YNS

Today starts a new challenge at Your Next Stamp.  

The challenge:   To use at least one texture on your project.

For my card I used the special edition stamp ScrapFest Shopper Fhiona and colored her with copics ~ love how cute she is and she was so much fun to color!  I paired her up with some of my new Lily Bee Picket Fence papers and I have to say a few of the newest copic colors match these papers beautifully.  

The easiest way to add texture is by embossing, so each of my patterned papers has been embossed (I used 2 different folders).  I also added some ribbon, flowers (which I colored with RV25), pearls and stickles to finish it off.

We'd love to have you join in our challenge.  The challenge runs for two weeks, so stop by the Your Next Stamp Challenge blog  for tons of inspiration from the Design Team and then again to link up your entry.   

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated 
Stamps: ScrapFest Shopper Fhiona (Your Next Stamp) 
Ink/Coloring:  Memento Ink (Tuxedo Black); Copics (E000, E00, E01, R00, R20, E55, E57, E59, BG53, V20, V25, YG21, YG23, 0)
Paper:  Perfect Plum; White (GK); DP - Lily Bee (Picket Fence) 
Embellishments:  Ribbon (Eggplant); Flowers (Prima); Pearls (Recollections); Stickles (Stardust)  
Tools: Petite Oval and Petite Oval Scalloped Nesties; Cuttlebug Embossing folders (Swiss Dots and Polka Dots); EK Success Border Punch; 3-D Dots (EK Success) 

Happy Birthday with Fhiona

This month I have been asked back as a Guest Designer for Your Next Stamp.  I am so happy to be working with this great company again~ thanks for inviting me back Karen!

Today I would like to share a card I made using Flower Bouquet Fhiona.  

I loved the sketch at Mojo Monday this week, so I followed that and paired up Fhiona with some papers from the DCWV Citrus Stack (which, sad to say, I've had for quite some time and have just removed the stickers holding it closed...at least I know I'm in good company).  Since I seem to always be in need of Birthday Cards, I decided to go that route with this card.

I'll be back next week with another Your Next Stamp creation for the new challenge, but in the mean time, you can still get in on the current challenge.   

We have yet another busy week ahead for us....the DI State Tournament is next weekend, so in addition 4 more practices, we also have a 1st grade concert to attend, Family Night at the Book Fair a Middle School introductory event and then packing up the vehicles to take all the backgrounds/props/costumes to State...not one free night, but it's worth it!   

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday - Sketch
Birthday Sundae's - Anything Goes Birthday
Catered Crop - I used the following from the recipe:  Striped patterned paper, the colors red and yellow, stamping ink, bling (rhinestones and stickles), ribbon, scallops and circles 
Really Reasonable Ribbon - RRR21 Dies/Punches & Ribbon
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes
CCEE Stampers -  No buttons, bows, brads or buckles
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
CES Challenge - Children
ABC - R is for Ribbon
Papertake - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday

I really liked this weeks sketch at PaperWorks Co, so for my card today I decided to use that as my starting point.  

This week I chose to showcase one of the first stamps Rachelle Ann Miller designed for Paperworks Co, Birthday Parade.  You can't go wrong with this one as it is great for either a boy or a girl!  

I thought I would do something different and instead of going with the bright colors I had planned, I decided to go with a more monochromatic theme, using blue and white.  The image is colored with copics.  I added stickles to the star on the balloon and on the flower, but decided I wanted some more sparkle.  I took my spica clear pen and colored various parts of the image and didn't stop there, I colored each flower, the ribbon, the blue scalloped piece and the centers of all the dots on the DP and also outlined the image panel.  Unfortunately I can't quite pick up the shimmer on my camera, but I promise you, it is there!  Now for those rounded corners....my corner punch seems to be punching a bit strange, they look a little off.....maybe because I am using the same punch on both layers?

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
AI Factory ~ Anything Goes 
Easy Craft Projects ~ Use your old stash (DP, ribbon, flowers)
Stamp Something ~ Anything Goes
Mami Doodles ~ "Use mostly blue"
Allsorts ~ "Blue and Brown"
Catch the Bug ~ "Blue and White Birthday"
Craft Your Days Away ~ Anything Goes
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle ~ Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss ~ Cuddly
One Stitch at a Time ~ New (Stamp)
Pile It On ~ Anything Goes
Pear Tree Designs ~ Free for All
The Crafty Pad- Something New (Stamp)
Copic Creations ~ Use anything new (Stamp)
Creative Inspirations ~ Celebrate
I Did it Creations ~ "Brrr, I'm Turning Blue" - use blue
The Crazy Challenge ~ Buttons
The Shabby Tea Room ~ "White and Bright"  - white and another color
My Time to Craft ~ Spots and Dots


Have a great day and thanks for visiting :)

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Birthday Parade (PaperWorks Co)
Ink/Coloring: Memento Rich Cocoa; Copics (E31, E33, E35, E37, B0000, Booo, BG0000, B32, B34, N0, N1, 0); Spica Clear pen
Paper: Ballet Blue; Gina K Luxury White; DP - SU 
Embellishments:  Ribbon (Bluebird); Flowers (Bazzil & Prima); Button 
Tools:  Corner Rounder; Border Punch

All Geared Up for your Special Day!

Today I have a card to show you using the Tinheart Collection stamps from Paperworks.  The image is from the Jam Tinheart set and the sentiment is from the Alfy Tinheart set.  I will admit that this is another collection that I had to buy in it's entirety and I am glad I did because these robots are just so much fun to use (not to mention cute) and there are girl robots too.  

I have quite a few robot themed papers to choose from but in the end decided to use these Scenic Route papers as I thought the gear paper was a good match for the sentiment.  I colored the image with copics and added some Crystal Effects to his eyes, clock and heart.  Since I don't have any gear type embellishments, I made my own.  I cut one out from the designer paper, covered it in Crystal Effects and then added a washer to the center.  I also placed a washer on each end of the sentiment.  My youngest son looked at this card and asked if it was for him because he really likes it.....so I guess he will be recipient of this one.

Have a great day and thanks for visiting :)

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Tinheart Collection (Alfy Tinheart and Jam Tinheart) - Paperworks
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (BG000, BG72, BG75, YG23, YG25, YR21, YR23, YR24)
Paper: Confetti Cream; Gina K Luxury White; DP - Scenic Route (Hampton Collection)
Embellishments: Crystal Effects; Washers 
Tools: Nesties (Inverted Scallop Circle); Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

♥ All You Need is Love ♥

I was asked by Peggy at PaperWorks Co to be a Guest Designer for this month and since I love the stamps she carries I just had to say yes (the fact that she's so nice doesn't hurt either)!  


Here is my first project for the month using The First Date stamp from one of my favorite collections, the Little Loud Freckle Love Collection.  All of the Little Loud stamps are "retired" and currently on sale for 40% off! 

I used some of my leftover BoBunny papers from last year and paired them up with Pink Pirouette Cardstock.  After stamping the sentiment (which comes with the image stamp) I colored over the "love" with a pink copic marker and added a rhinestone for the o.  I also added a few rhinestones to the designer paper and some stickles to the flowers and the hearts on the girl because you can never have enough bling. 

As a side note, I can't believe I have been away from my blog for so long!  The last few months have been crazy busy for us and here I thought that by taking a break from Design Teams I would free up a bit of time but still get the chance to craft.....Well, unfortunately for me, "no commitments" translated to basically no crafting and the "free time" I gained was instead filled up with guests, all kinds of meetings, dr/ortho/dentist visits, school events/parties, getting ready for the holidays, and the major one.....trying to clean out the kids rooms and organize all their outgrown toys so we can get rid of them.  That is really hard for me ~ I still picture them playing with these things and it makes me sad that they are growing up so fast.  I think the hardest was the Little People sets ~ they all loved playing with these and would make a whole town in one of our downstairs rooms with all the sets.  I am still not completely done with sorting all these sets yet.  Most of them are retired so it makes locating a picture of the complete set online a bit more difficult especially when you don't remember the name of the set.  We also celebrated Ashley's 8th birthday on December 30th ~ where does the time go? 


Have a great day and thanks for visiting :)

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: The First Date  - Little Loud Freckle Love Collection (Paperworks)
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
Paper:Pink Pirouette; Gina K Luxury White; DP - BoBunny
Embellishments: Sickles (Stardust); Ribbon (May Arts); Flowers (Prima); Rhinestones (Michael's)
Tools: Nesties (Petite and Petite Scallop Ovals, Circle and Petite Scallop Circle); Border Punches (Martha Stewart)

Your Next Stamp Challenge #19

Happy Wednesday!   Today is time for another challenge over at Your Next Stamp.  Amy is hosting this one and she challenged us to use printed or patterned ribbon on our creation. 

Today I used the Wedding Fhiona single which happens to be one of the new releases for June.  I followed the sketch over at Card Patterns, which happens to be a favorite of mine and one I have used variations of many times before.  The image was colored with copics and then I added stickles to the tiara part of her veil and then gave her some pearl earrings.  I added pearls all along the scalloped border and then a few colored pearls are scattered on the black and white papers.  I don't have much ribbon on here ~ only through the buttons on the larger flowers, but it is a black organdy with pink polka dots.  Too bad I don't know anyone getting married ~ I really like how this one turned out!  

We'd love to have you join us in our "Ribbon" challenge so head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog for all the details ~ it is a two week challenge so there is plenty of time to play along!  You

In addition to Card Patterns, I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Charisma Cardz - "All about Bling"
Meljen's - Fibers, Ribbons or Lace
Paper Play - "Something Old" - the DP is old
Crazy 4 Challenges - Paper Flowers - puchased or punched (Prima's)
One Stitch at a Time - "Seeing Double" - use two of anything
The Corrosive Challenge - "Black, White and one other color (Pink)"
The Pink Elephant - Pink and Black"
Our Daily Bread - Flower Recipe - used flowers, circle shape embellies (pearls), wedding, ribbon
Aly's - "Flower Power"
Practical Scrappers - Flowers
Fun with Shapes - "Flowery"
Cow Girl Sunday - Anything Goes

The kids have been enjoying the warmer days this week (what a welcome from early last weeks weather) and spending a lot of time in the pool, which means I have been outside a lot this week with them.  Doesn't leave much time for crafting, but when I'm not in the pool with them, I have been making some of the lace flowers like I used on the card posted prior to this one, and have also gotten a lot of reading in.   Speaking of weather, we had some major storms come through Monday night and we were lucky ~ we only had heavy rains, but some in surrounding counties didn't fare so well, they had strong winds, causing a lot of damage and some lost homes to tornadoes.  That is the one thing I hate about this time of year.     
   
Today should be another nice day, so I'm sure I will be enjoying it with the kids!

Have wonderful day :)



Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Wedding Fhiona -Your Next Stamp 
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics 
Paper:  Basic Black; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Making Memories (Sabrina)
Embellishments:  Organdy Polka Dot Ribbon (May Arts); Pearls - some colored with copic RV02 (Michael's); Buttons (Making Memories and stash); Flowers (Prima and Imaginisce); Stickles (Stardust)
Tools: Nesties

Your Next Stamp Challenge #18

Back again today with the current challenge over at Your Next Stamp.  Simonne is hosting for this one and she challenged us to use buttons on our creation.  

Today I decided to use the Yippee Fhiona set, and you can get a mini version of her as well since she is one of the new mini Fhiona's that were released the other day.   I colored her with copics and added a flower button to her headband.  Once again I used the DeLovely papers from Cosmo Cricket ~ sure hope you aren't getting sick of these yet because I will definitely be using them again!  The other buttons I used were for the center of the flower and then on each end of the sentiment.  I used the Bow Easy to make the satin bow, however I'm not really sure why the ribbon looks so funny in this picture.....

I am thinking that I may give this card to one of my daughter's on the last day of school.  Only 2 1/2 more days left.  Alicia is quite sad that school is almost over, as she really loves it.  The other 3 kids are ready for it.  I really can't believe how busy the last two weeks of school are!  I was on an all day Field Trip to Old World Wisconsin with Alicia's class last Thursday ~ we haven't been there in quite some time, so it was nice going back, and I think we will be taking our kids over the summer ~ preferably for Laura Ingalls Wilder Days.  Friday was Trevor's spotlight day in class so that morning I had to make Brownies and then head over to school to  spend time with his class and then had lunch with the kids.  Monday and Tuesday Alicia had her class play, and of course I had to go to each performance.  Being on the DI team this year has really helped her overcome her fear of performing in front of others and she did fantastic.  Her role was Princess Isabella, so each night before bed, I had to put her hair in rollers so it was nice and curly for the play.  Right after the play Monday morning, I went on a Field Trip to the park with Trevor's class that was for the rest of the day.  Tyler went on a Field Trip to a different park to meet their pen pals ~ thank goodness it was a beautiful day since Tuesday ended up cold and rainy!  I "think" I have a break tomorrow from School activities but Thursday it's back to school all day for "Field Day".  

We'd love to have you join us in our "Button" challenge so head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog for all the details ~ it is a two week challenge so there is plenty of time to play along!  

Have wonderful day :)


Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Yippee Fhiona -Your Next Stamp 
Ink/Coloring: Pink Passion; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics 
Paper:  Pink Passion, Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Cosmo Cricket (DeLovely)
Embellishments:  Satin Ribbon (Michaels's); Organdy Ribbon (JoAnn's); Flower (Prima); Buttons
Tools: Nesties; Bow Easy

Your Next Stamp Blog Hop

Welcome to the Your Next Stamp Blog Hop.  You should have arrived here from  Kerri's blog, but if not, please head back to Cabio's blog to start from the beginning.  
 

For my card I used Make a Wish from the Dale Designs collection.  When I saw this set I thought this girl was just adorable and couldn't wait to use her (and we have a few girl birthday's coming up in the near future, so what great timing!   I decided to paper piece her dress as well as the stool cushion and tablecloth and just added a bit of subtle shadowing with my copic markers.  I added stickles to her hair bow, the icing on the cake and her shoes.

Be sure to leave a comment on each stop along the way as someone will win $50 in new release stamps of their choice!  The winner will be chosen from a randomly drawn comment on one of the Starlet's blogs, but we don't know who it is.  The blog hop ends Sunday, June 13th at midnight EST.   

Your next stop is Maylee and I'm sure she has something amazing to share with you.

Here is a complete list of the blog hop order in case you get lost along the way:

Cabio

Angela

Simonne

Kerri

Jodi (you are here)

Maylee

Jen

Maureen

Amy

Karen

When you have finished the hop and made a list of all those must have stamp sets, head on over to the YNS store and where Karen is offering 15% off your entire order using the code YNSJune2010.


Have wonderful day :) 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Taylored Expressions - sketch
Oh Alice - "My Muchness" - pearls, flowers and paper piecing
Clearly Inspired - Birthday
Fab N' Funky - "Piece that Paper"
Little Red Wagon - Altered Embellishments
AI Factory - "Anything Goes with a Punch"
Paper Play - Flowers and Sparkle
Alphabet Challenge - F is for Flowers

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated

Stamps:  Make A Wish - Dale Designs Collection - Your Next Stamp  
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Elegant Eggplant; Copics (E00, E01, E33, E35, E37, E41, E42, Y000, RV10, RV11, V95, V99, 0, BV08)
Paper:  Elegant Eggplant; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Basic Grey (Eva)
Embellishments:  Pearls (Michaels); Flowers (Prima) colored with BV08; Stickles (Stardust) 
Tools: Martha Stewart Border Punch; Nesties

Your Next Stamp Preview Day 2

I'm back today with another new release for Your Next Stamp.  Today there are 5 new nature inspired designs as well as an Elegant greeting set and they are fantastic!   

For today's preview I got to use Branch Tree  along with Elegant Greetings.  No coloring needed on this image which makes for a nice change!  After stamping the image I added little pearls to the double leaves on the tree.  I thought that this paper from the DCWV Farmer's Market stack was a great match for this image, but since it is rather busy, I did not add much in the way of embellishments.  The side panel was punched with an EK Success punch and then I added some pearls as well as some satin ribbon.  A quick and easy elegant card. 

So are you ready to see some more projects with these new images?  Head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog and check out all the fantastic projects.  Stop back on the 8th for the New Release Blog Hop ~ you don't want to miss this one! 

Have wonderful day :)

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Branch Tree and Elegant Greetings -Your Next Stamp 
Ink/Coloring: Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, Bravo Burgundy 
Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Always Artichoke; DP - DCWV (Farmer's Market)
Embellishments:  Satin Ribbon (May Arts); Pearls -colored with E43 (Michael's)
Tools: EK Success Border Punch; Nesties, Sponge Daubers

Your Next Stamp Preview

I have some exciting news!  This month I am a Guest Designer for Your Next Stamp ~ I am thrilled to be working with Karen, Simonne and the other girls this month and know it will be a lot of fun!  Today there are 10 new releases ~ all single Fhiona images and I get to show you one of them.  

I got to use Flower Bouquet Fhiona and I think she is just so cute!  I colored her with copics and added some stickles to parts of the image, the flowers and some of the papers.  As you can see, I went with an all out flower theme, using a flower nestie for a mat, a flower border punch, flower embellishments, that fun felt trim and those fabulous DeLovely papers ~ I LOVE these bright colors.  I colored the blue flowers and all the rhinestones with copics to match my card ~ one of the many things I love about those markers.

So are you ready to see some more projects with these new images?  Head on over to the Your Next Stamp blog and check out all the fantastic projects.  I will be back in a few days with another new release to show you and mark your calendars for the 8th, we will have a New Release Blog Hop that you don't want to miss! 


I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Charisma Cardz- "Going Round in Circles" - include circles (image, rhinestones)
Delightful Sketches - "Use Texture"
Pixie Challenge - "Going Round and Round" - use something round (image, rhinestones)
Sweet Stampin Challenge - "Pimp Your Card" - use lots of embellishments and or lots of bling 
One Stitch at a Time - Use something new - image, felt ribbon, border punch
Cupcake Craft Challenge - "Summer Delights"
Daisy Doodles - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy- "For the Little Ones" - card for a child  
Pear Tree Designs - "Floral Delights" 
The Pink Elephant - "Gotta Wear Shades" - bright fun colors
A Spoon Full of Sugar - "Birthday" - use something old/neglected - the DP and the ribbons
Everybody Art Challenge - "Summer"
Papertake- "Fun, fun, fun"
By the Cute and Girly - "Something old (primas), Something New (image, border punch, felt ribbon), Something Borrowed (felt ribbon-from my daughter), Something Blue (cardstock, rhinestones, flowers)" 
Clearly Inspired - "Flower" 
Lil Red Wagon - altered embellishments
Color Throwdown - Black, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Green Galore

Have wonderful day :)

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Flower Bouquet Fhiona -Your Next Stamp 
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (E00, E01, E11, R20, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28, RV17, RV19, BG02, BG05, BG07, Y06, YG06)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Cosmo Cricket (DeLovely)
Embellishments:  Felt Ribbon (Michaels); Rhinestones -colored with RV17 and BG05 (Michael's); Flowers ~ as is and colored with BG05 (Prima); Stickles  (Stardust)
Tools: Martha Stewart Border Punch; Leaves Die (Sizzix), Nesties, Dimensionals

A Special Mother's Day Bouquet for you

Our Daisy overnight trip was so much fun ~ the girls had an absolute blast swimming and having their nails done!  Hotel overnight trips I can handle, camping, not so much.  This was the first time I was away from any of my kids overnight, so it was a bit of an adjustment for both me and the three that had to stay home ~ thank goodness for cell phones!  Alicia wants me to plan an overnight like this for her troop, so there may be another one in the near future.....   

I am one of the Guest Designers for this weeks challenge over at Kaboodle Doodles, which is to create a card that says "Spring" to you.  We were generously given a few images from Sew Many Cards and after going back and forth with a few of them, I finally decided on Owen with Flowers. 

Isn't he so cute carrying a bouquet of freshly picked flowers for his mom ~ I love these bouquets the best :)  

For this card I am entering the following challenges:
Truly Scrumptious - Sketch
Whimsical Wednesdays - Spring
AI Factory - Buttons
Delightful Sketches - Pull out your Punches
Hand Full of Stamps - "Look What I Got" - new items - image, Designer papers
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Flowers - On the paper and in his hand
One Stitch at a Time - Children
Pile It On - "Boyish Colors"
Incy Wincy - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant - "Mommy I Love You"
Whoopsi Daisy - "As you Like It"
Our Daily Bread - Mother's Day


Have a wonderful day!  :)

 
Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Owen with Flowers-digi image (Sew Many Cards)
Ink/Coloring:  Copics
Paper:  Kraft; Gina K Pure Luxury White;  DP - DCWV (Flower Shower) 
Embellishments:  Ribbon, Button; Brads (SU)
Tools:  Martha Stewart Border Punches (Fence and Grass); Word Window Punch; Nesties

Easter Lily Clear and Simple

Last week I received an email asking me to be a Guest Designer for this weeks challenge at AiFactory.  I was honored to be asked and just had to say yes!  I have worked with many of their images already so I knew that I would have fun. 

The challenge for this week (#27) was "Clear and Simple".  I had an idea all planned out for this, but that quickly changed.  I "thought" I had clear buttons, so I searched high and low and came up with nothing.  Visits to two different stores left me empty handed as well...so it was time to think of something else.  I decided to make an acetate card ~ after all, you can't get any clearer than that and actually I'm glad I had to change directions because I really love how this turned out!  

I printed out the Easter Lily image two times so I could layer the flower portion on dimensionals.  I colored the image with my copics, cut it out and placed it on this subtle designer paper I found hiding in my stash and then layered that on white paper.  The inside of the card uses the same designer paper layered on white.  A soft triple organdy bow finished off the card.  

Here is a different view of the card: 

We'd love to have you join in this weeks "Clear and Simple" challenge.  While it is not necessary to use AiFactory Stamps, if you have them, we'd love to see them (and you can get a few freebie's here).  You have until March 17th, midnight EST to link your creation on the challenge post.  If you post to any online galleries, please use the keywords "AIF010" and "aifactory". This weeks lucky winner will receive this beautiful Lily Collection Digital Stamp Set:

Thanks again ladies for letting me be a part of the challenge this week! 



Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Easter Lily image from Lily Collection (AiFactory) 
Ink/Coloring:  Copics (G24, G28, G29, G40, YG00, Yg01, YG03, Y26, T1, 0)
Paper:  Acetate; Gina K Pure Luxury White;  DP - CK (Greenery Wedding Paper) 
Embellishments:  Organdy Ribbon 
Tools:  Nesties; Bow Easy