Gettin' Dirty!

Hi, everyone! Happy Monday! Over the weekend I participated in a few Dare to Get Dirty challenges at Splitcoaststampers. Each year the Fan Club members get a chance to take part in special challenges hosted by the Dirty Dozen, past and present. If you are a Fan Club member you can find all of the challenges HERE through July 23. If you're not a Fan Club member, now is a good time to become one! :)

My first card combines challenges from BevMom and rsalamon. It's a clean and simple card with paper pieced birds. I used the Pretty Birds set by CHF, and the paper is Euphoria by BasicGrey. The sentiment is from Clearly Sentimental about Mothers.

I had lots of fun with my second card. I combined challenges from StamperSharon and AmberDawn. I used a lot of layers and texture. Paper is Fly a Kite by October Afternoon. The sentiment frame was done using the Framed Greetings Die and Stamp Set, and I hand-cut the mat from a Cork Sheet. The sentiment itself is from Clearly Sentimental about Emerson. I added some Crochet Ribbon, distressing, and machine stitching, plus a Jumbo Scallop border cut from Veggie Garden Felt.

I hope I can take part in one or two challenges each day -- they are so much fun!

I'll be back tomorrow night with this month's MFT VIP Blog Hop! Please stop back to hop along with us! :)

Have a great day -- thanks so much for visiting!
Christina

Not-So-Simple Sympathy Card

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! Ours was very good. Of course, we watched plenty of NCAA basketball (heartbreaking losses for both XU and UK!). Megan was in a school performance of Godspell yesterday, and it was a great way to prepare for Easter!

Anyway, on to my card! I needed to make a sympathy card, and I had wanted to keep it Clean and Simple. Well, it took on a life of its own, and it wasn't so simple in the end. I ended up with layers, sewing, sponging, and embellishments -- I just couldn't help myself!

I was totally inspired by this beautiful BasicGrey Kioshi paper (FYI: It coordinates beautifully with Stampin' Up! Soft Subtles inks!). I'm happy with how well everything coordinates -- it was just one of those happy stamping moments! :)

I'm finishing up samples this week -- Previews begin Saturday! Both All That Scraps and My Favorite Things are releasing sets on Wednesday, April 7! I'm a little biased, but I think these sets are some of the cutest yet!! Kim has already posted the first Freeze Frames over on the MFT Blog so be sure to check 'em out! :)

That's all for today! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a great day!
Christina

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I (Cornish Heritage Farms) Ink: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip (SU!) Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White (SU!), Hot Fudge (MFT) Paper: Kioshi 6x6 pad (BasicGrey) Other: Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), corner rounder, border punch, sponge, dimensionals (SU!), ribbon, braddies (MFT), sewing machine Card Size: 5.50" x 4.25"

Happy Friday!

It's Friday -- TGIF!! I have two cards to share with you today. The first is for the Ways to Use It Challenge to use white cardstock only. I used lots of layers and sponging, and I really like the way it turned out! I needed a wedding card, so this was the perfect reason to make it! I used Silhouette Blooms I and Spanish Script Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms. The ink is Baja Breeze and Basic Black.

I went with a cleaner, simpler design for this next card. The ATS Design Team is reviewing two new sets: Gingersnaps Celebrate! and Birthday Sentiments. I used BasicGrey Cupcake paper and colored with Copics. Stop by the ATS Blog today to see more samples with these fun sets!

That's it for today! We have a busy weekend ahead, and we're expecting very warm weather, so I may or may not get some stamping done -- wish me luck! ;)

Have a great day everyone -- thanks for stopping by!

Christina

Let's Party!

Happy Monday, everyone! Sorry about the late post -- I've been cleaning the house all day so we can have Anna's birthday celebration! We weren't able to do it last night, although she did enjoy a great day -- breakfast with her Daddy (Chris takes all the kids out for a birthday breakfast), and some shopping with Mom! We'll have her grandparents and godparents over tonight for a little cake and ice cream! I think all birthday celebrations should last more than one day, don't you? ;)

Anyway, since I had birthdays on the brain, I made this card for today's challenge at Cornish Heritage Farms -- using Sakura pens. I used a Stardust pen to accent the spots and pom pom on the hat of Owen the Owl. I colored with Copics and did some faux stitching around the image panel. The sentiment is from Birthday Bash. Both stamps are from the Kim Hughes Collection at CHF.


This card is a little brighter and busier than what I usually do, but I think it's fun! :)

Well, I'm off to finish cleaning! Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a fantastic day! :)

Stamps: Owen the Owl, Birthday Bash (CHF) Ink: Rich Cocoa Momento (Tsukineko) Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Offbeat 6x6 pad (BasicGrey) Other: Copic markers; Stardust pen (Sakura); Cuttlebug, Spots & Dots embossing folder (Provo Craft); flowers (Prima); silver circle brad (Making Memories); Baja Breeze striped grosgrain, Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain, Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain, paper piercing template, mat pack, Close to Cocoa marker, Stampin' Dimensionals (SU!), stapler

Turkey Talk!

Happy Friday, everyone! I realized the other day that I haven't played with my stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms in a while, so I decided to have some fun and ink up Cartoon Turkey, from the Kim Hughes Collection. Isn't he great? I also had some fun with the embellishments, and I'm really happy with the way it all came together!

The chipboard is from my pack of Jigsaw Flourishes by Making Memories. I covered it with Chocolate Chip craft ink. The flower is from Prima -- I "dirtied" it a little by sponging it with Chocolate Chip classic ink. The button is from my button jar -- I think it came off a coat a long time ago! :)

Two weeks until Thanksgiving -- it's hard to believe! This little turkey has definitely put me in the mood! I think I'll be doing a few more Thanksgiving cards and projects in the coming days!

Thank you for visiting today -- I hope you have a great day and a fantastic weekend! :)

Stamps: Cartoon Turkey, Gobble til You Wobble (CHF) Ink: Dew Drops Momento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), Chocolate Chip Craft, Chocolate Chip Classic (SU!) Cardstock: Ruby Red, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Hansel (Cosmo Cricket) Other: Ciao markers (Copic); flower (Prima), Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain, natural hemp twine, photo corners punch, stampin' dimensionals (SU!); Jigsaw Flourish chipboard (Making Memories); button; sewing machine

Color Challenge: Ruby Cocoa Blush

Happy Tuesday! I hope you're having a good day! Kyle started back to school today -- one down, three to go! ;) Megan and Anna go back tomorrow, and Caroline doesn't start preschool until September 3. I'm seeing some more stamping time in my future! This card was made for today's SCS Color Challenge -- Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, and Blush Blossom. Until recently, I hardly EVER used Blush Blossom, but I'm really starting to love it! This color combination definitely pushed me over the fence -- it's just a warm, comfy combo!

The background is embossed with the Cuttlebug and Leafy Branch A2 folder. All the stamped images are from Cornish Heritage Farms. I sponged all the edges with Close to Cocoa ink, and I pierced around the image panel. The chipboard flourish is from Jigsaw Flourishes by Making Memories -- I think it's my new favorite product! I picked up three packs of them while I was at Archiver's in Columbus last weekend! Fair warning: you might see these on everything for a while! I covered this one with Ruby Red craft ink and attached it with glue dots.

I'll be back tomorrow with the ATS Wednesday Challenge -- it's a sketch challenge! I hope you'll stop by! Thanks so much for the visit today -- I really do appreciate it! :)

Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, Movivational Centers (CHF) Ink: Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, Blush Blossom (SU!) Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Whisper White (SU!) Other: Cuttlebug, Leafy Branch folder (Provo Craft); Jigsaw Flourishes (Making Memories); Earth Elements brads, paper piercing tool, mat pack, stamping sponge (SU!); white organdy ribbon; dimensionals

It's My BLOGAVERSARY!

Good morning! Happy Thursday to you! Today is my First Blogaversary! I can't believe how fast this year has flown, and I can't believe how much has happened. I remember a year ago I was tossing around the idea of starting a blog, but I just wasn't sure I had enough "stuff" to make it interesting. I had seen so many of my stamping "heros" (whose blogs I still stalk) who had amazing creations to share every day -- could I do that? And would anyone even read it?

It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. So much has happened since then. I have pushed myself to be better and to try new things. I'm on a fantastic Design Team. I've been asked to be a Guest Designer. I've been published. I NEVER saw it all happening a year ago. And truly, the best part of my decision to blog is that now I have all of you new "friends" to share the ride with me!!!! ((((friends)))))

So, to celebrate with you, my friends, and to thank you for visiting me, I have a Blogaversary Giveaway! Last weekend, while cleaning my stamp area, I came across lots of extra goodies! Here's what you can win:

Two retired SU! hostess sets, So Lovely and Reason to Smile

SU! Prints 6 x 6 pack

Gelly Roll Glaze Clear Pen

SU! Flower Fusion felt flowers

Black and White Magic Mesh

SU! Square Vellum Metal Edge Tags

Lots of fun ribbons!!

All you have to do is comment on THIS post -- ask a question, leave a comment, or just say hi! I'll choose a random winner on Monday morning, July 28. Good luck! :)

Before I go, I want to share another card I made for the Dare to Get Dirty '08 Challenges. This was for JulieHRR's challenge to make a Clean and Simple (CAS) card with lots of white space! NOT an easy challenge for me! I used the set Nature Silhouettes by Cornish Heritage Farms. I scored two lines with my Scor-pal, and I added some brads. This was one of the quickest cards I've made in ages! Maybe I could get used to this style after all... ;)

Have a great day, everyone! THANK YOU so much for making my first year of blogging a great one! HUGS!!!

Edited 7/28: I've chosen the winner -- see today's post for more! :)

Beautiful Hummingbird

I recently purchased my first stamps from Artful Inkables. Isn't this Hummingbird Set beautiful? I stamped it in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and heat embossed it with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. I love the look of that ink and EP together -- it gives a shimmery, coppery look to the image. I stamped directly onto the BasicGrey Perhaps paper. The sentiment is from the set Motivational Centers, from Mona Lisa Moments by Cornish Heritage Farms. I stamped it in Chocolate Chip ink. I rounded one set of opposing corners on the sentiment panel and mat, and I mounted it on Pop Dots. I machine stitched around the edges, then I added some ribbon and Dew Drops to finish the card.

Tomorrow is ATS Challenge Day -- I hope you'll stop back! Thanks so much for the visit -- have a great day! :)

Stamps: Hummingbird Set (Artful Inkables), Motivational Centers (CHF) Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft, Chocolate Chip Classic (SU!) Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Perhaps 6x6 pad (BasicGrey) Other: Iridescent Ice EP, heat tool, 3/16" corner rounder (SU!); Peony Dew Drops (Robin's Nest); brown scalloped satin ribbon, pop dots, sewing machine and brown thread

Why Not?

Today is my wedding anniversary. Chris and I have been married 18 years. It's hard to believe. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, and sometimes it feels like a lifetime has passed. I made this card to give to Chris. The photo is of us on our wedding day. Geez, we were young! ;)

The background is the Scalloped Tile Backgrounder and the sentiment is from Motivational Centers. Both are from Cornish Heritage Farms. Cardstock and brads are from SU!. The gorgeous 1" black organdy ribbon is from Flourishes.

You might think this is an odd sentiment for an anniversary card, but really it describes our marriage perfectly. Over the years, there have been a lot of "Why Nots" in response to our own questions: Is it time to start a family? Should we have child #2? Should I get my Masters Degree? Should Chris start his own business? Should we move to a new home? Should we have child #3? Should we try again after our miscarriage? Should we have child #4? Should I pursue my love of paper crafting? Should I apply for that Design Team? Each time we asked those questions (and many others), the only answer was "Why not?" -- all we needed to do was follow our hearts and put everything in God's hands. It has worked pretty well so far, and it has made for a very interesting life. :)

If you're still reading, thank you. :)

I'll have more for you this week as my countdown to vacation begins! Thank you so much for visiting today -- have a fantastic Monday! :)

Father's Day Projects

Happy Saturday! I have a couple of Father's Day projects to share with you. The first is a frame for my husband. I can't remember where I picked up this frame, but I think it was Michaels. It's the kind where the photo "floats" between two panes of glass. This is one of my favorite photos of my kids, taken in November on Anna's 6th birthday. All the embellishing on the frame is done on the top (front) glass.

On the left side of the glass, I partially stamped two backgrounders from Cornish Heritage Farms. I stamped Large Polka Dots in White Stazon, and I stamped Lined Paper in Timber Brown Stazon. I added a cluster of buttons in the corner. I tied some natural hemp twine through the clear button for some added texture. The buttons are attached with glue dots.

On the right side of the glass, I added some SU! chipboard accents. I covered the bracket with BasicGrey Stella Ruby paper, then I sanded the edges. On the letters, I covered them in SU! Chocolate Chip Craft ink, then I added a little White Craft ink to the edges. The chipboard is also attached with glue dots.

I actually CASEd myself on this card. I had made a similar one a few months ago, when this C.C. Designs set Handyman Jack was first released at All That Scraps. I made this one a pocket card with lots of "hardware" (SU! Vintage Brads and Jumbo Eyelets). I used the SU! Weathered background stamp to create the wood look, and I sponged all the edges. I stamped the nail image repeatedly on the BasicGrey paper to create my own "patterned paper." The images were colored with Copics.

You can see here how it pulls out to reveal a gift card. You could also just write a message there!

I'll have one more Father's Day card to show you tomorrow - it's my Dad's card. I hope you'll stop back! This morning we're going to an early Father's Day breakfast at my parents' house. My brother, SIL, and nephew are in town (they live in Charlotte, NC). I can't wait to see them! I hope you have something fun planned for today -- have a great one! :)

Teacher Gift Sets

Hello! I have Caroline's teacher gifts finished! I was up waaaay too late last night, but I just couldn't stop until they were completed!!

You may not know this about me, but I am a teacher by profession. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education, and I have a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. I haven't had my own classroom in 16 years, and my profession is now SAHM, but I still love "teachery" things! That's why I have so much fun making gifts for my kids' teachers -- I know how hard they work, and I want them to know they're appreciated! When I saw Kim Hughes' set Making The Grade at Cornish Heritage Farms, I HAD to have it!! All the images used on these gift sets are from that stamp set. And, how perfect is this Summer Picnic paper?!?

The inspiration for the projects came from two places. For the note cards, I cased Valerie Stangle's (11Valerie11) set HERE. I just love her style -- so clean and fun -- and I fell in love with the set she made! I changed it up a little bit by using different images and papers -- but the layout is basically the same. I packaged the notes in a clear box from Papertrey Ink. I've seen the little clipboards around quite a bit, but most recently by Jen Javorsky. I added some little tags and a stamped apple. And yes, I did stamp each one of the sheets with that apple -- I'm insane.

There are so many fantastic teacher projects out there right now -- you don't have to look far for inspiration! I'm off to Caroline's end-of-year picnic this morning -- it's hard to believe her first year of preschool is over! Thanks so much for stopping by today -- have a great day! :)

Stamps: Making the Grade, Lined Paper Backgrounder (CHF) Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive Cardstock: Bashful blue, Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Summer Picnic (SU!) Other: 4x4 inch chipboard coasters (purchased at All That Scraps), binder clips (Staples), clear box (Papertrey Ink), sticky notes, silver cord, gingham ribbon & striped grosgrain ribbon (SU!), black brads & Real Red brads (SU!), dimensionals

A Color Challenge with Kissed Flowers

How could I resist today's Color Challenge -- Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, and Chocolate Chip?!? I *love* those colors to begin with, but what's better is that they are the colors in the Sultry paper pad!!! Someone is going to have to forcibly remove that pad from my hands -- I think I could use it every day! :)

The images are from Silhouette Blooms I from The Kim Hughes Collection by Cornish Heritage Farms. I had some more fun with CHF backgrounders, too -- Spanish Script and Cheesecloth. I stamped Spanish Script lightly in Certainly Celery on the background of the image panel. Then I stamped one of the flower images a few times in Pretty in Pink. Today's backgrounder challenge is to use the kissing technique with your backgrounders, so I inked Cheesecloth with Chocolate Chip, pressed (or kissed) the flower image onto it, then rock-n-rolled the edges before stamping. I sponged the edges of the image and sentiment panels, and I embellished with brads and ribbon.

It's a pretty simple design, but I had fun using the backgrounder to give the flowers a different look! Try it with those background and solid image stamps that you have! If you don't have background stamps, kiss your solid image stamp against another stamp or a wheel! I'd love to see what you come up with! :)

It's another gorgeous spring day here today -- I hope you're having beautiful weather as well! Thanks for making me a part of your day -- I really appreciate it! :)

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I, Cheesecloth Backgrounder, Spanish Script Backgrounder (CHF) Ink: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink (SU!) Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Sultry 6x6 pad (BasicGrey) Other: Chocolate Chip 7/8" grosgrain, oval punches, Soft Subtles brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, stamping sponge (SU!); Pink dotted organdy ribbon (May Arts)

A Technique Challenge and More Backgrounder Fun!

Hey, everyone! Happy Monday! It's a gorgeous day here today -- the temperature will be about 75 degrees this afternoon! Spring is finally here! I know some of my friends out there are under SNOW today (right, Dawn?), so I'll send warm wishes your way! :)

Today's Technique Challenge at SCS is to make a Gift Card Holder. I'd seen this type of gc holder on several blogs, but I hadn't made one myself until today! Check out the challenge thread for directions! I combined this challenge with another of the Backgrounder Blitz challenges at Cornish Heritage Farms. I have been having so much fun with these challenges -- they have opened my eyes to all the ways you can use background stamps! Today's challenge is to stamp on anything but paper. I chose to stamp on acetate and a Prima flower. I covered the front of the gc holder in Sultry paper. I took a piece of acetate (recycled from an unmounted stamp set) and applied white Stazon directly to it with the pad. Then I heat set it. Over the white I stamped the Lined Paper Backgrounder and a flower image from Nature Silhouettes in Timber Brown Stazon. I also used the brown Stazon to stamp the Spanish Script Backgrounder onto the Prima flower. I used glue dots to attach the acetate to the card front. I slipped some Regal Rose grosgrain under the acetate, wrapped it around the back, and tied it on the side. The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip, and I sponged the circle with Regal Rose. The sentiment and flower are mounted on dimensionals.

Here is the inside of the gift card holder. The opening for the gift card was made with a Word Window punch and a 1 3/8" circle punch. I used other images from Nature Silhouettes to stamp the inside. I rock-n-rolled the image on the back panel. There is plenty of room above the image for writing a message to the recipient.

I hope this gives you some good ideas -- thanks for stopping to visit! Have a wonderful day -- see you all next time! :)

Stamps: Spanish Script Backgrounder, Lined Paper Backgrounder, Nature Silhouettes (CHF) Ink: Stazon White Opaque, Stazon Timber Brown; Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, White Craft (SU!) Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Sultry (BasicGrey) Other: acetate, flower (Prima), Regal Rose 7/8" grosgrain, Vintage Brad, Word Window Punch, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, stamping sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots (SU!)

Backgrounder Blitz

Hi, everyone! I hope your weekend is off to a good start! Here's a card I made today with images from Cornish Heritage Farms. Right now they're having a Backgrounder Blitz, and there are challenges each day to use their backgrounders! Today's challenge is a sketch challenge -- check out the details HERE. I had so much fun making this card, because I got to use my new Sultry paper from BasicGrey. It's gorgeous and had such a garden feel -- I *love* it!

To make the card, I began by stamping the Spanish Backgrounder at an angle in Pixie Pink ink over the patterned paper. The flourish and sentiment are from Beautiful, part of The Rummage Bin line. I covered the chipboard bird with another pattern from Sultry, and I added a rhinestone eye. I sponged the edges with Pixie Pink and Old Olive ink, and I embellished with a Prima flower.

I'm really happy with how it turned out -- it has such a springy look! I hope to have something else to share with you tomorrow! Thanks for visiting today -- have a great day! :)

Stamps: Spanish Backgrounder, Beautiful (CHF) Ink: Pixie Pink, Old Olive (SU!) Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pixie Pink (SU!) Paper: Sultry (BasicGrey) Other: Undressed Holiday Chipboard (BasicGrey), flower (Prima) rhinestone, stamping sponge, glue dots, dimensionals

Something Special

I'm posting late today -- I've been at a volleyball tournament for the last two days, and we just got home!

This week I received my order from Cornish Heritage Farms. I couldn't wait to ink up this set, Nature Silhouettes. It's part of The Kim Hughes Collection. I just love all the silhouette stamps in her line (heck, I love all the stamps in her line!). Anyway, I built the card around some things I had lying on my table, namely the chipboard circle from On Board Lots of Letters and this BasicGrey Romani paper. I used Certainly Celery and Yo Yo Yellow classic inks and applied them directly to the chipboard, and it gave me just the right shade of green to match the paper. I punched out a vanilla circle with a Mega Circle Punch (it's the perfect size to fit behind the chipboard), then I stamped the images on it. The flower image was inked with SU! markers, and I stamped three times without reinking. The sentiment and dragonfly were stamped in Basic Gray ink. For the background, I used the Spanish Script and Cheesecloth Backgrounders stamped lightly in Almost Amethyst ink. I machine stitched and distressed the edges of the floral paper. The half pearls are from the SU! Pretties Kit. I was going to place them in the corner in a typical line, but I decided instead to follow the curve of the chipboard. I like it much better! I finished the card with Prima flowers and dotted May Arts ribbon.

I can't wait to use this set some more -- the images are so beautiful and summery! I have even more new stamps on my table awaiting some ink -- hopefully I'll have some time this week to break them in! Tomorrow I have a Mother's Day card to show you, and on Tuesday I have some exciting news to share! I hope you'll stop back! Thanks so much for visiting -- I appreciate it so much! :)

Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, Spanish Script Backgrounder, Cheesecloth Backgrounder (CHF) Ink: Almost Amethyst, Basic Gray, Certainly Celery, Yo Yo Yellow (SU!) Markers: Certainly Celery, Yo Yo Yellow, Almost Amethyst (SU!) Cardstock: Very Vanilla (SU!) Paper: Romani (BasicGrey) Other: On Board Lots of Letters chipboard, Cutter Kit, Pretties Kit, Glue Dots (SU!); dotted organdy ribbon (May Arts); flowers (Prima Marketing), sewing machine

Pretty Birds

Hello, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and a Happy Easter! We had a busy but fun weekend. Saturday night Chris and I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band -- SO awesome!! By the time we got home and got the Easter baskets together, it was reeeeeally late! I'm still not caught up on my sleep! I'm getting old -- didn't I used to run on empty during my college days...? Speaking of college, my Xavier Musketeers are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament!! Go Muskies! :)

Okay, enough rambling -- on to my card! This one kinda reminds me of those spring robins I see everywhere outside now. I used Pretty Birds from The Kim Hughes Collection by Cornish Heritage Farms. The background is Pretty Petals stamped in River Rock ink on River Rock cardstock. The paper is from K&Co. I stamped the birds, cut them out, and adhered them to the top panel. I added distressing and machine stitching to both patterned paper panels. I embellished with a Jumbo Blossom, a button from my stash, and dotted organdy ribbon. Pretty simple, but I'm happy with it! :)


Thanks so much for visiting today -- I hope you'll stop back! I'll have more to share with you then! Have a great night!


Stamps: Pretty Birds (CHF), Pretty Petals (SU!) Ink: River Rock, Chocolate Chip (SU!) Cardstock: River Rock (SU!) Paper: Classic K McKenna (K&Co.) Other: Cutter Kit (SU!), Jumbo Blossom (Making Memories), dotted organdy ribbon (May Arts), button, glue dots, sewing machine & brown thread

Color Challenge: Basic Pomegranate

Today's Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers is Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Purely Pomegranate. Since those colors are so deep and strong, I wanted to keep the background simple and white. Actually, this card is VERY simple -- just a little bit of stamping and a ribbon embellishment, plus a little sponging and distressing thrown in! All images are from Cornish Heritage Farms. I partially stamped the Cheesecloth Backgrounder in Basic Gray ink. Then I took one of the images from Silhouette Blooms I, inked it in Purely Pomegranate, then rock-n-rolled it in Basic Gray. I stamped three times without reinking, then repeated the process. It gave me little "bundle" of blooms to tie the ribbon around. I distressed the edges with my SU! Cutter Kit, and I sponged with Purely Pomegranate. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black ink. I tied May Arts dotted ribbon and SU! Basic Gray taffeta ribbon around the bottom.

Unfortunately, I've needed way too many sympathy cards lately, and this is the first of a few I need to make this week. I can easily change the colors and sentiment for any occasion, though, so I think I'll be using this layout again! I'm glad you stopped by today -- I hope you have a great day! :)

Until tomorrow,

A Trio in Pink

Hello! I can't believe today is Thursday already -- the weeks just seem to fly by! I want to take a few minutes to share these cards with you. I made them as part of a Pink Ribbon Basket that my friend Traci and I are donating to our school's big fundraiser. One of our teachers is battling breast cancer, so we thought it would be an appropriate basket to donate. There are twelve cards total in the set -- four of each design. I wanted to keep with the "pink ribbon" theme but also make them appropriate for any occasion, so I didn't use a stamp set designed strictly for breast cancer. Instead, I used two sets by Cornish Heritage Farms: Silhouette Blooms I (from The Kim Hughes Collection) and Essential Expressions Classic (from Mona Lisa Moments). Each card has a different sentiment on it, stamped in Walnut Stain Distress Ink. The photos don't do them justice -- the light colors really got washed out when I photographed them! They're prettier IRL -- I promise! ;)

I used some of the same elements on all the cards in order to unify the set: Pretty in Pink cardstock, scalloped edges, pink dotted ribbon, and floral images. I pulled the colors from the BasicGrey Romani papers. Since it's an auction item, and I don't know who the recipient will be, I didn't want to over-embellish the cards, but I wanted to make them interesting. I added some piercing to the scallops and sponging to the white panels, and the focal panels are mounted on dimensionals. The set will be boxed in a clear box from Papertrey Ink, and it will go into the basket with all the other "pink" items! Actually, I'd better get started on that now -- we need to get the basket wrapped and ready for display! Thanks for stopping by today -- have a fantastic day! :)

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I, Essential Expressions Classic (Cornish Heritage Farms) Ink: Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal (SU!); Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger) Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Romani (BasicGrey) Other: Corner Rounder, 1/8" handheld circle punch, paper piercing tool & mat, Pretty in Pink marker, Gable Green marker, Stamping Sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals (SU!); Giga Scalloped Circle Punch, Mega Circle Punch, Giga Scalloped Oval Punch, Mega Oval Punch (Marvy Uchida); Cupcake Sugar Coated brads (Doodlebug Designs); pink dotted organdy ribbon (May Arts)

A Silhouette Hello

Hi, everyone! I hope your weekend has been great so far! We're enjoying a leisurely Sunday at home -- that doesn't happen for us very often! I got to spend a little time cutting up some new rubber from Cornish Heritage Farms. I really think there's something therapeutic about trimming a new set of stamps -- does anyone else feel that way?!? This set is Silhouette Blooms I, from The Kim Hughes Collection. As soon as I finished trimming it I wanted to ink it up right away. I picked up a scrap of paper (from the Kaleidoscope 12x12 pack by My Mind's Eye), and I built the card around it. I don't think this is my usual style or colors at all, but I do like it! I stamped the sentiment and one of the flower images on the paper in Basic Gray ink, stamping off a few times also, and I stamped the other image on the oval in Taken With Teal and Basic Gray. I sponged around the oval with Taken With Teal, and I pierced the scallops. The ribbon is Basic Grey taffeta and retired SU! velvet. The panels are mounted on dimensionals.

That's about it! I'm planning to play some more with this set and the others I received in my order from CHF, so I'll have more to share this week! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I (CHF) Ink: Basic Gray, Taken With Teal (SU!) Cardstock: Basic Gray, Barely Banana, Whisper White (SU!) Paper: Kaleidoscope (My Mind's Eye) Other: Giga Scalloped Oval Punch, Mega Oval Punch (Marvy Uchida), velvet ribbon, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, paper piercing tool, handheld rectangle punch, dimensionals, sponge

Valentines for the Classroom

Whew! I finally finished the Valentines for school! Caroline needed treats for her preschool class, so this is what I made for her. I wanted to do something that was cute but easily mass-produced, and the images from Hugs and Kisses (from the Kim Hughes Collection by Cornish Heritage Farms)were just what I needed! The bags are small cellophane bags from SU!. Cardstock is Pixie Pink, Real Red, and Whisper White. Ink is Pixie Pink, Real Red, and White Craft. I used a corner rounder on the toppers. The dots on the scallops were done with a Marvy white gel pen.

I apologize for the terrible photos -- it's been dreary all day, and I think my camera needs new batteries!!! :(

A few weeks ago I saw this post on Cammie's Blog, and I knew I wanted to make this bottle. I just loved the look of all those m&m's inside! :) For this project I used stamps from Gina K. Designs. The solid heart is from the Stamps for a Cause set Love You to Pieces, and the sentiment on the lid is from Punchy Words. The large heart was a perfect stamp to use for today's Wednesday Tutorial on SCS -- Faux Shaving Cream. I used Pixie Pink and Real Red ink. Cardstock is Real Red and Whisper White. The paper band around the bottle is BasicGrey Romani.

This gift is going to Megan's teacher, who also is a family friend. She's a huge Starbuck's fan, so it's only appropriate that her Valentine treat should come in a Frappaccino bottle! ;)

Valentine projects are always fun to make, but I think I'm ready for some spring projects now! What do you think? Thanks for visiting today -- have a fantastic day!! :)