Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Make a Gift Set'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a gift set! Our sponsor this week is 'Fairy Knoll' and they gave me a really fun image image to play with.

I had this 'Drawer Box' tutorial from SCS sitting on my desk FOREVER, so I thought this challenge was the perfect time to try it out. It was a really easy tutorial to follow and so simple to make. In fact, I read on the tutorial that if you make the box out of chipboard and not card stock you can stack the boxes and put your Spellbinders Nestabilities inside. I think I'm going to try that sometime because right now I don't like how my Nesties are stored at all (in a CD case).

To make my box I used paper the image 'Annika' from Fairy Knoll. The box and card bases are made out of Old Olive Card Stock. The designer paper is from last year's DCWV Fall Stack 'Indian Summer' believe it or not. They don't look very fall like do they? I thought the colors and the design went perfectly with the image. The drawer box is perfect for fitting lots of 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cards and envelopes inside.

Here is a close up of one of the cards. I cut the image out for one of the cards and the box top. The sentiments are from a 'Tinkerbell' EK Success Stamp Set.

Here is the second card. This image is not cut out so you can see the sweet butterflies Annika is looking at.

And here is a close up of the top of the box. I used a decorative trim bought at JoAnn's for both cards and the box. Dew drops were also added on each item.

And finally, a close up of this pretty fairy image 'Annika'.

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions.

Have a great day! Amy

Jordan's High School Scrap Book 'The Song Writer'

Well this weekend I did one of the most difficult things every parent has to do at some point in their life: dropped off my 'baby', my last born child at college. It was a difficult weekend. Jordan loves his home, his family, his neighborhood. He really didn't want to leave everyone, but he knows he can't stay here forever. He's very scared. It's not easy for him to make new friends. He's a lot like his mom that way. I don't have a lot of friends, but when I make a friend, they are a friend for life. And that's Jordan too. But, after today's chapel sermon, and yesterday's parent workshops, I know that Jordan is in the best school for him and that God is going to do a great work in his life. But I also know that for that work to occur, there will be a lot of pain, and I'm terribly worried about him, because I'm his mother and I want what all mother's want: for their children to be happy.

So, in honor of this weekend, I decided to share a page that my lovely daughter Ashley created for Jordan's High School Scrapbook called 'The High School Experience'. Jordan loves to write music. In fact, I would say that like some people like to write in a diary to express their emotions of what they are going through, Jordan writes songs. Very often during Jordan's difficult high school years I would 'snoop' (as all good mothers should) through his songbooks and read the lyrics he was writing. I could always tell what he was struggling with, what he was feeling, if he was in a good place or bad place by what he was writing about. Jordan spent hours on the piano a day, singing the lyrics to his own songs, so I really didn't have to snoop, because he always sang the songs on the issues he was dealing with at the moment. The page below is all about the song Jordan wrote called 'The High School Experience'. Although the lyrics to this song are so true for most high schooler's, I always chuckled when I heard him sing the chorus at the top of his lungs 'GET ME OUT OF HERE!'. Now that he is a Freshman in college, I'm sure he's wishing he's back in his small town High School again where everything was 'safe' and 'familiar'.

Here is the Scrap Book page in its entirety. Jordan had a friend take the shots of him at school and then he used the pics to make a CD cover. He's very gifted at that too! Here is the title of the song stamped with two different types of Alphabet Stamps and then cut out. One block of lyrics is directly beneath the title, the other block is on the bottom of the page.

Here is a close up of some of the pictures. I believe the paper came out of the same 'Urban Youth' stack that I've been using FOREVER. Its just so Jordan, or so any teen. The three embellishments in between the photos are brads.

And finally, here is a close up of some of the lyrics. Pretty awesome aren't they? I hate to brag, but I have one really talented kid here. But, with that amazing creative talent, can come some challenging personality flaws. As I was telling his roommate today: Jordan is a musician, he feels things deeply and he can be very moody, so don't take anything he says or does too personally. His roommate just laughed and replied 'Both my brother's are musicians, so I know. Plus, I'm a theatre major so I can be moody too!'. And then I laughed. I think Jordan has a great roommate and I'm very thankful to God for that.

For the past 10 years I've had to deal with an Opera Singer, 2 pianists, and a Drummer living in my house. It has never been quiet, and it has constantly been filled with music. If one wasn't singing or playing the piano, the other one was. There were so many times I longed for 'peace and quiet'. Then on Saturday as Jordan's father was loading the car, and I was upstairs putting the finishing touches of my make up on, Jordan, as usual, sat down and played the piano and sang as he was waiting to leave. A lump came in my throat, and I thought 'Thats the last time I will hear that piano played for at least six weeks. It will no longer be used to play beautiful music, or notes plunked on it for hours while a song is being created, or the keys slammed in frustration because no matter how many times a song is practised it can't be perfect, or, used to soothe an anguished soul trying to find his place in this life. It will now just be silent. A piece of furniture to gather dust. It was such a sad thought.

Well thanks for letting me have a little 'brag' moment about my son and to share my pathetic, yet completely normal feelings. And, if your a believer, say a little prayer for him if you can. He could use all the support he can get right now!

Have a great day! Amy

Card and Book Mark

It was my Son-in-Laws birthday a few weeks ago so I made him a masculine birthday card and book mark to go with his present. I bought the Paper Trey Ink Stamp Set 'All Booked Up' just for him. I loved the masculine image of the male book reader drinking coffee and the C.S. Lewis quote. Jason loves both coffee and C.S. Lewis, so this set was made for him.

To make the card, I used an old sketch from 'I love to Stamp'. The designer paper is also from Paper Trey Ink. Here is the set together.

Here is a close up of the card. I mounted up the main image panel on dimensionals, distressed the olive green paper on the edges, and added a touch of hemp to tie the sentiment on. Here is a close up of the sentiment on the tag. Don't you just love that quote for a book mark?

And here is a full view of the tag. I used a Cuttlebug Die to cut the book mark.

Have a great day! Amy

Wink Wink Ink Freebie

Hello, today I have a card to show you that uses the new Wink Wink Ink Freebie 'Chick Border'. It's available on the Crafter's Digital Art Center Wink Wink Ink Group if you want to go and grab it.

To make my little scene, I simply colored the sky with chalks and a cloud stencil, I stamped the sentiment (retired SU! 'Flight of the Butterfly') and added the plastic butterfly to the top of the sentiment. The image is colored with Copics. The flowers are a border punch from EK Success with an adhesive crystal added to each center. Have a great day! Amy

I Love Cute Stamps!

I just recently discovered a new stamp company that is right up my alley: 2 Cute Rubber Stamps. I saw one of their images on a card on my friends Emma's blog (the cowboy one on the card pictured below) and it brought such a smile to my face, that I had to go and check out their website. When I saw all the adorable images there, I really was smiling! You see I love CUTE. I've tried other styles: grunge, shabby chic, elegant, distressed, blah, blah, blah, but I really love just plain CUTE. I would describe my style as 'Cute and Simple', so this companies images are just so ME! I bought three of their digital images right away and created these cards, but they also have their images in rubber stamps for those of you who would never give up their rubber!

My first card uses the 'Polar Bear and Penguin' image. This card will also be one of my 'make up Xmas Cards' for the April Xmas Challenge on SCS. To make my card, I used paper from DCWV 'The Holiday Winter Collection'. The sketch is from the 'Torn Paper' blog. I colored my sky with chalk and a stencil, put Liquid Applique and Crystal Effects on the ice cream, Stickles on the water drops, and Flower Soft on the floating ice. The Snowflakes are Wool Felt cut with a Cuttlebug Die I put an adhesive crystal in each center of the snowflakes. Here is a close up so you can see more detail.

My second card uses the 'Thank You Cat' image. Just look at this face! Doesn't it just make you smile? How sweet!

Here is the full card. The sketch is also from Torn Paper.

And finally, the image that brought me to this fabulous company 'Original Cowboy Kid'. What a cutie. He reminds me of a childhood picture of my husband when he was all dressed up in a cowboy suit playing 'Cowboy'. The paper is DCWV 'All About Boys Stack'. I colored in the oval silver medallion in his hat with a silver gel pen.

Well I hope I've inspired you to go and take a look at the other images this company has. They really are CUTE, CUTE, CUTE! To get to their website, simply click on the 2 Cute Rubber Stamps Blinkie in my sidebar. They also have a Design Team Call running now through the 31st. I will definitely be applying!

Have a great day! Amy

Penny Black Challenges

Hello! Today I have two cards to show you for two different Penny Black Challenges. My first card is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. This week was a sketch challenge. I used the same stamp set for both of my cards: 'Teddy and Company'. The paper is Cosmo Cricket. The little bird is popped up on dimensionals.

My second card is for the Penny Black All Sorts Challenge. This week's challenge is 'Glitter and Glitz'. You can't tell by the photo, but there are Stickles on the butterflies and the flowers, and adhesive crystals on the Cuttlebug Butterflies Diecuts. The paper is Basic Grey.

If you haven't heard the news, the Penny Black All Sorts Challenge Blog is looking for some new designers for their challenge team. For more information, simply click on the blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions. I'm gonna try for it? Will YOU?

Have a great day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Cool It!'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is 'Cool It!'. Since were in the heat of summer, I thought it would be great to 'Think Cool', so your challenge is to make a card or project that has something to do with water and uses at least one digital image. Think flip flops, beach, or tropical images! Our sponsor this week is Deedee's Digis and she is giving away a $10.00 in store credit to one lucky randomly chosen winner.

For my card this week, I used Deedee's Sea Turtle Image 'Go With The Flow'. This is a digital set that comes with the turtle image and two sentiments. To make my card I used DCWV 'Fun in the Sun' Summer Stack paper. I made the swirl using a Bazzil Jewel Template and Stampendous Stickers. The fish are little 3D embellishments I picked up from somewhere a long time ago. I've been waiting FOREVER for the perfect card to use them on. Here is a close up of the image.

And here is a close up of the fish embellies. Aren't they adorable?

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions.

Have a great day! Amy

Cute Halloween Cards

Hello! I know its a bit early for Halloween Cards, but I saw these ADORABLE new Inkadinkado images at JoAnn's on sale for only $5.99 and I just had to buy them. I normally don't buy stamps at all because I get so many free images from companies I design for, but every now and then I just can't help myself if I see something too irresistible. This set is called 'Cat and Friends', and has three cute animal images dressed up in Halloween Costumes, plus two sentiments and other accent stamps. I used all the same paper on all four cards: DCWV 'The Midnight Spell Matstack'.

My very first card is my favorite because I love kitties, and this one is just so mischievous looking! I didn't do much layering with this card, because I really wanted the DP to show since it matched the main image so well. I popped the main image panel and the sentiment up on dimensionals.

My second card uses this week's sketch on SCS. I put Stickles on the puppie's hat.

Here is this same image again, but with a different layout. The Ric Rac is actually card stock cut with a die from My Favorite Things. The stars are a Cuttlebug Die Cut.

And finally, the last image in the set is this hungry bear. I put Stickles all over his cape and covered his honey pot with Crystal Effects. The sketch is from I Love to Stamp. The sentiment was just cut out from paper in the DCWV MatStack.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my Halloween Cards today and that I've inspired you to get going on your own Halloween projects. When my kids were little, Halloween was my FAVORITE holiday. I just loved making their costumes, getting them all dressed up, and going Trick or Treating and all the fun fall festivities. They also always had the BEST costumes in their class because Mom was a costume designer! LOL! I really miss those days, but I'm sure the time to make costumes for grandchildren won't be too far away now that one of them is married!

Have a great day! Amy

Masculine Fishing Card

Yesterday was the birthday of my dear friend's son who loves to fish. Someday he hopes to be a professional fisherman. I made this card for him. The image is retired Stampin Up! called 'Gone Fishing'. The paper is DCWV 'The Guy Stack". My FAVORITE paper to use for masculine cards. And the sketch is an old Just Rite Sketch (#29).

Happy Birthday Nolan! Have a great day! Amy

Wink Wink Ink 'Grandma and Granpa Bear'

Today I have a couple of Wink Wink Ink images to show you called 'Grandma Bear' and 'Grandpa Bear'. I thought these two images together would make the perfect anniversary card for an elderly couple, so I had my son print the two images on one sheet of card stock. Sorry, I'm not that computer literate to do it myself yet! LOL! I wanted the card to have an 'old fashioned' feel, so I used some old trim, some paper that looked like you find on the wall in grandma's house (DCWV 'The Crafty Stack'), and some big old flowers (Amy Butler). I used an old sketch from 'I love to Stamp' to make my card. The heart is a Cuttlebug Die Cut, and the sentiment is from Inkadinkado. I colored my image with Copic Markers, here is a close up:

Have a great day! Amy

May and August Christmas Cards

Well I hope I don't scare you away with all the pictures I have posted today, but I'm playing catch-up on my Christmas Card Challenge on Splitcoaststampers, remember? I'm committed to doing 5 Christmas Cards a month, but I ended up being 4 months behind because I took some time off from the Challenge to work on my daughter's wedding. Today's cards are for this month and the month of May.

I had a bunch of old SCS Sketches laying on my desk, so most of the cards I made were based on these sketches. This card uses SC279. Stamps are Studio G. Paper is DCWV 'The Holiday Collection Winter Mat Stack'. I embossed the snowflake with White Embossing Powder and added an adhesive crystal to the center. The polka dot panel is mounted up on dimensionals. My second card was made for a Featured Stamper Challenge (FS179) when SBS81 was the Featured Stamper. I flipped the layout of her card, popped the main image up on dimensionals, and put glitter on the star. The main image is a Digital from Cute Daisy May. The sentiment is retired SU!

This card I made for this month's Caardvarks Challenge: Make a mini card or tag. I put Liquid Applique on the stocking. Image is by Just Rite, Paper is by Cosmo Cricket.

This card uses the SC271 Sketch from SCS. I put Liquid Applique on the snowman's hats, Flower Soft and Stickles on the Snow. I added some adhesive hearts from Cloud 9 Design to the sentiment. Image is retired SU! 'Its Snowtime'.

This card I made for the Just Rite Inspiration Challenge #30, but I didn't finish it in time to enter it into the challenge. I cased the layout for this card from one of the cards on the Just Rite Blog and changed the papers, images, and embellies. I popped the main image panel up on dimensionals and added Flower Soft to the roof of the bird house, and Crystal Effects to the berries in the holly. The image is from Just Rite, papers are from JoAnn's.

Here is a close up so you can see the Flower Soft and Crystal Effects better.

This card uses last week's SCS Sketch Challenge SC293. The image is a digital from Heather Ellis. The paper is DCWV 'Holiday Collection The Winter MatStack'. I put Liquid applique on her hat and boots, and Flower Soft on the snow. I added a Cuttlebug Die Cut, Heart Brads, button, and fibers for embellishment.

Here is a close up.

This card uses the SC268 sketch from SCS. The smaller squares and the snowman's hat are all mounted up on dimensionals. I added Stickles to the centers of all the snowflakes. The images are from Studio G, the paper is DCWV 'Holiday Collection The Winter Matstack'.

The snowflake attached to the ribbon is a button.

This card uses SCS's SC267 sketch. The ornaments are covered in Crystal Effects and mounted up on dimensionals. They are retired SU! 'Ornamassortment'. Paper is DCWV 'Holiday Collection The Xmas Stack'.

Here is a close up so you can see the dimension and the Crystal Effects.

This card uses the SCS Sketch SC290. Stamps are Studio G, paper is DCWV 'Holiday Collection The Xmas Stack'. Liquid Applique was put on the pom pom of Santa's Hat.

And, finally, my last card was made for a Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS (FS174). I kept the same layout and concept, but changed everything else. The ornaments are actually buttons purchased at JoAnn's. The strings are from Papertrey Ink, they are first stamped in clear, then I drew over them with a gold gel pen. The sentiment is retired SU! 'Sparkling Season'.

Here is a close up of the buttons.

So are you still here? Did you make it? Don't worry, I won't do this too often. I only have two more months to 'catch up' on my Christmas Cards!

Have a great day! Amy