Thanks

...be to God! I came out of another Latin test alive! If I can get through this semester of Latin, I will have completed my language requirements - then no more stressing over Latin! Yes!

Anyways, on to the cards...
I wasn't sure how I was gonna use THIS new set from PTI, but it turned out pretty fun, using the PTI Make It Monday #153 challenge as inspiration. I also used a pearl, and some pearlescent glimmer mist for the watercolor, for the Simon Says Stamp challenge. Also, using the CAS(E) this Sketch #66 challenge...

So without further ado...

After I finished this card, I realized I had some pretty star sequins I wanted to try out, so I went ahead and and made another...

I wanted to make this background blue so, combined with the stars and sentiment, I would have a nice baby boy card. Then I realized the flower in the image would kinda screw that, so I went ahead with pink.

Those little stars are so darn cute - I can't wait to use them on another card. :)

Thanks for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Sweet Speech"
Ink: Versamark
Other: gems (Michaels, Prima), sequins (Michaels, unknown), glimmer mists (Tattered Angels), embossing powder (Martha Stewart)

Tools: heat gun, paintbrush, water

Take Flight

...another quick post today, for this month's Papertrey Ink bog hop!

I'll try to upload the challenge post later, but I'm on a school computer right now and am having difficulty uploading it to this post.
Anyways, the challenge is spring, and in the bottom left hand corner of the inspiration graphic, was a pretty butterfly invitation.
Here's my take...

I had so much fun inking up these butterflies from Happy Trails!

Anyways, I gotta run off to a class, so thanks for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Happy Trails"
Ink: Papertrey Ink, Tim Holtz, Stazon
Other: sequins (Michaels)

Tools: Cuttlebug, My Favorite Things Butterflies dies, spray bottle

Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Drafts challenge

...popping in real quick with a card for this weeks Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge! This week we were challenged with a sketch...

Not gonna lie, this one was a tough one for me - that is, until I pulled up some long neglected washi tape. ;)

Can we talk about how CUTE this Squeaky Clean stamp set is?! Because it's so freakin' adorable and fun.

Here's the links to the rest of the DT's blogs, so you can check out their awesome samples and be inspired to play along!

Erin

Isha

Karin

Savannah

I'll keep this post short and sweet as this week is midterm week (*scary music cue*) so I'm gonna have my hands full! I'll try to post sometime soon though, with winners from my 500th post celebration, and some other cool stuff! :)

Thanks for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: Strathamore

Stamps: Paper Smooches "Squeaky Clean"

Ink: Stazon

Other: washi tape (Target), enamel dots (My Minds Eye), vellum

This calls for

...cookies! It's finally the weekend!

However, if you're not into cookies, maybe you're into toast...

I finally made a darn slider card! Some days (okay, actually, most of the time) my mind blanks, and I was having the hardest time trying to visualize how the slider card worked. I'd seen tutorials before, but I just couldn't remember how, so I had to take a refresher course (through Google, obviously ;))

Some aluminum foil and gems for buttons make this little toaster from Paper Smooches Wake Up stamp set super cute - seriously, this set is gonna be perfect for making totally random cards to send to my siblings and friends.

This is for the Paper Smooches Fun & Cute challenge - fun in the interactivity, and cuteness, well, I think the stamps themselves covered that factor. ;)

Still celebrating that 500th post with randomly posted giveaways, so in honor of the stampieness going on in this card, comment to win two 4x6 stamp sets! One by Hero Arts, and one by Precious Remembrance - two totally cute companies. ;)

Thanks for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: LSS, Core-dinations
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Wake Up"
Ink: Stazon, Memento
Patterned paper: Studio Calico "Heyday"
Other: gems (Michaels), aluminum foil

Chalkboard birthday

...I just love how the banner turned out for this one. ;)

Quickly posting this card for Papertrey Ink's birthday card challenge...

I used almost entirely scraps for this project, not even trimming most of them.
Oh, here's that pretty banner...

A little bit of detail sewing...

And, me and the card! Aren't we just totes adorbs together? lol
Oh, and the little camera knit object was made by my sister - supposedly to get children to smile for the camera, but my nephew never bought it. ;)

Thanks for stopping in!

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Patterned paper and die cut: Crate Paper
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts "My Happy"
Ink: Versamark, Tim Holtz
Other: gems (Michaels), doily, embossing powder (Martha Stewart)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Circles dies, Papertrey Ink Simply Jane dies, heat gun

Navy+pink+gold

...I can't seem to get the combo out of my system, because I'm back with another mini project using that pretty color combo. ;)
This is for the Papertrey Ink 3x4 ATC challenge...

I'll be honest - I'll probably end up sticking this on a card later, if I don't slip it into a friends backpack first. ;)
Oh, and because I felt like it...

And here's another giveaway celebrating my 500th post, gold themed to go along with this project - six bottles of pretty Martha Stewart glitter, and, the new Maggie Holmes Styleboard 6x6 paper pack! Again, just comment for an entry, and if you'd like, tell me your favorite color combo!
I'll try to add this and the second giveaway to the main post later, so it's easier to find. ;)

Thanks for stopping in today!

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "The Sweet Life", Hero Arts "Picnic"
Ink: Versamark, Memento
Other: gold glitter cardstock (American Crafts), vellum, gems (Darice), embossing powder (Hampton Art)

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, PTI The Sweet Life dies

Golden flowers

...just quickly popping in with two versions of a pin for Papertrey Inks 7 supplies challenge.

Here's my pin...

I didn't realize that this was longer than an A2 card until after the fact of making the two cards - now I wish I had slimmed them down, but I'm too tired to bother now. Maybe another time. ;)

Here's take one...

I almost feel embarrassed to even post this, but really, the gold looks so pretty in real life.
For my supplies, I used:
1. Cardstock
2. Ink
3. Embossing powder
4. Heat gun
5. Stamps
6. Cuttlebug
7. Dies
I was scrambling to mask the flower, looking for Post-Its at first, but then realized that would be an extra supply too many, so I had to use cardstock. It took several runs to get a decent impression, and by the time I finished it and the sentiment, I didn't have any time (or additional supplies) to add anything else.

I wasn't happy with it, so I gave it another go, and this one looks truer to the original pin...

I used Wink of Stella on this flower - I know it's supposed to be sorta subtle, but is Wink of Stella really supposed to be that subtle, or did I just get a bad pen?

Just so yinz know, I have a Pinterest - it has been a major source of inspiration for me lately, and usually helps kickstart my mojo, making me create outside my box. THIS board is where I have most of the pins that really strike me in one way or another, and the pin that inspired this post just went to THIS board, where I'm going to try and link up all the projects I made inspired by the particular pins. I'm trying to get things a little more organized, but I just thought you might like to see where I get a lot of inspiration. ;)

Thanks for stopping in!

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Cardstock: Bazzill, Strathamore
Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Delightful Dahlias" and "Mini Blooms", Hero Arts "Rose Background" and "Made With Love"
Ink: Versamark
Other: embossing powder (Hampton Art), Wink of Stella, pearls (Prima)

Tools: heat gun

Special Day

...I had one today - my university finally closed for the day due to terrible weather!

This is for WPlus9's birthday challenge - comfort zone.
The thing is, I don't have a comfort zone, a set style.
I used to be a pretty much shabby chic kinda girl, then I got more simple, then graphic, and now I just kinda wander from one style to another. I do like detail though, and that's pretty much the only consistent thing you'll see in my cards. ;)

I have absolutely no idea how to make the cool "scattered thread" thing look so perfectly imperfect, but here's my go at it. ;)

To continue on with my little "500th post" celebration, today, I'll be giving away a goodie bag filled with embellishments! Just leave a comment, and maybe tell me what your favorite type of embellishment is, and you'll be entered!

Also, I just want to thank you again for all the kind comments - I really appreciate your encouraging and thoughtful responses to my feelings concerning "rejects".
I thought I'd share this little graphic while I'm on the topic...

...it's something I'm really trying to make second nature to me. Till then, the struggle is real. ;)

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Stamp: WPlus9 "Fresh Cut Florals"
Ink: Versamark
Die-cuts: Dear Lizzy "5th and Frolic"
Other: string, embossing powder (Martha Stewart), doily, enamel dots (My Minds Eye)

Tools: heat gun, Cuttlebug, MFT Framed Greetings die

Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge

...I've got a reject to show you today. ;)

This is for this weeks Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge - with a "challenge" like this, there's really no excuse not to play. ;)

It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to - at the end, I just basically stuck the gems on to get it over with. I've been feeling that with a lot of my cards lately - "eh, I don't know what to do now. Let's just stick some gems on it and call it a day."

So this card is a reject from the latest Papercrafts and Scrapbooking call.
I'll be honest - I don't usually like to talk about publications.
I know from personal experience that seeing other bloggers celebrate their good fortune on their many cards selected for publication can hurt sometimes.
While you really are happy for them, you just can't help but feel that because you didn't have any (or maybe only one) card chosen, that maybe, just maybe, that means you're less of a designer.
That maybe your cards aren't as cool.
Or as trendy.
And then some of the joy of making cards begins to fade a bit.

Since I know it hurts me sometimes (even when I try so hard not to let it affect me), I try not to blog about how many cards I got accepted, etc, even if once every blue moon, I get more than one or two cards picked up and I want to shout my excitement from the rooftops.
This is not me saying to you lucky gals (who I really am happy for!) that I think you need to hole up your excitement. Heck, all your excitement makes it even more exciting for newbies getting cards published, and makes me appreciate publications more too, so please don't stop! :)
But, I just wanted to let you know my thoughts, and to understand that while I really am happy for you (but seriously - I just can't emphasize that enough :), just trying not to talk about publications is how I deal with this type of thing.
Nothing personal. Just me.
And I can totally understand if you view it differently. I just wanted to let you know how I feel in case you ever feel a bit offended with how I react to it (and so far, no one's mentioned it, because yinz are all so wonderful and tolerant of my goofy self ;))

Anyways, I've been wanting to get this off my chest for awhile now - I can't tell you how many times I've written something similar only to cut it all out later, thinking nobody cares or wants to hear this opinion. I'm honestly tempted to just trash that big old chat out again, but I thought I'd be like that hippo with her big mouth and just say "hey!" ;)

So, back to the card, if you wanna check out the rest of the SPARKS design teams amazing cards (seriously, amazing), here are the links, all nice and ready for ya. :)

Erin

Isha

Karin

Savannah

Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: LSS

Patterned paper and chipboard sticker: Basic Grey "Hey You"

Stamps: Paper Smooches "Zoo Crew"

Ink: Tim Holtz

Other: gems (Darice)

The Big 500

...well, I didn't prepare very well for this post as I promised, but I'll try to do what I can, what with the thirty minutes I have before class. ;)

So, if the blog title didn't clue you in, I'm attempting to celebrate my 500th blog post.
I haven't really celebrated a blog posting milestone before (that I remember), mostly because I would keep passing some big mark without thinking anything about it.
I did want to celebrate this one though, because honestly, I don't know how much longer I'll be an active blogger (though I know some would disagree I'm an active blogger even now) and I think I should have a least one more little celebration before I faze out, and this seems like a good time to do it. ;)
I've got Austria next semester, and (hopefully) an internship the semesters after, so I think posting will be even more scattered than usual.

So I thought I should have a little celebration, because despite me not returning most of the thoughtful comments I get here (mostly out of forgetfulness), I really do appreciate each and every one. I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I appreciate people pinning my cards, because I like to think that I provided a little inspiration to someone. Maybe that's a bit narcissistic, but still, it does give me that nice warm feeling inside. ;)
So this my friends, is for you (...it was published in the Stamp It Techniques Vol. 2 magazine)

Of course, I stamped the inside sentiment - "okay, I can. And it would be super boring."
Totally true. ;)

Anyways, on for the celebration part - I don't want this to be some huge, over the top celebration giveaway, because since I think I'm a rather tucked away part of the papercrafting community, it only seems fit to have a rather small, tucked away giveaway.
I don't have things lined up yet, but I will be posting some favorite cards of mine in the next couple days, along with specific giveaways. For now, since I'm on a campus and haven't really figured out what start the celebration off with, let's just say, comment on this post for a chance to win a fun goody package, filled with lots of my favorite things. :)

For a goodie bag full of embellishments, comment HERE.
For some glitter and the new Maggie Holmes Styleboard 6x6 paper pad, comment HERE.
For two 4x6 clear stamp sets, comment HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!