Boo 2 You

I got some good news this week! I've been awarded a grant which will pay for a master's degree in Library Science. I'm going to be a LIBRARIAN! Well, in about two years, I'm going to be a librarian. In the meantime, I'm going back to school. The cool thing about this program is that all courses will be online! Yipee, no money for gas is needed.
Okay, I'm through with the personal stuff. I created this card for three different challenges. First up is the design. I used the sketch challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches. I haven't had a chance to use one of Melissa's sketches in a while, so I was real anxious to use this one. It's cute, huh, with those spider webs? The spider webs are courtesy of Tamara Bennet. They are an SVG that I cut with SCAL and my Cricut.
The challenge at DareU2 DigiStamp was to use the colors yellow, orange, and black. No problem there since I created a Halloween card for the Digital Tuesday Challenge. I love it when challenges all come together. And since I've been on a Halloween kick lately, these challenges were just "frightfully" perfect!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Pumpkin Pie CS, SU Black CS, SU Haiku DSP (retired), Ginak White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Spooky Pumpkins
Accessories: SCAL, Cricut, Paper Studio Self-adhesive gemstone, copcis, sponge, Ellen Hutson ribbon

Rainy Day Projects

It's been raining here on and off all day which considering that we've been in a drought for the past year is absolutely FANTASTIC! I'm watching it lightning across the lake right now and it is a beautiful sight. What a great day it's been for working on projects.
The Pixie Cottage, a new stamp company with some ultra cute stamps coming out soon, is sponsoring a design team call. I spent the day working on projects to enter in the call, but then I went and checked out the competition and "Wow!" am I ever blown away! You need to check out the store when it opens just to see the work from their new design team because there is some great talent in the running for it.
Pink Daisy May

This project is for the Cute Daisy May challenge this week to use pink and ??? We could pick whatever color we wanted to go along with pink. So I decided to go with pink and pinker and then I threw in a little green, too, just to keep it interesting! This is just the sweetest image EVER! And do you love the flower? I took an inexpensive flower from a "silk" flower stem and inked it up with coordinating inks. The smaller flower in the middle also got a coat of Versamark ink and iridescent embossing powder. See it sparkle. I love taking plain (inexpensive) flowers and making them coordinate with my projects.
Christmas Treats

On this next project I was playing around with some ideas for Christmas (yes, I realize it's only September, but gotta start sometime!) Stampin' Up has these little treat cups and a coordinating stamp set. You punch a hole in the cardstock and slip the treat cups in from behind. Then, you just fill them up with some small goodies and cover the hole in the back. I wanted something a little non-traditional in terms of color, so I pulled out some of the new Bermuda Bay which I think makes quite a statement paired with black and white.

Too Cute to Spook

I also managed to get another Halloween card done. I'm not sure what I  will do with this one but it was a lot of fun to make. The little witch is from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I thought this little trick-or-treater would work perfectly for the Digital Tuesday challenge which was to include a digital image of a teen or child.
There's a lot going on with this one. The sketch is this week's sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches. I dusted off my cricut and with the help of Design Studio and SCAL I cut out the swirly oval  and the drippy goo border. The drippy goo is an SVG that I got from the talented Tamara Bennett. I cut it out in black and some DCWV glitter paper. The "Boo" sentiment is a dingbat I got from scrapNfonts for a $1 (the $1 sale continues through Tuesday). I used my copics to color in the little witch and then used my deckle Spellbinders die to cut out and emboss the image. I sponged around the edges before I took the die off. Since I didn't have any Halloween patterned paper, the patterned paper in the background was created using some PTI Black and White Basics patterned paper colored in with an orange copic marker.
Well, that's today's fun! Tomorrow I need to work on some projects for my students and I've got to start planning out the project my papercrafting class is going to do in a couple of weeks. Maybe it'll rain some more--I seem to be very productive when it does!
Project Recipe
(Pink Daisy May)
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush CS, PTI Berry Sorbet CS, Shimmery Green paper (source unknown), PP from Chatterbox Page Kit, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Cute Daisy May Sheet 59, PTI Spring Tags (sentiment)
Accessories: copic markers, cuttlebug, cuttlebug Victorian embossing folder, Spellbinders Label 4 dies, SU slot punch, SU eyelet border punch, PTI Berry Sorbet Ribbon, PTI linen thread, button (unknown source), flowers (Walmart), Versamark ink, Ranger Holographic embossing powder, heat gun

(Christmas Treats)

Paper: SU Whisper White CS, SU Black CS, SU Bermuda Bay textured CS, SU Night and Day DSP
Stamps: SU Sweet Centers, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)
Accessories: SU Sweet Treat Cups, Kaiser Kraft pearls (colored black with copics), PTI True Black Twill ribbon, SU Large Oval Punch, SU Scalloped Oval Punch, EK Success 1 3/4 circle punch, Tic Tacs candy

(Too Cute to Spook)

Paper: SU More Mustard CS, CTMH Black CS, PTI White CS, DCWV Spring Glitter Mat Stack, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, PTI Black and White Basics PP (colored with copic marker E07), SU Tangerine Tango DSP (retired)
Stamps: LSS Cute Witch
Accessories: DB Fright Night and LD Classy Charm font (ScrapNFonts), copic markers, cuttlebug, SU Movers and Shapers Modern Label die, Spellbinders Large Deckles dies, Cricut Expression, Storybook and George and Basic Shapes cartridges, SCAL and Design Studio software, SU Modern Label punch

Dragonfly Delight

Awww! Last day of the long holiday weekend! I've managed to do a lot of crafting this weekend even though my son and his girlfriend have been staying with us. It's been great seeing him, but all the extra cooking has really worn me out (of course, any cooking wears me out!). Anyway, they have just headed back toward Dallas and I have headed up to my craft room.
I prepared this little mini pizza box for one of my co-workers who has a birthday today. These little boxes are super easy to make and you can find the tutorial on SCS. Inside I have placed a very large, high calorie, birthday treat!
The recipe for the Coffee House Cookies can be found on Lauren Meader's blog. I baked up a large batch and keep them individually frozen so I have one ready to go whenever a colleague has a birthday. Now, even though I've only given out a few so far this school year, my stash is getting a little low. I wonder how that has happened (hee, hee, like I don't know).
The Copic Creations Challenge blog challenge is to use your favorite copic color combination. Lately, I've really been "feeling" the purple. I don't know if I have one favorite combination, but thanks to this SU Cottage Wall paper, I've been really drawn to the purples and greens. So I printed out the beautiful dragonfly digistamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, and grabbed some purple and green copics to color her in. I added shimmer with my Spica Atyou Glitter pens.
The Digital Tuesday Challenge of the week was to add pearls and lace. The lace was created with a Martha Stewart border punch and the pearls are a combination of Kaiser pearls and Making Memories pearl brads. Got those pretty flowers at Hobby Lobby this week at half off. I know no one does flowers quite like Prima, but these are looking pretty good for Paper Studio!
Project Supplies
Paper: SU Rich Razzleberry CS, SU Old Olive CS, SU Orchid Opulence CS, SU Cottage Wall DSP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Dragonfly, PTI Tags for Spring (sentiment)
Accessories: copic markers, Spica Atyou Glitter pens, Making Memories Wedding brads, KaiserKraft pearls, Paper Studio Spare Parts paper flowers, Martha Stewart Lace Doily border punch, SU 5-Petal flower punch, scorepal

Cute Daisy Jumps Rope

I've got to get this post finished. I promised myself a good snack once I complete this (hee, hee, gotta bribe myself). I've been working on this all morning but it feels so good to have the time again to play! My son went back to college (miss him but I was tired of feeding him that's for sure) and my hubby is helping a buddy do some work. Hurray! House all to myself!
Funny how I had the whole summer to work on projects, but I seem to be more creative and motivated now that school has started up again and I'm back at work. I know a big part of that is that crafting is my after work and weekend treat, so it's more special now that I am limited in time.
But part of having limited time is cramming a whole lot into a little time slot! So, to be frugal with my time and participate in some of my favorite challenges, I combined some of them with this project. Digital Tuesday's challenge this week was "Hop To It". Something had to hop or jump. This little cutie from Cute Daisy May was just perrr-fect! And to meet the challenge over at the Cute Daisy May Challenge blog, I had to use blue and green, so I dressed my little girl in blue jeans and a green jacket and mixed in some of my retired SU Baja Breeze DSP and Green Tea DSP. So far, so good! Next up was the Dare U2 DigiStamp Challenge which was as easy as 1,2,3: 1 ribbon, 2 patterned papers, and 3 flowers. I pulled this velvety ribbon out of a scrap jar so I'm not sure anymore where it came from, but I thought it gave it an old-fashioned charm. To continue the old-fashioned look, I sponged the edges of just about everything on here. I gave my prima flowers a little shimmer, too, with some candlelight shimmerz. Then, I added in the Making Memories Wedding brads.
That does it! I think I've earned a tasty treat and then I'll see what else I can cook up (in the craft room, that is).
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Baja Breeze CS (retired), SU Baja Breeze DSP (retired), SU Green Tea DSP (retired), SU Old Olive CS, SU Chocolate Chip CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Cute Daisy May Digital Stamp (freebie!)
Accessories: SU 5-Petal flower punch, Carl Craft flower punch, Prima flowers, Making Memories Wedding brads, Candle Light Shimmerz, PTI Chai Distressing Ink, ribbon (unknown), cuttlebug, Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities, copic markers

Rockin Out

It's official...I'm back at work and boy, can I ever feel it! I'm exhausted and the kids haven't even arrived yet. How will I ever survive next week? It's been a crazy busy week on top of it being a work week. I have had so little time for crafting, but as always, I was inspired by the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches and the Digital Tuesday Challenge which was to make a masculine card. I love being challenged to make masculine cards because I have so many men in my family. I love all the "fru fru" that goes with making cards for the girls and women in my life, but I have to really work to keep things simple when I'm going masculine.
To give this card a masculine feel, I kept the elements simple and pulled more "guy" colors. This patterned paper is some retired SU DSP that gives a funky edge to the card. That fantastic image is from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and it could so easily be punked out or pinked out for a different look or a more feminine look. Definitely, need this image if you've got teenagers to make cards for because these guitars are "hot" right now! You can get this image for a dollar at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and you can take advantage of her everyday special and spend $5 in the store and get a free image of your choice. Also, sweet Lindsay is giving away one of her brand new digital images. But you've got to hunt it down with a blog hop to the whole design team. Start here.
I'm off to bed now because mornings suddenly come sooo early these days (only 10 more years until retirement!)!
Project recipe
Paper: SU Autumn Vine DSP (retired), SU Baja Breeze CS (retired), SU More Mustard CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Bass Guitar, CC Designs SugarPlum Sentiments (sentiment)
Accessories: cuttlebug, SU Movers and Shapers modern label die, SU Modern Label punch, copic markers, Sakura glitter pen, twine

Messy Little Boys

I have three sons who are now grown men. But let me tell you what! They invented the phrase "rough and tumble"! They were always getting into something (another way of saying "getting into trouble") and coming in the house dirty, sweaty and smelly. They were ALL BOY! I have a hard time finding images of less-than-perfect (but ever so cute) boys, especially digital images. Then, Lindsay The Frugal Crafter pointed out a free coloring book website which has images of "Precious Moments" kids that you can download for free. I was able to find several utterly adorable little boys!!!
This little guy with his canine companion reminded me of those messy but still cute boys I raised. So after coloring him with my copics, I created a card for one of the now-big guys. The inside will read "You've grown into a fine, young man."
This card was designed to meet the requirements of THREE, yes three, challenges. The Dare U2 Digistamp Challenge was distressing, so I took some Core'dinations Vintage ColorCore Cardstock and tore the edges. Then, I ran it through the cuttlebug inside the distressed branches embossing folder, and finished the look with a little sanding. The great thing about this cardstock is it is made for distressing giving you a great contrasting core color.
Next up, I used the sketch from Digital Tuesday Challenge. I really like the clean design of this sketch. Finally, the Copic Creations challenge was "eyes". The Copic Creations design team used anime images which have these gorgeous big eyes. My image has the lovely Precious Moments characteristic tear drop eye, so I just was able to add a subtle touch of color to the boy's eye and the dog's eyes. This was the first time I've added color to eyes before. Once I got over my fears, I really liked the look. You can see a closer look at the eyes below.
Wowzer! I know people who can enter 3,4,5 challenges with one card, but usually I can only manage 2 at best. This project just seemed to come together fitting easily into the requirements of my favorite challenges. But it all started with that great image.
Project Supplies
Paper: PTI white CS, Core'dinations Vintage Collection CS, SU Old Olive and Baja Breeze CS, SU Green Tea DSP (retired), GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Coloring Pages Precious Moments, PTI Star Prints (sentiment)
Ribbon: PTI Ripe Avacado twill
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Provo Craft Distressed branches embossing folder, Spellbinders Oval die and ribbon slide die, shaped paperclips (unknown but I think JoAnn's), copic markers

Sparkling Lily

Wear your sunglasses for this one! The challenge at Digital Tuesday was Bling!!! I accomplished that mainly with sparkly paper. The glittery papers are from Die Cuts With a View Spring Glitter stack. I did also add a touch here and there of sparkle to my lily with my spica glitter pen.
You can find this beautiful lily at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. You can grab it for only a $1, but while you're there, you may as well pick out a few others because Lindsay has decided to extend her July sale into August. That means you can still spend $5 in her store and get a free digital image of your choice, too. And if you're still in the gardening mood, one of Lindsay's design team has a little freebie for you that's sure to please your green thumb (hint, hint). Be sure to visit Lindsay's blog and all the other members of the design team this week.
Thanks to Tuesday Morning Sketches for the card sketch this week. Another great sketch to combine with the Digital Tuesday challenge.
Project Recipe
Paper: GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, SU More Mustard CS, DCWV Spring Glitter Mat Stack
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Lily, SU Matchbox Messages (sentiment)
Ribbon: SU More Mustard Grosgrain ribbon, PTI Summer Sunrise Dotted Satin Ribbon, PTI Lemon Tart Satin Ribbon
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Ovals die, SU Movers and Shapers Curly Label die, SU Curly Label punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Martha Stewart Cosmos punch, copic markers, spica glitter pens, buttons (unknown)

2 Challenges and a Late Birthday

Lookie at me with all my birthday goodies!!! Actually, that's not all of them. I also got a handful of Hobby Lobby gift certificates! I've got some wonderful friends and family. My two best girlfriends took me out for lunch and a movie and then that evening my husband, parents, sister, oldest son and his girlfriend took me to eat at one of my favorite restaurants (that's why I'm now working out and back on an eating plan!). My birthday was actually a couple of weeks ago, but I've been busy enjoying everything and didn't take time to post, but it was an incredible birthday! Thanks to all who made it special!
Next up is a card I made for one of my dearest friends and co-workers who is moving this summer. I can't even begin to describe how lonely this makes me feel even though I'm hoping this will be a very good move for her. I used the challenge over at Digital Tuesday's which was to simplify. So, I printed out my image, which was a freebie from My Grafico, onto Ginak cardstock, colored it with copics, stamped a sentiment, and grabbed some scraps. Simple. I cased this card from one of the Digital Tuesday Design Team members who created a fabulous card with a very similar layout. Loved the look so much, I wanted to try to create something similar.
Finally, this was supposed to be a card using a Tuesday Morning sketch challenge for this week, but I stopped at the background "swoop" because I didn't want to cover my SU Circle Circus circles!!! I tried all kinds of things to add an image or embellishment of some sort so it would somewhat resemble the sketch, but I just couldn't bear to have those circles covered. So I used the Stampin' Up Modern Label punch and created a window in the bottom of my card and added a sentiment to the inside panel that would show through. Guess this'll have to do. Afterall, the sketch is just a jumping off point! Thanks, Melissa, for another great sketch.
Flower Card Recipe
Paper: GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, SU retired DSP
Stamps: My Grafico Cocoa Studios Vases and Flowers Digital stamps, PTI Heartfelt Basics (sentiment)
Ribbon: PTI dark chocolate satin ribbon
Accessories: SU eyelet border punch, copic markers, Ranger Ruby Slippers Glitz stickles
Circles Card Recipe
Paper: SU Melon Mambo textured CS, SU Whisper White CS
Stamps: SU Circle Circus, SU Starring You
Ribbon: SU Melon Mambo dotted ribbon
Accessories: SU Modern Label punch, SU Scalloped Circle, EK Success 3/4", 1", 13/8" circle punches

Christmas Shopping in July

If you've been to Hobby Lobby this month, then you've witnessed the transformation from the summer garden scene to the winter wonderland! Incredible how they do that. One day I was looking at some patio furniture. The next day all that was replaced with Christmas trees. We're still experiencing triple digit temperatures, so I'm just not ready for the transition.
BUT this week's Digital Tuesday Challenge is Christmas in July and while I'm not ready for Christmas trees and snowmen just yet, I know it's time to start "the list". So with that in mind, I printed out a digital image of shopping bags from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff which I colored with my copics. Be sure to do a little shopping for yourselves and visit Lindsay's store this month. She's running a special all month: spend $5 in the store and get a free stamp of your choice and since it's digital, there's no waiting for days to recieve your images! Also, be sure to visit Lindsay's blog to check out what the rest of her design team is up to this week. Someone's got a darling little freebie to give away this week!
I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge to create the layout for this card. It was so hard to take this card seriously, so I just had a little fun with the whole thing. I counted up the number of days until Christmas so I could print out my "tongue-in-cheek" sentiment which I punched out with Stampin' Up's new modern label punch and matted with their new movers and shapers die. I embossed part of the card with the new cuttlebug herringbone embossing folder. I cut out an ornament with a Sizzix die. Now, who can I send into a panic with this card announcing that time is running short to get that Christmas shopping finished??? Merry Christmas, yall!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Wild Wasabi CS (retired), SU Real Red CS, Real Red DSP, DCWV Metallic Cardstack, DCWV Nana's Kitchen CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Shopping Bags
Ribbon: SU Real Red grosgrain ribbon
Accessories: SU Modern Label punch, SU Sizzix Movers and Shaper Die, Sizzix ornament die, Ranger Stickles, Cuttlebug Embossing folder (herringbone), Cuttlebug, copic markers (G0000, G21, G82, R0000, R46, N2)

Razzle Dazzled Magnolia

I want to crow I'm so excited about this post. First of all, I think I'm over the top in love with SU's Rich Razzleberry. Now I'm not all that much of a purple girl, but this color may have converted me. I love how Stampin' Up combined the Rich Razzleberry with Orchid Opulence, a color I thought I would never use, in this DSP Cottage Wall.
The next thing I just love about this card it that Magnolia. It just looks so awesome with a light edging of some purpley copic markers. I used two of the brand new super light copic markers BV0000 and G0000. You should see it IRL. It just pops off the card. You can get this beautiful image at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for a $1. Be sure and get over there soon because Lindsay is running a special through the end of July: spend $5 and get a free stamp of your choice.
Oh, and I'm not through. Hang on tight! I told you there's a lot to love in this post. The sketch design for this card is from a brand new sketch challenge hosted by the creative Melissa Craig. And this week on Mel's Tuesday Morning Sketches, Lindsay is sponsoring the challenge and the prize is 10 (yes, ten) digital images from Lindsay's shop!!! The sketch is awesome and the prize is just incredible. I combined this sketch challenge with the Digital Tuesday Challenge which was to use 1 digital image, 2 designer papers, and 3 embellishments. I made my own embellishments with some cardstock and punches.
Okay, one last thing (I promise). Here's another goody for you. One of Lindsay's Design Team members has a freebie for you. It's not a flower, but it is something that loves flowers. So check out my sidebar for links to the design team or head over to Lindsay's blog The Frugal Crafter for links to the team and to give this super, generous lady a little appreciation!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Rich Razzleberry CS, Orchid Opulence CS, Always Artichoke CS, SU Cottage Wall DSP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamp: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Magnolia #2 digital stamp
Accessories: various flower punches by Punch Craft and Stampin' Up, copic markers (BV0000, V09, V15, G0000, G20, YG95, Yg 91)

Tuesday's Challenge

No, I don't have the wrong day. I know it's really Sunday, but I was playing around up in the craft loft and remembered that there was a digital stamping challenge on Tuesdays that I had been meaning to check out (I know...a day late and a dollar short!), so I hopped on over to the Digital Tuesday Challenge blog to see what I'd missed this week. In the future, I'll try to be more timely.
Since the challenge for this week is "sweet birthdays", I knew I wanted to use this float stamp from Lindsay Stamp Stuff with my Liquid Applique again. This time I added a little bit of glitter to the wet applique before "puffing" it with a heat gun. After I finished the image, I was scanning around looking for a card design idea and about that time I got an email from Mel at Tuesday Morning Sketches! It was kismet! I used Mel's Tuesday sketch to complete my Digital Tuesday challenge! Hmmm...this could become a Tuesday routine (that is if I can actual get it done on a Tuesday!) Anywhoo, Mel is just starting her challenge blog, so if you're looking for a sketch challenge be sure to check it out or join me in combining the two challenges to see what we can come up with.
I've been zippin' it today. So, if this is your first time here today, be sure to check out my earlier post, too.
Project Recipe
Paper: PTI Lemon Tart CS, PTI Agua Mist CS, SU Melon Mambo CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, Paper Studio Paper Basics PP
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Ice Cream Float digital stamp, CC Designs Sugar Plums sentiments
Ribbon: PTI Agua Mist Satin Dots, PTI Raspberry Fizz grosgrain
Accessories: Marvy Uchida Liquid Applique, Doodlebug Sugar Coating Cupcake glitter, EK Success border punch, pinking shears, copic markers