MFTWSC51 - Just a little note

I was thrilled when I saw there is now a master list of all the MFTWSC sketches available in the MFT forum.  You can find them HERE!  Since I got some new MFT goodies in the mail today, I decided it was a good time to play along with the MFTWSC51 challenge.

I got this a la Mode "Talk Nerdy to Me" stamp set today.   I thought she would be great for "Just a little note" cards like this one or even for teacher gifts.  I colored her with copics and also used my new MFT Die-Namics Mini Tabs Quartet die and my new MFT Die-Namics solid bracket border die.  The DSP is from the MME Gertie Papers.  I used PTI pure poppy, dark choclate, and white CS.  I added some 5/8" red cotton twill ribbon and some natural jute / twine from the Ribbon Carousel along with a PTI dark chocolate button.

Here's the sketch:

You Warm my Heart

I stumbled across a cute little Etsy Shoppe today called Milk Coffee Digital Stamps and I just loved THIS sweet image.  I had originally planned to use it in the future for a Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge, but she is so cute that wanted to color her up right away........not to mention that I received some new MFT Die-Namics in the mail that I wanted to try out and they paired perfectly with this image.

Cute, right?!  Head on over to the Milk Coffee Digi Stamps shop  and check out their other images.   Here what I used to make this card:

CS:  PTI kraft, white, and dark chocolate

DSP:  Bo Bunny Snowfall Collection 6x6 paper pad

Ink:  Momento rich cocoa, copics, Tim Holtz walnut stain distress ink

MFT Dies:  Let it Snowflake, Mini Tabs Quartet, and Icicle Border

Stamps:  Milk Coffee Girl Playing with Snow in Winter, sentiment from PTI Warm Happiness Too

Accessories:  button

TSG136 - Thank You / Gratitude

I am on vacation this week (LOVE THAT) and so I crafting up a storm to prepare for all my January DT work.   However, I took a break from that this morning to play along with the the There She Goes Challenge #136 which is to make a thank you card.  I bought this Garden of Friends stamp set a while back because I love hydrangeas, but I had yet to ink it up.  Today is the day!

I colored the images with copics and added a few lavender rhinestones.  The card base is PTI sweet blush CS.  I stamped the PTI lavender moon panel with a little flower from the same stamp set in  VersaMark ink.  The DSP is from the PTI Guidelines paper pad and the sentiment is a Verve stamp.  I added some white seam binding to embellish.

My new Ribbon Carousel

I spent my morning assembling my new 8 post Ribbon Carousel and adding my vintage seam binding and Valentine's Day Ribbon to all of the solid maple hour-lass spools and just had to share it with all of you.  If you love ribbon, you NEED one of these!  I am not fortunate enough to have a craft room.  I have turned my dining room closet into my craft closet.  I don't have the space to mount a big 'ol ribbon rack on the wall.   SO, this 8 post ribbon carousel is IDEAL!  

I get almost of my ribbon and twine from the Ribbon Carousel.  If you haven't checked out the online store, do it.  Prices are great and you can't beat the selection.  Anyway, I was storing my ribbon by the in a large zip lock bag.  I know.  Fancy, huh?  This is SO much better!  Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:

1.  You can easily see what you have for stock and when you are getting low on on a certain something.

2. The carousel spins.

3. The carousel is only 7" in diameter so it fits right on my shelf and takes up very little space.

4.  No more tangled ribbon messes.

Cons:

1. An empty spool is an invitation to buy more ribbon to fill it.  No one wants to see any empty spool.

2. I have come to the realization that I hoard ribbon and one carousel is not enough.  

I plan to buy a another 8 post carousel to add the other ribbon I have as well as all of my baker's twine that I have been collecting in various colors.   The only other ribbon I buy is from PTI when I want a perfect match to the PTI card stock which is the only kind I buy.  I also plan to get a 4 post ribbon carousel to store my spools of PTI ribbon.  If you''ve got some Christmas cash to spend, I highly recommend the ribbon carousels!  

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to post a quick message to all of my crafty friends!  It has been an amazing year for me in my crafty little world.  I am so grateful to have been chosen to be a design team member for Paper and Such,  The Sweet 'N Sassy Digi Team, The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog, Whimsie Doodles, and the Ribbon Carousel.   I have had the honor of being the guest designer on several challenge blogs as well.  I have met SO many great people over the past year.  Just a couple of years ago, I had no idea that this paper crafting world even existed.  Now I look forward to chatting with so many new friends I have met along the way.  Really..........there are just so many really warm and funny people in paper crafting land and this hobby of mine has introduced me to so many of them.


I have some exciting news to announce in the New Year and I look forward to getting to finally share it with you.  I hate keeping secrets! Anyway, I wanted to thank all of my fantastic blog followers to keeping tabs on me in the blogosphere. I wish all of you and your families very Merry Christmas!

TSG135 - Last Minute tags

Like everyone else in this world this time of year, I have been too busy to craft and play along with challenges though I did have to make some tags for wrapping presents so I was able to play along with this weeks challenge over on the There She Goes blog!

Supplies:


CS - PTI pure poppy and white
DSP - MME 12 Days of Christmas
Ink:  Momento Tuxexo black, PTI fresh snow, Copics (R29, R24, R05)
Dies:  PTI Tage Sale #1, PTI Doily Details Collection, TSG Warmest Wishes dies
Stamp Set:   TSG Warmest Wishes
Accessories:  spring green vintage seam binding and Maraschino red baker's twine

SSS139 - Season's Greetings

Happy Weekend!  It's time for another Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge and this will be the last one for 2011 as Korin Sutherland has given us Sugarbabies the rest of the month off to focus on family and friends over the Holidays.  So, here's my final Sweet Stop design for 2011!

I can't get enough of the cute little reindeer in the There She Goes Clear Stamps Ho Ho Ho stamp set so I had to ink up once again before the season comes to an end.  I also used another awesome stamp set by There She Goes Clear Stamps called Warmest Wishes.  The tree and the sentiment are from that set.  I did some masking to layer the trees and die cut one of the trees and put it in the foreground.  I hand cut the reindeer and popped him up with foam dimensionals.  I tore some paper and glitter the edge for some mounds of snow.  It's a bit tricky to see in the pics.  I added some glitter to the tips of the trees as well.  The DSP is from PTI's Green Tea Leaves 8x8 patterned paper pad.  The ribbon is SU chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon.  I also sponged some PTI fresh snow ink around the edges of the PTI kraft panel before adhering to the PTI dark chocolate card base.

Here's the sketch:

Be sure to check out my fellow DT members creations before you head over to the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog to link up your creation!  

Shannon White

Monika Davis

Janice Melton

Cathy McCauley

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlahkan

Lori Ames

Chris Dickinson

Happy Holidays to my Ribbon Carousel Crewmates!

I was one very lucky girl to have been invited to join the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog's design team this year. Corinna McGreggor is the owner of the Ribbon Carousel.  She is so much fun to work with and has become a fast friend!  She brought me into such a talented group of designers that it was, in fact, a bit intimidating.  These women have definitely inspired me to try and step up my game even more!  That being said, I must tell you that this is one hilarious group of women!  I cannot say enough how much FUN I have had getting to know this talented bunch in just a short time.  I am so thankful to have gotten to know each and every one of them this year!   And so girls, this fun card is for you!  Lets assume it is one of those candy cane martinis that Angela Thomas told us about!

I started with a PTI pure poppy CS base and stamped an A Muse Artstamps snowflake in PTI fresh snow ink over it for the background.  I colored this funny Bugaboo Digi Stamp called JJ Christmas - Cheers with copics and added some shimmer to the glass and her eye shadow with a clear Spica pen.  I matted it with PTI black CS.  I added some pretty spring green vintage seam binding from the Ribbon Carousel, a PTI pure poppy button, and some Twinery Maraschino Red baker's twine which is also from the Ribbon Carousel.  The sentiment is by A Muse Artstamps.

Happy Holidays and Cheers!  

HUGE discount on 8 post Ribbon Carousel!

Have you been saving your crafty pennies for an 8 post Ribbon Carousel?!  They typically cost $80.00, but for this weekend ONLY you can get one for only $47.95!!!  Christmas has come early!  Click HERE to order yours now!  They will never be discounted this deeply again at the Ribbon Carousel so run and get yours now!  Your neatly stored ribbon and twine will thank you! 

Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps Crazy 4 Cocoa Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Crazy 4 Cocoa blog hop!  We all adore Cocoa and thought it would be fun to showcase him all month long.  Today, as part of the fun, the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Divas have joined together with a few of the talented Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge ladies to bring a great Cocoa Mouse blog hop to you!  Make sure you've got your warm drink and some chocolate...let's get ready to hop!

I have yet to color up the sweet Cocoa's Latte digital stamp so the blog hop gave me a reason to do so.  I added the sentiment in a Word document.  I used a PTI CS base.  The DSP is from the Jillibean Soup Homemade 6 Bean Soup 6x6 paper pad.  I added some PTI dark chocolate twill ribbon and buttons for coffee beans to embellish.  In looking at this, I am realizing I forgot to ground the image with some shading at te bottom of the cup so it doesn't look like it is floating.  I am sick as a dog right so going back and fixing it seems like a giant task to tackle......so please use your imagination.  

Here is the whole list of design team members hopping along today:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Korin Sutherland 

Bridget Finlay 

Kim Singdahlsen 

Harriet Skelly 

Jessica Fick 

Kim O'Connell
Sandy Domelle

Monika Davis  

Carol Longacre
Ceal Pritchett

Kim Schofield 

Mary Faus 

Stephanie Wright

Holly McMillen 

Stephanie Serrano

Cathy McCauley  

Makiko Jones

Dina Kowal 

Taylor Usry 

But wait...there's MORE!!!  We want YOU to hop along with us!  All you have to do is make a card or project featuring Cocoa Mouse and add your direct link to our linky tool below.  One participant (drawn at random) will win their choice of ONE free Cocoa Mouse clear stamp set or FOUR free Cocoa Mouse digis!  You have until Saturday, December 17 at 11:30 PM EST to add your direct link...go get stamping!

Don't forget, during the month of December we really are Crazy 4 Cocoa.  The entire line of Cocoa Mouse clear stamp sets and digi images are 10% off!

Whimsie Doodles December Party

How about a little Whimsie Doodles inspired Holiday tablescape or party idea?  Put your thinking caps on.   Think napkin rings, centerpieces, name cards, menus, wine glass tags, hostess gifts, party favors, banners, advent calendars, door decor.....just to name a few.  

I made some festive place card holders out of candy canes and the Whimsie Doodles Inner Elf images that I personalized with my kids' names.  They love them!

Be sure to check out what other craft creations the DT came up with over on the Whimsie Doodles blog!

Paper and Such challenge - Last minute Christmas cards

It's time  for a Paper and Such Challenge!  The theme is last minute Christmas cards.  I decided to ink up the oh-so-cute snowman in the Paper and Such Snow Folks Stamp set.

I used the Clean and Simple Stamping Sketch #164 for my layout.  The card base is PTI pine feather.  All other paper is from the MME Signature Christmas 6x6 paper pad.  I paper pieced the snowman's scarf and the band on his hat and colored the rest of him up with Copics.  It was certainly a quick and easy card to make!

Now head on over to the Paper and Such blog and link up your creation for a chance to win a prize along with a cool bragging rights badge for your blog!  Wanna know what the prize is?1  It is the Snow Folks stamp set that I used to make this card!  

You can use ANY image you want.  It does not need to be an image sold in the Paper and Such store, but we sure love it when you do!   The only rule is that you can't enter more than twice.  That's it.  Just that one.  Be sure to check out some additional inspiration from my fellow DT members!

Janice  

Amber Hillman

Pattie 

Julie Smith

Ho Ho Ho - It's Santa!

My favorite time of the day to stamp is on Sunday morning before my family wakes up.  I brew a pot of coffee and then get to creating.  I am playing along with the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #147 this morning.

I colored up the newly released Whimsie Doodles Lantern Santa image my my opics nad I added some stickles for snowflakes and on the flame of the lantern.  I did some faux stitching around the image.  I stamped the PTI pure poppy panel with a A Muse Artstamps snowflake in PTI fresh snow ink.  I ran the PTI new leaf panel through the SU square lattice embossing folder.  I added the strip of black CS to mimic Santa's belt and tied some Maraschino red baker's twine from the Ribbon Carousel around it.

Here's the sketch:

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes Challenge #99 - Anything Christmas

Crazy 4 Challenges 117 - It's Santa!

  

Whimsie Doodles Month Challenge - Sketch

This is my 2nd post of the day.  
If you are here for the sweet Stop Sketch Challenge, click HERE!


It's my favorite kind of challenge over on the Whimsie Doodles Blog this month - a sketch challenge!  I decided to put to good use the FREE Pencil Pixie image that you can download HERE!  I made some personalized note cards for my daughter's teacher for Christmas with the sketch as my inspiration.

LOVE that leather tan vintage seam binding from the Ribbon Carousel!  I used PTI white, pure poppy, and black CS.  I stamped some polka dots from the PTI Polka Dot Basics stamps onto the pure poppy card stock in Momento tuxedo black ink and some lines on the black CS from the PTI School Time stamp set in PTI fresh snow ink.  .I colored the image with copics, added some glitter glue to her wings, and cut her out using the PTI spiral notebook page die.  I sponged some SU crumb cake ink around the edges of the die cut.  

Here's the sketch:

Would you like be a Guest Designer for a month?!  If so, be sure to use a Whimsie Doodles image in your creation and put an asterisk after your name when you link up your entry!  Details can be found on the Whimsie Doodles blog!  

Now hop on over to the Whimsie Doodles blog and check out with my fellow Doodlelicious Divas have created for the challenge!

SSS138 - Take me to your Freezer

Another weekend is here!  Gotta love that!   Saturdays mean you can play with a new Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge!  I am playing along today with one of the newly released Whimsie Doodles Images called Snowman 7.  Love him!

I started with a PTI kraft CS base.  I stamped some snowflakes from the There She Goes Ho Ho Ho stamp set in PTI snow white ink and then I sponged some ink around the edges.  Then i sponged some Tim Holtz walnut stain  distress ink around the very outer edges of the card.  That DSP was free digi paper that you can download HERE.  I paper pieced part of his hat with the same DSP that I shrunk down a bit.  I added some faux stitching around the after coloring it with copics.    I punched a PTI aqua mist snow flake with  a MS snowflake punch and added a matching button and a bit of natural jute / twine from the Ribbon Carousel.

Here is the sketch:

Now, go and make something yourself with this great sketch and then link it up at the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge blog!   Be sure to check what my fellow Sugar Babies have created for some added inspiration!

Shannon White

Monika Davis

Janice Melton

Cathy McCauley

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlahkan

Lori Ames

Chris Dickinson

SSSC146 - Swiss Pixie Nora

I am sneaking in my card before the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #146 comes to a close using the terribly cute C.C. Designs Swiss Pixie Nora digi!

I colored Nora up with copics and then paper pieced both her jacket and scarf.  I sponged the edges of the image panel with PTI chamomile ink and then added some glittery dots for snowflakes and glitter up her wings.  I used PTI kraft, vintage cream, and aqua mist CS and DSP from the My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas 6x6 paper pad.  I added some PTI aqua mist twill ribbon and put my brand spankin' new MFT Die-Namics Let it Snowflake.

Here's the sketch:

I am also entering this in the current All That Scraps Weekly Wednesday Challenge.

RCC32 - Peppermint Twist with Wendy

It's time for another challenge at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge blog!  





Wendy Ramlakhan is challenging us to use the following photos from Pinterest as inspiration for this week’s creations.  They are gorgeous and evoke LOTS of different feelings so get inspired and show us what you've got!

This week’s challenge is being sponsored by our favorite ribbon company in the whole world, MAY ARTS!!

One lucky random entrant will win their choice of 2 rolls of May Arts ribbon! Now that’s a GREAT prize!


And for the first time, we will be teaming up with our sponsor, May Arts, ALL WEEK with giveaways on Facebook, so become a FAN of May Arts and Ribbon Carousel to get in on the action!

I was inspired by the middle picture in particular.  I liked the wood panels behind the red and white plates.  So, I decided to make a Holiday candle for this challenge with some cinnamon sticks to mimic the wood paneling!

I wrapped a strip of of CS around the candle first and then used my glue gun to adhere cinnamon sticks around the white candle.  It smells yummy!  Then I wrapped some beautiful 1" red grosgrain /satin edge ribbon and some red and white rope from the Ribbon Carousel  around the candle.  I used a stamp from the There She Goes Clear Stamps Holly Jolly stamp set and coordinating die, colored in the inage, and added a button and natural jute / twine.  I sprinkled some red button around the base of the candle......though I plan to replace these with some red hot candies when I get some.  It looks so cute if I do say so myself!  :)


Now be sure check out what my fellow DT members have created before you head on over to the Ribbon Carousel Challenge blog to link up your own creation!   And don't forget.....you must use ribbon, twine, or jute (anything that comes on a spool) in your creation!


Andrea Ewen 

	Corinna McGregor
	Danielle Lounds
	Jessie Rone
	Kim O'Connell  (that's me!)
	Lindsay Amrhein
	Savannah Hoover
	Wendy Ramlakhan