So Many Stamps, So Little Time...

{For Cath (sans CHA) with Love Blog Hop}

2012-01-30T23:40:00.002-06:00

Hello friends! Today I have the pleasure of joining along on a Blog Hop for the queen of all things Moxie Fab, Cath Edvalson. Cath is unable to attend CHA because of a painful injury. So Lorena Canto and Virginia Lu had the wonderful idea to have a blog hop to cheer up Cath. So lets get this party started!

My card features two brand new PTI sets Mat Stack 5 Collection, and the "Thank You" stamp set that PTI so generously included free of charge with my order last week! I stamped the Mat Stack label using Turquoise Gem by Versamagic. Such a beautiful color! The scrolls, and sentiment were stamped in Fresh Ink's - Chocolate pigment ink. (love) The ultra textured background is Core'dinations card stock. Every time I use this on a card I always think to myself, "I need to use this more often." I love Cor'dinations and they have some new kraft Core'dinations coming out that I am so adding to my paper stash! I distressed the wood grain with my SU sanding block, cut the panel into 3 layers and added machine stitching around all of the edges. I assembled and fussy cut a few pieces, and finally finished the card off with button and white taffeta ribbon from SU. I tell ya it was nice making a card for fun, and for a great cause.

Cath, thank YOU for all you do to inspire us, and I hope and pray that your shoulder and arm start feeling better ASAP. Hugs!

{YNS Fun Friday

2012-01-27T03:00:00.001-06:00

Hello, it's Fun Friday with Your Next Stamp! Every Friday the Design Team members create cards and projects using YNS stamps, and then we each post a creative tip or two. Today I created a card using the set "Sugar Cone". I LOVE those cute heart shaped ice cream scoops! I used a cutting file from Lettering Delights and a KNK Zing to cut out my oval eyelet frame. Next I embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder and then added touch of distressing using a sanding block. My patterned paper is by American Crafts. I have to say that the color combo on this paper was kind of intimidating for me, so much color! But once I put everything together my card really came together. So, my tip for today is:

"Don't be afraid to use lots of color." As long as you have elements like buttons, or ribbon to tie the colors together you won't go wrong!

Be sure to visit the rest of the design team blogs and see their wonderful creations and great tips! Thank you for visiting my blog and have a SUPER Friday!!

{Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop}

2012-01-25T18:29:00.001-06:00

Hello friends! I am a little late with my posting but our phone and DSL were down almost ALL afternoon, I know, the horror right? LOL Well, we survived and I am just now getting the chance to post my card for this months PTI Blog Hop Challenge!

Our challenge was to find a card that we loved from 2011 and using that card as inspiration create a new card! For my card I used this one that I created using the The Crafts Meow clear set "Make a Wish". I LOVE this card and wanted to use the soft pink, and woodgrain texture in the creation of my new card. So, here is my NEW card!

Sorry for the not so great picture, it rained ALL day today and I had to use my OTT light to take the picture. Anyways, to create my card I used my brand new PTI stamp set "Simply Jane". I knew I HAD to have it as soon as I saw the design team post samples using this set. Such a beautiful set. I cut out the frame with a cutting file from Lettering Delights. I stamped it using Versamagic and heat embossed with gold powder. It looks so much prettier in person! The pretty pink patterned paper is from the Baby Steps collection by Simple Stories. I finished off the card with machine stitching, a vanilla satin bow, and a button tied with Sugar twine from A Muse Studio. That's it for today. I hope you have a great evening!

{Sending Warm Wishes}

2012-01-24T09:59:00.000-06:00

Good Morning! I live in Southeast Oklahoma and this winter has been SO mild, now believe me I am not complaining but it would be nice to see at least 1 snowfall this year. Anyways, I thought I would create a winter inspired card for this months gallery challenge at Paper Crafts Connection. To create my wintry card I used a new set from YNS called "Fancy Frames". I stamped the frame in A Muse Studio Sky pigment ink. The sentiment was stamped in Not Quite Navy by Stampin' Up. To create the beautiful snowflake I used a cutting file from Lettering Delights. Seriously, I can't stop cutting things out! The snowflake has two layers, so I sprayed the outer layer with spray adhesive, and sprinkled SU's Dazzling Diamonds all over it. Now if you are able, weather permitting and all I highly recommend doing the "sprinkling" outside. That glitter gets everywhere! I finished off my card with some ruffled ribbon from Hobby Lobby and a button tied with Sugar Twine from A Muse Studio. I hope that you have a wonderful day, and as always, thank YOU for visiting my blog today!

{I'd Cross An Ocean For You!}

2012-01-23T09:43:00.000-06:00

Good Morning friends! Today I am here to show you a card that was published in this months issue of Paper Crafts Magazine! My card was picked for the "Cure For The Winter Blues" section of this months issue. I am extremely excited to report that I have cards in the next 4 issues as well!!! When I first started stamping my dream was to be published and be on a stamp companies design team some day, and so far both have come true. I truly can't believe how much I have accomplished in the world of Paper crafting. I seriously want to thank you for believing in me and for your support as I continue my paper crafting journey. I know that sounds kind of corny, but I mean it! Anyways, enough of that, lol. To create this card I used DSP from Stampin Up's Brights Stack, and PTI's "Whale Wishes" stamp set. A very simple, cute card! I hope you have a wonderful Monday!!

{YNS Fun Friday and Exciting Design Team News!}

2012-01-20T05:00:00.002-06:00

Hello! Today I am thrilled to announce that I have been asked to be a permanent member of the Your Next Stamp Design Team! I am so darn excited. This has been a dream, and goal of mine for quite sometime, and I really couldn't be more excited then I am to be on this team. So, today I am posting a card using one of my favorite YNS stamp sets "You Make My Heart Soar". These stamps are cling mounted rubber stamps and are so easy to use. The set consists of the kite, and two sentiments. Now, you won't believe the price but you can get this set right now for only $3.00! Quantities are limited so you better run over and grab it as fast as you can if you wanna add this adorable set to your collection. LOL, I know I sound like an info-mercial, but I truly love these stamps, and wouldn't be here talking about them if I didn't. Now, to create my card I stamped the kite on a piece of DSP from Stampin Up and paper pieced the kite. I added a couple of strips of matching dsp that I punched using the Fiskers Upper Crest , and EK Success Swirls punch. I added a bit of machine stitching, and to finish off my card I added some taffeta ribbon and a button tied with twine from The Twinery. I hope you are having a great day and thank you for letting me share my happy news with you! Have a wonderful day!

{Love Is In The Air}

2012-01-17T21:12:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! Wow, this is a whopper of a post but I had a very productive (long naptime) afternoon so I have lots to show you! I created three cards, with three different die-cut heart shapes. These adorable cutting files came from Lori Whitlock. Oh boy if you have not been to her store and you own a die-cut machine then you have to see her awesome cutting files! (I am in no way affiliated with LW just a very happy customer.) I cut the hearts out and ran them through my Cuttlebug with a woodgrain embossing folder by The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby). I sponged the hearts in 3 different colors, red, pink, and white. I added a strip of patterned paper that I cut using the Argyle EK Success border punch. Next I cut out strips of paper using the PTI Photo Finishers metal dies. I stamped the Valentine sentiment using the A Muse Studio "Essential Sentiments" collection. Now, that adorable flower was created using another cutting file this time from "Lettering Delights" and my KNK Zing. The collection is called "Quilled Flowers". Love, love LOVE that set!! I added a button to the center and glued the flower on top of a bow tied with basic twine. Here are the other two cards:

I love the splashes of hot pink!

On this heart I tried something different by heat embossing the entire heart using white embossing powder. I really like the way this one turned out!

Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

Moxie Fab World Cool Tools Die-Cutting Challenge

Raise The Bar Challenge #87 - A Banner of a New Year!

Make It Monday With Kraft Outlet - Stamp it Pretty

MYGRAFICO Challenge #119 - Love and Valentines

{You Make My Life Brighter}

2012-01-11T14:18:00.002-06:00

Hello hello! Does this card make you smile as much as it makes me smile? Well I hope so. That sweet little bug is from the Paper Smooches clear stamp set "Giddy Bug". This was another fabulous item I received in the WCMD box of happiness I received in November. I just can't say thank you enough times. Today for the very first time I am playing along with the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge (getting my card in just under the wire, sorrry!) I can't believe it took me so long to try out these stamps, and believe me more sets are in my future. I had so much fun coloring that cute little bug. I used copics, promarkers, and my new Zig Writer pigment markers. They leave such a beautiful rich color behind, but use it lightly because the ink is wet, and the paper will ball up easily. I found that out the hard way, but luckily I stamped the lightning bug several times because I knew I would need a couple re-do's. *smile* The beautiful heart border chain is an SVG file from "A Little Hut". Seriously, have you been to check out her stuff....seriously amazing. I cut out three chains using Stampin Up Brights Stack DSP and added a line of stitching using kraft colored thread. I love, love, love the way that turned out! Speaking of colors I was inspired by the current challenge at CR84FN using these colors:

So bright and happy! I hope that you will play along this week with these challenges and as always thank you for visiting my blog! I truly love and appreciate every single comment.

{YNS January New Release Blog Hop}

2012-01-11T02:00:00.004-06:00

Hello and welcome to the YNS New Release Blog Hop! I was asked to create and share a project for this blog hop and what an honor that was! You should have arrived here from the super talented Maureen.

Today I am featuring an adorable stamp set designed by the wonderfully talented Jenny Suchin, "Special Delivery". I LOVE Jenny's cute designs and everything she creates is just precious! I decided to create a gift bag to go along with the tags I created in THIS post. I used a regular lunch sack and used my Fiskars Threading Water punch to add the scalloped edge. The layered tag was cut using my KNK Zing and atag set from "Lettering Delights". My patterned paper is by the Hobby Lobby brand "The Paper Studio". It is just so darn cute! I stamped the tag with a CHF background stamp in Shell pigment ink by A Muse Studio. I added a row of ruffled vanilla satin ribbon, and a handful of paper roses. I looooove the way my gift bag turned out! Now I have to decide who to give it to, I have SO many friends expecting wee ones right now. The next stop on the blog hop is the amazing lady who started it all, Karen of YNS. Now, did I mention there are prizes to be won?! Whelp, there are!! One lucky winner will receive the New Release stamp set of their choice. And as if it couldn't get any better YNS is offering a 15% off entire order coupon code YNSJAN2012

So not only do you get a chance to buy some adorable Jenny Suchin design YNS stamps, but you get a discount on them also! Sweet!

Here is the complete link list of all the designers for the New Release Blog Hop!

Jenny S. - http://suchins.blogspot.com

Peggy- http://cardcrazy.wordpress.com

Kerri - http://cardsbykerri.blogspot.com

Maylee - http://mayleescreativecorner.blogspot.com {YNS Guest}

Jen R. - http://www.tennisgirl27.blogspot.com

Dana - http://gotjoycreations.blogspot.com

Carole - http://motherslittlehelper.typepad.com

Jenny P. - http://mylittlestampinspot.blogspot.com

Amy - http://inkaboutme.blogspot.com

Jen D. - http://iheart2stamp.com

Diana - http://doodledeedesigns.blogspot.com

Maureen - http://mycasestudies.blogspot.com

Veronica - http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com {YNS Guest}<--You are here.

Karen - http://yournextstamp.blogspot.com/

Today I am also playing along with a few challenges!

The Kraft Journal Challenge - Favorite colors!

The Ribbon Reel Challenge #19 - Pink Polka Dots

Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a fantastic week!

{A Smile is the Key}

2012-01-10T15:47:00.000-06:00

This is such a sweet sentiment, and so very true. It really is amazing what a simple smile can do. Today the main inspiration for my card comes from this weeks challenge at CAS-ual Friday Challenge #34 which was to create a CAS card using chipboard.

I have two pieces of chipboard on my card, the scalloped heart, and the golden key. I used two PTI sets to create my card, Background Basics Sheet Music, and Heart Prints Sentiments. I stamped the sheet music stamp using French Roast pigment ink by A Muse Studio, subtle, but pretty. I finished off my card with a machine stitched frame. I hope your day is going well, and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{The Direction of Your Heart}

2012-01-09T16:57:00.000-06:00

Hello friends, back after a weekend that went by much too quickly! I was busy working on the latest call for Paper Crafts Magazine but as of a few minutes ago I finished uploading and submitting and now the butterflies begin. Even with all of that I was still able to get a little bit of "fun" paper crafting in and I created this CAS card using the sweet stamp set by Unity Stamp Company called " Direction of Your Heart". This is my first time to ink up this adorable stamp set and I just love it! I stamped the compass in Shell ink by A Muse Studio. I used the Upper Crest border punch from Fiskars and super cute heart shaped ribbon from Making Memories. I finished off the card with a bit of machine stitching and a button from Basic Grey. I love making sweet lil' cards like this. Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

Ribbon Carousel Challenge RCC34 - Anything Goes With Unity Stamps

The Paper Players Challenge #77 - All You Need Is Love

BasicGrey Challenge #60 - Something New

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{YNS Jenny Suchins Designs Sneak Peak}

2012-01-07T00:00:00.003-06:00

Hello Friends! Today I have a treat for you, a sneak peek of the upcoming New Release from YNS, "Special Delivery". This adorable set was created by the unbelieveably talented Jenny Suchin! This set and several others will be available to order on Janurary 11th, and we will also be having a blog hop showcasing all of the adorable Jenny Suchin designs. I decided to create tags for a baby boy, and a baby girl. These would be great for a shower, or a "welcome to the world" baby gift. I used my KNK Zing, and a tag from Lettering Delights to create the scallop circle tag. I weaved vanilla satin ribbon in the outer tag slots. I love how that turned out! I used the CHF Lace backgrounder on the tag, and then added a die cut circle that I stamped the main seniment on. The paper is a light light shade of bluish green, more like sea foam actually. Super adorable! I finished off the card with a wooden button from Oriental Trading, and stitched ribbon from SU. Here is the Baby Girl Tag:

I made his tag exactly the same way, only in pink! I hope that you will me and he rest of the YNS Design Team for our blog-hop on Janurary 11th, there will be prizes!! Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful weekend!

{In The Nick Of Time}

2012-01-04T21:39:00.001-06:00

Hello again! I rarely post twice in one day but I was able to steal away some play time during naptime. I wanted to create a card for this weeks CAS-ual Friday challenge which involved two of my favorite things, kraft card stock, and twine!

To create my simple card I used another cutting file from Lettering Delights. I just love the beautiful heart and swirl. I knew I wanted to use kraft as the background as soon as I cut it out. And then I thought I would add a little something by embossing my kraft card stock using my woodgrain folder by Hobby Lobby's brand Paper Studio. The sentiment is from PTI's "Heart Print Sentiments" collection and I used the EK Success Abstract Circles edger punch on each end of my sentiment label. I love the way it turned out! I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Love Muffin Tags}

2012-01-04T16:25:00.000-06:00

Hello friends. Today I am happy to show you my first "postable" project using my handy dandy new Electronic Die-Cut machine the KNK Zing. This amaZING (lol) machine was part of the World Card Making Day package I won from Paper Crafts Magazine. Even after 2 months I still can't believe I was one of the winners. Anywho, I must admit I left the Zing in its box for a couple of weeks, I was scared of it! It isn't as easy to operate as my CricutEx, but last week I decided to take the plunge and open the box. The learning curve is steep, and I had a tough time getting it figured out, but after a few swears, (keepin' it real) and intense frustration, I am slowly starting to love my machine. Now onto my tags! I used the Lettering Delights tag set " Basic Tags" to cut out my cute little tags. The stamp set I used is from one of my favorite stamp companies YNS Your Next Stamp, "Love Muffin". I stamped the cupcakes and colored the wrapper, heart, and leaf with Copic, Promarkers, and Sharpies. The muffin top was paper pieced using some adorable paper I just picked up from Hobby Lobby by Paper Studio. I added some vintage lace, regal rose grosgrain from SU, and patterned paper from October Afternoon. I finished off the tags with twine for tieing. I hope you like my tags, and keep an eye out for more projects using YNS, and my KNK Zing!

{A New Year and Lots To Be Thankful For}

2012-01-01T19:06:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! Like everyone else the past few days I have been thinking back on the year and the ups and downs that 2011 brought my family. Thankfully we ended the year on an up. I hope 2012 brings you love, joy, and peace, things we all could use more of I'm sure. Today I created a special Thank You card for a dear friend that owns a quilting shop in my town, and I just knew the stamp set "Home-made 6 Bean Soup for Jillibean Soup" by Unity would be PERFECT! I stamped the stitching stamps in A Muse Studio ink. The patterned paper I used is the matching paper collection by Jillibean Soup. I added an EK Success punched border, and a button tied with twine. I love how well my wooden button matches the rest of my card. My card base is Crumb Cake by Stampin' Up. Today I am playing along with the Ippity Challenge Blog which was to create a thank you card. I hope you have a great week and a wonderful New Year! Happy 2012!

{Little Star}

2011-12-29T15:31:00.002-06:00

Hello friends! Well, we survived Christmas and as much as I love creating Christmas cards I have to admit I am ready to take a from making them. So, to start off the new year (almost) I a here with a baby card I created for a sweet friend. I have so many friends expecting babies in the spring and summer I know I am going to need to build up my stash of baby cards! I recently ordered some adorable stamps from Unity. I knew I had to have the Itty Bitty set "Twinkle Twinkle" .Oh my gosh total cuteness overload. I used the Cornish Heritage Farms backgrounder "Ticking" that I stamped in A Muse Studio Shell pigment ink. Next I stamped the sentiment in SU Early Espresso ink. I stamped the hanging stars on a scrap piece of yellow bazzil textured card stock and cut out the stars. I stamped the stars again on my ticking background and added the yellow stars. I added a machine stitched border and finished off the card with a button tied with thread. I love this cute card and I hope you do to! Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge # 70 - Something new

City Crafter Challenge # 89 - Make the cut

Sweet Stamps Challenge # 47 - Celebrate

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

{Warm Winter Wishes}

2011-12-22T12:06:00.000-06:00

Christmas is almost here! Whew, what a crazy month. We moved into a new house Dec 1st and in between everything involved with getting settled, and Christmas preparations this month has flown by! Anyways, today I am showing you a card I created as this months Guest Designer at Your Next Stamp featuring the "Fancy Frame Stamp set and Die". The patterned paper I used is from the Echo Park Seasons Greetings collection. The polka dot label was stamped in SU Cherry Cobbler ink. Such a pretty shade of red! The gold doiley is from Wilton. Today I am also playing along with the newest challenge at Play Date Cafe - Here is the inspiration picture:

So pretty!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Moxie Fab World Part 2}

2011-12-19T18:28:00.000-06:00

Hello back again with another card for a different challenge over at the Moxie Fab World. I created this card for the "Get Inspired Week" Get Inspired By Fashion Challenge. Here is our inspiration picture:

As you can see I took my inspiration from the houndstooth pattern, and the warm vanilla tones of the card. Seriously, I could use vanilla card stock for every card I make! The patterned paper I used on my card is from October Afternoon. I decided to make a Holiday card using PTI's Holiday Photo Finishers stamps, and matching die set. I think I captured the vintage feel of the picture by using actual antique embroidered lace that I picked up at an estate sale last year. I finished off my card with a wooden button tied with twine. I am very happy with my little card, and I hope you like it to! Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful week!

{Moxie Fab World Part 1}

2011-12-19T18:14:00.000-06:00

I just have to start out by saying I LOVE THIS CARD! I usually try not to gush (out in the open) about my cards too much, but this card turned out better than I could have hoped. Today I am posting a card that I created for the Moxie Fab World "Get Inspired Week" Pot Pourri Challenge. I used an "Itty Bitty" stamp set from Unity Stamp Company called "Brave Girl Boots". Here is the inspiration picture:

Now how you ask did this picture inspire me to create my boot kickin', lacey, velvet ribbon inspired card? Well, the chairs in the picture are so pretty, but to me the stamped boots capture the same lines, and designs as the chairs. I used vanilla satin ribbon from Offray, and beautiful patterned paper from Sassafras Las. The font of my sentiment also matches the monogram "R" in the picture! I used PTI's Mat Stack #4 that I stamped the CHF Lace backgrounder stamp on using A Muse Studio Latte pigment ink. So subtle, yet so pretty. The punched border was created with the EK Success "Swirl" edger punch. (A punch I received in my PC magazine World Card Making Day prize package!) I hope you like my card as much as I do, and always, thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Happy Holidays}

2011-12-14T14:39:00.000-06:00

Hello friends, wow, what a week! We are getting nice and settled after our move. I have been busy putting my craft room back together and I promise to post pics to show my progress. Today I am excited to post a card I created for this weeks ColorQ Challenge. Here is the color inspiration picture for this weeks challenge:

Such bright festive colors aren't they!?

To create my card I used PTI's Christmas Poinsettia,Holiday Photo Finishers, and Retro Background Basics. The beautiful shimmery damask card stock is from A Muse Studio. It feels great to be "back". I hope you have a wonderful week and thank you for visiting my blog today!

ps- If you have received the current Paper Crafts Magazine issue I have TWO cards in the issue. Yippie!

{Your Next Stamp YNSC57 Challenge and Blog Hop}

2011-12-07T02:00:00.002-06:00

Hello friends and welcome to YNSC57 . The challenge this week is to create a winter/holiday card using YNS. This is my first challenge as a Guest Designer and I am so darn excited to be here! Today YNS is sponsoring a blog hop filled with great prizes, 3 $10 gift certificates to the YNS store. Sweet! You should have arrived to my blog from Kerri's blog. Today I am posting a card I created with the adorable "Ellie Loves to Knit" stamp. I colored her with copics and promarkers. The patterned paper I used is from My Minds Eye. I added a fun foam glitter snowflake and a pretty blue rhinestone. Both the polka dot ribbon and white ruffled ribbon are from Hobby Lobby. I hope you like my card! I hope that you play along with our challenge and be sure to hop along and visit all of the DT blogs so that you'll have a chance to win 1 of 3 $10 gift certificates! Your next stop on the hop is the super talented Jen R.

Thank you for visiting my blog and have a great day!

{YNS - Your Next Stamp December Guest Designer}

2011-12-06T17:23:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! Whew, I'm back after spending the last 4 days moving! We only moved 12 miles so it wasn't too bad, but still a lot of work! I'm working on getting my craft space put back together. I am thrilled to have a room more than double the size of the room in our last house, and I have SO much beautiful natural light. I am so excited! Anyways, today I am here to share some exciting, ok, thrilling news! I am the December Guest Designer for YNS - Your Next Stamp!! Yay! I've been a fan of their adorable images for quite awhile and being asked to be a guest designer was awesome! The adorable card above was created with an adorable set designed by the amazingly talented Jenny Suchin for YNS that will be released this month. I used the Simple Stories "Baby Steps" collection. Is it not the cutest paper ever!? It matches that cute lil elephant so well.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the YNS Monthly Challenge and new release blog hop! There wil be LOTS of wonderful prizes and tons of inspiration so be sure and join us for the fun!

{Good Tidings}

2011-11-30T17:08:00.001-06:00

Hello friends. I am sorry that it has been so long since my last post, we are in the middle of moving 12 miles away and things are pretty hectic around here. I've packed a lot of my craft room but still have enough that has not been packed to make a card or two. hehe. Today I am playing along with the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge which features this sketch:

I really enjoyed this sketch! To create my card I used the A Muse Studio background set "Mad For Plaids", and the Papertrey Ink set "In the Meadow". I cut out the beautiful felt poinsettia with the PTI Christmas Poinsettias metal die set. I don't talk about it a lot but I used my Perfect Layers tool to achieve the perfect mats on all of my layers. Recently I was chosen by Perfect Layers to be on their "Brand Ambassadors Team" and because I seriously use my PL tool ALL the time I thought it would be fun to spread the love on one of my most favorite tools. And believe me if I wasn't behind this item 100% I would not be mentioning it on my blog at all. I use this tool practically every time I add layers to a card. If you would like a set of your own, I have a fun discount code for 5% off, (not a huge discount but hey, it might cover taxes.) *wink*

vzalis5%

To finish off my card I added 3 little jingle bells to finish off my card. I hope that you like my card! Tomorrow I have some exciting news and I can't wait to share it with you! As always thank you for visiting my blog and have a wonderful week!

{Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop}

2011-11-25T18:17:00.000-06:00

I know I'm a little late getting my card posted but I still wanted to play along with the November Papertrey Ink Blog Hop . Here is our beautiful inspiration picture:

To create my card I used the PTI sets In The Meadow, and Holiday Photo Finishers and matching dies. The pretty background is the "Picotage Print" backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms. I used my brand new EK Success Large edger punch called Patterned Circles (thank you Paper Crafts Magazine!) to create the pretty lace borders on my card. I finished off my card with buttons, twine, and a couple jingle bells. I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, ours was spent packing and getting our house ready for move in but all is well, my next craft room is HUGE and I am so excited to get everything set up! Have a great weekend and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Thinking of You and a Winner!}

2011-11-21T14:53:00.000-06:00

Hello friends, today I am posting a card I created using the PTI set "Life". It is an oldie, but I still think it is such a pretty set. To create my card I stamped the flowers stems several times in two shades of purple from Martha Stewart crafts, and latte pigment ink by A Muse Studio. I added little dots of white acrylic paint using the berries stamp from Holiday Photo Finishers by PTI. The sentiment is from the Essential Sentiments set by A Muse Studio. I think it is a pretty card, and I apologize for the not so great picture, today is cloudy and dark, not great for picture taking! Now to announce the winner of my Fresh Pigment ink pad giveaway! TRG picked commenter #18

True Random Number Generator

Min:

Max:

Result:

18

AubreyLaine you are the lucky winner! Please email me at alwaysctr at yahoo dot com to claim your prize! If your name wasn't picked don't worry, you will have another chance to win some Fresh ink pads for yourself, I have more to giveaway soon. I hope you all have a great week, and thank you for visiting my blog and have a great day!

{Modern Poinsettia}

2011-11-18T15:08:00.000-06:00

Good Afternoon friends! Today I am posting a card I created with two challenges in mind, this weeks Papertrey Ink MIM Challenge, and the current color challenge at CR84FN Color Challenge, here is the beautiful inspiration picture:

To create my card I used the Papertrey Ink die set Christmas Poinsettia, and the background stamp set Tin Types and Holiday Photo Finishers stamps and dies for the sentiment lable. The pretty background stamping on the poinsettia is from the Cornish Heritage Farms backgrounder stamp "Lace". I am so happy that CHF is about to re-open their store! To follow along with the MIM challenge I used my glue pad, and glitter to add pretty little floral accents to my tin type background. I have to tell you that I was soooo close to scrapping this card, as in giving up, but I invested so much time in adding the black hand stitched border to the three layers of the poinsettia that I just couldn't give up. lol I hope that you like my card, and again I want to remind you about my awesome blog candy giveaway of 6 FULL SIZE Fresh Ink Pads, these are identical to the A Muse Studio pigment ink pads so if you have been wanting to give them a try here is your chance to try them for free! Here is the link:

http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-lights-and-amazing-giveaway.html

{A Season of Sweetness}

2011-11-16T14:11:00.000-06:00

    Like many of you my journey into the world of paper crafting began with Stampin' Up. I was a customer, and a Demo for 5 years. But, as time went by so many wonderful stamp companies were brought to my attention and well, here I am today! So today I thought I would show some of my SU sets some love. To create my card I used the adorable SU set "Merry Crittermas". The animals in this set are SO cute, and so much fun to color. I colored my guy with pro-markers. The argyle background was created with the Papertrey Ink set "A Little Argyle". If you will look closely you will see that I paper pieced the squirrels sweater with the same stamped argyle pattern. I think he looks adorable, and so festive! The scalloped borders were created with the SU Ribbon Scallop punch. I also added two strips of die cut strips using the PTI Photo Finishers Die set. Finally I finished off the card with ribbon I have been hoarding for 3 years that I picked up from Big Lots. I am down to one roll and will be so sad when I finally run out. The button is from the Cranberry button collection by A Muse Studio.

    I also want to remind you about my awesome blog candy giveaway, 6 FULL size Fresh Ink pads! These are identical to the A Muse Studio pigment ink pads, and believe me you will LOVE them! This ink is pretty much my go to ink these days. Here is a link to my giveaway blog post:

    http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-lights-and-amazing-giveaway.html

                             Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Holiday Lights and an Amazing Giveaway!}

2011-11-14T18:06:00.001-06:00

Hello and welcome to my blog! I hope you had a good day, mine was spent packing, crafting, and running after my 11 month old that is now walking. I can't believe it! I was thrilled to have some time to play, and here is the card I created today! My card features a super fun set from Papertrey Ink called "Holiday Lights". I cut out the die cut using the Stampin Up Sizzix "Top Note" die. I stamped the lights on the light strand in several different colors of Impress Rubber Stamps Fresh Ink, I just love the rich, deep color of their pigment ink. The sentiment is also from "Holiday Light". I added a green background embossed with the Cuttlebug Folder "Seeing Spots". I finished off my card with a small red bow.

Now you ask what about the giveaway you mentioned in your title post?

Well, I was given a very generous donation from Impress Rubber Stamps, 6 FULL size Fresh Ink Pigment ink pads. They retail for 5.95 each so this giveaway is valued over $35! One lucky winner will receive six ink pads! To enter my giveaway just follow my blog (if you don't already), and leave a comment on this post! Because of shipping costs this giveaway is for the USA and Canada only. (sorry) I will use random.org to pick a winner on Sunday November 20th. Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful day!

{Pretty Pretty Poinsettia}

2011-11-10T17:32:00.002-06:00

Good Evening friends. Today I created a card using one of my favorite Christmas stamp sets, Papertrey Ink's "Christmas Poinsettia" and the matching die set. I cut out the poinsettia's and stamped them with the coordinating stamp set using A Muse Studio Cranberry pigment ink. The background was stamped in A|S Pebble ink using the SU background stamp "French Script". I added a couple of rows of machine stitching around the stamped background. The sentiment is the PTI set "Photo Finishers" and matching die set. I stamped two flourishes from the same set. I think it adds the perfect finishing touch to the sentiment! Finally I added a few yellow beads from Making Memories adhered using Crystal effects. I hope you like my card and I thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Stampin Royalty Challenge # 97 - Inspiration Picture

{Something Totally Different - Moxie Fab Style}

2011-11-09T18:36:00.001-06:00

Wow, two days in a row I'm on a roll! Hah! Actually, I just have so much amazing inspiration all around me I just have to create! Today my inspiration comes from the latest Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger:

Beads and Baubles

I tried to capture the colors, floral theme, and some of the design elements of this weeks trigger.

    To create my card is used patterned paper from 3 Sassafras collections, Ellie's Tale, Sweetly Smitten, and Count Me In. I love, LOVE these papers! That beautiful daisy is from the Prima "Daisy Doodles" collection. The glazed brad in the center is from Basic Grey. The cute felt stitched letters are from Making Memories. The background stamping is the PTI set Retro Borders stamped in SU Crumb Cake ink. I am addicted to background stamps and truthfully I have to resist using them on EVERY card I make! I added two die cut/embossed leaves from Marianne Design that I distressed with a sanding block. The green gingham paper is from A Muse Studio. I love that it has a white core, perfect for distressing! To finish off my card I added a few rows of machine stitching with my handy dandy Janome Sew Mini. I had fun making this card, and thought a bright, sunny card would be just the ticket. I hope you have a great week and always, thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am playing along with these challenges:

Create Me Pink Challenge #3 - Flowers

{Distressed Holiday Wishes}

2011-11-08T17:09:00.001-06:00

Hello friends! Today I am posting a card for this weeks CAS-ual Friday Challenge "Over the Edge".

To create my card I used patterned paper from My Minds Eye. I love the rustic, distressed look of the paper! I stamped the sentiment on Offray twill ribbon using the PTI set "Photo Finishers". The pretty velvet ribbon is from the Noel Collection by Making Memories. I added a die cut swallow from A Muse Studio and a matching strip of paper underneath my ribbon. To finish off my card I used my corner rounder on all four corners. I love this simple card, and think it is very "Tim Holtze'ish"..lol Not my usual style but pretty nonetheless. I hope that you have a great day and thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am also playing along with these challenges:

Do You Stack Up Challenge #44 - Teal/Color Inspiration

Our Creative Corner Challenge - Masculine Card/Project

OCL90 - Distressed and Stressed

{Create: Cards Challenge - No Sentiment}

2011-11-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon! You will notice in the next two months that Christmas cards are my favorite kind of card to create! I've had my best luck creating Christmas cards for publication, three cards in the current Holiday Cards and More issue and for this years WCMD win, all Christmas! I will try my best to throw in a few non Holiday cards, but I can't make any guarantees. hehe. Today I am playing along with this weeks Cards Challenge which was to create a card with no sentiment. I tell ya that was a little harder then I thought it would be, but I'm happy with my end result. To create my card I used a tree die cut that I stamped with the PTI set "Holiday Lights". For my lights I used half back pearls. The patterned paper is from the Paper Studio, and Stampin Up. I used an EK Success edger punch to create the pretty border, and I finished off the card with a wooden button tied with twine and a vanilla satin bow. Thank you for visiting my blog today, and have a great day!

{Papertrey Ink Make It Monday #39}

2011-11-01T15:18:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon! Today I am posting a card that I couldn't wait to share with you! I am playing along with this weeks PTI Make It Monday Challenge which was to create a multi-stamp background. To create my background I used three snowflakes from the PTI set "In The Meadow". I stamped them in three different colors of ink A Muse Studio Sky and Ocean pigment ink, and SU Soft Sky. I used the PTI set Holiday Photo Finishers and matching die to create the die-cut label. The sentiment was stamped in A|S Slate ink. I added an A|S Bermuda tied with sugar twine, and I added to little bells I picked up at Hobby Lobby. The felt snowflakes are from American Crafts. To finish off my card I spritzed my card with Shimmerz Spritz "Jeni B Bleu". Here is a close up of how beautiful the sparkle is when you hold the card up to the sun:

Today I am also playing along with these challenges:

CAS-ual Friday Challenge # 26

Wee Memories Challenge # 74 - Brads, Buttons Bows

I am so happy with my card and I hope that you like it to! Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful day!

{Turn Your Face To The Sun...}

2011-10-30T19:45:00.003-05:00

......and the shadows will fall behind you. That is such a beautiful sentiment. This week I am playing along with the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger, and here this weeks inspiration picture:

I chose the colors, and wood grain as the inspiration for my card this week. If you follow my blog than you already know I love wood grain, so playing along with this weeks challenge was a no brainer

First I stamped the text background in A|S Pebble ink using the PTI set Background Basics Text. Next I
stamped the sentiment from the PTI set "Faith and Hope" in SU Early Espresso ink. I added a line of machine stitching and distressed the top edge with my SU edge distresser. I added a punched border from the SU Ribbon Scallop punch. The wood grain background was created with paper from the "Core Impressions: Cosmo Cricket Collection" that I picked up just yesterday at one of my favorite places to buy crafting supplies, Hobby Lobby! I sanded the embossed wood grain to reveal the sandy brown core. I SO love this paper! The wood grain butterfly was created using the A Muse Studio Wood Grain background stamp, A|S Cherry card stock, and A|S Cherry pigment ink. Next I ran the paper through my Cuttlebug using the A|S Butterfly metal die collection. I added two brown rhinestones from The Paper Studio. I finished off my card with a French Roast button from A|S tied with twine. I am so happy with the way my card turned out, and I love the shadow that I was able to capture while taking a picture of my card this evening, seems fitting doesn't it? Today I am also playing along with this weeks CAS-ual Fridays Challenge CFC26 using this sketch:

I am also playing along with this weeks Wee Memories Challenge #74 - Brads, Buttons, and Bows .

I hope that your weekend has been a good one. As always thank you for visiting my blog today and have a great week!

{Amazing, Fantastic, Perfect Day!!}

2011-10-28T21:44:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Wow, today was such a great day! I woke up bright and early this morning to discover, much to my surprise that I was chosen as one of 20 winners of the Paper Crafts Magazine World Card Making Day Contest!! I have been on cloud nine ALL day and still can't believe I am in the company of so many amazingly talented paper crafters.

   The card I am posting today is a fun Halloween card I created today. The adorable monkey mummy is a Stampendous Changito stamp. I love that cute monkey! I colored him with pro-markers. The patterned paper is from Stampin Up. The polka dot background was created using the PTI Polka Dot Basics set. The button, twine, and ribbon are from Making Memories. The sentiment is from the SU set "Greetings Galore".

     Thank you for letting me share my happy news, and thanks to everyone for the sweet comments you leave on my cards. I appreciate them so much. I hope you have a great weekend and a safe and Happy Halloween!

{Faith and Hope}

2011-10-26T17:16:00.000-05:00

Good evening friends, today I have a card for you that I created with the PTI set "Faith and Hope". As I stated on my last blog post, 100% of the proceeds from this set will be going to the "Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Livestrong the Lance Armstrong Foundation". That alone is reason enough to add this set to your stamp collection! Well, firstly there is a lot of pink on my card, but that is what makes it so special. The beautiful background was created with my Cornish Heritage Farms "Lace" background stamp that was stamped in A Muse Studio Shell pigment ink. I stamped the ribbon in Shell ink also. Next I stamped the sentiment that is a part of the Faith and Hope set in Onyx Black Versafine Ink. I added some pretty pink lace from Hobby Lobby and a button. Finally I finished off my card with some machine stitching. Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - 1 color, any color

Lets Ink It Up Challenge # 16 - Think Pink

{PTI October Blog Hop}

2011-10-25T12:58:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the PTI October Blog Hop! This month the inspiration picture is a beautiful collection of quilted fall pumpkins that feature a varitey of fabrics, and textures.

And now for my take on the inspiration picture!

I used the colors and design of the picture to create my card. My card features the PTI set "Love Lives Here" and the matching die set, the background set "Tin Type" and the new set "Faith and Hope". 100% of the proceeds from the purchase of this stamp set will go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Livestrong the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Isn't that wonderful! I stamped the angel using SU's Soft Suede. The background was stamped using Tangerine Tango. I am happy with the way my card turned out and I can't wait to send it to a dear friend battling cancer. I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Make a Wish in Pink}

2011-10-17T13:44:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon friends! Today I am back with a card that I couldn't wait to post! For this card I used the adorable stamp set from The Crafts Meow called Butterfly Kisses. I stamped the main image in Stampin Up Pretty in Pink. To create the beautiful lace background die cut I used the Cornish Heritage Farms "Lace" backgrounders and Latte pigment ink from A Muse Studio. I am thrilled with the end result, it looks like REAL lace. Have I told you lately how much I love A Muse Studio ink? lol, ok, I guess I have but I do, I really really do. The woodgrain background is actually card stock from A|S as well. I added scalloped trim using SU's ribbon scallop punch, and then I added a line of stitching on each side. I stamped the sentiment using onyx black Versafine ink. The pretty flower is from Recollections, and I added my favorite card embellishment, twine. Now, it is a little difficult to see in the picture, so here is a close-up:

I was inspired by the beautiful card by Michelle Wooderson to try my hand at adding a "splash" of white acrylic paint. I followed the method she posted on her blog and I LOVE the way it turned out! It adds such pretty texture and dimension to the stamped image. Speaking of texture I am playing along with the "Textured to Perfection" Challenge at Moxie Fab World. My card is chock full of texture and dimension! I am also playing along with the following challenges:

Card Patterns Challenge Sketch # 137

Raise the Bar Challenge #79 - Pink

{House Mouse Halloween}

2011-10-12T09:30:00.002-05:00

Today I thought I would post two relatively simple cards I created using adorable House Mouse Halloween stamps! I stamped the images in Memento ink, and colored them using promarkers. I added punched borders, and Halloween themed ribbon from Oriental Trading that I have had for several years. I guess I just don't make enough Halloween cards so my ribbon has lasted awhile. I added a machine stitched frame to each card, a cute pumpkin accent and a button tied with bakers twine from "The Twinery". There are strange shadows on my cards, but hopefully they still look presentable. *smile* Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Cards Create Blog Weekly Challenge - Halloween

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge - Halloween Colors

Clear It Out Challenge - Halloween

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Things with wings

The Pink Elephant Challenge # 120 - Photo Inspiration

ABC DT Challenge - Pumpkins

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Studio Stampers October Blog Hop}

2011-10-10T00:00:00.011-05:00

Hello and welcome to the studio stampers October blog hop!  If you are joining us in the hop you should have come here from Kristen Watson's  blog, if not why not start at the beginning with Karen and hop on down until you get back to me.

   I can't believe I am posting a Christmas card already, but if you plan on sending out hand made Christmas cards this year than you probably don't want to wait too long to get started on them, so, I hope I'm able to inspire you today to get out your Christmas cd's and start making Christmas cards! Everything I used to create this card is from A Muse Studio! The stamp set I used to create my card is one of my favorite Holiday/Winter sets in the Holiday catalog, "Winter Stag". A card like this is not something I am used to making, but I have to say I love the way my card turned out! I stamped the fir tree in Fern pigment ink. I stamped the deer using French Roast which has become my favorite color out of all of our pigment ink pads! I used a blender pen and the lid of my french roast ink pad to add some color to the body of my stag. I wanted it to be a subtle hint of color, so I opted not to use copics. The sentiment was stamped with onyx black Versafine ink, and I added toffee twine and a button from our Cranberry button collection. I have to say that I really love my A|S buttons because you get so many different styles of buttons all in one color. Sometimes your card needs a certain style of button and I love always being able to find the perfect button when I need it!

              I hope that you have had a good time on the Studio Stampers Blog Hop today, and just in-case you have not been following along you can get to the beginning of the hop HERE.

   This is the entire list of A|S Consultants participating in today's hop:

Karen Crisp

www.papernstamps.blogspot.com
Angela Schellenberg
www.gypsypaperie.blogspot.com
Kathy Hatzke
www.kathatstamps.blogspot.com
Lisa Chapman
www.piesafepapergoods.blogspot.com
Kristen Watson
http://branchandsky.blogspot.com/2011/10/studio-stampers-october-blog-hop.html
Veronica Zalis

http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/2011/10/studio-stampers-october-blog-hop.html

Thank you for visiting my blog today!!

{A True Friend}

2011-10-09T14:21:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon, today I am here to show you a card I created with a couple of challenges in mind. First, this weeks Papertrey Ink Make It Monday Challenge. The challenge this week was to create your own custom made washi tape. I admit at first I was a little bit nervous about the whole process, but, I gave it a try and I am so happy with the results! To create my washi tape I used the PTI Anniversary set "Simple Little Things". The flower and sentiment are from the Stampin Up set "True Friend". I stamped the strips of washi tape using A Muse Studio ink, French Roast, Orange, and Blackberry and three different stamps from my PTI set. I stamped the flower stem in Close to Cocoa ink. I stamped the flower twice on vanilla card stock using blackberry, and then cut them out. I added an orange gem to the center and a pop dot to make it well, pop! The patterned paper background is from Lillybee Design (LOVE). I stamped the sentiment using onyx black Versafine ink, and finished off the card with stitching (of course), and twine tied with a button from the Buttercup collection by A Muse Studio. The color inspiration for my card is from Paper Craft Magazine Color Inspiration Challenge #9 using these colors:

Today I am also playing along with this challenge!!

The Paper Players Challenge #67 - Jaydee's Color Challenge

I thank you for visiting my blog today, and I hope you have a nice day!

{Playing With Color}

2011-10-02T10:23:00.008-05:00

Good Morning Friends! Today I am finishing off my World Card Making Day Celebration by posting a colorful card I created to celebrate the much anticipated arrival of Fall. This time of year is my very favorite time of year, and soon Christmas card making will in full swing. I can't wait! To create my car I used a brand new set I just received (yesterday) from Hot Off The Press called "Bold Patterns". I bought it from HSN and it was on sale so I suggest going there to check out some of the clearance because they have some really good prices on some nice stuff! I stamped my border stamp in 4 different color of A Muse Studio ink, Orange, Grass, Papaya, and French Roast. They stamp beautifully with clear stamps and I was extremely pleased with the end result. I added twine, and rosette and leaf I created using a metal die set from Marianne Design, and a button from A|S. Today I am playing along with this weeks Papertrey Ink Make It Monday Challenge - Thick Chipboard Accents. I only have a set of Christmas PTI's dies and truthfully I'm just not ready to start posting Christmas cards yet so I used my Marianne Design dies that seemed to do the trick. It is difficult to see from the picture but the leaf has several layers that I glued together with Tombo Multi glue. I used my sanding block to rough up the edges a bit. I must say that I love the way it turned out and have many more ideas on creating thick chipboard accents! I hope that you enjoyed the cards I posted for WCMD, and just in-case you missed it I am giving away some A Muse Studio goodies and more info can be found by visiting this post:

http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/2011/09/world-card-making-day-eve-special-and.html

I am also offering a weekend special on A Muse Studio Pigment ink pads! If you place your order through me, and not my website I will give you 15% our ink pads! If you've been waiting to try them out then this is your chance. You will love them! Thank you so much for visiting my blog today and I hope you have a nice, relaxing Sunday.

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

CR84FN3 Color Challenge #39:

Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge - Inspired by buttons

{ A Muse Studio World Card Making Day Blog Hop}

2011-09-30T23:00:00.005-05:00

Happy World Card Making Day! Today I am thrilled to be joining the A Muse Studio WCMD Blog Hop. You should have arrived to my blog from Amber Smith who is the organizer of our the blog hop, thanks Amber! Everything I used to create my card is from A Muse Studio. The beautiful damask patterned card stock is our Shimmer Couture Card Stock in Blackberry, Ocean, Grass, Orange, and Cherry. I cut strips of each color and adhered them to a white card base. I used my Janome Sew Mini to add stitching to each color strip. Next I stamped the Thinking of You sentiment from the "Essential Sentiments" set. I finished off the card with a button tied with sugar twine. I love how vibrant and cheerful this card is and I'm sure it would brighten any ones day. To celebrate World Card Making Day I am giving away a jar of A|S Diamond Glitter and a sampling of card stock and ribbon to one lucky winner!

All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post! If you would like another chance to win then leave a comment on each post from Sep30th - Oct.2nd ! Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop! Your next stop is Jennifer Corson .

Here is a list of everyone participating in the A|S World Card Making Day

Blog Hop:

Amber Smith
http://theneatery.wordpress.com/

Veronica Zalis
http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/ <--You are here!

Jennifer Corson
www.scripptyscraps.blogspot.com

Karen Crisp
www.papernstamps.blogspot.com

Jeanette Cloyd
www.smoreamusement.blogspot.com

Sherri Thacker
www.sherri-iloveflipflops.blogspot.com

Seleise Barrett
www.amethystcat.blogspot.com

Pamela Fredrickson
www.attemptedcreativity.blogspot.com

Carissa Fulkerson
www.carissascottage.blogspot.com

Melissa Roell
www.totogal62.blogspot.com

Angela Schellenberg
www.gypsypaperie.blogspot.com

Lisa Chapman
www.piesafepapergoods.blogspot.com

Heather Scott
www.oz-somestamps.com

Suzanne Dahlberg
www.thecardyard.blogspot.com

Dana Vincent
www.danasamazed.blogspot.com

Julie Dylingowski
www.simplyimpressed.blogspot.com

{World Card Making Day Eve Special and a Giveaway}

2011-09-30T16:15:00.007-05:00

Hello friends what a week! Friday is here once again and I am super excited about this weekend and of course one of my favorite holidays of the year: World Card Making Day! To celebrate the occasion I am offering a 15% discount on A Muse Studio pigment ink pad orders placed through me for both Saturday, and Sunday!! If you have been waiting to try out our ink pads this is your chance to give them a whirl. They stamp beautifully, and dry quickly. Believe me you won't be disappointed!
I am also offering up a giveaway to help celebrate WCMD - a brand new bottle of A Muse Studio Diamond Glitter!

This glitter is so easy to use, and adds such a beautiful touch to anything you add it to!

I am also giving away a sampling of A|S ribbon, and paper. All you have to do win is comment on this post! If you would like more chances to win then also comment on my Saturday, and Sunday posts! Easy peasy!

Everything I used to create my card is from A Muse Studio. I used stamps from the stamp sets Celebrate In Style, and Clever Girls. The flowers were stamped in Blackberry, Ocean, Cherry, Orange, and Papaya pigment ink. You can see from the picture just how rich and beautiful our ink is. I LOVE our ink! I finished off the card with an A|S button tied with sugar twine.
I hope that you will come back this weekend to join along with the World Card Making Day Celebration and also don't forget to sign up for my giveaway! And if you've been waiting to try out our amazing pigment ink, this weekend only you will get 15% off any pigment ink pad order placed through me!! Thank you for visiting me today and have a super weekend!

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

A Muse Studio Challenge Blog - It's All About Twine

Birthday Sundaes - Who's Got the Button - Birthday Challenge

{Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger}

2011-09-25T18:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back again with one more card today! Daddy kept an eye on the munchkins so that I could spend some extra time in my craft room. So, I thought I would create a card for this weeks Tuesday Trigger Challenge at Moxie Fab World. Here is a picture of this weeks trigger:

This weeks picture has a really nice quilted, country craft feel to it so I instantly thought of the the "Kitch" collection by Girls Paperie so that is the patterned paper I decided to use. I used my PTI Photo Finishers metal die to create the label. I machine stitched the edges of the yellow patterned paper and added the label stamped with a sentiment from the A Muse Studio set "Wild Rose". I used SU Barely Banana ink to distress the edges a bit. The roses are from Michael's Recollection line. I added a button and sugar twine from A Muse Studio. I finished off the card by rounding all the corners with my punch from EK Success. I hope that you have had a nice weekend, and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Papertrey September Blog Hop Challenge}

2011-09-25T18:28:00.000-05:00

Good Sunday afternoon friends! I hope your weekend has been as relaxing as mine. Today I was able to spend some time in my craft room and I thought I would play along with the PTI September Blog Hop Challenge . Here is the inspiration picture:

I LOVE this picture, and knew I had to play along this week!

To create my card I used the PTI set "Fruit Fusion Pear". I inked it with SU Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip. The patterned paper is from Martha Stewart. The super cute label was created with PTI's brand new metal die set "Photo Finishers". These dies are awesome, and I know I will be using them again, and again. I added some pretty dark brown lace from Hobby Lobby, and I used my Abstract Flower border punch from EK Success and a piece of textured Kiwi Kiss card stock. I rounded off all the corners and finished off my card with a button from A Muse Studio tied with twine. I LOVE the way my card turned out!! Today I am also playing along with a couple of other challenges:

Wee Memories Challenge #69 - Patterned Paper

{Hello Foxy}

2011-09-21T13:34:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a busy week it has been so far! This week I have been working on the design for Holiday cards I am going to be offering as a kit for Christmas so be on the look out for that. Today I created a colorful card using the SU set "Fox and Friends". I was inspired to use the fox stamp from this weeks challenge at the Cards Create: Blog. The paper is from Cosmo Cricket, and American Crafts. I stamped the fox in Pumpkin Pie ink and cut him out using paper snips. The grass was created using my Cricut Ex. and the Plantin Schoolbook cart. I added SU real red, and pumpkin pie grosgrain, and used a sentiment from the A Muse Studio set "Friend to Friend". I created the woodgrain circle using my new embossing folder from the Hobby Lobby brand "Paper Studio". Yes, they now carry embossing folders and they are so cute! They are only 4.99 each, but I used a 40% coupon for mine and got it for an even better price. I hope that you like my card! Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Thanks, Big Time}

2011-09-20T14:41:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! I hope you are having a good week so far. Today I created a card with a few challenges in mind. First, the colors, today I am playing on with the Play Date Cafe for the very first time and this is the inspiration picture:

Today I decided to show my Stampin' Up stamps a little love. I used the SU sets "Aviary", and "A Word For You." I stamped the bird cage in purple ink from Martha Stewart, and the stand was stamped in French Roast by A Muse Studio. I added a machine stitching border using purple thread. The flowers are from American Crafts, and the bling in the centers is from EK Success. Today I am also playing along with this weeks CAS-ual Friday challange

I created a set of three 4x4 cards to give as a gift. I always run out of this size first! I hope that you have a great day, and as always thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Kindness and Friends}

2011-09-18T10:53:00.002-05:00

Good Sunday Morning friends! Today I am posting a card that I created for a special friend who is seriously one of the very sweetest people that I have ever met. I chose a sentiment from the Hero Arts set "Treasure the Moments". The flower was is from the Clearly Inspired set "Brushed Flowers". I stamped the floral image in two shades of A Muse Studio ink, Cherry, and Fern. The card stock I stamped on is SU Ivory Naturals. For the very first time ever I used red thread to add the stitching around the edges of my card. I LOVE the way that turned out and plan on adding color to my stitching again. I distressed the edges of my first layer and then added a layer of kraft card stock, and very vanilla card stock. I finished off my card with a button tied with A|S toffee twine. I hope the rest of your weekend goes well, and always, thank you for visiting my blog today! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Wee Memories Challenge #68 - No Patterned Paper

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #84 - Clean and Simple

Sweet Stamps Challenge #32 - Stitches Real or Faux

{Reject Blog Hop}

2011-09-15T21:23:00.000-05:00

Well, today I was lucky enough to have one project picked for the March/April Paper Crafts magazine (yippie!!) so I am not complaining AT all, but I did have several cards not picked . So today I am playing along with the official "Reject Blog Hop" hosted by the lovely and unbelievably talented Dr. Amber. This card is one of my favorites from the bunch. I used sketch #2 to create my card. The stamp is from the A|S set Essential Sentiments. I used patterned paper from the DCWV Lemon Flower stack. The butterflies were created using the A Muse Studio Butterfly trio metal die set. I added some pretty ribbon and a strip of paper punched with the EK Success Abstract Flower punch and I finished off my card with machine stitching around the edges. I can't wait to see your beautiful creations so please play along with us! Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Sweet Baby Birthday}

2011-09-13T16:32:00.000-05:00

Yep I'm back again with another card today but I couldn't resist playing along again with this weeks challenge at (One Layer Wonder) OLW63. My card features stamps, ink and ribbon from A Muse Studio. The challenge was to create a baby themed card so I decided to create a Birthday card using soft colors that would be perfect for a baby birthday card for a boy, or a girl! The colored blocks remind me of building blocks. The stamps I used to create my card are "Birthday Greetings", and "Swanky Backgrounds". This was my first tme using the swanky background stamp. I stamped the background stamp in 4 different colors of A|S ink, lichen, lemon whip, shell, and sky. I love the deep, rich color of our inks! I used my stampamajig to align the four colors, and then stamped the birthday sentiment using onyx black Versafine ink. I added some matching sky stitched ribbon and a sprinkle of sparkle using our rhinestones. I loved making this simple, sweet card! Today I am also playing along with the following challenges:

Use It Tuesday Challenge #15 - Un-inked stamps

{Another A Muse 'ing Card}

2011-09-11T15:28:00.002-05:00

I am back again today with another card using only A Muse Studio products! This is my first time using the cute little crib on a card and I just love what a super cute touch it adds to the card. To create my card I used two stamps from the A|S set "Sleepy Sighs". Both of these stamps came with my consultant starter kit in one of 4 sampler sets. I just have to tell you what an amazing value the starter kit is right now. For only $99 you get ALL of this:

Take advantage of our special introductory price!

The regular price of the Basic Starter Kit is $175

Basic starter kit includes everything you need to start your own business!

* four 2011 studio sampler stamp sets

* set of six clear blocks, one of each size

* ten a
s pigment ink pads {cranberry, currant, fern, french roast, grass, ocean, orange, papaya, bubblegum and sky}

* memento tuxedo black ink pad

* six copic markers {begonia pink, cool shadow, golden yellow, lipstick red, new leaf, sand}

* copic colorless blender

* double scrubber

* squeakly clean stamp cleaner

* adhesive runner

* glue pen

* diamond glitter

* solid paper starter kit - twenty sheets

* swatch ring

* twinkle stickers - clear

* pearl stickers - vanilla

* paper flowers - meadow mis

* three spools grosgrain stitch ribbon {slate, papaya, ocean}

* 4 catalogs, essential business supplies

   Simply amazing! And believe me once you try our inks you will reach for them time and time again. If you would like to join my team please send me a message at   alwaysctr@yahoo.com I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. If you would like to join just to take advantage of the $99 starter kit that is just fine to! Today I am playing along with this weeks A Muse Studio sketch challenge found here. I am also playing along with this weeks OWL63 challange.

               I hope you have a wonderful Sunday! Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Studio Stampers September Blog Hop}

2011-09-10T13:01:00.004-05:00

Good Afternoon and welcome to the September Studio Stampers Blog Hop! If you have been following along with the blog today you should have arrived from the super creative blog of Lisa Wakabayashi
    To create my card I used the "Together Forever" stamp set. I stamped the cake twice, once on sugar card stock, and the second time on white shimmer paper. I paper pieced the cake and used a foam dot to make it pop. The beautiful damask background is our oh so pretty blackberry shimmer couture cardstock. I machine stitched around the card and added a strip of silver shimmer card stock to the bottom. I added paper piercing to give it some extra dimension. I finished off my card with a button tied with Sugar twine. Today I am also playing along with this weeks A Muse Studio Challenge. Your next stop on the Studio Stampers blog hop is Lisa Chapman. Here is the full list of blog hop participants:

Studio Stampers Blog Hop

Krystie Hersch

Kristen Watson

Kathy Hatzke

Karen Crisp

Kari Bell

Lisa Wakabayashi

Veronica Zalis <-- You are here!

Lisa Chapman

Lianna Vigil

                                    Thank you for hopping along with us today!!

{Thank You in Woodgrain}

2011-09-02T16:48:00.002-05:00

Lets give a hip-hip-hooray for Friday and Labor Day weekend here in the USA! It is still way too hot but it looks like a cool down is finally on the horizon. Today I am very happy to be playing along with this weeks 100th Challenge at ColorQ . This week the challenge was to create a card using a sketch and favorite past color combo. Here is the color combination I chose:

Aren't those colors beautiful! This week I am also playing along with the Create: Card Blog Challenge which was to use "woodgrain" on a card and this weeks Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge. I was inspired this week by the beautiful neutral tones, and woodgrain head board of the Tuesday Trigger inspiration picture. To create my card I used a stamp I received from PaperCrafts magazine last year from "Papeterie" called Margaret. I love the vintage feel of this set and I thought it would be a great fit with the colors I chose. I used my A Muse Studio woodgrain stamp to create the background. Next I stamped the large doily multiple times in kraft colored ink. I added ribbon and lace from Making Memories to accent my card. I added machine stitching, (of course) a button tied with A Muse Studio Twine, and a pretty little rosette. I finished off my card by stamping the sentiment. I hope that you have a wonderful, and safe weekend, and as always thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Color Q Challenge #100 -

Create: Weekly Card Challenge

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger

Colour Create Challenge #78 - Kraft, Red, White/Creme

{Sweet New Arrival}

2011-09-01T10:38:00.001-05:00

Good Morning friends! Today I am posting a card I created using one of my favorite paper collections "Just Ducky" by October Afternoon. This line is just SO cute. I used four different patterns of paper to create my card. I added some stitching and a fun row of pink buttons. The stamp is from the Inkadinkado set "Baby Love". This set is PERFECT for paper piecing. I used my SU scallop punch and circles Nestabilities. And I finished off the card with a sentiment from the A Muse Studio stamp set "Essential Sentiments". This is definitely my go-to sentiment set. Love it! Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

Case Study Challenge #55

DYSU Challenge #35 - Friendly Critters

The Pink Elephant TPE114 - Paper Piecing

{Studio Stampers Blog Hop}

2011-08-23T10:00:00.006-05:00

Good Morning friends and welcome to the August Studio Stampers Blog Hop! If you started from      the begininning of the hop then you should have arrived here from  Angela Schellenberg.

     As always you are in for a real treat in this months hop! Everything I used to create my card is from A Muse Studio. The stamp set I used is "Doctor's Orders". I stamped the medicine bottle 3 times using Latte, Cherry, and Sky pigment inks. Next I cut them out and paper pieced them to the bottle. I stamped the woodgrain background stamp in latte ink and stamped it onto kraft card stock. I added my layers and added a double machine stitching border. I LOVE how that turned out! I used the ovals Nestabilities as my focal point, and added the paper pieced bottle, and the sentiment stamped in Versafine ink. To finish off my card I added Sky stitched ribbon. I hope that you will visit all of the wonderful designers in this months Studio Stamper Blog Hop! I am the last stop on the blog hop but if you just arrived to my blog and would like to start from the beginning please go to the amazingly talented stampers blog Krystie Hersch.

           Here is the full list of the Studio Stampers Blog Hop Participants:

Krystie Hersch

Kathy Hatzke http://www.kathatstamps.blogspot.com/

Karen Crisp

Kari Bell

Lianna Vigil
Kellie Maggio
Angela Schellenberg

Veronica Zalis <--You are here.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful day!

(Apple of My Eye}

2011-08-22T15:39:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon friends! Today has been a great day even though it's Monday and for that I am thankful. I was lucky enough to spend some time in my craft room and I created this card! I used the Paper Trey Ink Fruit Fusion Apple Mini stamp set. I stamped the apple in A Muse Studio Cherry Ink.The stem was stamped in A|S Fern, and French Roast. I used a scrap piece of SU paper that is a few years old. I'm so glad I held onto it! The woodgrain background is also by A Muse Studio and was stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock using French Roast pigment ink. I used the SU scallop border punch and finished off the card with a button tied with A|S toffee twine, and some machine stitching. Today I am playing along with a handful of challenges:

Create: Challenge - Back to School

The Pink Elephant TPE113 - Inspiration Challenge

Creative Inspirations Challenge #66 - Back to school

Paper Sundae's Challenge # 83 - Sunday Bar - Use at least two of the following items - Green, Buttons, Banners and / or Twine.

{Pretty In Pink}

2011-08-19T15:08:00.001-05:00

Good afternoon and welcome to my blog! After a short break from blogging I am back and hopefully getting back into the groove. Today I created a card for this weeks
CAS-ual Friday's challenge which was to create a CAS card with embossing - any kind. I added heat embossing using "tinsel" embossing powder. I used a stamp set from "Clearly Inspired" called Brushed Florals. This is an older set but I love love it and it is a stamp set that I will never part with! I used A Muse Studio pigment ink in Shell, and Bubblegum. I love the rich color they leave on any kind of card stock you stamp them on. The card stock I used is from SU, Natural, and Pretty in Pink. The sentiment is from the A|S set "Essential Sentiments" and the heat embossing was created with the SU set "Yummy". The embossing is very subtle, but that is what I love most about it! I added acrylic flowers from the Making Memories "Flutter" collection, and I finished off the card with machine stitching. I love the way my card turned out, and I hope you do to! Have a great day and thank you for visiting my blog!

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge# 16

Charisma Cardz Challenges #33 - Negative Space

The Pink Elephant TPE112 - Stitching

Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Bling

{Back From a Hiatus}

2011-08-18T15:42:00.002-05:00

Hello friends and visitors! I took a short break from card making but now I am back to share a card I created today. Everything I used to create my card is from A Muse Studio, and just in-case you didn't know this already I am an A|S Creative Consultant and there are lots of exciting things that are getting ready to happen so stay tuned to my blog so you don't miss out! I used three different stamp sets to create my card, Mad For Plaid, Contemporary Greetings, and Friend to Friend. The A|S pigment ink pads I used were Shell, Latte, and Lemon Whip. I used the large and small Swallow metal die using craft card stock. I like the soft colors of my card, and I love those pretty swallow's! I thank you for visiting my blog today and if you have any questions about A Muse Studio, or if you would like to join my team and take advantage of the $99 starter kit special please let me know! have a great day!

{Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger}

2011-08-07T22:51:00.000-05:00

The days are just getting away from me lately! I am here this evening to post a card I created for the latest Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger. Here is the beautiful trigger picture:

This quilt is so pretty and I was inspired by the pattern, color, and crispness of the over all picture. I hope that I was able to capture all that with my card! To create my card I used the die cut remnant from the card I created a few days ago using the A Muse Studio metal butterfly die that I ran through my Cuttlebug three times. Next I embossed a piece of chocolate card stock and glued the butterfly trio on top of it. (I hope that makes sense.) The patterned paper I used is from lily bee designs. Next I added some matching ribbon that I bought at Costco. I added a sentiment from the A Muse Studio stamp set "Wild Rose" stamped in Versafine black ink. To finish off my card I added a button tied with twine. I hope you like my card and as always thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Designer Birthday}

2011-08-05T11:37:00.001-05:00

Good morning friends! Today I was once again inspired by this weeks Color Q Challenge #96 featuring these beautiful and trendy colors:

I just love this color combination!

This weeks Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World inspired me as well!

I love the pattern and color of the blocks!And finally I was inspired by this weeks Create: Challenge - Birthday Cards. To create my card I used patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket, and more paper from Lily Bee Designs. The gray lace is from Wal-Mart(my store clearanced TONS of lace, ric-rac, and seam binding, SCORE!) I created the butterfly using SU Tempting Turq. and the A Muse Studio Woodgrain background stamp and metal butterfly die. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the SU cling mount set "Something to Celebrate". I added a punched border using the SU Scallop Lace punch, and some pretty bling from Hobby Lobby's Paper Studio line. I love the way my card turned out, and I hope you do to! Thank you for visiting my blog today and stay COOL if you are enduring the terrible heat wave on the south, hot-hot-hot. Have a great day friends!

{Just In The Nick of Time}

2011-08-03T22:27:00.005-05:00

Wow, I rarely post this late but today has just been a whirlwind! Today I am playing along with two of my favorite challenges:

and

This weeks challenge at CAS-ual Fridays was to create a 4x9 card, something I have never ever done. So, I thought I would give it a try. The color challenge at Color Q was beeee-utiful this week so I knew I just had to play along with my favorite color challenge! To create my card I used the A Muse Studio large butterfly die and ran it through my Cuttlebug three times using lily bee designs patterned paper. I than did the same thing using smallest butterfly die and a piece of patterned paper from the DCWV Lace and Linen stack. I added a strip of Bashful Blue patterned paper that I punched with my Ek Success Abstract Circles punch, and I also punched a strip of Kiwi Kiss card stock (didn't have Lucky Lime-ade but thought it was a very close match) using my SU Scallop border punch. I finished off the card with a pretty piece of gray lace and a sentiment from the A Muse Studio "Essential Sentiments" cling stamp set. For this being my very first 4x9 card I am thrilled with the way it turned out. I hope you like it to!

ps- sorry for the bad picture, I didn't get a chance to take my picture till after the sun went down, I'll try to take a better pic in the morning.

(Studio Stampers Challenge #2}

2011-07-30T18:33:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog! I hope your weekend is going well. Today I am posting a card for the Studio Stampers Challenge #2. For this challenge the very talented Kari Bell is being featured and she picked out the beautiful inspiration picture! I knew I had to play along as soon as I saw it.

My card was created using almost all A Muse Studio supplies. The floral stamp is from the "Beautiful Botanicals" set, and was stamped in Papaya ink. The sentiment is from the "Friend to Friend" set. I used the woodgrain background stamped in A|S French Roast. I added a button tied with French Roast stitched ribbon and finished off my card with machine stitching. I hope that you will play along with the challenge if you get a chance! Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a great week!

I am also playing along with the following challenges:

DYSU Challenge #30 - Orange-Yellow-Brown

Woodware USA Challenge #36 - Stamp that background

{Welcome Baby}

2011-07-27T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog! Today I am posting a card that I was super excited to create. I won a handful of adorable digital stamps from Mami Doodles and I couldn't wait to use them! The cutie I used today is "Jamie" and he also comes with his twin sister "Amy" and believe me she is totally adorable to! I colored my little tot using promarkers and copics. I used SU pastels to add some cheek color and a little on his body. The patterned paper I used is "Ducks in a Row" from October Afternoon. I added a row of buttons and finished off my card with machine stitching. I love this cute little card and I hope you will to! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

The Corrosive Challenge #126 - All about kids

Card Patterns Sketch #125

Totally PaperCrafts Challenge - One For the Boys

{Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger - Perty & Flirty}

2011-07-23T21:05:00.001-05:00

Good Evening friends! I hope that wherever you are right now, that you are staying cool! Oh my gosh it was so hot today! Today I am posting a card that I created for the latest Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger . Here is the oh so pretty trigger:

I was so inspired by the beautiful buttery yellow coat and the soft pink floral background. I found a patterned paper by My Minds Eye that I knew would be perfect for this challenge! To create my card I punched several strips of paper from the Jillibean Mustard Soup collection with my SU ribbon scallop punch. I attached them to a piece of card stock and machine stitched each one to give them a pretty textured appearance. The sentiment is from the Michael's Studio G Ditto cling stamp collection. I love the font on the sentiment! I finished off the card with a large chocolate button that I tied with A Muse Studio toffee twine. I love the way my card turned out and I think I was able to capture the beauty, and elegance of this weeks Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger! I hope you have a great weekend, and thank you for visiting my blog!

{Another Sweet Card}

2011-07-20T19:54:00.002-05:00

Today I am posting another "sweet" card for you! I created this card using another stamp set from "Your Next Stamp" called Love Muffin. I loved the fun, whimsicle cupcake, and the sentiment was adorable. I just had to have it! I colored the cuppy cake with promarkers. The DSP is from SU. I used my We Are Memory Keepers "Sew Easy" to add the large stitches. The buttons are from BasicGrey. Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

CAS-ual Friday's Challenge #11 - Sweets and Treats

YNS Challenge #47 - 3-2-1 - 3 embellishments (type or quantity)2 patterned papers 1 image

The Pink Elephant Challenge #108 - Inspiration Picture

{Sweet On You}

2011-07-19T12:04:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Today I am posting a CAS card using a stamp set from Your Next Stamp called Sugar Cone. I used a popular color design technique called color blocking to create the mono-chromatic background. I embossed three shades of pink card stock, SU Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose. I added a couple of strips of stitching and then adhered it to my card base. I colored the ice cream cone with matching ink and a blender pen. I added a pretty pink button tied with white floss and the sentiment. I LOVE this sweet little card! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #11- Sweets and treats

Simon Says Stamp and Show some embossing

Wee Memories Scrappy Saturday Challenge #62 - Clean and Simple

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #119}

2011-07-17T12:15:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to another fun week at Cupcake Inspirations! This week we are being sponsored by Anita Be Stampin and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to their store. What a great prize! Our inspiration picture is a princess inspired batch of cupcakes:

They look SO good! To create my card I used a digital image from Peachi Designs. This adorable image was fun to color and would be great for paper piecing as well. I used promarkers to color the little princess. The patterned paper is "Ducks in a Row" collection by October Afternoon. Oh my gosh such a cute collection! The ribbon is from Making Memories and I was thrilled that I finally got to use the pretty ruffled ribbon! I used the Harlequin Background Stamp from A Muse Studio that I heat embossed with white powder, and the princess sentiment is from a Cloud Nine set by Fiskars. I used a gold gel pen to color in her crown and wand, and I added little golden rhinestones to her crown. I finished off the card with three pink buttons. I love this cute card fit for a princess and I hope you do to! Today I am also playing along with the following challenges:

I Heart 2 Stamp Monthly Sketch Challenge

Totally PaperCrafts Challenge #75 - Girly Girls

DYSU Challenge #28 - Sew Faux or Real

{Who said dragon's weren't cute?}

2011-07-13T14:42:00.000-05:00

There are lots of scary dragons out there but who could resist a dragon as cute as Fergus? I fell in love with this guy as soon as I saw him. Today I was in the mood for a little coloring so I decided to create a card using Fergus from "Wild Rose Studio". I colored him using only A Muse Studio pigment inks, and SU Blender Pens. I am in love with my pigment inks and I love the nice rich color you get by using them with a blender pen! I added a small piece of red felt with a stitched miniature heart shaped button for the cherry on the cupcake. The pink patterned paper is from My Minds Eye. I finished off the card with vanilla satin ribbon, machine stitching around the layers and a sentiment from the A Muse Studio stamp set "Contemporary Greetings". I really enjoyed creating this card, and like me, I hope Fergus brings a smile to your face! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant Challenge #107 - Felt

Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Stitching

Stampin For the Weekend - Wings and things

Clear it Out Tuesday - Wing it out

{Studio Stampers Weekly Challenge #1 )

2011-07-12T09:27:00.001-05:00

I am thrilled that I finally get to post this today! My amazing A Muse Studio up-line and stamping extraordinaire Krystie Lee Hersch is starting a weekly challenge blog Studio Stampers inspired by A Muse Studio stamps and supplies but anyone can play along! ! I have the honor of being the very first featured designer for this brand new challenge. For my challenge I chose this picture to be this weeks inspiration :

I used the A Muse studio set Wild Rose. I used the rock and roll technique to create the dual toned flowers, and the A|S pigment ink colors I used were Shell, and Bubblegum. I used matching Bubblegum gingham card stock and satin ribbon. We would LOVE for you to play along with our very first challenge! Thank you for visiting my blog and have a wonderful week!

{A Muse Studio Stampers Blog Hop}

2011-07-10T10:25:00.007-05:00

Hello friends and visitors, welcome to my blog! Today I am playing along with our monthly blog hop with several of my fellow A Muse Studio consultants. If you want to see some seriously talented stampers then you will want to hop along with us today! You should have arrived here from the talented Lisa Chapman . Here is my card:

Everything I used to create this card is from A Muse Studio. I used the stamp set "Friend to Friend" to create the main picture. I stamped the leaf stalk stamp several times using Lichen pigment ink, and the flowers were stamped on a separate piece of card stock and colored with sky blue pigment ink and a blender pen. I cut them out and attached them to my card using foam dots. I used the woodgrain background stamp with wheat pigment ink that I stamped on kraft paper. I machine stitched around the layer. I added my main stamped image using foam dots and finished off the card with the sentiment and twine. I seriously love the way my card turned out! Thank you for visiting my blog today. The next stop along the blog hop is the super talented Ida P. Krause.

Here is the entire list of the blog hop participants:

Kathy Hatzke

Karen Crisp

Kari Bell

Lesa Wolfe

Lisa Wakabayashi

Lisa Chapman

Veronica Zalis <-- You are here!

Ida P Krause

Lianna Vigil

Kristen Watson

Today I am also playing along with the following challenges:

Moxie Fab World Stamp It! Cards Week Challenge - stamping is the predominant element

Charisma Card Challenge #27 - All about flowers

Simon Says Stamp - A Stitch in time

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 118}

2011-07-10T09:24:00.002-05:00

Hello and welcome to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #118. This week our challenge is being sponsored by Chi Chi Memories and one lucky winner will receive the "Water Fun Stamp set". Our inspiration picture this week is one of my favorites since I've been playing along with these challenges:

Don't they look amazing!? For my challenge card everything except for the border punch is from A Muse Studio.

I cut out two sizes of butterflies in three different colors of A|S gingham card stock. I layered the butterflies and placed them on the card stock using foam dots. I added a few layers of border punch strips using the Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch. I added A|S sugar twine, and the sentiment from the "Wild Rose" stamp set. I love how my cute card turned out! I hope that you will play along with us at Cupcake Inspirations this week! I am also playing along with the following challenges

Stampin For the Weekend Challenge #12 - Wings and things

{Hi Sweetie}

2011-07-09T21:52:00.001-05:00

Good evening! Wow, I usually don't post this late but today was a busy Saturday! Today I created a card using Papertrey stamps, and super cute matching paper! The set is from the Fruit Fusion: Cherries set. I love fruit stamps and have been using them a lot lately. Today I am playing along with PTI's Make It Monday challenge stamping with ink refills. I admit I was a little intimidated at first, but after trying it out I will be using this technique again for sure! The card is pretty much self explanatory. I used the dotted ribbon scallop punch from SU, and the super cute wooden button that I found at our local quilt shop.Thank you for visiting my blog and have a great evening! Today I amplaying along with the following challenges:

PaperPlay Challenges- Fruity

Simon Says Stamp - A Stitch in time

{Together Forever and Happy Mail}

2011-07-07T16:13:00.001-05:00

Hello and welcome to my little paper crafting world! Today has been a great day, I had two projects picked up for the Paper Crafts Magazine Jan/Feb 2012 issue. I am so excited! It's such a thrill to receive an email from Paper Crafts magazine and if you have never submitted to any of the calls I highly recommend it. You never know until you try! Anywho, about my card. I used a set from A Muse Studio called "Together Forever". This set is perfect for wedding, and anniversary cards! The patterned paper is from the Lemon Flower stack by DCWV. I stamped the cake and sentiment in A Muse Studio "slate" pigment ink. I added pretty ribbon from Hobby Lobby, and a button tied with sugar twine from also from A Muse Studio. I hope that you are having a great day, and as always thank you for visiting my blog! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes - Buttons Optional

Crafts and Me Challenge #42 - Favorites

{Just For You}

2011-07-06T19:35:00.000-05:00

Good Evening friends! I'm still trying to recover from the long "hot" weekend we had, but I was able to spend some time working on a card today! My card was created using the colors from this weeks Color Q Challenge, SU's Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, and Basic Black. I used a stamp from the A Muse Studio set "Polka Dot Patterns". The stamped tag and sentiment is another Ditto by Studio G cling stamp set I picked up at Michael's last week. I LOVE those sets! The twill ribbon is from Cosmo Cricket and I added a punched border using Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch. I finished off the card with matching buttons, and twine from The Twinery. I hope that you are having a great week and as always thank you for visiting my blog today! I am playing along with the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter Challenge # 21 - Lots of dots

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog - A Stitch in Time

{Took a Little Break}

2011-06-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

Hello friends, I am sorry it has been over a week since I last posted a card. I decided to take a little break from blogging. I've been working on cards for the latest Paper Crafts magazine submission and those cards can't be posted soooo... I hope you are having a great summer so far! It has been hot hot hot, but we are dealing with it. lol Today I am posting a patriotic card featuring an adorable stamp from Stampendous. This little guy makes me smile, and I hope he does the same for you! I colored him with pro-markers, and the blue gingham paper is from A Muse Studio. I added a bow and a chipboard star covered with the same blue gingham paper. To finish my card I added glassy glaze to his wings. I had fun making this simple little card! I hope that you have a fun,and safe 4th of July weekend, and thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown #55 - Red White and Blue

Use It Tuesdays Challenge # 11 - Red White and Blue

Woodware USA Challenge #33 - Patriotic Theme

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 116}

2011-06-19T11:59:00.000-05:00

Hello again and welcome to another super fun week at Cupcake Inspirations! This week we are being sponsored by Amber Ink and 1 lucky winner will receive a $15 shopping spree for their store! Here is this weeks Cupcake Inspiration picture:

I love love lady bugs and had so much fun making my card! I paper pieced the cute image and printed the sentiment onto kraft card stock. I added 4 different pieces of ribbon and a pink scallop border using my SU scallop border punch. I finished off my card with a little bit of hand stitching in the top right corner. I would love for you to play along with us this week at Cupcake Inspirations!!

{A Color Challenge}

2011-06-19T11:49:00.001-05:00

Good Morning! I hope your weekend is going well, we just finished the yummiest breakfast ever and now that the kiddos are full and happy I can steal away a few minutes to post this card! My card was inspired by this weeks challenge at Color Q:

These colors are not my normal choice of color scheme but I love the way the look together so I knew I had to play along! The floral stamp I used is from A Muse Studio and as you can see I stamped it multiple times in the color challenge ink colors. I added some hand stitching using my WR Memory Keepers "Sew Easy" and machine stitching around the entire card. The buttons are from BasicGrey, and the sentiment is also from A Muse Studio. I am very pleased with the way my card turned out! I am also playing along with the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges - add twine, floss, string

Thank you for visiting my blog today!!

{Moxie Fab Rainbow}

2011-06-18T19:17:00.001-05:00

Oh my gosh it was SO hot here today! Over 100, craziness! We tried to stay inside as much as possible which meant playtime in my craft room! I love rainbows and knew I had to play along with this weeks Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger.

Everything I used to create my card is from A Muse Studio. I stamped the little flower in 6 different colors of AS pigment ink, and added rhinestone centers colored with matching copics. I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and finished off the card with AS Toffee twine. I love my happy, cheerful card and I hope you like it to! I am also playing along with the following challenges:\\

Crazy 4 Challenges - add twine, floss, string,

Easy Craft Projects Challene #40 - Inspiration Photo

Thank you for visiting my blog!

{Berry Sweet}

2011-06-15T18:34:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! I hope you are having good Wednesday. I am back again with another card. I created two cards for this weeks CAS-ual Friday's challenge. My bingo combination is button/flower/twine. I used the PTI Fruit Fusion set "Berry" and the Amuse Studio Woodgrain background stamp. I used the "rock and roll" technique on the strawberry using A Muse Studio Cherry and Cranberry. The cute flower is from A|S and started out white. I sponged it using A|S Butter creme pigment ink. I love this cute little card, and I hope you do to!

I am playing along with the following challenges:

CAS-ual Friday's challenge

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge #19

{Oceans of Love}

2011-06-15T15:45:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon! Today I am posting a CAS card that I created using the Papertrey Ink set "Whale Wishes". The whale is just so cute and I love the sentiments that go along with it! I created my card with this weeks CAS-ual Friday's Bingo challenge. Here is a picture of all of the possible combinations:

For my card I used the buttons/ribbons/chipboard combination to achieve my tic-tac-toe! I stamped the whale using the "rock and roll" technique which happens to be this weeks Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge. I used Pacific Point, and Buckaroo Blue. I used scrap pieces of blue scallop ribbon, and I covered a circle shaped piece of chipboard using A Muse Studio polka dot card stock. I added a button to the center of my sun. I think this may be one of the most simple cards I have ever posted but I LOVE this card!

I am also playing along with the following challenge:

Lawnscaping Challenge #11 - CAS

I hope you are having a good week and as always thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 115}

2011-06-12T14:16:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon and welcome to another week at Cupcake Inspirations. This week our challenge is being sponsored by Prairie Fairy Designs and one lucky winner will receive 5 images of their choice. Sweet! Here is a picture of this weeks Cupcake Inspiration

The fun Birthday cake image I used for my card is from Prairie Fairy. I colored it using Promarkers, and a blender pen and ink. The patterned paper, button, and puffy pink letters are from American Crafts. I hope will play along with us this week! Thank you for visiting my blog!

{Happy Dad's Day}

2011-06-10T18:14:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends, I'm back again today with another card using only A Muse Studio supplies! I knew I had to make a couple of Father's Day cards and I wanted to share one of them with you! I used the A|S stamp set "Rock Star" for the guitar and sentiment. I created the textured look on the guitar using the "kissing technique" and one of the stamps from my new "Mad For Plaid" set.

Now would you believe that the plaid background was created by yours truly? Well, it WAS and I again used the "Mad For Plaid" stamp set. I think this may be my new favorite set! I used three different A|S pigment inks, Sky, Papaya, and Wheat.

I also used my "Harlequin background stamped in Slate pigment ink. I added a pocket so that a gift card can be added. This was a fun card to make and I hope my hubby likes it! Today I am playing along with a handful of challenges:

The Paper Variety Challenge #87 - For The Guys

Paper Play Challenge #23 - Father's Day/Man Card

Paper Pal Arts Challenge #97 - Your Signature Style

{Studio Stampers A Muse Studio Blog Hop}

2011-06-10T10:00:00.007-05:00

    Good Morning friends and visitors! Today my A Muse Studio Upline (the ultra talented Krystie Hersch) and several of her downline (myself and my fellow consultants) are bringing you the June installment of our monthly Blog Hop! We have an extremely talented team that I am pleased as punch to be a part of!
   Today, everything I used to create my card is from A Muse Studio. I used stamps from the stamp sampler sets I received in my kit. The only stamp that was not in my kit is the Wood Grain background stamp I used to create the tree trunk. I love making landscape cards, and find it to be very therapeutic after a hectic day (yesterday). My card is pretty much self explanatory, but if you have any questions about how it was made let me know! Now what would a blog hop be without candy, right? So, today I am giving away a $5 gift certificate towards any item in the catalog, and an A Muse Studio catalog to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment and check back on Sunday to see if you won. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me. Next on the hop is the very talented Kathy Hatzke and if you didn't start the hop from the beginning here is the full list of everyone participating in the blog hop today:

Krystie Hersch http://www.cleanandsimplecards.com
Lianna Vigil http://llamatales.blogspot.com/
Kellie Maggio http://iscrapyouscrap.blogspot.com/
Kari Bell http://karikards.blogspot.com
Kristen Watson http://branchandsky.blogspot.com
Veronica Zalis http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com  -----> You are HERE
Kathy Hatzke http://www.kathatstamps.blogspot.com/
Kelly Spivey http://www.southpawpaperarts.com
Lisa Wakabayashi http://dragonfliesandcats.blogspot.com
Karen Crisp http://www.papernstamps.blogspot.com

Kristie Hartfeil http://krismybliss.wordpress.com
Angela Schellenberg http://gypsypaperie.blogspot.com
Heather Wroe http://wroedeo.blogspot.com
   Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

Card Patterns Sketch Challenge #118

"Pretty Pastels"

2011-06-08T15:48:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon friends and visitors! I've had my card ready for pictures since this morning, but a certain 3 year old decided to put my SD card in his mouth and I had to buy another one! Little stinker. I know I always say this, but I LOVE the way my card turned out today! I used a small flower from the "Clever Girls" A Muse Studio stamp set. I stamped the flower in three A|S pigment ink colors, Lichen, Lemon Whip, and Shell. I think they look beautiful together. The birthday sentiment is from the A|S set "Contemporary Greetings". I added a paper lace border strip lined with blossom bakers twine from "The Twinery". My card features this weeks CAS Friday's sketch:

I am also playing along with these challenges:

Wee Memories Challenge #59 - Anything Goes

Lawnscaping Challenge #11 - CAS

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Just a Hello}

2011-06-07T13:31:00.002-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog! Yesterday I took a quick trip to Michael's and picked up some of their new Studio G cling stamp sets called "Ditto". They are SO SO cute and on sale this week for $2.00 a set. Each set has around 4 stamps, or one large stamp like the stamped floral image on my card. I used two Ditto stamps on my card today. I stamped the main image in A Muse Studio "Orange" ink, and the sentiment was stamped in SU Early Espresso. The orange gingham paper is also from A Muse Studio. I added some super cute orange twine from "The Twinery", and added scallop borders using my SU ribbon scallop punch. I finished off the card with an A Muse Studio flower that started out white, but was colored with two shades of AS pigment ink applied with a make up sponge. I added a little orange button to the center of my flower. I love this bright, sunny card, and I hope you will to! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up Challenge #22 - Orange

Wee Memories Challenge #59 - Anything Goes

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 114}

2011-06-05T10:17:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! It's Sunday morning and time for another Cupcake Inspirations Challenge! This week we are being sponsored "Di's Digi Downloads" and one lucky winner will receive 5 digi's or 2 stamps. Sweet prize! Here is a picture of this weeks Cupcake goodness:

These are way too pretty to eat! To create my card I used the retired SU background stamp "Paisley" and stamped it in Pacific Point Classic Ink. I then embossed a piece of white cardstock and adhered them to my card. Next, I used my circles Nestabilities and cut out 6 circle shapes and created the super fun, and very easy to make fabric flower!

To create the scalloped border I used the EK Success Abstract Circles punch and punched white card stock, and Pink Pirouette cardstock, I layered them hoping to create a subtle pink tone. But not too much pink. I added some silver ribbon, and stamped "i love you" using A Muse Studio "Slate" ink. I finished off my card with machine stitching. I hope that you will play along with us this week!

Today I am also playing along with this weeks Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger:

My soft pink border, along with the blue paisley background, white embossing, silver striped ribbon, and pretty linen flower reflect the beauty of this weeks trigger. Well, at least I think so!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Happy Thoughts Make Happy Days}

2011-06-03T10:54:00.001-05:00

Hello again! I have one more card I wanted to share with you! When I saw this weeks Colour Q Challenge I knew I just HAD to play along! Check out these bee-utiful colors

See what I mean? The stamp set I used is SU's "Apple Blossom". The DSP is also from SU. My border was created using the Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch and the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. I finished off my card with a button tied with Cappuccino twine from "The Twinery". Love my twine! Thank you for stopping by! I am also playing along with the following challenges:

The Paper Players Challenge #49 - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #121- Pink and Orange

{Love - A Reason For Happiness}

2011-06-03T10:04:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! I am so glad Friday is here, it has been a long week. I was able to finish a couple of cards today so I will be posting another card later this morning. My inspiration for this card is from this weeks Case Study Challenge featuring the talented Jill Foster. To create my card I used paper from my Garden Party DCWV stack. I stamped my new Inkadinkado mesh screen background stamp in SU Crumb Cake ink onto Very Vanilla card stock. Next I stamped the beautiful sentiment from Hero Art's . I distressed and sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink and added curled edges to add even more dimension. I added a flower accent from American Crafts that I picked up from Peachy Cheap last week and holy cow I can't believe how well it matches! Finally I finished off the card with a button tied with Sugar twine from A Muse Studio. This card is a touch on the simple side, but I love the way it turned out! Today I am also playing along with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #40 - Anniversary

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 105 - Wedding/Love

{Hi Sweetie}

2011-06-02T10:31:00.000-05:00

Good Morning and welcome to my blog! This week just got away from me but thankfully I was able to find a bit of time to play in my craft room. Today I created a card using my brand new PaperTrey Ink stamps "Fruit Fusion Cherries" set. I fell in love with the latest release and just had to have all of the fun fruit stamps sets! Thankfully they are only $5 each which is a great deal for PTI stamps. I also used some of the matching patterned paper that went along with the release. Isn't just too cute? The rosette and leaf die cuts are metal die's by Marianne Designs that I got from Sweet Stamps. Its kind of hard to see in the picture but the leaves are embossed! Super cuteness! I added a bit of vintage lace to my card and finished it off with a pretty bow made with Cherry Satin ribbon from A Muse Studio. Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

Card Patterns Sketch Challenge #117

Use It Tuesday Challenge # 8 - Flowers

jac-inks Papercraft Challenge # 9 - Warm Colors

The Paper Variety - Fruity Fun

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 113}

2011-05-29T15:56:00.001-05:00

Hello friends and welcome to another week at Cupcake Inspirations! This week we are being sponsored by Bugaboo Digital Stamps, and the winner of this weeks challenge will receive 7 digi's of their choice! Here is a picture of this weeks Cupcake Inspiration picture:

These cupcake are too cute to eat! My card features an adorable turtle and ladybug image. I paper pieced him together using scrap pieces of DSP from Stampin' Up! and the rest of him was colored with Copic markers. The striped ribbon and sentiment are also Stampin' Up. I finished off the card with a little machine stitching, and buttons.

I also want to invite you to the current Cupcake Inspirations Design Team Call! All of the details can be found by clicking on this icon:

We hope that you will play along with us this week! Have a wonderful weekend and thank you so much for visiting my blog!!

Spread Your Wings and Fly

2011-05-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog. I hope you are having a nice Holiday weekend. We have a fun family cook out planned for tonight, I can't wait! Today I am playing along with the latest Color Challenge at Paper Crafts Magazine.

At first I was not sure about the colors, but after putting the colors together I have to say I love the combination! My card features one of my current favorite stamp sets from The Craft's Meow called "Butterfly Kisses", and the sentiment from the set "Fly Free". I used my retired SU Paisley background stamp to create the pretty black and white pattern. The Tangerine Tango polka dot DSP is also from SU. This is also my first card using my new EK Success border punch "Abstract Flower". Isn't it beautiful? I know I am going to be using it....a lot! I added some vintage black lace, and Bubblegum satin ribbon from A Muse Studio. I tied a bow using the same black lace, that I accented with a pretty button tied with Sugar Twine from A Muse Studio. I love love how this card turned out! If you have not been to The Craft's Meow store front I highly recommend it. The stamps are made of clear photo-polymer and stamp SO well. Just look at the beautifully stamped solid image. You can't get that crisp of a stamped impression with inferior quality clear stamps. Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a fun and safe Holiday weekend! Today I am also playing along with the following challenges:

Just Add Ink Challenge #69 - Fussy Cutting

{Orange You Cute}

2011-05-25T14:54:00.000-05:00

Yep, another fruit card and I'm sorry but I can't resist making them! I created this card using the super cute set from Technique Tuesday called Fruit Salad. I stamped the oranges in SU Only Orange classic ink. To add some bling I added orange rhinestones to the centers. I used a strip of polka dot ribbon to add a little extra orange goodness. I finished off the card with a line of machine stitching and the sentiment. I ordered several of PTI's new fruit sets and hopefully I'll be receiving them any day now. So, you will be seeing lots of fruit-tastic cards in the weeks to come.

Today I also want to share with you the happy mail I received from Paper Crafts Magazine for being one of the winners for the Color Inspiration Challenge #4 .

If you get a chance you should play along with the current Paper Crafts Magazine color challenge!
Today I am playing along with a handful of challenges:

The Kraft Journal Make it Monday Challenge - Clean and Simple

CAS-ual Friday's Challenge CFC3 - Bring the Bling

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger - The Pyrex Effect