My Timeless Template Challenge...#4

Today is the My Timeless Template Challenge!! The rules are simple:

1 - Use one of Lauren Meader's templates at Papertrey Ink.

2 - Use the colors in this image...kind of like a challenge within a challenge!

I have a TON of Lauren's templates and I LOVE them all! She really inspires and excites me every time I see what she creates with her line. I feel that the $5 templates are inexpensive considering you can use the template forever and make thousands of different projects with each one...BUT, I also understand how bad the economy is. I'm in the Air Force so I have a secure career, but not everyone is so lucky. Folks are cutting costs everywhere they can. If you are one of those people trying to save money, my project is for you! I used one of the two amazing FREE templates! Yes, I said, FREE!! No strings attached. Just download it from Papertrey Ink!

I created a baby bootie for a good friend I've never met in real life :) LOL Funny, eh?

I wanted a vintage looking bootie, and buttons, and patches...and stitching. I also wanted the cuff to have some added interest, so I used a border punch. I adhered the buttons using glue dots and I stitched the patches right onto the cs. I stitched the edges of the heel and toe before adhering to the bootie. Notice I sponged the edges of the white cs with Tim Holtz's Antique Linen Distress Ink, and the blue cs with white craft ink...after I embossed with the Swiss Dots folder.

I covered the inside of each bootie with light blue polka dotted dp to cover the stitching. The box inside seemed a little boring by itself, so I embossed the sides and trimmed the tops with the same border punch. I finished it up by adhering two buttons (with craft thread) on both sides.

I found a cute little travel pack of Johnson and Johnson supplies that fit perfectly inside my bootie! Oh, and the travel pack was less than $3! How awesome is that?! I plan on adding a gift card as well, but if you needed to give a simple something to an acquaintance, this would be the perfect, thoughtful gift!

I'm head over heels in love with this cute little baby bootie! I think it's so adorable...and don't forget, FREE!!! So, no excuses not to play along! There are two free templates...be sure to check them out and show us what you can do!

If you play along, link your project on Mr. Linky over at Pam's blog, she's hosting this week! Use keyword MTTC04 in the online galleries so we can look at all of your projects in one place!

Don't forget the ultra talented design team! They are SURE to inspire you! Here's a sneak peek of their creations ~

<-------Links to their blogs are on my left sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a FANTASTIC, extra long weekend :O)

My Timeless Template Challenge...SNEAK PEEK!

Tomorrow is the My Time to Create Template Challenge #4! Here's a peek of my project! Hope you can join in the fun tomorrow!! My post goes live at midnight tonight so be sure to check back! Can't wait to see what you create! I love the template challenges :O)

Hope you had a fabulous week and best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

OMG...I HAVE to share!

I found out today that --> this card, was featured on the Color Throwdown for challenge #51! I'm BEYOND excited!! Had to share my cool, new blinkie :O) I'm now in the running to be the September guest designer!! Sooo exciting!

BIG thanks to the amazing Color Throwdown Design Team!! I'm honored.

Hope your week is going as great as mine! Thanks for checking in.

Mother's Tulips...MOJO96

What a great Monday!!! Seriously...I had a tiring day, but for some reason I was completely inspired to make this card for my Mom's birthday next week. The MOJO sketch (MOJO96) definitely stirred up my mojo!! LOL I absolutely LOVE the layout! It ended up being perfect for this card :)

After I created the main image, I found the DSP I wanted to use - Razzleberry Lemonade! While it doesn't have Pomegranate in the design, I thought it looked awesome with my tulips, so I went with it :) I thought there was too much space behind the three matching panels to go with plain cs, so I used some linen I picked up at WalMart for just over a dollar the other day. I hand-stitched it on the cs and frayed the edges, which used up the white space perfectly.

I used two different stamps to create the sentiment - PTI, Quilter's Sampler and Wishing You. They fit beautifully on the main panel (thank goodness because I stamped them last :O). Lots of dimensionals later, and the ribbon formed into a bow...I had assembled my card. I LOVE how it turned out! The style is sooooo "my mother"! I hope she likes it...and isn't keeping up with my blog! Ha ha

Hope you had an equally AWESOME Monday, and an even better week!!

Supplies are listed in my SCS gallery :O)

Thanks for Always Being There

I was flipping through Paper Crafts Stamp It! magazine (from Aug 08) and I came across a card on page 28 by Kim Frantz that just jumped off the page at me. So I CASEd it but instead of using a stamped or stenciled image, I created a flower using a techinque I learned about on Lauren Meader's blog. I have a stack of Martha Stewart patterned tissue paper that I've been wanting to use and I thought this was the perfect opportunity! I really love how it turned out!! Soooo simple, yet it really pops!

For the card, I punched the bottom border of the front and back of the card. I traced a flower Nestability, drew the border, and inked the scalloped bottom and the holes using a black SU! marker. I cut black cardstock an eighth of a inch wider than the ribbon I used and adhered both to the card.

I layered the cs and the tissue paper flowers (offset), pierced holes through the button, the tissue and the cardstock then sewed the button on using craft thread. I pinched the flower tissue together like Lauren taught on her blog, then adjusted each layer to make it full. Next, I adhered the red buttons on the ribbon using glue dots and added the rub on sentiment. DONE! How easy is that?!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! I'm working on a project and a couple of birthday cards today :O) My favorite kind of Sunday...

My Time To Inspire Challenge...MTTI03

Good morning! Today is the My Time to Create Challenge! This weekend we are hosting an inspiration challenge based on this piece:

I couldn't get my mind off of the layout if you will...with the three different squares on the left, the pretty flowered side on the right and what looked like a rustic flower in the middle. I went with it! I used a brand new stamp from SU! to create the flowered panel. I pressed the entire stamp in Kiwi Kiss, wiped some of the flowers clean and colored with markers before stamping the paper in a random pattern. I die cut the edge with my new Nestabilities to give added interest.

I created the flower using a technique that Dawn McVey demonstrated on her blog. I really LOVE how her flowers turn out, so I thought I would finally give one a shot :] I like the result even though I missed a pertinent step (curling the flowers inward). I left the ties loose and semi-untrimmed on purpose...kind of going with the inspiration piece.

I wasn't as inspired by the geometric patterns, so I used complimentary colors of flowered patterned paper instead. The sentiment on the top tag is a rub on. I think the card looks romantic. It reminds me of my aunt who always decorated her house and gifts in a pretty, Victorian style. It would be such a neat surprise to send this to her, but I created it with someone else in mind :O) Soooo...I'll be sending it to another special person (who follows my blog, so I'm not saying who).

Hope you can play along this weekend! Be sure to check out the rest of the team's creations! Their peeks look amazing!! I can't wait to see what they came up with :O)

Lauren
Alicia
Dana
Dawn
Jennifer
Kendra
Lisa
MacKenzie
Maria
Odette
Pam
Tamara
Tracey

Be sure to post your creations using Mr. Linky on Lauren's blog if you play along! We love to check out your interpretation of the challenges! Have a wonderful weekend :O)

Supplies
Stamps: SU! Razzle Dazzle
Paper: SU! Melon Mambo, Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss and DSP; PTI, White
Ink: SU! Melon Mambo, Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: SU! Square/Scalloped Punches, Sizzix Tag Die and Dimensionals; Michaels, White Twill Ribbon, Button, Rub Ons and Craft Thread

My Time To Inspire Challenge...SNEAK PEEK!!

Here's the My Time to Create Team's sneak peek for the inspiration challenge (MTTI03) tomorrow! Be sure to stop back by at midnight or tomorrow for my sample and a look at the team's gorgeous creations!!

Color Throwdown Challenge #51

Wow it's LATE! I had to finish my Color Throwdown card though...I was on a mission :) I really love the soft, summery colors for this week's challenge, CTD51:

I also used the MOJO Monday sketch (MOJO95) for the layout:

...and this card is my interpretation of both challenges:

I watercolored the main image using markers and an aqua painter (sadly, no Copics yet, LOL). The bird was stamped on the DSP in Lavender Lace and on a separate piece of white CS in black...cut out and layered using a dimensional to give it depth. I love this PTI set!! It has so many uses with the cute images and sentiments. I think this sentiment is perfect for someone who just moved into a new home or is going through a difficult time. I take "nest" as a house or a family :O)

Okay, I have to work early, so I'm keeping this short! Stop back by tomorrow for a quick sneak peek of our My Time to Create Inspiration Challenge!

Hope your week went well, and your weekend goes SLOOOOOOOW!! :O)

Color Throwdown Challenge #50

Happy Sunday! I spent a good hour yesterday looking at the Paper Crafts, Card Creations, Vol 7 magazine I bought a week ago! It's packed full of gorgeous creations and I just couldn't get enough. I really admire the simple, yet WOW cards that people like Nichole Heady and Dawn McVey portray with their creations and I think that's what inspired my most recent project.

I bought some felt months ago with the intent of making my own felt flowers. I didn't have a flower punch strong enough to cut through felt (even after stiffening the material), I have a Sizzix machine but I don't own any Sizzix flower die cuts... I've been on the look out for just the right flower die at all the craft stores since I bought the felt and low and behold, I found the perfect flower die at the Hobby Lobby in GA! It's from Spellbinders and it's a daisy to boot! My FAVORITE flower :O) So, I finally cut my felt flower last night using my Sizzix machine and the new die. I used Kiwi Kiss cardstock to cut the petals. The button is from Papertrey Ink.

This week's colors from CTD50 were Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Kiwi Kiss. I've had this green and turquoise ribbon for almost a year now and I've NEVER opened it! What a perfect complement for this project :O) Oh, and don't let me forget the sentiment. How perfect of a match are these colors?! This is a rub on from a scrapbooking set I bought CHEAP on clearance at Target. Cool, huh?

So, talk about clean, simple and easy peasy. I typically take twice as long as most crafters to create my cards (I'm a perfectionist which seriously hinders my production time :O) but this one was whipped up in about 30 minutes! That's SUPER fast for me!! LOL

Thanks for stopping by! I'm happy I was finally able to play along with the Throwdown again. It has been a while and it's one of my favorite challenges!

My Time to Color Challenge - MTCC04

Well, I'm finally back from vacation and I swear my mojo stayed behind! I had to create my card Thursday night to have it ready in time for the sneak peek image I shared last night (or earlier tonight if you are reading this at midnight :O) I STRUGGLED even though I had a TON of ideas that I jotted down at work. When I got home and tried to put them to paper...no dice! So, I went an entirely different direction that what I originally intended. This is what I came up with.

I used the faux embossing technique on the main image and rub ons for the sentiment. Everything else is pretty apparent I think :O) I kept it simple!!! This came in handy for a graduation card for a friend of my daughter's yesterday. Great timing...so it's probably best that I went a different direction! LOL Here's a shot of the inside. The flowers are rub ons and the sentiment is stamped.

That being said, I came up with an idea at work yesterday on how to finish the first card I started Thursday night. I owe a friend of mine a HUGE thank you! This card will go to her. I kept the yellow to a minimum on this card...only using it on the button, the faux border stitching and the ribbon ties. This is my favorite of the two :]

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, I created the faux border stitching by paper piercing and drawing a line with a chalk pen along the holes. The faux stitching on the "crazy quilt" was created by drawing black dots with a marker and using a white gel pen to cross "stitch".

I hope you can play along this weekend! The color palette inspired by the cute bag is so pretty and easy to work with (even when you're sans mojo :O) If you do play along, be sure to stop by Lauren's blog and link your creation using Mr. Linky! Also, use keyword MTCC04 if you upload in any online galleries so that we can view all of your creations together :]

Don't forget to visit our inspirational design team to get the creative juices flowing! They're sure to give you some ideas with their awesome creations!

Lauren

Alicia

Dana

Dawn

Jennifer

Kendra

Lisa

MacKenzie

Maria

Odette

Pam

Tamara

Tracey

I'll list all of the supplies in my SCS gallery later today :O)

Saturday Color Challenge Sneak Peek!

Tomorrow is the My Time to Color Challenge! Can you figure out what the color palette is, based on these sneak peeks from our ultra talented design team?! Be sure to check back tonight at midnight or tomorrow when you wake up to see my sample and the challenge color scheme! You don't want to miss it :O)

Hope you had a wonderful week. TGIF!!

Weiman Family Request & Future Blog Candy

Well, it's Friday and we're in Georgia safe and sound! If you follow my blog, you'll know I never got around to giving you the eye candy I was hoping to on my Sunday post :( Things just got busy at home preparing for our trip.

Oh, and if you don't live in the south, let me tell you, it is HOT here! Wow!! I wanted to go jogging this morning around 9 but took one step outside and quickly rethought that idea! It's soooo humid here. I would have passed out after a quarter of a mile, I'm sure :O) So, I'll try again in the morning at 6 instead. Wish me luck!

My original intent in writing this post was to advertise a request I received from Alicia Weiman. If you are not familiar with the very special Weiman family, please read about sweet Ethan on Alicia's Caringbridge site and these posts on my blog --> Weiman posts.

Recently, Pink Cat Studios created a very special digital stamp set called the Weiman Wranglers. Proceeds from this set will go to the Make A Wish Foundation, Illinois Chapter in honor of Ethan Weiman. This foundation was a blessing to Ethan and his family. From what I remember, they gave the Weiman's a horse, a "little ass", and a barn. Not only that, but when Ethan's beloved horse, Sonador, passed away last Christmas, they replaced his horse with a new one named Questions. What other organization comes through for people in such a HUGE way? I can think of many charitable organizations doing great things, but when it comes to granting the wishes of sick children this one surpasses any that I'm aware of.

Anyway, many compassionate paper crafters have already purchased and created some stunning projects using the Weiman Wranglers. I created a card and a digi card (while I was on vacation in PA) but I didn't really know what I would do with the tangible card. I made it specifically with little Ethan and his sister, Ava in mind. Meaning, I studied all of their photos to see how they dressed...down to the pattern and color. So, when the card was finally finished, I sat there looking at it thinking, what am I going to do with this? I could never give it to anyone, it's Ethan and Ava. I didn't know if I should send it to Alicia, or just hold onto it. BUT, Alicia emailed me the other night and gave me some food for thought. She told me that if I knew of anyone who created a project using the Weiman Wranglers and didn't plan on doing anything with it, she would love to have it as a keepsake. She's putting all of them in a book because she loves to look at everyone's creations from the set.

So, I haven't sent her mine yet, but I brought it with me and will post it tomorrow! I'm so happy that she asked for the creations because now I feel like mine really had a purpose :O) If you created something with the Weiman Wranglers set and would like to send it to Alicia, please email me and I'll forward her address to you! You can find my email address under the About Me page on my blog.

BLOG CANDY!!!

Okay, so apparently my blogoversary was yesterday! Mind you, I had no idea until I logged on today because we spent the day driving to Georgia :) Thank you to the few who wished me a happy blogoversary and let me know! LOL That being said, I think this is a fitting time to finally offer some blog candy!! I have quite a few duplicate stamping items at home that have never been used, and tons of paper and embellishments that I'm sure I could do without. I also have a Cricut and a Sizzix machine that I could easily make some die cut giveaways from! Soooo, when I get home, I'll put together some blog candy for you all :O) Keep an eye out...I have some cool things just sitting there waiting for a good home.

Last but not least. We are not doing a My Time to Create Challenge this Saturday due to the holiday weekend. Everyone is just so busy it seems...so we're taking a week off! You can view previous challenges on my left sidebar if you want to participate in one that you didn't have a chance to the first time! We would LOVE to see what you come up with if you do! Please leave a comment here to let me know if you played along with a previous challenge so I can check out your creations!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a SAFE, relaxing 4th of July holiday!!