Juicy Summer Treats

I have maybe two days left to finish off this semester and I am sooo ready to get all my assignments finished and turned in. I can almost taste all that extra crafting time I'll have on my hands. You would not believe what a disaster my craft loft is in. I have some new goodies to  play with (and a Stampin' Up order due Friday!), but first I've got FIND my craft table and computer desk. I think they are there somewhere under all the scraps and remnants and half done projects! Keep your fingers crossed that Saturday will be homework-free and craft happy!
One of my most favoritest sets from LSS is this delicious Strawberries and Watermelon set, and with temperatures almost hitting the triple digit mark, I thought this little card might help someone feel a little cooler.

Watermelons make me think of old-fashioned summer picnics or get-togethers and I really wanted this card to convey that feeling. I colored the image with my copics. The papers are by Cosmo Cricket and I did a little distressing on them. I added some black Stickles to the watermelon seeds in the image and then added some adhesive gemstones from the Paper Studio to the bottom of the card because they reminded me of the watermelon seeds.
Don't forget to check out Lindsay's blog to see what creative genius she's been up to, and also hop the blogs of her uber talented design team. These ladies have been smokin up the challenge blogs lately. Their stuff is everywhere winning all kinds of challenges and awards! Yes, they're that good! When you are all done, head over to the store and grab some fabulous digi stamps. You know you need a reason to stay in the air conditioning!!!

Rainbow Jelly Beans

I was sitting around eating gourmet jelly beans (until I was sick!) and enjoying the rainbow of colors. That's when I had one of those "AHA!" moments. What if instead of eating all these jelly beans and gaining 10 lbs., I instead jarred them up and created a rainbow gift to brighten someone's day! The perfect image, Sweet 'n Sassy's Rainbow Bird digi, came quickly to mind.

I also grabbed a sentiment set from the store called Springtime Blessings. I re-sized two of the sentiments to sit in the clouds. Speaking of clouds, I used the Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals Nestabilities to create the look of my image sitting in a cloud of its own. I colored the rainbow and birdie with my copics and added some glaze with a Sakura pen, though that's not very evident in the photo.
I sure hope this brings some colorful, springtime happiness to someone who may be only seeing dreary, cloudy days! For some extra happiness of your own, be sure you head over to the Sweet 'n Sassy shop and check out ALL the new digis. If you're ready for some rainbow colors, there are at least two new digis featuring rainbows!
BTW, those are not gourmet jelly beans in the jar in the photo. There weren't enough of those left. Yikes, you know what that means!
Project Recipe
Paper: Neenah Super Smooth CS, PTI Hibiscus Burst CS
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy's Rainbow Bird, Springtime Blessings
Tools: cuttlebug, Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals Nestabilities, copic markers, Sakura glitter pen, bow easy
Embellishments: Decorative Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Monday with Mom

Yeah, I know it's really Tuesday, but school work and technical difficulties slowed me down! But I had to get this in even though it's a day late. Wait til you see! My mom and I have decided to coordinate a project once a week where we both follow the same tutorial or inspiration piece and then create something based on that. This week we watched a Gina K video on Stamptv that showed how to create a quilted look on cards.
My mom then dragged out her sewing machine and proceeded to create the cutest card with the Sew Happy Cocoa image from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.This turned out SEW perfect.

I just love all the great stitching on this. How did she keep everything so straight?
Okay, my sewing machine is still dusty because I cheated. I grabbed some paper that already looked paper quilted and used that for my project. I did absolutely no stitching, not even faux stitching.

I spent my time working with this great stamp that I just got from Susanna's Custom Art and Card Design. Of course, now I'm wishing I'd threaded that darn sewing machine!

An Easter Parade

This started out as a can of peanuts, but you know I just couldn't bring myself to throw away a perfectly good container, so it got tucked away in a drawer until I came up with an idea for recycling it. A little Easter grass tucked inside the can and the chocolate bunny has a new home!
I did some paper piecing with the eggs which are part of the LSS Cute Easter set. I printed the eggs out on different patterned papers and then used my copics to add dimension to the swirls. Look! I even did some hand cutting (gasp!). I know it's just eggs, but "baby steps"! I made the tissue paper flowers all by myself by punching and scrunching. I love making those flowers.
Next up, I grabbed another image from the LSS Cute Easter set. This is an adorable Easter basket full of yummy eggs.

I colored this with my copics and prisma pencils. The sentiment is from a Close to My Heart egg stamp set that I've hardly ever used but thought it was really appropriate for the card. I just couldn't figure out how to design the card. Everything I tried seemed to look like every other card I've ever designed. Ever had those moments? So I gave up and went to Melissa Craig's Tuesday Morning Sketches Challenge blog for the sketch for this card. This sketch really appealed to me and I was able to finish this up in a jiffy!
If you didn't come here from Lindsay's blog, be sure to stop on over there and see what digi delights she has for you and what freebies she might have on the blog today!Also, don't forget to visit the design team's blogs. Everybody's been super busy putting together some great projects with Lindsay's stamps.  It's definitely not too soon to be working on your Easter projects. Be sure to visit the Lindsay's Stamp Stuff shop to grab some digis for your projects. Easter will be here soon, though I don't know if the Easter bunny will be able to get in for a visit to all of you who have been buried under snow this winter.
Project Recipe

(can)

Paper: TAC Gentle Beginnings, PTI Bitty Dots Basics, SU Close to Cocoa CS

Stamps: LSS Cute Easter set

Tools: Fiskars paper crimper, SU Scalloped Circle Punch, copic markers

Embellishments: Michaels fringed ribbon, SU Stitched Felt Sweet Pea, Paper Studio brads

(card)

Paper: SU So Saffron, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise CS, PTI White CS, TAC Gentle Beginnings PP

Stamps: LSS Cute Easter Set, CTMH Easer Eggs (sentiment)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities dies, Martha Stewart Arch Lattice border punch, SU Eyelet Lace border punch, copic markers, prisma pencils

Embellishments: Paper Studio flowers, Imaginisce Ring Around the Rosies flower, SU pink corduroy brads, Basic Grey brad

Punchin Up the Digis

I get so many ideas for cards and projects throughout the day, but I forget about 90% before I ever start crafting. I've even tried writing them down as they occur and this helps, but sometimes I can't remember what my notes meant or I lose my notes! But I saw a card on the talented Cheryl Gorka's blog She Stamps which reminded of a technique I had been wanting to try.Cheryl used Flower Soft (something else I need to remember to work with some more), but I had been wanting to take one of the branches from the LSS Birds and Branches digital stamp set and add punched flowers to it.

This was so easy and I loved adding the flowers. I just sized the branch to fit the card, printed it out, and colored with copics. I, then, just punched a few flowers with a small flower punch, added the centers from a retired SU Simply Scrappin kit, and glued the flowers to the branch. I used a similar but larger punch to accent the sentiment which is from a PTI set. The two brown stripes are also from the Simply Scrappin kit.
Wonder what the talented ladies of the Lindsay's Stamp Stuff design team have been up to this week? Be sure to go find out and don't miss Lindsay's blog. She's got some free goodies for you today in addition to the great eye candy!
Project Recipe

Paper: GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, SU Rose Red DSP

Stamps: LSS Birds and Branches, PTI Vintage Picnic Sentiments

Tools: EK Success flower punches, copic markers

Embellishments: SU Simply Scrappin kit, PTI Vintage Holiday Mix button

Springtime Crafting

Spring cleaning....Yuk! But, spring crafting is another thing altogether! I've got three spring fresh projects that I created for my post at the Sweet N Sassy Digi Blog. If you haven't stopped by there today, please go visit me on that blog and give a little shout out if you like what you see. I've really worked hard to showcase the wonderful digi stamps from Sweet n Sassy!
First up is a little project I made for my nephew who had a birthday this month. I used the SNS set Early Bird for a little "tongue-in-cheek" gag gift that I hope gives him a little chuckle even if it is kind of corny!

On the card's inside it reads "So I thought I'd bring you dinner!" Now what fourteen year old wouldn't crave a bucket of worms! To match the gummy worms in the bucket, I used red and green stickles on the worm in the bird's mouth. Scrumptious!
Last year we were gripped by a horrible drought and basically had no spring. I really missed seeing the beautiful wildflowers on the sides of the road. This year, thanks to winter rains, should be much more colorful, but to help with the flower crop, I put together this little gift packet of flower seeds.Here's the inside:

I used the Springtime Blessings Sentiment set inside and Kate Planting on the outside. This is tied closed with a bow. The image is colored with copics and prisma pencils.

I wish I were Kate. I'm ready to dig up all the plants killed by the freeze and put a whole fresh crop of plants in the ground....soon!
Finally, I want to share a bookmark I made with the very beautiful Bible image. The scripture is John 3:16. The Bible is surrounded by lovely Easter Lilies. These bookmarks would make great gifts for a Bible study group or Sunday school class. I colored the image with copics and prisma pencils and cut out the image with Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities. Then, I mounted it on the bookmark after adding some patterned paper and a little sewing.

If the winter blahs have you down, be sure to head over to Sweet n Sassy for a Springtime pick-me-up! You'll be feeling warm and sunny in no time at all with all the crafting you can do with these adorable and inexpensive digital stamps and stamp sets. Even if it's not time to put flowers in the ground, it's never too early to put some on a card!
Project Recipe
(Bird and Worms)

Paper: DCWV Citrus Stack, PTI Lemon Tart

Stamps: SNS Early Bird

Tools: copic markers, Prisma pencils, SU Modern Label punch, SU Modern Label die cut, Paper Shapers corner rounder

Embellishments: PTI Enchanted Evening grosgrain ribbon, PTI Vintage Button, twine, Ranger Stickles

(Seed Gift Packet)

Paper: PTI Kraft and Enchanted Evening CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, K&Company Classic K Bailey PP

Stamps: SNS Kate Planting, SNS Springtime Blessings

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle Nestability dies, Copic markers, Prisma pencils, Martha Stewart Arch Lattice, EK Success circle and scalloped circle punches

Embellishments: PTI Enchanted Evening Satin ribbon, Making Memories Blossoms and Buttons felt and paper flowers and button, Prima Say It With Pearls Swirls Cream

(Bible Bookmark)

Paper: PTI Lemon Tart and New Leaf CS, K&Company Designer Mat Pad PP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS

Stamps: SNS Bible[1]

Tools: cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities dies, Copic markers, Prisma pencils, sewing machine, SU horizontal slot punch, corner rounder

Embellishments: SU Black Striped Grosgrain ribbon

Gone to the Birds

Hope you are in the mood for lots of eye candy and little chatter today. My little fingers are sore from all the typing I've had to do lately for my classes that I'm taking. (Actually, my fingers are fine. It's my brain that has shut down.) If I don't explain something very well or thoroughly, please leave a question in the comment section and I'll try to get back to answer any questions you may have. I'm too tired to think right now!
Lindsay has released a new set that is absolutely perfect for spring. And after three days of sunshine, I'm starting to think Spring may arrive one of these days! All the images for my three projects are from the LSS Birds and Branches digital stamp set.
First up is a card I created using small versions of three separate stamps which I then colored with copics and prisma pencils and then punched with a 1" square punch offsetting the image so that only a glimpse, not the whole image, is showing.

I tried to keep this clean and sunny!
Next I created a little wall hanging with the chick image in the set. I created two sizes of the same image so that there is a big chick with three "baby" chicks following behind. I used some SU paper that has clouds and then use my Cricut to create a scalloped circle mat. The cloud paper was originally going to be part of a different project but I really liked the "sunny" feel it gave the whole project.

Again I used my copics and prisma pencils to color in the image. Then, I found the sentiment in a PTI stamp set that was just too cute not to use. The buttons are a sweet extra touch.
Finally, have you seen all the birdhouses being made with SU's new Milk Carton Sizzix die? I have that die and will definitely be using it for an upcoming project, but I wanted to make a much larger birdhouse, so I used my Cricut, SCAL software and a Box Font to create my milk carton. Look at the size comparison.

Of course, with my Cricut I can resize the project and make it as small as the Stampin' Up milk carton. The advantage of the Sizzix die over the Cricut/SCAL cut is the scoring. The Sizzix die scores everything for you. The cut file gives you little marks but you have to do the scoring yourself, not hard, just more time-consuming. But I do love the ability to resize as needed! Look at what I created with my "milk carton".

I added a roof with some yellow cardstock that I embossed in with a cuttlebug folder. I punched the edges of the roof with my SU scalloped edge border punch. I attached the roof to the top of the closed milk carton and then punched out the birds nest from the Birds and Branches stamp set.
I hope these projects make you feel Spring's imminent approach. Be sure to check out what the rest of the LSS design team has been up to this week. I think we are all ready for warmer, sunnier days, so you are likely to see much more of the Birds and Branches stamp set!

Tea For Two and Two for Tea

My craft room is all clean and organized! I used some gift cards I got for Christmas and bought a file cabinet and a chest of drawers but I still needed to clean out and toss. I tend to look at packaging and think "What can I do to 'jazz' that up and use it for something else?" Now, that's a great way to go green and save some green, but it doesn't take long to hoard quite a stash of boxes, cartons, crates, jars, and baskets. I determined that I must start actually using and creating with this "stuff"! So with that in mind, I reached in a drawer and pulled out a sturdy plastic box that once upon a time held some smaller plastic boxes. I decided that this would make the perfect container for gifting some delicious teas.

I filled this with some of my favorite teas, but I won't really give these away as these are too hard to come by around here and I like them too much to part with them, but there's plenty of room in this box to fill with an assortment of teas. Now, for the best part...the outside packaging...

Closed and tied shut, this gift is now ready to deliver to a cherished friend or helpful neighbor. I used the card sketch from the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge. LSS is sponsoring this week's challenge so be sure to check it out and enter for a chance to win a prize from LSS.
The cute coffee cup (think tea cup here) is from the Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Coffee Talk digital stamp set. I love how easy and fun this cup is to color in with copics. Grab this set for only $5 and earn a free stamp from the store. Speaking of freebies, be sure to click on over to Lindsay's blog. She has a habit of offering free stuff on Thursdays! Then, grab a cup of coffee or tea and hop around to see what the rest of the design team has been up to this week. You're sure to be inspired. Oh, and don't forget to try the challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches. Have a zippy week, all!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU More Mustard CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, My Mind's Eye PP

Stamps: LSS Coffee Talk digital stamp set

Tools: cuttlebug, Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities dies, EK Success corner rounder, copic markers, Prisma pencils

Embellishments: Prima flowers, PTI Ocean Tides grosgrain ribbon, SU Love & Happiness rub-ons (sentiment), Paper Studio Spare Parts brown brad assortment

Holidays Digi Style

It's a digital holiday parade. Be prepared to do lots of scrolling because I covered some holidays today using digital stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. Before I get this parade going though, let me let you know about some great stuff going on at LSS. First, be sure to check out Lindsay's Blog. She's got a design team call going on for her My Grafico store front. Also, she's looking for guest designers. Be sure to check out the store this week. There's lots of new stuff in there and if you're ready to tackle some Christmas cards, she's got some really cute new images to help you out with that. Also, check out Shannon's blog for a great tutorial on changing the color of digital line images in PhotoShop Elements. And while you're checking things out, don't forget to see what all the rest of the LSS Design Team is up to!
It's getting really close to Halloween, so I squeezed in a couple more projects for that holiday. The two projects below look kinda like cards in the picture, but they are actually little treat bags of M&Ms.

Lindsay's really been rockin the circle stamps these days. I found the circle stamps over at My Grafico for free and I filled the centers with my LSS Halloween stamps. Color these little cuties in with markers, punch them with a 1 3/8 circle punch, mat using the SU scalloped circle punch and attach to project. Cute, simple, and quick! Gotta love that!
Through with Halloween? How about a Thanksgiving project sure to please any Thanksgiving hostess?

The little pumpkin is a template by Kelleigh Ratzlaff that you can find at The DigiChick. The beautiful leaves are a digital stamp called Leaf Montage from LSS. I colored them with copics (oh, so fun!), cut them out with nestabilities, and sponged the edges. The lid lifts off the "pumpkin" so it can house a little treat like these candy corns.
Want to get a jump start on Christmas cards? How about a clean, simple card design that can be quickly mass-produced?

The circle stamps are from a new set over at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff called Christmas Cupcake Wrappers. Be sure to check out Lindsay's blog and some of the design team blogs. I think some of the team used the wrappers. I printed out the circle stamps, colored them in with my copics, and again used SU punches. With these stamps and a few scraps of paper, you can have a great set of cards in no time at all. Might even have enough time to make some cupcakes!
Busy, busy, busy! As you read this, I'll be taking my GRE. Wish me luck. I don't have to get a really high score, but I gotta prove I'm college material again!

It's Starting To Feel A Lot Like Christmas

Well, I don't know how much it feels like Christmas around here. Temperatures are still in the 80s, but the stamping community is certainly starting to gear up for the holidays! I don't think I'm quite through with Halloween and Fall/Thanksgiving, but I've spent quite a bit of time the last couple of days with some winter projects. Let me share a few of them with you today, but come back Thursday for some more Fall Fun.

This first card includes a FREE digital image from Verve which is only available this week. There's a new release this week and that also means a week of challenges. I've got three done! I printed the mittens and colored them with my copics. I added some Martha Stewart Mica Flake glitter to give the appearance of melting snow (I guess that's what it would look like. We don't have mittens or snow here.) The sentiment is also part of the digi download. I changed the color of the sentiment from black to brown and sponged everything with Close to Cocoa. The small snowflake is a Martha Stewart punch and the large snowflake in the background was cut with my cricut. Everything got some sparkle with stickles.

For this one, I found some retired SU Christmas paper that I had stored away (hoarded away is closer to the truth). I'm glad I found it because so far I just haven't found any Christmas papers that I HAVE to have this year. I printed the sentiment from the Winter Mittens Free Digital stamp at Verve. I changed the color to a red to match my card, added a pretty bow with a button. The sparklies are from Basic Grey.

Do you not just LOVE this little fellow and his birdie friend? This is a free digital image from the very talented Inger Harding. Be sure to check out her blog. I colored him with my copics. I used some more of the retired SU Christmas papers, added a velvety ribbon, a copic-airbrushed flower, and a corderoy brad. The sentiment is from a Verve stamp set titled "All About You" which I stamped with craft ink and then embossed.
It's certainly looking wintery on my blog, anyway.
Project Recipe
Papers: SU Old Olive CS, SU Chocolate Chip CS, PTI Vintage Cream CS, PTI Pure Poppy CS, PTI Ocean Tides CS, SU Holiday Treasures (retired), K&Co. Classic K Baily DSP
Stamps: Verve All About You, Verve Winter Mittens Digi Images, Inger Harding Design Snowman 1 Digi Stamp
Accessories: cuttlebug, Nestabilities dies, SU Old Olive Striped Ribbon, PTI Vintage Cream Grosgrain ribbon,  red velvet ribbon (unknown), Paper Studio Spare Parts Corderoy brad, Prima botanical mix, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Cricut, Accent Essentials cartridge, Basic Grey Bling, stickles, green button (unknown), copics, copic airbrush kit, Martha Stewart Mica Flakes glitter, Zing clear embossing powder, heat tool

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

Pumpkin Girl

I found this adorable FREE digistamp at Simply Inger. She has some beautiful images for free and she has some she has donated to a charitable cause. Visit her blog to see all her fabulous talent.
This card was created for the Copic Creations Challenge which was to include pumpkins. I printed out the image onto GinaK White Pure Luxury cardstock and colored the image with a wide variety of fall colors. The papers are from two different sets: PTI's Autumn Abundance and Basic Grey's Recess. I needed some fall colored flowers but didn't have any, so I grabbed some plain white (actually they are more cream colored in appearance) Prima flowers and airbrushed them with copics. These flowers love copics and an airbrush system. I've tried other methods of coloring them in, but nothing really worked until I used the air compressor. Now I want to color them all the time. I may have to go back to Hobby Lobby and get some more even though the package contained 72 different-sized flowers. (Goodness, what if I run out!!) Where's my coupon, lol!
Project Recipe
Paper: GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, PTI Autumn Abundance PP, Basic Grey Recess
Stamps: Simply Inger's Halloween Girl digital stamp
Accessories: copics, airbrush system, PTI Ripe Avocado Saddle Stitched Ribbon, Making Memories eyelet, rhinestone brad (Hobby Lobby), Martha Stewart border punch, Prima Wildflowers Pillar Pack White, SU 5 Petal Punch, SU Boho Blossoms Punch

Cookie in a Box

Last school year I gave each of the staff members a cake in a can on their birthdays. This year I decided to make a cookie in a box (a mini pizza box to be exact). There are lots of tutorials out there for this box and probably Splitcoast is the best place to find the tutorial and examples. Inside my pizza box is a scrumptious, large Coffee House Cookie. I found the recipe on Lauren Meader's blog. I made sure I taste tested them before giving them to anyone (wink)!
The image on the top of the box is a Cute Daisy May (Sheet 51). I used the Cute Daisy May Challenge for the week on this project. The challenge was to make words (sentiment) the focal point. Those Daisy May's are so cute, it's kinda hard for anything else to share the spotlight, though. At best, I may have given the sentiment equal billing with the image which is colored with copics.
I barely got this project in under the deadline for the challenge but I was really busy yesterday assembling a little gift for the first day of school for all the staff. I'll post those later so you can see what I was up to. This is going to be a busy week as we get the kiddies tomorrow and school gets into full swing. Hope your week zippy!
Project Recipe
Paper: DCWV Nana's Kitchen Stack, SU Pretty in Pink, PTI Lemon Tart CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Cute Daisy May Sheet 51, SU Sincere Salutations (sentiment)
Accessories: copics, cuttlebug, Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities dies, Imaginisce Ring Around the Rosies pink flowers, Prima yellow flowers, Basic Grey glazed brad, buttons and twine, Martha Stewart butterfly punch

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

Dare U--Pink, Black and White

When I was in high school black and pink were my favorite colors to wear. In fact, my senior ring had a pink stone--not my birthstone or a stone with the school colors--pink. There is something so fun about combining black and pink, and so many ladies fashion stores incorporate one or both of these chic colors into their color schemes. It was a lot of fun to drag them out for the Dare U2 Digi Stamp Challenge this week.
I totally copied this card from Nicole Heady's blog today. PaperTreyInk is gearing up for another release so be sure to see Nicole's blog to check out the original design, plus take a look at all the goodies coming out this week. I love how clean and simple her design is (all her designs are like that), so I wanted to get that same feel with my card.
I grabbed those shopping bags (a digi stamp) from Lindsay's Shop, did a little paper piecing, a little coloring, and ta-da! finished. I added some glossy accents to the bag I colored to make it a shiny store bag--totally looks like something from Victoria's Secret. There's bound to be something naughty (or just expensive) in that bag.
Mind you, my shopping bags never look like these. I always end up with those horrible plastic bags, and they say Michaels, or JoAnn's, or Hobby Lobby on them!
Project Recipe
Paper: All papers from PTI--White, Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, True Black, Black & White Basics PP, Raspberry Fizz Mix PP
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Shopping Bags digital stamp
Ribbon: Ribbon FX (Hobby Lobby)
Accessories: Inkssentials Glossy Accents, copic markers

Have a "Cherry" Nice Day

I'm still playing with cherries today. This cute little digital image is from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I have an earlier post with this image, but I wanted to try out my new RED Liquid Applique on these cherries. What I found was that I really liked them all glossy once the Liquid Applique had dried, but if I heat them with my embossing heat gun, it turned them PINK. Now I like pink but I already had a red color scheme going and the pink just wasn't going to work, so I printed out another set of cherries, filled them in with the Liquid Applique and let them dry--no heating.
I created this card for the DareU2DigiStamp challenge for this week. The challenge is to use embossing. My red background paper has the Cuttlebug embossed branches on it.
Well, triple digit temperatures AGAIN today, so I think I'll either go eat some ice cream or print out one of Lindsay's ice cream images...something to cool me down!
Project Recipe
Paper: PTI Pure Poppy CS, PTI New Leaf CS, PTI Black & White Basics PP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff 2 Cherries, PTI Handwritten Notes (sentiment)
Ribbon: PTI New Leaf Saddle Stitch, SU Real Red grosgrain
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug branches embossing folder, SU Large Oval punch, SU Scallop Oval Punch, SU 5 Petal Punch, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities die, Paper Studio brad, copic markers, Marvy Uchida Red Liquid Applique

For the Birds

I love the "summery" feel this card has to it. Still trying to use up Stampin Up's current in-colors papers and cardstock before I become absorbed with the new in-colors. For this card, I used the DareU2Digistamp sketch challenge. Find it here. Grabbed some Tangerine Tango CS (only a couple of small pieces left in my stash) and some Haiku patterned paper, mixed in a little So Saffron, and I was set to digi stamp! The digital stamp, by the way is from My Grafico. It's a set called For the Birds. I colored this little guy in with colors to match my papers. One of my most devoted followers (aka my mother) wanted a pic of the copics I use in my project, so I included them with the image. The very thin marker on the right is a Spica Glitter pen. I added a little shimmer to my feathered friend. Hope you can catch a glimpse of that on the picture.

Project Recipe

Paper: SU Tangerine Tango CS, SU So Saffron CS, SU Haiku PP, GinaK Pure Luxury White CS

Stamps: SU A Little Birdie, My Grafico For the Birds

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Tags, a clear "bauble" from Michaels colored with a marker, copic markers

The Color Purple

Is everyone on a purple kick these days? I've been doing way more purple projects than is normal for me. This project, though, is inspired by two challenges: Lauren Meader's Timeless Template Challenge and the DareU2DigiStamp challenge of the week. Both challenges required the use of purple. Lauren's challenge specifically called for a gift using one of her Timeless Templates, purple, and butterflies. I chose to work with the For Keepsake template to make a cupcake holder for one of my coworkers who had a birthday today.

The DareU2DigiStamp challenge involved using a digital stamp, which I used on the card, and lilac and lemon. I used a free digital image from My Grafico called Vases and Flowers. I colored it in with my copics and added it to the front of the gift card. Badda Bing--two challenges in one!

And, yes, I did use my copic airbrush kit! I wanted flowers for my box that matched my SU Almost Amethyst cardstock, so I took some inexpensive white flowers I got from Walmart and Hobby Lobby and "painted" them the right color. For my next trick...I think I'll try airbrushing on acetate, hmmm!

Project Recipe

Paper: SU Almost Amethyst CS, SU So Saffron CS, SU Tea Party DSP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, PTI clear acetate

Stamps: My Grafico Vases and Flowers Digital Stamp, CTMH Playful Flourishes

Accessories: PTI For Keepsake Timeless Template, copic markers, compressor and airbrush kit, flowers, MS butterfly punch, SU Beautiful Butterflies Sizzix Die, Cuttlebug, CB script embossing folder, piercer, MM buttons, twine, SU eyelet border punch, Ranger stickles

Doodled Daisy

I've been dying to use this Sonoma paper by Scenic Route. I love the rich colors of this paper and Lindsay's Stamp Stuff has this great new digital stamp that coordinates so well. Lindsay has eight new images just released. If you haven't checked them out yet, then be sure to stop over there. They're incredibly fun to color.

I used the sketch challenge over at Splitcoast for the card layout. I used this designer eyelet by We R Memory Keepers in place of the oval-shaped sentiment. Then, of course, I just had to add some stickles to the center of the flower.

Project Recipe

Paper: PTI Vintage Cream CS, Pure Poppy CS, Ripe Avocado CS, Scenic Route Sonoma PP

Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Doodled Daisy digital image

Accessories: Ranger Stickles black diamonds, Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, WeRMemoryKeepers silver lining designer eyelet, copic markers

Froggy Prince

I had so much fun with this little digital image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. It's part of the Pretty Princess collection. And, yes, there's a princess, a castle, and a banner that accompany this royal amphibian. I added the sentiment before I printed out the image and then it was just a few minutes of coloring with copics and this little baby was ready to go!

This card is for the DareU2DigiStamp sketch challenge this week. I dusted off my Cricut to cut out the odd-shaped circles for the lily pads (yes, I had to use a machine to cut out misshapen circles! Sad, I know!). I have no confidence in my ability to draw or cut freehand. Although, I did manage to snip out a little pie shape from the circles without undo trauma. Then, I just punched out the little flowers and "cupped" them for dimension. The smaller lily pad is popped up with dimensionals.
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Baja Breeze CS, SU Certainly Celery CS, SU Green Tea PP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS

Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Pretty Princess Collection

Ribbon: SU Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain

Accessories: Cricut, DoodleCharms cartridge, cuttlebug, Spellbinders nestabilites scalloped rectangle, craft bunch floral punch, copics