Winner day!

Hello!

I have the winners for my contest today! 

First off, each and every entry was amazing! Wish I could give you each a prize! However, my wallet can't afford it, so two lucky ladies will each win a prize.
Winners were decided by family members, as I didn't want there to be any favoritism towards anyone. ;)

In silver, we have...

Maureen!

Isn't this just the cutest? They loved the paper, and the stamping is just adorable! Also, the colors work so well together!

And for gold, we have...
Deanne!

Everyone loved the fun, bright colors, and the fantastic stamping! The bow was tied to perfection, and the placing of the flower is genius!

Congrats!

Maureen and Deanne, e-mail me you address's, and I'll send your prizes out asap!

A big thanks to everyone who played!

Best Wishes

Hi there!

 Would you believe it, but it's SNOWING outside AGAIN! And after those beautiful, warm days we just had! Please, NO snow on Easter! {yes, we've had snow on Easter before!}

Anyways, here my card, made for these challenges:
2S4Y (Lauren's sketch), Simon Says Stamp (pearls), The Cuttlebug Spot, Color Throwdown (yes, there is a splash of red in here, I hope that's okay), and YNS

I finally got an idea for using my beloved (but not very well used so far) Everafter collection, so I am a happy cardmaker. ;)
I cut out the blue paper, sewed it to the chipboard then cut the scalloped border {yes, by hand - I have yet to get that decorative edged scissors!}. Added some brown half pearls for a draped curtain look, while adding a few pearls to the vintage image. Then stamped the sentiment and tied an {unsatisfactory} bow.

You have to check out THIS shop. The cutest things EVER. Who doesn't like owls? ;)

There are still a couple days to PLAY in my challenge - don't be shy!

I hope you enjoyed: have a happy day and thanks for dropping by!

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Best Wishes card recipe

Cardstock: Halcraft

Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket "Everafter"

Stamp: Sugarloaf

Ink: Martha Stewart

Half pearls: unknown, Basic Grey

Image: Cosmo Cricket

Ribbon: Offray

Other: chipboard 

Tools: scissor, trimmer, adhesive, sewing machine

Birth-DAY

Hello!

Hope your Tuesday is going well so far! It's pretty rainy and cold out here in the middle of nowhere, but I can understand after those past few days of sunshine and blue skies! :)

For this card, I was inspired by this fabulous designer, Ashley Newell, and THIS is the card that inspired me. Not exactly sure how I can go from her clean, crisp card to this slightly messy one. ;)

Inspired by these challenges...2S4Y Bonus Sketch (a rather liberal take), Simon Says Stamp (green is in pp and the swirls - I also used a Basic Grey alphabet), Cuttlebug Challenge, and Hero Arts.

And guess what?

I finally used my Hero Arts flourish stamp! Yes!

I have set myself a challenge of using EACH and EVERY stamp of the three HA sets I own before I buy another set. The only serious obstacle between me and a new HA stamp set was this flourish stamp from "Tree, Birds and Messages", my very first HA stamp set. I am not good with flourishes, but in the middle of this card, I casually said to myself  "Hey, I could use that swirl stamp.....

....

....

HEY!"
 

Thanks for popping in and have a nice day FILLED with mojo! :)
 

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Birth-DAY card recipe

Cardstock: Cosmo Cricket

Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket "Girl Friday"

Other paper: recycled chipboard, art paper

Stamp: Hero Art "Tree, Birds and Messages"

Ink: Martha Stewart

Alphabet: Basic Grey

Half pearls: E.

Ribbon: Michaels

Tools: scissors, adhesive, trimmer

Thinking of You digi

Hello!

  Quickie post...;)

I fell in love with THIS paper as soon as I saw it (I'm a big fan of paper with script) and had to use it. So I just sewed it (inspired by Lucy Abrams) up to some recycled chipboard (thinner type), added the embellies, stamped the sentiment, and done! One thing about the sentiment - LOVE the font, but I was just having so many problems using the stamp because of the length. Now that I've finally used it, that's one more stamp to check off my list of using EACH and EVERY HA stamp I have. ;)

Made with the HA, JUG, and Limelight Papercrafts challenges in mind.

Also, just noticed I was in the top five over at 2S4Y - check it out HERE. Thanks, ladies! :)

Thanks for stopping in!

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Thinking of You script card recipe

Cardstock: Halcraft

Digi: Vinnie Pearce

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ink: Ink It Up!

Ribbon: Offray

Other: thread, chipboard, images from "DCWV", half pearls

Tools: adhesive, trimmer, scissors

Oh Snap!

Hello!

Sorry I haven't posted lately - I've been having some problems with my mojo...you'll get the full story on that later. ;)

So, when I first found out I was a digi designer for Vinnie Pearce, I went crazy trying to make something right away. Not a good idea. First off, I had never printed digital paper before, though I had admired some designs. Secondly, I didn't know how to get the design to print cleanly. And lastly, it's never a good idea to force yourself to make something.

And so, without further ado, my first design for Vinnie Pearce, from her brand new collection "Toy Box",...

I would love this so much more if I had printed the designs right! But I am feeling much better, and actually, enthusiastic, about the digital paper now that I know how to print it right. :)

That pretty much sums up my mojo lately - fuzzy. ;)

Thanks for stopping in!

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Oh Snap! card recipe

Cardstock: Bazzil

Patterned paper: unknown

Ribbon: unknown

Other: alphabet stickers by Crate, white pen by Sakura, heart by DCWV

Digi: Vinnie Pearce "Toybox"

Tools: adhesive, trimmer, scissors, ruler, printer

For Your Kindness

Hiya!

Here is the news - I am now a digi designer for Vinnie Pearce! If you haven't seen her gorgeous designs yet, check THIS link out. And to see the rest of the designers, go HERE. If you're from the Hero Arts flikr group, you may notice there are three of us (that I know of) on that list! Sue Mcrae, Lucy Abrams and ME! Go Hero Arts! ;)

I didn't have to wait till today to tell you this, but I just thought I'd keep you in suspense. ;)

My second card using her papers (the first one will be seen in a later post)...

And tips for printing digi paper:

I used the "best" quality printing option for my paper, obviously, but the real thing that helped was the paper. I was using just plain white paper first, and it was looking terrible. I didn't want to have to buy specialty paper at Staples, so I looked for a substitute...scrapbooking paper! I used DCWV "Friendly Forest" paper (I didn't use the particular design very often) - the paper is obviously good for ink, as seen from the designs, so I just flipped it over and oila! 

The last step is, going to your printing options, print on "specialty paper". I have an HP printer, and the only other options aside from the one mentioned were HP papers.

So, reviewing:

1. Print high quality

2. Use the backside of scrapbook paper 

(preferably with a design that has been cleanly printed, so you know that ink goes well on it)

3. Print using the option "specialty paper"

Ta-da! And now I have been won over to the digi side of the scrapbook world!...though of course you'll be seeing other projects without digi paper.

And designed with these challenges in mind; 2S4Y, CCC, Pink Elephant, Caardvarks, EBTKS and Paperplay.

Thanks for popping in, and if you haven't jumped into the digi world yet, I hope I've encouraged you to do so :)

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Your Kindness card recipe

Cardstock: Halcraft

Patterned paper: DCWV "Friendly Forest"

Ribbon: Unknown

Font: Kevin&Amanda

Digi: Vinnie Pearce (names will be up later, as I'm having problems accessing the site right now)

Other: DCWV "Adornments"

Tools: adhesive, trimmer, scissors, chipboard

Throwback THURSday!

Hello! 

Nothing new today - just playing along with my friends Pryn and Maureen. Pryn came up with this fun, crazy idea of posting old projects on Tuesdays. 

It's not Tuesday, but I'm doing this now so I don't forget, and because I don't have anything new to share with you. :)

This is the oldest pic I have right now (9 or 11 months), but I did delete other ones from over a year ago because they were so horrendous. ;)

This photo isn't actually half bad, though the card itself is a little on the crummy side. This is the yuckiest you'll get out of me, Pryn! ;)

You know that news I was hinting at? I'm gonna wait till Tuesday to tell you, because then I'll have some new photos to show you.
Aren't you just dying of suspense? ;)

Thinking of You

Heya!

I have this weeks SSC challenge, my take, and some news for you. Challenge first...

So this weeks challenge is a technique challenge - distressing. Yes, we are going a little easy on you, but only because we're going to have five challenges this month (a little irregular). ;)

And here is my take...

I never thought I'd use this trim from Cosmo Crickets "Everafter" collection, but turns out, it makes a nice little 'roof'. ;) I also added gems and a scrolled sentiment to the tag from K&Company's Classic tag book. Seriously, is this design beautiful or what? I wish I could say I stamped the tag, but sadly, no. Though it is from the K&Company tag book, I recognize it as a Jacqueline Savage Mcfee silhouette design - beautiful! And because of it's 'natural' beauty, I just enhanced it a little with the gems.

The news? I am a product tester for GCD Studios! Very excited, and I can't wait to work with their products! See THIS post.

I'll also have some more exciting news for you in a couple days - stick around to find out!

One last thing - the CONTEST! I would love you forever if you tried out! :)

Thanks for popping in!

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Simple Silhouette card recipe

Cardstocl: Michaels

Patterned paper: K&Company Classic Tag

Stamp: Hero Arts "Thinking of You messages"

Ink: Martha Stewart

Trim: Cosmo Cricket

Other: Swarovski gems
Tools: adhesive, trimmer

Have a wonderful day

Hello!

Just quickly sharing with you my take for my challenge, which you can view HERE (my fav crafty things are ribbon and stamps).

Also inspired by Caardvarks (I was inspired by the branch in the one cage), 2S4Y, Crafty Calender, Paper Play, and the Quixotic Challenge,

 

 

I am determined to use EVERY single HA stamp I have within the next month...or two. I only have two sets, but I'm more partial to one stamp than another, so I have set myself this challenge.

Anyways, thanks for stopping in, and have a wonderful day!

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Wonderful Day card recipe

Cardstock: Unknown, Bazzil
Patterned paper: Unknown
Stamp: Hero Arts "Tree, Birds and Messages", Sugarloaf Ink: Ink It Up!, Martha Stewart
Ribbon: Offray
Other: Souffle pen by Sakura, gems

CONTEST: Incorporate your favorite crafty something!

Hello!
 Finally contest time!

Would you know it, but I was going to do a Spring inspired contest, when I found out that is what Hero Arts is doing for this month. So I've changed it ...

March is National Craft Month, so I want to see projects that incorporate your favorite tool or embellishment. How easy is that?

Only one rule:

Create a card/layout/project using your favorite tool, embellishment, or anything that you love to use when you craft.

The prizes:

Gold (you can see I'm still thinking of the Olympics): K&Company Brenda Walton Mini Book Kit

Silver: A sheet each of 8x8 Making Memories "Just Chillin' Girl

This challenge is open to each and every person who happens to pop on by here. You can enter as many times as your heart desires, and can combine it with other challenges. I would appreciate it so much if you would blog about it and/or tell your friends.

The deadline is Sunday, March 28th at midnight (Eastern time), and the winner will be announced March 31st  - lots of time to play, which I hope you will. :)

Please leave a direct link to your entry - thanks and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I care

Hello there!

I have a card for you today, AND a video tutorial! Okay, so the video may not be something to be excited about...;)
Anyways, here is my take for this weeks SSC sketch (which you can view HERE)...

This card took me about 15 minutes - cut bird out, stamp sentiment, tie bow, stick everything together. Of course that doesn't include thinking-up time, but even that didn't take very long. Everything went together like peanut butter and jelly. ;)

And now, for my first video tutorial; a lot of people have liked my bows, so I thought I'd share what I do with you. ;)


I hope this helps, and if you have any questions on any part of the tutorial, feel free to e-mail me (address on side of the blog) Also, I can't say I'm too crazy about my voice here - it is most definitely not what I really sound like.

Anyways, thanks for stopping in!

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I care card recipe

Cardstock: Michaels

Stamp: Hero Arts "Thinking of You Messages"

Ink: Martha Stewart

Ribbon: Offray

Other: K&Co "Classic" tag book

Tools: trimmer, scissors, adhesive, stamping block

FOREVER

Hello there!

Not quite contest time (look for it this Sunday) - just sharing a card I made a little whiles back for my parents for St. Valentines Day...

 {I don't know why this is coming out fuzzy, but if you want to see it larger, just click the image}

 the little love birds...

If you can't guess who this was inspired by, I'll tell you. I stole the idea from Lucy Abrams; specifically, from THIS card. Ain't it cute? I fell in love with it at first sight, and had to try to reproduce it. Unfortunately, with my wacky brain in a million different places, there is only a slight similarity.

So, since I don't have any kraft paper, I substituted a paper grocery bag. Yeah, talk about expensive! ;) I inked it a little bit with my Martha Stewart brown ink pad, sewed it on the DCWV paper, and added the stickers, which are by Grossman. I got these,...oh, around two or three years ago, and finally used them! The hearts were colored with my Glaze pen, which gives them a very glossy look. 

This card is for this weeks Practical Scrappers challenge - use inks or chalks. Pretty simple, right? So there's no excuse NOT to play! ;)

Thanks for popping in, and I hope your day is as sunshiny & gorgeous as ours is right now! :)

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FOREVER card recipe

Cardstock: Michaels

Patterned paper: DCWV

Stickers: Grossman

Pen: Sakura Glaze

Other: grocery bag, thread

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, sewing machine

Clare + lotsa-cool-gel-pens-in-fun-colors = ?

Hiya!

I haven't been around lately due to some unusually busy days, but now I am back with a... 

Pop quiz! What do you get when you add;

Clare + lotsa-cool-gel-pens-in-fun-colors = ?

I'll tell you..or rather, show you...

{here's a great big HELLO from me!}

Okay, so I LOVE rainbow cards - I mean, LOVE them. So I thought I'd try a rainbow card out with my Souffle pens, though I didn't have any decent gems. And...yeah. At first it was just lines, but some of the lines got blurred up, which really annoyed me. So then I just blobbed EVERYTHING up! While I love the colors of this, it's a mess. Which, strangely, is okay with me this time. ;)

This card is for the following challenges: Card Patterns, The Pink Elephant, Hero Arts (if anything says spring to me, it's all those colors popping out!) and Pile It On.

On a happier note, I'm going to be hosting a challenge in a couple days, so keep your eyes peeled!

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Rainbow Blob card recipe

Cardstock: Michaels

Stamp: Hero Arts 

Ink: Ink It Up!

Gems: unknown

Pens: Sakura Souffle

Tools: Ruler, trimmer