A Special Gift & Thank You Cards

It's time I share a special gift I got for Christmas from Taylor, owner of Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps, a personalized original print of me as a cuppie wearing a personalized apron, making the card on the right!  Can you see it in the print?  I totally missed it at first, but as I looked closer, I realized it was a card I made last year using one of Taylor's first sets, Sweet Celebration.  Click on any photo to enlarge for detail.  

I was truly honored to be hand-picked by Taylor last year to be on her first Baker's Dozen Design Team & help launch her new cupcake themed stamps!  One of the first things she shared with us (since we wanted to know if she was planning to draw the images) is that she commissed Jessie Oleson of Cakespy to be her illustrator.  I immediately checked out her artwork and was delighted to see her blog devoted to all things sweet!!  

The funniest thing about this surprise gift is that there is more to this story!  The whole design team pitched in to surprise Taylor with a Christmas gift & it was Jami's idea to contact Jessie about making a print for Taylor from us.  Little did we know that Taylor had already requested all of OUR prints as well as one for herself and without spoiling the surprise Jessie came up with a way to keep the secret from all of us!  She made Taylor's print bigger & sent it to Jami so the DT could gift it to her, meanwhile she told Taylor she may not be able to get around to doing hers but would definitely gets ours done for her.  Would you like to see a picture of Taylor's print?  Here is a link to other prints requested for the holidays by customers *Taylor's is the 6th one in the post*.  I just adore the saying Jessie put on the print, "Do Something Creative Every Day" {same saying on the coffee mug Carolina gave me for my birthday last year} 

Here are some Thank You cards I made to send to Taylor & Jessie for my sweet personalized gift.  I used a Year of Sweets 1 on the ear muff cuppie on the right and snowman cuppie from Home Sweet Home on the left.  Both cards use Christmas key ingredients.  The Sentiment 'thanks snow much' is from the new set A Year of Sweet Sentiments, which has 30 unique sentiments to coordinate with all the Year of Sweet sets & more!!

TECC50: Love Muffin Smooches

I simply adore this sketch by Taylor this week - isn't it fun?? I had to use my new Love is Sweet set by Stamp a Sweet Impression and Urban Prairie dp by Basic Grey. I used one of my favorite ribbons you can get at Taylored Expressions 3/8" satin caribbean which coordinates nicely with retired SU! Cool Caribbean c/s.

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 TECC50. 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, January 12 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 Renee Van Stralen at Stamping for Sanity - here is the pretty card that caught Taylor’s eyes last week!

Want to win some Free Stamps from Stamp a Sweet Impression?!?

Be sure to enter the Top Chef Contest at Taylored Expressions! If you're not familiar with the Top Chef contest you can find all the details here on the 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 useTop 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!

Sending Love Stewie Is

I was so happy to get the mail today - new SA/DF Valentine's sets!! I just had to make a Stewie card (aka Maggie - our neighbor's dog) and wanted to make Stewie center stage so I kept my card real simple. I just love pink, black & white together! It was good to get my hearts cb folder out again. Sending Love sentiment is from All About Love

Tonight was the first time I stamped since last Sunday, suddenly I got sick on Weds. morning and by the afternoon I had a fever up to 101.00, had hardly anything to eat because my stomach hurt so badly, had a raging headache & was so weak I was hardly able to sit up for any length of time. My fever broke some time during the night but John made me stay home from work again today to be sure I got more rest & didn't prolong being sick. I didn't stamp this card until 4:00 when I finally started to get a little energy back. I believe in the power of prayer, I know that's why I wasn't sick for long but have no idea where it came from (well, I think it was lingering around in my body since I got sick Christmas Eve) but it's been years since I've had a fever. The shining part of my day was when my sweet 2 1/2 year old niece called to talk to me and cheered me up! Little did she know how sick I was! She really made my day!! Now poor John he's had continual congestion for so long it's not funny, he has an appt. with an ear, nose & throat Dr. next month and we hope he has some answers to why he has continual drainage, phlegm, etc.

edited to add: don't forget if you'd like to buy any of the new Doodlefactory Valentine's stamps - you can get a 10% discount using the following code at checkout: savetendb

Somebunny Loves You!

I think the week of Melanie's Blogaversary posts is over but when I emailed her to ask (since I had more cards to share) she said she'd still link anyone who was posting with her projects. Well, this was the first card I made for her week-long celebration but I had forgotten to take a picture of it!! I have had SO much fun playing with all of Melanie's animal sets but I have to say my favorite of all of them is Just so Hoppy! It happened to be her 2nd set, released last February and I was a stamping maniac during that month, nearly posting a card every single day to submit for her contest! After all, I'm pretty competitive at certain things (and a free set from her March release) was at stake! I was thrilled when she announced me the winner of her contest {if you're new to my blog, please read the post, it was so sweet} at the March Gina K release and read the following:

"There once was a stamper named Donna,

Who worked wonders with flora and fauna!

Thought "classic" her "thing"

But with Hoppys and bling,

Thinks outta the box when she wanna!"

Well, I brought back the Hoppy Bunny for my card today & paired her with the heart shaped cookie from Have a Cookie for a sweet Valentine's card!! The designer paper with hearts & paw prints is from DCWV Pet Stack. Are you convinced at the variety & value you get with her sets yet?? They are all so interchangeable and that is an aspect that appeals to me! Melanie you ROCK!

Melanie is giving away Gina K's Rectangle Greetings today on her blog & Theresa has a sample using her sets for you!

Melanie's Blogaversary Celebration: Day 6-Heart Wreath

I found my inspiration from this card from a Current Catalog (prior to card making I always loved to buy & send cards, and they were always the best buy-and they have cute gifts too) so when I thumbed through the current catalog, I found this adorable heart wreath (made of heart shaped cookies, of course - sorry I didn't get a pic of it) - naturally I thought of Melanie's Have a Cookie set [are you convinced you need this set yet with all its versatility & endless card creation possibilities?]  I was also spurred on to make this heart shaped card by Gina K - challenge 8 to make a card non-standard size.  I forgot to measure the finished size of my card, but I have to tell you it was sure FUN to create & decorate, just like sugar cookies!!

I did a lot of masking to get the heart shape just right & decided to cut in the center & place a piece of acetate to create a window to the sentiment - which is from Little Tees (I) & Just so Sporty (U) the heart is a sprinkle from Have a Cookie - thought it would be sweet to mimic the heart shape of the card there too.  The rose satin ribbon is from Taylored Expressions, so luxurious! 

The cookies were decorated with copic atyou spica pens for sparkle & liquid pearls for icing and the mini hearts are all cut out & put on with dimensionals.  It was difficult to photograph this card to be sure it was upright & capture all the sparkle - be sure to click on the photo so you can see the sparkle up close & personal- it's there *wink* 

Be sure to check out Melanie's blog - she is pulling out ALL the stops & giving away winner's choice box of copics - how generous is she??  

Here are the ladies all geared up to inspire you with their stamping talents - how much fun is this?  I'm so happy to have been a part of this great celebration!  

Barb, Charmaine, Emily, Jessica, and Theresa!

p.s. post done with 2 mins to spare - we had a blast at our friend's watching the Longhorns beat the Buckeyes with one last touchdown (like less than a minute remaining in the game-talk about exciting!) woohoo! 

MFT shares!!

I've had my Isabelle paper doll set for a while now and because of all the holiday stuff, I hadn't had a chance to play with her!  I made a simple but cute card using the OCC sketch for January, but flipped it on its side to accomodate her.  I used my Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper pad - this is also for the WUW challenge from 123108 called Puttin' on the Glitz to use 2 different bling items (square rhinestones on the main panel & copic atyou spica pens on her clothes, shoes (sorry you can't see that very well in my picture).  

Next up is my cute Cupcake Flopsey!  Isn't he the cutest?? I used the MFTSC62 sketch and My Mind's Eye Magnolia papers.  Glimmer ribbon (white) from Taylored Expressions.  

this one uses Target $1 spot paper from last Summer.  Better fix the dipping ribbon from the weight of the bling flower!  HA!  

gotta  jet!  going to John's co-worker's house for the Fiesta Bowl & have to stop by the store for some snacks & I just baked some cookies and I've only been home from work for one hour! phew!  catch ya later - have my last blogaversary share for Melanie to share!  

Melanie's Blogaversary Celebration: Day 5

Having fun celebrating with Melanie & seeing all the great creations the ladies are sharing on their blog hops? I know I am!! Today I have a few 3-d projects to share: the little Lemon Tart Sugar Cookie mini tote is a custom holder for a sugar cookie lip balm I made using Melanie's What's in Your Tin 1 & Have a Cookie sets and a little plastic pouch (which is a little pedicure set) that I stamped with What's in Your Tin 2 and butterfly from Little Tees

Here are pics of the lip balm {from Avon} & pedicure set {from $1 Target Spot last year).

Check out all these awesome stampers who have inspiring cards, projects & scrapbook pages to share with you today: Barb, Carolina , Erika, Jessica , Jessie, Joanne , Kim , Lee, Lori, Pam, Theresa

Make sure you stop at Melanie's blog to see what stamping goodness there is for you there! She is giving away her most recent Hand in Hand set!

Melanie's Blogaversary Celebration: Day 4

I really should have shared this other calendar project I made myself last night since Melanie shared the other one I donated to give away (Laurie in MN won, btw and as soon as Melanie sends me your address I will mail it) I really love having these planners - they only cost $1 and you can change out your cover to suit your tastes, seasons or stamps you are currently enamored with.  I used Melanie's set A Year of Flowers  to customize my planner to match my new Vera Bradley tote my sister & bil gave me for Christmas!  Above is the little brush bag that came with it.  I actually picked this out during my trip to CA in November so I knew I was getting it!  It is the Mod Floral Pink design.  

Here is a picture of the tote {so you can see how roomy it is}, brush bag & planner.  I loved the fact that I was able to use the flourish punch to recreate the swirls on the purse and the white leaves were perfectly matched!

Here is a card I made as a personalized note (it will be a Thank You card) that I used my JustRite Curlz & Times New Roman font & Harmony rectangle stamper.  See that pretty brad on the lower right corner?  It is fabric covered, embroidered with tiny pearls on it and it came from my friend Vanessa, I couldn't wait to use it on a card and thought this would be perfect for it!  

Be sure to check out Melanie's celebration of a year of blogging and stamp designing over at her blog “Hands, Head and Heart”. Prizes every day & today the Sponsor is Scor-Pal,  a Scor-Mat and three rolls Scor-Tape!!

Here is a list of designer's projects to check out today: Carolina , Barb, Jessica , Jessie,  Julie , Lee, Rose Ann

Melanie's Blogaversary Celebration: Day 3

Are you having fun visiting Melanie's blog for her week long blogaversary celebration & blog hopping to see all the samples using her sets?!  I made this card using Have a Cookie {oreo & chocolate chip cookie on chocolate chip layer and tee words & cookie) and Little Tees (tee was paper-pieced) which is also for Gina K's Challenge Day 7 (these challenges sure were fun-I did all but 2 I believe) to paper-piece which is something I love to do!  I used my Sultry dp & buttons by Basic Grey and the flower is prima.  The layout I used for my card is this week's SCS sketch challenge SC209.

Be sure to check out Melanie's post here to see her first bio (of me) and enter to win a handstamped 2-year calendar I made to giveaway!  

1. Today's prize is a huge assortment of colored cardstock from Paper Temptress
three packs for three random winners!  Check out Melanie's post for color comparisons & to enter the giveaway.  

2. Be sure to enter Gina K's Grand Prize Giveway a $200 and $9 shopping spree in her store! WOWZA - I wonder if I can enter??

3. The following awesome stampers are sharing creations on their blogs today using Melanie's sets: Carolina , Carolyn, Donna, Jessica, Jessie, Joanne, Lee, Michelle, Theresa

Exciting shares of SA/DoodleFactory-Valentine's Sets! Blog Candy

I got a sweet gift package from owner of Starving Artistamps, Tracey Berkey and it included some great prima flowers & flower soft (4 containers of Shamrock Green, Spring, Summer & Heather which is what I used on this card).  I had to try it out the night I got it by placing it on my silhouette flowers (Daisy FS-9).  It is much more stiff than I would have thought, but so pretty and it doesn't lose its shape even when you press on it.  She also included some Aleene's Flower Soft high tac pva glue which the flower soft sticks to super well! She said that she will be adding flower soft to the store soon.

Now for the exciting news!  SA is coming out with new Doodlefactory stamps for Valentine's Day!!  The above set is Hearts 'n Sweets. (set of 22 deeply etched red rubber unmunted for just $14.95)  Just be sure to get some ez-mount so you can use with your acrylic blocks.  If that option does not appeal to you & you love wood mounted stamps, for a little more $ you can buy that instead! I love the patterned hearts & variety of cupcakes & candies in 3 sizes!

Next up is Valentine Remix, (full sheet of deeply etched red bubber 16 images-unmounted for only $24.95)  The Valentine Remix will coordinate with the existing DF Valentine set too.   These are available for purchase now but will not ship until next week.  DH is in love with Stewie aka Maggie (our neighbor's dog who looks just like Stewie) I LOVE them all!  

and here are the sentiments to match the sets!  I love 'em & cant wait to start playing with them!  

If you want to try your hand at winning ALL sets - here is a link for BLOG CANDY!  Just be sure to spread the word & leave a link to it on the post.  Leave a comment before Tuesday Jan 6 & the winner will be announced around the 9th.  Please don't leave a comment here for the blog candy, I'm not giving it away.  **If you purchase these sets before the contest closes and you are selected, you can always pick something else of equal value**

Lastly, here are some more excited announcements from SA - we are welcoming Kathy Daume to the Design Team and Lori Tecler & Lydia Fiedler are becoming steady DT members after being guests.  All of their creations are so awesome, go check them out!  

Melanie's Blogaversary Celebration: Day 2

Here is a card I made using Melanie's most recent set Hand in Hand also made for Gina K's last day of challenges New Year's Inspiration: make a motivational or inspirational card that reminds you to look forward. The sentiment 'Happiness Is' is from Melanie's Tee Talk set. and one the inside of the card {forgot to take a picture} is 'I'm with you' from Just so Sporty. I used Offbeat dp by Basic Grey and chocolate twill ribbon by SU! I love stamping on kraft cardstock and here, it's not necessary to color the images - neat look, huh?

Make sure you are a part of helping Melanie Muenchinger celebrate a year of blogging and stamp designing over at her blog “Hands, Head and Heart”. Melanie and her guest designers will be sharing cards and projects from all her sets released through Gina K Designs this past year and prizes will be up for grabs every day! Sponsors include, Gina K Designs, My Favorite Things, Scor-pal, Paper Temptress, and Melanie herself, who is donating, among other goodies, a brand new box of Copic Ciaos! There will be also be challenges, contests, and a Who’s Who “Where are they Now?” on several of her past contest winners and guest designers! Come join in the fun and help spread the word, see you there!

My Favorite Things (Kim) is donating a Prize today!! Be sure to stop by Melanie's blog & leave a comment!!

The following ladies have samples using Melanie's sets today - go check 'em out!

Cat, Charmaine, Donna, Jessica, Lee, Michelle, Tammy, Theresa

TECC49: Be Mine Smooches

I am so excited to share yet ANOTHER sweet cuppie image from Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps {which are now available for purchase} Once again, more images from Love is Sweet!  I just adore this cuppie with the smooch on his face!  I used Basic Grey Offbeat dp for my card, which coordinated nicely with cool caribbean, rose red & basic black and kept my images simple with coloring to make them pop!  The brads & buttons are Offbeat accessories and ribbon is from Taylor's store, caribbean satin and glitter accents on all the images is starfire glitter from the Valentine key ingredients. 

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 TECC49.  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, January 5 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 my sweet friend Carolina Buchting at Carolina’s Creative Pad – Fueled by Coffee & Cupcakes! and here is the delicious creation that caught Taylor’s eyes last week!  

Last of my Sweet Sneak Peeks - GO SHOP!

Well the New Stamp a Sweet Impression sets are available NOW at Taylored Expressions!  But before you go shop, look what I made to share with you!!  I love altering things & making treat packages (can you tell?) and recycling is at the forefront of my mind most days.  So here I took a fudge covered oreo package I got at Christmas and re-purposed it to house some homemade peanut butter balls I made - can you say delicious?  Do you like Reese's Peanut Butter Balls? Well this is it!   I used the cuppies in love image for February from a Year of Sweets 1; the lovey dovey cuppies with cuppie cupid feelin' pretty proud since he shot them with a love arrow & it worked!  I kept the packaging simple, just covering the gold lettering on the box lid & top with my main image & ribbon from the Valentine Key Ingredients.  I also paper-pieced the cuppies cupcake liners. Love that look.

Here is a view of the front, the ribbon treatment is topped with a basic grey white button & red heart brad from the key ingredients right through the holes.  Now you can see the yummy chocolates better.  Hmmmmm.....
 Here is a picture of what the pckaging looked like before.  Don't ya just love the after better?? Does this make you want to look at recycling a little more?  I'd love to see what this post inspired YOU to make!  

Taylor has such fun stuff to choose from in the store, including a Valentine Bundle & Calendar Bundle to make your shopping easier!  

Be sure to check out the other Baker's Dozen Sweet Creations! 

Taylor Van Bruggen

Ana Wohlfahrt

Carol Halvorson

Charmaine Ikach

Denise Marzec

Jami Sibley

Jen del Muro

Laurie Schmidlin

Monika Davis

Sharon Harnist

Stephanie Hargis

Terri Dodd

More Sneek Peek Sweetness with SASI

Today I have a sweet treat & mini card to share with you using the new Stamp a Sweet Impression set 'Love is Sweet' I am just in love with this set!!  How cute are these smooching cuppies?  I thought it would be real fun to ink up my sentiment with coordinating colors of the Valentine Key Ingredients which are by Prism: Classic Red, Suede Brown Medium, Vibrant Teal, Intense Teal and Blush Red Light and I am ALL OVER the double-sided patterned paper to coordinate by My Mind's Eye Just Dreamy2 (they happen to coordinate with SU! Cameo Coral, Taken with Teal, Real Red and Chocolate Chip so those are the markers I used).  I made a mini card 2 x 3 because that is a FUN Valentine size card!  I used a mini envelope template to make a patterned paper envelope for it and punched out a sentiment, ran it through my mini xyron sticker maker and now I have a closure for the envelope.  

Here is the treat slid up, peek a boo.  More on that below.  

Here is a view of the mini card, I made it to match the treat slider exactly to make it easy (great for mass producing).  I colored my cuppies with prismacolor pencils and added some starfire glitter which also comes in the valentine key ingredients (also included are 5 yards of coordinating ribbon & heart brads in pink, red & white!).  Lastly, I punched a greeting for the cello bag closure.  

Here is the stamping on the front of the cello bag, stamped with white stazon, of course with the dark cs behind it, you can see it better.  By the way, did you notice the Hugs Kisses I put in the cello bag (yes, I planned that). 

If you have not purchased Stamp A Sweet Impression stamps (yet) I'm sure after you see all these new sets, you may take the plunge!  I love the deeply etched pink rubber of the stamps, cling mounted & already trimmed close ready to start using as soon as they arrive in your mailbox!  What I also love is the fact that the sets come on a laminated binder sheet, hole punched complete with the image printed on the front so you see what is in the set!  Taylor also has binders for sale to house 4 sets of stamps in, with a cover & spine print for easy reference in your stamp area!  I did not have time to take pics but if you'd like to check out exactly what I'm talking about, check out Taylor's post here.

Be sure to check out all the Baker's Dozen DT members to see what they baked up for your
sweet tooth today & be sure to come back tomorrow for another sneak peek! The sets will be released on TONIGHT at 11:00 p.m. CST at the store!   I'll also be back this evening with the last of my sneak peeks at that time!  

Taylor Van Bruggen
Ana Wohlfahrt
Carol Halvorson
Charmaine Ikach
Denise Marzec
Jami Sibley
Jen del Muro
Laurie Schmidlin
Monika Davis
Sharon Harnist
Stephanie Hargis
Terri Dodd

Melanie's Blogaversary Celebration: Day 1

Well the big day is here! A year ago Melanie finally gave in to my many encouraging persuading remarks to start her blog (HA!) and now the big week-long celebration is here-I hope you will be a part of it!

Melanie is such a sweetheart and definitely a true artist; as evidenced if you have spent any time at all reading her blog or bought any of her stamps (14 sets so far) she illustrates for Gina K Designs. Long before stamp designing was on her mind, she wowed SCSer's as one of the first Dirty Dozen gals, and was also an SU! demonstrator (and that is the reason we met in the first place!) I will never forget the day I saw her in her pregnant glory; she may say otherwise since she was pretty far along but I have to tell you she really is a true beauty, inside & out and when I introduced myself to her I felt like a dork when I recognized her as Melmel on SCS and was so excited about it (she probably thought I was a dork because of my excitement!) Anyhow, I still have the beautiful card I made of hers at the shoebox swap and am proud to say I have many more Melanie Originals in my stash (smile). Shortly after meeting her, I didn't see her for a long time (she had William, her 3 1/2 yr old and we lost touch but occasionally would email - well just a few times. But somehow last year we really got back in touch and it's been great that our friendship truly has grown and I am so grateful for her (in fact I miss her when we don't talk or see one another a few times a week!)

I was so excited for Melanie when she was finally able to share the news she would be designing her own stamps & I was so excited for her! I just KNEW I would become her biggest fan so naturally I want to help her promote her BIG Blogaversary Blowout and plan to post a card/project every day for the full week of celebrations!

Now onto my first card - made using her very first set Just So Hippy (monkey and hippy greeting) and Hip Hop Accessories (rattle, pacifier and baby greeting) I also made it for Gina K's daily challenge Sew-Long 2008 so funny so I did some faux stitching on my card {secretly hoping I win the Janome Sew Mini she is giving away as blog candy!} I also paper-pieced little shorts pj outfit from SU! prints pack in Pretty in Pink.

Make sure you are a part of helping Melanie Muenchinger celebrate a year of blogging and stamp designing over at her blog “Hands, Head and Heart”. Melanie and her guest designers will be sharing cards and projects from all her sets released through Gina K Designs this past year and prizes will be up for grabs every day! Sponsors include, Gina K Designs, My Favorite Things, Scor-pal, Paper Temptress, and Melanie herself, who is donating, among other goodies, a brand new box of Copic Ciaos! There will be also be challenges, contests, and a Who’s Who “Where are the Now?” on several of her past contest winners and guest designers! Come join in the fun and help spread the word, see you there!

Edited to Add: Be sure to check out samples using Melanie's sets by Cindy Lawrence and Jessie Rone today!