Spring Mini Swap

Here is the first of my Spring Mini Swaps. I have a few more swaps that I am in but this one is due first. Sorry about the bad lighting but this has to go in the mail tomorrow.
I just love the Doodle sets in the Spring Mini. And as you can tell, I love these colors! I colored in each of the little doodles with markers! I must be insane! I will think very hard before doing this again...LOL! I also used a slit punch to create a scallops edge. The word friend is from the Wonderful Words set. I just used a marker and left off the end of the word. An idea I got from Taylor. Then I cut out one of the flowers, inserted a brad and popped it up on a dimensional. I am quite pleased with the final result. I hope everyone in the swap likes it.

Stamps: Doodle That & Wonderful Words
Inks: Timber Brown StazOn
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral & Certainly Celery Markers, Slit Punch, Paper Piercer & Turquoise Brad

Secret Sister Bella

This is the cute Tinkerbella card that my Secret Sister sent my daughter for her sixth birthday. She also included a $5 gift certificate to Burger King. I love all the texture. She used her Cuttlebug Bloom Dots Embossing Folder for the green panel. There is glitter on the wand, wings, dress and sentiment.

I hope to get some of my projects uploaded soon. We were sick this weekend. Then we had Hannah's Birthday. Tonight I have a Pampered Chef party and Hannah's party is Saturday. In between time I am trying to get swaps done for my Swap Club, Regionals and the Spring Bloggers Only Swap. So I have been busy to say the least. Did I mention that I have also been redoing my stamp room, that I homeschool and ...... I must be insane...LOL!

Stamps: Tinkerbella by Stamping Bella & Warm Words Inks: Black, Pixie Pink, Brown & Blush
Paper: White, Pixie Pink and Gable Green Accessories: Glitter, Rose Grosgrain, Flower eyelet by unknown, Ticket Corner Punch, Bloom Dots embossing folder by Provo Craft

Combined Challenges

Today I combined two challenges. This is the card that I did for the Sketch Challenge and Ways to Use it Challenge. Right away knew I wanted to use my colors that I found over at Oriental Trading. So I got out my Simple Shapes set and stamped my circles onto my white cardstock. I then went back and "outlined" them all with the outline circle that fit each solid circle. to make sure it all lined up pretty, I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig. I also used it for my sentiment but after three tries I gave up. I should have stamped the sentiment before adhering all my layers. I think the thickness messed up the positioning. After 4 tries I gave up. So my tip is... when using a stamp positioner on the card base, stamp BEFORE you adhere any layer.


Here is the DCWV card kit that inspired my colors for today and yesterday. The kit is also my inspiration for the circles and the sentiment. I just love these colors. They really work great for funky cards. I am wondering how they would work for more traditional cards. HMMMM? I will have to try it out. But for now I must go get prepared for my workshop this weekend.

Stamps: Simple Shapes & Much Appreciated Inks: Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Cameo Coral Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Cameo Coral Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, turquoise grosgrain

Technique Lovers Challenge

This weeks Technique Lovers Challenge was to create 4 cards using one main stamp set, one sentiment set, one background and one color combination.
















I knew immediately that I wanted to use my new Doodle That stamp set. I have a swap coming up and I wanted to try and get some ideas. I also just got my new Oriental Trading catalog and it had some great color combos that i wanted to try. So I pick one that I thought would lend itself to the whimsical funkiness of this set and started stamping.
These cards are what resulted. I did the coral one and that got my juices flowing. Next I did the celery one. This one was inspired by a card done by jbalcer. Next I case a card done by Lynn in St. Louis. The next card I did was the turquoise one. By that time it was 3am and I was running out of steam. I still think it turned out cute but not as cute as the others. JMO.


For this card I used a Cameo Coral base. There are sqiggly doodles stamped on it with VersaMark, but it is hard to see here. I then placed on a piece of Certainly Celery that had been stamped with the swiggly doodle, this time using Chocolate Chip. I stamped the three flowers with timber Brown StazOn onto Very vanilla cardstock and then colored them all in with markers. I did one extra and cut it out then popped it up on pop dots and placed it over the middle flower to add some dimension. I then layered them on a piece of chocolate cardstock and centered it over the celery piece. I then stamped the word sweet from my So Very set and punched it out with my word window punch. I added a turquoise brad and attached it to the card.

This next card is in the running for my favorite. I stamped different images from Doodle That onto a strip of Vanilla cardstock. Then I colored them in using my markers. I also stamped a flower and added a stem on another piece of cardstock. I tried to add a ground but I do not like how it turned out. I will have to figure out something else. I used the ticket corner punch on all of the corner on the focal image and accented with brads. I also stamped the flower image onto the celery piece using VersaMark.


This last card is in the running for my favorite also. It was also the most simple. I stamped random images again in chocolate onto the very vanilla. Then I created a scallop strip using my slit punch. Then I attached both to a chocolate card base and covered my seam with chocolate ribbon. Then I tied on some brown dotted and ivory organdy ribbon. I finished the card off by stamping the word blessed in the bottom corner in Craft Vanilla ink.

Stamps: Doodle That and So Very Ink: Timber Brown StazOn, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla Craft, Versamark, Tempting Turquoise & Certainly Celery paper: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise & Very Vanilla Accessories: Turquoise Brads, Word Window punch, matching markers, Stampin' dimensionals, Chocolate and Turquoise grosgrain ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Brown dotted (Wal-mart) and Ivory organdy

Featured Stamper Challenge

This Sunday a new challenge was started over at SCS. It is called the Featured Stamper Challenge.
Each week a different stamper will be featured and the challenge is to case that stamper.

This weeks featured stamper is Krabearkub. He is a very talented stamper and I already had several of his creations in my favorites. The card I chose however, was a new creation. After I finished my card I realized that I had cased his entry for the challenge.

I kept the layout that Kurtis used. I wanted to try out some watercoloring techniques I had read about over at Sweet Miss Daisy's Blog. So I changed the image to a flower from the In Full Bloom set. I think I did a pretty fair job. I also wanted to keep the simplicity that he had in his card. So the only other stamping is on the Marigold panel and the sentiment. I did not have a metal edged tag, so I just layered my image onto a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock. I loved the detail of the paper piercing so I definitely kept that.

Stamps: In Full Bloom & Warmest Regards Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Chocolate Chip, Marigold Morning & Buckaroo Blue Paper: Watercolor paper, Chocolate Chip, Marigold Morning & Buckaroo Blue Accessories: Paper piercer and template, Aquapainter and Chocolate grosgrain

Spring Bloggers Swap

Sarah is hosting another swap. The Valentine swap was great. You can see the cards I received here. I hope that if you have a blog you will consider joining. Just visit this thread to sign up.

Sweet on Taken with Teal

I think I could count on one hand how many times I have used Taken with Teal before I got this Loves Me Designer Series Paper. It started me thinking that Stampin' Up! may have designed the paper around this color in order to increase sales. I never order taken with Teal. Now, I am totally out. I will be placing some on my next order.

Anyway, here is a card I did for my workshop on Saturday night. Most of the ladies had never stamped before. I tried to keep this card fairly simple for that reason. I was inspired by this card done by kathat.

I started by stamping the heart image on the teal card base with the matching ink. Then I added a piece of the Loves Me paper to the bottom portion of the card and tied on some rose ribbon. then I stamped the sweet image onto some scrap paper and punched it out with a circle punch. Then I punched two more larger circles out of Taken with Teal and Regal Rose cardstock. I layered all the circles together and then attached them to the card using pop dots.

Stamps: Sweet On You Paper: Taken with Teal, Regal Rose & Loves Me Designer Paper Ink: Taken with Teal, Regal Rose Accessories: Rose grosgrain ribbon, circle punches

Valentine Mailbox

I picked up several of these little mailboxes a few weeks ago at Target Dollar Spot. The kids and I will be decorating some red ones on Valentines Day and I decorated one for my Secret Sister. The rest we decorated last night at my Stamp Club meeting. This is my example. Everyone got to choose the pattern the wanted from the Loves Me Designer Series Paper so they all liked a little different. We also made these cute little cards to fit inside.
The flower card uses the slit punch to keep it closed. The card base measures 8 1/2 x 3 . I punched one end with the slit punch and then folded it over so that the other end could slip under the slit. No envelope for this one, but it would be cute to slip inside someones pocket, backpack or lunch bag. I also used 2 way glue to adhere glitter to the centers.
The sweet card was very simple. It measures 3x3. I colored the stamp with markers to get two shades on the same stamp and then punched it out with my circle punch.

Stamps: Sweet on You, All Year Cheer & Sweet Shapes Inks: Timber Brown StazOn, Regal Rose, Taken with Teal Papers: Loves Me DSP, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal and Close to Cocoa Accessories: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa & Regal Rose Markers, Turquoise, Rose and Taupe Grosgrain, Aqua Painter, Slit punch, Circle Punch 2 way glue &Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Blogger Only Valentine Swap Finale

This cute little card/book was created by our swap hostess Sarah Moore.
She has a wonderful blog called Sarah and the Stampstars. She has many great tutorials over there that are a must see! You can also see the inside of this cutie. The pages on the inside say, "If Life is a pajama party, you are the cat"s pajamas". It is hard to tell in the photos but the inside is done on Shimmery White Cardstock. She also included the little envelope complete with a stamped heart.

Stamps: All images are Hampton's Arts Paper: Loves Me DP & Pretty in Pink Ink: Versamark Accessories: Metal Edged Tag, Silver Cord, pocket Notes, Creative Candy Pink "bling" by A Muse, Die Cut Heart & Embossed Swirls by ProvoCraft & Silver Embossing Powder.

Sarah was also our swap hostess. She is about to hostess another Bloggers Only Swap. So if you are interested in joining be sure to keep an eye on this thread. I know I will be participating again!

Sarah also sent everyone in the swap this cute little bookmark. She used the Flirty Ribbon. It was the first time I had seen it and of course now that I have seen it I just had to get some! And of course the Loves Me Paper is too cute.

Thank you Sarah for all your hard work on this swap and your generosity! I cannot wait for the next round!

Stamps: Wonderful Words Inks: Chocolate Chip Paper: Loves Me DP and Taken with Teal Accessories: Cuttlebug Bookmark & Heart Dies, Uniball Gel Pen, Flirty ribbon Originals & packing chipboard

Simple Birthdays

I saw this great card done by laurakj and knew that I wanted to do something similar. I loved the simplicity of her card. I also happened to need some birthday cards. So this seemed like the perfect solution. I really like how they all turned out. Maybe I am getting the hang of these simple designs.






This first card was my first try. I loved the colors of the ribbon and wanted to showcase them.















This card has a brad with a golden (topaz) gemstone in the middle of the flower. The picture did not capture it very well.


















This card uses some ribbon that I received in the mail yesterday from Keri. I loved the colors in it.







Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Warmest Regards & All About U Inks: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip & Ruby Red Paper: Natural (non SU!), Garden Green & Chocolate Chip Accessories: American Crafts Ribbon, Flower ribbon from unknown source, Antique Brass Brad, Prima, Large Daisy from unknown source, Gemstone brad from unknown source, Paper Flowers by Making Memories, Silver Brad, Circle punches

Connie's Blogger Swap Card

Connie Reichert created this next card. It is so cute. You can tell from her card that she is a fun lady. You can get to know her a little better by visiting her blog.
There are a few things that make this card stand out. First of course is the play on words. Second is the dry embossing on the base of the card. It is hard to see in the picture, but IRL it really stands out. Third, the sparkle added to the sheep and words. Connie definitely has an eye for details.

Stamps: Sketch It, Shep by Amuse & Tenley Caps by Paper Studio Inks: Real Red & Basic Black Paper Pink Passion, Eggplant Envy and Target$1 spot Printed Paper Accessories: Sakura glaze pen, Sakura sparkle pen, brads by Making Memories, Oval punch, Ticket Corner Punch & Sizzix Tiny Flowers Texture Plate.

Next Blogger Valentine

Here is a card created by Denise Bryant. You can find her on her blog, All Things Stamped. The really cool thing about this card is that it does not open. You pull on the tab that says "sweet" and it slides right out. I also am in love with the Loves Me paper after seeing this card. I ordered some right away. It is sort of hard to see in the picture but the heart is popped up on a dimensional.

Stamps:Dream Come True & Sweet Shapes Inks: Cool Caribbean & Close to Cocoa Paper: Loves me DS Paper, Cool Caribbean, Whisper White and Pretty in Pink Accessories: Brown Bazzil Pocket May Arts Pink Dotted Organdy ribbon, Offray Brown Dotted Organdy, Joann's Brads & McGill File Folder Tab Punch

Blogger Only Valentine Swap

This cute little card was designed by Lauri Royall (SCS Jailbirdstamper). I love the simplicity and the black and white theme. You should check out Lauri's blog. Be sure you take a look around, she has a fairly large publishing resume and you can find all sort of publishing call information.

Stamps:Stinking Cute Papers : A Muse & the rest are unidentified. Ink: Craft Black. Accessories: heart die punch, scalloped circle punch and red gingham ribbon

Last Birthday Card

Here is the last of the cards we did at my recent class. Again, I attempted to do a more manly card, but I could not resist throwing in the little flower. This card was inspired by this card done by WAXYO. Is there a limit to how many times you can CASE someone? If you have not taken a peek in her gallery over at SCS, it is a must see.
Several of the ladies at the class liked this card because it was "Gator Colors". I absolutely love these colors together. I also added some hemp twine to try to make it a little more masculine. I wanted to add all the brads that Meg has on hers, but since I had 10 people making two each...so alas, I did not have enough brads. So we settled for 1 rather than 5. I used the Rock n Roll technique on this card, and sponged everything to add a little depth and aged look. It really makes the "U" pop, I think. Overall I am fairly happy with it.

Stamps: All About U Inks: Very Vanilla Craft, Not Quite Navy& Pumpkin Pie Paper: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie & Sahara Sand Accessories: Copper Brad, Hemp Twine & sponges