SURPRISE!!

If you are looking for my Crafts 4 Eternity post, please scroll down or click HERE!

I feel so blessed today as I'm one of the newest members over at Wags 'n Whiskers - you'll be seeing me around the blogosphere touting some super cute Wags 'n Whiskers images through February 2014!! GULP - 2014, how did we get so close to next year? Thank goodness I do NOT age along with the calendar! LOL

Stop by the challenge blog and check out all the new designers and give them a nice warm welcome - we all love love! :D And then take a few minutes to play along with our challenge - PINK - Breast Cancer Awareness. October is the month for Breast Cancer Awareness and girls, if you haven't, please take  time to get your girls smooshed...that's a word right - it may save your life!

I wanted to use an image to brighten someone's day - not just focus on the battle they may be fighting, but just a cheery, happy card. So I used Buddy's Balloons and incorporated lots of pink! The inside says "You Make Me Smile", perfect for Splitcoaststampers Challenge "Hope You Have a Great Day" which is part of their Hope You Can Cling To Challenge Forum for MD Anderson.

Layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #194 (SSSC194); I thought Buddy was getting lost amongst all the pink, stripes, dots, etc. so I tried the Bokeh technique...um yeah...not sure I like how it turned out! :( The image is cut with just a portion of the balloon outside the nestie, then I colored a 2nd balloon, cut it out and mounted with dimensionals. I added glossy accents to the balloon and to Buddy's nose, I also added some white gel dots to the party hat.

 Thanks for stopping by, hope you'll take time to join us in celebrating PINK - Breast Cancer Awareness!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers Buddy's Balloons

Papers: Copic XPress It, PTI Raspberry Fizz, MFT Steel Grey

Ink: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Soft Blush, Pure Poppy

Accessories: nesties, Copics, white gel pen, glossy accents, PTI small scallop border

Challenges:

  SSSC194

Anything Goes - Crafts 4 Eternity

L@@K - it's everyone's favorite kind of challenge - ANYTHING GOES over at Crafts 4 Eternity - won't you join us? And sweet Michele is sponsoring the challenge with your chance to win 3 FREE digital images!

I made this card months ago - really!! I love it - look at that cake, looks like real chocolate frosting huh? The kind you want to secretly dip your finger into and have a taste...alas, this will NOT taste good!

I used an older image from My Favorite Things - Time to Celebrate - and an older Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge sketch with lots of layers, stitching, distressing with distress ink and of course finished it off with some Espresso Dimensional Pearls. I added a big 'ole button and some flags to the main panel too.

Glad you stopped by; hope you have a GREAT weekend!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: MFT Stamps Time to Celebrate
Papers: GKD White, PTI Kraft, DP by MME
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Paper Distress Ink
Accessories: nesties, Copics, PTI button, Janome Sew Mini, Espresso Dimensional Pearls, twine, yellow gel pen (candle flames)

Challenges:
  LEJ Designs - Lots of Layers
  Fab 'n' Funky - Button It Up  
  Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Out with the Girls

Friend...

Hi friends, how are you doing? I had a rough week last week, did NOT feel well - in fact, I was in bed and asleep one night by 6:30 p.m. #true!

This card was made using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #192 (SSSC192); I love this sentiment from Inkadinkado! I used lots of leftover MME paper (I honestly have enough hoarded to last me a year or so...HA), some fun MME enamel dots, a beautiful quilting embossing folder, some swirls from Verve, distressing - both with ink and an edger - and finished it up with some stitching. I LOVE the beautiful mint paper on the inside, so I snapped a picture of it too.

Inside

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a GREAT week!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Inkadinkado, Verve Blue Skies

Papers: PTI Berry Sorbet, , Fine Linen; DP by MME

Ink: PTI Berry Sorbet, Old Paper Tattered Rose Distress Ink 

Accessories: MS arched border punch, nesties, enamel dots, Janome Sew Mini

Challenges:
  SSSC192

Time to Go

Hi friends - hope you're having a great week! We are back this week at Crafts 4 Eternity with another recipe - this week we're featuring projects with a travel theme. Seems like I had several friends take cruises this summer...yeah, I wasn't one of those people. :( BUT I thought this would be a fun b-day card, the sentiment "just sailing by with a birthday hi" is on the inside.

We are sponsored this week by Sassy Studio Designs and the winner receives 4 images - wow, what an awesome prize - hope you'll join us, we would love to see your travel theme projects!

I once again used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #191 (second time this week - that's when you know it's a GREAT sketch!!).

The image and sentiments are from Taylored Expressions, using lots of new MME products on this one. I "sewed" the waves then colored them with a very light blue marker - kinda like how that turned out. Image was colored with Copics then I added glossy accents to all the windows.

Thanks for popping in; hope you'll join us! Have a great weekend!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Taylored Expresseions Bon Voyage

Papers: PTI Limeade Ice, GKD White, Copic Xpress It, DP by MME

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Janome Sew Mini, MME buttons, glossy accents

Challenges:
 Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #191
 Milk Coffee Challenge - bon voyage
Sweet Stampin' - travels

Ghandi

"Where there is LOVE, there is LIFE!" ~Ghandi

Great quote eh? I didn't have much of a chance to create this weekend, but did sneak in a super CAS (clean and simple) card combining a sketch and a challenge (see below). Super easy - some embossing, some watercolor flicking, stamping, washi tape (LOVE), some enamel dots and that's it!

Sneak Peek at the inside - look at the glitter! :D

 Thanks for popping in; hope you've had a GREAT weekend, see you again soon!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Verve Visual Text Objects, Love Notes, PTI Wishing You

Papers: PTI Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, and Rustic White

Ink: PTI Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, MFT Hot Fudge

Accessories: Verve Jotted Heart Die, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, MS border punch (heart), MME enamel dots, MME washi tape

Challenges:
  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 191
  Just Us Girls (monochromatic)\
  Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - green, blue and white

wish

Hi friends!

How are you doing? I'm good - very good, we had a GREAT weekend (3 movies in 3 days - The Heat, Red 2 and Man of Steel), lots of relaxation and some crafting! Ooooo, love me some crafting time!

I was inspired by this photo from Just Us Girls #199 (JUGS199), but somehow didn't end up with any green...or much white - tee hee!

That's okay; I was anxious to do something with red and love how this turned out! The image was stamped on Copic Xpress and colored with Copics, I added a white gel pen to her eyes and tried some different colors for more of a platinum blonde look. But seriously, how cute is the Manga girl - LOVE!! The layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch #189 (SSSC189).

Close up - you can see the debossing

Lots of My Mind's Eye papers, some stitching, distressing, seam binding, a debossed scalloped circle, button and a sweet Tim Holtz ticket "wish" wraps up this one.

Thanks for popping in - hope you have a great week! Take care!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Sugar Nellie Manga Girl 2

Papers: PTI Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow, DP by MME

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Paper Distress Ink

Accessories: Copics, nesties, seam binding, Tim Holtz Adage Tickets, Janome Sew Mini, hemp cord, embossing folder

CHALLENGES:

 SSSC189

  JUGS199

It started with a kiss...

Love this little stamp set from Papertreyink - Just a Kiss - isn't the sentiment adorable? There are just a handful of sentiments in the set but they are just PERFECT for engagements, anniversaries, weddings, etc. This particular card was created for a bachelorette party.

Layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 184; I added LOTS of stitching and LOTS of distressing with Memento Rich Cocoa. See the little flag? I used the same paper on the bottom half of the circle, but I distressed it with the Cocoa ink then applied a light coat of clear Wink of Stella - I LOVE THAT STUFF; I'm going to marry it - LOL!!

Inside

The sparkle is just incredible IRL and I've only tried the clear pen so far! I added espresso dimensional pearls around the scalloped circle also.

Covered with Wink of Stella clear glitter pen

Thanks for stopping by; hope you're having a great week!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: Papertreyink Just a Kiss

Papers: PTI Sweet Blush, Dark Chocolate, DP by MME

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, MFT Hot Fudge

Accessories: nesties, Wink of Stella clear glitter pen, espresso dimensional pearls, Janome Sew Mini, MS border punch (inside)

CHALLENGES:

 SSSC184

New Release Celebration - Baby, Baby!

I'm quite certain that most of you have NO CLUE that Queen Whiplash is going to be a Grandma, right? I mean it's not like she has a day ticker counting down the days, or that she reminds you in each of her posts OR THAT WE HAVE A BRAND NEW RELEASE to honor her soon to be blessing?

YES - the little one will be here in short order and we cannot wait...nor can Queen Whiplash...side note...do you think NOW is when I should stop calling her Queen Whiplash? Hmph...it's her own fault, just ask me! :D

Well, you have all month to help us celebrate the new arrival! There are 12 new Billie Bear's being released AND for the remainder of May, you can purchase each one for  £1.75 each!

I went all paper-piecing crazy on my little bear - everything is paper-pieced! The bear, the nose, the diaper and the duck - I had so such fun mixing and matching!! Used my clear Wink of Stella glitter pen (still in love!!!) for the little heart - fab sparkle! Layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch #183. 

Thanks for popping in; hope you join the fun and be sure to check out all the amazing creations over at the LCI Challenge Blog!!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: LCI Billie Bear and Duck and Baby, Baby

Papers: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, DP by MME

Ink: PTI Raspberry Fizz

Accessories: nesties, Copics, wink of stella clear glitter. Janome Sew Mini, black enamel accents, PTI small scalloped border, white gel pen

CHALLENGES:

 SSSC183

  LCI - New Release
  Aud Sentiments Challenge 80
  My Mums Craft Shop - dots or stripes
 

Is Spring here yet?

I hope we are officially done with winter; I know the calendar says "Spring" but our weather has been all over the map! In an effort to encourage spring-time, I created this card with spring-time colors. :D I'll try anything - LOL!

The layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #181 (SSSC181); I used MFT's horizontal gift card die and a piece of washi tape for the flag in the sketch. Love me some washi tape, sad I came to the party so late - but better late than never, right? I embossed the gift card holder with small polka dots, stitched around the main panel and then zig zag stitched the flag.

I inserted a piece of card stock to represent a gift card, wouldn't this be a GREAT way to present your gift? What sweet friend, mom, daughter, sister wouldn't want to receive a gift card for shopping? :D Me, me, me!!!

TFL; hope you have a great week!

Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  MFT Stamps Gift Card Greetings II
Papers:  PTI Raspberry Fizz and Summer Sunrise, DP by MME
Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz
Accessories: MFT gift card pocket - horizontal, MME enamel dots, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Janome Sew Mini, washi tape

Challenges:
  SSSC181
  Fab N Funky - Spring Colors

Welcome - BILLIE BEAR!

Ah....how cute are these new Billie Bear images from Ladybug Crafts Ink!?! Totally cute eh?

And you got it - I'm the surprise; I haven't crafted for about 5 1/2 weeks - since my surgery 2/13/13 and believe me, I'm not even close to being back full-time, but it was nice to sit down and color a bit...and in this case, I used Copic Pointillism as shown by Michele HERE - her work is just AMAZING! I like it - and I decided to do the sky the same way to make it a bit more unique.

I always love to start with a sketch (SSSC180) and Karen's was just perfect for Billie. This is just a wee little card - 4.25" x 4.25" so the image could take center stage! Each flower has yellow gel at the center and black enamel for Billie's eyes - fun little 3D effects. The inside says "just swinging by with a birthday hi".

Hope you enjoy the new images and at the great introductory price Kerry offers - go ahead, pick up one or two, you won't feel guilty!! :D

Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  LCI Swing Billie - digi
Papers:  PTI Kraft and Dark Chocolate, DP by MME
Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: nesties, Copics, yellow gel pen, black enamel, PTI scalloped die

Challenges:
  SSSC180
 
  Whoopsidaisy Challenge
  Stamtacular Sunday Challenge

Killer Heels Blog Hop

Oh my - the Queen of Ladybug Crafts Ink has really outdone herself with these Killer Heels - aren't they just adorable? Eeeekkkk....so cute and feminine!!

And since this is a blog hop; let's get the details out of the way so we can then ooooo and aaaahhhhhh over the image, mmmm K?  :D

Hopefully you've stumbled upon my crazy little world from the totally magnificent Tams? If not, be sure to start at the beginning - Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog!

Leave some lovin' as you travel the blog hop because one person will win ALL 6 IMAGES, plus 5 individuals will win an image of their choice. AND be sure to collect all the letters to spell a special word related to our theme - once you have the word, e-mail it to us at lcichallengeblog@aol.com!

K, let's move on to the fun now as I think I've covered all the details! These strappy little heels and matching handbag are just divine! I really wanted to do grey shoes with red hearts...yep; that's just what I did! LOL

The layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch #176; I used some super fun Carta Bella Devoted paper layered with MFT's Steel Grey and PTI's Pure Poppy, I added lots of stitching, some VersaMagic Pink Petunia sponging and finished it off with some Black Lush gems from Basic Grey. The focal point was layered onto a heart doily. I also edged the shoes and handbag with a black Spica marker - so sparkly, IRL!

Thanks for stopping by; your next stop on the hop is the lovely Laurie! Happy hopping; be sure to leave some lovin'!!
And before you go...my letter is Y!

Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  LCI Killer Heels - Digi
Papers:  PTI Pure Poppy, MFT Steel Grey, DP by Carta Bella
Ink:  VersaMagic Pink Petunia, PTI Pure Poppy, Memento London Fog
Accessories: nesties, Copics, Spica black glitter pen, Basic Grey black lush gems, Janome Sew Mini, heart doily

Challenges:
  SSSC176
  One Stitch at a Time - Digi 
  The Squirrel and The Fox - use something new (paper/digi) 
  Sugar Creek Hollow - lots of layers
 

TLT - ANYTHING goes....

Oh my goodness, it is the TLT's last post for 2012...HOW DID WE GET TO THE END OF DECEMBER? Gosh, what a quick ride - that saying "time flies as you get older" seems so true here lately - but you KNOW the #'s don't change on my birfday, yes? :D We're taking an extended break until February; but with a challenge of "Anything Goes"; you should plan to play along every single week till February!

I used one of the Christmas Delight digital images - Handbag Tree Delight. Isn't it the cutest? GAH; love these images!! The layout is Karen's fab Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #174. Loved playing with this pad of DP from My Mind's Eye - it's an older one, but I love the colors within!

L@@K -  I used Old Paper distress ink and was able to actually 'sponge' the edges without it looking horrific - yeah, learned a little trick this weekend and it made all the difference! Yeah me!!

Sneek peak of inside

Thanks for stopping by; hope you'll join the fun over at the TLT blog; we love seeing your creations!

Hugs,

WHAT'S IT TAKE?

Stamps: LCI Digi Handbag Tree Delight

Papers: PTI Fresh Linen, Scarlet Jewel, DP by MME

Ink: Old Paper Distress Ink

Accessories: Nesties, Copics, MFT mini label dies, PTI small scalloped die, MS arch border punch, Janome Sew Mini

Challenges:
  SSSC174
  PanPastel - Challenge 49 
  Quirky Crafts - Challenge 26 
  Stamptacular - Challenge 194 
  Stampavie - Challenge 183