Young Crafters Unite Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to the "Our Favorite Things" blog hop!  If you've arrived here from Cathy's blog you're on the right track, if not I highly recommend starting at the beginning on Britta's blog.

My first card is a new creation I want to enter into a red hair challenge at Mad For Markers.  I enjoy coloring Hannah Lynn images and red hair is one of my favorite hair colors.  I used Copic markers R59, E44, R46, R22 for her hair color and usually add in a little E59 but didn't feel I had the space with this image.  E000, E0000, E00, R20 for skin colors, B97, B93, B91 eye colors, and R97, B12, YG11, YG13, Y000, R11, R12, R14.
  I tried the "ruffle technique" on my card and think I need more practice.  They're kind of hard to fasten down to the card.

We've been asked to answer the question what makes us a "Young Crafter"...  One of my favorite things to do is make kids cards for Operation Write Home, a non profit organization of card makers who make and send handmade greeting cards to our military troops to send home to their friends and loved ones.  If that makes you curious I have links to Operation Write Home below so you can check it out.

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps

Operation Write Home

Operation Write Homefront Blog

Operation Write Home Hero Blog

Another of my favorite things to do is color with Copic markers.  I've added a few Copic projects below for you.

You're looking at the cover of my Copic coloring book.  It's a place to keep samples of images I've colored that include the marker numbers for future reference.  I also use it to remember different techniques I've tried and would like to use again.  It also has assignments from classes I've taken inside.

I made my coloring book using the Bind It All along with 8" X 8" covers by Bind It All.  The inside pages are Neenah Solar White cardstock in case I wanted to color directly on the page.  This book is almost full, I've started a new one in a three ring binder so I have larger pages and it's easier to take my pages out if I want to move them around. 

This is a page from my Copic coloring book, the image is a Hannah Lynn coloring page.

This layout is from a class I took where I was learning about coloring hair and faces. 

This is one of the "Kids Cards" I made for Operation Write Home using a fun image from Bug A Boo Stamps.

Your next stop on our blog hop is Erin!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Mad For Markers - Red Hair
Creative Inspirations - Summer
Southern Girls - Bring Out Your Inner Child (boy swimming card)

Bug A Boo Stamps Tulip

The day has come to say goodbye to my friends and fellow designers at Bug A Boo Stamps.  I made the decision to step down from the team recently for my own personal reasons.  I think the biggest one being I need more time in my life to spend with family and friends and the need to relax a bit.  

I'd like to tell you that my time with Bug A Boo Stamps design team was a wonderful experience!  Jodie is such a talented artist, I loved coloring and using her images for all the fun cards I made.  She's a sweet lady too!

Tammy and Rae Anne are the design team coordinators, I couldn't have "worked" for anyone more organized and helpful to a newbie.  They are a great team and I learned a lot that I've been able to take away with me to be a better design team coordinator for our Stamps R Us challenge blog and Operation Write Home's Midweek Throwdown challenge.  So thank you, thank you, thank you Tammy and Rae Anne for your kindness and support. 

Our other team members are too many to name in one blog post.  Each and every one is so gifted and talented and friendly and helpful.  It's been a pleasure working with you & thank you for all your well wishes!  If you've ever considered applying for and being on a design team this is one comes with a 5 star rating from me ***** \o/

It's Oldie But Goodie Thursday at Catch The Bug too, I need to go see all the fun creations my friends have made!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Truly Scrumptious - Things With Wings
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Gardening

Inspired Stamps Girl Praying/Lamentations 3:41

I have a sweet card using Inspired Stamps to share with you today.  I used the clear stamp called Praying Girl and the clear stamp called Lamentations 3:41 to make my card.  I stamped the Praying Girl with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her with Copic markers YR24, YR21, Y21, YR000, E00, E000, R20, BG34, BG32, BG11, B23, B21 and a white gel pen.  

I didn't have any cardstock to match my Copic markers so I used the BG32 & BG34 on a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock.  Spritzed the clear stamp with Copic blender solution and stamped.  It didn't work so well so I inked the stamp with Tuxedo Black and tried again, with a much better result.

My layout is an old favorite, the other cardstock I used is Via Vellum Black.  I added strips of white half pearls to the black strips of cardstock and have a cute finished card that will go into the Operation Write Home box that sits on my desk. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Creative Craft Challenge - Make Your Own Backing Paper

PC Crafter Autumn Blessings

Our challenge today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps is to use a Fall Theme for our cards.  I came across this pre-colored digital image at the PC Crafter website and loved it!

As you can see I've been playing with the pop up cards again, they are quick, cute and different.  The patterned paper is also from the Autumn Blessings set and the other papers I used are Mohawk Bright White, Via Vellum Black & Stampin' Up! Garden Green.

Edited to add: Debbie had a question about my card - "One question... where does one write when they send out a card like this?"  I forgot to mention I attached an additional piece of cardstock on the back that folds and tucks into the green sliding band around the card so a hero would have a spot to write home on.  Thanks for your question Debbie!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Fabulous Fall

Doodle Pantry Mud Piggy

I have a fun Doodle Pantry card to share with you today!  This is a pre-colored digital image that comes with digital papers called Mud Piggy.

I used my Spellbinders dies to cut the piggy out and decorate my card. The cardstock is Nut Brown, Aqua and I printed the image and papers on Mohawk Bright White.

I love using pre-colored digital images, they make cute quick cards and are easy for me to mass produce when I'd like to make several of the same thing for Operation Write Home. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Challenges:
Stamp & Doodle - Animals Nature

A Day For Daisies Small World

We have a new challenge starting today at our Stamps R Us blog and our sponsor is A Day For Daisies.  I've been having fun coloring some of Tammy's digital images, my card above uses her free image called Small World.

The flowers in this image just spoke to me and I had to sit down with my Copic markers...  I used YR24, YR21, YR01, YR68, YR65, YR61, C00, R85, R83, R81, R20, E00, E000, E04, E25, E29, E53, E99, Y11, Y21, YG67, YG63, YG61, YG11, B21, B23 background colors BG0000, YG11. 

To mat my finished picture I used a Martha Stewart punch around the page punch set.  I needed a simple layout so I printed the sentiment from TLC Creations and also used Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue and Rose Red cardstock and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

This is my card that's posted on the Stamps R Us blog today.

We were at a band concert for my two youngest kids before school let out for the summer and I noticed a woman seated in front of us with her kids.  One of her little girls climbed up in her lap and I was surprised and delighted to see the little girls hair was exactly the same color as her Mom's.  I have a 21 year old son who has copper red hair, when he and my mother would put their heads together they had that exact match too. 

I colored this wonderful image with Copic markers G28, G24, G82, G40, G20, BV0000, BV000, BV01, YR24, YR21, Y21, Y00, B23, B21, BG0000, R35, R37, R22, E000, E0000, E00.  My layout is really simple to showcase the image and the sentiment is from Create With TLC, a freebie she offered awhile back on her blog. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Stamps R Us - There Was A Little Girl Who...
Stampin' B's - Friendship Sentiment
Color Me Creative -  Folds, Ruffles or Pleats
Crazy Challenge - Beautiful Women
A Day For Daisies - Pastels But Not Pink

Pollycraft Sonny's Party

I have a fun card using a free Pollycraft image today!  Pollycraft is offering 2 free images on their Tales From Pollycraft blog to use for a design team call or use however you'd like.  I chose to use the image called Sonny's Party because I enjoy coloring people.

She's colored with Copic markers E000, E00, E44, E43, E42, E41, G40, G82, R20, BV01, BV000, BV0000, B21, B23, C00, R27, R24, R22, YR24, YR21, Y21.  I cut her out with a Spellbinders Oval die using the out of the box technique.  I next layered my oval onto a Spellbinders Labels 14 that I embossed with a Cuttlebug dots embossing folder.  

I was working on my card while some of my crafty friends were over and they were playing with the distress inks so I thought it would be fun to make a background with the distress inks.  I used Barn Door, Bundled Sage, Wild Honey and Dusty Concord on an old Stampin' Up! Canvas background stamp, rubbed a little more on the edges, spritzed the whole thing with water and waited for it to dry to see what I had.  The first one was pretty muddy but the second one turned out to be usable.  

The sentiment is from the Digi Doodle Shop, a digital birthday set.  After printing it I cut it out with a Spellbinders Tags Trio die and matted it with SU Garden Green and rounded the corners with my new Corner Chomper 1/8th" corner punch.  Great tool!  For a finishing touch I added a button from an old stash of Stampin' Up! buttons threaded crochet thread through the holes and tied a little bow.

I hope you enjoyed my card today!  I just found out about the design team call for Pollycraft and it isn't open much longer so if you are interested you'll need to hurry!  

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Tales From Pollycraft - Design Team Call
Secret Crafter - Embossing

Bug A Boo Stamps Dottie

We have a new challenge starting today at Bug A Boo Stamps Catch The Bug, we are being challenged to make a project using red, white & blue and add ribbon too.

If you know me by now, you know I LIKE red, white & blue and think kraft cardstock goes well with it too!  

It's getting toward the end of June and being in Arizona our temperatures are steadily in the 110 - 115 degree range and will be for awhile now so I thought Dottie in her beach attire would be very appropriate for this challenge.  Don't you wish you looked like Dottie in a bikini?  I look more like Jodie's character Fanny...  enough about that!

I colored this cute image with Copic markers R27, R24, R22, R20, B95, B93, B91, YR24, YR21, Y21, YR00, E000, E00 and kept my layout simple.  The patterned papers are from the Doodle Pantry Stars & Stripes digital collection.  The cardstock used is Kraft, Neenah Navy Linen & Neenah Solar White.  My sentiment is a stamp by Inspired Stamps and added a little red, white & blue ribbon tails to my Spellbinders long narrow oval.  Oh, I also used Enamel Accents on Dottie's earrings.  

I hope you'll go over to the Catch The Bug blog and see all the fun creations from our design team and play along in our challenge too!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Catch The Bug - Red, White & Blue with Ribbon
Ambers Crafts & Stuff - Summer
Fab & Funky - Summer Lovin'
Pixie Cottage - Outdoor Fun
The Paper Variety - Summer
Craft Us Crazy - Red, White & Blue and/or Summer Theme
Delightful Challenges - Fun In The Sun

Copic Coloring Book for a Copical Blog Hop

Welcome to the Mad For Markers COPICal blog hop!  We are excited to be hopping  with bloggers from all over the world who LOVE coloring with COPIC MARKERS,  if you've arrived here from Chickie Chirp's blog you are on the right track.  If not I highly recommend starting at Sammi's blog to see all of the fabulous creations by the participating Copic artists.

  I thought it would be fun to share a page from my Copic coloring book with you today.  This is a Hannah Lynn coloring page, I added all the Copic marker colors above her in my book.

I made my Copic coloring book with a Bind It All and Bind It All Covers, the inside pages are Neenah Solar White cardstock in case I wanted to color directly in my book.  It's getting pretty full and I've started a new one in a three ring binder so I have more room on the page for information and instructions as well as the images.

I also have a fun Chibi from the Greetings Farm to share with you.  She's colored with Copic markers YR24, YR21, Y21, E00, E000, E0000, R20, RV95, RV93, RV91, BG10, C1, C00 and her brown hair color E77, E74, E71, E70.  I used a Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle to frame her and the shaped panel of Basic Grey Kioshi paper is made using a Spellbinders Mega Oval Large die.  The other cardstock colors are Stampin' Up! More Mustard and Papertrey Ink Plum Pudding, the image is printed on Neenah Solar White. 
Your next stop on this blog hop is your last stop at the  Mad For Markers blog! 

Once you have completed the hop please leave a comment and vote for your favorite creations...  

you and the person you voted for might receive a little surprise prize!!

Be sure to  leave comments for all the participants too  .....Have a colorful day and thanks for visiting my blog!

Challenges:  
Mad For Markers - Brown Hair
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes 
Rainbow Lady - Use A Digital Image 
Southern Girls - Anything Goes 
Cardmadfairy's - Taste Of The Orient 
Inspire Me Friday's - Anything Goes

Clear Dollar Stamps Garden Of Life

I have two clean and simple cards for you today.

I've been thinking in 3's because I've been playing with a new die and this little flower from the Clear Dollar Stamps Garden Of Life digital stamp set inspired me.  It's a new digital stamp set release for the month of June.  It's a beautiful set, I've barely scratched the surface using one tiny flower for my card  and hope to use more of the set very soon!   

The die cuts three squares in a row and I was wondering if I could use it to create a digital card.  It took a little while for me to size the flowers down, flip a couple of them so they weren't all the same and put each one in just the right spot so I could cut three in a row with the die.  I've grown used to using Spellbinders dies that I can see through and this one is not so it was a challenge.  You can read more about the die here if you'd like to.

My second card was C.A.S.E.d from Dana at Dana's Dabbling Studio.  I thought her clean and simple layout was so nice I wanted to try it myself.

I used the negative part from the die cut to draw around the flowers with a Copic 0.5 Multiliner and as you can see I need practice starting and stopping.  

I have a supply list for my cards below:

Stamps/Images:  Clear Dollar Stamps Garden Of Life

Cardstock/Papers:  Mohawk Bright White, SU Brocade Blue

Inks/Markers: HP Office Jet 6000, Memento Tuxedo Black

Accents/Tools:  Papertrey Ink Take 3 die, PTI banner die, PTI Sentiment, Copic 0.5 Multiliner, Cuttlebug Dots Embossing Folder, Scor - Pal

Techniques:  Digital Stamping

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Clean & Simple
Charisma Cardz - White With One Other Color
Dutch Dare - Clean & Simple
Moving Along With The Times - Clean & Simple
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Love You!

Inspired Stamps Flowers

I received my design team clear stamp sets from Inspired Stamps recently and have my first card ready!  

I used the sunflower from the Inspired Stamps flowers stamp set and colored it with Copic markers YG67, YG63, YG61, YR68, YR65, YR61, Y000, Y13, E44, E43, E42 and added dots with a white gel pen.  

To frame my cute image I used a Martha Stewart punch around the page punch set with a light weight Nut Brown cardstock.  The patterned orange panel I made with my Copic wide markers, air brush, Copic blending solution and a background stamp, it's matted with the Nut Brown.  The card base is Nut Brown, the green panel is Medium Pine and my finishing touch was to add a tag from the Spellbinder tags trio die set and stamp my sentiment from the Inspired Stamps 1" Circle Sentiments stamp set.  I added a brown button from my stash and a little crochet thread in a bow.

 I've added links above so you can find these products easily at the Inspired Stamps online store.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Everybody Art Challenge - Anything Goes

Clear Dollar Stamps June Blog Hop Winners

We have winners from the Clear Dollar Stamps June blog hop!!!

From Kathy's blog, Dunn it Again Designs, our first winner is basslady from Lady Bass Creations.

Our second winner, from Sarah's blog, Aunt Bee's Pickles, is Heather of Wire Wrapture.

Congratulations ladies, go over to the Clearly iStamp blog for instructions to claim your prizes!

Penny Black Garden Gossip

I love Penny Black stamps and the Hedgehogs are my favorites!

This cute Hedgie is from the Bubbly set by Penny Black and also comes as an individual wood mounted rubber stamp called Garden Gossip.  I colored this sweet Hedgie with Copic markers E25, E17, E50, E31, RV10, R27, R24, R22 and did some touch ups to my stamping with a 0.5 Copic multiliner.

My layout was C.A.S.E.d from my friend Sandy at A Colourful World, she also used a Penny Black Hedgie and I was inspired by her card.  I used the Copic colorless blender technique for the red panel with the swirls.  The swirls are a Hero Arts background stamp.  My other cardstock colors are Via Vellum Scarlet, Neenah Solar White, Via Vellum Black and I'm not sure who the neutral tan is made by, it was in my scrap drawer.  To finish my card I used three black half pearls and black organdy ribbon.  Oh... the border punch is made by Martha Stewart.  

We have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the theme is "Love You".  I didn't stamp Love You anywhere but I think my card would qualify.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Love You Theme
Ladybug Crafts - Use Red

Penny Black Easy Rider/Circular Design

I've been playing with the Penny Black stamps again...  what fun!  There was a challenge last week at the Penny Black blog to use a Slapstick cling stamp and make a background.  I have this wonderful Circular Design background stamp that I wanted to use and do some experimenting with so the challenge was a great reason to get it out again.

Hey!  I won the Penny Black background challenge I found out this morning - I won a clear Penny Black stamp set of my choice and a package of their coordinating cardstock - I'm excited!!!

I used Copic makers and my Copic air brush system to color a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock.  I then spritzed my background stamp with Copic blending solution and stamped.  Cool huh?!  

The little girl on the bike is a Penny Black stamp called Easy Rider, I colored her with my Copic markers to match the background I'd made.  Here are the Copic marker numbers I used N9, YG67, YG63, YG61, YR24, YR21, Y21, B21, B23, R85, R83, R81, R20, E000, E00, E11, E41, E42 - background paper colors BG10, YG61, B28, BV08. 

I followed a very simple sketch from last year to try to show off as much of my background as possible and added my sentiment using a Spellbinder Tags Trio die, matching button and a little crochet thread.  I can't tell you where the sentiment came from, it was in my box of leftovers.  

The other cardstock colors I used are Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue & Garden Green.  I also used a new to me product by Ranger called Enamel Accents for her eyes, flower centers and dots on her dress.  They aren't real forgiving as you can see on her dress.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges: 
Speedy The Cat & Friends - Buttons

Doodle Pantry Turtle Trio

I have been wanting to play with this Doodle Pantry digital stamp set since it was released back in April of this year!  It's called Turtle Trio and is a large set that comes with pre-colored images and line drawings for us to color if we'd like.

I chose to use one of the pre-colored turtles and every digital paper that came with the set.  My layout is C.A.S.E.d from Debbie Olsen.  I used Spellbinders circles and pinking circles dies and a little crochet thread.  

I'm so happy I had time to play and make up this cute little turtle into a card.  I love pre-colored digital images and digital papers, Laurie color coordinates everything beautifully for us too! 

Here's what's in the set for only $4.00~

Oh!  I almost forgot about the Doodle Pantry Stock The Pantry challenge that starts today! 

There will be 3 winners chosen from all the entries and each will receive 1 free Doodle Pantry product of their choice valued $3 or less.

 

Click the link for Doodle Pantry under challenges below to take you there.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Doodle Pantry Stock The Pantry - Use A Doodle Pantry Image
Crazy 4 Challenges - Floss, String, Twine
Hooked On Crafts - Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations - No Sentiment
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Clear Dollar Stamps Ladybug Hugs

It's time for our June SUGAR & SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE, THAT'S WHAT LITTLE GIRLS ARE MADE OF blog hop featuring our Clear Dollar Stamps clear stamps and digital images!  If you've arrived here from Lori's blog you're on the right track.  If you'd like to start at the beginning please click here.

As you already know if you are hopping along with us there are some fabulous prizes to be won from Clear Dollar Stamps!  All I'll add is please don't forget to comment on each blog to be eligible to win those fabulous prizes!  

For my card today I used the fun Ladybug Hugs clear stamp set by Clear Dollar Stamps.  I think these ladybugs are so cute I had to color them with my Copic markers.  I've also been playing with one of my crafty friends' Martha Stewart punch around the page punch sets - too fun!

I won't keep you today, here's my supply list of products used:

Stamps/Images: Ladybug Hugs clear stamp set
Papers: Neenah Red Linen & Solar White, Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow
Inks/Markers: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers R29, R27, R24, R22, R20, YG67, YG63, YG61, T9, T5, T3, T2, T1
Tools/Accessories: Martha Stewart Around The Page Punch, May Art dotted organdy ribbon

Your next stop on our Sugar & Spice blog hop is the fabulous Jerusha!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Sweet Stampin' - Things With Wings

Penny Black Garden Visit

Happy Saturday!  Summer is here in Arizona, our high temperatures are reaching 110 and above now.  It's a good time to stay in the cool air conditioning and do some crafting!

I have a fun card to share with you today, it's a pop up card.  It folds flat for mailing and has a little extra flap on the back to write a message on.  It's a card for Operation Write Home so I needed to figure out how to make a place to write a letter home and I did, I just forgot about taking a picture of that part.

The image is a cling mount rubber stamp by Penny Black called Garden Visit.  I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink & used Copic markers to color W3, W1, W0, E07, E08, E09, E31, E50, E25, E17, RV10, Y38, Y35.  My cardstock colors are Kraft, Neenah Solar White, Via Leaf Green & Brick Red.  I also used Spellbinders rectangle & scalloped rectangle dies and a 1" circle punch by Stampin' Up!  

I hope you have a nice relaxing weekend and come back tomorrow for our Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop.  Can't wait!!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

Just Add Ink - Color It In

The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes

Sew Many Cards - Punch It

Stampin' With The Dragon - Friendship

Totally Paper Crafts - Die Cuts & Punches

Clear Dollar Stamps Patriotic Charlie

My card today is for the Clearly Inspired challenge at the Clearly iStamp blog.  I used Patriotic Charlie in the pre-colored digital image and papers from this fun digital stamp set along with Mohawk Bright White and Stampin' Up! Creamy Carmel cardstock.  A little organdy ribbon, a Spellbinders Labels 4 die, Cuttlebug Stars embossing folder and a Martha Stewart punch around the page punch.  This Clearly Inspired challenge is a sketch.

Here's a little information about the Clearly Inspired challenge for you:

-Challenges are now going to be on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month, and you'll have 2 weeks to finish each challenge.

-Challenges can use any stamps or digis from any company

-Only one entry per person per challenge and please no back posting

-Prizes will be given away after both challenges for the month.  The number of prizes is determined by the number of participants for the month.  For every 20 entries there will be a $10 gift certificate for stamps or digis up for grabs.  (For example if over the entire month there were a total of 60 participants in both challenges, there will be 3 $10 gift certificates and 3 of the featured digital images to give away. . .that's a total of 6 winners in that example.)

Thanks for visiting my blog today! 

Chalenges:

Clearly iStamp - Sketch challenge

Bug A Boo Stamps Swimming Peeker

How cute is this little guy?!

He's a digital image from Bug A Boo Stamps called Swimmer from the Peekers collection.  

It's Oldie But Goodie Thursday at Catch The Bug and I couldn't resist using this cute image for my card.  He's colored with Copic markers YR24, YR21, Y21, YR04, YR07, YR09, R27, R20, C2, C1, C0, E000, E00, D11, YG11, YG13, YG17, B97, B95, B93, B12, Bg0000.  

I used a Spellbinders Long Narrow Rectangle die and matching Scalloped die.  The card body is a made from a Grand Labels 4 die and embossed with the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder.  It needed something else so I added a Quickutz Anchor (from a die) with some crochet thread and a miss you sentiment from a Papertrey Ink stamp set.  The cardstock colors I used are Via Vellum Leaf Green, Carnival Navy, Stampin' Up! Brushed Silver & Neenah Solar White.

I hope you'll stop by the Catch The Bug challenge blog to see all the wonderful Oldie But Goodie Thursday creations by our design team!

Thanks for visiting me today!

Challenges:
Stamping, Scrapping Central - Embossing
Aly's Sunday Challenge - All About Kids 
Creative Cowgirls - Summer Fun 
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Splish Slash 
Anything Goes Challenge - Here Comes Summer 
Crafting For All Seasons - Summer 
For Fun Challenges - Summer 
Little Darlings - Summer Theme 

Inspired Stamps Design Team

Hello I have a happy announcement for your today!

I was chosen as one of the new design team members for Inspired Stamps!!  I think you're really going to like Antoinette's new line of clear stamps too!  

Here's a little introduction for you:

  Inspired Stamps is a new clear stamp company, the stamps are made right here in the USA with the highest quality photopolymer materials available!  We specialize in Biblical Scripture stamps, adorable colorable character stamps,sentiment stamps, and scenic stamps.  

The company was begun by Antoinette Herrin, a military wife, mother, and Bible Study teacher, the purpose of inspired stamps is to bring joy and encouragement to both the crafter and the recipient of the created projects through the use of God's Word and adorable additions, such as the characters and scenic views. 

I hope you'll go visit Inspired Stamps Store & Inspired Stamps blog soon.  I'll be back next week with a fun card made with Inspired Stamps, thanks for visiting my blog today!

Michelle Perkett Studio Mary Margaret Teacher's Pet

We have a new Midweek Throwdown challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the theme is "Back To School".  I know, I know, our kids just got out of school but cards for Operation Write Home need to be made up and sent in to our shippers in advance because they have a long way to travel.

I'm sharing some of my "Back To School" cards today to hopefully inspire you to play along.

These cards were made when I was on Michelle Perkett and The Stamping Boutique's design teams.

I really enjoyed creating them and thought it would be fun to have another look at them today.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Back To School

Clear Dollar Stamps Baking Bear New Release

We have new releases of digital stamp sets at Clear Dollar Stamps today!  I had fun creating a couple of cards using the Baking Bear digital stamp set.  I chose to use the pre-colored image and two of the digital papers that come in the set.  

I printed two little bears trying to get my measurements right for the Spellbinders Ovals die I wanted to use so I made 2 cards and one can go in my Operation Write Home box.  

I also have a supply list for my cards below:

Stamps/Images:  Clear Dollar Stamps Baking Bear

Cardstock/Papers:  Color Mates Mist, Astrobrights Solar Yellow, Mohawk Bright White, Digital papers that come with this set.

Inks/Markers:  HP Office Jet 6000, Copic B72, B75 markers

Accents/Tools:  Spellbinders Ovals, Tags, Ribbon Slides & Labels 18, Organdy Ribbon, Cuttlebug Dots embossing folder

Techniques:  Digital Stamping

  

I used my Copic makers today to color light aqua organdy ribbon to add to my card, it worked very well!  I also used a BG75 marker to color the edge of the Color Mates Mist cardstock on my second card.  The panel under the yellow layer.  

I hope you'll stop by Clear Dollar Stamps today to see and maybe even collect some of the new release digital stamps sets! 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
One Stitch At A Time - Tag It 
Whimsie Doodles - 2 DIE For

Doodle Pantry Citter Parade

Happy Flag Day!  

I have a patriotic card to share with you from the Doodle Pantry. The name of this digital stamp set is Critter Parade and these cute little ants are celebrating! 

To make my card I used a Spellbinders Grand Labels 4 die as the body of the card.  I embossed it with a 5 X 7 Cuttlebug embossing folder, it's kind of hard to see in the picture though.  

I printed a piece of digital paper from the new Doodle Pantry Stars & Stripes digital paper pack and cut it out with a smaller Labels 4 die.  The parade of ants were printed on Mohawk Bright white and cut out with a Spellbinders long narrow rectangle die & matted with the long narrow scalloped die to match.  The "celebrate" sentiment comes separately in the digital stamp set, I used the png files so I could layer it onto the flag.  I added a strip of Stampin' Up! Brilliant Blue and put my card together.  It "needed" something else so made a little star embellishment using a Spellbinders star die, a star punch, button & a piece of crochet thread and it felt done. 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Make It Monday - Linky Party
Delightful Inspiration - Goin' Buggy

Wee Memories - Anything Goes
Anita B Stampin' - Shaped Card, Button Optional

Inspired Stamps Facebook Giveaway

Inspired Stamps has a Facebook page all set up and is GIVING AWAY a STAMPSET of your choice (Scripture or Character sets) to 5 randomly drawn people who 'LIKE' our facebook page! We'll draw the names as soon as we reach our first 100 'likes'!!

 A link to their Facebook page for you here and blog here.

Just a quick note to let you know about this fun new stamp company!

 

Stamps R Us Challenge

We have a new challenge starting at our Stamps R Us challenge blog, the challenge is to make a card using 1 image, 2 patterned papers & 3 embellishments!  I've been busy playing with other crafting goodies so I didn't get a card done in time but...  you really should stop by the Stamps R Us challenge blog to see our fabulous design teams creations!  

I have a couple of fun pictures of Maxine to share with you for now -

I was leaving yesterday to go meet one of my crafty friends, Maxine usually looks out through the kitty door into the garage to say goodbye.  I remember when she fit through the kitty door not so long ago!

I took both pictures with my phone so they are a little grainy.  Maxine is almost 7 months old now and has decided she likes our bed.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  I'll be back soon with a new card!

Bug A Boo Stamps Ladybug Vase

There's a new challenge today at the Bug A Boo Stamps Catch The Bug challenge blog, we've been challenged to use lace and pearls.  I thought about this challenge quite some time before making my card.  You see, I don't have any lace...  A couple thousand yards of ribbon but no lace. 

I hope it was okay to be creative.  I have one old Stampin' Up! Victorian Lace background stamp that I LOVE and one Spellbinders Eyelet lace border die that I combined on my challenge card and the black half pearls were easy to use.  

I really like this Ladybug Vase image from Bug A Boo Stamps and have used it before.  I also used the little snail from the Spring Stuff collection and merged both images.  I used Copic markers to color the images YR68, YR65, Y15, Y11, T5, T3, T2, W5, W3, E29, E25, E99, E53,  BV0000, BV000, BV01.  For the flower petals I used YR68, YR65, Y15, Y11 and blended them for a two toned look.  I'm sorry I don't remember what the technique is called right now.  

I made my own patterned paper again using the Copic bleaching technique.  I've discovered a few things to make it a better technique for me too, I'll fill you in about that another day.  I outlined the Spellbinders Oval and rectangle dies with a Copic T9 marker.  Added a strip of black organdy ribbon to my white panel after embossing it with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.  My cardstock colors are Via Vellum Black, Discount Cardstock's Cobalt, Neenah Solar White.  The happy birthday sentiment is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set.  

I hope you'll join us for our Pearls & Lace challenge at Catch The Bug!

Thanks for visiting my blog today~

Challenges:

Catch The Bug - Pearls & Lace
Scrappy Frogs - Birthdays
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Lace
Oh la la - Birthday
Card Cupids - Layers
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - In The Garden
Divas By Design - Florals

Clear Dollar Stamps Sentimental Fruit

My blog post is a little late today!

I've been playing with making some pop up cards and have one to share with you.  My image and papers are from the Clear Dollar Stamps digital stamp set Sentimental Fruit and the sentiment is from the Clear Dollar Stamps Sweet Stuff digital stamp set.  I've used both before for cards and this time combined them. 

I'm always surprised at the mess I can make when I'm having a good time card making.  This isn't only from one card, honest...

Here's a supply list for my card:

Stamps/Images:  Clear Dollar Stamps Sentimental Fruit & Sweet Stuff pre-colored digital images

Papers:  Neenah Red Linen & Cream, Via Vellum Cyan, Mohawk Bright White, patterned paper comes in the digital stamp set

Ink/Markers:  HP Office Jet 6000 printer

Accessories/Tools:  Spellbinders rectangles & scalloped rectangles, Papertrey Ink ric rac die, Stampin' Up! 1" circle punch, Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Pals Paper Arts - Your Signature Style (Clean)
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes
Claudia & Co. - Fancy Folds
Tip Top Tuesday - More Than One Fold
Make It Monday - Anything Goes