Fruit Stand

 I actually had a chance to play around with the Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge on time this time around. Okay, a word of caution here...this card is way outside my "normal" style. I've seen a few awning style cards around and when I saw the inspiration for this week

my mind went right to the thought that I should try making a fruit stand by creating an awning style card and using Paper Smooches Fruitastic stamp set.

I also drew my color inspiration from the photo...I got a bit off track, but the pinks, reds, and greens were my starting point. I wasn't sure if this card would be a pain if I decided to mail it. Good news is the awning lays down pretty flat and bounces back up when it's pulled out of the envelope.

This is also the first Copic coloring I've done since taking a class on it. In the past I've sort of just winged it, so it was fun to try my hand at doing it the "right way". I've got a lot of work to do, but it was fun!

Thanks for stopping by today!

A Little Bit of Fun

Today's post is a little random. I have 2 projects that I made as part of challenges.

This is an old Paper Smooches Sparks challenge. I'm a bit behind on posting, so the challenge is done, but you should really head over to the challenge blog and check out the current inspiration piece. It's so cool!
Anyways, here's the inspiration piece for the old challenge:

And here's my take:

This card uses Paper Smooches Perpetual Bliss for the stamped lightbulb image and Fruitastic for the "you" sentiment. The paper and ribbon are from Crate Paper's Neighborhood Collection.

Up next is a card/tea bag holder I made for a challenge for May Arts. Basically, they sent people up for the challenge 4 different ribbons and you had to use them in a project. I decided to make this:

 The finished card is 3 1/2" x 6". There is a 1/4" spine, so the card has space to add a 1/8" deep pocket on the inside. I slipped a bag of tea inside. It's an easy way to jazz up a card. This one is a "feel better soon" card, since tea seems to go well with that theme.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm Sorry Giveaway

I'm not sure what my problem is lately, I just have not been consistent about posting to my blog here. So, as an apology, how about a giveaway?
American Crafts is one of the featured manufacturers at A Walk Down Memory Lane this month. Leave a comment here by Saturday, September 24, and you'll be entered to win an AC Blue Skies Page Kit (pictured above). The kit includes 8 - 12 x 12 papers, Thickers, a sheet of Remarks Stickers, 3 Flair bages, 3 ribbons (4 ft of each), 2 - 12 x 12 card stock sheets, 6 - 4.5 x 6.5 photo mounts.


Also, I couldn't leave you today without a fun project. It's a great gift for a crafty friend. SRM's Tubes are my new favorite thing to create gifts out of. They come in regular, mini (what I used here) and wand. So fun! The stamps used to create the tag are from Paper Smooches Friendly Flowers set. I created the image on the tag with 3 colors of American Craft Zing Embossing Powder (which also happens to be 25% off this month at AWDML since it's made by American Crafts). You can watch a video I created about embossing with multiple colors of embossing powder over on AWDML's blog by clicking here.

A big thanks for stopping by!

SPARKS Challenge Take 2

No you're not seeing double, this is my second attempt at Paper Smooches August SPARKS challenge. I knew right away when I saw the inspiration that I wanted to try my hand at making my own faux wood panel background.

Little did I know that would be the easy part. After I got the panel made, I wasn't exactly sure how to turn it into a card. I played around a bit and this is what I came up with:



I created the "wood" background by covering 1" strips of paper in masking tape that had been crinkled a bit. Then, I stacked the strips next to each other and sponged on 2 different colors of Tim Holtz Distress Ink (both inks were different shades of brown). I panted on Tim Holtz Glossy Accents over the top of the ink to blend and seal it. The next step is to let it dry for a long time (preferably over night). Finally, if you want to stamp on the wood you'll need to use a very permanent ink. I used brown Staz-on to stamp "you are totally sweet".

Supplies
Paper: Crate Paper Farmhouse (Sunday Dinner)
Stamps: Paper Smooches Friendly Flowers, Paper Smooches Fruitastic
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Brown Staz-on
Accessories: May Arts lace, Crate Paper Farmhouse Buttons, Copic Markers, Glossy Accents

Thanks for stopping by!

More Paper Smooches

Paper Smooches has a SPARKS challenge every month. You can find all the info on how to play along by clicking here.


I've had 2 ideas in my head after seeing the inspiration:


I finally got one of those ideas down on paper, and will hopefully (cross fingers here) have the other one done tomorrow.


Basically, I was inspired by the colors for this one. It's such a pretty blend, that I'm not sure I'd come up with on my own. I was also inspired by the feel. The shabby wood background mixed with the elegant flowers and rhinestones. I tried to mimic the feel by adding pretty pleated trim and an elegant border punch combined with a less elegant kraft background and plaid patterned "Hello".

Supplies:
Paper: Fancy Pants' It's the Little Things (Honeysuckel)
Stamps: Paper Smooches Friendly Flowers
Markers: Copic
Trim: Crate Paper Neighborhood
Tools: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Framed Dots

Thanks for stopping by!

Sometimes I Squeal Out Loud...

...there, I admitted it. Case in point, Tuesday Kim Hughes (you know THE Kim Hughes of Paper Smooches) e-mailed me to ask if she could put my "thank you berry much" card (using Paper Smooches Digi Stamps) on the Paper Smooches blog today. I squealed a little out loud, then I e-mailed her back a very enthusiastic yes. You can check that post out here. My card is there, but so are a lot of other really sitinkin' cute cards that you won't want to miss. So, while I'm on a Paper Smooches high, I thought I'd make a few more Paper Smooches cards.


...and just in case that isn't enough Paper Smooches for you, I'm also blogging over at A Walk Down Memory Lane today and there's another fun card using the Fruitastic set over there (and a tip on customizing embellishments).

Supplies:

You are a Peach
Paper: Jillilbean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup (Ice Cubes, Sprig of Mint, Yellow Bell Pepper, Orange Juice)
Stamps: Paper Smooches Fruitastic, Paper Smooches Friendly Flowers
Accessories: Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Cardstock Stickers

Totally Sweet
Paper: My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Life of the Party
Stamps: Paper Smooches Fruitastic, Paper Smooches Friendly Flowers
Accessories: Copic Markers, Ric Rac, Crate Paper Neighborhood Trims

Paper Smooches

First up, I have to say, "Wow! It's Friday and I haven't posted anything since Monday." Sorry. I'm already working on a post for tomorrow of a mini album I just finished, so I won't neglect things here so long again.
Second (and this is far more interesting news), I worked at A Walk Down Memory Lane Wednesday night and was thrilled to find out they now have Paper Smooches stamps at the store! I don't think they're at the on-line store yet, but if you shop at the Brick & Mortar store you can get them. I'm having a hard time deciding which set to buy first!
Third, Paper Smooches posts a free digi stamp on-line every month. I'm not super big on using digi stamps (there's just something about getting your fingers inky), but Kim Hughes' Paper Smooches Digi Stamps are too cute to pass up. Plus, did I mention they're free! Here's what I did with this month's free digi:
The image could really be a few different things (grapes, raspberries, blackberries), but since I have this growing in my back yard
I was thinking raspberries. I used twine from The Twinery to fill in the berries. I used a Copic marker to color in the leaves and stem. Since I really wanted the berry to be the focal point I kept the rest of the card quite basic with a kraft on kraft color scheme. I inked the top layer of kraft card stock with white ink and used foam dimensional adhesive to attach it to the bottom layer. The finished card size is 4" x 4".

Thanks for stopping by!