Thursday, February 28, 2013

Anne Girl!

Good Morning!

I adore Anne (of Green Gables).  When I saw this stamp, I about died!  I had to have it and luckily my husband felt the same (after I begged mercilessly). :) 

This card is going in the CAS-UAL Fridays CFC91 Hi Ho Silver Challenge HERE.  (I only have 1 more hour to get it posted, so gotta rush this blog post!)  Here's my sweet Anne!

 I heat embossed her with silver.  I was going to leave her uncolored, but then decided to add a few areas of color here and there with some of my Faber Castell Colored Pencils (that I won a while back).

A couple more views:









I wish they would have had some sort of "kindred spirit" sentiment as well! :) 

You can get your Anne stamp at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps HERE.  It's only $8!

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Paper:  Webster's Pages Petite Papers Collection Combo Pack; Sunday Picnic & Everyday Poetry
Ink:  Top Boss Embossing Stamp Pad; Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Freckled Fawn Pink Chevron Washi
Faber-Castell Colored Pencils

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A Washi Banner Congratulations

Quick giveaway alert:  Whisker Graphics is giving away 2 spools of solid Divine Twine to one lucky winner.  Enter to win HERE.

Today's card was made for a (boy) baby shower.



I used washi tape for the banner with some Caribbean twine.  I'm loving Echo Park's This & That "Charming" collection for masculine cards!  I bent and used pop dots to give a "wavy" look to my sentiment banner.

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A Card and a Request

Good Morning!

**Scroll to the bottom to see a special request from me!**

Today's card is made for the Fresh Squeezed Stamps: St. Patrick's Day Challenge HERE.  I was excited to use my new Subway Series: Spring stamp from them.  Here's what I came up with:


Would you please do me a favor and go HERE and click on "Like" under my picture at the bottom?  The most "likes" get a FREE stamp from Fresh Squeezed!  Love free and love their stamps!  THANK YOU!

Go get YOUR craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Prima Papers:  Madeline & Fairy Flora
Ink:  Rusty Hinge Distress Ink
Sizzix Embossing Folder: Dots & Flowers
Stamp:  Fresh Squeezed Stamps - Subway Series: Spring

All Arrows Point to a Happy Birthday

Today's card was made for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge "Use an Arrow" HERE.



I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the "Arrow Background" file and adhered it to my card.  Before I adhered it completely, though, I added a few different patterned papers under some of the arrows.  Loving getting to know my Cameo! :)

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Silhouette Cameo
"Arrow Background" Image from Silhouette Store
Sassy Salutations Stamp Set from Stampin' UP!
Tempting Turquoise Ink from Stampin' UP!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Happy Birthday - Cameras

Happy Monday!

I  finally made a masculine Birthday card that I like, thanks to EP's This & That Charming!  My inspiration was the Moxie Fab Camera Craze Challenge HERE.


You have until March 11th to enter a project, so go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Stampin' UP "Sassy Salutations" Stamp Set
Echo Park "This & That - Charming"

"Vintage Photo" Distress Ink

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Big Yellow Flower

Happy Saturday!

I'm looking forward to attending a baby shower today of a sweet friend!  What are you up to today?
My card today is for a couple challenges (listed below).


The design was inspired by Pink By Design - In the Garden Challenge HERE.  The colors were inspired by The Play Date Cafe: Twine-Wrapped Inspiration PDCC170 HERE.  Here's the inspiration colors:


Stone....Buttercream.....Denim

It's kind of hard to differentiate my stone from my denim strip in the middle.  Here's another view.
Love this color combination!

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Simple Stories "Summer Fresh"
Lifestyle Crafts Cutting Dies "Petals"
Sizzix embossing folders "Dots & Flowers"

Friday, February 22, 2013

Thanks!

TGIF, Crafty Peeps!

Hope you have crafty weekend plans!   Yesterday's crafting session with my bestest crafting buddy went exceptionally well...as far as getting things done.  I did most of the work, but I'll let her slide this time! :)  (Totally kidding!)  This "THANKS!" card is totally dedicated to her for all her help!  I'll try to get some pics posted of our banner and paper cars this weekend.

Today's thank you card's design is inspired by the Cat's Meow Feb Sketch Challenge.  Check it out HERE.

I used Little Yellow Bicycle "Just Because" 6x6 paper pad that I won!  Love free crafting supplies...especially paper!!

Here's the challenge sketch:

You've got until 2/28 to enter, so go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Stamp:  Stamp It Big by Clearly Gina K
Paper:  Little Yellow Bicycle "Just Because"
Ink:  Memento "London Fog"

Thursday, February 21, 2013

A Springtime-y Polka-Dot-y Kind of Thank You

Happy Thursday!

It's happy indeed for my bestest crafty buddy is coming over today to help me make some baby shower decorations.  I plan to have my Silhouette Cameo a smokin'!  :)

And here's a card that I hope makes you happy!  It was inspired by Really Reasonable Ribbon's Spring Colors & Ribbon challenge HERE, as well as The Twinery's Let's Polka Dot Challenge HERE.


For my polka-dots, I punched out circles with a couple different sizes of circle punches and then ran them through my Xyron sticker machine so one side was all sticky.  I then wrapped twine around the sticky side.

My twine colors are Caribbean, Pea Pod and Lilac.



I swear I didn't see Jamie Cripps' card before I made mine.  I just went to the The Twinery blog to review the rules and saw her card.  :)  I guess great crafting minds think alike?! 

You have until 2/26 for RRR's challenge and 2/28 for The Twinery's challenge, so go get your craft on!

PS--Go check out my bestest crafty buddy's blog...she makes beautiful cards, among other things!

--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
The Twinery Twine: Caribbean, Pea Pod, Lilac
Sizzix Dots & Flowers Embossing Folder
Big Shot
Lawn Fawn Bright Side Collection 6x6 paper pad
Elegant Eggplant Stampin' Up Ink
Sassy Salutations Stampin' Up Stamp Set

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Pink Splash Thank You

Good Morning!

Needing to stock up on my Thank You cards, so I have another one for you today.  This is for a challenge at CAS-UAL Fridays: CFC 90: Black and White plus 1 (one color choice) HERE.


Hope you have a terrific Wednesday!
--Cheryl


Supplies Used:
Bella Blvd Sand & Surf 12x12 Collection Kit (Pink scallop border sticker)
Bazzill Black and White Paper
Tim Holtz Paper Tape
Sizzix Thank You #5 Embossing Folder

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Paris Girl Card

Good Morning!

I love combining a Sketch Challenge with a Color Challenge.  If I have just a Color Challenge, I get my colors together and then I'm like, "Uh, okay...how should I put my card together?"  That's where the Sketch Challenge comes in real handy!  Check out my card and then I'll tell you about the challenges that inspired me!

For the sketch part of the card, I'm entering There She Goes Clear Stamps: TSG195-Sketch Challenge HERE.

And for the color part of the card, I'm entering The Play Date Cafe Warm and Inviting PDCC 169 HERE.


Carnation...Mint...Juniper

Such gorgeous colors!  I got to use some of the new stamps I won recently...the Prima "Divine" collection (see picture of it below)!  So fabulous!

Go Get Your Craft On!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Paper:  Prima - Sweet Fairy 6x6 paper pad
Stamps:  Prima Cling Stamps - Divine Collection

Inks:
Memento - London Fog
Ranger Distress Ink - Rusty Hinge
Dies:  Spellbinders - Big Scallop Circles Large

Monday, February 18, 2013

A Reformed Design Team Wanna-Be



I just a read a blog post that I wanted to leave a comment on, but my comment was going to be so long that I decided to just blog it!  

The post is by Emily Branch Designs.  She has started a new "Top Ten" series.  This is her second one (the first one was great too...check it out HERE--the comments were fun to read too) and it's called "Top 10 Things I Learned From Being on a Design Team."  You can read it HERE.  This article had a huge impact on my way of thinking towards wanting to be on a design team.  You see, for quite some time now I’ve been aching to be part of a design team.  However, it wasn’t until the past month or so that I actually applied for any…and it’s only been like 3.  I didn’t make any of those teams.  Trust me, if I had, you would have known.  That particular blog post would have been in ALL CAPS with LOTS of exclamation points!!!!!

Why would a company/blog NOT want me to be part of their design team, I’m sure you’re screaming at the computer asking yourself?!  I notice a lot of the requirements when applying for a DT include “Be able to take good, quality photos.”  That’s my downfall right now.  Yep, that’s what I’m blaming it on…my lack of photo skills.  Not my sub-par card creations! J  I’ve been devouring any and every blog post I can find on taking quality pics with an iPhone (that’s my only camera source currently) and entering every DSL camera giveaway I can find!  I’ve downloaded several camera/editing apps, and still I struggle.  It’s a lighting thing for me, I think.  

Anywho, I digress.  Back to this amazingly eye-opening article!  Emily brings out so many interesting and “duh—that makes sense” points.  Here are the ones that really grabbed me.

#6 - So true on the time commitment…what was I thinking?!  I can barely squeeze in minutes here and there throughout the week to make cards to keep my blog fairly active and current.  I get a little more time on the weekends when hubby is home to watch the kiddos, but between a 4-year-old girl who is a different character every day (Simon, Cinderella, Michelangelo, Alvin—Chipmunks are huge right now, etc.) and assigns you a character (often changing characters several times throughout the day so by the end of the day you have no idea who you are!), a 10-week-old (need I say more?!), a part-time job, and household duties, why in the world am I “aching” to add one more time-commitment item to my life?!  Preposterous!  

#2 - So true on the money thing!  I had never really thought about that aspect of it.  I figured them sending me new products to use was payment enough.  But hey, if I’m giving up what precious little time I have to showcase your products and parade them all over the internet…give me some moolah!!  :)

#4 - I never even thought you could have a bad experience as a DT member!  Eye opener there!  Hmmm, maybe it’s not all it’s cracked up to be!  Not feeling the “ache” so much now, are we?

Not that I don’t still want to be part of a DT.  It’s just that the urge or ache (almost stress I’ve been putting on myself) has been lifted!  I feel free.  Weird, I know.  I can make cards on my terms, with whatever products I want, in my time frame (no pressure), and share it with my friends.  You know, those sweet people who think everything you make is gorgeous and are faithful followers. I love those people!  You know who you are!

Instead, I’m going to work on perfecting my style and honing my brand (#3).  Such great advice in #1.  I encourage you to read Emily’s article (and follow her blog while you’re there!) if you’ve been dying to be part of a DT but haven’t managed it yet, I hope her post has the same freeing effect on you as it did for me!

Happy stress-free Crafting!
--Cheryl

A White Thank You

Happy Monday, Crafty Peeps!

I've got a few Thank You cards ready to go this week.  First up is a Thank You card for Simon Says Stamp "White on White" challenge HERE.


I LOVE embossing folders!  I used 2 different ones on this card.  (See which ones under "Supplies Used" below).  You have until 2/20 to enter this challenge, so get out your white papers and get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
Sizzix Dots & Flowers Embossing Folder
Sizzix Thank You Set #5 Embossing Folder
Big Shot
White ruffle edge ribbon

Friday, February 15, 2013

Win Much?

Happy Friday!

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day.  I don't know about you, but I'm fine with not seeing any more Valentine's-related posts on any blog anywhere until NEXT Valentine's Day!  I'm hearted out! :)

If it's one thing I love to do besides make cards and craft, it's enter giveaways!  It's soooo much fun to win! :)  Since January I have won:
--Stamp It Big stamp set from Gina K. Designs
--A goody bag full of CHA products including Little Yellow Bicycle "Just Because" 6x6 pad along with several packages of "Just Because" embellishments,
--An Authentique prize pack (still waiting to receive)
--A "Divine" prize pack from Prima (should be arriving in the next day or 2)
--Subway Series "Spring" from Fresh Squeezed Stamps
--A background stamp from ??--I can't get in my craft room to check on details as Micah is in there sleeping.  The pitfalls of having to share your craft room with your baby! :)

There are probably 1 or 2 others I'm forgetting!  So...get your comments on and enter some giveaways!  Here are some really good ones!

--Webster's Pages HERE to win brand new, super cute stamp sets. 
--Paper Crafts Sweepstakes HERE.  HUGE prize pack!
--Scrapbook Trends Magazine HERE.  Win a scrapbooking party kit for you and 15 of your friends!  (Can enter once a day)  Ends 2/28.
--Northridge Publishing HERE.  They have a great giveaway every Friday.  Today's giveaway is Pink Paislee's Secret Crush collection.
--Canadian Scrapbooker Why Not Win Wednesday HERE.  Giving away 6 DCWV stacks!  Hurry, you only have until midnight to enter this one.  There will be 6 winners!

Let me know if you win something!!

Go get your winning on!
--Cheryl

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

I've got another post today for a card incorporating several challenges listed below.



Play Date Cafe Color Challenge #168 HERE.  Here's the color board (Cranberry, Raspberry, Petal):



CARDS Blog Challenge:  Feb. 2013 - Sketch HERE.  Here's a copy of the sketch:
And another entry into CASology's Week 30 Fairy Tale Challenge HERE.

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
PAPER:
Webster's Pages Petite Papers "Sunday Picnic & Everyday Poetry" Collection Combo Pack

INK:
Memento Tuxedo Black

DIES:
Sizzix Star Framelits

PUNCHES:
2" Circle Punch

STAMPS:
Our Craft Lounge - Love In The Air

Kiss The Frog!

Good Afternoon!

Today's card is for a fun challenge over at CASology - The Creative Study of Clean & Siimple.  It's their Week 30: Fairy Tale Challenge HERE which ends in less than 3 hours, which is why I'm posting on a Sunday! :)

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
STAMPS:
Frolicking Frogs (Stampin' Up Retired Stamp set)
Fresh Squeezed Stamps - Subway Series Spring

INK:
Memento Tuxedo Black
Red Marker

TWINE:
The Twinery: Lemondrop and Lilac

Friday, February 8, 2013

Pink and Turquoise Loveliness

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!

Not only are pink and turquoise my favorite color combination right now, but I used some of my favorite things on this card...twine and washi tape!  I love this Caribbean color from The Twinery that I made my twine flower out of.  Makes me wish I was at the beach! 



The main inspiration for this card was the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger picture.


I want to paint everything in my house that blue color and accent with pink.  So fabulous! 

Putting my card together was easy with this sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch!



I'll be entering my card in the following challenges:
CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #14 HERE.
Stampendous Impressions: February 2013 Challenge: Love is in the Air HERE.
Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog: Have a Heart HERE.
Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger:  Cross My Heart HERE.
Muse Challenge #3 HERE.

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

My Princess

Good Morning!

Today's layout is of my beautiful princess.  I tried experimenting more with layers on this layout.  


Challenges I'll be entering this layout into:
Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge: Ever After HERE.
My Mind's Eye Guest Designer Contest HERE.

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
PAPER:
My Mind's Eye "The Sweetest Thing" (Base/Background Paper)
My Mind's Eye Lost & Found "Market Street"
The Methodist Hymnal

INK:
Ranger Distress Ink "Vintage Photo"

EMBELLISHMENTS:
Gray polk-a-dot Washi Tape
Princess Petals Florettes by Webster's Pages "Country Estate"

EMBOSSING FOLDER:
Sizzix Dots & Flowers

DIES:
Spellbinders Nestabilities Big Scalloped Circles Large
Sizzix Star Die

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

XOXOX

Good Morning,

This card challenged me to keep it simple, use letters, add a ribbon and keep it monochromatic. Here's what I ended up with:


The following were my challenge inspirations:

CAS-ual Fridays CFC88:  Love Letters HERE.  There's still time to enter; deadline is Thursday at noon (EST). Have you done a "clean and simple" card lately?  It's still a real challenge for me!

RRR Challenge #65:  Monochromatic Color & Ribbon Theme HERE.  Still time to enter this challenge too; deadline is February 12th!  Get your ribbon out and create!

Ribbon Carousel RCC77: Love Is In The Air HERE.  There's a Ribbon Carousel up for grabs!  Would LOVE to win one of those!

So get your challenge craft on!
---Cheryl

SUPPLIES USED:
PAPER:
Pink Paislee "Secret Crush"

DIES:
QuicKutz "Recipe Card"
Scallop Die from Stampin' UP

EMBOSSING FOLDER:
Sizzix "Thank You Set #5"

INK:
Stampin' UP "Pretty In Pink"

RIBBON:
Pink Crushed Ribbon

STICKER LETTERS:
Carta Bella "Devoted"
Echo Park "Love Story"

Monday, February 4, 2013

Washi and Twine Topiary

Good Monday Afternon, Crafty Peeps!

Today I have something other than a card or layout to share.  I've been itching to start making some Valentine's Day decorations...especially to decorate the mantle.  I came across a partially completed Valentine decoration project from last year and decided to finish it this year. 

I believe this was my original inspiration:


Gorgeous, right?!

So what I had on hand was the topiary form (green in color) and the pink "roses" hot-glued to the top portion.  That's it.  Not sure what happened.  Oh wait, I remember.  I couldn't find a cute pot/bucket to put it in.  Obviously I was going to have that same problem this year (seeing how I hadn't been looking for anything), so I came up with a way to decorate it without needing a bucket!


Can you say twine and washi?!  I knew you could.  I took some Pink Sorbet twine from The Twinery and some Pink Chevron and Gray Polka-dot washi and went to town covering up all that nasty green color!


I'll have a big "Mantle Reveal" once the mantle is fully assembled...still have a few more projects to finish yet.

Happy Crafting!
--Cheryl

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Leap Frog Anyone?

Happy Saturday!

WARNING:  Frog puns to follow...I couldn't help myself!

Today's card was "toadally" inspired by a challenge over at CASology - The Creative Study of Clean and Simple.  The theme was "Game."  While I didn't have any specific game-related stamps to use, I came across a retired Stampin' Up set called "Frolicking Frogs" and was excited to try a "leap frog" themed- card.


The stamp I used had the frogs swimming, so I just used a marker to color in the frogs I wanted to use and left off the "water marks."  Here's a picture of the stamp I used.


The sentiment was one of the stamps in the set as well.

Challenges I'm entering my card in:
CASology Week 29: Game.
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes.

Now "hop" on over to your craft room and get your craft on! :)
 --Cheryl

Supplies Used:
PAPER:
Echo Park "For the Record"

STAMPS:
Stampin' Up - Frolicking Frogs (retired)

INK/MARKERS:
Ranger Distress Ink "Vintage Photo"
Uchida 1122 Le Plume II Markers (No. 4 Green, No. 11 Lt. Green)

TWINE/RIBBON:
The Twinery "Lemondrop" and "Peapod"
Ribbon from Ribbon Carousel

Friday, February 1, 2013

More Than The Stars...

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

As you may have noticed, most of my cards are inspired by various blog challenges.  I keep a list of challenges I want to enter so they are all in one place.  When I sit down to craft and I look through my list, I like to see how many challenges I can combine into one card.  This card incorporates 4 different challenges, so it needed to have stars (check), layers (check), anything else (check), and it had to be made with Echo Park "Love Story" paper (check).


Luckily, there was a sentiment sticker ("I love you more than the stars above") in the EP Love Story collection that tied in with the star theme!

Here are the 3 challenges I'm entering my card in:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge:  Anything Goes
Card Challenge Corner: Many Layers of Love
Simon Says Stamp & Show:  Challenge: Seeing Stars 
Echo Park Love Story Project Challenge (via email)

What inspires you in your card making/crafting?

Go get your craft on!
--Cheryl

Supplies Used:
PAPER:
Echo Park "Love Story"

DIES:
Spellbinders Nestabilities 5-piece Stars

STAMPS:
Hero Arts "Hugs & Kisses Birds"

INK:
Ranger Distress Ink "Vintage Photo"