Pinspired Challenges #6

Good morning!  Today, I'm bringing another Pinspired Challenge to you, and it's a pretty one! :)

This challenge is sponsored by Paper Sweeties, and Debbie has been kind enough to offer a $25 gift certificate to her store!

So let's get to it!  Here is the inspiration Pin for this challenge: 

And, here's my project:

I really loved the gold and the nudes in the card, but I just kept thinking about the glitter, and using it to make a wedding card.  So, I cut the quatrefoil pattern using my Cameo and double sided adhesive sheets, and then sprinkled loose glitter on top.  Then, I used Lawn Fawn's Bannerific and Sophie's sentiments, and finished off with some Stickles on the hearts.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the cardstock has lots of shimmer.  I got it at a local stationary shop and it's really nice.  Thanks for visiting; make sure you check out the other girls' blogs and I can't wait to see what you create for the challenge!

Chalkboard Video

I'm so excited to share my our first video tutorial!  My dear sweet hubby has been so excited to start shooting crafty videos, and we finally had the time and the equipment this weekend to try it out. Some disclaimers:  this is our first run, so it's long, and it's kinda wonky.  But that's how we do things here :) At one point during filming, I was trying so hard to keep my head out of the shot, that I didn't line the stamp up just right and the result is a funky, psychadelic blurry-eyed image. We'll just say that we shot it in 3D :)

Anyway, for this video, I used Sweet Stamp Shop's new release, Chalkboard Sign.  It's perfect for creating the chalkboard effect, and I walk you through it step by step.  Check it out, and if you like what you see, subscribe here.

Sweet Stamp Shop Guest Designer

Good morning, sweet peeps!  I'm guesting over at Sweet Stamp Shop today, so head over and check out a couple of projects I made using their new releases, including a Happy Star Wars Day card (Star Wars Day is May the fourth....as in "May the Fourth be with you"!)  And, if you are interested in trying your hand at the chalkboard technique that I used on my card, stay tuned--I'm going to be shooting a video detailing how I made the card, and how you can try out the technique for yourself.  Check back with me next week for that sweet gem!  (and if you want, you can follow my blog so you'll be sure not to miss it!)

Thanks, Nicole for giving me another opportunity to work with your super sweet stamps!

Sweet Stamp Shop New Release, Day 2

Good Morning!   So excited that I get to share another project with you for the second day of Sweet Stamp Shop's March release!

I'm one of the many scrappers trying my hand at the divided photo album project this year--although I'm not keeping up with it on a weekly basis, rather just using it as another way to document our life.  (Rebel alert! I do what I want! :) )

So, the Calendar stamp set is perfect for the new divided album sleeves--it's sized perfectly, and is kind of a blank slate for embellishing.  Here's one of my pages (and there will be more to show you on my guest design day, so follow me if you are interested in seeing more!)

So, I used the Calendar stamp set to mark the day the pics took place, and to put the "May" on the little index tab on the middle right, but I also love how the arrow and hearts from the Chalkboard set work SO WELL here.  I used them for some extra interest in the calendar cut out, and also to mark Galveston on the misted map of Texas. (the Misted Map of Texas.....that sounds like a song title.) I even got to use one of the little dot stamps from Kiss Me.  I love this format of scrapping, and I will be using Calendar a lot more in this album, for sure.  Now, head on over to the Sweet Stamp Shop blog to check out the other fantastic inspiration, and then when you're done, head over to the shop--the new sets go on sale today!! Thanks for joining me, I'll be bringing you more goodness with these sets soon!

Sweet Stamp Shop New Release

Good morning!!  I have the honor of showing you a couple of little projects featuring Sweet Stamp Shop's new set, Chalkboard sign!  If you are looking for the new Pinspired Challenge post, just scroll down a bit.  (after checking this one out, of course. ;))   I truly love this set and had SO. MUCH. FUN. creating a chalkboard effect with these stamps.  Really.  First up, I used my Cameo to cut out this pillow box and matching tag, then stamped it up, heat embossed it, and distressed it with ink, pencils and pens, and added my favorite ribbon of all time--May Arts Chevron Twill.  I also stamped the arrow image from the set in Versamark on some lime green cardstock for an extra punch of color.  How fun would this be filled with chocolates?

Next, I kept with the color theme, and added fun patterned paper,and inked up, doodled, distressed and embossed some black cardstock.  Seriously.  I had a stinkin' blast making this.  

Be sure to head on over to Sweet Stamp Shop's blog to check out the other projects that the designers made for this release.  You will totally be blown away by their talent and unique takes on this set.  Then stop by the Sweet Stamp Shop and pick up this set.  I know I'll be creating with it later this afternoon!

Pinspired Challenges #5

Good morning!!  I am so very excited to introduce another fabulous Pinspired Challenge.  You guys are going to *love* this pin, so many jumping off points for your projects!!  But first, I'd like to introduce our sponsor, It's Always Fabulous--an Etsy shop stocked to the brim with high end goodies from our favorite brands.  Sue, owner of It's Always Fabulous has graciously offered a $15 gift code to her store.  I love that she carries all sorts of delicious May Arts ribbon--I think my favorite is the yummy chevron twill---FABULOUS!

There's hexagons, bright colors, repeated patterns, quilting.  Isn't it crazy awesome?!  Here's what I came up with:

I had been dying to use my new Mama Elephant background stamps and the I Heart Art set from Paper Smooches, AND my new Hero Arts inks.  I think it came out pretty cool!  While you're making the rounds checking out the DTs blogs, stop by Lalo's blog and see what she created.  She and I are on the same crafty wavelength lately and we *totally* had a chuckle when we saw what each other created for this challenge.  What can I say? She's got excellent taste.  ;)

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Welcome Baby Lily!!!

This morning we are having a blog hop in honor the sweet, talented, and totally fabulous Laurel Beard.  (You probably arrived here via Jen Shurkus.) If you are into paper-crafting, you are probably familiar with Laurel and her fun, colorful style.  I've had the pleasure of designing with Laurel over at Pinspired Challenges, and she is a genuinely sweet person, and a pleasure to "work" with.

Laurel recently gave birth to a precious little baby girl, and we are celebrating little Lily's homecoming!

I know what it's like to bring a little baby girl home after having a house of boys, so I really wanted to celebrate Lily with a super-girly card so Laurel could soak up all of the fun pinks and purples!  I used several sets of Lawn Fawn stamps (sigh--LOVE Lawn Fawn), and popped up some of the clouds and the banner with foam adhesive.  I really had to restrain myself from making it look like a glitter and rhinestone factory exploded on it--girly cards are so much fun to make!!

Welcome home, Lily and Laurel--many blessings to you and your family!!!

Next stop on the hop is the super-amazing-talented Joe Shien Shien!!

Sweet Stamp Shop Guest Designer

Oh, goodness I am so happy to be guest designing with Sweet Stamp Shop again.  I've had the great pleasure of working with Nicole quite a bit recently, and seriously---she is just as *sweet* as her stamps!!
You might remember these projects that I featured last month from Sweet's February release, but in case you missed them, here's a little peek: (and you can check out my Oct. Guest spot here)

Here are also some other projects I have been working on:

As you can see from the above pictures, Baby Love is perfect for baby cards, gift wrap and mini albums.  But, it also has some super cute sentiments, buttons, and a super awesomesauce rainbow that can be used to create non-babylike craftiness as well!

 Ok, so for this card, I used Chemistry for the beaker and the "splat".  I went out on a limb here and tried to convey the motion of the beaker falling off of the ledge and breaking....hence the "breaking news" sentiment from Baby Love.

 Next, I wanted to create a bookmark for my son, since he's in Kindergarten now and starting to read books that are too long for him to read in one sitting. (not quite ready for Harry Potter, but getting there ;))
So, I used the books from Geek Chic and colored them in to make a sweet background for his bookmark.  (and I let him pick the colors he wanted for the twine tassel)

 I just loved those sweet little buttons from Baby Love, so I tried out the rainbow stamping technique from Clean and Simple Cards 2.  I am in love with my new Hero Arts Shadow Inks!!!

This card 200% makes me feel like I'm doodling in one of my middle school notebooks and I LOVE IT.  Over the top girly and doodly? Guilty.  I couldn't help myself, I just had to layer these bright fun washis with that rainbow stamp.  I colored it in using tiny little dots of Copic because I really dig how it looks with the little dots in the stamped image.  Move over, Seurat! (Pardon my Pointillism pun)

Thanks ever so much for stopping by and checking out my creations!  If you like what you see, head on over to Pinspired Challenges and play along with our current challenge.  The winner will receive a $10 credit to the Sweet Stamp Shop, and there's still time to play along!