Valentine's Afternoon!!

  Are you enjoying Valentine's Day, I sure am!!    Hubby and both my boys always treat me very well and today was extra special.  I felt a bit spoiled today and I'm very thankful for their cards and gifts!  I really love all three of my guys very much -- every day!!

   I also had a very special surprise in the mail and it was from one of my online 'craft' freinds and it's a gorgeous card that was created by Reni.  I saw it last week for the first time when she was a Guest Designer for a new release at SCACD.  She created this gorgeous 'purple' birthday card with a new stamp 'Celebrate' stamp designed by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  I saw it on her blog and immediately LOVED it.   I wrote a comment about it on her blog and guess what?  She sent it as a wonderful friendship gift.  How awesome is that!  It came from her in The Netherlands to me here in the US and she also added some wonderful little goodies!   It was such a thoughtful idea and I was so happy and surprise when I saw her name on the package -- It definitely made my day!! -  Thanks again Reni, I will cherish my gorgeous card and thank you for your fabulous act of kindness!!

   I also had a lot of fun today, simply spending time in my craft room.  I've been working on some really fun Team projects and a special card for a brand new challenge which started today over at the 'House of Gilli Challenge blog' !  This is the very first Gilli Challenge and it was a fun recipe challenge, which I have shared below.

   Suzanne Dean, is the new Art Coordinator at Gilli and she is also sponsoring this first challenge -- Woohoo!!  If you are the lucky winner you could win a Gilli Stamp along with a Class of your choice from Suzanne in her 'Color Me Creative Classroom'.   I can say from experience that all of Suzanne's classes are awesome and I highly recommend them.   I'm playing for fun, and I had fun creating my card.  I wanted to share it with you now and wish everyone who is playing lot of luck!!  You will  NOT be disappointed in any of her classes or with any of the adorable Gilli Stamps.   

  I am also excited to have copied over the receipe to share with you here and hope it will inspired you to get started on your project.

House of Gilli Challenge #1

RECIPE CHALLENGE

-Use some form of Sparkle 

-Use 3 Patterned Papers

-Use at least 2 dies and/or punches

-You do not have to use a Gilli for this project
BUT IF you use a Gilli you get 2 chances okay ;)

                                     

  For all the details and more information, please hop on over to the 'House of Gilli' blog HERE!!

  I have a nice little collection of Gilli Stamps and for my card I chose to use Gilli Girly.  I started by picking out my three patterned papers from the Gossamer Collection by Memory Box.  I especially love these 6 X 6 papers and I buy mine at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design.   I then colored my sweet little image with Copics and to give her that extra sparkle and shine, I added a fine layer of glitter on top of the finished project.  I used my new Grand Calbur (love it) and a variety of Spellbinder dies to cut and embossed the background shapes.  I also used a decorative punch for some simple flourishes and added some  Prima 'bling' and a few Petaloo Dazzlers to finish off my card.

 
  I'm off now to head over to the 'House of Gilli' to post it in the challenge.  I hope I have inspired you go join me for this fun new challenge.

  Have a great night!!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

  Wishing everyone a very special Valentine's Day and hoping it's full of  LOVE for you and those you love.  I feel like I've been working on Valentine's  projects for so long and very much happy now to be moving more into Spring!   

   When I think of Spring and colors I always think of pretty light and pastel colors, light shades of of course, my favorite would be lavender or a light lilac, which is the color I chose for my first card today.  It's for our brand new challenge over at the StampFairy Challenge Blog and I'm here to invite you all over to play along.

  Challenge # 11 is one that is very easy and will be fun for all.  All you need to do is pick one of your favorite colors, a StampFairy image and a white/off white card base or cardstock.   If you are new to StampFairy, you can find a fabulous selection of images to choose from in our store at this link.

  We want to see you create a project using all white, with a touch of ONE color, for me that's where I chose lavender.   We called it -- 'Basically White with a Touch of One Color' and this the is the card I created to help provide you some inspiration --

  I started with one of my favorite images, which is from the 'Linda Fairy' collection in the StampFairy Store.   I then started my project by picking out some pretty sparkly digi paper and then printed out my image twice, one on top of my digital paper, so that I could cut out the pieces and paper piece them on her dress, hair bow and the the star on her wand.  I then stamped my Thank You sentiment in the closest ink color I had, which is 'Lavender Lace'  from Stampin' Up.  I also embossed my card base with a wonderful SU Embossing folder called 'Textured Tulips'.    My final touch was a matching bow that I created with my Bow Easy and then simply glue on to the card.   You can find all the details on the challenge and some wonderful inspiratoin over on the StampFairy Challenge Blog!!

  My sweet little 'Thank You' Card is also being submitted to these new challenges and everyone is welcome to join the fun -

• Challenge up Your Life - Challenge # 37 - Monochrome
• CES Challenges - Challenge # 23- Cute and Cuddly
• Stamping Vacation - Monochromatic Purples
• Totally Papercrafts - Challenge # 53 - Clean and Simple
• The Rubber Cafe - Challenge # 4 - Paper Piecing

 *****************

  And after you finish that challenge you'll want to be certain to hop on over to 'The Outlawz' for their first  BIG PARTY !!   The Outlawz Girlz have put together a fabulous list of sponsors who have all donated some wonderful prizes.  WOOHOO!!    For the full list of prizes and all of the fun details, please head over to the Outlawz group HERE!
 

  I am very happy to be helping out the 'Girlz'  in the 'Birthday Group' this week and have created one of the inspiration cards for this week's challenge!   This week to tie into the big Showdown, we want to see you create a 'Birthday' project/card based on a 'Western Theme!   As always, your project must be new and created for this challenge.  All the specifics and full details can be found over in the group - you can link directly to the Birthday challenge HERE.


  For my card I started with this fun lil' cowboy image from Bugaboo Stamps.  I colored him with Copics,and then used a variety of cardstock and digi papers for the background.  I embossed each layer for more dimension and then added some twine and buttons to give it more a western feel.  My Happy Birthday sentiment was computer generated and created with Western Themed font, that I found over at DaFont.

  My cute little Cowboy Card is also being submitted to these fun challenges.  I invite you all to join me in any of them and hope you will.

• Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Challenge # 59 - Tempting Texture
• Tip Top Tuesday - Challenge # 21 - Frame it!!
• Our Creative Corner - Cut it Out Challenge - (Die Cuts)

     Time for me to sign off and create some new cards!  Before I go, I want to remind you that there is still time to join our current challenge at Baby Bud Designs and to also tell you 'ssshhh it's a secret' that this Friday - February 18th, we'll have something new and special to share with you all!   Please be sure to stop by then and I'll have more to share!!     I'm also sharing one of my most recent Baby Bud cards and this was a fun little Birthday Card, but would have also made a very cute Friendship card, featuring Max and Molly, two of the newest members of the Baby Bud Collection.

  Happy Monday and I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

Sketch Sunday at OWH and a Blog Hop at Gilli !!

  I'm back with my second post today and I have a two fun cards to share, and I am also inviting you all to hop on over to a new blog hop today at 'House of Gilli'.

  My first card was created for one of my favorite challenges and it's the Sunday Sketch challenge hosted every week over at the Stars and Stamps blog.    I always enjoy the sketches, find them easy to follow and they always inspire me to create fun OWH cards.

  Our sketch for this week is # 56 and I have copied it over to share with you all here on my blog.  If you really love creating with sketches, you want be to sure to bookmark this page, as it includes every sketch back to number one and I think it's a fabulous resource.
 

 
   To start with my card I knew I wanted to make a Love card, not another Valentine, but a card that you could send out any day to tell someone you LOVE them.  Also a perfect Sentiment for any OWH card and one I like to use.  I chose this sweet image from StampFairy and paper-pieced my sweet little Lenny Bear in a cute like polka dot outfit and the colored the rest of the card with Copics.   Glitter is a a No No on any OWH cards, but wanted the heart to really sparkly and shine, I coated it with layer of Crystal Lacquer which dries totally clear and gives the heart more demension and shine.   In the end, this is my 'I Love You' card and it's my card for this week's Sketch Challenge. 

   I also send envelopes with my OWH cards and for this I used an  Envelope Liner die from  PTI to make my envelope match my card with a left over piece of patterned paper.  I makes a nice touch and can be used for any A2 size envelope.  A great gadget and one if use often.  Here is a picture of the card with the matching envelope.

  This card was also inspired and will be submitted to these fun new challenges:

• Stars & Stamps Blog - OWH Cards - Sketch # 56 - No Glitter
• The Crafty Pad - Challenge # 108- Hearts
• Crafty Calendar Challenge - Challenge # 17 - Love 
• Teddy Bear Stampers - Challenge # 29 - LOVE Bears 
• By the Cute & Girly -  - Red is all around us!  (Use Red)

   My next stop today is over to the 'House of Gilli' the brand new home and Challenge Blog for the Gilli Design Team.  Gilli is the wonderful line of adorable stamps created my friend Anary and you can find Gilli stamps and accessories at  Stamping Scrapping.   I am not feeling well enough today to make it through the hop, but I am very excited for Anary and all of there team and wanted to be sure to share the details with you on my blog.   If you would like to play along, please start of at the 'House of Gilli' blog HERE!!

    Your second stop with be over at my friend Ann's blog and she is a wonderful and very talented crafter you can find her blog HERE!     And lastly, I have one of my own Gilli Card to share with you - This is Asian Gilli and she can be found over in the store HERE! 

   I hope you all enjoy the HOP and I wanted to wish everyone GOOD LUCK!  I wish I could play, but blog hops and Fibro don't go well together and I've already been online too much for today!!  See you all tomorrow and wishes everyone a nice day!!   

Let the Party Begin!!!! Woohoo!!!

   WOOHOO!!  Today is Party Day over at 'The Outlawz' and everyone is invited to join in on the fun!

   I am very happy and excited to share all the details and of course, you can hop right on over to the group and start on your first challenge today!! 

Giddy Up Partners..... 
It's Time for a Showdown!!!

The party has begun!!

You are invited to The Outlawz Showdown!! 

We are showing you our appreciation for joining and participating in The Outlawz challenges!! 

The Showdown starts today! yes, today!!! 

Our sponsors have provided us with awesome prizes, and you don't want to miss it!! 

 For all the challenge details and requirements, 

please review the challenge rules over on the main page.  

 

The Outlawz are very grateful to these fabulous sponsors!

 
Oozak
$50 Gift Certificate (Winner pays shipping)

Susana's Custom Art and Card Design

SCACD $25.00 Gift Certificate (winner pays shipping)

Color Me Creative Classroom
(Suzanne Dean) 
One online Copic Class of your choice.

 
One Crazy Stamper
$25.00 Gift Certificate (winner pays shipping)

Paper Temptress
 $25.00 Gift Certificate (winner pays shipping)

Paper Temptress
 2 packs of Cryogen Paper 20 sheet count (winner pays shipping)

 
ThePurplePlace - Yes, that's me!!
$25.00 Gift Certificate - Winner’s choice of Store

 
All That Scraps
$15.00 Gift Certificate (winner pays shipping)

Digi Doodle Shop
 $10.00 Gift Certificate

 
Whimsy Stamps
$15.00 Gift Certificate

 
Squigglefly
3 Digi Set

 
Sassy Studios 
4 free Digis

 
7 Kids College Fund
  $10.00 Gift Certificate (winner pays shipping)

 A Day for Daisies
 $12.00 Gift Certificate

 
Michelle Perkett Studio
 $10.00 Gift Certificate

 
Guylou's Inimitability
 $10.00 Gift Certificate

 
Stampin' Up
  “Bliss” Clear mount Stamp Set from Maureen Merritt

FRED table (45.00 value)
 Jenn and Brian Pellegrino 

Ippity Stamps
 Any Ippity stamp Set
Winners choice - From Rona Mallard

Anne Fenton
From Anne
3 Outlawz Digis

 
Glitterbabe's
2 Digis of your Choice

 
Di's Digi Downloads
 5 Digis

 
Pollycraft shop
  5 Digi

 *****************

Anyone who would like to sponsor a challenge please contact Colleen
with your information at sweater32@aol.com
 Please put sponsor in the subject line.

Let's go see what the Design Team created for this week's challenges!

Come on and join us!

The first challenge starts today in the 'Clean and Simple Group'!

Happy Crafting and Good Luck to ALL!!

Happy Saturday!!

  Today has been a very relaxing and fun day for me.  I slept in, woke up without being in a lot of pain and was happy to see the sunshine.  It's NOT snowing and our temps are slowly warming up!!

   This morning, I put together Valentine treat bags for my family and topped them all off with a special card I created I for each of them.   I have to admit, that between making all those cards, on top of those I mailed out and the ones that I also created for Design Team projects, that I'm happy to be done with Valentines and very thrilled to be moving into other themes and ideas.

   Speaking of new things, I was so excited and totally surprised to see the brand new collection of digi images that Gerda designed and shared with all of us today over at the StampFairy Blog.   It's this really cute new set and they are called 'Love Notes'.  I think these will make some wonderful cards for 'Operation Write Home' and that's something I have been behind on lately!

 
   I was also very excited and even more surprise to see this sweet card, which was created by one of my freinds 'Jan' who is actually one of the gals who inspired me to start creating cards for 'Operation Write Home'.  Here is a copy of Jan's adorable card which is featured over at StampFairy today!!  

Card by Jan Hunnicutt

   When I first stopped at the blog, I was surprised to see the new images, and before I had even finished reading the whole post, I came here to write up a little post about the release.  As I was working on the post, I had not even read the entire post and immediately thought of Operation Write Home cards, so you can only imagine how delightful it was to keep reading and find out that Jan had her card featured, and that she had thought about using StampFairy images for some of her OWH cards.   Jan, is an amazing and very talented crafter and we met in a online group sometime last year.  It was then that I found out more about Jan and that she also plays a part in the 'Stars and Stamps Blog', which I also love.  If you are one of my followers, you'll know that I make cards for OWH and also take take in many of the challenges over at the Stars and Stamps Blog.  I am also a member of that blog and totally enjoy it.  It's another wonderful resource to help me come up with great ideas for OWH Cards.

   The card that Jan created above was based on one of the Sketches that the Stars and Stamps Blog features every Sunday and this one was based on Sketch # 54!   Tomorrow you can hop on over to the Stars and Stamps blog for this week's sketch.    They is a new challenge or card-making idea every day and another fun day is Wednesday, which is Midweek Throwdown the challenge that Jan creates for us each week.

   I also wanted to tell you a bit about the new Blog Hop that is also being sponsorship by the Stars and Stamps blog and for more information you can go HERE!   Due to the limitations I have because of Fibro and Disc Disease, I find Blog Hops very difficult and am not able to join in.  However, I always try to promote them and also do my best to stop by and visit as many of the blogs as I can during the hop.   If you are interested in taking part of the HOP or making card for Operation Write Home, please go to the main site HERE for all the details.

  
   I'm so happy that Jan was featured over at StampFairy World and also thirlled the we now have this wonderful new collection to create with.  Maybe I'll even try to create my Sketch Card tomororw with one of this adorable new images!  -- Thanks Gerda and Thanks Jan!!