CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE & PAPER JEWELS BLOG HOP 3/29/10

Greetings all and welcome to the CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE & PAPER JEWELS BLOG HOP!!   Our hop will be today, Monday March 29, 2010, but you will have until Tues., March 30 at 10am to enter the challenge.  Six of the blogs in the hop, including mine, are offering blog candy for this hop.  In order to be eligible to win any of the prizes from the blog hop, you must 1. Enter the challenge &
2. Leave a comment on all the blogs in the hop.
Winners will be announced the evening of March 30, so make sure you check back at the CRITTER BLOG to see if you have won.
If you have not started at the CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE BLOG, then click HERE to take you back.  Otherwise, you should have arrived from CRYSTAL'S BLOG.

You are now on AUDREY'S BLOG.  Here is my project:

I believe you have seen the sketch already on the CHALLENGE BLOG and the challenge is to use some type of jewels - bling, pearls, dew drops, etc.  I used bling for both my decorations on the card and also as the centers in the flowers.  I also used stickles on the flowers.  Bling is from Michaels.  DP is SEI, CS is SU old olive.  CS is embossed using Sizzix EF.  Ribbon is SU more mustard and yellow polka dot ribbon is from Michael's.   Bildmalarna image from PAPER JEWELS is stamped on GP white 110 with Memento tuxedo black ink and colored with copics: hair E 35, E37, E39; bench E44, E47, E49; flower bag E34, E35; shoes E13, E15; socks G12; hearts YR 16, YR 18; outfit Y04, Y06, Y17,Y19, Y38.   Thanks so much for looking.  Have fun!!  Your next stop is:   MARSHA'S BLOG

I am giving away this blog candy.  Good luck!!

Picture of the Egg and Blog Candy if you are listed as a give a way participant

SEW MANY CARDS MONTHLY SPONSOR FOR MARCH - SOFTPENCIL

Happy Monday everyone!!  Hope you have all had a nice weekend.  I cannot believe March will be over in 3 days - WOW - where did it go?!?  I would like to thank our SEW MANY CARDS monthly sponsor, SOFTPENCIL.   Elizabeth Pujalka is the owner and creator of SOFTPENCIL designs which features digi stamps of cute little animals and children as well as some beautiful mandalas and artistic designs.  You can find out more about SOFTPENCIL HERE.  I am extra happy for this sponsor because SOFTPENCIL is one of the DTs I am fortunate enough to be part of. 
Thanks so much for sponsoring us at SEW MANY CARDS this month Elizabeth!! 

Just a reminder to visit SEW MANY CHALLENGES and check out our current challenge - to use punches on your project.  Also, make sure you stop by SMC SHOP and check out all the great images available to purchase!

This is the card I made featuring SOFTPENCIL digi stamp Sleeping and Dreaming.  This image is so peaceful to me, so I computer generated the sentiment based on how the image made me feel.  I cut out sentiment with SU punch.  Image is printed on GP white 110 and colored with copics: tree E44, E47, E49; child's pants B95, 97; top and hat YR 02, YR 07, YR24; sun Y02; skin E21; tree & grass G05, G06, G07; cat C1, C3, C5.  I also used flower soft delphianum blue, pink and shamrock green on the tree.  Image then cut with nesties and sponged with brocade blue for sky and glorious green on edges.  DP is SU cut out with nesties.  Card base is SU garden green, second layer is SU certainly celery and embossed with Quickutz EF.  Squares are SU handsome hunter, cut out with nesties and then embossed with Quikutz mini EF.  Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  Card size is 5.5 x 5.5.  Thanks so much for looking and thanks again to SOFTPENCIL for sponsoring SEW MANY CARDS for the whole month of March!!

CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE #7

Hey Everyone, as I said, a bit of a late start this am.  This week CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE is doing our weekly challenge post a day early in order to present you with our first blog hop in partenership with our March sponsor, PAPER JEWELS, tomorrow.  So make sure you check back tomorrow, March 29, 2010, starting at 9am for the hop!  I will be offering this blog candy for my hop winner and you don't want to miss it!!

Ok, so on to this week's Sketch Challenge - make sure you visit CRITTER BLOG and enter this week's challenge.  You will have an opportunity to win our monthly prize - a $15 gift cert. from PAPER JEWELS!

This is the sketch we worked with this week and the one you will use for the challenge:

Thanks for another great sketch Melanie!!As you can see, I flipped the sketch around a bit.  I chose mostly pinks and purples for the card.  They are 2 of my favorite colors and I love how it turned out!!  I used a Bildmalarna image from Paper Jewels, isn't she so cute?!?  I cut her out with nesties & colored her with copics - tea set E43, E44, E57, RV19; tea tray E57, E59; shoes E15, E19; pants B21, B23, B24; skin E00; hair Y23, Y26, Y28; outfit and headband V01, V04, V05, V06, V09.  DP is SEI, strip of paper is SU cameo coral.  Flowers are Prima and brads are SU.  Base DP is ColorMates.  Thanks so much for looking and see you tomorrow for the hop!! 

CRAFTY HOS' WEEKLY CHALLENGE - INSPIRATION

Greetings everyone!!  I am blogging today from Orlando, FL!:)  A little late on my posts this am - we spent yesterday at Disney's Magic Kingdom and it was fun, but EXHAUSTING!  Had a bit of trouble getting myself out of bed this am.  Anyway, getting caught up on my posting now, so here's my card for this week's CRAFTY HOS' CHALLENGE, make sure you visit the BLOG and get your projects in!  Also, you will not want to miss all the AMAZING work from the DT this week.

This week we had an Inspiration challenge and our inspiration is the Jelly Bean Prayer:

Red is for the blood He gave,
Green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright,
Orange is for the edge of night.
Blue is for the sins we made,
White is for the grace He gve.
Purple is for His hour of sorrw,
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
A bag fulll of jelly beans,
So colorful and sweet.
Is a prayer, is a promise. . .
Is a special treat!

(Think, easter, spring, rainbow, jelly beans... etc.)
 

For this card, I embossed the background with Sizzix EF.  Base is SU summer sun CS.  Then I sponged SU Only Orange ink over embossed areas.  Rose red is 2nd layer.  I then stamped SU set on SU glossy CS

using Staz-On.  I then used crayon resist technique by crayoning over certain areas with white crayon.  I then colored the leaves using SU markers - green galore, certainly celery.  Finally, daubed over everything using SU rose red, summer sun and tangerine tango inks.  Thanks for looking, let me know what you think!  Also, make sure you head on over to CRAFTY HOs' and join us!

BUGABOO STAMPS CHALLENGE AND WELCOME NEW DT!!

Hi everyone!  This is an exciting week over at BUGABOO STAMPS  because
1. New Challenge this week on CHALLENGE BLOG - use kiwi, coral and banana colors plus add ribbon
and 2. You get to meet our newest additions to our DT - YAY!!!

So first, let's meet one of our new DT members and give her a big, warm BUGABOO WELCOME!!

Her name is Angie Cortes and you can visit her blog HERE - you will be AMAZED by her AWESOME work!!   Here she is:

We are so EXCITED to have you as part of pur DT Angie!!

Here's a little "interview" I conducted with Angie.  I asked the questions and the answers are hers.  Enjoy!  Also, don't forget to visit all the blogs of the DT members so you can meet all the new ones.  Write down the names of all the new DT and then e-mail the list to the e-mail on the CHALLENGE BLOG for you chance to win a prize.

What do you like best about Bugaboo Stamps?

Everything LOL!! I really love the unique style of Bugaboo Stamps, they are so different from everything else out there.   Plus they are absolutely adorable and extremely versatile...there is a Bugaboo Stamp for EVERY occasion!!

How would you describe your style?

I would say my style is very clean. I like uncluttered cards that really focus on the main image.

What craft supply could you not live without?

So hard to pick just one thing.... I have to say my PrismaColor Markers, I use them on almost everything!

What are three words that describe you best?

Funny, Creative, Caring

What's you favorite stamping/crafting technique?

Definitely embossing!! I tend to use dry embossing more than heat embossing but I love both techniques!!
 

Ok, so now onto the challenge!  Challenge this week is to use Kiwi, Banana and Coral colors (or similar) plus ribbon.  I chose to do an Easter themed card because I thought it worked well with the colors.  I colored this ADORABLE BUGABOO image with copics - nose and tongue RV 02; bunny C1, C3, C5, C7; hair bow R22, R24; grass G14, G16.  Eggs done with Atyou Spicas - melon, lilac and lemon.  Paper used is SU cameo coral, which I embossed with Sizzix EF.  DP is K & Company.  Kiwi color is a textured paper from local store - Marco's Paper and yellow is SU color, think it's barely banana.  Ribbon is SU more mustard and buttons are from DeNami Designs. Card size is 6 x 5.5 I hope you like it.  Thanks so much for looking and thanks so much for playing along this week with all the fun at Bugaboo!!

SEW MANY CHALLENGES MARCH 26-APRIL 1 - LET'S PUNCH IT!

Welcome to another weekly challenge at SEW  MANY CARDS!!  To enter the challenge, go to SEW MANY CHALLENGES.  If you need more images, and let's face it, who doesn't need more images?!?;), then go to SEW MANY CARDS SHOP and check it out!!

This week is a tool challenge - to use punches!  I have TONS of punches, but feel like they are often one of my most neglected tools, so I decided to really hit this challenge running and chose to use 4 of my punches!  I used 3 SU punches and a Martha Stewart corner punch.  I forgot how much fun punches can be.


For my image, I chose this one of the cute baby alseep on a comfy cloud nestled up to the moon.  Angela did such a great job with this image, it's so sweet.  I chose to use soft colors on it, so the image is mounted on SU pink pirouette, which is on an SU bashful blue CS base cut 6 x 5.5.  I cut out the butterflies and flowers using Bazzill textured CS and of course, my SU punches.  Sentiment is computer generated on GP white 110 and cut with SU punch.  I decorated to butterfiles and top of card with Queen & Co. pearls.  The image is printed on GP white 110 and colored with copics - moon with Y13, Y15, Y17; baby's hair E31, E33; baby's skin E02; baby's onesie RV10, RV11; star Y17.  Butterfly and patches done with atyou spicas lavendar, turquoise and green.  Clouds covered with liquid pearls white opal and background of CS is sponged in SU brocade blue.  Marthat Stewart punch used for edges.  Thanks so much for looking!!

Also, a HUGE THANK YOU to our weekly sponsor, WAGS 'N WHISKERS, LACEY STEPHENS--OWNER

You can find WAGS 'N WHISKERS BLOG HERE

Lacey was a stay-at-home mom for 7 years so stamping was a great way for some “Mommy time”. But after stamping for over 2 years, her hobby became her obsession…so her obsession became her dream! Now she owns an on-line store!

Stamp and Create is a new on-line store carrying many popular brands of stamps, paper, and embellishments including: Wags ‘n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Stamps, Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps, Whiff of Joy, Stampavie, Penny Black, The Greeting Farm, Basic Grey, 7
Gypsies, Shimmerz, Nestabilities (always 20% off!!), charms and more!!

She is always adding new items to the store…, so make sure you visit THE STORE .  I am a frequent customer and Lacey's customer service is AWESOME!!  Enjoy, and thanks for visiting my blog.  Would love to have you as a follower:)

SOFTPENCIL THURSDAY - FLOWERS FOR YOU

It's Thursday and you know what that means?!?  It's another SOFTPENCIL project!!  Make sure you check out SOFTPENCIL BLOG to see all the DT member creations (or visit their individual blogs listed in my sidebar).  Elizabeth has also put up all the new Easter designs, which are SOOO ADORABLE, you will love them!  So make sure you also check out SOFTPENCIL SHOP to see what fun stuff Elizabeth has designed!!

This week we got to play with this adorable bunny in Flowers for You.  He's so cute with his little bouquet of flowers. I made the flower bouquet dimensional by using Flower Soft in Heather mix.  I think this would make a great Easter or Mom's Day card.  Our theme this week is ribbon and bows.  I used ribbons made into flower bows with bling and pearls in the middle.  I think they are so pretty.  They are made by Offray and I found them in the Bridal section of Michaels.  I colored the bunny with copics - E25, E27, E29; RV02 for inside of ears and cheeks.  I then used a bit of colorless blender pen to make white dots on the cheeks.  Grass is G02, G06, G09.  I chose SU close to cocoa CS for my base CS.  White is GP 110.  I embossed SU pink pirouette and a textured raspberry colored CS, that I found as local scrapbook store, using Sizzix EF and then cut with personal trimmer.  Background DP is SEI.  For the edges of image, I used Martha Stewart punch with cuts out every other butterfly and the remainder are cut to stick up but now come all the way out.  I love the effect this creates.  Thanks so much for looking, I had so much fun working on this!!  Let me know what you think:)

BUGABOO STAMPS TUTORIAL - TISSUE PAPER BACKGROUND

Welcome to my first tutorial for Bugaboo Stamps!!  Please make sure to visit our CHALLENGE BLOG and you don't want to forget about THE SHOP - there's SO MUCH AWESOME stuff there!!

Supplies you need: tissue paper, mod podge (glossy), personal trimmer, twinkling waters water color paints, paint brush.  Optional items include rubber stamp, ink and any embellishments you may want to use.


Step 1: Cut out piece of CS, this will be the layer you use on top of your base CS, so plan accordingly.  I made an A2 (4.25 x 5.5) card, so my 2nd layer CS is cut to 4 x 5.25.   Step 2: spread Mod Podge all over your piece of CS.

Step 3: Crinkle up the tissue paper and then uncrinkle it.                    

Step 4:  Spread out uncrinkled tissue paper on top of Mod Podge.  Make sure it sticks well - you can always add extra Mod Podge to CS or even on top of tissue if tissue rips.

Step 5: Paint on top of wet tissue paper with Twinkling H2Os water colors.  Twinkling H2Os have a metallic appearance when they dry.  Now, let your creation dry.  I usually use this time to work on coloring my image.

After your background is dry, Step 6 (optional): stamp a decorative image onto the tissue paper.  I chose this SU stamp of small circles which make a larger circle.  You want to choose something fairly simple so that your main image will still be the focal point of your card.  Since I used a purple-y color on the tissue, I chose gold metallic to do the image.  You are best off using one base color and one metallic color (silver, gold, etc.) to give the most depth to the background.

Step 7: You are now ready to trim your tissue paper so that it is the same size as your CS.

Ok, so now you're ready for Step 8:  Mount your background on your base CS.  I love the way this looks!!  What dio you think?

Finally, it's time to add your image and embellish as desired.For my image I used Bugaboo Stamps Charlotte in the Tub.  LOVE this image!!  I paper pieced the tub using SEI DP.  My CS for the card is SU rich razzleberry and Bazzill textured pink.  Image printed on GP 110 white.  I did the bubbles in and around the tub with cotton candy Stickles and the individual bubbles are colored with atyou spicas.  Image is colored with Copics - hair E35, 37 + Atyou spica brown; skin E02; Martini and glass YG00, Y02, YG03, YG 95 plus atyou spica yellow.  Bling is Darice.  As always, thanks for looking and hope this provides you with some inspiration:)

SEW MANY CARDS CHALLENGE SPONSOR - CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to our March 19-25 SEW MANY CARDS sponsor - CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS.   Make sure you check out the CHALLENGE BLOG for our latest SMC Challenge, a great sketch challenge!  Also, check out THE SMC SHOP in case you need some images!

Our AMAZING sponsor this week, Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF) is owned & run by Richard & Liz Pomeroy. Why the name? Richard & Liz are originally from Cornwall, England hence the Cornish Heritage & the 'Farms' is the 100 acre farm in north central Montana where they live & where all the stamps are manufactured. Richard & Liz believe in producing a high quality product so all the stamps are deeply etched, red rubber. CHF is a diverse stamp company in the fact that it consists of a variety of different licenses & styles, ranging from very detailed (Thomas Kinkade) to simple line art (Tom Fun Collection) therefore offering something for everyone.   You can find the store HERE.  Also, a HUGE THANK YOU for sending me one of the new releases from CHF to use for my card, I LOVE it!!

Supplies used - Hero Arts solid square stamp, nestie, 2 Sizzix EFs, Luau colors Kaleidacolor, SU Craft whisper white ink, Memento black ink, SU Brocade blue ink, dauber, SU baja breeze CS, Melon mambo CS and GP white 110 CS.   JudiKins Copper Metallic EP.

This is the awesome stamp set I got to use:)  I used the dragonly and my sentiment is also from this great set!

And, ta da, the finished card.  I took white CS and randomly stamped with square stamp (Hero Arts) on it, doing it about 3 times each time after re-inking stamp so there're varying degrees of ink on the CS.  Then I cut it out with nestie and embossed using Sizzix EF.  I also stamped sentiment on this background and cut out using nestie.  For the dragonfly, I stamped in SU craft whisper white and then embossed using JudiKins Copper Metallic EP.  I then cut it out and mounted to stamped background.  For the SU baja breeze CS, I ran it through Big Shot using Sizzix EF and then daubed with SU brocade blue.  Finished the card by putting K & Company vellum flower sticker in upper right hand corner.  Had a FABULOUS time making this, let me know what you think!

NEW CHALLENGE AT KABOODLE DOODLES - SHAPED CARD

Good Monday morning all!!  (Not really - not a morning person and especially a Monday morning after a weekend away and a 20 degree temperature drop + rain).  I hope all of you are having a FABULOUS day however, and hope you will come join us at KABOODLE CHALLENGE BLOG.  Our current challenge is to make a Shaped card.  Our sponsor for the week is SOFTPENCIL - YAY!!  Make sure you visit SOFTPENCIL SHOP for all the ADORABLE images used on today's cards and MORE!!

For my card, I used Color Mates yellow CS and cut with Sizzix die (extra long one using extended cutting pads).  I love the flowers on the die.  I then cut out Basic Grey origins and cut them to cover the flowers.  I cut out the SOFTPENCIL image using nesties.  It is colored with copics and then crystal effects used on flower petals for added dimension and shine.  Brads are also from Basic Grey Origins line.  White CS is GP 110.  Thanks so much for looking!!  Remember to get on over to KABOODLE CHALLENGE BLOG and post your entry.  Looking forward to seeing what you create:)

SEW MANY CARDS CHALLENGE - MARCH 19-25

Guess what?!?  It's challenge time again at SEW MANY CHALLENGES.   Don't forget to stop by  THE SHOP so you can get some images!!  This week's challenge is to use Jeri's sketch and something that reminds us of spring.  I am SOOO ready for spring!!  We have been teased here with glorious weather all week, but it's going to become cold again next week:(

Anyway, I chose the flip the sketch and make it horizontal for my card.  I chose Toga the Turtle for this week's card because she reminded my of spring due to the flowers on her shell.  I chose to stick Darice bling flowers over the flowers for some sparkle and some dimension.  CS is SU Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Green Galore.  I colored Toga with copics (E25, E27, E13 & E15 for bottom, G12, G14, G16 & G19 for face and body and G28 & E39 for feet) and atyou spicas (dots and patches). White CS is GP 110 and cut out with nesties.   Rick rack ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  Flower stickers are K & Company.  Thanks so much for looking.:)

I want to thank our amazing sponsors for the week Cornish Heritage Farms.  You can find them HERE

Sponsor Prize Package:
Three New Release Stamp sets that will be pictured on the challenge blog

Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF) is owned & run by Richard & Liz Pomeroy. Why the name? Richard & Liz are originally from Cornwall, England hence the Cornish Heritage & the 'Farms' is the 100 acre farm in north central Montana where they live & where all the stamps are manufactured. Richard & Liz believe in producing a high quality product so all the stamps are deeply etched, red rubber. CHF is a diverse stamp company in the fact that it consists of a variety of different licenses & styles, ranging from very detailed (Thomas Kinkade) to simple line art (Tom Fun Collection) therefore offering something for everyone.

Thanks again to CHF!!  And thanks to anyone who visits me and comments on my blog, I sincerely appreciate each and every comment I receive.  HUGS!

SOFTPENCIL LABYRINTH OF LOVE

Welcome back, it's Thursday and that means Softpencil DT will share our creations with you.  Make sure you check out the SOFTPENCIL BLOG as well as THE SHOP so that you can keep up with all the news and new releases!!  Elizabeth has got some great new Easter designs coming soon, so be on the lookout!!:)

The sketch I used for this card can be found at FRIDAY SKETCHERS.  This week we got to use Labyrinth of Love image.  This is different from the images of cute little people and animals that we often use, so it provided a bit of a challenge, but a FUN challenge and I love how it turned out!  Elizabeth has lots of other cool medallion images in the shop, so make sure you check those out:)

I colored the image with Copics and Atyou spicas.  I'm in a spring-y mood this week with the weather in the 60s (although supposed to drop down to 30s by Monday:( )  Paper used is SU Green Galore, GP white 110, Bazzill textured purple, SU DP from new stack in Occasions mini.  Trim is from Hobby Lobby pack and flower bling are Darice.  Thanks so much for looking!  Hope you enjoy.

SOFTPENCIL ST. PATTY'S DAY & DARE YOU 2 DIGI CHALLENGE 33

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and so I decided to play along in Softpencil's St. Patty's party on PCP.  We had a lot of fun and the designer of the winning card will be our guest DT for April, so make sure to go HERE to check out the entries and cast your vote.  Also, make sure you visit THE SHOP to pick up all the cute new images.

I also did this card for this week's Dare You 2 Digi Challenge which is NO DP!!

For this card, I used my SOFTPENCIL image, which I colored with copics and then sponged the background by masking the image.  Colors used for background are SU brocade blue, bermuda bay and pacific point inks.  Drew sun in with copics.  Cut corners of image with SU scallop border punch.  Pot of gold and gold are done with Smooch.  Trim is from Michael's.  For the background, I used Sizzix EF from SU on SU gable green.  Base CS is SU green galore.  White is GP 110.  Thanks for looking!!

NEW CHALLENGE AT CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGES!!

Happy Monday Morning (wink) - can Monday mornings really be happy?!? LOL  This past weekend was SUPER busy, plus we lost an hr. due to daylight savings and it rained from Fri. afternoon on.  Blah!  But, now it's a new week, and even though our trek to the bus stop will once again be in the dark, the week is open to possibility and hopefully productivity on my part!

Ok, sorry for so much rambling, now onto the fun!  Monday morning means a new sketch challenge over at CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE BLOG  This week's sketch, provided by our very own blog founder and facilitator, Melanie, is SO MUCH fun!!  I had a WONDERFUL time using this sketch.  I used this wonderful image and sentiment from SEW MANY CARDS  I colored Fawn the fish with copics, cut out using nesties and did the balloon with stickles.  CS is SU crushed curry, taken with teal and chocolate chip.  Images and sentiment printed on GP white 110.  Sentient colored with atyou spicas, cut with nesties and then daubed with SU bermuda bay.  DP is SU from new paper stack in Occasions mini catalog.  Ribbon is from Michael's.  Pearls are Martha Stewart (also from Michael's).  Thanks for looking.  Make sure you head over to CRITTER SKETCH CHALLENGE BLOG and enter the challenge!  Looking forward to seeing your projects:)