{ Impressin Obsession DT challenge - gratitude, Project 365 - week 38 }

For this challenge I used a sketch from 2 sketches 4 you. The stamped trees are from Winter Trees (CL98), and see, you don't have to use it just for winter cards. The journaling spot underneath is from Journaling I stamp set (WP165)...I think I have used this stamp more than any other. The little sentiment is from Express Yourself set (WP22), a very good set to have on hand.

The papers are from the October kit at My Scrapbook Nook.

I hope you'll take the time to visit the other designers' blogs for inspiration! Laura, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, and Shirley.

***Would you like to see your card featured on the Impression Obsession blog? Email your challenge cards using Impression Obsession images to Shirley. Every week, cards will be selected to showcase on the Impression Obsession blog!!!

For a chance to win a stamp set from Impresson Obsession go -------> HERE

$25.00 gift certificate is up for grabs...visit Shirley ---------> HERE

Project 365 - week 38.

9.14 - Alex sitting in a small basket. He emptied all his books and climbed in.

Here is a photo from that morning. Exhausted from the night before when he was sick. 9.15 - at the gym at school. 9.16 - eating a waffle. 9.17 - not sure if he is thinking or eating a snack. 9.18 - I am trying to clean up my room, but guess who loves to come in and play. 9.19 - eating a cookie. 9.20 - playing outside. It was so hot, but he was having a really bad day and being outside made everything better.

{ My Scrapbook Nook October kit, World Card Making Day }

Here is the new October kit at My Scrapbook Nook. It's ready to ship now! Graphic 45, Prima, Jenni Bowlin, Making Memories, buttons, ribbon...so pretty. It arrived yesterday and I am working on projects to share soon.
World Card Making Day is Saturday, October 3. What are your plans? I plan on making some cards with my CupCards {to go} kits. Sonda fills the kits to the max and I have so much left over. Make sure you are signed up for email updates, Sonda will let you know when she is able to return to her kit. In the mean time, please visit her blog, A Dream For Baylee, for updates about Baylee. I will leave you with my last card for Caardvarks Sketchfest. What a fun week filled with sketches and awesome creations.
A fun day filled at Caardvaks for World Card Making Day!

{ Blog candy winner, Project 365 - week 37 and a card }

The winner from tissue flower tutorial is Paulina. I just wanted to thank everyone that stopped by and left positive comments/feedback. If there is anything else you would like to see, let me know.

I wanted to share a card I made for Impression Obsession. Mitra, the owner, attends various shows and needs an updated show board form time to time. That is where the Design Team comes in and helps. I hope this one has fun travel adventures.

I used the new Cover-a-card Greenery stamp (CC018) for the background. These cover a card perfectly and you use them with a Mega Mount. The butterfly and the sentiment are from Lucky Ladybugs stamp set (CL208).

Project 365 - week 37

9.13 - a very sick baby. It was a bad day and night. 9.12 - still loves to play with Play-Doh. 9.11 - brushing his teeth. 9.10 - playing at the school playground. 9.9 - playing outside. 9.8 - painting. 9.7 - still loves to play in the pantry. He is rearranging all the canned items.

Caardvarks sketchfest is still going on. I have one more card for the Saturday sketch.

{ Top 10, Sketchfest 2009 }

I just realized that I didn't share my Project 365 photos. I will do that tomorrow along with my flower tutorial prize winner. You still have time to leave a comment.

I made this layout the other night. I wanted to document our favorite Summer songs. We listen to our favorite station during the day, 106.1 Kiss FM. We dance and sing and we both get excited when one of our favorite songs comes on.

I pained the busy, My Mind's Eye, background paper with blue paint so that I have something solid for my photo. The photo of us, taken by me, this summer playing outside. We did have a little radio outside, for a while, until it fell on the ground. It didn't work after that.

The strips of paper were in my "scrap jar", I love going through and seeing what I can use. The paper is American Crafts and October Afternoon. The stamps are by Sassafras Lass.

I sprayed the background with Tuscan Sun Shimmerz Spritz.

The butterfly I painted with yellow paint and then dabbed Golden Wheat Shimmerz over the top (with a sponge). The colors are so pretty and sparkly. I need one in all the colors. Here is a close up of our favorite songs.

Are you playing along this week? Here is my card for Thursday. All the details and the sketches can be found on Caardvarks blog.

Have a great evening. I am excited that new Grey's Anatomy starts tonight!

{ Sketchfest 2009 continues }

Happy Wednesday. The Sketchfest 2009 is still going on at Caardvarks. Make sure you check daily for a new sketch.

Here are my cards for Monday and Tuesday. Here is the completed flower from the flower tutorial. You still have time for the blog candy. I will pick a winner at the end of the week. ***Don't forget the Shimmerz blog all this week for awesome inspiration and project ideas.

{ Introducing Shimmerz New Fall Vintage Collection }

Four new Vintage Shimmerz Colors: Antique Lace, Mossy Stone, Vintage Vine and Wed Wagon. In addition, we are introducing Shimmerz Spritz Miniz - adorable 1 oz. bottles: Licorice, Rockafella Blue and Treasured Hymn. Make sure you check out Shimmerz Blog all week for wonderful project and ideas with the new colors. Our wonderful Education Team is hosting a VIDEO blog hop introducing new colors and awesome projects and ideas. They are giving away Shimmerz!!! For my card I sprayed Licorice Shimmerz Spritz on the patterned paper before adhering it to the card. To speed up the drying process I used my heat gun. If the paper curls from being damp heat on the underside, as well. You don't need much to add shimmer to any project.

After I stamped the bird on patterned paper I cut it out and sprayed it with Rockafella Blue. For the flower I punched scalloped circles out of scrap paper and brown paper bag paper. I sprayed the circles with Licorice and Treasured Hymn. Others I painted with Mossy Stone using my paint brush. After I created the flower I sponged Wed Wagon on the edges. For the flower check out my tissue flower tutorial. Please visit our Shimmerz DT to see more ideas with the new Fall Vintage Collection.

{ Sketchfest 2009 }

It works like this...everyday, now through Saturday there will be a new sketch at Caardvarks to play along with. You have from 12:01 am that day until 7 am the next day link up to Mr. Linky. In other words you have until 7 am Monday to finish this first sketch. Several winners will be chosen at random to receive kits from Studio Calico!!! Here is my card created with the sketch. Everything came form the kit except the ribbon and I sprayed the entire card with Tuscan Sun Shimmerz Spritz.

***Don't forget my flower tutorial and the blog candy.

***Extra post alert to my subscribers! Since we are doing a daily sketch at Caardvarks I might post daily. I hope you love it!

{ Tissue flower tutorial and blog candy- winner announced }

Supplies: 2 inch scalloped (or circle) punch. *this is the only size I have tried, I am sure any size will do.

tissue paper

patterned paper

Step 1: punch two circles out of patterned paper and 6 tissue paper circles. Note: when cutting tissue paper you can stack several sheets, I usually do 3 or 4. When punching, back the tissue paper with scrap paper or copy paper, something a little heavier than tissue paper, it will punch easier.

Step 2: stack punched paper in this order: patterned paper, 3 tissue papers, patterned paper, 3 tissue papers...it doesn't need to be perfect. Use more or less paper if you want...this number works for me. I like using patterned paper because it makes the flower sturdy and it coordinates with my project. Poke a hole with an exacto knife and place a brad in the middle.

Step 3: start scrunching the paper, starting with the top layer. Keep doing that until all the papers are "scrunched" -- see next 3 photos.

Step 4: open up all the layers and this is your competed flower. Every flower will be different. Try varying paper positions, use more or less, big brad, small brad.

Additional step: spray your flower with Shimmerz. For this one I used Sea Foam Shimmerz Spritz and Island Salsa Shimmerz Blingz (painted on). Lift layers when spraying/painting, and spray from all sides.

If you don't have Shimmerz you can order some here, or use any other spray/paint that you have.

Use a heat tool to dry/set the flower. I love this step because it stiffens up the flower and it keeps it's shape.

***Finished card will be posted on Tuesday.

My other tissue flowers: here, here, here, and here, here.

Tell me what you think. Love it, hate it, too many steps, questions???? I will randomly pick a winner to win these stamps and a cute owl note pad.... and I will add some of my finished tissue flowers.

If you make one post a link here so we can see it!

***Starting tomorrow Studio Calico & Caardvarks Sketch Fest. This will be a week long event featuring seven/24-hour Caard Sketch Challenges. We'll be premiering an exclusive sketch daily, created by our very own Heidi Van Laar.

{ Shimmerz News, project 365 - week 36 }

I have some exciting news to share!!! I was asked to join Shimmerz DT. You have to check out the new website and the new FALL VINTAGE COLLECTION. These will be available September 21! These yummy colors are officially here and I have been playing. So sparkly! Fun and exciting things happening next week.
*** I have completed my FLOWER tutorial. I will post that this weekend with a little giveaway!
Project 365 - week 36
Did anyone notice I am one week behind? When I got my new computer and was transferring all the files I missed one week. I will catch up.

8.31 - we were having hamburgers for dinner and Alex had chicken....but he wanted a hamburger. It was pretty funny. He grabbed it and went to town.

9.1 - first day of school, well, toddler adventures, where mom gets to go, too. I wasn't sure how he was going to do since it takes him a little while to adjust...but he jumped right in.

9.2 - found this when downloading photos. Daddy takes photos, too.

Playing with his car set. Got him this for Christmas, but it's so fun now.

9.3 - play-doh was a hit at school so I got him some to play at home.

I have been taking photos of him at school, too.

9.4 - having a snack at the park.

9.5 - in all the photos he was crying. He was having a bad day.

9.5 - He loves this shape puzzle. He has been doing it for months and puts it together really fast.

One more card I made with My Scrapbook Nook September kit. Everything is from the kit except the brads, which are sold out, but the stamps are still available. I used some twill ribbon from my stash that I stamped with a border stamp. I layered some journaling tags and die cuts and made the flower.