Tuesday Morning Sketches #184: Buckets Of Love

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Remember me mentioning last week about a little surprise I had for you? Well, I am SO EXCITED to finally share with you the news that I will be guest designing all February long for Tuesday Morning Sketches!! 

I'm thrilled to be a part of this team!! Have you noticed lately how many of sketch challenge blogs are no longer active? Not Tuesday Morning Sketches! They're still going strong after 3.5 years! And the best part is, you don't have to remember when they post their challenges.....it's in their name! :)

You can check out this week's sketch TMS184 on their blog. Also, this week's challenge is being sponsored by an awesome embellishment company - Freckled Fawn! They have everything from wood and resin chips to tons of colorful washi tape! Seriously....I drooled over them! lol

 I was so inspired by all their tape, I decided to use some on my card!

I layered the washi tape on an angle to create my banner panel. To keep the focus on the image, I just used black and white colored washi tape, but with the right image, this idea would look FABULOUS with brightly colored tape too! I had Valentines Day on the brain this weekend, so I used my Buckets Of Love set from There She Goes. It's cute AND bold - just how I love my images! :) As usual, I colored it up with my Stamping Up! reinkers and aquapainter brush. Then I sewed each panel to some black or white cardstock. I inverted my scalloped border on my main panel using decorative scissors.

Need more inspiration?? Check out what the rest of the TMS girls did with the sketch!

Angela
Bonnie
Cheryl
Dawn
Debbie
Jenee
Jessi
Laura
Theresa
Melissa

Thanks for popping in today! I sure hope you can find some time this week to play along with us!

Hugs, Sandra


Supplies
{Stamps} There She Goes 'Buckets Of Love'
{Papers} PTI Kraft Cardstock, Georgia Pacific Cardstock, Canson Manga Cardstock, PP - MME
{Inks} StazOn' Jet Black', Cool Caribbean, Going Gray, Sahara Sand, Regal Rose, Ruby Red, Rich Razzleberry, Pretty In Pink, Soft Suede
{Access} Washi Tape, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Sewing, Sponges, Dimensionals

Search Not For A Friend...

Saturday, April 21, 2012

 Hi everyone! I felt bad about being absent most of the week, so I quickly whipped up something for you today! Don't say I don't do anything nice for you! ;)

My inspiration for this card came from some paper I bought yesterday. I spied the toile paper at Michael's and knew it had to come home with me! Why? Because it just so happens that today, There She Goes is sponsoring the challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges and the theme - is to use black cardstock. Phhft! I can do that in my sleep! :)

So I grabbed Jen's Deconstructing Sketch #48 (EDIT: And I just realized that I goofed up the sketch - I forgot the vertical strip up the side....does stitching count?!), the toile paper and went to town! I kid you not - I whipped this baby up in under 2 hours! Laugh all you want, but that might be a record for me! (Is that sad?!)  On with the details, shall we? I sponged the edges of the toile paper (from Recollections) with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, matted it with black cardstock then machine stitched them together. The vertical banner was made with some very old Crate paper, which I machine stitched to black cardstock and sponged the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink. I did the same thing with the Labels Four die cut panel, which was made with some paper from the La Creme collection (DCWV).

For the main panel, I used this endearing sentiment from the TSG Dream A New Dream set. It was perfect for the toile paper! I wet embossed the sentiment with Versamark ink, StazOn Jet Black ink and clear embossing powder. Next, I cut out the sentiment with an Oval Nestie and lightly sponged the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. Then I matted it with more black cardstock and machine stitched the two together. I don't use a lot of embellishments (you could say I'm embellie-challenged) but I do like my buttons! So I added a couple and for the last element in Jen's sketch, I used some ruffled black lace (which I got at my LSS).

Now head on over (or back to!) the C4C blog to check out the inspiration there! Thanks so much for putting up with me this week! :)

Supplies

Stamps: There She Goes 'Dream A New Dream'

Inks: Versamark, Distress Inks 'Frayed Burlap and Black Soot'

Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Black Cardstock, Bazzil Basics - Vanilla, PP - Crate Paper 'Crate Avenue Collection - Trendy', Recollections 'Toile' and Die Cuts With A View 'La Creme' 

Access: PTI Buttons - Black, PTI Rustic Button Twine - Cream, Spellbinders Oval and Labels Four Nesties, Sponges, Stampendous Clear Embossing Powder, Black Lace, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals

Smile

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Good morning!

Well, we had a very productive weekend in our yard. We cut back out huge - and I mean HUGE, Forsythia bushes, transplanted a creeping vine that was strangling the Lilacs, reduced the number of Daylilies in the front garden and transplanted some wayward tulips to another area of the garden. Oh, and we rototilled an area of the backyard ready for our veggie garden! And that was just on Sunday! I was a little sore yesterday but it was worth the effort.

I'm sorry I was a little quiet last week, but after returning from my work trip to Sacramento, I was busy trying to get the last few cards done for April's Dirty Dozen gallery - which, by the way, opened last Sunday. This month's theme is Let The Sunshine In and you should see some of the samples in that gallery! Whoa mama! I made a couple of cards using some recently released stamps and dies from All That Scraps too!

Speaking of which, today is review day over at the ATS's blog and the girls and I have changed things up a bit this week - literally! You'll get to see all sorts of new cards made from any one of the new stamps released a couple of weeks ago! Since I did a ton of gardening over the weekend, I decided to use the cutie pie from the Laugh Lines Garden stamp collection!

Is she not the cutest?! I looooove her boots! I so want a pair now! Hehe

To make this card, I stamped out the image onto some Strathmore Bristol Vellum cardstock with my StazOn Jet Black ink, then colored the image up with my SU reinkers and aquapainter brush. I used Creamy Caramel for her skin, Pretty In Pink for her blush, Buckaroo Blue (retired) for her overalls, a combination of Pumpkin Pie and Regal Rose for her boots, Sahara Sand and Blushing Bride for her bucket and a combination of Really Rust and Chocolate Chip for her hair. Oh, and I copied something that I saw Amy Young doing with her Laugh Lines girls - I gave her some green eyes! Awesome idea Amy!! I meant to give her hair a bit more shine, but I'm breaking in a new aquapainter brush and the thing leaks too much water for my liking! I prefer my brushes a little bit more worn! ;)

The card's layout is based on this week's Deconstructing Sketch #47, which I ADORE! I just turned it on it's side to suit my image. I sponged every edge with Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress Ink, them machine stitched them to some matching cardstock. The card looked a little bare with just the twine and button on the side, so I added a little more detail by adding a border made with the Curly Q die, also from ATS! The sentiment is one of Amy R.'s ones from her So Wordy collection. I really love the fonts she uses!

Ok, now you're free to pop over to the ATS blog to check out everyone else's cards! ;) Enjoy!

Supplies
Stamps: All That Scraps 'Laugh Lines Garden' and 'So Wordy'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', SU's Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Buckaroo Blue, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose, Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen and Tea Dye'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, PP - Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl'
Access: ATS Curly Q die, PTI Rustic Button Twine and Button - Cream, Sponges, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals

TSG151: Ribbon Challenge

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Good morning!
I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I think I've finally got over my jetlag. I took a nap Saturday afternoon and took it easy on Sunday. I don't think the long hours helped, but I'm glad to be back on my regular routine, that's for sure!

One thing I did do on Sunday was make a card for this week's There She Goes challenge. Corinna McGregor is our Trendsetter of the week and she has issued a ribbon challenge!

I finally got my hands on the Fairy Good Day set the other week, so I was itching to color this set in!

TSG is also sponsoring Jen's Sketch For You To Try Challenge this month, so of course, I had to use it this week! (And probably next week too!)

I have used these MME and Crate papers sparingly since I bought them, but at some point, you just have to let them go, right?? I thought they looked good together and I was trying to avoid going with a lot of pink - which typically would have been my first choice!

Do you notice anything different about my card?? No sewing!! Not a lick of stitching anywhere! Shocking, I know. And it was EXTREMELY HARD to resist getting my sewing machine out! But I managed to put the card together, put it on my card shelf and actually like it! :) (That's a big step for me!) As always, I colored my the fairy with my SU and Distress Ink reinkers and an aquapainter brush. I used Pool Party and a tiny bit of Tempting Turquoise on her dress and layered Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo for her hair. SU's Creamy Caramel was used for her skin and Pretty In Pink for her cheeks. The flowers and belt were colored with Rich Razzleberry and Regal Rose.

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a project using ribbon, and then go to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (April 16th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the lookout to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG151 so we can check out your beautiful work!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!


Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'Fairy Good Day'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', SU's Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics - Bitter Chocolate, PP - MME and Crate Paper 'Paper Doll Collection'
Access: Twine, PTI Button - Cream and White, Seam Binding Ribbon, Spellbinders Scalloped Circle Nestie

Card Patterns 160....Guest Designer!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Happy Saturday Everyone!

By the time this post goes live I'll be back home from my work trip to Sacramento, CA. It's been a long, long week, but a successful one. We managed to draw up the warehouse with all it's storage rack and conveyor, but including travel time, I have clocked 75hrs! I am beyond exhausted! My Little Ray of Sunshine has a dance class this morning, so it's back to my regular routine for me! :)

A few weeks back, I made this card using Card Patterns #157 sketch that ended up winning that week's challenge! My prize for winning? A guest designer spot with Card Patterns #160 sketch challenge this week! :)

You can head over to the Card Patterns blog to check out the sketch and all the details, but before you go, check out what I created with it! ;)

Since it's Easter Sunday tomorrow, I had to make a card to give my little girl for the occasion! I used the Egg-stra Special mini set from There She Goes because it's one of my favorite Easter sets that I own!

I pretty much followed the sketch to a tee, but instead of flowers, I used buttons. And I just centered the sentiment a little to balance out the card. The vertical element was made using a strip of scrap paper and using my Labels Eight Nestie on the bottom of it. If you click on the card, you many be able to see the row of adhesive rhinestones I added to match the detail on the sketch.

I colored this sweetie with my SU reinkers and aquapainter brush on Strathmore Bristol Vellum. I first colored the background in with Cool Caribbean, then her skin with a little of the Creamy Caramel ink. Then her dress was colored with Morning Marigold and a little bit of Really Rust in the areas of shadow. Her hair was colored by layering Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

I hope you can play along with this week's sketch too! Have a fantastic Easter weekend!

Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'Egg-Stra Special'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', SU's Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Morning Marigold, Sahara Sand, Cool Caribbean,
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PP - October Afternoon 'Thrift Store' collection
Access: Spellbinders Oval Nesties,

Best Wishes

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Valentines Day!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We were very busy with the family again. On Saturday, The Man took my dad and brother on a tour of some breweries in the Vermont area, while the little one and I went to her dance class. Then we spent the afternoon making pulled pork and Mac 'n' Cheese for dinner. Sunday we went out for breakfast, then my In-laws took my family to visit the Yankee Candle factory in Massachusetts. Oh, and I made a couple of cards too. :) This week they're headed to NYC on their own then we're taking them to Boston on the weekend. It's amazing what you can squeeze into a three week vacation! lol

One of those cards I whipped up this weekend was this one for this week's There She Goes Challenge #143. It's a color challenge and the colors are: Olive, Rose and Razzleberry.

This super sweet image is from TSG's The Fairy Best set. Isn't it adorable?! (Edit: And it's on sale this week!!) I love coloring in little critters and mushrooms! As always, I colored in the image with my reinkers and aquapainter brush and punched it out with the deckled oval die from Spellbinders. I then carefully matted it with some more white paper. It's a little painstaking, but it's worth the effort. The layout is this week's sketch, DS38, from Jen's Deconstructing Jen's sketch challenge.

Since my coloring medium of choice is to watercolor, I have a big stash of SU's reinkers to choose from, but what I don't have is a lot of SU cardstock. In fact, I think all I have is a pack of their 2008 In Colors, and that's about it. So whenever I play a color challenge, I have to try to color match my Bazzil cardstock collection to the color combo and make them work for the challenge. So, if you're like me, and don't have an SU paper store in your craft room, work with whatever you've got! :)

I just so happened to pick up this piece of Basic Grey's Sweet Threads patterned paper this weekend and it wasn't until I got home that I realized it matched the colors perfectly! Score! Love it when that happens! I matched it with some scrap American Crafts paper and went to town!

This week on the TSG blog, it's the There She Goes (Again!) week, where Jess shares past projects using some much loved sets, then on Friday, the Trendsetters will have a bunch of new cards to share with you using the same sets. So, if you need some new inspiration for your Let's Get Together, Special Delivery or Slow and Steady, then head on over to the TSG blog and soak up a little inspiration!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Supplies

Stamps: There She Goes 'The Fairy Best'

Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', SU's Creamy Caramel, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Rich Razzleberry, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Tea Dye'

Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics - White, SU's Old Olive, PP - Basic Grey's Sweet Threads' and left over American Crafts paper

Access: Spellbinders Deckled Oval Nesties, PTI's Half and Half Die and Beautiful Blooms #1, PTI Rustic Button Twine - Cream, PTI Button - White & Cream, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

There She Goes Mother Of All Blog Hops!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Hello and welcome to the 2nd annual Mother Of All Blog Hops for There She Goes!!

There are so many stamp sets in the There She Goes line up now, that we needed another HUMONGOUS blog hop to show them all off! If you've stopped here from the sweet blog of Meredith's, then you're on the right track! But if you've just stumbled here from anywhere else and would like to join us today on this AWESOME hop, then pop on over to the There She Goes blog and start your journey there. I hear there are some fabulous prizes being given away, so you might want to play along today!

I chose to use one of my favorite mini sets for this hop. It's called Angel Mail and it's sentiments are so near and dear to my heart.

There are 3 sentiments in this set; each one as encouraging as the next. I went with this one because it's my favorite out of the three.

I wanted this card to be as warm and caring as a hug, so I dug through my scrap drawer looking for some warm colored patterned paper. I found these from Bo Bunny and Crate Paper. I also used an old Mojo Monday sketch (#170) as well as a flower from Prima, lace from Joann's and wrinkled ribbon from May Arts. I stamped the sentiment with StazOn onto cardstock and cut it out with the Spellbinders Labels One nestie. Then I sponged the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink and applied glitter to the edges with a Quickie glue pen. Those angel wings are from the mini set too! I stamped, colored and cut them out, then spritzed them with some Pearl Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels for a little bit of sparkle. Don't all wings sparkle?! Because the card was so top heavy, I added some stitching detail to the bottom of the card to try balance it out a little.

For a mini set, Angel Mail is a must have for anyone's collection!

Thanks SO much for hopping with us today!
Your next stop is.....Jess Willison!

Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'Angel Mail Mini Set'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo'
Papers: Paper Tray Ink 'Vanilla', Bazzil Basics, PP - Bo Bunny and Crate Paper
Access: Spellbinders Labels One Nestibilities, Prima Flowers, May Arts Wrinkled Ribbon - Cream, Lace (from Joann's), DMC thread, Stampendous Glitter - Snow, Sponges, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals

No Wonder You're Late!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

I'm late! I'm late for a very important date!

Truth be told, I'm not late at all. I can't help think of this line whenever I read this particular sentiment from There She Goes's newest set - Good Times!

Hello peeps! Did you miss me? I was busy cleaning the house all weekend that left me no time to stamp. But that's not a bad thing considering all that I got done. Spring cleaning started early in the MacLean household! I made The Man clean out his clothing closet. He was using it as a giant dirty laundry hamper, so I made him clean it up. (Seriously, why can't they ever find the actual hamper?!) Then I reorganized the linen closet and hung the louvered doors we bought on Craigslist for the closets. That dominoed into cleaning the attached shed/unfinished area of the house, so I could at least walk in there again! It was a very productive weekend and I'm glad we tackled it now and not in the summer time, when it's the last thing I want to do!

Anyway. enough about me, back to why you popped in! :)

I whipped up this card this week using the Good Times set from TSG because after seeing all the eye candy from release week, I had to revisit this set and use the two bunnies on a card because the girls did SUCH a great job with them!

I wanted to make this one a much more lighter and brighter card than my last one, so I pulled out some papers from Basic Grey's Kioshi collection and borrowed the layout from this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch #106. I added some adhesive pearls for the circle elements and colored up the clock from the set for the smaller, scalloped element. I still don't own the small scallope circle nesties from Spellbinders, so what I use instead is my ever faithful Fiskars decorative scissors to do the job. Sometimes my first and last scallop don't always line up, so I usually start the cut in a place where I know it will be hidden - like under the sentiment banner. I may not have the latest stuff, but I sure know how to use what I have got to the fullest! :)

Ok, well that's it from me today. I'm hoping to play again in my craft room tonight and whip up another card for you. I desperately want to play with all the unused stamps I have piling up!

Have a good one!!

Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'Good Times'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Buckaroo Blue, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive, Distress Inks 'Tea Dye'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, PP - Basic Grey Kioshi Collection
Access: Kaiser Crafts Adhesive Pearls, Machine Stitching, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Sponges, Dimensionals

TSG Flying By/Good Times Blog Hop!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Hello and welcome to the final blog hop for the March releases for There She Goes!

We've got two sets to show you today that are going to ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! If you've found your way here from Natalie's fabulous blog, then you 're on the right track. But if you haven't and would love to hang out with us on this hop, then head on over to the TSG blog and start the wild ride there!

Iwona has done it again! She is bringing us some precious little girls that are ready to capture the joy of spring! Whether chasing balloons or butterflies, these little ones will help express your joy to the recipients of your cards.

Flying By is a 3X4 stamp set that includes a total of 5 stamps and will sell for $7.

Iwona is on a winner with this little girl! I love her simplified hands and feet because they're easy to color and she reminds me of a rag doll. I colored her in with my reinkers and aquapainter brush and then paper pieced her dress. Then I used this week's CPS #206 for the layout. I wasn't sure about the layout, but I think it draws your eye to the image...and that's never a bad thing! :)

************************************************

The other set being released this month is by the fabulously talented Torico! Time is precious to all of us, and Torico has illustrated a new set that showcases that fact! Her sweet and "time"less spring critters will not only have you using your time wisely, but they’ll also be bringing endless smiles to your faces.

Good Times is a 4x6 stamp set that includes a total of 11 stamps and will sell for $15.

This is a fabulous set by Torico!! I just love all the images in it! And instead of picking some expected colors and papers for this set, I stepped outside the box and made something a little edgier, a little more masculine. With the clock image from the set, as well as this month's SFYTT sketch and some papers from Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1939 collection, I put together this card. Each panel was distressed, sponged with Distress Ink and machine stitched. It's definitely not traditional, but I like it just the same.

Would you like a chance to win the Flying By and Good Times stamp set? Here’s what you need to do - go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Flying By/Good Times Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Flying By and Good Times stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Feb 26th) during the Release Party Chat.

Thanks so much for stopping by all this week! Your next stop is....

Torico's blog!

Supplies
Card 1
Stamps: There She Goes 'Flying By'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, PP - Cosmo Cricket and Bo Bunny
Access: Ribbon, Spellbinders Small Oval Nestibilities, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals

Card 2
Stamps: There She Goes 'Good Times'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Soft Suede, Cool Caribbean, Morning Marigold, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose, Ruby Red, Distress Inks 'Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Black Soot'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics and Bling, PP - Cosmo Cricket 'Circa 1939'
Access: Ribbon, PTI Button - Black, PTI Rustic Button Twine, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, EK Success Edge Punch, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

TSG In All The World/Sentimental Birthday Blog Hop!!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Welcome to the second blog hop for the March There She Goes releases!

Today we're showcasing TWO awesome mini sets! If you've hopped here from Natalie's wonderful blog, then you're A-OK! If you haven't and would like to play along with us, just hop on back to the TSG blog and start your journey there. Remember, you could win these sets just by hopping with us today!

Chris Dark is back with another adorable and playfully illustrated canine set that includes butterflies and a precious picket fence. Add in some sensational sentiments, and you’ve got another TSG set that can’t be passed up!


In All the World is a 3X4 stamp set that includes a total of 7 stamps and will sell for $7.

I've missed Chris and her images these past couple of months so it was a nice surprise to see her back this month with a wonderfully different mini set for us to enjoy! The little pup in the main image is very sweet and I love how he's (all dogs are boys in my book!) sitting by the picket fence waiting for his master. :)

I colored in the image with my reinkers and aquapainter brush, then used this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge #105 for the layout. You can't quite tell from the photo, but I stamped the pup out for a second time onto some scrap cardstock and popped him up on dimensionals for a 3D look. The papers are a mix of two different My Mind's Eye collections.

.............................................................................................

Who doesn’t need a sentiment set that consists of various birthday sayings? What’s even better is that this set showcases the gorgeous handwriting of our very own Julie Lacey. If you’ve loved her other sentiment sets, then this one will be another lovely addition!

Sentimental Birthday is a 2X6 stamp set that includes a total of 7 stamps and will sell for $7.

Would you like a chance to win these two sets? Here’s what you need to do: go to each of the Trendsetter’s blogs and leave a comment on their In All The World/Sentimental Birthday Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog to add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own sets. The winner will be announced Saturday (the 26th) during the Release Party Chat.

Your next stop is...the There She Goes blog!

Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'In All The World'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, More Mustard, Regal Rose, Going Gray
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics and Bling, PP - My Minds Eye
Access: Spellbinders Large Circle Nestibilities, May Arts Solid Wrinkled Ribbon - Cream, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

Chasing Butterflies

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Good Morning!

I can't believe it's Wednesday already! This week has really been flying by for me. I look forward to my weekends now because of all the home projects we've got going on at the moment. Last weekend I painted the cabinet doors and main door in the bathroom a nice bright white. I replaced the hardware on the cabinetry from brushed nickel to oil rubbed bronze. It's already looking so much better than it used to! The bathroom used to look like an awkward teenager and now it's starting to look like a grown up! :) I'll share before and after pictures with you all once we're done. I can't wait!

Ok, onto today's card!

I have been itching to color up this adorable image ever since this set arrived on my doorstep! I ADORE these little bears from the Back In Ten set!! They're tooooo cute! This week I found the perfect layout to show it off with. I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch layout #104 because of the wide center panel. I watercolored in this sweet image with my reinkers and aquapainter brush, then I sponged around the edges with SU's Cool Caribbean ink. I used my Post-It note trick then I machine stitched it to some cardstock. Then I used some of Basic Grey's Green at Heart collection to bring the feeling of Spring to the card. The flower was made using Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Blooms dies, a button and PTI Rustic Button Twine.

I love the way this turned out, don't you? It's so sweet, and Springy....ahh, Spring! How I miss thee! :)

Have yourself a great Wednesday!

Supplies

Stamps: There She Goes 'Back In Ten'

Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive, Going Gray, Soft Suede, Regal Rose, Distress Inks 'Tea Dye'

Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, PP - Basic Grey 'Green At Heart'

Access: PTI Beautiful Blooms Die, EK Success Corner Punch, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles, Kaisercrafts Adhesive Pearls, PTI Rustic Button Twine, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

TSG93: Supply Challenge

Monday, February 7, 2011

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! I know I promised last week that I would post a couple of pics of my trip to Buffalo last week and I didn't follow through. I had every intention to, until I found out that my flight home had been canceled! So instead of relaxin in my hotel room writing up a blog post about my experience in a freezer, I was frantically calling around trying to get myself and my collegue on another flight home! Luckily we were able to get a really early flight and got home sooner than we had originally booked for - phew!

Anywho, so that's why I wasn't around much last week, and I apologise for that. But this week, I promise you, will be a little different. Why? Because it's my turn as the featured Trendsetter over at the There She Goes blog! Which means I'm hosting the TSG Challenge today!

And my challenge to you all is to create a card or project that uses the following:

3 patterned papers

2 buttons, and

1 sparkly element!

Here's what I whipped up!

Cute right?! I love these little whimsical houses in the new Day or Night set! As always, I like to borrow a sketch and this one was from Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #103. I then got to work by stamping out one of the houses and the sun from the set. I colored it up with my reinkers and aquapainter brush on Strathmore Britsol Vellum (It's not really vellum! That just describes it's surface texture!) Then I added some sparkle to the roof, dangling heart and the sun with a glitter pen from Sakura. One element down, two to go!

The papers's are from one of my favorite paper company's - Crate Paper. It's from their Restoration collection and its full of eclectic patterns! (Second element met!) Then I added some rustic twine from PTI to the horizontal panel and this time, instead of having the twine pulled together with a button, I chose to add the buttons to the Labels One nestie panel instead. It was begging for something! And that makes three!

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that utilizes the previous supplies, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (Feb 14th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)


Hope you have a great Monday and thanks SO much for popping in!


Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'Day or Night'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', More Mustard, Really Rust, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Distress Inks 'Tea Dye and Vintage Photo'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, Georgia Pacific, PP - Crate Paper 'Restoration' Collection
Access: PTI Rustic Button Twine and Buttons - Chocolate, Spellbinders Labels One Nesties, Post-It Notes, Sakura Glitter Pen, Sponges, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals

Claudia & Company February Blog Hop!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Good Morning and welcome to today's Claudia and Company February Release Blog Hop!!

If you've stopped here from Tracy's awesome blog, then you're doing great! But if you haven't and would like to hop along with us today, then head on over to the Claudia & Company blog to start your journey there! So lets get started shal we?!

Introducing...Puddle Jumper Charlotte!!

Ain't she sweet?! I am in love with her hair!! Having been cursed...I mean blessed, with curly hair, I have always been envious of anyone with straight hair. I always look like I stuck my finger in a socket! :) Anyway...

Puddle Jumper Charlotte is one of the digital stamps being released today and she's just a peach to color up! As with all of the Puddle Jumper sets, Charlotte comes with a little something extra...the potted flowers! I used my reinkers and aqupainter brush together with pretty paper from The Girls Paperie and this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #102 for the layout.

Next up...

Easter Basket by John Grutta!!

Just in time for Easter, Claudia and Company's newest illustrator, John Grutta has come up with an great image for us! This is Easter Basket is a digital stamp. Those chickies are too cute! I kept the layout basic since it's a pretty busy image. Papers from Basic Grey's old Lemonade collection and some polka dot ribbon was all this card needed. The nice thing about digital stamps is that you can make the image fit the nestie rather than trying to get the nestie to fit the image! Love that!

Introducing.....Puddle Jumper Ezra!!

You can't have a new girl Puddle Jumper to play with and not have a new boy image too! And Ezra is his name! :) Another image perfect for Easter, illustrator Lori Boyd has worked her magic again and created another cuuutie patootie!

I borrowed this week's Card Patterns sketch # 100 for the layout and the paper is from a 6x6 sample pack of My Minds Eye Quite Contrary Jack & Jill Collection.

Well, I hope this was enough eye candy for you today! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Your next stop is....my dear friend, KADIE!!

Supplies
Card One
Stamps: Claudia & Company 'Puddle Jumper Charlotte Digital Stamp', sentiment from There She Goes 'Beautiful Spring'
Inks: Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Cool Caribbean, Buckaroo Blue, Sahara Sand, Really Rust and various other colors
Papers: Georgia Pacific, Bazzil Basics, Bazzil Bling, PP - The Girls Paperie
Access: Ribbon, Spellbinders Labels One Nesties, EK Success Circle Punch, Sponges, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals


Card Two
Stamps: Claudia & Company 'Easter Basket Digital Stamp', sentiment from There She Goes 'Hunny Bunnies'
Inks: Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Morning Marigold, More Mustard, Cool Caribbean, Raspberry Razz and various other colors
Papers: Georgia Pacific, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey 'Lemonade'
Access: Ribbon, PTI Button, PTI Rustic Button Twine, Martha Stewart Edge Punch, Spellbinders Labels Four Nesties, Sponges, Machine Stitching, Dimensionals


Card Three
Stamps: Claudia & Company 'Puddle Jumper Ezra Digital Stamp' and 'So Random Sentiments/Up Down Edition
Inks: Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede, Buckaroo Blue, Sahara Sand, Cool Caribbean and various other colors
Papers: Georgia Pacific, Bazzil Basics, Bazzil Bling, PP - My Minds Eye Quite Contrary-Jack & Jill Collection
Access: Ribbon, Spellbinders Labels Four Nesties, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

TSG92: Inspiration Challenge

Monday, January 31, 2011

Good Morning Friends!

Well, by 11am today, I'll be shivering my way in and out of a -25 deg F freezer! I'm flipping out just writing this! To save my fingers from potential frostbite, I bought a few heat packs that hikers use to keep my hands and feet warm. Hopefully they do the trick! Although, I don't know how I'm supposed to write when my gloves are full of this stuff! I'll pop in later this week and let you know how it's all going.

Anywho,....I didn't get a whole lot of cards done this week because I was preparing for this trip, but here's one I did for today's TSG challenge. It's an inspiration challenge and the image is a fabulously clean and simple interior.


I chose to use the colors (because they were so cool!) and kept the layout just as clean and simple as the image.

I couldn't think of any other set to go with these colors then the adorable owls from the You're A Hoot set! With my reinkers and aquapainter brush, I colored in the owls in a pretty nuetral palette, then cut them out. I love the look of the scalloped border (which was done with decorative scissors) - it adds a little bit of whimsy to the card, don't you think?!

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that uses the provided sketch, then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (Feb 7th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

Thanks SO much for stopping in today! Hope you have a good one!


Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'You're A Hoot'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', More Mustard, Really Rust, Raspberry Razz, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PTI Kraft Cardstock, PP - Crate Paper
Access: PTI Rustic Button Twine and Buttons, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Sponges, Machine Stitching

TSG Love/Happy Mail Blog Hop!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Welcome to the second blog hop for the There She Goes February releases!

If you've stopped here via Piali's wonderful blog, then you're on the right track! But if you haven't and would like to hop with us today, then head over to the TSG blog and start your ride there.

Today we're showcasing two mini sets that you're going to love! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you will definitely want to invest in this stamp set illustrated by Jessica. These bold-lined images can be used as either the focal point of your creation or used as accents with other love-themed sets.

Love is a 2x6 stamp set that includes a total of 11 of stamps and will sell for $7.

I love how different this set is! It has 11 - count 'em, 11 - stamps in the set! And it's a MINI set! That's a BIG mini set! Using the layout from this week's Card Patterns #99 sketch challenge, I created this card using the new set. For the circle element, I made a medallion and added the circle stamp and heart stamps to the center of it. I also stamped the word love using Versamark on the kraft cardstock.

................................................................

Who doesn’t like to receive happy mail? The little girls in this set illustrated by our very own Iwona Palamountain sure do! Whether wishing someone a happy birthday or sending that special friend a pick-me-up, this adorable set will brighten anyone’s day!

Happy Mail is a 3x4 stamp set that includes a total of 7 of stamps and will sell for $7.

Didn't Iwona do a FABULOUS job?! Wait till you see the whole set! You're going to love it! And for $7, you can't beat it! I love how this little girl is big enough so you can paper piece her dress. To make this card I borrowed the layout from this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge #138 and a mix of paper from October Afternoon's Thrift Store and some old My Minds Eye.

Would you like a chance to win the Love & Happy Mail mini stamp sets? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their Love & Happy Mail Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Love & Happy Mail stamp sets. The winner will be announced Saturday (Jan. 29th) during the Release Party Chat.

Your next stop is...There She Goes blog!!

Supplies
Card One
Stamps: There She Goes 'Love'
Inks: Versamark, Colorbox Warm Red Chalk Ink, Distress Ink 'Walnut Stain'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, PTI Kraft Cardstock,PP - Crate Pape
Access: Ribbon, EK Success Corner and Circle Punch, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

Card Two
Stamps: There She Goes 'Happy Mail'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Pretty In Pink, Cool Caribbean, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, Georgia Pacific, PP - My Minds Eye and October Afternoon
Access: Spellbinders Labels Eight, Fiskars Circle Cutter, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, PTI Eyelet Lace Border and Rustic Button Twine, PTI Buttons - Black and Red, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

TSG Back In 10 Blog Hop!!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Hello and welcome to the first blog hop for the February There She Goes releases!

If you've arrived here from Piali's wonderful blog, then you're A-OK! But if you haven't and would like to see some AMAZING sneak peeks, then head on over to the TSG blog to start the journey there!

This month is choc full of GORGEOUS sets and today the DT girls and I are sharing sneak peeks of a beautiful set by our newest illustrator, Di Carubia! It's called Back In 10 and it's full of the cutest little bears you have ever seen!

Back In 10 is a 4x6 stamp set that includes a total of 17 of stamps and will sell for $15.
If you're like me, and still watercolor, then you're really going to really love this set! I couldn't wait to crack out my reinkers and color this image in!

Isn't it sweet?! You can see now why we're calling this set, Back In 10, can't you? =) I used this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge #139 for my layout and yummy paper from My Minds Eye.

Would you like a chance to win the Back In 10 stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s blogs and leave a comment on their Back In 10 Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own Back In 10 stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Jan 29th) during the Release Party Chat.

Congratulations! You've reached the end of the hop!!

Your next stop is....There She Goes blog!!

Supplies
Stamps: There She Goes 'Back In Ten'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Close To Cocoa, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, More Mustard, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen and Tea Dye'
Papers: Strathmore Bristol Vellum, Bazzil Basics, PP - My Minds Eye
Access: PTI Rustic Button Twine, Spellbinders Labels One Nestibilities, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Pearl, Machine Stitching, Sponges, Dimensionals

You're Invited!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Good Morning!

How are we all doing today? Good, I hope! As for me, I'm just trying to stay warm today. It is BEYOND freezing here in New Hampshire this morning! I didn't even know it could get this cold here! How cold, you ask?! How does -24 deg sound?! Can you say 'cold'?! Yeow!

We stayed low and didn't do much this weekend, but I did get a lot of cards done! Six cards infact! Go me! Haha One of those cards was this one using Todd Puddle Jumper!

One of my favorite sketch challenges is Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, and this week's sketch, SSSC101, was perfect for showcasing the Todd Puddle Jumper digital stamp. I turned the sketch on it's side to make it work for the stamp.

I colored Todd in with my reinkers and aquapainter brush. I used Sahara Sand on his pants and a combination of Broken Glass Distress Ink and SU's Buckaroo Blue. His hair and shoes were colored with SU's Soft Suede.

Basic Grey's Max and Whiskers collection is not only great for making cards for dogs and cats, but it's also great for boy cards. It's got the right amount of dirt and grit. :)

Stay tuned early next week for February's releases from Claudia & Company! By the way, there's a sale going on over at the Claudia & Company webstore! Claudia has tons of things marked down 25-40% off, so you might want to check it out! Just saying... ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!


Supplies
Stamps: Claudia & Company 'Puddle Jumper Todd Digital Stamp', There She Goes 'Sentimental'
Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Distress Inks 'Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap and Broken China'
Papers: Georgia Pacific, Bazzil Basics, PP - Basic Grey 'Max and Whiskers' Collection
Access: Raffia, PTI Buttons - Chocolate, Spellbinders Large Oval Nestibilities, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Sponges, Dimensionals

I Love Puddle Jumpers!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Happy Friday Everyone!

Are you as happy as I am that it's Friday? Oh yes sireee! I'm soooo thankful it's only a few hours until the weekend! I've had a very busy week at work (which is why I've been so quiet this week) and I am looking forward to taking it easy for a couple of days. How about you?

One card I did manage to whip up this week is this one!

I {heart} these Puddle Jumpers! And sweet Mary Jane is up there amongst my favorites!

Since Valentines Day is right around the corner, I pulled Basic Grey's Olivia paper pad to make this card. Not an obvious choice for a romantic card, but when I saw the hearts paper, I knew it was perfect for Mary Jane! As always I used my ever faithful reinkers and aquapainter brush to color her in. Then I cut her out and popped her on a panel made with various papers from the Basic Grey collection, Bazzil cardstock and the Labels Eight Nestie. The layout is from this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch #100. Some of my favorite crafting tools are my Fiskars decorative scissors. I especially love the small scalloped ones, which I used around the edge of scalloped nestie panel. LOVE that look!

Got any plans for the weekend? We're laying low with all this snow we've been getting. Although, we may be painting our downstairs bathroom if we can decide on a paint color! :)

Thanks for dropping by and have a good one!

Supplies

Stamps: Claudia & Company 'Mary Jane Puddle Jumper', There She Goes 'Sentimental'

Inks: StazOn 'Jet Black', Creamy Caramel, Baha Breeze, Regal Rose, Ruby Red, Distress Inks 'Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Black Soot'

Papers: Georgia Pacific, Bazzil Basics and Bling, PP - Basic Grey's 'Olivia Collection'

Access: May Arts Stitched Ribbon, Kaisercrafts Adhesive Pearls - Rose, Martha Stewart Edge Punch, Spellbinders 'Labels Eight' and 'Large Scalloped Circle Nestibilities, Fiskars Decorative Scissors, Sponges, Dimensionals