Krystal's Sunday Favorites 1.30.11

Hi Stamping Friends!
Happy Sunday!  Hope you had a wonderful week!  I'm kind of glad it's over.  Between taking 14yo DS to the doctor for x-rays and 12yo DD to the dentist to pull FIVE baby teeth and getting my computer repaired because of a virus... my credit card is melting!  And if I really wanted to get it hot, I would have preferred to melt it by ordering all the fabulous goodies in the new Occasions Mini Catalog and take advantage of the Sale-A-Bration promotion!!

One good thing about this week is I still had time to browse the web and find lots of amazing Stampin' Up! projects for you to enjoy.

iSTAMP

IT'S ALL ABOUT STAMPING

TRULY INKSPIRATIONAL

REMARKABLE CREATIONS

STAMPING ADDICT

JULIE B's STAMPING SPACE

Be sure to stop by these stampers blogs and see even more inspirational ideas.  And while you are there, don't forget to leave a comment or two!  I know they will appreciate it.

I'll be back tomorrow for Challenge Monday.  I've written down tons of challenge ideas and even found a few "new-to-me" challenges.  We'll see how many cards I can actually get done before now and then.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop

Hi Stamping Friends!
It's the most wonderful time of the year... Sale-A-Bration!!!  I love the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration promotion.  It's one of the reasons I decided to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I mean, who doesn't love FREE stamps?!  And I'm so excited today to be a part of the fabulous Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop.  If you have been hopping with us, then you should have come from Adriana's blog, escape2stamp, where she had you drooling over the Always Elegant stamp set.  If you have just joined the hop, we are happy you are here!!  I will have a link at the bottom of my post that will bring you to the next blog on the tour.  If you get lost along the way, here is a link of the BLOG HOP order, where you can find your way back.

Last year for Sale-A-Bration, Stampin' Up! added lots of regular catalog stamps to choose from, in addition to the special SAB stamps and products.  I was so excited about this additional promotion because there are a ton of stamps in the regular catalog that I would love to own.  And getting them FREE makes it even better!!  I'm glad Stampin' Up! decided to offer it again as part of the SAB promotion this year.  The stamp set I chose to showcase is Wellness Wishes  #115356

Paper:  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Springtime Vintage DSP
Accessories:  Oval Sizzix Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Rose Red Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Spritzer Tool, Boho Blossom Punch
Challenges:  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

This image is the only stamp I really wanted out of this set.  I could never talk myself into buying a whole set for just the one stamp.  But since I could get it for FREE, I knew it was mine!!  I love the beautiful scripty font.  It looks so wonderful on a vintage style card.  You could also ink up just the words, "Praying for you" and then use this image to send to anyone, for any reason.  Of course I didn't think about doing that until AFTER I had made this card!

Paper:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Tasteful Trim Die, Striped Grograin, Hemp Twine, Round Tab Punch, Nuetrals Designer Buttons, Polka Dot Texturz Plate, Dimensionals

Challenges:  Color Challenge: Cards&Things #63  Sketch Challenge: Stampin' Royalty  #56

This little image just makes me giggle!  Isn't that sad little band-aid face just too cute?!  I have used this image more times than I thought I would.  My 7yo nephew broke his leg and my 12yo DD made the cutest card for him.  I should get it back from my sis and take a pic of it.  Already at 12, my daughter is quite the creative little soul!  I've seen these adorable band-aid cards on the net and just had to make one for myself.

Paper:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Box #2 die, Round Tab Punch, Nuetrals Desginer Buttons, Striped Grosgrain, Corduroy Button (retired)

The Box #2 die reminds me of a little band-aid box.  I thought it would be a perfect match to this cute image.  And it's the perfect size to fill with cough drops, tea bags, tissues, or better yet... CHOCOLATE!  I mean who doesn't feel better after eating some smooth, sweet, delicious chocolate?!!

There are three images in this set.

I hope you enjoyed your stop at my little piece of blog land.  And I hope you are enjoying the Stampin' Addicts SAB Blog Hop.  There are always so many amazingly talented stampers on the SA hops.  If you are looking for a Stampin' Up! only community to visit, learn, share and laugh with, stop by Stampin' Addicts, where they are "Postively Creative, Postively Stampin' Up!".  One of my favorite things about Stampin' Addicts, (besides the super friendly stampers!) is the alphabetized GALLERY.  Go check it out.  I promise you will leave inspired!

The next stop on the hop is none other than the Hop-Meister herself (and my personal Words With Friends buddy!), Yapha at Rubber Stamping and Card Making.  She is going to wow you with cute using the Bear Hugs stamp set.  And word on the street says that she has a very special guest designer stamping with her.  :)

---GO TO NEXT BLOG---

I'll be back on Monday with some challenge cards for you.

Thanks for hopping by!

Happy Stamping!

(Yay!  I found my siggy hiding in a file on my son's laptop!!)

Stampin' Celebration #37

Hi Stamping Friends!!

Love is in the air at the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge!!  Aren't all those little "love birds" just too cute!!  We hope you will stop by and play along with us this week.  I thought these inspiration pictures were so adorable, that I decided to make two cards.  Bummer is, I only uploaded one of them to our SCIC Ning page and the other is stuck in my desktop PC which is sitting at the shop right now!  If I have time in the morning, I'll take another pic of my other card and add it to this post.  Sorry if you are an email subscriber and get two emails from me tomorrow!  I'll try and get it changed before my post gets sent to you.  ETA:  I added my second card!

SEASON OF FRIENDSHIP

Stamps:  Season of Friendship, Filled With Love

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Playdate DSP

Accessories:  Owl Punch, 3 Heart Punch, Striped Grosgrain, PP Taffetta Ribbon, Brads, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Heart-to-Heart Embosslit, retired flower brad, Curly Label Punch

I was inspired by the little owl on the cupcake pick and also by the tree with the birdies hanging from it.  This card ended up with more "stuff" on it than I had intended.  Have you ever had that happen before?  When you just don't know how to stop?  I really need to work on a more clean and simple look.  Sometimes I just think I get too carried away.  This fun sketch comes from the Paper Players.

Here is the second card I made.  Please ignore the terrible pic.  We have no sun (haven't for weeks!) so I had to use my stamping lights.  Thus, the horrible background!

BE MY VALENTINE

Stamps:  Be My Valentine, Love You Much

Paper:  Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink Patterns DSP, Red Glimmer Paper

Accessories:  Heart Pressed Letterpress Plate, Versamark Ink, Irridescent Ice EP, Scalloped Heart-of-Hearts Embosslit, Large Heart Punch, Heart of Hearts Punch, White Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Brights Designer Buttons

I was inspired by the adorable pink and red color theme and all the hearts.  This card is super sparkly IRL.  My original pic shows it much better.  For the letterpress background, I inked up the plate with Versamark, then ran it through my Big Shot, then sprinkled it with Irridescent Ice EP and then heat set it.  I also stamped the main Be My Valentine image with Real Red Craft Ink and then sprinkled it with Irridescent Ice EP as well and embossed it.  My hostess club will be making this card on Saturday afternoon.

For this card I used the Techno Stamper sketch challenge: TSSC158.  I also used the theme challenge from the Hand Stamped Sentiments blog: HSS52 which is to use hearts on your card.  I think I accomplished that!!  And now back to our original post...

Be sure to stop by the Stampin' Celebration blog and see what the other Design Team members have created.  As always, they have stamped some adorable samples.  And we hope you can play along with us this week!!

Remember, tomorrow is the Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop.  You won't want to miss it!!  I will be featuring the set, Wellness Wishes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

(My signature normally goes here, but it's stuck on my desktop at the shop)  :(

Digi Wednesday

Hi Stamping and Scrapping Friends!

This year I decided I wanted to be more organized in my blog posting.  I don't just mean posting more.  I mean sort of like regularly scheduled posts.  Just like your TV, you know what day of the week your favorite cable/television programs will be aired.  I'm trying to "air" my posts on the same days of each week.  This is what it looks like so far:

Challenge Monday

ColourQ Tuesday

Digi Wednesday

Stampin' Celebration Thursday

Digi Friday

Surprise Saturday

Krystal's Favorites Sunday

Of course this is apt to change at any time!  Especially if I get to participate in a Stampin' Addicts Blog Hop, like I am this weekend.  This time we will be featuring lots of great stamp sets that you can get FREE with your $50 Stampin' Up! order.

As you can see, I added two days of digital stuff.  I am absolutely loving My Digital Studio and I can't stop playing with it!!  I remember now just how much I love scrapbooking.  This has really inspired me to do something with all the pictures that are just being stored on my computer.  It has also inspired me to take more photos!  I don't take near as many pictures as I used to.  Your kids get older and the camera comes out less and less.  I plan on remedying that this year.  I also ran across an ABC Scripture Challenge for 2011.  I participated in one back in 2009 and am excited to try it again.  This time using My Digital Studio!

Today's digi page is of my 12yo DD.  I read on a blog at the beginning of the year about choosing a "one word prayer" for your child for the whole year.  Something that you could easily pray for them daily.  I tried to think of how I wanted to encourage her this year.  I had lots of ideas, but it was difficult to put them into just one word.  I chose the word "heart".  I almost chose "grace" since that is her middle name, but she is only 12, we can work on grace later.  :)  What I want her to have is a pure, kind, commpassionate heart that is full of life and love for others. 

While I was writing this post, my desktop got a virus.  So I switched to my son's laptop.  Hope it's nothing too serious!!  Guess I'll have to bring it into the shop tomorrow and find out.  I will post tomorrow for the Stampin' Celebration challenge, so be sure to stop back by!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

ColourQ #69

Hi Stamping Friends!!
It's Tuesday and time for another color challenge from the ColourQ!  Arielle threw us what she referred to as a color "curveball" this week.  I'm tellin' ya, that girl is keeping me on my stamping toes!!  Don't these colors even look a little "spicy" to you?  After last week's fiasco, I was determined not to let these colors get the best of me.  And guess what... they didn't!  I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

AVIARY

Stamps:  Aviary, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Rich Razzleberry and Peach Parfait Patterns Pack DSP
Accessories:  Peach Parfait Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Oval Punch, Oval die, Tasteful Trim die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Brights Glimmer Brads

Sketch Challenge:  STAMPIN' ADDICTS  SASC80

This is such an exciting stamping week for me for two reasons...

1.  Sale-A-Bration starts TODAY!!!  I love the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration promotion.  I stock up on all my stamping essentials like adhesive, cardstock, ribbon, and then I get tons of goodies for FREE!!!  I also usually splurge on one big ticket item, like the Stampin' Write Markers or the Big Shot.  I figure if I'm going to spend the money, I might as well get a little something extra for it!  Plus, during SAB there is an amazing deal on the Demonstrator Starter Kit.  When you purchase the kit for 15% off, you also get a special bonus bundle of over $50 in FREE products.  How cool is that?!!  If you would like to take advantage of the Sale-A-Bration promotion, click on the cart full of Stampin' Up! goodies in my sidebar.  That will take you straight to my SU! website.

2.  This weekend, starting Friday, I will be participating in a Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop.  You won't want to miss it!!  I had over 2,000 visitors hop through my blog during the last SA Occasions Mini Blog Hop.  I'm tellin' ya, there are some amazing stampers on this hop.  You will get tons of inspiration and you will want to get every SAB set possible!!

If you have any questions about the Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration promotion, are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, or are interested in purchasing the Starter Kit, send me an email.  I'd love to help you out!

Be sure and stop by the ColourQ blog this week.  The Design Team has done a fabulous job with these colors (as always!).  We would love to see you play along!  I hope you stop back by tomorrow.  I will have another My Digital Studio scrapbook page to show you.

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Challenge Monday

Hi Stamping Friends!!
It's Monday and that means it's time to post all the challenge cards I created this weekend.  And lucky for me (and you!), it was cold and foggy all weekend long.  So I stayed warm and cozy inside and STAMPED!

ELEMENTS OF STYLE

Stamps:  Elements of Style, Tiny Tags
Accessories:  Vinatge Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Beautiful Butterflies die, Springtime Vintage Designer Buttons, Basic Pearls, Striped Grosgrain, Chantilly Lace, Tag Punch, Stampin' Write Markers, Linen Thread, Spritzer Tool, Dimensionals

Sketch Challenge:  PALS PAPER ARTS #77
Color Challenge:  INKSPIRATIONS #54  Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla 
Recipe Challenge:  STAMPIN' ROYALTY #55  Wings

CHEEP TALK

Stamps:  Cheep Talk

Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Dotted Ribbon Scallop Border Punch, Brights Designer Buttons, Whisper White Grosgrain, Linen Thread, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Sketch Challenge:  STAMPING 411  #187

Color Challenge:  COLOR LAB  #25  More Mustard, Old Olive, Pacific Point

Color Challenge:  OUR CREATIVE CORNER  Analogous Colors

Theme Challenge:  FRIDAY MASHUP!  #28  Birds

AVIARY

Stamps:  Aviary, Hello Again

Accessories:  Tasteful Trim die, Oval Punch, Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain, Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain (retired), Black Brads, Mat PAck, Piercing Tool

Sketch Challenge:  CREATE WITH CONNIE AND MARY  #134

Color Challenge:  MOXIE FAB WORLD  Bright and Bold (I used Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, and Basic Black)

Theme Challenge:  FRIDAY MASHUP!  #28  Birds

FILLED WITH LOVE

Stamps:  Filled With Love

Accessories:  Tasteful Trim die, Heart Pressed Letterpress Plate, Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Large Heart Punch, Oval Punch, Heart-to-Heart Punch, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, Pacific Point Grosgrain (retired)

Sketch Challenge:  HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS  #51

Color Challenge:  THE COLOR DARE  #93  Regal Rose, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette

I told you I had a lot of time to stamp this weekend!  I also had time to stamp my ColourQ card for tomorrow, find some sketches for my Stampin' Celebration challenge project for Thursday, play around a little in My Digital Studio, and get inspiration for the upcoming Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop happening this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!!  Whew!  I'd say that was a stamp happy weekend for sure!

I hope you are inspired to play in a few challenges this week.  I know the challenge blogs would love some new players!!

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow and see what I created for the "spicy" ColourQ color challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Krystal's Sunday Favorites

Hi Stamping Friends!
Happy Sunday!!  I love checking out other Stampin' Up! blogs and seeing what fabulous projects other talented stampers have created.  Here's a little of what I spotted this week!

DO STAMPING WITH DAWN

YOUR FELLOW STAMPER

FLOWERBUG'S INKSPOT

LITTLE MISS SCRAPALICIOUS

TRINITY DESIGNS



If you have a minute, stop by these blogs and check out what else these amazing stampers have created recently.  I know you will gets tons of inspiration!

Don't forget to order your Filled with Love Bundle and receive Bitty Buttons for FREE!!  This offer ends on January 24th so hurry and contact your Stampin' Up! demonstrator ASAP.  If you don't have a dmeonstrator, email me and I'll be happy to place an order for you!

I'll be back tomorrow with my Monday Challenge cards.  I've been busily stamping all weekend.  So far I have three cards ready to go and I have a fourth card that I'm working on.  It's been a very (happy!) stampy weekend around here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Be My Valentine & an Award

Hi Stamping Friends!
Have you seen the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog yet?  What a great mini this one is---full of fun images and exciting accessories that are ideal for all sorts of different occasions!  There are so many fabulous products I want to order from this catalog.  I had such a hard time choosing what to pre-order.  I wanted to order it all!!  But since that wasn't in the budget in December, I refrained and only ordered a few things.  That of course will change when Sale-A-Bration begins.  I plan to spend a pretty penny on a quite a few items!!  It's a good thing I worked yesterday!  Here is a card I created using some of my new goodies...

BE MY VALENTINE

This card uses an A La Carte stamp from the Occasions Mini called Be My Valentine.  I love the flower design in the heart.  I also used a new Letterpress Plate called Heart Pressed.  I love the Letterpress Plates!  They add color and embossing all at the same time!!  The card base is Blushing Bride layered with Crumb Cake that was embossed with the Heart Pressed Letterpress Plate.  The Blushing Bride scallops were made with the Tasteful Trim die that was in the Holiday Mini catalog, but is still available for purchase.  The Pear Pizzazz polka dot DSP comes from the Patterns Pack.  I stamped the Be My Valentine image in Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz.  I cut just the sentiment out of the Pear Pizzazz and layered it onto the Blushing Bride heart.  The flowers were punched out with the Boho Blossoms punch.  I finished it off with a piece of Blushing Bride stitched poly ribbon.

For this card I used three challenges:

Color Challenge:  COLOR THROWDOWN #125  Pear Pizzazz, Kraft, Blushing Bride

Sketch Challenge:  DIVA COFFEE BREAK DESIGNS #211

Recipe Challenge:  4 CRAFTY CHICKS #21  Use ribbon, brads, and pattern paper

If you would like to receive a copy of the Occasions Mini catalog, email me and I will get one in the mail to you ASAP!

And now on to my fun award!!

I received this Stylish Blogger award from two Stampin' Addicts "pretend" stamping friends and fellow bloggers, Cindy at Heart's Delight and Jennifer at Stampin' on the Fly.  Thanks gals!!  What an honor to have my little 'ole blog noticed by anyone other than me! 

There are three simple rules for this blog award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and include a link to her blog.

2.  Share 8 things about yourself.

3.  Pass the award on to 8 stylish bloggers and let them know.

So here goes... 8 things about me:

1.  I have never received a traffic ticket of any kind.  I am a HUGE rule follower!

2.  I LOVE to read!!  I will read anything... cereal boxes, road signs, directions.  Yes, I'm one of "those" people that actually reads the acknowledgements and introductions in books.  I read a book in a day once.  What a glorious day that was!

3.  I married a truck driver turned landscaper who has now since decided to become a preacher.  I'm thinking God's getting a great big laugh out of this one.  Me?  A preacher's wife?!  Whooda thunk?

4.  Hubby and I both come from Dutch descendants, thus all the vowels in our last name.  De Leeuw means "the lion" in Dutch.

5.  While attending Cal Poly Pomona to become an elementary teacher, I worked at an Albertsons grocery store in the bakery department.  Back when everything was made from scratch.  Back when I could eat a hot glazed donut and chase it down with a warm cinnamon roll and never gain a pound.  Those were the days!

6.  Growing up, I was extrememly shy.  In the second grade I never even played on the playground.  For the whole year I just stood and watched all the other kids play.  Boy how things have changed since then!!

7.  I love being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!!  I have met some of the most amazing people through stamping.  The gals that come over and stamp with me are lovingly called "the stamp ladies" by my family.  I can't wait to meet some of my "pretend" stamping friends someday.  Hopefully at a SU! function in the near future.

8.  I have never, ever passed on a chain letter.  And I am still alive to admit it!!

So with that being said, I am not going to follow rule #3 of this award and pick 8 other bloggers (which is really hard to do becasue I am such a rule follower!).  Simply because I could never narrow it down to only eight.  There are so many talented stampers out there and they are all so stylish!!  So if you are a stylish blogger and want to tell others 8 things about yourself, then by all means, grab the award and go for it!! 

Be sure to check in tomorrow.  I will be sharing my Sunday Favorites which is where I link to some fabulous Stampin' Up! projects I've spotted on the net this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Celebration #36... MDS Style!

Hi Stamping and Scrapping Friends!

Oh. My. Goodness!!  I had soooooo much fun creating this 12x12 digi scrap page with My Digital Studio!!  It is my most favorite MDS page ever!!!  (At least until next week, when I create another one!)  Like I say every time I post an MDS page, I am completely addicted to digi scrapping!  I never thought I would enjoy it this much.  I created this page for the inspiration challenge over at the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge.  Here are the inspiration photos:

I chose to use the colors Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, and Blushing Bride.  Also from the pictures I was inspired by the flowers, the polka dots, and those butterflies by the cupcake.  The fabulous scrap sketch came from the PageMaps blog.  It has been one of my go-to scrap sketch sites for years.  I was a scrapbooker long before I was a stamper.  (A CM party way back in '93 got me hooked!)  And now that I'm back scrapping again with My Digital Studio, I've been visiting PageMaps more and more.  I need to sit with a big stack of paper and print me up last years sketches.  I think I have all of them printed up to 2009.

All the elements I used on this page come with the original My Digital Studio software.  I've purchased ZERO downloads.  I've only done the FREE updates from Stampin' Up!  Of course that will all change on February 1st when I plan on purchasing a boatload of MDS stuff.  I'm really wanting more Designer Series Paper, more embellishments, more kits, more everything!!! 

Why am I waiting until 2-1?  So I can get the Sale-A-Bration benefits of course!!  The Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration promotion starts on January 25th.  There are three easy ways to earn FREE products:

1.  Spend $50 and earn one FREE SAB product.  For every $50 you spend, you can choose another FREE SAB product!!

2.  Host a workshop of at least $300 and earn one FREE SAB product in addition to the generous hostess benefits.

3.  Join Stampin' Up! by becoming a demonstrator during SAB and get 15% off your Starter Kit.  Plus, get a bonus bundle filled with over $50 in FREE products!

Contact me if you are interested in learning more about either of these three ways you can earn FREE products!!

This past week I was honored with the Stylish Blogger Award from my very sweet "pretend stamping friend" Cindy at Heart's Delight Cards.  Come back tomorrow and find out 8 things you may not know about me.  Although this may be kinda tough for me, as I talk way too much and my life is an open book!  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge #36

Hi Stamping Friends!!

It's time for another inspiration challenge from Stampin' Celebration!  We would love if you stopped by and played with us this week.  I love the colors in these photos.  How could you ever go wrong with pink and brown?  Flowers and chocolate... it's the perfect combination!

BIRTHDAY BLISS

Have you ever had a card get lost in the interpretation?  This card looked so much better in my head.  But when I made it, I was not thrilled with how it turned out.  It's not a bad card, it's just not what I thought it would be.  If I had had more time, I would have re-worked it.  But that just did not happen.  Oh well, sometimes you hit it out of the park, and sometimes you just make it on base.  But at least I didn't strike out completely.  :)

The card base is Chocolate Chip layered with Whisper White and a piece of Blushing Bride DSP.  The cupcake was made using the Big Bold Cupcake Sizzlets.  I ran the bottom "chocolate" piece through the crimper and added the polka dots to the "frosting" using the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.  The little flowers were punched out with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  The sentiment comes from the Birthday Bliss set.  The layout for this card comes from the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.

Please stop by the Stampin' Celebration blog and see the fabulous creation the other Design Team members have made for this challenge.  You won't be dissappointed!  And make sure you come back here to tomorrow.  I have a My Digital Studio digi scrap page to share with you using these colors.  I think it is my favorite digi page ever!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Create with MDS!

Hi Scrapping and Stamping Friends!!
I have another My Digital Studio 12x12 digital scrapbook page for you today.  Have you heard me say how much I LOVE MDS?!  I just can't stop playing around with it!  Best part of all, there is no mess to clean up afterwards!  Now if I only had a laptop, I could scrap while I'm waiting for kids to get done with practices and stuff!

I used the colors from the Create with Connie and Mary blog.  The colors are Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, and Chocolate Chip.  This is challenge CCMC133.  I made a card for this challenge last week.  I have no idea how I knew about it ahead of time.  Must have been on my blog roll or something.  But I went ahead and made another project because I liked this color combo so much.  Since I'm waiting for Sale-A-Bration before I download any new MDS stuff, it was tough to include Pear Pizzazz.  Thankfully, Stampin' Up! offers free upgrades and they included some DSP with the new In-Colors.  I made the Pear Pizzazz strips by using the 1.25" Square Punch and resizing it to the size I wanted, then adding some DSP as the background.  The other digi stamps come from the Always set. They are included with the My Digital Studio software.  Like I said, I'm working with bare bones here.  I only have the original software.  I've purchased NO downloads... yet!

This fabulous sketch comes from the My Digital Studio online community.  It is a great place to be inspired by other amazing MDS artists.  They have a weekly Saturday Sketch Challenge.  This is ScrapSketch14.  The other thing I love about the MDS site is I learn so much!!  The forums are a great place to ask questions like, "How'd they do that?"  I've gleaned some awesome little tips by surfing through this site.  The only thing I haven't figured out how to do is "Group" objects.  I really need to learn this technique, because I love layering embellishments, but I almost always end up moving them.  Then I have to move each layer one at a time.  It's pain staking!  So if you know how to "Group" objects, let me in on the secret.  Please!!

Make sure you stop back by tomorrow to see what we are celebrating at the Stampin' Celebration Challenge.  I know you will "love" it!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

ColourQ #68

Hi Stamping Friends!!
It's Tuesday and that means time for another color challenge over at the ColourQ blog!  Now Arielle knows I love her dearly, but I have to say, I did not take kindly to the colors this week.  They were giving me fits I tell ya!  I made one card, and it was so horrible, that it should be posted on the Stampers Fail blog.  If there were such a thing.  Lucky for you I decided to stamp an entire new card.

CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES

The card title is a little deceiving, since there are no cupcakes on this card.  But that balloon stamp in the Crazy For Cupcakes set is just so cute, I can't stop using it!!  These colors really aren't that bad.  The part that kept throwing me off were the two, very different shades of red.  But I think I made them work. 

The card base is Poppy Parade layered with Whisper White cardstock.  The So Saffron DSP comes from the Playdate pack and the polka dotted Always Artichoke DSP come from the Patterns pack.  The Poppy Parade polka dotted balloon was made by stamping the Dot, Dot, Dot stamp with Poppy Parade ink onto Poppy Parade cardstock.  I love me some polka dots!!  The sentiment comes from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

Other challenges I used:

Sketch Challenge:  Clean and Simple  FTL123

Inspiration Challenge:  Stampin' Celebration  SCIC35  If you read this post before noon PST, there is still time to win some BLOG CANDY over at the Stampin' Celebration blog.  Hurry on over and check it out!

Now I know you are all just dying to see "the ugliest challenge card ever made".  Well, I don't want to disappoint you.  In fact, I hope it makes you feel more confident in your stamping abilities.  'Cause seriously, my 12yo DD could stamp better than this!

NATURE SILHOUETTES

It's so ugly that I made it the smallest size possible.  I don't want you to hurt yourself looking at it.  I know what you are thinking, "What was she trying to do?!"  Well let me tell you.  My dear friend and ColourQ color challenge creator extraordinaire, Arielle (the snappy stamper), is on like 7 million design teams.  Well, it's always kind of fun to help support the other challenge blogs out there, so I chose to use the sketch at Unscripted Sketches, one of the DT's that Arielle is on.  This week, they have a "piggyback" challenge to go with their sketch, and it is to make a guy card.  Well I can do that, I says to myself.  And so I began.  I had a sketch, I had my colors, and I had a theme.  And then I had a train wreck and the results are this card, destined for the round file or my FIL.  So that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Be sure and stop by the ColourQ blog this week.  There are some really fabulous cards by the other Design Team members.  Go look at Sylvia Nelson's card.  It is amazing!!  Best card I've ever seen using the new Build A Blossom set.  I hope you can play along with us this week.  I know you can stamp something more wonderful than what I did!

Tomorrow I will have another digital scrapbook page for you, using My Digital Studio.  Fortunately for you, I did not attempt to use these colors again.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Challenge Monday

Hi Stamping Friends!!
If you've been around my blog for very long, you know that I LOVE stamping (and now scrapping!) challenges!  Color challenges.  Sketch challenges.  Theme challenges.  Doesn't matter what the challenge is, I'm always up for it!  Problem is, there never seems to be enough days in the week to post all my challenge cards.  And all the challenges begin and end on different days.  I get so confused of what needs to be posted by when, that I forget to post them on time!  So I decided that I will participate in as many challenges as I can over the week, and post all my challenge cards on Monday.  Today is the first official "Challenge Monday" blog post.  Some Mondays I may have only one card, some Mondays (like today) I may have more.  Each week will depend on time and general stamping mojo.  Here's what I've been challenged by this week:

GREETING CARD KIDS

Sketch Challenge:  INKSPIRATIONS CHALLENGES #53
Color Challenge:  COLOR LAB #24   Rose Red, Blushing Bride, Soft Suede
Theme Challenge:  PALS PAPER ARTS #76  Valentine's Day

ANIMAL STORIES

Sketch Challenge:  SKETCH FRENZY FRIDAY
Color Challenge:  COLOR ROUND UP #17  Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake
Theme Challenge:  SUO CHALLENGES #10  Baby Card

PARTY HEARTY



Sketch Challenge:  STAMPING 411 #186

Color Challenge:  STAMPING ROYALTY #54  Concord Crush, Marina Mist, Old Olive

Theme Challenge:  HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS #50  Uses punches as your focus.
Inspiration Challenge:  STAMPIN' CELEBRATION #35 

If you think that's alot of challenges, it isn't even half of the ones I have links to!  Like I said, I LOVE challenges!  They really are the kick start to my creativity.  That and CASEing other fabulous stampers.  But that's what my Sunday Favorites blog posts are all about.  :)  I hope you've been inspired to try out a new stamping challenge this week!  I know they would appreciate more players.  It's so easy and super fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!