Scrap Pile Saturday Challenge #1

Hello Friends! Is your scrap pile growing larger? Is it becoming unmanageable? Well, mine is and it's driving me crazy. I had to do something about it. I decided each Saturday I will create a weekly challenge focusing on using up my scrap card stock, designer paper, and opened packs of embellishments. Do you want to play along?

Okay, here are the rules:

1. Other than your card base, the face of your card MUST be created using ONLY designer paper and card stock from your scrap pile. Do not cut up any new card stock or designer paper.

2. Embellishments added to your card MUST be from "opened" packages. Do not open up a new package or roll of ribbon, brads, buttons, etc.

Here is this week's challenge:

Follow the sketch below and incorporate a butterfly image on to your design.


With both cards I followed the sketch and heat embossed the butterfly images. I adhered the butterflies on to prima flowers to give it a 3D appearance.

I decided to create two cards in different colors. I was going to create more of them because it was fairly easy to create the cards but I wanted to post this challenge sooner than later. . :)

With my pink card, I heat embossed the butterflies using a glittery embossing powder.

Okay. . .if you want to play along, link your card on Mr. Linky below or if you're having problems with Mr. Linky, comment this post with a link to your card. Each week, I'll feature 3 participants in next week's post! You have until Friday to post and link to your blog. The permanent link to Scrap Pile Saturday Challenges will be located at the top of my blog under the label "SPS Challenges" so you can find them easily. Have fun!

Hope y'all have a wonderful crafty Saturday!

Card Details:

Stamps: Unity Stamps Remember Happiness
Paper: Scrap Pile
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Pebbles, Inc, and Making Memories Ribbons, Embossing Powders, Prima Flowers

Christmas Stampin All Year Long Challenge #42 - A Colourful Christmas

Hey Friends! It's Friday and today is Christmas Stampin All Year Long Challenge #42!!! Yay!! Vicki of Summerythyme Studio is hosting this week's challenge and she comes up with great challenges!! What's the challenge? Well, the challenge is to create a card in shades of pink! Whoohoo! I love pink Christmas cards! This is definitely a fun challenge!!

Why don't ya' all play along this week!! Last year I was so glad that I created my Christmas cards throughout the year because I ended up going on a trip during the holidays and well, I was set to go before I left! Wheewww!
I colored the snowman with my Copic Markers and used pastels to color the background then added Stickles for the snow. To create the snowflakes, I used a snowflake Sizzlet die to cut the shape and heat embossed them with iridescent embossing powder.

Anyway. . .stop by CSAYL and check out all the pretty cards the design team created and I hope you all will play along. We'd love to see more participants in the challenges. Three participants will be chosen to be featured on the blog and one of them will be a guest designer for the following week. If you play along, it may be you!!!

Hope y'all have a wonderful Friday!!

Card Details:

Stamp: not sure
Paper: SU Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, SU designer paper
Ink: Copic Markers, Pebbles Inc, Pastels
Accessories: Nestabilities, SU Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Basic striped ribbon, Sizzlet snowflake die, SU Iridescent Embossing Powder

Pink Cat Studio Digi Stamp Release

Hello Friends! It's Thursday and it's that time again!! It's Pink Cat Studio release of not only their digi stamps but also their rubber stamps! How cool is that? OMG! Look at Lily! She is so darn cute in the butterfly and bug costumes!

I'm not sure if you can see the copper colored background but in person, it's glimmery. I decided to create my own "formula" of glimmer mist and it worked. I was suppose to post a tutorial but my photo program was acting up and I was having problems uploading all my photos. I'll see if I can work on it today and post it maybe tomorrow or this weekend.

With this second card. . .well, I messed up a bit. I knew it was going to happen but I did it anyway. Just a little warning. . .don't use Stickles when using digital images. It'll smear the black ink. It has happened to me numerous times but I keep doing it! I'm a little annoyed with myself right now. The image was great until I applied the Stickles! Oh, well! Remind me not to do it again! LOL!

Anyway. . .I'm going to cut it short. . .I'm pre-scheduling this post and it's getting late! Be sure to stop by the Pink Cat Studio blog or the links below and check out all the cute cards and projects the design team created!

Alicia Weiman
Emily Leiphart
Inge Groot
Kerry Donovan-Casey
Kristen Catalano
MacKenzie Bruckler
Maria Bell
Suzanne J Dean
Tracey Cuccia
Tori Hemmingway
Vicki Garret
Mariska van der Veer

Have a wonderful Thursday, Friends!!!

Pink Cat Studio Lily Ballerina

Hello Friends!! I actually colored this Pink Cat Studio image a few weeks ago and I had set it aside to work on something else and totally forgot about it until today. Do you do that sometimes? Work on something then forget about it. It's kinda fun re-discovering them.

Do you see that beaded branch thing on my card? Well, I bought this package of them because they were on sale. I thought I could use it for something. . .I always do that. . .you know, buy stuff that I'm not sure I really need. Well, I decided to add it on to my card. It's something different.

I really had fun making this card because I used a few scrap pieces I had lying around. It's nice to actually use stuff that I have collected in a bin. At church service on Sunday, our Pastor talked about how the recession may be a good thing because it's made us more aware of our spending and that bouncing back from the recession shouldn't mean that we should return to our previous lifestyle. Our greed for material things has taken new heights and that rather than buying things and focusing on materialism to find happiness, maybe we should look to spending less, purging what we no longer need, and find happiness in the simple things in life.

It made me take a second look at my obsessive desire to buy new crafty stuff and I've come to the realization, I don't need any more things. I have so much more than I could ever imagine using within my lifetime (LOL) and that maybe it's time to either purge a few of them or at least start focusing on using them. It's difficult because I like pretty crafty stuff. I'll stop by the craft store or look online and there's always something new on the market. Sometimes I have to fight the urge to buy them. Do you feel that you overspend on crafty stuff?

I'm also looking at wanting to go back to crafting because I want to, not because I have to. I always feel because I've bought a lot of stuff, I HAVE to craft whether I'm in the mood or not. It's been weighing me down. I feel guilty when I prefer to do something else. How weird is that? Feeling guilty for not taking the time to craft seems rather strange to me. It's like I'm neglecting a family member or something. LOL! I have to remind myself that my craft stuff don't have feelings. Hilarious!


Anyway. . .I colored Lily with my Copic Markers and added a bit of glitter to parts of the image. I also added dots around the image using my Sakura Opaque pen. Below is a sketch I created. I haven't created a sketch of cards I created for such a long time. There was a time when I created a sketch for every card I made. Try it out and see what you can come up with!!


Well, that's it for today. . ..I hope you all are having a wonderful day. . .:)

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Lily Valentines Ballerina
Paper: GCD designer paper (I think), SU Pretty in Pink and Pixie Pink (I think)
Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Opaque Pen
Accessories: Lace, Basic Basic Ribbon, SU Heart to Heart Punch, beaded embellishment, Nestabilities, K&CO word tags

Glimmer Mist Embossed Flower Stampin Up Kind and Caring Thoughts

Hello Friends! Wow, I actually finished this card. LOL! It took me a while because one, I've been seriously distracted and two, I was experimenting a bit with Glitter Mist. I recently bought a few bottles of Glimmer Mist. . .well, being me. . .I needed to get a few just because I've seen other people using them. Don't you just love how we can easily get sucked into buying stuff? I mean. . it's crazy. I need to stop this behavior.

There were only a few colors at my local scrapbook store so I just bought 3 bottles. I had no clue how to use them but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It's basically some sort of solution with "pearl ex" or "mica" pigment mixed into it. Well, that's what I'm assuming it is because I've mixed reinkers, water, and mica pigment/powder . . basically, Pearl Ex or Perfect Pearls and honestly, the results are similar.

The color I used for this card was "Auburn" . I was hoping for a more "pinkish" tone but it's more of a burgundy tone. I added a bit of pinkish tone to it by dabbing SU Positively Pink ink on to the white areas of the card stock using a sponge.

I then stamped the image and heat embossed it white embossing powder. That's about it. I didn't brush off the stray embossing powder because I wanted a bit of white speckles to the background of the image. I'm not sure I'm going to buy any more colors of the Glitter Mist because I'm thinking I'm just going to come up with my own concoction. I have a ton of Pearl Ex and Perfect Pearl pigments . . .I'll play with a few different colors and see how it turns out.

Anyway. . .I'll end it here. . .I'm in the crafty mood so I better get my butt going before I find something else to distract me and well, when that happens. . .no crafty time.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Monday!!!!

Card Details:

Stamps: SU Kind and Caring Thoughts
Paper: SU designer paper, SU Regal Rose
Ink: Glimmer Mist Auburn, Versamark Ink
Accessories: Basic Basic Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Hemp Cord, buttons, SU Embossing Folder, SU Key Tag Punch, Dew Drops

Scrappy Cards and Train Video - Soul Sister

Hi Friends! For you Stampin' Up fans. . .do you recognize the scrappy kit that I used on my cards? I've had them for years. . .honestly, I have a lot of stuff that I've been holding on to for years. I'm not sure what my problem is but I do hoard a lot of crafting goodies. It's like I don't want to run out of anything, especially if I really like them and I know they are retired or no longer on the market. It's sort of silly but I'm sure many of you can relate to this problem.

Creating these cards were really quick. . .less than 30 minutes each because I didn't have to color any images. Scrappy cards are the fastest way to make cards because it's just basically putting together stickers, embellishments, card stock and designer paper together.

I added some dew drops to the flower. . .I love dew drops. . they're pretty.

This card actually took me 15 minutes to created. It was so quick that I almost went into shock! LOL!


I would provide the recipe to this card but honestly, even if you wanted to buy the items, you can't . . .most of everything on my card other than the card stock, ribbon, and dew drops are retired. I also can't remember the name of the SU Scrappy Kit that I used for the cards.

Before I go, I want to share this video with you. . .I love this song by Train called "Soul Sister". . .check it out!

Well, hope y'all have a beautiful weekend!!!

Christmas Stampin All Year Long Challenge #41 - What's Cookin' Challenge

Hello Friends! Christmas Stampin All Year Long (CSAYL) weekly challenges are back! Yup, we're back making our Christmas cards for the year and we are also adding a "gift set challenge" once a month for those who like to make gift sets to give as presents for Christmas. This week's challenge is a card challenge.

I would also like to introduce 3 new designers to our team this year: Jeanne of Inky Paws, Jacqui of Sisterlines Space In Time, and Peggy of The Wired Angel.

The challenge this week is a "recipe" challenge which includes 2 layers, 3 buttons, and glitter.

To keep the 2 layer component, I decided to heat emboss black embossing powder on to gold metallic card stock. I also added glitter to the image and also to the buttons.

I hope you all will stop by and check out the fabulous cards the design team created and that you'll play along with us. Playing along is a stress free way to create your Christmas cards. By the time the holidays roll by, you'll be done with your cards and you can enjoy the holidays!! Yay!

Well, have a wonderful Friday!!!

The Greeting Farm "My CHEEKY VALENTINE" Blog Hop! Whoop Whoop!!!

HELLO and WELCOME to our highly anticipated "My CHEEKY VALENTINE" Blog Hop!

We are SO excited to finally celebrate the release of The Greeting Farm's BRAND NEW stamp line, the Cheeky Cherry Sprouts! You've seen the previews, and we're so happy you agree that Rockabilly, Shooter, and Glamour have found a home on the Farm and in our hearts!

Today we have a SPECIAL surprise for you...the ENTIRE TGF DESIGN TEAM, both current AND ALUM were asked to participate in this event! We are THRILLED to be back as one big team and are prepared to ROCK THE FARM tonight, so sit back, grab some tea or maybe some of that Valentine's chocolate, and ENJOY!

Now, what would a hop be, especially on Valentine's Day, without PRIZES??? Well, there are PLENTY of them hanging around, and for our overseas friends, fear not, you will have until 9am CST TOMORROW (Monday, 2/15) to enter your comments to WIN the new stamps!

Well, let's get started then! Here is the OFFICIAL "My Cheeky Valentine" Blog Hop order:

Club ANYA & Friends Blog

Randi Wall
Tammy Maxvill
Melyssa Connolly

Mary Giles
Elena Joldersma
Maria Bell
Tori Wild
Sparkle Smith
Traci Porter
Lisa Futch

Cheryl Walker
Cindy Haffner
Kadie Ensley
Kim Nath
Lynda Nielsen
Mercy Kerin
Sandra MacLean

Lysa Rohrer
Kelly Booth

Kim Costello
Pam Varnell
Amy Young
Suzi McKenzie
Janna Hull
Jessica Diedrich

back to CA&F Blog to let us know you've completed the HOP!

THE CHEEKY CHERRY stamps will be released Monday 2/15 at 12AM CST, in just a few hours! We anticipate that they will go fast as these sweet and sassy little bombshells have been quite well received from what we've been hearing, so scoop yours up ASAP! ALL winners will be posted on the Club Anya blog on Monday morning shortly after the 9am deadline. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks so much for participating and for stopping by today, and be sure to stop by Tori Wild's blog now...she's the NEXT STOP on the HOP!

Have a VERY Cheeky Evening, everyone ;)

Pink Cat Studio Digital Stamp Release

Hello Friends! It's Thursday and if you don't know by now, it's the release of Pink Cat Studio's digi stamps! Yay! Well, St Patrick's Day is right around the corner and the PCS digi images are perfect for your St. Patty cards and projects.


I colored Lily with my Copic Markers. . .in person, the coins are actually shimmery. I used an iridescent paint to color the coins.

Oooh, isn't this owl the cutest or what! I guess he found the pot of gold! I wish I could find one. . .:) Maybe I'll get lucky with St. Patrick's Day around the corner. I colored the image with my Copic Markers and again, used the iridescent paint to color the gold parts of my image.

I'm sorry that my post is really short. . .not much chatting today. I have to bring my daughter to school and I want to get this post up before I leave!!!

Be sure to check out the Pink Cat Studio blog . . .the design team created such awesome cards and projects using these images!

Hope y'all have a wonderful Thursday!!

Little C's Stamp n' Scrap Hawaii CC Designs Gift Set

Hello Friends! Hey. . .I did very well today! I managed to finish a card and a treat container. Yesterday, we ate out for dinner but we were a little early so we stopped by a dollar store to kill time. I found this cute container that I thought would make for a great treat holder. I bought a few of them and a few other things that I could alter. The dollar store is a great place to find cheap containers that can be altered.

I created this project for Stamp n' Scrap Hawaii to highlight the new CC Designs stamps that are now available at Little C's.

The design of my card came about as a result of a few disasters that I fixed. I ended up being quite happy with the results. The funny thing is I wouldn't have created the design features if I didn't mess up the image! Quite honestly, the design features of many of my cards are usually a result of a screw up! LOL! I'm not kidding.

With this card, when I was about done coloring my image, I briefly looked away while still holding my Copic Marker. When I looked back at my image, I noticed I had accidentally marked the white part of the card stock surrounding the image. Ugggh! I was not happy. To fix it, I decided to cut out the image. Unfortunately, I cut off the basket's handle. Can you believe it???


I decided to cut the handle off completely and added the beaded handle in place of it. I created a brief tutorial on some of the features of my card. Simple stuff. . .I just wanted to show you what I did. Scroll down to check it out.

Here is the container that I bought at the dollar store. I just added Hershey Kisses and created a simple design to decorate the container. All I did was wrap designer paper around the container and added a label and embellishments to match my card.

Handmade Tree and Beaded Handle Tutorial

This isn't a formal tutorial but I just wanted to show what I did to create the tree and the beaded handle. To create the tree, all I did was draw a tree shape using designer paper and card stock. I drew the trunk on a brown colored card stock and cut out the shape (not shown).

With a distressing ink, I shaded the edge of the tree using a sponge dauber and to create the shadows on the tree trunk (not shown), I just rubbed the ink directly on to the card stock.

Using a Sizzix die with a leaf design, I cut the leaves in various pieces and rearranged them on to the tree shape.

I then paper pieced the tree and adhered it on to the oval shaped panel.

To create the beaded handle. I added beads to the wire.

I then shaped it like a handle and taped it to the back of the image using transparent. That's it. Pretty simple, huh? Anyway. .. whenever you mess up on a image, there is usually a way to fix it. Try doing something different to it before deciding to scrap the image. You may end up with something you'll be happy with!!

Anyway.. .that's it for today. I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

Card and project Details:

Stamps: CC Designs Apple, SU (sentiments)
Paper: SU Creamy Caramel, DCWV designer paper (I think)
Ink: Copic Markers, Tim Holtz distressing ink
Accessories: Sizzix die, Nestabilities, lace, Martha Stewart punch, SU Scallop Oval Punch, Grosgrain Ribbon