Wednesday, October 31, 2012

SPOOKY S'MORES for a LAST MINUTE TREAT!

Happy Halloween!
Today I am sharing a quick and easy treat bag for last minute classroom, teacher, or other little ghostie gifties you might need. Or bookmark it and use it for next year! It's fun and quick and even my 19 year old loved it to make and give to her college friends at their costume party.
SPOOKY S'MORES! The ingredients are easy! Two graham cracker squares, 1 individually wrapped mini Hershey bar, and a ghost Peep! Bag 'em all together, add some adorable ribbon and a cute tag, and you are good to go! The recipient can microwave them for a delicious yummy treat~
Make sure your ghost is in the front! :)

I used three different ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon: Satin Swiss Dots Tangerine, Diamond Satin Grape, and Shimmer Satin Apple with Silver.
The best part? I got them all in the September Ribbon Club! So I had exactly what ribbon I needed for this project all in one place! If you haven't joined the Ribbon Club, you need to do it today! Tell Bonnie I sent you :)
My adorable tags are from Whimsie Doodles. The "Nice Legs" and "Trick or Treat" are available in the Halloween Sentiments 2 Collection. And the cute little boy is "Frankie." I love how fun and sweet these images are! I printed them on Georgia Pacific White CS and then colored in with Copic markers. The "Trick or Treat" tag has Spica Glitter Pen around the letters for added sparkle!

And on a fun note, THIS Whimsie Doodles card won Top Three at Simply Create!
 
Thanks for stopping by and save some candy for me!
Stamps: Halloween Sentiments 2 and Frankie by Whimsie Doodles
Ink: Copic markers
Paper: Georgia Pacific White CS
Accents: Satin Swiss Dots Tangerine, Diamond Satin Grape, and Shimmer Satin Apple with Silver Ribbon (RRR), Spellbinders dies


Challenges for this project: 
Top Tip Tuesday - Halloween
Lollipop Crafts - Halloween Treats (NO cards) 
My Craft Spot - Cute Halloween project 
Use Your Stuff -  Color challenge: Purple, Orange, Black & White  
Kenny K`s Krafty Krew  - Anything but a Card   
Opus Gluei - Leaves and/or Halloween
Platypus Creek Digitals - Halloween Purple and Orange
Quirky Crafts - Anything BUT a Card with Autumn Colours  
Scrappy Frogs - Fall/Halloween 
Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration 
Crazy Amigo Challenge - Halloween

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Got Any Nuts in Your Family?

I am sure everyone would probably answer "yes" to that question! And if you ask my family, I am sure they would say me! I mean, after all, who else gets excited about paper? And little embellishments smaller than a dime? Yep, that's you I'm talkin' about too!  :)

One of the new October releases at Whimsie Doodles is this adorable digital image called Family Nuts. I printed it out on X-Press Copic Blending cardstock and then colored in using Copic markers. I added some sparkle to the acorns with my Spica Glitter pens, but of course the photo doesn't want to show you that!
I used Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #75 for my layout, turning it on its side, and moving the large panel over a smidge. I also changed the sentiment placement to fit with my design.
My designer paper is from My Mind's Eye Ooh La La Collection. I used two ribbons: Orange Gingham and Jungle Satin (not currently available) and Kaiser Pewter Pearls from Really Reasonable Ribbon. Silk leaves, a button tied with string and it's ready to mail -- to one delightful family member!
Be sure to check out all of the adorable Fall images at Whimsie Doodles and the fabulous fall trims at Really Reasonable Ribbon!

Other challenges for this card: 
Paper Crafting Journey - Ribbon or twine
Brown Sugar  - Anything Goes 
Pattie's Creations - include a digi / stamped image – Autumn Colors 
Stampin' For The Weekend - Anything Goes 
Wags 'n Whiskers - Fall Colors 
DRS Designs - Autumn greetings 
My Heart Pieces Digital Stamps Challenge - Use ribbon

Friday, October 26, 2012

Acrylic Block Collage

Last week on Splitcoaststampers, I shared a technique that I learned while I was at the Hambo Stamps retreat in Georgia at the end of September. You have to try it! It makes beautiful cards that look different every time! My friend, Melissa, was the one that showed it to our group, and we all fell in love!

Take a look:
I used Memento Markers to color (scribble, really!) on my acrylic block, then spritzed with water and immediately stamped onto my cardstock (Georgia Pacific White - nothing special!)

The color on this ended up being very solid, but I have made cards using the same technique where there is a lot of white space too. Sometimes the block makes a difference, and what ink you use (whether it's ink pads, markers, and what brand), but each way it turns out is beautiful!

Anyway, it's super easy to do.

Here are the steps:
1. Using markers or stamp pads, ink up an acrylic block (your choice in size - we used straight edged blocks as well as wavy edged) with 2-4 colors, beginning with the lightest color and moving to the darkest.

2. Spritz the block with water and immediately stamp onto cardstock (we used white most of the time - or kraft occasionally). Let dry (a few minutes at most).

3. Mask the rest of the cardstock so only the stamped block area is showing (we used 2 post it notes thick around the whole block area so the ink didn't bleed through to the rest of the card).

4. Stamp several other images using light and/or darker colors (your choice), filling as much or as little of your block area as you wish.

5. Remove the masks and stamp another image and/or sentiment in the darkest color (most of the time we used black ink for a good contrast).

6. Voila!

And yep -- ONE LAYER BEAUTIES! 


Unfortunately, I used my friends' stamps, and didn't write down who to credit, so I apologize for leaving out those details! I hope you will give it a try. Take a look HERE for inspiration!

Submitting to:
Color Q Challenge 160:
 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

It's A Hambo HOGtoberfest!

Celebrate "HOGtoberfest" at Hambo Stamps 
with 30% off ALL stamps!!
For one week - Thurs. Oct. 25 thru Wed. Oct. 31 - ALL stamps will be discounted 30%. Digi stamps are included in this sale with the special code "hogtober12" AND we'll take an additional 30% off the sale prices on our retiring stamps too!

With a sale of this nature, things could get crazy, so we do have rules and directions that apply during the sale to help keep it fair for everyone. Please also see the important notes at the end of the sale rules:


SALE RULES

  • The 30% discount applies only to orders placed between 12:01am (EST) on Thursday, October 25, to midnight Wednesday, October 31. 
  • The discount applies only to in-stock stamps, with no back-orders available. Items marked "Temporarily Unavailable" means they are out of stock.
  • Orders will be filled in the same order in which they were received.
  • Please include all necessary information with your order: name, mailing address, product name AND item number if applicable, and mounting preference -- wood-mounted (M), cling-mounted (UMC) or bare rubber (B). If we have to email you back to ask for missing information, you might lose your order priority.
  • Cling cushion is not included in this sale. 
  • There is a limit of one of each stamp design per customer, with the exception of stamps on the "Seconds" or "Retiring" pages.
  • Digital stamps are also eligible for the discount with code "hogtober12" which you'll need to enter into the appropriate field during checkout. When the code is entered, the prices should reflect the discount. Please note we can NOT go back and apply the discount if you fail to use the code during checkout.
  • The free shipping offer does NOT apply during this sale event, but all orders will be figured at actual postage rates.
  • Payments for orders not received within 10 days will negate the discount.
Sometimes with sales of this nature, there is the possibility of a large volume of orders. Rest assured that we will respond to your order as quickly as possible; your patience is appreciated!
My card today is made using Vampire Pig. He is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then colored in using Copic markers. The sparkly die cuts are from K & Co. and the fun ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon: White Satin with Black Dots
 
More HOGtoberfest notes:
 
Hambo Stamps will no longer be offering wood-mounted stamps, once our current mounting supplies are gone. Our current supplies are VERY limited, so there is a good chance that this sale could be your LAST chance to order these designs on wood. Of course, we'll continue to offer cling-mounted and bare rubber stamps, as well as the digi images too.
 
Also, Asela Hopkins will be retiring all of the images in her "Hop Art Designs" digi line after October 31. Sales of these images benefit Operation Write Home, so this sale will be the last chance to add these images to your collection, while also helping out a really great cause!
Shop now: HOGTOBERFEST SALE 
Stamps: Vampire Pig 2211 by Hambo Stamps
Paper: Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Lavender Lace, X-Press Copic Blending CS, DP from my friend Melissa!
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Mark Richards Glitter Dome, slit punch, WM button, embroidery thread, ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), K & Co. die cuts, Cuttlebug EF

Challenges for this card:
Crafty Creations - Holiday spooks
Creative Belli - Halloween
Fab 'n' Funky - animals
Inky Impressions - Fall/Halloween
Paper Shelter Challenge - Halloween
Sisterhood of Crafters - Halloween
Stampin' Royalty - Halloween 
Whimsy Inspiration - sparkly  
Scrapalicious - Halloween
  

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Hambo Hoedown Hexagons!

Today's Hambo Hoedown challenge is all about hexagons! Come join our challenge and be eligible for even more freebies from Hambo Stamps!

My card today uses two rubber images from Hambo: Fin-tastic Day and Shark.
I stamped on Basic Grey's Archaic designer paper and then cut out each shark. The waves are from the same collection, and are layered and popped up three times. The background was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.

I hope you will join us!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Foxy Winter Wishes

This little fox from Lawn Fawn is so sweet (Winter Fox - available at i {heart} papers)! I am a big animal lover and I always worry about the wild animals (and domesticated too!) finding a warm place to hang out during the cold winter months - especially during storms. I would love to have a giant ark where I could house them all during the winter!

I stamped the images on X-Press Copic Blending Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored in with Copics. I pleated my China Doll silk ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), and added Spica Glitter pens to the fox's scarf, tail and eyelashes. A little Oyster Baker's Twine and a snowflake charm finish it off.

All the farmers around here are saying we are in for a harsh winter with a lot of snow. I hope they are wrong, but if they're not, I want my animal friends to find some warm hangouts for the duration!


Stamps: Winter Fox by Lawn Fawn (available at IHP) and Small Snowflake by Hambo Stamps 
Paper: Melon Mambo, Taken With Teal, X-Press Copic Blending CS, Holly Jolly Christmas DP (Echo Park) 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics BG72, B000, E13, RV02, RV04, R20, Spica Glitter pens, (available at IHP), Brilliance Archival White
Accessories: snowflake charm, Spellbinders dies, Blush Pearls (Kaiser), Oyster Baker's Twine & China Doll Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), silver thread

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Dream With Your Heart

Today's Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers is former Hambo Stamps Design Team member, Marcie Sharp (aka Disaster)! Marcie has such a fun, trendy style and I have long admired her work! I am happy to celebrate her day today with this "case" (copy and share everything):
Yep, it's a tall card! I chose this pretty turquoise card of Marcie's for my inspiration.

I kept the taller size (mine is 4.5 x 8) and layout, but changed colors and images. I took her CAS style and made mine more shabby, adding pearls, lace and metal corner adornments.
 
This is also for Ardyth's Hope You Can Cling To Challenge: Vital Signs. I chose a sentiment about the heart. The HYCCT Challenges are to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. There are prizes up for grabs worth over $6500! Come check it out!

The rosettes and designer paper are available from The Stamp Simply Store.

Other challenges for this card:
A Gem of a Challenge - Flowers 
One Stop Craft - Anything goes 
Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes 
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - peace

Stamps: Unity Stamp Co.
Paper: Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Prima Nature Garden DP 
Ink: Crumb Cake
Accessories: lace trim (Michael's), Pearl Pearls (Kaiser), metal corner adornments (Momenta), Pearl flourish (Prima), Olive Sheer Woven Rosettes (May Arts) 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Pick of the Patch!

I hope it is a beautiful fall day where you are! I had planned to take pictures of the leaves around our neighborhood park, but we had 65 mph gusts yesterday and all the leaves are blowin' in the wind!
But this sweet little new digi from Whimsie Doodles, called Pick of the Patch, is sure to bring a fall smile to the card's recipient!
I printed my image on X-Press Copic Blending Cardstock and then colored with Copic markers. I punched out two rows of grass and then sponged the edges for dimension. The luscious ribbon is from the Autumn Diamond Satin Assortment from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

Some pretty Prima flowers and Pick of the Patch is ready for the mail!
There are so many new CUTE fall images at Whimsie Doodles. Be sure to check them all out!

Don't forget to check out Whimsie Doodles' October Challenge - Its FALL Y'all! You can even join us as a Whimsie Doodles' January 2012 Guest Designer! CLICK HERE for all details. 

Really Reasonable Ribbon has a super fun new challenge going on too! And I am thrilled to announce that I will be returning to the RRR Design Team for another term! :)
Other challenges for this card: 
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Autumn colours 
Live & Love Crafts Challenge - Halloween and/or Autumn colours 
Craft Us Crazy - Children and/or Fall 
Sarah Hurley Challenges - Autumn 
Try It On Tuesday - Autumn Colors
Simply Create - must be digital/papercraft - Always anything goes
Clearly Inspired  - ribbon or twine

Stamps: Pick of the Patch digital image by Whimsie Doodles
Ink: Copic markers
Paper: Bazzill and The Paper Studio colors, X-Press Copic Blending, MME DP
Accents: Autumn Diamond Satin Ribbon Assortment (Really Reasonable Ribbon), paper flowers (Prima), Pearl pearls (Kaiser), paper piercer, grass border punch (Fiskars), Pennant die (Spellbinders)

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

i {heart} papers is Turning FOUR!

i {heart} papers is thrilled to be celebrating our 4th birthday this month! We know there’s no way we could have made it this far without each and every one of our loyal customers sharing their IHP love with their friends or following us on Facebook, Twitter, our blog or through our newsletter. So, our celebration is really a celebration of YOU and our gift to you is a 25% off coupon for the whole store, valid 10/16-1-/20 (valid on in stock items not, not valid on gift certificates or prior orders). Use code: 4bdayDT.

NOTE: Shop early! Once seasonal items are sold out, they will most likely not be restocked. Also, the store will be closed from Oct 19-25th and there will be no shipping during this time. Orders will resume shipping on 10/26.


We will also have a giveaways on the blog and on Twitter during these days (they’ll be linked from Facebook too but since giveaways aren’t technically allowed on Facebook we have to do it on the blog!) so be sure to check in daily to see how to enter.


But wait! There’s more! Long time customers know that Kate is a huge dog rescue advocate, volunteering for a local dog rescue, transporting dogs in need and doing rescue work on Facebook. October happens to also be Adopt A Shelter Dog month, as well as the birthday of one of Kate’s dogs and the Gotcha/Adoption day of the other. So, in honor of all of that, IHP will be donating 10% of all sales during the birthday sale to
Home For Good Dog Rescue, Eleventh Hour Rescue and Pilots ‘n Paws. And if you make your own donation to any of these organizations, we will send you a gift certificate to IHP for 50% of your donation amount (these will be sent at the end of the month). Just email us a copy of your donation receipt and we’ll email you a gift certificate!

We're combining this month's design team challenge with IHP's birthday celebration.  The DT has created projects inspired by photographs of a floral themed birthday party found here.  

I chose Chicken Girl Design's Birthday Wishes for my images, and used the colors and balloons for my inspiration.
I stamped on X-Press Copic Blending Cardstock with Memento Black ink, and then colored with Copic markers. My designer paper is from the Everyday Eclectic Collection by Echo Park. The sweet Celery Green crocheted lace and Cotton Candy Pink baker's twine finish off the card, along with some aqua gems in my stash. My layers are popped up using the Zva Adhesive Dimensional Squares. The rest of the layers are held together using i {stick} papers redline tape.
Be sure to check out what the rest of the team made to help celebrate!
Other challenges for this card: 

Addicted to Stamps Challenge -Animal Friends
Kenny K`s Krafty Krew - Think Pink 
One Stitch At A Time - Music or a Song (Peter Cottontail)
Card Mania - Happy Birthday
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

It's a Christmas Hop with Really Reasonable Ribbon!

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon October Blog Hop!
If you arrived here from Linda's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog (I am the fourth stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon! Our hop goes live at 6:30 AM CST.
Each 13th of the month it's the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop where we highlight the Ribbon Club! I LOVE Bonnie's choices for the October ribbon club package. If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club! Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season. The assortments vary from month to month, but an average assortment has 5-8 different ribbon styles and consists of 10-15 yards of ribbon.  You will love it! Tell Bonnie Judy sent you! Take a peek:
My card today is made using the beautiful white lace in this month's ribbon club. My snowman image is by Sparkle N Sprinkle and the sentiment is by Paper Smooches.
I stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then added a little snow sparkle with Copic makers and Starfire Glitter.
A little felt pennant and some bling are some of my favorite accents. The whole card is mounted on a Nesting Doily Square by Lifestyle Crafts.

Now off to BONNIE'S blog, for some amazing inspiration from our fearless leader!
Stamps: Christmas Stamp Set 347 by Sparkle N Sprinkle, Sentiment Sampler by Paper Smooches 
Paper: Berrylicious & Sweet Tooth CS by Poptone, Merry Little Christmas DP by MME 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers E13 , B00 & R84 
Accessories: Studio G rhinestones, Spellbinders Pennant, Circle & Scalloped Circle die cuts, SnoCone Felt by Poptone, Snowflake by K & Co., Starfire Glitter by Sparkle N Sprinkel, Lace Trim from Really Reasonable Ribbo, Nesting Doily Square die by Lifestyle Crafts

Friday, October 12, 2012

It's An Early Birthday CAS Celebration!

Today i {heart} papers is sponsoring the CAS-ual Friday blog 
and you are in for a heart full of treats!
The challenge this week is to include a heart, in honor of i {heart} papers 4th birthday coming up!
My card uses a sweet sentiment from one of the Flourishes sets available at IHP: Strawberries. I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then cut out several hearts using a Spellbinders die. I added some of my current-favorite Everyday Eclectic 6x6 paper (Echo Park) to the inside so the pretty doily design would show up when the card is closed. A little silver bling and my card is ready for the mail!

Play along over on the CAS-Friday blog and link up! 
IHP will be giving away a $20 gift certificate to the winner! How cool is that?!

And take a look at this awesome coupon good for the next week! Don't miss out on this special birthday celebration!

And for a little fun, THIS CARD won last week's Cute Card Thursday challenge
You can find the Technique Tuesday stamp set I used at IHP here.
Other challenges for this card: 
Pixie Dust Studio - Anything goes 
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes 
Paper Shelter Challenge -  Love 
Stars and Stamps Midweek Throwdown - no glitter - Anniversary/Love 
The Perfect Sentiment - must have sentiment on front - Birthday or anniversary 
WordArt Wednesdays - use an encouraging uplifting sentiment 
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - One layer or CAS

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

I'm Nuts!

The leaves are falling here, and all the squirrels are carrying things in their chubby little cheeks. This adorable new release from Whimsie Doodles, Nuts About You, is perfect for our fall weather! I love that this image can easily be suited for a masculine or feminine greeting!
The main image is printed on Georgia Pacific CS and then colored with Copics. I paper pieced the acorn and then used the same paper (Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg) for the sentiment. My ribbon is Really Reasonable Ribbon's Aqua Satin Double Ruffled Ribbon - one of my favorites! A little bling and my two nutty squirrels are ready for the mail!

Have you all seen the
NEW and ADORABLE images released last Friday, October 5th? If you missed the release, you can see ALL the images HERE and purchase them at the Whimsie Doodles' Store!


Check out the BIG 3-Day SALE at
Really Reasonable Ribbon!
 Now through midnight Eastern Time on Thursday, 
10/11/12 we have a terrific SALE going on.  
The more you buy, the more you save!!

Challenges for this card:
Kaboodle Doodles - Autumn Leaves Falling OR Colors of Fall 
There's Magic in the Air - Anything Fall
Love to Create - Fall/Autumn Colors  
Cupcake Craft - Autumn/Winter image & colors
Creative Stamp Friends - Autumn Colors 
Use It Tuesdays -  must use hoarded supply's & say what you used -All about Fall (designer paper) 
Papertake Weekly -All Creatures Great and Small 
Loves Rubber Stamps - Bling Baby...Yeah 
Die Cuttin' Divas - must include a Die-cut - Fall Colors 
Crazy Amigo Challenge -Falling Leaves
Anything Goes Challenge - Animals

Stamps: Nuts About You (Whimsie Doodles)
Paper: Naturals White, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up!), GP White, Nutmeg DP (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Copic markers
Accents: Aqua Satin Double Ruffled Ribbon (RRR), copper cord, button, Spellbinders Pennant, Circle and Scallop Circle dies, rhinestones (Recollections)

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Celebrating World Card Making Day with i {heart} papers!

i {heart} papers is celebrating World Card Making Day 2012 with 2 chances to win a gift certificate and a 20% off storewide coupon code. Use code WCMD2012DT through Tuesday 10/9 for 20% off EVERYTHING in the store. And, yes, you still qualify for free US shipping with your order of $60 or more.
Participate in our challenges - one sketch and one color - for your chance to win! A $10 gift certificate will be awarded for each category. Upload your projects to our Facebook page or add them to the Mr. Linky on the IHP blog. You can play along with one or both and can enter as many times as you'd like!

Deadline to enter is Sunday 10/7 9PM EST. The winners will be announced on Tuesday! (And, as a bonus, WCMD projects will also be counted as entries for our WOW Wednesday! Every Wednesday we pick someone who has shared a project on our Facebook page during the week that uses supplies purchased from IHP. Share your project and be entered to win a $5 gift certificate!)

WCMDsketch ShellTones
I chose the sketch challenge for my project today and used images from Flourishes' With Gratitude stamp set.



My images are stamped on X-Press Copic Blending CS in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored in using Copic Markers C1. C3, Y15 and Y17. I cut them out using Spellbinders Oval and Scallop Oval dies. I added some beautiful Zva Creative pearl flourishes, chevron ribbon, Oyster Baker's Twine, and a little button.

I hope you will come play along!