Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 61

Looking for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch?  Hop on over to this post.

Hello again!  I'm back with another fantastic Cupcake Inspiration Challenge and this week I think I took a little creative license with the colors because mine sure do look much brighter than the photo, huh?  And I could have sworn there was some green in there somewhere, lol!  But look - I have pink and yellow!  haha!   I started off with Keesh's fabulous sketch challenge this week and stamps from Blooming Button Bits from Papertrey, Ink - I say anything with buttons is super fantastic!  The buttons are Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl.

Don't forget to stop by the Hope Stamps Eternal store soon - everything is 50% off through May 31st!  There isn't much time before the store closes, so this is your last chance to stock up on all things cute and crafty!

There is more inspiration eye candy waiting for you - stop by and see:

• Colleen
• Kelli
• Kristen
• Michelle
• Piali 
• Teresa 

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: blooming button bits, cupcake collection (papertrey ink)

paper: cameo coral, summer sun, garden green, very vanilla cardstock, cosmo cricket - early bird

ink: garden green, memento tuxedo black

accessories: material girl buttons (cosmo cricket), summer sun corduroy brads, yellow grosgrain ribbon, circle/blossom nestabilities (spellbinders)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 71

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC71 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I opted to change the sketch a bit and make my card square since my oval die cut doesn't quite fit a full size card - whoopsies!  The papers and ribbon are all from this month's Project Pantry kit, In the Kitchen from Taylored Expressions - Love, LOVE this kit!  I also picked up the new Daisy Chain punch and it is so much fun to use - I love that it makes a little embellishment rather than a decorated border -so cute.  Plus, the little Tiny Twinkles fit perfectly in the little daisy centers.  The flower image is from Discover Your Wings and I stamped the image once in Old Olive ink and then stamped just the daisies with Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, and Pumpkin Pie markers, cut them out and popped them up with dimensional tape. 

The Sweet Sunday Stampers also have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe-

stamps: discover your wings

paper: Bazzill textured cardstock, choice buttercream cardstock, My Mind's Eye So Sophie Clever Collection

ink: old olive, summer sun, pumpkin pie, close to cocoa (stampin' up!)

accessories:  yellow pearls (kaisercraft), green twill ribbon, daisy chain punch (ek success), taylor's tiny twinkles, oval/large scallop nestabilities (spellbinders)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello and happy Saturday!  It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner - random.org has chosen...........


#13 -------- Julie Smith! 

Isn't this the most gorgeous card?  I love the swirly bling and those butterflies are fantastic!  Congrats Julie - you can see more of her work on her blog, Paper and Such.

See you back soon for the next sketch -
Karen

Don't worry {bee} happy

Hello!  I've got a fun little card for you this afternoon using Taylor's fabulous TESC114.  If you've been following my blog the past couple of week, you know how much I absolutely {heart} The Thrift Shop paper by October Afternoon.  I'm thinking these little 8x8 October Afternoon pads are my new favorite "go to" paper packs!  Love the 8x8 size, especially for card making - it's the perfect size!  I stamped the bee hive from Garden Party Critters in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored it with Copic markers.  To switch up the "don't worry bee happy" sentiment, I used a stamp positioner to line up "don't worry" over the hive and "bee happy" underneath - for an extra twist, I cut out the little bee image from the set and popped it up on foam tape on top of the word "bee".  So fun, don't you think?!

Thanks for swinging by today - see you back soon!
Karen

recipe - 

stamps: garden party critters

paper: not quite navy (su), island mist light (prism), choice buttercream cardstock, the thrift shop (october afternoon)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), copic markers (Y15, Y17, Y19, YR24, W1), latte buttons (su)

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 60

Hello, hello!  I'm pretty late with my Cupcake Inspiration Challenge, but I hope this one is worth the delay, lol!  I love our inspiration picture this week - all those bright fun colors (you know me and my pumpkin orange!) and those flowers - GASP!!!  I've gone the clean & simple route today with this amazing sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping - I just couldn't resist the giant scallops and flower!  I haven't been able to put down this Fly a Kite paper from October Afternoon and so you get to see it 2 days in a row - just think of it as a little eye candy treat.  Hee!

Don't forget to stop on by the store - everything is 45% off while supplies last, so now is your chance to stock up on everything crafty!

Join in on the fun and link up your fabulous creation with Mr. Linky over at Rachel's blog and then be sure to stop by and see the rest of the Sweeties for more fantastic eye candy ~ Kelli ~ Kristen ~ Piali ~ Teresa ~

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you back soon!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: cupcake collection (papertrey ink)

paper: kraft, taken with teal cardstock, fly a kite (october afternoon)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: beautiful blooms 2 #1 die template (papertrey ink), 5/8" neutral brads, large scallop punch (ek sucess)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 70

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC70 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

70 sketches??  Does that even seem possible?!  This week I thought it would be really fun to incorporate background stamping into the sketch.  Now, if you don't have a large background stamp, then you can use smaller stamps to create a larger image, or you can use chipboard flourishes, or hand draw an image.  So many options!  I decided to use this leafy image for my large stamp, but since it opened up toward the left side of my paper, I flipped the sketch and added my flowers on the right-hand side instead.  I can't wait to see your creativity on this one!

The Sweet Sunday Stampers also have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe - 

stamps: blooming button bits, turning a new leaf (both papertrey ink)

paper: kraft cardstock, fly a kite (october afternoon)

ink: memento rich cocoa, old olive

accessories: yellow pearls (kaisercraft), beautiful blooms 2 #1 die template (papertrey ink), 5/8" neutral brads (stampin' up!)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Happy Saturday!  It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner!  This week, Random.org has chosen......

#32 -------> Kristine!

I love the creativity with the little dog bones and sentiment - very funny!  Congrats Kristine!  You can see more of her wonderful cards on her blog, Ink Something.

See you back soon for next week's sketch -
Karen

Blast From the Past Blog Hop

Good morning and happy Tuesday!  Taylored Expressions is hosting a fabulous Blast From the Past blog hop today, giving you a peek at some of TE's most beloved stamp sets from 2008 & 2009.  It was really tough choosing only one fabulous set, but I went for one of my all time favorite Cuppie sets - Doctor's Orders.  All the participants were given and optional sketch to use for the hop and you know me and sketches - sign me up!  This fun sketch was designed by TE's very own Sankari and I loved it! I started off by stamping the image on Choice Buttercream cardstock and colored the image with Copic Markers.  I stamped the image again and paper pieced Cuppie's bed with a sheet of The Thrift Shop paper from October Afternoon (can you say yummm???)  The little book is also paper pieced.  So cute!! 

Be sure you check out the other participants in today's blog hop too - grab one of your favorite Taylored Expressions sets and get inky!



Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: doctor's orders

paper: not quite navy, so saffron, kraft, choice buttercream cardstock, the thrift shop by october afternoon

ink: memento rich cocoa, so saffron

accessories: circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), latte buttons (stampin' up!), so saffron wide grosgrain ribbon, embroidery thread, Copic Markers

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 59

Looking for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch?  Hop on over to this post.

Hello again!  Rachel over at Hope Stamps Eternal has another yummy Cupcake Inspiration Challenge for you to get that mojo flowing.  I love the soft delicate colors of this week's cupcakes, so that is where I drew inspiration from.  Plus, I have this lovely new little Avery Lollipop stamp I've been dying to ink up and she's just so sweet dancing amongst (did I really just say amongst?) that adorable Thrift Shop paper from October Afternoon!  I used Jen's SFYTT and I kind of adapted it a little bit - if I put the ribbon over little Avery, her little legs would look detached, so sorry about that Jen!

Don't forget about the clearance sale at Hope Stamps Eternal - unfortunately, the store will be closing - everything is on sale for 45% off while supplies last.

Among other things, you can find GREAT DEALS on:

Paper from Cosmo Cricket, KaiserCraft, Pink Paislee, and Bella Blvd.
Embellishments from Zva Creative, Memory Box and Basic Grey
Stamps from Tina Wenkle, The Greeting Farm and Inkadinkado

Stop on over to see the other Sweeties for more inspiration ~ Kelli ~ Kristen ~ Piali ~ Teresa ~  Michelle ~

Thanks for stopping by again today :D
Karen

recipe -

stamps: avery lollipop (stamping bella)

ink: memento rich cocoa, cameo coral

paper: chocolate chip, prism blush red light, very vanilla cardstock, thrift store (october afternoon)

accessories: chocolate chip satin ribbon, latte buttons, embroidery thread, oval nestabilities (spellbinders)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 69

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC69 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I got some new Verve in my happy mail last week and I've been itching to ink it up - I paired it with that really ancient Simply Scrappin' Kit called Friends & Flowers and I can't believe I still have this sitting around!  You get new paper and the old stuff gets pushed to the bottom of the pile.  Anyway, this ended up being a super quick card to make and I'm thinking it's missing something.  Ribbon, definitely ribbon.  It's a pretty rare phenomenon when I forget or neglect my beloved ribbon! 

Don't forget about The Sweet Sunday Stampers - they also have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley - Nancy's under the weather, so hop by and send her some love
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe -

stamps: happy days (verve stamps)

paper: friends & flowers simply scrappin kit

ink: pumpkin pie, cool caribbean, memento tuxedo black

accessories: latte buttons, aqua rhinestones (kaisercraft), circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello!  I'm back with this week's winner and since I'm rapidly typing up tomorrow's post, I'll be quick :D

This week's random winner is..............  #39 - Brenda!

Congrats Brenda!  I really love the feel of this card, not to mention it's a masculine card and I'm always looking for fab examples!  Fantastic job, Brenda!  You can find more of Brenda's fabulous cards on her blog, Stamp It Up.

See you back soon for the next challenge!
Karen

Key Ingredients Challenge - May

Good morning!!  I'm so thrilled to show you the May Key Ingredients Kit - and truthfully, I haven't been able to put it down since I opened it!  The TE Key Ingredients Subscription is an exclusive monthly kit club that sends perfectly coordinated paper, ribbon, and embellishments to your mailbox every month, and what better way to keep that creativity flowing than to have super cute paper and embellies waiting for you right outside your doorstep?!

To jump start that creativity, Taylor offers a special challenge specific to each KI, and this month your mission is to create a card without any stamping!  WHAT???  I know!! 

For my non-stamping card I went right for this chipboard owl and covered it in some of the Treehouse paper and sponged the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  The Treehouse rub-ons included with the May KI have different sentiments and it was easy to add the {hi} directly to the patterned paper as well as the little rub-on flower over some Honeycomb textured cardstock.  These rub-ons are fantastic!  The color is vibrant and stays that way, even over darker cardstock and paper.  I added some mini ric-rac ribbon for the owl to stand on as well as some yellow polka-dot ribbon (the Yellow Pearls are not part of the kit). The sketch is The Sweet Stop's SSS55.

I made another card with stamping and rub-ons.  I started with Mercy's MTSC73 sketch and stamped the branch from Branching Out in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored it with Copic Markers.  Taylor has put together a perfect mix of Copic Markers which coordinate perfectly with the May KI!  I cut the image out with my Labels 9 Nestabilities and then sponged around the edges with Memento Cantaloupe ink.  One thing I absolutely love about these subscription Key Ingredients is the opportunity they give me to try out new items, like the cute assortment of chipboard included in this month's kit.  The variety of embellishments from month to month really introduces me to new items I haven't tried, like Smooch, stick pins, skeleton leaves, and cardstock stickers to name a few. 

Don't forget - all subscribers receive a 10% off coupon good for anything in the Taylored Expressions store, so that is a huge bonus for subscribing.  Be sure to check out more about the TE Key Ingredients, here and snoop around the Key Ingredients Gallery too.

More scrumptious morsels are waiting for you, so hop by to see:

• Jodi Collins
• Melissa Sauls
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• and of course Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipes -

{hi} card

Paper: Honeycomb & Java textured cardstock (Bazzill), Choice Snow White cardstock, Treehouse patterned paper (Pebbles)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: owl chipboard, yellow polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, Treehouse rub-ons (Pebbles), Yellow Pearls (Kaisercraft) 

Thank You card

Stamps: Branching Out
Paper: Honeycomb & Lava textured cardstock (Bazzill), Choice Snow White cardstock, Treehouse patterned paper (Pebbles)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa & Dandelion
Accessories: Copic Markers, owl chipboard, Treehouse rub-ons (Pebbles)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner (week 67)

Hey gang!  So in all the hullabaloo of my crazy Mother's Day weekend, I completely forgot to post last week's SSSC winner!  Doh!  So without further ado.....

Our winner is....  #9 - Mary Brown!!

I love the colors Mary used and that brilliant splash of flowers behind the coconut drink - ahhh, I can feel the warm breezes!  You can see more of Mary's work at her blog, Stamper Camper's Corner.

See you back soon!
Karen

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 58

Looking for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch?  Hop on over to this post.
 

Good morning!  It's time for our next Cupcake Inspiration Challenge over at Hope Stamps Eternal and this week's cupcakes are just the most summery, cheeriest ever!  Love the bright colors.  I grabbed my new 8x8 packet of Fly A Kite from October Afternoon and the latest MOJO sketch.  I got this wonderful little Saycheesabella for my birthday, in honor of my recent journey through photography and I just LOVE her!  don't you wish you could wear polka-dot pants?  I can't pull it off, but my 2-year-old can, haha!

Don't forget about the clearance sale at Hope Stamps Eternal - unfortunately, the store will be closing - everything is on sale for 45% off while supplies last.

Among other things, you can find GREAT DEALS on:

Paper from Cosmo Cricket, KaiserCraft, Pink Paislee, and Bella Blvd.
Embellishments from Zva Creative, Memory Box and Basic Grey
Stamps from Tina Wenkle, The Greeting Farm and Inkadinkado

Stop on over to see the other Sweeties for more inspiration ~ Kelli ~ Kristen ~ Piali ~ Teresa ~  Michelle ~

Thanks for stopping by again today :D
Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 68

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC68 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I've been playing with TE's new sets, Garden Party Critters and Garden Party Blooms all week and I just had to make one more card for today's sketch.  I repeatedly stamped the 3 little flowers in Certainly Celery ink and then added buttons for the blooms - love that look!  I popped up the little butterfly and added some pearls for the body and then added the little sun to balance the images.  All the paper and ribbon is from this months Garden Party Pantry Kit.

In celebration of Mother's Day, I just had to post this hilarious little video.  I'll take anything that makes me feel better about driving around in a big blue minivan (aka the Blueberry, but calling it the Blueberry definitely takes the swagger out of that big ol' wagon)...



Don't forget about The Sweet Sunday Stampers - they also have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley 
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe -

stamps: garden party critters, garden party blooms

paper: garden party project pantry kit, choice buttercream cardstock

ink: certainly celery, cameo coral, summer sun, pumpkin pie, memento tuxedo black

accessories: cosmo cricket buttons (material girl, garden variety), mango pearls (kaisercraft)

Taylored Expressions Release Party

Good morning and happy Friday!!!  It's release day at Taylored Expressions and there is a TON of new items in the store today including a wide variety of border punches, full size pads of Colorbox Chalk ink, and cupcake liners. Also among those fabulous items is TE's newest set of Stamps A La Carte specifically designed for the men and father's in our lives.

Each A La Carte stamp comes with a coordinating sentiment - my card features Dad Tools and I wanted to keep is simple, so I chose a single layer layout.  To add the look of a layer, I ran my Curved Rectangles Nestabilities through the Cuttlebug with the embossing mat so that the Nestabilities die only embossed and didn't cut through the cardstock.  I stamped the image in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored it with Copics and then added a little screw brad.  This was such a fun and easy card to make, especially for my dad who isn't a fussy kind of guy. 

My second little project features Cuppie in the Kitchen - I just couldn't put this set down!  I started by stamping the little YUMMY spatula in Memento Rich Cocoa randomly over the kraft cardstock and then layered it over that delicious apron punch.  To add a little something sweet to my little Cuppie card, I made a fun tissue paper cupcake, complete with rhinestone sprinkles!  I made the cupcake base by cutting out some patterned paper from the In the Kitchen Project Pantry Kit with my Blossom Nestabilities die.  I scored a circle in the center of the blossom and then cut between the scallops to the circle center.  The sections were folded up towards the top and glued together to make the cup shape.  For the frosting I took a single sheet of tissue paper and twisted it up - then I just wrapped it around to fill the cupcake shape, adhering it together with mini glue dots along the way, and added little rhinestones to the paper.  Super cute and super fun!!

Don't miss out on all the other amazing projects the Baker's Dozen have whipped up for you this morning!  Stop by to see:

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen 
• and guest Baker Sandra MacLean

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 2

Good morning!  It's another fantastic day of Taylored Expressions sneak peeks for tomorrow's big release and the Baker's Dozen has more fresh from the oven ideas for you.   Today we're featuring 2 more sets - the first one I'll show you is Cuppie in the Kitchen. 

This cute little Cuppie set features our favorite Cuppie whipping up all sorts of delicious treats and fun sentiments to match.  TE is also release a coordinating kit to this set called In the Kitchen Project Pantry which includes:

• 12 sheets of cardstock (10 colored, 2 Choice neutral)
• 20 sheets of 6x6 double-sided patterned paper from the My Mind's Eye So Sophie Clever Collection
• 5 yards of ribbon (1 yard each of 5 different styles)
• Assorted coordinating buttons
• Red Glitter Candy Dots
• 1 bottle Lime Stickles
• 1 bottle Mint Liquid Pearls
• 3 Mini Kraft Bakery Bags

I started off with this week's CPS sketch, which Taylored Expressions is sponsoring (you can win a free set!) and supplies from the In the Kitchen Project Pantry set.  The image is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored in with Copic markers as well as paper pieced with patterned paper from the kit. You are going to LOVE this set - it's perfect for recipe cards, girlfriend cards, fun baking packaging, you name it!

Next up is Hangin' Out, which was a concept from our very own amazingly talented Sankari and illustrated by Nancy McKinney!  This whimsical set has a wide range of images that are sure to fit every occasion!

I wanted to use the little baby images that are designed to hang on a clothesline - so fun!  All the ribbon and paper is from the Garden Party Project Pantry kit - love this paper!  The images are colored with Copics and popped up on dimensionals over the clothesline.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Baker's Dozen for more amazing projects featuring Hangin' Out and Cuppie in the Kitchen - you won't be disappointed!

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen 
• and designer Nancy McKinney

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 1

I can't believe it is time for the next Taylored Expressions sneak peek week!  Today we're showcasing Garden Party Blooms and Garden Party Critters - each of these were designed by the marvelous, Taylor!!  All of these sets and kits will be available for purchase on Friday, May 7th.  We are all excited to show off Taylor's new sets, so I'll get to it.

My first card features Garden Party Blooms (well, the little caterpillar is from Garden Party Critters).  I used Mercy's sketch MTSC72.  This set is full of whimsical images that you can mix and match with Garden Party Critters - there are a million possibilities!  I love all the flowers and stems - they layer perfectly and add so much depth.  Did you happen to notice that cloudy background?  It's a 5.75" square background stamp - also designed by Taylor - and is SO much fun to use.  Taylor is also introducing the Project Pantry, which is a coordinating kit of cardstock, papers, embellishments and little extras to keep you inspired.  This month's Garden Party Project Pantry kit includes all of the following for only $22.95:

• 12 sheets of 8.5” x 11” cardstock
• 20 sheets of 6x6 patterned paper (from We R Memory Keepers 72 & Sunny collection)
• 5 yards of ribbon (1 yard each of 5 different styles)
• Jar of Glitter
• Sheet of Cardstock Stickers
• Charm Assortment (ladybug, butterfly, bee, flowers)

OR - if you would like to grab both the Garden Party stamp sets AND the kit - it's only $59.95.  I grab these coordinating kits whenever I need some inspiration - everything matches and the paper is amazing - not to mention all of the wonderful ribbon that is always included.  Cards and projects are a snap to make when everything is already packaged so nicely for you.

My second card uses SC278 and I went straight for the Garden Party Project Pantry kit again - I just can't help myself; this paper is YUMMY!!!  The images are from Garden Party Critters - isn't this little bee hive just the cutest?!  The bee and the sentiment are separate stamps, so you can place them wherever you'd like on your project.

Hop on over to Taylor's blog for all the information on this month's Project Pantry kit and give her a little shout out for her big jump to our lastes illustrator!

The Baker's Dozen have amazing projects for you to see today as well, so stop on by and see:

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen 

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!
Karen

recipe -

Thanks a bunch card:

Stamps: Garden Party Blooms, Garden Party Critters, Clouds Background

Paper: Prism Intense Teal, Classic Yellow, Choice Buttercream cardstock,72 & Sunny collection (We R Memory Keepers)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, glorious green, soft sky

Accessories: Copic markers, gold twill ribbon, 72 & Sunny embossed stickers, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles

Bee happy card:

Stamps: Garden Party Blooms, Garden Party Critters, Clouds Background

Paper: Prism Intense Teal, Intense Kiwi, Desert Coral Medium, Choice Buttercream cardstock,72 & Sunny collection (We R Memory Keepers)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: Copic markers, cocoa polka dot ribbon, 72 & Sunny embossed stickers

The Shabby Tea Room - "Get Your Bling On"

I'm SO thrilled to be this week's guest designer for The Shabby Tea Room and I've been looking forward to this for a LONG time! Not only am I the guest this week, but I'm also giving away this week's prize - a FREE watermark!  Woohoo!  You can catch all the entry details HERE.

I used a TON of glitter on my card today - the tea pot is stamped in Pretty In Pink craft ink and then sprinkled with Heat & Stick powder and sprinkled again with Cyclamen glitter - oooh, gorgeous!  I wish there was a magical way to photograph all this glorious glitter, because my photo doesn't do the sparkle justice.  I also stamped the background paper and added more Starfire glitter to it (and yet again, the sparkle has been lost in translation).  I also added a little more bling with some Tiny Twinkles along the scallop border.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: cup of life (verve stamps), turning a new leaf (papertrey ink)

paper: chocolate chip, very vanilla cardstock (SU), afternoon tea dsp (SU), some patterned paper I can't remember the name of - help!

ink: pretty in pink craft, versamark, memento rich cocoa

accessories: starfire & cyclamen glitter, heat & stick powder, scallop edge border punch (SU), tiny twinkles (taylored expressions), circle/scallop nestabilities, beautiful blooms 2 dies #1 (papertrey ink), linen thread, satin chocolate chip ribbon

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 57

Looking for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch?  Hop on over to this post.

Hello!  I'm back for another fantastic Cupcake Inspiration Challenge from Hope Stamps Eternal and this one was SO much fun to make.  I started off with Taylor's TESC110 and wanted to use that amazing embossed fondant on the cupcake tops, so I ran some whisper white cardstock through the Cuttlebug in the Victoria embossing folder - beautiful!  The flower is made with the Little Leaves die from Stampin' Up! and the Beautiful Blooms 2 #3 die from Papertrey Ink.  I wanted to use some paper with a little punch to it, so I picked up my stack of Basic Grey Green At Heart for the flowers and the pink underlay.  Love the distressed look!

Don't forget about the clearance sale at Hope Stamps Eternal - unfortunately, the store will be closing - everything is on sale for 35% off while supplies last.

Among other things, you can find GREAT DEALS on:

Paper from Cosmo Cricket, KaiserCraft, Pink Paislee, and Bella Blvd.
Embellishments from Zva Creative, Memory Box and Basic Grey
Stamps from Tina Wenkle, The Greeting Farm and Inkadinkado

Stop on over to see the other Sweeties for more inspiration ~ Kelli ~ Kristen ~ Piali ~ Teresa ~ 

Thanks for stopping by again today :D
Karen

recipe - 

stamps: cupcake collection (papertrey ink)

paper: pretty in pink, whisper white cardstock (SU), basic grey green at heart

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: little leaves die (SU), beautiful blooms 2 #3 die (papertrey ink), silver brads, victioria embossing folder (provo craft) 

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 67

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC67 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I know what you are thinking - What the heck am I doing with a boy card on my blog?  Well, sometimes I need to stretch my creative brain and make myself make something masculine.  That and the fact that this is for my brother-in-law; his birthday was Wednesday and he's way into golf (and all things sports), so this little number was made especially for him. Apparently I can't follow my own sketch - I made this square for some reason, LOL!  The stamp is from the set Boys Will Be Boys from Taylored Expressions and I just {heart} that sentiment - it reminds me of my dad and all his little puns he says - or tries to say anyway... 

Don't forget about The Sweet Sunday Stampers - they also have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley 
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: boys will be boys

ink: memento rich cocoa

paper: prism desert coral dark, choice buttercream cardstock, abbey road from my mind's eye

accessories: button, linen thread, dimensionals

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Happy Saturday!  It's been a busy day - soccer... stamping... roaming blogland...  haha!  It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner......

#19 - Billie A!

I'm so drawn to this card - I think it's the flowers (naturally) and those fun bright blues, oranges, and yellows - hello summer!!!  I love the patterned paper strips in the background too - very fun!  You can see more of Billie's amazing cards at her blog, Ink On My Fingers - hop on by and say hey.

See you back soon for the next sketch!
Karen