THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES - BLING IT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Hey everyone and Happy Monday!!  Christmas is fast approaching, wow less than 2 weeks away!  Finally got all the Christmas decorations out yesterday after being too busy all of last week to do much of anything.  Now just have to send out my cards, but they are all printed and ready at least:)

We have a NEW CHALLENGE for you this week at THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES and this week Nina would like to see a WINTERY SCENE with BLING.   I have used PAPER CUPCAKES image "Sweet Trouble" this week for my card.   I LOVE dogs, so naturally, this image spoke to me:)  I colored with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens, cut with Nesties and added Flower Soft for the trim and tassle on dog's hat and microbeads on top of Aleene's glitter snow for the snowy ground.  Base papers are Coredinations, and DP is from my stash as is ribbon.  Bling flower is from Maya Rd. and sentiment is from Taylored Expressions (sorry you can't see the wording too well) and cut with Nesties.

You have until Sunday, Dec. 18 at 10pm EST to come play along with us at THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES.  You are not required to use an image from PAPER CUPCAKES, but doing so will give you 2 entries in our random.org drawing for the winner!

Hope you will come join us!!

Additional challenges entered:

INSPIRATIONS - sketch

COME AND GET IT CHALLENGES - red, green plus your choice (purple)

DREAM VALLEY - Christmas

LOLLIPOP CRAFTS - happy holidays

PAPER SUNDAES - anything Christmas

STAMPTACULAR SUNDAY - Christmas glitz

2 SISTERS - Christmas

365 CARDS - 3 types of texture (Micro beads, flowersoft, textured card stock, embossed sentiment tag)

HOMEMADE HOLIDAY GIFTS WITH JUST SOME LINES!

I have a project to share today for our HOMEMADE HOLIDAY GIFTS Challenge at JUST SOME LINES BLOG and it is an ornament.  I bought some plastic ornaments at Michael's and ran acrylic paint and some various Adirondak alcohol inks through the inside to create it.  I added a tag using JUST SOME LINES Puppy - Christmas Trouble, which I colored with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens and then cut out using Nellie's die.  I then put a We R Memory Keepers large eyelet through the tag and attached some silver ribbon from my stash.  I hope you like it and that you come play along in the challenge - you have til Friday, December 16 to enter.

Additional challenges entered

DREAM VALLEY - Christmas

GETTING CRICKY - Joy of the season gift/decoration

GINGERLOFT - Christmas

PAN PASTEL - Tag

PAPER SUNDAES - Anything Christmas

THE SQUIRREL AND THE FOX - Christmas

HOPPING FOR THRIFTY GIFTS WITH THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE!!

Welcome to The Stamping Boutique’s
"Thrifty Christmas-Making Handmade Gifts" Blog Hop!!

We are very excited about the holidays and know for many money is tight this year, but that doesn’t mean you cannot give great gifts! Our Elves, oh I mean design team have been busy in their workshops coming up with some fabulous projects to help you with those last minute gift ideas. What better way to show you than to have a
BLOG HOP!!!

You won’t want to miss this hop and because we know you are all busy getting all the preparations done for the holidays, this hop will run all weekend. The hop starts today, Friday
December 9th @ 12:01 am (CST) and runs until Sunday December 11th @ 11:59 pm (CST).

If you have hopped over from Sue's blog then you are in the right place. If you just happened to stop by and would like to join our hop from the beginning, please go to Christy’s blog and follow along for a chance to win some AMAZING blog candy along the way and PRIZES at the end.

Each designer along the way is featuring a project that showcases a digital image from The Stamping Boutique store.  Be sure to visit all the design’s blogs and leave a comment (we will be checking).  Each designer will be giving away (1) FREE image from our store to one random commenter.

Once you have finished the hop, make sure to leave a comment on The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate for our store.  Remember to be eligible for all prizes, YOU MUST COMMENT ON EACH STOP ALONG THE WAY!

Your next stop will be Julia's blog, enjoy!!

For my project, I have created a 2012 Calendar using a number of different images from THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE SHOP.  I am showcasing some, but not all the months.  I have added better pictures since I am now at home and have my better lighting.  I sure hope you like it, I had a great time creating it and Tracey has such an AMAZING variety of images, it was fun and easy to create:)

All images from THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE are colored with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens, they are cut with Nesties, Nellies and Lifestyle Crafts dies.  Sentiment is from Hero Arts.  I have added a number of embellies and papers from Kaisercraft, My Mind's Eye, Prima, Echo Park, Offray, Jolee's Boutique, American Crafts, Petaloo and Martha Stewart.

IT'S THURSDAY, WHICH MEANS SHOWCASE TIME AT DIGITAL DELIGHTS!!

Happy Thursday morning all.  Please accept my apologies if you have tried to e-mail me in the last 48 hours and have not gotten a response.  My life continues to be a bit crazy - yesterday an AOL issue prevented me from accessing e-mail for most of the day and I now have over 400 items in my inbox! 

Anyway, I want to share with you my card for Thursday Showcase over at DIGITAL DELIGHTS BLOG.  I have chosen to combine 3 images today - plain window, Christmas gifts and Angel Donita - you can find them all at DIGITAL DELIGHTS SHOP.  Remember, we are have a BIG SALE over there, so head on over!!

I love combining my DIGITAL DELIGHTS images, using GIMP.  I have colored everything with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens, cut out with Nesties and daubed with Memento ink.  Sentiment can also be found at DIGITAL DELIGHTS SHOP - I have added a red circle around the sentiment using MS Word and then it is cut and decorated using Nellies dies.  Papers are Coredinations, Bazzill and DP from Imaginisce.  Satin ribbon is from Offray.  I hope you like it!

Also, we have a NEW CHALLENGE this week at DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES, so I hope you will check that out and come play along:)

Additional challenges entered to follow....

NEW CHALLENGE AT THE PIXIE COTTAGE - LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFTS OR SKETCH

It's time to share your last minute Christmas gifts or use the sketch for our NEW CHALLENGE this week at THE PIXIE COTTAGE CHALLENGE.  You have until 11:59pm CST on Tuesday, December 13 to play along.  Remember, new creations only and you can choose to follow the theme, the sketch or both!!  Can't wait to see what you create!!

Our challenge winner is announced Friday after the challenge ends and winner will receive 2 stamps of choice from MICHELLE'S SCRAPBOOKING AND MORE, home of The Pixie Cottage Collection. 

This week I have chosen to use PLAYFUL PENGUINS BY ELIEEN GUTIERREZ and to make an ornament.  This is the first time I have not used the sketch for my project - I hope you like how it turned out - I got the idea from Magnolia Magazine.  I absolutely adore this sweet image and had a wonderful time coloring it with my Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens.  Image is cut with Lifestyle crafts die.  I added a bow from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs and cut out with Nesties.  Ribbon is from Offray and papers from Imaginisce and all circle cut with Nesties Grand Caliber dies.  Hope you will come play along!!

MORE CHRISTMAS FUN AT JUST SOME LINES!!

Happy Wednesday!!  It's my turn to post something on JUST SOME LINES BLOG today and I have another Christmas creation for you:)

Before I get on with my project, I have had a crazy couple of days, and just need to get some of it off my chest so bear with me:) Monday, it was nasty rain here all day, and it was heavy rain all day, not just light mist or sprinkles, but heavy rain. I always pick my oldest daughter up from school on Mondays and Wednesdays for tutoring after school. I have to get there early b/c the area you have to go to pick up the kids is very small and if you don't get there early enough, you won't get out for a half an hr! So, I get there every Mon. and Weds., turn off the car, but leave music on and work on grocery lists, answering e-mails on my iPad, etc. Well, this Monday (2 days ago), I go to turn on my car after my daughter gets in and it is DEAD!! Thankfully, I was able to go into the school and find some staff members who were able to jump my car after I tried calling people for 1/2 hr. Felt bad because they had to stand out in the pouring rain. Then, I dropped my chenille glove in puddle of water when getting back into car.

Later Monday night, I burnt my thumb opening an oven bag that I was cooking a turkey in.  Then yesterday, I get the new battery for my van and my cell phone died, so off to Verizon and got a new cell phone - will take some getting used to - still a "dumb" phone as I like to call it - no touch screen, web or data plan, just for calling and texting - but different from the one I've had the past 3 years!

Ok, so sorry for babbling, feeling better now.  Want to share Jehanne's beautiful image of "Curly Sue Belts out a tune", which you can find at JUST SOME LINES SHOP.   I adore this image and imagine her singing beautiful Christmas carols. I have colored her with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens, cut with Nesties as with backing, which I also embossed with Sizzix folder.  Sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs and says "Christmas Greetings" (still not good with my camera) and cut with Lifestyle Crafts die.   Flowers and pins are from Wild Orchid Crafts.   I was inspired by Laura's pin making (see JUST SOME LINES BLOG for her post - right below mine) to use pins, although mine aren't homemade and not nearly as lovely.   Ribbon is from Michaels.   All DP is Imaginisce and all CS is Coredinations.   Hope you enjoy it!!

Don't forget to come play along in our HANDMADE GIFTS CHALLENGE!! Can't wait to see what you make:)

Stay tuned NEW CHALLENGE AT THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE

Hey everyone! There's a NEW CHALLENGE today at THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE CHALLENGE BLOG and our challenge this week is NON-TRADITIONAL COLORED HOLIDAYS!! Unfortunately, I have had a horrible last 24 hrs and am sitting at a tire and battery place waiting to get a new battery on my van, which is not even 3 years old yet! I am in HTML mode on my iPad, which makes blogging a challenge, so please come back later for more about the challenge and my creation:)

THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES - SKETCH:)

Good morning everyone and welcome to our .  We have an AMAZING sketch designed by NEW CHALLENGE this week at THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES our fabulous owner, Nina May!  You can rotate, flip or resize the elements of the sketch, but please make sure we can still see that you have used the sketch:)

You have until Sunday evening, EST on December 11 to enter our challenge.  While you are not required to use an image from PAPER CUPCAKES SHOP, we'd sure LOVE to see one and using a PAPER CUPCAKES image plus, using one will give you 2 entries into our random.org winner's draw.  If you don't have any images from PAPER CUPCAKES SHOP, Nina is offering a $1 special this week, so head on over to THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES and check that out:)

For this week's challenge, I chose PAPER CUPCAKES image "Cupcake with Christmas Spray."   Image is colored with Copics, Fiskars glitter gel pens, cut with Nesties and topped with Stickles.  DP is from gcd studios, CS from Coredinations.  Sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs, corner punch used to round corners.  I sure hope you like it and will come play along!!

Addtional challenges entered:

COME AND GET IT CHALLENGES - anything Christmas
PAPER SUNDAES - red, stripes and die cuts
STAMP, SCRAP AND DOODLE - holiday card
SO ARTFUL CHALLENGES - Tis the Season

SNOWFLAKES AT WHOOPSI DAISY CHALLENGE

We've got a NEW CHALLENGE for you this week at WHOOPSI DAISY CHALLENGE and it's all about SNOWFLAKES!  So, get out the snowflake papers and embellies, snowmen images, snowflake dies, you name it, just show us some SNOW:)

You have until 12pm EST on Sunday, Dec. 11 to enter our challenge at WHOOPSI DAISY CHALLENGE.  While you can use any image you like to play along in our challenge, you must use a WHOOPSI DAISY image to be chosen for Top 3.  Beginning with our first challenge of 2012, we will be going to only WHOOPSI DAISY images used to enter our challenges:)  You can find the full line of ADORABLE images at WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP.  You will find tons of fabulous images for all your papercrafting projects!

For my card, I chose these 2 girls from WHOOPSI DAISY sheet #276 and I think they are so gorgeous and found these amazing snowflake stickers at Michael's that I think fit with the images so well.  I colored the WHOOPSI DAISY girls with Copics.  I added papers from Echo Park and Coredinations, lace from Hobby Lobby, sentiment from Our Craft Lounge clear stamps and then snowmen stickers from Michael's.  I sure hope you enjoy this and will come play along:)

Additional challenges entered:

CARD CUPIDS - winter themed card

PILE IT ON - bling it up

BUGABOO - anything goes

DESIGNED TO DELIGHT - let it snow

ONE STOP CRAFT - let it snow

SWEET STAMPIN - snow

BY THE CUTE AND GIRLY - snow

JOANNA SHEEN - Christmas wishes

HANNA AND FRIENDS - sketch

DI'S DIGI DESIGNS CHALLENGE - WHITE ON WHITE

Hello everyone!!  We have a NEW CHALLENGE for you at DI'S DIGI DESIGNS CHALLENGE and it's WHITE ON WHITE with colored image.

You have until 11:59pm EST on Friday, December 16 to come play along at DI'S DIGI DESIGNS CHALLENGE.  You can use whatever images or stamps you wish as long as your project is new and no more than 3 entries per person.  Can't wait to see what you will make!!

I have chosen "Christmas Cheers" from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS for this week's card.  I added glitter for the snow and glitter flecks for the girl's trim on her coat and hat.  All other coloring done with Copics, Atyou Spicas and Fiskars glitter gel pens.  Flowers are from Prima, I sprayed them with Smooch irradescent spray and stuck American Crafts buttons on them.  I cut the image with Lifestyle Crafts die, used Nesties for the banner and used a sentiment from Taylored Expressions (sorry it is hard to read in this picture).  Ribbon was a gift from a swap I hosted years ago.  I added silver specked vellum, SU Whisper White, MS border punch and Sizzix Snowflake EF.  I sure hope you like it!

Additional challenges entered:

GINGERLOFT - winter/Christmas

I DID IT CREATIONS - flowers

KENNY K'S - texture

PAN PASTEL - the great outdoors

PILE IT ON - bling it up

THE HYBRID CHICK - glitter

2 SISTERS - punches/dies

CRAFT YOUR DAYS AWAY - buttons/bows

DIGI DAYS WITH CARDMAD FAIRY - winter wonderland

DESIGNED TO DELIGHT - let it snow

KRAFTIN' KIMMIE embossing

THE DECONSTRUCTED SKETCH - sketch

MARK'S FINEST PAPERS - Favorite embellie (flowers)

IT'S TIME FOR NEW RELEASES AT DIGITAL DELIGHTS!!

Happy Thursday everyone - 1 day closer to the weekend:)  Hope you are all having a great week so far.  Mine has been busy but pretty good - I have had some time to work on my crafting, which always makes me happy!

Some exciting news at DIGITAL DELIGHTS BLOG and that is NEW RELEASES today!!  You will absolutely LOVE the NEW RELEASE with ice skaters, snowmen and snowflakes galore, there's definitely lots of fun to be had with all these new images and papers.  If you get a chance, please hop on over to DIGITAL DELIGHTS BLOG and check out the AMAZING DT creations - I'm sure they'd love some love on their personal blogs as well:)

All the NEW RELEASES can be found at DIGITAL DELIGHTS SHOP.  Plus, there's also some additional NEW ITEMS that you will want to cast your eyes on:)

Don't forget, there's also a NEW CHALLENGE at DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES and we hope you will come play along!!

I am experimenting with making my photos look better, so that is why there is a different angle on this one - now if I could just get the true color to show nicely when the card is standing upright, we'll be all set!  For my card today, I used "Jingles and Tree" image, Snowflakes digi paper and one of the Snow Sentiments - all from DIGITAL DELIGHTS SHOP.  I colored the image with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens, cut with Nesties, added daubed Memento ink for sky, Stickle for bird's trim on hat, Flower Soft for bird's tummy, Liquid Pearl and Recollections micro beads for snow on tree.  Frame cut with Nesties, sparkly white paper embossed with Sizzix folder, ribbon from stash, DP is Kaisercraft and CS is Coredinations.  Hope you like it:)

Additional challenges entered:

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS WITH THE PIXIE COTTAGE

It's time for a  NEW CHALLENGE at THE PIXIE COTTAGE BLOG!!  This weeks challenge is Holiday Decor items such as ornaments, banners, table arrangements etc. OR we'd like a card using the sketch. If you submit a card instead of the decor item then it must follow the sketch.

Here is the sketch should you choose the card option.  Remember you can use the sketch or the optional technique.  The randomly picked winner will win two stamps of their choice from the Pixie Cottage Collection (available at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More). The winner will be announced on the Friday after the challenge ends.

Here is my card this week using Hannah's Stocking by Sandra Hammer.  I am super thrilled at how my card turned out and I love this image, but you should definitely check out the decor projects and other card creations by the DT over at THE PIXIE COTTAGE BLOG because they will knock your socks off!!

I stamped Sandra's wonderful image on SU sparkle white CS - I have not used this with my Copics before, so it was an experiment.  I love how the coloring turned out, although I have to admit this is not the best paper to use with Copics - made some of them seem very dry.  I also added Aleene's sparkly snow which I found at Joanna Sheen's shop.  Papers are from Nikki Sivils and coredinations,  image cut out using Nesties as is sentiment and backing.  Sentiment from Our Craft Lounge clear stamps.  I sure hope you like it and will come play along!!

Remember to link up your project at THE PIXIE COTTAGE BLOG before December 6th at 11.59pm CST.  Pixie Cottage images are not required to play along.  Any backlinked projects will be removed.

THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR AT PAPER CUPCAKES - SHABBY CHIC OR VINTAGE CHRISTMAS

Happy Monday to all!!  A little slow out of the gate this morning, but expected that after being able to sleep at least an hr. and 1/2 to 2 hrs. later everyday since Weds.  Anyhow, we have a NEW CHALLENGE this week at THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR WITH PAPER CUPCAKES and our challenge this week is SHABBY CHIC OR VINTAGE CHRISTMAS!  Thanks to DT Member Sonia for choosing such a fun theme!!

You have until Sunday, Dec. 4 in the evening EST to play along.  While you are not required to use an image from PAPER CUPCAKES SHOP, we'd sure LOVE to see one and you will get 2 entries instead of 1 for purposes of our random.org drawing for the winner if you use one:)  Nina has added some awesome new images to the shop, so I hope you will go check them out at PAPER CUPCAKES SHOP.

For my card, I chose "Welcome Winter," which is going to be released later this month.  I love this image and enjoyed coloring it with my Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens.  I cut it out with Nesties and used Aleen's glitter glaze for the snow on the ground and the trim on the bird's hat.  I used papers from Kaisercraft as well as the tag, on which I added an eyelet and sentiment from Unity stamps.  Circles are cut with Lifestyle Crafts die and corners done with an EK Success punch.  I added bling from Prima as well.  I am really happy at the way this turned out - vintage/shabby chic has always been one of the most challenging styles to grasp, but I love a good challenge:)

Additional challenges entered:

DREAM VALLEY - sparkle

GINGERLOFT - winter or Christmas

PAN PASTEL - animal

PAPER SUNDAES - winter wonderland

SPARKLES FORUM CHALLENGE - vintage Christmas

STAMPIN SISTERS IN CHRIST - bird

STAMPTACULAR SUNDAY - anything Christmas

CRAFTY HAZELNUT'S CHRISTMAS - vintage Christmas

CRAZY 4 CHALLENGES - use some kind of snow

SKETCHES BY CARLY - sketch

WHITE ON WHITE WITH WHOOPSI DAISY:)

Hey everyone!  Hope you all had a nice weekend.  Ours was very busy with family events on Thursday and Saturday and various playdates for the kids and internet shopping.  All in all, not a bad way to spend 5 days.  The kids are really going to be bummed having to go back to school tomorrow after being off since Wednesday.

Anyway, we have a NEW CHALLENGE this week at WHOOPSI DAISY CHALLENGE and it's WHITE ON WHITE.  So, you need to use all/mainly white and your image can be colored.  The DT girls came up with fabulous creations as always, so you will definitely want to go check them out at WHOOPSI DAISY CHALLENGE.

You have until 12 noon EST on Sunday, Dec. 4 to come play along.  You are allowed to use any images you like until the NEW YEAR.  Starting with our first challenge in January 2012, you must use a WHOOPSI DAISY image to come play along.  You can find Linnie's FULL LINE of WHOOPSI DAISY images at WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP.  Linnie frequently offers FREEBIES and there's also the current BUY ONE SHEET, GET ONE FREE sale going on, so you are definitely going to want to check out!!

For my creation today, I used an image from WHOOPSI DAISY sheet #50.  This sheet can be found at WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP.  It has become one of my favorite sheets!!  I colored my image with Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens.  I added a frame made with Cheery Lynn Die, vellum that I used a Sizzix pine leaves folder on, glitter buttons from American Crafts, irradescent sequined lace from Hobby Lobby, ribbon from SU, sentiment from C.C. Designs cut with Nesties and added bling flowers from Darice.  I also added the scallops made with MFT die.  Base of card is Bazzill swiss dots CS.  Hope you like it and will come play along:) 

Additional Challenges entered:

CHRISTMAS CARD CHALLENGES - vellum

DREAM VALLEY - sparkle

GINGERLOFT - winter or Christmas

PILE IT ON - sugar and spice (something girly)

SKETCHY COLORS - white and pink

STAMPTACULAR SUNDAY - anything Christmas

THE HYBRID CHICK - glitter

THE RIBBON GIRLS - ribbon plus white and pink

CARD PATTERNS - sketch

CRAFTY CALENDAR - winter wardrobe

CRAFT YOUR DAYS AWAY - buttons/bows

THE SECRET SATURDAY - borders and flowers

SWEET STAMPIN' CHALLENGE - die cuts/punches

TOTALLY GORGEOUS - sparkle