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).

PWC18: Sophia is a treat

Danielle [Fat Cat Stamper] issues a Paper Pretties Challenge each Thursday that is really fun to play along with. This week it's to make a box. I used Jody's [Confessions of a Ribbon Addict] boxy bag pattern, which was a lot of fun to make. However, this was adapted from the remaining 3 1/2" strip left over from her pattern, so it's smaller but big enough for two Reese's whipped miniature candies. I swiped my chocolate chip pad on my paisley embossing folder before running the kraft cardstock through my cuttlebug (I forgot what technique this is called, Negative Effect?)

Paper Pretties 3-D items & a sale!

A few weeks ago we had a Stampin' in Your Jammies party in the Paper Pretties forum which was a lot of fun! Charmaine always issues great challenges - these were for 3-d items. I usually have a decorated pencil cup on my desk at work - so here is a Fall one to welcome in the next season & it sure will be a welcome change!! Since I love to paper-piece, I used my Bella Rose DP for this sweet Stamp of the Month prettie Sophia raking up the fall leaves. If you want her soon, sign up before the deadline (Aug 31) and you will get her in Sept instead of October, when she's released to the public.

And here is a little treat box I made (inside are 2 Reese's candies-the small bars, which the name is eluding me right now) I used my Bella Rose DP for this too and the 'beautiful' twill ribbon is from a blog candy I won from Leigh O'Brien last year.

Pretties Back to School Sale (Friday August 15th until August 31st) Who says mom has to miss out on all the great deals when it's back to school time!?!

EVERYTHING in the Paper Pretties Boutique is eligible, you can even shop from the SALE category and receive the specials!

When you spend $25 in the Paper Pretties Boutique, you can choose any one of the Paper Pretties' sentiments for free (Christie just added some new ones on Friday)

When you spend $50 you can choose a Paper Pretties' sentiment and a roll of American Crafts ribbon.

When you spend $100 - you can choose a Paper Pretties' sentiment, a roll of American Crafts ribbon and you'll get FREE SHIPPING!!! When you check out, simply leave a note in the comments box which sentiment and ribbon you would like and Christie will make sure it gets put in your order! Orders over $100 will automatically not be charged shipping.

Prettie Weds Multiple Embellishments Challenge!

A few weeks ago, Jessie - the embellishment queen (brads, hodgepodge, trios of ribbon-on the same card!) issued a challenge to the Paper Pretties gals to use 3 or more embellishments on our cards. So here it is! I used Paper Pretties set One of Those Days and prettied it up. If we count how many embellishments (3 types and 9 total!!) How'd I do, Jessie!?!

I made my own patterned buttons (faux epoxy from my tutorial a few weeks back) and wonder how I got a whole egg when the set is only 1/2 the shell? Here is a step-by-step to show you!

first I paper-pieced the 1/2 egg shell from the set.

Then I traced the outline of the 1/2 egg sheel so the right side will be a perfect fit.

and then made sure it looked like the perfect fit. Voila! A whole egg shell. I am going to send this card to Danielle Fat Cat Stamper - as yesterday was her birthday!
I know it's not really a birthday card but I'm sure she will still like it!

PWC15 Cookies!!

Lately I've been craving some cookies - homebaked are the best of course but since it's so darn hot right now that last thing I want to do is turn on the oven...so my Paper Pretties set Sweets for the Sweet reminds me that the holiday baking season is right around the corner - woohoo!!

Danielle issues a weekly challenge in the Paper Pretties forums and this week it is a fun sketch which you can use your dp scraps on (love that). I used my Au Chocolat DP by SU! since I was using the chocolate chip cookies for it! FUN

We'd love for you play along - upload to the gallery and use keyword PWC15. You have until Thursday Aug 14 to upload your card for a little prize from Christie.

Other Paper Pretties News:

You have until August 31st 11:59 to sign up to get the SOTM Falling For You Sophia in September, otherwise you will have to wait until October to get her! When you sign up, tell Christie I sent you.

Double Paper Pretties Challenges!

Jodi has challenged the Prettie Girls to make a 3 x 3 card because she loves them! This was easy, I do too - although I don't make them that often. I used the Paper Pretties Stamp of the Month Falling For You Sophia. Isn't she precious watching the leaves shes raking fall around her? I wanted to focus on her so that is why I created the window for her to peek through. I used my Basic Grey Mellow dp and Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon and of course SU!'s brand spankin' new scallop edge punch-now it makes it a cinch! Do you realize the New Catalog will be here soon (well to those of us not fortunate to have gone to the convention) and we will be able to order from it beginning August 11 - that's just one more week! woohoo! I'm going to send this little card on to Jodi since she loves 3 x 3 cards so much.

Be sure to check out what the other Prettie Girls made:
Christie
Charmaine
Danielle
Jackie
Jackie P
Jessie
Jana
Julie
Colleen
Joni(our illustrator) Be sure to check out her new blog!

Here is a card for Danielle's Weekly Challenge PWC14: Going Dotty For You. Use polka dots on your project. Coincidentally, I made this card a few weeks ago for the SCS sketch challenge [SC186] and had not uploaded it. How awesome that it met Danielle's FUTURE challenge, huh? If you'd like to play along for a little prize, be sure to upoad your project by Thursday in the Paper Pretties gallery and include PWC14 as your keyword. I used the new Beach Bum set with little Cooper and kept him real simple.

Prettie News:

You can get Falling For You Sophia a month before she's released to the public if you sign up for the SOTM club by Aug 31 11:59 pm CST.

Colleen, our resident scrapbooking Prettie Girl has started a scrapbook challenge in the forums! This week it is to:

create a scrapbooking layout using photo blocks

the layout can be put on any size page...8 1/2 x 11, 6 x 6, 8 x 8, 12 x 12

it can be one page or two

don't be afraid to use photos from many different dates or occasions, but across a common theme

don't forget to include your Paper Pretties stamps!

Use keyword PSC1

Ride the Wave

Look at Snowflake riding the wave - isn't he cue in his litte swim trunks? This is one of the new releases by Paper Pretties called Surf's Up! and he's available for purchase now. We had our Stampin' In Your Jammies party on Friday night - it was a crasher! Stephanie Hargis was named the Cutie Pie from the contest and she will get ALL the stamps from the release. You can see her great card at the Paper Pretties front page and check out her great blog Steph's Stampin' Stuff. This card was so fun to make I used my DCWV Summer Glitter stack which I thought went perfectly with Snowflake riding his board. I kinda wish I had put that bottom panel on the right to balance out the circle of the dp, but that circle was an afterthought. Oh well, it still works!

Traveling Turtle...

Well...he didn't pack any bags but he is surely going on a little trip! Here is another card showing sneak peeks of new Paper Pretties sets that will be released today! This uses the turtle from Beach Bum and sentiment from Bugs & Fishes.

Prettie Reminders (again)

Check the other Prettie Girl's sneak peeks (their blogs are listed on the right)

Sign up for the Stamp of the Month club (by August 31 11:59 p.m. CST) so you can get Fallin' For You Sophia in September - a month before she's released to the public.

Come to the Paper Pretties Stampin' In Your Jammies party tonight (7:00 p.m. CST) for lots of fun, challenges, prizes & more! Hope to 'see' you there!!

Prettie Challenge & Sneak Peak

Jana issued a sketch 2 weeks ago for the Prettie girls and snuck in there she was going ot use a sneak peek set for it - well I did too! Sorry I stole your idea, Jana. This set uses Beach Bum, one of 4 sets that will debut at Paper Pretties on Friday!

Look how CUTE little Cooper is in his swimtrunks, innertube & flippers! I thought this was a great sketch to incorporate lots of images in the set! Also my DCWV summer glitter stack has the neatest 'sand' paper he's standing on. Then the 'water' paper is from a blog candy from Juliana {fellow Starving Artistamps Design team member}. I love the little sun charm I got in a bag of misc charms from a co-worker-it's perfect for this sentiment! I'm going to send this card to the Prettie Mama herself - Christie since she's got 4 cutie patootie boys, I'm sure she will appreciate this card!

Lots of Prettie News!!

1. Be sure to check out what the other Prettie Girls made with the sketch

2. You have until Thursday July 31st at 11:59pm to join the Stamp of the Month club and get Howdy Girlfriend Sophia before she is released to the public in September.

3. It's not too late to enter the Cutie Pie Contest - you have until 8:00 p.m. CST tomorrow - you could win all of August sets being released! Email your entry to christie@paperpretties.net

4. Join us Friday night (7:00 p.m. CST) for Stampin' In Your Jammies! Its going to be a lot of fun- relaxed atmosphere

Stamps: Paper Pretties Beach Bum

Cardstock: PTI white, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, DCWV Summer Glitter pack, water by Flair Designs

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Palette Noir Black, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Hemp twine, sakura glitter pen

Page Plans & Cupcake sketch & Some Sophias!!

Look at my cute Bunny Slippers Sophia~isn't she adorable? I just love her (especially since I love to paper-piece her robe-look how pretty with the new SU! Bella Rosa DP!) This is my last Page Plans sketch as their guest designer, but I'm sure I will occasionally play along since I love their sketches. This card also incorporates a prettie challenge issued by Danielle {Fat Cat Stamper} to use buttons! The Kiwi Kiss button was made by punching a double circle punch in c/s, then the 3/4" punch then use clear embossing powder (had to be creative since I didn't have any Kiwi Kiss embellishments! See my tutorial from Sat. on that. Bunny Slippers Sophia will be available for purchase this Friday, August 1 in the Paper Pretties store!

For Taylor's Cupcake Challenge 26 I decided not to use cupcakes (I think that's the first time I didn't and it's o.k. with her) I used the August Stamp Of The Month Club stamp from Paper Pretties-Howdy Girlfriend. You have until Thursday, July 31st at 11:59pm to sign up to get this super cute stamp a month before it releases to the public. I used Bella Rosa DP for both cards and made buttons to match from my tutorial on Sat.

Paper Pretties News:

Stampin' In Your Jammies party this Friday night is the at 7:00 CST in the forum. There will be challenges & fun to be had by everyone!

Cutie Pie contest winner will be revealed {you can win all the August Releases). You have until Thursday to submit your entries to christie@paperpretties.net.

New Release Sneak Peeks begin Wednesday the Prettie Girls will begin posting sneak peeks of the new sets!!!

Cozy In & Tutorial for you.

Check out my Bunny Slippers stamp by Paper Pretties! Isn't sleepy (or sick) Sophia adorable in her fluffy robe & bunny slippers? I was so excited to get her, I didn't have any stamps like this at all. I used Kazan's Sketch 5 on the 2 Sketches 4 You blog and had to use my brand new SU! In Colors...Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss & they went so well with Regal Rose I put that in there for an additional color. I also used the smallest flower in Ginormous Flowers on the Pink Pirouette.

Like my layered button? Well it is handmade. Of course I don't have any embellishments to match the new In Colors so I figured I would make my own! Here is a step-by-step to show you how I made it.

I first punched holes with my double circle punch so I could go in with my 3/4" circle punch with correct placement.

Then I laid them on my VersaMark pad and dipped them into clear embossing powder. I ended up layering the powder 3-4 times to make it a little thicker. You could also use or Glassy Glaze powder or Ultra Thick Embossing Powder.

To hold them while I dipped, I used my paper piercer, easy to use the heat gun that way too. The bottom button is a piece of 1-inch circle punch from the Kiwi patterned paper in the NEW Bella Rosa DP. I covered it with embossing powder with no hole punches. What a fun (and less bulky) way to layer buttons - they really look like epoxy stickers you buy at the store. I got the idea for this when I was shopping at Target yesterday...realizing I could make my own since I already had all the supplies! I saved $

Paper Pretties Newsflash!

Don't forget to send in a card using your Paper Pretties stamps to Christie at christie@paperpretties.net, and she will choose a winner from the entries. Besides getting to call yourself a Cutie Pie, you will also get all the stamps from this release for free! You have until July 31st at 8pmCST to get your entries in! Best of luck!

Stampin' In Your Jammies Party!

Join all the Prettie Girls this Friday night, August 1st in the forum for challenges, stamping talk, fun & more!! Also starting Wednesday, the Prettie Girls will have sneak peeks of the sets being released on Friday (you can find a list of all the blogs they will appear in on the right of my blog). There is a new SOTM set you will be sure to LOVE!! Bunny Slippers will be available to purchase beginning Friday.

Howdy - isn't she pretty in pink??

Danielle [Fat Cat Stamper] issued a challenge in the Paper Pretties Forum (PWC10) to use Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel and White on your project. That's easy, I love pink! If you'd like to play along, there will be a random prize; you just need to upload by Thursday to the gallery and link your creation in the thread. You don't have to use paper pretties stamps but if you have them you should!

I used my American Crafts felt sweater thickers I won in a challenge blog candy a few weeks ago from the Dutch Dare Challenge - they're so cool! That's what the howdy is.

Don't forget to check the Paper Pretties homepage to see the sale on ribbon slides & ric rack!

Stamps: Howdy Girlfriend - PP SOTM for August, Paisley BG by SU!
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, White
Ink: Palette Noir Black, Pretty in Pink, Prismacolor & oh-i-Noor pencils, Baby Oil, Stumps
Accessories: Caramel Gingham, Rose & Tan grosgrain, pewter hodgepodge hardware, rhinestone bling

TECC23 - Howdy GF

Since I love to paper-piece {but not nearly as much as I like to color} I wanted to see if I could find some cute dp for Cutie Cowgirl Sophia's outfit! Of course the boots don't match but that's o.k. - I think she looks adorable. This is my card for Taylor's Cupcake Friday challenge 23

Check out the ribbon slides & ric rac sale at Paper Pretties -25% off for the month of July! Julie Masse did a product review on the ribbon slides and you can see them in action on an adorable card she made!

Stamps: Howdy Girlfriend - Paper Pretties Stamp of the Month for August.

Paper: PTI stamper's select white, My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus DP, DCWV Glitter Stack,
Map DP from prize won from Pam Smerker,
Accessories: Ribbon from prize won from Leigh O'Brien, Faux Dew Drops from Monika Davis.

Happy Birthday Charmaine!!!

We're having a virtual birthday party for Charmaine aka Charlie because today is her birthday!

I brought some yummy funfetti cupcakes, confetti and some silly string for everyone to enjoy and a card using Howdy Girlfriend for the birthday lady!!! Howdy Girlfriend is Paper Pretties' Stamp of the Month - if you want her early, be sure to check out the SOTM club (you can subscribe by July 31st and get her in August before she goes on sale to the general public in Sept). Don't forget to tell Christie you were referred by me*

I used the Monogram Stamper by JustRite purchased at The Stamp Castle to personalize the cupcake for Charlie. How fun is that?!

Go check out the following blogs to see what the other gals brought to the Party for Charlie and be sure to stop by Charmaine's blog - Oodabug Alley & give her some birthday love!!

Carolina

Christie
Danielle

Colleen

Jana

Jackie

Jackie P

Jessie

Jodi

Julie

Laurie

Michelle

Sneak Peek - New SOTM with Paper Pretties

I am so excited to share a NEW stamp that will be available a month BEFORE release to the general public to all Stamp of the Month Subscribers with Paper Pretties - Howdy Girlfriend!! This is the stamp for August, so if you do not subscribe to the SOTM you will have to wait until Sept (boo hoo) to get her.

She is SO cute! I thought all day about how I would showcase this Cutie Cowgirl Sophia (my name for her) and it wasn't until I walked in the door after a LONG day at work that it hit me - I would make a shaped card! A boot! So I looked at images online and found a couple I liked & sketched a layout. Well, DH was impressed with the idea when he walked in the door but not really what I had sketched he said it didn't look real enough. He found a new image and there I was trying to perfect it. We both were happy with the result. I so appreciate him, he's so helpful, a great (male) cheerleader for me and such a support (helpful) as long as he is not playing Halo 3 and I'm trying to bug him for help!

Anyway - here she is! Not much explaining to do, it's pretty straighforward. I doodled the swirls by hand, outlined them with white gel pen & filled in with versamark for a deeper pink passion color. Cutie Cowgirl Sophia is colored with prismacolor & koh-i-noor pencils & baby oil. Her skin was colored with copics. I just used Howdy from Howdy Girlfriend for my tag.

P.S. if you want to get Howdy Girlfriend as soon as it is available August 1, you will need to subscribe by July 31st. If you decide to, be sure to say you heard about Paper Pretties from me *wink*

MORE exciting news!! Page Plans sketches & Paper Pretties Party!!

During the month of July I will be guest designer for Page Plans!

I've known this tidbit of info for a week (and coincidentally found out the same day I was asked to be a guest Prettie Girl) but I had to keep mum about it until the official announcement. I earned my spot for submitting this card based on a Page Plans sketch .

I am so excited because if you follow along my blog you will know I love a good sketch challenge (half the work is done already, you just have to choose your elements & work it into the sketch, tweaking & adding your flavor to it) If you haven't tried a sketch challenge before, I encourage you to do so! In addition to Page Plans, I have a list of challenges on the right of my blog - take the time to check them out if you haven't already. Challenges encourage you to branch out & discover new things in your stamping! I used a soon to be retired set by SU! Natural Beauty which I really like and soon to be retired In Colors. There is sparkle on the main image, but it was hard to capture in the waning sun last night.

Here is a 6 x 6 scrapbook page I made for the Paper Pretties Stampin' In Your Jammies party last night. It sure was fun! We even crashed the server, but Christie was on the horn & it was fixed in no time (gave us a chance to breathe & work on the challenges, though). This is using the newly released set Soakin' Up the Sun and I used the Page Plans Layout (LO) sketch for it. It may look funny that my niece is fully clothed at her 1st beach outing but since it was in March, it was pretty cold in Northern California (explained in my journaling).

P.S. - what do you think about my new Paper Pretties watermark Christie sent me?
Pretty darn cute, if you ask me!

CANADA DAY & New Sophias!

Happy Canada Day!

Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada), formerly Dominion Day, is Canada's national day, a federal statutory holiday, celebrated on July 1 annually throughout the nation, and internationally, as well.

Christie (Little Pink Flowers), owner of Paper Pretties resides in Canada, so it's fitting that we will be celebrating the new release of Off to School Sophia & Soaking Up the Sun Sophia tonight!

Be sure to check out the new release party in the forum. You don't want to miss out on Charmaine's fun challenges, prizes and lots of fun, chatting & let's not forget...stamping in your jammies! Also the Cutie Pie contest winner will be announced...could it be YOU?

p.s. if you haven't checked out the homepage of Paper Pretties today yet, do it now for a neat surprise *wink* see anything familiar there??

Another Paper Pretties sneak peek-Happy 4th of July!!

Can you believe this Friday is the 4th of July? Where has this year gone?? I grabbed a few $1 items from Target to send to my niece and packaged it up in this tin tie bag from Papermart. It was perfect to go with the soon to be released Paper Pretties set Soaking Up the Sun!

Inside there are adorable red white & blue striped flip flops and a red visor with a blue & white star on it. Sorry I didn't take a picture - I almost forgot I needed to make it so I can mail it off so she can have it by the weekend! The stars wheel is by SU! and star brads by Paper Studio, I got at Hobby Lobby.

STAMPIN' IN YOUR JAMMIES
Don't forget tomorrow night 7:00 p.m. CST we are having a stamping party in the Paper Pretties forum, there will be prizes & fun challenges hosted by Charmaine!

CUTIE PIE CONTEST
It's not too late to enter the Cutie Pie Contest!! If you win, you will get all the sets from this release for FREE?! Who doesn't love FREE stamps? Well, there is a catch, you have to kind of work for it by making a card. But that's not too hard, huh??
You have until 7:00 p.m. CST tonight to email your card using Paper Pretties stamps to Christie at christie@paperpretties.net

BUNNY SLIPPERS
Have you seen the cute Sophia in her bunny slippers (I so need that one). Well today is the last day to sign up for the Stamp of the Month so you can get it the month before it's released to the public. Check out samples using Sophia at the design team's blogs on the right of my page. Sign up at Paper Pretties and say you were referred by me *smile*

Edited to Add:
Thank you to everyone who congratulated me on my pretties design team news! You are all my cheerleaders and I appreciate your support & encouragement. Y'all are one of the many reasons I do what I do!

New Paper Pretties & Exciting NEWS

It's OFFICIAL!!! My hard-earned goal of being on a design team this year has come true!

I am so excited to introduce myself as one of the Prettie Girls Guest Designers for July-September! I can't tell you how thrilled I was to get an email last week from my blog buddy Jessie - Can You Say????....Addicted (to stamps)!!!! asking me if I was interested. I should have said, hell0000???? what??? are you kidding???? Of course! but what I said intead was, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I would LOVE the opportunity! That's fantastic"

I am bummed I never alloted any of my money to buy any Paper Pretties stamps because they really are so fun (you know I LOVE to color) and of course that's going to change in the near future. I think I need to get a 3rd job now...

Here is a sneak of a new set called Soaking Up The Sun that will be released July 1st. Isn't Sophia & her dog so cute laying in the sun on the big lounge chair? I paper toled the palm tree and for the 'sand' I made faux suede. To do that, you rub your bone folder on a piece of SU! cardstock until it begins to soften. When it is ready, you can pull the 2 layers away from one another.

This set takes me back to a time {was just talking to my co-workers about this last week} when I laid in the lounge chair in my backyard during the summer to get a tan and used baby oil to get darker & spritzed peroxide in my hair instead of buying sun-in for highlights!! Both totally not recommended...my hair turned orange and to think of all the UV ray damage from no sunscreen protection. Living in Central TX, my time in the sun is very limited because I can barely stand it for long periods of time - too hot & humid.

Stuff to Come:

Paper Pretties next release is this Tuesday July 1st at 7pm CST. This will be my first time Stamping in My Jammies (which I change into the MINUTE I get home from work). It will be in the Paper Pretties forum. If you are not registered yet, what are you waiting for? Charmaine will be hosting our challenges and you will love what she has cooked up for us!

Cutie Pie Contest!!
How would you like to be Paper Pretties Cutie Pie? All you have to do is make a card using your Paper Pretties stamps and send it to Christie at christie@paperpretties.net, and she will chose a winner from the entries. Besides getting to call yourself a Cutie Pie, you will also get all the stamps from this release for free!! You have until June 30th at 8pmCST to get your entries in!! Good luck!!