DRS Designs Featured Friday Stamper

Good morning girls! Oh, how I have been waiting for this day - forever it seems! Waaaay back at the beginning of the year I applied for the DRS designs Design Team but did not make the cut. They did however offer me a spot in their Featured Friday lineup. I was happy to accept as I'm sure you can imagine!!

I first noticed DRS designs on Vicki's blog, Stamped Smiles. And during this year, I've also seen them around more and more! What's great about DRS is that they have such a range of images - from the very cute and whimsical to the elegant. And such terrific sentiments too!

My first card uses the Silhouette Cowboy stamp. I'm a sucker for silhouette stamps and think cowboys are just terribly romantic - in a rugged sort of way!

I created this card over a month ago for my brother's birthday. He isn't what I'd call a "cowboy" but he does love a good John Wayne western and had a few of those movies on his birthday wish list. So this seemed like the perfect image to use!

I really wanted an aged, weathered look - almost like really worn, soft and warm, leather. Both the base and the main image piece of cardstock were misted and crumpled. smoothed out. and crumpled some more. Then I highlighted the wrinkles with some Distress Inks to bring out all those awesome wrinkles.

Since it was for my brother I wanted to keep it very masculine so I kept the embellishments to a minimum!

My other card uses Cindy Haffner's sketch from the Dare to Get Dirty challenges at SCS and also fits the "wings" challenge! This butterfly image is hands-down one of the prettiest butterflies I've ever seen - it's called Filigree Butterfly. I love the flourishes in it!

Here you can see how I cut it out and popped it up. I used more foam squares on one side of the butterfly than the other so it would look like it was turning --- kinda off the paper.

After stamping the butterfly, I went over it with my Spica clear glitter pen to add sparkle. I had tossed around the idea of adding gems in the corners and on the scallops and it just seemed to be too much. I wanted the focus on that gorgeous butterfly and the pretty paper!!

I did add a few gems on some of the flourishes.

What do you think?

Enough sparkle?

Or not enough sparkle?

If you aren't familiar with the images at DRS designs, take a moment to swing over and

check 'em out!! Another bonus is they have lots of sample cards on their shopping pages so it's easy to see the possibilities in an image and get some inspiration!

Have a beautiful day!!

Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge 42: National Friendship Day

It's Wednesday and time for another Be Inspired Challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge blog.

National Friendship Day is here! Create a gatefold card to celebrate your best friends. We were also asked to use our favorite folder from the new releases.

I adore the new Victoria folder - it appeals to the softer, romantic side of me. I also think the flourish frame is pretty darn fabulous!!

I trimmed out the center and inserted a white embossed piece as well. The "friend" was die cut with my Cuttlebug too! And isn't that butterfly the greatest! Mrs. J sent it to me all the way from across the ocean. Thanks so much!!

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to visit the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and see the rest of the team's creations. Then upload your own gatefold card so we can see it too!

Have a beautiful day!!

Flutter By Wednesday: Pearl Monogram

Good morning! Wednesday's are special because it's Flutter By Wednesday. Danni came up with Flutter By Wednesday over a year ago and challenges us all to create cards/projects with a butterfly on it. She even expanded it to include fairies earlier this year as they flutter and are special too!

Ann is our hostess this week and requested that we use NO patterned or decorative paper. I created a little decorative element. I picked up this pearl letter in the Michael's dollar bin awhile back. I just added some pink butterflies to it.

I think it'll be so pretty tied to a package or gift bag. Or hanging from a little knob on a dresser. I hope the recipient likes it!

Have a great day! My Cuttlebug Challenge card is also going to past today so I hope you'll stick around to see that too!

Seashell, Seashell

Happy Tuesday everyone!! Just popping in real quick to share a card I made Sunday evening with you. I've been following the Dare to Get Dirty challenges at SCS and when I saw the challenge to make your own decorative paper, I knew immediately that I wanted to do that and use the seashells from the July Journaling set at 2RedBananas. This is absolutely my favorite of the Journaling sets --- at least so far! I reserve the right to change my mind when the next one comes out!!! LOL!

My base is Baja Breeze and was embossed with the D'vine Swirls folder. It makes me think of water so I figured it was a great fit. I need the Shell Collage folder now though - that would be a great one with this set!

The patterned paper panel is cream and was stamped with various Encore ink pads. I haven't used those in forever but fell in love with them all over again! I love their muted, metallic look. I've had them so long I don't even know if they are still being made. Geesh. I then added some scribbly text in Encore Gold.

The quote was stamped in Encore as well, then matted. I stamped the sand dollar image over the quote - ya'll know how I love over-stamping!! The seashell was brushed with the gold ink as well just to ton it down a bit --- it seemed too stark white against the cream cardstock I used.

I think this card is pretty simple and basic, but nice just the same. What do you think? I love to read all your comments - thank you for taking the time to leave one!

Have a beautiful day my blog friends!

Banana Split Sunday: Spell It Out

Good morning!! I hope you've had a great weekend! I had a meeting on Friday afternoon and my mom was going to watch my little man --- and then volunteered to keep him overnight. She said we could have "date night"; great plan but I worked Friday night! So we "date day" yesterday instead! It was soooo nice to sleep in and then we went and saw Transformers in the theatre.

I'm thrilled you stopped by today; the Banana Split Challenge this week is a lot of fun! The challenge is to use alphabet stickers on your project and Jeanette is giving away the Coco, Weathervane and Night Light alphabet stickers to a lucky participant.

I created a card that I think is perfect for a young boy graduating from preschool or kindergarten. I remember my baby brother had a preschool graduation and it was a pretty big deal.

The image is from the So Proud set, one of the exclusive images you can find at 2RedBananas. Did you know you can get lots of other supplies at 2RedBananas as well? The patterned paper I used is Jack from October Afternoon . There are lots of other goodies as well!

My card also fulfills a few of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges over at SCS: one to use letters and another to use tags. I love this color combo - a true red and Baja Breeze. Is there a close and good substitute of Baja Breeze? If you know, please leave a little note for me. I can see my stack of it dwindling away!

Have a beautiful day!

Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge 41: Anything But A Card

Good morning!! It's Wednesday and time for another terrific challenge by the Cuttlebug Challenge design team. It's been so much fun this month Counting Down to CHA and designing with the new embossing folders from Provo Craft. I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to create with them. I hope you've been enjoying all the inspiration too!

This week we were asked to use the new Victoria folder (which is one of my favorites!) and to create anything we wanted as long as it wasn't a card! Oh the possibilities!

I picked up these plant markers last year in the Target $pot, not sure why as I am not really a gardening kinda gal but I thought they were cool!

Here's how I altered them:

Here's a close-up shot:
I just wrapped some embossed paper around the metal plate, added some letter stickers and some buttons, gems and butterflies as decoration!

What's growing in my imaginary garden? All the things I think it would be lovely to have:

beans, peas, carrots, squash and rhubarb*.

*Don't knock it until you've tried it. I always thought rhubarb was icky (although I'm not sure what I based that on) until several summers ago when hubby and I traveled up north with his mom and visited family. His aunt had this Rhubarb Crisp that was DIVINE!! It's a tart taste and oh so yummy!

Be sure to visit the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and see what the rest of the team came up with. I've had some sneak peeks and they are stunning, as always!!

Also, be sure to scroll down for my Flutter By post today!

Flutter By Wednesday: A Re-Visit

Uhm. Last week I was a little confused on what our challenge was at the Flutter By Wednesday - we were supposed to use pink and brown. And the scene card was THIS week's challenge.

All the girls on that team are super, let me tell ya! Heather let me know that my card would be just as enjoyable the second time around and Michelle even pointed out that I did have pink and brown on my card too!

All's well that ends well - right?

Be sure to visit the rest of the Flutter By team to see their creations - links in my sidebar!

Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge 40: Beach Peace

Good morning girls!! So, so happy to see you today! It means so much that you take a minute or two to stop by my blog and see what I've created!

I'm very excited to share not just one but TWO cards with you for today's Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge. We had an awesome sketch to work with this week designed by the blog owner Maggie. Today we are highlighting the NEW Herringbone folder that Provo Craft has coming out at the end of the month. It's been such fun to have the new folders to showcase!! I know several of you were able to pick up the set recently on HSN and they are on the way to you --- I can't wait for you to get them so you can use them and play along in our Countdown to CHA celebration!!

I'm also excited because 2RedBananas is sponsoring a great prize this week for those participating in the sketch challenge. It is the Precious Bundle set designed by Jami Bova and released last month. Be sure to link up your creation on the Cuttlebug Challenge blog for your chance to win! Then be sure to head over to 2RedBananas to shop - TODAY is release day and all the July stamps are available!!

I used the July Journaling Spot on my card this week! Jeanette has such a neat concept for these journaling spot sets. And even though I don't scrapbook much, they make really great cards too! Especially this set as it has 2 quotes, 3 seashells, a grass stamp and the journaling spot.

The seashells in the set made me think of the beach. I can't imagine anything more peaceful than a quiet beach somewhere, with a vast expanse of blue and a cabana all to myself. Only the sound of the pounding surf.

Ah. Peace.

The cream panel was torn and inked with Creamy Caramel. The Baja Breeze (water) layer was torn, rolled and inked with Craft White and then the sky (which might be a scrap of Soft Sky?)

The Baja Breeze base panel was embossed with the Herringbone folder and boy do I LOVE the effect that it had on the paper. It's incredibly soft and supple. Twill ribbon and a few pearls keeps it neat and simple. I really wanted all the focus on the quote and the beach scene so kept the embellishments to the bare minimum.

I even decorated the inside with the grass stamp. Creamy Caramel on Kraft. A new favorite.

Be sure to visit the rest of The Banana Bunch - they played along in the sketch challenge this week too and their creations are beautiful too! Swing by their blogs and let them know how much you enjoyed their creations!

I have another card using this sketch as well. It's a great sketch that really puts the focus on the image or sentiment that you want to use. I love those kind of cards. I spied this Caliope image (Paper Makeup Stamps) buried under some stamps and could not resist her calling out to me. I paperpieced her outfit and heart and handwrote my sentiment. My husband loves blue and so it was easy to use the same colors for this card as for my Beach Peace card. I hope he likes it!

We'd love to have you create a card using your Cuttlebug and the sketch too! Be sure to link up your card at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog for a chance to win the Precious Bundles stamp set from 2RedBananas.

Have a beautiful morning!

A Flutter By Wednesday Scene

It's Wednesday and time for another Flutter By Wednesday challenge! Our featured team member this week is my good friend Heather from Heather's Heavenly Stamptations. She challenged us to create a scene this week, being sure to off course include a butterfly or a fairy. I think she also challenged us to not use patterned paper --- but I didn't recall that until after my tree was made. Sorry Heather!

Heather is so, SO good at creating scenes with her stamps. This is definitely not something I do and so I thought it was a great challenge and really excited about it. I used the Twinkle Butterfly image from Modern Sugar Blvd and when I was thinking of this project I thought I would use several of the sleeping butterflies to create my scene. But when I sat down last night to create my card, I had a tree pop into my head and decided to go that route instead!

Thanks for stopping by to see my creations today! I also have my Cuttlebug Be Inspired card up this morning so be sure to scroll down to see it!!

Stop by the rest of the Flutter By team to check out their lovely scenes and leave them a bit of love!

Ann ♥ Ashley ♥ Cathy ♥ Chris

Christine ♥ Danni ♥ Harriet ♥

Heather - on hiatus (but I bet she participates this week *wink*)

Jodi - on maternity leave

Kim ♥ Lelia ♥ Michelle ♥ Nancy
Nicola ♥ Stef ♥ Taylor

A 2RedBananas Sneak Peek! Meet Wendy!

I have another sneak peek at a new set being released at 2RedBananas on Wednesday, July 15th. There are 5 sets in all and this is one of the new images by Mindy Baxter. I think her big eyes and chubby cheeks are darling!

I used this week's sketch from Inspirational Sketches for my layout and some Basic Grey paper I just got in the mail today. From a blog candy I won - the box was completely stuffed full of goodies!! Thanks Kim!! My image was colored with prismas/baby oil. The blue flower I used is a Bazzill flower and you can get it at 2RedBananas as well. You get a big package full for only a dollar. I love them because they have a soft, velvet-like texture to them!

Be sure to visit the rest of The Banana Bunch to see their sneak peeks as well. And visit the 2RedBananas blog to play along in our challenge this week --- you could win one of the new sets!

Jeanette Fincher ♥ Deb Felts
Teresa Grau ♥ Wendy Kastner
Dawn Burnworth - Guest Designer

SUPER-Sized Sunday!

Hello girls!! I've got 2 items to share with you today so it's a SUPER-Sized Sunday!!

First, I have a project over at Cuttlebug Challenge today for the Creatively Yours Spotlight Sunday feature. I hope you click on the picture below and go check it out in its entirety! I used the new Victoria embossing folder as part of our month-long Countdown to CHA event!

My second thing to share today is of course Banana Split Sunday! There is a new release coming up on Wednesday, July 15th. This week is a sketch challenge; you should play along as you could win your choice of one of the new sets.

This month we are introducing a new illustrator for 2RedBananas: Mindy Baxter. I used her Princess themed set for my card today. Image was colored with my prismas and baby oil and the dress was paper pieced. Lots of sparkly gems as every princess should have!

Stop by the 2RedBananas blog to see the sketch! Be sure to link up your creation in Mr Linky for your chance to win one of the new sets. The rest of the Banana Bunch is sharing sneak peeks all week long so visit their blogs too!

Jeanette Fincher ♥ Deb Felts

Teresa Grau ♥ Wendy Kastner

Dawn Burnworth - Guest Designer

Stamping with your Embossing Folders

I have two exciting things to share with you today!

First, 2RedBananas will be releasing 5 new sets next week on July 15th. More Quotes features 3 quotes, one of which I've featured on my card today.

Second, I discovered a new use for my Cuttlebug embossing folders --- you can use them as a "stamp" and create lovely patterned papers. To view the tutorial, head over to the Cuttlebug Challenge (ETA: tutorial on THIS POST or click the picture above)! Here's a close-up shot of my panel before being trimmed for my card.

I used a card sketch from Technostamper who posts her Lunchtime Sketches on Monday. Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to visit the rest of the 2RedBananas team to see The Week of Peeks. There is a new illustrator launching 3 sets that are super cute! We also welcome a new guest designer for the next few months. Her blog is wonderful --- check it out!!

Jeanette Fincher ♥ Deb Felts
Teresa Grau ♥ Wendy Kastner
Dawn Burnworth - Guest Designer

Buttons and Bows

This is my 2nd post today. Be sure to scroll down for my Cuttlebug Challenge card showcasing the NEW Owl Flourish folder.

Michelle challenged the Flutter By team this week to use buttons and bows along with our butterflies (or fairies).

I kept it really simple *again* and just created a one layer card. The butterfly is a sticker I picked up at the dollar store. The sentiment is Stamping Bella I think. That scrumptious grosgrain ribbon is from my mother-in-law's vintage stash. She had a whole sack full she let me dig through awhile back. I'm sure that I could find some at any local store or online -- but there is just something about vintage ribbon isn't there?

Be sure to visit the rest of the Flutter By team and see what they have created! I am so excited to welcome Taylor Usry to the team. (She's also back with us on Twinkling Tuesdays too!) So be sure to leave her a welcome message!

Ann ♥ Ashley ♥ Cathy ♥ Chris
Christine ♥ Danni ♥ Harriet
Heather - on hiatus (but she posts when she can!)
Jodi - on maternity leave
Kim ♥ Lelia ♥ Michelle
Nancy ♥ Nicola ♥ Stef ♥ Taylor

Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge 39: Whooo!

It's Wednesday again and that means more sneak peeks at one of the new embossing folders that Provo Craft is releasing for the Cuttlebug at CHA! The design team at Cuttlebug Challenges will be creating cards, layouts and projects all month long! Be sure to visit there often so as not to miss anything! There are several places you can preorder the folders online and HSN is having a pre-sale too on July 9th!

We at Cuttlebug Challenge are wanting to make it even easier for you to participate each week so you'll see several elements at play in the challenges. You can use all the elements like the team or just the ones that work for you! Our goal is that you'll Be Inspired to create something and share it with us! I've found so many wonderful new blogs because you link up your creations!

This week the team was asked to use 3 colors: a bright orange, turquoise and a celery green along with the new OWL folder coming out. Danni even suggested that we include some sort of nature --- or non-scrapping item in our project. (I missed that one)

I think this folder looks great just embossed in white and was tempted to do something along those lines. But the bright colors we were given just screamed to be used. I don't use brights very often and so I really wanted to step out of the box.

I embossed my white panel and then used a Versamarker pen to go over the raised portions. My image was then colored with my chalks and the applicator that came with the set. Some blue gems for the eyes add a bit of sparkle to the card. I also trimmed it down before mounting it to my base.

What do you think? Be sure to visit the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and see what the rest of the girls came up with. I've seen a few already this week and they are awesome!! You won't be disappointed by the detour!

Twinkling Tuesday: Vintage Sparrow

Good afternoon girls! It's Tuesday and we have another great (challenging) sketch this week to work with! Be sure to visit the Twinkling Tuesday blog and see what our featured designer Kim created with this sketch!

Madelynn gave her brother Jack another chance to design a sketch for us and boy did he come up with something great! The first time I looked at it I thought "ooooh, nice". Then it came time to actually create my card and I thought "hmmmm, how to handle those horizontal bits?" The possibilities were endless!

I slept on it actually and decided on lace and a vintage feel. The lace is from my local Walmart; every so often I find some lace packaged up in these plastic balls for $1. The velvet ribbon at the top is from 2RedBananas.

I stuck close to Jack's sketch this week and love how it turned out! I hope you'll play along with us this week too! Be sure to visit the rest of the team and see what they've come up with!

Christi ♥ Darla ♥ Debbie
Heather ♥ Jacquie ♥ Janna
Jessica (a.k.a. Mommy :)
Kim ♥ Lisa ♥ Rebecca
Sandra ♥ Taylor

Have a beautiful day!!

Stampin’ Up! Big Shot

Yeah.

I'd like to win this.

So crossing my fingers.

Curious?




Okay.
I'll share. Because it's the nice thing to do. And as my friend Jacquie says, Sharing is Caring. And I do so care about each of you!

Stampin Addicts.com has tons of ideas using the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot and is giving away a Big Shot Die Pack as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration. To enter, all you have to do is write about it. This is my entry. Now give me my dies.

I'll have a Twinkling Tuesday card tomorrow to share and then Wednesday will be another SNEEK PEEK at a Brand New Cuttlebug Embossing Folder being released at CHA in just a few short weeks! So I'll hope you'll come back then to see those as well as my Flutter By card too

2RB: Patriotic Please

I hope your 4th of July was a fantastic day! We celebrated my brother's birthday with a cookout at my parent's house and then fireworks in the evening. This is one of my favorite holidays. I'm so thankful for the freedoms that I have, for the founding fathers who believed in it and fought for it and for those men and women who fight for it today - both for us and for others less fortunate around the world!

Since it's Sunday that means it's time for another Banana Split Sunday; this week's challenge is all things patriotic! Be sure to visit the 2RedBananas blog to see the other creations by the design team. We'd love to have you play along with us as well. Just link up your creation at the blog!

I knew that I wanted to make a patriotic bee as soon as I saw this weeks theme. He's colored with my prismacolors and baby oil. The sketch is from 2Sketches4You. The paper and star gems are from my stash!

Check out the rest of the bunch and leave them some love!

Jeanette Fincher ♥ Deb Felts
Jami Bova ♥ Teresa Grau ♥ Wendy Kastner

Triple Treat: Flutter, Twinkle, Sketch

Hello again! I have another card for today and it's a TRIPLE treat. I managed to combine 3 challenges into this card! This is my second post for today -- be sure to scroll down and see my Cuttlebug Challenge card!

Yesterday was Madelynn's Twinkling Tuesday -- no sketch but an amazing inspiration photo full of citrus fruits! I wasn't able to get it up yesterday since I was on vacation. I wanted to use the colors to create my Flutter By card for today. Before I went in to create I checked out this week's sketch challenge on SCS and saw that I could easily use butterflies. So there you go! A Triple Treat!


I used some scraps of glitter paper to punch out my butterflies and just adhered them to a 4.25 square base with pop dots.

I hope you'll visit the rest of the Twinklettes and Flutter By girls! You can find their links in my sidebar!! I can't wait to see what they've come up with this week!

Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge 37: Seeing Stars

ETA: The post is finally live -- if you've been waiting to see it head on over now! There are just amazing projects to see!

Good morning girls!! Oh, I've missed you! The last several days have been spent in the New Mexico Rockies, enjoying a wonderful family vacation that included my parents and siblings. Fishin' and drivin' and balloonin' and gamin' --- all add up to a WONDERFUL time!

It's good to be back home and it's GOOD to be back with a Cuttlebug Challenge card! We took a break last week and today are back with some exciting things! First, the NEW team has been announced and today is our first Wednesday Be Inspired project. I was so happy and honored to be asked to stay on for the Fall term and blown away to get a "promotion" to the Senior Design Team. Seriously! The ENTIRE Cuttlebug Challenge team is fabulously talented and to get to create with them each week is a true honor ~ pleasure ~ blessing ~ joy. Anyway, it's still hard to believe. The talent and creativity that is brought together in this team is truly awesome! I hope you are a follower or subscriber to the blog because there are terrific things happening over there!

Second, we are showcasing projects using the new embossing folders being released by Provo Craft at CHA later this month. The entire month is a celebration of the new folders and you'll be seeing some terrific creations all month long by the design team!

This week we were asked to use the new Stars folder and a color combination of red, white and blue along with buttons!! Meda works diligently and tirelessly each week uploading the team's cards onto the CBC blog for us. When we found out her birthday was on July 4th, it was suggested that we also create a Happy Birthday card so as she opened emails from us this week, it would be a virtual deluge of cards for her! Thank you Meda so much for your work each and every week! You make us look great over and over again!! Have a very Happy Birthday girl! I'll eat a s'more in your honor on Saturday!!

I wanted to use Baja Breeze and thought it would pair terrifically with white and a true red. The stars were embossed and then trimmed down to fit on my white card base. The message (Anna Griffin) was stamped on a journaling tag by Martha Stewart and some buttons - new and vintage - along with a big, red polka dotted bow were added to finish it off! I wish I could remember what sketch I used for this card but I did it quickly between a packing break before we left and just am drawing a blank now!


Thanks so much for stopping by today! I'm so glad you did!! Be sure to check out the Cuttlebug Challenge blog to see the rest of the design team's creations. And be sure to check out the bios for the design team --- lots of new artists are joining us!!

Have a beautiful day everyone!!