Friday, September 25

Friends with Flair Friday



I'm back again with more Unity. It's Friday, that means it's time for Friends with Flair! If you've never participated in Unity activities, I highly recommend it. Not only is it a BLAST, but the folks at Unity are so fun, helpful, kind and generous. Make sure to stop by Angela's blog to get a full list of FFF participants; one of the fifty gals is offering a chance to win some Unity, but you have to find the blinkie!


Today I'm sharing with you an invitation for my hubby for a date night. It was for the Unity Bachelor challenge. The challenge was to make an invitation for the man we love using red, green and black. I instantly thought "Christmas" when I saw red and green, but I definitely didn't want to make a Christmas invitation; I wanted something more immediate.  ;D

I used Bo Bunny papers and stickers, then handwrote my little when, who & what on the bottom. Once we have a little more free time, I'll give it to him.

supplies ~ cardstock: stash, stickers & dsp: Bo Bunny It's My Party, sentiment stamps: Unity Sentiments O' Simple

Have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend!


Monday, September 21

My blogversary is coming, and with CANDY!

***CANDY NOW CLOSED. The winner is... ***


Michelle said...
I'm a follower!

Congratulations, Michelle!  Email me your contact info and I'll get your goodies sent off to you!



I cannot believe that nearly a WHOLE YEAR and 187 posts have passed since I started this blog! It all started with a few posts to get in on a sample I wanted to request, but it snowballed from there! I never would have thought I'd be designing for anyone or posting cards up to two or three times a week. But there's so much inspiration out there, and it made me want to do more; so this blog has grown and blossomed into quite a project all its own!

To celebrate, I'm giving away some stuff from my stash! Here's what I'm giving away:
I haven't had time to take a picture, but will try to put one up by Saturday.

How can you win my blogversary candy? It's easy!
  1. Leave a comment below.
  2. If you are a follower, leave a second comment for another chance.
  3. If you're a challenge addict like me, play in the challenges for Whimsy Stamps. You don't have to use a Whimsy Stamp to play. Leave a comment for each entry with a direct link to the card you entered (I reserve the right to delete entries that have only a link to a blog).

This candy closes on October 4 (my blogversary) at 11:59 pm AKDT and is open to anyone, including international readers. I'll use Random.org to choose the winner and post it on October 5. Good luck!


Whimsy Challenge: Buttons!

Hello, and happy Monday! And you know what that means, right? NO?!?! Well, it's another Whimsy Stamps challenge! Last week's theme was fall, but it was my week off; I thought this week I'd combine them.  =D


I usually make standard A2 cards, but I decided to do a 6x6 card this time. I used the sketch over at CPS for my card, decided to do some more watercoloring and made my own flowers. I just got a new set of nesties - the small octagons - and couldn't wait to put them to work. I not only cut the image and its mat, but decided to make some flowers, too. I used the same papers to continue the color scheme I had going, and popped a button in the center of each flower. To give the flowers a little more dimension, I scored from corner to corner and folded, then used adhesive in just the center of the flower back so they could pull up away from the card front a bit.

supplies ~ cardstock: DCWV, dsp: DCWV Indian Summer, buttons: Lansing Blumenthal, image: Whimsy Moose

Have a terrific day, and we can't wait to see your take on this week's challenge!

Thursday, September 17

Friends With Flair Friday



Welcome back to another Friday with Unity! Angela finally revealed the new Thursday format that replaces Hip Hop, and WOW! I cannot wait for all the fun to begin! Go check it out!


So today, I'm sharing with you a card I just love. I made it a while back for a Unity Addicts challenge to choose our least favorite color and make it the dominant color in our card. I don't really NOT like any colors, so I went with one that I had not used in a long time. I paper pieced the flower group in the middle with the same paper that appears below the image panel, then used Shimmerz to paint all the other flowers and the leaves.

Thanks for coming by to visit; enjoy the rest of your FFF blog hop!



Today is Doodle Dragon release day!

Welcome back! Did you get your Doodle Dragon freebie yesterday? It's a cute one! With the holidays drawing near faster than I would like, Dustin is offering more winter themed digi stamps. Take a look at what I have for you today!

This is a pretty simple card. Even with the coloring, the card went together in less than an hour (and that's short for me, a slow-poke). I used a QuikKutz embossing folder to mimic the dots on the red paper I used for matting the image. I also decided to emboss the image with my nesties die. I almost never do that! I colored the image with Prismas & OMS.

supplies ~ cardstock & dsp: stash

And remember that Dustin is offering a great deal on the first 5 pages of digi stamps on his site; $25 will get you ALL 145 OF THEM (yep - I counted them)!

Only one more day to the weekend! Have a terrific Thursday, and thanks for coming to visit!


Friday, September 11

Uber cool deal at Doodle Dragon Studios!

I just read on Dustin Pike's blog that he's offering a great deal on some digi stamps he's retiring. That's 145 images for just $25! But hurry - the offer is good only until September 25. Go here to get the skinny, or go straight to his website. Run, don't walk, toward this fantastic deal!


Friends with Flair Friday




Here's my second installment of FFF - a simple card, but one that I like. Unlike most of my cards, this one did not start with a specific sketch in mind. I just knew that I wanted to use this quote stamp and a cranberry color. I've also had several Cuttlebug border embossing folders for a while and thought I would put them to use. As it turns out, I had a folder with a flower similar to what was in the stamp, and I had a couple of flower punchs, too!

Oh, and Corry challenged us on the Unity forum to make a card with NO patterned paper - imagine the nerve of that girl! LOL

I stamped the image in Memento Rhubarb Stalk and matted the image with some matching DCWV textured cardstock, then punched out the flowers with leftovers from the nesties die cuts for the image and mat.

supplies: kraft: Bazzill, cranberry cs: DCWV, flowers: EK Success punches

Thanks for visiting - have a happy Friday & weekend!


Thursday, September 10

It's been too long since the last Doodle Dragon!

I can't believe it's been so long since my last Doodle Dragon post! I think things have finally settled down a bit, though, and so Dustin is releasing some new images this week. Yesterday he posted two new freebies, too!

I'm not much into Halloween, but these are such cute images. There's a scarecrow in this week's release, too, that I'm itching to get colored up! And since this is the ultimate holiday for kids, I entered these cards in the Digital Tuesday Challenge for this week.

Both cards look identical except for the image because I was short on time this week. I also had a large 12x12 sheet of Lime Rickey paper that has the larger pattern than the 6x6 version, which I really wanted to use. And I just hate to cut into a large piece for just one card. I used sketch SC244 from SCS for the layout.





I'm also experimenting with a colorless blending pencil with my Prismas. I went to Michael's to pick up some new colors and found this blender. I thought I ought to try it out, so here's my first two images using it. The colors definitely don't blend the same as when using OMS, and the jury is still out on whether I like it or not. I'll keep trying and see what I get. I found a tutorial over at Created From Paper that I think I'll try.

supplies ~ yellow cs: The Paper Company, dsp: Basic Grey Lime Rickey

Thanks for your visit today - enjoy your Thursday!

Monday, September 7

Whimsy Challenge: Sew, Baby, Sew!

I'm back again with a Whimsy challenge! This week, break out that needle & thread or sewing machine; we want to see sewing on your card! Remember that you can use any image you like in the challenge!

ETA: I didn't know ahead of time, but Denise is offering a really cute digi stamp to one random player this week - go check it out!

Today's card is a baby card. I really want to try some machine sewing on my cards, but my machine is still boxed and hard to get to at the moment. Maybe if I can get my hands on one of those mini machines - hmmmm.... =D

So, I did a little faux stitching around the edges of each layer, hand sewed the buttons to the card, and added a couple of little x's in the corners of two of the layers. The inside has a rub-on sentiment that says, "Welcome, Little One!"

This image actually has three little goslings in it, but I wanted a smaller focal panel, so one of the little goslings got the boot. It's been a while since I watercolored any images, so I decided to break out my watercolor pencils for this one. The sky has a very pale blue wash to soften the stark white.

supplies ~ cardstock: stash, dsp: Hot Off The Press, buttons: stash, image: Whimsy Mother Goose and Babies

So how will YOU add sewing to your card? We can't wait to see what you create! Thanks for the visit today; have a terrific Labor Day!


Friday, September 4

Growing in Unity WINNER!



Whew! What a week it has been! Thank you to everyone who visited this last week and left such lovely comments. It's so encouraging, especially if a card didn't turn out the way I wanted/expected. I'm sure it's the same for everyone else, too.

OK, so enough with the babbling - I'm sure you're dying to know who's getting their mitts on some new Unity goodness! I went to Random.org and picked a day first...




then picked a comment number...




...and the winning comment is...

Monika in VA said...

Too funny! Your cousin is sure to get a kick out of it too!


Congratulations, Monika! Be sure to email Eryn at Unity with the name of the stamp you would like. Unity's website is here. Have a great weekend!


Growing in Unity Day 5...last day to enter my candy!



Welcome! Today also happens to be Unity's new Friends with Flair Friday. Hip Hop is changing into a different format, so Hip Hop Hangover as we know it is gone. So sad, but Angela has cooked up something new to replace it! I've really enjoyed showcasing Unity's fabulous images, and you just might see me do it again in the future!

This card is another bright, happy card. I CASEd the layout from Emily.

supplies ~ Cardstock: Martha Stewart, DSP: Basic Grey Marrakech, stamps: Unity KOTM "Simple Life"

Thanks for coming for a peek at my card. Remember to leave a comment to be entered in my drawing (and there are FOUR other chances if you scroll down to previous posts!) for a FREE UNITY SINGLE of your choice! But hurry - I'm drawing the winner right after I get home from work today, so around 5 pm AKDT will be your very last chance! I'll post the winner either tonight or tomorrow. Good luck!



Thursday, September 3

Growing in Unity Day 4...and comment candy


Welcome to another day of Unity goodness! Remember to check out my previous three Unity posts for more chances to win some Unity!


If you look at the cards I've posted on this 'lil 'ole blog, you'll notice that I LOVE bright colors. Maybe it has something to do with my fascination with bold visuals, or perhaps it's that I'm a "winter" - dark eyes & hair with fair skin - and bold colors make me look my best. Whatever it is, it shows up in my cards.

Today's card is rather simple, but strikingly bold. I love the contrast between the white and bright green, and the primary colors add zing. I used the same stamp for the green-on-green stamping, too. And this image is so...ME. I love to live life with zest and "live deep and suck out all the marrow of life," as Thoreau would say. I hope that you take a moment or two to do the same if you don't already!

supplies ~ cardstock: stash, image: Unity March KOM {simple life}, flower stamp: Scrappy Cat Sunny Days, brads: Making Memories

Remember to comment on today's post to be entered for a FREE UNITY STAMP of your choice! But hurry - I'll be drawing for a winner tomorrow after 5 pm AKDT. Have a fantastic day!

Wednesday, September 2

Growing in Unity Day 3...your third chance at blog candy!


ETA: I had this post scheduled, but for some reason it didn't show up on time, and I didn't catch it until now. My apologies!

Also, make sure to check out my first two Unity posts for two more chances to win a Unity single of your choice!


Welcome to my third day of showcasing Unity stamps! Can you tell that I really love them? And the customer service is second to none!

Today's card is one of my favorites. I really love this butterfly image. To add a little sparkle, I used Shimmerz and some gems. I was surprised how nice the colored pencils came out on the kraft - I gotta try that again sometime!

supplies ~ kraft: Bazzill, black: Fiskars, dsp: DCWV Old World, ribbon: Michael's, gems: Darice, Shimmerz: Angel Wings, stamps: Unity Floral Fantastical, Little Buggers & April KOM {fresh beginnings}

Remember to comment on today's post to be entered for a FREE UNITY STAMP of your choice! Thanks for coming by for a visit - I would love to have you come again!


Tuesday, September 1

Growing in Unity Day 2...another chance for blog candy!


Welcome back to my second day of Unity all week long! Today I have a card for a young lady at my church who is returning to Bible college later this week. Her dream is to become a missionary, and this quote seemed to fit so well.

This card started with a sketch from CardPatterns (love that blog!), and a theme of "Back to School" the from Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog. After choosing my papers from the DCWV Sweet Stack, I stamped my image in Memento Bamboo Leaves. The flower in the corner was part of the paper design, but I fussy cut it out and layered it on some more Sweet stack paper and DCWV textured cardstock.

As a finishing touch inside the card, I inked up only the flourish on this image and stamped it in opposite corners, then used the same flourish on one corner of the envelope. I really like that; it just seems to tie it all together nicely.

supplies ~ card base: stash, green cardstock: DCWV, dsp: DCWV Sweet Stack

Thanks for coming to visit today. Remember to leave a comment on today's post to be entered for a FREE UNITY STAMP of your choice! I'll choose a winner on Friday after 5 pm AKDT.

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