Back 2 School with CI Paints

Good morning and many happy hellos to you:) Sorry for taking such a long break, but I haven't been feeling so hot the past few days Thankfully, I am getting better and feeling more like my regular self. Yayyyy!!!

Today's card...I mean project was inspired by this week's Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge - Back to School. Our boys are grown, but I remember how expensive the cool folders, notebooks, etc..were when we went shopping for school supplies. With that said, I wanted to alter something that was very inexpensive by giving it a super quick facelift. Of course, I don't think our sons would appreciate a butterfly folder; but then again, they honestly didn't care what they put their papers in ;) I grabbed an el-cheapo folder (cost 5 cents), a Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist stencil, some painter's tape, a stencil brush and some Creative Inspirations Paint in Onyx and Antique Silver. Once the butterfly stencil and border dried, I simply added some Silver pearls with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen and four metal photo corners from my stash. To wrap things up, I also took a super cheap, standard pencil and painted stripes using Creative Inspirations Paint in Onyx and Rustic Red. I know it is nothing fabulous; but it is a one-of-a-kind:) I also hope I was able to show how a little bit of paint can take something plain and give it a bit of pizzazz...and you won't feel as bad when this folder and pencil needs to be replaced...the total cost was less than 50 cents.

I hope you have found a bit of creative inspiration here today:) We look forward to seeing your wonderful Back to School Creations in this week's challenge!! And don't forget...lots of EXCITING stuff happening tomorrow and Friday...THURSDAY - Fresh Brewed Blog Hop introducing you to some fabby, NEW rubbah...FRIDAY - Sylvia Zet for SCACD Blog Hop introducing you to Lolli, Poppy and their merry band of ADORABLE friends:) Have a wonderfully blessed Wednesday!!!

Hugs,

Carolyn

I am also entering this inexpensive back-to-school project into the following FUN challenges:

• Clear It Out Challenge - Back to School and Use Old Supplies (the photo corners have been in my stash forever...and I have had these CI Paint colors and the stencil for quite some time now...this project gave me a reason to pull 'em out and put 'em to use:)
• Paper Cupcakes Magical Monday - Back to School

Hi There!

Happy Thursday and welcome September!!!! I am still a bit dazed that it is already September, and this year is almost at an end. My parents weren't kidding when they said the older you get time flies by faster! Sheesh! If it is zipping by this quickly now...what's it going to be like ten years from now? I shudder to think of it!

Today's card features another precious stamp from The Peekers 2 Collection by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD, and this little darling is called "Partners in Peeking Peeker." Aren't they adorable?!? I just love her cherubic face and the puppy's an absolute cutie...looks like he's smiling to me. :o) Makes me wonder what kind of mischief they are planning together. If she's anything like I was as a child...it will ALL be blamed on the pup. ;o) My poor mother and all the things she put up with. She must be a saint!

The wonderful patterned papers have been hiding in my stash for far too long to mention...I just love each beautiful sheet and hate to think of using them...cuz if I use them...they will all be gone! You understand, right? I kept the layout very simple...I'm really digging the simpler layouts at the moment...and the flower was created using the Big Scalloped Circles dies from Spellbinder's. The stitching around the edges was created using the awesome Sew Easy tool! It makes me happy to be able to create cards with stitching...minus the sewing machine...as we aren't on speaking terms at the moment (or ever really).

Thanks so very much for dropping by!!! I hope your September is spectacular and your Thursday is even better!!!!

Blessings and Hugs,

Carolyn

Thank you to the following challenges for providing the creative inspiration for today's card:

• Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration (the peach and kraft color palette on today's card was inspired by their lovely and scrumptious pic)
• My Craft Spot - Sewing, Stitching, Faux Stitching
• Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Decorate the inside of your card
• 365 Cards - Challenge #178 Buried Deep (The 2 items on today's creation never used before: stamp & patterned papers)

Peekaboo ;o)

I see you :o) Happy Wednesday!!!! I hope your week has been treating you well thus far. Today's card was whipped up using Tracy's simply sweet sketch at Eat, Sleep, Stamp. I am barely eeking it in, but it has been a while since I have played along with her wonderful sketch challenge...so I had to get busy!! The sad part is...the sketch has been sitting on my desk for days...talk about waiting til the very last minute!

 

Today's card features the darling stamp "Secret Garden Peeker" by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Stamp Co. Isn't she a cutie? I adore how it captures the inquisitiveness of children. I remember peeking around corners looking for my next big adventure...are there dinosaurs behind the fence?...or maybe a hidden treasure just waiting to be found? It doesn't seem like that long ago when me and my sons would go on our adventure walks...we would write stories of all the cool things we encountered on our journey through the park or the woods or even our neighborhood. It always amazed me at how incredibly fun their imaginations were...I think I am going to pull those stories out and read them again. :o) How I wish they were still little....I suppose that's why God created grandchildren. :o)

Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with me! I hope your Wednesday is absolutely, positively WONDERFUL!!! And before I leave...if you haven't done so already...there are two chances to win some AWESOME Sylvia Zet for SCACD BLOG CANDY at the Store Blog....and time is quickly running out!!! If you love Sylvia Zet's beautiful artistry, you are not going to want to miss a chance to win what Susana has up for grabs!!! Good luck!!!!

Blessing and Hugs,

Carolyn

I would also like to thank the following inspirational challenges for helping me create today's card:

• Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Ribbon or Lace (I hope it's okay that I used both)
• Wags 'n Whiskers - Outdoor Fun
• Art Impressions Stamps Challenges - Summertime
• Eat, Sleep, Stamp - Sketch
• Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Decorate the Inside of Your Card

Have a Fairy Magical Day!

Good morning, and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!! There is lots of FUN STUFF going on today at the SCACD Store Blog!!! Not too long ago, Susana welcomed Sylvia Zet to the SCACD Family, AND Elaine Hughes created an ADORABLY delicious card introducing us to Loli and Shellie - 1 of 8 NEW stamps by Sylvia Zet for SCACD Stamp Co. Well, TODAY, you can meet another one of the precious stamps by Sylvia that will soon be available for purchase at SCACD...her name is Poppy!! :o) There is also some AMAZING BLOG CANDY up for grabs...but you will have to check out the SCACD Store Blog for all the details!!!

..

Onto today's card...allow me to introduce you to Friendship Rose from the Fall Flora Fairies Collection from SCACD Stamp Co. Isn't she a cutie?!?! I adore her precious, little face and her beautiful, rose dress!!! :o) Too cute!!! She along with three of her darling, fairy friends are being released today at SCACD; and for our European friends, you can find these little lovelies at Quixotic Paperie. If you would like to meet her adorable pals, a few of my mega talented SCACD DT sisters are ready to make the introductions. You can see their lovely and inspiring creations by clicking on their names below:

Melanie

Danni

Lori

Alex

Crystal

Kim 

Marti

Elaine

Thank you for dropping by and spending a part of your busy Friday with me!!! I appreciate it more than you know:o) Have a wonderful weekend...and for all my friends living in the path of Hurricane Irene, you are in my prayers!!!!

Blessings and Hugs!!!

Carolyn

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

• Flutterby Wednesday - Open, but creation must include butterfly, fairy or angel
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Flower Power
• Creative Card Crew - Handmade Flowers
• Hooked On Crafts - Things with Wings

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