papermonkey.org {make time for playtime}

Getting in Shape For Summer

Hi & hello!
Today's card is created for the Embellish-Online.com Friday Free For All Challenge. I am hostess this week and my challenge for you is to make a shaped card with a summer theme. I thought of sunshine and flowers and here is the result!

My card is very simple today: the flower shape is new Spellbinders Blossom die cut, which is very similar to the Nested Flowers, but this has 6 dies instead of 3 in the set, and more petals that do not go so deep into the paper.   The patterned paper is This Little Piggie from the American Crafts Baby collection. The pattern is the perfect size for the May Arts 1/8 inch Ric Rac trim. I added the trim with 1/8 inch Wonder Tape, then die cut the flower shape onto the paper. It cut right through.

Designer Tip: I use Dritz Fray Check on the end of my ribbon and trim to prevent fraying. It dries clear and really works. I got it for $2 on eBay.

The flower is cut from Mary Quite Contrary patterned paper. I added a Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch paper butterfly with a turquoise crystal for a bit of bling.

The It-Girls would love for you to join us and play in our challenge! To play simply upload your challenge card to our gallery using keyword FC45 so that we can all find your work :) Be sure to check out Julie's Circle Scrapbook layout, Danni's Thong Sandal shaped card, Christine's super cute Swimsuit card and Kim's Watermelon Slice card in the challenge! The ladies really worked that paper this week :)

Be back in a few with the Magnolia-Licious first ever Blog Hop Project!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Hot For Dots Clear Flower Card

Hi & Hello!

Happy Friday to you! Hope it is a nice, relaxing one! As for me, I am busy making Banana Nut & Blueberry Bran muffins for our Stampin' Up! Demo retreat and trying to do one meelion other things that of course I waited too long to do. We are headed to the Irish Loop, an area of Newfoundland coast about 45 minutes out of town for a major stampathon weekend.  I will be out of town until Sunday, but do have posts scheduled, including two today :)

Today is my turn as Hostess for the Embellish-Online.com Friday Free For All Challenge. My challenge for you is to create a polka dotted or otherwise spotted card!

My card is quick and simple: I cut clear acetate with a Spellbinder's Nested Flowers die then layered die cut American Crafts Edith Fitzbolt patterned paper from the Craft Fair collection under it, securing it with a clear Mini Glue Dot. The Bazzill textured white circle goes on top of the acetate, also secured with a Mini Glue Dot. This way no glue dots are seen. There is a smaller white circle inside to write a note on. 

The "hi" sentiment is American Craft's Rockabye White Foam Thickers (self-adhesive letters that are so fun and fabulous :); the polka dotted ladybug is also an American Crafts sticker from the Umbrella collection. EI sells tons of letter stickers in felt, glitter, patent leather type - you name it. An amazing array of styles.

I would love for you to play along with me, simply upload your card to the EI Gallery with the keyword FC43 so that we can find you:)

Be sure to check out the EI Blog starting June 1st for a fun contest & our first ever Blog Hop with our new Design Team!

If you feel like shopping at Embellish-Online/com's store be sure to use keyword GLITTER in the Voucher box during checkout to save 20% off your entire order.

Check back momentarily for yet another post for my Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop card. A busy Friday :)

One last bit of news. Do you have the new CardMaker Magazine? I wonder whose card is on page 78 being advertised for the next Issue?! I would admit to being a dork, but you all  know that already! I can't help it, I'm super excited and as I was reading about needed some Depends to contain my excitement when I saw my card.

*deep breaths* Okay.

Thanks for stoppin by!

Butterfly Trompe L'oeil Challenge

 

It is my turn to host the Friday Free For All Challenge in the Embellish-Online.com Forum. In honor of April Fools Day let's make a card that fools the eye in some way. Trompe l'oeil is a French term, meaning fool the eye; it refers to an artistic style popular in paintings, murals and even furniture that involves tricking the eye in some way with optical illusions (for example, a realistic looking vase painted on a wall that "sits" above a real table.

For our purposes, the challenge will be to fool the eye with a technique, stamping, or embellishments. 

Some ideas:

• paper or stamped "ribbon" or buttons
• any faux technique i.e. faux bleach, faux cloisonne, faux leather or hot metal, faux stitching, faux silk. Instructions for these techniques can be found on SCS.

For today's card I die cut a butterfly card using white cardstock, then die cut a piece of BasicGrey Langley patterned paper from the Porcelain collection, which looks like it is watercolored (aha - trick#1).

I stamped the new Prima clear mini stamp, Opus, which is a music sheet print, onto the patterned paper with Memento ink in Rich Cocoa, then spritzed the paper with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Key Lime Pie, a green with gold shimmer, and Cherub Pink, a pink with gold shimmer.

The shimmer is so pretty in person, you can see it in the picture if you double click to enlarge it. It is just to subtle for the camera :(

The sentiment and the bird cage are Porcelain rub-ons, as is the little butterfly on the Heidi Swapp bird mirror. After all, there is a little butterfly in all of us, yearning to be set free, to fly and "bloom".

My second trick on the card is the green "buttons", which are made from Wedgwood patterned paper using a Sizzlit die cut I bought through Stampin' Up!. I spritzed the buttons with Coffee Shop glimmer mist, which is a brown with copper shimmer. Additional embellishments include a Stampin' Up! Button Latte button, Prima flowers and cotton lace trim.

The BasicGrey Porcelain collection, Memento Inks, Prima Stamps and Glimmer Mists (which are on sale) are available in the Embellish-Online store. Use code word GLITTER in the voucher box during checkout to save 20% off your order.

If you play in the challenge link me up, I would love to see your work.

Thanks so much for stoppin' by - have a great weekend!

It's Summer Somewhere Challenge... and One Silly Man

As I look out my window and see the frost I can only dream of summer. January has brought us very strong winds, tons of snow, then freezing rain. This is my first winter in Newfoundland and I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like it. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to do a summer or tropical themed card for the Friday Challenge over at Embellish-Online- anything warm and happy! After the card details I will show you what Allan did to deal with winter. *cue the music and deep voiced serious guy* CAUGHT ON TAPE!

For my card I used the new Pink Paislee Sweet Cakes collection, available in the EI store right now. I have serious love for this collection.  No stamping on this card, it is all trimming and shapes. 

I trimmed the green Lovey Dovey paper by hand for grass, punched a few butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch, and used Nestabilities to create a sun with the yellow Honey Bunch paper and flowers from Sweet Nothings and Cupcake Cutie, all on a base of Cutie Pie (orange with blue polka dots).

I sponged a bit of Distress Ink in Worn Lipstickhere and there too. The letters are chipboard. So happy and warm - just like I will be on the 22nd when I head to California.

Your turn to make a warm, summery card! Come play in the challenge! Just uploads your project to the Embellish-Online Gallery using keyword FC24.

And the Darwin Award Goes To...

Allan has invented the next great Olympic sport - snow diving. I think he forgot he was an old man not 14. Here are a couple of quick videos. Allan now walks with one elbow in the air to deal with his shoulder pain. He looks like he is always raising his hand in class. I tried - he won't let me post that one.

Keep an eye on Freeway too in this one. He is such a character - he thinks he is human and loves to stand all the time. When I put him in my lap he leans back and sits up like a baby. Ignore my annoying giggle again! Ugh - never knew I did that.

Thanks for stopping by!

Papercraft Planet 12 Days of Christmas Challenge ~ Prize Alert!

It is day 11 at the Papercraft Planet's 12 Days of Christmas Challenges!  Embellish -Online.com is the sponsor of today's challenge which is Eleven Pipers Piping. How perfect is this Odd Bird Planet Three Pipers Piping stamp for this challenge? Ha! I colored the image with Copics and used BasicGrey Wassail patterned paper. The pretty sheer gold ribbon is by May Arts.

Join in the fun and create a card, scrapbook page or some other form of paper craft and upload it to the PCP Gallery using keyword 12day11 (all lowercase letters). Your card can be about pipers or musical instruments.

The winner, drawn at random, will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Embellish-Online.com store where you can shop for Copics, BasicGrey, May Arts ribbon or anything else they carry!

Your project must be uploaded today at midnight EST to qualify for the prize.

Be sure to join the Embellish-Online group at PCP while you are there :)

Thanks for stopping by!

 
 

A Whiff of Leftovers: A Challenge & Tons of Contests, Deals & Candy

  

Hi there - hope you had a great Thanksgiving and that you had lots of treats. As Kevin James says, Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. Love that quote! Here is my FAVORITE recipe for what to do with turkey leftovers - Turkey Bundles! It comes from Allan's mom Marg and it is sooo yummy.

Speaking of leftovers, does your craft desk look like your fridge about now - filled to the brim with scraps? Come play in the EI Friday Free For All Challenge and cook up a card with all those scraps! I am hostess this week and made a card using orphaned scraps from all seasons that have been laying on my desk, but I think they work together. The gorgeous flourished snowman stamp, Herb with Bird, is from the new limited edition Whiff of Joy winter collection.

Love all the tiny details on this snowman - see him lovingly holding the tiny bird? So sweet!

I embossed the snowman and also the Rhonna Farrer flourish stamp with Silver Detail embossing powder, then colored with the Copic markers you see above. The embossing adds a festive shine a cool, wintery look, and it also helps you to color within the lines lol!

I wanted to use non traditional Christmas colors so chose this soft baby blue and off white pattern by Jenni Bowlin, Turquoise Wallpaper, cut with Nestabilities new die cut Mega Rectangles on a base of Stampin' Up!'s Soft Sky (retired) and Pink Pirouette Textured Cardstock. This was my least favorite of the new die cuts but I find myself now using it the most because I love the larger size. I wish they would come out with mega squares and circles.

Leftovers from all seasons were used to create this layered winter flower, including Imaginisce Snowflowers from the Snowy Joe Collection (the large glittery fabric snowflake), Princess Posies from the Fairest of them All Collection (the sheer flower on top of the snowflake), a May Arts ribbon scrap, Prima and hand crocheted flowers just sitting on my desk, and dollar store crystals from last Christmas.

Contests, Candy and Deals

Embellish-Online.com Specials and deals:

You can buy the Imaginisce, Prima and Copic products at Embellish-Online.com and save 25% using code discount25  in the voucher box. Yes - 25% off even Copics. This was a special code only given to newsletter subscribers but I will share it with you :) It is good until December 1st. Cuttlebug folders are on sale for $3.99 so with the discount that means $3!! Woohoo I love a deal.

Embellish-Online is also giving away a sweet prize on their blog!: Sweet Cakes, American Crafts, Maya Road Ribbon, chipboard and buttons! Visit the blog *here*to enter or by making a $30.00 purchase (after discount and before shipping costs) you'll be entered twice! The blog candy winner will be chosen Friday November 28th to kick off Black Friday sale so this one ends soon.

There is yet ANOTHER contest on the EI Forum to win over $30 of goodies - to enter just sign up for the draw *here*.

The EI Group at Papercraft Planetis participating in the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenges and Giveways. There are twelve days of challenges and 12 HUGE prizes being given away! EI is sponsoring day 11 so stay tuned for that but in the meantime come on over and join our group at PCP.

Magnolia-licious Stamp Sale

Diana has so many of my favorite Magnolia stamps on sale! Oh man this could be dangerous :)

Sweet n' Sassy Code:

Use code BLKFRI08 at the Sweet n Sassy store to get an additional 15% off your order, even on top of sale items! Korin stocks Copics, Stampavie stamps as well as her own line and so much more. You can buy Core'dinations here too (love that paper).

Whiff of Joy Giveaway:

Whiff of Joy is having a sale on many of their new Winter stamps.

Last, but not least, Whiff of of Joy DT member Bev  is giving away a Whiff of Joy stamp (Herb with Baby) and lots of other goodies so be sure to enter her drawing on her blog for a chance to win.

Thanks for stopping by - happy Friday!

 

Fall's Flourish ~ Layered Leaves Mini Tutorial & Prize Alert

I am the hostess this week over at the Embellish-Online.com Friday Free For All Challenge. My challenge is to create a fall or Halloween card that uses flourishes. I made up a little mini tutorial to show how I made today's card, which looks a lot more complicated than it is!

To start out, stamp your images in a random pattern on ivory cardstock. I used TheRubberCafe.com's Leaf Cube 2 for this card. You get 4 stamps in one cube - so handy I love it.

Using different colors and types of ink will create an interesting and rich background. Here I used Ancient Page Chocolate Dye Ink, which is thick and juicy and leaves a dark impression that really stands out; Brilliance Pigment Ink in the russet colored Coffee Bean which is very detailed and crisp, and Ranger Distress Dye Ink in Tea Dye, which creates a blurry, almost watercolor like image.

Next I spritzed Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Honeydew Melon (green with gold shimmer - so pretty but the camera did not pick it up) and Coffee Shop (dark brown with bronze shimmer).

Next I embossed a few leaves in Gold, then pressed my sponge into Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango and Memento Cottage Ivy Inks and tapped the leaves. 

Any dye ink will do - you just want a sheer, bright thin ink that will not cover up the embossing. Do not use Chalk Ink. Set aside to let it dry for a minute or two (the embossing powder makes it take a bit longer).

I took my Grungeboard Flourish and colored it with my Copic Marker. Grungeboard really absorbs ink and changes the color but it doesn't seem to do this with Copics.

A felt flourish would have been nice too.

Next I cut my leaves out and outlined the flourish and the leaves with a Gold Leafing Pen.

Finally, I glued the flourish on with Zip Dry and arranged the embossed leaves with pop dots for dimension. Add a bit of gold ribbon to up the elegance factor. A lot of writing but in the end this card took me 15 minutes to make.

You can buy the Glimmer Mist and the Copic Markers (Sketch version) at Embellish-Online.com. Don't forget to use code GLITTER for 20% off your order - yes even for the Copics!

One challenge participant who makes a NEW card just for this challenge will win a small prize package featuring 2 Imaginisce Hallowhimsy stamps and samplers of Eye of Newt Brads, Bump in the Night Brads, new Prima Essentials 5 Halloween flowers, and a few rub-ons.

You need to upload your card created for this challenge to the EI Gallery using keyword FC11. The winner will be chosen next Friday morning and announced in the EI Gallery.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzy

Supplies List

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe Leaf Cube 2 K-1136

Paper: Vintage Cream cardstock by Papertrey; Bazzill Textured Scallop Cardstock (name unknown); Stampin' Up! Dangerine Tango & Garden Green

Ink: VersaMark; Ancient Page Chocolate Dye Ink; Distress Ink in Tea Dye; Brilliance Pigment Ink in Coffee Bean; Memento Ink in Cottage Ivy; Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango

Accessories:  Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Grungeboard in Harlequin; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Honeydew Melon and Coffee Shop; Krylon 18K Gold Leafing Pen; The Artful Stamper Gold Detail Embossing Powder; May Arts Gold Satin Ribbon and Gold Scallop Edge ribbon; Copic Marker; Pop Dots; Zip Dry Glue; sponge.

Hallowhimsy Creepy Crawly Treats Card

Today's card was created for the rub-on challenge over at the Embellish-Online forum. I love rub-ons, but often forget to use them on my projects. To make up for it I used rub-ons from three different Imaginisce Hallowshimsy packages for this sucker card. To allow the sucker to fit onto my card I did snip a bit of the stick off.

Regular black sewing thread is coming out of the rub-on web, I let is naturally dangle on the card.

The black velvet spider sticker has moving tiny googly eyes.

The spider is holding the thread in place except for the end, which I let dangle. I like how he is eying the candy.

The striped cut out was stamped with Stampin' Up!'s new Cute and Curly Label Punch set. I do not yet have the Oval Punch, so used my Cuttlebug die cut to cut some Tangerine Tango textured cardstock.

The die cut (adhered with a pop up dot) fits perfectly over the punched shape. A tiny strip of Hallowshimsy green paper was added for color.

The Imaginisce Hallowshimsy collection is available in the EI store right now - don't forget to use code GLITTER for 20% off your order.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Suzy

Supplies List

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Cute & Curly

Paper: Tangerine Tango  and Elegant Eggplant Textured Cardstock; Bazzill scalloped cardstock; Imaginisce Hallowshimsy Patterned Paper; Black and White cardstock

Ink: Stampin' Up! Basic Black

Accessories: Sandy Lion spider sticker; Stampin' Up! Curly Label Punch; Pop up glue dots; Glue Dots; Imaginisce Hallowhimsy Boos & Tattoos, Transylvania Transfers & Bat Scratch rub-ons; black sewing thread; a muse black sheer ribbon; Tootsie roll mini pop

Card Size: 4.25 x 6 inches

Sweet and Simple with the Cuttlebug & Nestabilities Tips

Michelle's challenge over at Embellish-Online.com is to use folded paper as an embellishment. I tried to go big and create a stage complete with pleated curtains and a box for my little ballet mouse to dance on but could not get it the way I like it. I really, really need to practice the art of SELF EDITING. Time and time again the designers of Project Runway are told to do that, and I am trying to take it to heart on my own little paper designs. Make it work! So I went for simple and sweet with this adorable House Mouse Twinkle Toes image.

In the above photo you can see the Copic Markers I used to color in the mouse. The oval shapes are Nestabilities.

Nestabilities Tips: Do you get "dirty edges" on your cardstock when you cut with the Nestabilities, or worse dirty marks right on the cardstock from the tape used to adhere the die cuts to the packaging? I hate that! I have found that you can erase them all away though with a gummy type eraser! Woo hoo! I now use Goo Gone on the Nesties when I first get them - it seems to help. I used just  a tiny bit with a Q-Tip, then went over it all with a damp cloth to remove the Goo Gone, then dried it.

I have also been asked what size I use - ALL of my Nesties are the large size. I may eventually get the small sets too but I just don't see that I really need them.

Card Details: I embossed the vellum scallop oval with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder (available and still on sale in the store - use code SHIMMER in the voucher box for an ADDITIONAL 20% off your entire order).

I stamped the tutu on vellum and folded it by hand where the creases would be on the tutu, then attached it with Zip Dry glue (my Holy Grail of glues, also available in the store). I went over the inner oval with my Copic marker in RV13 Tender Pink. The pink polka dot ribbon is by American Crafts; the Doily Lace punch is by Martha Stewart. The cardstock is Bazzill Bling.

Be sure and play along in the challenge over at the Forum! Michelle has a little prize for a random draw of participants. Don't forget to use keyword FC5 when uploading your projects so we can all see your work!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Suzy

Cross-Stitch Tilda (LSC183) ~ A Day of Challenges!

Today's card was made for the challenge over at SCS, which is to make a card with something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue. Fun! This sweet girl is called Cross-Stitch Tilda. She is another new image for Magnolia Stamps. I thought she would be perfect on Cosmo-Cricket's Honey Pie paper which has a cross-stitch pattern printed onto it.

Tilda was colored with the Copic markers you see above (and also Lipstick Red, a blue based deep red, which I forgot to photograph).

I like to use E21 Baby Skin Pink for her skin color, and Blush for her cheeks. I go over her face once to color, then go around the edges with the same color to give a bit of shadow. I also give her a button nose  (basically an upside down u) - it is really just a shadow of a nose, but it adds to her face I think.

Fruit Punch Stickles here added to her bow and the heart of her dress.

I glazed her Mary Jane shoes with Crystal Effects for a patent leather look, and added some more Stickles to the bows. I just can't help myself when it comes to bling!

May Arts pink velvet ribbon was layered over sheer daisy chain  ribbon (also May Arts). The ribbon and pearl flower is by Imaginisce.

For the background I used Nestabilities and the Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder, and a few buttons and hand sewn stitches.

I put a Martha Stewart punched out Butterfly (embossed first with the textile folder) on top of a lace applique butterfly, and added a tiny crystal red heart in the center. Those hearts can also be seen around the sentiment (cut from Honey Pie paper).

Be sure and play in the Embellish-Online.com Friday Free For All Challenge too! I did not like my card so am starting from scratch - the challenge is super neat and something I have never done before, which is to use folded PAPER as an embellishment! Cool huh?

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzy

The Latest Embellish-It Challenges and Promotions

So much is going on at Embellish-Online in both the forum and the store, be sure to check it out. Here are some of the fun things currently happening:

This Week's Challenges

This week's Free For All Challenge Hostess is Heidi. Her challenge to you is to alter something in your home using your pretty papers and embellishments! Check out her work to the left!

A new Free For All Challenge will be posted every Friday.

If you are interested in being a guest designer complete with your own DT goodies package for the month, keep an eye out on these challenges. We will often be picking people to be our Guest Designers from challenge entries.

Cindy's (Mothermark) Teapot Tuesday Challenge was awesome this week! It is not too late to join us and play!Every Tuesday she shares with you a teapot from her amazing collection as inspiration for your projects.

Look at her amazing work! I want to be like Cindy when I grow up. But I am ratting her out - she DOESN'T DRINK TEA! Ha!

New in Store: Pink Paislee is  so hot right now after making a huge splash at CHA. Barb has brought their awesome stuff to the store!  Check out Vintage Moon (my favorite is the owl paper), Pop Fashion and Office Lingo.

Sale! All Cuttlebug Folders are on sale in the store and there is free shipping for orders over $40 if you live in the US. Be sure to check out the latest Halloween and Christmas releases.

The folders will be on sale until Labor Day but the free shipping will be over at midnight on Sunday August 24th. While the sale and the free shipping is active discount codes won't apply.

Giveaway: There is a great giveaway going on for August and September! You could win the NEW Haunted Halloween cuttlebug folder and a package of rub ons, brads and chipboard from Imagininsce Hallowhimsy Collection!

It's a $30.00+ value so enter now HERE. No purchase is necessary, all we require is that you join our great community and be active in posting and/or uploading your wonderful artwork!

Registration is free and only takes a few moments. The contest winner will be chosen on September 30th and the winner will be notified by email and posted in the forum!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Saturday!

Suzy

Friday's Challenge: Paper Piecing Elzybells UK

My Elzybells UK stamps arrived  finally! They were accidentally sent to Malaysia by the postal service so they are quite well traveled.

As you can see in the photo on the left, they are much larger than the Elzybells NA produced and distributed by A Muse stamps.

The dresses on the Coffee Friends stamp are perfect for the new Friday Challenge over at Embellish-Online. This week the hostess is Daniela and the challenge is to paper piece your work.

Paper piecing is quite fun and adds great eye candy to a card - you stamp your image directly onto patterned paper, then cut out pieces of the image and adhere it to cardstock that you have also stamped the image on.

The image was stamped onto Papertrey Select White cardstock, then colored in with Copic Markers. 

I paper pieced the dresses and the purse with BasicGrey Euphoria patterned paper. I glued their dresses by the armpits as foam pop up dots left too much space.

Euphoria brads and buttons were added as embellishments. Finishing design touches include Crystal Effects glazed coffee cups, and Stickles Glitter Glue in the flower centers.

The awning was created using Martha Stewart's  Punch and Emboss Edge Punch on Papertrey select White paper. 

I used my Scor-Pal to score the flap then glued it behind the matting.

You could just use a bone folder to score as well, I just love the preset grooves in the Scor-Pal so that I don't have to measure.

It is hard to see but I also hand stitched a bright green thread around the matting.

The sentiment, also Elzybells UK, was stamped with Memento Ink in Grape Jelly. I love the crisp, vivid, opaque results you get with these inks. They are my favorite when using Copics and a bargain at around $2 for the Dewdrop size. They come in 24 different colors. I have a  Word Document downloadable color chart for you here.

Elizabeth at Elzybells made me a personalized stamp with my blog address on it - love this for RAKs!

The impression is really awesome. Textured cardstock, especially Bazzill Bling  is the true test and it passed with flying colors - I got a nice, crisp impression using Memento Ink in Grape Jelly.

I have a Stampin' Up! one that I can never get to stamp right :( I could have cut it wrong, it was my first Stampin' Up! stamp ever.

Be sure to play in our Paper Piecing Challenge if you have some time. The winner of last week's challenge will be announced today and become September's Guest Designer and receive a lot of Design Team goodies to work with. Thank you to all who entered - the turnout was great and the projects were so amazing! We will definitely be doing this again.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Friday Free For All Challenge: Win a Spot as Guest Designer

Today's Friday Free For All Challenge at Embellish-It Scrapbooking is our very first challenge for the 2008-2009 Design Team.To celebrate we are going to make the challenge winner our very first Guest Designer for September! September's Guest Designer will get the same goodies as the Design Team and need to make four cards with their DT package that will be published in the Design Team Gallery on September 5th.

Want to play? Here is what you need to do:

• Make a new (made just for the challenge) card that plays along with the challenge rules - which is to use buttons on your card, layout or or project.
• Upload your card to the gallery using keyword FC1. You will need to be a forum member to do this - registration is free and super easy.

Judging will be based on how well you followed the challenge, creativity and execution.

The winner will be announced in the forum next Friday August 8. Good luck to all who enter!

For my challenge sample I didn't stamp at all - rather I cut strips from Imaginisce Rosy Cheeks Paper from the Baby Powder Collection and put them on a base of Bazzill Bling cardstock and Papertrey Select White.

I cut out the little girl dresses and put them on dimensional foam dots, added Doodlebug Paper Frills ribbon and as this was a button challenge - added three pink Imaginisce Button Blossom Brads. I guess I could have added more but I really like these buttons and am hoarding lol!

Final touches include a purple felt Cuttlebug die flower a white Imaginisce Bow Blossom. I didn't add a sentiment so that I could use this card as either a feminine friend card or a baby girl card.  Be sure to check out all the other Design Team samples they are pretty amazing!

Don't forget to save 20% off your entire order at the Embellish-Online store by using the code SHIMMER in the box that says VOUCHER. Be sure to check out the new Imaginisce Halloween stuff - the candy and the skull with a bow stamps are so cute and a bargain at $1!

Happy stampin'!

Suzy

Embellish-It Cocoa Blossom Inspiration Challenge & EI Contest

Hi everyone!

This week's challenge over at Embellish-It Online is our first Inspiration Challenge!

I love the rich cocoa brown and exotic floral motif of this Mikasa Cocoa Blossom china. Take your inspiration from the colors, patterns and/or mood of this photograph - anything goes!

I chose to keep my card simple and stamped a floral motif with dark brown chalk ink onto white glossy cardstock to mimic the shine of the china. Chocolate Chip cardstock frames the image.

I pulled a bit of orange from the cupcake and used Prima flowers I bought at the EI store. A few Swarovski Topaz crystals were added - I had to have a little bling :)

Please upload your cards to the EI Gallery using keyword EIIC1. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Embellish-It Contest for April!

Lots of yummy goodies are up for grabs so be sure to enter here to win! Prizes: a 6x6 Acrylic Tab Album from Clear Scraps along with a bottle of Zip Dry Paper Glue to use on your clear album. You'll also receive Perhaps the 6x6 Paper Pad from BasicGrey.   This is over a $25.00 value!

Drawing will be held on April 15th, 2008 and will be announced on this page and in the EI forum. The winner will be notified by email. Drawing is open to all US and Canadian residents.

Stamps: All Night Media Bohemian Floral

Paper: Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip; Glossy White and White

Ink: VersaMagic Jumbo Java

Accessories: Prima Baby Boy Flowers; Swarovski Topaz Crystals

Wild Saffron & The EI ATC Sketch Challenge

Hi again :)

Hope you are having a great start to your weekend! This ATC card was made for the Embellish-Online Design Team ATC Sketch Challenge. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term ATC, it stands for Artist Trading Card and is a card the size of a standard business card (2.5x3.5 inches). They are very popular right now. You can make 10 of these from one 8.5x11 inch sheet of cardstock. People usually make them in groups of ten, signing and numbering the back. You can trade for them, swap them, or put them on a larger card. Splitcoast has a great tutorial on them here.

For my ATC I used K&Company's Wild Saffron line. Such  warm, summery colors and patterns - I can dream!

The center flower with the crystal and flourish are felt stickers from the same line. I cut out the flower from the patterned paper and propped it up on a pop dot, then added the sticker. Halloween Dew Drops accent the corners.

Flaxychick made this weeks sketch and it was really fun - please do join us and make one!

Here is the sketch. Please upload your card to the EI Gallery using keyword ATC01 so that we can all find it and see what you made.

Happy Stamping!

Sparkling Angel Card

I made this card for Tracy's Sketch Challenge over at EI. Be sure to join in the fun if you have some time. Tracy hosts a lot of the challenges over at SCS and has this great spirit - such a fun lady :) I built this card around some Webster's Pages paper I have been hoarding. The first is an 8.5x11 Webster's Pages Dufex Snowflake paper. It is AMAZING - very thick, silver foil snowflakes on heavy cardstock - and I only have the one sheet. You know the song the First Cut is the Deepest? That is what I was going through as I put it on the chopping block. The larger patterned paper, Dear Santa, is much more subtle - white snowflakes and words on a soft, faded blue with a touch of red here and there. I pulled my accent colors, Stampin' Up! Soft Sky and Real Red from this sheet of paper .

The Lockhart Star Angel stamp has snowflakes/stars and I thought it would pair well. I used a paper piercer to follow the stamp's trail, and used Pebbles Shimmering Chalks in graduated colors of yellow (around the angel), white (center) and blue (edges).

I am a little frustrated with my tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and have given up on it, for now. Nothing can beat the Shimmering Chalks.

I colored the angel with various blues using my Faber-Castell pencils and Gamsol. The picture did not pick it up but I used white pencil over the whole dress before I applied Gamsol - my white is very waxy and really helps to get a glowing, translucent look when I use it with the Gamsol.

You just know I had to add lots of Ranger brand Stickles (tinted glitter glue) - I added Crystal to her wings, Waterfall on her dress, and Ice Stickles to the snowflakes swirling around her. Ice Stickles are like regular Stickles but the glitter is a bit chunkier.

The large snowflake is a Heidi Swapp Ghost Shape covered with Waterfall Stickles and a Prima Crystal in the center.

The thin red ribbon is by May Arts.

{Happy stamping on the table and stomping in the snow if you have it like we do today}

Suzy

Win a Scrap Tote at Embellish-It and The EI Sketch of the Week

Hi everyone!

The Crafty Baking Post will be up later tonight but I wanted to give you a head's up about a couple of cool things going on:

EI Drawing for a Scrap Tote!

 

Embellish-It is having a drawing for this $30 12X12 scrapping tote from O'Scrap. Isn't it the cutest? *wants* Winner will be announced Janurary 1. For more details and to enter, click here.

EI Sketch of the Week

Every week on the EI Forum we have a sketch challenge brought to you by a Design Team Member. This week it's Tracy! For all the details check out the Forum here. Come play along with us and upload your card to the Forum!

Be back later with another post!

{hugs}

Suzy

Embellish-It Design Team Sketch Challenge #2

 

Embellish-It's Design Team Sketch Challenge #2 is up! It is my first sketch there so I put #1 on the image, sorry for any confusion I am a dork. The team cards can be seen on their Forum right here, and on each team member's blog. We have a great group of women so be sure to check them out (I have links to everyone's blogs on the right sidebar).

This week's EI sketch is brought to you by me so I have two sketches, and two prizes going on at once on my blog this week. If you would like to join in on the fun, upload your EI Sketch card to the Embellish-It Forum using E-ISC02 as a key word. If you are not yet a member, be sure to join - it is free.

The basis for this sketch is from a card I posted early last month. The details, including a faux suede tutorial can be seen here.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you participate in the sketch challenge and upload your card at the EI Forum :) There will be a small prize and card drawn at random next Sunday for those who do (anyone from any country may participate).

{hugs}

Suzy

Stamps: SnowbunnyBella by Stamping Bella

Paper: Sage Shadow, Blue Bayou by Stampin' Up!, BasicGrey Figgy Pudding patterned paper

Ink:  VersaMagic Chalk inks, Palette Noir

Accessories:  May Arts white ribbon, pop dots, Sakura Black Glaze and Quickie Glue pens, Stickles in Crystal and Liquid Pearls in White Opal (both made by Ranger), Autumn Leaves A Rhonna Christmas buttons, Heidi Swapp Snowflake Ghost Shapes and Distressor, Around the Block Label Maker, Stampendous Cottonball White Fun Flock Powder, Faber-Castell Artist pencils and Gamsol, Stampin' Up Corner Rounder punch

Card Size: 4.25x5.5inches

Layers and Layers of Figgy: The First EI Sketch Challenge!

 

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying your Sunday. Today's card is for Embellish-It's first Design Team Sketch Challenge! The team cards can be seen on their Forum right here.

This week's EI sketch is brought to you by Design Team member Michelle of Twisted Chick Creations (Flaxychick on SCS). If you would like to join in on the fun, upload your EI Sketch card to the Embellish-It Forum using E-ISC01 as a key word.

If you are not yet a member, be sure to join - it is free. I can't spill the beans just yet but there are lots of surprises in store. Ooh I just can't wait!

My card has so many layers lol! I couldn't help myself - it is so hard to pick between all the gorgeous BasicGrey Figgy Pudding patterns. The stamped image and sentiment is also BasicGrey from their new Winterland clear stamps. The Sugar sentiment can be used for recipes or as I used it here, to be a term of affection. I embossed the sentiment with Ranger Turquoise Embossing Glitter for a little sparkle.

I stamped the main image in a dark green ink, then embossed certain areas with detail gold powder. I sponged a bit of blue to tie it in with the colors of my card, and added gold Stickles to the partridge and red Stickles to the berries.

The hand crocheted red flower adds a pop of color and homey touch. What do you think?

I have been working non-stop for the grand opening of the Embellish-It Forum  Design Team Gallery on December 5th! The team has worked so hard to bring you the most gorgeous cards and projects.

This is all that is left of my BasicGrey Figgy Pudding - I have never finished a WHOLE pad in a weekend LOL! I wanted to show you how well Figgy works with Stampin' Up! Soft Sky, Real Red and True Thyme (Old Olive too). I am addicted to this color palette for my holiday cards!

Thank you so much for stopping by, and to those of you who do, thank you for leaving the kind comments - you make my day :)

{hugs}

Suzy

Stamps: BasicGrey Winterland

Paper:  BasicGrey Figgy Pudding Stampin' Up! True Thyme (retired), Soft Sky, Real Red and White

Ink: VersaFine Olympia Green, Ranger Distress Ink in Broken China

Accessories: Pop up glue dots, Stickles in Golden Rod and Xmas Red, and Turquoise Embossing Glitter by Ranger, Artful Stamper Detail Gold Embossing Powder, Scotch Scrapbooking Glue, Hand Crocheted red flower, sponge.

Card Size: 4.25 x 5