Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Welcome to Another Sweet Wednesday

And what a lovely sketch we have for you to try today at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I am always inspired by the sketches and how everyone uses it.

We have a wonderful sponsor this week - Elisabeth Bell Designs. You have a chance to win both of the following digital stamps:
Little Rapunzel

Li'l Princess Tu-tu


I was thrilled to be able to work with Little Rapunzel. She is a beaut of an image!!! Of course I had to give her golden hair!! The rest of the colors came from this wonderful My Mind's Eye scrap of dsp - Rich razzleberry, Baja breeze, Taken with teal, and Pretty in pink. Lots of eye candy from the design team, so be sure to check it all out HERE.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Oh That Challenging Purple!!

A big Monday welcome to you! And welcome to our Picture Perfect Creations color combo of Tempting turquoise, Whisper white, Melon mambo, and Concord crush. I hope this finds everyone safe now that Irene has passed.


Any color combo that contains purple is very challenging to me!!! As much as I hate to admit it though, these colors really look fantastic together!!!!! I used from Clear Dollar Stamps a pre-colored digital stamp set called Spring Hydrangea. CDS also has coordinating digital papers, the SVG file for your Cricut, as well as this stamp in clear acrylic. I printed it up 3 times so I could cut it out and layer it up. So, are those paper scraps of dp you ask...why yes they are!!!! I used a PaperTrey Ink sentiment that I mounted on my block curved to fit inside the nestie circle. Fun, fun, fun!!! Now be sure and play along with us at Picture Perfect Creations this week. Help me start to love purple!!!




Sunday, August 28, 2011

Have a Purrfect Day

I wanted to play in the Doodle Pantry "Stock the Pantry" challenge - all you need to do is us a Doodle Pantry image! I went with the Quirky Cat pre-colored image. I have several from Laurie's Quirky line, so be ready to see more!!! Used scrap dp, once again something I always strive to do! I'm also submitting it for the Sketch by Carly challenge - such a fun sketch!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Mr. Snowman in Hot Pink

Oh how I love sketch challenges! Here's one for the Fresh Brewed Designs group August challenge at The Crafter's Cafe.


And here's my card, using the digital image You Melt Me from Fresh Brewed Designs. I had these bright pinks and greens on my desk from a previous project so why not use 'em again!!! My first purchase from Heather way back when she first opened were of several of her snowmen!!! You really must check them out HERE. While you're at it, check out the rest of the stamps she sells, both digital and rubber. They are all so whimsical as well as inspirational.


Friday, August 26, 2011

You Make Me Smile

It's Friday - HOORAY!! What a long week! One more week to go before my boys are back in school. Whoever thought going back after Labor Day is crazy!!!

Anyway, I did want to show this card I am making for a card swap I signed up for on Splitcoast Stampers. I'm also submitting it for the Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Challenge - Daffodil delight, Lucky limeade, and White. I used several PaperTrey Ink stamp sets and dies (well, it is a PTI card swap after all!!) - Simple Sunflower, Turning a New Leaf, Mat Stack 1 Collection, and Signature Greetings. I had so much fun making this card, now I get to make 5 more!!!!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Blog Hop Winners

What a fun blog hop we had on Sunday!! And now comes the fun part, announcing the winners...

From Barb's blog, Barb's Best Creations, our first winner is Karen M. and her blog Stampin' Perfect Peace.

From Cassie's blog, A Day in the Life of a Homeschooling Mom, our second winner is Maria Matter and her blog Joyful Stamper.

Congratulations ladies, please email Lori at lori@cleardollarstamps.com to claim your prize.

This is my second post today.


Let Your Day Soar!

I am still into the bright colors of summer! This card is actually for the new "EMBOSS IT" challenge over at Freshly Brewed Challenges. I used the adorable digital image Angel Cake Flies a Kite from Fresh Brewed Designs. Now I'm still working on perfecting my clouds, but I'm liking them more and more each time I do it. She really does look like she's flying, doesn't she?! I used my embossing folders on the bottom two layers of dsp. The sentiment is from a little MSE set that has a kite in it too, so how perfect!!! Join us for this week's challenge, and don't forget the monthly "HOT" challenge is still going on. Look HERE for details.


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Oh Happy Day!

Several reasons it's an "Oh Happy Day!" It's Wednesday and a new sketch to challenge you at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Isn't it wonderful?!!! Also, we have a fun and fabulous sponsor...

That's right, it's Bugaboo Stamps, a personal favorite of mine!!! Thanks Jodie for sponsoring us with your most generous prize to the winner...7 FREE DIGIS!!!!!

Another reason for a "happy day?" We are getting closer and closer to the start of school!!! We don't start here till after Labor Day which is making August just drag out for an eternity. To celebrate, I used the Bugaboo image Fancy Sunbonnet School. She sure is a sweetie, love the apple in her pocket and the one she dropped behind her. I used some new Cosmo Cricket paper I just got called Odds & Ends. Hope you have a "Happy Day" and can play along with our sketch challenge this week.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Yummy Cupcakes

Yummy is right!!! I adore these cupcake digital stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps. They are called Yummy Cupcakes and can be found HERE. I must admit, these are my favorite digis ever!!! And I used them on my favorite size of card, 4.25" square. Speaking of favorites, there's still time to check out our Clear Dollar Stamps Blog Hop...our theme is "these are a few of my favorite things." Start HERE on Lori's blog, there's a chance you could win one of our prizes!!! I am also submitting this card for Operation Write Home's INCHIES challenge. That's what is so nice about digital stamps, you can size them to fit your need! A simple card yes, but oh so fun to make!!



Summertime Fun

That is our challenge to you this week at Picture Perfect Challenges - show us your summertime fun! Well I couldn't resist using this image from Fresh Brewed Designs of Granny Sun Bathing. When you're out enjoying the sunshine though, don't forget the sunblock, like my oldest, Phillip, and I did while on vacation at the beach. The first day we got burned and had to be very careful after that. Granny has a paper pieced bathing suit on...don't you love it!!! All of these papers came from my scrap bin...and you know I love that!!!! So join us this week at Picture Perfect Creations before summer passes us by.


Sunday, August 21, 2011

Clear Dollar Stamps August Blog Hop

It's time for our monthly blog hop for Clear Dollar Stamps!! Hopefully you arrived here from Jerusha's blog, I Love Paper Crafting. If not, please head on over to the beginning of our hop at Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp, so you don't miss out on the fun, inspiration, and chance to win some prizes!!! The theme for this month's blog hop is "These are a few of my favorite things." Yes, me too, I'm singing that song as I'm typing this post!!!!! Anyway, let me tell you about some of my favorite things when it comes to card making...I love making Christmas cards, especially using non-traditional colors. I also am lazy, so solid stamps are an all-time must on my list of faves! I also love Basic Grey's designer papers, ribbon, pearls, lots and lots of layers, popping up those layers, the cute 4.25" square card, and, oh yeah, sewing!!!! That is pretty much everything included on this card! The stamp set I used is CDS's Our Savior's Birth, the colors of card stock are Bravo burgundy, Pretty in pink, and Bashful blue and the designer paper is Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey.

Now to see some fabulous cards, hop on over to Lisa's blog, Lisa's Life Lines, and thanks for hopping with us today.


Saturday, August 20, 2011

A Wacky Wednesday Card

I adore Bugaboo Stamps. And every Wednesday on CDAC and PCP they hold a Wacky Wednesday challenge. This week we had a photo of some picnic food as inspiration. I used this super cute AKV BBQ Hamburger digi, the sketch challenge from My Time Made Easy, and the Color Roundup challenge of Island indigo, Old olive and Early espresso. I thought the papers from Basic Grey's Wander line were a perfect back drop for these colors. What a fun layout too, one I think I will use again and again. Have a wonderful Saturday!!!


Friday, August 19, 2011

Welcome to Clearly Inspired Challenges

It's that time again for our Clearly Inspired Challenge. This time we want you to use scripture on your card. I used the stamp set Scriptures of Hope from Clear Dollar Stamps, found HERE. I also want to submit this card for two other challenges - Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Challenge with Baja breeze, Pink pirouette and Wisteria whisper as well as the sketch found at Diva Coffee Break Designs. The picture doesn't do this card and the colors justice, it is so much better in real life! Get ready for the weekend, it's almost here!!!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Want a Fun Challenge?


Then head on over to Freshly Brewed Challenges for the latest - White on white plus one other color. I really had fun with this challenge...obviously since I made two of them! I used the digital stamp from Fresh Brewed Designs called Bundled Baby Plain. I had taken along some images when we went on vacation and knew I wanted to use these two for this very challenge. My two added colors are Barely banana and Certainly celery. Now I have two baby cards ready for the sending!

Boy has this week been busy, and today looks to be just as crazy. Running errands here and there as well as going to a stamp class in the evening and make some Christmas cards. Now tomorrow Brian is taking the day off so Phillip and I can take him to lunch at our favorite Japanese restaurant. Then the two boys will go to a baseball game while Kevin and I stay home and have fun of our own! There's always somethin' goin' on here!!!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Oldies but Goodies Blog Hop

It is Blog Hoppin' time!!! We, the Design Divas, have one every month that we fondly call Oldies But Goodies - use items that haven't been for 6 months or more. Now you should have come to me from Cheri's blog, Stamp 'n Boomer. If not, start at the beginning of our hop at Heather's blog, Heather's Coffee Break.
Now at 1:00 this morning, as I'm getting ready for bed, I felt this overwhelming sense of panic that I forgot something. Yep, you guessed it, I totally forgot to make my card for today!!!!! So a quick print of this sweet digi from Bugaboo Stamps called Sock Monkey Girl Sitting that I don't think I have ever used was put to use. I also found a fun stack of paper by daisyd's called Bambino. It was a match made in heaven since the paper had sheets with sock monkeys and bananas on it!!

Your next stop on the hop is Dru's blog, Garden of Dreams. Enjoy the rest of the hop!!!

Sweet Wednesday Excitement

There's always excitement in the air on Wednesdays to find out who our winners are from last week as well as the new sketch and sponsor for this week!!! Well let's get to it...check out the the winners on the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog. And let me introduce you to our new sketch...actually it's an older sketch being brought back to life for your challenge pleasure!!!! Enjoy!


As you can see, the wonderful Digi Stamp Boutique is our sponsor this week. Sally Ann is gracious giving 6 FREE DIGIS to the grand prize winner from this week. All you've got to do is play along with the sketch and leave a comment at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.


Check out this fun little squirrel, his name is Woody and can be found HERE. He simply made me smile!!! I wanted to use some fall colors to go along with my sentiment, from Clear Dollar Stamps, and found HERE. I look forward to your creations every week so play along, you could be our grand prize winner!!!!!





Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Just For Fun

It doesn't happen often, but today I want to share with you a card I made "just for fun!!!" And of course it got me to thinking...why not make J4F quick and easy cards more often!!! I used a stamp set by Gina K. Designs called Enjoy the Sunshine and thought of challenging myself to make enough cards that I've used every stamp in this set. Two down, a lot more to go!!! I'd better get stamping!!

I am taking Phillip this afternoon for his permit, keep your fingers crossed he passes the written test. Then look out road, here we come!!!


Monday, August 15, 2011

You're Tea-rrific!

It's the 15th of the month which means Clear Dollar Stamps' digital stamp release!!! You are going to love all the stamp sets for this month!! I used the fun set Tea-rrific Color and Tea-rrific Paper Pack. This is a picture of the card closed...it's a Z-fold.

Now here it is opened slightly so you can see the inside panel that holds a tea bag or gift card. I made a version of this card in a class I took a few weeks ago at our local stamp store. Thanks Margie and Jackie for the inspiration! Be sure and check out all of the stamps being released today at Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp. Talk about inspiration!!!

Season of Friendship

I couldn't wait to show you the color challenge for Picture Perfect Creations this week - Crumb cake, Bravo burgundy, Blushing bride and Old olive. I think this is a wonderful combination, and I hope you think so too and will play along with us!!!

I decided to pull out a Stampin' Up set for this - surprise, surprise!!!! It's called Season of Friendship and really quite a lot of fun to use. After stamping my tree and leaves, I ran the panel through my Big Shot and embossed it. I also used a new die I just got (from SU) for the flowers. The ribbon I found in my stash (almost as big of a stash as my paper scraps!!!) and it has a green shimmer to it in the right light too! Of course I couldn't capture that though with the camera. A little stitching, a must have, and some pearls and we are done! The little bird is popped up on the next to the sentiment. Quick and easy card! Join us at Picture Perfect Creations for a fun and beautiful color challenge.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Island Pool Party With Eggplant

Hope I grabbed your attention with that title of my second post for today!!! Actually, it's the Color Round Up challenge for this week. Let me tell you, it threw me at first until I actually put the colors together and saw how truly beautiful they are! Since purple is my least favorite color, I decided to pull out my all-time favorite set, Blossom's Abound from Stampin' Up. I will be sending this off to my niece for her birthday...she is doing an internship at Disney World and she LOVES it! Who wouldn't!!


For the Graduate

Yes, that's right, a graduation card! Our next door neighbor had his graduation party last night and this is the card I made for him. I used Chubby Chums from Paper Smooches and the graduation cap from Clear Dollar Stamps. It was a beautiful night, great company, and of course lots of yummy food.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Color Challenge

I am really dragging today. Last night I could feel a cold coming on and now I have that dreaded sinus headache. I took Nyquil at bedtime, slept well, but woke up in a fog. So pardon any slurring of my words as I type!!!

This card is for the Wacky Wednesday challenge in the Bugaboo Stamps group at Paper Craft Planet and Crafter's Digital Art Center. We needed to use Turquoise, Kraft and Vanilla. I had won this adorable image, Penny Doll Standing Tall, awhile ago and decided it was time to use it!! I opted for no sentiment on the front, something I don't normally do.

I actually have a little alone time right now, could get some things done, but my vote is on taking a nap! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Hi Friend

Isn't this the greatest pup?!! He is a pre-colored digi called Quirky Dog from Doodle Pantry. There is a whole collection of quirky animals that I MUST have!!!! I'm entering this card into the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge, use a DP image! I can do that, especially when I have a set that contains not only the pre-colored image but the digi papers as well!!! Now just for playing along and following the rules, all participants will receive via email School Sheep and School Time digi paper pack. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!!

I wanted to let you know about my repeat venous doppler on my leg -- THE BLOOD CLOT HAS DISSOLVED!!!!! I am so excited!! I have now been given the okay to stop the coumadin!! Thank you for all your prayers, hugs, and well wishes. You all helped to keep me sane during this crazy and scary time.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

A Happy Hello

And a happy Thursday to you too! I couldn't wait to show this card, I am so proud of myself for creating a CAS card!! I'm tryin'!!!! This one is actually for our latest Freshly Brewed Challenge, Clean & Simple and using 3 or less embellishments. I decided to go for zero embellies!!!! My image is from Fresh Brewed Designs, a digital stamp called Turtle Love. I had so much fun making this, now let's see if I can make another CAS card!!! Hehe!!!

And isn't it wonderful news!!!! I always love when Heather has a rubber stamp release, because it means we get to have a blog hop!!!!! Don't miss out on this one. As a matter of fact, why not add this badge to your sidebar and help spread the word. There will be lots of gorgeous cards, lots of new stamps and PRIZES!!! Gotta love the prizes!!!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sweet Sketch Wednesday and Sassy Cheryl's

It's a glorious day, time for a new Sweet Sketch. And here is the wonderful creation Arlana is challenging you to. Who is our sponsor this week you ask?
It's Sassy Cheryl's, and our grand prize winner will win a $5 gift certificate!! How fun!

I was lucky enough to get the chance to play with this image, Tricycle Fun. Ah to be a kid again!! I used copic markers on this as well as scrap designer paper, Riding hood red, Bermuda bay and Green galore card stocks. Now be sure to go to our Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog to check out what the rest of the DT created. I hope you feel inspired then to join us!


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Such Fun Colors

Check out this color combo from Scrapmaster's Paradise - Soft suede, Melon mambo, and Island indigo. I usually try to combine color and sketch challenges together, but not this time. I had to play with my new stamps from Avocado Arts called Hello Friend. I discovered them on Facebook while on vacation and joined their stamp set of the month club!

Today I had a repeat test on my leg to check out the blood clot. I keep reminding my doctor that she said I only needed to be on the coumadin for 3 months, and that time is up!!! Thursday I get blood work drawn so I will bug the doctor then for the results and the weaning process of the blood thinner. I hate taking pills so the quicker I get done with this the better! Fingers crossed.

Happy Day

Happy Tuesday! I love it when I get to show off something that was really fun to make!!!! This week, Fresh Brewed Designs is sponsoring Inspirational Card Sketches, and what a fabulous sketch to inspire you!! I used my new favorite line at Fresh Brewed Designs (okay, that's not totally true, I love ALL of Heather's stamps, both rubber and digital!), called Huckleberry Pie Goes Fishing. As soon as I saw him I knew I wanted him done in blues and greens. He was one of several images I colored while we were on our summer vacation!!

Speaking of summer, Heather is having a sale that ends August 12th, 40% off summer digis and 30% off summer rubber stamps. Hurry while the savings are hot!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Had to Share This One

I finally got my card done for Bugaboo's Wacky Wednesday sketch challenge. After all, today is Monday so I'm cuttin' it close! I adore this sweet image, Isabella Beach. And, it just so happens, I colored her when we were at the beach on vacation a couple weeks ago!!!! Ahhhh, the fun of summer! Keeping this quick, need to get dinner in the oven.


Hi There

Happy Monday! It's not often you hear someone say that! Two reasons it's a wonderful day...first of all, it's my 19th wedding anniversary! Love ya honey! Time to pull out that wedding album and bring back the memories. The other fun part about today is it's time for our Picture Perfect Creations color combo of More mustard, Bashful blue, and Peach parfait. Quite the yummy combination.


Here's my card - a 4.25 inch square card, my favorite. I die cut the flowers then embossed them with my swiss dots folder. The sentiment circle is the only one popped up, adding even more dimension. Be sure and head over to the PPC blog to see what the other DT members created, they are all marvelous! Then play along with us, we always love when you do!



Sunday, August 7, 2011

Quick and Simple

Yesterday, I started cleaning out my stamp room...and would you believe, I just now got it finished!!!!! That's why I had no card to show you yesterday and am VERY late getting this one posted! I'm not used to all the elbow room I now have!!! I wonder how long the cleanliness will last.

My card is very simple, using a Hero Arts stamp set I just got called "Joy Ride." I was inspired by the colors posted on the Rubber Redneck challenge, Island indigo, Basic grey and Whisper white. It doesn't get any easier than this!!!!


Friday, August 5, 2011

Wings and Things

Hard to believe we're into August already. Today is the first Friday which means another fun Clearly Inspired Challenge. Our theme for this challenge is "Things with Wings."


I decided to use a set today that hasn't seen ink in a very, very long time!!! This Clear Dollar Stamps set is called Home Sweet Hive. Such a fabulous set for those quick cards!!! My card ended up measuring 4.25" square, a size I absolutely adore! Yep, I hit up my scrap bin again for it too...with this size you don't need much!! Be sure and check out Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp, for inspiration from the rest of the DT. Then play along, because the more who participate, the more chances to win!!!!