Diva Sketch Challenge 127

Good morning, Friends! I can't believe how fast this week seems to be going! Although, I keep thinking that I am one day ahead than we really are. I had to remind myself this morning that it was only Wednesday. That is a nice feeling. It has been a very nice spring break so far and I know that Nick is enjoying every minute of it!

Today's card was inspired by the Utah Divas International Diva Sketch Challenge (don't try saying that ten times fast - lol). Their blog is filled with all kinds of wonderful challenges. This sketch was a very simple one. I had actually made the flower a few weeks ago. I was in my stamp room and I wanted to try out this stamp set and coordinating punch. I bought these but hadn't really used them. So, I made up this flower and then didn't know what to do with it. Then, yesterday, I came across this sketch and thought that the two would go together perfectly! And here is the result! The flower comes out really big! Bigger than I ever would have thought! So that's what had me stumped after making it. Anyway, it was fun and I am glad I finally had a home for my flower - lol! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Bold Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper- Always Artichoke, Rose Red, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Vintage Springtime designer paper; Ink- Rose Red, Crumb Cake; Accessories- Springtime Vintage big designer buttons, build-a-blossom punch, scallop edge punch, linen thread, circle punch, sponge, dimensionals

Fancy Fold

Good morning, Friends! I hope you are all enjoying your week so far! I know we are!! Nick gets to sleep to noon and then do whatever he wants. He's loving it!! And, thankfully, the weather has been beautiful! It is supposed to rain on Thursday but we will see. That usually changes. Anyway, it is nice to be able to relax.

Today's card is one that I saw come through on one of the stamping e-mail lists that I am on. And I just cannot remember who it was from. I really hate it when I do that! She had given instructions for how to make this card, too. I altered them to make it a standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card but her instructions gave you the basic idea. I will have to do some research to see if I can remember who did it. Anyway, I thought it was a fun card! Different for me anyway. And it really is pretty easy. I am using a new set that will be available in the upcoming Summer mini catalog. This set is called Strength and Hope and for every purchase of this set, $2 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Breast cancer is a part of my family as my Aunt has had it twice and the second time she had to have a double mastectomy. There is also a beautiful digital download that goes with this set, complete with designer paper and embellishments and $2 will also be donated when purchased. Be sure to look for this beautiful set and digital download starting May 1 and let's help fight breast cancer!! O.k. I am off my soap box now :) Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Strength and Hope; Paper- Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla; Ink- Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake; Accessories- circle punch, scallop circle punch, basic rhinestones, sponge, dimensionals

Shoebox Project

Good morning, Friends! The first day of spring break! I think this time change is going to be harder for me to get to used to than I had thought. I still have a few more days to figure it out before Nick heads back to school. It looks to be a pretty quiet week around here. And I am happy for that! Nick didn't want to do the soccer camp that is being offered this week. And that's o.k., too. Now he will have time to play with friends and ride his dirt bike. Me? I hope that I will have time to stamp some. I tried yesterday but I didn't like what I did. I do need to do some laundry and grocery shopping. And it is time to go clothes shopping for Nick. Although I think that he is getting ready to grow another foot as he is eating like a horse!!!

Today's cards are ones that I have seen one different blogs. I just think they are so adorable! They are little butterfly easel cards! And they are really easy to make. These also make me think of spring and the great warm temperatures that we are going to have this week. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- none; Paper- Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Springtime Vintage designer paper, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, First Edition designer paper, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Sweet Stitches designer paper; Accessories- Springtime Vintage big designer buttons, Neutrals buttons, Sweet Stitches big designer buttons, hemp, (a sponge was used on the Crumb Cake butterfly)

MOJO 181

Good morning, Friends! Did you remember to set your clocks forward? We had a soccer game yesterday in Fort Collins and drove home afterwards. And now we get to enjoy spring break! Yeah!!! I am so thankful that the time change happened at the stat of spring break so that we can get used to it. The boys tied their game. My son, Nick, had the chance to make the winning goal but their goalie caught it. Ugh! I know that he wishes he could do it again but at least he gave it a really great try! I am really excited, too, as the March Madness bracket comes out today!

So, today's card was inspired by a sketch at Mojo Monday. This is really not my style but I thought I would try something different. Of course, I love the colors - lol! The sketch had these swirly things in the bottom right hand corner and I tried to pierce some swirlys but I don't think they came out very good. Anyway, I gave it a try :) Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Wonderful Favorites; Paper- Crumb Cake, Basic Black, First Edition designer paper; Ink- Basic Black, Crumb Cake; Accessories- Basic Black satin ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, black jewels, scallop edge trim border punch, 3" circle die, 1/2" circle punch, sponge, dimensionals

TSSC 164

Good morning, Friends! I am pre-posting this as I am in Fort Collins getting ready to watch my son and his team play their first soccer game of the season! We are very excited to see how they are going to do this season. And we are excited because next week is spring break!

Today's card was inspired by a layout from Mary Jo. Each week she comes up with some fabulous sketches! I don't always find the time to play along but I know where I can go to get some great inspiration! Anyway, this card is kind of a "two-fer". I got to play along with the challenge and I have some really good friends that are experiencing a great loss. So this card will go to them. Thank you so much for stopping by! It always makes my day to read your comments! Have a super weekend!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Thoughts & Prayers; Paper- Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla; Ink- Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz; Accessories- Pear Pizzazz seam binding ribbon, itty bitty punch pack, basic pearls, Top Note die, Square Lattice embossing folder, scallop ribbon border punch, dimensionals

SFF 031111

Good Friday morning! It's time again for another wonderful sketch challenge at Sketch Frenzy Friday! Today's sketch is brought to us by Angela Walters. Great sketch with lots of possibilities!

It was hard for me to figure out what to do with those squares! I tried several things and finally came up with this. I think it turned out pretty cute. And I also got to use some of the totally fun pompom trim!! Anyway, I started with a card base of Tangerine Tango that I ran through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. Then I cut a piece of Very vanilla and four squares from Chocolate Chip and ran the squares through the Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, too. The Very Vanilla piece is popped up on the card base. Then I stamped the spools of thread four times on scrap Very Vanilla cardstock and then again on Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, and Wild Wasabi (once each) and cut them all out. This was probably the most time consuming part but it looks so great when you are done! The spools are popped up on the squares. The greeting was stamped in Chocolate Chip and is from the Thank You Kindly set. The last thing was to glue the Tangerine Tango pompom trim. And there you have it!

Now it is time to send you on to Jennifer's blog to see what wonderful creation she came up with for this sketch. Click your way through the tour to get inspired and then create your own project using the sketch. Upload it to the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog so that we can all see what you did! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sew Suite, Thank You Kindly; Paper- Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla; Ink- Basic Black, Chocolate Chip; Accessories- Tangerine Tango pompom trim, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, dimensionals

CCMC 141

Good Thursday morning everyone! I hope that you are ready for a challenge! It's time for the Thursday challenge at Create with Connie and Mary! This week's challenge is a color challenge! This inspiration piece is beautiful! And the colors that Connie and Mary paired with it are Real Red, So Saffron, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White.

Hmmmm.... It took me a while to figure out what to do with these colors. The inspiration piece looks wonderful but whatever I tried to do didn't look so great. So, as you can see, I went really simple. No need to over complicate the issue - lol! So I started with a Crumb Cake card base. Then I took a piece of Whisper White that was cut down a little bit and stamped the flower images from Fifth Avenue Floral in Crumb Cake, So Saffron and Real Red. I also stamped one of the flowers on a piece of scrap of Whisper White in Real Red and cut it out. The greeting from the same set was also stamped on the Whisper White panel in Crumb Cake. I tied some Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon around the Whisper White panel and glued it to the card. Then I took my cut out flower and put some basic pearls in the middle of it (to cover the middle) and popped it up next to the greeting. Easy!

Be sure to check out the rest of the super talented team of designers at Create with Connie and Mary! They always have such super ideas! I love to see what they come up with! And remember, when you create a project following the challenge for the week with 100% Stampin' Up! products, you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE subscription to Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition. I can't wait to see what you do with these colors! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Fifth Avenue Floral; Paper- Crumb Cake, Whisper White; Ink- Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Real Red; Accessories- Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon, basic pearls, dimensionals

FTL 130

Good morning, Friends! I think the sun is finally going to shine today and it looks to be warm! Yeah!!! Not much going on around here. Just the usual soccer practices and an occasional baseball practice. The first season game for soccer is this weekend and we will be traveling to Fort Collins! We are very excited to get the season started! And Friday is the start of Spring Break! Nick is very excited about that - lol! He just needs to make it through today and tomorrow with the CSAP testing (a Colorado state standard test) and he will be good to go!

Today's card was inspired by the Fall-To Layout at Clean&Simple. I just love the colors on this card! Nice and spring-like! I also finally used the wide striped ribbon that I have had for months. Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper- Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla; Ink- Melon Mambo; Accessories- Certainly Celery wide striped ribbon, Melon Mambo big designer button, Boho Blossoms punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Lots of Tags sizzlets, basic pearls, (linen thread to tie the button to the ribbon)

SSSC 107

Good morning, Friends! I was a slacker yesterday! Actually, it was Sunday that I was the slacker because I didn't get anything done to get ready to post for Monday. I had some kind of head cold or something. My ears were plugged and my head felt like it weighed 100 pounds! UGH! I felt that way a little yesterday, too. This morning it seems better so I am hoping...? Anyway, yesterday I did manage to stamp a little bit. I also had to do the laundry as my son had the audacity to tell me that the laundry was getting out of control! I told him that maybe he would like to learn how to do it? He backed off then. Ha!

Today's card was inspired by a sketch from Karen Giron. I thought this sketch looked so fun! But let me tell you, it took me quite a while to get those little rectangles 'just right'! And by the time I did that, I couldn't figure out exactly what I wanted in the bigger one - lol! I do like the way it turned out, though. It has been a while since I used this designer paper and I am definitely in the mood for some spring! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Growing Green; Paper- Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla; Ink- Chocolate Chip; Accessories- scallop edge punch, basic pearls, little leaves sizzlet, dimensionals

SAB Inspired

Good Sunday morning, Friends! It was nice to be able to sleep in a little! Now I feel like I have a head cold. Ugh! My ears are plugged and I have a headache. And I can feel sinus pressure. I hope this doesn't stick around. It's nice to not have anything going on till later when Nick has baseball practice. And it doesn't look like the sun will be coming out. Hopefully I will feel like stamping a little today. That sounds like fun!

Today's card is the last of what I came up with when I was at my friend, Becky's house. I was inspired by a layout in the Sale-A-Bration mini catalog. And, once again, it looks nothing like the layout in the mini. It also uses my favorite colors! It is hard to see but I stamped the top part of the dress form onto Very Vanilla designer paper from the Neutrals designer paper pack. I used the polka dot pattern. Just another simple card. I hope to find some sketches today that I can make some more cards. Thanks for stopping by! I really do appreciate it! Have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sew Suite, Thank You Kindly; Paper- Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla Neutrals designer paper pack; Ink- Basic Black, Crumb Cake; Accessories- Basic Black satin ribbon, scallop edge punch, spiral punch, itty bitty shapes punch pack, basic pearls, sponge, dimensionals

Dress Form Birthday

Good morning everyone! I will be making this short as I still need to get myself and my son ready to go in a while. It's his last basketball game of the season. And as this sport ends he has already begun to practice soccer because the first game for that is next Saturday! Also, he has begun to practice baseball! The first tournament is still four weeks away but they need to get themselves ready! I didn't sleep much last night because I kept thinking about how this is all going to work. Maybe I should pray more? Anyway, I will just trust that it will.

Today's card was inspired by a card layout that was used in the Occasions mini catalog. However, mine is very different than the one in the mini and it looks like a layout that is used a lot (especially by me). This is one that I had made when I was visiting my friend, Becky, and I was getting frustrated that I couldn't come up with anything to make. I really like the bright colors and that is something that I don't do very often. Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sew Suite, Bring on the Cake; Paper- Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Sweet Stitches designer paper (on the dress form), Ink- Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose, Basic Black; Accessories- Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, itty bitty punch pack, basic pearls, dimensionals

SFF 030411

Good Friday morning everyone!! Sketch Frenzy Friday has another fabulous sketch for us! Tina Taves brings us this week's sketch.

I have to confess (and my friend, Becky, was a witness to this) that this sketch had me stumped! I was convinced that I "had" to use the Sew Suite stamp set. I tried twice to make it work and I just couldn't "get" it. So, I scrapped that and went in a totally different direction! I combined it with the LNS challenge to make a card (or project) with kids in mind. Now this card could definitely be used for any one but my son (11 years old) LOVES his dirt bike! And he often dreams of riding professionally. He loves it when I use this stamp set. And it makes me happy when he enjoys what I do. So I think that this turned out pretty great!

I started out with a card base of Not Quite Navy. The greeting, from the Full of Life stamp set, is stamped at the bottom with Basic Black and I stamped some stars from the Extreme Elements set in VersaMark around it. I punched stars out with the large star punch from Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Cajun Craze. Then I added a black brad. The focal point has the stamps from the Extreme Elements set stamped in Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze and VersaMark onto Crumb Cake cardstock. I also sponged the edges of this in Crumb Cake. This is mounted to a piece of Basic Black and then glued to the card. Then I stamped the Extreme Dirt Bike in Basic Black onto Very Vanilla and cut it out. It is popped up. I used glue dots to glue the stars down but the middle one is popped up.

Now I would like for you to click on to Jennifer's blog to see what she did with this week's sketch. Remember to click all the way through the tour to see the wonderful ideas and to get inspired! Then make your project and upload it to the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog so we can all take a look, too! I can't wait to see what you come up with! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Extreme Elements, Extreme Dirt Bike, Full of Life; Paper- Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Basic Black; Ink- Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, VersaMark, Crumb Cake; Accessories- black brads, dimensionals

CCMC 140

Good morning, Friends! We are having a fantastic week of fabulous weather! We just seem to be so energized because the sun is shining and the air is warm and there is a true hint of spring here! Yeah!!!

I am also excited because I was asked to continue designing with the talented group of ladies at Create with Connie and Mary! I am having so much fun with their challenges that I gladly (and quickly) accepted! Before I talk about this week's challenge, I would like to announce that Connie and Mary are going to be offering BLOG CANDY!!! We all love candy! If you have been to their site, you know they have a separate blog for their special projects. They did one for the Holiday mini catalog and they just recently finished a session using products from the Occasions mini catalog. As a design team member, I get a free subscription! Lucky me!! But guess what?! YOU can too!!! That's right! You could win a FREE subscription to their Summer Edition using products from the Summer mini catalog! All you have to do to be chosen for a free subscription is make a project following the challenge for the week and use 100% Stampin' Up! products! Connie and Mary will draw a name at the end of the month to win a free subscription! Every time you link a project following the challenge AND use only Stampin' Up! products, your name will be entered! So without further ado here we are with our first challenge for March - a sketch challenge! Check it out:

Isn't it super!! Clean and simple! This sketch really has so many wonderful possibilities that it was hard for me to narrow it down. But here is what I came up with:

I decided to make a set of note cards. All three cards have the exact same design, color, everything except the stamped image. I challenged myself to use the Clearly for You set. You know, I just "had" to have that set. Then I get it and can't quite figure out how to use it. So when I saw this sketch I thought that I could make these little note cards. The note cards measure 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". I started with a card base of Crumb Cake and sponged it. Then I added a piece of First Edition designer paper that I ran through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I sponged all over this piece with Crumb Cake to highlight the embossing and edges. Be careful when you do this as the embossing weakens the paper considerably and will tear easily! Then I took a strip of Basic Black and punched the edge with the scallop edge punch and pierced each scallop with my piercer (hard to see this part). I also took a piece of Crumb Cake to layer on top, sponged it and wrapped a piece of Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon around that. Then I punched a 2 3/8" scallop circle from Basic Black and a 1 3/4" circle from Very Vanilla. The scallop circle also got pierced on each scallop (again, very hard to see). The vanilla circle got sponged and stamped with the image of choice. The scallop circle is popped up as is the vanilla circle. Then I stamped the greeting in Basic Black onto the card. The last thing I did was to use my paper piercing template and pierce a decorative corner. Here are pictures of each card:

There you have it! I hope that you take a look at the rest of the talented design team to see how they used this sketch. You can find their work and links to their blogs at Create with Connie and Mary. I do hope that you will find time this week to play along and share your project with us! Because when you do, you are entered to win a FREE subscription to their Summer edition using products from the Summer mini catalog! I look forward to seeing what you do with this sketch! Remember to use only Stampin' Up! products! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Clearly for You; Paper- Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, First Edition designer paper; Ink- Crumb Cake, Basic Black; Accessories- Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon, scallop edge punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, piercer, sponge, dimensionals

Occasional Copy

Good morning everyone! Wow! I just realized we are already at Wednesday! So far so good on Nick's retainer! He hasn't lost it, yet! I told him if he could take care of it for this whole week there would be a surprise for him. Now I need to think of something. Hmmm.... Then, I think that I will push for longer to give him a reward, etc. Hopefully, that will develop into some good habits for taking care of it.

Today's card was inspired from a layout in the Occasions mini catalog. I believe the card in the mini uses the Create a Cupcake set and it is done in Rose Red. I really liked the circles in the background. So, while at my friend's house, I borrowed her Growing Green set. I love this set and don't own it yet. Since she let me borrow it, I will be making some cards with it. Anyway, I took the flower and stamped it in VersaMark on the Basic Black card randomly and embossed them in clear emboss powder. I thought, when I took the picture, that you could see it. But now I think that it is hard to see. Trust me. It really gives the card a very elegant feel. This really turned out to be a super easy card! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Growing Green; Paper- Basic Black, Whisper White; Ink- VersaMark, Basic Black; Accessories- Basic Black narrow taffeta ribbon, clear emboss powder, corner rounder, basic rhinestones, dimensionals

Sew CASE'd Layout

Good morning, Friends! And Happy First Day of March!! It looks to be a gorgeous one around here! Just like yesterday! The nights still get plenty chilly but the days are just right! Nick got his braces off yesterday and is really enjoying that! And he looks really good! Now we wait till the rest of his baby teeth fall out and then he will probably have to have them put back on again but with less work that will need to be done. I am just praying that he doesn't lose his retainer!

On Sunday, I went to stamp at my friend Becky's house. Now, I don't know about you all, but it is really hard for me to just go stamp at some ones house unless I am working on a specific project - like a swap or something. I mean, I take what I think I might need and use but it never seems to be what I need. So I was getting frustrated. I did end making several cards which you will see during the course of the week and I forced myself to use what I had brought. And I did "borrow" a few items from my friend. The other thing I did was use layouts from the Occasions and SAB minis. This particular layout is from the Occasions mini. I love this layout! It is easy and fun and can be adapted to so many occasions. Thanks for stopping by and have a super day!

Card Recipe: Stamps- Sew Suite, Bring on the Cake; Paper- Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Tempting Turquoise, Sweet Stitches designer paper; Ink- Basic Black; Accessories- scallop edge punch, neutrals buttons, linen thread, dimensionals