SHOPPING OUR STASH #212 - Diamonds are a girls best friend...

So, I've been on vacation for the last two weeks. Hubby, fur baby and I drove home to Illinois and Wisconsin for our annual visits home with our parents. We try to do big jobs for them while in town so they don't have to hire anybody. At Andy's Mom's house, we moved furniture since she was getting the carpets cleaned. We also started to go through and sort/take home/throw away,etc., the unbelievable amount of stuff that his Dad had accumulated over decades (and didn't throw out). And that was just the office. I shudder to think of the massive amount of crap he had in the basement, that we and Andy's sister and brothers need to sort through. (I don't normally post really personal stuff on here, but Andy's father passed away a couple months ago, just to keep you up to date.) At my parents house, we power washed and stained their deck, so that's good for another couple years. Along with smaller tidbits of things, we did accomplish getting some things done for both sides of the family. 

So, coming full circle, all my blog posts for the last two weeks have been scheduled way in advance....except this one. I thought for sure I had them all done, but I goofed up and didn't have anything done for this new challenge. DOH!! Good thing I brought some crafty supplies home with me. I actually made 5 cards while at home! (Holy Crap Batman!) So even though I told Leslie that I would have to sit this one out, I realized I had something that I could use for the new challenge, which is to use bling on your card or project. Here's what I made:

 Here is the inside:

I know there's not a lot of bling on this, but I didn't bring a lot home with me, so hopefully this will suffice with the sequins. My card is based on the now closed Case this Sketch #132. When I made this card, it was still open, but being in northern WI, the WiFi doesn't always work. At all. Nope. At least I took some pictures of what I made. Maybe I'll even blog about the other cards in the near future. It could happen....

I hope that you get the chance to play along with our Bling challenge at Shopping Our Stash. You know you have tons of rhinestones and sequins that need to be put on a card or project. Go and make something, but make sure you link it up to us so we can see it! Oh, and don't forget to check out what my teammies created for your viewing pleasure, and leave them some bloggy love! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a great day!

SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS #39 S is for Shaker Card

("Shake it like a Polaroid Camera!")

Hello snarky peeps! We have a new challenge starting now at the SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS!! These next two weeks are all about shaker cards!! A very hot trend right now, one I've really latched onto lately. Here's my card:

 Here's the inside:

You thought this was gonna be a cutesie card, didn't ya? Seriously? Come on, it's ME! LOL! I can't take any credit for this card. It is a case from a card featured on the front cover of the Summer edition of CardMaker magazine. I just thought the colorful die cut design inside the shaker was a brilliant idea, so I had to case it! I love how it looks! And of course, there's a little snark on the inside. Couldn't let you down now. (wink!)

So now's your chance to shake what your Momma gave you, I mean, make a shaker card and link it up at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers! There are crowns to be had, so go and get crafty! Oh! Be sure to check out the amazeball creations that my Sistahs and our returning Queen Jane have made for your viewing pleasure! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Supplies:

Stamps: Technique Tuesday - Umpteenth Birthday

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black

DP: HOTP

CS: Darice; scraps

Accessories: GC; Sm & Lg Standard Circle Nesties; Taylored Expressions - Quatrefoil cover plate; Cuttlebug - swiss dots EF; Slice die cutter and Words & Expressions Holiday cartridge; Crafter's Companion - Acetate;  Darice/American crafts - sequins

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner; Recollections - foam strips; Ranger - Glossy Accents

JUST US GIRLS #303 - Photo Week

Welcome to Photo Week at JUST US GIRLS! Cheryl is your hostess this week and check out the amazing photo she found for inspiration! Lots of things to get the creative juices flowing! Here is the card I came up with:

I was inspired by the wood floor and the blue/orange colors. (Although for some reason, I saw the blue more as an aqua than a blue blue. Oh well.) I let the paper do most of the work, but I added a few dimensional flowers to cover up the 'wrong' flower colors in the paper. (sneaky sneaky!) I cut it and adhered the panel on an angle then added some pearls for a final finishing touch.

I hope you get the chance to play along for this week's photo challenge at Just Us Girls! Please do yourself a favor and check out what my teammies, and our July Guest Designer, Linda Beeson, have created. You won't be disappointed! Remember, that if you are picked as Chic of the Week for any of our July challenges, you'll be in the running to be our Guest Designer for the month of September! I hope to see what you create! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Supplies:

DP: MME- Dolled Up

CS: Darice

Accessories: Sandylion and unknown mfg - flower stickers; Creative Charms - pearls

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner

SHOPPING OUR STASH #211 - Don't Get Stressed. Get De-Stressed!

It's time for a new challenge at SHOPPING OUR STASH! So, what do we mean by that sub-title? Well, we want you to create a card or project based on something that relaxes you! For example, does playing a musical instrument, or baking, or coloring, or sitting ocean side relax you? Then create something based on that! Here's what I made:

 and the inside:

To me, that sentiment says it all: the beach fixes everything! And I look forward to going there later this year! (happy happy joy joy!) I used bright happy colors, and while shopping my beach themed stickers, came across these cool flip flops. Score! The stickers were so old, they didn't stick any more. I had to apply a bit of Glossy Accents on the bottom side so they would. ☺ I stamped another sentiment on the inside and added (another ancient) shell sticker.

So, what relaxes you? Why not make a card or project based on that and link it up at Shopping Our Stash? While there, please check out the incredible things the other ladies have created to wow you, and leave them some bloggy love! Thanks for hanging out. I hope you have a great day!

Supplies:

Stamps: Impression Obsession; Paper Smooches

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black

DP: DCWV; scraps

CS: Darice

Accessories: GC; Lg. Standard Circle Nesties; Walmart - flip flop stickers; Punch Studio - shell sticker; black marker; Cuttlebug - D-vine Swirls EF

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner; Ranger - Glossy Accents

JUST US GIRLS #302 Color Week

Hello crafty peeps! It's Color Week at JUST US GIRLS! Sharyn is your hostess this week and she's picked these bright, fun colors for you to play with! Have no fear, you only need to use a minimum of three of them plus any neutrals. Here's what I came up with:

 Here's the inside of my card:

I made this colorful cover plate for the circle cut out. (that you'll see in a future post) ☺ But I just couldn't throw this piece out, so happy accident, I used the same colors for this challenge! Woot Woot! (Of course, my camera was giving me problems and the bright pink looks much darker. Grrr!) I just popped it up on some foam squares after stamping the sentiment. The heart came from the same set and after stamping it, I covered it with Glossy Accents. Once dried, I fussy cut and adhered. For the inside, I glued the negative bits down, using one of the cover plate cuts as a guide. Another sentiment finishes the inside. 

I hope you get the chance to play along this week at Just Us Girls! Please be sure to check out what my super talented teammies, and our July Guest Designer, Linda Beeson, have come up with, and leave them some bloggy love! Remember that if you are pick as Chic of the Week for any of our July challenges, you'll be in the running to be our Guest Designer for the month of September! Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT - Written in water color; More Essential Sentiments

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Lady Bug

CS: Bazzill, Darice, WRMK

Accessories: GC; Taylored Expressions - Quatrefoil cover plate; Ranger - Glossy Accent

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents

SHOPPING OUR STASH #210 - Paper Piecing

Hello and welcome! It's time for another challenge at SHOPPING OUR STASH! This week, we are challenging you to do some paper piecing on your card or project. Super simple, eh?! Here's what I came up with:

My background was made by using three distress inks and smearing them on my craft mat. Then after I misted it really good with water, I used a stamp block to pick up the colors and preceded to smoosh them around my card stock panel. I repeated that until I liked what I saw. (only took me two attempts this time!) Frankie was stamped multiple times on scrap paper, fussy cut then pieced back together. (sort of like him! Heh heh!) I like the brown paper with the tiny white dots. It makes him look like he has his jammy-jams on! LOL! The finishing touch was, of course, googly eyes!

I hope you get the chance to play along with our paper piecing challenge at Shopping Our Stash! Please do yourself a favor and check out the amazing creations my teammies made, and leave them some bloggy love too! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a great day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Halloweenies, Shadows
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Gray Flannel; Memento Luxe - Wedding Dress; Ranger DI - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral
DP: scraps
CS: Darice, Bazzill, scraps
Accessories: Nicole - googly eyes; black marker and ruler; Sakura white Gelly Roll pen
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, Thin 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents; Elmer's extra strength glue stick

SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS #38 R is for Rude....

......the new profanity challenge!!!

Ok, you've been warned. This fortnight at the SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS, we encourage you to be rude and swear up a storm! Just put it on a card or project so we can see it!

Last chance to get the wee ones out of the room before you scroll down some more.......



Now for my card:

 And here's the inside:

Well, if you follow me, you know that I'm all for swearing! And I used my favorite swear word! LOL! Oh, and yes, this card is going to my younger brother for his birthday. As you read this, we are driving to Illinois for our annual vacation back home, and I'll be able to hand deliver this to him. I can't wait to see the look on his face!  He'll get a kick out of it!

So, time to have fun and let your freak flag fly! You know you want to! Just link up your card or project at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, cuz we want to see it!!! While there, please leave some bloggy love for my Sisters, and our new Guest Designer, Jane! Now go and make some awesome shit!

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Issues - Freaking Sentiments, Ahh Real Birthday, Oh Hell No
Ink: Versa Mark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
CS: Bazzill; scrap
Accessories: Inkadinkado & Stampendous EP; heat gun; GC; MFT - Zig Zag Stitched Squares Die-Namics
Adhesives: SA by 3L - 3D foam squares

JUST US GIRLS # 301 - Trend Week

Hello and welcome crafty peeps! It's time for a new challenge at JUST US GIRLS!  Lisa is your hostess for Trend Week, and she's picked the hot trend of GOLD!! Here's the card I made:

 and the inside:

I wasn't sure about the mint paper with the gold embossing, but it's really starting to grow on me. ☺ (Yeah, I know, that combo has been around for quite a while, but I'm slow to jump on the trend wagon! LOL!) 

I hope you get the chance to play along this week at Just Us Girls. If you can, please check out what the other ladies, and our July Guest Designer, Linda Beeson, have come up with and leave them some love on their blogs! Just a reminder, if you are picked as Chic of the Week for any of our July challenges, you'll be in the running to be our Guest Designer for the month of September! Good luck, now go forth and get your craft on!

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT - More Essential Sentiments; Inkadinkado - diamond background

Ink: Memento - Gray Flannel; VersaMark

DP: DCWV - Linen Closet

CS: Darice

Accessories: GC; Avery Elle - Double Pierced rectangle dies; K & Co. - 3D butterfly sticker; DMC floss;Stampendous - Champagne EP; heat gun

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents

SHOPPING OUR STASH #209 - Gingham Style

Hello crafty peeps and welcome! We have a new challenge starting today at SHOPPING OUR STASH! It's time to go Gingham Style! (or use checkers/checks or squares!) Here's my card:

 here is the inside:

I found some ancient Christmas paper and made my card using the now ended TMS#307. The image I had colored a few months ago but hadn't gotten around to using it on a card until now. (anybody else do that? No? Hmmm.) Anyhoooo, I didn't want to cover up the image with the banner, so I stamped the sentiment on vellum. Works for me! 

I hope you find some time to break out your stash of gingham/checkers/checks/squares and join the fun at Shopping Our Stash! While there, be sure to check out what the other ladies created, and leave some love on their blogs! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: MFT - ALM Candy Cane Kisses
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Staz On - Jet Black
DP: HOTP
CS: Darice; Crafter's Companion
Accessories: GC; Oval Bliss & Classic Ovals Nesties; Spectrum Noir markers; Ranger - Diamond Stickles; vellum scrap; button and twine from my stash
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D & Thin 3D foam squares; Glue Dots

JUST US GIRLS! #300 (Big Time) Word Week!

That's right, it's our 300th challenge at JUST US GIRLS!!! So of course the word for our Word Week is CONGRATULATIONS!! But wait - there's more! To help us celebrate, we have some fabulous sponsors! 

Inspired by Stamping is a boutique online craft store based in Australia and was founded by Joanna Munster in July 2011. Our commitment is to bring you the highest quality in paper crafting supplies. We design & manufacture the highest quality of photopolymer stamps that bring superior stamping to all crafters. Whether you're just starting out in card making or a "seasoned scrapper", you'll find that our stamps and products are a great addition to your collection.

$25.00 gift certificate

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$25.00 gift certificate 

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STAMPlorations is a California-based small company owned and managed by husband-and-wife team, David & Shery Russ. We began in June 2013 selling clear stamps based on Shery's designs. From just a handful of stamps, we now have 100+ stamp designs; 2 amazing stamp designers creating stamps alongside Shery; ARTplorations, our exclusive line of stencils; a stamp club; and a design team consisting of 21 amazing paper crafters who regularly produce gorgeous projects featuring our products. All of our stamps are proudly made in the USA. Through our stamp line, we aim to encourage crafters of all ages and experience levels to "Stamp with all your ART!"

$15 gift certificate OR choice of any 2 ARTplorations stencils

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Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets is the perfect addition to your crafting. Are you looking to add an over  the top look to your crafting? Craft Metal Sheets allows you to incorporate your everyday techniques to create extraordinary projects that nobody will ever believe you made
$15 gift certificate for craft metal sheets
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But even more, we have a few past Guest Designers helping us celebrate: Nancy Penir, Geri Bailly, and Judy Woodland! Welcome back ladies!

So, now with all this excitement, let me show you the card I made:

Here is the inside: 

We hope you find some crafty time to join us in our 300th challenge! (there's crafty goodies up for grabs!) Simply link up your card or project at Just Us Girls! While there, please leave some bloggy love to my teammies, our guesties, and please welcome our Guest Designer for July - Linda Beeson! Remember that if you are picked as Chic of the Week for any of our July challenges, you'll be in the running for our guest designer for the month of September! Have fun crafting, and for those of you in the States, Happy Independence Day! Now go forth and get your craft on!

I'd like to enter this at:

Freshly Made Sketches #193

Naughty or Nice challenge #17 

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT - Essential Sentiments; Paper Smooches - Knick Knacks

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Festive Berries, Black Soot

DP: HOTP, Deja Views, Echo Park

CS: Bazzill, Darice

Accessories: GC; MFT - Rock and Roll, Star Border Die-Namics; Doodlebug twine; Recollections star rhinestones

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents