Paper Sweeties February 2016 Inspiration Challenge

Well, it's that time again. The February Paper Sweeties Inspiration Challenge is up and running. I made a girly birthday card for this one.

The sentiment and gift image are from the Paper Sweeties Let's Party stamp set, and I used the coordinating Let's Party Sweet Cuts die set to cut out the white mat for the gift.  I used pink Liquid Pearls for the dots on the gift, and painted the same LP on the lid and bow. Paper Sweeties has so many gorgeous colors of tea dyed seam binding. I used Grape this time, and added a few Cotton Candy sequins, filled with Diamond Stickles, for sparkle.

Here's the inside. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the Paper Sweeties Hello Friend stamp set.

The colors in this month's challenge are perfect for a Valentine creation, but as you can see from the inspiration photo and my card, it doesn't have to be anything holiday related. 

Be sure to visit the other members of the Design Team. Their creations are amazing!!!

Angel Johns

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties

 Emily Frasier
Jeri Thomas

Jill Norwood

Julie Tucker-Wolek

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Michele Henderson 
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir
 Nancy Salkeld

February Guest Designer: Carrie Sheridan

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Rewind!

The final day of Paper Sweeties' New Release week is a Rewind, where we create a project using new releases mixed with earlier released stamps. 

I used the new Life is a Picnic stamp set, along with the Happy Everything and Home Tweet Home stamp sets, and the Beautiful Little Wishes Sweet Cuts die set. I put Glossy Accents on the little ladybug image from the Home Tweet Home set and it almost looks like a real ladybug stopped by for a visit! 

I just love meeting my friends for lunch, don't you? :)

Speaking of friends, check out my DT friends' blogs to see how they mixed things up, too:

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Julie Tucker-Wolek
Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett 
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

And, have you played along with us in the Paper Sweeties 'Celebrate Mom' Inspiration Challenge yet? You could win a shopping spree in the boutique along with a Guest Designer invitation to join us for the next challenge! And, we're also hosting a COMMENT CONTEST--just leave us a little love on the challenge post for a chance to win a $100 SHOPPING SPREE! Two chances to WIN BIG in May!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Sweet, Sweet Weekend!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Friday Sketch Challenge #94
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Inspiration Color Swatch
Sugar Pea Design Challenge SPD15: Anything Goes
Fresh Brewed Challenge, May 13-19: Ribbon or Twine

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Paper Sweeties May Release Countdown!

I'm back with another sneak peak at Paper Sweeties' newest releases, which you will be able to purchase beginning May 15th. I used the same Happy Sweet Cuts die set and Happy stamp set that I used in my card yesterday, and the two cards couldn't look more different. I love versatile stamps and dies!

After yesterday's masculine card, I decided to make this one more girly. I cut the "Sweet" die three times then glued them together for a more dimensional look. The ellipsis after the word was made with Black Pearl Pen. The three flags are Washi tape on strips of white card stock. There are 3 sequins in the lower left corner and one next to the die cut word. I added Stickles to the centers of each one. Finally, for an extra bit of feminine sweetness, I put lace under the horizontal panel.

Here's a better view of the dimension of the "Sweet" die cut.

The sentiment inside the card is from the Happy stamp set. For continuity, I used the same Washi tape inside, but left the torn edges instead of fishtails.

More Paper Sweeties goodness can be found at each of my Teamies' blogs. Be sure to check them out!

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Julie Tucker-Wolek
Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Sweet day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Your Next Stamp Sketch Challenge #13
613 Avenue Create #123: Anything Goes w/optional Let's Celebrate!
Sugar Pea Designs SPD15: Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room #251: Pretty in PINK

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Paper Sweeties April Release Countdown!

I'm back with another card for the Paper Sweeties April Release Countdown! I never used to make shaker cards, but Paper Sweeties' sequins are so fun, I can't seem to help myself. 

I used the new Tree of Life Sweet Cuts die to cut a tree-shaped window for my shaker and filled it with tiny beads and lots of Tuti-Fruiti sequins. The sentiment and banner, from the Hello Friend stamp set, were heat embossed onto vellum and cut out using the banner die from the Be Happy Sweet Cuts set.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Paper Sweeties Team for more sneak peeks of the new Paper Sweeties releases!

Cheryl Lea - That's me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Julie Tucker-Wolek
Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

And, for a chance to win a fab Paper Sweeties prize, play along with us in this month's Inspiration Challenge!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #223
613 Avenue Create #119: Anything Goes w/Optional Twist: (Shaker, Birthday, Sequins)
Sugar Pea Challenge SPD14: Celebrate Spring
Paper Issues Challenge: Prints Charming's Beautiful Papers with Scrapbook Circle
Simon Says Stamp Monday: In the Middle
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: April Showers and/or Spring Flowers
The Shabby Tea Room Week #249: Rainbow of Colors
Corrosive Challenge #222: Floral Fantasy

Thanks for visiting! Hope to see you again tomorrow, when all the April new release sets are available for purchase!

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I'm Published!!!

My family does highs and lows at dinner each night, and my high yesterday was easy...one of my cards is published in a magazine!!! I can't even remember how long ago I submitted this Tiddly Inks card to Complete Cardmaking Magazine, but I found out it was accepted when I saw it in print for the first time yesterday! (Thanks for the pic, Lou!) 

Here's my photo of the card:

It's my typical card that has a lot going on, with coloring, sewing, fussy cutting, and, of course, my all-time favorite technique, distressing, but I created the entire background for the image on the computer. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. All the images came from Tiddly Inks, including the cool background. There are details in the magazine about how I made it. They are classifying this as an "advanced" card, but if you know your way around a photo editing program, or have worked with images in Word, it is really not that difficult to make.

And, here's the card in print:

The colors in the magazine don't look as vivid, but, see that little teal blue banner in the upper left corner of the picture? That's my name!!! Whoo Hoo! See...it's really my card! 

And, this is the magazine: Complete Cardmaking Issue 54. I have a copy ordered, but it's coming from the U.K., so it may be awhile before I see it for real. Joann's, or maybe Michael's or Hobby Lobby, may carry this magazine in the U.S., but I'm not sure about that. 

I haven't posted on my blog in over two weeks because I've been working on perfecting my bookbinding and boxmaking skills (I'll have pics of my projects soon!), but after today, I think I'm ready to get back to cardmaking, and this year, maybe I'll submit more often to magazines. This has been FUN, and what a fantastic way to kick off the new 2015 year!!!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fabulous week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Something New
613 Avenue Create Challenge #106: 2nd Annual Block Party--1001 Techniques
Sugar Pea Designs SPD12: Anything Goes
Corrosive Challenge #215: Shiny and New
Fresh Brewed Challenge January: Favorites
Kit and Clowder January Challenge: Anything Goes

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Tiddly Inks Poppy Color Challenge #140

Hi there, blog friends! Hope you had a great weekend (and a long one for my U.S. friends!). I haven't been blogging too much in the past couple of months, but starting today, I plan to post more regularly. And, for a very good reason...I am now a member of the Tiddly Inks Design Team, and this is my first official Tiddly Inks DT post!!! YAY! Thank you, Christy, for inviting me to join the team, and to the entire team, including the departing members, for the warm and friendly welcome! 

It wasn't hard to choose an image to use for my first Tiddly Inks post. The email invitation I received to join the DT was definitely Happy Mail for me! And the colors in this week's Poppy Color Challenge are happy, as well!

One of the things I love about digital stamps is how easy it is to create a scene with layering--no masking necessary! Wryn, the mailbox, the bird, and the sentiment are all separate images when you get them. I printed the digi's on X-Press It Blending Card and colored it with Copics. I couldn't resist giving Wryn a few freckles to go with her red hair. ;)

Here's a look at the inside. It seems to have a little bit of a pink tint all over, that I just couldn't get out without losing the other colors. Reds and pinks are so hard to photograph!

I hope you'll join us in the Tiddly Inks Poppy Color Challenge, and be sure to visit the rest of the DT to see their beautiful creations, too!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve August 2014 Week 3 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create Challenge #87: Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #72: Bingo (Die Cut, Bow, Color Blue)
Paper Issues: Tell Me Dies, Tell Me Sweet Little Dies
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #227: Use a Digi

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Firsts!

Hello there! I'm back to share a project that was one of the reasons I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks--my first paper bag mini album! Actually, I made a mini album for a friend two years ago, but it didn't start out as an album. It started out as an accordion fold card. But, it just kept getting bigger until I had to start calling it an album. The album I have today actually started out as an album, from the get-go. And, as another first, for me, I've made a short video of the album so you can see it in all it's glory! (The idea of having to edit a dozen photos was not appealing to me at all--learning to make a video was WAY easier!) ;D

I've never wanted to make mini albums, mainly because I don't scrapbook, and mini albums seem a lot like scrapbooking, to me. But, over the summer, my DD spent the night at a friend's house for the first time, and then had that friend spend the night with her, for the first time, also, and after taking a lot of pictures to document the milestones, I needed a place to put them. So, I made an album for my DD and another for her friend.

For my DD's album, I also made a slipcase. I used two bookbinding books to learn to do it:

Bookbinding: The Classic Arts and Crafts Manual by Douglas Cockerell

Book Art Studio Handbook by Stacie Dolin and Amy Lapidow

Click here to view video in YouTube.

Okay, here's my very first action-packed video! I debated speaking in the video, but being that I'm a Southerner and have the drawl to prove it, in the end I decided that some upbeat music was a better way to go--at least for this one ;) Enjoy!

This is how I attached the ribbon pull on the spine of the album. If it gets dirty or worn, all I have to do is snip, run a new ribbon through the eyelets and button, and tie a couple of knots.

I didn't know much about any kind of mini album, so I started by watching dozens of YouTube videos. Kathy Orta and Jane at Velocityvette08 were the two people I came back to over and over. They make amazing projects, and I never got tired of watching them in action. I ended up creating my album very similar to Kathy's Vertical Paper Bag Album, making my album pages like she did, and attempting to use the same type binding. I couldn't find detailed instructions on the binding, so it may not be right, but it works, just the same. 

After seeing all the beautiful mini album jewelry people use on their mini albums, I just had to have a chunky charm for the spine of this one, so I learned to do that, too. YouTube to the rescue again! This time it was Butterbeescraps and her Charm Tutorials that helped me out.  

Here's a closer look at the tangle tags. I love how they turned out!

This project took me almost two weeks to make, since I had to keep stopping to watch YouTube for instruction and inspiration. The album is not nearly as ornate and fancy as most albums I've seen, but they turned out just perfect for two sweet 10-year old girls.

I'm still a cardmaker at heart, but I can hardly wait to make another mini album. This was a lot more fun than I ever expected it to be.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create Challenge #86: Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge #206 - "B" Unique: Button, Beads, Bags

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Tiddly Inks DT Call!

I'm finally back to blogging! This has been a busy month for me, but August always is, with school starting again. But, I just HAD to get back in the groove because Tiddly Inks is having a DT Call! I took a DT break after Flourishes closed up shop, but Christy's images are so cute, I decided to throw my proverbial hat in the ring and see what happens. ;)

I just love images with little girls and their books. It always makes me think of my DD. This digital image, called School Girl, really is cute as a button, isn't she? I printed the image on Copic x-Press paper. She was so much fun to color with Copics, and I added some dots to her dress with a white paint marker. The layout came from the Viva la Verve August 2014 Week 1 sketch, and I followed their color challenge, too. The flowers and sentiment are Verve images that I colored, then fussy cut and rounded with a stylus. The floral strip on the gray dp is Washi tape, and you can't see it in the photo, but I used a clear Spica pen on the flower for a little sparkle.

On the inside, I used PTI dies to cut a few dp buttons, to coordinate with the sentiment on the front of the card. 

Well, I'm down to the wire on the DT Call, so I better pop over and get this baby entered! Thanks for stopping by today, and enjoy the rest of your week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tiddly Inks DT Call
Viva la Verve August 2014 Week 1 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Make it Sparkle
Freshly Brewed Challenge--August Challenge #1: Buttons
Paper Issues: Mix Tape with Hazel & Ruby

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Gardening Tools in Pencil

I used the Gardening Tools image on a card a few days ago, but I wanted to try coloring it with Prismacolor pencils, too. I love my Copics, but I have to say, this turned out much better in pencil. Of course, with Impression Obsession images, you can hardly go wrong in any medium. :D 

The entire image is colored with Prismacolor pencils. I added a black line around the image with a .01 Micron marker, and some clear Wink of Stella on the butterfly. And, I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch again, altering it just a bit by moving the image to the top of the card and adding the birthday tag (or is that a flag???) ;-) The birthday sentiment is embossed with black so it would show up on the busy paper it's on.

On the inside, I cut a few images from the Enchanted Garden paper and distressed the edges. The sentiment was stamped with Teal Zeal Memento ink and Pear Tart Ink, for a shadow effect.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Shelter Challenge #165: Photo Inspiration
Mojo Monday #353
613 Avenue Create #79: Create Your Own Challenge (image, sentiment, embossing, flowers, paper punch)
Paper Issues: Gettin' the Scoop on the Sweet Days of Summer
Sugar Pea Designs SPD06: Anything Goes
Impression Obsession Challenge: Colors of Summer!
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #68: Summer Days

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Colorful Life with Saturated Canary

Happy Friday! I've got a couple of cards to share with you, made with a Saturated Canary Stamp called Ellie's Birthday. The image is so sweet, I just had to use it twice. :)

The layout of the first card is from the Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 4 sketch, turned on it's side. The sketch has a flower near the center edge of the oval, so I added an extra balloon instead. The added balloon is from a Penny Black stamp set. One of the things I like about a lot of the Saturated Canary images is the layers of clothing--lots of opportunity for multiple colors. And, the sentiment, a MFT Stamps image, was perfect for the colorful outfit. I wanted to add a little something extra on the vellum layer, so I did a bit of scoring on it, then added color on the back with Copics, so it would be subtle. Unfortunately, IRL you can't see it very well at all, but it shows up nice here. ;) The image is popped up on the vellum layer, which is popped up on the card with pieces of foam tape underneath the rhinestones.

The sentiment inside the card is a fun one from Taylored Expressions. I stamped it with Memento ink, then colored in the HAPPY and & with Copics.

The second card is almost the same as the first, except I used different bg paper, left the extra balloon off, and used much more vibrant colors. The hair and skin tones are also different. I left the scoring off the vellum this time, since it didn't make much difference on the first card anyway.

Same inside except for the colors.

I don't usually like to make two cards that are the same, or even this similar, but these were fun because the color palettes were so different.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a Happy, Colorful Weekend! :)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 4 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
TCP Tuesday #267: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle

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Dude!

This will be my last card for the night--another Pixie Nerd card. Since I colored the first one in earthy colors, I decided to go bold and bright on this card.

The Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 2 sketch is the layout I used for this card. The image is colored with Copics, and I used a little Wink of Stella here and there, but you can't see it in the pic.

A simple panel inside with a couple of fun Washi tapes for color.

That'll do it for me tonight. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 2 Sketch Challenge
TCP Tuesday 266: Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #72: Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody #41: Anything Goes

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