Best Wishes

This weekend at my LSS I purchased the lovely Avery Elle set Thanks a Bunch. I wanted to ink it up ASAP so I decided to participate in the TIME OUT Challenge 4 to CASE Virginia Lu and the Pink Elephant challenge to use pastels. I stamped the main flower image in some different Distress Ink colors to create a patterned paper strip and then stamped it again with some extras for the focal image. Check out the current Blitsy deals for a great price on Distress Ink.

Wherever You Go

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Mama Elephant has a photo inspiration challenge up. I wanted to play with some of the stamps that I got at the ME+KP in NYC event and my new Inktense Pencils. I started by heat embossing the bridge, cloud, and sentiment. I scribbled on a little color with the pencils and then blended it out with water. I pulled my color inspiration from the photo but I am not comfortable with the amount of white space so I let the bold colored panel dominate the card. The stamps I used will be available in a future release from Mama Elephant so I can't link them. Go check out their fun challenge for your shot at joining the Mama Elephant challenge team!

Welcome Baby Inky Paws 9

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The Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #9 is a fantastic color combination. I used the brand new Wild Child set because I knew the giraffes would work perfect into the yellow aspect of the color scheme. I used Distress Markers to color the giraffes and Distress Ink for the pink background. I cut out the image with a Spellbinders die and then layered it up with some simple papers to tie in all the colors of the challenge.I'm linking this up with Addicted to Stamps Make Your Mark, Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Not So Mellow Yellow, Pile It On Ink on Paper Stamping, and The Squirrel and the Fox Use a Die Cut.

Loads of Thanks Inky Paws 9

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The Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #9 is a fantastic color combination. I used the Wagon of Wishes set  because the color combo works great for flowers. I used a simple pan watercolor set that a friend was getting rid of when cleaning her apartment. I cut out the image with a Spellbinders die and then layered it up with some simple papers to tie in all the colors of the challenge. It's hard to tell from the picture but there is a bit of Glossy Accents and Wink of Stella to finish it off. I'm linking this up with Addicted to Stamps Make Your Mark, Open Minded Crafting Fun Sport and Activities (gardening), Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Big Stamp (IO background stamp for pink paper), The Pink Elephant Watercolor, and The Squirrel and the Fox Use a Die Cut.

Best Wishes AEIHeartU

The current Avery Elle AEIHeartU challenge is a color combo. I loved the colors but wasn't sure I had quite the right shades of ink. In the end though, I think it works. I recently treated myself to my first Avery Elle set Handwritten Notes. I love this set, but creating a card focal point with just a sentiment set is a little tricky for me. I stamped out the saying and embossed them with glitter white and black on regular white cardstock. Then I blended some Distress Inks to create the focal pattern. To tie in the rest of the color scheme I mounted it onto white and added some trim and sequins. Then I mounted it onto another simple background created with an Impression Obsession Cover a Card background stamp. If you love Avery Elle go check out this fabulous challenge!

Test Incentive Treat and a Freebie

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As you may know, my day job is teaching kindergarten and while I do not have to go through the incredibly stressful standardized test taking process with them, many of my colleagues do. So in my school this year the lower grades are adopting an upper school class and providing little treats for them to keep them motivated throughout the testing season. Even if you are not an educator, I'm sure you're own child could use a little boost before a weekly spelling test or during their own ordeal with standardized testing.

So I created this quick printable testing incentive to pair with the bag of Tootsie Rolls I got from my Easter basket, but wanted to avoid eating. After all what's the point of running three days a week if I'm going to eat a bunch of junk food. So anyway, feel free to save the printable at the end of the post and paste it in a word document to create the little package.

You will need the supplies pictured. A mini Tootsie roll, a small plastic bag, some white cardstock and some red cardstock.

Follow the measurements in the photo and fold the red piece in half.  Staple the folded red cardstock on the bag with the Toostie Roll inside. Then attach the trimmed out printable.

Or to keep it easier and cheaper simply leave a little extra space under the printable and tape the Tootsie Roll down. You could also use this with a Fruit Roll Up or a Fruit by the Foot.

Here is the printable for you to use. I would love for you to share it with any parent or teacher friends, but link back to my blog when possible.

Challenges and Link Ups

Digi Galore- Anything But a Card

Creative Knockout- Anything Goes

Teaching Blog Addict- Freebie Friday

Every Day is Like Sunday- Linky Party

Congrats

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This week Runway Inspired Challenge is teaming up with CAS(E) this Sketch. There is a picture and a sketch to used together. This was a serious challenge for me. I don't usually classify myself as clean and simple and that fashion look included a bold mix of color and pattern. I used two Impression Obsession background stamps making this perfect for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog Big Stamp challenge. I used my Inktense pencils to color the butterflies from Lawn Fawn Flutter By.

Speedy Recovery

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Lawnscaping Challenges has a mini card challenge. I needed a quick cute card for my aunt who had surgery this week. I started with the Lawn Fawn Stitched Journaling Card and added some Distress Inks for the sky. I cut some grass with the Grassy Borders die. I knew I wanted to use the cute turtle from On the Mend. and I finished it off with a sentiment and some clouds from Into the Woods matching dies. 

Other Challenges

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Keep it Clean and Simple

Addicted to Stamps Challenge Blog- Make Your Mark

Pile It On- No Designer Paper

The Squirrel and the Fox- Use a die-cut or punch

I'm Wild About You

I wanted to work with rainbows again and decided to stamp my own patterned paper panel with the heart strip from Sweetheart Tails by Newton's Nook Designs. I created my other layers with background stamps. After making the fun rainbow panel I knew I wanted a critter to be the focal point and after coloring the fox and the raccoon decided to stick with the cute raccoon from Sweetheart Tails. I colored him with my intense pencils and I tried to use more brown since actual raccoon have a lot of browns, but I think I like my color choices with Copics better.

Challenges

Pile It On- no patterned paper

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge- Animal Antics

ABC Challenge- J is for "Just As You Like It"/Anything Goes

Sister Act- Anything Goes on a Card

Craftitude- Anything Goes/Spring/Easter

Birthday Fish

Like many people I have been enjoying the watercolor trend. When my friend was cleaning up her apartment she passed on a simple watercolor set and I bought Inktense watercolor pencils recently so I'm ready to keep exploring this trend. I've also signed up for the Watercolor for Cardmakers class over at Online Card Classes. Anyway I painted a simple background panel of water by blending a light blue, an aqua, and a hint of black and added a bit of sand with some brown. I wanted to try another card for Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Animal Antics challenge and the Paper Smooches challenge is Anything Goes so I die cut some of the creatures from Paper Smooches Briny Blue stamp and die set. I colored them with Inktense pencils. Then I cut the party hats from Lawn Fawn Year Four stamp and die set. If you need a quick Easter activity to do with the kiddos today and have some Peeps from Easter baskets check out my Peeps craft complete with free printable.

Have a Peeptastic Day and a Freebie

I have a super fun idea for some Easter treats. There is only one more day until Easter, but they are super fast and are super cute. I saw the idea for striped peeps at Hoopla Palooza and decided to try it out. I have some tips based on my own experience. 

Plus I am offering a printable tag at the end for anyone who would like to quickly make their own similar tags.

First you need Peep bunnies in a few different colors. I chose to only do three colors to cut down on the hassle because they get super sticky once you cut them and so lots of little pieces can be frustrating.

I also suggest cutting from the back because the sugar gets a bit messed up when cutting, so cutting from the back saves the front. Also make sure you leave the whole head including face intact. After cutting each marshmallow into three parts mix them up and reassemble.

Then insert a small lollipop stick into the bottom. You could simply slip them into a cellophane treat bag, tie it, and be done. But since I'm a crafter I had to add a little more pizzazz.

I decided to create a tag so I punched out some circles from white cardstock and die cut some coordinating scalloped circles from purple using Sizzix Scalloped Circle dies.Then I took Milo's ABCs from Lawn Fawn to spell out the word Peeptastic. I wanted to reflect the colors of my Peeps so I took out the center three letters and placed them on another block. Then I applied some Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to the PEEP and some Seedless Preserves Distress Ink to the TIC. After stamping that I used Mustard Seed Distress Ink for the TAS and stamped it in the middle. I found the "have a" in Cozy Christmas and the "day" in Hats off to You both from Lawn Fawn.

 I added some quick stitching lines around the outside of the white, layered them up, and tied it together from some extra yarn and embroidery floss I had saved from packaging.

I'm linking this project to a few challenges to spread the idea around. The Crafter's Cafe Challenge blog is asking for something clean and simple. Mema's Crafts is hosting anything goes with a twist of Easter/spring. Open Minded Crafting Challenges is having an Easter/pastel colors challenge. The Pink Elephant is hosting an Easter theme. Addicted to Stamps also has Anything Goes. Feel free to save the image below to use for your own tags.

Party Time Fox

 

Today I was inspired by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Confetti Crush photo which you can find at the bottom of this post. I was thinking about how big round confetti might look falling from the air. I got out a party themed American Crafts paper pad and went to town cutting out circles. After putting them in an arrangement I liked, I knew the next step would be adding a focal point. I decided to go with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of Animal Antics. So I reached for my Newton's Nook Designs Sweetheart Tails set. I love this fox and haven't used it enough yet. I added some white details to the fox using the Picket Fence Distress Marker. When you draw it on you can't even see the ink but it dries white on colored paper and adds a quick easy touch to patterned paper critters. Speaking of the fabulous Newton's Nook Designs they have some new sets this week including Wild Child which I've included a picture of below. How adorable is that penguin mama and baby or those giraffes. I will be using the code I won in their latest challenge to add this cute set to my collection. I'm also linking this card to the Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes challenge.

 

Mama Elephant You Make My World Spin

Mama Elephant has a photo inspiration challenge up. I wanted to play with some of the stamps that I got at the ME+KP in NYC event. I love the fun fireworks. I added dabs of bingo markers in the middle. Bingo markers from the dollar store can be a good substitute for ore expensive craft daubers like the ones from Hero Arts. Check out more about the bingo daubers on this post. I pulled my color inspiration from the photo but am not comfortable with the amount of white space so I grounded it all with a stamped background panel. The stamps I used will be available in a future release from Mama Elephant so I can't link them. Go check out their fun challenge for your shot at joining the Mama Elephant challenge team!

Newton's Nook Honor

I was so excited that Newton's Nook chose this card as one of the winners in their latest Inky Paws Challenge. There were some adorable cards entered including great cards by Donna, Lysa, Kate and Kelly. I love Newton's Nook stamps and they have some great sneak peeks up for their upcoming release. I can't wait to shop their new release with my gift code!

Spring Treats

I wanted some simple treat holders to pass out to my friends from work. So to keep it simple I approached like a card and used these cute felt embellishments I got on clearance after Easter last year. I started with an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of card stock. I cut it to 4 1/4 by 11 inches then scored it at 5 inches and 10 inches. This gave me a 5 by 4 1/4 inch area to embellish and a 1 inch flap to tape under. In the bottom photo you can see the little packet of candy I tucked inside.

I die cut a circle and a scalloped circle to mount the cute bunny on. This makes this project for the Cut It Up challenge to use die cutting with an Easter theme. Also because this has an Easter theme and a sweet treat inside it is perfect for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. Check out these great challenges if you're still working on your Easter projects!

 

I'm also linking up this idea with Catch a Glimpse Thursday. Maybe it will help you with a last minute Easter treat!

Wish Big

I'm here to share a card for the latest Lawnscaping Challenge. This time they are asking us to use a new technique. Well just a few days ago I got my new Derwent Inktense Pencils in the mail and couldn't wait to try them out. So my new technique is to color with Inktense Pencils. I love how bright and vibrant the colors are. I used the Lawn Fawn Critters From the Past stamps and dies, Critters Ever After stamps and die, Grassy Border die, and Say Cheese Die. The papers are from Lawn Fawn Into the Woods. I'm also linking this up with Seize the Birthday for their anything birthday theme. The topping this week is White on White but I was too excited to use my Inktense pencils for a theme like that.  Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge is for winged things. I've featured that fabulous flying dino so I'm linking up with them as well.

Rawr

I'm here to share a card for the latest Lawnscaping Challenge. This time they are asking us to use a new technique. Well just a few days ago I got my new Derwent Inktense Pencils in the mail and couldn't wait to try them out. So my new technique is to color with Inktense Pencils. I love how bright and vibrant the colors are. I used the Lawn Fawn Critters From the Past stamps and dies, Grassy Border die, and Stitched Journaling Card Die. The papers are from Lawn Fawn Hello Sunshine.

Instagram Mini Album

A few weeks ago I took Kelly Purkey's Insta Moments class as part of ME + KP in NYC. During the class I didn't actually make the album though because I'm no good at scrapbooking without pictures so I simply made the pages and cover and tucked it away for a later date. The class included a kit full of Mon Ami papers and stickers. Right now you can get a great deal on that collection at Blitsy. This week I sat down with the supplies from class and a package of Basically Bare arrows. I went with the Basically Bare pack because I like to make mini albums quick, easy and cohesive.

I decided I would use a few basic techniques to alter the arrows and make sure that each technique appeared more than once for a cohesive look. I used the Basic Grey Tape Strips from the class to cover two of the arrows. You can see that I easily trimmed and tucked the edges in the photo below. I think covering the chipboard in washi would be even easier.

I decided I would also quickly alter the bare chipboard pieces with Distress Stain. I like using the Distress Stain because it is faster than paint but still vibrant. It's also super easy to stamp over. I used the Mama Elephant set I got in the workshop as well. Like many of you I get a bit nervous stamping on my only piece of a product and as you can see my stamping wasn't perfect. Never fear though, just use a thin pen to add in the line. You would never know in the final product. 

I used the same technique and a different Mama Elephant set on this yellow arrow. I love how vibrant the Basically Bare chipboard was when stained. It has a smooth and  more evenly colored surface than a lot of bargain chipboard. It's also firm enough to result in a crisp stamped image.

I also covered some of the black pieces with patterned paper from the collection. The black didn't really work in my color scheme but covering chipboard in patterned paper is a super easy way to make custom embellishments that add dimension to a project.

This album chronicles my journey into running for the first time so I'm entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week. The theme is journey.

Mini albums are a great way to tell a longer story and can be super quick if you limit your supplies like I did here. I hope this quick and easy album inspires you to pull out a small grouping of supplies and make fast work of an important story. Remember if you're in the market for some fabulous Mon Ami papers Blitsy has a great sale on them if you catch it in time.