PPA310

This fun sketch for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge is by Maggie Mata   I couldn't help playing twice!  I've been wanting to come up with an alternative Paper Pumpkin for the June kit so I started by cutting the striped base and mounted it on Peek-a-boo Peach.   I added a circle in Peek-a-boo Peach envelope paper. Next, I stamped a circle from the kit and then stamped Happy on the Peek-a-Boo Peach.  The last circle is stamped on Sahara Sand and popped with Stampin' Dimensionals.    I then added a bunch of sequins from the Paper Pumpkin kit.

For my second card, I started by embossing the Soft Sky base with Seaside Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and then cut circles out of By the Shore dsp.   I am waiting for the Seaside Shore stamp set to come in, so I improvised by cutting out one of the fish on the dsp. The sentiment is from the Watercolor Wishes kit.  Love that font!  Thanks for stopping by!  Please let me know what you think.

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!

PPA 295

I'm very excited to have my color combination featured this week on Pals Paper Arts!  I hope you like it enough to play along! These colors are very soothing to me and remind me of the beach.  As always, I made two cards. The first is for someone who is going through chemo and the second was for a friend who successfully defended her dissertation. I'd love it if you would join us for this challenge!  I can't wait to see all of the pretty creations using this combination.  Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving me a comment.

I stamped my butterfly with Watercolor Wings and then used ButterfliesThinlits to cut the top piece and Bold Butterfly Framlits for the Crumb Cake layer.  The tag is from Lots of Labels.  The sentiment is from Greatest Greetings.  The Cucumber Crush striped paper is envelope paper.  It's nice and thin for envelope liners , but is also a great dsp!  I finished with the pretty green pearl from a recent Paper Pumpkin kit.  Please let me know if you have questions.

I created this card using the Party Pants set from Sale-a-Bration which is no longer available.  There is a cute balloon set which can still be ordered called Balloon Celebration.  This is in the Occasions 2016 catalog which is ending May 31.

WWYS 55 Balloon Celebration challenge

I saw this challenge on What Will You Stamp  #WWYS55 and I decided to play along.  I love this balloon set from Stampin' Up!  As a matter of fact, I love everything in this year's Occasions catalog!

I paired the Balloon Celebration set with Its My Party dsp, Baker's Twine, and enamel dots.  I sent the dsp through the Big Shot with the Confetti embossing folder. Thanks for stopping by!  I would really appreciate it if you leave me a comment.  Enjoy the weekend!

Botanical tag

I made a card with the Botanical Builder framelits and had this Hello Honey (yellow) piece left over. I decided it might look good on a tag (Scallop Tag Topper punch) and was happy with the result.   Let me know what you think!  Thanks for stopping by.

The Botanical Gardens suite can be found here:

Botanical Gardens

Other products:  Cajun Craze, Hello Honey and Mint Macaron cardstock; Botanical Gardens dsp, Hello Honey ribbon, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls embellishments, Scallop Tag Topper & Banner punches.  I'm pretty sure that sentiment is from Paper Pumpkin.  I will update when I find it!

What I love

Just a quick post to show you what I love ... this sentiment from "What I Love", a Sale-a-Bration, stamp set you can get for FREE (on pg. 7)!!  I truly adore this font. I would love an all occasion set in this! The flower stamp is also from Sale-a-Bration (Flowering Fields - pg. 12).

I stamped on Shimmery White cardstock with Archival Basic Grey ink  and colored in with blender pens and ink.  This shimmery white paper is amazing.  It doesn't pill up when you color and it has a pretty shimmery look which you can't see in the photos.  I used Crushed Curry and Tangelo Twist ink on the butterfly, and Old Olive and Blackberry Bliss on the flower and leaves.

For the card base, I used Blackberry Bliss.  I ran it through the Big Shot with the Elegant Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder, and paired it with a retired color (Soft Plum?) and Old Olive.  I colored in a Perfect White Accents enamel dot.  I cut the end of the sentiment strip with the banner punch.  I can't seem to make a card without this punch!

Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment for me.  If you are interested in purchasing or checking any of these products out, just click on the name.  You can also click the flower on the right to get to my online store.  Let me know if I can answer any questions!

PPA 288

This was a fun sketch by Amy Lazzell!  I had some left over flowers from a previous card so I paired them with this pretty Botanical Gardens paper from the Occasions 2016 Catalog.  It's all about cleaning up those stray pieces on my desk these days!  I made this for my sister-in-law's birthday. I have to say, this bundle wasn't first on my list, but it has become my favorite.  Let me know what you think.

p.s.  I forgot to mention that I used Watercolor Wings for the sentiment!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA 286

I made this for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge.  I love the sketch, but had a little difficulty with it.  I am not great at cutting angles!  It was a tiny bit off so I just cut a strip of  Hello Honey to put over it.  And, yes, I realized after I used Hello Honey, that the dsp lists Delightful Dijon.  Oh well, it doesn't look too off, does it?!   The card is a thank you for a male host for a class I recently had.  You should go over and see what the other designers came up with!  They're awesome.

And check out these weekly deals!

My Stampin Blog

PPA 285

I made this for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge. Isn't this color combination delicious?!   I had a new stamp set just waiting to be inked up and I thought these pretty flowers would look great with Watermelon Wonder and Blushing Bride.  I hope you'll go and check out all of the gorgeous creations at Pals Paper Arts! Or better still, why don't you join us in the challenge? ** edited to add:  Ooooops!  I used Blushing Bride instead of Pink Pirouette!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA 278

Pals Paper Arts

Just a quick little Christmas card for the Pals Paper Arts color challenge. I love this combination but the creative juices weren't flowing! I'm still really busy with my craft fair items and I had to take a little bit of time for Cyber Monday.  I love online shopping!!  Back to the workshop!  Please feel free to join us in this fun challenge!

p.s.  I felt the need for those cute little Crushed Curry stars 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA 275

I made this for the Pals Paper Arts color challenge.  Such a nice combination and in perfect time for Thanksgiving.  I thought I was done with my cards but then remembered another recipient!  I'd love to know what you think.  Also, please tell me what you're doing for Thanksgiving.  I am spending it at home with my immediate family.  It will be fun and relaxing!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA 274

I love this combination for the Pals Paper Arts color challenge!  I thought it was perfect for a Thanksgiving card but I've finished all of mine.  I then remembered that I had a November birthday coming up so that's what I made.

I pulled out the Watercolor Wings and went to work.  I realized I only had a small piece of chocolate chip paper left, so that is on my shopping list for next time.  I do love these butterflies.  They are so versatile!  I made a few extra so that I can whip out more cards later.  Thanks for looking and letting me know what you think!  Please come over to Pals Paper Arts and join us in the challenge!  We would love to see your creations.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Paper Pumpkin Alternative

I love these little cups in the Paper Pumpkin July 2015 kit!  I decided to change the color a bit by adding Watermelon Wonder, my new favorite.  I used Early Espresso and put some strips through the wood embossing folder to make shelves.  Then I dotted the cups with part of a stamp from Watercolor Wings.

If you would like to try Paper Pumpkin, you can get your first two months at 50% off!  From now until September 10, new subscribers can enter HALF OFF in the promotion code box to receive half off.  I think you will be surprised at how much you get in this cute little box of joy each month!  Just click below to sign up.

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.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA 243

Even though I love this soft and pretty combination for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge, I had a hard time with it.   The first card I made didn't work because I sponged it with what I thought was my Pink Pirouette sponge, when in fact it was a yellow sponge.  My color ended up being a peachy pink. I finally ended up making an Easter card.  I truly love the Irresistibly Yours dsp.  All I did was sponge it with Pistachio Pudding.  I will be ordering another pack before Sale-a-Bration is over on March 31st.  Hope you like my card!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Pink duckie

Here is the pink card I made after the gender neutral one.  I love my Something for Baby framelits!  I wish I had made the strip of Lullaby paper in Hello Honey a little bit longer.  Does anyone else pick apart cards you've made and think of things you could have done?!!  I hate when I do that.  I need to be happy it's done and mailed out, right?!  I got my inspiration from Amy K on Pinterest.  Here is a link to her card:  Amy K

I had a great time scrapping with my friends yesterday.  I couldn't stay all day, but I did get about 6 pages done.

I am going to get in as much crafting as I can over the next month.  I will be scheduling shoulder surgery for October.  I wanted September but had to wait until my mom can take care of herself.  She just had shoulder surgery as well, only worse than mine.  Anyway, thanks for looking and for commenting!

PPA 221

Well, I know I promised not to use the Something for Baby bundle for a while, but I just found out one of my cousins and his wife are going to have their first.  Sorry!  I made this gender neutral card for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge and then found out it was a girl!!  I ended up making another but I will save that for another day.  I love this sketch by Nicole Watt!  I am a straight on kind of girl, nothing askew for me if I can help it!

I used the Lullaby dsp for this along with Coastal Cabana for the base and Sahara Sand, Hello Honey and Pistachio Pudding for the squares and ducks.  Unfortunately I don't have Sahara Sand ink (it's on the top of my list!) so I had to use Baked Brown Sugar.  Hopefully it's not too dark for this. What do you think?  I finished it off with white bakers twine.  I use this a lot!!  Isn't it funny how it appears the squares are larger on top?  It's just the angle, I promise.  Thanks for looking and commenting.