Dare to Get Dirty Day 4

It's Day 4 of the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges over at Splitcoaststampers, and there is more fun to be had, my crafty friends!  You also only have a bit more time to subscribe to this month's Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Kit or Key Ingredients Kit.  

For this DTGD challenge, I used the SOTM from Taylored Expressions called Cute Hoot and the matching die called Curly Cute Hoot, along with July's paper and ribbon from the Key Ingredients Kit.  Those vibrant papers are right up my alley and that little owl is adorbs (as my daughter often says)!

Stamps:  Cute Hoot (July TE SOTM)

Ink:  SU Melon Mambo, SU Pool Party, Distress Black Soot

Paper:  July 13 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Curly Cute Hoot Die, foam tape, Cream Liquid Pearls, Buttercream Liquid Pearls

Come play along with the DTGD Challenges and go check out the TE Subscriptions before it's too late!

DTGD - My very own challenge!

Hey crafty peeps, I am so super stoked today!  What to know why?!  I am hostessing my very first challenge over at Splitcoaststampers for the Dare to Get Dirty week!  I am one excited lady, my friends.

I can't tell you what the challenge is, because that is privileged information for Fan Club Members only, but you can easily find out by becoming a Fan Club Member.  I'm proud to be one and have LOVED being one for years now!

I'm missing my Midwest home so I really wanted to reflect that when making my card today.  I used On the Farm from Papertey Ink along with the matching die. I fell in love with that stamp as soon as I saw it :)

Stamps:  On the Farm

Ink:  SU Lucky Limeade, SU Crushed Curry, SU Real Red, Distress Black Soot

Paper:  SU Lucky Limeade, black, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  PTI On the Farm die, distresor

So there you have it!  My first opportunity to hostess a challenge, and I hope you come play along.  You can find  the challenge HERE.

Dare to Get Dirty Day 3

Hey crafty peeps!  It's Day 3 of the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges, and I'm showing off a card I made to help out one of the hostesses, Bev!  Here is my card:

I made my own background using some reinkers, and I think it turned out puuurty.  The sentiment is from an older Clear Dollar Stamps set called Christian Sympathy.  I enjoyed myself so much that I will definitely be making more cards like these :D

Come join in the fun for the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers!

Dare to Get Dirty Day 2

I made a few more for yesterday's challenges (which I will show you later), but here is one for today!   It uses some Papertrey Ink goodies. . .Friendship Jar & the matching dies.  I even threw in a wood veneer heart (LOVE those).

Come join the fun over at Splitcoaststampers!

Dare to Get Dirty Day 1

Dare to Get Dirty has started over at Splitcoaststampers, and if you're a Fan Club Member you won't want to miss the fun!  If you're not a Fan Club Member, you should really consider it.  For me that was some of the best creative investment money, and it feels good to support such a great creative site.  Splitcoaststampers never ceases to provide some awesome creative mojo :D

My Coolest Friend

Hey everyone!  Sorry I'm still a bit MIA.  School for us is going to start in a couple short weeks, and I have to make sure that all of my ducks are in a row before we start our 7th and 8th grade years.  When I started this home school journey 6 years ago, I was certain that I would put them back in school for their junior high years.  I guess we didn't do that ;)  The jury is still out for high school, because we will be moving and only there for a year possibly two.  It doesn't seem worth it to put them in for only a year or two, but we will see what God has in store for us.

I showing you a card I made last December for my time on the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen.  Oh, that has definitely been a high light in my stamping career.  This weekend Splitcoaststampers will host their Dare to Get Dirty challenges.  They are a way of saying 'thanks' to all of the paying Fan Club members that keep Splitcoaststampers running so smoothly!  Dare to Get Dirty was one of my favorite times of the year, because of all the fun challenges and the chance to win fun prizes!  If you're not a Fan Club member, you should really consider it.  I'm super stoked, because I'll be hostessing my very first challenge :D

I made this card for a sketch challenge we were given using Swanky Snowdudes from Paper Smooches.  I also jazzed it up by using an eggshell background technique. . .so super fun, and I learned how to do it on Splitcoaststampers!

Thanks for stopping in!  Be sure to come back and check out what I've made for the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges :D

Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hey, crafty friends!  Welcome to the third day of the Taylored Expressions Subscription hop!  The first day the Key Ingredients team along with the Baker's Dozen showed you inspiration for the TE Deluxe Subscription Kit.  Yesterday we showed you inspiration for the Key Ingredients Kit, and today we are showing you inspiration featuring the Stamp of the Month kit.

The little owl in the SOTM set called Cute Hoot is just adorable to me.  My kids say I made him look a bit more like a penguin in my card, and that is quite possible.  Since I was shooting for a more manly card, I don't mind that our little hoot looks arctic.  He still looks adorable in those little blue specs.  Taylor also has a darling die called Curly Cute Hoot to match this adorable set.

Stamps:  Cute Hoot SOTM

Ink:  Distress Black Soot, Distress Faded Jeans, SU Real Red

Paper:  Choice Buttercream, OA Thrift Shop

Accessories:  TE Curly Cute Hoot die, wood veneer stars, Buttercream liquid Pearls, washi tape, green satin ribbon, foam tape, glassine bag 

Check out the SOTM

Be sure to hop along and see all of the wonderful inspiration using this darling set:

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Blog Hop

 

Hey, crafty friends!  Welcome to day 2 of Taylor's subscription hop.  Yesterday the Key Ingredients team along with the Baker's Dozen showed off some inspiration using the Deluxe Subscription Kit, and today we are showing some inspiration featuring the Key Ingredients Subscription Kit.

I've always had a love affair with the Key Ingredients Kit, because I love all things match-y in the papercrafting world.  It gives me calm when I don't feel like or have time to make things match on my own.  Taylor's kits are perfect for those souls like mine :)

I paired up that delicious kit with Taylor's Happy Heart stamp set and the Quatrefoil Cutting Plate.  I cut out part of the die by hand and fit my sentiment in there all nice and snug like they were born to be together.  I love that sentiment because I am always telling my kids and husband that exact thing.

Stamps:  Happy Heart

Ink:  SU Craft White

Paper:  July 13 Taylored Expressions KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Quatrefoil Cutting Plate, white embossing powder

Check out what you get in the Key Ingredients Kit:  lots of cardstock, a paper pad, and ribbon = bliss!

Check out what the rest of the TE KI team and the Baker's Dozen has to inspire you:

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions Deluxe Key Ingredients Kit Blog Hop

Hey there, crafty friends!  Have you been enjoying the new Taylored Expressions store?  I know I have been. . .I bought some new goodies during the unveiling, and I've been having fun with my new stash!  Speaking of new stuff, have you seen the July Key Ingredients Kit?  If not, you're in the right place to get hopping to get some inspiration.  For the next couple of days the Key Ingredients team and the Baker's Dozen have joined forces in a 3 day hop to show off the kit and the Stamp of the Month to really get your creative juices going.  Today's hop is featuring the Deluxe Subscription Kit.

I'm a big fan of big bold sold stamps, and this month's SOTM has some beautiful ones.  Check out that flower!  I stamped it twice and cut it out for dimension, by only cutting out and sponging the petals on the second one.  Then I used some foam tape to stack them up.  

The set is called Cute Hoot and can be purchased as a monthly Stamp of the Month Subscription, which is separate from the Key Ingredients Kit, or you can buy them both in the Monthly Deluxe Kit.  It's such a great combination because the set is made to match the papers in the KI Kit. . .genius :D  Each month, Taylor also designs a matching die set that can be purchased separately, and this month's die is called Curly Cute Hoot.

Stamps:  Cute Hoot

Ink:  SU Crushed Curry, SU Rose Red, SU Sage Shadow

Paper:  July 13 Key Ingredients Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Curly Cute Hoot die, TE Tags Stacklets 1 die, TE Ric Rac Borders die, sponge, foam tape, corner chomper, Buttercream liquid pearls

All of those bold bright colors in the kit are just fabulous.  Check out what come in the Deluxe Subscription Kit:

As I said before, the KI team has joined forces with the Baker's Dozen to showcase the awesomeness that the kits have, so be sure to check back over the next few days and get hopping!

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Judge the day by the seeds you plant. . .

There is a celebration going on over at the Color Throwdown Challenge Blog!  They are celebrating 250 challenges, and that is definitely something to celebrate.  Over the course of the 250 challenges, I've participated in few here and there, and I've even been featured over at their lovely blog.  Their weekly color challenges are always a wonderful source of inspiration from the colors themselves to the super talented design team.

I went to a luncheon yesterday hosted by my husband's boss's wife, and needed a card to thank her for the lovely time we had.  I chose the colors for this week's CTD as my source of inspiration along with a Papertrey Ink set called Garden Variety II with matching dies.

The sentiment was a great choice considering how she mentored me yesterday.  

 Stamps:  Garden Variety II

Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, SU Melon Mambo, SU Bermuda Bay, SU So Saffron, SU Crumb Cake

Paper:  kraft, PTI Rustic Cream, SU Melon Mambo, SU So Saffron

Accessories:  Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU Bermuda Bay ribbon, foam tape, PTI Garden Variety II dies

Thanks for stopping in today!

Taylored Expressions: Share Joy Campaign

Welcome to the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign Blog Hop!

The Share Joy campaign is an invitation to celebrate the joy of card making and to share that joy with others.  The gift of a handmade card can bring a smile to anyone’s face, and we want to bring as many smiles as we can to the faces of people around the world!  Please join us in creating and sending handmade cards that will make a difference in the lives of others. 

 

This is just the beginning and we will be donating the cards to various charities as time goes on!  We are going to kick off the campaign by sending this first batch of cards to hospital chaplains throughout the U.S.  

**You don't have to use TE stamps on your cards, unless you want to be considered for the opportunity to have your card featured on the TE Store homepage.**

Head to the TE Share Joy Page for all of the details!

For my card, I chose to use the In the Word set by TE.  The set itself blankets so many occasions in my opinion, and this particular verse is pretty awesome to me.  As you know if you've received a handmade card, it can make a day.  Verses, to me, are little reminders from God that all is well.  I often feel like I'm blessing someone when I make a card, but I'm pretty sure that I am the one that is the most blessed.  I find such joy in creating them, and it's my little time to take a breather.  I turn on some Christian music and the creative mojo flows while I sit in my Craft Cave, a.k.a my closet ;)

Stamps:  In the Word

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Baja Breeze, SU Summer Sun, SU Bravo Burgundy, cream, Distress Vintage Photo

Paper:  PTI Rustic Cream, EP dp

Accessories:  TE Tag Stacklets 1 dies, waves die, sponge, black liquid pearls

 

Why not join us in sharing some joy!

 

Check out the rest of the what the TE crew has made to share a little joy for the new TE campaign:

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley

Danielle Lounds

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Lori Craig

Melody Rupple

Monika Davis

Rachel Sztonyk

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen 

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions has a new Look!

Hey everyone!  Have you heard?  Taylored Expressions has a brand new look to the store, and in celebration they are giving a free set called Summer Love to all orders (while supplies last) over $20 before shipping, handling, and tax.  Pretty sweet deal, huh?  Not only that but they are giving away 10 $25 gift cards to random people just for creating an account at the store :D

I don't have a card to show off the exclusive free set, but I do have a card that I made for submission to Designed to Color back in December.  It was accepted, I shipped it off, and then they closed their doors.  Booo!  So my card didn't get to see the light of day or even make a recipient smile.  For that reason, I'm showing it here.  It uses the set called Up a Tree.

I made it so long ago that I can't tell you all that I used on it, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.  Now, go create an account over at Taylored Expressions so you can throw your name in the hat to win a prize!

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, America!  Golly I love my country and all that it stands for.  I pray that we always strive to be better and keep freedom strong.  I am so grateful for all that this country has afforded me, and I'm grateful to the men and women who serve in our military to keep freedom alive.  

I guess that sums up my card. . .Grateful.  I'm so grateful to live here.  We won't be doing anything super special, because it is raining here and will most likely be raining all day.  However, my husband is home from work today and having had him gone for several Independence days due to deployments or field time, we are just happy to have him home.

I'm entering my card into the Simon Says Patriotic challenge.  My card uses paper from My Mind's Eye, some wood veneer stars that I bought from Simon Says Stamps, and my Papertrey Ink Counting My Blessings Dies

Thanks for stopping in today!  If you are celebrating today, be safe :)

Mojo 300 with Simon Says

Hello crafty friends!  I have noticed a trend this summer. . .not sure if you have, but a lot of those that I follow aren't posting as regularly.  That includes me, and I blame summer ;)  I've discovered a new love!  It's not one that would replace my love of cardmaking, but one that gets me outside and super active.  I am head over heels in love with tennis.  I took a 101 class back at the end of May, and now I'm hooked.  As soon as 101 was over I signed up for 102 and talked my husband into taking 101.  He was reluctant, but he's just as hooked as I am.  We both joined a mixed team and I joined a ladies combo team as well.  It has been such good exercise!  My only regret is that I didn't start playing sooner.

With all that said, I do have a card to show you that I made just for fun following the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  I used a Simon Says stamp set called Cupcake Party along with this month's kit paper from Lily Bee.  That cupcake is a ton of fun to stamp.

It's so sunny outside that my card is a bit bright, lol.  I've been making stuff, but I will be showing that all later.  Hopefully I'll get more stamping time today :)

Stamps:  Cupcake Party

Paper:  Lily Bee Sweet Shop, white & blue cs

Ink:  SU Pool Party, SU Summer Sun, SU Pretty in Pink, SU Real Red, SU Lucky Limeade, Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  foam tape, Circle Nestabilities, white floss