Sweet Sunday Kite

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC77. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog The Sweetest Thing.

This week's sketch is a shape of card that I don't seem to make very often so it was nice to get out of my box, so to speak. My finished card measures 3.25" wide by 6.5" high.

I used my new In the Park set from Taylored Expressions, along with my Summertime Project Pantry for all the papers, ribbon and button. The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. I cut out the kite and the dog then popped them on foam tape for dimension. The image panel seemed a little plain so I pierced around the edges. I used my grass punch on a strip of patterned paper and I think it finishes the little scene nicely. I used my open scallop border punch along the edges of the three bottom layers and stamped the sentiment on the red layer. Gasp...no sewing on this card!!!  :)

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now let's go see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created!
Jen Tapler
Joanne Basile
Laura Fredrickson
Lynn Put
Nancy Riley
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Bellarific Bedbugg

Happy Bellarific Friday!!! This week's challenge was Huggabuggs...those sweet little creatures...they just fluttered their way right into my heart when they were first released and I'm happy to report that they still make me smile each time I use one!!!

For my card today I pulled out Bedbugg and stamped her (I'm saying she's female because I don't think any boy in their right mind would voluntarily wear pink and purple jammies.) with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper. Then I coloured her with copics and added plenty of sparkly with three Spica glitter pens. Have I told you lately how much I adore my Spica pens? It's a gorgeous, somewhat subdued sparkle with absolute no mess to clean up!

I pulled the fun colour palette from my Basic Grey Green at Heart 6x6 paper pack and I finally broke into the coordinating paper ribbon that I've been hoarding since March (and I know it was March because I picked it up when I was visiting my Dana in Calgary). It's self-adhesive and so easy to use...now I'm kicking myself for not using it sooner. I added a little texture and pattern with my seeing spots Cuttlebug folder, which is meant to mimic the polka dots on the comforter. I finished it with some stitching and two Bonbons. The layout is FTL94 from the Clean & Simple blog.

Next week's Bellarific Friday challenge is a sketch, by 'lil ole' me, so I hope you like it. I'd love to see how you interpret the sketch so please play along. Simply create a card using Stamping Bella images and  the sketch, then email a picture of your creation to Em by next Thursday to be included in the Friday round-up.

Don't forget to pop over to Bloggabella to see this week's round-up and leave some love while you're there because you just might win Bella Bucks!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Release Day!!!

The new stamp sets and Project Pantry kits are now available over at Taylored Expressions. But before you head off to fill your cart take a minute to hop through the Baker's Dozen blogs because today we're sharing a recap of the new sets. That means more ideas and ways to use the fun new sets.

I have two cards to share and this first one uses Weigh to Go. When I first saw this set I was drawn to the dress and immediately thought "little black dress". We all have that favourite black dress hanging in the closet (mine seems to have shrunk a little), or maybe it's on your "I want it" list. Whatever the reason, the little black dress seems to be a motivator so I thought it was perfect with this sentiment.

I didn't want just a plain black dress though...it needed to be sparkly! So I stamped the dress with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured it with my N7 copic marker. Then I covered it with liquid adhesive and sprinkled on some black glitter. The adhesive was thicker in places so the glitter's a little thicker in places but I love the effect. It seems to give the dress an element of movement...a happy accident I'd say!

I wanted the dress to pop so I backed it with one of the bright patterned papers from my Cosmo Cricket Delovely mini deck. The layout is Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge, MTSC81, but I flipped it and added the sentiment panel. I added some hot pink polka dot ribbon (cause there just wasn't enough pink yet) and pleated it for texture, then I used my deco scallop border punch along the edge. A few black Twinkles in the corner and some clear Twinkles along the punched border add even more bling.

For my next card I used Feelin' Groovy and the That 70's Project Pantry kit. Talk about a blast from the past! I love all the groovy patterns in the Project Pantry kit and the retro feel of the images in the stamp set.

I used the scooter and wanted to make it look like it was zooming along the country side. I used my circle Nestabilities to create the blue & green background then stitched a line to help define it.

The scooter is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White (included in the That 70's Project Pantry) and coloured with copics. I couldn't get just the right shade of pink with just two markers so I mixed in the brighter ones at the end and I love the result. I added some fun orange glitter brad to the tires and wrapped some green ribbon around the base layer. I used my open scallop punch along the edge of the pink strip and sewed a crazy stitch around the perimeter of the card. I seriously want a fun scooter like this one!!!

Now let's go see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen cooked up with the new stamps.

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Butching
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Stacey Schafer-Guest designer for July-August
• Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks Day 2-In the Park

It's time for more sneak peeks from Taylored Expressions. Today you'll see samples using In the Park and Weigh to Go, along with the Summertime Project Pantry. The new products will be available in the TE Store tomorrow, July 8th.

I'm sharing a sweet tea tin that I decorated using images from In the Park. This set makes me want to go outside and take a stroll...it's so adorable! All the papers on my project are from the Summertime Project Pantry...full of bright cheery colours just like summer!

I started by stamping the new Stitched Plaid big background onto a strip of yellow paper...you have to look closely to see it because I used white Stazon, but it adds a wonderful look to the cardstock. Then I added the fun blue polka dot border, which is a sticker element from the Summertime Project Pantry. I used my grass border punch on one of the patterned papers to create the grass strip before I set to work on the images.

All the images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White (included in the Project Pantry) and coloured with copics. I cut out each of the images so I could pop them on foam tape for dimension.

I used Espresso Dimensional Pearls on the trunk of the tree and added a few patterned paper leaves.

I added Multicolour Twinkles to the flowers and the kite tail for a little sparkle.

This is going to be a handy little tin to have on hand when I need to wrap up some goodies.

Let's go see what the rest of the Bakers' Dozen created using either In the Park or Weigh to Go.

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Butching
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks Day 1-Destination Cuppie

It's that time of the month...time for sneak peeks of new stamps from Taylored Expressions. All the new images will be available in the TE Store on Thursday, July 8th. The Baker's Dozen has plenty to share so keep your eye out for new Cuppie images as well as a new Feelin' Groovy set.

Today I'm sharing two Destination Cuppie A-la-carte images, Destination San Francisco and Destination Hollywood. I love that Cuppie has travelled the US to four of the most recognizable landmarks in well-known cities (you'll see the other cities as you hop along to the Baker's Dozen blogs).

Let's start with Destination San Francisco...ah, the Golden Gate Bridge...I was just there in May and I think I have the photo of Andrew in the exact same pose at Cuppie! Hmmm...wonder if Cuppie was there when we were?!? LOL!

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Buttercream and coloured it with Copics. The image is cut out with Labels Nestabilities. I added orange and yellow sparkle with my Spica glitter pens and popped Cuppie on foam tape for dimension. I used patterned papers from my October Afternoon Fly a Kite 8x8 pad and layered the brown polka dot piece onto Papaya Puree Dark and stamped the sentiment "I left my heart in San Francisco" directly onto the orange patterned paper (it's a little hard to see in the photo). The caribbean satin ribbon was the perfect touch to tie in the water flowing under the bridge.

Then I travelled with Cuppie down the California coast...Destination Hollywood!!! Doesn't Cuppie look like the perfect beach bum with his shades! Love this little scene of the Hollywood hills.

I stamped this image onto Choice Snow White this time because I wanted the Hollywood letters to be white and I knew I'd be colouring the rest of the image with copics, right to the edges. I added a little blue sparkle to Cuppie with my Spica glitter pen the gave his glasses a coating of clear glaze pen. For the sand I filled the area with dots in two shades of brown then went over it with the lighter shade to blend a little...I like the dotted effect. The clouds are white Liquid Applique covered with glitter then puffed up with my heat tool.

The green patterned paper is also from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite 8x8 pad and I paired with with Suede Brown Dark and Frosted Teal. I used the two smallest sizes of my Stars Five Nestabilities and cut the fun accent out of Intense Orange and Sunflowers Medium. The main image, Cuppie and stars are popped on foam tape for dimension.

I hope you enjoyed travelling through California with Cuppie and I, but now let's go see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has created.

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Butching
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Mavis at the Beach

For today's card I reached for my new Mavis Builds a Sandcastle image from Stamping Bella because I wanna be back at the beach like yesterday.

Remember I told you I picked up an extra flying lesson yesterday...well we flew to the south side of Martha's Vineyard and landed on a grass strip then followed the signs to "Beach Parking" (yes, that would be beach parking for planes!!!!). We locked up the plane, crossed the street and were at the beach!!! Nobody else was scheduled to fly the plane we had so we were in no hurry to get home. Needless to say, we hung out at the beach for a couple of hours before finishing my lesson and flying home. What a FUN way to spend the day, and the best part is we weren't stuck in traffic! Today though it's back to reality for me...in my stamp room creating so I have things to share this week.  :)

I used today's Mojo sketch for the layout. Mavis is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper and coloured with copics. I gave her goggles a coating of clear Glaze pen for shine and added touches of yellow and orange shimmer with my Spica glitter pens. 

Don't forget about this week's Bellarific Friday Challenge...Huggabuggs!!!! Email a picture of your creation to Em by Thursday evening to be included in the Friday round-up. Ok...back to stamping for me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Sweet Sunday Emelia

Happy 4th of July!!!!
It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC76. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog The Sweetest Thing.

For today's sketch I didn't make a card, instead I decorated a DVD tin. You see, for my flying lessons I need a notepad in the cockpit so I can take notes on weather and airport conditions for take-off and landings, and being a stamper, I couldn't just bring a plain notepad with me. So I cut down a junior legal pad and tucked it into an empty DVD tin.

I've been waiting to decorate it until my Emelia stamp from Kraftin' Kimmie arrived, and I'm happy to report that she landed in my mailbox on Friday! So I inked her up with Memento Tuxedo black and coloured her and the plane with copics (the little bi-plane image is included with Emelia). I cut her out so I could add in some clouds behind her (I cut them with my cloud trio die-namic from MFT) and I popped her on foam tape for dimension. The patterned papers are from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite 8x8 pad. I used a couple more of the scallop die-namics for the scalloped strip then added plenty of Crystal Twinkles around the plane. I'm not sure how well this will stand up to use over time, but it sure is cute to carry around right now!

On the inside I added a simple pouch for my medical certificate (but I'm showing it with cream cardstock because that would be too much information...LOL!) and jazzed up the note pad with a strip of patterned paper. I swear, that strip of paper was made for the notepad because I didn't cut it down at all...that was exactly the size of the strip I had left! I picked up an extra lesson today and we're flying to Martha's Vineyard...cool! I'm excited because I've never been there and yet I live only an hour from Cape Cod.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now let's go see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created.
Jen Tapler
Joanne Basile
Lynn Put
Nancy Riley
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Bellarific Tabitha

Happy Bellarific Friday!!! Today's challenge was square cards...woo hooo!!! I love making square cards!!!

I reached for one of my newest Stamping Bella Tea Cup girls, Tabitha. I'm not even a tea drinker but I love love LOVE the Tea Cup girls!!! You can use them for so many different occasions. I usually leave mine without a sentiment for just that reason...this could be a birthday card, a friendship card, a thank you, a hello, or just a note. Any way you slice it, this sweet image is gonna make someone smile!!!

Tabitha is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Bella's Bestest Paper and coloured with copics. I paper pieced the cup with one of the patterns from Cosmo Cricket Delovely. I recently watched this hair colouring tutorial on how to create shiny black hair so I gave it a try with brown hair...not bad for my first try! She's cut out with rectangle Nestabilities and layered onto Melon Mango. I added a little stitching for some interest then punched a row of flowers with my Daisy Chain border punch. I topped each flower with some Bonbons for shine. I used this week's Splitcoast sketch challenge, SC287, for the layout.

Stamping Bella is having a sale right now...20% off your entire purchase!!! That's the largest discount Stamping Bella has ever offered so take advantage of it! Enter the code emily38 at checkout...and hurry because the sale ends at midnight on July 5th!

Next week's Bellarific Friday challenge is Huggabuggs!!! Dig out those little sweeties and create anything using Huggabuggs then email a picture of your creation to Em by next Thursday to be included in the Friday round-up. And don't forget to pop over to Bloggabella to see all of today's submissions.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Happy Birthday Kim!!!!

Today we're celebrating Kim, the MFT lady's, birthday...a few days early but that's because the MFT girls will be busy busy busy with previews soon!

Happy Birthday Kim!!!!!

I chose to use Make Mine a Double for Kim's card for a few of reasons:
1. the Pure Innocence line just makes me smile and melts my heart!
2. this particular one hadn't seen ink yet.
3. Kim really does make life sweet!!! I've had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times now and both her personality and adorable images make my life sweet!!! Hugs Kim!!! (I'll give you a real hug at CHA).

Her dress is paper pieced and the rest of the image is coloured with copics. I don't know if you can see in the close up or not, but the hearts are shimmery and I gave her shoes a coat of clear glaze pen for a red patent look, then added two Tiny Twinkles for the buckles. Of course I just had to use one of my Die-namics and the grass seemed like a natural fit. The swirly Zva bling was a last minute addition but I love how it helps make this little sweetie pop.

Be sure to pop over to Kim's blog and leave her some birthday love. Here's the list of everyone else who's wishing her a BIG happy birthday!!!

• Alex Maldonado
  
• Alma de la Rosa
  
• Amy Sheffer
  
• Barbara Anders
  
• Beate Johns
  
• Bonnie Ratzloff
  
• Carole Burrage
  
• Carolyn King
  
• Cassie Trask
  
• Chris Veneruso
  
• Christina Fischer
  
• Cindy Haffner
  
• Dawn Barghorn
  
• Dawn Easton
  
• Erin Smetak
  
• Frances Byrne
  
• Gabrielle Howey
  
• Gretchen Belknap
  
• Jen Davis
  
• Jen del Muro
  
• Jenn Balcer
  
• Jessie Rone
  
• Joanne Basile
  
• Jodi Collins
  
• Jody Morrow
  
• Joy Stagg
  
• Julie Dinn
  
• Kelli Hull
  
• Kerry Johnson
  
• Leigh O'Brien
  
• Leslie Rodriguez
  
• Lisa Henke
  
• Lori Craig
  
• Megan Lock
  
• Melody Rupple
  
• Michele Boyer
  
• Michelle Lanning
  
• Sherrie Siemens
  
• Susan Liles
  
• Tammy Hershberger
  
• Wendy Bond

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Happy Birthday, Eh!!!

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends and readers!!!

I've discovered that just about everyone I talk to here in the USA around July 4th has no idea that Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st. I feel good when I get to educate a little about Canadian traditions and holidays.  :)

This is a card I made for last year's Canada Day...I had good intentions of making a new one for this year but even the best laid plans fall through, eh?! If you're looking for some fun Canadian themed imaged check out this post on my friend Nancy's blog. She's offering really cute digi stamps at a rock bottom price in her Etsy store. Unfortunately it's not a long weekend celebration in Canada this year, but there will still be plenty of fun celebrations. Enjoy the day everyone!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Karen