More Pretty challenges



can you see the flower charm hanging off the flower?

 Are you a fan of Sophia? Who isn't?  This week the Fussy and Fancy Challenge (I love their motto "Less is more...but more is better) is being sponsored by Paper Pretties.  The challenge is Embossing and/or Paper Piecing.  The prize is your choice of 5 digi images (WOW!) and the "Hippity Hoppity Sophia" stamp set (scroll down a few posts and you can see the egg shaped card I made using that set).

I used "Giving Thanks Sophia" because her dress is perfect for paper piecing.  Of course you don't have to use a Paper Pretties stamp to enter the challenge but we love to see what you do with them.  Here's a link so you can find out all the details about this challenge and link up your card or project.
















don't forget the inside



Here's the deets:

stamp - Paper Pretties "Giving Thanks Sophia"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"

paper - Wausau Paper Classics terra green cs; MFT Pink Lemonade cs; Georgia Pacific white cs; Me and My Big Ideas "Destination Paradise" do pad

miscellaneous - Copics; Prima flowers; tiny green heart button; DMC floss; Heidi Swapp bling; Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" border punch; Nesties oval and scalloped oval dies; American Traditions Lil' Charms

Here's the challenges:
Sweet Stop SSS97 - sketch
Paper Sundaes #58 - How Charming
Stamptacular Sunday #100 - You've Been Framed
CR84FN17 - Light Pink, Dark Pink, Chartreuse (great combo!)
Sweet Stampin' -  Oh, So Girly
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C76 - Use flowers
Stampin' B #99 - Use a Flower

Stamp Something - Something with Flowers

Fuzzy and Fancy Challenge - Embossing and/or Paper Piecing

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Have fun with the Fussy and Fancy Challenge and Good Luck!

Coffee and Cream



did you notice the little pail charm?

That's the color challenge put out there by Simon Says. Well, I drink my coffee very light. I even put milk in my latte. So for me that's beige, light beige and tan. I needed to add a little yellow for sunshine and blue for the water on the beach but otherwise this card is beige. You wouldn't believe how many "E" copics I used on this image. This is the first time this stamp set has seen ink. It's about time! Pure Innocence is such a cutey pie and it's always fun to play with her so making this card was as much fun as going to a party.

don't forget the inside



Here's the deets:

stamp - My Favorite Things "Pure Innocence - Beach Bum"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Versafine "Toffee"
paper - Nicole beige and yellow cs; DCWV "Sandy Beach"; Paper Pizazz "Sea Shells"; My Favorite Things white Perfect Panel for image
miscellaneous - copicsNesties circle and inverted scallop circle; EK Success "Beach" border punch; stickles; cork; wood button

Here's the challenges:
Sweet Sunday SSSC106 - sketch
Paper Sundaes #58 - How Charming
Corrosive #105 - Distressing
Sugar Creek Hollow - inside out
Simon Says - Coffee and Cream
CCEE1108 - Distress

Thanks for stopping by and looking.  Your visits make my day.  Before you leave will you click on the pink ribbon in my sidebar, it's for funding mammograms.

Cupcake Inspirations is Celebrating!



Can you see the heart  buttons and wheelbarrow charm?  Click on the photo to enlarge.

 Cupcake Inspirations is celebrating its 100th challenge today.    We've got three sponsors and Rachel has a great prize that she put together.  Robyn's Fetish is giving away 5 digi images and a digi paper pack.  
the Octopode Factory is give a $10 gift certificate.  Former design team member Anita of Anita Be Stampin is generously giving a $15 gift certificate to her web store and then there's the goodies that Rachel is giving away.  What great stuff you could win, I'm a little jealous.
All you have to do to win one of those great prizes is to whip up a card or project using the photo of the cupcakes as your inspiration. 

Rainbow Sunshine Cuppies

I was inspired by the colors and shapes.  I found a stamp with a couple types of flowers on it that reminded me of the cuppies.   That stamp has been sitting uninked since I got it a very, very, long time ago so I was thrilled to use it.  Next I hunted down papers with the colors in the inspiration photo.  Found a good match with "Ducks In A Row".

Now, I'm going to point you in the direction of some of the little things that you may not see on your first look.  In the corners there are pink bling, the bling is also in the centers of the flowers in the punched border.  There are two sparkly heart buttons, one of which has a charm hanging off it.  There's stickles on the flowers and leaves, a lace edged gingham ribbon is under the pink satin ribbon and it's sewn down.  The edges of the papers are sponged.  I wish you could see it in person.




the button is a really sweet heart



After you've made your card link it up on the challenge blog and mention the challenge in your post. Easy as pie (or cupcakes as the case may be).   Then chill, next week you can see if you were one of the lucky winners. 




 
 
 



don't forget the inside

 Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "Harvest of Hope"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Ranger "Antique Linen"
paper - MFT Pink Lemonade cs for base and mats; DCWV aqua cs for mat; MFT "Sweet Tooth" white cs for borders; MFT white Perfect Panels for stamping; October Afternoon "Ducks In a Row" dp
miscellaneous - Heidi Swapp bling; copics; SU corner punch; Martha Stewart "Hydrangea" border punch; Creative Memories scalloped corner punch; aqua rick rack; MFT "rick rack" die-namics; La Petit heart buttons; SU linen twine; wheelbarrow charm; stickles; sewing machine


Here's the Challenges:
Stamp Something - Something with Flowers
Paper Cutz #80 - Project for Spring
Shabby Tea Room week #50 - buttons and bows
Sweet Stampin' - Oh so girly
Sugar Creek Hollow - Inside Out (my resolution was to do the insides of my cards!)
One Stop Craft week #120 - Spring flowers

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.   I also hope you'll have time to play in our Cupcake Inspirations challenge, link up your card or project so we can come leave you some love.

I Only Cry At,,,

Can you see the little charm, click the photo to enlarge it.

EVERYTHING!  I even cry over stupid  commercials.  I'm just a blubbering idiot.  Buddy Eileen cries too, the rest of the crew are munching away on the popcorn wondering what the heck is wrong with us, cause it's only the coming attractions. Pathetic.

This week the Cat's Pajamas challenge is a color challenge, pink, chocolate and teal.   A distinctly yummy combo.

Hey, do you follow the kitty pack.  They have a new thread over on Splitcoast called "Pick of the Litter".  Everyday they feature a card.  It's a fun thread and everyday there's some great eye candy for you to see.  Go check it out.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - the Cat's Pajamas "Good Friends"; Taylored Expressions "It's a Banner Day 1"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Memento "Rich Cocoa"; Versamagic "Pixie Dust"
paper - Nicole brown cs for card base; MFT Pink Lemonade cs for mats; MFT Sweet Tooth cs for inside; Georgia Pacific white cs for stamping; DCWV teal cs for apron borders; My Mind's Eye "Tickled Pink" dp
miscellaneous - copics; Taylored Dies "Banner Day 1"; ticket charm; teal twill ribbon; rick rack; Jenni Bowlin pink vintage style buttons; My Mind's Eye Lost and found brown and teal buttons; gelly roll pen; Jolee teal bling; Taylored Expressions Crystal Tiny Twinkles; Nesties circle and lacey circle dies; the Cat's Pajamas Cut Ups Apron border; bakery twine; sewing machine; Sulky thread

Here's the challenges:
the Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES149 - pink, chocolate, teal
Polka Doodles  week 8 - 2 ribbons and a charm and a fav stamp from your stash
Southern Girls #13 - Brads, gems or dew drops (Let's do the time warp again!!!)
Crafty Catz 71 - Friendship
Fussy and Fancy - Embossing and/or Paper Piecing
Paper Playtime CH#39 - technology
Shabby Tea Room -#50 - Buttons and Bows
Paper Variety - Sew Much Fun
Creative Card Crew - Friendship
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - They Say It's Your Birthday

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

Who Knew I Could Like Glitter



if you can't see the mermaid charm click on the photo to enlarge it

 Glitter!  That's the Paper Pretties challenge this week.  Talk about a challenge.  Well for me it's a challenge.  Most of my scrapping buddies know I cringe when the glitter comes out.  I love the way it looks but I hate the way it gets into everything.  Heck, I'm still finding those hellacious micro beads on my desk and I used them a month ago. 

Use glitter, I did, and lots of it.  I cut out the plant like things and coated their edges with glitter.  It looks a lot more glittery in real life. 
You can use a lot or a little, just use some glitter and play with us.  Take a few minutes to check out the samples by the other DT members and get all the deets about the challenge and the prize.  Then go get inky and go back to the blog to link up your creation.

Would you like some more chances to win Paper Pretties stamps?  That’s a dumb question, isn’t it.  This month Paper Pretties is sponsoring Midnight Madness and this week they are sponsoring the Crazy for Challenges challenge  to use dies.   That’ three challenges this week that you can enter so go get inky.

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties "Under the Sea Sophia"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Stampin' Up "Soft Sky"
paper - Best Occasions green cs for base; DCWV aqua cs for mat; Me and My Big Ideas "Ellen - Starfish" dp
miscellaneous - felt; pearly ribbon; SU Linen twine; mermaid charm; copics; Glitzy glitter; nesties scalloped square, circle and inverted scalloped circle; rounded corner punch; stickles; the Cat's Pajamas wave Cut-Ups

Here's the challenges:
Paper Pretties PWC142 - Glitter
Corrosive #104 - Magical Creatures
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C75 - Use Dies to Create Your Card
Raise the Bar #54 - Inspired by a Child's Cartoon Character
Truly Scrumptuous #51 - Swirls and Pearls
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Show Us What You Got
Pile It On #8 - Childhood Dreams (I'm still dreaming of becoming a mermaid - hey, it could happen)
Creative Belli #111 - Use Felt or Fabric

Go get inky now, use your glitter, it'll be a little bit messy but it'll be more fun than messy, then link it up here.  I'm looking forward to seeing your creations.

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

What You Resist...



Did you notice I didn't use a charm? 

 PERSISTS!  Why do I even bother to try to resist candy?  I resisted the Cat's Pajamas challenge "to do something sweet" to make something and incorporate candy in it, so what happened.  I ended up with a giant Chunky candy bar. 
This is a matchbook card.  Ordinarily you'd make this the size of, well, duh, the size of a matchbook and you'd put one of the little square mints in it but not me, oh no, I had to use this stamp which was too large for a regular size matchbook so I had to find a candy that would fit.  So it's all Alma's (Alma, you can blame Julie)  fault that I just ate a huge hunk of candy.   I'd blame those rascally penguins but they're no where in sight.

here's the side view











There are a few other challenges that caught my interest, they involve making a masculine card (for those of you new to card making "masculine" is code for brown) and a real challenge to use a different fold.  I've started to get comfortable with easel cards so I needed to challenge myself to make something different and I remembered the matchbooks I'd seen on Splitcoast.  If you'd like to try one (may I suggest you try a normal sized one) you can find a tutorial on Splitcoast.

don't forget the inside

Here’s the deets:
Stamp – The Cat’s Pajamas “Birthday Bunny”

Ink – Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper – DCWV green cs; Best Occasion beige (two shades) cs; MFT Perfect Panel white cs; Stampin’ Up “Branbury” dp

Miscellaneous – copics; SU ice squares brads; Nesties scalloped square and Fleur de Lis; SU oval and scalloped oval punches

Here's the challenges"
The Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES146 - Do something sweet
Kaboodle Doodle #55 - Break Tradition use a new fold
Craft Your Passion #46 - Dude time doodles
Paper Sundaes #57 - Masculine colors - Navy, dark green, brown 
Secret Crafter #122 - Fancy Folds
One Stop Craft week 119 - Birthday card
If the Shoe Fits FF#67 - Happy Birthday
Crafty Catz #70 - One for the men
Tuesday Throwdown - incorporate a pocket (see the side view)

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

So Sweet

who could cut this cake?

This cake is the most beautiful thing I've seen this week.  It's jaw dropping gorgeous.  Who could put a knife to this?  Well I'm glad I'm not faced with that dilemma.  My job was to use this photo for inspiration, now that I can do.  How about you? 
This week at Cupcake Inspirations the challenge is to make a card or project using this bit of scrummy-liciousness as your inspiration and if that isn't enough to get you inky the prize this week is 5 images from Prairie Fairy.  Did you get that?  Are you double checking, yes 5, FIVE images.  The design team got to pick an image to use and it was not an easy choice, there are so many beautiful images available at Prairie Fairy.  Stop over at Cupcake Inspirations to see some more of the images you could win.  The DT have made some beautiful eye candy to get your creative juices flowing.  You'll also find the rest of the rules (don't worry it's pretty laid back, but you know there's no back linking, that sort of stuff) and the linky thingy to post your creation.  
As I was telling you, Prairie Fairy gave the DT a choice of images.  For my card I chose to use "So Sweet" and that is the perfect name for this fairy.  
I used the colors and looked for a paper with a design similar to that on the cake.  What will you do?  I can't wait to see your card or project so go get inky and then get linky.  I'll be checking.

Here's the deets:

can you see the flower charm?  click on the pic to enlarge it.

stamp - Prairie Fairy digi "So Sweet"
ink - printer
paper - Georgia Pacific white cs for image; Stampin' Up cs for base and mats; Autumn Leaves Manhattan "Carlyle" and "Tiffany's" dp
miscellaneous - copics, charm; ribbon; MFT hot fix crystals; nesties; sewing machine; Martha Stewart "Floral Lace" border punch; Stampin' Up "Crochet Trim"


don't forget the inside

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations #99 - cake photo
Cute Card Thursday #152 - Shiny, happy cards!
Really Reasonable Ribbons #18 - Spring theme
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz
                                                         4 Crafty Chicks - fairy/angel/butterfly
                                                         Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Spring Fever

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with our Cupcake Inspirations challenge.  How can you pass up the chance to win 5 Prairie Fairy images.

Spring Is Springing



 Good-bye winter cards, hello Spring.  I don't mind making more winter cards, they're just cards, it's 80 degrees here so a little snow on a card is no big deal to me, but those Valentine's, I don't think I could make another Valentine.  I knew I'd seen one too many hearts when I realized I was singing that old song "Love Stinks" as I was visiting blogs.  Not exactly the phrase you should be leaving in your comments. 
So yeah!  This week I'm seeing "Spring" themed challenges as I make my stops.  Easter and Spring go hand in hand.  So today was the day to finally get this stamp inky.
The Crazy for Challenges ladies asked us to use dies to create our project.   Put that together with Easter and it's time for an egg card,  I love egg shaped cards so that's what I decided to make.  To make the card I took my largest egg shaped nestie and drew a line about an inch and a half away from that edge on a card stock base and cut it out.  I hope somebody sends me an egg shaped card soon so I can get a better template.  In the meantime this'll do.

By the way, Paper Pretties is sponsoring the Crazy for Challenges challenge.   So play along with the Crazies and the Pretties, have some fun. 

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties "Hippity Hoppity Sophia"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black for image; Stampin' Up "Soft Sky" for sponging and inside egg stamps
paper - Stampin' Up Kraft cs for base; Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Collection "Fairy Folk"
miscellaneous - copics; basket charm; button; prima flowers; stickles; baby brad; DMC floss; Taylored Dies "Banner Day 1"

Here's the challenges:
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C75 - Use dies to create your card
Sugar Creek Hollow - Buttons and Bows
Creative Inspirations #53 - Distress
Just Us Girls #72 - Aqua, Melon and Kraft
Charisma Cardz week 7 - Spring has Sprung
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Spring Fever

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again.  Your comments make my day. 

Monochromatic

can you see the cross charm?  click on the photo to enlarge it.

Monochromatic!  Yikes, Stampin' for the Weekend really challenged me.
When I see "Monochromatic" for a challenge I usually take a deep gulp and then think about it for hours, maybe days, if it's days I usually miss the challenge due date. 
It really shouldn't be that difficult, but for me it is because I love to sit and color images and match papers.  BUT there are many times when a cute, perky and colorful card is just not going to work.  Of course you can make a perky, fun monochromatic card, think bright shades of orange or yellow.  How about a cute sweet baby card in shades of pink, or blue.
I chose to make my card one that could be used as a Sympathy or Thinking of You card using shades of purple.  The image was stamped with a craft ink and then covered with embossing powder, you can't tell from this photo but in real life it has that little extra lift off the paper and a bit of shine.  Embossing wet or dry is one of the things that will give a monochromatic card a little extra zing. 
If you need some more inspiration check out what the rest of the DT made by clicking here . Don't forget to leave them a little love, we all appreciate reading your comments.


don't forget the inside

 Here's the deets:
stamp - Stampin' Up "Stem Silhouettes"
ink - Stampin' Up "Perfect Plum"; Ranger "Milled Lavender" sponged on edges
paper - Stampin' Up "Pale Plum" cs and "Subtles Collection" dsp; MFT "Sweet Tooth" cs
miscellaneous - round corner punch; DMC floss; May ribbon; cross charm; SU clear embossing powder; Hero Arts pearls; Nesties oval and scalloped oval

Here's the challenges:
Stampin' for the Weekend challenge 4 - Monochromatic
Stampin' B #98 - make a monochromatic card
Paper Play week 7 - add shine

Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll come back again and join the Stampin' for the Weekend  challenge.  Have fun, get inky.

Butterfly Kisses

can you see the little butterfly charm?



Have you had enough Valentines cards?  I'm still seeing hearts all over blogland and I'm ready to move onto SPRING so here's my card for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge.  I picked a few other challenges that worked with my need to get away from Valentines.  There's a couple blingy and shiny challenges and a great spring color challenge.  They're all listed after the deets. 




give the inside a little love too!

 
Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things Pure Innocense "Butterfly Kisses"; MFT "Flower Silhouette" die and stamp set
Ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Versafine "Toffee" for the sentiment, flowers and sponging
paper - My Mind's Eye "Tickled Pink" dp; card base from AC Moore package; yellow cs "Urban Oasis"; aqua cs DCWV
miscellaneous - Flower Silhouette MFT die-namic; Butterfly MFT die-namic; copics; butterfly charm; DMC floss; the Cat's Pajama aqua Glitzy Glitter; Hero Arts sparkle gems flower; My Mind's Eye "Tickles Pink" bling; Martha Stewart "Hydrangea" border punch; Stampin' Up corner punch and slot punch

Here's the challenges:
My Favorite Things MFTWSC7 - sketch
Charisma Cardz week 7 - Spring Has Sprung (yeah!)
Paper Play week 7 - Add Shine (bling, glitter and charm)
Stampin' Royalty #59 - Mark It Up
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Spring Fever
City Crafter #44 - Cute Stuff Tokyo (yellow, aqua, pink and dark pink)

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

A Child's Card



can you see the little kitty charm?  click on the photo to enlarge it.

 
What's in your stash? Do you have a card for a chiId in there? I didn't and it's not like I never need one so this week's Paper Pretties challenge PWC141 to make a card for a child worked out well for me. You know you're going to need one sooner or later so why not get a jump on it and join us this week. Go here to get some inspiration from the rest of the DT and then get inky. Link up your creation for a chance to win a prize. All the deets are on the Paper Pretties challenge blog, there's also a link to the boutique you can go shopping too!


don't forget the inside



Here's the deets:
stamp - Paper Pretties "Reading Sophia"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - MFT "Banana Split" cs; the dp is from Heather at Paper Pretties and I don't know the name but it's cute for a kid's card; white Georgia Pacific cs for image
miscellaneous - copics, charm, twine; buttons; ribbon; circle punches; Nesties "Circle" and "Lacey Circles"; Recollections pearls; Creative Memories scalloped corner punch

Here's the challenges"
Paper Pretties PWC141 - card for a child
Friday Sketchers - sketch



Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again. Your comments make my day. I also hope you have the time to get inky, I really enjoy seeing what you all do with the challenges.

Feeling Blue



can you see the little paw charm?  you can click on the photo to enlarge it.

 Blue, bling and buttons.  The dragon could be blue because he's missing his good buddy or it might just be his color.  Beats me (another blue).  Katie was having a "B" day, but not necessarily a birthday when she set this challenge. 
This week Cooking It Up With Katie is being sponsored by Stamping Dragon.  The DT got to pick an image so you should stop by Cooking It Up With Katie to see some more of the fine dragons available from Stamping Dragon.  You can also check out the prize.  Of course you're going to want the prize so whip up a project using blue, bling and buttons and link it up.  If you want just go shopping at Stamping Dragon and get your hands on this fine specimen. 
For this card I had to paper piece the curtains, you might not have to, but I knew this guy's mother had put up some pretty floral chintz curtains.  This is a digi image so to paper piece I just taped a small piece of dp on my cs and printed over it.  Now, for this particular image I needed to get the windowsill over the curtains so I printed an extra image and cut it out, then glued it over the curtains.  It was pretty easy.  Give it a try.

Here's the deets:
stamp - digi from Stamping Dragon
ink - HP printer
paper - Bazzill "Blue Calypso" cs; Nicole blue cs; "Shangri-La" La Palette dp
miscellaneous - Taylor's Tiny Twinkles; DMC floss; buttons; MFT "Oval Chain Border" die-namics; round corner punch; "Lacey Circle" and "Circle" nestibilities

Heres' the challenges"
Cooking It Up with Katie - Bling, Buttons and Blue
Our Creative Corner - Cut It Out (the curtains and windowsill)
Charisma Cardz week 6 - Mythical/Fantasy
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz

Thanks for stopping by, your comments make my day.  I hope you'll come back again and I hope you'll find time to play in the Cooking It Up With Katie challenge.

Where'd it go?



too bad the bling doesn't show

 Have you ever had this happen - I tried to spell check my post and the entire post vibrated and wouldn't let me apply the spell check.  I gave up on that and hit publish post and half my post got deleted!  I am really annoyed, I spent a long time writing it up and telling you all about how my mojo is still lost and how the card was made and I think it was a rather witty post.  Now I'm so annoyed my sense of humor has left town too.  It's probably out at a bar with my mojo having a good time and a beer.
Unfortunately I have other things to do today besides feel sorry for myself or try to recreate the entire post so here's a photo of the

can you see the bunny stamp?

Here's the deets:
stamp - the Cat's Pajamas "Skiing Bunny"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black'"; Stampin' Up "Soft Sky"
paper - Stampin' Up "Soft Suede" cs; Close To My Heart "Aspen" dp and light tan cs
miscellaneous - copics; charm; Stampin' Up "Soft Suede" ribbon, linen twine; mini brads; Taylor's Tiny Crystal Twinkles; Snow Writer; The Cat's Pajama's "Snowflake " Cut Ups; "Nesties Lacey Circle", "Circle" and "Snowflake 1"; EK Success "Snowflake" border punch; Gelly Roll pen; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
the Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES145 - photo inspiration (a blue and brown cake - you have decide if the bunny is blue because I like blue bunnies more than brown bunnies or is he freezing his butt off on the ski slopes?)
Crafty Ho's - sketch (great sketch you whacky gals!)
CES #23 - Cute and Cuddly (he's very cute and very cuddly)
Our Creative Corner - Cut It Out (the scarf is pieced and the ears are cut outside the nesties)
Freshly Brewed #34 - Use a charm (I try to use a charm on every card)
Going Grey with Scrap Creations -  Animal Antics
Pile It On #7 - Love Plaid
Southern Girls - Blue and Chocolate
Thanks for visiting, I love reading your comments, they make my day.  I hope you'll come back again.  If you stumble across my mojo send it home, all is forgiven.

Cupcake Inspirations



Just gorgeous!  and inspiring...



How's this cupcake for inspiration?  It's gorgeous isn't it?  This is the inspiration photo for Cupcake Inspirations challenge CIC98.  This week the challenge is sponsored by Flourish with a Bling.  You have got to go over there and check out the beautiful embellishments they have for sale.  You'll get to see some samples on the challenge blog.  I don't have a sample to show simply because I became a member of the design team after this challenge was set up.  Technically my official first challenge will be next week but since I had some free time Rachel invited me to join the rest of the DT with a post.  You can check out what the girls have made with the flourishes here, there'll be links so you can leave them a little love on their blogs.  We all love reading your comments.

After you've drooled over those flourishes, you can avoid eating a piece of cake by getting your stamping supplies out and making a card or project inspired by this gorgeous cupcake and orchid.  At least for me one of the few times I don't eat is while I'm crafting.  Well, most of the crafting time...

I went hunting for a paper that has lots of flourishes on it and I've discovered that when I put all my layers on you can't see them.  I also drew some curlicues on the cupcake and the material she's sewing.  The colors for the icing and cake are inspired by the photo. 
Since this cuppie is sewing it seemed imperative that the card have some stitching, but I got too lazy to bring out the machine so I did a little faux stitching around all the edges.  Of course I had to add some stickles, and a charm. 
Last but not least there's the inside.  Don't forget the inside.  It gives the card so much ooomph (highly technical cardmaking term).  Seriously, you don't have to go crazy and if you don't have a lot of paper you can just add a little strip, when you're slicing the paper for your front hold onto those scraps so you can add something to the inside.  If you're a "Clean and Simple" designer well you can stamp a shadowy version of your main image and/or a sentiment on the inside.  Whatever you come up with, that inside deserves a little love too!






don't forget the inside

 Here's the deets:
stamp - Taylored Expressions "Crafty Cuppie"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic "Spring Pansy" for sentiment and inside
paper - Stampin' Up "Pale Plum" cs for base and mats; SU "Cottage Wall" dp; scrap of green cs for mat; Georgia Pacific white cs
miscellaneous -copics;  twine, charm; stickles; rick rack; SU "Orchid Opulance" marker; nesties; SU circle, scalloped circle, double slotted punches

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC98 - photo
A Sketch For You to Try - February sketch
Freshly Brewed #34 - Use a charm
Paper Variety - Cupcakes
Crafty Creations #105 - Three Little Words
Sugar Hollow Creek - Non-Traditional Valentine no pink or red  (OK I snuck in the red cherry, but no hearts or pink)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again and I hope you'll join us in the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge, if you do I'll be by to leave you some love.

L'il Pumpkin

This is a card I made a couple weeks ago.  It was made for an e-zine publication call but the date for notifications of acceptance have come and gone so it's time to share this sweetheart with you. 

don't forget the inside

Here's the deets:


stamp - My Favorite Things (Pure Innocence) "L'il Pumpkin"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" for face image; Ranger "Spiced Marmalade" for sponging; Stampin' Up "Pumpkin Pie" for inside image

paper - Cosmo Cricket "Nutmeg" pad for dp; Warsau "Tuscan Sun" cs for base; My Favorite Things "Perfect Panel" for face image; Stampin' Up "Soft Suede" cs for mat; Recollections beige cs for inside

miscellaneous - Spellbinder's oval nestibilities; orange and white striped Mays Ribbon; Stampin' Up button; orange and white bakery twine; lace; pumpkin charm; copics; Stampin' Up corner punch; My Favorite Things "Faux Crochet" and "Simply Scallops" border die-namics; dimensionals

I don't have any challenges for this card, except that the publication call was a color challenge that had chocolate and oranges in it.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll stop by again.

Wednesday's MFT day

If you've paid any attention to the sidebar on this blog you know that there are lots of challenges listed there.  And if you visit here regularly you know that there are a few that I participate in regularly. 
Well, if it's Wednesday it's MFT day, might be Prince Macaroni day too, do you know that old TV commercial?  Not important, just the way my mind wanders.
MFT has decided to go with sketch challenges.  If you like a sketch to get your mojo going then check it out.
Speaking of mojo.  I've mentioned in the last two post that my mojo has split and I'm having a heck of a time making cards this week.  This was no exception.  I'm getting a little frustrated and hope that it comes back soon.  In the meantime I'll just keep plugging. 


don't forget the inside



Here's the deets:
stamps - My Favorite Things "Textile Rectangles" and "Flower Silhouettes"
ink - Stampin' Up "Pretty in Pink"
paper - Stampin' Up kraft cs for base and Pink Pirouette dp; Recollection white cs; scrap of pink marble cs
miscellaneous - Stampin' Up Pink Pirouette ribbon; SU Linen twine; Taylor's Tiny Twinkles; charm; MFT crochet border die-namic

Here's the challenges:
My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club MFTWSC6 - sketch
Freshly Brewed #34 - Use a charm
Color Q cQc#71 - kraft, Pretty in Pink, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette and white (oooh, I love this combo!)

Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll come back soon.

A Mojo Oh...Baby

can you see the teddy bear charm?  click on the photo to enlarge

Oh where of where has my mojo gone, oh where oh where can it be?  This has been a really bad week for me for making cards.  I keep pushing along and working but they are not coming easily.
This is the first Monday of the month so it's the contest week for Mojo Monday.  I used the sketch for this card.  Sometimes even a sketch doesn't click. 
That list of boy's names is really the list of names we had when I was pregnant.  Valentine was my favorite choice for a boy, my hubbie hated it.  It was my mother's grandfather's name.  Pierre was her father's name.  Nice Irish name huh?  Well we fought over every boy's name on the list.  The image is covering the girl's name portion of the list.  There was only one name on the list and my hubby thought it was perfect.  Since my doctor wanted me to have an amnio we knew early on that we were having a girl and that put an end to the lists.  But I digress...

The card just didn't flow but it's done.  I'm having a horrible week.  Nothing is coming easy and I'm not thrilled with any of what I'm making.  I tell you this so that you know you are not alone.

don't forget the inside


Some days you may decide to throw your stamps and markers down in disgust.  Other days you may just try to stick it out.  While I haven't been having an easy time of it in the end I think the card turned out fine.  

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things a la modes "Oh, Baby"
ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Scattered Straw and Spiced Marmalade
paper - My Mind's Eye "Fine and Dandy" dp; Stampin' Up "Tempting turquoise" cs for base and ma, "Certainly Celery" cs for sentiment mat; yellow scrap cs;
miscellaneous - copics; bling; twine; stickles;ribbon;  charm; button brads; Stampin' Up circle and scalloped circle punch, slot punch, corner punch; MFT scallop border die-namics

Here's the challenges:
Mojo Monday 177 - sketch
Tuesday Throwdown #35 - add button (button brads)
Pile It On #6 - Get Bright and Breezy

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