TIOT25 - Lily Goes Red, White and Blue!

Welcome to Tuesday! Today we have an extra-special, extra-patriotic Try it out Tuesday challenge from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design! This week on the SCACD blog we can see in ONLY red, white and blue!

Here is my creation, it's a 4.25" square card featuring LILY from Pink Cat Studio, along with Tweet. This image is from the Lily & Tweet plate, available for the amazing price of $12.50 from SCACD! I stamped the darlings with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when all the coloring was done. Cut and matted using Classic Oval Nestabilities. The rhinestones are Kaisercraft Diamond, and I used the same Copic marker that I colored her dress with to custom-color them to fit my palette. This is one of my FAVORITE tricks with the Copic markers - that you can customize so many different embellishments to the perfect color using them. They work on SO many surfaces, especially the plastic of the Bella Baubles, rhinestones, buttons, etc. -- I do it all the time!

Hope you find the time to play along with us during this holiday week! Color challenges are always fun and you can incorporate a 4th of July theme too if you are so inclined! Thanks for stopping by today, be sure to check out the rest of the red, white and blue spirit from the SCACD design team {blog links on my left sidebar}. See you tomorrow!

LPS Monday - Cupcakes!

Happy Monday! Can you believe it's almost July already? Time flies!! Today for LPS Monday I wanted to share this Katie Cupcake card. She's a cutie! I could go for a big giant cupcake today.

I colored Katie with Copic markers and paper pieced the cupcake. Then I went over the colored cupcake top with a Quickie Glue Pen and added some iridescent/pinkish Art Insitute Glitter (forgot the name) to the entire top. Lots of Soft Pink Kaisercraft Rhinestones and Basic Grey Bittersweet paper and she's all set!

There is a challenge this week on the LPS blog - it's a Sketch with a Twist! You can see the sketch over on the blog and the twist is to use cupcakes!! So I got it half right this week! ;-) Go check it out, and leave some love for the rest of the LPS design team if you have time (links on my left sidebar). There should be lots of cupcake inspiration out there in blog land today so eat up!

Chase Your Dreams

Welcome to the weekend! Today I have a fun card to share made with my Victoria Case for SCACD images. Isn't this little Follow Your Heart girl a CUTIE?? I love her smile and her big eyes.

I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when all the coloring was done. The sentiment is from the "Susanaments 2" set that Susana designed to accompany some of her illustrator's collections. Love them! I masked it off to stamp it vertically instead of horizontally and then cut it out using Classic Oval Nestabilities. The background paper strips are Basic Grey Bittersweet, and the double-sided grosgrain is from RABOM. Pink Rhinestones from Kaisercraft, and I covered the oval balloon in the front with a Clear Copic Glitter Pen for some sparkle {didn't show up so well in the pic}.

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Clearly Nuts...For You - TIOT24

Happy Tuesday out there in blogland! You know what this means - another fabulous Try it out Tuesday from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design! This week on the SCACD blog we can see CLEARLY now, as challenged by the extremely talented Suzanne Dean - use ACETATE on your project today. Yahoo! I really like playing with acetate on cards, boxes, and other papercrafting goodies, but I don't use it as much as I should. So thanks for the nudge Suzanne!

Here is my clear creation, it's a clear card, A2 sized, with a white cardstock insert on the inside panel for writing the greeting. For today's project I wanted to get my new Victoria Case for SCACD stamps back out and give them some love!! This image is called Nuts for You from the Hearts and Hugs Collection {Victoria Case for SCACD} released last month. Love her!! Those big, beautiful eyes and Victoria does scenery just BEAUTIFULLY! I stamped this cuties with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when all the coloring was done. Cut and matted using Square Nestabilities.

The sentiment is from the set designed by Susana to compliment these great images - they are called "Susanaments"! So adorable! I omitted it with my ink pad so I could put the words underneath each other to fit into the circle. Added lots of Lilac Kaisercraft rhinestones on the scallops of the square, layered it over my yummy Basic Grey WISTERIA paper panel, and viola! Such fun to work with clear cards, I hope you are inspired to give it a try and play along with us! Thanks for stopping by today.

LPS Monday - Growing Old

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. :)

You know I love my Mondays - time to play with stamps from the {Little Paper Shop}, that is a guaranteed good time for me! Today's sample features the {Growing Old} stamp set, a fun collection of humorous sentiments about birthdays and aging. I have used this set a number of times already and I can tell it will be one to pull out often, especially for those milestone birthday celebrations! The colors are Purely Pomegranate and Kraft and the paper is Basic Grey Bittersweet.

Since it's the start of a new week, over on the LPS blog there is a new sketch challenge up and running today! If you participate in our sketch challenge and link your creation over on the blog this week, you will be entered into the drawing to win 2 free digital stamps from the {Little Paper Shop}! Woo hoo! Sketch challenges are my favorite ones, and this week is a really versatile one. I ran out of time to participate with all the family stuff this past week, but I am looking forward to seeing what YOU make with it! Remember, free is good!

Stop by and visit the rest of the LPS DT as well, their blog links are on my left sidebar. I know blurfing can often fall by the wayside when we get busy, I am EXTREMELY guilty of that right now with everything in my life and my family the last few weeks, but they all work hard and could use some love if you have time. {I do hope to start getting back around to blogs this week, I did not forget you ladies!}. Of course visit the LPS store blog for the sketch challenge details and sketchy inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by today, I will see you tomorrow!

Anki's Sweethearts - Isac

Bring on the weekend! I don't know about you but it's been a long week over here so I am happy to have an extra set of hands around here with the kids for the next two days. :)

Today's project features one of the new Sweethearts from Anki's June release at Susana's Custom Art and Card Design - meet Isac! I am always ready for good boy images and Anki did not disappoint! You can see all the latest stamps by clicking the link above, or the blinkie in my right sidebar.

I stamped this cutie with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him with - you guessed it - Copic markers. I cut out the finished image using Labels 4 Nestabilities and then snipped off the sides with my paper cutter. I cut the same shape a second time, colored the paper to match with my Copics and then cut off the top and bottom with my paper cutter and added them as a shadow of a mat behind the main image for a little more dimension.

The soccer ball paper is from my stash, as are the green brads that make the line along the side. The word "Goal" is from the latest set of Susanaments designed to accompany the new Anki's Sweethearts. I omitted the rest of the sentiment just because it wouldn't fit onto the card. The image panel is adhered with dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope that everyone has a great Father's Day weekend!

Try It Out Tuesday #23 - Get Sketchy

Hello and welcome to another Try it out Tuesday from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design! This week on the SCACD blog we are getting SKETCHY with a fabulous sketch challenge created by our own Suzanne Dean. This week's sketch does double-duty, both as our DT challenge AND as the monthly sketch on the PCP page for SCACD. If you play along with us here using this sketch and upload your creation to PCP with the keyword "scacdjune", you will be entered into the random drawing to win a stamp from the store! So get inspired and get sketchy with us at SCACD!

Here is my creation, featuring this awesome Adirondack Chair from Lockhart Stamp Company. I stamped the chair with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers {bet you get sick of hearing me say that part of the card-making recipe, huh?!}. I cut out the finished image using Labels 1 Nestabilities. Added some clouds to the background and used my all-time favorite, Lily-Kate paper from Basic Grey. For the long skinny panel on the left side I hand-drew in some stitching to go along with the more "shabby" or "rustic" look to this card.

Pretty simple today, but I have to say, that chair looks good no matter how you color it!! All it needs is an ocean view and it would be my idea of paradise!! Thanks for stopping by today. Be sure to visit the rest of the SCACD DT blogs {links in my left sidebar} and the SCACD store blog for more sketchy inspiration.

LPS Preview - {Garden Gate}

Happy Monday!!! Monday is always a happy day for me since I joined the {Little Paper Shop} DT, because that's our weekly challenge and project spotlight day!! And today is extra-special because I am back to preview our second June new release set, and this time, we have a challenge to go along with it!

Introducing: {Garden Gate}! There is so much to love about this set - from the chic cafe table set to the sweet sentiments there is something for every style here! For my card I chose this fabulous flowered arch - gorgeous! This set is like nothing LPS has done before and is SUPER fun to color and embellish. The sentiments are perfect for all occasion so we know you will be getting plenty of use out of this brand new set!

Be sure to head over to the LPS blog today to see what the DT has created for this challenge. It's also LPS Monday, and the 15th of the month (the day of our monthly DT challenge), which means we have QUITE the awesome challenge for you, and not only one, but TWO ways to WIN this set!

This month's DT challenge is to use TEXTURE on your project, so think of all that good stuff we have to add a little oomph to our projects - Flower Soft, flock, embossing powder, dry embossing, paper toile, beads, even chunky glitter. If it adds texture, we want to see it!! Keyword LPSC20 for uploading.

My texture on today's project is FLOWER SOFT, fabulous with this lovely archway. I also used dry embossing with the Cuttlebugged background. Colored the rest of the arch with Copic markers, the sketch is MOJO90. I had such fun playing with this set, I hope you do too!

Want MORE deals and steals from LPS?? For one week only, beginning with Tuesday's release, BOTH new releases are on sale for 10% off at {Little Paper Shop} (while supplies last)!

As far as WINNING this wonderful set, you can do that in two ways. First, you can participate in our fun DT challenge, issued this month by the FABULOUS me (LOL), and as always, you can leave a comment on the LPS blog to be randomly selected for another chance to win! So we'll see you over at the LPS blog right now for all the fun!

LPS Preview - {Katie Cupcake}

Happy Sunday! Still half the weekend to go, I hope you are enjoying yours! Today is extra-special since we have the first day of June previews for this month's {Little Paper Shop} release! We are so excited to be releasing two super-cute sets this month! Both sets will be released THIS Tuesday, June 16th and will be on sale for 10% off beginning on release day. This sale will last one week or while supplies last, so be sure to grab your new stamps while they're HOT! This first set is called {Katie Cupcake}. Isn't she a cutie?

I paired her with some Basic Grey Lime Rickey and this week's sketch over at Taylored Expressions (TECC72). I'm not usually a bright colors fan, but I thought she would look good with this paper and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to try this sketch.

I stamped Katie with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored her with Copic markers. The cupcake top is painted with Shimmerz. Lime Rickey patterned paper of course, with Night of Navy and Pink Passion cardstock. The custom brads are a SU build-a-brad (love this concept!!) and I added some beads I had in my stash as a last "sprinkle" over the top of the cupcake.

Be sure to head on over to the LPS blog today to check out the rest of the DT's adorable previews and also to join us in welcoming TWO new DT members! We are thrilled to announce that Heather Lee-Reppen and Janna Hull have accepted the invitation to our Design Team and can't wait to "WOW" you and show off their creative skillz with LPS!

Last but not least, as always with our LPS releases -- do you want to WIN this set? All you have to do is leave a comment over on the LPS blog for today's {Katie Cupcake} post and and one lucky winner will be chosen tomorrow via Random.org. Good luck!

Anki's Sweethearts - RELEASE DAY!!

Want this badge?"

Yes, it's HERE!! Today is the day and the new Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design are available now at the store!! Click on the blinkie above to be taken directly to the main Anki page.

Here's another sample for you. This card uses Rebecka, who is teaching all sorts of important things to her stuffed bunnies. Isn't she a SWEETHEART?! I matched her up with the blinkie, LOL, it was unintentional, I swear!! Just like the last few days, each design team member is showing off one of the new images on their blogs today, as well as on the SCACD store blog, so be inspired!!

I stamped Miss Rebecka in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when all the coloring was done. Cut and matted using Circle Nestabilities. I added the white sugarcoating glitter to her headband using a Quickie Glue pen - the BEST glue for adding powders, hands down, I buy them in quantities of at least 5, heehee, and use them all the time. If you haven't tried it you should, it's cheap, holds well, dries clear and has a fine point tip so you can get a little bit of "blue glue" into almost any nook or cranny you'll find! Threaded through my layered ribbon, hand-doodled around the edge of the main image and the sentiment and viola! The glittery paper is from Die Cuts With A View and the patterned paper is Basic Grey Wisteria, which Susana will soon be carrying!!.

As I said, the stamps are IN STOCK now so enjoy your Friday Frenzy Spending Spree of these new little Sweethearts! Have a great weekend!

Anki's Sweethearts 2 PREVIEW - Emilia

Woo hoo!! Another day of previews for the new series of Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design!! Just like yesterday, each design team member is showing off one of the new images on their blogs today, and the new stamps will be available for purchase at the SCACD store tomorrow, June 12th at 4 AM EST.

My card for today features Emilia, this little doll with her flowers and picnic basket. Isn't she wonderful?? Anki did a wonderful job with these new images!

I stamped Miss Emilia in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when all the coloring was done. Cut and matted using Petite Oval Nestabilities. The colors are Bashful Blue, Old Olive and Really Rust.

I took a piece of die-cut chipboard and painted it with Pumpkin Smooch before tucking it behind my oval to add a little extra pizazz. That's a Petaloo Dazzler on the horizontal panel, layered with a regular green paper flower. Glitter Dots along the bottom to finish it off!

If you haven't already, be sure to swing over to the SCACD Store Blog today for a chance to WIN the ENTIRE RELEASE!! Details are on the post here. You have until 11 PM EST TODAY, June 11th to enter!

Also, hop around to all the DT member blogs to get a glimpse of all 8 of the new Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD. {Links on my left sidebar}. After all these fun previews, tomorrow morning you can get some of these great images for your very own! Thanks for stopping by today, I will see you tomorrow with more Anki inspiration!

Anki's Sweethearts 2 PREVIEW - Fluffy

It's here!! Today is the first preview day for the new series of Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design!! I think you all know how much I loved the first series, and these new ones have even managed to top that release. Each design team member is showing off one of the new images on their blogs today and tomorrow, and the new stamps will be available for purchase at the SCACD store THIS Friday, June 12th at 4 AM EST.

My card for today features FLUFFY, this darling little bunny. Isn't he adorable?? Oh, that little face is just perfect. For some reason I keep calling Fluffy a "he", and then I colored "him" pink for today's card. Go figure!! I like that s/he can be any color, really, depending on how you want to accessorize! Makes it so versatile for baby cards, kid birthdays, just because, or anything you need!

I stamped Fluffy in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when all the coloring was done. Cut and matted using Classic Circle Nestabilities. The colors are Pretty in Pink and Always Artichoke. I found the sentiment tag in my friend Heather's stash when we were stamping on Saturday - how PERFECT! Thanks Heather!

Swing over to the SCACD Store Blog today and tomorrow for a chance to WIN the ENTIRE RELEASE!! Details are on the post here. You have until 11 PM EST on Thursday June 11 {tomorrow} to enter!

Be sure to go around to all the DT member blogs today to get a glimpse of all 8 of the new Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD. {Links on my left sidebar}. Tomorrow we'll have more art for you and then on Friday you can get some of these great images for your very own! Thanks for stopping by today, I will see you tomorrow!

Try It Out Tuesday #22 - Beer Fairy?!

Happy Tuesday out there in blog land! Welcome to another Try it Out Tuesday {#22}. This week over on the SCACD store blog, DT leader Suzanne Dean challenged us to make a Father's Day card and gift. Since most of the stamps that I have from the Susana Custom Art and Card Design Store are girly, I had to improvise!! Heck, this is all my DH probably wants for Father's Day anyway, LOL, so it fits great! Here is a view of just the card:

And here is a view of the inside of the card:

The colors I chose for this project are Ballet Blue and YoYo Yellow {to match the Miller Lite cans}. I Cuttlebugged the Ballet Blue background piece in Houndstooth to make it more "manly". The sentiments on the front and the inside were done on the computer.

I stamped Miss Sassafras from Faerie Song Art Stamps {available at Susana's Store} in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the Ranger white gel pen when she was all colored. Her wings are painted with Silver Bells Shimmerz. I cut the ovals for the image and mat using the Classic Oval Nestabilities. The main image and the long sentiment on the front of the card are on dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to visit the SCACD store blog for more Father's Day gift ideas. You can also visit the rest of the SCACD design team's blogs individually by clicking the links on my left sidebar. See you tomorrow for the FIRST PREVIEW of the new series of Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD!!! It's going to be so much fun, these new images are FABULOUS, I know you'll love them as much as I do!

LPSC19 - {Sweet} Colors

Helloooooo Monday! Hope everyone had a good weekend! Today's card features {Sugar}, one of the newest releases from the {Little Paper Shop}. I am always up for a sweet treat, LOL so I had to pull this one out again for this week's COLOR challenge - keyword LPSC19. Here is my card:

As always, there is a prize for participating in LPS Monday!!! The random winner of this week's challenge will receive 2 free digi images of their choice. Worth the price of admission! You need to link your project to the post on the LPS blog to enter. Uploading keyword to all of our favorite forum sites is LPSC19 so we can find your project and leave some love! Be sure to visit the rest of the LPS designers today and see their creations {links on my left sidebar}, and I will see you back here tomorrow!

Photo Scavenger Hunt WINNER!!

Time to announce the winner of my contest for the Limelight Papercrafts First Anniversary celebration!! You may remember, but up for grabs is a Flashee Fuchsia Shimmerz and a Mudpie Shimmerz Spritz from Mandy. It's past 10 AM, I know. But this was tough!!

I had 12 entries between blog posts and e-mails. I want to thank EVERYONE for entering! Your pictures were all such fun to look at and I love all the creative ideas too! In the end I had to go with the name in the hat method because I could not choose a favorite from the group, you all made me smile -- kittens, puppies, babies, wow!! {The Packers, The Yankees, it's like you all KNOW me, LOL}.

The winner of Flashee Fuchsia Shimmerz and a Mudpie Shimmerz Spritz is CAMMY from Crafty Cammy's Corner! Send me your snail mail info and I'll have Mandy send your prize! Congratulations!

Last thing - remember to hop over to Limelight and enter ONEYEAR at the checkout and receive 20% off your entire order {effective through Sunday, June 7th}.

TIOT21 - Lily Goes To A Party

Welcome to another Try it out Tuesday from Susana's Custom Art and Card Design and the SCACD store blog!! This week DT leader Suzanne Dean challenged us to create a Summer Party Invitation.

I thought about this one for awhile and decided to reach for this fabulous Enchanted Lily set from Pink Cat Studio. To me she is just SCREAMING "Garden Party" from her backyard swing!

I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black, then colored with watercolor Copics. I added some touches with the with the white gel pen after she was all colored in. I stamped her again on a piece of scrap white cardstock and recolored her wings. I then painted them with Angel Wings Shimmerz, cut them out, and placed them over the top of the original image. I glued down the part that was closest to her body and used foamie dots to pop up the outside to give it more dimension. The camera didn't capture it very well but the wings are nice and sparkly!

My sketch comes from this week's layout at Taylored Expressions {TECC70}. It worked great for this image and I found a tiny little "It's a Party!" sentiment to compliment the card in one of my Inky Antics sets. Viola! I just love these happy summer colors. :-)

Be sure to visit the SCACD store blog today for more inspiration from the rest of the DT, and then swing over to the store to stock up on all the latest and greatest goodies!! In addition to all the great stamps and well-known favorite accessories, Susana has a great selection of the new Shimmerz Spritz in stock. This is GOOD STUFF!! No more painting Shimmerz onto flowers, a couple quick squirts and you are in business! Great coverage, no clumps, lumps, bleeding, dark spots, etc. It dries fast and gives so much sparkle. I love it! I can already tell from the few I have that I NEED all the colors. {Right now.}

;-)

Thanks for stopping by today! See you tomorrow!

Limelight's Anniversary Celebration -- and PRIZES!!

**Scroll down one post for my LPS Monday card!!**

Hi everyone! Lots going on today!! Did you know that Limelight Papercrafts is officially ONE YEAR OLD? How fun is that?! I was a Seventh Six Chick {Guest Designer} for Mandy back in February and had a blast working with her and the team! She's such a sweetie and she's SO excited about this big day for her shop so she's going ALL OUT. Customers, friends, blog readers, stampers....you get the goodies.

Mandy's DT, along with some friends, are having bunches of games and prizes. Oh yes! There are 14 of us in all, and she says you can enter for ALL of the prizes! You can visit Mandy's blog post here for the full lineup of games and a listing of all the prizes up for grabs.

And now for MY game! I am having a PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT. I chose this particular game because I actually won a prize from Mandy last fall during her WCMD contest for the photo scavenger hunt, and I had SUCH fun playing along! Up for grabs is a Flashee Fuchsia Shimmerz and a Mudpie Shimmerz Spritz. Woo hoo!! Have you tried the new Shimmerz Spritz? My BFF Heather is on their DT and she showed me -- swoon!! Good stuff, way better than the Glimmer Mist or similar products. You need some, trust me.

So, how do you play? I want to see the following THREE photos. You can post them on your blog if you'd like, and then leave a comment here on THIS POST with a link so we can all check them out. If you don't have a blog you can still play along, just e-mail me your photos with the subject line "Limelight Contest" {so I don't accidentally dump you into SPAM} and I'll include your entry. You must have all three photos to be entered. Easy peasy! Oh, and these don't have to be NEW photos, or even taken specifically for this contest. It just has to be *A PHOTO* of the specified item {and you are encouraged to use your imagination.}. Ok, are you ready? Let's see your best pictures of...

• A cat nap
• Something yummy
• Four

On Thursday, June 4th, at 10 AM the contest will close and we will choose our favorite entry to be the winner! Remember, there's a chance at a Flashee Fuchsia Shimmerz and a Mudpie Shimmerz Spritz in it for you. Enjoy!

LPSC18 - Sketch Time!

Happy Monday! Time for another {Little Paper Shop} weekly challenge!! Are you ready?! This week it's a sketch created by our very own Allison. How fun is that?? You can see the sketch, above, and here is my card - keyword LPSC18:

I used the new {Floral Frenzy} stamp set that was released just last week. The flower, flourishes and sentiments all come from this one very versatile set! The patterned paper is from Basic Grey - Wisteria - and the rest of the ink and cardstock colors are Almost Amethyst, River Rock and Always Artichoke. I stamped the sentiments in Rich Cocoa Memento ink. The Kaisercraft Pearls are a color called "Latte" - you know I love my pearls! I added the buff-colored highlighting around the base of the flower and flourishes using a Prismacolor pencil blended with gamsol.

Be sure to check out the LPS store blog as well as the blogs of the rest of the LPS design team {their links are in my left sidebar}. If you would like to play along with us this week we would love to have you -- and if you do you'll be entered into a random drawing to win two free digital images from the {Little Paper Shop}!! Just create a card using this sketch and link your project up on this week's post over on the LPS store blog. Easy peasy!