Happy Birthday to you

Here's a card using my Printable Stamps from The Cutting Cafe. I used the Shaped Cards set and The Huge Happy Birthday Set. The girl image is from InStyle stamps. To make the card I printed out my circle card template on Pretty in Pink cardstock and cut it out. To decorate my card base I just added a Spellbinder scallop circle, ribbon and a handful of pearl accents. I paper pieced Yuki's dress and popped her up using dimensionals. And there you go quick and simple.

Stamps: The Cutting Cafe - Shaped Cards, Huge Happy Birthday, Instyle Stamps - Yuki
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Misc. DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Spellbinders Scallop Die, Pink Ribbon, Pearl Accents, Dimensionals

I adore you

Sticking to the butterfly theme -going with the flow remember? Here's a card using The Rubber Cafe's Large Paisley Butterfly stamp K-1116 and I adore you stamp LR-009 and Basic Grey DP -Marrakech. This time I decided to use a single image and to mix up the BG papers a bit. I'm not sure why but the glitter looks a little bit off on the picture. Can you believe that I didn't add ribbon to this card? Sometimes I amaze myself.

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe - Lg. Paisley Butterfly, I adore You

Paper: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey DP

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: Jumbo Eyelet, Dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Twisted Thursday Challenge

It’s time once again for Shirley’s 2 Girls Twisted Thursday!! We’ve got another fun sketch challenge for you to play along with, and the twist this week is to ADD PIERCING. The deadline for uploading is Sunday, March 29, 2009 at midnight PDT. For full details click HERE. This week I used the kite image (SG 160). The sentiment on the inside says "Imagination is the highest kite you can fly."

Here's this week's sketch:

The winner will be chosen using Random.org and the winner will get to choose a stamp from the Shirley’s 2 Girls product list. The winning card will also be showcased on Karolyn's blog as well as on the Shirley’s 2 Girls store blog.

Doesn’t that sound like fun? Need some inspiration? Well, check out the samples that the fabulous Ladies With Attitude have created to get your mojo moving.

Erin
Joy
Justine
Pat
Debbie
Karolyn

Spring Chick

Have you ever had a tough time finishing a card? That's what happened here. No matter what I tried I couldn't find the right embellishment. I used flowers a post or two ago so I wanted something different. Buttons didn't look so hot. So I did what I could to salvage it? I just cut off the bottom portion of the card so I didn't have to fill in the void. So I guess you know my little secret. When my cards begin to get smaller its an attempt to prevent them from going in the trash. On a positive note I just love that Sarah Kay image. Don't you?



Stamps: Sarah Kay
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, White, DCWV DP
Accessories: Copics, 5/8 inch Chocolate Ribbon, Dimensionals, Pearl Accents

Twisted Thursday and a Digital Freebie

This week's Shirleys 2 Girls "Twisted Thursday" challenge is to make a card using the sketch below. The twist to the sketch is to ADD HARDWARE. Wanna join in on all the fun? Create a project using this week's sketch and any type of metal hardware. You can find all the details further down in this post. Here's my challenge card using the Make-Up (SG 503) stamp and lots of bright colors.



Here's the sketch:




Challenge Details and digital freebie: If you have a S2G image we'd love to see it. If not feel free to use the little mouse image seen below. Upload your project to your favorite online gallery using the keywords S2GSC3 AND shirleys2girls. Then post a direct link to your creation on Karolyn's blog.

The digital freebie is no longer available but can now be purchased on the Shirleys 2 Girls website. Thanks for visiting my blog.


The winner will be chosen using Random.org. and will receive a Shirley's 2 Girls stamp of your choice AND your card will be showcased on Karolyn's blog AND in the Shirley's 2 Girls Gallery. The challenge runs from today (3/19/09) until midnight (PDT) on Sunday, 3/22/09. Feel free to spread the word and if you do please provide a link to my blog rather than sharing the image directly. After the contest ends the digital mouse image will be available to purchase on the Shirley's 2 Girls site.

Need some inspiration? Check out the fun creations of the rest of the Shirley's 2 Girls Design Team.

Erin
Joy
Justine
Kimmie
Leigh
Pat
Karolyn

Walk the Dog

Here's the scoop. I made a card with this image last week and I really didn't like how it turned out. I ended up posting it anyway and its been bugging me ever since. So what did I do, well to keep my sanity I made another one. I still think it needs a little something but couldn't find anything on hand. Anyway the image is from Squigglefly. They are a new digital stamp company and they have some cute images. If you haven't been there you may want to just take a quick look to see what they have to offer. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.



Stamps: Squigglefly - Walk the Dog
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue, White, DCWV DP
Accessories: Copics, Dimensionals, Flora Doodle Flowers, Metallic Pearl Accents, 5/8 inch Chocolate Ribbon, Memory Makers pins

April Calendar

Here's a little calendar I made for my office desk. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it so that it would stand on its own and then I thought why not turn it into a card and have it stand upright. It sounded like a good idea at the time but of course that was at midnight. I'm not sure if I'll make some changes or completely re-do the whole thing. I love to mix and match stamps so I used several different ones. The circle calendar is from The Cutting Cafe, the duck and dimensional butterfly is a C.C. Designs set from All that Scraps, the butterfly image stamped on the calendar itself is from The Rubber Cafe and the little boy is from here.



Stamps: The Cutting Cafe- Blank Calendar Set, C.C. Designs, The Rubber Cafe - Medium Swirl Butterfly, Precious Moments via Album Share
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, White
Accessories: Copics, Dimensionals, Spellbinders Scallop Circle Die, CB Embossing Folder, RibbonFx Black Ribbon

First Inky Impressions DT call

Have you ever been interested in joining a design team? If you have considered it and have a passion for stamping I encourage you to go for it. There are lots of opportunities out there. Although the deadline is fast approaching, Inky Impressions is having their first DT call. Its an incredible opportunity so hurry and mustle up your two favorite cards that require coloring and get going. The deadline is March 17, at 11:59 pm. Sorry for the late notice, I just stumbled upon it. Good Luck! Here are my two current faves:

Here's an oldie but goodie. I made this one in December 08. Love that bear:



Here's my favorite from this month. There's just something about that frog:

Walking the Dogs

I finally completed a challenge. This card was made for Splitcoaststampers SC219 Card Sketch. You can view the card below. That adorable image is from Squigglefly. Its called Walk the dog and yes its digital. I am very much enjoying the digital world these days but still haven't given up my rubbah.



Stamps: Squigglefly- Walk the dog
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, White, DCWV DP
Accessories: Copics, 5/8 inch Chocolate Ribbon, Misc. Metallic Flower, Dimensionals, Green Button, Silver Cord

Love Always

This month the Rubber Cafe DT was sent a wide variety of stamps, Basic Grey DP, ribbons and flowers embellishments. Since I was in a creative mood I stamped the image which is called Feathered Fan (I-194) on BG paper twice and put them together to make a flower. I cut out the flower petals by hand which I rarely do. Lets just say that I am not an artist. Far, far from it. I would have preferred to make the card square due to the size of the flower but this month we were asked to keep to a standard card size.



Stamps: The Rubber Cafe -Feathered Fan (I-194)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Basic Grey
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, CB Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, 5/8 inch Chocolate Ribbon, Pink Button, Copper Cord

Twisted Thursday

The Design Team for Shirley's 2 Girls is THRILLED to be hosting the very first Twisted Thursday challenge! S2G’s images are so cute, sassy and sooooo much fun to color and create with! For now, the Twisted Thursday challenges will be sketch challenges. This may change in the future, but doesn’t everyone just love a good sketch?!! So, for now that’s what it is. We call this TWISTED Thursday because it’s a sketch challenge, with a “twist.”

S2GSC2 Twist: ADD SCALLOPS


How easy is this sketch?!! Feel free to add additional elements or to flip or turn the sketch, just so long as the main elements are there and in an arrangement as close to this layout as possible. To participate, create a card using Shirley's 2 Girls images [or if you don't own any YET, feel free to use any manufacturer's stamps] and upload your creation to your favorite online galleries and/or your blog. If you upload your card to Splitcoast Stampers and/or Papercraft Planet, please use keywords S2GSC2 and shirleys2girls. Then leave a comment here on Karolyn's blog with a direct link to your creation. The challenge starts today (3-12-09) and ends on Sunday, 3-15-09 at 12:00 a.m. PDT. “Random.org” will choose a winner. The winner's creation will be showcased on Karolyn's blog and on the Shirley's 2 Girls store blog for all to see! AND you get to choose a stamp from the amazing line of Shirley's 2 Girls stamp line. How cool is that?!!



Here's my sample. Isn't that the cutest chicken you ever did see?!! This set is called "Expecting Joy (SG211)" and is a set of three stamps - the main image, chicken foot prints (not used on above card), and the sentiment.

Wanna see more inspiration? Then check out the other Shirley's 2 Girls DT blogs

Erin Joy Justine Kimmie Leigh Pat

Can't wait to see the wonderful creations that you all come up with! Also the 222 Challenge deadline is March 17, 2009. Here's the link to the challenge and the little purse template that the S2G came up with.

A little Whimsy

I am excited to announce that I have been chosen as a guest designer for Whimsy Stamps. I was lucky enough to get a handful of frog images from the Wish Rak group and just had to color one in. I decided to make the Lily pad water just to break up all the green going on. See that adorable paper? Its actually Girl Scout paper that I found at the LSS this weekend. I couldn't find the right embellishment so I picked up this little Daisy Bucket clear stamp and stamped on the same designer paper. Then I added a couple of stitches by hand and that was it. Isn't he just adorable??




Stamps: Whimsy Stamps - Whimsy Frog, Daisy Bucket - Layered Daisy
Paper: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, White, K & C Company
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Misc. Twine, Dimensionals, CB Embossing Folder

LWA- Twisted Thursday Card

The Ladies with Attitude DT will now be posting their weekly challenges on Thursdays -hence the Twisted Thursday title for my card. This fun little image is called Bird Heart and is now available for purchase as well as many other fun stamps. To view the new stamps just click here. And if you haven't heard of the monthly 222 challenge and the chance to win $22 in stamps (which is really quite a number of stamps on the S2G site) you can find the deets here. The contest begins on March 1oth and believe me it is worth checking out.

Stamps: Shirleys 2 Girls -Bird Heart

Paper: Groovy Guava, River Rock, Wild Wasabi, White, My Minds Eye DP

Accessories: Copics, White Gel Pen, 5/8 inch Chocolate Ribbon, Pearl Accents, Dimensionals, CB Embossing Folder -Stylized Flowers

Back to my Roots

It all began with a Stampin Up party. Although I use a lot of non SU images Stampin Up is still a big part of my stamping world. Its my primary source for ink and paper. I do have several new SU sets but tend to put them aside for no apparent reason other than lack of time. I tend to grab a pre-stamped image from the Wish Rak group or print out a digital images. Its not that I prefer one over the other it has somehow turned into my normal routine. I have been thinking of hosting a bi-weekly challenge for awhile now. Maybe it will help me create a balance between old and new, SU and non SU and stamped and digital. If I decide to give it a go you'll be sure to know.



Stamps: Stampin Up - Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, SU Afternoon Tea, Cream
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: 5/8 inch Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Pearls, Pearl Bridal Pin, Misc. Bead

GI Jon Riley

I made this card for SCS's Ways to Use it challenge WT207. The theme was frugal finds. Use something recycled or inexpensive. I used a lot of items that qualify. See those postage stamps? Well I've been saving them for who knows what. I think I purchased a bag of them on Ebay, not really sure, that covers the recycled part. I knew they'd come in handy some day. The Karen Foster DP was on clearance and was a whopping 30 cents. The airplane stamp was from a fellow Wish Raker and those dog tags I've had for ages. I'm not even sure where they came from. This was definitely a fun card to make.




Stamps: Hanna Stamps -GI Jon Riley, un-mounted airplane stamp -Unknown
Paper: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, White, Karen Foster DP
Ink: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics, Postage Stamps, Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Dog Tags, Square Brads