I didn't forget how to COLOR!!

It has been close to a year since I last picked up a Copic Marker and I am so excited to see that I have not forgotten how

I created this fun card for my nephew who was turning 24.  Wonder if he ever received it?  I haven't heard. Not sure if I am more concerned about my creation sitting in some corner of the postal system or the check that was inside!!

Closer look at my shading and stitches.  

I just adore sewing on cards, don't you?? 

After I cut out my colored image I gave it dimension with foam squares.  The Birthday sign was actually stamped a second time then I cut out just the part with the message and popped it up with additional foam squares.  

The stamp is made by Whimsy and that dog's front feet are cracking me up!

This is sort of Masculine, Right?

As this post goes live I will be on my way to Antigua for a little Rest and Relaxation. Prior to leaving I was on a crazy creative MOJO Streak so I hope that you will continue to visit. This will be the perfect time to catch up on posting items that I've not had the time to share.

Today's card features another new line of stamps being sold at ABC Toys & Crafts. new Rachell Anne Miller Stamp Set ( CAKES are YUMMY ). The coloring and paper piecing possibilities are endless. Ordinarily I wouldn't look at this stamp set and think masculine, however, I am thinking that the color combo and the lack of buttons, bows or ribbon, this could definately pass for MASCULINE!!! (so I used a one of the frilly Circle Die and the cake plate is pink, I suppose this is as masculine as I could muster)

What do you think??

Click on the ABC Design Blog Blinkie over in the right side bar to see what the rest of the Design Team has created using the Rachelle Anne Miller stamps.

CHALLENGES I USED:
Crafty Creations: Red, Brown, Green
Meljens: Anything Goes
Fresh Brewed: Sweet Treats

.....................Supplies I used.......................
(highlighted items are available and linked to ABC Toys & Crafts)
Stamps: Rachelle Anne Miller (cakes are yummy)
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (chocolate chip, certainly celery, ), Bazzill Basics (red/pink)
Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants (wildhearts), The paper Studio
Tools: Spellbinders (lacey circles), Cuttlebug, Singer Sewing Machine
Misc: Stickles (crystal), Making Memories Charms (celebrate)

ABC Inspiration Challenge

The ABC Toys and Crafts Design Team challenged each other to use the above montage photo. I was inspired by the cherries and the bold Blue & Red Color Combo!!

We would love to see your take on our challenge and maybe YOU will be the WINNER of THIS

(click on Blinkie for complete DETAILS)

Here is a close up of the brand new Designs by Leere " PARTY GIRL " stamp that I used. Isn't she FUN?

My project is actually a pocket card that I stitched up the sides rather than just gluing. I love how the note card that is tucked into the pocket sticks up and resembles a tiered cake. I added polka dots to her party dress by touching my colored image with the Clear Blending Marker. If you look closely, you can also see that I gave my image eyeballs and FILLED her glass with "Vino".

My girlfriend Kristy's birthday was Friday night and I created a "Party in a Bag". The contents of the bag included: Vino Frappe' (a slushie mix that is made using WINE", Mediterranean Gourmet Pita Chips and a Spicy Gourmet Mediterranean Dip mix AND a BEAUTIFUL PARTY GLASS for the Birthday Girl!!!). Here is a photo of she and I with her fun Glass.

Challenges I Used:
ABC Toys & Crafts: Inspiration Photo
Stampin for the weekend: Tag It
The Crazy Challenge: Let's Cook it (cherries & wine come from the kitchen, as did all of the goodies in my package)
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: Celebrations
Creative Inspirations: 2 or more Stamped Images (party girl & happy birthday sentiment)
Wild Orchid Challenge: Ribbons & Bows
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle: Stitching

..............Supplies I used................
Bold Items are available at ABC Toys & Crafts---Use Discount Code ABC20JF to save 20%
Stamps: Stampavie (Leere Designs "Party Girl), Hero Arts (Happy Birthday),
Cardstock: Stampin Up (bliss blue, real red), Gina K (white 120lb)
Patterned Paper: Stampin Up
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black),
Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders (Nestabilities Scalloped Ovals), sewing machine, Martha Stewart edge punch (Scallop Dot), Stampin Up (Sizzix label die)
Misc: Ribbon scrap & Antique Button

Spooky lil Treat Box

This week the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team theme was " HALLOWEEN "
(there is a blinkie on my side bar titled ABC Design Blog where you can see what everyone else designed)

Is that "TREAT BOX" to die for or WHAT.... WANT TO MAKE ONE?? WANT A FREE TEMPLATE?? Visit Georgia MacDonald to grab yours (be sure and tell her I said THANK YOU because I've now made several)

I'm all about VERSATILITY when it comes to my stamp sets and I want to get as much bang for my buck as I possibly can. I chose to get inky with the "EEK A MONSTER" Stamp set from My Cute Stamps. Take a look at how I could dress that one eyed monster and

BOOM......... It's a Birthday Card for a GIRL

Here is a close up of the same monster dressed in blue / green...... See how easily he transforms into a BOY?? or better yet, UNISEX..........
CHALLENGES I USED:
Little Red Wagon: Stars
Sew Many Challenges: Embossing (I used heat embossing for the monsters and sentiment)
Paper Sundaes: Min of 3 embellishments (ribbons, eye, button, chipboard star, handmade rosette)
Pals Paper Arts: Halloween
Totally Gorjuss: Flowers (I created my own Rosette out of paper)
Our Creative Corner: Fun with Folds (I used a fold technique for the Rosette but there was lots of folding done to create my treat box as well)

STAY TUNED to my blog where I will show you how this same monster TRANSFORMS into a GET WELL MONSTER!!!!

There is still PLENTY of TIME to think about what you will create for Halloween this year
HOWEVER
TIME is RUNNING OUT

Happy Birthday to ME (almost)

What an appropriate theme for this weeks posting over at the ABC Design Team Blog because here at my house it is BIRTHDAY CENTRAL. My little sister and her family will arrive here from Atlanta today but tomorrow We are setting up for a A BIG Birthday Bash!!! We will have 4 cakes to celebrate her birthday, my birthday, my husbands birthday and our neighbors, which are all within a 5 day period ;o0)

Let's CELEBRATE
SAVE 20% off your entire order
at
ABC Toy's & Crafts
----> ABC20JF <---- (offer expires 9/30/10)

That being said, I created this birthday card for my daughter (I don't think she checks my blog so hopefully I am safe) whose birthday is at the end of September. When this "Beautiful Peacocks" stamp set was released by Hero Arts, I quickly let Julie (the ABC store owner) know how much I had to have it!!! (DON'T PANIC, this set is temporarily on back order and will be in the store SOON..... SEE it is a MUST HAVE)

Take a closer look at My proud Peacock's bling bling and how much fun he was to color.....

This time I colored using my Copic Markers but wouldn't this be fun to try using other mediums?? Trust me, the spaces are color friendly so whether you are an expert the Copics or just starting out, you will feel like a pro.

HERE is a peek at how I stamped the inside of the card using two more of the stamps that this set includes (the Birthday sentiment is not part of this stamp set)

ABC Toys & Crafts PRODUCTS USED:


CHALLENGES I USED:
One Stitch at a Time: Girlie &/or Color Scheme (I used both but I was also inspired by the circles in the color scheme)
Little Red Wagon: Paint (that beautiful paper behind my main image was HAND PAINTED in Florence, Italy)
The Pixie Cottage: Family (this card is for my daughter but my post was also about our family birthdays)
Shirley's 2 Girls: Critters with a TWIST of Feathers or Fur (yea, how was this for twisted feathers?)
Cute Card Thursday: Material Girl (I used a piece of crochet lace)

It's a "Paper Piecing" CHALLENGE

This month the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team has challenged each other to "PAPER PIECING" and we want to see your take on this challenge.

CHALLENGE DETAILS
-------->> CLICK HERE <<---------

No big secret just LOVE Paper Piecing

I used the My Cute Stamps set " Puppy Pals " for this project. I actually used 5 different stamps from that set in the photo above, however, I stamped the dog onto scrap paper that I had previously stamped using one of the "Vintage Background" stamps from Gina K. Don't you just love TABLE SCRAPS? I can pretty much guarantee that is where the Balloon Paper came from as well. So dig your SCRAPS out of the rubbish can and come "PAPER PIECE" with us. This would be a great challenge to pair with other challenges around Blog Land. Here are the
CHALLENGES I USED:
ABC Toys & Crafts: Paper Piecing
Crazy 4 Challenges: Photo Inspiration (loved all the mixed patterns & texture)
The Creative Cottage: Touchy Feely (I added texture by sewing)
Think Ink: Make your own Background Paper (I did for my dog, behind the dog and again on one of the strips on the inside of my card which you can see below)
Stamp Simply: 2's Company (2 balloons using 2 different patterned papers)

"Sweet Wishes"

This week is all about "My Cute Stamps" over at ABC Toys & Crafts. Make sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Design Team will be doing with some of these Adorably Cute Stamps.

As I was posting this card over on the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Blog, I realized that I must have gotten myself wedged into a rectangular (A2 card) RUT!! SOOOOOO let's break out of the Boring and do something a bit more creative!

How about a Round card instead of a rectangle?

How about Water Coloring instead of Copics or Creating your own Patterned Paper?

How about an Altered Item?

How about a Gift Set?

And if all else fails Let's Go Shopping and SAVE 15% off of "My Cute Stamps"
----> MCS1510 <----

CHALLENGES I USED:
City Crafter: Terrific Tags
Stamp Something: Birthday Something
Simon Says Stamp: Birthdays/Celebrations
Card Patterns: Sketch

..........Supplies I used..............
Stamps: My Cute Stamps (sweet chocolate), Gina K Designs (vintage backgrounds-polka dots)
Ink: Stampin Up (pretty in pink, close to cocoa), Momento (tuxedo black)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (razleberry fizz textured, close to cocoa, watercolor, white)
Tools: Stampin Up (label die, large scalloped die), Spellbinders (Nestabilities circle dies)
Misc: gingham ribbon, Paper trey Ink (twine, button), Making Memories (pink eyelets)

EXCITING NEWS

NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, STAMP DESIGNER

AND
A REALLY BIG DEAL

NINA BRACKETT
OF
"CRAFTING IN CROATIA"

INVITED ME to DESIGN with her Brand New Stamp Set "VINTAGE BACKGROUNDS" which was Released by GINA K Designs last week. Now before you go running off to NINA's BLOG where I AM BEING FEATURED, wanna see what I created:

Is that Hounds Tooth not PERFECT paired with this old man from "You Know Your Old When" which is an older Gina K stamp set. Now LOOK CLOSER so you can see that I used another one of the New Stamps to stamp his Party Hat and his Tie! Isn't he Funny:
I just got plain carried away and decided to keep stamping so here are a couple shots off the inside and one of the other "VINTAGE BACKGROUND" stamps:

Help I'm Stamping and I can't STOP so I carried my theme on over to the envelope:

CHALLENGES:
DON'T FORGET about Nina's Challenge ends at Midnight tonight 4/29
Mo's Challenge #29: Masculine Card (so excited to get to participate this week)
2 Sketches 4 You: Sketch (I wasn't sure if the signature was part of the sketch so I added the label in place of Kazan's Signature)
Cute Card Thursday: Make your Own (Perfect!! I Made my own Patterned paper using the hounds tooth stamp!!)
Crafty Creations: Make your Own Backgrounds (SCORE Again)
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: Vintage (nothing more vintage than an Old Man)
The Crazy Challenge: Buttons, Brads & Eyelets: (I used 2 buttons)

............Supplies I used.............
Stamps: Gina K (Vintage Backgrounds, You know Your Old When)
Paper: Gina K (Autumn Assortment: fresh asparagus, chocolate brown), Stampin Up (naturals), Bazzil Basics (textured brown)
Ink: Tsukineko (momento black tuxedo), Copic Markers
Tools: Spellbinders (Nestabilities die cut label 7), Stampin Up (sizzix label die), Singer sewing machine
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (buttons, hemp)

Fussy & Fancy Birthday Treats

(click banner for complete details)

Fussy & Fancy
Challenge #9
"BIRTHDAY" with a "SWEET TREAT"

This week Fussy & Fancy is being sponsored by " SASSY STUDIOS " , whom I would like to thank for giving me that cute Birthday girl on my project today. Trust me on this one, Go CHECK OUT their images. I was super impressed. They even have a hot little diva wearing a NAVY uniform.....

CHALLENGES I USED:
Fussy & Fancy: Birthday w/ a Sweet Treat (incorporate some form of yummy treat onto your project)
Creative Card Crew: Birthday
2 Sketches 4 You: Sketch (I hope they can still see the basic layout, but I did add to the sketch and make it more my own. REBEL)
Your Next Stamp: Stitching (I zigzag stitched)
The Crafty Pad: Stitching
Allsorts Challenge: Stitching
...........Supplies I used............
Stamps: Sassy Studios Digital Image
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (melon berry, berry sorbet, white)
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket (earth love)
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento black
Tools: Sewing machine, Martha Stewart (polka dot punch), Spellbinders (Nestabilities tags)
Misc: ribbon from Germany

Takin out the Stash Tuesday "Birthday Wishes"

Takin' Out the Stash Tuesday
is all about using things that you might otherwise
"HOARD"

I'm learning to love using my chipboard pieces now that I have discovered painting but that BUTTON..... OH THE BUTTON is some SERIOUS STASH that I did not want to PART WITH. I would LOVE to HOARD this paper but you'll be seeing it again very soon. (shhhhh, only because I have more than one piece)

The Birthday card that I created today uses a wonderful sketch that I have no doubt, I will be reaching for time and time again. My great blogging friend NINA BRACKET (Crafting in Croatia) is pretty much a "Big Deal" within the Stamp and Card Creating community. Not only is she on the Design Team for Gina K Designs but she is also one of the Stamp Illustrators. Yep that's right, she has her very own line of stamps along with digital papers. How would you like to be a Guest Designer for Nina?? Would you like to WIN FREE STAMPS? Yeah, you and me both.

(Click on Nina's Sketch for complete details about the Guest Design Position and Nina's Blogoversary Givaways. )

Here is a close up of some more of the HOME MADE Ribbon that I created. For this particular ribbon, I mixed coffee & Neon Red Food Coloring ;o) I actually ended up with 3 different variations in color, each one a little lighter by diluting my "concoction". This is the lightest.
Other CHALLENGES I Used:
Crafting in Croatia: Sketch
Splitcoast Stampers: Clean & Simple CAS61 (only stamping allowed was the use of sentiments)
Simon Says Stamp: It's So Distressing (create a project using Distress techniques)
Creative Card Crew: Vintage or Aged
Our Creative Corner: Break out the Buttons! (I love the splash of color my button adds)
Stamp Something: PINK
Wild Flower Patch Kids: Birthday
The Pink Elephant: Nature (anything found in nature, take a closer look at my patterned paper)
..............Supplies I used................
Stamps: Unity ("wishes" from January KOTM), Paper Trey Ink (birthday sentiment)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (blush blossom), Stampin Up (very vanilla)
Ink: Stampin Up (close to cocoa), Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate)
Tools: Martha Stewart (doily lace border punch),
Misc: Shirley's 2 Girls (button), Homemade ribbon, Delta (light pink acrylic paint), Martha Stewart (turquoise floss)

Birthday Bear wants YOU

I recently challenged the design team of ABC Toys & Crafts with the theme

"Birthday"

No other requirements than to be creative &
let the word "Birthday" inspire you!!

Each day this week one of us will share our project with you on the
ABC Design Blog.

We would LOVE it if you would join us in this Challenge
find
MR. LINKY HERE
Deadline to enter your project is Saturday, February 27th @ 12pm EST

Random number generator will be used to pick the WINNER of a $10 store credit to
ABC Toys & Crafts

ABOUT MY CARD: Since I am stateside at the moment, I will be brief.

This bear image by is one of my favorites by Stampabilities (party preparations bear). Each time I play with him, I find a different way to accent that big balloon, not to mention, coloring him is so much fun. Perhaps it is his wispy little fur or how the areas to be shaded are designed into the image that camouflage any coloring imperfections. I dunno, I just know I love him. I LOVE me some buttons! I used Paper Trey Ink buttons, HOWEVER, I see that ABC has the matching buttons for the Basic Grey Lemonade paper I used. Rather than use them for my balloon, I placed them down the side of my card and used glossy accents over the colored balloon. I was so pleased with myself for FINALLY using those fun little metal pieces with the "Happy Birthday" sentiment. Just one of the many items I love to HOARD!!! Make sure to click on the photos & links below to find the ABC products that I used.
OTHER CHALLENGES I USED:
Crafty Creations: Stitching (I did this all around the edges)
Saturday Spotlight: Messy (I distressed the edges using my fingernail and also inked the edges of my main image then lightly sponged ink around the bear)
...........Supplies I used.............
Stamps: Stampabilities (party prepartations)
Ink: Copic markers, momento black ink, Stampin Up (close to cocoa, robin hood red)
Paper: Basic Grey (lemonade), Stampin Up (eggplant, naturals white)
Misc: Paper Trey ink (buttons), Making Memories (birthday metal embellishments)