Hey, Matisse - Smell the Coffee! SCS Challenge

The Inspiration Challenge this week on SCS is a super cool one. If you've never tried these, you should! These ladies find some of the most unique stores and catalogs. Even if you don't do the challenge, you can do some fabulous visual shopping...or even some real shopping...go ahead, I won't breathe a word!

This bright and bold Matisse inspired cup was my choice...I just loved the bright colors...not the way I live or dress but oh so pretty.

The stamp is from a set by Impression Obsession called, "Smell the Coffee". The paper is all Stampin Up: Tangerine Tango, Taken with Teal, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, black and white.

I colored the cup with the matching SU markers directly on the rubber. (DTR) The brads came from the Target $1 spot. I didn't have a black or purple and the blue was too light so I just colored them with my Prismacolor alcohol markers. The same look and versatility as Copics at half the price! Works for my budget!

Thanks for stopping... and be inspired!

Simon Says Stamp Christmas in August...Whew!

Hee,hee...do you remember playing "Simon Says"? You know, whoever was Simon said you had to do something and you HAD to do it or "go back". Well, the challenge this week on Simon Says Stamp is Christmas in August. Well, I sure don't want to start this year over so I played along. :-)

Now I have to tell you the truth, my Christmas Mojo just hasn't kicked in yet....it's waaay tooo hot in S. Florida for Santa, but I thought I'd give it a try.

The DT on Simon were making alot of tags last week, so I thought I'd try one when my card Mojo wouldn't budge. I just adore this little angel from Elzy Bells. Now I have a special tag for a special gift!

Thanks, Simon!! Supplies:
Stamps: Elzy Bells
Paper: SU Holiday Treasures DP, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray, Prismacolor Markers
Accessories: Spellbinders dies,
snowflake punches, button, velvet ribbon, paper piercer, glitter

Dress Card Template Winner!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:Random 16Timestamp: 2009-08-22 12:03:25 UTC Gretchen said... This is really CUTE!! I can think of several uses for it TOO!!! August 21, 2009 3:54 PM

Congratulations, Gretchen!! Your template will be on the way!

Another Masculine Card -

Don't forget to sign up for the giveaway on this post.

I was exhausted last night...too many late owl nights, I guess and at my advanced age, I can't party all night anymore. :-(

At any rate, I finished this card the other day while I had the stamps out for this
card. This card is for the Color Challenge at SCS.
We were to use Taken with Teal, Vanilla and either Close to Cocoa or Going with Gray.

Stamps are Inkadinkadoo Coastal and Papertrey Everyday Classics.

I love to paper pierce.. good thing because I redid this one 3X until I found a design I thought fit the card. Sponged in gray on the vanilla to soften the edges.

What do you think? Isn't it cool that just changing the colors gives this a whole new look?

Here comes the Bride! and Another Giveaway, too!

Thanks for playing...this giveaway is closed.

The fall wedding season is approaching and with it comes the need for invites for showers and wedding cards. Regina, from The Cutting Cafe has outdone herself with the creation of this ADORABLE dress card and envelope template! I can see this finished in the bridesmaid's colors for a thank you luncheon, as an invitation for a princess party, the possibilities are endless! She's even got an envelope designed to go with it as well as an option to print it with the invite information inside AND accessories. We know how important accessories are!

I decided to go totally bridal and innocent but be sure to check out the hot little black number Regina cooked up. VaVoom!

I cut out my card shape and the separate dress template then I ran the template through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I found these rolls of very fine netting (tulle) at JoAnn's a few months ago in the $ spot and though I didn't have a plan for them then...I knew I would some day, right?

I gathered and sewed a piece of the tulle across the bodice, covered it with a piece of white picot edged satin ribbon, added a stunning off white paper rose I picked up from 7kidscollegefund.com by punching a 1/16" hole and sticking the stem through. I cut the stem down a bit then taped it off. I added my tiny stick-on pearls from Michael's to the neckline and on the tulle. All that was left was to tape it all down on the card itself.

So simple, yet I think, so elegant.

What do you think?

Woo,hoo, ladies! Regina just said I can give this set away so you can make your very own pretty dress ! Just leave me a comment that includes your contact info (you will not be contacted unless you win) by Saturday morning. I will draw a winner then. Good luck!

Roses and Magnolias

What do girls do when they're husbands go out of town? Well, they stamp in their jammies, of course!!

My DH had a meeting so I invited my BFF, Patty, over to play in my paper sandbox. My new passion is making paper flowers. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! So easy and so beautiful...I'd love to do a tutorial but the book is copyrighted but here's all the information you need to get started.

The awesome directions are in a book called "The Paper Garden" by Susan Tierney Cockburn. All the flowers are made with punches and paper...nothing else except markers to add color to the flower centers.

Shopping alert: the punch tools and all the punches are on sale 30% off, today only at Scrappily Ever After.

Patty picked up the flowers on the card at the Scrappily Ever After booth at CHA. She broght them with her and I helped her put the elements together for the super CAS (clean and Simple) card. The sentiment is from the elegant Flourished Words from Flourishes. Didn't she do a fabulous job?!!

We each made a rose and that's Patty's first magnolia. Instant card WOW!! I have some projects in mind using these and other flowers to stay tuned.

Don't forget to pop over to Scrappily Ever After today! Cheryl is super sweet and put up with all our questions when we placed our order. Shhhhh!

Totally Coastal Masculine Card

I did two posts today so don't forget to scroll down to see another Clean and Simple card (forgot to post it!!). A mind is a terrible thing to waste!

This is another CAS triple challenge.

CAS10 - Monochromatic, CAS28-Masculine and CASDT09FALL02 - Shades of brown with a touch of red .

Stamps - Inkadinkadoo Coastal/Maritime, Paper - Papertrey Kraft & Dark Chocolate

Techniques - Sponging, piercing, heat embossing

The images are heat embossed with clear EP but I couldn't capture it tonight.

Thanks for visiting...love to know what your thoughts!

Thankful

Totally forgot to blog this! This is a triple CAS DT challenge card for Splitcoaststampers. You can find the challenge details here if you want to play along.

My base is a Fabriano notecard. Beautiful texture and elegance. Stamps - Papertrey First Fruits, Ink- Papertrey Dark Chocolate and Sakura red glitter pen, Ribbon - Target.

Clean and simple. What do you think ?

Stamps, Stamps and More Stamps!!

Ok, Blogging Friends, you've got to head on over to Priscilla Styles (home of Midnight Madness) !!!

Once again, Priscilla is giving us a chance to win some awesome Blog Candy!! Woo,Hoo!! Be sure to follow the directions, she's checkin' on us.

While you're there, check out the awesome talent in residence on her design team and the cool templates she has for sale.

If you love elegant style, and cool sketch challenges with tons of prizes, priscillastyles is your destination. She's also got an awesome tutorial for a chiffon flower you might be interested in.

Good luck, everybody!

Happy 100th, Sharon!

No, she's not 100 but it's Sharon Johnson's 100th Challenge Birthday Bash and we're all invited!

Sharon and her talented group of designers, past and present, have whipped up some gorgeous creations and blog candy too. Hop on over and join in the celebration!

Supplies:
Paper: Fabriano notecard, Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Ripe Avocado
Stamps: Papertrey Faux Ribbon, Simple Little Things, Button Bits
Ink: Versafine Chalk ink Tea Leaves
Accessories: The Paper Garden, punches, flower tools, ribbon (Target)

We have a Blogaversary winner!! Congratulations to Sue from Oregon!!! Be sure to give her a shout out and check out her adorable cards...this girl can color!

School Days Winner Re-Draw

The winner of the drawing here on my school days post did not respond soooo.....

I drew another number

Here are your random numbers : 6

Timestamp-08-16-2009 036:16 0UTC

VICKIE AUST said...
This is such a cute card and perfect for grandchildren going back to school or for their teacher.
August 7, 2009 2:20 PM

Congratulations, Vicki!! Please send me your email address.

Hey, Cupcake!!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on the blogaversary post. I read every one and from what I can determine, you want to see more gift type things. I ADORE making gift sets..not sure what it is but one thing seems to lead to another and gets my creative juices running.

Today's creation started life looking like the picture to the left. I picked up several of these sets right after Christmas last year when Target had them for 75% off...that made each one about $5. Inside is a mug, a container of tea bags, a package of flavored coffee (enough for a full pot) and a package of hot cocoa mix. A very nice gift....unless you're a paper crafter!!

Simon Says Stamp has an "Anything but a Card Challenge" here along with some awesome inspiration from their designers. My anything buts...a basket, altered box, tag, and recipe card!

My first thought was to recover the container but it had too many odd angles so.....
I decided to make my own container! I printed out Lauren Meader's Pack a Picnic in the large size on SU blush cardstock. I had just two pieces of my favorite DP from Basic Grey's Two Scoops Collection left and knew they would be perfect for a basket.

The border is SU white cut with the Martha Stewart lace edge border punch. See my tag? I got some Bass shorts at the outlet mall this summer and they had a really nice, heavy chipboard tag on them...so I covered it in the same DP. The coffee cup is stamped with Papertrey's Everyday Classics, covered with Crystal Effects and a tiny strip of the DP was added at the rim, then attached with a dimensional.

(You can download a template for a recipe card for Word here.)

Now for what's on the inside...my mug's not empty! It has the dry ingredients for a microwave mug cupcake! I printed the recipe using the template above then set my printer to print on 4x6 cardstock. The cupcake on my recipe card is also from PTI's Everyday Classics. The base is stamped in Leaf, the icing in Berry Sorbet then covered in Crystal Effects. The green half pearl was in a pack that was a 50% off K & Co. find at Michael's.

Do you recognize the box the coffee came in? No? That's Good!!

I took it apart, traced it, then scored it on my Scor-Pal following the same lines. I changed the closure to fit my paper (you can see what I did in the second photo...basically just cut it straight across. I added Scor-Tape to the ends and the bottom flap. Before assembling, I added my DP and then sewed my box on the front and back.
I used a Magnetic Snap for the closure because I thought the recipient might want to re-use or ahem...re-gift the box. :-)












Just so you know the recipe actually works....I had to try it out, right??
A nice big cupcake! Not gourmet, but very good and when it's warm, who needs frosting?! Best of all....I got to eat it all by myself. Do not breathe a word to my DH. Promise?


Love to know what you think!



Charlene

Somebody pick me up off the floor!!!

I just opened my blog to post and saw a post that someone won the BIG LUCKY DUCK CHA SOMETHING ABOUT SIMON Giveaway

.

Guess what, it's me!

Me, who never wins anything. I always joke that I wouldn't win even if I was the only one entered.

What an absolute blessing! I'm doing the Happy Dance (my dog thinks I'm nuts..it's usually the other way around) Gosh.

Somebody pinch me and then be sure to check out all the new CHA goodies arriving at Simon says Stamp. While you're there, check out their blog. They have some neat challenges for you to play along and stretch imaginations along with their super talented design team.

Hey, you can be a winner too...one more day until I pick the winner for my Blogaversary giveaway. So head back and sign up!!

Blogaversary Presents...for YOU!

Comments are now closed. 5 pm Saturday. Good luck everybody!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 19

Timestamp: 2009-08-15 21:16:47 UTC

Sue from Oregon that would be you!!

First of all, thank you to each and every one of you for taking your valuable time to visit my blog and leave a comment. A blogger lives on comments. :-) It's the only way we know if anyone is out there. If my humble creations have inspired you in any way, I am grateful. Thanks to all the wonderful crafters and friends who've encouraged me along the way as well.

Here are my gifts to you....so far:

Justrite Stampers Christmas Stamp Ensemble

Justrite Stampers 3-1/4" Classic Stamper III

Stampin Up Yummy Unmounted Set

American Crafts Thickers Chipboard Stickers

A set of matching tags, brads and ribbon

Marcella K Sparkly Chipboard Alphabet

Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter 6 X 6 paper pad

Hero Arts Wish Prints stamp set

Making Memories Sheer Frames

Martha Stewart Ivory pearl stickers

Clear stamps birthday set

Papertrey Spring Moss ink pad (my fav color)

What you need to do: leave me a comment telling me what you'd most like to see in the next year on my blog AND sign up as a follower. ONLY 1 POST PER PERSON PLEASE.

I will draw a winner on Saturday...and will add something new each day as a surprise.

Thanks again!!

Cutting Cafe Pencil Box Winner

Sorry for the late post, ladies. I had a meeting and so did my DH so just got a chance to get on the computer. If you posted twice, I skipped your second post to count.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:14

Timestamp: 2009-08-13 02:18:27 UTC

Jessica G. said...

I'm a huge fan of gift boxes -- this one HAS to be filled with brand new pencils in coordinating colors. I'd adhere some fun DPs for a perfect back to school set! Although I have to say I love your idea of chocolate, too!!

Jessica, please send me your email address at cookiebaker57@gmail.com so we can get your template to you.

Thanks to everyone who played and visited. I read every post and appreciate each one of you.

Be sure to check out the Blogaversary candy!!

The winner of this giveaway is Scholaro24. Please contact me by Friday. I will draw another winner (from those already posted) if I don't hear from you.

Thanks everybody!!

Raspberry Suite Gift Set

Today is the big day...IT'S MY 1 YEAR BLOGAVERSARY and I've passed 20,000 visitors and hit 50 followers....thanks to all of you!! So...happy day to you. Stay tuned because since so many milestones happened at once, I have lots of surprises to thank you.

Right now, though, I thought I'd post the rest of the gift set for Dawn's Raspberry Suite 14 challenge. Holy Toledo...while you're there, check out all the samples she has for the new Scattered Showers addition!! This is also for the Simon Says Stamp - Anything but a card challenge...mine is more like anything AND a card!

The little basket is the small template from Lauren Meader's Timeless Templates Pack a Picnic. I know...my jam topper is white but I already had them printed out on my computer and didn't want to waste it. Below is a closer shot of the basket and jam topper.

Thanks for stopping and be sure and stay tuned. I'll also be choosing the winner of the Cutting Cafe Pencil box this evening so you still have time to leave a post here on my blog.

As always, I appreciate you and your comments!!

Raspberry Suite MMSC13

Aren't these colors just beautiful?!! I've never had the nerve to play with a Papertrey challenge before and almost didn't do this one because I don't have anything in Scarlet Jewel, but I promised Dawn McVey I'd give it a try. I met Dawn at CHA. She and Nicole greeted every person waiting in line to shop and yes, they are as nice as you think they are!




I also wanted to play the MMSC13 sketch challenge. Wow...talk about a challenge!! All those tiny squares! I used my magnetic board though. Love that tool!! I kept the image panel simple because I wanted these flowers to take center stage. What do you think? I actually made them!! It's my first attempt at making paper flowers using multiple punches. My centers weren't quite dry but had to get this posted in time (I hope)! I used all Papertrey papers which is a bit thick but I think they worked.

The instructions are in a book called "The Paper Garden" by Susan Tierney Cockburn. What talent!! The book is clearly written and the illustrations make it easy to follow.
I got mine at The Punch Bunch.

I made a gift to go with this card. I'll add it in the next post.
I don't have anything in Scarlet Jewel so I used Bravo Burgundy and played it down by using it as the layer under the squares and beneath the Vintage Cream layer on the image.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Scattered Showers
Paper: Papertrey Raspberry Suite, Vintage Cream, Plum Pudding, , Leaf Green, SU Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Papertrey Plum Pudding, SU marker (flowers)
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, various punches, Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies

Cutting Cafe Pencil Box #2

Those of you who know children well, know it's hard to give something to one without giving something to the other. The Back to School Pencil Box here is for our granddaughter who will be in the first grade this year. Her brother is 4 and is being home schooled for pre-school. I thought he needed his very own pencil box, boy style. I'll fill it with colored pencils and M&M's.


I used some of my favorite kid paper from DCWV called "Nana's Kids". Our grands call me "Nana"...think that's why I like it? hmmm..


At any rate, here's a close up of the image panel. I stamped the D in Justrite Stampers Brayton font. The lower case is the Times New Roman lower case front. I've noticed they've changed the rubber and I got a better image with the Times New Roman even though I sanded and erased that big D like crazy. The ovals were cut and embossed with Spellbinders oval dies. I left the white oval in the die, then sponged around David's name for an airbrushed effect. (much less expensive!!)


I cut an airplane from the paper, added some stickles, then popped it on with dimensionals along with some stars I picked up last year on clearance at JoAnn's. While on that subject, I had a friend over who said she buys things when she needs them for a specific project. I'm a clearance shopper so if I see a good buy, even though I may not need it right then, if I love it, I will eventually use it. Save lots of $$ and time that way.

Don't forget to post for the template giveaway for this box. I'll draw a number tomorrow evening.


Supplies:
Template: The Cutting Cafe Pencil Box
Stamps: Justrite Stampers Brayton and Times New Roman fonts
Paper: SU Ballet Blue, Neenah Classic White, Nana's Kids DCWV
Ink: Versafine black, SU Ballet Blue
Accessories: Spellbinders Oval dies, dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Stickles, glue on stars (JoAnn's)

Simon Says Stamp Giveaway!

If you haven't taken a trip through the virtual store at Simon Says Stamp store lately, then ladies, (and gentlemen too, of course!) then you just haven't shopped!! This store has everything from Copics to all the latest and most popular stamps, papers, and embellishments. We're talking over 100,000 products! My favorite addictions are stamps and paper and they have it all!!

If that isn't enough to have your fingers racing to hit that link check out the Simon Says Stamp blog for a chance to win $100 worth of brand new merchandise fresh from CHA. Just follow the blog link and the directions posted there.

Good luck and don't forget to check this post for your chance to win the new Pencil Box template from the awesome Cutting Cafe. Just follow the directions and that awesome template could be yours.

Be sure to stay tuned because Wednesday is my 1 year blogaversary and I will be giving away some neat gifts to celebrate. Something new will be added daily.

Have fun!! Happy stamping .....and shopping! ;-)

Cutting Cafe - Another Giveaway!!

This giveaway is closed. Thanks for playing!!

Regina Easter is not only a talented creator and designer, (I'm beginning to think the woman never sleeps!), she's also one of the most generous people I am honored to know. She allows her team to give away a copy of the new designs she creates if we choose to use them. How awesome is that?

My creation today is her new Pencil Box Template. This is so easy to print, cut and decorate. I chose to stick with my apple theme and send this cute box with the apple card to my soon-to-be a first grade granddaughter. I'll have to make one for her little brother too. :-) This generous box will hold up to 18 pencils or......

...look at what else you can use it for!! Depending on the occasion, it will hold several chocolate bars, stacks of Hershey nuggets, several small bags of M & M's, or small travel sizes of cosmetics. I bet you can think of other great uses for this box too!!

Now if you''d like a chance to win this template, just leave me a comment telling me what you'd put in the box and sign up to follow my blog. I will draw a winner on Wednesday evening. This is also my 1 year anniversary week so be watching for some blog candy. ;-D

Supplies:
Stamps: The Cutting Cafe "School Days", Pencil Box Template
Paper: SU Real Red, Tart and Tangy DP (discontinued)
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Scalloped Circle punch, 1-3/8" punch, sewing machine, button, Crystal Effects, dimensionals