Feeling kind of purpley

My card for today is purple.  You know how some days a color just calls your name?  Well, today purple called to me.  I made this card based on the Simon Says Challenge of using three different papers

 and the Unscripted Sketch #147:

My card used Doodlebug paper, Bazzill cardsrock, Marvy punches, miscellaneous rhinestone, swiss dotted cuttlebug embossing folder, and a sizzix die.

USS147

The only change I made was the floral embellishment.  I liked it better on the other side, so I went with it. 

The Simon Says challenge is open until 8 am CET Wednesday morning and the Unscripted Sketches is open until the new sketch is open on Saturday. 

Thanks for looking and have a good night.

Market Street Stamp block party and a Sketch For You to Try

My first card is for the Sketch For You to Try  for February.  It's a sketch with lots of possibilities. 

See what I mean?  I love it!  I decided on my stamp before I started on my card.  It was from my first set of stamps from a Close to My Heart group I was in for a long time.   I think I discovered a love for paper piecing.  lol

sfyttfeb2012

My second card is for the Market Street Stamps block party.  I never attended one before, so I decided to give it a shot.  Since I didn't have one of their stamps, I used their free digitial stamp.  Love this little bird.  You do have to sign up for the block party to have access to the digital stamp.

Thanks for looking!

Candy's Craft Corner Giveaway

Candy at Candy's Craft Corner is celebrating reaching 400 followers.  To celebrate, she's have an awesome giveaway. 

Here's a little peek at what is included in the giveaway.

The giveaway is open until March 19 so head on over to Candy's blog, look at all her lovely cards, and leave her a little love to enter into her giveaway.

Guest Designer for Scrapbooker's Playing in Paradise Challenge #55

I have the honor of being guest designer for the Scrapbooker's Paradise Challenge #55 this week.  I'm so excited!

You have an entire week to create a scrapbook layout, a card, or any project that you are inspired to create using this awesome photo inspiration.

I took my inspiration from the word sepia and the beauty of the lone tree stranding strong against the storm.  It reminded me of the strength of friendship and how is grows even stronger through good times and bad. 

Click on over to Scrapbooker's Paradise Challenges and enter a card of your own.  I would love to see what you create from the inspiration.

Thanks for looking!

Paper Smooches blog hop with prizes

Today is the first day of the Paper Smooches Pep Rally week where they are sharing samplings of the new Paper Smooches March stamp release with you! The three NEW clear stamp sets will be available to purchase on March 1st.  You will find them HERE.
To add extra fun to the blog hop...Paper Smooches is offering up a prize! Just leave a comment on any of the five participating design team blogs for your chance to win one of the three new March stamp sets! (you do not need to comment on all blogs to qualify) You have until midnight MT on Friday, February 24th to leave a comment. Please check all five blogs on Saturday, February 25th to see if you are one of the five lucky winners.

So click on over to the Paper Smooches blog and start hopping!

Loving distressing inks

Lawnscaping Challenge #28 is having a distressing ink challenge this week.

Now, I love me some distressing ink!  lol  So fun to play with and so much you can do with them.  Here's the card I came up with:

LC#28

I distressed the background paper with peeled paint.  I stamped, distressed, and watercolored the focal image in peeled paint with a touch of stained walnut and iced spruce.

It took me all day, but the end result was worth it.  Thanks for looking and good night.

Epson Stylus Photo R2000 Printer giveaway

On the Create blog, they are giving away an Epson R2000 photo printer. 

Key Features:

Industry-leading pigment ink technology – Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 pigment ink for colorful, vibrant prints, beautiful skin tones that are highly water, smudge and fade-resistant

• Individual, larger ink cartridges – change cartridges less often and get up to 50% more prints
• Professional media versatility – accomodates cut-sheet and roll paper in sizes up to 13″ wide; supports photographic and fine art paper, canvas, 1.3 mm think board and inkjet printable CD/DVDs
• Unparalleled connectivity – Hi-Speed USB 2.0, wireless 802.11n and 100 Mbit Ethernet support
• Auto-selecting Black inks – achieve optimal black density and superior contrast on glossy, matte or fine art papers from either Matte or Photo Black ink
• Leading-edge image-quality architecture – smoother color transistions and outstanding highlight and show detail with Accu-Photo HG imaging technology
• Precision 8-channel print head technology- innovative MicroPiezo AMC, one-inch wide print head with ink-repelling coating for more accurate dot placement and reduced maintenance

Head on over to the Create blog for more information and enter to win.  You have up to three entries and you have until Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 12 am MST.  Remember, if you don't enter, you definitely won't win.  Good luck!

Time out for surgery

I know I haven't  posted a card in a couple of days.  I had dental surgery on Thursday.  I was in the chair for about 3 1/2 hours according to hubby.  I feel okay as long as I take the pain medication, but then I can't keep my eyes open!  I'm having to drink all my meals, so eating no longer takes me a long time.  lol   Since I've been on my "dental diet", I've lost 7 pounds.  Definitely not the way I would suggest to go about weight lost.  lol

I'm hoping that today I will be able to make a card or two before needing to take any meds and getting worn out.  My goal is two simple cards.  We'll see.

Red Solo Cup and a tropical card

For my first card, I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 152 

and the inspiration for the Scrapbookers Paradise Ponderings challenge which is to include song lyrics or title as the text, title or theme of an project.

Well, I could have picked many, many songs.  The song I picked was one my children introduced me to on the country western station--Red Solo Cup.  Yes, folks, there is an actual song about the beloved (?) red solo cup.  lol   

My card:

PPC53, SSSD152

Inside says:  Let's have a party!  Happy Birthday.  Everything but the Happy Birthday is lyrics from the song.  Gotta love country music. 

My second card is for the Ribbon Carousel Challenge 40 sketch

and the Old Back Porch 52 pick--week 6.

My card:

RCC40

I'm thinking I really need the new ribbon machine that came out at CHA that cuts and fuses the ends of ribbon all at one time.

Thanks for looking and have a good night.  

Grey Rose

My card for tonight will be a valentine for my hubby.  I used the colors from the picture inspiration from the Inspired By #10 challenge

and the sketch from the My Favorite Things Challenge #58

and came up with my card

MFTWSC58,  Inspired by #10

The red heart is a 3D heart I made by punching lots of hearts, folding them in half, and glueing the halves together, then fanning them out in a flat honeycomb type formation.  It looks pretty neat to me. 

Thanks for looking and good night.  

Couldn't sleep so I made cards

I'm having a hard time sleeping and I can't just lay in bed so I made two more cards. 

The first card is a simple card for the Lawnscaping Challenge #27 with a photo inspiration  (I was inspired by the red and hearts)

and the Simon Says Challenge of Love in the Air (heart represents love) and for the Simply Handmade facebook page (it's a valentine). 

My card:

I've discovered the joy of embossing folders.  I definitely need to get more of those little babies.  Love the ease of use and the added texture they give to a card.

My next card is for the Alley Way stamp challenge.  

I was inspired by the bright and fun patterned quilt on the bed.  I found the image and sentiment under their freebies on their blog and colored it with my copics.  Don't you just love the pun?  lol  When I read it, I knew I had to make a card with it.

TAWS #1

Thanks for looking.  I'm off to bed to try to get some sleep.  Have a good night.

Rock star and an old lady

I don't think you can go any farther in different directions than a rockstar theme and an old lady theme for cards.  lol

My first card is using Lisa Somerville's Blogger's Challenge of the theme In Bloom and the Mojo Monday 227 sketch.

My card:

Mojo227 (outside)

Mojo227 (inside)

What does the old lady have to do with an In Bloom theme?  Well, she's in her second "bloom" of youth, of course!  lol  I hope when I get really old, I'll have the gumption and self-confidence to get on the pony ride outside of a store and have fun without a thought of what other people think. 

My second card is my rockstar card.  I used the inspiration piece for the Inspiration Hop on stampTV hosted by Gina K stamps. 

Isn't it a gorgeous painting?  The first thing that struck me were the rich, deep colors of the painting.  Love those colors so that was the inspiration I used for my card. 

I also used the sketch on Unscripted Sketches 145. 

My card:

Although I'm not the rock and roll type, I do love this stamp set.  It's not as "rock n roll grunge" as I would have liked it, but it's a good step outside my comfort zone. 

Blogger's Challenge closes in 4 more days.

Inspiration blog closes Monday.

Unscripted Sketches posts a new sketch every Saturday.

Thanks for looking and have a good night. 

Ribbon Carousel Challenge and giveaway info

I am a little ribbon inept.  lol  For some unknown reason, I have a difficult time using ribbon.  It's either too wide or too thin, not the right color or design, too sheer or not sheer enough.  I'm bound and determined to break through my "ribbon wall".  I have tons of ribbon and I need to use it!  When I came across the Ribbon Carousel challenge blog, I figured this would be perfect to make a break through. 

This week's Ribbon Carousel Challenge is "anything goes."  Great way to start off.  I usually start off with picking my paper, but since my ribbon is what gives me trouble, I started with that and I was on my way. 

rcc39

I made this card for a masculine birthday.  Nothing fancy with the ribbon, but it's there and not sitting in a box in my craftroom.  Gotta take baby steps, you know?  :) 

By the way, Create is giving away a Ribbon Carousel and Whisker Graphic's Middy Bitty Bags!  Head on over to the Create blog for all the details.  You have until Wednesday, 12 am MST, to enter so what are you waiting for?

Thanks for looking! 

Wee Memories Purge Giveaway

Jenny Suchin at Wee Memories is having a craft room purge giveaway.  The prize package is worth over $50 and includes stamps, ribbon and lots of goodies!  You have until the end of tonight at 11:59 PST to enter so hurry and click on the link:  Craft Room Purge giveaway.

JUGS and Runway Inspired card

I love blue and when I saw the Runway Inspired Challenge picture this week, blue is the first thing I noticed. 

Then I saw the awesome sketch for the Just Us Girls Sketch Challenge

and I knew the two were meant for each other.  I have to admit that this one is one of my favorite cards.  I love how the flower turned out and the colors are a perfect match for the paper.

JUGS122

I took the color blue from the inspiration photo as well as the blocks.  If you look closely at the model's blouse, it has a block pattern to it.  I also used the airy, dainty look which inspired me to make the lace edge border thanks to a new EK Success punch.

Thanks for looking.  If I can get rid of this sinus headache, I might have another card to post.

House Mouse card

House Mouse has always been one of my favorite stamps.  They are just so cute!  I have to be careful because I find it very difficult to pass on a House Mouse stamp. 

This card is for two challenges:  Simon Says Stamp Challenge which is an animal antic theme and Scrapbooker's Paradise Challenge (PPC52) with this sketch:

I picked my two favorite House Mouse stamps I owned and came up with this card:

Love that saying!  It brings a smile to my face everytime I see it which is why both of these stamps on a wall display in my craftroom. 

Thanks for looking and good night.

Dress card

After spending a weekend scrapping with my friends out of town, I am full of inspiration.  I truly love spending time with friends that understand the fun of being creative and who all have different styles and tastes.  It helps me step outside of my comfort zone and try something new which is the same reason I love challenges.

The card for today is for the Stepping Stones Design challenge #113 (SSD113) with this sketch:

 and the Inspired by #9 picture challenge.

I took the dress shop window as my inspiration as well as the color red and the very leggy Minnie who is definitely "hot stuff" being all dressed up and ready for a party. 

SSD113

This card is also for the 52 Card pickup challenge on the Old Back Porch blog. 

  Thanks for looking and have a good night.

One more card for the day

This is a three-fer card.  Yep, I challenged myself to combine three challenges together to make one great card.  I am entering this card in the CAS-ual Friday challenge (CFC37) for the sketch, the Stampin' Sisterhood's color challenge (purple), and the Scrapbooker's Paradise challenge theme (clean and simple with hearts).

What I came up with:

CFC37, SS8, PPC#51

I'm proud to say I'm getting the hang of shading with my wonderful new copics. The "flowers" are made from hearts that I shaded and glittered up for a little sparkle. 

Thanks for looking and have a good night.

Two cards for today

I have two cards for today since I haven't posted for a while.  Extremely busy. 

Anyway, my first card is for the Sweet Sunday Sketch #151.  I went for the monochromatic look using paper I had forever! Here's the sketch:

SSSC151

I think I can get to like red butterflies.  Certainly a different look. 

My second card is for the My Favorite Things sketch challenge.

MFTWSC56

I played with my copics a little.  I wanted to give her hat a worn look, so I pushed darker colors around to get the effect.  I also stamped, colored, and cut out the flowers to match.  :::sigh:::  I will be buying more copics.  They are so much fun and give great results.

Thanks for looking.  I'll be back with one more card later on today.