ISSC09 Thanks

It's been a whirlwind of a week with the TSG sneak peeks!! But I'm loving it all!! And now it's time for this week's iSpy Sketch.  Yeah!!!

 This week, our sketch features Emily Keaton (ekeaton @ SCS) and is based on this card.

For some reason I let this sketch scare me but I have to tell you something - it was easy peasy!!!

I went pretty simple with my card using DP's from Echo Park, Bella Boulevard and Bo Bunny.  The sentiment is from the TSG mini set called "Branches".  The pink satin pleated ribbon is from the Ribbon Carousel (I'll be buying more of that stuff I tell ya).

Now hop on over to the iSpy blog to see what the rest of the Special Agents have whipped up for you.



Here's how to play:

Create a paper crafting project (card, scrap book page or 3D item), based on the sketch provided.

• Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery (using a code ISSC09). Please provide a direct link to your post - not the generic link to your blog.
• A new challenge will be posted every Friday at 12.01 AM EST, and you have until noon on Wednesday EST to submit your entry.
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please provide a newly designed project with a new link for each additional project.
• We will choose the top 2 creations to be featured in our "Top 2 Thursday" post where we will announce who we have picked :) The winners will receive their very own iSpy Sketches blog badge!
• Don't forget that you may combine our challenges with others and use supplies from any company that you wish :)
• Have fun and we look forward to "spying" your creations!

TSG Sneak Peek - It's a Jungle out there

It's our final day of sneak peeks for this month's TSG release and it's another fantastic one.

You LOVED her Zoo-pendous set, and well, everything else she has created, but I REALLY think Melyssa has KNOCKED this one out of the park!! Whether making a card for a boy or girl, man or woman, or scrapbooking your latest trip to the zoo, there is something in her new Jungle Out There set for you!! Full of the CUTEST animals, and most HILARIOUS sentiments, what’s NOT to love??

I decided to go clean and simple with this card using the current Fall to Layout.  I have colored the lion using Prismacolor pencils and the Gamsol technique.  I'm really loving the look of the pencils and will keep practicing. The sentiments that come with this set are fantastic!! Jeanie Whitmer (one of my stamping idols) has her "That's Krafty Thursday" challenge going on so I'm entering my card into her challenge.

 Jungle Out There is a 6x8 set that includes a total of 20 stamps and will sell for $24.00.

Would you like to win the new Jungle Out There 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, March 31^st with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

TSG Sneak Peek - When I grow up...

WOW!! Day 2 of this month's TSG sneak peeks and the DT has been rocking it if I do say so myself. 

I think we can all remember back to a time when we idolized our parents, most of us still do, and we wanted to grow up to be JUST like them. I mean, what girl HASN’T put on their mom’s shoes, and what boy hasn’t worn Dad’s tie? Just in time for Mother and Father’s Day, Torico has illustrated the CUTEST dress up set I have EVER seen!!

Isn't she just too stinkin' adorable?? OMGoodness!!! Love her!!! I used to love dressing up in my mom's heels so this image stole my heart.  I've colored it with my newly acquired Prismacolor pencils and the gamsol technique.  It's definitely different than using my Tombows.  I've used DP from My Mind's Eye (a pack released last year and I have scraps left - LOL).  I also added some Charcoal Black Twinery Twine that I purchased at Ribbon Carousel.

When I Grow Up is a 4x6 set that includes a total of 15 stamps and will sell for $15.00.

Would you like to win the new When I Grow 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, March 31^st with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

TSG Sneak Peek - Ruh-roh....

Can you believe it's already time again for this month's TSG release? It's another great one I can tell you that!!!

We know you love them, and we love them too, but this month’s Ruh-Roh set, is slowly becoming one of my FAVORITES!  Torico has illustrated the most ADORABLE mini set, and for all you dog lovers out there, yep, there’s a puppy in this one, and he is up to no good!! With several stamps to create a scene, and 5 adorable sentiments, this set is a must have for anyone who has EVER had to say they or sorry…..and I doubt that excludes ANYONE!!!

For this month's release, I stepped away from my Tombow Markers if you can believe it and brought out my new Prismacolor pencils for a test drive. And I'm loving them!!! I'm still learning how to do the Gamsol technique but I love how different they are than my Tombow Markers.  I kept my layout really simple to make sure the image and this funny sentiment is the main focus.  When I taught down in NC, "My bad" is something I heard on a daily basis from my students.  So of course as soon as I saw the sentiment, I knew I HAD to use it.  LOL!!!

Ruh-roh is a 3x4 set that includes a total of 9 stamps and will sell for $7.00.

Would you like to win the new Ruh-roh  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, March 31^st with the winner being announced during the release party chat.

TSG149 Little boy blue...

This week our challenge  at There She Goes is brought to us by Jessie!  She has challenged us to make a card or project using the provided sketch!

 I loved this sketch as soon as I saw it and it gave me an opportunity for a little fun!!!

Now I know what you're thinking... that image isn't TSG is it?  You bet it is!!! We'll be highlighting this set  called "When I grow up" in the upcoming release on Wednesday.  It's a fantastic set I'll tell ya!!! I used the opportunity for this release to use my new Prismacolor pencils.  I'm still learning how to use them and the Gamsol technique so go easy on me.  LOL!!! For my card, I've used Echo Park This and That: Charming that I bought at the Ribbon Carousel as well as some Brown Jute Twine.

We'd love for you to play along with us for this week's sketch challenge :-)

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a card or project using this sketch, 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 (April 2nd). 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 TSG149 so we can check out your beautiful work!

ISSC08 Oh for Peep's Sake...

My post today is a bit of a Two-fer... I've created it for this week's iSpy challenge as well as this week's "There She Goes (Again)" post where the Trendsetters post a card using some of the older TSG sets.   

This week at iSpy, we are featuring Brigit Edblom aka Biggan at SCS. She created this clean and simple card on January 9, 2012 that we loved for its' simplicity in design.

What I love about this sketch is that you can go CAS or you can layer it up. You know which option I went with... layer it up!! LOL. 



For my card I've used the TSG sets called " Tweeterpated" and "Hunny Bunnies". (Both of these sets are currently 15% off at the TSG store.  Wahoo!!!! The main image was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and then watercolored with my Tombow Markers. I also stamped the image directly onto the cloud DP.  That way I could pop up the colored image and still have it's legs. LOL. I've also used some Reseda Vintage Seam Binding available from the Ribbon Carousel.

Make sure you also pop on over to the TSG blog to see the fabulous eye candy using our TSGA sets.

Here's how to play at iSpy Sketches:

• Create a paper crafting project (card, scrap book page or 3D item), based on the sketch provided.
• Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery (using a code ISSC08), and link it here with the inlinkz widget below. Please provide a direct link to your post - not the generic link to your blog.
• A new challenge will be posted every Friday at 12.01 AM EST, and you have until noon on Wednesday EST to submit your entry.
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please provide a newly designed project with a new link for each additional project.
• We will choose the top 2 creations to be featured in our "Top 2 Thursday" post where we will announce who we have picked :) The winners will receive their very own iSpy Sketches blog badge!
• Don't forget that you may combine our challenges with others and use supplies from any company that you wish :)
• Have fun and we look forward to "spying" your creations!

RCC45 Go Confidently

This week at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge blog, we are being sponsored by The Twinery so we want to see your creations using Baker's Twine. The Twinery will be giving away a $15 gift certificate to one lucky participant!!! Yeah!!!  

Participants must visit and leave comments on each blog on the hop.

Deadline for commenting is 11:59pm EST, Friday March 23rd.

Winners at The Twinery will be announced on Saturday, March 24th.

Your creation can be anything from cards, quilts, sewn items, paper crafts, paintings! *** Be sure to have ribbon, bakers twine, jute twine, lace, thread (basically anything that comes on a spool). ***

For my card today, I decided to use the Verve set called "Words of Wisdom" (my go to Verve set) and have stamped it with Close to Cocoa ink.  I was inspired by one of this month's Viva La Verve challenges this month for my layout.  Did you see that fantastic DP?? Love it!!! It's the Echo Park lines called "This and That: Graceful" and the green is from their "This and That: Charming". I've been hoarding this DP since I got it last month and have only just broken into it today.  Sad I know!!!  I'm absolutely love the Bubblegum Pink Tulle as well (I think it's been one of my go to's lately in terms of embellishments) available from the Ribbon Carousel. I've also used some of the Cappucino Twinery Baker's Twine that was also purchased at the Ribbon Carousel. 

We'd love for you to participate with us this week!!!

 

TSG148 Happy Easter

This week our challenge at There She Goes  is brought to us by our Trendsetters! We are challenging YOU to make a card or project with an Easter theme, but using animals.   The week prior to the upcoming release, we always have what we call "There She Goes (Again)" and we highlight older stamp sets. 

For my card today I've used one of our TSGA sets called "Hunny Bunnies" .  I've stamped the two images with Versafine Onyx Black ink and then watercolored them with Tombow Markers.  I attempted to do a look that I've seen before with glitter... but as you can see, all it looks like is snow (not my intention) - darn it anyway.  For some reason, it didn't end up with the effect it was supposed to have.  The layout for my card comes from this month's SFYTT that I've flipped over on  its' side. I have also added some Black Twinery Twine from the Ribbon Carousel and the DP I've used is the Dolled Up line from MME (also from the Ribbon Carousel).

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a card or project using Easter and Animals, 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 (March 26th). 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 TSG148 so we can check out your beautiful work!

ISSC07 Dropping you a line

I know, I know... It's been another quiet week on my blog.  Sorry about that!! I've had some bad headaches this last week which has led me to the couch rather than to my makeshift craft area. 

This week at iSpy Sketches, our sketch is from Holly McMillen (Toy @ SCS) and is based on this card.  I'm so excited that we're highlighting Holly's card. We're on a DT together and she's the sweetest person around!!!

Fab sketch eh?? I love it!!!

  

I bought this fun image called "Surfing Oliver"  from Sparkle Creations last month when I was down in WA state for the PJ Crop and this was the first opportunity to ink it up.  I've stamped the image with Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear detail embossing powder.  I have watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers (I'll be breaking out my new Prismacolor Pencils pretty soon - yeah!!!).  I used a Stamping Bella sentiment that I've had for quite some time to finish up the card.  I moved the oval panel slightly to the right so that I could fit the image onto the card (and I used a larger sentiment which was part of the decision too).  

The girls have some amazing eye candy for you today so make sure you check it out!!

Christyne Kane
Kim O'Connell
Danielle Daws
Tobi Crawford
Kim Teasdale
Jessie Rone
Vickie Zimmer
Vicki Dutcher
Jenny Peterson

TSG Thinking of You

I always find sympathy cards to make and put off making this particular sympathy card for as long as I could.  I attended the funeral of a friends' mom on Friday (my friend and I have been friends since elementary school) and wanted to make a card that would put a smile on my friends' face and remember what an amazing woman her mom was. 

I decided to keep my card relatively simple and let the sentiment from the TSG set "Tulip" speak for itself.  For my card, I've used one of the new My Mind's Eye pads called "Howdy Doody" and Bubble Gum pleated tulle ribbon both from the Ribbon Carousel.  The layout for my card is last week's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge.

Thanks for popping by today.  I'll be creating the day away so I'll have some eye candy for you throughout the week.  

ISSC06 You're the cat's Meow!!

This week at ISpy Sketches we are featuring this geometric card by Patter Cross (identicaltriplets at SCS) that was posted in her SCS Gallery on January 20th, 2012.

We love that you can switch up the hexagon shapes to any other and that this sketch lends itself to being more on the clean and simple side of the spectrum :D I don't have anything hexagon shape, so I took the easy way out (Surprise...) and used circles instead.  Yeah!!!

Isn't Marble the Mouse from Your Next Stamp just way too cute?  I heart him!!  I saw a card a few months ago (can't remember whose blog it was on) but I loved it so I had to order this cute little guy.  I've stamped the image with Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then watercolored the image with my Tombow Markers.  Marble's eyes were coated with Glossy Accents.  The DP mainly comes from the Echo Park "A Boy's Life" collection and the Black Jute Twine is from the Ribbon Carousel.  The sentiment I paired it with is from MFT and is one of their Flapper Doodles (discontinued).  I'm also entering my card into Jeanie Whitmer's "That's Krafty Thursday" challenge.  Have I ever mentioned I heart Jeanie Whitmer? 

We'd love for you to participate with us at Ispy Sketches this week!!

Here's how to play:

• Create a paper crafting project (card, scrap book page or 3D item), based on the sketch provided.
• Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery (using a code ISSC06). Please provide a direct link to your post - not the generic link to your blog.
• A new challenge will be posted every Friday at 12.01 AM EST, and you have until noon on Wednesday EST to submit your entry.
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please provide a newly designed project with a new link for each additional project.
• We will choose the top 2 creations to be featured in our "Top 2 Thursday" post where we will announce who we have picked :) The winners will receive their very own iSpy Sketches blog badge!
• Don't forget that you may combine our challenges with others and use supplies from any company that you wish :)
• Have fun and we look forward to "spying" your creations!



RCC43 Wanna hang out?

It feels like it's been awhile since I've posted an RCC card and it has been...  Oops!!! That's what a flooded basement does for ya. Argh...

We are kind of a silly bunch of girls, and we are also sometimes kind of mouthy to each other, so when Wendy offered up this challenge, it made us laugh. 

‘Cause we FELT like it – we are challenging you to use FELT on your card or project today. 

I know what you're thinking... I went SUPER clean and simple.  My story is.... I have a ton of felt but guess where it all is right now?  In storage with most of my crafty stuff.  I live in a large(ish) city but the only felt you can get around here is the super crappy cheap stuff that doesn't cut nicely at all.  So I had to improvise... A trip to Michael's and I had my felt birds.  Then.... I was stumped!!! What was I going to do with them? 

And then I had my AHA moment...  I decided to create a sponged sky background (I know, I know... it's not a great looking cloudy sky... I'm still working on them). And then I used some Black Jute Twine from Ribbon Carousel as the power lines.  I then added the birds to the card to make it look like they're hanging out.  I've added a sentiment from the TSG set called "Loads of Fun".  Gotta love a great pun right? 

We are excited to announce our sponsor this week is Stephanie Hedderick from Whimsical Designs.  http://www.whimsical-designs.com/ Welcome Stephanie and THANK YOU! 

Whimsical Designs is a blog where I do various post a week with projects, crafty tips, and a brand new challenge every Wednesday. I have a new line of stamps made in the USA from the highest quality polymer available on the market. The stamps can be found on her blog under the shop tab.

Stephanie has offered up a beautiful stamp set as this week’s prize.  Thank you Stephanie!! 

Your creation can be anything from cards, quilts, sewn items, paper crafts, paintings! *** Be sure to have ribbon, bakers twine, jute twine, lace, thread (basically anything that comes on a spool). ***

Thanks for popping in today!!!

TSG146 Tag.. You're Fabulous!!!

This week our challenge at There She Goes is brought to us by our new Trendsetter, Kim O'Connell! She has challenged us to make Tags!! Tags are great for gift giving, or adding to a card base to make a card…the skies the limit!

Easy peasy right? You betcha!!! I'm always making cards so it was fun making something a bit more simple and easy.  I've used the TSG mini set called "Thinking of You" (that I embossed and then watercolored with Tombow Markers)  and a sentiment from the set called "Fabulous".  I've used a few ribbons from Ribbon Carousel,  - Black Jute Twine,  Black/White Two Tone Grosgrain Ribbon, and White Satin Pleated ribbon.  I also decided to make a bit of grass using my MS Grass punch and sponged the edges of it with Old Olive Ink. 

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a Tag or group of Tags, and then go 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 (March 12th). 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 TSG146 so we can check out your beautiful work!

Thanks for popping in today!!! 

ISSC05 Happy Birthday My Little Friend

It's been a quiet week on my blog-arooni....  I'm still trying to get myself situated at my parents while repair work is being done at home.  I've only just set my makeshift craft area up today so that I could make my card (hence the bad picture quality of my card.... CRAPPY lighting). 

Wahoo!!! It's March which means one thing... daylight savings time soon and the beginning of slightly warmer weather.  And a new month of inspiration for you at Ispy Sketches. This week we are featuring this gorgeous card by DJ Rants (DJRants at SCS) that was posted in her SCS Gallery on March 19, 2011.

Here is our sketch for this week - I was a little intimidated but ended up having a TON of fun with it!!

Lots of layers eh?? WOWZA!!!

Once again... I apologize for the bad pic quality.  I will try to take a pic when it's lighter out to see if I can get something better.  For my card, I've used the fun TSG set called "My Little Friend" and have watercolored the cute gnome with Tombow Markers.  I've used a mish mash of DP (MME, October Afternoon and Pebbles) to create a bright fun card.  I've added some Black Jute Twine from the Ribbon Carousel as well (I love this stuff).

I'm hoping with my card it will bring a little SPRING.. LOL...

Have a great day and thanks for popping by!!!