{TCPTUES167} Watercolor Wonder

Hey Hey Hey!! It's TCP Tuesday on a Thursday! This week's challenge is brought to you by our one and only MOM, Julie! That crazy cat has challenged us to watercolor....that's right folks- she wants us to put down the copics (GASP!!) and bring out the waterbrushes! We almost had a petition started to get her kicked off the catpack, but then we realized that the point of challenges is to do just that- Challenge us! So there was some groaning and grumbling (I won't name names;), a little kicking of the feet and a cuss word or two thrown out there! But in the end it was a nice change from the everyday;)
And I must really have a wild hair, because for the second TCP Tuesday in a row, I have NOT coloured a stamped image!!!! I know...somebody call 911.

I used the lovely soaring bird, music notes and sentiment from The Tweetest Things stamp set. After I watercolored my base using SU's brand new In Colour reinkers (yum) on watercolor paper, I made sure the label was dry enough to emboss on (a hit with the heat gun helps things along), and embossed the music with black craft ink and clear powder. I then did the same with the bird, using the Home Tweet Home Cutups, and popped him up on dimensionals. I also used the Big Scallop Cutup and banner flag from the Easy Rosettes Cutup for the embossed sentiment. The Big Scallop piece was dry embossed using a SU folder and the green CS main layer was embossed using a texture plate. Some black stitiching around the main panel and a black satin ribbon treatment finish off this CAS (clean and simple) card!

See that cute little flower that is grounding the sentiment? It's by prima and the color matched perfectly, and I think it's a nice simple touch for a CAS card:)

Wanna play along? Here’s some deets to know…
1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
3. Add your entry to the guestbook {On Alma’s blog} or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES167 for this week’s challenge.
4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat’s Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

{YNS New Release} Blog Hop!

Hey there stampy friends! Your Next Stamp is having  a  release Blog Hop to celebrate some fun new rubbah! You should have arrived here from Dana's blog. If you don't want to miss a thing, start at the beginning, and go to Kerri's blog!
I have used the brand new 'Ellie Loves Art' for my card. This is a sweet set and comes with alot of little accessory stamps (I used the paint splotches on my embellie).
I love these Ellie stamps, as my sweet niece is Miss Elli! Makes me smile- I love little coincidences like that:)

I stamped Ellie in memento ink, coloured her up with copics (wanted her to be a blondie to suit my Elli), and added some clear and mint spica glitter pen to her hair scarf, cuffs, shoes and the paint. Her little pants were paper-pieced using coordinating paper. I cut the image out with a spellbinders die, matted with kiwi CS and a larger nestie die. The main panels were machine-stitched in a wonky style. I cut kiwi and white CS with large scallop dies, embossing the kiwi with a swiss dot embossing folder, and attached them horizontally to the cardfront. I cut the fancy pleated rosette out of a polka dot dp pattern and topped it with a white bottle cap embellie (I stamped the paint splotch stamp multiple times and coloured with copics, punched  a 1" circle, attached it to the cap using score tape paper, and topped with a clear gel sticker than came with the cap) I used an artsy sentiment stamped on a banner flag diecut.

Isn't that custom bottle-cap rosette embellie just the icing on the cake!? I love how it adds a bit of 'art' to the card;)

Next up on the hop is another YNS guest, Jen del Muro! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us:)

Store Promotion: 10% your entire order - Online Code – YNSJULYNR – sales ends July 20^th at midnight

Ready for a blog hop prize?? Link yourself up to any of the YNS hoppers and COMMENT on all hoppers for your chance to win this fun new set 'Kali and Kai from Hawaii'.

Blog Hop Starts: Wednesday, July 13th at 8:00PM (EST)
Blog Hop Ends: Monday, July 18th at midnight (EST)

Supplies- Stamp- Ellie Loves Art- YNS, sentiment- MFT; ink- memento; dp- MME lime twist; CS- SU!, Xpress it blending CS; Dies- scallops- MFT, Rosette die and sentiment flag- TCP; Copics; Spica glitter pens; embossing folder; sewing machine; thread; bigshot; 1" circle punch (SU!); bottle cap embellie (unknown)

{MFTWSC28} Friends Forever

So guess what?? Remember my Fred Bear Roasting Marshmallow card that I made for my dear old dad a few posts back? The one that I submitted for the My Favorite Things Guest Designer contest?? Well, I WON!!!! I was just so excited and honestly shocked that my card was chosen...you never know when you love something, if others are going to feel the same way! There is always that uncertainty when it is something handmade that you are putting out there for others to 'judge'...it's a little like wearing your heart on your sleeve I guess- kind of a vulnerable feeling. But it seemed that they liked what they saw:) I am very thankful, that's for sure:):)
So my first duty as Guest DT is to participate in MFT's weekly sketch challenge. This one was kind of a doozy for me, as the panel seems really long and I have small issues with things on a tilt;)
But I went with it and like the results (again, that feeling of wondering if I am alone on that thought;)!

I decided that I wanted to use the stamp set 'Jolinne Heart on A String'. I thought that the balloon she is holding would be perfect as the flower embellie on the sketch, so I flipped the sketch upside down, made the card square (5 7/8 x 5 7/8) and came up with this:

I coloured Jolinne with copics (skin- E00, E01, E11, E13, R20; lips- R24; hair- E34, E57, E47; shoes/sash-E74, E77, E79). I stamped her once on white x-press blending CS, and then a second time, colouring her head/hair and legs and cutting them out to pop up for dimensional effect. Her dress and the balloon are paper-pieced and I glued linen thread along the stamped line of the balloon string and added a double bow to the balloon. Jolinne was cut out and is sitting on a wood veneer ledge on a rectangular debossed, stitched panel (which is on boosters as well). Her balloon is up on dimensionals as well. I zigzag stitched around the green panel. In place of the tilted horizontal narrow strips, I tied ribbon across the entire width of the card front, with a little bow attached to the bottom ribbon. I don't have the new file tab dienamic, so I used the Rounded Banner Trio Dienamic in it's place and stamped a sentiment from Jolinne Friends Forever set. I used 2 copper brown brads along the side to follow the sketch.

Want a chance to win a weekly MFT gift voucher? All you have to do is play! Just link up your creation to the SCS gallery, using the keyword MFTWSC28.

Supplies- Stamps- MFT Heart on A String, Friends Forever; Ink- memento; DP- jillibean soup, yellow dot (balloon)- scrap stash; CS- SU early espresso, old olive, Xpress blending CS white; Dies- MFT rounded banner trio dienamic; Ribbon, linen thread- SU; brads- American Crafts; Other- copics, dimensionals (SU), sewing machine, thread, bigshot, embossing folder

{TCPTUES166} Wish Big!

Hey folks! I am in such a stellar mood lately! We have been enjoying the summer sun- playing in the sprinkler, kiddie pool, trampoline, going to swimming lessons, eating BBQ goodness, hanging with friends and family and just having an all round great time this past week! My auntie has been here visiting from Victoria, BC  and my bff, who recently moved from Alberta to Saskatchewan, is coming back with her family to camp with us on Sunday! Alot of things to be grateful for happening here lately:)

So on to the stamping! This weeks TCP challenge was an inspiration challenge, and it just so happens to be brought to us by a stamper that is a huge inspiration to me, Jen del Muro (THE SFYTT Jen!)

This delish picture from Jen had my mojo flying! I could seriously do six projects with this photo!
I was inspired by the colours, the texture of the cupcake wafer, the chocolate icing, the candles and of course, the birthday theme!

Oh where to start? Colours- pretty obvious (Echo Park 'Summer Days' collection), inked up edges with SU's creamy caramel, embossed turquoise dp panel with cuttlebug numbers folder and inked over texture to add more definition, used corugated cardboard scrap for wafer texture, and added brown felt 'icing' with Icing Cutup die. The candles were cut from white CS (1/2 x 3 1/2 ") and I wrapped Divine Twine  around the CS diagonally for the stripey candle look. The 'flames' were cut using the leaf from the Flower Buttons Cutup die, and then yellow stickles and a sprinkle of dazzling diamonds glitter (SU!) were added. I cut felt and cork from the Flower Button and Heart Trio Cutup die and hotglued them to the candles. The banner was cut from the Pennant Cutup (the small size), inked and machine stitched around the edges. The buttons along the banner were threaded with beige linen thread from TCP. And now for the most shocking part of all: The ONLY stamp used in the creation of this card is Nightie Alphabet!!! Crazy, I know! But I am loving the focus that is put on our Cutup dies in this card! Just goes to show you that you need not be the worlds best stamper or copic coloring master, to make a really fun and detailed card!

Okay- if you're still here, thanks bunches! You are a loyal reader and I was especially long winded today! If you are inspired by this gorgeous picture and would like to make a project of your very own, we'd love to see it! Simply link your card up to Miss Meowy's blog for your chance to win some weekly cat nip cash and the coveted Swanky Stamper of the Month title! And head over to our forum at SCS for more fun and inspiration:)

Sketch- Cardabilities #34

{YNS Challenge #46} Button Up!

I'm super excited, as today is my first challenge as this months Guest DT for Your Next Stamp! This weeks challenge is 'Button Up'- use buttons on your project!
It was such a beautiful, sunny day here today that I decided to have my 'photo-shoot' outside on my deck, so there is some cast-shadows on the card. I think this is such a bright and summery card that the outside pics suit it just fine:) I used some fun new paper from Echo Park to fit the summer look!

I used this little cutie Flying High Fhiona, and in place of her balloon, I attached a big pink SU button tied with a teal bakers twine bow! I also glued a hot pink snippet of bakers twine where the string was stamped. She was coloured with copics and spica glitter pen in clear and teal (not sure on the name) were added to her heart on the dress, shoes, headband and flower, and a pink adhesive rhinestone (MME) was applied to the flower center on the headband.  I mounted her on the cloud oval panel with dimensionals. The flower embellie was cut with the new TCP sunflower rosette die and I hot-glued an orange button (with a teal rhinestone in the center) on top. The sentiment flag is hand cut, with a cute little sentiment from TCP's 'Kick Some Grass' set, stamped in black ink. I added a small pink rhinestone to dot the 'i'.
I used my sewing machine to stitch around the edge of the card. I added a wide strip of hot pink satin ribbon and glittery teal ribbon (MME) around the main panel.

Here is the inside, using the same sentiment set and die as the front, and a few little rhinestones for the bling factor! I machine stitched around the panel again as well:)

Play along with this challenge for your chance to win a fun prize from YNS! See the YNS Challenge blog for more details!

Sketch- SSSC# 124

{MFTGUESTDT0711} Fred Bear Roasting Marshmallows

Hey all! Just a real quick post here to show you my entry for this months guest designer contest over at My Favorite Things...not even sure if I am elidgeable to win it, as I was guest DT for the month of May, but it's always fun to play along, right?!
The theme this month is 'A Touch of Texture'...mine's more of a full on open-handed slap, rather than a touch:)
I followed Jen's SFYTT this month as well (the sponser is MFT, so whacked two birds with one stone on this card;) Gotta love it when that happens!

I used an insane amount of texture on this one, so I'll try not to forget anything!

1) Get this- my son had a real birds nest in a ziploc bag that he found with his grandma and I pilfered some of the loose bits and used them as the campfire sticks! (I even had to remove a hair- ewww!)

2) Same son brought me in a little twig that I used as my marshmallow roasting stick after I got most of the dirt off;) I made the mallow by rounding the corners of a peice of cream CS, crumpling and inking the edges and the crumples. the twig is 'poked' through with a holepunch.

3) I added a touch of orange glitter to the flames

4) I used white liquid applique on Fred's marchmallow (on both the inside and outside of the card)

5) distressed edges for that 'rustic' camping look

6) sewing machine stitching around the edges

7)buttons

8) twine

9) cork cut with MFT's ric-rac dienamic

10) the sentiment sign is stamped on wood veneer with black stazon and popped up on dimensionals

Here's a close-up, and you can see the dimension better...Fred and the fire are popped up on dimensional boosters as well as the scenic panel, marshmallow horizontal panel, wood sign and the cork ric-rac die.

And here is the inside, using another one of the cute sentiments that come with this set as well as Fred Bear stamped again in creamy caramel ink (stamped off once to give a more subtle look). I also added some more liquid applique to the inside marshmallow!

I didn't get around to making my dad a birthday card, so I think that this will be it! He likes a good campfire, so this looks prefect for him!

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned this week for a fun TCP challenge, as well as my first challenge as a Guest DT for Your Next Stamp!!

Happy Canada Day!

Hey friends- Happy Canada Day to all:) Should be a beautiful one here in central AB! I think we are doing a BBQ and then maybe hit some fireworks somewhere...
And in other news, I have an exciting announcement on the stamping front.....Karen from Your Next Stamp asked me to be her Guest DT for the month of July! Now, if you see my 'labels' on my sidebar, you might have noticed that I have only made ONE card with a YNS stamp...And Karen just so happened to notice that card and shot me a message! What luck! I do love YNS and have admired them for a long time, but alas, there is a budget, so I only had 2 stamps from this sweet little company! Well, thanks to Karen, I now have a few more and am so excited to put them to good use! Imagine my joy when my favorite YNS image was included in my package...You all probably know I have 3 little people that follow me around like shadows all day, so any cute little boy images tug at my heart-strings;) So 'Fetch' was in the number one spot on my wish list! I used him and his loyal pup to make my nephew, Brody, a birthday card. He turns 5 tomorrow and I coloured up this little fella to look like my fun, little red-headed nephew (although Brody's dog is a huge black lab and not a little brown lap-dog;) No biggie! I also used the 'You're so Cool' sentiment from the set of the same name (comes with a cute little bug).

I had a wee bit o' trouble with this card! First i stamped and coloured this guy and his dog. Then I cut the panel out with a wonky rectangle spellbinders die, masked off the coloured image and airbrushed the clouds. I then somehow drew all over the clouds with my copic marker. I fixed it as much as I could with my colourless blender, then when airbrushing the grass, I got green all over the sky! Grrrr!! So I had to cut everything out and attach them to a new wonky panel. That's right about the time my aircan ran dry (I WANT a compressor!), so onto the sponging! Finally I was able to adhere the little guy/dog down with dimensionals to pop them up a bit. I paper-pierced around the inner edge of the panel (something thats adds interest to masculine cards when ribbon and flowers just aren't gonna happen). I stamped the sentiment in two separate chunks on TCP's new cloud border Cutup die (that's also how I sponged the clouds in, as well as the grass Cutup for the grass). The clouds are popped up with dimensionals in various heights. The dp is one of the new MME Lime Twist pads.

I'm sure you're going to see alot of this company in the coming weeks on my blog! So, so fun and cute kid stamps are right up my alley! There's also the most hilarious donkey that is going to be coming to live with me real soon;) Check out the YNS store and play along in Wednesday challenges to win some prizes!

Sketch- The Deconstructed Sketch 7