WMS PJ Party!!

Today is the day and I am getting posted just in time!! Honestly, wasn't sure if I would be able to get my cards done but, it helped tremendously that Claire posted the first three challenges early. I've been struggling with tendonitis so, the cardmaking and posting is sporadic {resting the arm in between}!!

I usually post three times separately but, I babysat today {2 and 4- had to do a little lifting} and the arm is a "titch" sore. AND.... I'm "dog-tired" :)

The first challenge was "To Die For".... playing with some new WMS Funky Flowers dies and Stamps... I CASE'd Claire's card but, tried to make it my own.

Used some Glitz Finnley papers... went bold and bright!!

 

The next challenge was to do a Victorian St Patty's Day... this is a freebie image at the WMS store that I downloaded last year and didn't use.... lots of distressing {ink and tools} along with a double colored bow and stickpin/pearl combo. These pics aren't the greatest... sorry. I don't think you can see, but I stamped the regal rose BG with WMS Reverse Crackle BG in versamark... looks great IRL.

 

Inside...

 

Sentiment and clovers from WMS Irish Blessings. 

 

Then, the "What would Mom do" challenge. I could write an epistle about my mother... she raised 5 kids {4 girls and a baby brother- youngest to oldest is 18 years!}--that should be enough for sainthood! My mother is not a crafter {we used to joke that some of us girls got into crafting because she wouldn't let us play with stickers...} My mom did sew, bake, garden, play bridge, play card and board games, do puzzles... she kept us busy in different ways. Anyway... when I was thinking about this challenge and my mom- I thought of this Christmas when my oldest and her clan, Bill and I went home to IN. My mom would be up "with apron on" every am to fix breakfast and my oldest daughter {Lauren} and her family would have eggs, bacon, and toast.... with homemade strawberry jam!! The day we left she handed Lauren some jam to take home!! So Claire's images Big Berries-Strawberries, Jar Fillers-Jam Packed, and Jar Essential dies were perfect!!

I will come back tomorrow and add all the links to the stamps etc. ....

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

ETA: Missed the party... moving too slow!! BUT... had fun making my cards!!

Serendipity Stamps and Perfect Paper Crafting Blog Hop!!

Happy Monday. Welcome to the Serendipity Stamps and Perfect Paper Crafting blog hop. The Design Team members from both of these companies have teamed up for a Blog Hop!!

Perfect Paper Crafting has some fantastic tools for scrapbookers and cardmakers..... I've used a couple tools today... along with some sweet Serendipity Stamps.

I stamped Serendipity's Zinnia with Memento Tuxedo Black onto XPress It blending cardstock, colored with copics and added a little glitter.. black for the center of the red zinnia and clear for the yellow and purple zininias. I used Perfect Paper Crafting mini borders to add a 1/4 " and 1/8" border to frame the image. 

This card uses Serendipity Stamps Heart Bouquet {watercolored this image and added a wink of Stella} framed the image with the mini borders at 1/4" and 5/8" along with Perfect Squares to make the card base to fold and cut it perfectly. The border was created using the Mini borders at 1/4 " and 5/8".

You can access videos here on how to use all of the tools from Perfect Paper Crafting and to see the whole catalog of Serendipity Images go here.

Ohh.... Did I mention prizes? Serendipity Stamps and Perfect Paper Crafting are each giving away a $50.00 gift certificate to a random commenter. Just hop along and leave comments on the DTs blogs for a chance to win. You must comment on all the DT blogs to be in the running. The blog hop closes Sunday, March 16th Midnight Pacific time and the winners will be posted on Serendipity Stamps and Perfect Paper Crafting blogs' on Monday the 17th.

You should have arrived here from Jenn and next on the hop is Roxie but, if you've lost your way- see the blog link list below.

Good luck!!

Anya Schrier - http://aschoss.blogspot.com
Jenny Gropp - http://onekraftykat.blogspot.com
Marybeth Lopez - http://marybethstimeforpaper.blogspot.com
Pam Sparks - http://expressionswithheart.wordpress.com
Julie Warner - http://thewritestuff.justwritedesigns.com
Jenn Cochran - http://www.jaxbeanstalks.blogspot.com
Vickie Zimmer -http://vickiezimmer.blogspot.com/
Roxie Glaza -  http://paperscaper.blogspot.com
Jeanne Jachna - http://akeptlife.blogspot.com
Dana Joy - http://www.gotjoycreations.blogspot.com
Karen Amidon - http://paperliliesandink.blogspot.com
Miriam Napier - http://miriamsdelirium.blogspot.com
And.... there are specials too..

Both Perfect Paper Crafting and Serendipity stamps have specials:

For PPC: Use the code, serendipity5%, shoppers will get a discount on their order on our website, www.perfectpapercrafting.com at checkout.

For Serendipity Stamps: Everything in our Easter Category is 20% off until Wednesday March 12, 2014. 
   
Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Color Throwdown #282- Hello!!

This week's Color Throwdown is hosted by me!! I picked a sunroom that has lots of white with red and splashes of green and yellow!! This girl is ready for some consistent sunshine and warm weather!!

Here's my card...

Played with stripes from Reverse Confetti's So Stripey set on the inside/negative of a stitched circle die cut using Lil Inkers dies. The leaves are Simon Says Stamp Leaf Column outline, and the flower was created with the MFT Plentiful Petals dies.

For more inspiration, you'll want to stop by and visit the other team members' blogs.

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud
 Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations

Melody Rupple- A Paper Melody
Monika Davis- MAD Stamper

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

 

 And... a BIG welcome to Gloria Stengel who is our Guest Stamper for March!! You can access her blog here.

 Jacquie Southas is joining us this week as the Featured Stamper from last week. BIG warm welcome to you, too!! You can find Jacquie's blog here.  

Glad to have you both playing with us!!
 

Remember, if you don't have the exact colors, use whatever you have that's close...the color police won't come after you--this is all about having fun!  If you upload to a public gallery, please use the key words CTD280.  Also, when linking up your card using the linky tool at the bottom of the post, please link to your specific post, not a generic link to your blog.  

When you are finished with your creation, head over to the Color Throwdown blog to add your entry to the Inlinkz tool. 
 

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #29 - Boats and Stitches!!

Happy Wednesday and Yes, Yes, Yes, I am doing a little spring dreaming!! Welcome to the Serendipity Stamps challenge for March! Wow... this year is moving right along!!

The challenge this month is to use stitching on your card along with at least one Serendipity Stamps image. The DT was challenged for this post to also use an image from the Boats, Bikes, and Vehicles category.

I made a masculine card today... no frills- just some sponging and coloring and masking. The trees are from Serendipity Stamps Winter Fenceline- I applied marker to stamp leaving out the fenceline. This was stamped after I created the sun using a circle punch to create a mask and sponging with distress inks. The boat is from Serendipity Stamps Rowboat Cling set and was stamped on XPressIt blending cardstock and colored with copics and popped up for some added dimension. Now, I realize rowboats don't generally go out on the ocean and lake water is not this clear but... I'm dreaming... remember! Added some "wonky" stitching to define the horizon.

This just may be for hubs birthday coming up soon- we are boat lovers (right now a speedboat- kids like to ski/wakeboard/tube ya' know)!!

Here's the inside....

On the inside I stamped the boat in crumbcake and overstamped the sentiment (from the Rowboat Cling set) in early espresso and heat embossed with clear (makes the sentiment more defined). Don't you just love the font!!

Hope you find time to join us, and...

The rules are simple... play along using at least one Serendipity Stamps image on your submission and add some stitches. You don't have to have a blog to play along - you can link your designs to any on line gallery.

Click Here for all the details

For extra inspiration there are samples from the design team on the challenge blog or you can visit them directly and get all the details by clicking on their names below.

Karen Amidon
Jeanne Jachna

Marybeth Lopez

Jenny Gropp 

Julie Warner 

 Anya Schrier

Pauline Pollington
 

The sale for this time is 20% off the Easter Category. Can't wait to see what you create!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

 

Stamps: Row Boat Cling set 2492CL and Winter Fenceline 1194QCL (Serendipity Stamps)

Ink: Early Espresso and Crumbcake (SU), Distress Inks

Paper: Early Espresso and Daffodil Delight (SU), XPress It Blending cardstock

Accessories: sewing machine and heavy duty espresso thread, sponge daubers, pop dots

LIVE- LOVE- LIFE

FOREVER!! I managed to sneak in card for this week's CASE study challenge... first one this month... Danielle Flanders is the MUSE... love her work! Now, when you see the inspiration card and mine... you'll wonder.. I'll explain :)

Yep... thought I was going to go with soft colors...subtle but, balanced collage...

And, then... this is what happened :)

Soo... I have two flowers ... chipboard focus... two sentiments.. a bit of yellow and a bit of pink! Had fun!!

Used a couple PTI sets and one die that have been in my NBUS bin. Along with a Recollections chipboard chalkboard thing!

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!