Stay Cool!

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere it's the dog days of summer, so I couldn't resist using this Mo Manning image for my "Stay Cool" card.  It's that dog, I just can't resist him, he is one cool puppy. 
This week the theme for the Pile It On challenge is "Stay Cool" which is a real life challenge for the many of you that have been hit with the horrible heat wave.  Oddly, here in southwest Florida it hasn't been too bad and when it is, well, it's time to find some water and take a dip.  But I digress...
The idea of the Pile It On challenge is to make a card with our theme and at least one other challenge.  There's links to lots of other challenges on the blog and the work of the other design team to inspire you.  Of course the linkey thing is there for when you finish your project.  This week the challenge is sponsored by Stamp Fairy.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Mo Manning digi "Still Summer"
ink - hp printer; Ranger "Shabby Shutters"  and "Walnut Stain"
paper - MFT "Sno-Cone" cs; Georgia Pacific white cs; October Afternoon "Campfire" dp
miscellaneous - copics; twine; sun charm; mini brads; bathing suit brad; sewing machine



Here's the challenges:
Pile It On #31 - Stay Cool
Unscripted Sketches #117 - Sketch
Craft Your Days Away #25 - Summertime
If the Shoe Fits FF#87 - Summer
Sew Many #62 - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon #28 - Cool It
Simply Create #49 - Favorite Animal
Stamp Something - Summer Fun Something
Allsorts week 114- Free and Easy
Nadia #10 - Holiday
Delightful Challenge - Dog Days of Summer
Craft Us Crazy #13 - Anything Goes
Fairy Tale #20 - Summer, Sun, Sunshine
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Sum, Summ, Summertime
Charisma Cardz  #30 - 4 Legged Friends
CCEE1130 - Summer or Winter
Party Time Tuesday PTT#26 - Anything Goes
My Time to Craft #150 - Delightful Dogs
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Summer Birthday
The Pink Elephant #TPE109 - Fun in the Sun
Creative Card Crew - Animal Antics
Paper Playtime #51 - Summer

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Now get cracking on a project with the "Stay Cool" theme.  Don't forget to link it up on the Pile It On challenge blog.

Purple, yeah!

CIC120

Purple, yum, I love purple.  If you love purple too, then this week's Cupcake Inspirations challenge CIC121 was made for you.  This fun and utterly adorable dragon  topped cake is the inspiration and our sponsor is JLJ Designs offering a $10 gift card to the store, with which can get you plenty of goodies.  If you don't have a lot of space for your crafting supplies check out the digi paper, you can keep a vast selection on file and just print it out as you need it.  For my card I used the "Ballerina Angie" digi image and the "Dots Digital Paper".  

can you see the ballerina charm, click on the photo to enlarge

Here's the deets:
stamp - JLJ Designs "Ballerina Angie"
Ink - hp printer
paper - JLJ Designs "Dots Digital Paper Pack"; Stampin' Up "Pacific Point cs
miscellaneous - copics; mini brads; ribbon; baker's twine; charm; Creative Memories rounded corner and scalloped rounded corner punches; stickles; sewing machine

don't forget the inside

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC120 - photo
Papertake Weekly #58- sketch
Top Tip Tuesday #44 - Make it Girly
Crazy CCH77 - ribbons
Stampin' Bee #121 - use ribbon
Cardmadfairy #13- Oh So Girly




Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  I also hope that you'll play along with us at Cupcake Inspirations and make a card inspired by the photo.  You know you'll have fun if you do, so do it.

More Christmas in July

I owe a big thank you to all you challenge blogs that have been doing Christmas in July challenges.  It certainly has helped me get a few cards done ahead of time especially since my thought to make at least one Christmas card a week wasn't followed through, anybody else relating to this?

The Cat's Pajamas challenge is to use any TCP stamp that uses any form of transportation.  Lucky for me I have the "Candyland Christmas" set which has a candy train in it.  That worked out well, won't you say.  The only down side is that I have a yearning for a candy cane.  Unfortunately I don't have any around but I do have a pack of Extra Mint Chocolate Chip gum.  It's not as good as having a bowl of Hagen Das or Ben and Jerry's but it'll do in a pinch.  But I digress...

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - The Cat's Pajamas "Candyland Christmas"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
paper - My Mind's Eye "Wonderful Winter" pack; Neenah Classic Crest Natrual White cs; DCWV red cs
miscellaneous - copics; stickles; Taylored Expressions "Tiny Twinkles"; mini brads; baker's twine; holly charm; Nesties lacey sqaure die; Snow Writer; sewing machine





Here's the challenges:
The Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES169 - any form of transportation
The Sweet Stop SSS119 - sketch
Totally Gorjuss #91 - Christmas in July
Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in July
Crafty Catz #93 - Christmas in July
Fussy and Fancy #42 - Christmas in July
Crafty Creations #129  - Christmas in July
Creative Belli #122 - Christmas in July
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Christmas in July
Craft Your Passion - Christmas in July

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Clean and Simple

What do you do when the challenge is to not use markers?  That's this week's challenge at Paper Pretties.
I've been hoarding this rainbow bling for a couple months so now's the perfect time to use it.  Talk about a fast card!  It took about a minute to put it together and I think it makes a really nice note card.
I picked up this bling at Michael's but there's a couple rainbow die cuts out there that could be used for a similar look.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties "Fun Quotes"
ink - Close To My Heart "Cranberry"
paper - a card from a pack of blanks from a craft store

this time the inside is blank



Here's the challenges:
Paper Pretties PWC164 - no markers
Sew Many #62 - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts #77 - Bling It Up
4 Crafty Chicks - Get Your Bling On

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Read Any Good Books Lately?

Have you read any good books lately?  Or are you so busy you barely have time to think yet alone read?   If you're a reader, and you take the time to leave me a comment, recommend a book.  Here's some of the books and authors I've been reading:  John Irving, if you like a good long story with quirky characters he's the man; Pat Conroy, another one for good long stories, with a southern bent;  Jonathan Kellerman for fast paced detective stories; the Girl with the Tattoo series, Sookie Stackhouse series; Stephanie Plum series.  
As soon as I saw this week's My Favorite Things sketch I was itching to make a card.  It's the triple scallop layer that gets me.  

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things a la mode "Here's the Story"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Ranger Antique Ivory

don't forget the inside

paper - GCD "Chianti Collection"; Basic Grey "Basics White Paper"; Recollections Neutral cs; My Favorite Things "Perfect Panel"
miscellaneous - copics; Stampin' Up crochet trim and rhinestone brad; brads and mini brads; My Favorite Things open scallop and flower dienamics; burlap twine; glasses charm

Here's the challenges:
My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club MFTWSC30 - sketch
Kaboodle Doodle #77 - Stitching Faux or Real
Daring Cardmakers - Wish You Were Here

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again and don't forget to mention a good read when you leave your comment.

Not Everyone Can Wear Orange

Teddy Bea can pull off wearing orange, and doesn't she look sweet on her way to the beach.  Every thing's been shabbied and distressed right down to the ribbon.  That was fun, wonder if I'll ever have clean fingers.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Teddy Bo "Beach Bea" digi
ink - hp printer; Ranger "Spiced Marmalade", "Scattered Straw" and "Frayed Burlap"
paper - Stampin' Up "Crushed Curry" cs; Basic Grey "Ambrosia" dp; Georgia Pacific white cs

don't forget the inside

miscellaneous - copics; button brads; Martha Stewart tag punch; Stampin' Up "So Saffron" ribbon; linen twine; beach pail charm; Sizzex "Sweet Buttons" Embosslit; sewing machine






Here's the challenges:
Mojo Monday mojo201 - sketch
the Pink Elephant TPE109 - Fun in the Sun
Paper Playtime #51 -Digi Monday Summer
Daring Cardmakers - Wish You Were Here (the sentiment on the tag is "miss you")
Corrosive #126 - All About Kids
Paper Sundaes #79 - Beachy or Summery
Sugar Creek Hollow - Let's Play Tag (there's a tiny tag hanging off the ribbon)
Charisma #29 - Sunshine Colours

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again. 

For those of you who visit often and read about Shamus (aka Naughty Boy) and have wondered what he looks like,  I'm adding a couple pics of the fellow. 

in a minute he will be up on his legs and wapping on the window trying to get the lizard that's outside, I think the poor little lizard almost had a heart attack. 

I have no idea why he jumps up onto this little space but he does.  He likes to walk around the columns, there are two of them and he walks around both of them.  He has also been seen walking across the buffet on the right.

Does my daughter need another excuse for not putting her clothes in her drawers

home decor as appetizer.  the wreath now sits on a shelf in the garage.   well, those are just a few of the newer pics that help to explain how he got the name Naughty Boy. 



Not for Tom Boys

CIC120

How about a pretty girly girl inspiration with lots of lace and pink?  Well that's what Cupcake Inspirations has for you this week and what better company to sponsor the challenge than Paper Pretties.  

Now if these  girly cupcakes aren't your cup of tea then hop on over to the Cupcake Inspirations blog because this week we have a second cupcake photo that just might be your thing.  You'll also find the rules (nothing earth shattering but you know we like to see new creations and that sort of stuff), the rest of the design teams creations and of course the linky thing.



can you see the cocktail charm, you can click on the photo to enlarge it

 I was inspired by the girliness of the images, I just love all the pinks and lavenders and frilly stuff.  This kitty is "PURRRty Girl"  a Paper Pretties digital stamp which you can find here. 
The store has way more than stamps, you can find everything you need there to make your paper projects. 

If my naughty boy Shamus were allowed to date I think he would like this gal with her pearls and bows.  They'd make a handsome couple but because he is a naughty boy he's grounded and he's likely to stay grounded for a long, long time. 




don't neglect the inside




Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties digi "PURRRRty Girl"
ink - hp printer
paper - Wausau Classics "Terra Green" and "Exact Brights Magenta" cs; Georgia Pacific white cs; Jillibean Soup "Blossom Soup" dp
miscellaneous - copics; glaze pen; liquid pearls; Stampin' Up pearls; Candy Dots baby pink; Nesties lacey square die; pink checked ribbon; charm; Stampin' Up crochet trim; pink twine; Martha Stewart "Floral Lace" border punch; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC120 - photo
CES #46 - Humour/Funny
Cardmad Fairy's Digi Days #13 - Oh, So Girly

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Now go get busy making something inspired by those fun cuppies and then link it up to the Cupcake Inspirations challenge blog so we can see it.  Who knows maybe you'll win this week.

By the way, if you're a Paper Pretties fan then scroll down to my next post, Pile It On is also being sponsored by Paper Pretties this week.

Cool It!

If you're almost anywhere in the United States it's hot.  So how weird is it that here in Florida it's about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than most of the rest of the country!  If you're living with this oppressive heat you might as well stay inside, if you've got air conditioning (if not go someplace that has it) and work on a card for this week's Pile It On challenge PIO 30 "Fun in the Sun".  This week we are sponsored by Paper Pretties and Heather has given the design team a choice of some of the fun digis created by Artish.  Paper Pretties has it all, believe me I've gotten everything I need there and Heather is just a sweetheart.  So if you're looking for stamps or digis, paper or embellies, make a stop at Paper Pretties, you'll like it there.  AND Heather is offering YOU a 20%.  Just use the code: PILEITON.
Need some inspiration, go over to the Pile It On challenge blog where you'll find the rest of the design teams work, the very simple rules and a linky thingy. 

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties - digi "Sweet Treat"
ink - hp printer
paper - Bazzill "Intense Amethyst" cs, Stampin' Up "Subtes" patterns stack; Doodlebug "Cake and Ice Cream" dp; Georgia Pacific white cs
miscellaneous - copics; Queen & Co. lavender bling; gathered gingham ribbon; baker's twine; ice cream cone charm; sewing machine; Stampin' Up corner punch

Here's the challenges:
Pile It On PIO30 - Fun in the Sun
Tuesday Morning Sketches - sketch
Creative Card Crew - Animal Antics
Pixie Cottage #79 - sketch and/or "Fun with Food" (what's more fun than an ice cream cone? maybe strawberry shortcake or devil's food cake)
For Fun - 2 ribbons (I'm counting the baker's twine)
Fab N Funky - Animal Magic
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon #28 - Cool It!
Craft Us Crazy #13 - Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times #108- Cute and Cuddly with a punch
Paper Cutz #101 - Anything Goes
Fussy N Fancy #20 - Summer, Sun and Sunshine
Craft Your Days Away #25 -  Summertime
Stamp Something - Something Embellished
Allsorts week 113 - Free and Easy
Totally Gorjuss #90 Punch or Die

Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll come back again.  Now get busy making a project for the Pile It On challenge PIO30 Fun in the Sun.  We can't wait to see what you do, so don't forget to link it up.  And don't forget the 20% discount (code:  PILEITON) at Paper Pretties what better reason to go shopping!

Come Fly with Me



can you see the plane charm, click to enlarge the photo

 Come fly, let's fly away. Is anybody else humming a Frank Sinatra song?   I love Sinatra, I don't care how old you, you can swing with 'ole blue eyes.  My father was a big fan so we heard Sinatra all the time and as I got older I kept listening. 
I don't know where my brother found this web site but if you are a Sinatra fan you might get a kick out of it.  But I digress...
This week at the Cat's Pajamas the challenge is to use watermelon red, pumpkin orange and grass green.  This is what I came up with.  The goggles are green and parts of the airplane and if you can't tell the red paper is supposed to the inside of a watermelon, those black spots are seeds.  The layout if from this week's Stampin' Royalty sketch challenge.



don't forget the inside


So here's the deets:
stamp -  the Cat's Pajamas "Take Off"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Ranger "Spiced Marmalade" and Scattered Straw"
paper - Stampin' Up "Pumpkin Pie" cs; Neenah Classic Crest Natural White cs; Imaginisce "Berryliscious"
miscellaneous - copics; MFT cloud die-namics; Martha Stewart "Embossed Zig Zag" border punch; baker's twine; charm; felt; mini brads; glaze pen; Nesties label 18; sewing machine



Here's the challenges:
The Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES168 - use Watermelon Red, Pumpkin Orange and Grass Green
Totally Papercrafts - One for the Boys
Stamp Something -  Something Embellished
Crafty Catz #92 - No Pink or Blue allowed
Do You Stack Up DYSY#29 - Wings
Cute Card Thursday #174 - For His Eyes Only
Charisma #29 - Sunshine Colours

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again. 

Paws for Thought

This week's challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend is "Paws for Thought".  That immediately got me thinking about Shirley's 2 Girls stamps, many of them feature pets.  Around these parts it's not unusual at all to see a pooch in a purse.  This winter at a local tree lighting ceremony one couple attended with four greyhounds in tow, each and everyone of which was wearing elf attire.  While I have never dressed up my dogs, my daughter used to dress up our cat, the poor baby.  It cracked me up but it ticked off the cat.   But I digress...
For the SFTW challenge we want to see creatures with paws on your creations.  You can find all the fabulous samples the design team has made as well as the challenge rules and the linky thingy by clicking here.  Grab a cup of coffee or a Cosmo and check it out.





don't forget the inside


Here's the deets:
stamp - Shirley's 2 Girls "Baguette Accessory"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger "Walnut Stain"
paper - Bazzill "Glow" cs; SCWV  green cs; Neenah Classic Crest Natural White cs; K & Co "Life's Journey" dp
miscellaneous - copics; ZVA crystals; charm; twine; pink mesh ribbon; round punches

Here's the challenges:
Stampin' For the Weekend - Paws for Thoughts
A Sketch for You To Try - July Sketch

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  In the meantime get busy making something for the Stampin' for the Weekend Paws for Thought challenge

Amazed

Why am I amazed?  Because I finished this card yesterday, had the picture ready to post by dinner time, had the time to sit and do a post, and after I got it posted I couldn't think of a thing to say.  Still haven't  got anything else to say.  Amazing.

So here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Thing "Little Loveosaurus"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - MFT "Sno-Cone" and "Bubblegum" cs; Stampin' Up "Certainly Celery" cs; Recollections "Cupcake" and "Plaid" dp; MFT white "Perfect Panel" cs
miscellaneous - copics; mini brads; stickles; dinosaur charm; embossing folder; lace; Nesties scalloped rectangle die; Recollections flower; sewing machine

don't forget the inside

Here's the challenges: 

My Favorite Things MFTWSC29 - sketch

Crafts and Me #44 - Add a Flower

Freshly Brewed FBC56 - Get Wild

One Stitch at a Time - Flowers

Critter Sketch Challenge #74 - Happy Birthday to Me (I would love to get this card because it's paper pieced, my favorite technique, it uses plaid paper, I love plaid paper, there's lace to frill it up, and stickles for shimmer - I just may keep this card!)

Kaboodle Doodle #76 - Embossing (hard to see but it's on the pink cross bar)

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Embossing (on the pink cs)

Sew Many #60 - Glitter and Sparkle

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  And a hug to all of you who take the time to leave comments, they make my day. 

Congrats to MOJO

Mojo Monday posted its 200th sketch challenge.  WOW!  That's something.  I figure that makes them close to 4 years old.   I haven't been following Mojo for that whole time, but once I found it I became a loyal follower.  Mojo and other challenges are responsible for my blog.  It all started a few short years ago with stalking the Splitcoast site.  I think I stalked for about 2 years before I got the courage up to post a card.  Reading the posts on Splitcoast I found out about challenges on the Internet.  To participate in some of the challenges you needed a blog, and that folks is how I came to blog. 
Back to Mojo...Every Monday a new sketch challenge is posted and the first Monday of the month is a prize week.  The Wednesday of the following week the winners are announced with a slide show presentation.  I just love to sit and watch the cards.  There are so many talented crafters out there and the cards are fantastic, lots of inspirations in that show.  Even browsing the thumbnails I get inspired and impressed.  So thanks to Julee for such a great blog, I hope this challenge is around for many more years.



don't forget the inside

 So here's the deets:
stamp - Teddy Bo digi "Wrap It Up"
ink - hp printer
paper - Stampin' Up "Orchid Opulence" and "Pale Plum" cs; Bo Bunny "Winter Joy Magic" dp
miscellaneous - copics; TCP lilac seam binding; baker's twine; charm; EK Success "Snowflake" border punch; Nesties lacey square and snowflake dies; Recollections flourish; flower soft; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Mojo Monday MOJO200 - sketch
Tuesday Throwdown #58 - Something Metallic (charm)
Papertake Weekly - Getting Cute
Crazy CCH#76 - Christmas In July
Paper Sundaes #78 - Christmas In July
Shabby Tea Room week 71 - So Charming and photo inspiratio
Simply Create #48 - Christmas Time
2 Sisters #48 - Christmas in July
Stamp Something - Christmas in July
Creative Belli #122 - Christmas in July (papers and punch have been around my stash for awhile)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  A bigger thanks for all of you who take the time to leave a comment.  I read them all and deeply appreciate your kind words.  And lastly a really big thanks to all you blogs that have a Christmas in July theme, that little push to make a Christmas card has now grown my stash to 5 cards!  Woohoo!  every little bit helps.

Life's a Picnic

Yes, life is good, yes indeed, it is a picnic.  If you have enough time to be sitting at a computer looking at this blog then it's likely that your life is pretty good too. 
This week the challenge theme at Pile it On is "Life's a Picnic" and our sponsor is Simon Says.  You can find all your papercrafting needs at Simon Says so play along for a chance to win.  You can find all the challenge details, more inspiration from the rest of the design team and the linky thingy for your project, all of that good stuff is here.
For my card I chose to use one of my all time favorite stamps "Let's Picnic" by My Favorite Things.  It comes with lots of little stamps, 

don't forget the inside


including the grapes, picnic basket, wine cheese and ants.  I used two of my favorite techniques -paper piecing and distressing.  You may not be able to tell from the photos but I've used three different inks to distress the card, even in person you may not be able to tell but all those different inks add a subtle yet appreciable difference.

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "Let's Picnic"
ink - Memento "Rich Cocoa"; Ranger "Walnut Stain", "Frayed Burlap", and "Scattered Straw"
paper - MFT scalloped kraft card base; Stampin' Up "Soft Suede" cs; Memory Box "Butterfield" dp
miscellaneous - copics; Stampin' Up punch; mini brads; baker's twine; charm; sun button; charm; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Pile It On PIO 29 - Life is a Picnic
My Favorite Things MFTWSC28 - sketch
Crazy Challenge CCH#75 - Summertime
Dream Valley #11 - Summer Theme
Kaboodle Doodle #75 - Use Those Scissors
City Crafter CCB#65 - Let the Sunshine In
Craft Your Passion - Just for You, general card for anyone
Paper Playtime #50 - Summer
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some Stitching Faux or Otherwise
Papertake Weekly - Hot, Hot, Hot
Partytime Tuesday PTT#24 - Blue Skies and Sunny Days
Crafts and Me - Summertime
Fab 'N Funky #81 - Baker's Dozen - Feature Food
Tuesday Throwdown #57 - Fun in the Sun
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up DYSU#28 - Sew - real or faux
Moving Along With the Times #107 - Favorite Things (I love paper piecing)
Fussy N Fancy #41 - Summer
Paper Cutz #100 - the Skies the Limit
Polka Doodle week 28 - Long Hot Summer
Fairy Fun #57 - On Holiday

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  In the meantime I hope your life is a picnic and that you create a card or project for the Pile It On challenge PIO29.

You Gotta Kiss a Few Frogs



CIC119

 At least that's what they tell me.  It's not that pleasant a thought but if you find your prince then I guess it's worth it. 
Don't you just love the cupcakes for this week's Cupcake Inspirations challenge?  I don't know which I like better that adorable little green fella or the castle.  It's a good thing I don't have to pick one.
This week's sponsor is Anita Be Stampin' and you can find out what the prize is, the challenge rules and get lots more inspiration from the design team by clicking here.

There was no hesitation in picking my stamp this week.  Isn't this little guy perfect?  I also choose to use the pinks and greens from that yummy looking icing.  I love buttercream icing and these cuppies have me drooling.  I'd love to be licking that icing off right now, but the mean old doctor told me no sugar (she's actually pretty young and very nice)  But I digress... It's a great color combination. 
So what will you do?  I can't wait to see your creations.  Don't forget to link them up so the design team can come visit you.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - The Cat's Pajamas - "Love Is in the Air"
ink - Stazon black; Stampin' Up "Green Galore"
paper - Stampin' Up "Confetti White" and "Certainly Celery" cs and "Shades of Spring" dp
miscellaneous - Stampin' Up watercolors; Close To My Heart green clip; Stampin' Up oval and scalloped oval punch; Nesties Floral Doily Motif; MFT die-namics "Faux Crochet" border die; baker's twine; pink gingham ribbon; crown charm; bling

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC119 - photo inspirations
Cute Card Thursday #173 - Going Round in Circles
The Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES167 - watercolor
L'il Red Wagon - Lime, Pink and White
the Stampin' B #119 - Make a Card with Bling

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Now go get busy making a card for this week's Cupcake Inspiration challenge, I can't wait to see what you make.

Wings and Things

 can't see the ballerina charm on the bow?  click the photo to enlarge

Sugar Creek Hollow is one of my favorite challenge sites so I was thrilled to be asked to guest design for them (a big hug and thanks for having me play with you this week).  SCH challenges you to make a project in a vintage, shabby chic or primitve style.  One of the things I love to do to my cards is shabby them up.  I can and do spend hours sponging and pouncing ink on paper. 

This week the theme is "Wing Things" so you can us fairies, angels, birds and butterflies for example.  So I chose to use a fairy teddy bear ballerina.  It's from Teddy Bo and if you visit here regularly you know that the bears are a favorite of mine.  Can you blame me?


don't forget the inside

  Here's the deets:
stamp - Teddy Bo "Ballerina Bea"
ink - hp printer; Ranger "Tea Dye", "Vintage Photo", "Scattered Straw" and "Antique Linen"
paper - Wausau "Shell" dp; DCWV "the Garden Party"
miscellaneous - copics; glitzy glitter; silk ribbon; ballerina charm; Recollections pearls; Nesties lacey circle; Sizzex decorative flourish; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Sugar Creek Hollow - Wing Things
Totally Papercrafts #75 - Girly Girls
Digital Tuesdays #119 - Spellbound (use one or more dies - Spellbinders or otherwise)
Charisma Cardz #28 - It's in the Stars (her wand has a star)
Teddy Bo #14 - use Teddy Bea only
Shabby Tea Room #70 - photo inspirations (pink floral wreath)
Kaboodle Doodle #75 - Use Those Scissors
Whoopsie Daisy - We Love Pink

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again. 

Shop Ahoy



there's a credit card charm attached to the bow

 There's nothing that's much more fun than hitting the mall with your buddies.  It looks like Teddy Bea has hit Bloomingdale's and Tiffany's.  I don't know if there's a Bloomies anywhere near where I live now but back in NJ, I sure knew where to find them.  I even worked at Bloomies for awhile.  I think I ended up spending more than I earned there and that was with the discount!  Well that was a long time ago and shopping is no longer an aerobic exercise for me, but my darling daughter has taken it up. 






close up of the charm
you can click to enlarge the photo


Here's the deets:
stamp - Teddy Bo digi image  "Shopping Daze"
ink - Ranger "Scattered Straw" and "Walnut Stain"
paper - MFT "Sno-Cone" cs; Georgia Pacific white cs; My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose "Hattie Papers"
miscellaneous - copics; the Cat's Pajamas aqua seam binding; button; credit card charm; Close to My Heart "buttercup" brads; Nesties label 1; sewing machine; baker's twine

Here's the challenges:
Teddy Bo #14 - Teddy Bea only
Digital Tuesday #119 - Spellbound

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Woof!

it's hard to see the bone button on the rosette
click on the photo to enlarge it

That's dog for Happy Birthday!  Who doesn't like our furry friends?  I'm always skeptical of people who don't like dogs, if they've been bitten or have allergies I can understand but I don't know how anyone else can resist a furry face.  As you can imagine most of my buddies have dogs and/or cats.  So, I've got a card ready to go for the next one's birthday.  Yeah for forethought and planning, two things I seldom do.

There's not much to point out about this card except for the stitching on the cross element.  My little sewing machine punched out, and I can't seem to fix it which meant I had to break down and get the big guns out.  So I hefted my trusty old Bernina out and decided to try one of the preset stitches, a double "x" or a quadruple zig zag not quite sure what you'd call it but it turned out to look pretty good.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties "Dog Gone Birthday"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - Stampin' Up "Crushed Curry", "Bermuda Bay" cs; DCWV "the Pet's Stack" dp
miscellaneous - copics; Nesties circle and scalloped circle dies; MFT die-namics jumbo scallop and scalloped scallop border and layered labels dies; Queen and Co Baby Blue rhinestones; mini brads; linen twine; the Cat's Pajamas rosette die; Stampin' Up ribbon; Taylored Expressions bling; doggie charm; bone button; sewing machine


Here's the challenges:
Paper Pretties PWC162 - Animals
Stampin' B #119 - Make a Card with Bling
Southern Girls #23 - Happy Birthday
Do You Stack Up DYSU#28 - Sew, Faux or Real
Creative Belli #121- Custom Made Belli (the rosette with bone button)
Ladybug Crafts Ink #35 - Summer Birthdays
Sweet Stampin' - Cute and Cuddly
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some Stitching

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

Ouch!

This cupcake is supposed to be dressed up as a mummy for Halloween but here's it's being used for a get well soon card.  One of my buddies had her knee operated on on Monday so this will be going out to her in the hopes of cheering her up.  I spoke to her on Tuesday and physically, her knee is feeling better than it has in months but she's a feeling a little blue because she has to rest and would rather be at the beach.  Well, I can't blame her, it's summer, who wants to sit on the couch.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Taylored Expressions "Trick or Sweet"; "Pennant a La Carte" and "It's a Banner Day"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Close to My Heart "Ocean" and Studio G (doesn't have a name on it, it's a creamy buttery yellow I used it for the banner, you can hardly see it and a light aqua for the image on the inside)
paper - Stampin' Up "Bermuda Bay" cs; Georgia Pacific cs; October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"dp
miscellaneous - copics; mini brads; Taylored dies "Pennant Border" and "Banner Day 1"; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Taylored Expressions TESC142 - sketch
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Fab N Funky #81 - Baker's Dozen (feature food)
Secret Crafter #142 - Get Well Soon
Stamp With Fun #119 Get Well Soon

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.

I Scream, U Scream...

there's an ice cream cone charm hanging on the green ribbon
clicking on the photo will enlarge it

We all scream for ice scream.  Do you see your favorite summer treat in this group?  Mine was the Creamsicle, orange sherbet with vanilla ice cream in the center with the fudgsicle as a close runner up.   Well, this week the challenge at Pile It On is to use your favorite technique.  My fav is paper piecing otherwise I probably would have colored the pop orange to look like a creamsicle.  This fun image is actually 3 images that can be used alone or in any combination.  They are from the Wax Fruit Company this week's sponsor.  Some of the other design team members used images from Wax Fruit Company, you can see them at the Pile It On challenge blog where you'll also find all the information you need to play along with us, the rules, the linkey things, links to lots of other challenges, all the goodies are here.  The one thing you need to know is that you have to combine our challenge and at least one other challenge but we love to see you "pile on" the challenges. 

Here's the deets:
stamp - Wax Fruit Co. digi image "So Cool"  
ink - hp printer; Ranger "Tattered Rose"
paper - DMD "Wink" dp; Stampin' Up "Certainly Celery" cs; MFT "Bubblegum" cs
miscellaneous - copics; Close To My Heart" square brads and clip; ZVA bling; Hero Arts "Sparkle Gems"; ice cream cone charm; SU "Certainly Celery" ribbon; EK Success "Dotted Wave" border punch; nesties rectangle, scalloped rectangle, oval and scalloped oval dies; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Pile It On - Your Favorite Technique (Paper Piecing)
One Stop Craft #139 - Summer Time
CES - Recipe: 1 image, 2 ribbons, lace or twine, 3 dp
Totally Gorjuss #88 - Summer time
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C95 - Make a Summer themed card
Allsorts week 111 - Free and Easy July
Really Reasonable Ribbon #27 - Picnic/Summer Fun
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Celebrate choice 3 from: punches, bling, ribbon, embossing, digi images and homemade embellishments
Southern Girls - Bring Out Your Inner Child
2 Sisters #47 - Summer Fun
Paper Cutz #99 - Ice Cream Cones, Popsicle, Sundae or Milk Shake
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
My Time to Craft - a la carte Show Food of Some Sort
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Summer
I {Heart} Ribbon - #6 - Lots of Ribbon (2 or more)
Simon Says - A Stitch in Time

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Now get busy and make a creation for the Pile It On challenge to use your favorite technique.