An Announcement

Yes I have an announcement to make, one that isn't easy but something I wanted to share with the people who visit my blog. For personal reasons I am stepping down from my design team position for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a design team member for Susana and became friends with all of the wonderful talented women on the team I feel that it's the right decision for me to step down. I will always support Susana, her on line store and the women on the team and I wish all of them the very best!

Itty Bitty Birds

The other day I wanted to make some cards using these IB Karen Lockhart Birds which I got for free at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design. That's right, Susana still has the offer going on that if you purchase 4 regular size Karen Lockhart stamps you'll receive a IB stamp for free! Don't wait or you might miss out on this fantastic offer!

Since I wanted to make several of these thinking of you bird cards I made them small 3x3 and had so much fun creating them! First I stamped and colored the IB Birds with my Copics and added some Spica Glitter pen to them (see close up shot). Then I cut & embossed the bird images using my square inch Nestabilities die, matted them, added pop dots and added them to the card fronts I had ready.

Supplies: IB Birds - Karen Lockhart, Trendy Trees saying - SU, BoBunny designer paper, Ribbon, Gems, Nesties, Pop dots, Spica glitter pen, Copics: B000, B02, YG07, YG09, YR31, YR23, T0. Colors: Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Whisper White.

Bellaholics Anything Goes Challenge - Think Spring

TGIF everyone, this week was a long one especially yesterday and I'm glad to see it coming to an end! The card for today is for the Bellaholics monthly Anything Goes Challenge and as one of the Challenge Queens it my privilege to come up with a new challenge each month. So my challenge for this week is to: Create a Circular Spring looking card using any of the stamps from Stamping Bella. For all of us Sistah's living in states that have a winter and are sick of seeing the white stuff and ready for spring, create a circular card with Spring in mind. This could mean that you use a spring looking image such as flowers or butterflies or that you use spring colors or embellishments that give the look of spring. You don't have to be a member of the Bellaholics Yahoo group in order to participate in this challenge so why not give it a go! Please leave a comment to this post with a link to your card as I would love to see your creation.
Thanks

Supplies: Goodluckabella, Nesties, Copics, Ribbon, Flowers, Gems, Pop dots, Spica Glitter pen. Colors: Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Whisper White.

Don't forget to stop on over at the Follow Your Heart blog today for a wonderful tutorial on creating criss cross cards by our Susana's Custom Art & Card Design team member Anki!

SC217 - Sunflower Get Well

Today's card is for the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge and out of all the different challenges out there I really do enjoy participating every Wednesday in this one. I used two of my favorite things, one the new SU stamp set Cheep Talk and two the sunflower from the set. I love sunflowers because I think they're so bright and cheerful so what better flower to use on a get well card! Everything on this card is SU other than the brown brads in the center of the sunflowers.

Supplies: Cheep Talk, Really Retro, Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Polka Dot embossing, Square punch, Scallop edge punch, Ribbon, Brads. Colors: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, WW.

Have a great day!

Try It Out Tuesday Challenge - 3 for 1

It's Tuesday and you know what that means, its time for another Try It Out Tuesday Challenge over at the Follow Your Heart blog! This week the challenge was to create a card or project using 3 or more embellishments from Susana's store plus extra credit if you use a charm! Well there are so many wonderful types of embellishments that Susana carries at her store it was hard to choose which ones to use. I used Pink Poinsettia Shimmerz on the pink flowers that this cute little Julia with Flowers image is holding, Pearls in the corners and beneath the saying and a Heart Charm under the tied ribbon.

Supplies: Julia with Flowers - Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD, All Holidays - SU, Provo Craft Sweet Glitter designer paper, Ribbon, Pearls, Shimmerz, Ticket corner punch, Copics, Heart charm, Pop dots.

Did you know that Susana's Custom Art & Card Design is now selling Copic marker Bundles? Click here to view these hand selected colors that blend beautifully and to see fantastic tutorials on how to use them!

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome two new extremely talented guest designers to the Susana's Custom Art & Card Design team! Please join all of us in welcoming Aud Nordheim and Lynn Mercurio!

Sketch for You To Try - Kind Thanks

The card for today is a thank you card that I created using Jen's Sketch for You to Try, the colors I used are pastels which I don't normally use when making cards but I guess its a nice change. I used the Sale-A-Bration stamp set Polka Dot Punches, matching Delicate Dots designer paper and Certainly Celery twill ribbon. The butterfly is from the stamp set Flight of the Butterfly and was added after the whole card was together because my DD said it looked plain and needed something. I'm not sure the butterfly was what it needed but it did give some dimension. Everything on the card is SU other than the oval that was cut out using my Nestabilities die.

Supplies: Polka Dot Punches, Flight of the Butterfly, Thank You Kindly, Delicate Dots DSP, Twill ribbon, Nesties, Heart punch, Top Note die, Pop dots. Colors: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Whisper White.

Hello There!

For today's card I used some of my fun new Stampin' Up stuff that I haven't played with yet, I absolutely love this whole Retro Fresh Collection that SU has out right now, its bright, its fun and cheerful! Usually when I order new product from a new SU catty I save the designer papers for when I have my monthly stamp camp but since I ended up having to cancel this months camp I thought what the hay (looks like I'll have to order more of this cool paper)!

Supplies: Cheep Talk, Really Retro, Good Morning Sunshine designer paper, Circle punches, Scallop edge punch, Word Window punch, Piercer w/mat, Ribbon, Rhinestone brad, Pop dots. Colors: Pacific Point, Summer Sun, Old Olive, WW.

Friend

Isac with Skateboard

Happy Thursday everyone! can you believe the week is almost over? For today's card I used Isac with Skateboard, one of Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design to create a boys birthday card. Masculine cards in general are usually hard for me to create so when I saw this cute little boy image of Isac I knew I had to try and make a birthday card with him.

Supplies: Isac with Skateboard - Anki's Sweetheart for SCACD, Think Happy Thoughts - SU, Deja Views Big Polka Dots designer paper, Copics, Circle punches, Button, Ribbon, Piercer w/mat, Pop dots.

Don't forget to stop over at the Follow Your Heart blog today to see a fantastic tutorial on Spotlighting by our Susana's Custom Art & Card Design team member Danni!

SC216 - Birthday Cupcakes

Its a dreary rainy day here today with more snow coming in starting tonight, personally I'm sick of winter and am so ready for spring. My card for today is for the sketch challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers, when I first looked at the sketch I wasn't so sure about whether or not I like it but after using the sketch for my card I think it definitely gives a new layout and look. I guess that's what the challenges are suppose to do for you, have you try something you normally would try. The two half circles in the back ground were cut out with the largest Nestabilities circles from the large and small circle die sets and then cut in half (does that make sense?).

I colored the cupcakes with my Copics then added Dazzling Diamonds to the frosting and Crystal Effects to the cherries.

Supplies: Crazy for Cupcakes, Think Happy Thoughts, Love You Much designer paper, Ribbon, Nesties, Copics, Circle punches, Scallop Edge punch, Piercer w/mat, Dazzling Diamonds, Crystal Effects, Pop dots. Colors: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White.

Some Bunny RAK

Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #6

This week's Try It Out Tuesday Challenge was to use any of the new Anki's Sweethearts stamps and to create anything BUT a card! So I used Young Julia with Purse and created a small gift bag, the bag measures 5"x 4 1/2"x 2" which I thought would be a good size to put a small gift or some goodies inside for someone special.

Supplies: Julia with Purse - Anki's Sweethearts, Polka Dot BG, Copics, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Heart brads, Rhinestone brad, Flowers, Piercing w/mat. Colors: Real Red, Brocade Blue, Whisper White.

Thanks for stopping by!

An Exciting New Stamp Release!

Happy Friday the 13th!!! Today I have a very special card to share with all of you because this card was created using a stamp from a new illustrator that happens to be on the Susana's Custom Art & Card Design team! Our very own Anki is our surprise illustrator of a whole line of adorable stamps that are exclusive to Susana and her store. You can see Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design at Susana's store where you will see this cute stamp Young Julia with Purse and so many more! (stamps avalable for purchase at 8am PST)

Don't forget to stop over at the Follow Your Heart blog to see the rest of the design teams creations using these sweet stamps!

Supplies: Young Julia with Purse - Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design, Riveting - SU, BoBunny designer paper, Circle punches, Scallop edge punch, Ribbon, Copics, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Gems, Piercer w/mat, Flower, Basic Grey brad, Pop dots. Colors: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Green card stock, Whisper White.

Trendy Trees

The card for today was made using the new Stampin' Up set Trendy Trees, my SU order was delivered this last Monday and I've been dying to play with all the fun new product. I waited to place my order for the new catalog until after the first of February because that's when Sale-A-bration started. For those of you who don't know what Sale-A-bration is, its a once a year sale that Stampin' Up has which offers a free Sale-A-bration stamp set/product for every $50.00 (before shipping & tax) you spend. For more information please click on the Sale-A-bration brochure in my side bar.

Supplies: Trendy Trees, Sanded BG, Ribbon, Brads, Piercer w/mat, Square punches. Colors: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Kraft and Whisper White.

For a great tutorial on how to create decorative corners pop on over to the Follow Your Heart blog, Suzanne our team leader for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design will show you how fun and easy it is to create and use decorative corners on a card or project!

SC215 - Chelly with Lucky Clover

About a month ago my blogging friend Katie Cotton announced the news that she was going to be following a dream of hers and starting her own line of stamps and asked if I would create a few cards using one of her new stamps. So today I'm honored to show off one of Katie's sweet new stamps Chelly with Lucky Clover that she sells on her Paper Makeup Stamps site. Katie is a talented stamper and blogger and I wish her all the best in her new adventure!

For my card today I used the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge #215.

Supplies: Chelly with Lucky Clover - Paper Makeup Stamps, Sincere Salutations - SU, Copics, Nesties, Ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Flowers, Buttons, Gems, Dazzling Diamonds, Pop dots. Colors: Garden Green, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Orange card stock.

Try It Out Tuesday Challenge - Heart Wreath

Today is Tuesday which means its time for another fun Try It Out Tuesday Challenge over at the Follow Your Heart blog for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design! For today's challenge all of the design team members were asked to create a card using a sketch that our design team leader Suzanne had created. Suzanne's sketch is wonderful, I used my Karen Lockhart Heart Wreath to create a Valentine, the roses on the wreath were colored with Copic markers and then I added Spica Glitter pen to each of them to make the wreath sparkle.

Supplies: Heart Wreath - Karen Lockhart, Me & My Big Ideas designer paper, Ribbon, Copics, Nesties, Spica Glitter pen, Scallop edge punch - SU, Pearls, Pop dots.

Be sure to stop by Susana's store so you can see all of the fun new products she just got in, everything from Spellbinders Nestabilities, Bella Baubles, New Rhinestones, Adorable Eat Cake Graphics stamps and the Sassy new line of SMIRKS stamps!

Be on the look out for the New illustrator that Susana will be introducing this Friday and come on over to the Paper Craft Planet (Susana's Custom Art & Card Design group) site and play along all this week as we have fun guessing what one of the new stamps from the new line will be.

Have a great day!

SFYTT - Celebrate

Hello everyone, I haven't been posting all that much lately because of a health issue I've been having which I thought that after last week was getting better but as of yesterday it hasn't. So I'll be heading back to the doctors this week and will hopefully be feeling better soon.

Any woo I've been itching to participate in one of Jen DelMuro's Sketch for You to Try Challenges over the last few weeks so this morning I created a birthday card using a retired SU stamp set and Jen's sketch.

Supplies: Send a Celebration, Retired SU designer paper, Copics, Nesties, Ribbon, Large & small star punches, Small circle punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Brads, Pop dots. Colors: Real Red, More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jane with Pearls & Gold

Today's post is a card that I created using a Rubber Romance Jane stamp from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design. I colored this image of Jane with my Copics and cut and embossed using my Nestabilities circle die, then after the whole card was put together I added Gold Spica glitter pen in some of the strands in her hair, small pearls for her bracelet and corners of the card and Scattered Straw Designer Stickles to her necklace and ear ring.

Just so you don't miss out on the fun:

There are some exciting events happening over at the Paper Craft Planet - Susana's Custom Art & Card Design group! Susana has a secret new illustrator with a fabulous new line of stamps that will be sold at her store. The illustrator will be revealed in a fun way with a puzzle piece guessing game for a chance to win a $25.00 gift card to Susana's store & a hand colored image starting this Saturday!

TECC53 - Stella

For today's card I used this last Friday's Taylored Expressions Cupcake Sketch and a stamped image of this fun Stella from my friend Dawn. It seems that I've been making a bunch of Valentine cards this year for some reason, maybe its because of all the snow we've been having or because we were all sick a few weeks ago and all the red & pink colors are cheerful.

After stamping this Stella image I cut and embossed her with my Nestabilities die and added a scallop mat, then pop dotted the whole image, then added the Bittersweet Basic Grey designer paper and brads. The saying is from the computer and cut out with my SU circle punches with a small heart and gem tacked on. The last thing I did was to add some glitter to Stella's wand and crown and Crystal Effects to all of the heart bubbles.

Have a great day!

Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #4 - Valentine Tea

For today's Try It Out Tuesday Challenge over at the Follow Your Heart Blog was to create a Valentine card using stamps from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design that weren't for Valentine's day. So I decided to use this Karen Lockhart Teapot stamp and to make it into a Valentine, and using the saying inside the card helped to tie the image and theme together.

The saying on the inside says:

On February 14th at half past three,

brew yourself a cup of tea.

I'll think of you,

You think of me

What good friends we'll always be!

After stamping this KL image and coloring it with my Copics I used a Pink Spica glitter pen on the cupcakes and a Clear Spica on the steam coming out of the teapot. The designer paper is Bittersweet Basic Grey paper that I received from Tammi and I love it! I also added some Baubles, pink taffeta ribbon and the SU Happy Valentines saying along with a pocket inside the card to hold the tea bag to finish off the card.

If you haven't stopped over at the Paper Craft Planet site and visited Susana's Custom Art & Card Design group your missing out on all the fun! Right now we have some awesome Blog Candy up for grabs, so don't miss out on a chance to win!

PS I've been not feeling well over the past few days so that's the reason for not posting.