Friday, March 30, 2012

Tuesday Morning Sketches

I'm trying to get used to all the new stuff after updating my blog. It's just taking me longer to find things! Anyway, here's my card for the awesome sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches. I goofed on several things so I hope they'll still accept it. I used a Clear Dollar Stamps digital set called Charlie Daisy. The paper, also from this set, seemed a little too busy so I added the green panel behind my three squares. I was going by memory of the sketch (I know, I know, I should never do that!!) and put the sentiment in the wrong spot. Oh well, I had fun making this and that's all that matters!!! 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Sweet Easter

It's Thursday which means a new challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals. Check out this photo - why could I never make my Easter baskets look like this?? It's gorgeous. What inspires you with this pic?

For me, it was the Easter theme and the greens/browns. Okay, so I cheated a bit and added some pink, but I felt that it needed a little something else. The image is a colored digi from Doodle Pantry called Easter Egg Sheep. I adore Doodle Pantry images, they are absolutely adorable! Now I sure hope you can join us this week at Paper Lovin' Gals. We are all so inspired by what you create. Happy Thursday.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

This is my third post for today. Please scroll down to see my creations for Fresh Brewed Designs and For Fun Challenges.

Happy Wednesday. For some reason I am all mixed up on the days this week, thought today was Tuesday and I almost forgot to post all my cards. Well you won't want to miss out on our new challenge this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Talk about fun!!

And I always have loads of fun when I reveal our sponsor -- yep, it's Fresh Brewed Designs. Here's a bit about Fresh Brewed Designs:
I am Heather Dennis, the artist and owner of Fresh Brewed Designs, but first and foremost I am the wife of one amazing husband, mother of two sweet and talented kids. I homeschool and LOVE coffee, creating and chatting with my friends. Fresh Brewed Designs is an online shop that opened in November 2010. We sell a wide variety of rubber and digital stamps as well as specialize in many coffee themed images.
It started with a dream and turned into something bigger. With the prodding of a very supportive husband, family and friends, with a lot of help and a lot of headaches:) and a lot of lessons and prayers....
Fresh Brewed Designs has become a place to share, create, laugh and build lasting friendships.

Out motto: Fresh Brewed Designs... where creativity is brewed fresh daily.
We always have a pot brewing, so stop by and join us for a cuppa whenever you want!!!

And our grand prize winner will receive 3 digis of their choice...hooray!!

I am honored to be on Heather's design team so I have lots of her wonderful images. The hard part was picking just one to use for this challenge!!! I went with Hannah Belle With Baby Chick, using copics and some springy pastels papers. Now I urge you to check out not only what the rest of the Sweet Sketch Wednesday DT created but also Fresh Brewed Designs for some fun and fabulous images, both digital and rubber.

Hello Spring

To see my For Fun Challenges post, please scroll down.

We were actually having some summer temps last week, but the cold has returned. Frost warnings for the past two nights with temps down in the 20's -- YIKES!! But I will still take that over snow any day...so Hello Spring. Actually, Spring is the new challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog, so be sure and join us. Spring to me means Easter, so I printed off this Fresh Brewed Designs digital Happy Easter Eggs. I love that little chick popping out of the egg! Join us for a fun and springy challenge.

There's also a sale going on at Fresh Brewed Designs. Heather's daughter's birthday was yesterday so it's a celebration sale - get 35% off your rubber stamp purchase by using the code happyday. You can also use the code on digis as long as you order rubber too. Heather also created a new digi called Birthday Girl - she is FREE with any purchase until March 31st. Read all about it HERE.

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button

Actually, For Fun Challenges has the buttons this week! That is their challenge and they are being sponsored by Clear Dollar Stamps. Since I love both buttons and CDS, I knew I had to play along!! I used a colored digital image called Patchpal Bunny as well as one of the papers and sentiments included in this set. I liked the striped paper and decided to have it go both vertically and horizontally for a fun look. Another quick and easy card!! So pull out your button jar and join in at For Fun Challenges.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Color Challenge at Bugaboo

I can't believe how long it's been since I played in a Bugaboo challenge! Going thru withdrawal!!! Well this week at their challenge blog, Catch the Bug, they're having a wonderful color challenge.



Here's my card, using the image Garden Cat - Water Can. I had my card stock out to go with the challenge then started scouring thru my scraps for what I had that might work. Hard to say if it does work, but it sure was fun trying! The past two days have been busy with "stuff" and I haven't been in my stamp room, so it sure felt good to create. Hopefully I'll be able to create more tomorrow.



Saturday, March 24, 2012

Have a Yummy Day

And there's nothing yummier than a cupcake!!! At least these ants think so!! Aren't they adorable?!! They live at Doodle Pantry and get into so much mischief!! This digital set is called Cupcake Ants and can be found HERE. I even used some of the paper that is included in this set. I used the PNG file so I could merge the candle onto the cupcake for a definitely fun birthday card. I am submitting this to the Birthday Sundaes whose challenge is to create a birthday card with an animal on it. As always, thanks for stopping by.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Easter Basket

Good morning. Yes, it's Friday, and what a busy day I have in store for myself. I have two minutes to get this written and posted then I'm off!! Guess I should make it short and sweet then!!! I loved the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches. A fabulous chance to use those fun designer papers I tend to collect. I used a digital stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps called Egg and Basket. I used the pre-colored image as well as the digi papers included in this set. I couldn't find the right place on the front of the card for my sentiment, so I put it inside..."Happy Easter to You." Okay, that's it, my time is up so have a wonderful Friday and thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Mellow Yellow

That song is stuck in my head since making my card...maybe that's what's causing my headache. I don't often use a lot of yellow but that is what struck me immediately when I saw this photo. What inspires you? That's what our challenges are all about at Paper Lovin' Gals, using whatever inspired YOU to create your project. I used to find these types of challenges intimidating, but I've come to realize, there's no wrong way to do it!!!


And here's my yellow card. Very simple, which is a good thing since I'm battling this headache. I had meant to make it a "thank you" card, but somehow I grabbed the wrong stamp and it was too late once it was inked up and on paper! I'm off to bed (it's almost midnight as I'm typing), maybe a little sleep will help...it certainly can't hurt. Join us at Paper Lovin' Gals for some photo inspiration fun!


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Happy Spring

This is my third post today. Please scroll down for Fresh Brewed Designs and The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog. Thank you.
I love it, spring is here and the sun is shining bright. I'll be hanging my laundry up outside for sure. Before you head out to play in the sun, check out our new challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Arlana has whipped up another fabulous sketch that is oh so fun to use!!



Each week we have some very generous sponsors, and this week is no exception. In fact, Digi Stamp Boutique sponsors us each and every month -- thank you Sally Ann!! Our winner will receive 6 free digis of their choice.


Choosing is the most difficult part of these images!! I mean, check out the Spring Animals collection, it's impossible to pick just one!!!! I decided to work with Spring Moo who definitely is one very cute cow!!! I paired him up with some Cosmo Cricket scraps, twine and a button on a 4.25" square card. Join us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, you could be our grand prize winner of some super adorable images!!!


I will be submitting this card to the month long challenge at the Digi Stamp Boutique Blog, use a DSB image. They even offer a freebie each month (which is adorable by the way).


Another Happy Birthday Card

Scroll down for my Fresh Brewed Designs post.

Welcome to another installment of inspiration to our Ribbon or Lace challenge at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog. Our sponsor this month is Digital Delights by Louby Loo, with a generous prize of a $10 gift certificate to spend in the store. Thank you Wendy!

I was lucky enough to have Cupcake Timmy to work with. Isn't he darling?!!! I keeping it simple for my growing pile of mailable birthday cards that I'll be needing over the next few months. And I need to hit the stamp store (ain't that a shame!!!) to get more of this fabulous brown ribbon. Be sure and check out the rest of the DT creations HERE at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog then join us for our Ribbon or Lace Challenge.


Lots of Dots

Wednesdays are busy days for me...lots to do at home like grocery shopping and laundry and lots of fun cards to share. Our challenge over at the Fresh Brewed Blog is "Lots of Dots." How fun!! I started with this wonderfully dotted Coffee Cake, a digital image from Fresh Brewed Designs. I remembered a layout I had seen in a magazine that had inspired me so I went with it. I was lovin' the clean and simple look when I decided to add just one more thing, the swirl of rhinestones...why didn't I leave well enough alone???!!! I very carefully tried to peel them off with no success, so I had to leave them on. Lesson learned.

FBD released some wonderful rubber stamps this month so be sure and check 'em out. They are also implementing a new badge system. With each rubber stamp purchased you will earn a BADGE. These badges will be mailed to you with your rubber stamps. Collect 5 badges and you will earn a free rubber stamp of choice!

Join us for our new fun challenge this week, Lots of Dots.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy B-day

It's Tuesday and I think I am finally back in sync to daily life since our Disney trip. Wow, what a wonderful place, you want for nothing, except more time and more comfortable shoes!! I did take some pictures, haven't even taken them off the memory card though. One of these days, I promise. As for today's card, I know I have some birthdays coming up so I thought I would get a head start on some simply mailable cards. This fab image comes from Fresh Brewed Designs (hope you had a chance to hop with us over the weekend) and is called Latte Party. My scrap of designer paper influenced my color palette, so pink, red and blue it is. Now don't ask where that yellow balloon came from, I had a momentary lapse in judgement there ! Hehe!! Anyway, the cupcake got a bit of sparkle while the scallop nestie was dotted with liquid pearls. Fun, flat, and mailable! Perfect for happy birthday wishes!

Monday, March 19, 2012

CAS With Doodle Pantry

Be sure and check out two blog hops I've got going on...Fresh Brewed Designs Rubber Release Hop can be found HERE, while Clear Dollar Stamps Springtime Blog Hop can be found HERE.

I am so excited to show you these clean and simple Easter cards that I created using papers and sentiments from Doodle Pantry. My first set makes use of the Easter Fun digi paper and the sentiment from Lion & Lamb, both of which are new releases this month.

I kept with the very same layout, just used the Resurrection digi paper and a different sentiment from Lion & Lamb. The large square lacy nestie is attached to a 3.5" square card so I can include a little note. These four cards will be sent to family for Easter. I still need to create for the three nieces though.

Now let me fill you in on a little secret...Laurie has a digi grab bag of Easter images at 30% off, including some of the newest releases! Hurry up and get your favorites while they are on sale! You can find them all HERE.

Hope you have a wonderful week. It's Monday, I know, but the sun has been shining and the daffodils are blooming. Spring is on its way!


Sunday, March 18, 2012

I'm So Happy...

Spring is in the air! That, plus the fact that I have two blog hops going on this weekend. Stay and leave a comment on this post then scroll down one for my Fresh Brewed Designs Rubber Release Blog Hop.

Now "spring is in the air" is the theme for our monthly blog hop at Clear Dollar Stamps. You should have arrived here from Kathy's blog. If not, please start back at the beginning at the CDS blog, I don't want you to miss out on your chance to comment and win our prize, $25 gift certificate for digital stamps at Clear Dollar Stamps.

I couldn't resist using the adorable digital stamp set Charlie Daisy Color. Just seeing him frolicking thru a field of daisies with a butterfly tagging along screams spring to me! Don't you love the papers that are included in this set?!! They are fabulous!

Be sure and continue hopping, your next stop is Sarah's blog.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

FBD Blog Hop

Welcome to Fresh Brewed Design's. March Rubber Stamp release and blog hop! If you are getting here from Vanessa's blog, then you are right on track! If not, please start off at our artist and designers blog Heather's Coffee Break.



All around the country, it may seem like our calendars are deceiving us. It is only March but there is the growing feeling that SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Here at Fresh Brewed Designs we are getting spring fever! We are itching to bring out our bicycles, picnic baskets, spring decor and walking shoes so we can fully enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. Our Rubber Stamp Release for March is celebrating all of this as well. We are getting ready for planting gardens, watching butterflies fluttering about, listening to bumblebees buzzing all around and hearing birds singing. We are celebrating all of the NEW things spring brings. Some of us like to decorate for spring holidays. Others will be welcoming someone to the neighborhood or welcoming home a new little one. Whatever it is you are celebrating this spring, Fresh Brewed Designs has a stamp to help you create for it!


The new releases this month include Gardening Granny, Come and Knock on my Door, and Wreath Girl. They are each unique and so versatile! Our lovely door can be decorated for any of your needs. New home, new baby, Christmas, Easter, Halloween... you name it! Same goes for our lovely Wreath Girl. Granny is so fun and can be used for anything from serious to humorous. I love her funky style don't you?


I chose to create with Wreath Girl for this release.


I caught the flu bug so my creativity has disappeared for the moment. My celebration using her is Christmas. I used some of the paper that is included in the special deal for this month...read all about it below because you will want to take advantage of this!!


Heather has another special deal for you this month. You can get this package deal during the hop for only $18!!!
The package includes all three just released stamps, one die cut and embossed piece of Papertrey Ink card stock, two 4x6 sheets of the double sided embossed i do Viburnums by American Craft paper , two 4x6 sheets of the double sided Heidi Grace Purple Houses paper, 10 clear dew drops, a variety of 6 buttons, 5 purple fabric flowers, and 4 feet of each color of twine. PLUS remember with each stamp you purchase you will get a bonus badge! Collect 5 bonus badges to earn a FREE STAMP!


Now I am the last stop on our hop, I sure hope you enjoyed yourself and found some wonderful inspiration.


Friday, March 16, 2012

Clearly Inspired Challenge

Hello and welcome to another installment of the Clearly Inspired Challenge here at Clear Dollar Stamps. For the next two weeks, we challenge you to use scripture on your project. On my card I used the clear stamp set Christian Friendship for my scripture sentiment and the main image is a digital image called River Glorious Color. I know, I know, shockers here, but I didn't use any designer paper on my card!! GASP!! I really wanted the image and sentiment to be front and center. I hope you can join us for our new challenge.

I typed my post Thursday evening during lots of thunder and lightning and have it scheduled to post Friday. Fingers crossed that it will all work out.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

It's Digi Release Time

I'm home from vacation and just realized I didn't post my cards for today's digi release day at Clear Dollar Stamps! Yikes! And I am thrilled to be able to show you two fabulous pre-colored sets I got to work with (you know I love my already colored images!!!). First up is Friend in Need. You really need to check out this set, for $3 you get outlined images, colored images, sentiments, AND papers. I had to use this turtle, I think he is adorable!!



Next up is the lovely set Tulip Wreath. I love all the different colors these flowers are done up in with coordinating papers! Talk about a quick and easy card!!! It took me longer to come up with a plan for the layout then it did making the actual card!! Fabulous!!




I will be sharing photos from our Disney trip over the next few days, what a fabulous time Phillip and I had. I was thrilled beyond words to see my nieces that I haven't seen in a very long time. My how they have grown up into lovely ladies. I hated to say good-bye.




Check out all the new digis being released on the CDS blog HERE, as well as at Clear Dollar Stamps. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm off to do some laundry!!



Luck of the Irish

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. Do you have any traditions for March 17th? Beyond the wearin' of the green, we don't have any. Welcome to our latest challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals. How does this photo inspire you?

Of course for me it was the St. Patty's Day theme. I used this adorable colored digital set from Doodle Pantry called Clover Patch Ants. What I really love about this set, besides the fact that it already comes colored, are the digital papers. There is this gorgeous green design as well as a teal and brown design, which I had to include on my card!! Now please be sure and play along with us at Paper Lovin' Gals, I always love seeing what you create from the inspiration picture.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A Sweet Day for Daisies

Good morning all. Today's the day Phillip and I return home from our trip to the place where dreams come true. I hope my posts are going live without a hitch. No computer came down with us, then I would have to do some work if there was one!!! Welcome to the latest and greatest Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Another fabulous challenge for you.

What else is fabulous is our sponsor, A Day for Daisies, and the A Day for Daisies blog. The grand prize winner will receive a $12 gift certificate for the ADFD store. How fun!!!

Here is my card using the image Grown With Love. I had a Basic Grey paper pack of the Picadilly line so why not use it. I also had the felt flowers on my desk from yet another project (I wonder how I ever find room to work on my desk! I really should put things away when I'm done with 'em!). A fabulous sketch that I know you will use again and again. Hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

All Things Grow With Love

Hi and welcome to our fun new challenge at the Fresh Brewed Blog. I have this post scheduled, so I hope all goes well with it. We come home from Disney tonight so look out, I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about!! Right now though, I want to talk about our Fresh Brewed challenge, Plants/Outdoor Scenery. I used the recently released Fresh Brewed Designs image Daniel's Garden. We don't do any gardening here, the deer, chipmunks, squirrels and raccoons would have a field day with it (sorry, no pun intended!). But my boys loved going to my Dad's house so they could go into his garden and help. I don't know if they truly helped, but I know Grandpa loved having them beside him. Hope you have time to play along with us this week because it truly is a fun challenge.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Need a Hug?

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the Digital Tuesday Challenge this week and it's my favorite, a sketch. I had to show off this adorable image, Caterpillar Hug Color. Now this set comes with digital paper but I grabbed the wrong one, this paper is from Workout Birdie Color, also an adorable set if I may add! Anyway, such a perfect friendship card, and I know just the person to mail it to! Hope you can play along with the Digital Tuesday Challenge, there are some free Doodle Pantry images up for grabs!!!


Thursday, March 8, 2012

Friends and Chocolate

So, what do you think of our photo this week at Paper Lovin' Gals? I found it very challenging and I'll explain why...



What inspired me with the pic were the colors and the actual strips. Well, if you're like most people, I bet you counted four strips...obviously I'm either very tired or very poor at math because I ended up with only three!!!! I do need a friend with chocolate to get me through till tomorrow when I'm leavin' on a jet plane to go to that magical place called Disney World. I hope to get all my cards done and scheduled to post while I'm gone, hence the stress!! I live in my own fantasyland, don't I?!! Well be sure and play along with us and show us what inspires you with our photo at Paper Lovin' Gals.



Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Photo Inspiration

This is my third post for today. If you're looking for Sweet Sketch Wednesday and The Crafter's Cafe Challenge, please scroll down.
Happy over the hump day! Hope you've had your coffee this morning because we are offering up this photo for inspiration as our new monthly prize challenge at the Fresh Brewed Blog. I am really loving inspiring photos for challenges because there's is no right or wrong answer!



I went with the coffee cups and colors when I created my card. From Fresh Brewed Designs I used the digital stamp Cup Stack and the newly released rubber stamp OCD Sentiment. After coloring these cups with Copic markers, I hit up my scrap bin for some coordinating colors. Fun to create. Now I'm off to Starbucks for a latte fix before finishing up on the laundry. Then I guess I'd better start packing for my trip!!!!!! Anyone want to come with me??!!!



Sweet Easter

Please scroll down for my post for The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog.


Happy Wednesday, but I've gotta admit, I wish it were Friday, then I'd be heading to sunny Florida! The older I get, the less patience I have!! One thing I'm always thrilled to do is show you the new challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. We're revisiting an old sketch, a blast from the past, and can't wait to see what you do with it again!!



Our fun and fabulous sponsor this week is Stamp Fairy. So many adorable and whimsical images come alive there, so be sure and check it out!




Our grand prize winner from this week will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Stamp Fairy store to choose your own sweetness.




I was thrilled to be able to design with the adorable Patsy Easter Eggs. She is so sweet with her big toe sticking out of her flip flops and wearing her bunny ears! Now be sure to not only play along this week but also stop by the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge blog to be inspired by the rest of the DT as well as two guest DT members from Stamp Fairy.




Sweet Angel

Welcome to our new challenge for March at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog. As you can see, we have a wonderful sponsor this month, Digital Delights by Louby Loo. Wendy is such a sweet person and offering a $10 gift certificate for our winner. What is our challenge you ask? Why to use ribbon and/or lace on your project.


I used some lace I had on my desk from another project. And this adorable image from Digital Delights is a digital called Angel Donita. You can also find her in the store pre-colored. I'm sure you are as shocked as I am that not only did I color Angel Donita myself with Copics, but I also cut her out so I could have her sitting and popped up!! Me, the self-proclaimed lazy stamper, cutting an image out!!! What is this world coming to??!!!!!!! Now join us this month for this fun ribbon/lace challenge at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog.


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Sending Smiles

I thought I should send these smiles that are forever on my face to everyone...in only a few days I get to smile and say hello to Mickey Mouse and all his friends!! I thought a flamingo would be appropriate for my upcoming FL trip -- that plus the fact I have had this image from Fresh Brewed Designs, a digital called Flamingo Flamenco Dancer, colored for two weeks now!!! That saved me some time tonight since I totally forgot I had a hair cut appointment with my hairdresser down the street! Now my hair is Florida ready!!!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Let Your Light Shine

There is so much going on here, I don't know which end is up! As I'm sure you all know, I'm leaving Friday with Phillip to Disney. I have a list a mile long of things to get done before then. Pretty soon I'm going to have to admit defeat that everything won't be getting done!!!

I did want to show you a card I finished up today for the wonderful sketch challenge over at Sketches by Carly. I used a digital stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps called Let Your Light Shine. I had to color up the lava lamp like the one I used to have!! I added crystal effects for that awesome shine.

I'm off to work on some more cards in my constant effort to get ahead of the game!!!!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

A Joyful Season

Happy Saturday. What do you have planned for the weekend? Some stamping time I hope. We're going out looking to buy a car for our son -- scary thought!!! Yesterday I sat in my stamp room for the longest time wondering what I should make next when I found this image and digi paper from Doodle Pantry that I had printed off awhile ago. So I decided to put together something quick, and here it is. The image is from Topiary Seasons Color and the paper pack is Holly and Juniper. This gives me the opportunity to remind you to join us for our Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge #21 found HERE on the DP Blog. Use a Doodle Pantry image and you will receive an adorable digi set called Quirky Bunny...this is a definite must have!!!!!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Birthday Blessings

It's the first Friday in March which means time for another installment of our Clearly Inspired Challenges at Clear Dollar Stamps. Our theme for this one is Anything Goes. I used a CDS digital set called Windowbox Wishes Color. I've been short on time so this pre-colored digi was perfect. I'm trying so hard to get ahead of the game because in just one short week, I'll be on a plane heading for Disney World!! I am so looking forward to it, I feel like a little kid!! Now join us for our Anything Goes Clearly Inspired Challenge.