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

      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

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}

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}

 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!}

  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!}

   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}

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}

    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}

       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}



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}

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}

   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}

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}

  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}

  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!