FREEBIE Fun ...

Today my friend Crystal Irwin (Crystal's Crafty Creations) came over and we spend some quality PLAY time together.  I grabbed a quick photo of Crystal while she was working but it wasn't her "best" side so I'll embarrass her by posting it here, LOL!!  While Crystal was working on a DT commitment for this weekend, I couldn't wait to play with my new FREEBIE from Wink Wink Ink and here's what I came up with.

The designer paper is Basic Grey (RAK from Crystal ... thanks girlie) and the "Spring" sentiment are sticky letters from Creative Memories.  I've used a little distressing around the edges of my "PRECOLORED" image and Prima flowers to embellish.  Ooops ... nearly forgot to mention the use of Crystal Effects to make his little Slicker Outfit shiny!

The challenge this week over on The Play Date Cafe - PDCC19 is to use Deep Yellow, Pale Yellow and White ... well, needless to say this little guy was just meant for that challenge!

Thanks for taking a peek and don't forget to hop on over the the Wink Wink Ink blog/store to grab your freebie and purchase a few more images while you are there!  You won't be sorry ... they are just to cute to pass up and so much fun to create with!!!

The Play Date Cafe

Today's challenge over on The Play Date Cafe is a 'Color Splash' challenge ... inspired by the photo to the left.   'Color Splash' is simply black & white with a 'bit' of color.  I've always liked black & white with a spot of red or yellow ... but I'm really liking this color and couldn't wait to see what I could come up with.

I decided to again use an image from Shabby chic papirskatter ... a wonderful new vintage blog I found that has some fabulous images to share!  Thanks Heidi!!

Other items used on this creation are as follows:

Stamps:  AMuse

Papers:  Tempting Turquoise cs, Whisper White, Basic Black & Foof-a-la designer paper

Inks:  Versafine black

Accessories:  Petaloo silk flowers, Doodlebug sugar coated brads, Waterfall Stickles, Turquoise Spica pen, Hobby Lobby organza ribbon, Bow Easy, JoAnn's lace

 I actually have shades of turquoise and aqua on this creation but I think it works!  After getting it all together, I kept thinking the bow up in the right corner needed "something" ... but since I already had it adhered, I wasn't sure what I could do!  Then it came to me, I just added a touch of "waterfall" Stickles on the knot for a little touch of sparkle and viola!!  Perfect!!  (please see inset for closer view & click for an even closer look).

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'm busy working on projects and waiting for this terrible snow storm that is supposed to be coming our way!  Boy, I sure hope they are wrong ... I don't want any more snow!!   Have a great day everyone.  Please don't forget to stop back tomorrow for our next RAISE THE BAR challenge!  Hope to see you then!!

Follow your Dreams ...

This card was created to satisfy two challenges ... The Play Date Cafe Challenge this week is to use the colors Red, Brown & Linen ... and the Flutter By Wednesday's Challenge, to add Hearts along with your butterfly, angel or fairy.

My image comes from a blog I stumbled upon while blog surfing.  The blog is called Shabby chic papirskatter.  Heidi is the lady that owns this blog and I believe she is in Norway.  She has some amazing images to share and you will be seeing more of her images in my next few postings.

Recipe for Creation:

Stamps:  Crafty Secrets (Mini Memories)

Papers:  Very Vanilla, Real Red, Basic Grey (Bittersweet) designer paper

Inks:  Versafine black, Ranger Antique Linen

Accessories:  Image from Shabby chic papirskatter, Martha Stewart heart punch, Nestabilities classic heart die, Wright vintage lace, Fiskars decal scissors

I'm very happy with the outcome of this creation and I hope you find inspiration from it too!!  Please stop back later for another challenge card.

The Play Date Cafe, Crazy 4 Challenge and Birthday Creations

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!!  We did take the time to go out for lunch at Pad Tai but then came home so Mark could get off his feet!  We are so thrilled to get the good news Friday that he remains Cancer Free ... then on Saturday, he broke his toe!  Never a dull moment, LOL!!!

This evening I'd like to share a couple of creations with you I made today ... one for a couple of challenges and  the others are more birthday cards for my Mom & her friends!

This first creation is to satisfy the color request over at The Play Date Cafe Challenge (PDCC16) using Red, Lavendar & Silver and the Crazy4 Challenge (C4C24) to use the color RED.  I know it's difficult to see but the photo corners are silver metallic and I've also used silver brads.  The image is from the Graphic45 "Domestic Goddess" 12x12 paper pack. (click image for a larger view)

The sentiment on this card stamped in black on the red sparkle cardstock then clear embossed reads:  "Take it easy ... rest and relax ... the day belongs to You".  Quite the contrast in comparison to the scene created on this lovely designer paper.

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While visiting one of my favorite stamping stores ... The Stamp Pad in Zoar, Ohio, I noticed this lovely two sided, pink pattern/white, 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock and thought it would be perfect for Birthday, Easter or Baby Girl creations.  Of course since my Mom & her lady friends are always requesting Birthday cards, I thought I would start with that request.  I've also used it to embellish the envelope on the first creation & make the actual envelope on the second.

 

(click on image for larger view)

June Knaack (owner/operator of The Stamp Pad) was also showing us  this new technique and sent me the link  ... which I have provided for you here.   It is called the "Out of Bounds with Nestabilities" technique and I will certainly be using it again.  I have used my Prismacolor markers for my coloring and the Nestabilities Labels 9 die.

This second creation was a lot of fun to make!  I have had this image in my "vintage" stash for a long time but only recently did I find this PERFECT sentiment stamp to go with it!!!  I stamped the image with Versafine Black onto white cardstock then embossed with Detail Clear EP.  I used my Rose Prismacolor marker for coloring then die cut with the Nestabilities Decal Rectangle and sponged with Pink Pirouette before removing it from the die.  The pink satin ribbon is Offray and the bow was created using the Bow Easy.  Fiskar decal scissors were used to border the sentiment & match in with the main image.  The addition of a couple Prima flowers added for embellishment and Viola!  Another beauty ready for Mom!!!  I think the Redhat ladies will really appreciate this one!  LOL!!

The envelope was created using another piece of this lovely cardstock and the new Martha Stewart Score Board w/envelope guide.  I purchased this Score Board from my friend Joan at Joan's Garden's.  Check out the link for instruction on how to use this wonderful tool.

Well ... it's past my bedtime so I'd better call it a night!!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you like my creations!  I made a few other little goodies that maybe I can share with you tomorrow!  Wishing you a wonderful upcoming week filled with good health & fun!!

Playing with Hearts ...

Sorry I'm so late posting my creations for today but I've been busy helping a friend (Lana Edwards - Blest With Stamps) set up her new blog and lost track of time.  If you get a chance, please stop over and say hello ... she'll be thrilled with your visit!  Now on to my creations ...

First is a card I started out making for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #39... then decided to use the colors for The Play Date Cafe Challenge (PDCC15) which I found in this gorgeous piece of designer paper by Webster's Pages purchased at Stamp By Step.  The CCEE Stamps Challenge to use Hearts and a charm worked perfectly and a fun element to add to my creation. (Click image for larger view)


Other items used on this creation are as follows:
Papers:  Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Webster's Pages (Postcards from Paris) designer paper
Accessories:  Prima flowers, Basic Grey brads, Deco Art Glamour Dust, pink Stickles, JoAnn's heart charm,  Offray satin ribbon, Michael's dotted swiss ribbon, Hobby Lobby lace paper heart, SU photo corner punch, ZIG blue marker for the Faux Stitching.


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Another fun creation for today was a Quick & Easy card using another NEW digital image by Melanie over on Wink Wink Ink called "Love Cats".  Isn't it adorable how their tails spell out the word "Love"!!!  Melanie has other NEW images available  ...  you'll want to pop on over and check them out!!!  There is also an AWESOME "Deer Friend" image that I can not wait to create with ... hopefully tomorrow I'll have something to share with you!!

This card was so quick & easy because Melanie has this image set up to fit perfectly on a A-2 size card base as soon as you print it out!  THIS part of the download (once purchased) is already PRECOLORED.  All I did to make it my own was add the SUN, BIRDS and RED GINGHAM SCARVES.  Oh yea, I also used a fine tip black marker to do faux stitching around the outside edge.

Well, I'd better go for now!  It's been a long day and I'm starting to get tired and need to spend a little time with DH!  Thanks so much for your visit!  Please stop back tomorrow for our RAISE THE BAR Challenge ... you'll love it!!!

Challenge Cards to Share ...

How do you like this inspirational photo for the color challenge over on The Play Date Cafe this week?? Isn't it awesome!! Now that I knew what colors to work with ... I needed a sketch to follow! So, I decided to go along with this week's SCS sketch and here is what I came up with.

I've had this vintage image in my collection for a very long time and I do believe it came from a challenge blog called "Art Creations Friday". This lovely lady provides you with some amazing vintage images & backgrounds that you use to create for her challenge! This photo is a "full view" image but I was wanting to concentrate on this amazing Bow, Headpiece, Hat... not sure what they called them back then.

The papers I have used are SU Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, Basic Black and Graphic45 designer paper (Renaissance Faire Collection) which I just purchased from my friend Joan Fricker ... "Joan's Gardens" (she's got other Graphic45 papers too ... they are awesome!!!). I've ruffed up the edges with a distresser and added both the zig-zag grosgrain ribbon from JoAnn's as well as made the white organza bow using the Bow Easy to embellish.

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Since I LOVE anything of the vintage style .... I just had to make the time to play along in Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge this week which is "Very Vintage". Keeping in mind that the typical style for her challenges is to keep it SIMPLE, I "simply" used paper on paper for my creation.

Again ... here is another Graphic45 paper pack I received yesterday from Joan at Joan's Gardens and this one is called the "Domestic Goddess Collection". There are so many amazing double-sided pages in these packs that it's really hard to "cut into them"!! My only embellishment additions are: buttons from Bucket 'O Buttons ... Crafty Secrets Sweet Stuff Twill Ribbon ... and gold thread from Stamp By Step.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed my creations! I find SO MUCH inspirations out there in blogland from all of you ... I can only hope you can find a little inspiration here on my blog too. Have a great day!!

It's All About the BLUES ...

It's difficult during these winter months not to come down with a case of "the blues" but never fear ... Spring is right around the corner! Well, at least I am hanging on to that thought!! And if you can't PLAY OUTSIDE ... you may as well PLAY IN YOUR CRAFTROOM!!!


My creation today covers various challenges and a few of those challenges were looking for you to use the color "blue". The items used on this card are as follows:

Papers: Blue Bayou, SU Blue Bayou designer paper, Garden Green, Whisper White
Inks: Blue Bayou, Ranger Vintage Photo
Accessories: Image from The Lady's Closet, white paper doily, Basic Grey Opalite half pearls, Basic Grey pearled brad, JoAnn's Clear Iris String Pears, Prima flowers, Creative Memories corner rounder, distresser, sponge, Martha Stewart branch punch

And the challenges it covers are:

Simon Says Challenge Blog - Shabby Chic

Stamp Something - Blue & White

The Play Date Cafe (PDCC12) - Shades of Blue

Our Creative Corner - Blue & Green

Crazy 4 Challenge (C4C20) - Sketch

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday - Girly

WOW ... I think that's the most challenges I've ever put together on one card! You ladies who do this all the time must be "rubbing off " on me!! LOL!! Plus the fact that I'm suffering from bicep tendinitis/arthritis in both arms/shoulders right now and crafting/typing is a bit painful ... guess my brain said, "put them all together and get back to resting those shoulders"! So that's what I've done!

Hope you find inspiration from this creation and thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Stamp Simply, The Play Date Cafe & SNOW

Happy Friday Everyone! Those of you dealing with the snow & cold ... I hope you are able to stay in, be creative & drink hot chocolate! That's MY PLAN!!!

Today's Stamp Simply challenge over on Sharon Johnson's blog is to use "hearts"! I could provide SEVERAL creations samples for this challenge. I've been asked to create 60 Bridal Shower Invitations using Valentine's Day as the theme ... you know, red-white-pink-hearts, etc.! But of course, I created a seperate, special card for Sharon's challenge.
I was playing around with ideas for the invitations and had these two hearts laying on my work table that I made using different sized Nestabilities Heart dies. The designer paper is Foof-a-la and I have used the little hearts that are left over when you use the new Martha Stewart heart border punch & a white satin bow as my embellishments. This is about as CLEAN & SIMPLE as I get!!

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What a fun color challenge is up this week over on The Play Date Cafe blog! This week we are to use BLACK, WHITE, GOLD & SILVER. Since I had this Foof-a-la designer paper still sitting on my table from Sharon's creation, I decided to use it again for this card. My image is from a CD of vintage images I purchased on Ebay a long time back and can't remember the name ... sorry!

I'm sure you all know how difficult it is to photograph anything using metallic paper but I did the best I could. I've used gold metallic to back my image ... using a Nestabilities scallop rectangle die as well as the smallest heart (Nesties classic hearts die). For my use of SILVER, I chose to use silver metallic ribbon over the designer paper strip panel as well as a heart punched out with the new Martha Stewart heart punch and then overlayed a silver heart cut with a Nesties classic heart die. Both the main card & the accent strip of designer paper have been edged using a Gold Pilot marker. Hope you like it!!!

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Now I would like to share with you a "glimpse" outside my sliding glass door ... looking across the back yard. I know we don't have nearly as much snow as some other parts of Ohio & the midwest ... but it's enough for me!!

Believe it or not ... I DID fill all of my birdfeeders yesterday before the NEXT big storm predicted started to come through and it was covered faster than the little birds could find the seed. The poor little things will have to really WORK hard for their lunch today!!


As I type this, the snow has stopped ... but they are saying we are expecting another 5-6" in our area throughout the remainder of the day. We'll see ... the sky is starting to look a lot clearer and I'm thinking it has gone around us. Again ... that's okay with me!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I always enjoy hearing from you! Stay warm, stay happy and keep stamping ... I will come by for inspiration!!! Happy Day Everyone!

Dream ...

Happy New Year's Day!!

It's a pretty quiet day around here, hubby's watching football so I thought I'd take the opportunity to participate in a few challenges. Actually, I think this is the first time I have created a card that fits 4 different challenges (that I know of ).

The challenges are:

The Play Date Cafe #10 - color challenge using turquoise, chocolate & pink
SCS Sketch Challenge
Stamp Simply #120 - NEW Things
Stamp Something - NEW Somethings

My something NEW is this SWEET image from the UK. Isn't she precious!! (click images for a larger view) It's from a company called Charmed Delectables. And, the "dream" sentiment is from another new set ... Inkadinkado (round frames). Of course the layout is from this week's Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge and color scheme from Play Date Cafe color Challenge.

My card is A-6 in size and Whisper White in color. The background panel is Basic Grey Marrakech designer paper as is the paper used for the main image matting. After stamping my image with Versafine Black I have used Prismacolor Markers, Prisma Pencils and EK Success Chalk for my coloring. I've also used Spica pens and American Crafts glitter pens. For the sparkle on the wings, I have used Crystal Effects covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust. Diamond Stickles was used for the flower centers and Mermaid Glitz Stickles was used on the turquoise flowers and center squiggles between background panels. The flower centers are Stampendous Tuquoise Diamond Dots. The paper flowers were created using the Spellbinder's Shapeabilities Flower die.

As I type this post, the snow has begun to fall outside again and it's coming down pretty fast & heavy. They are only calling for 1-3 inches but it's going to be VERY cold ... high tomorrow only 16 degrees ... Brrr!

I hope you are enjoying this 1st day of the new year and that 2010 is the best year ever for you!! Thanks for stopping by and God Bless You for taking the time!!

The Play Date Cafe Challege - PDCC09

Busy ... Busy ... Busy ...

just like everyone else during this last week prior to Christmas but I wanted to play along in The Play Date Cafe Challenge being hosted by my good friend Julie Campbell (A Vintage Chic). Check out this color combination!! Isn't it awesome!!! This is one that I would have never put together but it is so rich & elegant ... I'm glad Julie thought to use it!!

I still have several cards to make and get into the mail tomorrow so I decided to help myself out by printing wonderful vintage photos from the Clearly Vintage blog and used one of those images for today's challenge card. If you love vintage like I do ... please check out Cora's blog. And, she is so generous to share these beauties with all of us.

I have used SU Very Vanilla for the base card and icicles. The designer paper is from a holiday DCWV 12x12 pack. I have used metallic royal blue & gold to matt this sweet image and gold stickles to border. Though difficult to see in the photo (this is much prettier IRL), I have used a glue pen and fine glitter along the icicles and snow in the sky of the image. My only embellishment is the gold metallic elastic cording for my bow.

Like I said ... I'm trying to make quick cards since I'm running so far behind and these adorable images are perfect!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and say hello! I hope you are enjoying time with friends and family during this holiday season ... making wonderful holiday memories and maybe you can share a few with us!! Happy Holidays everyone!!

The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC07

My friend, Julie Campbell (A Vintage Chic) is on the design team for The Play Date Cafe Challenge and not only do I love supporting her efforts, but I'm really enjoying doing these color challenges. This week's challenge is certainly geared towards the holiday so I just had to take the opportunity to go to my Graphic45 designer papers for my creation. There is no stamps or ink used on this card but isn't it pretty??? I wanted to "glitz" it up more but was afraid of taking away from this beautiful image. Hope you like it!

Recipe for this card are as follows:

Papers: Hunter green cardstock, Burgundy card stock, Graphic45 designer paper

Accessories: Martha Stewart loop border punch, Prima flowers, Floracraft Twinklets chunky glitter, K&Co. chipboard, Darice ivory satin ribbon

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! Hope your day is going well and your shopping list is getting shorter! After talking to my daughter today, I now have some gift ideas to go after. Have a great weekend!!

The Play Date Cafe Challenge

My friend, Julie Campbell (A Vintage Chic), is hosting today's Creativity Challenge #5 over on The Play Date Cafe. This is my first time playing and I just had THE BEST time!

I, like Julie, LOVE anything vintage and so it was great fun creating today's Vintage Work of Art! If you have never been to Julie blog ... oh my gosh, you are really missing something wonderful!! She is SO creative not only in cardmaking but she shares recipes, home made projects, childhood stories ... and much, much more!!! Please stop over and when you do, tell her I said Hi!! You won't be sorry ... just the opposite, you will be hooked!!

With these lovely, rich colors to work with, I started going through some of my vintage images I've had sitting aside for some time now. I stumbled upon these "Angels" from http://www.craftyindividuals.co.uk/ and thought this particular image was perfect!! Aren't they adorable!! I also started digging through my scrap bin for designer paper I just knew I would have to match in with this image before having to cut into yet another 12x12 sheet. (I just hate cutting into my vintage paper .. it's too pretty to mess up ... wow, do I have a problem, LOL)!

As you can see, I did find various dps that worked beautifully. As far as embellishments, I used a "scrap" of this luscious organza ribbon for my bow, Martha Stewart punched branches, Creative Memories punched stars, Basic Grey half pearls and silver Stickles. (I wish you could see the sparkle ... so much prettier IRL). I also used the Labels 9 Nestabilities for the matting of my image and popped it up with dimensional tape. The lace is from a spool I purchased at JoAnn's a good while back ... can't have vintage without lace!!! That's the rule!!!

I hope you enjoyed my creation. I'm sure I'll be playing along in this challenge again soon! That Julie ... she's such an enabler!!! {hugs Jules!!}. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT CHALLENGE!!! See you then!!