I Scream You Scream...

...we all scream for ice cream!  

Were you worried?

My card today is for the Michelle Perkett Studio "Hold On To Summer" challenge! 

These cute ice cream cones and the sentiment I used are a digital stamp from Michelle Perkett Studio Etsy store.  I printed them out twice and cut them apart for this card.  I saw the sketch at Lime Light Paper Crafts August 18th and was intrigued.  I also saw a card by Tammy one of our Michelle Perkett Studio Mermaids that she used this stamp and cut out an ice cream cone.  At that point seeing these two different things I was inspired to make this card.  

I colored the ice cream cones with Copic markers and cut them out, they are attached to the Spellbinders half circle with foam tape, I printed the digital stamp again on the gingham patterned paper and carefully cut off the sentiment so I could use it in my border strip.  The brown scallops are a die made by MFT Stamps and the flowers are an EK Success punch with slightly enhanced Dew Drops added to the centers.  

I hope you'll have time to play along in this weeks "Hold On To Summer" challenge at  Michelle Perkett Studio!  Stop by and see what our awesome Mermaids have created, I know you'll be inspired!

There's a $10.00 shopping spree for Michelle's Esty store to be won, we'll announce the lucky winner Monday, September 6th after 5:00 PM MST. 
Challenges:
Tanda Stamps -Beautiful Borders

Excerpts From My Copic Coloring Book

I have some fun stuff from my Copic coloring book and a nice tutorial from The Stamping Boutique's blog to share with you today.  The first photo is of my Copic coloring book, I've posted it here before so you may have already seen it.  I made this 8 X 8 book for myself as a tool to help me remember great color combination's, record new techniques I've learned and to slowly be able to throw away all those little slips of paper with great color combos I'd like to try!

This second photo is a Copic color chart I printed, colored in and put inside the front cover of my book.  Who knows maybe one day I'll need to take it and my markers somewhere with me!

On to the "good stuff"!  I found a wonderful Copic coloring tutorial on The Stamping Boutique's blog by Ashley Scheffler.  She has three different tutorials on how to color this The Stamping Boutique image called Beach Baby.  I will give you a link to each so you can try it out for yourself.  Here's the link to Coloring Water With Copic Markers.  The next part of the tutorial is Coloring Sand With Copic Markers.  And, the final tutorial for this image, Coloring Everything Else.

I've done my "homework" and written directions for myself and put them in my book.

I decided to do each tutorial separately so I could practice the coloring skills. I colored the image one more time and made up a card front with the new skills I've acquired by doing the tutorials!

Here she is up close and personal.  

I really need to tell you that this was one of those images that really intimidated me when it came to coloring it.  I made my first card with this image three months ago when I started on The Stamping Boutique design team and really wasn't happy with it but posted it.  My daughter found the first card in my stash today and we compared them.  My coloring has improved in 90 days, how fun, I think I'll keep practicing!

Edited to add:
Carol left a comment asking about where to get the Copic color chart.  I believe it's on the Copic website but I had it in a folder on my desk top so I hope it's okay with Copic to share it with you here.  Click on the photo to make it larger and then right click on your mouse to get a drop down menu, go down the menu to "save image as" and click, it's yours.  I save this kind of stuff on my desktop so it's easy for me to find after downloading it.   Enjoy!

Challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Let's Get Digital

The Shabby Team Room - Old Meets New, 

Old - Bind It All covers and wire for coloring book, New Copic coloring techniques, Digital Images

Sunday's With Crissy - Your Favorite Time Of Year 

Crafty Emma - Anything Goes 

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Hot, Hot, Hot! 

Digital Tuesday - Cool It

Cupcake Chloe for Cupcake Inspirations

My card today is for the Cupcake Inspirations challenge, In Style Stamps is sponsoring the challenge this week!  I used Cupcake Chloe and colored her with Copic markers.  Cosmo Cricket DeLovely papers seemed perfect for this challenge and my layout is a sketch by my friend Karen over at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps a few months ago.
Challenges:
Penny's Challenges - Color challenge pink & green
Your Next Stamp - Bold, Bright Summery Colors
The Lolipop Ladies - Cupcake with ruffles
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Pretty In Pink

Cheerleader Marci

I have another Marci card for you today!  This is cheerleader Marci, she's going to be available for purchase as a rubber stamp September 15th with Irina's new Marci line at La La Land Crafts.  In the mean time there is a 25% off sale on existing rubber stamps going on! 

I colored cheerleader Marci with Copic markers to match a pad of Martha Stewart scrapbook paper I have.  I'm sorry I don't have the marker colors for you, I colored her on a day that I was just coloring for pleasure.  It took me longer to fuss over the layout of the card than it did to color Marci!  Speaking of that, the layout is a sketch from A Gem of A Challenge blog that posts monthly challenges. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing the new Marci, have a blessed Sunday!
Challenges:
Party Time Tuesday's - Birthday for a child
Aud's Sentiments - Anything Goes
The Paper Players - Anything Goes

Mary Margaret Teacher's Pet

Happy Saturday!  Have you had time this week to play in the Michelle Perkett Studio Back to School challenge?  If not, there's still a few days left to enter and possibly win a little shopping spree at Michelle's Etsy store!

There's something new in Michelle's Esty store today too!

Meet Polly, Dolly & William
I love the vintage look and I can't wait to color them and make a card!

I've seen so many cards with Mary Margaret I've been inspired to color her and make a card for the challenge.  I've been enjoying that "Report Card" paper pack too.  I couldn't resist the checked paper and had to color her dress the same way, I have the perfect marker colors BG10 & BG11.  If you frequent my blog you'll know I've been using those a lot lately, it just can't seem to be helped!  

My layout is a past sketch from Taylored Expressions, there were three circles down the left side by the image and I saw apples.  The apples are a digital image that I re-sized to 1/2" and printed, colored, cut them out and after attaching them to the card with foam tape I applied Stampin' Up Crystal Effects for some shine. 

It's the weekend and my kids are home so I need to go!  Have a great weekend!
Challenges:
Little Red Wagon - Back To School
Cute Card Thursday - Dieing For A Punch
Michelle Perkett Studio - Back To School
Bee Crafty - Anything Goes

In Style Stamps Blog Hop Today!

It's Blog Hop day at In Style Stamps, this months theme is end of summer!  I hope you arrived here from  Axa's blog Crafts & Love, but if not you can start here.

Instead of making a card I made a gift box using the In Style Stamps Flower Love digital image.  It's a quick and simple image to color and then I got a little carried away, in a very fun way of course!   The Flower Love image I used is a new release and became available for purchase August 20th.

I added the dots around the Flower Love image using a stamp from Waltzing Mouse then cut it out with a Spellbinders Labels 10 die and matted it with a bigger Labels 10 die and matted it again with the largest Labels 10 die.  I added a bow using Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist ribbon.  The Gingham patterned paper is from a Martha Stewart pad.

After I made the tag I needed a box so I got out my trusty Scor - Pal and made a box that I could fill with A6 sized cards later.  I used the Papertrey Ink jumbo ric rac die to decorate the sides and layered white and another piece of the Bayou Blue paper after embossing it with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The "live your bliss" stamp is also made by Papertrey Ink.

Here's a side view.

I have one more project to share with you that I made for a friends baby shower tomorrow.  I was asked if I could make a book to write notes of advice, best wishes and scripture in.  Do you know what I said?  I have just the thing!  So, here's my little book.

I used Ellie one more time and paper pieced her and colored her just a tiny bit with Copic markers.  It wasn't my intention to paper piece her in the beginning.  The Spellbinders Fancy Tag was printed on the same white sheet of card stock as Ellie.  It had no pop off of the cover so I thought I'd try it in color.  Ellie just happened to print with it again on the colored paper and I thought I'd see what it would look like if... 

...and here's a photo of the inside.  I used the Stampin' Up! Top Note die for the cards to write notes to our friend on.  The other tools used to make this little book are a Bind It All, paper trimmer and Scor - Pal.
Hope she likes it!

Ohhh, I seem to have gotten a little off the theme of the hop in my excitement over my project...

I hope you have time to hop along with the In Style Stamps blog hop, the next stop on our hop is the fabulous Barbara at Forgotten Scraps, enjoy yourself!

With Faith All Things Are Possible

My card is  for today's Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge, the challenge is to use embossing, heat or dry and use a die cut and a ribbon, kind of a recipe of sorts for your card.
 

I used Maya by La La Land Crafts, she's a rubber stamp and is available at the LLLC store here and there's a sale going on!  25% off!!  I added one little detail to her that she didn't come with, googlie eyes.  She's colored with mostly cool gray Copic markers and cut out with a Spellbinders die.  I embossed the card body with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and cut the scalloped border with a new MFT Stamps die.  The ribbon is a dotted organdy.  My sentiment stamp is by Papertrey Ink.  I tried to go pretty clean and simple for my card, I really enjoyed doing the last couple of white on white challenges I kind of had that on my mind while I was making this card.  Maybe it's more black and white with a pop of color?

Don't forget to go check out the Midweek Throwdown challenge over at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, I hope you'll play along!

Also there's a new challenge over at the Michelle Perkett Studio blog, it's Back To School and there's more stuff going on so you'll have to go check it out so you can read all about it!  Have you seen Michelle's  new Willow digital image yet?  She's gorgeous!
Challenges:
Sentimental Sunday's - Words To Inspire
 

Michelle Perkett Studio Back To School Challenge

Hello, it's challenge day over at Michelle Perkett Studio!

This week is Marion's Michelle Perkett Studio Mermaids challenge and they've chosen Back To School for the theme.  Michelle split the design team in half and Marion and I are the design team (The Mermaids) coordinators and alternate the challenges week to week.  

How about this darling Michelle Perkett Studio image called "Hugs Before School"?  I think this is such a cute digital image and I couldn't wait to color it and make a card.  The big dog kind of reminds me of Clifford the Big Red Dog, can you tell I have young kids?  ;)  My two youngest are in week 4 day 2 of back to school so we have gotten back into the swing of things.  Early mornings getting kids fed and ready for the day, packing lunches, doing the homework after school, etc.  I'm so thankful for my husband Rick, he's a tremendous help with all of this!

My cute Hugs Before School image is colored with Copic markers.  The Copic marker color combos are YG11, YG13 & YG17 for her skirt, BG10 & BG11 for her shirt, R22, R24 & R27 for her backpack and the dog is E50 & Y21 and I used a touch of Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects on the dogs nose for some shine.  Kind of odd colors together but I have this October Afternoon paper pad called Report Card and those are the colors in the papers.  What better papers to use for a Back To School Theme than Report Card! 

I hope you'll join us over at the Michelle Perkett Studio challenge blog for the Back To School challenge this week!  To play in the challenge you need to use a Michelle Perkett Studio image, there are so many cute digital images at her Etsy store and new images arriving all the time!  Here's a link so you can take a peek and be inspired!
Challenges:
  Michelle Perkett Studio - Back To School
The Character Cafe - Dimensional Glaze
Frosted Designs - Back To School
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
Stamp Something - Digital Challenge
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Get Dotty

Madyson by The Stamping Boutique

I'd like you to meet Madyson by The Stamping Boutique today!

I think she's going to be a great digital image for my cards for teens!  

Madyson is colored with Copic markers and I cut her out with a Spellbinders die before I colored her this time.  I'm getting wiser!  I used some of my favorite colors for her.  I keep coming back to the BG10, BG11, BG13 & BG18 Copic markers.  I was wondering if I was just drawn to those colors or if that blue/green teal/aqua color is just really popular right now?!  I've concluded BOTH!  The green marker combination is YG11, YG13 & YG17.  I use that combination of Copic markers a lot too.  Both are nice variations from light to dark for optimal shading. 

The layout for this card is a sketch from August 10th at There She Goes and the patterned paper is a pad by Cosmo Cricket called DeLovely.  

You might have noticed I've  posting my The Stamping Boutique projects on Monday's.  I'm working on getting more organized and plan to  post for The Stamping Boutique on Monday's, they've asked me to stay on with them for another term and be one of their senior design team members.  So... stay tuned for The Stamping Boutique projects on Monday's for another three months!
Challenges:
Easy Craft Projects Challenge - Girly 
Stampin' For The Weekend - Anything Goes 
Just Us Girls - Hot Pink, Teal & Lime Green 
Cupcake Craft - Blue & Green 

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #31

This is my second post today, my cards are featured today on Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps for the sketch challenge!   Would you believe I can only find one of the photos?  That's okay, if you'd like to see the other two click on the link in the OWH name and it will take you there.   

I made my cards this last May when I participated in my first Operation Write Home blog hop.   Karen was in charge of the sketch challenges and asked if we'd like to try one of her sketches.  If we did we could e mail her and she'd send us one.  So now you know the story of why I'd be posting a card I made back in May.

This is a hybrid card, there is no stamping other than the Miss You sentiment and no coloring, it's all digital.  I simply printed the cute Sassy Cheryl's image and the digital papers and put my card together. 

Happy Sunday!

Ballerina Marci

I'd like to introduce you to Ballerina Marci drawn by Irina the owner of our La La Land Crafts!

Isn't she a cutie?!  She was available as a digital image for a very limited time and will be released and available  as a rubber stamp September 15th at La La Land Crafts. 

I colored my Marci with Copic markers and cut her out, she's attached to a Spellbinders large circle that was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The layout is sketch #69 from Sweet Sunday Sketches, the patterned paper is Basic Grey Kioshi.  I added the flourishes made with Spellbinders dies after I'd set the card aside for awhile, it needed something else but I wasn't sure what at the time.  

Have a blessed Sunday!

Challenges:
City Crafter - Isn't She Lovely
Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Fairy Tales Do Come True 
Fab & Funky Challenge - Flower Power 
Craftalicious Challenges - Pearls & Swirls 
Stampin' B's - A circle, die cut & flower 
Our Daily Bread Designs -  Use dies or punches

Bloom, Grow, Live

Happy Saturday!  

My card today is for the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge.  Michelle Perkett Studio is sponsoring our challenge this week as well as awarding a prize package!  She's given us two digital images to work with and this is my second card for the challenge.

I'm also part of the Michelle Perkett Studio design team and want to let you know there's also a challenge at the Michelle Perkett Studio challenge blog "Anything Goes with a Michelle Perkett Studio image"!  You have until Monday, August 23rd at 5:00 PM MST to enter.
Cute digital images, freebies (at the OWH blog), prizes to be awarded, what are you waiting for, go enter!!

This cute image is colored with Copic markers and my layout is clean and simple, which is very odd for me!  

Hurry on over to Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog to get in on this fun challenge, you have until Tuesday at 10:00 PM MST to enter!  I'll be drawing the prize and announcing the winner on the OWH blog Wednesday morning, don't miss it!
 Challenges:
Everybody Art Challenge - In The Garden
Crafty Creations - Butterflies 
Totally Paper Crafts - Summer Fun 

Alma by In Style Stamps

It's release day over at In Style Stamps and I've made a card using Alma!  She's available for purchase today as well as that cute little elephant called Ellie you've seen me using so much of lately.

I colored Alma with Copic markers and cut her out with a Spellbinders die, she's also matted with the same size Spellbinders die off to one side.  I used Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety paper with Basic Black and Kraft card stock, the organdy ribbon is from my stash in two different sizes and the scalloped border is a new die from MFT Stamps and then I added three Want2Scrap black half pearls.  My layout is a sketch from Paper Players.  

Okay, it's time to go shopping over at In Style Stamps!

Challenges:
Always Playing With Paper - Sketch
Tanda Stamps - Beautiful Borders

My Special Friend!

My card today is for the Operation Write Home Stars & Stripes Midweek Throwdown challenge.  

We have a sponsor this week, it's Michelle Perkett Studios!  Michelle has generously given us two digital images to work with for our cards for Operation Write Home this week.  Michelle is also awarding a prize package for this challenge!!

This is my first card for the challenge using Michelle's "my special friend" digital image, I think this little girl and her pup are just adorable!   She's colored with Copic markers and I used OWH Sunday sketch #30 for my layout.  It's one of those sketches that I'm going to have to try with lots of different images I'm afraid!  

Now... I think if you haven't been there already, you should link on over to Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps and check it out!
Challenges:
Totally Gorjuss - Aqua
Auds Sentiments - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shops Best - Anything Goes
Charisma Cards - Die Cuts
The Secret Crafter - What Are Little Girls Made Of

Michelle Perkett Studios & My Coloring Book

Please excuse me for re posting my Angel of Hope card, there's a really good reason...

Remember the Michelle Perkett Studios design team call?  I was chosen as one of her design team coordinators and there's a new challenge today at the Michelle Perkett Studios challenge blog with a theme of Anything Goes!!  Since it was very short notice Michelle said we could use a card or project we'd already posted, so that's why you're seeing my angel card again. 

I hope you'll join us with the Michelle Perkett Studios Anything Goes challenge!

If you don't have any of her images there's a cute freebie at her group on Paper Craft Planet and tomorrow (8-18-10) on the OWH Stars & Stamps blog there will be a couple more free images of Michelle's because she's our featured sponsor for the Midweek Throwdown challenge!

Would you like to see my coloring book next?!

I've had the covers for this book since I went to the Copic Certification class back in April, Patty who I sat with had made one and I thought it was a great idea!  

I used the Bind It All along with Bind It All 8 X 8 covers as well as a set of plastic covers to go over it.  I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.  The image of the little boy and girl are from Bug A Boo stamps and they are two images that I merged in my Publisher program.  

Here's a peek at what the inside looks like.  I have these little scraps of paper all over that have color combination's for hair, skin, jeans, etc. and I thought this would be a fabulous way to catalog all that and be free to throw those scraps away.

Here's a close up of my Some Odd Girl Mae relaxing, not all of my colored images are on card fronts or fancy, this is more of a reference book for me.  I also printed my Copic color chart, colored in the markers I have and put it in the front of the book.  

And a close up of Kaylee with her balloons from Some Odd Girl stamps.

Don't forget about the challenge at Michelle Perkett Studios challenge blog, you have all week and there will be a prize drawing!

Sweet Baby

I'm really excited to share my card with you today!  I used a digital image called Baby Fairy by The Stamping Boutique.  I had so much fun making this card, coloring it was a pleasure and the layout was totally fun.  The layout is the sketch challenge from Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps a couple of weeks ago.  It's one of those I want to make over and over just to see what it looks like with a different image.  

I used De Lovely papers, matted everything in black added three Want2Stamp half pearls and the "sweet baby" stamp is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set.  

OWH Sketch #30 Meets In Style Stamps Ellie

I hope you aren't tired of Ellie by In Style Stamps yet!  Ellie is a new release for August and will be available August 20th at the In Style Stamps store.  I thought Ellie would be a really nice image to use on today's Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch #30.  It's also Baby card week at In Style Stamps!

I used Copic markers to color Ellie and the papers are from a pack by Memory Box called Spearmint.  The Sweet Baby stamp is by Papertrey Ink.  The scalloped rectangle matting looks brown but it's actually Stampin' Up!  Always Artichoke, a deep green.  

I'm going to be posting regularly on Sunday's for awhile.  La La Land Crafts has been making some changes, the design team members will be posting to the La La Land Crafts blog daily as well as their own and my day of the week is Sunday!  So stay tuned for some fun La La Land Crafts projects starting next Sunday!  

Have a blessed day!

Challenges:
Crafty Catz - Animals 
One Stitch At A Time - Pack A Punch 

Happy 1st Birthday The Stamping Boutique!

I'd like to say Happy 1st Birthday today to The Stamping Boutique!

You're Invited:

The Stamping Boutique's first birthday party!

The Stamping Boutique is celebrating it's first birthday and to celebrate we are having a Digi Day celebration over at The Latte Lounge! There will be fun challenges, chatting & prizes this Saturday, August 14th at The Latte Lounge from 7-9 Central.

Be sure to come play along as all participants will be entered into a drawing for the blog candy pictured below:

My first card above is for the birthday celebration at The Stamping Boutique, the cute birthday bunny image  is available for 25% off now through the 15th at midnight.

I colored the image with Copic makers and used a Martha Stewart paper pack I found on clearance at our WalMart recently.

 My next card above is  for the Paper Playtime challenge blog, The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring Paper Playtime this week and the theme is School Days.  The Stamping Boutique is also sponsoring For Fun Challenges this week!  What a perfect excuse to use this cute chemistry set image that Tracey drew!  I've colored it with Copic markers and the patterned papers are by October Afternoon and they are called Report Card.   


Challenges:

Papercutz - Back To School
For Fun Challenges - Use A TSB Image
Paper Playtime Challenges - School Days 
Stampin' For The Weekend - Back To School 
Our Creative Corner - Back To School
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Your Favorite Stamp
Catch The Bug - Back To School with Primary Colors

Flower Love by In Style Stamps

I made my card for today using a digital image from In Style Stamps called Flower Love, it's a new release this month and will be available for purchase August 20th.  I paired this image with Basic Grey Kioshi and Papertrey Ink Plum Pudding papers matting with Chocolate Card stock.  This was a quick and easy project to put together.  I think as card makers we can all appreciate those!  I also used a Sizzix large dots embossing folder and some Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects for the flower center.

Challenges for my card:
Little Red Wagon - Summer Theme 
The Character Cafe - Bright Sparkle Card (Crystal Effects) 
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes 

Operation Write Home Fall Midweek Throwdown Challenge

Yesterday was the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge and the challenge is:  a fall themed any occasion card.

My image today I was lucky enough to win from Shelly's Images and she was very generous with me, I was torn between two images and she sent me both.  What a sweetie!   I just love the detail in this image of the pumpkins, the opportunities for shading and the shapes of the pumpkins themselves as well as the leaves.  It seems like orange has become one of my favorite colors.  

I was also following the OWH sketch #29 for this card.  After I made it I noticed that I didn't follow it exactly, I did flip it on it's side but the long strip wasn't supposed to go all the way to the edge of the card.  I find it interesting that my mind just doesn't "see" that, this is the second card I made with this sketch and did the same thing.  I do still have a chance to get it right though!

In Style Stamps Inspiration Wednesday Challenge

It's Inspiration Wednesday at In Style Stamps!  Above is the inspiration photo for the challenge.

I must say, I was challenged!

My first card above changed right in the middle of making it so I have two cards to show you today.  I started with the "Peggie" image I'd colored and ended up with "Ellie".  The architectural detail in the photo really stood out to me.  Especially since we've been tearing apart the living room to put in new windows!  The detail of the paneling on the wall behind the crib and the three pictures hung above it as well as the predominant colors of the room went into this card.

I know I've used Ellie a couple of times already, I just wanted to remind you that "Ellie" is a new release and will be available for purchase August 20th.

My second card where I used my first colored image "Peggie" was inspired by the colors in the photo, the three photos on the wall, textures and circles on the baby bedding.  Peggie is available for purchase now as a digital and rubber stamp at In Style Stamps.

Stop by the In Style Stamps blog today to see what our other fabulous designers have come up with and maybe even enter into the challenge yourself?!  Sounds like fun to me!

Challenges:

Everybody Art Challenge - Check It Out 

La La Land Crafts Christmas

Are you ready for today's challenge over at La La Land Crafts?  The challenge is Christmas!  You can make a Christmas card and enter it into the challenge for a chance to win a prize!  

My card today was totally fun to make!  Most of La La Land Crafts stamps come in the form of rubber stamps but I didn't have anything Christmas that I hadn't used yet so Irina being the sweet person that she is sent me this Down the Slopes Rosie to play with.  

I colored Rosie with Copic markers and cut her out with an old Sizzix tag die.  It looked really WHITE so I was going to soften the edges with some Tim Holtz distress inks and the rest is history.  Distress inks are too fun NOT to spritz with a bottle of water so I did, then I just started playing in it.  Rosie looks like she went out sledding, the weather warmed up, the snow started to melt and it got a little muddy... 

The patterned papers are a what's left of a Stampin' Up! package I had, I cut a square and then two triangles from it and rolled the edges to make them a little distressed too.  I added "enchanced" rhinestones to the snowflakes I punched.  By enhanced I mean I colored them with a Copic marker and the "Tis The Season" stamp is by Papertrey Ink from the set Signature Christmas.

We have a NEW CHARACTER to share with you today!! Irina has been working hard (and enjoying every minute of it I'm sure) on her fabulous new line of stamps and she's decided to share a new stamp each week and have it available for one week only in the shop as a digi!! So far we've seen "Birthday Marci" and "Ballerina Marci" and you can see cards made with them by visiting Irina's blog HERE.

Introducing Pirate Luka!
He's available this week only, you can find him HERE. 

Just a reminder that "Marci Ballerina" stamp is still available as a digi, but not much longer.. Only a few days left before she leaves for awhile only to be back in rubber in our first release on September 15th!! Click HERE to purchase this digi stamp :-)

And, in case you didn't know, all our digis come in sets of 2... one fully colored for your color reference and the other in digi for YOU to color.

There's so much happening at La La Land Crafts with the birthday celebration we just had and upcoming new releases!  I can't wait to color Marci & Luka and make some cards, maybe this week?!
Challenges:
Alota Rubber Stamps - Distressing
Bunny Zoe's - Vintage  
Fab & Funky Challenges - Colour-ific 
Stampavie & More - Christmas In Summer 

Birthday Wishes

I have exciting news this morning!  I have a winner for the La La Land Crafts Beach Birthday Bash party favor on my blog!!  Congratulations Carrie of Stamps, Scraps & Scissors, I'll be contacting you very soon!

I think maybe my post title should have been De Lovely meets 365 Degrees!  Those are the names of the paper packs I used for this card.  I don't usually combine different paper packs but why not?  I seem to be drawn to the same colors or are those colors just popular right now?  I've been told I "think" too much...

For my card today I used AJ The Builder from The Stamping Boutique, he's colored with Copic markers and my layout is a sketch by Maria Bell for Christmas Stampin' All Year Long I saw recently on their challenge blog.  I used a Stampin' Up! punch to make the tab for the birthday wishes sentiment that is made by Papertrey Ink and in my browsing challenge blogs I noticed the Belli Challenge asked that you use some of your old forgotten embellishments on your card, good idea!  It's been a long time since I've set eyelets, I've gotten spoiled with self adhesive half pearls and Dew Drops.  I just knew I had these old Stampin' Up! eyelets from a bold brights collection of years gone by.  Do they still make Yo Yo Yellow and bold brights?
Challenges:
Stamps R Us - All Male Theme 
Crafty Card Makers - Birthday Theme
Stamptacular Sunday - Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails
Your Next Stamp - Birthday's
Penny's Paper Crafts - Anything Goes
I Did It Creations - Cute, Cute, Cute!

For You!

This is Ellie, she's an In Style Stamps digital image, isn't she cute?!
Ellie is a new release for August and will be available for purchase August 20th!

Using the Ellie digi image I made a gift holder for a package of gum.  She's colored with Copic markers and I used my new Papertrey Ink. jumbo ric rak die and my old stand by EK Success flower punch with a black half pearl.  The "for you" stamp is also from Papertrey Ink.

Here's a peek at the inside, just a scrap of Basic Grey paper and the regular size Papertrey Ink ric rac and of course the velcro dot to keep it closed.  

Have a blessed day!
Challenges:
Scrap Creations - Anything Goes 

La La Land Crafts Birthday Beach Bash

Do you know who the winner of the "What toys did La La take to the beach" game is?!  You need to go over to the La La Land Crafts to see if it's you!

I hope you arrived here from Cheryl's blog The Ink Trap, but if not you can start at the La La Land Crafts blog, the link is above.

Today's game is another question.  "Tell us what stamp you'd like to see join the La La family".

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the design team members blogs to be entered into a blog candy give away from La La Land Crafts.  We each have blog candy for you!!
The winners will be announced August 9th.

Marci is now in the house at La La Land Crafts!  Just wait until you see the rest of the Marci line, they're adorable and you're going to love them!
Irina has decided to share a new stamp with you in the "Marci line"...

BALLERINA MARCI

She will be available for ONE WEEK ONLY in our shop as a digi! Here is the link!!

 
Your next stop in this hop is Kim at Kimbee's Creations, have fun!

Challenges:
Bee Crafty - All About The Image
Our Creative Corner - It's Embossable 
Bug A Boo Stamps - Sweet Sweet Summertime 
One Stop Craft Challenge - Summer Fun

Marci for a limited time only...

My post is a little late today!  

I've been working on several design team projects that I can't talk to you about yet! 

I woke up this morning thinking about Marci, she's the digital image on my card today.  What kind of a friend would I be to you if I didn't introduce you to Marci and let you know that she's available for purchase for a limited time, like until Monday August 9th at La La Land Crafts.

You see, I'm a guest designer for La La Land Crafts and Irina the owner of La La Land is releasing a new line of rubber stamps and "Birthday Marci" is just one of them.  To introduce her she is available in digital form for a limited time and for those of us who need instant gratification.  Like me...  

I've seen several of the images in the new line and you are not going to want to miss these, they are fabulous!  Irina drew all the images in the new line herself!  When will the new line be available you ask?
Mid  September!

And don't forget about La La Land Crafts Beach Birthday Bash going on, there are hops and prizes and hops and prizes and hops and prizes!  Each of the design team members get to give away a prize too so be sure to leave comments on the hops as you play along!

Challenges for Marci:

Operation Write Home - Sketch Challenge 

Die Cut Dreams - Gingham 
Frosted Designs - Celebrate Life
Stamp Something - Inspiration Photo 
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Your Favorite Stamp
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes 
Practical Scrappers - Just One Embellishment 
Charisma Cardz - Teddy Bears

Operation Write Home Stash Challenge

Have you been by Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps to enter into the Midweek Throwdown challenge yet?!  The challenge is to simply use patterned paper on your card and here's one of mine!

For my first card I used my Ellie digital image from In Style Stamps.  She's a new release and will be available to purchase August 20th at their store.  I paired Ellie with Basic Grey Ambrosia paper, I only have a few scraps left.  Speaking of scraps I wanted to see if I could use some of them up on my cards, it was a fun challenge for me!

Ellie is colored with Copic markers, the giant ric rac is a die from Papertrey Ink and the "miss you" sentiment is also from Papertrey Ink.

 My next card is from scrap using Basic Grey Urban Prairie, do you recognize the front of the paper pad?  I cut the front off the paper pad and used two panels put together on the front of my card, it's heavy!  The brown and turquoise papers were scraps sitting by my cutter.  Again I used the Papertrey Ink giant ric rac die and a new flower die of theirs and the Sizzix large dots embossing folder.
Challenges:
MelJen's - Clean & Simple 
Cute Card Thursday - Whateva!