Martial Arts

Imagine my joy with the release of a set with a martial arts theme!! After all, I am a 4th degree Black Belt and certified instructor in taekwondo!! You too can get this set from Clear Dollar Stamps tomorrow as part of their new release. I had to make a card that represents all the belts you earn in taekwondo - white, orange, yellow, camo, green, purple, blue, brown, red and black. Great way to use up the scraps!!

Once again I let the colors of the sports themed DSP inspire me for the rest of the card - navy, gray, rust and sahara sand. This was a sketch challenge layout from a blog I found, just wish I wrote down which one!!! There are more samples of this set to check out, so do so here:

Katie

Tricia

Stacy

Candy

Laurie

I hope you enjoyed the show the last few days!! Remember, you can order all your favorites starting tomorrow. Now back to bed I go in hopes of getting rid of this sinus headache and sore throat...I hate being sick!!

On the Road Again with a Graceful Skater

Bet your wondering what I'm talking about with that title!! It's the two sets I'm previewing for Clear Dollar Stamps' release April 1st. The first two cards are from a fun set called On the Road Again. Great for all the travelers and campers out there. I found some Cosmo Cricket paper I had with a travelin' theme for this card featuring the jeep and verse.

Now this card I decided to hitch up the camper to the jeep and head for the hills! Again I found some fun papers and let them decide my colors. Other DT blogs that are a must on your travels to look at who are also previewing this set are:

Katie

Nancy

Sarah

Cassie

Candy

Laurie

Now this lovely lady is from the Graceful Skater set. Such beauty and grace. I kept it simple with the colors - Kraft, White, Black, and Raspberry Fizz. Just a bit of bling and all eyes are on the lovely skater! Please check out these other blogs for some fabulous inspiration:

Katie

Tricia

Tori

Stacy

Candy

Laurie

See you tomorrow for the last day of sneak peeks.

I've Got Three Sneaks For You!!

These first two cards are from a set being released from Clear Dollar Stamps on April 1st called Bless my Bloomers. I simply couldn't resist the title, so wait until you see what all is in the set!!! And you can by going over to Lori's blog. For this card I used the terracotta pot and added the flowers inside. I felt in a rather springy mood at the time so went with some fun colors (rose, turquoise and celery). Simple yet fun!

Isn't it funny what ideas pop in your head the moment you see a stamp set. I knew immediately I wanted to use the watering can and have it overflowing with primas. The fact that I had the jar of primas on my desk (never put away from a long ago project!!) simply helped my decision, especially on what colors to use...light purples, pinks and greens it is. I added a dot of liquid pearls to the center of the flowers too. Other DT members previewing this set have some wonderful samples so check 'em out:

Kim

Angela

Trudy

Katie

Tricia

Linda B.

Cassie

Stacy

Candy

Laurie

Don't you just love bunnies? Check out this one called Butterfly Bunny. I went back to my childhood with this one...I used to sleep with a pink bunny with a yellow tail. Talk about a faithful companion! I'll never forget coming home one evening after visiting my Grandparents and finding that our dog got my bunny and ripped it to pieces - stuffing was everywhere!! I cried for days! Thank goodness for Mom because she put my bunny back together again and I was a happy little girl. Funny the memories we keep as children. So as a dedication to my bunny, I embosses this butterfly bunny on watercolor paper and watercolored with Tombow markers. I found the paper in my stash and drew inspiration from the colors in it - Bermuda bay and Regal rose. The sentiment is a single stamp found HERE. More fabulous samples for this adorable bunny can be found here:

Angela

Trudy

Nancy

Tori

Stacy

Candy

Laurie

Every month Lori comes out with a beautiful verse, and this month will be no exception. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a set of 2 stamps for $3.99. What a great value for such a lovely verse. I wanted to keep the card simple to let the verse shine thru. Thanks for stopping by, now you really must check out these DT members who are also previewing this set:

Tricia

Nancy

Cassie

Candy

Laurie

Here We Go Sneak Peeks, Here We Go!!

Please pardon my lateness for posting...I came down with a sore throat last night and took a Nyquil and just now got up!!!!! I still feel like I could sleep more. Anyway, I didn't want you to miss out on the sneak peeks from Clear Dollar Stamps that are being released April 1st - no foolin'! This set is called Blooming With Blessings and what an adorable set it is. You can see the stamp sheet for all that's included right here on Lori's blog.

Here's another card using Blooming With Blessings. I did a little bit of paper piecing with the umbrella. Got a little button crazy too - but if you've got 'em, might as well us 'em!!!!!!!

This sweet set is called Heartfelt Sentiments. That stamp sheet also can be found on Lori's blog. Lots and lots of wonderful sentiments, not to mention the sweet little images to go with them! A must have in any stamper's stash! Now you really must go to every DT member's blog today because they ALL have such fabulous samples of sneak peeks. Links can be found along the right side of my blog. Also, please check out Lori's blog HERE and HERE for two very big announcements of happenings over at Clear Dollar Stamps

A Colorful Sketch Challenge

Okay, so I'm not known for completing challenges in a timely fashion, I admit it! LOL!! I actually combined two challenges for this one - first, ColourQ, challenging us to use Turquoise, Celery, Banana, Chocolate and White, and second is the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I used a Pure Innocence digi stamp for the main image and a sentiment from PTI. So much fun!! The two older boys are at a high school playoff hockey game, having fun no doubt. And I'm home with a really sore throat and achy muscles. Do come back tomorrow though because I will begin posting my sneak peeks for the April release at Clear Dollar Stamps.

Two Posts in One Day!!

Go figure, I can go days without a single post and now today I've got two!!!!! And, a card for two challenges!!! First one is for the Color Dare challenge - Basic black, Green galore and Pretty in pink. Next is a sketch challenge for Creative Inspirations. The tulips are a lovely digital stamp found HERE. I left the sentiment off because I'm not certain what I'll use this card for...maybe Mother's Day? I initially had ribbon on this card but didn't like the look so off they came and rhinestones were added instead. Thanks for stopping by. Hubby just walked in from work with dinner - a local church's Lenten fish fry. Now waiting for our oldest son to get home from track practice so we can sit down and eat together. Have a great weekend.

Thank You Berry Much!

Check out the adorable sketch for the Clearly Inspired Challenge on the Clear Dollar Stamps blog. I used the stamp set Fruity Fun - I must be on a strawberry kick since my last card also had them on!! The DSP is SU's Sweet Pea collection. A fun sketch, that's for sure. I'll be using this one again. Why don't you play along, it could mean a free stamp set if you do!!!

You're So Sweet

You are so sweet for coming back to my blog to take a look, even though I challenge myself to post something every day... but it's not happening!!!! Oh well, such is life. I finally finished the Operation Write Home sketch challenge from Sunday. I received this image of Flourishes Strawberries thru Wish RAK. After I received it I knew I would have to buy it, so I did!!! Anyway, the strawberry was colored in with copic markers then covered in Crystal Effects. Love the shine this brings. The pearls across the top look blue when in fact they are white. Because I am not a math wizard, I cut my image piece out way off center, so to balance it out I added the ribbon - yep, that's right, I meant to do that all along!! LOL!!! Have a great day!!

Q & E - Quick and Easy

I decided to play along with the Featured Stamper challenge today on SCS. Congrats to Mutnik, what a wonderful gallery! I chose this sunflower card to case because I wanted something quick and easy. I had to digital image from Bugaboo Stamps already colored and cut out so I decided to go with it!! Quick and easy, that's what this card is!!!!

Gratitude Springs From the Soul

I've gotten hooked on the weekly sketch challenges posted over at Stars and Stamps. I need to expand out of my box and do some simpler cards. After all, this card was done in no time!!! The set I used was Verve Stamps' Beautiful You. And who doesn't love the clean look of a pink, black and white card?!! The glitter brads at the bottom add a nice little pop. Thanks for looking. Why not have fun and play along with this sketch.

Just Havin' Fun

I am having fun today trying to play in my stamp room. Unfortunately I hurt my back yesterday so the time I spend sitting and playing is limited. I had already had this image, a digital from Phindy's Place, colored with Copic markers so all it needed was put together. Are you ready for this??? I used purple!!!!!! I am so not a purple person, avoiding it when I can!! But I really wanted to go outside of my comfort zone using Vintage violet, Marigold morning (remember these?), Old olive and Rose red. Thanks for stopping by. It's time to lay down and get the heating pad on my back.

Think Green

Happy Friday!! And it's a challenge Friday!!! Today the Clearly Inspired Challenge wants us all to think green! Create a card in which green is the main emphasis. I used the stamp set Silhouette Thoughts from Clear Dollar Stamps. Now obviously I added a bit of brown to my project, but it's mostly green...right??!! Play along, even if you don't own any Clear Dollar Stamps. Link your creation to Lori's blog, and if your card is randomly chosen, you could win a stamp set of your choice!! Be sure and check out the specials going on over at Clear Dollar Stamps, you won't be disappointed.

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge

This card is for the sketch challenge over at Operation Write Home. What a fun sketch!!! This card was done in 10 minutes!! Gotta love that! I just went thru all the scraps of designer papers I left in a pile on top of my cutter and came up with this combo. The sentiment is from a Clear Dollar Stamps set called Praying Children. I simply couldn't just leave it alone so I added some ribbon and a button...then I called it quits!!! Once I finish the laundry and hit the grocery store, I'm off to my stamp room. Both boys have activities going on after school today so I'll have the house to myself even longer!!!!!! Have a wonderful day!

It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh

Good thing for hockey to help get me thru till football season!!! Way to go Pens, chalk up another victory! I watched hockey closely during the Olympics. Of course I wanted USA to win, but I've gotta tell ya, I was thrilled that it was Sydney Crosby who scored the winning goal for Canada. Sort of a win/win situation for us Penguin fans! With hockey on my mind, I decided to use the set Hockey Time from Clear Dollar Stamps. This is a dual challenge card: first is the sketch challenge from Little Paper Shop, and the second is the ColourQ Challenge -- Certainly celery, Baja breeze, Night of navy, Sahara sand and White. Well I've got to admit, I made a mistake and used Kiwi kiss instead of celery...oops. Oh well, at least it's still a green. I'm off to work on some sneak peeks for April (yes, I said April). Maybe the snow will be all gone by then!!!

Clearly Delightful Sketch Challenge

Once a month, Laurie Wilson posts a challenge on her blog, Clearly Delightful. This month it's a sketch. I used a digi stamp I had already colored by Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps called Toadstool. I already had the image colored then went looking for my papers - came across one of the new releases from Cosmo Cricket called Material Girl. These colors are right up my alley, warm and earthy. Thanks for stopping by. Play along with Laurie's challenge for a free set of digital images! Such fun!!

And Now a Color Challenge

What, two posts in one day???!!! Can you tell I had the day off...and the kids had school!!!!! I decided to play along with the challenge over at Phindy's Place at Paper Craft Planet. The challenge - use a Phindy digital image plus the colors blue, green and orange. My cardstock colors are Brilliant blue, Ballet blue, White, and Pumpkin pie. The DSP is from SU, Urban Garden. I love this image, called Stepping Out. Isn't she a sweetie!! Great colors!

Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenge

Here is the sketch found on the Stars & Stamps Challenge Blog.

And here's my card. I used Fenton Frog, a .99 cent digi stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I had printed up a variety of digis and had them colored and Fenton fit this sketch perfectly! My scrap DSP with its bright fun colors were just what this image needed!!! Thanks for stopping by. I'm hoping to get more challenge cards done so I have something new to post each day this week! That is a challenge in and of itself for me lately, but I'll try! Have a happy Monday.