Tooting My Own Horn!

Wow!  I got a nice surprise yesterday on one of my blog posts.  I was a featured customer over at The Cutting Cafe! 

 Check it out:  

Cutting Cafe Tuesday Customer Spot!  

So, so honored!  If you haven't seen The Cutting Cafe, check it out.  They have A LOT of great digital templates and projects for just about anything you want to make.

Thank you Regina Easter!

Love Shower

Happy Tuesday once again!  Finally getting somewhere this year after a very challenging week, and I don't mean card challenges!  LOL

It feel very odd to be actually posting another card today and before midnight too!

<knock> <knock> --- that's me knocking on wood to keep my mojo flowing and my time management!  

SPIES

STAMPS: Image - (Taylored Expressions); Sentiment - Animal Love Sentiments (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: Light blue, white and red cardstock.  DP - October Afternoon.

INK: Lady Bug Red & Tuxedo Black (Memento). Copics for image coloring.

EXTRAS: Bracket border punch (Fiskars); Scallop circle die - (Sizzix); Heart die - Cupids Arrows (Taylored Expressions); Label die (Taylored Expressions); Bow back die for sentiment (Taylored Expressions).

I created this card using the color inspiration from Pals Paper Arts and the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  Literally --- it was a Tuesday morning sketch!  hahaha  And I've used lots of my Taylored Expressions supplies.   I've had the image and sentiment stamp for a couple years now and I don't think I've used them til now.  I decided to just kind of scribble color the elephants and I like the effect of it.  I decided to continue the "shower" effect with the heart dies being careful not to "spew" out too many, letting most of them "land" at the bottom border.

I am seriously lacking in some certain supply colors so I told the Hubs I may have to run out and do some shopping later today.  He's so nice and easy going, he doesn't bat an eye --- (maybe rolls them from time to time), but always supportive!  However, I shall pose the rhetorical question --- does he really have a choice up against an obsessively creative wife?  LOL

For Following Challenges:

Pals Paper Arts - Color Challenge #187

Tuesday Morning Sketches #132

Showered Love Blessings!

"Wheely" Great - {PIN}spiration Challenge #90

Happy Tuesday!

Today is another 

{PIN}spirational Challenge --

#90!

And here is the {PIN}spiring photo:

We have some great sponsors this year and

they all have offered some really nice prizes to 

our challenge winners.  

Some have even given us -- the Design Team 

a free image to use

 in our inspiration projects for each challenge

!

These are the 3 fabulous sponsors this week:

Digi Darla Designs

Prize:  5 Digis

Fresh Brewed Designs 

Prize:  3 Digis

Stamping Dragon Designs

Prize:  4 Digis

So link up your projects 

at 

{PIN}spirational Challenge

and maybe you will be one of the lucky winners this week!

My card 

has the digi image, Vintage Open Car,

from Stamping Dragon Designs.  

Thank you!

SPIES:

STAMPS: Vintage Open Car (Stamping Dragon); Sentiment (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: White, grey and pumpkin cardstock.  DP - Swagger(Fancy Pants Designs).

INK: Image - Copics; Sentiment - Tuxedo Black (Memento).

EXTRAS: Ribbon die cut (Taylored Expressions).

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

CCH  #162 - Cards For Men

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

Don't forget to stop by 

{PIN}spirational Challenge Blog 

and

check out my fellow DT's projects and leave them some luv!

We would love to have you play along with us!

{PIN}spirational Blessings!

Soaring Heart - TPE #233

Happy Monday Y'all!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend full of warmth and coziness!

The 2nd week of January is upon us

and so

don your creative caps

and get ready!

This week's challenge at

The Pink Elephant Challenge

is a Recipe:

2 Pattern Papers - 1 Border punch/die - 1 Heart

Here is my card:

SPIES:

STAMPS:  Lollipop Ella Digital Image (Lori Boyd Stamps); Sentiment & Heart balloon from Pucker Up Set (Technique Tuesday).

PAPER: White, red and pink cardstock.  Reflecting pool cardstock (Core'dination). DP - Beloved (Fancy Pants).

INK: Black Tuxedo and Lady Bug Red (Memento).  Versamark and red emboss powder on balloon.  Copics on digital image.

EXTRAS: Decorative tag framelit (Sizzix); Doily die (Taylored Expressions); Pinwheel die (Taylored Expressions); Notebook paper border punch (EK Success); red flower button; white ribbon; white string; red gem dots.

Isn't Ella adorable?   By Lori Boyd Designs has some of the cutest digital images out there! And she just happens to be Co-Owner/Co-Founder of The Pink Elephant Challenge too! Talented lady! I always have fun with her images.  My card took a silght detour from it's original plan, mostly in paper.  I had other designs from the "Beloved" pack selected but as many of you know, sometimes what's in the mind stays in the mind and other ideas come out!  LOL  You can't see it very well, but my other pattern paper is the decorative tag (back layer).  The decorative tag is a new purchase as well as the stamp set from Technique Tuesday and the pinwheel type die from Taylored Expressions.  I got lots of new stuff last week that I'm playing around with!  One thing I discover I REALLY need to invest in soon are more Copics pens.  Why do they have to be so darn expensive? Maybe because they are just that good, right?

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Your Next Stamp - January Sketch Challenge

Shopping Our Stash - #133  Use Something New

Now stop over at The Pink Elephant Challenge 

and

check out all my fellow Design Team Members' projects

and then

link up your own project using this week's recipe!

We love seeing your creations and playing with us!

Pink Elephant Blessings!

Bear-y Cupcakes-CIC #243

Happy Sunday!

Time for a Cupcake!

A Cupcake Inspirations Challenge that is!

This week,

along with the inspirational photo 

from Sugar Britches Cakery, 

we want to see some 'sparkle' on your projects!

We have another fabulous sponsor this week:

2 Cute Ink Digital Stamps

The prize they are offering this week's winner:

 2 digital images !

A wonderful prize!

Here is my Card this week:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Cupcake Bear - Digital (2 Cute Ink); Sentiment- Cupcake Flopsey-(My Favorite Things).

PAPER: White and cotton candy cardstock; DP - Fine & Dandy Girl (My Mind's Eye).

INK: Peppermint - (Memento); Copics - Begonia Pink, Rose Mist; Cadmium Yellow; Baby Skin Pink; Light Suntan.

EXTRAS: Lacey doily die in dark pink cardstock -(My Favorite Things); Pinwheel die in pink striped DP-from Love M'stache set (Taylored Expressions); Scallop circle die in white cardstock - (Sizzix Framelit); Small banner die (Taylored Expressions); Emboss folder - (Provo Craft); white doily; pink brad; dark pink sequin ribbon;  Crystal Stickles.

The first week of January proved to be quite challenging for my New Year's Resolution to be happier and less worried, with getting some disturbing news from our vet and then Saturday having a large branch fall ON our car during a thunderstorm causing a good deal of damage.  So now this coming week it will be in the shop (luckily all covered by insurance), we will have to get a rental (covered too) and we also take our dog back to the vet for more testing.  So, getting in my craft room and making this bright and cheery card, along with some others, was one way to help me find some happy thoughts and blessings.  

Who can't smile at that adorable little bear?  Since this week's theme is "Sparkle", I used my Stickles to sparkle and the sentiment.  I also got some new supplies this week and so I've been having fun trying them out, like the pinwheel die here.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #118

(I flipped the sketch a bit).

Addicted to CAS

Don't forget to stop over at 

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog 

and see what the rest of 

the Design Team has done 

and then 

play along with us!  

We would love to see your projects!

Bear-y Blessings!

TPE # 232 - Thank You Theme

Happy New Year!  

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

The holidays sure did come and go in a flash!  

Now that it's a new year 

it's also time for

new challenges of all kinds, 

including paper craft and card challenges!

The Pink Elephant's 

1st challenge 

of the new year 

is a theme challenge:

TPE #232 Theme - Thank You

We want to see your Thank you projects so

we hope you will join us!

Here is my card:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Mouse (My Favorite Things); Sentiment (Taylored Expressions); Label (Taylored Expressions); Thank you background (Create with TLC).

PAPER: White & black cardstock; Gold DP- (SEI); Black DP (The Paper Co).

INK: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Cool grey, pink (Copics).

EXTRAS: Gold glitter glue pen; label frame die (Taylored Expressions); Tag Die cut (Sizzix); Black stripe grossgrain ribbon; black button; gold sequins.

Stop by 

The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog, 

check out the other designers' projects,

leave them some blog luv,

and then  

link up your projects!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Colour Q Challenge #222

Thank You Blessings!

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #242 And I'm A Sweetie!

WOW!  It's 2014!  

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

It's a new year and sometimes with a new year comes new things.

Today is exactly that for me --- something new!

I am officially a SWEETIE!

What's a SWEETIE? 

Well, it means 

I'm a "sweet" 

Design Team Member

over at 

Cupcake Inspirations! 

YEA!  

My third design team position!

And today is my debut 

along with four other 

new Design Team Members

as well as

the first 

Cupcake Challenge of 2014!

So, here is the inspiration photo

for this week's challenge, 

which is a color challenge

to use the colors ---

Gold, Cream and Kraft.

And what is a cupcake challenge

without an awesome sponsor

and cool prize

to ring in the new year

in style!

Our sponsor this week 

is none other than

Stamp and Create!

The prize for one "sweet"winner

is a cool

Spellbinders Layer Creator Basic 

by Cindy Echtinaw Designs.

Below is a picture of one of the basic sets:

Basic Set A for A2 Cards

There are several different basic sets to choose from, depending upon card size.

And for a shot of inspiration, 

here is my card

for this week's challenge:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Hearts (Recollections); Sentiment - from Flopsy Valentine set (My Favorite Things).

PAPER: Buttercream and kraft cardstock; Gold glitter cardstock; Patterned paper - (SEI).

INK: Versamark and gold emboss powder.

EXTRAS: Tree emboss folder (Cuttlebug); heart punch (Fiskars); cream satin ribbon; gold dots.

I have to admit that my very first challenge as a DT at Cupcakes was a tad bit challenging!  I discovered my supply of gold anything except glitter and emboss powder is very low.  So I decided to gold emboss heart stamps for a heart tree or love tree.  I stamped the hearts on cream cardstock and embossed with gold powder.  I love how they came out!  I did have a tiny bit of gold glitter paper so I punched out some tiny gold hearts to add.  With all the embossing I decided to go simple and just stamp the sentiment right on the cardbase and emboss some more.

Now--

 drop in at 

Cupcake Inspirations 

and check out 

ALL the Design Team Members projects 

and 

leave them some blog luv!  

We DTs love comments too!  

Then, create, upload, and share your project 

with us this week 

at Cupcake Inspirations
and maybe you will be our lucky winner!

  

We love to have you play along!

New Cupcake Blessings!

{PIN}spiration Challenge #88

Good evening!  Another challenge to tell you about!  

This time it's the 

{PIN}spirational Challenge -- 

Challenge #88!

Here is the photo inspiration for this week:

AND, it is the last challenge of 2013!  

The entire {PIN}spirational Team 

will be taking a break over the holidays.  

BUT, in the new year,

 there will be new challenges 

starting January 7, 2014!

Here is my card:

SPIES:

STAMPS:  Digital Image (Fresh Brewed); Digital Sentiment (Create with TLC).

PAPER: White, teal, tan and cotton candy cardstock;  DP - Merry Little Christmas (My Mind's Eye).

INK: Copics - Grey 01, Mint green, Pink, Baby skin pink.

EXTRAS: Labels die (Spellbinders); Decorative dies - Pendants & Fleur De Lis (Spellbinders); pink satin ribbon, white snowflake button.

Such a cutie little snow angel and the sentiment was just perfect with it.  I know I've been using my Spellbinders Pendant dies a lot recently.  They make really adorable snowflake elements especially since I have no really large snowflake dies.

I also double embossed the tan label die and you can see the tutorial I followed here.  

I'm sure many of you have seen this a long time ago.  However, I have always been a late bloomer and so seems  that I should be a late crafty bloomer too!

I'm entering my card 

in the following challenges this week:  

Curtain Call - # 15 Snowflakes

Clean & Simple  Stamping - FTL # 270

Now, stop by the {PIN}spirational Challenge Blog this week and take a look at what the design team created using this week's photo inspiration.

Then, make a project of your own, link it up and share it with us.  We love to see what you make!

Also, don't forget about the fabulous prize being given out this month at {PIN}spirational Challenge blog!  

Here are some photos of all you can win:

There's a lot of crafty goodies there!  

You can find a detailed list at the  {PIN}spirational Challenge  blog on what is all in there. 

  How can you enter?  

Easy -- 

Every entry you post for this challenge and the last 2 challenges (if you participated!!), your name will go into the draw.  

You can enter up to 5 times per challenge so by the time DEC 23rd

rolls around you could possibly have 15 entries and that means 15 times your name will go into the draw! 

The prize winner will be determined on December 23rd.

Wouldn't that be a 

nice little extra something 

for yourself 

under the tree!

{PIN}spirational Prize Blessings!