Friday, February 10, 2012

WMSC #83; Play Date Cafe Challenge #118


I know I am SO VERY late getting my WMS challenge posted but I didn't want to miss another one! The sketch uses a round card and I love that shape! This week's fabby design was done by Jennifer Culbertson.
And I love the colors in this Play Date Cafe Challenge so decided to combine the two! I haven't done a PDCC is a while and couldn't pass up these cheerful colors.
So here's my card!! I passed on the Valentine theme and went to Spring!!!
Since being introduced to Memory Box dies during the January 12 Kits of Christmas party, I've had the temptation to buy them all! Well, maybe that's a bit of an over-exaggeration but I have already placed two orders!! I instantly fell in love with this little bird so I foresee using it a lot!!

The WM stamps are two of my favorites--the plaid from Off Beat Backgrounds and Nordic Winter. Both are stamped with my new Amuse Ink (LOVE it!).

I'm keeping this short so I can get posted on time. As always, I love when you stop by for a visit!

Wishing you a happy weekend!!
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds, Nordic Winter (WMS); Everyday Button Bits, Tiny Treats-Valentine (PTI)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Harvest Gold, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening (all PTI)
Dies: Heart Trio (PTI), Perched Reed Bird (Memory Box), Circles and Scalloped Circles (Spellbinders)
Inks: Amuse, Memento
Pearls (Queen and Co.)

Monday, February 6, 2012

Wishing You the Happiest of Birthdays

This is my second PTI challenge card. Love this design by Dawn McVey! I always think of happy colors when I think of her---and wonderful layering! See her card using the design here! I used a Half and Half die and one stamp from the stamp set. For the main image I used three of the dies from Limitless Layers 1 3/4". The background is Vine Label, an embossing folder from Quikutz, accented with pearls. And the cardstock is Raspberry Fizz and Melon Berry, along with Stamper's Select White. All are PTI products.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you are enjoying the challenges. I wish I had the energy to stay up and make more cards but I am exhausted so must head off to bed!

Smiles,
Sharron

PTI Anniversary Day 2

Unfortunately I missed yesterday's challenge but at least got to read all the fabulous news over on Nichole Heady's blog! Anniversaries are HUGE celebrations at PTI so if you haven't yet checked out the activities, be sure to visit Nichole's blog. Today there is a fabulous freebie download with a collection of designs done by the 2012 PTI Designers. The challenge is to make a project that incorporates one of the images. I would love to do them all but will have to save most of them to play with later!

My first is a CAS card using the design by Lisa Johnson. Aren't these little chicks adorable!!! Lisa has the cutest card using them here. My border at the bottom was made with a stamp from Background Basics-Retro that I colored with Copics.
I will be back shortly with another entry. Here is the direct link to the site where you can check out everyone else's projects!

Later,
Sharron

Monday, January 30, 2012

The 12 Kits of Christmas: January


Hi everyone!

So glad you dropped by today--there are some exciting activities! Find a comfy place to sit and grab a beverage (coffee for me!)--this is a long post--but full of lots of goodies--including links to 11 other blogs and information about some blog candy!!!

OMG, I have been so anxious for this day to arrive! I was thrilled when Renee asked if I would be interested in joining this new group. The name is a play on 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' and the idea was a concept from Renee and Suzanne to help us support each other and get our holiday cards done early. Each month one of us will prepare 12 kits of supplies--one for ourselves and 11 to send out to the other participants. We can select the stamps/dies/etc. from any company--use any styles, any colors--just whatever suits our fancy. And when the kit arrives at our house, it is like a birthday, Christmas or fun celebration every month! Our February kits have already started arriving and wow, it is SO ADORABLE!

Renee got us off to a fantastic start with the most wonderful die cuts and a bundle of the most awesome supplies! It was definitely like Christmas when it came in the mail!! Just looking through all these goodies was a treat! And she loves this window so much that she sent everyone a bunch of extras--so you may be seeing Spring window cards soon too!! Of course, now we'll all want our own window die! It's OOS most places but sure to be on many wishlists!! I ordered the smaller version (plus a few more Memory Box dies!) and my order just arrived today!!!! 
PHOTO BY KARA
I don't have a very large crafting area so I put everything from Renee's kit out on the dining room table. It was such fun to play with layouts! With everything right there, it is so easy to get started creating! Did I mention how much I LOVE this idea!!! We only have to make one card or project but I ended up with three---could have done more but thought I might be overdoing it!

Anyway, on to my first card............
One theory of the origin of the phrase "I'll be there with bells on" is from when horses, often adorned with bells, were a major form of transportation? When I saw these bells and black velvet ribbon, I knew I wanted to use the sleigh and make a bell strap for my card! But just couldn't bring myself to use all the bells---I only used three!! Everything on this card, except the MS coarse glitter came from the kit!
My second card is perhaps my favorite. 'Cuz I LOVE the plaid! I did add a piece of light denim cardstock for the sky and used two different circle punches to punch holes so it would look like snow! See Renee's card here--she is using a Memory Box Snow Die. Isn't it cool--this is my DIY version! The wreath was cut using a MS fern punch.
For my last card I added Santa and his sleigh from WMS Twas the Night Before Christmas. And I did a little something different with the tree. I cut a piece of white cardstock to place behind the tree so all the cutouts (see Kara's photo above) would appear white. Then I colored part of them red with a Copic marker. Did you notice how the design in the tree matches the design in the background paper? The whole tree was then covered with fine glitter.
Be sure to visit all the other blogs! We all schedule our posts to go live at the same time so, as I am writing this, I have not seen anyone else's. That's part of the fun!! Can't wait to go visiting myself!! Also Renee is offering some blog candy--a collection of die cuts of your very own so you too can play!! Check her blog for details. You just need to leave a little lovin' as you hop along!

Sharron--You are HERE! 

Thanks so much for visiting! Have fun!!

SMILES,
Sharron

Here is a list of some of the supplies included in the Kit that I used:
Stamps: Twas the Night Before Christmas, Compliments of the Season (both WMS)
Dies: Grand Madison Window (Poppystamps); O Tannenbaum Christmas Tree (Cheery Lynn); In the Meadow (PTI)
Velvet Ribbon (Simplicity)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #81

This week I enjoyed playing with stamps from L'il Buddies and made several thank you cards. This one uses Anya's sketch for this week's challenge! I was able to order this Heart Border Die from PTI recently and so had to use that too. I used this same chick on three cards and on the first one I realized the plaid wouldn't match if the shell was closed. Could this mean I have a bit of OCD!! This one works better!!!

Edited 1-27: I'm also playing along on Rhonda's Thankful Thursday challenge! She has started this as a great way to challenge herself to do at least one thank you card a week for a year! What a fabulous idea!!! 

Thanks for stopping by,
Sharron

Supplies
Stamps: L'il Buddies, Frame-It, Say It Loud (all WMS)
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Autumn Rose, Melon Berry, Hawaiian Shores (all PTI)
Patterned Paper: Vintage Blue (W R Memories)
Additional: Corner Punch, Twine from The Twinery, Memento and Amuse Inks, Copic Marker, Embroidery Thread

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Runway Inspired Challenge #4


Love rainbows--so LOVE this week's challenge!! Actually this is my second attempt to make something for this week's Runway Inspired Challenge! Yesterday i started by emphasizing the pink--so out of my comfort zone that I didn't like any of the results and decided to go back to more traditional rainbow colors! I decided to use the colors to show the progression of seasons and circle of life. So I started with blue--the beginning of a new year--clean and fresh like the clear blue skies. In case you notice, my trees are 1/16 off on the left side--I wanted Life to be underneath the green tree!! The yellow, orange and red go through summer to fall and I used purple for the end of the year coldness--as the days gradually go shorter!

The 'tree' and border are from Waltzingmouse Frame-It and the sentiment is from PTI's Life. I used the debossed side of a Sizzix's embossing folder called Circles-Retro. I liked that side better as it gives a more subdued impression. Cardstock is all from PTI. Inks are Memento and Amuse.

There are lots of wonderful entries for this week's challenge. So be sure to visit the link above--plus there is still time to enter too!!

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog! Love your comments so please leave a note if you have time!

SMILES,
Sharron

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Waltzingmouse Blog Party

WELCOME to the Waltzingmouse Blog Party! We're all featuring SOMETHING SWEET!! For my entry I chose to create some Lollipop Trees! 
Since I made my card this past weekend, I also used this week's WMSC featured sketch. The trees are from Tiny Trees topped with peppermint candies from Candy Jar Christmas-Fillers. A dusty of Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter adds the sparkle! The sentiment is from Say It Loud and I used a shadow technique using two inks-Amuse Latte and Memento Rich Cocoa. The Polar Expressions-Frosted Forest patterned paper is from Imaginisce--it seemed a perfect choice for a background. I used both sides to create the stripe pattern. The trees and glittery snow in the paper help carry out the theme.

Now I'm off to see all the other entries! Please come along and enjoy the party!!

Have a SWEET day,
Sharron