Happy Birthday to the 4 Crafty Chicks!

Hello everyone!  Are you all enjoying the 4 Crafty Chicks Blog Hop?  If you hopped here from Leanne's blog, you are on the right track.  I can't believe we have been doing challenges for an entire year already - where does the time go?

We've got a fun theme for you all to play with this week, "Celebrate!" and, boy-oh-boy, does that leave the door wide open for you all to play with us.  You could celebrate a birthday, a wedding, a new baby, an anniversary... the options are endless so you really have no reason to NOT play!  PLUS, there are prizes to be won - everyone loves a prize, right?

For my card, I decided to go with a birthday card - quick and easy - no specific color combo and a sketch from somewhere I can't remember... good one, hey?  I pulled out one of my Pure Innocence girlies and got to work:

Each Chick has graciously donated a prize to be given to one lucky Blog Hopper who leaves a comment on the Chick’s blog. The winners will be chosen by each Chick using Random.org.   To be eligible to win Blog Hop prizes, participants must: (a) become a follower of the 4 Crafty Chicks blog; (b) leave a comment on each of the Chicks’ blogs; AND (c) leave a comment on the 4CC blog. Here's what one lucky hopper will win from me:

 So, not only is this a fun anniversary challenge, the 4 Crafty Chicks have also decided that NOW is the time to start having a monthly Guest Designer! We are so excited to be giving everyone the opportunity to join us for a month of fun challenges. This month, and during the first challenge of the month in January and May, we will be on the lookout for Guest Designers for the next three months. If you participate in this week’s “Celebrate!” challenge and would like to be considered for October, November or December’s Guest Designer positions, please put (GDT) after your name when submitting to inlinkz – please remember that you will be committing to a month of challenges (which you will receive immediately after being chosen as Guest Designer.)


So, what are you waiting for?  Get busy creating - we can't wait to see the fabulousness out there!  Off you go now to Tamie's blog - Paper Infusions and More - for the third installment on our Celebration Blog Hop!
 

Getting Sketchy with My Favorite Things

Hello again and welcome back!  It's been awhile since I've had two posts in one day so if you are looking for my 4 Crafty Chicks post, please scroll down a bit but please feel free to check this one out on your way down!

I got home from work a little earlier than usual this morning so, after I did the dishes and loaded the dishwasher and put a load of laundry in (gotta get that work done first, right?), I sat down to make a card.  I've really been enjoying Arielle's Colour Q challenge and this week's combo is no exception...soft and feminine:

When I saw the colors I immediately thought of my Pure Innocence girls.  I don't use them as often as I should so I pulled one and got to work.  I popped over to the MFT Forum at Splitcoast to find this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch:

I found a fun tutorial on how to draw grass with your Copics here and thought I'd give it a try...it turned out not-so-bad, methinks.  :)  I sponged the sky with Soft Sky ink but you can't really see it in this picture.  I love the twine for a balloon string... I got it stay put using a toothpick to apply a few dabs of Crystal Effects under the twine - a trick I got from from Verve owner and  Diva Extraordinaire, Julee.  Thanks Julee!

Thanks for stopping by - have a great Thursday!



Stamps: My Balloon (MFT)   
Ink: Soft Sky, Early Espresso, Versafine Onyx Black   
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Kraft, Early Espresso, SU! DSP   
Accessories: Sewing machine, Crumb Cake seam binding, Copics, button, filigree brad, twine

Cute & Cuddly at Sentimental Sundays

Hi everyone!  Welcome back for another fun Sentimental Sundays' challenge!  This week's challenge is a theme challenge - "Cute & Cuddly" - so interpret that how you wish and run with it.  :)  I absolutely {heart} my Pure Innocence girlies and think they are some of the cutest stamps out there so that's what I decided to use for my card. 

I went off in search of a color challenge and found this one over at Colour Q that would work PERFECTLY with my "My Umbrella" set:

This week's sponsor at Sentimental Sundays is Heart Song Designs and they have just started a weekly sketch challenge.  I had so much fun participating last week that I was THRILLED to get a sneak peek at this week's sketch and use it for my card:

Stamps: My Umbrella (MFT)  Ink: Concord Crush  Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Concord Crush, SU! DSP  Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Nesties, buttons, Bashful Blue satin ribbon, twine, paper piercer, Scallop edge border punch  Copics: Colorless blender, E00, E01, E25, E31, E33, E35, E37, E51, BG15, BG49, BV17, YG23, YG95, B000

Thanks for stopping by today!  The kids are off for Spring Break this week so I think I will be hanging out with them a lot... See you on Thursday for sure for a new 4 Crafty Chicks challenge - there's still time to enter this week's "Eyelets" challenge!

A Thursday Three-'fer!

Welcome back everyone!  If you are here looking for my 4 Crafty Chicks post, please scroll down (but feel free to peruse this post as you scroll... :)  So, I had some free time this afternoon before heading off to the gym and was itching to get inky...and what does that mean?  A new card for y'all to check out!  :)

I started out wanting to play along with Alma and the gals over at The Cat's Pajamas blog, Dancing in Pajamas, for the new TCP Tuesday challenge: "Use any stamps from The Cat's Pajamas to wish someone good luck or for St. Patrick's Day." Hmmmm... how am I going to make *that* work?  None of my TCP stamps really fit for this challenge so I had to get very *creative* with my "Got Love" set. 

Once I knew which stamps I was going to use, I went in search of a color combo and a sketch that I could use to make this little card come to life and found the perfect color combo over at Stampin' Royalty and the sketch is from the My Favorite Things forum at Splitcoast:

I wasn't able to use a sentiment from any of my TCP sets but the PERFECT one was in my 4-Leaf Clover Pure Innocence set from MFT... how special is that?  I tried to make the card a bit more St. Patrick's-y by attempting my own 4-leaf clover to cover up the flowers in his left hand but I'm not entirely thrilled with how it turned out...

Stamps: Got Love (TCP), 4-Leaf Clover (MFT)  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Sahara Sand  Paper: Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Whisper White, various SU! DSP  Accessories: Nesties, buttons, baker's twine, paper piercer, sponge dauber, clear embossing powder, Floral Fusion Sizzlit

So, there you have it!  Another fun card using a few of the amazing challenges out there in Blogland.  Thanks for stopping by today - tomorrow's FRIDAY!!!  WOOHOO!!!  Are you as excited as I am?  Hopefully I'll have some time to play tomorrow...stay tuned!  Later...

Childhood Memories at Sentimental Sundays

Welcome back for another Sentimental Sundays Challenge.  This week's challenge theme is "Childhood" - however you choose to interpret that theme - and don't forget your sentiment!

I decide to use one of my Pure Innocence girlies and the Little Paper Shop's Color Challenge for my card:

I also used Laura's sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You:

Stamp: Start Your Day With Whee (MFT)  Paper: Rose Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, SU! DSP  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Old Olive  Accessories: Copics, clear embossing powder, paper piercer, Leafy Tree embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, sponge dauber

Thanks for stopping - enjoy the rest of your day!

An Inspiration Challenge at the 4 Crafty Chicks

Welcome back, everyone!  I have an inspiration challenge for you this week at the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge.  Take a peek at this fabulous photo from Better Homes and Gardens:

Now, you can use whatever you want from the picture as your inspiration...it could be the colors, the shapes, the theme, the textures ...whatever!  Pretty much anything goes (within reason, of course!  LOL)

When I first saw this picture, I was immediately struck by the light fixture and the hanging "mobile"  and the very modern feel of this dining area.  Of course, as my card evolved, it ended up being NOTHING like I envisioned it would!  LOL  I thought the colors reminded me of So Saffron (for the rectangle on the wall), Pumpkin Pie (for the place mats on the table) and then Kraft and Espresso (for the wood).  The table looks like it could be set for a celebration of some kind so I went with a birthday card.  I found one of my Pure Innocence girlies and discovered that Taylor's Sketch would be perfect for it:

 

Recipe - Stamps: Birthday Princess (MFT)  Ink: So Saffron, Early Espresso  Paper: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Kraft, SU! DSP  Accessories: Adhesive pearls, Scallop Edge border punch, Kassie's Brocade embossing folder, paper piercer, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, staples, Nesties, Copics

Over at Crazy 4 Challenges, it is Silke's birthday this month so she's asking us to make a birthday card - how perfect!  :)

So let's see what you can create using this picture for inspiration - I know we will ALL take different things from it and that's the beauty of an inspiration challenge...  :)  Make sure you go back to the 4 Crafty Chicks blog when you are done to link us up so we can come and see how clever you are.  Have fun!

Diva Coffee Break Designs Meets The Sweet Sunday Sketch

Hello again!

It is C-O-L-D and rainy here in Central Alberta today - the perfect combination for staying inside and CRAFTING!!  I knew you'd agree...  :)  So, I combined the Diva Coffee Break Designs color challenge with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch.

At first, the colors screamed fall, but when I looked through my stamps, I didn't find anything that screamed "Use ME!" so I went in a completely different direction and made a boy-ish card:

Recipe: Stamps - Dog-Gone Cute (MFT)  Paper: Kraft, Cajun Craze, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla,
Wild Wasabi, Woodland Garden DSP  Ink: Versafine Onyx Black  Accessories: Nesties, Seeing Spots EF, Gridlock EF, clear embossing powder, twine, Copics
 

I had so much fun paper-piecing his clothes - isn't he cute?  The colors are very fall-ish so this card also qualifies for Paper Sundaes' challenge this week to use fall or Halloween colors.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope the weather is much nicer wherever you are!  Send some this way if you can.  :)  See you tomorrow!

"Old Meets New" in The Shabby Tea Room

Welcome to the last few days of August - where did the summer go?  Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here, then Halloween, and then ... CHRISTMAS!  ACK!  Are you one of those people that have started shopping already?  I haven't even THOUGHT about it yet... (and I'm not gonna either)  :)

This week's challenge in The Shabby Tea Room is "Old Meets New" ~ use something old and something new.  Easy, right?  Our sponsor this week is none other than our fearless leader, Debbie, with her Shabby Vintage Seam Binding and one lucky participant will win 12 yards of this lovely embellishment. 

Okie dokie - so for my "old" I used some Basic Grey paper that hasn't seen enough lovin' and my "new" is the wonderful buttons die I got from the Cat's Pajamas a few weeks ago.  I also used my NEW cork sheets for the buttons... yummy.

I used this week's sketch from the Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge:

Recipe - Stamps: Flower Girl (Pure Innocence, MFT), Vintage Labels (SU!)  Paper: Various textured cardstock, Daffodil Delight, Basic Grey Origins paper, Whisper White  Accessories: Paper piercer, Copics, cork sheets, Buttons die, buttons, hemp twine, vintage seam binding

Make sure you stop by and see what the rest of the Shabby Girls created for this week's challenge...

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Audrey Pettit - Audrey Pettit's Weblog

Cathy Clark - Papier Girl

Lisa Golzbein - Oh So Cute By Lisa

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

Thanks again for stopping!  Enjoy the last few days of August!

Christmas in July at The Shabby Tea Room

Christmas?  In July?  I have to admit, the day I made this card the weather was a rainy, cold and windy and it sure felt like winter was just around the corner!  If you are one of "those" people that have already started your Christmas shopping, then this week's challenge will be right up your alley.  :)  The Shabby Tea Room challenge theme is "Christmas in July" and we'd like you to make a card or project with a holiday theme.

I wanted to ink up one of my Pure Innocence girlies that I hadn't been able to use yet and found a fabulous sketch from Julee and the gals over at Mojo Monday - it fit my image perfectly!

Recipe - Stamps: Presents for You (Pure Innocence, MFT)  Paper: Soft Suede, Real Red, Whisper White, SU! DSP  Ink: Soft Suede  Accessories: Hemp twine, paper piercer, Nestabilities, Copics, square punches, adhesie rhinestones, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder

This week's sponsor in the TR is Frost it Pink and the lucky winner will receive a prize package filled with fabulous goodies so I hope you will join us!

Make sure you stop by and see what the rest of the Shabby Girls created:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Audrey Pettit - Audrey Pettit's Weblog

Cathy Clark - Papier Girl

Lisa Golzbein - Oh So Cute By Lisa

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

Have fun thinking about snow...snow...snow...  ;)  See you later!

Summer Fun the Shabby Tea Room!

Are you ready to play with us again in The Shabby Tea Room?  I am the hostess for this week's Theme Challenge: "Summer Fun."  We want to see YOUR interpretation of this theme... will the colors of summer inspire you or will the summer activities you and your family enjoy be your inspiration?  I can't wait to see what you all create.  :)

Here in Alberta, we've been "enjoying" rain, rain and more rain so summer fun has been the last thing on my mind lately!  But, not one to let a bit of rain get in my way of creating a fun summer card, I sat down to create this adorable card with (yet) another new Pure Innocence girlie...isn't she the CUTEST?? 

Debbie very graciously sent us all some of her fabulous vintage seam binding to play with  - what great stuff it is - I used Oatmeal Cream.  If you are interested in purchasing some of this beautiful embellishment, please visit her Etsy store: Simple Treasures.  This week's winner will WIN some of this fabulousness so make sure to play with us!

I also used this week's sketch from the OCC Sketch Blog:

Make sure you stop by and see what the rest of the design team created:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - {TSTR Creator} - Simple Treasures

Audrey Pettit - Audrey Pettit's Weblog

Jill Hilliard - Jill's Card Creations

Nicole Segnere - My Craft Room Creations

See you in a bit for another Picture Perfect Creations color challenge! 

Curtain Call - Act #33

Welcome to another Curtain Call, everyone!  Stacey has given us a very calm, soothing combination to work with this week:

Don'tcha love it?  I spent last weekend relaxing and crafting in the mountains of Jasper with my PIC, Lori and four other WONDERFUL ladies - our friend Diana, Joycelyn and Becky from Totally Stampalicious, and their other friend, Rhonda.  The four of them have known each other for years and this is their "annual" weekend away.  This year, Lori and I were lucky enough to get ourselves invited along and boy, oh, boy...was it ever a hoot!  I was able to complete six cards in addition to shopping and eating and laughing...and did we EVER laugh.  :)

Anyhow, this was the first card I churned out - the colors were either going to be used for a sympathy card or a get better card and since I had another new PI girlie that needed to see ink, I went with the "feel better" theme.  Our Creative Corner's sketch from a couple weeks ago worked perfectly for my image:

The Curtain Call Crew has samples to show you today, too, so make sure you stop by to see:

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
Lea Lawson at Lea's Cupcakes & Sunshine
Marisa Ritzen at Rosemary Reflections
Shelley Germann at Stampin' Garden
Sue Kohler at My Inner Reflection and 
our fabulous Guest Designer for June...Christina Maclaren at Seaglass & Sentiments

 ...then play along with us and post your Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 33 creation using Mr. Linky at Stacey's Stamping Stage.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be back tomorrow ~ see you then!