Hydrangea Hugs for YOU!!

Hello!!!! I hope your Wednesday is off the a beautiful start!! Today's card was clean and simply inspired by this week's Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge:o) A long while back...I won't share exactly how long back, but it was before embossing folders hit the market...YIKES...I purchased a set of DCWV embossed cards. Really, I couldn't pass it up...I have a weakness for a good sale! You heard of the Frugal Gourmet...well, I am his long, lost sister the Frugal Papercrafter;o) So, when I saw this week's Clean and Simple Challenge, I knew where to start...time to dust off those embossed cards and get busy.

The darling image I chose is Hydrangea Hugs by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Stamp Co. Isn't she a doll baby? I thought this precious image would be the perfect accompaniment with the embossed baby card. I colored the image with Prismacolor markers...added teeny dots to the centers of each hydrangea blossom with my Viva Decor Pearl Pen (Ice White)...and the bow received a dusting of Fairy Dust Creative Inspirations Paint. Actually, there is some Fairy Dust sprinkled in the hydrangea centers too...but my camera didn't capture the shimmer very well. Don't you love how I blamed the camera...it couldn't be me...the unskilled photographer could it? ;o) I used my large circle Nestabilities to cut out my image, then hand-stitched the circle to a doily I colored purple...and the purples are really much closer to the same color in real life...again, it's all my camera's fault hehehe. I'll also let you in on a little secret...I used a stencil from Crafter's Workshop (Mini Dots All Around) as my piercing guide to do the stitching. Finally, I added some flowers and pearl leaves to finish it off. Yeppers! Easy peezy, lemon sqeezey!

I hope you will join us in this week's Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge!!! I am also thinking and praying for all my fellow East Coasters as Hurricane Irene approaches...please stay safe; and for all my friends in and around Virginia, I am praying and hoping all is well with you...we felt the aftershock of yesterday's earthquake and we live hours away. I can only imagine what it felt like for those of you living right there.

Blessings and Hugs!!

Carolyn

The creation of this card was also inspired by the following fabulous challenges:

• Ooh La La Creations - No Backing Paper
• The Ribbon Reel Challenge - Sugar Plum (Photo Inspiration)
• Cupcake Cake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration
• Clean and Simple Sunday Challenge - Sketch
  

Plum, Peeked Out!!!

Can you believe it...things have actually calmed down enough for me to make a card :) I have been eying this adorable stamp ~All Peeked Out Peeker~ from The Peekers Collection #2 by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Stamp Co. This tuckered out cutie pie was colored with Prismacolor markers with hints of shimmer added with DecoArt Ultrafine Glitter Paint (Ice Crystal).

 

The beautiful DP is from the Melissa Frances 5th Avenue paper pad. I absolutely adore the soft color palette and the lovely designs in this stunning 6 x 6 pad. The image was cut out using Nestabilities large classic circle, and behind it is the Floral Doily Motifs. Speaking of Nestabilities, the poofy flower was created with the Big Scallop Circle dies. I wish I didn't add the pearls to the center of the flower...kinda makes it look like eggs in a bird's nest...oh, well...as they say, hindsight is twenty-twenty.

Thanks a bunch for dropping by!!! I hope your day is filled with love and happiness!!!

Blessings and Hugs,

Carolyn

The creation of today's card was inspired by the following inspirational challenges:

• Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Handmade Flowers
• CES Challenges - Banners, Bunting and Flags (I attempted to highlight the banners on the DP by hand-stitching the string...hope this counts)
• Sweet Stampin' - Babies and Little Ones

• Card Makin' Mamas - Pink

Are You Ready for the BIG Reveal?

 

Based on the pic above, you really can't see the entire image....but that was to keep the mystery alive. My question is...do you want to see the ENTIRE image? 

Are you ready to behold the premiere stamp created by Sylvia Zet for SCACD? 

Then, head on over to the SCACD Store Blog, and let us know what you think!!!!

Happy Hugs!!!

Carolyn

More Puzzle Pieces Added...

YES...more puzzle pieces have been added to the preview image of the awesomely spectacular collection to be released next month, September 2011!!! If you haven't already, please join us at the SCACD Store Blog to Welcome the Newest Artist to the  SCACD Family...the lovely and incredibly talented Sylvia Zet!!!

While you are there, don't forget you also have a chance to win something special... but you will have to go to the Store Blog to check it all out :o)

We are all very excited about this FABULOUS NEWS and look forward to the upcoming release!!!

SO head on over and check out the SCACD Store Blog!!!

Blessings and Hugs!!!

Carolyn

Baby, Come Back!!

 

Hello!!! Isn't the recently released news from SCACD absolutely FABULOUS?!?!?! In case you didn't know, a new artist has joined the SCACD Family...the amazingly talented Sylvia Zet of Wee Stamps!!!!! If you haven't already stopped by the SCACD store blog, you may want to do so now because Susana is offering a surprise to one lucky commenter...and it ends on August 14th. I'll let you in on a little secret...there is also a prize up for grabs at the SCACD Facebook page for one lucky commenter, but you'll have to go there to check out all the deets.

Now, for today's card, I had to get inky with the darling image, Sweet Cheeks Peeker, from the recently released The Peekers #2 Collection by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Stamp Co. Isn't she a doll baby? I colored her with Prismacolor markers and highlighted a few places with DecoArt Ultra Fine Glitter Paint in Ice Crystal...to add a pop of sparkle. I also whipped out my Sew Easy because I love to see stitching on cards. For this card, I used the Sew Easy Zig Zag Stitch and Standard Stitch. In the photo above, you can see I also used the Standard Stitch on the card's interior. And, do you see the bow made with Baker's Twine? That is also from the Sew Easy Collection...all of which are on SALE at SCACD. I've been wanting some Baker's Twine for a while now, but could not afford those massive spools...let alone use it all. Since frugality is my middle name, I opted to wait for that perfect deal...which I found at SCACD:) Now, I have some of that adorable baker's twine to play with:) The card stock is DCWV and the patterned papers have been in my stash for a while now...Nana's Nursery Baby Girl Collection also from DCWV.

Well, I am off to run a ton of errands. I hope your day is filled with kindness and beauty!!! Thank you so very much for dropping by:)

Blessings and Hugs!!!

Carolyn

I am also playing along in the following inspirational challenges:

• 4 Crafty Chicks - Twine
• Kelley's Kids - Babies (I think she is more of a toddler, but as old as my boys are...she's a baby to me:)
• Stampavie and More - Girlie

A New Artist at SCACD?

Join us at the SCACD Store Blog to Welcome the Newest Artist to SCACD!!!

There is also a chance to win something but you will have to go to the Store Blog to check it all out :o)

We are all very excited about this addition and look forward to the upcoming release next month!!!

SO head on over and check it out!!!

Blessings and Hugs!!!

Carolyn

~Beautiful You~

Although this post was supposed to go live quite some time ago (around the time Blogger went wacko for some of us), I thought it was still worth sharing...better late than never, right? ;o) This card was created for a previous Creative Inspirations Paints Challenge, and the theme was all about MOM:) So, I thought it would be nice to make my lovely Mom a card using one of my her favorite colors and incorporating one of her favorite things...flowers. She is an avid gardener and loves all things bright and cheerful. The floral background was created by sponging Rose Quartz CI paint over a Dreamweaver stencil (Flower Lace Background), then cut out using a Nesties Curved Rectangles die. The large blossom was made using the scraps from the background and another Nesties die...Dahlia. I love how the CI paint adds such a soft shimmer:) It isn't too overpowering, and it gives the card a delicate touch of elegance. I just love that! If you look closely, you will see that the bow also has a hint of shimmer. Yup...you guessed it...it started out a simple, white ribbon...but got the star treatment by simply adding a beautiful frosting of Rose Quartz CI paint:) Well, that about does it for me on this busy Monday morning. I hope your day is filled with happiness and overflowing with blessings!!! Thank you for dropping by and sharing a portion of your day with me!!!!

HUGS!!!

Carolyn

Friendship Blooms :)

Good morning:o) I have another card for you today using the awesome Sew-Easy!!! Since I am all thumbs when it comes to my sewing machine, this tool allows me to add the beautiful stitched elements to my cards without feeling like throwing anything out the window. For today's card, I used the Scallop Stitch Sew-Easy attachment on the card front. I was attempting to create a rainbow-like effect, and I think it came out alright. What I really like is the texture it adds to my cards, as well as that extra special personal touch. Call me sappy...I know. I also like creating my own patterned paper one stitch at a time.

I even went Sew-Easy crazy on the card's interior. I used the Zig-Zag Stitch attachment and the Standard attachment to add just a little more *PoP*, plus all the sewing helps conserve on the adhesive...and I use lots of adhesive;o) To finish off the card front and interior, I just added a few floral embellishments, a bow, a button and a sentiment. I know it's not the most extravagant card, but it sure was FUN to create:o)

If you would like to play with the awesome Sew-Easy products, you can get your hands on this fabulous tool at SCACD...and they are on SALE...the stitch piercer, all the attachment heads, all the floss (including the baker's twine) and the Foam Piercing Mat. A fabulously fun product AND savings to boot, now that's the kinda thing I look for when I consider adding something new to my crafty arsenal. If you get it or already have it, I would love to see what you create:o)

Thanks BUNCHES for dropping by!!! Hopefully, I will have a card for you tomorrow:o)

Blessings and Hugs!!!

Carolyn

Today's card was inspired by the following FAB challenges:

• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Summertime
• Mami Doodles - Flowers
• The Stamp Man - Show Them Some Stitching
•  Colour Create - Pink, Green, White
• Delightful Challenges - Stitching (Real or Faux)
• Fab 'n' Funky - Friendship
• Passionately Artistic - Maggie sure knows how to throw a PARTY....you should drop by and check it out:)
  

The Sweetest Flower :)

Happy Saturday!!!!! Do you have any FUN things planned for today? Nothing special here. The weather is really BLECH...gloomy and rainy...so, I think it is going to be a lay-around-the-house-with-hubs-and-watch-old-movies kinda day. I love those guilt-free days of relaxation :o)

Today's card came about from playing with my Sew-Easy. I have been going crazy with my standard Sew-Easy attachment, but realized I was neglecting the other fab attachments I had sitting on my craft table. So, I pulled out a piece of scrap Kraft card stock, my Sew-Easy Burst Stitch attachment, some summery floss and got busy playing. Once I was finished stitching in the sweet bursts, I decided I wanted to turn it into a simple card by trimming the corners, adding a simple, floral embellishment and a sentiment from PTI. I like the texture the stitching added to the card...and for "playing around", I thought it came together okay.

For the card's interior, I simply added one of the adorable stamps From the Vault by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD. Isn't she a cutie?!?! I love her precious, little face:o) I stamped the image, "Daisy Doll", onto another piece of scrap Kraft card stock...I have seen others do this and thought I would give it a try...hey, after all I am "playing" right? Might as well go all in:o) This sweet image was colored with Prismacolor markers; and for a pop of the sparkly stuff, a coating of DecoArt Ultra Fine Glitter Paint in Ice Crystal was added to her. Then, she was cut out...popped up with a dimensional...and placed next to the sentiment.

I know the card isn't the greatest, but I had a fabulous time playing with my Sew-Easy and getting rid of some scraps:o) After doing this, it gave me more ideas for a future card...I think the Sew-Easy Burst Stitch would be great on a Christmas card...don't the bursts sorta look like snowflakes? Maybe a white on white Christmas card...white card stock and sparkly white floss...hmmmmm....You know what's even better?ALL the Sew-Easy products are currently on sale at SCACD. There are a few more attachments I need to add to my collection, so I better get them before Susana runs out! I have another card featuring a different Sew-Easy attachment, sure hope you will drop by tomorrow and check it out:) Hope your weekend is going fabulously!!!!!

Hugs and Blessings!!!!

Carolyn

I am also playing along in the following awesome challenges:

• Pattie's Creations Design Challenge - Stitching: Faux or Real
• The Poodles Parlour - From the Garden

Rubber Ducky, You're the One...

(:"Rubber Ducky you're the one...You make bath time lots of fun":)

Do you remember that song? I do, and absolutely loved when Ernie sang it on Sesame Street...and yes, I was raised on "The Street"!!! I still find myself singing songs from that awesome television show:) I understand all about fitness and health, but it still pains me to know Cookie Monster in all his original glory is no more:( In all honesty, he made me eat less cookies. Yep...true story...my mom told me if I ate too many cookies, I would grow blue fur and have googly eyes...just like Cookie Monster. LOL! No blue fur and wonky eyes for me, thank you!!! Then again, we didn't have much junk food in our house, but we had loads of fruits and veggies. I suppose it all boils down to  how we're raised.

Okay, enough about my childhood...today's card features one of the adorable NEW stamps from The Peekers 2 Collection by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD. This sweetie is called "Bubble Bath Peeker", and I think she is DARLING!!!! Honestly, I think the whole dang Peeker Collection (both ONE and TWO) are TOO CUTE for words!!!!! I colored this cutie with Prismacolor markers, and all the bubbles got a healthy coating of DecoArt Ultra Fine Glitter Paint in Ice Crystal for a bit of sparkly. The card stock is from Papertrey, and the patterned paper is from the gorgeous and fun Gertie paper pad by My Mind's Eye...which is currently on sale at SCACD along with a boatload of other beautiful paper pads (you can find all these lovelies HERE). The card is super simple, but I haven't had any crafty time in over a month and just HAD to play make a card before I lost my mind!:o} I'm sure some of you can relate:o) Right?

Oh! And speaking of paper pads...Susana has recently added 18...yes, you heard me right...18 beautiful, new My Mind's Eye paper pads to the shop. You can find them all HERE; and if you need to get a head start on your upcoming holiday projects, you can find the new, holiday-themed papers HERE. And have you seen the gorgeous Authentique paper pads? If not, here's a peek at a few of my favorites:

Authentique ~ Journey

Authentique ~ Uncommon

Authentique ~ Wonder

Can you tell my absolute weakness is PRETTY PAPERS?!?! ACK!!! Will I ever have enough?!? NEVAH!!!! Unfortunately, my pocketbook took a healthy beating last month...so crafty goodness must wait. Wahhhhhh...sniffle...sniffle. I'll just live vicariously through all of you who get some of these beauties:o) Well, I am outta here...gonna hang with the hubby for a bit...I feel a snuggling coming on;o) 

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!! 

Thanks bunches for popping by:o)

Blessings and Hugs!!!

Carolyn

I am playing along with the following inspirational challenges:

• Fabulous Friday Challenge - Coloring!

• Stampin' for the Weekend - Spots & Dots

• Pals Paper Arts - Color Challenge (Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, and Daffodil Delight) I tried to throw in the "Limeade" but didn't have the flowers I thought I did:o( DOH! Hope that's okay with the talented designers at PPA.
• Passionately Artistic - Just had to join Maggie's FAB Linking Party!!!