Happy 100th Post to me!!

Hi All,

Today is a fun day for me - it's my 100th post on my blog!  Yay!!  To celebrate, I've used this week's sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and one of my favourite stamp sets.  Of course, I got my preorder items last week from the new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue which starts June 2nd and I had to share some of those items.

Seeing as we've made it to another Monday, that means it's another great sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  Check out the sketch below.  Also, make sure you head over to the blog and check out the rest of the Design Team creations on Wednesday.  Till then, head over and play along, we would love to have you!!

Here is the sketch:

And here is my creation:

I am absolutely in love with the new Bohemian DSP that will be available on June 2nd - the colours are just amazing.  They are so rich and bold and so much fun!

You'll notice that I embossed the sentiment in white on a basic black card stock and then coloured over the embossing using Blendabilities.  I am super disappointed that these have been discontinued but I understand when there were problems with quality and it is better to discontinue than have a lot of unhappy customers.  I will, however, continue to use mine.  I love them!

This week is "Anything Goes" over at Seize The Birthday, so I will also be entering this card there as well.

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

Card Stock: Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Island Indigo, Bohemian DSP
Stamp Sets: Amazing Birthday
Inks: Versamark, Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities, Coastal Cabana Blendabilities, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities
Tools/Techniques: White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Mosaic Embossing Folder, Blackberry Bliss Thick Bakers Twine

Happy Birthday Balloons

Hi Everyone,

I'm a little late posting this but yesterday was Monday so that means another fabulous sketch over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!!  I do hope you will take the time to swing by the blog, check out the other Design Team creations and play along.  We love seeing our favs but also new players!!

Also, tune in next week for something very special as it will be sketch #100 for AHSC - you won't want to miss out!!

Here is this week's fantastic sketch:

And here is my card for this week:

I love the colours that are used in the DSP from Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration catalogue - they are just so fun and cheery!  I also fussy cut the balloons and sentiments - I don't often like to fussy cut but it was worth it for this look.  I also used a strip from the Birthday Bash Specialty DSP in the Occasions Catalogue - I love these sheets as they have flecks of gold foil in them although it is hard to see in the pictures.  It just adds such a lovely effect to the card.

As always, I'm playing along with a few challenges to get the mojo going.

1. Just Us Girls

This week is a trend week  over at Just Us Girls and they are looking for "Splatters".  I chose to use this splattered DSP as the background for my card.

2. Addicted to Stamps and More

It's a photo inspiration week over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  The photo reminded me of a birthday party setup and I used some of the colours from the photo as well in my card.

3. Seize the Birthday

I chose not to use the toppings option this week at Seize the Birthday but rather to go with the Anything Goes option.  I love that they have the Anything Goes option each week and it gives a great opportunity to build up your Birthday stash any way you like.

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

Card Stock: Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Best Year Ever DSP, Birthday Bash Specialty DSP
Stamp Set: Balloon Bash
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry
Tools/Techniques: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack - 1/4" Polyester Ribbon - Crushed Curry

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm so glad you did!
Steph

A Treat Bag Card

Hi Everyone!

So I don't know about you but ever since I saw the Treat Bag Framelits in the Stampin' Up! Occasions catalogue, I have been dying to use them!  This past weekend we had a surprise party for a friend's 50th birthday so I thought it was time to break out the treat bag and have a little fun.

Here is what I created:

In the treat bag I put a little note card in Blushing Bride and Whisper White card stock with a "Happy Birthday" sentiment but I forgot to actually take a snap of that...oops!  In order to let the "celebrate" portion of the sentiment pop more, I embossed it using Blushing Bride embossing powder and fussy cut the banner out.  I think it adds a little more depth to the creation.

As per normal, I was inspired by the following challenges:

1. Create with Connie & Mary

I was just in love with this week's colour challenge - Rose Red (this is fast becoming one of my favourite colours!), Blushing Bride and Blackberry Bliss (another of my favourites!).  How could I not play along?!?!

2. Seize The Birthday

I love building up my stash of Birthday cards and playing along and being inspired by the ladies over at Seize the Birthday certainly helps in this area.  This week I chose to play along with the "Anything Goes" portion of the challenge.

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Painted Blooms DSP
Stamp Sets: Balloon Bash, Age Awareness
Inks: Crisp Cantaloupe, Rose Red, Versamark
Tools/Techniques: Big Shot, On Film Framelits, Gold Sequin Trim, 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon - Blackberry Bliss, Blushing Bride Embossing Powder, Mini Metallic Clothespins, Treat Bag Framelits

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

A Masculine Big Day Birthday

Hi All,

Hope you are all doing well.  I am back today with a Guest Designer post for Sunday Stamps.  I have had a lot of fun with these ladies - thanks so much Holly for letting me spend the month with you all!

This week is a super fun colour combination - Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Smoky Slate and Very Vanilla.  I was inspired by the inspiration photo as well - it screams birthday (and baby but I'm going with birthday on this one!) to me!  I encourage you all to head over to Sunday Stamps to check out the rest of the fabulous DT creations and of course, play along!!

Here is my creation:

I will be entering this card in a couple of other challenges as well:

1. Seize the Birthday

I have decided not to use the "toppings" options this week and to play along with the "Anything Goes" portion of the challenge.

2. Addicted to Stamps

It is also an "Anything Goes" week over at Addicted to Stamps.  :)

I'm so glad to be adding to my birthday card stash - it is so needed!!  Especially masculine ones.

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

Card Stock:  Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Very Vanilla

Stamp Sets: Big Day

Inks: Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Smoky Slate

Tools/Techniques: Chalk Talk Framelits, Big Shot, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon - Soft Sky, Neutrals Candy Dots - Basic Grey

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

Steph

Exciting News - Guest Designer Spot!

Hi Everyone!

I have some super exciting news today - I will be the Guest Designer over at Sunday Stamps for the month of February!  I am so happy and excited to get to hang out with these ladies and be inspired by their awesome talent.  Thanks to Holly for having me. :)

I encourage you all to head over to the Sunday Stamps blog to check out the awesome design team and to play along.  This is such a fun challenge blog.

This week is a sketch week and it was challenging for me...

In the end, I decided to use washi tape which is fairly unusual for me.  And, I decided that I really wanted to use Blendabilities and one of the most beautiful stamp sets in Stampin' Up!'s Annual Catalogue - Blended Bloom.

Here is my creation:

In order to create my card, I was also inspired by some other challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps and More

This week is the theme is CAS (Clean and Simple) over at ATSM - it is definitely one of my favourite type of challenges/

2. Seize The Birthday

I love this challenge.  It's been a while since I've played so it's time!  This week is an "Anything Goes" week.

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

Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamp Sets: Blended Bloom, Bloom With Hope
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities
Tools/Techniques: Stacked With Love Designer Washi Tape, 1/8" Ribbon - Silver

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

A Happy Birthday Bloom

Hi Everyone,

Happy Monday!  I hope you all enjoyed your weekends, mine was lovely.  A little bit of crafting and cooking - you just can't go wrong!

First off, I just want to take a second to say thanks to the ladies over at Create with Connie and Mary for choosing my card (you can see it HERE) as a Top 3 pick for their colour challenge last week.  Thanks!

Today I got together for lunch with a couple of crafty friends - so much fun as always.  After lunch, we got down to a little crafting (of course!!!).  Even though tomorrow is the first full day of fall, I found myself still thinking about summer blooms today.  Fall is my favourite time of year but today I was really feeling the flowers (again...).  And, it helped that I really wanted to colour with Stampin' Up!'s Blendabilities and what better to colour than their Blended Bloom stamp?!?!

As per normal, I decided to take part and be inspired by a couple of challenges:

1.  Pals Paper Arts

This week is a sketch challenge:


2. Seize the Birthday

This week I chose to forego the "Sweet Treats - Toppings" option and stick to an "Anything Goes" card.

And here is my creation:

This is the first time that I have used the new 1/4" Cotton Ribbon and I LOVE it!  It is so easy to work with and so nice and soft on your hands.  Just lovely!!

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

Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Sweet Taffy DSP

Stamp Sets: Blended Bloom, Bloom with Hope

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight

Tools/Techniques: Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities Markers, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities Markers, 1/4" Cotton Ribbon - Daffodil Delight, Modern Label Punch

It would be great if you would take some time to follow my blog. :)

Thanks for dropping by,

Steph

Inspired by Hollywood

Hi Everyone!

This is my final card to share with you from my stamping session on the weekend.  I am really hoping that I have found my mojo - I seriously had forgotten just how much I enjoy making cards.

This particular card was inspired by Hollywood for me.  When I saw the sketch challenge from CAS - Colours and Sketches for this week, I have to admit, I was definitely perplexed.  I wasn't sure how I could make this one work.  But then I saw my On Film Framelits which had yet to come out of the packaging and I was set!

Here are the challenges that I am linking up to for this card:

1. CAS - Colours and Sketches

2. Stampin' Royalty

This week's challenge at Stampin' Royalty is "Anything Goes".

3. Seize the Birthday

This week's theme or "toppings" is "Stars and/or Stripes".

Here is my card:

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer Paper

Stamp Sets: And Many More

Ink: Versamark

Tools/Techniques: On Film Framelits, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph

Happy Birthday Dad!

Hey Everyone!

Wow!  Two posts in one day - it's been awhile!!

My Dad's 60th birthday was a few weeks back and I, of course, took the time to make him a card.  I just haven't had a chance to post it...

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

1. Addicted to Stamps & More:

This week's challenge is to "Make Your Mark".  I don't often colour too much on my cards, but I decided to do so on this one.

2. Seize the Birthday!

You can never have too many birthday cards!

Here's my card:

Card Recipe:

Card Stock: Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Fresh Prints DSP

Stamp Sets: Just Sayin', Sketched Birthday

Inks: Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Tools/Techniques: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, 1/8" Tafetta Ribbon - Bermuda Bay, Banners Framelits, White Embossing Powder

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph

H is for Happy

Hi Everyone!

First, I wanted to take a few moments to thank the ladies over at Dynamic Duos as my Shaving Cream Card was chosen as one of the Runner Ups last week.  I really appreciate it!  If you would like to see my card, click HERE.

Now, what makes me happy?  Thinking about the East Coast certainly does!  And this card certainly reminds me of the East Coast and where I grew up!  I really like this new High Tide DSP from Stampin' Up! and thought it would make a great birthday card.  I also thought that a great way to showcase more than one sheet of it would be to use the fantastic sketch over at Sunday Stamps.

And, seeing as I decided to create a birthday card, I decided to enter my card in the Anything Goes challenge over at Seize the Birthday.

Here is my card for both of these challenges:

A fellow blogger mentioned that this card would also work with the sketch over at Unscripted Sketches this week.  I agree as it is very similar to the one above!  I will be linking my card up to this challenge as well.  This will be the first time that I will be playing with the ladies over there, I am very excited to find this new challenge blog as I LOVE sketches!!!  Thanks again Kimberly - check out her blog - Weinerhoneymooners.

Card Recipe (All Stampin' Up! products):

Card Stock:

Whisper White, Pacific Point, High Tide DSP

Ink:

Summer Starfruit, Pacific Point

Stamp Sets:

Occasions Alphabet, By the Seashore

Tools/Techniques:

1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon - Pacific Point, Neutral Candy Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for dropping by!

Steph