Cuttin' and Stampin' Challenge: Winter

Merry Christmas, Papercrafters!!  It is my sincere hope that you're all warm & safe, and that you're surrounded by family and friends this holiday.

Our challenge for the next two weeks is winter.  We've been inspired by the All Bundled Up line from Carta Bella and the Yeti, Set, Go stamp set by Lawn Fawn. 

       

For my project, I liked the idea of a wintery scene without having it be Christmas-y or actually saying winter.  I went with the snowman sticker from Carta Bella with his arms outstretched.  It seemed to coordinate perfectly with the "need a hug?" saying from the Lawn Fawn stamp set.  Unfortunately, lots of people get the blues in the winter... this would be a great card to help cheer them up!

        

        

The grey, snowy paper made a great background.  I added a rolling hill which can be cut by hand or, in this case, I used a pair of Paper Smooches dies -- one for the cut and one for the stitches.  And, a little glitter (or Stickles) goes a long way on a card like this by adding some glisten to the snow.

   

I'm more of a CAS (clean & simple) stamper, but this card could be dressed up even further with things like black gems on the eyes & buttons of the snowman, pop dots behind the snowman sticker, bling in the snowflake background... there are a thousand ways to add to it.

 

Whether you like 'em fancy or plain, I encourage you to submit your project!   Please see Tuesday's Cuttin' and Stampin' post to enter yours.

    

Happy Stamping & Merry Christmas!   

  

Cuttin' and Stampin' Challenge: Autumn Flowers

The Cuttin' and Stampin' Design Team is back from our hiatus and ready to roll!   We have some great projects and some drool-worthy products to share with you, so I hope you'll check them all out and keep checking with us regularly.

   

Our challenges are now bi-weekly, so we'll have a new challenge every other week.  You'll have two full weeks to get your projects created and posted for the challenge.
  
Today's project I'm sharing with you is for the Autumn Flowers challenge, and we're featuring the Fancy Pants Burlap & Bouquets collection.
   

 

  
As you can see, the flowers on my card are pretty small.   They appear on both of the patterned papers I chose.  The large burlap bow is part of the collection, and I trimmed off quite a bit of excess fiber from it.
  
Now it's time to head to Cuttin' and Stampin' to see what the other designers have created and get your project linked up!
  
Happy Stamping and Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Hero Arts Christmas Cards @ Craft Warehouse

Today's the day!  Three of my cards are being featured on the Craft Warehouse Blog, along with several time-saving tips for crafters.

One of the tips I share there has to do with those long strips of bling...

Many of the bling gems come packaged in strips that stick together. This is very convenient when you want a row of gems (like on card #1 on the blog post), but what do you do when you only want them one at a time?

Check it out at http://shopcraftwarehouse.blogspot.com/2014/11/hero-arts-christmas-cards-by-design.html.

Happy Stamping!

GIU - Growing In Unity Gal Friday

Wow, Friday got here quickly this week, didn't it?  It's already time for my final "Growing in Unity" project.   Since the fall colors are just starting to show here in the Boise area, I thought I'd share a very festive fall card.

This simple card can be made in just a few minutes.   First, I chose some spooky paper from Memory Box (it already had the scary tree branches on the left printed on it).  Next, I stamped the house and sentiment in a dark black ink -- and I think next time I might go even darker with pigment or even wet embossing.   Last, I used a die to cut some grass from another dark spooky Memory Box paper and trimmed it so it was just slightly wider than the house.  Super easy!

This house stamp and two sentiments are available as an itty bitty from Unity Stamp Company -- it's called "Haunted House Halloween".

Thanks so much for joining me this week for my Growing in Unity projects.  Remember, I'll be doing a drawing for a free Itty Bitty stamp from Unity from all of the comments left this week.  Happy Stamping!

GIU - Growing In Unity Gal Thursday

Today, I have for you something new that I tried.  The layout is similar to Tuesday's card, but it is presented vertically instead.

One of my favorite techniques is paper-piecing.  I love giving cupcakes patterned frosting and putting patterned elements on all sorts of things -- even animals!   This type of paper-piecing I tried today, however, is new to me.

I am in love with this image.  I wanted the leaves and grass to be green, but I didn't want that green color on the flowers themselves.  I tried it with ink pads, just pressing the green against the grass part and purple against the flower part, but it never looked like I imagined.  So I stamped the flowers in black on a second piece of cardstock, colored the flowers with Prismacolor pencils, and pieced those colored flowers onto this image.  (Now, if I could just get my camera to behave when photographing purples!)
  
Please check back every day this week for more Unity projects.   I'll be doing a drawing for a free Itty Bitty stamp from Unity from all of the comments left this week.  Happy Stamping!

GIU - Growing In Unity Gal Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by for another day of my "Growing in Unity" week!

Here's a clean & simple card for the middle of the week.   It was created for a challenge to include hearts on a project, but not to use "heart" colors like red or pink.   I liked the blue because, depending on embellishments, it would be appropriate for a male or female.

This paper is from the Theresa Collins "Everyday Moments" 6x6 paper pad and the little resin flower is from Stampin' Up!   As you can see, I stamped the heart onto a patterned panel to add visual interest.   (By the way, the stamp is from the 12/13 Kit-of-the-Month which is on sale right now for only $20 -- it also includes an adorable cupcake, cute chemistry beakers, and lots more!)
   
Please check back every day this week for more Unity projects.   I'll be doing a drawing for a free Itty Bitty stamp from Unity from all of the comments left this week.  Happy Stamping!

GIU - Growing In Unity Gal Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!   Your regularly-scheduled GIU gal had an emergency, so I'll be filling in for her this week.

Today, I'm sharing two different focal images for the card I made.  I really liked the first one I stamped, but at the last minute I decided to add antennae to the butterfly and I didn't like how those turned out.   So I grabbed another piece of white cardstock and tried again with pinks.   What do you think?

This layout was a sketch challenge for The Stampers' Sampler magazine, inks are Memento dye from Tsukineko, and the black & white patterned papers are from Darice.  Stamps, of course, from Unity.

Had the part I not liked been so close to the butterfly, I probably would have covered it up somehow.   As I often say, "Every mistake is a chance for embellishment."   Looking back now, I guess I could have just put gems on the end of the thick antennae of the orange butterfly and called it good.

How do you deal with elements of your projects that don't turn out as planned?

Please check back every day this week for more Unity projects.   I'll be doing a drawing for a free Itty Bitty stamp from Unity from all of the comments left this week.  Happy Stamping!

FWF: Missing You Butterflies

Once again, it's time for Unity's Friends with Flair Friday!   Are you doing any crafting this weekend?  I am!   One of my friends' husband is going on a trip and she generously invited a bunch of friends over for a crafting weekend.   I have lots of thinking & packing to do, but I'm sure all the work will be well worth it.   I love hanging out with this group of crafty gals.

This week's card was fairly simple to put together.  I paper-pieced the butterflies so I could have intense pink color along with a little bit of added dimension.

Looking at this card, I'm not sure I like the color of the edging around the tag/banner at the bottom.   Chestnut Roan is my go-to inking pad, but perhaps a darker brown would have worked better given the color of the card and the spray.  What do you think?

Hope you enjoy your week!   Happy Stamping!

FWF: Every Artist

It's Friday once again, everyone, and I have a special Unity card to share with you for today's Friends with Flair.  This one was can be found in print, on page 92 of the current Take Ten Summer 2014 issue.  I submitted this card for a "sage green" call, but the sage projects aren't going to be published until the Summer 2014 issue of The Stampers' Sampler.
    

 
If you have the desire to see your projects in print, set a goal to submit a few.  It's so interesting which ones they choose and which don't make the cut.  You see, the cards that don't get chosen aren't necessarily bad.  It may be that they already have lots of orange cards, for example, but they have a spot on a layout with red cards that needs to be filled.

Most magazines offer you the opportunity to have your project returned to you if they choose not to publish it.  I always let them keep it -- who knows when they'll need my lavender card to fill a spot?   I've had a project published almost two years after I submitted it.  That wouldn't have happened if I had insisted that it get returned to me.
   
It's such a thrill to see your project in print!  In addition to the excitement, there are often other perks, too.  Typically, the publisher sends you a complimentary copy of the issue your project is featured in.  Depending on the products your project features, you might also qualify from some reward swag (typically called "Publication Incentives").  I've been keeping a comprehensive list of paper & stamp companies that offer such incentives and links to their specific guidelines.  It's right here on the blog, up top, labeled "Publication Incentives", or you can click on that phrase here.  I would definitely encourage you to support companies that offer these.
      
I hope you'll take a chance and send in a few of your favorite cards, and I hope to see your project in print someday soon.
   
Happy Stamping!
  

Weekly Challenge #24 - Birthday

What a giant coincidence!  Or did Tammy somehow plan this?  Today we're kicking off a birthday card challenge, and today is my sister's 40th birthday!  Sometimes things work out so well!

     

        

I had a ton of fun making this card!   The papers and stamps we're featuring today (from the Jillibean Soup Birthday Bisque line) are so colorful, happy, and upbeat.  When I noticed the "Olde Style" root beer embellishment, I decided to edge all of the papers with brown chalk ink.  While it did add some aging, it certainly did not dull the bright colors!

   

My favorite thing about this collection is that there are plenty of other ways to use it besides birthdays.  The balloons can signify any celebration, as can the banner paper.  Many of the embellishments are event-neutral.   And as far as finding paper to match?   There are so many colors in there, you definitely will have something in your stash that matches perfectly!

   

Also submitted for these challenges:
2 Cute Ink Challenges:  Birthday 

Amusing:  Four (or more!) Colors

Cards Galore Encore:  Anything Goes 

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge:  Anything Goes

Createalicious Challenges:  Happy Birthday
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:  Anything Goes

Sunday Stamper:  Patterned Paper

        

Happy Birthday, sis, and Happy Stamping!

FWF: A Birthday Card Featuring Wine

TGIF, everyone!   It's Friends with Flair Friday, and I have a fun card to share with you.

My sister is celebrating a big birthday in a few days.   She's a fan of wine and I wanted to make a wine-related card for her.  Unity Stamp Co. had the PERFECT stamps to convey what I wanted to say.  First, I started with the wine bottles from the Let's Get SIP FACED stamp set.   I liked the "aged to perfection" sentiment that comes with it, but I hoped to find something a little more specific to a big birthday.   I think the perfect sentiment came with the Marlow Fashionista {itty bitty}, with the Italian Proverb "Age and glasses of wine should never be counted."

I had a very hard time finding just the right colors to go with the way I colored the wine.   Luckily, I still have a few sheets of the retired Stampin' Up! color Bravo Burgundy.   I held up the piece of burgundy cardstock to tons of papers in my stash, and the closest match came with the Eva line from BasicGrey.  I chose the "Courtier" pattern from a mini-pack.   The pennant die is from Sizzix and I colored with Copic markers.


Happy Stamping... and Happy Fortieth to my sister!  :)

   
Submitted to Challenges:
A Creative Romance:  Anything Goes w/ Birthday Option
Baffies Kreativladen:  Many Circles
Crafty Cardmakers: Uses Circles
Loves Rubberstamps Challenges:  Clean & Simple
QKR Stampede:  Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge:  Anything Goes
The Stamping Chef:  Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff Challenge:  Circles

Weekly Challenge #22 - Father's Day

 With Father's Day coming up, I already have my standard plan in place.   I'll make my dad's favorite Strawberry Pie, hope I can find some nice fresh sweet corn & tomatoes for his favorite dinner, and I'll make him some sort of nautical Father's Day card.  

   
My parents honeymooned in Fort Lauderdale and ended up renting an apartment and staying for more than a year.   A few years (and 2 kids) later, they returned to Fort Lauderdale.  Dad's return lasted for 30 years!   I remember our house had lots of jars of seashells and paintings of boats.  We even had a table fashioned like a boat propeller.
   
So when I learned that we'd be featuring the "Anchored" line from Authentique as well as the "Float My Boat" stamp set from Lawn Fawn, I knew this combination would be perfect for my dad.
    

    
For today's card, I used three different patterns of paper from the "Anchored" paper line.  I was going for a vintage look, so I edged all the pieces with Chestnut Roan chalk ink from Clearsnap.   I think my favorite part of the card is the "ahoy" sticker, which also came from the "Anchored" collection.   Dies for the ovals and anchor are from Spellbinders.
  
Also submitted for these challenges:
SCS Sketch SC490
Eureka Stamps Father's Day 
Incy Wincy Designs Something for a Guy 
Squigglefly Father's Day 
Cards Galore Encore Anything Goes 
Ladybug Crafts Boys and/or Dies 
Really Reasonable Ribbon Masculine & Using a Fiber/Ribbon 
Amusing Challenges Father's Day w/o Digi 
Lacy Sunshine Punches or Dies 
Corrosive Challenges Anything Goes 
Pumpkin Spice Blog Summer 
We Do Doobadoo Different Shapes  (ovals & rectangles)

    
Happy Stamping!

Weekly Challenge #20 - Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember the sacrifices of all the men and women who lost their lives while serving in our armed forces.   While it is different than Veteran's Day, I think any time is a good time to thank and acknowledge the veterans and their families who make so many sacrifices for our freedom.   In addition to family and friends, there are lots of currently serving service members that don't have anyone to send them care packages or letters.  One card-specific way to honor them is to include cards with care packages via AnySoldier.com.

    

    

My project today includes stamps from the Paper Smooches Circle of Honor stamp set along with patterned paper, air mail washi tape, icon stickers, blue jean sprinkles vellum, silver stars sprinkles stickers, and Simply Put album inserts, all from Doodlebug Designs' Patriotic Parade line.   I layered the fun sprinkles vellum over the fireworks paper on the bottom section of the card.  Unfortunately, the vellum adhesive I used was very visible in the photograph.  I'll try another brand when I plan on posting the project online next time.

  

The larger star paper icon stickers were plenty cute, but I really liked the dimension and sparkle added by placing the silver sparkles stickers centered inside them.

 

Rounding out this project are the words & eagle (stamped in Memento dye ink in Danube Blue) and the eagle's beak colored with Copic markers.

Because this week is an ANYTHING GOES week at Paper Smooches Sparks challenge, I'm submitting this card for that, too! 
         

Happy Stamping!

 

Weekly Challenge #18 - Traditional Mother's Day

Last week, the Green Team featured cards made for Mother's Day with non-traditional colors and themes (i.e. no flowers).   This week, the Orange Team is showing off more traditional Mother's Day cards.  This theme is just perfect for the Bazzill Basics ultra-feminine Vintage Marketplace Line.  The papers are so pretty and shabby-chic!
 

       
On my card, I used the green gingham and roses patterns -- definitely my favorites of the whole pack!   There are also fun polka dots, chevrons, and fun office-style papers in soft Springtime colors.  Coordinating perfectly with the colors on these papers were the Memento dye inks in Bamboo Leaves and Angel Pink.  I used two words stamps and then a portion of the cameo stamp from Paper Smooches' Pretty Momma set.  The crown sticker is also part of the Vintage Marketplace line.
  
Mother's Day is bittersweet for me.   My Mom passed unexpectedly almost 13 years ago, and I still miss her every day.  I spend this day thankful for my own Mom as well as all the other wonderful Moms in my life.  My Mother-in-Law, for example, is an absolute gem.   I love her to pieces!   I always look forward to talking and visiting with her.  We were a great support to each other, sometimes long-distance, during my husband's big open heart & transplant surgeries.  She also taught hubby to cook, clean, and do laundry.  She rocks.
 
Please join us this week to create a traditional Mother's Day card or project.  And if your own Mom is no longer with us, you definitely know a Mom who would appreciate a card.  Your sister, an aunt, a neighbor who has kids, that co-worker that works so hard, a lady at church who brings her little ones every week...  there are lots of Moms out there!   I'm not a Mom, so I don't pretend to know how hard they work and how much they worry, but I bet they'd love to be shown appreciation!  To participate, please link your project HERE.
 
Because this week is an ANYTHING GOES week at Paper Smooches Sparks challenge, I'm submitting this card for that, too! 
         
Happy (early) Mother's Day and Happy Stamping!
   

Weekly Challenge #16 - April Showers

April is more than half over (can you believe how fast time is flying?), and we can't get to the May flowers without the April showers, so that's this week's challenge - April Showers. 

Our team is showcasing the Pink Paislee "Hello Sunshine" collection.  There are such cute umbrellas, raindrops, and flowers in this collection!  They even have a stamp set and a coordinating die.
      

      
I tried a number of colors for my card base.  The lighter colors that matched the patterned papers made the card look too washed out.  The deep, bright blue made things really pop!   The "be the rainbow" focal image is actually one of the pocket cards just cut a little bit to square off the corners.  Also included are ephemera, puffy heart stickers, and the umbrella die (which I cut twice -- once for the yellow handle & tip, and again for the flower canopy).

        
Happy (Spring) Stamping!
    

Weekly Challenge #14 - Rainbows/Easter

Wow, what a gorgeous week it has been here in Idaho so far!  Such mild & sunny weather.  Loving it!  It's in that spirit that we're celebrating rainbows & Easter -- using the Paper Smooches Spectum stamp set and the Doodlebug Springtime line. 
     
The focus on rainbows is pretty evident in my card, especially with the unicorn's mane and tail, which were paper-pieced using one of the very colorful Doodlebug papers.  I also pieced the horn from a different patterned paper.

     

    

This card used quite a few items from the Doodlebug Springtime line: the plaid, baby chicks, & kites papers; flower washi; and the banner is from a Simply Put album insert.  Other items used include dies from QuicKutz (word bubble) and The Cat's Pajamas (grass), and Copic Sketch markers.
   
Because this week is an ANYTHING GOES week at Paper Smooches Sparks challenge, I'm submitting this card for that, too! 

    
Happy Stamping!
  

Weekly Challenge #12 - Paper Piecing

This week, our team is showcasing paper and embellishments from the My Mind's Eye Now & Then Izzy line, which is now available at the Cuttin' and Stampin' Scrappy Supply Store.

    

My project got underway when I saw the bow-tie paper and thought about how it could be used to make a really cute patterned cat.  So the kitty is grey and white, and I paper-pieced his mouth too.  Then, of course, I had to add the mustache enamel shape.  The blue cardstock for the card is actually the darker blue jeans Bazzill cardstock -- and it looks like it was custom-made to match the mustache.

    

     

I chose "thrilled for you" as the sentiment because of the happy & excited look on kitty's face.  I punched out photo corners from another of the patterned papers and then cut out the "smile" and floral pennant shapes from one of the cards from the 3"x4" pack.  Paper Smooches stamp sets used:  Nine Lives & Simply Said.

   

Now it's your turn!  Please join us and submit your paper-pieced creations.  Click HERE to add your project(s).

   

Happy Stamping!

   

Weekly Challenge #10 - St. Patrick's Day

We're celebrating St. Patrick's Day!  Each member of the team created cards using the new A Charmed Life product line by Simple Stories, which is available in the Cuttin' and Stampin' Scrappy Supply Store.  As you'll see, this product line has beautiful, bright colors and is not specific to St. Patrick's Day.  It's great for any time of year.

     

           
My card features quite a few items from the A Charmed Life product line:  The big green "LUCKY" was cut from one of the SN@P Cuts, the "so very lucky" heart strip is from the Border & Title Strip Elements, "#LOVE" ticket and the little blue flower behind the brad is from the Fundamental Cardstock Stickers, the round "Lucky ME" is from the Bits & Pieces pack, and the brad came from the accompanying brad pack.  As you can see, for a change, nothing was stamped.
    
I hope you'll join us and make a St. Patrick's Day-inspired project of your own!  You can enter your project HERE by March 17.
    
Happy Stamping!

FWF - Nobody Sweeter

I fell in love with a recent Unity "Kit of the Month".   Each kit has such a variety of stamps, and they're a great deal!
  
This kit featured a cupcake and a couple of cupcake sentiments.  I'm not lacking on either front, but these were so cute, I couldn't resist.   Here's what I mean:
  

    
These patterned papers are from Doodlebug -- this year's and last year's Valentine's Day lines.  They do say "love" and things like that, but nothing absolutely specific to the holiday... so I use them all year. 
  
Happy Stamping & Happy Friday!
  

Weekly Challenge #8 - All Boy

This week is all about the boys, and this should be easy for me because I'm surrounded by boys -- hubby, dad... even the cat!   I'm in a sea of testosterone at my house, but I have to admit that I still find girly cards much easier to create.    
I found an adorable paper pad from WeRMK called "For the Record".   It had nice, youthful masculine patterns and color palette.   And the "hey buddy" sentiment from Paper Smooches' "Simply Said" stamp set said "boy" to me.
    

         
Thanks so much for checking out my card!  Now it's time to head over to the Cuttin' and Stampin' blog to see the rest of the Design Team's inspiration projects and to learn how to enter your very own creation.
 
Happy Stamping!

Weekly Challenge #6 - Writing Instrument

I took a pretty loose interpretation of a writing instrument for this project...  I was thinking of writers like Hemingway and Tolkien writing their manuscripts -- long before the invention of the IBM Selectric II that we had at home growing up.

    

   

For my project today, I stamped the typewriter on cream cardstock.  I stamped the paper on white cardstock and cut it out.  Then I cut a slit in the typewriter to allow me to slide the paper down into it, making it look like it was coming out of the typewriter.  The typewriter font sentiments in the set were perfect for this!  The "for you" sentiment is from the Paper Smooches "Falling for You" stamp set.

    

Because the typewriter is a solid stamp, you may not get your desired result when stamping it with dye ink.  Because of its water base, dye ink tends to bead up on clear stamps causing either an incomplete image or an unbalanced image.  For the typewriter stamp, I got a perfect image using a pigment ink.  It was VersaFine Onyx black.  It takes a long time to dry, so I highly recommend heat setting it.
   
The ribbon started out as a cream-colored 1/4" silk ribbon from May Arts.  It was too light to match the cream cardstock and I really wanted an embellishment to carry the turquoise color through.  I colored the ribbon with the BG13 Copic Sketch marker, but then it was a bit too bright for the antiqued turquoise pattern.  The next step was to tone the color down and "age" it a bit by dabbing it on the Chestnut Roan chalk ink from ClearSnap.  Perfect!

   

I hope you'll join us for the challenge and submit your project(s) featuring a writing instrument.  Also, check out the main challenge page where the other fabulous group of DT members have created their own creative interpretations. 

   

Happy Stamping!!

   

Weekly Challenge #5 - Sweethearts

This week we are all about Sweethearts. It's just about Valentine's Day and everyone's looking for the great gift idea for that special someone.  The challenge for you is to create something special for your Sweetheart.   

  

To make my card, I started off cutting out a large heart (with an A Muse Studio die) and using masking tape to attach the outline/negative to a white piece of cardstock. I then used that as the template for making a heart of hearts.

   

    

I started with a few of the largest hearts, to make sure there would be room for them.  Then I filled in with smaller and smaller hearts. I alternated colors and made sure I got as much of the available area inside the heart template filled. And there we have it, a "heart of hearts". Heart stamps are from the Paper Smooches "Sweet Hearts" stamp set. Inks include Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug, and Angel Pink dye inks from Memento by Tsukineko. Heart embellishments from Doodlebug.

Because this week is an ANYTHING GOES week at Paper Smooches Sparks challenge, I'm submitting this card for that, too! 
      

You can link your project HERE for your chance to win. Hope you'll join us and create something sweet for your sweetheart!   

  

Happy Stamping!

  

2014 Cuttin' & Stampin' DT Blog Hop

 

     
Can you believe Cuttin' and Stampin' Challenge Blog has been going for over a year now? It has gone by so fast and we have had so much fun creating and sharing projects with you.  Starting the first of the year we decided to make a few changes.  These changes include bringing you different types of projects, and to do that we needed increase the number of members on the team.  We also decided to split the team in to two.
   
Today's hop features the Orange Team.
   
Be sure to stop by each of them and welcome them to our 2014 Design Team.  We will have a drawing for each day of the hop.  Just leave a comment below and at each stop along the way.  We will announce blog hop winners on Friday along with our regular weekly challenge winners.
      
For my project today, I'm celebrating both C&S and the 3rd Anniversary of Paper Smooches!   If you've been to my blog before, you know that Kim Hughes is my favorite stamp designer.  I'm so excited that she makes stamps and dies for all of us to enjoy!

This card uses the butterflies from the Flap Happy set and the Butterflies 1 die set, and the sentiment comes from the Many Thanks stamp set.   I chose three butterflies to signify the third anniversary.  The cute patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye and the cardstock is a smoothie from Bazzill Basics.  Happy Third Anniversary, Paper Smooches!!
    

             
ORANGE TEAM Line Up
Madge - http://thescrappinlounge.com
Karen - http://karey2005.blogspot.com
JoAnn - http://joboogie.typepad.com
Lynda - http://positive-force.blogspot.com/
Courtney - http://cshorrcreations.blogspot.com/
Cathy - http://cathyplus5.blogspot.com
Kim - http://kimross.blogspot.com  --- you are here ---
Melissa - http://CreatedbySunshineHoneyBee.blogspot.com/
Michelle Kinder - http://michellekinder.blogpost.com
  
If you're doing the full hop, you should have arrived here from Cathy's blog.   If you haven't started but would like to, please start today's hop with Madge.   Remember to leave comments, because there will be a prize drawing among commenters.   Next up is Melissa.
 
Thanks so much for hopping with us and Happy Stamping!
  

Weekly Challenge #2 - Anything Goes Winter

It seems like most of the country is covered in snow right now, so we're having a challenge creating projects relating to winter. We've been working with the Bo Bunny Winter Wonderland collection, as well as stamps from the Paper Smooches "Fresh Snow" stamp set.

 

 
My card uses four different patterns of paper using a technique called "Sunburst". The scallop beneath the Sunburst panel is from the Bo Bunny Noteworthy paper embellishment pack. If you're curious about the "Sunburst" technique, you can search the term on YouTube for lots of video tutorials.  It's surprisingly simple.
 
Now's your change to to create something about winter and enter it in this week's challenge. You can enter here.
 
Happy Stamping!

Simplicity With Washi Tape

I'm a big fan of washi tape.  In fact, I purchased a new storage system for my tapes today (thanks, Erica, for the idea!), which is much better than the plastic shoebox I was using.  It's a Christmas-time "Snapware" container.  It has 4 trays that snap together, and each tray holds three rows of washi tape.  So nice to be able to see my collection.  This container is on clearance at JoAnn's right now, making it under $10.  Very useful!  I have what I consider to be a large washi collection, and I've only filled the top two layers.  Well, and maybe part of a 3rd layer since I purchased a bunch today, also at JoAnn's.  They had two-packs for $1.79, and some really cute combinations.

Anyway, what really sparked my washi tape post today is this post over on Susan Raihala's blog:  What to Do with Washi, Part 3.   You see, I'm a follower of Susan's blog, and let out some sort of squeal/shriek thing when I saw my card (which was published in one of the magazines) called out as an example:
   

 

  
Susan really improved upon my one-layer example, and showed a cool way to trim down Washi tape that's too wide.  You'll be inspired by her post!

Happy Stamping!