Sketch It: Blogger's Challenge

This week is one of my favorite types of challenges. SKETCH challenge!! Lisa (our list mom) put together an awesome sketch this week.

My mother-in-law and brother-in-law are in town from California for the next few days so I only got a few minutes to throw together a card, but of course I had fun doing it. I wish I would have made the center panel just a little smaller as I wasn't sure what to do with the space between the sewing and the images.

I hope you enjoy the card, I combined it with Leigh's color challenge for The Cat's Pajamas this week which was kiwi, blue sky and chocolate. My colors aren't exactly perfect, but close enough. I also used my new Verve Stamps that I won a gift certificate for stamps when I participated in one of the Anni-verve-sary challenges.

Off to watch some t.v. before hitting the bed early tonight.

Card details: Delightful & Delicious by Verve Stamps
Cardstock: retired CTMH kit, watercolor paper
Inks: Memento Ink, Copicx YG95, E31, W3, Boo, BG000
Accessories: Papertrey Ink Rustic Buttons & Rustic Twine (Jute)
Stamp Set:

Friends are like Flowers

I don't think I have posted this yet, if I have, hope you enjoy the repeat.

I love this set!! I can't get enough of it and there are just so many possibilities with it.

Hope you will stick with me the next week, my mother-in-law and brother-in-law are coming to visit (we are all so excited) for a few days so I don't think I will be doing any stamping but do have some unshared projects I'll be trying to schedule to post.

I sent this off to a friend in CA as she has been spoiling me rotten with some of the things she has sent me lately- you can check out Rose's wonderful work over at SCS: rozie640

Stamp Set: Everday Button Bits
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: Buttons from assorted companies, Ribbon from SU!

Imagine

I don't do vintage very well but really wanted to try my hand at it with this stamp set. I thought it went perfect with the background paper I picked. The cream really had to stand out with this card so I chose a bold color-red to make it pop.


As a kid I used to write letters and postcards all the time. I used to write so much my best friend & I would mail each other letters and we lived about 10 doors down from one another and saw each other every day. I don't write as much anymore, which is funny since I make cards to WRITE in!

Hope you enjoy this card and be on the lookout this weekend for an awesome new template from Clear & Simple Stamps along with the unveiling of their new Stamp of the Month! I think the kids are going to love this one!

Primary Stamp Set	Believe in Words I
Paper / Cardstock	Confetti Cream, Real Red
Designer Paper	ScrapperDashery-Postcards from the shore
Embellishments	Bold Bright Brads, Ribbon from SU, Cream twine from PTI
Inks	Read Red, Basic Brown, Tea Dye distress ink

Monday Technostamper Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #84

These types of sketches are always a challenge for me as they entail a large image as the main panel. I don't have too many stamps that would fill up that space and generally will use some patterned paper.


Mary Jo has fabulous sketches, I love to see what she comes up with each week for everyone. Out of all the challenges available out there, I love the sketch challenges the most!

I got together with a few friends last night, and I was the only one of us that actually did some stamping. The rest were doing digital which I want to learn more of, but always seem to be going back to my stamping instead.

Hope you will join us this week for Mary Jo's challenge, would love to see what you create!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Golf Gent
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Chocolate Chip, WeR Memory Keepers White Out Collection-Explore-Ruck Sack
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers
Accessories: Nestabilities circle dies

You're so Sweet

Wish I had time to write more about this card, I had fun making it, but it's off to football, then football pictures, then to see G-Force for a birthday party, then a few girls over to get crafty.

Mojo Turns 100 Day 5 Sketch

From Courtney's Closet Challenge #54

Card details:
Stamp Set: Everday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink, Little Fruits by Stampendous
Cardstock: Whisper White, SU dsp (retired), Regal Rose, Real Red
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics G14 RV34, R29, Green Galore
Accessories: Silk Ribbons from Sharon Johnson, buttons unknown

Enjoy the Ride

Sorry I've been so quiet this week, it has been a busy week for me and I'm looking forward to a few girlfriends coming over Saturday night to get creative.

This is a card I made for the Anni-verve-sary on SCS of Verve Stamps. I was very lucky and won a $25 gift certificate by participating in one of the challenges. I haven't used it yet (gasp!!) as I'm still trying to decide what I all want.

I sent this out in the mail today for an RAK to a friend, I sent out 10 of them today :-) Nothing like that feeling of the recipient smiling when they open their fun mail!

Have a wonderful day!


Card details:
Stamp Set: Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, My Mind's Eye Celebrate "Dad and Me" Brocade/Blue Paper, Papertrey Rustic White
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Enchanted Evening, Copics YG95, B05, C4
Accessories: Enchanted Evening Buttons, Enchanted Evening Luxe Satin Ribbon & Twill Tape, Nestabilies Circle & Scalloped Circle, Scalloped Oval, Scallop punch, Bow-Easy, Oval punch

Blogger's Challenge: Die Cuts or Punches

This week our challenge was to focus on die cuts or punches. I decided since I don't have too many pretty punches I would use my Peony nestabilities.

I made this card pretty quickly, it's pretty simple as usual ;-) I ran all the peony nestabilities through my cuttlebug on 2 different pieces of dsp. I think sprayed them with my mini mister and crumpled them up. I let them dry just a little bit and then ran my Papertrey Ink Chai & Raspberry Sorbet ink pads over to give it a little more of a worn look.

I love this ribbon treatment that I learned from Sharon Johnson and think it would have looked better if I had a smaller image, but it works for me. The little sentiment stamp I used was from a Studio G clear stamp set.

Make sure to check out all the other challengers this week by clicking here.

Have a good weekend! I'm looking forward to some creative time with a few friends tomorrow night, hoping to get a lot accomplished (which usually NEVER happens).

2 Sketches 4 You: Sponsored by Clear & Simple Stamps

This week Clear & Simple Stamps is sponsoring this weeks sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You.

I pulled out my Flight of the Bee set for this card. I hate when I'm staring at my stamp sets and can see them working and then they don't seem to do the trick when I get them out with a sketch. Luckily this one worked just fine with my card.

When I saw this paper from Basic Grey's Pink Lemonade pad, I thought it looked like a honeycomb. I cut it using my scalloped square nestabilities.

For my little bee, I decided to break out of the yellow/black theme and go with the colors in the paper. I stamped one on the paper and another to cut out, coloring it with my Copics, scoring the little wings and then putting some Crystal Effects all over him.

I hope you will join the 2 Sketches 4 You group and Clear & Simple Stamps this week and try this sketch. Make sure you post to the Mr. Linky on the 2 Sketches 4 You blog so we can check out your design.

Card details:
Stamp Set: Flight of the Bee from Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Basic Grey Pink Lemonade, Berry Sorbet by Papertrey Ink, Rustic Cream by Papertrey Ink
Inks: Copic B05 & R27, 0, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Crystal Effects, Square Scalloped Nestabilities

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #80

Mary Jo had me totally stumped on this sketch!!! I couldn't figure the squares out for the life of me so I took the easy way out on this card. I used some background paper and cut some little strips to make the lines for some "faux squares".

I paper pieced my little coffee cup from the new set I got from Our Craft Lounge- Fueled by Caffeine. This will go in the mail to my friend who is a coffee addict :-)

Join us for Mary Jo's Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge and add your link to Mr. Linky on her page.

Sorry this is so short, my back is KILLING me this weekend!

August '09 School Days Collection

Make sure you run over and check out the 11 new releases at Clear & Simple Stamps this month. It's the School Days Collection and there are some fabulous new sets perfect for back to school gifts!

Here's a card I made with one of the sets I've had, We've Moved. Simple card using some of the Digital Paper Winter Collection on the background. I really like the clean look of it, then again, these days that seems to be the way I lean.

Also, don't forget the awesome Stamp of the Month & Copic Bundle.

This month the Clear & Simple Stamps SOTM: is A+ darling and the template of the month is this cute little apple basket.

You will always remember that one teacher who made a lasting impression on you. It really is true when they say "to teach is to touch lives forever". Enjoy creating with the newest Darling to join our collection - A+ Darling.

In addition to offering our $1 off incentive, below are our Copic SOTM bundle and our monthly template:

COPIC BUNDLE:
For August this bundle will include the Copic Trio Set: Red 2 - Perfect for coloring those red apples for Back to School gifts!

Copic Marker Bundle with the SOTM for the bargain price of $26 - that's a $15 stamp set and $15 Copic Marker Trio set combined at a $4 reduction in price - you won't find a better bundle anywhere! (HINT HINT...it will will be $25 if using the DTBlog $1 Discount too)

BLOG DISCOUNT CODE: DTBlog809

SOTM TEMPLATE: Apple Basket Template

This month Sue has created this awesome apple basket! What a cute little gift basket whether you want to use it for an apple for your child's new teacher using the Stamp of the Month or to package up a little gift for a friend like I did above.

Join us using this free template, would love to see what everyone comes up with! And see that cute little wooden handle that fits the Apple Basket Template perfectly? The handles are now available in the CSS store for purchase as well!!


Make sure you check out the Design Team's blogs for some showcases of the new release sets.

• Beth Matson
• Jen Tapler
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker (creator of the Apple basket)
• Millie Dawson-Hardy (Guest Designer)

Have a great weekend!

Blogger's Challenge: It's Your Birthday

Oh, I had a blast last night stamping and although I went to bed with a hand cramp from adhering 24 of these mini Zva crystals on my flower, I love how it turned out!!! I managed to make 2 of these cards, both with the same layout & colors, but just a little different elements.

I did this card as a dual challenge. First it was for our weekly blogger's challenge to create a birthday card. Second, I'm trying to participate in a few of the Anni-Verve-Sary Challenges over on the SCS Forum and this was one of the sketches.

I received an order of stamps & paper this week from Eclectic Paperie (who are AWESOME!) and it included some of the new Our Craft Lounge stamps as well as more paper. This is the first time I've used Our Craft Lounge stamps and I love them. They are packaged very nicely and the stamps made a nice crisp image so I was thrilled. I ordered 2 sets, one being the Fueled by Caffeine which I had to have after seeing this card by Pam Hooten. Funny thing is I don't like coffee and I don't drink it either but I loved the cups!!! Same with this set, the Thankful Flourishes, I *love* the flower!!! The other stamps in the set are an added bonus but I was sold on the flower alone.

Join us by creating a birthday card and posting in any of the blogger's challenge participants with the link. We'd love to see what you create. You can see all the others creations by clicking on the Blogger's Challenge logo on the right hand side of the page.

Make sure tomorrow to check out Clear & Simple Stamps for their August release of 11 new stamp sets. You'll surely find a few that you have to add to your stamp collection.

Card details:
Stamps: Thankful Flourishes by Our Craft Lounge, Flexible Friendship Wishes by Stampendous
Cardstock: Gable Green, SU! Watercolor paper, My Mind's Eye Surprise "Me and Mom" Floral/Orange & Circles/Light Pink Paper
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Groovy Guava, Gable Green, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Ribbon/Twin unknown source, Marvy Uchida Circle Punch, Aquapainter, Zva mini-crystals, Soft Subtles brads, R83 Copic, Paper Piercer

Perseverance, Hardwork, Dedication

I wanted to create a simple football card to showcase the football and sentiment from the "Football" set being released 8/15/09 by Clear & Simple Stamps. I like this sentiment a lot.

We are a big football family here so this set will come in handy with a lot of use I'm sure.

Check out the other design team member's blogs for their creations with the new School Days stamp sets due to be released 8/15/09.

• Beth Matson
• Erin Bigler
• Jen Tapler
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker (creator of the Apple basket)
• Millie Dawson-Hardy (Guest Designer)
  

Card details:
Stamp set: Football by Clear & Simple Stamps (release date 8/15/09)
Cardstock: CTMH designer paper, Kraft, Papertrey Ink White
Ink: Basic Brown, Copic E25, W1, W3
Accessories: Scor-pal, Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons, nestabilities squares

Welcome Little One meets Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge

I whipped up a pretty easy card last night to go with a name frame I made for a baby gift (will be sharing that in a few weeks).

I used Mercy's sketch from yesterday for this card and tried to keep it fairly simple incorporating the colors and elements from the frame. I know, I'm so bad to refer to this frame and not be able to share it with you just yet.

Hope you enjoy your day!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Little One by Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, MME 29th Street Market Fresh "Beauty" Perfect Poises/Greenery Paper
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Papertrey Ink Rustic Buttons & Rustic Twine (Cream & Jute)

Take the Tuesday Challenge #8: Let's Get Sketchy

Today is the second Tuesday of the month which means it's Take the Challenge Tuesday at Clear & Simple Stamps over at Paper Craft Planet. This month our challenge is a sketch. I absolutely LOVE sketches! I find that I use sketches far more than any other tool out on the web. You can pick the colors, the stamps, and your layout is ready to go.

I hope you will join us over at Paper Craft Planet and show us your creations. You can tag your photos with 'ttc08' so that we can see them all in one place. Hope to see you there!

Make sure to check out all the creations from the Clear & Simple Stamps design team:

• Beth Matson
• Erin Bigler
• Jen Tapler
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Millie Dawson-Hardy (Guest Designer)
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker

Primary Stamp Set	Golf Gent
Other Stamp Set(s)	Fab Foursome
Paper / Cardstock	PTI Stamper's Select
Designer Paper	Chatterbox
Inks	Fresh Snow, Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Copics Y21, B23, C4, W3

Thank you Gift Set

If you are a follower of my blog you know that this season is going to be a busy one for us football-wise. My son will be practicing 3 times a week with Saturday game day, my husband is assistant coach and I've been volunteered for team director on the team. That and watching after the 2 little ones is going to be a handful!

I initially started these cards with coaches gifts in mind and thinking I would make a set (which I did) and having all the kids sign them come season-end. I then realized that I was making a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 card and that probably wouldn't house 22 kids signatures on it. Oh well, it'll make a cute little thank you card set whatever happens with it.

This card is loosely based on Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #28. I omitted the other 2 circles from my creation but tried to follow her sketch otherwise.


Make sure you check out all the other design team members blogs for their creations for the School Days Release sneak peeks.

• Beth Matson
• Erin Bigler
• Jen Tapler
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker (creator of the Apple basket)
• Millie Dawson-Hardy (Guest Designer)
  

Primary Stamp Set	Football (release date 8/15/09)
Other Stamp Set(s)	Friend
Paper / Cardstock	Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Ocean Tides, PTI Select White
Designer Paper	Basic Grey June Bug Collection
Embellishments	Circle & Large Pinking Circles Nestabilities
Inks	Fresh Snow, Versafine Onyx Black, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Chai
Markers / Colored Pencils / Chalks	Aquapainter

Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #82

Mary Jo's Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge was one of my favorite sketches, one I think I will use over and over again. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I've needed to make a baby boy card for my husband's cousin who just had a baby.

I borrowed a set from a friend called Little One by Clear & Simple Stamps to make a gift for a friend but thought it would also make a cute card. I'm loving this Basic Grey paper (June Bug). I can't seem to put it down.







I hadn't used this stamp set I bought months ago, although I've had it sitting on my desk for the whole time and wanting to use it, just hadn't done anything with it.


Join us this week with Mary Jo's sketch, would love to see what you create!

Card details:
Stamp Set: Daisy Lion by Stampingbella, Little One by Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, PTI Stamper's Select, June Bug by Basic Grey
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, Night of Navy
Accessories: Copics YR12 & YR14, B39, R27, Paper Piercer

Goth Girl

I just couldn't conjure up an original idea with this weeks blogger challenge to use Crushed Curry, Olive, Soft Suede and a neutral so I decided to sit out this week.

I haven't stamped all week and really wanted to stamp something, but just wasn't getting inspired. Breaking out my goth girl (Moth Fab from Stampotique) always brings a smile to my face especially when it's paired with some stickles.

I went with the new Basic Grey pad I had gotten, June Bug for the color inspiration. Thought this plaid looking paper was a good choice. I wanted to use Mercy's sketch this week and came pretty close although my image is a little bigger than her sketch.

Hope you all have a good weekend, I've been sick for quite awhile now, only getting worse, so hoping on Monday the ENT will be able to tell me what's going on and what I need to do. It's been miserable with a sinus infection, headaches, plugged ears, etc. I haven't been the most enjoyable to be around so I'm hoping that will change.

Make sure to check out all the other blogger's challenge girls by clicking on the logo on my right hand side.

Card details:
Stamp Sets: Moth Fab from Stampotique & Stampotique- Well, la de frickin da!, Print Pattern by SU!
Cardstock: June Bug from Basic Grey, Basic Black, Yo-Yo Yellow, PTI Stamper's Select
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Prima, copics (colors pictured above), Fire rhinestone circle brads, Frosted Lace stickles, 3/4" circle punch

Playbook of Champions

I thought I would try my hand at an altered notebook for this next project. My husband is an assistant coach for my son's football team and he's constantly taking little notes for practice.

When I saw this set Football by Clear & Simple Stamps which will be released 8/15/09 I thought this would make a good little notebook. The little play stamp along with that sentiment works together so well.

We'll have a busy football season this year I'm sure. I'm usually the Mom on the sidelines watching and chatting with the other Mom's but this year I'm sure the two little ones will have me running after them and chasing them down so it'll be interesting. To top it off our team director (team Mom who runs the show) decided to try another team this year with her son so we are left without one-and I've been corralled for the job. Talk about having your hands full as football here is SERIOUS-we made it to the "Superbowl" last year, but we lost!!!

Hope you enjoy this little notebook and wait until you see all the other wonderful sets being released this month!

Make sure to check out all the other design team member's blogs to see their creations with the new School Days stamp sets due to be released on 8/15/09.

• Beth Matson
• Erin Bigler
• Jen Tapler
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker (creator of the Apple basket)
• Millie Dawson-Hardy (Guest Designer)
  

Notebook details:
Stamp Set: Football by Clear & Simple Stamps (released 8/15/09)
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, SBP Football Field by Picture Perfect
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black & Memento Tuxedo Black, Garden Green, R27 Copic
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon, black hemp twine, nestabilities square punch, sponge

Are you ready for some football?

When I see the new stamps from Clear & Simple Stamps, I think how much Reenee & Nicki must know me all to well. The stamps fit right into my lifestyle!! Like they can somehow read my mind.

This is a favorite picture I took of my son during his football season last year. His friend was putting a wet towel around his neck as it was a hot day of football. I just thought it was one of the sweetest gestures I've seen and was so glad to capture it on film.

This set "Football" will be an awesome set to have in time for football season. I have a lot of ideas in mind for using it so stay tuned as I share them throughout the next few weeks. Football will be available 8/15/09 from Clear & Simple Stamps.

I wanted a border on the side and thought the stamp with a lot of different sayings regarding football would be perfect. And how awesome is the sentiment "Are you ready for some football"?

Hope you enjoy the scrapbook page, I'm enjoying getting a page completed here and there.

Make sure you check out the other design team member's blogs for their creations with the new School Days sets due to be released August 15th.

• Beth Matson
• Erin Bigler
• Jen Tapler
• Lori Tecler
• Maria Levine
• Neva McMullen
• Robyn Weatherspoon
• Sue Berker (creator of the Apple basket)
• Millie Dawson-Hardy (Guest Designer)
  

Layout details:
Stamp set: Football by Clear & Simple Stamps (release date 8/15/09)
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Papertrey Ink White, Night of Navy
Ink: Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Broncos tattoo, Copic markers

Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #81

Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #81

I had fun with this challenge, it's a lot different then what I would normally do for a card. I have a hard time tilting my images but think this turned out pretty good.

This is one of the new stamp sets I received and it's from Clear & Simple Stamps called Believe in Words I. I like the sayings in it and the leaf images are pretty as well.

I decided to try some natural colors for it, hope they turned out all right.

Make sure to join us with Mary Jo's sketch, would love to see what you create or check out Mary Jo's site for the other creations.

Have a great Monday!


Card details:
Stamp Set: Believe in Words I from Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: River Rock, Basic Black, Garden Green, Confetti Cream, Digital Paper Release Winter 2009
Inks: River Rock, Versafine Onyx Black, Garden Green, Papertrey Ink Chamomille
Accessories: Zva Creations multi-colored rhinestones (purchased from Stamper's Dream)