Love You

Good morning!!  Quick post today . . . in case some may not know, I broke my ankle Friday night.  Just a fluke accident in my house slipping on a small piece of paper!  But ouch!!!  I go to the ortho tomorrow for a real cast so I've been doing lots of resting this weekend and get very little computer time.

Anyway, no complaining - it'll heal and it could have been much worse!! :)  Today I'm sharing my card I made for my Kitchen Sink Stamps Thursday Word of the Week challenge and Lynn's 10 minute challenge.  I love this new KSS Multi-Step Sweetheart Roses set - it's versatile and just beautiful!  I used Maria's recipe for nice dark roses - love them!!

Please visit the rest of the Crew today and the new KSS Forum for lts of fun challenges!! Thanks for visiting!!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

& Special Guest Crew Member this month:  Barbara Washington

 

Ink  Recipe:

Step 4 - Imperial Purple (Versafine)
Step 3 - Sweet Plum (Memento)
Step 2 - Rhubarb Stalk (Memento)
Step 1 - Lady Bug Red (Memento)

Love You

I got a chance this week to play along with the MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge!! I just received my new PI Love You With All My Heart set - it had been backordered so I was anxiously awaiting her! :) 

The sketch this week was a pretty simple one but really cute so here's my card.

I don't have the large Dainty Lace Doily Dienamic from MFT yet so I used a cute heart doily I had on my desk.  I backed it with a bit of black cardstock to make it stand out a bit more from the background paper.  The paper that I used for the background and her dress have little white flocked hearts on them so it feels really neat.

Fun sketch - give it a try if you have a chance!  Thanks for visiting today - have a wonderful weekend!

Cardstock: (Pure Poppy, Basic Black) Papertrey Ink, (White) MFT Perfect Panel
Patterned Paper: {Be My Valentine collection) WRMK
Stamps: (Love You With All My Heart) My Favorite Things
Ink: Memento
Accessories: Heart doily, (Black ribbon) Papertrey Ink, Copic markers, foam adhesive

So Sweet

Good morning!!  I had a nice day off yesterday and got so much done, well except for a post- tee hee!  But I did have a chance to do some stamping with Sweet Hearts, the newest set from Mint Motif at i {heart} papers.   I usually start a card by determining what paper I want to use which determines the colors.  For this card, I wanted to use this yummy Ivory Pink Check Ribbon so it all started there! Isn't it fun?  I think you see gingham ribbon everywhere right now, but I love that this is wide, it's soft and luxurious and I like the dark cream base which is a refreshing change!

I framed in the ribbon by using the border of hearts that including in the Sweet Hearts set.  All of the Mint Motif border stamps are nice and long so they fit all the way across the card, no matter what direction your card is situated!  I used the big solid heart to stamp a few random pink hearts inside of them for a color pop.  Then I stamped the cookie on some kraft cardstock and cut them out.  The brown one is popped up on some foam adhesive.  A pretty simple design overall but don't you love those cookies??? MMMmmmm!! :)

Thanks for visiting today! Hope you have a chance to be creative today!

Cardstock:  (Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate) Papertrey Ink, Stamps: (Sweet Hearts) Mint Motif, Ink:  (Rich Cocoa) Memento, (Raspberry Fizz) Papertrey Ink, Accessories:  (Ivory Pink Check Ribbon) May Arts, (rhinestone) Kaiser, foam adhesive, Tools:  (Nestabilities) Spellbinders

I {heart} Love - TCP Tuesday 143

Hello my friends!  Today's TCP Tuesday Hostess with the Mostess is Susan.  Her challenge for us is I {Heart} Love - use a TCP stamp that contains the word "Love" or "Heart". Easy peasy guys!  Valentine's Day is fast approaching and with all the pink & red goodness out there it's a happy time! 

My card today uses one of the newest releases from The Cat's Pajamas, It Had To Be Mew featuring everyone's favorite kitty, Sprinkles.

I had SO MUCH fun making this card!! I started with some fun Echo Park paper from the Be Mine collection - I'm finding that I can use this paper for all sorts of cards (remember I used it on my Sympathy card from yesterday)!  I also pulled out the Banner Cut-Ups from The Cat's Pajamas to make the cute little banner.  These banner dies are so awesome since you get both a big banner die suitable for home decor elements, and these smaller banners which are perfect for card making.   I cut the scalloped banners  from TCP felt, the Seeing Red Collection.  The letters are from the Nightie alphabet set - I love the funky letters!!

I can't give you the detail shot as that is stuck on my dead laptop, but I used the teeny tiny little hearts to stamp on the banner and my sentiment flag.  I also did a bit of stitching - sewing the sentiment flag right onto my white panel and stitching the 2 patterned papers together.

Check out the details of today's challenge on Alma's blog -this is the last chance to get in on January's Swanky Stamper contest!  Have fun everyone! :)

Sympathy Rose

Once again I am without my laptop due to a dead power cord!  So I'm working in the coldest room of the house on the PC now - sorry for being late this morning!

Last week's Wednesday Stock Up on Occasions Challenge in the Kitchen Sink Stamps Forum was to use one of the sketches from the Friday Sketch Challenge and made sympathy cards.  Sadly, I do need a few of those so I took the challenge and here is my card.

 I used 3 Step Hearts & Roses from Kitchen Sink Stamps for my card.  It's been a while since I inked up this set and I had forgotten how gorgeous that rose is!  After stamping the rose, I masked it with some awesome masking sheets that I think Maria is planning on carrying in the store soon!  They come in flat sheets so they are much easier to use than Eclipse tape!  After I had the rose and leaves masked I stamped over them using the large script background from Multi-Step Letters from the Past.  I love the look this gives!  The sentiment is from the same set.

The sketch is from week 1 of the sketch challenges.  I'm pretty happy with the result of this card.  Be sure to check out all the various challenges you can play along with in the new KSS Forum and visit the rest of the Crew today for more inspiration!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

& Special Guest Crew Member this month:  Barbara Washington

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K Designs, (Smokey Shadow) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: (Be Mine collection) Echo Park, Stamps: (3 Step Hearts & Roses, Multi-Step Letters from the Past) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink:  Rose:  Step 4 - (Bravo Burgundy) SU!, Step 3 - (Crimson Red) Versafine, Step 2 - (L'Amour Red) Palette, Step 1 - Lady Bug Red (2x - Memento), Leaves:  Step 3 - (Olympia Green) Versafine, Step 2 - (New Leaf) Papertrey Ink, Step 1 - (Bamboo Leaves) Memento, sentiment - (Smokey Shadow) Papertrey Ink, Accessories:  (Pearls) Kaiser (they were colored with Copic markers), Tools:  (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, foam adhesive

Stamping Around 2011

We've got another snow storm going on here in New England, perfect weather for some stamping! hee hee!! :)

I'm jumping in with a quick "commercial" . . . .  Kim and I have been hard at work planning the 2011 schedule for Stamping Around AND we recently announced our first 2 locations!!  You can check the Stamping Around website for all the details, but here's a quick run down.

Event 1 - Stamping Around NH 2011 will be March 4 & 5th at Wholly Scrap in N. Hampton, NH.  We had such a great time last year at this event - it's really the best of both worlds!  Tons of fun stamping with great teachers and lots of fun people, and shopping at "the seacoast's premier scrapbook store!"

Our teacher line-up is Cindy Lawrence, Erika Martin, Jodi Collins, Julie Masse (that's me!) and Melissa Bickford - how's that for fun?!?  Just a few of the sponsors (we'll be announcing them all on our website in the coming weeks) are Wholly Scrap of course, The Cat's Pajamas, and Taylored Expressions!

Event 2 - Stamping Around OHIO will be June 17 & 18 at Toyrifix in Smithville, Ohio.  The ever fabulous Tammy Hershberger, who taught a great class for us at Stamping Around PA in 2009 has been after us to come to Ohio ever since then!  We took a look and thought it would make a great location so Ohio, here we come!  Tammy manages a great stamp store located inside Toyrifix (take a look here at the stamp section, and here at the Toyrifix blog).  They carry TONS of your favorite brands of stamps - many of which will be sponsoring classes at our event!

The teacher line-up for Ohio is Christina Fischer, Barbara Anders, Tammy Hershberger, Julie Masse (yep, me again!) and Maria Colosimo.  The class sponsors include My Favorite Things, Flourishes, The Cat's Pajamas, Kitchen Sink Stamps and Hero Arts. WOWEEEEEE, right?!   We also have been working on a special little "event inside the event" that we're almost ready to reveal so hold on  . . . detail coming SOON and you won't want to miss this!!!

There you have it friends!!  I hope we're coming someplace close to YOU - I'd love to meet you!!  Again, more details can be found at Stamping Around or by clicking above on the locations.  Sign up now - space is limited!

For My Sweets

I love a quick, cute card don't you?  I can totally appreciate tons of layers, beautiful embellishments and gorgeous  piecing but there are just some times when you need a fast beauty!  Well Sweet Hearts, the newest set from Mint Motif is here to help!  I think this set is so versatile, kind of like a building block set - it can do it all!  When I saw FTL#123 this week, I immediately thought of this set - perfect!  You could whip out a bunch of these cute cards in no time (plus I think it could be really cute on a smaller scale, like 3"x5")!

So I used some pretty paper from the Life is Good collection by Echo Park to piece the gumball machine (Geny had done this during the sneak peek and I was inspired!).

I added some Glossy Accents to the glass part after the hearts were stamped.  The ribbon is awesome! It's Pink Twill Stripe available at i{heart} papers, where you can also pick up Sweet Hearts!

Cardstock: (Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: (Life is Good) Echo Park, Stamps: (Sweet Hearts) Mint Motif, Ink: (Black, Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves, Pear Tart, Angel Pink) Memento, (Baja Breeze) SU!, Accessories:  (Pink Twill Striped ribbon) May Arts, (Glossy Accents) Ranger, Copic markers

Got Love

It's Release day at The Cat's Pajamas and the Cat Pack is having a blog hop to show off all the fun, new goodies!  The place to start is on Sony's blog since it's also TCP Tuesday and she's the Hostess with the Mostess.   You should be arriving here from Susan's blog.  

It's a color challenge today, Red, Black, Yellow & Kraft and/or White and we hope that you decide to take the challenge and play along.

I used Got Love for my card today.   If you followed along with Alma's blog this past week, you learned that this cute, single penguin is a close relative of the penguin trio that we all love.

I used Jen's SFYTT again for my card today, partly because it's just a great sketch and partly to remind you that TCP is this month's sponsor of SFYTT and you have about 2 weeks left to make a card with the sketch for a chance to win a fun prize!

I paper pieced 3 of the heart balloons and colored the 4th, adding lots of Glossy Accents for some shine!

The sweet little button stack in the corner is from the Sweet Thing Button pack available at TCP - all the perfect buttons you need for lovey cards!

Next up is the super-dee-duper Carole and she has some gooooood loooooking treats for you!

Cardstock:  (Kraft, Black) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah), Patterned Paper:  We R Memory Keepersk Stamps: (Got Love) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Memento, Versamark, Accessories: Copic markers, red heart doily, (Buttons) The Cat's Pajamas, (rhinestone) Kaiser, (White Embossing powder) Tools: Corner Rounder punch

XOXO

Happy Kitchen Sink Stamps Monday!  One of the great challenges over in the new KSS Forum is a Friday Sketch by Connie (I have a Word of the Week challenge and a weekly Q&A thread every Thursday and a Flashback feature on Fridays).  There's no time limit to these challenges so it's fun to pop in and grab a sketch or other challenge when you get stuck or have some time to stamp!    I used the sketch that was posted this past Friday for my card today - love it!

I used the final set of the new ones released on New Year's, Multi-Step Sweet Heart Roses. This is a mini set - which means it's the perfect choice for you if you've never used KSS before!  The mini sets are a super way to give them a try - the packaging even contains a color recipe for the set!

I pulled out my new Echo Park Be Mine paper for this - the romantic papers were perfect for this rose heart.

After I stamped the heart I decided to add the sentiment over the top using a small strip of vellum.  I embossed it using Silver Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder that is available in the KSS store!  It's wonderful ep - great for these small detailed images!

Pay a visit to the KSS Crew today - don't forget our guest for this month too - and then take a peek in the Forum and join us for a challenge or two!

Angela • Connie • Lisa • Lynn • Makiko • Maria

& Special Guest Crew Member this month:  Barbara Washington

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K Designs, (Smokey Shadow, Vellum) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper:  (Be Mine) Echo Park, Stamps: (Multi-Step Sweet Heart Roses) Kitchen Sink Stamps, Ink:  Step 4 - Rose Bud (Memento), Step 3 - Rose Bud (stamped off), Step 2 - Angel Pink (Memento), Step 1 - Angel Pink (stamped off), Versamark, Accessories:  (Ribbon) Papertrey Ink, (Rhinestones) K& Co., Tools:  (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Medium Scalloped Edge die) Papertrey Ink, (Swiss Dot Embossing Folder) Provo Craft

Bear Hugs

Ooops - sorry about that! I scheduled this to post at 7:00 AM and for some reason it didn't!  Oh well! Enjoy a bit late! :)

Only 1 more day folks - The Cat's Pajamas' Release party is Monday night!  Have you been keeping track of the sneak peeks?  Is your list long?  Come party with us tomorrow night!

Today's sneak peek is Bear Hugs - a seriously cute bear that everyone has fallen in love with!  As I mentioned before, I'm stuck in a pink mode lately. I think this is my favorite time of year to make cards, which is funny because I never was much of a pink girl - but for crafting I love it!  So

I pulled the colors straight out of the heart paper from American Crafts.  The sweet heart and the bears hands are cut out and popped up for some dimension.  Notice that I've used the new Heart Trio Cut-Ups die again today . . . not putting that baby down anytime soon! LOL!  I used a white gel pen to accentuate the fun piercings around the larges heart - the die adds those piercings oh-so-perfectly when you cut it out! Viola!

Here are the products that I used on my card today.  For more, check out Alma's blog to see who else is peeking today.  I'll see you tomorrow night!

ETA:  Forgot to tell you that I used The Sweet Stop's Saturday Sketch (#90) for this one! :)

Cardstock:  (Raspberry Fizz, Dark Chocolate) Papertrey Ink, (White) X-Press-It, Patterned Paper:  American Crafts, Stamps: (Bear Hugs) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Memento, Accessories:  (Rhinestones) Kaiser, (Twill) Papertrey Ink, Tools: (Heart Trio Cut-Ups) The Cat's Pajamas, (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, (Polka Dot embossing folder) Quickutz

Sweet Hearts Release Day!

It's here - Release Day for Mint Motif!!  Have you seen all the cute sneak peeks the DT and designer, Kimberly Crawford have been sharing since Tuesday?  Well, now it's time for you to see the whole set AND run to i {heart} papers to get one for yourself!  This is Sweet Hearts

I used the adorable shake image for my card today.  I've been making pink cards like crazy lately, don't you just love Valentine's Day?? I do!  I love making cards in shades of red and pink.  This set is perfect for all your sweet Valentines!

I used some great Echo Park paper and some absolutely scrumptious gingham ribbon from IHP - I seriously want to use the ribbon on everything!   I started by coloring my shake and then I added some Liquid Applique but before I heated it, I added some small red beads.  I also stamped one of the small solid hearts from the set, colored, cut it out and added it with foam adhesive to the top of the shake.   Don't you love the fonts and sentiments?!  I love how they add such a nice crisp line around the image!

Of course you have to check out what the rest of the design team has made for today and remember our Guest Designer, Kimber McGray also!  You may want to pay extra close attention when you visit Kimberly's blog as she will probably be giving away a set or two! :)

Kimberly Crawford {designer}
Kate Baldwin {owner}
Geny Cassidy {DT Coordinator}
Melissa Bickford
Ryann Salamon
Tobi Crawford

Cardstock:  (Sweet Blush, Black, Vintage Cream) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper:  Echo Park, Stamps: (Sweet Hearts) Mint Motif, Ink: (Black) Memento, Accessories:  (Gingham Ribbon) May Arts, (Heart pin) Maya Road, Liquid Applique, beads, Tools: (Large Scalloped edge die) Papertrey Ink

Honey Bear

Welcome to another day of sneak peeks from The Cat's Pajamas!  Remember to check Alma's blog for a list of which Cat Packers are posting today.  Today we've got an adorable PJ set, Honey Bear.  PJ's ready for Valentine's Day and beyond since this cute set can be used all year long!

As you can see I chose to make a lovey card.  I loved using some bright, fun paper full of hearts!!  It went perfectly with one of the new Cut-Ups being released - Heart Trio is definitely a must-have!!

With this one die you cut out 3 hearts, 1 solid and 2 outlines.  The larger scalloped heart outline even has piercing - it's so cool!!

Just a quick reminder that the Release Party will take place Monday night, January 17th starting at 7 pm EST in The Cat's Pajamas forum at Splitcoaststampers.

Cardstock:  (Soft Sky) SU!, (White) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper:  We R Memory Keepers, Stamps: (Honey Bear) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: Memento, Accessories:  (Ribbon) American Crafts), Copic markers, (Rhinestones) Zva Creative, Tools:  (Inside Pinking Cut-Ups, Heart Trio Cut-Ups) The Cat's Pajamas, (Circle Nestabilities) Spellbinders

Sunny Peeks!

More peeks? Yup!!  YEA! The Cat's Pajamas is gearing up for a bit release next week.  The official peeks started yesterday and you should check Alma's blog daily for a list of what Cat Packers are posting each day.  Yesterday was TCP Tuesday and Jen is the Hostess with the Mostess.  Her challenge is to use ribbon in a non-traditional way - i.e. no bows!

I used some fun gathered gingham ribbon to make a "sun" for my card.  It was super easy to add some adhesive to the back of my button and add the ribbon.  I added some yellow pearls around the button and then a bit of Divine Twine to finish it off.  And how about this cute new set, Spring Rain!

I took the chance to a bit of paper piecing for the umbrella, raincoat and matching boots.  The dp is Love Me Do from My Mind's Eye. I just love the sentiments with these new sets - and this one is perfect!!  "The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow" - I know, you'll be singing that all day now won't ya?! :) 

I hope you get a chance to play along with the challenge - you could be our next Swanky Stamper!  Oh, and the release kicks off with a big party in the TCP Forum at Splitcoaststampers on Monday night, January 17.  I hope you'll join us, it moves pretty quickly and we have tons of fun!

Cardstock: (Lemon Tart, Fine Linen, White) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper:  Love Me Do (My Mind's Eye), Stamps: (Spring Rain) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Memento, Accessories:  (Divine Twine (the Cat's Pajamas) (Ribbon, Button) Papertrey Ink, (Pearls), Tools:  Copic markers, (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, sewing machine

Sweet Hearts Peek!

Welcome to sneak peek day for Mint Motif!! This is so exciting because this set is so different from anything Kimberly has designed before and I just know you are going to love it!  The design team will all have peeks for you today and Kimberly will have lots more for you leading up to the Big Release on the 14th!  Remember this set will be available exclusively at i {heart} papers.

Sweet Hearts is a fun set you'll be using for Valentine's Day and beyond!  I put together a little sweet treat for someone using a Clear Plastic Tube with Lid from IHP.  These are the perfect size to add some yummy treats (like these cool assorted cherry flavored jellyhearts I found!)

I had some little kraft tags left over from Christmas that I cut out but didn't use so I stamped a quick sentiment from the Sweet Hearts set on them and then added the sweet little candy jar and hearts - the hearts are a separate stamp!  I also used one of the little heart outline stamps to stamp over my sentiment.

Although it's hard to photograph, I was even able to stamp directly on the tube!  I used Stazon ink and just started on one side and rolled the tube around carefully until I reached the front again.  I then colored in the hearts using a Copic marker.  I added another sentiment the same way - you have to go slowly, but it makes the tube a bit more festive! :)

We have a Guest Designer this month, the ultra fabulous Kimber McGray! Be sure to check out her blog as well as the rest of the DTs's!  Thanks for visiting today!!

Kimberly Crawford {designer}
Kate Baldwin {owner}
Geny Cassidy {DT Coordinator}
Melissa Bickford
Ryann Salamon
Tobi Crawford

Cardstock: (Kraft, White, Hibiscus Burst) Papertrey Ink, Stamps: (Sweet Hearts) Mint Motif, Ink: (Black) Memento, (Hibiscus Burst) Papertrey Ink, (Black) Stazon, Accessories: (Nestabilities) Spellbinders, Copic marker, (Ribbon) American Crafts), (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Other: (Plastic Tube) i {heart} papers