Super Cupcake Marci!

Hey everyone! Sorry I'm posting this so late, but it's been "one of those days." However, all stress goes away and is replaced with a smile when I see this cutie... Super Cupcake Marci! She's one of the newest releases over at La-La Land Crafts. I suppose she could easily become a Halloween card, but I think she makes a great girl's birthday card... or a "just because" card. Who doesn't want to get such sweetness in the mail any time?

I was fishing around for a good sketch on Stampin' When I Can, and found this one at Stamps & Fun. The DP and chipboard piece are from the Alphabet Soup collection by My Mind's Eye. The cupcake trim punch is by EK Success. I know my color choices might seem a bit strange, but what girl doesn't like to mix and match? LOL

Thanks so much for stopping by! For more inspiration featuring all your favorite Marci and Luka and animal friends images, jump on over to the La-La Land Crafts blog. It's a daily dose of sweet eye candy!!

All About Betty Blog Hop!

The gals from The Burtonesque Dolls, Simply Betty Stamps and Simply Betty Challenges design teams figured it was a good time to put together a blog hop to honor our very own BETTY, also known as Betty Boo!!

This hop is ALLLLLLLLLLLLL about Betty! Since October is Betty's favorite month and there are sooooo many exciting things happening at Simply Betty Stamps in October, we thought it would be fun to have the hop now... sort of like a warm-up up for Halloween!

And since Halloween is Betty's favorite time of year, you will be seeing mostly Halloween cards on the hop. We have, of course, used only Simply Betty Stamps images! 

Betty's nickname, given to her by Lori Boyd, is "Betty Boo," so I pulled out the original Betty from My Kids Emo World stamps for my card. The tag hidden under the ribbon says "Boo!"

The sketch is Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #93.

Without further ado, let's check out some more inspiring and creative cards from all the ladies.  Please note because this is an appreciation blog hop there are no prizes.  It's just for fun but the ladies wouldn't mind receiving some luv from you anyway!!

So LET'S GET HOPPING!!  Your first stop is Eulanda! Just in case there's a break in the hop, all of the participants are listed here:

Cheri

Gloria

Nicole

Debbie

Patricia

Linda

Nancy

Catherine

Meredith

Angela

Lisa - that's me!

Kim

Barb

Alicia

Jennifer

Lady B

Suzi
Tracey

You know I love you Betty Boo!! I'm so glad I'm lucky enough to live near enough to you to spend time with you in person. Speaking of which, Alicia and I will see you Friday!!!

Your next stop on the hop is Kim's blog.  Enjoy!

Lantern Rin Halloween

Welcome to Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge #12! We hope you will join us for a fun sketch challenge this week (sketch designed by Mary Giles).

I turned the sketch on its side to accommodate sweet Lantern Rin. Since it's so close to Halloween, I used that as my theme... this is Rin dressed up in costume! lol

Sadly, this is Mary's final month as a SCRS design team member, so the team is doing a special farewell blog hop in Mary's honor. We're sorry to see her go and will miss her amazing creations using SCRS images, but hopefully she won't be a stranger! Best wishes Mary!!!

The fun begins at the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps blog, so be sure to start there.

Please visit all of the designers and leave some cyber hugs for Mary as she rounds out our hop!

And don't forget, Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps is sponsoring 365 Cards all this week! Play along for chances to win!!!

Your next stop on the hop is Risa's blog!!! Enjoy!

Sweet Thing

Happy Monday!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had the pleasure of getting together with Jami Sibley, Rachel Sztonyk and Jen Visser on the 18th at Jami's house to spend an afternoon crafting and chatting. We had such a great time! Jami came up with the idea that we should pick an image and each make a card and post it at the same time to commemorate our day together. This is the image we picked: Sweet Thing by Penny Black. Isn't she adorable? I paired her with paper from the Just Add Butter collection by My Little Shoebox.

As one who loves a good sketch to get me going, I checked in at Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. The challenge this week is to pick any past sketch... and it's so easy since Fans of SSSC on Facebook can access the entire library on line! I picked Sketch 33. 

Please be sure to hop around and see what Jami, Rachel and Jen created with this little cutie!

Hi girls! I can't wait until we get together again!!!

Have a great day, my friends! It's supposed to be around 110 F (I believe that's 40 C) here in So Cal today, so I'm staying in. I sure hope this heat wave breaks soon because it's ruining my autumn season!

Pumpkin Marci

Awwwwww. Isn't she cute???? I am head over heels in LOVE with little Marci by La-La Land Crafts. She couldn't possibly be cuter than in her little pumpkin costume. My two older boys wore a pumpkin costume when they were babies. A pretty popular costume, I know. We had one that was big and puffy, so when they sat down they looked like a big fat pumpkin with green legs (tights) and a stem on their heads, eating candy. Good times. Good memories.

Happy Saturday everyone! Time for another FABBY sketch at Sketch Saturday!!! I turned the sketch on its side for my card. The DP is the coolest paper I found yesterday at my LSS... Scribbles by Lindsay Ostrom for Pinecone Press. I'm sorry so much of the design is covered up by the card elements. I'll have to use it again when I can show more of it, probably in a scrapbook page. The colors and funky designs are awesome!

And there are those K&Company chipboard pieces again. (*grin*)

I hope you'll come on over and play with us this week at Sketch Saturday. There's always fun to be had and a prize to be won. For more inspiration, be sure to nip over to the blog and see what the rest of the designers created with this sketch. You will be dazzled!

Note, this is my second post for today. I hope you'll scroll down to see my chihuahua card for Meljen's Designs. Thanks!

Aye Chihuahua!

Check out this little guy! Isn't he cute?! My sweet friend Alicia has a chihuahua named Mannix who was one of the ring bearers in her wedding. He was so cute walking down the aisle with Alicia's little brother! So when I saw this image at Meljen's Designs, called Chili Chihuahua, I had to grab it and color it up for Alicia.

 The challenge this week over at Meljen's Designs Challenge & Inspiration blog is AUTUMN COLORS. I think the DP and coordinating chipboard from the Max & Whiskers collection by Basic Grey fits the bill, don't you? The sketch is this week's sketch challenge at Friday Sketchers.

I've had such a great time guest designing for Meljen's Designs this month. Thank you Melissa and Nicole for inviting me! It's been a joy and a privilege!!! Meljen's ROCKS!!!!

Have a great day, my friends!

Trick or Treat

Happy Friday! Time for another FABULOUS Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!!!

I've been wanting to ink up this adorable image by Sweet November (the fabulous Amy Young). It reminds me so much of my boys, all of whom wore a dragon costume very similar to this when they were little... thanks to my friend Cindy Silva who made it for my eldest boy. I still have it... saving it for the grandkids now. Cindy did such a professional job that it's stood up to time and use.

The DP, cardstock and buttons are from the Taylored Expressions Fright Night Project Pantry Kit. The chipboard pieces are by K&Company (thanks sweet Rachel!).

Enabler Alert*Enable Alert*Enabler Alert: Taylor has just added a bunch of COOL new items to the store... you can find them in Fresh Out of the Oven. And don't forget to sign up for the October Blast from the Past Blog Hop. It's always a blast!

I can't wait to see what you do with this sketch. Will you be one of Taylor's picks for Top Crop? I hope so! For more inspiration, visit my friends on the Sketch Crew... these ladies will knock your socks off!

Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Jami Sibley: More is More
Lori Craig: Make a Difference
Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode 

Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Rachel  Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery
Rosie Hughes: Love My Craft Room
Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme 

and of course Taylor herself: Taylored Expressions

Have a wonderful day!

Sweet Witch Marci

Happy Thursday! And, more importantly, Happy First Day of Autumn!!! Yes, the sound that you hear is me rejoicing because my favorite season of the year is finally here. Too bad in California it's in name only... we're expecting triple digits heat again this weekend. Ugh. It really won't start feeling like autumn until late October, but just knowing that it's nearly here lifts my spirits considerably.

Speaking of late October, that's whens, of course, Halloween comes. Did you happen to see the FIVE new Marci and Luka images (THREE Halloween), plus a background set and character set (Tuffy the dog) that were released by La-La Land Crafts yesterday? Yowsers!!! If you missed it, you can still catch the Blog Hop to see some wonderful eye candy and inspiration!

My card features Witch Marci, which might just be the cutest witch I've ever seen. I'm telling you the truth... these Marci and Luka images are so much fun to color. I feel like a kid with a brand new coloring book and box of crayons every time I sit down to one... only now I'm stamping the images and using Copics! lol

Seriously, they are adorable and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them all!!!

The DP is from the Taylored Expressions Fright Night Project Pantry Kit, the fence was cut from a Martha Stewart Crafts punch, and the bat is by Recollections (Michael's brand). Sweet Witch Marci takes center stage, as she should!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you have a La-La Lovely Day!

La-La Land Crafts New Release Blog Hop!

Ahoy Mateys!!! The release we've all been waiting for... La-La Land Crafts Halloween and Super Hero Marci and Luka rubber stamps!!! To celebrate, we're hosting a blog hop. The fun begins at Irina's blog. You'll definitely want to start there and hop along to see all the ADORABLE new images PLUS leave comments for a chance to win a prize!!!

My card features Pirate Luka. You might have seen him before as a digi, but now this cutie is available in rubber!!! 

Now on you go to Shantaie's blog!

Enjoy!!!

Taylored Expressions Blast From The Past Blog Hop!

Woo hoo!!! It's time once again for the monthly Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop, when we show our "older" Taylored Expressions stamp sets some love!!!

Once again, Sankari Wegman has come up with a great sketch for us to use for the Hop. When I saw it, I immediately reached for my September Taylored Expression Key Ingredients kit... I love love love the Restoration collection by Crate Paper... it's so beautiful... all the colors and patterns sing to my heart. And Taylor has, of course, made it super easy to whip up a card by providing coordinating cardstock and embellies, including these very cool doily transparencies.

My card features images from For the Love of Cupcakes. I just love this stamp set... who doesn't love a SWEET cupcake card? Who doesn't love cupcakes? (*grin*)



I can't wait to see everyone's creations myself. See you on the Hop! Enjoy!

Harvest of Blessings

Happy Tuesday! We have another fun challenge for you starting today at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps!

Did I mention that you have a chance to win a Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamp if you play? Yeah baby!!!

My card features one of our new releases this month, Farming Oliver. He is so cute and so much fun to color! And, of course, as a fall/autumn girl, it's always a pleasure for me to work with a harvest theme. (*grin*)

I used sweet Carly Breach's Sketch 12 for my card. My image is a tad large for the sketch, but I squeezed it all in best I could. The DP and greeting die cut are from the Pyrus collection by Basic Grey, which I love! I also cut out the leaves from the Pyrus paper with one of my Sizzlets dies.

Come along and play with us this week! We love seeing what you create with your Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps images!

Before I go, I want to let you know about a few exciting things going on this week and next at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps.

This Thursday (23rd) Sparkle will be hosting a challenge for Operation Write Home, a fabulous cause. The challenge there is also to create any fall card. Sparkle will be giving away a $20 store credit as a prize, and everyone who participates will receive a 10% discount coupon code. The challenge ends on the 30th. Be sure to play along not only for a store discount and a chance to win a prize, but for a way to bless our troops! (Please check the card requirements on the OWH blog, first, as there are some guidelines that must be followed.)
 
Sparkle is sponsoring Color Me Copic on Tuesday the 28th. Their challenge is coloring animals. Sparkle is donating a $15 store credit as a prize, plus everyone who participates will receive a 10% discount coupon code.

Sparkle is also sponsoring 365 Cards all next week (Monday through Saturday), with a different challenge every day, so there are lots of fun ways you can play with us!

See you there! Have a blessed day!

it's a cupcake thing

Yes, my friends, sometimes it IS a cupcake thing!

Happy Monday! Time for another fantastic challenge at The Pink Elephant!

THE COLOR AQUA, DESIGNER PAPER AND

EMBELLISHMENT OF YOUR CHOICE

Our sponsor this week is Heather Ellis of Digi Stamp Characters. I love love love Heather's images! She was kind enough to allow us to play with some and I was lucky enough to get this little cupcake girl.

Loving a good sketch as I do, I jumped over to see what Karen has for us this week at Sweet Sketch Sunday, and she did not disappoint! The DP is from the Quite Contrary Jack & Jill collection by My Mind's Eye. You can get a sampler pack from Die Cuts R Us. This is definitely one of my new favorite designer paper lines!

One of my favorite embellishments is flowers, especially those hand made for me by friends. This beauty was crocheted by my sweet friend Kim Yu. The greeting is by Stamping Bella.

Why not come play with us this week at The Pink Elephant? Our card challenges are every other week now, with alternating weeks featuring a scrapbook challenge. Be sure to nip over to The Pink Elephant blog to see what the rest of Ella's Girls have created for this challenge using Heather's images.

Before I go, I have to tell you that I had the BEST time on Saturday. I spent the afternoon and evening with Jami Sibley, Rachel Sztonyck and Jen Visser at Jami's house for some crafty fun and then a yummy dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. We highly recommend the Butter Pound Cake with ice cream! LOL It's so fun to meet people in person that you've met in blogland, and it's a bonus when you get along famously and do a lot of laughing and non-stop talking. Thanks, Girls, for a wonderful time! I needed that!

You Float My Boat!

Yay, it's Saturday! Usually, I'd be doing chores and errands, but today I'm going to drive into LA and meet up with Jami Sibley and Rachel Sztonyk for some crafting time! Woo hoo!!!

Today we have a new sketch at Sketch Saturday! Jo has really pulled out all the stops with this one... lots of elements to play with!

I decided to go monochromatic this week with my card, and chose this adorable image called Sail Away by Meljen's Designs. Who doesn't love a happy boat?

The DP is from the Walk In the Park collection by Echo Park. I made up the sentiment on my computer, and used my Papertrey Ink cloud dies to make the felt cloud.

I hope you'll join us for Sketch Saturday this week! And while you're at it, why not pop over to the Meljen's Designs Challenges and Inspiration Blog and incorporate this week's Recipe Challenge for a chance to win three free digis! Have you seen the new flower digis just released this week? Wowser!!!

Thanks for stopping by my friends! Have a great day!

Make A Wish!

Happy Friday!!! It's time for a brand new Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!

This is a fun sketch, don't you think? One of the girls said it reminds her of a movie theater. Hilarious! Maybe Taylor had movies on her mind when she designed it. (*grin*)

I couldn't wait to pull out my new Make A Wish stamp set. This stamp set is active in the TE Giving Tree program from September through November 2010; Taylored Expressions donates $7.00 for each Make a Wish stamp set sold to a national children's charity. Not only does this stamp set support an awesome cause, but it's lots of fun to play with, too!

I pulled out my Summertime Project Pantry kit and used the sticker alphabet to replace the word "make" in the greeting after having stamped only "a wish" inside one of the labels from the Take Note stamp set. I cut out the label and the balloons with my Taylored Dies. They are definitely one of my new favorite "toys"!

Be sure to visit the rest of the Sketch Crew to see the eye candy they've created with this week's sketch:

Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Jami Sibley: More is More
Lori Craig: Make a Difference
Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode 

Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Rachel  Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery
Rosie Hughes: Love My Craft Room
Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme 

and of course Taylor herself: Taylored Expressions

We can't wait to see what you come up with using this sketch! 

Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz!

Welcome to the September Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz! The fun starts in The Playroom:Blog Waltzes:September Blog Waltz Links thread in the Waltzingmouse Stamps Forum. If you haven't already registered, it's just a couple of quick questions and a few clicks away!

We also have a game we're playing for a chance to win a stamp set of choice, which is open to everyone! You'll find the chat and deets in The Playroom:BlogWaltzes:September Blog Waltz Chat and Game thread. The competition is open until Sunday night at 11:59 pm Eastern, so you can waltz at your leisure over the weekend.

Our theme this month is Halloween. Claire has designed the most wonderful Halloween stamp sets, Halloween Party, Midnight Feast and Wanda's Pantry. Have you seen them? Waltz along with us today and check out the Waltzingmouse Stamps Gallery for some spookalicious samples!

My card features Winnie the Witch from Halloween Party, set within one of the stamps in Very Vintage Labels No. 10.  The DP and die cut are from The Spider's Web collection by My Minds Eye. I sponged in and around the image with Tim Holtz Wild Honey distress ink to give it a more vintage look.

The weather has been pretty warm here in California. I can't wait until it gets a bit cooler and the days a bit shorter so that I know that fall is really here. For us, that usually doesn't happen until around Halloween. I can't wait!

Thanks so much for waltzing by today! Enjoy the rest of the waltz!
.

Birthday Marci

I love Thursdays because that's the day that I get to showcase the adorable Marci and Luka images for La-La Land Crafts on the LLLC blog! Today we're showing off Birthday Marci. Isn't she sweet? I just love love love her!

My mojo was feeling a little low, so I searched around for a great sketch to get me started, and Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge was perfect! I paired Marci with one of my favorite paper collections, Togetherness by Cosmo Cricket, along with some of the coordinating chipboard pieces. Marci has red hair in honor of my dear friend (and La-La Land Crafts design teammate) Kris Breach!

Have you purchased your new Marci stamps yet? Don't forget, if you buy all FIVE of the new releases, you get Marci's Panda stamp for free!!!

Also, you'll want to nip over to the La-La Land Crafts blog to leave a comment for a chance to win the Marci/Luka Halloween stamps that will be released next Wednesday!

By the way, if you live in the Silicon Valley area, there's a La-La Land Crafts trunk show featuring Marci and Luka this Saturday at Fremont's Scrapbook U. Call 510.490.5065 for tickets and more information!

Have a great day!

I {heart} you

Oh happy days!!! I am thrilled to have been asked by Taylor to be part of the inaugural Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Design Team!!! If you've followed my blog for awhile, then you know how much I LOVE my TE Key Ingredients kits! I've often said that they are my "secret weapon" when it comes to creating cards. The value is incredible for all the goodies you receive each month, especially when you add items to your kit at a 10% discount and no additional shipping!

September's Key Ingredients kit features designer paper from the Restoration collection by Crate Paper, which is just to die for! It has a shabby chic feel, but still lots of pattern and color. And, of course, Taylor has included perfectly coordinated cardstock and ribbon, as well as lots of fun brads and the coolest doilies!

We also have a monthly Subscriber Challenge, and this month the challenge is Restoration: making the old new again!  The idea is to turn trash into treasure... repurpose, recyle, reuse! And this doesn't necessarily mean you have to make a 3D item... you can do this for a card or scrapbook page as well! We can't wait to see YOUR trash-to-treasure creations once you receive your kit!

My project features a gift box that was the packaging for a stamp set. I cleaned all the paper wrapping and tape off of the plastic, filled it with crinkly paper and then created a band that slips around the entire box. I couldn't help but make a matching card using a small scrap of Choice Buttercream cardstock that would otherwise have found its way into the trash bin (I've stopped saving small scraps because I was getting overwhelmed!) The images on the card are from the Tweet Hearts stamp set. Love!

Everything you see (except for the plastic box and crinkly paper, of course) is found in the September Key Ingredients Kit!

Be sure to check out the rest of the KI Design Team trash-to-treasure creations!

Melody Rupple: A Paper Melody
Jen Tapler: Jen Tapler Designs
Lynn Put: The Queen's Scene
Jessica Diedrich: Yeah, She Stamps
Rosie Hughes: Love my Craft Room
and, of course, Taylor herself: Taylored Expressions

And whenever you need some inspiration or just want to stroll through some gorgeous eye candy, it's just a click away in the Key Ingredients Gallery!


If you haven't already, you'll want to jump over to the TE Store to subscribe! Note, there is special pricing for US, Canadian and other International customers! All are welcome!


Have a wonderful day my friends!