All Star

Our theme this week over at The Outlawz for our clean & simple challenge is sports. I went on a hunt through all my Stampin' Up stamp sets and found this baseball set. I also found the set of sports related sentiments. I have a confession to make...this is the first I've used a SU set in a VERY long time. I used to be a demonstrator so I have LOTS of sets!!! I seem to go for my clear stamps or digis so it was fun looking at these stamps that haven't been loved in such a long time. As you can see, I created my own background with the stamps then strategically placed my sentiment strip over a smeared red star!!! Now let's see your favorite sport for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz.

Challenges I'd like to submit my card to include:
Sweet Stampin' - Father's Day or a Special Man
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - Summer
Simply Create Too - Keep it Simple
4 Crafty Chicks - Summer
CRAFT - Father's Day/Male

Let's Meet for Coffee

I think my day is finally winding down so here I sit with a hot cup of coffee and a card to share. This is a reminder card for the Girlfriends challenge going on over at the Fresh Brewed Blog. A digital image from Fresh Brewed Designs is up for grabs for the winner!! Here I used a Fresh Brewed Designs rubber stamp, You+Me=BFF. Talk about learning how to improvise...my son brought home projects he made in wood shop. One was a square piece of wood with 9 holes for pegs to play tic tac toe. Well I used it to make my bow!!!!! It's now on my desk in my stamp room, never to be used for tic tac toe ever again!!!!

Sure hope you can join us at the Fresh Brewed Blog to share your card all about girlfriends.
 

Beachy

Several months ago I got to take a class with Korin Sutherland, owner of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (yes, I know, lucky me!!). We learned fun sponging as well as the reflection technique during that class. I used what I learned here to create my card for the "Let's be Beach Bums" challenge going on at Dragonfly Journeys. I used memento inks and large sponge daubers to created my sky and water. The deserted island stamp is by Sweet 'n Sassy, the sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, and the sea gulls are from Gina K Designs. I had fun making this one, will have to try this technique sometime again soon!!!
  

Have a Bee-utiful Day

Happy Hump Day!! At least I think it is...these Monday holidays really throw me off!! Time to revisit a blast from the past at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. It's fun bringing back an oldie but a goodie!!!

We have Lacy Sunshine as our sponsor this week. Such darling images!!! And our winner will be able to pick out 3 all for themselves!

It took awhile for me to decide on an image, there are so many cute ones! So say hello to Honey Spring Bee Buggme. She was perfect to go along with some bee related sentiments I have. I sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 for some blast from the past fun!! 

I'm submitting my card to the Lacy Sunshine Challenge - Tic Tac Toe (die cuts, Lacy Sunshine image, gems/pearls)

Krafty Joy

We have a new challenge starting today over at Holly Jolly Christmas, and our theme is to use kraft. I actually printed this sweet digi from one of our sponsors, Di's Digi Stamps directly onto kraft card stock. This is a pre-colored image called Not a Creature Was Stirring...I do love those pre-colored digis!! I just used a white crayon on the snow and Santa hat trim. Love the earth tones for a Christmas card too, so non-traditional! Sure hope you can join us over the next two weeks at Holly Jolly Christmas for some "kraft"-y fun!
  

From the Heart

Coloring and shading is so not my thing so when I get an image finished, I sure as heck don't want to mess it up somehow! So talk about stress when I decided to add some clouds to this From the Heart stamp of the month, Apple Blossom Birds. I didn't want to go too crazy with the clouds and stopped with the few that I got done here. I had to keep reminding myself, less is more!! My card is for the progressive challenge going on at the From the Heart Blog. As always, I can't wait to see what next month's sweet set will be.

A Little R & R

Time for a little R & R this week over at The Outlawz CAS challenge. No, not rest and relaxation but red and ribbon instead! I had an idea in mind for my card this week but what I ended up creating looks nothing like what was in my head! That often happens, doesn't it?! I used a piece of scrap pattern paper as well as a piece of ribbon from my desk. No, I don't clean off my desk very often! The sentiment is from the What's Brewing stamp set by Simon Says Stamp. I loved the font. Hope you can join us for a little clean and simple R & R this week over at The Outlawz.
 

Just for You

It's been cold at night here in Pittsburgh, 37 degrees last night. YIKES!! I guess summer hasn't officially started yet, but 37 is way too low for nearing the end of May. I've been thinking a lot about our summer vacation to the Outer Banks...I CAN'T WAIT!!! For that reason, I pulled out this sweetie of a digi from Fresh Brewed Designs called Beach Baby to remind you of the Red, White and Blue challenge going on over at the Fresh Brewed Blog. Hope you can join us this week for this fun color challenge.

Yee-Haw!

Yee-haw, look what I got finished at 3am when I couldn't sleep!!! I even got a second card started that I will be posting later today. Now mind you, I'm not running on all cylinders right now, so please over look any and all mistakes!! The challenge this week over at Dragonfly Journeys is anything cowgirl. I printed up this sweet image from Doodle Pantry called Li'l Cowkids. A copy of the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches was sitting on my desk and absolutely perfect for this cowgirl. Quick and easy to create, which was a good thing!!! I sure hope I sleep better tonight!!!
   

Hats Off to You!

Here's our latest sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Isn't it great?!! I really think you're gonna have fun working with this one.  

Our lovely sponsor is Sally Ann from Digi Stamp Boutique. She's our monthly sponsor and we sure do love her!!! Take a moment to go shopping, you'll have a cart full in no time!  

With the end of the school year fast approaching, I thought a graduation card was in order. I used the super sweet Graduation Henry.  I'll be submitting this card to the monthly challenge over at the Digi Stamp Boutique Blog. I sure hope you can join us this week for our challenge over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Birthday Wishes

Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the Anything Goes challenge at Through the Craft Room Door. The timing was perfect as I needed a birthday card for my brother-in-law. I went with the digi set Railroad Memories for my color image and papers. I love the blue and green color combo. Now into the mail this goes as his birthday is Thursday. Told ya it was perfect timing!!

Challenges I'd like to submit my card to include:
2 Crafty Girls - Vintage
Cards in Envy - Masculine

Mid Month Doodle Pantry Release

I'm always so excited when there's a new release at Doodle Pantry because I simply adore her images!!! My card was created using the color version of Big Bear Hug. Talk about a fabulous set to make friendship cards. I've been on a roll trying to use up what I got and pattern paper from a monthly kit is in use here. I know, I know, there's really great digital paper included in this set...maybe next time! Be sure and take a look at all the fabulous sets released today over at Doodle Pantry.

Animal Print

Our clean and simple challenge this week over at The Outlawz is to use animal print -- ribbon, paper, embossing folder, embellishments, you name it. I found some cow print paper and actually remembered a cow stamp I had also! I die cut the pattern paper with a stitched rectangle die then mounted it on the card base at an angle, trimming away the excess. Now why don't I do this more often? Love the result. Join us for our CAS challenge at The Outlawz and show us your wild side!!

You're a Shining Light!

I'm feeling mighty proud of myself, here's another card using not only a digital image and sentiment I found in my pile of printed digis but also the paper! This beautiful and very inspirational image is from Imagine That, Lighthouse. This is where I get myself in trouble, I don't know who the paper is from!!

I'm submitting my card for the Customer Link-Up at the Imagine That Blog.
  

It's Your Special Day!

I wanted to remind you about our challenge going on this week over at the Fresh Brewed Blog - RIBBON OR TWINE. I simply had to get inky today, a crazy day near the end of an absolutely throw me over the edge kind of week! This is Chloe's Cupcake, a rubber stamp from Fresh Brewed Designs. Keeping the layout simple so the hot pink ribbon got all the attention! I used to subscribe to monthly kits where you'd receive a wonderful selection of pattern papers, cardstock, ribbons, and embellishments. This is something else I'm trying desperately to use up...or at least make a visible dent it 'em!!

If you follow Fresh Brewed Designs on Facebook, you've already seen this notice about a sale this weekend..."I think it's time for a COFFEE BREAK! All coffee digis are on sale for 35% off until midnight Sunday, May 18! Don't wait! Go shopping NOW! One lucky customer will be chosen Monday morning for an extra FREE DIGI! Check out all of our COFFEE DIGIS HERE." Time to go shopping!!!

Puppy Love

This is my second card to share today. It's for the Puppy Love challenge going on at Dragonfly Journeys. Now I adore dogs, but my youngest absolutely hates 'em. So needless to say, we don't have a dog (insert sad face here:(). I do get my dog fix though with my friends' dogs, soaking up all the love and slobber I can!!!

For my card, I was going through my stack of already printed off digis and found this cutie from Doodle Pantry as well as the paper! How lucky for me!!! He comes from the set Dizzy Dachshund which also includes the paper and several sentiments. Quick and easy and together in no time, how perfect.
 

Stinkin' Cute

I think this Skunk from Gerda Steiner Designs is so stinkin' cute!!!!! He's part of the monthly progressive challenge HERE and there was no way I would miss out on getting this one!! Did you notice I used my latest fave color combo -- black, white, gray and yellow (okay, just a touch of yellow, but it's here none the less!). I've been seeing a lot of tags more as layers behind elements so I thought I would give it a go. So happy with the way this one turned out. And even happier that I got yet another progressive challenge card done before the deadline!!!!!

There are so many adorable images at Gerda Steiner Designs. AND, she's having a design team call. Be sure and check it all out!!

Have a Berry Sweet Day

Happy Wednesday! I'm super excited about our latest sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 because I absolutely love it!!!!! You really must play along with this one!! 

 Another reason I'm excited is because we have Sami Stamps as our sponsor. I love her darling images! And she's offering our winner a $12 gift certificate to her shop!! Wow, wow, wow!!!

Here's my card, using the lovely A Basket Full. All I can say is YUM to the strawberries!! I don't normally distress my cards but this sketch seemed to be begging for it. Well didn't I go and rip my two background papers! I know, I know, that's what distressing is all about. Well it was completely stressing my out so I stopped at those two layers!!!!! CRAZY!! Anyway, I sure hope you can join us at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2, you could be our big winner of some Sami Stamps goodness.
 
I will be submitting my card to the anything goes challenge at the Sami Stamps Blog.

Joyful Greetings

It's time for a new challenge over at Holly Jolly Christmas -- Clean & Simple. Take a moment and check out what the rest of the design team created, they are marvelous! I used an image from Bugaboo, one of our sponsors, AKV Snowman Birdhouse. All I did was die cut a rectangle from plaid pattern paper along with a scalloped layer then trimmed off the top so it would lay flush with the top fold of my card. A greeting was stamped and my card is complete. Gotta love CAS!! I hope you love it enough to share your creation with us at Holly Jolly Christmas over these next two weeks. 

Birthday Wishes

Who isn't always in need of birthday cards. And, if I may say so, I'm pretty proud of myself for getting one of my progressive challenge cards done before the end of the month!! Heck, it isn't even the middle of the month!!! This image is from Imagine That, Teacup Pansies to be exact. Also from Imagine That is the sentiment, Sentimental Thoughts. Talk about a nice variety of sentiments!! I wanted to try making a card without pattern paper. Well, I almost succeeded! The 1" strips are vellum that I sewed in place. Better luck next time I guess!!
  

Happy Mother's Day

We have a wonderful CAS challenge this week over at The Outlawz, Mothers Day. I recently got some new dies that I wanted to put to use. First, from My Favorite Things, is Blueprints #10 and from WPlus9, Love Mom. Once everything was cut out, this card went together very quickly. Perfect for Mother's Day. Join us and share you Mother's Day creation over at The Outlawz.
 

Daisies

I should be in bed, but can't sleep. I need to get up in a few hours for jury duty...first time ever! What a pain!!! So instead of sleeping, I'm stamping. Well actually, I'm doing more die cutting than stamping! My card is for the "Daisies" challenge over at Dragonfly Journeys. Most of my dies are from My Favorite Things, Blueprint #13 to be exact. And the flower is the daisy die from Gina K Designs. Quick and easy, and in my new favorite color combo of black, white, yellow and gray. So fun!!!
  

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

We're baaaaaaack!!! Time for a brand new sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. And what a sweet one it is! So quick and easy to create...and yet another opportunity to use pattern paper!!! 

Our sponsor this week is a favorite of mine, Bugaboo Stamps. I love browsing her store, so many fun and wonderful images. And every Friday there's a new freebie for the taking!!  

Here's my card, using a Bugaboo image called Dandelion Butterflies. I fell in love with this image the moment I saw it...probably because I saw the need for very little coloring (remember, I'm a lazy stamper)!!!!! I was going to add more but liked it with just the butterflies in yellow & blue. And black, gray and yellow are becoming a fast favorite color combo of mine, so striking. Please join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 for your chance at winning some Bugaboo Stamps.
   

Today is Your Day!

It's true, today is your day to check out this fabulous image, Bubble Bath, being released today at Fresh Brewed Designs. Don't you feel relaxed already just thinking about being in a warm bath with bubbles up to your chin?!! Thought this would make a great birthday card, especially if something fun like a spa day was tucked inside. Now head on over to Fresh Brewed Designs today to pick up this image all for yourself. 

Wild Thing

The virtual retreat is over at Stamp Nation, but the deadline to get cards made has been extended...HOORAY!! This challenge involved doing a new technique. I feel like I'm always behind on making my cards so I never try anything new, but this time I did! I wrapped an acrylic block with rubber bands, inked it up with versamark, then heat embossed in gold. I loved the result and wanted to show off as much of it as possible. I found these die cuts that were already stamped (It's a Jungle Out There by Paper Trey Ink) and thought they would be perfect to used. Unfortunately I don't much care for the end result of this card but it will have to do!!! I'll definitely be doing this technique again!

Sending Smiles & Laughter

Welcome to our Clean & Simple challenge at The Outlawz. Our theme is a CAS card with a basket of flowers on it to celebrate May Day, a tradition in New England in which a small basket of flowers & treats is left on someone's doorstep. The giver rings the bell then runs away. The person receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver. If caught, a kiss is exchanged. Such a fun challenge, especially when you add on one last requirement of sending your card off to someone special.

I had one crazy week last week so I knew it had to be a quick card. So off to my collection of pre-colored digis I go!! This one is from Doodle Pantry, Spring Trimmings to be exact. I had this ribbon already sitting on my desk so why not put it to use as well. Sure hope you can join us at The Outlawz to share your lovely flower baskets.
 

Decisions for Alice

We have a color challenge going on at the Fresh Brewed Blog. Use three or four of the colors above on your project...it's that simple!

Here's my card using all four colors. My Fresh Brewed Designs image is called Decisions for Alice. I love finding images in my "already printed" pile that I haven't used in like forever...and this one was just that! Teal seems to be everywhere in all the pattern paper pads I have so finding a softer blue was not to be had. Guess I need to buy myself some new papers!!!!! Always looking for an excuse to buy, buy, buy!!! Hope you can join us for some color fun over at the Fresh Brewed Blog.
  

Wine, Wine and More Wine!!

It's been one of those days. I had planned to get several cards done today and so far only one has reached its completion!!! Maybe tonight when everyone is in bed and I can have some peace and quiet (fingers crossed). I wanted to share my card for the Wine a Little challenge going on at Dragonfly Journeys. I had several images from Bugaboo to pick from and settled on this one, JJ Housework - Cook. That sentiment just makes me chuckle. Now off to do the dishes, take down the laundry and make dinner...the chores never stop.

A Very Happy Birthday

Did you see the new release at Doodle Pantry this morning? Be sure and check it out!! A new month means a new Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge over at the Doodle Pantry Blog. I was in need of a birthday card so I printed up an image and papers from the Cute Cake set. As you all know, I am so not a purple fan, but this combo of lavender and blue is beautiful (no, I am not a purple convert!!!). I feel like I haven't sewn on my cards lately so to my sewing machine I went. A little strip of eyelet really kept this feminine. Please join us at the Doodle Pantry Blog for this month's Ants in my Pants Digital Challenge.

Doodle Pantry Release

I'm so excited, Doodle Pantry is have a small release this month!!!! And I get to share with you the stunning Ginkgo Leaves. I wanted to try something a bit different and created a border with the leaves. Achieved thanks to the PNG version of these images. I'm thinking a sympathy card here, something I always try to have on hand.