CSS Alumni Blog Hop - Treasure Chest

It's time for another CSS Alumni Blog Hop!  This time we have a new category called Treasure Chest.  Each time we have this challenge, the theme will change.  This time the theme is "Animal Kingdom".  If you arrived here from Brenda's blog, you are in the right place.  If not, you'll want to start back at the StampTV Forum so you don't miss anything.

Our challenge was to pay tribute to the animal kingdom by creating a project using any Gina K. set with animal images.  Here is a list of some of the possibilities:

• Bug Me Anytime
• Cuddles and Hugs Stamp Set
• Dino-mite
• Down On The Farm
• Dream Birds
• Dream Friends
• Framed Friends
• Funny Farm
• Hang In There
• Hip Hop
• Hip Hop Accessories
• Hope Grows
• Hope Is Faith
• Jumping For Joy
• Just Be-Claws
• Just Keep Swimming
• Just So Hoppy
• Just So Hippy
• Little Critters
• Nesting
• Owl Always Love You
• Poultry In Motion
• Pretty As A Peacock
• Purrr-fectly Delightful
• Quite a Catch
• Ready, Set, Snow!
• Spring Has Sprung
• Spring Mix (StampTV Kit)
• Take Flight
• Warm and Fuzzy
• Whatever Floats Your Boat
• Winter Wings
• Zoo Animals

Here is my card:

I chose to make a single layer, CAS card (something different for me!).  My card base is GKD Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White.  I embossed the front with the Grace's Frame Cuttlebug folder. I stamped the blue jay from Asela's Winter Wings set with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copic markers. I masked the bid and sponged on some Tim Holtz Scattered Straw Distress Ink.  I added some Glossy Accents to the berries and some Polar White Flower Soft to the branches for the snow.  The sentiment is from Gina's Picture It! set.  I finished it with a dark red pearl in each corner.  My coloring was inspired by Theresa's gorgeous card here.

Thanks for stopping by!  Next, hop on over to Carolina's blog where she has a fabulous creation to share with you!  Make sure to leave a comment on every stop as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (March 1st), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

Color Throwdown #130

Hi there!  I'm dropping in quick to share a card I made for this week's Color Throwdown. It is also for today's Copic/Promarkers Challenge (CBC0225) on The Outlawz site which was adding depth to hair.

Here are the colors for the CTD challenge:

And here is my card:

I chose to color this adorable image from Mo's Digital Pencil called Bunches.  Isn't she sweet?  I colored her in the Throwdown colors using Copic markers.  I did the best I could with adding depth to her hair, but it's obvious I still need a lot of practice! It's hard to tell, but her bloomers have tangerine polka dots (like the butterfly in the CTD color swatch).  Otherwise, I kept my card simple.  The cardbase is SU So Saffron.  The DP is October Afternoon The Thrift Shop.  I added a double-loop pink gingham bow and that was it.  I wanted this cute image to be the main focus.

Here are the Copics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back late tonight for another fun StampTV Center Stage Alumni Blog Hop!  I hope you'll come back for that!

Tuesday Trigger and Card Patterns Sketch 103

Good evening! You must have thought I disappeared!  I didn't - I just seem to be very busy with real life lately and it's been hard to stop long enough to make cards and get them posted here.  That said, tonight I am sharing a card I made for Card Patterns Sketch 103 and this week's Tuesday Trigger on Moxie Fab World - Flower Power.  It's a very special week on the Card Patterns blog because they are celebrating their two year anniversary!  There are lots of inspiring designs and some great prizes, so you'll definitely want to check it out!

Here is the Card Patterns sketch:

And here is this week's Trigger photo:

Here is my take on both challenges:

Anyone who knows me knows this is definitely NOT my usual style, but as soon as I saw the Trigger photo, I knew I had to pull out my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die and give it a go.  I cut out three each of the three smallest of the florals using SU Rich Razzleberry, Taken With Teal, Tangerine Tango and Kiwi Kiss cardstock.  I layered the three flowers with one of each size in the various color combos and added a coordinating rhinestone to the center of each flower.  I popped the flowers up on different levels with foam tape.  I added a Basic Grey button in the same colors to the border of each flower and that was it. 

Thanks for popping by!  See you soon!

Tuesday Trigger and Just Us Girls #72

Hi there!  Where on earth did the whole weekend go?  I can't believe it's already Sunday evening!  I have a card to share that I made for two challenges - the "Comfy Cozy" Tuesday Trigger on Moxie Fab World and the Just Us Girls Challenge #72 which this week was a color challenge hosted by Kathryn.

Here is the trigger photo:

And here are the colors for the JUGS challenge:

Finally, here is my card for both challenges:

 

What a wonderful coincidence that the colors for the JUGS challenge were the primary colors in the trigger photo!  I took my inspiration from the colors, the pretty florals in the rug and throw pillows and the touch of soft blue in the painted wall and striped pillows.  My card base is GKD Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight Ivory.  The patterned paper is from the Webster's Pages Spring Market/Yacht Club/Country Estate Petite Papers pack.  It is matted with GKD Kraft.  I added some light aqua wrinkled seam binding and a small rose I made from Naturals Ivory CS using a Marvy flower punch.  The rose was distressed with Tim Holtz Antique Linen and Tattered Rose Distress Inks.  The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs Lovely Labels 2 set and it is stamped with SU Vintage Violet.  A small pearl flourish from Recollections (Michael's) finished it off.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you again soon!

Beautiful Award

I couldn't have been more surprised when I went to her blog today and saw that my blogging friend, Theresa, had presented me with this award:

I first met Theresa on StampTV.  One day she sent me a PM and told me I should start my own blog.  It took me quite awhile, but I finally did it!  I've only been blogging for 2 months, so I was incredibly honored that Theresa thought my blog was worthy of this award.  Be sure to stop by Theresa's blog and see all her gorgeous creations! 

Here are the Rules of Award Acceptance :

• Right-click on the award and save it to your computer to add to your blog.
• Choose FIVE (5) worthy recipients and list them. Next to their blog name, give ONE reason why you think their blog is special. What catches your eye about them? What do you love?
• On your blog page, list 5 things about yourself.  Include at least one thing you enjoy about your craft.

The most difficult part of accepting this award is selecting only 5 people to pass it on to!  There are so many amazing blogs out there that inspire me every day!  I decided to pass on the award to 5 stamping friends who truly encouraged me to start blogging.  I'd like to present this beautiful award to the following recipients:

Brenda T. at http://stamp-it-up.blogspot.com/  I met Brenda on StampTV.  We are both on the Center Stage Alumni Team and she and I were challenge hostesses together. Brenda has amazingly creative and beautiful designs on her blog!

Cheri W. at http://stampnboomer.blogspot.com/  I also met Cheri on StampTV as a member of the Center Stage Alumni Team.  Although we've never met in person, she seems like a dear, old friend.  Cheri shares such wonderful cards and projects on her blog!

Dawn B. at http://mystampingthyme.blogspot.com/  I've had the pleasure of meeting Dawn in person several times since we only live a couple of hours apart.  Dawn's coloring is absolutely exquisite and her designs are gorgeous!  I'd love to be able to color like her some day!

Grace N. at http://th-ink-ingofyou.blogspot.com/  I've been lucky enough to also meet Grace in person. Along with Dawn, we love to meet for coffee and shopping (for stamps and paper)!  Grace's cards are so gorgeous and elegant!  She uses beautiful images, papers and embellishments for her special creations!

Jennie H. at http://stampawaytheday.blogspot.com/  I met Jennie through StampTV and we later got to meet in person at a local stamp show. Each and every one of her cards is beautifully designed!  She has a wonderful style that I always enjoy when I visit her blog!

I know some people don't do blog awards, but I hope all these extremely talented ladies will know that the inspiration they share is truly appreciated!

Now, for 5 things about me:

1. I love card-making for the creative outlet it provides and for the wonderful friends I've made through this craft. 
2. I have an "addiction" to patterned paper (you may actually know that - lol)!
3. I also make jewelry. Before I became obsessed with stamping and card-making, I was big into making beaded jewelry.
4. I love cats!  I have a large collection of cat items, but only two live ones.  They are littermates and rescue kitties and they are my babies, even though they are nearly 13 years old now.
5. I worked in research in the pharmaceutical industry for almost 25 years.

Thanks again, Theresa, for honoring me with this award!

The Outlawz Copic/Promarker Challenge

Hi, there!  I'm here to share a card I made for last Friday's Copic/Promarker Challenge (CBC0211) on The Outlawz site.  I'm having so much fun with these challenges! The challenge was to make a card which demonstrates shading and highlighting with markers. 

Here is my card for the challenge:

My card base is SU Poppy Parade and my patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Olivia 6x6 pad.  I chose to color one of the images I received as part of the Help For Katie fundraising effort on Jak Heath's blog.  This adorable image is from Mo's Digital Pencil and is called Sprout.  I shaded and highlighted the image using my Copics.  

Here are the colors I used:

I finished my card with some Baja Breeze striped ribbon and a Basic Grey Olivia button.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great evening!

CSS Alumni Blog Hop - Inspiration Challenge

It's time for another CSS Alumni Blog Hop!  This time we have an Inspiration Challenge with an inspiration photo courtesy of our very own, Miesje Flach!  If you arrived here from Betty's blog, you are in the right place.  If not, you will want to start back at the StampTV forum so you don't miss a thing! 

Here is the photo we were to be inspired by:

Here is my card:

I was inspired by the color scheme and the branch wreath.  I started with the layout from Gina's Sketch Spotlight Challenge from last week (stvsksp12).  My card base is GKD Pure Luxury Cranberry Tart and I layered that with Layering Weight Ivory.  The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Indian Summer collection.  I stamped the trees from Gina's Tree Silhouettes with Versamark and Vivid Coffee Bean and embossed with clear EP.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I layered it on one of the Spellbinders Fancy Tags and added a couple of ivory pearls.  The image panels were cut with Spellbinders Petite Oval Nestabilities and popped up. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Now, hop on over to Carolina's blog where she has a truly inspired creation to share with you!

Jak Heath Thank You Card Challenge

This is my second post today.  This time I am sharing a card I made for a few different challenges.  First, it is for a Thank You Card Challenge that Jak Heath is having on her blog as part of the Help For Katie fundraising event she has held since January.  For more information about this effort, click on the Help For Katie blinkie on my sidebar or visit here.  There is still time to donate to help Katie.
Our card for the challenge had to feature one of the Help For Katie images received when you made a donation. 

I chose the beautiful Magnolia image for my card.

My card base is SU Pink Pirouette and the DP is from the Basic Grey Sugared 6 x 6 pad.  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  I added a simple sentiment from Gina K. Designs Faithful Florals set and that was it.  I wanted the beautiful image to be the main focal point of my card.
My card is also for a couple of other challenges: the Color Challenge on Paper Craft Planet (pcpcolor89, week2) - Pinks, Cream and White - and the Prismas and Other Mediums Challenge (PM0210) on The Outlawz site - to use any coloring medium except Copic or Promarkers and include spots or stripes or any type.  

Thanks for dropping by!  Have a great day!

Giddy Up Partners! It's Time For A Showdown!

The Outlawz are having a party!  Starting on February 13, they will have lots of fun challenges and chances to win some awesome prizes!  You won't want to miss it!  Check out all the details here.

Hope to see you there!

Be back later with a card to share.  Have a great day!

Outlawz Color Challenge Card

I'm back to share a card I did for another of the challenges on The Outlawz site.  Today's challenge was a Color Challenge (CC0208) - to use Poppy, Turquoise and White.

Here is the inspiration photo they shared:

Here is my card with the colors:

My card base is SU Poppy Parade.  My layers are GKD Pure Luxury Turquoise Sea.  I used some beautiful DP from Prima's Strawberry Kisses Collection that had both primary colors.  I stitched around the background panels with my Janome Sew Mini.  The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs Eclectic Summer Sayings set and it was stamped with Poppy Parade onto GKD Layering Weight White. The main image panel and mats were cut with Spellbinders Petite Ovals. I punched a butterfly using a Martha Stewart punch and added some Kaiser gems to his body.  Some turquoise Bloomers from Webster's Pages Spring 2010 collection and some buttons from my stash finished it.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you tomorrow!

Outlawz Birthday Card Challenge

Hi there!  Tonight I am sharing a card I made for this week's Birthday Card Challenge over at the new challenge site - The Outlawz.  I started seeing this site popping up around blogland and had to check it out.  They host fun daily challenges and there's lots of talented people contributing fabulous projects to inspire you!  You'll definitely want to check it out, too!

For this week's birthday card challenge, you had to have a birthday sentiment on the front of the card and include a fairy, angel or butterfly. 

Here is my card for the challenge:

Sadly, I don't have any fairy or angel stamps, so I used the beautiful patterned paper from the Graphic 45 Once Upon A Springtime pad for my fairies.  I started with a base of Papertrey Aqua Mist.  All of my papers are from the Graphic 45 pad.  I cut out the fairy postage and all the little fairies from various sheets in the collection.  I popped them up on foam tape around a central fairy image from another of the sheets. The salmon panel was cut out of DP with a Spellbinders Labels Four Nestability.  My birthday sentiment and frame are from Gina K. Designs Fanciful Tags (by Nina Brackett).  I layered the sentiment on a Spellbinders Fancy Tag.  I  added a couple of peach pearls to finish it.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a great evening!

Just Us Girls #70

Hope you are having a great weekend so far!  I'm sure lots of you are getting ready for the Super Bowl.  Once the New England Patriots were out of the running, I lost interest, so I'm going to try to get some stamping in instead!
Today I am sharing a card I made for this week's Just Us Girls Challenge #70, which was a sketch challenge hosted by Dana.  Here is the fun sketch we had to work with:

Here is my take on the sketch:

My card base is GKD Pure Luxury Black Onyx.  I used patterned papers from the Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue/WonderFALL Petite Papers pack.  My label frame is from Gina K. Designs Lovely Labels 2 (by Nina Brackett) and the sentiment is from the GKD set, Arranged With Love (by Melanie Muenchinger). They were stamped onto Cryogen White Iridescent (Paper Temptress) with SU Blue Bayou and Memento Tuxedo Black, respectively.  I created a handmade flower using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.  I cut the two smallest flowers out of DP, vellum and Webster's Vintage Inspired Netting and layered them all, slightly offset, then added a pearl to the flower center.  I saw the idea for this on Melissa Samuels' blog here.  I dyed some seam binding to match the color of the netting and created a shabby bow under my flower.  I finished my card with a Zva Creative Pearl Flourish and a Cuttlebug Vintage corner diecut to which I also added an adhesive pearl.

Thanks for visiting!  I truly appreciate it!

Card Patterns #100 and Joan's Gardens Challenge

TGIF!  It was such a busy week!  At the last minute, I am sharing a card I made for last Saturday's Card Patterns Sketch #100.  I hope I will get it posted before the deadline!

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

This is also for Weekly Challenge #5 over at Joan's Gardens' blog where this week's requirements were:

- use coral (pink) and green

- use a birthday sentiment

- use vintage paper

- make a handmade or punched flower

My card base is SU Old Olive.  My patterned papers are from three Webster's Pages Petite Papers packs: Lullaby Lane/Life's Portrait, Hollywood Vogue/WonderFALL and Spring Market/Yacht Club/Country Estate.  The labels frame and flourishes are from Gina K. Designs Lovely Labels 2 set.  The sentiment is from GKD Arranged With Love.  I made my own flower from coral CS using a Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die. I

added a layer of Webster's pale peach netting under the flower and I created the leaves with scraps of Webster's green netting that I twisted and shaped.  A few pearls and an olive satin bow finished my card.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend!

StampTV Sketch Spotlight Challenge

I have a card to share tonight that I made for this week's Sketch Spotlight Challenge (stvsksp11) on StampTV. 

Here is the sketch from Gina:

Here is the card I made with the sketch:

My card base is GKD Pure Luxury Black Onyx.  My patterned papers are all from the Hollywood Vogue/WonderFALL Petite Papers pack from Webster's Pages.  I stamped the flowers from the Gina K. Designs set, Friends Are Forever, with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Cryogen White Iridescent (with masking) and colored them with Copic markers.  The image panel and mat were cut with Spellbinders Petite Oval Nestabilities.  The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs Picture It set.  I punched out the sentiment and layered it onto one of the Spellbinders Fancy Tags.  I dyed some white seam binding to match my DP and added a Webster's Pages Sparkler to the bow.  I finished my card with a few buttons from my stash.

I really appreciate you stopping by!  Have a great evening!