Mmmm...Cupcakes!

It's challenge day over at Claudia and Company, and today we all made cards with a fancy fold. I chose to make a Joy Fold card, one of my favorites. I haven't made one in quite awhile! I colored a cupcake from the Cupcake Set and paired it with some Modern Homemaker paper. A few Basic Grey Kioshi buttons accented with twine hold the card closed.

Head over to the Claudia and Company blog to see what amazing projects the other designers have created!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Cupcake Set (C&Co digi image)
Card Stock: PTI Kraft, GP White
Patterned Paper: Modern Homemaker (October Afternoon)
Ink: printer
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: Basic Grey Kioshi buttons, twine

Ocean Paradise

I have another Sweet Peek to share today! I just love this relaxing scene in the new Ocean Paradise set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I had to keep the focus on the scene, so I didn't bother with any patterned paper, or even any colored card stock. Well...I snuck a little pattern on the umbrella, lol.

Be sure to head over to the Sweet 'n Sassy blog to see more Sweet Peeks from the Divas - the inspiration will amaze you! And mark your calendars, because we are having a release party over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection on May 31st, from 8:00 - 10:00 PM EST! There will be games, stamp sets reveals, challenges, and prizes!

Supplies:
Stamps: Ocean Paradise (SNSS)
Card Stock: PTI Kraft
Patterned Paper: 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: Twill ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilites (Classic and Scalloped Oval, Ribbon Tags), Cuttlebug (Swiss Dots)

Exciting News from Stampendous!

Hello everyone! I have several exciting pieces of news to share with you from Stampendous today. First, I'm showing off this card I created recently - I love the dark, rich colors. I created some texture on the image panel by sprinkling different embossing powders right on to my card stock, and heating it up from underneath until the embossing powder melted. Cool trick, huh? You can find neat tips like that over on the Tips & Techniques page. It is FULL of goodness (and videos, too)!

Now, for some news:

1. Geny Cassady is hosting a sketch challenge over on the Stampendous Impressions blog! You have until Tuesday, May 31 to post your links, and there is a Friendship Assortment Perfectly Clear Stamps Setup for grabs!

2. (and this is HUGE news!) Stampendous is holding a new BlogStars Guest Design Team Call! You have until Friday, June 17 to apply.....what are you waiting for? You can see all the deets on the Stampendous Facebook page.

3. Have you checked out Frant*tage Fridays over at Paper Craft Planet? You should - the SuperNovas are rockin' out the Stampendous goodness!

Have a wonderful Sunday, and for those of you in the States. have a great holiday weekend!

Supplies: 
Stamps: CRP-119 Cling Dragonfly Vine, CRS5009 Jumbo Happy Birthday  (Stampendous)
Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Neenah Solar White
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Infuse
Ink: Tim Holtz Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Frayed Burlap, Tea Stain, Walnut Stain, Gold Encore
Accessories: Tim Holtz Grungeboard, Dew Drops, Stampendous Carousel Embossing kit
Tools: Martha Stewart Heat Gun

Beauty By the Sea

It's another day of Sweet Peeks over at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and today I'm sharing a card made with the new Beauty By the Sea. I'm always on the lookout for new ocean or beach-themed sets, aren't you? The stamps in this set are absolutely gorgeous!

Be sure to head over to the Sweet 'n Sassy blog to see more Sweet Peeks from the Divas - the inspiration will amaze you! And mark your calendars, because we are having a release party over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection on May 31st, from 8:00 - 10:00 PM EST! There will be games, stamp sets reveals, challenges, and prizes!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Beauty By the Sea (SNSS)
Card Stock: Cameo Coral, Basic Black, Prismatics Buttercream
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cameo Coral
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: grosgrain ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities

Life is a Ball!

It's my very last challenge as a Guest Designer for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. It has been such an honor to work with the Krafty Girls this month! Today's challenge is a super fun one, because it centers around one of my favorite things to do on a card: hand-stitch!!! That's right, today's challenge is to add some hand-stitching to your card. Yay!

I used Krista on my card, paired with some Marjolaine paper. I love the fun sentiment! I added hand-stitching on the sides of one patterned paper panel. Head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog to see what the other Krafty Girls have come up with, and for all the deets about playing along!


Supplies: 
Stamps: Krista
Card Stock: PTI White, PTI Kraft, Neenah White 
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Marjolaine
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: thread, dew drops
Tools:paper piercer, tim holtz design ruler, needle, SU oval punches

A Great Big Sale!

I had a teensy bit of extra crafty time yesterday, so I pulled out a couple of retiring sets from Lizzie Anne Designs and whipped up a couple of cards. The first one, above, uses Tutti Fruity. My sketch is from this week's sketch challenge - I love that it lends itself to CAS cards!

My second card uses Bless This Nest, and I am totally sobbing about this one retiring. I love the birds so much! You should check out all of the retiring stamps  - everything is 50% off! There are singles, mix sets, and Little Bits sets. Get them before they are out of stock!

In other exciting news, Lizzie Anne Designs is having a HUGE sale this weekend! In addition to their retired stamps, selected sets are 30% off from now through Monday, May 30th. Go shop!!!


Supplies (Strawberry Card):
Stamps: Tutti Fruity
Card Stock: PT White, Prismatics Red
Patterned Paper: Imaginisce Berrylicious
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Accessories: ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities

Supplies (Bird Card):
Stamps: Bless This Nest
Card Stock: More Mustard, Chocolate Chip
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Papyrus 
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities, SU Oval Punches

Summer Stars

Today's Ways to Use It challenge over on SCS is to use stars, so I knew this Polka Dot Silhouettes set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps would be perfect for it. To make it super-cheerful, I used some bright Echo Park Summer Days patterned paper, and kept the rest of the card pretty simple.

I also used another concept I talked about recently over on the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection - using groups of three on your cards. It certainly make s afast way to design a card, and I love quick and easy cards!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Polka Dot Silhouettes
Card Stock: PTI White, SU Basic Black
Patterned Paper: Echo Park
Ink: Brilliance Rocket Red Gold
Accessories: yellow ribbon
Tools: circle punches

Circus Girl

It's challenge day with the Pixies; today is all about adding fruit to your card. I used some great (but busy) Berrylicious patterned paper to get mine on there, and paired it with the Circus Princess image from the newly released Circus Collection. I got my paper from Claudia and Company - it's perfect for summer!

Head over to the Pixie Challenge blog to see what the other Pixies have created for you, and for all the deets on how to play along this week.

Supplies:

Stamps: Circus Princess
Card Stock: Coredinations, GP White
Patterned Paper: Imaginisce Berrylicious
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: ribbon, flower
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities

All Your Dreams

Wednesday are challenge days with the Prettie Girls, and today our challenge was to create a birthday card! I kept it simple for mine, and played along in the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge again, which was to add bling to your card.

I stamped Make a Wish Sophia directly on my Kraft base, added a small strip of patterned paper punched with an edge punch, and tied a bit of ribbon around it. Then I put a sentiment from the newly released Dreams set, and added some dew drops in the top corner to finish it off!

Be sure to head over to the Pretties blog to see all the inspiration the other Prettie Girls have created for you, and for all the details on how you can play along.

Supplies:
Stamps: Make a Wish Sophia, Dreams
Card Stock: Kraft, PTI White
Patterned paper: Basic Grey
Ink: Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain
Accssories: Dew Drops, ribbon
Tools: Martha Stewart edge punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Ranger sponge tool

My Happy Little Crafty Place

This is my second post today - want to see my water lily?

It's Design Team Inspiration Day over at Claudia and Company, and today I made a fun card using a few of my favorite things. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not (wink, wink), but I adore this Modern Homemaker patterned paper from October Afternoon. And I'm always happy when I'm crafting, so Inkin' Isabella and this sentiment from the So Random Sentiments set seemed perfect!

Be sure to head over to the Claudia and Company blog to see what the other designers have come up with today! And when you are done checking out the eye candy, be sure to head over to the store to look at all this goodness:

K&Company SMASH Line

October Afternoon Rocket Age Collection

Supplies:
Stamps: Inkin' Isabella, So Random Sentiments
Card Stock: PTI Cream, Neenah White, SU Not Quite Navy
Patterned Paper: Modern Homemaker (OA)
Ink: SU Not Quite Navy
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: ribbon, pop dots
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities, Cuttlebug (Swiss Dots Embossing Folder)

Peace Be With You

It's Sketch Tuesday over at Christian Paper Crafts, so I whipped up a sample for the wonderful sketch Gloria Stengel drew. My card was inspired by the water lilies I saw this weekend, at the Japanese Gardens with my darling family.

I made the little tag hanging from my bow my stamping the sentiment on a spare piece of patterned paper, cutting it out, and adhering it to a Tim Holtz acrylic tag. I could've stamped right on it, but then it wouldn't have shown up as well. And that sentiment it worth seeing!

This card also works for this month's Flourishes "Bring Back Beautiful" challenge, which is to use flowers on your card.

Supplies:
Card Stock: Prismatics, Neenah Solar White
Patterned Paper: Infuse (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: ribbon, acrylic tag (Tim Holtz)
Tools: Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Ovals Nestabilities
Size: 6x6

Just Go With It

Time for another challenge with the Krafty Girls over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! This week's challenge is "Text Me" - to use patterned paper with text printed on it, or a sentiment...just use text somewhere on your card. I broke out some Cosmo Cricket dp and inked up Tori, a brand new image released this month. I absolutely adore the sentiment that comes with Tori!

Head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog to see what the other Krafty Girls have been up to, and to see all the deets about playing along!

Supplies:
Stamps: Tori
Card Stock: Kraft, PTI White
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Social Club
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Black, Tim Holtz Antique Linen
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: Cosmo Cricket Social Club buttons

Pink Poppies

I created a quick CAS card for today's Free for All Friday challenge over on SCS - to use contrasting colors on the color wheel. Pink and green work, right? I was in the mood for a white-based, CAS card, so I kept this one as simple as I could :) I got out the beautiful Poppies and Greetings set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and let the flowers do the talking on this card.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but there are score lines above and below the patterned paper. And the poppies image is framed by patterned paper as well. The dew drops can be considered "bling", I think...which makes this qualify for the new CAS-ual Friday challenge, too. Time for me to get back to the craft table - lots to be doing today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Poppies and Greetings
Card Stock: PTI White
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Olivia
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: Dew Drops
Tools: Scor-Buddy

Water for Elephants

More fun with Pixie Dust Studio today! I'm sharing a soon-to-be-released image from the Circus collection, and it's challenge day also. Our challenge this week is to create a vintage-themed card. This new image, based on the movie Water for Elephants, jumped right out at me for this challenge. Isn't he darling?

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I have read the book several times. I looooved it, and can't wait to see the movie. I cannot recommend the book highly enough, if you haven't already read it. In my mind, I picture it all sepia-toned, so I tried to echo that look in my card. Head over to the Pixie Challenge blog to see what the other Pixies are sharing today, and for all the details on how you can play along!

Supplies:
Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Neenah Solar White
Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages
Ink: Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Frayed Burlap, Tea Stain, Walnut Stain
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: Tim Holtz Ticket
Tools: Nestabilities

Life's Treasures

It's challenge day with the Prettie Girls, and today is all about flowers. I've had the gorgeous Echo Park paper for awhile and hadn't used it, so I figured today was the day! My sentiment is from the newly released Dreams set - isn't it sweet (and oh so true)?

I decided to knock out another challenge with this card too, so I paired it with this week's Sketch Tuesday Challenge over at Christian Paper Crafts. Gloria Stengel draws the best sketches!

Head over to the Pretties blog to see what the other fabulous ladies have come up with for today's challenge, and for all the deets about how to play along :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Dreams
Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Patterned Paper: Echo Park
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
Accessories: Ribbon, Primas, black brads
Tools: Classic and Scallop Oval Nestabilities, SU Word Window Punch

Birthday Hugs

It's challenge day over at Claudia and Company, and this week we are all creating a birthday card for a girl. What fun! I used this lovely John Grutta Birdhouse image paired with some Good Day Sunshine paper and loosely based my card on this week's sketch over at CPS. I added a sentiment from the So Random sentiments sets as well.

My card base is a Square Scallop card from Creative Cuts and More. The size is 5 1/4" square. I love the pre-made base - it makes things so easy!

Head over to the Claudia and Company blog to see what the other designers have been up to! And check out this goodness in the store:

Cosmo Cricket Odd & Ends

Echo Park Paper Splash and Dots & Stripes

Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup

S.E.I. Fair Day

Medallion Pyramid Box

Here's a quick project I made, using the Pyramid Box from Creative Cuts and More. I paired it with the gorgeous medallion from the Cling Jumbo Thinking of You set from Stampendous. I cannot get enough of this medallion - it's perfect for elegant, fast projects! I stamped the medallion on each side of the box, and lightly sponged each edge. I was going for a vintage yet masculine feel. How'd I do?

I tied the top together with twine and ribbon, and added a small tag with part of a sentiment from the Friendship Assortment clear stamp set - love those sayings!

Tweet Friend

HOW cute is this? I recently wrote an article for Craft Critique (you can read it over there today) comparing several different white card stocks. For the article, I stamped this adorable Stampendous! image (the set is called Tweet Friends) and colored it with Copics on a bunch of different types of card stock, and I turned one into a card.

My blue background inside the image is done in pointillism style, and I shamelessly stole the idea from my friend and teammate Wendy Price. Thanks girlie!!

Ethan the Engineer

Today Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps is releasing their new MAY stamps! 

As you’ve seen over the last few days in the Krafty Peeks, there have been amazing new stamps for you to play with this month, including a brand new line from artist Cheryl Alger,  new images from the talented Annie Rodrigue, and some more adorable Dress Up Kids from Steven Leary. Not to mention a new set of Scripture Quotes as well.

You will get to see most of the new images while you sit back and enjoy our Krafty Hop! If you want to start from the beginning, just head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie Challenge Blog. As you hop from blog to blog, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop because some lucky stampers will win packages of stamps from the new releases!!  And when you’re done hoppin’, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie shop, because ALL the new images are NOW available! 

On my card today I've used the new Ethan the Engineer, by Steven O'Leary. I adore him (and Brady the Builder) - they are perfect to make cards for my son (who just turned one, and needs a bunch of thank you notes from his birthday party!). Your next stop on the Krafty Hop is Krista - wait until you see what she's got!

I also combined this blog hop card with this week's itinerary over at Desert Island Crafters, so head over there to see what those ladies have cooked up this week too!

She Has Beauty

This is my second post today. Want to see my Kraftin' Kimmie sneak peek?

It's challenge day with the Design Team over at Lizzie Anne Designs. Actually, it was yesterday, but since so many of us were affected by the Blogger hiccup, we moved it to today. The Lizzie Anne ladies threw down a gorgeous color challenge for the team today, and I paired my card with this week's sketch challenge. My image is from the current mix club set, Follow Your Dreams.  Take a look at the great pic they shared, to inspire our color choices:

Now head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see what everyone else has created with these colors!

Supplies:
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams
Card stock: Kraft (PTI)
Patterened Paper: UpCycle (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Ribbon, Buttons (Cosmo Cricket)

Girls ROCK!

Have you recovered from yesterday's Blogger catastrophe? Some of the text for my posts never came back - this one included. So let's just start all over again, shall we? It's another day of sneak peeks over at Kraftin' Kimme Stamps, and today we've combined a peek with a challenge! And today's challenge is a great one...Girls ROCK. Easy peasy, right? Especially when combined with these gorgeous new Anne Rodrigue images.

Today I'm using Janelle, a super-feisty boxer chick! And she totally ROCKS, yes? I based my card off this week's sketch over at CPS. Head over the the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog to see what other amazing projects the Krafty Girls & Guests have whipped up, and to see how you can win one of two half-sets of the new images being released today.