Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #203: Clean and Simple Birthday

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Cursive Greetings II'.  Cardstock:  GP110 white, DCWV 'Celebration Stack'.  Ink:  Pacific Point.

Welcome to Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #203
Our challenge this week is to create a Clean and Simple card!

For my card I used my all-time favorite clean and simple sketch source, Clean&Simple.  Inspiration here is courtesy of  Fall-To sketch #187.

Be sure to visit all the Paper Pretties' blogs to see their spin on the challenge:

Frances Byrne, DT coordinator

Linda Bendon

Jennifer Greco

Amber Hillman

Kristine Reynolds

Then be sure to link your creation HERE for your chance to win this week's prize!

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #202: Hello, Girlfriend

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Cursive Greetings II'.  Cardstock:  Black, Paper Studio 'Uptown Flair'.  Ink:  Versafine black.  Accessories:  Circle Nestabilities, square punch.

Welcome to Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #202
Our challenge this week is to create a card for the girls!

For my card, I went with a classy feminine color combo (love that pink and black with a touch of lime green), sparkle, and sentiment that reminds me to take time for my friends.

Sketch is courtesy of Mojo Monday #237.

Be sure to visit all the Paper Pretties' blogs to see their spin on the challenge:

Frances Byrne, DT coordinator

Linda Bendon

Jennifer Greco

Amber Hillman

Kristine Reynolds

Then be sure to link your creation HERE for your chance to win this week's prize!

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #201: Triple Designer Papers

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Sympathy', 'Cursive Greetings II'.  Cardstock:  Papertrey 'Vintage Cream', DCWV 'Garden Party'.  Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Coral Cameo.  Accessories:  Circle Nestabilities.

Welcome to Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #200
Our challenge this week is to feature two or more Designer Papers on your project!

For my card, I used three different DPS -- not bad for a CAS card, is it?

This butterfly from the 'Sympathy' set is so beautiful and the 'Cursive Greetings' are one of my favorite sets because they are so versatile!

Sketch is courtesy of Clean&Simple's Fall-To sketch #185.

Be sure to visit all the Paper Pretties' blogs to see their spin on the challenge:

Frances Byrne, DT coordinator

Linda Bendon

Jennifer Greco

Amber Hillman

Kristine Reynolds

Then be sure to link your creation HERE for your chance to win this week's prize!

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #197: CAS Thanks

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Everyday Lily'.  Cardstock:  WCP, Basic Grey 'Sugar Rush'.  Ink:  Memento black, Copics.  Accessories:  Circle Nestabilities.

Welcome to Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #197!

Our challenge this week is to create a thank you card.

For my card, I went the CAS route -- Lily is so sweet; who needs extra decoration?

This Tuesday Morning Sketch #136  by Marie was the perfect inspiration!

Be sure to visit all the Paper Pretties' blogs to see their spin on the challenge:

Frances Byrne, DT coordinator

Linda Bendon

Jennifer Greco

Amber Hillman

Kristine Reynolds

Then be sure to link your creation HERE for your chance to win this week's prize!

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #196: Manly Cards

Paper Pretties 'Fun Quotes'.  Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey 'Archaic', textured vanilla.  Ink:  Chocolate Chip. 

Welcome to Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #196!

Our challenge this week is to create a masculine project .

According to the males in my life, these are the requirements for a 'manly' card:
1) NO ribbon or sparkles.
2) NO flowery sentiments, and humor is preferred.

I think I avoided those no-no's fairly well, and stuck with an earthy color combo as a bonus.  This card is intended to be a birthday greeting, so the inside sentiment will read '... Guess that makes you a day older, too!'.  Kind of fits with the 'Archaic' DP, doesn't it??

Sketch is courtesy of Clean & Simple's Fall-To #139.

Be sure to visit all the Paper Pretties' blogs to see their spin on the challenge:

Frances Byrne, DT coordinator

Linda Bendon

Jennifer Greco

Amber Hillman

Kristine Reynolds

Then be sure to link your creation HERE for your chance to win this week's prize!

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #192: Texture

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Fun Quotes'.  Cardstock:  Textured  white, silver, Cool Caribbean.  Ink:  Versafine black.  Accessories:  Ki Memories puffies, Cuttlebug embossing folders, piercing tools.

Welcome to Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #192!

Our challenge this week is to use TEXTURE on your project.

For my card, I decided to use several different textures starting with textured cardstock, then including felt embellishments, and finishing with piercing.

Sketch is courtesy of Clean Simple's Fall To sketch #146.

Be sure to visit all the Paper Pretties' blogs to see their spin on the challenge:

Frances Byrne, DT coordinator

Linda Bendon

Jennifer Greco

Amber Hillman

Kristine Reynolds

Then be sure to link your creation HERE for your chance to win this week's prize!

Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge #131: Soaring By

Image:  Doodle Pantry digi 'Balloon Ants'.  Sentiment:  Papertrey 'Everyday Button Bits'.  Cardstock:  GP110 white, black, the Paper Studio 'Uptown Flair'.   Ink:  Copics, Versafine black.  Accessories:  MFT scallop die, Nestabilities circles.

Welcome to Tuesday Morning Sketch #131! 

Here's our fun and versatile sketch created by Theresa for this week's challenge:

Our sponsor this week is Doodle Pantry who generously provided this fun 'Balloon Ants' digi set showcased on my card. 
Be sure to admire the TMS Design Team's spin on this week's challenge:

Melissa
Angela
Theresa
Kathy

Dawn B
Marie

Then link up your creations HERE to join in the fun and so we can admire your take on this sketch and enter your name in the drawing to win a prize from our sponsor!

Paper Pretties Challenge #182: Clean and Simple Thank You

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Snowflakes', 'Elegant Sentiments'.  Cardstock:  Linen white, Night of Navy.  Ink:  Versamark, Night of Navy, Cool Caribbean.  Accessories:  Winter Wonderland EP, Navy satin ribbon.

It's back to CAS for this thank you card inspired by Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #182.  This is one of my all-time favorite combos of blues and snowflakes!

Paper Pretties Challenge #180: Non-traditional Christmas

Stamps:  Paper Pretties " O Christmas Tree".  Cardstock:  Paper Studio 'Happy Hootin Holidays', Papertrey white.  Ink:  Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi.  Accessories:  Martha Stewart scallop border, Nestabilities rectangles.

When it comes to Christmas, I am a traditional kind of girl -- it's red and green all the way!  Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge #180 was a real challenge because I had to shift gears and go with the non-traditional colors.  And you know what?  It was fun! 

OK, red and green still made their appearance, but at least they didn't dominate the show!

I am enjoying revisiting old friends and challenges; this sketch is courtesy of Midnight Madness sketch challenge #130.  I went with the CAS version, rotated on  its side.  Hello, MMSC friends!

Tuesday Morning Sketch #94: Who Can Resist Crayons?

Stamps:  Happy Harmony.  Cardstock:  Whisper White, Papertrey white, K&Co. 'Tim CoffeyCottage Garden'.  Ink:  Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Versamark black. 

Welcome to Tuesday Morning Sketch #94! 

This week we are hosting a non-sketch challenge, sponsored by One Stop Cards:  the Crayon Resist Technique!  You can find a Splitcoast tutorial by Beate for this fun technique HERE.  Basically, a white crayon is used to highlight areas of a stamped image; sponging over this area with ink will leave a halo effect:

The card above was my first try at this technique and I thought I could achieve a more obvious effect with a more liberal crayon application.  I needed a birthday card for my mom, so I thought I'd try again with slight modifcations to Clean & Simple Stamping's Fall-To sketch #140.  Here's the result:

I like the new card, but you know what?  I like the original CAS version just as much!

Be sure to admire the TMS Design Team's spin on this week's challenge:

Melissa
Angela
Theresa
Jacki
Kathy

 Then link up your creations HERE to join in the fun and so we can admire your take on this sketch!

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #134: Ring In the New Year!

 Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Elegant Sentiments'.  Cardstock:  Textured black, red, silver, glitter white.  Ink:  Versamark.  Accessories:  circle and square Nestabilities, Martha Stewart scallop border punch, silver EP.

Welcome to the Paper Pretties' Wednesday challenge!

This week's challenge is to  ring in the new year...use "ring" as your inspiration...could be circles, could be silver or gold, could be gems...anything that you can do with "ring" as your inspiration.   I used wedding rings as my inspiration and created a 'congratulations (on your wedding) card with this elegant sentiment set that also features rings in the border design:

The sketch inspiration for this card is Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #106.  In case you didn't know, this is Mercy's final sketch challenge.  That makes me a bit sad since I always find Mercy's sketches very inspiring, but it also seems fitting since this is my last DT card for a while.  I'll be taking a break from 'serious' stamping  while our family prepares to move to a new home and prepares the current home for sale.  Wish us luck and as few frustrations as possible with the home-buying/family moving process!

Be sure to enjoy the other Pretties' Gals 'ringing' cards:

Cindy

Frances

Jana

Jane

Jackie

Jennifer

Pam

Wendy

Heather
ARTish

Then link your creation HERE so we can admire your take on the challenge and enter your name for a chance to win a free Paper Pretties stamp! You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. If you upload to a public gallery please use the keyword PWC134

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #133: Birthdays!

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'ElegantSentiments'.  Cardstock:  Bayou Blue, DCWV 'Linen Closet'.  Ink:  Versamark.  Accessories:  white detail EP.

Welcome to the Wednesday Paper Pretties challenge! 

Our challenge this week is to create a birthday card. I went the Clean and Simple route, pulling inspiration from the archives with Fall-To sketch #110 and this newly released  'Elegant Sentiments' set:

Who needs a lot of layers or embellishments when you have this beautiful sentiment and sparkly DP?

Be sure to enjoy the other Pretties' Gals birthday cards:

Cindy

Frances

Jana

Jane

Jackie

Jennifer

Pam

Wendy

Heather
ARTish

Then link your creation HERE so we can admire your take on the challenge and enter your name for a chance to win a free Paper Pretties stamp! You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. If you upload to a public gallery please use the keyword PWC133.

Tuesday Morning Sketch #73: Embellish It!

 Stamps:  Papertrey 'Daily Designs' sentiment.  Cardstock:  GP110 white, Taken with Teal, silver.  Ink:  Versamark.   Accessories:  silver EP.

Welcome to Tuesday Morning Challenge #73! 

This week our sponsor is Paper Maniac and our challenge is to embellish your project in a non-traditional way.  I opted to create my own non-traditional embellish that also functions as a people embellishment -- have you seen these altered washers yet?

This technique involves a washer, alcohol inks, and Crystal effects and is so simple a kid can do it.  That's the truth -- my daughters created their own pendants as gifts for friends!  Here's a TUTORIAL if you want to try the technique with DPs.

To keep the emphasis on the pendant, I went with a CAS Fall-To sketch #121.

Be sure to admire the TMS Design Team's spin on this week's challenge:

Melissa
Angela
Theresa
Jacki
Tammy

Hollyanne, Jr. DT

Karen, December GDT

 Then link up your creations HERE to join in the fun and so we can admire your take on this sketch!

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge: Clean and Simple!

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Snowflakes', sentiment from 'O Christmas Tree'.  Cardstock:  GP110 white, Soft Sky, Night of Navy.  Ink:  Night of Navy.  Accessories:  SU scallop border punch, Stardust glitter pen.

Welcome to Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge!

This week we are challenging you to go clean and simple.  What could be more appropriate than using the  Fall-To sketch challenge #117 from the Clean & Simple Stamping blog?  And I combined with with one of my all-time favorite Pretties' sets, 'Snowflakes' accented with glitter pen highlights for this week's Whimsie Doodles' challenge #58 theme, 'Let It Snow'.

Be sure to enjoy the other Pretties' Gals CAS cards:

Cindy

Frances

Jana

Jane

Jackie

Jennifer

Pam

Wendy

Heather
ARTish

Then link your creation HERE so we can admire your take on the challenge and enter your name for a chance to win a free Paper Pretties stamp! You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. If you upload to a public gallery please use the keyword PWC129.

**Paper Pretties will be having a Thanksgiving sale from Thursday-Sunday ...15% off entire order using coupon code GIVETHANKS!

**Last few hours to apply for the Paper Pretties' Design Team!  Heather has a DT call going on now for both the regular Design Team and a brand new Digi Design Team, so check out all the information in this Design Team Call post to find out how you can become a Prettie Girl.  Our Design Team call will be open until Wednesday November 24th at 5PM CST. We welcome ALL APPLICANTS, you DO NOT need to have prior Design Team experience or publications to apply! 

Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge: It's Fun to Be Square!

Stamps:  Paper Pretties 'Snowflakes'.  Cardstock:  Bazzill textured white, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue.  Ink:  Night of Navy.  Accessories:  Square Nestabilities, Stardust glitter pen.

Welcome to the Paper Pretties' Wednesday Challenge #125!  This week we are challenging you to go 'Be Square', or at least create a card that is!

Snowflakes are one of my all-time favorite stamp images, so you can imagine how excited I was when Heather introduced this elegant exquisite 'Snowflakes' set during the October releases!  The snowflakes are so detailed and the sentiment so elegant that I chose a CAS to showcase it.  Don't the snowflakes pop against the crisp white textured background?  Especially when  accented with a touch of glitter pen:

Be sure to enjoy the other Pretties' Gals' square cards:

Cindy

Frances

Jana

Jane

Jackie

Jennifer

Pam

Wendy
ARTish

Heather

Then link your creation HERE so we can admire your take on the challenge and enter your name for a chance to win a free Paper Pretties stamp! You do not need to use Paper Pretties stamps in order to play along, but if you do, you will get a bonus entry into the drawing! Please be sure to mention our challenge and link back to the Paper Pretties blog in your project posting. If you upload to a public gallery please use the keyword PWC125.

**How would you like to join the Paper Pretties' Design Team?  Heather has a DT call going on now, so check out all the information in this Design Team Call post to find out how you can become a Prettie Girl.  Our Design Team call will be open until Wednesday November 24th at 5PM CST. We welcome ALL APPLICANTS, you DO NOT need to have prior Design Team experience or publications to apply! 

**Fan of digis?  Be sure to play along with Paper Pretties' Monday Whatnot challenges and check out the newly released digis by ARTish. Need a little more digi in your life?  Paper Pretties is also holding a Digi Design Team Call -- check out all the details HERE!

CAS Graduation Time

Stamps: DRS Designs 'Graduation background', Papertrey 'Boards and Beams' sentiment. Cardstock: Night of Navy, Papertrey silver, GP110 white. Ink: Night of Navy. Accessories: Stardust glitter pen, satin navy ribbon.

Here's my confession: I wasn't really planning on making this card, but was guilted into it. Eldest DD is graduating from 8th grade today -- hurray! She's a great student and an all-around great kid, but we really weren't planning on making a big deal out of the occasion. After all, it IS only 8th grade, right? I'm all about recognizing milestones, but if we make a big deal about this graduation, what is expected for high school graduation?

Anyway, a friend gave DD a fun card, so I kinda felt like Mom and Dad should, too. Thank goodness for Fall-To Sketch #90 which was great for some quick inspiration. I used school colors and threw in a bit of sparkle:


And just so you know the lack of enthusiasm isn't just mine, DD is still planning on going back to her school next week to help out with the lower grades and other special events. She really is a good kid and obviously not resting on her laurels of completing 8th grade!

Thanks, Mother Earth!

Cardstock: DCWV 'Eco Stack'. Accessories: coffee cup sleeve, scrap twill, SU sizzlit die 'Many Thanks'.

Happy Earth Day!

We've made several 'green' adjustments in our household over the past few years -- window film, replacing bulbs with CFLs, paying for recycling services, as well as the trying follow the eco mantra 'reduce, reuse, recycle'. This card covers a few of those recommendations:

Reduce: I decreased the layers and embellishments; who needs a lot extras with this gorgeous DP?

The twill is also a scrap I scavenged from another project. Here's a photo of my scrap bin; it's messy, but functional:



Reuse: the textured brown strip actually started out life as a coffee cup sleeve (made with recycled content). I know it would be even more green to bring my own mug, but there's a limit to how many items I can remember to bring while running errands!

Recycle: can you believe this DP is made with 70% recycled paper? I also keep a tub under my crafting desk to capture those paper bits too small to use; this gets emptied into the recycling bin when full.

Today also marks my last contribution to the Divine Influence blog. In honor of Earth Day, I've chosen to showcase one of my favorite eco-minded crafting blogs, Going Green Crafters & Artists. Be sure to stop by the Divine Influence to get a sample of the potential of the 3R's in the crafting world!

It IS Easy Being Green!

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda, Studio G sentiment. Cardstock: GP110 white, Reminisce DP. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: CM oval cutter, Wright's white grosgrain ribbon, Spare Parts brads, CB Houndstooth.

Opus Gluei's challenge #45 for this week is exactly this title, and we have free reign to interpret that theme as we will. First, I went with the literal definition and used this amazing card kit that I received as a prize in Angela's (SCS monkeymama) Magnolia card kit swap. Angela is a queen of card kits and included not only these goodies, but enough to make several more cards! If you are interested, Round 5 of the Magnolia Card Kit Swaps is currently in full swing.

The layout is inspired by the always versatile sketched at Mercy's Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge #63.

Although this is a St. Patrick's Day Tilda, I went with the good luck theme to make it more general purpose. Here's the inside of the card:



For my second card, I went with the current popular definition of green:

Stamps: Papertrey 'Mailbox Greetings'. Paper: Kraft, the eco Stack DP. Ink: Chocolate Chip. Accessories: circle punch.

The sketch is courtesy of Clean & Simple Stamping's Fall-To sketch #81 (reducing my paper use with a CAS theme), and also recycled with the 70% recycled paper content DP. Hey, I could also allow the card to be re-used by using a sticky note for an inside greeting to the recipient. All three sides of the recycling triangle checked!

Check out the always-fun gals over at Order of the Opus Gluei; there's plenty of time to go green!

Saturday Spotlight #20: Clean It Up!

Digi stamp and sentiment by Whimsie Doodles 'Leah Bunny on Easter Basket' and 'Hoppy Easter'. Ink: Copics. Cardstock: Baja Breeze, DCWV 'Glitter Sweet Matstack', GP 110 white. Accessories: Rectangle and tag Nestabilities, SU button, Stardust glitter pen.

For this week's 'Clean It Up' challenge.....

The Spotlight Divas would like to challenge you to go the opposite from last week's challenge and clean things up a bit on your creations! What does that mean? You can make a nice CAS style card (meaning 'clean & simple' style), or make sure you have clean edges and paper for your creation. Please interpret this how you'd like!

For our Spotlight sponsor this week we have...

(click HERE to go to store.)

CAS is one of my all-time favorite card styles. Trying new embellies or techniques is fun, but to really emphasize an adorable image like this one, nothing beats clean and simple! This Fall-To sketch #79 is courtesy of my favorite CAS inspiration blog, aptly named Clean & Simple Stamping.

Does this image remind anyone else of 'A Christmas Story'? The hilarious scene from that movie must have been in my subconscious as I was coloring this little bunny.

Be sure to check out all the 'clean' creations by the Spotlight Divas:
Vicki (Stamped Smiles)
Chris (Twinkles Glows with Stamps)
Boni (Bonibleaux Designs)
Crystal (Crystal's Crafty Creations)
Darlene (Dar's Crafty Creations)
Dawn (My Stamping Thyme)
Erin (Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry)
Jodi (Inked Inspirations)
Maria (Joyful Stamper)

Clean up your own creations, then be sure to link them HERE. One lucky winner from our challenge in Mister Linky this week drawn from random.org will receive a special code for a $10.00 shopping spree at Whimsie Doodles Stamps!

**We're searching for divas! Saturday Spotlight is holding a Design Team Member call running now until March 19th. Check out all the details HERE to join our fun group of Spotlight Divas!!**