Free handbag..... couldn't resist

Ok, not sure if this is for real, but hey it never hurts to enter! Go visit Hand Bag Planet to enter their hand bag give away. But if you do please don't pick the hour 9 bag, because i am totally in love with it! ;)

Sheetload Sneak Peak

It's that time again!!!! Go check out Sheetload for the upcoming October sneak peaks.

Secret Sister

Tomorrow we are to give our secret sister at church a scripture. My SS's favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 and her favorite color is pink. I decided to pull out an oldy but a goodie - coaters. The paper was created by Anne Schlegel at Creative Dreams.

I really love how this turned out!

SITS Saturday Spotlight & Contest

Ok if you want to see the cutest vintage aprons and girls clothes you must go see today's SITS Saturday Spotlight - Sweet Funky Vintage. What's even better if you go visit SITS and Sweet Funky Vintage you can enter to win a $35 gift cert to their store!!! Here's the skinny: To enter: 1. Go to their shop 2. Go to their blog and let them know which items you LOVE! 3. For 2 additional entries, post about the contest on your blog, linking to this post. 3. Winner announced next Saturday 4. You must have the SITS button on your sidebar to win! So go check it out!

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

So here's my creation for this month's blog hop. These things always sneek up on me! My card tonight was made using Guidelines & Mixed Messages from Papertrey and a clear card base from ShortCuts.

The ornaments were made by first stamping the grid with Aqua Mist ink, stamped the ornate design with Versamark and finally embossed with Stampin Stuff .

Stamps: Gridlines, Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink), Versamark, Opaque White (Stazon)

Cardstock: Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink), #80 White (Cougar), Silver (Archivers)

Other: White Pearls Embossing Powder (Stampin Stuff), Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Ornament Die (Quickutz), Circle Punch (EK Success)

Three great inspirations collide

I have combined a great frosted card black from ShortCuts, a sketch challenge by Carla over at Lil' Scrappers and a fantastic idea from Lisa using old magnets. First ran my cardstock, pattern side down, through my Xyon. This allowed me to then adhere the paper to the back of the front side of the card. I then used my circle punches on some old magnets. I then used my craft knife to cut a circle out of the cardstock the size of the magnet adhered to the inside of the card. The other magnet is adhered to the back of my Making Memories chipboard piece.

More ShortCuts product samples

Ok so I am totally in love the with latest ShortCuts product - clear and frosted card bases. Here are a couple more samples.

Pssst......

I want to let you in on an exciting new product being launched this month at ShortCuts. Clear and Frosted Card Blanks. They are awsome! I have never been able to find a clear acetate that I liked working with, that was heavy enough and that wasn't riddled with finger prints. I have made a few samples to share. You can also checkt out ShortCuts for some beautiful samples made by Carla.

This first card I made last night for my husband and features the Frosted Card Blank. I know it's kind of hard to see the sentiment, but it says "Psst...." He was so sweet yesterday and brought me home a scoop of ice cream! I just had to remind him that I loved him. The card is based on the bonus sketch at 2Sketches4You. This cute little card features the Clear Card Blank. The rubon, sentiment and owl are all on the front of the card. The stripped paper is adhered to the inside front and the green adhered to the back.

September Sketch

I'm trying my hand at sketching and have discovered that it's not as easy as it looks. It may have something to with the fact that I am very much a beginner when it comes to Photoshop. Here is my debut sketch along with a sample. It think it turned out really well. I hope you give it a try!

If you like my sketch, and give it a try, please comment with a link to your creation. Thanks!

Cardstock: 80# Courgar White, Pink & Tan; Ink: Versafine (Black), Bic Mark it (Color Collection), Stampin Up! (Creamy Caramel); Stamps: Stamping Bella (JavaBella), Papertrey (Mixed Messages); Tools: Spellbinders (Circle Nestabilities), Fiskars Border Punch(Threading Water), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Houndstooth); Other: Ribbon, Flower, Brad, 3D Foam Tape.

September SheetLoad

The September issue of SheetLoad is ready to download. It has some special features, so go check it out!!

SheetLoad Sneak Peak

In just a few short days the newest issue of SheetLoad of Cards will be ready for download. I have to say that I l-o-v-e-d the stamps from this months sponsor! They are awsome!!!

"HOPE"fully you can figure out who our sponsor is for September! :)

Papertrey Blog Hop

OMG! I am jumping for joy in my seat..... I was selected as one of the winners of last nights blog hop for Papertrey Ink! There were so many great projects I just so honored to have been selected. YEAH!!!!

Blog Hop & 2Sketches4U

Ok so I'm killing two birds with one stone. I have completed the project below for the Papertrey blog hop - creating a project using a CD case. I took the cover off the case and then put it back on in the reverse. This created a standing frame. I used today's sketch at 2Sketches4U for the layout.

I really love how the frame turned out!

Cardstock: 80# White Cougar; Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Garden of Life); Ink: Papertrey Ink (Lemon Tart, Sunrise Yellow), Versafine (Black); Other: American Crafts (Ric Rack), 3-D Foam Tape.

SheetLoad Shout Out!

Have you been to SheetLoad this month? Both the August Monthly & Mini are out. If you like the card below go check it out so you too can make a SheetLoad of Cards!

First day of school & a little something I whipped up

So crafting time has been very limited lately because we were preparing for our first day of school. Hooray!!! Oh to remember the new clothes and new pair of shoes for the first day of school. My mom always took a picture of us on the first day and I have continue that tradition. I have taken the picture in front of the front door and it's amazing to see the change from year to year.

Douglas is a 6th grader; boy he's really grown up and it seems like yesterday it was his first day of kindergarten! Reanne a Kindergartner, I can't believe it. Today was the first full day of school and it was like she's been going to school for months. What a milestone for her (and me).

Here's a little something I whipped up for a co-workers birthday. It's a really simple card but I love the way it turned out! I used my Nestabilities Petite Circle and Garden of Life stamps by Papertrey. The center of the flower was done by using a sponge dauber and pouncing it several times until I got the desired saturation.

SheetLoad of Cards - Free Monthly eZine: Show Us Your SheetLoad and Win - August

Pictured above is the Grand Prize.

SheetLoad of Cards - Free Monthly eZine: Show Us Your SheetLoad and Win - August There's some great loot up for grabs at Sheetload. Just use the August sketch for your chance to win!!! Alicia is offering up the covetted Threading Water punch by Fiskars!

August Sheetload

Just a quick reminder to go to SheetLoad tomorrow to get the August issue. The sneak peaks look fabulous!!!

Graduation Card

So as I prepare for 4 days in fabulous Tampa, FL to attend my brother's graduation party I took the opportunity to play with my new Nestabilities & Quickutz font. I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!! I simply embossed the card with the largest square die in a dark silver cardstock and cut the letters out of a lighter silver. I then used foam tape to adhere to the card front. The finished size is 5.5"x5.5". Now I'm off to pack my clothes!

2 Sketches 4 You

Here's my take on this weeks sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You. At first I wasn't so sure about this sketch, but I think this turned out really cute! The cherries, Quickutz, are raised with pop dots and I used a glaze pen for the center of the white flowers. Did you also get the sentiment? "Cheri"sh ;)

CTMH White Daisy - Chalkboard Technique

So have I mentioned how much I LOVE the CTMH White Daisy ink pad? So here's a card I made this weekend using the "Chalkboard" technique.

The "Chalkboard" technique: ink your stamp in CTMH White Daisy and stamp your image. While the ink is still wet dab your chalk over the image. On other blogs I saw it suggested swipping a Swiffer cloth once complete to wipe away any extra chalk on your card stock or spray with a krylon type sealer. This turned out really well!

Also sharing a cute make & take from Lil' Scrappers. It's a mini album made out of coasters. Where you see the popsicles in the inside unties to reveal places for journaling & pictures.