Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the July 2010 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  This month, the challenge was to use office supplies in your project--things like paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, file folders, staples, binder rings, adhesive labels, post-it notes, and so on--you get the idea.  I have to admit, this challenge was exactly that--a challenge!  It was fun to see what office supplies were hidden in various places in the house, but a little harder to figure out how to use them!  So here is what I came up with:

"Notes"

I revisited several of the design team members' blogs from when they introduced "Take Note," and found that Lauren Meader had created a really cute notebook, and provided dimensions.  So I used her template to come up with this little notebook.

Opening the notebook

Back of notebook

These pictures show some other views of the notebook, specifically the view from the back, and the view as you open up the first flap of the notebook.

Betsy Veldman made this notebook and had such cute stamping inside I decided to try it!

This final picture shows the view when you completely open up the notebook, and the two different notepads featured inside.  I thought this would be a cute notebook to give as a gift to a busy Mom to keep in her purse, to help remember the millions of things Moms have to remember!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Take Note, Tags of Spring, Egg Hunt (PTI)
Ink:  True Black, Dark Chocolate, Smokey Shadow (PTI), Bamboo Leaves, Rose bud (Memento)
Cardstock:  Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow (PTI)
Patterned Paper:  Bitty Dots (PTI)
Accessories:  Misc. Office Supplies from around the house!

And before you continue on the hop, my daughters also wanted to try this challenge:

My Daughter K's Card

"You've Got Mail"

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted):
Stamps:  Vintage Picnic, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, Mailbox Greetings
Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Danube Blue (Memento)
Cardstock:  Spring Rain, Vintage Picnic
Accessories:  Copic Markers, misc. office supplies

My Daughter J's Card

"Take Note"

Supplies:
Stamps:  Take Note (PTI)
Ink:  Lovely Lilac (SU)
Cardstock:  SU
Accessories:  Misc. Office Supplies, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Thank you so much for stopping by--we hope you enjoy the hop tonight!  I can't wait to see what everyone has created!

Chris

The Sweet Stop Sketch #65

Hello Everyone,

Just popping in with a quick post for the Sweet n Sassy Sketch Challenge blog.  I had so much fun playing along last week that I thought I'd try this week's sketch. This was my first time trying to make a bow with some twine, I think it came out okay! 

"Cheer Up"

Stamps:  Elly and Friends (SNSS)

Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black), PTI (True Black)

Cardstock:  Ocean Tides, Ripe Avocado, Stamper's Select White (PTI)

Patterned Paper:  Polka Dot Parade, Bitty Box (PTI)

Accessories:  Ribbon, Twine (PTI), Felt Flowers (SU), Button Brads (MM), Copic Markers

Until next time . . . .

Chris

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #121

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone had a great time checking out the July Blog Hop from Taylored Expressions!  I know I sure did, and I was so excited to see that I was picked to receive a free stamp set!  Woo Hoo!  After much deliberation, I "think" we have chosen a stamp set (my kids all had to get in on the selection process :) ).  Check out the details here to participate in Taylor's August Blog Hop.

Getting back to stamping . . . here is my card for Taylor's latest sketch, which you can see here.  I had a lot of fun with this card, using my big scalloped circle nestabilities, and getting to use both glitter AND liquid pearls for the chocolate. 

"Make Mine Chocolate"

Stamps:  Cuppie in the Kitchen (TE)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock:  Pure Poppy, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Stampers Select White (PTI)
Patterned Paper, Ribbon:  from my stash 
Accessories:  Glitter (MM), Espresso Dimensional Pearls (Adirondack)

Thanks so much for stopping by, please come back soon!

Chris

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop July 2010

Welcome to the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop! This month, to play along, you could use any TE stamp set released in April 2010 or earlier, and you could use the sketch shown on the right to jump start your creativity. I chose to try the sketch and used the stamp set For the Love of Cupcakes, one of my favorites! I used some glitter patterned paper from Making Memories, and again had to use some of Taylor's Tiny Twinkles--I am really enjoying adding rhinestones with the Embellie Gellie, it is too much fun!

"Cupcakes Make Life Sweet"

Stamps: For the Love of Cupcakes (TE)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Pink Pirouette (SU)
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette (SU), Vintage Cream (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Pitter Patter (MM)
Accessories: Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (TE), Copic Markers, Ribbon (SU)

With the darker color base for the card, I decided to do an insert for the inside of the card as well. Plus, I figured the sentiments kind of went together!

Inside of Card

Thanks for stopping by!

Chris

The Sweet Stop Sketch #64

Welcome Back! Today I decided to try out some new Sweet n Sassy Stamps--all with Cocoa the mouse! Cocoa is their adorable mascot and just too cute! My daughters and I all decided to play along with the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge, which is Sweet n Sassy Stamps' Challenge Blog, and here is what we made based on sketch #64.

"Let's Get Together"

Stamps: Tea Time Cocoa (Sweet n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock, Patterned Paper: SU (except for Stamper's Select White, PTI)
Accessories: Ribbon (SU), Copic Markers


My daughters played along with the sketch as well, and I was so impressed--I thought they achieved very professional results!

My Daughter K's Cards

"Watermelon Cocoa"

Stamps: Feelin Fruity Cocoa (SNSS)
Ink: Tuexedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock & Patterned Paper: SU
Accessories: Ribbon (PTI), Copic Markers

My Daughter J's Cards
"Cupcake Cocoa"

Stamps: Sweet Cocoa
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock & Patterned Paper: SU
Accessories: Glitter, Copic Markers, Ribbon (PTI)

My son also had fun coloring some Cocoa images, but he told me that "Mommy, it's not ready to go on the blog just yet." He is doing a great job coloring though!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Chris

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #120

Hello Everyone,

Just popping in with a quick card for Taylor's sketch challenge, just barely making it by the deadline! :) I just got Taylor's new set "Feelin' Groovy" and wanted to play a little! I also had a lot of fun with some Tiny Twinkles and the Embellie Gellie!

Peace, Love, & Happiness

Stamps: Feelin' Groovy (TE)
Ink: Hawaiian Shores (PTI), Rose Bud (Memento), Limeade (Doodlebug)
Cardstock: Hibiscus Burst (PTI), Pink Pirouette (SU)
Patterned Paper: Feelin' Groovy (DB)
Accessories: Summer Sunrise Twill (PTI), Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (TE)

Be back soon!

Chris

Back to Crafting Again!

Hello Everyone!

Well, you don't realize how much time gets away from you--our last post was so long ago! With school, holidays, and kids' activities, the months just seem to fly by. So I've been spending some time cleaning up the blog and crafting so we could start posting again. My first post is what I call my "blue series;" my stampin' up demo gave me a bag of scraps at stamp class in May. I started playing around, and made one card. Then it became a challenge to see how many cards I could make out of a small stack of scraps, and the cards below are the result! I hope you enjoy them!

"The Blue Series"

"For My Friend"

Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons (SU), I'd Pick You (Sweet n Sassy Stamps or SNSS)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), True Black (PTI)
Cardstock: SU
Accessories: Ribbon (SU), buttons (Making Memories), Lace, Copic Markers, Smooch (it's on the flowers, kind of hard to see)

"Flyin' by to Say Hi"

Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons (SU), Pond Pals (SNSS)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), True Black (PTI)
Cardstock: SU
Accessories: Ribbon (SU), buttons (Making Memories), Lace, Copic Markers, Smooch (it's on the flowers, kind of hard to see)

"Oh Hoppy Day!"

Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons (SU), Pond Pals (SNSS)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), True Black (PTI)
Cardstock: SU
Accessories: Ribbon (SU), buttons (Making Memories), Lace, Copic Markers, Smooch (it's on the flowers, kind of hard to see)

"for you"

Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons (SU), Fillable Frames #5 (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), True Black (PTI)
Cardstock: SU
Accessories: Ribbon (SU), buttons (Making Memories), Lace, Copic Markers, Smooch (it's on the flowers, kind of hard to see), Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (TE)


My children also wanted to spend some time crafting . . . . . . so here are their creations:

My Daughter K's Cards
"Her Really Rust Series"

Supplies for All of the Cards:
Stamps: Around and About Sentiments (PTI), Celebrations--Solid (CTMH)
Ink: Potter's Clay (Memento)

Cardstock: Really Rust (SU! Retired), Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Really Rust (From SU!'s Patterned Pack III)
Ribbon: Autumn Terracotta (CTMH Grosgrain)
Accessories: SU! Scalloped Circle Punch, Pop Dots, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (TE)

My Daughter J's Cards:
"Purple Set"

Supplies for Purple Set:
Stamps:Around and About Sentiments (PTI), Tiny Treats (PTI), Little Lady (PTI), Celebrations--Solid (CTMH)
Cardstock: SU! Stamper's Select (PTI)
Patterned Paper: SU!
Accessories: Basic Gray Ribbon (SU!), Blue Rickrack (MM), Pink Flowers

"Pink Set"

Supplies for Pink Set:
Stamps: Tiny Treats (PTI), Vintage Picnic (PTI), Around and About Sentiments (PTI), Fillable Frames #5 (PTI)
Cardstock: SU!, Stamper's Select (PTI)
Accessories: Dark Chocolate Chalk,Pink and Blue Bows

My Son K's Cards

Stamps: A La Carte Dad Tools (TE), A La Carte Dad Car (TE), Cuppie in the Kitchen (TE)

Thanks so much for stopping by--we'll be posting again soon!

Chris