Technique Challenge!

Happy Saturday all!

What a crazy week! I was all SORTS of messed up with the short week this week...but I'm really glad it's the weekend already! We had a parade tonight - and another one tomorrow...it feels good to be out marching again.







Lauren's challenge this week was to dry emboss on vellum. I like this technique alot, but my creativity was low the other day...but I did manage this:













I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. I stamped the flowers from Everyday Classics onto the vellum using the rock and roll technique (Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz) and then I embossed the lines from the back. I like the simplicity of this, and it didn't take long, but I think it's pretty neat looking.

Hope you get to play along this weekend...here's who else is playing along:

• Lauren Meader

• Alicia Weiman

• Dana Gustafson

• Pam

• Maria Levine

• Kristin

• Tamara Harder

• Mackenzie Bruckler

Here's a little peek at their creations:
















If you get to play along, be sure to use the keyword MTTCT01 when uploading your creation!! Looking forward to seeing what YOU do with the challenge!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Everyday Classics, Fancy Flourishes (both PTI)
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf (all PTI), Brilliance Graphite Black
Paper: Select White, Vellum CS, Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise
Accessories: silver brads

Hot Stuff...

Hello All!

Wow - the week is just FLYING by since we had Monday off. So I'm also a day behind in what I wanted to post...oops!

Anyway - this post is twofold...Dustin Pike is releasing NEW images today -- talk about cute! Be sure to stop by his store and shop!! Also -- need more convincing??? The DT has been hard at work creating some GREAT stuff with these latest releases...go check them out!

• Becky in East Tennessee
• Charlotte De Zwart
• Cheri Howard
• Dominique Hornberger
• Ginny Christiansen
• Jason Casper
• Lana Clarke
• Leila Pierce
• Michelle Redman
• Paula Carr
• Peggy Marsh
• Poppet
• Ri
• Veronica Reed

This particular image happened to catch my eye, as he looked like a lot of fun to color...then I happened to be over at the Stampin' Out Alzheimers site (link to register on my sidebar) and saw a great challenge there, to use your copic markers...I didn't have the colors specified, so I improvised.















Stampin' Out Alzheimers is a 'pay to play' challenge site that will be open until May 31st ...TONS of great prizes for participating, so if you pay the suggested donation of $5, you have the chance to win some GREAT prizes (including some digis from Dustin!), and there are some FREEBIES there too!

I've made a few items for the challenges that I will be sharing here over the next few days.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Great Expectations (Verve)
Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Paper: Dark Chocolate (PTI), Whisper White, Cool Caribbean (SU!)
Accessories: White velvet ribbon (PTI), doodlebug bling (bon bon), Spellbinders Nestabilities (Labels 4 dies)

PTI Blog Hop Time!

WHEW!

It was close, but I was able to get this done, feed my family dinner, and get it posted in time :).

Yellow- I love it, but don't always get ti to 'work' for me...so this was certainly a challenge!

Are you all just not in LOVE with the new Fancy Flourishes, and Star Prints??? I know I am!!!

Here's my project:













I originally has something else in mind, but I can't put these stars down! The Lemon Tart layer has a background made from a repeated pattern of images from the Faux Ribbon set, stamped in Lemon Tart, for a tone on tone look.

The star was stamped in Versamark, and then I used white embossing powder (in this detail shot, you can see I can really use some detail white-- guess I'll be adding it to my next order!) Then I used my sakura stardust pen and scribbled in some spots, and wiped it off with a baby wipe...the effect?? lots of soft sparkle....













Hope you all had a relaxing weekend -- I know I'm DREADING work tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Star Prints, Fancy Flourishes, Faux Ribbon
Ink: SU! Basic Gray, Lemon Tart, Versamark
Paper: Lemon Tart, Kraft, Basic Gray(SU!)
Accessories: Dimensionals, white EP, sakura stardust pen

Thank you...

As you all celebrate the start of Summer...take time to think of those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.





































And for those of you out there...still putting your lives before mine, my daughters, my family, God Bless You and keep you safe from harm, we are forever grateful for you and your families...

Photos by Andrew Bossi and Adam Skoczylas

My Time to Create COLOR Challenge!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

It's shaping up to be a busy one here, but filled with family, fun, and a parade and memorial day ceremony...so it's bound to be good! What are YOUR plans for the weekend? Parties, parades, gardening?? All the while - don't forget to think of those who died fighting for your right to do all those wonderful things...My friend Josh is a member of The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (the President's fife and drum corps) and he posted that he was honored to spend the day yesterday visiting and decorating the graves in Arlington National Cemetary. I don't know if I've ever been more proud to call him my friend.

Ok - I know you aren't here to read about my thoughts on Memorial day...I will get on to business. Lauren has given us a SUPER fun color combo to play with this week...here it is:











Is that dress not the SWEETEST?? I have to ask Lauren where she found it, because I adore it, and would love to see one (if not both) of my girls in one!

I received my Papertrey goodies the other day, and figured I'd make my project with some of my new finds :).

I chose the colors, Raspberry Fizz, Melon Berry, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, and Aqua Mist all from PTI.

















I started out with a white card base, and stamped the large flourish from the new Papertrey Ink stamp set called, Fancy Flourishes in Brilliance Graphite Black ink. I picked out 5 different star designs to use, and stamped one on each of the colors of CS, and punched them out with Stampin' Up!'s Large Star Punch. I arranged them on my card front, and adhered them with dimensionals.

I then went back and stamped the little star image from the Star Prints set, around the flourish. I think this would be cool for a tween girl's birthday, don't you?

The rest of the Design team was awfully busy too - be sure to stop by and show them some love!! Here's a peek at what they've been up to...

• Alicia Weiman
• Dana Gustafson
• Dawn Easton
• Jen Tapler
• Kendra
• Kristin
• Lauren Meader
• Lisa
• Mackenzie Bruckler
• Maria Levine
• Odette
• Pam
• Tamara Harder

Hope you get to play along -- don't forget to use Keyword MTCC02 when uploading, and be sure to link using the Mr. Linky widget on Lauren's post!

Dustin Pike Release Today!!

Hi all~

Sorry I've been MIA - I'm still catching up from being away, plus was out LATE last night at the recording studio. Our drum corps CD should be ready soon, I'm so excited! Dustin Pike has a new release today - lots of SUPER cute images. With my funky schedule, I was not able to do as much as I had hoped, but did get this little cutie colored and onto a card.

















This combines two of the new images available today at Dustin's store.

Something else new that you may notice...in my right hand column, there's a widget for Stampin' Out Alzheimers. Jen Tapler is working very closely with Paper Craft Planet to plan an incredible event -- so CLICK on that link, donate today, and come and play!!

Speaking of Jen -- you GO girl! She won the guest star stamper contest for this month over at Papertrey Ink! Check out this post on Nichole's blog...and if you scroll waaaay down...you also see a project from me :) I got an honorable mention for my rosary box. Yay me!

Well, it's entirely TOO LATE, and I'll be regretting this in the morning - but GO SHOP Dustin's store, SIGN UP for Stampin' Out Alzheimers, and go congratulate Jen on her win!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Blog Candy ALERT!!!

Hey all~

Just wanted to pop in real quick. Came home from NH last night. Had a GREAT time with Paulette, Lauren, Molly, and my Mom. Got re-adjusted to home life today - and saw that Dustin Pike announced his first ever blog candy event!













Be sure to stop by his blog and see all of the details. You have the opportunity to brighten someone's day, and possibly WIN some FREE GOODIES!

Good luck!

My Time to Create Template Challenge!

Hello all ~ Happy Saturday! I'm writing to you from New Hampshire. I'm in Manchester to head out shopping at CKC tomorrow -WOO HOO! I just got back from dinner a little while ago with Lauren and Paulette...I am SO stuffed. Why is it that when you are so full, you still continue to shovel in more, solely because it tastes good? crazy.

I'll have to share the photo of my dessert in another post since I didn't bring my camera cord with me...and NO I didn't finish it...












ok, ok, ok, sorry - enough of the blabber. My PROJECT. The third Saturday of the month is a Timeless Template challenge -- so get ready guys and gals to show us your stuff! There are a few FREE templates available, but if you haven't bought any, you're going to want to -- talk about making life easier! wow. I'm so thankful to Lauren for providing me the tools to make many a cute gift. (oh- and there's NO shipping, and INSTANT gratification!! You can download the templates right after you pay for them!)

















Lauren's challenge this week is to use a template to make a birthday present, and incorporate either the color purple, or a butterfly. Now I will admit - I made this for a bridal shower, but it could TOTALLY be used for a birthday present. We had thrown my friend Jackie a bridal shower at work. We had purchased her gift, and had money left over from all that was collected, so we decided to give her the cash. But HOW could I make it look COOL??? Money flowers. Yep -- money flowers. I searched online for instructions, and found pretty good ones here. (Though mine are not NEARLY as nice as those!) I took all of the bills and seperated them into 5 piles of 5. Then I made my flowers. I had assembled Lauren's Basket Basics template out of poison ivory shimmery CS, it matches Jackie's wedding invitations, pretty good, huh? the top of the basket is wrapped in black satin ribbon, and tied in a bow. I made the tag, 'celebrate today' the sentiment is from Papertrey's Mixed Messages, and the circle border is from the borders and corners monogram edition stamp set.

















ok - so I made a birthday present, in a template, but it's not purple, so I need to incorporate some butterflies...I used Papertrey's Butterfly Kisses, and stamped the outline in Graphite Black Brilliance Ink. I then heat set it - and stamped the line image in versamark, then used heat and stick, and applied SU!s Dazzling diamonds glitter. I used a couple of floral sticks with wire to stick them into my flower 'arrangement' to have them flutter about.

I have to say - I really liked this project, and I'm so happy with how well it turned out.

So what template are YOU going to try?!?!? Don't forget to use the keyword MTTC02 when uploading - and Lauren's post with the Mr. Linky :)

Can wait to see what YOU do with the challenge today!

Don't forget to stop by the rest of the team's blogs for more GREAT ideas with Lauren's Timeless Templates!!!

• Alicia Weiman
• Dana Gustafson
• Dawn Easton
• Jen Tapler
• Kendra
• Kristin
• Lauren Meader
• Lisa
• Mackenzie Bruckler
• Maria Levine
• Odette
• Pam
• Tamara Harder

Off to bed, it's a day FILLED with shopping goodness tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mixed Messages, Borders and Corners Monogram Edition
Ink: Brilliace Graphite Black
Paper: Curious Iridescent Poison Ivory, PTI True Black

Wanna Peek?????

Dustin Pike has a bunch of new images coming out TOMORROW. You will be LOVING these!! I've been busy, coloring away, and finally put some images on CARDS, can you imagine??

ALSO -- don't forget, today is FREEBIE Wednesday on Dustin's blog, and I can tell you now - this week's freebie is TOO cute! It's a great way to give digi-images a try -- it's FREE!

ok, ok, so I'm getting to the cards :)













This first one, I have to admit, I couldn't WAIT to color...but had a tough time with a sentiment. Then I heard the song "Do you Believe in Magic?" on the radio, and thought...hmmm, that could work! I figure you could send this to brighten someone's day, to tell someone you love them...lots of applications, I think.













It's hard to see in the photo - but my Wizard (which every time my 1 y.o. saw it, she said "ho ho hooo") is actually popped off the front of the card using a piggy tail from piggy tales...I love these little springy things. They flatten nicely to fit in the envelope too!

The stars were free hand drawn with stardust stickles...simple and sparkly...magical, even ;)

Now...onto my next creation...













I LOVE this image...it just might be my favorite of this release...maybe. As soon as I got my images, I KNEW I had to use this one right away.

All images are colored with my copics, and the sentiment on this one is from Papertrey Ink's Everyday Classics, their 2nd Anniversary set. The sentiment is stamped in Brilliance Graphite black ink. Be sure to check out other design team member's blogs (linked on my sidebar) for peeks as well. Dustin's full release is scheduled for tomorrow - don't forget to head there then!!

















Thanks for stopping by!

My Time to Create Inspiration Challenge!

Well, it's Saturday, so it's time to create with Mytime!! If you didn't already know, Lauren Meader is switching things up, and hosting a different type of challenge on her blog each Saturday.

First Saturday of the month: sketch challenge
Second Saturday: inspiration challenge
Third Saturday: Timeless Template Challenge
Fourth Saturday: color challenge
Fifth Saturday (if applicable): Lauren's choice

Lots of fun to be had, hope you get a chance to play along.

Lauren gave us this photo as our inspiration:
















And here is my creation inspired by this dress:

















It took me a little while, but then I got an idea and ran with it. I liked the retro background basics image I used, it kind of reminded me of the pattern at the top of the dress. I added some bling below the sentiment, gives it a little oomph. The umbrellla was cut out, and was adhered to the card front with dimensionals. in this instance, the handle is under the dimensional, and the umbrella top is above the dimensional for added depth.

Don't forget to stop by the team's blogs, we're happy that Alicia was able to play this week as well! Here are the links to the rest of the team:

Alicia
Dana
Dawn
Jen
Kristin
Lauren
Lisa
Mackenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam
Tamara

If you are going to play along (which I hope you do!!) Make sure to use the keyword MTTI01. Lauren has also posted a Mister Linky link on her post today. I'd love to see your take on this great inspiration.

We're off to a Communion/double birthday party...another long day. At least tomorrow I get to sleep in. I wish all the Mom's out there a wonderful Mother's Day!! {{{HUGS}}} and thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies: Stamps: Scattered Showers (PTI) Ink: Plum Pudding, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (all PTI) Paper: Plum Pudding, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (all PTI) Accessories: swarovski crystals, cinnamon stickles, vintage cream satin ribbon, dimensionals

The Wedding Invitations...

Hey all!

WOW! I'm so excited (I know, I say that alot, don't I??) I've been added to Dustin Pike's DT! WHOO HOO! I'm excited to get started. Lots of great talent he's added to his team, the members are linked on my sidebar, go check them out!

I finished up my friend's wedding invitations, that I gave a peek of here. So, I thought I'd stop by and share them with you today.

We were going for classy, and elegant...think I pulled it off?? I love this poision ivory shimmery cardstock. Really adds a touch of class. The card is a gatefold. The front panels were embossed on my cuttlebug with the birds and swirls folder.







The flower on the front? That's Micheal's Bridal Confetti, I used green ones for the leaves too. Topped that off with a clear swarovski flatback crystal in the center.





The inside and the response cards were printed on my printer, and I added a bow on the invitation...SOMEONE PLEASE STOP ME if I ever agree to make invitations with a bow again! I'm too much of a perfectionist!





To package up the cards nicely, I went ahead and picked up a photo box from Michaels, and put all of the invites inside, then stamped the bride and groom's names and wedding date on the outside of the box, so they can put some wedding keepsakes inside.

I'm glad to have this project completed, but loved making them.

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Fishes!

WOW - what a busy weekend it's been!

Thanks to everyone for the love left on my first challenge post :) I hope I can continue to keep up with the rest of the girls...lots of talent there!

This weekend was jam-packed with birthday parties, and drum corps stuff...I'm EXHAUSTED! Seems so unfair for the weekends to end so quickly.

Alright - soooo, back to birthdays. I know I've been going on and on about Dustin Pike, but really, have you GONE to his site yet?!? If not, you really need to, such ADORABLE stuff! Including some coloring pages for the kiddos...which one of them I just loved SO much, I had to turn it into a card.

One of the birthday boys was having a Nemo party, so the coloring page with all of the fish seemed SO perfect!
I printed the image out at 25%, so it would fit on an A2 card front, and got coloring...using my copics, of course. Then all of the bubbles were covered with stardust stickles, and when that was dry, I went back over with crystal effects... I had printed out 2 of the images, just in case I messed one up, so I prepared the bubbles on the other one too, and once dry, I cut them out and randomly placed them around the border of the card.

The sentiment was done on my computer, as I didn't have one I felt 'worked' with the image.

Hoping you all had a nice weekend, and thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Dustin Pike coloring page
Paper: New Leaf (PTI), Whisper White (SU!)
Accessories: Stardust stickles, crystal effects, dimensionals, copic markers

My Time to Create Challenge!

Ok...so here's my first challenge post as an official team member!













I have recently found Dustin Pike - what great images he has. When I got the sketch from Lauren, I decided I needed to use one of his images on my first project. Here's the sketch:


Tomorrow is Lauren's Birthday - so figured I'd make mine a birthday card in honor of her!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN! Hope it's a great day!!




Soooooo, onto the card:
I flipped the sketch to make it work for me...isn't this little monkey too much?!? I had tons of fun coloring this image in with my copics, and added a little crystal effects to the cherry and the sprinkles on the cupcake. Also put a few touches of my stardust pen on the cupcake frosting as well. Now - Dustin provides a .png file with his images, meaning when you get it, there's one version that has no background outside of the image...which is cool, because if you take a look at my image, there is a drop shadow that I added using Photoshop Elements. I think it made the image 'pop' just a little more...how about you?

All of my layers are on dimensionals, and isn't that a fun sentiment? It's an oldie from Gina K, it was my very first unmounted stamp!

Thanks for stopping by today -- be sure to check out all of the other team members blogs as well!!!

Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kendra
Kristin
Lauren
Lisa
Mackenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam
Tamara

Be sure to use keyword Mytimess32 when uploading - and link on Lauren's blog as well...can't wait to see what YOU do with the sketch!