Color Throwdown Challenge #181

Today we have a super girly palette that Lynn chose over at the Color Throwdown!  I LOVE girly cards, so these colors just sang to me ♥

I really wanted a fresh look to my project, so I chose some of my older paper that fit this palette perfectly, MTME A Loving Heart.  I also printed a couple of sheets from Fresh Fabric Collection 2 and Collection 3 for my green panel, flowers and leaves. I cut the blooms with my MTME Fanciful Flowers cut file and staggered the two layers of each to really show the dimension my foam tape created.  I knotted some white craft thread on each button to give a different look.

My base label that showcases the "You mean the world to me" portion of my sentiment was cut from the MTME Be Dazzled cut file. I cut a 1" strip of white cs and used the corner of a square punch to trim the "v" on each end and stamped my main sentiment, "For Someone Special".  Both sentiments are from the MTME Just For You stamp set.

My layout was inspired by Chupa's sweet Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #50.

That's all I have for you today, but my teammates have a ton of inspiration to share.  Check them out:

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Kerri

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda

Jenny Peterson ~ February Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you're having a wonderful week!

Color Throwdown Challenge #180

This week's Color Throwdown Challenge is being hosted by the very talented, Lori, who chose this fun palette:

I decided to make an inspirational card for someone very special to me who is feeling a little overwhelmed this week.  I fell in love with the Deconstructed Sketch #39 when I saw Amy Sheffer's beautiful card, so I based my layout on it. 

I recolored my MTME Blue Skies paper and went to work stamping and assembling.  I cut my round panel with the Large Spellbinders Nestability Circle and sponged So Saffron prior to stamping my MTME Stay Strong sentiment and floral accents and layering on a doily. 

My little bird came from the MTME A Little Birdie cut file.  I stitched a button to it using some tangerine jewelry twine and added a couple of big loops.  I cut my scalloped layer using the MTME Border Builders Elegance cut file, layered another piece of patterned paper and added ribbon and a prima.  Truly a very simple card when you break it down.  I just hope it inspires my sweet recipient ♥

Be sure to swing by my CTD sisters' blogs for a great variety of crafty inspiration!  They whipped up some doozies!!

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Kerri

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda

Jenny Peterson ~ February Guest Designer

Oh!  Before I forget...here is a photo from my trip to Richmond to meet some of my CTD sisters and Debbie Olson.  We had so much fun and I LOVED getting to meet these wonderful ladies who I've gotten to know so well in cyberland. 

Clockwise from Left:  Me, Lori Tecler, Danielle Kennedy, Bar Anders, Broni Holcombe

Danielle stayed the night at my house and was soooo gracious.  She brought me a framed print of one of her AMAZING photos that I mentioned was my favorite (Love In A Mist) :]  Isn't she SWEET?!  I couldn't believe it!  Check it out:

Okay, my friends.  That's all I have for you today.  Thanks for popping in *~*

Color Throwdown Challenge #179

Happy {belated} Valentine's Day, my friends ♥  I'm hosting the Color Throwdown Challenge this week, so I'm here to share my palette and my card!  I kept the colors girly in honor of the special day...plus they came straight from my new MTME digital paper pack, Candy Kisses, so it was a bonus ;]  Check it out:

I love this soft palette that can easily be bold if you hone in on the Poppy Parade ;]  I was feeling extra feminine when I created my card so I leaned toward the softer side...especially after I saw Chupa's awesome sketch for this week (Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #49)!  She has such a talent for whipping up sketches that are fun and easy to work with!

I cut my branch and my flowers from the Branching Out cut file  My sentiment is from the Sensational Sentiment set, and I stamped on half of the vellum Framed Elegance cut file.  It's hard to read, but I didn't want my sentiment to be dark and contrasting in a way that takes away from the softness of my card.

I stitched my floral panel and my sentiment panel to a piece of patterned paper from my Serenity pack, careful to avoid stitching over my words.  I also punched a butterfly form a scrap of poppy colored music notes paper I recolored from my Wistful Musical Magic pack, and stitched it directly to my cs.  I adhered my branch and blooms with glue dots.

That's all I have for you today, but be sure to swing by the rest of the CTD gals' blogs for a ton of creative mojo!

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Kerri

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda

Jenny Peterson ~ February Guest Designer

So Very Thankful...

I finally finished up another card I started working on last Tuesday!  I needed another thank you card, and the CTD178 palette along with the Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO227) and some of my patterned paper made for a card that came together easily.

I used my Sentimental Occasions stamp set for my focal sentiment, and the coordinating Occasional Labels cut file to frame it.  I stiched on a piece of patterned paper from my Fresh Cut Expressions Collection 2 pack that worked perfectly with Keva's palette!  The brown panel was cut with a Recollections border punch and adorned with white, ruffled sewing trim, some pretty Marth Stewart ribbon, and a prima.

I added a large antique brad to my text panel and some more MS ribbon to give a little visual interest.  I also added some brown stitching to my yellow panel and the base panel.

That's really all there was to it.  Simple, yet lots of stuff going on :]  Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing weekend!  I'll see you here again on Wednesday for the CTD challenge - I'm hosting ♥

Color Throwdown Challenge #178

Time is truly flying this year.  I can't believe it's already February!  A couple of things stand out to me...we don't have a lick of snow, and I've already missed TWO Color Throwdown challenges :[  The fact that time is flying just means I'm super busy.  Work and my commute soak up a lot of my time, but I'm not complaining.  I thrive when I'm busy, so it's all good ;]  Today, Ms. Keva is our sweet hostess, and she chose the PERFECT palette for a masculine card...which suited me just fine since I'm in need of a masculine Thank You card!  The timing couldn't have been better.  Check out her cool combo:

My card is clean, simple, and flat enough to mail (which is a huge accomplishment for me :).  I used sheets from two of my MTME digi paper packs, Shutt-erfly (recolored), and Get Graphic - Collection 2.  I used Crushed Curry in place of Summer Sun because I'm out of the latter cs.  I chose the MTME Trendy Tags 2 cut file for my sentiment which is from the MTME Sensational Sentiments set.

I added some twill ribbon, hodgepodge hardware and four brads and called it a day.  It's possibly a little TOO simple, but it's just right for the recipient :]  My layout was inspired by the Mojo Monday (MOJO227) sketch.

I almost finished another card with this same color combo and layout, but it's not quite finished.  I'll post it in a day or two :]  Thanks for stopping by today.  Before you head to your craft room to whip up something amazing, swing by my CTD sisters' blogs for a ton of inspiration:

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Kerri

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda

Jenny Peterson ~ February Guest Designer

Hope the rest of your week is low speed and relaxing ;]

Color Throwdown Challenge #176

Happy Wednesday, friends!  I'm popping in to share my lackluster CTD176 card that was the result of my mojo being on hiatus this week :/  This CAS design was inspired by Deb's card found HERE.  Hers is absolutely STUNNING, whereas, mine failed in a few areas that I believe to be obvious so I won't belabor you with explaining.  Instead, I'll thank the ever so talented, Joan for selecting this fantastic color palette that made it a little easier to CASE Deb's card.  If that even makes sense...  Either way, check out this fab combo:

I used my MTME Sentimental Occasions set to build my greeting, and the MTME Bold Botanicals set for my bloom.  My border punch is Recollections (from Michaels) and the butterfly was made using a Martha Stewart punch.  Other than that, it's pretty basic and self-explanatory.  I guess the perk is that this will mail easily unlike most of my other cards :]  LOL

Please be sure to swing by the rest of the team's blogs for some real inspiration!!  They're projects are stunning as usual.

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Kerri

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda
Stacy Morgan ~ January Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you are having a great week!!

Color Throwdown Challenge #175

Hi everyone!  I'm back in the Color Throwdown swing of things after my trip to San Antonio last week, so I'm popping in to share a VERY quick project I made to house the VERY time consuming cupcakes I made :/  Danielle is our hostess with the mostess (CTD175), and she chose an awesome palette for this time of year.  It can be winter-y, Valentine-y, spring-y, whatever theme you're feeling at the moment.  I'm feeling kinda Valentine-y ♥ ...even though I don't even have a prospective Valentine :[  Check out her palette:

I used the new MTME Hey Cupcake template for my project.  I've been itching to whip one of these up, so this week's challenge was the perfect opportunity!  I layered my MTME Fun Flowers paper as the decorative panel, adhered my fave white sewing trim and olive ribbon, and hot glued some primas.  That was IT!  I know, I know...I didn't stamp a tag, I didn't stamp ANYTHING, but I still think it makes a statement and is adorable!  Just goes to show your projects don't have to be overly fussy to look sweet ♥

Here's a snapshot of the inside of my box:

I also couldn't wait to show you how easy it is to dress up your cupcakes!!  I made some fancier cupcake wrappers for this release (My Sweet Heart and Fine Foliage), but I didn't want anyone to lose sight of how quick and easy the Basic Cupcake Wrapper can be when paired with some fun digital paper!  It cuts in just a few seconds (whereas the more detailed the design, the longer it takes to cut), and it's simply a matter of securing it and adding the cupcakes like I did here!  I used the smaller of the two sizes.

So...what do you think?  EASY stuff, my friends!  Glad you stopped by today.  Please be sure to check out my fellow, amazing DT sisters to soak up some more inspiration :]

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Joan

Kerri

Keva

Lori

Lynn

Tammy

Wanda
Stacy Morgan ~ January Guest Designer

Have a fantastic remainder of the week!

Achoo! Bless you...

Hi friends.  I’m popping in to share my third project as Our Craft Lounge's Artist of the Month!  This is the time of year for runny noses and head colds, so I thought a little decorated tissue pack would make a cute, yet thoughtful gift for my co-workers who are a little under the weather.  I chose to work with two sets today to make my simple project.  I stamped the “ACHOO!” sentiment from the Say It With Flowers set, because I wanted a simple font that I could stamp repeatedly.  

The “Bless you” sentiment, the tissue box and bowl of soup came from the Running Sick set.

I saw the cutest dyed doilies on my friend, Dana Gustafson's blog the other day, and just HAD to give them a try!  The original tutorial was posted by Charlotte's Fancy.  I kind of followed Charlotte's tutorial for the first three colors I tried...but I used SU ink droppers instead of food coloring.  The pastel colors were really pretty, but I love BOLD regal colors, so I changed it up a bit.  I put my white doilies in a Pyrex dish and squirt a LOT of SU ink on them.  The doilies kind of absorbed the ink, but not edge to edge, so I put the dish under the faucet and simply turned the water on just until it hit the doily (very slow drip) and then shut it off.  I'm talking a DROP of water...literally.  I then moved the doily around to completely absorb the ink and used the same mixture for my next doily.  Check out the difference in the color hues!!  I LOVE the dark ones :]

The "blue" doily is actually plum in person...it's gorgeous!!  I used the Garden Green one on my tissue pack decoration.  You'll notice I cut a fancy 4.25"x4.25" white frame to go under my doily so that the colors of the tissue pack wouldn't show through.

I also cut an Occasional Label out of my MTME Fresh Cut Expressions Collection 1 pack of digi paper, and stamped my ACHOO on the layered oval.  I colored the soup bowl and tissue box with Copics and layered them with dimensional tape.  The Bless You sentiment was a perfect fit for my SU punch using another sheet of digi paper from the same pack.  A little ribbon and a prima finished off my project :]

Easy, cost effective, cute little gift!!!  Love those kinds ;]  Hope you're inspired to get crafty!!  Thanks for stopping by.

love YOU

Hi everyone!  I'm popping in this morning to share the card I made for my second week as Artist of the Month over at Our Craft Lounge.  I'm a tad delayed in posting (okay, a little more than a tad) due to a work trip to San Antonio, so please forgive my tardiness.  Hopefully you were able to check out my project on the OCL blog and this is a repeat!  I had the pleasure of working with a lovely set called Love Notes.  Check it out:

I plan on using this set again, so keep an eye out for more fun projects ;]  I have a TON of ideas for this set...just not enough time in the day to bring them to fruition all at once.  For my card, I used one of my newest paper packs over at My Time Made Easy called Island Love.  Now, I realize I also released a more traditional Valentine/love color palette for this paper, but I wanted to go against the grain of what's expected.  So, I stuck with the pretty Pool Party, Calypso Coral and white palette. I created a double frame if you will to bring the focus to my script panel.  If you look closely you'll see that I first stamped the "shaded" background in Soft Sky and then embossed the script in white on top.  I highlighted the last word in the script, "love" to draw the eye to the first word in my sentiment. 

I added some white, frilly trim layered with some teal seam binding and a coral bloom, then adhered the second word in my sentimet, "YOU".  Hot glue is my adhesive of choice when I play with blooms, so I just tucked my tag in while it was still hot.  I added some antique brass SU! brads to finish the look and I was done!

I'm having such a great time using my OCL goodies and sharing them on their blog.  I'm still very honored to represent OCL as their Artist of the Month ♥  I'll have another project to share on the OCL blog tomorrow!  I might wait a day or two to share on my blog just to break it up a bit since this post was so late.  Hope your new year is off to a wonderful start.  I know I'm inspired by the possibilities and have a great feeling that this year is going to be amazing.

All the best ♥