Moxie Fab

I fell in love with the photo from the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge and had to play along!

I'm still not sure if this is just right, but here's my DEEsign:

And the DEEtails:

1. I love the neutral look of the room with just a splash of color, so I tried to mimic it with SU! colors: Kraft, Whisper White and non SU! color that looks like Bermuda Bay (although it looks more blue in the photo than teal).

2. I used a Hero Arts stamp that I bought a long time ago for the main image, cropped it, and mounted it on another piece of Kraft paper. I really liked the tone on tone look, although it's a little hard to see in this photo.

3. I used the oval mirror in the photo as the inspiration for my sentiment. I hand cut the oval and gave it a glossy look by dipping it in VersaMark and clear embossing powder. I did this twice to give it a really thick gloss effect. (The only thing I didn't like about it, was that it made the paper look more of eggshell color).

4. I used the sentiment from the Great Friend stamp set. I love the handwritten look!

5. I finished it off with some aqua buttons and ribbon for that splash of color inspired by the photo. Again, I promise it is much more aqua looking that it appears in the photo!

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge with Ribbon

Here's another great challenge from Embellish Magazine:

And here's my DEEsign:

Here are the DEEtails:

1. I started out by using my Heard From the Heart kindness stamp and stamped 3 lines separately onto Pretty in Pink card stock. This was probably the hardest part!

2. Then I took my Cuttlebug and my Sizzix Heart #5 die to cut out a heart on the card stock. I positioned it just so.

3. Then I laid different turquoise and pink ribbons into the blank space of the heart cut out.

4. I took some Bermuda Bay card stock and my Pinking Hearts Border Punch to add an extra punch of color to the card.

5. Then topped it off with a simple wrap and knot of Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. These colors are too cute!

Inspired By Etsy

I love Etsy and I'm really into challenges right now, so imagine my excitement when I came across the EtsyInspired Challenge blog! To participate in their current challenge, all you have to do is visit Sweetie Pie Tutus on Etsy, find an image that inspires you and create! How fun!

Here's the adorable inspiration image I chose:


Here's my DEEsign:


And here are the DEEtails:

1. I was absolutely captivated by this baby's gorgeous eyes. The lavender just seemed to make them so brilliant! I have very little lavender & purple supplies, but I knew I just had to make it work!

2. I started off with SU! Lovely Lilac, Kraft, and Naturals White card stock. I used my Stampin' Write markers to ink the bird stamp from the Wings of Friendship hostess set. It's always so exciting to use a stamp set for the first time! I stamped the bird twice and cut him out to make him 3-dimensional.

3. I found some flower embellishments in my stash (I can't remember where I got these) and crumpled up the flowers. Luckily, they were the perfect color! I layered them over the actual flower image from the stamp (two large and one small flower) and used a rhinestone brad in the center. I wanted to use something sparkly to remind me of those beautiful eyes! I took a second small flower, crumpled it up, and folded it to cover the other stamped flower image. I really like how this one turned out.

4. I used my Hodgepodge Hardware kit to embellish the sentiment, "Your friendship means the world to me." Love it!

5. For the finishing touches, I added a piece of ribbon on the edge of my card, inspired by the headband in the photo and distressed the edges of the card stock.

My original plan was to use more ribbon, inspired by the tutu, but the purples didn't look right together and didn't sit right with the layout. I really like how this turned out and hope you do too!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Challenge

I just discovered this fun challenge site and had to play along! I love the fact that all the inspiration on this site comes from your home!

The sketch challenge was inspired by a TV console:

And here's my DEEsign:


The DEEtails:

1. I used Paper Source chartreuse cover paper (it's a shade lighter than SU!'s Kiwi Kiss) for the card. I love this color. I used two lacy patterned papers from SEI Bissette. It introduced this neat aqua color that just made it pop! But, I didn't have card stock to match. Luckily, the back of the paper pack had some textured card stock.

2. My Scallop Trim punch worked perfectly with the edge of the striped lace pattern! I got lucky there!

3. I used my new Two-Step Bird Punch with the textured paper in the green and aqua - lovely!

4. I also punched a scalloped circle out of cream textured paper (also from the Bissette pack) and used my 1/16" hole punch to create a lace look around the edges.

5. To finish the look, I tied some SU! Mistletoe Ribbon Originals around the top. I'm so glad I got this. The ribbon is so light and pretty!

Mini Mail

After making the cute mini mailbox, I had to make something to go inside!

DEEtails:

1. I used the same colors that I used on the mailbox: Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink and More Mustard, along with the same striped paper I used (American Crafts Metropolitan series).

2. The stamps are from Love Bandit, which was my "gotta have" set from the Occasions Mini catalog. I love wood grain and owls. :)

3. I just found the faux bois ribbon by American Crafts yesterday and had to have it! I used it on the two vertical cards and just adore the look!

4. The scallop trim punch is my new best friend! :) It makes it so easy to make a simple card look so rich.

5. A little Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon to tie it all together (no pun intended). Do you think I should use some on the card with the tree? I like that one a lot, but it seems a bit plain. What do you think?

Mini Mailbox

Here's another challenge creation for Pals Paper Arts. This time, the challenge is anything but a card. I made this little mailbox for some Valentine's treats!

The front and one side:

The other side:

And the back:

Here are the DEEtails:

1. I got a couple of these little metal mailboxes from the Dollar Spot at Target a few years ago, knowing that I would have a perfect project for it. I finally have it! They sell them every year, so hurry over to Target to get yours now!

2. I used a cute pink and brown bird paper from the American Crafts Metropolitan paper pack. I was so excited because the orientation of the birds works perfectly. It's as though the paper was made for this project!

3. I used a 1/2" circle punch and a straight cut to the edge to make the paper fit around the mailbox flag. Then I used some Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon around the edges to finish the product (and hide the cuts). Perfect!

4. For the front (and back), I used Melon Mambo card stock cut to size. I used my Scallop Trim Border punch on More Mustard card stock and cut a strip of Chocolate Chip 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon to finish the look. I used my Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch on a striped paper from the Metropolitan pack and a Melon Mambo wing. Too cute! I added the je t'aime embellishment from my bowl of random sentiments to finish the look. I cut some simple hearts using my Sizzlits Hearts set with the same striped paper and Pretty in Pink card stock.

5. I embellished the flag with a scallop circle using my Bigz Scallop Circle #2 die (the scallops are slightly further apart than the SU! punch) I used a 1" circle punched around Sending You My Love stamp from the Circle of Friendship set for the center of the flower, then tied a couple pieces of ribbon around the flag. Love it! Hope you do too!

Quickie Calendar Makeover

I put this together really quickly for my mom this afternoon


DEEtails:

1. I found some dollar store pocket calendars on sale for 75 cents a piece and got a few. These are pretty neat because they are two-year calendars. I just hope it holds up long enough!

2. I dressed it up a bit using some American Crafts patterned paper in their Metropolitan line (I got the pack from Home Goods for super cheap!)

3. I added a cute little monogram using my favorite sticker letters (American Craft Sarah Script) on SU! Melon Mambo paper and SU! Hodgepodge Hardware.

4. I also added a removable brown ribbon bookmark, which is a simple, but pretty useful touch.

5. So simple, there are only 4 DEEtails today!

Bloom!

I got a beautiful pack of paper this weekend, on clearance for only $4!

Here are some of the cards I made:

DEEtails:

1. I love the patterned paper with falling flowers. For my first card, I turned the paper sideways and the look was so simple but beautiful! I backed all the cards with SU! going gray card stock.

2. I never realized how hard it is to find gray ribbon! I purchased these three by American Craft just for this project! The light gray ones were on clearance for 60 cents and the dark gray was from the $1 bin!

3. I used sentiments from 2 retired SU! stamp sets, Blooming with Happiness & Basket Full of Fun. I loved the saying, "may your day bloom with happiness!" and stamped it on a scalloped oval. I then punched each scallop with a 1/16" hole punch. I loved the lacy look!

4. I thought "bloom" was a great saying for the second card. I used my favorite letters: American Craft Sarah Script and combined them with pale pink Prima flowers.

5. I made a crinkled flower using my 1", 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" punches, then stuck a gray button threaded with pink floss on top for a quick and easy flower on my last card.

Hope you like it!

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge

I always love looking at the colorful inspiration pieces at {:Embellish Magazine:}. So today, I decided to participate in their challenge.

Here it is:

And here's my DEEsign:

The DEEtails:

1. I wanted to keep the card simple, yet include some fun embellishments. The colors reminded me of my best friend, who loves purple, so I wanted it to be something that I would want to give to her. I chose Elegant Eggplant card stock because I thought it was a bit more unexpected.

2. I found the Merci embellishment from my jar of random sentiments. It wasn't quite the right purple, but I liked how it coordinated with the colors and thought it was that perfect fun embellishment that I was looking for. I hope it's okay!

3. I love using the large flourish on my Kind Thoughts stamp set, and I knew it would be perfect for this card.

4. I incorporated stripes using SU! Chocolate Chip 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon and random purple buttons I had in my stash. I liked the stitched ribbon because I thought it tied in well with the Merci embellishment.

5. For that final touch, I distressed the edges a bit, and Voila! Hope you like it!

It's Here!

My Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Starter Kit came in the mail today. Isn't the box so cute!?

On top of all this excitement, Pals Paper Arts has a new challenge today! So, come play along! This week they have an inspiration challenge. Here's the inspiration (yum!):


And here's my DEEsign:


I am so pleased with my card (and hungry for some chocolate!) Here are some DEEtails:

1. I've been wanting to make a creative little XOXO card for Valentine's Day using something unexpected for the Os. I've been experimenting with buttons, flowers and hearts, but it wasn't quite right. When this inspiration picture went up, I knew exactly what to do!

2. I didn't have red card stock, but I managed to find a scrap of red textured paper to use as the background. I liked it because it gave the simple card a little bit of depth.

3. I searched high and low for an X that I could use and couldn't find a single one! Finally I decided to use my creativity and used a scallop square punch. I punched the square and then cut triangles out of the 4 sides to make the Xs!

4. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my paper truffles! I used my one-inch circle punch and placed it on the paper about 3/4 of the way in, leaving a straight edge on the bottom. Then I used my white Souffle pen to add the white chocolate drizzle.

5. I used vellum paper to make the paper cup thingy (what do you call those anyway?). I folded a one-inch strip of vellum back and forth and cut to the desired length.

Hope you like it!

I Did It!

I finally decided to sign up as a Stampin' Up demonstrator! I'm so excited!

To kick off my new journey, I've decided to try out the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge. Here's the challenge:

And here's my DEEsign:

I chose a "snow day" theme since the day I signed up to SU! was a "snow day." And I even drank a mug of coffee that day (I didn't even plan on that part, just kind of realized it right now). So anyway, I guess the penguin is me. Pretty cute! :)

Here are five of my favorite DEEtails about this card:

1. The mug is embossed to look like a shiny ceramic mug.

2. The snow outside has a teeny touch of sparkle.

3. I distressed the edge of the patterned paper at the bottom of the card to look fuzzy like a rug.

4. I crinkled the patterned paper for the valance of the window to make it look kind of like fabric.

5. This is my first card that uses almost exclusively Stampin' Up! products! Everything is from SU! except for the white ink (ColorBox), embossing powder (both clear and glitter are generic brands) and transparency sheet (Office Max). All the stamps (Cold & Cuddly from the 2009 Holiday Mini), card stock (Kraft for the card, Basic Gray for the window, Bordering Blue for the "outside" and Going Gray for the penguin and mug), and paper (DSP Bella Birds - retired) are from SU! and that's a first!

I'm totally hooked. I can't wait for the next challenge! Want to play along? Click here!