The Stamping Boutique Not So Scary Halloween Vampire

Happy Halloween!

I must say I'm kind of sad Halloween is here...   I need to put all my fun Halloween images away and find a new favorite color other than ORANGE!  I know I'll be okay, there are still lots of fun "fall" images I can still play with!  What are your plans for Halloween?!  Our kids are still trick or treating age so we'll go walk around with them for a little while and then take them over to the Harvest Festival at our church so we can rest and they can play.  

For my last Halloween card I used the Not So Scary Vampire by The Stamping Boutique.  Tracey has such a cute Halloween line this year, I've totally enjoyed getting to color and use them on my cards.  This cute little vampire was colored with Copic markers and cut out using Spellbinders Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, the paper was ordered at an online store in the clearance section last summer so I'm not sure of it's name.

Trick or Treat!

Challenges:
Pear Tree Designs - Halloween
Paper Playtime - Halloween 
A Crafty Little Place - Spooky 
Crafty Creations - Halloween 
Little Red Wagon - Halloween 
The Wild Flower Patch - Halloween 
AI Factory - Halloween 
Create With Connie & Mary - Halloween Theme 
Daring Cardmakers - Trick or Treat 

Michelle Perkett Studio Ballerina Bunny

Happy Saturday!  I hope you are having a nice weekend, the weather is cooling a little here in Arizona and it's such a welcome relief.  I'm ready for the cooler temperatures and spending some time outside, just being able to go take a walk or getting the mail without burning your bare feet off - sounds good!

For my card today I used Ballerina Bunny by Michelle Perkett Studio, isn't she cute?!

She's colored with Copic markers and my sketch layout from a Lord Have Mercy sketch challenge last month.  I C.A.S.E.d one of her design team members cards and there was no watermark on the card so I can't give credit to the card maker.  Her card was gorgeous so I had to give it a try!

I added some rhinestones, dry embossing and organdy ribbon as well as using Spellbinders and a Papertrey Ink dies, I hope she's flattered with my C.A.S.E.ing.

You have a couple of days left to join in on the fun at the Michelle Perkett Studio challenge blog, the challenge is "Autumn Leaves", using fall colors and leaves, the leaves are optional on your Michelle Perkett Studio creation.  There will be a prize drawn Monday, November 1st and announced on the challenge blog!

Challenges:
Karber - Love
Inktegrity - Anything Goes 

In Style Stamps Blog Hop Featuring Virginia

Hello and welcome to our In Style Stamps blog hop!  You should have arrived here from the fabulous Kerry's blog, if not you can start here at Angelique's blog.  To win the $25.00 gift bag be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs and vote for your favorite at the very end!

For my project today I decided to make a gift bag for our upcoming Thanksgiving dinner hostess.  I used Virginia and colored her with Copic markers, Virginia is available as a digital image at the In Style Stamps online store.  I used Spellbinder's dies to cut Virginia out and matte her and also the Eyelet border die.  The Thank You sentiment is a stamp from Papertrey Ink.  

Your next stop on this journey is the In Style Stamps blog, time to vote on your favorite!

Challenges:
Scrappy Frogs - Give Thanks
52 Card Pick Up - Count Your Blessings
Simon Says - Punch 'Em
2 Sisters Challenge - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Thanks, Thankful

Papertrey Ink Friendship Jar

I have a just for fun card to share with you today!  For a crafter who wasn't going to collect anymore stamps I placed a pretty big order with Papertrey Ink recently...  This addiction is really hard to deal with sometimes!

My card today uses the Papertrey Ink stamp sets Friendship Jar and Friendship Jar Fillers Fall.  There are also dies that coordinate with these sets hence the cut out jar, it's a die.  I stamped the jar and then stamped the candy corn inside and colored it with my Copic markers.  My layout is a sketch that doesn't really look like the sketch anymore, the tag is a Spellbinders die I added a button and crochet thread to.  The orange and kraft panels went through the Cuttlebug for some texture and the ribbon is a few years old from my stash.

Did you notice the Operation Write Home Blog Hop banner in my side bar?!  Everyone's invited to be in the blog hop, if you'd like more details and to participate click on the banner!!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Challenges:
The Creative Cottage - Embossing
Spoon Full Of Sugar - Dies & Punches 
Creative Card Crew - Punches 
Speedy The Cat & Friends - Die Cuts & Punches 
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes 

In Style Stamps Free Breast Cancer Awareness Digital Images

My cards today feature a couple of the free Breast Cancer Awareness digital images from In Style Stamps.  Here are the details on how to pick up some of these for yourselves straight from the In Style Stamps blog:

Because we love our fans and care about cancer awareness, we are giving these images away to anyone who wants them. That's right - giving them away! To get an image for free, all you have to do is shoot us an email telling us which image you'd like and share a link to your project here within 10 days. If we don't see a project from you, you'll get an invoice from us for $2 per unused image. All of the proceeds will go to cancer charities, so either way it's a win! You are welcome to just outright purchase the images, too - let us know that in your email.

The images will be available for free until October 31st.

Challenges: 
Stampin' Sister's In Christ - Pink Ribbon & Primarily Pink
Crafty Cardmakers - Digital Plus 

Michelle Perkett Studio Willow The Autumn Fairy

My project today is for our Michelle Perkett Studio Autumn Leaves challenge that starts today!  

I've had my image of Willow The Autumn Fairy colored for quite some time now but wasn't sure how to use her.  Do you ever have that happen?  Part of my dilemma was I printed her kind of big and colored her anyway, I was thinking she might go into my Copic coloring book.  

Willow is colored with Copic markers matted on Basic Black then Kraft and again in Basic Black.  I used two Quickutz dies I've had for the leaves to frame her in.  Some of the leaves are cut from card stock and others from felt and one is even vellum. 

I hope I've brought you some inspiration for our challenge and you will join us at the Michelle Perkett Studio blog to play along.  Remember to use a Michelle Perkett Studio image on your creation.  There will be a prize drawing from the entries in the early evening Monday, November 1st, one lucky participant will win their choice of a digital image from Michelle's Etsy Store!

Challenges:

Michelle Perkett Studio - Autumn Leaves

Jade by The Stamping Boutique

I'd like to introduce you to Jade today, she's a digital image from The Stamping Boutique, isn't she cute?!

I colored her with my Copic markers and had the perfect plaid paper to mimic her skirt from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper pad.  I used the Eskimo Kisses paper pad for my color inspiration too.  My layout is really simple, with the MFT Stamps open scalloped border die and a strip of pink card stock, I also got into my stash of hoarded goodies and used the extra extra large Olive Green brads, just a couple though!  The oval and scalloped oval are Spellbinders dies.

 Check out the blog candy at The Stamping Boutique's blog!  A winner will be drawn on The Stamping Boutque blog November 20, 2010!  This prize is a $250.00 value with 36 Copic Cio markers!

Challenges:
I did It Creations - Surprise Me!

Scraps, Sketches & Freebies by Fred She Said

My card today was a happy accident, I printed my verse too large for what I was planning to use it for so instead of letting it get lost in the mess of scraps I thought I'd combine it with some of my real scraps and make a card with it.  The sketch layout is a past sketch challenge by Mercy Karin at her Lord Have Mercy blog that I can't seem to get enough of.  Everything looks good with this sketch! 

Today is or would have been my Mom's 84th birthday, seems kind of odd to me that she's been gone ten years already.  At the time of her death I remember thinking life would never be the same without her and it hasn't been, it's swiftly moved forward ready or not.  It all seems so final here on earth,  I can't wait to see her again one day in heaven I have so much to share with her.  But for today, Happy Birthday Mom!

The bible verse on my card today must be for me... 

Have a blessed Sunday!

Michelle Perkett Studio Trick Or Treat

We're hoppin', we're hoppin!  Blog hoppin' with Michelle Perkett Studio this weekend!  I hope you arrived here from the fabulous Melanie's blog, if not and you'd like to start at the beginning of our hop you can start at Michelle's blog. 

I'm going to try not to talk too much because there's a lot of Halloween eye candy to see!

My first card for the Full Moon Fever Blog Hop uses one of Michelle's newest digital images Haunted Tree.  

Candy The Sweet Halloween Witch.

 Trick or Treat With Spiders

...and if anyone could make something so simple really complicated that would be me!

I had the hardest time with this cute text with spiders, I can't wait to see what the other girls have made with it and be inspired!  I printed it out on heavy vellum and ran it through the Cuttlebug using the spiderweb embossing folder, then I wondered what would happen if I used Tim Holtz distress inks on the back of the vellum.  It dried surprisingly quick!  

Your next stop on this hop is Josie's brand new blog, have fun!

Oh! In case you get lost along the way... 

Michelle - (Sara) - http://michelleperkett.blogspot.com/

Pauline L - http://pritasheaven.blogspot.com/

Margie - http://creativityplace24.blogspot.com/

Melanie - http://fabulouscolorfulcraftsbymel.blogspot.com/

Jan - http://www.jans-gonestampin.blogspot.com/

Josie- http://josie-randomcreativity.blogspot.com/

Lynne -http://www.doodlebuglynne.blogspot.com/

Lee -http://stampingwithgrandmalee.blogspot.com/

Marilyn - http://marilynscardsandmore.blogspot.com/

Pauline G. -http://paulineguttrey.blogspot.com/

Claire - http://clairescraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Elenor - http://www.metrobloggen.se/paltbarn

Rhonda - http://bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com/

Abby - http://abbyscreations.blogspot.com /

Andrea - http://AndreasScraps.com

Tammy - http://mycraftcentral.blogspot.com/

Marion - http://cardsbymarione.blogspot.com/

Shelley - http://shelleyscreations.blogspot.com/

Michelle Perkett Studios - http://michelleperkettstudio.blogspot.com/

Challenges:
Paper Cutz - Halloween, Stars, Crescents, Etc.
Michelle Perkett Studio - Halloween

Happy Harvest Digital Stamps by Artful Inkables

I love all the fall images I'm seeing on everyone's cards, it's difficult not to collect them all!  I found this cute little crow at Artful Inkables earlier this month and couldn't resist, I did for about 24 hours and then had to go back and make him mine!  

I've had some of the Copic markers in the "toner" family that I've been wanting to try.  I'm not crazy about coloring "black" images because I worry they aren't going to look good and the dark grays are those colors that tend to bleed out of the lines, etc.  I also know that to be good at anything I need to practice and it's only paper for heaven's sake!  So I tried the toner grays on this cute crow and was happy with how it came out.  I used T1, T3 & T5 and was careful not to over saturate my paper, which is Neenah Classic Crest 80# Solar White.

I had a sketch on my computer screen for this card and my card looks nothing like the original sketch, I mostly liked the idea of the tabs where the sentiment "Happy Harvest" went.  The sentiment was computer generated and cut out with the Stampin' Up! Word Window punch and matted with black.  This crow comes as a set with the Happy Harvest sentiment but there's an apple attached that I couldn't cut around or edit out so I made my own.  The papers are by My Minds Eye that were purchased in the clearance section of an online store this last summer.  I also used Spellbinders dies for the rectangles and circles.

Challenges:
Challenge Up Your Life - Autumn
Crazy 4 Challenges - Autumn 
Baby Bud Designs - Halloween/Autumn 
Stampin' For The Weekend - Halloween/Fall 
Stamp Something - Use A Digital Image 

Karen's Doodles Fall Wheel Barrow Freebie

I've never made a one layer card before and have admired so many clean and simple one layer creations in my  blog travels.  I came across this free digital image at Alison's Free Digital Stamps blog a few weeks ago, it's by Karen's Doodles.  When I saw this digital image I thought, "Wow that's gorgeous, what a great challenge it will be for me to color it."  I printed it on a half sheet with the intention of a one layer card, it was a pleasure to color with my Copic markers, the "thinking of you" is a clear stamp from the dollar bin at Michael's and I used a Copic multi liner and my clear ruler to make the line around the image.  

As I was coloring this image I was thinking about my sister in law Cindy and her husband Bob, they've been going through a rough time.   They are working on moving to our little town but Bob has had some health problems and they are stuck in Phoenix, he's hospitalized and she's waiting for him to be released.  Most of their furniture is moved here so she's living in a big empty house while she waits.  I hope my card will bring them encouragement and a little cheer.  I'm excited about having them living closer to us too!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home - Masculine Cards
Daisy Doodles - Manly With A Fall Connection 
Stampin' Bee's - Fall Colors 
Challenge Up Your Life - Autumn 
Paper Playtime - Pumpkins or Spiderwebs 
The Shabby Tea Room - Chocolate Covered Autumn Inspiration Photo 
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Keep It Simple

In Style Stamps Snowflake Chloe

I used Snowflake Chloe for my card today and made a coordinating backpack to go with it.  I thought this would be a fun gift set for my little boy's teacher later this year.  I'll fill the backpack with goodies for her and write a note inside the card to let her know how much I appreciate her.  She's had two of my three children in her 4th grade class.  

For my card I used Snowflake Chloe by In Style stamps, she comes as a digital image.  I made her 4" tall for my card so she'd be easy to color.  As I was coloring her jacket I couldn't keep the red out of the white snowflake she's holding and had the idea to use one of my snowflake punches to cover my mistakes and give her some fun dimension.  Where there's a will there's a way!  The designer paper is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses and I just happened to have the buttons that go with the paper pad so I used a tiny one with embroidery floss on the snowflake. 

I also used a new die from Clear Dollar Stamps, the sentiment is a digital image from whimsie Doodles.  The backpack is a tutorial by my friend Paula Goff that she has on her blog Inking Addict. 

Paula vacations every year about 45 minutes from where I live and gets together with the local Stampin' Up! demonstrators to play.  Even though I haven't been a Stampin' Up! demo for several years I still get an invitation and I'm thrilled to spend the day with my stamping girl friends playing with paper. 

One more shot of the card all by itself for you.


We also have an Inspiration Challenge starting today at In Style Stamps you might like to play along in, I have the Inspiration Photo for you below:

 

Challenges:
Gingerloft - Winter

Frosty In Wonderland by Starry Nights Studio

My card today was for a sample at the Stamps R Us challenge blog, the challenge started Monday, October 18th and will end October 31st.  It's a sketch challenge and I used Frosty In Wonderland by Starry Nights Studio, what a fun image to color!  

Here's the sketch for you to try, be sure to enter your card at the Stamps R Us blog when you're done! 

I used Copic markers to color Frosty along with Gina K Designs Hunter Green card stock, Neenah Red Linen card stock, Basic Black and Neenah Solar White and a heavy weight Vellum that I bought 100 sheets of by mistake a few years ago.  The Merry Christmas is a stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps and the snow flakes are a Martha Stewart punch and another old dull punch I have.  I ran the Vellum panel behind Frosty through the Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder and attached it to a white panel of card stock keeping the tape hidden and attached it to a Hunter Green panel.   One of the smaller snowflakes is punched from the Vellum but the larger punch kept breaking the snowflake so I used red under it to make it pop.  I added the red rhinestones to the snowflakes and my card was compete.  I really enjoyed this sketch and will probably use it again and again.  Thanks Alissa for a great versatile sketch!

Challenges:

Stamps R Us - Sketch Challenge
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Inspiration Challenge
MelJen's - Anything Goes

In Style Stamps Purrfect Day New Release Digital Image

Welcome to my second post for today!  I have a new release sneak peak for you from In Style Stamps, this cute image is called Purrfect Day and will be for sale soon at the In Style Stamps online store.

I've been having fun with one layer cards so I thought I'd try it again with this wonderful image.  I sized it to be five inches wide to fit on my card front and printed it out.  Before coloring any of it I stamped the "thinking of you" sentiment by Papertrey Ink and used a Copic multiliner pen and my ruler to outline around the image.  To make it easier to color I used my multiliner pen to extend the desk top, legs and window to my outlined area.  I colored the image with my Copic markers and thought the wall would be pretty dull just "painted" so I added "wallpaper" by paper piecing this Basic Grey Marrakech patterned paper and also used it for the envelope liner.  A very simple card showcasing a really fun In Style Stamps image to color.

I also have news about a freebie from In Style Stamps for you today!  
I'm copying and pasting the details for you below:

Because we love our fans and care about cancer awareness, we are giving these images away to anyone who wants them. That's right - giving them away! To get an image for free, all you have to do is shoot us an email telling us which image you'd like and share a link to your project here within 10 days. If we don't see a project from you, you'll get an invoice from us for $2 per unused image. All of the proceeds will go to cancer charities, so either way it's a win! You are welcome to just outright purchase the images, too - let us know that in your email.

The images will be available for free until October 31st.

Challenges:

AiFactory - Lets See Your Animal Side
Simply Saturday - Paper Piecing

Michelle Perkett Studio Fire Digital Image

I have another clean and simple card to share with you today using "fall" colors, she's called Fire by Michelle Perkett Studio.  She's colored with Copic markers and I added my smallest rhinestones to her hair and the flower centers.

Be sure to check out the Michelle Perkett Studio  blog, you can play along in our newest challenge Witches Brew!  There will be a prize winner drawn and announced Monday, October 25th!

The Stamping Boutique Natalie Christmas Digi Image

I'd like you to meet Natalie today, she's a digital image from The Stamping Boutique!    I have a few new Basic Grey paper pads and thought I'd like to go a little more non traditional for my colors so I chose Eskimo Kisses and broke out some neglected Copic markers.  RV32, RV34, YG91, YG93, YG95, B00, B000 & B0000.  I printed her out a little bigger than maybe I should have but found a nice sketch layout none the less.  I like her... oh, and I've been a bad girl again.  I cut off part of Tracey's image again, here's what this digital image really looks like.

I hope you enjoyed "meeting" Natalie today!
Challenges:
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - My Peep's
I Did It Creations - Girl Of My Dreams 
Karber Weekly Challenge - Kids & Babies

Thinking Of You Witch On A Pumpkin - Squigglefly

My card today is for a friend that I sent a package of goodies to this week, it was a freebie that I found at Alison's Free Digital Stamps blog, the artist is Jackie Matthews.  Jackie sells her digi's on Etsy and Squigglefly and I have to say she has some cute stuff!  

This cute little witch is colored with Copic markers and is printed in a large format to showcase the cute image.  I matted the image with basic black and added it to a Stampin' Up! Only Orange card body, stamped it with "thinking of you" from a Papertrey Ink stamp set.  As an after thought I added some Stickles to the stars for some realistic shine.    I hope you enjoyed my "just for fun" card today as much as I enjoyed making it, have a wonderful Sunday!

Challenges:

Aly's Sunday Challenges - Halloween

Just Scraps - Use Your Bargain Stamps
Paper Playtime - Orange As Your Main Color
The Shabby Tea Room - Pumpkin Patch Inspiration
Creative Craft Challenge - Trick or Treat!
Everybody Art Challenge - Halloween
Creative Belli Challenge - Pumpkins
Stampin' Royalty - Halloween
The Creative Cottage - Halloween
Moving Along With The Times - Halloween
2Sisters Challenge - Halloween
Baby Bud Designs - Halloween
One Stop Craft Challenge - Halloween

The Stamping Boutique Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon

The Stamping Boutique is having a digi day at Paper Craft Planet right now, here are the details!

You're Invited To Attend:
The Stamping Boutique Paper Craft Planet forum
Saturday Oct. 16th
2-4pm EST
  Be sure to bring your fast typing fingers and your crafting mojo!
See you there!!

I made my card for The Stamping Boutique Digi Day over at Paper Craft Planet using Tracey's Ribbon and coloring it pink with my Copic markers.  I used a simple layout to showcase the image and to use up that last piece of matching patterned paper I used the Papertrey Ink envelope liner die.  

I won't keep you - run over to Paper Craft Planet and have fun!
Challenges:
Totally Gorjuss - Pink

Michelle Perkett Studio Emma

Today I get to share my Michelle Perkett Studio challenge card that I was going to make but the rolled flower die I ordered didn't arrive in time.  The die was in my mail box Tuesday afternoon just like I thought!  Funny how life works that way and challenges us to use plan B sometimes.

For my card today I used Emma the Amore Fairy and colored her with my favorite colors of Copic markers (BG10 & BG11), I printed her nice and big so she'd be easy to color and trimmed around her to keep the frame she's in.  She's matted in basic black, I used a couple of my Cuttlebug embossing folders for some nice texture, Happy Anniversary is on a Spellbinders tag die and the sentiment was made on my computer.  The leaves are a Quickutz die and the little flower is part of the My Favorite Things Stamps rolled rose die.  The die makes a pretty large flower so I only used part of it to try to get more of the look of Emma's flowers. 

You still have time to get in on the challenge at Michelle Perkett Studio, just use one of Michelle's images and make your own flowers and you can enter to win a prize that will be drawn Monday, October 18th!

Challenges:

Michelle Perkett Studio - Make Your Own Flowers

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Anniversary/Love
Just Inspirational Challenges - Anything Goes

Whimsie Doodles Christmas Blessings

I have a card to share with you today that I made with my friend Priscilla, she came over and we used her papers and had a fun day making Christmas cards together.  This cute ice skater is a digital image from Whimsie Doodles and the "Christmas Blessings" sentiment I made on my computer to fit the Stampin' Up! tab punch.    I colored the image with Copic markers and cut her out using a Spellbinder's rectangle die and matted with the matching scalloped rectangle die.  The layout for this card is a sketch from Operation Write Home that I've used before and really like the simplicity of it.  I also used my Papertrey Ink envelope liner die.

I have a freebie alert from In Style Stamps for you!  I've copied and pasted the details below:

Because we love our fans and care about cancer awareness, we are giving these images away to anyone who wants them. That's right - giving them away! To get an image for free, all you have to do is shoot us an email telling us which image you'd like and share a link to your project here within 10 days. If we don't see a project from you, you'll get an invoice from us for $2 per unused image. All of the proceeds will go to cancer charities, so either way it's a win! You are welcome to just outright purchase the images, too - let us know that in your email.

The images will be available for free until October 31st.

Challenges:
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Open Challenge
Paper Sundaes - A Change Of Season 
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Winter Wonderland 

If The Shoe Fits...

Did you ever wonder if you could overdose on pink?  Yes you can...

I had several reasons for making this card, the more I see it the more I like it but I'd like to try adding a different shade of pink card stock to it when I make it again.   My friend Julie would like to learn how to do heat embossing and asked if I could teach her, my friend Priscilla owns this stamp set and wanted to see what I could come up with for a card using it and my friend Gina loves shoes, purses and pink! 

The stamps, (yes I said stamps, real red rubber wood mounted stamps!) are made by Stampendous and the verse is by My Sentiments Exactly.  I used Versamark ink with the stamps on the Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz card stock and added fine black embossing power and heated it until it melted, cut out the shoes and purse with a Spellbinders rectangle die and matted it with the rectangle scalloped die.  I used the Spellbinders Fancy Tags die as a matte for the verse and punched the "if the shoe fits..." with a Stampin' Up! Word Window punch and added it to the fancy tag.  I also used my two favorite Cuttlebug embossing folders Swiss Dots and Swirls because I saw dots and swirls in the focal images.

I hope my stamping friends like what I came up with!

Challenges:
The Crafty Pad - Something For A Friend

In Style Stamps Basket of Blessings

I have an In Style Stamps card to share with you today, the digital image is called Easter Basket.  I know it's October and last week I posted a happily dancing Easter Bunny but what the heck this is a design team project!  Being a design team project means it was one of the images we had to choose from so I took it.  

I colored it and set it aside for a few days because I wasn't sure how I wanted to use it and then my card kind of just all came together for me.  I love it when that happens!  The basket is colored with Copic markers, the patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Max & Whiskers pad, the layout is a sketch challenge  from Crafting With Dee Dee's Digi's earlier this month.

I used Stampin' Up! Creamy Carmel card stock for the strip down the center and used my Scor-Bug to make stitched looking lines on it.  The bottom edge of the image panel is cut using the Papertrey Ink large ric rac die as was the matting.  The ovals for the Papertrey Ink Blessings Sentiment were cut using Stampin' Up! Oval punches and the butterfly is from a Martha Stewart punch.  

There's a color challenge going on at In Style Stamps that started just a few days ago, there will be a random prize drawn for the entries so if you enjoy doing color challenges go check it out!

Here's the challenge photo for you:

Challenges:
Stamp Something - Something Punchy

Michelle Perkett Studio Stella The Summer Storyteller

It's a new challenge day over at Michelle Perkett Studio!  Our challenge is called "Flower Parade" and the challenge is to use a Michelle Perkett Studio digital image and make your own flowers to use on your card/project. 

This is my design team card for the challenge.  I started with a different Michelle Perkett Studio image and had it colored and ready but the flower die I ordered online hasn't arrived yet so I needed a Plan B.  I started looking through the images I have and thinking about the flower dies and punches I have and decided I'd never colored Stella the Summer Storyteller yet and those cute little flowers Michelle drew around her could be turned into my own "hand made" flowers.  

I printed Stella five inches wide and positioned her on the page as best I could to get her where I wanted her for a single layer card and printed.  It took a couple of tries to get her high enough and then low enough to be able to stamp a verse under her.  The verse is from a Papertrey Ink set I have.  Next I took a Copic multi liner pen and my clear ruler to draw the border line around her.  Best to make any mistakes before I color her!  I don't always think it through that well.  

This is the second one layer card I've ever made and I'm having fun with them.  The other one is set to auto post for later next week.  Stella is colored with Copic markers, the flowers are punched with an EK Success flower punch, I added black half pearls to the flower centers and three to the left edge of my border to cover a little boo boo I made with the multi liner pen.  I also used a Copic Spica clear glitter pen on the butterfly and bee and added a googlie eye to Stella's glasses because I kept putting my hand or finger in the wet Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects and messing it up!

You're invited to join us at Michelle Perkett Studio for this weeks Flower Parade challenge, there will be a prize drawing next Monday, October 18th and the winner will be announced on the challenge blog!

Challenges:
Michelle Perkett Studio - Flower Parade
Glitterbabe's - Anything Goes
Craftalicious - Anything Goes
Freshly Brewed Designs - Girly
Tuesday Throwdown - Three (flowers)

It's Pumpkin Time

I'd like to introduce you to Sammi today, she's a new digital image from The Stamping Boutique!  

I have several things to tell you about my card, first is I C.A.S.E.d Patty for my layout.  I think Patty's cards are beautiful, she uses a lot of white paper and I love her clean look.  Patty's blog is LaLatty's Stamp 'N Stuff so you can see her cards too!

My second confession is you aren't seeing all of Tracey's digital image here, I colored it but covered it with the "It's Pumpkin Time" digital image by Whimsie Doodles because it just fit so well.  

Here's what she looks like complete.

Isn't she cute?!

The patterned paper I used for my card is by My Minds Eye called Boo To You, Sammi is colored with Copic markers YG11, YG23, YG25, YR15, YR16, YR18, E42, Y32, Y35 and her Red Hair is my friend Marion's Red hair combination that you can find here.  She did a wonderful tutorial on her blog coloring red hair you might like to see.  The dies I used are made by Spellbinders and Papertrey Ink and I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder along with paper piercing and a couple of embossed lines on my Scor-Pal just like Patty's!   I've been trying to use my PTI envelope liner die more often to help me use some of that patterned paper I have too.

I have some exciting news from April our event coordinator at The Stamping Boutique today!

Last month was our first time doing a digi image day on Paper Craft Planet and it went soooo well that we are doing it again, and again and again!!! We will officially be holding digi day each month on Paper Craft Planet. We had a great turn out and had such a blast.

This month's theme for digi day is going to be Digi's in Pink! Yep...that's right, we are going to support Breast Cancer Awareness month for our digi day this go round. I promise you will have fun, meet some new people, chat with the ones you already know, play some games, maybe get a freebie, and get to play in some great challenges for chances to win images from The Stamping Boutique.

You're Invited To Attend:
The Stamping Boutique Paper Craft Planet forum
Saturday Oct. 16th
2-4pm EST
  Be sure to bring your fast typing fingers and your crafting mojo!
See you there!!

Challenges:
Fab 'n' funky Challenges - Use A Digital Image
Penny's Paper Craft Challenges - Circles
Fresh Brewed  Challenges - Anything goes/girly
Digi Doodles Shop's Best - Orange Me Glad
Lily Of The Valley - Autumn
Stampin' B's - Autumn Card
Challenge Up Your Life - Autumn
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Halloween or Fall

Holiday Wishes & A Winner!!

It's time to announce the winner of the drawing for my  prize package in honor of my followers!  Random.org chose #76 Aletha Williams!!!  Congratulations Aletha, I will be in contact with you soon!
I'd like to thank everyone for visiting and following my blog over the last 3 years, I've enjoyed making all the projects and also your nice comments,  I'm coming up on 50,000 visitors soon so be on the look out for another blog candy celebration in the near future! 


 My card today is just for fun, it's a digital image by Dustin Pike that I've had for awhile but haven't had time to play with.  I used Copic markers to doing the coloring:

Dragon - E11, E13, E17

Dragon horns - E43, W1

Smoke - C0, C00, Y000, R02

Castle Wall - W0, W1, W3,W4  Windows Y11, Y000

Knight - C00, C1, C3, plume E30, E31, Y32

Santa - R22, R24, R27

Skin Tones - E00, E000, YR000

After I was finished coloring I trimmed it and matted it on basic black card stock, punched the corners with an old Stampin' Up! corner punch and added it to a red card body.  The sentiment is from two different Clear Dollar Stamps sets so I could fit what I was thinking on the "I surrender" flag.  

Being the tenth day of the tenth month in the two thousand tenth year, I sure hope that knight in shining armor is able to free Santa from the dragon before Christmas!

Have a blessed Sunday ~

Challenges:
Delightful Challenges - Red, Green & White
Hanna & Friends - Christmas
2 Sisters Challenge - Animal Fun!
Create 4 Fun - Use A Digital Stamp
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Christmas
Elephantastic Cards & Crafts - Anything Goes
The Craft Den Anything Goes - Christmas
For Fun Challenges - Never Used Before - this image
One Stitch At A Time - Use Your Digi Stamps

Autumn

Do you ever print your digital images really big so you can just color them?  

That was my initial plan with this one, I even thought she might go in my coloring book and then she ended up as a card.  Her name is Autumn and she's by Michelle Perkett Studio.  

She's colored with Copic markers and the card is totally clean and simple to showcase Michelle's beautiful digital image.

You only have a little time left to play along in our "Hip Not To Be Square" challenge at the Michelle Perkett Studio blog, the prize winner will be announced Monday, October 11th.

I'd also like to remind you once more about the give away in honor of my followers, you can read about it here.  I'll be using Random.org to draw a winner tomorrow afternoon!

Challenges: 
Charisma Cardz - Autumn Colors
Stampin' For The Weekend - Autumn Inspiration
Create 4 Fun - Use A Digital Image 

Miss Ewe ~

My card today uses another In Style Stamps digital image that's new called Sylvester, isn't he cute?!

When I saw this image I knew just what kind of card I'd like to make with it and of course Operation Write Home being who it's for came to my mind immediately.  I think this would make a great card for a deployed Mom or Dad to send home to a child.  

Since the image is clean and simple I thought keeping my card that way would showcase "Sylvester" the best.  I thought a black and white with a pop of color kind of card would be fun with lots of dry embossing for interest.  I used two Cuttlebug folders for the embossing and a strip of Papertrey Ink Sweet Blush card stock to print the "miss ewe" sentiment from my computer, a couple of black half pearls and my card was ready!

I'd also like to remind you about my give away in honor of my followers here.  Just a couple more days and I'll be drawing a winner!

Challenges:
Pollycraft - Anything Goes
AI Factory - Embossing

'Tis The Season

I have a couple of cards to share with you today that are the same sketch but different papers.  

My friend Priscilla came over to do some stamping, she wanted to get ahead and make some Christmas cards so we went through our Christmas papers and I showed her some fun digi stamps from Whimsie Doodles that I thought would be perfect for simple mass production of Christmas cards and we went  to work! 

The papers on these two cards are from the Basic Grey Wassail paper pad that I've had forever.  We used Spellbinder's Circle and Scalloped Circle dies and the border is a die from My Favorite Things Die-namics, I used a punch for the snowflake and added a half pearl to the center.  In an effort to use up some of our stash of patterned papers we used the Papertrey Ink envelope liner die.

Priscilla went home with a dozen Christmas cards and I have 3 more too!

Don't miss out on my give away in honor of my followers here!

Challenges:
Oh La La  #64 - Nothing Floral
There's Magic In The Air - Christmas Card With Snowflakes 
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Christmas 
Karber Challenges - Anything Goes 
The Craft Den - Christmas 
Cute Card Thursday - Make Your Own Embellishments