Just For You

Actually I should title this post "just in time!!" This sweet image from Gerda Steiner Designs is the stamp of the month (yes, I mean August!!) and is called Snoozing Dog and Mouse. I was in such a hurry to get my card done for the progressive challenge HERE that I ended up coloring both animals gray! So I kept with the grays, adding black and white, well, just because. Yes, the strips of pattern paper are from my scrap pile and the solid gray layer I stamped with a background stamp from My Favorite Stamps (Sweater Stitch Background). Now to submit my card for the monthly challenge with but a few hours to spare.

National Dog Day

We're celebrating National Dog Day for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz. I love dogs, but my youngest is actually afraid of them so we ended up being cat owners instead. I get my dog fix when visiting my friends!! My card is super simple, but that's okay because I think I'll be sending it off to my college boy with a gift card inside...somewhere he can get something to eat for sure!! The image is from Bugaboo, Kidz Boy Puppy. Try and join us at The Outlawz for some doggy fun!!

Challenges I'm submitting my card to include:
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything goes for kids
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Use a sentiment
Addicted to Stamps and More - Clean and simple
Cards and More - Cards for men
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog - For the boys

  

A Basket Full of Wonderful

Tonight I got 3 cards done!! I think my card makin' mojo has come back home!!! This card uses the stamp of the month from Deedee's Digis, Seasonal Baskets. Of course I went with the Christmas themed image in the color version...that's how I was able to get 3 cards done tonight!!! Now I'm just in time for submitting this to the progressive challenge over at the Deedee's Digis Blog.
  

From the Heart

Well, it's nearing the end of the month and that can only mean one thing for me...it's time to mad dash to get done the progressive challenges I participate in!!!!! Take a breath...they just may not all get done this month and guess what, that's okay!! Here's one, the sweet stamp of the month Candy Cane for Snowman found at From the Heart. And all the info regarding their progressive challenge can be found HERE on their blog.
 

I Have Some Fun News!!

I've been a guest designer all summer for Imagine That, and was asked if I'd like to join their DT full time!!! My answer was...OH YEAH, I SURE DO!!!!! So here is my first official card, using Ice Cream Boy, an image I've had printed out since it was released!! Seems like the story of my summer, always behind!! But now that summer is winding down (insert sad face here), I thought I'd put it to use. The background was created using the Plaid Builder stamp set from Paper Trey Ink. The sentiment is from the Ice Cream Sentiments set.

And my sketch happens to be one of the Sketches by Carly. She is Kris's daughter, and Kris is the owner and illustrator of Imagine That!
 
 

Enjoy the Holiday

 We have a blast from the past sketch for you to try this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. It's fun giving these great sketches another go!!

Our sponsor this week is a digital stamp company near and dear to my heart, Doodle Pantry. I can say that because I'm on Laurie's design team and totally love, love, love all her images, especially the color versions. Check out her store, there's even a section of freebies (and I'm not talkin' just one or two!)!!   

Here's my card, using the darling Holiday Ants. And yes, that's the digital paper and sentiment that is included in this set (all for just $3!!). Not the most traditional of holiday colors, red, white and dark gray, but it works!! Now I hope you can join us this week as we revisit a sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Caffeine, a Girl's Best Friend!

This week at The Outlawz, we're celebrating Women's Equality by creating a Clean and Simple project with a female on it, human or animal. I used a Bugaboo image, Morning Coffee. The sentiment is from Fresh Brewed Designs. My background uses the Winnie and Walter stencil from my Stamp of Approval box. I pressed my versamark pad over the stencil onto the blue cardstock. Then I heat embossed using clear embossing powder. Then I die cut it out using Blueprints 13 from My Favorite Stamps. This one is destined for my niece in FL who loves Starbucks more than me...if that's even possible!! Sure hope you can join us this week for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz.
   

Stamp of Approval

I received my Stamp of Approval box Monday and couldn't wait to get creating. Stamp of Approval is a box of goodies created by Catherine Pooler and sold out within the first hour it was made available!! I'm so happy I was one of the lucky ones to be able to order a box. On my kraft layer, I first stamped the flowers and leaves (from the Eva's Favorite Flowers set by Winnie & Walter) in white pigment ink. I zapped it with my heat gun to hurry up the drying process. Then I came back with those same flower stamps with my Paper Trey Ink dye inks, adding the darker layers for some fun interest. I cut that kraft layer out with my Blueprints 13 from My Favorite Things and layered it with black. The friend die is cut out 3 times and layered on top of one another. I almost added glossy accents to it but had already smudged up enough of my background I didn't want to take the chance!! The added sentiment comes from the Girlfriend stamp set by Cas-ual Fridays. The stamp sets and friend die are all part of the Stamp of Approval box. I've got more ideas swimming around in my head so I better get back to stamping!!!
 

Spooky Cat

Welcome to a new challenge over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Another fun sketch for you to try.  

Digi Stamp Boutique is our sponsor this week. I always love seeing the DT's cards using her images. Talk about cute, cute, cute. 

I used a freebie image from several years ago, Spooky Cat. After all, time to get working on the Halloween cards!! I added a bit of color to the cat's nose and ears plus added some glossy accents to his nose. Simple yet fun. Perfect for mailing a scare to someone this Halloween!!! Hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

I'm submitting my card to the Digi Stamp Boutique monthly customer competition.
 

Snowflakes and Sparkle

It's time for a new challenge at Holly Jolly Christmas -- Snowflakes and Sparkle. Those two things seem to go hand-in-hand...as do snowmen!!!! I used a cute one from Sami Stamps, one of our sponsors, called Frosty Flakes. I added sparkle with Stickles on Frosty's hat, wink of Stella on his buttons, and the die cut snowflake is out of silver glitter paper and VERY sparkly!! I went into my scrap pile of pattern papers and came out with these four different designs to create the sunburst background. And one final thing, the sentiment was covered in glossy accents and resembles an enamel dot. Now time to share your sparkly snowflake card with us over the next two weeks at Holly Jolly Christmas.

I am submitting my card to the challenge over at Sami Stamps - use at least 2 different pattern papers. 

 

Friends

We're making friendship cards this week at the Clean and Simple challenge from The Outlawz. Our sponsor this month is Bugaboo, and I used one of their images, Friends are Your Umbrella. Part of the challenge is to also put your card in the mail to a friend. Hmmmm, wonder who that will be?!! Sure hope you can join us this week for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz.
  

Flip Flops

Well I seem to be in a lull with my stamping. I think my mojo went on a vacation of its own and has decided not to return! I do have this card to share with you, using a sweet image from Imagine That called Beach Floaty Girl. I simply had to coordinate this sentiment from the set with the flip flop paper from Beach Combers. The papers in that set are so bright, so fun, and oh so beachy!!

Challenges I'm submitting my card to include:
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes/ Twist of Water
Allsorts - Inspired by Summer

Sweet Christmas

Welcome back to another installment of fun at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Love this sketch! I think you will to, so play along with us! 

Our awesome sponsor this week is Dilly Beans. So many wild and wonderful images you can find there!

Like this one, Amalia's Christmas Lights. I wish you could see it in real life...I added shimmer to the lights thanks to my wink of stella pen. Sure hope you can join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Cow Are Ya?

Welcome to the 613 Avenue Create challenge that Doodle Pantry is sponsoring this week. It's an Anything Goes challenge with an optional twist - black and white plus one other color. How perfect was it that I already had this cute cow and sentiment from Critter Fun already printed off! I decided to go with green as my third color, using a piece of digi paper from the Green & Yellow Paper Pack. Simple yet oh so fun. Sure hope you can join 'em over at 613 Avenue Create for your chance to win some Doodle Pantry goodness.
  

A Happy Hello

I've transported myself back to the beach thanks to our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz. We've got a nautical theme going on the week. I just recently purchased this cute Light House from Bugaboo who happens to be our sponsor this month...HOORAY!! I used this Waves Cover Plate from Paper Trey Ink, cutting it out twice, once from white and once from the blue. I attached the white "frame" onto the kraft card base then fit the blue pieces in just like you would putting a puzzle together. A cute little banner with a white embossed sentiment (from Happy Ocean Friends stamp set at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps) helps to finish it off. Join us for some nautical goodness, clean and simple style of course, at The Outlawz.

Other challenges I'm submitting my card to include:
Crazy 4 Challenges - Lighthouse
Inkspirational - Photo inspiration
Creative Moments - Anything goes/Summer fun
Fab 'n' Funky - No pattern paper

   

Enjoy the Little Things

This is a sentiment I really should live by, but it never seems to work!! Always rushing here and there, trying to fit 200 things into one day that you know you'll never get done, so it just carries over to tomorrow! I need to go back to the beach because slowing down and enjoying the little things was definitely our motto!

My simple card makes use of the cute snail from the Goin' Buggy set from Imagine That. The sentiment is from Goin' Buggy Sentiments (so fun!) and the paper is from Goin' Buggy Digi Papers (totally adorable!). I knew I wanted to add the dash lines to represent his travel path, but do you think I could find a fine tip black marker that worked?!! Of course not!!! The dashes didn't come out as dark as I had wanted but I still got them in.

Check out the Customer Link Up challenge as well as the Digi of the Month challenge, all on the Imagine That Blog. You'll be glad you did!

Background Creations

I took an online class all about creating backgrounds. So much inspiration!! I can't wait to create more of the techniques demonstrated during the class. Here is a background of simply blending three colors of distress inks. 

I ended up cutting up my background piece for this card, a birthday card for my niece. The stamp set is from Paper Trey Ink -  Tea for Two Additions. 

Because I had some background left over, I decided to die cut this scripty thanks by Lawn Fawn. I die cut it out two more time from white for that added dimension. Speaking of dimension, I love what the white embossing paste does to a card, creating so much interest. I added the two strips of black glitter paper to tie in the black layer of cardstock. Now I have a bit more of my background left over, wonder what I'll make next?!!!

Sweet Kitty

It's time for a new challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. Such a fun sketch!! I know, I know, I say that every week about the sketches!!! 

Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies. If you haven't already, be sure and check out their shop. What a wonderful array of images!!

 Here's my card using our fabulous sketch and the adorable Cat and Three Fish image from A Day for Daisies. The fish bowl is covered with my clear wink of Stella pen...love the sparkly affect. The thread along the left side I braided, just for fun!! Join us this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.

Feathered Friends

We have a new challenge starting today at Holly Jolly Christmas. Our theme is Feathered Friends. I'm always excited when I get a new Bugaboo image to work with, and this one is called Winter Birds - Friend. I used the sketch found over at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog...it's a goodie!! Our challenge at Holly Jolly Christmas runs for two weeks, giving you plenty of time to join in. Hope to see you there. 

Time for the Beach

I'm still not ready to come back to reality in my mind!!! I'm still on our beach vacation without a care in the world! Give me a moment if you would please.......

If I can't be at the beach in person, at least I have some super fun digi sets to play with that take me back. Kris from Imagine That just released a whole slew of new beach themed sets sure to make you hear the waves crashing and the feel the hot, hot sun on your face. This is Beach Blanket Girl which I paired with Beach Combers paper. Beach Blanket Girl happens to also be the August Digi of the Month. Use this set and link it up HERE thru the month of August (Aug. 28th is the deadline) and you will receive September's Digi of the Month set free!!  Kris has even provided a freebie to use for the progressive challenge...how wonderful is that!!!

Challenges I'm submitting my card to include:
Come and Get It - Fun in the Sun
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Summer Heat
Tuesday Throwdown - Summer Fun

Let's Play

It's time for a new CAS challenge over at The Outlawz. I'm all about clean and simple, trying real hard to minimize my embellishments. But I've gotta say, this week's challenge is, well, a challenge for me!! It's time for a one layer card!!! No embellies at all can be used as that would mean another "layer." I wanted to use an image from our sponsor, Bugaboo, so I went with the color version of Cute Puppy. I used two sentiment stamps, one from Reverse Confetti and the other by Paper Smooches. Then I drew a frame around everything with a fine line sharpie that, I didn't realize, was running low on ink. I couldn't find another pen so I stayed with this one. Not bad for the dreaded one layer challenge!!! Join us, why don't ya, for our CAS challenge over at The Outlawz.
    

Long Time No Sea

August 1st...where is the time going?!! It's time for our monthly Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge over at the Doodle Pantry Blog. It's an anything goes challenge using a digital image. My card makes use of the Doodle Pantry set Seahorse Habitat, the color image of course. Even that little piece of pattern paper comes from this set. The only embellishments I've added are the little pearl inside the oyster and some stitching using my sewing machine. I thought it would be fun to mix up the straight stitching with the zig zag. I know exactly who I will be sending this one to!!! Sure hope you can join us for our Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge over at the Doodle Pantry Blog.