10 Minute Craft Dash #11

Howdy! We are rolling right on through the week, tomorrow is Valentine's Day.. the weekend is almost here.. it is good! Do you have any big plans? We are just going to spend a quiet weekend in. I enjoy cooking for Valentine's Day, so I am going to whip up a new recipe I found in this month's Food Network magazine. Conversation heart cookies are on tap for tonight, too... if you follow me on Instagram you will get a peek, I'm sure :)

Anyway... today I am sharing a little something for this week's 10 Minute Craft Dash. We're up to #11, and this time we have a theme challenge:

Here is my card, completed in 9 minutes and 26 seconds:

I gathered up the little heart stamps from each of the four different Pretty Patches sets that Wplus9 has (Apple, Christmas, Pumpkin, and Tree). Before I started my card, I lined all four of the hearts up on my acrylic block (is that cheating?) so that I could just repeat the stamping process. I used four different ink colors and just stamped the hearts across the front of my card, using the negative space between hearts and the grid lines on my acrylic block to line things up.

I added a glittered die cut word, completely inspired from this month's Cloud9 Hop (I'm looking at you, Erin). The 'You' sentiment to complete the phrase is from Cupid's Arrow. Not sure how I feel about that there, but that is the beauty of this challenge.

So there you have it - fun times! If you'd like to join the challenge, you still have a few days left. If you've never given the 10 Minute Craft Dash a try, you should!

Thank you for taking the time to stop in today, see you tomorrow :)

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Recipe
STAMPS: Pretty Patches: Apple, Pretty Patches: Christmas, Pretty Patches: Pumpkin, Pretty Patches: Tree, Cupid's Arrow - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Kraft - Wplus9
INK: Poppy Parade, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink - SU!; White - Wplus9; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Seasonal Sentiments Die - Wplus9; Antique Silver Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Xyron Sticker Maker

February Cloud9 Blog Hop

Hello and happy Saturday! Welcome to the February Cloud9 Blog Hop!

Here is this month's inspiration photo, found on the Black Eiffel Blog:

Adorable little valentines - there is so much inspiration in this one little photo!

Here is the card that I created:

It was so much fun to decorate these little tags. I used elements from the newly released Chantilly Trim and Very Vintage Florals sets as well as the lovely Heartfelt Mix.

I am so glad that you've stopped by to see me today, I hope you'll play along with this month's Cloud9 Blog Hop with the chance to win a fabulous Wplus9 prize as well as join the Inspiration Team as next month's Guest Designer! You have until 10 am on February 12th to link up with us over on the Cloud9 Blog.

Also be sure to check out the amazing creations from the rest of the inspiration team:

Suzanne Dahlberg
Gayatri Murali
Christina MacLaren

as well as this month's special guest designer:

Meredith MacRitchie!

Have a great day!


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Recipe
STAMPS: Chantilly Trim, Very Vintage Florals, Heartfelt Mix, Love You More - Wplus9 Design Studio
CARDSTOCK: Ballet Slippers, Oatmeal, Kraft - Wplus9; Regal Rose - SU!
INK: White - Wplus9 (love it!); Real Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Timeless Tags Die - Wplus9

Hello My Dear

Happy Friday!

Sounds like it is going to be a crazy weather day, especially for those of you in the New England area. Be safe!

I am once again playing along with the Muse Card Club. This week's Muse Challenge featured a fabulous card from Laurie Willison.

I loved Laurie's happy colors and the way the card elements were clustered towards the bottom. Here is the card that I made, inspired by Laurie's creation.

I am starting to find myself falling in love with yellow again, and I paired it with light purple and coral on this card. The background was stamped with the large houndstooth pattern from Heirloom Patterns. I cut the cardstock vertically and then stitched it back together. I layered some different elements - I had fun picking out what different things I wanted to add - and tucked in a strip of cardstock with a sentiment. I finished it off with some sequins, which are now making an appearance in papercrafting. I kind of like them.. I picked up a cheapo assortment of colors and sizes from the craft store, so I think I'll have fun peppering my cards with them.

I hope you have a fun weekend planned. Today is my husband's birthday, so I am looking forward to being obnoxiously lovey this weekend. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated! (I also just got a giant box of goodies from Wplus9, so I can't wait to dive into that!)

Take care, and thank you for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Heirloom Patterns - Waltzingmouse Stamps; Flora & Fauna I - Wplus9; Gertie "Girly" Stamps - My Mind's Eye; Pretty Peonies - PTI
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Pale Plum - SU!
INK: So Saffron, Pale Plum, Calypso Coral - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Sewing Machine - Janome; Sequins - Darice

Play Date Cafe Challenge #168

Hi there and happy Thursday. I am here to bring you this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge! Our colors this week are definitely tending towards the lovey dovey!

Our colors for this week are cranberry, raspberry, and petal. Here is the card I created using these colors.

To start, I sketched a heart onto printer paper and cut it out. I used the negative as a mask, stamping the various arrows over it in this week's colors. I combined a few different sets to get this look. Isn't it fun?

Before I removed the mask (I used a bit of washi tape to hold it in place on my cardstock) I added a bit of Antique Linen Distress ink to help define the heart shape just a bit. The sentiment was a finishing touch.

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 12th to play along.

You can also check out this week's prize from our sponsor, Avery Elle. They have some very cute stuff!

Before I head out, I wanted to ask you guys if any of you have had any experience with narrow angles or acute angle glaucoma? At a recent eye appointment, my optometrist diagnosed me with narrow angles, which basically means the iris of my eye covers the fluid drains from the eye. If this fluid cannot drain, pressure can build up in the eye suddenly and without warning and can lead to an acute type of glaucoma. The treatment is laser iridotomy, where the portion of the iris covering the drains is removed by laser.

Now that I have sufficiently grossed you out, has anyone had experience with this or any other type of laser eye surgery? I have an appointment to see the surgeon on Monday. It is outpatient and they only do one eye at a time. Eyes aren't something to mess around with, so I know I have to have it done, but does anyone have any good experiences or reassuring words for me?

Have a good day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Sweethearts - WMS; Cupid's Arrow - Wplus9; Smitten, Trifecta - Mama Elephant
CARDSTOCK: Primrose Petals - SU!; Vintage Cream - PTI
INK: Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Regal Rose - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko

Serendipity Stamps Blog Challenge #5

Hello, hello!

It is time once again for a new challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The challenge for this week is to create an Easter project using one of the project tutorials from the Scor-Pal website. I chose to make the One Sheet Box and combined it with images from the Bunny Artist Cling Set.

I started by stamping the entire sheet of cardstock with the ink splash image from this cling set (all these stamps are available individually as well). I used a bunch of different pastel colors and just stamped all over.

The box assembly was really easy, just a few score lines and folds. It was very helpful to have my cardstock stamped before I started the folding process. The finishing touch was to add the cute bunny artist image to the front. I stamped him separately and colored him with Copics before adding a touch of Stickles, cutting him out and adhering him with dimensional foam adhesive. He is placed in such a way that his ear helps to keep the flap of the box closed. :)

This week, Scor-Pal has donated one of their score boards for our random challenge winner, so we hope you'll play along! What a fantastic prize, and their website is just FULL of inspiration - there are tons of tutorials for making some pretty fabulous cards, boxes and gift containers! Remember, you just need to use at least one Serendipity image or die on your project, and even though the DT is going with an Easter theme, you are free to create anything!

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

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Serendipity's special this week (February 6 - 13) is free shipping on any US order of $10 or more.

Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Bunny Artist Cling Set - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream, Spring Moss - PTI; Soft Sky - SU!
INK: Pink Pirouette, Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Pale Plum - SU!; Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Standard Circles Small - Spellbinders Paper Arts; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger Industries; Copic Markers

Muse Card Club Challenge #2

Happy Friday!

Today I am playing along with the Muse Card Club Challenge #2. This week's Muse is sweetheart Suzanne Dahlberg (who I LOVE), and I couldn't resist the chance to give a new challenge a shot. I like the way this one works - inspiration, encouragement.. you should check it out.

So here is the card that I made with the oodles of inspiration that Suzanne shared.

I was inspired by the die cut edge of the card - love how Suzanne put hers at the top. I also picked up on the strips of different patterns in the center of the card and the bold flowers.

I used the Ever After set from Wplus9 for my big, lovely flowers. I like the look of them layered on the dark patterned paper. The bottom edge was cut with the Edgers #1 die from PTI. I layered some patterned paper and added a sprinkle of rhinestones.

So I am super excited to share something with you (you're all going to think I'm nuts when you hear what it is). I have mentioned before how crazy I am for birds. Last year my husband bought me an owl box for Christmas, and once the weather warmed up in the spring, we hung it in a tree in our backyard. We had some starlings using it as a home base for a while, but that was it. Tuesday morning I looked outside and lo and behold, there was an OWL IN THE BOX! I called my husband and left this ridiculous voicemail message for him, I was so excited. The owl has been there every day since then - we usually only see him as it is getting dark and he's getting ready to leave for the night, so it isn't easy to photograph but Bill snapped a few the other day.

He's an Eastern Screech Owl and hopefully soon he'll come home with a girlfriend!

So glad to see you today. I so appreciate you taking the time to stop in. I hope your weekend is fabulous!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Ever After - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Yours Truly - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Sage Shadow - SU!; Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Rhinestones - Recollections; Edgers #1 Die - PTI

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