Holiday Cheer

Wow, what have I been doing, no card for a post???? Well this evening I felt some inspiration from, my favorite, a sketch - Stella's latest sketch at Catch the Bug. Time to hit my scrap pile too!!!

 And here's my card. I've had this image, Deacon Drummer, colored in for quite some time now. Time to put it to use. Yes, that's scrap designer paper, 2-sided to be exact. One more Christmas card to add to the pile!!

I hope you'll stop back tomorrow as I'll be showing off what I made for the new release at Doodle Pantry. Laurie is having a Labor Day sale now thru September 9th, 35% off your entire product purchase. Simply use the coupon code 35LABORDAY at checkout. When you see tomorrow's release, you'll want to fill your cart, so be sure and come back!!!

End of Summer Beach Bash

Now that school has started, summer is winding down. It's cooler at night, great for sleeping, and the days are getting shorter. To hold on to one final breath of summer, we are having a Beach Bash at the Fresh Brewed Blog. I pulled out the darling Fresh Brewed Designs digi Grace Summertime. She's headed out for one last play in the sand before putting her bucket away, trading it in for her backpack. She is such a sweetie! I hope you can join us this week for our End of Summer Beach Bash at the Fresh Brewed Blog.

Down by the Fishin' Hole

It's back to school Wednesday...HOORAY!!! Both boys are now back in school!! Phillip is a high school senior - YIKES, when did that happen?!! And Kevin is in 8th grade in a new school and classroom. I have no doubt that all will go well for him too! Boy do I feel old...even more so after I got my AARP membership card and application yesterday in the mail!!!!! HEY, not yet!!!!!!

Anyway, welcome to our latest and greatest challenge over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Another fabulous one, thanks Arlana!! And we have a new sponsor:

MilkCoffee Stamps is a digital image shop specialized in cute and girly images.There are 2 people behind this shop, Esmeralda and Nathaza. We are best buddies from our childhood with a common thing that we love so much: drawing. What we try to do is drawing various styles that suits different kind of tastes, so a lot of people with different style can still play along with our image for their cards.

Right now we have 8 talented DT ladies who always help us to have fun together with our weekly challenge at our challenge blog here. Also we have monthly colour challenge at our main blog. You can check it here. It's very nice to see a lot of people join and have fun at our challenge.

In the future we still want to make more cute images that is loved and used happily by many people.

Thanks for sponsoring us this week Esme and Nathaza!! They are generously offering our winner 3 FREE digis!!!!

And here's my card, using the adorable Let's Go Fishing. In my forever quest to clean up and organize (oh bother, like that will ever happen!!), I found this delightful green, blue and brown paper. I knew immediately it would be perfect paired up with this little guy. I look forward to you joining us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Have a wonderful today.

Thanks, My Nutty Friend!!

Okay, so it doesn't say "nutty" on the card, but this is perfect for the friend I will be sending it to!! I am continuing to embrace my Clean and Simple side, limiting the layers and embellishments. I love the look, just need to remind myself to cool it with the layering!! Playing in the CAS challenge over at The Outlawz helps, and this week the theme is to use an animal. I went with the colored version of a Doodle Pantry image called Nutty for You. I even used some of the digital paper included in the set. So this is my quick & easy clean & simple card!!!

Glad We're Friends

A quick post to show off a quick card!!!! This is for the twisted Thursday challenge at The Outlawz -- best friends. I used the colored version of the digital set from Clear Dollar Stamps called Friend in Need. Love this image!! I used the bubbly digital paper in the set too. Quick, easy and fun!! Exactly what a card should be!!

On a side note, did you notice the Back to School sale going on at Clear Dollar Stamps? 25% off anything that ships (enter the code BACK2SCHOOL) and shipping is only $3!! Time to stock up!  

Flag Inspiration

Wow, I can't believe it's been days since not only posting to my blog, but simply creating a card!! Hold on to your hat because I've been scrapbooking day and night my own pictures, plus I'm making a photo album for my niece's wedding. Three more two page layouts and I will be done with it!! She'll have fun filling it up with photos. Her wedding is in October...I think I'll be done by then!!!

Here's a clean and very simple card for a challenge over at The Outlawz - use your flag as inspiration. While digging around all my scrapbooking "stuff," I found these patriotic epoxy stickers. How perfect for the challenge. Two score lines and a happy birthday wish and it is done. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Sweet Summer Fun

I can't believe it, this time next week I will have both boys finally in school!! And the house will be quiet and all mine!!!!! I'll have to go to lunch with the girls! Hahaha!! Anyway, let me introduce you to our newest sketch challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. It's a blast from the past, a sketch we are re-visiting just for fun!!

And a big welcome to our sponsor this week, Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Owner Jodi is offering our winner 7 free digis of their choice!! I say this from experience, good luck narrowing it down to just 7!!!

 Everything That You Ever Wanted to Know About Bugaboo Stamps: As if raising five children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the world of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. That was two years ago. Today Bugaboo Stamps is one of the leading companies in digital images, and we're still growing! From seriously snarky to sugary sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects. Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!

If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps stamps at Totally Stampalicious. And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for weekly challenges at Catch the Bug.

Here's my card using AKV Rollerskate. Ahhhh the memories of every Saturday afternoon going to the roller rink, hoping a boy would ask me to skate with him on the couples skate so we could hold hands!! Mind you, this was not rollerblades but the old fashion real roller skates. I never mastered skating backwards, always seemed to fall down a lot, but sure had loads of fun with my friends. And I know you'll have lots of fun with this sketch, so join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

Clean and Simple With a Twist

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to our month long challenge at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog. Our theme this month, Clean and Simple with a twist...no primary colors. I so love earth tones, so yellowish greens and browns it is!! And that was easy to do with this adorable image from The Stamping Boutique called Sunflower Smoochie.

And speaking of The Stamping Boutique, they are our generous sponsor this month so be sure and check out the store. And I can't wait to see what you create for our challenge this month, CAS with no primary colors.    

Wanna Know What's Hot Hot Hot??

Why the theme for our latest fun challenge at the Fresh Brewed Blog is what's hot hot hot!!!!! That and a babe, or in this case a baby, in a itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini!!! I couldn't resist using this Fresh Brewed Designs digital image, Beach Baby, for the challenge. When I think hot, I think about this summer. Temperatures almost 100 degrees...now that's hot!!! With school about to start, the final days of summer are about to end, so one last tribute to the long warm sunny days. Sure hope you can join us for another fun challenge at the Fresh Brewed Blog.  

Go Steelers!!!

I am so ready for the regular football season to start!! The Pittsburgh Steelers are my all-time favorite team! I know you couldn't have guessed that by this card!! Two new rubber stamps were released this month at Fresh Brewed Designs. I hope you were able to join us for our blog hop where you saw lots of wonderful creations using these two stamps, Coffee Truck and Hot Cuppa Joe. Joe looked to me like he was ready for a recliner and his big screen tv. After all, he already has his cup of coffee in hand! I just got these football brads too, how lucky for me!! This went together quickly, just what I like.

Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy "seeing" my friends in blog world!

Seems a Little Sketchy

Hello and welcome to a new challenge at Seems a Little Sketchy. We are always so happy to have you join in our sketch challenges! You won't be disappointed...it's another great one!! Our sponsor for this challenge is My Grafico. Check 'em out, they have so many wonderful images to choose from!!!

 The Design Team was lucky enough to receive the adorable set, Woodland Animals. I decided to go with this sweet fawn for two reasons: first, I knew I had a PaperTrey Ink set with a perfect sentiment and second, we have a doe and her fawn visit us almost every day in our back yard. I know I should chase them away, but I am simply mesmerized by their beauty.

I look forward to seeing what you create with our latest sketch. Be sure and check out what the rest of the DT at Seems a Little Sketchy has made as inspiration. Enjoy your today...even though it's Monday!!

CDS August Blog Hop

Okay, this is blog hop #3 for me this weekend!! Scroll down for hops from Fresh Brewed Designs and Autumn Blog Hop with Sean and Regina.

Welcome to our monthly blog hop at Clear Dollar Stamps. If you got here from Sarah's blog, then you're right on track. If not, I'd suggest going back to the beginning to the CDS Blog. After all, when there's a prize involved, you'll want to comment on every blog!! What's the prize...why a $25 gift certificate for digital stamps at the CDS Store!!

Our theme for this month's blog hop was "Use a Sentiment Only. No images allowed." Challenging and fun at the same time! Well, once again, I couldn't make just one card. I ended up making two using the same layout but a different sentiment, paper and brad embellishment.

The digital stamp set I used was Totally Tags. I have drawers filled with fun shaped brads, so I matched them up with the sentiments in this set. So an adorable spider (say what?!) brad paired up with the "Trick or Treat" tag. I found some fun paper and the spider web embossing folder. Oh, and the sketch is from Operation Write Home - check it out HERE.

  And here's card #2. I found this cute little duckie brad so a baby card it is!! Did you notice my goof? Yep, I kinda messed up on which of the two panels from the sketch went down first. Oh well, stamper's interpretation is what I'm going to call it!!!!!

I'm the last stop of our August blog hop. I really hope you've enjoyed our "sentiments only" cards. Remember, to increase your chances of winning, be sure and comment on every blog. Not only is the winner chosen randomly, but the DT member's blog that the winner comes from is also random. Have a wonderful today.

Fresh Brewed Rubbah Blog Hop!!

This is blog hop #2 for me this weekend. If you're looking for the Autumn Hop with Sean and Regina, please scroll down.


Hello and Welcome to the August Fresh Brewed Designs Three Day Blog Hop!

If you are getting here from Annette's blog, My Clever Creations, then you are right on track.
If you are just finding your way to our fun filled, extra caffeinated blog hop, then please start at the beginning here, Fresh Brewed Challenges.

The Fresh Brewed Designs Team and Guests have put together another HOT blog hop for you that starts TODAY and lasts ALL THIS WEEKEND featuring handmade cards inspired by our new released Rubber Stamps. You may remember that these, just as a few others in our rubber collection, once started as digis. We were literally begged to put them into rubber.... so after a year of their hibernating, here they are! Back and better than ever - ready to be created with and to make you smile.

For my card, I decided to create with Coffee Truck. Yellow has been my "go to" color lately, so a yellow truck it is!!! Then I hit up my scrap pile and the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and my card is complete. My sentiment is also Fresh Brewed rubber and can be found HERE.

 For the duration of the hop, you can get the 2 newly released stamps (Coffee Truck and Joe) and a fun set of eight 4x6 American Craft double sided papers (cut by Heather) for just $11. Drop on by the shop to snag yours before it is too late!!!

Thank you so much for stopping by!


You can continue on with your caffeine addiction by heading over to Heather's blog, Heather's Coffee Break.

Here's a complete list of all the participating blogs in today's hop - be sure to hit every stop! You really don't want to miss out!!!

Freshly Brewed Challenges  
Sarah: Sarah's Stamping and Stuff
Catherine: Paper Addict Catherine
Celeste: Touched by a Butterfly
Sheryl: Ink and Lace With Sheryl Cauble
Tracy: Eat Sleep Stamp
Yolanda: Just Yolie, Just Create
Vanessa: Vanessa's Paper Creations
Annette: My Clever Creations
Linda: The Stamper's Touch - you are here 
Heather: Heather's Coffee Break

Autumn Blog Hop with Sean and Regina

WELCOME TO THE AUGUST BLOG HOP!

Hi everyone! Thanks for playing along in our August blog hop! The Blog Hop with Sean & Regina is featuring cards and sentiments celebrating the fall season this month! After a very hot and humid July, most of us are looking forward to a cool and colorful fall! When we think of fall, our minds swirl like we are surrounded by falling leaves and a crisp cool breeze in the air. Each host/hostess will have a card creation posted that is his/her representation of what fall means to them.

Scrapbook Stamp Society is our blog hop sponsor!  The overall winner will receive digi’s from our sponsor.  Please visit them at http://scrapbookstampsociety.com/index.php?! Also some of our blog hop host/hostess designers will be offering blog candy as prizes on their blog sites, so please do not forget to visit his/her blog (and leave a comment) to be eligible for bonus blog hop prizes!

It's the color of autumn that I simply adore -- the oranges, yellows reds and burgundies. Now I'm always trying to think outside the box, so I went with a stamp set, Hello Sunshine by GinaK. Yes, it is more of a summer time set, but the moment I saw those three different long stemmed flower images, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. So I pulled out my markers and inked up my stamp. I was inspired by a sketch from Operation Write Home, #132 to be exact. The paper is a strip of Basic Grey's Eerie collection, the embossing folder of pumpkins, and the sentiment is from Sweet & Sassy. Such a fun and easy card to make, I decided to make two more using the same layout -- after all, I have three nieces I send cards to regularly for no real reason AND there are three long stemmed flower stamps in this set!!!! 

 Here I used the thumping technique on the flowers - simply tapping the side of a darker marker over my already inked up flower. This strip of paper comes from Cosmo Cricket's Matilda paper pad.

And card #3, just adding brown marker over the yellow. I meant to put pearls or rhinestones in the center but got too excited to snap some pics to show. Since these are going in the mail, I think I'll avoid the bulk!  My strip of paper is Apple Cider from Imaginisce.

Now it is your turn to blog hop with all of our friends!  The rules are simple:

1. Leave a comment on Regina’s blog first (and become a follower to enter a chance to win the grand prize from Scrapbook Stamp Society)! :)

2. Go down the list of blogs visiting all of them (see below). Leave comments on their blog pages to be eligible for bonus blog candy from select blog hosts. The blog hop host/hostess offering bonus blog candy will indicate that he/she has a bonus blog candy prize so read their blog post carefully. Each blog will have the name and blog address for the next host/hostess in line for the blog hop. Our number 2 on the list is Regina at http://cardsbyregina.blogspot.com.

3. At the end of the hop, a random winner will be chosen for the Blog Hop prize from our sponsor and select blog hop hosts for Bonus Blog Candy. The deadline for leaving comments is Monday, August 20, 2012 at 8pm CST. Winners of the Grand Prize and bonus Blog Candy will be announced Tuesday, August 21, 2012.

The Blog Hop with Sean & Regina participants are as follows:

Sean Fetterman http://cardcraftyclub.blogspot.com
Regina Hardy http://cardsbyregina.blogspot.com
Zenita Smith http://scrappinwithz.blogspot.com
Melissa Cash http://INKclinations.blogspot.com
Linda Anderson http://stamperstouch.blogspot.com -- You are here!
Kay Simmons http://livinlifeinthecreativelane.blogspot.com
Donna Rinckel http://indianainking.blogspot.com
Ina Grehan http://littlebitsofcraft.blogspot.com
Roxie Nitti http://rnittistamping.stampinup.blogspot.com  
Aixa Mercado http://www.cardjewels.com
Jennifer Restivo http://craftycardgallery.blogspot.com
Tracy Palmer http://craftymomfl.blogspot.com


Thank you for visiting my blog.  Now, go to Kay’s blog at Livin' Life in the Creative Lane.

CDS August Digi Release

Welcome to the August Digi Release at Clearly Digital Stamps (formerly known as Clear Dollar Stamps). I was so excited when Lisa Lara started creating the color version of her digis!! Her sets are adorable and this one, Bookworms is no exception. For this month's release I decided to make two cards for each set, using the same layout but different papers - and all scraps for these two!!

Here are two cards using the newly released Words of Sympathy. I really liked the sentiments with pops of color. Now here I used two of the digital papers also included in the set. Again, the same layout too.

Check out all the newly released sets and DT samples HERE on the CDS blog. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Weatherman called for sunny skies so I did laundry to hang outside. Well, I haven't seen the sun yet!!!!! Keeping fingers crossed it will make a grand appearance.

Happy B-day From Sammy

Happy day today!! Welcome to another wonderful challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. We really enjoy seeing your wonderful creations. Here is our latest and sketch, created by our sketch guru, Arlana!!

Our sponsor this week is Digi Stamp Boutique. Here's a little bit about Digi Stamp Boutique from owner Sally Ann's own pen:

 All images/designs are created and copyright owned by Sally-Ann Hancock. My work means the world to me - it allows my passion to draw and create, to fit with my family life too - often the inspiration for my designs. Hope you enjoy as much as I enjoy creating.

And here's my card using our wonderful sketch and the super sweet image, Sammy. I adore this image with his big eyes and darling little froggie pal. I paper pieced his a new top which gives off a hippie vibe to me!! All the papers are from Basic Grey's Archaic line...just the right colors for fall and boy!!! Thanks for stopping. Now I hope you get a chance to play along with us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. 

A Holiday Hello

Ever hear the song Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys? Well I'm going to change it up a little bit - Momma, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Teenagers!!!!! Oh the drama and heart ache!!! It has sapped me of my mojo!

Welcome to another fun challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog -- NO DIGIS, or else!!! I went with the lovely Fresh Brewed Designs rubber stamp, Wreath Girl. Because of my lack of creativity, I thought a simple, and mailable, Christmas card was the way to go! I went with my favorite 4.25" square card too. The little red berry stickers on the wreath are the only embellies, and they help keep the card nice and flat. Hope you can join us for the NO DIGIS challenge this week at the Fresh Brewed Blog. And be sure to come back on Saturday for our Rubber Stamp Release Blog Hop. You won't want to miss out on the fun.

You Make Me Smile

Well now that the Olympics are over, what do I watch on TV while I'm stamping? Last night I created this card using a newly released Fresh Brewed Designs digital stamp called Apple Tree. You can find it and a lot of new hot off the press digis HERE. I had some paper pads on my desk and went to work creating a "scene" of sorts, allowing the kite and clouds to become part of the background and the green diagonal stripes grass (okay, so I might be stretching the imagination on that one!!!). The two strips in the middle are the reverse side of these two papers - always trying to use up those scraps! Fun, quick and easy...my kind of card. Now off I go to finish reading the third and final book in the "Hunger Games" series. All three come highly recommended!! Now to see the movie!

Spread Your Wings

I wanted to share this super quick CAS card I made for the "spread you wings" challenge over at The Outlawz. I look forward to their new CAS challenges every Sunday. I used a PaperTrey Ink set, Happy Trails, that has never seen ink...until today. I die cut the dragonfly then stamped him up in Pacific Point ink. This card went together so quickly that I decided to use the same layout for other images in this set. Here the rest of them are:

Yep, this one could qualify too for the Spread Your Wings challenge! I will add these to my pile of cards for Operation Write Home. I haven't sent any cards to them in awhile so I'd better get crackin'!!

Thanks for stopping in today. Hope you have a wonderful week.

Have a Blast

Happy Saturday! Hope all is well with you. I wanted to share with you my card I made for the One Stop Craft Challenge - Summer Holiday. Doodle Pantry is sponsoring so you have a chance for some really fun images! This summer, we spent the 4th of July on vacation at the beach, so I had to use the adorable Bottle Rocket Ants set in the color version. Thought the sentiment was so very versatile too. I'm always trying to use us my scrap dsp...will have to make up ahead of time more of this style of background, talk about easy!

Well I'm off to do a little house work and a lot of stamping, if everything works out the way I want them to that is! Enjoy your weekend.

I Thought of You Today

A quick post tonight, finally made it into my craft room to make a card. I wanted to remind you, you have one more week to play along with our Clearly Inspired Challenge, things with wings. I went with the Bugs & Blooms set from Clear Dollar Stamps, using the color version and a bit of the digital paper also included. Who wouldn't smile with a butterfly holding a flower!!!!! I have two challenges I'd like to submit this to:

Digi Doodle Shop - things with wings
Charisma Cardz Challenges - animal and flowers
The Outlawz Challenges - Monday's Greeting Cards - Anything Goes

Enjoy your weekend. I hope to get lots of stamping done!

For My Teacher

I finally have some time to get my card posted for the Clean and Simple challenge over at The Outlawz Challenge...create a CAS card that features a school item. Hard to believe the boys will be back in school in three weeks - where did the summer go?!! I used a newly released Doodle Pantry image called Color Book Ants. This set along with several other school themed sets are 30% off...check 'em out HERE in the Digi Grab Bag. Don't forget too about the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge happenin' at the Doodle Pantry Blog. There's a freebie set there too, but you only have until the 15th to scoop it up. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday.

Sweet Happy Birthday

Happy Wednesday everyone! Crazy busy week for me with lots of running around everyday. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Maybe you can join us then for our new fabulous sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I really had fun with this one, but I must admit, it all started with the adorable image from our sponsor.

Elisabeth Bells Digital Collection features enchanting, whimsical, Digital stamps for all of your paper-crafting projects!

Although Elisabeth illustrates for several stamp companies, no one except Elisabeth Bell herself has a collection of sweet digital stamps, this is a perfect way to get your instant gratification.

 

With a growing catalog of high-quality digi stamps, Elisabeth offers a multitude of themes. Such as holidays, special occasions, childrens adorable characters, and just the everyday cuteness that Elisabeth is famous for producing.

These Digi Stamps are available in standard black and white line art, and are great for resizing, and rotating to suite your needs.

 

Inspiration, by her very own Design Team, is posted, and shared daily, on Elisabeth’s “Digi Bells Blog” using Elisabeth Bell’s digital art.

A big thanks to our sponsor this week, Elisabeth Bell. Our winner will receive their choice of two of the three digital images shown here, the same three images the DT had the privilege of creating with:

Click

Creative Genius

Toot Toot

As I know you probably figured, I was drawn to the little boy image, after all, I have two of my own (but their not little anymore!!). I used Basic Grey's Oliver collection - I'm almost out of these papers!! It's a fabulous sketch so I hope you can join us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. We always love to see your creations.



Today is Your Day!

And inside it says "Happy Birthday." What a coincidence, that's our fun challenge this week over at the Fresh Brewed Blog!!! I adore this little mouse! He looks to me like he's rushing off to a friend's mouse house to deliver a tasty gift of cheese! A perfect birthday gift...if you're a mouse!!! This image is from Fresh Brewed Designs and called Squeaker's Ride. I sure hope you can join us this week for some birthday fun at the Fresh Brewed Blog.

There's lots more fun going on, Fresh Brewed style over at our Facebook group. Be sure and join so you too can play along in the challenge - my favorite, sketch!! We also have our August blog hop comin' up August 18-20. That's another "you don't want to miss it" moment!  

Let Your Day Soar!

Hope all is well with you. I wanted to share with you my card for the Fresh Brewed Designs Facebook group challenge - use one of two sketches plus a freebie digi. This is Java Hot Air Balloon, one of two freebies you get a chance to work with. And here is the sketch I used:

Isn't it a great one?!! One that can be used again and again. For more information about the Facebook challenge, read all about it HERE on the Fresh Brewed Blog.