Spellbinders | Hello Fall

Thanks to my friends at Spellbinders for sending me the October Small Die of the Month:

This set of dies is truly amazing!  I designed this card using the beautiful acorn:

Super easy to put together and that acorn top?  I upcycled a Starbucks coffee sleeve.  Isn't the texture perfect for my overall card design?  That persimmon Echo Park panel is on foam adhesive.

Can't wait to design more cards with those fun dies!

affiliate links at no extra cost to you:

A Friendly Hello Trio

It's wonderfully Festive Fall in the Pacific Northwest.  The weather is perfect, sunny + 70's.  I wish it was like this year round!  It had me in the mood to make a trio of Fall themed cards.  This year I'm going to try something a smidge different.  Rather than trying to do a mass mailing in December, I'm going to try to spread it over October - December.  

Fall is definitely my favorite season both in real life and crafting:

All the paper is from the Celebrate Autumn collection by Echo Park Paper.  Let's chat about my first card:

I combined various panels from the Celebrate Autumn 6x6 paper pad with images from the Hello Bluebird - Fall Friends stamp set.  The other weekend I had a fun time at crafty day with friends.  We used coloring pencils and it reminded me I had a basic set by Prima - Thanks Kimberly!  That fimo button was made by my friend Annette Allen!

Here's a card duo using ephemera from the Celebrate Autumn collection.  Do you spy the fun black poms from my stash?

In case you didn't know, tomorrow is National Coffee Day!

The fun starts on the Coffee Loving Cardmaker's blog at 6 am pacific!

Some links are affiliate at no extra cost to you:

Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Day Three - Part Two

How's your weekend going?!  Today is commenting and crafting day for me.  We're still going strong on the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  There is so much wonderful inspiration, it's awesome. 

We're so excited to announce one of our newest Super Sponsors...Echo Park Paper!  The Coffee Loving Cardmaker's team is all playing with their But First Coffee stamp set which is available at Super Sponsor Butterfly Reflections Ink store!

I stamped those fabulous Echo Park Paper to go cups on Super Sponsor Reverse Confetti Stone cardstock with Super Sponsor Hero Arts Navy Shadow Ink.  I fussy cut them and then heat embossed the sentiment in Hero Arts copper embossing powder on a vellum belly band.

Any diehard Basic Grey fans out there?  If you're out there reading this post then you can appreciate my use of their Persimmon collection.

Isn't the But First Coffee stamp set awesome?!  I just LOVE all the sentiments and that perfect to-go cup!

That's it for me....have you been hopping along?!  There is just so much inspiration, it's so much fun!

Let's Chill!

The weather has been so weird lately in the Pacific Northwest...luckily it has cooled down.  Sounds like in other parts of the US, it's pretty toasty.  This card is for all of you trying to stay cool:

I love the Reverse Confetti Tag Me Confetti Cuts.  One of my go-to tag dies.  I've teamed it up with the oh-so-fun, Let's Chill stamp +  Confetti Cuts.

Just say yes to a felt popsicle and glittery gold popsicle stick!  I totally scored on the designer paper...I found it while cleaning this weekend.  This cleaning process has been taking way too long.

I was totally inspired by my friend, Donna Mikasa who is the featured Designer for Tag You're it!

Fusion: You are so very loved.

Hello and Happy Friday Eve!

This has been a whirlwind week for me and the fun keeps on going!  We have a brand new Fusion Card Challenge for you:

 PROCEDURES:

1. Play with just the sketch challenge.

2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.

3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.

4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.

5. Please read the other considerations on the Our Rules Page before playing along.

I love BOTH the inspiration and the sketch, how about you?!  Sometimes I surprise myself with the end result of my project.  I'm such a nautical fan that initially I thought I would combine the two and do a nautical card, then I gravitated towards a non-traditional graduation card:

paper:  echo park/paper & glue  stamps:  verve/words of wisdom  ink:  memento tuxedo  other:  project life card, Lifestyle crafts glasses die, black craft foam

I recently picked up the Echo Park Paper & Glue paper pad.  It's a great collection of bright colors but what drew me to it were the glasses...love those.

Here's the interior of the card, love the Verve Words of Wisdom set:

This is when I tell you that my boy graduates in a week...a week.  I can't begin to tell you how quickly time has flown by (eyes welling up).  I'm such a proud Momma...this boy of mine has managed to participate in many clubs, enrolling in tons of AP level courses, earning an AP Scholar with Distinction...I am truly blessed with two beautiful intelligent kids.  Hands down, being their Momma has been and will always be the highlight of my life.

My boy will be leaving for New York in late August and I couldn't be more thrilled for him.  He was meant to go to school in NYC and I know that he'll truly shine. 

Don't forget that tomorrow is the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  We have 34 Sponsors and it is guaranteed to be tons of fun!!!!

Make sure you check out the Fusion Design Team!

Deanne   

Betty J

Jeanne

Julia

Katie

Kelly

Kimberly

Lyndal

Lynn

Michelle L

Michelle W

Stephanie

Whisker Graphics: hello

Happy Hello!

Today's my day up on the Whisker Graphics blog! 

I'm sharing this fun & springy altered Brown Kraft Bag.

These bags are so fun to use as a blank canvas...the possibilities are endless!

paper:  echo park  stamps:  reverse confetti/the buzz  ink:  memento tuxedo, various copics  other:  whisker graphics brown kraft bag, whisker graphics large colored tag, bright white solid divine twine, misc button, reverse confetti sun 'n clouds confetti cuts, lifestyle crafts embossing folder, Impress felt 

I teamed it up with a large tag.  Did you see how well it dry embosses?!

This will make a gift bag to tuck in a special treat!

My project was inspired by:

Muse Challenge #108

Isn't Michele's card so inspiring?!!!

Brown Kraft Bags

Large Colored Tags

Bright White Solid Divine Twine

I'd love for you to pop over to the Whisker Graphics blog!

Fusion: fancy hello

We're back with a new Fusion Card Challenge!

I know I say this all the time, but isn't this a fun one?!

This week I'm going with the inspiration photo!

cardstock:  recollections/white/110  paper:  studio calico/atlantic, echo park/dots & stripes  stamps:  waffle flower bowtiful  ink:  memento tuxedo  other:  waffle flower mailable 3D bow

I adore pale blue and red together!  Such a fun look!

Fancy Hello

Love that.

Waffle Flower

Bowtiful

Waffle Flower

Mailable 3D Bow

I can't wait to see how you're inspired!

Make sure you check out the Fusion Design Team!

Betty J

Jeanne

Julia

Katie

Kelly

Kimberly

Lyndal

Lynn

Michelle L

Michelle W

Stephanie

With a push from Kimberly, I'm also linking up to CASology

Just a quick reminder about the Coffee Lovers Spring Hop!  The fun starts tomorrow, Friday, February 27th at 6 am pacific on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog!

Confetti Creative Hop!

This is post 1 of 2 for today...click HERE for my The Alley Way Guest Designer post!

It’s the 8th of the month and, as you know, we hop on the 8th of every month.  Although this month is  a non-release month, we still have some fabulous Confetti Creativity to share with you!!!

You should have arrived here from the awesome Kathy Martin's blog!  If not, you'll want to start at the beginning of the hop which is the Reverse Confetti blog!  In case of a break or if you detour, there is a full list of Confetti Crew members and ‘Fetti Friends hopping on the Reverse Confetti blog!

Be sure to leave a comment at each stop along the way for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate!  Comments are open until Thursday at noon CST and a winner will be announced on Friday.

The coupon code is valid February 8, 9 and 10 on new retail orders placed through the Reverse Confetti site.  The coupon code must be entered at the time order is placed.  No refunds or adjustments will be made.  Limited to in stock items.  No rainchecks.

Big shout out to my teamie Amber!  I had the fabulous opportunity to meet up with her plus a bunch of other wonderful bloggie friends...more on that on another day!

So, if you've been following me for a bit, you know that I have 2 kids.  My daughter is going to college and living in an apartment with 2 of her friends and I love to send her happy mail.  With Valentine's Day around the corner, I embellished some chocolate for her:

Heart shaped Junior Mints and a gigantic Hershey's Kiss!

For the Junior Mints, I wrapped the box with a belly band and used the Circles 'n Scallops Confetti Cuts to have a spotlight for the sentiment from the Sugary Sweet Sentiments set!  I added the Studio Calico gems as a bit of contrast.

I love the size of this Kiss!

Felt, who doesn't love felt?  I used the Petals 'n Posies Confetti Cuts with wool felt.   It's such a fun way to top a giftie!  The box has a woodgrain belly band which is a fun contrast with the felt.

sugary sweet sentiments

circles 'n scallops

petals 'n posies confetti cuts

That's it for me...now hippety hop over to the super Amy Sheffer's blog!

cure for the monday blues: shine bright

click HERE for the SugarPea Designs 1st Birthday Bash Blog Hop

TGIF!!!!

paper:  echo park/dots & stripes, simples stories/vintage bliss  stamps:  neat & tangled/sparkle and shine  ink:  ranger archival/jet black  other:  pebbles tape

Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by

cure for the monday blues

I was inspired by

the colors

the lighting fixture

I used

Neat & Tangled

Sparkle and Shine

Isn't that a fun set?  

I always enjoy Taheerah's challenges!

papertrey ink July 2014 hop: reason to smile.

Click HERE for CAS-ual Friday Challenge 134, the last one for 2014 & a Give-a-way!

It's that time again, the Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop!

Check out the inspiration photo:

So, I should start by saying that I love that red/white gingham...a lot.  I even started cutting strips of cardstock to do some paper weaving and then ditched the idea.

I tend to always fall back on the Phrase Play collection:

cardstock:  PTI pure poppy/vintage cream  paper:  Echo Park for the record  stamps:  PTI phrase play #1  ink:  hero arts hues  other:  PTI phrase play #1 die, impress wood button, may arts twine

So here goes:

gingham:  switched it up and used green/white gingham

red/cream colors:  used it with phrase play #1

doily:  check

floral bouquet:  check

buttons:  check

wooden spools:  wooden button

thread:  twine

Phrase Play #1

Phrase Play #1 Die

Pure Poppy

Vintage Cream

I can't wait to see how everyone else was inspired!