CAS59 - New York, New York

This week's CAS59 challenge on SpitcoastStampers is a theme...New York, New York!  (SCS is down so will add link when the site's back up) 

I chose "Central Park in the Snow".  One of the photos was a gorgeous tree in fall foliage.  I thought this would make a nice masculine card either for a birthday or condolence card.  Not sure if you can see the embossing on the card or not but it adds a nice elegant feel.  Super quick to put together.

Make sure to check out my sale page.  I'll be adding some stamp sets, paper, ribbon and  CD calendar cases that I have purged from my stash.  I have some blog candy coming up later in the week AND a sneak peek from Ethereal Forest Designs.  Whew...lots going on...you don't want to miss out.

It's Fun Friday on the Posh Designs Blog!

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all the well wishes.   I think we may have found the culprit  that was causing my stomach to do flip flops.  The only other time I've felt like this other than having a serious virus was when I was pregnant and I'm pretty sure that isn't the case!!! 

This is today's Fun Friday....Boxes, Bags, Books and Chocolate project over at Posh Designs Blog.

I've used the awesome Butterfly Shaped Card Template, the All Occasion Tag Set and the All Occasion Scalloped Circle Word Set 1 from The Cutting Cafe to create an elegant spring birthday card and gift box set.   You can find a tutorial on the Posh blog for creating the center of the box.   This little box does a big job...it can hold candy or gift sizes of lotion, lipstick, hand cream, cookies...what can you think of?

This is also for Challenge 59 Spots and Dots on Crafty Creations Challenges & The Dutch Dare Challenge 73 (color challenge).  It looks like all kinds of colors were used but I think this looks like one of them and I used the butterfly inspiration on the the shirt.

Be sure and stay tuned...I've got blog candy coming and some items on my For Sale link AND a giveaway from TCC.   How's that for excitement!?

Supplies

Cardstock - solid PTI Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, K&Co. Brenda Walton Chelsea Glitter Pink

Stamps - The Cutting Cafe

Template - The Cutting Cafe

Accessories -  PTI ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, butterfly punch, Art Institute Glitter (eggplant), silver twine, dimensionals, glue dots, stick-on pearls, Sakura Glitter pen

Wish Big Elymira!

Sorry I've been MIA for a couple of days...fighting a combination of stomach bug, the time change and my bp flip flopping around.   I haven't been this icky sick in awhile so I guess I was due.

This sketch is for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge 65 (MTSC65) and the Spots and Dots challenge on One Stop Craft Challenges. 

This sketch fit Elymira just right, don't you think?  This is Elymira.  She's one of the cute images from Ethereal Forest Designs this month.    Guess what...Elymira has a twin named Elmer!   The "Wish Big" sentiment is from the Elephant Sentiments set.

Supplies:

Stamps - Ethereal Forest Designs

Paper - SU Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Old Olive,  Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday DP

Accessories - Spellbinders Circle dies, dimensionals

CPS157 - Pink and Green Fairies All Around

We love daylight savings time around here but oh my, this old brain doesn't adjust as easily as it used to.  I'm a daylight girl...and it's darker in the a.m. so my brain doesn't kick in until it gets light outside.  So...the body gets up but the brain stays in bed.  It's not pretty.

DH and I headed off to Epcot this weekend.  Disney has a great deal for FL residents from Jan.-May.  $99 for 4 visits to any of 4 parks.  We can fit that one into the budget.  We haven't been to Epcot in over 20 yrs.  This weekend was the Flower and Garden show and it was BEAUTIFUL....lots of flowers and the character shaped topiaries Disney is famous for. 

This little card was nearly finished when we left...covers a few challenges:

Sharon Johnson's Pink and Green Color Challenge

CPS157 Sketch Challenge 

SplitcoastStampers F4A3- I want a Fairy Tale

Playground Toys:

Paper - SU Pixie Pink, Pretty in Pink, Gable Green, Neenah Classic, DCWV Glitter pack

Ink - Mememto black, Copic marker

Accessories:  Art Institute Glitter, Spellbinders Circle/Scalloped Circle dies, MS border punch

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!)

 

So...You've Never Seen a Blue Striped Bunny?

Well..now you have!  I made a pink bunny to send to my granddaughter so thought a blue one for her brother was in order.  He is all boy and a  cute pink bunny just wouldn't do.  I even gave this one a fuzzy green (!) tail with Flower Soft.  This image is just one of the initial releases, Easter Bunny from Ethereal Forest Designs.  I also used one of the Garden Sentiments for the inside.  Today's the last day for entry to the Blog Hop so make sure you head to EFD and play along.

I thought my treat cup (StampinUp) was full until I tipped the card up to take the picture.  Anyone know just how many M&M's they hold?

This easy design is a flap card.  You can find directions here for this easy tri-fold. 

Today was a gorgeous WARM day...finally!  DH and I worked all day in the yard pulling weeds, trimming bushes and mowing the yard.  Funny how the weeds were the only things that weren't damaged by the cold.

Supplies:

Stamps - Easter Bunny, Garden Sentiments both from Ethereal Forest Designs

Paper - Bazzill Texture, Debbie Mum Noah's Ark DP

Accessories - SU Treat Cup, sewing machine, Sakura white gel pen, dimensionals, Flower Soft, velcro dot

  

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

 

 

Time for Posh Designs Sketch Challenge #10!

(click for a closer look)

It's time for a new sketch challenge at Posh Designs Scrapbook Store blog!  Posh Designs is giving away a Mystery Prize Package to one lucky sketch player. 

I chose to use an image instead of a sentiment for my center panel because I fell in love with this digital image from Phindy's Place called Eggtastic.  I love the detail and creativity in these adorable images. 

    

I started with the super cute cardstock from Cosmo Cricket called Girl Friday.  It has the soft colors of spring that I thought would be perfect with this cute little chick and egg.   

Remember you can flip, rotate, or change up the sketch to suit your style just as long as we can see the main elements of the sketch.  You've got two weeks to play so get creating and be sure to link your creation here on the Posh blog to be entered to win.  Deadline is March 22nd at 11:59 PM. 

Check out what the other talented ladies of Posh Designs did with this sketch:

Melina          Nini            Kim

Amy             Dawn

Be sure to visit us on the PDSS forum as well.  There's sure to be something there to inspire you, make you think or giggle, ask a question or perhaps you know the answer to a question someone else has asked.

Supplies:

Paper - Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday DP, PTI Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream

Ink - Copic markers

Stamps - Flourishes Flourished Words, Phindy's Place Eggstatic

Accessories:  PTI ribbon, button, MS border punch, sewing machine, Sakura glaze pen

CAS57 - Layer it with Spellbinders Dies

I don't think I've EVER made a card this fast so if I can do it, so can you.  Today's Clean and Simple Challenge on SplitcoastStampers (CAS57) is to layer Spellbinders Dies to create your card.  I used the oval and long rectangle dies for this super fast card.  The Barely Banana (yellow) piece was actually a scrap.  Love when that happens!  Sentiment was generated using the computer in Print Shop.

Supplies:

Paper - SU Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Barely Banana, DCWV Spring Glitter Pack

Stamps - None!

Accessories - computer, Print Shop, Martha Stewart ribbon, Spellbinders Oval, Long Rectangle dies, Cuttlebug folder

It's Time for the Blog Hop at EFD!!!

“Welcome to the First “Ethereal Forest Designs” Blog Hop!!! If you stopped in here first, make sure you head to our  Design Team Coordinator, Darsie Bruno’s Blog, HERE  and start your hop!


Please make sure you comment on each design team member's blog, then return to the Ethereal Forest Designs blog and make a comment!  At the end of the hop, one lucky winner who has commented on all the blogs will receive a $10.00 voucher to the Ethereal Forest Designs Store.


Need some inspiration?  I've used EFD's  Easter Cross and Easter Sentiments Images to create a simple yet elegant card for SplitcoastStampers Clean and Simple (CAS56) "It's Hip to be Square" challenge to make a square card.

This card is 4.25" square.  Don't you just love that elegant script in EFD's Easter Sentiments?  I love this reminder of why we celebrate the Easter season.


Here's a list of the EFD team members in case you lose your way:


Darsie
Audrey
Betty
Charlene (that's me!)
Karen
Melissa
Shirley
Ethereal Forest Designs


The winner will be announced on the Ethereal Forest Designs blog on Friday, March 12th. Deadline to complete the hop will be Thursday, March 11th!



Thanks for taking the time to play along. To continue the blog hop, please visit  Karen's blog. All of the images used in the design teams creations can be found at the Ethereal Forest Designs Store .

Supplies:
Stamps - Ethereal Forest Designs Easter Cross/Easter Sentiments
Paper - Papertrey Guidelines, Lavender Mist, Plum Pudding
Ink - Copic Markers
Accessories - Spellbinders Oval and Ribbon Tag dies, Stickles, PTI Plum Pudding ribbon, Prima rose

$25 to spend at Posh Designs Scrapbook Store!!

Just a quick reminder that you still have 4 days to get a card entered in the sketch challenge at Posh Designs Scrapbook Store.  There's a $25 gift certificate so spend at the store for one lucky winner so be sure to get your card linked on the blog. 

No card today as DH and I have been painting the kitchen...all day and we're still not finished!!  Whose idea was this anyway...?? 

I'm the guilty one...it was a pretty Martha Stewart green called "Fen"...don't ask me what Fen is...I have no idea.  At any rate, I was tired of it so painted it a Benjamin Moore color called Muslin.  Loving this color with the black accents in my kitchen. 

Kuddos to my sweet DH who just came home from a week long meeting yesterday and spent his only day off this week with a roller in his hands.  I think he's a keeper. 

  

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 Some Blackberry Crumble

I've been out of town for a few days to spend some time with the beautiful little baby girl these sweet little piggies belong to.  She is just gorgeous and so sweet.  Smiles all the time...ALL the time!  Is there anything sweeter than the smell of a little baby?  Um,...well, maybe if it's this warm Blackberry Crumble! 

I'm catching up on my stamping projects so thought I'd give you a recipe break in the meantime.

I combined a few recipes to come with this delicious dessert.  We pick our own blackberries in the early summer and I freeze them in addition to making jam with some of them.  This topping is delicious with peaches and blueberries too, so if blackberries aren't your thing, just substitute the fruit or combination of fruits of your choice.  (Blackberries, blueberries and peaches are awesome together!)  This dessert is quick and easy and will have your guests asking for the recipe.

Here's the recipe:

Blackberry Crumble

Filling
4 c. fresh or frozen blackberries
4 T. Grand Marnier liqueur (yum)
3/4 c. sugar
3-4 T. cornstarch

Topping
1 c. light brown sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 -1 c. old fashioned rolled oats (not instant) You may want to add a bit more...I usually do.
1 c. flour
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened

Light grease an 11 x 7 in glass baking pan with butter.  Spread berries evenly in the baking dish.  Sprinkle with the Grand Marnier.  Combine the sugar and cornstarch and sprinkle evenly over the berries.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the topping ingredients, adding more oats if desired.  I use my hands and combine until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is evenly dispersed. 

Spread the oat mixture over the berries.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven about 30 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the topping is nicely browned.  Remove from oven, cool slightly and serve warm with ice cream.

YUM!!

*If using peaches, add 1/2 t. nutmeg

                                                               

It's Here!

  

 

It’s here! The First Release Day for Ethereal Forest Designs!

 

There are 27 images and sentiments for purchasing on their newly formed store. The design team has been busy creating cards this past week using the wonderful images and you can find them on the Ethereal Forest Designs Blog!

 

Please take a moment to browse the images at the Store, then hop over to the Blog and leave a comment! You could possibly win a free image, if you do! We’ll draw a random winner who has left a comment on the EFD Blog on Tuesday, March 2nd.

 

Make sure you become a “follower” on their blog to stay up-to-date on Blog Hop, New Releases and Challenges information.”

 

  

CAS55, FTL80 - I Need a Makeover!

This week's CAS challenge was to pick one of our own cards and give it a CAS makeover...oh, yeah, I need one to but I don't think paper and ink will help.  LOL

 

I chose this one.

I like it for it's Vintage style but I wanted to play with a Clean and Simple blog sketch FTL80.  The challenge was to create a clean and simple card using patterned paper.  Normally, we think of CAS cards as having lots of white space. 

 

Here's mine.  I think I like this better than the original. 

There were very specific directions for the card and paper sizes.  Head on over and give this sketch a go.  It really was fun!  I wasn't even tempted to bling it up.  I added the sentiment with the elegant Flourished Words from Flourishes.

Supplies:

Paper - PTI Lemon Mist, Basic Grey Urban Couture, SU Chocolate Chip

Ink - SU Chocolate Chip

Image- Vintage image from Twisted Sisters

 

 

And These Little Piggies are the Sweetest of All

I had some time today to go blog hopping and stopped in to see what awesome creation Jenny Gropp had created today.  She had the cutest card using a sketch from Our Creative Corner.  I fell in love with it right away!

  

The challenge this week at Stamping Sisters in Christ  (SSCC28) is  based on Colossians 3:17. 

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

How miraculous is the gift of life!  When I see the 10 little fingers and 10 little toes of a newborn babe, I am always awed and humbled.  He knows us in the womb.  The song I sang all day yesterday was "Our God is an Awesome God".  

How awesome is His creation of tiny toes and butterflies...both testimonies of His glory. 

Here's my take on the sketch challenge and in thankfulness for this new life ...what do you think?  Those are the sweet little toes of the granddaughter of one of my dearest friends.  I fell in love with the photo when she sent it in an email so I printed it out and saved it to make her a card.  The baby's colors are pink and brown so I wanted to incorporate those colors . 

The base paper is PTI Sweet Blush.  The DP is Debbie Mum's Noah's Ark.  I just love it! 

Supplies:

Paper - PTI Sweet Blush, Debbie Mum Noah's Ark

Stamps - Alesa Baker - inside sentiment (blog title)  :-)

Accessories - photo, buttons, butterfly (Michael's) ribbon, dimensionals

   

"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