Aloha

Game #84 is up at AAA Clean & Simple Card Challenge, the theme is Watercolor.

Uniko is sponsoring the challenge. Challenge winner will receive their choice of an in-stock stamp set.

Michelle Bala of My Passion For Crafting is Guest Designer. Michelle's work is delightful. You really should treat yourself to a stroll through her gorgeous blog.

Here is my take (using Uniko Paradise and Paradise Leaves stamps):

I inked up this wonderful Toucan with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink and colored it with Zigs. I used my MISTI to make sure I got full coverage with the ink. At first I thought those lighter spots were not getting the ink so I stamped it many times. Suddenly it dawned on me that those spots are supposed to be there! I painted them with a little dark gray and I love the effect. I wanted my bird to be perched  on something, so I dug out the wonderful Memory Box branch, and added some leaves and a sentiment. I think tropical is a good way to go in February.

Please head on over to the AAA Challenge Blog and see when the Design Team has created for your inspiration, take out your water coloring supplies and play! Remember to keep it Clean & Simple!

I'm playing at:

Use Your Favorite Tool - It's MISTI, hands down!

You Can Fly

It's time for a new challenge over at the Time Out Challenge Blog. The theme this time around is Home Sweet Home: a challenge in which we take our inspiration from home decor. Here it is:

The challenge is sponsored by STAMPlorations.

See details on the Time Out Challenge Blog.

Andrea of KandA Creative Moments is Guest Designer. Treat yourself to a stroll through her blog. You will be glad you did.

Here is my take using STAMPlorations Trendy Birds 2 stamp set:

I focused on the birds, banners and clouds. It's hard to see in this photo, but the card base is embossed with the Taylored Expressions Clouds Impression Plate. I painted with Zigs directly onto the bird stamp, sprayed it with water, stamped it on watercolor paper and added a drop of Nuvo Ebony Black for an eye. I die cut the watercolor panel with Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banners, added the sentiment and leafy ribbon, and popped it up on the cloud background.

Please head over to the Time Out Challenge Blog to see what the Design Team has created to ignite your creative flame. What inspires you in the photo? I can't wait to find out.

I'm playing at:

Addicted to Stamps And More #229 - Clean & Simple

Stamplorations CAS Card Challenge (without the twist)

Thanks for stopping in!

With All My Heart

This Valentine was very much influenced by THIS card created by my friend and Time Out Challenges Design Teammate, Jill Vickers. I just loved the foil hearts on her card, and so I immediately bought some foil card stock so I could do the same. I sprayed the top panel with Tim Holtz Brushed Pewter Distress Designer Mica Spray and then inlaid the wonderful foil hearts which are cut from CASual Fridays Heart Board Fri-Dies. The arrows are cut from the same die set, and stamped and silver embossed with sentiments from CASual Fridays Cupid's Arrow. 

I'm playing at:

CASology  Week 236: Romance

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes With Dies

Just Us Girls #380 - Hearts

I Treasure You

It's Valentine Time. I had lots of time in my craft room over the last 5 days or so which is unusual, so I went to town making several Valentines and actually MAILING them! 

On this card, the gold embossed heart is from Winnie & Walter's "True", colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and fussy cut. The top panel is sprayed with Heidi Swapp's Color Shine Iridescent Spritz. I stamped the sentiment, distressed the edged and popped up the heart. I just love the sentiment.

I'm playing at:

W&W Third Birthday Bash - Three Challenge With Shay

I used three words

Cards In Envy - Be My Valentine

Creative With Stamps - Valentine

Addicted To Stamps And More - Holiday

Thank you for stopping by today.

Pizza My Heart

I made this one for one of my twin boys who loves pepperoni pizza. Even though he is a 17 year old, over 6 feet tall guy, he still loves a hand made card from me. I love that. All stamps & dies are from Lawn Fawn. Images are colored with Copic Markers.

I'm playing at:

Marker Pop #114 - Be My Valentine

Cards In Envy - Be My Valentine

Creative With Stamps #11 - Valentine

Thanks for your visit!

Happy 6th Birthday!

I made this for my great nephew's birthday. He loves to don his super cape, and so this wonderful Paper Smooches Super set was the perfect place to start. All stamps and dies are from Paper Smooches. Coloring is done with Copics.

I'm playing at:

The Male Room Challenge #53 - Numbers

Seize The Birthday - Anything Goes

Love You Always

Game #83 at AAA Cards CAS Challenge Blog has begun, and Love is in the air, The theme is LOVE, but there is an extra option for this challenge. In addition to the love theme you might like to shape up your card. It could be long and thin, a rounded square, circular, heart-shaped or any other shape you can imagine, just make sure to keep it LOVE themed and CAS.

Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring the challenge, and offers a $15.00 Gift Certificate to the Happy Little Stampers Store.

Guest Designer

Sharon - frommycraftdesk.blogspot.co.uk/

Treat yourself to a stroll through her blog. She has a unique and wonderful style that is sure to inspire you!

This is my take on the challenge:

I was on Pinterest looking for some ideas for shaping my card, I ran across THIS card by Michele Kovac and my wheels started turning. For my card, I went with the same shape as Michele's, but with a CAS design using SSS Love stamp set and dies. "Love" was cut from a water colored scrap in my bits box. I used Dreamweaver Metallic Gold Embossing Paste with SSS Falling hearts Stencil to embellish. The scalloped edging was done with MFT's Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges. 

Please head on over to the AAA Challenge Blog and see what the designers have created to inspire. Create a love-themed project of your own and share it in the AAA Challenge #83 gallery. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

I'm also playing along with the following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - The Color Of Love

Creative With Stamps #11 - Valentine

Paper Players #330 - Valentine

A Holly Jolly Christmas

It's time for a new Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge. The theme for February is Anything Goes With An Optional Twist Of Holly. 

Challenge winner will receive a $15.00 discount at the Happy Little Stampers Store.

Here is my take:

I brushed various shades of green watercolor onto a piece of watercolor paper. I die cut 8 holly shapes using Paper Smooches Warm Hearts Icons, and stamped them with the holly image from Paper Smooches Warm Hearts stamp set. I added the holly berries using Gloss Red Nuvo Drops, then arranged and popped up the holly die cuts. I added sponging with red ink on the edges, and added twine to the top. The sentiment is from Happy Little Stampers Christmas Joy stamp set.

Playing the HLS Christmas Challenge every month helps you to get a good handle on next year's Christmas cards, plus helps you to remember and use all of those Christmas goodies you added to your stash over time.  Head on over the the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration, get your Holly Jolly on, link up your creation, and play.

Stand Out!

CASology Week #234 - Youth

As soon as I saw this week's CASology cue, I knew what I was going to do! I dug into my stash and pulled out this fantastic image and sentiment called Teenage Kicks from a UK company called Visible Image. I stamped it, masked it, sprayed it, and added the sentiment. Voila! I love the edginess of it, and the strong statement that it makes.

A Friend

Time for a new Challenge at Time Out. Challenge #76 is Inspired By Words: 'Friends are connected heart to heart, distance and time can't break them apart'

Our sponsor for this challenge is CASual Fridays Stamps. Challenge winner will receive a $25 gift voucher to the CAS-ual Fridays store.

Jane is our Guest Designer for both the first, and the reminder post for this challenge. Take a stroll through Jane's blog, Purplejet Loves Crafts, and you are sure to be inspired!

Here is my take:

I LOVE this CAS-ual Fridays set called "Big Treble". I thought this beautiful sentiment was perfect for the inspiration. The entwined paper-pieced G clefs represent the connected hearts of friends.

Please head over to the Time Out Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration, see where it takes you, and link your creation to the gallery. I can't wait to see how the words inspire.

I am linking up to the following challenges: 

CFC166 Music To My Ears

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - The Color Of Love

Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC145 Poppy Palate

Darnell Krauss's NBUS Challenge #10

My CAS-ual Fridays Stamp Set and this Heidi Swapp peachy spray have never been used. Such a fun challenge that results in digging deep into your stash for schtuff you have not used, We all have schtuff. Lots of it! I love these challenges!! Thanks Darnell!