Enabler ALERT for Spellbinder Dies...most 14.99!

I know for many of us our funds are limited and every little bit of savings count...so I'm enabling with 40% off of Spellbinders (Nestabilities) Dies at KL Stamping and Scrappin Store PLUS FREE SHIPPING...(I discovered for that you need to get PRIORITY SHIPPING AND enter the coupon code MAGFREE). TODAY IS THE LAST DAY for the 40% off (which makes MOST of the dies $14.99!) and the free shipping...now unless you've got a Hobby Lobby coupon and a Hobby Lobby close, I don't know of anywhere you're going to get a better deal...I think all of her stuff is pre-order, so you might have to wait a week or two...but hey, I'm patient for a good deal...and with that said, I think I just spent the last of my Christmas $$$... LOL... happy shopping!

Tree Full of Love Card and The Sky Is FALLING!

Ok, for those interested in my creative talents, look no further...for those interested in my horse adventures...scroll past the card...with that said...

I "almost" didn't post this card here today, because I'm not quite happy with it. This was done for the Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS (make a Clean and Simple Card...ie no coloring...) and for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge...this weeks theme is LOVE... HOWEVER, I did post it to my Split Coast Stampers gallery last night and got THE MOST COMMENTS of ALL MY CARDS EVER on it... so I guess a couple of people like it (LOL)...so I'm posting it here today.

Really, the only thing I did to this tree was add the red hearts to it from an ANCIENT stamp I had from CTMH...we're talking 15+ years for this stamp...anyway, I think it "makes" the card... enjoy...recipe below...horse adventure below THAT...
Recipe:

• Stamps: Penny Black Fantasy, CTMH Hearts
• Ink: Stazon Black, Marvy Cherry
• Other: Organza Ribbon
  

THE SKY IS FALLING

Now most days I have the job every little girl dreams of...I get to play with horses all day. Ask any little girl what they want to do when they group up, ballerina, nurse, teacher, mommy, cowgirl are typical answers...and the romantic visions of taking a wild mustang, putting it in a round pen and breaking it out in an hour like you see in the WESTERNS...is well...a CROCK! Many long hours and wet saddle pads are put into each broke horse you see and for every show horse, many MORE hours are put into THAT horse perfecting it, making what LOOKS easy, well LOOK easy even though it isn't (like a duck on a pond...smooth on top, paddling like anything underneath!).

Now horses have "moods", just like people, mares have "hair flip" days, young horses can be spirited and the older horses can be lazy, but then there are days where they ALL have a bug up their hind end and darn near NOTHING get's done...(well nothing this HUMAN wants done at any rate)...and yesterday was one of those days. It was cold outside yesterday, but the sun was shining and warmed up the indoor arena VERY nicely...so nicely that the snow on the roof started to melt. The first horse I rode, a "barely" broke two year old (when I say barely, I mean I ride this one by itself, stearing, stopping, etc. is all PURELY OPTIONAL from the horse's point of view at this point...LOL), but a really good natured baby, gave me some problems, which is VERY unusual for my "happy go lucky" mount, but ok, he's a baby, they do that...we do some ground exercises, I get on again, end on a good note (always MUST end on a good note with each and every horse!) and put him up and get out the next charge.

THEN it happens, as the next horse is being lunged (this is a riderless horse going around in a circle to run out their excess energy before I ride it)...the snow has melted enough it SLIDES down the steel ,metal roof...it sounds like (to a horse)...THE SKY IS FALLING.... and of course it hasn't melted enough to go ALL THE WAY OFF THE ROOF...OH NO... it slides a few feet and then "rests" with the rest of the snow that is now dripping off the side of the room... Now what do horses do when they think the SKY IS FALLING? Well BOLT of course, with or without a rider...sigh....so we did a LOT Of ground work yesterday...which is WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY more work for the horseless rider, but a lot safer... the snow isn't entirely off the roof yet and we've got LOADS of lessons today, I'm hoping for a cloudy day (wink!)....wish me luck!

Cupcake Craft Challenge 24, 3-2-1

The Cupcake Craft Challenge this week is 3-2-1. What is a 3-2-1 challenge, you ask? Well it's 3 pieces of cardstock, 2 embellishments and 1 ribbon... I decided to use this adorable HM stamp called Donut Bliss, did you notice the paper on the bottom...it says Mmmmm, Melt in your Mouth and Yummy on it...seems to go perfect with this little Mousie! Recipe is below as usual! Enjoy...think I'll go have some breakfast now...he he!
Recipe:
Stamps: HM Donut Bliss, Sentiment Studio G
Paper: Creative Imaginations Sweet Tooth, Imaginisce Baby Powder Baby's Breath
Ink: Staz On
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon, Queen & Co Heart Brads, Colored Pencils

House Mouse Dream Team

The House Mouse Monday Challenge board is having a "try out" to be on their dream team...so I'm suiting up to try out... Here are the requirements:

1. Why you would like to join the team

• I would love to inspire others with my work. I am also good with deadlines and enjoy challenges. I think it would be great to share a comraderie with the other team members. I also LOVE the House Mouse line, I hope my passion shows through my work.

2. Show three samples of your best work on the post (please post pictures and not links to help save us time), they don't have to be new work and do not have to contain HM stamps (though we would like to see at least one)

Thank you for your consideration!

Happy Birthday House Mouse

This is a dual challenge card, I decided to do the Split Coast Stampers Sketch Challenge 213 and the House Mouse Challenge (piercing was this weeks theme). I traveled away from my "comfort" colors and went for something a little bright and bold (at least for me), it seems very "birthdayish" at any rate! I pierced the sides of the plaid paper and added a simple sentiment at the bottom with SU's Think Happy Thoughts set and added a candle punch to the center and stickled the flame (I did that with the cupcake also...stickled the flame). This is a fairly simple card, it came together really quickly. Hope you enjoy and the recipe is below it! Have a "stampy" day!
Recipe:

• Stamps: SU Think Happy Thoughts, House Mouse Make a Wish 02
• Paper: My Minds Eye
• Punches: All by EK Success
• Other: Stickles, Paper Piercer, Pop Dot, Colored Pencils

Pleated Flower Valentine

Does anyone know how 1" of snow turns into 6+"? We were predicted 1"...I now have over 6" sitting on my porch...I'm still scratching my head on that one! Kevin has been on the bobcat all morning trying to dig us out so we can operate...it's funny how 6" of snow will slow us down to a crawl...and now the FUN part...when it melts...which is all good and fine unless you are riding a horse in the indoor arena and the snow slides down the roof...the horses don't care for it that much and since they are fright and flight creatures, that leaves me grabbing for leather/mane, whatever I can get my hands on when they are in the midst of "Flight"...because if I'M not careful, I'll be flying OFF of them ... LOL... such is the nature of MY job!

ANYWAY, below is card...looks kind of familiar doesn't it? This was actually for the Paper Craft Planet Sketch Challenge AND the Cute Card Thursday Challenge (which was to make a Valentine)...and I wanted another go with Tilda sitting in an open heart, but with RED instead... This is a large card, it measures 5" X 7"...and it's HEAVY, I think I might have to put a penny weight on the back to keep it from falling forward...I have SEVEN buttons on the front making it a little tipsy... I enjoyed paper pleating so much yesterday I wanted to try a pleated flower...(for a tutorial go here), and after a couple of tries I got one done the size I wanted it. I then put my sentiment tag over the top of it. I added seven buttons below Tilda and put heart stickers over the holes. Everything else is pretty straight forward.

Recipe:

• Stamps: Magnolia Tilda w/a Pink Heart, CTMH Sentiment
• Paper: K & Co
• Punch: Martha Stewart Lace
• Lg. Heart: Cricut George Cartridge
• Other: Small Hearts by K & Co., Organza Ribbon, White Buttons, Pleated Flower
  
  
  

A Card, Some Excitement and Some Recruiting....

Ok, first my excitement...did you see my new label to the right here? I made the TOP FIVE at the Cupcake Crafters Challenge blog...YEEEEE! Are you doing the happy dance with me? No? Ok, I'll just make a fool of myself in my own little world! LOL... (needless to say I'm a "little" excited!)

Second, recruiting...would you like to join a blog ring with some bloggers that do mostly "Cutesy" cards? Blogger Group 8 is recruiting a few more to join our happy little family. The benefits are meeting some wonderfully talented ladies, visiting their blogs and stretching outside of your own little 'net world and getting more people to visit your blog and comment on your postings. If you are interested, we have a post on Split Coast Stampers...go here, just sign up if you're interested...

Card?...did somebody say something about a card? Oh yeah, "I" did, didn't I? This is a dual challenge card...this week I joined Split Coast Stampers Try a New Technique challenge...it was to make a pleat somewhere on your card. I had never done this before and I have to admit I saw it in a magazine about a year ago and LOVED it, but never tried it. I did try it tonight, it's easy and I LOVED the results! I used Amy Rysavy's Friday Sketch and decided to do a Valentine's Card. This first photo is just to show the pleats on the card...the second photo is straight on, hope you like it! Recipe is below...

Recipe:

• Stamps: CTMH Be My Valentine
• Ink: Studio G White
• Paper: Chatterbox Hearts Blossom
• Punches: Heart Emagination, Martha Stewart Lace Broder, Quikutz Heart, Fern Unknown
• Other: K & Co Heart Stickers

Notice Anything...umm...Different?

New Year, blog make-over... I spent a good part of yesterday morning playing with backgrounds before I settled on this one, I still have to make my header and I'll get to that fairly soon...
I also spent MOST of yesterday cleaning my craft room (K has ANOTHER word for it ... but we won't go there, but I'm SURE you can guess it!)...I actually FOUND MY FLOOR! I had rearranged my room a couple of months earlier but hadn't found a home for everything so I had a tiny little path and boxes EVERYWHERE! I finally found my organizing mojo yesterday and went to town...I'm not completely done, but boy did I find stuff I've been looking for and stuff I forgot I had!
Anyway, hope you like my Blog Make Over...and a new Header will be showing up soon!

psssst...it's a two post kind of day...so be sure to scroll down to find a card!

Whimsy Guest Designer Call

Have you seen Whimsy Stamps? This is a fairly young stamping company, but OH THE CUTENESS! I just love their adorable animals...do take a look over there, they may be young, but what neat stamps they have!

They are having a February Guest Designer call and I have decided to toss my hat in the ring, so-to-speak. Part of the requirements for the Guest Designer call was to make a card with an animal and using the following sketch:
So since I'm lacking in Whimsy Stamps, I decided to use one of my Happy Hoppers from House Mouse, I just love this little bunny, he looks so R.E.L.A.X.E.D.!
I colored him in with colored pencils, added some stickles to his steam and cut him out with my Nestabilities Rectangle die. I layered him and then I added a panel embossed with my Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Swirls. I then put all that on dp by Adornit (Winter Collection - Snowball Fight) which I had added some flourishes by Inkadinkado (Dot Flourishes) and glittered the dots with MS glitter. I also pierced the edge and inked the edge slightly.
I had a hard time finding "just the right" sentiment in the space I had left...so I printed my own out with brown ink on my printer, inked the edge and also pierced it and backed it in brown paper, I added a few hearts from K & Co. I then added some organza ribbon to the bottom! The recipe is below as usual!

Recipe:

• Stamps: House Mouse Happy Hopper Bunny Bath, Inkadinkado Dot Flourishes
• DP: Adornit Carolee's Creations Winter Collection Snowball Fight
• Ink: Staz On Black, Tim Holtz Antique Brown
• Dies: Nestabilities Rectangle, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Swirls
• Other: Paper Piercer, K & Co Hearts, Organza Ribbon, Stickles, Martha Stewart Glitter

Magnolia Blog Candy and Inspiration

If you are looking for some great Magnolia inspiration and some stamps to go along with your Magnolia's Pretty Pressings is the place to look! Look at what she's giving away:
These stamps are by Alota and the Magnolia's sit just perfectly in them! Be sure to go to Pretty Pressings to see her card with Tilda sitting in one of these frames (which work with Nestabilities!).

Beary Best Friends Forever

This is a dual challenge card...the sketch is by the Cupcake Craft Challenge Blog and Stamping Bella is having a Love Fest Challenge on Split Coast Stampers...the challenge is to make your BFF a Valentine, so I did...

The bear stamp is called My Beary Best Friend by Stamping Bella. I don't see this little guy too often, I think he's overlooked by other stampers...the minute I saw him, I fell in love with him...in fact he's the sole reason I have any Bella's at all! I just couldn't resist his beary existence! Anyway, this card is very straight forward, enjoy! Recipe is below (like you didn't know that! wink!)

Recipe:

• Stamps: My Beary Best Friend by Stamping Bella, Sentiment by Studio G
• Paper: Heidi Swapp
• Other: Threading Water Border Punch, Ribbon, K & Co Heart Sticker, Colored Pencils, Rectangle Nestabilities
  

Card Sketch a Day...2 Cards

Here are two cards I made for the Card Sketch a Day blog awhile ago... same sketch, two different cards.
My first card is a wedding card I did for a relative to give, I used a REALLY old SU wedding set, stamped the couple and sentiment in metallic gold ink. I then cut and embossed the couple with my Nestabilites Label 1 die and punched out the flower, added some detail and a rhinestone (there's that bling again!) and put it all on an embossed background from my Cuttlebug Embossing Swiss Dots folder. Keep scrolling down, I've got LOTS of cards today (and they are mostly Magnolia!)

Recipe:

• Stamp: SU retired Wedding Set
• Ink: Studio G Metallic gold
• Dies: Nestabilities Label 1
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• Other: Ribbon, Rhinestone, Punched flower
  

Here's my 2nd card for the Card Sketch a Day blog. This is Tilda with a Muffin and I've put her on some yummy DCWV Sweet Shoppe paper (don't they go hand in hand? Tilda and her muffin/cupcake and the cupcake paper?) And of course I had to put some pink in there... I added some lace with my Martha Stewart lace punch and the sentiment is from a Studio G set. Enjoy...and KEEP SCROLLING! Lots to look at...tee hee!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Magnolia Tilda with a Muffin, Studio G
• Paper: DCWV Sweet Shoppe
• Other: CM Circle Punch, MS Lace Punch, Pearls Organza Ribbon
  

Tilda Holding a Flower, Magnolia vs. Stampavie Challenge

Two Posts, ONE Day...dying of shock aren't ya? This card is for the Magnolia vs. Stampavie Challenge (remember to scroll down after this post, I've got ANOTHER Magnolia card!). The challenge this week is BIG BOWS...and let's face facts...I'm BOW challenged...I have a really hard time tying them...really...I'm NOT kidding...LOL...so I kind of cheated and did a KNOT for my bow on this card. I really love this ribbon though...it was just the right shade it's organza (my fav...so yummy!). I put the ribbon on top of my lace and added a heart pin and a tag. I also added some pearls to this card. I used the Magnolia image, Tilda Holding a Flower, colored her in with colored pencils (and Michelle, I outlined her this time in Khaki...not blue...can you tell?), I placed her on the prettiest blue K & Co paper, I just love how feminine this paper is! I also ran my newly re-discovered piercing tool around the outside of the card. Recipe is below:

Recipe:

• Stamp: Magnolia Tilda Holding a Flower
• Ink: Staz On Black, Tim Holtz Antique Photo
• Paper: K & Co.
• Punches: Martha Stewart Lace Punch, Posh Impressions Heart, EK Success Flower
• Dies: Nestabilities Rectangle, Cuttlebug Tag
• Other: Pearls, Organza Ribbon, Heart Pin, Piercing Tool
  
  

Happy Hearts Day Tilda

I did the Split Coast Stampers Sketch Challenge AND KL Stampin N Scrappin Girls this week, I just love these challenges, so much fun!
I used my Tilda with a Pink Heart and colored her in with colored pencils and then cut her out. I sat her on a Silouhette Heart that I cut out using my Cricut George cartridge. I raised both the heart and Tilda with pop dots.
For the scalloped heart with the sentiment, I stamped the sentiment, punched out the heart and then cut out 3 small scallop oval nestabilites and pieced it together, I aged it (along with the rest of the card) with Tim Holtz Antique Photo, added a Prima flower, a K & Co. heart sticker and two colors of organza ribbon (gold and pink). The recipe is below...there are several photos here showing you the detail of my card. Hope you like!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Magnolia Tilda w/Pink Heart, CTMH Sentiment
• Die Cuts: Open Heart by Cricut George Cart, Small Heart by Martha Stewart Punch, Oval Scallop Nestabilities for Scallop around small heart
• Paper: K & Co.
• Ink: Staz On Black, Tim Holtz Antique Photo
• Other: Heart Stickers by K & Co., Prima Flower, Organza Ribbon, Heart Charm, Piercing Tool

Paper Craft Planets Sketch Challenge

I've been participating in a lot of challenges lately (bet you haven't noticed...wink!). Anyway, this is the sketch challenge from Paper Craft Planet. I decided to use my Grasshopper Fluffles stamp, he's sooo cute and I added a long forgotten sentiment from CTMH. Since I had "leftover" paper from yesterday's card I decided to use some of that up also! Anyway, this card is pretty straight forward...no hidden tricks...and guess what...no stickles...(I must be coming down with something...ha ha!). Recipe below...
Recipe:

• Stamps: Grasshopper Fluffles, CTMH To Keep In Touch
• Punch: Heart by Posh Impressions, Labels 1 Nestabilities
• Paper: My Minds Eye
• Flower: Queen & Co.
• Dew Drop: Robins Nest
• Other: Pop Dot
  

House Mouse Monday Challenge #21, Bunny Bliss

I have to admit, when I visited the House Mouse Challenge Blog and saw this challenge, I panicked a little...it was a color challenge...and colors I'm not "comfortable" with...the colors I had to work with were:

• Cameo Coral
• Old Olive
• Night of Navy

The dream team of this blog had done fantastic things with their cards...I was just hoping I could pull it off.... Once I was done panicking and started looking at the colors and my dp, I thought maybe, just maybe I could pull it off...

So I chose Bunny Bath, cut him out with my rectangle Nestabilities, colored him in with colored pencils and added some stickles to his steam. I then backed him in Navy and decided to put him on a slight slant. I then sat there and pondered HOW I was going to add the Cameo Coral, and I spied in my "Valentines" stuff a pack of stickers by Marah Johnson that had the word BLISS on it...PERFECT and "almost" Cameo Coral, so I decided to use it...doesn't the Bunny LOOK like he's in BLISS? I also spied my long forgotten heart punch and added some hearts and prima flowers with REAL Swarvoski rhinestones...so pretty (Ya know I gotta have my bling!).

So what do you think? Did I pull of this color challenge? As always, recipe below...

Recipe:

• Stamp: House Mouse Bunny Bath
• Ink: Staz On
• Paper: My Minds Eye
• Punch: Posh Impressions
• Ribbon: American Crafts
• Flowers: Prima
• Other: Stickles, Swarvoski Rhinestones, Pop Dots
  

Furball Fluffles

Isn't Fluffles just one smart alec cat? I just love him...wise guy after my own heart! (BEG!) Anyway, I decided to try one of Lauren Meaders Saturday Sketches. I decided to flip it so that Fluffles was looking to the inside of the card instead of outside of the card and added some balloons and stickled those. Of course the card had to be...you guessed it...PINK (are we seeing a theme here? LOL) Anyway, enjoy...and recipe (as always) is below...
Recipe:

• Stamp: Furball Fluffles by Stampendous
• Paper: The Paper Group (bought it at Big Lots...had never seen it before!)
• Punches: Cricut George Cart 1 1/2", Nestabilites Circle and Scalloped Circle
• Other: Pop Dot and Stickles
  

Rock N' Roll Rockabella

I decided to do the Stamping Bella sketch this week on SCS and since I took advantage of the GREAT H & M stamp sale, I had to break 'em in...even if it was JUST the sentiment! However, it went perfectly with my Rockabella! I've also had this adorable skull paper since Halloween (now who'da thunk skulls could be cute?) and wanted to make Halloween cards with it, but never found just the right mojo for it...UNtil now.... I colored my Bella with colored pencils, and added some Stickles to her guitar and cord, I then cut her out with my Nestabilities rectangular die and embossed her. I added little bits of ribbon and heart brads by Queen & Co. Then I added my sentiment and bent it just a little so it kind of raised off the page. Rock ON! The recipe is below..

Recipe:

• Stamps: Rockabella by Stamping Bella, Sentiment by H & M
• Paper: The Paper Studio
• Ink: Staz On
• Other: Rectangular Nestabilities, Heart Brads by Queen & Co, Ribbon from Hobby Lobby
  
  

Make a Wish House Mouse, SCS211

FINALLY, warm weather...ok, warm"er" weather for us. What a week this has been! It has been BRUTALLY cold here and this I know because the cold water pipes in the HEATED part of the barn froze! They have NEVER done that before...the coldest it got was in the minus teens, but with the wind chill was in the minus 30's....brrrr...and that makes for some COLD mornings going to feed the horses...brrr.... I know when I walk into the heated barn and I can see their breath, and BOTH of the heaters can't keep up...it's COLD! So now we are in the teens, and let me tell you what a difference 20ish degrees makes, wouldn't think when it got that cold you could feel a difference, but you most certainly can! Anyway, onto today's card...

I decided to enter Split Coast Stampers sketch challenge this week (go HERE for the details). I actually had this image colored and cut for another sketch challenge and it just wasn't working! I think it works great for this sketch though...I again used my favorite yummy paper from the Sweet Shoppe DCWV stack, and a cupcake punch (Martha Stewart) to finish this off...and of course had to use one of my favorite color combos...pink and brown...yummy! I added stickles to the flame and all of the cupcakes...gotta have some bling in there somewhere! Below is the recipe...
Recipe:

• Stamps: House Mouse Make a Wish 02, Sentiment by Studio G
• Paper: Sweet Shoppe by DCWV
• Punch/Die: Martha Stewart Cupcake, Rectangle Nestabilities
• Other: Stickles and Pop Dots

EZ not CheeZee, Limited Supply Challenge 203

I decided this p.m. to play along with Split Coast Stampers Limited Supply Challenge 203. Our challenge was to make quick, non-cheesy cards that could be replicated 30X easily. We had to stick with the colors red, pink, black, white and kraft. We also could not handcut anything out...punches and dies were encouraged. For my card I decided to use another stamp set I won off of Jennifer McGuires blog, Autumn Leaves, On the Edge. I used that along the bottom, then I put my card in my cutter with my score blade and scored two lines. Then I added my Cuttlebug embossing folder for the top. I really wanted the red to pop off of this card, so I used it sparingly. Hope you enjoy, recipe is below the card.

Recipe:

• Stamp: Autumn Leaves On the Edge, Studio G Sentiment
• Ink: Staz-On
• Punches: CM Square
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• Other: Foam Heart by American Crafts, Hobby Lobby Ribbon, Pop Dots

Thrifty Tip du Jour; Chipboard

I was over on Split Coast Stampers on their forum and just discovered a fantastic tip for all us thrifty crafters.... ready for it?

Use cereal boxes for chipboard for your cards (not sure how ac/lf they would be to scrapbook)! Just cut the cereal box up and run it through your diecut machine...a couple of gals over there have also run them through their Cricuts...

So there's your thrifty tip of the day!

Three Clovers Designs Blog-aversary

Three Clovers Design is having an amazing Blog-aversary with some AWESOME Blog Candy! The blog candy is the cutesy design I just love...and the work on Three Clovers is just so amazing and inspiring! Go over and sign up and spread the word...

House Mouse Challenge #20

This weeks House Mouse Monday Challenge was to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card). I just knew I wanted to use Dreampuff for this challenge...doesn't Monica look adorable napping on the cotton ball? Since she's so feminine looking, I decided to use some feminine colors, pink, white and black. I also decided to add some feminine touches such as the lace border, the heart pin (found at Joann's), the pearls and the organza ribbon.

Recipe:

• Stamp: House Mouse Dream Puff
• Paper: Basic Grey
• Die: Labels One from Spellbinders
• Punch: Martha Stewart Lace
• Other: Heart Pin, 1/2 Pearls, Organza Ribbon

Card Sketch A Day Challenge: 2 Cards

I've got two cards to show you today from the Card Sketch A Day blog site. I am one of the featured stampers today, so these are the two cards I made from the sketch that was sent to me waaaaay back in December...and too be honest I COMPLETELY forgot I had submitted these cards until I made it over there today and guess what...my cards were up! Whoops, slight over sight on my part!
The first card I made using Stamping Bella's Bella on a cupcake, however I cut her off of the cupcake! I just LOVE this daisy paper and wish I had purchased more of it! I think I could make TONS of cards using it! I added some daisies to this card also outlining them with a blue colored pencil to make the white pop a bit and added some Stickles to the center of them.

Recipe:

• Stamps: Stamping Bella Bella on a Cupcake, Sentimeny by Hero Arts
• Paper: Sorry...I have forgotten! oops!
• Punches: EK Success, Cuttlebug Tag
• Other: Cricut George Cart for Circles, Colored Pencils, Stickles
  

I also created a "Love" card for Valentine's Day using one of the stamps sets I won off of Jennifer McGuires Blog. I added the crown (which I cut from the patterned paper) and added some bling to it with some rhinestones. I also used one of my favorite color combos for this card...pink and brown (love that combo)! I also added a little heart charm (found in the wedding section at Wal-Mart) to finish this card off. This is a little bit of a creative stretch for me since I usually do "cutesy" type of cards, but I think it works.

Recipe:

• Stamps: Autumn Leaves Gypsey Style II
• Ink: Tim Holtz
• Other: Cricut George Cart for Circles, Love Charm, Organa Ribbon, Rhinestones
  

What's the Buzz? Sketch Challenge

Today I decided I would give Amy Rysavy's sketch a try, I read her blog almost everyday (Prairie Paper Ink). I decided to use one of my latest digital stamp purchases, Bear Hugs...but I used the Bee in this set instead...I just can't get enough of his busy lil bee cuteness!
I used Cuttlebug Embossing folders, and Nestabilities dies (circle and scalloped circle). I colored my busy lil bee with colored pencils and could NOT get any of my white gel pens to work (sigh) so I added little pearls on his cheeks instead. I also stickled his wings AND his cheeks as well as the brads on the flowers and sentiment.

Recipe:

• Stamp: Digital Stamp by All That Scraps, Bear Hugs
• Ink: Tim Holtz
• Die: Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle
• Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug, Spots and Dots, Swirls
• Punches: EK Success Flowers, McGill
• Other: Stickles, Brads, Ribbon, Colored Pencils