Happy Fall, TSB Sunflower Girl

Tracey at The Stamping Boutique truly is an ARTIST!
This image, called "Sunflower Girl" is just one more example of her incredible talent!



She is colored with Prismacolor Pencils and I added some gold and green sparkle with Spica Atyou pens to the flower, its leaves, and her hair bow. Perhaps the close-up I posted below will show the shine a little better?



There are LOTS of super-FUN challenges going on this week at The Latte Lounge  including a Color Challenge using Fall Colors and a Wacky Challenge using real wood (in case you missed it, see my post about Wacky Wednesday HERE).



I am entering my Sunflower Girl in the Fall Colors challenge. I hope to win a few more Stamping Boutique images to add to my collection!



I am also going to enter this card in the challenge at Meljen's (It's a 2-fer). The challenge is to use 2 images. I have used the Sunflower Girl and the Happy Fall Sentiment from Meljen's. It was a FREEBIE back in September, but I believe it's still available! The sentiment turned out a little more "smudged" than I wanted it to, but that's OK... I guess...

I also would like to enter this card in the challenges at Inktegrity Design Team Challenges (Anything Goes) and Crafty Creations Challenges (Halloween or Autumn)



Here's the close-up of the image! Hopefully you can see the sparkly flower and bows! 

I was working on SVG's for the World Series but had some unexpected delays, so HOPEFULLY, I'll be back tomorrow to post the others!



Thanks for visiting! I've only  had about 5 comments in the past 2 weeks, so if you feel like sharing some love, I'm all for it! (-:



See you next time.....



Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

Welcome to Wacky Wednesday!!!! PLUS today's FREE SVG!

 It's finally here!

The FIRST EVER 

Wacky Wednesday Challenge!!!


Every other Wednesday, yours truly will be hosting a challenge at The Latte Lounge that will run for 2 weeks!


The Challenge Theme for Wednesdays is going to be "Wacky Wednesday", so be prepared for the unexpected!! We're going to try to present challenges that are both different and intriguing!


This week, I have decided to start out with something to honor the State Fair, which is in full swing in our area!

You can get everything at the Fair, from fried Oreos (YUK!) to corn dogs and cotton candy! But the one thing all these delicacies have in common is that they're all served on a STICK! 

So, for the Wacky Wednesday challenge, I decided to keep it pretty simple:  

USE REAL WOOD!

Your project can be ANYTHING as long as you include at least ONE piece of REAL wood!! It can be a popsicle stick, a kabob skewer, a toothpick, or a twig from a tree... ANY REAL WOOD!

As you can see from my inspiration photo, I opted for some YUMMY candied apples on popsicle sticks!

I made the apples with Cinnamon Candies so they're super-YUMMY!!

For the "Crafty" portion of my project, I used 3 different cut files from SVGCuts.com. The tag is in the Double Layered Tags collection and the Masked Boo Caption and the Cuddly Halloween Ghost were both FREEBIES!!! Look at all the CUTE stuff you can do with FREE files!!








So! Come on over to the Latte Lounge and bring your "Wacky Wooden" Creations with you.

The challenge will run for 2 weeks and the winner will receive 2 FREE images from The Stamping Boutique!












Today's FREE SVG is the Major League Baseball logo. Of course, you KNOW this image is Trademarked, so it is completely ILLEGAL to attempt to sell anything made using it without getting the appropriate license!
I am SHARING a COPY of the picture that has been converted into a file that can be cut out using Sure Cuts a Lot software with a Cricut! I have not altered the image in any way and am not making any money selling merchandise bearing this logo! Be very careful about copyright infringement, because you can get in big trouble!!

You can click HERE to go to my Box.net account to download the .zip file or just click the image! 
The .zip file includes:

• the image in .jpeg format
• the image in .SVG format and
• the image in .SCUT2 format to import into Sure Cuts a Lot

In the .SCUT2 file, I have already separated the file into 3 layers, red, white and blue, so there are only 3 pieces to cut!

Have a great day!


Tomorrow, I'll be back with the "other" runners-up: The Yankees...


And I'm working on the Rangers and Texans and will definitely be done in time to get my projects done for the World Series!


Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

FREE SVG! Phillies Logo

Here is the link to my Box.net account where I have shared the .zip file or you can just click the photo!

Too bad they didn't make it this year to the World Series...

Over the next few days, I'm working on SVG's for the Yankees, the Rangers and the Giants, as well as the MLB logo! These things take time to put together, especially getting them to a format that will cut cleanly on the Cricut without having a bunch of little pieces to puzzle together... when working with vinyl, tiny pieces are no fun! So! Enjoy the file for the runner up and see you soon with the others!




Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

Scrap it With a Song, sponsored by the Stamping Boutique

 

 The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring the challenge this week at Scrap it With a Song.

The song this week is "My Guy", by Mary Wells.

When I saw the song for the challenge, I just know that this image "First Dance" was perfect!

I printed the sheet music and distressed it with walnut ink and scissors. I also used the same ink for the image mat, going for the 50-year-old look, since the song was written and performed in the 1960's (almost 50 years ago!!)~ Can you BELIEVE the 60's were THAT long ago???

The flowers in the corner are Prima's, the ribbon is Offray and that's about it! (-:

It's going to be a SUPER busy week! 

Don't forget about the blog candy's at The Latte Lounge and The Stamping Boutique!

Both prizes are TOTALLY awesome and BOTH packages include Copic Markers!!!

There are lots of fun challenges, discussions, groups, and camaraderie at the Latte Lounge, so c'mon over and join us!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

Another chance to win some fabulous blog candy with Copics...

Just follow this link
The Latte Lounge

 

 

 

DON'T FORGET

DIGI DAY AT THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE ON SNR TOMORROW!!!

It's your chance to win TEN new TSB images!!!

Stamping Boutique Blog Candy worth $250!!!

http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-candy-worth-25000-including-36.html

It's blog candy time again. This time we're giving away a set of "36" yes "36" Copic Cioa's.
Same rules apply.
Just leave a comment AT THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE and post this to your blog with the good ole' link back to enter.

Double your chances by becoming a follower OF THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE (leave a second comment)

Triple your chances by having a friend become a new follower OF THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE (leave a third comment)

The winner will be chosen at random on November 20, 2010.


Blog candy includes:
Creative Imaginations "Card Making for Dummies" Greeting card kit,
Spellbinders nestabilities, Making Memories Advent Calendar kit,
My Little bicycle PP's, cardstock, 10 things pockets, specialty tags, canvas specialty tags chipboard slider and "Merci" shortcake stamp.

Good luck everyone!
Tracey

Spyder's October Digi Challenge

This is actually two Spyder Freebies in one scene.
The sentiment tickets are from Raindrop Echo.
The little ghost in the top right corner and the skull in the bottom left are Dollar Store stickers!

I tried a new technique for this one and honestly LOVE how it worked out!

One of my friends on the Stamping Boutique Design Team showed me a link to Flowersoft TV (I think???)
where they used ink pads, stamped some ink on an acrylic block, then used a paintbrush and water to paint.

I really like the soft, blended, water-colored look. And I have so many ink pad colors, this is just a great (and cheap) way to color full backgrounds...

I know there are lots of Halloween Challenges this week, so I'll be back later to edit this post and list the challenges I will enter!

Don't forget about Digi Day this Saturday!
A chance to win an ENTIRE line of super-fun Stamping Boutique images!!

Digi Day with The Stamping Boutique on SNR Card Universe!

Oh My! Boy do I have a surprise for you!
Tracey is giving away the complete line of Candy Land Winter images to one lucky winner on Digi Day!
Here is what you need to do.
1.- Go to the store and purchase ANY winter/christmas image.
2.- Create any project with your Christmas image and bring it with you to Digi Day Sat Oct 23rd 8-10pm EST.
3. Get entered into a drawing for the entire line of wonderful Candyland images.
Hope to see you and your project there!
We will be celebrating Winter/Christmas.

This cute Rocking Horse is just one of the MANY brand new images in the Christmas 2010 line at The Stamping Boutique!!

And my OTHER most totally awesome news!!!!
I have been accepted as a member of the Design Team at The Latte Lounge!
Talk about exciting!!!
My responsibilities will include hosting a bi-weekly challenge!!!
I'm so looking forward to working with the fun ladies at The Latte Lounge and am super-excited about joining their team!!!

And a quick shout out to Colleen at Making our Mark!
I entered her sentiment challenge last week and won an Honorable Mention! Imagine my glee when I opened the package today and found my FIRST EVER Copic Markers!!! And TWO (2) Atyou Spica pens!! I have mentioned Colleen's blog before! She is SO inspirational and her posts are thought-provoking and genuine. One of my favorite places to visit! And she offers FREE Copic Coloring Classes... I'll be there next month... care to join me?

It's going to be a VERY busy week for me!!!

I have so many images printed and none of them are colored! Could be a great time to play with my new pens!!

I'm getting ready for the Digi Day on SNR  (YAY!!)- Please join us! It's going to be LOTS of fun!! We have some fun games planned and don't forget the AWESOME giveaway!! Where else can you get an ENTIRE line of digis and have fun with friends at the same time?

Whimsical Flowers

Something about this image is just so pleasing to the eye, don't you think?

This is the newest FREEBIE from Designed to Delight.
I am really having a lot of fun with their progressive challenge.
It started with one image and then, every week, just for playing, Faith sends another free image!
I've collected quite a few D2D images now, and each challenge has been great fun to play in!

AND!! The best part is, the Double Delight Challenges!!
After the D2D image is posted, each Saturday, they add a "twist" that works with the new image!
So! The freebie this week is the whimsical flowers and the "twist' is to use Green and Blue.

I saw this spotlight technique "somewhere" and it's been in the back of my mind just waiting for the perfect time to use it! I think these flowers worked out well! And the Cuttlebug "Swirls" folder seemed to match the swirls in the flower stems perfectly! YAY! I love it when it all comes together!

I used the Nesties Lookalike Font from LA's Cricut and SVG files to cut out the popped, colored part of the image and for the "deckled-looking" rectangle for the main image. If you haven't tried SCAL yet, there's a GREAT bundle package available that includes the entire Sure Cuts a Lot software package (with an entire LIBRARY of pre-set images and shapes) along with a FULL SET of Cri-Kits pens and a BONUS pack of 2 swirl Cri-Kits!!

If you're like me (a Font Junkie), you probably have a few hundred fonts installed in your computer! Wouldn't it be GREAT to use them with your Cricut to create labels, tags, sentiments, and anything you want? Well, that's EXACTLY what Sure Cuts a Lot can do!! You don't have to be stuck with the phrases and fonts with no shadows that are on your Cricut Cartridges! With SCAL, you can cut virtually ANY font, at ANY size. You can weld, flip, rotate, resize, shadow and outline to your heart's content!

LOVE IT!!!

Check it out and let me know if you have any questions!!! I'm happy to help!!

Bundle Package Deal: Sure Cuts A Lot 2 software [Learn more...]

1 Cri-Kits Pen Kit (10 pens + pen carrier/holder) [Learn more...]

Choose from 4 sets of pens (Reg/Neon, Metallic, Glitter, or Pastel) 1 FREE 2 pack of swirl pens [Learn more...]

Bundle with Sure Cuts A Lot

$107.28 $79.95 (Special Bundle Price)

Digis With Attitude! Gretchen with Make our Mark Sentiment

This sexy red-head is named Grumpy Gretchen!
She is one of the NEW Digis With Attitude! from Cindy-Lynn at My Inkie Fingers!
You have GOT to go check out the Grumpy Gretchens!
They're sassy and sultry and oh, so sexy!!
The NEW challenge for the Digis with Attitude! has just been posted
and there is a FREEBIE Grumpy Gretchen up for grabs to play with!

The challenge this week is "Use Metal"! 

When I first saw the challenge, I was a little perplexed because I really don't have anything "metal" in my bins!

Then I remembered the drawer full of Aluminum Foil in the kitchen!
Threw a few pieces in the Sizzix Big Kick with a few different embossing plates to see what would happen...
Turns out it looks pretty cool, so I went with it!

I colored Gretchen with my Prismacolor pencils, cut her out with a small rectangle Nestie, matted her and the sentiment on red for a little spark of color to offset the shimmery foil, arranged my embossed pieces of foil and called it a day!

The challenge this week at For Fun Challenges is to "use something you have never used before".
I can definitely say without a doubt that I have never made a greeting card out of foil!

And over at Making Our Mark she has offered up five days of sentiment freebies.
Her only request is that after using one of the freebie sentiments and posting it for the challenge,
the card is to be mailed to a real-life inspirational person!

Well, considering the "naughty" tone of the image and sentiment, there is one person I can think of that would truly appreciate this card. And the bonus factor: she was recently offered a promotion at work and will start training for her new position in November! She's well on her way to "Making History"! And she has been my friend and inspiration for over 15 years!! We met in 1993 and instantly bonded and have been besties ever since! Through good times and not so good, we have stuck together and thru it all, always find a way to laugh about it for HOURS on the phone afterwards!! Love you, Curley-girl!!

So, this has turned into a long post. Thanks for sticking with me this far!

Make sure you take a few minutes to check out the Digis with Attitude! and the For Fun Challenges!

Bundle Package Deal: Sure Cuts A Lot 2 software [Learn more...]

1 Cri-Kits Pen Kit (10 pens + pen carrier/holder) [Learn more...]

Choose from 4 sets of pens (Reg/Neon, Metallic, Glitter, or Pastel) 1 FREE 2 pack of swirl pens [Learn more...]

Bundle with Sure Cuts A Lot

$107.28 $79.95 (Special Bundle Price)

Again, for the Hunters!

This is my second post today, but I got this picture in an email and HAD to share it!!
In order to get the full enjoyment out of it, you have to read the whole sign!

If you click the image, you can make it larger.

Bundle Package Deal: Sure Cuts A Lot 2 software [Learn more...]

1 Cri-Kits Pen Kit (10 pens + pen carrier/holder) [Learn more...]

Choose from 4 sets of pens (Reg/Neon, Metallic, Glitter, or Pastel) 1 FREE 2 pack of swirl pens [Learn more...]

Bundle with Sure Cuts A Lot

$107.28 $79.95 (Special Bundle Price)

Trophy Buck FREE SVG

DOWNLOAD HERE

For all the hunters out there!
Hunting season seems to be in full swing around here.
All the guys in their camo have been sighted (yeah, their camo isn't all that great, I saw them!!)
This SVG file is available for download on my Box.net page.
The .zip file includes a .jpeg image, an SVG file and an .scut2 file for Sure Cuts a Lot.

Bundle Package Deal:

Sure Cuts A Lot 2 software [Learn more...]

1 Cri-Kits Pen Kit (10 pens + pen carrier/holder) [Learn more...]

Choose from 4 sets of pens (Reg/Neon, Metallic, Glitter, or Pastel)

1 FREE 2 pack of swirl pens [Learn more...]

Bundle with Sure Cuts A Lot

$107.28 $79.95 (Special Bundle Price)

Apple Step Card

This is a tough one to get a good picture!
I cannot take credit for the design. I found the original step card design at CAFE's Blog. Cheryl Ann has created several this style. I used her file, but made a few changes (added apples to the steps).

The apples image is from Designed to Delight!
Again, use the FREEBIE image for this challenge, and get the next one via email!
There's only a little while left, and I'm pushing the wire with this one!

Here's another picture, from another angle.
It looks like you can see a lot of white behind the apples on the steps, but in real life, it doesn't really look like that (?)...

I've got about 5 more projects I'm working on (at least), so I'll see you soon!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Did anyone watch Monday Night Football on ESPN last night?

They did an AWESOME half-time show promoting the SURVIVORS!!

They had pink ribbons all thru the stadium and they sang the song "I'm a Survivor!"
It was really well-done!

We all know someone who has been touched by Cancer in some form or another
and during the month of October, we are urged to "Think Pink"!

The image for this card is from The Stamping Boutique.
It's a GREAT Day to head over there to take advantage of the 25% off sale!!

The sentiment is from Digistamps 4 Joy.
She is giving away an ENTIRE sheet of digis related to Breast Cancer Awareness!
The set includes 2 beautiful images and 4 sentiments!!

The layout is this week's Sketch Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

I love it when one card can work for more than one challenge! (-:
The challenge at Pollycraft Mondays is Anything Goes... this works for that (-:

Happy World Card Making Day 2010

Wow! The blogs everywhere are buzzing!
There are blog hops and prizes and all sorts of things going on today!

I made this card for a special young lady named "Peanut"! She is only 2 1/2 and she makes cards with her mom (Jennifer from JLJ Designs). Every card that Peanut makes, she adds glitter and bling and is quite the up-and-coming artist!! I made this as sparkly as I could for her!

The image and all the papers are from Jennifer's store at Stitchy Bear Stamps!

I won the image in a recent blog candy that Jennifer was offering and I had the choice of any of her new release stamps. I asked her to have Peanut pick which image to send and this is the one she chose! I'm glad too, because it was definitely one of my favorites!

So! Let's see... how did I make it?
The Spring Up Card is from a tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers, the candies and pumpkin at the bottom are foam stickers from Dollar General, the broom is a toothpick with raffia bristles, the moon and bats are from MyScrapChick, the cuddly ghosts are from SVG cuts.com, the sentiment was written with my Cri-Kit pens, the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils, the papers are from JLJ Designs, the sparkle is glitter glue, and, well, I think that's it!

Here are the challenges I will enter with this card:
Crafty Ho's, Inspiration Photo, the photo looked so spooky, all I thought was Halloween
Order of the Opus Gluei, Feeling Kind of Sketchy
One Stitch At a Time, As You Like It, Anything Goes
Stamp Scrap and Doodle, Show us What You've Got Open Challenge

Finding my Style

Y'know, some days, I frustrate myself trying to get everything "just right" and trying to "measure up" to what will get approval from my online "buddies"...

This post from "Making Our Mark" really put all that fussing into perspective for me, so I wanted to take a moment to share it!

Here's an especially relevant part of the post that really hit home for me and prompted this post today:

This is directly copied and pasted from Colleen's blog, I cannot take credit for the phrasing, but it's worded perfectly!!  "Being creative is good for the soul. The world is changing, faster than we can keep up with. I’m going to tell you one of the new secrets: You don’t need permission, and you don’t need approval. Once upon a time if you wanted to be an artist you had to drag your portfolio to gallery after gallery, agent after agent, hoping someone will like you and give you an audience. That’s not true anymore. The internet has equalized things, you don’t have to be the most popular crafter at your local scrapbooking store. You don’t have to have a large following to start a blog. You don’t have to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning practicing with your markers before your stuff is good enough to show the world. You don’t need someone to give you permission to be an artist because you already are one.  Be you, because you rock. Blog now, share your stuff now, just because you can."

I don't have anything "creative" to share today, but several works-in-progress... but I hope this post helps just ONE person to understand that creativity comes from within, not from the approval of others!

A huge THANK YOU to "Making Our Mark"!