Elzybells New Release!

have you seen all the new Elzybells stamps shown on the design team's blogs all week? I adore the sweet background stamp (must get it) but I want to tell you about it just in case you missed it! oh and also to get in on the mega blog candy giveaway when I post an announcement here!

TECC57: Under the Weather??

Since Spring is right around the corner, I can't help but want to use my Springtime (April Showers) Cuppie from A Year of Sweets 1 and A Year of Sweet Sentiments for a get well card. I used my new Delicate Dots {SAB} from SU! which made for a soft, Spring-like feel. I also used my new 5/16" neutral brads by SU! (they're finally catching on, now if only they would make brads in ALL 48 colors -that would make me real happy!) I just had to paper-piece this image, isn't that fun - I just realized I hadn't paper-pieced in almost a week *gasp*

Here is Taylor’s sketch so you can play along too!! You can be eligible to win Cupcake Sampler Honors & be featured on Taylor’s blog using the next Cupcake Friday Sketch! You’re not required to use cupcakes on your sketch, but if you got ‘em why not use ‘em?? You can create something other than a card but try to keep as close to the sketch as possible. If you’re uploading to Splitcoast, please use keyword TECC57. Leave a comment on Taylor’s post with a link to your blogpost or gallery link so she can check it out! You must have your creation uploaded by Monday, March 2 at 10:00 a.m. CST to be eligible for the featured cupcake sampler honors. Lastly, be sure to have FUN creating!

Be sure to check out the other Cupcake Crew’s Creations:

Taylor VanBruggen
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Lynn Mercurio
Monika Davis
Sherrie Siemens
Stephanie Hargis
Vicki Chrisman

Today’s Featured Cupcake Sampler is Dana White - Dana’s House of Cards

SASI NEWS!!

There is a new release scheduled for Thursday, March 5 and sneak peeks starting on Tuesday! I am busy working on samples right now and you're going to LOVE 'em! Be sure to check back to check out the sweetness planned by Taylor & the Design Team!!

Tropical Cliff, Teeko & Huts!

Here are 3 more cards using the Doodlefactory Set the Scene 1 Tropical Backdrop! 

Baby on Board Sketch!!

Today is the first sketch challenge brought to you by Kurtis on StampTV! Kurtis, Jessica & I will be rotating bringing the sketches to you every Thursday and you will have a chance to win a free stamp set! It's a great sketch, clean & simple Kurtis-style! I kind of struggled with it at first, making sure I pulled all the right Neapolitan digital papers together well and at the last minute had to add an embellishment, a rhinestone-studded white flower! I am really enjoying making the clean & simple cards - there's a new challenge over at SCS for those that I really want to check out soon!

For my Baby on Board Congrats card which I am sending to my friend Kay's son & his wife of 8 months (click to see their wedding picture)*, I used Melanie's Little Tees (shirt, baby on board) and Hand in Hand sets (congrats and on the inside which I failed to take a picture, I put the baby's hand holding the adult's finger & the sentiment 'the journey begins') which was perfect! All supplies used are in the Floral Frenzy kit, except the pink rhinestones I used for the flower center.

*Kay tells me Robert is over the moon excited about having a baby, in fact he insists on naming his baby (regardless of the gender) after himself which I think is really cute! She is less than excited though to have a girl be named Robert Ted {Ted is the grandfather's name} I told her they can call her Robbie (I know a female by that name). I'm sure when it comes down to it, she won't care as long as the baby is healthy.

Come on over to StampTV & play today!

Always Apricot Pie Kissing!

The title I came up with reminds me of my DH John - Apricot Pie is one of his favorites for the holidays, it's even simple enough he will make it! woohoo!

It's Wednesday and Gina K has a new video tutorial up at StampTV! Go check out her video on kissing - but before you do that, look at the card I made! I used Bold Flowers in the Floral Frenzy StampTV kit which, in case you didn't know - is chock full of cardstock, patterned papers, embellishments & 2 stamp sets!! For the next 8 weeks, Gina will have a different technique tutorial using the sets! You have until next Tuesday to participate in the kissing challenge-check out details here and you can win a free stamp set!!

I used the StampTV color challenge (STVCC1) hosted by Cindy this week to use Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal & Pumpkin Pie. I wanted to make a simple one layer card, so I masked the flowers. The polka dots on the flowers & the border are in the bold flowers set, I thought the way they are 'open' polka dots is really cool on the flowers & have no idea why it happened, I guess you can say it's a happy accident! I love the border too, and although I didn't line up the polka dots perfectly, I think it still works!! I love the flower centers are 2 different sizes to lend more variety to your blooms! The small circle can be punched with the 1/2" circle punch by SU! and the larger can be punched with your 3/4" punch - that's what I used on my card yesterday & today (I hope I remember that correctly, if it's wrong I will edit this post).

I hope you play along with us at StampTV!

Bold Bright Flowers!

Have you checked out the StampTV website for Gina K Designs yet?  It's a fun, free place to chat, participate in challenges by the design team, watch video tutorials by the sweet Gina K.and view/upload your creations in one place!

If you'd like to get the Floral Frenzy kit, an $80 value for $49.95 you can play along with Gina's tutorials for the next 8 weeks (or whenever you'd like, you can view episodes any time, as many times as you'd like!) There are daily challenges Mon-Fri and right now you can get a FREE digital paper download here - how fun is that?? 

My card uses ALL supplies in the floral frenzy kit, except the inks which are SU! tempting turquoise, pink passion & green galore.  I cut out all those flowers, but Gina said they coordinate with Marvy's blue, yellow & green flower punches which I know I will have to have eventually! In the meantime, I will exercise my cutting abilities!!   Hope to 'see' you at StampTV!

More Doodlefactory Backdrops!

I have a few Doodlefactory backdrops to share with you! The first one highlights the pigeons from Set the Scene 3 & 4 Rooftops backdrop. I made the rooftops muted so the pigeons & heart from Sweets 'n Hearts stand out. The sentiment is from the Valentine's Sentiments.

My next card uses Set the Scene 1 & 2 Countryside backdrop, and Blox is placed in this one! I love it with him and that sentiment...because who thinks pigs are beautiful creatures? Well, I for one am carnivorous & LOVE pork, in fact for dinner tonight we are having our favorite BBQ shredded pork sandwiches from a recipe I got here. So I do think Blox is cute, and beautiful after all God created him (but Irene drew him!). I glitterfied his snout, some trees, mountains & clouds with stickles. Sorry I failed to capture the sparkle for you.

Did you know? If the Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory stamps appeal to you & you want to get some, you can get 10% off your order with the following discount code at checkout: savetendb

some Awards & Raks to share

I received the above award from Cassie (A Day in the Life of a Home Schooling Mom) who has a great blog and a real pretty smile.  Thank you, Cassie!  

And I got this new award from Rose Ann, isn't it cool?  Reminds me of the sweet act of love by my DH today - he put up a 48" storage cabinet in my stamp room today so I can get a little more organized in there (oh and get stuff off the floor which he would gripe about a LOT but I certainly don't blame him for that I was too when I would trip over stuff!) 

I am so incredible late in sharing my sweet Christmas present that arrived mid-January from Barb Schram! Barb was beside herself wondering if I would ever receive it and although the box looked like it went through the ringer and the glass broken on the frame - it arrived nonetheless, to her relief! Barb's words of encouragement are near & dear to my heart and one of the first things she wrote in her little card is congratulatory wishes for becoming part of the Gina K Designs Sr. Design Team, saying my work is always top notch!  The beautiful frame is Barb's favorite project she made for PTI and I am honored she would send it to me saying, 'How fitting for you- Because everytime you leave comments, you create with others in mind- 'You Make Everything Bloom'  I'm not lying when I say her words brought tears to my eyes.  It's incredible how a stranger can manage to touch your heart more than a person you know in real life you spend many one on one hours with.  Thank you for your kindness, friendship & wonderful gift, Barb!  It is displayed proudly on my craft table.  

Next up is the sweet Valentine we got from our niece Gabby & nephew Joey with a big bag of homemade yummy chocolate chip cookies, which Gabby insisted on 'baking' & sending to us! Included was a note that Gabby wanted to be sure Gramma Donna got cookies, too (my DMIL)! The little valentines on top are CARS - which is her current favorite movie!  We called to tell her thank you that evening while we were eating the cookies and she was so cute, saying 'I baked the cookies-you like them??  It was so cute when she was packaging them up she said, 'this one's for Auntie Donna, this one's for Nino John, this one's for Gramma Donna' - she's so cute!!! 
  
Here's the inside of the card, do you love what it says? 'the end' HA!  They also sent me a few little Avon gifts.  FUN! 
Last up is a Thank You card from our 2 little cousins I made these tins for & gave them for Christmas.   We weren't able to be with them this Christmas, but my DMIL & their mom had the idea to take a picture of them with the tins & make me this card!  Isn't it precious?  These are the moments that motivate me to do what I do *smile* 

Masculine Birthday cards courtesy of Gina K

I think one of my least made cards are masculine ones, but here are a few I've had to make recently to share with you. The first one uses Gina K Designs Tree Silhouettes in which I used her thumping technique (here is a link where you can watch a video where Gina shows you how it's done on StampTV and a link for you to play along & perhaps win a free GK set!) I thought this set showcases this technique so beautifully!

The sentiment used is from the current one free with 3 set, Tag Lines and I used my word window punch for it. I just love the Basic Grey Granola paper pad with great masculine colors & patterns. I followed the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch by Kazan from this week for my card (I love their sketches and have missed participating in them!) This card was perfect for great uncle Otto who turns 102 this week. On the inside I handwrote a collaborative poem (with the help of my DH, FIL & MIL). It reads:

"Your turning 102 is special to me.

May the Lord continue to bless you,

Like a beautiful Oak tree

that graces us with its Beauty."

My other card uses Gina K's How Sweet It is set (which a portion of the sale goes to the American Diabetes Association) and Just so Sporty set for the sentiment. This card was made for my FIL who LOVES ice cream! I thought personalizing the ice cream dish with DAD would be fun! He got a kick out of it! I also used the Basic Grey Granola paper & buttons for this card & tied white cotton thread through them. The image is colored with Koh-i-Noor pencils.

A Thank You & Update today about Derek

I just received an update from Derek's mom Shawna and she gave me permission to post on my blog. Read Derek's story here and about my visit with him how you can bless him with a RAK & have a chance to win some awesome stamping goodies! *just email me for his name & address*

"First and foremost, I am overwhelmed by the responses on your blog. There is such a sense of peace in knowing that everyone is praying for Derek. I know in my heart he is going to come through this with flying colors. I am even more overwhelmed by the cards and gifts.

As you know, Derek touched our lives two years ago when we adpopted him. He has overcome so many odds from the beginning. His {birth} mother smoked over a pack a day while she was pregnant, she received no prenatal care at all, and there were concerns about possible drug and alcohol abuse as well as exposure to HIV. Despite this, Derek was born happy, healthy, and weighed a whopping 9lbs 2 ounces. I realized when we were doing his health history at the hospital that he has truly never been sick. He's never had an antibiotic or even visited the doctor for anything other than a well check. He's hit all of his milestones way ahead of schedule. This child has always been a fighter and he's always been happy.

When we got home last night, he sat on the couch and ordered the rest of the kids around. He was genuinely concerned that "Kaekae" {his only sister} was missing. She had to stay late for a school function. After she came home, all was right with Derek's world. He slept soundly through the night. (So much so that I woke him up on purpose at six to make sure he was still concious). He's active and his pain seems to be minimal. He will walk through the house and when he legs get tired, he will yell at someone to bring him a pillow. Then lays down for a few minutes and starts again. Physical therapy starts on Monday. All of us are glad to have him home. Thanks again for all of the support. I'll try to send an update every couple of days as well as pictures."

Love and prayers,
Shawna

TECC56: It's Magically Delicious!!

Happy Cupcake Friday, y'all! It is a great day - totally looking forward to a weekend full of fun stamping time!! I am so excited about the next Taylored Expressions release, aren't you? Just wait until you see the awesome things she has planned for us for the March release!! Meanwhile, I am still having so much fun stamping A Year of Sweets! (1 here) with St. Paddy's Day Cuppie! I love this layout, and thought using different green designer papers from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie would be fun along with matching brads! The dark cardstock used is a much neglected color in my stamp area, Handsome Hunter. Cuppie was colored with peerless watercolors. The treat package is Green Apple licorice, which tastes real good!! We found it at a brand new supermarket here (I sure was like a kid in a candy store because the candy section sure caught my sweet tooth!) I just put them in a cello gusset bag & wrapped the belly band around it. The green crystals are by Zva Creative, which you can get at Taylored Expressions.

Here is a close-up of the Copic spica atyou pen sparkle! It's just 'magical' isn't it??

Here is Taylor’s sketch so you can play along too!! You can be eligible to win Cupcake Sampler Honors & be featured on Taylor’s blog using the next Cupcake Friday Sketch! You’re not required to use cupcakes on your sketch, but if you got ‘em why not use ‘em?? You can create something other than a card but try to keep as close to the sketch as possible. If you’re uploading to Splitcoast, please use keyword TECC56. Leave a comment on Taylor’s post with a link to your blogpost or gallery link so she can check it out! You must have your creation uploaded by Monday, February 23 at 10:00 a.m. CST to be eligible for the featured cupcake sampler honors. Lastly, be sure to have FUN creating!

Be sure to check out the other Cupcake Crew’s Creations:

Taylor VanBruggen
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Lynn Mercurio (back with the Cupcake Crew)
Monika Davis (make sure you see Monica’s Precious Valentine’s gift!)
Sherrie Siemens
Stephanie Hargis
Vicki Chrisman

Today’s Featured Cupcake Sampler is Pam Varnell - see what sweet creation she has for us!

Don't forget to check out the Taylored Expressions store - she has added some super sweet embellishments! All orders placed now through February 28th over $30 (before shipping and tax) will receive a FREE BUNDLE of 1/4" Solid Grosgrain Ribbon (colors of our choice). Simply type "Free Ribbon Please" in the comments section of your order. The Ribbon Bundle will NOT show up in your shopping cart, but rest assured our awesome shipping team will be sure to include it in your order!

The Big Reveal by Gina K Designs is 'LIVE'!!

I'm so thrilled to share more information (finally) about what's been in the works at Gina K for a year and a half and equally thrilled to be a part of this revolutionary launch of the new division of Gina K Designs, StampTV!! StampTV is an online short episode television style show where the audience can watch techniques, see the creation of card projects, participate in challenges in the new StampTV-GKD forum* and share artwork in the gallery!  

• StampTV will have a kit full of stamps, cardstock, embellishments and patterned paper to support the technique episodes of the show!
  
  
• New products- I'm happy to say Gina has set out to satisfy all the pleas of Ivory cardstock lovers and it will be available in both weights! We are changing the name from 120 and 80 lb to base weight and layering weight. This Ivory cardstock does not have as smooth of a surface, it has more 'tooth' to it, but it is still Pure Luxury!

March release we will introduce our new Chocolate Kiss Base weight and April release, our new Black Onyx base weight, but 3 sheets of each are included in this month's Floral Frenzy Kit which are all products I used on my card yesterday & today. Also included is an awesome assortment of ribbons to coordinate with elements in the kit: pretty pattern papers, layering cardstock, Pure Luxury cardstock in White & Ivory, fun embellishments such as neutral mini & ultra-mini brads & white paper flowers!

Now about my card - I used all supplies from the kit called Floral Frenzy for my card (except for the crystal lacquer on the center of the flowers).  I made my own pattern paper by staggering the short & long stems in the Bold Flowers set with Pink Pirouette & Chocolate Chip inks, which is for the SCS Ways to Use it Challenge WT206: Stripes.  I thought adding the flowers to the front really adds a lot of visual interest, as well as the rock 'n roll technique on the flowers!  Isn't 'My Best Bud' as a sentiment really fun??

*Gina and the Design Team will be hosting challenges Monday through Friday in the StampTV forums, and each challenge will have a chance at winning a free stamp set!!  Our challenges begin on Monday - hope to see you there!!
 
If you've stuck with me this long, go check out Gina's blog for the FULL REVEAL & Introduction to and 'see' ya at StampTV!!

Update on Derek - visit!!

Last night I was able to visit Derek in the hospital. Normally visits there are not fun but I sure enjoyed this one! Derek was likely to go home today!! Shawna (his mom) has learned how to properly change his dressings and he's ready!! He was real shy at first, but enjoyed opening his little card & wooden toy card I brought him which is what he's holding here.  It was nice I got a little smile from him, which is a sweet one!!  *sorry about the poor quality of photos, I forgot my camera & took them with my cell phone camera-not bad, really*

Here he is reading a card that Rose Ann made him!  His first RAK!!  Thank you, my friend!!

The card, which has the pinking edge nestability poked his hand, and he said, 'ouch' it was funny (don't worry he didn't really get hurt).   I was so blessed to see him, Kay was happy I saw him on the 'up' side!  We took him over to the playroom in the big wagon and he was pretty unstable at first, wanting Mammy to hold his hand, but pretty soon he was walking all over the place!  When we finally convinced him to go back to his room, he was bound & determined to PULL his big 'ol wagon all the way back to his room!  He was walking at a pretty good pace, getting all the attention of the nurses who were amazed at his improvement, and not long after we started our trek he started to slow down considerably while Mammy kept asking him if he wanted help and he replied emphatically, 'no, let's go' as he waved his hand toward his room!  I watched in amazement how it seemed he was oblivious to his injuries!  He was so precious!! I nearly cried as I said good-bye not helping but wonder when I will see him again since they moved to the coast.  

If you'd like to bless little Derek with a card/small gift, please see my previous post Request for RAKS for Derek for info & perhaps you will WIN some great stamps/supplies!  I will keep this open until the end of the month & draw a winner at the beginning of March.  

New Gina K - Sneak Peek!

Materials used to make this card came from a special new product being launched tomorrow at Gina K. Designs! Check out Gina's blog today and enter to win the "What's in the big brown box contest" and stop back tomorrow for the full reveal! The technique I used for the flowers on my cardbase is called 'thumping' - using waterbased markers directly to your stamp.

Then go check out what stamping goodness the design team has to offer today!!

Gina, Asela, Cammie, Cindy, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Joanne, Kurtis, Melanie, Theresa

Update on Derek 02/18, addr to send cards & blog candy!!

Here is the original post from last week - With a Heavy Heart where I shared a dear family friend's 2 yr-old grandson was burned badly in an accident at home. I have an update today; a few of you have already contacted me privately to send him a card and I thank you for it! I gave Kay's address out to them & now I request for more of my readers to bless him/their family if you'd like to send a card, please email me for the address texanwife at yahoo dot com (also under my profile on the right).

UPDATE from Kay 2/18: "She (Shawna) just called. He took his sweet time waking up after surgery and is now playing in a chocolate milk shake. The grafts have taken. The bleeding has stopped. The new antibiotic is working as it should. The medication for nerve damage (I forgot the name) is controlling the involuntary shaking in his legs. He may only be in the hospital a couple more days to begin physical therapy to learn to straighten his legs again so he can walk upright and to make sure Shawna and Eddie know how to change the dressings each day.

Tell everyone thank you—prayer is a powerful tool. The family truly appreciates all the love and concern that has been shown for Derek. Kay"

This brought happy, grateful tears to my eyes!! Our prayers are heard! I am planning to go visit him to take my card & gift this evening after work. My request to have get well cards and/or little toy (Kay said he is into cars & trucks!) is still open and I will keep this open until the end of February so he gets more stuff sent to him at his home! I will keep track of those who participate & place your names in a drawing for some blog candy the first weekend in March to give the mail time to get to him.

**Blog Candy is shaping up but there is more to come from me! I guarantee it will be GOOD. Once you send him something, please comment on this post and/or email me to let me know so I can keep track of participants.

**Edited to Add**List of Blog Candy items**
1. Your choice of any Gina K. Designs stamp set valued at $19.95 or less!! (donated by Gina K)
2. Your choice of any unmounted Starving Artistamps or Doodlefactory set $24.95 or less!! (Donated by Tracey Berkey)
3. Papertrey Ink 1st Year Anniversary set (never used, donated by me)
4. Stamp a Sweet Impression set by Taylored Expressions (Donated by Taylor VanBruggen)

A Couple of BIG things!

Are the clues on Gina's blog driving you crazy yet with anticipation? Tomorrow Gina & the Design Team will have sneak peeks for you & Friday will be the reveal of the BIG thing coming! As a stamper and a Gina K fan - you will not be disappointed! I can't wait to share more - just busting at the seams!!! Click here for Hint #3 and a picture of one of the new products!! But before you leave...let me tell you about my card!!

It's a simple one today in which I have a handmade white crochet flower as the focal point (it's pretty BIG, but I think it still works - I plan to make some smaller ones so it's more proportionate on my card. I got the pattern on-line but I can't find it to share!

The sentiment on the oval tags is from the current one free with 3 set by Gina K called Tag Lines

I just love the sentiments in this set. My favorite Basic Grey Bittersweet paper, clear button, flourish punch, some pearls, and a swatch of white polka dot ribbon finish off this simple card.

SA/DF Challenge - You Want Piece of Me?!?!?

Check out the Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory challenge posted at PCP - 

get out your stamps & paper-piece them!  Hope you can play!  This card is my sample 

from the blog hop a few weeks ago using the new Countryside backdrop!  

Get Inky with Gina K and guess what's in Gina's Box!!

Joanne has a fun challenge for us in the Gina K forum - use a Gina K set you've had but have not gotten inky yet - and fess up to how long you've had it. Mine is Asela's Botanical Dreams which is such a beautiful set! What the heck stopped me from using this beautiful orchid set since August?? I'm not sure but I believe I will be using it more often now! It was so fun to color with my peerless watercolors and have you seen how many different color varieties of orchids there really are? It's going to be fun to make different colors! I used the first half of the Scripture on the front, and the rest on the inside. This card will be given to Derek's mom Shawna to encourage her. I got the sweetest email from her that brought me to tears today! I just want to hug on her so I am going to try to visit them this week before Derek gets released from the hospital. Please see my blog candy RAK request for Derek who is struggling to fight an infection in his blood since he was badly burned in an accident at home a few weeks ago.

Have you been following Gina's blog? She has something BIG coming on Friday and has another clue about it - today if you guess right about what could be in the box, you will win the contents of it! how cool, huh? Go check it out.

P.S. scroll down for new posts, I'm going to keep the RAK request for Derek at the top for a while.

May (Flower) Friends!!

Don't you love the old adage April Showers bring May flowers?  Cuppie here is demonstrating that it's true enjoying the warm sunshine in the field of pretty flowers in A Year of Sweets 2.  Cuppie says, 'If friends were flowers I'd pick you!' from a Year of Sweet Sentiments and I will do the same when I send this card off to a friend in May (I had the idea to create a card for each month of the year & mail to a friend when I started making this project.)

 
Isn't the Friends rhinestone word perfect for this card?  It is by ZVA Creative and you can get it at Taylored Expressions.  Using the Frame Your Imagination Vertical stand allows you to have a decorative monthly calendar which you can have adorn your desk at home or work, in true craft style!  They come naked so you can paint, cover with designer paper, distress, embellish or keep plain, the beauty of it is that you can make it with your style, whatever that may be!!

TECC55: Sweet on You with Cherries!!

I'm in love...with more than just my DH, and my stamps, and my fur kids, and my niece & nephew...I'm in love with the new SU! Rockabilly Specialty designer paper!! Taylor's sketch this week lends itself to using multiple papers - so check 'em out - aren't they yummy? Since I wanted to make just a few more Valentine's cards {although I'm ready to move on to the next holiday *wink*} - I reached for A Year of Sweets 1 and ommitted the hearts, clouds & cupid tofeature the sweet cuppie couple. I also had to use my one of my favorite techniques, paper-piecing!! The sentiment is from a Year of Sweet Sentiments. I decided to limit my embellishments to keep the cuppies & designer paper the main focus but decided to add a red heart brad from the Valentine's key ingredients to finish off my 'sweet' card. p.s. - be sure to click on the card so you can see the addition of eyelashes on the girl cuppie!

Here is Taylor’s sketch so you can play along too!! You can be eligible to win Cupcake Sampler Honors & be featured on Taylor’s blog using the next Cupcake Friday Sketch! You’re not required to use cupcakes on your sketch, but if you got ‘em why not use ‘em?? You can create something other than a card but try to keep as close to the sketch as possible. If you’re uploading to Splitcoast, please use keyword TECC55. Leave a comment on Taylor’s post with a link to your blogpost or gallery link so she can check it out! You must have your creation uploaded by Monday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. CST to be eligible for the featured cupcake sampler honors. Lastly, be sure to have FUN creating!

Be sure to check out the other Cupcake Crew’s Creations:

Taylor VanBruggen
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Monika Davis
Stephanie Hargis
Vicki Chrisman

Today’s Featured Cupcake Sampler is Jodi Collins! Be sure to stop by her blog & see what sweetness she has for us today!

Since I love this sketch & this paper so much and thought it would ROCK with my BC Dzyns Hey Chica set by My Favorite Things, I made another card!! I just adore it! I also decided to keep the embellishments to a minimum so my chica takes center stage!

Check her out close-up. I love her sparkly green eye shadow & glistening red lipstick! Do you like her silver & red rhinestone earring?

Hope y'all have a SWEET Friday & Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!

With a Heavy Heart...

I don't have anything to share with you today other than a request for prayer for the grandson of a dear friend who is family to me. Last week, Derek who is 25 months old had a little accident that caused 3rd degree burns on his lower body. He is back in the hospital & currently having surgery and I await news-they suspected an infection in his blood. Please pray for him and his family (mom Shawna, dad Eddie and 4 brothers: Ben, Logan, Kyle, Jon & sister Kaelin--all older than him). This has been rough on everyone and my heart just aches for all of them; especially little Derek, who I want to be healed of all physical & emotional scarring this accident caused.

Thank you

Edited to add update: 5:13 p.m. Kay called to say Derek's surgery went well & he is out of recovery, very much sedated but stabilized. The Dr. had to take skin grafts from his calves because the biobrane material they initially used on his burns caused the underlying skin to die. His own skin was best in this situation. He will be in the hospital for the next week. I plan to go shopping this weekend to buy him some toys - she said trucks & cars - sounds like a BOY, huh?? I'll also make a card to send to him so it is there when he gets home. I'm sure it will be a long recovery and that will brighten his day (although I'm sure he has no idea who I am since I haven't seen him since he was 5 mos old!)

Get 'Krafty' with it - Gina K style

Did you know the lovely Joanne hosts a challenge every Monday in the Gina K Challenge Forum where you can participate & be in a drawing for a free stamp set??  Go grab a Gina K set & your kraft cardstock, ribbon, whatever that is 'kraft' and try to win!  

Here's a card I made for the release using Kraft cardstock but haven't uploaded yet.  I wanted to be sure to share with those of you who were not at the release party because it uses the new one free with 3 set, 'Tag Lines' with 18 sentiments there is sure to be something to add to most of the cards you need to create on a regular basis - an ESSENTIAL in your stamping arsenal!  For this card, I stamped the girls from Best Friends on kraft and colored them in with prismacolor pencils.  I use so much designer paper that for this one I wanted to show you how quickly you can make your own!  On one acrylic block, I placed 3 sentiments: You're the Best, You Totally Rock and Love You and stamped them in rows on vanilla cardstock, added a cluster of gold stars frm Little Tees, then distressed it with my distress tool and sponged on several colors of Ranger Distress ink (sorry I forgot all the names of the colors).  I still ended up using scraps of dp; DCWV Rock Star stack stamped with a greeting from 'The Best Things in Life' and embellished with a few Basic Grey buttons.  This would make a fun card to send to a girlfriend of any age!  

Here is the link to the forum with instructions for uploading your creation (you have until next Mon Feb 16 9:00 a.m. to upload you creation) 

CPS sketch 102: Sponsor Starving Artistamps

CPS102 is sponsored by Starving Artistamps today! Be sure to get out there & play you can win some SA/DF stamps!! I just had to get Moki out with the new Set the Scene Tropical backdrop for my card. I just love this dudette and now she has a place to practice the hula & show off her pretty leis. I used my Prima Hydrangeas on the bottom of the main panel. I used my peerless watercolors and finished off her leis & hula skirt with copic at you spica pen (clear) and the sea foam is covered with stardust stickles.

Did you check out the blog hop from Saturday with the Starving Artistamps' design team debuting all the backdrops? If not, here is the link showing you where to start. I was just blown away by all the different styles, techniques & ideas shown! how fun it is!!

**don't forget you can get 10% off your Doodlefactory stamps at Starving Artistamps by entering savetendb in the coupon code box in your shopping cart & hit re-calculate!** Free shipping with a $65 order!!

From Courtney's Closet - A Birthday cupcake

Did you see Libby's Little Cupcake turned 1 year old last week??!  Well, to celebrate, Libby posted her usual From Courtney's Closet challenge (which are real fun, she takes an adorable picture of her in a cute outfit & we take inspiration from it to create a card).  I just had to play this week because I love her little Cute as a Cupcake shirt!  Also Libby is giving away a sweet cupcake-themed prize package to one lucky winner and well, I am motivated by free stuff so here you go!  Plus any excuse to use a cupcake stamp I'm all over!!

I wasn't going to stamp tonight so I could rest & get caught up on my DVR shows and well, I ended up making this card in about 10 minutes anyway!  These CAS (clean & simple) cards are not always easy to make but I knew I had the perfect cupcake stamp for it that was begging to be inked up!  It's in the **Doodlefactory Sweets 'n Hearts set and the sentiment is from Simple Sweet Sayings which was so fun to ink up in different color markers just like Courtney's shirt!  I colored it with peerless watercolors and topped it with rhinestone sprinkles (sorry about the bad photo, it was a long 9 hour day) and liquid pearls for icing.  There's also a little glaze on the cherry.  YUM!  wish I had a cupcake in my hands RIGHT NOW! 

**if you're interested in getting any Doodlefactory stamps at Starving Artistamps you can get 10% off your order any time!  Just use savetendb in the coupon code box in your shopping cart & hit re-calculate!** Free shipping with a $65 order!!

MFT Ambassador Challenge shares

Since last Wednesday was the MFT release and they always have 3 challenges I thought I would participte in 2 of them & share my projects!!  This is for the Ambassador challenge #2, to mask. I didn't get too elaborate with my card because I wanted to use my mouse from Tea for Two and my mind didn't lend itself to too much masking here!  I used the shadow under the cup from Icing on the cake and added the coffee set (tea time words and mugs on the pink passion vertical panel & tea bag on the edge of the cup) I used Jen's SFYTT from Sat for this one!  fun!  I also played in the OCC Challenge - by Laurie to use an embellishment as your inspiration.  It was this fun double-sided wire-edged pink passion ribbon I got at Hobby Lobby last week!  Isn't it fun? 

This little heart candy tin is my project for Ambassador Challenge 1 to make a treat package with a heart theme.  Once again, using my Tea for Two set - I used the bunnies this time but ommitted the polka dots on the tea cup, then made my own hearts which I colored in with my red atyou spica pen for sparkle!  I made this real simple to show you that you don't have to make packaging super elaborate to make an impact.  By using the I {Heart} you sentiment from Who's that E-girl I made it a Valentine package instead of a tea package.  The polka dot ribbon is from Gina K - Holiday ribbon.  

Sending Love to Gina & her mom

Today is Gina K's birthday!  Here is the card I mailed to her this week I made using the new set Sweetest Blessings and Sweet as Sugar Digital Paper. I used Lauren's sketch from several weeks ago mytimess20 which was a lot of fun!  I love her sketches, they are so not something I would dream of putting together and I always love her cards!  On my background piece of cupcake paper, I covered all the cupcakes with stardust stickles (except for a portion of the one in the upper right corner - oops!) didn't realize until I was placing the card in the envelope!  doh 

This next card is going to be mailed to Gina's mom Ruth.  Gina's dad died last week and Melanie asked Gina if there was anything she could do for her and she said mailing a card to her mom would be so nice.  If you would like to do that as well, here is info from Melanie's blog.  Ruth was married to her sweetheart for 55 years!  Can you imagine?  I just want to let her know she's in my thoughts & prayers so I'm sure this will brighten her day!  It will also let her know how special her daughter is because her friends are sending love & kindess to someone they do not know because we care!   

I used Gina K's Tropical Flowers, one of my favorite floral sets when I want to make a quick card!  After I stamped my flowers, I made highlights with a black multi-liner pen - love how it makes the flowers pop with the black matting as well.  The designer paper used is Rockabilly Specialty double-sided paper by SU! which is Kiwi Kiss, Real Read, White & Basic Black {so thrilled about having black designer paper) there is gloss to some of the designs on here that I just love!  The sentiment is from the new set Tag Lines, which you can get for free when you purchase 3 other sets this month!  I love the fact they all fit on the Nestabilities tags!  The ribbon used is SU! kiwi & vanilla satin ribbon and the black pearls are by Kaiser, purchased at Taylored Expressions.  

If you'd like to send virtual wishes to Gina click on the following links (Sympathy or Birthday) but also know it's never too late to send a card via snail mail...it would brighten her day anyday to receive it!  Just send it to: 

Gina K Designs

4701 Dale-Curtin Drive
McFarland, WI  53558

New Doodlefactory Release Backdrops!!!

Welcome to the Starving Artistamps Design Team first ever blog hop with our NEW release!  I hope you traveled to my blog from Lisa, but if you didn't - you will want to start at the beginning to be sure you don't miss anything!  Remember, you need to visit them ALL** (see below for a complete list of blogs to visit), because somewhere there is info on entering to win some FREE stamps!!  

One of the reasons I fell in love with Starving Artistamps' Doodlefactory Collection last year, was the uniqueness of the characters; Irene the illustrator draws thick lines and each of the characters has a name and usually funny-looking eyes.  It's so easy to tell a story with these unique stamps and since I love to make scenes on my cards, these images are right up my alley and the NEW Set the Scene Backdrops are PERFECT to go with ALL your DF images (and possibly more!?) I couldn't have been more excited about this new possibility for card (and scrapbook) making!!

In my first card, I use the awesome mysterious JUNGLE BACKDROP complete with huge corral snake (but I didn't color it the traditional colors of red & black)** Disclaimer -some of you hate snakes but I LOVE 'em!!  This snake will NOT harm you, and you will not spontaneously combust if you use it on your card or color it with pretty colors**

I'll never forget the first time I had a python wrapped around me and the owner said that she thought the snake liked me since it looked right at me.  One of these days I would love to own one but since my loved ones are against it, it hasn't become a reality (plus, I don't want to risk it killing one of our cats-yikes!).  I used Pogue from The Great Outdoors because he looks absolutely frightened he sees a snake in the jungle!  But seriously, doesn't the sweet smile on the snake make you feel a little better??? I colored my images with peerless watercolors and the 'not!' is american crafts thickers.  I used the paper-tole technique on some of the leaves.  
  
My next card uses the ROOFTOPS BACKDROP (it also comes with 2 pigeons but I did not use them on my card (other DT members will, though!)  On my card, I whipped out Guaco from Urban who is planning to gather his friends for a night out on the town - of course, to PAINT it RED (from Urban sentiments #2)  I chose not to color the backgound buildings to make Guaco and his spray-painting stand out. 

My 3rd card uses the TROPICAL BACKDROP - so fun for all your Summer cards!!  I used Frozey from the DF Creatures and made him some swim shorts & matching surfboard from some dp.  The sentiment is from Tropic Sentiments 1  Special thanks to my awesome DH John who really loves my DF stamps and was willing to help me come up with ideas for these cards (it was his to use Frozey & give him swim trunks, but he wanted the sentiment, "wish you were here" but I don't have that so I went with Hang 10 Dude - after all, that's surfer talk, right??

My last card uses the COUNTRYSIDE BACKDROP and DF Animal Basel (Mama & Baby) who lost their way from the flock & their shepherd and are trying to find their way back.  I paper-pieced the WHOLE scene, which really was not that hard, just a lot of planning because of the different patterns I wanted to use from Basic Grey Urban Prairie (isn't that fitting, since it's the countryside?) 

I didn't have room to put my sentiment on the outside of the card - so here is a picture of the inside - the sentiment is from DF Outdoors.

So there you have it, samples from all 4 new BACKDROPS!   Please tell me what YOU think, which is your FAVORITE backdrop and which card is your FAVORITE that I made, k??   Don't forget if you'd like to purchase these new DF stamps, you can save 10% at checkout by putting SAVETENDB in the coupon code box & recalculate!  

**Here is a complete list of bloggers for your HOP - once again, be sure to visit them ALL because somewhere (I'm not even sure of where) there is blog candy to be won!  woohoo! 

SA/DF Blog

Juliana

Lisa

Donna B (me)

Donna D

Kathy 

Lori 

Lydia 

Andrea

Natasha 

Heidi 

Leigh

Irene (the DF illustrator extraordinaire) 

TECC54: Smooching Kisses

Check out this fun sketch with Taylored Expressions' Cupcake Challenge Friday (TECC54) I have to share! I just had to use my smooching cuppies from Love is Sweet again to add another Valentine's card to my stash! I also made a decorated a tall gable favor box & filled it with Hershey's Kisses to match. These favor boxes are so nice, die cut for quick assembling & come in a big variety of Prisms cardstock colors in the store and they are only .50 each (minimum quantity is 10 to buy) so how's that for convenience especially if you are making favors for a child's party, baby shower, etc. your work is done except for the decorating & filling!! All the supplies used on this project are in the Valentine key ingredients except for the brown polka dot ribbon.

Here is Taylor’s sketch so you can play along too!! You can be eligible to win Cupcake Sampler Honors & be featured on Taylor’s blog using the next Cupcake Friday Sketch! You’re not required to use cupcakes on your sketch, but if you got ‘em why not use ‘em?? You can create something other than a card but try to keep as close to the sketch as possible. If you’re uploading to Splitcoast, please use keyword TECC54. Leave a comment on Taylor’s post with a link to your blogpost or gallery link so she can check it out! You must have your creation uploaded by Monday, February 9 at 10:00 a.m. CST to be eligible for the featured cupcake sampler honors. Lastly, be sure to have FUN creating!

Be sure to check out the other Cupcake Crew’s Creations:

Taylor VanBruggen
Ana Wohlfahrt
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Monika Davis
Sherrie Siemens
Stephanie Hargis
Vicki Chrisman

Today’s Featured Cupcake Sampler is Wendy Bond at Bond Girl Bliss

TOP CHEF CONTEST REMINDER: You have until next Wednesday to enter the Top Chef Contes at Taylored Expressions! If you're not familiar with our Top Chef contest you can find all the details here on our website: Top Chef Contest. Just create a card or project using any of the January 2nd releases (A Year of Sweets 1, A Year of Sweets 2, A Year of Sweets 3, Love is Sweet) and email a photo to Taylor at tayloredexpressions@gmail.com on or before February 11th to be entered into the contest. Please use Top Chef in your email subject line. Taylor will choose the cutest, most creative entry to win one FREE STAMP SET from the next SASI release!! Free rubber! WooHoo!!!! Your creative will also be featured on the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog for all to see! Now all you have to do is STAMP and WIN!