Just Us Girls Challenge #46...and a birthday SURPRISE!

Hi all!  It's Saturday which means it's time for some JUGS!  Just Us Girls challenge that is...#46 :] 

Today our challenge is to create a project with a Wild Wild West theme in honor of our beloved teammate, Alicia, and Ethan's Rodeo.  Alicia's son, Ethan, fought a cancer called Neuroblastoma from 2007-2009, and at the tender age of 5, he lost that fight...last year after the first rodeo held in his name.  Alicia and her husband Dave are continuing the fight against this horrible disease through the establishment of "Ethan's Rodeo".  You can read all about Ethan on their Caringbridge site and all about Ethan's Rodeo HERE.  I only wish I could be there with them to help out and enjoy the festivities while remembering such an AMAZING little guy ♥ 

The card I made showcases the Cowboy Ethan (now known as Cowboy Billy) Weiman Wrangler image from Pink Cat Studios that was created to raise funds for the family. 

The image is colored with Copics except for the black areas and the sponged background.  I used SU ink (no black Copic yet...I think it's time :)  Here's a close up that shows the paisley dry embossing :]  I also added a little faux stitching to the main panels.  The layout is courtesy of Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (MTSC86).

While it's true that today's JUGS challenge is dedicated to Ethan's Rodeo, we are also spotlighting another beloved teammate...PAM!  Her birthday is Monday, but we wanted to surprise her today and celebrate by making a birthday card also!  This is the card I made for Pam:

For some reason these colors are just calling to me the past two weeks with JUGS.  I printed some of my MTME paper on kraft, stamped and embossed a couple of MTME flourishes in white, added a Border Builders cut file accent (scalloped border), some ribbon with a SU hodgepodge ribbon slide, another MTME cut file accent (All Tied Up - Rectangles label), and adhered all of my elements.  What a quick and easy birthday card that looks like it was much more labor intensive!  I hope you have a WONDERFUL birthday, Pam!  I'll put this card in the mail this weekend for your big day ♥  HAPPY BIRTHDAY girlie!!!

That's all I have for you today...we certainly hope you can play along this week!  Please post a direct link to your project over at JUGS and use keyword JUGS46 in any online galleries, and we would really love it if you could post a link to Ethan's Rodeo as well ;]

Be sure to check out the rest of the team's eye candy for additional inspiration...and to wish Pam a very happy birthday!  Links to their blogs are in my left sidebar.  You should also swing by the Color Throwdown team's blogs...some of the girls will be playing along this weekend to help promote the rodeo (thanks, ladies!)...links to their blogs are in my left sidebar also :]

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!  Can't wait to see what kind of Wild Wild West project you come up with!

Color Throwdown Challenge #105

Today is Wednesday which means another fun Color Throwdown challenge!  Bar is our hostess with the mostess this week and she chose an awesome combo:

I decided to go for a very fresh, light look since the colors comprised a darker palette...kind of a challenge to myself.  I did it, but fear I may have went a tad overboard :|  LOL

My card is also missing something...maybe my mojo is taking a break with everything else life is throwing at me right now.  Who knows.  I am in dire need of thank you cards, so I knocked one out and think it's good enough to give away, so I will :] 

I used the Killer Curves stamp set (again) with So Sentimental - both sets from My Time Made Easy.  I also used the Mini Leafy Stripes digi paper that Sara made, and my digi Picket Fence paper - also from MTME.  I colored my silhouette flowers with SU Watercolor Crayons, misted them with water, and pressed to the Pretty Pieces Killer Curves Cut File (I designed for MTME).  I stamped the frame and the sentiment using SU Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, and Always Artichoke ink.  I cut the bottom, Picket Fence panel using the Build a Border - Scallop Dot Cut File (I designed for MTME).

I used the There She Goes sketch #67 (TSG67) for my layout.

Hope you can join us this week at the Color Throwdown!  I can't wait to see what you come up with...show me how to knock it out of the park with this palette ;]  Maybe I'll take another stab at the colors this week!  Remember, you don't have to use these exact colors, just try to come as close as possible.

Be sure to check out the rest of our amazing design team as well!  They are sure to inspire, as they always do ♥

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

LeAnne

Tammy

Chupa ~ August Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you are having a fabulous week ♥

Back with JUGS!

After a long hiatus, I'm FINALLY back with JUGS!  I took a break for a couple of months before I was notified that I was leaving for a military school for another 2 months.  I had just moved into a new house and between my career, designing digital paper and cut files, being a mom, and setting up a new home, I just couldn't keep up with everything.  I'm not even sure I'm keeping up now that I'm back, but I'm giving it a go!  Wish me luck ♥

So, today's challenge is brought to you by Kathryn and it's a fun sketch! 

I had two totally different ideas jotted down for this sketch, but I only had time to bring one to fruition :]  I stamped the cat tails from the MTME Killer Curves set and used flock for the tips (hard to see in the photo, BUT my photo light box arrived today so hopefully future shots will be much better).  My tag is from the MTME All Tied Up - Circles collection.  I printed the Get Graphic Sprinkle in a smaller scale on One Sheet Wonder from Couture Cardstock.  Cut my windows with nesties, distressed most of my edges, sponged around my sentiment with Antique Linen Distress Ink, adhered with a ribbon and hodgepodge hardware slide, and done.  Pretty simple really...the window was probably the most difficult part of this card and it was easy! 

Don't you love the chocolate and kraft with sprinkles??  I think it's fresh but still masculine...just what I was hoping for.

Okay, I'm SOOOO ready for bed, so I'm going to close.  We sure hope you can joing us this week!  If you do, be sure to post a direct link to your project on JUGS so that we can check out your work.  Also, you don't want to miss our design team's inspriational projects...why not pay them a visit and leave some love?? 

Alicia

Andrea

Dana

Kathryn

Lisa

Maria

Pam 

Jo Westfoot ~ August Guest Designer

Color Throwdown Challenge #104

Happy Wednesday everyone :]  Thanks so much for all of the kind "welcome home" messages I received over the past week.  It's so heartwarming to know most of you didn't give up on me and actually realized I WAS coming home after my two month hiatus!  I have to say I'm glad to be back and creating in my craft room and on my computer.  My creativity in regard to designing cut files and stamps is in high gear!  Hard to stifle it while I'm at work all day...but I can usually translate it to my computer as soon as I get home and relax.  So, hopefully you'll see more products from me in the coming months :]


Back to Wednesday and the reason for my post, I'd like to present an awesome Color Throwdown palette that Ms. Broni chose for today! 

For my card I printed some of my digital Pretty Printables paper from MTME, Fun Flowers and Picket Fence, cut an oval Pretty Pieces cut file from our All Tied Up: Oval collection, and cut the fairy by hand.  I used the Lost My Tooth, Killer Curves, and Sensational Sentiments Pretty Impressions stamp sets.  I am head over heels in LOVE with the fairy from Lauren's Lost My Tooth set!  I think she's so pretty :]  Can you see the angel Shimmerz I added to her wings? She needed just a little something to make her glow.

I made this card for a friend who is going through a very rough time and could use a boost.  Hope this card helps with that a little bit.  I kept it pretty clean and simple, but I didn't feel like it needed much more...so I left it.

This palette has so many possibilities...hopefully you all can play along this week...should be EASY!  Be sure to add a direct link to your projet on the CTD blog if you do play.  If you don't have these exact colors, just try to come as close as possible!

Check out the rest of the team for some added inspiration...their cards turned out beautifully as always! 

Broni

Barbara

Danielle

Tammy

Laura

LeAnne

Iwona Palamountain "Chupa", August Guestie

Okay, I'm off to bed!  Hope you have an excellent remainder to your week...you're half way to the weekend.

My Time Made Easy August Release Night!!!

I'm so excited that I was able to play along again this week for the My Time Made Easy release!  I have several birthday cards to make and today's post was the perfect opportunity.  I made use of the very cute, very EASY to assemble, Purse-onality Pretty Pieces cut file.  This will be the "card" for my mom's birthday. 

My mother's favorite color is purple...so I printed some Fresh Fabric Collection 1 paper for the front decorative panel of the purse.  I used Couture Cardstock textured paper for the other accent pieces on the purse.  The handle piece is included with the cut file, but I created the bottom corner pieces myself.  I basically cut out the main decorative panel (the piece that is the shape of the purse) and used the large SU oval punch to cut out the corners.  I adhered the handle and the corners to the Fresh Fabric layer before adhering to the purse so that I could create my faux stitching and add my brads (don't want them showing on the inside).  I used some vanilla SU hodgepodge hardware on the front.  I adhered a magnet to the front, inside of the purse so that the metal brad would hold it shut.

I also used the Perfect Pansy cut file that was released in July to make the purse more girly-girl!  Aren't the flowers pretty?  I based my flowers on this one that I found on the web.  Mine don't do it justice, but hopefully you get the idea ;]  I lightly sponged SU Almost Amethyst ink on the petals, then I added Elegant Eggplant to the centers and the edges.  I sponged almost the entire accent petal with Eggplant also.  I curled the petals and the leaves with a bone folder, then pinched the leaves in half before sponging them with SU Kiwi Kiss.  I decided to use the fun sun cut file included with the SCAL program to create my center and give the illusion of yellow streaks. 

Inside the purse I added a Robeks gift card just for the photo shoot...I'll put in a different gift card for my mom :]  Also notice that I adhered the propped up, interior base to the back side of the card, but not the front.  This simply allows the purse to open all the way (and makes for a better photo :)  LOL

I added a simple tag included with the versatile, Money Well Spent stamp set to the back side of the purse.  I paper pieced the small stamped purse image (from Money Well Spent also).  I kept it clean and simple so as not to detract from my pretty purse :]


Be sure to check out what the rest of the team has to share!!!  You're sure to be inspired and itching to get your hands on some of these goodies!! 

Lauren Meader

Katie Cotton

Lesa Rapp

Pam Imholz

Silke Ledlow

Stephanie Kraft

Tracey Cuccia

Hope you're having a super weekend!!!  Thanks for stopping by :]

My Time Made Easy August Release - Day 2

Welcome to day 2 in the My Time Made Easy release lineup!  I'm stepping in as one of Lauren's "card girls" today.  I used the ultra cute "Lost My Tooth" set to create a card that I can give to a sweet kiddo when they lose their first tooth :]  How fantastic is the idea for a tooth fairy set?!  I LOVE the concept.  You don't have to be a parent of a tooth-losing-aged child to appreciate this set!  You can congratulate the little ones in your life who lose their teeth, or if you're in a job where you work with this age child, you can make cute little cards for them.  I remember my first grade teacher constantly pulling out our loose teeth and sending us home with them.  How cute would it be for a teacher like that to pre-make little cards or book marks to send home with the student's tooth?  I'm thinking of also making some little cards for my sister to give her young, dental patients when they come in for a visit :]

So....since I've been gone for the past two months, my printer ran out of ink and I have yet to replace it.  Thus, I was left to my stash of pre-printed paper for today's card.  Luckily I found some of my favorite!  I used a piece of Darling Dots...one of my go-to sets ;]  The layout is from one of Lauren's old sketches.  I stamped the cluster of stars twice, then the fairy, using VersaMagic and white embossing powder and added some seed beads. 

I stamped the label and part of the "My First Tooth" sentiment, then cut it out.  I adhered the squares and label using dimensionals to give a little added pop.  Isn't the sentiment on the inside cute?!  I love it...especially considering I'll be giving this card to someone I hold near and dear to mark a momentous occasion :] 

Just a few more days until the official release and you can scoop up these goodies for yourselves!  You don't want to miss out!  You also have to check out the awesome paper Sara made this month!  I WISH I had ink in my printer...

Okay, that's all I have for tonight.  Be sure to swing by Lauren, Tracey and Pam's blogs to check out their inspirational projects!  They're sure to please ♥

Hope to see you tomorrow night with a JUGS project...it's been too long :|  Have a fab Friday!

Color Throwdown Challenge #103

My 6.5 week class is over and I'm finally home!  I haven't even gone through all of my emails yet, and I didn't really announce that I was back, so this post is a surprise to my CTD girls!  The card I made is a surprise to LeAnne whose birthday is TODAY!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEANNE!!!!  Please swing by and leave her some birthday love ♥

I have to make this a quick post because I'm whipped.  I need SLEEP.  BUT, I will say that I don't miss Alabama at all.  That humidity is no joke!  I would walk...yes, walk...slowly...outside to get ready for physical training at 6:30, and while I was standing and waiting for everyone to show up and get started, I was dripping sweat.  YUCK.  I was a sweaty mess the entire 6.5 weeks.  I have zero desire to ever live there.  Now that I'm back home in Virginia, I have a new appreciation for the heat here.  Go figure.

On to my card.  I could not WAIT to get home and use these Killer Curves stamps!  I designed the label cut files, and Lauren designed the stamps that coordinate with them.  Pretty cool, ehh?  Lauren added the awesome silhouette flowers to the set also.  So many possibilities with this one!  Especially if you have a personal cutter and can cut the labels prior to stamping.  Gives a nice added pop.

I strayed a little from our CTD swatch.  I LOVE River Rock...so much that I used up all of my cardstock.  I also never invested in the ink (dumb, I know), so I have limited resources to swap colors.  I don't have my scrap paper labeled but I think I used Kiwi Kiss and possibly Certainly Celery...though I'm not sure.  I colored the floral image using the Kiwi Kiss stamp pad and a Real Red marker (another swap...I know).  Huffed and stamped. 

The rest is pretty obvious I think, so I'll spare you the explanation and take my butt to bed!  I missed being around, hope you all didn't completely give up on me!  Here's a final photo...closeup of the sentiment :]

If you play along with the CTD, please be sure to add a link to your project using InLinkz on the CTD blog.  Also, if you need to substitute colors like I did, feel free...just try to come close and avoid adding enough to create a rainbow!  Can't wait to see what you come up with :O)  Check out the rest of the team's projects for a healthy dose of inspiration today!

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

LeAnne

Tammy

Makiko Jones ~ July Guest Designer

***LeAnne's ColorQ team is sponsoring a blog hop in honor of her birthday.  My card is for her so I'm joining in the fun! 



Have a super, colorful Wednesday! 

Color Throwdown Challenge #94

Okay, so once again, I'm a day late and a dollar short.  BUT, I finished my card for the Color Throwdown challenge I'M hosting!  LOL  So, things aren't all bad :]  This week I chose a color palette based on an awesome comforter I found online.  Here's a snippet of the comforter:

And here's the pretty, signature CTD badge Ms. Kisa creates for us each week:

...and my sample, using the Saturday Sketch Challenge 152 (SSC152) sketch:

Chicken Girl Designs is sponsoring us this week and provided all of the digi images the team used :]  They are also offering a very generous prize package of 6 digital images - winner's choice!  So, you don't want to miss playing along this week!! 

Be sure to check out what the team came up with and also the ladies from i {heart} papers who played along (their links are listed on the CTD blog).

Bar

Broni

Danielle

LeAnne

Tammy

Laura Pryor ~ May Guest Designer

Okay...that's all for today (finally).  I won't be selecting the Featured Stamper next week, Ms. Tammy will be stepping in for me due to a 6.5 week military obligation I start on Monday :[  I most likely won't be blogging during the next month and a half either....BUT, I definitely will get back into the swing of crafting and blogging as soon as I finish!  I'm sure I'll go into withdrawls before I know it (I already am).  So...goodbye for now.  See you around again in late July.

~ Supplies ~
Stamps:  Chicken Girl Designs, Owl Graduate
Paper:  MTME, Get Graphic - Collection 2, Sensational Staples; Couture Cardstock, Sunflower and One Sheet Wonder; PTI, Spring Rain
Ink: Stampin' Up!, Tangerine Tango; Copics
Accessories:  MTME, Pretty Pieces Steno Note Cut File; Martha Stewart, Craft Seam Binding; Stampin' Up! Hodgepodge Hardware

Color Throwdown Challenge #93

I'm back...albeit about nine hours late :|  with my Color Throwdown card for today's challenge!  Danielle selected such a pretty palette, there were lots of possibilities:

I chose to work with the My Time Made Easy Sensational Stems set.  It has the CUTEST lady bug!  I should mention you can also use the "wings" as the outer tulip leaves on the flowers...they're a perfect fit :]  If you look closely you will also see that I used the MTME Puckered Up Patterns set (the two panels beneath the circle).  I used the Paper Pattern Pieces set to create my striped panel at the bottom.  Isn't it pretty?  I should have made that into patterned paper!!  My sentiment is from the MTME Just For You set :O)

The Melon Mambo cs is from SU!, the pink is PTI, and the blue and white are from Couture Cardstock.

My layout is courtesy of Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (MTSC74). 

Okay, that's my quick, LATE post!  I won't be posting for nearly 6 1/2 weeks starting on June 1st...I'll be attending a very intense school.  BUT, I WILL be back at the end of July...hopefully with TONS of mojo to release in my craft room :O)

In the meantime, how about playing along with the CTD this week?  You don't have to use these exact colors, just come close :]  Be sure to link your project over at the CTD using InLinkz, and use keyword CTD93 in any online galleries. Don't forget to stop by the rest of the teams' blogs and give them some love for their inspirational projects :]

Bar

Broni

Danielle

LeAnne

Tammy

Laura Pryor ~ May Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great remainder of the week and a super weekend ♥

Color Throwdown Challenge #92

Hi all!  Today is the day we throwdown color over at CTD!  Bar is our hostess with the mostess and she chose an amazing palette!!  Check it out:

So many possibilities with this one, don't you think?!  I chose to use my Love Birds stamp set from WPlus9 Design since I've had it for months and haven't created a worthy project with it yet :]  That awesome patterned paper is my Get Graphic Collection 1 from MTME.  I scaled it to 5x7" before printing.  I love having patterns on hand that can go either way - girly, neutral, boyish, etc.  This is the perfect paper for that!  There are 13 standard colors in the two collections that coordinate beautifully with other color collections in the store. 

My layout is courtesy of the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC68). 

Okay, I'm whipped!  It's past my bedtime so I'm going to direct you to the CTD to read the rules (right sidebar) and to check out the team's projects!  We sure hope you'll play along with us this week!  If you do, please upload your card using InLinkz on the CTD blog.

Bar
Broni
Danielle
LeAnne
Tammy
Laura Pryor ~ May Guest Designer

Color Throwdown Challenge #91

Hi all!  It's time for another awesome Color Throwdown challenge!!  Today, Broni is your hostess with a beautiful, vibrant color palette!  Check it out:

This palette seriously just spoke to me!  The coolest thing about it is that I have a few sheets of digital, Pretty Printables patterned paper with these colors!!  I chose to use my MTME Fun Flowers Pretty Printables paper in turquoise and my MTME Darling Dots paper in Fallen Leaf (which printed the exact same color as Kiwi Kiss--woohoo!!). 

You may notice I scaled the patterns on both sheets.  It was pretty simple.  I printed the first pattern as a 5x7" "photo" on an 8.5x11" sheet.  I turned it around and printed the other pattern scaled to 5x7".  So, I ended up with both patterns on one piece of paper.  Cool, eh?  You can do the same, you just have to navigate your photo editing program to determine what settings to use.  There are so many programs out there, I couldn't possibly list them all here - sorry :[

The sentiment reads, "You make me a better person".  It's from Lauren Meader's MTME Sensational Sentiments set.  Isn't the font, fun?!  I love it!!  I cut the butterflies with my Cricut Expression using the MTME Flutters and Flowers cut file.  I scaled the butterflies by 0.10" starting with the largest (0.85") butterfly.  The red, layered butterflies are 0.2" smaller than their larger, white base :]

My layout is courtesy of Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (MTSC72).  Isn't it the cutest?!  I couldn't resist.

Okay, that's all I have for you today, but the CTD ladies have plenty of additional eye candy using this pretty palette, so be sure to swing by their blogs to check out the goodies :O)

Bar

Broni

Danielle

LeAnne

Tammy

Laura Pryor ~ May Guest Designer

We would love for you to play along as well!  Rules are simple, just add a direct link to your project using InLinkz over at the CTD blog and use keyword CTD91 in any online galleries.  Remember you don't have to use the exact colors listed, just come as close as possible and avoid turning your palette into a rainbow :]

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you are having a wonderful week!! 

Birthday Blog Hop!!

Today the My Time Made Easy girls decided to surprise Lauren and Stephanie with a birthday blog hop!  I'm SOOOO late joining in, and I'll explain below, but I had to get this posted TODAY :]

Lauren's birthday is tomorrow and she loves purple, so I came up with this card for her:

The top and bottom panels were stamped with her new set, Puckered Up Patterns - doesn't that pattern look like a pickett fence?!  AND you can easily line up the stamp to repeat the pattern!  LOVE this one...you'll even see it in the background of one of my new Pretty Printables sheets from the Sugar and Spice collection.  The paper flower was literally made with the following:  12 heart shapes, 6 daisies (3 medium, 3 small), and 2 snowflakes (SCAL offers these for FREE).  The leaves are from the Cricut Storybook cartridge...I liked the open look of them so I gave them a try :]    Isn't it perty?!  The sentiment is from Lauren's new Just For You set!  My layout is from the JUGS31 sketch this weekend :]  ♥♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN ♥♥

Stephanie's birthday is Wednesday.  She has such a clean, pretty style...and always incorporates BEAUTIFUL stitching on her projects.  I didn't add stitching to her card, but I did pull together some gorgeous colors and images for her :]  Here's my card for Stephanie:

I LOVE Lauren's new Sensational Stems GO-TO set!!  I can think of hundreds of ideas for this one :]  I also used a sentiment for the versatile, Just For You set.  Sweet, huh?  I used one of my new Pretty Printables sheets from the $1.50 Basic Blooms set!!  Talk about affordable! :o}  I used the Sweet Sunday (SSSC67) sketch for my layout on this card.  ♥♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEPHANIE ♥♥

So, yes, I'm almost an entire day late and definitely a dollar short, but hopefully we generate tons of love for our birthday girls!!  Please swing by both Lauren and Stephanie's blogs and wish them a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Don't forget to hop over to the rest of the team's blogs and check out their gorgeous cards as well :]

Katie Shawger Cotton

Tracey Cuccia

Geny Cassady

Dawn Easton

Pam Imholz

Silke Ledlow

Mona Pendleton

Thanks for stopping by (and not giving up on me :)  I'm definitely pulling things together at my new place and getting organized, so I hope to be more dedicated to my stamping and paper-making. 

Yesterday was my daughter's Sweet Sixteen birthday!!  It's so hard to believe she's 16!  My sweet little baby girl ♥  Her birthday wish was to invite all of her friends to TGI Fridays for dinner, followed by a sleepover at our new house. SO, back to why I'm almost a day late.  I spent all week finishing up the paper for the release (which I was WAY behind on this month) and then all day yesterday organizing my family room that had turned into my storage area downstairs.  This is where the girls were planning to sleep, so I HAD to get it done.  She invited twenty girls to dinner and the sleepover - UGH!  LOL  Seriously, though, it went well and we had fun!  Tia said it was perfect, so I did something right :]  In short, that's what put me behind this week...and how I missed the deadline to post the blog hop cards :[ 

Okay, I'm off to do some post-party clean up :]  Hope your weekend went well and was completely relaxing!  Have a great week ahead ♥