regularly like Birthday's, no matter if we like them or not. Hopefully, this little latte sippin' lady will put a smile to a certain someone's face this month, as she celebrates another fabulous year!

This week over at the Hand Stamped Sentiments Blog, they are warming up to fall with this lovely color pallet of Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie & Night of Navy

HSS#87

the sketch for my card came from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Blog

SSSC137

A lovely brown box was dropped off on my front porch yesterday and I was able to try out my NEW Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder with the Happy Birthday sentiment, FUN STUFF, I tell ya!

How cute is she in her white jeans and polka dotted blue top?

A sweet little treat tucked inside!

The following SU! products were used to create this card (and then some)...

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Whisper White & Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Versa Mark

Stamps: (Hostess) Happiest Birthday Wishes

Like it a Latte (retired)

Punches: Scallop Edge & Word Window

Ribbon: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

Bigs Dies: Scallop Circle & Clear Circle

Creepy Spiders

2011-09-30T11:03:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I dislike, despise and detest SPIDERS, eeek! But I had a friend recently request a spider themed banner (and had a few of those creepy things still hanging around), so I made this one up today for my Etsy shop which I am entering in this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge. We are supposed to get our spooky on and anything that creeps and crawls this holiday season totally tops the spooky catagory in my eyes.

HSS #86

a close up (you have NO idea how hard those things are to actually pick up!) glittered or not, they are still gross!!

I used kraft paper and then layered with some fun Halloween worded DP, which I cut out with the SU! Scallop Square Die and my Big Shot. I then used some Basic Black and again with the BS, but this time using the larger scalloped circle from the Scallop Circle #2 SU! die. Using Sticky Sheet on the back, I adhered my orange crepe paper, edged each kraft square (also corner rounded) with black ink, attached letters to spell CREEPY and two black glittered up spiders and some retired Rope Twine to hang my creepy little banner from a book shelf, mantle, door frame or window.

Smell My Feet

2011-09-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

This little mummy brings a smile to my face, especially with that caption "smell my feet"....

The Play Date Cafe is celebrating their 100th challenge this week and had this festive fall color palette to work with

PDCC100

I stamped my little mummy in Lucky Limeade, cut him out and popped him off my card with Stampin' dimensions. A bit of Old Olive ribbon under the "smell my feet" sentiment, which was stamped in Black Craft Ink and heat embossed with in Black. This little guy just didn't look complete without googly eyes and once I attached those, well, I just couldn't stop smiling!

the inside is stamped with "give me something good to eat"

Punches used: Word Window & Modern Label

Cake for 2

2011-09-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

First I want to apologize for the amount of photos in this post... I have two wonderful friends who are having Birthdays next week and I wanted to color accordingly! Which is why one of my sassy little ladies is blond and one is brunette!

I snagged this weeks Sweet Sunday Sketch, chose my stamps and papers and got to work...coloring, cutting, paper piecing (the pants), punching (the scallop edge), attaching my buttons to a mini images and adding a bit of brown fluff to the icing on the cake, yummy!

SSSC134

who do you think has more fun?? Blonds or Brunettes?

a great shot of the buttons

check out the fluff on the frosting! YUMMY!

Colors Used: Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Punches Used: 3/4" Circle, Scallop Edge

SU! stamp sets Used: Birthday Bakery RETIRED

Wedding Invitations

2011-09-15T19:01:00.000-05:00

I was going back over my blog looking for the set of Calla Lily invitations and coordinating thank you's I made for a bride getting married in Nebraska last year and couldn't find them ANYWHERE...panic started to set in, thinking I didn't document all my hard work BUT I found the photos on my computer (whew!). With Christmas this past year, a new baby, a deployment in our family and LOTS of company, I must've just forgotten to post them!! Sooo, without further ado.....

I've named these the

Lacey Calla Lily

a little slow...

2011-09-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

Not sure if it's the move, being away from everything familiar or just my Mama brain BUT I'm in need of a serious pot of coffee and a regular school schedule for my daughter to get back on track, thankfully last week is starting to help all future dates look UP, hooray for school!

I made this little turtle card for a friend, better late than never, right?!
This weeks Wee Memories Challenge #67 is all about one layered cards and since this one's so flat (perfect for mailing!) I thought I'd give it a go and enter.

Punches used: Word Window

Stamp Set: Long Fellows

Colors: Whisper White, Basic Black & Lucky Limade

Golden Anniversary

2011-09-12T16:39:00.000-05:00

This weeks Play Date Cafe challenge has such a scrumptious color palate, as soon as I spotted the rich hues, I knew exactly which stamp I was going to use when I paired it with this weeks Card Patterns sketch, which I flipped on it's side, to show off my proud peacock and bring him centerfold!

PDCC98

CPS 132

Night of Navy, So Saffron & Tempting Turquoise were the colors I chose as my interpretation of the inspiration photo. After paying such close attention to detail on my peacock with watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils and baby oil, a turquoise marker and blue glitter on the eyes of the tail, I felt like the Saffron needed a more elegant touch, so I spritzed it with some Gold Smooch Spritz, which photographed best in the afternoon sunlight. A ice blue shade for the "cracks" over my image for a slight appearance of glass. The Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set came to my rescue again with the perfect Happy Anniversary sentiment and two small pieces of Tempting Turquoise ribbon finished off the sketch.