More Christmas for the CPS challenge

This week, Taylored Expressions is the sponsor over on the Card Positioning Systems blog and I jumped at the chance to play along. I've been completely smitten with the Girl's Paperie's latest Christmas line and was absolutely thrilled that Taylor included it in one of her latest Project Pantry Kits, aptly named, Tinsel and Twig. The set I used is also a new one called Winter Wonderland, and it features beautiful Christmas sentiments along with snowflakes with coordinating Snowflake dies!

Since I've been using the heck out of my papers lately, I merely used strips of scraps leftover and stitched those as one long panel. I used the felt from the TE store (looks to be sold out at the moment), with the Snowflake die and glittered the edges with some Platinum stickles. Very easy peasy to put together and still is nice and flat to be mailed....one Christmas card down, only 23948729874239 more to go! LOL!

So how are YOU coming along with Christmas cards? :)

Thanks so much for your visit and I'll have some cute little Christmas packaging to show you on my next post. :)

Off to CHA!

Ok, I'm writing up one last post before I wake up in about 6 short hours to get ready to drive to the airport! I must admit, I'm a little bundle of nerves traveling. I'm sooooo looking forward to seeing all the new goodies at CHA though! I've been watching the sneaks on blogs that I follow and I'm already salivating! I'll try and take some pictures and post them when I get back, so I promise to share my absolute faves then. :)

Now onto my card! I was actually CPS's Facebook Friday Fan and my card was featured on their blog this past Friday! The sketch is already past, but they have a new one if you'd like to play along. They always have fun sketches and GORGEOUS samples.


I finally busted out some new Melissa Frances products that I'd been hoarding from my trip to the Making Memories Convention, lol. The bird image is from Crafty Secrets...also purchased from that same trip. :)

And I've got a nice little surprise for you while I'm gone! I will have TWO...count 'em...2 scheduled posts while I'm gone! I've been busy crafting before I take off (gifts for my teammates willing to put up with me at CHA and a birthday gift for a special mom.)

If I can, I'll try and edit my posts with updates from CHA...need to find an app for the Iphone to edit in blogger...any ideas with that?

Ok, I'm off! I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll be back soon!

My first Pure Innocence

Wow!! Sorry I went a little MIA there. I had a frenzy of posts last week so I thought I'd give a you a little break. :) Sorry though, break's over!

I've been loving these Pure Innocence sets from My Favorite Things for a good while now, and finally I took the plunge and placed an order! I just couldn't resist! These adorable little girls remind me sooo much of my Catie. Now, I only bought one, but that was because the others I wanted were out of stock...yuck! I'm hoping the others I want make an appearance soon...and hopefully simultaneously!

Anyway, I noticed that MFT is also the sponsor over at the CPS blog and you could have a chance to win some MFT just for playing. What the heck? I'm crossing my fingers I get randomly selected to support this Pure Innocence addiction. :)

Here's what I made using their sketch...


Aww...isn't she adorable?! I just love her! I used the patterned papers from Thrift Shop on my card and those neato cloud dies are MFT's Dienamics Cloud Trio Die. She's colored in with Copics and I think the rest is self-explanatory!

And since summer's in full swing, here's a little snippet of what I've been up to!




And my favorite look here...


Thanks for looking! I'll be back tomorrow with the Friday Sketch Challenge...WOOHOO!

Aged, refined...but not yet vintage

Today I celebrate my birthday and as I reflect on my life as it is, I'm feeling a little bit aged, yet refined, but not quite vintage. I can definitely say that I have a better appreciation of things that have aged so obviously...become so tattered and worn, but yet have become so lovely. This gives me hope!

I am looking forward to a full day of fun...on into the wee hours of the night...I hope this body can keep up!

I do have a couple goodies to show you. More from the new Cuppie Love Scenes set that I think is one of my top favorite Cuppie sets yet!


This is just so stinkin' cute!! Definitely one of my FAVORITE things to do for entertainment. I'll make any excuse to see a movie just to eat some butter with a little popcorn. :) This is definitely on the agenda for tonight! I used a lot of the Valentine Key Ingredients here with the exception of the K & Co. Cut and Paste paper that I love...check out that movie camera! The sketch layout actually came from the latest Card Positioning Systems sketch challenge. I did a lot of paper piecing, but I definitely did my share of coloring with my Copics.

Let me just say that quite a few of my colors were shaded over with W1 and W2 to make the coloring match a bit better. :) Just want to point that out...got that great tip from my Copic Instructor, Sally Lynn!


Now, for this card, I was TOTALLY inspired by Laurie's card HERE. I absolutely fell in love with it and wanted to create something similar using the same layout. I'm still loving it! I used the January Key Ingredients for this one and the Crochet trim is ALSO in the store now...WOOHOO!!


Goodness, I can't believe how January has just flown by! I still have some exciting news to share....soon. (No, I'm not pregnant, LOL!)

Oh yeah, no Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge today...the crew is living it up over at CHA and I'm thinking about them constantly! I can't wait to see new goodies in the horizon.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Pre-Turkey day day!

Are you ready for tomorrow?! My goodness I've been anticipating every little yummy morsel for days now, lol! To keep my mind off of all the scrumptious food I just had to stamp. This latest card is....a Christmas card...I know, I know! I have to build up my stash! Either that or I put it up on an Etsy store...yes??





I used the latest CPS sketch challenge for inspiration and some new K & Company die-cut cardstock and acetate pieces for my card. Hard to believe, but no stamping on this one! That actually made this card very quick to put together. That fancy trim at the bottom and top is from Anitra's stash (thanks again girl!!)

Ok, I'm off to do some last minute shopping and food prep!

In Stamping Mode Supplies
Stamps: none
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress ink
Paper: Whisper White SU, Eskimo Kisses Basic Grey, Good Cheer October Afternoon, Santa K & Company
Accessories: Twill Tape, button from my stash, Baker's Twine Martha Stewart, Fine Cosmo glitter SU, green rhinestones

PS. Check out these mad awesome in-ear headphones from Lady Gaga. They look pretty flashy in your ear (score 1 for fashion) and the sound quality is supposed to be stellar! Now this is something that would TOTALLY put me in the gym more often!! ;)

Card Positioning Systems and Shimmerz

Did you see over on the Card Positioning Systems blog that Shimmerz is the sponsor there??? Love their sketches over there and they always have such amazing samples! Well, when I found out that Shimmerz was sponsoring I just HAD to play along. :)
Here's a lookie at the sketch


And here is my take on it!

I used black pigment ink on my chipboard letters and let it dry and then spritzed those babies up with Licorice Spritz. Oh my goodness I LOVE the look it gives! I don't know about you, but I love to put glitter on my chipboard. Problem with doing that is, it's hard to stick ANYTHING else on top of that...because...well, nothing sticks to glitter very well! With the Shimmerz on the chipboard, I get all of that shimmery effect AND I can still adhere something on top of it, SCOOORE! I also used a little Island Salsa Blingz to the rust color of the candy corn because it was such a great match! Here's a closeup.


This picture honestly does not do it any justice. You're just gonna have to take my word on how shimmery and sparkly this card is. :)

All of the patterned paper is from the Boo to You! paper kit by My Mind's Eye. I did stamp the little spiders from Hero Arts Owl-Oween set and of course, I used my Slice to cut some of the shaped papers you see on the card. Can I just say that I am lovin' my Slice! Oh yeah, I used the Noteworthy design card, fyi!

Also...no comments from the peanut gallery on my horribad stitching. Yeah....I meant to do that on purpose...that's right! That's my final word and I'm stickin' to it!

Hope you have a great day and I so appreciate you for stopping by to visit to get, "in stamping mode."

PS. Have you seen my big news HERE???? I am just beyond thrilled and can't wait to share with you these sketches every Friday morning, WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My attempt at Clean and Simple

I don't know what it is, but I am seriously drawn to cards that are "clean and simple." They are always so striking...send a clear message, and most of all, so tidy! Now, I don't consider myself a CAS stamper, but I decided to try it out! I tell you the one MAJOR plus about it...you're finished with your card in a matter of minutes! SCORE!! A typical card for me usually never takes me less than an hour. This card took me about 10 minutes, tops! *cheers wildly*

I got the layout from Card Positioning Systems latest sketch challenge #102. I've had the large Heidi Swapp heart in my stash for a long time and I wanted to use paper with hearts in it, so I reached for my Bittersweet by Basic Grey paper. It always feels so good to use something that's just sitting there collecting dust. I'm sure it makes them happy to be loved too. :) Anywho! On to the deets.

Stamps: none
Ink: none
Paper: Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Bittersweet by Basic Grey
Accessories: Love Notes ribbon by Making Memories, Love & Happiness rubons, Heidi Swapp XL ghost heart, pink taffeta ribbon

Thanks so much for stopping in! :)