Rock Star Dance!

I made this Little Tees (by Melanie Muenchinger for Gina K Designs) with dancing Twinx (Doodlefactory Creatures by Starving Artistamps) to send to Cat - in celebration of her In the Spotlight designer for Gina K for October's release!

I used Pink Pirouette to stamp the ringer tee and went over it for depth with my prismacolor pencil & blended with baby oil. Regal Rose cardstock was ran through my traffic jam cb embossing folder for fun texture. The black ribbon is velvet, so luxurious! I knew Cat would like this card, since she likes Doodlefactory images. I love the fact that these creatures come small (1") and large (2 1/4") and the small one fit perfectly on the tee. Star word is from Melanie's most recent set, Just So Sporty.

I'm so thrilled for her & Lee Murphy who was also chosen - and I do think they're both Rock Stars so it was natural for me to make these cards & send to them - I sent Lee my Hey Chica! You're a rockstar card I made last weekend (uploaded before I sent it, since I made it for a challenge too). They've both received & posted the cards on their blogs so now it's my turn to share with y'all.

Be sure to check out Lee's post today for a sneak peek of the new release!

Also, don't forget - Gina K Designs next release is going to be this Thursday evening in the forum, 7:00-10:00 p.m. CST. I plan to be there!

Go Batty Treat!!

Here is a matching card & treat using Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Halloween II set, GraveYard Shift.  I used the tree branch, moon & Boaz, the bat.  Isn't he cute?  I stamped the branch & moon with craft ink on elegant eggplant and hung Boaz who was colored with prismacolor pencils (blended with baby oil & stumps). I swiped my white pad on basic black c/s for a weathered look.  
Here is a top side view of the treat container I made.  Inside is a batty peppermint patty treat nestled between two circle nestabilities, it's almost like a little purse with the ribbon handle.  

Go Confidently...

I love that sentiment in Asela's Botanical Dreams set by Gina K Designs.  'Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined." by Henry David Thoreau.  

I couldn't have chosen a more fitting sentiment for a framed gift I gave my best friend Lori at the ribbon cutting ceremony of her specialty cake shop opening last week.  What I could have done, though was be more prepared & made a matching card & gift wrap {and perhaps not have waited until the night before to make it} and had my camera ready for when she opened it so I could have captured her expression & tears of appreciation.  Instead, I had to excuse the lack of complete wrapping and engrave her reaction in my heart.  It was a sweet, sweet moment to share with her since I recall 8 years ago hearing her tell of her dream of owning her own cake shop.  Her face would light up (and still does) every time she talked about her latest delectable cake creation or the reaction of a happy bride or customer she encountered.  She has been working away at her dream (part-time) since prior to March of this year, because that was when she decided to take the leap of faith to do this full-time!    

Her cake shop, 'Classic Cakes by Lori' is located in Dripping Springs, west of Austin.  Here are members of the Chamber of Commerce, property owners and her husband, Dan behind her.  

Here is one of the display cases she has with some of her 'fake' cakes she totes to bridal extravaganzas & open houses around the area.  Carl the crab on the bottom right is a cake show winner.  

Here is a picture of us all (not that great of me & John, I think we were laughing & have scrunched eyes as a result).  We've weathered a lot of storms & celebrated a lot of victories over years as best friends - personally and individually and have all stuck by one another's sides.  We have so many wonderful, laughter-filled memories together.  John and I met Lori & Dan 8 years ago when we got involved in a motorcycle ministry.  We hung out all the time, riding to beautiful places, hanging out with wonderful people & enjoying one another's company.  We all have since moved on from that chapter in our lives but I knew from early on that nothing would stop us from being friends so that's why we continue to be best friends although there are no motorcyles anymore.  I am so proud of all the hard work these two put into making Lori's dream a reality! 

The next dream to work on is Dan's and I'm sure I will be sharing that when the time comes to celebrate it!  You will not believe it!  

Stamps: Papertrey's Piece of Cake set 

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Baroque Burgundy, Brushed Metallic Gold

Ink: Gold, Baroque Burgundy

Accessories: bride flowers, liquid pearls, rectangle nestabilities, metallic rub-on paste, willow tree friendship figurine with stand.  

By the way, this framed art & figurine were given a place of honor in her cake shop, in a beautiful cherry-wood curio cabinet as you walk in the door.  Right below the bust of King Tut, her 1st place winning cake in a cake competition.  

Celebrate OCC Style

I adored this sketch by Amy on Our Creative Corner Challenge blog Sept 13, but I made it a week late.  Oh well, all in good time to me anyway since I work on my own schedule *wink*  I used Rupa's Retro Boutique by Gina K Designs which is a fun set to paper-piece.  I used my fall paper pack I got last year made exclusively for Archiver's (it was free with a $50 purchase) and that was my only visit there, it's so far north & we rarely go up there.  I was amazed to find this fun pattern that coordinated well with Kraft Ruby Red & Not Quite Navy, great fall colors!  I didn't extend my main image panel far enough down like in the sketch, so I added the circle punch with a matching purse & gold trim.  Doesn't this make you want a dress like this?  

A Boo-tiful Night for a Red-Hatter

Vincenzo from Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory GraveYard Shift is enjoying a boo-tiful night of haunting.  
While this Crazy Witch from Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Witch Trio, who happens to be a Red-Hatter is here to wish her 'old hag of a friend' a Happy Birthday!  This is definitely a card you have to save for your friend with a great sense of humor!!  She is stylin' with her red & purple outfit & matching boa!  Va Voom!!

Don't forget to enter to win some Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory stamps by making a Swedish Collage card!!  Details here!  

My Favorite Things Forum Fun!!

Did you know there are a lot of things going on in the MFT forums on SCS every day?  You could win $5 gift certificates by participating!!  I made the first card last Saturday {Celebrate MFT day is the 20th of every month} and this challenge was to use MFT colors: pink, black & white. Easy enough and I just had received my Hey Chica! set!  this girl is HOT - DH was ga-ga over her so I figured I should get her.  She nearly inspires me to grow out my hair again (actually I had already decided since I usually do every fall/winter).  I used my DCWV adhesive stack with the 3 coordinating designs - and used Lauren's Saturday sketch-perfect!  I made her smokey eyes & pale lips!   Fun to color, she is.  This card is on its way to a special someone today!!  

This next card is for week 2 Who's That Girl challenge - I meant to do last week's & never did, but each week there will be a challenge posted to use a specific set & specific challenge.  This week is to use Time for the Bubbly, blue should be the dominant colors, use 4 brads & one piece of ribbon.  I used 4 different patterns from my DCWV Spring Mat stack for the bathroom & drew colors from those for the layers.  What a fun challenge - I love to paper-piece with MFT sets!!

FCC Inspiration for a great cause

Here is a card I made with inspiration from baby Courtney's sweet sundress on her mommy Libby's blog. Each week she has a fun challenge using clothes From Courtney's Closet {#17}

I used Carolyn King's set Framed Flowers by Gina K Designs to create a frame of flowers courtesy of my rectangle nestabilities. I used liquid pearls for the centers of the flowers.

Carolyn is honoring the memory of her grandmother who died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease in June; 100% of Carolyn's profits from the sale of her newest set 'Whimsical Autumn' by Gina K Designs will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association, isn't that great? I made this card to participate in the wonderful blog giveaway she is having, which ends this Friday, September 26 8:00 pm CST. She had an idea in which to enter the giveaway you make a card to send to a caregiver of Alzheimer's patients, since last Sunday was World Alzheimer's Day. The giveaway is HUGE-over $1,000 worth of stamps & product {donated by Gina K Designs, My Favorite Things, Starving Artistamps, JustRite Stampers to name a few} to the blog candy in addition to handmade cards by some fabulous stampers!

How you can enter the BIG giveaway - send a card to a caregiver (details on Carolyn's blog post above), mention the giveaway on your blog, post a link in her comments with a link to your card,and list 3 companies & 2 individuals that donated to the blog candy. Also include your email to contact you if you win!

Prettie Pink Snowflakes

I realize as the first day of fall it is too early to be posting a winter card, but I wanted to share a Paper Pretties swap card I made a few weeks ago since everyone who participated has most likely already received theirs.  I made this about the time I started my spectrum pad/brayering kick.  I used Cotton Candy, a pretty blend of pinks, and since I had recently received my new Rose Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon I wanted to use it.  I think what I like most about this card is how quickly it went together and the center bling for some of the snowflakes.  This is the Snowflake Kisses set.  

This Week's Sale
50% off  all designer paper in the boutique.  Just enter the coupon code dp.  The sale runs
until next Sunday (Sept. 28).

BIC23 & WSC58 - Hi

I did it again! I think this is the 3rd weekend in a row I combined Beate's Be Inspired Challenge {BIC23} and her Weekend Sketch Challenge {WSC58} I am not doing this to be lazy, it is actually more of a challenge (and fun) to combine them and with all the challenges out there I like to participate in, it just makes sense to do it. This is my first time using the new SU! Ronald McDonald House Charities set 'Say it with Scallops' I just had to have it since it has a great coordinating scallop punch and a portion of the sales $2 is donated to the charity. Since these sets debuted, more than $700,000 has been donated to their charity.

My SIL & BIL were blessed 2 times with benefitting from the local house here, with the birth of 2 daughters prematurely. The first will be a teenager this year and the other died when she was just several weeks old, Paige. It was so sad, but the doctors were able to fix what medically caused the premature births and several years later they had their 3rd daughter born right on time with no complications and she will be 5 next month.

I used Kiwi Kiss, Apricot Appeal & Chocolate Chip from the inspiration piece as well as the Seeing Spots set.

We're off to see a UT Soccer game - not because I'm a fan of soccer or really UT but because it's something John wanted to do. Quality time.

2 Pockets-full of Halloween Sweets

Here is a sweet Halloween package I made for my niece Gabby - she's getting a bunch of goodies during my visit in just 5 more weeks!  For this, I used my Trick or Sweet set by Taylored Expressions and the Halloween Key Ingredients, which are sold separately in the store but are a MUST HAVE since everything coordinates taking your guesswork away when you sit down to make your projects.  I made this little pocket present, if you will with the bellyband around it and when you remove it...
there is a set of hair ties peeking through.
here they are close-up.  I used polyshrink for the charms, coloring them in with my prismacolor pencils and attached coordinating ribbons & bows underneath.  I used E6000 (industrial strength glue) which really holds!!  Gabby has a sweet little hat box full of her hair bows & ties that she picks out when she's getting dressed.  I hope she wants to wear these for Halloween!  I used the sturdy cardboard the hair ties came on that I picked up at the Dollar Tree, covering it with the patterned paper, attaching a tab punch so they can be pulled out easily to keep the hair ties in place.

Next up is a more traditional pocket card also using the key ingredients.  Inside when you pull on the tab punch is...

a packet of pumpkin patch orange pop rocks!  Remember eating these as a kid?  I also remember some old urband legend or old wive's tales about these being dangerous to eat or combining them with a carbonated soda was not good or something. However I never heard of anyone dying from eating them.  Perhaps they are more adult-oriented treat, I think these will go to John instead of Gabby. 

I hope you liked these other ideas for using the Trick or Sweet set.  Don't forget about: 

Taylored Expressions Top Chef Challenge:

Enter the Top Chef Challenge by creating your most delectable birthday party ensemble using the Birthday Girl or Birthday Boy Key Ingredients and any of the new Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps so you can win Top Chef honors! Here are a few ideas to get you started in your party planning: invitation, party favor, party game, decorations, birthday gift, birthday card, thank you note, scrapbook page, etc. Your ensemble must include at least two pieces and you must upload it to Splitcoaststampers using keyword TETOPCHEF by Friday, October 10th! The winner will receive her choice of one of our next stamp releases FREE!  

EDITED TO ADD 9/8/10 linking to Tea Rose Home

Warning (frighteningly cute) - Boo Swedish Collage Challenge

Here is my card for the Starving Artistamps Swedish Collage Challenge I used my new Halloween II GraveYard Shift set & sentiments with Fredo.  He reminds me of the dia de los muertos figurines but oh so cute!!  Since I was to use a BOLD mix of patterned papers, I thumbed through all my DCWV stacks & pulled colors that surprisingly looked nice together but were funky enough that I wouldn't 'normally' put together.  I stamped Fredo in my retired Parfait spectrum pads (pinks/purples) and also smooshed my boo chipboard letters in it too. Then I decided to glitter them up with the glue pad & dazzling diamonds since I was using my glitter paper.  I finished it off with a chipboard & orange button layer and an orange bling by the sentiment.  I thought at first this would definitely be a 'challenge' and it was but suprisingly had a LOT of fun making it!!

Details of the Contest:
The challenge will run until October 1st. Everyone who participates will be put into the raffle and one person will be chosen by random number generator to win YOUR CHOICE of one FULL SHEET of Starving Artistamps or DoodleFactory unmounted rubber stamps!

There are several key points which regularly appear in Swedish collage style stamping...

• the shape of the card is SQUARE
  
• a bold mix of PATTERN PAPERS is used
• CHIPBOARD titles (in any language!), BUTTONS and/or STAPLES are often incorporated into the design
• COLOR COLOR COLOR the more color the better! (this is not your regular vintage style collage frequently done in the states! Ban the brown!)

Think you are up to the challenge?

Here is how you can participate. From now until October 1st email us a link to your blog showing your version of the swedish collage style challenge card. Please include your name in your email. We will post links to your blogs and in the gallery.  Also you do not have to use SA/DF stamps for the entry, but if you have them, why not use them? 

Email your entry by October 1 to: strvingartistmp@aol.com

Congratulations Lee & Cathy!!

I am just so thrilled to pieces that Lee & Cathy are Gina K Designs' In The Spotlight Guest Designers for October's release!!

Check it out here - be sure to check out their blogs to say congratulations!!!!

p.s. I will be back later today with some cards - just did not have time to upload anything before heading to work this morning.

Cherry Inspired Somethings

What's so ironic about this card is that nothing is stamped! I was inspired by the Stamp Something challenge blog inspiration piece {that had cherries on it} to make my card red, white & black with red flowers instead of the cherries. That's what is so neat about inspiration pieces - everyone tends to pick up different aspects of it for their interpretation. I love the bag Melissa did - and she is giving it away filled with Hershey's Cherry Cordial kisses to the random winner! The white polka dots on the bottom are actually punched out of the black stripes with my 1/8" hole punch.

And while I had my red, black & white cardstock out I figured I would draw some inspiration using Melanie's Just So Sporty set by Gina K Designs since those are the colors of one of the local high schools in our area. I went to their webpage & picked out some pics of their cheerleader uniforms to re-create it. How fun is that? It's hard to tell in my photo with the red on red cardstock but the red background piece has CHEER leader all over it. I stamped 2 jersjeys, cropping off the sleeves & bottom for the top and cropping off the top of the jersey for the skirt. Possibilities...endless...

If the broom fits...

get on!!  that's what Hilda (that's my name for this witch in the new Witch Trio set by Starving Artistamps) seems to be doing in the moonlit sky over the dead trees.  I don't think my card turned out exactly how I had envisioned, it's splotchy because my 4 yr-old plus versamarker pen pooped out on me!  But I still think it passes, so here it is!!  It cracks me up, I love her striped knee socks & polka dot bloomers!  She was a lot of fun to color - do you see her blue eye shadow? 

Starving Artistamps has issued its first challenge to YOU whether or not you have Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory stamps {bonus pts if you do} we want you to play!  

Here are the details: 
We are running our first ever company sponsored challenge and we are inviting all of our wonderful customers and readers to participate! The challenge will run until October 1st. Everyone who participates will be put into the raffle and one person will be chosen by random number generator to win YOUR CHOICE of one FULL SHEET of Starving Artistamps or DoodleFactory unmounted rubber stamps!

Here is your challenge should you choose to accept it!

If you are a regular visitor to our gallery you have on numerous occasions come across artwork shared by our customers. More than half of those are shared by ourswedish customers and involve a style we have come to name the "SWEDISH COLLAGE STYLE". We challengeyou to share a card with us that shows your version of theswedish collage style. Our design team will also be participating and their projects will be featured here and in our art gallery.

There are several key points which regularly appear inswedish collage style stamping...

• the shape of the card is SQUARE
• a bold mix of PATTERN PAPERS is used
• CHIPBOARD titles (in any language!), BUTTONS and/or STAPLES are often incorporated into the design
• COLOR COLOR COLOR the more color the better! (this is not your regular vintage style collage frequently done in the states! Ban the brown!)

Think you are up to the challenge?

Here is how you can participate. From now until October 1st email us a link to your blog showing your version of the swedish collage style challenge card. Please include your name in your email. We will post links to your blogs here and in the gallery.

Here is our email for questions and submissions:strvingartistmp@aol.com

See the post for a few examples of some of Tracey's personal favoriteswedish collage style cards.  Still not sure what swedish collage style stamping is? Visit our gallery and click the customer shared artwork link:http://www.starvingartistampsgallery.blogspot.com/

To make winning fair to all, each participant will get one entry into the raffle. We would LOVE it if you were inspired to do more than one card, but its still ONE PERSON per RAFFLE ENTRY.

But just imagine all the good karma that might come your way if you were kind enough to share more of your art with the community and we would be especially grateful if you helped us SPREAD the WORD about our challenge!

More than one way to wrap a Kit Kat

One thing I love about Halloween is all the cute miniature candies out there!! Here are 3 ways to wrap a miniature kit kat bar using Taylored Expressions' Trick or Sweet & Frightful Night sets.

The Kitty Boo! package on the left uses patterned paper as a wrapper and is by Diana Gibbs {click on her name for the tutorial}.

The Kit 'Kat' purse - get it, I used the Kitty Cupcake image from the set? Ha Ha - the kit kat purse is by Sonja Gonzalez (she originally designed it for two small peppermint patties) but I realized a kit kat could fit too!

The ghost cupcake on the right is a nugget box (designed for 3) but the kit kat fits perfectly in there too!

All these packages use Halloween Key Ingredients, available in the Taylored Expressions store, along with the two sets I used. How fun!

Don't Forget!

Taylored Expressions Top Chef Challenge:
Enter the Top Chef Challenge by creating your most delectable birthday party ensemble using the Birthday Girl or Birthday Boy Key Ingredients and any of the new Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps so you can win Top Chef honors! Here are a few ideas to get you started in your party planning: invitation, party favor, party game, decorations, birthday gift, birthday card, thank you note, scrapbook page, etc. Your ensemble must include at least two pieces and you must upload it to Splitcoaststampers using keyword TETOPCHEF by Friday, October 10th! The winner will receive her choice of one of our next stamp releases FREE!

Sketches by Tamara 60 & 61

Card Sketch #60

Here are 2 sketch challenges I made from Sketches by Tamara - did you know she has 4 challenges a week on her blog? They are really great! For my first card, I used Just So Sporty by Gina K Designs to make a fun card!! Even though my DCWV All Dressed Up stack has glitter & polka dots, I feel like the layout, image & elements lend a masculine feel to it. I used my Tim Holtz grungeboard swiped with Palette Beaux Arts red ink & memento tuxedo black.

Card Sketch #61 This next card was made using Taylored Expressions' Stamp a Sweet Impression line of stamps 'Frightful Night' and chose to use it as a Fall Theme instead of Halloween by brayering ink from my Pumpkin Spectrum pad. After I stamped the trees & grass, I applied versamarker pen, clear embossing powder & heat set so the ink would resist. I masked off the clouds & house so the ink would not transfer. Everything was done on glossy cardstock. The leaves are from the Holiday Happenings bundle from SU! Level 3 hostess set.

Cupcakes Baked With Love-Yummy Stuff

I finally participated in Libby's Little Addiction's From Courtney's Closet Inspiration Challenge (16) Libby dresses her daughter in a cute outfit each week & participants draw inspiration from it. Well, I've wanted to participate for WEEKS now and finally did! Her outfit was cupcake related with pink & brown - how COULD I pass that up??! She had the most adorable cupcake shoes too! my goodness. So I used Kim Hughes' Baked With Love (by Cornish Heritage Farms) - and made this cupcake card using Lauren's sketch from Saturday - it's a tad bit busy for me but I think it still works with all the coordinating images & colors from Bella Rose dp. So, what do YOU think, Libby??

TECC33 Miss You

I have missed my DF images (so excited because my new Halloween images will be arriving any day now!) so I thought I would bring Sfen out to play with Taylor's Cupcake Challenge 33 {TECC33} this weekend. I paper-pieced his overalls after stamping them with Cornish Heritage Farms canvas backgrounder. I also used their Gird Paper backgrounder by CHF on the kraft card base & tangerine tango layer. I finished him off with the 'I miss you' sentiment from Country sentiments by Starving Artistamps.

Prettie Ambrosia Angel

Here is sweet Angel Wings Sophia, the Paper Pretties Stamp of the Month (SOTM) for October! I used a Mothers & Daughters sketch week 10 for my card and a monochromatic theme with my new Basic Grey paper pad Ambrosia and Basic Gray cardstock & ribbon.  I colored her with prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil & stumps.  I finished her off with some star dust stickles on her wings & hem of her dress.  

Paper Pretties News

Stamp of the Month

If you'd like to get Angel Wings Sophia, be sure to sign up by Sept. 31 at the pretties store!

Weekly Sale! 
40% off on all Paper Salon products - stamps and paper.  There are some really great stamp sets,rubons, cardstock stickers and paper perfect for winter and Christmas that you won't want to miss out on!  Just enter the coupon code Paper Salon (case sensitive).  The sale will run until Saturday September 20th at 11:59 pm cst.  

A Coffin Treat??

I abolutely love Mel from Melstampz!  She is a wealth of stamping, template, techniques & one-of-a-kind creations knowledge!  I found this coffin template by her last month that I knew I would have to pair my mummy cupcake image from Trick or Sweet by Taylored Expressions. Isn't he adorable?? I made mine with Basic Gray cardstock swiped with the weathered bg (retired) with craft ink.  I thought the sentiment in the set would be the perfect addition to the front of the coffin.  I added Christmas Red & star dust stickles to him & the side opens to reveal a miniature 3 musketeers bar!

Blue Brayered Beauty

Can you tell I have recently renewed my interest in glossy cardstock & rubber brayer?  I figure if I have certain supplies out, I may as well show them some love especially if they've been neglected for a while.  I made this card for Beate's weekly Be Inspired Challenge 22 & Weekend Sketch challenge 57 - a double challenge!!  I chose to finally make my baby's breath silhouette flowers by Starving Artistamps white since all week I made them other colors (see I can follow the rules sometimes, HA); since they were prominent in the inspiration piece, I thought it would be perfect!  I stamped the baby's breath on glossy cardstock & embossed them with white embossing powder.  Then I brayered on Baja Breeze, Brocade Blue & Pacific Point (first swiped on scratch paper to have less ink).  Lastly, I stamped the Lupine flower with pacific point & heat set and added the beauty sentiment from timeless sentiments.  

Cotton Candy Love

Not talking about the sweet, but my Cotton Candy Spectrum pad - for anyone who loves the color pink I'm sure you would agree, it's pretty!!  I used my Starving Artistamps Poppies (FS-8) with the VersaMark resist technique on this card.  Just stamp your solid image stamps with versamark on glossy cardstock then brayer your colors with the rubber brayer.  I like to swipe a tissue on the images to remove all traces of the brayered color.  I then added Faith-Hope-Love sentiment from Timeless Sentiments and the Love Definition {34.15} in the lower right corner.  I hope you enjoyed my large silhouette flowers features using SA stamps this week, highlighting just a few of the many techniques you can use with solid stamps: embossing, retiform, faux postage, microbeads, black magic and versamark resist.  

Are you a subscriber to Craft Critique?  Did you see the interview by DT Member Heidi with Irene, the Doodlefactory Artist for Starving Artistamps?  Read it and if you'd like to get a 20% discount on your next DF or SA stamps order - it's valid through Sept 21st!  

Faux Postage & Faux Postcard

I love the Faux Postage look; SCS has a great tutorial with a printable template, but did you know Starving Artistamps has an actual postage STAMP {31.01}? I used it on my top card just stamp, cut & go! I made a template using a window sheet to mask off the centers for sponging & stamping. I handwrote the denomination, so no re-doing it everytime we have a postage increase. I can put more than just a # in that corner! Oh the possibilities!! The flowers are large silhouette baby's breath FS-11. Colors are So Saffron & Baja Breeze and the baja breeze felt flower is from SU!'s new felt fusion too - brad is So Saffron. Ribbon, Baja Breeze double-striped ribbon.

Here is a multi-colored Retiform Technique card using the Large Silhouette flower Lupine S-12 also by Starving Artistamps. I stamped them using Palette Burnt Umber and sponged on colors from my Late November spectrum pad. I finished the card for the look of a postcard with {postcard 42.04} and {postmark 31.04} & the fun sentiment from timeless sentiments.

Kisses Free - Hugs $1.00

I haven't played in 2 Sketches 4 You challenge in weeks & sure have missed it! With so many challenges out there, how can one possibly do them ALL? I like to try & rotate them out as much as I can & usually base them on being truly inspired. Well the bonus card & sketch by DT member Ashlid did just that for me this week!

I thumbed through my pictures of my niece Gabby the other day to do a few scrapbook pages (may as well take a few with me on my trip next month for her album!) and remembered this one - thinking it would be perfect to use with Melanie's Little Tees & JustRite small letters set

I decided to play up the hugs & kisses aspect of the page theme & used the solid heart from Little Tees and a big hug from Cuddles and Hugs to make my cardstock patterned. The XOXO is JustRite Curlz Alphabet.

The journaling on the pull tab says, "One day when Gabby gave her Nino Micky a kiss good-bye, he said, 'Can I have a hug too?' and Gabby said, 'Yea $1.00'. It made everyone laugh! So when Nino Micky & Nina Andrea saw this shirt at Target, they just had to get it for her!!"

Trick or Sweet Gift

Here is a simple but nice Halloween card I made using Taylored Expressions' new set Trick or Sweet (only stamping is the sentiment). I used sticky dots to adhere the Black Ice Glitter that comes in the Halloween Key Ingredients package in the store, as well as all the cardstock, brads & patterned paper.

I used a template for a 3 x 3 box shared by fellow Taylored Expressions DT member Laurie Schmidlin on SCS a few weeks ago. I LOVE how great this patterned paper shows off all the traditional colors of Halloween and in a trendy paisley pattern!

And here is the little gift inside the box, a silicone charm bracelet which I used 5 of the cupcake creatures on polyshrink & adhered to the centers of the parts purchased at Michael's. These are the same type of charms that are popular for the holes in crocs (or faux crocs which are what I have - hot pink ones) maybe I will show them to you some day with charms on them. Underneath the charm bracelet is stamped white tissue with stamps from the set to finish off the package. Edited to Add: Once I sand my polyshrink in a criss-cross hatch pattern, I color with prismacolor pencils (koh-i-noor work too-I used to use sharpies but not anymore as they don't blend very well) which give more of a vibrant color & then heat set to shrink.

Taylored Expressions Top Chef Challenge:

I know some of y'all who ordered Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps last week are receiving them so it's time to get going on creating your most delectable birthday party ensemble using the Birthday Girl or Birthday Boy Key Ingredients and any of the new Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps so you can win Top Chef honors! Here are a few ideas to get you started in your party planning: invitation, party favor, party game, decorations, birthday gift, birthday card, thank you note, scrapbook page, etc. Your ensemble must include at least two pieces and you must upload it to Splitcoaststampers using keyword TETOPCHEF by Friday, October 10th! The winner will receive her choice of one of our next stamp releases FREE!

Stamp a Sweet Impression Blog

Be sure to check out the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog where members of the Baker's Dozen Senior Design Team will have exclusive Cuppie & friends posts!!

JustRite Champion Finalist Project

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! (click to vote)

voting ends Friday 8:00 p.m. CST

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Again, thanks to everyone who voted for me in Round 3 because
I made it to the final round in the contest! Woohoo! Now it's time to share my Finalist Project for the JustRite Champion contest with you! It's surreal to think I made it it was a distant glimmer in my stamping eyes 4 weeks ago when it was posted on their blog.

My final project uses Taylored Expressions A Sweet Celebreation set which includes a sweet birthday card & clear pail full of handmade chocolate lollipops. Yes - I made all those (and a few more that did not quite turn out that well!) They are made from a mold where you melt the colored candy melts and refrigerate in the mold until set. Wonder how the coloring of the lollipops got on there? Well, it sure helps to read directions when you venture into the unknown. You need to 'paint' the colored melts into the mold {here, the pink & brown) and set them. Then, you place the rest of the lollipop in the mold and it adheres real nicely! What you don't do (and I did to get the yellow flicker on the candles is make the whole mold & attempt to use gel coloring in the melted candy - doesn't really blend well) but I thought it could pass well enough for my project! I think I could use a little more practice! *smile*

Here is a close-up of my card. I used my JustRite wooden stamp with small alpha for 'THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE SWEET' YUM ** YUM! Isn't that the truth?! Taylor's sweet cupcake stamp fits perfectly in the center, like it was made for it! The designer paper used is Stampin' Up! Bella Rose which coordinated nicely with the colors on the lollipops.

Here are close-ups of the lollipops (cupcake & cake), which each have tags using the same JustRite personalized circle but with the different sentiments in the set.

Close-up of the balloon lollipops.

Close-up of the Party Hats lollipops

Just So Sporty & JustRite for the men in your life!!!

The best of both worlds for the Sports Fans in your life are merging when you have Gina K Designs' Just so Sporty & JustRite Stampers small letter set! One of the first things I thought of (and the first 2 cards I made when I got Melanie's new set) are for my 2 brother-in-laws who live in the Bay Area & are huge Raiders fans!! I just had to pair them with my DCWV All Dressed Up mat stack Melanie gave me for my birthday in June - with the silver & black & glitterness it's just a match made in sports heaven! I chose the sketch for these cards from the Mother's & Daughters challenge blog because it causes the hoodie & jersey to be the main attractions!! Then, my finishing touch was my Copic silver glitter pen - they are so awesome! I'm about to get the complete set of colors (right now I use the clear, silver, gold and I have green)!

Funny/cute Gabby story now:

I called her on Monday night when the Raiders were playing the Broncos (boo they lost 14 to 41) and when she got on the phone & said hi in the cutest voice ever I asked her how she was doing and she FINALLY caught on and said, "GOOD" very emphatically-it was so cute! My sisters and I have been trying to be consistent in teaching her responses and usually she would not understand how to respond to that question. Well, she does now!!

Then I asked her what she was doing (another standard question she may grow to be annoyed by some day) she responded, 'brushing my teeth', 'mommy's brushing her teeth too' and when I asked what daddy was doing she said, 'he's taking pictures at the Raiders game' HELLO!? she is 2 1/2! she responded to me like a BIG GIRL! She wasn't making that up. He does take pictures down on the field with his brother (my BIL is a professional photographer) so if you're in the Oakland area, let me know if you need a referral! I thought that was so cute! These conversations are getting so stinkin' fun!

Pretty Pink Asters & Stamper's Magic Tape

I just love these Large Silhouette flowers Asters FS-5 by Starving Artistamps! I chose to stamp them in Pink Pirouette and use a sponge dauber for the edges with Riding Hood Red ink. The frame is 31.02. I thought it would be fun to use a transparency sheet as a mask so I could stamp the flowers in the frames only. So I cut out the 4 windows from it. Once I had that stamped - I used my Stampers Magic Tape (info on that below) and cut it to the same size as my main image then adhered it. Next, I took the top layer (the tape is double-sided) and placed clear microbeads directly on top. It adds a lot of subtle dimension to the focal image. The microbeads stick really well to it! I finished off my card with a row of flowers on the pink pirouette base & thought sponging would add a nice detail to the card (makes a big difference to me!) Lastly, the Scripture Phil. 1:3 from Timeless Sentiments was just the right touch. I'm sure any special friend would appreciate a card like this, to be reassured how grateful you are for their presence in your life.

Stampers Magic Tape. I know as stampers we are always in search of the best, most economical tapes for our paper crafting.

There are a variety of widths available suitable for your needs:

1/4" wide x 36 yards long (that's 108 feet of tape)

1/2" wide x 36 yards long

3/4" wide x 36 yards long -im told this size is great for book binding.

4" wide x 18 yards long (that's 54 feet of 4" wide tape)

6x10" sheets

This tape is:

• Embossable
• Double sided, extra sticky, Acid Free!
• Great for Rubber Stamping
• Great for Scrapbooking
• Great for photo mounting.
• Apply Foils
• Glitter
• Gold leaf
• Mica powders, Pearl Ex, Embossing Powders
• Can be used for transparencies and vellum! See Natasha's blog post
• Can be used to apply beads (as shown on my card above)