Good morning everyone! It's time for another challenge over at Paper Therapy! This time it's to use border punches in a non-traditional way. You may not be able to tell what punch I used,
so here is a picture of it used as an actual edge. 

So what I did was punch a bunch (LOL), then cut off each individual leaf and arranged them to form a heart shape! It was a bit tedious, but I like how it came out. We would love you to join us this week for the challenge! You should check out the great cards the design team created HERE. Thanks for visiting me today! I will be back with at least 1 or 2 more posts this week--
some news updates and some crafty stuff! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Noteworthy (love)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Very Vanilla; DCWV - The Mariposa cardstock stack
Ink: SU - Cranberry Crisp

Other: EK Success border punch - Acanthus Leaf

Paper Therapy Challenge #17 - Color

Good morning and welcome to the 17th challenge at Paper Therapy. This week is a color challenge.

Mine is a pretty simple card this week. Hopefully it brings you some Spring-like feelings, ha! It feels like spring is sooooo far away! Anyway, the fiber at the bottom was knotted over and over to give it a little something extra. Hope you like it...and thanks for stopping by today! :)

Made with Heart Valentine Blog Hop!

Happy FRIDAY and welcome to the Made With Heart Valentine Blog Hop! I am so excited to participate in this hop. My crafty friend Kristin from Paper Therapy has done all the hard work to organize this, so I thank you for that Kristin, and also for inviting me to join in on the hop! :) There are 16 designers whose blogs are listed below, and if you'd like to start from the beginning, click below on Kristin's link, and then you can make a complete hop through everyone's blogs! Some are offering blog candy, so I encourage you to check them ALL out! Thanks for stopping by, I would love to hear your comments, and if you're new to my blog and like my work, I invite you to become a follower!

I have seen many cards in blogland using a Kraft and Red color combo, and I think it is just beautiful. I used a Spellbinders Impressability called Fleur De Lis for the embossed pattern in the background. To make it pop more, I used a sponge to apply some white craft ink over it. I really like that look. It's so fun playing around and trying new techniques. I love learning new stuff! ;-)

If you're hopping in order from the list below, then your next stop is PAULA'S BLOG.

Kristin: http://lilsweetpeasplace.blogspot.com

Stacey: http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Nicki: http://idreamcreateinspire.blogspot.com <---------THAT'S ME!!!

Paula: http://ponderingsofpaula.blogspot.com

Jenny: http://jennysscrapsoflife.blogspot.com
Nikki: http://nikkistamps.blogspot.com

Kimberly: http://hellocutiecrafts.blogspot.com

Janneke: http://myblog-jannekescreations.blogspot.com

Tabitha: http://zippity-do-dah-tabitha.blogspot.com

Liza: http://pinkcandystripes.blogspot.com

Jessi: http://themyersmemories.blogspot.com

Joey: http://joeysworldofstuff.blogspot.com

Emily: http://branchoutdesigns.blogspot.com

Patricia: http://thinkingofinking.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Kate: http://ippitysimplicity.blogspot.com 

Dee: http://sprytebyrd.blogspot.com


Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Kraft, Real Red
Stamp: Inkadinkado - Bouji

Ink: SU White Craft Ink

Other: SB Impressabilities: Fleur De Lis; SU Corner Rounder Punch, Twine, SU Cream Button, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Sponge

Paper Therapy Challenge #16 - Shape-a-licious!

Good Monday morning to you! I have lots to talk about today, so let's get started!

First up is an announcement about a blog hop that starts this coming Friday, Jan 21st and runs through Sunday night Jan 23rd. It's called Made with Heart Valentine Blog Hop, and there will be 15 Bloggers participating, including me! You will see many different projects, all Valentine's related! ;-)
I would love for you to check back here on Friday morning to see my project and the details of the hop! Some of the participants will be offering blog candy, so it's really worth it to
check out each and every blog along the hop!

Next is the new Paper Therapy challenge for the week...Shape-a-licious! Make a card using a shape other than a rectangle or square. There are so many possibilities...I would love to see what creative shape you use! Upload your card to the current Paper Therapy challenge thread HERE.

You have until Saturday night to get your entries in!

I used a Spellbinders scalloped circle die to cut out the base shape of my card. Then I embossed the front with an embossing folder. The circle piece was the most fun part to make! I used the emboss resist technique. I die cut the shape, stamped the triple heart stamp using Versamark Ink multiple times to create rows. I heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I sprayed it with Scarlet Glimmer Mist and let dry. Using a kleenex, I gently wiped off the excess mist from the embossed hearts, and underneath are some shiny white hearts! Such a cool technique! To finish it all up, I used a smaller die from the same scalloped set, stamped a little sentiment, sponged the edges, and punched a hole in it and attached it with some pink and white baker's twine! This was such a fun project to make...I loved the shape challenge!

Last but not least, I have to mention the fun Dave & I had yesterday at the Chicago Bears playoff game! We are both big fans, and were so grateful to attend such an important game.
Here's a pic I snapped of us with my phone.

GO BEARS!! These smiles are because the Bears were playing great and WON!!
Don't think we were COMFORTABLE sitting in the 22° weather, HA! I'm not even kidding you...
I wore 3 layers on my legs, 5 on top, AND a one piece ski suit on top of all that!
Next week we face the GB Packers for a HUGE game!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Rose Red, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, SU Rose Red

Ribbon: Michael's, Baker's Twine

Other: Nesties: Big Scalloped Circles LG, Standard Circles Small; Cuttlebug Emb. Folder - Floral Fantasy, TA Glimmer Mist - Scarlet, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Sponge

Paper Therapy Challenge #15 - Sketch Challenge

***If you are here for the DeNami Blog Hop, please scroll down to the previous post***

Good morning and welcome to another Paper Therapy challenge. If you are not familiar with Paper Therapy, it's an online forum for card makers and scrapbookers to share their work, chat about crafting and life in general. There are also swaps and challenges too! Every Monday there is a new challenge posted in the forum HERE. You have until the following Saturday night to upload your project based on that week's challenge. The first challenge of every month will receive a prize and a blinkie. We would love to have you play along! It's a very fun community of crafters!

This time around is a sketch challenge. I struggled with this one at first, and just didn't like what I had started with. So I picked new paper and stamps, and decided to flip the sketch. And it worked!!

I guess that's why it's called a "challenge" right?! Sometimes you just have to start with a 

clean slate and it all works out! :)

I hope you enjoy my card. How do you think it turned out? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for visiting me today!

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Giga Guide Lines

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Natural, Chocolate Chip
Patterned Paper: the Paper Studio - Poteeka Souffle

Ink: SU - Whisper White, Sage Shadow

Ribbon: PTI Hawaiian Shores

Other: Nesties: Labels One, Standard Circles Small; Dimensionals, Sponge

DeNami Design Simply Scallops Blog Hop

Good morning! Welcome to the DeNami Simply Scallops Blog Hop! If you started from the beginning, you should have come here from Vera Yates' blog and you are right on track! If you didn't, no problem, you can head to the DeNami blog HERE and you'll see the whole list of participants! You will definitely want to visit and comment on EVERY blog in this hop because you could win a $20 DeNami Design Gift Certificate! Not only that, but they are giving away THREE of them - 1 to a participant, and 2 to people who comment along the hop!! :)

I have two cards to show you. The first one is a very CAS (Clean and Simple) card....
hence the SIMPLY Scallops Hop! The second one has more detail, but very few layers.
I used my Spellbinders Big Scalloped Circles Large Nesties for both. Love them!!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog for this hop!! Your next stop is

Annette Holleger.

Supplies:

Stamps: DeNami - Elegant Floral Solid Flower, Elegant Floral Blossom, Three Line Border

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Kraft, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Mellow Moss

Ink: StazOn - Jet Black, SU - Chocolate Chip, Rich Razzleberry

Other: Love My Tapes - Brown Striped Adhesive Ribbon, Embossing Powder-Sparkle N Sprinkle Black, Spellbinders Big Scalloped Circles Large Nesties, Glitz Stickles - Sequins, Black Pearl Stickers - Recollections, Dimensionals

...Is This For Real?...

Boy do I have some EXCITING news to share with you today! I still can't stop thinking about it, and probably won't stop for awhile! I bet you are curious now, huh?!

AFTER APPLYING FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2011 SPELLBINDERS DESIGN TEAM, I WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECOND ROUND!! HOLY SMOKES!! I REALLY AM SHOCKED!

------> You can check out the whole list of fabulous ladies on the SB blog HERE <------

I of course submitted my project on the very last day, was very happy with it, and thought to myself,

"I want this SOOO bad, but I will be happy just making it past the first round". I am just ecstatic!

Now I want to go ALL THE WAY! So I have to submit a second project, and my mind is just working overtime thinking of ideas. Can't wait to create again :-)

I hope to be back here with another post sharing more good news in the near future....wish me luck!

Paper Therapy Challenge #14 - CASE Card

Hello all my blogging buddies! I have the next challenge over at Paper Therapy to show you today. Kristin was kind enough to give the design team a break last week so we could focus on the holiday and our families. I hope EVERYONE had a wonderful Christmas and a VERY Happy New Year's Celebration!! Dave and I had a really nice time with our families. Lots of good food, gifts, and quality family time :-)

This week is a really fun challenge and a way to showcase your favorite craft artists. The challenge is to CASE (Copy And Save Everything) a project from your favorite blogger and share it with us. Be sure to include the name of the original artist and leave a direct link of where we can see the original project.

I chose to CASE a card by Maile Belles. Here is the LINK to her original. I really love Maile's clean and simple style. I think the layouts she creates are just so unique. The concept of "Less is More" really works to her advantage! I chose to make a New Years card, and just had to break out the Almost Amethyst cardstock for this one. One of my favorite stamps is DeNami's Decorative Flourish, so I used it to create the background design. I think it ended up working out perfectly for this card...it kinda reminds me of confetti...great for a New Years celebration!! I used a Spellbinders Nestability for the sentiment, which is stamped in silver ink. The stars were stamped in silver as well, and cut out and popped up with dimensionals. The finishing touches are the black and white twine and the purple buttons! This was such a fun card to make....I am really happy with how this one turned out. What about you? I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

 Supplies:

Stamps: DeNami Design - Decorative Flourish, Stampin' Up! - Happy: Polka Dots & Paisley; 2011: Short Order Numbers; Larger Stars: Love it; Small Star: A to Z Accents

Cardstock: SU - Basic Black, Almost Amethyst

Ink: StazOn - Jet Black, Tsukineko - Starlite Silver

Other: Nesties, Buttons, Twine, Black Marker, Dimensionals