The Play Date Cafe Challenge #24...PDCC24 31

*** I have 2 posts today - If you are looking for my My Time Made Easy post - Please continue to scroll up - :) Thanks ***

Hi There! It's time again for a new Creativity Challenge at The Play Date Cafe :) I chose this beautiful bouquet of flowers Courtesy of Martha Stewart for this week's inspiration photo & my DH created the graphic :) I was really drawn to the beautiful mix of lavenders & purples. This week, Kristen Powers of Kpink is our Celebrity Designer/ Sponsor!
I made this Mother's Day card showcasing these pretty purple hues.I don't have much purple DP in my stash so I needed to create my own. I pulled out this old SU' set dating back to 1998 to create the stamped background paper. The roses & leaves were stamped in 2 steps. For the rose images: First, I stamped the "bottom" layer of the rose by inking up the image with SU" Pale Plum ink then, stamped the "outer" layer with SU' Rich Razzleberry ink. For the leaves, I first stamped the "bottom" layer by inking up the leaf image with SU' Mellow Moss ink then, stamped the "outer" layer with SU' Old Olive ink. So EASY & TOTALLY custom :)I need some practice at sewing circles & ovals! LOL :) These beautiful Prima roses are so vibrant & rich in color - don't you think?

I hope you can join along with this week's creativity challenge. After you have made your project, please head on over to The Play Date Cafe & link your post to Mr. Linky. If you post your creations in an on-line gallery, please label it PDCC24. Be sure to see what all The Play Date Cafe DT girls have created, (on my side bar) to share with you for inspiration! I hope you are able to join along with this week's challenge.

Thanks for looking! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used:
Stamps: Stampin' Up All Holidays
Paper: K&Company DP, Stampin' Up, Papertrey Ink
Ink: VersaMark, Stampin' Up
Other: Spellbinders: #S4-110 Classic Ovals Large, #S4-111 Classic Scalloped Ovals Large, Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Prima flowers, Making Memories hardware, Offray ribbon, button & embossing powder from stash

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Here comes Peter Cottontail!...JUGS25 48

Hi Everyone! Thanks to all who played along last week & made a flap fold card :) This week Lisa, is our wonderful Hostess for the Just Us Girls Color Challenge #25, JUGS25 & has colored our world with some fun pastel colors! I hope you come play with Just Us Girls & our March Featured Designer: Stephanie.
Here is my Easter Greetings card:
I randomly stamped the Easter egg image using the various pastel colors to create the background paper on the upper half of the card. To create the lower half background paper, I inked up my brayer with SU Bashful Blue ink & applied it to a Quikutz embossing folder then ran a piece of cs through my die cutting machine. I have always said "one stampers trash, is another stampers treasure"! Peter Rabbit here is my little treasure! :) Several years ago, our dear friends Linda & Tony relocated from Phoenix to Austin. Linda lightened her load & sold all of her stamping supplies to me because she no longer stamped! Yahoo! Peter Rabbit hopped right down the bunny trail & found a new home! My stamp collection :)

To make the bottom decorative border, I inked up the Easter egg image, stamped with the various inks, then cut each out individually & adhered them to the Martha Stewart punched border :)

I hope you join along & show us what you can do with these colors! Be Sweet :)

For complete details, please visit the Just Us Girls challenge site & be sure to visit ALL the DT girls (found on my side bar) as well as Stephanie. Once you have your project photographed, be sure to go to Just Us Girls and post a direct link to your creation on our site. If you upload to on online gallery, please be sure to label your project as JUGS25.

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" will be 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, March 25th. Our Inlinkz tool will also close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on Friday morning following the deadline.

Ingredients Used:

Stamps: Stampendous Sweet Peter, Stampin' Up The Gifts of Spring, Fancy Flexible Phrases

Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Papertrey Ink Rustic White, Kraft

Ink: Stampin' Up Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Creamy Caramel, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Sprinkles: Spellbinders #S4-141 Petite Scalloped Ovals Small, #S4-140 Petite Ovals Small, # S4-161 Labels One, Martha Stewart punch, Offray ribbon, Quikutz embossing folder, Making Memories hardware, cord & button from stash

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Easter Greetings 34

Hi Everyone! I hope you are all having a great weekend! Yesterday, my dear friend Shana & I went to the 13th Annual Rubber Stamp Spring Fling Show. We met some amazingly talented people & found some awesome goodies :) I had some crafty time, so I played along with a few of my favorite challenges. For color inspiration, I gave the embellish magazine.com color challenge with borders a try:
Here is my Easter Greetings card:
I will admit, creating with these pastel colors only was extremely challenging for me! - using borders was no problem because I love to layer & always use some sort of border routinely but using Verve Stamps was an issue because I don't have any in my collection, so I inked up some Stampin' Up petals.
My blogging buddy, Silke Ledlow is this month's Hostess at Our Creative Corner. Sadly it is her last month with this challenge site :( My dear friend Pam, recently introduced me to Gina K. Designs line of stamps! I didn't know what I had been missing! Gina just released the Lovely Labels set designed by Nina Brackett. This set is full of various gorgeous designs which all coordinate with several different Spellbinders dies! Match made in my stamping heaven :) I inked up an image that coordinates with the Spellbinders Labels 1 die, then centered the die over the stamped image & sent it through my die cutting machine. Makes a wonderful border around the stamped sentiment! I randomly stamped several of the images from the SU Petal Pizazz set to create the background paper. The images range in sizes which makes it a nice set to create your own custom DP.

If you visit here often, you know I am a "gadget girl"! I love papercrafting tools & toys to play with but sometimes you just have to simply cut by hand the old fashioned way - using a scissors! To make this big bloom embellishment, it is pretty straight forward: I inked up the 2 different blossoms, cut them out, sponged the edges with SU Creamy Caramel ink & bent the edges for added dimension.

That is all I have for today - maybe you will give some challenges a try? Thanks for looking! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used: Stamps: Gina K. Designs Lovely Labels, Stampin' Up Petal Pizazz, Hero Arts Easter Greetings Paper: Stampin' Up Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, Papertrey Ink Rustic White Ink: Stampin' Up Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Groovy Guava, VersaMark Sprinkles: S4-161 Labels One, EK Success border punch, American Crafts brad, PTI ribbon, Making Memories brads, Husqvarna sewing machine, silver embossing powder from stash

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When Life Gives You Lemons...PDCC19 42

Hi Everyone! Thanks to all who played along with last week's challenge at The Play Date Cafe :) Are you ready for a Fresh & Fun color challenge? This week, Sarah challenged us to create with this wonderful color combination showcased in this gorgeous inspirational piece of art courtesy of Maria Madeiros.
This is what Sarah had to say about this week's color combination:"Yellow really isn't my colour, although it is definitely creeping into my box of supplies! A couple of years ago I wouldn't have been able to produce this journal page as I just never bought any products in yellow. But I've learnt what a great accent colour can be, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed playing with it on it's own in my journal"

Here is my Easter Greetings card:I love the color yellow - it is so fresh & spring-like. When I first saw this graphic, I immediately thought of the saying, "When Life gives you Lemons, make Lemonade!" :) Instead of lemonade, I ended up with a big, beautiful bloom!This flower was super easy to make. First, I stamped the various size Flower images with VersaMark ink, embossed then cut using the appropriate size Spellbinders Blossom Two die. Once I had the flowers cut out, I had fun coloring them with a few shades of Copic Markers, sponged the edges a bit with SU Creamy Caramel ink & added a little dimension by bending up the edges.

To make the tag, I inked up the Easter Wishes sentiment from the SU All Holidays set with VersaMark, embossed with gold embossing powder then cut it out using a Spellbinders Labels 5 die.

Check out the size of the lemons that grow in abundance in Southern Italy! This photo was taken in Pompeii, Italy. We stopped at a little shop after touring the ruins of Pompeii for a refreshing taste of chilled Limoncello :)

If you would like to take a stroll down a typical ancient Pompeii street, please check out this short video! Enjoy!

That's it for today! I hope you can join along with this week's creativity challenge. After you have made your project, please head on over to The Play Date Cafe & link your post to Mr. Linky. If you post your creations in an on-line gallery, please label it PDCC19. Be sure to see what all The Play Date Cafe DT girls have created to share with you for inspiration! I hope you are able to join along with this week's challenge.

Sarah Anderson,
Julie Campbell

Julie Ranae

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations HC 224-B, Stampin' Up All Holidays Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron, Papertrey Ink Rustic White, Lemon Tart Ink: Copic Markers: Y21 Buttercup Yellow, Y38 Honey, Y17 Golden Yellow, VersaMark, Stampin' Up Creamy Caramel Sprinkles: S4-232 Spellbinders Blossom Two, S4-229 Spellbinders Labels 5, EK Success border punch, Martha Stewart pearls, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Offray ribbon, Filigree embossing powder, cord from stash

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The Play Date Cafe Challenge #17...PDCC17 41

Hi Everyone! Connor appreciated the card I made for him but probably not as much as the iTunes gift cards :) Today, it is time for another Creativity Challenge with the girls at The Play Date Cafe. This week, Julie Ranae chose the beautiful piece of art pictured below courtesy of Maria Madeiros for color inspiration.
Here is my Thinking of You card:I have to admit, these colors were quite a challenge for me. I pulled this older Stampin' Up set of my shelf & then things sort of fell into place. After staring at my stamps for quite awhile, hoping something would just "pop" into my head!! Ever have one of those days???

After stamping the bird & flower images, I used Copic markers to add color, then cut them out. I sort of curled the petals of the flowers for added dimension & added a pearl to each.

I thought the Rubber Stampede Music Background image was a good fit with the little bird image :) Spring has arrived in Phoenix, we are experiencing temps in the 70's already & the little birds are chirping their hearts out! I sat outside for awhile yesterday, enjoying the sounds of Spring :) Can you hear them yet where you live?

I hope you can join along with this week's creativity challenge. After you have made your project, please head on over to The Play Date Cafe & link your post to Mr. Linky. Be sure to see what all The Play Date Cafe DT girls have created to share with you for inspiration! Thanks for looking. Be Sweet!

Sarah Anderson,

Julie Campbell

Julie Ranae

Ingredients Used: Stamps: Stampin' Up Natural Beauty, Sincere Salutations, Rubber Stampede Music Background Paper: Papertrey Ink Rustic White, Dark Chocolate Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Copic Markers 0 Colorless Blender, Yooo Pale Lemon, W-1 Warm Gray, E77 Maroon, R27 Cadmium Red, R46 Strong Red, R29 Lipstick Red, E27 Africano Sprinkles: Spellbinders Labels One, Martha Stewart border punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin' Up punch, Offray ribbon, twine & button from stash

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Happy 14th Birthday Connor! 43

Hi Cyber Friends! Hope you are all having a great week :) Today is my stepson's 14th Birthday! We are having a small celebration so hopefully I will get some good photos to share :) I made him this simple card using Kazan's fun sketch from 2Skethes4You. Be sure to check out what the DT has made for inspiration :)




Here is my Happy Birthday card:
This card was super easy to make once I figured out what I wanted to do! (giggle) I started by stamping the Papertrey Polka Dot image with Stampin' Up Soft Sky ink. I used the Cuttlebug Birthday embossing folder then inked the edges with a little Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink. I recently discovered using a wooden handle ink applicator with a felt pad works a lot better than a sponge dauber. Many cards later!!!

This cuuute cupcake image was a Hampton Art stamp that I bought long time again at my local craft store in the $1 bin! After stamping the image, I colored it with the various Copic markers mentioned below then paper pieced it! I love this technique as it adds a little extra dimension without a whole lot of effort! I never tried it until my JUGs team-mate, Pam chose it as one of our weekly technique challenges. If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you are missing! All you need is a super sharp pair of scissors & a little patience :) LOL After piecing the cupcake together, I topped it off with a button cherry on top!

That's it for today. I will be back tomorrow with another fun Play Date Cafe color challenge. Thanks for looking! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used: Stamps: Papertrey Ink Polka Dot Basics 11, Stampin' Up All Holidays, Hampton Art Cupcake Paper: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Kraft, Rustic White Ink: Ranger Vintage Photo, Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Soft Sky, YG91 Putty, E43 Dull Ivory, E31 Brick Beige, B00 Frost Blue, BG01 Aqua Blue, E57 Light Walnut, O Colorless Blender Sprinkles: Spellbinders Scalloped Circles & Circles, Cuttlebug Birthday embossing folder, Papertrey Ink ribbon, button from stash

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Tempting Hearts Total package... January PTI Blog Hop 82

Hi Everyone! I can't believe it's time again for another PTI Blog Hop! This month Nichole challenged us to create a card that has the "total package". We were encouraged to create any style card we could dream up, then take it to the next step. Embellish the interior & adorn the envelope. Maybe even adding a little something to the back of the card!



Here is my Tempting Hearts Total package:When I think of "Total package", I think of including some sort of gift packaging. What better way to present a heartfelt gift?!

Here is my Tempting Hearts card:

I was at CHA this past weekend & picked up this awesome Unity stamp set that included this Sweet Bingo like card! One of the many goodies I snagged!

I stamped the floral paper with one of the pretty PTI floral images from the PTI Beautiful Blooms set with SU Tempting Turquoise ink then followed with the outline image using Memento Tuxedo Black to help make those flowers "pop" off the paper. I layered this stamped paper with MTME © Flowers & Flutters digi paper.

I inked up the smaller pretty floral image from the PTI Beautiful Blooms set with SU Tempting Turquoise & stamped the front left corner of the envelope then followed with the floral outline & added a few SU heart images using SU Real Red ink. Really completes the envelope :)

On the inside, I inked up the Stampabilities Funky Valentine's Day stamp with Versamark then applied white embossing powder & heat set. I love how a white embossed image looks on anything :) I added a little heart embellishment cut from Spellbinders Scalloped Hearts & Hearts dies, finished it off with a button.

I inked up the "with love" SU image from the Yummy set with Versamark & embossed that with white embossing powder as well.

My entire Tempting Hearts Total package was inspired by this week's creativity challenge #13 at The Play Date Cafe featuring these "bold & beautiful" colors. Be sure to stop by The Play Date Cafe & see all the amazing photos the DT has offered up for you to view!

I cut out this MTME © Shutt-erfly template using my Cricut Expressions machine! How simple is that? I stitched on 4 panels, each containing a layer of PTI Pure Poppy & MTME © Flowers & Flutters digi paper. I love how that PTI Pure Poppy cs really makes the MTME © black & white polka dots jump right off the ©Shutt-erfly box! I made a tag with the "Sweet" bingo like card stamped image. If you look closely, that "Sweet" bingo card is full of Sweet sayings!!!!

That's it for today. Thanks for hopping by! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used: My Time Made Easy © Pretty Packaging: Shutt-erfly template Stamps: PTI Beautiful Blooms, Unity Sweet Affections, SU Yummy Paper: My Time Made Easy © Pretty Printables: Color Me Pretty - Flowers & Flutters collection, PTI Pure Poppy, SU Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, OfficeMax BrightWhite Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, SU Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black & Versamark Sprinkles: Spellbinders Scalloped Hearts & Hearts dies, Tim Holtz hardware, PTI twine, Offray ribbon, Making Memories brads, generic buttons, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, Filigree white embossing powder, EK Success Flower punches

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Friendly Hooty... 21

Hello Everyone! Happy Martin Luther King Day to all celebrating :) I would like to thank Paige at the Cards Blog site for featuring my Valentine's card in the "love" theme, polka dot background, scallop challenge. Yipee Skipee!!! I have a little card to share that I made for my girlfriend, Lori! It is sort of plain & not really "frilly" but that is the sort of girl Lori is. Lori is a sweet nature loving, outdoorsy sort of gal. No makeup, no heels, no dresses for her... She is semi-retired & when in town, she volunteers locally at the Owl Rescue Program & when out of town at her second home, she volunteers with the Dolphin Rescue on Maui! How neat is that?! Paige is hosting another challenge this week focused on using trees/branches on your card. For some awesome information be sure to check out Paige's sample of inspiration as well as all the other girls & entrants!

Here is my Friendship Hooty card:

This card was very simple to make. I used 3 different patterns of DP from the DCWV The Green Stack which is 70% Recycled Paper! (Lori will be thrilled to know that :) I stitched the strips on to a piece of white cs then stitched the stamped & embossed rectangular scallop on top of that being careful to wrap the twine around first!

Using my SU markers, I applied SU Chocolate Chip marker to the branch & SU Green Galore marker to the leaves. Doing the little "huff" method (a.k.a.: breathe on the stamp to moisten the ink method!), I then stamped the image. On a separate piece of cs, I stamped the Hero Arts Tiny Owl image using Memento Tuxedo Black. I colored the image with the following Copic Markers: Dull Ivory E43, Caramel YR14, Dark Brown E47 then cut him out with my super duper sharp scissors! I sponged him a bit with some Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink then perched him a top the branch :)

That's all for today! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used:

Stamps: Hero Arts Tiny Owl, SU Cheep Talk Paper: DCWV The Green Stack, SU Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, SU Chocolate Chip, Green Galore, Copic Markers: Dull Ivory E43, Caramel YR1, Dark Brown E47 Sprinkles: Spellbinders Scalloped Long Rectangle & Rectangle dies, EK Success punches, Making Memories brads, PTI twine, Buttons from stash, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF

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One Of A Kind... 26

Hello Everyone! T.G.I.F. :) Are you one of the LUCKY ones who have a loooong Holiday weekend? Unfortunately for me, working in a hospital we are open 24 / 7 & only recognize 6 of the major Holidays throughout the year :( I am not much of a football fanatic but I do try to cheer our home team on, the Phoenix Cardinals. Well, the "Cards" are playing this weekend in a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. My DH is torn because he was born & raised in Louisiana! I am sure he will be happy either way :) Anyways, I made this card simply to have on hand. For color inspiration, I played along with the girls at the Color Throwdown, CTD75, using this rich palette of colors that LeAnne has chosen. If you want to see some gorgeous creations, I recommend visiting all the samples of inspiration that these girls have provided :)

Here is my One Of A Kind card....

I started making this card by first inking up the Rubber Stampede Music Background stamp with Memento Tuxedo ink. After cutting down to size, I sort of sat there looking at it, thinking hmm..."what now?" I knew I wanted to stamp some sort of flower image with the beautiful SU Rich Razzleberry ink.

So I inked up this particular flower image from the PTI Flower Garden set with SU Rich Razzleberry ink & stamped it on a separate piece of paper. I cut out the flower image because it just looked too flat to me. I set it aside, then stamped the PTI stem/leaf image, centered a Spellbinders Labels 5 die over the image then sent it through my Sizzix Big Shot Express machine. Still too "flat", I gave it some texture by sandwiching the Label in the Cuttlebug flourish EF.

Back to the stamped Music Background. It was too "blah" looking so I dressed it up by randomly stamping stems & flower images. The wee little tag was cut using a Spellbinders Labels 5 die centered over the stamped embossed sentiment. That was a little plain too, so I inked up the edges with Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink & stamped a few stem images. Happy now, I stitched up the card :)

That's it for today, I hope you stop by tomorrow as it is Saturday & that means time for a new Just Us Girls challenge! I am curious, do you have a favorite image that you like to "dress" up a plain background with? A flourish, a leaf... I would love to know! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used:

Stamps: PTI Flower Garden, SU One Of A Kind, Rubber Stampede Music Background Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green, Mellow Moss Paper: SU Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla Sprinkles: Spellbinders Labels 5, Making Memories hardware, Cuttlebug Flourish EF, Offray ribbon, EK Success border punch, (gold cord, embossing powder & button from stash)

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Just Us Girls Sketch Challenge...JUGS14 30

Hi Girls! I hope you are all enjoying the first day of 2010! Now that the holidays are behind us, maybe we will all be able to find some "free-time" (LOL!) to create & play with our crafting products :) You may have noticed a new name along with her creation on the JUGS site? Well, that is Gabby & she has agreed to play along with us as our Featured Designer for the month of January :) What better way to start the New Year than with a Sketch challenge with Just Us Girls? This week, the Lovely Lisa is our Hostess for the Just Us Girls Sketch Challenge #14, JUGS14 & has dreamed up this amazing sketch for us all to play with!

Here is my card:

I made a trip to my local scrapbook store (LSS) this week & found this awesome Cosmo Cricket DP. It has a Western / Vintage look about it & made me think of one of my favorite SU sets, One of a Kind & the coordinating Boho Blossoms punch.

I cut those cute little hearts using Spellbinders Scalloped Heart & Heart dies. After inking up the edges of the Rose Red heart, I layered & adhered both heart sets on the card.

I inked up those various sized blossoms with SU Rose Red, More Mustard & Chocolate Chip ink & went to town, stamping away then punched out the 2 smaller punches with the Boho Blossoms punch. I hand cut out the larger blossom with my trusty little scissors :)

I hope you can join along with Just Us Girls this week :) For complete details, please visit the Just Us Girls challenge site & be sure to visit ALL the DT girls & Gabby's blog who will be this month's Guest Designer to see how they created their project! Thanks for looking! We look forward to seeing how you work your magic with Lisa's sketch!

Once you have your creation photographed, be sure to go to Just Us Girls and post a direct link to your project on our Mr. Linky. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by! Be Sweet!

Ingredients Used:

Stamps: SU One of a Kind Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, SU Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, More Mustard Paper: SU Rose Red, Kraft, Bravo Burgandy, Chocolate Chip, Natural's Ivory, Very Vanilla, Cosmo Cricket DP, Bingo card courtesy of Tonya Daughty Sprinkles: Spellbinders Scalloped Heart & Heart dies, Cuttlebug Flower EF, SU Boho Blossoms punch, Making Memories brads, PTI button & twine, EK Success Oval punch, Sizzix Oval die

REMEMBER: Sunday is the THE OFFICIAL RELEASE day for My Time Made Easy LLC! Thanks for looking :) Be Sweet!

Here is a photo of my dear sister Tina (on the right) & I on our bicycles getting ready to hit the road for our first ride of 2010 :)

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