CardMaker and Poppy Stamps Blog Hop! :)

Hi there friends! Thanks for stopping by my blog on the CardMaker (which is the beginning of the Hop) and poppystamps BLOG HOP! You should have come from Zuzana Obert's blog.

I made two cards for this Hop, here is my first. On both cards I used the Aspen Leaf die, the Leaf Silhouette die, and on the first I also used the Beech Leaf die.  It was so fun to make some Autumnal cards! :)

I should mention that both the single leaf dies include a "leaf frame" that coordinates nicely with the Leaf silhouette die. I didn't use them on this card, but each of the single leaf dies cut two pieces. :) I just used the centers, I LOVE how the veins of the leaves are scored right into them by the die. 

I just sponged some ink on these leaves, so easy and what a pretty effect! 

For my second card I used the Leaf Silhouette as a mask that I brayered ink over. This is a glossy card stock, I stamped it first with some leaf stamps, then laid down the die cuts and brayered ink over the top.

I also used the same die to cut the border on that green piece of cardstock.

These cards were a lot of fun to make! I hope you liked them, too! 

Next on the Hop is Patty Tanuz, thanks for stopping by paper & ICE! :) 

TCPTUES275-Anything Goes! "Find Beauty In Life"

Hi all! I am just popping by with a TCP Tuesday card for this week's challenge, which is Anything Goes! So, come play with us at The Cat's Pajamas! :) 
Here's my card, I used Simple Blooms, and Divine Twine in 3 colors. 

Here are the rules:

1. Every other Tuesday a new challenge will be posted on the TCP blog as well as on our Splitcoaststampers forum and our Facebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design using the InLinkz button on the TCP blog. If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers use keyword TCPTUES275. Only the entries uploaded to the Inlinkz button will be considered for Swanky Stamper at the end of the month.
3. You must have your project posted by the Monday, 12 midnight EDT before the next challenge to be eligible to win the Cat Cash.
4. Cards and projects are not required to use of a Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die.
5. On the following TCP Tuesday, the winner will be chosen at random from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $10 or $15 if a TCP product is used.
6. At the end of the month, The Swanky Stamper will be selected from all the weekly entries. The Swanky Stamper will receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND… They’ll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig and a snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The Swanky Stamper will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and the TCP blog.

I am also sneaking this in under the wire at the ColourQ this week! Gorgeous colors! :) 

I don't know if you noticed, but I added a wood veneer mat to the stamped panel as a nod to the wood base on the lamp in the photo ;) I didn't have the any of these ink colors, so I used Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, and Basic Gray. 

That's all for me today, friends! But I will be back soon with some more fun projects! :) 

Bright and Happy Grateful for You

Hi friends, it is such a sad day in the world, I thought it might be nice to share some cheerfulness. I made this card for my sister several weeks back and never got it blogged. Ok, so it never got it mailed, either! So, Shelley, if you're reading this, you will receive this sooner or later. ;)

I used this fun set from Paper Smooches. 

And also used my Toppers dies from The Cat's Pajamas. 

Hug your loved ones today, friends. Lots of love to you. 

Bright Bear (TCPTUES274 & CQC256)

Hi friends! Just got home from Des Moines yesterday. My son was competing in the Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon National championship. My hubby and I drove him to his first ever out of state race. He has been competing in triathlons and training with our kids tri team here for 4 years and this is the first time he qualified to go. He came in 24th (nationally!) and took 9 minutes off of his race time of the same distance in July. I just couldn't be prouder of him. Look at that grin! :) This was also our third road trip in the last 6 weeks, I am sure tired of sitting in the car. Glad we are done with travel for awhile.

But I'm guessing you came by to see a card or something ;) It's time for a brand new 2 week challenge at The Cat's Pajamas! It is a sketch challenge and here is the sketch:

Here are the rules:

1. Every other Tuesday a new challenge will be posted on the TCP blog as well as on our Splitcoaststampers forum and our Facebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design using the InLinkz button on the TCP blog. If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers use keyword TCPTUES274. Only the entries uploaded to the Inlinkz button will be considered for Swanky Stamper at the end of the month.
3. You must have your project posted by the Monday, 12 midnight EDT before the next challenge to be eligible to win the Cat Cash.
4. Cards and projects are not required to use of a Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die.
5. On the following TCP Tuesday, the winner will be chosen at random from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $10 or $15 if a TCP product is used.
6. At the end of the month, The Swanky Stamper will be selected from all the weekly entries. The Swanky Stamper will receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND… They’ll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig and a snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The Swanky Stamper will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and the TCP blog.

And, I believe I will be able to juuuuust sneak this one in under the wire over at the ColourQ! Here's the palette, you know me and Pacific Point. I'm such a sucker for that color! ;)

Here's my card. I used Lean On Me, the banner from Framed Up 2, and the classic Big Scallop CutUps. 

I added some washi and a fun arrow paper clip for accents.

All the patterned papers are older ones from Stampin' Up! 

This card will fit nicely into a long, legal sized envelope. I enjoy making long cards. :)

Hope you can come play with us at The Cat's Pajamas! Thanks for stopping by today. :) 

The CardMaker and Paper Loft Blog Hop!

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by on the blog hop today! :) The winner of the Hop will get a 25$ gift certificate to The Paper Loft! You should have come from my bud, Kelli's blog. I made a couple projects with my awesome goodies from The Paper Loft!  I picked several things from the Gear Head collection, and made this fun page with them, from my son's 9th birthday. He's almost 12 now, I have some catching up to do! ;)

I used this layout that I had Pinned for Inspiration. I cut the title and words on my Silhouette, it was super easy to create these, it took me about 5 minutes, and I was thrilled at how beautifully it cut.

I also was able to make a card with the Gear Head collection and the On the Go Collection. This came together so quickly and easily and the 2 collections blend very nicely. 

I sure hope you enjoyed my projects! Enjoy the Hop! :) Next you should go to Lori's blog. If you get lost along the way, the whole list of bloggers is up on the CardMaker Blog. 

Ninja Party Post

Hi all1 I have a new post up at CardMaker blog today. I am planning a ninja birthday party for my son in a few weeks. I have a banner, lanterns, invitations, and party bags posted over there! Check it out if you can, thanks!

TCPTUES273-Inspiration Challenge!

Hi there crafty peeps! We are having a fantastic challenge at The Cat's Pajamas right now! Our sweet Christine is our Hostess, and here is the fab inspiration pics she has chosen for us to use! 

Here's the deets on TCP Tuesday: 

1. Every other Tuesday a new challenge will be posted on the TCP blog as well as on our Splitcoaststampers forum and ourFacebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design using the InLinkz button on the TCP blog. If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers use keyword TCPTUES273. Only the entries uploaded to the Inlinkz button will be considered for Swanky Stamper at the end of the month.
3. You must have your project posted by the Monday, 12 midnight EDT before the next challenge to be eligible to win the Cat Cash.
4. Cards and projects are not required to use of a Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die.
5. On the following TCP Tuesday, the winner will be chosen at random from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $10 or $15 if a TCP product is used.
6. At the end of the month, The Swanky Stamper will be selected from all the weekly entries. The Swanky Stamper will receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND… They’ll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig and a snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The Swanky Stamper will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and on the TCP Blog.

Here is my card:

Isn't that inspiration just fantastic for early autumn? I love sunflowers, and I had NEVER (*gasp*) inked up this cute set Bearing Flowers. I also used the Sunflower Rosette CutUps and Framed Up 2, as well as the Pinking Border CutUp.

I dug all through my scraps bin, because I was pretty sure I had a scrap of sunflower paper in there. I know, I know, just call me "Captain Obvious!" ;) That's what my boys call each other sometimes.... ;) But it looked so much like the inspiration pics, I really wanted to use it. Plus it's probably 10 years old, and it feels so GOOD to use up something that old! :) 

I felt like this card had a "country" feel, so I added the bandana paper as an accent. 

I chose to color PJ in a baby blue color and paper piece his belly and nose with gold paper.

This is a card that work for a lot of things, I really enjoyed making it. Thanks for the fab inspiration, Christine! :) 

have a fantastic day, blog friends! :)