Create Bliss

Hi Everyone! I was in a crafty mood today and entered a challenge at a site called Paper Hoarders. For the challenge, we had to use lace on a tag, so this is what I made:
I have been wanting to use this dress form from LINDSAY'S STAMP STUFF on a project and today I figured out what I wanted to do with it. I cut out the pieces using my Cricut and SCAL, but if you don't have a Cricut or SCAL you can use the jpeg printables that are included in these sets. I used Distress Inks on the tag, doily sash, measuring tape and the buttons.
I stamped CREATE in the corner (Invoke), embossed the lower edge with a cuttlebug folder then glued all my pieces down with Helmar Acid Free glue and used Liquid Scrap Dots (for dimension) to adhere the buttons. I wrapped the spool with some embroidery thread and attached it to the tag with various ribbons, threads and yarns.
Here are links to the sets I used:



This project was sew much fun to make! That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, and until next time, happy creating!

A Military Thank You

We have been having the most beautiful summer here in Maine. I have been outside every possible minute of every sun-shiny day, and today was no exception. As my son and I were out on the patio having lunch, reading, and just lounging about, we could see (and hear) the military jets blasting through the skies for a good part of our afternoon. I love to watch them as they fly in formation and zoom back to the airport, then start all over again. To see them reminds me of the great sacrifice that so many make on behalf of our whole country and it makes me feel so thankful and safe. So, as I was trying to decide what kind of card to make this week and feeling rather patriotic and thankful, I decided to make a card for one of our soldiers. I used the card kit from the PATRIOTIC COLLECTION from LINDSAY'S STAMP STUFF. I cut two squares and one rectangle from the papers in the card kit. I also cut a rectangle from a paper that I embossed with the Thank You folder from Cuttlebug, then distressed it with some red ink. I adhered all these to a blue card base and added a rubber stamped sentiment that I colored, along with some ribbon and a few extra pieces from the card kit which I layered on with pop dots. I put a sentiment from the kit on the inside and DONE! I think I will send this one to my cousin who is serving in our military in Germany. Check out what the rest of Lindsay's Design Team is doing this week - I know it will be fabulous! You can start by going to Lindsay's blog from HERE and see what she has this week! See you soon and Happy Digi Stamping!!!

My card qualifies for the following challenges:

ANNABELLE STAMPS BLOG - Say it with Embossing

DARING CARDMAKERS - Layer it Up

Don't Look Now, but I Made a Card!!!!

Yay!!! It is so good to be back. Although I've been having a wonderful summer with my family- We have been very busy traveling, reading, walking, driving (my ds has his permit), and picnic-ing, I have missed my studio and crafting very much. It was nice to be back last night and make this card using a sketch from Meslissa's blog, Tuesday Morning Sketches. She is having a big celebration this week in honor of her 1st anniversary/birthday! She challenged card making readers to use a sketch from her archives, so I chose to use TMS #13 for my card this week, but she added a twist: use something that reminds you of summer! I was in need of a thank you card, so I made this ladybug card using stamps from LINDSAY'S STAMP STUFF. The ladybug is from the DOODLEFLOWERS set, and the sentiment is from the ALL AROUND PHRASES set. (The small stamped flower is studio g.) It was easy to put together using Melissa's sketch. I added Rock Candy Stickles to the daisy centers and bee wings on the pp and then to the ladybug spots and the stamped flower center. Done!
Hop on over to Lindsay's Blog and see what awesome freebie she has today and link up to the rest of her fabulous Design Team to see what they have created! While you are at Melissa's Blog, take up her challenge - Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is sponsoring her challenge this week, so you could win a great freebie there too! Thanks for stopping by, see you SOON!!!

One Cute Chick!

Hello, Everyone! It's a very happy Thursday here in Maine. After a day of pouring rain yesterday, today is sunny and heading for the 80's! My cards today are full of pretty spring flowers, starting with the patterned paper from Basic Grey. I just fell in love with it, and had to use it. I had this cute chick image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff already printed, colored (with my Prismas) and die cut. It was just waiting for the right card to come along, and I think it did! I made the flowers by using a flower punch and bazzill papers. You first punch the flowers, then scrunch and mash them up, then peel the two layers apart. I layered each flower to give it more depth and added brads from elements. I also made a small card with a the scraps from my first card a piece of ribbon and some purple stickles. Click HERE to go to the Mygrafico shop to buy the Cute Easter set.
You can check out the rest of the design team's blogs and see what they did this week - I'm sure it will be fabulous! The links are in my side bar, or you can go to Lindsay's Blog and find the list there. I know she will have a fun freebie for you and some extra special crafty inspiration! I'm off to enjoy the sunshine - Happy Digi Stamping!

My cards qualify for the following challenges:

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Anything Goes
Drunken Stampers - Scraps
Ann's Creative Nook - Round and Round We Go!
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Blooming Charming

Congratulations!

Happy Thursday! Are the weeks getting shorter, or is it just me? :) This week, I made a quick Congratulations card for a friend who recently graduated from college. This card was made with digi papers and stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I used this week's freebie background paper, the All Around Phrases stamp, and a piece of the striped paper from the Black and White Elegant card kit. I kept this card all black and white so I could enter a challenge at Drunken Stampers this week. It also qualifies for the House Mouse Monday challenge (distress) and the ABC challenge (unused stash - brads).
I wish you all a fabulous Thursday, and I hope you will take a few minutes to check out the rest of the design team's creations for this week. I have posted a current list of DT members on my side bar, or you can see the list on Lindsay's Blog. Stop by and check out this week's freebie and have fun!

February's Birthday Card Challenge

Happy Spring! Today is the first day of Spring here in the USA, and I decided to post these cards I made for Sherri's (iloveflipflops) Stamp Shack Challenge. I know I'm posting them a little late (what else is new?) Since they are so bright and cheery, they seemed appropriate for springtime birthdays. These cards were made from scraps of birthday papers, Prima Flowers, brads and ribbons I had in my stash...and it wouldn't be a card without some Stickles, would it? Well, folks, I'm off to enjoy our official first day of spring. Hope you all enjoy yours!

A Dig Valentine's Day Card

As I was thinking of what kind of card to make for this week, I thought about how my card making obsession began. It started about 9 years ago. I had a computer, a printer, a package of copy paper and an inexpensive card making program. I would go through the index of choices, add in some of my own photos and design cards for my friends and family. I even created a signature on the back that represented our family with a "created by" line and some clip art.
Once I discovered rubber stamps, paper punches and eyelets, I began to combine them with my card making software to create cards and post cards. Before I knew it, I forgot my computer and have added to my stash of embellishments and have had ink stained fingers ever since...and then Lindsay started Lindsay's Stamp Stuff.
I had to dig back into my computer and try to remember things I forgot. At times, it has been frustrating. But then I began to think...hmmm...that's how I started making cards - with the computer. Why was something that was so easy years ago, so daunting to me now? I decided to dig out my old program once again and put it back to work. It was so simple. Why didn't I think of this before?
I opened a new document in my program and began to import the stamps from the LOVE GROWS HERE set. I just can't get enough of this one! It's too cute. I used the sketch from Melissa's Tuesday Morning Sketches. Lindsay is sponsoring this week's challenge, so be sure to click the link for more details on how to enter.
For my card, I created a background (watermark) with the sentiment. Next, I re-created Melissa's layout with the digi stamps and was able to easily color in and outline them with my program. I added a photo of myself and a sentiment to finish the digital elements. Once it was printed, I popped in three brads and adhered that to a card base with a scalloped edge. Stickles gave the card it's finishing touch. (DejaVu?) LOL
So for those of you who want to try digi stamps but think it might not be as easy as it looks, open up an old, familiar software program and design a hybrid card like I have. It doesn't have to be a new, fancy program -anything you use to print a photo will work. Think of the digi stamp like it's a photo or clip art and copy it into the document. It will be fun to see how you can use something old to put a new spin on your card making fun!
Check out Thefrugalcrafter's Weblog and see what Lindsay has for you today. While you are there, check out the links to the rest of her Design Team's Blogs and see all the fun they are having with Lindsay's digi stamps and papers. Ooh, did you hear that? Lindsay has added some new stamps and papers to her MyGrafico Shop. Click the link to check those out as well-they can be downloaded instantly-no waiting! That's all for today - see you again soon. Happy Digi Stamping :)

Warm Wishes! - Christmas Card Swap!

I made these cute cards for Sherri's "Make 5 Christmas Cards" each month for your stash. I made these using my new cuttlebug embossing folder and a sheet of Coredinations paper. The stamps are Holiday Clear Stamps. The simple layout and minimal embelishments made them easy to assemble. Looks like I'm off to a good start this year, Sherri! Thanks for hosting this fun (and useful) challenge.

Basic Grey, Babies and Bows!

It's Thursday and that means it's Digi Stamp Day with Lindsay's Stamp Stuff! Yesterday I went shopping with Cindi (one of our talented Design Team Members) and then we met Lindsay (of Lindsay's Stamp Stuff) for lunch at a local Thai restaurant. We all enjoyed delicious food and had a great time. While Cindi and I were shopping, I found (what I thought) was going to be a versatile embossing folder that I could use for birthdays, Christmas.... Turns out, when I got it home, it was for baby cards. If you look closely, you can see a baby bottle and booty in the embossing. So...I decided to keep it anyway and use it with the BABIES AND BOWS stamp set that Lindsay designed. I really like how this card turned out. It could be used for a baby shower or for a new baby. With a different sentiment, it could be used for a baby's first birthday as well. I wanted to use non-traditional colors instead of predictable pastels. To give the card a more "finished" look, I added faux stitching to the card stock panels and was able to meet a challenge at the Sunflowers and Dragonflies challenge blog.
This Thursday and Friday EVERYTHING at Lindsay's MyGrafico Shop is 25% off! They are having an anniversary sale - but hurry! The sale ends at Midnight on Friday. (GMT) By using her MyGrafico Shop you can not only save 25%, you also get to instantly download your stamp sets!
Be sure to check out the DT blogs and admire their fabulous creations. Happy Digi Stamping!!!


Supply List:
PrismaColor Markers-
Dark Brown
Sand
Spanish Orange
Terra Cotta
Violet Mist
Lilac
Staples Cream Card Stock Base
Bazzill Card Stock- Purple, Orange
Basic Grey patterned papers
making memories brads
Prima Flowers
Sizzix Embossing Folder
Stampin' Up Corner Punch
Distress Ink - spiced marmalade
Distress Stickles - Picket Fence
Black fine tip marker
Digi Stamps - Lindsay's Stamp Stuff

Recycled Cards - Child's Play?

I was helping a friend this week with ideas for her once a month craft group at a local nursing home and she told me that one of the ladies had "heckled" her several times saying that what they were doing was "child's play". After the third or fourth time of getting the business from this lady, she told the lady that she was starting to get a complex and then the lady changed her tone and made a joke of it, joined in on the craft time and has been having a wonderful time reconnecting with her "inner child"! So...
I thought since this was on my mind and Lindsay had challenged us this week to create a project using something recycled, I would make my card recycled AND child-like. If you remember (as I did) our first art projects were created using scraps, bits and pieces or something we had rescued from the recycle bin, etc.
I started with a purple Bazzil card stock base and a piece of an oatmeal box, and of course, since it's Thursday, a couple of digi stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I used her EMBOSSED MATS set and this cute image from her new stamp set LOVE GROWS HERE. I used Print Shop to create a two colored background and layered the embossed mat and bird image on top of that. I painted the image with water colors and let the colors and ink smudge (think child-like here). Next, I used my corner rounder on the corners and my cool new Tim Holtz mini stapler to staple a loop of scrap ribbon to each side. As I was trying out my new border punch, I realized the scrolled scraps from that were very pretty and glued a couple in opposite corners of the panel. I found a couple of metal letter brads for the X and O in the lower corner. I ran the panel of my oatmeal box through a paper crimper, tore the front layer off, crumpled the edges a bit and adhered the digi panel to that, then attached that panel to the card stock. I border punched a scrap of vellum and used a rub on for the sentiment and glued that to the inside of the card. This was such a fun card to make. Thanks for the challenge, Lindsay!
To find out how you can enter her challenge, go to her blog, THE FRUGALCRAFTER'S WEBLOG - but hurry - today's the last day to enter, so get busy and see what treasures you can find in your recycle bin and enter her challenge! While you are there, don't forget to see what the rest of the Design Team has created this week. We all love to hear from you. Until next time, Happy Digi Stamping!

Tea for You

This card was made for a contest at my Local Scrapbook Store, Judy's Scrappin' and Stampin'. She gave all her customers who wanted to participate a kit that included a piece of patterned paper, a sticker sheet of lace and some punch outs. We had to use at least one of each of the elements on our card and could add other elements as well. This week all of her customers have been voting for their favorite card. The winner will receive a gift certificate for the store. All cards entered in the contest will be donated to a card ministry. This is what I came up with.

I took my sketch inspiration from this week's sketch at Inspirational Card Sketches. I thought this teapot stamp would be perfect for the focal point! It was created by Courtney Ricker for Your Maine Stamper. The sentiment is from The Paper Company Studio. The flowers are by Prima. This was a very quick and easy card to make...so, I think I'll go make a few more! See you next time, and until then, Happy Stamping and Happy Halloween!

Digi Stamp Thursday

Don't ask me why I was drawn to fall colors this week! I got these pretty papers, brads and stickers at Judy's Scrappin' and Stampin', and I can't put them down! I thought they would be great with this funky tree stamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff! I colored the stamp with my bic mark its and embelished the fruit on the tree with orange stickles. I used a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches which is a new challenge blog, recently started by Melissa Craig. Click on the link and give it a try. Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is a sponsor this week, so the prize will be a good one! Lindsay is also offering a special for the month of July - for every $5 you spend in her shop, you get a free stamp.
Don't forget to check out the Design Team's Blogs for this week's freebie. You never know who will have it!

Happy Stamping Everyone!

Melissa
Janet
Kim
Lisa
Margie
Katt
Tamara
Row
Olena
Lindsay
Leanne
Melissa
Erin - Guest designer for July

Chinese Rabbit Card

It's Thursday again and that means it's Digi Stamp Day!!! Today's card is made with two fun stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I used the Rabbit stamp and the Chinese Calligraphy Rabbit stamp. I colored both stamps with my Prisma Markers and I used a sketch from 2 sketches 4 you. When I saw the sketch this week, I knew I had to use these two stamps with this sketch! I made my first attempt at using Mr. Linky, so if anyone notices that I didn't do it properly, could you let me know??? I'd appreciate it!

Lindsay is running a new special this month. For every $5 you spend at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, you can choose a FREE STAMP! But that's not all!!! Hop around to the Design Team Blogs and find this week's freebie! I wonder what fabulous stamp Lindsay has drawn this week...hmmmm...



Melissa
Janet
Kim
Lisa
Margie
Katt
Tamara
Row
Olena
Lindsay
Leanne
Melissa
Erin - Guest designer for July

Prisma Colors used on this card:

Khaki - Outline rabbit
Cream - Color Rabbit
Deco Pink - Rabbit Ear, Nose, Mouth and Calligraphy Panel

Digital Tuesday Challenge

I was doing some blog hopping this morning, trying to get my mojo going, and hopped on over to the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blog to see what was going on. This week's challenge is a sketch. I've never done any challenges like this before, so I decided to give it a try.


As most of you know, I'm on the Design Team for Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, and when I saw the Digital Tuesday Challenge today, I immediately thought of this card kit that Lindsay offered as a freebie on her blog, The Frugalcrafter's Weblog. Click HERE to link directly to the free card kit.

To get the larger apples, I cropped the apple on the books, enlarged it, and cut and pasted it 3 times. I used a cream cardstock base, a scrap of black to mat the stamp, and a black brad for the arrow. The stamps were colored with my Bic MarkIts and blended with a Prisma colorless blender pen. Everything else was part of Lindsay's FREE kit!

Needless to say, this challenge and Lindsay's great kit got my mojo going full speed ahead. I made a bunch of cards today, but you'll have to check back in on Thursday to see more! Until then, Happy Stamping, Everyone!

I've Inked Up the Rest of My Stamps!

I decided the way to get the rest of my stamps inky -fast- would be to stamp them out for RAKs to send to my crafting friends. I challenged myself at the beginning of the year to ink up all unused stamps BEFORE buying any new ones, and I've done it! So, just to make things fun (and see if anyone is paying attention) I've decided to do a give away. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll choose at random a lucky follower to receive a package of stamped images. Happy Stamping!