Sunday, August 31, 2008

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #33

Happy Labor Day to all of you! I am so sorry to see our short Summer come to an end already. The kids go back to school on Thursday and then it will seem like a couple of weeks and BOOM! it will be Christmas! How crazy is that. I wish the kids had just a little longer of a break from school, it goes so darn fast. But of course I will have a wee bit more stamping time during the days. Anyway, here is this weeks sketch....







I really like the sketch and think it is a easy one to work with. There are so many possibility with it. I was quite a lazy stamper and did not even get up from my chair for this card. All of the stamps and paper were within reach of my spot! The only think I had to move for was the cuttlebug bubble type embellishment. I have not been able to put down these new in colors - insert "no kidding, Mary Jo" here, lol. It seems like every card I make has this Kiwi Kiss color on it. The colors this year are really fun. So here is my very un-traditional Halloween card, which by the way hubby hates!




I didn't think it was so bad, different yes, but not really bad?!? What do you think?

Stamps: Haunting Halloween
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red Basic Black, Whisper White and Bella Rose DP
Ink: Basic Black
Other: cuttlebug, white gel pen, colored pencils, gamsol, faux brads, stampin sponge.

Feel free to play along we would all love to see your creations so after you make your card leave a comment here with a link that I can share with my readers!



Thank you so much to all who have already made a donation to my CROP walk efforts. With this new hurricane coming in the CWS people may have to use up a lot of money that is on hand. You see they not only aide in hunger relief but disaster relief too. Won't you consider making a donation today! Remember you can win over $200 in brand new stamps sets just for helping others! Click HERE for more details and to see ALL 21 stamps sets and a link to MFT where you would have a shopping spree!

Happy Birthday FS82 and another sketch player too.


Isn't this little guy cute? It is from Inky Antics. I used it today to play along with the Featured Stamper Challenge. Here is the card that was the inspiration for this one. It was a nice quick cute card.

Stamps: Daisy Turtle's Balloon (Inky Antics), Think Happy Thoughts (SU)
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Bella Rose DP
Ink: Basic Black, Tangerine Tango Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: colored pencils, gamsol, Sizzix embossing plate, Big Shot, circle punches, baubles, bling


Here is another sketch challenge player for this week. I will be back later with my very non-traditional Halloween card and the new sketch for the week. But for now enjoy this wonderful sample using sketch 32.


Tamarra at Tamarra's Stamping Spot

Thanks for the great card Tamarra!

Don't forget about your chance to win over $200 in free stamps...

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW


Saturday, August 30, 2008

I am SOOO bad! And so sorry too.

These two ladies were so kind to award me with this adorable award quite a while ago and I keep forgetting to post it. Please take a few minutes or an hour or so and check out their blogs -- lots of inspiration on both.

The rules are as follows:

I have to pick 7 of my favorite blogs and…
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog
2. Link the person you received your award from
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you've nominated.
So here I go!

Charlotte at Charlotte's Web
Now Charlotte does not post every day but when she does they are worth the wait. And she also has one of the best blog names -- just too cute.

Lori at Inking Aloud
If you follow my sketch challenges you know that Lori very often plays along so you have seen here wonderful creations before but have you really looked at her blog? There is lots of great stuff on there and she uses stamps from lots of fun companies.

Kim at Paper in the Works
Be ready when you enter this blog. Her creations are incredible. So much detail. You really need to click on each and every card to see all the details. I hesitate to share this one with you for fear you will no longer enjoy my work, lol. I am way to lazy of a stamper to take it to this level!

Barb at Barb's Stampin Spot
This woman is one of the nicest people I have met in along time. I had the opportunity to meet her a little over a year ago at a stamping get together and she is just so darn sweet I fell in love with her instantly. And she has a really super blog with lots and lots of wonderful SU ideas. Check it out -- I do all the time.

Kathie at Just an Inkling
Kathie has such a fun creative way about her. I love her designs and think you will too. She is also a fellow member of the Blogger's Challenge group.

OK -- I have so much to do for the CROP walk getting things together and putting together stuff for the local folk and I am having a hard time finding blogs that I love that have not already been given this award. So please forgive me for stopping at 5 it is 7 if you count the 2 that awarded me, right?

Thanks again Kerry and Lori for so kindly awarding me with this.



More Sketch #32 players for this week!

Here are a few more cards using this weeks sketch challenge 32 to inspire you!


Lori at Inking Aloud



Marti at Pez-A-Doodle Designs Studio


Thanks so much ladies, fun cards.

Let it SNOW?!? And it's a slow go!


Look close at this background. Isn't is so cool. This is the new CORE'DINATIONS CARDSTOCK It is so cool! I used my snowflake cuttlebug embossing folder and then just sanded the raised images a bit. Looks really cool in person. And so easy too. You can purchase and see all the wonderful colors at Storage Units Inks & More.




This was just a fun card to make. It is much more fun to play with snow stamps than to deal with the real stuff! Of course that is coming from a Western New Yorker and we get a lot of that white stuff around here -- most years.

Stamps: Big on Holidays, retired Snow Much Fun
Paper: Corde'dinations card stock, Baja Breeze and Whisper White from SU
Ink: Basic Black
Other: markers, white gel pen scallop edge punch

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT'S A SLOW GO
(but I am on my way to my goal.)

My goal both on-line and off this year for the CROP hunger walk is $1000! I know I set my sights high but I am enthusiastic and know that this is a super worthy cause.

So I am asking that you go ONE day with out your cup of coffee or diet pepsi or what ever it is that you spend money on every day to think about all the people who could not even thing of these types of luxuries and donate it to hungry people all over the world.

If everyone one of my readers donated just $2 I would more than surpass my goal and so many people would be helped. And on top of that you would all be in an the wonderful prize package.

You can win over $200 in brand new stamps!

What are you waiting for you can win
21 stamps sets (from SU, Unity Stamps and Our Daily Bread Designs)
and a $25 shopping spree at My Favorite Things stamps!

More details can be found HERE!

A sincere THANK YOU to all of you who have so generously donated already. You have made a difference in someone life!




Thursday, August 28, 2008

Blogger's Challenge #62 Labor Day


What a cute idea Lisa had for this week. Since it is "Labor" day she said we could make a patriotic card or a baby card. I truly am a patriotic person but I really don't have much need for those types of card in my everyday card sending (who am I kidding I don't send card, I horde them!) so I decided to go with the baby theme. And I am on a roll trying to use some stamps that have not been touched in years -- since I am still waiting on my brand new SU stamps.





I love the adorable little dragons in this retired set -- Darling Dragons. I matched it up with the new in colors and the Anni VERVE sary sketch #8. I so love bright cards like this they make me smile-hope it makes you smile too.


Stamps: Darling Dragons, Nursery necessities
Paper: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White with Bella Rose dp
Ink: Brown Stazon, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: colored pencils, gamsol, stumps, nestabilities, cuttlebug embossing folders, scallop edge punch, small circle punch, word window punch, ribbon, buttons




Don't forget to jump on my MOTHERLOAD give away!

Win over $200 in brand new stamps!

Have you made a donation to my CROP walk yet. You could win the MOTHERLOAD of brand new stamps for any size donation. Think about that, for what it cost for a cup of Starbucks coffee you could win 21 stamps sets and a shopping spree too (over $200 value)--- see the details HERE.


Thanks for stopping by today- don't forget to check out the other players by clicking the link on my side bar. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!



Happy Birthday Lauren

This was made for a sweet little girl who turned 9 today. Here favorite color is purple so I needed to incorporate that into the card. Hope she likes it.




I again used the Ways to Use it Challenge -- colored pencils and the Sketch Challenge from yesterday SC191 both can be found on Splitcoaststampers.


Stamps: Party Animals (Pink Cat Studio)
Paper: Lavender Lace, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Lavender Lace
Accessories: colored pencils, gamsol, circle punches, ribbon. Cuttlebug folders



Win over $200 in brand new stamps!

Have you made a donation to my CROP walk yet. You could win the MOTHERLOAD of brand new stamps for any size donation. Think about that, for what it cost for a cup of Starbucks coffee you could win 21 stamps sets and a shopping spree too (over $200 value)--- see the details HERE.


Moose You!


Today's ways to use it challenge was to use your colored pencils. I have been using them a lot lately so this was an easy one. I also used yesterdays sketch challenge too. I have been digging through lots of stamps that I have and I am shocked at how many I have that have never seen ink. I have at least 15 SU sets that have never seen ink - if not more -- and I can not even admit how many non stampin up sets and individual stamps have not been used. I could start a store for gosh sakes. This image is probably about 10 years old and never been inked. It says Provo Craft on the side.




Stamps: Provo Craft Moose, Moose You, SU
Paper: Red Riding Hood Red, Kraft and Whisper White card stock, Bella Rose DP
Ink: Basic Black and Chocolate Chip
Accessories: colored pencils, gamasol, baubles


Win over $200 in brand new stamps!

Have you made a donation to my CROP walk yet. You could win the MOTHERLOAD of brand new stamps for any size donation. Think about that, for what it cost for a cup of Starbucks coffee you could win 21 stamps sets and a shopping spree too (over $200 value)--- see the details HERE.



Wednesday, August 27, 2008

More Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #32 players.

I have a few more sketch challenge player to share with you!

Hetty at Craft Chaos


Karen at Krafting with Karen


Melissa at What do you (th)Ink?


Thanks so much for the great card samples ladies.

Please consider making a donation of any size to sponsor me in my
CROP hunger walk. You could win over $200 worth of brand new stamps from
Our Daily Bread Designs
My Favorite Things
Unity Stamps
Stampin Up
Hampton Arts Studio G
Click here for more details and pictures of the sets.




You can win over $200 in brand new stamps!

What are you waiting for you can win
21 stamps sets and a $25 shopping spree at My Favorite Things stamps!


Can you believe the generosity of these three ladies!
I am so excited to offer this all to one lucky winner!





This is HUGE!
Just by helping me help others you can win ALL of this......

Click on any of the logo images to be directed to the company website
to see their entire line of stamps!



Formal Alphabet


Joy to the World


It's Spring


Simple Pleasures (cling mount)


Lily Pad Playland (cling Mount)









Cross of Christ



Light of the World


On Eagle's Wings


Hope


Peace on Earth




(Please remember these three companies when you are looking to spend money on stamps! They have been so generous and kind so show them some love next time your buying stamps.)
I so wish I could win, lol.


And there is still more.....


Thanks to my over spending the winner will also be getting this retired
SAB set from Stampin Up!



Along with 9 of the 12 Hampton Arts Studio G stamps from series 9








And just to make it an even 10 sets I am throwing in a set from series 3 too!



You can earn two chances to win this great prize package!

Earn one by making a donation to support me in my CROP Hunger Walk.
CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty

You can make your donation by clicking HERE.

I have a long way to go to reach my goal, so please consider helping.


Earn another chance by helping me spread the word. Post about this giveaway on your blog and your will earn one more chance. Be sure to use the link to this post so I know you posted and can give your your second chance. Pretty easy huh?!

All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt by e-mail


Tuesday, August 26, 2008

4 in 1 - challenges that is!


It has been so long since I have even looked at the challenges on Splitcoaststampers so I thought since I had a few minutes this morning I would try one out and try to get back in the swing of things. Well I could not decide what challenge I wanted to do so I actually combined 4 in one card! I think that may be a record for me.

1. The Try a New Technique Challenge -- Faux Embossing
2. The color Challenge -- Rose Red, Kraft and Black
3. MoJo Monday Week 50 Sketch
4. Cindy's challenge to make a card without designer paper!

So here it is- I think the elephant can use a tiny googly eye but I can not find one at the moment. I will attach it before sending out though. Do you think there is too much going on?



I used the score pal to make the diagonal lines with my Rose Red and Black marker before embossing the square. Looks pretty cool IRL.
Here is a close up of the faux dry embossing.



My middle circle is just a bit big, lol. But I so wanted to use that blessings stamp (which was given to me by a dear friend and I have no idea who makes it -- can you help?) it is so perfect for a baby card.

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, and the mysterious Blessings Stamp
Paper: Rose Red, Basic Black and Kraft
Ink: Rose Red, Basic Black, white craft
Other: markers, ribbon, nestabilities, cuttlebug, score pal

I am so close to having a picture of all the stamps sets you can win by making a supporting me in my CROP walk. Our Daily Bread Designs is now donating a set too! So that makes it an even better basket! Check it out at the end of this post HERE.

Monday, August 25, 2008

This week's day one players!

Check out these awesome cards using this weeks sketch!
Thanks for playing ladies!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #32 and a HUGE give away.

What a fast week this one was. We took our son to see the Cleveland Zoo and did a few days at the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky OH. What fun we had. That zoo is amazing! We were there for 8 hours. I highly recommend it, you can bet we will go again.

So for this weeks sketch challenge -- I feel a little bit out of sorts not stamping for so many days so I pulled out a brand new Sparkle & Sprinkle stamp. The stamp is called Mini Max and it is this cute little frog in a martini glass. Isn't he darling? I also paired him up with the new in-colors from Stampin Up! These colors are wonderful this year!

.

The card feels like it needs something else but my brain is not in true create mode yet, lol so here it is....




And here is the sketch -- I hope you will play along.




Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who is playing along on day one! If you decide to play please leave a comment with a link so that I can share it right here on my blog. We all want to see your creations.

____________________________________________________________________

Want to win some brand new stamps???

It's easy, and you will be helping others at the same time. I am the coordinator of our local CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) walk and I am looking for on-line
donations . All you have to do is make a donation by clicking HERE and you will be entered to win a SUPER prize package. I don't have the whole basket of goodies ready to take a picture yet but I can tell you that there are brand new stamp sets from Stampin Up - Unity Stamps (Angela sent me 5 full stamps sets! - My Favorite Things and more. You can also earn a second chance at the prizes by posting it on your blog! So you can get two chances to win! Keep checking back to see the basket, it will be SOOOOOO worth it, and you will be helping out others at the same time! It's a win/win situation! More details to follow.

Your donation is tax deductible and you will get a receipt by e-mail!

So go on and help me meet my on-line goal, help hungry people all around the world and get two chances to win some AWESOME stamps!

Click here to donate and be entered!

Last one for sketch 31.

Marti at Pez-A-Doodle Designs has the last two cards for this weeks sketch -- and she has a mini tutorial for a cool background too.

Marti at Pez-A-Doodle Designs

Thanks so much Marti! I will be right back with the new sketch and a BIG giveaway!

A few more players for this week!

Check these out!

Hetty at Craft Chaos


Danita at Splitcoaststampers

and

Lori at Inking Aloud

Great samples girls, I will be back later with the new sketch!

Friday, August 22, 2008

More Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #31 cards

I am away for a few days but thought I would take a moment to post these. Thanks ladies for the great samples and playing along with my sketch challenge.


Holly on Splitcoaststampers


Erica on Today Is The First Day


Tamarra at Tamarra's Stamping Spot


Tammy at Stamp with Tammy

You still have time to play too here is the original post

Sketch 31


See ya soon.





Blogger's Challenge #61

Here we are again! Today's challenge was another color challenge. The colors we are to use are

Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Old Olive, Ruby Red




I really like these colors together! And I am so happy they did not retire this set. Don't forget to check out what the other players are doing with this challenge. There is a button in my side bar for Blogger's Challenge Players.


Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Hugs and Wishes
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, More Mustard, Ruby Red and Whisper White.
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: scallop edge punch, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, markers - thumping technique, twill ribbon






Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Mix and Match Challenge

This challenge was to create a card using different pieces of designer paper that are not from the same grouping or pack. I used different companies and of course they are STILL scraps, lol.




Stamps: Dreams du Jour (of course, lol)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip and
Whisper White card stock
along with a few scraps of dp -- I know the roses are from the Bella Rose collection. Not sure about the rest, sorry.
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: markers, blender pen, ribbon and Hero Arts bling

I am off for a little trip with my son to the Cleveland Zoo, Great Lakes Science Museum and the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky OH we are so excited. My blogger's challenge will post on Friday but I will not be responding to many e-mails inbetween. Have a great day!


More Challenge Players!

Here is some more samples with this weeks sketch! Have fun surfing.


Marisa at Marisa-isa


Melissa at What do you (th)ink?


Ceal at Simply Beautiful


"papersunshine" on Splitcoaststampers


Kim at Blonding Blogs



These are all beautiful!










Monday, August 18, 2008

A FREE year of paper crafts magazine goes to.......

Can you believe I almost forgot to post this. My girls from my club had a hard time picking out a winning card but after a lot of ohhs and ahhhhs, they decided that they had a winner! Here is the winning card....


.

Isn't it just darling. The colors are great and the coloring is awesome! You can find out more about it at Kerry's Blog HERE and see the other card she made with the sketch that was just as cute.


Congratulations Kerry! Let me know if you need a new subscription or an add on to an already existing subscription. But either way you got one year on me! Thanks to everyone who played along. It was fun! I have another big giveaway coming very soon. Think lots of stamp sets -- brand new--fun and free-- stay tuned to find out more.

Catalog Copy Challenge and more sketch players too!

So I am in mine challenge/swap and we needed to CASE a card from the new catalog. So being the fairly lazy person that I am I chose a card on the front cover, lol. Here is the card I chose to case....




I was also determined to use a brand new to this catalog set and new in colors. Sometimes having too many thing pre-picked out don't work as well as just going with flow, KWIM?



Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White and Bella Rose Designer Papers
ILnk: Chocolate Chip
Other: markers, gel pen, scallop circle punch. blender pen, clear glitter gel pen
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Here are a few more awesome cards for today's sketch challenge.

Pat at The Technique Trail

and

Diana at Di's Handmade Creations

I love this sketch I may have to try it again myself! Thanks for playing ladies.

The first players for sketch 31.

Here are some wonderful card using this weeks sketch challenge. You can find the original post HERE. Come on and play along.


These are ALL great cards, thanks ladies.
Blogger is goofing up again! I can't get this to space the way it looks in the preview! Sorry.


Sunday, August 17, 2008

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #31

So here we are again. Seems like I just posted last weeks challenge. I am so sad about how fast this summer is going. I wish the kids were off just a little longer there is not enough time to do all the things we want to do during this short vacation. I do have more time to stamp during the school year though! Anyway here is this weeks sketch....




I hope you will play along. I actually did mine as a double challenge. I had a mystery image challenge to get done too so I used it for this sketch challenge. The mystery image challenges are so fun, ya never know what you will get. This time was this fun little monkey from Stampendous! I hope my partner likes it.





Believe it or not I am still trying to use up those designer paper scraps! It don't even look like I put a dent in them. I am thinking about packaging some up for give a way at my SU events. I just can't get through it and I will have so much more soon, lol.

Stamps: Changito from Stampendous
Paper: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard and scraps of dp.
Ink: Our hostess stamped the monkey in Memento Tuxedo Black (I had a hard time with it running!)
Other: markers, buttons, 3/4 inch circle punch, Nestabilities, large scallop punch, clear glitter gel pen, Cuttlebug, turquoise ribbon

If you decide to play along please leave me a comment - I would hate to miss what you create. If you post on any boards please use the key words TSSC31. Most importantly -- have fun!

Last few for Luchtimetime Sketch Challenge #30

I will be picking a winner for the year of Paper Crafts tomorrow. So check back to see if it was you!

Here are the last few submissions for sketch 30!


Kim at Kim's Basement Stamping

and

Jessica at Paper Therapy

I really feel like I missed someone -- I hope not but if it was you please let me know. Don't know why I feel like there should have been three in this post?????

See ya in a bit with the new sketch challenge.





Saturday, August 16, 2008

One more day to win a year of Paper Crafts - few more players too.

All you have to do to win a full year of Paper Crafts magazine is make a card using this week's sketch ( HERE ) and leave me a comment with a link. I will have my club group choose a favorite and send you a complimentary one year subscription to Paper Crafts! You have until Sunday night 9pm EST) to make your card. Good luck and Have fun! Here are the latest participants......


and


Stacy at Stacy's Stamp-n-Scrap Loft


Beautiful! Now where is YOURS??

Basket Tutorial - So Easy Peasy!



Sorry this is a little later than I planned. It really is a easy basket to make. You need to start with to pieces of 12 x 12 paper, double sided preferably. I am going to use the new Bella Rose paper for the example in the tutorial. The first thing you need to do is score it on all four sides at 3 1/2. I used the scor pal for mine.





Next you will need to cut off the fours corners.




This is what your paper will look like when you you are done.




So far so good? Next you will need to make a mark 1/2 inch in from each of the 8 corners. See picture below.


You will then score from that mark to the corner below it. See picture below.




After you have all eight corners scored at the angle you will fold the score marks. It should look like this when you are done with this part.



These angled tabs will be used to glue the basket sides together. I used Scotch Quick Dry glue. See below.




After attaching all four sides you will then need to cut four circles from you other sheet of dp. I used the large Nestabilites Die to make mine. It measures 3 1/2 inches across. You can use any circle cutter and it can be any size between this and four inches across. I like it a little smaller than the side of the basket but that is an opinion thing.



You will need to fold the four circles in half. Be sure that the opposite side is showing than on the outside of your basket so that all the inside pieces will blend and the outside will show the opposite side of the paper on the circles. See picture below.




Next you will attach half of the circle to the inside of the basket. Don't attach the outside flap yet you will be doing that later.





We are so close at this point. I added a piece of ribbon around the basket at this point just at the bottom of the flap, you will see it in a later picture. Now you need to cut a strip of dp 1 1/2 inches by 12. This will be the handle to your basket. Lay the strip with the side you want showing facing up and put adhesive on the ends. See picture below.



You will be attaching this to the inside of the basket on two of the sides. After you attach it inside your basket you will want to lay your basket on it side to poke a hole in the handle for a brad. Be sure that you have the outside flap of the circle exactly as shown in the pictures below. You do not want to poke the hole through that layer. You will be using that to cover the folder over part of the brad. See picture below.








You will be putting the brad through the hole with the top of the brad on the inside of the basket and the prongs on the outside.




This is what it will look like. Don't worry about the prongs because they will now be covered with the outside part of the flap. Notice the ribbon in the picture now.



Attach you outer flaps down with Snail.




And now your basket is done. This is what it will look like empty.



I would love to see what you put in your basket. I hope this makes sense. If you have any questions at all feel free to ask and I will be happy to help.