Olympic VSN

The Olympic-themed "Virtual Stamp Weekend" has started at Splitcoaststampers!  Denise (aka ResqBarbie) was up first with a sketch challenge.  We were to be inspired by the symbol of the Vancouver Games, the Inukshuk!

Here is my card using the layout...and it's more violets!  You see, I was inspired to use this color scheme by another project from Melissa Phillips!  She has been showcasing the coolest photos from A Creative Mint, and this week's photo had shades of orange, cream, and lavender all together!

More Year of the Flower: Violets and Background Basics: Tin Types, my 2 new favorite Papertrey Ink sets, ...and LOTS of Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The violets were sponged just like yesterday's card, and popped on dimensionals.  Thanks for looking, and thanks for the cool inspiration Denise and Melissa!

SNOW DAY!

Finally the Upstaters get to join in on the fun that the rest of the country has been experiencing, a SNOW DAY!  We haven't had one all year...isn't it usually the reverse?

PTI Blog Hop...pick a Designer!

It's time for another PTI Blog Hop!  This month we were to pick a creation by a Design Team Member and put our own spin on it!

So with awe and a little trepidation...I chose THIS CARD by the lovely Melissa Phillips!  When you scroll down (past the "Out for Publication" icons, YAY!)...you will see a sweet little card featuring Take Three: Spring with bunnies and pom-pom tails, and a side panel featuring Background Basics: Tin Types.

Here is my card:

It might be the most detailed card that I have ever made...and it's heavy, too...hee!  I had ink everywhere when I was done.  I must have answered the phone in the middle of this project, because I noticed purple streaks on it later in the day!  For my card, I kept Melissa's general layout (except moving the buttons to the top), pastel colors, and used Background Basics: Tin Types on the side.

The violets from Year of the Flower: Violets stamp set were stamped on watercolor paper with Stazon Timber Brown and then I sponged them with various Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  If you don't have this set, you NEED to get it!  I almost never purchase flower sets, and I am SO glad that I did!  I was afraid I couldn't color them correctly, but SPONGING them?  Now THAT I can do.  It is the equivalent of scribbling with a sponge!  The side panel is Background Basics:  Tin Types (LOVE) with White Opal Liquid Pearl Centers (more LOVE).  Melissa always puts snip-its and scraps of her favorite things on every card.  I used a snip of my fave turquoise mini ric-rac and some vintage white buttons collected from a garage sale!

I chose the sentiment because Melissa shows us in her posts that "Every day is a gift."  She talks so lovingly about her daughter and her family, she makes the gloomiest, "sleet-iest" day sound just perfect, and you can just smell the delicious recipes she is baking in her kitchen as she describes them.  I truly love visiting her blog, and whether you are a stamper or not, every visit will leave you with the biggest smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart!  Thanks for inspiring us in so many ways, Melissa Phillips!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Year of the Flower: Violets, PTI, Background Basics: Tin Types, PTI, sentiment from Everyday Button Bits, PTI, Weave Backgrounder, Cornish Heritage Farms
Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream cardstock, watercolor paper
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress inks (Broken China, Mulled Lavender, Concord Grape, Tea Dye), Stampin Up Retired Bliss Blue, Stazon Timber Brown, yellow marker, PTI Tea Dye Duo
Other:  White Opal Liquid Pearls, Stickles, vintage white buttons, mini turquoise ric rac, PTI's Lavender Moon Grosgrain Ribbon, sponge daubers, dimensionals

Waltzingmouse Blog Hop!

Waltzingmouse Stamps, created by the FABULOUS Claire Brennan, is having its first ever Customer Blog Hop!  The challenge was to create a card with a spring theme featuring at least one Waltzingmouse stamp!

 
I used the set that "drew" me to Waltzingmouse first, "Earth Angel".  Isn't she just the cutest?!  I stamped her several times and "paper-pieced" her outfit.  The sentiment is also from the Earth Angel set!

Supply List:
Earth Angel stamp set by Waltzingmouse Stamps
Aida Cloth Background (on dress), retired Stampin Up
Cardstock:  White and Sweet Blush from Papertrey Ink
Designer Paper:  Bo Bunny (background) and Basic Grey "Lemonade" collection (on her shirt)
Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Martha Stewart markers, Tim Holtz Worn Lipstick Distress ink, PTI Tea Dye Duo
Other:  Stickles, circle punch, rhinestones, paper-piercer, gingham ribbon

The next stop on the hop...Heidi Schmidbauer!

(If you ever lose your way, go back to the start of the hop at Claire's blog Waltzingmouse Makes.  There is a master list of all the stops on the bunny trail there, too!)

Pink Persimmon Blog Hop and Sketch Challenge!

Pink Persimmon is hosting a blog hop, and a sketch challenge featuring....PRIZES!  Each Creative Team member got to pick one of their FAVE sets to work into this fun and versatile sketch by Julie Detlef. 

I chose to use the Tea and Cake stamp set...which just happens to be the set that is the PRIZE to the randomly-selected player on MY blog!  Here is my card:

I used the teapot and tea cup from the Tea and Cake stamp set, decorative paper from the Crafty Stack by DCWV, cardstock from Papertrey Ink, and mini brads.  (The "enjoy" sentiment is from another Pink Persimmon stamp set).  I incorporated the "paper-piecing" technique on my card.  

So are you game?  If YOU would like a chance to win the Tea and Cake stamp set...post a link to your card using the sketch here in the comments section of MY blog, and use the "paper-piecing" technique in your submission!  (You do NOT have to use Pink Persimmon stamps to play along, and you will not get disqualified if you forget about the paper-piecing :)  Deadline for participation is February 28th.  Then on March 1st, a lucky winner will be randomly selected from the participants on my blog.  Be sure to leave your email address also so I have a way to contact you if you WIN!

THEN hop over to Julie's Blog, Linda's Blog, Kristie's blog, and Samantha's Blog.  (You can still stop over for some inspiration at Kimberly's Blog...but she couldn't play this week as she and her family are moving to a new state as we speak!)  Make a different card for each of their challenges, and you could win the set featured on that blog!  So you could play once, a few times, or for ALL FIVE of the Team Member's challenges!

I hope you have fun, and I can't wait to see what you create!

Happy Spring Note

For today's "Clean and Simple" Challenge at Splitcoaststampers...to "think spring" when you made a card.  Sometimes I just like the "stamping" part of stamping...do you know what I mean?  I find it fun to just ink up a stamp in any color and put it to paper over and over.  I think that is why I like stamping my own background paper so much!  This paper was white to start out with, I can hardly believe it myself!  I used Pink Persimmon's adorable Flower Garden set and a sentiment from the Banner Set (small). 
Also used the Guide Lines 1 Grid cardstock from Papertrey Ink so I could get it straight, hee!

PTI's embellies...to share!

One of the last days of anniversary challenges at PTI...today's for a chance to win a whole lotta prizes...you were to make a card with a floral embellishment, then make a set of 4-6 floral embellishments to send to a friend that matched!

Sorry for the blurry picture, I'll put up an improved version in the morning light...

Supplies: 
Stamps:  PTI's Blooming Button Bits, Background Basics: Retro, Mixed Messages
Cardstock:  PTI's Lemon Tart, Smokey Shadow, White, Vintage Cream
Ink:  PTI's Smokey Shadow, Fresh Snow, yellow marker, Stazon black, Versamark
Other:  clear embossing powder, White Opal Liquid Pearls, rhinestones, button, twine, gingham ribbon, circle punch

What's not to love?

Happy Valentine's Day weekend!  This month at Pink Persimmon we were given a generous helping of Divine Twine to play with...and if you are a "folksy" kind of girl at heart, you can see why this colorful stuff is so, well, DIVINE!

Here is a project I made using the Little Cuties stamp set from Pink Persimmon...

I wrapped the Divine Twine around chipboard letters from Making Memories that I had painted white.  I then added many of the sweet images from Little Cuties, as well as some White Opal Liquid Pearls, Kaiser Pearls, Stickles, and red heart buttons from Michael's.  The finished project was this krafty bag...

The tag is also made with a sentiment from the Little Cuties set!  Stamps make gift-giving extra-fun!  I can't wait to surprise someone with a little gift tucked in this bag on a special day!

Also be sure to check out the Divine Twine Blog for more fabulous crafty fun! 

Ori-golly!

Oh dear.  PTI is having another challenge today...to incorporate Origami into a project to celebrate the release of Melissa Bickford's new stamp set, Asian Fusion.  I LOVE this set, and could not pass up the chance to enter to win one for free...PTI is giving away ANOTHER 100.00 gift certificate to a randomly-selected participant (thank goodness this contest is not on design merit!)

So I hopped on over to Origami Club's website, and chose one of the easiest things I could find...grass.
You see I am TERRIBLE at measuring, folding, using templates, visual-spatial tasks...So be kind when you see my entry:

I used PTI's Vintage Tea Leaves paper so that I could fold it a little easier than the thick cardstock.  When I was done I had 2 of these "grass" structures, but the other one did not look quite as good as the first, so I turned it into leaves!  Used another fave set by Melissa Bickford, Background Basics: Retro to make the dotted patterns, a sentiment that seemed "zen" like to me from Everyday Button Bits, and the flower from Blooming Button Bits.

Favorite Colors

Papertrey Ink's anniversary celebration, day 9!  Today, all of the Design Team chose a favorite color scheme to make a card with.  I chose Heather Nichols's favorite color scheme of Kraft, Vintage Cream, Melon Berry, and Spring Moss!

Today's a long day at work for me, so I had to work FAST!  The prize today is framed art...all 12 of the designers made a card in their favorite colors and signed them, how FUN!

Supplies:  PTI's Baby Button Bits, Mixed Message stamp sets
Cardstock:  PTI's Kraft, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Melon Berry
Patterned Paper:  PTI's Vintage Tea Leaves
Ink:  Stazon Timber Brown, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink
Other:  circle punches, Kaiser pearl, PTI's Melon Berry button

PTI's Paint by Number Challenge

Another card for Papertrey Ink!  Today's challenge (to be eligible to win $100 gift certificate, yipee!) is to "Paint by Number".  You are to use the given sketch that has 5 separate panels.  Each panel has to be assigned a color.  The color palette that you choose has to go with the first letter of your username online.  My PTI gallery username is "Schirmcat" so I had to use the colors Kraft, Scarlet Jewel, Smokey Shadow, Vintage Cream, and Sweet Blush.  Here is my card...

Used lots of PTI Stamps on this including the flower from Baby Button Bits, the sentiment from Vintage Picnic Additions, Polka Dot Basics, and the flower is paper-pieced with Background Basics Diamonds!  It was so hard to keep each paper a separate color!  Also used paper-piercer (thanks, Betsy!), PTI and Versamark inks, liquid pearls, gingham ribbon, and a vintage button!

Baby, Baby, BABY!

Ohhh the exciting news just keeps coming this week!  ANOTHER baby, this time for Pink Persimmon Creative Team Member Kristie Larsen!  Her new son Malachi Axel was born on February 4th!  You can go to Kristie's link in my sidebar to her stamping blog, and there you will find a link to her family's blog to see her adorable boys (all THREE of them, hee!).

Darcy and Judi were very sneaky and gave the other team members a little surprise challenge for Kristie.  We got to make baby cards with Pink Persimmon stamps.  Pink Persimmon doesn't have a specific baby set (yet!) but there are SO many adorable images, that it was easy to come up with this card for Kristie...

I used two stamp sets on this card, Scottie Dogs and Ric Rac Circle, then printed the sentiment on my computer.  Paper is by Cosmo Cricket, and cardstock from Papertrey Ink!  Visit Pink Persimmon's blog to see all of the other sweet baby cards made by the team!

Congratulations Kristie and Patrick, and to Kai's big brothers Ronin and Cache!

CPS sketch challenge for Papertrey Ink

Papertrey Ink continues with their birthday/anniversary fun...this week the sketch at Card Positioning Systems is being sponsored by PTI.  Here is my challenge card:

Ummm, do you think I have babies on the brain? (see post below!)...used PTI's Baby Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics, and Background Basics Retro on this card.  Inks by Tim Holtz, and cardstock is PTI.  Also used retired SU Aida Cloth Background to make a pattern on the little bear!  Topped off with some super soft pink velour ribbon and a little brad heart.

Welcome to the World!

Welcome to the world Reegan Erin Alquist!  Born yesterday on February 5th at around 5:30 am...she is teeny, weighing in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces...BUT only 18.5 inches long! 

Reegan and her Mommy (my niece Becky!)

Not a huge fan of the extreme close-ups from Aunt Kelly!

And the grand finale...

 Congratulations Aaron, Becky, and big brother OWEN!

Who could resist?

The anniversary festivities continue at Papertrey Ink!  Today's challenge was TOO good to resist...hee!
We were to make a card using the emboss resist technique! 

I was inspired by all of the pretty botanical samples from Nichole and the PTI Design Team!  I stamped the flower from Blooming Button Bits in Versamark right on to PTI's Vintage Tea Leaves designer paper, then heat-embossed with fine detail clear powder by Ranger.  Once finished, I covered the whole piece with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain.  Beate at SCS calls this the "emerging color" technique, as well.  When you wipe off the brown ink from the flower, the color or print underneath the embossed section "emerges" like magic!  Used PTI Vintage Cream, Kraft, and Spring Moss cardstock/button, too!

The prize for a randomly-selected winner...ALL of the PTI inks, a free stamp set, and even MORE goodies for embossing...like I said, "Who could RESIST?"...Thanks for stopping by!

A Sweet Valentine

Need a special place to tuck a sweet Valentine surprise?  You can turn a $1.00 paper mache box from JoAnn's into this:

Want to learn how to make it?  Just stop by Pink Persimmon and I'll show you how in my first ever, step-by-step picture tutorial!  This project features Pink Persimmon's You're a Jewel stamp set.

While you are there, sign up for Pink Persimmon's monthly newsletter where there are always lots of sweet ideas shared by Darcy, Judi, and the whole Creative Team!

PTI Birthday Celebration!

It is Papertrey Ink's 3rd birthday/anniversary!  To celebrate, Nichole Heady is hosting special events all week on her blog Capture the Moment.  Today's challenge was to use a birthday graphic created by one of the designers.  I chose Heather Nichols's cupcake image to feature on my card:

I used Background Basics:  Retro to make the background with Aqua Mist ink.  Also used a sentiment from Mixed Messages.  All PTI cardstock (of course!) in kraft, white, and Dark Chocolate...

and my wish...to win the SEVEN sets that are the PRIZE for the randomly selected winner...eeeek!

Happy Birthday, PTI!

Snail Mail for you...

This card is for the Clean and Simple Challenge at Splitcoast.  We were to be inspired by the layout of this card by kmahany (aka Kelly!).

Hee, a snail sending Valentines...the snail is from Papertrey Ink's Baby Button Bits, the sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Vintage Picnic, and the teeny scalloped envelope is from Anna Wight's cling set called "Sweet Expressions" from Whipper Snapper Designs.