Thank You for Being My Friend

I just ADORE pink and black.  I think you can tell by how often I use it!  This little gift set was made specifically to meet a bunch of challenges.

First of all is SCS Featured Stamper challenge (FS158).  Laurie's cards ROCK!  Make sure you visit her SCS gallery.  An older Ways to Use it challenge WT222 is to use the crinkled flowers on your card.  Scroll down to see how I made mine.

Next up is the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge ODBDSLC2 to use pink or red and bling and using their fabulous Friendship set.  This is the first time I've used their stamps and I'm super impressed with the quality of the rubber and cushioning.  I got a good clean image every time with little pressure.  In order to pump up the shine, I sprayed the tiny roses, the butterfly and the big rose with spray adhesive and sprinkled them with Art Institute glitter.  Lightly on the card and heavier on the big rose.

The sketch, in addition to Laurie's card is for Posh Designs Scrapbook Store's sketch Challenge 8(PDSS8).  Be sure to check out their challenges.  They're bi-weekly so you don't have to rush and their designers give some fantastic inspiration to get you going.  Be sure to check out their store while you're there!

The Cupcake Inspirations challenge (CIC46) .  Lots to spark the imaginations...deeeeeep chocolate, almost black, inspired the black on my set.  Lots of pink, butterflies and flowers too.  What's not to love?  I've been wanting to do one of these challenges forever...mmmmm, cupcakes!  I think my yummy box could almost pass for one.

                                                                                     

Here's a close up of the big rose on the Tiny Box I made using this super cool set from The Cutting Cafe.  This little 3 x 3 inch box is perfect for giving any kind of tiny gift from a few delectable chocolates to jewelry and it goes together in just minutes.  I don't think you can tell but I scored the top of the box every 1/2" all the way across to give it some depth since I didn't use designer paper.  I wanted my big rose to take center stage.

I made the rose using The Heart Flower Printable set and Cutting file.  Talk about versatility!  This set has every size flower you can think of!!  I cut mine in three colors, using Papertrey's Pure Poppy, Sweet blush and Hibiscus Burst.  I used 2 of the small flowers, 5 medium and 3 large.  I crumpled up each flower individually, unfolded each then layered them on a scrap piece of foam.  Next I speared them in the center with a piercing tool and inserted a jeweled brad.  After I secured the brad, I sprayed the flower with adhesive and gave it a liberal coating of glitter.

Whew...off to dinner with some friends.  We have a Mystery dinner every other month.  So much fun.

Love to know what you think.  Hope you found some inspiration here.

He Made Me a Valentine!!

My dear sweet adorable husband of 41 years made me a Valentine!!  I just squealed with delight (and a bit of envy if the truth be told) when I opened it this morning.   Yesterday, he asked me to point him to my Valentine bin and to cut him a couple of sheets of paper, then he chased me out of my studio.  I mean, I was told not to step foot into that room....period!

I had this sketch from Posh Designs Scrapbook Store Challenge #8 on my work desk.  When I saw this card, I knew immediately that he'd used this sketch...darn!  He beat me to it!!  He chose to use some rub-ons for his "Be Mine" and  the little heart flowers beneath it.  They're shiny and glittery but I couldn't capture the sparkle in the photo.   The focal point image came from a sheet of stick ons I had picked up on clearance at JoAnn's a couple of years ago and hadn't used.   (Please tell me you do that too!  I'm trying to be better about using what I have.) 

I told him his card would qualify fot two challenges because Our Daily Bread Designs current challenge is to use red or pink and bling.  He didn't know I have a couple of ODBD stamp sets...probably a good thing 'cause I'm going to use them for this challenge!! 

See those cool flowers around the card?  Those come from the awesome Cutting Cafe's Heart Flower Set.  Wait until you see what I did with them tomorrow.

I think the competition around here is getting tough so I need to step up my game!!  I would love it if you ladies would shower him with some comment love.   Those of you who know him, know what a sweetheart he is.  I'm one lucky lady.