{ Elle's Studio Valentine Bags and cards and blog challenge }

Ready for another challenge???? Now it's your turn! We want to see your Valentine mini cards and/or treats!! Upload it to the web and post your link here, in the comment section OR email us a photo of your project. And, make sure you get them in by the 25th of February. Everyone that does will be entered into a drawing for a $30 gift certificate to the shop! Winners will be announced here on the 25th and we'll be posting some of the entries we receive.

P.S. For our second challenge, we are NOT requiring that you use Elle's Studio products :) We wanted to leave this challenge open to everyone, too!

I created these bags and cards for the blog post on Elle's Studio Blog. I used coffee bags for these little treats. The tops are die cut from XOXO Mini papers using Nestabilities Labels One die from Spellbinders and my Big Shot. I folded it in half to fit over the bag. If dies are not available then you can measure the width of the bag, add a 1/2" and cut a square, fold in half to fit over the top. I added ribbon and heart pins with heart bead and a little pom-pom to attach the XOXO Sweet Word Tags. I filled the inside with chocolate candies and crinkle paper. The cards are 2 1/2 x 4 inches and fit perfectly in the bag. I used a stamp from XOXO Never Ending Borders Stamp set at the top and XOXO Mini papers and punched XOXO Bazzill cardstock for the bottom. I used EK Success Diamond Lace border punch. The flowers are made from XOXO Mini papers. I cut out a heart from XOXO Mini paper for flower "leaves". I used Vintage Label Cut outs for the flower/leaf base. It was easy putting everything together because it all coordinates! My new friend Lolly has a video tutorial for these little flowers that you will love.

{ The Cutting Cafe FREE download and a contest }

Hello everyone....how about a little contest...
Regina, from The Cutting Cafe, is giving out 2 sets for free in appreciation of all of my wonderful customers...These sets are fee until February 8th at midnight (MONDAY).....so be sure to get yours...
The two free sets are called:
COLORED MINI POLK A DOT BACKGROUNDS
COLORED FLOWER SET
click on each set above to find out how to get yours for free
....Okay, here are the details of the contest....
After you pick up the free sets.....create ANY project using the sets..(you can use both of the sets or just one of the sets)..
Then leave a link in the mcklinky at the Cutting Cafe as to where we can find your project.....(make sure the link goes directly to your project).
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ENTER.....
Only 2 entries per person....
The contest will run from today until February the 13th at midnight....
The design team will judge all of the entries and choose 2 winners to win 4 sets of your choice!!! HAVE FUN..............HUGS

{ Impression Obsession DT challenge - color challenge }

Shades of green. I have been using so much green lately. It used to be my favorite color and I think it might be my favorite color, again. OK, I went a little crazy with the stamps here, but they are all my favorite. I used a cream cardstock base and Basic Grey Origins. I stamped Cover-a-card Medallion (CC032) and Large dots (CC007) with green ink (Old Olive).

I stamped Birdcage Pyramid (E2387) on cream cardstock and cut it out. I lightly colored some of the parts with same ink color. I love this stamp. This is a rubber stamp, but there is a clear set, too. Greeting: Circle Greetings (CL99).

I used CPS #152.

I hope you'll take the time to visit the other designers' blogs for inspiration! Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Kathy, Julie, Rosemary 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!!! You have until midnight this Saturday to enter your green card. A random winner will be selected from the submissions to receive a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate! You can find all the info HERE.

I wanted to share some of my CHA cards...just two for now and I will share the others later. Cover-a-card Music (CC029), another favorite, paired with Sm. Lovely Flower Stems (C8424). I added flower soft to the flowers.

Cover-a-card Medallion (CC032) and Dream Butterfly (H1774). I stamped the butterfly on stamped Medallion background and cut the butterfly out. The little strip of paper with black on it is actually paper that is stamped with Cover-a-card Quilt (CC033). I stamped a full sheet and then I cut it up and used it as patterned paper.

{ Mojo Monday 124 and Melissa's photo inspiration challenge }

Melissa Phillips posted this beautiful photo for an inspiration challenge. I have this photo saved as one of my favorites, too. I love the colors.

Here is my card and I had so much fun making it. I used Mojo Monday 124 sketch for the card. Our new Shimmerz Vibez were released today...see my post below. The colors are so vibrant and shimmery. My favorite: Red-y Or Not and Rusty Bottom Vibez.

I stamped the card base with Cover-a-card Music (CC029). I heat embossed Cover-a-card Large dots (CC007) with clear embossing powder over that. I sprayed the background with Ruby Shimmerz Spritz, first, then Red-y Or Not and Rusty Bottom Vibez. I used a towel to wipe over the embossed area, to "clean it up" so that the polka dots show up really well. I made my little flower out of old book paper. You can visit my tutorial if you would like to know how I make these. I sprayed the flower with Licorice and Ruby Shimmerz Spritz and Red-y Or Not Vibez. Like my tutorial says, I use a heat tool to dry the flower, it heat sets it and the flower keeps the shape. I painted the edges with Pearl Shimmerz Pearlz. I used October Afternoon patterned paper that I punched with Martha Stewart punch and Jenni Bowlin journaling note. The sentiment is from Anytime Sentiments (CL43). The sun finally came out and I was able to capture the shimmer.

{ Introducing Shimmerz VIBEZ }

Introducing VIBEZ....16 Vibrant Colors with intense Shimmer and Shine!!! Watch our announcement below and share it with your friends! We are giving away a FULL Collection Set of Vibez Miniz to one lucky blog reader that makes a purchase from our site today! Set contains all 16 colors! NEW VIBEZ VIDEO
Because we are so excited about VIBEZ we are giving you more chances to win...be sure to drop by the Ed team blogs and leave them a comment. They are each giving away a free bottle of Vibez today!!! Jeni Boisvert Lori Renn Lucy Edson Bethany Kartchner Here is the layout I created using new Sunset Strip Vibez.

I sprayed the cream background to give it a vibrant color.
I used My Scrapbook Nook February kit for this layout. I made the little banner by cutting some squares, folding them in half and then cutting at an angle to make a triangle. I used fabric-tac to attach the paper to the twine. For the bottom edge I used a stencil to spray Sunset Strip Vibez and a touch of Licorice Spritz. Here, I lightly sprayed with Sunset Strip Vibez, Sea Foam Shimmerz Spritz and Chickadee Shimmerz Spritz. I heat embossed Dandelion Seed stamp using white embossing powder. I added more Sunset Strip Vibez over the top. The color are so vibrant and have the same Shimmer Factor as our Shimmerz Spritz.