The Prettie Peeks Continue & CQC21

Hello stampers! It's another preview day for the upcoming March Paper Pretties release, and I'm showcasing today along with some of the other Pretties! The new stamp sets and digital images will be available to purchase on March 1st. Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team blogs this week for more peeks!

My card today uses another of the new digi stamps, Butterfly and Blossoms. Can't go wrong with butterflies and flowers, right??

I printed my image on PTI white and colored with Copic Markers according to this week's challenge over at the ColourQ (CQC21 - see swatch below). What a gorgeous combo! Just loved it, so fun, springy & girly! Paper is from Basic Grey. I added Diamond Stickles to the butterfly wings and Lime Green Stickles to the Robin's Nest Dew Drops.

Also remember, SCACD is carrying some new products, not the least of which is the AWESOMELY AMAZING new line from Viva Decor!! You need these. Check out the videos from Suzanne and Marti and you'll understand what I mean (links at the top of the Viva Decor page). Heck, I need them too so you better get to the store before I do! There's also candy up on the SCACD store blog (until tomorrow) for these!

Ok, that's it for me today! You can head over to The Paper Clip when you're through here for more info and inspiration on this upcoming release.

Quickie Friday News Bits

TGIF! What a busy week! I will be back with another card tomorrow, but for today I wanted to share a couple of Store news bits.

Susana's Custom Art and Card Design is releasing a FUN NEW PRODUCT today! All the info about this exciting launch is on the store blog today -- and I do believe there is blog candy involved.... ;)

Also, the Friday Featured set at the {Little Paper Shop} today is {Beautiful Things}. Such a pretty and versatile set, check out the LPS blog for some samples made with this set!

A Prettie Challenged Preview

Hello stampers! It's preview time already for the upcoming March Paper Pretties release; today is one of my days to showcase a sneak peek! The new stamp sets and digital images will be available to purchase on March 1st. Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team blogs this week for more peeks!

My card today uses one of the new digi stamps, I'm Sorry Cooper. Not quite sure what he's been up to, but I'm sure that whatever it is, my boys will be copying it soon!

I printed Cooper on PTI white and colored with Copic Markers according to this week's challenge over at the Copics Colour Challenge blog (CCC53 - see swatch below). How perfect for this little stinker! I added in some some blue to fit this great new Cafe Mediterranean paper from Die Cuts With A View.

Fairly straightforward on the rest of the project. For the corner element (this is a sketch challenge, info below) I used three of my fun American Crafts Elements buttons - these are solid silver. American Crafts has great embellishment items in a whole slew of colors. I like them a lot, I have some of the glittery buttons too and those have been getting a lot of use. Check out the selection in Susana's store! I thought these were perfect today both because they go along with the color scheme and they are not "too girly", as so many of my stash of goodies seem to be, heehee!

I also used a sketch challenge today, since I love doing them! This is this week's from the Friday Sketchers challenge blog (#90), which I discovered because my talented DT sister Aud from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design is on their DT! Thanks Aud - great ideas!

Also a quickie product news flash, SCACD is carrying some of the new Pink Cat stamps coming out today, and another new product (I have yet to try it but I am intrigued), TA DA Tsukineko PSST Spritz. Hmm... Check them all out here.

That's it for me! You can head over to The Paper Clip when you're through here for more info and inspiration on this upcoming release. See you Saturday with another peek!

PWC92 - Emboss It

Hello stampers! Well, it's Wednesday already, which is Paper Pretties day; with a new blog hop and challenge each week! This week's challenge is use embossing on your card - heat or dry{PWC92}. Love it!! No heavy lifting on this one, just a good clean challenge. Woot!

Our featured sets this week at Paper Pretties are Apple of My Eye and the Apple of My Eye Scripture, so all the girls on the hop are featuring one of those sets. I chose the scripture, and my embossing is dry embossing, I have a line above the red panel and a line of dots below it.

Thanks for hopping with us - I'm the last stop, so you can head over to The Prettie Boutique and Forum when you're through here for more info and inspiration. Or, if you are just starting the hop here at my blog, head on over to Christie's blog to start from the beginning.

TIOT56 - Winter Susan

Happy Tuesday stampin' friends!! Today we have another fantastic Try It Out Tuesday challenge from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design to jump start your creativity! This week's challenge {TIOT56} is to create a project featuring a holiday stamp -- used in a different way or for a different holiday than it was originally intended! That Suzanne has some pretty cool ideas, doesn't she?! Here's mine:

In case you've been off the blog circut the last few days, I'll remind you that we are right at the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL new release from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design. Another amazing collection of EXCLUSIVE images, Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Sampler Edition 3!!

What a great set, such sweet little girls, with signature Elisabeth Bell details. I stamped this wonderful Winter Susan in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Accents and highlighting with my new American Crafts white Ultimate Gel Pen. I decided to make her a birthday card for my "twist" today.

Next I added some of the new Magic Mesh {this is great stuff, thin and flexible, easy to work with for punching and die cutting, not bulky or stiff at all!!} over the top of my horizontal pink glittered panel to tone it down a bit and mimic the texture of the background piece. Worked like a charm!!

I couldn't stop adding embellishments to this card! EVERYTHING just seemed to call to me! I have several more basic Prima flowers, and I have added some Kaisercraft pearls to the green ones on the sentiment panel. For the upper flower set I colored the base flower to match Susan, then threaded through one of the Prima mini roses. I then sprayed the whole thing with Gold Glow Smooch Spritz to give it some oomph and keep up with my sparkly papers. So easy to get that little "extra"!

Let me talk to you about the Smooch Spritz for a minute. Two words: In Love. I have lots and lots of the Shimmerz Spritz, and I have played around bunches with the Radient Rain sprays that came before all of these. My honest opinion is that the Smooch Spritz is BY FAR the best! It mixes so well to get ready to use, and gives such a pretty, metallic shine when you spray. It does not come out clumpy or splotchy AT ALL, which has been my biggest complaint in the past. Nothing like ruining your finished product with a big glob of spray, right? You won't have that problem with the Smooch. Check them out here at the store.

ALSO, Susana has the NEW 2010 Spellbinders IN HAND! Get over there and get yours before they sell out. Fastest service out there and some of the first I've seen in stores too! Woohooooo! (Enabler, I know, heehee!)

Be sure to check out the SCACD store blog for lots inspiration today! Make it a good one and stamp happy, I will see you tomorrow!

LPSC56 & TESC101 - Dreams

It's MONDAY!! And I'm late! I hit save instead of publish last night...guess it was too late to be blogging! But still, it's time for a new challenge from the {Little Paper Shop}! Did you happen to see the LPS store blog on Friday? We are featuring the {All Occasions} stamp set with some great samples from the DT and LPS friends, so check that out too!

But now, on to today's challenge. We have a color challenge for you, check it out:

What a fun one! I used the newly released {Moments} for my project today, along with this week's sketch from Taylored Expressions {TESC101}. I am loving the new releases from this month, what great images and sweet, versatile sentiments!

Here's the sketch for reference:

Be sure to visit the LPS store blog today and enter a comment for a chance to win stamps! LPSC56 is the keyword for public forum uploads this week. Link up on the challenge post on the LPS store blog to enter!

Blog Hoppin' with NEW Elisabeth Bell!

Helloooo out there in stamping land!! Woo hoo, it's finally here, the day you have been not-so-patiently waiting for all week!! The latest and most gorgeous addition to Susana's amazing collection of EXCLUSIVE images, Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Sampler Edition 3!! To showcase all the beautiful images, we are kickin' off the release with a fabulous inspiration-filled BLOG HOP! Yeah! Each hop participant is showcasing a different image today, so be sure to complete the full blog hop to see them all in action! The collection will be available for purchase at Susana's Custom Art and Card Design web store beginning today no later than 6 AM PST. So hop, then shop! ;-)

WELCOME from Dianne's blog, you are right where you should be! I'm so pleased to present my contribution to this beautiful new collection's debut, featuring the "Oh Baby" image. What a DARLING little cutie-patootie, don't you think??

I know you're anxious to continue the party train, so I'll just hit the highlights here. I stamped my baby in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white cardstock and colored her with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when I was done there. Die Cuts With A View patterned paper here; some subtle bling for today. Kaisercraft pearls in the corner and she's all set!

I incorporated a few challenges, you know how much I'm loving that lately! This is the 100th sketch from Taylored Expressions {TESC100}, very nice. I play along over there quite a bit and what a fun milestone! Also, this week the ladies over at Cupcake Craft Challenges {CCC78} would like us to Keep It Simple, which I was all about today because I really wanted this beautiful little one to be the focal point on today's project. The colors came from this week's Copic Colour Challenge #52. Just gorgeous - happy and sweet! I can tell you that I am very much looking forward to spring! Here's are the sketch and color swatch for reference:

Thanks for joining us on this very special release blog hop! Enjoy all the projects and head over to Susana's Custom Art and Card Design to shop when you're through being inspired!

Now, to continue on the hop, head over to PaperAddict Catherine's blog!! In case you are just joining us here on my blog, the full hop order is listed and linked below. We don't want you to miss any of these beauties! Have a fabulous weekend my friends, happy shopping!!

Suzanne
Carolyn
Aud
Anki
Marti
Danni
Dianne
Jennifer (YOU ARE HERE)
PaperAddict Catherine
Alex
Kristen
Kerry

Last Day For CANDY!!!

Just stopping by quickly today to say....if you haven't entered in Susana's AMAZING blog candy, be sure to head on over to the store blog, Follow Your Heart and enter right now! Today is the last day and win! Then be prepared for some CUTE-A-PALOOZA tomorrow with a HUGE blog hop to release the newest Elisabeth Bell for SCACD stamps!

PWC91 - It's An Emergency!

Hello stampers! Well, it's Wednesday already, which is Paper Pretties day; with a new blog hop and challenge each week! This week's challenge is to CASE a card from the Pretties Gallery {PWC91}, and change at least two things. Well I was working last night without internet when I went to find a card to CASE (thanks Verizon), so I just made a card.

Our featured sets this week at Paper Pretties are Crafty Emergency and Game On, so all the girls on the hop are featuring one of those sets.

I also incorporated a color challenge, this one is new to me - ColourQ {CQC20}, a bright & fun one. Here it is for reference:

Just a short post for me because it's late and I want to get this posted. Thanks for hopping with us - I'm the last stop, so you can head over to The Prettie Boutique and Forum when you're through here for more info and inspiration. Or, if you are just starting the hop here at my blog, head on over to Christie's blog to start from the beginning.

TIOT55 - Let's Have 3-Layer Cake!

It's Tuesday already!! Today we have another fantastic Try It Out Tuesday challenge from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design to jump start your creativity! This week's challenge {TIOT55} is to create a card using ONLY THREE layers (the image panel doesn't have to count as one of the layers). Here's mine!

Well I am still just head-over-heels in love with The Aurora Collection by Victoria Case for SCACD! I've been making all kinds of projects with her -- she is just SO fun to color! For today's card I chose Aurora with Cake.

I stamped my sweet Aurora in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Then I cut her out with the Curved Rectangle Nestabilities. The paper is all from Basic Grey (Bittersweet), which has had the edges roughed up and added faux stitching on each panel. The white sitching was all done with my new American Crafts white Ultimate Gel Pen - a nice, thick gel ink, really flows out easily, sooo nice! A swirl clip, some yummy ribbon and a tiny butterfly die cut to finish her off today!

I blurfed for challenges before I made this, I was feeling in need of inspiration on yet another cold and snowy day. Rachel had the PERFECT colors and butterfly theme on her Cupcake Inspiration Challenge {CIC46} this week, and the ladies over at Cupcake Craft Challenges {CCC78} would like us to Keep It Simple, perfect for this limited layer card! Last but not least, The Pink Elephant challenge {TPE54} called for ribbon, which actually had me go back and add the clip and ribbon twist, which I think goes a long way to bring this all together. So thanks ladies! I had fun playing along with all of you again this week.

Now DON'T FORGET -- going on now Cute-a-Palooza has begun from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design with THE YUMMIEST blog candy on the SCACD store blog, leading up to the big Elisabeth Bell for SCACD release this Friday, February 19th. For real!! Head over to the store blog to read all the deets and don't forget to ENTER!

Be sure to check out the SCACD store blog for lots more layered inspiration today! Make it a good one and stamp happy, I will see you tomorrow!

LPS Preview - {Tweet Wishes Lucy}

It's MONDAY!! Hah, do you love the enthusiasm? Well we started off yesterday with new PREVIEWS for the February release from the {Little Paper Shop}, and we are continuing that party train today! This is {Tweet Wishes Lucy}, another fun set in the Lily & Lucy series. Julia has outdone herself with these little darlings. Isn't she SWEET?? I had a lot of fun with her. Remember, release day is tomorrow!


For my project today, I started off by stamping Miss Lucy in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white and coloring her with Copics. My color scheme came from this week's Copic Colour Challenge {CCC51}, which matched up SO WELL with this newest Basic Grey Sugar Rush, I just about jumped for joy! Stamped the sentiment directly onto the DP, and roughed up all the edges using the Tonic distress tool. That's a matching BG Sugar Rush stitched brad at the top, along with some of the AMAZING Prima mini roses (I know, where have I been that I only just now got these?!?!?!) for the corner element and she's ready to go!

I used a sketch to make this card; actually, I used the same sketch that I used yesterday! It just fit so well, heehee. I flipped it though, and I think it brings a whole new look! ;-) This is Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #60 {MTSC60}. This one is for the current week, a new sketch will be up tomorrow. Here it is for reference:

And here's the Copic Colour Challenges swatch too. I did pretty well matching the colors on this one!

Lastly, over at Crazy 4 Challenges, they wanted to see RED cards this week, and this one has plenty! Check out the crazies - this is C4C24!

Be sure to visit the LPS store blog today and enter a comment for a chance to win this set! It's also the start of a new weekly challenge {LPSC55 is the keyword for public forum uploads}; and you know that when a challenge falls on release week, Julia gives away an EXTRA set to a lucky challenge participant! This week's is easy - add distressing to your project. I roughed up all of my edges and chose paper that had a bit of a distressed look to it as well. Link up on the challenge post on the LPS store blog to enter!

Before I go, a quick candy announcement! Susana's Custom Art and Card Design has some Cute-a-Palooza is coming your way this Friday, February 19th, with THE YUMMIEST blog candy beginning TODAY on the SCACD store blog. You DO NOT want to miss this one, there are NEW STAMPS coming your way from Elisabeth Bell for SCACD - and that's all I'm saying!

LPS Preview - {Moments}

HELLO!! How are we this fine Valentine's Day? I am doing GREAT, and here's why....it's preview time at the {Little Paper Shop}! It's my favorite time of the month {hahaha}, and I absolutely adore this first set we're showcasing. It's called {Moments}, and if you know me, you know I love a good sentiment set! The LPS set {A Dream} was an instant favorite of mine, and I still use it at least once a month. Well I can tell you that {Moments} is going to give it a run for the money!

For my project today, I started off by stamping this amazing sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white. Stamped the leaf with Wild Wasabi over the top and put together layers. My color scheme is direct from the paper - the new Basic Grey Origins, so much fun! Some pearls, a spiral clip and a tuft of ribbon and it's all set!

I used a sketch to make this card (shocker), Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #60 {MTSC60} from this week. Here it is for reference:

Be sure to visit the LPS store blog today, check out all the gorgeous projects, and enter a comment for a chance to win this set!

See you tomorrow for another great LPS Preview!

Aurora For The Weekend!

TGIF everyone!! Boy it's been a long week, I am looking forward to the weekend.

Today I wanted to share a card I made last week (but didn't get a chance to post), just for fun, featuring my favorite little sprite, Aurora from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design. I know you've heard me talking all about The Aurora Collection by Victoria Case for SCACD, and believe it or not, this is the only one that hadn't been inked yet. So she's getting her turn to shine today, heehee. This is Aurora at Home.

I stamped my Aurora in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Then I cut her out to size and put her together the mats and layers. The rest is all patterned paper {new Basic Grey Bittersweet, yummy!}, ribbon and Butternut Color Me buttons, which Susana has on sale right now for 50% off! I love these, I have lots of colors and I reach for them quite often. I added some Kaisercraft rhinestones and flower rhinestones.

I had two challenges with this card, although as I said, they were from last week so I'm late getting it up! Sketch is Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #59, and the color inspiration is from the Copic Colour Challenge, this is #50.

Before I go, some store news! You may have noticed it's about that time already, and some Cute-a-Palooza is coming your way on February 19th, with THE YUMMIEST blog candy beginning on the 15th on the SCACD store blog. You DO NOT want to miss this one, and that's all I'm saying for today!

Also, some more new CHA products are rolling in at the Susana's Custom Art and Card Design store, along with everything I mentioned last week, new Primas have landed too!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, I'll see you back here Sunday for the first of the {Little Paper Shop} February previews!

PWC90 - Wild Valentine

Hello stampers! Well, it's Wednesday already, which is Paper Pretties day; with a new blog hop and challenge each week! This week's challenge was issued by MEEEE, and I asked the girls to show something for their Valentine.

Here's my project, which will be going to one of my best girlfriends as more of an "anti-Valentine" heehee, but Sassy Shoes and Sassy Circles are our featured sets this week and I thought this would be prefect for the GIRLS in our lives!

I also incorporated a sketch, you know I can't resist that! This is from the "Just Us Girls" challenge blog {JUGS19} - here it is for reference:

I stamped my shoe with Memento Tuxedo Black on PTI white and colored with Copics. I masked off the bottom part and stamped the Sassy Circles oval underneath for the shadow (stamped it twice actually, to make it longer because the shoe is bigger than the oval). My colors are Baja Breeze and Regal Rose, with the patterned paper from Basic Grey. That's a plain white Prima flower that I colored with my Copics and added the white lins with my new American Crafts white gel pen. What great, flowing ink! Goes on nice and smooth, what a fun new addition to my tools! I added Diamond Stickles to all the Swiss Dots in the background as well as the polka dots on the shoe.

That's it for me! You can head over to The Prettie Boutique and Forum when you're through here for more info and inspiration. Or, if you are just starting the hop here at my blog, head on over to Christie's blog to start from the beginning.

TIOT54 - Bring On The Valentine!

It's Tuesady!! Today we have another fantastic Try It Out Tuesday challenge from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design to jump start your creativity! This week's challenge {TIOT54} is a color challenge!! Suzanne asked to see our VALENTINE COLORS (pinks, purples, reds).

Well I am still just head-over-heels in love with The Aurora Collection by Victoria Case for SCACD! For my image today I chose Aurora with Bird.

I stamped my little darling Aurora in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. Then I cut her to size and put her together the mats and layers. The rest is all patterned paper with our fabulous color scheme! I know she's MUCH BRIGHTER than you usually see from me, but I'm working on expanding my "box". :) Gooooo color! heehee.

Be sure to check out the SCACD store blog for lots more sketch inspiration today! Make it a good one and stamp happy, I will see you tomorrow!

LPSC54 - {In Love} with TESC99

Happy Monday out there!! How are we today?? I know I'm doing great and I have a fun project to share this morning! As you know Monday over here is all about the {Little Paper Shop}, and today we have a color challenge for you! My second-favorite type as you probably well know - here is the swatch {LPSC54}: And here is my project! Love love this color combo, I've used it tons in the past, and it's perfectly just in time for VALENTINE'S DAY (if you're into that sort of thing, heehee).

For this card, I started off by stamping this beautiful sentiment from the new set {In Love} in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on PTI white and punched it out. I stamped the outline heart with Riding Hood Red ink and then cut the finished image out with Classic Circle Nestabilities, layered the scallops behind, and added silver Liquid Pearls on each scallop. The DP is from a DCWV stack of some sort.

When I saw the Taylored Expressions sketch for this week I knew it was just what I needed for this set. And since I truly am {In Love} with it, I was more thrilled to get a chance to use it again this week. Here's the sketch (TESC99).

This is a Valentine card, so I'm also entering it in this week's The Pink Elephant challenge {TPE53}! Love the ideas those girls have. Can you believe they've been going for a year already?! Also, Cupcake Craft Challenge blog this week is Red & White all over {CCC77}, they are another new favorite of mine; you know I have my top 5 or 10 challenge blogs and both of these are up there!

Ok, and be sure to visit the LPS store blog and the other DT members to see all the inspiration with this week's fabulous color challenge! AND, if you play along with us you'll be entered to win this week's prize -- stamps from the {Little Paper Shop}!! Check out the details on the LPS store blog this morning - you have until Sunday night to enter by linking up on this week's post on the LPS store blog and the winner will be announced there next Monday morning. Can't beat free stamps AND an excuse to use them and do more stampin'!

See you tomorrow - hope everyone has a GREAT day!

CHD Awareness Week

Happy Sunday to you all! I have a very, very special post today, that is near and dear to one of our own {Little Paper Shop} design team members. Allison Fillo is known to MANY in the stamping world, she's a truly great person (and a blogging genius!), and she has taken up the mantle of a wonderful cause that Julia and the rest of the LPS team are helping her to promote, starting right now!

I will let you read the whole story directly from Allison's words - she's the one who knows it, and lived it, this is her baby (in more ways than one). I remember following her story on her blog and Facebook as it was unfolding, crying for her and thinking how unbelievably strong she and Avery both were. Here is what she said -

From Allison:

As I alluded to earlier this week, today is a special day for me and the {Little Paper Shop} team. Julia was so sweet to allow me to design a stamp set for charity in recognition of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week which starts today!

Long-time followers of this blog know that my youngest, Avery, was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries the Christmas before last. She had two surgeries (one when she was eight hours old and the major open heart surgery [the arterial switch] at two weeks old). She spent an additional two weeks in the hospital and then was sent home with an excellent prognosis. Little did I know before I had Avery that 1 in 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect. Much has been done in this last generation to diagnose and repair CHDs however much remains to be done.

This digital stamp set, titled "Broken Hearts for Broken Hearts", will be available at the {Little Paper Shop} for a donation of five dollars. All the proceeds (save any PayPal transactions fees) will be donated to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton to aid in research and the purchase of specialized equipment.

This stamp set not only reflects the cause but I think also fills a niche for those bittersweet moments of love.

Give a card to your lovesick teen, make up from a fight with your partner or just celebrate Anti-Valentine's Day with your girlfriends!

I would love to see any creations made with this set (which will only be available for a limited time)!

I have included SVG and GSD files for those of you lucky enough to own a cutter! KUDOS: I only came up with the idea to create this stamp set just over a week ago.

I am so fortunate that I have an indulgent team to work with who came through with creations to promote this stamp set. Thanks so much ladies...you are a fun bunch to work with!"

You can find Allison's amazing set right HERE at the {Little Paper Shop} webstore. A mere $5 gets you all the images, the files for your cutter, and one HECK of a great feeling, I have to say! And here is my contribution to the cause, so to speak, using this week's sketch from the Mojo Monday blog {MOJO124} - I got some great inspiration from the Mojo Makers, one of them even used hearts on her card, thanks for the ideas ladies!

Here's the sketch:

Lastly, links to the rest of the LPS design team. Check out their blogs for more inspiration from these wonderful images.

• Little Paper Shop Blog
• Julia
• Pam
• Allison
• Bonnie
• Cindy
• Jennifer (me!)
• Julie
• Heather
• Ann
• Silvia