Shine Bright Today!

Good Sunday Morning!

Hope all my fellow Americans had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

The festivities don't have to end yet either.  

It's time for another challenge at

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #289

This week's sponsor is 

Your Next Stamp!

Thanks for sponsoring us!

Here is our inspirational photo

This week is a Theme ---

Moon & Stars

We want to see you include a moon and stars or one or the other on your projects!

Don't forget to stop by the Cupcake challenge blog and check out the rest of the design team's fabulous starry projects!  Leave them some blog luvin'!

Here is my card --

SPIES:

STAMPS: "Bright" sentiment - Sparkle & Shine Set (Papertrey Ink).

PAPER: Heavy white cardstock (Bazzil). Gold vellum; Shiny silver cardstock.

INK: Broken China Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Paris Dusk  and Nautical Blue (Memento); Gold Metallic (Staz On).

EXTRAS: Mini stencil frame (Heidi Swapp); Star stencil (Heidi Swapp); Shine word die (Papertrey Ink).

We were able to use whatever stamps we wanted with this challenge.  I had just received my new Christmas stamping supplies on Friday and so guess what I used? Yep, some of the new things (word die).  But, the stencil frame I've had for a while and haven't used until now.  I decided to do sponging/stenciling to make a nice painted sky with stenciled gold stars.  I love the way it turned out!  I cut the word die out in heavy white cardstock and gold vellum so it would pop up more on the card, particularly on top of the silver moon.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

City Crafter Challenge Blog #239 - Techniques

Sweet Cupcake Blessings!

Behold!

Good Morning Tuesday!

There's a new challenge up over at 

{PIN}spirational Challenges today!

{PIN}spirational Challenges #129!

Here is our inspirational photo:

A beautiful picture 

of the true meaning of Christmas!

There's lots of inspiration there for so many different projects!

Our sponsors this next two weeks are 

 Prize-$10 coupon

AND

Prize-6 digi sets

Thank you for sponsoring us!

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects inspired by the photo and using an image from one of our sponsors.  Leave them some blog love as well because we all sure love comments too!

Then link up your project to share with us at the {PIN}spirational Challenge Blog!

For my card, I used "Mini Bethelem" digi from Doodle Pantry :

SPIES:

STAMPS: Mini Bethlehem Digital image and sentiment (Doodle Pantry).

PAPER: White cardbase.  Gold vellum.  DP - Festive Sparkle (The Paper Studio).

INK: Copics on star and manger.

EXTRAS: Banner die (Reverse Confetti); Scor Pal for scoring cardstock as a frame; Diamond Stickles on star and baby Jesus.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Less Is More #199 

{PIN}spirational Blessings!

Jolly

Good afternoon!  I have another card for today!  

Trying to get some cards posted and paint walls at the same time!  Yeah, I'm painting walls four days before a major holiday.  LOL  Well, it wouldn't be any other way for me ---always doing something at the last minute!  The walls would be done by now, except that the yellow hue I thought I wanted turned out to be icky on the wall, so I had to try another one and I always give it a day to grow on me before buying that big ole gallon size of paint.  Plus, on top of painting walls, the Hubs and I have sanded down some furniture pieces to paint as well.  Like I said, I never do anything partial OR in a timely fashion!  LOL

Yet, I am very confident I will have the living/dining room and hallway all painted and back together before Wed afternoon when our youngest son comes home.  I may not have both furniture pieces done but that's ok.  I'm having another paint color issue with our dining buffet. I'm wanting a subdued barn red but so far everything is turning out brighter and redder than I want.  To be continued...

Speaking of red, my card (real subject at hand), is done in red velvet and silver ---

SPIES:

PAPER: White cardbase and white cardstock (Bazzill heavy); Red velvet specialty paper; Silver glitter self stick paper; embossed vellum.

EXTRAS: Lacy scalloped circle die (Spellbinders); Bell dies (Lil Inker Designs); Jolly word die (Lil Inker Designs); striped embossing folder (Cuttlebug).

I've ordered some new stamping supplies for Christmas cards and the bell and "jolly" word die were the first things to arrive.  (Still waiting on everything else).  I thought they were perfect with the silver glitter paper and also for the current challenge at Fusion (Sparkly Christmas).

Check back at the end of the week to see how my redecorating resolved! 

For Following Challenges:

City Crafter #238 - Just a Word

Fusion Card Challenge - Sparkly Christmas

Less Is More #199 

Jolly Blessings!

Frozen Olaf

Good morning again!

More Monday fun!

Time for a 

Pink Elephant Challenge- #278!

This week is another theme --

ANYTHING GOES!

Check out the rest of Ella's team projects and leave them some blog luvin'.

And don't forget to link up your own project!

Here is my card:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Sentiment (Inkadinkadoo).

PAPER: White cardstock; orange cardstock for nose; DP - Jack Frost (American Crafts). DP paper for arms/hair -stash.

INK: Nautical Blue (Memento).

EXTRAS: Stitched wavy line (Spellbinders); Oval die (Spellbinders); plain circle dies (Spellbinders); Cloud dies (Taylored Expressions); black enamel dots (Doodlebug); googly eyes; clear gems.

I've been starting on my Christmas cards (a little late due to vacation).  I have several "let it snow" stamps and recently our local tv station did a spoof on the Frozen inspired song of "let it snow" so I decided to come up with my own Frozen inspired card.  I hope it's obvious that the snowman is suppose to be Olaf from the movie.  I texted photos to my son and daughter inlaw in Oklahoma to get their opinions and they concurred it did look like him.  Most of the pics I saw of him smiling his mouth was open, but I couldn't get that right and I was becoming pressed on time to make my deadline.  

He's pretty self-explanatory as to how I made him except that his arms and hair strands are actually branches from a tree die I snipped and trimmed.  The nose was free handed as were the eyebrows and smile.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

The Friday Mashup #187 - 

Use metal embellishment; Create weather inspired project; or BOTH.

Little Red Wagon #264 - Layer It Up

PINK Elephant Blessings!

Share The Joy

Good Morning!

It's Monday once again and lots of good things are happening!  

One being the new challenge

at 

2 Cute Ink Challenges!

The Challenge Theme is

PETS!

Here is my card using 

Heidi's "Fall In Love Cats" Digi

SPIES

STAMPS: Fall In Love Cats (2 Cute Ink); Sentiment (My Favorite Things).

PAPER: White cardbase.  Red cardstock.  Craft transparency paper; DP from my stash, don't remember brand.

INK: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics on digital image.

EXTRAS: Ornamental circle die (Spellbinders); Stitched circle mat (Lil Inker Designs);  banner die (Reverse Confetti); pearl gems; red heart sequins; flat white, green and pink sequins (Pink Posh); mistletoe leaves (Jolee's Boutique).

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

2 Cute Blessings!

Flowers Bloom Hope

 Happy Sunday!

It's bitter cold just about everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere! 

Grab some hot cocoa or tea or coffee 

and come

play at 

Cupcake Inspirations #288!

Our sponsor this week is

They are supplying a prize of Ribbon 

to our randomly selected winner!

Thank you for sponsoring us!

Swirling Fall Leaves Cupcake Toppers by Tikkido

This week is a Color Challenge!

Ruby ~ Butter ~ Pumpkin

Yours truly kind of missed the boat at first on this challenge -- I was so wrapped up in working with May Arts ribbon, I forgot about the color challenge! But I did remedy it as you will see:

SPIES:

STAMPS: Sentiment (Verve Stamps).

PAPER: White cardbase.  Orange cardstock; DP -Autumn Abundance (Papertrey Ink).

INK: Black Tuxedo (Memento); 

EXTRAS: Peony die (Spellbinders).  Red gem dots.

The ribbon didn't photograph too well.  It's not that dark in reality or in Picasa.  And, those are suppose to be red gem dots in the center of the flowers.  Since I goofed, I ran some yellow satin ribbon through the flower ribbon for my yellow.

FOR FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:

Sweet Cupcake Blessings!

2 Cute Joy

Happy Tuesday!

Well, I thought I posted this a couple weeks ago, but apparently it was still in "draft" mode.  I did this while at the beach for the new 2 Cute Ink Monthly Newsletter that Heidi began at the beginning of this month.  Stop over at the 2 Cute Ink Facebook page and you can find out how to subscribe to the monthly newsletter.  When you do you receive that month's free 2 Cute Ink digital stamp also during the first week of the month.  The "Joy" digi is November's stamp.  Is it not just adorable?  So many ways you can use it.  Check out all the great projects posted on the Facebook page.  Also stop by the 2 Cute Ink Challenge blog and check out our challenges that run for two weeks.  

Joy Blessings!

3D Star Wreath

Good morning again!

Monday's are always "in the pink" with a new challenge at

The Pink Elephant Challenge!

TPE #277

Theme:

Anything But A Card

Check out the rest of the team's fabulous projects at Ella's blog!  Then link up your own project to share with us!

Here is my project:

SPIES:

PAPER: Chipboard for frame of wreath; DP - Recollections from Michaels.

EXTRAS: Star die (Sizzix Framelits); Stitched circle die for wreath frame (Lil Inker Designs); large dot emboss folder (Quickutz); Gold chevron ribbon; Gold gems; glue gun.

I was perusing Pinterest last week and came upon a tutorial for a 3D star wreath and decided to try it.  I made a small one. I didn't want to go buy anything new, and I had some chipboard paper, so I cut it into a wreath form and doubled it up to make sturdier.  The most time consuming part was scoring all the stars.  I love how it came out.  I'm going to make several more to hang down our bannister with our garland this year!

Pink Elephant Blessings!

Merry Stocking - The Challenge #19

Happy Monday!

This morning we have a new challenge for you over at 

The Challenge!

Always, at The Challenge --- 

you have a choice!

Choose the Sketch!  Choose the Colors!  OR Choose BOTH!

Check out the rest of the Design Team's projects and leave them some blog luv:

Sheri Gilson (Guest Designer)

Kimberly Weiner

Lori Tecler

Lesley Croghan-Owner/Creator

Nance Salkeld - ME

Lynn Put

Veronica Zalis

Maura

Then, awe and inspire us with your own project by linking it up with us and playing along!

For my card, below, I used the sketch and the colors and made my second Christmas card for this season!  I'm still not quite in the holiday mood yet.  I'm getting ready to repaint our living/dining room, hall and kitchen along with facelifting an old buffet.  I guess that makes me more in a redecorating mood!  I'm excited for the end result that's been living in my head for months now. Hopefully that end result will be this time next week just in time for Thanksgiving. THEN, I'll be ready to be festive.

SPIES:

STAMPS: Sentiment (Taylored Expressions).

PAPER: White card base.  Cotton candy and raspberry cardstock.  DP-Festive Sparkle (The Paper Studio).

INK: Versamark and silver tinsel emboss powder.

EXTRAS: Stocking die (Taylored Expressions); Banner die (Reverse Confetti); Merry die (Taylored Expressions); Pink flocking powder; pink glitter; pink fuzzy yarn.

Challenge Blessings!

Merriest Wishes

Good Sunday Morning!

Is it frosty, snowy or just downright COLD where you are?

It sure is COLD here in central North Carolina!  Brrrrr!  

It hasn't been this cold this soon in several years. And, let me tell you, when you suffer from hot flashes that make you relish stepping outside in the winter cold to cool down, but it only takes SECONDS for you to be a normal person again --- then you know it's REALLY COLD outside!  YOWSA

So in this chilly weather, grab a hot beverage,

sit down by a warm fire or heating vent, 

break out the stamps and get inspired by this week's

Cupcake Inspirations 

Challenge #287!

Our sponsor this week is 

DTS Art

Thanks for sponsoring us!

Here is this week's Inspiration Photo - 

Inspiration Photo compliments of Betty Crocker

This week is a THEME -

FAIRIES!

Below is my card

using 

"Lilamae Xmas 2"

Digi Image from DTS Art

SPIES:

STAMPS: LilaMae Xmas 2 (DTS Art); Sentiment (Momenta).

PAPER: White card base; DP - Sweet Girl & Summer Bliss (Echo Park).

INK: Copics for digi; Teal Zeal (Memento).

EXTRAS: Bow die (Taylored Expressions); Ornament die (Taylored Expressions); Decorative oval label (Spellbinders); white flocking powder; pink glitter; Crystal Stickles; red gem.

It's my first posted Christmas card for the season.  I'm still not quite ready to be making Christmas cards yet, despite the frigid temps.  I guess I'm still on beach time from ten days ago with sunny 70s.   I used the colors from the current challenge at Just Us Girls, which seemed fitting for me since I'm not quite ready to dive fully into all the traditional colors of Christmas yet.  I tried to keep it fairly simple so the digi would stand out the most.  

For Following Challenges: 

4 Crafty Chicks #220 - Fairies

Warm & Sweet 

Cupcake Blessings!