Here's to the red, white, and blue!

Despite it being about 102 degrees in my studio, I have been getting in some quality crafting time. I was checking some of the various challenges out there and decided to play along with CAS(E) this Sketch. 

They always have very clean and simple designs that I gravitate towards. As soon I saw this week's sketch, I knew what I was going to create. After all it is the birth of our Nation this week. 

I used a very old set from Lawn Fawn called "Happy 4th". Unfortunately it is sold out and retired. There are not many patriotic stamps out there, so this one gets a work out every year. 

Head over to CAS(E) this Sketch and see what the DT came up with and play along!

Live life in the meow!

There is a new challenge posted over at one of my new favorite challenges- The Library Challenge. If you are a reader this is a great challenge for you, but even if you aren't the book covers are so inspiring!

This week the challenge is based on the book "The Rainbow" by D.H. Lawrence. D.H. wrote very racybooks for the times. If you don't recognize "The Rainbow", you might know "Lady Chatterly's Lover" one of Lawrence most famous books.

What struck me about this cover was the bold primary colors and how they played off of each other. I decided to use the same colors and the layout. I am definately a cat person, so I pulled out an incredibly old stamp set from Inkadinkado. It was a give away at a Michael's opening. I go for this set time after time. We all have sets like that. What's yours?

To jazz it up I had to add some gems to the flowers on my kitties. The sentiment is from  a brand new set at Newton's Nook called "Cat-itude".

Go check out The Library Challenge.

Inky Paws 100th Challenge!!!

Hey there everyone! I hope you have checked out the BIG 100th challenge over at Inky Paws. There are all kinds of prizes and fun going on.

 We are challenging you to go back and pick your favorite challenge from the past 6 years and play it again. Each of us designers did the same thing. Since I just started paying along at Inky Paws about a year and half ago, I decided to go way back and play along with a challenge that I did not have the opportunity to do.

I am a very CAS stamper, but usually have something that pops up on my cards, so I decided to Challenge 18 was the one to try.  One layer cards can be trickyyouthink there easy but not really. I went through about 6 cards just getting the embossing down then stamping seemed to be a problem.

Holy cow, what else could go wrong?!!? but finally I ended up with two cards I was happy with.

  Both cards use the frame and flag die set from Newton's Nook to embosss the frame. The flowers are Newton's Nook's "dainty daisies". The sentiments are from NN's "floral fringe" set. The kraft card I used my colored pencils. I love white pencils on the kraft cardstock. The daisies really sing. On my white card I went back to my comfort zone with my copics.

Here's the details: Choose your favorite challenge & play it again!

Pick any of our previous Color, Sketch or Theme challenges and play it again! Just decide on your favorite and add it to your post along with your entry matching the previous challenge: color, sketch or theme! There will be three link-ups below, so you enter your project into the category you have chosen! You can find images of all the previous collections in the Pinterest board here, or look through our previous challenges on the blog pages. 

Bonus link-up: Choose your favorite NND product! To make things even more fun, we've added a favorite product challenge link-up too! Just pick your favorite NND stamp, stencil, or die set and use it on your project to participate! Don't forget to tell us why it's your favorite when you write up your blog post! 

Can't decide on a favorite? You are welcome to choose more than one type of challenge and play multiple times! We are allowing up to 3 entries per participant into each category! Please no combining of challenges. Each card created may only be entered into one link-up category.

Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along to win a prize? For this special 100th celebration we are giving away $100 in prizes! We will chose one RANDOM entry to win a $25 store credit to our Newton's Nook Design online shop from each of the four link-up categories! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday, so all entries have a chance to be featured on this blog! 

The deadline to enter today's challenge is this Friday, June 28, 2019 at MN CST. The winners will be announced on the following Monday at Inky Paws.

Inky Paws 100th challenge!!!!

Hi everyone!! It's a BIG day at Inky Paws. We are celebrating our 100th challenge!! Woot woot and yahoo!! I betcha when the first Inky Paws challenge debut on July 26, 2013, the DT could not have foreseen the 100th challenge.

We are challenging you to go back and pick your favorite challenge from the past 6 years and play it again. Each of us designers did the same thing. Since I just started paying along at Inky Paws about a year and half ago, I decided to go way back and play along with a challenge that I did not have the opportunity to do.

I am a girl who loves her sparkle and bling, so I immediately decided to use challenge #15- "add a little sparkle" for my inspiration. This challenge went live Oct. 24, 2014. Check it out for some DT inspiration.

Today's card is being sent out to all those messy crafters like me out there. How many of you have been in the same position as Newton? Vacuuming glitter, sequins, and gems off your floors and rugs. Thank goodness Newton has one of those high powered vacuum cleaners or he might be at that mess for awhile.

 For my card today I used a new stamp set from Newton's Nook called "Newton cleans up". It is full of fun images. The sentiment came from Newton's Nook's "naughty Newton.

Here's the details: Choose your favorite challenge & play it again!

Pick any of our previous Color, Sketch or Theme challenges and play it again! Just decide on your favorite and add it to your post along with your entry matching the previous challenge: color, sketch or theme! There will be three link-ups below, so you enter your project into the category you have chosen! You can find images of all the previous collections in the Pinterest board here, or look through our previous challenges on the blog pages. 

Bonus link-up: Choose your favorite NND product! To make things even more fun, we've added a favorite product challenge link-up too! Just pick your favorite NND stamp, stencil, or die set and use it on your project to participate! Don't forget to tell us why it's your favorite when you write up your blog post! 

Can't decide on a favorite? You are welcome to choose more than one type of challenge and play multiple times! We are allowing up to 3 entries per participant into each category! Please no combining of challenges. Each card created may only be entered into one link-up category.

Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along to win a prize? For this special 100th celebration we are giving away $100 in prizes! We will chose one RANDOM entry to win a $25 store credit to our Newton's Nook Design online shop from each of the four link-up categories! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday, so all entries have a chance to be featured on this blog! 

The deadline to enter today's challenge is this Friday, June 28, 2019 at MN CST. The winners will be announced on the following Monday at Inky Paws.

Crafty inspiration

Hey there everyone. It has been a crafty weekend for me. I have had to make birthdaycards, birthday cards and cards just because, like the one I am posting today. AAA cards has a cool challenge. They are asking you to make a one layer card with a optional twist of using only black and white.

I am a very CAS stamper, but I still usually have someting popped up and yikes- black and white!! This was a challenge for me. I like bright colors. Also, you need to be very aware that when the card is only black and white, you can't hide your mistakes. LOL!!!

I rarely by kits from stamp companies, but the May kit from Hero Arts was one I couldn't pass up. It is perfect for making cards for all my crafty friends.  The sentiment is from Atenew's "crafty friends" set. Someone special may be receiving this card in the mail this week.

I toyed with the idea of adding some bling or glitter, but forced myself to keep it simple and let the black and white speak for itself. I actually like how it turned out.

There is so much awesome inspiration to be found at AAA cards. Check this card out from Tinstar. I think it is so clever. AAA is having a design team challenge. I am throwing my hat in the ring and keeping my fingers crossed.  

Reach for the sun

There is a new challenge at The Library Challenge. It was a bit daunting. Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse". I don't think Virginia is my cup of tea, but I love this cover for her book.

I do have lighthouse stamps, but I wanted to go in a different direction. I thought about the sun, and how flowers reach for the sun, and my inspiration was born.

Using Newton's Nook's "sunscape stencil" I stenciled the sun. I grabbed my go to flower stamp from Atenew, which I embossed with the closest to yellow embossing powder I had- Adirondack butterscotch powder from Ranger.  I added my sentiment and this fun play on the book cover was complete. The only thing I wished  I had done was emboss "birthday" in yellow to match the flowers. 

So check out The Library Challenge and play along.

Rainbow of thanks

 Wow!! We have had an incredible responce to our "rainbow" challenge over at Inky Paws. If you are worried you missed out- you are in luck, there is still one week left.

I wanted to do something a bit different this week. I grabbed the new speech bubbles from Newton's Nook.  I paired my rainbow of thanks with "garden mice" from NN. Who doesn't need a thank you card at some point in their stash. What is better than a rainbow of thanks!??!

Head on over to Inky Paws and join in our rainbow challenge. We will chose a RANDOM entry to win a $20.00 Newton's Nook store gift certificate. Our favorite entries from each challenge will be highlighted the following Monday, so all entries have a chance to be featured on the blog.

The deadline to enter today's challenge is this Friday, June 14, 2019 at MN CST. The winners will be announced on the following Monday at Inky Paws.

Don't forget to check back in next Monday for our exciting 100th Inky Paws challenge!!!

Sip happens and a new challenge

Happy Sunday all! I recently discovered a new challenge site that is right up my alley. It is The Library Challenge"!!! How awesome is that?!!? Libraries are my second home and I easily read a book a week.

I had to play along.  The book inspiration is the book titled- The Art of the Stripe. Love this minimalistic cover. Not to mention my wardrobe consists of a whole lot of stripes.

 
When I was trying to decide inwhat direction to go for my card, this Art Impression stamp set jumped out at me. Here was the cover girl 50 years in the future. Newton's Nook supplied the sentiment from their "wine a little" stamp set. Using the book cover colors for inspiration, this card came together quickly.  

Check out The Library Challenge and play along.  

Rainbow blossoms

Happy Monday everyone!! Welcome to another great Challenge at Inky Paws. Today's challenge is the best ever- a rainbow challenge! Who doesn't love a rainbow?!!?

I hope you notice this is challenge #99. Big things happening for our 100th challenge.... stay tune....

I let Jennifer Maguire inspire me. She did a very cool video on color blocking that had me running for my inkpads. Check it out and let Jennifer inspire you too.

For my card today I used Newton Nook's "Floral Fringe" and "Squared Frames".    

Head on over to Inky Paws and join in our rainbow challenge. We will chose a RANDOM entry to win a $20.00 Newton's Nook store gift certificate. Our favorite entries from each challenge will be highlighted the following Monday, so all entries have a chance to be featured on the blog.

The deadline to enter today's challenge is this Friday, June 14, 2019 at MN CST. The winners will be announced on the following Monday at Inky Paws.