Sunday, July 31, 2011

Beary Cute

I just can't believe it's the last day of July. The summer is whizzing by faster than I'd like. The only thing I want to pass quickly is this week because I'm going on vacation - up north to Lake Michigan for a little beach and sun time.  I'm looking forward to that.  In the meantime, I've created this card using a terrific sketch and an adorable Doodle Pantry image.

I decided to use this interesting Sketch by Carly - the first time to play in her sketch challenge. I love how unique this is so I decided to give it a try.  You can find Carly's site HERE.

This adorable bear is from Doodle Pantry and is from a set called Beary Cute. I've used the pre-colored version that comes in the set that is HERE in the Doodle Pantry Store.  The papers are from Prima's Paisley Road collection.  It all adds up to a fun and cheery card - perfect to end the month on!

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow

Happy Saturday! Today is the start to another sensational challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow.  This week we're challenging you to create your own designer paper using stamps or other unique treatments.  No purchased scrapbook or designer papers - just what you can create on your own.  And of course, create a card in a vintage or shabby chic style.

My card was created with background paper that I created by stamping on kraft-color cardstock using Papertrey Ink's "Damask Designs" stamps.  I also created the paper with the swirls using PTI's "Fancy Flourishes" stamps.

The main image panel features a Hero Arts image called "Bird Collage" also stamped in black ink on kraft cardstock that was tattered and then distressed with tea dye and old paper distress inks.  A few pearls, a fabulous stripe ribbon and it's complete. 

Won't you join us this week in the "create your own designer paper" challenge?  You'll have fun giving it a try.  Stop on by the Sugar Creek Hollow blog and see the design team creations for a little inspiration - you'll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Gerda!

Today is a special day at StampFairy because it's Gerda's birthday! To celebrate, her Stampfairies are having a virtual surprise birthday party for her and having a little fun with all her followers and fans. So if you've arrived here from the lovely blog of Lelia, you're on the right track. If not, you might want to start at the beginning of our party at StampFairy World.

Happy Birthday Gerda! I hope you were surprised today! We've been so excited for your special day to arrive and show you how much we adore you. You are greatly admired for your incredible talents and what a pleasure it is to be on your team with the privilege of working with you. I do hope your birthday is super fantastic and that we've made it extra special for you too. A girl can't ever get enough flowers on her birthday so my gift to you is lots and lots of flowers today.  Hugs to you :)

Now a special treat for all our fans and followers joining the party today.  If you follow us through the whole birthday party and leave comments along the way, you can win StampFairy digi stamps.  Here are the simple rules:

1. Join the party by visiting all the design team member's blogs
2. Leave a comment on each team member's blog with a birthday wish for Gerda
3. A prize will be given away on each team member's blogs, drawn from the comments left at each blog
4. The party hop will run through Monday, August 1. Winners will be announced on each team member's blog on August 2
5. Also be sure to leave a comment at the end at Gerda's blog, StampFairy World

Now off you go to Carissa's fabulous blog where the party continues. Have fun and be sure to leave a comment before you go.

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, July 29, 2011

StampFairy - Winter in July

Well it seems we're celebrating winter in July at StampFairy today with the release of this cute new character and winter image collection.  I have to say it's a bit refreshing to deal with snow and cool colors right now with the heat wave we've had here in Michigan throughout this month. Kind of provides relief from all that in a way!

Introducing the Barry Winter collection just released today at StampFairy. An adorable series of fuzzy bear snow goodness I know you'll want to add to your digi stamp collections.  You can find this new collection at the StampFairy Shop HERE.

And even better news - the Barry Winter collection of stamps is also eligible for the 50% off sale going on now through the weekend at StampFairy.  It's a great time to stock up on all your favorite StampFairy images.

Here's this adorable new friend a little closer - don't you just love his furry look!  Be sure to stop by and see the other design team creations at StampFairy World today - you'll love what you see there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Lady in Green - Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Welcome to another Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge. We have a fabulous sketch and wonderful sponsor for this week's challenge so let's get right to it!

Here's the sketch that Arlana created and I think it's gorgeous. What a unique look and it really makes for a stunning card.
The challenge this week is sponsored by A Day For Daisies - one of my favorite digi stamp companies. The Grand Prize Winner of the challenge this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday will receive a $12 gift certificate to the A Day For Daisies shop.

This gorgeous image from A Day For Daisies is called "Green Lady" - so of course I had to color her in green! I used Copic markers for that and then sponged a very pale pink ink in the background to make her pop. I used lime green Stickles on the flower centers and drops of her beautiful headress.

The papers are from Basic Grey - Kioshi and Marjolaine - and that's what I used on the handmade flower too.  The lace was originally white but I colored it with Copics to match the colors in the image. Some rhinestones and a rhinestone brad for the flower center are the finishing touches.

To see more images from A Day For Daisies used with the fabulous sketch this week, please visit the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog. There's a lot of inspiration there from our design team you'll not want to miss!

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, July 25, 2011

New Release and Sale at StampFairy!

There's a sale going on at StampFairy this week.  It starts today and runs through next weekend. A whopping 50 percent off all digi stamps in the StampFairy Shop - now that's a great deal and a great time to stock up on all your favorite StampFairy images.

And here's the new digi stamps released today - Lenny Back To School.  Perfect timing to get your teacher welcome cards done for the beginning of the school year.  And yes, these new digis are also on sale!  You can find the new release HERE in the StampFairy Shop.

Here's the freebie that goes with the new release - isn't that a dandy?! You can't beat freebies and sales at StampFairy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Vintage Tags at Sugar Creek Hollow

It's Saturday and that means time for a new challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow.  We had such lovely entries in last week's challenge - it's always a pleasure to see what our followers and participants create - we get such inspiration from everyone that plays along. 

This week at Sugar Creek Hollow we're challenging you to create a vintage or shabby chic TAG and share your talents with us at the Sugar Creek Hollow challenge blog.

For my vintage tag, I used many different antique images that I've collected from the internet over the years (so sorry on not having exact sources for this one).  I really just created a collage of these images on a tag I created with Vintage Linen cardstock from Papertrey Ink.  I wanted the focal point to be the birthday greeting so I also used this vintage birthday card image on the tag.

I also used Webster Pages digital paper images that I printed and cutout in this vintage collage.

And finally some doilies distressed with "Old Paper" distress inks from Tim Holtz add another element of vintage charm.  For the top of the tag bow, I gathered and then tied together several loops of hemp twine and adherred it with a little glue dot.  I think the bow adds a terrific shabby and natural look to the tag.  A few adhesive pearls placed strategically and we're set. 

I hope you've picked up a couple ideas here today on how to create a vintage looking tag. I do hope you'll join in the tag challenge this week at Sugar Creek Hollow. In the meantime and for more vintage ideas, visit the Sugar Creek Hollow site to gaze at the creations provided by the design team. I think you'll find their work inspiring as well.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Friday, July 22, 2011

King For A Day

Happy Friday and welcome to my blog!  Today at StampFairy we're releasing a new character and a whole set of digi images featuring this adorable new friend.  He will quickly become one of your StampFairy favorites!

Introducing Lionel ..... a fun and friendly little lion you'll just love to create with.  Isn't he just the cutest - especially with his meat bone which just cracks me up :)  You can find all these new Lionel images HERE in the StampFairy Shop.

Here's a closer shot of Lionel in all his Copic-colored glory!

And here's the freebie digi that goes with this set.  You can find it with the new Lionel images at the StampFairy Shop.

To see the rest of the StampFairies samples featuring Lionel just visit StampFairy World.  Lots of inspiration there today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Darling Hedgehog!

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's time for another challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday and we have a great sketch for you this week.

This is another one of those wonderful Arlana sketches that goes together rather quickly, shows off your designer papers really well and is versatile witht the embellishments and sentiment.  I loved using this sketch!

 And the other thing I love about this week is our monthly sponsor - Digi Stamp Boutique!  Sally Ann, the owner of Digi Stamp Boutique, has been a sponsor from the very first sketch challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday and is so generously providing 6 digi stamps to the Grand Prize winner of the challenge this week.  We all love creating with DSB images and this week is no exception!

I chose this darling hedgehog from Digi Stamp Boutique to create my card.  I colored him with Copics and used tiny little brush strokes to try to create that prickly looking fur that hedgehogs have!  The fun, bright papers are from Echo Park's "Summer Days" collection and I found the perfect daisy buttons and ric rack at my local craft store to coordinate with it.

The design team creations this week will blow your socks off so take a stroll over to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog and take a look. I hope you'll join us in the challenge this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow

Welcome to another sensational Saturday at Sugar Creek Hollow. We have a terrific challenge for you this week and can't wait to see what you create with this week's theme.

Create a vintage, shabby chic or primitive style card or paper project that features "Winged Things".  That includes many possibilities like angels, butterflies, fairies, birds or any winged insect.  Should be fun for you and I do hope you'll join us this week in this challenge.

I choose this wonderful fairy image from A Day For Daisies to fit the theme this week. She was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with gamsol. I think the pencils provide a softer look suited for this image. I sparkled up her wings and the flowers with glitter.  The background paper is from Webster Pages and I loved that it had the butterflies on it so it too is keeping with this week's "Winged Things" theme.

Now head on over to the Sugar Creek Hollow blog and see the wonderful inspiration from the design team creations on this week's challenge. I'd also like to welcome Chris Veneruso as our guest designer who was selected from the June card of the week winners. You'll see her creativity at work at the blog too.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Making Music at StampFairy

Happy Friday everyone! What a busy week - I'm not sorry to see it end! I'm definitely happy to see the weekend arrive and plan to enjoy every minute and spend plenty of time relaxing and crafting! 

What a good way to start the weekend than with another new StampFairy release! 

Today we're introducing Lenny Music and you're going to love using the images in this new collection that Gerda has drawn. You can find them in the StampFairy Shop or click the image above to be taken directly to the collection.
Here's a closeup of my card today so you can get a better look at this wonderful new digi stamp. Lenny was colored with Copics and a little distressing was done with Pear ink along the circle diecut edges. The papers are from Webster Pages and are digital.  The vintage music paper is an image from the internet - I don't have the exact source but if you know tell me so I can properly credit the source.


 And here's a good shot of the freebie image being offered that goes with this new collection.  I printed the music onto the Webster Pages digital papers.  The freebie image was duplicated and resized several times on the background paper and the piece shown here.

Now be sure to stop on by StampFairy World to see all the new release images and the inspirational design team cards using Lenny Music.  You'll love what you see there. 

And finally, there's plenty of time still left to enter the StampFairy Challenge this week - we're looking for the use of new techniques which is a great way to pick up ideas from others.  Take a minute and visit us there and join us in the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!