So we'll set the world on fire, we can burn brighter than the sun....tonight...

Hey y'all, Happy Friday! Today I'm bringing you another fun designer "mash-up" brought to you by:







The Twinery, of course, has fabulous baker's twine, and Epiphany Crafts brings a super cool line of tools and accessories to allow crafters to create their own custom epoxy shapes and acrylic buttons. How fun is that?

This week they are giving away this fabulous prize package (over $65 retail value).


All you have to do is leave a comment on each blog along the hop. You can find a complete list from the entire week on The Twinery Blog. You won't want to miss all the creative projects!
Blog comments close on Sunday, June 3rd at 11:59pm (EDT) and the winners will be announced on The Twinery's blog and the Epiphany Crafts blog on Monday, June 4th.

When I started playing with the embellishments from Epiphany, I knew exactly what I wanted to make: a twine bookmark! I created the charm embellishment using some pretty patterned paper, and then threaded the twine through the loops. I braided lengths of Caribbean, Honeydew, and Cappuccino twine together to form the bookmark, and then secured the end with a glass bead.

I created a little pocket card so I could give this as a gift, punching out small half-circles to hold the bookmark onto the insert. 
Here's a photo of the full card:


This was a simple project, and certainly something that could be reproduced easily for quick and easy gifts. I love that you can customize the charm to fit your project or recipient!

Thanks so much for stopping by today...I'm so glad you did!
Here's today's list of participating blogs: (don't forget to leave some love along the way!)
Epiphany Crafts
The Twinery
Katarina Damm-Blomberg
Amanda Jones
Julie Ranae
Gina Lideros
Shannan Teubner  <--You are here!

Have a fabulous weekend, and Happy June!

InLinkz.com

Here we go again...I kinda wanna be more than friends...So take it easy on me...

Happy Friday, sistahs! It's Bellariffic Friday here again, and this week was a sketch challenge!


A fun one for sure!! I have been missing my Kettos, so I pulled out little Missmatch Ketto, and watercolored her for this week:


Isn't she so adorable?? I have an outfit *just* like that. (hee)
She was stamped in Black Stazon on watercolor paper, then colored with various dye inks. I love the way the wash of yellow around her turned out, if I do say so myself. I cut and embossed the image with the Curved Rectangle Nestabilities and sponged around the edges. Of course I had to add some Diamond Stickles...you can't color a girl with a pink tiara and NOT add glitter. Seriously.


I found a couple of scraps of paper (from Crystal Wilkerson and October Afternoon) that coordinated perfectly, and then added a big pink bow around the card base. This was such a fun layout...it's definitely going to be one I use again!

Well, that's about all from me today...I hope you can play along to next week's challenge, which is:

A FREE FOR ALL...ANYTHING GOES!!

Now, come on...I know you can do that one! All you have to do to play along is create a project using Bella Stamps and send your card to Emily (emily@stampingbella.com) by Thursday night! You'll be entered to win some Bella Bucks $$$, and your card will be published on the Bloggabella!  Also, if you upload to your gallery on Splitcoast as well (it's free!) using our keyword (you can find that in our forum HERE) you have two chances to win some BUCKEROONIS! Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Don't forget to check out the other goodies posted on Emily's Blog HERE, and post a comment for another chance to win some Bucks. Have a fabulous day!

Well sometimes I go out by myself, and I look across the water...and I think of all the things, of what you're doing, and in my head I paint a picture...

Good morning, y'all! How have you been? We are great over at the Teubner Haus, just going from here to there and trying to enjoy the time in between. Soccer and baseball seasons are in full swing, so that means fun Saturdays, and opportunities to play with the camera lens I got for my birthday. Woohoo!

Anyway, I snuck away to my craft disaster area room last night and finally got to turn some of my colored images into cards. The first card features Josephine cuddling her pet cat Kiki from Stampavie's CHA Winter Release.


Isn't she gorgeous? She was so much fun to color. I colored her with Copic markers and added some bling, lace and a gorgeous Prima flower as an accent. The main image and October Afternoon card base were cut and embossed with Nestabilities Labels Seventeen.


The next card features an adorable image from Mo Manning's Stampavie Collection called Psst Dani and Taylor. I colored this image over a year and a half ago to show as a sample in a Copic class...I love it!!


I really had fun with this card...just kind of went crazy with the colors and layout. I used Rectangle Nestabilities to cut and emboss the main image and scalloped mat, and used my cute little notebook page style border punch on the lined paper. The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket, and the  polka dot strip is from the Pink Paislee Artisan Elements Border pack...it's a fun cross between foam and resin, and comes white so you can customize the color to your project. I sprayed this one with Glimmer Mist.


The sentiment (from Papertrey Ink) fit nicely onto my yellow butterfly, then I added some Diamond Stickles and glitter around the edges. A few little touches like twine, a mini library clip, and glitter, and I was all finished!

Well, I better get going...I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks so much for stopping by to see me!

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes...sayin' ayyyyy ohhh...

Happy Saturday, y'all! How's your weekend going so far? Mine has started off with a bang...I couldn't sleep Friday night, so I decided to spend some time in my craft room playing! It has been far too long since I've done that...I sure needed it! I think I might sneak in there tomorrow, too. *wink*

This is one of the three cards I made...I pulled out an image from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps that I colored forever ago. Her name is Charlotte, and I do believe (shhh...don't tell the others) that she's my favorite of all the Moonlight Whispers line.


Since she is so bright and colorful, I decided to keep the rest of the card very simple. Here's how I did it:
1. Stamp image in black ink on white cardstock
2. Color image (I used Copic markers), then sponge around edges with brown ink
3. Cut image & mat using rectangle dies (plain & scalloped)
4. Add glitter to headband, waistband, & hemline of dress, set aside to dry
5. Adhere patterned paper to white card base
6. Round bottom corners and sand edges
7. Stamp sentiment in brown ink
8. Tie green ribbon in a bow around card base
9. Adhere main image panel to card base with foam dimensionals

Here's a closer look at a few details:

Isn't she cute?! I hope you like her. And I hope you have a fabulous weekend...see ya soon!

What's in it:
Stamps: Charlotte (Kraftin Kimmie Stamps), Sentimentally Yours (Technique Tuesday)
Paper: Bella's Bestest Paper, Early Espresso, Neenah White, October Afternoon Ducks in a Row Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa, Crumb Cake (SU)
Accessories: Mega Rectangle Nestabilities, New Leaf Saddle Stitch Ribbon (PTI), Dimensionals (SU), 2 way Glue pen, Glamour Dust glitter, Copic Markers, Corner Rounder

A Year in Cards: 2010

Happy New Year, y'all!! I am so excited to welcome 2011 and the adventures it holds for all of us. I thought I'd post my favorite cards of the year here for you...I hope you enjoy them!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I'll see you back here soon...one of my goals this year is to create more and blog more. Have a fabulous day!

All men (Watu wote)...All creatures (Viumbe vyote)...Everybody (Awaye yote)...Praise the Lord (Sifu mungu)...

Good morning, y'all! I'm back with some more creations...yep! I'm on a roll! Today is the Verve release, and we're showing you some previews of the new set Text Objects. I love this set! As you can see...I couldn't stop at one card. *grin* So let's go, are you ready?


The first card I created is a pretty straightforward, clean and simple design. I stamped the Winnie the Pooh quote on the Kraft base layer, then added the larger coordinating sentiment on the cream panel I cut with my Vintage Oval Die. Here's a closer look:



The next card I created uses the Gandhi quote background strip & larger sentiment.


I also layered some lace, ribbon, and a couple of paper pieced hearts from the same set. Yep! There are a few images in this fabulous set to coordinate with the sentiments. Wait till you see!!
Here's a closer look at the sentiment panel and other details:


Thanks for stopping by to see me today! Don't forget to check out the Diva blogs below for some peeks at Text Objects, a new set releasing tonight! One lucky commenter on one of the stops along today's hop will win this set, so be sure to leave a little love! Deadline for comments is Friday, December 3 at 8PM Eastern.

1. Julee
2. Laurie
3. Susan
4. Tosh
5. Jen d.
6. Charmaine
7. Jen T.
8. Shannan

9. Lynda
10. Michelle
11. Amy
12. Teresa
13. Jackie
14. Sankari
15. Mercy

Have a wonderful day!

Happiness, hit her like a train on a track...Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back...

Hey y'all! Yes, I'm alive! Please forgive my absence, I have been really sick the last few days with my yearly cold yuck. But I'm back...just in time for Verve's December Release! We will be previewing sets today and tomorrow, then they will be available to purchase tomorrow, Dec. 3rd. All the details will be on Julee's Blog.

Since I missed my Tuesday Sketch Challenges, I thought I'd try to catch up. Here's Mercy's Sketch for this week:


Here's my card using Wordy Birds, Wild Flower Plain Jane, & Amazing Wishes:




If you want to see more Vervalicious goodness, check out my fellow divas listed below. As always, we've hidden a PRIZE on one of the participating blogs, so leave a little comment love as you hop around to be entered into a drawing to win ALL of the stamps we're featuring today!

1. Julee
2. Mercy
3. Sankari
4. Teresa
5. Amy
6. Michelle
7. Lynda
8. Shannan
9. Charmaine
10. Jen d.
11. Tosh
12. Susan
13. Laurie

Have a fabulous day!

I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be...laughing on the park bench thinking to myself, hey isnt this easy...

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Did you have a great weekend? We did! I took the boys to the air show in Fort Worth to see the Blue Angels...so fun! Then we did a little trick or treating right before we crashed. WHEW! But I'm pretty sure you're not here to listen to me ramble about my weekend. I just happen to have have another Verve card for you today for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge for this week!

Here's this week's sketch:




And here's the card I created using Verve Stamps & October Afternoon papers:




Fun, huh? I love making Christmas/Holiday cards using non-traditional colors. The idea for pink & green came from the branch stamp...I thought it would be cool to fill in the circles, so I grabbed my Fruit Punch Stickles. Pretty! The striped paper is from the Be Good collection, which I don't see on their website...hmmm....wonder what's up with that? Then I added the polka dot pattern from Ducks in a Row. I love it!

Here's a closer look at some of the details:




Whatcha think? I hope you like it! And now it's time to visit Mercy's Blog to check out the eye candy she has for you. We're also welcoming a new Guest Muse this month...go say hi, k?

• Cindy Haffner
• Pam Varnell
• Jackie Pedro
• Julie Lacey
• Jessica Diedrich
• Jodi Collins (November 2010 Guest Muse)

Have a fabulous day...I'll be back with some fun stuff in a little while!

I'm a high life flyer and a rainbow rider...A straight shootin' son-of-a-gun...

Hello and welcome to the first day of the Verve Winter 2010 New Release Spotlights!


This Friday, October 29, we'll be releasing a whole lot of new Verve!  We hope you'll join us over in our SCS forum for our Release Party from 9-11pm Eastern on Friday night!  To countdown to the release, the Divas are putting on a series of mini blog hops each day this week to preview the new sets!  And to keep things interesting, we've hidden a prize on one of the participating blogs each day, so leave a little comment love as you hop around to be entered into a drawing to win that day's featured stamps!  Deadline for comment entries is 7PM Mountain Friday, October 29.  Winners will be announced at our release party on Friday night.

Today, we are spotlighting four new mini sets and two Plain Janes.  This release is all about holiday elegance and winter whimsy, with a few year-round classic sentiments thrown in for good measure.  Along today's hop you'll see our design team first looks at a few mini sets Holiday Phrases, Munchkin Phrases, Friendly Phrases and Winter Mittens} as well as our two newest Plain Janes, {Joy and Christmas Blessings}. 


Here's the project I created, showing off the new Christmas Blessings Plain Jane: 




And here's a closer look: 





I'll keep the chatter to a minimum so you can hop on over to see the rest of the eye candy. I had some Maya Road Kraft envelopes in my stash, and a tag cut with my Nestabilities Labels 8 die made a perfect tag. Add a scalloped circle to the top, some sponging, and a couple of pieces of October Afternoon paper, and I had a simple little tag that would be a perfect little gift enclosure. The back of the envelope was decorated with some Christmas Music patterned paper along with some ribbon. I hope you like it!

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops.  Happy hopping!
 

1. Mercy	8. Laurie
2. Jen T.	9. Jackie
3. Tosh	10. Sankari
4. Teresa	11. Shannan
5. Andrea	12. Amber
6. Lynda	13. Julee
7. Amy

Be sure to leave some comments along the way for a chance to win!
Have fun and we'll see ya tomorrow!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Winter Wonder, Christmas Blessings PJ (Verve)
Paper: Rustic Cream (PTI), Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!), Patterned Paper (October Afternoon)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Circle Punch, Ribbon, Button (Stampin' Up!), Scalloped Edge Punch (EK Success), Jumbo Sponge Dauber (Tsukineko), Kraft Envelope (Maya Road)

If it's love flowing freely, I'm ready...If the waters can redeem me, I'm ready...I'm ready to let the rivers wash over me...

Happy Wednesday, y'all! Ok, has it really been a week since I posted last? EEK! We are still doing the football thing, and here are a few pictures of what we've been up to.



Doesn't that look like fun? I'll be glad when it cools off a little, but I enjoy going to the games and watching them play their little hearts out. It has been so good for them.

Speaking of good...I was really inspired by this week's Mojo Monday sketch, so I stayed up a little later than I should have last night to play. I had to unpack some new goodies first (just because I haven't been crafting doesn't mean I stopped collecting! *wink*)...and before I start let me say something. I'm climbing on my soapbox, but it's my own personal soapbox. Feel free to skip to the pictures if you wish, I won't be mad.

When my friend Julie posted a link to this article on Facebook, it really struck a chord with me. This part in particular got my attention:
It is expected that creative professionals in the industry will submit to magazines, post in online galleries, blog about projects/products, and stream several daily bits of clever inspiration via Facebook and Twitter.  If you teach, you also have to be working in the background thinking about your next class or your next big project. Quite honestly – it can be exhausting.
Not only did I identify with that statement, but I came to the realization as I read it that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I know, I know, I've heard people talk about it, and I know people who have gone through it. But when you get into the thick of it, you just think there's something wrong with you. I know I did, anyway. Nothing kills your mojo faster.

In addition, I have been feeling the need to limit my resources. I haven't submitted for publication in over a year, but I felt the need to only purchase consumables from companies that could be found in retail locations or companies that don't have a history of retiring things. I didn't want to buy any stamps from any companies that didn't have an Angel Policy, in case I decided to sell my cards. And stamps that come from a company that doesn't compensate in some way for publication? Forget it. Don't get me wrong, for the most part I liked the stuff I acquired, but sometimes I was settling for a second or third favorite because the stuff I really liked was "off limits."

But then something strange happened. I started missing my "old stuff." The stuff that I used to love when I started this creative adventure four years ago, and the stuff I had been keeping myself from using. Then one night, I began thinking to myself...this is my thing. Just for me, just for fun. That doesn't mean I don't love doing design work or teaching. But the fun had gone away.

So I took a step back to examine what needed to change. I started cleaning and organizing (big emphasis on STARTED) my craft room. And I splurged on some things I had been waiting to buy. And I made the decision to go back to the beginning and become an equal opportunity consumer once again. I have literature organizers on the way to store my cardstock in all its beautifully diverse glory, and I purchased an old cassette tape holder on eBay to hold my ink pads. It will take a long while, people, so don't get all excited just yet. But I'm revamping my space. It's time for it to become a creative space and not a "work" space. And based on last night's experiment, I think I'll get more "work" done that way.

Ok, yes, I'm done now...on to the fun stuff!! I made a card...YES! I know!! *wink*



Ok, so after writing all that stuff, I'm too pooped to write instructions for this one. I'll come back and add them later, how's that? In the meantime, I'll list the ingredients at the bottom of this post.

Here's a closer look:



One more thing...is this too girly of a card to send to a man? The intention starting out was for it to go to a friend of mine, but then I did the pink and now I'm not so sure...be honest.

Have a fabulous day!


Ingredients
Stamps: Kind Words, Fabulous You (Verve)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Early Espresso, Kraft, White, October Afternoon
Accessories: Copper Brads, Circle Punches, Jumbo Sponge Daubers, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, EK Success Border Punch

There's no chance unless you take one, and it's time to see the brighter side of every situation...

Happy Wednesday, peeps! What have y'all been up to? I have been working my fanny off, as well as trying to get a head start on school supply shopping. I'm almost done...SHOCKER!

I have a couple of Verve cards to show you today...hope you enjoy!

This is a super Clean and Simple (CAS) card using Always on My Mind. I wanted to use the new Japanese Masking Tape I got a while back, so I added a few score lines with my Scor-Pal, added some tape (isn't it fabulous?), then popped the sentiment up on dimensionals. I love how it turned out!

This card uses the Blue Skies set...my favorite from the June release. I stamped the background using one of the flourishes and Versamark, then added the notebook page with the fabulous quote. Some ric-rac and a border punch finish it off quite nicely, I think.

I'm so glad you stopped by today...hope your day is going great so far. Don't forget to check out the Project Parade on the Verve Blog, and sign up for the Anni-VERVE-sary Blog Hop in this thread on the SCS Forum.

Have a fabulous day...see you soon!