Cute As A Button!

Cocoa decided he did not want to hang onto his apple today, but rather, peek through some pretty roses that will be a nice gift for Valentines Day. The challenge this week, at Crazy for Cocoa is #9, Cute As A Button! Here is what I have come up with.

My card base is Black Onyx Pure Luxury from Gina K. Designs. The dp is a digital that I printed. Flowers are from Doodle Pantry and colored with Copics, highlighted with Stickles, and popped at the tops for dimension. My accents are 2 rows of loop edge black ribbon and threaded buttons in assorted pinks and red. Of course, the star of the show is Cocoa from my Autumn Lovin Cocoa set.

I just wanted to say thanks to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for bringing us all of these great challenges and wonderful examples from the talented Design team!

Joan's Gardens Box Challenge

Oh my, It was 2 degrees below zero this morning when I woke. If it weren't for creating I would be going wacko! I believe we have warmed up to about 10 now! I guess I tend to be a few degrees less then everyone else local because I live with the lake in my backyard.

Joan's Gardens has a great challenge #3 this week that includes creating a box. Other elements include adding a butterfly, adding a flourish, and creating or using a flower. I chose to use a template I have had for years, that makes a double pyramid box. The template is from C-Thru.

I used a double sided designer paper from Creative Imaginations. I was worried about what pattern to use, because of the way you fold the panels, but this paper worked super! My butterflies are MS punches, with flourishes of Sizzix Sizzlets as their tails. I did wimp out and use sugared Prima flowers, but they added such great sparkle. I had this fancy trim with pearls that I just had to use and added it with strong adhesive tape. My hanger is made with a bright pink satin ribbon. Here is a shot of how the box opens for filling. I think it might just need a nice piece of jewelry for someone special, tucked inside. Soooooo many special occasions coming up!

I forgot to mention that I have been without Internet for hours, this morning also. Called the cable company and they were clueless (as always). Finally reset every box in the house and it came back on. Woo Hoo! Stay warm, and I will see you soon!

Dear Friend

I needed to create a very special card for a dear friend who lost her mother. I didn't want it to be a typical Sympathy card, but rather one to show us how we get through all the tough times. She was there for me when I lost my mom, and before that, she would stop in just to say a quick hi to my mom and give her a smile. My mom lived with us and my friend lived 2 doors away. When she moved away it was sad, but we still lean on each other for some soothing words and friendship.

My card is started with an ivory base, and touches of Chocolate Kiss card stock. The dp is a floral list from K&Co and is over stamped with a hydrangea stamp, which is an Anna Griffin design by All Night Media. I stamped it with Memento, Rich Cocoa, and also used that to sponge round the edges. My sentiment is from Gina K. Designs. The butterfly is an MS punch with a row of tiny pearls. As a special touch, I added the last of a very special strip of diminutive buttons sewn on brown velvet, which was from my mom's collection. I have hoarded them for just the right card. I thought that this was the perfect time to use them.

I would like to enter this card for :

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #39 - Sympathy Card

Thanks for stopping back.

Still Working on Valentines.

Here is a little card I created for a challenge my friend Olga told me about. It is over at Create with Bubbe, and it is to use ribbon on your project. I just love to add a bit of ribbon here and there to add to texture and pattern on my cards. It does not always need to a big fancy bow. Just a little knot will do the trick.

My card started with Pure Luxury card stock from Gina K. Designs, in Ocean Mist, Soft Sand, and Chocolate Kiss. I created ticket corners using a small circle punch. My stamp set is one I received from a friend, and is called See With The Heart, 2004 SU!. I stamped my image in Rich Cocoa ink from Memento, also using it for sponging, and added touches of Copic Marker. I punched 2 sizes of hearts with my Marvy punches, running the larger one through the Cuttlebug with an EF. For accents, I added gems and some polka dot ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate each and every one of you!

You're Hot!

Lol, or not! This weeks Cocoa Challenge #8 is to use Pink and Red. I decided to use my Cup of Cocoa set from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps. I removed the candy canes and marshmallows that stick out of the cup, so I could have any hot liquid to go with my sentiment. The You're Hot sentiment is from TCP. My card stock is Pure Luxury and my pink, dp is from the new Basic Grey collection called Hopscotch. For embellishments, I used some red and white ribbon, an MS border punch, paper lace and sticky hearts from K&Co. Coloring was done with Copic Markers. There are touches of Enamel Accents from Ranger.

Thanks for taking a peek, and I hope to be back a bit later.

Morning!

I have lots of things going on with this card. First I find it difficult to create a card for a female friend for Valentines Day, that is not mooshie gooshie. Here is my attempt at that. Next, I used an old stamp from my stash, called Floral Design by Embossing Arts Co. The third idea going on, is a technique that I never think of using. My friend Linda, from Payne Holler Cards, is the person that I always catch stamping right onto her designer papers and then coloring the images. Well, I really like the effect it gives, and I will be using this more often.

I used Pure Luxury card stock for my base, topped it with Memory box striped paper, stamped using the above mentioned stamp, and colored with Copic Markers. My hearts were punched with the same card stock, and embossed with a Swiss Dot EF. My scattered words are from a K&Co, Words to Go, Take Out Box. I added a lavender gingham bow and a fancy vintage heart button from my stash. There are Prima's with Dew Drops and touches of Stickles added to the stamped flowers for sparkle.

I would like to enter this card at:

Speedy the Cat's Friends- add heart/hearts

Joan's Gardens Challenge # 2- Recipe button, bow, heart, striped dp

Craft Your Passion Challenge- Button it up

Tuesday Throwdown #32- Valentine

Really Reasonable Ribbon #16- Heart Theme

We are covered in an icy shroud, so you know this girl is going nowhere! Have a happy, creative day y'all!

Happy Monday!

Good morning, friends! Today I would like to share a card with you that I made for 2 wonderful challenges. The first is Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #38. We are asked to have a heart on our card. I used their stamp set called Stinky Situation and turned it into a Valentine. The second challenge is Joan's Garden's Challenge #2 which is one of Joan's famous recipes. This week she has asked us to use a striped paper, which I think I have done by using a Sizzix wood grain EF. I also used a stamp of a stand of birch trees which forms a stripe. We are also asked to include a bow, button, and heart. Check, check, check! I was so excited to use something old from my stash. Remember the old school plastic stencils? Yup, I pulled one out to create my large heart. The rest of the card is pretty much self explanatory.

I was so thrilled to have been a winner in the recent Mark's Finest Paper Blog Hop. I can not wait to see the set that will arrive, as it will be one from their next release. I only own a few, and this will be a great help with creating for challenges. Thanks, Mark's!

It's a dark, dingy day in PA. We have an icy storm on it's way. Another great day to work on some Valentines! Hope all is well in blogland, and thanks for peeking in.

To A Souper Friend!

When I did the Crazy 4 Cocoa Challenge last week, I was sure I would run out of ideas quickly. My stamp supply of Cocoa stamps,from Sweet'nSassy, is slim. This week, the theme is "In The Kitchen". How lucky was I, that one of my two sets had veggies in it! I also found a really cool sketch over at Card Positioning Systems, that I thought would work well.

I stared with Sweet Mango and Soft Sand Pure Luxury card stock. I embossed the panel of Soft Sand with the diagonal stripe EF. My pattern papers are from my scrap bin. I found this neat 3D soup pot sticker and bow tie noodles to add to the sketch. I think they are cute, how about you? When it came to my Cocoa image, I used one from my set called Autumn Lovin Cocoa. I did alter him a bit to fit my needs. The complete stamp, has leaves sticking out from underneath. Snip, snip and gone. Since my soup pot has glittery steam, I add some to the tips of the corn and squash. Cocoa's ears, nose, and tail are coated in Glossy accents. I read a tip that I used to keep his tail from ripping after fussy cutting. Just add a coat of Glossy Accents to strengthen! Worked great! My sentiment is a stamp from Stamps n' More.

Glad I was able to get back with entries for these challenges.

Crazy 4 Cocoa #7 - In The Kitchen

CPS #200 - sketch

Thanks for stopping by!

Heart You!

This mornings card is a digi valentine. My image is from Designed to Delight (D2D). Even the lacy heart paper I used for the background is digital! I popped my flowery mug off of a black Nestie cutout from the Labels Fourteen set. My little sentiment is from a Gina K. Designs set called Sweetest Memories. I used black, loopy edge ribbon and lots of Diamond Stickles for sparkle. Yes, I used my creative freedom, and the ladybug is purple in my little world! Oh I almost forgot, the polka dots on my mug, are Enamel Accents from Ranger. They add a bit of texture.

Well it is hard to believe, but the temperature here has actually gone up a bit. Last evening we were at a balmy 8 degrees. This morning it is reading 13. Even my black lab is not interested in going walkies in this! Usually I have to bribe her back in with cheese. LOL. Stay warm, stay safe, and have a creative day!

Blossoms Abound Valentine

Yep, I am back with a Valentine made with an older stamp set. This card is using Blossoms Abound by Stampin Up! I used a couple of the pastel shades of card stock from Gina K. Designs. My striped paper is from my scrap bin. I used Versamagic chalk inks to do my 2 step stamping and then cut it out offset with a Scalloped heart Nestabilities die. I sponged with soft blue before removing the heart from the die. I added some Dew Drops, butterfly punch outs, and deep purple ribbon as my accents. Just a simple Valentine. I really enjoyed using this set!

Expecting a very frigid day here today. My car is still in a shroud of ice and snow, so I guess no work for me again today, darn. Spent the evening rolled in a blanket, on the couch, watching Eat Pray Love w/ Julia Roberts. Hubby actually made it through the movie! Glad I recorded the premier of Off The Map, cause I fell asleep. I may be back! Hope all is well in your little part of the world!

A Couple of Cards for RAK's

My first card was created using a recently acquired set called Asian Plants. It is from Clear Dollar Stamps, LLC. I used a white base card and added Sweet Mango PL card stock. My striped dp is from Francis Meyers Co. My image was cut out with Classic Squares Nestabilities and sponged with Taken with Teal ink from SU!. The image itself is colored with Copic Markers. I created the fancy punched piece with an MS Iron Gate, corner punch.I added ribbon and pink pearls for embellishments. The vase and Asian character are both coated with a Sakura Glaze Pen.

For my second RAK card, I used an older SU! set called Art of Life. I stuck with the black, grey, and white theme to give the card a classy look. Again I started with a white base with a layer of dp from Making Memories. I used a scrap Nestie cut out as a frame. My accents are fine checked ribbon, black twine, flat black sticky dots, and a silver watering can charm. My flower head is covered in Stickles for a little sparkle.

I will document both of these sets used in my new journal. *Grin*

I hope to pack up some Christmas decorations today and ship them back to the attic. Why is it always harder to pack away, then it is to put up? Ugh! More snow coming my way tomorrow. It would be nice to give the furnace a little break with a warm day. 45 degrees would be lovely!

Okay, I am done moaning, or you may not stop back again. Hugs, my friends!

My Stamping Journal

I decided to case an idea that one of my blogging friend posted on her blog. She has personally challenged herself to use stamp sets that have been shoved to the back of the closet and have not seen ink in ages. Please stop over and check out Wendy's blog, WeeBeeStampin4Fun. Her journal is just gorgeous. I think my plan is to date and write in sets that I know the name of, as I use them, but if I use an unmounted that I am clueless about, I will lightly stamp the image. Lord only knows, that I have zillions of unmounteds. What do you think? Cool idea? It is time for them to see ink! This is my pledge!

My basic idea came from the color challenge this week at Stamp TV. It is not a normal combo of colors for me, but hey, I figured I would give it a try! The colors are Red Hot, Turquoise Sea, and Sweet Mango. I found some really cool designer paper in my stash that had the right colors. Next I took a set from Gina K. Designs called Happy Hearts and stamped heart images over the dp with Tempting Turquoise ink from SU!. I computer generated the label for my journal and again stamped the same hearts but this time I colored the design with Copic marker. I added a Red Hot card stock binding and assorted die cuts from K&Co.'s Que Sera Sera collection. I ran some sticky trim that was left over from last months Roses Challenge project (thanks Connie), and turquoise 1/4 inch satin ribbon around the binding. I tied and knotted on a couple of vintage beads, covered the inside covers with coordinating papers and that completed the task.

We are getting slammed with Round 2 of snow today. It will be a good soup day! Maybe make some potato soup, or perhaps broccoli cheddar? Yum, yum. DH has to work, so home alone and lots of play time! Thanks for taking a peek at my project, it was really fun!