Sew Many Cards Stitch Challenge

This week's challenge over at Sew Many Challenges is to make a card using stitching....be it faux or otherwise.  I chose to use this new Owen image as I just think he is the cutest!!!  You can purchase this image here.  Wait until you see what you get for FREE this month with a $10 order!!  But before you go shopping let me tell you about what I did with this project.  You can barely see my stitching as I used a light color thread but if you look closely you will see it up the sides...don't look too closely as I need much more practice!!!  It was fun getting my sewing machine out and trying though....I usually go the quick and easy route and do faux stitching but I just purchased the Janome Sew Mini a while back and thought I would finally sit down and have a go with it and well....I do love the look but I definitely need to practice as I said.  The patterned paper I used is from K & Company and their Berry Sweet line.  The ribbon is Making Memories and the cardstock is Crushed Curry from SU.  That sentiment is from the Tiny Tags SU set and I used the coordinating punch with it.  Here are the copics I used:

We are tickled to have Stitchy Stamps as our sponsor this week.  They have generously donated 3 digi stamps from their store to the winner of this week's challenge!  Here is a little bit about Stitchy:

Hi Everyone, my name is Stitchy and I create under the name Stitchy Stamps...I have been creating digital images for designers for almost a year now and try to learn something new everyday...I started out in paint shop pro about 8 years ago and started making digital scrap kits..then I was introduced to the wonderful world of paper crafts and card designing...like I said, learning new everyday, the rest is history...I can't draw enough to keep me satisfied anymore lol...

Living in a small town in upstate New York, tucked away where cable doesn't even go...friends are far and few between...But being on the internet for the past 10 years, I have gathered quite a few from around the world...Just like I learn something new everyday, I also try to meet someone new every day too...

Thank you Angela and company for allowing me to sponsor you...I am truly honored...

I had the honor of playing with one of their images this week and I can't wait to share my project with you....please come back and visit!  Also, before I go congratulations to Mary S you won the new release Owen and Duncan image I showcased last week!!!

Sew Many Cards New Release Blog Hop!!!

Can you believe it is April already?  I don't know where the time goes but....it is time for this month's new release blog hop with Sew Many Cards and Angela has REALLY outdone herself this time!  She has produced a whole new line of boys and girls in honor of Mother's Day and they are ALL just FABULOUS!!  Hopefully you are arriving here from GLORIA'S blog but if you didn't and would like to start at the beginning you can find the entire blog roll over at the Sew Many Challenges Blog.  This cute little boy is with one of my all type favorite images (Duncan)!  Love that cute little duck!  I used some of my favorite papers from the October Afternoon Farm Fresh collection along with some Pure Poppy and Spring Moss Papertrey Ink cardstock.  I used some braiding cord that I picked up at Walmart in the jewelry section to "tie" it all together.  I love buttons and twine!  Here are the copics I used:

We are so excited to have Regina Easter from The Cutting Cafe as our sponsor this month.  Regina always has some super fun things going on over there.  She and her DT have an abundance of creativity!!  She has graciously donated 3 stamp sets of the winners choice for this month's winner!!!  Here is a little bit about Regina:

Hello my name is Regina Easter. I have 4 wonderful children and an awesome supportive husband. I have for as long as I can remember loved all the aspects of creating things with paper and drawing. So it was only fitting that I decided to open up The Cutting Cafe'and I am loving every bit of this new venture. The Cutting Cafe' offers affordable Printable Stamps and Cutting Files. The Cutting Files which are basically just like templates are files that you Print out using your home printer, Cut, Assemble and then Embellish.....Very Easy.....The Cutting Files also come in the format where you can cut out the files using some of the latest Machine Cutters like the Pazzles Inspiration, Bosskut Gazelle and Cricut (with Scal software). The Printable Stamps are just that, images that are sent to you through email that you print out using your home printer. After the images are printed out, you can just color them in like you would any other stamped imaged...One great thing about the Printable Stamps and Cutting Files is that you no longer have to worry about finding space to store all of your stamps....You can keep them all in a folder in your computer and use over and over again.

We are also excited to have Simon Says Stamps sponsoring us again this week!  They have graciously donated a $10 gift certificate to this month's winner!  If you haven't been to this site, you really need to check it out as he has hundreds and hundreds of stamps and supplies at really good prices!

Don't forget to leave comments as you "hop" as we will all be picking winners to win the images we are showcasing!  Also be sure to play along with our challenge this week as not only will you have a chance at winning the sponsor prize packages but Angela is giving the winner the entire set of new release images!!  So head on over to see what wonderful project MELISSA has made for you!

Sew Many Cards Friday Freebie

Can you believe this cute little sandcastle is Angela's Friday Freebie?  Yes, you read that right FREE!!  Hurry on over to Sew Many Challenges to pick yours up as it will only be available this week!  This card looks so much better IRL as I used sand FlowerSoft along the bottom and you really can't see it in the picture.  That patterned paper is from Close To My Heart and it is from the Majestic Blue pack.  The cardstock is PTI kraft and SU Baja Breeze.  The "netting" in the back is drywall tape....got that fun little trick from my friend, Sandie.  It works wonderfully as you can ink it up and fray it easily.  It also is already somewhat sticky so it lays down nice but it is easy to peel up and move if you need to.  Plus one roll goes along way making it much more economical than the mesh made for scrapbooking.  I, of course, colored this with my copics....love those markers!!  Here are the ones I used today:

Sew Many Challenges Punch It Challenge & Wags N Whiskers

This week at Sew Many Challenges our challenge is to Punch It!!  What a fun challenge!!!  I used this cute little Hershey Crafting image which you can purchase here.  I colored him with the copics pictured below.  I was going in the direction of red/kraft but then I ran across this cute burgundy polka dot craft paper in my scraps and thought it was just too cute, hence, the different color red copics below as I ended up going a more burgundy route.  That super cute flower is made by punching scalloped circles out of paper from an old thesaurus.  Dawn McVey made an awesome tutorial which you can view here on how to make these super cute super easy flowers.   I then used my scallop edge border punch and made the ruffles along the bottom (you can see the dimension more in the copics picture below).  I again borrowed this idea from the wonderful Dawn McVey (see the inspiration card here). 

This week we have another awesome sponsor .... Lacey Stephens....owner of Wags N Whiskers.  Here is a little bit about Lacey:

I was a stay-at-home mom for 7 years so stamping was a great way for some "Mommy time".  But after stamping for over 2 years, my hobby became my obsession...so my obsession became my dream!  Now I own an on-line store!

Stamp and Create is a new online store carrying many popular brands of stamps, paper, and embellishments including:  Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Stamps, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, Whiff of Joy, Stampavie, Penny Black, The Greeting Farm, Basic Grey, 7 Gypsies, Shimmerz, Nestabilities (always 20% off), charms and more!!!  I am always adding new items to the store...so check it out at http://www.stampandcreate.com/. 

I had the honor of playing with this sweet image called Just for You.  Doesn't he just melt your heart?  Please note that this is a rubber stamp so this is the actual size.  I colored him with copics and used some patterned paper from October Afternoon Farm Fresh line and I just love that brown and blue together.  That blue is Stampin Up's Baja Breeze and the brown is Chocolate Chip.  I used a Spellbinders Polka Dot Frame to layer over my image.  I then took some blue and brown ribbons from my stash and used the Chatterbox Brad Maker to make a coordinating brad for the center of my bow.  Here are the copics I used on this card.

Well, that's it for me today.  Hope you will join us at Sew Many Challenges!  Can't wait to see what you make!

Cornish Heritage Farms (Sew Many Cards Sponsor)

We are so excited to have Cornish Heritage Farms as our sponsor this week over at Sew Many Challenges.  They graciously donated some amazing new release rubber cling stamps for the winner AND they generously gave the design team at SMC some to work with also.  I was thrilled to get this beautiful Peacock Scene Backgrounder stamp which was just released on the 19th.  It is so beautiful that I felt it didn't need much in the way of embellishing.  I just embossed it and then went over it with distress ink and just let the image shine by itself.  It is so intricate and beautiful but yet it was so easy to stamp due to the high quality of rubber and the deep etching.  Lots of times it is hard to get good coverage with big background stamps but this one was so easy...I got a nice crisp full image every time I stamped with it and I played around with it quite a bit trying different colors, etc.  I didn't even put it on a block....I just inked it with versamark and laid it down and put my paper on the stamp and just used my hand to ensure that I applied pressure to the entire image.  The little paper flower on the bow was made by using a Martha Stewart punch and then wetting the cardstock and wrinkling it....just as I did the flowers on the previous post using Christina's awesome tutorial.  I failed to write down the color cardstock I used but I'm pretty certain it is the 2 greens from PaperTrey Ink but don't quote me on that.  Hope you like it!

Sew Many Challenges - Spring Sketch Challenge!

This week's Sew Many Cards Challenge is a dual one - make a spring project using the sketch given over on the challenge blog.  I chose sweet little Jovi as my image to work with as she is just the cutest little bunny I've ever seen!  You can find her here.  I used some SU Bermuda Bay and PTI Berry Sorbet for my cardstock.  The patterned paper is from the Twitterpated line by Imaginisce.  I colored my image with the copics you will see below.  I used my nestabilities to cut my image out, however, I had already handcut a portion of her beautiful long ears so that they could hang over the edge and not be cut as part of the oval.  To do this just handcut the portion you want to hang over and then tuck it behing the cutting side of your nestie so it doesn't get cut when you run it through your machine.  Those flowers I made with the PTI cardstock using Christina's tutorial which you can find here.  These are super easy and super fun!  I used my computer to make my sentiment and added some ribbon and some leaves I cut with my sizzix die and there you go. 

We are so excited to have Richard & Liz Pomeroy from Cornish Heritage Farms as our sponsor this week!  They have generously donated three new release stamp sets that will be awarded to the challenge winners this week!  Here is a little bit about Richard & Liz and their wonderful company.

Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF) is owned and run by Richard & Liz Pomeroy.  Why the name?  Richard & Liz are orginally from Cornwall, England hence the Cornish Heritage & the 'Farms' is the 100 acre farm in north central Montana where they live & where all the stamps are manufactured.  Richard & Liz believe in producing a high quality product so all the stamps are deeply etched, red rubber.  CHF is a diverse stamp company in the fact that it consists of a variety of different licenses & styles, ranging from very detailed (Thomas Kincaide) to simple line art (Tom Fun Collection) therefore offering something for everyone.

Be sure to check back with me as I had the pleasure of working with one of their beautiful stamps!  I can't wait to show you!

I'm entering this one in The Pink Elephant Challenge for this week which is to make a spring project.  I'm also entering it in The Secret Crafter's challenge this week which is anything goes.  This will also be my entry for The Little Red Wagon challenge which is to use copics.

Soft Pencil Design (Sew Many Cards Sponsor)

I am so excited to have the chance to play with this sweet image called Two Cute Musicians from Soft Pencil Designs!  Doesn't the name say it all!!!  They are so incredibly cute!!!  I pulled out some fun papers I have had in my stash by Love, Elsie.  I printed the sentiment on my computer and then punched it out with the SU word window punch and layered that on the chocolate punched with the modern label SU punch.  (We should have some cookies with all that punch - he! he!)  I do love how those two punches work together! I added a little bling on the sentiment and the musical notes.  I have a photograph of the copics I used below if you are interested.

We are so happy to have Soft Pencil Designs as our sponsor over at Sew Many Cards this month!  It has been great fun working with their images!  Michu (cat) and Ratiny are so adorable!  Be sure to head on over to Soft Pencil Designs  and see Michu and Ratiny in all their adventures!   While you are there be sure to grab her blinkie as if you post it on your blog she will send you a FREE digital image!  Also, speaking of FREE don't forget that every Friday Angela posts a new FREE digital image over at Sew Many Cards!

Sew Many Cards Easter Challenge!

This week's challenge over at Sew Many Cards is to make an Easter project.  Well....I picked Jovi in Basket as who could resist that cute bunny - those ears!!!  You can purchase this sweet image here.  Don't forget you get a whole package of images free with just a $10 order, too.  The free package changes monthly so be sure to snag yours while you still can.  I colored my image with copic markers (see picture below for the exact colors).  That cute green plaid and the yellow polka dot patterned papers are from the Farm Fresh collection by October Afternoon.  The floral patterned paper is from the Berry SWEET collection by K & Company.  The base yellow cardstock is from Gina K's pure luxury line in Sweet Corn.  The ribbon is from Papertrey Ink in Spring Moss.  I printed the greeting out on my computer and then punched it out with SU's jewelry tag punch and then added some flowers and a brad I had in my stash.  The image and the background layer were cut using my nestabilities from Spellbinders.  Here are my copic colors:

Terri Olsen from Stamps Alive is graciously sponsoring our challenge this week.  She has generously donated a Damask Cuttlebug Embossing Folder for the winner!  Here is a little info about Terri:

I started my business in 1993 to give me something to do. I had worked all my life and recently quit to be a stay at home mom to my new baby. I've always been interested in paper products and I didn't like paying full price for some of the things I wanted. So I started my business. I like to pass my savings on to others. I've made some really good friends over the years. I've always been a small business I only advertise word of mouth. Over the years I've kept as busy as I wanted to be.

It has been very interesting to see the hobby industry change over the years. I had a "scrapbook" store in my basement before Las Vegas knew what a scrapbook store was. I've dealt with Provo Craft the entire 17 years I've been in business and that has been fun, to watch them change!!

Let me tell you from experience....no one does a sale like Terri!  She always has a GREAT special going on so be sure and check her site often as you don't want to miss out on the great deals she offers!  Those cute little eggs in my photograph of my project for this week were made from a Spellbinders set I just ordered from Terri.  Can't wait to see your projects!

Get Well Cards!

Even this sick little bear is so stinkin' cute!  KLM Designs has graciously sponsored this week's Sew Many Cards Challenge and I got the pleasure of working with this cute image from their store.  It is a digital image so you can size it to fit whatever project you are working on.  I picked red to work with as it is so nice and bright!  This image was so easy to color and I love that the sentiment is worked in with the image so all you have to do is color and embellish and you are done.  What a fast and easy card to make!  I cut this cute little bag on my Cricut using Tags, Bags, Boxes & More and printed my image slightly smaller.  You can purchase this image here.  It is a super cute set of 3 different images!  I hope you are playing along with this week's challenge as you will have a chance to win your choice of 3 images from KLM and....5 images from Sew Many Cards!!!

My original intent was to use this cute Eris image with the image from KLM Designs but they are both so cute that I decided to make two cards instead!  You can purchase this cute image here.  It is part of the 2009 (2) package so you get a whole wonderful package of 30 images which is on sale right now for only $10! 

BLOG HOP WINNER

Congratulations Maria!  You won that cute image of Morty Fishing!!!  You are going to absolutely LOVE working with him!  Here is what Maria had to say:

Maria Levine said...


Fabulous job! He is too cute!

Sew Many Cards Male Project Challenge!

Sometimes those male cards are just really hard to do!  This one wasn't though...this was actually great fun!  I used Fishing Tayla and I love working with those rich greens so that is where I started.  I've been on a fishing kick haven't I?  I had this wonderful plaid paper from Cosmo Cricket (Happy Campers) and I had this wonderful idea to add eyelets ... I don't work with them very often as I just don't think about it.....well.....I really felt silly when I just couldn't figure out how I needed to lace it up to get the look I was going for but...this is what I ended up with.  I should have used lacing brads (lesson learned) to get the look I wanted but it still turned out OK (let me know if you have any pointers).  You can purchase this sweet image here.

I am so excited to get to work with this sweet Soft Pencil design of Amy, Michu & Ratiny.  I kept thinking of Hanzel and Gretel as I worked on this card.  I just think this image is adorable!!!! I've been itching to use this Basic Grey patterned paper for a while and I felt this was the perfect image for those beautiful blues and greens.  I used my copics to color and then distressed around the edges of the patterned paper.  I used Versamark ink to watermark stamp my flourishes on that beautiful Bermuda Bay blue SU cardstock.  The green cardstock is from a Papertrey Ink variety pack and I am not positive but I believe it is called leaf green (it is their darker green).  The little butterfiles are from a Martha Stewart punch!  We are so grateful to have Elizabeth sponsor us this month!  Be sure to be watching my blog as I'll be posting another project done with one of her images soon!

Now...on to the challenge information for this week.  The only requirement for the challenge this week is that it be something for a male!  Yes, I know it is all fun to do the fuu fuu stuff but....I also know we are all always looking for something cute to make for those men in our lives so....here we go!  Be sure to step on over to Sew Many Challenges for more ideas.  Kathryn Myhre from KLM Designs has graciously sponsored our challenge this week so not only will the winner get Sew Many Cards images but also their pick of 3 images from KLM!  Here is a little information about KLM:

KLM Digi Stamps (KLM Designs) was started by a Mother & Daughter team. Kathryn (owner of KLM Digi Stamps) and Sue (Company’s artist) started designing digital stamps for their own creations. After much response & excitement to their designs they formed KLM Digi Stamps.  KLM carry’s a large selection of designs from clowns, which are the company’s signature design to digital sentiments. All images are delivered ZIP format. Each image file contains JPEG and PNG format files. Images can be resized, reversed and altered to your likings.

If you haven't been to her store you REALLY need to check it out.  She has some wonderful images and I love all the sentiments she has to offer.  When they say large selection they really mean it...wonderful variety of images so you can find something no matter what type of project you are working on.  I've been given the pleasure of working with one of the images from her store and I'll be posting a project with that image very soon also!

This card was made using today's Friday Freebie!!  Isn't that stitched heart just the cutest?  It looks so 3D to me!  Angela is so talented!  I didn't do anything special with my coloring just copics R14, R22, R24 and C3.  That cute red dotted paper is from the DCWV Doodlin' Around stack.  Be sure to head on over and pick up this cute heart as it will only be available for one week.  Can't wait to see your projects over at Sew Many Challenges!  Hope you will join us in this week's challenge and please stay tuned for more!

Scrapbook LOs

I've got to learn how to photograph my layouts better. They really do look lots better IRL! These are just some random layouts I've been working on. I have a whole box of pictures from 2000 that I'm trying to complete. I told myself that I have to complete all the tons of photos I have in boxes before I start working with my digital ones! I like my books to be in chronological order so I decided just to pull out a year and get started.

Sew Many Cards New Release & Blog Hop

Can you believe it is time for new releases already? Hopefully you arrived  here from Jeanette but if you didn't you can start  HERE where you will find the entire blog hop information.  I don't know where February has gone but....I sure had fun playing with this cute image of Morty fishing.  Isn't he adorable?  I stamped the cloud background with a Hero Arts background stamp and colored Morty with copics.  I used SU Bermuda Bay cardstock for my base and then some aqua ribbon I had on hand to make my "waves".  I saw this card that Heather made here and just thought it was adorable so I knew as soon as I saw this image what I wanted to do with him!  Be sure and look around her blog as she has some really cute stuff!!!  I got lost over there for quite a while.  To make my waves I just laid down some scor tape and just pleated my ribbon as I went - I wanted a messy wave look.  As we do each month each DT member will be drawing a comment from their new release post who will win the image they are showcasing so.....be sure to leave me some love and get a chance to win this fabulous image!  If you don't win, no worries you can purchase it here.

We are so proud to have two sponsors this month.  They are Simon Says and Soft Pencil.   Simon Says Stamps is generously sponsoring us again this month and they are donating a $10 gift certificate to one lucky blog hopper!  Simon Says Stamps has a wonderful selection of stamps and various crafting supplies at wonderful prices.  Soft Pencil is a new sponsor for Sew Many Cards and the very talented owner, Elizabeth Pujalka, has some AMAZING images in her store here.  She has graciously donated a $25 voucher to the Soft Pencil Shop.  Here is a little bit about her:

"Hello everyone! My name is Elizabeth Pujalka and I'm the illustrator and designer behind Softpencil Digital Stamps, home of Michu and his lovely friends, where you can find cute illustrations for your crafting needs.  My illustrations are a homage to Nature and their creatures, where a sweet child, a simple flower or a fagile animal become protagonists.  I invite you to know my whimsical world, plenty of gorgeous characters and to enjoy creating with them!"

Be sure to check my blog often but especially on March 5th as I have had the honor of playing with one of Elizabeth's adorable designs and I'll be showcasing my project then. 

This card was made using Angela's cute Butterfly image which, lucky you, is the Freebie Friday this week.  Be sure to hurry on over and pick it up here as it will only be available for one week.  I decided to make a long card that will fit in a "regular letter" envelope (9 1/2 x 4 approx).  I love Basic Grey and used that beautiful butterfly as my background and again used my copics to color in my butterflies and then sponged some ink around the edges.  That cute ribbon I just picked up at Walmart the other day - LOVE it! 

That's about it for me today....be sure to hop along with us as there are some fabulous prizes!!!  Next up is

Gloria

 and I'm sure she has something awesome to show us - she always does!  I'm headed there myself!

The Pink Elephant Challenge Top 15

I'm so excited - this card with Angela's Sewn Together gumball heart image got picked in The Pink Elephant Challenge's Top 15 for sketch challenge #50!!!  I so enjoy making these cards but it is so awesome when someone leaves a nice comment or you get picked for something like this!!!  I feel very honored as there is some awesome talent playing along over there!!!