Fairies... You Have to Believe In Them to See Them

I did get to join in the fun over at Mojo Monday with their sketch challenge (see below for earlier post and link) that I shared the other day. I made this card with my sister in mind. She lives in hot, hot, hot Texas so she isn't close at all and a card will brighten her day. When she was visiting last summer, I introduced her to cardmaking and she loved it! She went home with a stash of cards but I am sure they are all gone by now. She wasn't able to visit this summer, sadly. When she was here last year this stamp set, A Little Bit of Magic, was in the 2010 Summer Mini but I really didn't have enough time to order it when she was here. After she left I knew I had to get it so next time she comes she can use it... she really fell in love with it. I ordered it, school started, and the stamp set became very lonely. Every so often I thought about getting it out and making a card to send to her but school, coaching, and the girls activities didn't leave me much time to play. When I saw this Mojo Monday sketch challenge, I knew it was time to finally play with the stamp set. Here it is:

I used cardstock in Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry. I colored in my image use blender pens and ink pads. These are the colors I used: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Blush Blossom, Soft Suede, River Rock, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight. and Pretty in Pink. That is a lot of colors, but it really was fun to color it in and see it come to life!!

So... the scalloped edge?? I used my SU! Tasteful Trim Sizzix Die but I wanted the whole piece and not just an edge. Not to worry. I diecut the edge out and then adhered it next to my solid piece. I hid my seam with a piece of ribbon. I used the small oval (now retired) and the large oval to stamp and mat my sentiment. My hello is from Fundamental Phrases (which I think retired a few years ago maybe??)

What did you make for the Mojo Monday Challenge? Please leave a comment with your blog so I can look at what you came up with.

Until next time Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!
Shelly

Color Challenge: What is That Kitty Thinking?

Color Challenge: Mission Accomplished! I really had a tough time deciding what I wanted to do for the Paper Players Color Challenge (see below for original post). After some sleep and much thought I decided that I would use the new stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini called Touch of Kindness. It really is super cute! Here is the card I came up with:

I had a tough time photographing it because it kept having all these weird shadows, but I think you can still view it well. Isnt't that kitty and those birds adorable?? For the card base I used Crumb Cake, the embossed strip on the left is Baja Breeze and I used the NEW Solid Stripes Embossing Folder. Don't you love it?? The stripes go up and down so I turned my paper to to the side a little to that the stripes would be diagonal. My photo corners (this SU! punch is now retired) are Basic Gray and Poppy Parade. I used all FOUR colors from the challenge. My sentiment is also from the SU! set Touch of Kindness.

For my coloring: I did the birds in Baja Breeze, bird bath in Crumb Cake, flower petals with Poppy Parade, leaf and grass in Old Olive, the car in Basic Gray, and his collar in Poppy Parade. I used my Watercolor Wonder Crayons for all the coloring except what I did in Poppy Parade. For that I used my ink pad and blender pen.

Thanks for taking the time to look at what I created. I was really quite pleased with how it turned out.

Until next time Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!
Shelly

Sketch Challenge- MOJO Monday

I am not sure where the week has gone to! I don't know if I am going to get a chance to make anything for this sketch challenge, but thought I would still share it with you. This is Mojo Monday's Sketch Challenge:

I am finishing up my card for the Color Challenge over at Paper Players. I have the actual card put together but I just need to finish up coloring the images. Hopefully, I will get it done and posted tomorrow.

Shelly

On a Birthday Roll

Here is the card I designed for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. For the original link please see the post below. I made this for Maddox, the twin brother. I shared with you last week the card I made for his twin sister. It does not seem like they should be one!!

Card Recipe:
Cardstock: SU!'s Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Tempting Turquiose, and Whisper White
Patterned Paper: SU! Pawsitively Prints II
Inks: SU!'s  Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Tempting Turquiose
Stamp Sets: Itty Bitty Bits and Bring on the Cake
Ribbon: SU! Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon
Other: Various Circle and Scallop Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, and Adhesive

I have yet to start on the color challenge, but the night is young!!

Shelly

Color Challenge... I have no idea what I am going to do!!

Well, it is a sleepness night as I wait for the dryer to finish up so I thought I would go ahead and share the new color challenge from Paper Players. Here it is:

I have to admit these are not colors I use a lot much less all together. Well, I use the Poppy Parade and the Crumb Cake but not so much the other two. As I look at these colors I am wondering what in the world I am going to come up with. Even though I am clueless now, this is why I like doing challenges... both color and sketch ones because it helps keep my ideas fresh and they take me out of my comfort zone so I try things like new color combos that I originally might not have. You never know when you are going to happen upon a new favorite. I still remember the day I fell in love with Crumb Cake. It was only last summer!! Maybe is it the pretty new name??

Okay, I am not going to stay up much later so I can have plenty of time to sleep on what I want to do.

Until next time... Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!
Shelly

New Sketch Challenge

Here is the new sketch challenge from Waltzingmouse. Try it and see what you come up with.

I will be sharing my card with you tomorrow along with a new color challenge.

Shelly

Happy Birthday!

I came upon Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge a few hours to late to enter my card that I made, but that's okay. I am helping to celebrate three birthdays this weekend so I needed some birthday cards anyways and I thought the sketch was perfect for what I wanted to do for Alana's card. She will be the BIG ONE along with her twin brother!

Here is the original sketch:

And here is the design I came up with:

Sorry if the sentiment seems a little out of focus. I took the picture several times and it just always seemed to be blurry. So, are you thinking where did she get that zig zag stamp?? Well, wonder no more. It is actually Stampin' Up!'s In Stitches Jumbo Wheel (pg. 143 of the 2011-2012 IB&C). Whenever I see a wheel that I think will be awesome for making my own patterned paper or to add something extra to a card like this one... I always buy an extra one. I keep one of them as a wheel and then I peel the rubber off of the other one. You can easily mount them onto Cling Mount foam (#124236 on pg. 205) and then make your own design that fits your project. There are even some new ones in this catalog that will also be perfect for this. (HINT: Buttons & Blossoms #124088) and I would highly recommend the Clear-Mount Perfectly Placed Guides (#121785) when using these because it really makes a big difference in getting everything straight! Be sure to pop those cupcakes up!!

Here is a photo of the rubber after I removed it from the wheel and trimmed out the pattern that I wanted:

Card Recipe:
Cardstock: SU! Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White
Inks: SU! Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette
Stamps: SU! Create a Cupcake
Punches: SU! Cupcake Builder
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, Adhesive

PPA Color Challenge... Not Singing the Blues!

Yes, blue is my favorite color and Stampin' Up! has a lot of great shades of blue. This weeks PPA (please see the post below to see the link) color challenge was Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, and Bashful Blue. I love the look of white embossed images when I am doing a card with a monochromatic theme. It just looks so sharp against the different shades. Since it is summer, I wanted my card to have a more light and summery feel to it so I used the Bashful Blue as my card front and the medium shade of Marina Mist as my card base. I kept the darker shade of Not Quite Navy for the accent colors and used it here and there on the card. Since the Pocket Silhouettes images are petite, I love using them on small squares or circles so that I can use several of the images on one card. I like the variety it gives and the clean look. And what can I say about my sentiment "thinking of you" from Teeny Tiny Wishes? I love, love, love that stamp set. It is really the most versatile set you can buy and has a saying for pretty much every occasion. It really should be in every stampers collection.

Card Recipe:
Cardstock: SU! Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, and Not Quite Navy
Stamps: SU!'s Pocket Silhouettes and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Punches: SU!'s Word Window and Modern Label
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Adhesive

Thanks for taking the time to join me today. Until next time... Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!

Shelly

P.S. If you are Disney fan be sure to check back soon as I give a sneak peek of my Disney album. It is nearing completion and I will have so much to share with you:) I think Ariel will be the first to appear...

Color Challenge- Not Singin' the Blues Here!

Over at Pals Paper Arts, they are hosting a color challenge this week. Don't worry... you don't need to sing the blues while working on this color challenge because you will have a lot of fun working with these great shades of Blue. Blue is actually my favorite color so I know I am going to enjoy this challenge.

As soon as I get my card completeed, I will be sure to share it! We have a busy weekend so I am getting the house ready for that so it might be a few days.

Happy 4th of July- Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

As promised, here is my card I made for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge. If you would like the link please see my post below. This is a thank you card for my brother-in-law and his family for hosting an impromptu family get together as we celebrated our great nation's indepenence.

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU! Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White
Inks: SU! Cherry Cobbler Classic ink and Whisper White Craft ink
Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Punches: SU! Star Punch (now retired but check the clearance rack in a few weeks- will it make it?)
Other: Clear embossing powder, SU! Linen Thread, Adhesive

Thank you for joining me and until next time... Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!
Shelly

Mojo Monday Sketch- Come Play Along

Happy 4th of July Everyone!! We had a great day with a little bit of everything... rides, cookout with family, food, and fun, and then finished the night off with what else but fireworks!!

Mojo Monday has their new sketch up:

I am going to begin working on mine after the kiddos go to bed. I already know who I am going to give it to. I called my brother-in-law to see about have an impromptu get together with as many family members as we could gather on short notice. He said just come on over to his house and he would have it there! No cleaning for me and he can cook some chicken legs! We had a ton of food even on short notice and everyone had a great time. To show my appreciation and let him know how much fun we had, he will be receiving the card I make for this challenge as a thank you:)
Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!!
Shelly

Christmas in July

It is never to early to begin thinking about Christmas gifts. I will admit I have already started my shopping on my blog but not to my husband. Being a full-time student in addition to being a mom to two girls leaves me very little time right before Christmas to get anything ready for their teachers. What am I doing the week before Christmas? Not wrapping presents (that takes place on Christmas Eve or the wee hours of Christmas morning!), not making cute gifts for the girls teachers or bus driver... I am studying like mad for final exams. I am happy to say that this will be the last year for a while where I will have to study for exams as I will finally graduate next year (not that I am counting down the days but come on May 12th!!). But graduation is not yet upon me so I must begin thinking about Christmas gifts in July. Join me as I share some Christmas gifts that you could easily recreate for the teachers and other important people in your child's life.

This first gift was really quite easy to make. I got the idea from Sarahs Ink Spot and tweaked it a little to make it my own. She does a wonderful job with her projects and tutorials:) I can't remember the exact date that I first saw it but her blog is very easy to browse and you should be able to find it easily. I used Stampin' Up! window sheets, Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper Jolly Holiday (now retired but maybe it will hit the clearance rack in a few weeks??), SU Card Stock in Cherry Cobbler, SU hemp twine, an older hostess set from SU, Snow Buddies, but there are many other sets that would work like SU's new Snow Much Fun (I just ordered it!!) in place of the snowman I used. I used the wonderful SU ink pads and blender pens to color the snowman in and then I used my paper snips to cut him out. I attached my cute little snowman using SU dimensionals.

If I can help answer any questions or if you need any Stampin' Up! supplies please let me know and I would be happy to assist you. Until next time... Happy Scrappin' and Happy Stampin'!

Shelly

My First Blog Post

After a little inspiration from my friend Annette I finally decided to start my own blog. Stay tuned for some projects that I am working on. I guess I shouldn't really call it my first blog post but hey, it is what it is:)