Fusion 2nd Anniversary Guest Designer

Hello friends!  I am thrilled to join my bestie, Lynn, over on the Fusion Card Challenge blog to help celebrate their 2nd Anniversary.  I chose to use both the sketch and the photo!  However, I wasn't quite ready for flowers, so I opted to use snowflakes instead!  Pink snowflakes!!  You betcha! LOL  This card is for my sister (also named Lynn) next week.  I hope you can join us over on the Fusion Card Challenge blog.  

PROCEDURES:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Our Rules Page before playing along.

Thanks for stopping by!

Festive Friday Guest Designer

Hi friends!  I have the honour of guest designer along with the fabulous Festive Friday DT this week!  Look at the yummy picture I got to work with…

Hmmm, what was I inspired by?  What WASN’T I inspired by might be the better question!  I felt the photo had a rustic feel to it and I noticed those little balls on the twine which reminded me of my rusty bells! YIKES!  Loved the neutral colours, wood (translated to cork for me), and snowflakes.  My sentiment is actually some little chalkboard stickers I picked up at Michaels at Christmas. Love them!

I hope you’ll head over to the Festive Friday Challenge Blog and join in the fun!  The challenge lasts for 2 weeks so you’ll have until August 27th at midnight to link up your card.  Thanks for stopping by!

Top Dog Dies Guest Designer and Giveaway!

Good morning!  Today I have a special post!  Meagan over at Top Dog Dies has asked me to be their Guest Designer today!  She was very understanding about my lack of time these past few months and waited patiently until my semester was over to post my projects :)  I couldn’t wait to get inky and use this TOTALLY ADORABLE dies! 

Top Dog Dies is a new online store that offers their own brand of wafer-thin and steel-rule dies, along with dies from brands you already know and trust, including My Favorite Things, Sizzix, Savvy Stamps and Cheery Lynn Designs. Top Dog Dies is also the leading U.S. retailer for Tattered Lace, a new line of intricate dies designed by U.K. designer Stephanie Weightman.

First up is my Onesie Baby card…girl or boy, you decide!  I used to make my own onesie by measuring and using the SU circle punches.  But no more!  This die makes the onesie shape AND the crease fold at the top!  It would be so easy to make a set of baby thank you cards or invitations to a baby shower :)  Here’s what the dies look like.  The onesie die looks like a BIGZ die and the Finisher dies are the wafer type. 

Next up is a card using their Madison doily die.  I didn’t make many Christmas cards this year so am finishing up with New Year cards.  Oh, I love this doily design…so intricate and worth the few extra minutes of poking out the pieces!

I made 3 doilies to begin with.  I chose the white one for my New Years card and am saving the red heart one for Valentine’s Day :)

Head over to the Top Dog Dies blog to see more photos of my projects. BUT wait!  Before you go, I’ve got a giveaway!  Top Dog Dies is sponsoring a $50.00 gift card to their store! 

To be eligible, just follow this LINK and register on the page.  To get extra entries, you can comment here on my blog, or follow Top Dog Dies on their Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.  Click on each to go directly to those pages. The deadline to enter will be Monday, Jan. 6 at midnight.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

 

Top Dog Dies: Madison Doily, Onesie Card (A2), Onesie Card Finishers Die Set

Just for You

 

Click here to enter my Boise or Bust Blog Candy

Good morning everyone!  We are up early again and heading out of town for my son’s graduation on Tuesday.  I am so excited about this one, more so than his high school grad :)  But before we leave, I’d wanted to share another card using some fun items I got at the i {heart} papers online store as their May Guest Designer.  I have been eyeing this May Arts ribbon for ages and when I saw it in their ribbon section, I knew I’d have to put several yards of it into my shopping cart.  It will be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day cards too (yep, I’m thinking WAY ahead! lol)!  I chose some super bright and cheery paper from Doodlebug’s Take Note paper and another fun sentiment from Avery Elle’s All Squared Up.  I love the sweet fonts of this set :)  Thanks for stopping by and I’ll be sure to post some grad photos in a few days :)  Have a great Sunday!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Avery Elle’s All Squared Up

ink: versafine onyx, su summer sun

paper: pti white, Doodlebug Take Note

accessories: May Arts ribbon, su circle punch, pti fillable frames die, mft fishtail dies, stitching

Ah-mazing ~ I {heart} Papers GD!

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday!  I can finally share some fun news I’ve been sitting on for awhile :)  Kate from I {heart} Papers has asked me to be their Guest Designer this month!  Not only do I get to hang out with their fabulous design team but I also got to do a little shopping in their online shop!  They carry just about everything I love so I was a kid in a candy store.  Today’s card is for a dear friend who just completed her Librarian Diploma.  She’s been working on it steadily while working full time and raising 3 kids. Wow!  She is ah-mazing!  I’m using Check this Out from Lawn Fawn and Exclamations from Cas-ual Fridays along with Doodlebug Design paper Take Note.  Hope you’re having a fabulous week!  Thanks for visiting and sharing in my fun news :)  Head over to I {heart} Papers to see the announcement!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: cas-ual fridays take note, lawn fawn check this out

ink: versafine onyx, su pumpkin, bermuda, kiwi

paper: pti white, soft stone, doodlebug take note

accessories: su circle punches, gems

Joyous Noel ~ Festive Friday Guest Designer

Good Friday morning!  Literally!  It’s Good Friday and according to the calendar it’s March and our second week of Spring.  I’ve got the pleasure and honour of being the Guest Designer over on the Festive Friday Challenge Blog.  It’s a colour challenge this time and wowzers, aren’t these beautiful colours!  I was just about to stamp the sentiment in Basic Grey ink when it dawned on me that I should be using "gold.”  So out came the embossing powder.  I was VERY VERY careful as I had already stitched the edges of the patterned paper and added the doily and ribbon.  I don’t usually do that, but had to with the late decision to using gold embossing. 

My Christmas paper and embellishments had been long put away but when Meredith (the blog owner) contacted me a few months ago, it was one of those “say yes!” moments.  She’s got quite the line up of A List designers on her team.  Head over there and join in the fun!  Have a lovely Good Friday!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Joyous Noel (Verve)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), City Sidewalks (Pink Paislee)

ink: versamark

accessories: gold embossing powder (SU), vintage doily (second hand store), seam binding (Memriemare), jingle bells (Michaels), gold cording (SU), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching

Bonne Fete

To enter my “400 Followers” Blog Candy, click HERE 

Good morning!  I needed to make a card for my sister whose birthday is on October 30th.  Since it’s so close to Halloween, I thought she’d like the black and purple colour combo.  She loves Paris so I thought she’d appreciate the blinged out Eiffel Tower.  I’ve use this week’s Waltzingmouse sketch AND am entering this in the CAS-ual Friday Kraft On challenge (although this is not that CAS! lol).  I found this super fun sheer ribbon at Michaels yesterday and just had to find a card for it!  Have a lovely Sunday and thanks for visiting :)

p.s. I forgot to tell you all that I’m the guest sketch designer over on I Spy Sketches this week!  Check it out!  Thanks!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: wms french country

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, echo park dp, recollections glitter cardstock, corrugated cardboard

accessories: mft eiffel tower die, pti edgers #5 die, michaels sheer ribbon, jolene’s silver button, silver cording,

Clearly Besotted Stamps Guest Designer!

 

Good morning, friends!  I have a very special post today.  Stephanie Wincott contacted me in the summer to see if I would like to be a Guest Designer for her new stamp company, Clearly Besotted Stamps.  Now, I have been a fan of Stephanie’s ever since discovering her blog, Stamping & Sharing, on the Papertrey Ink Forum so I really wanted to be a part of her new adventure.  She sent me some stamps and “OH MY GOODNESS,” it was love at first stamp.  When I first get stamp sets, I lay them out on the counter and get a little “zen” going…hmmm, which stamp gets inky first?  This gorgeous flower image spoke to me the loudest and then I inked it up. 

The line on this flower was so sharp and crisp and stamped perfectly the first time with my Rose Romance Stampin’ Up ink.  I’m in LOVE!  Then I wondered how the little butterflies would look on some of my Studio Calico wood veneer butterflies.  EEK!  Cool!  If you haven’t been over to the Clearly Besotted Store yet, head right over…AND ‘cause I know you Canadians want to know…it took FOUR days for these stamps to get to me from the UK!  Now THAT is something to cheer about!  I’m hoping to get a little more inky with more sets today…you may even see a Christmas card soon! ACK!  Thanks for stopping by and big thanks to Stephanie for letting me celebrate this wonderful adventure with her :)

          Happy Everything stamp set

 

what’ in it?

stamps: clearly besotted happy everything

ink: versafine onyx, su rose romance

paper: pti white, mme honey dp,

accessories: lil’ inkers stitched mat die, studio calico wood butterflies, gems, ribbon

Guests in the Studio!

Good morning!  I have a fun post this morning!  Two weeks ago, my sister and my twin niece and nephew (the recipients of the bookmarks a week ago) came over for breakfast and a little play time in the studio (requested by Ava, joined in by Jack once he saw the studio ;).  They are from Texas but sadly don’t have a Texan accent (too many trips to Canada I think!).  I was knee deep in my cards for the New Verve Release so they used some of the new sets!   They also insisted I take “professional” photos of them in the light box :) 

Here’s Jack contemplating the elements on the card.  He tilted the patterned paper layers which make me and my sister think he won’t be an engineer like his Dad ;)  I got quite the thrill out of his creative process…he would say out loud what he was thinking…LOVED that…because it’s the process that I love about my hobby :)

Here’s sweet Ava.  She was drawn to these 2 resin flowers and used them as the colour inspiration for the rest of her card.  She fell in love with this little birdie paper and had to have him on her card….suh-weet!  She also picked out berry sorbet ribbon for her card.  The love for that colour must run in the family ;)

They were so proud of their cards and carried them around all day showing our family and friends.  And they loved them so much they said they didn’t want to give them away.  Sounds like we need to make more at Christmas :)

I had to get in on a photo so grabbed one of the cards I had recently made :) 

And the last photos of our playtime :)  So the studio is well broken in now and yes, 2 people can happily stamp at the desk (hint, hint Lynn and Aimes!).  I think these cards are a perfect way to let you all know that the Verve Anni-VERVE-sary Release is now for SALE in the Verve Store…hop on over to see all the amazing sets you could have!  Thanks for stopping by!

what’s in them?

stamps: Happy Birthday plain jane, Doodled Occasions (Verve)

Addicted to Cards Guest Designer

To see my CASE Study Blog Hop card, click HERE

Good morning!  Just popping in to share some fun news!  Julia and Soraya over on the Brazilian Blog “Addicted to Cards,” contacted me several months ago wondering if I’d like to host a technique challenge.  Wow! They know about me in Brazil! How could I say no?  I had so much fun revisiting the shaving cream technique during the PTI Stamp-a-faire, I chose to do it for their blog challenge.  Head over to Addicted to Cards to see the whole tutorial…you’ll want to translate the blog with their translator widget on the right hand side :)  I love how they call me their “Super International Guest!” I’ve included the projects I made including all the fun little bits I die cut after making the paper.



I’m thinking I need more reinkers!  I just love the surprise you get when you wipe away the shaving cream…as well as the look the dh gives me when I’ve got his shaving cream, a spatula and a cookie sheet out in the kitchen!  LOL  Have fun!  Oh, and come back tomorrow!  I’m hosting the second Anni-VERVE-sary challenge!


please contact me if you have any questions about the cards and products I’ve used :)

Sweet Treats

Disclaimer: Each and every one of these Halloween treats

were harmed eaten in the making of this project ;) 

Yes, unfortunate for them, yummy for me!

Good morning!  Ready for a super sweet post this Saturday morning?  It’s the fourth week of Just Us Girls Challenges!!  I have been having a BLAST hanging out with all the JUGS gals this month as Guest Designer :)  I don’t make many 3D projects, but when I do and when a flat piece of paper turns into a sweet little box or purse or whatever, I have a BIG smile on my face.  I have made these sour cream containers before, but I made it out of acetate this time to show off the fun candy corn treats.  Now, as stated above, these little candy treats are LONG gone!! LOL  It seriously took me 2 bags of candy corn and one package of assorted treats to make this project!! LOL  I don’t keep candy in the house because I love it!  So when I need it for a post, watch out!! LOL  The second 3D project was this adorable little Peek A Boo window box!!  LOVE it!!  You get to see the yummy treats inside!! Thanks so much for visiting!!  I hope you’ll join us for a little 3D fun over on the JUGS challenge blog this week :)  TTYS!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Bountiful Harvest, Love Notes, Sweet Treats, Happy Fall (Verve)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), black, peach (SU)

ink: onyx (Versafine), plum, pumpkin, summer sun, kiwi (SU)

accessories: scallop and circle punches (SU), sheer ribbon (Michaels)

One of My Nicest Thoughts

Good morning!! It’s Saturday and as usual I’m treating myself to a little lazy morning…coffee, blurfing and maybe even a little card making before hitting the gym :)  Today’s card is for the Week 3 Challenge over on the Just Us Girls blog.  Week 3 means colour challenge…oh yeah, baby!!  With Halloween this month, Pam is challenging us to use the “other” Halloween colours of black, orange, purple and green!  I immediately thought of my precious and delicious ribbon from Michaels LAST Halloween.  BUT, before I knew about this challenge, this sweet little roll of ribbon was packed and put into storage!! YIKES!!  I prayed that the container it was in was at the FRONT of the storage unit…and yes, as you can tell from the card, it was!!  I’m not much for making Halloween cards so I tried to make a fun little sentiment card that you could just sent to a friend.  I think it works :)  And the ribbon?!  One little scrap left, not even big enough to tie a bow…but I’ve saved it for the perfect card…who knows when ;)  Thanks for visiting and be sure to head over to the JUGS blog and check out the Design Teams’ projects, including my bestie, Lynn, who is now a full time JUGS gal!!  Woohoo!!  Congrats, Lynn!!  Have a wonderful weekend :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve nicest thoughts plain jane, gina k lovely labels

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, black and white and bitty boxes dps, MME lime twist dp

accessories: labels 18 nestabilities, pti scallop die, Michaels ribbon, pti buttons, thread, stitching, gems, corner rounder

Happy Birthday

Good morning!!  I am enjoying the start of our Thanksgiving Day long weekend :)  If all has gone well, the dh and I are in Washington picking up some big tools and having a much needed romantic getaway :) I’m the Guest Designer over on the Just Us Girls Challenge blog and this week is Technique Week.  Yikes!  I’m not a technique kind of gal, but I am always game for a card challenge.  Let’s just say my little neurons are alive and well after this one :)  I thought about this card for a week…seriously!  I went to the Splitcoast tutorial on this and decided I would treat myself to some watercolour pencils at Michaels…LOVE that part of this challenge…shopping :)  But when I went to make my card, it just didn’t look right.  Then I tried 3 more images…no good.  Then I brought in the big gun…Google.  I googled the technique, being careful to add “card technique” so I wouldn’t get any weird witch site!! LOL  I found one tutorial HERE that used pastels instead of pencil crayons!  It reminded me of the Poppin’ Pastels technique…except I still used the craft white on black cardstock.  However, I then covered my image with pastels for a softer, clean look. After applying pastels, I wiped the image with a swiffer!!  I stamped the black line image on top and then added some gorgeous gems for a little something, something.  I’m thinking this would be a great card to send my sister who’s birthday is October 30…very close to Halloween!  I hope you will head over to the JUGS Blog and check out all the fabulous samples from the Design Team…and hey, give it a try!!  Your brain will thank you! Have a wonderful Saturday :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: pti spiral bouquet, birthday basics

ink: versafine onyx, su white craft

paper: pti rustic cream, cream, black

accessories: pastel blocks, gems, satin ribbon, scalloped rectangle die, pti banner die, su embossing folder