May Flowers Challenge

The May challenge over on the Tombow blog is May Flowers.  The challenge theme shouldn't be a surprise since April's challenge was 'April Showers'!

When I papercraft, I rarely throw anything away!  I have several boxes of paper scraps, stamped images that I thought I was going to use on a card but didn't, etc.  I even keep "junk mail" when I KNOW it will be a perfect decoration or embellishment for a card.  Over the past few days, I've been going through my "scraps" and have made several cards.  Here is a card that I made with 5 punched out flower images that have just been laying around waiting to be used!  I thought this would be the perfect card to enter for the Tombow May Challenge.

Card stock, stamps, flower punch, and ink are all Stampin' Up products.  

I'll be posting more "scrap cards" soon!

April Showers Challenge

Tombow has an April Showers challenge going on this month.  Last night I came up with this CAS "thinking of you" card to submit.

The umbrella and raindrops are from the Stampin' Up Rain or Shine stamp set.  The sentiment, "The sun'll come out, tomorrow", is from Kraftin' Kimmie's Little Orphan Annie stamp set.  I used my favorite Tombow adhesive (Mono Adhesive Power Bond) for assembling the card layers.

The challenge ends tomorrow (!) so better get your craft on quick if you want to submit an entry.

Love Is In The Air!

I have been making Valentines like You.Would.Not.Believe!!  Since yesterday afternoon I have made 15 Valentines.  Are you making Valentines this year?  Time is running out.  There are only 9 days left.

Need some inspiration?  I found inspiration for lots of my cards on Pinterest.  However I did come up with my own design on some of the cards.  Here is one that I just got through making.  Isn't this adorable??

Supplies:  cardstock - Bazzill Basics

background stamp - Stampin' Up En Francais

balloon strings & sentiment - Lil' Inkers Balloon Builders stamp set

balloon die cuts - Lil' Inkers Balloon Dies

balloons - Bo Bunny and stash paper

 

I used to enter card challenges on a somewhat frequent basis but have gotten out of the habit over the last year or so.  But I plan on entering this card in both the Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge #169 and the Tombow Valentine's Day challenge.  Tombow is my "go to" for adhesive.  This is my fave adhesive for paper crafting.....

I plan on posting more of the Valentines that I made in a few days.  Quick!  Go get your Valentine craft on!

Vintage ChrisMouse

There is a Vintage Christmas challenge going on over at the Kraftin' Kimmie blog.  Take a look at the card I made for the challenge.

Okay, I know that mice usually aren't cute....but this little guy is adorable...especially since he is asleep and not running around my house!   

Supplies used:

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp - The Dormouse

Stampin' Up - snowflake stamp (used to "decorate" the teacup) - Confetti stamp set

October Afternoon - sentiment from Make It Merry 8x8 pad 

Martha Stewart - colored pencils (for bow)

Stampin' Up ink pads - Crumb Cake (mouse/cup image) and Riding Hood Red (teacup decoration and distressing around edges of cream cardstock)

Cream and red cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper

CAS-Fridays Card Challenge (and one more Christmas card done!)

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am getting my Christmas card craft on....BIG TIME!  Maybe next year I won't wait until six weeks before Christmas to start making Christmas cards.  Here is a card that I made today - very quick and easy....which is just what I need.  I am entering this card in the CAS-Fridays Clean and Simple card challenge 119 - Embossing.

Supplies used:

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Lace Tree

Gemstones - Hobby Lobby stash

Sentiment - Stampin' Up - Short & Sweet

Tags & Bags!

The crafters over at Cas-ual Fridays have a two week challenge going on.  After mulling this challenge over for some time, I finally decided to enter.  The challenge ends tomorrow, so nothing like waiting until the last minute!  Here is my entry for the challenge CFC 118:  Tags & Bags

Supplies used:  

Treat bag - Pebbles, Inc. (purchased a pack of 24 bags @ Archivers)

Ribbon - Celebrate It 360 (Michaels)

Washi - stash

Tag - Graphic 45 Typography Collection (Typography)

Hmmmm.....wonder what goodies this little treat bag holds???

Two of My Favorites

I just finished making a card using two of my favorite products....1) Graphic 45 paper and 2) Lovely as a Tree stamp set from Stampin' Up.  I am entering this card in the October card challenge that Graphic 45 is having.

Supplies used:

Black cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Cream cardstock - Core'dinations Premium Cardstock

Tree stamp - Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree collection

Sentiment - Graphic 45 Typography Collection (Dream)

Autumn Leaves

I had to go thru my stamps today looking for leaf rubber stamps.  I was surprised at how many I actually had......I found 20 different leaf stamps! One of my newest leaf stamps was given to me by my bestest crafting buddy, Cheryl.  (You can see her blog here.  She has been a card-making fool lately!). Cheryl and I were at a stamping event a few months ago and this stamp was one of the door prizes.......

When it was time for this stamp to be given away, I kept saying, "I hope I win, I hope I win!" Well, I didn't win BUT Cheryl did.  Hey, I'm happy when my crafting buddies win things because crafting buddies share! ;o) 

And boy DID Cheryl share.  She knew that I really liked the stamp so she gave it to me!!!  

One reason I like the stamp so much is because it is such a simple design.  Here is a card that I made with the stamp this afternoon.  

Pretty, isn't it?  I'm entering this card in the following card challenges:  Word Art Wednesday Challenge #103 - Anything Goes and Twist of Faith Card Challenge #60 - Harvest.

Supplies used:

Cardstock - Stampin' Up (Summer Starfruit) and Bazzill Basics Paper (red)

Leaf stamp - Stampin' Up Magnificient Maple

Sentiment - Stampin' Up Day of Gratitude

Die cut label - Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Four

Ink - Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red

Give Thanks - A New Card Challenge

I *love* Fresh Squeezed Stamps and I *love* card challenges.  I think you know what I'm leading up to....

There is a card challenge going on over at City Crafter Challenge Blog.  I'm submitting this card for their Week 181-Give Thanks challenge.  The sponsor for the challenge is Fresh Squeezed Stamps.  

Supplies Used:

Card stock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug (Swiss Dots)

Sentiment - Fresh Squeezed Stamps Subway Series Holidays

Give Thanks Ribbon - The Paper Studio

Now, how about you???  Why not get your craft on and enter this card challenge too!

New Old Stamp Sets, A Card Challenge & How To Fix A Boo-Boo!

I really like nature-themed stamps.  Recently I saw these two stamp sets up for auction on Ebay.

I was surprised when I ended up being the winner!  Both sets were mine for less then $1.50 per stamp.  The top set is called Touch of Nature and was introduced by Stampin' Up in 2005 and the bottom set, Ageless Adornment, was introduced in 2004.

So, those are my *new* old stamp sets.  On to the next topic....a card challenge.  

I used two of the stamps from the Touch of Nature set to make this card which I am entering in the Word Art Wednesday Challenge #101-Anything Goes.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock - my stash

Patterned papers - My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two - Blush

Flower and sentiment stamp - Stampin' Up Touch of Nature

Finally, what's this about fixing a boo boo?  Well, the original design for the card was to have one flower (the one currently on the left side of card), the strip of floral paper was going to be vertical on the right hand side of the card, and the sentiment was going to be stamped diagonally in the area where the floral paper is currently located.  What went wrong??  I stamped the flower on the left side of card......"Boy, doesn't that look nice?"  (Yes, I talk to myself frequently while crafting).  Then, I stamped the sentiment.....what a blobby mess!!! "Great!  How am I going to fix that?"

That is when Plan B (what you see in the photo) was enacted.  Plan B also called for a little something in the upper right corner so I stamped another flower (just the head this time), cut it out, and popped it on with a foam square.  "Whew!"

I'm thinking that the flower stamp from the Touch of Nature set is going to get a lot of use.  I love the simple, yet pretty, look it has. 

How About One More Birthday Card

The fine folks at Fresh Squeezed Stamps are celebrating their 1st birthday this week.  They have a birthday card challenge going on.  I submitted a card for the challenge earlier this week.  Since they are allowing two cards to be submitted by each person, I have come up with another card for the challenge.

I love the way this one turned out.

Supplies used:

Hexagon "balloon" stamps - Fresh Squeezed Stamps Happy Hexagons

Yellow and teal cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Printed paper - My Minds Eye, Hip Hooray (Boy) Collection

Twine - my stash

A Card Challenge and a Giveaway!

Here is a card that I am entering in the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge #178 - Let's Get Sentimental.

The challenge requires that you use a Kraftin' Kimmie stamp (check) and that your card includes a sentiment of some sort (check).  The image and sentiment stamps that I have used on the card are both from the Kraftin' Kimmie "Isadora" stamp set.  I actually won the Isadora stamp set several weeks ago in another of Kraftin' Kimmie's challenges. 

Supplies used for above card:

green and burgundy cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper
stamped image and sentiment - Kraftin' Kimmie stamps - Isadora
washi tape - DownTown Tape
floral paper - Echo Park This & That 6x6 pad - Graceful collection
Martha Stewart colored pencils
background stamp - Stampin' Up - Confetti


****NOW ABOUT THAT GIVEAWAY****

Last week I received a package from Kraftin' Kimmie with a second Isadora stamp set enclosed.  When I contacted Kraftin' Kimmie to let her know that I had received the duplicate stamp, she suggested that I keep the stamp and offer it as a giveaway on my blog.  So, you have a chance to win this stamp set just by leaving a blog comment on this post.  Be sure that you either leave your email in the comments or that it is part of your blogger profile so I can contact you if you win.  I will pick a winner on Friday, May 17.  Let's give a big thanks to Kraftin' Kimmie for sponsoring this giveaway and be sure to look at all the cute stamps on the Kraftin' Kimmie website (she has some adorable new nursery rhyme stamps)!

Spring!

The view outside my window tells me that Spring is definitely here to stay.  The daffodils bloomed several weeks ago and now iris, columbine and lilac are donning their colorful spring attire.  One of my favorite things about spring is seeing (and in the case of lilac.....smelling) the spring flowers. 

I just finished a card to enter into the Fresh Squeezed Stamps Squeeze-A-Palooza card challenge #7.  The theme is "Spring".  My card uses two different Fresh Squeezed Stamp sets:  Happy Hexagons and Tickle My Fancy.

Now......here is where YOU enter the picture.  Take a quick stroll over to the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog and vote for my card.  You can get there real quick by clicking on this link.  Scroll to the botton of the blog post to see the cards that have been entered in the challenge.  My card is number 10.  Just click on the "like" button underneath.  AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE....my bestest crafting buddy, Cheryl, has also entered a card (her card is #6....Spring Lanterns) so vote for her card too! 

There will be 2 (and possibly 3) winners so keep your fingers crossed for Cheryl and me! 

Easter Card #2

Can you see the smoke coming from the craft closet today?  Not only is this the second post in one day, it is also the second card made in one day!  Woo Hoo!!

Anyhoo, I'm back with another Easter card for the Fresh Squeezed Squeeze-A-Palooza Card Challenge #6.  For this card, I used a free digital image from Fresh Squeezed.  I *love* the spring colors on this card!  Take a look................

 

 

Go here to vote on this card.  It is card number 6 in the contest.  Even if you voted on the first card that I submitted, you can also vote for this one.  I'll take all the votes I can get :o) -

 

Supplies used:

 

yellow card stock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Stripe paper and sentiment - Jillibean Soup - Southern Chicken Dumpling Soup collection (don't you just LOVE the name of that collection?) 

bunny - free digital image from Fresh Squeezed Stamps

 

Be sure to hop (pun intended) on over and vote for my card!  And.....Hoppy Easter (!) wishes to you and yours!



Easter Card Challenge!

Fresh Squeezed Stamps is having their monthly Squeeze-A-Palooza card challenge.  This month the theme is Easter!  I'm going to try and submit a couple of cards for this challenge.  I have completed one................

There are two winners each month for the card challenge....a "random" winner and a "most likes" winner.  You can go here to vote for my card (hit the "like" link under my card #5).  As always, I thank you for your support :o)

Supplies used:

pink and green card stock - Bazzill Basics Paper

washi tape (!) - Freckled Fawn

"spring" paper - DCWV

hexagon stamps - Fresh Sqeezed Stamps (!) - Happy Hexagon collection

pink brad and Gumball Green ink pad - Stampin' Up



Trying out some new stamps and paper!

Just a quick post to show you this card that I created using paper from a fairly new 6x6 pad and a new stamp set that I got yesterday.  I'm entering this card in the Word Art Wednesday Challenge #72 and the Kraftin' Kimmie Anything Goes Challenge.

The polka dot and chevron paper is from Fancy Pants Designs "Park Bench" collection.  I *love* the turquoise and yellow papers in this collection.  The hanging lantern stamp and the Bible verse sentiment (Psalm 119:105) are both from the Delightful Verses stamp set by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.  I can't wait to try out the other stamps in the set! 

Other supplies used:
turquoise card stock - Bazzill Basics Paper
yellow card stock - The Paper Studio
Martha Stewart colored pencils for coloring in the lantern stamp
Stampin' Up - Stampin' Write Marker in Tempting Turquoise used on sentiment stamp
Foam dimensionals

What are you waitin' for......go get your craft on!

Squeeze-A-Palooza Card Challenge #5

I just found out about a St. Patrick's Day card challenge that the nice folks over at Fresh Squeeze Stamps is sponsoring.  There is only a little over 2 days left in the challenge so I got my craft on this afternoon.....BIG TIME!!! 

Here is the card that I'm entering in the challenge -

I would appreciate your voting for my entry.  You can access the Fresh Squeezed challenge here.  Just scroll down to the end of their challenge blog post to see the entries.  Looks like I'll be entry #7! 
Click on the word "like" under my entry to vote for me!  Thank you........thank you very much :o)

Supplies used:

green cardstock - Stampin' Up
happy st. patrick's day stamp - Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes collection
yellow cardstock - Bazzill Basics
March "subway" stamp - Fresh Squeezed Stamps Subway Series: Spring
"clover" (mini heart punch!  isn't that brilliant?  just punch out 4 hearts!) - Stampin' Up Small Heart Punch
clover stems - Stampin' Up Reason to Smile collection (retired)
green twine - Nutscene Garden Twine  (Williams Sonoma carries this)
green button - stash
yellow/green/white baker's twine - My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland collection

So.....run (don't walk) to the Fresh Squeezed Challenge and get your vote on!

Itty Bitty Card

Moxie Fab World is having several card challenges.  One is an itty bitty card challenge.  How big is an itty bitty card?  The rules say that it can not be bigger than 3" x 3".  So, here is my take on the itty bitty card for the Make an Itty Bitty Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

As you can see in the following picture, my card measures 2" x 2". 

And, here is the inside greeting............

Supplies used:

red cardstock - Bazzill Basics
gray/white stripe and gray lace (circle) - My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 3 - Ruby collection
red/white stripe (heart) - Bazzill Basics - Red Devil collection
Happy Valentine's Day stamp - Stampin' Up - Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
Sending all my love stamp - stash

I even made an itty bitty envelope!!!!

Are you ready to get your "itty bitty" craft on?

Sending You My Love

The Christmas decorations have been put away and now our thoughts turn to hearts, hearts, hearts! 

A favorite verse of mine from Proverbs is "A merry HEART doeth good like a medicine...." (Prov. 17:22).  How true!  Why not surprise a friend who is hurting (physically or emotionally) by sending her a Valentine to show how much you care.  I don't know about you but when I open the mailbox and see an envelope with a friend's handwriting, I immediately smile.  Someone has taken the time to mail me a blessing in the form of a handwritten note and that makes my heart merry. 

I started working on Valentines this week.  Here is one that I made for the Valentine swap that Bazzill Paper is sponsoring.

Actually, I made 11 of them!  Ten will be mailed to Bazzill for the card swap and one goes in my card "stash"....hmmmm, wonder who I need to mail it to?

Supplies used: 
striped ribbon  - Stampin' Up
Love stamp - Stampin' Up, You Are Loved stamp set
Red card stock - Bazzill Paper
Patterned paper - Bazzill Paper, Red Devil Collection
white button - stash

I am also entering this card in the Word Art Wednesday Challenge #62 - Hearts/Anything Goes. 

Valentine's Day will be here in 5 short weeks so........go get your craft on!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

I recently got a new stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs. One of the stamps in the set is a verse from the song Great is Thy Faithfulness which is one of my favorite songs. The verse on the stamp is

Summer and winter, springtime and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness,mercy & love.

I have already been playing around with the stamp set and have made the following monochromatic card...............

 

supplies used -
green cardstock - Stampin' Up
patterned cardstock - Graphic 45, Botanicabella collection
background stamp and sentiment - Our Daily Bread Designs, Randi's Song

I am entering this card in the Our Daily Bread Designs Anything Goes challenge and also Word Art Wednesday's challenge #60 - Faith/Anything Goes.

The Christmas holiday is over and a new year ready to start so.............go get your craft on!