PIO #46 - Thankful

This week's Pile It On challenge is "Thankful".  If you're reading this post you have many things for which you can be thankful. First of all there's the power that's running your computer.  Over the last couple weeks many of my friends and relatives in New Jersey have been without electricity and it is not easy for them to go about their daily activities without it.  You can read and write so there's a teacher or two that deserve your gratitude.  I could go on with this list for a long time but you get the idea so make a card and play along with us at Pile It On.

The idea of Pile It On is to make a card for our challenge and at least one other but the more challenges you can enter the better.  If you need some help finding challenges you can check my sidebar for some but if you stop off at the Pile It On blog you'll find many more in the sidebar there and all the design team list the challenges they are entering their cards into so you'll find current challenges listed there. 


Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "Thankful Leaves" stamp and die set; Stampin' Up "Form and Function
ink - Stampin' Up "Pumpkin Pie" and "Soft Suede"; Memento "Rich Cocoa"
paper - Recollections card base and Neutrals card stock; Stampin' Up "Dusty Durango", "Crushed Curry" and "Soft Suede" card stock, "Patterns Pack - Neutrals" dsp; My Favorite Things "Kraft" card stock; Authentique "Thankful" dp
miscellaneous - My Favorite Things "Fall Leaves", "Circle Stax" and "Fishtail Flags Stax" die-namics; candy dots; brads; gold pearls; cotton cord; charm; Viva fold glitter pen; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Pile It On #46 - Thankful
Mojo Monday #266 - Sketch
Kaboodle Doodle #144 - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime #88 - Autumn Colors
the Kraft Journal - Happy Harvest
Partytime Tuesday #93 - Thank You
Ribbon Carousel RCC74 - Giving Thanks/Fall
Tuesday Throwdown  #123 - Autumn Leaves
Crafting for All Season #39 - Falling Leaves
Paper Pretties PWC23 - Thank You
What If Wednesdays DCC117 - Anything That Gives Thanks
Crafty Creations #195 - No Flowers
DYSU #97 - Leaves and Trees
Crafty Catz #158 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.

CIC186 - Cupcake Thief

It's time for the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge and as usual there's a photo of yummy goodies, don't you just want to sink your teeth into them.  They are so pretty and enticing but  I am going to be happy just looking at them.

This week the sponsor is My Heart Pieces.  Hop on over there to see some incredible images. 

The cupcakes themselves and the colors of the cupcakes are the inspiration for my card.  I love cupcake stamps and have quite a few.  This one is one of my favorites, but if you know me you know that whatever stamp I am currently using is my favorite.





Here's the deets:
stamp - Mo Manning "Cupcake Thief"
ink - hp printer]
paper - Bazzill "Intense Amethyst" and "Frosted Teal" card stock; Recollections "Pink Plaid" and "Cupcake" patterned paper; Paper Pizzazz "Bright Tints Yellow Gingham" patterned paper
miscellaneous - copics; Viva Glitter Liner "Holo Iridescent"; My Favorite Things "Fishtail Flag Stax" and "Oval Stax" die-namics; Spellbinders "Labels 18" die; pearls


Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC186 - photo
Raise the Bar #119 - Birthday
Totally Papercrafts #142 - Cute and Girly
Bronte and Bella #160 - C if for (Cute, Cute, Cute, and cupcake too)
Little Red Wagon #158 - Coloring
Simply Create Too #26 - Use Your Stash (I love the "Plaid" and "Cupcake" patterned papers so much I picked up multiple sheets of each and I still hate to use them - it's a sickness)
Paper Shelter #89 - Fairies and Elves
Digital Tuesday #185 - Fantasy

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.

SFTW#21 - All Stitched Up

It's Friday, yippee!  Is your weekend booked solid with shopping, and schlepping?  Or do you have time on your hands to lay back and chill?  Either way I always try to get some stamping done.  Stamping makes me happy and you know what they say, "if mama's happy, every body's happy".  So I hope you'll find some time to play along with us at Stampin' for the Weekend in our "All Stitched Up" challenge.  You know you've been wanting to try to sew on your cards, now would be a good time to give it a try.  But we don't want to exclude you if you can't sew, you can use "faux sewing", that's just a fancy way of saying "fake it". 

Stop over at our blog for some more inspiration.  The DT have made some amazing cards.  It's worth a visit.





Here's the deets:
stamp - Jellypark "Typewriter" digi stamp
ink - hp printer
paper - My Favorite Things "Pink Lemonade" and "Natural" card stock; My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found - Blush" patterned paper pad
miscellaneous - copics; ribbon; Martha Stewart tag punch; Stampin' Up linen thread; brads,
pearls; Cuttlebug embossing folder; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Stampin' for the Weekend #21 - All Stitched Up
One Stitch at a Time #138 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday #127 - Dimensions
Kaboodle Doodle #144 - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant TPE173 - Use Your Favorite Coloring Medium (copics)
Going Grey- Do It Digi
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon #158 - Coloring

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you find the time to play along in the Stampin' for the Weekend challenge "All Stitched Up"

It's Just Round the Corner

I used this week's My Favorite Things sketch for a Christmas card.  Maybe this year I'll be finished early...it could happen.

Here's the deets:

stamp - My Favorite Things "Seasonal Sentiments"

ink - Memento "Cottage Ivy"

paper - Stampin' Up "So Saffron"; My Favorite Things "Natural"; Basic Grey "Mistletoe and Pear" pad 

miscellaneous - copics; twine; charm; My Favorite Things "Western Star Duo", "Stacking Stars" and "Banner" die-namics

 

Here's the challenges:

My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club MFTWSC95 - sketch

Sentimental Sunday #127 - Dimensions

One Stitch at a Time #138 - Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts #141- Twinkle, Twinkle, Christmas Star

Basic Grey #80 - Anything Goes (using Basic Grey papers)

Crafty Sentiments - Seeing Stars

 

Thanks for visiting, come back again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIC185 Prairie Fairy Designs

Looks like winter in the northeast and the cooler climates.  Looks like someone went crazy with icing, that's my kind of baker.  The photo is for this week's  Cupcake Inspirations challenge  For me the northern woods theme is more inspiring for card making than the icing.  Prairie Fairy Designs is our sponsor this week and there are some great images that are perfect for this challenge.  I love the moose stamps and used one for my card.

The "Campfire"patterned paper pad by October Afternoon goes really well with the outdoorsy moose image.  The charm is a rabbit, would you believe I don't have a moose charm, unbelievable but true. 

Here's the deets:
stamp - Prairie Fairy Designs "Morley Dancing"
ink - hp printer
paper - Bazzill "Patch" card stock; Stampin' Up "Crushed Curry" card stock; October Afternoon "Campfire" cp
miscellaneous - copics; cord; charm; brads; My Favorite Things "Designer Labels Stax" die-namics; ribbon; Stampin' Up slot punch; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC185 - photo
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1231 - A Walk in the Woods
Really Reasonable Ribbon #59 - Winter Holiday

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.

Who Let the Dogs Out

Were you playing along with Splitcoast Stampers in the Hope You Can Cling To challenges?  Well, I am excited to say that this is the last challenge I had to complete to have done all of them and there's still a couple days left to get them posted.  I've even sent off two packages of cards. 

This last challenge is HYCCT1226 Who Let the Dogs Out.  Did you just go Woof, Woof in your head?  Well for me that song has been going thru my head since I started the card and I can't shake it.  Thank goodness I'm easily amused.

Here's the deets:
Stamp - Teddy Bo "Walkies"
ink - hp printer
paper - Stampin' Up "Basic Grey" card stock; My Favorite Things "Red Hot" card stock' October Afternoon "Saspirilla" dp
miscellaneous - copics; mini brads; bling; cord; charm; My Favorite Things "Triple Scallop border" die-namics; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1226 - Who Let the Dogs Out
Just Us Girls #161 - Sketch
Raise the Bar #118 - Anything Goes
DYSU #96 - Brads
Moving Along with the Times - Stitch Up
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards #25 - Stripes
Teddy Bo #44- Anything Goes

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

Hope's Into the Woods

I used to love to walk in the woods on the Appalachian Trail by the Delaware Water Gap, or at the gorgeous Girl Scout Camp Hoover and in the Poconos.  I really enjoyed walking in those woods during the day.  At night I usually wasn't afraid because I was usually with friends.  But when I had to take my dog for a walk at night in the Poconos I was usually alone and it was scary because even with our strongest flashlight I couldn't see even a foot in front of me and I was always tripping on rocks and roots in the road.  I was basically afraid I'd fall and break a leg.  Not scared of what was out there with me.  Now, here in Florida, I am pretty much scared to walk in the woods any time of day.  The woods here are the creepy places, even behind my house I won't go into the woods.  The wildlife here is just plain scary.   Now if there were cute little raccoons instead of pythons and alligators I might venture into the woods.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Taylored Expressions "Woodland Winter"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - Close To My Heart "Aspen" pack
miscellaneous - copics; Stampin' Up "Circle" and "Scalloped Circle" punches; blue cord; raccoon charm; bling

Here's the challenges:
Stampin' Up HYCCT1231 - A Walk in the Woods
Raise the Bar #118 - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon #59 - Winter Holiday
Fab 'n' Funky  #145 - Die Cuts and Punches
Southern Girls #56 - Animal Crackers
Card Makin' Mamas - Anything Goes
Totally Stampalicious - Anything Goes
Whoopsy Daisy - Punch It Out

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

 

Jellypark - New Release

Not only is today a new challenge day at Jellypark Friends, it's also a new release day. 

My card is using one of the new releases,  Mr. Giraffe, that's what I call him but if you go looking in the store for him he's just called "giraffe".  However, when you take him home you can call him anything you'd like and I know he responds well to "Mr. Giraffe".  


My card is a welcome baby card but in order to incorporate the "Back to Nature" theme I chose patterned paper that among other things has birds, insects and honey combs on it.

I can't wait to see what you'll make.



Here's the deets:
stamp - Jellypark Friends "Giraffe digi"
ink - hp printer
paper - Stampin' Up "So Saffron" cs; My Mind's Eye "Follow Your Heart - Be Amazing"dp
miscellaneous - copics; cork; button; hemp twine; rattle charm; My Favorite Things "Oval Stax" die-namics

Here's the challenges:
Jellypark Friends - Back to Nature
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1230 - Use Cork, Canvas or Clay
Fab 'n' Funky #145 - Die Cuts and Punches

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.  October is over so Pink-tober is also over.  However if you love pink you can use it if you can fit it into this week's challenge "Back to Nature".  We all love pink so go for it. 

Better Late

It's a day late for the My Favorite Things sketch challenge #95 but I'm trying to do all of them this year so here it is.  It's also for Hope You Can Cling To at Splitcoast Stampers.  HYCCT is winding down now.  All the challenges have been posted and there's just a couple days left to get your cards posted.

There are a couple I haven't done yet and a couple I have made and have to post but I'm pretty confident I'll get them all posted in time.

I'm starting to wonder what I'll do with myself now that this over?  Maybe cleaning the house...nah.

Here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "Vertical Greeting" die and stamp set
ink - Versa Magic "Spanish Olive"
paper - Basic Grey "Green at Heart"
miscellaneous - charm; ribbon; buttons; brads; bling; machine stitching

Here the challenges:
My Favorite Things MFTWSC95 - sketch
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1225B Ta, Ta, Toe
Moving Along with the Times - Stitch Up
DYSU #96 - Brads
Fab 'n' Funky - #145 - Die Cuts and Punches

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.

CIC184 - Limited Run

Those may be some scary monsters but they wouldn't stop me from scarfing down a couple of those cupcakes.  The only really scary part is the calories.  So we're just going to look at them as inspiration for this week's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge.

We have a new sponsor this week, Limited Run Digital Stamps.  Another fun and fabulous place to shop.  Check it out - you're gonna love it, trust me, I know.  The cupcake section is unbelievable. 

While I was looking around I found a neat not quite gruesome cupcake image that just struck my fancy.  Since the inspiration is cupcakes, I went with that and then I kept the color scheme and the overall Halloween theme.  Don't those teeth look like mini marshmallows, another item from the photo.  They're colored greenish yellow, just because I'm not too sure about if witches have good dental hygiene.  If your teeth are looking like this get to a dentist, FAST.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Limtied Run "Witchy Cupcake"
ink - hp printer
paper - Wausau Brights "Planetary Purple" cs; K & Co. "Kelly Panacci Halloween" dp
miscellaneous - copics; ribbon; witch charm; Recollections "Adhesive Embellishments" spider; mini brads; machine stitching; cord; My Favorite Things "Oval Stax" die-namics

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC184 - photo
Sweet Stampin' - What's Cooking/Something to Eat
Speedy Fox and Friends #131 - Pumpkins
One Stop Craft Challenge  #202 - Halloween
Allsorts week 178 - In  Stitches
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Spooky
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards #24 - Stitching
Friday Mash Up #82 - Witches and/or Bleaching Technique
Really Reasonable Ribbon #58 - Halloween & Ribbon theme
Totally Papercrafts #140 - Halloween

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.  Don't forget to check out Limited Run and get busy making a card for the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge, who know, maybe you'll win.

How to Make a Masculine Card

It's a Masculine Birthday challenge, try to keep the swearing to a minimum.  That's the theme this week at Pile It On challenges. 

Of course we have the perfect sponsor Dude Time Doodles.  They definitely have the male thing down.  If you want to make a card that a guy will really relate to you need to check them out.  I do not gravitate toward male stuff, I usually head straight to the cutesy girly stuff.  So having a few Dude Time images in my stash is really a godsend for those times when I need to make a masculine card. 

 As I've read comments on blogs I've seen so many people say that they struggle with masculine cards.  I understand this so well.  If you like to embellish and use pretty colors it's tough to make a card for a man. 

When I'm making a masculine card, I think "Clean and Simple".   Use your image and a greeting.  If you can get a scantily clad buxom female image you could stamp that on the back of used paper napkin, hand it over and say "Happy Birthday"and that would make most men so happy they wouldn't even notice that there really wasn't a card.  But if you look at Dude Time Doodles you'll find fun and funny images that show men doing things that real men do, like this guy doing yard work.  Then use your most boring, dullest colored papers, keep the embellishments down to a minimum - buttons are good, bling not so good throw it all together and you've got masculine mastered.  There's also funny sentiments, guys like humor on the card, usually crass humor works best.  Well that's my tutorial on making a masculine card.  Hope that helps you out.
 
Here's the deets:
stamp - Dude Time Doodles "Leif Blower"
ink - hp printer
paper - striped paper without markings on it, it's been in my stash forever; Recollections White card base; Bazzill "Yam" card stock
miscellaneous -copics; hemp twine; leaf charm; EK Success leaf punch; Bic brown marker for sentiment
 
Here's the challenges:
Pile It On #44 - Masculine Birthday
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1222 - Stand Like a Flamingo (One of Everything)
2 Sisters  #115 - Halloween or Fall Colors
Fussy and Fancy #74 - Anything Goes
Card Makin' Mamas - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz #156 - A Male Card, Option to Use a Number on It
Fussy and Fancy #74 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties PWC229 - Masculine
Simon Says - Autumn Leaves

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.  AND for some more ideas for masculine cards stop over at the Pile it On challenge.

SFTW #20 - Anything Goes

Go grab whatever you feel like playing with because this week it's "Anything Goes" at Stampin' for the Weekend.  Anything Goes is often a godsend for me.  So often there's a last minute card that I need, and if your challenge is calling for "Think Pink" and you need a masculine card, well, you're out of luck and you're gonna need some extra time.  Ahhh, but the "anything goes" gives you a chance to make whatever you stash is missing or whatever your heart desires.  And do I need to mention sympathy cards?

Here's the deets:
stamp - Jellypark Friends "Boy with Train"
ink - hp printer
paper - Bazzill "Maraschino" card stock; Stampin' Up "Gable Green" "Yo Yo Yellow" and "Ballet Blue" card stock; My Mind's Eye "Lime Twist - Out of the Blue" dp pad
miscellaneous - copics; Martha Stewart "Train" border punch; My Favorite Things "Stacking Stars" and "Circles Stax" die-namics; Sizzex "Buttons #5" die; burlap twine; train charm

Here's the challenges:
Stampin' for the Weekend #20 - Anything Goes

I've been away from the computer, seriously can't believe I didn't even check my e-mail so I'm not sure what challenges are around this week.  Lots to catch up on for me.

Thanks for stopping by, please come back again.

Keeping Busy with Hope

It's pumpkin picking time.  I always enjoyed going to those places when my kid was little but somewhere along the line someone came up with corn maze idea.  Let me pass on a warning, if you are claustrophobic that is not a place for you to go.  If you get just a tad anxious when you think you're stuck in place you don't want to be, again this is not a place for you to be.  Don't ask me how I know...




Here's the deets:
stamp - Mo Manning "the Big One"; Stampin' Up "Short and Sweet"
ink - hp printer; Stampin' Up "Always Artichoke" marker for sentiment
paper - We R Memory Keepers "Autumn Splendor - Tawny"; KI Memories "Grateful Tree Farm"; DCWV Neutrals card stock pad
miscellaneous - copics; My Favorite Things "Fishtail Flags Stax" and "Circle Stax" die-namics; EK Success leaf scroll border punch; mini brads

Here's the challenges:
Splitcoast Stamper HYCCT1217 - "Pinking Shears
Bronte and Bella #157 - Autumn Fun
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
No Matter Which - Halloween Creations or Halloween colors
Sentimental Sundays #125 - Halloween
Allsorts week 177 - Autumn Colors
Simply Create Too- #24 - Pumpkins
Polka Doodles week 42 - Autumn

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.

Hope is in the Air

This is for the "Hope is in the Air" challenge for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges at Splitcoast Stampers.  It's also for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Club challenge.

Here's the deets:

stamp - My Favorite Things "Up, Up and Away" stamp and die set

ink - VersaMagic "Aegean Blue", Memento "Gray Flannel"; Ranger "Pumice Stone"

paper - Stampin' Up "Basic Grey" and "Basic Black" card stock; My Favorite Things "Natural" card stock; Gartner Bon Voyage collection "Postcards", "map" and "Passport" dsp

miscellaneous - My Favorite Things "Traditional Tag", "Circle Stax", "Skyline Border", "Solid Skyline"; pearls; charm; hemp twine

Here's the challenges:
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT 1220 - Hope Is in the Air
My Favorite Things MFTWSC94 - sketch
Stamptacular Sunday - No Rules
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards - Stitching

Do You Stack Up #94 - Vintage

 

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.

 

 

 

CIC183 - Bugaboo Witch

CIC183 Cupcakes by Sugarbloom Bev

There are so many fun decorations for Halloween, even decorated cupcakes.  Although in my home cupcakes don't last long enough to be decorations.  Fortunately the photo lasts as long as I need it to make my sample for this week's Cupcake Inspirations challenge.  This week we're sponsored by one of my favorite companies - Bugaboo Digi Images.  There's always something fun to pick up in that store so be sure to play along for a chance to win a little spree.

Stella is my favorite character from Bugaboo so I choose to use one of her as a witch.  She's a real pip and she's quite at home on that broomstick.  If you're more into cutesy stop over at Cupcake Inspirations see the work of the rest of the sweeties. 









Here's the deets:
stamp - Bugaboo  "Stella Witch Broom Fits"
ink - hp printer
paper - Stampin' Up "Orchid Opulence" card stock; Bazzill "Parakeet" card stock; Basic Grey "Eerie Bats" and "Eerie Creepy" dsp
miscellaneous - copics; hemp twine; charm; Martha Stewart "Graveyard" border punch; mini brads; K & Co. die cut chipboard; machine stitching

Here's the challenges:
Cupcake Inspirations CIC183 - photo
Card Positioning Systems  CPS102 - Sketch (the last challenge - sorry to see you go)
Chocolate Coffee and Cards #24- Stitching
CRAFT #177 - Use Metal on Your Card
Crafty Catz #155 - Halloween
Raise the Bar #116 - Which is Witch
Allsorts week 177 - Autumn Colors
Crafting for All Seasons #38 - Spooky

Thanks for stopping by, come back again!
 

HYCCT - Monster Mash

OMG!  "The Monster Mash" is the all time best Halloween song ever made, at least IMHO.  If you're too young to know it here's a link for a You Tube video.  But I suspect if you're under 45 you may not be entertained in the least. 

One of the Hope You Can Cling To challenges is "The Monster Mash" based on the fact that you boobies get mashed during a mammogram. 

Here's the lyrics my card is based on:
The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolfman
Dracula and his son.

As you can see Wolfie is the perfect guest bringing along a bag of treats.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Whimsie Doodle "Wolfie"
ink - hp printer
paper - Wausau "Terra Green" and "Lift Off Lemon" card stock; My Mind's Eye "Blackbird" dp
miscellaneous - copics; My Favorite Things "oval Stax" die-namics; ribbon; charm; brads; K & Co die cut chipboard

Here's the challenges:
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1211 - The Monster Mash
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Spooky
Milkcoffee - Yum, Yum, Show Us Your Favorite Sweet Treats (would you believe I LOVE candy corn just like in Wolfie's bag)
Delightful - Halloween Treats
Cute Card #239 - Got Glitter (the skull is covered in black glitter)
Crafty Sentiments - Bows or Ribbon
2 Sisters - #114 - Cute and Creepy
Sweet Stampin' - Halloween
Really Reasonable Ribbon #58 - Halloween and Ribbon
Simon Says - Halloween Photo collage (that orange house is way cool - my paper has houses but none as cool as that one)

Thanks for stopping by - come back again!

Tea Party for Hope

If you hang around Splitcoast Stampers you've probably seen a teapot or two with a wild and wacky story posted by Mothermark.  Cindy is hosting the Hope That You Can Cling To challenge HYCCT1219 "A Birthday in Pink!".
I wouldn't dream of making a card for her challenge that didn't include a tea pot.   Fortunately I have a few tea pot and tea cup stamps.  A few are among the missing since my last move, I dream they'll return someday.


Here's the deets: 
stamp - Close To My Heart "Tea Time"; My Favorite Things "Big Greetings"
ink - Versa Magic "Pink Petunia"; Ranger "Tattered Rose"
paper - Memory Box pink card base; My Favorite Things "Pink Lemonade" card stock; Creative Imaginations "Renae Lindgren" dsp; Stampin' Up "Patterns Stack - soft Subtles"
miscellaneous - Stampin' Up "Framelits Labels Collection"; My Favorite Things "Circle Stax" die-namics"; Stampin' Up corner punch; bling; Bic "Pink Flamingo"

Here's the challenges:
Splitcoast Stampers HYCCT1219 - A Birthday in Pink!
Moving Along with the Times - Curiouser and Curiouser, Be Alice Inspired - a Tea Party!
Milkcoffee - Yum, Yum, Show Us Your Favorite Treats (the little cakes on the dp!)
Tuesday Throwdown #120 - Tea at Granny's

Thanks for stopping by, come back again.