Sweet Sunday Animals

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC54. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog The Sweetest Thing.

For today's card I figured I'd use the sketch for my Christmas-card-of-the-week. Seems like if I don't get it done on Sundays it gets pushed back and sometimes I forget about it.

I reached for my Cool Yule set from MFT. I used the penguin from this set last year but the bear and bird were still uninked so they took the starring role in my card today. I stamped the images onto Choice Snow White and coloured them with copics. The bird is popped for dimension and I added some white Liquid Applique to his hat.

I realized as I was deciding on my patterned papers that I should have stamped the image on Buttercream instead of white to coordinate with the October Afternoon Good Cheer paper. Instead of starting over I coloured in the background with my E41 copic. That's when my happy accident occured...the bear was left completely white and really popped against the background...sweet! I'd love to say I planned that but I didn't, and I couldn't be more pleased with my happy accident. I coated the bear with Sugar Sparkly Fluff (that I picked up from the Our Craft Lounge booth at CHA) to give him a furry look.

I used Buttercream for the card base (which is 5.25 inches square) and sentiment banner. The baja blue layer is stitched to Prism Blush Red Dark and the scalloped edge is old olive. I layered an olive circle with a ghost snowflake, a punched snowflake and a corduroy brad. I love the look of all the layers together to create the wintery accent.


I hope you'll play along with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch and link your creation using the Mr. Linky tool on Karen's Blog. If you're looking for a little more inspiration just pop over to see what the other Sweet Sunday Stampers have created.
Jen Tapler
Laura Fredrickson
Lynn Put
Nancy Riley
Sarah-Jane Kale
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Bellarific Monstah Birthday

Happy Bellarific Friday! Today's theme was birthdays...woo hoo!!!

I can always use birthday cards in my stash, especially at this time of year. This card's already spoken for though...must get it in the snail mail to one of my nephews so it arrives by Feb 7th.

I decided to use Monstah Bash from Stamping Bella and went back to a past layout from Splitcoast, SC247. I love all the layers on this sketch and it worked perfectly with the image. I stamped the Monstahs with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper, twice, and coloured them with copics. I cut out the cutie in the middle along with the balloon and popped them for dimension. The orange guy also got a little shiny detail on his dots and horns with my clear Glaze pen.

For the sentiment I inked the words from my Scraplines Tickets stamp...I thought the font was a good boyish one and I really like the words with this image. After doing all my layers I thought the top left corner looked like it needed a punch of colour so I added a couple of ribbon tabs. My friend Leslie does these all the time on her cards so I cased her idea...must remember this one for future use. I finished the card with just a touch of bling from two aqua Bonbons.

Hopefully you played along with this week's Bellarific Challenge and we'll see your creation on Bloggabella. Don't forget to leave a comment while you're there...it could earn you $10 Bella Bucks.

Next week is a sketch challenge and here it is so you have plenty of time to play along. Can't wait to see what you create!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

ChristmaTini

This week is winding down so quickly and I hadn't done my Christmas card of the week yet, so I decided today was the day.

I reached for my ChristmaTini image from Stamping Bella (love all the 'tini images...they're so fun!) for this card. I used this week's Mojo123 sketch for the layout and flipped it to work with the image.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. I used my rectangle Nestabilities to cut it out then layered it onto night of navy. The tree is cut out and popped for dimension and I added sparkle to both the ornament and the tree with my blue Spica glitter pen. Once I was done colouring everything I gave the glass three coats with my clear Glaze pen.

I ran the baja blue background throught my D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder before layering it onto kiwi kiss. The patterned paper is from the SEI Glitzma line. I added lots of buttons from my stash and of course one of my beloved ghost snowflakes. I have a really good stash of them but I couldn't resist picking up a few more packs while I was at CHA last weekend.  :)

Have you made your card yet for this week's Bellarific Friday challenge? The theme is Birthdays and we all need plenty of birthday cards every year so there's no excuse not to play along. Submit your card to Em by the end of the day today and you just might win $20 Bella Bucks. Then we get to see everyone's creativity tomorrow on Bloggabella.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

A few photos to share

I thought I'd share a few pictures from CHA. I was there working in the Taylored Expressions booth and had such a blast. It was wonderful meeting all my "internet friends" as I like to call them (it kinda freaks out my parents but I just laugh) and meeting so many people from Blog Land. Wow, what a wonderful experience and now I understand why everyone wants to go back show after show after show!!!

Back row: Jami, Dawn, Linda (Taylor's Mom), Jodi, Taylor, Jon (Taylor's hubby), me, Karen

Front row: Donna, Julie Ann (Taylor's friend)

Jackie and Sankari

Karen, Jodi and I. Note that Jodi and I are wearing the exact same blouse...we each bough it without even knowing!!! Freaky!

I think the three of us share a brain though because on set up day Karen and I were dressed exactly alike, completely by coincidence!

Don't laugh at the Hannah Montana poster in the background...we were staying in a rented house and this was the decor in my room. It also had princesses on the wall.  :)

My friend Charlene stopped by the booth for a visit.

I was lucky enough to have a day at the CHA trade show too. Holy COOL!!! I was like a kid in a candy store going from booth to booth looking at all the neat new products that'll be in stores soon! Personally, I CAN'T wait!!! I was so pre-occupied that I completely forgot to take photos of just about everything, except this.

Fabulous paper creations at the Couture Cardstock booth

That's it...now I need to get some stamping done!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Happy Birthday Wendy!!!!

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Wendy, Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!

Today we're doing a little blog hop to celebrate Wendy Bond's birthday. Since I was just at CHA (I know...I'll have a few pictures to post soon, I just need to get organized) I used a few of my purchases.

I've been wanting this adorable Smells Like Cake set from The Cat's Pajamas for a while now so it was one of my CHA purchases. Since I was using TCP stamps I decided to use this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge, a sketch hosted by Leigh. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured it with copics. I added some green and orange Glitzy glitter to the cupcake and one of the party hats. It's so sparkly because it's actual pieces of tiny glass.

I added a little stitching to the image and the base layer. I wanted the penguins to stand out so I added black layers to make them pop. The patterned paper is another CHA purchase from the Paper Loft, the Morning Rain collection. The solid cardstocks are brocade blue and so saffron and I used my coordinating brocade blue ribbon. The sweet bow was done with my Bow Easy...LOVE that thing!

Wendy...hope your day is absolutely out-of-this-world fabulous and filled with many good wishes and plenty of wine!!! Save a glass for when I visit Calgary in March! Happy Birthday Girlfriend!!!!

Here's a list of the other friends wishing Wendy a VERY happy birthday!!!
Dee Woodland   http://deespapertree.blogspot.com/
Regan D'Agostino   http://stampymcstamperson.blogspot.com/

Maria Fiscella   http://mycraftroom.typepad.com
Jewels Wells   http://cardfelt.blogspot.com/
Charlene Austin   http://willowandpaisley.typepad.com
Stephanie Day   http://mycraftydays.blogspot.com/
Dana White   http://danashouseofcards.blogspot.com/

Pam Imholz   http://paperandribbonsandstampsohmy.blogspot.com/

Charmaine Ikach   http://www.oodabugalley.blogspot.com/

Jackie Pedro   http://www.thescallopededge.typepad.com/

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Cuppie

Ack!!! I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date...no time to say hello goodbye, I'm late I'm late I'm late!!! This being on Pacific time while I'm at CHA has really messed up my posting...I know...could have avoided this by scheduling my post, but hey, I like to live on the edge!!! Plus, Karen Giron is here with me and she's borrowing my computer to "check" on our posts...so I'm not giving her any air time til I'm done typing my post...Bwah ha ha!!!   :)

So it's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC53. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog, The Sweetest Thing.

I used my new Cuppie Love Scenes set from Taylored Expressions for this card. I adore the sweet little Cuppies in the hot air balloon! I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Buttercream and coloured it with copics. The balloon is paper pieced and I did the clouds with liquid applique. All the papers and embellishments are from my December 20th Key Ingredients. I ran the background through my D'vine swirls Cuttlebug folder and the sentiment was punched with my SU modern label punch.

I'm keeping this short and sweet...cause someone is looking over my shoulder...Karen....   :)

Here's some more sketch inspiration from the Sweet Sunday Stampers.
Jen Tapler
Laura Fredrickson
Lynn Put
Nancy Riley
Sara-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Bellarific Twinchie

Happy Bellarific Friday!!! This week's challenge was to use a Twinchie on your card...basically it's a 2x2" panel. I can't wait to see what everyone did with this challenge!

For my card today I decided to use Sake Ketto. I feel like my Ketto images have totally been neglected so it felt good to ink one up. I stamped Sake with Memento Tuxedo Black onto my Twinchie panel. Next I coloured her face with copics, then paper pieced her dress with one of the patterns from my Basic Grey Indian Summer pad. I gave her glossy black locks with my black Glaze pen then pierced round the image.

I used Mercy's sketch from last week for the layout, MTSC56, and brought out some of my SU colours to match the Indian Summer paper. The base is Melon Mambo and the main panel is layered onto Rich Razzleberry. I just had to use my apron lace punch and I added a little zig zag stitch for interest. I finished the card with some Razzleberry ribbon and fuschia Bonbons.

Don't forget to stop by Bloggabella to see all the Twinchie creations and leave a comment while you're there for a chance to win some Bella Bucks.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Puppy Love

Here's a sweet little card I whipped up for Taylor Expressions Sketch Challenge, TESC98, and what a fun sketch it is!!!

I'm SO excited though that I can hardly contain myself!!! Today I'm heading across the country to California for CHA...Wooo Hoooo!!! This is my very first CHA event and I'll be helping out at the Taylored Expressions booth. I can't wait to meet up with the Baker's Dozen girls and give them all a big hug. Are you going to CHA? If so, be sure to stop by the Taylored Expressions booth to say hello.

So in honour of my travel day to CHA I used my sweet Love Everywhere set for this card. This card stamped up super quick because of the bold images. I used Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Lady Bug, and sage shadow inks. Most of the supplies are from my Valentine Key Ingredients with a few extras (like the buttons and Suede Brown Medium cardstock) thrown in for good measure.

The chipboard heart is coloured with a red copic then I covered it with Stardust Stickles before adhering it to the image. A little sewing, my favourite Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, some border punching and red ric rac and I called this one done! I was skyping with my friend Leslie {waves...hi Leslie} while I was making this card so she watched the entire production (she's a patient friend!) and the card got her approval along the way, so I hope you like it too!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Lollipop Doc

It's my brother's birthday at the end of the month so I need to get his card in the mail. Snail mail between Canada and the US is really snail mail!!! He doesn't read my blog so I'm not worried that he'll see his card here.

For his card I decided to use Dylan Lollipop with the included "you're so cool" sentiment. Hey, I'm not afraid to admit my brother is cool...actually all three of them are, but I would have never said that growing up!!! LOL!!! I used the Crazy 4 Challenges sketch, C4C20, for the layout.

When I first stamped Dylan I thought his iPod headphones looked like a stethescope. Hey, my brother's a doctor, I could turn the iPod into a stethescope to personalize his card. So I cleaned my stamp then simply omitted inking the iPod and stamped him again. Then I used my Copic multiliner to draw in the stethescope and his hand. I coloured him up with doctor blue scrubs and to get that shade of blue I simply kept layering shades of blue until I was happy. I find I nearly always have to do this with the copic blues...there are so many shades but none seem to be just right.

The image is cut out with rectangle nestabilities and I stitched it to a layer of Prism Intense Kiwi. I also stitched the patterned paper (by My Mind's Eye) to a layer of Kiwi. Instead of using a strip of ribbon I used a strip of patterned paper across the bottom to bring in more colour. The sentiment is punched out with my modern label punch and I added two olive Bonbons to anchor it. The card seemed a little plain so I added a few buttons from my stash.

This week's Bellarific Friday theme is Twinchies! If you don't have the official little pre-cut panels then just cut your own to measure 2x2 inches. I hope you'll play along. Email your submission to Em by Thursday evening and you might just win some Bella Bucks for playing this week.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Snow Day

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC52. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog, The Sweetest Thing.

I was a slacker last week and didn't get my Christmas-card-a-week done so I'm starting the week off right this time. I reached for one of my darling Pure Innocence images from MFT. This one is called Snow Day.

I stamped her several times on both white and patterned paper so I could paper piece her coat and hat. But I'm a bit of a fanatic about proper perspective so what you can't tell from the photo is that once her coat was pieced I layered on the pocket and snowballs, then layered her right arm and scarf. After all, I didn't want it to look like the snowballs were in her coat, and her arm needed to be the highest level of paper piecing for correct perspective. The rest of her is coloured with copics and I added glittered Liquid Applique to her hat and boots.

The image is cut out with Labels Three Nestabilities and I hand cut the pink mat around it. I really wish wish WISH Spellbinders would come out with the in-between sizes of Labels dies. The patterned papers are from the SEI Christmas Mint collection. I did a little zig zag stitching and added some felt SU ribbon as a layer. I have plenty of ghost snowflakes, thanks to my friend Leslie (waves...hi Leslie!), so I put one to good use on this card.

Let's go see what the other Sweet Sunday Stampers came up with for this week's sketch. I hope you'll play along and link your creation using the Mr. Linky on Karen's blog.

Jen Tapler
Laura Fredrickson
Lynn Put
Nancy Riley
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Center of Attention Product Spotlight - Favours

Today some of the Baker's Dozen are showing you different party favour options using just a sampling of the Favour Boxes available at Taylored Expressions. I chose to work with Clear Heart Party Favours, which appear to be quite popular right now because they're out of stock. Good news is Taylor will be restocking them but if you just can't wait, you can create either of these projects with the Clear Circle Party Favours which are in stock. I love that whatever little treasure you put inside shows through. The inspiration for my projects came from the images in the new stamp set Love Everywhere.

I started on the circles first and originally I was going to turn the circles into hot air balloons (like the one in Love Everywhere) but I quickly came to realize that was a really bad shape for a card...teeny tiny bottom and big heavy top...a disaster just waiting to happen...really, what was I thinking??? But I was stumped. Does that ever happen to you? You have a certain idea in mind and you just can't move past it? Can't think of anything else? So I chatted with my BFF and she's the one who suggested I turn the circles into flowers (or lollipops). Thanks Dana! Wouldn't this be sweet as a table center piece? Or you could use it for children's Valentines.

The first thing I did was create a paper template for cutting out the heart shape and once I had that part done the rest was a breeze. I used papers from my Valentine Key Ingredients and cut the circles with my circle Nestabilities and scallop circle Nestabilities. I used my craft knife to cut out the heart shapes then attached the layers with foam tape. I ran a bead of Stardust Stickles (from the Valentine Key Ingredients) around each of the plastic hearts for a little bling. The stems are just skewers from my kitchen. I used one of the heart cut outs for a quick decoration on the glass vase.

When I was stumped with the circles I started working on this house shaped card. It's just like the house in Love Everywhere...cute! This is a perfect housewarming card and it came together really quickly too, with only a little stamping on the inside. I think the longest part was creating the scalloped shingle roof, but it looked soooooo plain without the shingles. Oh, and the roof is made of Prism Suede Brown Medium from my stash...it's not included in the Valentine Key Ingredients. The Choice Buttercream card base is 4" square and the roof overhangs the top of the card so the finished card height is 6.25".

There are plenty of fun Favour Boxes to choose from at Taylored Expressions and all Favour Boxes and Potion Bottles are on sale for 15% off January 16th and 17th (today and tomorrow only). This is a great time to give them a try or stock up if you're already a fan.

Now let's go see what Favours some of the other Baker's Dozen created.
Alex Maldonado
Jackie Pedro
Laurie Schmidlin
Sankari Wegman
and Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Bellarific Lovey Dovey

Happy Bellarific Friday, and what a fabulous day it is with the new Valentine Release over at Stamping Bella. Woo Hoo!!! In celebration of today's release, this week's Bellarific Friday theme was Lovey Dovey. And guess what.....I have a brand new Valentine image to share with you today and she's full of cuteness!!!!

This new sweetie, Priscilla, is part of the Green Bean Baby line...fun!!! You'll be able to pick her up today along with plenty more fabulous additions to Stamping Bella. Be sure to pop over to Bloggabella to see all the new images as well as this week's Bellarific submissions.

I stamped Priscilla with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper and coloured her with copics. I used the Card Positioning System layout, CPS149, but I swapped out the rectangle for a circular main panel. I used my bright and cheery Basic Grey Sugar Rush 6x6 paper pack on this card...yum! Then I finished the image with some Primas and a few Bonbons.

Be sure to leave some love over on Bloggabella for a chance to win $50 Bella Bucks (Em lovingly increased the prize for this week from the usual ten Bella Bucks!!!), which will come in handy for your shopping from the new Valentine release!

Next week's Bellarific theme is Twinchies! We all know what inchies are, right? Well Twinchies are 2x2" squares. You'll find Twinchies pre-cut at Stamping Bella, or just cut your own panels to play along. Get working...we're giving you lots of notice this week and it's a long weekend in the US so there's no excuse not to stamp.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Movie Night Box

I have a fun Movie Night Box project on the Stamp A Sweet Impression blog today. I hope you'll hop over to have a peek.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

A Ticket to Birthdays

Bella's gone a little green today...I absolutely couldn't wait to use my new Basic Grey Origins paper and it's full of wonderful, rich earth tones!!! I used this week's Mojo sketch, Mojo 121, for the layout.

I started by stamping PrezziBella from Stamping Bella with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper then I coloured her with copics. I used my yellow Spica glitter pen on the ribbon and popped the prezzi for dimension. She's cut out with Labels Four Nestabilities.

The fun Happy Birthday Scraplines Ticket stamp arrived in my last order and it's been waiting, not so patiently, to be inked. These tickets are such a fun way to display a sentiment!!! For the background, I ran a piece of Origins paper through my swiss dots Cuttlebug folder then stitched it to the chocolate layer. I added a little sparkle with two Olive Bonbons in the corner.

I have birthdays on my brain at this time of year, because more than half the birthdays in my family are in Jan, Feb and Mar. BUT, most people are starting to think about Valentine's Day, so this week's Bellarifc Friday challenge is a theme...Lovey Dovey!!! I hope you'll play along...just email your submission to Em by Thursday night and you might win $20 in Bella Bucks just for participating! AND...there will be a new release on Friday too!!!!! Read all the details on Bloggabella.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen