You Are My Shining Star

At Stamp Something this week the challenge is to use red, white and blue and celebrate something. My anniversary was today, so I made this card with hubby in mind. I paper pieced the hippo right down to his toe nails! It seems that I have been paper piecing a lot lately. I also used some seam binding that I did not dye, for the bow. Inside the card says -- " You are my shining star!" This was a fun card to make. You can see the challenge by clicking here.  http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/

Classic Patterns

I really enjoyed doing this week's challenge at The Shabby Tea Room. They have a yummy picture to go by and you will see what I mean when you click on the link here -- http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/. I stamped my cupcakes on different papers and pieced them. For sprinkles I used Petal paint.

Sweet Magnolia

Today I am entering this card into two challenges -- Just Magnolia, Paper Piecing and Magnolia Stamp Lovers, Buttons. I love Magnolia stamps and this is the first time I have used this one. . I paper pieced the bandanna, pinafore and socks. The frame is a Martha Stewart corner and border punch. I used a sizzix die and ran it through my cuttlebug paisley folder for texture. I just have to tell you about the ribbon. I really love the ribbon. Yesterday two of my stamping friends and I got together and died a bunch of white seam binding! I just love how they turned out. My friends were teasing me because I got heavy-handed with my colors when I wanted a lighter look. Today I will try to see if I can get some lighter colors, although on this ribbon I did much better. Here is my card and the links to the challenges. The second picture is of all the ribbon we dyed! It looks so pretty all bunched together.  http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/   and   http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com/.

Mother of Pearl

I saw this technique about a week ago and I have just now been able to try it. I enjoyed making this background and it is very easy. Here are the supplies you will need.

glossy card stock
Saran wrap or bubble wrap
light colored pearl paint
light colored ink pad
brayer
pallet for paint

Take your pallet and squeeze some paint on it. I used a light gold color. Squish up your saran wrap or bubble wrap, dip it in the paint and pounce lightly all over the glossy card stock. Let the paint dry. Take a light color ink pad, I used a soft lavender, ( light pink or blue is good too ) and brayered over the glossy card stock. You will have an elegant, shimmery background. The first picture shows the background by itself and the second is the card I made with it.

Adorn With Jewels

At House Mouse and Friends, the challenge this week is Adorn With jewels. I always enjoy using my House Mouse stamps. I had fun with this little mouse on a bed of grapes. He looks very satisfied after having his belly full! I used a Martha Stewart butterfly corner and border punch for the frame. I used rhinestones for some of the flower centers on the patterned paper, for the middle of the flower on the bow and on the butterflies on each corner. I colored the grapes and mouse with Twinkling H2Os.You can see the challenge here -- http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/.

Embossed Paper

I am trying to do more techniques. I really enjoy doing them and I want to use them more. I saw this technique at  Hero Arts and I loved the look, so I gave it a try. This is a great way to use up your scraps, but it can be time consuming. I stamped enough flowers and leaves to make two cards. I stamped the flowers and leaves, with white pigment, onto scraps of decorative paper. Then I heat embossed them all with white embossing powder. I cut them out and placed them on my card.

Winners!

Thanks for the kind comments for the blog candy. We have two winners -- drum roll -- they are Kim S. and  Linda Patti! Congratulation ladies. Please contact me by Friday, to let me know you have seen this. I want to send you your blog candy as soon as possible! Have a great day!

I have been doing some challenges over at Two Peas in a Bucket and here is a card I made for the "I Fall to Pieces" challenge. We were to take a stamp and then use pieces of it to make a card. The first picture is of the actual stamp and the second is the card I made from it. The stamp I used is Rooster Collage by Rubber Stampede. My wonderful friend, Marie, was over when I was making this card and she let me use the saying that is at the bottom. It was perfect for this card. Thanks so much , Marie! At Two Peas, they had some fun challenges. I will be uploading some more that I in the days to come.  Here is the link to the challenges --
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=list&forum_id=22

Extended Blog Candy

I am extending the time for my blog candy because google has been having some problems. I have also added other/URL to my comment box. Please see the blog candy below and the instructions I gave. The blog candy time will NOW end on Wednesday, June 15th at midnight eastern time. Please comment on the post below.  I will randomly choose two winners on Thursday! Winners will have until Friday to contact me.Thanks so much!

Blog Candy

I can't believe that today is my blog's FIRST birthday! Time has certainly flown. I want to thank all of you wonderful bloggers who visit my site and those who leave lovely comments. They are much appreciated. I am grateful for all your support. This has been a great craft adventure for me. So, to celebrate, I am giving away blog candy to two lucky winners! I have enjoyed accumulating all this fun stuff. If you are a follower, please leave a comment under this post about your favorite summer vacation. If you are not yet a follower, please sign in as a follower and then leave your comment. You will have until Sunday, June 12th, at midnight eastern time. On Monday the 13th, I will choose 2 winners. Winners will have until Wednesday to get back with me to claim their prize. Please invite your friends to join the fun too. I can't wait to hear about all your fun vacations. Thanks, and good luck!

Package One --  large alphabet letter stickers, acetate frames, floral rub ons, Memories metal bobby pins, K&Co. die cut paper pad, Studio G stamp, perform stickers, Prima flowers, Heidi Grace clear stamp set, lavender rhinestones, Verdell and Me summer/fall die cuts.

Package Two -- pearls, K&Co. brads, K&Co. acetate frames, heart letter stickers, alpahbet rub ons, cream lace border, grad bag of I Brake for Stamps, passport stickers, Tim Holtz Timeworks masks, K&Co. large tag pad, baby blue rhinestones.

Floral Box

I usually make cards so this challenge at Joan's Gardens was quite a challenge for me. We were to cover a box using special paper and flowers that we made. Glenda gave us a tutorial on how to do both. I really enjoyed making my box. Thanks for the fun challenge. You can see the challenge and Glenda's wonderful tutorials here -- http://www.atjoansgardens.com/

I Love Making A Scene!

I love making a scene, but only this kind of scene! Last night we had our local stamp club meeting -- The Stamping Divas. Peggy, one of our divas, showed us how to make scenic cards using a brayer and sponges. I always did better with sponges, but she showed us how to use the brayer in such a way as to blend the colors very well! Thanks, Peggy for the great demo. I made 3 scenes and went home to finish them into cards. Here are my results.

How Distressing!

At CIC the challenge is to make a card using distressing. I used this beautiful butterfly stamp from Inkadinkado. I stamped it on kraft colored card stock, cut the wings so that they pop up and then crumpled the card stock around the butterfly and swiped a Vintage Photo ink pad over it to enhance the wrinkles. I also tore around the image and inked the edges. I used my distress tool to distress the edges of the base card and also the patterned card stock. I then inked the edges of both using Vintage Photo ink and a sponge. I made the flower by using Rose Creations dies, spritzing the card stock with water, distressing the flower with the end of a paintbrush and then painting it with Twinkling H2Os. Now I am VERY distressed! LOL! You can click here to see the challenge. http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Doodlebug!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We had family here this weekend and we enjoyed our beautiful downtown Greenville and lots of good eats! This card is being entered in the Penny Black challenge this week called Doodlebug! We have to have some doodling on our card. I remember doing some really wild doodling when I was a teenager, but that has since passed me and I could only come up with something simple. I doodled stitching around the frame and a few little ladybugs above the flowers! LOL! You can click here to see the challenge. http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/