Teddy Bear Love

When I was printing out a page of digi paper from Doodle Pantry's Valentine collection, my printer was running out of ink.  I ended up with yellow and orange hearts instead of shades of red.  But I love it so I made this card  using Mustard and Saffron CS to match the hearts.  This darling teddy is by Designed2Delight.

challenges:  Baby Love http://vervestamps.blogspot.com/
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/2011/01/have-heartlove-challenge.html
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/animal-applause-challenge-animal-that.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/name-that-card-you-are-in-my-heart.html
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges

Sweetest Friend Ever

It is hard to move away from a dear friend.  My very special friend and I have been in different parts of the country now for 18 years.  Doesn't seem that long but we still miss each other.  She was and is an extraodinary person in my life.  So I am sending her a card made with a wonderful digital set by Clear Dollar Stamps.  I finally figured out how to bring images forward and put some in the background so it was very fun to make this card and I felt such a sense of accomplishment for learning how to do this.  (simple things for simple minds LOL)

Challenges:  http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/clearly-inspired-challenge-21-cic21.html
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/2011/01/fashionista-friday-63youve-got-friend.html
http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/odbdslc45-sketch.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/to-who-challenge-someone-who-has-done.html

Sew Grateful

This is a card made with one of the digital sets that was donated by Clear Dollar Stamps for the fund raiser for Katie.  It is going to be a fun set to work with - lots of possibilities.  There is still time to donate for Katie.  Go to http://www.jakheath.com/2011/01/help-for-katie.html  for details. 
I wanted a vintage look for this card.  Two of the three buttons are from my grandma's button box so they could be at least 80 years old.  I guess that could add to the vintage look!  Then I actually sewed a border around the main panel instead of doing the faux stitching that I usually do.

challenges: http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-73-jeremiah-313.html
http://www.citycrafter.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/special-month-challenge.html

Sugar and Spice

This darling digi is by Pink Gem.  She is sooo cute.  I really like how this card turned out.  It is so girly and the little image reminds me of one of my granddaughters - thus the hair color. It is fun when everything fits together -  and I am really enjoying the digi paper by  Doodle Pantry.  This selection goes so well with the Red Ruby cardstock.

Challenges: http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/2011/01/sketch-99.html
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-13.html
http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/doodle-pantry-digital-challenge-6.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-no-challenge-no-tags.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/extra-extra-challenge-sweethearts.html
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges

Little Bear, Big Gift of Love

Here is a new image by Designed2Delight and some beautiful new digi paper by Doodle Pantry.  The boots are from a piece of shiny paper from a box of chocolates (don't throw anything away ! LOL). Hearts are three different stamp companies. Easy fold for a little different card.

Challenges: http://card-ideas.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabulous-folds-challenge.html
http://designed2delight.blogspot.com/2011/01/free-digital-stamp-of-month-bears-big.html
http://doodlepantryblog.com/
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/extra-extra-challenge-sweethearts.html
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges

Birthday Celebration

One more card with this sketch.  First time I have used this digital by Digital Delights.  Very cute.  The challenge is celebration - I think the Pippin the mouse is having his share of celebrating. Glad to use a few scraps of DP.  You know how many we can collect !

Challenges:  http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/2011/01/sketch-98.html
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/lots-of-paper-challenge-paper-with.htmlhttp://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/animal-applause-challenge-animal-that.html

Last of Winter - I hope

I really am done with winter, but unfortunately, it is not done with us yet.  But here in the NW, I think our snow days are over.  Now if it would just stop raining and flooding. 

This will probably be the last winter card I make until November.
Challenges:  CPS 201http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/
D2D http://card-ideas.blogspot.com/2011/01/christmas-wintry-color-combo.html
Stamping Vacation http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/lots-of-paper-challenge-paper-with.html
Stamping Vacation http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/color-combo-challenge-light-purple-and.html

The Birds Up In the Treetops

When I was a little girl, we sang a song:
"The birds up in the tree tops sing a song,
The angels chant a chorus all day long.
The flowers in the garden blend their hue,
So why shouldn't I, why shouldn't you
Praise Him too?"
I often think that the birds are praising God with their song. So musical notes just belonged on this card.
The stamp is by Martha Stewart. I made the flowers by stamping a flower from an old Stampin Up set, cutting them out, then forming them.  The centers are a dab of Stickles.

Challenges:   http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/
 http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/odbdslc44-wing-it.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/get-music-in-you-challenge-rockin-robin.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/animal-applause-challenge-animal-that.html

A New Heart

One of the blogs that I visit is Stampin Sisters In Christ.  The challenge this week is to depict or use something new.  I am so glad that God gave me a new heart when I accepted Jesus as my Saviour.  This verse is a prayer to keep that heart pure.
I really like this sketch at CardPatterns.  I hope I have time to use it again this week.

Challenges: http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/
http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/
http://www.citycrafter.blogspot.com/
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/extra-extra-challenge-sweethearts.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/have-you-tried-challenge-weaving-ribbon.html

First Easel Card - Fun !

It is hard to believe, but this is the first easel card I have made.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.  I used the Monkey Topper image by DigitalDelights. I was going to make a fence ( for the challenge at Inspirational Card Sketches) but then remembered some old wood DP I had stashed away. Oops, I just noticed that I forgot to put in the centers of the flowers but it took me so many shots to get this photo, I am not going to re-do it.  You will have to use your imagination. LOL

Challenges:
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
http://icsketches.blogspot.com/2011/01/ics-97-robyns-fetish-digi-stamps.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/animal-applause-challenge-animal-that.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/clear-as-mud-challenge-cupid.html

Valentines for Boys

Don't you find it a lot harder to make Valentine's for boys?  It is so easy for girls - ribbon, lace, pink, red, bling. Well, I hope that using these bright colors like orange, coral, blues, and  greens, that one of my grandsons will find it suitable for them.  I tried to take the photo at such an angle so that you could see some of the dimension. I used some little beads for the sprinkles on top of frosting.

Digital image is by Designed2Delight http://designed2delight.com/prestashop/
Challenges:  http://www.citycrafter.blogspot.com/
http://designed2delight.blogspot.com/2011/01/free-digital-stamp-of-month-january.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/extra-extra-challenge-sweethearts.html
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges

Pretty Black Birds

I was tempted to title this post "The Birds".  Remember that movie?  Hopefully these birds will not give you the creeps like the movie.  The image is by BlackLeaf design.
The ribbon has been with me for more years than I want to admit.  I added red stickles to add a touch of color and tie the image into the ribbon.

Challenges:http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-vintage-challenge-silhouette.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/get-music-in-you-challenge-rockin-robin.html
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/

Another Hero Card

One more card to thank one of our Heros. Will add it to the box for OWH http://www.operationwritehome.org/

Image is by Stamping Boutique http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/p/monthly-contest.html
Other challenge: http://icsketches.blogspot.com/2011/01/ics-97-robyns-fetish-digi-stamps.html
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/special-month-challenge.html

Love Takes Flight

Here is another one of the cute digitals donated for Katie's cause.  It is by True D Doodle Design.  Her digitals are found at Clear Dollar Stamps http://www.cleardollarstamps.com/products.php?cat=172&pg=2
If you would like this and other images, see the post below this one for ways to help Katie.

Challenges: http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/extra-extra-challenge-red-thread.html

Help for Katie

A number of artists and companies that know and love Katie (known for her Tuesday Tutorials on the Clearly i Stamp blog) have banded together to help Katie and her family in this season of need.

 Katie has been diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer.  She has been told the stomach cancer is in stage four.  Katie has been bravely sharing her story with us on her blog  http://katiespaperhaven.blogspot.com/.

..............................................

Jak Heath is a crafting friend to Katie and has organized this special digi benefit to help raise money for Katie's treatment and anything she and her family might need during her course of treatment.

Please visit http://www.jakheath.com/ to learn about Katie and how you can help her and her family!

These cookie images are from one of the sets that was donated by Clear Dollar Stamps. 

Challenges: http://icsketches.blogspot.com/2011/01/ics-97-robyns-fetish-digi-stamps.html

http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/01/monochromatic-creations-challenge.html 

http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/clearly-inspired-challenge-21-cic21.html 

Verve-a-licious

Okay, I know that isn't a word.  But I think this Verve set is wonderful.  Having so much fun with it.
This card is for Viva la Verve week 2.  Love the layout.  And I am so glad to see the challenge at Just Us Girls which is to make a matching envelop.  How perfect for Valentines.

Challenges: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/viva-la-verve-challenges-f218/**-viva-la-verve-january-2011-week-2-%7B1-7-11%7D**-t516609.html
http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/extra-extra-challenge-red-thread.html

Digital Thank You

For this card, I did something a little bit unusual.  I used a piece of DP then added the Thank You digital, cut out a butterfly from another piece of the same DP.  All that was left was to add some embellishments: gems, button, ribbon.   The digital is by Digital Delights.
Also submitting this to the challenge at Just Us Girls, and Stamping Vacation  - anything with antennae, Stampin Sisters in Christ - wings.

 
http://digitaldelightsbyloubyloo.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/animal-applause-challenge-anything-with.html
http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/

Sweet, Easy, Digital

Try it , you'll like it.  That is what I found out when I started using Digital stamps.  And do I ever love the pre-colored ones.  I feel like I am cheating because it is so easy but look at this digital by Clear Dollar Stamps.  The colors are great, the highlights and shading are here.  Love it.
I used the sketch ate Sweet Shop and made a matching envelop for the challenge at JUGS. Links are listed below the photo.

Challenges: http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/
http://www.clearlyistamp.typepad.com/
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/

Second Post

Here is the second card going to OWH.  Again, the image is by Stamping Boutique.
Website for OWH is http://www.operationwritehome.org/

Challenges: http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/
http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/p/monthly-contest.html

Thanks to Our Heros

I just sent off a box of 95 cards to Operation Write Home. It makes me so happy every time I do that.  For those of you who do not know about this wonderful organization, they provide handmade cards for our wonderful heros in the military.  I have included the website below.  Please check it out.  If you are like me, you make way more cards than you can ever use (I am addicted to challenges !).  It is great to send them off to the men and women in the military so that they can use them to send back to their loved ones.

Okay on to the cards (in separate posts).  Even though most of the cards I send to OWH are blank inside, I always include some for our heros expressing our gratitude for their service so I made these two cards expressly for that.  Images are by Stamping Boutique. OWH website: http://www.operationwritehome.org/

Challenges:
http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/p/monthly-contest.html
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/extra-extra-challenge-red-thread.html
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/

Seeing Red

Well, red Valentines, that is.  I love Valentine's Day.  It is such a wonderful opportunity to let those who are precious to us know that we love them.  So there may be a lot of red and hearts in the posts from here to Valentines Day.
I want to start with two today - both with my new set of stamps from Verve.  Love them.

 Challenges:  Viva la Verve, If the Shoe Fits, and Stamping Vacation
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/
http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/extra-extra-challenge-red-thread.html
For the next card, I use a single stamp from the set.  Also used Floral BG stamp by Stampin"Up.  A product I  don't use very often is Pearl Ex but I put it on the background print and it really gives it a beautiful shine.

Challenges: CPS sketch
Stamping Vacation, Really Reasonable Ribbon Rambling , If the Shoe Fits

http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/2010/12/color-combo-challenge-red-and-gold.html

http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/