It's been quite a while since I participated in a challenge! I went with CAS-ual Fridays this time around since I really liked the sketch for the current challenge.

I made this masculine card for my dad for his birthday. It's pretty simple and basic. I stamped the dots and swirls on the Linen cardstock, then ran it through the embossing folder for added interest. I hope this has inspired you in some way today! Thanks for taking a peek!

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Grunge Me, Modern Basics (sentiment)

Cardstock: PTI - Linen, Rustic Cream; SU - Basic Black

Ink: SU - Basic Black, Mellow Moss

Other: Embossing Folder - Tiny Mosaic (Cuttlebug); Twine: Divine Twine

DeNami Design Anything But a Card Blog Hop

Welcome! You've reached the next stop on the DeNami blog hop. If you came from Sarah's blog, you're right on track! If not and you'd like to start at the beginning, head on over to the DeNami blog to get started!

I have created a paper ornament and a gift tag. I used this Tutorial for the ornament...it's really easy to do! I used a thinner kind of cardstock, and stamped the Starlet stamp repeatedly to get a patterned paper effect.

The next stop is the VERY talented Michele Gross! Thanks for the visit, and see ya around blogland!

365 Cards Publication!

WOW! The day has finally come! My first published cards are officially in print! This is a very exciting time for me. I received my copy of Paper Crafts "365 Cards" over the weekend, and oddly enough, the first page I opened to had one of my cards!! Imagine that! Below is a look at that very card...

I love the rainbow colors in this! The red, orange and green sections are patterned paper, just cut into strips. Then, I used PTI's Modern Basics stamp set for the blue leaves, and the purple sentiment. Thanks is stamped on separate cardstock and popped up with dimensionals. It's a very simple card to make, and you can easily swap out different patterned papers and colors!

I can only post one of my cards here on my blog, but I'll give you a hint where you can see the other one! Visit the Paper Crafts Magazine blog, and scroll down to the fourth card...

This special issue goes on sale today, so get out to your nearest craft store and pick up a copy of this very inspirational magazine! You'll get so many ideas...one for every day of the year! :)

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to hear your thoughts on my first published cards!

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Modern Basics

Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Social Club, Salt Air.

Ink: SU - Night of Navy; Tsukineko - Eggplant

Other: Dimensionals

Make it Monday #39 - background building

Oh boy do I LUUVVV this week's PTI Make it Monday!! Creating your own custom background papers using stamps is just limitless!! I would make 100 cards for this challenge if I only had the time ;)

November is a very busy card month for me. My hubby, dad, and bro-in-law all have Nov bdays! Plus, we have a wedding to attend next week, so I gotta get on the ball and make a card for that too! :)

Well, I am ahead of the game a little for one b-day card (I am notorious for making last-minute cards!) thanks to this MIM!

My hubby loves music. Playing it, listening to it, talking about it, and singing along with it (often times changing very nice lyrics to very inappropriate ones) :/ Anyway, I finally got my hands on a couple "Dude" stamp sets, and I'm just loving them! My very girly stamp collection was in desperate need of some masculinity ;)

To highlight the guitar, I adhered it to the black diecut, popped up the diecut and the sentiment for added dimension. I love how this turned out....I think it's pretty Rockin'! :D

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Boy Basics: Rock On; Grunge Me

Cardstock: PTI - White; SU - Going Gray, Basic Black

Ink: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant; TH Distress Ink - Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Faded Jeans

Other: Nesties Circles, Dimensionals

DeNami Fall Blog Hop

For my Operation Julie's Smile Blog Hop post, please click HERE
 

Hello and welcome to the next stop on the DeNami Mini Cards Blog Hop! If you came from Tina's blog, then you are on the right track. If not, be sure to head over to the DeNami Blog to start from the beginning! You will definitely want to visit each blog and leave a comment for every participant because there are TWO $20 DeNami Design gift certificates up for grabs!!

I used the Thanksgiving Chickies stamp as the main focus of my card. It is such a cute scene, isn't it?!?! I used some gold Stickles to highlight the pumpkins and the Chickie's beaks. Around the edge I added a few swirls and leaves from the Leaf Accents Stamp Set. Finishing touches include the ribbon and button! I would love to hear your thoughts, so please remember to leave me a comment before you head to Amy Smidebush's blog!!

Supplies:

Stamps: DeNami: Thanksgiving Chickies, Leaf Accents Stamp Set

Cardstock: Core'dinations; PTI - Fine Linen

Ink: SU: Basic Black
Ribbon: PTI: Twill Tape - Terracotta Tile

Other: Diecuts: Spellbinders - Grand Labels Eleven; PTI Button; Stickles - Golden Rod

Operation Julie's Smile Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the next stop on the hop! I am so glad you joined us on this amazing blog hop for Operation Julie's Smile. If you came here from Joycelyn Turner's blog, then you are in the right spot. If not, you many want to start from the beginning at the Sweet Stamp Shop's Blog (where a complete list of participants is) and take your time. You have ALL WEEKEND to hop with us and win prizes! Prizes will be drawn from: 1) Blog Comments - 2) PayPal Donation List - 3) Blog Hop Hosts

If you are unfamiliar with Julie's story, please read on.

The creative blogging community is coming together this weekend to help one of our friends, Julie Ranae. You may know her as the design team coordinator for many wonderful companies from Bakers Twine, die cuts, rubber stamps, and more. What many people don't know about Julie is that she has had some pretty major dental surgeries in her lifetime due to medication she had to take as a child.

Unfortunately, about a month ago, she chipped her front teeth. The dentist told her there was no way to save them, and that it was his recommendation that she give in and have all her teeth removed soon, but for that day, they needed to get her front teeth done so her gums could begin to heal. He said he would "work out payments with her to have ALL this work done", but when she called to make her appt for the 1st step of impressions, they told her the amount of money that was needed and that the "payments applied only to the two teeth that were extracted that day."

Her husband Paul was with her and that was his understanding as well. So this is how she found herself in this situation - needing at least $4,000 to get started and another $3,000 to finish the process. A total of $7,000!

If there is anything you can do to help with a financial donation, there is a Paypal donation button in my sidebar, ready for you to click >>>> Any amount is appreciated and ALL donations will be eligible for prizes from our sponsor pool of over $2,500!

Ok, now on to the CRAFTY stuff! Here's the card I created for this hop, and for a special couple who is getting married today! The picture doesn't do it justice...there are dots of Liquid Pearls throughout the stamped flowers...just beautiful when the light hits it the right way!

I hope you enjoyed your stop here! The next stop is JenMarie Taylor's blog. Make sure you leave a comment here before you go so that you can have a chance at the amazing prizes up for grabs and if you can, please make a donation so we can help bring back a new smile for our friend.

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Gracious Vases; DeNami - Congratulations Script

Cardstock: PTI -Rustic Cream

Ink: SU - Elegant Eggplant; Tsukineko - Starlite Silver

Other: PTI Silk Ribbon; Pearl Stickers - Recollections; Liquid Pearls - Platinum Pearl

Celebrate Always...

I went to a wedding over the weekend, and thought I'd share the card I gave to the new happy couple! One of my favorite embellishments are pearl stickers. They add a very special touch, in my opinion! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Mat Stack 2 Collection, Boxes Bags & Tags

Cardstock: SU -Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip

Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup - Dutch Mustard Soup

Ink: SU: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip

Dies/Punches: EK Success Edger Punch - Acanthus Leaf; PTI - Mat Stack 2;
Spellbinders - Labels Four

Other: Pearl Stickers - Recollections, Dimensionals

Let's Try this Again...

I was not contacted by the original blog candy winner, so today might be your lucky day! Time to pick a new winner! This time it's....Carol!

Carol, please send me an email to designer_purple (at) yahoo (dot) com with your full name and mailing address by Tues, Sept 27th so I can get your goodies out to you!