TIOT19, MTTSC24, JBE055 - Alexa!

I love Tuesdays! Always a multiple challenge day, which is fun fun fun! Today I have a double challenge card to share with you. I love it when a plan comes together!

First challenge -- for Try it out Tuesday this week over on the SCACD store blog, DT leader Suzanne Dean challenged us to WATERCOLOR. Wow, I haven't busted out the watercoloring supplies in an AGE {can't you tell??}! For this project I reached for one of the newest girls in my life, Alexa from the new Hearts and Hugs collection by Victoria Case for SCACD. These little sweeties are SO adorable and just a joy to color. Susana has an amazing deal on these images, if you buy the set of all 9 stamps you save almost 25% off the retail price of the individual images. Gotta love a savings and really, you need all the stamps anyway. SO CUTE!

I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black onto watercolor paper, then colored with watercolor crayons and an aquapainter. Added some touches with the with the white gel pen of course. One of my favorite tools! I made the background clouds with a cloud template and sponged ink. The card layout today comes from the Twinkling Tuesday sketch {keyword: MTTSC24}. Here's the original sketch:

Isn't this a good one?? Very versatile. I liked all the layers here and of course I had to use some patterned paper and Cuttlebugged backgrounds to really show off that little Alexa!

The Jacksonbelle Embellishments challenge this week is POLKA DOTS {JBE055}. I think my polka dot paper qualifies! Polka dots are too much fun!

Don't forget that the Stampin' out Alzheimer's challenges are going on now and there are some fabulous prizes to be won, including a full set of these Victoria Case for SCACD stamps {plus other goodies too!} from Susana's store. Click the widget on my right sidebar to get started!

TIOT18, MTTSC21 - Kyra and Candy

Happy Tuesday! I have another double challenge card today, and YES, I know Mother's Day is past! This is one I made for Mother's Day though, so I wanted to share it even if it's not right on time.
This week's Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #18, issued by Suzanne Dean, DT coordinator for Susana's Custom Art and Card Design, is to create a SHAPED card. Any shape, as long as it's not a square/rectangle. I had to put my thinking cap on with this one, and I decided to use one of the Pointed petal flower card templates from Mirkwood Designs. You can see all the SCACD DT projects on the SCACD store blog, or in the individual links in my left sidebar.

This little sweetie is another Faerie Song Art Stamps image, called Kyra. I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black, and colored with Copic markers. After she was ready I cut her out {a lot of cutting on this one!} and added her to the precut Nestabilities circle using dimensionals. I doodled the outside edge of the circle for more definition.

DON'T FORGET!!!! There are some new stamps coming to town and YOU could win!! This new line is called Victoria Case for SCACD and this release is called The Hearts and Hugs Collection. Each day this week Victoria and Susana will reveal a puzzle piece of one of the upcoming images - check it out!! The SCACD store blog and Victoria's blog will have candy this week consisting of an entire set of the new release -- so two chances to win! The SCACD candy runs through Thursday evening with the winner announced on Friday morning when the new stamps are revealed and be sure to be back to Susana's on Friday for the big release party.

The colors for this card come from our Twinkling Tuesday challenge {MTTSC22}. This week's temporary twinkie is Kimmie's son Nicky, who chose blue, purple and orange as our color combination for the week. I chose to use Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue and Apricot Appeal as my orange. Be sure to check out the rest of the Twinklettes today for more color inspiration {links in my left sidebar}!

Try It Out Tuesday #13 & MTTSC17 - Spring with Catherine

Spring is here for this week's Try it out Tuesday! Suzanne challenged us to create a Spring or Easter card. Well this Young Catherine with Friends from Anki's Sweethearts at Susana's Custom Art and Card Design and she just SCREAMS Spring to me with those new baby chicks. Lucky me, this week's Twinkling Tuesday Challenge was "In With The Old" - use a stamp you haven't used before. Since these Anki's are new to me it seemed like a good fit! {ok, I cheated a little; but I only used it once before because it was the first Anki I got and it was perfect for the other challenge today - so sue me}.

I also incorporated April's Sketch Challenge with a Twist, posted on the PCP page for SCACD. The sketch is there, and the twist was to include LOTS of embellishments. I didn't go TOO crazy but I can't turn away a good embellishment so this was a lot of fun. I stamped Catherine with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored her with Copic markers. I added some highlights with the white gel pen. I *love* the Copic marker blue jeans bundle - perfect jeans every time! Added some paper piercing and a few rhinestones and she's all set!

I hope you all decide to play along with this week's challengees, as well as the April sketch with a twist for SCACD. Your keyword for Twinkling Tuesday is MTTSC17 and the keyword for Try it out Tuesday is TIOT. Be sure to check out all the other amazing DT blogs for more inspiration - all the links are on my left sidebar. Happy Tuesday!

MTTSC16 - Wedding Bells!

Well, I made it! It is still Twinkling Tuesday for another 14 minutes. Just enough time to get this blog post up!

This week's challenge for Madelynn's Twinkling Tuesday was an inspiration challenge. We were given the above photo of Mickey and Minnie and told that they were getting married. Go forth and be inspired. Here's what struck me when I saw it:

The images are from the February release at JessicaLynnOriginal - Wedding Words. I love this set! Very versatile and just beautifully done! Colors are red, black and white. The card is 4" square.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday {there are now 9 minutes left}. ;-) Be sure to visit the rest of the Twinklettes if you haven't already!

MTTSC15 - PPS Style

Happy Twinkling Tuesday! I know my post is late, I was waiting for morning and sunlight to take my photo, too bad it's raining here --- again, and there is no sunlight to be had! I did the best I could with my OTT-Lite in my craft room.

Don't worry, I do know that I didn't use a circle. This is a digital image from Pink Papery Studios and the way I had it printed (eight to a sheet) didn't allow me to use a circle. Since I didn't want to wake anyone up last night using the printer, I just ran with what I had. Isn't this house cute though? I am not normally a super-cutesy card person but I like this image a lot. The "Congratulations" sentiment is from {Little Paper Shop}. I cut out the gingerbread trim along the roofline and popped it up on dimensionals. Amy from PPS had asked for BRIGHT colors using this image, and you all know I am bright-colors-handicapped. I think I get props for trying though. ;-)

Ok, so we on the Twinkling Tuesday team would love for you to play along with us using this week's sketch! Upload your creation and link it to the post on the Twinkling Tuesday blog so we can check out your work!! The keyword for SCS/PCP is MTTSC15. Happy stamping!

Supplies, etc.: Paper - Brocade Blue, YoYo Yellow, GP 110# white cardstock, Real Red DP from SU. Ink - HP inkjet, Memento Tuxedo Black. Stamps - House from Pink Papery Studios, sentiment from {Little Paper Shop}. Other - Copic markers, dimensionals, Maize grosgrain, blue and red gems from KaiserCraft.

MTTSC13 - Whiff of Joy!

Happy Twinkling Tuesday! How is your week going so far? Today we have another "Temporary Twinkie" designing our sketch - Madelynn's brother Jack! I am *thrilled* that he went easy on us! ;-)

I combined this one with this week's Whiff of Joy challenge too - #20 Lavender & Lace. I used this sweet Melinda Reading Book image for mine. This is my first card using her and she is SO much fun to color! My lace is along the bottom of the main image panel. I had to leave off the piercing because I didn't leave myself enough room on either side of Miss Melinda! Whoops. Note to self - refer to sketch often to avoid missing details.


I colored Melinda with Copics, added the green and lavender polka dotted ribbon, then added her to the card base using dimensionals. I found these PERFECT lavender flowers in my stash, added some pearl centers and viola. Easy peasy! I don't know what it is about the purple and green color combo, but whenever I reach for purple, green is not far behind!

That's all I've got for today, but I will have TWO projects tomorrow, so check back! Oh wait, that's not true! A reminder -- tomorrow is the last day to enter my Ribbon Blog Candy by leaving a comment on THIS POST. There aren't very many names on the list right now so your chances are good!

MTTSC11 - Twinkling Inspiration!

Well Happy Tuesday everyone! I am thrilled this morning because we don't have to GO anywhere! Ever since we got home from our awesome Florida vacation it's been one thing after another with the house and the kids, we just run run RUN all day! But today we don't have anywhere to be and it's a GOOD THING.

So anyway, Tuesday means Twinkle Time and another challenge from Miss Madelynn! This week I am the FEATURED STAMPER over at the Twinkling Tuesday blog, check it out! Instead of the usual sketch challenge, we have an INSPIRATION challenge for ya today! The scrumptious mug in the photo above is the inspiration. Could you not go for a yummy minty whipped coffee or chocolate drink right about now?!?

I combined this challenge with the fourth Viva la Verve sketch with a twist for February, which was to use acetate somewhere on your card, along with the sketch provided {below the card}. FUN! I went with acetate as the card base, colored the cupcake with Copic markers {of course}. Both of the patterned papers are from Basic Grey, the green is the new Porcelain - *swoon*. {Public Service Announcement - I buy all my Basic Grey 6x6 pads from Limelight Papercrafts. Kaisercraft Pearls and Rhinestones too. Mandy has THE BEST prices and she ships out really fast. Click, click, boom, right to your door and into the stamp room before DH even knows the mail came! Can't beat that!}.

And here is the Verve sketch I based it on:

So, head over to visit the rest of the Twinklettes and be sure to leave some love! {Links on the left sidebar}. I am excited to do the blog rounds myself and see everyone's interpretation of this inspiration piece! If you play along on SCS or PCP, use the keyword MTTSC11, and be sure to link up your creation over on the Twinkling Tuesday blog so we can all see it!

MTTSC10 - Thoughts of Spring

Tuesday today! Time to see what Miss Madelynn has in store for us for Twinkling Tuesday...

There it is! MTTSC10 - can you believe it's been ten weeks already??! Wow, time flies! This was a great sketch, clean and simple, and Madelynn said we could add a front image panel if we were so inclined, which I was. :)


My colors are Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Old Olive and Soft Sky. I took this gorgeous new image from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps {Paris Spring half sheet} and colored right on the rubber with my Stampin' Up! markers in order to ink it up. I did this because I wanted the tree parts to be Celery, the birds to be Apricot, and then when I was done I went back and added touches of Olive to the tree to give it a little more distinction. When I was satisfied with the coloring, I "huffed" onto the stamp to remoisten the ink and then stamped right on the white cardstock. I made a horizontal line for the ground and did the sky with my cloud template. The grass was made by sponging with Celery and Olive ink.

Woo hoo! Not nearly as complicated as I made it as I was creating, I have to say. *g* If you'd like to play along, we'd love to see your work! Be sure to link up your creation on the TT blog, and add the keyword "MTTSC10" when you upload to SCS or PCP so we can find your creations. Be sure to visit the rest of the Twinklettes {links on my left sidebar} for more fun with this sketch.

MTTSC9 - Guest Twinkie!

Happy Twinkling Tuesday! Hope you're all having a good day! This is an autopost as today is the last day of our Florida vacation and visit with my mom and dad and we are on the way home to Wisconsin. I saw the weather last night and it said high of 55 degrees at home today though so I can live with that!! Wow, that is a serious heat wave for February. :)

But enough about me! You want to hear more about the sketch. Well if you click Twinkling Tuesday you will head over to the NEW TT blog run by Miss Madelynn and her mom Jessica {and see the backstory on the start of TT if you haven't yet}. This week was a special one because we have a guest sketch designer! Our very own TT darling Heather's daughter created our sketch this week {above} and we all played along, even Madelynn! How fun is that?! Here is mine:

Image is from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps. I colored it in with my Copics and put it inside a Giga Scalloped Circle {no Nesties in FL!!}. The pink ribbon I put on the criss-cross is from Limelight Papercrafts -- I love this ribbon! I am almost out Mandy, so make sure you have plenty on hand for my upcoming order!! There are some new items on sale this week at Limelight so make sure you check out the deals. The patterned paper is from Cloud 9.

Be sure to visit all the other Twinklettes {links on my left sidebar}, and if you upload to SCS or PCP use the keyword "MTTSC9" and link back to the TT blog so we can all see your creations!

Twinkle On {and PPS Power of Three}!

Twinkling Tuesday again! Time for another TT sketch by Madelynn! Here it is - do you love it?! It's just my style. :) Use the keyword "MTTSC*" when you upload to SCS and PCP - and click Madelynn's name to go to the NEW Twinkling Tuesday blog!! Yep, she's got her own spot now, how fun is that? You will also be able to see the sketch and the "featured stamper" card there every week, so be sure to check it out!


I have to apologize in advance for all my photos from the last few days, and through mid-next week. I am at my parents' house and I don't have my "good" camera for taking pictures of my cards, so they are not nearly as nice as usual. Oh well, if that is the trade off for beach & pool weather in January, I think I'll take it!

I am also late late late on LAST week's Pink Papery design team challenge - The Power of Three! We were traveling and I finally got it done and ready. TOMORROW there will be a new PPS challenge, stop by the Official PPS blog for more info on the weekly challenges!

So - here's my contribution to both of those challenges! The owl is from Pink Papery Studios and the sentiment is from Little Paper Shop. Fun fun!

You can see the other Twinklettes' blog links in my left side bar, check them out for more inspiration using this FABULOUS sketch, and don't forget to leave some love! The PPS girls are over there too, and although this card is from LAST week's challenge, they still have lots of good stuff to share the rest of the week too. :) See you tomorrow for PPS Wednesday and the Belli Challenge too! Boy it's a busy stampin' week!

Last thing, the FABULOUS Jessica has some blog candy this week! Make sure you swing by to enter, and here are the rules..

Here are the rules for Jessica's "Blog-iversary" Blog Candy:

1.) You must create a card using this sketch to be eligible to win the candy.

2.) You have until next Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8 AM CST to use this sketch to make a card, then upload and link your card to Jessica's blog post. If you upload to SCS or PCP, be sure to leave a comment on her blog to be entered into the drawing. Use keyword MTTSC8.

3.) One winner will be drawn using Random.org for the Anniversary Blog Candy (the Twinkle Team IS allowed to enter this contest. :) Winner will be announced on Jessica's blog next Tuesday, 2/10/09.

Good luck and Have fun! Don't forget to stop by the new Twinkling Tuesday blog to see what the latest and greatest is over there!

Twinkling Tuesday - Rockstar Style

Welcome to another Twinkling Tuesday! Time for another sketch by Miss Madelynn. Do you love it? This was a good one. Can you believe she's only 8?? She'll own her own papercrafting business by the time she's 20!

Here's my take on the sketch:

I had to leave off the corner adornments due to my choice of background paper, I didn't want to take away from those COOL silver foiled stars! Really simple card actually, 4.25" square. The main image is new from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps, and that is just one stamp. Isn't it ROCK STAR?? I love it. I cut out a second image of just the guitar and popped it up on dimensionals over the main image. I added a tiny hint of Coal Shimmerz on the flourishes to simulate smoke. Don't know if I achieved that, but that was the goal, LOL!

ETA: for all those that have asked me WHERE you can get your very own Flourised Guitar stamp {because you all need one!}, you can buy it HERE at Addicted to Rubber Stamps. They have exclusive rights to that image for awhile, and I can see why they wanted it!

Thanks for dropping in! Be sure to visit the rest of the Twinkettes for more sketchy inspiration! {Links on the left sidebar}.

Twinkling Tuesday

Hi everyone! Well it's Twinkling Tuesday today but I am sorry I don't have a card to share with you. Sorry! It's a really crazy week and stamping is on the back burner - right when I need it most. But here is the sketch for your inspiration - and be sure to visit the other Twinkies for actual card ideas! Oh, and Rebecca has some blog candy as well (not related to the Twinkling Tuesday sketch team).

MTTSC4 - Cindy Walks On The Wild Side

Happy Twinkling Tuesday everyone! Ready for a new sketch? I had a lot of fun with this one, it was just my style! Also perfect for Miss Cindy out for a stroll from Pink Papery Studios. You can find her in the Simply Wonderland set. Here's my card:

As soon as I saw this sketch I knew I wanted to use this image. I just love how she's looking back over her shoulder! I masked her off and stamped the oval, then colored her with my Copic markers, and then I added Shimmerz on her hair and boots - Sunflower on the hair and Pink Poinsettia Blingz on the boots. Tough to see even in the angled shot so you'll have to take my word for it. I used white flock on her boot cuffs and hat puff - couldn't resist that! So cute in real life. I took a close up which hopefully shows a little more of the shimmer and dimension.

See that yum, yum, yummy background paper? Oh yeah, that's the new Basic Grey Bittersweet!!! Run, don't walk to get some. I LOVE the color combination in this packet and the patterns are delish. I got mine from Limelight Papercrafts {actually, I got two! ha!}. It came just in time to use on this card, thanks Mandy!! This pattern is just fabulous, it makes me think WILD.

I did double ribbon behind the main image, 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain with 1/4" light pink over the top. I didn't tie off both layers of ribbon because it got too bulky and wouldn't sit flat so I had to revise that plan at the last minute! My cardstock colors are Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip.

The sentiment is from the Simply Bath set. Since all the Pink Papery Studios images I have are digi, I can easily change things around to suit my immediate needs - as you can see from the link that sentiment is originally one long line. Snip snip in Photoshop Elements and I have it perfectly sized and laid out for a circle. I really am loving the digital images - SO much flexibility!

Thanks for stopping by today! Make sure you visit the blogs of the rest of the Twinkle Team to get more inspiration for this sketch, and play along! Link your creation to Jessica's blog and if you upload to SCS or PCP use the keyword "MTTSC4".

MTTSC3 - Snow Bunny Girl

Happy Tuesday! Time for another Twinkling Tuesday sketch challenge from the fabulous Madelynn. This is MTTSC3 {use that keyword when uploading to SCS or PCP}. You NEED to participate in this week's sketch challenge too, because Jessica and Madelynn will be having a random drawing for some very cool blog candy!!! All you need to do is participate in the challenge by making a card using Madelynn's sketch, and leave a comment on Jessica's blog post with a link to your creation!

Anyway, back to my sample. I really enjoyed this sketch, it's very versatile! Here's my card:

These images from Pink Papery Studios are so much fun. I am really loving the digital aspecct of them because it's easy to manipulate them and size them exactly where I want them {they are available as stamps too}. This is the Snow Bunny Girl from the Walking in the Winter Wonderland set. I colored her with my Copics and then flocked the hood and cuffs of her coat with white flock {probably can't see that part in the photo}. I added a bunch of two-way glue around her boots and dumped on some Art Institute "Faux Snow" that I got back in the fall but hadn't opened! I love it though, I'll be using it again. I found the DP in my stash and I colored some white grosgrain purple {again using Copics} to match up with her snowsuit. Some Filigree designer brads from SU finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure you visit the rest of the Twinkle Team {links on my left sidebar} for more inspiration and don't forget to GET STAMPING and link up your creation to Jessica's blog post {by leaving a comment} and you'll be entered to WIN her challenge candy! Jessica and Madelynn have put together an AMAZING prize package and you know you want it. Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Twinkling Tuesday #2

Happy Tuesday! Well, today is the OFFICIAL start of Madelynn's Twinkling Tuesday sketch challenge! How fun is this?? Madelynn is the 8 year old DD of my friend Jessica and she's got some great layout ideas! To learn more about the challenge, be sure to visit Jessica's blog. Here is the sketch {oh to be that talented at age 8, she's got some great ideas!}:

And here is my card. My image is from Pink Poison. Could that little Anya BE cuter?? Dawn stamped me a few images to play around with and sent 'em over, THANKS Dawn!! {I guess the shop is going to be called The Greeting Farm starting January 1st, just in case there was any confusion}.

Be sure to visit the rest of the Twinkle Team {links on my left sidebar} for more inspiring projects, and of course Jessica's blog to see all the creations in one spot. Don't forget to leave everyone some comment love! If you upload to Splitcoast or Papercraft Planet, use the keyword "MTTSC2" so we can see everything with one easy search!

I also took an angled shot since I added Shimmerz all over her and you can't see it in the first photo at ALL. The card was easy to make {once I stopped screwing up the measurements on cutting, LOL}, I colored my pre-stamped Anya with Copics and added the Shimmerz. The pink ribbon already matched and I colored the wider grosgrain with Copics too {it started out white}. The sentiment is from Stamping Bella.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope everyone is more ready for Christmas than we are! It really snuck up on me this year. :-)

More Exciting News!

Well you might have noticed I finally got around to updating my sidebars and link lists! I've been meaning to do it for awhile but today I had a very good reason to make it a priority!

Last week I was asked to join the design team for Pink Papery Studios and of course I said yes! Have you SEEN the cute cute images and fun accessories that Amy carries? Not everything is up on the web store yet but there's plenty to get you started on your wish list! I am loving the images I have to play with here and will have some fun projects to share soon {now that Christmas cards are DONE DONE DONE!}. I have included a permanent link to the store on my left sidebar, as well as the blog links for all the other Design Team members. Stop by and say hi, they are all amazingly talented and I am SO lucky to be joining them!

The other announcement is for a FANTABULOUS new sketch challenge team! I've joined up with my good friend Jessica and several other "twinkling" divas to present...Madelynn's Twinkling Tuesdays! Do you remember the story from earlier in the week {click here to refresh your memory} of how Jess's 8 year old DD made up a sketch for her? Well the super sketcher, Miss Madelynn, got such a great response that she decided to make it a weekly challenge! Check back on TUESDAYS to see what Madelynn and her team have in store for you. Permanent blog links for the rest of the Design Team are on the left side of my blog.

That's it for me for tonight, but I'll be back tomorrow with the BLOG CANDY WINNER of the Jessica Lynn Original $20 gift certificate, you still have a little time to enter if you haven't yet. Until then...

A NEW Sketch Challenge!

Yesterday I hinted that I made a card using a sketch from a very special new sketch challenge. And here it is! Wow, two posts in one day for me, that must be a record {scroll down for the Belli}. The sketch was made by my friend Jessica's DD - and it's FABULOUS! Check out Jessica's blog post for the back story. Of course I had to play along - oh to have been that talented when I was 8 years old! Here's Madelynn's original sketch:

I also took a close up/different angle picture of the main image because I had added a bunch of glitter to the stocking (I know, you can hardly believe I would add glitter!) and it adds some good dimension, especially the white. It's really hard to see it in the first picture though, so here you go:

(As always, click the pictures for the enormous version.) The stocking stamp is from Prickley Pear rubber stamps and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up!. I colored the stocking and all the treats in with my Copic markers and then added the glitter. You can hardly tell from the angle of the picture, but I used the scallop border punch on the skinny red piece and then added some white ribbon. The velvet bow was put on at the end and has the silver cord and metal edge tag coming off of it.

Thanks for visiting today!