From the Smallest Packages come the Greatest Miracles

We are already up to the ninth challenge at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog! This week, we have been asked to create a project using NO designer paper! We had to create our own background!


I used the "Curiosity" image from The Stamping Boutique and doodled my background sparkles to mimic the doodles in the image. The sparkles have "Creative Inspirations" paint, so they are quite shimmery up close and personal! I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils, cut the leaves and vines from MyScrapChick and used "Breezy Backyard Lever Cards" from SVGCuts.com for my card base. The seam binding ribbon is from JLJ Designs and is available at her shop for only $0.99 for THREE YARDS! (that's NINE FEET for only 99 cents!! The papers are all from a pack of colored cardstock in my stash (no labels??)... 

The acorns were "picked" fresh from my back yard by my boys. They seemed appropriate since the theme of the image seems to be the focus on the miracle of growth! It truly is amazing, how Mother Nature works!! From tiny eggs and seeds come the most wonderful, beautiful birds and trees and all things awesome!


As I was browsing Blogland, seeking inspiration for my TSB DT project for this week's challenge, I came across The Stamping Sisters in Christ and the quote for inspiration this week was a basis for the whole theme of my card!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

There are a few other challenges this week I'd like to submit my card:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts, Fairies
One Stitch at a Time, Things with Wings
Stampin Sisters in Christ, Card you Doodle On
Craft Catz, Fancy Folds
Delicious Doodles, Things that Flutter
Polka Doodles, All of a Flutter
Simply Create, Fly with Us
Papercrafting Journey, Our Feathered Friends
By the Cute and Girly, In the Garden
Creative Craft Challenges, Make Your Own Background
A Spoonful of Sugar, Ribbons and Bows




and last but not least:
The Latte Lounge June Monthly Challenge:
the third requirement is to Add an Object from Outside!


We would LOVE for you to join us at the "Lounge"!!


The Monthly Challenge is SUPER-FUN and the 
KID'S Challenge (Dreaming of a Sunny Day) has really gotten some very creative entries!


I'm so happy you decided to stop in to visit today and hope to see you over at the "Lounge"! 

Latte Lounge Kids' Challenge: NEW FREEBIES POSTED!!

This is the LAST WEEK for our 

Kid's Challenge at the Latte Lounge!

All month, we're asking you to create projects 

for your Mom

or for any other Special Women in Your Life... 

We are being sponsored by Stitchy Bear Stamps

and the winner will get a

$10 Gift Certificate to the Stitchy Bear Store!

THANK YOU STITCHY!!

We have a special treat this month too!

Stitchy Bear stamps has given us permission

to post FREEBIES for the Kid's to use in their projects!

All the Stitchy Bear Stamps images are 

in zipped files.

You can find them at the bottom 

of the KID'S CHALLENGE page HERE!

Mom's you can help open the files for your kids, right?

In the first set, there are 5 great images to color!

In the second set, there are 6 circles for sentiments!

Have fun with them and 

we can't wait to see all your great projects!! 

Here are FOUR NEW Freebies!!

You only have ONE MORE WEEK

until this challenge closes!

Make sure to post ALL your cards 

at the Latte Lounge

Kids' Challenge

by clicking HERE!!

Latte Lounge Kid's Challenge Halfway Reminder!

Hi Kids!

Today, we are half way through our Kid's Challenge at The Latte Lounge!

Remember, we are being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique 

and if you enter, you might win TWO images from the Store!

Here's a card my little boy, Joey, made for his friend Jacob.

He used a Mighty Mouse that I cut out for him on my Cricut a lone time ago

(for the Mom's, the SVG & SCAL file is available on my SVG Files Page)

Don't forget to make something special for your "BFF" and post it by Friday

for a chance to win our KID'S CHALLENGE!!!

Tutorial Challenge at the Latte Lounge! March 5th thru March 19th

Hello and happy weekend!

Hope everyone is getting a little time to P-L-A-Y!!

It's time for a new Saturday challenge at the Latte Lounge.

This week, I have chosen a Tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers called a "Wiper Card".

This is a fun and easy card to put together and only takes one piece of card stock and a few small scraps for decorating/embellishing!

When it's closed, it fits into a standard A2 size envelope!

Pull out the sides and the little tab pops up, like a windshield wiper, hence the name "Wiper Card"!

I think this is a fun and easy challenge and it would be great practice to do a card that's just a little bit different than a plain, ole' regular rectangle!

For my card, I chose to use the "Relax... Set" which is available at The Stamping Boutique! There are SIX separate digis in that set! I have used 5 for this project (the sentiment, the tub with Princess Jennifer Latte, the bar of soap, the towel bar and the lotion that pops up)!

This challenge is sponsored by The Stamping Boutique

and the winner will get to choose TWO images

from The Stamping Boutique Store!

It's a great time to shop TSB!

There's a 25% off sale running right now

and Tracey has released all KINDS of new and amazing images!

This challenge will run from Saturday, March 5th

through Saturday, March 19th!

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE TUTORIAL

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE LATTE LOUNGE CHALLENGE

While you've got The Stamping Boutique on your mind, take a look at the TSB Challenge Blog.

We're having a different kind of Blog Hop... you only have to hop to ONE place!

Our DT has created a variety of projects for your viewing pleasure.

If you choose to VOTE for your favorite, you'll be entered to win!!

You VOTE, YOU win!!

How much better does it get?

Challenge # 1 for the Stamping Boutique: TSB!!

I am so excited this morning! 

Today we are starting TSB challenges!! 

We have some wonderful challenges and 

some outstanding inspiration for all of you so 

be sure you join us at the Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog 

every other Tuesday for a new challenge, challenge winners, 

and most importantly inspiration from our DT!!!

Just a few little blah blah blah things before we get started!

~The challenges for now will be bi-weekly until we get the numbers up and then we will go to weekly challenges so be sure to check in every other Tuesday for the new challenge

~We will have winners. 

The winner of 5 images will be picked by random drawing. 

There will also be picking the 3 favorites for that challenge and will have a button for you to add to your blog to show off 

that you have awesome crafting skills

~All the rules are on the sidebar so please take a quick minute to look over them. I wouldn't want anyone to be disqualified because the rules weren't followed!

~If you can't find the current challenge (this blog is very busy so we don't want the challenge to get lost) you can always find it by hitting the tab along  the top that says "current challenge"

Okay....now for the FUN!!!

CHALLENGE #1

The Stamping Boutique

T(texture) S(sparkle) B(buttons)

We thought there was no better way to start off the challenges 

than by using  the letters of TSB. 

So for your projects 

(they do NOT have to be cards...and scrapbooking is encouraged) 

we want to see some texture, 

lots of sparkle (we love sparkle), 

and buttons.

Can you handle that? 

Here's how I handled this challenge!!!

For my project, I chose to use:

Princess Jennifer Latte Shoe Shopping

which you can grab HERE at the TSB Store.

And BONUS!! 

TSB is having a 25% off S-A-L-E!!

~per rules on the sidebar of the challenge blog you do NOT have to use a TSB image but if you do....you will get entered for the prize 2 times. Also, if you make a scrapbooking page for your project you will be entered for the prize 2 times. 

(and just a little inside FYI....Tracey has just released some awesome scrapbooking images ;-) I know your excited about that!!)

So, grab your Texture, Sparkle and Buttons

and c'mon over and show us whatcha got!!

HERE is the link to the Challenge Blog

It's a pretty busy place, so if you don't see the Challenge Post

there is a tab at the top of the page!
Just click "Current Challenge"
to enter your (T)  (S) (B) Project!!

For my project:

image:The Stamping Boutique, PJL Shoe Shopping

colored Digitally with Paint.NET

Scalloped flourish flower frame: SVGCuts.com

Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder

Die cut embellies: The Scrapping Table Glamour Girl Collection

Sparkle: Shimmerz Blingz December Sky

Sporty Saturday Challenge at the Latte Lounge

After speaking with my Latte Lounge teammates, we have all decided that we're fans of "alliteration".
That means, according to Wikipedia:

repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of a series of words and/or phrases.

What that means to you, dear Reader, is that from now on, the Saturday Challenges will all include some kind of alliteration. This week, the title of the challenge is all the letter "S"! (Sporty Saturday).


It could be in the title of the challenge or in the challenge itself... guess you'll have to come back every week to find out!! Isn't that EXCITING!!??!!  {insert Smiley face here}}  (-:


Everyone seems to have jumped past New Years and leaped right into Valentine's Day and we've all forgotten one of the biggest holidays of the year: SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!!


So in honor of all the football fans, to those gearing up for March Madness, and for those who like to go shopping while hubby hogs the remote, this one is for YOU!!


You'll have two weeks to submit anything "Sporty" over at the Latte Lounge!!


I got lucky this week because my little boy was invited to a Birthday Party for one of the members of his Upward Basketball team. So, being the crafty momma that I am, I refuse to go to the Dollar Store and pick up some cheap toy and call it a gift! Oh NO! Not us!! We MADE our gift!!


We used the "Basketball" Cricut cartridge for the card with a few very simple embellishments: the little boy is turning 11, so it's a tough age: cute is too young but grunge is more for teens, so he's right in the middle... we stuck with something we hope he'll like!

For his gift, what little boy doesn't love to write his name all over everything he owns?
We made him a sign for his room... he's right at the age when privacy starts to be an issue, so I think the timing for this one will be good!
We used cereal boxes, K&Company papers, and a cool font I found free online, called "Anime"... the sports figures were in a dingbat font called "Sports SVG's", also free online. We heat embossed a swirl in the corners, added some blue ribbon for the hanger and held it all together with Modge Podge and a prayer!

I hope he'll enjoy his gift made from the heart!


And I hope you'll come over to the Latte Lounge to join us for this Sporty Saturday Challenge!

It's WACKY WEDNESDAY again!!!

Hello!!

Last week, there were FIVE awesome entries in the Wacky Wednesday Challenge, Use Real Wood.

Because it is impossible to pick my favorite, I used Random.org.

The winning entry was submitted by Brenda Burfreind.
Here is Brenda's awesome project:

Now, it's time for a new "Wacky" Challenge!

This one is for all the Jerry McGuire Movie fans!

The challenge this week is

 "SHOW ME THE MONEY"~ 

USE REAL MONEY IN OR ON YOUR PROJECT!!

Here is the one I made:

It's a Sliding Card.

When you pull the sides, it slides open to reveal it's secret compartment!

Here's the inside:

Fun, right?

Can't wait to see all your Wacky creations!!!

C'mon over to the Latte Lounge and play with us!!

While making this card, I ended up using a template I created in Inkscape and cut with MTC on my Cricut.

I am going to fine-tune the template and will offer it here with my free SVG files, if anyone is interested!

I suppose this is a good time to mention that I have received a blog award from Tracy at Jedi Scrapbooking:

You got awarded an "I got the Attitude! Blog Award? Now what?

Well first of all Congratulations!!

YOUR BLOG'S GOT THE 'TUDE BABY!!

In order to qualify for the $5.00 Digi’s With Attitude! Gift Certificate you must state 3 things that makes you different from everyone else and you must nominate 5 blogs. Lastly, you must display the Blog Award Badge (above) in your sidebar and link it back to the Digi’s With Attitude! Challenge Blog.

If you have been awarded the “I got the Attitude! Blog Award” and you have followed all the steps please email dwacblog@live.com claim your Gift Certificate. Include your full name and your blog name. Only one gift Certificate per person & blog please. 

Gift Certificates will be sent to you within 48 hours of receipt on a business day via a reply to the email received. 

YAY!! I'll be getting my $5 Gift Certificate!!

You can BET I'll be using it toward the new Animals with Attitude!

Have you seen Gretta Gobble !!?!!

LOVE HER !!!

Three things that make me different:

1. I don't create for YOUR pleasure, I create for MINE! I have mentioned it before, but sometimes, we get so wrapped up in trying to make things that other people will like and approve of, that we forget that creation is a form or artistic expression. I make what I like and I hope that people will like what they see, but if they don't, that's OK with me too!
2. I don't have a "Craft Room"!! {gasp!!} nope, we have a large Family room and along one wall, DH and I have our computers and desks set up side-by-side. I have a shelving system next to my desk where I put all my "craft stuff" and when I'm working on a big project, I open up a folding table and use that! The other part of the room is taken up by my piano, his guitars (and all his gear-amps, pedals, switches, cords, etc- AUCK- what a mess HIS space is!!) and a wall unit book-shelf/entertainment center where we have a TV, PS2, Wii and MILLIONS of books, movies and music CD's... it's an all-purpose room and we spend a lot of time in one room together doing different things! (-:
3. I own 4 pairs of shoes! Can you BELIEVE it??? Over the past several years, I have been a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) and for the most part, between working with hubby and playing with kids, there has not been a lot of time for "dressing up". I spend most of my days in sweats or comfy clothes! Mu shoes include sneakers, boots, sandals, and "dressy" black heels. Oh yeah, and flip-flops! (-:

So, who are my favorite people to nominate for this award?

It's a tough choice!

Whoever I pick will be awarded the $5 Digis with Attitude! Certificate! (as long as they follow the rules)

Here goes:

My nominees for the "Attitude Award" are:

1. Cely, at Creating in Carolina (this chick uses a SLEDGE HAMMER for crafting!!)
2. Tammy, at OBX Stamping (she is raising a 19-month old hand full!)
3. Stef, the one and ONLY Glitterbabe (one of the most entertaining blogs, definitely a first-read)
4. Jen at JLJ Designs (she has one of the nicest "Attitudes" I know and she's one talented artist!!)
5. Lorie, at Live-Love-Laugh-Create (she has a real "Can-do" attitude and her blog is full of motivation)

Congratulations, ladies!!! Wear your new badge with pride!!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Oh my darling craft area! I have missed you so!!

I haven't had time to make one single thing in several days and thought I was going to have DT's (not Design Teams, Delirium Tremors) from withdrawal!!!

So, I finally managed to carve out some time and made this little cutie for the Digis With Attitude! Challenge

This week is a sketch, which I think I followed EXACTLY... no deviation for me... (-:

It may not look like much, but it's a "Big Deal" card for me because I FINALLY learned how to use a Nestabilities Shape and have the image "hanging over" without cutting off her legs!!! WOO-HOO! To me, this was a BIG accomplishment, considering all the amputees I have strewn around my craft area!! (-:

The image is actually a Freebie called "Posey Bratz" that Cindy-Lynn offers on her Inkie Fingers site. I was PLANNING to use one of the new Grumpy Gretchen's for this project, but, well, let's just say it didn't work out as planned and leave it at that (see comment above regarding amputees)!!

On another note, look at this AWESOME card Jennifer from JLJ Designs made for the "Wacky Wednesday" Challenge at the Latte Lounge!!

I LOVE IT!!!! And her helper, Peanut, gathered the twigs!!
The inside is just as fabulous as the front. Jen has been creating a series of gift card holders inside her cards and it really is a neat technique!! You can read all about it at here blog HERE

There aren't many entries yet for the "Wacky Wednesday" Challenge, and there's only one week to go!

C'mon over to The Latte Lounge and play with us!!

It's actually kinda fun using something other than the same old regular stuff and there are TWO Stamping Boutique images up for grabs... ANY two you like! (and considering all the GREAT stuff available at The Stamping Boutique, choosing only two can be a challenge all its own!!

Hope to see you there!!



Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

The Latte Lounge Digi Paper Challenge #1

Things are really getting interesting at The Latte Lounge!

JLJ Designs is hosting our
FIRST EVER DIGI PAPER CHALLENGE!!!


This was SUCH a fun challenge!

She provided a FREE Thanksgiving Digi Paper and challenged us to create something, anything, with it!


This is my creation! I LOVE how this turned out and have been chomping at the bit to post it and am so happy the challenge is finally here!

Jen was generous enough to let the Latte Lounge DT play with the Paper Pack that she is giving away as the Prize for the challenge! I used EVERY paper in the pack for my paper-pieced little guy!

The image is "AJ the Pilgrim" from The Stamping Boutique. The background is two MORE TSB images, "Farm Pantry" and "Pantry Shelf", both colored with Prismacolor Pencils!

The sentiment is computer generated using the "Tinkertoy" font. DH actually thought of it and I thought it was pretty funny... a new take on "Look who's coming for dinner"... the way AJ's arm is around the turkey, it looks like they're going out on a date... but WHO is going to BE dinner!?! Hee-hee! Is that warped??? (-:

Here's a little closer shot of how the paper-piecing worked out! I LOVE it and even tho it took awhile to cut those tiny pieces, I sure do think it turned out cute!

I'd like it very much if you could jump on over, download your FREEBIE digi paper
and play along with us this week!
The prize is the ENTIRE paper pack AND two Stamping Boutique Images!!!

The winner will receive the ENTIRE Thanksgiving Paper Pack
AND TWO images from The Stamping Boutique!

And don't forget about the Colors of Fall Challenge that ends November 4th!

and the Wacky Wednesday Challenge that ends November 16th!

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

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!

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!!

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 (-: