Wednesday, February 29, 2012

{You Light Up My Life}

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Howdy! I am here just under the wire to play along with this weeks challenge at CAS-ual Fridays. I love this cute little card!




To create my card I used the PTI sets Lighten Up, and Holiday Photo Finishers. I am also playing along with this weeks Make It Monday Challenge with Papertrey Ink. The challenge was to create a large frame using a  small frame stamp.  I thought one of the holiday label outline stamps from Holiday Photo Finishers would be perfect. I took it a step further and double stamped each frame. I added little buttons in the corners where the edges of the stamp meet. The colors I used to create my card are Stampin Up Tempting Turquoise and Barely Banana. Thank you for visiting my blog today!
                                                        

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

{Happiness=Stamping}


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Hello  hello! I am here today posting a card I created today with a few challenges in mind. First would be the color combo, this weeks challenge at Color Q.


   I knew I had to play along when I saw the new colors posted today!  To create my card I used lots of stamps! The pretty butterfly was created using PTI's Text Backgrounds, and the new Beautiful Butterflies. I used the "kissing" technique to create my butterfly.I also used the PTI Sheet Music Background set using Pumpkin Pie ink and card stock and the Mat Stack 5 Collection with coordinating die. The beautiful damask background was created using the Skipping Stones Design set "Timeless Textures". I hope you like my card and thank you for visiting my blog today!


                                                                      

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

{WCMD Giveaway Winner}

Just here for a quick sec to announce the winner of my WCMD Blog Hop Giveaway!  Thank you everyone for the overwhelming response and well wishes in the blog hop.   Ok, now for the winner......drum roll....



#28

sanketi said...


Congrats!...very nice card!



Friday, February 17, 2012 10:51:00 AM CST


    Congratulations! You have won my giveaway and a copy of the March/April Paper Crafts magazine! Please email me at     alwaysctr at yahoo.com    with your mailing address so that I can get your goodies packaged and ready to go!


                                     

Monday, February 20, 2012

{Scent With Love}

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    Howdy Howdy! Today I created a card JUST for fun! I recently got a super sweet package in the mail from YNS and finally had the chance to get inky. That cute skunk is from the set "Aroma the Skunk" and the post mark is from the "Small Post Card Cling Set". The oh so pretty light gray paper is from the brand new Dots set from Echo Park. Love, love LOVE! It matches the skunk perfectly! I colored Aroma with Copics and Promarkers. The flower was creating using a cutting file from Lori Whitlock, and my KNK Zing. I added a couple of pink buttons, and machine stitching around my layers. I hope you like my card, I had fun making it. Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Today I am playing along with these challenges:

Play Date Cafe Challenge #119 - Splash of Color

There She Goes TSG144 - Animals

Crazy4Challenges # C4C124 - Stripes and Polka Dots

4 Crafty Chicks - Lets Double Down (Two of something)  I used two buttons!


                                                                              

Friday, February 17, 2012

{Paper Crafts Magazine WCMD Winner Blog Hop}

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   Hello and welcome to the Paper Crafts Magazine 2011 WCMD Winner Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from the wonderful Vanessa Menhorn I was one of the 20 winners of the Paper Crafts Magazine 2011 WCMD (World Card Making Day) Contest. Winners were announced last October and even though it is February I STILL get giddy with excitement when I think about receiving this HUGE honor! The card I had chosen was in the Holiday/Christmas category and we were asked to create a card in the same category so, in February I am posting a Christmas Card! Funny.  To create my card I used the Papertrey Ink stamp sets "Love Lives Here:Holiday, Christmas Poinsettia, and Holiday Photo Finishers. The patterned paper is by Echo Park. Now to make this hop even better each WCMD winner is offering a prize package to give away! SO, let me show you what I am giving away:


WCMDCandy

  Included in my prize package is The EK Success Abstract Flower Punch, two packs of Zva Creative Rhinestone Designs, and Elmer Glue Adhesive squares, and craft stick. The lucky winner will also receive the current issue of Paper Crafts Magazine which features all of the WCMD winning cards and lots of fabulous creations! To enter just leave a comment on this post. Blog comments close on  Monday, February 20th @ 11:59pm (Pacific) and the winner will  be posted on Wednesday, February 22nd Make sure to visit all of the WCMD winners to see their amazing creations, and for your chance to enter and win wonderful crafting goodies! Your next stop on the blog hop is the fabulous Wendy Frederick

Paper Crafts

Alyssa Scritchfield

Amber Daigre

Becky Olsen

Carol Bloomberg

Julie Day

Kelley Eubanks

Kelly Rasmussen

Laurie Willison

Lisa Petrella

Patricia Folchert

Savannah O'Gwynn

Sharon Dunn

Stephanie Washburn

Terri Davenport

Tifany DeGough

Trinh Arrieta

Vanessa Menhorn

Veronica Zalis

Wendy Frederick


                                                                   

{Your Next Stamp YNS Fun Friday With Japan Icons}

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  Friday is here again and it is time for Fun Friday with YNS! Today I am featuring the stamp set "Japan Icons". Spring is just around the corner, and to me cherry blossoms are one of the very best parts of spring! I colored my image with promarkers. The patterned paper is from the brand new Teresa Collins Collection "Spring Fling". Perfect! I used my Nestabilities ovals, and scalloped ovals to showcase the pretty design of the cherry blossom image. I finished off the card with a strip of vintage lace and a button tied with twine.  My YNS Fun Friday tip of the day is:

"If you want to add a little extra something special to your cards try using your metal dies to emboss the edges of your die cut."

         I hope you like my card and please head back to the YNS blog to see the rest of the awesome creations and tips from the YNS Design Team!

 
                                                  

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

{Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Day 10 Contest}

PTIAnivDay10

  Hello! I am here today with another challenge from Papertrey Ink, Day 10 which was to create an interactive card. I thought it would be fun to create a scratch and sniff card! I wish you could smell that sweet strawberry smell but I made my hubby do the scratch and sniff test and this card has his seal of approval. lol   To create my card I used the recipe that I found here: 

http://skippingstonesdesign.com/tips-and-tricks-thursday-scratch-n-sniff/

 


The recipe calls for 1  tsp of sugar free gelatin (very important that it is sugar free)

 1 1/2 of clear embossing powder.

Easy peasy strawberry squeezy!  (hah)

scratchnsniff


 I used the PTI set Fruit Fusion Strawberry, and the matching paper to create my card!  I had fun making this card and hope you give this technique a try.  Have a great day and thank you for visiting my blog!


                                                                     

Monday, February 13, 2012

{Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Contest Day 9 }

PTIAnivDay8
Howdy! I am here with a super quick post for today's Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Day 9 Challenge, Butterflies and Leaves. I used the PTI set "Stitches and Swirls" for the leaves, and A Muse Studio Butterfly Trio Metal die for my butterfly. This picture isn't all that great, the sun went down long ago and I had to use my OTT light. I'll probably re-take it tomorrow when the sun is out. The beautiful gold leaf paper that I used to create my butterfly is by American Crafts, and I picked up a pack of 25 sheets at Tuesday Morning for $1.99. Amazing price! You can see it even has a nice linen texture to it as well. The colors I chose are not my normal color palette but I thought I would try something different. I hope you have a great evening and thank you for visiting my blog!

I am also playing along with these challenges:

Moxie Fab World Cool Tools Week - Die Cutting Challenge
                                                            

Saturday, February 11, 2012

{Sending Love and A Challenge or Two}

                      PTIDay7-5


         Good Afternoon! Today I am happy to show you one of the newest releases from YNS, "Small Postcard Stamp set with matching die's. This set is SO cute!




And to celebrate the new releases at YNS Karen is offering 15% off your entire order!!!  Online Code is YNSFEB2012

      In addition to the Post Card set I used the Papertrey Ink set "Heart Print Backgrounds". Today I am playing along with the PTI 5th Anniversary Day #7 contest which was to create a card with a heart. I used the heart background set! I finished off my card with a super cute felt puffy heart (A'la Susan Opel) from Pebbles, and Offray twill and a wooden button from Oriental Trading, I love this cute little card and I thank you for visiting my blog today!

I am also playing along with these challenges:

Moxie Fab World Cool Tools Die Cutting Challenge

Card Patterns Sketch #152


Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Love Is In The Air







 

Friday, February 10, 2012

{Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Contest Day 6 Entry #2 }

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           Hi, yep it's me again with my second entry for the Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Day 6  Card Contest! To create this card I used Sketch #2:
     To create my card I used the PTI set Simply Jane with matching paper, and paper from the Crate Paper "Random" collection. You know I don't use a lot of floral papers but I just LOVE the paper on this card and I think I just might be turning a new petal. hehe.  I also used the sentiment, and the embellishment behind the sentiment from the PTI Mat Stack 5 collection.  I love this sweet little card and I thank you for visiting my blog today!

Today I am also playing along with these challenges:

Moxie Fab World Cool Tools Die Cutting Challenge

                                                                                       

{Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Contest Day 6 and HappyNews! }

            PTIAnivday6                                                        
   Hello and welcome! Today was a SUPER happy day, I was one of the lucky recipients of happy mail from Paper Crafts Magazine! I had 4 cards picked up for the next special issue "Stamp It".  I submitted 16 cards, yep 16, my highest amount for submission ever. So 4 out of 17 isn't too shabby! Congrats to everyone else that had cards picked up and to those that didn't this time around don't get discouraged, re-submit those cards and keep trying!  Ok, onto my card. Today I am playing along with the PTI 5th Anniversary Celebration Day 6! Our challenge today was to create a card using the sketches that were provided by the oh so talented Nicole. I chose Sketch #5 to create my card:

  I used the PTI set Simply Jane with matching paper. I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz Antique Linen ink and added 2 machine stitch borders around my card. The beautiful felt rose was created using the Rolled Rose metal die from Marianne Design. I added a piece of vintage lace, and 3 PTI kraft buttons. I am SO happy with the way my card turned out and I hope you like it to! Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a wonderful weekend! (I'll be back with my second card later this evening.)        

Today I am also playing along with the following challenges:

Ribbon Carousel Challenge #39 RCC39 - Anything Goes    

Moxie Fab World Cool Tools Die Cutting Challenge

              
                                                                             

{Your Next Stamp YNS Fun Friday}

YNSFunFri-4

Hello and welcome to Fun Friday with Your Next Stamp! Today I am posting a card featuring the new release set "Japan Icons Set Two". I created my card using the little "meow" image. She is just the sweetest little thing! I colored her with promarkers. I just received an order of  Japanese washi tape and I knew it would be perfect for this card! I added a line of machine stitching to each strip along with a border around my card. I finished off the card with the sentiment. My Fun Friday Tip of the week is:

    Adding Washi Tape to a card is a fun, and easy way to add an extra touch of color to a card or project. All it takes is a single strip. I'll be using more colors of washi tape in the next few days so be on the look out for that. Thank you for visiting my blog and be sure to check out the other fantastic creations from the rest of the YNS Design Team!  Have a great weekend!

                                                             

Thursday, February 9, 2012

{Papertrey Ink 5th Anniversary Contest Day 5 }

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Howdy! Welcome to my blog! Today I am thrilled to be playing along with the PTI 5th Anniversary Day 5 festivities! The challenge today was to take inspiration from Pinterest and create a card. So, let me show you my inspiration picture:


(The original pin can be found here:  vintagerosebrocante.tumblr.com  )
    To create my card I used a few PTI sets, Fruit Fusion Cherry, Mat Stack 5, and Everyday Button Bits. Today I am also playing along with the current PTI Make It Monday Challenge which was  "Double Sided Stamped Die Cuts". I double stamped one of the large label die cut stamps from Mat Stack 5 using PTI Kraft ink. As you can see from my picture I added a small criss cross stitch to each side, creating handles for the label. The adorable patterned paper is from Crate Paper. The wood grain background is from Core'dinations. I hope you like my card, and I hope you have a wonderful day!!  Thank you for visiting.

                                                       

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

{A Little CAS Valentine}

cas2
                                                                                     
     Good Afternoon! My creative brain is still tired from all the cards I created for the Paper Crafts Magazine Stamp It Call, so today I decided to make a CAS (clean and simple) card just for FUN! I picked up that cute lil' ladybug by Studio G at Wal-Mart last night and thought I would ink him up today. I paper pieced him with paper from the Stampin Up Brights Collection. The fun "grass" stitching was created using my We R Memory Keepers - Sew Easy. This poor tool has been neglected for a long while and truthfully I was just getting ready to sell all of my Sew Easy pieces but decided to try again.  I used bakers twine from The Twinery. What do ya think? The sentiment and hearts are from the Paper Smooches "Giddy Bugs" set.  Cuteness.  In keeping with the theme at this weeks challenge at CAS-ual Fridays the movie inspiration for my card is "Herbie and the Love Bug".  I love that series.  Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays - On The Red Carpet
















Create: Cards Weekly Challenge:  Valentine's Day


                                                                                        

{YNS February New Release Blog Hop}

 Hello and welcome to the Your Next Stamp February Release Blog Hop. I don't have a card to share so today I am kind of a traffic controller...hehe. I do however have a peek at one of the super cute new release stamps that is available starting today! Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win this adorable image "Zina from Africa":




Here is the full list of the Design Team and their creations using this months new releases! Also Karen is offering a Blog Hop Special – 15% off your entire order – online code is YNSFEB2012  and there will be some bundle deals posted as well.   Be sure to visit everyone to see TONS of great inspiration and to increase your chance at winning!

Jenny P. – http://mylittlestampinspot.blogspot.com
Kerri – http://cardsbykerri.blogspot.com
Jen R. – http://www.tennisgirl27.blogspot.com
Peggy- http://cardcrazy.wordpress.com
Susan – http://www.susiestampalot.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 <-- You are here!
Wendy – http://sugarpea-designs.blogspot.com
Karen – http://yournextstamp.blogspot.com/

                                                                      

Monday, February 6, 2012

{A New Day, New Challengea, and New Stamps!}

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Hello! For the first time in as long as I can remember this is the first Monday when I was okay with the weekend being over. Yes, it was one of those. But, Monday is here and a brand new week and that makes me glad.  Today I am posting a card I created using pretty pastel colors that are featured in this weeks challenge at the Play Date Cafe. To create my card I used two sets from Papertrey Ink, my newest set, Think Big Favorites #7, and Background Basics Retro. The patterned paper is from K and Company (tan print) and My Minds Eye (pink print).


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Isn't that little butterfly pretty? Its is from K and Co and started out white, but I used SU Pretty In Pink and a  make up sponge to add a soft touch of color.  Love! The flower was created using a cutting file from A Little Hut. Next I stamped them with my Retro back ground stamp. Lastly I sprayed them with a light mist of water, crumpled them up (gently), and flattened them out to dry. I really love the way my layered flower turned out! I don't usually create shabby chic cards but I love the way this one turned out! Today I am playing along with these challenges:

                                                                              Ribbon Reel Challenge #21



                                                                            Play Date Challenge PDCC117
 


Sunday, February 5, 2012

{February SFYTT - Sending Love}

sfytt1

Hello friends! I am a day late posting this but we had a terrible storm Fri night and our DSL router/modem go fried! We tool a trip to visit my sister who is in the hospital with a broken leg/ankle and I am posting this at her house. What a weekend. Today I am posting a card for this week SFYT Challenge at i{heart}2stamp  Here is the sketch:





I used the YNS Fancy Labels Set. The patterned paper is from My Minds Eye, and the embossing folder is from the Cuttlebug "Romance" collection. I made this card for my little sis and right now she has it on display in her room. Sweet, isn't she? I'm happy it made her smile. Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you have a nice weekend!
                                                           

Friday, February 3, 2012

{Your Next Stamp YNS Fun Friday}



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  Wow, I can't believe it is Friday already! It's time for another Your Next Stamp Fun Friday! If this is your first Fun Friday let me tell you what it's all about. Each Friday the YNS Design Team creates a card, and we give a tip or two on creating cards and such. Today I created a card using the Ellie Loves to Ski cling stamp. I colored her with copic and promarkers. If you look carefully at her ski mask you will see that I used glassy glaze to make it look like glass. I used a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder for the main background, and my patterned paper is from My Minds Eye. The pretty aqua ruffled ribbon is from Hobby Lobby, and I finished off the card with a button and twine.  My Fun Friday tip is this: 

   "Using glassy glaze is a fun and easy way to add dimension to a card, it adds the perfect finishing touch!"

 Well, I hope you liked my card and thank YOU for visiting my blog today! If you like the stamps I used today and want to buy them for your own collection be sure to visit the YNS store. There are lots of adorable stamps to choose from!  Have a great weekend!

Today I am also playing along with the following challeges: 

Dutch Dare Card Challenge #150 -  Inspiration Photo



The Ribbon Reel Challenge # 20 - New Year , New Start - My resolution is to be more organized!