Stamptacular Sunday Challenges BLOG HOP

Welcome to Stamptacular Sunday Challenge's first ever blog hop! I'm honored to be your first blog hop hostess today (my name is Paula). Grab yourself your favorite drink and snack item, there's lots in store for you! There are wonderful prizes offered along the way...here are the rules:

• You must go to each blog along the way and enter a comment with whatever stipulation the blog hop hostess requests.
• There will be extra prizes along the way along with extra challenges, so be sure to read each blog carefully.
• Each blog hostess will have a link in her blog posting, pointing you to the next blog you need to "hop" to.
• The Blog Hop will end and all participants MUST be complete before midnight May 31st in order to qualify for the prizes.
• Most importantly HAVE FUN!

Since today is such a special occassion, I have been working feverishly to come up with a few extra special projects for you to see today. Our blog hop theme is LET THE SUMMER BEGIN and what special things we do with our families each summer.

My husband and I (for those of you unfamiliar with me) are horse trainers by trade...quarter horse, show horse trainers to be exact (western pleasure our specialty for those of you "in the know"). So the majority of our summer is spent at, you guessed it, HORSE SHOWS! We train not only the horses, but their owners too and we show as well (usually our clients horses). So my first card today is a reflection on what we do for a living...HORSES!

This adorable horse stamp is by Penny Black called heart to heart and I cut it out with my Labels 1 Nestabilities, I then put it on black paper and hand cut around it to make a thinner mat than I would with the next mat size from my Nestabilities. I layered it on this adorable dp by Doodlebug (isn't it just the cutest?)...and then I added some Bo Bunny Flowers and this adorable felt heart by Buttons Galore and More... I also used two Martha Stewart punches on this...the arch along the side and the hearts border for my 3 hearts along the bottom...

Below is a very special "win" picture for me...this was the first time "my" family saw me show (even though I've been doing it for years)...and I made it a memorable one by winning two world championships in Denver aboard my horse Jazz. Left to right Myself on Jazz, my husband Kevin, my Brother Jonathan, my mother Sue and my sister-in-law Jena.

Below is myself and my husband coaching students in the showpen (which is where you can typically find us if we're not sitting on a horse).

Something we never, ever seem to miss, even though we work almost every holiday weekend, is the 4th of July fireworks...no matter what horse show we're at or even if we are at home, we typically see more than one fireworks show. I remember driving home late at night from a horse show and seeing several fireworks shows from the highway as we drove along...which was pretty cool.. so that's why I made this card below...

In honor of 4th of July (now I realize that even if you don't live in the good ol' USA that your country probably has a similar holiday of national reverence). I just happened upon this stamp set at Archivers (and apparently it is exclusive to Archivers, so if you like it, I'd not hesistate and snatch one up ASAP...as it happens this was one of two left at ours)...this stamp set is by Stampendous and it is called Patriotic Pair (there is also a statue of liberty not shown on my card...). I think this card is fairly self explanatory...all stamps seen came in this set, I used my Copics on the little "Sam"...keep reading...there's more...

Now summer to me, also means "FATHER'S DAY!"...and I found this tutorial by Jackie Topa for this sharp little suit card below...it was super simple to put together...and wouldn't it look cute as a tux too?

...and since we're speaking of tuxes, this week the "normal" Stamptacular Sunday Challenge is WEDDINGS! I chose to make a "hinged" card (see tutorial for that here) and my brad (the actual hinge) is hiding underneath my bow.... for my images I used one of my favorite digital sets from the Digital Stamp Oasis, the Love Birds. I colored them in Copics and cut them out with my Nestabilities Circle Die and then layered them on a blue scalloped die. My embossed background is the Textile folder from Cuttlebug. My punches are both my Martha Stewart and the sentiment is by SU!

Thanks for playing along with me today...and be sure to leave me a comment (you want to be eligible for the prizes!) about what your favorite summer activity is ... and the next blog for you to hop to is:

NIKKI

Happy Hopping!

Stamptacular's First Ever Blog Hop!

The Stamptacular Sunday Challenge blog is having it's first ever blog hop! It begins THIS Sunday...there will be lots of prizes, our usual challenge and an extra challenge or two for some fun prizes! Be sure to play along...it's sure to be a blast! There will be lots of extra projects and ideas along the way...so be sure to join us this Sunday....

Pleasantly,

Paula

Dustin Pike RELEASE Day!

Dustin's been busy drawing away and he has been gearing stuff up towards the summer...did you go to his blog yesterday and grab the freebie? PERFECT for those graduation cards!

Anyway, since summer is on everyone's mind and Father's Day will be here before we know it, I decided to use Dustin's BBQ set and make a little gift for the BBQ'r in my life! I thought these seasonings for the grill would make a great little boxed gift!

I took and rearranged the images in my Paint Shop Pro to create my border and bbq emblem, then printed and colored them with my Copics and then decorated my box with them...this was a super easy project and I hope you enjoy... keep scrolling down, I'm not done quite yet! :D

Recipe:

• Stamps: Dustin Pike BBQ Supplies
• Other: Nestabilities Circle, Pinking, Copics

Rubber Ducky you're the one..... that's what this cute little duck reminds me of when I see him...Burt and Earnie singing in the bath tub...now I bet we'll all carry this tune in our heads the rest of the day! LOL... He's yet another new release from Dustin Pike, and I thought he was completely irresitable! I got the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday. I embossed part of the background and then layered my duck on top, who was colored in with Copics and then Stickled (gotta have some bling!) I stamped my sentiment (which is actually 2 separate Studio G stamps) and added that under my ribbon...this is really a simple card, that was quick to come together....thanks for joining me today and be sure to pop by Dustin's Blog, to see what the rest of the DT came up with...such cuteness, to grab the freebie and to enter the contest to win some of Dustin's great images!

Recipe:

• Stamps: Dustin Pike, Studio G
• Paper: Debbie Mum
• Other: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Swirls, Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle, Brads, Ribbon, Stickles

Digital Tuesday Challenge #8: Wedding

This week at the Digital Tuesday Challenge the theme is WEDDINGS! I know that wedding season is just around the corner, so now would be the perfect time to get a wedding card or two done for your stash basket (or where-ever you keep your cards). The prize this week is sponsored by Dustin Pike (who is having a spectacular Memorial Day sale...go take a peek at what he's got to offer!). Now, ONTO the card...

I have absolutely fallen in love with these Love Birds from the Digital Stamp Oasis...they are one of my all time fav digi images... and I thought they would look adorable as a wedding cake topper...so that's what I did, I made a tent card into a wedding cake and topped it with the Love Birds!

I tend to frequent the blog Cake Wrecks quite a bit, and that really was my inspiration for this card...if you want a giggle, take a look around Mon-Sat, you'll giggle at your blog hostess and her bits of Cake Wreckiness, but SUNDAY is the PREEEEEMO (top notch, top bakeries) cakes in all their sugary glory.

ANYWHO.... the Sunday cakes were the inspiration for the cake card after I decided the Love Birds should grace the top. I colored and cut out the birds, but I left a little extra paper on their branch so I could attach it to my nestabilities frame (regular oval and a scalloped oval). I attached the Love Birds to that and then attached the whole thing to my cake. I then wanted to make this look like a REAL wedding cake and had flowers cascade down the side...in wedding colors (this cake card is actually being given this weekend, so I made it in their wedding colors! Don't 'cha just love it when a plan comes together? :D) I punched out the little flowers and then I used my Copics and gave them all just a tad bit of depth before I added the rhinestone to the center. This card was super easy to put together and I totally love how it came out, I hope you do to...so glad you could join me today! Be sure to check out the other DT members projects, they are some really neat ones this week!

Recipe:

• Stamp: Digital Stamp Oasis Love Birds
• Paper: SU Whisper White, Heavenly Blue
• Punches: Flower by EK Success, Branch by Martha Stewart
• Other: Nestabilities Oval and Scalloped Oval, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Copics, Corner Rounder, Rhinestones

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, OH For the LOVE of Chocolate!!!!!

What a SUPER FUN week at the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge...the challenge is CHOCOLATE!!!!! YUMMY!!!

Now for anyone that knows me REALLY well, knows that I have an OBSESSION with CUPCAKES!! My husband can attest to that because I'll eat just about ANY cupcake...in fact we recently went to Wal-Mart and there were a DOZEN cupcakes in the day old bakery aisle for less than 1/2 off...I snapped those things right up! He tried to bury them in the bottom of the cart...WHY? you may ask...because they had Hannah Montana rings on them...LOL...and we don't have any children or nieces/nephews...LOL...apparently Hannah Montana was an embarrasment to him, but it didn't stop him in partaking in their delicious goodness once we got them home...LOL...I personally didn't care WHAT was on top...I was getting a delicious treat!

So, after looking at most of the other DT members fantastic chocolate creations I was STUMPED...and then I got to thinking...I could make a chocolate cupcake and then the lightbulb went off to a video I watched months before that made CUPCAKES with socks! Ha, PERFECT! (and non-caloric too {wink})

So this is what I came up with FAUX CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE socks! There are 3 pairs of ladies socks here, 2 socks each for the "chocolate" and 1 sock for the wrapper (this is PER cupcake)... Go to the "how to make a cupcake" video by Lauren Meader to learn how easy these cupcakes are to make! Once you get the hang of it they go really, really fast!

I then made the little carrier to put them in. These have been so popular with everyone I show them to I just automatically make them as Birthday gifts... So...I've got about $3 in socks for a birthday gift...easy peasy! I think these would be great for birthday favors and wouldn't they be fun to present to a girls sporting team with their school colors?...lots different that the usual goodie bags...well, I'm sure you can think of lots of great uses for them too!

Thanks for looking and be sure to drop by the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog, our prize sponsor this week is Diecut Dreams!

Recipe:

• Cupcakes: (for both), 2 pair of dark brown socks, 1 pair of white socks, ribbon and chunky glitter
• Carrier: Brown cardstock, DCWV Sweet Shop DP, Martha Stewart Lace Punch, SU Scallop Punch, EK Success Circle Punch, Nestabilities, CC Designs Stamps, Copics, Adhesive and Organza Ribbon
  

Always...

Since I've been doing bright, "wear your shades" type of cards lately, I decided to calm things down a notch or two. Today my image is by Digital Stamp Oasis, this image is one of their latest releases and it's call A Panda Baby. Isn't it just adorable? I wanted a clean and simple look to this card with a slight asian influence, so I didn't embellish it as much as I normally would. I love how it turned out...just how I wanted it!

This stamp would be great for a new baby, or sending someone a hug, or even Mother's Day...anyway, lots of versatility here!

Hope you enjoy, thanks for dropping by and have a fantastic weekend!

Recipe:

• Stamp: A Panda Baby by Digital Stamp Oasis, sentiment by Just Rite
• Papers: Kraft by SU, all others by Joanns
• Ribbon: Joann Fabrics, Pearl by Martha Stewart
• Dies: Nestabilities Labels 1

HEL-LO! Is this thing ON??????!!!!!

Where IS everyone???? Anyone else notice that the blogs, message boards, yahoo groups are getting quieter? Everyone must be enjoying the spring, digging around their gardens, going outside more, the sun is staying out later and then "oh heavens, IT's X o'clock already!"...I know that's what's going on in my neck of the woods...LOL...

Well, for the few of you that do manage to make the rounds, I've got another Dustin Pike image that will be released TO-DAY...this is the Party Elephant...and he's got PLEN-TY of friends that like to PAR-TY too! You should see the whole zoo of them...they are all this cute!

I decided since I was releasing a new image, I was also going to join in a few challenges, so I decided that my Creatively Cute Blogging Group challenge was good (something old, something new...use something you've had a long time, the birthday paper and the ribbon, and something new...the image!) AND I used Amy Rysavy's sketch this week...

I colored with Copics and cut out my Party Elephant and stickled his cupcake and hat, did my layering and then added my sentiment:

Outside: An elephant never forgets...
Inside: ...but, I occassionally do, Happy Belated Birthday!

Well, thanks for looking, recipe and photos below!



Recipe:

• Stamp: Party Elephant by Dustin Pike
• Paper: Reminisce Happy Birthday to You
• Other: Nestabilities, Stickles, Ribbon, Corner Rounder