TECC 29: Polka DOTS!

What a fun sketch again from Taylor! TECC29 is in celebration of some adorable new stuff at the $1 Target Spot that is cupcake related! I really went a little crazy there, I just couldn't help myself! I packaged up a few of the items in a coffee bag: scented eye pillow, body wash & body spray. What I loved most about the packaging is the Polka Dots so I went with that theme using Hey There Cupcake which I won back in February from eP and Stampendous (I tell you I have goten a lot of mileage out of this set because of all the endless possibilities)! My card is attached to the bag but still removable. I chose to keep it shut by using the slit punch on the bottom. The polka dots on the bag are done using sponge daubers & a pencil eraser. Check out the color combo - Green Galore, Lovely Lilac & Riding Hood Red - the exact same colors on the gift items! I LOVE IT! Sorry about the glare at the top row of cupcakes - the cupcakes are stamped with silver metallic ink so they reflected the light.

While I was making this set, I couldn't help but think about my sweet niece (well I do ALL the time really). But, last week when I chatted with her on the webcam, which she got dressed up for me to do (hair done up all cute, pearl necklace from Linsey & bracelets from Barb) I asked her what she ate for lunch and she said, "POLKA DOTS" and proceeded to keep telling me that, and again saying it about 10 mins later. My sister said, "that's the randomness of a 2 yr-old" it was hilarious! I love it!

TECC27: Hey Cupcake

It was a HAPPY MAIL day for me the other day - I got new Starving Artistamps, a $50 product order of SU! from my upline for winning her monthly contest and this awesome card from Taylor Van Bruggen! It is such a WOW card - DH even liked the graduated rhinestone brads. I love the colors. She sent this as a Thank You for being her Cupcake Challenge Featured Sampler a few weeks ago with some yummy ribbon I used on my card for this week's [below] Thanks, Taylor!! It has cupcake honors being prominently displayed on my cupcake stand on my desk!

Below is my card for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge [TECC27] this week. What fun that Charmaine-Oodabug Alley is her Featured Sampler - a dear blogging friend & fellow Prettie girl. I just LOVE Charmaine & all her great creations! She made not one but two cards for this week! Wow-and they are both adorable!
Here is my little goodie I got from Taylor in my card - this cupcake ribbon - isn't it just delicious?? So I took my inspiration from it for my colors: Cool Caribbean, Rose Red & Chocolate Chip. I decided to mimic the cupcakes on the ribbon for my focal image & dared not color so I didn't make the card too busy. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out and decided to use my sentiment, 'hey cupake' on the cool caribbean background piece. Stamps are by Stampendous exclusively for Eclectic Paperie Hey There Cupcake! I adore this set -there are so many cupcake options!!

TECC15 - Hey Sweetie

These are my cards for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge 15 (TECC15) - sketch. Of course I used my Stampendous Hey There Cupcake set (designed exclusively for Eclectic Paperie) the cupake combinations are MANY! I decided to go with the same cupcake image but with a few differences: colored the frosting on the first one with Stickles star dust glitter and separated the strips of cardstock to let the black show through on the scallop center and positioned the sentiment on the bottom of the cupcake. The colors were inspired by Dawn Easton - Treasure Oiler Designz : Cameo Coral, Cool Caribbean, Barely Banana & Basic Black - these days I ADORE putting black on my cardstock - it just POPS! I chose not to use dp for my bg pieces like in Taylor's sketch but chose to use my Large Polka Dot Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms with Versamark ink.

On this other card, I put some Cameo Coral sprinkles on the cupcake & outlined the frosting with my Copic silver glitter pen. The cherries are both covered with Crystal Effects for shine.

Banana Cupcake Thank You Gift

I found this awesome Banana Cupcake with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting recipe on a link on Carolina's Creative Pad I just tried looking for it, but she has several links on their to other people's cupcake blogs - another reason I am so happy I found Carolina's blog!! Well, when I saw these one day, I printed up the recipe but didn't save the link. Sorry! But let me tell you, they are DELICIOUS cupcakes! So moist, and I think good for you since it uses REAL butter you know margarine is not good for you so butter is healthier *ha* and I put Organic Sugar in mine instead of the white sugar (which is not all that healthy either). Anyway I made these to send to our friend's mom who gave us farm fresh eggs a few weeks ago as a thank you (also in hopes of being offered more eggs, I know...shameful) talk about yummy - if you've never had a farm fresh egg & just the ones from the store let me tell you that you are seriously missing out on some wholesome goodness! My DMIL said she heard a Christian doctor say eggs ARE good for you (especially when you have your yolk not cooked all the way and that's exactly how I like mine).

Anyway, I just got my new Baked with Love set (by Kim Hughes) from Cornish Heritage Farms and thought it would go great to give the recipe along with the thank you cupcakes. I love her writing - yummy stuff is just perfect! I put Cotton Candy stickles on the cupcake and how cute is Changito hanging out on the bottom? I also thought putting my recipe on a sheet of lined paper (also by CHF) - can you tell I {{HEART}} this backgrounder?? would be real cute, because I did need MORE space than an index card gives - I even had to finish the recipe on the back and I was writing smaller than usual.

Edited to add: link to Banana Cupcakes with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting from Heather (Hopefully), thank you!! It's such an awesome community, we're always looking out for one another, huh?

Also, the recipients of the cupcakes LOVED them-they were delivered last night and as a thank you we got over 2 dozen farm fresh eggs!! woohoo!!

TECC 4 Hey Sweetie

Here is my card for Taylor's Cupcake Challenge 4 (I missed making 3 but I had to do 4 before I got too far behind - I'll try to do 3 this week). I'm trying to get ideas together for my sister's baby shower invitations (it's in April) so I can get started on them. I am going to post all the ones I have so far & get some votes on them. Stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, Taylor's cupcake challenge is to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card size 2 1/2" x 3 1/2") and then make that into a standard A2 size. ATC's are very fun to make! In fact, I participated in several of Taylor's ATC swaps for A*Muse last year and they were ALL great! I found this fun bright color challenge on the great SU! Color Combo site and have made several cards with it - Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore, Always Artichoke and Soft Sky. I used Stampin' Up!'s set In the Stars which will be available for purchase beginning March 1 - May 31 (Occasions Mini Catalog) and Cornish Heritage Farms Large Polka Dot backgrounder to mimic the polka dots on the cupcake bottom. FUN

Kimmie's Kreation Challenges

I was like a stamper on a mission this weekend! I love Kimmie's blog - Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner so when she set out to celebrate her birthday with daily challenges, I snuck a peek all week & started to think about what I would do. Here are my creations for the challenges. Enjoy

KKCC1 - Alter an Item
My first item was a Target $1 spot pink paper frame. I used Melanie's Just so Hippy set (the daisy) stamped in Pretty in Pink craft and sponged. I really like how this turned out and plan to send it to my niece soon (she is 22 months old & lives in another state but I call to talk to her a few times a week and see her on the webcam too. I'll be visiting in May when her baby brother is born (yea) This picture was taken in Nov the morning after she first called me 'AUNTIE' and my heart melted like never before.

KKCC2 - Sketch Challenge
My inspiration for these colors came from the DCWV Glitter Stack cardstock with browns, apricot & pinks. Cinnamon stickles for the frosting - yum.

KKCC3 - Colour Challenge (Spring Colors) I used a stamped image by Stampendous that came with my goodies I won for eP's 1st Birthday Cupcake Challenge a few weeks ago. This little bunny is TOO cute. The swiss dot embossing folder bg is so great (I embossed them at Melanie's the other day, wish I'd have done more, she got all the new folders, they are so nice and now they're all sold out and/or backordered, ugh)

KKCC4 - Valentine or Lovey Challenge - Used Stampin' Up! Simply Said heart and the center one has Fruit Punch Stickles. The 'love you' is from Just so Hippy by Gina K Designs.

KKCC5 - Paper Piecing - first time using MFT Meet Me at the Cafe (borrowed from Melanie). I don't imagine owning this set, but it sure was fun to use for this challenge. I used my DCWV Glitter Stack with pinks & browns. Colored with copics (going to send this to a friend that I haven't seen in months, we used to work together & when she quit we would still occasionally meet for lunch but she moved jobs again & we haven't had lunch in a long time. We used to eat at La Madeleine-the French Bakery & Cafe...that place is SO good.

KKCC6 - create a Thank You or Thinking of You or You are Special to Me creation
I made this to send to Beate (I doubt she will see this post) I used her weekend sketch 34 for it & wanted to send it as a Thank You for a great sketch EVERY Friday to kick off the weekend!! I used Posies For You by Anna Wight (for Whipper Snapper) and colored with my copics. The cb background is another new one but I don't know the name and I'm too lazy too look it up (sorry, I am at work but I think it's Floral Fantasy or something)

Beate's WSC34 - Cupcake For You!!

Here's my sketch from Friday, which I actually made Friday but forgot to photograph it on my cupcake stand (sorry not going to start all over). I actually stamped & colored this cupcake earlier in the week but never got a card idea for it until the weekend sketch came up. I looked at the cupcake 'bottom' and realized my cb embossing folder d'vine swirls resembled it so I went with that. Don't you just love the pearlized look of the frosting? I do...it's liquid pearls! I also used a sakura clear glaze pen for the cherry (so fun, I love glitter & shine, you'd be able to tell if you ever saw me IRL with my wardrobe).

Happy Friday!!!

Oh man, it's 12:20 and I've already had a full day (and I need to head off to work in 20 mins and I haven't eaten anything all day yet!) I visited Melanie, went to the dentist and uploaded cupcake cards to eP gallery, checked out Taylor's Cupcake Challenge briefly and will play this evening), have clothes in the wash but wanted to post SOMETHING. So here is a cupcake card I made last weekend when I got my Hey There Cupcake set by Stampendous exclusively for eP! I made a groovy guava 'frame' for my cupcake and look at the cute button on the top left - it came in the prima surprise pkg when you purchased something for eP's 1st birthday weekend. I love it, colors match guava, artichoke, cocoa, choc chip, blush blossom. I need to make more with them. So many stamps, ideas, inks, paper so little time.

One Martini, Two Martini, Three Martini...

FLOOR! that's what the inside says. Now I'm not sure if this would really happen if you had 3 martinis or not (never had one) but I always liked that saying. Personally, I'm a fan of the classic Margarita and Midori Sour (yum). Anyway, since Melanie came up with this set Just so Hippy, I have been having a LOT of fun (how could anyone tire of 3 animals, little images, including a sign, heart balloon & matching greetings! It's such a deal at $17.99 for 18 images!!


Wait til you see what her next set is - it will be released on Sunday, Feb 10th by Gina K Designs, as well as others!


I drew the martini glass & the monkey's shades & party hat are from the Changito the Monkey clear set which you can get at Eclectic Paperie. I almost completely forgot I had this set until I saw Melanie start to really have a little 'naughty' fun with the monkey from her set! This monkey is having so much fun at her party that she ended up in the flower bucket from Anna's set Posies for You. Like my Glitter paper? It's a rectangle DCWV Glitter Stack - so much fun! In fact if you see any of these papers on Melanie's blog, you should know we got them at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago (as well as an adhesive stack) and shared them with one another - isn't it great to have local friends you can hang out with & do stuff like that with??

Wanna Monkey Around??

o.k. since Melanie didn't post any 'swinging monkeys or nakey doctors' yesterday, I figured I would! I totally forgot I had this cute Changito the Monkey Acrylic set I got at Archiver's (you can get at eP) Check out his bunch 'o bananas?? When I showed it to DH--he raised his eyebrows, smiled & gave me the thumbs up (va voom) that's because he was playing his Halo 3 live (and had a microphone on).

This was a fun card...and was inspired not only by Melanie's Tarzan swinging monkey but by the new set My Favorite Things is coming out with 'twisted sentiment'. Tomorrow they're having a release party on SCS! Hope to catch a little of it. I'm sure it will be a riot. I have to link Mary Jo Albright's card from yesterday because it is so cute - hold on to your seat (she even has a disclaimer & faded out the greeting on the original post just in case of offense. But, my thoughts on that are - hey it's your blog and you have freedom of speech (but it was good to have the disclaimer) HA! She really is an ARTIST when it comes to stamping, her creations are really knock your socks off good (note to self: good idea for a RAK for Mary Jo).

Cupcake Mojo #22

So I was too late to enter this for Julee's Mojo Week #22 but I made it this weekend (not sure why I have not done them before, they're great sketches!


I actually figured out my camera has a white balance in the menu - here is Simone's Daily Dose of Spazz link from the tutorial she read on twopeas) on how to get a better picture. I had no idea my camera would have it, but it did. I don't think this picture is the greatest, but I think it's better than before!! It's awesome there's no shadow from the cupcake stand, just a slight one on the card.


I used my Basic Grey Two Scoops paper (even behind the clear button) and look how cute those rows of stickers are! They were part of my loot from eP (courtesy of Stampendous) - so fun!!



Here's a tip:
Don't you love the 6x6 paper pads? Well, most likely you're cutting it down to fit on a card leaving small pieces - I used to shove them back in the pad...but decided to put a clear envelope on the inside flap to put them in there so I can 'see' what scraps I have & can use on a future project. But even more...are you ever curious what great SU! 48+ colors will match with the Basic Grey? Well, I wrote on the inside for reference when I'm about to make a card so it takes the guesswork out for me to recall the colors (now I have to go back to my other pads & do this).

FS52 - Cupcakes (fake ones & real ones)!!!

Remember I said I could hardly put down this new set by Stampendous, Hey There Cupcake?(exclusive for eP) Well, I hope you don't tire of all the upcoming posts I have using it. I made this card for SCS Featured Stamper Renee Stamping For Sanity FS52 Challenge . Here is Renee's card I CASED obviously changing colors, sets, embellishments. I used Taylor's Cupcake Challenge 2 (colors of Pixie Pink, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip) since I had those colors out (lately I've been trying to use scraps for ALL my cards and when I find a combo I like or a card I like I tend to make 2) except for when the card has too much detail or took too long. I finally used my cb folder hearts on this card (but my picture is kind of bad so you can't really tell) and I used star dust stickles for the frosting but forgot I had used chocolate chip for the stamping and it bled a little (hate when that happens)

How cute is the cupcake stand on the right? I got it at Target for $5! It's how I will 'display' all my cupcake cards! Oh and guess how YUMMY the REAL cupcake is on the left? wow...too bad you can't see how adorable the cupcake liner is - it has springy flowers on it but I bet it would show way better with white, vanilla or yellow cake but that may or may not happen with me -my preferred flavor 9 times out of 10 is chocolate the other is yellow. Not a fan of white cake.

Happy Cupcake Friday to ME!!

I love Fridays for SO many reasons; I only work 4 hours so I either get to run errands, visit friends, take a nap, stamp - whatever I'd like after 12:00 or I get to sleep in (every 4th Friday I work late shift 1:00-5:00) It's such a 'SWEET' deal and one of the many reasons I enjoy my full-time job. Well, yesterday was special for lots of other reasons too! I visited with a former co-worker I hadn't talked to since I was laid-off from the job (it was a blessing) about 2 1/2 years ago! We have kept in touch via email though. It was wonderful to hear her say she missed me and get a hug from her (I miss you too Tracey!)

Anyway, it's also Beate's Weekend Sketch, which I didn't start doing until a few weeks ago & I'm hooked-what took me so long to get in on all that fun!?!? Then, it's Taylor's Cupcake Challenge (she has had Cupcake Friday for a while now where she highlights projects made with cupcakes-so fun) and to top it all off with a CHERRY - I got my loot (winnings from eP's One-Year Birthday Challenge) So I must brag (I mean show) you what I got! Then show you what I did with these sketches & my new eP Exclusive clear set by Stampendous Hey There Cupcake I couldn't show it all to you in one picture-the cute pail was FULL of this stuff (except the stamped Easter images, they wouldn't fit in the pail)

This is the Thank You card I got from Joy & Daisy...isn't it cute? I am HOOKED on this set, I could barely put it down to stamp with other stuff since last night, all the possibilities are endless with all the sprinkles, different cupcake liners, frostings, candles, greetings!! I have to admit all this cupcake stuff has had me jonesing for some cupcakes so last weekend I made Easy Black Bottom cupcakes - they were pretty good. But tomorrow I am going to make some triple chocolate goodness-chocolate cupcake with semi-sweet chips inside with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. YUM

phew! Are you still with me?? Here is my card from Taylor's Cupcake Challenge 2 and Beate's Weekend Sketch 33. So fun! Aren't those red heart brads the cutest? They came from Melanie - thanks, girl! She got them at JoAnn's. I also used my pearl glitter from my Stampendous loot for the frosting on the cupcakes! Loved this color combo, Taylor!

Hedgehogs Sledding

This card was so much fun to make!


It started out with knowing I HAD to use my Stampendous Clear Christmas Critters I got from Eclectic Paperie. Then I got my color inspiration of Kraft, Ruby Red, Buckaroo Blue, Garden Green. The paper is Basic Grey Fruitcake, which fit the bill for that combination - score!


I stamped the hedgehogs on watercolor paper because I wanted to color with my re-inkers. I also used my Cat's Pajamas Snowflakes for the cardbase and SU! Itty Bitty Background for the snow flurries (also used Iridescent Ice embossing powder on those) and Papertrey's Holiday Treats for the sentiment. Then to top it all off, I had to put white Liquid Applique on the santa hats & snow on the ground. Then, I realized I didn't have ribbon to match the colors I chose, never fear...the COPICS are here - the Moss color matches Garden Green perfectly so I colored white grosgrain ribbon.


I won't tell you how long this card took, it didn't matter once I'd finished it. Plus, I made 2 and added it to my Christmas card stash!

Deck the Halls with More of Hanna...

...fa la la la la la la la la!! I LOVE my Hanna Stamps - this is Tis the Season! I have been trying to get her decorating her tree with her little doggie watching but had a hard time capturing it just right. The dog is facing left on the stamp in Christmas Critters so I stamped him on vellum and flipped him so he can watch her deck the halls! I used my Basic Grey Fruitcake paper and the ribbon is luscious (from Archiver's, but I think May Arts makes it) it's a pretty burgundy. I colored Hanna's outfit in copics but realized it was too red for the card so I got a prismacolor pencil in Bravo Burgundy and went over it. Now it looks like her outfit is suede! It's so pretty IRL. Sorry the pic doesn't do it justice.

Meowy Christmas

o.k. that's what I thought this card should say, but when I asked DH if I should type it up like that on the computer he said, 'no, it's fine the way it is'. Of course that's his way of saying just move on. But I'm o.k. with that, sometimes I need a reminder to leave well enough alone. So I did. I used Basic Grey Fruitcake paper. Cat is my Stampendous Christmas Critters clear set from Eclectic Paperie and the wonderfully cute tree is from Tis the Season - Hanna Stamps. It was my first time using the puffy paint (I can't remember the real term for it) how cute is that?! Thanks for stopping by today!

Joyful

I love the Hanna tree from Tis the Season it's whimsical yet elegant. The mice are from my new Stampendous Christmas Critters I got from Eclectic Paperie. I was so excited about them! I love the hedgehogs, but more importantly, there's a cat, mice, dog & more!! So I needed to pair up the mice trying to stay warm under their lamp by the tree for this card.

Changito Birthday

Have you seen the new acrylic Stampendous set of Changito? When I went to Archiver's several weekends ago, that was one of the first things I was excited about getting! It's so cute! Anyway, EclecticPaperie just sent out an email saying they are available through them. Well, I just had to check because what I've been coveting about getting is the Hedgehog Christmas Critters set! Well, it was finally available so I was ALL OVER that! woohoo! It's going to be a great day! Email me if you need any details on the card, as I think it's simple enough I don't have much time. We need to go run some errands and go check out our property! They poured the slab for the shed this week!~