Springtime Blossoms

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple of thank you's to send out today before I get started on my post.

First, did you notice the new look of my blog?  My fabulous friend Hayley of Hayley's Paper Garden put together a great new blog header for me to freshen up the look of the blog.  I love it!  If you are not familiar with the provinces of Canada, the yellow "splotches" are my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the purple heart is the town where I am from - how cute is that?!  I am seriously, way too in love with the new look.  Thank you Hayley!

Also, I wanted to thank the ladies over at Colour Me...! this week for choosing my Lovely Lumberjack card as the Top Pick for their challenge last week.  I am honoured!  You can see me card HERE.

I don't know about any of you but I am not so patiently waiting for Spring...so I decided it was time to use the new Lotus Blossom stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration catalogue.  I had been dying to get my hands and this one and I was not disappointed.  It was a really fun set to use and the results are just lovely.  Here is my card:

As always, I took my inspiration from a couple of challenges:

1. Colour Me...!

This week's challenge was to use Hello Honey, Cajun Craze and Mossy Meadow.  I, unfortunately, went by memory on the colours and ended up using Crushed Curry instead of Hello Honey - close enough.

2. Mojo Monday

I loved the sketch over at Mojo Monday this week - it was super fun to play along with.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Birthday Bash Specialty DSP

Stamp Sets: Lotus Blossom, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Best Day Ever

Inks: Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze

Tools/Techniques: Circle Framelits, Big Shot, 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon - Mossy Meadow

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you took the time to do so.

Steph

Big Day Birthday

Hi Everyone,

I have another card to share with you today - I think I may be on a roll with this crafting thing lately!  I don't think I have posted this much in a long, long time!  Love it!

As always, I drew inspiration from a few challenges:

1. The Challenge

I haven't had a chance to play along with this challenge before but I had a lot of fun doing so this week.

2. The Paper Players

This was a tough challenge for me this week - to have the sentiment as the focal point.  I'm not really sure I pulled it off but I had fun trying!

Here is my card:

I used the new Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP from Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration catalogue.  This is such a fun paper, it is an emboss resist paper.  So I sponged a few different colours around and then wiped off any excess so that the stars looked bright and white.  I'm sure I will have a lot of fun with this awesome paper.

I don't know about anyone else out there, but when I was done with this card and looked at the sponged strip, it reminded me of Rainbow Brite...Lol!

Card Recipe (all products are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Whisper White, Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP
Stamp Sets: Big Day (Sale-a-bration)
Inks: Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Melon Mambo Blendabilities, Coastal Cabana Blendabilities, Versamark
Tools/Techniques: Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks so much for dropping my, I'm so happy you did.
Steph

Sending Love and Sympathy

Hi Everyone,

I had to create a sympathy card this week for a wonderful friend who lost her Uncle a few days ago.  As always, I took my inspiration from a few challenges:

1. Freshly Made Sketches

I really thought this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches was beautiful.

2. All Sorts Challenge

This is a challenge that I have never played along with before.  I look forward to being inspired by this design team more in the future.  This week's theme is "Spring Flowers" and I thought this new stamp set from Stampin' Up!'s Occasion Catalogue would be the perfect choice - it is called Love is Kindness.

Here is my card:

I decided I wanted a different sentiment than the one that was included on the Love is Kindness stamp so I fussy cut out the flowers and used the sentiment from the stamp set Love & Sympathy.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Whisper White, Painted Blooms DSP
Stamp Sets: Love is Kindness, Love & Sympathy
Inks: Momento Tuxedo Black, Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities, Wild Wasabi Blendabilities
Tools/Techniques: 1/4" Cotton Ribbon - Whisper White

Thanks for dropping by, I really appreciate you taking the time.
Steph

Love Is In The Air...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Monday!

Today, we have another fantastic sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  This was a fun one to work with (as usual) and I encourage all of you to come over, check us out and play along!  The rest of the talented DT creations will be hitting the AHSC blog on Wednesday if you are looking for even more fabulous inspiration.

Here is this week's sketch:

And here is my card:

As per normal, I decided to play along with a few challenges while getting my DT card put together:

1. CAS Colours & Sketches

I always have such a fun time playing along with these ladies and this week is no different.  The challenge this week was to use Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and Basic Black.  I hope they don't mind but I had to substitute Real Red for the Cherry Cobbler...

2. Sunday Stamps

I haven't had a chance to play along with these ladies for a while and I so love when I do.  This week's challenge is to use red, white and kraft.  I was also definitely inspired by their inspiration photo below.

3. Watercooler Challenges

This a new challenge for me - a friend of mine came across this one.  I am looking forward to continuing to play along every chance I get.  This week's theme at the watercooler is "New".  So I have used a new stamp set - Hello Life - and the new Stacked With Love DSP stack.  Both are from Stampin' Up!'s new Occasions Catalogue.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White, Stacked With Love DSP Stack

Stamp Sets: Hello Life

Inks: Tuxedo Black Momento

Tools/Techniques: Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Linen Thread

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did!

Steph

Blended Butterfly

Hi Everyone!!

Well this is my second post for today - strange huh?!?!  As mentioned previously, I spent the evening crafting with a wonderful crafting buddy and we were so productive!

Last week I watched an Online Stamping Workshop given by Diane Dimach over at DDStamps.com and saw a technique that blew my mind - it was amazing.  Basically, Diane cut out one of the butterflies from the new Stampin' Up! Butterfly Thinlet Dies, stuck it to a piece of Whisper White card stock and then coloured in the negative spaces with Blendabilities.  I was just amazed and knew that I had to try it right away!!!  I could barely wait for my order to arrive last week!  So tonight was the night...

You should really take a look at Diane's gorgeous card and tutorial HERE.

As always, I decided to play along with a few challenges, they really get my mojo going!

1. Freshly Made Sketches

I loved this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches.  I took a little liberty with it but I think it works.

2. Hand Stamped Sentiments

This is a new challenge for me and one that I think I will have a lot of fun playing along with.   Their challenge this week was to use the colours Basic Black, Whisper White and Melon Mambo.

3. NBUS

Darnell over at DJKardKreations.com has a super fun challenge on - NBUS - which is a term she coined for "Never Before Used Schtuff".  I think it's great to start pulling out the stuff in our craft spaces that have never seen the light of day.  I used my new Butterfly Framelits and the sentiment for the card is from a new stamp set that I received last week called "Sheltering Tree".  If you have never been to Darnell's blog, you really MUST go.  She is so much fun!  I love reading her blogs, they always leave me with a smile on my face.

4. CAS-ology

This week the word of the week over at CAS-ology is NBUS - how appropriate!

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! products unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamp Sets: Sheltering Tree
Inks: Melon Mambo Blendabilities
Tools/Techniques: Big Shot, Butterfly Thinlets

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did.
Steph

Lovely Lumberjack

Hi Everyone!!

Hope you all had a truly wonderful weekend!

I got to spend the evening crafting with one of my most favourite buddies and it was awesome!  Good music, good treats, good conversation and good crafting.  Love it!

At the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue Launch I won a stamp set that I didn't think I would ever, ever use.  Well I got it in the mail last week and of course, I inked it up tonight.  I think I have fallen in love with it.  It is just so cute...  It is called "Wood You Be Mine" and I used it for my fun card tonight!

As always, I decided to play along with a few challenges:

1. Colour Me...!

It has been far too long since I have had a chance to play along with this challenge that I love.  This week's striking colour combination is Real Red and Pacific Point.

2. Fusion Card Challenge

I also decided to use both the sketch and inspiration photo at Fusion this week.  I loved the wood hearts and they really helped to inspire the whole "wood" theme of my card.



3. Addicted to Stamps and More

This week is "Make Your Mark" over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  I had so much fun colouring this guy with Blendabilities that I knew he should be entered in this challenge as well.

Without further ado, here is my fun card for tonight!

So seriously, just how much fun is that little lumberjack?  And that sentiment is just awesome!  The lumberjack is a two step stamp which was really fun to use.

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock: Real Red, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Adventure Bound DSP Stack
Stamp Sets: Wood You Be Mine?
Inks: Real Red, Pacific Point, Momento - Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake Blendabilities, Smoky Slate Blendabilities, Skin Tone Assortment Blendabiltiies

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did!
Steph
Tools/Techniques: Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Circles Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals

Wish

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year!!  My wish for all of you this year is health and happiness.

Today we have another fabulous sketch for you over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I encourage you all to come play and to check out the other wonderful creations by the superbly talented Design Team.  These creations will be uploaded for you on Wednesday but you can all play along now!

Here is this week's sketch:

And in honour of my "Wish" for all of you, here is my card:

Card Recipe (all products used are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated):

Card Stock - Island Indigo, All Abloom DSP Stack

Stamp Sets - nil

Inks - nil

Tools/Techniques - Little Letters Thinlits, Big Shot, 1/4" Cotton Ribbon - Whisper White, Frosted Sequins

Thanks for dropping by, I'm so glad you did!

Steph