Time for a New Perfect Pair - Mayberry!

It's time for a new Perfect Pair during this month's special!  When you place your online order of $75 or more today through July 25th, you will receive a Mayberry paper packet and the matching stickease!

Here is some Mayberry inspiration for you!  (By the way, whenever I think of this paper, I can't help but sing "Mayberry" by Rascal Flatts - LOL!)

Sassy Lil Sketches Reveal

I love the sketch Cherie has for us at Sassy Lil Sketches this week!  Of course, I always do, but this one was not only fun but stretched me a little.

Here is what I came up with for you:

I have been wanting to play with the doily from the Art Philosophy cartridge, and this sketch gave me the perfect chance.  I used Mayberry paper and once it was cut, I inked the  edges just a little.  Other Cricut cuts that I made are the cupcake, cupcake wrapper, and banner.  Once I cut the banner, I adhered it to the perfect sized dimensional element (chipboard) banner.  The sentiment is also in the Art Philosophy collection.  That collection is amazing!  With a cricut cartidge, 3 stamp sets, and 3 sheets of dimensional elements, it can keep you crafting a long time!  If you click on the photo and look more closely, you see that I painted the frosting with create-a-shade pearl paint.  Fun!!

I hope you'll play along with Sassy Lil Sketches this month!  Our generous sponsor this month is Authentique Paper.  Cards are released every Thursday during the month, but you have all month to play.  You just have to have your cards linked up by October 5th.  Now, stop on over at Sassy Lil Sketches to see the other design team examples!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge

This week at Heart 2 Heart, we are challenging you to create a child's birthday card.  My niece's golden 8th birthday is coming up, so I wanted to create something special to tie on her gift bag.

I created the card base, flowers, cupcake, and number using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  Did you know you can order yours today?  Oh, with 700 images, it is just so awesome!  If you are a Cricut user, I guarantee this is a must have.  The bundle consists of the Cricut cartridge, 3 matching stamp sets, and 3 sheets of matching dimensional elements.  So you can die cut an image and stamp over it perfectly with our beautiful clear stamps.  What a great idea, huh?!

Ok, back to the challenge - I could talk to you about this cartridge all day long!  LOL!!  At Heart 2 Heart you need to use CTMH product when you play.  Challenges are given on Monday, and you have all month long to submit them.  Our sponsor ths month is Melinda Everett with a great prize package.  Check out the post at Heart 2 Heart - there is B-E-A-utiful inspiration for you!

Pearfect Love

This week at Lasting Memories, we are challenging you to use a bold title.  You know, something that stands out and speaks volumes about your pictures.  Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the desing team has come up with for you. 

I took this picture of my nephew and his girlfriend a couple of weeks ago, and I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to scrap it.  They are a cute couple and seem to be made perfectly for each other.  I love this picture!

The sketch is from Cherie at Sassy Lil Sketches.  I'll also be entering this into the Sketches in Thyme open challenge and the Shopping Our Stash which is using a technique and your stash.  For my technique, I pulled out that circle chipboard that's been on my shelf for a couple of years.  I covered it with paper and inked the edges.

CTMH items used: Mayberry WOTG; Mayberry Stickease; paper flower; New England Ivy ribbon

Marvelous Minis Card Workshop!

Marvelous Minis Workshop:
First Date: Monday, August 1st at 6:30 pm
Second Date: Wednesday, August 3rd at 10:00 am
Cost: $12.00
Sign-Up Deadline: Saturday, July 30th

You have the choice of whichever class works for you. I want this to be fun and easy so that you come, relax, and have some laughs!

In this class, you will make 8 mini cards that are loaded with technique. Flowers from stamps and banners are just a couple of the fun ideas you'll learn!

Workshop kit includes:

• Pre-cut materials for 8 cards
• 8 card bases and envelopes
• 7 feet of ribbon
• Loads of gems
• 25 kraft borders (You will only be using a few, so you will have LOTS leftover!)
• Glitz Glitter Gel (You will be putting this wonderful sparkle on some of your flowers, and then you will bring the bottle home!)
• Written instructions so that you can re-create these cards again!
• BONUS - FREE new Idea Book when you attend the class!

 Tools needed for the class:

• Micro-Tip Scissors
• Foam Dots or Foam Tape
• Tape Runner
• Glue Dots
• Craft Knife (or some other tool for placing gems)
• Bone Folder (optional)

You can sign up by e-mailing me at girlygirlrose43@msn.com or calling me at (763) 227-0583. Hope to see you there!
By the way, don't be afraid to sign up if you are long distance.  I will send you the instructions and your stamping will be done for you.  Easy peasy - and you'll have 8 fabulous minis and learn some new techniques!

Marvelous Mini Card Class

Card Class $12.00

Picnic Card

I found a sketch over at OWH Stars and Stamps that I wanted to use.  I paired it with the challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon which is a picnic-themed card using ribbon. 

I love making those little strawberries!  It is one tiny little stamp, and I stamped it in two colors - olive and smoothie.  When I put them on the circle, I used a few little pop dots so they become a little focal point.  The strawberry is from the from the Summer Days stamp set.  Such a fun little set!  Other items used are Mayberry Level 2 and stickease, i-Rock gems, and Really Reasonable Ribbon baker's twine.

This worked out great because it is also another example for my picnic-themed challenge at Sassy Lil Sketches.  I love to see you join in on that challenge during the month of July to win a RAK from me!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge

I am so excited to be bringing you my first reveal as a Heart 2 Heart design team member!  I am always so inspired by the artwork I find on this challenge blog, and I have to tell you that I am very excited to get to know these gals better!  You can find all of their blogs under the Heart 2 Heart badge on my right sidebar.  I think you will have a great time visiting them!

Now on to the challenge.  This week we are challenging you to create using this inspiration photo:

I was really attracted to the pinks and greens, so this is the example I came up with for you:

I made the card base using Pear cardstock (such a lovely color!) and then used a nestabilites to cut a hole in the card and create the frame around the hole.  I dry embossed the front with a leaves Cuttlebug folder.  I sanded it off a bit to bring out just a little white core.  The three flowers are handmade. I drew the two larger flowers and the center of the flower is rolled.  I added a little glitz gel to make them sparkle.  I put a lined journaling tag on the inside and stamped it with this lovely sentiment.  Easy then to finish it off with pearls and ribbon.

Our guest designer this month is Tracy Oleksak, and you will love what she has prepared for this challenge.  You've got all month to upload your project, and we have two fabulous sponsors for the monthly prize - Sandra Van Woerden and Tonya Whitehurst.  I hope you can play along!

The Studio Challenge - Invitation

The card challenge starting this Sunday at The Studio is to make an invitation.  I had fun with this one and pulled out the cutest CTMH stamp set - Summer Days.  Perfect for picnics and grilling!

If you click on the picture to make it larger, you will see that the grill, spatulas, strawberries and watermelon have been fancy cut and paper pieced.  Those strawberries are so stinkin' cute!!

Items used:  Mayberry Level 2 (X7136B); Summer Days stamp set (B1375); Friendship Alpha stamp (C1401); Colonial White Crocheted Ribbon (Z1126); Cocoa (Z2114), Smoothie (Z2196), and Olive (Z213) Inks  All of these items can be found on my website.

I posted this a little early because we are heading out to go watch my nephews play baseball.  These two boys are some serious ball players, and were are so going to enjoy watching and snapping pictures!  (I feel some Studio J layouts coming on.)  It's also my sister Patti's birthday, so I am happy I'll be seeing her. Check in tomorrow to see some pictures and to see the gift I made my sister!

3x3 Cards

One of my favorite things to make for a gift is cards.  I especially like putting little 3x3's together as a gift.  So often we need just a little something to top a gift, and these work perfectly!  Just click on the photo if you's like to see them in a little more detail.

I used CTMH Mayberry for these cards, and I combined a lot of different stamps.  I am not much of a "pink" girl at all, but this particular color - Smoothie - is so warm and wonderful.  I have to tell you that for these cards I used 1-1/2 sheets of colonial white carstock, 1/2 sheet of olive cardstock,  and 1/4 sheet of each pattern.  They use so little paper and pack quite a punch!  When I was all done, I used a little Glitz Glitter Gel to ask a little touch of sparkle to the flowers.  I looked over some challenges to see if I could enter them somewhere, but so many challenges use digital images now.  Perhaps you've noticed that I have not been doing as many challenges lately, and I guess that's why.  For cards, I still like plain old stamping.  There are lots of people out there that love digital images though, so it's good we've got things in the crafting world to meet everyone's needs! 

I'll put my supply list at the bottom of this post, but I have to tell you about about these books I've been reviewing.  You'll be seeing another review soon for A Reluctant Queen, a fictional story about Esther.  I get these books free of charge either in hard copies or for my Kindle from a place called Book Sneeze that I found throught my friend Amy.  All I need to do is post a review.  I think this is wonderful because I am picking up books that I may not have read otherwise.  So check them out if you like to read and are willing to review!

Supply List:  Mayberry Level 2; Twill Ribbon (20 yds for $3.00 right now - WOW!); Pearl Opaque Gems; Clear Sparkles; Bitty Sparkles; Kraft Color-Ready Borders
Stamp Sets: You & Me; A Tulip; Sophia; Bless This Nest; Card Chatter; Spring Up

Pearfect

I have gotten so much use out of these fruity stamp set from the Mayberry Workshop on the Go kit:

The apple, pear, flower, and sentiments are just so much fun!  I have been trying to simplify my cards, so this is what I came up with using the pear:

I stamped the pears in honey ink and then sponged one side with a little olive. This would be a simple card to duplicate as a set of gift cards.  I truly love the addition of the twine.  It's just such a delicate touch. 

I hope you are starting a happy and blessed weekend!

One of a Kind Friend

I had this stamped image sitting on my desk, and I put it to use for a challenge at Crafty Creations challenges.  They are looking for flowers, patterned paper, and ribbon this week.

This May Stamp of the Month is just so much fun!  I've been using a lot of Mayberry paper lately, and I love it!  Smoothie (the pink) leans more toward the warm side, and any warm colors instantly attract me.  The flowers were fussy cut from a sheet of patterned paper, and the ribbon is colonial white grosgrain.  This is a pretty simple card that I put together in less than 20 minutes.  However, I did have a jump on things by having the image stamped.  Do you stamp extra images?  If I have scraps leftover that I think I may not use for anything else, I stamp extra images of whatever I am creating.  I store them right in the stamp packaging so that I don't waste space or lose them.  That is one reason I love the way CTMH stamps are packaged.

I hope you are having a good day!

Life is Beautiful

Whenever I get a picture of all my sisters together, I am just thrilled!  This picture was taken at my sister Patti's 25th anniversary party last September.  From left to right in the picture are Patti, Julie, Shelley, my mother Joann, Linda, and myself.  This is a simple layout, but oh, so pretty!

CTMH items used that can be found on my website:  Mayberry Level 2; Mayberry Stickease; Dimensional Elements Borders; Dimensional Elements Framed Fun; Vellum Paper; 3-D Foam Tape

Other items: Imaginisce i-Rock and Hot Rocks