PWC110: Silver and Gold!

I got to challenge the Pretties this week, and I was thinking of Christmas in July and singing Burl Ives' version of Silver and Gold (think of the snowman in the old clay-mation version of Rudolph!) Mixing metals is VERY challenging to me - I never do this!!! So...what better to challenge the pretties with?!  If you didn't get here from Jackie's blog, be sure to head back to Frances so you don't miss any of the fun.

For today's card I used the super fun Season of Joy stamp set seeing as how the challenge has a bit of a Christmas theme to it. I used the cool aging tool to sponge some ink on the edges after cutting it out with my nesties, and coloring it with copic markers. I used some SU! DSP on my 4 by 6 white card that was scored every 1/2" using my score-pal to give the look of wood paneling. The sliver ribbon is like a chair rail. I then added some gold brads to the main image, and some gold organdy ribbon to the sentiment.

The Paper Pretties Boutique has some great new stuff, including the new Oliver and Olivia lines of Basic Grey paper and matching brads,etc. Be sure to go check it out, along with the super stamp sale going on right now!
And hop along to Jane's blog to see what she's come up with for this week's challenge!

PWC109: Sketch challenge

Hello my Pretties, I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July holiday weekend (at least you Pretties here in the US!) Jackson and I had fun at a friend's house while Julia and Phil were enjoying the lovely Sierra Nevada Mountains.

This being the first Wednesday of the month, we have another wonderful sketch challenge for you all from Frances - and it's another great one!! I love it when we have some fun angles on our cards! Don't forget we're hopping as usual, so you should have arrived here from Jackie's blog, if not head on back to Frances to start off! I used the super fun Home Sweet Home stamp set, I love this townhouse/apartment house image! I colored it with copics as usual and then used some basic grey paper for the dp.

Don't forget about the awesome sale going on at Paper Pretties right now - with many stamps at 40-50% off, it's a great deal!!! And don't forget the awesome new shipping rates:


For U.S. orders....flat rate of $5 for all orders up to $49.99.  Free Shipping for all orders $50 and over
For Canada orders...flat rate of $7 for all orders up to $69.99.  Free Shipping for all orders $70 and over
All other International orders...flat rate of $13

Now head on over to Jane's place to see what she's created for us all today...I'll race ya!

LLWWC46: Step-cards (but they're not ugly!)

Kristine Breach is BACK from her break, and gave us a fabulous challenge this week - to make a step card. There are a few different kinds out there, but I choose to do the Stair Step card following the SCS tutorial. It was lots of fun to make! Our nanny's mother had a birthday this week, so Nanny J. needed a card for her and this is what we came up with! Sweet LaLa was colored to look like Nanny J. so I got to practice making brown hair and eyes!

We'd love to have you all play along with us this week. Make your own step card featuring one of our super fun LaLa Land stamps and then head over to the LaLa Land Crafts blog to link up your creation. And, since Kristine is using LaLa On a Swing, that great stamp is on sale for 20% off all week!!!

Big Changes at Paper Pretties!!!

Happy Prettie Wednesday everyone! Have you heard the news?? Paper Pretties is under new ownership, now in the USA! That means improved shipping times, and way cheaper shipping rates! And to celebrate, our new owner (Prettie Girl Heather!) is having a huge sale on stamps - many of which are 40% off or MORE!!! Be sure to go check it all out!

I have a prettie challenge card for you today, and the theme this week is Summer! You should have arrived here from Jackie's blog, but if not head on back to Frances so you don't miss any of the great summer beauties. I love this sweet little Make a Splash Sophia, and couldn't resist making something with her. Isn't she the cutest?? And I love having her framed with this great nestabilities peony! Cute, no??

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and head on over to see what Jane has for you today...and be sure to tell her I said hi and asked how her head was - I just got in from having drinks with her and some other friends! ;-)

LLWWC45: Try Something New!

This week Kim has challenged us all to try something new. I didn't have anything on the back burner I'd been dying to try (and having been out of the blogosphere for the past 3+ weeks hasn't helped that) so I headed to the techniques section of SCS and found this fun one - Faux Sea Glass. I didn't have the exact supplies on hand, so I improvised a bit, but I'm quite happy with the result! Be sure to head over to the LaLa Land blog to see all of this week's amazing creations...and since Kim used Banjo Maya that will be on sale this week for 20% off!!

I used the ever adorable Beach LaLa this week, along with an old SFYTT from Jen DelMuro and some tropical dp from Stampin' Up! The faux sea glass tag is made from an old GinaK plastic tag that I inked up with some craft spots, then covered in UTE. After adding a few layers of UTE I still had some dimpling, so I didn't do the stream of water from the tutorial...I just went with it! I tied some linen thread through the hole and added the stamped sentiment to finish it off.

I hope you'll come play along with us this week. You could win a gift certificate to the boutique if you play along using La-La Land stamps...what a great incentive to play!

LLWWC44: White on White - a little late!

I'm home! The kids and I had a wonderful trip, and while we were sad to say goodbye to all our wonderful family back there, it was good to get home to dh, our own beds, our pets, and our friends here in California.

Since I didn't have internet (or a cord for my camera to download pictures with) I didn't get to post this card on Wednesday for the weekly LaLa challenge (bad me!!) However, I did finish the card, and it was even the wedding card for my cousin whose wedding we were rushing out to catch. Jane challenged us to create a white on white card in honor of "June Brides" so this was perfect!

I used Princess LaLa and just colored her to be a bride. Isn't she adorable?? Now since Jane used Happy Maya for her card, she is 20% off, and you still have a couple of days to catch her on sale, so head over to the LaLa Land blog to see all the amazing white creations, then head to the boutique! Happy Monday everyone!

Blogging Vacation....

Hi everyone, this summer has already been totally crazy! I've spent the last 2 weeks prepping stuff for end of school year, fighting with insurance companies regarding therapies and equipment for Jackson, taking him to more than the usual appointments (we have an IFSP - Individualized Family Service Planning - Meeting coming up) and just generally going crazy. And in the middle of all this, my husband had to go to China and Japan!! Therefore, I haven't been stamping.

Today is the last day of school, and tonight the kids and I get on an airplane headed for Maine (I know, I'm crazy to travel alone with 2 kids on a red eye - what can I say??) So, I won't be here much over the next couple of weeks. I have one post for a DT challenge ready for June 23rd, but otherwise, you won't see me around here. Gosh...I didn't even get an anniversary card done for my husband (10 years as of the 24th - and I won't even be with him that day!) but, I know you all understand! Hopefully this little break from crafting will give me some much needed passion back for this wonderful hobby, and you'll all see a new spark to my creations when I return.

Thanks everyone...and see you at the end of June!

PWC107: Trifold Sophia

Ok...can't type much...watching Glee! This week's featured sets are Canada Girl and Lady Liberty. If you didn't get here from Julie's blog, head on back to Christie's to see it all. Our challenge is from Jane to make a three-panel card.

I used Canada Girl and changed her into a little San Jose State U. girl to make a graduation card for our amazing nanny who just graduated. I made this a gatefold card (that has three panels right??)

 Have a great Wednesday, and keep on hoppin' to the amazing Frances to see what she's come up with today.

LLWWC42: Feeling Blue

This week's challenge is coming from Lisa to make a card using Blue as the main color. I love blue, and it's perfect with our fun new summer stamps - blue skies, blue oceans, blue eyes!! Lisa created her card with Garden Rosie, so she'll be 20% off for the next week! WOOHOO!!l

For my card I chose Beach LaLa. I love her little pail and ball, she was so much fun to color!! I added some MME cloud paper for the sky and creamy caramel torn paper for the sandy dunes that LaLa is playing on. And I just LOVE this sentiment!

We'd love to have you play along. Go link up your blue card at the LaLa Land Crafts blog, and if it features an LLLC stamp, you could win a gift certificate to our store for even MORE LaLa land stamps!! Good luck, and happy crafting!

A very Prettie Birthday to Jane!!!

Hello everyone...today we're hopping along in celebration of Jane's birthday! Jane is such a dear friend of mine, I'm really excited to celebrate her special day. And tomorrow I'll get to celebrate with her in person!! If you didn't get here from Julie's blog, head on back to Christie's so you don't miss any of the birthday fun!

I decided to use the adorable Fan-tastic Sophia for Jane's card, knowing how much she loves it. I still need to practice making black hair with my copics...but  isn't she adorable??? I hope your day is amazing Jane, Love you sweetie!!!

Now keep on hoppin' to Jackie's to see what birthday beauty she's cooked up for Jane! And don't forget to wish our birthday girl a Happy birthday at the end of the hop!!!

LLWWC41 and NEW La-La's

Happy Wednesday everyone...we've got some amazing new stamps for you here in La-La Land that I just know you'll love, so grab a cup of coffee and hop along with us as we show them all off. If you didn't get here from Maureen's wonderful blog, head on back to the illustrious Irina's and start the hop off right. You'll end at the La-La Land Craft's blog where you can see all the images, and go right into the store to make your purchase!!

This week's challenge was to create a summer themed card, so I have sweet little La-La playing at the park swinging up into the clouds. I colored her with my Copics, using my own little sweet girl for inspiration. She almost looks like my adorable Julia here. I went for a simple layout using some fun cloud paper for the sky and celery dsp from SU! along with my MS grass punch for the ground. Of course she needed a big pink satiny button-y bow to finish her off too.

Isn't she just the sweettest?? I especially love the 2 pigtails...PERFECT!

In case you get lost along the way, here is the full order for today's blog hop...have fun, and I hope you'll play along with our challenge this week and make your own "Summer in La-La Land" card!

Irina

Kim

Jane

Lisa
1LuvnMama

Maureen

Jana You are HERE!

Cheryl

La-La Land Crafts Blog

PWC106: Another great Sketch from Grandma!

Did you all know that Frances just became a grandma?? Who'da thunk she was old enough to be a grandma?? Certainly not ME!! She looks WAY too young for that! Since it's the first Wednesday of the month, we've got another great sketch challenge from her this week over at Paper Pretties, and our featured sets this week are Summer Fun and Ahoy Matey (so they are both 40% off this week!!) making it pretty easy to decide on Ahoy Matey to celebrate Frances' ADORABLE new grandson! (and if you followed that run on sentence you get an A+ for the day!) As usual, if you didn't arrive here from Julie's blog, head on back so you don't miss any Prettiness today!

I used a bunch of different (all retired) SU! dsp for my layers, and I cut out my image with nesties and water colored it using SU! ink pads and my aquapainter. Hadn't done that in a while - it was fun! And this image just screams for water coloring, don't you agree???

I added the sentiment (using some punches) some satin ribbon, and some little buttons to finish the card off. I know the sketch didn't call for them, but even I can embellish a sketch SOMETIMES! ;-) And isn't that little uss baby on there adorable? It's a separate stamp so you don't HAVE to use it, but I couldn't resist!

Now keep on hoppin' to the uber talented Jackie and see what she's cooked up for us today!

New La-La Sneak Peeks...

Summer is here and we're ready for fun
at the park, at the beach, in the garden, in the sun!
9 wonderful new stamps are waiting for you
go check them out, and maybe win some too!
We've got another contest for all to play
so visit the La-La Land blog TODAY!

LLWWC40: Using Nesties!

This week in LaLa Land, 1LuvnMama challenged us all to use our Nesties to make our card - so I happily pulled out my Peony Nesties and cranked away. Since Mama is using LaLa with Bunny she's 20% off this week, so go pick her up, and a few others while you're there!

I used Sweet Lala for my card this week.. After using some whisper white cardstock to make the base of my card, I pulled out this gorgeous blue dp that I bought a few months back and cut another peony using the largest die, while cutting out the center as well. I stamped LaLa on the white card base and colored her with my copics, then placed the dp over the top.

Last, I added the ribbon (with a little stickled ribbon slide as well) to dress it up a little more. A cute little gift card, the perfect size to attach to a birthday gift for a sweet little girl.

We'd love to have you play along with us this week, so go create your Nestie shaped card and then link it up to the LLWWC blog for your chance to win a $10. See ya there!

PWC105:

Oh man...I messed up! I just went to look at the exact verbage of this week's challenge I saw that the challenge card I made was for an old challenge! Sorry Jackie!! So, what we were SUPPOSED to create is a card using red, green and kraft. The challenge I did was to create a gift/project for your favorite teacher. My dad was actually my teacher one semester of high school, and since he's one of my favoritest people ever, I guess that would count as being a favorite teacher, right?? Oh...and if you didn't get here from Julie's, head on back to Christie's so you don't miss a thing!

I made him this cool gift card holder (I'd been wanting to make one of these for a while!) We're showcasing Right on Par and Coffee Cool this week (which means they are both 40% off this week!) and since it's for my dad I used Right on Par! He's colored to look like my dad...and I think he'll love it (of course, I have to find a different gift card than a Peet's one since they don't got Peet's in Dexter, Maine!!

Keep on hopping to Jackie - and tell her again I'm sorry!!

PWC 104: Blog Banner Inspiration

Christie (our Prettie Mama) challenged us to be inspired by our blog banner. I have to admit, I left this one up a little longer than I was planning because it's perfectly inspiring to me - those wonderful little houses along the beach in beautiful Wikj am See in Holland. When living in Germany, I visited there 3 separate times, and just love it! As usual, we're hopping today, so if you didn't get here from Julie's blog, head on back to Christie's. This week's featured sets are 40% off - both Beach Bum and Look out World. Go pick 'em up today!!

I'm using Beach Bum, because it fits with my beach houses perfectly - and I've had this awesome surfboard paper for ages and am so happy to finally use it since it reminds me of my little beach sheds up there. And to be honest, this sentiment is perfect for me right now, because I have been missing the sun.

I stamped my little Cooper on an MFT Perfect Panel, then cut him out with my nesties. I cut out a mask for Cooper, and left my nestie on to sponge some blue onto the background. Isn't he just adorable???

Now head on over to Jackie's blog to see what she's created for us today, and have a wonderful Wednesday!

LLWWC39 - Birthday Wishes!

This week Irina has challenged us all to make Birthday Cards, because who doesn't need more birthday cards?? Since our hostess is using Sitting Pretty Rosie, she is on  sale for 20% off this week!! WOOHOO!!

Now, I have to admit, I cheated a little because this is a totally crazy week for me, and on Sunday I had my monthly Hostess club gathering with my wonderful friend and SU! demo, Michelle. She had prepared this adorable birthday card for our Make and Take, and I modified it slightly so I could easily add Pepper with Birthday Cake so it would fit this challenge. Am I lazy or what?!?! But doesn't Pepper look so cute?? And I'm so happy to have another little boy birthday card.

I picked up some new Copics a few weeks ago so now I can color dark grey/black images. I LOVE it!! Be sure to head over to the La-La Land Crafts blog to see all the amazing work by the great design team, and create YOUR birthday card featuring an LLLC image, and you could win $10 to spend in the boutique...good luck!

Earthy and Perky!

This week, my good buddy from the North has challenged us all to use Earth Tones on our cards. I have to admit, I don't often use JUST earthy colors. So, this was a little challenging for me. As usual we're hopping along today, so if you didn't get here from Julie's head on back to Christie's so you don't miss any of today's lovliness.

This week we're featuring Look Who's Perky and  Happily Ever After - two fabulous sets! They are both on sale this week for 40% off too - WOOHOO!!! I used the super fun Look Who's Perky set along with this week's CPS Sketch #166. I used some Reflections Fall dp, and watercolored the coffee pot with a combination of Really Rust and Ruby Red.

I added the rhinestone swirls as steam coming out of the pot, and stamped the greeting.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone, and hop along to Jackie now to see what Earthy Goodness she has to share.

LLWWC38: Anything Goes!

Gotta love this - Kim gave us a by this week and the challenge is to create whatever you want!! And since she's using Mermaid La-La, that stamp is 20% off all week!! I just got this cute little Pepper with Cake stamp recently I wanted to ink him up and start playing. I used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS55) for my layout, and some great dp I got from Frances for my birthday last year.la

I stamped Pepper with Palette Noir ink on an MFT Perfect Panel, then colored him with my copics. I tried to keep this a fairly masculine card, and think it still can be, even with the filligree brads  - don't you?? Perhaps I'll save this for my husband's birthday card later this month. See...I even finished off the inside again!

Thanks for stopping by, be sure to head over to the La-La Land Craft's blog to see all the great samples for today, and to enter YOUR card starring a La-La Land stamp - perhaps you'll win $10 to spend in the La-La Land Crafts boutique!

MFT's SFYTT

This week, Kim from MFT is sponsoring Jen's Sketch for You to Try - so of COURSE I had to play along! I pulled out my brand new Beach Bum PI girl and my equally new Oasis paper from SU! and had some fun.

I colored this little sweetie with my copics (of course) and than paper pieced her suit. Her sand castle is stamped on the new cork sheets from MFT. I thought it would be fun to have her holding the flag from the castle and I pieced that with some only orange cs then drew in the line for the stick. I added some buttons at the bottom and some ribbon to finish it all off.

I finished off the inside as well with a little more dp, the sentiment, and our little cuties pail and shovel.

Have a great day!

Happy Mother's day to ALL you Mom's out there!

Happy Mother's Day everyone. I hope you are celebrating with your mom or kids in some way. Julia took me out to a very nice dinner (she even had money to pay from her dad!) and dh stayed home with Jackson so that us girls could have some special time together.

This card is one I made up quickly on Friday when I had a rare few minutes of Jack-free time. It uses this week's MFT WSC sketch from Frances, and the wonderful set Clearly Sentimental About Mothers from MFT. I picked up this gorgeous Bo Bunny paper at my LSS recently and hadn't had a chance to use it. Since I just made the card on Friday I know my mom wouldn't get it (and I already sent her THIS card) but I figured this way she get's a second card online!

I used the SU! Old Olive Satin ribbon, a PTI button and some burlap twine from Limelight. The flowers were in my cute birthday drawer set from my wonderful friend Jane, and the brads in their centers are from my SU! Pretties kit. It was a fun card to make, and the sentiment is VERY true of me and my mom. I hope she enjoys this virtual greeting as well.

Enjoy your day everyone!

SU! Friday Watercoloring with Markers

I'm back with an SU! Friday project at long last. I made this card 2 weeks ago at the hostess club my friend, demonstrator (and former downline!) Michelle does with a group of us. I chose the technique this time since I was the hostess, and I really loved this card by Ilina Crouse - and thought watercoloring with markers would be something new for many of the ladies to learn. I love this technique, and was happy to be using it again!

Since Michelle and I both had the same set Ilina used, we went with that (Flower for all Seasons). Isn't it just adorable?? For the large white panel, we embossed with the new textile embossing folder - LOVE it!!

I just got my first order of stuff from the Summer Mini yesterday, so hopefullly I'll find some time to play soon and will have some more SU! Friday posts for you soon (or perhaps it will move to SU! Saturday since I'd love to start doing the Bellarific Friday challenges more!!)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

LLWC37 - color challenge fun!

This week, I'm the hostess of the La-La Weekly Wednesday Challenge (now that I'm a regular ole DT member there!! WOOHOO!!) and I wanted to do a color challenge with my new favorite combo. As long-time readers might know, I'm not overly fond of orange. I don't have a strong negative reaction to it like some colors (who will remain nameless but are disappearing from SU! anyway so I don't have to worry about them any more - orchid opulence - oops, it slipped out!) However, ever since getting the new Basic Grey Green at Heart collection, I'm rethinking my position on Orange.

This color combination comes straight from those papers (which of course are what I used for my card) and I LOVE it! We'd love to have you play along with us this week as well...so get out your orange, and your purple and green and pink and create a card feature a La-La Land Crafts stamp (or digi stamp) then head back to the La-La Land blog to link it up - you could win a top 3 badge of honor, or $10 towards some fun new rubber from La-La Land Crafts!!

I used Window La-La this week (which means she is 20% off in the store this week!!) for my card, and the layout is this week's Monday Mojo sketch #137 - LOVE IT! (You gotta sing that out just like Wheezy from Dragon Tails - come on you moms...you know you were thinking it!!)

Now go check out all the amazing work of the La-La Land Crafts Design team, and then get crackin on your own orangey-pinky-purpley-greeny card to share with us! Good luck!

PWC102: Another Prettie Sketch!

And it's ROUND!!! I have to admit, I really don't like round cards...but this one was fun!! And since I know Frances loves them...I suppose I can deal! This week, we're featuring two fabulous Sophia sets, Aloha Sophia (which I used) and Storytime Sophia - which means they are both on sale for 35% off this week - WOOHOO! If you didn't get here from Julie's blog, head on back to Christie's so you don't miss any of this gorgeous roundness!

I used my nesties to cut the layers of this fun tropical SU! dp. I added the rik-rak piece then put little Sophia on with some ribbons. tada!

Now head on over to Jackie's blog to see what amazingness she has for us today. And have a wonderful Hump Day, and Cinco de Mayo!!pap

MFT using Fabric

This month's MFT Guest DT contest is to use felt or fabric on a project. I had this sweet little Jolinne colored and pieced already, and she perfectly matched some fabric scraps I had left over from an as yet unfinished project. I picked up these quilting squares from the M'Liss collection at CHA back in January.

I love this sweet little Jolinne sitting with her big hat and delicate dress. I used my Basic Grey Kioshi papers to paper piece her hat and outfit. I punched an oval out of some grey cardstock to make a rock for her to sit on, and tucked it behind the flower fabric i had cut around. Then I layered on some green grass.

The background is a blue paper from the Kioshi pack, and I used this lovely sunny yellow gingham ribbon from MFT and finished it off with a sizzex cut fabric flower and a button. At the last minute (actually, last night as I was writing this post and uploading photos!) I decided it needed something at the top, so I added the scallop punched white border to mimic some white puffy clouds up above.

Toonie Tuesday at Paper Pretties!

This week's Paper Pretties Toonie Tuesday deal is: Queen & Co. Ancorettes normally $4...on sale for $2 while supplies last (there are a couple different styles)! Go check them out NOW!!!