Just a swingin'

     Everybody having a great weekend?  I've had the cleaning bug so the trash can is full.  LOL  I did take a little time to create this card with one of the new images, "Daisy", from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I was one of the winners for the last challenge at the Catered Crop and was invited to play along with their Quickfire mid-challenge post for tomorrow.  Some of you may remember that I used to be on this team.  Linda is such a sweetheart.  I wasn't sure if I was going to get the card made.  Hubby took me out birthday shopping yesterday and like I said today was apparently cleaning frenzy time, but here it is.

     The card is layered with some gorgeous Webster Pages papers that I won from my sweet friend Ivonne.  The flower is an old Prima one I've had for ages.  I added some fern and leaf die cuts colored with Distress inks.  The butterfly was stamped on vellum with Versamark and embossed in white then hand cut.  The fun sentiment is from Create with TLC.  Oh by the way, the Catered Crop challenge theme is "Summer Lovin'".

Copics Used:

skin E000, E00, E11, E13, R20, R30

hair E21, E23, E25, E29

dress R00, R21, R81, R83, R85, C2

swing E51, E53, E55, E57, E33

flowers-- Y17, YG03, YG93

shadowing B0000, B000

     Thanks so much to Linda and the Catered Crop girls for having me!

     Tomorrow will move me just one year from the dreaded "Nifty, nifty, look who's &^%$*!"  Isn't this when I start claiming to be twenty-nine....again.  LOL

     Be blessed!

Supplies:
Paper--Webster's Pages "Park Drive", Bazzill, The Paper Studio vellum, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Mo's Digital Pencil "Daisy", Martha Steward butterfly stamp, sentiment from Create with TLC
Ink--Versamark, Shabby Shutters and Forest Moss Distress inks, Wink of Stella clear glitter pen
Tools--Memory Box Delicate Fern die, Marianne Designs English Rose leaf dies, Nestabilities Standard Circles, Perfect Paper Crafting's Mini Perfect Layers tool
Miscellaneous--Prima flower, The Paper Studio pearls, Diamond Stickles, Stampendous white embossing powder, Hobby Lobby lace, paper doily from my stash

It's Super Girl!

     Second Thursday in June and time for a new challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil.  My sweet DT Sistah Mau has given us a theme of "It's a Girl's World".  I think all us girls have super powers.  We're wives, moms, daughters, sisters, friends, and co-workers and in each of those positions we do some awesome stuff for other people.  That sounds like super powers in my book.
     I've used Mo's "Super Day" image.

Copics Used:

skin  E000, E00, E11, E13, R20, R30

hair  E33, E35, YR23, Y21

vest, gloves, boots B21, B24, B26, B28

mask, cape, skirt R35, R37, R39, R43

shirt W3, W5

grounding W1, W3, W5

     We'd love to have you come join in the challenge.  You just might win a $5.00 gift voucher to Mo's store.


Supplies:
Paper--The Paper Studio, Bazzill, Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamp--Mo's Digital Pencil "Super Day", SugarPea Designs "My Hero"
Ink--Ranger Jet Black Archival ink
Miscellaneous--Michaels buttons, Crafters Square hemp cord, acrylic rhinestones from my stash

A magical SugarPea sketch

     It's time for a brand new SugarPea Designs Sketch Challenge.  Here's the cool sketch.

     For my card I've used the "Pure Magic" stamp set.

     For my background I used a Memory Box stencil and some modeling paste to add the stars to some blue Bazzill cardstock.  I love playing with the paste.  I turned the sketch around and let his wand and stars take the place of the heart.
     Here are all the details about the challenge.

• Play along with any stamp you like - but if you use SugarPea Designs, we'll top your voucher up to $15!
• Feel free to rotate/flip the sketch, or exchange any shapes for what works with your design, just make sure the sketch is recognisable!
• Combine our sketch with any other challenge(s) (except another sketch!)
• Upload to your blog or other online gallery using keyword: SPDSS06 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• Add your link to the linkup on the SugarPea Blog. You'll find our current challenges on the sidebar.

     Have fun!

Supplies:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "Quilting Bee", Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--SugarPea Designs "Pure Magic"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Tools--Memory Box Starry Nights stencil, MFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags Stax
Miscellaneous--Star Dust and Yellow Stickles, Liquitex Modeling paste

Birthday Ava

     I have a Bellarific Friday card for you today.  Haven't seen this much activity from me in a while have you.  LOL  I'm trying to work my way back into a more organized crafting and visiting routine.  Thank you for all your patience with me.  I know I've been pretty slow in getting around to visit.  I keep trying to stay on top of it, but it keeps getting away from me.

     For this card I've used Stamping Bella's "Ava Loves to Celebrate".  I am horrible at pleats and folds so although this started out with some they pretty much disappeared.  Trust me the more solid coloring looks much better than the original way I colored it.  You can still see a hint of the pleats.  The cake is covered in Wink of Stella clear gel pen.  I kind of squeezed to hard and had to cover the whole thing when I only meant to do the blue parts.

     I've really been enjoying incorporating some vellum into my cards so I created a mat under the image panel with it and used it for the bottom petals of the flowers.

Last weeks challenge was to use this sketch.

Here's a closer look at Ava.  I couldn't get a good shot to show the sparkly glitter on the cake. 

     You can pop over to the Blogabella blog this weekend to see what my team mates created with this sketch.  Em's post may be a little late since she had a death in her family.

     Next weeks challenge is to use this photo for inspiration.

     I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Creative Romance--anything goes with an option of Happy Birthday

Seize the Birthday--anything goes

7 Kids College Fund--anything goes

Divas by Design--3 or more layers

Loves Rubber Stamps--spots and dots

Papertake Weekly--lace and pearls

Tuesday Throwdown--celebrations

2 Cute Ink--birthday

MarkerPop--anything goes

     Have a fantastic weekend!

Supplies:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "Reunion", Bazzill, Canvas Corp Flute Tiles, The Paper Studio vellum, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Stamping Bella Uptown Girl "Ava Loves to Celebrate", sentiment from SugarPea Designs "Gopher-it"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Sakura white gel pen, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter pen
Tools--EK Success Corner Rounder, Memory Box Fabulous Phlox, Lil' Inker Designs "Of the Heart", MFT Die-namics Sentiment Strips, sewing machine
Miscellaneous--The Paper Studio pearls, My Craft Spot yellow jute twine, lace and button from my stash

AI at Michael's Blog Hop

(I'd like to enter this card in the "Friends" challenge at Simon Says Stamp)

     Today I'm joining in a very special blog hop for Art Impressions Stamps.  Now I don't know about you, but I have had Michael's employees direct customers to me to tell them where things are in the store.  LOL   Hopefully you're not as bad as me, but if you have been lurking around the stamping section you just may have noticed that Art Impressions has teamed up with Hampton Art to make some great clear stamp sets and Michael's is carrying them.

Here's a little peek at all five sets.  There full of Art Impressions wonderfully quirky characters.

     I've used the "Beach Babes" set for my cards today and if you'll join in our hop you'll see cards created from all the sets by our wonderful designers.

     Here's a close up of some of my fave AI characters.  Gotta love these little ladies.

     I made a second card using the second main image and one of the five sentiments included in the set.  I've nicknamed her Gold Digger.  Hee hee

(I'd like to enter this card in the sketch challenge at Sweet Sunday Sketch)

     Here's a glamour shot showing her sparkly bathing suit.  I used a Wink of Stella clear glitter pen because I was sure her suit would sparkle like diamond dust to match her rock.

Hope you enjoyed my cards.  There are plenty of other ones to check out if you join the hop.

Art Impressions

Piali Biswas

Cynthia Olheiser

Sharon Caudle

Tracy MacDonald -->you are here

Karen Day

Angela Boutiller

Cheryl Valadez

Sandy Allnock

Kerry Kung

Melissa Oeters

Sherry Eckblad

Lezlye Lauterbach

Judith Gowdy

Summer Hills-Painter

Reneé Matarese

Crystal Lopez

Marie-Pierre Capistran

Linda Manto

     Have any questions about the new stamps sets?  Just click on the tab below.

     Your next stop on the hop from me is Karen Day and if you just found the hop here, you can go back to the Art Impressions blog to start from the beginning.  Wouldn't want you to miss anything.

Supplies for card #1:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "Handsome Boy", Bazzill, The Paper Studio vellum, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Art Impressions "Beach Babes" sku #SC0653
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Heidi Swapp Mustard Archival Dye ink, Copics
Tools--MFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags Stax
Miscellaneous--Yellow and Orzange Peel Stickles, Glossy Accents

Supplies for card #2:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "Nostalgia" Bazzill, Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Art Impressions "Beach Babes" sku # SC0653
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter pen, Copics
Tools--MFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags Stax and Mini Tab dies, Nestabilities Standard Circles and Fiskars Circle Cutter, Paper piercer and Tim Holtz ruler
Miscellaneous--Glossy Accents, acrylic rhinestones

Lucky to be alive!

     Ooops!  Forgot to post this yesterday.  I made this for my uncle's birthday this year.  He loves old westerns and we ALWAYS get each other snarky cards.  The image is from Art Impressions stamps and it's called "Slim".

     Here's the fun sentiment I put on the inside of the card.

     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Creative Moments--anything goes/for the boys
Oldie But a Goodie--Father's Day/Masculine ( the buttons, twine, and canvas ribbon are all over six months old
Try It On Tuesdays--one for the boys
Ooh-la-la Creations--Father's Day/male
Catered Crop--manly men

     Hope you're all having a great day.  I'll be back tomorrow with something special from Art Impressions.

Supplies:
Paper--Recollections, Bazzill, The Paper Studio, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Art Impressions "Slim", There She Goes Clears Stamps "Giddy Up"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Tools--paper Piercer, Tim Holtz ruler
Miscellaneous--Canvas Corp Canvas Fringe, Crafters Square hemp cord, buttons from my stash

Bokeh Penguin for Curtain Call

     SugarPea Designs has joined the Curtain Call Challenge this week as their sponsor.  Some of the Peas have created cards for the challenge which is this pretty inspirational photo.

     I've used SugarPea Designs "Rice Rice Baby" for my card and played around some more with the bokeh stamping technique.  For this one I used several colors of Distress inks and some cool circle stamps from the Precious Remembrance "New Day" set.  The white circles were stamped in Versamark and then embossed with some sparkly powder.
     For the inside I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set onto some vellum.

     I'm sure the Curtain Call DT would love to have you come over and join in the challenge.  There's a SugarPea Gift Certificate being offered as a prize.
     Enjoy the rest of your weekend and the week to come!

Supplies:
Paper--Recollections, Georgia Pacific, The Paper Studio vellum, Copic Xpress-it Blending card
Stamps--SugarPea Designs "Rice Rice Baby", Precious Remembrance "New Day"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Ranger Jet Black Archival ink, Versamark; Victorian Velvet, Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Bundled Sage, Tattered Rose Distress inks
Tools--Stampin' Up Ticket Corner punch, Lil' Inker Mini Bow Die
Miscellaneous--Ranger Bridal Tinsel Embossing powder

Backyard Boss

     Hope you're all enjoying Father's Day.  Here's a little card I created for my Dad.  I even got him a real blower to match.  LOL

     The stamp is one of the newest  releases from Art Impressions called "Backyard Boss".  I stamped the matching sentiment on the inside and added my handwritten HFD.

     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps--outdoors
Catered Crop--manly men
Totally Gorjuss--Dad
Aud Sentiment--any sentiment for a guy
MilkCoffee--Father's Day/Special Male
The Male Room--Father's Day
Going Grey with Scrap-creations--Father's Day
Ladybug Crafts Ink--for him
Oldie but a Goodie--Father's Day/Masculine (everything but the stamp is old)
Papertake Weekly--for the boys
Tuesday Throwdown--special man

     First of two posts for today so stay tuned.

Supplies:
Paper--Papermania "Happy Days", Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Art Impressions "Backyard Boss"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Tools--paper piercer, Tim Holtz ruler
Miscellaneous--Crafters Square hemp cord, Michaels buttons

Bokeh Sparkle Audrey

     It's Bellarific Friday from Stampingbella and I'm playing with a new technique.  The last challenge Emily gave us at Blogabella was to make a "One Layer Wonder" card.  Yikes!!!  I have lots of trouble with simple layouts, but I saw this cool technique in one of the crafty newsletters I receive.  It's called bokeh (boh-kay) stamping.  It mimics a blurred light background in photography.  You can google it for examples.

     For my card I have usede Uptown Girl "Audrey Loves Makeup" and added the bokeh effect in stamping with Distress inks.  I used a sponge dauber but you can do this with ink daubers or even pencil erasers with different mediums.  I also added a bit of Wink of Stella Clear glitter pen buy accident.  I squeezed it a bit to hard and shook it over the card.  Happy accidents.  LOL  See that spot under the bow on her purse.  Looks like a big rhinestone huh.  Nope, glitter pen dot.  hee hee  I finally managed to find an angle that you can see all the glittery goodness that Wink of Stella pen adds.  Isn't her dress glamorous!  I also added some Diamond Stickles to some of the bokeh spots and she had some pearl paint dots and gold gel pen jewelry.

     I need a bit more practice with this technique, but I had fun and it's something different.  Hope you like it.
     Next weeks challenge at Blogabella is a sketch.

     We'd love to have you play along.  There is a prize up for grabs.  You might want to check out this cool new announcement from Em too.  She and Elaineabella have come up with a cool new idea called Colourmaps for use with a couple of the Uptown Girl stamps.
     I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz--sparkle and shine
Moving Along with the Times--keep it CAS
Addicted to Stamps and More--CAS
Loves Rubber Stamps--CAS
Inkspirational--CAS

     Have a great weekend and enjoy those dads on Sunday!

Supplies:
Paper--Copic XPress-it Blending card, Georgia Pacific
Stamps--Stamping Bella Uptown Girl "Audrey Loves Makeup", Precious Remembrance "New Day"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Wink of Stella Clear glitter pen, Sakura gold gel pen, Black Soot, Pumice Stone, and Weathered Wood Distress inks
Miscellaneous--Scribbles White Mist 3D paint, Diamond Stickles

Baby Bee

     Hello friends!  It's the second Thursday of the month so it's time for a new challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil.  Our hostess with the mostest is our sweet Nela Who wants to see "Summer Flowers".  All the rain we've gotten in the past month or so was lovely for the plants, but now I'm afraid the heat is going to get them all.

     For my card I have used Mo's "Baby Fairy Bee".  I used a base of brown bazzill and clipped the corners with a ticket corner punch.  I used a Martha Stewart corner punch on the first layer of DP.  It was looking pretty plain so I pulled out a chicken wire template and some modeling paste to add some texture plus it looks like honeycomb.  The flowers were made from a Memory Box die.  I cut the flowers out of white and then used some Distress Stain and ink to color them.  A little vellum for the sentiment and butterflies to echo little bees wings.  I love the Wink of Stella glitter pens but you can never see the pretty shimmer in photos.  The wings are quite sparkly IRL.

Copics Used:

skin E000, E00, E11, E13, R20, R30 

hair E35, YR23, Y21

wings BG000, C00

bee body N5, N7, N9, Y11, Y15, Y19

flower Y11, Y21, YR21, YR23, YR65, YG03, YG93, YG95

shadowing W1, W3, W5

grounding E40, E41, E42, E43

     "Summer Flowers" is an easy peasy challenge so come play along with a Mo's image for your chance at a $5.00 gift voucher from Mo's store.  She has some brand new images in there if you haven't visited lately.
     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

4 Krafty Girls--anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey--anything goes
Time Out Challenges--summer with an optional twist of flowers
Simon Says Stamp--stencil
Card Mania--flowers

     Have a fabulous Thursday!


Supplies:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found--Sunshine", Bazzill, The Paper Studio vellum, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Mo's Digital Pencil "Baby Fairy Bee", Precious Remembrance "Positive Thoughts"
Ink---Ranger Jet Black Archival, Mustard Seed Distress Stain, Wild Honey Distress ink, Wink of Stella Clear glitter pen
Tools--Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Corner punch and Butterfly punch, Stampin' Up Ticket Corner punch, EK Success Circle punchMFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags Stax, Poppy Stamps Lovely Tendril, Memory Box Fancy Blossoms, Crafters Workshop Mini-chicken wire Reversed template
Miscellaneous--The Paper Studio pearls, Glossy Accents, Liquitex Modeling Paste

Pizza My heart

     It's time for a brand new sketch challenge at Sugarpea Designs.  For my card I've used the adorable chef from the "Pizza My Heart" stamp set.

     He's colored with Copics and the sentiment was embossed in white.  Here's the sketch for the challenge.

     Don't forget there are prizes to be won.

• Play along with any stamp you like - but if you use SugarPea Designs, we'll top your voucher up to $15!
• Feel free to rotate/flip the sketch, or exchange any shapes for what works with your design, just make sure the sketch is recognisable!
• Combine our sketch with any other challenge (except another sketch!)
• Add your link to the linkup on the SugarPea Blog. You'll find our current challenges on the sidebar.

     Have fun!

Supplies:
Paper--Papermania "Happy Days", Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--SugarPea Designs "Pizza My Heart"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Copics
Tools--Nestabilities Classic Ovals and Classic Scallop Ovals, Lil' Inker Designs "Of the Heart", MFT Die-namics Sentiments Strips
Miscellaneous--Michaels button, Kraft Outlet Hang Tag String, Stampendous white embossing powder

A call away

     You've all probably thought I've been a world away.  In a lot of ways I guess I have.  I needed a bit of a break from crafting and this last couple of months have been so jam packed with things going on within my family I had other things to focus on.  I continue to improve healthwise, but in doing so I have come to realize just how much time I was spending buried in crafting and there are so many other things out there I want and need to do too.  No, I am not giving up card making.  That's my creative outlet.  I just have to find a balance.  My postings will start picking up again.  I have lots of projects coming up to share with you from SugarPea, Mo, Stamping Bella, and Art Impressions.

     Today's card was made with SugarPea Designs "Tin Can Chat".  I just used one of the little girls in the set and did some fun layering.

     Don't forget Wendy is having a DT Call for new Peas and she also has a great sale going on right now at the SugarPea store.

     Enjoy your weekend!

Supplies:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "Nostalgia", Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--SugarPea Designs "Tin Can Chat"
Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black,Ranger Jet Black Archival, Copics, Sakura white gel pen
Tools--MFT Die-namics Simply Scallops, Nestabilities Standard Cercles, Fiskars Circle Cutter
Miscellaneous--The Paper Studio pearls, Martha Stewart ribbon, Kraft Outlet Hang Tag String, button from my stash