Catered Crop's Follow The Recipe Challenge

Hey everyone!  It's time for Catered Crop's Follow The Recipe Challenge #6!  This is by far one of the best challenge sites EV-AH!!

•  Pattern Paper – Go Crazy with Patterns!
• Colors – Anything Goes! Mix and match, try some black accents
• Stamps – Aprons, images from the kitchen or cupcakes
• Color Mediums – Prisma Pencils, pens (like Sharpies or Jelly Roll), black ink, distress inks
• Embellishments – pearls, ribbon, rickrack
• Misc. Supplies – Puff Paints, Glossy Accents, ModPodge
• Tools – border punches or die cuts (or use paper trims)
• Techniques – mixing patterns, coloring with Prisma pencils
• Theme – cooking or cupcakes
• Shapes – Squares

Peggy Marsh, one of our Top Chef design team members, has a great tutorial for using Prisma pencils that will truly change your life – paper craft speaking that is.

 I decided to whip up a kitchen scene.  The fabulous "domestic goddess" is mixing up some cupcake batter, while sipping a cool adult beverage, complete with olive.  (If you missed our Top Chef Linda's "Olive You" post, hop on over there for some awesome eye candy....but not till you're done with my post of course. :D)

Here's a close up of the appliances.  I used Silver cardstock and rhinestones.  I really need a stove with some serious bling. :D

I used Liquid Pearls (a la Danielle Lounds) to highlight the sentiment.....wouldn't want anyone to miss it. :D

Here is a close up of the "floor".  I angled the patterned paper so that it would look more like tile.  A little tricky lining up the front layer to the bottom layer. It really worked!! So proud of myself on this one.

• Pattern Paper – (Go Crazy with Patterns!) October Afternoon Modern Homemaker, Thrift Shop
• Colors – (Anything Goes! Mix and match, try some black accents) Got it!
• Stamps – (Aprons, images from the kitchen or cupcakes) There She Goes Clear Stamps Domestic Goddess,  A Woman's Place,  A Drink A Day
• Color Mediums – (I don't have pencils yet) Copics and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Embellishments – (pearls, ribbon, rickrack) Ranger Liquid Pearls, PTI Baker's Twine,CTMH Bitty Bling,  PTI Buttons
• Misc. Supplies – Sadly, none.
• Tools – (border punches or die cuts) Scissors for lots of fussy cutting. :D
• Techniques – (mixing patterns or colored pencils) One outta two ain't bad!
• Theme – (cooking or cupcakes) Built the kitchen too...what more could ya want?
• Shapes – (Squares) The card is square!! (the stove is square too!)

That's it for me.  Enjoy your weekend and I'll be back for newest TSG challenge on Monday!

“Flying By” and “Good Times” Blog Hop Challenge

Hey everyone! Welcome to the last day of TSG's Blog Hop Challenges.  We've got 2 new stamp sets to peek for you today.  Hopefully you've come from my bestest bloggin' buddy, Angela's blog.If not, start back at the TSG blog so you don't miss anything.

“Flying By”
Iwona has done it again! She is bringing us some precious little girls that are ready to capture the joy of spring! Whether chasing balloons or butterflies, these little ones will help express your joy to the recipients of your cards.

I used My Minds Eye Tickled Pink Paper and LOTS of bitty sparkles.  The sketch is this month's Dirty Dozen Fan Club Sketch. 

With all these Dirty Girl's on TSG's Design Team, I figure I gotta show my support right?! And here's a close up of the goodness:

“Flying By” is a 3X4 stamp set that includes a total of 5 stamps and will sell for $7.

Good Times" 

Time is precious to all of us, and Torico has illustrated a new set that showcases that fact! Her sweet and “time”less spring critters will not only have you using your time wisely, but they’ll also be bringing endless smiles to your faces.

“Good Times” is a 4X6 stamp set that includes a total of 11 stamps and will sell for $15.

I LOVE this card!! OH it is just so cute!!  I used this month's SFYTT. I love Jen's sketches!

Here's a close up of the text. The "at the beginning" is a bit too tilted.  Musta happened when I moved the card to the light box. Oopsie!

Would you like a chance to win the "Flying By" or “Good Times” stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their “Flying By/Good Times” Blog Hop Challenge post.  After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own "Flying By" or “Good Times” stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Feb 26th) during the Release Party Chat.

Now, hop on over to Iwona's amazing blog to see some more goodness! :D

TSG All the World and Birthday Sentiments Blog Hop Challenge!

Oh and the party begins again today! Welcome back to TSG's second day of this month's Blog Hop Challenges.  Hopefully you arrived from our amazing artist, Chris' blog.  If not, hop on over to the TSG blog to begin the blog hop!

 Chris Dark is back with another adorable and playfully illustrated canine set that includes butterflies and a precious picket fence. Add in some sensational sentiments, and you’ve got another TSG set that can’t be passed up!

“In All the World” is a 3X4 stamp set that includes a total of 7 stamps and will sell for $7.

This is one bright card!! Here's a close up of the glittery goodness.  I used Spica Glitter pens on everything but the dog and fence. And wait till you see the next set! :D

“Sentimental Birthday”

Who doesn’t need a sentiment set that consists of various birthday sayings? What’s even better is that this set showcases the gorgeous handwriting of our very own Julie Lacey. If you’ve loved her other sentiment sets, then this one will be another lovely addition!
“Sentimental Birthday” is a 2X6 stamp set that includes a total of 7 stamps and will sell for $7.

Oh my goodness, did I have fun making this card or what! I love shabby chic, but it's not my normal "go to" style. My jumping off point was Paper Players Challenge #35 sketch. 

 I used brand new Echo Park "For the Record" papers, Zva Crystals and MFT, Spellbinder, Scrap-Mart dies. Throw in some Tim Holtz Distress Stickles and a couple types of ribbon and call it a day! :D

Would you like a chance to win either the "In All the World" or “Sentimental Birthday” stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their "In All the World" /“Sentimental Birthday” Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own "In All the World" or “Sentimental Birthday” stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Feb 26th) during the Release Party Chat.  Now head on over to the amazingly talented Iwona's blog for more goodness!

TSG Blog Hop Challenge: Under the Weather

Hey there! Welcome to the first day of our blog hop challenge!   Hopefully you've come from Angela's awesome blog.  If not, head on over to the TSG blog to get started.

 We are so happy to be introducing a new artist joining the TSG team…please welcome MELYSSA CONNELLY! You may know her artwork from her wildly popular Whimsie Doodles’ store, and she has been gracious enough to design this playful and spring-filled stamp set. 

 Whimsical images, borders, and sentiments included on one fabulous set! You’ll never feel blue or under the weather using this adorable addition to the TSG roll call!  “Under The Weather” is a 4X8 stamp set that includes a total of 25 stamps and will sell for $18.

I used this week's Papercraft Star Challenge 34 for inspiration.  I luuuvvvvv sketch challenges! 

I wanted to paper-piece the little girl and her umbrella....little did I know it would be 12 pieces with some so tiny i kept loosing them. :D I added some Ranger Glossy Accents on her boots, the puddle, two splashes by the ribbon and to add some rain. I think this is a perfect entry for the Paper Piecing Challenge in the Moxie Fab World . 

Would you like a chance to win the “Under The Weather” stamp set? Here’s what you need to do- go to each of the Trendsetter’s Blogs and leave a comment on their “Under The Weather” Blog Hop Challenge post. After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this Blog Hop Challenge post. 

A winner will be chosen randomly using a random number generator to receive their very own “Under The Weather” stamp set. The winner will be announced Saturday (Feb 26th) during the Release Party Chat.  Now head on over to Chupa's blog for some more goodness!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: There She Goes Under The Weather
Paper:  PTI CS; CTMH Mayberry
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky

Copics: YR23; Y23; YG93,95; B41, 45; R20, 22; E35, 43, 44, 47, 49, 50, 51; C0,1,3
Embellishments:  CTMH Blue Green Sparkles, SU Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, SU Oval Punches, Maya Rd. Pins

It's A Small, Small World: Copic Face/Skin Color Chart

Hey everyone!! When I was a toy manufacturer/designer, mine was one of the first companies to come out with institutional multi-cultural plush (aka..puppets and dolls with different skin colors for daycares and hospitals). This was a big deal!  People laughed, whispered, gaffed.  Then another company came out with skin color crayons. And soon, everything was multi-cultural! It was so wonderful!!

So I made a little chart of my favorite combinations of skin color.  Some of them are slight in difference. I think as I am now getting better and better at coloring (my Kindergarten teacher would be so proud), these are the differences that bump the artwork up a notch. You can click on the pic to make it bigger.  To save, right click and "save as" on a PC.  I will also leave it in the "Copic" tab here on my blog.

I opted not to do hair with the skin.  I will put up another chart for hair next month.  Well, that's it for me today.  Please let me know what you think. :D

P.S. (I loved those crayons so much I hoarded them and wouldn't even let my son color with them.  I know, warped.)

Zombie Love

Hey everyone! Hope everyone had a great Valentine's day.  I have a super funny Valentine to share with you today.  I made this card for Riley, who is a HUGE zombie fan.  I started with the MFT week 6 sketch and used the papers from Basic Grey Wander that matched up perfectly with Colour Q's challenge this week:


I had saved a card made by Jody Morrow, back in January that I CASED.  I even borrowed her sentiment, cuz it was so fabulous! Here's the card:

When Riley and I first started dating, we took a FB quiz and learned that a) Riley will have a 98% survival rate and b) I would die within seconds of the infestation. LOL   The sentiment is fabulous....

Bwahahahahahaha!!  Funny, huh?! I'll be mailing it to him tomorrow.  A little late, but with all that's been going on, he understands and will still love it. I'm also entering this into my Catered Crop DT Sista's weekly challenge, That's Krafty Thursday #47. :D 

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Make It Crafty Digi Stamp
Paper:  SU Cherry Cobbler, Black CS; PTI Kraft, White CS; Basic Grey Wander
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Cherry Cobbler; 

Copics: YR12,14,15; YG00,21; R20, 24; B91,93,95,97,99; W1;T1,3,5,7; BG10
Embellishments:  CTMH Pewter Mini Medley, Black Hemp, Heart Chipboard ; SU Clips; Tim Holtz Paper Clip

Tools:Spellbinders Deckled Mega Rectangle




Now go get a little inky and have a great day!

You're Amazing!

Hey everyone! Today is Monday so you know what that means.....There She Goes Challenge Day!! Megan Lock, our Guest Trendie, has issued a color challenge:

I love this combination!  So soft and pretty.  

I used two TSG stamp sets...the first, Sentimental for the sentiment, and the second, Love, for the flourish image stamped in Vintage Cream hybrid ink on the kraft label.  That little detail made such a huge difference. And here's the card:

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that utilizes the previously mentioned color combo, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of the TSG challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (Feb 21st). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the look out to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG94 so we can check out your beautiful work!

You're So Sweet!

Hey there bloggin' buddies!!  Did ya miss me? No never mind, don't answer that.....lol!!

I lost my mojo over the past 10 days while I was entertaining and sick, so making a card today was TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH.  But alas, I completed a card.  I started with the sketch from clean&simple:127.  The idea here is to make a CAS card, but the card just took on a life of it's own. :D

 I used some new goodies and the fabulous stamp set Cupcake Mix & Match from TSG.

 It's not a great card, but it's a "tryin' to find your mojo" card.  There are some design errors, the sewing on the left hand side is horrible, the sentiment flag could almost wrap around to the other side, but I sure did have fun trying to find my mojo!

I used Buttercup Liquid Pearls around the edges of the focal point circle (a la Danielle Lounds) and for the center of the flower.  Adirondack Red Pepper Dimensional Pearls made for some sweet icing on the cupcake.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: TSG - Cupcake Mix & Match
Paper:  PTI Linen, White CS; CTMH Kraft Cardstock; October Afternoon Modern Homemaker
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Poppy Parade; 

Copics: Y21,23,26; YG03,17; R14
Embellishments: SU Ribbon; CTMH Buttons; Adirondack Red Pepper Dimensional Pearls; Ranger Buttercup Liquid Pearls

Tools: PTI TagSale #3 and Limitless Layers Die
Have a  great day!

The Pajama Crop Recap....

Yeah.....I'm a little late with the recap, huh?  I caught some crazy bug during our Crop Weekend that had me layed up Monday and Tuesday with a fever, prayin' to the porcelain god Wednesday, and finally recovering yesterday.  ARGH!

 My goal of the Pajama Crop was to get a group of artists together for a weekend of fun and pampering and of course COFFEE!  Away from the worries of daily life....an escape to my Studio...or as some like to call it..."A Store".

I made welcome note cards, wrapped up towels and loofas with PTI ribbon, and packaged chocolates in tubes with little tags. I placed these, along with magazines and bottles of water on pretty valentine doilies, next to their beds.  (Here's where I would put a photo if I'd been smart enough to take one.....oops!)

I picked Danielle Lounds up at the airport on Thursday, mid-morning.  Angela Thomas and Kim Teasdale drove from Canada without incident, but got a bit lost once they entered town. We had a great time cropping and getting to know each other over a delish Mediterranean Pizza and some embossing powder!

Jessica Knutsen arrived with her 3 gorgeous girls in tow Friday morning and it was off to the LSS, Toadilly Scrappin' and a fabulous arts and craft store, ArtCo.  After 5 hours of shopping, everyone was broke so we headed home to use, or at least oogle at, all of those lovely purchases.

I whipped up a batch of my world famous Chili and we all chowed down. Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Sparkle Smith arrived after a whirl-wind week of her own, armed with her Copics and ready to crop.  Sparkle was so generous, she even shared some of her stamp images with us! You'll see 'em all colored up soon.

Then, it was time for Friday Night Chat in the There She Goes forum.  With 3 trendsetters (Angela, Kim and I), 1 alum trendsetter (Danielle) and the TSG leader extraordinaire (Jessica) all together, it was a fun evening of chatting and typing, typing and chatting. Holly wanted to be in on the fun too, so we skyped her and she witnessed our mayhem.

 On Saturday, Jessica returned, sans daughters.  It was a full day of cropping, dining on spaghetti and garlic bread, and drinking LOTS of coffee, water and a margarita or two. These girls had some serious amounts of mojo working, whipping out card after card. I was just in awe!
(I was selfish enough to ask each amazing artist to "donate" a card so I could start a Celebrity Stamper shelf, and they DID!  More on that next week with pics of their cards.)

And laugh....we laughed and giggled so much that my cheeks, face and stomach hurt from all that silliness!

Sunday, we packed everyone up for departure.  It was so sad to see everyone go. Everyone left me notes in my shower using bath crayons!

A successful weekend it was, so much so that we decided to do again next year.  I can't wait! :D