Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge (Week 5) - Anything Goes!

Hey there!  Today I am going the Paper Smooches SPARKS team with a card for the Anything Goes challenge!  My "official" start with the team starts with next week's challenge (incase you missed my announcement, you can read all about it here), but when given the invite to participate, I couldn't say no.  Love playing with my Paper Smooches stamps, and my newly acquired Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens.  I'm sure you've heard the buzz about them lately, and boy oh boy are they amazing!

I pulled out one of my very favorite Paper Smooches sets, Space Cadet, and created a watercolor background using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens.  I just scribbled on watercolor paper and used a water brush to move the color around to create a galaxy for my astronaut to hover in.  I stamped and fussy out my images, after coloring them with Copic Markers, and then popped them up on foam tape on the watercolor background.  Then, using the Space dies, I diecut some stars from silver shimmer card stock to finish off my scene.

So much fun!!  I hope you'll play along with us for a chance to win some Paper Smooches!

Be sure to hop on over to these blogs to see what else the girls have to share with you today:

Lisa

Erin

Jenny

Katie

Larissa

Lori

Lynn

Savannah

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches Space Cadet

Dies: Paper Smooches Space dies

Other: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens, Copic Markers, White Gel Pen

Some SUPER EXCITING news!

Good Morning to you!  Today, I have some SUPER fun, very EXCITING news to share!  I have been asked to return to the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge design team!  Way back in 2011, I was part of the very first SPARKS team, and I could not be more thrilled to be back!  You all know how much I love my Paper Smooches Stamps!!  WOOHOO! *happy dance*

I will be sharing my first project as part of the team on June 7th, but I couldn't resist playing along with this week's Designer Drafts Challenge.  Here is the sketch:

I loosely followed the sketch...  My giant sun is a little higher in the sky than the sketch shows. *wink*

I started off by blending Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink together on an A2 card base.  Then I hand cut a piece of Kraft cardstock to create the sandbar.  I stamped, colored and fussy cut the cute little crab from Chubby Chums Pals, and before I added him with foam tape, I stamped his shadow using the Shadows stamp set.  The beach wood and adorable seagull are from the Surf and Turf stamp set (one of my very first PS sets).  I used Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks on a 2" circle diecut to create the sun, and then added some Cute Clouds diecuts and finished off with some red and white twine.

Thanks for letting me share my super fun news with you!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches Chubby Chums Pals, Surf & Turf, Shadows

Dies: Paper Smooches Cute Clouds

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress inks in Cracked Pistashio, Peacock Feathers, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, PTI Fine Linen

Paper: White, Kraft

Other: Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Foam Tape, Lawn Fawn Peppermint Lawn Trimmings

WPlus9 Get Sketchy Challenge #1

Hi there!  Today I have a card to share using the WPlus9 Get Sketchy with Joni #1 sketch as inspiration!  I created a bridal shower card, using the new Love Showers stamp set and Love Showers Layers dies.  I was also inspired to make a shaker card after seeing Joni's example for the challenge.

I will admit that I am still getting my feet wet with shaker cards.  I am intimidated by them because there is so much that can go wrong.  LOL!  But apart from this card taking a good bit of time, things came out pretty well.  I started with a white A2 card base and used Little Piggy ink to create a pink ombre.  Then I used the Love Showers Layers dies to create a rounded tag with a window for the shaker box.  On the inside of the shaker, I used Bo Peep ink to create a cloudy sky and then stamped the falling hearts using Little Piggy ink again.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink on the inside of the shaker and filled it with Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins before closing it up.  I diecut the clouds, umbrella,  hearts and "love" word from white cardstock, and then used Little Piggy Ink and a blending tool to color some of the pieces.  I adhered them on top of the window of the shaker using glossy accents for a secure hold.  To finish things off, I threaded some white satin ribbon through the tag hole and tied a bow with some white and silver twine, and then adhered the shaker to the card front.

Here is a close up of the shaker:

That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: WPlus9 Love Showers

Dies: WPlus9 Love Showers Layers dies

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, WPlus9 Little Piggy, Bo Peep

Paper: PTI White

Other: Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear 4mm, 6mm and 8mm sequins, PTI Fresh Snow Satin Ribbon, Lawn Fawn Silver Sparkle Lawn Trimmings

Guest Designing for My Favorite Things - Take 2

Hello there!  I am back today with another guest post with  My Favorite Things!  I love little people stamps, and MFT offers an adorable line of sweet boys and girls, Pure Innocence.  This month, there are two new additions to that line-up and I am sharing a card using one of them today!

For my card, I started off by blending some hot pink and bright orange ink across a 4" x 5.25" piece of white card stock on a diagonal.  Then, using the new Cross Stitch Squares STAX, I cut a piece of white card stock using the second largest square in the set.  I popped that up on a diagonal, with foam tape towards the top of my card.  Then, I stamped, colored and diecut the sweet little girl from the new Pure Innocence Heartstings stamp set.  I popped her up on the cross stitch square using foam tape, and then used a Copic Multiliner to hand-doodle lines around the perimeter of the panel as well as around the perimeter of the square.  I stamped a sentiment, also from Heartstings, on the bottom of the panel under the focal point, and then popped that entire panel  up on an A2 card base.

Be sure to visit the MFT store to see the entire release!  Happy shopping!!

I want to thank MFT for the opportunity to guest design with them!  I had SO much fun creating with these awesome new products and I can't wait to add some more newly released goodies to my stash! :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Suppies:

Stamps: MFT Pure Innocence Heartstrings

Dies: MFT Pure Innocence Heartstrings, Cross Stitch Squares STAX

Lawnscaping Challenge #106 - Try a new technqiue

Hello there!  It's Monday, and time for another Lawnscaping Challenge!  It's a fun one this week... Try a new technique!

Challenge #106 is sponsored by the super fabulous Lawn Fawn!!

For my card today, I wanted to use Gelatos!  Well, they are generic Gelatos.  Target brand has their own version of gel crayons.  I found them in the stationary department for less than $4, and although I have never used the real deal, I imagine the Target version are very similar to Gelatos.  So my friend Melissa Phillips made this tag using Gelatos to add subtle color around stamped images, and I couldn't wait to try it!

I pulled out my Small Stitched Rectangles dies and my Stuck on You stamp set and went to town! I stamped the images on a Stitched Rectangle diecut, shaded the images a bit with Copic markers, and then rubbed the gel crayons onto a paper towel, and rubbed the paper towel over the images that I wanted to add a color halo to.  I used gel crayon colors that were similar to the ink colors I used.  For example, I used red to stamp the heart images, and used a red gel crayon around it.  Such a fun and easy technique and it adds so much to the little scene!

I hope you like it!  Be sure to check out the blog for lots more inspiration from the design team, and for all of the challenge details.  I hope you'll play along!!

Have a great day!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Stuck on You

Dies: Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Rectangles

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Simply Chartreuse, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Terracotta Tile, Pure Poppy

Other: Lawn Fawn Peppermint Lawn Trimmings, PTI Pure Poppy Patterned Paper Pack, Copic Markers, Target Brand Gel Crayons (similar to Gelatos)

Sparkle and Shine Challenge #6

Hello there!  It's the 15th of the month, and that means that there is a new Sparkle and Shine Challenge to play along with!!  We are using this beautiful photo as inspiration for this challenge!

(source)

The challenge this week is sponsored by our friends at Winnie and Walter!!

For my card today, I dug into my Paper Smooches stash, and pulled out my Pretty Momma stamp set.  I can't even tell you how many times I have used the rose image from that set... one of my favorites!  It's so fun to color!!  I started my card by diecutting a cross-stitched frame from the Mama Elephant Sew Fancy die set.  I stamped the center flower first, and then masked it off and stamped the top and bottom flowers.  I also stamped the flower on a separate piece of card stock, because I wanted to fussy cut it and pop it up on top of that center flower to add a bit of dimension.  After I colored the flower and leaves, I added some blue around the edges to help them pop of the panel.  I started with a dark blue copic, just tracing the flower outlines.  Then I blended that out with a medium blue, followed by a lighter blue, and then to really soften out the edges, I used BG000 and my colorless blender.  That combo really defused the edges out nicely.  I layered a second flower over the center rose using foam tape and to finish things off, I added a sentiment from the Chit Chat stamp set, and a scattering of silver sequins.

Be sure to stop by the blog to see lots more inspiration from the design team, and to get all of the challenge details!  I hope you'll play along with us!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches Pretty Momma, Chit Chat

Dies: Mama Elephant Sew Fance

Other: Copic Markers, Foam Tape, Sequins

Cute Fruit {Paper Smooches}

Hello there!  Today, I have a just-for-fun card to share!  There are few things cuter than fruit with feet... Awhile back. I was the lucky enough to with the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge, and the Cute Fruit stamp set is one that I picked with my winnings.  It's just so fun, and happy and CUTE!

I started out by diecutting one of the new MFT Cross-Stitched Squares dies from white card stock.  I stamped the pear and strawberry from the Cute Fruit stamp set, then added their arms, legs, stems, and a pair of glasses for the pear.  I added shading with my copic markers,  It's hard to see in the photo, but I added glossy accents to the Pear's glasses, and little white dots to their cheeks with a gel pen.  I used the Shadows stamp set to add little shadows under their feet.  I used the Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Rectangles dies to cut a piece of patterned paper from an American Crafts 6x6 paper pad, and then embellished with patterned papers from Lawn Fawn and Avery Elle.  I added some banners to the bottom edge of the focal point using the PTI Double Ended Banner die, and then popped up the panel with foam tape.  Finally, I added a few of the Crystal Reflections sequins from Simon Says Stamp.

Hope this card makes your day a little happier!!  Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches Cute Fruit, Shadows

Dies: Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Rectangles, MFT Cross- Stitched Squares, PTI Double Ended Banner

Paper: PTI White, Lawn Fawn Let's Polka Mon Amie 6x6. Avery Elle Everyday Collection 6x6. American Crafts Hip Hip Horray 6x6

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. PTI Limeade Ice, Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado, Hibiscus Burst, Pure Poppy, Soft Stone

Other: Copic Markers, Foam Tape, SSS Crystal Reflections Sequin Mix, White Gel Pen

Guest Designing for My Favorite Things

Hello there!  Today I have some fun news that I am so excited to share!  I was asked to guest design with My Favorite Things during the month of May!  As usual, this release is jam-packed with a variety of awesome goodies!  Today, I am sharing a card that I made with the new Green Pastures stamp set and Die-namics, by Birdie Brown, along with the new Grassy Fields Die-namics, which is FREE with a $60 purchase this month!

I started off by stamping a patterned background on Kraft cardstock using the Sweater Stitch Background with Versamark ink.  Then I sponged the sky and grass and diecut the grass using the Grassy Fields Die-namics.  On a Green Pastures diecut, I stamped colored, and paper pieced the adorable little farm girl... I just love her plaid flannel shirt and red wellies!!  I popped her up using foam tape, being sure to tuck her toes behind the grass.  I stamped a sentiment from the same set along the bottom of that panel.

Be sure to visit the MFT store to see the full release... I can't wait to get my hands on this little lady's whole herd of farm animals!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT Green Pastures, Sweather Stitch Background

Dies: MFT Green Pastures, Grassy Fields

Lawnscaping Challenge #105 - Watercolor

Hello there!  Time for another Lawnscaping Challenge, and this one might be my favorite of the year... Watercolor!  Watercolor is one of the trends that I hope sticks around forever, because I LOVE it!

This challenge is sponsored by our friends at Ellen Hutson!

For my card today, I pulled out my Critters Ever After stamp set.  I haven't used it in awhile and I just love that little dragon.  I watercolored a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper and then stamped, colored and cut out my images.  I popped up the dragon and stars with foam tape, and added a few sequins before popping up the whole watercolor panel on foam tape.

Hope you like it! Be sure to stop by the blog for more challenge details and lots more inspiration from the design team!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After, Bon Voyage
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor paper, white
Other: Copic Markers, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins

Sparkle and Shine Challenge #5 - Photo Inspiration

Hello there!  Happy Friday!  Today I have a card for the new Sparkle and Shine challenge that starts today... look at that beautiful inspiration photo!

Challenge #5 is sponsored by the super awesome Pretty Pink Posh!!

There are so  many things that inspired me in the photo above, but I chose to go with the floral theme and color palette... pink and spring green.  LOVE.

I started off by diecutting the stitched panel in the WPlus9 Love Shower Layers die set from white card stock, then I stamped the large cluster image from Botanical Bunch, also by WPlus9, in black ink and colored with it in with my copic markers.  The sentiment is from the Love Mom stamp set.   To add a bit of interest in the card base, I used an ink blending tool to add some WPlus9 Beanstalk ink on a diagonal across the card front, and then popped the panel up with some foam tape.  To finish things off, I added a button tied with a bow, and a scattering of Pretty Pink Posh 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm Sparkling Clear Sequins.

Be sure to visit the Sparkle and Shine blog for more inspiration from the design team and for all of the challenge details.  Hope you'll join us!

That's all for now... thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: WPlus9 Botanical Bunch, Love Mom
Dies: Wplus9 Love Shower Layers, PTI Heart Border
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, WPlus9 Beanstalk
Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka Mon Amie 6x6 paper pad, PTI White
Other: Pretty Pink Posh 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm Sparkling Clear Sequins, Foam Tape, Copic Markers, Button, Twine