HAPPY RETIREMENT BAR!!!

Howdy folks!  Today we're celebrating Barbara Ander's retirement!  Tammy Hershberger has put together a blog hop in honor of Bar's retirement and I was more than happy to join in along with some talented bloggers and cardmakers to wish Bar well.  Bar is a fellow design team mate and friend on the Color Throwdown team and is extremely talented, her work is absolutely beautiful.  Honestly I don't know how she does it all with family, work and design team requirements but she manages to do it.  My wish for Bar, now that today is her last day of working outside the home is that she's able to slow down and have more time for the things she enjoys doing.

HAPPY RETIREMENT DAY BAR!!!

Supplies: Happy Day + die, Flower Fusion #9 +die, Mega Mixed Messages, Doily dies - PTI, Scallop border die - TE, MME designer paper, Lace trim, Buttons, Staples, Twine.

Be sure to stop by the women listed below who are helping to celebrate Bar's Retirement Day Blog Hop:

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Joan Ervin - Stamping with a Passion

Jody Morrow - Confessions of a Ribbon Addict

Cindy Haffner - Cindy Haffners Corner

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Christine Okken - Christine Creations

Thank you for your visit and have a great day!

TSG Day 2 - Little Moments Blog Hop

Hi there, welcome to day 2 of the There She Goes Sneak Peek Blog Hop Challenge!  Today the Trendsetters on the TSG design team have created cards or projects using the new stamp set Little Moments.

For my card I used the image of the three little girls from the Little Moments stamp set and colored them using Copic markers.  After coloring I die cut the image out using square Nesties and added a scallop mat and a row of scallop border along with a banner for my sentiment, some ribbon and buttons with twine.  The designer paper is by October Afternoon and my cardstock colors are cherry cobbler and crumb cake.

Warm fuzzy moments and life’s little memories are genuinely captured by Torcio in this new Little Moments set. Gazing through the window watching the snow fall, special moments with brothers and sisters or wonderful thoughts of that one special grandmother that make your heart warm are all here. There’s no better way to send a loving card or create a scrapbook page to capture these glorious moments than to use this fabulous new stamp set.

Little Moments is a 6x8 set that includes a total of 12 stamps $24.

Would you like to win the new Little Moments stamp set? Here is what you need to do-visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday December 31st with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

TSG Day 1 - Lovebots Blog Hop Challenge

Hello and welcome to Day 1 of the There She Goes Sneak Peek Blog Hop Challenge!  Today the Trendsetters on the TSG design team will be sharing their project using the adorable new stamp set Lovebots.
For my card I used the large robot image from the Lovebots stamp set, colored him with Copic markers, die cut him out using a rectangle Nesties and added some Spica glitter pen to all of the hearts.  I used a heart embossing folder on my red cardstock panel and some doodlebug designer paper with an edge of scallop border.  I added my sentiment as a banner and a heart button with some red twine.

If you loved Friendbots, you’re going to love Lovebots. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Torico has created an adorable set that will have your heart bursting with joy. This adorable mini set will have your creating cards and gift tags that carry your message of love and friendship to all your special Valentines.

Lovebots is a 4x4 set that includes a total of 7 stamps $10.

Would you like to win the new Lovebots stamp set? Here is what you need to do-visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday December 31st with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

Thanks for stopping by today, be sure to visit tomorrow to see our next TSG sneak peek!

TSG135 Christmas Tags

Hello there and Merry Christmas Eve!  I've been missing in action here on my blog lately because I've been busy getting ready for Christmas and because I couldn't seem to kick the cough and cold I had.  I finally broke down and went to the doctors yesterday to get some antibiotics which I'm sure will do the trick.

Today I have some fun There She Goes Christmas tags that I created for a few of the gifts I'm giving and for the TSG#135 Challenge to create some last minute gift tags.  I used the Holly Jolly Die as the base for my tags and the Warmest Wishes stamp set with coordinating dies for the images which were paper pieced using some My Mind's Eye designer paper.  These were easy and fun to put together and I'm hoping give my gifts an added homemade touch.

I'm wishing you all a very Merry Christmas filled with love, joy and precious family memories!

SSSC148 - Holly Jolly

Hello everyone!  Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm still finishing up some odds and ends before next weekend but I'm close to being done.

Today is the last Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for this year and Karen has a fun sketch for all of us to create with this week.  For my card I used the There She Goes stamp set Holly Jolly with the coordinating Holly Jolly die. 

Supplies: Holly Jolly/Holly Jolly Die - TSG, Doodlebug dp, Copics, Nesties, Circle punch, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Foam tape.  Colors: Garden Green, Melon Mambo.

To play along create a card using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch, then go to Karen’s blog The Sweetest Thing and link your card so we can all see your creation! 

Be sure to visit each of the Sweet Sunday Stampers below for more samples using this week’s sketch!

Karen Motz: Paper Playhouse 

Sarah-Jane Kale': Janeybell

Vicki Burdick: It's a Stamp Thing

Jen Tapler: Jen Tapler Designs

Dana White: Dana's House of Cards
Karen Giron: The Sweetest Thing

The Sweet Sunday Stampers will be back on January 1, 2012 for a new year of sketches!

CTD#172 - Sugar Rush

Hello friends!  It's time for this week's Color Throwdown Challenge (CTD172).  This week our hostess is is Kerri and she's chosen some pretty colors for all of us to create with.

For my card I used the Paper Smooches stamp set Sugar Rush which I won from the PS Facebook page last month.  This was the first time ever stamping with any of the Paper Smooches stamps and I enjoyed it.  The PS stamps have a fun and playful look with a clean design and stamped perfectly each time while working on my card.  I used the ice cream cone image along with the Celebrate sentiment from the Sugar Rush set.  I stamped three of the cones onto white cardstock then colored the cones using Copic markers, then paper pieced the ice cream tops using cardstock in the three color for this weeks challenge.

Be sure to check out what the other design team members have come up with for this week's Color Throwdown challenge!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Danielle Kennedy - Wild Dragonfly Designs

Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion

Keva Brown - How Now Brown Kow

Kristin Eberline - Mindless Creativity

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations
Kerri Michaud - Cards by Kerri
Lydia Fiedler - Understand Blue - Our Guest Designer for November/December

Hope you'll find time to play along!

SSSC147 - 50 and FABULOUS!

It's time for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #147.  I used Karen's sketch for this week to create a 50th birthday card for my dear sister-in-law, we threw a surprise birthday party for her on the third of this month and it was so fun.

The glitter was flying while I made this card that's for sure, lol I had it everywhere.  I wanted the card for my sister-in-law to be glittery and fun so I used the Papertrey Ink stamp set Big Birthday Wishes with the coordinating number dies and the Cupcake Collection stamp set to coordinate with the My Mind's Eye cupcake designer paper I was using.  I started out by die cutting the numbers from chipboard and added some glitter, then die cut a square of white cardstock and stamped the sentiment and inked in a border with a fine point pen.  To finish off my card, the cupcake pieces were die cut, stamped and put together then glittered.

To play along create a card using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch, then go to Karen’s blog The Sweetest Thing and link your card so we can all see your creation! 

Be sure to visit each of the Sweet Sunday Stampers below for more samples using this week’s sketch!

Karen Motz: Paper Playhouse 

Sarah-Jane Kale': Janeybell

Vicki Burdick: It's a Stamp Thing

Jen Tapler: Jen Tapler Designs

Dana White: Dana's House of Cards
Karen Giron: The Sweetest Thing

Have a great day!

TSG - Hohoho

TGIF everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!  I'm finally starting to feeling better after having laryngitis and a cold since last Sunday. 

Today I have a fun card that I created using the adorable Santa image from the There She Goes stamp set Hohoho.  I started out with a real red card base, then used some Doodlebug designer paper and an embossed old olive panel behind my image.  I stamped my hohoho sentiment onto a banner, tied on my ribbon and added my Santa image which was colored using Copics and then glittered.

CTD#171 - Happy Holidays

Hello everyone!  I hope your week is going well so far.  Today is Wednesday and that means it's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge (CTD171).  Wanda is our hostess this week and she's chosen some great colors for us to work with and we hope you'll find time to play along.

For my card I used the Papertrey Ink stamp set Wreath for All Seasons and some My Mind's Eye designer paper and I used this week's Deconstructing Sketch Challenge #29 for my layout.  I started out with a bravo burgundy card base then added a soft suede panel that I embossed using an SU embossing plate.  I added a row of white scallops and my designer paper piece and then stamped the wreath in old olive, the berries in bravo burgundy.  To finish off my card I added ribbon, two buttons and some iridescent Stickles to the berries.

Be sure to check out what the other design team members have come up with for this week's Color Throwdown challenge!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Danielle Kennedy - Wild Dragonfly Designs

Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion

Keva Brown - How Now Brown Kow

Kristin Eberline - Mindless Creativity

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations
Kerri Michaud - Cards by Kerri
Lydia Fiedler - Understand Blue - Our Guest Designer for November/December

SSSC146 - Make a Wish

It's time for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #146 (SSSC146).  Karen has another fantastic sketch for all of us to create with this week and we hope you'll play along.

For my card I used the Papertrey Ink stamp set Cupcake Collection and some My Mind's Eye designer paper.  I stamped the sentiment, cupcake image and die cut candle then added some rose colored glitter to the sprinkles on the cupcake and Spica glitter pen to the candle flame (see photo below for close up).  I also added a PTI die cut flower with button and twine.

To play along create a card using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch, then go to Karen’s blog The Sweetest Thing and link your card so we can all see your creation! 

Be sure to visit each of the Sweet Sunday Stampers below for more samples using this week’s sketch!

Karen Motz: Paper Playhouse 

Sarah-Jane Kale': Janeybell

Vicki Burdick: It's a Stamp Thing

Jen Tapler: Jen Tapler Designs

Dana White: Dana's House of Cards
Karen Giron: The Sweetest Thing

CTD#170 - Santa

Hello there! It's time for this week's Color Throwdown (CTD170)!   I'm this week's hostess over at the CTD blog and I've chosen some semi-traditional Christmas colors for all of us to create with this week.  I hope you'll find time to play along.

For my card I used the Papertrey Ink stamp set Tremendous Treats Holiday along with some My Mind's Eye designer paper.  I started out by stamping the fun Santa image from the TTH set, colored him using Copic markers, added some glitter to his cuffs, pom pom on his hat and the stars (see close up photo below)and then die cut him out using a circle Nestie die.  I kept the design of the card clean and bold using these colors, some large green rick-rack, scallop border and large yellow star with button and twine.

Be sure to check out what the other design team members have come up with for this week's Color Throwdown challenge!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Danielle Kennedy - Wild Dragonfly Designs

Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion

Keva Brown - How Now Brown Kow

Kristin Eberline - Mindless Creativity

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations
Kerri Michaud - Cards by Kerri
Lydia Fiedler - Understand Blue - Our Guest Designer for November/December

Thanks for stopping by!

SSSSC145 - Hohoho

It's Tuesday and yes I'm finally posting the card I have for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #145 (SSSC145).  Better late than never I suppose.  Saturday night when I was trying to work on my card I had a headache that would leave me alone so that's why I'm late.

For my card I used the There She Goes new stamp set Hohoho and chose the Santa image from the set.  After coloring the Santa using Copic markers I mixed white flock with glitter and added it to the trim of his suite and hat.  If you look close at the image (see photo below) you can see how adding the flock with glitter adds a fun touch to this cute image. 

Supplies: Hohoho - TSG, Tremendous Treats Holiday (sentiment) - PTI, MME dp, Ribbon, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Button, Banner die - PTI, Copics, Nesties, Glitter, Flock.

To play along create a card using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch, then go to Karen’s blog The Sweetest Thing and link your card so we can all see your creation! 

Be sure to visit each of the Sweet Sunday Stampers below for more samples using this week’s sketch!

Karen Motz: Paper Playhouse 

Sarah-Jane Kale': Janeybell

Vicki Burdick: It's a Stamp Thing

Jen Tapler: Jen Tapler Designs

Dana White: Dana's House of Cards
Karen Giron: The Sweetest Thing

TSG132 Inspiration Challenge - Lighten Up

Hello everyone!  Today is my turn to host the There She Goes Challenge (TSG132) this week over at the TSG blog and I've chosen an inspiration photo to get our creative mojo going. 

I loved this photo with it's gorgeous bedroom, there were so many elements that drew my eye.  From the cool colors, different patterns and texture in the fabrics and walls to the mirrored nightstand and table.

photo credit

For my card I went with the teal and white colors and used the There She Goes stamp set Lighten Up!  I started with a taken with teal card base, then added a panel of white card stock that I scored lines into to repeat the pattern of the walls and curtains in the photo.  Then I stamped my sentiment onto a piece of cool caribbean cardstock and embossed it with a pattern that I thought was similar to the blue satin coverlet from the photo and added it to the bottom of my card.  I added a piece of Cosmo Cricket designer paper which has a modern circle pattern to it and stamped and colored my lamp image and die cut it out using a circle Nesties.  I added some Spica glitter pen to my lamp image to give it some shimmer, some white satin ribbon, a row of scallop border and three white roses with pearls to finish my card.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you'll find time to play along with this week's TSG Challenge!

PTI November Blog Hop

Hello friends I hope those of you that celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful day with family and friends.  Today I'm sharing a card that I created for the November Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  The inspiration for this month's PTI blog hop is the pretty Christmas photo below.

For my card I used the PTI stamp sets Wreath for all Season and Bitty Bird and kept it clean and simple.  I used the Deconstructed Sketch Challenge #28 for my layout along with some gingham nameless designer paper I had in my stash.  I started out by stamping the wreath image, then stamped the little bird inside the wreath.  Next I die cut the birds body using the coordinating die to the Bitty Bird set and stamped and added him to my image.  For my background I ended up inking up the wreath image from the Wreath for all Season set and randomly stamped it on the red cardstock.  I added a border of white scallop and a red satin ribbon with bow to finish off my card.

Thank you for your visit!