Another TCP Challenge Card

I'm trying to participate in all of the TCP Tuesday challenges this month. This is my entry for the sketch challenge. It's a little too pink even for me, but sometimes you just have to go for it and see how it turns out.

Busy Week, Busy Beauties....

Whew, here it is Wednesday already! This is a busy week for me. I'm glad it's half over already!

I'm also glad that it's Wednesday because that means it's time for another Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch! Here's this week's sketch, which is being sponsored by Busy Beauties Boutique.

 

I chose the "Baking Beauty" image for my card:

Head on over to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog to see the other DT members' cards.  Join us in this week's challenge for your chance at 3 free images of your choice from Busy Beauties Boutique!

Dotty Over Polka Dots

Although I have a major weakness for stripes, I also love polka dotted paper. When I decided to play along with this inspiration challenge from The Cats Pajamas blog, I chose the polka dots as my theme.

I chose this paper because of its dots and the sunny colors that support the surf/beach theme. (I just love this paper and have hoarded it ever since I bought it!) I used buttons and a circle sentiment to reinforce the "dots" theme. The ribbon is kind of a "fun find" - it had been used to tie together a stack of dish towels that I'd bought at Target.

A Colorful Challenge

The current challenge on the Embellish Magazine blog is being sponsored by a great new online store, Practicing Creativity Designs, which carries their own line of stamps as well as May Arts ribbon The challenge requires the use of pink, blue, green and yellow and also embossing (heat or dry). It's sort of faint, but you can see the shadow along the right hand side of my image where I used my Nesties die to emboss the image after diecutting it.

Supplies: "Quirky Flowers" by DigiStamp Boutique, cs - Citrus Stack by DCWV, buttons from American Crafts, Nestabilities Label One die, green ribbon, Prismacolor pencils with OMS, pink cs scrap from my stash.

PaperWorks Co. challenge

I recently discovered an online store called PaperWorks Co. They have a blog, too, with a weekly sketch challenge. The most recently Sunday Sketch was this one:

The long, lean shape of the card reminded me of this Alfie image from DigiStamp Boutique. Alfie has always been one of my favorite Sally-Ann images. He's just so darn cute. :)

The blue and yellow papers are from a paper pad I just bought at Hobby Lobby yesterday. It's called "Sweet Pea" and it has some baby designs but it's mostly geometric, shabby chic pastel patterns like the ones on my card. I think it's really versatile.

If you've never been to the PaperWorks Co. site, I suggest you stop by to see some of their fun products (including Basic Grey papers - my fave). They also are introducing their own, exclusive line of Rachel Anne Miller (of Stampavie fame) stamps! They're just too cute and you can see them on their blog here: Rachel Anne Miller blog hop. (Check out the blog hop while you're there, too. There are some *awesome* cards to see!)

Secretaries' Day gifts

Every year, I send in some kind of small gift to the secretaries at my daughters' schools. I know all the little things they do to help kids (and their teachers) every day and I want to let them know they are appreciated by parents. Since I need to keep the cost of the gift down, I try to find some kind of cute, new packaging every year. This year's bag was inspired by something I saw on Splitcoast stampers - using a white lunch bag and cutting the top with a large scallop scissors. (See, I knew there was a reason why I brought those things with me from NJ over 10 years ago! lol!) The paper roses were inspired by something I saw using the new large scalloped circle Nesties. I have the "blossom" Nesties and they work well, too.

(You'll have to excuse the lighting. These pictures were taken on my kitchen counter at 6:45 am on a rainy morning.)

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

This week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch has a slightly different twist to it. The image is cut into an oval and matted with a circle.

We're lucky enough to be sponsored once again by Sally-Ann of DigiStamp Boutique. For this week's card I chose the uber-cute Poppy. 

Head on over to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday  blog and check out the rest of the design team's cards. Then play along for a chance to win $10 in digi images from Sally-Ann's shop!

Anya Doubletake

I actually managed to combine 2 different TGF challenges into one card - a sketch challenge from their TGF blog and a color challenge from their Club Anya blog.

Here are the sketch and the color inspiration:

I combined them to make this card:

I had A LOT of fun making this card. I just love this Autumn Anya and she was just the right proportion for the card. Using coordinating papers from Fancy Pants Design made the card easy to put together. I used my Copics to color her in (of course!) and embellished the card with 2 Prima flowers, a Basic Grey button, some green Scrappers' Floss, 3 antique brass brads and a corner accent made with my SU! corner punch. I've been in sort of an inking mood lately, so I inked all the layers with Palette Burnt Umber ink, my favorite brown ink.

After making 2 black and red cards recently, it was nice to use a more colorful palette this time, even if the colors are muted ones. Of course, my FAVE color (pink) will be back on my blog for the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge. Here's a sneak peak of my card, made with the adorable Poppy from DigiStamp Boutique:

See, isn't she adorable? Be sure to come back on Wednesday to see the rest of the card along with Arlana's newest sketch!

Hoppy Sunday!

The Just Magnolia blog is celebrating their first birthday with a blog hop sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. They are giving away an awesome prize package! All you have to do to enter is create a card using this great sketch:

The circles made me think of this sweet Tilda with ladybug:

I won those big red rhinestones in some blog candy a while ago. I didn't think I'd ever use them, but they were just the right size for this project. It just goes to show that if you keep something long enough, you'll eventually find a use for it. Or at least we crafters like to tell ourselves that. ;-)

Shiver Me Timbers!

It's a two-fer challenge post! Kraftin' Kimmie is hosting this week's sketch over at the Card Positioning Systems blog and Kimmie was having a color challenge on her own challenge blog, as well. The colors were red, black and white which, to me, just screamed "Pirate!". (OK, maybe they didn't scream, but they did suggest very strongly and loudly... lol!) I combined the CPS sketch with the color challenge and used my still uninked Cutthroat Lizzie stamp.

The black dp is actually part of the "More Black & White Paper download" (a freebie!) from The Angel Company. You can find this and other downloads on their "Downloads" page. And, I have a confession - the coins that I used to accent my card are actually some fake Asian coins. Oh well! What's a stamper to do when she doesn't have any gold dubloons handy? ;-) I guess Lizzie & her crew must've sailed the high seas near the Orient while amassing their treasure. :)

A Color Challenge

Work 8 hours - check. Shuttle 11 year old from school to Honors Choir practice - check. Sort laundry - check. Finish taxes - check. Cook dinner - check. Walk dog - check. Time for me - CHECK! :)

I was in serious need of a little creative time tonight so I decided to participate in this week's color challenge over at Mo Manning's Digital Pencil challenge blog.

I needed to make an anniversary card for my in-laws and thought this image would work, even if it's not a "traditional" anniversary image. I loved DT member Caryn's card and used it as my inspiration.

Well, that's it for me. I'm off to prep ingredients to make muffins in the morning for a meeting. Early morning tomorrow! (Is it Friday yet? Friday is coming, isn't it?....)

Matilda Mouse

In the spirit of Sweet Sketch Wednesday (see this week's card below), here's another sketch inspired card:

I used last week's sketch from the Card Positioning Systems blog. (I was hoping to finish the card in time to enter last week's drawing. I couldn't quite manage that but still wanted to try out the sketch because it looked like such a fun one!)

I'm still having fun playing with those the Bloom & Grow papers from My Minds' Eye! I'm not usually a fan of orange, but I like sunny colors in this orange/green/aqua collection. Perfect for spring and summer cards!

One Fresh Sketch

Our sketch this week is sponsored by Heather of Fresh Brewed Designs. Heather is offering a prize of $15 in digi images from her shop, so be sure to play along with this week's sketch!


For my card, I used the Country Girl Birthday image:



Head on over to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog to check out the other DT members' cards!

April release from DigiStamp Boutique

Wow, this has been a long week! I was so happy to find a little stamping time tonight after dinner. I had a lot of fun playing with some new Paper Studio paper (from Hobby Lobby) and this cute new Marty & Matilda image from Sally-Ann of DigiStamp Boutique:


Have you checked out the adorable Marty & Matilda yet? If not, head on over to DigiStamp Boutique to see this and other Marty & Matilda images!

A Trio of Cards

I made these 3 cards to send to a long-distance customer. I focused on using different papers from The Angel Company so that she could see some of them in person. Because I was mailing several of them in one envelope, I kept the embellishments to a minimum.

Here's a super simple card based on a sketch in the new "Sketches to Go" idea book:


I used several patterns from the "More Mimi" SWIC. This would be a fun layout for using up your paper scraps.

The next two cards both use "Wonder and Joy", a new set from the Spring catalog. I *love* this little girl! She is my favorite!


The purple and floral printed papers are from the "Miss Moxie" SWIC, one of my favorites. I love the bright colors!

This last card features the boy stamp in "Wonder and Joy" and "Rustic Chic" paper.


Tomorrow I will be featuring cards from Digistamp Boutique's April release featuring Marty and Matilda. You can check them out here.

I'm discontinuing my "Fab Friday" posts. I'm reworking the idea as a monthly "Weekend Wonder", where once a month I'll share a tip or technique similar to my "Fab Friday" posts. Look for these beginning in May. (I'm taking the next few weeks off to build up a collection of posts.)

A Girl and Her Dog (and her coffee, too!)

I had a lot of fun with this week's sketch, which is sponsored by Tracey Malnofski of The Stamping Boutique.


For my card, I used Jennifer Latte with daschund. I just love this image! I also had fun using my brand new Martha Stewart daisy border punch. I just love it!


Be sure to visit the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog to check out the rest of the design team's cards. Play along with this week's sketch for a chance to win 3 free digi's from The Stamping Boutique!

New Release at DigiStamp Boutique!

It's no April Fools joke - it's April 1st so there's a new special monthly offer available at DigiStamp Boutique! Be sure to check out the oh so adorable Marty and Matilda!


Aw, aren't they so sweet? :) I can't wait to make a card with them this weekend!

In the meantime, here's another Coco card. Coco was part of the March special, and is still available on the site. This card was inspired by the beautiful spring (almost summer!) weather we are having. I've been busy this week spring cleaning, doing yardwork and getting ready for the big family Easter dinner on Sunday. Now that I've trimmed my monster rosebush back, my poor daffodils finally are getting enough sun to be in full bloom. They put a smile on my face just like they do to Coco! :)