hey, so happy for you

I'm always a happy crafter when I dig into new goodies:

I'll admit, the Doin the Wave Confetti Cut looks like bacon, eh?  It was perfect for my card....this is going to my girl that has a bunch of goodness coming up in her life.

The sentiment and cardstock are from the June Simon Says Stamp card kit {Love it!}.

I was inspired by the current

CAS(E) this Sketch!

Here's another card that came out of the June SSS card kit:

cardstock:  SSS Lagoon mono, misc ivory  stamps:  SSS Favorite Flowers  ink:  Fresh Ink Red Currant/Grass/Black Tea, Memento Tuxedo, copic YG03  other:  martha stewart washi, neat & tangled gold sequins, avery elle hello die

The solid blob stamp looked like a strawberry to me...it even had the seeds.  I fussy cut a loopy bloom for the hull.

I used some of Neat & Tangled's

Gold Metallic Sequins

I'm linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes

and

CASE Study

I've really enjoyed CASE'ing Wida!

You may have seen these cards that posted over on the Sweet Stamp Shop blog but I wanted to make sure they made it over to my blog:

THIS pin inspired my first card.

I super love my 2nd card and will tuck it somewhere in the hangar for Darin to find:

I'm a big napster...I generally get 5 hours of sleep and need the extra cat naps!  My 2nd card was inspired by THIS pin.

The Monogram Alpha should be a staple in every stampers inventory.  Such an awesome font!

I've really enjoyed my 3 months over at the Sweet Stamp Shop!  I feel so fortunate that I had the opportunity to be part of that awesome family.  I learned so much during my time there and have been so inspired by my Design Teamies and Nicole!

Sweet Stamp Shop: monogram alpha

Post 2 of 2 for me today...click HERE for my CAS-ual Fridays post.

Howdy!  I'm back!

The month of May has 5 Fridays so I get a bonus post over on the Sweet Stamp Shop blog!

Here's a sneak peek at my supplies for today's project:

Hop on over and check it out!

CFC132 What a Catch: make a wish!

This is post 1 of 2 for me today...Click HERE for my Sweet Stamp Shop post.

You all are rockin' the CAS-ual Fridays challenges!  So many inspiring projects!

We're up with a new one

CFC132:  What a Catch!

CFC132: May 30- June 20

Theme: Masculine cards... that use ribbon and no kraft (that's the catch!) 

And just what does the winner get???

In addition to getting a fun-filled guest spot on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog, the winner of this challenge will also get a yummy prize from our fabulous sponsor!

Please give a woot woot for:

Make The Day Special Stamp Store is an online retail store which specialises in importing quality craft products from the USA from companies we see regularly in stamping and crafting magazines and blogs but which aren't widely stocked within the UK.  Our aim is to stock all the brands you lust after but don't want to pay the huge shipping and import duty costs for!  By doing that on your behalf and ordering in bulk we can make it easier for you to buy the brands you want at competitive prices.

The store was originally set up in 2009 by a fellow crafter who found herself unable to get the US stamps she saw easily in the UK.  The store has changed owners a couple of times but has always been owned by crafters who do what you do so know what you want.  The store underwent a change of ownership again in January 2014 and my aim now is to grow the store and the brands we carry so we will be THE leading store in the UK and Europe for top quality US stamp, die and craft brands with customer service to match.

Together with an awesome Design Team that showcase the products we sell via our blog, Facebook page and YouTube channel, we aim to bring the best of the USA straight to your doorstep with just a click of a mouse.

Okay, I don't know many people that think masculine cards are easy smeasy to design!  I'm definitely included in that population. 

Here's how I was inspired:

I've really stepped away from ribbon so that was an added challenge for me.

Love working with the papers from the Simon Says Stamp kit!

I used one of my FAVorite CAS-ual Fridays sets:

Shenanigans

How are you inspired by the challenge?

Make sure you check out my teamies:

Ardyth

Donna

Jingle

Kelly

Laura

Mayuri

Sylvia

Tracey

Exclusive Dies from Top Dog Dies: nothing is impossible

Hello & Happy Thursday!

I have a final share using Exclusive Dies from Top Dog Dies:

cardstock:  pti paper:  carta bella hello again  stamps:  verve words of wisdom  ink:  hero arts hues  other:  top dog dies flower mosaic a2 mat die/butterfly die set

I used the

Flower Mosaic A2 Mat Die 

and

Butterfly Die Set

I was inspired by Lisa's

wanna Sketch?

I wanted to give a shout out to Top Dog Dies, for their generosity.  Their dies are so fun to work with and I have truly enjoyed designing with them.  A special shout out to the fantastic Design Team.  All of the gals are wonderful and so encouraging!

You may have noticed that I have stepped down from several teams this month.  My plate has been full with 10 Design Team obligations and with the summer coming up and my kids traveling, I just couldn't bear the thought of missing out on the opportunity to spend quality time with them.

Adventure.

Happy Wednesday!

I've taken a pic of this card like a bazillion times and I just can't seem to capture it:

So excuse the poor photo....but I had fun making it with my Fancy Pants goodies!

I was inspired by

CAS(E) this Sketch!

Half way through the work week!

my friend

sigh...too many toys, not enough time.

These adorable stamps have been waiting to be inked up!

paper:  studio calico  stamps:  avery elle red & goldie ink:  memento tuxedo, various copics  other:  spellbinders circle die

Red & Goldie

Pure cuteness by JJ Bolton and her boy.

How can you resist those images?

I was inspired by

retrosketches

Big changes in my household.  My girl has a job and an apartment! Sigh, time flies but I'm super thrilled for her!

May Inspiration Baking & Sewing: thanks a latte

This is post 2 of 2 for me today...click HERE for my Poppy Sketches post.

Super Excited and Honored to be a guestie over on Mariana's blog.

She's invited me to take part in her May Inspiration challenge:

Baking & Sewing

I was inspired by the photo & the colors:

cardstock:  stampin' up basic black/so saffron  paper:  basic grey hopscotch, dear lizzy lucky charm  stamps:  neat & tangled sketchy cupcakes, your next stamp thanks a latte  ink:  hero arts hues  other:  top dog dies bella doily

 I'm chuckling at the size difference of the latte cup and the cupcake...that's a venti latte and a monster cupcake♡

A big shout out to Thanh Vo for my newest coffee set, thanks a latte by your next stamp.  A girl can never have too many coffee sets..thanks girl!

The cupcake is from Neat & Tangled's Sketchy Cupcakes.

So whaddya think?  Why don't you play along and link up?!

Poppy Sketches #5: hello

This is post 1 of 2 for me today...click HERE for Mariana's May Inspiration Baking & Sewing challenge.

Hello and Happy Monday!

Yay for the long holiday weekend!

We're back with a new challenge over at

Poppy Sketches

Our Super Sponsor is

The Cutting Cafe

I played with the fun Polaroid set!
Here's how I was inspired:

cardstock:  RAK  digi:  the cutting cafe polaroid  other:  neat & tangled summer sky satin/cotton candy satin sequins, divine twine cotton candy, fancy pants design flair,  wood veneer, acetate 

Yes, another shaker card...I'm a shaker addict.

Can you believe that wood veneer is not adhered?  It looks like it is but when you shake the card, everything moves.

I can't wait to see how the challenge inspires you!

Make sure you check out the Poppy Sketches blog

and my teamies

Laura Davis

Lee Murphy

Renee Morris-Dezember
Lisa Petrella
Amy Crockett
Lori Tecler

Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop: happy birthday

It's that time, the monthly blog hop for Papertrey Ink!

Who can resist Aqua & Melon?

My goal with these hops to to ink up a set that I haven't played with yet, today is

Sweet Speech

I definitely have a love/hate thing with solid images...it's hard to capture the image when you use a paler shade of ink.  I have been literally racing around the house trying to find the perfect place to take the picture....darn overcast washington weather (sigh). 

I don't have anymore of the PTI inks so I substitute with Fresh Ink.  I like using Pool with Aqua Mist, I find it to be a good match.

Although I had both the Aqua Mist and Melon Berry out, I opted to go with the Aqua Mist (which has been dry embossed with the Lifestyle Crafts woodgrain folder).  The blooms have been stamped with Fresh Ink's Melon. 

The patterned panel is form Carta Bella's Hello Again collection.  Do you see PTI library card peeking out?  I've been loving adding texture to my cards and I slipped a fabric trading card underneath the Sweet Speech image.

I was inspired by THIS card designed by Melissa Phillips.

Can't wait to hop around!

time to celebrate!

 This is post 2 of 2 for me today...click HERE for my Chickaniddy Crafts project.

Hello, post number two for me today.  Evidently I thought today was the 25th when I was scheduling my blog posts earlier this week...more on that in a bit.

I generally don't like to post multiple times in one day but I was so inspired by a couple challenges AND I needed a birthday card for someone at work.

This card kind of took a life of its own.  I'm super happy to have used a highly neglect A Muse wood mount butterfly image that I've had for years...the '14' is from Avocado Arts Days & Months set.

I used bits & bobs from a couple collections including:

MME Market Street

Freckled Fawn

Studio Calico

Jillibean

I was inspired by the current

CASE Study

Obviously, the overall design of my card was inspired by Wida.   I was also inspired by:

arrow (freckled fawn glittery arrow)

butterfly (a muse butterfly)

gold (embossing & confetti)

word strips (Jillibean & mme)

splatters (confetti)

I was also inspired by

cure for the monday blues

I was inspired by:

pegboard (swiss dot embossed panel)

wood desk top (cherry wood veneer strip)

graphic print (butterfly embellishment)

So I accidently scheduled my PTI blog hop post for today...wrong day!

I'm sharing it since I'm inspired to created something else for tomorrow!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Chickaniddy Crafts Focus on Shapes: Circles

Today is my Chickaniddy Crafts day!  Our assignment was to focus on shapes:

Supplies:  Papers (DN140S01; CN14SP00; TG14OS08) Mini Sticker Sentiments (TG14EB05)

This card has several layers of goodness but what I started with is a 4.25 x 5.5 inch panel of the glorious gold foil, Goldie Lox.   I randomly laid circle dies on the panel and ran them through my little Cuttlebug.  You probably wouldn't know that I own a Silhouette Cameo, I tend to always fall back on my good 'ole wafer thin metal dies.

My card panel was covered with the Date Night Awesome Blossom paper.  I used the mint plaid for the base and used the blossoms on the flip side too!  Those blooms are super fun to fussy cut.

TIP:  Fussy cutting images can give a card a whole new look.

I'm thrilled that vellum has made such a strong comeback in cardmaking.  I love to use it for various reasons but on today's card it is used to soften everything up.  I didn't want to 'cover up' the base but I wanted my sentiment to POP.  Vellum has a way of keeping everything in check.

TIP:  Vellum is a great way to balance out a design.

A smidge of stitching on the top and bottom of the vellum panel not only adds to the design, it is a great way to adhere the panel to the base.

TIP:  Team up the Mini Sticker Sentiments with die cut words to add interest to your design.

What's your favorite Chickaniddy Crafts product?

Avocado Arts: Oh Boy!

TGIF!

Yay for long holiday weekends!

I'm sharing the last of my Avocado Arts cards I designed for the May Release.

This skinny card has the 'staches heat embossed in brown and the card is finished off with an Elle's Studio die cut:

Next up is another skinny card that has been heat embossed with Zing White:

Make sure you check out the Avocado Arts blog for tons of inspiration!

Just Fore You