kiss kiss, i love you!

happy new year's eve! :)
today i am sharing a card i made for one of my favorite challenges, and the sentiment just so happens to be PERFECT for today! :)

i saw this inspiration photo on the Runway Inspired Challenge blog, and dude - it SPOKE to me! ha! i LOVE the yellow, and the strip of red and even the warm grey color of the purse! such a beautiful ensemble! 

don't you agree?
so, how could i NOT play along, right?
here's my interpretation:

i sprayed some Heidi Swapp Mustard spray onto a piece of recycled packaging, and then smooshed it onto the background of my card to create the 'watercolor' look. my absolute FAVORITE way to make a watercolor background!

then i heat embossed the sentiment from Mama Elephant's Pandamonium in red. the feathers are from the Smitten stamp set (LOVE that set!), and i also had heat embossed those in white onto vellum. i cut them out and stitched them in place. LOVE stitching on my cards, as you know!

lastly, i popped the card base with some foal tape over a wonky placed strip of warm grey washi tape and done! :)

hope it made you happy! i LOVE this card, and i can't wait to give it to the Mann of my dreams on valentine's day! ha! :)
enjoy!

it's the final countdown!

ok, if you don't know...this is the song i was referring to in my post title, you can here it here. 

i LOOOOVE 80's rock!!! (along with about 100 other genres! lol! i'm a music person!).

anyway, with that song in mind, i created a Happy New Year card, because it's getting close to the LAST day of 2014! insane!
this card is also up on the Newton's Nook Designs blog, so be sure to check it out! :)

isn't it sweet!! ha ha!
i used a star stencil and some white embossing paste to create the starry background. then i colored the basket images and newton with copics!
that newton is from the Hanging Around stamp set! and i just love that he's peeking in from behind the card base! sneaky little newton!

That basket with the champagne is from Basket of Wishes, and i thought it was just PERFECT to help ring in the new year! :) I popped it up for some dimension, and then added a happy stripped strip of washi under the card front! :)

do you have any new year's plans? how about resolutions? 
i don't usually make resolutions, but i do have a few goals i want to accomplish next year! :) mums the word on those! ;)

enjoy! and don't forget to wish Newton (and Hobbes!!) a happy new year on the Newton's Nook Blog, too! :)

better late than never...?

so today i'm sharing a bunch of Christmas cards i made this year for super special and lovely friends!
i know it's after Christmas, but, perhaps like you, i was just caught up in the festive and fun of the holiday season! so i'm just getting around to sharing them! :)

first up, a card using some Lawn Fawn stamp sets! :)

i stamped the ornaments and string from the Joy to the Woods stamp set. then i used some distress markers to add watercolor to them! i actually used a lot of shading (hard to see!) and then added glossy accents, because, well...ornaments! lol!

the sentiment was heat embossed in red onto some vellum, and then layered onto a subtle polka dotted banner! :)

ok, next is another Lawn Fawn card:

i used some non-christmas sets to make this one!
i LOVE how it turned out! 
the camper, car and tree are from Happy Trails of course!  i colored all of the images with copics and then popped up the images with some foam tape. clearly i stuck with the traditional, festive colors! 

the postcard from You've Got Mail was stamped onto some vellum, and then adhered to the card base! 
oh! and the card base has some falling snow on it! i used translucent embossing paste and mixed it with perfect pearls to create my own "pearlescent" embossing paste! LOVE it!


ok, onto another card! this one uses Paper Smooches:

i stamped and colored the Santa image with copics from Santa Paws, then set it aside...
then i drew a 'loose' beard shape onto some white cardstock and then stamped the snowflakes from Gently Seasoned to fill in that beard shape! you can't tell, but i also went over each snowflake with some wink of stella! :)

on top of that i stitched on a layer of vellum and then heat embossed the sentiment in red. then i added the santa face onto of the vellum with some foam tape! LOVE how this turned out! :)

(almost done, are you still with me?! lol!)
ok, this card is a Mama Elephant card...and it has a sad story as it never made it to the recipient...instead the big, bad, mean USPS destroyed and lost it...*tears!!* sigh.

i used the panda's from Pandamonium, and i LOVE them! i added some color with copics and then combined with some of the accessories from Cozy Christmas! i really tried to make it look like the pandas were being sneaky the cookies from santa, and giving them to 'you'! :) ha ha!

on the card base, i used a chevron mask and then some washi tape to make a Christmas tree shape with the embossing paste! a few silver sequins, and it was done! 
...and then lost forever...

ok, my next two cards are based on the popular 'ornament' look! 
this one was created using from Neat and Tangled stamps! 

i die cut a circle shape and then stamped the world map from Origami Map (swoon - LOVE it!) and then colored the images with festive copic colors! :) i also added some grey shading to the sides of the circle to make it look rounded!

i heat embossed the sentiment with Liquid Platinum embossing powder. the sentiment is from Winter Wishes and i LOVE it! :) i also added some snow with white embossing paste and a stencil! 

lastly, i have a set of cards created with Create a Smile stamps! :)

i lightly drew a circle with pencil and then stamped  the small 'bubbles' from Comfy to fill in the ornament shape! :) i LOVE it!

then i sprayed some pink mist onto a scrap piece of clear packaging and smooshed it over the bubbles to create the water color look! i really like that messy look!! :) the sentiments were also heat embossed in the Liquid Platinum, and they're from the Smiling Snowflakes stamp set! :)

ok, you did it! that's the end of the post!
thanks for stopping by, and i hope it wasn't too labor intensive! 

enjoy!

dreaming of a cloudy christmas

hello!!
it's almost christmas! and it's almost sunny!! ha ha!!
well, i can't even say it's almost sunny, actually there is an ALMOST tropical depression just sitting over us! it causes lots of rain and lots of clouds. lol! 

well, that was a tangent!! lol!
my card today is about clouds though, so that's where this all started! :)
i created this card for the most recent Little Tangles challenge, which is all about BLING, baby!! :)

how can i resist?
i heat embossed some of the clouds from the super LOVELY Clouds stamp set from Neat and Tangled, in Liquid Platinum, and then watercolored some distress markers onto them. LOVE the pools of color near the edges. i definitely added a little shading near the edges, just so it wasn't so flat.

then i popped up some of the clouds and added two different sized silver sequins (the larger Silver Metallic ones are from the Neat and Tangled shop!).The front panel was spritzed with a little gold mist and then i stitched onto a few of the clouds, and card base....because...well i love to sew on cards. i can't help it! :)

so that's my card!
i'm hoping this card makes my spirits bright, since the weather certainly won't! :)
what's the weather like by you?
enjoy!

a starry layout!

hello and good morning!
today i have a layout to share on the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog!!
here's a sneak peek of it, and some of the products i used:

guys, i REALLY love how this layout turned out! i hope you check it out and it inspires you to try something different different with your embellishments!

and then, hey, do a little shopping! fun for everyone! :)
enjoy!

shake it like a bowl full of jelly - shaker card!

ha ha ha!!
oh, boy. do i LOVE this card!!

today i have a card on the Create a Smile blog, and it's a shaker card!!
here's a little peek:

oh boy!
check out the Create a Smile blog to see how this came together, my inspiration and to get this free digi!! :)

oh, and if you haven't ordered your chipboard yet...you can see all of the new pieces HERE...i would order soon!! i placed an order for basically ALL of them!! they're amazing!!
what's your favorite image? 

thanks again!
enjoy!

Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Winners

good morning!!

i'm just popping in with a quick post to bring you the winners of my blog candy from the Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!!

that's right, i said winners!

i was originally just going to do 1 winner, but everyone was so nice, i drew two random winners!

first up - the winner of the Create a Smile Stamp set is:

Lenny!!

next, is the winner of the Newton's Nook Designs, Love a la Carte stamp set:

Robyn Oliver!!

super big hugs and thanks to everyone who left such amazing comments and so much love!!

i have been smiling ever since!! :)

thanks again! :)

oh hello. i heart you!

hi there!!

today i'm just popping in with a card i made for the current Mama Elephant and Me Challenge!
this time they're focusing on Valentine's Cards!!

so fun!
the only cards i like making more than Christmas cards are loooooooooove cards! ha ha! so i couldn't wait to play along! and Mama Elephant knows Love! 

here's my card:

so, i somehow went masculine-like with my card! i didn't start off thinking i would, but that's what happened! 

i stamped the grid triangles from Trifecta (LOVE that set!!) in some Peacock Feathers Distress Ink onto some watercolor paper, then i spritzed it with water! love the bleeding!! 
once that was dry, I masked off a large triangle and stamped it along with a small bold triangle over/under/around some of the distressed triangles.

i heat embossed the sentiment from Hello in gold onto some vellum! yes...gold...on vellum. sigh. so pretty! ha! (and i'm usually not a fan of gold!). i also sprinkled some water onto the base of the card and added the gold embossing powder there, too!

the bubble is popped up over some thread, and then i added some sequins and pearls (deep voice: totally masculine and rugged sequins and pearls *cough cough*)! ha ha!

so that's my card! i hope to play along again!
enjoy! 

lawnscaping challenge #96 - merry christmas!

well hello!
it's monday! and that means a brand new lawnscaping challenge! and this time, we're getting into the holiday spirit!!

i loooooooove making Christmas cards!! so i was super excited about this challenge!!
i actually made several cards, but then decided to just show a few! :)

awww!!! so sweet right? my brother, and couple other really close friends, all had babies this year! and there's nothing sweeter than a baby's first Christmas!! so that's what i made! i used the adorable Plus One stamp set, as well as Bows and Holly, Joy to the Woods, Harold's ABC's and Bannerific!!

each one is slightly different! one is for a girl, so the stroller is pinky-red with glitter. the other two are for boys! and i just LOVE that misltoe hanging down!!!! i so want to kiss up my little nephew! i can't wait to meet him!!

i colored all of the images with copics! and then ofor the ornaments, i added some watercolor to make it look like they were sparkling! i don't know if that comes across or not, but i do like how the card turned out a lot! :) 

so those are my cards! are you ready to play along?
for even more inspiration (if you can stand it!), check out the lawnscaping facebook page! we're dedicated to keeping your creative juices flowing! :)

this week we're sponsored by lawn fawn! so get your card making on, and you could win a stamp set of your choice! :)

sing with me - let it snow!

hi!!

today i have a card on the Create a Smile stamps blog! :)
it's a super lovely Christmas card that i made using the Perfect Tune set!

(i just LOOOOVE those vintage radios!!)

i used a little mixed media-ness on this card and covered all of the embellishments in gesso, making them all whtie and mono-chromatic! i just LOVE how it looks!!

check out my post on the Create a Smile blog to read all about how it came together! :)
and i hope you have an awesome weekend! :)
enjoy!

holiday coffee lovers blog hop!

this is going to be a fun event, everyone!!
it's a hop celebrating your LOVE for that warm, steamy, comforting cup of joe - HOLIDAY STYLE! ha ha!!

so FUN!!

all of the information can be found on Amy Tsuruta's blog, and that's where you can link up to play along too!! (please note - Amy is AMAZING!!! she has worked so hard to make this happen, and to make so many people smile and happy!!! please be sure to tell her thank you!!)

there are prizes for commenters only and prizes for creating a card! hello!!! 

let's get on to my card, eh? keep this in mind: it's a grown up's Night Before Christmas! :)

he he he he!!
you know that part in the story "visions of sugar plums danced in their heads", well that was my inspiration! :)
except, we're grown ups, so instead of sugar plums, we dream of coffee at night! ha ha! :)

i cut the profile of the girl out with my silhoutte, and then colored and cut out those ADORABLE coffee cups from an old Market Street Stamps set (which is so adorable!!!). 
the background is distress inks (chipped sapphire, peacock feathers and tumbled glass), and then drops of water (to mimic snow!). and then a vellum thought/dream cloud above the girl was cut with some vellum and the Mama Elephant Landscape Trio Creative Cuts die.

so, what do you think? success? fail? i like it! ha ha!

so how about a chance to win a little goody from my blog? leave a comment and follow my blog, and i'll choose someone to win EITHER a $15 gift card to Butterfly Reflections Ink, the Love a la Carte stamp set from Newton's Nook or the Monster Party Stamp set from Create a Smile Stamps! :) you will have until Sunday, December 14th at midnight to comment for a chance to win! :D

now! make sure you head over to Amy Tsuruta's Blog to find out how you can link up your card to play along - check out the BIG list of sponsored prizes below: 

17 Turtles:  $15 Store Gift Card

A Muse Studio/Chris Franco:  Cup of Good Cheer stamp set

Add a Little Dazzle:  $25 Store Gift Card

Butterfly Reflections Ink:  Prima Coffee Break

Color Cast Designs:  Coffee Lovers kit

Create a Smile:  Monster Party stamp set

Hero Arts:  A Little & Today's Special stamps/Cup 'O Joe Shadow ink

Kraftin' Kimmie:  $25 Store Gift Card

Kreative Kymona:  Fancy Mug Giveaway

Latina Crafter:  Cafe Wood Veneers + $25 Store Gift Card

Neat & Tangled:  Warm Wishes stamp set

Newton's Nook:  $15 Store Gift Card

Paper Smooches:  $25  Store Gift Card

Pickled Potpourri:  $7 Store Gift Card

Poppystamps:  Tea Cup Stack Die

Reverse Confetti:  $15 Store Gift Card

Stamp Academy:  2 classes

Stampin' Up/Veronica Zalis:  $20 Store Gift Card

STAMPlorations:  $10 Store Gift Card

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store:  Coffee Cup Prize Pack

SugarPea Designs:  $20 Store Gift Card

Sweet 'n Sassy:  Pick Me Up Clear stamp & die set

The Alley Way Stamps:  Tea Par-tea stamp set

Two Paper Divas:  Your Warm My Heart stamp set

Your Next Stamp:  $20

Verve Stamps:  $25

Whole Wild World:  Coffee before Talkee mug

●●Sponsorship prizes are eligible via random draw from linked hop participants only●●

deck the halls with inky paws blog hop!

what an exciting day!!
Newton's Nook is celebrating the holiday spirit with an amazing, star-studded, giveaway and all around FUN blog hop!! :)

so let's continue to Deck the Halls with Inky Paws!!

you should have arrived here from Larissa's blog, but if not, that's OK!
you can start the hop with the Newton's Nook blog, and the full list is below, too!

ok, so i decided to make a scrapbook layout of a picture from last Christmas! 

ha ha ha!
i really LOVE it!
my own little newton is totally up to some meschief - he LOVES hiding under a tree and running out to swipe at an unsuspecting leg! i think, he thinks, he's a lion! 

anyway, so i sued a few different sets for this layout! all of the images were colored with copics! all of the kitty images and the sentiment are from Newton's Curious Christmas! so FUN and versatile! i tried to make it look like the stamped cats were stalking and getting into trouble just like the one in the picture! 

on one side of the paper, i glued down a bunch of white strips of paper. then i covered it with gesso. then i watercolored and splattered a few different green inks on it! i also did the same to a plain white tag.

the red tag was actually white to start, bit i heat embossed two thirds of it in red! i also flecked some red enamel dots and natural colored snowflakes on too! i like the texture and dimension!
and then of course, i stitched the sentiment on, and added stitching to the sides of the layout, as well.

ENTER to WIN! 

We will be choosing two lucky winners to win a $10 store credit for Newton's Nook Designs online shop! To enter, just leave comments on the Design Team Member and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the blog hop. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Sunday, December 7th at 9 pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the NND blog on Monday, December 8th.

Deck the Halls with Inky Paws Blog Hop

Newton's Nook Designs

Nichol Magouirk

Jennifer McGuire

Amy Sheffer

Laura Bassen

Heather Hoffman

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Brooke

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann <--- are="" font="" here="" you="">

Crafty Math-Chick

Shellye McDaniel

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Tessa Wise

a reason to celebrate!

that's right!
you can pretty much always find a reason to celebrate, right?
and let me tell you, the new 29 Again? stamp set is PERFECT for that! it's geared toward birthdays of course, but the numbers can be used for anniversaries and dates, in addition to ages! :)

so let's see a card with this set in action, shall we?

woo-hoo!
so FUN!
i combined the 29 Again? stamp set with the also new to be released Monster Party set! :) all of the images were colored wit copics, and then popped up for some fun! :)

i used embossing paste on the background, and then layered some fun tabs on a few sides of the card too - just for even more fun! it really makes me happy!

oh! 
make sure you head over to the Create a Smile blog today for your chance to win TWO of the new december release stamp sets!! awesome, right?

thanks again!
enjoy!

you mean (more than!) the world to me!

**this is my 2nd post of the day! to see my PC&S Farewell Blog Hop post, scroll down, or click here!**

woooo!! two more days and the December release for Create a Smile stamps will be ready for purchase!! it's SO exciting! :)

today i have a card on the Create a Smile blog showing off the new Balance stamp set! it's just awesome - and perfect for valentine's day or ANY day, really! :)

here's my card:

LOVE it!!

i found out, that flair fits PERFECTLY into the scale!! so cool!! 

i colored the scale twice with copics and then popped up SOME of the pieces for dimension (to match the height of the flair!).

then i used some embossing paste and a star stencil for the base of the card! the 'You' from the sentiment is chipboard, ALSO available at Create a Smile!! :)

i darkened the color with distress inks, and then added glossy accents on top!

the sentiment was added to the vellum banner, and then the card was done!

********

side note about the globe flair...i actually didn't have any world flair pieces, so i painted gesso over an old piece of flair. when that was dry, i used distress paints to add the 'world' image!! SO COOL!! 

i totally made it work, as Tim Gunn would say! :)

head over to the Create a Smile stamps blog to see the other GENIUS card idea for the new release, by DT member Anja!! :)

enjoy!

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks! Blog Hop

you should have arrived here from Lydia's blog. i'm so lucky to know her through the Newton's Nook Design team, and i just KNOW you loved her card! 

to put it mildly, what a bittersweet hop this is!

i am so honored to be among so many talented, compassionate, kind and inspiring crafters. i hate the reason for the hop, but i pray the love, thankfulness and appreciation is felt by all of the editors at PC&S. 

i am a newbie in the publishing world (i actually just had a card and scrapbook layout picked up for publication), so i don't have the longevity or legacy that most people have on this hop. by i truly loved the magazine, and it's a devastating loss to imagine it no more.

without much more delay, here is my card. a small piece of myself, given up to the amazing editors at PC&S, from the bottom of my heart:

this card is filled with things i love:

vellum

distress inks

Create a Smile stamps

copic coloring

sequins

and dimension

i hope the love shows through! thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, support and inspiration. it was never taken for granted, and will always be treasured.

and Susan - i feel a kinship with you, both from Michigan, both supporting the RIGHT teams (go blue!) and both crafty! loved getting to know you on facebook!  i never thought i could relate to an editor - you are the moon, and i am the dust. thank you for making me feel legit and special! 

a major HUGE thank you to Taheerah (love you!!) for all of the lost sleep, sweat, line by line editing and constant encouragement and love shown while organizing this hop. i bow down to your talent and dedication! 

next on the hop is Kymona - DO NOT MISS HER POST! :D
if you want to start at the beginning, please do so at Jennifer McGuire's blog (perhaps you've heard of her...?) :D

enjoy! and thank you.