Finally!!!

Hi blogland!  =)  I really wanted to post my cards last night, but the internet just wasn't cooperating with me!  I had lots of crafty time yesterday, which was really good since my stress level was literally THROUGH THE ROOF!  But I'm trying to stay positive and hope for everything to work out... =) 

I did get some good news yesterday, my Father-in-Law and his long time girlfriend (we've all called her "stepmom" for years) decided that they are getting MARRIED this spring!  The hubs and I are so excited!  We absolutely love them and wish them the best!  I made them this card to celebrate:

I really love how this card turned out!  =)  This was was SUPER inspired by a bunch of challenges:
1. Off the Wall Craftiness 39
2. Repeat Impressions What If? Wednesday Sketch #D2910
3. Simon Says Stamp - New Beginnings
4. Tuesday Throwdown 30 - Embossing Technique
5. City Crafter Challenge Blog 38 - Winter White

     

I also made a card that was EtsyInspired this week!  Their store inspiration for challenge 120 was Muffa, this great store with adorable little crocheted mini characters!  Here's my card and the inspiration that I chose:

I just can't get enough of that Stampendous Birthday Bee!  I also wanted to make it look like he was high in the sky, so I used some masking and distress ink to make the Happy Birthday sentiment look like it was inside of the sun!  =)  Can you tell I'm already getting tired of winter?  Haha.  Here's the inspiration photo, I just loved the colors and the little whimsical gnomes:

Well, thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a crafty weekend everyone!  I'll be celebrating Orthodox Christmas with family and friends, so I'll be back Sunday for the DeNami Design January Blog Hop! =) 



Congratulations Card:
Paper:
* Neenah and Bazzil Cardstock
Stamps and Ink:
* Wedding Stamp Set -
* Memento Tuxedo Black
* Versamark Ink
* Whispers Silver Embossing Powder
Embellishments:
* Silver Satin Ribbon
* Recollections Sticker Letters and Symbols
* Rhinestones

Happy Birthday Card:
Paper:
* Neenah Cardstock
Stamps and Ink:
* Stampendous - Happy Bee Day to You Set 
* Paper Source - Sentiment Stamp
* Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
* Color Box Green Pigment Ink
* Ranger Distress Ink - Barn Door
* Ranger Distress Ink - Mustard Seed
Embellishments:
* Blue Rick Rack Ribbon
* Scalloped Circles
* Copic Markers
* Ranger Stickles - Crystal
* Chipboard Letter and Number

Inchies Galore!!!!

Happy Monday readers!  I hope that you all enjoyed the DeNami Blog Hop over the weekend!  =)  If you are still looking for that post, click HERE.

So recently I won an EtsyInspired Challenge!  As the winner, I won an Inchies Prize pack from Lisa over at Inchie Arts.  Let me just tell you, if you've never used inchies, you should definitely get some!  They are so much more than just crafting squares!  Here's all the goodies I got (it was a GREAT prize pack!)

Here you can see a box of inchies, inchies +, and TWO boxes of twinchies (one white and one with colors!).  These squares are super high quality, and they are AMAZING for stamping!  You'll see in my projects that they stamp super nicely.  You can also distress them, ink around the sides, color the entire front and sides (the color comes out amazingly even!), and they are amazing for layering.  Thanks again to the people over at inchie arts!  I'm an inchie user for life now! 

So without further ado, I have four (yes FOUR) cards for you today for several challenges, and all using INCHIES!!!  Here's the first card:

This is a smaller thank you card that I made using a twinchie and an inchie +.  The twinchie is colored with an olive marker, and the inchie + is stamped and distressed.  The flower stamp is from Studio G, and everything else is out of my stash.  I used a piece of celery cardstock to mat in between the two!  This card was inspired by:
1. Repeat Impressions What If? Wednesday Sketch:
2. Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 60:

Lately, I've been wanting to make cards with more interesting shapes!  Here's a long, skinny birthday card:

 Here's a great example of how inchies can be used to work with square stamped images.  I've had these inchie stamps from Inkadinkado (Flower Garden) for awhile, but I haven't been able to use them all that much.  Now, I can't wait to go and buy more!  Inkadinkado has a TON of inchie stamps, and with these inchies the possibilities are endless!  I also finally got to open my Ranger Distress "Chipped Sapphire" ink for this card!  The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn (Sophie's Sentiments).  This card was inspired by the Caardvarks Monochromatic Card challenge, their final challenge!

Next, I've been looking forward to getting a chance to CASE my favorite designer for the Wee Memories Challenge 35!  I have two that I want to case, but I started with Ayana Posadas!  She is one of my favorite designers out there!  I love her clean, beautiful, colorful, whimsical design style!  The card that I cased can be found HERE and was for the DeNami Punches challenge (did you enter that yet?  You should!).  Here's my take on her card:

Here I just used four inchies and stamped them with some purple ink from Studio G.  The owls are from DeNami, and the sentiment is Lawn Fawn.  Cardstock is from Recollections, and everything else is from my stash!  I'm also entering this card in the Play Date Cafe Color Challenge #59!

My last card was one more birthday card that's just CAS and fun:

Isn't this just cute? I just love this little set from Stampendous!  Here I used a twinchie to stamp the bee and sentiment, colored him in, and added some stickles to his wings!  Stamping and coloring on the inchies is just so easy!  I stamped the balloons from the same set using a little masking, and finished it off with some twine from The Twinery!  I'm entering this in Tuesday Throwdown's Challenge 28: Clean and Simple.

Whew!  Well I hope you enjoyed all of these cards, and I hope you'll head on over to Inchie Arts and pick up some inchies!  They are too awesome to pass up!

Once again, thanks for reading and commenting!  Please be sure to follow my blog if you like my cards!  I'm going to do my first blog candy giveaway sometime in early 2011 for my followers!  =) 
 

More Daytime Craftiness!

Hello again readers!  So we once AGAIN had a snow day today, so I'm tucked in comfortably working on stuff for the next week of challenges!  Today I have two cards to show you!  I've also been working on some fun stuff for the DeNami Gift Tag Blog Hop for next week! And hopefully, I'll get some more stuff done for tonight!  Anyway, here's the first card I have for today:

  I just can't get enough of these penguins!  This card is a CASE study challenge from Repeat Impressions!  I was using CASE #N24 originally created by Dana Joy, here's her card:

 

And now, onto the next card I have to share with you today!  

  I love the CAS design of this card!  This one didn't take very much time, but I think that it is very elegant!  I always love any chance I get to use some pretty gingham ribbon!  This card was inspired by several challenges:
1. The Play Date Cafe 58 - Red and White
2. Jay Gee's Nook Challenge 2 - Inspired by the Photo Below

 

3. Tuesday Throwdown 28 - Clean and Simple
4. City Crafter Challenge 34  - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
5. Etsy - Inspired Challenge 117 - Paper Seeds Shop: I was inspired by this picture:

Well, that's all I have for you today!  =D I hope you enjoyed my cards, happy crafting, and stay warm! 

 
Merry Christmas Penguins: 
Paper:   
*Neenah and Recollections Cardstock
* Basic Grey Patterned Paper

Stamps and Ink:

* Repeat Impressions - Christmas Penguins

* Memento - Tuxedo Black

* Ranger Distress Ink - Barn Door

Embellishments:

* Gold Pearls


Red and White Joy Card: 
Paper:   
*Neenah Cardstock

Stamps and Ink:

*Lawn Fawn - Frosties

* Inkadinkado - Warm Christmas Wishes

* Ranger Distress Ink - Barn Door

Embellishments:

* Red Button
* Red and White Baker's Twine from AR Creations

Penguin Ornament CASE Study and Play Date Time!

Good evening bloggers!  Tonight I'm participating in my first CASE study challenge from Repeat Impressions!  I really enjoyed casing the work of such an amazing card crafter like Darsie Bruno!  Here's her card:

This card is just SO soft and beautiful!  I used different colors but tried to recreate the sketch, soft bow and several textural likenesses.  Here's what I came up with:

I really loved how this card turned out!  My style is generally to use brighter colors and solid papers, so I think this turned out quite well considering!  I made the rosette behind the penguin using a tutorial from Kelly Marie over at Lawn Fawn (you can check out that video HERE.)  I wanted to make it look like the penguin was looking through a glittery clear ornament, so I added some crystal stickles and then glossy accents over that.  Finally, I wanted a big and soft ribbon, so I used a strip of red felt to tie a really big, soft bow that would best match the sketch.  I've never used a felt bow before, but after how nicely this one turned out I'll definitely use them again!  Here are some close up shots of the ornament, rosette, and bow:

              

Since I wanted to use brighter but wintery colors, I took inspiration from this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge #56: 

Overall, I'm super happy with how this one turned out!  Every once in awhile, you make a card that you have a really great idea for, and it actually lives up to that idea!  It's fun when that happens.  =)

Well, I'm off to start preparing for the upcoming craziness at the end of the week!  Thanks once again for all of your sweet comments and ideas!  You are all a constant source of inspiration!  =)

 
Paper:

*Bazzil Cardstock and old paper from my stash

Stamps and Ink:

*Repeat Impressions - Christmas Penguins Set
* Memento - Tuxedo Black

Embellishments:

* Red Felt Ribbon
* Glossy Accents
* Aqua and White Baker's Twine
* Crystal Stickles

Cute Snow Critters!

Good Evening Bloggers!

So with Thanksgiving coming up, I've been getting into the Christmas crafting spirit more and more!  Today I am sharing two cards that I made with SUPER cute snow critters!  The first is my favorite Lawn Fawn polar bear:

Isn't he just SO cute?  I really like the way this card turned out!  I added some funky patterned paper from Basic Grey in order to get a little bit of a whimsical look!  I also added glossy accents to the igloo!

This challenge was inspired by my love for this polar bear, and that whimsical paper!  Therefore, it is perfect for the Wee Memories Challenge #31:

The next card I made is just a CAS winter postcard that could be used as a Christmas card or just as a thinking of you little message.  It's not for any challenge, but I just was feeling crafty!  =)

This card features both Lawn Fawn's Sophie's Sentiments, and this little winter bird that I bought from Michael's dollar spot.  Isn't he adorable too?  I just see a little Cardinal or Bluebird when I look at him!  I love his hat and scarf! 

Well, that is all I have for today!  I hope you enjoyed my creations!  Happy crafting to all!!!


 

"Coolest Christmas" Card: 

Paper:

* Recollections Cardstock

*Basic Grey Patterned Paper (Jovial)

Stamps and Ink:

* Lawn Fawn - Hats off to You, Frosties, and Critters in the Snow

* Repeat Impressions - sentiment
* Memento - Tuxedo Black

* Ranger Distress Ink - Barn Door 

* Ranger Distress Ink - Broken China

Embellishments:

* Glossy Accents

"Hi There" Card: 

Paper:

* Paper Source Flat Card

Stamps and Ink:

* Lawn Fawn - Sophie's Sentiments

* Winter Bird from Michael's Dollar Spot
* Memento - Tuxedo Black

Embellishments:

* Assorted Pearls
* Red Gingham Ribbon

The Play Date Cafe 52/Repeat Impressions Sketch O2010

Happy Monday everyone!  So once again, it's a challenge card day!  Today I have a card that I tried out a new technique on that I learned from watching a recent video from Kelly Marie over at Lawn Fawn.  It was really fun to make this folded flower on this card!  Here's the final result:

   

I really like the way that this card turned out!  The flower took a lot of work, and then gluing it down was a long process, but it was totally worth it!!!  This card fits the following challenges:  

1.  The Play Date Cafe Challenge #52

2.  Repeat Inpressions Sketch O2010

 

 

Paper:

* Neenah Cardstock

* Patterned Paper - DCWV

Stamps and Ink:

* Inkadinkado - Garden Greetings

* Memento - Tuxedo Black
* Studio G - Berry Pink

Embellishments:

* Scalloped Cardstock - AR Creations

* Orange Satin Ribbon



Thinking of You Challenge Card!

Hello!  So I teamed up on some challenges tonight, and completed 4 challenges with ONE card!  It took me awhile to complete, so here it is:

 

I had a ton of fun with the colors in this card!  Curtain call had some great inspiration colors this week!  I also used some light blue grosgrain ribbon, which I was really excited to get to use!  I used Tim Holtz's Antique Linen to stamp the butterflies on the white, and then I used versamark and clear embossing powder to make the background on the yellow card.  I also paper pieced the flower and butterfly on the sentiment.  Here are a few more pictures: 

    

    

This card was inspired by the following 4 challenges:

1.  Curtain Call ACT #51:

2. Repeat Impressions' What If? Wednesday Sketch Challenge 0610:

3.  DeNami Design Product Challenge #4 - Ribbon

 

4.  City Crafter Challenge Week 26 - create something with WINGS

Thanks for stopping by today!  See you soon with more creations! =)  

 
Paper:

* Bazzil, and Recollections Cardstock
Stamps and Ink:  

* Butterfly - Whispers

* Flower Flourish - Can't Remember!

* Sentiments - Fiskars (Garden Greetings)

* Memento - Tuxedo Black

* Distress Ink - Antique Linen

* Versamark Ink

* Whispers Clear Embossing Powder
Embellishments:

*Blue Grosgrain Ribbon