January 31, 2011

Don't Forget!

About THIS!

There's still plenty of time to apply.  What fabulous projects you guys come up with!! Wow!

January 30, 2011

CCC #9 - Season's Greetings

Happy Sunday!

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend, and accomplished some scrappy goodness.  I've been trying to clean out my closets and organize the stuff I have in the garage, but it isn't coming along as well as I had hoped.  Maybe next weekend. lol

This weeks CCC is to incorporate acrylic or transparencies on your card.  Keep in mind that the challenges are optional, and any Christmas or winter card will do.  The idea is to help you add to your stash before the holiday arrives.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


I had a lot of fun with this simple card.  First, it's REALLY simple, and was a good challenge for me to keep it that way.  Second, I had never stamped onto any kind of transparency or acrylic/acetate sheet before.  Last, I actually did ok cutting it out, without having to stamp an extra because I messed it up. lol  I like the pop of blue and green against the kraft and white, and will probably create several more identical to this one. 

You should check out what the other designers have created for today.  I love them all!

Hugs!

January 29, 2011

US #91 - Happy Birthday

Hi everyone!

Yes, it's another birthday card.  I know, I know, I'm honestly ready to move on to more Valentine cards, but there were tons of January birthday's in my office.  This is the last one for this month.  I loved this weeks US sketch and think my card turned out pretty neat.  For this weeks sketch, click HERE.


The birthday girls favorite color is purple.  And, even though I like the color, I have a hard time working with it.  I paired it with the saffron color and a pop of green and pink, and think that these colors work really well together.  I already had the Verve flower colored and stickled, so it went along almost perfectly with the card.  It is a bit more pink-ish, but all in all it's not too mismatched.  I think she'll like it. :)

Head on over to the US blog to see what everyone has created for you today.  There are some really great projects posted.

Have a wonderful Saturday!
Hugs!

January 23, 2011

CCC #8 - Merry Christmas

Good day!

How has your weekend been?  Have you gotten lots of crafty stuff done? :)  I was a total bum yesterday, but I did get a few things done, as far as organizing goes.  I feel much better about that now.

Today's challenge over at the Christmas Card Challenge blog is to create a Christmas or winter/holiday card without using any coloring.  Yep, that's right.  No Copics, no markers, no chalks or colored pencils.  I know you guys can do it. lol  Please keep in mind that all challenges are optional.  You can create any Christmas/winter card you'd like.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


I just got this image and thought it would be perfect for this weeks challenge.  I used Sweet Stop sketch #91 and the traditional red and green color combo again.  You can't see it, but the snowflake is loaded up with stickles, so it's very sparkly.  It looks a bit plain, but I like the simplicity of it.  I think this would be the kind of card you could mass produce quite easily.  Either way, it's card #8 in my stash of cards to make for Christmas this year.  So, are you going to be able to play along with us this week?  Hope so!

Please check out what the other designers have created for you today over on the CCC blog.  They're really nice, as usual.

Hugs!

January 22, 2011

Twisted Sketches #43 - Happy Birthday to You

Hi again!

This is my second post of the day.  Please scroll down for my Unscripted Sketches project. 

I absolutely LOVED this weeks Twisted Sketch.  I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it, and when it was finished, I was totally happy.  This week the twist is: Bling - any how, any way.  For this weeks sketch challenge, click HERE.


Isn't it adorable?!  I used the Tim Holtz Hanging Sign die, modified a bit.  I tied the sentiment onto the sign with some bakers twine and then added some ivy vine and little prima flowers to decorate the actual sign hanger (can't remember the exact name of this piece) itself.  I'm SO excited that it looks exactly how I pictured it in my head.  I'm hoping the recipient of this card finds it as pretty as I do.

Please don't forget to check out what the other amazing designers have created for you today.  I cannot tell you how inspired I am to work with all of them. :)

Hugs!!

US #90 - So Grown Up

Hi ya'll!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, so far!  It's a nice, quiet day here and I'm hoping to get caught up on quite a bit of stuff.  I hope you get to do lots of whatever it is you're wanting to do today too!

I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you.  For this weeks sketch, click HERE.


I just love this picture of Sydney and wanted to use it as quickly as I could!  I think Taj did such an amazing job at capturing her personality, and her demeanor.  She's so calm, and strong, and knows who she is already, at 14.  I'm so happy to be her mother, and I love that she's mine.  These papers were girly, but not too girly.  Make sense? lol  I loved the simplicity of the sketch so that my photo would be the focal point.  I think I'll use this sketch and create a framed layout for her dad for Father's Day. 

I hope you'll head over to the US blog to see what everyone has created for you today.  They're all pretty amazing, but then, they usually are. :)

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs!

January 20, 2011

Birthday Blessings

Hi everyone!

I got some time to play along with a couple of challenges.  Here is what I created.


I really dig this card.  I hope the birthday girl likes it.  I am going to enter this into the following challenges.

Mojo Monday #174 - Sketch
SPCC #83 - Crumb Cake, Regal Rose & Pretty In Pink
Flutterby Wednesday #138 - Anything Goes (as long as you have a butterfly, angel or fairy)
Stampin Royalty #55 - Anything With Wings

Don't forget about THIS, going on right now. :)

Thanks for stopping by! 
Hugs!

January 19, 2011

Design Team Call!

You can check out all of the details HERE.  What fun! :)

January 18, 2011

A New Challenge

Have you ever seen a photograph so beautiful that you wanted to immediately use it to create something amazing?   Do you find inspiration in everyday photos and want to preserve them in some way, shape or form?  Well, I have an idea.  I am currently working on a new challenge blog, based solely on inspiration photos.  Now, I know there are TONS of challenge blogs out there, and I'm sure there is room for everyone, so I'm going to dive in and give it a shot.  It's something I've been wanting to do for a while now.  The whole goal is to be inspired to create, in whatever medium you choose to use.  It can be paper crafting, baking, jewelry making, art...whatever you choose is fine with me.  It is still currently in the beginning stages and will not go live until March 3rd.  This challenge blog will have new inspiration photos posted on the 1st & 3rd Thursday's of every month and you'll have two weeks to play along with each challenge.  You can take anything from the photo you want to use, and we will have guest designers along with our design team, and some prizes here and there.  Doesn't that sound like fun?!

So, now I'm going to ask your help.  I'd really appreciate your feedback, and info on whether or not you think this is something you'd be interested in.  And, in honor of this new endeavor, I'm going to offer up some candy.  Yep, I'm going to give one lucky person, selected randomly, the chance at a $25 gift certificate to the place of their choosing.  The winner will be drawn on March 1st.  All I'm asking is that you mention it on your blog, and link back to this posting below.  Easy right?  The new blog is set up, http://foryourinspirationchallenges.blogspot.com/ but is still being customized.  You can sign up to follow if you choose, and I will be posting a Design Team call within the next few days.

I'm really excited, and hope this is something that works out.  I appreciate all of your help and input.

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs!
Steph



January 16, 2011

CCC #7 - Happy Holly-Days

Good day to all!

I love Sunday's.  I get to share another Christmas card. :)  For this weeks challenge, we have a fabulous sketch created by Peggy.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


It's amazing what a little bit of trim and some twine can do for a card.  I love how it turned out.  And, I love how the butterfly fits well too.  I don't think I've used a butterfly on a card in a while, so I decided to do so on this one.  I like it.  The traditional colors are very pretty with the sketch. 

I hope you'll head over to the challenge blog to see what our guest and other designers have created for you today.  They're all pretty fabulous!

Hugs!

January 15, 2011

US #89 - Baby Boy

Happy Saturday everyone!

This is going to be a quick post.  I'm headed to breakfast with a friend, and I'm behind on getting ready because I forgot to schedule this post. lol

This week we have a piggyback challenge along with the sketch at Unscripted Sketches.  The extra challenge is to create a masculine themed project.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


I love this frog!  I've had it for ages, and finally inked it up.  I also love the embossing on the patterned paper star.  I hope you'll head over to the US blog to see what my friends have created for you.  As always, they're all wonderful!

Have a great day!
Hugs!

January 14, 2011

Happy Birthday!

Hi everyone!

I got some time in yesterday to create a card for fun, and am really excited to share it with all of you.  It's been months since I've just created something for myself and I had a blast. 


I needed another birthday card for work, and wanted something really girly for my co-worker.  I'm pretty sure this is VERY girly. lol  I'm really digging the new Nesties I got too.  This is the first time, in a while that I've used a butterfly on a card, and I've missed them.  I'm sure you'll be seeing more of them again soon.  I've combined the following challenges into this card.

Sweet Stop Sketch #90 - Sketch
Paper Sundaes #51 - Circles
Color Chef #69 - Tone on Tone, Monochromatic
Stampin Sisters In Christ #71 - Wings
Crazy 4 Challenges #69 - Inspiration Photo (I used the colors)
Speedy The Cat's Friends Challenge #37 - Embossing
Crafty Cardmakers #37 - Use Red and a Die Cut (my card is sorta red, right?)

I'm sorry for the late posting as I was busy with work stuff and forgot to schedule this post.

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs!

January 9, 2011

CCC #6 - Joy

Greetings ya'll!

How has your weekend been?  Mine has been nice and relaxing.  I love it when that happens.  So, it's Sunday again, and I have another Christmas Card Challenge project for you.  This week, the challenge is to include snowmen in your card.  Keep in mind that the challenge is optional.  Any Christmas/winter holiday card will do.  This is just to help jump start your mojo and help you get your Christmas cards done ahead of time.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


I have had this Tim Holtz die for a while now, but couldn't ever figure out how to use it.  Well, this weeks challenge was perfect for it.  I stamped the sentiment right onto the snowman, added a bow to the main panel, and then popped the snowman up using dimensionals.  Simple and easy, and I love my bow.  I could see myself creating several of these in no time.  Maybe I'll make a gift card set of them. :)

I hope you'll head over to the CCC to check out what my friends, and our lovely guest designer have created for you this week.  They're always so inspiring!

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs!

January 8, 2011

Twisted Sketches #41 - Life Happens

Hello again!  This is my second post for the day.  Please scroll down to see my Unscripted Sketches project for today.

I'm excited to bring you another Twisted Sketches card.  This weeks twist is: Ribbon - any how, any way.  I was really happy that we had the ribbon twist this week.  You can see why, below.  For this weeks sketch callenge, click HERE.


Isn't it beautiful?!  I have had this pleated ribbon sitting in my stash for months.  I didn't really know what I was going to do with it, but when the sketch and twist were given to us, I had a lightbulb moment.  I love this card!  The colors are classic, the ribbon is gorgeous, and the embossed strip of polka dot paper makes me happy.  I am seldom in love with anything I make, but this one goes on that list.  I hope the recipient of this card is as excited to receive it as I will be to give it to them.

I hope you'll head over to the Twisted Sketches blog to see what everyone else has created today.  As always, I'm beyond inspired by their work.

Hugs!

US #88 - I Love You

Yola!

How are all of you this weekend?  I hope you're getting some much needed rest and relaxation after the holiday.  I've moved from Christmas to Valentine's Day and hope to have a nice stash of them built up so that I can sell some of them at work.  I've already had a few requests, so they should be a big hit.

For this weeks Unscripted sketch, click HERE.


Now, these colors together are quite outside my comfort zone.  I'm not sure they are quite what I had pictured in my head when I first started, but all in all, they're not terrible.  I really like the salmon colored music paper paired with the patterned word paper, but the touch of purple is what throws me off.  Rather than taking this apart and starting over, I am forcing myself to leave it alone and just go with it. lol 

I hope you'll head over to the US blog to see what everyone has created today.  I'm always so inspired!

Hugs!

January 2, 2011

CCC Week #5 - Happy Holidays

Hi ya'll!

It's Sunday, which brings us to another Christmas Card challenge.  This week, the callenge is to include embossing, wet or dry, on your cards.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


I know what you're thinking, it's a really busy card.  I wanted to try to push my comfort zone again, and use tons of patterns in my card.  It worked, but I'm not exactly sure I dig it as much as I would like to.  I embossed the patterned paper that is under the sentiment, and the purple strip of patterned paper across the bottom.  For a bit of added interest, I sanded the embossing so that it stands out a bit more.  All in all, I love the non-traditional colors and the sketch I used. 

I hope you'll head over to the challenge blog to see what my friends are up to, and to meet our February guest designer.  I'm sure you'll be inspired, just like I am.

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs!

January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

As you're reading this I'm in Austin with my sister and brother in law.  I decided that I didn't want to stay home again this year on NYE, and we actually got Friday off from work, so I headed to Austin on Thursday evening.  I love spending time with my sister. 

I have another Unscripted Sketches project for you today.  There is a slight twist in how things are being done today.  Instead of a new sketch, we were to use one of the sketches from 2010, and give them new life.  I used sketch #50 for my card.  For this weeks challenge, click HERE.


I'm loving my card today!  I think all of the details add just the right amount of texture and dimension, and I'm totally stoked that I got to use one of the images I've had colored for a while.  Isn't she darling?  I know just the person who will get this card.  She LOVES yellow umbrella's. *hint, hint*

I hope you'll head over to the US blog to see what everyone else has created for you today.  Have a safe and Happy New year!

Hugs!