UWYH #20

The challenge at Sweet Stamp Shop this week is to use your stash of stamps, look at them in a new way and find something unexpected to do with them! (Use What You Have Challenge #20).

I started with the 'Baby Love' set and decided to turn that pocket stamp upside-down!

Now that pocket is a HOUSE, and I used it on a postcard you can send to notify friends and family of your new address:

I used a ruler and pencil to help me stamp in a straight line, then erased the pencil and added washi and enamel dots. Simple, but effective!

Thanks for stopping by, and come join in the weekly challenge!

Carta Bella and a Pretty Profile

I had a few things in mind when creating this layout. I wanted to use masking, misting, and stamping. When I decided to scrap this photo, I wanted to incorporate a rainbow feel, without just painting a rainbow on the page. I'm really happy with how it turned out!

The 'Basic Training' at S.W.A.T. Challenge Blog this month was to use a mask, so I'm linking up over there.

I cut a mask with my Cricut - a square with a grid of circles on it. I misted with 'Sunset' Mister Huey's, moved the mask over 2 more times, misting with 'Clover' and 'Bonny Blue'. These colors coordinated really well with my Carta Bella 'Alphabet Junction' paper and stickers. I also did some stamping in black ink, and then used Heidi Swapp Color Magic letters as part of my title, sprayed with 'Sunset'. A few sequins finish off the page.

Thanks so much for taking a look at my layout today!

Use It Tuesday - Creatures

We've got a new challenge up at Use It Tuesday - Creatures!

I went searching through my stash and found some animal chipboard stickers that haven't been used. I rarely use animal images or stickers in my projects. (well, except for butterflies and ladybugs!) I decided on a chipboard bunny, found some paper to coordinate, and here's my card:

This bunny is about 2 1/2 years old, glad to finally see it on a completed project! Those cork stars are a newer acquisition from my friend Denise. If you love them, let me know, I can get you in contact with her to buy some :)

Alright, your turn to Use It, let's see what you can make with your creature stash!

Paper Girls - Bugs!

Charity's got a fun challenge up at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog today - Use Bugs on a project! So perfect for Halloween if you'd like to use some creepy crawly spiders...

Or... just go with ladybugs, like I did:

All that stamping and fussy cutting was a lot of work, but totally worth it, I just love these ladybugs by Sweet Stamp Shop! Patterned paper is Cosmo Cricket 'Tea for Two'.

Thanks for coming by! You've got almost 2 weeks to link up your projects!

Gelatos, embossing and glitter, oh my!

Another card inspired by a Stamptoberfest challenge at Two Peas in a Bucket!

Using up my Stash again, so this is another Use What You Have Challenge #19 entry.

 My stash this time are these gorgeous gelatos!

I really had no idea how to use gelatos, so I recruited my crafty 3-year old for some help. She did not hesitate to put some color on paper and made this:

How fabulous is that?

Well, the SOF13 challenge I worked on this time was a technique one called "Backgrounds with Wow". First you color the cardstock, then emboss it, then add glitter glue! I then trimmed down my background and made this card:

Can you believe I don't have an embossing machine? I just used a drinking glass to roll and push on the folder, makes a great impression.

Thanks for stopping by!

Single layer card - You're the Bomb!

This week is Stamptoberfest (SOF) on the Two Peas in a Bucket Stamping Forum. Do you like to stamp? If so, come on by, join in the chats or the challenges. I'm hosting a challenge called Keep It Local! There's a prize up for grabs!

I've got a couple of cards to share from the SOF13 celebration. I'll do 2 posts, so look out for the next one in a minute!

Since I used up some of my STASH, I'm entering these in Use What You Have Challenge #19.

Here is my stash. I've got this brand new bottle of Stickles and *shock* uninked Sweet Stamp Shop stamps! This stamp set is so awesome, what was I waiting for?!?

And here's my one layer card. It was originally 4.25" x 5.5" but I ended up cutting it down to 4.25" x 4.25". I really need to do more of these so they are easier to send in the mail. (Especially since the Post Office is so sneaky about their rate changes these days...)

Here's a close-up so you can see the Stickles on the fuse:

Oh man, I'm keeping this stamp set on my desk to make a few more projects before I put it away!

Giveaway Winner!

I've got a winner from my Paper Girls Blog Hop post! Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to hop and comment on my blog!

The winner is:
Nance E Salkeld!!

Nance E Salkeld September 30, 2013 at 1:27 PM

Adorable blocks! At first I thought they were wooden and then before I read on, I thought maybe they were upcycled kleenex boxes (I have saved a few for crafting). This would be great for those small square kleenex boxes.

Nance, please contact me with your mailing address so I can send you your prize!

duffyma_1999 (at) yahoo (dot) com

-Michele

Chevrons and Sequins

I've got a card today that was inspired by the Sweet Stamp Shop UWYH Challenge #18 and CAS-ual Friday CFC116 challenge to use Chevrons and Sequins. Two excellent trends to combine with Sweet Stamps, don't you think?

 

First, here is my stash of sequins:

And here is my card:

 

I used the "Distressed Chevron" background stamp from Sweet Stamp Shop. And then just punched out three circles and put them on a dark blue card base. Super easy, and then the sequins make the card pop.

Thanks for taking a look!

Use It Tuesday - Odds and Ends

We've got a new challenge up at Use It Tuesday - Odds, Ends, Scraps and Pieces!

This type of challenge is always fun. You get to start with the little bits and work your way up, instead of the other way around. I've got this little bowl of odds & ends that I keep on the shelf behind my craft desk. When my project needs a little something different, I pull it out. Well this time I started with the bowl, emptied it onto my desk and found some cute button brads that I've never used before. They were part of a card kit that I purchased about 1 1/2 years ago.

 

I grabbed a 6x6 paper pad with some bright colors and found this MME butterfly paper that I thought worked nicely with the buttons brads in the centers. I just sort of built the card around that. Here it is:

Go find your Odds & Ends, Scraps & Pieces and let them inspire you for your next project! Then link up at Use It Tuesday!

Paper Girls - Sew It On

Time for a new challenge at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog!  Jessica's turn, and her challenge is to Sew It On! (Machine, hand, or faux stitching will all work!)

I don't usually sew on my projects. I don't own a sewing machine, they kind of intimidate me! Well, last weekend I was at the ScrapbookSteals.com 2013 Retreat and one of my scrappy friends loaned me her Amy Tangerine Stitching templates and her embroidery floss so I could create this card:

Those stitching templates were a lot of work, but a lot of fun, glad I could try them out!

OK, it's your turn! Pull out the needle and thread and get sewing!  You have until October 19th to link up your project!

Happy Monday!

The Alley Way Stamps Lemon Squeezy

Happy World Cardmaking Day, everyone!

Turns out my daughter was a little sick today, so we've stayed home and I had a chance to make a couple of cards!

The inspiration for this card is The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) BE-Inspired Challenge #38, and CAS(E) This Sketch #48.

I used the TAWS stamp set "Lemon Squeezy" along with some Lily Bee 6x6 papers to create this simple card:

Hope you find some time to get crafty this weekend!

Don't forget you have until October 6th (that's tomorrow!) to complete the Paper Girls Blog Hop end enter my own Blog Giveaway. Check it out HERE.