October SheetLoads Sneak Peeks!

Have you downloaded your FREE copy of the September '09 SheetLoad of Cards yet?! If not, head on over today and see what our artists did with their stamps from JessicaLynnOriginal.

The new issue will be out tomorrow, October 1st, and you can get a sneak peek at the new issue over on the SheetLoad Blog today.

Here are sneak peeks at the creations I have in the upcoming issue:

And another Halloween touch:

Stay tuned for Thursday's full reveal of this card!

Tilda's Twinkling Treats Tag

Stamps: Magnolia 'Chef Tilda' and 'Rolling Pin', Papertrey 'Holiday Treats'. Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Doodlebug 'Sugar-coated white', daisy d's 'Paisley Sugarplums'. Ink: Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics. Accessories: gemstones, organdy ribbon, grosgrain dotted ribbon, oval Nestabilities, Long rectangle Nestabilities.

The title would be more appropriately described as 'Sparkling' with the glitter DP and gems, but where's the fun without the alliteration?

Opus gluei challenge #26 'Bring on the Bling' is the inspiration for the extra sparkle on this tag, including the glitter DP and gemstones; be sure to swing by these hilarious gals' blog for a fun dose of creative jump start.

Tuesday Morning Sketches #13 (sponsored this week by mygrafico)provided the layout with yet another awesome sketch by the spatially-talented Melissa.

Can you believe it's already the last day of September?? That means today is the last day to play along with the KLSNS September challenge to use notebook paper on a creation for a chance to win a free stamp and a $10 gift certificate to the store. It's also the last day to get $5 off with a $30 order from KL Stampin' N Scrappin, so you can pre-order your own 'Chef Tilda' before they are sold out!!

Chocolate Birthday Wishes

Chocolate is always a good idea for any celebration, right? I made these Ghiradelli treat boxes for two friends that are celebrating birthdays this month-- Deb today and Vicki on the 29th.

Thanks going out to another buddy, Tracy, for demoing this box construction for me. There's a great tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers, but I am always a bit intimidated by 3-D projects, stemming from my sorely lacking spatial comprehension abilities.

The treat boxes actually coordinate with previously posted cards. This is one for a Magnolia Card Kit Swap:

Stamps: Magnolia 'Strawberry Tilda' and sentiment. Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, ki memories DP 'Shimmery Juicy Summer', Papertrey white. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Certainly Celery, Rose Red. Accessories: Oval and circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Flower dies, primas, brads, Bazzill gingham ribbon.

And this is a card based on a Midnight Madness Sketch challenge:

Stamps: Inkadinkado kid sentiment. Cardstock: Basic Grey 'Archiver', My Mind's Eye 'Simply Delightful', Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Ink: Chocolate Chip. Accessories: Long Rectangle Nestabilities, primas, brads.

Be sure to join me in showering these special gals with loads of birthday wishes!

Quilted Christmas Patterns

Stamps: Magnolia 'Jam Tilda', Penny Black sentiment. Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Basic Grey 'Eskimo Kisses' DP. Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Copics. Accessories: blue grosgrain ribbon.

Have you taken a peek at Basic Grey's Christmas DP yet? It's called 'Eskimo Kisses' and has fun prints in a non-traditional color palette of 'wintery shades of spearmint green, glacial blue,powder pink, sugar plum and crimson' which happen to coordinate beautifully with Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, and Old Olive. It's available for pre-order now, along with this adorable 'Jam Tilda' who looks sweet anywhere she perches!

I love quilts, but this paper version is about the only style I have the patience to create. The layout is inspired by Card Patterns' sketch #31 which fits perfectly with Opus Gluei's challenge #25 to use sewing on a card. OK, I didn't actually break out my sewing machine, but quilting usually involves sewing, right? So you can see the connection, if not the exact stitches.

Wishing you a day that keeps you in stitches!

Going Grungy to a 'T'

I'm branching out, attempting new styles and this tag is a collage of those attempts! Let's see: I used the alcohol inks and supplies I've had collecting dust for over a year on the acrylic letter 't', a acrylic fragment to create the 'treasures tile', distressed embossed the tree, and used cracked paint under the clock image.

Not only did living on the grunge side give me inky fingers, but it also gave me a chance to use items that normally don't appear on my cards. See the paperbark birch strip running underneath the Prima?

In case it's not too obvious, my letter for this tag is 'T' as in time, tree, today, and treasures.

If you feel like trying some grunge or shabby chic techniques, Deb's (dcorder) Letters & Numbers Grunge/Shabby Chic Tag swap on Splitcoaststampers is the perfect motivation. Check out the swap HERE and join a fun group of swappers!

Candle at Midnight

Stamps by DRS Designs: Jumbo Candle F006, Serve Our Country at Christmas D530. Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Real Red, Silver. Ink: Night of Navy. Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Snowflake punchs.

This is the final week for DRS to sponsor the Midnight Madness Sketch challenges and the second week of their Operation Write Home sponsorship, so I decided to combine the theme with this week's sketch #20.

I've always admired the tradition of placing candles in the window at Christmas time; it seems all the more appropriate when so many of our young men and women in the military will spend the holidays in combat zones.

Show the troops you appreciate their sacrifice by sending cards into to Operation Write Home. In the process, you can win great prizes such as a $50 gift certificate to DRS Designs. Play along with this week's Midnight Madness sketch 19 and there are even more chances to win!

Got Digital Sprinkles?

Image by Cutting Cafe 'From My Kitchen'. Cardstock: Textured white. Digital DP by Sugarplum Paperie 'Daisies'. Accessories: pink organdy ribbon, gems, button, SU scallop border punch.

This is my first all-digital card -- quite the accomplishment from someone who more often than not is willing to toss the computer out the window!! I even managed some paper-piecing by printing the cupcake on pre-printed digital DP.

Inspiration for this project came from Sweet Sketch Wednesday #15. I was actually trying to do Simon Says' recipe challenge, too; it called for 1 image, 2 papers, and 3 embellishments. Check on image, check on embellies, but way too many DPs. What can I say? I'm addicted to my papers, and obviously not a great recipe-follower, either!

Special thanks to my stamping buddy, Jacque, for sending me this fun heart button. She actually sent me several of these, but it's taken me months to actually part with this one!

Percy Volunteers for Operation Write Home

Stamps by DRS Designs: Percy Penguin D122, Interlocking Snowflake Background H015, Family and Friends Christmas Greeting G853. Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Cool Caribbean, Night of Navy, GP110 white. Inl: Versafine Onyx Black, Copics, Versamark. Accessories: white taffeta ribbon, white EP.

'Cards For Heroes' has a new name; the drive is now known as 'Operation Write Home'. New title, but the same mission -- to send handmade cards to military members overseas, enabling them to stay in touch with loved ones back home.

DRS Designs is sponsoring this worthwhile cause with a holiday card drive running September through October. Every other week, Design Team members will post Christmas cards to inspire you to participate. You can feel good letting the soldiers know you care, and also earn chances to win fabulous prizes like a $50 shopping spree at DRS Designs at the same time! See THIS post for full details.

For this card, I stamped Percy the penguin twice since he needed a buddy to go with the sentiment. And who knows how important family and friends are than soldiers far from home?

The sketch is based on Clean & Simple Stamping's Fall-To sketch #59. Check out this blog whenever you need some good, clean inspiration and impressive examples.

Be sure to stop by the DRS blog for more card inspiration and to see the latest releases in action!

Autumn Thanks

Stamps: Papertrey 'Autumn Abundance'. Cardstock: Kraft, Papertrey white, Old Olive. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Chocolate Chip. Accessories: Harvest Crafts gingham, Cuttlebug 'With Love' embossing border and 'Distressed Stripes' folder.

Although I always want to add 'more' to my cards, I end up liking the Clean and Simple cards best of all! Thank goodness for the Clean & Simple blogs sketches like this Fall-To #60 for inspiration and a reminder than most times less is definitely more.

This card also qualifies for Tuesday Morning sketch #11 which is not a sketch this week, but a challenge to use ribbon. Although this ribbon's use is fairly traditional, I like how the colors really pop off the solid background -- the ribbon is definitely one of the focal points!

Thanks also to great friends for my recent birthday gifts, two of which I used on this card. The 'Autumn Abundance' set from Tracy is so fun to Copic color while the Cuttlebug embossed dots from Michelle added just the right amount of texture for the sketch.

Beautiful autumn-like weather and great friends -- there's definitely a lot to be thankful for!

Feels Like Fall Sneak Peek!

And guess what that means -- time to break out those autumn-themed stamps! This guy is a classic symbol of Fall so he shows up on one of the autumn cards I have posted over on the DRS Designs' blog. Be sure to visit him and view the accompanying card which features my all-time favorite part of the Fall season!

Fun with Bookmarks

Stamps: Stampavie 'Milo Puppy Love', Inkadinkado kid sentiment. Cardstock: Real Red, Barely Banana, Papertrey white. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Real Red. Accessories: Stardust glitter pen, circle Nestabilities.

These Inkadinkado sentiments are some of my favorites because they always make me laugh, but usually hold a kernel of truth, too. Out of the mouth of babes? Or in this case, more like 'out of the mouth of pups'? Although in our dogs' case, the Labrador never met a person he didn't like and the cocker never met anyone over two feet tall that didn't make him cower!

Inspiration this week comes from Stampavie blog challenge #12 which is to create a bookmark . This combines my two favorite hobbies, reading and stamping, so I decided to go all out and make two different styles of bookmarks.

The second bookmark is a ribbon style with hidden magnets -- no more bookmarks slipping out at inopportune times:



Stamps: Stampavie 'Giving Shelter', Papertrey 'Mixed Messages'. Cardstock: Real Red, Daisy D's 'Paisley Sugarplum' DP, Papertrey white. Ink: Memento black, Real Red, Copics. Accessories: square Nestabilities, Stardust glitter pen.

To create your own magnetic bookmark, check out the tutorial I posted on the DRS Designs blog HERE.

Enjoy your day, whether it involves stamping, reading, or both!

Midnight Letters to Santa

Stamps by DRS Designs: Cutie Pie Letters to Santa G1147, Gift Background H1140, Stuffed with Reasons Greeting G760. Cardstock: Whisper White, Papertrey white, Creative Memories green, Summer Sun, Real Red. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Real Red. Accessories: Hero Arts felt pointsettias, gems, Oval Nestabilities.

'Stuffed with Reasons' is technically in the Thanksgiving greetings section, but I knew it would go well with this Cutie Pie elf and her overflowing sack of letters to Santa! Be sure to check out the other Cutie Pies which are perfect for perfect Copic coloring techniques, along with the other new releases.

Midnight Madness sketch #19 is the inspiration for this card. DRS Designs is sponsoring this week as well as next, so be sure to play along for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the store!

With Sympathy

Stamps by DRS Designs: The Sadness You're Feeling sentiment H029, Medium Open Silhouette Butterfly D117, Silhouette Branch Background H363. Cardstock: Textured Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, GP 110 white. Ink: Perfect Plum, Copics. Accessories: Long Rectangle Nestabilities, SU Scallop border punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Eggplant grosgrain.

Thanks again to Tuesday Morning Sketches for the layout inspiration. Sympathy cards are always so difficult to create, but the beautiful sentiments created by DRS Designs really complete the card without much extra embellishment.

Does this card look distorted to you? My husband surprised me with a brand-new desktop computer for my birthday, but I'm still adjusting to a wide screen. This card is the usual A2 size, but on my monitor it looks square! Let me tell, looking at photos of myself is no fun, either!!

Made with Challenges!

Stamps: Magnolia 'Baking Tilda', sentiment. Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Basic Grey DP 'Lemonade', Papertrey white. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Rich Razzleberry. Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, wide grosgrain ribbon, SU scallop border punch.

I'm a big fan of challenges, especially sketch challenges. This sweet Tilda is from the new Magnolia 'Yummy in Your Tummy' collection; her card was inspired by the Flourishes' Feel of Fall' card because it was a perfect sketch to use this wide grosgrain.

The second card is based on the Fall To Layout #58 by my all-time favorite clean and simple sketch site, aptly named Clean & Simple Stamping. I found these primas clearanced (how could I resist??) and they are a perfect match for the Rich Razzleberry AND a challenge from a new challenge site I just found called Opus Gluei which challenged me to 'Say it in Flowers':

Stamps: Papertrey 'Birthday Basics'. Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Basic Grey 'Lemonade'. Ink: Rich Razzleberry. Accessories: SU scallop border punch, Basic Grey 'Lemonade brads', Making Memories 'Noteworthy' primas.

Speaking of challenges, these flowers qualify this card for the September challenge over on KLSNS by using notebook paper on a project. Detail photos on the KLSNS blog show it a little more clearly, but the blue prima is actually printed on a notebook grid!

My most exciting challenge news? In case you haven't noticed the new blinky in my side bar, I've been chosen to be a Spotlight Diva on a brand-spankin' new challenge blog which will begin posting challenges on October. You can take a sneak peek at this fun new blog HERE, enter to win some amazing blog candy, find out how to try out to join our fun group of Divas, AND meet the rest of the crew and our fearless (and talented and sweet ) leader, Vicki!

Hope to see you there!

Midnight Madness and Halloween

Stamps by DRS Designs: Halloween Lookout L253, Happy Halloween sentiment A042. Cardstock: Black, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun. Ink: Versafine black. Accessories: copper brads, Spare Parts buttons, Adornaments fiber.

Midnight Madness and Halloween seem to go well together, don't they? So did the cobwebby theme I was trying to achieve and Midnight Madness sketch #18. It kind of reminds me of my front porch roof just now -- should I sweep out the webs or leave them as Halloween decorations??

DRS Designs is sponsoring this month's sketches over on the Midnight Madness blog, so be sure to stop by to check out more inspiration and the details on how you can win some DRS stamps of your own!

DRS Sponsors Cards For Heroes' Drive!

Stamps by DRS Designs: Large Filigree Star L1113, Sentiments Serve Our Country at Christmas D530, Soldier Holiday Thank You H529. Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Silver. Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark. Accessories: silver EP.

Today is the official kick-off for the DRS Designs Sponsorship of Cards for Heroes! For the next two months, our design team will be showcasing Christmas and winter cards to inspire you to create your own and donate them to this great cause. For full details on how to donate your cards to the troops and also earn a chance for amazing prizes such as a $50 gift certificate to DRS Designs, read THIS POST.

DRS Designs has a full line of patriotic images and sentiments, including the seals for each branch of the service.

In case you'd like some sketch inspiration, DRS is also sponsoring Caardvarks through September 14th. You have three versatile sketches to choose from; I featured two of the versions in Saturday's post and this is the third layout.

Prefer the conventional winter holiday cards? Check out the brand new releases for a new spin on some old favorites.

Enjoy creating your holiday cards and let's all hope and pray that next Christmas will find our troops safe home with their families!

Show Us Your September SheetLoad!

It is time for the monthly Show Us Your SheetLoad challenge over at SheetLoad of Cards!! To be entered to win, all you have to do is create a single, Fall-themed, card that utilizes the sketch from the latest issue.

Head on over there today and find out how you can win one of two gift certificates from the September sponsor - JessicaLynnOriginal!

Here's my take on the September sketch; I really liked how the circle in the sketch echoed the popped-up moon on the card:

Stamps by DRS Designs: Halloween Lookout L253, Large Original Plaid P641, Happy Halloween sentiment A042. Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Black. Ink: Versafine black. Accessories: Circle Nestabilities.

It's a clean and simple style, and straight from the sketch. My kind of card -- quick, but striking. And I didn't even break out the Copics!!

DRS Designs Teams Up With Caardvarks!

Stamps by DRS Designs: Friends Like Chocolate F715, Chocolate Chip Background H361. Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla. Ink: Chocolate Chip. Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, SU border scallop punch, pink satin ribbon.

DRS Designs is sponsoring this week of Caardvarks, who offered three different sketches to inspire us. All were great layouts, so I ended up creating cards based on all 3! Two are featured here; the third was the inspiration for a whole batch of patriotic-themed Christmas cards. I'll post that one on Monday which is the official kick-off for the DRS sponsored Cards For Heroes Drive.

Here's a Christmas card created for that drive. I'm not sure why both my chocolate and navy cardstock photographed black; is it a cranky digital camera or overworked computer??

Stamps by DRS Designs: Snowflake Background H187, Gazing Out the Window K194. Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy. Ink: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy. Accesories: Martha Stewart snowflake border punch, rectangle Nestabilities.

Be sure to stop by the Caardvarks' blog to view all three sketches and other stamper's creations based on them. Link your card for a chance to win DRS goodies!

Serving Our Country

Stamps by DRS Designs: Army National Guard Seal G1130, Serve our Country at Christmas sentiment D530. Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Night of Navy. Ink: Veramark, Night of Navy. Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, star brads, gold EP.

Isn't this sketch #9 by Tuesday Morning Sketches perfect for a patriotic theme? With those stripes, I only needed to add star brads to complete the effect.

Being deployed is always difficult, but when you're away from family and friends over the holidays, it's even harder. To send a token of appreciation for service members' sacrifices, create a card especially for them or for them to send back home to loved ones.

Check out the DRS Designs' patriotic images which include seals like this one for all service branches. Then be sure to stop by the Cards For Heroes page to learn how you can send cards to this great cause!

Blog Candy for a Great Cause!

A fellow blogger, Erin of 'Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry', is offering this exciting blog candy as an extra incentive for stampers to send off a card to a seriously injured 12 year old girl. For full details, be sure to check out THIS POST on how to make a tween's day a little brighter!

Guess Who's in Town!

Can you guess who is featured on one of DRS Designs' newest releases? Only my very most favorite holiday cartoon character ever!

Be sure to stop by the DRS Designs' blog for the full card view and for info on how you can create Christmas cards for the troops while earning a chance for a little gift of your own.