SSSC119 - What's Up, Honey Bunny?

I was itching to play along with a sketch challenge tonight and realized that I never played along with Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch over the long weekend.  I wanted to use this super cute digi image called Bunny Chit Chat that I got from Squigglyfly Digital Stamps.  I made a square card rather than an A2 card, but followed the sketch otherwise. 

Stamps:  Bunny Chit Chat by Squigglefly Digital Stamp  CS:  PTI kraft and white  PP:  October Afternoon Thrift Shop  Tools:  1.5" circle punch, 1.75" scallop circle punch, copics   Accessories:  PTI button and twine

VLVMay2011 week5 - You're So Sweet

Tick tock.Tick tock. Tick tock.  I could hear time ticking away in my head over the long weekend and I obsessed about needing to make a card for the 5th and final Viva La Verve May challenge so I will qualify for a chance to win some Verve Stamps cashola.  It's a sickness......really.  So, here I am posting my card before I head off to work for a short work week (insert applause here).

I just love the font in the Verve Thankful Accents stamp set so I started from there and used the sentiment on the flower center and sponded the edges.  The card base is PTI Sweet Blush.  The rest of the CS and PP are from the Talored Expresions May Key Ingredients Kit.  I just started receiving those kits in April and oh do I love them!  It is a little plastic box of matchy matchy goodies.  I highly recommend the subscription to the Key Ingredients Kits.  Anyway, here is the sketch:

VLVMay2011 week 4 - With Sympathy

Finally sat down to play along with the Viva La Verve May 2011 week 4 sketch challenge.  I decided to use this pretty sketch as inspiration for a sympathy card I needed to make. 

Stamps:  Hero Arts Delicate Blossoms, PTI basic Backgrounds: Text Style, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black, SU crmb cake, SU pale plum, PTI fresh snow  CS: PTI kraft, white, lavender mood, and plum pudding  Tools:  Nestabilities ovals, PTI double ended banner die, SU square lattice embossing folderMFT butterfly die, Copics (V09, V06, V12, V000, YG17, YG13)  Accessories:  rhinestone 

SSS110 - Hi there, Fancy!

Happy Memorial Day!  The weather here in MA started off a little sketchy, but it is blossoming into a beach day!  Before we head off to the beach, I got a chance to play along with the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #110.   I HAD to use this funnny little image that I got from Squigglefly Digital Stamps called Oswalda Goes Shopping.  She makes me smile!  Who doesn't love an ostrich in a fancy hat?!

I paired her with some patterned paper from American Crafts "Happy Go Lucky" paper that I got in my May 2011 Taylor Expression Key Ingredients Kit.  I added a paper rose to her hat for added dimension.  It is hard see in the pic, but I added some sparkley Stickles to her necklace and the clasp on her purse.

Here is the sketch:

For the Graduate

Tis the season graduation parties!  We are heading to one today.  You can't go wrong with the PTI For The Graduate stamp set for a classy graduation card!  I used the PTI Mat Stack 1 die, stamped the image in red and then stamped it again in black.  I cut out the black graduation cap and adhered it over the red one with foam adhesive to pop it up. 

I matted the inside sentiment panel with red and added a strip of

coordinating patterned paper to jazz up the inside of the card.

Stamps:  PTI Forthe Graduate  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black and SU real red  CS:  PTI black, white, and pure poppy  PP:  Me & My Big Ideas black & white color basics  Tools:  PTI Mat Stack 1, Martha Stewart boder punch Accesories:  red satin ribbon

DS3 - Happy Wedding Day

It is only week 3 of the Deconstructed Sketch Challege, but this is quickly becoming one of my favorite sketch challenges!  I loved the 1st two sketches so I was looking forward to this week's!  Jen did not disappoint!  I bought this super cute Sugar Sticks Bride & Groom digi stamp by Lori Designs a while back, but I had yet to put it to good use.  I cut out each figure and popped the bride up with foam adhesive for added dimension.  I sponged some ink around the pink panel.  I just love how this card came out! 

And here's the sketch:

Stamps:  By Lori Designs Sugar Sticks Bride & Groom, sentiment from PTI Delightful Dahia  Ink:  Momento tuexedo black, SU pretty in pink   CS:  PTI black, white, and seet blush  PP:  Me a My Big Ideas black & white color basics  Tools:  1.25" circle punch, 1.5" circle punch, Martha Stewart border punch, copics (E11, E00, E000, R20, C7, C5, C3, C1, colorless blender, E59, E57, E55, R81, R83, YG13)  Accessories:  Pure Color Essentials Satin Elegance Ribbon Silver

SNSDC4 - Thank you BERRY much!

Happy Friday and welcome to the start of a long weekend!  It is time for a new challenge over on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog!  This week the challenge is create something with red, white, and blue in honor of Memorial Day.  Don't forget......you must use Sweet 'n Sassy digi stamps to play along and you can find them over at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!   I chose to create a thank you card using the Berry Sweet Cocoa digital stamp.

I used the Sweet Stop Sketch #84 for my layout.  I colored the image with copics (R29, R24, R05, YG17, YG13, YG11, C03, C02, C01, C1, R30, RV13, and colorless blender) and printed that sentiment from my computer.  I paired it with some PTI white and red CS, SU pacific point CS, and DSP from the Me & My Bog Ideas "Champs" 8x8 paper pad. 

Now head on over the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog for some inspiration from my fellow design team members and link up our creation!  Looking forward to seeing it!  Wishing you some peaceful crafting time over the long weekend!



I get a kick out of you

This is my second card that I made for my daughter's soccer coaches.  I used the MFT Pure Innocence "I get a kick out of you" stamp set again.  This patterned paper I found was perfect for the card! 

I made a coordinating gift card holder.  You see my tutorial HERE!

Stamps:  MFT Pure Innocence "I get a kick out of you"  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black  CS:  PTI black and white  PP:  Me & My Big Ideas "Champs"  8x8 paper pad  Tools:  Nestabilities ovals, PTI Beaitiful Blooms II #1 die collection PTI double ended banner die, Copics (E11, E00, E000, R20, E59, E57, E55, R29, R24, R05, C07, C05, C03, B00) 

DS2 - Thanks, Coach!

I volunteered to make cards for the coaches of my daughter's soccer team.  I used this cute MFT Pure Innocence "I get a kick out you" stamp to make this first card.  I used this week's Deconstructed Sketch Challenge as my inspiration. 

I made this cooridinating gift card holder.  You can see my tutorial on how to make these HERE!

And here's the sketch:

Stamp:  MFT Pure Innicence "I get a kick out of you"  CS:  PTI kraft, white, black  Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black  PP:  Jillibean Soup "Blossom Soup" 6x6 mini pad  Tools:  SU scallop trim border punch, Copics (E11, E00, E000, R20, R29, R24, R05, C07, C05, C03, E59, E57, E55)  Accessories:  PTI pure poppy baker's twine

Oh Boy!

I was asked to make a few cards for various occasions and one of the cards needed is a baby boy card.  I used the Sweet Stop Sketch #76 as my inspiration.  Rather than going with the traditional blues, I went with a brown, kraft, white and yellow theme based on this cute little lion image by Hero Arts.  I colored with watercolor pencils and blended with a blender pen.  I stamped the image a second time and cut out his face and popped it up with a foam adhesive for added dimension. 

Stamps:  Hero Arts "Lion", sentiment from Verve "To the Moon"  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black, SU early espresso  CS:  PTI kraft, white, dark chocolate  PP:  Bo Bunny mellow yellow dot, DCWV linen closet mat stack  Tools:  Nestabilities, watercolor pencils, blender pen  Accessories:  brown grosgrain ribbon, button, twine

May SFYTT - Congrats, Grad

I had to make a graduation card and since I had yet to play along with Jen Del Muro's May Sketch for You to Try, I used her sketch for inspiration.  I brought this cute Pure Innocence Digital Stamp 028 from Heather Ellis's Etsy Shop for just $2.50!  BARGAIN!  While I will admit that I prefer to be able to ink up an image and will often cough up a few more bucks to order these images in clear stamp form from My Favorite Things, I needed this image STAT so I went digital.  I colored her with copics and then used the "out of the box" technique with my nestabilities to have her standing outside the circular panel.  I printed the sentiment from my computer.

Here is the sketch:

Stamps:  Pure Innocence 028 by Heather Ellis, stars from Vere "To the Moon" stamp set  Ink:  SU real red  CS: PTI white, black, and pure poppy  PP:  Me & My Big Ideas  Tools:  SU square lattice embossing folder, nestabilities circles, 1.5" circle punch, 1.75" circle punch, copics (E11, E00, E000, R20, E55, E35, YR12, Y21, C7, C5, C3, C2, C1, B37)  Accessories:  Pure Color Essentials Satin Elegance Ribbon Silver

SNSDC3 - CAS with a Button

Happy Friday!  It's time for another Sweet 'N Sassy Digi Challenge!  This week the challenge is to make a Clean & Simple card with a Button (or more)!  When I was checking out all of my options in the Sweet 'N Sassy online shop, I fell in love with these beautiful sentiments in the Flower Sentiments Digital Stamp set!  Love the combo of fonts! 

I hope you will hop on over to the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog to check our my fellow design team member's creations for a bit of inspiration and then play along!  Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Stamps: Sweet n' Sassy Flower Sentiments Digital Stamp set, PTI Turning anew Leaf, PTI Polka Dot Basics, PTI Mat Stack 1 Collection  Ink:   Momento Tuxedo Black, PTI Fresh Snow, Color Box Moss Green  CS:  PTI Kraft and white  Tools:  PTI Beautiful Blooms II #3 die collection, PTI Mat Stack 1 die 

Accessories:  PTI rasberry fizz felt, PTI buttons and twine

Cake Slice Favor Box

I made these cute cake slice boxes for my daughter's upcoming birthday party.  We will fill them with goodies and give them out as the party favor to her guests.   

I can't figure out how the heck to post the PDF file with a printable template, but click HERE to be taken to the thread on Splitcoast Stampers and scroll down to comment #16.  There is a PDF file there called "Piece-A-Cake" that you can save to your computer.

CS:  PTI sweet blush and dark cholcate  Tools:  MFT rolled rose dies 

Accessories:  PTI rasberry fizz and simply chartreuse felt

VLVMAY2011week3 - Birthday Wishes

This week's Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge was just that.....a challenge.  The sketch looked easy enough, but I scrapped my 1st three attempts.  Then when I stepped away from the patterned paper and just started stamping, it all came together.  I love the end result!  This SU Watercolor Trio stamp set is my favorite SU set of all time. 

Stamps:  SU Watercolor Trio, PTI Basic Bacgrounds: Text Style  Ink:  SU kraft, perfect plum, and old olive  CS:  PTI kraft, white, plum pudding, and simply chartreuse  Tools:  Martha Stewart border punch, SU square lattice embossing folder, PTI limitless layers die  Accessories:  PTI twine

Here's the sketch:

DS1 - Thanks for all you do

I was thrilled to have stumbled across a brand new sketch challenge called the Deconstructed Sketch and I was able to play along for the first week!  There will be a new sketch every Thursday so if you are a sketch-a- holic like me, go and check it out!  I put my sentiment on the right instead of the left just because my card looked more balanced that way.

Stamp sets:  PTI Turning a New Leaf, PTI Background Basics: Text Style, Verve Dream Big, Verve Thankful Hearts  Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, SU Pumpkin Pie, SU Real Red, SU crumb cake, Momento Bamboo Leaves, PTI teas dye duo  CS:  PTI kraft, white, and pure poppy  DSP:  DCWV Fun in the Sun Summer Matstack 

Accessories:  PTI buttons, twine, orange zest ribbon, and red rhinestones

Here's the sketch:

Better late than never!

So, I was too late to submit my card to this week's Colour Q Challenge #84.  I hate when that happens......especially when I really like the way the card turned out.  I went my with one of my favorite PTI stamp sets called Vintage Picnic AND I decided to ink my new PTI Tiny Tags stamp set and to try out the coordinating dies for the first time.  How cute is that tag?!

It's hard to see in the picture, but I used the PTI Guide Lines Grid Impression plate on the yellow panel.  I love how that SU ribbon mimics that pattern in the tag!  I colored the image with copics.  I actually paper pieced a kraft basket and the colored it with copic to shade it. 

  Now, off to watch the finale of Survivor!  Gooooooooo, Boston Rob!

SSSC117 - Birthday Wishes

This is my second post of the day.  Love a lazy Sunday morning when I can attack a couple of challenges!  This time I am playing along with the Sweet Sunday Sketch #117.   It was fun to play along since the card size is not the typical A2 card.  This is a 3.25" x 6.5" card.  The CS is is PTI kraft and the rest of the papers are from the SEI Winnie's Walls line.
  

I used my PTI Beautiful Blooms II #3 die collection and the PTI Turning a New Leaf stamp set and coordinating die.  I also used a SU eyelet border punch.  That sentiment from the Verve Wishful Elegance stamp set.  I added some PTI buttons and some peals for embellishments.  I love how this turned out!  Think I will be making some more cards in this size!  They're so cute!

SSS108 - Thanks, Teacher!

Happy Sunday morning!  We have no where to be until 1:00 today which seems like a treat after such an overscheduled week we have just survived.  Soooooo, I get to sip coffee and ink of some of my newest treasures.  To play along with the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #108, I inked up my PTI School Time stamp set.  This challenge had an optional twist of using a stamped background and that stamp set is great for that! 

I stamped those lines in Momento tuxedo black ink onto PTI kraft card stock.  Then I stamped that alphabet background in Color Box Moss Green pigment ink onto PTI simply chartreuse CS and matted it with PTI black CS.  I used the PTI spiral notebook page die and stamped the the lines and sentiment on it.  That "A+" is from the MFT a la modes in "You Rule" stamp set.  I stamped the apple in SU real red and Color Box Moss Green pigment ink and punched it out with a 1.25" circle punch and matted it using a 1.5" circle punch.  The ribbon is PTI's pure poppy saddle stitch ribbon. 

And I just have to share of picture of my daughter Lauren at her 1st Communion yesterday.  She's not exactly a girly girl.  She's a jeans, T-shirt, and converse sneakers kind of girl.  It was fun to see her all dolled up and I think she liked it, too..........though she'll never admit it!  She has already told me that she has met her quota for the number of days a year that she will wear a dress.  :)

Quick kid birthday card

After being out of commission for a day, blogger is finally back!  Is it normal that I was obsessively checking the website to see if it was back up and running?  You would think I needed it like I need oxygen! 

My son is going to a birthday party tonight and I realized that I was out of kid birthday cards, so I threw this one together and I actually think it came out so cute!  I am LOVING the PTI Mat stack #1 die and coordinating stamp set!  You can't go wrong with those PTI "By the Number" dies either for a quick birthday card!  The sentiment is from the PTI Big Birthday Wishes stamp set.

SNSDC2 - Inspiration Challenge

It's Friday which means it is not only the start of the weekend, but also the start of a new challenge over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog!  This week it is an inspiration challenge.   I chose the Tulips Digital Stamp and used the Sweet Stop Sketch #83 for my design.  The clean lines of this sketch was a nice fit for the photo inspiration.

That glitter pen appears much softer in person.  Not loving the way it photographed.  Sigh.  This is what happens when you only have time to craft at night and you don't have natural lighting on your side to take a photo.  Think I may have purchase one of those light boxes to photograph my cards late night!  Anyway, here's the inspiration photo:

Hope you'll hop on over the to the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog to play along with us! 

Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy Tulips Digital Stamp, sentiment from MFT Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black CS:  PTI white and kraft  DSP:  Pebbles Glee and Bo Bunny Mellow Yellow Dot  Tools:  Copics (R29, R24, R05, R02 , YG17, YG13, YG11), Gelly Roll clear star pen  Accesories:  PTI hawaiian shores ribbon

VLVMAY2011week2 - thanks so much

When I saw this week's Viva la Verve Sketch challenge, I cringed.  Wasn't feeling it.  I ignored it for a few days, but I came back to it again tonight.  This time, I was able to pull a card together.........almost painlessly using goodies from my top 3 favorite stamp companies:  Verve, Papertrey Ink, and My Favorite Things! You can't go wrong with this trio!
 

I used the PTI Mat Stack 1 die and coordinating stamp set with SU certainly celery ink.  I just LOVE the font in the Verve Stamps "Thankful Accents" stamp set!  Those cute little hearts are from the same set.  I cut that PTI Lavender Moon panel with the Nestabilities Big Scalloped circle LG die and then ran it through the Big Shot with the PTI Book Print Impression Plate.  I sponged the edges of that panel as well as the card base itself with SU pale plum ink.  I used my new MFT butterfly die for the 1st time.  How gorgeous and delicate is that butterfly?!   I also used a SU scallop trim border punch.  That pretty DSP is from the Basic Grey Kioshi paper pad. 

SSS107 - 40 & Fab!

I realized this morning that today is my cousin's 40th birthday so I needed to quickly pull a card together before work so I can pop it in te mail. After such a busy weekend, I hadn't yet had time to play aong with the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #107 so I used this week's sketch as my inspiration.  I am loving these pretty patterend papers from the Basic Grey "Hello Luscious" paper pad! 

I used my PTI By the Numbers dies and the PTI Big Birthday Wishes stamp set  as well as one of my newest MFT dies, the rolled daisy die.  Love that thing!

One more Mother's Day card and gift card holder

I saved the best for last today!  This is the card I have made for my mom.  I saw this sentiment in the Love Deepens stamp set by Verve, but I REALLY wanted it to say "Nana" instead of Grandma so I printed it from my computer.  I received my MFT Die-Namics Pretty Posies in the mail today as well as that pretty patterned paper from the Basic Grey "Hello Luscious" 6x6" paper pad so I put them to good use immediately!

We got her a gift card for Mother's Day so I made her a

coordinating gift card holder.  You can see my tutorial HERE!

Masculine B-Day Card & Gift Card Holder

I had to make a masuline birthday card (insert groan here) for my brother's birthday.  I figured I'd ink up one of the stamps from the PTI Mat Stack 1 and see where things went.  I liked how that dark blue patterned paper from the DCWV "Fun in the sun" summer matstack coordinated with stamp.  I decided to go with panels matted with PTI pure poppy card stock and mounted on a PTI white CS card.  I pulled out the PTI double ended banner die and the limitless layers dies.  Hmmmmm.  What to put in the center?  BEER, of course!  I pulled out the image and sentimet from the SU "Cheers to You" set.  I added some shimmer and shine to the beer with glitter and glossy accents and heat embossed the sentiment in white embossing powder.

We are giving him a gift card so I made this cooridnating gift card holder.  You can see my tutorial HERE!

Mother's Day Card & Gift Card Holder Set

Here is the card I made for my mother-in-law using Jen Del Muro's April Sketch for You to Try for inspiration.  We are giving her a gift card to one of her favorite restaurants so rather than just slipping it inside the card, I made a matching gift card holder.

My mother-in-law loves the color purple.  I chose PTI royal velvet CS and used the MFT rolled rose and mini rolled rose dies to make those beautiful flowers.  I used the SU little leaves sizzlet with PTI ripe avacado card stock.  I also ran that royal velvet panel through the Big Shot with the PTI Guide Lines Grid Impression Plate. I paired this with PTI Pacific Vineyard patterned paper.  Oh, and I sponged some PTI tea dye due around the edges of the PTI vintage cream panel.  That sentiment is from the SU All Holidays stamp set.

Here is a closer look at the matching gift card holder.  I used the PTI Beautiful Blooms II #1 die collection to make that flower.  "Mom" is from the PTI Tiny Tags Stamp set. You can see my tutorial on making these gift card holders HERE!  They are so easy to make!  It's such a nice way to present a gift card to someone! 

I have to make 2 more card and gift card holder sets.  One for my Mom for Mother's Day and one for my brother's birthday so come back again tomorrow to check 'em out!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Debut!

Today's the day!  Hooray!  Horray!  The first Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge begins today and I am THRILLED to be part of the design team!  This is a weekly challenge with all types of challenges so there will be something for everybody!  PLUS, there is a sweet FREE digi available for download so head on over and grab it!  The first challenge is to create a Mother's Day Card using one of the Sweet n' Sassy digi stamps.  There are so many cute stamps from which to choose!  Check them out HERE!  I decided to go with this oh so sweet Lilacs for Cocoa digital stamp.

I colored image with copics and I added some shimmer to the lilacs with a spica glitter pen.  I made that flower out of PTI plum pudding saddle stitch ribbon.  Check out one of my older posts HERE for a link a tutorial on making those flowers!  Be sure to stop by the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog so see my fellow design team members' cards!   Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will play along!

Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Lilacs for Cocoa digital stamp, PTI Tiny Tags  Ink:  Momento tuxedo black CS:  PTI white, plum pudding, and simply chartreuse  PP:  Me & My Big Ideas  Tools:  Copics (V15, V12, V00, YG17, YG13, YG11, C2, C1, C00, RV13, RV10, E57, E55), spica slitter pen, Martha Stewart border punch, Accessories:  PTI plum pudding saddle stitch ribbon

Mojo189 - Happy Mother's Day

I know our babysitter is planning some sort of arts & crafts project to do with my kids tomorrow so they can make me a Mother's Day gift so I decided to make a Mother's Day card for her my kids can help her one year old daughter "sign" the inside of the card.  I used the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #189 for the inspiration.  Such a fun sketch!  This MFT Pure Innocence "Being cute is what I do" is one of my favorites and she reminds me of our babysitter's daughter with those cute pig tails!

Wish I could tell you where those cute patterned papers came from, but I have no clue.  They were scraps that I put to good use.  I LOVE to do some paper piecing whenever I ink up a Pure Innocence image.  It's like playing dress up!  Don't you just love her outfit?!  Here's the sketch:

Stamps:  MFT Pure Innocence "Being Cute is What I Do,"  sentiment from PTI Tag-Its #2  CS:  PTI kraft, white, and pure poppy  Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black  Tools:  Nesties circles, PTI double ended banner die, SU scallop border punch and SU oval punch  Copics:  E11, E00, E000, R20, E57, E55, BG78, BG75, BG72 Accessories:  PTI baker's twine, red brads, rhinestones

Another CAS Thank You

I'm back to making some more thank you cards for a boxed set someone ordered.  Sticking wit the CAS style to speed things up. Still playing with some new mat stack goodies from PTI. This time I am using the Mat Stack 4 die and cooridnating stamp set stamp.

Stamps:  PTI Background Basics: Retro, PTI Mat Stack 4, Verve Thankful Hearts  Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, PTI fresh snow , SU pretty in pink   CS:  PTI kraft and white, SU certainly celery and pink pirouette  PP:  SU certainly celery patterned paper  Tools:  PTI Mat Stack 4 die, SU Little Leaves sizzlet, Corner chomper Accessories:  PTI jute and miniature rose

Simple Thanks

I am making a box of thank you cards so I decided to go the CAS route using some of my newest PTI goodies that I got this week.   I used the Mat Stack 1 die and stamped the Mat Stack 1 stamp in SU perfect plum ink.  I stamped the sentiment from the Tag-Its #2 stamp set in momento tuxedo black ink and colored the pretty little flowers from the Tag-Its #3 stamp set with my SU perfect plum and old olive markers. I used my SU polka dot background stamp with PTI fresh snow ink on the PTI plum pudding card base.  A satin ribbon and bow was the final touch.  This card took no more than 5 minutes to make.  Easy peasy!