Feeling Frazzled?

Good morning!  Does the impending holiday season leave you feeling frazzled?  At times, I do....  (Especially when I leave the SFYTT until the last day...where did November go?)  My card today is a reminder to...Keep Calm and Recharge!  So the next time you are feeling like the Energizer bunny, take some time for yourself...have a latte, read a book, exercise...whatever leaves you feeling refreshed.

Sentiment: Technique Tuesday
Ink: SU! Melon Mambo, Versamark
Paper: SU! Soft Sky and Melon Mambo, Carta Bella "Merry and Bright" DP
Embellies: Energizer AAA Battery, Grosgrain Ribbon (scrap)
Extras: Spellbinder's Nestabilities, Red Line Tape

Tip: I found that if I inked my stamp first with Versamark and then with colored ink, I achieved a better impression.  The battery is heavy, so I used a strip of Red Line Tape to secure it.

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers: Anything Goes (Christmas or Festive) 
Moving Along With the Times: Use 3 elements starting with the same letter (blue, battery, balls)
Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes
SFYTT (November): Sketch
Tuesday Throwdown: Lots of Layers

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

White Christmas Wishes

Good morning!  I was able to play along with the SCS sketch challenge (and a few others) yesterday...yay!  I really like the sketch; I thought it would be perfect for the "Flakes" set from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps).  The image, sentiment, and DP were all included in the set...how cool is that?  I tried to keep it clean and simple...I did a bit of embossing, layering, and added some glitter.

Image/Sentiment: Clearly Digi Stamps
Ink: Printer, SU! Black Marker, Sakura Black Gel Pen
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select and Dark Chocolate, SU! Real Red, Doodlebug Sugar Coated CS
Embellie: Martha Stewart Glitter in "Candy Apple"
Extras: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Spellbinder's Nestabilities, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Divas by Design: Glitter and Sparkle
For Fun Challenges: Christmas with Sparkle
House that Stamps Built: Holiday Card with Non-traditional Colors
Love to Create Challenge: Non-traditional Holiday Colors
Make It Monday: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Mmmm...marshmallow cocoa!

Good morning!  It's time for another fun sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches; our sponsor for the week is DRS Designs and they were kind enough to let us each pick out some stamps.  I love my images!  A great big "Thank you" to DRS Designs!

Hot cocoa reminds me of snow, so I went with some some winter DP from Crate Paper.  I love the fun colors!  My cup is paper pieced and I added some snowflakes for embellishing.  The coordinating sentiment reads "You're so sweet!"

Images: DRS Designs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select and Dark Chocolate, SU! Orchid Opulence, Crate Paper DP
Embellies: Bella Dots
Extras: Spellbinder's Snowflake Dies, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will check out the rest of the DT's cards...we would love to have you play along too, it's a fun, versatile sketch!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge: Paper Piecing
Creatalicious Challenges: Winter
Drunken Stampers: Not Too Shabby
Stampin' for the Weekend: Use Some Texture

Thanks for stopping by; have a great week!

Angela

Baby Boy Onesie

Good morning!  I am running a bit behind with my Ruby's Rainbow post today.  (Is anybody else running behind?  This is always such a busy time of year!)  Anyway...back to the challenge....  Debbie has chosen our challenge for this fortnight and it is...shaped cards!  What a fun idea...the possibilities are endless!

I decided to make a baby card; I used the onesie die from the PTI Shape Ups series.  It turned out to be a quick and easy way to create a shaped card:

1. Simply diecut the card base (there is a dotted line on the die to show where the fold should be placed).
2. Diecut the full onesie to adhere to the base.
3. Embellish as desired.

I let the cute DP do the work for me and embellished simply with a snippet of ribbon, and a button.  At the bottom I used small punched circles to resemble snaps.  I layered 2 punches together to create dimension.

***I thought the die was fun and easy, but I did run into a small snag....  I wanted to flip the card base so that the "ugly" side would be towards the DP and not be seen.  I don't know about you, but my Cuttlebug plates get really scarred and all those marks are transferred to the back of my diecuts.  I found that the die is not symmetrical on each side, so I couldn't line up the cardbase and the top layer if the base was flipped.  I hope I am making sense...LOL.  It must be my OCD coming into play...I like my cards neat and tidy...front and back!

Paper: G.P. 110, Doodlebug DP
Embellies: PTI Button/DMC Floss, White Grosgrain Ribbon
Extras: PTI Shape Ups Onesie Die, EK Success Round Punch

I hope you will check out the rest of the DT's creations.  What will you make?

I am also entering my card in the Craft Room Challenge: Punches and Diecuts.

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Ho Ho Ho

(Click for Creative Card Crew challenge.)

Good morning!  It't time for another fun sketch from the girls at Tuesday Morning Sketches; this week Bonnie has done the honors.  Click here to see the sketch and challenge details.

Eggbert is colored with pencils and accented with glitter.  I adhered some tiny jingle bells too, just for fun!  The jingle bells on top of the card swing and jingle with movement.

Image: Bugaboo Digital Stamp
Sentiment: Starving Artiststamps
Ink: Printer, Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select, SU! Soft Sky and Melon Mambo, Carta Bella "Merry and Bright" DP
Embellies: Barbara Trombley's Art Glitter in "Angel Dust", Jingle Bells (Hobby Lobby), Divine Twine
Extras: Prismas/Goo Gone, Spellbinder's Nestabilities, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will check out the rest of the DT's creations....  Why not give the sketch a try?!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me: Untraditional Holiday Colors
Craft Us Crazy: Favorite Color and/or Holiday Theme (pink)
Joanna Sheen: Cold and Frosty
Polka Doodles: Square Card With a Round Element
Stamping With the Dragon: So Cute

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Give Thanks

Good morning!  I'm here with a new challenge from the Creative Card Crew...this fortnight our challenge is "Anything Goes".  Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I thought I'd go with that.  I used a fun card kit from my stamping friend Jessica.  Take a look at all the goodies in there...I have enough to make many more cards...what a fabulous array of goodies!

I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps.  The image is colored with pencils, and her eyes are dotted with a black gel pen.  I added Bella Dots, ribbon and a couple of leaves for embellishments.  

Image: MFT a' la modes

Paper: Cryogen

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Sakura Black Gel Pen

Paper: PTI Orange Zest and Dark Chocolate, The Paper Studio DP

Embellies: Bella Dots, PTI Orange Zest Grosgrain Ribbon, SU! Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will head on over to CCC and check out the rest of the "Anything Goes" creations...better yet, play along!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

ATCs With Attitude: Anything Goes or Fall/Winter

Card Makin' Mamas: Thanksgiving or Thank You 

CCEE Stampers: Fall or Thanksgiving Theme

Eclectic Ellapu: Layering or Openable or Interactive

Frosted Designs: Color Challenge

Just Us Girls: Color Challenge

Simply Create Too: Use Your Stash (Card kit from last autumn)

Thanks for stopping by!  I would love for you to comment and tell me what you are thankful for this year....

Angela

Clearly Digi Stamps November Release

It's that time again...time for the newest stamp release from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)!  I'm working with 2 fun sets today...Jolly Joy and Corvette.  Both sets come with outlines, pre-colored images, and papers to match.  I decided to go with the pre-colored images this month.

First up is Jolly Joy...I love the fun images and colors of this set!  I resized and printed the image, along with one of the DPs.  The DP is matted and the image panel is cut with a Spellbinder's die and popped up.  I added some ribbon and Swarovski flatback crystals for my embellishments.  The sketch is from Create with Connie and Mary.

.

Image: Jolly Joy
Ink: Printer
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select and SU! Real Red
Embellies: Swarovski Flatback Crystals, PTI Pure Poppy Satin Ribbon
Extras: Spellbinder's Nestabilities, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

Second, I made a clean and simple card.  I resized the image, trimmed it, and popped up the panel on the cardbase.  The holly is cut out, adhered, and I gave the berries a bit of glitter.

Images: Jolly Joy
Ink: Printer, SU! Black Marker
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select
Embellie: Martha Stewart Glitter in "Candy Apple"
Extras: The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

Next I went out of my comfort zone and made some "man cards"....  The Corvette set has 4 different colored cars along with 2 DPs to match each color.  The sentiment is from the new set Cool Ride.  I did a bit of layering and added some brads for embellishing.

Image: Corvette
Sentiment: Cool Ride
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110, SU! Poppy Parade and Basic Black
Embellies: Spare Parts Black Brads, Recollections Black Mini Brads
Extras: Spellbinder's Nestabilities

I combined the image and sentiment for this one, and added some black mesh...I like the way the colorful DP peeks out from under the mesh.  I also like that I have a couple of "man cards" for my stash!  (Yay for me!)

Image: Corvette
Sentiment: Cool Ride
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110, SU! Basic Gray and Basic Black
Embellie: Black Mesh (my stash)
Extras: Spellbinder's Nestabilities, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will head on over to Clearly Digi Stamps to check out the rest of this awesome release.  The DT has been working hard to give you lots of eye candy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

For Lizzie

Good morning!  The Forever Friends team decided to make cards for Lizzie who recently stepped down...a sort of "good-bye and we wish you well"...so this one's for Lizzie!

I used a pre-colored image, distressed my papers, and added some diecuts for embellishing.

Image: Forever Friends
Ink: Printer
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select, Autumn Rose, and Smokey Shadow, My Mind's Eye DP
Embellies: PTI Autumn Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Swarovski Flatback Crystal in "Light Colorado Topaz"
Extras: Spellbinder's Nestabilities, Cheery Lynne Flourish Die, MFT Royal Rose Die-namics Die, Making Memories Distressing Tool, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

You can see more of the cards for Lizzie here.

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs: Autumn Colors
Craft Room Challenge: Punches and Diecuts
Kaboodle Doodles: Use Plaid
Paper Playtime: Autumn Colors
Sketch Saturday: Sketch
Totally Papercrafts: Cute and Girly

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Feeling Punchy?

Good morning!  We have an interesting challenge for you this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches...not only do we have a sketch, but it is our judged challenge as well...our twist is to create a punch art animal.  They don't call this a challenge for nothing!

Since I really had no idea how to make a punch art animal, I used Pinterest as a resource and found a cute penguin to try on My Stampin' Blog.  I made the penguin per the detailed instructions, but I had to add a bit of glitter to make it my own.  (I do LOVE glitter!)  I think he turned out kind of cute and I did have fun making him...even though it took all morning!  LOL  So here is my penguin combined with this week's sketch....

Paper: SU! Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, and Basic Black, My Mind's Eye "Winter Wonderland" 6x6 Pad
Ink: SU! Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, and Pumpkin Pie, Color Box Frost White
Embellies: Barbara Trobley's Art Glitter in "Angel Dust", Spare Parts Brad, Black Mesh Ribbon (my stash)
Extras: SU! Punches: Two Step Owl, Extra Large Oval, Large Oval, and Word Window, Spellbinder's Snowflake Dies, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will head on over to the TMS blog to check out what the rest of the DT have created with their punches.  Why not dig out your punches and play along?

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers: More Than 1 Punch or Die
Make It Monday: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Birds....

Good morning!  It's time for another challenge from the ladies at Ruby's Rainbow; for this fortnight our challenge is "Birds".  I chose to go with a winter bird, since the cold weather is fast approaching.  I know...sad but true!

I used a pre-colored image and coordinating DP, called Winter Bear, from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps).  I did a bit of distressing to mimic the fur on the bear.  My sentiment is punched with a SU! punch and adhered with mini brads.

Image/Sentiment: Clearly Digi Stamps Winter Bear
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110, PTI Stamper's Select, and SU! Pumpkin Pie
Embellies: Recollections Mini Brads
Extras: SU! Punch, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will check out the rest of the DT's creations.  We are also having a Design Team call...you can see the details here.  It is a nice bunch of ladies to work with, so give it a thought!

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Hey Chickie

I'm back with my second post today!  (Please scroll down for Creative Card Crew post.)  We have another sketch challenge for you at Tuesday Morning Sketches...Jessi designed our sketch this week and I think you'll like it...so many possibilities!

I was trying to come up with a tiny stamp to put in the circles...then I remembered my DeNami chicks...they're perfect!  I colored the cute, tiny chicks with pencils and added a bit of glitter to their bows.  The chick panels are popped up just a bit whereas the sentiment is popped up higher, plus I added some leaves to that flower.  It's pretty simple on one hand, but on the other hand there are a lot of layers.

Image/Sentiment: DeNami
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select, Harvest Gold, and Dark Chocolate, Jillibean Soup DP, My Mind's Eye DP (leaves)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Sakura Black Gel Pen
Embellie: Doodlebug Glitter
Extras: Prismas/Goo Gone, Spellbinder's Dies, MFT Royal Leaves Die-namics Die, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you will head on over to TMS to see what everyone else has created with Jessi's sketch.  What will you create?

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps: Things With Wings
ATCs and Cards With Attitude: Add a Sentiment/Anything Goes
Dilly Beans: Anything Girl
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge: Use 2 or More Circles
Southern Girls: Animal Crackers
The Crafty Pad: Anything Goes
The Squirrel and The Fox: Flowers, Hats, or Horses

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Silver and Blue

Good morning!  It's time for another fun challenge from the Creative Card Crew team...this fortnight our challenge is to use silver and blue.  Aqua counts as blue, doesn't it?!

I like Bugaboo's new sketch (I flipped it), so I went with a Bugaboo image too.  The image is colored with pencils and accented with glitter; I used silver glitter on the snowmans' hats and white glitter on random snowballs.  I made a layered snowflake and added some silver cord and brads for embellishing.

Image: Bugaboo Digi Stamp
Ink: Printer
Paper: PTI Stamper's Select, SU! Night of Navy, Pebbles DP, The Paper Studio Glitter CS
Embellies: Spare Parts Brads, SU! Silver Cord, Martha Stewart Glitter in "Sterling", Barbara Trombley's Art Glitter in "Angel Dust"
Extras: Prismas/Goo Gone, Spellbinders Nestabilities and Snowflake Dies, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up?: Brads
Fab n' Funky: Diecuts/Punches
Glitter n' Sparkle: Anything But a Square or Glitter n' Sparkle
Pile It On: Make It Sparkle
Polka Doodles: Bright Colors and Sparkle
Quirky Crafts: Layer It Up! and Let It Snow!
Stella Says Sketch: Sketch

Please head on over to the Creative Card Crew to check out the rest of the DT's creations and the challenge details.

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

A Sentiment Only

Good morning!  I'm doing a quick post today; my daughter and I were gone on a weekend shopping trip and there is a lot of work to catch up on here at home.  This card is a re-make of this card, which I wasn't quite happy with...not sure if I am happy with this one or not...I do like the pretty papers and the sentiment.

Sentiment: MFT
Paper: SU! Crushed Curry, PTI Stamper's Select, Smokey Shadow, and Raspberry Fizz, My Mind's Eye DP 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Embellies: Swarovski Flatback Crystals in "Black Diamond" and "Rose", Pearl Pins (Wal-Mart)
Extras: Spellbinder's Nestabilities, MFT Rolled Rose and Royal Leaves Die-namics dies, PTI Smokey Shadow Felt, Raspberry Felt (Hobby Lobby), The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I used October's SFYTT and am entering this card in the following challenges:

Make It Monday: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today...have a great week!  I'm off to tackle the mountain of laundry....

Angela

Winter is coming....

Good morning!  The Forever Friends monthly team have a new challenge for November...Anything Goes! 

Our sponsor for the random winner is Bugaboo Stamps...the winner will receive 7 digital images of their choice!

The sponsor for the Forever Friends favorite is Sugar and Spice Crafts.  Remember to win in this category, you must use a Forever Friends image.

Thank you to Bugaboo Stamps for the fun Stella image I got to work with today...I've been seeing a lot of snowflakes out there in blogland, and I had been wanting to get started with some winter cards.  Stella is colored with pencils and accented with glitter.  I used Bugaboo's sketch and went with some bright winter papers; I embellished with some snowflakes and glittery brads.  (For those of you who enjoy some humor, a cheeky sentiment comes with this stamp.  Wink!)


Image: Bugaboo Digi Stamp
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110, SU! Baja Breeze, and Tangerine Tango, My Mind's Eye DP
Embellies: Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter, Barbara Trombley's Art Glitter in "Angel Dust", Doodlebug Sugar Coated Brads
Extras: Prismas/Goo Gone, Corner Chomper, Spellbinder's Snowflake Dies, The Paper Studio Sticky Doos

I hope you'll check out the rest of the DT's fun creations...we'd love to see you play along too!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Digi Makeover Challenge: Lots of Layers
Eclectic Ellapu: Recipe (1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellies of the same kind)
Fab and Funky Challenges: Diecuts and Punches
Love to Create: Lots of Layers
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges: Bold and Bright
Stella Say's Sketch: Sketch
Use It Tuesday's: Orange plus hoarded supply (Doodlebug Sugar Coated Brads...I am now down to 2!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Angela