Happy Halloween!

 

I hope you all had a "spook-tacular" day! I borrowed Suzanne's cow costume for work. I made a sign like the Chick fil A cows that said "Eat Mor Chikin." It was fun :) I also had the local kindergarten kids come and have a costume parade and corn shucking contest with the residents. They all loved it :)  Then tonight Jen came over to stamp. I got my first trick or treater ever...and I was expecting Jen, so I answered the door all funny. At first I thought it was Jen in a wolf mask.... well it wasn't! It was pretty funny.

 

Oh and I started this post out with a card, didn't I? ;) All the stamps are from Paper Smooches, the paper from My Mind's Eye, the ribbon, cardstock, and large scallop border die are from PTI, the button from SU, and the twine from the Twinery.

 

SAP1-Halloween Take #2

 

I'm here with another take on the Fresh Squeezed Stamps challenge. I used "Subway Series Holidays" 3 times to stamp the background. I used Paper Smooches "He Says, She Says" to stamp the word bubble around part of the background. The witch is from Paper Smooches "Halloweenies." The spider paper is from My Mind's Eye. The ink is SU and the witch was colored with Copics.

 

 

Thankfully last year after the freak Halloween snowstorm we cut down the huge tree in our backyard (after a huge branch fell on our brand new camper :( So this year we didn't have any damage! We still have power, too. Some of my friends don't, and neither does the local grocery store. But I'm safe and sound! Just for a heads up, though, as a group we decided to postpone our 12 Kits of Christmas post until Nov. 2nd in case any of us East Coast girls lost power due to the storm. It's a Paper Smooches kit this month (from me!) so I can't wait to see what everyone makes :)

 

CAS(E) this Sketch #3 Take 2

 

Yup, I decided to play along with this week's sketch, again! I liked it, okay? ;)  So I used the owl from the "Spookalicious" Paper Smooches set, my new "He Said, She Said" set for the word bubble, My Mind's Eye paper, and cardstock from PTI. The circle was cut with a SU punch.

 

 

So we still have power right now! Of course they cut into my favorite DWTS contestant, Shawn, with storm updates, but I'm glad I'm not at work (I thought I was going to have to spend the night), and we are so lucky to still have power! If we lose it, I hope its while we're sleeping. I hope all the rest of my east coast friends are all safe!

 

CAS(E) this Sketch #3

 

I'm loving the new CAS(E) this sketch blog. I've had a lot of fun playing along each week :) So I made this card for Phillip for Halloween....a mad scientist with a Halloween love potion ;) Here is the sketch we were given this week:

 

 

The "eternal love" sentiment is from "Spookalicious" and the "potion" I made using "Alphadot." The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye. The label punch is from SU.

 

I hope you are all keeping safe even with "Frankenstorm" upon us! With my job a weather emergency always means we have to be there even more, but I'm hoping that at least traffic won't be bad because most people won't be on the road. For those of you on the East coast that are staying home, I hope you keep power so you can craft all day!

 

 

SAP1- Halloween

Today I'm here to play along with the first Fresh Squeezed Stamps challenge! It was to create a Halloween card. I used my subway art set from them and of course Paper Smooches.

I needed some extra Halloween cards, too, so I made several of them. They were easy and turned out cute. Here is a group shot:

 

The clouds are from My Favorite Things, the patterned chevron paper is from My Mind's Eye. Do you prefer the black or orange chevrons? I ran out of the black so tried orange and I like that, too :) There is still time to play along with the Freshly Squeezed Stamps challenge. Don't have any of their stamps? They have a free digi! You can find the challenge here.

Lawnscaping Challenge #44

This week's challenge at the Lawnscaping blog was to try a new technique. Well, this one is not 100% new to me, but I pulled out my brayer and spectrum ink pad that have only been used once or twice YEARS ago, so its almost new ;) That is how I created that fun colorful background, with the brayer. I felt like they were warm fall colors, so I wanted to use my new "Cozy Christmas" Lawn Fawn set. I also used my Tim Holtz brick die that I bought the last time I was at Absolutely Everything for the top of the card, pretty cool, huh? This is more of a fall card than a Christmas one, so I made up my own little sentiment to work for it. There's still time to play along if you want to link up, I love playing along at Lawnscaping!

CAS(E) this Sketch #2 & CFC75

I'm here to play along with the second CAS(E) this Sketch challenge! Here is the sketch we were given:

This card is also for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge, to create a card with an element that hangs over the edge (my banner).

I used Paper Smooches "Happy Camper," and "Sentiment Sampler." The patterned paper, die, and cardstock are all from PTI. 

I want to say thank you SO much for the outpouring of congratulations comments and emails I have received about my new spot on the PSSparks DT! It really means so much, I can't stop smiling! I appreciate all of you so very much! I feel so loved :)

Paper Smooches Sparks: Cool Shades October 2012

Here with this week's installment of Paper Smooches Sparks, a color challenge! I had this idea to make lollipops out of the pumpkins from "Spookalicious." I think they turned out more like balloons than lollipops, but they're still bright and cheery. I created my own sentiment with "Alphadot," but the "Happy Halloween" came from "Halloweenies." The ribbon is from SU, the twine from the Twinery, the pearls from Q&Co, and the scallop punch from SU.

I had a lot of crafting to get caught up on today since I didn't craft at all while my sister and niece were here. I managed to make some cards for some challenges that you'll be seeing later on this week. Back to the grindstone tomorrow...

Incredibly Exciting News!

Well, all that hard work paid off....I made it onto the Paper Smooches Sparks Design Team!! Its like a dream come true for me :) Thank you all so much for all the encouragement along the way, it meant so much. I just can't tell you how thrilled I am to be a part of my favorite stamp company and design with these adorable stamps :) And to be on the team with such talented ladies! I was thrilled to see that my friend, Lynn, is on the team as well! I've been checking out the other very talented DT members' blogs and have been smiling from ear to ear at their creativity and talent! My term starts November 1st, so be looking for lots of Paper Smooches starting then (as if you didn't see enough here already ;) Here's my badge that I will display proudly!

So of course I couldn't just write without a card, so above is a fun little Halloween card I made a few weeks ago at one my Wednesday crafting nights with Suzanne and Jen. I used my SU Sizzix chevron folder, paper from My Mind's Eye, bat from "Spookalicious," monster from "Halloweenies," twine from the Twinery, cardstock from PTI, and pearls from Q&Co. I waved goodbye to my sister and niece today after a wonderful visit. It went by way too quickly! I will be sharing some pics soon, but we're headed out to a Halloween party tonight!

Paper Smooches Sparks Trend Watch May 2012 Take #2

Back with another "Take 2" for the Paper Smooches Sparks DT Application. This one was for the trend watch of May 2012, which was "The Sky's the Limit."

This card was so much fun to make. I started with a Tim Holtz embossing folder with the sun's rays, because it reminded me of the inspiration photo. Then I cut out the clouds and helicopters from the PS set "Sunny Side Up." 

Today we went to the Boston Children's Museum with my niece and it was a really cool place! Tomorrow is another shopping day... whoo hoo!

Paper Smooches Sparks Trend Watch Sept. 2012 Take #2

Hi everyone, back with another Paper Smooches Sparks challenge to enter into the DT search! I chose to make another retro card for the Retro Fab challenge they had back in September.

That cool camera paper is from Echo Park, and the photos paper is from October Afternoon (so is the paper used on the tickets). The ticket die is from PTI, the sentiment, camera, and 10 cent stamp are from Paper Smooches "Perpetual Bliss." The washi tape is from Recollections and the pearls are from Q&Co. Its been a lot of fun going back to play with older challenges again!

CAS(E) This Sketch #1

Hi everyone! I'm here playing along with a new challenge blog called CAS(E) this sketch. You know how much I like sketches, so when I heard about it, I had to play along! Here is the sketch we were given to play with:

So for my card I used the pumpkins from Paper Smooches "Halloweenies" and "Spookalicioius," cardstock from PTI, and washi tape from Target and Recollections. It was a simple card, but it is still really cute :) I'm having a great time with my sister and niece so far! Today we went on a shopping day, tomorrow to a petting zoo!

Paper Smooches Designer Drafts Aug. 2012 Take #2

I played along with this sketch the first time and made a card totally different from the one above. I like this one way better! This is another entry into the Sparks DT search. I used "Pip Squeaks" for all the little hanging baby items. I just drew the clothesline on the paper. The cloud paper is from Amuse and the grass punch is from Martha Stewart. I changed up the sentiment (it usually says "Here we grow again" on two separate lines) by masking and taking the "you" from the "Word Up Set" (the actual sentiment said "Thank You") and the Congratulations is from "Simply Said." The pearls are from Recollections. This card is for a co worker who I found out is pregnant with her second child, love the sentiment!

Young Crafters Unite #14

This month at Young Crafter's Unite there is a challenge to use either a new technique you've learned or one that's tried and true. Danielle from Neat and Tangled is offering up an extra $20 GC to her store, so I definitely wanted to play along, there are some adorable stamps there that I've had my eye on! I did use the one set of her's I have, and made tons of the little envelopes to pile up in the wheelbarrow from wplus9.

I also used Mega Mat Stack #4 and the double ended banner die from PTI, used patterned paper from My Mind's Eye, used Paper Smooches "Alphadot" to create the "mail" sentiment, and "Halloweenies" for the spider and "Halloween Happy" sentiment. The button is from PTI and the pearl from Recollections. The twine is from the Twinery. So what is the technique I used? Fussy cutting...I love doing that with any Paper Smooches stamps, but also this little envelope, it was really easy to cut out. I also used embossing, but you cannot tell at ALL in the pic and I'm kind of disappointed. The Mat Stack is embossed with woodgrain, it looks really cool in person. 

Another fun note, when I got my order from Danielle at Neat and Tangled, not only was the stamp set there, but so was a handwritten note to me, some pink baker's twine, and a mini clothespin in a little glassine bag! It was such a nice touch :)

Paper Smooches Sparks

Hi all, I'm going back through all the old PS Sparks challenges to enter into the Sparks DT search, and I came across this one from Dec. 2011-Jan. 2012 that I never played with:

All the colors were fun to work with. I took the colors of the words and put them into the peacock's feathers. Then also into the word "colors" at the bottom of the card. I used "Alphadot" to create the sentiment which I thought went well because it is a bird card! The peacock is from "My Peeps." The cool peacock embossing folder I got on sale at my local stamp store, the ribbon is from Amuse (did you notice the tie has multiple color ribbons in it?) and the double ended banner die and cardstock are from PTI. The inks are from SU. I can't tell you all how much I would love to be a part of the PSS DT, I'm going to keep trying, and I've got my fingers crossed that I make it!

Paper Smooches Sparks Designer Drafts: October 2012

More Halloween cards to add to my stash! Here is the sketch I used for this week's PS Sparks challenge:

That cool text/blood ribbon I picked up at Michaels. I immediately thought of this vampire stamp when I bought it :) The blood punch is from Martha Steward. The cardstock and double ended banner die are from PTI, the patterned papers from My Mind's Eye. The twine is from the Twinery, the rhinestones are from Recollections. I've never done a sketch like this, so at first it was hard. You've got to check out the creative things that the DT made! Make sure to go check them out on the Paper Smooches Sparks blog. Hope you all have some awesome stuff planned for the weekend...I do! My sister and niece will be here this Sunday!

Retro Sketches #32

Time for my weekly entry to the Retro Sketches challenge! You still have time to link up, so you should play along, too. I always love their sketches! Also, my friend Suzanne, is a headliner there this month! You should definitely go see her work, and the great work of the other DT members, too :) So here is the sketch we were given to work with this week:

I used stamps from Paper Smooches "Spookalicious" and "Halloweenies." The paper is from Making Memories and My Mind's Eye. The cardstock from PTI, the button from SU, and the twine from the Twinery. I'm slowly building up my collection of Halloween cards to send out this year...how about you?

Just Us Girls #157

Here's a cute Halloween card for the JUGS sketch this week:

I used the Paper Smooches "Halloweenies" set for stamps, some paper from WeRMemoryKeepers and My Mind's Eye, cardstock from PTI, ribbon and double ended banner from PTI, and the cute rolled flower is from PTI felt, one from my birthday gift from Gerry who made me tons of rolled flowers :)

I can't wait until this week is over so my sister and niece arrive for their visit! Autumn's first birthday is actually today...gheesh, I can't believe it!

Cloudwplus9 Blog Hop October 2012

Time for this month's Wplus9 blog hop! Here is the inspiration photo we were given this month:

I only have one wplus9 set, but I was determined to make it work, and I think I did! Instead of a door, I used my window die and shutters. I went with the orange and black pumpkins, and then the black with white polka dots as the background (that's from My Mind's Eye), and then I used my PTI alphabet dies to make the "boo" that you see on the side on the door. The twine is from the Twinery and the cardstock from PTI. You should join in on the blog hop! You have a few days, so definitely check it out, here.

Lawnscaping Challenge #43: Texture

I decided to play along with the Lawnscaping challenge again this week, and I made a birthday card for my niece, Autumn, who is turning 1 this week!

This week's challenge was to use texture on your card. So I used my new SU houndstooth embossing folder on one of the strips, and then used some burlap from 7Gypsys. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches, the cute fall paper is from October Afternoon. The leaves are from Paper Smooches "Autumn Grooves." The double ended banner die and the cardstock is from PTI, and the ribbon is from SU. I think this card turned out really sweet :) Speaking of my niece, she's coming up here with my sister for a visit next week and I can't wait!

Paper Smooches Sparks Trend Watch: Oct. 2012

Last post tonight, I promise! This card is for this week's Sparks challenge. The theme was woodland creatures and this neat inspiration photo:

So obviously I kinda liked the tree and wanted to recreate it ;) I used "Autumn Grooves" for the base of the tree and "Reflections for all the neat flourishes and leaves. The sentiment is also from "Autumn Grooves" and the little fox (my woodland creature) is from "Smoocheroos." I really think that the tree turned out pretty neat! The ribbon is from SU and Michaels. 

Okay, its been a long weekend, now I'm really going to bed ;)

Paper Smooches World Card Making Day Challenge #3

Challenge #3, use this sketch:

Here I used "All Yule Need," and "Christmas Sampler." The clothespins are from "Pipsqueaks." The snowflake is a SU punch, the button and cardstock are from PTI, the twine from the Twinery, and the patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.

Well, I had a blast making all these cards! Thanks so much for all the fun challenges, Kim :)

*Sorry about so many posts, everyone, I tried to put them all in one, but then I couldn't upload them to the Paper Smooches blog to enter the challenges*

Paper Smooches World Card Making Day Challenge #2

The second challenge was to create a one layer card. I have to say that I love this card! All the fall colors (my new SU inks) all the fun foliage (from "Reflections" and "Autumn Grooves") and then the fact that its all with a woodgrain impression! That's from my new SU folder I ordered with my inks..I love it :) The sentiment is from "Pretty Phrases" again, and the dots under the sentiment are from "All Yule Need."

World Card Making Day: Paper Smooches Style!

Yes, I realize World Card Making Day was yesterday, but I had to work both days this weekend, and just got around to making my cards today! Thank goodness Kim from Paper Smooches gave us until tonight at midnight :) So my next 3 blog posts are my 3 cards for the 3 challenges she has going on at the Paper Smooches Blog. Challenge #1 Create a Card with pink on it:

I got busy with my PS stamps that came in my order from Simon Says (they offered a 25% discount a week or so back, and I definitely took advantage of it :) I used "Pretty Phrases" and "Whirligigs" on this card. I also used washi tape from Target, and my new SU inks! 

Retro Sketches #31

When I was at Absolutely Everything for the bag lady sale this weekend, I bought this super fun October Afternoon paper, and these Paper Smooches "Boob Tube" stamps. This card is definitely busy looking compared to what I've been making lately, but it makes me smile :) It will make Phillip smile, too, I'm sure ;) Here's the sketch I used from this week's Retro Sketches challenge:

The other supplies used on this project are PTI cardstock, the PTI Christmas label die (cut in half for the sentiment), twine from the Twinery, and a library clip from SU. I just got all the rest of my new SU inks yesterday! I used the Tempting Turquoise for the sentiment. I don't think I ended up telling you on my blog, but at the stamp yardsale I had a table at last month I did amazingly well! Way better than I ever anticipated...enough to buy ALL the inks I wanted, more PS, and then some!