a special spa day

**this is my 2nd post today, to see the newton's nook designs inky paws challenge card, scroll down, or click here**

hello again - it's a busy friday, but it's a good one! :)

today i'm also on the create a smile stamps blog - sharing a super sweet, and (hopefully!) relaxing card! :) ha ha!

i really love how it turned out! :)

i colored the images with copics and popped up the banner and bathtub scene with foam tape!
doesn't that puppy look happy? ha ha! the puppy is from your view, the sentiment is from jungle fever and the bathtub and bubbles are from comfy!

the background was created with a stencil and some trancluscent embossing paste! it really emphasizes the bubbles, i thought! :)

so that's it! 
check out my post on the create a smile stamps blog, too! 
enjoy!

inky paws challenge - sketch!

hello!!
it's friday! yahoo!!

today is a BRAND NEW inky paws challenge over on the newton nook blog! and this month, it's a sketch! love it!

there is SO much you can do with this sketch!

i decided to make a birthday card! 

i colored the boat and presents with copics and heat embossed the sentiment in white! it's a combination of sentiments from sea-son's greetings and simply sentimental! so fun!

the background was created with distress inks and then dropping some water on! oh yeah - love that look!!

i used some nautical (ish!) type ribbon together and a sweet little wood button from this dear lizzy collection! 

i hope you play along, too!
you could win your very own newton's nook stamps! holla!
enjoy!

happy BOO-thday!

good morning!

today i'm on the newton's nook blog, and i'm sharing a SUPER fun birthday card!
(there just might ALSO be a giveaway and DISCOUNT code over there too...you may want to check it out!!)

my card is for one of my favorite friends' son! he LOVES ghosts, and even had a ghost birthday party one year! so i thought it would be hilarious and so perfect for him to receive a ghost birthday card! :)

i used the adorable image of winston as a ghost from boo crew (i seriously LOVE that set), the perfect balloons from winston's birthday, and part of the sentiment is from the newly released simply sentimental! :)

i colored all of the images with disterss inks and watercolored them a bit.
then popped them up for some dimension! :)

i had to add some splatters and i just LOVE that fun, unique sentiment perfect for the birthday boy! :)

so that's it!
don't forget - check out all of the happenings on the newton's nook blog today for your chance to win! :)
enjoy!

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - shaken not stirred

hey there!

i'm just popping in with a quick post today!

i was challenged by Laurel, as part of the Lawnscaping DT to take part in the ALS Bucket Challenge!

of course, i accepted the challenge, but with a twist! or should i say...shaken, not stirred! lol!

that's right!

i did NOT dump a bucket of ice water on my head (though it would have been cool and refreshing and lovely in this 115 degree summer heat!), i know, perhaps i cheated a bit, but i honestly thought it would be so unexpected it would be hilarious! either way, i donated, so win-win, right!

i thought it would be cute and funny, and most of all, cheeky, to make a card, since i love this crazy cardmaking world! :) ha ha!

here are some pictures of my card:

so fun, right? 

i used lawn fawn's life is good stamp set and colored the images with copics! the crab is inside the shaker part too, he he! he's getting wet after all! 

i popped up some of the shells, but covered them all with wink of stella and glossy accents! 

the shaker part of the card is filled with sequins and look: white and blue (for ice and water! lol!). i crack myself up!

so that's my card (and my challenge!)

have you participated in the ice bucket challenge yet? 

sending a little sunshine

i'm super excited to share this card today!
i just love it!

it's my day to be on the Create a Smile Stamps blog! so exciting!

I had a blast creating this fun bold graphic card!! I love the look of white embossing paste on white card stock with the bright pink curtain and graphic black-and-white strip on the side.

Most of the images were colored with copic markers but the sky background was paper pieced! (I just love that aqua-mint color!) 
Check out the create a smile stamps blog to see the full details on how I created this card! 

And don't forget to use your own create a smile stamps or did you use and upload them to the Flickr account!  Then we can all see your wonderful creations!!
Enjoy! 

Newton's Nook Designs August Release - Simply Sentimental

alright, here we are! 
day 2 of newton's nook's release in august!
and the set we're featuring today is going to be the PERFECT staple in your stamp collection!
both of the new sets will be available for purchase on August 20th, here! 

i am SO excited to have a newton's nook stamp set with a hundred (or so!) different sentiments i can create myself! tihs set can be used on any card, tag, layout, anything!

here's my first card...fun!

i tried to keep it a little simple, with a style that could be easily reproduced and easily sent in the mail (not much dimension!

i misted the background and then adhered it to my card with some bold polka dotted washi!
then i stamped the sentiment and sprinkled the word 'wishes' all over, i LOVE how that looks!
i think this card would be ok even for a dude! and you could change the washi/mists and BAM feminine! 

now, my next card is my favorite! 
i LOVE the neon-y quality!

i used some white woodgrain paper for my base and then die cut out the people, and popped them up for dimension! i just think this is the PERFECT friendship card!

i stamped the sentiment and heat embossed in YELLOW onto some vellum! LOVE that saying! so sweet!
ok, now onto the prize details!

Would you like to win “Simply Sentimental”?This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Tuesday, August 19th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Wednesday, August 20th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Brooke

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Shellye McDaniel

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Tessa Wise

Chitra Nair (Guest Designer)

i can't wait to see what you make with these sets!
enjoy!

Newton's Nook Designs August Release - Hanging Around

**this is my 2nd post of the day! if you're looking for the lawnscaping challenge post, please scroll down or click here**

guess what? day 1 of newton's nook's release for august is here! that's right! there are 2 sets being released this on wednesday! so excited!!

both new sets will be available for purchase on August 20th, here!


this set is SO fun!! it's perfect for creating scenes, clean and simple or one layer cards! i LOVE the critters and i had an awesome time making these cards!! this is going to be a set i use for a LONG time! 

here's my first card...LOOOOOVE it! :)

i made a watercolor background for the sky with some distress paints. love the messy look of that sky!
then i colored in that ADORABLE koala with copcis! the branch and clouds were also colored with copics! 

i popped up some of the clouds, and also the koala, and i just think this card is awesome! i LOVE it! 

my second card is super fun too!! 

i combined the new set with winged wishes - they just go together SO well! 
i stamped the sentiment onto the background and heat embossed in white. then i added some distress inks to create the super pretty blue/teal sky!

i colored the baby clothes and opposum (possum...ok i don't know how you spell that word, turns out!) with copics and popped them up along that line for dimension. i LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE that opposum image - i have to say!

Would you like to win “Hanging Around”?This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Tuesday, August 19th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Wednesday, August 20th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Brooke

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Shellye McDaniel

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Tessa Wise

Chitra Nair (Guest Designer)

this release is SERIOUSLY amazing!! you're going to want to check back everyday this week!
enjoy!

lawnscaping challenge - texture

well hello!
it's monday! and hopefully all of you enjoyed a nice weekend! that's what weekends are for, right?

and monday's are for new lawnscaping challenges! yahoo!
this one is all about texture!!

as in, oooooo that card looks amazing, let me touch it! lol!
that was what i thought of when i was creating my card - one that poeple want to touch! lol!

so here it is:

lots of texture-y goodness, right?
i used some authentic-looking woodgain patterned paper and then put some white embossing paste on top! 
then i spattered some gold and black mists onto the background.

i used a circle die and crumpled up the vellum (touch it!!) and put some thread underneath it all wonky!
the fox is from into the woods and i LOVE him! i colored him with some copics and popped him up! the top and bottom of the background is also machine stitched on. and the sentiment is from wish you were here too! sweet!

so that's my card! 
are you ready to play along?

for even more inspiration (if you can stand it!), check out the lawnscaping facebook page! we're dedicated to keeping your creative juices flowing! :)

this week we're sponsored by lawn fawn! so get your card making on, and you could win a stamp set of your choice! :)

big boy birthday

well hello!

my big mann turned 6 on thursday! it was supposed to be an awesome day - complete with pool party, cupcakes and presents!
...however, he ended up getting the stomach bug at the party, and didn't even want to open presents!!! it was pretty heartbreaking as a mom. 

he's feeling much better now, though!
so i thought i would share the card i made for him! 

the mama elephant and me challenge this month is all about watercolors and birthdays!! so naturally, i used that as my springboard for this card! :) he he!

 

i decided to go with bold, happy colors, and i pretty much love how this turned out! perfect for my (now!) 6 year old! :)

i used distress markers to color in the dog, box and letters! 
the background was created with distress paints! (squeezed lemonade and mustard seed) i smooshed them onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and pressed down my paper! LOVE the look around the edges!! 

i LOVE watercoloring the images from the origami set! and that puppy was SO sweet looking! ha ha! i popped him up (along with the blue/red box) for dimension! i added a little strip of red woodgrain washi along the side to make it extra primary colored! lol! it needed some more color! 

the sentiment was created by combining the AWESOME sketchy letters (LOOOOOVE them!) and hustle stamp sets!! i just love the idea of it saying - hello, you're six! ha! perfect! 

so that's my card! my mann loved it! and that was so rewarding! 
enjoy!

got my head in the clouds

hello again!!
today i have a project on the butterfly reflections ink blog!

so FUN!
and to give you a little sample of what i have up my sleeve, here is a sneak peek:

all those goodies (and about 10000000000000 times more!) can be found in the butterfly reflections ink shop!
seriously, people check it out!!

and then, check out my project! ha!

enjoy!

a merry little layout

well hello everyone!

today i have something a little different to share! 

it's been a while since i made a layout, so i thought, let's do this!

and today, i'm also over on the create a smile blog sharing the layout too! :) 

and the bonus is, i used all four of the released stamp sets from create a smile! awesome!

ok, let's check out the layout: 

woo-hoo! 

so this moment i captured is from when i found my cat sleeping under our christmas tree this past christmas! it was so sweet!

so, i used the window from your view and stamped them 4 times to create a larger window panel! then i used my craft knife to cut out the center, and slipped the photo behind the window! fun, right? :)

there are a few sentiments from jungle fever around the window pane area i created! 

so FUN! i finished the layout with a bunch of tree wood veneers and SUPER old snowflake stickers i found buried in my drawer! :)

then i created a scene with the stamps to accent the title! the cat and blanket are from comfy and colored in with distress markers (as is the 'peace' sentiment below the window area) and the santa hat is from friends in the woods! :)

so i hope you like it! 

i had a BLAST making this christmas layout with non christmas stamps!

head on over to the create a smile stamps shop to get your stamps now! :)

enjoy!

up, up and a birthday!

hello!

well today is my biggest little mann's birthday! he's 6 now! crazy!!
in honor of that, i wanted to share a birthday card...it's actually not HIS birthday card...it's another birthday card, that is clearly for a girl! lol!

when i started to make the card for my little guy, i came up with this idea...but it morphed into a VERY girly birthday card! lol! so he has another one!

of course, i just HAD to play along with the little tangles challenge - it's about birthdays! lol!

so here it is:

see?
super girly! but i LOVE it!

i used the brand new gifts for you stamp set! it's so adorable!

i copic colored the little girl and put her on the cute little tag! and i just LOVE that the tag is being lifted up by balloons!i used some thin twine to make the strings and looped it around the tag! 

all of the balloons, and the tag, were popped up for dimension! and then along the side of the card i used a strip of super happy washi!

thansk for stopping by!
enjoy!

dino-sized birthday wishes

hello!

today i'm sharing a card that's on the newton's nook blog today! :) 
yahoo!!

they're having a flashback sale on the prehistoric pals set all August long! it's an AWESOME deal! 
so in honor of that deal, i made a super FUN dino card!

who doesn't love neon dinosaurs, right?
i know i do!

i colored the little steggy with distress markers (seedless preserves* and peacock feathers) and i just LOVE how bright he is! eek! the rocks were watercolored with the pumice stone distress marker. a few of the rocks and half of steggy himself, are popped up for some dimension against that awesome vellum grass!

and it just so happens that i had some purple and grey washi that matched steggy PERFECTLY!! so i had to use it!
oh, and the sentiment is from the stamp set too! i just stamped it selectively and added the 'birthday' with some tiny alpha stickers!  LOVE it!

the backgroud was just two shades of yellow distress paint (squeezed lemondae and mustard seed) which i mixed on my craft mat with water and then squished the base of the card onto! love that pop of yellow!

so that's my card! now head to the newton's nook shop and pick up that bad boy for only $10.99!!

*oh, and a little disclaimer...this card contains a color that i RARELY use: purple. for some reason, you may know, it's my crafty kryptonite. i always get stumped when working with purples...it never matches anything, especially not another purple! and it's just...ick. but i really LOVE it here! the combo with the teal and the neon quality...i'm telling you, it has me reconsidering purple...in limited doses only! and only neon! lol!

do you have a color you can't stand working with? i would LOVE to hear all about it!
enjoy!

three (oh!) it's the magic number

my littlest mann turned 3 last saturday!
i honestly don't know how that happened!! he's still my little babe, time is going by WAY too fast!

the simon says stamp wednesday challenge is all about adding sparkle!! well, that might as well be anything goes, right?! it's hard to NOT at wink of stella to everything i do...and stickles recently too! so i'm entering this into the challenge this week! 

anyway, in honor of his birthday, i wanted to make him a very special card! 
i have ALWAYS loved the school house rock song about the number 3! wait, you don't know it?? well please go take a listen here, it's amazing! (like all school house rock songs! ha ha!)

ok, so my card, is totally in honor of that! for my big little 3 year old!

i used a few different lawn fawn sets here. bannerific and harold's abc's (my old favorite duo!) and then the 'magic' top hat from making frosty friends!

i used the lawn cuts puffy star stackables (which i covered with wink of stella, along with the top hat!) to add the mint colored stars to the number 3! oh but wait! the NUMBER 3 ITSELF! i used a cut file from the silhouette FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. 

...next time, i probably shouldn't have combined using my silhouette for the first time and making a 3-D card for the first time...there was lots frustration...and perhaps a crafty item or two were flung across my room. i can neither confirm, nor deny that! lol!

but in the end, i really like how it turned out, it's fun and happy and all about 3! 
thanks for checking it out! 
enjoy!

create a smile august release blog hop!

yay!!!!!
it's time again for the newest create a smile stamps release blog hop!!!

the stamps are INCREDIBLE! and so so so cute!! i honestly had a hard time choosing to make just one card! LOVE these stamps!

Create A Smile are a new stamps company in town - their first stamps were released in July 2014. The stamps are made of high quality photo-polymer and produced in Germany. They will for sure make you smile!

These are the facts:

Create A Smile is releasing two sets TOMORROW! You can find their store at www.createasmilestamps.com 

There are TWO fun sets filled with super cute images, available for purchase at 8am CET (2am EST).

You can win a $15 gift-certificate for the store - all you need to do is hop along and leave comments on all the fantastic and inspiring stops (one comment per person, per blog please!). We’ll pick a random winner from all the comments - so the more blogs you visit (and leave a comment on) - the more chances you have to be a winner!

You have until Saturday August, 9th 8am CET (that's 2am EST). The winner will be announced on the Create A Smile Blog on Sunday (July 13th)

Enjoy the Hop!

now, remember when we asked on facebook for some challenge ideas for the hop? each person chosen will win a 10% off coupon for the month of august!! awesome!!

so, are you dying to know who's name i have?

Klara Zita Keton: encouragement card for sick children

*please email info@createasmilestamps.com to retrieve your coupon code

And here's my card which could (hopefully!!) make a little sick one feel better!

isn't it fun?! 

i wanted to keep the colors bright and happy and have LOTS going on to make it appealing to a little! 

i watercolored the bird with distress markers and then popped him up over some crumpled vellum!

the sentiment is also stamped onto various areas of vellum, and then i added lots of wood veneer chevrons to draw the eye (even MORE!) to the sentiment and bird! and i just LOOOOVE that patterned paper with the mirrors and splatters of color!

do you like? i hope it made you smile!

now on with the hop!!

Create A Smile

Jenny Mullens

Kelly Latevola

Kasia Curry

Christine Drogt

Taheerah Atchia

Samantha Mann

Laura Sterckx

Linda Trace

Mayuri

Danielle Walls

Amy Tsuruta

Anja Curvers

enjoy!