Beach House

Ah, to be lying on a beach somewhere, listening to sea gulls and waves and soaking up the sun. This summer I'll just have to settle for playing with this beachy new image from DigiStamp Boutique. It is appropriately entitled "Beach house" and can be found in the shop with the rest of the July 14 releases.

I especially had fun coloring in the flags. You could come up with a lot of different color combos for the flags to make this more masculine or feminine.  The image is very gender and occasion-neutral. Go check out this versatile image in the shop!
~ Lisa

Phebe Relaxing

Busy, busy, busy! Who wouldn't appreciate a chance to relax over a nice cup of her favorite beverage? These new Besties images from DigiStamp Boutique are so much fun! This one is called Phebe relaxing. I've paired her with this versatile sentiment set - Essential sentiments.

Hope the rest of your week is a relaxing one!
~ Lisa

Black and White Beauties

Got together this weekend with the ladies from my stamping group, Inky Fingers. Once a month we gather together to share a project or technique and make some cards. This month's hostess, Linnea, challenged us to make black and white cards - ONLY black and white cards. This may sound difficult, or even boring, but it really forces you to look for other ways to add interest to your card (layout, texture, etc.).  I've finished two and I'm hooked! I will be making more soon!

Lisa

Birthday Kate

I am loving the new Kates from the May release over at DigiStamp Boutique! My card features the adorable Birthday Kate. I love the sentiment that comes with her because, in my opinion, the cake really is one of the best things about having a birthday! :) (OK, at my age, it's one of the few good things about another birthday!)

Supplies: Birthday Kate (DSB), This and That Graceful 6X6 pad (Echo Park). 

pink and kraft cs from my stash, Copics, rhinestones.

New releases are coming soon so be sure to visit the DigiStamp Boutique store soon!
~Lisa

Fishy Father's Day Wishes

Wow, where has this month gone? I can't believe it's almost Father's Day and my oldest daughter's birthday (both Sunday). I'm happy to say that I have gotten back into the card making groove. Today I have not one, but TWO Father's Day cards to share with you.

First up is a card featuring Fishing Stan from DigiStamp Boutique. He looks quite proud of his catch, doesn't he? Stan makes a great masculine card for Father's Day, birthday or whatever the occasion!

Supplies: Fishing Stan (DSB), Glasses, Staches & Ties paper stack (The Paper Studio),

kraft cs (PTI) and Copics.

I'm entering Stan into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly Challenge -  For the Boys
Digi Choosday - Use 2 papers
Pile It On - Use Some Patterned Paper

Next up is a card that was inspired by this tutorial on Craftsy: Father's Day Card. I don't have the fabulous necktie dies used in the tutorial, so I found a free necktie shaped SVG file and used my SCAL software to cut out the solid tie. (To make the top "knot" on the tie, I just placed a copy of the tie over the edge of my cutting area, so that just the top of the tie was cut.) This was a really quick card to make and you could really have fun changing up the patterns on the ties!

Supplies: tie svg file, sentiment (typed on my computer), foam tape,

Reflections Christmas 6X6 pad (Echo Park), Cricut, SCAL software,

blue cs from my stash and kraft cs (PTI).

Come back later this week for a birthday card featuring a recent release from DigiStamp Boutique!
~Lisa

Birthday Boy!

Long time, no blog! It's been a time of major changes in the Thompson household. DH and I are just wrapping up the first week of our new jobs with new work hours. And my usual photo taking spot has been turned into his home office, so I'm trying out new spots in the house for photo taking. I took this week's card featuring DigiStamp Boutique's adorable Owen in my dining room. Not great, so the hunt for a new photo taking spot continues...

I'm entering Owen into the following challenges:

Cards 4 Guyz - Fathers Day

Clear It Out - Fathers Day / stars

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

~ Lisa

Happy hump day! Just popping in here with a quick birthday card featuring one of DigiStamp Boutique's February releases, Stanley. The sentiment is from one of the May DSB releases - Isla and flowers. And speaking of sentiments, have you checked out the new Essential sentiments and Fathers Day words in the DigiStamp Boutique shop?  A little cardmaking tip - I keep various digital sentiments printed off and cut so that they're ready to quickly pop onto a card. Sometimes they are the perfect finishing touch.

Have a great rest of the week! Be sure to check out the newest releases in the DSB shop, too!
~ Lisa

Baby Chicklet

Popping in with a quick baby card using the adorable Baby chicklet from the DigiStamp Boutique store.

This is a fun image that works equally well for a baby boy or girl, depending on the color scheme. I just love the little chick peeping out from her carriage!

Have a good one. Hope to be back soon with another card.
Lisa

I'm Back!

Long time, no blog.  Things have been crazy busy here between work, job searches and family events. It felt so good to FINALLY finish a card. Whew! I have got to make more time for crafting!

Even though I haven't done my Mothers' Day shopping yet (eek!), I'm looking ahead to Fathers' Day. I thought this Alf image, Dad's Shed, was just perfect for a Fathers' Day card!

Supplies: Dad's Shed (DSB), sentiment (DSB), grass border punch (Fiskars), 

cloud and bunny dies (Memory Box), white fun flock, Copics and colored pencils.

There are so many great Alf images, which can be found HERE in the DigiStamp Boutique. Go check them out!

~ Lisa

Curtain Call

This is a sad week for the Totally Papercrafts team. After a long and successful run, we will be closing down the blog after this week. It was not a decision that we made lightly or quickly. We will miss bringing you challenges and seeing all of your wonderful creations! Please be sure to join us this week for our last hurrah. It's a really fun challenge - Tag It! - and we're being sponsored by a terrific company - Crafty Sentiments - run by one of our own teammates, Suzette.

For my card, I chose this adorable digistamp from Suzette's store. He's called Henry and I think he's just the sweetest!

So, please head on over to the Totally Papercrafts challenge blog this week and join us in our farewell challenge! You could win 3 digital stamps of your choice (including Henry!) from Crafty Sentiments.
Lisa

Just Ducky!

Hi there! Just popping in with a quick post and a new card.  My birthday card features Birthday Quacky, one of last month's releases in the DigiStamp Boutique shop.

Stop on by the DigiStamp Boutique shop and check out the great new images that were just released!
Lisa

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #213

Happy Friday! It's been a while since I've been able to participate, so I'm especially excited to bring you a new Totally Papercrafts challenge! This week's challenge is a fun one - Pastel (i.e., use pastel colors in your card). This is a perfect challenge for the upcoming Easter holiday. So for my card, I chose this adorable chick from the DigiStamp Boutique Cute Chicklets - Easter collection.

I just love this little guy!

You remember the drill - hop on over to the Totally Papercrafts challenge blog to check out the rest of the design teams' fab projects, leave them a little papercrafting love and then join us for a chance to win a prize from this week's sponsor - Stamp and Create.
Lisa

Birthday Quacky

Hooray! I'm so glad that spring is finally here. (Even if it comes with tornado warnings and hail here in the American Midwest.) And, along with the flowers that are popping up out of my garden, there are some fantastic spring inspired images popping up in the DigiStamp Boutique store. I am especially fond of the new Birthday Quacky:

I'm still on a bit of a kick to use up old papers and scraps, so I traveled in the Way Back Machine and used some papers from my days with The Angel Company.

Enjoy! I'll be back on Friday with a Totally Papercrafts post.
Lisa

Pop-Out Card

I am not usually a fancy folds kind of cardmaker, but I saw this on Facebook and had to give it  a try:

It's a "Pop Out" card and I found a very easy to follow tutorial on the Craftwork Cards blog, written by a crafter named Hazel.

Here are a few other views of the card:

For my inside sentiment/image, I used this great set from DigiStamp Boutique: Flower and heart circles. I wanted something soft and round with all of those sharp angles. My papers are an assortment of SU! (green), Creative Memories (pink floral/swirl) and Penny Lane by My Minds Eye (stripe).

The finished card is pretty large (6" square) and pretty bulky, so this isn't a card I can see myself making very often. But Hazel's tutorial was easy to follow and it was a lot of fun to make, so I'm sure I'll be making another one in the future.

Lisa

Happy Birthday Stanley

Hope you're having a happy Monday! Dog images are always my favorite, so I am just loving this Stanley dog set from DigiStamp Boutique.

If you visit my blog somewhat regularly, you realize it's been a long time since I've last posted. Several weeks ago we learned that DH was being laid off from IBM. Needless to say, this has been a stressful time and my crafting mojo has been no where to be found (nor have I been feeling up to looking much for it). I'm hoping things start looking up soon.
Lisa

Easter Wishes

Popping in with a quick Easter card using one of the chicks in the Cute chicklets Easter collection, which is currently on special in the DigiStamp Boutique shop. My layout is based on a great sketch I found over on the Sunday Stamps blog. It was perfect for using up some of those scrap strips we all find in our scrap stash.

The "Easter wishes" sentiment can also be found in the DigiStamp Boutique store. It's part of the Easter Branch set.

Hope to see you later this week with another card!
~Lisa

Spring!

We had a taste of Spring here in the Midwest this week, but alas the temps are back down into the chilly winter range today. I am so looking forward to Spring's true arrival, when hopefully it sticks around for a bit. In the meantime, I'll have to take comfort in all of the wonderful Spring themed projects in this week's Totally Papercrafts Spring challenge. Totally Papercrafts is sponsored this week by the fab Crafty Sentiments. For my card I chose the adorable digi appropriately entitled "Rain, Rain".

Supplies: Rain, Rain (Crafty Sentiments), computer generated sentiment,

cloud die (Memory Box), sun punch (All Night Media), corner rounder punch,

oval Shapemaker (Creative Memories), Copics and papers from my stash.

I'm entering my card into the "anything goes" challenges on the Crafty Sentiments and CMC Copic Challenge Group blogs.

Head on over to the Totally Papercrafts Challenges blog to see what the other girls came up with this week. Join us for a chance to win a prize from  Crafty Sentiments!
Lisa

Sweet Bobbi

I just love the DigiStamp Boutique teddies and use them often. I had intended to use this cutie - Valentine Bobbi  - for a Valentines Day card. That never quite happened but this versatile guy is just at home on a non-Valentines themed project. I think he'd make an adorable baby card, too.

Don't you just love this heart patterned paper? It's a digi paper called "Heartfelt paper set" and it can also found in the DigiStamp Boutique shop. The sentiment is part of the "Cute chicklets love collection".

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Penny's Paper Challenge - Lots of Layers
Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
CMC Color Group Challenge - Anything Goes

Have a "lovely" day! :)
Lisa

Metal Die Storage

Sticking my head out for a few minutes, taking a break from my never ending craft room organizing. (Is it re-organizing if you never really stop and restart?) If you have thin metal dies (Nestabilities) and are frustrated by your current storage system, run - don't walk - your fingers and credit card over to SP and Company. As part of her conversion to a focus on Project Life style scrapbooking and digital products, Samantha is clearing out her storage binder system. I just transferred my Nesties to the thin magnetic pages and they are AWESOME!!

I also bought a couple of the Plumeria Pink binders, as well, because I wanted to separate my Nesties by shape and because, well, they're PINK! What better reason do I need to buy something? :)
Lisa

Happy Birthday, Renate!

Wishing a big Happy Birthday today to Renate of the Yumi & Fumi Handmade design team.  Stop by the Y&FH blog to leave her some birthday wishes. While you're there, you can check out the rest of the birthday banner that the DT has assembled for our birthday girl!

Happy Birthday, Renate! Hope your day is as sweet and special as you are!

Lisa

Orange + Pink + One Other Color

Wow, what a wild and snowy week this has been! Time to warm up with a toasty color scheme challenge from SP and Company - Orange, Pink and one other color. I chose kraft for my third color and incorporated it into both my image - Teddy Staying Toasty - and my cardstock selection.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:
CMC Copic Challenge Group - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Penny's Paper Challenges - Something Old and Something New (old = papers, new = stamp)
Crafty Girls Challenges - anything goes (entry #2)

This is last post as part of the SP Design Team. SP and company is transitioning to mostly digital products and ending their DT. So head on over the SP and Company blog and leave some love for the rest of the team. Participate in the challenge for your chance to win a prize in our last weekly challenge.

Lisa

Sweet Valentine Truffle

Usually chocolates are my favorite kind of truffles, but I have a sweet spot for this new DigiStamp Boutique teddy aptly named Truffle. You can find him in the shop as part of the Valentine Honey and Truffle set.

Supplies: Truffle (DSB), Valentine dp (Paper Studio), rhinestones (Paper Studio),

kraft cs (TAC-retired) and Copic markers.

I'm entering this sweet guy into the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Lots of Love

Make It Monday - anything goes
Sunflowerfields Designs  - Valentines Day/Hearts

Digi Galore Challenges - Valentine

Emergency Crafters - Pink or Red

I'll be back tomorrow (Sunday) with a new challenge from SP and Company!

~Lisa

More Kraftiness!

I'm back with two more entries into this year's Krafty Bowl (which I'm hoping Kimmie decides to make an annual event!).

First up in my entry into the "Love" challenge. This retired KK image, Bird Fairy by Crissy Armstrong, always reminds me of the saying "“If you love something set it free if it returns its yours forever, if not it was never meant to be.”

My second (and final!) entry is one for the "Winter" challenge. Winter makes me think of trying to keep warm! (I hate winter. Being cold makes me crabby!) So, for me the theme "Winter" inspired me to use this retired KK stamp, Lavender the Quilter. (Unfortunately, Lavender has been truly retired and is no longer available.)

Whew! I've had a lot of fun participating in some of the Krafty Bowl challenges. Maybe I'll try to enter all the categories if Kimmie decides to hold another Krafty Bowl next year!

Lisa

Totally Papercrafts - Hey Cutie!

Happy Friday! We have an easy challenge for you this week at Totally Papercrafts - "Hey Cutie!" (i.e., use a cute image). We are sponsored this week by the oh so cute 

For my card I chose this cute little pup from the St. Bernard Buddy set.

I am all about cleaning out my craft room these days, so my papers and embellishments were just miscellaneous things from my stash. (The sentiment is one I had already printed off from DigiStamp Boutique.)

Head on over the Totally Papercrafts to see the other cute cards featuring images from our sponsor. Join us for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Doodle Pantry store!

Lisa

Krafty Bowl Challenge #2 - Something Old

It's my second post of the day with my entry into another Krafty Bowl Challenge - "Something Old".

Supplies: Eleanor (KK), Traditions 6X6 pad (Carte Bella) ,

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen (Ranger),

leaf die (Memory Box), buttons (Jessie James),

kraft and brown cs and flowers from stash.

This card fills the "old" requirement several ways. The kraft cardstock I used is from my Angel (TAC) days and the Kraftin' Kimmie stamp I used - Eleanor - has been retired. (Although she's still on the website, so perhaps you can go and grab her if she's still available.) But primarily, Eleanor always made me think of this picture of my grandparents, Ed and Evelyn.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - anything goes
Penny's Challenges - something old and something new (the dp is new)
Crafty Girls Challenges - anything goes
CMC Copic Challenges - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Loves Rubber Stamps - anything goes
Lisa

Krafty Bowl Challenge #1 - It's Ma Birthday!

I am not a fan of the Superbowl, but I am a long time fan of Kraftin' Kimmie, so I was excited to see that Kimmie was hosting several special challenges on Superbowl Sunday. Here's the first of my entries - it's for the first Krafty Bowl challenge - "It's Ma Birthday", in honor of Kimmie's birthday.

I used this cute Lisette stamp from Kraftin' Kimmie. She's retiring, so if you like her, grab her while you can.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - anything goes
Pile It On - use ribbon
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Lisa

A Sweet Couple

Between snow and freezing temps will I ever leave my house?! Oh well, at least I have these two sweeties to warm my heart (while I rely on my space heater to warm my craft room!). Here's a couple that would be at home on any Valentines Day card - Edwin and Hetty from the Edwin and Hetty Set in the DigiStamp Boutique shop.

Supplies: Edwin and Hetty Set (DSB), heart dp (Martha Stewart matt stack), 

border punch (EK Success), red cs (Hobby Lobby), Copics, 

puffy heart sticker (Hobby Lobby) and Copic markers.

Valentines Day is fast approaching, so if you haven't started on your Valentines Day crafting, be sure to head on over to the DSB shop to check out all of the cute Valentines images!
Lisa

Thanks A Latte!

Our challenge is something a little different this week at SP and Company - make an interactive card. I confess that interactive cards really aren't  my thing - I'm a basic folded rectangle kind of gal. But I found this really easy tutorial on the web and gave it a try - Interactive coffee cup card.

and here's the interactive part - the "lid" comes out, providing a spot for you to write out a little note of thanks. Cute, huh?

Stop by the SP and Company blog - Scrapmaster's Paradise - to check out the Sunday Scoop with all the details on this challenge, as well as some AMAZING samples from the rest of the DT!
Lisa

You are My Sunshine

Brr! I'm bringing you some warm thoughts today with this card featuring Valentine Sophia from DigiStamp Boutique. As you can see, this little girl is very versatile - she's also great for thinking of you, happy birthday or get well cards.

You can check out the rest of the Sophia images as well as the other great images in the new release section. Have a sunny day! :)
~ Lisa

It's a Winter Wonderland!

Brr! Baby it's cold outside. No snow here, but plenty of winter weather, perfect for this week's theme at SP and Co.

Supplies: Sledding Mice Stamp - Gill Roberts Collection (SP and Company),

Winter Wonderland dp (MME), snowflake stickers (Darics), Copics,

red ribbon (Ribbon Carousel-retired), ultrafine glitter and kraft cs (TAC-retired).

Aren't these mice just too, too cute? They're having an awful lot of fun on that sled. I wish I could say that I enjoyed the winter weather just as much as they do. :) I'm entering this cute little trio into the following challenges:
Pile It On - Animals
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - So Sweet!
Creative Inspirations - Ribbon!
The Stamping Chef - Anything Goes

Hop on over to the SP and Company blog to see the rest of the team's wintery creations. Join us in the challenge for your chance to win *3* great stamp sets from SP and Company!
Lisa

One For the Boys

TGIF! Welcome to another challenge from the Totally Papercrafts team! This week's challenge really took me out of my comfort zone - "One For the Boys". Eek! Not even I would use pink on a card like that. Luckily, it was our sponsor, Kenny K, to the rescue with this very macho Soldier image. And, I confess - I did have fun coloring him in.

And now for my big announcement - we are adding several new DT members to the Totally Papercrafts blog . Joining Team A is: Nicole, Julie and Carlyann and joining Team B is Laurie. Head on over to the Totally Papercrafts blog to welcome the new girls and leave some love for the DT girls for their great cards this week! Enter your own "One for the Boys" card for your chance to win 5 digis of your choice from Kenny K!

Lisa

Valentine's Day Cuties

Just a quick post with a few Valentines Day cards featuring some older Valentines images from the DigiStamp Boutique shop. First up is Valentine Tia. I just love her sunny smile. :)

And this adorable Valentine mouse girl is part of the Valentine Mouse set.

It's never to start on those Valentine's Day cards!
~ Lisa

What a Cute Couple!

It's Anniversary and Couples Week at SP and Company. I just couldn't resist this adorable couple -
Kissing Bears by Gill Roberts.

Supplies: Kissing Bears by Gill Roberts (SP and Company), 

Holiday Cheer 6x6 pad (The Paper Studio), 
All is Bright "Christmas Tag" 12X12 dp (MME), 

Nestabilities border die (Spellbinder), Copic markers, 

kraft cs (PTI) and red cs from stash.

Check out the rest of the DT projects at the blog and then join us for your chance at a great prize from SP and Company!
Lisa

A Sketchy Challenge

Ooh, I'm so excited for this week's Yumi and Fumi Handmade challenge. It's a sketch challenge, which is one of my favorite kinds of challenges (second only to color challenges)! Here's the sketch:

Here's my card, featuring my favorite cold weather girl - Winter Yumi:

Supplies: Winter Yumi (Y&FH), kraft Christmas dp (MAMBI), 

Classic Snowflakes-Red dp (The Paper Studio),

Happy Go Lucky "Linen and Carnation" dp (MME), Copic markers, 

velvet rickrack (Michaels) and heart punchies from my stash.

I'm also entering Miss Yumi into the following challenges:
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Be sure to join us in our sketch challenge at Yumi and Fumi Handmade! Stop by the blog to get the details and to see the rest of the design team's terrific creations!
Lisa

Chicklet Love

Ooh! I just love this new Cute chicklets love collection from DigiStamp Boutique!  Although they would be great for other occasions, they make a really adorable Valentines Day card. And I love that they come with sentiments!

Supplies: Cute chicklets love collection (DSB), Valentine mat stack (Martha Stewart),

pink polka dot dp (The Paper Studio), Copics and heart punches.

I'm entering the chicklets into the following challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Holidays/Celebrations
Divas by Design - Celebrate
Animal Friends Challenges - Punches/Dies

Valentines Day is less than a month away - time to get working on those Valentines projects. These cute little chicks would also be great on gift tags! They're on special at the moment, so hurry on over to the shop and pick them up while they're still on sale.
Lisa

My Punny Valentine

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to start thinking about the next holiday - Valentines Day! This week's SP and Company challenge is to create a silly Valentine card or project - it could be a funny image or a funny sentiment. For my card I chose this adorable Tina Wenke set - Puppy Surprise Valentine. He is so cute! And he would be perfect on a card for a boy or a girl!

Winter Wonderland

What a difference a week makes! A week ago we were preparing for deadly cold temps thanks to the polar vortex. This week, our weather will be flirting with spring with temps hitting the mid to upper 50's. Over at the Totally Papercrafts challenge blog, however, we're still thinking cold and frosty with our "Winter Wonderland" challenge theme. We are sponsored this week by Sassy Studio Designs.

I was short on time this week, so rather than stamping an image, I cut this section from a 12X12 piece of patterned cardstock. I embellished it with some ultrafine glitter, a ribbon and a stamped sentiment. Quick and easy!

Supplies: Winter Wonderland "At Home" (MME), brown cs, ribbon (Michaels),

sentiment cube stamp (unknown), ultrafine glitter, Sakura glue pen

I'm entering my wintery creation on the following challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Cold & Frosty
Color Me Creative - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Card Makin' Mamas - Anything Goes

Now, hop on over to the Totally Papercrafts challenge blog to check out the other girls' "Winter Wonderland" creations. Then join us for a chance to win 4 digis from our sponsor, Sassy Studio Design.

Lisa

You're So Tweet!

Hi! Lisa here in the frozen American Midwest. Brrr! I am ready to turn my thoughts to spring and warmer temps. Here's a sweet and sunny card featuring one of DigiStamp Boutique's November releases, the Tweet hearts Collection.

Supplies: Tweet Hearts collection (DSB), Mary Mary "Beautiful" So Cute Paper (MME), 

pink dp (Creative Memories) and Copic markers.

Doesn't that sweet little birdie warm your heart? (Too bad he can't do much for the air temp!) He would also make a really cute Valentines Day card. Valentines Day isn't far away - just next month! It's never too soon to start your holiday cards.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:
Pile It On - Just Because
Color Me Creative - Anything Goes
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Digi Galore - Girly
Card Makin' Mamas - Anything Goes

If you're suffering through this Arctic blast like I am, stay warm, stay inside and make some cards! :)
Lisa