Fun with Sami and D2D with TSB Sketch + FREE SVG/SCUT

Good morning everyone!
Meet "Sami", the newest addition to The Stamping Boutique family!
She was the Free image offered to everyone who participated in the Fall Digi Day on SNR.
We were issued 3 challenges that night.
The third challenge was a recipe:
Shaped Card, Halloween Image & Use Leaves.
Sami is colored with Prismacolor Pencils, then glittered with gold glitter glue. The leaves and pumpkin shaped card are from the SVG Cuts Fall Pop Ups Collection.
The plaid paper is DCWV, School Days.

 My second card today is for Designed to Delight.
I actually used the sketch from The Stamping Boutique Challenge. The Designed to Delight Challenge is a progressive one, meaning, if you participate this week, you get a FREEBIE image next week to play with! The theme this week is Peace and Comfort. The digi freebie from last weeks' challenge was a Four-pack that included 2 sentiments and 2 images!

I created those doves using Sure Cuts a Lot a long time ago for a Baptism Scrap page I was working on back in April. I cut them at 1" for this card and they worked perfectly, even at this small size! Here is a link to the file. It is also in my "Box.net" account, so you can download the entire zipped folder, which includes a .jpeg image, an SVG, and a .SCUT2 file that has 2 layers.

Harvest Time

I can't seem to get enough of the images at The Stamping Boutique! And every time I think my wishlist is full, Tracey comes up with another one I HAVE to have!
 This cutie is called "Scarecrow".

He's right at home, nestled among the cornstalks and fences that were cut from the "September Scenes" SVG Cuts collection.

The leaves have started falling and the Farmer's Market had pumpkins this weekend! Fall is my favorite time of year, and it appears to be well on its way!

There's a terrific challenge this week at Fantabulous Cricut to create an Harvest Time project. The prize is a $25 Gift Certificate to Oh My Crafts!!

Stamping Boutique Digi Day on SNR: NEW FREE IMAGE!!

Come and join The Stamping Boutique as we celebrate Fall/ Halloween. So much to do and see!

 We have a special this month!

Buy Frankie for ONLY $1 and bring your completed project with you to Digi day and get an exclusive BRAND NEW Stamping Boutique image FREE! Only to Digi day participants!

When?
TODAY!  Saturday September 25th 7-9 pm CST.
 Hope to see you all there!

Don't forget, make a card or project with Frankie, bring it to share on Saturday and get Sami free. What a deal! Two awesome images to play with!

Visit The Stamping Boutique at:
http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/groups/group/show?id=2496437%3AGroup%3A49692&xg_source=msg_mes_group

My Inkie Fingers: Grumpy Gretchen Sneak Peek!!

My Inkie Fingers: Grumpy Gretchen Sneak Peek!!

Check this out!!
A brand new line of digis!

I'm so excited to share Cindy Lynn's excitement over all of the new things coming up on her blog at My Inkie Fingers!

October is going to be a VERY good month!!

Turning 16 can be Scary!

This may look like a Halloween card, but it's actually a 16th Birthday card for my step son!
It's a little scary turning 16 and being old enough to get a learner's permit to drive and a work permit to get a "real" job... almost time for the "real world" to come crashing in!

Not for the timid or tame, for sure!

The background image is called "Autumn Leaves", by Stampin Dragon Designs.
You can get it from Stitchy Stamps!
 
I used Paint.net to color the image in a variety of Fall colors and saved each different colored image to my Desktop. Then used Microsoft Word to insert the different colored images into one document. I rotated and moved them around til I liked how it looked, printed it on regular cardstock, embossed it with a tree bark Fiskars plate and that's it! Super-simple background!

The image is called "Scaredy Cat" and you can get him over at Delighful Inspirations.
BONUS: when you play in a Delighful Inspirations Challenge, you automatically receive a new image via email to play with next week!

This card is also eligible for a few other challenges:
One Stitch at a Time, Happy Birthday 
Sarah Hurley, Challenge 10, Autumn
Gingerloft Challenge, Challenge 2, Happy Haunting
Paper Playtime, Challenge 17, Autumn
Everybody Art Challenge, Challenge 109, Autumn
Anything Goes Challenge Blog, Week 17, Cute
Crafty Creations, Challenge 86, Falling Leaves

It's been a rough week and I appreciate all the kind messages and prayers from those who have sent them!

We are so grateful that no one was hurt in the robbery 
and we appreciate all your thoughts and prayers as we work thru it... the boys are having a tough time dealing with it- especially at bedtime... but having the new ADT alarm system seems to have put their minds somewhat at ease!

So, THANK YOU to all!

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug

**EDITED** to add: I apologize if some of the language in this post is offensive to some!
The emotions are so raw and hard to express! **

Nope! No crafty creations for me tonite!
Today started out as a good day, then turned into a GREAT day while working.
Then I came home!

My back door was hanging open when I pulled into the driveway and my 2 dogs were nowhere in sight!
I have 2 labs, each of them weighs more than 100 pounds!

I cautiously approached the house, walked in the door, saw a baseball bat on the living room floor and still, no dogs to be found.

I noticed pretty quickly that all the cushions from the couch were strewn around the room, the TV was GONE, and I grabbed the phone, ran back out to my truck, called 9-1-1 and waited for the police!

When they arrived, we found the dogs, in my master bathroom!
There was a dining room chair in front of the bathroom door!

All my underwear was all over the room!

My bed was lifted off its springs!

Apparently, the thieving bastards came in thru my son's bedroom window, using a shovel to pry it open.
They must have used the chair like a lion-tamer to herd the dogs into the bathroom!

My day went from A+ top of the world to one of the WORST days EVER!!!

The sons of bitches even took the pouch in my jewelry box where I had saved all the babies' teeth!

How exactly do you claim THAT on an insurance form?

The claim is hovering somewhere near $11,000 with my insurance agent... we''ll see how the adjuster processes that...

All my diamonds are GONE!!! (earrings, tennis bracelet and  2 rings)

And my grandmother's Topaz earrings... she died 2 years ago, so I'll never find a way to replace them!

Can you even imagine how awful i am feeling tonite?

I drank an entire bottle of wine and just now, my hands have stopped shaking!

The boys refused to go to bed because they're terrified someone is going to come back!

I called ADT and they came out tonite and put in a new security system!

I planned to make cards for the rest of the challenges from the Stamping Boutique Digi Day.
I also BOUGHT the scaredy cat image, to participate in the Double Delights challenge (I didn't get it free, but I wanted to play, so I bought it yesterday, planning to color it during Survivor tonite)

Would've been great, but I can't watch Survivor... my f**ing TV was stolen!

I'm totally pissed and completely, mentally and emotionally exhausted!

I'll be home all day tomorrow dealing with the insurance people and cleaning the damn finger print powder off everything!

WHAT A F**** ING NIGHTMARE !!!

One More Trip Around the Sun

This image cracks me up! Look at the look on the old blue-hair's face... is it because he's stomping on her foot or that he's grabbing onto the community hottie (complete with electric blue eye shadow)?

The Challenge this week at I Did it Creations is Keep It Simple.
Their Design Team submitted some great inspirations!
And the bonus: if you request any of the images used by their Design Team, Jeannette will send it to you!

The layout is my version of Scrappy's sketch, over at Crafty Ho's!

I've been really working hard at emptying my scrap bin and everything on this card came from scraps!!
YAY!

The green background, I stamped with some swirls, embossed with a Fiskar's plate and that's it!
The ribbon came from the clearance bin at Walmart...

My kinda card on a budget: free image, bargain ribbon, scrap paper!

Woo-hoo!

Let's hear it for the frugal!

Jennifer Latte is Wishing You Would Feel Better

This one goes out to all my online friends who have been feeling sick.
Seems like everyone got sick at the same time.

The image is called "Princess Jennifer Latte Sick in Bed".
She is another beauty from The Stamping Boutique!

This is my Challenge Submission for one of the THREE challenges from the PCP Digi  Day last Saturday.

Challenge #1 was a Recipe Challenge. Not always my favorite (probably because I think they're so "challenging"- ha ha).  The recipe is: 3 Buttons, 2 Jewels and 1 Ribbon.

You can still join in on the fun! Come on over to The Stamping Boutique group on Papercraft Planet!

There are 3 different challenges and chances to WIN digis from Tracey's massive collection!

Have a Grate Day

This adorable little mouse is from Lyn over at Spyder's Corner.

I don't know, but when I saw this cute little freebie, all I really noticed was his chubby little tummy and it made me think of cheese... Weird how the mind morphs while crafting, no?

So, I used the Cheese Grater from the Afternoon at Aunt Elaine's Collection from SVG Cuts and made it into a grater-shaped card. Then I welded a couple of triangles together in Inkscape and poked some holes in them with cirles... ta-da... Swiss cheese!

Papers are from Colorbok.

Of course it's embossed with the, what else? SWISS DOTS!!

So, hope ya'll have a "Grate" day! (-:

Challenge: Spyder's Didi Digi Challenge, create anything with any of the freebies she has posted (and there are lots to choose from!!).... BONUS: everyone who enters will receive another freebie by email! So come on over to Spyder's Corner and join in...

This card also qualifies for:
~ Stampin for the Weekend, "Tag It", use a tag on your creation. The challenge is sponsored by Meljen's Designs, with a chance to win 4 Meljens' Digis! Her newest releases are some of the cutest I've seen!

~ Inktegrity Design Team Challenge, Hump Day Inspiration #14, Anything Goes. The challenge is sponsored by Inktegrity and the winner will receive 3 images from their store!

~ C.R.A.F.T.,  Challenge #68, Colouring Pencils Only. This challenge is sponsored by The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs, with a chance to win 2 of her stamps!

Take Me to Candy Castle!

Take me to Candy Castle!!

This adorable, SUPER-FUN image is the newest in the CandyLand Winter Release
at The Stamping Boutique!

When I made this Spinner Card, my kids couldn't put it down!
They kept spinning the candy back and forth, back and forth!
That's exactly what I had in mind when I made it!
Fun and Games!!


And speaking of fun and games:

We are having our very first digi day with PCP and I would love for all of you to join in the fun.

Here is the link:  TSB Digi Day.

When you go into the page on the right hand side it will ask you to RSVP...
once you do that you will be able to post comments and play with us!

So.....are you all coming?

I hope so...you need to go over and look at some of the creations that some of the girls have put together....
I know you'll want to play along then!!!

The Stamping Boutique Digi Image Day on PCP

We at the Stamping Boutique have decided to try something new on PCP with you all...how does a digital image day sound to you?
This will be our very first time doing this with PCP and are super excited, so excited that Tracey has been working hard to put together an awesome winter image release just in time for our first digi day with you all.

Think back to when you were little...what was your favorite game? I"m not talking about computer games or video games...I'm talking about good old fashion family night fun board kind of game. I ask this question because not only because this is the theme for our very first digi image day but also because the theme for the image release is Candy Land Winter. I know I have you interested now....you can't even imagine what fabulous images she has come up with so you will have to join us to see for yourself. Some lucky winner will actually win the entire release so be sure to take a look at the details below and mark your calanders. Here are the details:

The Stamping Boutique Digi Image Day

Theme: Game Night (Candy Land Winter)

Where: on PCP at The Stamping Boutique group page

When: September 18th, Saturday

Time: 2PM to 4PM

What to Bring: your crafting supplies

What will be supplied: free new release images, lots of great chatter and prizes

How to join in the fun: become a memeber of The Stamping Boutique on PCP (and the main blog too if you want) and on the day of the digi image day we will have a discussion set up just for us to chat and get the challenges so when your there just stop by and say hello so we know your ready to play!

I am super excited about this and I hope that you all will join us for the fun.
I can guarentee you are going to LOVE this new set of images from Tracey. 

We will be doing 3 challenges and playing 1 game...so you have 4 chances to win some awesome prizes from The Stamping Boutique

FREE SVG- A 3-piece Rose

I have FINALLY updated my SVG files and sorted them

into some kind of manageable order!

Whew!! It took me about 2 weeks to figure out a system I liked!

I made this file from a Dingbat Font.

There are only 3 pieces to cut!

It is available HERE

as an SVG and SCUT file for Sure Cuts a Lot.

Audrey Sitting on a Swing: Autism Awareness

Link Alert!! 

This post is chock full of links to all over the web... got your travellin' shoes on?

I read a great post about a little man named Cameron.

He is Autistic. You can read his story here:

One Stitch at a Time

and 

I Did It Creations

and
JLJ Designs

Have all chipped in to make this a great fund-raiser for little Cameron.

The challenge is to Create anything with a Rainbow.

It can include actual rainbows or use every color of the rainbow.

I chose a Stamping Boutique image called "Audrey Sitting".

I put her on a swing that was a free SVG posted by

Creating in Carolina.

I also used Cely's "Trees with Hammock" set!

I cut the tree top in blue for the cloud!

Woo-hoo, a two-fer for Cely's Challenge!

And the apple tree on the right?

Well, it was a freebie, too!

From My Scrap Chick.

And the roses!

They are another beautiful creation 

of Penny Duncan.

I can't remember where I found the yellow background gingham.

I was a piece I found in my scrap drawer.

And the fine folks over at Operation Write Home
are having a "Monday Wondering" Challenge.
For OWH, I would probably take off the flowers
and add a flatter embellishment for mailing!

The Crafty Ho's are using the colors

Green, Blue and Yellow

for their challenge this week!
I like participating in their challenges because
I LOVE the name of their blog... makes me giggle every time!

The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring a Challenge at
City Crafter Challenge Blog
Create a card/project that include the image of a tree/trees  or a book/books. You could also make a bookmark, a book cover, a notebook, coffee table brag book etc.
This is my Stamping Boutique Design Team Submission
for that challenge.

I think that's it!
Whew... if I've forgotten to mention anyone,
"I'll be back"!

Happy Fall, Creating in Carolina and My Scrap Chick Cut Files Combined

This is a combination of two great Creators!

The lattice style card base was created by Cely at Creating in Carolina.

The Branch with leaves and acorns is a FREEBIE from My Scrap Chick.

The sentiment is a small oval Nestie, handwritten.

When great cut files like these are available online,

creating a simple card is both easy and FUN!!

This is my first submission for
the newest challenge at Creating in Carolina.

I have other creations planned, but they're not complete or ready to post!

Remembering September 11th

Hi and thanks for joining us today!

You probably arrived here from

APRIL'S AMAZING POST

If not, you may want to head to 
the beginning of the hop

 at The Stamping Boutique.

Surely you remember where you were

when you heard the news that the towers

had been attacked!

And we'll never forget the images

of the poor souls who lost

everything that terrible day!

And the heroes in the field

of Pennsylvania

who stood up to the terror

and died for it!

That day is burned into the memories 

of everyone around the world!

Today, the Team at
the Stamping Boutique

in coordination with 

Operation Write Home

is hosting a Blog Hop.

Tracey, at the Stamping Boutique

is offering a FREE DIGI STAMP to all!

Visit The Stamping Boutique

to get yours!

In fact, Tracey has created 
a whole new line of stamps

you'll want to check out!

Please take a few minutes today

to honor the memories of 9/11.

All the ladies on the Design Team

have created some of the most

beautiful tributes to America 

and to the soldiers who defend our country!

You'll definitely want to hop over to see 

LORIE'S FABULOUS POST
Her card is awesome,
straight from her heart!

... she's the next stop on the hop!
Lorie is giving away not one, 
but TWO RAK'S
so go see her, QUICK!

And if you get lost along the way,

here is the list:

Collette
Christy
Debbie
Genevieve
April
Stacie (you're here now)
Lorie
Marie
Jenn R.
Jan
Jenn M.
Amanda 

And don't forget to stop in to
The Stamping Boutique
to pick up your freebie!

The card posted above 
and a few others
are going out 
in the next shipment to OWH!

Including this one,
made with ANOTHER awesome 
Stamping Boutique Image!

 

Renesis SVG Viewer

Just wanted to take a moment to forward 

a GREAT tool I found at Penny Duncan's site.

Renesis SVG Viewer

 

This little plug in was quick to install

and works beautifully for me!

All my SVG files were in a folder that just keeps getting BIGGER!

When I wanted to look at what I had, 

I had to open the file and export a bitmap

to have a "picture" of it.

All the files show as the Black Inkscape "Spade-shaped" logo.

NOW!! With this viewer

every file has a visual thumbnail.

A PICTURE of each file!

 

Thank you to Penny Duncan for making things THAT much easier!

If you haven't visited her site lately, you're going to want to head right over!

You'll be INSPIRED!!

Dutch Dare Challenge and The Stamping Boutique

Good morning!

Come join us this week at Dutch Dare Challenges.
This week's challenge is a  bookmark challenge with a Back to school theme.

This week's sponsor is The Stamping Boutique!

Our team has made some amazing samples
for all those kiddos that are headed back to or already in school.
Go over and check them ALL out HERE!

Remember you can enter your project not only in Dutch Dare challenge
but also in the monthly Stamping Boutique challenge here
for a DOUBLE chance at some FREE images from The Stamping Boutique .

Here's mine:

That cute little owl is a Stamping Boutique FREEBIE!

You can pick her up over at the Stamping Boutique Papercraft Planet Group HERE

Operation Write Home Challenge, Sketch 34

The Challenge this week
at Operation Write Home
is a Sketch with a Touch of Yellow.

I flipped the sketch on its side,
colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils,
added a few layers of Colorbok papers,
wrapped a 9-1-1 Commemorative Red, White & Blue Ribbon,
and called it "Ready to Go".

The image is called "Patriotic AJ" from The Stamping Boutique.



The sentiment is computer generated
using the free font "Junkos Typewriter"

The Challenge Theme over at Crafty Ho's
this week is Peace!

How appropriate that in all the times of turmoil
we take a moment to remember our
soldiers around the world
on peace-keeping missions!

Labor Day Sale – 25% Off Your Entire Purchase! Use Code LABORDAY2010

Labor Day Sale – 25% Off Your Entire Purchase! Use Code LABORDAY2010

With the kids back at school and summer coming to an end, take some time for yourself and SAVE BIG at SVGCuts.com! To celebrate Labor Day weekend take 25% OFF your entire purchase! Beef up your SVG collection – get ready for all your fall and winter crafts!

Create a “Back To School” scrapbook page using our Back To School SVG Collection,  get a jump-start on Christmas related paper crafts, make Thanksgiving invitations using our Fall Pop-Up Cards from our Autumn Section or just stock up your SVG arsenal! The choice is yours and the savings are huge!

I took advantage of this offer today!

I purchased FIVE kits for $23.21!

Each "pack" of files is essentially equivalent to a full Cricut Cartridge.
And I got FIVE of them for under $25!!!

Complete kit includes assembly instructions and all the SVG files and layers to create!
 

With SCAL, who needs Font Cartridges?

You can cut ANY font that is installed on your PC!

Word phrases? Simple! Make your own!

Choose the fonts, resize them, move them around, rotate them... voila: Word Art!

Click HERE for more info about Sure Cuts a Lot

I Did It Challenge and Back To Skool Sketch Challenge

The challenge this week at I Did It Challenge Creations Blog

is a Sketch Challenge.

Here is the sketch:

The neat thing about I Did It Challenges 

is that if you are interested in an image 

that was used by their Design Team in the challenge, 

you may request it and they will send it FREE!

I used the ultra-adorable Stitchy Stamp "Can I Go Too", 

which you can get HERE.

Here is my entry:

I used DCWV Rock Star paper (I love the shiny stars) and purple cardstock.

Also, this week, I'm still working on my entries for 

The Stamping Boutique's Back To Skool Digi Day Challenges 

Today, I did the Sketch Challenge.

Here is the sketch:

I used "Back to School Audry" from The Stamping Boutique.

Maybe I'm just biased because Tracey recently invited me

to be on her Design Team,

but I really LOVE her images!!!

So fun to color and easy to work with!

And Tracy and the Team are So Super-helpful.

As a "newbie", I think I've asked 100 questions

and they have answered every one without hesitation!

Here is my card:

Hope ya'll have a great day!

We're watching the news for "Earl Updates" and so far, so good!