Halloween Is Just Around The Corner!

Ok, so usually I am not that into making Halloween cards, but this year I made an exception. Stampin' Up released ADORALE photopolymer (clear) sets in the Holiday catalog that I just had to have.  I used 3 different SU ets to make this card. First, my hill side from "White Christmas".

 

Next the spoooooky house from "Holiday Home".

 

 

                                            I also used the pumpkin, spider web and bats from this set.

 

I stamped the moon using a small circle from "What's  Your Type", another cute Stampin' Up! photopolymer set!

 

 

If you would like to order any of these sets I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

 

Please visit my online shop to order, and have your packages shipped directly to YOU!

 

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/veronicazalis/

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

 

 

Too Cute For Spook!

 

  Hello friends! We just got home from vacation, and I have so many new stamps to play with and not enough hours in the day! I gathered up some new stamps from the Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog that goes live on August 28th. The cute pumpkins, and leaves are from the photopolymer set "Fall Fest". This stamp set has matching dies! The sentiment is from a hostess exclusive stamp set that you will be able to earn in September called "Good Greetings". Be sure to check back tomorrow for a peak of more goodies from the Holiday catalog!

See Ya Later, Alligator!

 

After months of living in our house, I FINALLY found the perfect spot for capturing the noon-day sun. It has been driving me crazy, seriously!  Okay, so I'm excited about the picture, AND the card. I couldn't wait to show you! I've never created a banner card with as many banners as this one. After about 20 minutes of arranging, and re-arranging I finally decided that my banners needed a little something extra. Sooo, I dusted off one of my oldest paper crafting tools, my Fiskars Paper Crimper! It added exactly what I was looking for, and I won't keep it buried in a drawer any more.

 

  I used See Ya Later, and Sweet Sorbet DSP, both FREEBIES you can earn during Sale-A-Bration at Stampin' Up!

 

 

 

All you have to do is spend $50 (before tax and shipping) and you will get to pick out one of  11 items for each $50 you spend.  If you would like to place an order today, here is a link to my online store:

 

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/veronicazalis/promotions

 

As an added bonus, all orders placed through ME will be put into a drawing at the end of SAB for a chance to win two SAB items, which happen to be my favorite:

 

Banner Blast  AND the matching punch!

 

I am so happy you stopped by today and I hope you have a wonderful day!

 

 

 

 

{A Season of Sweetness}

    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!

                                           

      

{Pretty Pretty Poinsettia}

 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

                                                       
                                                  

{A True Friend}

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!

{The Place to be Happy is Here...}

Good morning and welcome to another week at Cupcake Inspirations! This weeks inspiration picture is beautiful, and oh so yummy:

 Our sponsor this week at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #104 is "Paper Pretties" and they are graciously giving away 1 free stamp set for the challenge this week!

My card for the challenge this week features a stamp set from Stampin' Up! called "Garden Whimsey".  I used A•Muse Studio pigment inks to achieve the pretty dual tone color on the tulip blossoms. I stamped them three times on the paper, and then twice on another sheet of card stock. I cut two of them out with paper snips and added attached them with foam dots. The patterned paper is from the Cosmo Cricket Material Girl collection. To finish off the card I machine stitched around the card and added blingy brads to the corners.  If you get a chance this week we would love for you to join us at Cupcake Inspirations!

                  Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger:

Sugar Creek Hollow - Sensational Stitching

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #73 - Spring Has Sprung

Fairy Fun Fridays  #49- Oh So Spring

For Fun Challenges - Something with flowers

Claudia and Company Challenge #78 - Color

{One of a Kind}

   Lately I have read alot of chatter about using stamps that have been neglected for a long time because of trying to keep up with the latest and greatest trends out there. Now I admit I love using new stamps but I also have several stamp sets that I will never get rid of. These cute little bears come from an ollllld SU set "Teddy Bear" that is one of those sets, "keepers". My set is so old it was mounted on foam instead of wooden blocks! Funny. Anyways, about my card. Using my Stamp-a-majig I stamped the bear 3 times on one piece of card stock and once on another.  I colored them with Promarkers and blender pens with SU classic ink. I cut out the third bear and added foam squares for a nice 3-d effect. The sentiment is from Hero Arts. The patterned paper is from the SU Brights paper pad, and the rosettes are from Michael's "Recollection" collection. The cute ruffled ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. I love that it matches the ballerina tu-tu's SO well. So darn cute.  Today I am playing along with a handful of challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenge #132 - Pink Polka Dots (My patterned paper has pink polka dots!)


Cute Card Thursday Challenge #155- Happy 3rd Birthday (3 cute bears for a cute 3 year old!)

Fairy Tale Challenge #10 - Children

Simply Create Challenge #39 - Just a Little  Monochromatic

Fab n' Funky Challenge #63 - Make it girly

         Thank you for visiting my blog today and I hope you have a great weekend!

{Happy Day}

Hello and welcome to my blog today! Today's card was a labor of love for sure, it took me ALL day. I was only able to work on it for a few minutes at a time but this evening when DH got home I was able to finish it. My card features an adorable stamp set from Stampin' Up! called "Picnic Parade". This is the first time I have ever used this set. Sad I know, such a cute set , but it is a labor intensive one since you pretty much have to cut each piece out. I colored the critters with Pro-Markers. The cute patterned paper is from the Jillibean Soup "Dutch Mustard" collection. The sky background is an old piece of patterned paper I've had for years. I cut the grass border out with my Cricut, and SCAL software and then I sponged it with SU Old Olive ink to add some definition. I am so happy with the way my card turned out! Today I am playing along with a few challenges:

Wee Memories Challenge #46 - Woodland Friends

Dutch Dare Card Challenge #102 - Who's Who in the Zoo

Diecut Dreams Challenge #84 - Spring Garden

The Paper Players Challenge #37- Spring has sprung

                  Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Spring is Just Around the Corner}

It is a beautiful sunny morning here in Southeast Oklahoma. I hope the sun is shining in your part of the world today! Spring arrives early in this part of the USA, there are fruit trees, and daffodils blooming here and there. So, in honor of my second favorite time of year (fall takes the #1 spot) I decided to create a "spring theme" card today! I am happy to say that this card came together quickly. My card features a pretty dogwood branch from the Stampin' Up! set "Soft Summer".

 I colored the image with SU classic ink, and blender pens. The patterned paper is from the "Lace and Linen" DCWV stack. I machine stitched around the card, and accented the corners with  a  blossom I picked up at Michael's this weekend. I added a button tied with bakers twine. Speaking of twine I have been using it like crazy, like many others right now. I am thinking about offering a blog candy that could possibly involve a pretty selection of bakers twine in several colors. Stay tuned this week so ya don't miss out! Today I am playing along with several challenges.

One Stop Craft Challenge #120 - Spring Flowers

Sketchy Colors #60 - Pink and Beige

Ooh La La Creations Challenge #74 - Pink Pink Pink

Lexi's Creation Challenge #34 - Flowers

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #83 - Spring is in the air

Die Cut Dreams Challenge #84 - Spring Garden Scene

The Crazy Challenge #56 - Here comes spring

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge #9 - Spring Flowers Everywhere

{Sweet Sunday}

 Wow, two posts in one day can you believe it? Well, I just had to play along with a couple of challenges so while Cam and Connor napped today I was able to finish a card! My card features a berry sweet image of cakes from the Stampin' Up! set "Birthday Bakery". The sentiment is from Impression Obsession. I used velvet ribbon by Cosmo Cricket, and my new favorite embellishment bakers twine from The Twinery.   I used dsp from KI Memories that matched my inspiration picture perfectly! Well, this weeks challenge at "Raise the Bar" is to  create a card inspired by your favorite cartoon character , and of course I had to pick Strawberry Shortcake! Most of you don't know this but I once had an entire room dedicated to vintage Strawberry Shortcake and her friends. Fun huh? Anyways I think my card reflects the sweetness of SSC and I really enjoyed creating it! The second challenge is the Paper Pal Arts weekly challenge which happens to be a sketch this week. This was the perfect sketch to go along with my SSC inspired card.  I am also playing along with the weekly challenge from "Wee Memories - Source of Inspiration" . Thank you for visiting my blog today and have a great day!

{Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #99}

 Good Sunday morning and welcome to  the Cupcake Inspirations Weekly Challenge! Our challenge this week is being sponsored by Prairie Fairy . If you have not been to visit their website you really should, they have some of the cutest images.  Here is the inspiration picture for this weeks challenge, isn't it a beauty?

My card looks more purpley then blue, but the colors are more blue in real life.  I colored the image with blender pen and SU classic ink. I also machine stitched around the first layer. To achieve the "glittery" look I used Glimmer paint in Champagne Mist. I LOVE the way it turned out! I used a Spellbinders die for the pretty diecut shape.  If you get a chance you should play along this week.  We would love to see what you create! I am also playing along with these challenges:

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Spring Fever

Supplies:
Stamps- Prairie Fairy Digital image "Bugs", Fifth Avenue Floral, SU
Ink - Buckaroo Blue, Lovely Lilac, SU
Paper - K&C Company, SU
Embellishments - Ribbon from Michael's, rhinestones, SU
Tools - Spellbinders Pendants , Lattice

{True Friends}

Happy Valentine's Day friends and visitors! I hope this has been a sweet day for you. Today I created a card using the Stampin' Up! set "True Friend". I used the SU colors Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Whisper White. These colors happen to be the color challenge for this week at "The Paper Players Challenge #34. Don't they look fantastic together!?  I am also playing along with the sketch challenge at "Skipping Stones Design Challenge #63".  This was a great sketch to work with. I finished off the card with a BasicGrey button, and Offray ribbon tied with  yummy twine I just received from the Twinery! Speaking of twine there is a great Product Challenge #6 at DeNami Designs featuring twine! If you have twine you should definitely play along!

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

{Red, Red Rose}

Hello and welcome to my blog! I hope that wherever you are, your day is going well.  Today I felt like trying some of the paper and ribbon folds that seem to be all the rage these days. It isn't hard at all, and the great thing about the "shabby" look is that the folds don't have to be perfect. If you have not tried this technique yet I encourage you to give it a try! My card features a rose stamp from  Clearly Inspired clear stamps called "Brushed Florals", and a sentiment from the SU set "A Word For You". I used SU Cherry Cobbler as my card base, and Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive ink for the rose. The DSP is from the BasicGrey "Ambrosia" collection. The stitching around the card was done with the new Hero Arts clear set "Sew Artsy". I think it looks great, and I love that I didn't have to get my sewing machine out! I used a Martha Stewart punch for the black accordion fold, and the ribbon is from Big Lots. Finally I accented the card with Hiedie Swap rhinestones, and BasicGrey buttons. This card is out of my comfort zone, but for the most part I am happy with the way it turned out! Today I am playing along with the following challenges:

Mojo Monday  Sketch163 -

Craft Cardmakers 33- stitching

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

{A Spooktacular Halloween}

First let me say I think this is one of the cutest Halloween images I have ever seen! Secondly, this card is an especially special card because it is the FIRST digital stamp I have ever purchased, and used! This adorable image is by "Pink Cat Studios".  The DSP is "June Bug" by BasicGrey. I printed the image on Very Vanilla card stock with my laser printer, and colored using Prismacolor pencils, and OMS. (oderless mineral spirits) The sentiment is from the SU set "Greetings Galore, and the ribbon is a roll I picked up at the Offray Ribbon Outlet.  I machine stitched around the layers, and the card base is SU Crumb Cake. I am playing along with a few challenges today first Cupcake Inspirations. Here is this weeks inspiration picture:

 The second challenge is the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, where we were supposed to create a card using these colors:

And the last challenge I am playing along with is the Dutch Dare Card Challenge. This weeks challenge is to create a Halloween card.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and I hope you are having a great Monday!

{Loads of Love}

        Good Afternoon! My card today features an image by High Hopes Stamps, and it is one of my all time favorite images of all time! The little girl holding the pumpkin is just so cute. The whole time I was coloring the image I was thinking of my friend LeAnn and her two adorable munchkins. The image was colored with SU ink, and blender pens. Actually, everything I used to create this card is from Stampin' Up! I used Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon, and the buttons, and card stock are Rose Red. I used two sentiments from the SU set "Loads of Love", and the scallop border was made using the Scallop Ribbon Border punch. I am entering this card in two challenges, the High Hopes Stamps Weekly Challenge. We were given a recipe challenge which was to use 1 circle, 2 squares, and a scalloped edge.  

  I hope that you are having a good weekend, and thank you for visiting my blog today!

{Wonderful Cupcakes}

I don't know about you but looking at this card makes me want a cupcake SO bad! I have a cake mix, with milk chocolate frosting just waiting to be baked but I know if I make them I will be the only one eating them since my hubby and son do not have a sweet tooth! Ok, onto business. The card I made today is for a cute challenge blog called "Paper Play Challenges". The inspiration picture this week is of these yummy, bright, fun cupcakes!

 Today's card had to fight hard to get here. When I finished it yesterday my son found it, and pulled off the cherries, and cupcakes, so I had to re-do all of those. Then, as I was getting ready to take a pictures of the card, some of the stickles hadn't finished drying so one of the cherries smeared. I had to re-do one of the cupcakes for a third time. By that time I was determined to finish, and post this card just because it had been thru so much already. lol  So here it is....finally.   I used the Stampin' Up Set "On a Pedestal". I stamped the cupcakes in Tempting Turq. Regal Rose, and Lavender Lace. I used matching card stock that I cut into squares, and embossed with my Cuttlebug "Once Upon a Princess" cupcake folder. I then attached those to scalloped squares. The cupcake bases were made using my SU Ribbon Scallop Punch. The pink polka dot ribbon is from Michael's, and the cherries were accented with Diamond Stickles. Finally I finished off the card with a sentiment from the SU set " Messages for Mom".  Thank you for visiting my blog today, and I hope you have a great week!