Count Your Blessings

Today is my day to share a Project of the Week over on the House That Stamps Built blog.  I am starting what I call my "Pinterest Inspired" series.  I pin lots of card making ideas while I'm trolling on Pinterest (as I'm sure we all do) and even have a board designated for ideas for using Repeat Impressions stamps.  My card today was inspired by this card:

(Unfortunately, the link would not open the website, so I can't give credit where it is due.)

And here is my card:

I started by die cutting the stitched panel and then embossed the "Butterfly (lg)" image using white embossing powder.  I used my new blender brushes (just got them for my birthday!) to blend on some Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Inks.  I spritzed a little water to add texture to the sponging, stamped my sentiment, "Count Your Blessings", with Black Soot Distress Oxide and added some clear sequins for a bit of sparkle!  Then adhered everything to a white card base.
I hope this inspires you to create something based on a project you have pinned--it's too easy to save those ideas and then never do anything with them.

Supplies:
Stamp: Repeat Impressions "Butterfly (lg)" and "Count Your Blessings"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Cardz TV #99--anything goes
Crafty Catz #416--anything goes
As You Like It--favorite: CAS or Fussy and Fancy? ( I don't have a specific style really.  I love a well-done CAS card and I love a fully loaded fancy card.  I usually fall somewhere in between with my own creations.  Lately, though, I've been working more towards the CAS style as they are usually faster to create and I always seem to be behind the clock!)
Dare 2 B Artzy--your favorite color (I've always loved blues and greens and this type of turquoise-y blue is my current favorite)
Southern girls--tic tac toe (I used the center row die cut, stamp, blue)

Tuesday Throwdown #441--anything goes
Creative Knockouts #317--anything goes
Addicted to Stamps #360--inspiration photo

For unto you

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week it is a fan favorite: Anything Goes!! And here is the card I created for your inspiration:

I like to take advantage of these Anything Goes challenges to add to my stash of Christmas cards.  I try to work on them all throughout the year so I don't have too many to make when December rolls around.  I started with my little strip of scraps at the bottom (I think I only have one left from this paper pack!), added a scalloped border die cut from a scrap of red and a strip of ribbon.  Then I stamped the frame and sentiment and stamped, colored and fussy cut the poinsettia.  Finished everything off with some Light Gold Nuvo drops (partly to cover up some errant ink smudges).
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Marquee Frame, large", "For Unto You", and "Poinsettia"
Dies: MFT "Stitched Scallops" border die

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin--anything goes with optional twist: Christmas decorations (I did not use the twist)
Cards Galore--anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Sheepski Designs #30--dies cuts/punches
ABC Christmas--S is for Sparkle T is for texture (texture from the nuvo drops, and twill ribbon)
Merry Little Christmas #14--anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #405--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
As You Like It--favorite: Santa or no Santa (my family doesn't celebrate Christmas involving Santa, so I definitely prefer to create cards with NO Santa.  My favorite type is with a sentiment--or image--that reflects the true meaning of Christmas)
Crimbo-Crackers #193--anything goes
Sweet Stampers #36--use a sentiment
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #361--anything goes with snippets
Double D--focus on the sentiment
Cute Card Thursday #600--dies and punches
Aud Sentiments #286--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #456--anything goes with optional twist:include the word "joy" (I did not use the optional twist)
Crafty Friends #119--special occasions (Christmas)

Did you say "cake"?

It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: use 2 or more patterned papers
And here is my card for your inspiration:

It's my birthday today, so I decided to make a birthday card (maybe my own???).  After I chose this sweet image, I started by choosing my patterned papers and then coloring the image to match.  I add little polka dots to the dress to match the green dotted paper.  When I was deciding what color to mat the papers with, I decided I really loved the look of the tan of the bear with the green of the dress, so I used the same EB1 Spectrum Noir marker to color the edges of my white mats.  It creates the perfect match between card and image.  I've had the MFT set "Delicious Birthday" for a long time and I've been dying to use this sentiment (because, well, CAKE!!); I think it works perfectly with this adorable image.  I finished everything off with some light green rhinestones.

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "Birthday Cake Teddy" digi; MFT Stamps "Delicious Birthday" sentiment

Challenges:
Aud Sentiments #236--anything goes with a sentiment
Penny's Challenge #448--anything goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches #521--sketch

Lil' Patch #114--anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Crafty Creations #398--anything goes
Creative Fingers #170--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #30--anything goes
Brown Sugar #293--anything goes
Love to Craft Challenge Blog #38--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Through the Purple Haze #159--Fur-tastic
Crafting with an Attitude--anything goes
Cutie Pie Challenge #138--celebrations

Beautiful Butterfly

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week we have a beautiful inspiration photo for you:

And here is the card I created:

 So, the butterfly was the obvious choice for this one.  And I HAD to go with the purple flowers because we were at my parents' house this weekend and my mom has a purple aster in her flower garden that was covered in Monarch butterflies!  It was so beautiful!  So, I colored the flowers with purple and added some purple mulberry paper for texture and softness.  I finished it off with one of my favorite sentiments and a little butterfly charm.

I stamped the butterfly twice so I could cut out the the top wing.  I adhered the base of it with glue and the top of the wing with a foam dot so it looks like it is fluttering.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions: "Daisies and Butterfly"; "I'm so glad . . ."

Dies: MFT "Bold Stripes Cover Up" I used the strip that was cut out by the die for the sentiment

Challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas #438--just because
The Paper Girls #184--anything goes
Use Your Stuff #375--tags and frames (my image has a frame around it)
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #114--anything goes
Sweet Stampers #36--use a sentiment
Creative Knockouts #315--a charmed life
Word Art Wednesday #404--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafts Galore--anything goes

You Make Me Smile

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built.  This week we have a fun Tic Tac Toe board for you:

  I used the left hand column: Winged Things, gems or pearls, die cut and I also used piercing.

Here is what I created for your inspiration:

First, let me say, I LOVE how this card turned out, but boy did I have some issues creating it!!  But before I get to that, a lot of the elements of this card came together quickly as they were still on my desk from a card I made last week.  (You can see it here, if you so desire)  The white circle, die cut word, pink card base, dark gray card stock and sequins (lots and lots of sequins as I accidently spilled the bag trying to look for something else!) were all just laying there and were the inspiration for the card.  I used a piercing tool to pierce around the edge of the circle and stamped the postcard text in a light gray to add some subtle interest.  I used two nesting rectangle dies to create the frame and a scrap of patterned paper fit behind it just perfectly.  The flowers and leaves were stamped on scrap white card stock and fussy cut out.  The butterflies were punched from scrap card stock and I die cut two more layers of the "smile" sentiment out of white scraps to create some dimension.

If you want to read about the mishaps, keep reading.  Otherwise, thanks for stopping by!  So, it started with the card base: when I made the card the other day, I die cut the "smile" but I didn't have any small pieces of the card stock, so I cut it out of a piece that was already cut for a card base.  When I saw it, I just couldn't waste the base, so I used the frame and patterned paper to cover it up.  I will add a panel on the inside to cover it up in there.  So, that wasn't really a mistake but something that had to be covered up.  #2: As often happens, I got creating without thinking about the tic tac board and realized I didn't have any elements to create a line, so realized I would have to add butterflies to make it work.  Which was ok as it leads to #3: After I stamped my sentiment on my stamp-a-ma-jig, so I could place it where I wanted, I decided I wanted the stamp in a different place on my block.  But I didn't realign it with the stamp-a-ma-jig so when I stamped it on my circle, it was completely in the wrong place!!  Butterflies and a white gel pen to the rescue!  I used the two lower butterflies to cover up what I couldn't 'erase' with the white gel pen.  Also, you'll notice #4: the text on my circle isn't exactly straight but when I placed the circle on the layout, I wasn't planning to add a sentiment directly to it.  And last but not least, #5: As I was adhering the frame to the patterned paper, the adhesive stuck on my finger and tore the frame!  So the top butterfly is strategically place to cover that little tear!  Phew!  Glad it's finished!

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Smile" (I masked it and didn't use the word 'smile'), "Postcard", "Daisy Outline large", "Daisy Outline small", "Leaf Outline large"

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangles and "Standard Circles, large"; Stamplorations "Smile"; MFT "Fancy Flourish", Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments--dies and/or punches
Tuesday Throwdown #440--pile it on
Atlantic Hearts #333--sketch

Simon Says Stamp Monday--stamp it
Creative Fingers #170--anything goes
Crafty Catz #413--anything goes: with optional twist "Hi/welcome"
Cute Card Thursday #598--anything goes
Creative Moments #176--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Brown Sugar #293--anything goes
Sheepski Designs #30--die cuts/punches
Dies R Us #128--nature
Crafty Calendar--add lots of layers
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes
Pattie's Creations #162--things that fly (butterflies)
Cardz TV #97--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #360--anything goes with snippets (used lots of leftovers on this one)
Incy Wincy--things with wings
Make My Monday #104--use shapes (rectangles and circle)
STAMPlorations CUTplorations--anything goes with a die

Purrfect Day

It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Hand colored image
And here is my card for your inspiration:

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "Purrfect Day"

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; MFTf "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle; STAMPlorations "Smile"
Paper Lane embossing folder

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #403--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafty Creations #397--anything goes
Pink Gem Challenge--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #113--anything goes
Make My Monday #104--use shapes (a nice big circle)
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Crafts Galore--anything goes
Crafting with An Attitude--anything goes
Die Cut Divas--free time fun (If I ever had any free time! I would sit around with my new sweet kitten that I was just given for my birthday)
Feeling Sketchy #224--sketch

2 Crafty Critter Crazies #30--anything goes
Crafting By Designs--anything goes
Penny's #446--anything goes

Secret's Safe with Me

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week is a Designer's Choice Challenge and it is my turn to choose.  Since September is my Birthday month, I chose the theme: Something beginning with "B". 

And here is the card I created:

For my "B" words I used "bird", "branch", "book print paper" and the word "birthday".  I created this for the pastor of our church as his birthday is this week.  He has a sense of humor, so I think he will appreciated the cheekiness of this.  When he is not preaching, he tends to wear plaid flannel shirts and he LOVES books, so that was the inspiration for the papers I used.

I just love the look on this cat's face; he looks so proud of himself, or maybe, satisfied with his meal.  I love using this set for interactive cards as the images and sentiments are designed to work together and sort of have a surprise ending.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Little Birdie 2-sided Swing Stamp Set"

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Double Slider Surprise"

Challenges:
Crafty Friends #117--add embellishments (I used enamel dots)
Cardz 4 Guyz #227--celebrate
As You Like It--favorite way to add sentiments and why? (My favorite way is with rubber/clear stamps.  I love all the different fonts and the fact that when you stamp them you can place them exactly where you want them.  You can even curve them or mask them to fit your space.)
Moving Along with the Times #105--things with wings
Cardz TV #97--anything goes
Sketch Saturday #579--pick any sketch--I used #278 turned on its side

Pink Gem Challenge--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #113--anything goes
Incy Wincy--things with wings
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper
Penny Black--animals (I know birds were not allowed, but I do have a cat; I hope this is acceptable)
Creatalicious #170--humor
2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes

Wonderful

A new month has arrived and that means a new challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  This month's challenge is Anything Goes.  Our fabulous sponsor is CAS-ual Fridays.

And here is the card I created:

I used the set "Snowy Sayings" to create this fun card.  There are a ton of different snowflake images in the set and I used most of them to create my patterned paper in several different shades of pink. 

I created a fun fold to go along with the sketch I used.  I used one of the many sentiments from the set and finished everything off with a couple sequins and a bunch of pink Nuvo drops. 

The sentiment reads "It's the most Wonderful time of the year".

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Head on over to the LTSCB blog to see what the rest of the team has created and to get the full details of the challenge.  Then get inky and play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays "Snowy Sayings"

Dies: Dies "MFT "Stitched Hillsides"; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps small snowflake

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin--anything goes with the optional twist: snow people (I did not use the twist)
Creative Craft Cottage #121--Christmas
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #331--sketch