An Amazing Crafting Morning

I am still giddy from an amazing morning of crafting with a fun and talented group of cardmakers and bloggers.  They are as amazing in person as they are on their blogs. We talked and laughed and shared and did a bit of crafting.  Can you believe that I rubbed elbows with Laurie Willison,  me, Tenia Nelson (both from Curtain Call), Annette Allen (who recently moved to Colorado - we were on the TAWS design team together), Wida Miller, Ceal Pritchett (we were on Sweet 'n Sassy together), Lisa Petrella, Michelle Gross (owner of CAS-ual Fridays stamps), and Alyssa Scritchfield (not pictured).  I am hoping just a little bit of their talent rubbed off on me!

I went prepared to get a lot of cards made.  Not so much...too busy sharing stories and trying other people's stuff.  But here is one of the cards that I managed to finish up.


I realized a little late that it doesn't read quite like I wanted it to.  I put two stamps together "warm & fuzzy" and "hugs" to get "warm & fuzzy hugs".  But after I got the picture taken, I realized that what it really reads is "warm fuzzy & hugs".  But that little guy is just too darn not to post!

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Party Posse, Sentiment Sampler
• Paper: MME Fine & Dandy True Blue
• Ink: Memento Black and Copics
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp word bubble dies, Freckled Fawn wood veneer, Lil' Inkers stitched rectangles, The Twinery Caribbean Twine

Pals and Dahlhouse: Woohoo!

In my new quest to use my new stuff before it gets put away (inspired by the wonderful Darnell) - I got a big order from Paper Smooches and you might be seeing a lot of it.  I'm looking at my stash in three levels.  Stuff that was put away ages ago - it may not have been used, but I'm not going to worry about that yet.  An overflowing box on the side of my desk of newer stamps that haven't been used.  But...since that box is already overflowing, brand new stuff that finds its way into my stash has to be used immediately!!  The latest thing to show in my mailbox is a lot of Paper Smooches stamps and dies!!  So...get ready for a lot of Paper Smooches cards!!


I have a little extra bonus on this because the bird house die from My Favorite Things hadn't been used.  But I'm not going to move it from my box yet because it does have a coordinating stamp set that needs to see ink first!
I used a sketch that I already played along with it - but I love it!!  It's from dahlhouse designs.

I also wanted bright colors - and remembered that Pals Paper Arts had the bright colors plus a nice neutral that I could use.

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Chubby Chums
• Paper: Stampin' Up Strawberry Slush and Smoky Slate
• Ink: Memento black, Copics, Versamark
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Contempo Cage die, Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade Trimmings, Simon Says Stamp Word Bubble dies, Ellen Hutson Daffodil sequins

A Fusion with Royalty: O Holy Night

Usually I find a challenge that I like to play, then I scrounge around in my craft corner until I find stamps and dies that will work.  Today, I decided to do it all backwards because I absolutely have to deal with an overflowing box of stamps-that-will-not-be-put-away-until-they-see-ink.  I came up with a Christmas set by Verve that has a wonderful look to the sentiments.  It's a beautiful set called Peace on Earth (sadly, when I went to find the link I saw that it was sold out until the end of August!)   Then I went scrounging for challenges.

First, I saw Stampin' Royalty's Christmas In July challenge.  I was definitely heading in the right direction for that one.  Then I saw Fusion.  The sketch had a perfect space to showcase the sentiment and the inspiration photo gave me colors and the stars.  A perfect fusion!!

I'm not in terrible shape for Christmas cards so far this year, but I could definitely be in better shape. Last year was the one and only year that I was ever ahead - and it felt so good.  I'm trying to remember that feeling every time that I sit down at my craft table so I can get motivated - it's probably going to start looking more like Christmas on this blog!!

• Stamps: Verve Peace on Earth
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Avery Elle Maple Wood Grain, Stampin' Up Glitter Gold
• Ink: Stampin' Up Baked Brown Sugar
• Accessories: Lil' Inkers stitched rectangle, My Favorite Things star die, Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist button

Wow!  I have an amazing variety of companies' products on this card, don't I??

A Very Special Baby Girl

I bet everybody reading this knows Melissa over at Oh, Smudge! and from CASology.  Melissa has added a sweet baby girl to her wonderful family of three charming little gentlemen.  I first met Melissa as part of the first Dynamic Duos design team.  She went on to create CASology - one of the best challenges out there!  I love following her blog.  She's a wonderful cardmaker but she also offers little glimpses into her life with her Wordless Wednesday and her Happiness Is posts on Sundays.  CASology is hosting a baby shower for Melissa and little Bryna Kate.

Congratulations Melissa!!

• Stamps: My Favorite Things Embellished Eggs
• Paper: Stampin' Up Barely Banana
• Ink: Stampin' Up Barely Banana, Blushing Bride, Smoky Slate
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Easter Elements dies, Mix and Match Banner Dies, Michales clear pearls, Papertrey Ink Impression Plate, Divine Twine Lemon Twine

CAS(E) this Sketch! You are the Best!

This is my second post today.  Curtain Call is just a short scroll away.

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I really like this one and you can see that I stuck to it almost exactly.

There are a number of different products from Simon Says Stamp on this card.  You all know that I like many, many companies. One of my "criterion" (beyond just loving their style) is that things work together.  In this case Simon Says Stamp came out with the floral stamps set which is absolutely darling.  A month or so later - they came out with dies.  The "you" is a die that coordinates with the You stamp set.  The stamp set comes with multiple styles of stamped "you" also - but you can add the diecut instead.  The banner comes from All-Occasion banners which also has a stamp set just full of sentiments that fit inside.  So multiple sets and multiple dies - but it all works!!
With all of the Simon Say Stamp product, I'm also adding this to their current Anything Goes challenge.
I hope you are inspired by this sketch and play along!!  Remember...there is flexibility allowed...you will have to check out the rest of the design team cards to really see how much flexibility and creativity there is in a sketch.

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend, You, All-Occasion Banners
• Paper: Stampin' Up Strawberry Slush dsp, scrap of gray woodgrain
• Ink: Stampin' Up Strawberry Slush, Lucky Limeade
• Accessories: Simon Says Flower Friend dies, You die, All-Occasion banners die, Avery Elle Lucky Blend sequins, Lil' Inkers stitched squares die, large gem from Hobby Lobby brand

Curtain Call: Hang in There

Thanks to all of you who made the first ever Curtain Call challenge a huge success.  And if you didn't get a chance to play along, today's another day with our next challenge!!

photo credit: Ruffled

The sponsor for this challenge is Fresh Squeezed Stamps.  The prize is your choice of a stamp set!  It's definitely worth your time to play along!

I have to admit that I had a huge wishlist of Fresh Squeezed Stamps but hadn't ordered anything yet.  So this was my excuse to order (as if I need an excuse!!)  I got all the sets on my wishlist and then one last set jumped into my cart.  It's called String Me Along and contains this very unique, but very fun variety of images - a high-topped tennis shoe, a baby onesie AND...Chinese lanterns which I thought were just perfect for the party image above!

You will LOVE all of the inspiration from the design team.  There are some with watermelons, others used the feathers, some focused on the colors - it's an amazing variety and will most definitely give you ideas and inspiration.  Check it out at Curtain Call.  The challenge is open until August 10th - I hope you play along!

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps String Me Along
• Paper: Stampin' Up Island Indigo, American Crafts My Girl 6x6 dsp
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Island Indigo twine, Ellen Hutson sequins, Spellbinders square dies

Fab Friday and Rockwell's Colors: Hang In There

On Sunday, I did the nectarine card for Jackie's challenge at Rockwell Designs to use the 2013 Pantone Spring Fashion Colors.  I got there to load it up and she had moved on to Lemon Zest.  But that is OK, because each of the colors goes until September 22 - you can go back and play with any of the colors.

I also had my eye on the sketch at Fab Friday and I thought it would work well with a Lemon Zest sun.  Plus, I hadn't cleaned my desk from yesterday's use of the charming critters from Mama Elephant's Up and Away and they just were not ready to be put away!!

I'm just happy I got to craft for a couple of days in a row.  My summer break from college courses was only two weeks so I have been back to a full-time schedule.  It's not so much that I don't have the time to craft, after all, many of you do it with full-time jobs and young children.  I just don't always have the brain power to craft.  I haven't had to read textbooks, do problems, study and write papers for a very, very long time.  I'm hoping my brain wakes up soon as the plan is to go back into the work world next summer after I graduate and I'm going to need the gears to be moving a little faster at that point.  I'm not consistently making it around to everybody's blogs to comment but please know that I am loving seeing what you do.  Even when I don't have the brain power to create a card, I can alwayts relax by looking at all of your beautiful creations!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Up and Away
• Paper: Stampin' Up Summer Sun, Echo Park Dots and Stripes Candy Shoppe 6x6
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Spellbinders dies, Avery Elle Lemonade sequins, dot of Liquid Pearls on his tail