Wednesday, March 31, 2010

FBW103 - It's a Color Challenge!!

I just couldn't cut up this paper to make a card!! It was just too beautiful, so I decided to make a scrapbook page out of it. Unfortunately, I don't have the perfect picture to go with it. I plan on taking a fun picture of my daughter outside with butterfly wings on. Who actually makes the page before she even has the pictures? Craziness, I say!
Anywho...today is Flutter By Wednesday, and we have a wonderful color challenge for you! You need to use a butterfly, fairy, or angel and pair it up with the colors blue, green, and white. For my card, I used Stampin' Up colors...Old Olive and Taken with Teal. We would love to see your creation, so link it up HERE on our new linking system. But, don't forget to link to your specific card. All you need do is click on the title of your blog post, then copy the title in the tool bar. Link it the way you normally would. Some of our wonderful participants have been having some problems, so we thought a reminder would be helpful!
My awesomely talented team mates have some amazing creations for you this week!
Card Details:
Stamps: None
Paper: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pack, Taken with Teal CS, and Old Olive CS by Stampin' Up; Bazzill shimmer cardstock
Accessories: Stampin' Up Sizzix Butterfly die; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Vellum quote; rhinestone stickers

Sunday, March 28, 2010

TGF Royal Battle...Vote For Us...PLEASE!!

Bernadette's Sassy card

Yes, this is a shameless plug!! We would love for you to vote for our team in this week's Royal Battle!! We chose Bernadette's card to represent our group in this retro challenge!! To vote, all you have to do is leave a comment under the card!! You may have to register, but it is easy peasy!!



VOTE HERE



We would really appreciate it because we want to keep playing!!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Sensational Saturday Sketch Challenge #2

My card today is actually not using the sketch for the second Sensational Saturday Sketch Challenge, but my Sugar Creek Hollow card from yesterday did!! Today's card is just a little ditty I put together myself with the beautiful alphabet flash cards available from Sugar Creek Hollow.

This is the sketch for today on the Sugar Creek Hollow website to for the 2nd Sensational Saturday Sketch Challenge. We would love to see what you can come up with using this sketch--just link it up HERE. Sugar Creek Hollow images are not required, but we would love to see you use them. And, don't forget, there are always freebies on the website!!

Card Details:
Stamps: Alphabet Flash Cards by Sugar Creek Hollow; sentiment from Best Yet by SU
Paper: Black and Riding Hood Red by Stampin' Up; Life Stories by My Mind's Eye
Accessories: Copic markers; velvet ribbon; Nestabilities; SU circle punches

Friday, March 26, 2010

Easter Blessings from Sugar Creek Hollow

It's a Fabulous Friday here in Charlotte! Today is Fabulous Friday at Sugar Creek Hollow, and I have an Easter card for you today. This is a bit softer than I have been doing in days past! I just love this floral image from Sugar Creek Hollow...the possibilities are endless with it. The sentiment was a freebie from last week (there is a new one each week), and I made it so small that it is tough to see that each egg has a letter, and it spells "Easter"!

I hope that you will visit my other team mates' blogs...they are all so talented and such strong women of faith!


Card Details:
Stamps: Floral and sentiment are both by Sugar Creek Hollow
Paper: Basic Grey DSP; Wild Wasabi and Pink Pirouette CS by Stampin' Up
Accessories: Copic markers; Spica glitter pens; SU ribbon; prima flowers and brads

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

FBW102 - A bit of a Whimsical Butterfly

Welcome to this wacky Wednesday! It's Flutter By Wednesday, and this week's challenge is an open one--just don't forget the butterfly, fairy or angel on there! I decided to highlight my card from my stamp club swap. The theme for that was an inside out card. Well, I interpreted it as the inside should hold a little more stuff than normal. This card is a bit more scaled back than I usually do, but we all need to mix it up a bit! We would love to have you play along, so link up your creation HERE!

Be sure to visit my team members' blogs to see all of their creations:




I used two different sets...the butterflies are actually from a beautiful set from Woodware USA stamps, and the others are from a wonderful set called Butterfly Wishes by Jessica Deidrich for The Greeting Farm. The sentiment reads:

trying to capture a moment such as this
is like trying to catch a butterfly--
too fast to hold on to,
yet absolutely beautiful
and forever remembered...



Card Details:
Stamps: FlutterbyButterflies by Woodware USA; Butterfly Wishes by The Greeting Farm
Paper: Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo by Stampin' Up
Ink: same as paper
Accessories: SU scalloped circle punch; SU 1 3/8 inch circle punch; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder; SU oval and scalloped oval punches

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A Week of Firsts...Sweet Pea in Emerald

Yesterday, it was my first easel card. Today, it is my first card using a Sweet Pea stamp. Now, I get it. I know what everyone is raving about. This image is fabulous! I had so much fun coloring her, and her expression just holds so much mystery. All of the elements came together on this one for me, and I enjoyed creating it. I love it when that happens...

She is for the Saturday Spotlight challenge (SSHP23) which is to make a birthday card in your birthstone color. Mine is May, so the birthstone is emerald. Also, she reminds me of all the lush landscape of spring! The Crafty Catz Challenge #24 is for a spring card.


Card Details:
Stamps: Sweet Pea
Paper: Chocolate Chip by SU; Marcella by K paper pad
Ink: Palette Noir
Accessories: May Arts leafy vine ribbon; Spica glitter pens; Copic markers; Martha Stewart punches; Prima flowers

Monday, March 22, 2010

My First Easel Card...Happy Anniversary

I believe that I may be the only one left in the stamping community that hasn't attempted an easel card. Why did I wait so long? They are super easy!! I guess it was the fear of the unknown! Today, Meredith and I had the whole day at home to ourselves to do absolutely nothing. So, of course, we stole some time in the craft room. We crafted away watching both the Suite Life of Zach and Cody and Little House on the Prairie...now there is a mixture of TV shows!!

I used this cute little couple from CC Designs from their last kit (BTW, they have a new one out for half price...it's SUPER CUTE!)!
Two challenges for this card:
Cute Card Thursday #104 - Anniversary card

Card Details:
Stamps: Couple from Swiss Pixies by CC Designs; sentiment from More Great Greetings by SU
Paper: June Bug by Basic Grey; Riding Hood Red and Basic Black by SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers (B21, 24; E00, 01, 30, 31, 33, 51, 53; R22, 24; C00, 03; N5, 9); Martha Stewart Daisy border punch; Nestabilities

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Belli Challenge - Clip it Up

Just a quick little post today...we have family coming for dinner, so I have to make the house somewhat presentable!! Today's card uses a cute little digital image from Sugar Creek Hollow, and it is part of an Easter pack of 3 images for a very good price. Pop on over there and check it out. We also have a fun sketch challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow for you to play along with!
My card is based around a sketch from the Creative Belli Challenge for this week. It is Challenge #87, and it is to combine the sketch provided along with clips of some kind. Well, I found some clips that I have had for years, and I paired them with some little rosettes to add a little dimension.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Our First Sketch Challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow - SSSC01

Saturday is a glorious day here in Charlotte, NC!! We will have a sunny high of 77 today! And, for the first day of spring, too! How fitting that this card today is so bright and cheery!! My card with my cute little chick is an image from Sugar Creek Hollow just in time for Easter! He is a breeze to color, and I really had a lot of fun with this wonderful layout that is our sketch challenge this week:

We would love for you to play along with this fun sketch...and Tracy has added Mr. Linky, so that we may go and admire your handiwork! Load your card HERE! She is also adding many new images to the Sugar Creek Hollow store, so please drop in and shop. If you are a bit leery of digital images, why not try one of her freebies to get you started...it's a great way to try it out!
SSSC01=Sensational Saturday Sketch Challenge #1! We would love to see what wonderful things you can come up with!

Stampin' For the Weekend #35 - Easter themed card or project
Card Details:
Stamps: Chick from the Easter Digi Special (an awesome value!)
Paper: Gable Green, Yoyo Yellow, and Pumpkin Pie CS by SU; Bungle Jungle by Sassafras
Accessories: Copic markers (YR02, YR04, Y000, Y02); Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder; SU orange grosgrain; May Arts ricrac; Marcella by K rhinestone stickers; Creative Memories Oval cutting system; Nestabilities

Friday, March 19, 2010

Sugar Creek Hollow Friday--A Hot Fudge Sundae for you!

It's Friday...where has the week gone? Today is Fabulous Friday at Sugar Creek Hollow. We have lots of samples from the design team, and FREE DIGIS!! These digis are just in time for Easter, so HOP on over and grab yours!!

My super fun card today was made with the Sodie digi from SCH, and it is just fun. It reminds me of the old lunch counters in my home town...yes, I can actually remember them. They weren't open for long in my childhood, but my mother and grandmother kept them alive with their stories. Life did seem simpler then, didn't it?



Our challenge this week was to use faux or real stitching on our cards...I chose faux stitching this time as I thought my poor little white pen was probably feeling neglected. I forget how fun faux stitching can be! My stitching went "loopy" with the holes in my border punch...I couldn't resist!


Be on the look out tomorrow...I will have another Sugar Creek Hollow card, and a new sketch challenge is debuting on the blog! You know how I love sketches, so you won't want to miss that one. Mr. Linky will be waiting for you, and there will be some beautiful bling for the winners!!

My card today is also for the Saturday Spotlight Challenge #22--make it slick (I used Crystal effects on the cherry).




Card Details:
Stamps: Sodie by Sugar Creek Hollow
Paper: Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red by SU; DSP - Pretties Please by My Minds Eye
Accessories: Sakura white pen; SU border punch; Moda Fabrics trim; paper piercing tool; Copic markers; Crystal Effects;

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

FBW 101 - Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!! It's time for everyone to feel a little bit Irish today. Today's challenge is to use green or shamrocks on your card along with a butterfly, fairy, or angel. But wait, there is something really awesome!!

Paper Makeup Stamps is sponsoring the challenge this week, so please go to the Flutter By Wednesday website HERE to find out all of the details. You don't want to miss this one!!
In honor of PMS sponsoring us this week, I was able to take out my Chelly fairy, and it was really fun to color her...she hasn't been inked for a while!
I have made this card for another challenge:
Copic Creations #24 - use a favorite technique from the past year (I chose coloring red hair)
Card Details:
Stamps: More Great Greetings by SU; Chelly by Paper Makeup
Paper: Origins by Basic Grey; Garden Green and Black by SU
Ink: Garden Green by SU; Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers; May Arts ribbon and twine; SU circle punch; Scalloped circle nestabilities

Monday, March 15, 2010

Paper Sundaes 9th Challenge - Happy Birthday

HAPPY MONDAY!! I had to shout that just so that I might believe it myself!! Actually, it wasn't too bad of a Monday despite our rather strange weekend that including losing sleep, an early wakeup call, and a 2 hour trip to the CVS Minute Clinic (the name cracks me up in retrospect). A tired dad, a discombobulated mom, and a kid with a double ear infection. Can you say, "good times!"?
On to brighter things! My card today is my first attempt at the Side Stair Step card. It was fun, and it seems a little more stable than the traditional stair step card. I really wanted to play with my 80s Anya, and I finally put pink hair on one of my images. Now, that was liberating!!
My card is for the 9th Paper Sundaes challenge, and it is for a multi-fold Easter or Spring card. Well, it is multi-fold, and the colors are definitely springy. Just chalk it up to my clouded mind from the weekend!! Anyway, it was fun, and I love playing this challenge every week!! It is my goal to keep playing every week, and so far, I have accomplished that. If you haven't tried one of their challenges, they post them every Sunday, and they are fun!! You'll love it!
I have a busy crafting week ahead of me, with a list of 10 different things to get done by Wednesday! This should be interesting! I'll pull it out, one way or another!
Card Details:
Stamps: 80s Anya by The Greeting Farm; Birthday Greetings by Stampin' Up
Paper: Sugar Rush and Lime Rickey by Basic Grey; Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette by Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Melon Mambo by Stampin' Up
Accessories: Copic markers; Nestabilities; Prima flowers; glitter brads; rhinestone brad

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Some Cuties from Meljen's Designs

Happy Saturday!! I hit the craft room this morning, and I think I unblocked my block this morning. These wonderful images from Meljen's Designs have helped the process! I've been so crazy busy and then tired from the long days that I haven't been tapping into my creativity as much in the past week. Now, I did, and it feels good. Not to mention that the sun is shining...that is truly good for the soul. Funny about the above card...I wanted to name it either "Go for the Gold" or "Let's Do Lunch"...cheeky sense of humor, I know! Sorry!

I used my copics to color this, and the cat was colored with E51, 53, and 55. Fun time coloring this little mischievous cutie. The border punch is from the SU Sale-a-Bration catalog, and the designer paper is Sugar Rush by Basic Grey. I used Wild Wasabi and Pretty in Pink from SU.

These little cuties are from Meljen's Designs...you know I love cute, and these are CUTE!! She has a wonderful Etsy shop and a blog. The above card here is super simple, but I think the image begs to be kept simple. I wanted the big expanse of space to symbolize the space between two people who miss one another, and the blue bird, well, he's blue! You get it! I colored with copics, and the yellow is Barely Banana from SU.

I finally tried a circle card with this little cutie from Meljen's Designs...they just beg to be colored. I'm serious...my copics were yelling to me to come and color these images!! LOL! I had some issues with my ribbon, but it worked out for the most part. I also realized that sometimes my Creative Memories cutting system doesn't have just the right size circle, but I made it work this time. I used Basic Black and Summer Sun cardstock by Stampin' Up, and the shimmer is from SU's last mini, and it is called Champagne Mist from Tsukineko. I also used copic markers and my scalloped circle Nestabilities.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Sugar Creek Hollow - Easter Bonnet

"In my Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it..."

This lovely image from Sugar Creek Hollow reminds me of this little song (hopefully I wrote the words correctly!). The bonnet is so intricate and feminine that it was really fun to color. I've had a crazy week, and my crafting time has been seriously limited, so coloring the image was relaxing to me.
This week, we were challenged to use buttons on our card. I tend to collect things, so I have a ton of buttons that never get used, and lo and behold, I had three that matched this week. Don't forget that it is Friday, and that means a new freebie at Sugar Creek Hollow. Also, Tracy has added some beautiful and adorable Easter images to the store. Check them out!
My card is also for Mercy's sketch this week...MTSC64...it is a cute one this week. Check it out!
Card Details:
Stamps: Hat by Sugar Creek Hollow
Paper: My Mind's Eye DSP; Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, and Choc. Chip from Stampin' Up
Accessories: Copic markers (RV21, 23, 25, 29; G21, 24; V06, 09); buttons; Cuttlebug embossing folder (floral screen); SU Word Window and fancy label punch; SU rubons; Martha Stewart Daisy border punch

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

FBW100 100 Butterflies, 100 Challenges!

Today is the day!! Flutter By Wednesday turns 100!! Can you believe it? It is amazing all of the countless creations that have been made and inspired by Flutter By Wednesdays! I'm so honored to be part of a team of amazing women who absolutely blow me away each week with their creativity. Danni, our fearless leader has to be one of the most thoughtful and kind people I know, and Wednesday is my favorite day because of her!

In honor of this week's 100th challenge, we all made our creations with butterflies because that is how this wonderful challenge was born. Butterflies are truly God's way of reminding us that miracles do happen.

We all chose to use a wonderful template from Brenda Quintana (QBee's Butterfly Large Box Template) that was suggested by our fabulous teammate Karen Wilson. We have been secretly corresponding without Danni's knowledge, so we hope this will surprise her!!
We would love for you to join us...just link up your creation HERE, and don't forget to use a butterfly, fairy or angel on your creation.
This was a fun template to work with, and you will see that I have a lot of butterflies on here...well, 100 of them in fact. I had to go all out, didn't I? That was a lot of punching and cutting involved on this box, but it was all worth it. It's so springy, and I just needed the cheerfulness of the project! The butterflies poking out of the box are from a cute new set I bought from Woodware USA called Flutterbys (appropriately!). They have wonderful clear stamp sets!
Additional Challenges:
Paper Sundaes Challenge #8 - Color challenge (CTMH colors that I used the closest match) Rose Red, Certainly Celery, and Tempting Turquoise
Card Details:
Stamps: Flutterby Butterflies by Woodware USA
Paper: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, and Certainly Celery CS by Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers; Prima flowers; rhinestone stickers; wooden skewers; Martha Stewart ribbon; Martha Stewart Butterfly punch; QBee Large Butterfly box template

Friday, March 5, 2010

SCH Color Challenge...it's a beauty!!

We have a fun color challenge for you today! I love all of these colors, especially Riding Hood Red (such a shame that it is retired)! My image is from Sugar Creek Hollow, and we are so excited that the grand opening was such a success. I had a lot of fun with this teapot image. I actually printed it out on three different pieces of paper...white cardstock, opal shimmer paper, and a designer paper from Making Memories. And, don't forget, it's Friday, and Tracy has a new freebie in the store! It's a fun one this week, especially for our 3D lovers!


My card is also for two more challenges this week:

Diedrich Dare DDSC25 - sketch from Madelynn

Creative Belli Challenge#86 - use your eyelets!

SCH Color Challenge - see colors below

Card Details:

Stamps:
Teapot by Sugar Creek Hollow; Small Script by SU
Paper: Making Memories DSP; Paper Source shimmer paper; Baja Breeze CS and DSP, Choc. Chip, and Riding Hood Red by Stampin' Up
Ink: Chocolate Chip by SU
Accessories: Copic markers (R35, R37, BG72); grosgrain ribbon; eyelets; SU oval and scalloped oval punches; flowers; CM circle cutter; Nestabilities; Victoria embossing folder

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

FBW99 A little Pixie Dust

So sorry for the late post for this week's Flutter By Wednesday challenge! I think that the universe is just conspiring against me a bit for the last couple of days! We were away for 5 days, and I've had trouble getting my groove back, so to speak.

This week's Flutter By Wednesday challenge (FBW99) is an inspiration challenge. You can link it up HERE. Danni's favorite character is Tinkerbell, and we have this wonderful picture of her below as inspiration for this week's challenge! I was a bit liberal with my take on it, so I will explain where I'm coming from. I sometimes take inspiration challenges very literally, and at other times, my reasoning may seem somewhat obscure. I guess that is the way my mind works! When I look at this picture of Tinkerbell, I see the little mischievous, yet loyal with a big heart fairy that she is. I guess I imagine Enchanted Lily to be a bit like that. Let's face it, fairies are all of those things wrapped into one! I wanted to explain my card for a second reason also...I think sometimes we get intimidated by inspiration challenges! This just shows you that you can trust where your creativity takes you! Enjoy!

My card is also for this week's Paper Sundaes seventh challenge...I'm still trying to keep up with everyone!! It is a sketch challenge this week, and I know you will love it!! The sketch challenge is HERE.
Card Details:
Stamps: Enchanted Lily by Pink Cat Studios
Paper: My Mind's Eye DSP; Basic Black and Melon Mambo CS by Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers (E00, E01, G21, G24, Y11, Y21, E31, E21, E25, E27, RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29, BG000, BG01); Target ribbon

Monday, March 1, 2010

Sugar Creek Hollow GRAND OPENING and BLOG HOP

It's Grand Opening time at Sugar Creek Hollow!!!! I am so excited to be part of the celebration and Design Team!! We are kicking off the Grand Opening with a Grand Celebration!!! For today only, we are offering a free digi for for EVERY $10 spent. Spend $10 you get one free digi, spent $20 you get 2 free digis, spent $30...well you know the rest! The Design Team has created a card for you to see these beautiful digis in use. Here's my card:

Now go visit the rest of the DT to see their beautiful cards. Then, go to Sugar Creek Hollow's website to purchase your favorite digis!!
First Up is:

We hope you enjoy today's blog hop!! Try some Sugar Creek Hollow digital stamps...you'll love them!!