Your Next Stamp Challenge #10: Books!

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Happy Thursday! I hope you had fun checking out all the blogs in the Your Next Stamp 3rd Birthday blog hop! If you didn’t get the chance to join the hop, click HERE for my post, which includes a list of all the blogs!

This week’s challenge at Your Next Stamp is inspired by BOOKS!

So, I made a corner bookmark featuring Shirley Temple Ellie:

It’s not hard to make these from envelope corners. Here’s how:

  • First, you cut the envelope corner at a 45 degree angle. You can get two bookmarks from one envelope, and the size of the bookmark doesn’t matter…that’s up to you!
  • Then, I cut two triangles of patterned paper slightly smaller than the envelope corners. (I used Echo Park’s Happy Together for my bookmark.) I sewed on the patterned paper before sticking it down, but you don’t have to do that!
  • I stamped and colored my main image, ran it through my manual die cut machine, and adhered it to a decorative die cut circle, then adhered that to the front of the bookmark!
  • To help the bookmark stay on the page, I used very strong adhesive to glue a tiny magnet near the outside bottom center of the back of the envelope corner. (That way, the magnet doesn’t get in the way of the book pages.) After it dried, I adhered a triangle of patterned paper on top to hide it. 
  • Instead of using a second magnet in the front, I added a metal brad between the patterned paper and the envelope corner so the brad’s prongs are hidden under the paper and aren’t on the inside of the bookmark.

Don’t forget, we’ve had a few changes to our challenge guidelines, making it easier for everyone to play along and to have the chance to be a YNS Rockin’ Guest Designer!

Here’s the scoop:
  • Every Thursday we post a new YNS Challenge 
  • You have the entire month to play along
  • Link your challenge entry to the YNS Blog post and/or to the SCS challenge thread 
  • If you would like to post your challenge card in the SCS gallery please use the code provided for that challenge (for this challenge, the code words are yns, ynsc, yournextstamp and ynsc10)
  • You don’t have to use YNS Stamps, but if you have some of our stamps we’d LOVE to see you ink them up!
  • Every month we will pick a lucky participant to be our special YNS Rockin’ Guest Designer!!!
Our Rockin’ YNS Guest Designers get:

  • a NEW RELEASE YNS Stamp package! (You get the new goodies before anyone else!)
  • to join us for our new release blog hop and sneak peeks
  • the entire month of challenges in advance to play along with the YNS Challenge Team
  • a rockin’ blinkie for your blog!
For more inspiration, check out what the other members of the team created for this challenge: Julie, Kelli, and Wendy! (Or you can see all of their creations at the YNS blog)!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I can’t wait to see what you’ll create for this week’s challenge!

Your Next Stamp: 3rd Anniversary Hop!

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Happy Monday! I hope you’re enjoying today’s hop! We’re celebrating Your Next Stamp‘s 3rd birthday!!! We’re all so excited about this milestone, so we’re all sharing some fun and ADORABLE projects with you today!

To make this hop even more fun, we’ve put together a scavenger hunt! Each DT member and guest has a bold, colored letter on her blog. Collect all of the letters and unscramble them to find the secret message! Once you’ve figured it out, e-mail Karen at karen@yournextstamp.com to qualify for the GRAND PRIZE…a $25 YNS shopping spree!

Make sure you visit all of the blogs in the hop and leave a comment on each one, because we’ve also hidden THREE special new release prize packs along the way!

You have until Thursday, August 9th at 12 midnight EST to play along and the winners will be announced on Friday, August 10th on the YNS Blog!
On to my projects:

My first card is with Cupcake Cutie Fhiona (the sentiment is from the set I used on my next card) :

My second project features a new release Franfou stamp set, “Gordon the Pig”! 
It looks like this set would make some fun cards for the bacon lovers in your life!:
and my third card features another new release set, “Feather Duster Ellie,” which is perfect for your favorite Domestic Goddess, or for someone like me, an (un)Domestic Goddess (both options are included with the set)!:

As always, you’ll find some awesome specials at the YNS Store! With each purchase this month, you’ll receive a FREE scratch card like the one shown below! Every card is a WINNER!

AND, you’ll receive 25% off your order from Monday, August 6th to Friday, August 10th with this online code: HAPPY
Karen has just improved the YNS Store site, so make sure you check it out! All of the thumbnail photos are larger, so you can see these adorable images even better!

Now it’s time to hop on over to Kim’s fabulous blog, but before you go, don’t forget about the scavenger hunt! My letter is S! 

Happy hopping!

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Your Next Stamp #9 – Colour Challenge!

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Happy Thursday! This week’s challenge at Your Next Stamp is inspired by these colours:


These colours are just a guideline…if you want to use lighter or darker shades than what’s shown above, GO FOR IT!!!! We just want you to join in on the fun!

Here’s my card, featuring Ellie Likes to Jog:



We’ve had a few changes to our challenge guidelines, making it easier for everyone to play along and to have the chance to be a YNS Rockin’ Guest Designer!

Here’s the scoop:
  • Every Thursday we post a new YNS Challenge 
  • You have the entire month to play along
  • Link your challenge entry to the YNS Blog post and/or to the SCS challenge thread 
  • If you would like to post your challenge card in the SCS gallery please use the code provided for that challenge (for this challenge, the code words are yns, ynsc, yournextstamp and ynsc9)
  • You don’t have to use YNS Stamps, but if you have some of our stamps we’d LOVE to see you ink them up!
  • Every month we will pick a lucky participant to be our special YNS Rockin’ Guest Designer!!!
Our Rockin’ YNS Guest Designers get:

  • a NEW RELEASE YNS Stamp package! (You get the new goodies before anyone else!)
  • to join us for our new release blog hop and sneak peeks
  • the entire month of challenges in advance to play along with the YNS Challenge Team
  • a rockin’ blinkie for your blog!
For more inspiration, check out what the other members of the team created for this challenge: Julie, Kelli, and Wendy! (Or you can see all of their creations at the YNS blog)!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I can’t wait to see what you’ll create for this week’s challenge!

Greeting Farm Guest Post #4

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Happy Monday! I’m back for one final July Greeting Farm Guest Designer post!
I have two cards to share with you today, but before I do, I’d like to say THANK YOU to Jessica and Marie for having me as this month’s guest designer! I had a blast, and I hope I inspired you all in some way with the cards that I’ve shared!
My first card features a new digi that was released this month, WS Jessica, in honor of the fantastically fabulous Jessica Diedrich! The sentiment I used is from the Lucky Bunnies clear stamp set.
My second card features one of the two new members of the Bean Collection that were released this month…Shiny Bean! I loved coloring up those long braided pigtails!
 And THANK YOU, dear blog readers, so much for giving me such a warm welcome and for checking out what I made with this month’s new TGF releases! It has been a whirlwind of fun this month…bye for now!

Christmas Card Challenges #35

Happy Sunday! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!


We’ve been enjoying the Summer Olympic coverage…the opening ceremonies were spectacular! Our favorite parts were the torch/cauldron lighting and the segment with James Bond & Queen Elizabeth II! 

This week, our Christmas Card Challenge is…no stamping! 

I’ll admit, this one was a toughie for me…I’m so used to stamping and coloring images, that it was hard for me to decide what I wanted to use for this card! 

Although all of our challenges are optional…the only “real” rule is that you must create a new Christmas, Holiday or Hannukah card, then link it up on our blog so we can stop by and leave you some lovely comments!


I found some card stock elements from a scrapbooking kit that I haven’t used, and I still had the matching paper pad! They worked great on my card!


supplies: card base, patterned paper and cardstock accents (Echo Park – Holly Jolly Christmas), twine (My Mind’s Eye), buttons, adhesive rhinestones, kraft card stock (PTI), foam tape.
Don’t forget to visit the rest of the CCC team to take a peek at the fun and festive cards they’ve created this week: Alanna, Brigitte, Candace,Corinne, Dee, Katie, Leesa, Margo, Michele, Pat, and Stephanie!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful week & don’t forget to link your entry on the Christmas Card Challenges blog! See you there!


Drunken Stampers #94

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Happy Saturday! It’s time for a new challenge at Drunken Stampers! We’ve come to the end of this DT term, and I’d like to send a big THANK YOU to everyone who has played along in our challenges over the past six months!

This week, we’re celebrating National Milk Chocolate Day AND National Hamburger day!! – use either chocolate or hamburgers…or both!



Here’s my card (I tried to work in both with this fun “Fanny” image from Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps):


The paper that I used for this card is from the Echo Park Happy Days mini pad. The denim paper is from Crate Paper.

The party’s just getting started! Don’t forget to stop by and see what the rest of the team created! If you’d like to visit their personal blogs and leave them some love, here’s the list: Chaitali, Donna, Elizabeth, Nat, Spike, and Steph!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! We’re leaving this challenge open until the end of August, because we’re taking a break! We’ll be back on September 1 with a new set of challenges, and a blog makeover! There’s a new attitude on the way for Drunken Stampers, and I hope you’ll join us for our new challenges!

Don’t forget…there’s still time to join in on the challenges at the colourQ, and Your Next Stamp! I’ll be back tomorrow for a new Christmas Card Challenge! See you then!

A Couple of Kraftin’ Kimmie Cards!

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Hi, crafty friends! Just wanted to make a quick post with the two cards I’ve made for Kraftin’ Kimmie challenges!

My first card is for Kraftin’ Kimmie/Crazy 4 Challenges, and the theme is STITCHING (real or faux)! My card features Kraftin’ Kimmie’s “Cordelia” mermaid image.

Supplies: image (Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps – Cordelia), sentiment (Kraftin’ Kimmie – Kimmie’s Mermaid Sentiments), papers (Basic Grey Plumeria), Copic markers, Stickles (Star Dust), Liquid Pearls, foam tape. adhesive pearls, sewing machine, thread, Spellbinders dies (Lacey Circles, Standard Circles), ink (Brilliance Graphite Black), card base.
This challenge ends tomorrow (Friday, July 27). Click HERE for all the details!
My second card is for the Kraftin’ Kimmie/Color Me Creative challenge, which is “Anything Goes – with a girly twist”! My design features Kraftin’ Kimmie’s “Tara” and its coordinating sentiment.
Supplies: image and sentiment (Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps – Tara), papers (Basic Grey What’s Up), Copic markers, opaque white marker, opaque white embossing powder, Glossy Accents, foam tape. button, twine (Whisker Graphics), sewing machine, thread, Spellbinders die (Classic Hearts), ink (Brilliance Graphite Black, VersaMark watermark), card base, adhesive rhinestones.
This challenge runs until August 3. You can find all the details HERE. 
I hope you enjoy these cards and were inspired by them!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Your Next Stamp #8 – Sketch Challenge

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Happy Thursday! It’s time for a new challenge at Your Next Stamp, and this time, we’re getting sketchy!
First, here’s the sketch for this week, designed by the ever-fabulous Peggy Toole:
and here’s my card, featuring YNS’s “Song Bird“:
 Now, it’s your turn!!!!

Just link up your project for this challenge on the YNS blog or over at our Splitcoast forum by next Wednesday, August 1 at midnight EST. If you’re linking on the SCS Gallery, don’t forget our keywords: yns, yournextstamp and YNSC8!

We’d love to see your creations with YNS stamps if you have them! Even if you don’t have any yet, we’d still love for you to join in all the fun! AND don’t forget: one random winner will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to the YNS Store! How cool is that?

If you use YNS images on your entry, you may be chosen as our monthly “Rockin’ YNS Guest Designer”!!!! You’ll have your name in the spotlight and win a YNS prize pack! For all the details, check out the SCS forum!

For more inspiration, check out what the other members of the team created for this challenge: Julie, Kelli, and Wendy! (Or you can see all of their creations at the YNS blog)!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I can’t wait to see what you’ll create for this week’s challenge!

colourQ #147

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Happy Tuesday! I’d like to share my card for this week’s colourQ challenge with you:
Supplies: embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts), sentiment stamp (Paper Smooches), heart and square dies (Spellbinders), button, twine (Whisker Graphics), colored cardstock (Stampin’ Up – Lucky Limeade, Regal Rose, Brilliant Blue, Baja Breeze), white cardstock (Papertrey Ink).
And here’s our colour combo to inspire you this week:
Before I go, I’d like to let you know that this is my last week with the colourQ Royal Court. 
The colourQ is one of the first challenges I played along with when I started making cards…it has been phenomenal to have been part of the team for almost 1 1/2 years!
My husband is in the process of departing the U.S. military after 13 years, and we’re transitioning back to civilian life (with one last move on the way near the end of this year).
I’m so honored and humbled to have designed with all of the fabulous ladies on the Royal Court…they always floor me with their creativity! 
Special thanks to Arielle for giving me a chance to join the Royal Court…you are a ROCKSTAR!
I will still be making cards, of course, but my focus will be shifting to a few new crafty opportunities and preparing for our upcoming move. This was, without a doubt, the hardest crafting-related decision I’ve had to make.

 And as always, thank YOU for stopping by! I hope I’ll still inspire you with my creations each week!

Hugs,

P.S. To be considered for this week’s colourQueen, make sure to link your creation at the colourQ blog by Sunday, July 29 at noon Central Time! (Don’t forget to display the challenge colors and link back to the colourQ blog in your entry post.)
Of course, the rest of the colourQ Royal Court have created some gorgeous projects with this week’s colors! You can see them on the colourQ blog or by visiting their personal blogs. (The links are to the right next to the thumbnail of this week’s challenge colors.)

TGF Guest Monday – Sew Cute!

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Hi, crafty friends! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I’m back with another Greeting Farm Guest Designer Monday post!
Today, I wanted to show you some more cards that I made with The Greeting Farm‘s new Oliver & Amelia “Lovey Dovey” set. I’m still practicing sewing on my cards, and I wanted to share a few tips that I’ve learned along the way! The machine I use to sew on my cards isn’t very fancy…it has a few basic stitches available, but that’s more than enough!
Normally, I sew with a zigzag stitch around the outside border. It looks great and I don’t have to keep the paper 100% straight, because the stitches give me some room for error. I also put adhesive around the edges (about 1/2 inch or so from the underside of the top paper’s edge), but just enough to hold the paper together as I sew.
I’ve been playing around with straight stitching, but I can’t seem to keep it totally straight. By making a few rounds of straight stitches (not all in the same place), it kinda hides my crooked stitching and makes it look more like something I meant to do!
Before I adhere the front panel to the card base, I add any ribbon or twine and adhere them to the back of the front panel before sticking it down. I also have trouble tying a flat bow, so I like to tie it separately, and thread a button with twine over the center. Then, I’m able to tie the bow to the ribbon border!
Hope you were inspired by these cards, and if you want to try sewing on a card sometime, I hope the tips I shared will help! 
Do you have any tips for sewing on cards? I’d love to hear about them!
Thanks for stopping by! See you here next Monday for my final July TGF guest post!
P.S. You still have time to play in a few of the latest TGF challenges: Farm Fresh Friday (Summertime theme), which runs until Thursday, July 26 at noon Central Time, and the Retro-Fresh challenge (Stars and Stripes), which runs until Tuesday, August 7th at noon Central Time!