Keeping Cool with TSB

I have been waiting all week to post this card!

I made it for the newest challenge at

The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog

which starts today!

I always show my projects to DH for feedback

when they're finished

and this is the FIRST time he ever said

"Wow, I think that's the best one you ever made!"

It just looks and feels "right"!

The challenge is to 

Keep It Cool

using colors on the "Cool" side of the Color Wheel

The image is called "The Fairy's Nap"

and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it!

I colored it with my Prismacolor pencils

and cut the nested shape with a Penny Duncan Shapley

I followed her tutorial for layering the "sandwich" for the

nice embossed edge and it worked perfectly.

For the price of one sheet of plain card stock

I made a "Nested" shape that some people

have paid almost $20 for!

The fairy's wings and legs are painted with

Creative Inspirations "Fairy Dust" paint.

I love that stuff! (-:

The background paper is K & Co

and the ribbon is from a Latte Lounge ribbon swap

(I think?)

If you haven't taken a look around the shop

at The Stamping Boutique lately

you'll want to hop over and take advantage 

of "One Buck Week"

This week all the images in the

"Whimsical Inspiration" section

are only $1.00!!

I sure hope you're feeling "cool" today

and that I have somehow inspired you

to try making a project using only the 

"Cool" side of the color wheel!

I can't wait to visit all the entries in

this weeks' challenge!

Kaboodle Doodles, Challenge 57: GO GREEN!

2ND POST TODAY!! MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT MY FRESH BREWED POST (SCROLL DOWN)!
THERE'S A TERRIFIC FREEBIE THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TODAY!!!

---

It's time for a new challenge at the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog!
Thanks so much to everyone who played along in our recipe challenge last week. It was a pretty challenging challenge and your entries were amazing! Be sure to stop back tomorrow and see who our winner is and who has been chosen to be in our Top 3!

This week's challenge is to GO GREEN! 
Use green on your card - paper, ink, embellishments - whatever, just make it GREEN!

Our sponsor this week is Cardmadfairy's Card Creations. The winner will recieve their choice of 3 images from theCardmadfairy's Card Creations store.


Our design team has been very busy creating some projects to help inspire you in this challenge. Make sure you stop over and show us some love!

Here's my card!


I chose the "Spring Tree" image and watercolored it for a nice, soft look.


I used a Sentiment Tag from Chris (Mudmaven Designs) that she shared for FREE on her blog!


I LOVE this set of tags and will surely be using them a lot!


Each tag is a separate image, so you don't have to print a whole sheet of tags to get the one you want! I love that!


Thank you, Chris, for sharing this awesome freebie!

Latte Lounge News!!

There is so much going on at The Latte Lounge!

We have challenges, chats, groups, discussions, events and more fun than you can imagine!!

There are FOUR challenges going on RIGHT NOW!!

I (Stacie) am sponsoring the "Sporty Saturday" one!

Rhonda is sponsoring "Happy Birthday" til the 20th

Jen (JLJ Designs) is hosting "Something New" which runs til the 24th

and our MONTHLY CHALLENGE, hosting by our lovely Melissa is
to "Create Anything with a Winter Theme".

So, there's something for everyone!!

And it's not just for card-makers!!

You can submit ANY project to ANY of our challenges!!

Using the "Basketball" Cricut cartridge, a 12" x 24" mat, red, white and blue vinyl and my Cricut Expression, I made this wall art for my 8-year-old!

Super-sporty, eh?

While you're deciding how many projects you can enter into our challenges,

here are a few upcoming Latte Lounge events you'll want to put on your calendar:

Secret Sweeties: A special gift exchange for Valentine's Day.

Sign up deadline is Jan 21st.

You will get your "Sweetie's" name on Jan. 22nd at our Digi Day!

Digi Day:

When: Saturday January 22nd. with LIVE chat from 8-10PM EST

Where: at the Latte Lounge

What: the theme is Valentine's Day

Who: everyone is invited... RSVP at THIS LINK so we'll know how many cups of Latte we'll be serving up!

See you there!!

The Stamping Boutique Sledding Snowman

WOW! Christmas is coming so FAST!!
I spoke with my mom, who lives in Pennsylvania and she said they have 43" of snow on her deck... really?? Almost FOUR feet of snow!!
And it ALL fell this week!

So, it seems the only way around town is in a sleigh.

Good thing I had this cute "Sledding Snowman" from The Stamping Boutique!

He's all bundled up and ready to help make deliveries!
I tried something new today and colored the entire image with my Zig Markers... WAY outside my comfort zone, but overall, I think I'm pretty happy with the end result... definitely darker and more vibrant than my colored pencils!

This cute little guy qualifies for all kinds of challenges this week!

Crafy Ho's, Any Religious Holiday,
Alphabet Challenge Blog, G for Glitter,
Character Cafe, Glitter, Glitter, Glitter,
Paper Playtime, Snowflakes,
Daring Cardmakers, Snow Much Fun,
Digis with Attitude!, Anything Goes, Digital Stamps,
Mami Doodles, Anything Goes,
Stamp Something, Anything Digital,
Stampin With the Dragon, Make it Sparkle,
AI Factory, Holiday Christmas,
     with a chance to win a free Celebrations Set
Delightful Challenges, Embossing,
Dutch Dare, Christmas Card, Tag or Ornament,
Shirley's 2 Girls, Seasonal Card with Glitter and Bling,
Anything Goes Challenge Blog, All the Colors of the Rainbow,
Spoonful of Sugar, Christmas Card,
Digital Tuesday Challenge, Baby it's Cold Outside,
Papercutz, Snowman,


And how, you ask, did I know about all these wonderful challenges??
Why, Karen, at Feline Playful, of course!!

Every day, she posts all the challenges she knows about, with details!!

If you're not following her blog, you're surely missing out on a ton of opportunities!

I'ts Party Time!!

Today is the big day!!


The Christmas Celebration at The Latte Lounge has begun!


We are all anxiously waiting for word from the Master of Ceremonies, Rhonda, with our Secret Santa assignment!


Can't wait to see whose name I get!


C'mon over and join us!!


The chat window is open and super simple to join in: Just click here and scroll down to the middle of the page!




We're planning all kinds of fun and games, we will be having a live chat get-together Saturday at 7pm EST!


I am hosting the Santa Challenge and I'd love it if you can play along!
Pretty simple! Create anything with Santa on it!


Here's mine:

I made him on my Cricut using files from MyScrapChick!


Sorry the goodie box looks so empty, but I can't show you what I'm sending to my Secret Santa!


And don't forget, we're having a Digi Day on Papercraft Planet which is going to be H-U-G-E!!


The Stamping Boutique is joining forces with Fresh Brewed Designs
tomorrow, Saturday, December 4th from 3-4 pm EST.


Pop on over to the Papercraft Planet and snag your FREEBIE right now!


It's a recipe card you can fill out and bring to the party! 


It's a "Sweets" themed party, and we're all bringing a recipe card with our favorite Christmas treat! C'mon over and exchange recipes and join us... we'll be talking about FOOD all afternoon! YUM!!

There are going to be at least four challenges/games with FOUR FREEBIES from TSB & FBD. It's going to be a lot of fun and you won't want to be left out!

I Love me some Amber Ink iPapers!

I took a little time today to play around with my Cricut with my new Make the Cut software. I'm totally loving the new "Print and Cut" feature of the MTC 3.0 Beta version!

ALL of the papers used in this project are from Amber Ink! You can go HERE to check out the iPapers that are available!!

I started with a metal tin I received in a blog candy from my friend and fellow Fresh Brewed Crew member Audrey. When I opened the box, I thought Christmas had come early! Thank you, Aud... it's AMAZING the amount of "goodies" you packed into that box!!!

The rosette and center medallion were both cut on the Cricut. The snowflake in the center is a punch from Tonic Studios. The border punch on the dark blue is from Fiskars.

Based on all that's been going on, feeling "Blue" seemed appropriate and I am really proud of how this one turned out. It was great to get my mind off "things" for awhile and just go with the flow. Cutting, gluing, folding, stacking, layering, punching... what a great way to float off into another place!

Lucky for me, this project fits a BUNCH of challenges this week!
I think this is the first time I have ever entered 10 or more challenges with ONE project!
YAY! (-:


The Latte Lounge, Die Cuts or Punches
Order of the Opus Gluie: Let's Get Frosted
Tuesday Throwdown: Embellish It
Caardvarks: My Favorite THings, Gift card or Money Holder
Totally Papercrafts Challenge, Untraditional Christmas
Bah Humbug, Feeling the Blues
2Sisters Challenge Blog, Non Traditional Christmas Colors
The Crafty Pad, Snowflakes
Craft Your Passion, Monochrome
Lexi's Creations, Blue and Silver
Crafty Hos' Challenge, Photo Inspiration
For Fun Challenges, Anything Goes

Christmas Party !!

Come join us for our Christmas Celebration at The Latte Lounge...

WHEN: December 3rd-5th 2010

WHERE: Christmas Celebration Group at TLL

HOSTESS: Rhonda Miller and the TLL DT

Here’s what you’ll find at this fun filled weekend……

Challenges

Prizes

Chatting

Fun, fun, fun…..

Also be sure to stop by early and join the fun of our

 Secret Santa Group!!!! 

You don't want to be left off Santa's list.

I hope you'll all join us.

There's a LOT going on over at the Latte Lounge!

Jen from JLJ Designs is sponsoring the new 
Hidden Element Challenge!

This is a F-U-N one!

Here's my card:

When you slide it open, 

the hidden dollar appears!!

And there's still time to enter my "Show Me the Money" Challenge!
Create anything that includes the use of
REAL MONEY!!

AND...You still have TWO DAYS to enter Rhonda's 

Thanksgiving Challenge!

There are THREE challenges running together at The Latte Lounge

each running 2 weeks

starting and ending on different days!

So, come over and JOIN US!

There's ALWAYS something new to do at the "Lounge"!! 

Tiny the Turkey

I often get comments about my coloring and I have to say, I think this is one of my favorite creations so far!

This little cutie is called "Tiny the Turkey" from Digital Delights.

The sentiment, which reads "Stuffed to the brim with thankfulness" is from Create with TLC. Paulette was even kind enough to post my picture with her word art! She's so sweet!

I colored "Tiny" with Prismacolor pencils and cut him out using the "Shadow" feature on my Cricut, using Sure Cuts a Lot.

The background is Tim Holtz Distress Ink Walnut over K & Company papers.


There are several challenges that are running this week that Tiny qualifies for.

The first is "Thanksgiving" at the Latte Lounge
The next is "Stitching (real or faux)" at Delightful Challenges. I have used a Zig Memory Writer marker to add rows of stitching on all of his feathers and feet, so he looks like a "stuffed" turkey!

I'm sure there are others and I may come back to edit this post as I find them.

Don't forget about all the other SUPER-FUN challenges at the Latte Lounge this week!

JLJ Designs is hosting a Digi Paper challenge and offers a FREE digi paper to anyone who wants to play along!

And there's still time to enter my "Wacky Wednesday" Challenge: use any piece of real wood! There are some really cute and original entries coming in! C'mon over and play with us!


Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

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

Be Scary- Early Halloween card

Karen's Doodles Kitty Kat Image:

Freebie on Facebook!

Join the Karen's Doodles Group on Facebook and this little cutie will be yours!

The only requirement is that you commit to use the image and post your creation to their group!

It seems that some people in USA are unable to view the image in the group, but can go to Doodle Divas and request it there... and post your creation in that challenge!

This project also qualifies for the Meljen's Designs Color Challenge, Brown, Teal and Orange

The card design is from SVG Cuts, September Scenes Stand Up Cards

I'm also going to submit this to The Order of the Opus Gluie, Not So Ordinary BLOG HOP!!
This is the first time I've ever added anything with that much texture, and using straw was a jump for me!
While others create with "stuff" all the time, this was really a leap outside my comfort zone!


Paper is all from Colorbok, Rustic Earth Tones Pack.

Here's the Order of the Opus Gluei Blog Hop! Have fun!!

Back to School, all Cricut

Only 5 more days til School Starts!

Our boys go back next Wednesday, the 25th! Kinda weird, actually! They go back for a few days, then have a vacation weekend for Labor Day! The school system in NC is quite a bit different than what I was used to living up North, but both my boys LOVE school and do very well, so I guess it works!

For the first time in awhile, I have made a card that is Completely Cricut!!

The apple and tag are from K Andrew Designs and cut BEAUTIFULLY!

I love that it was downloaded, opened in SCAL and cut... no editing needed!

The card is from SVG Cuts, the Breezy Backyard Lever Cards Kit

I've used LOTS of their "Freebies" but finally bit the bullet and purchased a kit!

WOW! WOW!! WOW!!!

Talk about easy-peasey!! Open the file and import into SCAL and cut, cut, cut!

Everything is already perfectly sized and proportioned and all the "Extras" really make it worth the purchase price!

The paper for this card is DCWV Grade School Stack. It's tough to photograph, but the papers are all glittered and textured! FUN! FUN!! FUN!!!

I'm going to enter this into a challenge at Delightful Challenges by Louby Lou. Typically, they ask (but do not require) that one of their images are used, but the challenge is a Back To School using Primary Colors, so this fits!

The challenge at Digi Doodle Shop's Best is Anything Goes, so I'm entering there too!

Over at Bugaboo Stamps, the Catch the Bug Challenge is Back to School and there's a chance to win Bugaboo Stamps!

Blowing "out" the Candles

This card fits the Karen's Doodles Animals Challenge

and

the Latte Lounge Digi Day Group Recipe Challenge

Matroyska Doll Card

This cute Matroyska Doll was created by Tracey Malnofski

at The Stamping Boutique

She is running a Month-long challenge.

The prize for participation in each challenge is

the next doll in the set!

There are a total of 4 in the set!

I goofed up!

The challenge for this week was to use Kraft Paper...

I forgot to put on the swirls I cut out of Kraft and ran out of time!

{oops}

The design of this card was also

somewhat inspired byMeljen's Designs.

Their challenge this week is "I See Double"

using the same image twice!

Matroyska Dolls, also sometimes called "Nesting Dolls"

are very popular, especially in Russia

and are prized gifts!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Reading Fairy Card

Back to School is all about Reading!

The image is called "Reading Fairy" and came from Elizabeth O. Dumlemba

This is my favorite Dr. Seuss saying of all time!

I tried a few new things for this one and I'm pretty pleased with how it worked out.

It's a modified version of the sketch from Card Patterns

I'm also going to post it a few other places, like:

Olive Juice Studio, August Challenge

She didn't make it easy this month. There are FIVE requirements to enter

and I really had to think about how to put it all together.

But that's what a challenge is about, right?

The Dirty Details:

1.  Your project must include a stamped image – it can be a rubber, clear or digital stamp image OR it may include a clip art image. (CHECK!)

2.  It must include at least one Cricut cut. (CHECK!- used Cricut to cut scalloped circles & squares)

3.  It must include fiber, a ribbon or fabric somewhere in the project. (CHECK!)

4.  It must include at least one piece of bling – such as a bead, pearl, gemstone, glitter, etc. (CHECK! - see pretty wings?)

5.  It needs to include at least one patterned paper. (CHECK!- notice the starry, starry night)

and

The Latte Lounge, Glitter it Up

Sentimental Sundays, Anything Goes

Paper Playtime, Challenge #11, School Days

Sisterhood Of Crafters,  Back to School Time

Happy Birthday, Stamping Boutique!

Congrats and Happy 1st Birthday to Tracey M and all my friends at The Stamping Boutique!

May the next year be just as much fun!

Here's my 3-D tribute to your logo.

I loved this little guy the first time I saw him!

I am posting this at:

The Latte Lounge

The Stamping Boutique at Papercraft Planet

Recipe For Happiness Card

How fun is this Meljen's Freebie?

Both the image and the sentiment were actually FREEBIES!

The tomatoes, well, they were "sorta" free...

I made them from a coloring picture in Inkscape and

cut them out with my Cricut!

Same with the "punch" border...

I made that by using the "Interpolate" function in Inkscape with a simple heart

then made a copy, flipped it, moved it down

and used "union" to add the rectangle strip in the middle.

The shimmery papers:

the background (with the cutlery) is from Colorbok ($5 Walmart pack!!)

the tomatoes and other trim are actually

pieces cut from a Christmas Gift Bag I found in my closet!

The green is super-irredescent and is like a hologram

(turn it different ways and different colors show)!

Super-fun!

Here's the sketch for the Meljen's Challenge:

And the color scheme inspiration

Red, Green, Cream and Purple

came from Kaboodles Doodles

As always, thanks so much for visiting!

With Wordpress, I cannot add a "Follow Me" widget

but I can use "Networked Blogs", which goes thru Facebook...

Or you can click "Sign Me Up" and you will receive an email

whenever there is a new post...

Honey Bunches Easel Card

I think this is my favorite card, ever!

The beehive originally came from Little Scraps of Heaven Designs

The image and sentiment came from Meljen's Designs

The springy bees came from Critters1DC font by Dingbat Crazy

Everything is colored with Crayola pencils and Zig markers.

The honeycomb embossing is a Fiskars Plate run thru my Big Kick.

The globs of "honey" are hot glue dots

to hold up the easel.

The shiny wings are glitter glue.

I used Inkscape to create an outline of the bees and image

which I cut with my Cricut for a "base" layer.

The springs are from a wire-edged ribbon.

I just pulled out the wire, wrapped it around a paint brush,

then hot-glued it between the bees and the "base" layer

on the springy bees

and between the layers of the card base.

That's it, I think!

When the bees wiggle, it is SO fun!

In real life, this is so super-cute! (-:

I'll be submitting this one to:

Meljen's Challenge #17, an Easel Card

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays, Use any Digital Image

Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge, Easel Card

Digi Doodle Shop's Best: Anything Goes

Your Next Stamp: Easel Card

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Cutie Patootie

Enjoy the Small Things, thank you card

Whew! For some reason, this card took me all week to put together!

The challenge at Crafty Sentiments Digital Designs was to use THREE papers

and for some reason, I had a lot of trouble with this one!

I finally decided on 3 papers from DCWV.

I created the sentiment/wordart in Inkscape.

Thank you to Paulette at Create with TLC for the Inspiration.

She has been posting FREEBIES all week

and gave me enough encouragement to try to make one myself.

I think it turned out OK and fit with this card!

I took the picture outside, so it's SUPER-BRIGHT!

The Sunshine is a Cricut cut from Doodlecharms.

I cut it out of "Peel & Stick Glitter Foam"

that I picked up at Walmart.

The Challenge this week at Bitten by the Bug 2

was to create a card that includes:

fall colors, a Cricut cut and a Stamp.

The ADORABLE image was my "Special" Freebie

from Paula at Tales from Pollycraft.

What a SUPER-GREAT challenge this was!

Use the new, exclusive FREEBIE in a new GREEN card.

Post it.

GET A NEW FREEBIE!

YAY!

And the new image was awesome to work with!

Maybe the reason it took so long to put together

is that I decided to follow a sketch

from Crafty Sentiments

I turned it on its side for this card.

Trying to figure out a layout with THREE papers

with fall colors

and that cute image

and my sentiment

plus a Cricut cut

was quite a challenge.

But that's what CHALLENGES are for, right?

And I think I pulled it off well enough

to submit my entry into those 4 challenges!

INSIDE:

Inside this card is a special SURPRISE!

Last week, at SVG Cuts they were giving away

a pop up cards SVG kit with any purchase.

I loved the look and style,

so created one similar in Inkscape.

Here is the SVG file I created.

Here is the SCUT file I created for Sure Cuts A Lot.

I used a font called "Bobo", which is similar to "Hobo" but it was FREE!

Quick recap:

So, I am entering this card in the following 4 challenges:

Crafty Sentiments, Challenge 27 (sketch)

Tales from Pollycraft (Flash your Freebies, Part 2)

Crafts and Love (3 Papers)

and

Bitten By the Bug 2 (fall related, including a Cricut cut and a stamp)

WISH ME LUCK (-:

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

There are a lot who contributed to this card.

The image is from Karen's Doodles.

The sketch design is from Karen's Doodles.

The color scheme came from The Sisterhood of Crafters.

The embossing, pop-dotting, and string are

"touchy feely" for The Creative Cottage.

The sentiment is for

The Order of the Opus Gluei.

The scalloped circle came from Kay's 09 Kutups font.

It is a gatefold card.

Here are pictures of the middle and inside:

Pollycraft Bold and Bright

Pollycraft Designs is having a super-fun challenge this week!

She is calling it "Flash Those Freebies" and

anyone who uses one of her previously posted freebies

will receive a Brand New, Never Released Freebie that is a SECRET!!

She is asking anyone who receives this SPECIAL RELEASE via email

to keep it a secret for a fun project yet to be announced!

My curiousity got the better of me and I HAD to participate!

The theme of the current challenge is BOLD AND BRIGHT!

I'm pretty sure I got that covered!

The image is (obviously) a Pollycraft Design Freebie.

Her name is Flo!

The paper is from a stack called Frutti Fusion from The Angel Company.

The flower stickies are from Colorbok.

I colored her with Zig markers (the brightest, boldest colors I could find).

Of course, I didn't realize the bottom strip of

background paper was crooked

until I took the picture!  {sigh}

Come on over to Pollycraft Designs and join in on the fun!

I can't wait to see what Paula comes up with next!

I have also entered this card at:

The Crafty Pad: Challenge 80: Inspirational Colors from a Photo