SFYTT and a beautiful Sunset!

Hi there!  I thought it was about time I stamped a card since it’s been a while!  I have to stay on track for each month’s Sketch For You to Try on Jen’s blog and I only had until 5 more days to go to get it done for February! 
I also used the StampTV challenge hosted by Regina Hardy this week to distress (easy enough!) I love sponging and distressing the edge of my cardstock with my distress tool.  I used the old typewriter image from the current StampTV kit True Love.  It’s so cute, and thought it would go well with my Circa 1934 papers by Cosmo Cricket.  I used pure luxury cardstock in lipstick red, black onyx and ivory.  I embellished each circle punch with a mini brad.  This layout was real fun to do!  

You should check out the challenges each week at StampTV, which are now hosted by StampTVfans!  You can win a grab bag of stamps from Gina K for free and you don't have to use GKD stamps, but if you do...your name gets put in the drawing twice!  Sweet deal.  Speaking of sweet deals, did you know each week on Monday Lee posts a DT Fan Mail thread where the Gina K designers offer up a card to be sent to our fans?  All you have to do is comment on all the cards and mention which is your favorite and the drawing is random so if your name is drawn, the designer will send you their card!!  It's so fun to get something in the mail isn't it?  Here is a link to this week's offerings so you can check it out. Just be sure to check the Big News thread each Monday and on Friday, the winner is chosen so be sure to check back to see because if you win, you are responsible to contact the designer directly (their emails are in the thread) with your mailing address.  Here is a link to the winner thread too.  If you like my card and would like for me to send it to you, try your chance at winning it this week because I am offering it up as DT fan mail on Monday!

Personal Stuff:  This may not be news to some of my readers, but I just wanted to address why my blog posts are so sporadic especially to my new readers/followers.  I work full-time outside the home at a wonderful company, a job I prayed for and am so blessed to be a part of.  However, it is 37+ miles from home, in a great area of town so almost 2 hours of my day is spent commuting.  I am not complaining, it’s been a great opportunity to listen to audio books, pray and chat on the phone with family & friends when I remember to charge my blue tooth for hands free safe driving!  The downfall is all the time because I work early hours, when I get home I have cooking, cleaning and spending time with my dear husband and an early bed time, so it doesn’t leave much time for stamping or other things I love do to Mon through Thu.  I usually do the bulk of my creative stuff on the weekends.  I also am on the computer a LOT at work so lots of days, I don’t even boot up my laptop at home. 
The other night John had a really stressful day at work and because of how we designed our home (we have 39 windows) that is on 2 1/2 acres in the country, when I walk through the house, I can see the sun setting through our bedroom window (it backs up to 300+ acres) and I caught a beautiful sunset that we just HAD to enjoy!  So, we spent some time out on our deck enjoying it and chatting about his day.  I snapped a few photos because I wanted to share it with you too.  Life is too short sometimes to spend it in front of the computer, or in my stamp room or hunched over my sewing machine.  Sometimes I just want to get out and enjoy the beauty around us, that God has blessed us with.  This was one of those times, I have them more often lately and just wanted you to know why I don’t post that often. 
What is something that makes you stop ‘doing’ that you don’t want to miss out on? 

Gina K Inspiration Hop Day 2: Wishing You Joy StampTV kit

I’m so happy you are joining us for today’s inspiration hop showcasing the new stamps by Gina K!! Everything is available in the store in the All New Category!  I am sharing a project I made to host this week’s Mix It Up Monday Challenge (click to go to post) and its to make a 3D project – a tag book & tags!  You can click any of the pictures to make them bigger.

I love making some 3D projects to have on hand in case there is someone I want to give a little gift before the holidays that they can enjoy for the holidays and alleviate a little stress and this can be one of those things! There are so many fun images and sentiments in this Wishing You Joy StampTV kit, so they are perfect for making fun tags!   The value of this set is amazing for only $49.95 you get cardstock, ribbon, brads and a big stamp set so you can make a lot of holiday projects – get a start on them now before it gets too busy!  

Here is a picture of the tag book on the outside.  It is simple to make.  Just grab 2 standard size envelopes and cut 2 pieced of cardstock the same size or slightly larger.  Grab some ribbon, cord or whatever you want to tie it closed, some glue and whatever you want to decorate the front and inside of your tag book.  The following pictures will show you how to assemble it if you have never made one before.  I used pattern paper from the stamptv kit but used Lipstick Red, Lovely Lavender and Green Apple pure luxury cardstock for my tags and the outside of the tag book.

The first thing you want to do is flip back the right side envelope and flap and glue it down. Then open the left side envelope flap and that will be glued to the other envelope. 


Next, take some ribbon, cord or whatever you’d like to keep your tag book closed and glue it down underneath the left side envelope flap to the back piece of cardstock. 


Lastly, this shows how the envelopes are adhered to each other with a slightly different view. You are basically ensuring that both envelope insides are facing each other so you can slip your tags inside. 


Here is how the tags look inside.  Before you adhere or decorate the front of your tag book, you need to bring the left side of your ribbon or cord over to the right so you can tie it with the first one you laid down.  See first photo for more detail.  I put the cord under the nestability Labels 16 die I stamped.  I hope you will play along in the challenge so you can get your name in the drawing for a free stamp set valued up to $24.95!  As always, you do not have to have Gina K stamps to play along, but if you do you should use them because that gets your name in the drawing an additional time, thereby increasing your chances to win! 

As you hop through the designer’s blogs, make sure you leave comments on each one for a chance to win a fabulous Gina K Designs grab bag filled with at least a dozen individual precut images.  Gina K will announce the winners on her blog.

• AJ Otto
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean
• Tami Mayberry
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher

Late with a challenge, my busy week and Celebrity News!

Ugh!  I just realized I am late posting this challenge to CASE the DT (design team) at StampTV!  The challenge is over…but you can still participate in any challenge, any given time! I made this card last weekend, but I have had hardly any time on the computer all week  - it’s been a rough one!**More on that later in the post.**  I made this card to CASE Cat Tidwell, and I had so much fun!  When you CASE (copy& share everything), the idea is to change 2 or more elements such as the stamps, embellishments or colors you use but you keep the layout the same.  I chose this cute card of Cat’s to case, changing 1/2 the stamps (still used Inspiration Mosaic), orientation of the card (horizontal to vertical), cardstock and embellishments.  I made this card to send to my friend Stephanie who sewed with me last Friday for Friday Night Sew In!  I hope she likes it and is surprised.  I also used the Sew Pretty stamps, white & fresh asparagus cardstock, Sweet Threads Basic Grey paper and ribbon & brads from my stash.

Crazy Busy Week – it all started last Sunday evening when we got a call from a prospective buyer for John’s car just as I was starting to put dinner together (pinto beans & yummy chicken tacos courtesy of The Pioneer Woman’s brother).  So we met him & his friend and he agreed to buy the car (after we had it for sale for a week and had reduced the price) the next day after work.  John needs a truck and his Camry has been driven by me for almost a year since he hurt his knee and it was harder on him to get in and out of.  I have a Honda CR-V and because it’s higher up, is way more comfortable but I missed Black Beauty (that’s my car’s name).  John gave her back to me after she went to the beauty parlor and got all cleaned up (car wash, oil change, detail) and it was SO nice driving her again!  But…then we were down to being a one-car family and that’s rough when we have 2 different work schedules.  Each night this week we went out looking for a truck too!  I think we may have found it *praying it all works out now* all this to say why I missed posting this card on time!  It’s been an exhausting week at work – I ended up working 10 1/2 hours yesterday just so I didn’t have to work a full day today (totally worth it!) My 1/2 day Fridays are coming to an end *sniff sniff* I love my job! 

I am looking forward to tomorrow – hopefully get the truck and spend the afternoon/evening with Stephanie & James bottling our wine for Christmas!  I will be back to share pictures of that adventure!   

CELEBRITY NEWS: Did you know the Pioneer Woman is going to have her own show on The Food Network?  It will air tomorrow for the first time 10:30 am central time - make sure you check it out!  Will definitely record it because I would forget otherwise!  We got to meet her almost 2 years ago, she came to Austin for her book signing and I wanted her signed book for Christmas! I have enjoyed many delicious recipes from her website, her gorgeous photographs, sharing life on the ranch and her humor and really wanted a taste of history too (I commented back then that it would be great if she got her own show on Food Network, that’s foreshadowing).  John stood in line for 5+ hours to get it and she is so beautiful & genuine (I ended up meeting him at the bookstore after I got out of school).  Here is a picture of us together – I know a celebrity!  Can’t wait to see her show!  John had the great idea for all her family members to sign my book, all 4 of her kids and her handsome husband she calls ‘The Marlboro Man’ were there, so while we waited in line, we grabbed their signatures – this is my favorite to the right…how awesome is that?  She has a thing for chaps and this says it all…and that, my friends is food for thought and the end of my post…

Thanks for stopping by!

Mix It Up Monday Challenge: Striped Background

Hi there and Happy Monday!  I say that because not everyone thinks or believes Mondays can be happy but personally, they are not all that bad to me.  Sure it means ‘work’ is here and the fun of the weekend is over but the week holds so much promise to be a great one and I just believe in being and thinking positively!  So HAPPY MONDAY!  Another reason Mondays are happy is because at StampTV, we bring you the Mix It Up Monday challenge (click to go directly to the challenge) and YOU can win free stamps!  What is better than that?!?

I am hosting today's challenge, so I wanted to share with you the card I made where I made a striped background, drawing inspiration from the little romper outfit I bought to give to my co-worker whose wife gave birth to their first little boy.  I knew my Wee Tees set would be perfect to mimic the little dinosaur on there too.  My co-worker was impressed I made the card, especially with the matching striped background!  I got a really nice thank you card from his wife the next morning, it was sweet. 
It is really easy to make a striped background.  All you have to do is choose your marker colors (I used Copics because they have different size tips), then line up your cardstock square to be sure your lines come out straight.  I placed mine on my scor-mat's grid to get my ruler lined up perfectly.  Then, I varied the widths between marker colors and had fun creating my own background.  This is great when you want to branch out from using pattern paper on your cards as background interest.  I created a simple frame for my focal image by tracing a rectangle nestability die. Then, I covered up the center to do my marker lines.

I hope you will find some time to play along this week; remember, you don’t have to use Gina K stamps to play along, but if you do, you will get your name in the drawing twice and increase your chances of winning a free stamp set valued at $24.95 or less!  So have fun creating your striped background!!

Case the DT challenge at StampTV!

See?  I told you I still stamped!  I made these 2 quick cards for the Case the DT Challenge at StampTV!  This time, it is to CASE (Copy and Share Everything) a card/project of Carolina’s (click to see her beautiful gallery).  Since I love her clean & simple, signature bow/ribbon style, it was fun to make these cards!  I used the StampTV kit Vintage Chic, since it will only be available until the next release, which is next week…if you like it, you better get it soon!  I think it’s been my favorite to date!  I used cardstock, black & white pattern paper and the stamps from the kit.  The silk ribbon and red & white brad are not from the kit, but I used them because it added the POP of red I wanted.  Here is the card I cased of Carolina’s – which coincidentally, was a card for a paper-piecing challenge I hosted.  I changed the stamps, cardstock, ribbon and embellishments for my card.  For a case, you want to change at least 2 elements, but try to stick to the layout as much as possible so it’s recognizable as a copy.  

This next card is one I made at the same time because I messed up the placement of the flowers.  Why not turn it into a 2nd card?  I used ribbon from the kit on this one, as well as a red button for the center.  I really like both cards, what about you??  You have until this Thursday, July 28 at 8:00 central time to upload your card for this challenge and you can win a free stamp set valued up to $24.95  and you get your name in the drawing twice if you use Gina K stamps although you don’t have to to play along as usual! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Mix It Up Monday: Clean & Simple Sketch!

I made a little time to stamp last night – yea me!  I remember a time not long ago I would have the energy to stamp or do something craft every day of the week but it seems like a thing of the past since my office moved 50 mins away from our house!  I really miss it, but sometimes there’s not enough hours in the evening to care for my house, cook and still spend time with John and get to bed at a decent hour since I get up so early in the mornings. 

So, I will try to post more during the week, it seems I may have lost some of my readers over the past week who knows why though. Here is a card for this week’s StampTV challenge Mix It Up Monday: Gettin’ Sketchy! which is hosted by the Lovely Lee Murphy! I am totally impressed the layer queen made a clean & simple sketch so I just had to play & give her a shout out! Great job, Lee! I used the new set The Vine for my clean & simple card.

Card details
Stamps: The Vine
Cardstock: Ivory, Green Apple, Just Peachy Pure Luxury
Inks: Rich Cocoa, Pear Tart Memento
Accessories:  brown satin ribbon, copic markers, spicaatyou glitter pen

Swipe On, Swipe Off and some sewing shares!

Here is a card I made for this week’s Mix It Up Challenge at StampTV hosted by the very talented and sweet Cat!!

This was a fun technique, definitely need to try it again, I like how the card turned out, but maybe because of the colors I chose – nothing POPS to me.  I used the new Whimsical Wishes set. You should play along with the challenges there posted every Monday and Friday – you could win FREE Gina K stamps valued up to $24.95! 

We are nearing the last week in the Quilt Class I’m taking so I thought I’d share what my quilt top looks like after I quilted it last weekend– it’s decent for my first time but I did have a little (big) mishap with the direction of my quilting, I didn’t turn it like I should have and when I did, I ended up getting a bunched up area around the middle I’m sure you can see it!  But, like I said it’s my first quilt, my LEARNING quilt – I’m SURE my 2nd one will turn out much better!  I’m already looking forward to making the next one! 

Here is the back, I chose to use blue for the color.  The binding will be a bright orange, a co-worker I showed it to yesterday said I did a good job for my 1st one!  And this is in spite of a LOT of the half square triangles not lining up very well!  I decided to stitch in the ditch for this quilt and not do any hand quilting, I will do something more complex with my future ones since this is my first one. 

I have to go – we have a meeting to attend for John’s continuing education in his field of work.  I will post again before the weekend is over, I have SO much to share, including our 14th wedding anniversary celebrations which were this past Wednesday! 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Free For All Friday & Exciting News!!

Happy July everyone!  Can you even believe the year is half over?!  Time is flying by!  Here is a card I made using The Vine stamp set by Melanie Muenchinger, just released on Thursday evening!   This card uses the technique Reverse Spotlighting, which is an easy & fun technique!  Here is a link to my challenge .  I hope you will play along (you have until Thu July 6) for your chance to win a free stamp set from Gina K Designs valued up to $24.95!  You don’t have to use Gina K stamps to play, but if you do you get your name entered in the drawing twice!  You must share a newly created card for this and all GKD challenges at StampTV. 

And now for my EXCITING NEWS!  I finally achieved my goal of being published in a national magazine!!  I got the news on May 9, I will never forget that day; I came home from work on a Monday and John was washing dishes (sweet), and I saw a plain white envelope and the sender was Scott Publications, I knew right away it had to be a copy of the magazine!!  I squealed and screamed with delight, scaring John from his work.  I didn’t have to say much, when he saw the magazine and I was reading the letter, we both got tears in our eyes and I said quietly, “I finally got published” because I was choked up.  He immediately congratulated me and hugged me, he knew how long and hard I had worked tirelessly at that goal! 

I sent in several original cards for the call (Country & Western using Theresa Momber’s Out West set) back in January and had no idea if they would accept any of them, having no idea how long the process takes.  I immediately called Melanie & Theresa to let them know, I was so excited!  Melanie has been an inspiration with publications, and my cheerleader all these years.  Jennie Harper, fellow GKD DT member said just a few weeks prior that she knew it was going to happen for me soon and she was right! 

I also called my sisters, DMIL and my best friends who are all so proud of me!  Here is a picture of my card on the page.  I ordered extra copies of the magazine to send to Theresa & my sisters.  It was so cute my sister Deana called me a few weeks ago to tell me she was so excited to see my name/card in the magazine!  I sent it without including a note because I wanted her to find me in there and I ran out of time to do so.  She said she wasn’t sure at first why I sent the magazine (guess she had forgotten my news), did a quick once over through it and then later went through it very carefully and finally found my card – she was so excited, sharing it with her Goddaughter and bragging, “Donna made this card, isn’t it cool – she got published in this magazine!”, it totally made my day.  My sisters are very proud of me, making up for us not having our parents here to be proud of me and it means so very much to me.  They mean so very much to me.

**Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 5 when Gina & her design team will be back with 3 days of inspiration hops using the new stamp sets!!

Card details:
Stamps: The Vine; Bold & Beautiful (sentiment); Timeless Textures 
Cardstock: Lemon drop, Just Peachy, Crème de menthe pure luxury
Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: white brads, circle punches

Mix It Up Monday Challenge at StampTV!

I am excited to bring you today’s challenge at StampTV!  My challenge is for your creation to be Shabby Chic!  My card uses the current StampTV kit called Springtime Silhouettes, which lends itself to this style of stamping with its various vintage images.  I chose to use the swirl medallion type image on the ivory cardstock then I sponged various distress inks on it, then used a distress tool to rough up the edges and then sewed on it!  Those all qualify as shabby techniques!  I even sponged ink on my ivory ribbon to match. 
I’d love it if you joined in the challenge this week!  You have until Sunday evening, May 29th to upload your creation and a winner will be drawn and announced at StampTV on Monday.  Click here for all the details!!
Card supplies
Stamps: Springtime Silhouettes
Cardstock: Pure Luxury Ivory, Sweet Corn, Chocolate
Inks: Distress Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo; Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Ivory grosgrain ribbon, buttons, CB folder Victoria

Free for all Friday–Get Krafty!

Happy Friday!!  I am so glad it’s finally here!  Seems the week went by a tad slow.  I am excited because tonight is the Friday Night Sew In so I plan to hunker down and sew as much as I can as soon as I get home from work,  I plan to share with you what I make tomorrow so I hope you will be back to see!

Cat is today’s challenge hostess on StampTV and you know she loves kraft cardstock so her challenge is for us to use it on our project.  I love kraft too, especially to stamp on it with white craft ink and color with colored pencils (my ‘krafty’ version of ‘Black Magic’ technique where you do the same but use black cardstock).  That is super fun too!  I used the new StampTV kit Springtime Silhouettes, white, key lime and kraft pure luxury cardstock.  I finished off my card with a small embellishment of a white button with a little green cotton thread.  This card came together pretty quickly since I kept it clean & simple – don’t ya just love that sometimes? 

I will be the hostess for Monday’s challenge; hope you will play along then too!  You really should if you are not, because we draw a random winner of each challenge to get a FREE GKD stamp set valued up to $24.95!  You don’t have to have GKD stamps to play either, but if you do you get your name in the drawing twice!!

‘See’ ya tomorrow!!

STV sketch - It's Your Birthday!

Here is a fun Dino card I made using the new set Dino-Mite illustrated by the very lovely & talented Theresa Momber for Gina K. Designs! 

This is for this week's sketch challenge on StampTV!  Be sure to check it out so you have a chance to win a free set from Gina K!  As always, you don't have to use Gina K. stamps but if you do, your name goes in the drawing twice so you increase your chances at winning by 50%!  Her sketches are fun and you can make them as simple as you want or elaborate by using more elements than she uses on the sketch!  Here is a copy of it if you'd like to just work off this post! 

Sorry my posting is so sporadic; we are STILL having internet issues at home and I hardly have time to use the computer at work!!  Hopefully it will be fixed soon, they are coming out again this afternoon!! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Dino Mite
Cardstock: In the Navy, Grass Green, White pure luxury
Inks: Tuxedo Black memento
Accessories: Echo Park Little Boy Collection, Copic Markers
Spellbinders Nestability Classic Circles

Gina K sketch challenge& picture share!

Here is a card I whipped up as a thank you for those who came to our holiday/housewarming party on Saturday that gave us gifts (although John told them not to).  We had John’s co-workers over to see the house – expected up to 22 and 12 came, but we had a great time!  Easier to visit with everyone when there’s less people. 

Here is a copy of the sketch and link to the challenge if you’d like to play along this week for your chance to win some free GKD stamps!  You get your name in the drawing 2 times if you use GKD stamps, but you don’t have to!  I flipped the sketch to accommodate my labels 10 die, with the poinsettia border from A Year of Borders and instead of putting the sentiment on the side, I put it directly on the focal image and used my ribbon in place of it on the sketch.  I really love how the card turned out and hope the recipients enjoy it too!  They will understand more of what I do now that they saw my craft room in person! 

Supplies:
Stamps: A Year of Borders, A Beautiful Life (sentiment); Cardstock: Lipstick Red, Fresh Asparagus, Good as Gold, White
Accessories: Labels 10, White organdy ribbon,  Leafy Branches cuttlebug folder, metallic rub on paste, copic markers.

Personal Stuff:
Here are a few pictures from the party – I wish I had more but you know it’s hard when you’re the hostess and the host (John) was not very cooperative with taking pictures!!  But I guess 4 pictures are better than none…

Holiday House-warming Party VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Gina K. Thankful For You Shopping Special!!

I know y’all love a good sale, right?  Especially those of you who are die-hard Black Friday early bird shoppers – it’s so not for me!  I remember one year my oldest sister and I got out early to Michael’s but that was not before 7:00, ha!  Today I have a Gina K. card for some challenges this week to share with you, along with her Black Friday special which runs through Sunday 11:59 pm CST. 

My card is for this week’s sketch STVSKSP3 and today’s color spotlight challenge STVCSP3 to use Green Apple, Ivory and Ocean Mist.  I cheated a little and didn’t use the Ocean Mist cardstock because I wanted my card to be clean & simple and used aqua vivid ink instead.  I used the butterfly from the Hope is Faith set and sentiment from Inside & Out. I used some turquoise mix buttons and stardust stickles on the butterfly.  This card came together so quickly & I love it!!

Have fun shopping! 

Only 5 weeks until Christmas and a card making tip for you!

Yikes!  I am so behind making cards this year – my stash is so small!  So I pulled out my new GKD stamps from the last release and made 2 clean & simple cards that had the same format.  I love CAS – they are less time consuming (30 mins vs 90 for a more involved card for me) so why don’t I do them more often?!  My first card uses Melanie’s A Year of Borders – I love how the border of poinsettias looks as a real border!  I used Red Hot, All Spruced Up and White Pure Luxury cardstock and grabbed a sentiment from Festive Frame and used an oval nestability for interest around it.  Then I topped it off with a few silver brads and I was done!  One card down many more to go!

For my 2nd card, I brought out the new Snow Much Fun set which has the cutest chubby snowmen!  I love this one with the sign that says Happy Winter!  I used the colors from Gina’s first color challenge at STV {STVCSP1} Turquoise Sea, Red Hot and White.  I added a scallop border at the bottom of this one, a scallop nestability around the snowman, red w/ white polka dot ribbon and a turquoise button and red brads this time! 

I hope you are inspired, if you feel like you need an idea about how to make some clean & simple cards and how to make 2 different yet similar cards, that this post helped you!  If you decide to make something based on this tip – I’d love to see what you make! 

Today we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving today with some of the Baker family (John’s dad Cecil & Stepmom Shirley, his sister, brother & his family too).  Here are a few pictures from my sister’s visit: 

This is Cecil – when Gabby was about to leave, she accidentally called him Grandpa Seahorse, it cracked us up!  She has never met anyone with the name Cecil – so that’s what she heard when we introduced them.  She is holding her new Grinch stuffed animal they gave her. 

 

And here is Gabby (I love her smile in this picture, it’s so natural) with Auntie Shmirley which cracked us up EVEN MORE!  She called her that when we were all playing catch in the backyard-Gabby, Shirley, Joey and me.  I almost peed my pants, it was SO funny!   My sister said that she really liked her, which is why she has a special name and by the looks of this picture I took, I would say it’s true. 

I got this super cute picture of Joey; he was so tired after playing so hard at the Dino Park that day, he fell asleep in the car and slept while we ate lunch.  He got a reindeer stuffed animal from Cecil & Shirley and when my sister gave it to him, he grabbed it and put his arm around it and went back to sleep.  SO sweet!!

Shirley also made a cake for John since his birthday was 2 days away (pineapple upside down cake yum) so here is a picture of Nino John & Gabby being silly.  I love it!!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great weekend!!

Thank You hop for STV challenge hostesses!

Hi there!  Thanks for joining us tonight for our special blog hop to thank our recently retired StampTV Challenge Hostess Team members:
Carla Suto Melissa Shultz Brenda Turner Linda Payne Giovana Smith
These 5 designers have provided StampTV with a challenge each week during the months of June, July and August and they all did a wonderful job!
My first card is for the sweet Giovanna Smith and her challenge was for Dry/heat embossing + pink!  Of course my favorite color is pink so this was not hard for me!  I used Buds and Vases by Melanie for my card and kept it clean & simple with some pretty score lines for background.  Cardstock colors are Bubblegum pink, Passionate Pink & White layering Pure Luxury.  The roses were colored with copic markers.

My 2nd card is for the lovely Carla Suto who came up with a beautiful color combination of purple, green and one neutral and I chose kraft cardstock.  I used Lovely Labels 2 for my focal image that coordinates with Labels Fourteen Spellbinder dies. I used the Victoria cuttlebug folder on my card  in addition to Autumn ribbon and buttons.

For my 3rd card, I used Buds and Vases again for the wonderfully talented Linda Payne  and her spotlighting challenge!  I just love this technique which I knew would be perfect for this set!  I kept my design clean & simple again, using Wine with Everything, Black Onyx and white pure luxury cardstock. My simple embellishment is gold lined black organdy ribbon.

On my next card I used the super cute Funny Farm set, which I thought would be perfect for Melissa Shultz who is such a thoughtful & caring friend who came up with some fabulous sketch challenges during her time as challenge hostess!  I picked this fun sketch and pretty much kept to it to the T-because of all the fun shapes!  what a great use for your scraps!  I used White, Chocolate, Little Boy Blue, Green Apple and Sweet Corn pure luxury cardstock as well as GKD buttons and jute ribbon!
and last but certainly not least because this is my FAVORITE card, is an inspiration challenge by the rockin’ stamper Brenda!   I just had to use Buds and Vases (the set is SO versatile) again because it was perfect for my interpretation of the lovely purse in the photo!

I wanted to create the black background just like on the purse for my card so I cut out a frame for the sentiment with a Labels Fourteen die.  I stamped and colored all the blooms on pure luxury cardstock (Sweet Corn, Sweet Mango and Green Apple), just highlighting it with copics, cut them out & layered them around my frame.  I placed small pearls for the flower centers. 

Next up on the hop is the wildly talented Jennie Harper – I’m sure she will dazzle us with her beautiful creations!
We have a special StampTV Challenge Magazine Volume 3* located on the Freebie Tab, where all of their challenges are shared in a download PDF that you can save to your computer and print out at your leisure!
Please join in our Thank You Discussion on Stamp TV and feel free to play along and say thank you with your own take on one of their challenges!!!  Thanks for stopping by!!