Spreading the Word again...

about more blog candy I found! Good Luck!

Andrea - Andrea's World
Shary - The Other Side of Me
Deb - Crafty Card-I Higgins
Jennifer - Phoenix Crafts
Fran - Franmade

Creatures Double Take

Still lovin' on my creatures so here are 2 cards for your viewing pleasure (if you like these quirky funny creatures) and it seems like lots of you do. You can click on the photos to see them larger.

My 1st card is for John's co-worker who recently had surgery. His co-workers are a great bunch; they do a lot of things together, there is a great comraderie among them & they have fun at work together (it's necessary for them to keep their sanity with the type of work they do) and outside of work. I used to have the same thing when I lived in CA. If you read my blog on a regular basis, you may have heard me mention a group of us go to the movies every other month or so. Basically when there is a great movie out that most want to see - we go right after work. They have department picnics, I went to the Christmas Party last year & there's more. I just really LIKE all of them! Plus it's the best working environment John has ever been in and I am so happy for him - he really deserves it since he is a hard worker & puts his all into it. Well, it wasn't hard for me to come up with a card to suit the occasion and since I have my JustRite monogram stamp I was able to personalize it with the group's name. I just know all of them are missing their co-worker so I placed the miss you in the middle to fill in space. I heard everyone liked the card & it means more business for me because of it *insert happy face*

My 2nd card is for Kazan's Sketch 4 (2 Sketches 4 You) and the Dutch Dare Challenge #5 to use one designer paper on your card. I got my color inspiration for this card from the 1st card. I had several of my copics laying out on the table and saw a great combo so this card was born and when I realized Basic Grey's mellow pad went perfectly with it - I scored!! It's a little busier than I usually do but it really fit the creatures so I went with it. I hand wrote Let's Party because I don't think I have one like that, don't these guys all look like they want to party? Even the little Rupert is bringing a birthday flower to the party.

Card #1
Stamps: Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Collection, Just so Hippy by Gina K Designs, JustRite Monogram Stamper
Cardstock: Real Red, Soft Sky, PTI White, DP is Magnolia by My Mind's Eye
Ink: Real Red, Soft Sky, Palette Noir
Accessories: Soft Sky double stitch ribbon, horizontal punch, wire

Card #2 Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Collection, Circle of Friendship by SU!
Cardstock: Cool Caribbean, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, DP Basic Grey Mellow
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Aquapainter, Stardust Sakura pen, Word Window punch, Pumpkin striped ribbon, linen thread, circle, star punches, brads

Big Koala Hug

Here is the card (one on one swap organized by Joanne in Gina K forum) I made my Secret Swapper. I also slipped in a few little embellishment goodies. I used sketch SC182 . I really like this sketch - it was fun working with all the squares as long as you could get them lined up well.

Stamps: Cuddles and Hugs
Cardstock: Kraft, Blush Blossom, Ruby Red, SU! Ginger Blossom
Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, Always Artichoke
Accessories: word window punch, hemp twine, Koh-i-Noor & Prismacolor pencils & baby oil

Just like Jimi

I missed my creatures {Doodlefactory by Starving Artistamps} so they had to come & to play! This time I made a card with large & small Frozey aka Jimi Hendrix (HA-that's what this image reminds my DH of) and I thought it would go well with this week's sketch challenge on SCS SC184. I realized as I was uploading, I never put a sentiment. But then again, these creatures surely speak for themselves - their expressions are priceless.

I am so stoked I won Juliana's birthday blog candy [Stampin' with Inky Fingers] - a set of Starving Artistamps Tropic sentiments! woohoo! So that's another reason I had to celebrate by stamping with my favorite creatures.

Stamps: Doodlefactory Creatures

Paper: DCWV Glitter Stack & Nana's Kids, PTI White, SU! Brocade Blue & Yoyo yellow

Accessories: Basic Grey cupcake brads, ticket corner punch, copic twinkle pen

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

Spreading the word...

about some blog candy out there I've found...

Artfully Ila has some new High Hopes candy - have you SEEN her coloring? Amazing!!! You have until Friday morning. Just spread th word like I am on your blog & let Ila know.

Claudia Rosa - Prett Pressings - has a sweet Magnolia book with 200 images in it to give away. You have until the 19th for this one. Read her post about the different things to do to be eligible to win!

SFYTT - Big Splash

I usually manage to miss out on Jen's Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT) revealed every Sat - but not this time, because my buddy and fellow Prettie girl Jessie -Can You Say???Addicted(to stamps)!!!! is her guest designer for her sketches this month!

So I had to play this weekend and was missing my Fishy Friends so I brought them out to play. My inspiration was the dp I chose & realized I didn't have any appropriate sayings until I thought about Melanie's Jumping for Joy set which says "hope you make a big splash" so I inked up just the portion I needed. I love the variety she has in her sets!

Stamps: Fishy Friends, Jumping for Joy (Gina K Designs)
Paper: Cutie pie dp, So Saffron, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Watercolor
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Rose Red
Accessories: faux dew drops, Sakura stardust pen

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.

Page Plans Sketch - Summertime...

...and the livin' is easy. You Are My Sunshine set by Gina K Designs had yet to see ink so there's no time like the present since I needed to make something with my first sketch as a guest designer for Page Plans! This is Lesli's Sketch 12 (check out the link for more design team inspiration, if you like to scrapbook there are layouts for that every week too!). I found my DP at Hobby Lobby (not sure who makes it) but it had a match for Wild Wasabi so I had to get it [& later realized PTI's Lemon Tart]. It said Summer Fun to me. I colored the drink with Copics & added Crystal Effects to the ice cubes & Sakura glitter pen to the lemon. I captured the sparkle in my card - SCORE!

Here is the inside, since it focused on refreshing lemonade I placed a drink packet on the inside & stamped with the relaxing image of the beach chair, umbrella, sand & surf. Wish I was there...but in Central TX you have to drive FAR to get to the beach and when you do, well...let's just say they leave something to desire if you've ever been to a CA beach!

I also found another challenge blog - surprise! this one is A Spoon Full of Sugar and this card has circles on it, which is their challenge for this week.

There is a prize up for grabs every week on Page Plans (sketches revealed on Sundays) and A Spoon Full of Sugar (sketches revealed on Tuesday) - why not make a card incorporating the two and upload your card to their posts? See if you win?!?

Anniversary Rak & Award

Look at this sweet Anniversary RAK we got from Monika M.A.D. Stamper - the card is just precious, isn't it -she even put bling on the bouquet! Monika doesn't miss a beat, she either noticed on the blogger RAK list or remembers me mentioning our anniversary a few weeks back. However you remembered- it's so sweet of you to acknowledge the celebration!

DH and I are celebrating 11 years of marriage today; DMIL blessed us with some $ so we're going to go eat Indian food (our favorite, yum) go watch a movie (either Wall E or Wanted) and definitely go to Cold Stone Creamery on Linsey! Thank You again for thinking of us & blessing us with your friendship whether we know you in Cyber Space or IRL.

I also got this award from Monika -there you go being sweet again! I should nominate some ladies with this to pass it on but it's so hard to put together a list just 7 long when I read 167 blogs!! I know that's a cop out but believe me when I say, everyone who creates with papercrafting deserves this award no matter what level they are at. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there, risking rejection or not to be recognized. This award is for everyone!

From the hands of babes...Nolan's Monster

When I was browsing my google reader, I saw this adorable card made by Mel - Mel Stampz ; she was so excited about a monster image she came across on Tracey's blog Fred, She Said drawn by her 10 yr-old son Nolan. Isn't it adorable? She has it for free to download. She said she would give Nolan 20 cents per card others make with his image. You can download here - just link your card back to her post and don't forget to give Nolan some love so he is encouraged to draw more!

I made my card based on CPS Sketch 71 with my inspiration point being my great ribbon with blues & green I got from Sweet Carolina. I colored my monster with prismacolor pencils & baby oil and the greeting is from Melanie's Cuddles & Hugs set by Gina K - thought it went perfectly with it. This monster reminds me of my all-time favorite kids book Where the Wild Things Are. What does it remind you of??

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

My Favorite Guest Designer & a RAK

My Favorite Things had a new release party this Weds. I missed all but the last 45 mins because it was a busy evening for me, but it was fun! Here are the cards I made to enter the contests they have.

First challenge is to make a birthday card since we are celebrating MFT and Kim's birthdays this week. I used the template I made for the boot card I shared on Weds (I can upload a pattern as soon as I have time and can figure out the best way to). I used Ride 'em Cowgirl & Let's Go For a Walk (Celebrate in Style).

Second challenge is to make a card incorporating stars - well that was easy, especially since it's the 4th of July today! Happy 4th to everyone celebrating! For this, I went with a simple layout (sortof A*Muse style which is not really my style although I do own a 'few' of their stamps which I haven't used in over a year). I paper-pieced some star adhesive DCWV mat stack for the house roof & car.

Last is to make a card & pierce your paper. I used Annie LaPoint's Chamomile for this card. Ornare piercing template in corner of card and the flowers I used? From Charmaine - see below. I also CB'd my pretty in Pink layer on the left and finished it off with rubbing some metallic rub-on paste but went a tad overboard with it. Oh well.

I got a great big 'ol goodie belated birthday package from Charmaine - Oodabug Alley and here is my birthday card - isn't this Changito adorable? Love it! Some of the goodies included the bridal flowers (white, ivory, pink & blue used in the card above). That was so sweet of you Charmaine - Thank You from the bottom of my heart. I'm so glad we're friends & Prettie Girls too.

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!