Happy Birthday Calvin!!

Tonight I made a birthday card for sweet Calvin who is turning 2!  I used LORi Designs "Birthday Owen" Digi Stamp and colored it in with Tombow markers. I decided to do the LORi Design Challenge so I chose the colors around that challenge. I also am putting this card into the Mojo Monday Challenge so I used that sketch.   

All paper, cardstock, ribbon, buttons and black hemp are Close to My Heart.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy as a Clam!!

SS-196

I was so happy to play along this week at Sketch Saturday!  I LoVeD the sketch. 

I needed to make a Birthday card for someone who LoVeS Sea Animals and knew just the Paper Pack to use!  One of the new packs in the Close to My Heart Spring 2012 Idea Book is "Footloose".  I used the papers and the stamp set that came with the "Workshop on the Go" kit.  It features Sea Animals.  I do think this card will be perfect. 






All products are Close to My Heart:

Paper - X7151B Footloose
Stamp Set C1489 WOG - Footloose
Inks - Creme Brulee, Pear & Lagoon
Pearls - Z1336 Opaques
Grosgrain Ribbon in White and Sand
CtMH Ruler and Piercing Tool

Happy Paper Crafting everyone!!

Cute as a... BUTTON!!

Today's Sweet Stop Sketch SSS147 to me was just ScReAmInG for buttons (and I have plenty!!).

The sketch is adorable and what is more adorable than a baby??   The Digi stamp is from the Bug and Roo collection by Hannah Boyd.  The papers and buttons are Close to My Heart.

I'll be holding on to this card for the next baby to be born... I guess I better make it in blue as well!!

Good Night!!

Jest for the PUN of it!!

It's a CAS-ual Friday and this week's CFC41 Challenge is to keep it "Clean And Simple" and use a Pun - so... PUN intended!!

I will keep this post Quick and Simple as I need to head out to work - couldn't wait to make this card though (while having my first cup of coffee of course =)...

I layered Chocolate and Desert Sand cardstock with a scrap of a cute chocolate and blue polka dot paper from the pack Winter Wonderland.  I colored in a cute Digi (Coffee Beans from Rhoda Design Studio) with a Chocolate marker.

So... How've you bean???

Thanks for stopping by - have a GrEaT Friday!!

Oh Scrap!? Let's Throwdown some Color!!

I purchased this cute Digi Stamp from Whimsie Doodles ( I think the fish are soo adorable!!) and when I saw the colors in the Color Throwdown Challenge I thought it was the perfect time to dig out some scraps and make a card for both Color Throwdown and Whimsie Doodles February Challenge Oh Scrap!
With the circle shape and the roughly gathered sheer white ribbon around it, it gives the feeling that they are hanging out in a fish bowl, happy to "Sea" each other while out for a swim =)  (I wonder if fish drink coffee... ; ))
I layered gray and yellow cardstock,
(the yellow roughly torn at the edges), then cut circles from orange and blue scraps.  I added sheer white ribbon and 3 tiny white brads at two of the corners.  All paper and embellishments are Close to My Heart.  The Digi stamp is Whimsie Doodles colored in with Tombow markers.

Thanks for stopping by!!

It's Wednesday!!

I was so excited to find out that I was in the Top Three at Sweet Sketch Wednesday!!  That's a first for me.  I am humbled and honored there were so many GREAT cards!!
Today's Sweet Sketch #142 was a fun one to play with.   Once I see a sketch, I find myself creating in my head the rest of the day until I can get to my desk and get started.  The Sponsor this week is Bugaboo Digi Stamps.  I checked out their website on my lunch break and found this adorable digi stamp "Angels Believe" and created my card around this cute trio.  What fun!!





I used Close to My Heart papers from my Scraps - this cloud paper is one of my favorites.  I will be sad when it's gone...  I colored in the trio with Tombow markers, used some scrap ribbon and found the 3 brads and the button in my "treasure" drawer!

Hope you are all having a great week!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

MOJO 229

My card for the MOJO Monday sketch 229 features one of my FaVoRiTe things - Coffee!! 
I recently saw a card using the Verve stamp set "Better With You" and I loved it!!  A Must have for coffee lovers!


 The papers and card stock are Close to My Heart, the stamps are all from the Verve set Better With You stamped with Chocolate ink.  The ribbon and pearls are also CtMH.  I think it might be time for coffee... =)  Java Joy!!

Last Challenge of the day...

What a great Saturday!!  Playing with paper, Playing with the dogs and more playing with paper!!  The last card

I wanted to make was for a girl at my Church who is turning 10 and whose favorite color is...black!!  When I was "BLOG hopping" I happened upon Sweet Sketch Wednesday and thought the sketch was perfect to use the Digi Design "Harper" that I just got from LORi Designs.

For the background I had a single piece of a red mini daisy print and layered it with white, black and red cardstock.  I used Tombow markers to color in Harper and black sheer ribbon layered with a cotton black check ribbon topped off with a red button tied with black embroidery floss.

I am definitely loving the Digi Designs...

Now it's time to pack my overnight bag, and get to bed.  Looking forward to Worship in the morning and then a trip to visit my friend Cathy and go Coffee Shop hopping in NH.

Blessings to you!!

Moving along with my card making today I decided to check out some of the other Saturday Challenges.  This card is based on the sketch at The Sketch Saturday Blog and the color combination from The Color Throwdown blog.  This is my first time combining Challenges - it just seemed to work for this card.  

 I used Close to My Heart papers and the Digi Stamp "Well Wishers" from Paper Pretties.  I used CtMH and Tombow markers to color in the pups =)  All embellishments are CtMH

Zephaniah 3:17

Wow - I am posting a Challenge on the day of the Challenge's release - a first for me!!  This weekend I have a lot of Birthday cards to make so I'm getting right to work (or should I say play?)...  The Sweet Stop Challenge Blog has another great sketch this week with a "Spin" and a Prize...  The spin is to use a die (don't have one) or a punch.  So, I used a teeny tiny Dragon Fly punch which I own but have never used before.  The Prize... well that remains to be seen.

The paper is from Close to My Heart "Passages", I used Garden Green Ink and Gosgrain ribbon.  The folded paper is handstitched with Colonial White emproidery floss and the stamp is New from Verve - Zephaniah 3:17 along with a simple Happy Birthday sentiment also from Verve.

Happy Saturday!!

Hey - I was first to enter!!

Home is Where You Brew Your Coffee...

I always love the sketches over at The Sweet Stop Challenge Blog.  This week's sketch called for a large image at the top.  Just the card for my first attempt at Digital Stamping.  I found a stamp that features one of my FaVoRiTe things... COFFEE!!  Thought this would be appropriate!! 

Once I figured out the downloading, inserting, sizing, and such (really it ended up being quite simple) and got over my fear of coloring with markers, I really had fun!!  The stamp is Brew Your Coffee from Paper Pretties.  The paper and embellishments are all Close to My Heart.  I used Tombow markers to color the image...  and here it is!!

Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow's Sketch will be...

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Oh Scrap?!

This morning I had the NEED to make a card and took on the challenge over at Whimsie Doodles.  The challenge was to use ONLY scraps.  (Us Scrapbookers/Card Makers have LOTS of scraps!!)  This one sounded like fun!!  This is my take on their February challenge...  I grabbed some matching scraps and cut them into 1 1/2" squares and pieced them together on red cardstock.  The Teddy Bear stamp is colored in with Chocolate Ink and a Blending Pen.  Cute little ric-rac around his neck and at the base of the card add a bit of interest.

Happy Thursday everyone!!!

The CR84FN Color Challenge 48!!

This morning I couldn't wait to create the CR84FN 48 Color Challenge!!  The colors at first were a bit intimidating in that I wasn't sure just what I had in my stash that was gray... 

 However, I actually cleaned our my crafting area last night and remembered one of the papers in the long retired Veranda paper pack would be perfect!!  Next I went to my "button" drawer and found the Spring Craft Buttons and dug out the Amethyst, tied them off with white Embroidery Floss, and inked a Daisy with Pear (will have to be chartreuse for this color challenge).  I also added some shear black ribbon topped with white.  The Stamp Set is D1444 A Little Thanks using the sentiment "I am so THANKFUL for you" which fit perfectly over the ribbons.  I love when a card comes together!!

                                           

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!!  Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Today while I was Blog Hopping, I came across The Pink Elephant Blog.  Today's challenge was simply to incorporate PINK and lots of it!!  I made a birthday card for a little girl who was recently at Disney World - seemed appropriate to have a Castle!!




 I used the Close to My Heart Sweetheart paper pack along with the stamp set Princess.

Hope you have all had a great weekend!!
Happy Paper Crafting!!

Another Window Card...

This week's CAS-ual Friday's Challenge is Clean and Simple Paper Piecing...  So, I opted to do one more window card (seeing as I LOVE windows and all...) AND there is certainly paper piecing involved!!


I used the Close to My Heart Splendor paper pack again.  The papers in this pack are just perfect. The flower stamps are from the CtMH stamp set C1407 Hot Diggity with blue Itty Bitty Brads in the centers and the sentiment is from D1467 Trees & Things.  It'sbeen such a gloomy dreary day in New England, and I've been home with a lousy cold creating with these papers that are screaming SPRING is coming has been a JOY!!

Mojo Monday Sketch 227

I am definitely addicted to these Challenges.  I woke up this morning before 5:00 AM, thinking about what my take on this design would be...  I love the sketch challenges at Mojo Monday!!

I did try to go back to sleep and actually didn't get up until 6...  but once I did, and had my cup of coffee, the card making began!!


I used the retired Close to My Heart paper pack Splendor.  It was just perfect for the windows I wanted to create.  I have always had a fascination for windows...  looking out, looking in...  anyway, I also used the Stamp Set D1373 Childhood Portrait for the little birds and the sentiment.

Happy Thursday everyone!!

The Sweet Stop SSS144

My second card tonight was inspired by The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog. 

With Valentine's Day coming up, I used this Sketch Challenge to get another valentine card done!!  I chose the Close to My Heart paper pack "Sweetheart" and used the stamp set C1258 Love of My Life.  I love the papers in the Sweetheart pack!!




Happy Paper Crafting!!

CR84FN Color Challenge

Hello Friend!! - I wanted to share this entry to the CR84FN Color Challenge Blog.  As you can see by the Inspiration pics, the colors for this challenge were PINK, RED and LIGHT BLUE. 

I especially love the picture of the swing with the ribbons...  I can just picture them blowing in the wind as a little red haired girl swings high...  FUN!!

I went to my stash in search of the colors and came up with plain and simple card stock in Pink, Red and White and used ribbon and blue paper behind clear buttons for my touches of Light Blue.

I love elephants so decided this was just the card for a pink elephant with a bousquet of balloons...  Isn't she sweet?? 

Stamps used are from Close to My Heart:  C1284 Wild Thing and C1407 Hot Diggety.

The Color Throwdown!

I was looking for a color challenge and came across The Color Throwdown blog.  I loved the combination of this week's challenge CTD177 - what fun!! 

With the color combination of Pink, Black and White, it seemed a perfect set up to start making Valentine Cards!!

All materials used are Close to My Heart. 

The large heart is from the stamp set A1123 - I Adore You, one of the new sets in the Spring Summer Idea Book just released.  I love the detail in the heart.  The sentiment is from a retired Valentine set.

The Sweet Stop Challenge SSS143

Seriously, I am hooked...  I woke up before 6:00 with the last sketch challenge I looked at last night in my head...  I knew just what papers I wanted to use...  I couldn't get it done quick enough!  Does that happen to any of you other Challenge Blogger Followers???  CBF's ...

Anyway, I happened upon the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog late last night.  I loved the clean lines of the design.

I used the new paper pack Pemberley from Close to My Heart (the Spring Summer Idea Book debuted yesterday!!)  This pack is one of my favorites - I love the color combinations!!  I used the retired Stamp Set Friendship for the sentiment.  The polka dot grosgrain ribbon and the creamy ric-rac are also CtMH.

I'm happy with the end result and now have very little time to get ready for work...  better hustle!!

Mojo Monday 226...

The Mojo Monday Challenge featured a choice of a circle card or a square card with the same basic design this week. 

I combined both and used some of my old paper stash - Moon Doggie.  All materials used are Close to My Heart.  (I did break out an old shape cutter from Creative Memories)...  I used Cranberry ink around the edges of the "wavy circle", Coco for the edges of the choclate circle and the stamp Enjoy Life, the flower is stamped with Hydragea and Sunflower ink.

Yet Another Challenge...

I have found my new addiction - Challenge Blogs!!  Fun to see the other designs and check out the Blogs...  Great way to stay motivated to keep making cards!!  I'm hooked and I LOVE it!!

Tonight I tried a new Challenge I found at the Blog Stampin' Sisters in Christ!  Their Challenge is based on a Scripture with total freedom in design!!  This week's Scripture is Philippians 4:8  I thought about this Scripture, and went through my stamps and settled on the sentiment Happy Thoughts... coming your way!

I used the Workshop on the Go kit Miracle.  I love the paper and the precut chocolate trim.  I also used the stamp set with Bamboo and Heavenly Blue ink.  The sentiment is from the samo set Card Chatter - Sympathy.  

Now all I have to do is decide who to send this card to...