Vote for me & Circle of Friends

Two more things to post today. First of all I have two layouts up for a vote at my Local Scrapbook Store, PhotoScraps, in Eldersburg MD. Please vote for my layouts here on their Design team blog: http://photoscrapsdesignteam.blogspot.com/ If you can get the word out to your friends I would appreciate it.

Speaking of friends.....



Thank you SO much Amanda for honoring me with The Circle of Friends Award!

Check out Amanda's blog at:

http://stampme.blogspot.com/


My instructions are to pass this award on to 5 other special bloggers who I consider friends. Here are my nominees in no special order:

Kim Muhl: http://kmuhl.blogspot.com/
Jimmi Mayo: http://thestampingshopper.blogspot.com/
Frances: http://stampowl.blogspot.com/
Amber: http://www.ambersantics.blogspot.com/
Sherry: http://workingandstamping.blogspot.com/


Ladies, you are such inspiration to me! I truly enjoy visiting your wonderful blogs!
To pick up the Circle of Friends Blog Award: Cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog. Nominate at least 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends. Link to your nominees, within your blog post and include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post. To show your appreciation to the person who gave you the award, link back to their blog. Finally, comment on the recipient’s blogs, to let them know they've received the award.

A friendly challenge

Hey there! This week I was presented a little challenge from Team Fort Meade. We were given this rainbow ribbon and asked to make a card with it. Since my poor 12 year old pup passed away 2 weeks ago I made this puppy card to send to the kennel that was her home away from home to let them know that she crossed the rainbow bridge and to thank them for taking such good care of her the past 2 years.



Details

Stamps: Woof Woof by Recolections
Paper: Real Red, Kraft, Green Galore, YoYo Yellow, Brilliant Blue, White, Dog dsp
Ink: AMuse Black, Red, Copic Markers
Accessories: Rainbow ribbon, Brads, Metal Charm

Friday Fun Challenge #42

Picking up the Pieces……If you are picking up the pieces from that wild Summer BBQ or recovering from that Hot Summer Concert- this challenge is for you. Use Paper-piecing anywhere on your project.

I just got back from my trip late on Thursday so I was a little tired and probably looked a little like Grumpabella last night while making this card.



Details

Stamps: Grumpabella
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Blue Bayou, White, AMuse Paper Pretties
Ink: AMuse Black
Accessories: Brad, Prima Flowers, White Gel Pen

Friday Fun Challenge #41....a little late

Sorry this one is VERY VERY VERY late. I finished the project last week then had a busy day Saturday and left town Sunday and didn't get back until late last night. Sorry.

Last week the challenge was to try something new from the Resources section of Split Coast Stampers. I chose this coaster gift box. I would suggest adding some reinforcement to the bottom as mine didn't seem to have anything to have enough to hold onto.





I added some candles to the box to give as a little hostess thank you gift when I went to a stamping get together last weekend.

Details

Stamps: Razzle Dazzle
Paper: Melon Mambo, Raspberry Tart, White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Pink Satin Ribbon, Green striped organdy/satin ribbon

Friday Fun Challenge #40

Sherry presented us with an inspiration challenge this week.




I took a few things from the photo and incorporated them into my card. The first and most obvious is the choice of stamp. When I saw the cupcake tower in the middle of the table I knew exactly which stamp I HAD to use. I also chose some of my colors from the picture. The brown picnic table sitting on the green grass started the process, and cupcakes for some reason always seem to get colored pink in my mind so the Basic Grey paper pack was perfect, it also added a hint of purple in the diagonal striped paper, so I brought that into my cupcakes as well. I also came up with the layout based on the photo. The angle of the table is reflected by the angle of the soft suede triangular piece. Did you see all the circles in the inspiration piece? The buttons are my interpretation of the cooler, the serving tray and the circular cupcake stand. At this point I could say that the flower reflects the way the beer bottles are pointing in the cooler, but really I just thought it needed a flower and wanted to play with making my own crumpled paper flower, so there it is. Lastly I added some white gel pen and stardust gel pen. They were begging to be used, so I had to bring them out.

When I started pulling the pieces of this card out I was cringing at the color combination, leery of the layout and not quite sure how to accessorize it. In the end I really like this card, it all came together nicely.

Details

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: BasicGrey Ava, White, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede
Ink: Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: Buttons, White Gel Pen, Stardust Gel Pen, Cuttlebug Flower Die

If you are going to play along, please be sure to show us your creation by posting a link in the comments section here or by using keyword FFC40 in the SplitcoastStampers Gallery. Don't forget to check out the works by the other Friday Fun Girls as well. Links to their blogs are on the side.

Spot the Dots

I was able to sneak down to the craft room a little bit this week to make the Sketch Challenge on SCS (SC235). When I first saw the sketch I wasn't wowed, we have seen this before, circles on a grid, nothing new and exciting. Then on Wednesday night I decided that I had to try a few things with Circle Circus, and the next thing you know I was doing the sketch. I really didn't mean to do it, I swear!

I have decided that I either need more circle punches or a set of circle Nestabilities to really work with this set. I used my paper snips way too much on this card and I am not that handy with scissors.

Details
Stamps: Circle Circus
Ink: Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry,
Paper: Whisper White, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Basic Gray Lime Rickey
Accessories: Stardust Gel Pen, White Gel Pen, Scor Pal, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Friday Fun Challenge #39

I love the ribbon on this card. I wish you could all see it and feel it close up. It's not really ribbon, but like a nylon piping you would find used in a man's suit. It matches the kraft card stock so well and adds to the masculine feel of this card.


Sherry is our hostess for July and here is her first challenge: In honor of some special days coming up- Independence Day, Jeff and Alex’s Birthdays, my challenge to you is to make a Birthday card with Stripes. Bonus Points if you use Stars too- but Stars are optional, Stripes are not.


If you look in the corners you can see that I did manage to add some stars. These tiny bling stars from AMuse are so much fun. They already have adhesive on them, actually in a line, so you just break them off and stick them on.


Details
Stamps: Sock Monkey
Ink: AMuse Black, Copic Markers
Paper: Kraft, Night of Navy, White, BG Lime Rickey
Accessories: AMuse Star Bling, CB Distressed Stripes, Medium Corner Punch, Ribbon, Dimensional