Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts

ShopPumpkinSpice first ever blog hop!


Welcome to the ShopPumpkinSpice first ever blog hop!

If you've come here from June's blog, then you're on the right track.  Otherwise, please start at the beginning at Pumpkin Spice Blog  so that you don't miss a thing.


Before we get into my somewhat-long post, I'd like to tell you about The Featured Designer for August and that is the lovely Courtney Lee of Court's Crafts.  ShopPumpkinSpice is so proud to have her as a Design Team member.  For the month of August, we will be showcasing a Kit developed and designed by Courtney, which is the "You Are My Sunshine" kit.  This kit is available at ShopPumpkinSpice.com


And now my rambling.  I've been recommending SPS for paper ever since I first found the store.  I already posted about just some of the great deals you can find on paper, but did you know that she carries more than just paper?  I just recently ordered these from SPS because they are just THE BEST prices I've found anywhere!
  Scotch® Advanced Tape Glider - Pink ATG


 Scotch® Advanced Tape Glider Refill Rolls General Purpose - 2 pk  


Yep, those prices ARE right!  I've never seen such great prices on the ATG refills.  I've seen generic refills for that much or even more. Of course, shipping is FREE over $50 and its gets to your door super fast.  Here are some of the items available for pre-order right now:


 My Minds Eye - 6 x 6 Paper Pads
My Minds Eye - Six by Six Paper Pads - 6x6 pads all $4.19 each


 Echo Park - APOTHECARY EMPORIUM




She really does have wonderful prices on everything! I just want to buy up her whole store :)  Alas, one can only dream.


So, what's the prize for this hop? A very GENEROUS prize of a $20 gift certificate to the SPS store can be won at each stop of the hop!  How awesome is that?  I think in terms of paper pads so that's at least 4 paper pads and a couple of little tidbits can be won at each designer's blog.  However, if you're buy individual papers or embellishments, you can get a whole bunch of stuff!




To be eligible for the prize, please make sure you comment on all the designers blogs (there are only five of us so no excuses, lol) and then link your name using the InLinkz below.  No need to be a follower - I would like you to come back, but only if you actually enjoy my creations :)  I would also appreciate it if you could leave a comment saying which papers, products, stamps, or other supplies you would like to see in the SPS store.  Also, if you have some time, please leave some reviews at the store for products that you have.  You don't need to have necessarily bought them at the SPS store, but your opinions are welcome :)


Anywho, enough babbling.  For this card, I've used one of the new additions to SPS which is the  Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup 6x6 Paper Pad.  I love the bright, summery colors and designs in this paper pad!  The bold reds really appeal to me and the bicycle patterned paper was perfect for this stamp!  I kept the card nice and clean, no colored image, just to show off some of the papers.


  Blossom Soup Paper Pad 6"X6" 24 Sheets


Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Vintage Transportation set; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Papers: Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup 6x6 Paper Pad; Embellishments: jute look fringe, May Arts striped twill ribbon, doily; Tools: Spellbinders dies, Cuttlebug


For this card, I also used another Jillibean Soup paper pad: Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup 6x6 Paper Pad.

  Dutch Mustard Paper Pad 6"X6" 24 Sheets  


 Dutch Mustard Paper Pad 6"X6" 24 Sheets - $4.19


Stamps: Tickled Pink Stamps Steampunk Sentiments; Ink: StazOn Timber Brown, Distress Ink Tea Dye (for edges); Papers: Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup 6x6 Paper Pad; Embellishments: May Arts net ribbon, twill ribbon, button, baker's twine, doily; Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders dies, Sizzix dies, Inkssentials ink blending tool

Now it's time to head over to the last stop which is the Pumpkin Spice BlogThanks for stopping by! 


Here's the entire hop order:




The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge mid-month reminder!

Hiya! Just wanted to quickly pop in and remind everyone about The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge for this month which is PUNCHES!  Just use punches and/or dies on your creations.  Yep, easy!

For this card, I've used a Cheery Lynn doily die (on the left, can't see it very much) and a Martha Stewart leaf punch.  You still have time to join us this month so we'd love to see your creations!

This card uses the sketch over at Truly Scrumptious - and what a scrumptious sketch it is! Loved using it.
Images: Teddy Bo Lazy Days (thank you Donna!); Medium: Distress Inks printed on Canson Montval watercolor; Paper: Prima Madeline; Embellishments: WOC flowers; Tools: MS leaf punch, Cheery Lynn doily die


Our first Pink INK Sketch Challenge!

Hi everyone!  Today is the FIRST challenge for Pink INK Sketch Challenges and to celebrate our grand "opening," we're kicking things off with a blog hop!  I'm the first stop so if you're hopping along, you're in the right place.  If you lose your way, I have a list of the hop participants at the bottom of this post or you can also find it on the Pink INK Sketch Challenges Blog.

Oh, and you can also find us on Facebook HERE if you fancy the social networking thing :)

For our first sketch, we would like you to use this lovely sketch by Jane: 

We have FIVE generous sponsors for you this week which means FIVE different chances to win prizes!!  Here are our wonderful sponsors for this week:




So on to my cards!  I created three cards for this challenge and was a bit flexible with the sketch, but the elements are still there (I hope you see them). At first, I thought only Tickled Pink Stamps was sponsoring, then we added on Whiff of Joy and also Whimsy Stamps so since I work for all of them, I didn't want to be biased so I used products from all three companies.  It was really fun making these cards!  It's probably because Jane's sketch is so versatile, but I created these three in about an hour and a half.  Granted, two of the images were already colored, but still, I don't think that's bad at all :)
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Club Kid and Everyday Mini Postage Stamps; Medium: Distress Inks on Montval watercolor paper; Paper: Fancy Pants It's in the Little Things; Embellishments: WOC flowers, May Arts striped twill ribbon, baker's twine; Tools: Whimsy Stamps Mini Postage Stamp Die, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Leaf Punch

Stamps: Whiff of Joy Little Nurse, Whimsy Stamps Oval Snippets; Medium: Distress Inks on Montval watercolor paper; Paper: October Afternoon Thrift Shop; Embellishments: WOC flowers, May Arts twill ribbon, lace; Tools: Nestabilities Ovals and Lacey Ovals; Memory Makers distressing tool

I think this Tickled Pink card turned out the best :)  I'm also entering it into the Pink Lady DT call, though I think my chances are slim since there's so much talent already in the pool.  If you haven't heard about the call, you can read all about it HERE and maybe give it a shot too :)
 Stamps: Tickled Pink Stamps Lil Victoria Steampunk Lad Eric and Steampunk Sentiments; Medium: Distress Inks on Montval watercolor paper; Paper: October Afternoon Thrift Shop; Embellishments: WOC flowers, May Arts twill ribbon, lace; Tools: Nestabilities Ovals and Lacey Ovals; Memory Makers distressing tool

I hope you enjoyed my creations for today and we hope to see you join in at the Pink INK Sketch Challenges!

Now it's time to hop along to Cheri's magnificent blog to see what amazing creation she's come up with using Jane's oh-so-versatile sketch!

If you get lost along the way, here's the complete blog hop list: 
Ann (me!)


Yeah, baby yeah!

Hello again!

I wanted to pop in and show you a step card I created using Whimsy's Bling Baby by KennyK.  I've loved this image for a long time now, but wow, I took forever to color her!  And then at the final stage, when I color around the finished with Pumice Stone, I accidentally got her shirt wet and there's a smear!  Oh well, I still like how the card turned out :)

Oh oh, and I FINALLY got to use the Whimsy Stamps Film Strip Sentiments the way that I envisioned them!  Like I've said before, it's so awesome to see people using them in different ways that you've never even thought of!  When I created the sentiments, I was thinking that they would be stamped on acetate (or a transparency sheet, which is what I used) and then arranged to make them look like actual film.

That's what I've done for this card.  First, I stamped the sentiments onto the rough side of the transparency and then I cut around them and laid them out to make them look like one long film strip.  I wasn't too careful so it turned out kind of crooked, but I'm sure you can do a better job.  Then, I just glued them on with regular clear-drying glue along the top and bottom.  The glue didn't show up at all so I was happy about that; I thought it would be like vellum where you could see glue spots.

A criticism I had from hubby was, "How come they're all square, you do should something different." So that's how I ended up with this :)  Anywho, hope you like my card!

For those in the States, I hope you enjoy the long weekend :)

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Bling Baby, Film Strip Sentiments Strip Sentiments; Medium: Distress Inks on Lanaquarrel watercolor paper; Paper: Bo Bunny Timepiece; Embellishments: WOC flowers; Tools: Cuttlebug, Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die, Spellbinders die, transparency



A new Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge: Punchy!

Hello everyone!

Hope you've all had a great week.  I'm very much looking forward to getting some rest and I'm sure you are, too :)  What better way to rest up than....to craft!  Haha, at least that's what I define as resting up.

Anywho, today is the first Friday of the month so you know what that means: time for a new Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge!  This time we have an easy one for you: get punchy - use your punches and/or dies.  We are sponsored by Robyn's Fetish who will be donating 6 digital images or 4 digital images and 1 paper pack to one lucky winner!



For my card, I've used an oh-so-fuzzy image from Teddy Bo and Company called Ballerina Bea.  I'm so intimated of coloring up these images because I've seen many talented people using them on their cards and making them look gorgeous.  So...I didn't even try to color it, lol.  I've used the pencil sketch version of this image and left it as is.  It's printed on watercolor paper, though, to give it a little bit of texture.

For the punchy part of the challenge, I used a bunch of swirl/flourish dies (Marianne D's, Spellbinders) along with a doily die from Cheery Lynn.  I kept it very neutral with just the browns because I didn't want the image being overpowered since it printed out rather light (and came out even lighter in photos).

Please join us over at The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge Blog to play along with our punchy challenge and also to see what beautiful samples the DT came up with!

Image: Teddy Bo and Company Ballerina Bea; Papers: BasicGrey Capella; Embellishments: hand-dyed seam binding, pearls, rhinestones; Tools: Spellbinders dies, Marianne D's dies, Making Memories distresser, Cheery Lynn doily die

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Stamps - Sketch - I hope you can see the layout underneath all my flourishes!
Divas by Design - Die cuts and punches
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something old, something new - New image, old paper
Stampavie and More - More than 3 layers
Truly Scrumptious - Things with wings
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Whimsy Stamps and Quixotic Paperie!

Throughout June, the Quixotic Paperie design team and friends have been celebrating the store's 2nd anniversary!  Today is the final in a series of spotlights featuring stamp companies stocked at Quixotic Paperie (an online UK stockist for Whimsy), and some of the Whimsy Stamps Design Team have joined in to throw the spotlight on Whimsy Stamps!

Whimsy Stamps is owned by Denise and Kevin Lynn, with Denise as the papercrafter and Kevin illustrating their Kids Collection based on their two children. As the company has developed they have built up their collection of contributing artists, stamp collections, dies and papers.

The ranges include the Crissy Armstrong Collection; Melissa Jenkins Meljen's Design Collection; KennyK Collection; Whimsy Sentiments and dies by Raindrop Echo Designs; Whimsy Animals Collection and Whimsy Kids Collection. 

Whimsy Stamps are available in the UK/Europe at Quixotic Paperie
If you're in the US then you can find the stamps at Whimsy Stamps direct!

As part of the celebrations and the spotlight today, we have a PRIZE GIVEAWAY!  
Pop on over to the Quixotic Inspirations blog to get all the details and enter the draw to win some fantastic Whimsy Stamps and more!

Today I've chosen to make a few cards, but sadly, I'm only pretty satisfied with one of them.  I just wanted to share them with you just in case you do find some inspiration in them.

Using Raindrop Echo Designs Party Mini Letter Seals
(the only one I'm pretty happy with)
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Party Mini Letter Seals; Ink: Ranger Tea Dye (for edge sponging); Papers: Bo Bunny Gabrielle

Using Raindrop Echo Designs Thank You Tiles
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Thank You Tiles; Papers: Crate Paper Portrait; Tools: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots embossing folder; Spellbinders dies

Using KennyK Showgirl, Raindrop Echo Designs The Good Life Ticket Sentiments and Raindrop Echo Designs Into the Farm Background Stamp
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Showgirl, The Good Life Ticket Sentiments and Into the Farm background stamp; Coloring medium: Distress Inks on Montval watercolor paper; Paper: Echo Park Summer Days; Embellishments: May Arts striped twill ribbon; button, The Twinery twine; Tools: Cuttlebug, Cheery Lynn Designs doily die

So now for the inspiration! Hop on over to each of the blogs below to see some fantastic Whimsy Stamps makes!

- Ann - Iris - Minna - Patricia - Vicki -

Thanks for joining us and we hope you are enjoying all the Whimsy Stamps fun!

Sentimental Sundays "Celebrate Summer" blog hop!

Welcome to the Sentimental Sundays “Celebrate Summer” blog hop! 


You should have arrived here from Antoinette's blog. If you didn't arrive from her blog and would like to join in the hop, please start at the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog. 

Tuesday, June 21st, is the official first day of summer in the northern hemisphere and we are ready for all the summer fun to begin. For our friends down under who are moving into their winter months and may not feel like creating a summery project, they may be making “Sparkly or Shimmery” projects. What girl doesn’t like her bling?

Don't forget to leave comments along the way because there are 3 mystery DT members who will each choose a winner from the comments left on their blog hop posts. The winners will each win a $10 gift certificate to Whimsy Stamps! The hop ends on Friday, June 24th at midnight EST. The winners will be announced on the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog on Sunday, June 26th.

Today, I've chosen to create a summer-themed CAS card.  I've used a lot of Spellbinder dies and some burlap, pearls, and a Sharpie white poster paint pen and that's it!  The sentiment is from the newly released Whimsy Stamps Summer Letter Seals.  I kind of let all the papers do the work on this one :)




Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Summer Letter Seals; Paper: Cosmo Cricket UPcyle; Embellishments: pearls, burlap; Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders dies, Sharpie white poster paint pen

Your next stop on the hop is Di's blog.  If you should happen to get lost along the way, you can find the blog hop list over at the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog. 

Also, we hope you will join in our “Summery or Sparkly” (plus a sentiment) challenge this week. Our sponsor is Raindrop Echo Designs. This prize will be four INDIVIDUAL sentiment sets from the Raindrop Echo Designs Whimsy Stamps Digital Collection.

Thank you so much for stopping by!


Fuzzy Wuzzy recipe time!

Yay for Friday!!

Even though this week was a short one, I still couldn't wait for it to be over!

Well, with it being the first Friday of the month, that means we're kicking off a new challenge at The Fuzzy Wuzzy blog.  Won't you come cook up a card, scrapbook, altered item, etc, with us?  We have a recipe for you to follow this month: 3 papers, 2 buttons, and blue (and an animal of some kind).

After looking at the rest of the DT's creations, I was almost worried that my blue wasn't blue, but more like teal?  Maybe it's because I was crafting at night and just couldn't make out the colors correctly, but I seriously thought in my mind that the papers were blue, lol.  I think I see at least some blue, in the skies or something?


For my card, I've used Whimsy Stamps Cupcake Bliss by Crissy Armstrong, which is also available at Cute Stamps and Cards.  The papers are MME Fine and Dandy and the pennants on the left top were cut out from the extra paper that you see coming across the card.  I kind of messed up on the clouds, but I can't wait to get the distress inkpad that I ordered so I can just sponge the clouds in.



Stamp: Whimsy Stamps Cupcake Bliss; Medium: Distress inks on Strathmore Ready Cut 500 Series Watercolor Paper, Hot Press; Paper: MME Fine and Dandy; Accessories/tools: burlap, twine, buttons, Spellbinders die

In continuing with the paper reviews, I wanted to mention a couple of things about the watercolor paper that I used for this image.  I used Strathmore Ready Cut 500 Series Watercolor Paper, Hot Press.  Although the paper itself is okay, it's a lot more grainy than other hot press papers I've tried.  Then again, I guess I can't complain because compared to other hot press papers, it is ridiculously cheap!  The paper is also pretty darn thick and could withstand a lot of water.  However, I thought it was a little bit difficult to pull the watercolor out when I initially laid it down.  As you can see, there are some areas that looked like I didn't "blend" at all, like the cupcake and the ears, which wasn't my intention, lol.  This could be beneficial, depending on what you're trying to do.  The colors also stayed fast to where they were laid down; as in, when I messed up, it was difficult to dilute it to try to clean it up.  Other than that, it was just okay.  Oh, and this paper would be too thick to run through my laser printer so I'm not sure if others would have that same problem (i.e. this paper is a no-go for me for digis).

Anywho, I hope you enjoy my card.  Make sure you head over to The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge Blog to see the DT's gorgeous creations.  Also, this week we're being sponsored by Cute Stamps and Cards from The Netherlands.


They're donating this stamp set to a lucky winner:


Moments with you...

Eeek!  I can't believe I'm posting another card!  I'm having a nice, long, relaxing weekend and I hope you are, too.  Gosh, I can definitely feel summer coming on!  It's warming up here in Southern California.

Today I used a few different digital images, two from Crissy's Digis at Whimsy Stamps (Can I Kiss You and Sweet Sarah)  and one from Zoe at Make it Crafty (Whimsical Log).  I've also used two rubber sentiments from the Everyday Mini Postage Stamps.  The mini postage stamps were cut out using the Whimsy Mini Postage Die.  Don't the images go so well together?  I kind of botched up the grass, which I'm very unhappy about because it took soooo long to color this.  

Like I mentioned in the previous post, I've been playing around with different watercolor papers.  For this image, I printed it out on Canson Montval watercolor paper.  I think I really like this paper!  Not only is it priced very reasonably, but it's also pretty great to work with.  Like the Lanaquarelle, it keeps the ink wet for longer. I usually actually don't prep the paper before watercoloring on it, but for this paper, it was useful. 

I'm actually not too fond of the card, but eh, might as well post it. This card uses the sketch at Sweet Stop Challenge.

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps Can I Kiss You and Sweet Sarah, Make it Crafty Whimsical Log, Whimsy Stamps Everyday Mini Postage Stamps; Medium: Distress inks on Canson Montval watercolor paper; Paper: MME Stella and Rose Gertie paper pad; Accessories/tools: Whimsy Mini Postage Die, WOC flowers, MS leaf punch, pearls, May Arts striped twill ribbon, Stickles




Up, Up, and Away!

Hi everyone!

Can you believe that I'm actually posting a creation? I feel like my blog has been filled to the brim with all these giveaways, which I'm happy to do, but I'm also a bit sad that it's on the empty side as far as cards go.  Today I'm glad to be posting a card :)

This card uses the brand spankin' new stamps from the Little Darling's line.  I'm also entering this into their Little Darlings Challenge/Contest HERE.  I've used the Up, Up, and Away image which is just so cute!  They've been showing the movie "Up" lately and this images just totally reminds me of Ellie :)  I painstakingly colored the hot air balloon exactly how I wanted to color it, but after I covered it with Crackle Accents, it totally smeared my watercoloring and what you see is what happened.  I think it still turned out okay though, I guess : /

I've also used a bunch of other products that is available at the Love to Stamp store, including the Webster's Pages paper, the Whimsy Stamps Everyday Mini Postage Stamps, and the Whimsy Stamps Music Notes background (behind the image).   I cut out the mini postage stamps with the Mini Postage Die.  I'm not sure if the Love To Stamp store is always going to have the Whimsy Stamps products at a discounted price, but right now they're 15% off so go grab the ones that you've had on your wish list!

Oh, and I wanted to share that lately, I've been trying out a bunch of different papers for watercoloring!  I asked the oh-so-talented watercolorist Minna what kind of paper she uses, which was Canson Montval, so I went to go shop for it at Dick Blick, but while I was there, I picked up a whole bunch of others to make sure I wasn't missing out on the greatest paper ever, lol.  I think I have almost all possible watercolor paper now.  For this image, I used Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper, Hot Press, 140lb/300gsm.  This paper is actually really great, very smooth, but for some reason, I felt like the colors dried to different colors than what I was used to.  I think it might be because this paper is bright white, not off-white like most watercolor papers.  It also was somewhat difficult to work with because it stayed wet for a long time.  I think I will put together my reviews of all the watercolor papers I have and make it available for everyone so that you don't have to waste as much money as I have, lol.  I'm also now using the Zig Water Color Brush (Detailer Tip) which is SOOOO much better than the Sakura Koi water brushes and the Niji water brushes.  I recently ordered the Pentel Aquash Water Brush which is going to get here sometime next week - can't wait to see how that one performs!

Wow, geez, enough rambling from me!  Hope you like my card! 

Stamps: Little Darling Up, Up, and Away, Whimsy Stamps Everyday Mini Postage Stamps, and the Whimsy Stamps Music Notes Background; Medium: Distress reinkers on Lanaquarelle Hot Press Watercolor paper; Paper: Webster's Pages Spring/Yacht/Country 6x6 Paper Pad; Accessories/tools: Whimsy Stamps Mini Postage Die, Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die, Sizzix flourish die, May Arts net ribbon, burlap, Crackle Accents

This card is also for the following challenges:
  1. Dream Valley Challenges - Stamp Something
  2. Emerald Faeries - Anything Goes
  3. 2 Sisters - Anything Goes
  4. Stamp Something - Use a sentiment
  5. Paper Crafting Journey - Anything goes (also used my favorite medium: distress inks!)
  6. Shelly's Images - Let it all hang out (hanging flourishes)
  7. Cooking It Up With Katie - Swirls, sunny, sentiment
  8. Crafting for all Seasons - Anything goe
  9. Penny's Paper-Crafty - Summer
  10. Litlte Darlings Challenges - Contest

Tickled Pink Stamps - Sweet Pinkette Pippa

Hello everyone!

I just have a quick post to show you a creation using Tickled Pink Stamps Pinkette Pippa and a sentiment from the Pink Thank U Sentiments which Kellie has available right now at the Tickled Pink Stamps store.  I got a little bit of time to play this weekend and this stamp has been sitting in my pile uninked for way too long already!  And can you believe it?? I'm actually going to play along in some challenges!  Wow, it's been soooo long since I've done that :)

This card is for the following challenges: Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge #16 Spring, Creative Cowgirls - Happy Easter/Spring/Mother's Day, Crafty Emma - Spring Colours/Images, and Flutterby Wednesdays - Open challenge.

Thanks for stopping by my ghost town of a blog today!  Please grab my blinkie for the May giveaways if you like :)

Stamps: Tickled Pink Stamps Pippa and Pink Thank U Sentiments; Medium: Distress Reinkers; Paper: DCWV Mariposa Mat Stack; Accessories/tools: Whimsy Stamps Double Scallop Border Die, May Arts wrinkled ribbon, seam binding, pearls, Cuttlebug corner die

Big Present

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I officially "went back to school" for my Master's in Quality Assurance on Tuesday last week and it's been kicking me in the butt.  I'm a little scared as to how I'm going to handle full-time work, sentiment work, design team work, school, and of course, squeezing in a some time for my hubby and our doggies, BUT I really want to finish my Master's and I know it'll be worth it.  Wish me luck because I'll need it!  So, if I'm not posting as much or leaving as many comments, then you know why.  Thanks for understanding :)
Enough about the boring stuff, let's go on with the card already!

In keeping with my resolution to use my unused stamp, this is another unused LOTV image called Big Present. I have a day off tomorrow so maybe I can actually squeeze in another card this week :)

Stamps: Lili of the Valley Big Present, Whimsy Stamps Ticket Sentiments
Medium: Distress Reinkers using the Small Koi Water Brush
Papers: Cosmo Cricket Wanted
Accessories: baker's twine
Tools: Tim Holtz Flourishes die cuts, MS border punch

This card is for a few challenges: