Happy Halloween!

Just wanted to pop on here to wish you all a very Happy Halloween!  I thought I would share a picture of my kids dressed up for Halloween this year.  Oh my, Payton was not happy!  She complained and complained about wearing the Dorothy wig (because it was "itchy") but after awhile she got used to it!  Brett was all Ninja....swords and all!

I shared this already but I just love this little Jack-o-Lantern stamp from Market Street Stamps called Happy Pumpkin!  I made these for my kids and they were so excited to get them this morning.  I always put out their little "mailboxes" on special days at the table when they eat breakfast.  They love to open their "mail"!  I hope you all have a very Happy Halloween and may you not eat too much candy!  :)

Wee Memories #74

Ack!  It's almost Halloween!  Can you believe it?  My kids are ready and we even had some fun dressing up last night for our annual church Trunk or Treat!  I'll share pics of the costumes on another post!  Today is another edition of the Wee Memories challenge!  This week's challenge:  Brads, Buttons, or Bows.  Your creation has to have one of these things on it.  Fun challenge!

Here's my card:

Here is this week's challenge badge:

And our wonderful sponsor of a $20 Gift Certificate is from Jay Gee's Nook!  So let's see your Brads, Buttons, and Bows for this week's challenge!  Remember to upload your cards to the Wee Memories Flickr group too!

{Congratulations}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Damask Designs, Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  True Black and Rustic White

Ink:  Summer Sunrise and True Black

Dies:  Medium Scallop Border Die

Misc:  Black gems (Michaels), Black Grograin Ribbon (Dollar Tree)

Blast from the past!!

Happy Thursday!  Amy here today via the Market Street Stamps blog with a technique from your past!  This was one of the first techniques I learned when I began stamping many moons ago.  Stamping with bleach.  Yes, it's messy.  Yes, it's smelly.  But it's FUN!  I wanted to use the Blast Off stamp set and have the perfect occasion to give this card away this weekend to our neighbor boy for his birthday!    I thought this stamp set lended itself well to using bleach with those star images!

Stamping with bleach gives your image a fun distressed look.  Do not expect it to turn out like traditional ink because it won't.  I simply poured a bit of bleach on a paper towel lined plate.  After stamping my stars, I just watched as the bleach took the color away from my cardstock and whalaa!  It's like magic!  Have any of you tried this technique?  I'd love to hear about it! 

{BLAST OFF}

Stamps:  Blast Off (Market Street Stamps)

Paper:  Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise, and SS White (all PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Misc:  Copics (YR68, Y38, Y35, B95, Colorless Blender, C1, B99), Foam Tape, Gellyroll Glitter Pen (Sakura), Bleach

October PTI Blog Hop!

Going to keep this short as I'm not feeling well today but I wanted to share the card I made last night for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  I was up pretty late so I took my photo today for better lighting.  Here is this month's inspiration photo.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do as soon as this photo was posted on release night.

The idea I had was to create panels of different patterns just like the pumpkins.  I immediately saw woodgrain and polka dots.   Then I looked at the white pumpkin and thought Embellishments!   (I love this stamp set)  And simply because I love those pumpkins in the photo, I created one of my own using my oval nesties.  I have been seeing a lot of pumpkins done like this lately.......Suzanne made a great card HERE with one of these pumpkins.

Thanks for stopping by and have fun on the PTI Blog Hop!!

{ever so Grateful}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Embellishments, Polka Dot Basics II, BB: Woodgrain, Autumn Acorns

Paper:  SS White, Terracotta Tile, Ripe Avocado, Kraft, Dark Chocolate

Ink:  Fresh Snow, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate

Dies:  Jar Labels 2, Oval Nesties

Misc:  Rustic Jute Button Twine, Terracotta Tile Buttons, Foam  Tape

Chevrons and Stitching.......

Happy Sunday to you!  Yesterday, we had a wonderful day celebrating our daughter's birthday with her party where we had 15 kids.  Note to self:  do not invite everyone because most likely they will all come!  The good thing was that the party, the mess, and the fun took place at a place similiar to Chuck E Cheese called Going Bonkers.  They served the cake, the drinks, wrote a gift list down, and helped Payton open her gifts!  All I had to do was take pictures!  Sweet!  To round out the day, we watched our son play football and went to a pumpkin patch.  Lots of fun memories with friends and family for sure.  There is nothing better!

So this week's challenge for the next round of the Practical Scrappers Card Contest had to include:

CHEVRONS and STITCHING.

I had a great time creating this card and the chevrons were pretty simple to create.  I used 1" squares cut in to triangles and then lined them up to make my own chevrons.  I used some awesome pattern paper from Crate Paper collection:  Portrait.

Using more of the Harvest Gold felt and my Lil' Inker Designs Fringe Flower Die, I made an embellishment for my seam binding bow.  I cut the fringe flower with my die, cut in half, and then rolled it up.  Gives the fringe flower a totally different look!  I also cut off an inch or so to make my flower smaller. 



I hope you have a great day and I wanted to sincerely thank each and every one of you that has voted for me so far in this card contest!  All your votes mean the world to me! 

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps:  Delightful Dahlia (PTI)

Paper:  SS White and Kraft (PTI), Portrait Collection DP (Crate Paper)

Ink:  True Black (PTI)

Dies:  Fringe Flower Die (Lil' Inker Designs), Double Ended Banner Die (PTI)

Misc:  Harvest Gold Felt (PTI), Seam Binding (Hug Snug), Janome Sew Mini, Canvas/Linen IP (PTI), Foam Tape, White Pearls (HL), Memo Pins (Tim Holtz)

Wee Memories #73

Happy Saturday!  It's that time again..........the days just fly by!  This week at Wee Memories we have a very special challenge.  It's a FREE FOR ALL challenge!  The sponsor of this week's challenge is the wonderful Annabelle Stamps. 

I chose to work with All Things Grow and make a masculine Birthday card.  Pretty simple.  Thanks Annabelle Stamps for sponsoring Wee Memories and for giving the DT a set to work with! 

Here is this week's challenge:

I am so enjoying all of your creations week after week!  Keep those coming because you could be the lucky person to win a great prize from Annabelle Stamps!  Til next time!

{May your day......}

Stamps:  All Things Grow (Annabelle Stamps)

Paper:  Dark Chocolate and Rustic Cream (PTI)

Ink:  Haystack Pallette, Dark Chocolate (PTI)

Dies:  Top Note Die (SU)

Misc:  Rustic Jute Button Twine (PTI), Rustic Wood Button (PTI), Foam Tape

Smile!

Hi everyone!  Just wanted to share a fun card I whipped up using the Lil' Inker Designs Fringe Flower Die!  This thing is just so much fun......do you have it yet in your die collection?  If not, you must! 

Here is my card today..........using some PTI Harvest Gold felt.  Such a fun cheery color, don't you think?  Makes you just want to SMILE.  I've also used the Sentiment Flags Die from Lil' Inker Designs as well!

Well, that's it for me today!  Got lots of final things to do before my daughter's birthday party tomorrow morning!  Have a great Friday!!

{Smile}

Stamps:  Rainbow and Clouds Sentiments (Lil' Inker Designs), BB: Tin Types

Paper:  Harvest Gold and Kraft (PTI)

Ink:  Fresh Snow and True Black (PTI)

Dies:  Fringe Flower and Sentiment Flag Dies (Lil' Inker Designs), Tag Sale #3 (PTI), Delightful Dahlia Leaf Die (PTI)

Misc:  Pink twine (The Twinery), Embossing Folder (SU), White Pearl (Michael's), Seam Binding (Hug Snug), Janome Sew Mini, Corner Rounder (CM)



I Made It.......

.....to the 3rd round of the Practical Scrappers Cardmaking Contest!  I would love it if you would go cast your vote for me HERE.  I am really enjoying the challenges they give us each week for the next round of finalists.  This week the challenge was to use:  banners/flags and the word "happy". 

I am really enjoying putting together pattern papers.  These have been in my stash for a while and I was saving them for just the right project.  I love the combination of pale blue, pinks, reds, and greens.  These papers are beautiful.  I thought they were perfect paired up with the Love Lives Here stamps from PTI.  Isn't that sentiment exactly how it is?  I totally believe in this. 

That's it from me today.  I am on call and I've already been to work and back this morning.  So now to get something done (laundry, cleaning, stamping) before the next call comes in!  I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.....the weather is beautiful here in Kansas. (except for the wind!)  Thanks to you for all your votes this past few weeks.......they are truly appreciated!!

{Love grows in happy homes.}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:

Paper:

Ink:

Misc: 

Wee Memories #72

Hey there!  It's Saturday and time for another Wee Memories Scrappy Saturday Challenge!  Another great one this week:  Holiday Madness.  It doesn't have to be Christmas....just pick any holiday!  I am hoping to have some stamping time this weekend but being that I am on call with work, only time will tell!  :)

Since I am just getting in the Halloween spirit around here, I thought I'd make another Halloween card using this CUTE Pure Innocence sweetie!  I think I could own all of these cuties!  I paper pieced my little witchie with the Haunted Hallows paper by Teresa Collins.  Fun little clothes......too bad I couldn't get away with wearing those!  hehe  I had to add in some distressing with ink and rough edges to spooktify my card!  I am loving my little sewing machine and I hope you aren't getting tired of seeing it on my cards!

This week's sponsor is non other than Lawn Fawn and they graciously donated a $25 gift certificate to their store.  Fun prize and fun challenge!  Please link up your Holiday Madness cards for this week's challenge!

{Hello, My Pretty}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Witchie (Pure Innocence)

Paper:  Haunted Hallows (Teresa Collins), True Black, Orange Zest, SS White

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), True Black

Dies:  Classic Rectangles Large Nesties (Spellbinders), Oval Tab Die (MFT)

Misc:  Janome Sew Mini, Copics

Market Street Stamps Special Edition Block Party!

Hi everyone!  Have you seen the news over at the Market Street Stamps blog? 

Market Street Stamps

1st Anniversary!

The fun has already begun with a **Special Edition ** Block Party that one of you could win $50 store credit for 12 months!!!  How does THAT sound???  Friends that is $600 in stamps!!  Create any project you wish, any theme.  You just have to use Market Street Stamps!

 Here are the details:

1. Create any project you'd like, with any theme.  BUT you must use Market Street Stamps.  (Good news!  You have until 10/19 to link up, so if you don't have any of our stamps just yet, there's still time to play along if you order soon.  We ship SUPER DUPER fast!  We have stamps as low as $5.)
2. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, October 19 @ 11:59 pm Central.
3. We will choose a select number of finalists.
4. Then, we will enable voting on Thursday, October 20 and everyone can vote for their favorite finalist!
5. The winner of the contest will be announced on Monday, October 24.
6. Link just one project per person for this Block Party.  Thank you! 

So, it's been a couple of days and I haven't used my Distress Inks....hehe. I missed them! So I had to break them out again for one of Market Street Stamps fabulous background stamps: Vintage Wallpaper. First embossing with white embossing powder, then sponging Fired Brick and Weathered Wood Distress Inks over the image. Makes for a great any occasion card! I chose a Congratulations sentiment from the set: Celebrate Cake.

Now, I can't spill the beans on the rest of the FUN activities going on starting TOMORROW so you'll just have to come check out the Market Street Stamps Blog for details on what's to come!  See ya later!

I'm entering this for the Distress Challenge over at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge.  Go check it out!

{Congratulations}

Stamps:  Vintage Wallpaper, Celebrate Cake

Paper:  SS White, Pure Poppy (both PTI)

Ink:  Versamark, True Black (PTI), Weathered Wood and Fired Brick Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)

Misc:  White Embossing Powder, Ink Blending Tool (Tim Holtz), White Satin Ribbon, Pure Poppy Button (PTI)

Swimming for Katie Renz.......Blog Hop!

From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file. 100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted. Information central is HERE. This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

Check out all the items for sale HERE.

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation. The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today. I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate.

Thank You!

Here is the complete list of participants today!

Ashley Harris

Clare Buswell

Jessica Diedrich

Lisa Somerville

Charlene Merrick

Eva Dobilas

Judy Rozema

Sharon Doolittle

Tifany DeGough

Windy Robinson

Ashley Cannon Newell

Connie McCotter

Heidi Van Laar

Karen Maldonado

Lori Craig

Melissa Phillips

Tosha Leyendekker

Amy Kolling

Angela Thomas

Angelica Suarez

Angie Blom

Becky Oehlers

Betty Wright

Bev Gerard

Brenda Weaver
Carolyn King

Chari Moss

Charlene Driggs

Cindi Bisson

Claire Brennan

Corinna McGregor

Craft Critique

Karen Hunsaker (Rubbernecker Stamps Designer)

Keely Yowler

Kelly Schirmer

Keri Lee Sereika

Kim Hughes

Kimber McGray

Kittie Caracciolo

Kristin Eberline

Wendy Price

Autumn Blessings

I'm sharing my next card for the Practical Scrappers card contest.  I was lucky enough to be able to move on to Round 2 because of all of you who voted!  THANK YOU so much!  The voting is the same as last week.  You can vote for 3 cards and vote DAILY!  **Voting for the week ends Oct. 13 at 11:59 CST**

Lots of PTI goodies on here as well as some yummy pattern paper from MME!  If you can believe it, the thing that took me the most time on my card wasn't all the stitching but that bow!  I knew I didn't want a scrunchy bow so I took my Chi flat iron to my seam binding and........whala!  A flat ribbon.  The rules for this round of cards had to be a Fall card using twine.  So I worked my button twine in there with my bow.  I think it really stands out over the deep terracotta colored bow.

My card did have the help of the Mojo Monday sketch for the week.  Love this sketch!  Alright, keeping it short today so the only other thing I ask is for your VOTE!  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

{Autumn Blessings}

All supplies PTI unless stated.

Stamps:  Wreath for all Seasons, Autumn Acorns

Paper:  Terracotta Tile, Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream, Lost & Found Two: Rosy (MME)

Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Terracotta Tile, Summer Sunrise, Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

Dies:  Classic Square, Classic Ovals Large, and Big Scalloped Ovals Large (all Spellbinders), Edgers 2 collection

Misc:  Terracotta Seam Binding (Prairie Bird Boutique--Etsy), Cream Button Twine, Fine Linen Button, Janome Sew Mini, Foam Tape

Wee Memories #71

Wahoooo!!!!  It's Saturday and time for another Wee Memories Challenge!  This week's theme is soo perfect for the season........HALLOWEEN!!  This holiday actually is #2 on my list of favorite holidays right behind Christmas.  There is just something about the colors and ghouls and goblins!!!  hehe

Just a fun card using some awesome Paper Smooches stamps this week who just happens to be our sponsor for this week.   Using some fun pattern papers, I stamped and paper pieced a cute little "BOO" scene.  The word "cloud" is from the Paper Smooches set Sunny side Up and those little white dots to the word cloud?  They are made using Enamel Accents!  This stuff gives such a fun shiny appearance.....it comes in white and black. 

I sincerely hope you come along and play this week for your chance at some Paper Smooches as the prize!  See you over at Wee Memories!  Thanks so much for sharing your time with me on my blog.....it means the world to me that you stopped by! 

{Boo}

Stamps:  Sunny side up and Halloweenies (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  Swirl DP (K&Company), Blue striped DP (Monster Mania by Doodlebug)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Orange Zest (PTI)

Misc:  Spider Web Punch (MS), Janome Sew Mini,  Copics:  C1, YR68, YG95, E57, Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Foam Tape, Enamel Accents (Ranger)

Operation Julie's Smile Blog Hop

Oh, sooo glad today is Friday and time for a HUGE Blog Hop!!!  I am so glad that you joined us on this amazing blog hop for Operation Julie's Smile.  If you came here from Sarah's blog, then you are in the right spot.  If not, you may want to start from the beginning at the Sweet Stamp Shop's blog and take your time.  You have ALL WEEKEND to hop with us and win prizes! 

We are soo busy in our house right now.  I tell you, sometimes I don't know if I'm coming or going!  My kiddos have activities all the time.  However, it's winding down now for the fall thank goodness!  So this is just a fun cheery card using Lil' Inker Rainbows and Clouds dies (LOVE!!) and its coordinating sentiment stamps!  Speaking of Lil' Inker Designs.........have you checked out the NEW website for ordering??  Why don't you check it out HERE and while you are there, pop one of these in your cart.....you won't regret it!  LOL  The details in the cloud dies is like nothing else out there! 

I hope you enjoyed your stop here on the hop.  The next stop is Emily's blog.  Make sure you leave a comment here before you go so that you can have a chance at the amazing prizes.   A complete list of prize sponsors and detailed information about why we all came together for this blog hop can be found on the Sweet Stamp Shop's website as well as a donation button to help bring back Julie's smile.

{You make me smile}

Stamps:  Rainbows and Clouds Sentiments (Lil' Inker Designs)

Paper:  Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Ripe Avocado, and Hawaiian Shores (all PTI), Lime Twist: Fly a Kite (MME)

Ink:  True Black (PTI)

Misc:  Rainbow and Cloud Dies (Lil' Inker Designs), Janome Sew Mini, Foam tape

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge!

Happy Wednesday!  I wanted to thank you all ever so much for continuing to vote for my card in the Practical Scrappers card contest HERE.  Votes will be tallied on Friday and the winning cards get to move onto the next round!  Remember you can vote daily.  :)

So business out of the way, I would like to share my card for the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.  I have had this card in mind since the challenge went up and finally finished it the other day. 

I used the new Autumn Rose colored cardstock and coordinating felt from PTI for the first time.  My card base is the Onsie Shape Up Die also from PTI (my first time using it!).  I took inspiration from the entire photo.......The ruffles on my card were made by diecutting the Fringe Flower by Lil' Inker Designs and cutting it in half and sewing strips onto my card front.  Please excuse my stitching......it got a little crazy!  LOL  Then I used the Paper Smooches stamp set:  A Little Lovin'.  Oh so cute and oh so easy to paper piece!

Here is the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge photo.......what do you think?  This was a fun challenge!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

{Congrats}

Stamps:  A Little Lovin (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  Autumn Rose (PTI), Springtime DP (Echo Park)

Ink:  True Black (PTI)

Misc:  Onsie Die (PTI), Tiny Tags Die (PTI), Fringe Flower Die (Lil' Inker Designs), Autumn Rose Felt (PTI), White Buttons, Crochet Thread (Red Heart), Janome Sew Mini, Mini Clothespins

I need your help!

I'm here to tell you that I am a finalist in the cardmaking contest over at Practical Scrappers!!!  What this means is that I need your vote now to go to the next round!!  I would LOVE it if you could throw in your support of my card this week.  You can vote every day!  To vote you leave a comment in the comment section and that's it!  You can vote HERE.

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a vote for me!!!  I'm sending this over to Simon Says Stamp the "Anything Goes" challenge!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps:  Hope Blooms (Verve)

Paper:  SS White (PTI), Fifth Avenue DP (Melissa Frances)

Ink:  True Black (PTI)

Misc:  Bloom Builder #3 Die (PTI), Branch with Leaves Die (Sizzix), Frame Die (MFT), Sweet Blush Button (PTI), Janome Sew Mini, Pearls