Dream

This card is for the Unity Friday Inspiration Challenge. I was inspired by the colors in the picture and the whole idea of "escape"! Wouldn't it be nice to be on that beach??
Recipe:
Stamps: gratitude=joy
Paper: bashful blue, whisper white, cupcake dp (basicgrey)
Ink: old olive, pumpkin pie
Accessories: orange (offray), 1 1/4" circle punch, slit punch, oval punch, on board accents

Inspiration Notebook

This week's Unity Project Thursday is to make/alter an organizational binder. The binder is a bit smaller than normal (7 x 9), perfect for holding cards or extra cardstock. I stamped out the butterflies on acetate with stazon and then colored them in with copics. After cutting them out, I glued them onto a piece of barely banana cardstock.
Recipe:
Stamps: butterfly beauty
Paper: basic black, barely banana
Ink: stazon black
Accessories: copics, acetate

Inspired

Well, I survived last night! :-) This card was SUPER quick for Kristina's Color Inspiration: so saffron, bashful blue, old olive, and not quite navy. The fabulous sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company. Isn't it just perfect?! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: butterfly beauty
Paper: not quite navy, so saffron, whisper white, bali breeze dp, bashful blue
Ink: old olive
Accessories: satin ribbon (Offray), 3/4" circle punch

H&M Birthday

Off to go out with the girls tonight to celebrate a 30th birthday!! I am so excited!! Of course, I woke up to a sick little guy but Jason says he can handle it! ;-)
This quick card uses some more H&M Stamps. Hope you have a great Friday! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: it's picnic time, birthday wishes
Paper: bashful blue, bali breeze dp, apricot appeal, whisper white
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: nestabilities, ribbon (MM), word window, stickles, corner rounder, copics

Double the Challenge, Triple the Cards

Today's Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS is to make 3 cards using the same ink, stamps, and techniques. There was also a hardware requirement. This week's Great Swap Girls Challenge is to use a sketch from the current Occasions Mini Collection. I decided to combine the two and ended up with these 3 cards!
The recipe is identical for all three!
Recipe:
Stamps: always
Paper: kraft, certainly celery, notebook dp, whisper white
Ink: purely pomegranate, groovy guava
Accessories: corner rounder, styled silver hodgepodge, blender pen, celery ribbon

This layout was from p. 4.


















This layout is from p. 12.















This last one is the sketch from p. 22.

PLEASE COME!!

This card is for a friend who we were trying to convince to come visit. It is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Texas to Washington?!! I am thinking that this card will do the trick! :-) I literally had 5 minutes for this one.....
The fabulous static dp and bling are from the one and only JACKSONBELLE EMBELLISHMENTS and the gorgeous trees are UNITY stamps!
Recipe:
Stamps: giggle grove
Paper: chocolate chip, static dp (Crate)
Ink: memento
Accessories: rhinestone stickers, chocolate ribbon, die cute (Crate)

Great Swap Girls Nonvendor Swap

I know that these haven't been swapped out yet but they are in the mail.........so don't look if you are a GSG! :-) This card uses the same sketch as Celebrate the Day.
Recipe:
Stamps: making the grade (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Paper: pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie dp, whisper white, summer picnic dp, real red
Ink: memento black, old olive
Accessories: copics, nestabilities, sewing maching, rea red ribbon

Look Who's Turning.....

Happy Birthday to my FABULOUS husband, Jason!! I am so lucky to have known him for the last 14 years! This card is also for Jen's Sketch For You To Try. The three owls are, of course, our boys! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: U R A Hoot! (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Paper: brilliant blue, whisper white, recess dp (BasicGrey)
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: copics, orange ribbon (offray), scallop punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, sewing machine

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Don't you just love that book? So appropriate for a new grad! It was the inspiration for this graduation card. This was a very quick shape card using the new H&M Stamps. It started as a 4 1/4" by 5 1/2" car and was then cut out. Piercing was added around the window and rhinestone brad headlights. :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: Celebrate the Day
Paper: basic grey, rose red, whisper white
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: rhinestone brads, paper piercer, copics

Someone's B-day!!

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday and I still need to make his card!! :-) I did, however, make a card for his twin sister. Hi, Jamie!! Don't peek, okay? ;-) It didn't get mailed until today so it will be late! Sorry! This is actually one of my ATC for the MFT ATC swaps. It was just mounted on some pink paper and pierced a bit for detail. I hope she likes it! ;-)
Recipe:
Stamps: Icing on the cake (MFT)
Paper: basic black, pretty in pink, whisper white, amanda blu dp
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: stickles, scallop punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, slit punch, pink ribbon, word window, rhinestone stickers, black brads, paper piercer

Time for Verve!

I was surprised to see my dh come home sick today, joining my middle son. All three of them (the littlest included) are napping right now so I was able to make some quick cards with some Verve sets before I finish conquering our weekend of camping laundry!
This card is for this week's Mojo Monday sketch! It seems like it has been forever since I have been able to play! Julee always has such fun sketches! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: petals & stems, filagree fantasy,
Paper: old olive, bali breeze dp, tempting turquoise, real red, whisper white
Ink: real red, old olive, tempting turquoise
Accessories: nestabilities, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, ribbon (H&M Stamps)


This month's Project Parade Challenge at Verve Visual is a color combo. You have until the end of the month to give it a try and possibly win some Verve Bucks!! At first, I was a bit nervous about using 5 colors on one card but it all came together so nicely! I just love this new set!!
Recipe:
Stamps: petals & stems
Ink: old olive, basic black, pumpkin pie, groovy guava, soft sky
Paper: groovy guava dp, so saffron, soft sky, boho blend scrappin kit dp
Accessories: SU! ribbon, brads (Amanda Blu), blender pen

Dino of a Day!

This is one of my DT projects for the recent H&M Stamps release. Heather challenged us to make a project for a boy's birthday. All of my boys have been big dinosaur lovers. I thought a little cookie excavation kit would be a perfect boy gift. There are a few toothpicks and a spoon in the cookie/treat box, the perfect tools for mining those chocolate chips out!! The chipboard skateboard and bones are from the archaic line by BasicGrey (found at Jacksonbelle Embellishments!) It also works for today's color challenge on SCS: sage shadow, chocolate chip, very vanilla.
Recipe:
Stamps: A Dino Day
Paper: sage shadow, very vanilla, archaic dp (BasicGrey)
Ink: chocolate chip, sage shadow
Accessories: vanilla & chocolate ribbon, nestabilities, scallop punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, archaic chip stickers, silver cord

Jacksonbelle Prima Sketch Challenge

So it is Tuesday, time for another Jacksonbelle Embellishments Challenge! This week is a sketch challenge. The twist is to use some Prima products. Of course, I couldn't resist using this Dude Collection dp by Prima. The trim and flowers are from the Dude collection kit. All I had to do was ink up my new cupcake Inkadinkado stamps, cut and score some ruby red and add a rhinestone! We would love for you to play too! When you upload your card, in the keywords section, be sure to include the keywords ~ JBE004!
Recipe:
Stamps: birthday cupcake
Paper: ruby red, whisper white, dude dp
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: copics, prima flowers & trim, rhinestone brad

Don't forget to get inspired by these fabulous ladies....
Lindsey
Kisa
Broni
Beth
Amber
Erin
Lila
Lynda
Elizebeth

Unity Challenges

I hope that you all had a great LONG weekend! Here are some Unity challenges that I have been meaning to post.
Unity's Thursday Project: This first card was using a technique from AJ. I just love how that glitter pops on the blue paper!! The sentiment was punched out from this Cosmo paper.
Recipe:
Stamps: Giggle Grove
Ink: stazon jet black, wild wasabi
Paper: acetate, get happy dp (cosmo cricket), wild wasabi
Accessories: red ribbon, dazzling diamonds, crystal effects, copics, slit punch, word window.


Unity's Friday Inspiration Challenge: Shannon's challenge was for us to take a current trend and step it up a bit or start a new one! This was a tough one for me! I finally decided on "exploring" these stitched suede flowers and designer snaps (We R Memory Keepers) from Jacksonbelle Embellishments.
Recipe:
Stamps: gratitude=joy
Paper: so saffron, whisper white
Ink: old olive, so saffron
Accessories: flower patch (We R Memory Keepers), frenzy snap (We R Memory Keepers), SU! ribbon
Scrapbook Sketch Challenge: Shocking, isn't it?? I actually scrapped! Boy is it a difficult task for me too! But I did it!! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: giggle grove
Paper: pumpkin textured, soft sky textured, everyday tango dp (My Mind's Eye),
Accessories: tags (Cupcake Scrapshop kit), animal crackers buttons & ribbon (making memories), felt alphabet stickers (K&I)

A Full Well.....

Meet Maxwell Jasper. He fills my well of life, bringing joy to our family and adding a goofiness and sensitivity that was lacking before his birth. It is hard to believe that it has been 7 years since that moment! He started life with a big personality, weighing in at 9lbs! He has an amazing way of making others feel like he is an old friend who you never lost touch with. One who you can talk with about everything and always brings a smile to your face.

I find it completely appropriate that my original card for Max got picked up and will be published in the October CARDS! I really can't wait to see it in print and think of him! Since it was sent off, I needed to make another one. I took a completely different direction with this one and am excited to give it to him! Have a great Friday!
Recipe:
Stamps: NONE
Paper: kraft, dude collection dp (prima), basic black, whisper white
Ink: NONE
Accessories: black rickrack, nestabilties, sticky cut letters, fine cosmo

Don't you love this paper??!! I almost forgot to tell you how yummy it is!! My Jacksonbelle Embellishment package came!! :-) Lindsey at Jacksonbelle Embellishments is AMAZING!!! She is offering 15% off for Memorial Day Weekend...Friday-Tuesday! Please use Promo Code JBE15! (it is case sensitive and takes it off the individual items at checkout!)

Also, don't forget to check out the H&M Stamps!!! They will be available for you to buy on the 25th! There are 3 sets (I linked them to my teasers):
It's Picnic Time (set of 23 stamps!!)
Celebrate the Day (set of 8)
A Dino Day (set of 4)
Here is some more DT inspiration on SCS.
I am going camping for the weekend but I will be posting some fun projects with these sets after I return on Monday! Have fun shopping! :-)

Hardware Man

Masculine cards can be challenging so I was glad to see that today's Ways To Use It Challenge called for masculine cards. This tree is from one of the new H&M Stamps coming out on the 25th. The sentiment comes from last month's Dad's Outdoors set. When I think manly, I think hardware! :-) Those fabulous copper eyelets and the Crate paper can be found at Jacksonbelle Embellishments! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: A Dino Day, Dad's Outdoors
Ink: memento rich cocoa, old olive
Paper: Hampton collection dp (Crate), blue bayou textured, close to cocoa, whisper white, old olive
Accessories: copper brads (American Crafts), jumbo eyelets (We R Memory Keepers), oliive twill, copics

Invited.....

So I am finally done with both sets of invitations!! I finished over 50 cards yesterday! I just hope that they are liked!
This first one is for a close friend who is turning 30! We have a big night out planned and I am so excited!
Recipe:
Stamps: partygirlbella, U R A Hoot! (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Paper: pretty in pink, basic black, whisper white
Accessories: ribbon (offray), copics, nestabilities, slit punch







This second set is for another close friend who is expecting TWIN girls!! How exciting is that??? All the flower centers are actually circles from the spring fling paper that have been punched out! I just added a little sentiment to the middle, so easy! The idea for this card came from my VSN card HERE.
Recipe:
Stamps: So Many Scallops, mixed messages (Papertrey), so inviting (MFT)
Paper: spring fling dp, regal rose, so saffron, whisper white
Ink: regal rose
Accessories: regal rose ribbon, certainly celery ribbon, scallop punch, 1" circle punch, pretties kit

Thanks!

Lucky for me, tomorrow's SCS sketch was posted early! I am working on 2 sets of invitations so I welcomed the break. As I was searching for a set, I realized how much I have been neglecting my SU! stamps lately! This is all SU! and was super quick.
Recipe:
Stamps: Live Your Dream
Paper: so saffron, whisper white, blue bayou dp, wild wasabi
Ink: so saffron, wild wasabi, blue bayou
Accessories: blue bayou ribbon

Hope

Today is Tuesday, time for another Jacksonbelle Embellishments challenge in the Jacksonbelle Forum on SCS. This week, the DT gals decided to ink up neglected sets! Can you believe this is the first time this Lizzie Anne set has been inked up?! Oh, the shame! I used some neglected Blue Hill Collection Kit by Crate for the designer paper and rubon sentiment. Isn't it fabulous??
Do you have some neglected stamps? Feel free to play along! If you are posting to SCS, don't forget to use the keywords JBE003.
Recipe:
Stamps: Jolies Fleurs (LAD)
Paper: blush blossom, whisper white, blue hill dp (Crate)
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: celery ribbon, copics, blue hill rubon (Crate), corner rounder

For more inspiration, check out some of the other DT members....
Dee
Elizebeth
Kisa
Beth
Lindsey
Lynda

Celebrate the Day

So here is another teaser for the H&M Stamp release on the 25th. Isn't she cute?? It uses tomorrow's fabulous color combo challenge on SCS: soft sky, blue bayou, certainly celery.
Recipe:
Stamps: Celebrate the Day
Paper: blue bayou textured, blue bayou dp, certainly celery, whisper white, wintergreen dp, spring silhouettes dp
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: ribbon, nestabilities, paper piercer, mat pack, copics

It's Picnic Time!!!

So here is one of the fabulous new sets debuting on the 25th for H&M Stamps!! I just love this one!! This card is also for today's Technique Challenge on SCS: Double Pocket Bag. The amazing tutorial is here. Perfect for holding a bbq invite!
Recipe:
Stamps: It's Picnic Time!!!
Paper: spring break dp, gable green, blue bayou, whisper white
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: nestabilities, wide white ribbon (offray), white ribbon (American Crafts), round tab punch, banana brads, yellow eyelet (Impress), copics

You will have to wait until the 25th for this set but if you missed out on last month's, you can take advantage of the free shipping right now!!

Playing With Unity

Over the weekend, I had time to play some more with my new Unity stamps. I took bit more time, since it was available, and tried some different things.
For the first one, I used a piece of acetate so that part of the butterfly was transparent. I then used my hobby blade to cut around it and attached it to the front of the card. I really loved how this one worked out, since I had a vision of what I wanted in my head and it was pretty close to the end result!! This fabulous ribbon came from the Cupcake Scrapshop!
Recipe:
Stamps: Butterfly Beauty
Paper: kraft, pumpkin pie dp, whisper white
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: nestabilities, slit punch, acetate, copics, ribbon, paper piercer
I had some fun coloring with this one. The card measures 12" by 4 1/4" and is scored to fold up to 4 1/2" by 3 1/2". This is such a fun set!
Recipe:
Stamps: Giggle Grove
Ink: memento rich cocoa
Paper: wild wasabi textured, whisper white, Angelica dp (Marcella K)
Accessories: orange ribbon (offray), icons rhinestone stickers (me&my big ideas), white gel pen, copics, nestabilties













This final card was fairly quick. I did, however, emboss part of the bamboo and used the spotlighting technique for the first time.
Recipe:
Stamps: Gratitude = Joy
Paper: bravo burgundy, fleuriste dp (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: old olive, bravo burgundy
Accessories: burgundy ribbon, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punch, embossing powder

No Camera But Lots of Stamping

Amazingly, I am home alone ALL weekend! Jason took the boys to Idaho and let me tell you... it is so quiet! I am not sure what to do with myself......well I guess I could stamp! ;-) Jason took the camera so all of my creations this weekend will need to be saved until Sunday night or Monday am. Sorry! I hope you won't be disappointed.......I will have a TON to share.

H&M Stamps release is on the 25th so I will be posting some peeks starting Monday! :-) Can't wait to share! There are 3 fabulous guest designers this month: America, Carolina & Anne.

Lindsey posted an Inkadinkado Challenge on the Jacksonbelle Embellishment SCS Forum! Just link a creation you made using Inkadinakado stamps to the thread and you could win a $10.00 Gift Certificate to Jacksonbelle Embellishments!

Happy stamping & have a great weekend!! :-)

Inchie Halloween

I know.............Halloween?? Well, it is amazing what "inchies" you have! Tomorrow's Ways To Use it challenge on SCS is to use inchies, basically a 1 x 1 image. I took a ruler to my stamps and found out that I had some! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: batty for you, spooked! (LAD)
Paper: basic black, pumpkin pie dp, whisper white
Ink: basic black
Accessories: orange ribbon (offray), nestabilities, sewing machine

Hoppy Birthday

Have you all inked up your Hip Hop sets yet? Don't forget to enter Melanie's Hip Hop contest to win a FREE set! This ribbon is from H&M stamps...loving the dots! :-) I made this card for a friend of mine....she is a FROG lover and has a birthday coming up! :-) I actually sewed the "hopping" trails and then went over them with my copics. I think she is going to love this! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: Just so Hoppy (Gina K), rough edges mini alphabets
Paper: Get Happy dp (Cosmos Cricket), wild wasabi, whisper white
Ink: memento tuxedo black, real red, 3/4" circle punch
Accessories: slit punch, large star punch, word window, ribbon, sewing machine, copics

Possibilities

Today's sketch on SCS gave me the perfect opportunity to play some more with my Unity stamps. It is hard to see from the photo but I used my spica glitter pen to add a bit of sparkle to the flowers.
Recipe:
Stamps: Gratitude=Joy, Butterfly Beauty (sentiment)
Paper: basic black, cupcake dp (basicgrey)
Ink: memento tuxedo black
Accessories: black brads, spica glitter pen, satin ribbon (offray), slit punch, copics

Yummy Colors

I look forward to Kristina's Color Inpiration each week. I love the bold colors of this week's combo: real red, pumpkin pie, so saffron, old olive, tempting turquoise. I needed a quick hostess thank you so of course I used lots of designer paper! :-)
Recipes:
Stamps: From the Kitchen Of
Paper: pumpkin pie dp, prints pack, bali breeze dp, boho blend simply scrappin dp, so saffron, old olive textured, whisper white
Ink: memento black
Accessories: word window punch, 3/4" & 1" circle punch, slit punch, red ribbon, copics

Colorful Giggle

This is a quick card made for today's color challenge on SCS. The combo is ruby red, soft sky, and pumpkin pie! So fun!! Perfectly matches my Honey Pie Cosmo Cricket paper! It also uses my new Unity Stamp set that I won! Love free rubber!
Recipe:
Stamps: giggle grove
Paper: soft sky, pumpkin pie, whisper white, boho west dp, honey pie dp (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: memento rich cocoa
Accessories: corner rounder, orange ribbon (offray), fire circle rhinestones, orange eyelets

Chocolate Hearts

Clear Artistic Stamps Group is a very supportive group of peeps who share a passion for stamping. The group has monthly challenges with PRIZES! Currently, you could win this fabulous Sweetpea Sweetheart set. I also used this set to make this fun card. All you need to do is make a card using Clear Artistic Stamps that has a flower or nature image and a water technique. This could be twinkling H2Os, watercoloring, or colorwash....anything requiring water! So join, play, and you may win! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: Sweetpea Sweetheart
Paper: fleuriste dp (Cosmo Cricket), basic black
Ink: memento tuxedo black, brilliance pearlescent chocolate
Accessories: slit punch, chocolate ribbon

Never Stop the Embellishment Challenges

It is early Tuesday...time for another Jacksonbelle Embellishments DT challenge. This week, it was to use BasicGrey. I really love how this one turned out! The entire time I was thinking about Maxwell, my middle child. He turns 7 in 10 days! He has always been a sponge for learning and was one of those little guys who knew every dinosaur name before he turned 3. Of course, he has since "grown-up" and moved on to prehistoric sea reptiles but I know he will secretly LOVE this one! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: NONE
Paper: soft sky, archaic dp
Ink: none
Accessories: archaic brads, archaic chip stickers, infuse chipboard, nestabilities, copics (E47), chocolate ribbon

You are more than welcome to play too! Here are some of the other designers' creations for your inspiration.....
Lynda
Elizebeth
Kisa
Erin
Lila
Amber
Lindsey
If you choose to play along too and upload to the SCS gallery, don't forget to use the keyword JBE002 so we can see your masterpiece!

Great Swap Girls Survivor Challenge

I hope that everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day. I am lucky enough to host this week's challenge on the GSG Blog. It is a limited supplies challenge in honor of the Survivor finale! You should go check it out HERE.
Recipe:
Stamps: tart & tangy
Paper: kraft, whisper white, old olive, cerise dp
Ink: real red, old olive
Accessories: scallop, 1 3/8"& 1 1/4" circle punches, real red ribbon

So Proud

It is the first week of the month, Mojo Madness time! I just loved this sketch.....perfectly shows off my stash of scrap dp!
Recipe:
Stamps: great expectations, thankful blossoms
Paper: notebook dp, boho blend simply scrappin dp, spring silhouettes dp, so saffron, whisper white
Ink: memento rich cocoa
Accessories: saffron ribbon, copics, brad (making memories)

Simplicity

Today's Featured Stamper over at SCS is Jennifer. I love all her SWEET creations! :-) I picked this card to case: Thanks.....I Needed That. Again, I used my new Unity Stamps! I also played around a bit more with some more of my Cupcake Scrapshop Kit.
Recipe:
Stamps: gratitude = joy (Unity)
Paper: creamy caramel, whisper white, scenic route dp
Ink: close to cocoa, taken with teal
Accessories: copics, gingham ribbon

Inspire

I finally have time to stamp today! Yesterday was way busier than I imagined....lots of cleaning! I had a list of challenges and cards I wanted to make but life intervened. I did wake to breakfast in bed and an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness. Hope that all you moms out there are enjoying your day! This card is for yesterday's Inspirational Challenge on SCS. I inked up a Unity stamp for the very first time! :-)
Recipe:
Stamps: butterfly beauty (Unity)
Paper: sultry dp (Basicgrey), chocolate chip, whisper white
Ink: memento rich cocoa
Accessories: copics, nestabilities, word window, chocolate ribbon, spica clear glitter pen, sewing machine

Superstar!

This card is for Color Inspiration #8 over at Kwernerdesign. I am loving bright colors these days so I took a break from cleaning to take a stab at this fun combo!
Recipe:
Stamps: great expectations, polka stars (Verve Visual)
Paper: pumpkin textured, pumpkin dp, crew kids boy simply scrappin kit dp, jersey shore dp, whisper white
Ink: pumpkin pie, brilliant blue
Accessories: large star punch, ghost shape (Heidi Swapp), blue ribbon (Offray)

Limited Experiment

Yeah, it is FRIDAY!! Today's Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS is to make a card without stamps! Luckily, my Cupcake Scrapshop kit just came! I was playing around with some of the kit contents and came up with this simple mom card. This reminds me so much of my mother. She is such a fun and spirited woman.
Recipe:
Stamps: none!
Paper: whisper white
Ink: none!
Accessories: real red ribbon, daiquiri thickers (American Craft), mailing labels (Paper Source), spring fling overlay (Pink Paislee)