Mark's Finest Papers Challenge-Anything But Ribbon

Greetings and welcome to another Mark's Finest Papers Challenge. This week's challenge is to use anything but ribbon on your card. If you would like to join us please go here. This week I used the Little Birds with Big Mouths Image that was released this month.

I decided to go with raffia. I have tons of raffia left from my handmade doll making days! I love the way it looks with this paper and image. I kept this card pretty simple. I used the Bird and Branch Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page and one of the doily motifs from Spellbinders. My paper is K & Company Tim Coffey and the piece behind the image is from the accessory pack that you could buy that matched the paper. In real life it has a pretty coppery shine that the camera did not pick up.

My friend Marie (Momof5sons) at SCS put out a call for cards for a Soldier who is a young Dad that lost his leg in the war. I will be sending this one to him as there is a goal to reach 500 cards.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your visit and hope you have a fun craft filled weekend.

Mark's Finest Papers Challenge-3 Hearts

Welcome to my blog and this weeks entry for the Mark's Finest Papers Challenge. Our challenge was to use at least 3 hearts on our card. I have used the Sentiment and Butterfly from the Lilacs in the Summer stamp set found here. My papers are from the Mark's Finest Papers Neutrals Premium Pack you can find here. All I can say is WOW on these papers. I have never worked with 80lb paper before and I love it!!!Not only did I use it for this card and envelope combination, but I made a box for my Birdhouse card from the blog hop. I just love how it came up. I am so hooked on these papers. Once you try the 80lb. you won't want to use anything else!So let me tell you a little about my card. I used the 3 larges dies in the heart nestabilities from Spellbinders. These roses are my first attempt with the Spellbinder Rose creation dies. I used diamond dust glitter on them. I crimped my leaves and embellished with the Martha Stewart frond punch.
I was having so much fun making flowers I just kept making them and loaded up my envelope with them. The paper was just so much fun to play with. I even stamped the butterfly on the paper and tried to coordinated the copic marker colors to make this monochromatic. My son said this card look very old fashioned like a the old tin type photographs. Hope you can join us this week in the challenge. I look forward to seeing your card.

Challenges Entered
Crafty Ann's - Embossing or Debossing
Crafty Catz - No Pink or Blue
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations - Glitter of Bling
Stamp Something - Something Embellished
Repeat Impressions DCC720 Designer’s Choice Challenge-Glitter
Paper Pretties - Embossing
jac-inks papercraft Challenges - Monotone

Fred She Said Blog Hop-Sunflowers & Thankfulness

Greetings and welcome to the Fred She Said Blog Hop. Today our theme is called "Favorites". One of my favorite images to card craft with is are Sunflowers. So I chose the Sunflowers and Thankfulness Digi Set found here. If you came by way of Debbie then you are on the right tract.

Fred She Said Favorites HOP - HOW TO ENTER

To ENTER, please leave a comment on each BLOG HOP POST. There will be ONE winner. A random hop post will be chosen and then a comment on that post will be chosen randomly to win. BLOG HOP closes Friday, JULY 29 midnight EDT so please leave your comments by then ;) Commenting on ALL the hop stops is not necessary to WIN... BUT it definitely increases your chances of winning ;) and spreads some LOVE! Please make sure you leave your name in your comment! NOTE: some DT's moderate their comments for evil spam so please be patient if you don't see your comment right away.

THE PRIZE:
£15 Gift Voucher to Bearly Mine Designs
$15 Prize Package of yummy goodies chosen by Judy from Pizzazz APlenty
$30 Gift Certificate to the Fred She Said Store

The WINNER will be announced Saturday morning July 30th on the Fred She Said Blog AND the FSS Challenge Blog.

Here is a close up of the sunflower centers. If any of you have watched my recent video about making your own glimmer mist found here, you know I have been having fun with micro beads. I am so addicted to these things. I will do a video soon on them. They are so cool!!!

Your next stop is Darcie. If you get lost along the way please refer back to the Fred She Said Blog for the blog hop participants.

Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck in the drawing.

Napkin Fold Card

Welcome to my blog and a tutorial for this napkin fold card. I first did this card back in February here. I found the original directions for it here at StampArtic. It is a super beautiful fold and unusual card that would delight anyone who received it.

This is what the inside of your beautiful card will look like. Lots of possibilities to either leave it plain or decorate it to the hilt! So have fun making and sending your Napkin Fold Card! Here is a video to help you with the folding.

Challenges Entered
Anything Goes Challenge - More than one fold
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes (Use Halloween Rhinestones from Stash)
Deep Ocean Challenge - Ribbons
Sparkles Forum Challenge - Elegance & Lace
Craft You Days Away - Fancy Fold

Mark's Finest Papers Challenge-Pink, Yellow, Green

Welcome to my blog and this weeks challenge at Mark's Finest Papers. The challenge is to use the colors yellow, pink, and green. I hope you enjoyed the blog hop and all the new releases. This image is another from Planted with Love.

Here's a little tut about making this card.

1) Cut 3 circles of your base color (black show here) at 4-1/2 inches-For this card I used a Martha Stewart Circle Cutter-but use whatever you have on hand.
2) Fold a 11 x 5 inch piece of main color in half. make sure whatever you are using to cut another 4-1/2" circle is on the fold so that you can leave about an 1-1/2 uncut at the top to create your easel.
3) For your designer paper cut 3 circles at 4-1/4".
4) Cut 3 accent colors at 3-1/2" (black seen here).
5) Cut 3 Die cuts of your choice (Spellbinders Lattice Pendant here)
6) Assemble like a regular easel card with the third circle attached with a brad so that it will slide under the middle circle.
7) Decorate as you wish and enjoy!

Challenges Entered
Crafts 4 Eternity - Embellishment Recipe (3 roses, 2 butterflies, 1 image)
Patties Creations - Glitter or Bling
Stampin' for the Weekend - Wings and Things

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop-Adirondack Summer

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Adirondack Summer? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Adirondack Summer. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Emily, Nancyruth, Neva, Silvia, Faith, Claudine, Dawn. Marilynn. Patricia, Chrissy, Karen, Pam,
Joanne, Kittie, Mark’s Finest Papers

This is my card with the envelope I made. I want to make it look like lattice work in the garden with flowers trailing up the trellis. I used the Martha Stewart deep edge lattice punch on two sides to achieve this effect. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing.

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop-Lilacs in Summer

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Lilacs in the Summer? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Lilacs in the Summer. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post. Emily, Nancyruth, Neva , Silvia , Faith, Claudine, Dawn
Marilynn , Patricia , Chrissy , Karen, Pam, Joanne, Kittie , Mark’s Finest Papers

This image is done in a vintage theme. It reminds me of my Grandmother's Lilac's. We had purple, pink, and white ones in profusion. We would cut them almost every day and place them in vases all over the house. They smelled wonderful. Thank you for visiting today and good luck in the drawing.

Challenges Entered
C.R.A.F.T. - Butterflies
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Make Your Own Flowers
Paper Play - Things with Wing

Mark's Finest Papers-Planted With Love

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Planted With Love? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Planted With Love. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Lois, Vicky, Dawn, Anne, Peggysue, Connie, Emily, Karen, Patty. Roxie, Vicki, Liz, Geri, Lynn, Mark’s Finest Papers

Today's card was made with the use of several spellbinders dies, This is a picture of the card and envelope together. I used micro beads on the image and the picture below shows it to you up close. I think they are so cool. Thank you for stopping by and good luck in the drawing.

Challenges Entered
Crafts and Me - Summertime
Simon Says Stamps - Anything Goes

Teapot Tuesday Challenge-Lara the Ladybug

FOR THE MARK'S FINEST PAPERS BLOG HOP: CLICK HERE

Welcome to my Teapot Tuesday Challenge Card. I know, I know, we were to bring the some birds and some bees and at least three daisies but no trees. Well what garden wouldn't be complete without a Ladybug.
Ladybugs are good luck. In fact the folk lore in France about lady bugs is if one lands on your hand, when it flies away it will take your illness. So with these two things in mind, I am sending my card to the destination station in Canada to a retired lady who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She loves birds and is surrounded by a beautiful back yard filled with trees, birds, flowers and critter-----so see she needs a ladybug!

About my card. This image is from Digital Delights. I am their Guest Designer today. I won a challenge for one of my cards last week and was asked to be their guest. I use Lara-she is fancy cut and layer three times. I placed crystal effects on her. I made the daisies and used yellow flock for the center and attached little lady bugs on three of the flowers.

You can see them better in this picture. I also repurposed and altered a Bumble Bee Sensational Tuna container to place some candy in.

This is an easel card

This is the sentiment I wrote on the inside. Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate it and your wonderful comments.

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop-Little Birds With Big Mouths

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Little Birds With Big Mouths? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Little Birds With Big Mouths. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Lois, Vicky, Dawn, Anne, Peggysue, Connie, Emily, Karen, Patty, Roxie, Vicki, Liz, Geri, Lynn, Mark’s Finest Papers

Challenges Entered
Kaboodle Doodles - Use those Scissors(I fussy cut a layer of my image)
Creative Stamp Friends - Summer
DDH - Summer
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Pollycraft - The Great Outdoors
Stamps R Us Challenge - Through the Garden Gate
The Shabby Tea Room - Flower Power (photo inspiration)

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge-Die Cuts In the Background

Guess what time it is? Yes, it's Saturday and time for Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge. Our hostess with the mostess Patty challenges us to use die cuts in the background this week. I have used Mark's Finest Papers "Sand Surf Relax" images this week. It's summer time and what an awesome set this is!So let me tell you a little about my card. Be sure to watch my video where I show you how to make your own Glimmer Mist for a fraction of the price! My husband was cleaning out the garage this past weekend. While I was walking by I saw this piece of cheese cloth that he was going to throw away. I rescued it from the trash bin and brought it to my craft room. Sassyscraper (Bonnie) had used some cheesecloth one time on a card and I love it. I'll tell ya girls, this piece is pretty old..... probably 17 years old because I remember why I bought it!!! lol But I love it that way. See what I did with it on this card?! It looks pretty cool and goes with this beach scene!!! I have enough to last me a while-I think I should buy more to put back in the garage to "age" naturally.... Oh my gosh my husband will have a fit!! lol

Here's the video. It cost $1.47 for the paint and you can make at least 4 bottles of glimmer mist with it. WOW!!!!

Challenges Entered
Card Makin Mamas - Summertime
Floweret Stamper - Vacation
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Get Punchy & include an Animal
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Mami Doodles - At the Beach
Totally Paper Crafts - The Beach
Crafty Purple Frog - Summer
Dutch Dare - Summer Fun
Stampin' B's - Beach Scene-must include Sand (real or imagined)
Creative Belli - Make your own Embellies
Divas by Design - Die Cuts and Punches
The Pixie Cottage - Wet and Wild
Going Grey:Scrap Creations - Summer
The Stamping Boutique - Summer Scene
The Crazy Challenge - One the Beach
House of Gilli - Lots of Sparkle
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Let's Hit the Beach
Squigglefly - In the Good Ole Summertime
There She Goes - Glitter, Glitz and Bling

Digi of the Week-Fred She Said-Emma In Strawberry Patch

Be sure to check out the "Digi of the Week" over at the Fred She Said Store. This week was my week to pick the digital image set that will be on sale. I picked Emma In Strawberry Patch. This has been a project that I have thought about for a year and I finally decided to go for it!

So to start with the cover. The charm was made with a Tim Holtz Fragment that I mounted a picture of Emma onto. The Fragment was then mounted on a swivel hook and attached to the ring on this round chipboard album. The green glitter die cut is a Sizzx Flourishes. The "Strawberries" title was cut with Swirls and Curls die set from cuttlebug.

The next page has a pocket that includes a tag, a recipe for Strawberry Chiffon Pie and two recipes cards I made using the Emma with Strawberries image. (A first for me-and way out of my comfort zone. Necessity breeds innovation!) The yellow tag opens to a recipe for Strawberry cake with Cream Cheese frosting. These two pages are for photos and journeling. The Strawberry blossoms were made with the new Spellbinders Rose Creations Shapabilities and the centers are a tiny sunburst punch. All strawberries are covered with crystal effects. All edges of the album have been distress inked with Rangers Worn Lipstick and Diamond stickles was applied over that.

In the first pocket of this section is a recipe for strawberry jam and another recipe in the little card that opens with Emma on the front for Strawberry Muffins. There are also two recipe cards tucked in the back. The bottom pocket has a frame, tag, and recipe for Strawberry Ice Cream.

The top pocket is a velum envelope that I made to hold tags that you can tie onto your jars of strawberry jam. There are six. My recipe makes six jars. The last page holds another Emma tag and an awesome recipe for Summer Salad with Strawberries.

Did I tell you that I love strawberries. I have included all my favorite recipes in this with places to add more Strawberry recipes as I find and try them. Please be sure to watch my video to see the recipe cards and tags up closer and the interactive portions of this fun album. I hope you have gained some inspiration to make a chipboard album. I have been inspired by so many talented ladies that I finally made one. Be sure to stay tuned for my next one. I have been gathering my supplies for it.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Let me know if you have any questions, and I will try to help!

Challenges Entered
Dream Valley - Ribbon
One Stitch At A Time - Use a Digi
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft - Tag Your It
Secret Crafter - Here Comes Summer
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Summer/Picnic Theme
Crafty Catz Weekly - Colors of Summer
Delicious Doodles - Flourishes and Bling
Stamp Something - Use a Digi
Stampin' for the Weekend - My Favorite Things (Strawberries, Die Cuts, Punches, & Glitter)
Wags 'n Whiskers - Summertime
Art Impressions - Distressing
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Food or Drink Themed
C.R.A.F.T. - Gardening
Charisma Cards - Ice Cream Colors (Strawberry, of course!)

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge-Patriotic

Happy 4th of July and welcome to another edition of Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge. Today we are challenging you to make a Patriotic Card. Here is mine using Mark's Finest Papers Stamp called American Made. Isn't this the an All American image. It was so much fun to color with my copic markers.

The banner behind the image was made with ribbon and paper that was punched with a border punch. Becca Freeken at Amazing Paper Grace has a tutorial on how to do this beautiful design feature for your card. The roses are made by me and I am attaching the video to make these roses at the end of this post. I make these in my spare moments and keep them in containers for when I need them. I use distress ink and stickles to color them. I just love them!Here is the inside of my card. This stamp set is so much fun as it has so many different sentiment to choose from plus the American Flag stamp I used to make my own Designer Paper.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe 4th of July weekend!

Challenges Entered

Card Makin Mamas - Red, White, and Blue
Clearly Inspired - Punches, Die Cuts, and Cut Outs
Fairy Knoll - Red, White, and Blue
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Let's Get Punchy must include a Critter
Guylou's Inimitability - Stars and Stripes
Pattie's Creations - Use your Flags Colors
Craft Us Crazy - Red, White, and Blue or Summer
Delightful Challenges - Red, White, and Blue
Pixie Dust Studio - Be Proud (Red White & Blue with the Option of Stars)
Rainbow Lady - Patriotic-Red, White, and Blue
The Rubber Cafe - Red, White, and Blue
Stamp Insanity - Stars and Stripes
Amber's Crafts - Red, White, and Blue
Cooking It Up With Katie - Colors of your Flag
Crafting for All Seasons - Red, White, and Blue
Little Red Wagon - Patriotic
Penny's Paper - Red, White, and Blue
Celebrate the Occasion - Red, White, and Blue
Throw Down Tuesday - Red, White, and Blue
Use It Tuesday - Red, White, and Blue
Die Cut Dreams - Red, White, and Blue
Stamping Scrapping Challenge - Red, White, and Blue
Sugar Creek Hollow - Patriotic