May Guest Designer: Paper Sweeties!

Hello, all!  I am SUPER DUPER excited to announce that I am the May GDT for the Paper Sweeties Blog challenge!  I absolutely adore Paper Sweeties products and so I was only too happy to agree to this spot--and the challenge we have for you this month is FABULOUS!

Here's your inspiration board~

And my take~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Make My Monday: Food and Drink

Crafting for all Seasons: Lots of Layers

Word Art Wednesday: Anything Inspirational Goes

Deep Ocean Challenge: Stitching--True Or False

Die Cuttin' Divas: Make it Girly

I've used stamps and sequins from Paper Sweeties, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Stickles by Ranger in Star Dust, Liquid Pearls by Ranger, a doily from Wilton, glitter paper by DCWV, patterned paper by Recollections (polka dots) and Papertrey Ink (floral), die cuts by Spellbinders, a Sakura black glitter gel pen (faux stitching), an enamel cherry sticker by EK Success, and all other supplies are from Stampin' Up!.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you take some time to craft today and that you link up your inspired creations this month at the Paper Sweeties blog!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all!

Inkspirational: August Photo Indspiration

Hello again, friends, and welcome to another new week at Inkspirational challenges!  We're so glad and thankful for all of you who play along with us every week!  Stay tuned because the winners for last week's challenge will be announced this Friday & monthly winners will be announced then as well!!! 

We've got a new sponsor offering a fabulous prize 

to one lucky winner for the month of August!

Eclectic Anthology

One lucky winner who plays along all month

with us will win a prize from this fabulous store!

It's the second week of our challenge month and that means we've got a fabulous photo for you to be inkspired by!  It's school house vintage--in recognition that school will soon be in session!

Here's our photo inkspiration~

Here's my card~

I've used some images from our sponsor, Eclectic Anthology, (the ABC at the bottom), elements and papers from a kit by Foof-A-La, buttons and a sticker from my stash, and a bit of paper from Pink Paislee (the bird/music paper).  All other supplies used are from Stampin' Up!.

Thank you so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card!  I hope that you've been inspired to join us this week and that you'll take some time to leave a comment with the other gals on this amazing DT as well!  HUGS and happy stamping!

Under the wire!

Yes, that says "Under the wire!," NOT under wire.  Just making sure you know I'm not getting fresh! ;)  Anyway, I am totally under the wire which is the reason for this crazy late/early post from me!  Insomnia is my friend this week and so I've had lots of time to make cards and I finished a couple tonight.  One right under wire.  I mean under THE wire. ;)

Here it is~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

IBS: Frames with Nesties Dies

Shabby Tea Room: Photo Inspiration

The Sweet Shop: Sketch Inspiration

A Gem of A Challenge: Lots of Layers

Craft-Dee Bowz: Anything Goes with Handmade Bow

I've used patterned papers by Recollections (polka dots) and Papertrey Ink (floral/polka dot), a sentiment by Inspired By Stamping, cherry embellies by Jolee's, twine from my stash, a glitter gel pen by Sakura, liquid pearls by Ranger, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.  The bow was the hardest part--trying to get that twine to stay where I wanted it and turn into a bow was a pain in my under wire! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card!  I had TONS of fun making it--this isn't my best style and so practice will eventually make perfect I hope!  Please join the fun with these amazing challenges friends!  HUGS and happy stamping!

CAS Digression: A "Just Because" Post

I had some time to play around the other day with some fun "stickers" that I bought on sale/clearance at Michael's.  I made another card with them HERE as well.  I decided to go the CAS route again, but each time I made a new card in the trio, I noticed that they got more CAS.  I guess it's because I was using scraps that I "digressed", but I thought it would be fun to write a post and show you my "CAS Digression."

Here are all the cards together~

The apple card was made first, then the strawberry card, then the cherry card.  Can you see the "digression"?  Let's take a closer look at each card...

Here's the first card I made~

Details~

This card had a lot more work put into it than the other two will.  I pierced a frame around my main white panel before backing it with red.  I used a digi sentiment that I created by myself and then layered it with punches.  I added some ribbon and the "sticker".  Voila!  This card took me about 20 minutes to make.

Here's the second card I made~

Details~

This one was a bit simpler.  No paper piercing, just a simple punched border and some twine to accent the stamped sentiment and "stickers" and a simple green mat.  This card took me about 10 minutes to make.

Here's the third and last card I made~

Details~

Way simple.  Stamped sentiment, added "sticker", added ribbon and bow, matted and put on card.  Voila! 5 minutes or less--seriously.

So, I think that this little experiment helped me feel more comfortable with CAS cards!  What will you do to "practice" today?  I hope you share it!  Thank you so much for stopping by--I just noticed I'm over 300 followers!  Thanks!  HUGS and happy stamping, friends! :)

PS: I got my NEW Stampin' Up! stash yesterday and have put it away--finally got a second ink caddy!  Hooray for more organization!  Be looking for cards using my new goodies soon!!! :)

Wow...

PERSONAL INFO SHARE TIME: Okay, so anyone who knows me knows that I am seriously organized about my blogging.  I make my DT cards and blog about them all in a few days.  I just got done today doing this and I feel SO RELIEVED!  Whew! ;) 

Also, you still have 2 days to play along with Technique Tuesday and make a Velveteen Stamping creation!  I'd really LOVE to see a lot more players--I really want to give out prizes!!!

Now, back to the main reason for this post--I have 2 cards to share with you!!!  And these two cards are in totally different styles...we'll see if you like them!

Here's the first card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Sugar Creek Hollow: Vintage Fashion

Moving Along With The Times: Celebration--BUT NO BIRTHDAY

Dutch Dare: Sketch

I used a digital image found at The Graphic's Fairy and a K&Co. sticker for the sentiment.  I plan to send this to a friend who's gone through a rough year and needs a reminder to celebrate--she's awesome! :)

Here's the second card~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

For Your Inspiration: Photo Inspiration

Pals Paper Arts: Sketch

This one is way more CAS and to my true liking.  Lots of dry embossing and minimum bling!  Doesn't this just look like summer?!  I was inspired by the summery scene and colors in the photo--such a happy picture! :)

Thanks for stopping by!  I really appreciate all of your comments--they make my day!  Now I'm off to see what other people have created!  Happy stamping!!! :)

LIM x 2

Here are two cards for this week's LIM challenge: Aqua! LIM is now one year old!!! Congrats, ladies! What a fabulous milestone! I tried to make a birthday card in your honor...but I don't quite like it...

Here it is with a close up~

It's okay, but NOT LIM worthy!!! So, I did something a little different. I used the same papers and embellishments, but made it a thank you.

Here it is with a close up~

Ah! Much better!!! Going back to the drawing board for another one that IS an okay birthday card! Happy stamping!!! :)

COLOR THROWDOWN!: So Saffron, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake

I do not know why I haven't ever heard of Color Throwdown...but I'm glad I found then thanks to another blogger! What a fabulous color challenge blog! Here were this week's challenge colors:

Aren't they great? Yellow and purple are my two favorite colors and crumb cake is my favorite neutral at moment, so this color scheme was perfect for me!

Here is my submission~

I started with perfect plum as my base and then I dry embossed the card base for extra texture. I stamped my flowers onto my panel, layered it onto so saffron and then added the sentiment on crumb cake. It needed something extra, so out came my bling--ribbon, pearls and 3D stickers. :)

Here's a close up of the sentiment--it's so cute~

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you like what you see, and I hope you take the chance to create something that will make someone smile today! :) Happy crafting!

Also linking to Faith Artistry. :)