Birdie For you

It's another busy week on my blog... hope you don't mind!!! I have some fun stuff happening later in the week that I'm really looking forward to.  It's Tuesday so you know what that means... it's another challenge at Scrapbook Essentials. This week we're working with a clean and simple sketch. 

I had a lot of fun making my card using the cracked glass technique. It isn't something I do very often but I always love the look of it. 

I first stamped the bird image using Versafine Onyx Black and embossed it with clear embossing powder, I then sponged around the panel with Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa ink.  Then the cracked glass technique came into play.  Fun, fun, fun!!! In the DP layer, I've embossed it using the Forest Branches Cuttlebug Embossing folder.

Thanks so much for dropping by today!!!

TSG141 You brighten my day

This week at There She Goes, our challenge is brought to us by our Junior Trendsetters! They have challenged us to make a card or project using the photo as inspiration.

I had so much fun making my card but I tell ya... it was hard making a decision as to what floral image to use.  TSG has so many fabulous sets containing flowers but I eventually decided on the set called "Bloom" which I don't pull out often enough.   I've stamped the image and sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black and then the main image was watercolored with my Tombow markers.  My flowers were a little bright for what I was trying to attain so out came a light brown Tombow marker to soften the colours. The layout for my card is this week's Freshly Made Sketch that I've flipped upside down.  Instead of the three little circles, I replaced it with a rhinestone flourish. 

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a card or project using the photo as inspiration and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (February 6th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the lookout to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG141 so we can check out your beautiful work!

iSpy with my little eye... something that is fun!!!

I have some fun exciting news to share!!! Kim Teasdale is back in the game and she's started a new Sketch blog called iSpy Sketches!!!!! It's a fantastically fun team and I can't wait to get started!! Our debut sketch will be Friday February 3rd so make sure you check it out.  Now pop on over to the iSpy blog to check out the new DT aka the Special Agents!!

Awesome News at Ribbon Carousel!!!

Hey everyone! Today is a big day at RibbonCarousel.com. We are debuting the Brand New Ribbon Carousel^© today and, of course, doing a giveaway on our Blog too! Here are the details:

The Ribbon Carousel^© is made out of White Marine Board Plastic (High Density Polyethylene), giving it a textured top with smooth scrolled edges. Each Carousel comes with 8 Clear Acrylic rods allowing for many different configurations. You can use it as a 4, 5, 6 or 8 post Carousel, depending upon your individual needs.

The Ribbon Carousel^© holds up to 60 rolls of 3/8" ribbon using 4 rods, 40 Wooden Spools or 16 spools of your favorite Baker's Twine using 8 rods. It SPINS around on a lazy susan, allowing you to access your ribbon and twine easily! This easy-to-use organizer is compact, with a footprint less than 7" square on your workspace. The Ribbon Carousel^© holds ribbon spools of any size up to a 4" diameter. Minimal assembly required.

To use: Simply unscrew the knob on top of the Ribbon Carousel^©. Remove the top and place your spools on the posts as desired. Replace the top by lining up the rods to the holes in the underside of the top. Replace the knob to secure the Ribbon Carousel.

Specifications: Each Ribbon Carousel is approximately 6.85" square and 13.5" tall. The manufacturing and assembly of each Ribbon Carousel^© is in Washington State, USA.

Now head on over to the Ribbon Carousel Blog or FB page to be entered in our Giveaway!

TSG Sneak Peek - Scootin' By

Day 3 - hasn't the sneak peeks been fantastic? 

Cruising on a Sunday afternoon, scootin’ by to say hi! Melyssa Connolly has brought Leah back and she’s “born to be wild!” She already comes with lots of fun, but if this isn’t enough she has a kit to accessorize to her hearts content! Whether she’s moving, heading off to school, or enjoying a ride she’ll surely make tracks into your heart.

If you know me at all, it's been said that I'm a nice person who sometimes gets aggravated while driving... You'll just need to ask Jessica and Kim Teasdale, they'll tell ya.  LOL!!! I've always wanted a scooter but to be honest, they scare the living daylights out of me.  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers and kept the layout fairly simple. 

Scootin’ By is a 4x8 set that includes a total of 15 stamps and will sell for $18.00.

Scootin’ By – Accessories is a 4x4 set that includes a total of 14 stamps and will sell for $10.00.

Would you like to win the new Scootin’ by and Scootin’ by Accessories stamp sets? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday January 28^th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

TSG Sneak Peek - Perk Up

I'm such a sucker for anything coffee related so when Jessica sent the sets we'd be releasing this month, I did a little happy dance!! There She Goes really knows how to make amazing sets!!

Friendship and coffee are a good blend to send greetings near and far. Torico has created a darling set to perk up the one “mug” you’ve been missing. An absolute must for those sweets and treats without all the calories!

I had so much fun with this card!!! I started out using fellow Trendsetter Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch and used fun DP from Fancy Pants Design and Bella Blvd.   I have watercolored the image with Tombow Markers and then sponged the edge of the main panel with Versamagic Wheat Ink.  The White Ruffle edge ribbon and black Jute Twine are both from the Ribbon Carousel.  I also made this card for Jeanie Whitmer's current "That's Krafty Thursday" challenge.

Perk Up! is a 4x8 set that includes a total of 36 stamps and will sell for $18.00.

Would you like to win the new Perk Up! stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday January 28^th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

TSG Sneak Peek - Nursebots

Can you believe it's that time of month already again fot TSG Sneak Peeks??? It's amazing how quickly the beginning of 2012 has flown by! No “bots” set would be complete without Nursebot! Torico has done it again for There She Goes. She warmed your heart last month with Lovebots and this month she’s going to make you feel all better with Nursebot. What a great way to send well wishes then a visit from the Nursebot.

Can I just say how much I love this sentiment?  LOL!! It makes me laugh every time I see it.  I wanted to do something a little different than just a card so I decided to make a tag to attach to the test tube full of my fave Jelly Belly Sours!! (those suckers are expensive!!! I bought them bulk at one of my local stores and didn't have that many and they cost almost $8!!! Wowza!!! I've stamped the image and sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black and then watercolored the pills with my Tombow Markers.  To attach the tag to the test tube, I used some Dark Pink Vintage Seam Binding and Black Jute Twine from the Ribbon Carousel.

Nursebot is a 4x4 set that includes a total of 11 stamps and will sell for $10.00.

Would you like to win the new Nursebot stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday January 28^th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

SBEBC For YOU

If you are looking for my Ribbon Carousel Challenge post, please click here.

If you are looking for my There She Goes sneak Peek, please click here.

This week at "Essential Sketches", our challenge is to create a card with patterned paper.  This was easy for me because we all know how much I love my patterned paper.  It's like we were made to go together!! Separated at birth perhaps? LOL!!

I wanted to do something a little different, so I decided to use the large stamp from the set "Bird Background" in Versamark and then embossed it with clear embossing powder on the pink panel. It adds a bit more dimension to the patterned paper without being bold.  I then stamped the sentiment from the set in black ink.  The layout for my card comes from this week's Fall to Layout.

I think this card lends itself to being able to adapt it for so many different occasions. 

RCC37 You Mocha Me Crazy!!!

Wowza!!! The blogging frenzy begins!!! This week at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge, Suzanne is challenging us to make a card using non-traditional colours.  For example, if you're making a Valentine's card you can't use pink or red.  This one had me stumped... I swear I sat and stared at the challenge for hours!!! Then I stared at all my stamps for hours!!! I was pathetic! For some reason, I was making it harder than it needed to be.  I received some happy mail from Verve last week so I decided to break it out for a test run. 

For my card, I've used the Verve sets "Sip and Savor" as well as "Better with You" to create a Valentine's card.  Did ya notice??? No Pink or red!! Wahoo!!! I've stamped the cups in Versafine Onyx Black and embossed them with clear embossing powder, then paper pieced them.  I've sponged the main panel with Versamagic Wheat Ink and Close to Cocoa for a more distressed like look. The DP is a mish-mash of what I had laying around (Fancy Pants, K & Company, Scenic Route, 3 Bugs in a Rug).  The layout for my card is last week's Viva La Verve challenge over at SCS ( had to move the oval panel up a bit so that I could get the sentiment in). To finish off the card, I've added some Brown Jute Twine from the Ribbon Carousel.  I love the look it always ends up giving!!  I've always been a fan of Jeanie Whitmer's 'That's Krafty Thursday" challenge so I'll be linking my card up there as well.

Our sponsor this week is Paper and Such and they are graciously offering a $15 Gift Certificate to their store. We're sponsoring their challenge this week so there's double the fun!!!

Now head on over to the Ribbon Carousel Challenge to see what the ladies have created!!!

TSG140 Love is in the air

It's going to be a busy week on my blog!!! I spent the entire weekend making cards for various things and boy did I ever have fun.  This card has been made for this week's TSG challenge which is to make a Valentine's card.  Because I was so busy this weekend, I decided to make a CAS card using the TSG set called "Love" which was one of the sets we highlighted last week.  I stamped the letters and heart in Memento Rose Bud and Angel Pink.  I added a little bit of Pink Sorbet Baker's twine from the Ribbon Carousel as well.  Fairly simple and lovely for a Valentine's. 

We'd love for you to participate with us so pop on over to the TSG blog to check out all the challenge deets. 

I'll be back tomorrow with more TSG goodness as it's sneak peek time again already!!! (The sets are fantastic this month!!!)

For you CAS

Hi there everyone!!! I'm back home again after going to the Vancouver Canucks game on Sunday.  (they lost but we still had a fantastic time).  I'm here again with my card for this week's challenge at Scrapbook Essentials BC.

I decided for my card to go a little bit more simple and let each element speak for itself.  Each of the DT members are using some Bo Bunny "Welcome Home" line which is the source of inspiration for the color challenge this week.  I've embossed the DP using a "Couture Creations" embossing folder and then I sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip Ink. I've also stamped the sentiment from the set "Bird Background" in Chocolate Chip Ink.  The little butterflies?  Those were punched out using a MS butterfly punch and is the backside of the Welcome Home Bo Bunny DP.

Easy Peasy!!!  Hope you like it!!!

TSG139 I "ruff" you

I "ruff" you!!! Isn't that just so cute?  I'm hoping my post goes live tonight!!! I'm off to Vancouver today to see my beloved Vancouver Canucks play!  Let's just say I'm super EXCITED!!! Yup... I said it!!  LOL!!! Okay... enough jibber jabber here.  You're here for my card right?  This week over at TSG, the Senior Trendsetters are highlighting 3 sets in our "There She Goes (AGAIN) week".  This weeks' challenge is to create a card with nature in it.  I know what you're thinking... but yes, I do have some nature in my card!! See that little patch of grass?  LOL... That's my nature for ya. 

For my card today, I've used the TSG set called Puppy Love.  I think is my all time fave set from There She Goes.  I've watercolored the image with my Tombow markers (surprise surprise!!!) and kept it relatively simple.  The layout for my card is last weeks' Viva La Verve challenge at SCS. I absolutely loved the sketch and it worked so perfectly for my card.  My DP is a hodge podge of Echo Park, Fancy Pants, and Bo Bunny. I'm all about mixing my DP together for a fun look to a card.  It makes it pop a little more, don't you think? 

We'd love for you to participate with us this week so head on over to the TSG blog to check out what the girls have cooked up for you. 

Wishing You

Another post this week... can you believe it?  LOL!!! I'm on a roll!  hehehe.... I was playing a little bit over the weekend and made a card for last week's Merry Monday challenge (sketch challenge to create Christmas cards). I want to try to get a card made every week (or at least try to anyway) so that when Christmas rolls around, I'll actually have cards to mail out.  For my card I've used the TSG set called "Wishing You".  It's a fabulous set that I know I'll be using quite a bit throughout the year as I make Christmas cards.  I've stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  Snowflakes from the TSG set called "Stick Together"  were stamped in Soft Sky and I added clear rhinestones to the centers of each of the snowflakes. The ribbon called "Red V-striped twill ribbon" is from the Ribbon Carousel. I'm loving my swirly clip!!! (a la Jessie Rone!!!). 

Christmas cards: 1 !!!! Wahoo!!! LOL.  



Wishing You Happiness

Hey there everyone!!! Two cards in less than 24 hours!! This must be a record for me! If you're wanting to see my Ribbon Carousel Card, please click here. 

Today at Scrapbook Essentials BC Challenge blog, we're challenging you to create an easel card.

To learn how to create an Easel Card, please CLICK HERE FOR A TUTORIAL FROM SPLITCOAST STAMPERS.

For my card today, I've used the set called "Bird Background" and have stamped it in Versafine Onyx Black before embossing it with clear embossing powder. I then sponged in varying shades of yellow and orange to try to create a gradient look. 

We'd love for you to participate with us so head on over to the Scrapbook Essentials Challenge blog for all the details!

RCC35 Inspired by relaxation

I can't believe it's been a month since I've made a card for the Ribbon Carousel Challenge!!! Wowza!  This week Laurel has created an inspiration challenge that is somewhat winter like. 

**** Sorry about the pic quality!!! I have a new camera and things came out kinda funky with the lighting.  I'll try to take a pic on Tuesday in the day light.  I kinda strayed away from the inspiration pic - oops!!! I did keep most of the colors the same though and then added a bit of  pink to lighten it up for a more Spring like look.  I've used a digi called "Bubble Leah" from Whimsie Doodles who is our sponsor this week.  The image has been watercolored with my Tombow Markers and then I've added some Diamond Stickles to the bubbles both in the bathtub and the air. The layout for my card comes from this month's SFYTT. I must have been pre-occupied while making this card.... I got it all finished and then realized I had no ribbon on it!!! So, part of my card had to be disassembled so that I could add some  Pink Sorbet Baker's Twine from the Ribbon Carousel. Call me a dork!!!

One lucky participant will win a $10 Gift certificate to the Whimsie Doodles online store. You'll want to check out the Ribbon Carousel Challenge blog too!!! There might be a little something extra for this week's participants.

TSG138 A dear friend

Hi there everyone... I know what you're thinking!!! I'm a slacker!!! I had high hopes for starting the new year off with a slew of blog posts and then crickets... that's all I've given you so far. Nothing but silence!! Sorry about that! Life is finally starting to slow down so I managed to nab some time at my craft desk over the weekend to have a little bit of fun with some rubber and ink! 

I've made this card for this week's challenge over at the TSG blog which is to create a card using paper piecing.  The fabulously talented Iwona aka Chupa has left the team to pursue some amazing opportunities and we're all going to miss her immensely.  I thought it was only fitting to use one of the sets that Chupa illustrated while she was at TSG and the set is called "Happy Mail".  I've watercolored the image with Tombow Markers and then have paper pieced the cutie pie's dress with DP from Happy Days Echo Park.  I've also used another fellow Trendsetter's (Karen Giron) sketch from Sweet  SundaySketch Challenge.

We'd love for you to participate with us this week!!! So head on over to the TSG blog to check out all the fantastic inspiration from the DT. 

See you tomorrow!!!

A bird for you...

WOW!!! I can't believe 2012 is already here.  I'm so excited to get it going!!! And what better way to start the year than with a sketch for this week's challenge at Essential Sketches.

This sketch (as simple as it is) had me stumped for a bit because I knew what image I wanted to use but couldn't figure out how I was going to get it to work.  Apparently my mojo hadn't returned when I started this card (it went on Christmas vacation even though I didn't LOL).  I wanted to make a horizontal card so I basically just stretched the sketch out and made it fat. 

For my card, I was inspired by the Basic Grey "Little Black Dress" Collection with its' soothing tones and earthy feeling.  This month, I'll be showcasing the set called "Bird Background" as we move through all the challenges.  I decided that with the DP I chose to use that watercoloring the image completely wouldn't make sense so I decided to only watercolor portions of it with a light beige Tombow Marker.  The image and the sentiment were both stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then sponged around the edges with Wheat Versamagic Ink.  I love my bling so I added a row of bling in the top left and lower right corners. 

We'd love for you to participate this week so head on over to the Essential Sketches blog to check it out!!.