Clean and Simple Monday - Shoes

The CAS Challenge on SCS this week (CAS134) is a theme....shoes!  I have a couple of shoe stamps but decided to go through my stash of embellishments to see what I could come up with.  I found these shoe stickers I picked up for a $1 (still have one left!) on clearance and some chipboard letters I got at the Target dollar store a few years ago.    I thought it was about time I used  them!

I thought the perfect pair of shoes and a great friend are truly one of a kind! 

BTW, you still have time to get in on my blogaversary candy!

Supplies:
Paper - Neenah, Making Memories
Ink - Versafne
Stamps - Papertrey Friends Til the End
Other - chipboard letters, shoe stickers, foam dimensionals.

Clean and Simple Monday & Blog Candy!

Ah, summer...we love the warm days but so do the growing things.  We spent the weekend trimming palms, pressure washing the deck and cleaning patio furniture.  I have a few muscles I didn't know I had because they all hurt!

The CAS122 Challenge on SCS this week is a Play on Words.  Time to get punny with those sentiments and images.  DH left late this a.m. so I didn't have alot of time to think and this card took waaay longer than it should have AND I must have wiggled the sentiment because my "i"  is double but there is no time this a.m. to fix it. 

I made a card for friends expecting their first baby that I didn't get posted.  It's just a bit of fun.  Hope it brings them a smile.

And now......the blog candy I promised you! 

There is a big plastic case full of flowers and die cut shapes,
 some fun flowers from Petaloo and Bella Blvd.,
 2 stamps from Stampin' Bella,
 Mat Stack die from Papertrey Ink,
 Winnie the Pooh metal alphabet embossing die,
 cute kraft paper bags and doilies from my Etsy shop
 Copic Warm Gray Sketch marker, and
 6 yummy yards of May Arts Ribbon  and a few more surprises that I'll be adding before I pick a winner.

What do you have to do?  Just leave me a comment and post a pic of the candy on your blog.   If you want to follow my blog that would be awesome but not required.  If you don't have a blog, that's ok, too...just leave me a comment or become a follower and tell me you did. 

I will choose a winner by random number generator on Sunday, June 19th at 6:00 p.m. EDT.

Stamp Simply Pleated Ribbon Challenge and Foodie Friday

It's Friday and that means it's time for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge (ssnotime153). 

This week Sharon challenged us to used pleated ribbon (for this challenge gathers count, too!)  I decided to try a really tight gather...those are pleats close together, right?  ;-)  I mixed it up by adding tiny pearls in the gathers.  The ribbon is adhered to the cardstock with tiny bits of Scor-Tape every 1/2" or so. 

That yummy spray of pearls are actually favor ties that I found in the wedding dept. at Michaels for about $2.  I cut off the paper covered wire and attached the pearl spray with a glue dot.  I just love that linen cardstock!  It's Cosmo Cricket's Core Impressions.  You can distress it, sand it, and/or tear it.  I had fun distressing, sanding and doing some meandering sewing on it.

The floral DP is from Webster's Pages Lullaby Lane.  I cut around the image then sponged the edges with PTI's Chamomile ink for some depth. 

                                  

Be sure to check out the gorgeous creations Sharon and the Design Team have created for your inspiration:  If you post on SCS or another site please use ssnotime153 so we can find you.  Don't forget to link your creation on Sharon's site as well.

Sharon Johnson - No Time to Stamp?

Deb Neerman - Paper, Ink, Scissors, and Stamps

Barb Anders - Paper Pursuits

Jenny Groop - One Krafty Kat

Janine Orchard - 2bKrafty

AJ Otto - The Willow Garden

Deb Saaranen - Dream in Color

Barb Schram - Explore. Dream. Discover

Supplies:

Paper - PTI Dark Chocolate, Cosmo Cricket Core Impressions, Webster's Pages Lullaby Lane

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs Friendship

Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Peeled Paint

Accessories - Prima Mulberry Roses,  Pearl favor ties (Michael's), ribbon, pearls, Label die- Spellbinders, distressing tool, sewing machine

Challenges - Sentimental Sundays - Ribbon or Lace (free sentiment download here, too!)

Now for Foodie Friday....I spent the afternoon baking for my DH.  His company is treating the employees to a pig roast tomorrow.  My contribution is Chocolate Chip cookies, BBQ Bacon Baked Beans and this monster Blackberry Crumble.  This bad boy (or girl!) weighs in at 15 lbs. and has 6 quarts of blackberries in it!!!  You northern girls should be picking yours now so I thought you might want some enabling. 

Thanks so much for stopping by...don't forget to sign up for the blog candy if you're already a follower at the link to the right.

                                                            

Clean and Simple Monday

Sorry my Monday post is late...I've had a toothache for a couple of days that seriously cut into my creative juices.  An afternoon in the dentist chair (ugh!) and I'm almost back to whatever "normal" is.  The dentist fixed a chip and said I've been grinding my teeth.  I must be taking out my stress on my teeth at night. 

  

Ok, back to fun stuff...today's card is for the CAS76 Challenge on SCS .  We are to making a card using this cute sketch by Toni aka ravengirl.   

                                   

Don't forget,  you still have time to play along with the Papercubed (P3) challenge to make a table decoration.  Kim, our DT leader, has a great prize for one lucky crafter...a Tim Holtz stamp set and Grungeboard!!  You've got until the end of the month so get creating and link up.

Thanks for popping into the playground. I always appreciate your sweet comments and read every one.

Supplies:

Paper - Papertrey, Webster's Pages

Stamps - Savvy stamps

Ink - Tim Holtz Distress

Accessories - Spellbinders Label and Fancy Tags dies, paper roses

                                                   

Don't Worry, BEE Happy!

Happy Wednesday!  Today's card is another using those adorable bees from The Cutting Cafe's Cute Critters set.    I just adore these bees.  I painted them with Papertrey Summer Sunrise ink and coated them with Crystal Effects so they shine, then popped them up on dimensionals.

I entered this in these blog challenges :

Crafty Creations #68 - Encouragement/Celebration

Stampavie and more #95 - Flower Power

Order of the Opus Gluei - Seasonal Icons (what a fun blog!)

Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate your visits and your comments!!

Shabby, Clean and Simple (CAS67)

Another CAS card..I do love these!  Today's CAS challenge 67 on SplitcoastStampers is Shabby Chic.  Now CAS and Shabby don't necessarily go together in my vocabulary so I had to struggle not to fancy this one up.

Still no cabinet in the studio, we pick that up on Wednesday,...and now, DH has broken the slide on one of the kitchen drawers.  I hope the old "3 things" rule isn't in play here.

Supplies:

Paper - Papertrey Kraft, SU Pink Pirouette, black

Image - Crafty Secrets

Ribbon - May Arts silk ( on my for sale page)

Technique - Distressing                                                   

It's Cutting Cafe Give Away Day!!

Today's the day, today's the day!!  You still have time to go HERE, follow the directions and get your name in for this HUGE and ADORABLE Cutting Cafe Cute Critter set and the Candy Box template!!

For this card, I used the Ladybugs that have the words "Don't Bug Us" underneath.  I wanted a different sentiment so I just covered up the words with a paper strip and stamped my sentiment.  I used some Crystal Effects to make their little shells shine....and yes,  they are on CS straight.  They're marching uphill.

Now for a personal note....yesterday was my 60th birthday.  Oh my, I was so not prepared for what a special day it turned out to be.   My dear friend, Patty, arranged a surprise birthday luncheon at a lovely restaurant by the water complete with a homemade from scratch birthday cake and balloons!  There were so many dear and sweet friends there...what a lovely gift of their time!   I was so overwhelmed by their generousity that I spent the rest of the day in tears every time I thought of how absolutely blessed I am...not only with dear friends here but also in our old "hometown" of Louisville, with our family, friends I've met through stamping online, and  especially, my dear sweet DH who, once again, made me a card..sweet and simple:

                                        

Update on the cabinet from Ikea...they are going to replace the parts that aren't finished properly and because we have to travel so far, they've agreed to reimburse our gas and tolls.  The best part is I don't have to rebuild the drawers...yea!!

Thanks again for the gift of your time spent visiting my blog!  Be sure to enter The Cutting Cafe Giveaway!!

Supplies:

Stamps- The Cutting Cafe, Papertrey Pond Life

Paper - PTI black,  SU Real Red, Neenah Classic white

Ink - Copic marker

Accessories - SU Scalloped Edge punch, ribbon, Crystal Effects, Cuttlebug circles embossing folder

 

Fill This Day with Joy

This card is for the Featured Stamper Challenge (FS169) on SCS.  We were to choose a card from the awesome gallery of Michelle.  She has several cards using this layout so I thought maybe it was one of her favorites.

This one is easy peasy when you don't have alot of time.

Also qualifies for:

Beary Sweet Challenge - Flowers

CreativeBelli Blog Challenge 90 - Birthday card using forgotten supplies - mine is the sentiments from Button Bits...only one has seen ink! 

Your Next Stamp Challenge (YNS15) Going Dotty

Supplies:

Paper - Making Memories English Garden

Stamps - Papertrey Button Bits

Accessories -  border punch, buttons, Mary Englebreit stickers (Michael's)

Technique - distressing

                                                        

Friend to Friend on Mackinac Island, Michigan

This week's CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge 62 is an inspiration challenge featuring Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Jen, the CAS forum coordinator, grew up there.  It sounds absolutely idealic.  You can take a look at the inspiration photo I chose HERE. 

My bicycle is cut out  (don't ask and don't try this at home)  and "propped" against the window of my card.  The flower panel is actually mounted on dimesionals on the inside of the card on the piece I had when I cut a window in my card front with a Spellbinder's square die. 

 I cut another square using a larger die that fit my window out of black CS.  I then centered the die I used for the "window", on the black square and cut with my Big Shot.  Instant window frame!

Cutting that bicycle isn't something I'd like to do again, but I do like it.

Supplies:

Stamps - Papertrey Button Bits, SU Pocket Silhouettes

Paper - Papertrey Soft Stone

Ink - Papertrey Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise

Accessories - dimensionals, buttons

   

It's Sketch Challenge Time at Posh Designs Blog

Don't forget to sign up for my blog candy...I've added some surprises.  You have until 4/22.  Just click the link on the sidebar!

It's sketch challenge time once again on the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store blog.  I love this sketch...so many possibilities, especially for those small stamps that can get lost on their own.

Be sure to check play along....Nini always has a great prize just for linking up your creation and you've got two weeks to play.... so no pressure.
You could win Pink Cat Studio's Lily at the Beach stamp set!!  How cool or, um, hot is that?!

I've posted the sketch on my sidebar so you can check back to play along then click the sketch to link your card up.  Be sure to play by Tuesday, April 19th to qualify for the prize.

This is also for the Crafty Creations Anything Goes challenge.  Now that makes it even easier!!

Supplies:

Stamps - PTI Wonderfully Whimsical

Paper - PTI

Accessories - ribbon, felt flower, Spellbinders flower die, paper flower, brad

 

CAS60- Carly's Sketch

This week's CAS60 Challenge on SCS features a sketch by the oh so talented team member, Carly.

I used the new Beautiful Blooms set from The Cutting Cafe.  I just love this set.  It's so versatile and comes with sentiments, vases and bunches of flowers...just in time for spring picking. 

Don't forget to check out my BLOG CANDY post! 

Supplies:

Stamps - Beautiful Blooms

Paper - SU

Accessories - MS ribbon,  Spellbinders ribbon tag die

 

The Chocolate Book in Vintage Shabby Chic

Before I forget, I want to remind you that Posh Designs has a cool sketch challenge on the blog.  There's a mystery prize to be won so be sure to play.  If you've seen the goodies in the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store, you know that prize has to be a good one!   The team has given you lots of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing.

Some of you know me on SCS and Scor-Pal, as the creator of  "The Chocolate Book", but you've never seen it like this!  Come to think of it...neither have I.  This is my first attempt at Vintage Shabby Chic AND my very first weekly blog column on the Posh Designs Blog.  You can see more photos and get all the details on the Posh Blog.  You can get a template and a tutorial there as well as on my header above.

                                                

 This creation also qualifies for the Ways To Use It (WT261) challenge, What's New? on SCS to use something new and the Try a New Technique (TLC263) Very Vintage challenge.  I used my new Webster's Pages Combo Pack Lullaby Lane/Life's Portrait paper (Love, love it) and my new May Arts silk ribbon.  (I will have some up on my Etsy site!)  I also used my sheer rayon ribbon in a new way...I heated it up with my heat gun.  If you know me well, you know that's waaaaay out of my area of comfort.

I've added lots of close-ups on the Posh blog so be sure to head over and take a look...while you're there, take a look at some of the projects the rest of the team has offered for inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by today...I really appreciate the time you choose to spend with me.  Be sure to check back...I think it's time for some blog candy, don't you?  (wink,wink!)

 

Got Coffee? Cards for a Cause and Cutting Cafe DT Search

One of my most favorite things is enjoying a really hot cup of good coffee.  My DH makes the coffe in our house.  He's so good at it, I don't even attempt it unless I'm forced into it when he's out of town.  

The Cutting Cafe has two brand new sets.   The Coffee Cup Shaped Template and the huge Got Coffee? printable stamp set.  I colored in some of the images on this linen textured DP with marker.

 

  

Aren't those cool images?  You can see what some of the other designers have brewed up here as well.

 

 

This second mug is for today's combined Color Challenge/Teapot Tuesday challenge Bashful Celery Melons (CC261) Cards for a Cause. You can read the story about Lindsey, the young woman  behind the challenge on the link.  You can email Cindy directly if you'd like to send Lindsey a card. 

 

 

This isn't Lindsay's card,  but since I was working with the Coffee Cup template, I thought I would make a really funky tea cup.  We were to use Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Mambo Melon.  This Basic Grey paper just happened to have all those colors in it.  We were also to use lots of stitching.  My little Sew Mini decided to act up for the first time but I did get lots of straight and zig zag stitching on my cup. 

 

 

Regina, the owner of The Cutting Cafe is having a Design Team Call.  You can read more about it here.

 

Thanks for stopping by...nothing's better than coffee with friends!

 

Supplies:

 

Stamps/Templates - The Cutting Cafe

Paper - Card 2 SU Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Mambo Melon, Basic Grey Pheobe DP

             Card 1 - PTI Vintage Cream, Summer Sunrise, GCD Studios Provence DP

Accessories - Spellbinders Circle/Scalloped Circle dies, computer, dimensionals, markers, scalloped border punch

 

 

Jewel's Been Planting Flowers Just for You

Isn't this just the sweetest image?  This is Jewel Planting from Ethereal Forest Design (EFD for short).  I also used one of the super cute Gardent Sentiments for my flower stake. 

I think this would make an adorable little housewarming or hostess gift.  The sentiment says, "May your Garden Never have Weeds".  Oh that it were so!

I printed Jewel and the sentiment on Neenah Classic Solar White before I chose my  designer paper which has  ivory undertones.  The image didn't matter as I was going to color it anyway. But not the sentiment so rather than print out another, I just swiped my PTI Vintage Cream pad across it.  Instant ivory.  I stitched and distressed the sentiment tag.  That pretty shine was already on the paper.  I punched the butterflies from the same paper.  The flowers are a combination of my punched images and Chloe's Closet flowers.


Don't forget to pop back in for the EFD Blog Hop!  You could win $$ to go shopping for your own EFD images.  The team has been working on projects to get your creative juices flowing.  See you at the Hop!!

 Supplies:

Stamps - Ethereal Forest Designs Jewel Planting and Garden Sentiments

Paper - Making Memories Chloe's Closet, Neenah Classic Solar White

Ink - PTI Vintage Cream

Accessories - pail and flower stake - Target, ribbon, ribbon, brads, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, various flower punches, Chloe's Closet flowers, dimensionals, Sakura glaze pen, Copic markers, bag filler, popsicle stick, flower seeds, sewing machine, clothespin

"Time" for a bunch of challenges

Two posts today so be sure to scroll down!

 

Hi!  First I must tell you that this card is way out of my comfort zone but I'm commited to learn and grow so I just dove in.  I began with this sketch challenge from Posh Designs Scrapbook Store and then went looking for more inspiration.


The second challenge I found is the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge, SSCC27, based on Esther 4:14 to show "time".  I loved the Beth Moore study of Esther so I really wanted to do this one.

I found a couple of other challenges on SCS to use lace (WT259) and the new Free for All Challenges(F4A1) to use texture, patterned paper, and a color you don't normally use.  My rarely used color is Really Rust.  I bet its been years since I pulled that one out.

I flipped the sentiment panel, did alot of distressing and sponging and cluttered it up really good with embellishments.   I just love this quote...be sure and enlarge the photo so you can read it.

Give this sketch a try and link your creations on the Posh Designs Scrapbook blog.  They're giving a $25 gift certificate to the awesome Posh Designs Scrapbook Store.

Supplies:
Paper - Basic Grey Infuse DP, SU Very Vanilla base, PTI Vintage cream
Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Walnut, SU Really Rust
Stamps - Tim Holtz Visual Artistry
Accessories - big scallop punch, crocheted lace, stick-on pearls, dimensionals, distressing tool, die cuts

A Life Filled with Cupcakes is a Good Life, So... Pig Out!

I am sad to report that due to circumstances beyond her control, Judy of Digital-Ink Co., is closing the doors to the store.  She will be opening her own stand alone store soon so stay tuned for more information.


I was assigned to Judy for the next challenge, "Anything Goes".  I paired her image, "Pig Out" with some templates from The Cutting Cafe.  You know how much I love cupcakes! (See my posts here for recipes and photos).  I chose the Cupcake Box and one of her awesome new releases All Occasion Tag Set.  These tags fit the SU tag punch.  How cool is that?!  I wanted this to be suitable for boys but I think a girl might like the polka dotted pig too.

I used the Easel Card design from SplitcoastStampers and The Cutting Cafe's All About Cupcakes for my card sentiment.

Have you ever seen such pure bliss?  Um, that is unless, it's my face diving into that cupcake!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your comments and if you're new, come follow along with me!  You never know what will happen on the playground.

Supplies:
Paper - SU Certainly Celery, Bordering Blue, Crate Paper Brunch
Stamps - The Cutting Cafe,  M&M designz
Accessories - Templates - The Cutting Cafe, Crystal Effects, sewing machine, beads, ribbon, twine, Spellbinder circle dies,wooden skewer, Scor-Tape 
Ink - Prismacolor marker

Daisy Doodles Ebony and Ivory

 "Ebony and Ivory", you know the Michael Jackson song about black and white?  Well, the challenge at Daisy Doodles  is to use only black and white. This is a new digi line...pop on over, I bet you'll find something you love. 

For some reason, this wasn't as easy for me as it sounded.  I started with one idea and ended up somewhere else.  Do you ever do that? 

This Barbed Heart is a Daisy Doodles digi stamp available at The Digital-Ink Co.   I printed it out on Neenah Classic white, added a bit of coloring with a SU black marker.  I cut my ribbon ends blunt because I was thinking this looks like a tuxedo...I covered the barbs with pearls. The sentiment was stamped with SU white craft ink then heat embossed with detail white EP. Now those are heartstrings I can live with!!

Head on over and play..you've got until Saturday, Feb. the 27th.  Jules is giving away a free stamp!!

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classic white, SU black, SU Specialty DP

Stamps - Daisy Doodles and unmounted rubber 

Accessories - stick on pearls, dimensionals, ribbon (Target wedding dept.), SU marker, Detail White EP,  SU punches