Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Friday Sketchers#62 and Simon Says#14 Play with Doraline

Good Day to you!!
Hope you are enjoying your week so far.
I have a card to share today.


I recently experienced a lucky streak and won
Motivet's weekly comment to win draw,
that's 5 unmounted stamps of your choice,
and this was one of my picks!!
Now, as the planets aligned and the sun
shined right in my direction,
I recieved a most delicious package from my
blogger buddy Sue in the mail
full of ladybug embellies,
some bees and sunflowers,
one which you can see right here,
and a few handmade delicacies to boot.
Thank you, Sue.


Combine all that with a fantastic Scrapbook store,
ScrapFunattic,
who went ahead and special ordered me
this terrific JuneBug paper
(back in June when BG released it, I mean)
and we have the card you see today.
All the perfect elements in my hands,
and voila, I made a summer card,
so as to play along with Sue's Monday Musings
for her local stamp shop. Summer!!


I've taken pictures from a few angles
to try and catch some twinkle off of the image.
I crystalized Doralines eyes, teeth and MaryJane's,
and Smooched the sunflower and leaves.
I used Basic Grey papers, as you know,
coloured with distress inks
as well as distressing the image and papers
with royal plum and antique linen.
Lots of sanding, lots of distressing,
been a rough time with the kids out of school,
had to release some aggression on paper...
My arm hurts, very rewarding...
The gals at the Simon Says Challenge are feeling
the pinch too, as this week is
designated distress week, lol.
Go and take a peek at the deliciousness
the Design Team has made to inspire us,
with a $25 shopping voucher for SimonSaysStamps
up as bounty for one lucky participant.
The challenge was to use distressing in our project.
Check.
Did some faux stitching, stuck some
K & Company jewels on there,
sentiment from the Inkadinkado Brenda Walton clear set,
and the sketch is from Friday Sketchers,
who is sponsered by Shimmerz this week,
go take a look, the prize looks incredible!!
The Design Team has fashioned up some great
musings for us to gawk over as well.


You still with me after all that?
I have a small brag before I go back to cleaning,
my hubby suggested I take over
the kids corner for my crafting!!
Do you know what this means?!?!??!
I won't have to haul my supplies back and forth
from my bedroom closet anymore!!
So tonight I will go and buy a cheap pantry
while all the back to school dorm supplies
are priced to sell,
as well as pick out another treat to add
into my Blogoversary Candy.
I have decided that for every win,
be it off of a blog, a random draw, a Top 5, etc.,
I will add something into the Candy.
Now, the Blogoversary is quite a ways off,
so for now, the loot stays top secret!!
I was a Lucky Duck over at Simon Says Stamp blog
this week and they are sending me
the most adorable Cornish Heritage Farms stamp,
thus, something yummy for the Candy is in order.
Lucky streak, indeed!!

The post was LOOOONG, but if you stuck through it,
I hope you'll have another minute or two to
leave me your thoughts.
Take Care,
Stephanne

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Blue Penny Black


Hello to you!!
I hope you've been enjoying your weekend.
I had Saturday off work,
so I got a little extra playtime,
and this is what I came up with:


I wanted to play along with Colour Create
this fortnight as their colours are blue and white,
with the added challenge of adding vintage flair.


I also plan on submitting this one in the
Penny Black Saturday Challenge
This week, they have a recipe:
3 ribbons, 2 flowers, 1 charm
I wound up adding to the recipe though,
so if I need to be disqualified,
then that's okay.


The fabulous Kellie Winnell
recently hosted a sketch challenge
on her blog and offered up some delicious
Motivet stamps as the bounty.
Unfortunately, I have missed the cutoff
by AT LEAST a day, maybe two
when you consider the time difference.
But the sketch was fab and I already had the
idea brewing, just needed the time.
I hope to see her host another sketch or challenge,
as this was very fun to use.

I have used K & Company Blue Awning papers,
a PB stamp called Fragile,
the sentiment is from a
Brenda Walton Inkadinkado clear set,
the flowers are a Bazzill/Prima combo,
lace and charm are from my stash.
Brads and blue "fiber" are Basic Grey.
I coloured with distress inks on watercolour paper.
Decided to layer colours instead of blending.
I think I like it, still deciding...

Thanks for coming by,
feel free to comment!!
Stephanne

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Soft and sweet kitty lumpkins

Hi there,
I hope you are having a wonderful day.
I have a card for a few challenges this week.
Penny Black Saturday Challenge
has asked us to make something soft and sweet.
You are limited by your own interpretation
and your range of PB images, basically.
So here's what I came up with:


This card is one of those ideal creations,
where as you put it together,
it just keeps going right.
I like that!! Usually, it's the latter...
The Pink Elephant is asking us
to use animals as our theme this week,
so this pretty kitty is going to be joining the party.
They're sponsered by Dustin Pike this week,
and their DT has made some adorable creations
with his images, go peek!!


Even got a pic of it's innards.
I've used a stamp from a PB clear set, Purrfect Day
and I added a leg to the kitty.
Not sure if I am just not seeing the paw,
or maybe there is a reason why,
like a stamp in an armless cats honour...
K & Co. papers, coloured with distress inks
with a little bit of glimmer mist and stickles.
The glorious MS punch,
everything else is from my stash.


My blogger buddy Sue
has been asked by her local stamp spot
to host a Monday Inspiration Challenge
and she has provided this sketch
for them to use and I have used it as well.
It really seemed to compliment the occasion
of the card, thanks Sue!!


Thanks for stopping by.
Enjoy the rest of your week!!
Stephanne

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

To share with Stampavie...


Hello.
I feel a little nervous doing this,
but I am going to throw my name into the talent pool
for the Stampavie Design Call.
It's a fantastic opportunity for
one lucky lady to join a wonderous Design Team
and get to create with a spectacular lign of stamps,
so I figured, hey, won't hurt to try.
Don't really know what they are looking for,
as far as looks or creative ability,
but I can certainly meet their criteria
as far as productivity goes
and it would be my pleasure to do it.
So, without further ado:


And here is a closer shot of the
flowers and beading.
I've used K & Co. papers and pearls,
Prima flowers, Making Memories ribbon,
and I've coloured with distress inks.
I've also used the wonderful Heather's sketch
so that I could join in over at Truly Scrumptious
I've added some beading around the flowers also.


And here is the sketch:


I have another card I've made to submit
along for the ride:


I've used distress inks to colour and
My Minds Eye papers,
ribbons and charm are from stash
and the sentiment is computer generated.


And here is the sketch that I've used
so that I could play along with the
Simon Says Challenge this week.



And here are a few pics of recent projects,
just to have them handy for looking at:







Yikes, that's long!!
It doesn't hurt to try, right?
I have seen some of the entries that are being submitted
and they are gorgeous,
so good luck to everyone and happy crafting.

Thanks for looking,
Stephanie m

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Lily the Fairy meets Sketch Saturday

Hello to you!!
Hope the day finds you well.
I have a card finished that I would
like to share with Blogland.
It is for the bi-monthly Stampavie Challenge,
the theme is "In The Garden."
Well, this little cutie could certainly be
spotted in the garden, I think,
and much to many gardeners' dismay,
so could the mushrooms...


This is a Rachelle Anne Miller design
called Lily-Magic Fairy.
She is absolutely FUN to colour.


I am falling deeper and deeper
in love with Stampavie,
every image I've had the pleasure of colouring
has been a total treat for me,
and when I look at the image after
it's been brought to life with colour,
I get a satisfied smirk on my face.
And the images seem to outdo themselves
in cuteness with each release!!
You've seen the new Sarah Kay's,
but have you gone by the Stampavie DT Blog
and caught a glimpse of their new line of designers?
Tina Wenke and Heltz Cuppleditch,
Ohhhh man.... Too cute!!
And of course, their DT is whipping up
some of the most AMAZING cards with these cuties.
Yes, yes, lovely.
Back to my card though...


I have coloured with distress inks,
toled her and the little 'shroomie
and popped them with foam dots,
applied Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to Lily's wings,
a little Stickles here and there,
BG Wisteria papers,
flowers are Prima and Bazzil,
and pearls are Kaiser,
the rest is from my stash.
The sketch is from this weeks challenge
over at Sketch Saturday
I gave it a little turn though.


The DT has made some of the cutest things
to guide us this week,
and you might be interested in the
SuperDelicious prize that Emma Lockley is sponsering.
Looks yummy, cupcakes!!! Mmmmmmm......

Well, if you stuck it out
through this lengthy post,
then I applaud you.
May as well stick around
to comment at this point,
don't you think?
Enjoy the upcoming week.
Take Care, Stephanne

Saturday, July 18, 2009

House Mouse without colour on Carol's Sketch


Good afternoon,
Firstly, we have friendly neighborhood rabbits.
I love watching them grow and play.
They burroughed beneath my apartments front step
2 Easters ago, and since then,
well, you know what they say about rabbits,
so there is a whole gaggle of bunnies now.
Here is a picture I snapped of one of my bunny pals.


And with my muses hopping about,
nearly letting my tot and I touch them, nearly....
I found a stamp that I wanted to use
for this weeks House Mouse Monday Challenge
which is to NOT colour **gasp**
That's right, no colouring these little cuties in.
We were welcome to use other means of adding
colour to the image, like various inks or
piecing card onto the creation,
things of that nature,
but NO colouring.


So I flocked instead.
A little bit of stickles too.
Hey, other means, right?
I paper pieced the little frog and the umbrella.
I hope my interpretation wasn't too loose.


A little bit about the card.
The image is called Puddle Fun,
the sentiment is a reworked Stampabilities stamp,
and on the inside, I've added:
On your birthday and everyday.
the papers are K & Company and My Minds Eye,
Stampendous Fun Flock, Waterfall Stickles &
Martha Stewart pearls.
Sketch from Carol's Sketch Fun


The super-talented Carol
has started up a bi-weekly sketch challenge blog
so if you are like me and really benefit from a great sketch,
why don't you head on over and take a look.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my entry.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Stephanne

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Doraline joins me for Sketch Saturday

Hi there,
I hope the day finds you well.
I have made a card using a sketch from
Sketch Saturday
with the adorable Doraline,
hope you likey:


I know you have seen these cuties
around blogland and are thinking to yourself:
"How cute are these? Where can I find them?"
Go to The Motivet webpage
and while you're there,
stop by their Inspiration Blog
and look over what their amazingly talented DT
have been creating with these cuties.
Really fast, fair shipping, I might add.


A little bit about the card,
K & Company papers and pearls,
the glorious Martha Stewart punch,
Prima flowers, EK success fern punch,
and coloured in distress inks.

And of course, here's the sketch.
I rotated it and apparently, stretched it a bit.


Thanks for stopping by,
hope you'll leave me your thoughts.

Enjoy your day,
Stephanne

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Hello... ello


Hello there,
I've got another card to share tonight.
I've been in the house today,
as it's been steaming hot,
my pasty duff can't handle that sort of heat,
so yay for me, I've been playing!!
Hopefully, the weather was kinder to you,
my blogging pals, and you were able to have
a lovely weekend.


I've played along with Penny Black Saturday Challenge
as their challenge was to use swirls on our creation.
I lub swirls, so I wanted to join in.
In fact, I had to stop myself from adding more
swirly stuff to the card.
I've used heat embossing on a flourish stamp,
(from the Sketchy Flourishes Inkadinkado clear pack)
I then outlined around the design
with an embossing pen and embossed again,
this time, with glitter.
I've also used a stencil around the image,
"Love Conquers"--Penny Black.
Designer papers are My Minds Eye
Webster's Pages and Anne Griffin.


Over at Simon Says Challenge
they've asked us to paper piece.
This is where the Webster's Pages paper comes in.
I've stamped some flowers from the
Penny Black T for Transparent Wonderful set
onto that paper,
as well as the snails shell.
Everything is peiced over the stamped image,
hedgies got 3 layers of paper on this project,
althouth those are painted layers,
not designer papers.


The snail charm is Jolee's,
the "fibers" are Basic Grey,
as is the sentiment stamp,
and the gems are K and Company.

Hope you enjoy your upcoming week.
Thanks for stopping by,
please feel comfortable leaving a comment,
I appreciate every one of them ;)
Stephanie

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Friday Sketchers #60


Hello all,
Finally a card!!
This week has been something,
my son has been representing the
2 year old reputation to the fullest,
one of my stepdaughters has been sick,
the unnerving heat has returned,
and my, wait, wait, wait...
No, I will not whine on my blog!!
I have completed a card today:


This is a Rachelle Anne Miller image
from Stampavie called My Little Friends
featuring the adorable Lily.
Love these stamps,
they give a lot of room for colouring,
and of course,
they remind me of being a youngster,
I used to draw and doodle
kids and animals, flowers and stars,
butterflies and bees,
so Rachelle Anne Miller is right up my alley.


I have coloured with distress inks,
used sakura gel pen for the white,
stickles inside the swirls,
designer paper is BoBunny,
charm is Jolee's,
and the sketch is courtesy of Heidi
over at Friday Sketchers


I haven't played with Friday Sketchers before,
but that Desigh Team is awe-inspiring
and looks like lots of fun.
I was looking through some of their older sketches
last night and had to click on that lovely
"Follow" button.
Additionally, they are offering up a
wonderful prize this week:
3 stamps of your choice from Motivet
Surely you have caught a glimpse of
Dexter and Doraline,
and have likely fallen in love with them.
I know I have, I feel like a stalker,
I'm on their blog every morning checking out the
delicious creations from their DT.
Go see, you will love it.

Back to my creation,
I gave this sketch a turn on it's side
and went to work.
I am really pleased with the way the card turned out.
I have uploaded one more pic
because it shows the crystals in the charm.
The colour is off, but it shows the fun stuff,
so onto the WWW it shall come.


I am hoping I will get to play
a bit more this coming week.
With a new bundle of challenges out,
I am not without inspiration.
Gonna start colouring a PB now
while the boy is napping.

Thanks for stopping by,
please feel welcome to leave me a comment.
Then I can come visit you too ;)
Stephanie

Sunday, July 5, 2009

TPE favorite colours meets Carol's Sketch Fun and Charisma Cardz

Hello,
I hope this weekend is treating you well.
I have been indoors safely tucked away from the sun,
and the crafting is coming along
now that my tot has fallen asleep.
I have made a card for The Pink Elephant
where the challenge was to create something
using our favorite colour combination.
This was HARD!!!!
I have many favorite colour combos,
in fact, there are only a few pairings that I don't like...
So it came down to choosing,
and I went with lovely muted hues of blue, moss and brown
with a pinch of soft rose.


I have used a very lovely sketch for this card
that you can find at Carol's Sketch Fun
Carol sets a challenge for every fortnight and
doesn't mind you co-mingling challenges,
so for crafters looking for sketches to utilze,
you ought to take your peepers over to this blog
and see what the talented Carol has sketched up!!


I have also played along with the challenge at
Charisma Cardz
which is to use buttons on our project.
Another tricky task for me,
as I am not the biggest button user,
but I am finding it's got more to do
with the image you're using than anything else,
and this darling Lili image seems like
something that buttons could compliment.


As anyone who actually checks out my blog regularly
must have noticed,
I have been naughty and spent some $$ on a
product line that is new to me, Stampavie.
Now, I am not one to keep up with the times,
I like what I like and that's how I go about
purchasing supplies, but these are fantastic
and I now know why I see these cutie patootie images
all over the place in Blogland.
They are phenomenal and so much fun to colour.
I still need tons more practice,
Lili received her first inking this evening,
but it's practice I look forward to doing.

Thanks for stopping by,
please feel welcome to leave me your thoughts,
Whenever Blogger allows it, I return visits ;)
Stephanie

Saturday, July 4, 2009

His Lordship Laurence is 21... in dog years


Dear Buddy,
In celebration of your birthday,
I have made you this card!!
I hope you have been enjoying your birthday week,
and that you are being treated like Royalty,
though somehow I think that might be the norm for
somedoggy as golden and irresistable as yourself.


I hope you can sneak your way onto Kath's Blog
in the future, as you are quite an eloquent
story teller, and quite possibly,
the most luscious golden pooch around!!


I coloured in your likeness,
but nothing quite compares to a looker
such as yourself!!
Now, if it won't get you caught redhanded,
or perhaps, red-pawed?? would you please tell
your Mum that I said hello
and that I am loving her new blog layout and header.
Only if you can avoid suspicion, of course.
I think I speak for all of your adoring fans
when I say I'd like to see you on here again!!

Big Hugs,
Stephanie

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Stephanne tries Stampavie Challenge #7

Hello out there,
I am pleased to tell you that I have
finally given non-woodmounted stamps a go
and what a discovery that has been.
I very recently purchased a couple Stampavie images,
and to say that I am impressed is an understatement.
I know you avid stampers are wondering
if I live on the moon or something,
just discovering and embracing this company,
but what can I say,
thrilled to be on board.

So I have been toying around with one of the stamps,
Rachel Anne Miller's Teddy's Travels
and this is what I've come up with:


I've played along with the Stampavie Challenge
which was a recipe:
3 flowers,
2 buttons,
1 ribbon,
and embossing.
And I gotta tell ya, I am not loving my embossing.
Not to snivel, but it's just not bringing anything to my card.
I started to tear it up, was gonna replace it,
stick something over the top,
add a zillion pearls to make it pretty,
but I decided that there must be some reason
I went for that pattern at the time,
didn't want to ruin all the other components
of the project and will just have to hope it grows on me.
I wanted to stick to the recipe,
no vanilla extract or cinnamon, just the recipe.


Squabbling aside, I had a lot of fun colouring Lily,
and can see that growing as a crafter with these images
will be a lot of fun.
It is my first go at Lily, so I should stop
beating myself up, total cuteness will come in time.
Just sharing the journey.

Thanks for looking,
Stephanie