SNSDC4 - Patriotic Cocoa

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to make a red, white & blue card.  I chose to use this Patriotic Cocoa digi stamp for my focal image.  I used this week's CPS Sketch #219 for my card design.

I colored Cocoa & his star with my Prismacolor pencils and then cut him out.  I used a glitter pen on the yellow outline of the star for a bit of shine.  I popped up the circle panel with foam tape and then popped up Cocoa & his star a little more.

I'm also entering this card in these challenges:
Paper Sundae #70 - Pop It Up


Supplies:
Cardstock - Georgia pacific and misc scraps from my stash
Patterned paper - DCWV
Stamp - Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Patriotic Cocoa)
Embellishments - Prismacolor Pencils, Sakura gelly roll pen (Clear Star), Cuttlebug EF (Swiss Dots), Best Occasions Metal Dots, Paper Studio Ribbon

You Light Up My Life

I made a card to participate in the Christian Paper Crafts May Blog Hop.  Each month Christian Paper Crafts (aka CPC) has a blog hop starting the 22nd of each month.  Each month has a different theme.  This month, the theme is "For the man in your life."

I finally got to ink up a new set of clear stamps, Shining Light, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I've been using so many of Korin's digi stamps lately that my clear stamps are feeling neglected.  This set has a lighthouse image and 8 sentiments to go with it.  I also used this week's sketch from The Sweet Stop (SSS109) for my card.  This week it's a sketch with a spin - which means there is a prize to be won.  The spin is to make a masculine card.

I used paper piercing to add some dimension to the patterned paper panels. I used some inking on the image panel to finish off the edges. I used a background stamp and versamark to add some interest to the red layer.  It just doesn't show up well in the picture. :(

I am also entering this card in the Paper Sundae Challenge #70 - Pop it up.  My patterned paper panels and my lighthouse panel are all popped up with dimensionals.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill
Patterned Paper - Fancy Pants
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy (Shining Light), SU
Ink - Memento (Tuxedo Black), Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Charcoal), VersaMark
Embellishments - Prismacolor Pencils, Metal Dots (Best Occasions), paper piercer

Amazing Blog Candy at Papercraft Pleasures

Jan has some amazing blog candy over on her blog Papercraft Pleasures.  Here's a picture of all the goodies she's giving away.

Do you see the box in the background?  Yes, she is giving away a Spellbinders Wizard Embossing and Die Cutting Machine!!  Click the picture above to find out all the details on how you can enter to win this amazing prize package.  You have until May 31st.

Cocoa Loves Baseball - SNSDC3

It's time for the third challenge over on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog.  This week the challenge is to make a CAS (clean & simple) card with a button.  CAS cards are not something I do a lot of and actually, they usually stump me.  Give me layers and layers.  ;) While searching the gallery over at SCS for some inspiration, I came across this card by Karen Dunbrook.  I knew I wanted to use the Cocoa Loves Baseball digi stamp and thought this layout would work well with that stamp.  I used her card as a sketch, and as I typically do, I stayed pretty close to the original.

For my button, I used the technique found in the Paper Button tutorial on SCS.  It was so easy to do.  I know I'll be using it quite a bit in the future.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
TLC325 - Paper Buttons
Paper Sundae Challenge #69 (PSC69) - Birthday
FS105 - Featured Stamper Kdunbrook {I changed the color scheme, image, my focal image does not hang over the edge, I used baker's twine and not jute}
RRR#24 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #49 - Baby/child card
CPC-CASS08 - Buttons and Bows


Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - Echo Park (Little Boys)
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy (Cocoa Loves Baseball, Masculine Birthday)
Embellishments - button made from EP paper, baker's twine, Prisamacolor Pencil, SU Stampin' Write, Spellbinders Circle Nesties

I hope you'll play along with us at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a nice weekend.

Lots of Cats Birthday Card

I wanted to make a card for a friend who will be celebrating her birthday Saturday.  She just got a new kitten (and really likes cats in general), so I decided to use this adorable kitty image to make a card for her.  I used the sketch from Mojo Monday #123.

I used the Mother Cat freebie from Meljen's Designs for my focal image. I colored all six cats with my prismacolor pencils.  I used a sentiment from the Feminine Birthday set at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps on the front as well.

I used one of the sentiments from the Purrfect Friend set on the inside of my card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
RRR#24 - Anything Goes
Paper Sundae's Challenge #69 (PSC69) - Birthday
Paper Pretties PWC154 - Flowers
CPC-FOF63 - Polka Dots
CPC-FOF57 - Easel Card

Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - DCWV
Stamps - Meljen's Designs (Mother Cat), Sweet 'n Sassy (Feminine Birthday, Purrfect Friend)
Embellishments - Prismacolor Pencils, buttons & flowers from my stash, DMC floss, Fiskar's Border punch (apron lace), Spellbinders (petite oval, petite scalloped oval), Offray Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

For the Guys Blog Hop

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is having a customer blog hop this weekend with the theme "For the Guys."  Come join us for lots of fun and inspiration.  There are also prizes to be won!  Who doesn't like free crafty goodies?!  You can see all the details on Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog.

My husband and son are avid fisherman and we love animals so this newly released digi stamp, Let's Go Fishing Puppy, immediately caught my eye.  Our son used to be an avid hunter as well, so I had some scraps of camo paper that I used for the background.  I used this week's sketch at The Sweet Stop (SSS108) for the design.

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU (green), Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (image & sentiment)
Patterned Paper:  unknown -- scraps from my stash
Stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy - Let's Go Fishing Puppy
Ink - SU-creamy caramel
Prismacolor pencils: 923, 924, 925, 937, 945, 946, 1005, 1077, 1080, 1081, 1084, 1090
Embellishments: Ribbon & Brads-Paper Studio; Nestabilities deckled rectangles

To see all the other entries or to add your's to the hop, see the linky below.

SNSDC2 - Psalm 27:14

This week's challenge over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog is to use this inspiration picture:

This is my first time making a card from an inspiration picture.  Instead of using the colors as my inspiration, I used some of the elements in the picture.  Primarily, I focused on the green boards in the background and the bench.  The rows of books in my card reminded me of the boards and the diecut the bench.

This card uses one of the great verses in the Encouragement Scripture Digi Stamp Set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  These verses are good to use on encouragement cards no matter what the recipient is currently facing. My husband requested I make this card for a gentleman that has been dealing with physical illness since January.

Here are some other detail pictures and a view of the interior:

I am entering it in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #48 - use diecuts
Paper Pretties (PWC 153) - use texture



Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, ColorMarks
Patterned Paper: Carson-Dellosa (Recess line)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Encouragement Scripture Digi Set)
Ink:  SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments:  Cuttlebug EF (Script Texture), Spellbinders (Labels 4), Jute, Metal Dots (Best Occasions)

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you'll play along with us this week at The Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.

Blog Candy Winner and a Card to Share

Sue is the winner of my blog candy.  Her prize is on the way to her {it may even have arrived by now}.  Sue, thanks for your sweet comment and I hope you enjoy your prize.

The card I have to share with you uses this week's sketch from The Sweet Stop (SSS107).  I have been trying to use some of my older paper stash and was able to make this card from some scraps I've had for a couple years. I used one of the four sentiments in the great digi set Praying for You from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

I used my Spellbinders Fancy Tags Trio 3 for some added detail behind my sentiment panel.  I actually cut the tag in half and attached the halves to the back of my embossed petite oval.  Here's a close up of my sentiment layers:

I also did a little interior decorating:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #88 - use beautiful things - pearls & butterfly
Stamp TV's Mix it up Monday Challenge - use two designer papers
Tuesday Throwdown #48 - use diecuts



Supplies: 
Cardstock:  Recollections, ColorMarks
Patterned Paper:  Carson-Dellosa (Recess line)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Praying for You Digis)
Ink:  SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments: Pearls (Kaiser Craft), Butterfly (Jenni Bowlin), Bazzill Just the Edge, Cuttlebug EF (Victoria), Spellbinders (Fancy tags 3, Petite Oval, Labels 4)

Thanks for stopping by.

{Robin} Card

The Bluebird Digital Stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is a favorite of mine.  However, this time, I chose to color it as my version of a robin.  When I was coloring it, a friend and I were discussing exactly what color robins are.  This one ended up being a compromise.  :)

For my card design, I used SSS106 as my starting place.  I left if without a sentiment (even on the inside) so that I can customize it later.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Papers:  BG
Stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy Bluebird Digital Stamp
Ink:  SU Bliss Blue
Embellishments:  Ribbon (Offray), Pearls (Recollections), Prismacolor pencils, Nestabilities circles, Bazzill Just the Edge, Fiskars corner punch (inside)

I'm a little late posting this and I know The Sweet Stop has a new sketch posted for this next week.  Be sure to stop by and play along.  Their Sugar Babies (DT) always has lots of eye candy for you.

It's still not too late to sign up for my blog candy.  You have until 11:59 PM EST tomorrow (Sunday, May 8) to sign up.  You can find all the details here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Mother's Day

Today is the first challenge at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp's new Digi Challenge Blog. I was so honored (and excited) to be asked to be part of the Desgin Team.  All the cards & projects for this blog will use digi stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Be sure to stop by the new blog because Korin is giving away a free digi.

This week's challenge is to make a Mother's Day card.  My mom passed away 19 years ago which was long before I started "modern" scrapbooking and card-making.  So this is probably the first Mother's Day card I've made since I was a child.

I've loved this Momma Penguin image since the first time I saw it.  I thought it would be perfect for a mother's day card since the love between the momma and her baby is so evident.  I used my computer to make the "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment.  My sketch design is the Sweet Stop Sketch 106.

Supplies:
Card base:  Bazzill
Cardstock: SU, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy - Momma Penguin
Embellishments: Ribbon (Offray), Rhinestones (Recollections), Flowers (PortaFolia),Brad (Making Memories), SU tag punch, Fiskars border punch, Nestabilities petite ovals and petite scalloped ovals, Prismacolor pencils

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you'll play along with the challenge.

Sad News & Happy News

Sad News:

Last Friday, was my last blog post as a designer for Deedee's Digis.  Deedee is going to have to close her store.  If there are some of her digis that you have been wanting for yourself, be sure to head over there soon.  The "doors" to Deedee's Digis will be closing May 14th.  I loved my time on her DT and will greatly miss it.  I wish Deedee and her family the best as the follow the path the Lord has shown them.

Happy News:

I have been asked to join the DT for the new Digi Challenge Blog for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (SNSS for short).  If you've read my blog very much, you know I love SNSS.  This new challenge blog will have its debut tomorrow so be sure to stop back by to see the card I made for the first challenge.  You'll also want to stop by the new blog to play along in the challenge and see all the wonderful inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

There's also still time to enter for my blog candy.  You can see that post here.

ZTO Senior Notebooks

I made notebooks for the 26 graduating seniors in our daughter's college society.  Their mascot is a seagull and their colors are navy & gold.  I had to keep the books budget friendly, low profile (bulky embellishments tend to fall off or get ruined) and not too labor intensive since I had 26 of them to do.  My cuttlebug was greatly used but I think they turned out pretty well.

Using Versamark ink, I stamped a flourish stamp in a random pattern on the solid navy cardstock. This is a low-cost way to add extra interest and almost create the look of patterned paper.  The back cover has the same navy cardstock with versamark flourishes.  Each notebook is personalized with the senior's name. 

Using PSE I made a "logo" using a Seagull Digi Stamp from Tiffany's Doodles.  ZTO is for Zeta Tau Omega and their motto is Zealous, True, Obedient.  Here's a closeup of the medallion I made with the help of my circle & lacey circle nesties.

The inside covers are lined with either blue/white gingham or white with blue dots paper.  The same paper is used to decorate the pockets.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, SU, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamps:  Tiffany's Doodles (Seagull), Autumn Leaves (Flourish)
Tools:  PSE, Nestabilities (Circles, Lacey Circles, Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals), Cuttlebug, Fiskar's Border Punch (Apron Lace)

Thanks for stopping by & Congratulations to the Class of 2011!!!

Blog Candy

In honor of our daughter's birthday, I decided to offer up some blog candy.  Here's a pic of what I'm giving away:

In addition to these 3 Martha Stewart stamp sets, you just never know, I may add some other goodies as well.  :)

All you have to do to have a chance to win this candy is:
1. Become a follower (if you are not one already)
2. If you, add a pic of my candy on your blog sidebar (with a link back to this post) or post a link on your Facebook you'll get a 2nd entry.
3. Leave me a comment below.  Make sure I have a way to contact you in case you win.

I'll draw a winner after 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, May 8th {our daughter's original due date :)} If I reach 50 followers before May 8th, I'll add in another stamp set.

Happy Birthday to the World's Best Daughter!!

Today our precious daughter, Kendra, turns 21!!  Like most moms, I'm wondering how it's possible our *baby* is 21 now!  She's grown from an adorable baby to a beautiful young woman that makes her dad & I very proud of her.  We will have a family party for her when get comes home from college for the summer.  However, we wanted to send her a little something to have for her special day.  So, I made this card for her. 

Cookie is Cocoa Mouse's new friend.  I thought this Cookie's Gift digi stamp would be cute for Kendra's card.  I paper pieced the package, package bow & Cookie's bow.  I colored Cookie with my Prismacolor pencils.  Since Kendra tells me college girls like bling & sparkle, I added stickles to Cookie's bow and used a glitter pen on the package bow and the background paper.

I found this quote online and thought it appropriate for how we feel about her.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections, Georgia Pacific
PP: Recollections
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Cookie's Gift, Feminine Birthday)
Quote from the internet
Embellishments/Tools: Nestabilities (Circles Large & Small, Labels 3, Labels 4), Prismacolor Pencils, Baker's Twine, Stickles (Lavender), Sakura Gelly Roll Pen (Clear Star)

Thanks for stopping by & Kendra, if you read this, Happy Birthday!  I hope 21 is your best year yet!!