What FUN!!!

How much fun is it to meet, in person, the wonderfully supportive friends I have met online over this past year!!! First I was so thrilled to meet several of the wonderful Stamp Simply ladies back in July and now this weekend I was fortunate enough to link up with Dawn Burnworth - My Stamping Thyme (flowergal36 on SCS).




My stamping friend Sandy Egbert, who lives a couple miles down the road from me, has a son who happens to be living in Mooresville, NC ... where Dawn lives. So Sandy & I decided to take the weekend and head for N.C. Our 7 hour drive on Friday went very well but Saturday was a very RAINY day. We made the best of it however by visiting 4 different stamping stores (making a few purchases along the way of course) and then that evening, she went to visit with her son and I linked up with Dawn. We simply went to dinner at Applebee's and spent the next 4-1/2 hours chit-chatting about EVERYTHING!!! What a wonderful visit ... we had such a nice time. I hope to be able to visit Dawn again some day but in the meantime ... we will be staying in touch via our blogs and the Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential Challenge Blog for which we are both on the new design team!!

Life is GOOD!!!

The FUN is coming ....

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY ....

Digital-Ink Co. is having their very first Blog Hop and YOU are invited!!!! Be sure to stop by the SHOPPE and check out all the details. Imagine ... the Fun, the Challenges, the Prizes and even a GRAND PRIZE ... Yippee .... you DON'T want to miss it!!!

So mark your calendars and come join in on the fun!!!

AND ... don't forget about the Blog Raffle going on NOW thru Oct. 19th .... over at the Digital-Ink Co. Challenge Blog! Be sure to get your name in for this sweet pot of goodies!!!!

Stamp Simply #106 - RICH AUTUMN LEAVES

Happy Friday Everyone!! ... I'm really excited about this weekend. My friend Sandy Egbert & I are headed to Mooresville, N.C. to checkout a couple awesome stamping stores she's familiar with down there and I get to finally meet Dawn Burnsworth (MyStampingThyme), (SCS: flowergal36) in person! How cool is that!!! Okay ... more on that later (with photos, LOL).




Now onto today's Stamp Simply Challenge #106 over on Sharon Johnson's (NoTimeToStamp) Blog. The challenge today is Rich Autumn Leaves. Working with fall colors is always fun and today was definately NO exception. I decided to use some of the FALL background paper I made myself using the Ink, Spray & Smash technique. If you're not familiar with this technique, you can check it out HERE.



Recipe for this creation:

Stamps: SU Fall for All, GinaK Whimsical Autumn (Carolyn King)

Papers: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Whisper White, Homemade designer paper

Inks: Versafine black, Refills: Summer Sun, Real Red, Old Olive

Accessories: Spellbinder Shapeabilities Fall Leaves, Prisma Pencils, Gamsol, Creative Memories corner rounder, dimensional tape




Be sure to pop on over and play along with this fun challenge!! Sharon's always coming up with AWESOME challenge ideas ... check it out!! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

SCS Sketch Challenge #247

Today's Sketch Challenge over on SCS was the perfect layout for this very fashionable lady from Rubbernecker!

I've been wanted to use my new Rich Razzleberry cardstock so today was the perfect opportunity. I also had this scrap of Tapestry Lavendar & Lace designer paper laying on my table just beggin to be used!!! I've used Rich Razzleberry ink/blender pen, Rich Razzleberry marker & Crushed Curry marker for my coloring. The other panels are Purely Pomegranate (bordered with a gold Pilot marker) & Pink Pirouette cardstock. I decided this fashionable lady deserve a little "sparkle" so I used a glue pen and PKGlitz mauve glitter to outline my pink panel. Then went crazy and squiggled some gold Stickles and added gems that I've had "forever" from Target. Of course, then I had to get out my trusty Fiskars swivel craft knife and cut out my image & pop her up with dimensionals. I'm thrilled with the outcome ... I hope you like it too!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Penny's Challenges #8

Here it is Wednesday again ... and time for another one of Penny's Challenges. Have you been over to Penny's Challenges blog yet or to her STORE. Well, if not, now's as good a time as any!!! (of course after you are finished checking out my creation for today, teehee)




Today's challenge is to use an OWL (or any type of bird) on your creation. I just happen to love this Inkadinkado Winter Birds set so that was my choice to focus on today.





Here are all the materials used:

Stamps: Inkadinkado Winter Birds, Penny Black Enjoy Life

Papers: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Whisper White, Doodlebug Designs designer paper

Ink: Versafine black, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Detail clear ep, Nestabilities Decal Rectangles, Making Memories brads, The Paper Studio flowers, SU gingham ribbon, sponge




Don't forget ... You have until 6am next Wednesday, September 30 to submit an entry! If you're using a photo gallery instead of a blog please use this weeks tag: "PC08", blog users can just use the tag "Penny's Challenges #8"




Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed my creation and come back again very soon! Happy Over The Hump Day Everyone!!

Midight Madness Sketch Challenge #20

Today's Midnight Madness Sketch Challege was certainly a bit of a challenge to say the least!!! That is really the AWESOME part of this challenge blog for me .... the sketches are always "beyond" my imagination and really make me "reach" into my creativity! And that's a GOOD THING!!!! With that being said, I must confess that I didn't "reach" much further than my scrap basket for most of this creation!!! LOL!!




My main image is a digi and it comes from the Digital Two for Tuesday blog. Not familiar you say ... well please, hop right on over and check it out!!!




I've used watercolor pencils and a blending pen for my coloring and the papers are various scraps from DCWV, The Paper Studio and SU. I've also used Ranger Vintage Photo for my edge sponging and a distresser around most panels.




Embellishments are Kaiser half pearls, Martha Stewart bird punch & branch punch, Offray brown grosgrain & green gingham ribbons.



Thanks for stopping by today! It's always a treat to have you visit!

Crafty Secrets - Fall for Fall

Today's Crafty Secrets Forum Challenge over on SCS is hosted by Marcy and she has asked us to create using a FALL THEME. I have used one of the Crafty Secrets Fall Cotton Scraps as the focus of my creation. Using various fall colored cardstocks like Pumpkin, Olive, Rust and Brown, it didn't take long for this card to take form. The background designer paper is from DCWV and the leaves were diecut with the Spellbinder Shapeabilities Fall Leaf dies. Like I said ... very Easy Peasy ... but I love the outcome.

Fall is definately in the air here in N.E. Ohio today! So my head tells me I should be outside working to prepare for the upcoming winter but my heart says ... it will be there for another day, go to your craftroom and have fun!!! LOL!!! Guess which part of my body I'm going to listen to!! Please come back later when I hope to share with you my creation for today's Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge ... it's a doozy!!!

What's your favorite color???

This creation is to cover two challenges today ... the layout is for Carol's Sketch Fun #14 and the theme is for the Stamp Something with your favorite Color or Paper Challenge. Anyone who knows me, knows I love PURPLE and VINTAGE. So, I've combined my two favorites into this one card. I've taken a "little" liberty with the layout but I think you can still pick up the original sketch on my card.

I just LOVE vintage papers ... almost to the point of obsession I'm afraid! LOL!! Sometimes it just so hard to cut into it once I buy it but I've used portions of this 12x12 Tapestry Lavendar & Lace dp before so it wasn't as painful today... LOL!! The tag is actually a portion of the paper that I carefully cut out with my Fiskars swivel craft knife, then used the other portion as background matting for this same card.

The only stamps used is the little Stampendous Funky Flower stamp that I used with Versamark on the foreground lavendar panel (just looked too plain ... needed something ... you know how that is). The ribbon is Offray Amethyst satin purchased from JoAnn's and I've attached the tag with a Making Memories polished gold brad and wrapped a piece of Inkadinkado gold thread around it.

I'm happy to say that my fever has finally broken so I'm starting to feel a little more human today and thought I'd work on a couple challenges. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and if you've commented ... a double thanks goes to you!! Your comments on my work mean so much to me ... whether they are good or bad ... it helps to make me better at this craft that I love so much!! Have a great day!!

Digital-Ink Co. RECIPE Challenge

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

Here we are beginning a NEW week and it's time for a NEW Digital-Ink Co. Challenge!! Today we are playing a RECIPE challenge, and the recipe is to use 2 designer papers, and 3 brads/buttons or eyelets. How much fun is that!!!





For today's creation, my 2 designer papers are from the Basic Grey (Wisteria) paper pack and other papers used are More Mustard, Whisper White and Bashful Blue cardstocks. The Design Team was to use an image from Beary Dust Stamps & Clip Art (Sue) and I chose the "Doll behind a Fence" image. For coloring I used Prisma pencils. (Be sure to pop on over to the SHOPPE and check out all the wonderful images Sue has to offer.) The 3 brads are from Basic Grey and my Versafine Black stamped sentiment is from the Penny Black (Allegro) set.

There is also a prize for the winner of this weeks recipe challenge and it is this awesome Reece Designs (Gone Swimming) stamp set! So be sure to get involved and play along.

Our challenges run Monday - Sunday ... so be sure to link your art to our challenge blog through the Mr. Linky gadget. You have until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 27th. And, we are going to start using a Digital Ink Co. code for when you upload your work to SCS, PCP and SNR. The code this week is D-IC003.


For more inspiration, please stop by the blogs of my co-team members:


All That Rubbish
Artful Xpressions

BONIBLEAUX designz

Dar's Crafty Creations (you are here, teehee)
Jackie Card Corner
Just Coffee Please & Stamps, & Ribbons, & Paper
Memories in Thyme
Princess Scrap Girl
Teri's Cards and Toppers
The Creative Card Barn

WAIT THERE'S MORE . . . . . . Have you seen the Digital-Ink Co. Blog Raffle going on??? Drawing will be October 19th. Be sure you check this out!!! Here's a little peek ...

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you find the time to play along on this fun challenge!! Happy Day to You!!

PCP Crafty Secrets Challenge

Good Sunday Morning to All!!

It's time for me to host another Heartwarming Vintage/Crafty Secrets challenge over on Papercraft Planet. With a head cold having me a bit under the weather this weekend, we are doing EASY-PEASY!! All you have to do is use FALL COLORS with your HVCS products. That's it ... doesn't have to be a fall card ... can be birthday, thank-you, thinking of you ... whatever, so long as you use FALL COLORS.

For my creation I have used a combination of Really Rust, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa cardstock and the gold desiger paper is from the Crafty Secrets "Earthy" paper pack. My image is a Crafty Secrets "Feathered Friends" cotton scrap and I've used Fiscar decal scissors on 2 of the 3 mattings. The half pearls are by Kaiser and the ribbon is SU Close to Cocoa satin.

If you're a member of Papercraft Planet and you own any of the Heartwarming Vintage/Crafty Secrets products ... then you are eligible to come play along and maybe win yourself a nice prize!! Please come check us out!! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!!

And since it is FOOTBALL SUNDAY ..... "GO STEELERS!!!" Sorry, just had to toss that out there!!

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday Challenge

Evening everyone ... sorry I'm so late posting today but I've been suffering from a nasty head cold all day and just wasn't up to being creative until this evening. Anyways ... it's time again for another Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday Challenge (or as Boni calls it [SCROODLES] ). Today's challenge is a color challenge using BLUE & ORANGE and there is also an inspirational photo for you to ponder ... how cool is this!!

Does this photo scream FALL FUN or what!! Although I must admit the old Ford truck my "X" used to have was more of an Olive Drab color versus this awesome turquoise!! Either way, here is the card I created for today's challenge.

Since I'm in a FALL FUN mood, I decided to use this FUN Mice in a Pumpkin by M&M Designz from the Digital-Ink Co. Shoppe. My papers are Only Orange, Pacific Point, Debbie Mumm dp and Basic Grey Marrakech dp. I've used both watercolor pencils and prisma pencils for my coloring. The borders were cut using the SU scallop border punch and the Martha Stewart picket fence border punch. My sentiment was handwritten (and not spaced very well, LOL) but I felt it was appropriate for these cute little guys!!!

Hope you like my creation and thanks for stopping by today!!

Whoo Hoo ... I'm SO EXCITED!!!

CHECK IT OUT .....

Yep ... can you believe it ... I have been asked by the awesomely talented Vicki Parsons (SCS - basement stamper), Stamped Smiles, Saturday Spotlight, to become one of her SPOTLIGHT DIVAS on her brand new challenge blog Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential!! I can't wait to start working with Vicki and this amazingly talented group of ladies!! Please go check out all the details HERE. There is celebration candy still up for grabs until September 25th and all the CHALLENGE fun begins October 3, 2009.

Stamp Simply #105

Happy Friday Everyone!!! Today's Stamp Simply Challenge hosted by the lovely Sharon Johnson, is to "keep it simple" and use only "black or brown ink" ... let your designer paper POP!



Actually, the only ink I have used on my card is for the sentiment at the bottom ... and that is Versafine Black and detail clear embossing powder. The verse is from the Hero Arts "friends" set.




My image is cut from a 12x12 sheet of Graphic45 designer paper ... the Fashionista Collection. The gold matting & flower is a piece of gold dp from the Basic Grey ... Two Scoops pack. The flowers were cut with a Martha Stewart punch and the ribbon is by Darice. I just happened to have this polka dot brad in my box of brads (sorry don't know who it's by) but it matched perfectly so I just had to use it. The vintage floral designer paper had no name on the back and I've had it for a very long time and can't remember where I picked it up either. You know how it is when you are a "paper hoarder" ...




I hope you enjoyed my card today. Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to come back tomorrow when I'll have another creation and an ANNOUNCEMENT to share with you!! Have a great day!!!

A "3 in 1" Challenge Card

I am WAY behind on my challenges this week so I combined three challenges into this one creation.

The sketch is from The Fresh Batch "Stamps and Smiles" Sketch Challenge ... the Fall/Autumn theme is for the Our Creative Corner Challenge and for the Stamp Something - Favorite Embellishments Challenge, I'ved used ribbons & pearls ... my two favorites.

The ribbon comes from a local wholesale company called The Flower Factory and my friend Terri Snode (Terri's Cards N' More) shared it with us at our last get together. The leaf main image was also an RAK from my friend Kay Squires (Creativity is Good) ... from the GinaK "Autumn Leaf" stamp set. Inks used are Versafine Sepia and Kaleidocolor Autumn Leaves. Papers are Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Really Rust. Other items used are Kaiser bronze half pearls, dimensional tape and Nestabilities (scallop circles).

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back tomorrow for the Sharon Johnson's STAMP SIMPLY Challenge. Should be great fun!!!

New Challenge Blog ...

I discovered a new challenge blog called ILdi Co's Creative Challenges . Today is her very 1st challenge and it's a color challenge . . . YELLOW ... LILAC ... COCOA. So of course I had to "give it a try"!! What do you think???

There will be a new challenge introduced on the 3rd Thursday of every month and they will be introducing all different types of challenges! Sounds like fun, huh??? Pop on over and check it out!!! And get this ... "The winner will be chosen at random and will be able to chose any 3 Ildi Co digi images of their choice!"

Here are the materials used:

Stamps: Crafty Secrets (Bird Lovers) sentiment, Image is from Digital Two for Tuesday

Papers: Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Yellow cs, DCWV (sweet matstack) & (classic matstack) designer papers

Inks: Versafine sepia, computer ink

Accessories: Prisma pencils, Gamsol, Watercolor pencils, Blender pen, Kaiser half pearls, Fiskars craft knife, Nestabilities (decal rectangle)

Thanks for stopping by and all comments are welcome!!

Color Throwdown #60

It's time again for another FUN-FILLED Color Throwdown Blog Challenge. What do you think of this color combo??? See, told you it was fun-filled!!! Tee Hee ...




Isn't this image adorable!! I wished I could tell you who the "maker" is but this is one of many images I received recently when I won the LisasPaperFun blog candy. But, by looking through Lisa's blog this sweet character's name is Anya. My layout is for the Papercraft Planet Sketch Challenge hosted by my friend, Tammy Hershberger (StampHappy).







Here are the material details:

Stamps: Image from LisasPaperFun, Stamping Sensation
Papers: Bermuda Bay, Green Galore, Barely Banana, Basic Grey (Two Scoops)
Inks: Versafine black, Green Galore, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Detail clear embossing powder, SU photo corner punch, Darice lime green adhesive ribbon, dimensional tape






Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by! Be sure to pop on over to the Color Throwdown and play along! While you're there check out the DT creations ... awesome inspiration!!! AND ... they have another wonderful sponsor! YEP ... CHECK IT OUT!!!

***************

Edit to give credit where credit is due!! Thanks to TannyP, I now know that this adorable "Hula Anya" image is from The Greeting Farm. Thanks Tanny!!

SCS Sketch Challenge #246

This is my creation for today's sketch challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. All pieces except the main focus image were scraps that I had laying on my worktable from other projects. How cool is that????

Recipe:

Stamps: Close to my Heart (Be Yourself)

Papers: Mellow Moss, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daisy D's dp, Graphic45 dp

Inks: Versafine sepia, Ranger vintage photo, Melon Mambo

Accessories: Gold Pilot marker, sponge, dew drops, SU Melon Mambo ribbon

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you've been having a wonderful day!!

Penny's Challenge #7 - Scalloped Border or Edge

Can you believe it's "Over The Hump Day" again already?? Is it just me ... or are these weeks just FLYING BY???? Anyways ... onto my Penny's Challenges creation!! Today's challenge fun is to use scalloped borders or edges in your creation.

What a fun time I had creating this card!! Doesn't this cupcake looks "scrumptious"!!!! You can have one for yourself ... it's available at the Creations by Penny Store. Pop on over and check out the other images Penny has available for your "coloring pleasure"! I've used the Fiskar's Apron Lace border punch on several of the panels for this card. For added dimension, I've used Liquid Applique for the "icing on the cake" ... it looks so cool IRL!!! (click on image for larger view) Here is the "recipe" for this creation:

Stamps: SU So Very, All Night Media (speckled bg)

Papers: Whisper White, Old Olive, DCWV sweet designer paper

Inks: Real Red, Versafine black

Accessories: Image by Creations by Penny, Creative Memories red round tip marker, Target brad, Signo white pen, Darice gingham ribbon, Fiskars apron lace border punch, Prisma pencils, Gamsol, dimensional tape

Please be sure to check out my co-team members creations for additional inspiration:

* Alison - Hairy Harry's Craft

* Boni - Bonibleaux Designs

* Kim - Memories in Thyme

* Cheryl - CherCroppin's Stamp Pad

* Alanna - Alanna's Spot in the World

Thanks for stopping by today! And won't you PLEASE come join us at Penny's Challenges!! I promise to check out your creation and leave a comment!! Have Fun!!

Digi MADNESS ....

I am having SO MUCH fun with these new Digital-Ink Co. images. In fact, I think I've gone a little "over the edge" ... but that's okay because it makes me happy!!! LOL!!!

Here are three cards I created using Stamping Dragon Designs images which are available at the Digital-Ink Co. Store. Feel free to click on any of the images for a larger view. And if you have any questions, please let me know! I just didn't want to overwhelm you with larger photos ... longer posting!!

I have also created 3 additional cards using images by Stampin' MaMa 4U ... also available at the Digital-Ink Co. Store. How much fun are these images ... and just in time for the holiday card giving season. Please stop by the store and check out ALL the CREATORS and their images ... I promise, you won't be disappointed!!!

Thanks for letting me share my card making craziness with you!! I draw SO MUCH inspiration from SO MANY ... I only hope I can share a little inspiration to others with my work. Happy Day Everyone ... do something today that makes you happy!!! Life is TOO SHORT to be anything but HAPPY!!!

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #19

Good Morning Everyone!! It's time for another Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and today I chose to use one of the images I stamped last Friday (when the girls got together) from my friend Terri Snode (Terri's Cards N' More). Sorry, not sure who the originator of this image is ... I just know that she had several different "vintage ladies" and I was just stamping away and forgot to ask who the mfg. was .... ooooppps!!

Have you checked out these challenges over on "Priscillastyles" blog??? If you haven't, you MUST dash right over and see what all the talk is about!!! They have AMAZING giveaways and are coming up with new ones all the time! REALLY ... this blog is a MUST CHECK ....

Now, onto my creation! As I said, I don't know who the vintage image is by, but I have used my Prisma markers for the coloring and of course had to use Pearls to tie in with the image. Well, here are the material details:

Papers: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Melon Mambo, Daisy D's designer paper

Inks: Versafine Black

Accessories: The Paper Studio & Mark Richards Pearls, Prima flowers, JoAnn's lace, Nestabilities (classic ovals)

Well, that's about it for this posting. I see that the SCS Crafty Secrets forum challenge has just been posted so I'll be back with that creation to share very shortly. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day! Do something for YOU today ... YOU deserve it!!!