Happy Fourth of July?????

Okay, so I'm a little early for the 4th of July, but I found this awesome paper in my stash and felt inspired. I started with the Clean and Simple Sunday Sketch I found over at Stamping with Brenda.

All stamps are from Clear Dollar Stamps. The main image is called Colonial Carvings (hurry, it's currently 50% off!) while the sentiment is the recently released Stamp of the Month Yearly Occasions. My brads were probably labeled as "flowers" but I'm pretending they are stars!

Just got back from seeing the doctor about my knee. Got a cortisone shot while I was there and will be getting an MRI, if the insurance company approves. He's thinking my pain is either arthritis or a meniscus tear. I'll keep you up to date.

Operation Write Home Bunny Hop

Welcome to your next stop along the Operation Write Home Bunny Hop trail! If you are here from sweet Rhonda's blog, The Stampin' Bunny, then you are on the right path! To start at the beginning, please go to OWH Stars and Stamps.

Operation Write Home gets cards into the hands of our brave deployed soldiers so they can mail some love home to family and friends. Read all about it HERE so you can get involved!!! I don't know how the shippers do it, donating hours upon endless hours of their time to sort, fix and ship out boxes of cards...talk about dedication! There are deadlines for holiday cards, so be sure to have Easter cards to the shippers by March 18th and Mother's Day cards by March 31st.

Let me also recommend you check out the OWH Stars and Stamps Challenge Blog. I love their sketch challenges, posted every Sunday. They are super for keeping the mojo flowing!

My card makes use of a Bugaboo Stamps digi. He is all dressed up and ready for Easter! I'm all dressed up in my winter coat still because it's been so cold here in Pittsburgh...and I am oh so ready for spring and Easter!!!!!

Now keep on hoppin' to Doris's blog, Mom's Been Scrappin, your next stop.

Clearly Inspired Color Challenge

Happy Friday!! It's time for our Clearly Inspired Challenge at Clear Dollar Stamps. And as you can see it's a color challenge. Now before I get into that, I want to let you know there are some changes to our Clearly Inspired Challenges. First, it will be a bimonthly challenge, being held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. So that means you have 2 weeks to create something using any stamps you wish from any stamp company (of course if you have CDS stamps, we would love to see what you create with them!). Spread the word, because there are prizes up for grabs for every 20 participants. What are the prizes you ask? For every 20 participants there will be 2 winners chosen - one winner for a $10 gift certificate for digital or clear acrylic stamps only from CDS and a second winner for the following digital set:

Is this not the cutest thing you ever did see???!!!!! And you could win this!!!!! The set includes 4 bunny slipper images, 3 sentiments, and 3 digital papers!!!!! Crazy good!!!!!

Here's my card using that very adorable Bunny Slippers set! I used a pre-colored set of slippers as well as 2 of the digital papers. Sticking with the color challenge, well, almost, I used Soft mint, Cottonball white and, oops, Sweet cheeks (instead of porcelain pink). Color challenges are very forgiving I've found, as long as you use colors that are similar! I begged for mercy from our CIC coordinator, Cassie, and she said she'd let me pass this time, but not to let it happen again!!!!! HAHA!!!

Picture Perfect Creations

Aren't these colors stunning?!!! I am really enjoying the challenges over at Picture Perfect Creations, and this one is no exception!

For my card I used the digital set Pansy from Clear Dollar Stamps. I used Copic markers on it and cut it out with Nesties. Believe it or not, this is the very first time I've used Early espresso, and that's saying a lot for someone who believes brown to be the new black!!! I found a paper pack of In Colors where I got the piece of Peach parfait. The two flower embellies that I found in my stash were white, so I sponged a little pink ink on them and added the orange button. The pearly swirl was also found tucked away in my stash drawer...I really should go thru that thing so I know what's in there!!! This will be a Mother's Day card for one of our Moms.

Sweet Spring is on the Way - Second Post for Today

Sun in forecasted and temps in the 40's...to me that means spring!! How sweet it is...speaking of sweet, welcome to Sweet Sketch Wednesday, we are always glad to have you join us. Arlana has come up with yet another wonderful sketch. I still don't know how she does it!!! And if that isn't amazing enough, check out our sponsor...

That's right, it's Di's Digi Downloads! And Diane has been so generous, not only did she provide the DT with an image, but she is offering a prize of 5 FREE DIGIS!!! Be sure and leave a comment at the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog to be eligible to win. Can't wait to see what you create!!

Spring has definitely been on my mind as you can see by my card!!! I used the adorable image Gardening Maisy. Gardening for me involves container gardening and leaving the pots up on my deck where the deer can't get at them. However the squirrels and racoons climb up and help themselves! I can't win!!! I'm working on my KI kits from Taylored Expressions, this one contains October Afternoon's Fly a Kite DSP. Now head on over to the rest of the DT's blogs, you can find links for them along my sidebar.

Cards, Coffee, and a Challenge

WooHoo, how did you like the blog hop yesterday for Fresh Brewed Designs' new rubber release? I have good news, you have until Friday to hop, and if you do, you could win a prize of 5 yards of Martha Stewart ribbon, 3 crocheted heart embellies, 3 buttons, 16 sheets of 4 x 6 DSP, unmounted Cutie Pie Flowers and Handstamped By stamps. WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

Well now today we have a challenge for YOU...Pink and Paper Piecing. And since it is the first Wednesday of the month, it is our PRIZE CHALLENGE! You can find all the details on the Freshly Brewed Challenge Blog. Remember, the prize is 5 FREE DIGIS!!! Keeping up the rubber stamp theme from yesterday, I used Caution Contents are Hot. She is one sassy chic in her hot pink dress and latte in hand! I'm thinking of sending this to my Sister-in-law for her birthday...hope she likes it!!

Fresh Brewed Designs New Rubber Release

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of.

I think even as we grow, we ladies are still made of sugar and spice and everything nice, don't you? Today we have lots of girly fun to share with you! Today Fresh Brewed Designs has released 7 brand new rubber stamps that are perfect for girls of all ages!

Heather has designed 3 coffee gals to add to the already sassy series. These latte lovin' ladies have an extra sprinkle of sweetness. Each stamp has a little cherry topped cupcake added to it.

We are also excited to introduce to you today Cutie Pie!!! She is a cute little butterfly fairy with a love for adventure and loves to spread smiles wherever she goes.

If you are just getting to the hop, you will have to start at the beginning at the Freshly Brewed Challenges Blog. If you are getting here from the wonderful and sweet Stacy's Blog, you are on the right track.

Here's my card using the brand spankin' new rubber stamp E(SPRESSO) MAIL. Isn't she awesome??!!! Coffee, computer, and cupcake, could it get any better than this?! I paper pieced her top, something I don't always think about doing. Gotta admit, I love the stripe effect I achieved on her laptop, done with a colorless blender and purely by accident!!!! Of course I HAD to add some stitching, but thought I would switch it up a little bit!

Now here is what you could win just by hopping with us!!!

Here are the RULES for your chance to win the prize.You will have to complete the hop in full and leave a comment on each hop stop.The hop will start AND end on the Fresh Brewed Challenge blog. After you finish the hop, leave ANOTHER comment on the challenge blog post and let us know what your favorite image was from the hop.To be able to decide which is your favorite, though, you will have to keep hopping!

Your next hop stop is the super talented Rhonda's Blog.