4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #9 - Punches/Dies!

Good morning everyone! Welcome back to another challenge from 4 Crafty Chicks. It's my week to host the challenge and I picked punches/dies for my challenge. I was super doooper excited to try my hand at making gorgeous pansy flowers using the butterfly punch from Stampin' Up! There are sooo many tutorials out there on how to make them. I chose the technique that I saw on It's an Inkin' Stampede....and let me just say - they are FUN and EASY, PEESY to make! I will definitely be making more of them to put on my cards in the future!

My card also qualifies for the following challenges:

ABC Cards - 'G' is for GLITTER
Creative Card Crew - punches


Stamps: Verve; Paper: Bashful Blue, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi; Ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Concord Crush, Versafine Onyx Black; Accessories: perfect dots embossing folder, nestabilities, butterfly punch, 5 petal flower punch, jewel brads, dimensionals, glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter, black marker

I hope you make some time to sit and get crafty with us CHICKS this week! There are so many things you can do with punches/dies. I cannot WAIT to see your wonderful creations. Be sure to link your card, scrapbook page or 3D altered item on the 4 Crafty Chicks blog for your chance to win this week's prize donated by Melissa.

Happy craftin' and good luck!

Tuesday Night 3-in-1

Hello again crafting PEEPS! The wind is still a howlin' out there, but at least the snow has quit. We are in for a chance of more flurries tonight, but a slim chance, so we'll see! DH and the kids were busy playing the Wii tonight so I decided to take that little window of opportunity and *RUN* to my craft room, shut the door, plug in my iPod and get inky!!! :)

I decided to do Julia's wonderful sketch challenge over at Little Paper Shop Blog. I flipped it on it's side and decided to use a sentiment as my focal point. My DH loved the saying! This card also qualifies over at Totally Stampalicious for their challenge of "Flower Power!" and Crafty Catz Challenge Blog for their challenge of "Spots"

Here is my card using all 3 challenges:

Stamps: Growing Old (LPS); Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Pea DSP; Ink: Brilliance Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron; Accessories: paper piercer, nestabilities, flowers, brads, pearls, pumpkin pie ribbon, dimensionals, glue dots, sponges

Well, that is it for me tonight - I have a few challenges I am anxious to attempt tomorrow so until then, sleep tight!! G'night!

Wintery, Cold Thursday....

Good morning! It's a very cold, wintery, windy day here in central Alberta. We are still in a winter storm warning for our area. We woke up to a bit of snow, but nothing like southern Alberta. The sun is actually *trying* to shine now....There are power outages, highway #2 has a no-tow zone and RCMP are advising no travel south of Red Deer. Crazy!

It's a great morning to light some candles, brew the Starbuck's coffee and do a card! So, that's what I did :o) I decided to give the Diva Coffee Break Designs color combo of Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise and Dusty Durango a go...I found it a bit difficult actually. I started it last night and had to leave it overnight while I slept on it. Woke up this morning and finished it off...I think it turned out pretty good :) I went in search of a sketch to use for my colors and found a cool square card over at Splitcoaststampers and over at Your Next Stamp Challenge, they want us to "Go Dotty" and that's what I did! Also, over at the Creative Belli Blog, they want us to create a birthday themed card with some "older" products...my Pink Passion cardstock is older as it doesn't get used very often. This card also qualifies for the "Make It Sweet" challenge over at Pile It On!


...and here's my card using all 4 challenges!

Stamps: Happy Moments; Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Pink Passion, Dusty Durango; Ink: Versafine Black, Basic Black, Dusty Durango; Accessories: markers, paper piercer, pearls, nestabilities, durango ribbon, dimensionals, sponge dauber

I hope you all have a fantabulous Thursday! Happy crafting if you get any in...I *think* my Stamp Camp will probably proceed tonight as scheduled, but I'm not 100% sure yet. Depends on the weather as the day goes on. Ciao!

Bright, Sunshiney Day!

Good evening again...yep, it's WAYYYY past my bedtime (especially being as sick as I am) but DH is away tonight and the kids went to Nana and Papa's to have a sleepover - so I decided to chat with my great crafting PEEP, Leanne, online while I made one more card. I saw the new Color Throwdown color challenge and the Inspirational Card Sketch challenge for this week and knew *exactly* what I was gonna do....mwah, ha ha......

This card also qualifies for the Papertake Weekly Challenge of "Cutie Pie" - don'tchya think?!? LOL....

Isn't she cute too?! All these little ones are so adorable...I just love 'em :o)

Stamps: Sunshiney Day - MFT; Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, So Saffron DP; Ink: Basic Black, Versafine Black; Accessories: Nestabilities, paper piercer, pearls, markers, dimensionals

Sorry for the short, short post tonight, but my head is about ready to explode off my shoulders and my nose is a runnin' away on me...time to go and take some Benylin night time and crawl into my nice warm bed for the night. I hope to be back sometime tomorrow!! Ciao!

Bailey's, Verve and a Play Date

As you probably figured out from the title of this post.....I am having some Bailey's while crafting...YEP! I sure am - I am enjoying a scrumptious Cadbury's hot chocolate with some caramel-flavored Bailey's - YUMM-O! DH is gone away working for a few days, so I'm totally taking advantage of my craft room tonight!

I found some My Mind's Eye DP (yep, that I've been hoarding - shhhhhh!) to go along with this lovely color challenge from The Play Date Cafe...and....I also dug out a set from Verve that has not seen ink yet (head hung in shame). So, tonight was the night! The gals over at Flutter by Wednesday's wants us to use some "SPARKLE" on our flutterby's...so I added some gems to my butterfly :)

Usually, these colors would pose a slight "setback" on my crafting MOJO, but tonight - they went together just "tickitty-boo!" Hmm...wonder if it's the Bailey's....*eye roll* hahahaha...

Well, PEEPS, I've had an incredibly creative day today. Six cards posted! WOWZA's! I think that just *might* be a record for this girl. That's it for me tonight - time to clean up my craft zone and get things ready for tomorrow. The kids both have 4H and I am going to "attempt" a walk or the gym or SOMETHING tomorrow before I settle in for yet ANOTHER crafting frenzy tomorrow night! Yay!!! Stay tuned.........................

Blustery Friday!!

Wow, not sure if you are all keeping up with the weather in the past 24 hours here in central Alberta, but we've had quite a winter go-round! The main highway, Queen Elizabeth 2, was shut down from Ponoka to Airdrie last night due to numerous vehicles in the ditches and collisions due to the blowing snow and low visibility. I came home from Edmonton around 6:30 and it was NASTY! I had to stop a few times right in the middle of my lane on the highway cuz I could NOT tell where I was driving!! I hate driving in stuff like that when I have my kids with me....I was a bit stressed by the time I got home let me tell ya!! But...we made it home safe and sound and I had a tea, put my warm, fuzzy slippers on and crocheted on the couch under my warm afghan!!!

This morning it's windy, but no more snow has fallen. DH had to leave for about a 2 hour drive north to a job, so I got up with him around 5 and helped him get out the door, threw on the coffee pot, got dressed in my warm winter duds and got to work finding some challenges! Julia, over at Little Paper Shop, came up with a great sketch this week and Melissa and I were in Red Deer last week and popped in to see her! I bought some more of her wonderful stamps and decided that I just *HAD* to ink up this cutie!!!

I then needed some colors....well, given the image I chose, I needed some softer, "pajama-type" colors and Danielle over at Color Throwdown had a PERFECT combo for me!

The gals over at Crafty Creations Challenge Blog are wanting us to do some "paper piecing" for their Challenge #62....fits my card! :)

I hope you take the time to try out these awesome challenges - they are fabbie ones this week!!!


...and here is my little cutie-patootie girlie!

Stamps: Little Paper Shop (Beary Special?); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Old Olive DP, Bella DP (retired), Going Gray; Ink: Versafine Black, Basic Black; Accessories: various markers, gray pearls, white pearls, paper flowers, nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch, gray ribbon, sponge dauber

Thanks for stopping in this morning. I hope you have a fantastic Friday and I'm hoping to be back later on after school is done! Happy crafting!!

Pastel Valentine...

Good afternoon! I snuck in another card today in between helping my kids with their school work and getting lunches and supper made :) This time it was with colors that I don't use very often..the pastels. The color challenge comes from the Colour Create Challenge Blog. Be sure to pop on over and take part in this wonderful combination of colors! I decided to use a Bella for this card, and she is soooo "stinkin" cute (to quote my good friend, Tamie...luv ya girlie)

Recipe:

Stamps: Acrylic stamps and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Whisper White, Going Gray, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Black Versafine, Basic Gray

Accessories: clear embossing powder, paper piercer, embossing die cuts, embossing folders, scallop eyelet border punch, scallop border punch, dimensionals, markers, gems, pretty in pink ribbon, horizontal slot punch, corner punch

Both my kids are being home-schooled this year and so it is rare for me to have a full "ME" day by myself and tomorrow I just *MIGHT* get one! Kim is gone overnight to a friends house tonight and Calvin might be going to a friends too - maybe not overnight tonight, but for sure in the morning, so it will be just LIL 'OL ME here tomorrow for the majority of the day - until I need to hit the gym and pick up my daughter from gymnastics!! Oh...what trouble could I get into in the crafting world?!?! Hee Hee....

I hope you all have a fantastic evening...I'll be back a bit later - I have a few more challenges I'd love to check out! TTYL....

Happy Stamping!!

He Knows How to Find Me....

I came across a card made by Julee at Poetic Artistry and I wanted to make my own version....let me know what you think....I totally love this color combination :) I made the same card with 2 different sentiments on the front of the cross....

Stamps: Refuge and Strength

Ink: Bermuda Bay and Basic Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black and Bermuda Bay, Night and Day DP

Accessories: Finial Press embossing folder, black ribbon, dimensionals, corner punch, dies, pearls

Pretty Trees in Christmas Cocoa

Thank you, Tamie, for the color/layout inspiration over the phone tonight....I think this card turned out really well :) I am going to make some more of these ones but in different color schemes. Please let me know what you think - this idea was CASE'd partly from Melissa, and partly from Tamie and I discussing over the phone :) Happy stamping!!!

Stamps: Lovely As a Tree, Holiday Best

Ink: Soft Suede, Versamark

Paper: Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DP, Real Red, Soft Suede

Accessories: real red ribbon, winter white embossing powder, dies, gems

Birthday Bella

Another Stampingbella card....I am using my nestabilities today and they are so much fun! I sure have missed stamping! Life has been way too stressful and busy for me the past year....I am making an oath to myself to try and get back to creating something every week (at least) for myself! Hope you enjoy her!!

Stamps: daydreamabella from Stampingbella
Ink: staz on black
Paper: Whisper White and "Enchanting" series from My Mind's Eye
Accessories: nestabilities, riding hood red ribbon, paper piercer, markers, flower die cut, dimensionals, sponge dauber

Bella fun....

I dug out a new Stampingbella stamp today and decided to make myself a card. It's been a while since I have stamped "just cuz." So, this was the creation I came up with. I used a sketch from Blogabella and it was a lot of fun! I dug through all my stash of DP's and this is the combo I came up with. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: ampleeTUDE from Stampingbella, Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!)
Ink: Staz On black
Paper: Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Teal, Riding Hood Red, "Enchanting" line from My Mind's Eye
Accessories: reinkers, water pen, riding hood ribbon, nestabilities, small/large oval, scallop oval, scallop edge punch, dimensionals

Fifth Avenue beauty....

I have had a few new products sitting on my craft room counter waiting to be used and loved....so today I decided to dig 'em out and use them. I made this card with my Fifth Avenue Floral set and used my new Oval All set, scallop oval punch and my new Sizzlits die, Little Leaves. It was a lot of fun making this card, hope you enjoy it!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Oval All
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Paper: Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Damask and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folders, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Sizzix die Little Leaves, black ribbon, black brads, Scallop oval punch, dimensionals, white gel pen

Parisian MOJO75

I finished Julee's Mojo Monday Challenge from yesterday...if you get a chance to play along, that would be great! CLICK HERE to head on over to Julee's blog and play with us!
Here is my card that I created using her sketch....I hope you enjoy it!


Recipe:
Stamps: Pocket Sillouettes
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Whisper White and Parisian Breeze DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: dauber, nesties, scallop edge punch, choc brads, ticket corner punch, dimensionals, felt flowers

Crafting with a friend....

....is always a lot more fun than being alone. Thanks, Melissa, for coming over and doing Taylor's Cupcake Challenge with me. I think we stamped out some pretty rockin' cards! :o) Melissa and I both have to work bingo tonight, so I'm posting this now and then will go hop in the shower.
I made 2 cards today for the challenge. I used my new square scallop nesties for one card and my new labels nesties for the other....enjoy!

















Recipe:

Stamps: Doodle This
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Pretty In Pink
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Assessories: nestabilities, chocolate ribbon, sponge dauber, chocolate, pink and vanilla pearls, chocolate brads, dimensionals, cuttlebug folders, corner punch

SCS Card Sketch Challenge

Today was a super day for me - I *finally* broke my weight loss plateau that I have been sitting at for a month or so and I'm so pumped - feels great to be a LOSER again!! HEE HEE!! I decided to spoil myself tonight and NOT do any household chores and sit in my craft room :o) I decided to go check out the Splitcoaststampers Card Sketch Challenge for this week and give it a whirl....I really liked how my sample turned out...here's the sketch they gave us:















And here is my card:



















Recipe:

Stamps: Zoofari
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Hawaiian Papaya DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: corner punch, prima flowers, vanilla brad, orange gems, markers, tangerine tango ribbon, paper piercer, dimensionals, cuttlebug folder, square scallop nestabilities

Thanks a Latte....

Oh my goodness is today a day for latte's or what?!? This wind and blowing snow is crazy....the thermometer is reading -24C but with the windchill, it is -33C!! Brrr...good thing I got to stay home today and light my candles, bake, and play in my craft room :o)
After I got all my prep done for my second Stamp Club night this coming Monday, I sat down and made a little sumthin' sumthin'...I was at the Drayton Valley SS with my good friend, Leanne, last Monday and I bought a new stack of designer paper called The Sweet Stack by DCWV. I saw this sheet and saw "COFFEE" written all over it - not really sure why, maybe just the colors...so I went to work. Please see the recipe below. Thanks for stopping by on this cold, blustery night! Take care....

Recipe:

Stamps: Hot Stuff from MFT

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White, Sweet Stack DP

Accessories: chocolate ribbon, nestabilities, sponge dauber, half-back pearls, blender pen

Baby Diva

This image is from a very cute set that I found at my LSS...it's called Little Cupcake by Inkadinkado....isn't she just adorable?!!! I had fun making this card tonight.....

Recipe:

Stamps: Little Cupcake by Inkadinkado

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DP

Ink: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Pink Pirouette ribbon, nestabilities, dimensionals, ticket corner punch, assorted unknown brads, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug EF

Chillin'....

I totally LOVE this little stamp! You could color this one in soooo many cool color combinations. I chose the Urban Garden DP for my color combo tonight. I added Crystal Effects to the dots on the bathtub and it seems to add a neat detail to the card. Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Recipe:

Stamps: Chill Out by MFT

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Urban Garden DP

Ink: Staz On Black, Not Quite Navy and Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Nestablities, Kiwi Kiss ribbon, crystal effects, blender pen, Not Quite Navy marker, dimensionals, Going Gray marker, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug EF

Sneak Peek....

Only a few more weeks until the new catalog is here! I'm so pumped...I can't wait to see what other goodies they have in store for us addicted paper crafters :o) Here is a sneak peek at one of the new sets in the upcoming catty...it's called Just Buzzin' By and it's sooo super cute! I love the little bees - their sweet little faces are adorable! Thanks for stoppin by.....

Recipe:

Stamps: Just Buzzin' By

Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, More Mustard DP, Watercolor Paper, Whisper White

Ink: Timber Brown Staz On

Accessories: Scor Pal, circle and pinking circles Nestabilities, Big Shot, MS border edge punch, white gel pen, brown brads, earth elements watercolor crayons, water pen, chocolate ribbon, dimensionals

Off the retired shelf.....

I couldn't decide what to work on this evening, so my good friend, Leanne, told me to go and grab a set, any set, and we' d make a card together online...she's about 3.5 hours away from me. So...I took out A Touch of Nature (retired) and can you believe that I have NEVER inked this set up?!? *GASP!* I know....crazy. I enjoy all the images in it. I saw the idea in a gallery on SCS somewhere (I'm sorry, I don' t know who's - if you recognize the card, please let me know so I can give you credit!) and I knew I just had to make one...very pretty! Thanks for stopping by....

Recipe:

Stamps: Touch of Nature (retired), En Francais, Thank You Kindly

Paper: Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla

Ink: Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Basic Black

Accessories: purple ribbon, cuttlebug folder, big shot, ticket corner punch, sponge dauber, nestabilities

PS...50 MINUTES UNTIL THE RETIRED LIST COMES OUT!!!!!