Dotty Spotty Challenge

One of my dearest friend's Heather came by on Saturday and we took out my new stamps to create some cards. We both decided to create a card for the Splendid Stamping with TGF challenge called Dotty Spotty. The theme was polka dots and they wanted to see them somewhere on your card creation.



Here is what Heather created:



And here is my card:



We had a blast! What do you think of our cards??

Strawberry Festival - June 26th through 28th

If you love strawberries – you’ll LOVE Long Grove’s annual tribute to this tasty treat! Strawberry Fest is the granddaddy of Long Grove’s signature festivals, drawing thousands of music-loving, food-loving, and fun-loving visitors to the historic business district for the three-day event. It is considered one of the premier outdoor festivals in the Chicagoland area!
Free Festival Shuttle to two remote parking sites on Saturday and Sunday. Geimer Greenhouses, (2 miles south) 2727 Route 53 just north of Lake Cook Rd., or Apachi Day Camp, (2 miles north) just north of Route 22 on Old McHenry Rd. Continuous shuttle service from 11 am to 6 pm.

The pleasures of summer are celebrated with “berry” wonderful strawberry-inspired treats. Strawberry lovers of all ages flock to Long Grove’s renown fest to enjoy chocolate covered strawberries, fruit smoothies, and other strawberry drinks, ice creams, strawberry donuts, baked goods and, of course, the farm-fresh berries themselves. There is free live entertainment all three days at venues all over town and most of Long Grove’s many shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants offer variations of strawberry-themed foods, drinks, and merchandise.
Fun for All Ages Strawberry Fest features plenty of activities and fun for children, including a variety of kiddie rides, face painting and outdoor activities and tents full of family and education-oriented products.

Shop ‘Till You Drop Visitors to Long Grove will also love the dozens of trendy shops, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants in a beautiful old-world setting of historic buildings, cobblestone walks, colorful gardens, and the landmark covered bridge.

Long Grove is located in Chicago’s northern suburbs, near Routes 53 and 83, north of Lake-Cook Rd. For more information, directions, and our line-up of musical talent, phone the Visitor’s Information Center at (847) 634-0888

CPS121 Challenge

This week the Card Positioning Systems challenge designs are sponsored by My Sentiments Exactly.

My stamps from My Sentiments Exactly are on there way, so I had to use a different stamp company for this challenge. I chose to use this adorable C.C. Designs Sugarplums Bathing Beauty Emma Stamp.

I think this card turned out really cute. I might give it to my niece to welcome her back from her Florida vacation.

Sketch Saturday #56 Challenge

This week at Sketch Saturday was to follow sketch number 56.

After looking at the sketch and having completed about 50 birthday cards, I decided I wanted to do a few patriotic/4th of July type cards. So out came the stamps, stars, and papers in red, white, & blue.

Isn't she adorable?! I was even able to add some angel dust glitter to give her wings some sparkle. So, how did I do?

Friday Sketchers #57

This week at Friday Sketchers challenge number 57 was to create a card using this fabulous sketch.

I enjoyed breaking in my new Butterfly Anya stamp from The Greeting Farm. I love this line and will definitely be getting a few more Anya stamps soon.

Isn't she adorable?

Color Inspiration

This week over at the Kwerner Design blog was a color inspiration challenge to use basic gray, rust, mustard, and vanilla/cream.

These colors are outside my norm as I usually go for the reds, pinks, lavendars, and sage family of colors. However, the colors peaked my interest and I thought I would give it a shot.

I think it turned out pretty good. How about you?

Colour Create Challenge #20

This week at the Colour Create Challenge blog they had a color challenge to use any three of the following colors: strawberry (red), raspberry (pink), kiwi (green), tangerine (orange), and blackberry (black).

Well, I decided I was going to use all the colors on my card using the very cute Flower Girl Anya stamp from The Greeting Farm stamps. I normally wouldn't combine all these colors, but I happen to have all of them on my pattern paper. Therefore little Anya's dress is a little 60's or 70's retro, but little girls like to dress that way sometimes.

So, what do you think of my version of the challenge?

The Fresh Batch Challenge SASSC20

The instant I saw this week's challenge at The Fresh Batch I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Unfortunately, I just ordered my stamps from The Greeting Farm and didn't think I could get the stamps in time to do the challenge. So I pushed the challenge to the side and contemplated what I wanted to use for the challenge. Nothing came to mind, so I thought I would have to pass this week. Well, today the doorbell rang and it was my postal carrier with a package that couldn't fit into my mailbox. I was jumping for joy when I say the label was from The Greeting Farm. Can we say super fast service! So low and behold, I give you my challenge card this week with Mermaid Anya. Isn't she just adorable?

What do you think of my card?

Raspberry Suite Challenge #10

When I saw this week's Raspberry Suite Challenge colors, I knew I had to do this challenge. I love the melon/berry, brown, and cream combination and have used it a few times on my scrapbook layouts.

My card didn't exactly turn out the way I had hoped, but I still think it turned out okay. I don't like how the watercolor pencils are not as vibrant as I had wished for the butterfly. I am still waiting for my Copic pens to come and for now have to make do with what I have.

How do you like my card?

Card Sketch Challenge #100

This week's challenge at Sketches by Tamara was to take the sketch and create a card.

I like how everything turned out on my card except for the flower stem. I didn't have the right shade of green and tried a combo of colored pencils. I can't wait for my Copic pens to arrive!

Tell me what you think!

Make a Wish Foundation

I was so touched by the following that I had to post it to my blog in support of the Make a Wish Foundation and to honor Ethan.




On August 5, 2004, Ethan Weiman was welcomed into this world, and into the loving arms of his parents, Dave and Alicia Weiman.

On June 12, 2009 Ethan's little life left those same loving arms, as he was welcomed into the loving arms of God in Heaven. In his mother's words " Heaven gained the greatest little boy ever".

Ethan was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in July of 2007. He was a brave, and tough little cowboy! Ethan loved Knock Knock jokes, balloons, and of course, being the true cowboy that he was - horses! His younger sister, Ava just adored her big, brave brother.

The Pink Cat Studio designed the Weiman Wranglers digital stamps to honor the life of Ethan Weiman and raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The Cowboy Ethan and Cowgirl Ava digital stamps can be purchased separately for $4.00 each or combined for $6.00.

Please visit http://www.pinkcatstudio.com/Stamps/WeimanWranglers/WeimanWranglers.htm to purchase these digital stamps and help the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Do you want to win some free PCS rubber stamps?Lauren Meader, Vicki Garrett and Heather Schlatter are all generously offering the chance to win some moola to buy PCS stamps. Lauren's is a card making challenge using the new digi stamps and Vicki's and Heather's involve helping to spread the word about our fundraiser. Thank you so much ladies for your generosity! Please visit Lauren's, Vicki's and Heather's blogs to read about how you can win.

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #5

Over at the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge blog, they are having a sketch challenge. The challenge is to make a card using the following sketch:



I was getting tired of making birthday cards and cards with butterflies that I decided to open up my new Independence Day stamps from Stampin' Up and created this card.

I feel soooo patriotic!

Midnight Madness Challenge #6

Over at Priscilla's Style, they are having another Midnight Madness Challenge. Challenge number six is to make a card using this great sketch:

I found some leftover scraps from a layout I completed in my scrapbook album and instantly knew it would go great with this sketch. I must be on a bug kick because most of my cards lately have had butterflies or fireflies.

If you get a chance, hop on over to Priscilla's blog as a new challenge is going to be posted in the next day or so.

Tea Bag Holder

The Tuesday challenge at Project Tuesday was to follow a tutorial on tea bag holders and to create one. Well, being a big chocolate fan I decided to make a chocolate holder instead using my Stampin' Up! "Oh so sweet" set.

I think it turned out pretty darn cute for my first time making one of these holders. What do you think?

Spoon Full Challenge #56

This week at A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge , we were to take the following sketch and create a card.


I didn't know instantly what image I was going to use, but knew exactly the color combo that I wanted to try. Eventually everything fell into place and I created the card "inspire".

What do you think?

Dawny's Sketch #17 - Papertake Weekly

This week's challenge at Papertake Weekly was to use the following sketch and make a card, layout, altered art, ATC, or etc.

While I love the sketch, I struggled this week trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Finally I decided on a birthday card using a digi cupcake stamp. The cupcake frosting is Shimmerz ink and went it hits the light just right it glimmers and shimmers.

I hope you enjoy!

Mojo Monday Sketch #91

The challenge for this week's Mojo Monday was to use the following sketch to create a card:

I have to say that this probably was one of my favorite challenges. As soon as I saw the sketch I knew what I was going to do.

What do you think?

The Next Level Challenge - Sketch 1

The Next Level Challenge for the week was to create a card using the following image:


This is what I came up with. Unfortunately we are having another cloudy day here in the Midwest so you cannot see the sparkle beads in the center of the flowers.




What do you think?

Challenge 44 - Father's Day

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenges the challenge was to create something for Father's Day that was more than a card. Here is a picture of a trail mix jar I made for my dad with some close-ups. The cover slips off so that the jar can be washed and refilled with more trail mix.

And this is the card I made earlier in the week for him.

Laura's Sketch 28

This week's challenge at 2 Sketches 4 You was to take Laura's sketch and create a card. Here's is Laura's sketch :

And this is the card I create to give to a dear friend that I cherish deeply:

I really liked using the color combination of melon, maize, and pure white. Let me know what you think.

Color Throwdown #47

This week at Color Throwdown, the challenge was to create a card using the following color combination:

This had to be one of the hardest challenges for me as I usually don't use such a bold color combination on my cards. I prefer more muted colors, but I still think this card came out pretty cute.

What do you think?

Friday Sketchers # 56

This week's challenge at Friday Sketchers was to create a card using the following sketch:

Using my new humming bird stamp from Inkadoo and flower stamp from Cloud9, I came up with this cute card.

This is the best picture I could get of the card. We are still experiencing a lot of rain and cloudy days in the Midwest. Unfortunately it means that my photos come out dark or with shadows. For this card, you can't really see the stickles and sparkle on the flower or humming bird.

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #55

Sketch Saturday posted sketch #55 and I knew that I had to try it out with the new Technique Tuesday stamps that I purchased.

Here is my little ballernia card for the little ballernia in my life:

Creativity Bug's Shutter Card - Father's Day Card

What started out as a regular shutter card (see earlier post of card Sandy made for teacher) turned into a new kind of trifold shutter card due to a few scoring and cutting errors. Here is the finished product and directions on how to make one of your own.

Supplies:
1 sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock
2 or more sheets of coordinating cardstock or pattern paper (8 ½ x 11 or 12 x 12)
Scor-Pal
Cutting Blade/Exacto Knife
Adhesive
Stamps/Inks, Die Cuts
Ruler

Diagram:
Purple lines are scored lines
Red doted lines are cut lines

Instructions:
· Cut 1 sheet of 12 x 12 card (base of card) to 5 ½ x 12
· Using your Scor-Pal, score at 4”, 6”, 8” and 10”
· Measure 1 ½ from top and with pencil draw a line from the fold of “B” to the fold of “E”
· Measure 1 ½ from bottom and with pencil draw a line from the fold of “B” to the fold of “E”
· Using your cutting blade or exacto knife and ruler cut the pencil lines you just drew
· Mountain and valley fold per picture below
· Decorate

Panel Dimensions:
A = 5 ½ x 4 , A inside = 5 ¼ x 3 ¾
B & E = 5 ½ x 2 , B & E inside = 5 ¼ x 1 ¾
C & D top = 1 ½ x 2 , C & D top inside = 1 ¼ x 1 ¾
C & D middle = 2 ½ x 2 , C & D middle inside = 2 ¼ x 1 ¾
C & D bottom = 1 ½ x 2 , C & D bottom inside = 1 ¼ x 1 ¾