J'Dore Anniversary Card (PTI: MIM: decreasing apetures)

Hello everyone!  I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!  Summer has finally arrived here in Oregon!  We've had 3 straight weekends with 80 degreee weather, can you believe it?!  I thought I'd share a couple pics of my cute as a button niece, Caylee, since a few of you were asking....

This one is her sleeping on her momma's chest.  Isn't she just the cutest thing EVER?!  Maybe I'm a little biased, but I really don't think so. :)

This is one with her eyes open and she's even trying to smile for you.  It's at a weird angle cause I'm holding her cradled in my arms and my hubby is taking the pic above us.  She's got the perfect amount of hair and is so skinny and long.  She's super mellow and likes to smile A LOT!  The perfect baby in my opinion. :)

And here's one of the proud parents.  That's my little bro and his girlfriend.  They are doing pretty great for not knowing what do at all.  My brother wants to do everything, which I think is so cute.  He'll change his mind soon enough. :)  Hope you like the pics, now on to the card...

I made today's card for this week's challenge for PTI on Nichole's blog.  The challenge was to make a project using decreasing apetures, or windows, and add a glittered one for your last one if you so desired.  I wasn't feeling the glitter this time.  I needed an anniversary card for my in-laws so that's where this card is headed.  The patterned paper is from the new Lost and Found 2 paper pads from MME and I am in love!!  The flowers are Prima and aren't they beautiful?  I just love that color!  I used the tag trio and labels 9 Nestabilties dies.  I didn't have a heart die for the last window so I had to settle for a Marvy heart punch.  All other supplies are PTI:  limitless layers dies 1 3/4", cardstock, sweet blush ribbon, damask designs stamp set, and mixed messages stamp set.  Hope you all enjoy this card!  I gotta dash...Happy Crafting!

Cool Yule Penguin (PDCC #56, ESS #109, A Muse Challenge: Dashes, Dots, and Doodles)

I have some exciting news to share! Today on the PaperCrafts blog my Stamping Royalty card was featured along with a little blurb about me and a photo of me wearing my crown.  It was so exciting!  Thanks for indulging me.  Now on to the card for today...

 This card is based on the sketch below from Eat, Sleep, Stamp, the color challenge in the picture below from The Play Date Cafe, and the November challenge from the A Muse Lounge called Dashes, Dots, and Doodles.  Here are the details for the card.  The paper, stamps, and ink are all from A Muse.  The patterned paper is actually Reversed Asterisk Pretty Little Papers from A Muse.  Sadly they aren't making Pretty Little Papers anymore.  They had the cutest patterns and were such a great size.  I just cut it in half to make two squares for the card.  The present stamp is a separate stamp from the penguin stamp and is from the Baby Wishes Clear Set.  I paper pieced the present with blue gingham patterned paper then drew a line connecting it to the fishing line.  I colored the penguin image with my trusty Copics.  I used the large oval Nestabilities die and adhered it with pop dots to add some more interest to the card.  I really like how it turned out.  It looks really festive for the holidays!  If I didn't already have my Christmas cards already worked out I would consider using this card.  I hope you all get some good crafting in this holiday week.  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders

CAS FTL #107 and A Muse Challenge #20

Today I have another fall card for you.  It's based off the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping and also for challenge #20 on the A Muse Lounge.  You still have a couple hours to play at CSS and you have until the end of the month to play over on the A Muse Lounge, and I encourage you to do so because it's really fun!  This card is fairly straight forward in it's design.  I made the card from cardstock, trimmed the white cardstock panel to fit, trimmed two brown cardstock pieces to fit, border edged punched them, adhered them to the panel, and adhered it to the card.  I stamped the leaves on patterned paper, cut them out, and adhered them to the panel with pop dots.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment directly underneath the right-hand corner of the panel.  Easy peasy!  A FMQ (five minute quickie) as they say. I love it when that happens.  I have a confession, I'm a SLOW cardmaker.  It can sometimes take me a couple hours to make one card.  Shhh, don't tell anyone.  Now that it's Friday I hope you have a chance to get some creative and crafty time in this weekend.  If you do, I recommend trying one of these challenges, if you haven't already, they're a ton of fun!  Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

all paper, stamps, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
espresso dye ink: Ranger
apron lace border punch: Fiskars

2S4Y, A Muse Lounge Challenge #20, CAS FTL # 107

The card I have for you today is based on the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You, from this sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping, and is also for challenge #20 on the A Muse Lounge.  I used my birch trees stamp by A Muse, which I got to ink up for the first time, and stamped it on a white cardstock panel.  I stamped the sentiment on orange gingham patterned paper, adhered it to the panel, and attched it to the blackberry cardstock panel with pop dots that I had previously cut slightly smaller than the card.  I wrapped and tied twine around the left side of the blackberry panel and then attached it to the card with pop dots.  I love how this card turned out.  It took me a while to figure this sketch out, but I really am in love with the end result.  There is still time to play both challenges, so I encourage you to do so.  Good luck and hapoy crafting!

 Also the A Muse blog is offering a variety of calendars where the proceeds go to a great charity.  If you have a chance go check it out.

2S4Y

all paper, stamps: A Muse Artstamps
chalk ink, pigment ink: Clearsnap
espresso dye ink: Ranger
twine: May Arts

Stick to the Pattern #2

I did another card for the A Muse challenge Stick to the Pattern.  You can still play too until 8/31/10.  I used their cloud stamp for my background pattern.  I love this stamp!  It's become one of my go to stamps.  If I'm being honest I actually love almost all of their stamps, I'm a little addicted.  They are so cute, easy to use, and go together in so many different ways.  I can get inspired by just looking in my stamp drawers.  Enough gabbing, here's the card...

all paper, stamps, dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
chalk ink: Clearsnap

Stick to the Pattern Challenge-AMC 19

This challenge from A Muse allowed me to use some of my favorite stamps, my flower stamps by A Muse Artstamps.  I think they are so versatile and I use them for so many types of cards and in so many different ways.  Here I used them to create a patterened paper backround and then highlighted the trios of flowers by adding twinkle sticker centers.  I chose to make a Mother's Day card, but you could change the sentiment and make this card for almost any occasion..thank you, birthday, sympathy, congratulations, wedding, etc..  You could also change the colors to anything you wanted to match your style or the recipient's.  The ideas are endless really.  I'd love to see what you come up with. Happy Crafting! :)

all papers, stamps, twinkle stickers, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
angel pink dye ink: Momento
chalk ink: Clearsnap