All Boy Challenge

At the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, the theme is "All Boy" with this fun photo...

I was inspired by the rocket, the fun constellation pattern, and the splattered colors in the top right corner.  I also loved the detailed background, bright blue, and black/white sentiment on Lisa Henke's inspiration card ;)  I used Waltzingmouse Stamps "Half Pint Heroes" to make my little Rocket Man!

I made my background by embossing white cardstock with the Sizzix "Softly Falling" embossing folder from Stampin Up, then sponging Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, then Salty Ocean.  Over the top I used two stencils with white embossing paste, an arrow pattern from DCWV, and stars from Heidi Swapp.

The little rocket is paper pieced with a constellation paper from Echo Park, and added some white details with a chalk marker.

Such a fun challenge, and so excited to have a "boy" birthday card since I never have one ready when I need it!

Icy Monday

Happy New Year!  It's an icy day here in upstate NY, with a temperature of 12 degrees just in time to send the kids back to school!

I finally got the chance to stamp during our school break, and made a card fitting for the day for two challenges...Curtain Call Inspiration Challlege "Frozen" photo and a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!

I used the Holiday Folk set by PTI and made an icy background with the Hexagon Coverplate.

Used some old DCWV paper that has woodgrain and white sweater pattern.  The sentiment is from Verve Stamps, and the Falling Snow embossing plate it from Stampin Up!

Curtain Call Challenge Guest!

I was thrilled to be asked to be a guest designer for the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge this week!  Then I got even MORE excited when this adorable photo arrived...

I found this sweet fox mother and baby stamp by Hampton Arts and decided to make a cozy winter scene...

I stamped the foxes and colored them with Copic markers.  The scene was built with a sheet of white paper embossed with PTI's Woodgrain Impression plate, a piece of vellum embossed with a Sizzix snowflake folder placed over a die cut tree cut from chocolate brown cardstock. The little greenery is a combination of die cut pine boughs from PTI's Tinsel and Tags Kit, and a branch die from Memory Box.

I paper-pieced the baby fox for dimension and added a "Warm Wishes" sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps, which I chose after seeing that "Foxy" was a coffee cup!

Now it's your turn to play along!  Visit the Curtain Call Challenge Blog to see the Design Team's wonderful samples and to upload your own creation!  

Thanks so much for visiting!

Pretty Apple Sketch

Playing along with two challenges this week!  The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge had these pretty patterned pumpkins to look at, and Jen Brum had this awesome sketch posted at Freshly Made Sketches...

I didn't have the right kind of pumpkin image to make a shaker like I wanted to, so I chose an apple instead...

Used PTI's Enclosed: Apple die set for my shaker, and a sentiment from Petite Pots stamped underneath. Loved the color scheme and mix of patterns!  Most of my patterned paper is from Fancy Pants, with a few scraps here and there from some other collections.

Added some pink, coral, red, black, and tiny yellow flower sequins...and some patterned circles that I glued inside the shaker before it was finished.  Used Laurie Willison's spray adhesive idea and Laura Bassen's shaker video this week for some help!  One of these days, it is my goal to make a perfectly lined up, smudge free shaker with no stray sequins or fuzz or dog hair inside, haha!  For now, they continue to take me forever and there are lots of "re-do's" in the process.  How do these designers make them look so easy !!!  :)

Curtain Call "Pop Pop Pop" Challenge

This week at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge blog, this photo was featured...

I didn't have any popcorn images, so I made a banner just "poppin" with fall inspired flowers, berries, and branches...

The flowers are made with WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals and More Fresh Cuts sets and dies, and the Layered Banner Banter set from PTI.  The branch die is from Memory Box.

I took a large striped embossing folder and inked it with Vintage Cream ink, then sent it through my cuttlebug with kraft paper to make  the background.  The "Enjoy" banner is stamped with an old "Rice Paper" backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms.  The background plaid paper is an older one from the Simple Stories "Generations" pad.

Such a gorgeous photo...perfect inspiration for the "in between" of summer to fall.  After making the card, I promptly had some popcorn in our "Whirlypop" that my husband found at a garage sale...we have loved using that thing all summer!  Beats microwave pop any day :)!

Clearly Christmas Wreath

I wanted to participate in the Curtain Call Challenge after seeing this inspiring photo:

I got out my favorite new stamp, "Color a Wreath" from Hero Arts.  (Still being inspired by Rosemary Dennis' original sequin wreath card seen here).

Here is my take on the challenge...

I stamped the wreath with Versarmark on vellum to give it that light and airy feel in the photo, then heat embossed with white powder. Chose sequins in clear, turquoise and aqua, and some gems in bright green to match the ornaments in the photo.

Underneath the vellum piece is a sheet of white cardstock embossed with a Darice striped embossing folder. The sentiment is from PTI's Holiday Button Bits set.  I stamped the bow on PTI's linen vellum and then embossed with white powder.  There are two of the bows stacked on top of each other.  The whole piece was layered on top of a scalloped white sheet cut with a Mama Elephant die.

So many gorgeous photos in the card gallery already...and the DT's samples were so fabulous!  I'll be back to play this challenge again soon, for sure!  :)

Back to School!

The first full week of school and I thought it would be fun to play along with my first Curtain Call Challenge since the theme is "Back to School"!  Here is the inspiration photo...

Here is my card,

I was thinking about THIS awesome card by Kath when I made it...I think I am a little bit obsessed with it :)!!   I loved her layout and fun patterned trees.  I added some fun cork paper from Crate Paper and dusted the edge of my black cardstock to look like a chalkboard.

Used apples from Waltzingmouse Stamps Peace and Plenty set and a ruler image and sentiment from A Muse Studio's "School Days" set.  Stamped the ruler on MME woodgrain paper to make it look more authentic.

Maybe this summer being over thing isn't so bad after all...I am feeling quite stampy lately ;)!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Peace and Plenty, Waltzingmouse Stamps, School Days, A Muse Studio
Paper:  My Mind's Eye Stella Rose & The Sunny Side collections, Crate Paper Storyteller, PTI Black 
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Fresh Snow
Other:  Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Circles, button, Studio Calico wooden stars, red paint, twine