PPA 296

This is my submission for for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge by Susan Itell.  It was a fun sketch to work with!  I dusted off this wonderful birthday set called Endless Birthday Wishes.  Love this set! I used Cherry on Top dsp.  It's such a fun stack of paper and not all birthday.  I had to add the banner for my sentiment.  I didn't want to cover up the adorable cake!  Thanks for stopping by and leaving me a comment!

August Paper Pumpkin Alternative

Ladies, do not throw away those pretty little Victoria's Secret bags!  I saw that black satin ribbon with the light pink edge and immediate thought of the August Paper Pumpkin!  I knew it would be a perfect match.  So...I cut the bag to get the ribbon handles out and then put it through my curling iron to straighten out the wrinkles.  What do you think?

Click on the item below to order Paper Pumpkin.  It's a fun box of creativity and you receive one each month.  Let me know if I can answer any questions on it.  You can buy prepaid subscriptions for 1, 3, 6, 12 months, or you can get a monthly subscription.  I can't wait until I receive the September Paper Pumpkin! Stay tuned for some alternative projects.

For a monthly subscription, click here:  Paper Pumpkin

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PPA 261

Another quick post here!  I just got back from vacation this weekend and realized I forgot to make a card for my grand nephew.  I quickly pulled out a Paper Pumpkin kit and went to work.  I used this cute Pals Paper Arts Sketch.  I hope you'll come over and join us in this challenge!

p.s.  I love comments!

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PPA 259

As much as I love it, I had no idea what to do with this combination for the  Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.  I looked at my list of cards to make and saw that I needed a graduation one for my grand niece.  Her school colors are royal blue and red but I decided to go for it anyway! 

I created a simple mortar board with squares, popped it up and put a candy dot and a tassel from Celebrate Today (kicking myself - looks like it shifted).  I cut the happy using brushed silver cardstock and thinlit word from Hello You.  I popped up the letters that hang over (as you can see a tiny bit on the Y).   I decided to emboss the Pacific Blue panel with the Lucky Stars embossing folder and mount on thick Whisper White cardstock.  The sentiment was heat embossed with silver and then cut with the Banner Triple punch.  I seem to use that for everything!  The little star came from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  I am obsessed with putting every last piece of paper to use so I punch out stars or flowers before tossing scraps.  Am I the only one who does this? 

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PPA 252

This is such a cute sketch by Kerry Willard Bray, but I had such a hard time with it!  It looked easy until I set out to make my card.  I have to confess, this is my THIRD card.  I was trying to show off some of my new products and maybe I was trying too hard, or maybe my mojo took a vacation.

Here is what I came up with in the final hour.  I used the cute new Cherry on Top paper stack for this and my other two.  I love that the papers are so versatile.  There are some cute patterns like cherries, cupcakes, donuts, etc.  and then there are some awesome background papers like this stripe.  I will post the second card I made as well, even though it didn't thrill me. At least you can see two of the patterns.

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Cocktails

I had to make three masculine birthday cards in a row so I chose this adorable cocktail set called Making Spirits Bright.  This set is retiring so you should not wait if you want this.  I love it.  It's very versatile.  Click here to order:  Making Spirits Bright

I ended up using the same paper stack, Moonlight.  This is retiring also.  Go here fast to order!  It's super cheap:  Moonlight

Thanks for looking!  Let me know which one is your favorite.

p.s.  check out the weekly deals!

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PPA 248

I never put off my challenges until the last day as I really like having the option of a re-do.  This was not the case this week.  Time got away from me so I ended up doing it at the last minute.  I sat down and my mind went blank!  I started to make a card with Sheltering Tree, then I messed up the bike.  I tossed that aside and tried not to panic.  Then I saw this cute hostess set sitting there.  I know I just used it, but decided to use another image from it.

I drove myself crazy over which color to use for the stars and ended up with the Night of Navy because I couldn't make up my mind.  I do love this Birthday Bash dsp!  It's only available through the end of May in the Occasions catalog, along with the cute hostess stamp set.  I may just have to buy another pack!

I hope you will join us at the Pals Paper Arts Challenge!

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Balloons

When I saw this hostess set hiding at the back of the Occasions Catalog, I decided I had to have it!  I love hot air balloons.

I got a box of goodies from Mr. Brown the other day and thought I should try out my new stamp pad and stamps.  I decided to ink up the balloon first.  Then I colored in with Blendies.  I'm so sad they aren't available any more.  You can use Stampin' Write markers or blender pens too.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

PPA 244

I love this fabulous sketch from Kerry Willard Bray at Peonies and Paper Chains!  I don't use my Stars Framelits enough so I stuck with the shape.  I noticed that one particular card of mine gets pinned a lot and it's in red and black so I thought I would do another to see if it gets the same attention. 

I used Real Red with Back to Black dsp.  I think it's a sharp combination.  I recently watched a video and saw someone using the Eclectic Paper Piercing pack.  I suddenly realized I had that in my stash and I thought should use it.  It's been sitting on a shelf getting dusty!  I like how the piercing packs give another detail to your card.  I will be using these more often.

Thanks for looking and commenting!  Your feedback means a lot to me.

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First Easter card

The weekend is almost here!  I'm wishing spring would hurry up as well.  I was thinking spring when I made this.

I used the Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series paper from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  I truly love this paper.  There are so many things you can do with it!  It is a white paper with white embossed patterns.  I used the flowers and sponged inks over them.  Then I wiped with a tissue to clear off the ink from the embossed part.  I intended the peachy colors to be light pink, but I had issues.  I picked up what I thought was a clean sponge, dabbed into Pink Pirouette, and started to rub on the paper.  It came out peachy so I am assuming there was a light yellow on the sponge which I couldn't see.  I usually take a piece of cardstock and glue to the sponge so that I don't mix colors.  Oh well!  I ended up matching it with a retired color, Blush Blossom.  

I decided to do the sentiment with a curved banner.  All you need to do is take a photopolymer stamp and position it in the shape you want on the acrylic block.  I used Basic Gray ink because I thought black was too stark for the pretty colors.

You can get this paper if you hurry!  It's in the Sale-a-Bration catalog and it's free with a $50 purchase.  Click here to view Sale-a-Bration.   Irresistibly Yours is on Page 15.  This catalog ends on March 31st!!

Please let me know what you think.  I love reading your comments!

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PPA 242

This is my first card as a design team member on Pals Paper Arts.  I've played along with the challenges for a long time now and I'm excited to be a part of the team!

When I saw these colors, I automatically thought St. Paddy's Day!  I usually make one or two of those, but didn't really have any stamps that worked.  I decided to do a birthday card and ended up making two.

Am I the only one who stamps & cuts two of everything, just in case?!  I definitely do, and then I end up with a pile of extras.  I'm trying not to do that so I made a second right away to keep in my stash. Let me know if you do this too, and which one you like best!

I may end up using one for my oldest son's birthday in April.  He is definitely the Irish man in our family.  He has red hair and has always told me he doesn't need to wear green on St. Paddy's Day because people know he is Irish.  My youngest says he is 100% Italian.  They both have the same father and mother so it's pretty funny!

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Spare parts

We have had sooooo much snow!  I had Monday and Tuesday off from work and it's been so nice having the extra time.  I feel bad for my husband who has to clear all of the snow.   He won't let me do anything because of my shoulder and pulled back.  I do feel bad!

Anyway, I have been trying to clean my stamp room because I will be having company soon, weather permitting!  My desk is a mess!  I don't know if you do this, but I know I do.  When I make a card, I end up with small pieces of paper that I can't bear to toss.  It's not like I don't have enough paper!  What I do is pull out my handy little punches and cut out flowers, stars, hearts or banners and save them for another day. What I get is a big pile of pieces that I never use!

Today when I was putting away some of the pieces in my containers, I saw a cute little balloon and three stars that matched.  I decided to make myself use them on a card and this is what I came up with.  Let me know if you do this with the pieces of paper.  I'd like to think I'm not alone! (cough, can we say hoarder?!)

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PPA 228

Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge 228

Don't forget your sunglasses!  This was an easy sketch for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge.  I chose one of my favorite stamp sets, Endless Wishes Birthday.  I used Blendabilities to color in the cake.  I pulled out the Sweet Sorbet dsp.  This is a BUSY pattern, but I love the colors (Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight).  I thought the white cake panel would cut down on that.  I then decided it was too white and added the dots from the Endless Wishes set.  After stamping the sentiment,  I cut out a couple of stars with the Itty Bitty Punch pack and then I added some sparkle with my Wink of Stella pen.  You probably can't see the sparkle too well.  I do love these pens!  Anyway, thanks so much for your comments!  I hope I am back to crafting by the time this is posted.  I scheduled several out before I had surgery.

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Chalk Talk Day to celebrate

I made this for my aunt's birthday.  Please see products used below.  Thanks for commenting!

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PPA 224

Ahhh, this is my kind of sketch.  I love the straight look. This is for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge 224. I used the Day of Celebration stamps and Chalk Talk framelits.  I also used the little flowers from the Itty Bitty punch pack.  Those punches are my favorite!

I used Tempting Turquoise ink and cardstock, Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie cardstock for the strips and flowers. The dsp is Sweet Taffy.  I just love the colors and patterns in these papers! I used Candy Dots for the centers.  The ribbon is retired Daffodil Delight.  Thanks for leaving me comments!

(It's funny how my flowers look crooked.  They are straight in person!  I think it is because I turned them so they weren't all the same).

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