Happy Birthday at the 4 Crafty Chicks!

Here we are at Thursday again!  How did that happen?  The week seems to go by so quickly and now that the countdown to Christmas is on, the time seems to go by a whole lot faster.

This week's challenge at the 4 Crafty Chicks is brought to us by Leanne and she has given us a birthday theme to work with.  I don't make many birthday cards on a regular basis and my supply has been dwindling so I was glad to have the chance to make one to add to the box.  :)

I have had so much fun using Arielle's colourQ combinations over the last few weeks I thought I'd pop over and see what she had for us this week and, boy oh  boy, is it a doozy:

Are you all laughing at me again?  You know how much I *love* the wonderful Pacific Point...(insert eyeroll here).  BUT, not one to give up a good challenge, off I went in search of a sketch to inspire and found the perfect one over at Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge:

I rotated it 90 degrees and voila:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy (SU!)  Ink: Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede  Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Soft Suede  Accessories: Paper piercer, Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon, button, twine, Twizzle embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by today - if you have some time so play along with us at the 4 Crafty Chicks, we'd love to see what you create so make sure you link us up with inlinkz.  Enjoy the rest of your week!

Colour Q Meets Mercy's Tuesday Sketch

Hey everyone!  Welcome to another Tuesday - it's a lovely, sunny, fall-ish day today here in Central Alberta and I'm SO looking forward to the weekend.  First things first...I have to say THANK YOU to all the ladies over at the Colour Q for choosing me as a Colour Q Courtier for this card.  I am so excited that you loved it as much as I did!

I'm not sure how Arielle finds such great inspiration pictures but I am totally LOVING this week's Colour Q combo (even if that Cajun Craze is in there AGAIN...do you really love it *that* much, Arielle?  ;)

And Mercy's Tuesday Sketch looked like an good-and-easy one to incorporate all of those colors:

Stamps: Utopia Collection (Kaisercraft), Psalm 121 Plain Jane (Verve)  Ink: Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke  Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze  Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Always Artichoke seam binding, button, twine, paper piercer, corner rounder, Copics (G99, E08, E29, E79, YR23, YR31), Labels Five, sponge dauber

Thanks for stopping by - see you tomorrow for a new Color Dare! 

A Color Challenge at the 4 Crafty Chicks

Happy Thursday everyone!  Thanks for stopping by to see this week's installment of the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge.  This week's challenge is brought to us by Leanne and she's chosen some fabulous colors for us all to play with:

 

So, we've got Riding Hood Red, River Rock, Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, and a neutral of your choice.  When I saw these colors I immediately remembered some Christmas DSP from a couple of years ago as well as my all-time favorite, Bella Rose DSP.  I dug through my scrap box and was lucky enough to find some pieces that would work.

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch had some great layers and a button with a bow so how could I *NOT* use it?

Of course, when all was said and done, I didn't even put a button and bow where the sketch suggested...go figure!  LOL

Recipe - Stamp: Many Merry Messages  Ink: Riding Hood Red  Paper: River Rock, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, SU! DSP  Accessories:  Sewing machine, Olive satin ribbon (Michael's), Star Tag Sizzlit (Sizzix), Swiss Dots EF, Square Lattice EF, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Kassie's Brocade EF, buttons, dimensionals

I hope you will take a few minutes to join our color challenge this week - last week we had 70 entries and it was so much fun to stop and see what you all created for us.  See you soon!  Enjoy the rest of your week!

Punches and Dies at the 4 Crafty Chicks!

Welcome back, everyone!  We've got a super-easy challenge for you this week at the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge ~~ it's so easy because I'm sure there aren't many of us that don't own a punch or a die cut of some kind and that's what this week's challenge from Lori is all about: punches and/or dies.

I wasn't sure which direction my card was going to go when I first sat down but once I had Arielle's Colour Q combination to work from, the wheels in my head started turning:

I found Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #97 and got down to business:

Recipe - Stamp: Well Scripted (SU!)  Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, SU! DSP  Ink: Garden Green  Accessories: Paper piercer, Certainly Celery ribbon, button, twine, Bird Punch (SU!), Leafy Tree embossing folder (Crafts Too), Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Beaded Ovals and Ovals Nesties, Square Lattice embossing folder, dimensionals

AND... because it's the last challenge of the month, we're giving away a PRIZE to one lucky participant.  If Random.org picks you, this little goodie package will be making it's way to live at your house:

So, what are you waiting for?  Get busy creating!  And if you need a bit more inspiration, be sure to check out the other Crafty Chicks blogs - they've done some amazing things with punches and dies this week.  Have fun!

Another 3-in-One Quickie. . .

Hey again, crafty friends!

Here I am again . . . still recovering from a nasty tummy bug.  At least I have been able to eat a bit today which is a good sign, right?  I thought I'd work on a little something this morning and immediately put this week's fabulous Color Throwdown together with Mercy's Tuesday Sketch:

Recipe - Stamps: Beautiful Kindness (Verve)  Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Grey, Rich Razzleberry, SU! DSP  Ink: Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry  Accessories: Paper piercer, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Basic Grey satin ribbon, Nesties, Scallop Edge border punch, sewing machine, adhesive pearls

I also stitched the ribbon so this card qualifies for Stampin' Royalty's "Stitching" Challenge #37.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you have plans to enjoy the weekend.  I'm hoping to feel good enough to get out in the yard to start putting stuff away and get ready for, shhhhhh.... {winter}.  See you soon!

Another Tuesday. . .

. . . and another fun TCP Tuesday challenge!  This week Susan is challenging us to use any of The Cat's Pajamas stamps that you can drink with.  AND lucky for me, I have the new "Ship Happens" set that needed to see ink.  :)  As an added bonus, the penguins are super-cute!

Mercy's sketch fit my image perfectly although the image layer ended up being a bit bigger than the middle panel so it doesn't look like it goes all the way under the image panel but it really does... promise.  :)

Recipe - Stamps: Ship Happens (TCP)  Paper: Greenhouse Gala SP (SU!), Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, various DSP  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories: Nestabilities, Copics, paper piercer, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, glue pen, Whisper White organza ribbon, Baja Breeze corduroy button, pumpkin pie button, hemp twine, clear embossing powder

Don't you just love the little penguins?  I paper-pieced their hats with some DSP scraps and the tea cup with my new favorite DSP, Greenhouse Gala.  I still have to get last week's TCP challenge done - it's a very cool color combo:

OK - that's enough from me for today.  I hope you are enjoying your week and your summer - it's slowly winding down... only 3 more weeks and the kids are back to school!  WOOHOO!  I can't wait.  :) Thanks for stopping by!

Another Totally Stampalicious Release Blog Hop!!!

It's time for another NEW RELEASE from Totally Stampalicious and we are soooo EXCITED to share ANOTHER FOUR NEW BUGABOO Stamp Sets ~ Morning Margaret, Cafe Scarlette, Red Hat Stella and Sweet Birthday Kids!  If you hopped here from Laurie's blog, you are on the right track - if you didn't, you might want to start at the beginning and see ALL of the wonderful creations.  :)  The only thing that could make it even MORE FUN is to add some PRIZES to the mix!!  As usual, we will select THREE winners from THREE randomly selected DT blogs so be sure to comment on all of them to increase your chances to win!!

I decided to use the super-cute Sweet Birthday Kids for my card and combined a few challenges to create my card:

1.  Mercy's Tuesday Sketch

2. There She Goes Inspiration Challenge #63

3. TCP Tuesday #118 - Use twine on your project.
4. Practical Scrappers - Embossing somewhere on your card.  I used dry embossing for the top white panel and heat embossing on the main image.
5. Tuesday Throwdown - Show us some stitching on your project.

I LOVE the colors in the inspiration picture and knew they'd be perfect for a birthday card.  I made Mercy's sketch into a square card, added a sentiment to the bottom left corner and voila:

Recipe - Stamps: Sweet Birthday Kids (Totally Stampalicious)  Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, SU! DSP  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories: Sizzix embossing folder (Tiger Stripes), Nestabilities, sewing machine, various punches, paper piercer, ribbon, button, twine, green brad, Copics, clear embossing powder

Here's the entire Blog Hop list just in case you get lost along the way!

Totally Stampalicious

Stacy -Twinshappy

Vicki - Summerthyme Studio

Joycelyn - Stamps 'n' Coffee

Patricia - Stamping with Kokirose

Rebeccah - Stampin' For Fun

Laurie - On the Bright Side

Melissa - My Paper Obsession ------ You are HERE!

Lynnor - Just Add Glitter

Cindy - Cindy Haffner's Corner

Sue - Coffestamper SCS Gallery

Thanks for joining us on our latest Blog Hop!  Now you should head on over to Lynnor's and don't forget to comment for your chance to win some REALLY AWESOME PRIZES!!  Have FUN!

Act 31 - Sunday Curtain Call

Hello to Sunday!!!  And you all know what that means... a brand, spankin' new Curtain Call! This week's colors are ones that you wouldn't normally think of putting together but when you do, they actually work:

I paired them with Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge:

Et voila!

Recipe - Stamps:  Accent Notes, Celebrating You (Verve)  Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Night of Navy, Garden Green, Almost Amethyst, SU! DP  Ink: Night of Navy  Accessories: Adhesive pearls, paper piercer, Scallop Edge Border punch, grosgrain ribbon, button, twine, Herringbone & Divine Swirls embossing folders

Make sure to stop in and visit the other Curtain Call girls:

Amy White at Devlinwhite Designs
Andrea Roose at Andrea's Scrap- und Stampel Blog
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) at Random Acts of Creativity
Julie Smith at Paper and Such
Marisa Ritzen at Rosemary Reflections
Shelley Germann at Stampin' Garden
Sue Kohler at My Inner Reflection
Stacey Schafer at Stacey's Stamping Stage

 

We'd love to see what you can come up with so if you want to play with us, make sure to go back to Stacey's blog and use Mr. Linky so we can "ooooo and ahhhhhh"... 

Thanks for stopping by - enjoy your Sunday!

A Not-So-Quick Quickie

Is it Friday yet?  Ugh... I don't know what the heck is my problem but it feels like the week should be over by now.  Maybe it's because of the time change on Sunday or maybe it's because I seem to have caught the dreaded "spring cold" but whatever it is, I'm already exhausted!  :)

I started this card this morning after I took "the boy" to school but didn't finish it until tonight.  I spent about 45 minutes on it this morning then had to leave it on the table for the rest of the day as I was out and about.  First, my friend, Diana, brought her two girls and nephew over to take a peek at the 50 new chicks we got last week.  After they left, I went over to my partner-in-crime's house to help her prep for this weekend's monthly Stamp Club get-together.  Then, I went back to the school to pick up the boys, dropped them off at home and then Lori and I went to the gym.  I spent half an hour on the treadmill, did 2.75 miles and then we did some leg work.  THEN we went to get a few groceries, picked up her daughter and two other kids from swimming and came home.  (After writing and reading what I did today, it's no wonder I'm pooped!  LOL)

Anyhoo, enough of the "woe is me".  :)  You came to see what I accomplished, right?  Well, I combined Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge and Megan's Picture Perfect Creations Color Challenge for this card (don't forget about Megan's search for seven crafty peeps to join her on her design team - the deadline has been changed to Sunday, April 4!  Check it out!)

I don't have any Lavender Lace (one of the very few I don't keep on hand...) so I substituted Pale Plum.  I realize that the LL is *much* brighter than the PP, but you've gotta use what you've got, right?  I knew I didn't have much DP in either of those colors so this card ended up being more difficult than anticipated.

**All supplies are from Stampin' Up except for the Divine Swirl embossing folder and the sentiment stamp (from Verve's Black Tie Birdies).**

It really wasn't that *hard* to make, but I struggled with these colors - I guess that's why it's called a challenge, right?  Hopefully I will be able to spend the WHOLE day tomorrow crafting since Josh will be home with me and I won't have to go ANYWHERE!  WOOHOO!  Maybe I'll make some bread, maybe some mini banana bread loaves... maybe this yummy broccoli/cauliflower casserole my family loves....   I'm getting hungry!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by - see you tomorrow!

Friday Night Fun

Hey everyone!

I'm trying to post this while chattin' over at Paperworks Co. - they are releasing some new stamps tonight and they are totally cute.  They've got the cutest robots - perfect for boys' cards.  :)

Ok - so I have had Riley's Color Dare sitting here on my desktop for a couple days now and haven't been *inspired* by them...until tonight.

I popped over to Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge and found ANOTHER square card!  I'm lovin' the square cards...

I'm still out of Tempting Turquoise cardstock so I had to use some DP instead...

I wasn't sure at first whether or not I liked this combo but I have to say it is growing on me...

Before I leave I just want to remind you of a couple things:

First - The Shabby Tea Room is launching their first challenge on Monday so be sure to stop by and check it out!  We'd love to see you there.  :)

Second - Megan over at the Picture Perfect Creations Color Challenge Blog has a design team call going on right now.  She's looking for 7 wonderfully talented ladies to join her for a 4-month term.  I've played in two of her color combo challenges and she has done a wonderful job making me think outside my box using colors I don't usually use.  Thanks Megan for giving us all a chance to be a part of your fun!

K, that's it for me tonight.  I may have time for one more but not sure.  Enjoy your Friday night!