Slugger

This post is so, so late, but I finally have managed to function well enough to get it in.

Here is my post for this week's

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #269

Our sponsor this week is:

Kenny K Downloads

Prize:  3 Digis

Thank you for sponsoring us!

Our Inspiration Photo this week:

Sports Ball Cupcakes by Sugar Rush Wonderland

Our theme:  SPORTS

Here is my card using

Running Baseball Digi

from 

Kenny K Downloads

SPIES:

STAMPS: Running Baseball Digital stamp (Kenny K).

PAPER:  Red cardstock (Coordinations); Kraft cardstock; DP

INK: Copics for stitches on baseball digi.

EXTRAS:  Sentiment sticker ( ); Baseball hat and star stickers (); zigzag stitching from sewing machine; 

Unfortunately last weekend while working on my post for this week's challenge, I fell very ill, spending Sunday evening in the Emergency Room and then most of the entire week in bed trying to recover from a nasty GI infection.  NOT FUN AT ALL!  It completely derailed my entire week.  Today is the first day I have felt almost normal.  Still not 100% but getting there.  And it was just in time, as my son and daughter-inlaw flew in today for a week's visit.

So stop by the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog if you haven't already and check out the rest of the team's cards.

Sweet Cupcake Blessings!

Cool Days!

Good Morning, Monday!

Hope everyone in the U.S. had a safe and happy 4th holiday weekend!

Today, it's time for 

The Pink Elephant Challenge!

This week is an

Inspiration challenge!

Here is your inspiration: 

Make sure you stop by The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog and check out the rest of the Design Team's inspirational projects.  Then, create a paper project inspired by this week's photo and link it up to share with us.  

We love when you play along!

Here is my card I created from the photo:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Fish & bubbles - Sea Critters (Recollections); Tiny heart - Flopsey Bunches of Hearts (My Favorite Things); Sun (Jenni Bowlin); Sentiment-Little Bits of Summer (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: White cardbase; Red cardstock; DP - Summer Bliss (Echo Park); Chevron DP - Recollections; Clear plastic;

INK: Copics on image; Brillance Sunflower (Memento); Black Tuxedo (Memento).

EXTRAS: Large bubble emboss folder (Cuttlebug); Banner die (Reverse Confetti); various sequins; red baker's twine; blue button.

When I started thinking about my card for this week's inspirational challenge, first popsicles came to mind but I wanted to stretch my creative mind a bit.  Then, sunshine and fish came to mind.  Then, I wanted to do something not so typical, so I thought a shaker on a tag kind of like a fish bowl effect. I stamped the fish and bubbles on white cardstock and colored with Copics.  You can't really see, but a couple of the bubbles are hearts.  The tag I drew out using the tag die from Reverse Confetti, just outlining it on cardstock and elongating it a bit. For a little extra texture, I partially embossed the bottom right corner of the card.  I love how the card turned out!

For Following Challenges:

Little Red Wagon #244 - Summer

Time Out Challenges #9- Fun In The Sun

Pink Elephant Blessings!

It's not a Hot Flash...

Happy Sunday!

It's time for a 

Cupcake Inspiration challenge!

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #268

Our sponsor this week is

DRS Designs

PRIZE: $10 Gift Certificate 

to 

our randomly selected winner!

Thank you for sponsoring us!

Inspiration photo compliments of Martha Stewart

Colors Challenge:  

Berry ~ Papaya ~ Goldenrod

So stop over at the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog and see what the rest of the Design Team has created.  Then, create a paper project using this week's color combo (berry, papaya and goldenrod) and share it with us.  

We love having you play along!

Here is my card using

Hula Pig 

from DRS Designs:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Hula Pig Digital stamp & digital sentiment (DRS Designs); Hibiscus flowers (TPC).

PAPER: White cardstock & cardbase.  DP - Summer Bliss (Echo Park).

INK: Copics on digital image; Tangelo; Rose Bud & Sunflower Brillance (Memento).

EXTRAS: Banner die (Reverse Confetti); Fringe scissors (Martha Stewart); Raspberry ribbon; Enamel dots.

I couldn't resist this little menopausal pig over at DRS Designs.  Her accompanying sentiment says just what I feel! lol  I have "tropical moments" these days no matter the season or weather. lol  Thankfully in the hot and humid North Carolina summers, the hubs got me a pool.  Sometimes I wish I could just stay in it 24/7.  And, I digress.  I used the sketch at CAS(E)ThisSketch, and then decided to add a little flare with my fringe scissors to make a grass skirt effect.

For Following Challenges:

DRS Challenge #129 - Hot Trends (Banners, Pennants & Flags)

Eureka Stamps Challenge #96 - Farm Animals

Sweet Cupcake Blessings!

Hello Sunshine!

Happy Tuesday!

Time for another 

{PIN}spirational Challenge- #114!

Here is this week's inspirational photo:

 And our sponsors are:

Squigglefly is offering one winner:  

 3 Digis

Bugaboo Stamps is offering one winner:  

 7 Digis

Here is my card

using a giraffe digi from Squigglefly:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Giraffe Digital Image (Squigglefly); Sentiment - (Papertrey Ink).

PAPER: Yellow gold and navy cardstock; DP - Wonderful (FancyPants Designs).

INK: Copics on Image; Nautical Blue (Memento).

EXTRAS: Phrase Play Die #3(Papertrey Ink); Blue enamel dots (homemade).

I had a fun time making this card.  I had several different ideas swirling around in the ole' noggin' and this is what came out.  Kind of different than my original thought but I really like it. 

Don't forget to stop by the {PIN}spirational Challenge and check out the rest of the Design Team's projects.  Then link up your own project inspired by this week's photo and share your creativity with us!

For Following Challenges:

Little Red Wagon #243 - Animal Antics 

{PIN}SPIRATIONAL Blessings!

Aloha

Happy June 30th Monday!

Time for 

The Pink Elephant Challenge #257

This week is a THEME Challenge  ---

 Anything Goes!

That's right, you can make any kind of papercraft your heart desires!

I went all summer on mine:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Surfboard & Sentiment (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: White cardstock.  DP - Recollections chevron.

INK: Rose, Tangelo, & Black Tuxedo (Memento); Turquoise &  (SEI).

EXTRAS: Rapsberry sequins (Paper Sweeties).

Sorry for a not so good photo.  I'm having camera issues.  Guess I'm going to have to take it to the camera "doc" soon.  

I played around with a surfboard stamp from Taylored Expressions.  I wanted to create a flower but it was going to be bigger than I wanted for a card.  And, yes, the sentiment was designed to look drippy and smudged.  I did double stamp it, once in turquoise and once in black for a little duo tone effect.  I added the blue chevron on the bottom for a little water effect too.

So, let loose and get creative for Anything Goes!  And don't forget to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects.  Super cute stuff!

For Following Challenges:

The Friday Mashup -- 

Make a "Hello" card OR use sequins OR use both

Catered Crop -- Summer Lovin'

Pink Elephant Summer Blessings!

Freedom

Happy Sunday!

It's the last Sunday in June!  

Maybe it's just me but June seemed to creep by.  Let's hope July will do the same!  This week is a holiday week in the U.S. with Independence Day is coming up on Friday!  A big summer vacation week for much of our nation.  So here's hoping everyone stays safe and blessed!

And --

This week at 

Cupcake Inspirations, 

we have a great challenge 

to go right along 

with all the hoopla and fireworks!

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #267

This week is our THEME Week

(see photo below)!

And our wonderful sponsor

this week is:

My Creative Time

Thank you so much!

Prize:  They are offering our randomly selected winner one of their featured stamp sets!

Theme:  CELEBRATE!

Inspirational Photo courtesy of Williams Sonoma

My Creative Time was very generous in giving the Design Team members some fabulous stamps to showcase in our projects this week. 

Thank you!

So stop by the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog and check out all the rest of the DT's projects.  There are two sets we are sampling:  

"And Then Some Stamp Set" 

and 

"Main Street"

I used the building stamps from "Main Street" on my card:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Buildings - "Main Street"(My Creative Time); Sentiment and fireworks-"Stamp America" (Cloud9Design by Colorbok).

PAPER: Red, navy and white cardstock; DP - Americana (Pebbles).

INK: Versamark; Moonlight White Brilliance (Memento); Nautical Blue (Memento); Black and gold emboss powder.

EXTRAS: Star stencil (Simon Says); Star dies (Papertrey Ink); Banner Die (Reverse Confetti); Wood veneer star (Simon Says); Red flower sequins (Paper Sweeties); 3D stickie dots.

I chose the "Main Street" set so I could make a cityscape fireworks card.  I thought it would be perfect with the inspiration photo and theme. My first thought was red, white and blue buildings, but then I thought making the buildings black would give more of a nighttime effect.

This was the first time using the star stencil with my Memento Dew Drop inks.  I think it came out really well.

For Following Challenges:

Always Playing with Paper #9

Twisted Tuesday Challenge #79 - Red, White & Blue with Stars

Open-Minded Crafting Challenges #13 - Patriotic Colors

City Crafter Challenge #217 - Red, White & Blue

Freedom Cupcake Blessings!

Bible Girl

Happy Monday!

Hope you are ready for another 

Pink Elephant Challenge -- #256!

This week is a Sketch Challenge ---

Drop on by The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog and check out all the rest of the Design Team's terrific projects!  Sure to please and inspire you!  Then, link up your own project using the above sketch and let us see what you create!

And here is my card:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Bible Girl (SoElla); Sentiment (StampinUp!).

PAPER: Navy, Coral Sea and white cardstock. DP - Stars- Beach Boardwalk (Carta Bella); Red DP - It's A Celebration (Carta Bella).

INK: Nautical Blue (Memento).

EXTRAS: Flower die (Lil' Inker Designs); Smal star die (Taylored Expressions); Medium star die (Spellbinders); Stitched rectangle mats (Lil' Inker Designs); Label die (Paper Sweeties); turquoise ribbon; Red gem dots.

I used Bible Girl digital image from SoElla over at ByLoriDesigns.  SoElla is a stamp line drawn by Ella Boyd, Lori's 9-year-old daughter .  As you can see, she does a SUPER job! 

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES: 

Pink Elephant Blessings!