coffee is happiness in a cup

So, if you've been following me for any amount of time, you'll know that I have several coffee stamp sets.  

So, in honor of Monday's National Coffee Day, my resolution was to post coffee themed cards this entire week!

I combined My Minds Eye's Jubilee collection with Verve Stamps!

cardstock:  stampin' up gumball green, chickaniddy crafts goldie lox  paper:  mme jubilee  stamps:  verve coffee/one cup/small packages  ink:  memento tuxedo, mowed lawn distress ink  other:  verve small packages dies

I managed to use 3 different Verve sets

Coffee

(Yay Chaitali!)

One Cup

(I love how this easily mixes & matches to the Coffee set!)

and

Small Packages

Even having one week to whip up coffee cards doesn't begin to make a dent in my coffee stamp collection.

I was inspired by

Viva La Verve (week 4)

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop: you're the best!

Today is the day...in honor of National Coffee Day, Chaitali came up with this super hop:

Coffee Lovers Blog hop

Make sure you stop by her blog!

Check out the sponsors!

Something that is newly added to the hop:

Flash Sponsors!  Every 3 hours there will be a giveaway posted on the FB Event page!

A BIG Shout out to ALL of the wonderful Sponsors for this event!!!!

...and there's more!

We decided to throw in 2 special choice awards

Chaitali's Choice

&

Amy's Choice

We will each pick a winner and they will be posted on Chaitali's blog on Friday.  Each winner will receive a $15 Simon Says Stamp Gift card!

So, if you've been following me for any amount of time, you'll know that I have several coffee stamp sets.  There has been chatter regarding this hop for a bit and I was fretting about which stamp set to use.  

So, my resolution was to post coffee themed cards this entire week!

Who bought the Simon Says Stamp October kit? 

Bonus points for using that awesome yarn that I picked up in Friday Harbor.  Really, it was for the spool but isn't it a gorgeous color and matched the Basic Grey Grand Bazaar perfectly:

paper & stamps:  simon says stamp october 2014 kit  other:  wool yarn

I'm trying to find another 'sweet spot' for photography.  With the change in weather and lack of natural light it's been a challenge.  Yes, I have 2 light tents, but after stepping away from them, I don't want to go back.

If you could see the room that this photo was taken in.  Yup, it is my craft room and basically everywhere except on top of that vintage suitcase is a PURE MESS.

Can you tell that the mug is on foam dots?  I colored in the coffee with copics.

I did a very clean & simple version of 

retro sketches

Also linking up to Simon Says Stamp:

Anything Goes!

I'm really looking forward to hopping this evening {darn work gets in the way of my crafty time!}.

Virginia Lu came up with some questions that we could add to our post today:

1. When did you start drinking coffee?

I can't remember when I started but I'm sure that it was when I started to work full time, way long time ago.

2. What is favorite brand (you can name up to three). 

I know, I'm going to be boring and say Starbucks.  I like them for their consistency.  

3. What is the most amazing coffee that you had? Remember where and when?

Kyoto, Japan October 2000

4. If I don't drink my needed coffee, I will...

get a headache

become grumpy

need to go to sleep

(not necessarily in that order)

Thanks so much for stoppin' by!!!!!!

you make me happy

Today is the start of my week long coffee inspired projects!

Let the fun begin!

paper:  pebbles home made  stamps:  sweet stamp shop coffee town  ink:  hero arts hues

I was inspired by

Freshly Made Sketches

I've thrown the challenge out to my crafty friends Tonya, Kimberly and Katie.   Check out Kimberly's awesome card HERE.

Tomorrow is THEE big hop:

The fun starts at 6 am pacific!

There's additional good news about the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop...

Flash Giveaway Sponsors!

Every 3 hours there will be a giveaway by one of our FABulous Sponsors!

Latina Crafter
Paper Temptress
The Heart Desires
Butterfly Reflections, Ink.
Paper Issues

I can't wait for tomorrow!!  Want to join the festivities?  Here's the link to the Facebook Event page or check out Chaitali's blog!

Friends are the best gift of all

Hello & Happy Saturday!

I have a couple cards to share today:

cardstock:  pti white  paper:  stampin' up gold soiree ink:  fresh ink mint reinker  other:  mambi sticker

This is a fun mish-mash of products...something that I don't generally do.

The base panel is Designer Paper from Stampin' Up called Gold Soiree.  The center image is a sticker from MAMBI....more on that in a smidge.  See that mint color wash?  That's compliments of my Fresh Ink reinker.

I was inspired by

Cure for the Monday Blues

There was so much to be inspired by but I focused my design on 

gold

mint

circle

Here's a little peek into my design handbook, my Stampin' Up 2014-2015 catty:

page 240

MAMBI....seriously, up until this year, I always thought of their classic stick figures.  Then Kimberly RAK'd me some of their journal cards and stickers and I started to follow their blog.  So when they had a DT call, I quietly applied.  I submitted some projects that used their products and some that did not.  Imagine my surprise when I saw THIS...can you spot my design?  Well, this when I should tell you that I received the dreaded thank you but no thank you.  I'm not surprised because of seriously, look at all of those awesome projects.  Here's the thing, I was really proud of the things I did submit and I'm of the school that if things don't work out, there's a reason for it...I'm okay with it.  Best wishes to everyone that applied...I spot several of my bloggie friends & teamies!

Next up is a fun card that I'm pretty happy with:

cardstock:  pti white  stamps:  paper smooches hot concoctions/friendly flowers & chit chat, sweet stamp shop stuck on this  ink:  memento tuxedo, various copics other:  stampin' up tiny triangles embossing folder, mme wood dots, making memories clip, reverse confetti beautiful banners confetti cuts, impress felt

This is based on a handful of challenges but I hope you can see what it is...a sweet little succulent...or is that a cactus?

I'm linking up to

Paper Smooches Sparks

Anything Goes!

Can you spot the Paper Smooches Stamps?

Hot Concoctions

(I used one of the mugs as the planter)

Friendly Flowers

(I decorated my planter with the smaller blooms) 

Chit Chat

 (my sentiment)

I was thoroughly inspired by

Moxie Fab World

Pretty Plants

I used Sweet Stamp Shop's Stuck on This with felt from Impress.

Had to play along with

CASE Study

I'm seriously going to miss this challenge and hope that it comes back soon but I totally 'get it'.

So, you have heard of this, haven't you?

Coffee Lovers Bloghop

You'll want to rush over to Chaitali's blog on Monday and link up :)

Check out some of the Sponsors:

In honor of National Coffee Day, I'm planning all my blog posts for next week to be all things coffee!

Neat & Tangled September Release Day: Turkey Talk

We made it...today is Neat & Tangled's September Release Day!

We do have one more set with coordinating dies to feature!

Turkey Talk

Turkey Talk Nice & Neat Dies

I went super clean & simple on this set (translation:  postal friendly).

I colored mr. turkey with distress inks:

Project Life cards are so much fun to use in cardmaking, don't you agree?

This one cracked me up:

For all you vegans out there.

LOL

I'm so NOT a Vegan.

The X was created using the Santa's Tags set

Yes, I could have just ran a sharpie through the turkey image but why when I have stamps that will work?!  

I literally whipped this card up this morning so I apologize for the poor photography, not much sunlight at 4 am.  edited to add new photo!

I used the pumpkin from the Be Full set.

Remember to check out the Neat & Tangled blog for more inspiration and a give-a-way!!!!

hello boston!

Last weekend I was able to meet up with Thanh, Sparkle & Baby Boston!

Here's a sneak peek at my giftie packaging for Baby Boston:

We're huge Fruit-a-tarians and I've been keeping some of the plastic clamshell boxes:

Why yes, the Altenew Sketchy Cities America, is perfect for Mr. Baby Boston!  I combined it with Altenew's Super Script.

Curious what is inside the packaging?

When I saw this at my local Farmers Market last weekend, I had to get it.  

(I know those buttons and braids might be a baby hazard..messaging Sparkle now while I think of it!}

Gah, but isn't it cute?!

I was inspired by

September Challenge:  From the Craft Room

Super fun, eh?

Here are a couple pics from our breakfast:

thanh & baby boston

Check out his smirk:

Sorry Sparkle!  I should have gotten a pic of you and your sweet boy!

Neat & Tangled September Release: Origami Map

Post 2 of 2 for me today...click HERE for Fusion Card Challenge!

Hello Neat & Tangled Fans!

We're on Day 4 of the Neat & Tangled September Release!  What have been your FAVES so far?  I know, I know...all of it :)

Today will certainly not disappoint you!

Today we're featuring

Origami Map

by Miriam Prantner

Here...I'll spare you from rotating your view:

I know, isn't it FABulous?!

I teamed it up with Studio Calico's Brighton Pier {Thanks Lisa!}.

I heat embossed the map in gold. I stamped the fabulous sentiment in black....which I think works nicely with the:

wake up and be awesome

This is going to go to my boy as he starts the college application process.  So exciting and a smidge scary for this Momma.  I'm so thankful that my girl is going to college in state but I do have to admit that I was an emotional mess when she moved into the dorms....I can't believe what I'll be like if my boy goes out of state...specifically NY state.  That's a bit of a drive from Washington State :)  He knows that I want him to pick what's best for him and the opportunity for him to live in NY is really calling his name.

It's all good...I know that he'll:

go and do amazing things

I really crafted up a storm for this release and averaged at least 2 projects per set!  It's all so easy when everything is so over the top AWESOME to work with!

Here's a shaker card using the Origami Map:

Brownie points for using the pocket card that was in my stash.  I'm pretty sure that I received it as a rak and I've been saving it for something perfect and I'm super happy how it pops off of the kraft base.

Those sequins:

Neat & Tangled Crystal Clear

That's it for me today!

Remember to pop over to the Neat & Tangled blog for tons of inspiration and for a give-a-way!!!

FUSION: sunflower

post 1 of 2 for me today...click HERE for Neat & Tangled's September Release!

Hello and Welcome to the new Fusion:

I totally started out trying to combine both the inspiration photo and the sketch.  I could not seem to get the 'ole mojo to work with the colors!  That was super odd & frustrating for me since I LOVE working with the color yellow!

So I opt'd for the sketch:

cardstock:  simon says stamp/september 2014  paper:  simon says stamp/september 2014/october afternoon  stamps:  claudine hellmuth/so retro, verve/words of wisdom  ink:  memento/rich cocoa  other:  dcwv cork, lifestyle crafts glasses, spellbinders circle die, misc washi

I'm such a bad card kit subscriber.  I really should be subscribing on a quarterly basis for the Simon Says Stamp kits.  There is just no way for me to keep up with all the products I currently own (and keep purchasing!) along with the SSS kits.  

Here's the thing, the Sept kit is awesome but if I really thought about it, what was attracting me to the kit was the October Afternoon papers.  (Did anyone else have issues with the ledger washi in the kit...gah, mine would not 'unroll' for me...it kept ripping and left the tape below it horribly sticky..boo).  Truthfully, I'm not a book reader.  I buy them (at garage sales) and have quite the stash of them but right now, my free time is taken up by this crazy hobby of mine and keeping up with my Feedly & Facebook.  I'm okay with that.  Things will eventually shift for me.  Given my crazy sleep schedule {6 hours of sleep, generally waking up by 3 am), by the time I pick up a book, I instantly fall asleep..LOL.

Okay, back to the card.  I made this especially for one of my bestie's daughter.  She's starting at the University of Washington..moved into the dorms last weekend.  

Do you spot the gold zig zag stitching on the red patterned panel?

Here's the interior of the card:

She is the first person in her family to go to a University.  She's a sweet girl and a whipper snapper.  I have no doubts that she will succeed in anything she puts in mind to.

If you're a fan of sentiments, THIS Verve set is awesome.

I didn't use the washi from the kit, I was having issues with it {read above}...so I used this mystery roll because well, manufacturers are missing out by not printing their deets on the interior core of the roll so that we can credit them.

Make sure you check out my teamies for awesome inspiration:

Betty J

Dannielle Robeson

Deepti

Jeanne Jachna

Julia Aston

Katie Brooks

Kelly Griglione

Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Stephanie Severin