They're HERE!!!

Oh my goodness! I have been waiting and waiting and WAITING (kinda sound like a little kid at Christmas, eh?) to get my hands on these lovely nested butterflies ever since those of us on Spellbinders' Design Team were given a sneak peak at 'em last spring!!! Hooray!! My butterflies flew in yesterday (along with a bunch of other fun Nesties and dies that I will be sharing with you soon!)! I couldn't wait to make something with this butterfly set, so with that in mind, this officially makes card #62 in my butterfly challenge (for those of you who are new around here, there is a link on the sidebar to the right that explains the whole silly thing!)

This was done for WT190 on SCS - to do some sort of "cracking" technique. I did cracked glass, which I haven't done very often because it seems I can never get the cracks to show up quite as much as I would like. I made my own designer-type paper for the base layer using Season of Friendship, Priceless and Itty Bitty Backgrounds. I have a bunch to do, so I will be off. I just was too excited to share this with y'all!!! LOVE my new toys, er . . . um . . . TOOLS!!

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Dotted Autumn (sentiment), Priceless
Paper: Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Autumn Vine dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Baja Breeze, More Mustard
Accessories: Nested Butterfly Shapeabilities by Spellbinders (S4171), 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, large and small oval punch, Glassy Glaze, pop-up glue dots, sponge

The Colors of Fall

I love it when it is my turn to host the Limited Supply Challenge on SCS. It really stretches my brain. I took my turn as hostess last Friday and decided I wanted to do something with a fall theme . . . namely, leaves. I don't think I will ever get too old to love running through a pile of leaves, feeling their crunch under my feet . . . kicking them along . . . sigh . . .

The challenge I proposed (LSC191) was to make a card using a leaf or leaves as the focal image AND to include some pink, somewhere, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. One of my dearest, most wonderful friends in the world lost her battle with breast cancer in August of 1997 at the age of 33. I think of her often and am grateful for her friendship and the life lessons she taught me. This challenge made me think of her.

This first card is a z-fold with a twist . . . instead of putting the main top panel smack-dab in the middle, I moved it up and to the left a bit, mainly to accommodate my ribbon and sentiment. I like how it turned out.

Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Autumn Leaf Prints
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Espresso Adirondack, various Copic markers
Accessories: Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes embossing folder, Marvy maple leaf punch, large and small oval punches, paper distressing tool, 1/4" chocolate chip grosgrain, pop-up glue dots

This second sample is a layout I have used before (you will notice the card on the previous post has the same layout). I think that the long mega rectangle Nestabilities are my current favorite, if not for this layout alone. But, that may change, as I hope to be getting a box in the next day or two with my NEW Nestabilties dies (the ones I have been waiting for since we (members of the Spellbinders Design Team) did our Blog Blitz Preview before summer CHA! Can you say "fun new toys?"

Stamps: Autumn Fest
Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla
Ink: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: May Arts polka dot organza ribbon, Spellbinders Long Classic Scalloped Rectangle Megabilities (S4143), Spellbinders Scallop and Classic Small Square Nestabilities (S4129 & S4128), Leafy Branches Cuttlebug embossing folder, rhinestone icon sticker, pop-up glue dots

Kitchen Sink October Contest

I've been running around for the past two days and needing to get these cards finished for Kitchen Sink Stamps' monthly contest! I have to leave in about 10 minutes, so this has gotta be quick!!

This first card is my entry for "Best Use of Color." The theme this month is "Getting Ready for the Holidays." Wreaths always make me think of holidays, because they used to only be hung at Christmas time. This wreath - made from pansies of all things! - is to welcome and give gratitude for Thanksgiving. A little unconventional, but I like it!!

Stamps: 3-step Pansies, 3-step Hearts & Roses (for sentiment) and Thanks by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, So Saffron, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1" circle punches, small oval punch, chocolate chip taffeta ribbon, paper distressing tool, pop-up glue dots

This card is for "Outside the Box." I kept thinking of using this rose as a Christmas ornament, and I kind of like how it turned out!! Fun!!

Stamps: 3-step Hearts & Roses by Kitchen Sink Stamps
Paper: Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Shimmery Silver, Bashful Blue
Ink: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy
Accessories: , Spellbinders Long Classic Scalloped Rectangle Megabilities (S4143), Spellbinders Scallop and Classic Large Square Nestabilities (S4129 & S4128), silver ribbon, silver cord, Cuttlebug Snow Dots Embossing Folder, Silver Ice Stickles, pop-up Glue Dots

Wish me luck!!

Spooky Butterflies??

Here I come again with ANOTHER butterfly card! Butterflies for Halloween??? You bet!! Especially if you needed a Halloween butterfly card for some crazy, self-imposed challenge!

I was channelling all sorts of sources for this card, which I did for WT189. I got the web idea a couple of years ago from Jeanne S and this card (the whole darn card rocks!):

Jeanne's Card

I did the sunset sky thing as a tribute to Michelle (Zindorf). She does in infinitely better than me, but I like the idea, nonetheless.

And of course, I did a similar layout, turned the other way, last year. So I cased my own self!

It is hard to tell from the photo, but the drippy goo is actually where the front edge of the card ends. The spiders and the saffron piece of cardstock are actually on the inside of the card.

This card also evokes the beginnings of the whole butterfly challenge. It started out with a Ron Weasley card. Remember the quote from the Harry Potter movie (Chamber of Secrets)? "Follow the spiders??? Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies?????" So we got both spiders AND butterflies in this one. A goofy Halloween card, to be sure!

Stamps: Arachnophobia Wheel, Best Fiends (sentiment), Butterflies by Stampendous
Paper: Basic Black, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Lovely Lilac, Night of Navy
Accessories: black twine, large and small oval punches, CM circle cutter, Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch, pop-up glue dots, sponge, brayer

Fall, Fall, Fall . . .

The air has definitely turned brisk as the seasons have, officially I think, changed from summer to fall. I walked outside yesterday and I could see my breath . . . and it was already 10:00 a.m.!

As I looked at the sketch challenge on SCS yesterday (SC199) I was drawing a blank . . . for a VERY long time. I just couldn't think of what images I wanted to play with and incorporate into it. I must have stared at it and thought about it for at least at hour! When I FINALLY picked this "Fabulous Flower" stamp, the rest just seemed to run away like a freight train!! I think I kind of went overboard with all the different patterns and such. It has grown on me, though, and now I think I like it!! I think the Autumn Vine paper is just LOVELY!! Now, pass the hot chocolate!!

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, Hugs & Wishes, Season of Friendship
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Autumn Vine dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard
Accessories: 1" circle punch, button, raffia, 1/4" chocolate chip grosgrain, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, sponge dauber, pop-up glue dots

Nothin' to do???

You know when you have a TON to do, but instead you do something you really shouldn't? I did the color challenge on SCS yesterday . . . TWICE . . . all the while the 200 paper-pieced/pop-up thank you cards that I need to finish were sitting on the table were taunting me!!

This first one has grown on me the more I look at it. I kept thinking, "Why on EARTH would I put PINK in a Christmas card???" (The color challenge was to use chocolate chip, pink pirouette and kiwi kiss.) I had a lot of fun putting it together, although I still think that this Scandinavian Season set looks a bit Hawaiian! Too bad I didn't have a sentiment stamp that said "Mele Kalikimaka!"

Stamps: Scandinavian Season, Season of Joy
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Rhinestone, chocolate chip satin ribbon, D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug ef, Silver Ice Stickles, large oval punch, paper piercing tool/mat

I have done a layout similar to this a couple of times in the last month or so. I really like the silhouette-style flowers as a strip along the bottom of the card with a Cuttlebugged/textured strip on the top of the card. I used "Here for You" stamps by There She Goes. It is just full of lovely sentiments that are perfect for a sympathy card. It does take a long time to color the stamp with markers, though. I like the effect, so I just keep right on doin' it!!

Stamps: Here for You by There She Goes
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Cuttlebug Argyle ef, paper punching tool/mat, glue dots

More Spookiness!

Here is another card I created using my There She Goes "Spooktacular Silhouettes" set. I only wish I had reinked my black ink pad first! I realized just how weak the ink looks AFTER I photographed it! Oh well!

I used a funky fold I learned on SCS for TLC166 clear back in April! Here is a link if you would like to download Beth's pdf or word file with complete instructions:

Beth's Tutorial

You know me and folds . . . :)

Stamps: Spooktacular Silhouettes by There She Goes
Paper: Basic Black, Lovely Lilac, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Spider Web embossing folder, black gingham ribbon, pop-up glue dots, paper distressing tool, sponge

Out of the 'Net!

I have been out of town for the last couple of days, and the internet here is more than sketchy. If I sit in the exact right place at the exact right angle and don't breathe or don't move, I can kinda get a connection . . . sometimes . . . if I'm patient . . .

So, I've been trying to put this card up for ya for quite some time! With any luck it'll actually get posted today (which is Saturday, October 18). Sigh . . .

This is officially card #60 in my "Follow the Butteflies" challenge. I can hardly believe that I have made it this far and haven't done the same butterfly twice! My goal is to make it all the way to the end (104!) and not do any repeats. Thanks to the help of friends, I'm gettin' there!

The Ways to Use it Challenge - WT188 - was to incorporate plaid into your card. I was digging and searching all over the place for some plaid paper. Stripes, checkerboard, houndstooth, argyle, polka dots, flowers . . . you name it, I have it . . . 'cept I couldn't find any plaid! I then remembered the old Rubbermaid-type container that I started collecting paper in. Back in the days when scrapbooking was brand new to me (we are talkin' at least 10-11 years, here!). I went and started digging, and hit the mother lode!! Lots of plaid in there, so here is what I came up with. I combined it with this week's sketch challenge - SC198. It's kinda funky, but I think I likey!!

Stamps: Best Yet, Flannel Plaid bg, Butterfly Kisses (Papertrey)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa, Kraft, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip (Classic & Craft)
Accessories: CM circle cutter, Cuttlebug Just My Type embossing border, pop-up glue dots

Butterfly #59

I was able to combine TLC190 yesterday with a couple of other things that are amongst my faves . . . butterflies and fall!! I did one of these fun and funky folds a couple of weeks ago for the first time, and I loved it!! It was fun to see it as part of a challenge on SCS.

You need to cut the base piece of cardstock to 10.5" x 5". Then, score it at 1.25, 2.5, 4.25, 6 and 8.25. Fold it "accordion style" and you are ready to go!!

So I am now officially pushing 60 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge!! Wahootie!!! Getting closer all the time!!

Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Butterfly Beauty (Unity) and Word Collection (Stamp Oasis)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, Maple Leaf die/embossing folder by ProvoCraft, 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, Leafy Branches embossing folder

What Happened to FALL??!!??

Can you believe we woke up yesterday morning and there was SNOW on the ground??? SNOW???!!!???? In the not-quite-middle of October???? I'm not ready to GO there yet!!! Sheesh!!!

I was talking to my friend, Jessica, the other night (hey-ya friend!). That's Jessica as in "There She Goes" stamp girl Jessica. We were discussing things that present a challenge to us when stamping. I confessed that "simple" is a challenge for me, as I always think I can just add "one more thing" . . . so she challenged me to make a simple card, so I came up with this. (Kinda funny, as the last card I posted on here was also simple, and also done at the request of a friend!!)

Love the fun stamps included in "Spooktacular Silhouettes." I don't think I've ever actually SENT a Halloween card, but I DO love MAKING them!!!

Stamps: Spooktacular Silhouettes by There She Goes
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Going Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Spider Web embossing folder, silver cord, wide oval punch

Quick 'N Easy

I had a friend of mine ask me if I could help her with a quick and easy invitation for her family Christmas party. (This is the part where you read in that it needs to be "quick and easy" 'cause I'M going to end up doing it, not her!!!). I love this little Christmas village Cuttlebug folder! It looks great! I'm seriously considering doing something with it for my own Christmas card. Not quite sure where I am going with it, but stay tuned . . .

I am also loving, loving, LOVING this little branch punch. Thinking about that one for my Christmas card, too!! In the meantime, this is a simple card you could easily mass produce. Fun!!

Stamps: All Year Cheer I
Paper: Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Always Artichoke
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches, MS Craft Branch punch, silver cord, Cuttlebug Winter House ef

Birthday Wishes

This is a card I did a little over a week ago for my mother in law. She turned 78 . . . I hope I look half as good as she does at her age. She looks GREAT!!! My daughter and I are still at an impasse on this Eastern Blooms set. She has issue with the lines in the flowers . . . I think they look pretty cool. She has been liking the cards I have been making with it, she just keeps bringing up those darn lines!! Good thing I don't let her opinion sway me!!!

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Amazing to Zany
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Shimmery Gold, Riding Hook Red
Ink: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Gold Encore
Accessories: Cuttlebug Floral Screen embossing folder, scallop border punch, curvy label punch, large oval punch, black/white polka dot organza (May Arts), dimensionals

And the WINNERS are . . .

Using random.org I generated a couple of numbers to pick the winners for the There She Goes surprise stamp sets!! The TWO winners are:

#4 - Julie
#77 - Marga Martinez

Happy Day and Congratulations to you both!! E-mail me at ronandwendy85@smartfella.com with all your important info (addresses) and we'll send you your fun stamps!!

Be sure to visit the There She Goes store. Jessica has done a PERMANENT price adjustment, so now ALL her stamp sets are even more affordable than before! Here's a direct link so you can take a peek:

There She Goes

Thanks to all of you for posting comments and playing along with our little giveaway! Hope you will come back and visit soon!! (Comments are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated!!)

TTFN!!

Inspiration and LAST DAY for Winners!

I have to admit that this card was a bit of an experiment (for WT186 - to use a favorite quote or sentiment in your creation - love this quote from Stamp Oasis!). My friend Connie (cmc2stamp) and I were talking about which kinds of cards get a lot of views vs. which ones don't. She had mentioned that just about ANY card she has done lately with Pocket Silhouettes gets a lot of views. I realized that that was true for me, as well. So I decided to try and see if it really WAS true. Not bad . . . this card is approaching 700 views since I posted it yesterday! I guess there does seem to be some sort of love affair with Pocket Silhouettes! I will have to refrain from using it every day, then, I guess (wink-wink-wink!!)!

Today is your LAST CHANCE to sign up to win a lovely stamp set from There She Goes!! Be sure to post a comment to the post I made two days ago (the one with the flower pot card) for your chance to win one of two sets that I will be giving away. Visit the other blogs connected to that post for more chances to win!! Aaaaahhhhhh! Free!! My favorite!

Oh! And speaking of winning . . . remember that funky fold seashell card I posted last week? I entered it in a monthly contest on Kitchen Sink Stamps . . . it won for "Fresh and Fun" design!!! How cool is that??? Now I get to pick a little bit of "free" for myself from Kitchen Sink!! Hooray!!

I'll post the TSG stamp set winner first thing tomorrow, so come back and see if one of the winners is YOU!!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Word Collection by Stamp Oasis
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Family Treasures Daisy punch, 1/4" circle punch, paper piercing tool/mat, brown gingham ribbon, paper distressing tool, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes ef

Fall Leaves . . .

I think I have mentioned many, many times before that fall is my absolute favorite time of year. The beautiful colors, the crispness of the air, apple season, soup, Halloween . . . there are just so many things I love about it. I go through so much chocolate chip paper this time of year!!

I made this card for the color challenge on SCS earlier this week . . . CC186. I am really beginning to like Baja Breeze. Wasn't so jazzed about it initially, but I think the fact that it is fitting in so nicely with fall colors is really helping me out!! And these big ol' leaves just make me want to run through a BIG pile of leaves, kicking them up as I go (I NEVER get tired of doing that!!)! Sigh . . . soon it will be time to rake!!

DON'T FORGET . . . MY THERE SHE GOES STAMP GIVEAWAY IS STILL GOING ON!! If you want a chance to win, comment on the post dated YESTERDAY - October 1 (the one with the flower pot card) - for your chance to win! You can comment on this post too, if you like, but if you wanna win the stamps, it won't count!!!

Have a great day!!

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Sanded
Paper: Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Cuttlebug Maple Leaf, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain, paper distressor, dimensionals

Wanna Be a WINNER???

As promised, I have some FREE There She Goes stamp sets to give away (they are AWESOME . . . but a surprise!! You'll find out what you won once you get it in the mail!!)! This is a full 4x6 set! (Basically what this means is that all the stamps fit on a 4x6 sheet of acetate).

How do you win, you ask?? It's SOOO easy!! Just post a comment to THIS POST any time between today (October 1) and Friday (October 3). That's it!! I will use a random number generator to pick the winners. That's right!! I said WINNERS!! TWO of you will be chosen to receive this set! COOL BEANS!!! Please, though, play fair and only enter ONE comment! Thanks!!

You may also have other chances to win on the blogs of my fellow There She Goes Design Team members! Wahootie!!! Here are links to their blogs:

Angela's Blog - An Ink and a Smile
Bev's Blog - Bevithia
Faith's Blog - Stampin' with Markie's Mom
Holly's Blog - Toy's Haven
Maki's Blog = MakInk Studio
Stephanie Blog - Steph's Stampin' Stuff

So this card not only is being used to announce TSG's fun giveaway, but it also fits in SC196. I love sketch challenges (think I've mentioned that about 1,000 times before!). Great fun!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Stamps: Friendship Flowers by There She Goes
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Cameo Coral, Watercolor
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
Accessories: 1/2" and 1/4" circle punches, single stitched artichoke ribbon, paper piercing tool/mat, dimensionals, Cuttlebug Floral Screen ef, Me & My Big Ideas rhinestone icon, Doodlebug rhinestone stickers