Play Date Cafe Challenge #167

Hi there!

Hard to believe, but it is time once again for the weekly Play Date Cafe Challenge. The color story this week is bright and sunny.

Fuchsia, sprout, and canary are the colors for this week. Such a pretty color story, too, I have a yellow swing just like the one in the photo. :)

For this week's card, I used the Candy Jar and Jar Fillers - Jam Packed sets. Isn't that sentiment cute?

Think you'd like to join us this week? You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, February 5th to play along.

You can also check out this week's prize from our sponsor, My Creative Classroom.

Sadly, we are also saying goodbye to two of our designers this week, Jocelyn Olson and Stacy Rodriguez. These fabulous ladies and their inspiring creations will certainly be missed! I hope you can stop by to let them know how much you've appreciated their weekly contributions. 

I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge! Thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Candy Jar, Jar Fillers - Jam Packed, Gingham & Co. - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Barely Banana, Raspberry Ripple - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: Stampin' Up!
INK: Certainly Celery, Raspberry Ripple, Barely Banana - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Scarlet Jewel Buttons - PTI; Modern Wallpaper Embossing Folder - Provo Crafts; Sewing machine - Janome

Serendipity Stamps Spring Release

Hello there!

Today the Serendipity Stamps Design Team is joining together to showcase the new stamps and dies that make up Serendipity's Spring release.

We hope you'll join us for this blog hop! Mary is offering a $20 Serendipity Stamps credit to one randomly chosen commenter - so be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs! Comments will be accepted through Friday, February 1. A random winner will be announced on Monday.

Today I focused on the two new dies being released. My first card features the Love Die.

I used the inset die cut technique and swapped out the cream colored die cuts and replaced them with a gradient of pink cardstocks. This is an easy technique, and I think the resulting look is classy.

Next up is a little birthday tag using the Cupcake and Candle Die Set.

I die cut the cupcake and 3 candles from cream cardstock. Then I backed the die cut with glittered cardstock for some super fun sparkle. This will be great for my niece's 3rd birthday!

That is it for me today. Be sure to visit the rest of the DT, and don't forget that a random commenter will be chosen to receive $20 off their Serendipity Stamps order.

Cathy Weber

Jeanne Jachna

Jenny Gropp

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

See you tomorrow!

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Recipe
Love Card
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red - SU!
OTHER: Love Die - Serendipity Stamps

Cupcake Tag
CARDSTOCK: Kraft - Wplus9; Vintage Cream - PTI; Cool Caribbean - SU!
OTHER: Cupcake and Candle Die Set - Serendipity Stamps; Purple Spinel, Antique Gold Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Washi Tape - K&Co.; Tag Sale #1 Die - PTI; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger Industries

Groovy Thank You

Good morning, friends. How are you this morning? I didn't sleep well after last night's Downton Abbey. Boy, that was a rough one. Not entirely unexpected, but ouch.

How about a card? I had 15 minutes last night before TV time and challenged myself to use that time to create something quick and easy. I have a handful of old Stampin' Up! wood mounted sets that I kept after I stopped being a demo, and I thought I'd pull out Spring Solitude to see what I could make.

The strip of Oatmeal cardstock was already cut, so I grabbed some ink and got to it. I randomly stamped the flower cluster in Going Gray, then went over the largest outline flowers with a solid image. Not being able to see what I'm doing with the wood mounted stamps certainly adds to the random-ness of the pattern (what did we do before clear stamps?)

I added some stitching to the stamped piece, keeping things simple since my time was limited. As a finishing touch, I perched the little birdie on the sentiment.  I think it adds just enough oomph. Love this!

Thank you for taking the time to stop in here today, I hope you have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Spring Solitude - SU!
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Groovy Guava - SU!
INK: Going Gray, Pool Party, Groovy Guava - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Sewing Machine - Janome

True Strength

Hello!

It is a lovely lazy Saturday here, and I'm taking advantage of some me time to be crafty.

I decided the first order of business was to play along with the Waltzingmouse chalkboard technique challenge. I just made my first chalkboard card for last week's PDCC and loved it, so I was excited to give it another go.

I flipped through my catalog of WMS images and decided to use Afternoon Tea and Afternoon Tea Sentiments.

I paired these sets with patterned paper from Echo Park Paper Company's For the Record 2. I love the big flowers, the pattern reminds me of vintage oilcloth.

There is still just a bit of time left if you'd like to join in the challenge and give the chalkboard technique a try (a randomly chosen winner will get a gift certificate to the WMS store)! Hope to see you there!

Hope the rest of your weekend is great. I am looking forward to heading out to one of our favorite Chinese restaurants for dinner. Yummy!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Afternoon Tea, Afternoon Tea Sentiments, Very Vintage Labels No. 10 - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Soft Sky - SU!; Black - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: For the Record 2 - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Whisper White - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Gingham Fabric Tape - Maya Road; Sewing Machine

Love You More

Hello, hello!

I am stopping back in to share a card that I made for a challenge Kara (of KandRdesigns) is having on her blog. Every Friday Kara pins some of her favorite creations to her Friday Inspiration File on her Pinterest board. She has been doing this for 100 weeks, and this file is full of ah.ma.zing creations. Kara's challenge is to choose one that inspires and create a card based on it. The real challenge is choosing only one!

I chose this card from Kasia Curry. This is the card I created. I did not deviate far from her design!

I stamped my own patterned paper, using images from Waltzingmouse Stamps and Wplus9.

It feels so good to just make a card for the heck of it! I am so happy to be feeling back in the swing of things.

There isn't much time left to play along with Kara's challenge, but I do encourage you to visit Kara's blog to see her amazing creations as well as her Friday Inspiration File. I know I will definitely head there if I need a kick start!

I also wanted to share some fun news before I go.. I am the featured designer in the Spring 2013 issue of CardMaker Magazine. I received my copies yesterday, so they should be available on news stands. How exciting, I hope you'll check it out!

Hope your week is finishing up well, I'll be back soon!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Heirloom Patterns - WMS; Love You More, Mehndi Medallions, Woodgrain Silhouettes - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Soft Stone, Melon Berry - PTI; Going Gray, Real Red - SU!; White - Wplus9
INK: Real Red, Groovy Guava, Going Gray - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Washi tape; Button

Play Date Cafe Challenge #166

Hi there!

How is your week going? Besides our frigidly cold temperatures, it has been moving along smoothly.

It is time once again for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge, and this week is a color splash week!

This week's colors are black, white, and just a splash of emerald green. Here is what I created.

This was the perfect chance for me to give the chalkboard technique a try, and what fun it was! I combined images and sentiments from the Smitten and Trifecta sets from Mama Elephant as well as Cupid's Arrow and Banner Love from Wplus9. I added my splash of emerald in with a bit of washi tape and a button.

Today The Play Date Cafe will be announcing a new Private Blend Designer. How exciting! Here's a little hint about who it is.. she says "I'll play with just about any craft material EXCEPT cotton balls. Something about them grosses me out!" Head over to the Cafe Blog to find out who will be joining us!

I also want to give a big shout out to this week's prize sponsor, Viva Las VegaStamps. I love their trendy and unique images. Thank you for sponsoring us this week, Viva Las VegaStamps!

I would love for you to join us at the Play Date Cafe this week. You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, January 29th to play along.

The color splash week is always a popular one, and I can't wait to see what you create for the challenge. Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Smitten, Trifecta - Mama Elephant; Cupid's Arrow, Banner Love - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Black, White - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Chillingsworth Manor - Echo Park Paper Company
INK: Whisper White - SU!
OTHER: Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Washi Tape - Target; Button

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #4

Good morning!

It is time once again for a new challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The challenge for this week is 'Have a Care': to create a card using Serendipity's 'bonus' stamps. These stamps, available free with a $20 order, raise awareness of a few different pertinent causes. (To view the different images available, visit the Serendipity website and search for 'bonus'). You can see some other cards I have created with these stamps here and here.

Today I used the Big or Small stamp, in support of breast cancer awareness.

Yep, I went there! Please don't think I make light of the issue, I have a dear friend who is a survivor, but sometimes you have to put it all out there to grab people's attention!

This card started by tracing the largest Classic Heart Spellbinders die onto Blushing Bride cardstock. I cut out just the top of the heart shape, which ended up being the cleavage. I traced this piece onto Real Red cardstock to create the top layer. Some scalloped ovals add a lacy trim. I used the Ink Spots stamp to add a pattern to the red bustier and then spritzed it with some glitter spray. Finally, the sentiment was embossed in white so it stands out.

I do have to giggle a little at the way this turned out - its a pretty good representation! ;) I'll save you from sharing my husband's reaction!

If you haven't heard about the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog, the DT shares their samples for this bi-monthly challenge and also gives you the chance to play along (for a prize, too!) I hope you will join us, all you need is at least one Serendipity image and a project that follows the theme! Mary is offering a free digital image for this challenge, so be sure to grab that and play along!

I hope you'll take the chance to join in the challenge. Stop over to the Challenge Blog for all the details and to see the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

Cathy Weber

Helen Berry

Jeanne Jachna

Jenny Gropp

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Serendipity's special this week (January 23 - 30th) is 20% off the Home and Farm category, so be sure to check that out while you're visiting the store as well!

The DT will also be joining together for a new release blog hop next Wednesday, January 30th, so I hope you'll swing by to see some of the new stamps being released.

Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Big or Small, Ink Spots - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Blushing Bride, Real Red - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Whisper White - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Classic Heart, Classic Scalloped Oval Small - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Mister Huey's Calico Shine - Studio Calico

10 Minute Craft Dash

Howdy!

Boy, it is COLD here today! Right now we're hovering at about 6* - a day to stay inside and keep warm. Hope you're able to do that wherever you are.

Today I am here to share my promised 10 Minute Craft Dash #10 card. I hope to make this challenge one I regularly play in - I do find it a challenge to keep my crafting to only 10 minutes. I am a very indecisive crafter, so having only 10 minutes to work in forces me to make quick decisions. Plus, its FUN to be challenged like this!

Here are the beautiful springy colors for this challenge:

The challenge was also sponsored by Wplus9, and you know how I love me some Wplus9! :)

Here is the card I made, in just under 10 minutes- 9:28.

I will not pretend that I sat down at an empty desk and whipped this baby out in 10 minutes. I admire those wonderful crafters that can do that, though! No, I thought and thought about what I wanted to make, planned it out in my head, prepped all my supplies and had them out and ready before I got started.

The little sentiment bit was a last minute addition, and I'm not sure how I feel about it, but that is the beauty of keeping the crafting to a time limit. When the buzzer went off, I quit fussing and stepped away from the craft table. Really enjoying this challenge, Paulina, thank you! I hope to continue to play along. There are still a few days left to join in, too!

I have a few things to share before I head out:

The Play Date Cafe is sharing some fun news this Thursday, but until then they are having a contest on their facebook page. Its a guessing game, and the first correct guess is a winner. And at last count, we are only 11 people shy of 1,000 facebook friends. So head over there, check out the contest, and friend them!

Waltzingmouse Stamps is also having a little challenge on the blog this week. If you have wanted to give the uber-popular chalkboard technique a try, now is your chance! Head over to the WMS Blog for those details. I can't wait to play along with that too.

Thanks for stopping by to see me today, I will be back each day this week with new stuff, so I hope you can join me!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Flora & Fauna, Defining Words, Woodgrain Silhouettes, Quite Like You - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Sweet Blush, Spring Moss - PTI; Going Gray - SU!
INK: Whisper White, Going Gray - SU!; Spring Moss - PTI; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Blossom Twine - The Twinery; Sweet Blush Button - PTI

Je t'aime

Happy Monday!

I'm starting this week off well - could only find one shoe, was late getting out of the house this morning, and I forgot to grab my camera card reader so I can't share the card I created for the new 10 Minute Craft Dash Challenge. Boo!

I hope you will stop back tomorrow to see it, but until then, I have another little card that I created and haven't shared.

When in doubt, put a doily on it! :)

Just a fun little number using some chevron patterned paper (For the Record 2), a label, and some washi tape. This is my quick and easy, dears.

I hope your Monday is off to a better start than mine. I look forward to seeing you back here tomorrow!

Have a good one!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Label Basics - PTI; French Country - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: For the Record 2 - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Real Red - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Paper Tape - Martha Stewart Crafts; Spiral Notebook Page Die, Aqua Mist button - PTI; Doily - Wilton

True Love

Whew. We made it - its Friday!

I am looking forward to the weekend. I feel like I have finally dug myself out of the holiday quicksand. As much as I love that time of year, it sucks me in and pulls me away from my normal routine. I eat too much crap, I start slacking off on the exercise, and other things become a higher priority than crafting just for the heck of it and then being able to blog about it. I had a good week this week, felt like I was able to get closer to the place I want to be. Hopefully that feeling will help me to keep it going. Now if I could only pick back up on Project Life. I love every bit of it, but I stopped in August of last year and the daunting task of catching up is well.. daunting.

How about I share today's card with you?

Each of these images is from the Cupid's Arrow set from Wplus9. I lightly drew pencil lines along my card to follow when stamping each design. I used a grid lined block, stamped onto grid paper, and took my time.. it was easy to flip my cardstock over the first time I goofed :)

I started with a dark red ink and stamped each row in a lighter color. I thought finishing it off with a sentiment in gray would be a good compliment. Red and gray are good together. I punched out one of the bull's eye images with a circle punch and popped it up on my card.

I like this card for my husband. It is lovey without being too girly or floofy (I resisted adding some glitter). Clean and graphic is always a winner for the guys.

I hope you have a great weekend. I have a list of challenges I'd like to play along with, so that's what I hope to be doing!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Cupid's Arrow - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Real Red - SU!
INK: Going Gray, Poppy Parade, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler - SU!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #165

ETA: Hi! This is my second post of the day. For my WMS Blog Party post, please scroll down or click here! :)

Are you ready for another fabulous week of color inspiration! I hope you look forward to it as much as I do. This week's Play Date Cafe Challenge is a soft, sweet one.

This week's suggested colors are Plum, Mustard, and Rose, which were the perfect opportunity for me to pull out some sets from Wplus9's December release. These babies needed some ink!

The sentiment and cute little cupid image are from the newly released Cupid's Arrow set. Right now I am loving the look of elements cut off the edge of the card, so I tried this with my sentiment. I like it.

The roses are from the Mother's Day Bouquet set, the best $6 you could spend. The pink strip of cardstock needed a little something, so I embossed it with the Chevron Impression Plate. I love that it mimics the tiny little chevrons in the sentiment. Full circle, my friends.

I would love for you to join us at the Play Date Cafe this week. You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, January 22nd to play along. While you're there, you can check out the fabulous Cup of the Week prize from the PDCC prize vault! I know Julie has some goodies stashed away for you!

I can't wait to see what you come with using these gorgeous colors. Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Cupid's Arrow, Mother's Day Bouquet - Wplus9 Design Studio
CARDSTOCK: Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride - SU!; Fine Linen - PTI; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride - SU!; Fine Linen - PTI; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Chevron Impression Plate, Cupid's Arrow Die, Scalloped Oval Die - Wplus9; Apron Lace Punch - Fiskars; Sewing Machine - Janome

Waltzingmouse Stamps January Blog Party

Hello, hello!

Today is the monthly blog party at Waltzingmouse Stamps. This month's theme is LOVE. Love!

Before I show you my card, I want to make sure you head over to the Moxie Fab World Blog today, as Cath's Moxie Fab Stamp of Approval this week is Waltzingmouse Stamps!

She is highlighting some beauties: My Heart, Appleblossom Seeds, Woodenheart Alphabet, My Island, and Woodgrain. I used a few of these sets on my card for today, but you can always find more inspiration in the WMS Gallery.

Right now I am in a square card mode, loving the color red, and feel the need to put a doily on everything.

All the stamps that I used are from the My Heart and Woodgrain sets. Both of these sets have a US shipping option, too. Just sayin'.

Ok! I won't keep you, because I know that there are going to be a ton of fabulous lovey-dovey creations in the party that you'll want to check out. So head over to the WMS Blog, be inspired, and share some love!

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Recipe
STAMPS: My Heart, Woodgrain - Waltzingmouse Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Pink Pirouette, Real Red - SU!; White, Linen Vellum - PTI
INK: Blushing Bride, Real Red - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: French Pastry Doily Die - Cheery Lynn Designs; Button

Quilted Heart

Good morning!

I hope your week has been going well. We are forecasted to get some nasty weather this morning... snow is one thing but freezing rain and sleet are another!

Today I am sharing a card that I made using a set from Serendipity Stamps' new spring release called Quilted Hearts. It is a cutie!

I used just the largest heart of the set and paper pieced it with different patterned papers. All are from the My Mind's Eye Nostalgia collection.

I adhered real buttons to the buttons on the image, a little touch that adds some whimsy to the card. A Valentine's sentiment comes with the set, but I opted to leave it off (sometimes I like sentiment-free cards) as I think this would make a fabulous get well card!

I hope you'll check out the rest of the spring release from Serendipity. There is a section on the website for New Stamps & Dies where you will find them all.

Tomorrow I will be back with my weekly Play Date Cafe post as well as this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party! I'm jam packed this week!

Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Quilted Hearts - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Blush Blossom, Groovy Guava - SU!; Vintage Cream - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: Nostalgia - My Mind's Eye
INK: Coffee Archival Ink, Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Sewing Machine - Janome; Buttons

Wplus9 Design Studio Top 12

Hello again! I am back, today sharing my top 12 cards of 2012 using Wplus9 products. When putting together my Waltzingmouse Top 12 for yesterday's post, I also found plenty of favorites created using Wplus9 stamps. This rundown is just as much for me (if not more!) than you - seeing things I have made is helping me to want to spend more time in my studio getting crafty.

So let's bring on my top 12 Wplus9 favorites!

Using Guiding Light.

Using So 80's.

Using Fish More.

Using Woodgrain Silhouettes Additions, Fresh Picked, and Very Vintage Greetings.

Using Spring Post.

Using C'est La Vie and Mother's Day Bouquet.

Using Heartfelt Mix, Country Charm, and the Quilt Cuts 1 Die.

Using Season of Thanks and Country Charm.

Using Happy Harvest.

Using Quilt Cuts 2 Die, Clear Cut Stackers: Stars, Country Charm, Mehndi Medallions, and A Pocketful: Halloween. This was when I Guest Designed during the October Release! I loved every minute!

Using Iconic Christmas.

Using Fish More.

What a big help it has been to revisit some of my favorite creations from the past year. The creative juices are flowing! Believe it or not, but I'll be sharing something new each day for the rest of the week, so I hope you can stop back!

Have a great day!