CBCC are Back!!!

YAY...the Created By Courtney Challenges are back!!!! With that announcement I have some good news and some bad news. The good news...........this week Courtney has a fantastic color challenge for us! Here are the colors you need to use:

And for the bad news....I don't have a sample to share with you! My hubby has a funeral director's convention that is going on so we made a mini vacation out of it and we are out of town. I haven't been crafting since last friday....I know how scarey huh?! I am surviving my lack if crafting by shopping...LOL! We are in Wisconsin Dells, WI and they have my FAVORITE outlet mall....the Tanger Outlet....I already raided the Coach Outlet store and bought 2 new purses (one was my birthday present from my hubby and the other was on clearance and just begged me to bring her home with me.....so I couldn't pass her up)...purses are my next addiction to crafting! :) We are having a wonderful time on our trip...tomorrow is spa day! Woo-Hoo! Gotta love that!

Even though I don't have a card to share with you please hop over to the other chickies blogs and give them some love (you can find their links in my side bar)! Also make sure you link your creation to Courtney's blog for your chance to win a prize!

Hope you are having a wonderful week! We get home on Wednesday....but Thursday we leave again through the weekend for a family camping trip (no computer and no crafting for 4 days...eeekkk how will I manage)! This week sure is a busy one...and then on the 22nd my summer classes start. :(

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC 38 Inspiration Station - People

Today our challenge is an Inspiration Challenge-People! Let people inspire you, whether it be loved ones, friends, celebrities. Make a card and post your link to your creation on Courtney's blog for your chance to win a prize!

Sorry this is a little later than normal! I am battling a HUGE sinus infection and finals are this week so between blowing my nose and studying I am usually napping. I hope to be feeling better soon so I can share some new projects with you.

My project for this week's challenge is this cute flower pot card that I have been seeing many people make! This was my Mom's Mother's Day card and she inspired me to make this because she loves flowers and her yard is always beautiful every year with fun flowers (I can't wait to see what she plants this year!) Happy Belated Mother's Day to all of your Moms out there!

The side view with a stand.

Then the note card that slides inside.

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC #37: April Showers Bring May Flowers & BIG NEWS!

Hi Everyone! This week's challenge at CBCC is April Showers Bring May Flowers....so we want to see some flowers on your creation! This was my favorite challenge so far....I just LOVE FLOWERS!!!! The more flowers I can put on a card the happier I am!!! I even got to use my new mini roses on this card!

I used Willow with Umbrella from Whiff of Joy, and colored her with my Copics. Her umbrella was colored with my Twinkling H2Os (which I am still trying to get the hang of....don't really have the hang of shading with them yet)! The sparkles on the umbrella are some chunky glitter (don't really care for this look either....but they were already glued on so I just went with it)! I added glossy accents on the rain drops to make them shine.

Here's a close up of Miss. Willow! She's so sweet!
And then a close up of my funky fun flower! This was so much fun and so easy to make, thanks to the directions that I got from HERE! I saw my good buddy, Rach, make one of these not so long ago and had to give it a try! It adds fun dimension to your card!

Now go and create your flower creation and make sure to link it to Courtney's blog for your chance to win some goodies! Also make sure you go and check out what the other chickies did with flowers....I can't wait to see their amazing creations! Their links can be found in my side bar!

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Now I have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT to make!

I am honored to say that I have been selected to be on the Embellish-Online DT! Woo-Hoo....I am so excited to work with these girls (especially my dear friend Michelle...she's the one who told me to try out for the DT Call in the first place....thanks so much hun)! My term is going to be from June - December so get ready to see some fun creations with all sorts of products! You can read the official post HERE! Congrats to all the ladies who have been chosen...I can't wait to get to know you all!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a great day!

I will be working on those literature papers that are due the end of this week! Oh how I am counting down the days until the semester and finals are OVER!

CBCC #36 - Color Time!

This week at CBCC, Courtney has a great color challenge for us! These are fun spring colors to play with! After getting out my SU cardstock....I got out my fun Melinda stamp from WOJ (as I am entering this into this week's WOJ Challenge which is an awesome sketch from Miss. Heather...she always has such fun sketches to play with)! I just adore this little cutie! Melinda was colored with my Copics. DP is Basic Grey Euphoria. I used flower soft for the first time and I have to say I am addicted to this stuff! It gives such a beautiful dimension and look to the image! LOVE THIS STUFF...now I just need to get me some more! I only have 2 jars so far. Flowers, ribbon, and tulle with beads are from my stash. Used my EK Success leave punch, and MS border punch. Tapestry stamps were used to create the border around Miss. Melinda.

A close up of Miss. Melinda:

(Click on any picture to make it bigger)

I carried the papers into the inside of the card. Used my retro flowers punches to create the left hand side, and used the same MS border punch and added half pearls for the extra bling on the right side. On the big pink flowers I also used my Twinkling H2Os to give them a little more sparkle and shine.

Now it's your turn to play! Go and make something with the aforementioned colors, and link your creation to Courtney's Blog, where you will be entered to win a fun prize! And make sure you go and check out what fabulous creations the other chickies have made (you can find their links in my sidebar).

Hope your week is going great!

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC #35 - Let's Roll!

Are you ready to rock n' roll this week with Courtney's Challenge?! Get out your brayer and let's have some rollin' along fun! Create a project using your brayer, post a link to your project on Courtney's Blog for your chance to win a prize.
First off, I want to say I'm not to happy with my pictures as it's night time and I had to use my Ott Lite and I am not good at taking pictures with that. I love taking pictures in the natural daylight much better. Oh well! Hopefully someday I will learn how to take good pictures with my lamp!

Now on to the fun stuff....the card! How do you like Mike and Jessie? They are the cutest couple, don't you think? They are another anime stamp over at InStyle Stamps. Remember all purchases are 20% off at InStyle until April 30th (details are two posts below, and in my sidebar)! Mike & Jessie are colored with my Copics and Twinkling H2O's! The background they are on is made with the baroque motiff stamp from SU and my brayer....I used a Michelle Zindorf technique where you emboss an image in the background and then roller over the image with different colors of ink. I used TH Distress inks in broken china and weathered wood. Dp is Basic Grey-Two Scoops collection, and cardstock is SU. Tulle, beads, spacer, brad, charm, ribbon, and flowers are from my stash.

And close up of my cute couple:
And then the finished inside:

Since I used a bunch of flowers on this card, I am also going to use this as my Cute Card Thursday challenge entry (which is to use flowers)! Not hard for me, as I LOVE flowers on my cards!

Now make sure you go and see what the other chickies have made! You can find their blog links in my sidebar.

**Yesterday was my 1 year Blogaversary so there is some fun blog candy on the way! **

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC #34...Toys Toys Toys

This week's challenge at CBCC is Inspiration Station: Toys! Pick your child's, niece's, nephew's, or even your favorite childhood toy and use it as inspiration for your creation. At first I was scared of this challenge....but then after I thought about it I had a fabulous idea. When we were little my sister's favorite game was CANDY LAND....I played that with her many many many times! I used lollipops for the inspiration of my card! I thought it would be very cute to put a Gorjuss Girl sitting on top of a lollipop. I created the lollipop with my nesties (after I chose the colors I thought "oh no it looks like a bulls eye target" but after I gave it a stick and found my paper I thought it looked more like a lollipop then). Paper is DCWV and SU cardstock in Red Riding Hood. I used my Quickutz flourish die, and EK Success swirl punch. Ribbon and flowers are from my stash.
I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers...I just turned the sketch upside down so that the ribbon wouldn't be hidden from the lollipop. Finally, a close up of Miss. Gorjuss! I colored her with my Copics.
Now, make on sure you head on over to the other chickies blogs (you can find their links in my side bar) to see the fabulous creations they have made. I can't wait to see what you make and what your inspiration is! Make sure you link your creation to Courtney's Blog for your chance to win some goodies!

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC 33 - Soda Pop Tops

This week was a super fun challenge for me! Courtney has challenged us to see what we can create with soda pop tops!!!! I have been collecting pop tops since January for this fun challenge! I made a fun ribbon-border with my pop tops! The sketch I used was from over at Sketch Saturday...what a great sketch, I know I will be using this one again!

The Gorjuss Girl that I used is a Sugar Nellie stamp (one that I colored way back during spring break...and just finally got around to making something with her....I so love these Gorjuss Girls and can't wait to get my 2nd group!) Papers used are DCWV Garden Stack, MM dp, and SU cardstock. Miss Gorjuss was colored with my copics. Raffia ribbon is from my dear friend Rach, love you hun for getting me this!!! I used my EK Success punch for the bottom border and MS branch punch. Pink ribbon, glitter dots, and flower from my stash. The pink swirlies under my flower is my new pink scrappers floss that I just got from my friend Susana's Store.

A close up of my Gorjuss Girl:
A close up of my fun flower:

Now, you need to go and check out what the other chickies have made with their pop tops (you can find their links in my side bar!) I can't wait to see what you make with this great challenge! Make sure you link your creation to Courtney's blog for your chance to win a prize!

**I am only a few days away from celebrating

my very first Blogaversary....

be on the look out for blog candy coming soon to celebrate!!**

Thanks for stopping by, your comments truly make my day!

CBCC #32 - Altered Cigar Box

Sorry for the late post today! I knew I should have scheduled this to post for me....last night we got some bad news. My father-in-law's aunt passed away. It is a blessing, because she was in a nursing home and hasn't been herself in years. We were busy getting arrangements made last night and this morning, so that's the reason I am late.

This week's challenge was to alter a cigar box that Courtney sent us! Oh my goodness are these little cigar boxes ever adorable! I made mine into a crayon holder (but didn't have any crayons here to put in it for the picture....guess I have to go to my mom's house today and find some crayons...LOL).

I have used Yuki from InStyle Stamps. I colored her with my Copics and used my new tapestry stamps on her skirt. Paper and flowers are from Bo Bunny. The corner design is a negative from my EK Success border punch. Brads, spacers, and ribbon from my stash.

A close up of Miss. Yuki! I love this girl....she's super cute!

And I decorated the backside just as the front.

Don't forget to link your projects to Courtney's Blog for your chance to win some goodies! And don't forget to check out what the other chickies have made....their links are in my side bar!

**On a side note**I just got Photoshop Elements and am trying to figure the program out! I wish it came with a book of how to use it! Does anyone have any great books that they have purchased regarding this program? I am looking to purchase a book that shows me how to use many of the elements that this program has. I did learn how to make a new watermark. You will have to let me know what you think! :)

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your Tuesday!

CBCC #31 - Color Challenge

Hi Everyone! This week over at Created By Courtney Challenge we have a fun color challenge! YAY...gotta love these! Here are the colors: At first this was a little scary for me, as I challenged myself to not use any dp and only cardstock. However, once I got going this card came together very nice! I used my new Easter stamp that I got while I was on spring break. Isn't it beautiful? I colored it with my Copics, and added yellow and purple stickles to the center of the flowers. So saffron paper is cuttlebugged with my stylized flowers folder. Sage Shadow corners were made using my SU curly label punch and my corner punch (not sure I really like how they came out, but it works). Used my oval nesties for the lavender lace behind the image, cut flowers with my retro punches, and of course used my MS branch punch for the ballet blue leaves. Pearls, brad, spacer, and ribbon from my stash.

And a close up of the image! I know I will be using this stamp a lot. It's just so pretty!

This is the right side of the inside of the card. I used my MS border punch on the lavender lace, and cuttlebugged the so saffron.

On the inside I carried part of the design from the front.

I can't wait to see what you all make with these colors! Make sure you head over to Courtney's blog and link up your creation for a chance to win a great prize! And then head on over to see what the other chicks have made with these colors...their links are in my side bar!

Have a GREAT Tuesday! We are getting lots of rain today so it's gloomy.....good day to be inside working on homework (and hopefully getting a little crafting in too)!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lots of Fun with InStyle for CBCC #30!!!

OK....sorry I am a day late with my CBCC! I totally forgot to make a post before I left for my mini vacation! Ooopppss....Sorry Courtney! I hope this makes up for it! :)


This week our challenge was a Sketch created by Miss. Courtney herself! Isn't this a fun sketch! I did a fun twist with it...I'm not very good at following sketches to a "T"!Meet Jax ....he's a newbie over at InStyle Stamps! Today, InStyle Stamps is having a HUGE release! Make sure you head on over and check out all the new release stamps! If you are looking for the perfect little boy stamp, this is it!

I used SU designer paper, colored Jax with my Copics and cut him out with my curved rectangle nesties. Used my SU Tab punch and my Fiskars treading water punch. Ribbon, buttons, and twine from my stash! And of course we have a close up of the little cutie, Jax! I love this little guy!

The finished inside:

Make on sure you link your sketch card over at Courtney's blog for your chance to win this week! And make sure you go to my side bar and go and give my fellow DT members some love over at their blogs! They always make amazing creations!

Finally, RUN over to InStyle Stamps to order your cutie pie Jax today, and check out the other new releases!

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC #29 - Inspired by Nature!

This week's CBCC is Inspiration Station....Inspired by Nature!

Korin of Sweet n' Sassy stamps has a new line of digi images out, and we were given this fun buggy (designed by Miss. Courtney herself!!!) to play with for this week's challenge! Thanks Korin...your the greatest! This week is EXTRA special over at CBCC....Sweet n' Sassy Stamps is our sponsor and is giving a away a FREE digi image of your choice to the winner of this week's challenge! Make sure you head on over to Courtney's blog to link up your creation for a chance to win (while you are there make sure you check out Courtney's fabulous blog candy she is giving away....if you are a Sweet n' Sassy Stamps fan you are sure to love this!!!!)

This little buggy was so much fun to color! And isn't he just the cutest thing?! I used the sketch over at A Spoonful of Sugar....and got out my Janome Sew Mini for this fun project! Papers used were SU cardstock in Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Urban Prairie, and some stash papers. I used my retro flower punches and my new EK Success leaf punch. Other flowers and bling are also from my stash.
I decided to cut apart Mr. Buggy and pop him up with dimensionals to look as if he is crawling along on my card! He was colored with Copics!

Sorry I didn't get a chance to decorate this inside of this one....I am in the middle of mid-terms this week, and I have 2 papers to finish by Friday....so I am stuck doing school work! Ick! However, next week is spring break and I am planning on having LOTS of play time!!!

Make sure you hope on over to the other chickies blogs (they are listed in my side bar) to check out their AWESOME work!

Thanks for stopping by!

CBCC #28 - Bows

Bows, bows, and more bows is the topic this week at CBCC! Make a creation with a bow, any kind of bow, then head on over to Courtney's blog and link your creation for a chance to win a fun prize! I can't wait to see what you all make this week!

I decided to use Pam Bassett's ribbon blossom for this week's challenge. You can find Pam's tutorial over at SCS! Here's is my chocolate tin with a great big ribbon blossom! I also made a card with a ribbon blossom that you can see HERE.

Make sure that you go to my sidebar and click on the other chickies blogs to see their creations!

Hope everyone has a fabulous Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by!

I am off to lay down and rest, I have a really bad sinus infection.

CBCC #27 - Color Challenge

This week we have a color challenge to share with you over at Created by Courtney. These were VERY fun colors to use!The sketch I used was by Jacqueline over at Friday Sketchers (I definitely know I will be using this sketch again)! Of course I used one of my new Tilda stamps, colored her with my Copics. I used my Janome Sew Mini again and think I might just be getting the hang of sewing on paper now (especially since I didn't even know how to use a sewing machine...I haven't used one since 8th grade)! I used my new label nesties (that I got from Wish On A Scrap) for the panels behind Tilda. The corner swirl stamps on the panels are from my Stempelglede grunge collection! I used Shimmerz Blingz in pixie dust on Miss. Tilda's letter. I didn't have any cream/very vanilla colored primas, so I took some white ones that I had and colored them with my Copics to make them match my very vanilla CS. I then painted them with Shimmerz Blingz pixie dust to give them their shine and sparkle. Used my Martha branch punch. Ribbon, spacers, brads and flower rhinestones were from my stash.

I carried the design from the front of the card into the inside. I used another grunge stamp for the edging on my very vanilla CS. It is textured cardstock so when you stamp on it you get a very cool effect! I love how it turned out!

And for the back of my card I used my handmade stamp on very vanilla and stamped my circle grunge stamp around on tempting turquoise.

I hope you that you all decide to play along! Make sure you head over to Courtney's blog to leave the link to your creation for your chance to win a surprise! Head over to my side bar and check out what my fellow chickies have made! Can't wait to see what you create with our color challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week!

CBCC #26 (FINALLY!)

OK...sorry for the LONG delay everyone! My hubby has some back problems so I had to take him to get an injection on Tuesday so I didn't get time to create....then yesterday was school all day.....But have no fear....I did finally (whew!) get my creation done! By now I am sure you all headed over to Courtney's blog and saw that this week's challenge is to stamp with bubble wrap! How fun does that sound?! I loved it! It gives such a unique impression! If you haven't tried this technique yet you have to do it!

I am also using this as my entry for the Roses On Paper Love and Friendship challenge, and for the Friday Sketchers challenge which was to use this sketch! I used Tilda with Tag and colored her with my Copics...I left her tag blank as I don't know what I will use this card for yet. :) I used purple metallic acrylic paint on my bubble wrap for the background design on the heart. Then I sprayed the heart with pink taffy glimmer mist (that I got from Loreen at Wish On A Scrap.) Papers, ribbon, and flowers are from my stash. Used my heart nesties and my new Martha heart lace border punch.

Here's the inside. I used two Martha border punches and overlapped them, added some purple rhinestones. Used my new Retro flower punch with my Stempelglede grunge flower stamp, then added some pixie dust Shimmerz Blingz for sparkle!

Here is a close up of the Blingz sparkle! Isn't that so pretty? I just love this stuff!

And here is the back. I used my EK Success Swirl punch and another of my new handmade stamps.

Thanks so much for being patient and waiting for me to get this creation done and for all of you who sent get well comments for my hubby (they are GREATLY appreciated)! If you haven't checked out the other chickies creations make sure you do that. They are listed on my sidebar!

Also, I have a few blog candy's to share with you! Jacquie, Bev, Rach, and Nikki all have some fabulous goodies up for grabs. Make sure you go and check them out and while you are there check out these ladies work! They are just fabulous artists and make some amazing projects!

Enjoy the rest of your week! I am off to water aerobics tonight! Or as my hubby says...I am off to swim like a dolphin! Boys....I tell ya! Hee hee!

CBCC #25 - Inspiration Station

This week's challenge Courtney gave us a picture and we were to use it as our inspiration....this challenge was kind of tough for me....until I remembered a technique that I wanted to try. I saw a card in a magazine (I don't remember which one now....it was a day I was browsing at the book store) and there was this super cool card that had a reflective looking back ground, so I showed it to hubby and with his help, I decided to give it a whirl!

Here is this week's inspiration picture:

I used the reflective/metal look for the basis of my card. The background is a faux metal background embossed with my d'vine swirls cuttlebug folder (amazing what supplies you can find in the hardware section!!!) I used my new MS heart punch, sizzix swirl die, and nesties. My cute Tilda was colored with my copics. Flowers and ribbon are from my stash. Cardstock is SU, and DP is from the Valentine racks at Archivers.

I used my Shimmerz in angel wings on Tilda's tag, Blingz Hottie Pink on my hearts, and Blingz Pink Poinsettia on the swirls.

On the inside I did my faux metal again with my heart. I finally hunted down a heart lace Martha Stewart punch from a store in Michigan....you know how hard they are to find, I don't think any store in Wisconsin carried them! I also used my new lattice Martha punch, and added a foam heart from my stash.

And here's the back of my card with that new handmade stamp!

Make sure you head on over to Courtney's blog and link your creation, she is looking for some guest designers so please leave her a message if you are interested!

We have a sad week as two chickies are leaving us this week! Lorie and Chris are both stepping down from their rank as a chick. They both have many other commitments right now that they need to tend too. Please stop by and wish them well! We will really miss them!

Make sure you go and see what the other chicks have made this week! Their links are in my side bar! Thanks for stopping by and have a great Tuesday!

CBCC #24 - Valentine for Mr. Right!

This week Courtney's challenge is to create a masculine Valentine....seeing how I still had to make my hubby's Valentine card I thought this was the perfect challenge to complete that task!

I have to thank my dear friend, Lena, for the Hanglar image. She sent me the most adorable handmade keepsake box FULL of Hanglar images! Lena you are such a sweetheart and I treasure my gift from you! Thank you so much! Lena has pictures of my keepsake box on her blog, please stop by her site and see her amazing work, it's stunning!!!! She also has some fabulous blog candy going on right now too!

I colored this little Hanglar with my Copics! I just got another set of them from Loreen at Wish On A Scrap and I so love them!!! Cardstock is SU, DP, ribbons, and foam hearts are from my stash. I used my Martha leaf punch, Fiskars heart border punch, and my new heart nesties.
The finished inside: I used one of my $1 stamps from Michaels, stamped it with real red SU ink, and then used my angel wing Shimmerz over the top of it for some shine! Also used my heart corner punch.
And I am sharing my finished back with you all today! I got a brand new "handmade" stamp that I am loving!!! I stamped it with versamark dazzle in champagne and momento cocoa ink. The shimmer it has to it is awesome (too bad the picture doesn't show it)! You can click on the picture to make it bigger to read my saying!

I really like how my non-traditional Valentine turned out! I wasn't quite sure how the colors would look, but I was pleasantly pleased! I think my hubby will even like this one! Hee hee!

Don't forget to head on over to Courtney's blog and link your masculine Valentine and please check out my fellow chickies creations. You can find their links in my side bar. This week is our dear friend Sarah's last challenge as a chick, we are going to miss you Sarah, but wish you all the best!

OK, I have to get back to studying and researching, glad I got a small break to craft! :)

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by!