Winner! Winner! Winner! We Have A Winner!

First I want to thank all the people that became followers and linked to my candy! I truly enjoyed reading about all of your favorite vacations. All of the descriptive details made me smile!

I made the hubby wake up early today so he could help me fold all the little slips of paper with your precious names. Unfortunately, some of you did not follow all of the steps. Soooooo, without further delay, we have a winner! DH's big paw pulled out..............

BECKY!!!!!!!

Her comment on August 10th, at 9:42 am, is the winner! Becky, please email me at ma54k@comcast.net, to claim your candy! Thanks again for playing.

I am a Guest Designer!

Sorry I have been missing, but I just had to spend some time working on goodies for the release party over at Gina K. Designs. Melanie Muenchinger, one of the amazing designers over there, has asked me to guest design for her new set this month. It is called Wild At Heart. What a absolute honor! So, now you know my secret!

You will be seeing this set used every which way, and I hope you like what you see! My first card was done using 3 Distress Ink colors. They are Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, and Walnut. The card stock is Gina K. Designs, Pure Luxury Lemon Drop and Green Apple. I added some tiny metal and mesh butterflies as accent.

Card #2 was an experiment, but I was liking how it came out! I used Kraft Pure Luxury card stock, and went with a one layer look. I stamped my main image directly on the card front with Walnut Distress Ink, and then colored the open areas of the image with colored pencils. My third card, I stamped the image with Colorbox Blue Iris, Chalk Ink. I then cut out pieces and half popped the wildflowers for dimension. I ran a strip of Navy Pure Luxury through my Cuttlebug, using the Big Dots EF. My blue ticking paper is an unknown. I added accents of red to make the card pop. A red gingham bow, red mini brads, and some red Copic to the centers with a coat of Crystal Effects, did the trick.

You can see the complete set over on my side bar, and if you might be interested, here is a link to it at Gina K. Designs. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed your visit.

OCLDT Challenge # 27

I am so excited to share another sketch with you for the Our Craft Lounge Design Team Challenge. I am still plugging along with the few sets I have, trying to make them fit the challenges. This one was quite different and rather fun!

I started with a plain white base and built my card with a focus on the "Bubbles" stamp set from OCL. I searched for coordinating papers to create my strips. A few of the elements I had to sneak from other places to pull it all together. Lots of cutting and popping, with the addition of Diamond Stickles. Copics were used to color all of the images.

Why is it that whenever my DH takes a vacation day, it is rainy. It is suppose to rain until Friday. Again the yard work gets put on hold. Grrrrrr! Also, I may not be doing challenges for a few days, as I am working on some top secret stuff. Don't send the mounted police out after me, LOL! Hmmm, what is it you ask? Please stay tuned!

Joan's Gardens Vintage Tag Challenge

Just a quick little post before I head to work. I must have gotten side tracked and never checked Joan's Gardens challenge this week! Eek! She has asked us to create a tag using chipboard, cork, or whatever we have about.

I used a combo of items for this. The base is a Manila tag covered in Cosmo Cricket paper that has been distressed with TH Old Paper Distress ink. The sentiment and chipboard edge are also from them. I created this grungy flower from some K&Co paper and fastened it with a brass brad. I tucked a wee bit of organza ribbon under it for another texture, and finished everything off with an antique button.

I hope you like it , and now it is time for me to exit, stage left.

JUGS Challenge #47

Don't you just love these bright colors? This was the wonderful choice of the DT at Just Us Girls. I knew when I saw this challenge, I just had to join in the fun!

I used an A2 card base and scrap of lime, checked paper that was trying to hide from me. My circles and scallop trim are SU! items. I used the large, hot pink, polka dot Prima as my focal point. After adding some felt leaves, I remembered these crocheted flowers I had won, and added a gem brad to the center of the open work one to make it work. The sentiment is from an old DOTS set. Throw on a few gems and some lime organza ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and there you have my entry. I hope you likee!

It's time for another cup of strong coffee! Care to join me?

OTWC Challenge #21

Look at all the bright, beautiful colors that are in the inspiration photo for the newest challenge at Off The Wall Craftiness! You just can not help but smile! This is Kim's 21st challenge already.

I kept my card on the simple side this week, but I am really pleased with how it came out. I found a scrap of striped paper in my stash that fit the color scheme and added some pink stitched ribbon, to set it off. Then I strategical place dots of glue on a bright flowered transparency from K&Co. I placed gems of different colors in the centers of the flowers for sparkle. I found a chipboard oval and presto I had a card for a new baby girl. The inside sports another strip of the strip paper and a simple congratulations. It always feels so good when you can use some of those forgotten goodies that have been neglected!

You never know, I might be back again! Thanks for taking a look. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Speedy The Cat's Friends Challenge #17

This week, over a the Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge blog, DT member Geri, has challenged us to make a harvest card. Well I don't have any Mark's Finest stamps to fill the bill, so I used something new that has not seen ink yet. I purchased half of the new August, Unity store kit, called "Harvest of Memories. I fell in like with the patterned leaves.

Besides the leaves, the frame and sentiment were from the same kit. The squirrel, is from a set called Whimsical Autumn, from Gina K. Designs.

The papers are ones that were in my scrap bin, but I know they are K&Co from last season. I used some fall colored fiber to tie a floppy bow down the side. My orange leaves have a touch of Champagne Stickles. Dewdrops were used as accents. All of the images were stamped in walnut Distress Ink, and colored with Copics #'s 0, E00, Y38, YR24.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and I shall be back soon!

OTWC Challenge #20

There are just not enough hours in the day to get to all the challenges I love doing. Kim Wilson, over at Off The Wall Craftiness, is one such place I draw inspiration from. I don't get to play there every week, but I at least check out her inspiration photo. Look at this beauty!

Here is my card, and I always complain about purples. I just can't get the colors right in my photos. This came out looking more wine. Sorry, Kim. My image is from TLC Creations and I colored it with Copic markers. My card stocks are Pure Luxury, from Gina K. Designs. Sponging is done in Baja Breeze from SU! I added an organza ribbon and blue gems as my accents. I did a second image of the raspberries and cut and popped the berries, and then applied a thick coat of Glossy Accents.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you soon. Time to run to work for a bit. Oh BTW, Kim is also selling the new Ippity Stamps by Unity! Check them out here!

Lookie What I Found!

Yummy goodies are up for grabs at Lori's blog called Playing With Paper! I see some amazing goodies in this pile! Go check it out..... run.... scoot!

Two to Share

I have two creations to share that I feel fit a couple of great challenges. My first is the Sir Stampalot Challenge for August, called "Bring On The Bling". I created this round card for a sketch challenge at StampTV this week and didn't want to waste all this sparkly beauty. They get some amazing submissions over there.

My base is Ivory Pure Luxury card stock with DP form K&Co. I used two stamp sets from Gina K. Designs to decorate my small circle and do my inside sentiment. I added ivory Prima's with bling centers and pearl accents. The inside says "It's All Good". The shape of the card was cut with a Spellbinders Peony die, and then sponged with Memento Rich Cocoa ink.

My second card is for the Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #6, to use ribbon and make it Aloha theme. I am a member of their monthly club and I just love the selections of ribbon we receive, so I thought it was only right to support their challenges. For Aloha, I used Theresa Momber's set called Aloha, from Gina K. Designs. The papers used are from MAMBI. It is colored in Copic Markers and sponged in Baja Breeze form SU! Bubble gum pink grosgrain was added in two strips and a button embellishment added.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Moxie Fab World Signs Of Peace Challenge

Everything old is new again...... that's what they say. I grew up in the burn you're bra, day-glo, love bead, moccasin era. That's when taking a trip didn't mean going to Grandma's. However, it was a time of kinder people. Thus, the peace sign was in fashion.

Moxie Fab World has challenged us to make a creation with a peace sign. Here is what I came up with, using odds and ends from my stash. Flower Power was another one of those great expressions so I needed to include it too. I just happened to have a die cut sticker from Sticko. Then I found the tie dyed trim and I was really feeling the colors.

I would also like to enter this card for Speedy the Cat's Friend's Challenge #15- Think Flowers.

As a follow up, My bedroom walls were bright orange with day-glo posters and a black light. Ahhhhh! I don't know how I slept!

Our Craft Lounge DT Sketch Challenge #26

Although I do not have very many stamp sets from Our Craft Lounge, I have been trying to keep up with their sketches this month. This time I pulled out my Running Sick set, and tried to use some of the smaller stamps for the circles. I figure that cold and flu season is right around the corner, and you just never have too many of this type card!

The papers I used are an assortment range from scrap, to MAMBI, to SEI. Martha Stewart was my punch of choice to add the edging details through the middle. My sentiment is stamped metal, and I am so proud that I used another thing from my stash. I also used a rub-on border across the bottom for extra detail. In stead of a bow, I went with a crocheted flower that I layer with a Prima and blue brad. I used Copic markers to color, and sponged with Memento ink.

It's a rainy day in PA., but that just makes for a good time to play catch up. I was a real slacker this week!

Cupcake Inspiration

Hi everyone! Sorry I have not posted this week, but I figured I would leave the candy up top for a bit. Thanks to all of you who have become followers and left comments. I love hearing about all the places you have traveled. Some gave me the giggles!

Today I made this card to follow the inspiration picture. It is for Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #71. Don't they look yummy? The pic is all Fall, Halloween, and yummy gooey all rolled into one. Here is the card I came up with.

I started with a base of Chocolate Kiss Pure Luxury card stock, from Gina K. Designs. My designer paper is from Flavia. I was lucky enough to score a win recently over at StampTV, so for my prize, I chose Melanie Muenchinger's latest set called Fun Year Round. That is how I achieved the circle background, circle fill ins and words. I added a branch from Unity and an owl from Hampton Art. Some of the circles have flourishes stamped from Stampabilities. There are accents made with white gel pen, gems, threaded buttons, and a vintage, brown lace bow made from seam binding. My images were colored with Copics and my owl was popped for dimension.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to be back with another card real soon!

My 1 Year Blog Candy

As promised, here is the blog candy I have create for you. I want to thank everyone who has left comments in the last 12 months, and encouraged me to come out of my shell a bit. I also welcome new friends I may encounter in the near future. I would love to have you join me on this magical adventure in creativity.

To be eligible for the candy, here is what I would like you to do.

1. Become a follower if you are not already.

2. Promote my candy on you're blog by linking back and leaving me a comment.

3. Leave me a comment telling me of one of the very best Vacations you have ever taken.

Make me want to go there!!!!!

4. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you win.

This candy will stay up until August 31, at which time I will throw everyone who is eligible, into a hat and have an unbiased pull. You will have 72 hours to respond or I will pull another name. Here is what you will receive:

Birthday Card Kit- Dena's Closet

K&Co Accordion Book Kit in Tin

Making Memories- Jumbo Blossoms w/ pebble brads

2 Little Black Dress Rockettes- Amber and White, for shakers

3 pkgs. paper flowers- Ivory, orange, and turquoise

8 fancy clips- for accents or bookmarks

1 pk lavender pearls

1 pk clear and orange gems

1 pk Jolee's fall leaves

3 i-cling stamps- owl, bird, & leaf medallion

An assortment of ribbons cut from my collection (each is arms width)

You never know what else I might add as a surprise!

I hope you see something that tickles you're fancy, and that you will tell friends to stop by!

This One's For The Girls!

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge at Joan's Garden's. It is #9, and Joan has asked use to use P-I-N-K and a Martha Stewart (preferably) corner punch on 4 corners. I redid this card so many times that it would have been easier to just remake it. LOL. Sometimes you just have to stop fussing, right? Yes, I didn't listen, okay? I only punched 2 corners.

I used one of Tim Holtz's papers from his Vintage Shabby pack. Love these papers and I can't wait to lay my hands on the newest releases. My main image is a stamp from Artistic Stamp Exchange. The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs. I used Copic Markers to color. The #'s are 0, C1, C3, RV10, RV17, RV32, RV34. The punch I used is from MS but I do not remember the name. My accents are Dewdrops, Stickles, pink and white daisy trim, and tiny little pink clothespins. I am thinking this will be real cute for a Bachelorette party gift of Lingerie.

Hope you are having a peachy weekend. If you are a Michael's shopper, they have some wild sales going on. Oh, and I did not forget the blog candy I promised. That will be showing up, maybe tomorrow.

Our Craft Lounge DT25 Challenge

I was playing with one of my Our Craft Lounge sets called Hangin Loose with Kona and decided to put the pieces together to meet the latest sketch challenge they have listed. This set is so adorable and really great fun to color!

As I have stated before, I have many tropical scraps from making scrap pages for Luau's we have hosted. I love this one with the burlap weave. I used a left over white negative from a Nestabilities die and ran it through the Cuttlebug with the swirl folder. I highlighted it with assorted colors and used it to frame a tropical scene I created. After coloring the little dude, I clear glazed his eyes, Stickled his waves and popped him to the side of my scene. For my embellishments, I used a lime green button that is tied with twine and assorted Dewdrops.

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world. It is suppose to be a gorgeous weekend here in PA, with low humidity and temps. I think we deserve it. Have fun, whatever you end up doing.

Celebrating 1 Year of Blogging

Wow, where does the time go? I knew this day was creeping up and I guess I should have prepared a bit better. I also see that I will have to download a new counter for year two.

In honor of this momentous occasion, I will be posting some blog candy this weekend. I will have to see what I can come up with. Thanks to my friend Colleen for deciding it was an important enough day to post a surprise for me. After a whole year, I am still not very good on this thing, but I promise I will try to at least learn how to get my indenting to stay! LOL!

This is a card that I made just for fun. Fun you say? Yes, not for an order, or a challenge. FUN! I have been dying to try out some Unity stamps I acquired recently. The plaid paper is a scrap, but the floral is from Basic Grey's Cappella. I used my Copics to color. I simply added some amber dewdrops as accents.

My next card is one that I made for my boss's granddaughter, who will be celebrating her 2nd birthday this weekend. The image is from Mo Manning. Love, love, love coloring her designs! The paper is from Basic Grey's Olivia collection. The big chipboard 2 is from Cosmo Cricket. The letters are from K&Co takeout boxes. I need to use them more. Again, I used my Copics. I am loving how it went together with just bits and pieces.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to gain a few more regular followers as this second year chugs along.

Frost On The Pumpkins

I just had to make a second card for the Joan's Garden's Challenge #8, this week. I had never used my pumpkin embossing folder from Cuttlebug, and I decided to play. I used Ivory and Green Apple Pure Luxury card stock. After embossing, I set about chalking the image and then sprayed it with hair spray to seal. The tops of the pumpkins were decorated with Diamond Stickles to look like frost.

I used a small manila tag from the office supply store tied up with hemp twine. The stamp set used to decorate it is Whimsical Autumn, from Gina K. Designs. I added four pre-glittered brads and a couple of skeleton leaves as my accents. Hope you like it!

Can you tell I am thinking fall? My favorite time! Have a wonderful start to your week.

Watching The Birds

The newest Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #14, is to make a Thank You card. This week I have Speedy watching the birds flying around in the garden. I also added a grassy border and all 3 of those stamps are from Mark's Finest Papers, Tropical Vacation set. I only have 2 MFP sets so far, so I have to make the best of them!

The daisy paper is from K&Co. The fence border is from Martha Stewart. The corner punches are from SU! and then Cuttlebugged with Swiss Dots. Oh, how I love those tiny Prima's. I bought one bottle of them and I have been using them for years. My sentiment is from Impression Obsession. The gems are from Queen &Co.

Thanks for stopping by!