Celebrating 250 Followers

CLOSED

Hello, everyone!  I was so excited when I noticed I reached 250 followers!  Thanks to all of you for your support and sweet comments!  I want to celebrate, so I am offering a small candy:

Here's how to enter:

1. Be or become a follower of my blog with Google Friend Connect (your little photo must be under Followers).
2. Post a photo of my candy on your blog and link back to this candy post.
3. Leave a comment below and include a link to your blog.
4. Deadline to enter is Tuesday, March 31.  Candy to be awarded April 1.

Good luck, everybody!

Relax...It's Your Day (The Paper Shelter image)

Hello, everyone!  I love this image from The Paper Shelter - it's so peaceful - and there's a kitty!  It's called Nameste and I used the pre-coloured version.

I added a number of flowers from my stash and used a few dies: Whimsy Stamps Large Leafy Flourish, Die-Namites Heart Doily, and Cheery Lynn Ivy Strip.  The butterfly is from Recollections. I used my Dymo label maker for the word "Relax," and the rest of the sentiment is from Imagine That...Digis by Kris Poolside Penguins set.  The patterned paper is from the dollar store.

I would like to support the following fun challenges:
Brown Sugar AG 1/2
Bunny Zoe's For the Girls UE
Cheery Lynn AG 1E
Craft Your Passion Always AG 2/3
Crafting from the Heart AG 2/3
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper February UE
Creative Fingers AG 1/3
Deep Ocean Our Furry Friends UE
Di's Digi Designs Lots of Embellishments 2/3
DL.ART February Linky AG UE 1/day
DRS Designs All Ears (cat's ears) UE
Inspiration Destination AG UE
Jo's Scrap Shack AG 1/3
Not Just Cards AG UE
Papertake Weekly Take Your Pick: Cool Colours 2/5
Penny's Paper-Crafty Lots of Layers 1/3
Pixie's Snippet Playground All die cuts are snippets 2/3
3rd PLACE WINNER Quirky Crafts Our Best Friend 2/3
Scrap it with a Song I was inspired by Shakira's song lyrics,"Can't you see, I'm at your feet.  Whenever, wherever, we're meant to be together."  On my card, the cat is at the girl's feet, and they are meant to be together, the girl and her cat.
Simon Says Stamp Monday AG 3/5
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday AG 1/5
Sister Act (Cards Only) AG UE
The Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG Twist AG 1/2
The Paper Shelter Make It Digital 1/3
The Pink Elephant AG UE
Tuesday Throwdown AG 1/3
Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5

Thank you for looking at my cards!  Wishing you a joyful day!

One-Layer Kitty Card (Newton's Nook stamps)

Hello, everyone!  Today I've made the style of card I dread the most: a one-layer card!  They are the toughest! But you all know I love a challenge! I decided to ink up my Newton's Nook Winter Tails stamps to create a snowy scene!  I coloured Newton with my Prismacolor pencils.  I like to make at least two Christmas cards a month and this will be my second, so I'm right on track!

I used my Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow stencil with embossing paste and white glitter to create the falling snow. You can't see it in the photo, but I applied the same white glitter all along the stamped snowdrifts.  I used double-sided tape along the side edges of the card and sprinkled on pale blue glitter.  I finished off my one-layer card with a silver snowflake and two sequins.  This card really sparkles in person!

Here are some fun challenges I would like to support:

1. Craft Stamper Stencils, No Digis 1/3
2. Cupcake Inspirations Cute Critters 2/3
3. Fashionable Stamping Colour Between the Lines, No Digis 2/3
4. Newton's Nook Inky Paws Just One Layer UE
5. One Layer Christmas Cards AG Optional Bells UE C10
6. Papertake Weekly Take Your Pick: Cool Colours 1/5
7. Rudolph Day Christmas Card 1E C10
8. Sentimental Sundays One-Layer Card 1/3
9. Simon Says Stamp Monday AG 2/5
10. STAMPlorations Bi-weekly Sketch Challenge 1/3

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Peeking Kitty (High Hopes Rubber Stamps)

Hello, everyone!  Here's a card I made with a stamp I won last month from High Hopes Rubber Stamps - thank you!  You all know I love kitties! Just look at this adorable Peeking Kitty - isn't he sweet! I coloured him with my Prismacolor pencils and then did some very fussy cutting so I could pop him up with foam tape. It was touch-and-go around the bird and flower LOL!

I decided to make a little scene so I started by inking a cloud background on my card front.  I used Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and a cloud template from Netty's Cards (thank you!). Towards the bottom I inked Peeled Paint for a grassy landscape.  I used some fun dies to create the scene: the picket fence, birdhouses, and flying bird are from Impression Obsession, and the grass is from Lawn Fawn. I inked the grass die cut with Peeled Paint. The cute sentiment is from a Newton's Nook clear stamp set.

Here are some fun challenges I would like to support:
Blessings Ink Amusing Challenges AG No Digis 1/2
TOP 3 Craft Your Passion Always AG 1/3
Crafting from the Heart AG 1/3
Creative Fingers AG 2/3
Cupcake Inspirations Cute Critters 1/3

Cuttin' and Stampin' AG 3/3
DL.ART February Linky AG UE 1/day
DL.ART Thankful Thursday Use Blue 1/3
Fashionable Stamping Colour Between the Lines No Digis 1/3
Fresh Brewed Designs Animals 2/5
High Hopes Rubber Stamps Anything High Hopes Goes 2/3
Inspiration Destination AG UE
Love to Scrap AG 3/3
Not Just Cards AG UE
Pixie's Snippet Playground All die cuts are snippets 2/3
One Crazy Stamper Red and White and a Die Cut 2/3
Open-Minded Crafting Fun Up in the Air 1/3
Penny Black and More AG except Digi 3/3
Quirky Crafts Our Best Friend 1/3
Scrapy Land Splat (Impression Obsession and Lawn Fawn dies sold at Scrapy Land) 2/3
Scribble and Scrap AG 3/3
Send a Smile 4 Kids Punches and/or Dies 4 Kids 1/3
Simon Says Stamp Monday AG 1/5
Sister Act (Cards Only) AG UE
The Pink Elephant AG UE
Vintage Stamping Spring Colours No Digis 1/3
Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 2/5

Thank you for looking at my cards!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Glitter n Sparkle DT - Black and White

Hi, everyone!  It's Sunday, and that means there's a new challenge starting today over at Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog! This week our theme is Black and White.  I hope you can join us! I decided to make a set of three sympathy cards.  I chose this beautiful image called Roses from one of our generous sponsors, Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet. The artist is Floppy Latte Designs.

For the first card, I die-cut the image with my Nellie's Decorative Ovals.  The sentiment is a clear stamp from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings set. The embossing folder is Cuttlebug Treillage. The ribbon is Crafty Ribbons 6 mm Grosgrain (I won this, thank you, Ali!). I finished off the card with 3 black gems.

Card #1

For Card #2, I printed the Roses image directly onto my card and then overstamped it with the same sympathy sentiment mentioned above.  I used strips of washi tape along the top of the card and added a butterfly die cut (Elizabeth Craft Designs).  I added some sparkle to the roses and butterfly with my Wink of Stella pen.  

Card #2

For the third card, the image was printed on pale-grey-and-white patterned paper, a leftover snippet from my MME Indie Chic Saffron 6x6 pad.  I tore the edges and layered it onto a torn black panel, also a leftover. I like to use up my scraps before they get out of control.  I used some black-and-white patterned paper from Recollections and layered it onto black cardstock.  I stamped the same sentiment from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings set on a vellum scrap, which I die-cut into a banner using my Taylored Expressions Banner Stacklets 1.  To finish the card, I accented it with a Cheery Lynn Mini Butterfly die cut and three black gems.

Card #3

Here's a look at the set of three cards together.

Please come over and join us at Glitter n Sparkle for our Black and White challenge. We have some fabulous prizes up for grabs again this week, so I hope you'll play along!

I would like to support these fun challenges:
CRAFT Clean and Simple 1/5
Craft Your Passion Always AG 2/3
Craftin Desert Diva's Use Ribbon UE
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper (Card #3) February UE
TOP 3 Crafty Ribbons Black and White (Card #1 features Crafty Ribbons ribbon) 1/5
Creative Fingers AG 1/3
Cute Card Thursday Floral Delight UE
Cuttin' and Stampin' AG 2/3
DL.ART February Linky AG UE 1/day
Hero Arts Nature Challenge (Hero Arts sentiment as described above) UE
Inspiration Destination AG UE
Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday 1E
Love to Scrap AG 2/3
Not Just Cards AG UE
Pixie's Snippet Playground All items on Card #3 are snippets. 1/3
Scribbles Designs Clean and Simple 1/3
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Add a Little Texture (Card #1 - embossing) 2/5
Sister Act (Cards Only) AG UE
TOP 3 Stitchy Bear Stamps FB Group February AG UE
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' AG Monochrome UE
Sweet Stampin' Spring Flowers 1/2
Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5

Thank you for looking at my cards!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Throwback Thursday - Challenge #6

Hello, everyone.  Have you been playing in Bibiana's Artsy Craftsy Throwback Thursday challenges?  Why don't you come over and join in!  To play, simply revive a past project on a new blog post.  There are only 3 rules, and they can be found here. The optional theme for Throwback Thursday Challenge #6 is anything green, but remember it's just optional.  

Well I actually enjoy looking back at my old cards! But I find it hard to choose one to share for a second time. After much deliberation, I decided on this one.

Do you like my special effects LOL!  Click here to see the card (in colour!) and the original blog post.

I hope you decide to take a walk down memory lane with Bibiana.  She has prizes too!  Here's the link to Throwback Thursday Challenge #6 so you can check it out for yourself!

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Happy Heart Kitties (Magenta stamp)

Hi, everyone! Today I am sharing a love card!  The cute stamp is called Purrfect Pair of Cats from Magenta, and I heat-embossed it in black and doodled some faux stitching around the edge.  It is die-cut with Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles - Large. I added a large red heart gem and a die-cut Happy (Tattered Lace) in silver glitter cardstock.

Let me tell you about the inky background I created! I used alcohol inks on embossed tinfoil.  I got the idea from crafty friend, Linda Kupstas. Colours used were Wild Plum, Red Pepper, Cranberry, Currant, and Silver Mixative.  The embossing folder is Cuttlebug Heart Blocks.  I mounted the inky embossed tinfoil panel on black and plum cardstock.  

I would like to support these fun challenges:
Allsorts Any Occasion other than Birthday 2/3

Blessings Ink Amusing Challenges Die Cuts 1/2

Craft Your Passion Always AG 1/3

Creative Fingers AG 3/3

Cuttin' and Stampin' AG 1/3

Deep Ocean Love is All Around UE
DL.ART February Linky AG UE 1/day

Dragonfly Dreams Love is in the Air UE

Fresh Brewed Designs Animals 1/5

HIMCR Super Scraps Saturday (scraps used for die cuts) 2/3

Jo's Scrap Shack Valentine's Day 2/3

Love to Scrap AG 1/3

WINNER Magenta Style Valentine's Day
Inspiration Destination AG UE

Little Claire's Love 1/3

Not Just Cards AG UE

One Sweet Challenge All About Love UE

Papertake Weekly Bingo - Die Cut, Free, Glitter 1/5

Penny Black and More AG except Digi 2/3

Pixie's Snippet Playground - Snippets used for die cuts 2/3

Scrapy Land Splat (Spellbinders and Tattered Lace dies sold at Scrapy Land) 1/3
Scribble and Scrap AG 2/3

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Add a Little Texture 1/5
Sister Act (Cards Only) AG UE

Sparkle N Sprinkle AG using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flocking UE

STAMPlorations Stamps and Hearts 2/3

WINNER The Paper Girls Card Sketch 1/3

Tuesday Throwdown Use Metal (inked embossed tinfoil) 1/3

Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Glitter n Sparkle DT - Glitter n Gems

Hi, everyone!  Before I share my card, I would like to extend a warm welcome to my lovely new follower - Tracey Mallaghan - so nice to have you here!

Well, it's Sunday again - where does the time go?  Sunday means there's a new challenge starting today over at Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog! This week our theme is a fun one - Glitter and Gems!  I hope you can join us!  I chose the adorable Cat in Flowers from Aurora Wings and coloured it with my Prismacolor pencils.

I had so much fun making this card and adding lots of fun elements.  First I will point out the glitter and gems since that's our theme!  I die-cut a doily shape and decorative border from green glitter foam using my Spellbinders Morroccan Accents and Cheery Lynn Siena Double Edge Border. It really sparkles when you see it in person!  

For gems, I used three brown gems in the upper left corner, two gem-flowers alongside, and a gem-filled brad in the largest yellow flower.  

My patterned paper is from Basic Grey Konnichiwa and Momenta. Other die cuts used are Cheery Lynn Lace Corner Deco B and Cheery Lynn Ivy Strip. The gorgeous ribbon was in a prize package I won from Crafty Ribbons - thank you, Ali!  The flowers are from I Am Roses, Recollections, and my stash.  I added a heart charm alongside the bow, which says Made with Love.  The sentiment ticket is from Digital Delights, and I added two sparkly 3-D butterfly stickers that I found at Dollarama (these are new).

Please come over and join us at Glitter n Sparkle for our Glitter and Gems challenge. We have some fabulous prizes up for grabs again this week, so I hope you'll play along!

I would like to support these fun challenges:
Allsorts Any Occasion other than Birthday 1/3
FEATURED MARCH 10 Aurora Wings FB Group Showcase Submissions AG
Brown Sugar Use a Bow and Die Cut 1/2
Bunny Zoe's For the Girls UE
RANDOM WINNER Butterfly Challenge Butterflies plus Ribbon 2/3
Clique Kits AG 3/3
Craft-dee BowZ February AG with Handmade Bow UE
Craft Your Passion Always AG 3/3
Crafting from the Heart AG 3/3
Crafty Calender AG 3/3
Crafty Gals Corner AG 2/2
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper February UE
Creative Fingers AG 2/3
Creative Inspirations AG with option of sketch UE
Di's Digi Designs Lots of Embellishments 1/3
DL.ART February Linky AG UE 1/day
Dream it Up Frilly and Fabulous UE
Fab 'n' Funky Charm Us UE
HIMCR Super Scraps Saturday (scraps used for all die cuts) 1/3
Incy Wincy Use a Punch or Die Cut 4/5
Inspiration Destination AG UE
Just Inspirational Noah's Ark/Any Animal 3/3
Little Miss Muffet AG 1E
Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday 1E
Not Just Cards AG UE
Papertake Weekly Hearts and Flowers 3/5 (heart charm)
Pile it On Butterflies UE
Pixie's Snippet Playground - Lots of snippets used here for die cuts 1/3
Scrapy Land AG 3/3 (Cheery Lynn dies sold at Scrapy Land)
Scribble and Scrap AG 1/3
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday All Creatures Great and Small 3/5
Sister Act (Cards Only) AG UE
Stamping Sensations February AG 3/3
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' AG Add a Bow UE
Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 3/5

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!

Edited July 31, 2015:  Joining Imagine That... Digis by Kris Any Vendor Embellishment Contest.

XOXO Hearts

Hello, everyone!  I'm back again today with another love card!  This time I broke out the sewing machine!  It's been tucked away since high school home-ec class, so that's over 30 years ago!  It still works but I will admit I cannot sew - that's why the sewing machine is not in use!  However, I wanted to try to be trendy! I see a lot of stitching going on and wondered if I could do it too! Let's just say I need a lot more practice!

But I do like how this card turned out!  I was inspired by the sketch over at The Crooked Stamper, and this is my third and final submission. 

I was also inspired by the 4th birthday celebration over at Less is More - they have a colour challenge of pink and grey.  I found out my last card submitted to their challenge didn't have enough white space (totally embarassing!) so I wanted to try again!

Also linking up to the Perfectly Pink challenge over at Cute Card Thursday.

Supplies used:  Dies (Spellbinders Classic Hearts), sentiment (Clearly Besotted), patterned paper (Dollarama).

Thank you for looking at my card!  Wishing you a joyful day!