Cosmopolitan Neopolitan Tuesday Trigger

I hope you all are having a great weekend!  It's finally sunny and even a little warm here!  We had no spring at all and it looks like we're finally starting to ease into summer very slowly.  I am in such a better mood and feel a lot better when it's sunny outside.  I don't like it when it's really hot, but in the 70's is perfect for me. 

Anyhoo, on to the card.  I've been waiting for the perfect time to use this adorable sticker from the 5 and Dime collection from October Afternoon.  I pop dotted it on top of a Martha Stewart doily and a lacey circle Nestabilities die cut and embossed from PTI's aqua mist cardstock.  The sentiment stamp, an old one from A Muse Artstamps, was stamped on October Afternoon patterned paper from the Farm Fresh collection.  The pink polka dot patterned paper is from the 5 and Dime collection from October Afternoon, again.  If you haven't seen that collection yet it's the cutest thing ever!  It reminds me of an old fashioned soda shop.  I love everything from October Afternoon!  The cream paper is from Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry collection, and the french roast polka dot patterned paper is from A Muse Studio. 

Tuesday Trigger: Cosmopolitan Neopolitan

I chose to use brown, cream, and pink patterned paper and in the order I assembled them to resemble the neopolitan ice cream pops in the Trigger picture.  When I saw the Trigger picture I knew I wanted to use the colors and I wanted the card to be about ice cream, so I picked the October Afternoon sticker I had been saving.  This Tuesday Trigger: Cosmopolitan Neopolitan from Moxie Fab World is one of my faves!  Not just for the picture, but for how my card turned out.  How do you think it turned out? 

My layout was inspired by last week's sketch challenge at Card Positioning Systems.  I didn't finish my card in time to enter it, but I still wanted to show it to you.  This sketch was a great one!

CPS #221

I hope you all enjoyed my card for you today.  Have a great week and try to sneak in some creative time for yourself.  Happy Crafting!

Sorry For Your Loss (Colour Q #88, CAS FTL #143)

I hope you all had a great week!  I made this card for a dear friend of the family and her husband who lost their dog while on vacation.  They were on a European trip of a lifetime and got word that their Pomeranian had passed away.  They don't have children of their own, so Rainy was like their baby and they were/are devastated.  Those of you who have dogs or pets know exactly what I'm talking about.  I only hope this card will ease a tiny bit of their pain by knowing that I'm there for them. 

Now let's get down to the details of the card.  The layout was inspired by this week's sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping.  I turned the sketch upside down because it worked better for me and for the card. 

CAS FTL #143

The bone patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design and the brown polka dot patterned paper is from the Lime Twist collection from My Mind's Eye.  The Lime Twist collection is one of my very favorite collections!  I am just in love with it!  Lately My Mind's Eye has put out the best collections of paper.  They are just soo cute!  The dog house stamp is an old stamp from A Muse Artstamps.  The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts.  I used the Fiskars apron lace border punch on the brown cardstock that edges the bone patterned paper.  I broke out my Nestabilities classic rectangles large to die cut and emboss the cream cardstock rectangle panel.  I tried to keep the card rather embellishment free and toned down because it's a sympathy card.  I chose the colors because of this week's challenge at ColourQ and because I didn't want any loud colors or bright colors on this sympathy card. 

I really hope this card helps ease my friends' grief in some small way.  I also hope maybe it helps you with some ideas for your sympathy cards.  If you're hurting at all today, I send you hugs.  I hope you all have a great evening!  Happy Crafting!

Cute as a Button!

Originally I was making this card for last week's sketch challenge over at Eat Sleep Stamp, but I didn't make it in time to enter.  I thought I'd show you anyway since I put in the effort and it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. :)  The sentiment is from the Button Boutique set and the onesie is from the Bitty Baby Blessings set from PTI.  I am really growing to absolutely love their stamps and most of their other products as well.  I think I'm becoming an addict.  Shhh, don't tell my hubby. 

The polka dot patterned paper is My Mind's Eye's newest collection Lime Twist.  It's from the Fly a Kite paper pad.  I have all four paper pads and they are so adorable!  I love them so much that I think I might go out and buy a second helping of some of the pads.  For a long time I didn't care for their paper, but lately they just make the cutest collections.  And this one even came with a ton of matching twine, which I bought of course.

The sky gingham patterned paper, cardstock, tiny star stamp, bermuda buttons, and bermuda pigment ink are from A Muse (both A Muse Artstamps and A Muse Studio).  I used Momento rich cocoa dye ink for the first part of the sentiment and the A Muse Studio bermuda ink for the word button.  I really love how crisp Momento's ink turns out on paper and it smells really good to boot!  I also think highlighting one word in a sentiment is a cute way to set it off, especially if you have different fonts in your sentiment.  Lastly, I wanted to leave the onesie white so I outlined it with my BG10 Copic marker to make the white look whiter and to make leaving it white look deliberate.  I think outlining images is a nice way to highlight them and call attention to them without you hardly noticing.  I hope you all enjoy the card I have for you today and have a great rest of your day!  Happy Crafting!

p.s. Last year I won Paper Crafts Stamping Royalty 2010 and recently they asked to do a follow up article on their blog, a "where are they now?" kind of thing.  It came out yesterday and if you want to read it you can find it here.

Rolled Tissue Paper Flower (Moxie Fab: Tissue Paper Magic Challenge in The Moxie Fab World)

Hello again!  Sorry I've been away.  It seems that when I'm super busy or not feeling well that it's my blog that suffers, and in turn you.  So I apologize.  I will be super busy again for the next week, but plan to be busy blogging again after that.  I do have a card for you today though.

This was my first attempt at making a tissue paper flower.  I tried it in honor of the Tissue Paper Magic Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  I will tell you that you need super strong adhesive when attempting to make one of these.  I used Cosmo Cricket's gruber adhesive made for making these kinds of flowers and it was not strong enough, so I had to add extra adhesive.  I'm sure it would be fine for fabric, but the tissue actually gets a little heavy when it's wound like that. 

The cardstock is from A Muse Studio and the stamp is an old one from A Muse Artstamps.  The patterned paper is from the Lemonade paper pad from Basic Grey.  I drew the frame with a black pigment ink pen from Copic.  The pearl is from Making Memories.  The card is super simple and took me no time at all to make, and I'm a person who takes hours to make one card, but I think it came out really nice.  What do you think?  Again, thanks for sticking with me through the lean posting times.  I promise I'll be back very soon. :)  Oh, and Happy belated Mother's Day to all you Moms out there!!  I hope you had a great one!  Happy Crafting!

Porch Play Mother's Day (Card Patterns #110, Moxie Fab: Tuesday Trigger Porch Play)

Tonight's card is inspired by this week's Tuesday Trigger: Porch Play and this week's sketch from Card Patterns.  I was inspired by the Trigger in many ways.  The yellow paint on the house was the reason for the yellow card base, the red oval beaded Nestabilities die was for the red frame on the mirror, the rocking chair stamp that I left white is for the white rocking chair, the blue in the patterned paper is for the pillows, and the red flowers in the patterned paper are for the red daisies on the dresser.  The rocking chair stamp is from A Muse Artstamps and the sentiment stamp is from A Muse Studio.  The spinach polka dot satin ribbon is from American Crafts and I love it!  The scallop border punch is from Fiskars.  The super cute patterned paper is from The Thrift Shop paper pad from October Afternoon.  It's one of my favorite collections of patterned paper.  October Afternoon is absolutely one of my favorite manufacturers of paper and fun matching embellishments.  They make the cutest collections ever!!  I like how this card turned out and it gave me a head start on my Mom's Day cards also. :)  I hope you like it too!  Have a great rest of your week!  Happy Crafting!

Tuesday Trigger: Porch Play

Happy Birthday Balloons (PDCC #76, Moxie Fab: In My Beautiful Balloons Challenge in the Moxie Fab World)

I have another card for you today.  I know, I don't post for a while and then two in one day.  What can I say?

The cardstock, gingham paper, and sentiment stamp are from A Muse Studio.  The balloons are from PTI from the Everyday Button Bits set.  The wonderful cloud paper is from American Crafts and the gems are from Hero Arts.  The buttons are from Doodlebug Design, Crate Paper, and Cosmo Cricket.  I have become addicted to buttons.  They have become my new go to embellishment.  I used Spellbinders dies, lacey circles and big scalloped circles large, and the punch is the apron border punch from Fiskars.  I used DMC floss in the buttons. 

My card was inspired by this week's color story from The Play Date Cafe and the In My Beautiful Balloons Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Card Sets Challenge (Moxie Fab: Card Sets Challenge in the Moxie Fab World)

Sorry it's been a little while since my last post, I've been re-organizing parts of my craft room.  I left most of the furniture alone, but re-organized my dies, paper pads, embossing folders, and PTI, A Muse Studio, and clear stamps.  It took a while to figure out exactly what I wanted to do, where I wanted to put everything, and what I wanted to put it all in.  I'm one of those crafters that unless I see it I tend not to use it, so most of my stuff needs to be out in the open unless I use it all the time or very rarely.  I also love to look at other people's rooms and organizational magazines to get ideas.  If anyone happens to have any great ideas or has a super cool craft room, please feel free to leave me the link in the comment section.

Now for today's card post...I made a set of cards with a matching tin for the Card Sets Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. 

All paper, stamps, ribbon, and black dye ink is from A Muse Artstamps.  The green adhesive letters on the tin are from American Crafts.  The colored ink is from Clearsnap.  Most of the A Muse products can now be purchased through A Muse Studio: cloud stamp, grass stamp, flower stamp, all paper, and all ribbon.  I love how this set turned out and have already given it to a very deserving girlfriend. :)  Remember when making sets of cards to keep them fairly simple so that mass producing them is easy for you.  Have a great week!  Happy Crafting!

Happy Bird-day Banner (WMSC #40, Colour Q #78)

Good evening all!  This post is going to be very short and sweet cause I'm tired, have a headache, and need to go to bed.  I hope you've all had a great week so far.  Today was the first 60 degree day of the year here in Oregon and it really felt like spring for the first time.  It makes me excited for sunny days ahead. :)

My card tonight is inspired by the sketch below from Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and the color story below from Colour Q.  The cardstock is from PTI. The chipboard is from Fancy Pants and isn't it adorable?!  I bought it last weekend at the CK Scrapbook Convention, which was a blast!  :)  The stamp is from A Muse.  The twine and button are from my stash.  The white ink is frost white pigment ink by Clearsnap and the brown ink is Adirondack espresso by Ranger.  I think this card turned out pretty cute, what do you think?  Have a great rest of your week and a fabulous weekend!  Happy Crafting!

You're the Sprinkles on My Twinkled Cupcake! (WMSC #39, Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger A Cirtus Celebration)

Alert the media, call Guinness Book of World Records, if you can believe it I have another card for you!  I know, but the ideas just keep coming and I have the time this week.  I do have to admit this card didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.  It's not exactly the idea that was in my head, but what are you gonna do?  It was inspired by this week's Tuesday Trigger Challenge: A Citrus Celebration in the Moxie Fab World and the sketch below from Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  The Trigger picture below inspired me with the colors and the cupcake theme.  I had to make my cupcake liner lime polka dot to match.  The lime color is actually where I started and then I incorporated the orange and yellow into the banner and the orange twinkle stickers on the cupcake.  When the card was almost done and I just needed to add the sentiment I felt like something was missing.  I wanted a sentiment banner so I tried green, yellow, and orange and none of them seemed right.  The card needed another color, so I added the blue gingham and it seemed complete.  Like I said before, it's not my favorite card, but I still think it turned out alright.  All the products are from A Muse (except the Copic markers).  I hope you all had a great hump day! :)  Have a wonderful rest of your week!  Happy Crafting!

Tuesday Trigger: A Citrus Celebration

Happy Mother's Day (CAS FTL #131)

I have another card for you!  Can you believe this is my third post in less than seven days?  I'm trying to post more ofte.  I can't promise I'll always have weeks like this, but when the creativity flows don't stop it, right?  Today's card is based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping.  The stamp, cardstock, and notecard are from A Muse.  The patterned paper is from the Stella and Rose collection from My Mind's Eye.  Have I told you how much I love that collection?!  The felt is from My Favorite Things and the die to make the felt flowers is from PTI.  It was the first time I used the beautiful blooms die and the first time I used my felt.  I love the way the flowers turned out!  I plan to get more felt.  I would love to use some white felt with my cloud dies.  How cute would that be? :)  The buttons are just part of my HUGE stash!  This card was fairly simple, but I like how it turned out.  I hope my mom or my MIL does too come Mom's day. :)  I hope you're all having a wonderful Monday!  Have a great week!  Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #131

The Road to a Friend's House (PDCC #70, ESS #119)

Tonight's post will be short and sweet.  This card is based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp and inspired by the color story below from The Play Date Cafe.  The stamps are from A Muse, big surprise, and so is the notecard, cardstock, and gingham paper.  The patterned paper is from the Wander paper pad by Basic Grey.  I love the colors and patterns in this paper pad, although I haven't used very much of it yet.  I used my Copics to color the image.  I used the banner die from PTI to make the gingham banner and added the cute little orange buttons to add just the right detail.  I think it turned out pretty cute, but maybe that's just me. :)  I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week and have a chance to fit in some creative time.  Happy Crafting!

stamps: road to friend, house & trees (A Muse Artstamps)
ink: black dye ink (A Muse Artstamps)
notecard: surf (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: white, orange crush (A Muse Artstamps)
patterned paper: grass petite gingham (A Muse Artstamps), Wander paper pad (Basic Grey)
markers: Copic
die: banner (PTI)

I Love You More Than..(PDCC #68, ESS #117, Moxie: Tuesday Trigger Decadently Yours)

Happy early Love Day all!  I hope you're all enjoying a romantic weekend with your sweeties.  I have a Valentine's Day card for you!  It's based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp, the color story below from The Play Date Cafe, and the Tuesday Trigger Challenge Decadently Yours from Moxie Fab World.  The stamps are from A Muse, of course, and so are the heart twinkle stickers.  The patterned paper is PTI's 2008 Bitty Dot Basics and the die is Nestabilities label 16.  The border punch is from Fiskars, and is one of my faves!  I really enjoyed this sketch, color story, and Trigger challenge.  I hope you like the card I made because I made it for you!  Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Crafting!

Tuesday Trigger: Decadently Yours

stamps: Elyse, I love you more than, Chocolate assortment (A Muse Artstamps)
ink: Adirondack espresso dye ink (Ranger)
notecard: plum (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: blush, natural (A Muse Artstamps)
patterned paper: 2008 Bitty Dot Basics (PTI)
markers: assorted (Copic)
punch: apron lace border (Fiskars)
die: Nestabilities label 16 (Spellbinders)
gems: twinkle stckers mini heart

Stylish Cameo (CAS FTL #127, Moxie Fab World: The Appearance of Cameos Challenge)

Hey there! Sorry it's been a little while, I've been making cards for a big submission but I'm back now.  I have another one coming up in a few weeks, but I've vowed to manage my time better and do both my blog and the submission.  Thanks for hanging in there with me these past couple months when my postings have been a little bare.  I really appreciate all of your comments and your support.

On to tonight's card...it's based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping and The Appearance of Cameos Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  The beautiful silhouette cameo stamp is from Hero Arts and the sentiment is from A Muse.  The patterned paper is the Nook paper pad from Basic Grey, which I really love but don't use often.  I think I have a hoarding problem, but the first step is admitting it, right?  I used my Nestabilities beaded circles die and Marvy circle punch to surround the cameo image.  I used pop dots to attach it to the card to add just a little more interest.  The border punch is Martha Stewart, and one of my faves.  The ribbon is from A Muse and happens to be the exact same color as the patterned paper.  I added the Prima flower at the end to match the sketch and for just the right touch.  This isn't my typical style, but I really love how it turned out!  I hope you do too!  I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's weekend with someone special planned, just remember to sneak in a little crafting time too. :)  Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #127

stamps: cameo silhouette (Hero Arts), good friends (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: white (A Muse Artstamps)
patterned paper: Nook paper pad (Basic Grey)
ink: Adirondack espresso dye ink (Ranger), toffee chalk ink (Clearsnap)
die: Nestabilities beaded circles (Spellbinders)
punch: doily lace border punch (Martha Stewart), circle punch (Marvy Uchida)
flowers: fairytale roses french white (Prima)
fibers: eucalyptus sheer ribbon (A Muse Artstamps)

Lullaby Bassinet (Card Patterns #99)

Hi everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  Those of you in the eastern part of the U.S., I hope the weather wasn't too bad for you.  Here in the west it's actually been pretty mild, kind of weird for January. 

Anyway, on to the fun stuff..the card for today!  Today's card is based on the sketch below from Card Patterns.  I just flipped it upside down.  If I'm being totally honest, I made this card for a submission request and it was rejected and it happened to fit this sketch challenge.  I just added the ribbon.  I know I could have kept that to myself, but I felt like I was being dishonest and so I came clean. :)  I used purple on this card because we weren't allowed to use pink or blue at all and I still wanted it to be feminine.  Also, I don't use purple very often and I wanted to use some of my purple supplies.  I think it came out fairly cute, but I guess the judges didn't think so.  I must say, I do like it better with the addition of the ribbon.  It softens it a bit and adds just the right touch.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!  Happy Crafting!

stamps: bassinet, tiny yawns(A Muse Artstamps)
ink: black dye ink (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: white (A Muse Artstamps), kraft, plum pudding (PTI)
patterned paper: 2008 bitty dot basics (PTI)
fibers: white satin ribbon (American Crafts)
dies: Nestabilities standard circles large, lacey circles (Spellbinders)
punch: apron lace border punch (Fiskars)

My Cup of Tea (Card Patterns #98)

Thanks everyone for your kind words and wonderful welcome back!  I'm really excited to be making cards again.  The card I have for you today is based on the sketch below from Card Patterns.  The chipboard is from October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker collection.  I love that collection!  Actually, truth be told, I love all of their collections. :)  The sentiment stamp, from A Muse, is perfect for this card.  I like how this card turned out and I hope you do too!  Happy Crafting!

stamp: A Muse
cardstock: white-A Muse Artstamps, kraft-PTI
patterned paper: Fly a Kite, Modern Homemaker-October Afternoon
chipboard: Modern Homemaker-October Afternoon
punches: circle, scallop circle-Marvy Uchida, corner rounder-EK Success

Have an Ice Day (PDCC #58, CAS FTL #118, Moxie: Card Creations: All Occasions Challenge)

Sorry it's been a little while since my last post.  December is a very busy time for me, as I'm sure it is for all of us.  I have a lot of projects to do for Christmas, cards to finish to get in the mail, cards to complete for submissions and deadlines, shopping, shopping, and more shopping to finish, and friend and family functions to attend.  I will try to post as often as I can during this busy month.  I promise business will be back to normal in the New Year.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

This evening's card is based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping, the picture challenge below from The Play Date Cafe, and the Moxie challenge Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week All Occasion Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  Sorry about the not so great photo, it was a rainy grey day out.  The stamps and ribbon are from A Muse.  I colored the ice skates with my trusty Copic markers and then highlighted the laces with a Signo uni-ball white gel pen.  I used a Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch and October Afternoon Good Cheer paper pad to finish off the card.  It was a little difficult to only use two colors, but I really like how the card turned out.  It seems that whenever I say that the card was a little difficult or stretched my creativity a bit I end up loving how it turns out.  It's funny how that happens. :)  I hope you all have some time this holiday season to be creative and to be with your friends and family.  Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #118

notecard, cardstock, stamps, ribbon, ink: A Muse Artstamps
Good Cheer paper pad: October Afternoon
markers: Copic
scallop circle punch: Marvy Uchida

Let it Snow Snowflakes (CAS FTL #117, Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: It's Snowing Gingerbread)

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend, had some time with your families, and had a chance to get some creative time in as well.  I had a weekend full of family time, shopping, and relaxation.  Then Monday and Tuesday I had a migraine, so I apologize for not posting for almost a week.  I hope you can forgive me and that you'll enjoy today's card.

Today's card is based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping and the It's Snowing Gingerbread challenge based on the picture below from Moxie Fab World.  The sentiment stamp is from A Muse and I embossed it with American Crafts embossing powder.  I know it's hard to read and if I had had more time I would have redone it, but unfortunately it had to stay that way.  The red patterned paper is from the Jovial paper pad from Basic Grey.  The beautiful glittered snowflakes are from Martha Stewart.  Isn't she making some wonderful products?  I don't know about you, but I always can't wait until her next line of punches and products comes out.  The border punch on this card is from Fiskars.  I never would have thought to put brown with snowflakes and I have to say that I really like how it turned out.  I added the red for a little splash of color and I think it was the right choice.  I really  like these challenges because some of them have given me ideas that I never would have tried on my own, and some have pushed my creativity beyond my comfort zone and I have wound up creating something that I love in the end.  If you've never tried a challenge I really recommend trying at least one to stretch your creativity.  Have a great week and Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #117

Tuesday Trigger: It's Snowing Gingerbread

cardstock, gingham patterned paper, stamp: A Muse Artstamps
Jovial paper pad: Basic Grey
white pigment ink: Clearsnap
apron lace border punch: Fiskars
white embossing powder: American Crafts
layered snowflake stickers: Martha Stewart

Surprise and Delight Mistletoe (CPS #194, Embellish Holiday Colors Challenge)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope you are enjoying a day full of family and good food!  As you know we had one Thanksgiving with my husband's family already, and in just a couple of hours we are heading to my family's house for some more holiday merriment.  We are fortunate enough to have our immediate families in town, and we even have most of my hubby's extended family around town as well so any holiday time is usually a lot of fun!  I hope some of you are just as fortunate.  It's not all roses and sunshine all the time, but I am very thankful for each one of them and that they are close enough that we are able to get together.  After all you only have one family and you have to stick together through thick and thin.  Am I right?  So, today I want to say I am grateful for my WHOLE family; immediate, extended, in-laws, and the friends that I consider family.  I love you all and am grateful everyday that you are in my life.

If you are still with me here are the details for the card.  Today's card is based on the sketch below from Card Positioning Systems and the picture challenge below from Embellish Magazine.  I picked this stamp image, from A Muse, because I love it and I haven't had the chance to ink it up yet and I've been dying to for the past year.  Sorry if that was a run-on sentence for all of you grammar critics out there. :)  I colored it with my trusty Copic markers.  The sentiment stamp, also from A Muse, matches it so well that I had to use it too (also the first time being inked).  You would die if you knew how many stamps I have that are dying to be inked for the first time.  I swear I'm not just collecting them.  When I buy them I really intend to use them, but then I gravitate toward my faves and forget about them.  I am really making a effort to ink up the virgin stamps so they can see some love too, plus then I can validate my purchases to my hubby. :)  Back to the card, the only tools I used were my corner rounders.  This card was very simple.  It only took me maybe 20 min., because of the coloring, and that's quick for the slowest cardmaker in the world (that's me if you hadn't already guessed). 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and have time to squeeze in a little creative time for yourselves.  Happy Crafting!

CPS #194

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
small corner rounder punch: EK Success
corner rounder punch: Creative Memories

Thanks for Dinner (GS #65)

I made this card for the Get Sketchy challenge this week, which was to find inspiration around your house and base a card off of it, and I also made it for my mom-in-law.  The thank you was for cooking a gluten-free early Thanksgiving dinner so I could eat it.  I found out I was gluten-intolerant earlier this year and she has made such an effort to help me out, so I wanted to send a special thank you for the extra effort she made for me on our early Thanksgiving dinner yesterday.

The inspiration around the house for the Get Sketchy challenge was our place settings, which are a red gingham placemat with a white dinner plate on it.  The patterned paper is from the new Modern Homemaker paper pad from October Afternoon.  The notecard and shimmer couture paper are from A Muse.  I used the Nestablities circle dies to make the plate and charger.  The silverware stamp is from A Muse and I embossed it with gold glitter embossing powder from American Crafts to resemble the "good silverware".  The sentiment stamp is my new What's Cooking cling set from Taylored Expressions.  This set is so adorable and I'm so excited to use the rest of it to make many more cards!  I thought it needed just a little something else so I added the pearls above the sentiment, which are from A Muse.  I hope my MIL likes it and so do you!  I hope all of you get to enjoy some time with your families tomorrow and this weekend.  I also hope you get to steal some time for yourself to create.  Happy Crafting!

notecard, cardstock, shimmer couture paper, rubber image stamp, pearls, dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
Modern Homemaker paper pad: October Afternoon
cling sentiment stamp: Taylored Expressions
Nestablilities large circles: Spellbinders
glittered embossing powder: American Crafts

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