{I {heart} Jane Austen}

Hello! Today I am posting a card for this weeks CAS-ual Friday Challenge using this sketch:

I can't resist a sketch challenge, although I wish I had more time to play along with challenges. My days have been going by so fast! Onto business. =0) I have a new favorite stamp set "Simply Jane" by PTI. I am a huge Jane Austen fan and this stamp set is right up my alley! To create my card I cut out a simple heart shape, and using the heart "negative" as a stencil I sponged the heart shape onto my card base using Cherry, and Shell pigment ink from A Muse Studio. The ink is very wet and smudges VERY easily but it looks so pretty. I used three of the Simply Jane die cuts on my card, the large frame, Mr. Darcey, and Elizabeth. Aren't they cute! I cut out a scroll frame for the sentiment, embossed it and finished off my card with stitching, ruffly ribbon and a button. This card is not my usual style, but I did enjoy making it and that's the most important thing, right?  I hope that you have a wonderful week and as always thank you for visiting my blog!

{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!