Just to Espresso My Thanks

Here's my card for the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I created a coffee themed thank you card using stamps and dies from SugarPea Designs.

I started the design with a pair of gold dotted washi tape strips adhered to the left side of a kraft cardstock panel.  Once the tape strips were in place, I positioned a to go cup die cut with SPD's Coffee to Go Cup dies over the tape, using foam tape for dimension.  I combined several different sentiment stamps from the Espresso Yourself stamp set to get the "just to espresso my thanks" sentiment.  For a final touch of sparkle, I arranged a trio of gold sequins around the die cut cup.  The finished panel was adhered to a dark brown card base.

Materials Used:
Espresso Yourself stamp set, Coffee to Go Cup dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Early Espresso cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); gold dotted washi tape; gold sequins; foam tape

The Challenge 83-Candy Cane Wishes

The Challenge is back with a new challenge!  Next up in our rotation is a holiday photo inspiration challenge.  I used the candy canes and the other red striped elements in the photo as starting point for my design.

The layout is from the current challenge (sketch) at Global Design Project.  I used one of the elves from the SugarPea Designs Merry Makers set as my focal image.  The elf and candy cane were colored with Copic markers, then cut out with the matching die.  I used foam tape to adhere the elf to a white panel with the set's "sending candy cane wishes and mistletoe kisses" sentiment stamped along the bottom.  To accent the image, I wound a nest of sparkly silver thread behind the image.  I adhered the image to a red striped patterned paper panel over a long fishtail flag die cut.  The finished panel was layered on to a coordinating red card base.

Check out what the rest of the talented team at The Challenge has created based on this week's inspiration photo.  Here's where to find them:

Anita Madden
Broni Holcombe
Claire Broadwater

Kim Heggins
Lee Ann Barrett

Lori Tecler--you're here!

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth
Rachel Bergfeld
Vicki Finger

Materials Used:
Merry Makers stamp set, SugarCuts Merry Makers and Stitched Flags dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Pure Poppy patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Recollections silver cardstock, silver thread (Michaels); foam tape

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge-Glittery Gourds

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for The Challenge! ***

It's time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

 

 source:  domainehome.com

We hope you'll play along!  The LEAD of this challenge will be invited as a Guest Designer in a future challenge!  Please visit the Curtain Call Challenge blog for all the challenge info and deadline.

I took my inspiration from both the pumpkins and the shiny gold in the inspiration photo.  My photos are gold "dipped," thanks to a little partial heat embossing on the stitched pumpkin die cuts.  I arranged the pumpkins on a kraft woodgrain panel using foam tape for dimension.  The pumpkins are paired with the "thankful for you" sentiment from the SugarPea Designs Bountiful Blessings stamp set.  The words were stamped in gold to go with the shiny pumpkins.

I adhered the woodgrain panel to a cream cardstock panel layered on to an orange card base.  To bring in more gold, I tucked a gold circle underneath the left edge of the woodgrain panel.  A trio of gold sequins scattered around the pumpkin completed the design.

Make sure you visit each of the designers' blogs for more inspiration:

Glittery Gourds Designers
Carol Mayne, guest designer
Susie Moore, guest designer

Betty Wright
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Leigh Penner
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler--you're here!
Lynn Mangan
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Melody Rupple
Monika Davis
Silke Ledlow
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tammy Hershberger
Tara Godfrey

Follow us:

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Facebook Page

Curtain Call Pinterest Boards

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Glittery Gourds for the challenge details and to play along with us!

Materials Used:
Bountiful Blessings stamp set, Stitched Autumn, Flag Tags, and Woodgrain Journal Card dies (SugarPea Designs); Delicata Golden Glitz ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Pumpkin Pie cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); gold cardstock (Michaels); circle die (Spellbinders); gold embossing powder (American Crafts); gold sequins; foam tape

The Challenge 62-Wherever You Go

***  Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge!  ***

The Challenge is back with a new challenge! Next up in our rotation is a masculine photo inspiration challenge.  I used the map background from the photo as the starting point for my design along with stamps and dies from SugarPea Designs and the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

My map is the America the Beautiful die.  I cut the map three times--once from the blue-green cardstock panel, once from kraft cardstock, and once from chocolate brown cardstock.  The kraft die cut was inlaid into the blue-green panel.  I filled in the individual states with the pieces from the chocolate brown die cut.  A bit tedious, but I like the way it turned out!

After matting the map panel on chocolate brown cardstock, I adhered it to a kraft cardstock panel.  I stamped a sentiment from the Going Places stamp set on a cream panel in brown ink, then inked the panel's edges with brown distress ink for a more rustic look.  After wrapping the panel with twine, I used foam tape to set it on to the kraft panel.  To go with the sentiment, I die cut a pair of red hearts using the Heart Journal Card die and added them to the map.  The finished panel was adhered to a dark brown card base.

Check out what the rest of the talented team at The Challenge has created based on this week's inspiration photo.  Here's where to find them:

Anita Madden
Broni Holcombe
Claire Broadwater
Diane Jaquay
Jinny Newlin

Kim Heggins
Laurel Seabrook

Lori Tecler--you're here!

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth
Rachel Bergfeld
Michelle Leone, February featured designer
Michele Greenwood, guest designer
 

Materials Used:
Going Places stamp set,  SugarCuts America the Beautiful and Heart Journal Card  dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger); Ocean Tides and Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip cardstock (Stampin' Up!); twine; foam tape

Thanks a Latte

It's been a while since I inked up the coffee sets from the last release at SugarPea Designs, so instead of making a coffee type of drink on a cold evening, I put together this card instead.  The layout is based on the current SPD Sugar Sketch.  If you haven't played along yet this month, you still have a few more days to get a card (or two!) made and enter for your chance to win a SPD gift certificate . . .

For my card, I colored up the mug and saucer image from the Caffeine Addict set using Copic markers.  I carefully cut out the colored image and used foam tape to adhere it to a SugarCuts Zig Zag Stitched Circle die cut.

After searching through my patterned paper stash for a feminine, floral design to go with the mug, I matted the patterned piece on kraft cardstock, then attached it to a pale pink cardstock panel.  A contrasting golden yellow strip, edged with kraft, runs diagonally across the panel at the bottom of the patterned paper.  I added the colored image, then stamped the "thanks a latte" sentiment from the Espresso Yourself set next to it in brown ink.  You can never have too many thank you cards in your stash, right?  The finished panel was adhered to a kraft card base.
 

Materials Used:
Caffeine Addict and Espresso Yourself stamp sets, SugarCuts Zig Zag Stitched Circle dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette and Barely Banana cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Miss Caroline-Dolled Up 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); foam tape

I Like You a Latte

I can't get enough of the coffee stamps and dies from the SugarPea Designs January release!  Here, I paired the new Espresso Yourself set with the new SugarCuts Stitched Flags and Coffee To Go Cup dies for this card with a combination of coffee and love theme.

See that big striped panel down the center of the cardfront?  I made that with the largest of the dies from the Stitched Flags set.  To elongate the banner even more, I cut the die cut piece about an inch from the top.  It's adhered to the red panel with a gap between the two pieces.  The gap's covered with the wide kraft cardstock strip.  Nice way to stretch your dies, right?

I topped the kraft strip with a die cut to go cup accented with a heart.  The heart is from the Heart Journal Card Set.  To go with the cup, I stamped the "I like you a latte" sentiment on the striped panel using brown pigment ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a white card base.

Be sure to check out the creations that some of my other SPD team mates are sharing today on their blogs:
Brianna Loeffelbein
Kim O'Connell
Jenny Peterson

Materials Used:

Espresso Yourself stamp set, SugarCuts Stitched Flags, Coffee To Go Cup, and Heart Journal Card Set dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Luxe Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger); Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Alphabet Soup-Girl "Lovely" designer paper (My Mind's Eye); foam tape

Whisking You a Sweet Birthday

I just love the sweet Whisky Business set from last month's release at SugarPea Designs!  That little baker girl is absolutely adorable and perfect for so many occasions.  Here, I'm featuring her in a birthday themed design.

I colored the baker image with Copic markers, then cut out the colored image with the matching SugarCuts-Whisky Business dies.  I found some fun patterned paper in an older October Afternoon paper pack with a celebratory theme and used that as a background for the image.  The patterned paper was adhered to a pale pink cardstock panel, then topped with half of a paper doily. The doily is a perfect accent for the baking themed design!  I covered the seam between the patterned paper and the doily with a strip of aqua paper, then wrapped the panel with a bit of twine. 

I added the image on top, using foam tape for dimension.  The "whisking you a sweet birthday" sentiment was stamped at the bottom of the patterned paper in black ink.  The finished panel was adhered to a cream card base.

Materials Used:
Whisky Business stamp set, SugarCuts Whisky Business dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Blushing Bride cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Cakewalk 8x8 paper pad (October Afternoon); twine (Hemptique); white paper doily; foam tape

Advent Calendar Extravaganza Hop with SugarPea Designs

Advent Calendar Extravaganza is -the- festive event of the season! This ‘hop with a twist’ was dreamed up by Taheerah Atchia and features surprise destinations each day! Joining in the fun with Taheerah are over 60 special guests - each serving up some fantastic Christmas inspiration! Just like an Advent Calendar, you’ll never know where you’re going to be visiting next until you ‘open the door’!

Here's my project for today's hop.  I used the adorable Merry Makers stamp set and coordinating SugarCuts Merry Makers dies from SugarPea Designs for my card.  The elf was colored with Copic markers, then cut with the matching die.  I coated the light bulbs with some Glossy Accents to give them a glass-like look.

The image was adhered to the green cardstock panel using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "May your Christmas be merry and bright" sentiment on a silver banner strip, then slid the it underneath the raised elf image.  The image and sentiment were accented with a trio of sparkly silver enamel dots.

It’s not a party without a prize - and with prizes every day there are several chances to win! Today’s prize is supplied by SugarPea Designs so you’ll definitely want to get your hands on it!  Visit the SugarPea Designs blog to see what our talented lineup of designers created to get you into the festive season and be sure to visit Taheerah's Advent Calendar Extravaganza Hop page for a chance to win a prize from us!

Don't forget to join in the fun every day at taheerah-atchia.com to see what special surprises wait behind the door!

Materials Used:
Merry Makers stamp set, SugarCuts Merry Makers dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Green Galore and Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); silver paper (Target); Handmade Tiny Tablet (Lily Bee Design); white flock (Stampendous); Glossy Accents (Ranger); silver glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Mojo Monday 427-Happy Holidays

Happy Monday!  It's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  When I saw this week's sketch, a door immediately came to mind, so I ran with it!

I made my door from rich red cardstock.  Each of the square panels was inked along with edges with brown distress ink to help them stand out against the matching background panel.  After placing them, I adhered a strip of kraft cardstock across the panel.  I stamped a wreath image from the Funky Wreaths-All Seasons set from SugarPea Designs on a matching wreath die cut, then added that on top of the kraft panel. Foam tape gives the wreath a bit of dimension.  I accented the wreath with a bow made with green ribbon rescued from my long-neglected ribbon scrap pile.  The "happy holidays" sentiment from the Funky Wreaths-Christmas set was stamped in red pigment ink on the kraft panel so it was centered inside of the wreath.  The finished panel was adhered to a cream card base.

Don't forget--since it's the first Monday of the month, it's also contest time.  A stamp set from Verve Stamps is up for grabs from the lucky contest winners, so be sure to play along.  Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more inspiration from the design team and to add your own take on this week's sketch!  You can also find all of the Mojo Makers at their blogs here:

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Carole Burrage
• Justin Krieger
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen
  

Materials Used:
Funky Wreaths--All Seasons and Funky Wreaths--Christmas stamp sets, SugarCuts Funky Wreaths--All Seasons dies (SugarPea Designs); Memento Bamboo Leaves and Lady Bug inks and Memento Luxe Rhubarb Stalk ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger); Cherry Cobbler cardstock, green grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); Bow Easy; foam tape

SugarPea Designs CCC7 and a Black Friday Sale!

Happy Friday!  I'm excited about sleeping in today instead of getting up and going to work--or fighting the crowds for Black Friday deals.  If you want to do some online shopping, SugarPea Designs is having its biggest sale of the year right now.  Everything in the store is 30% off, so it's a great time to grab the sets that have been on your wishlist . . .

There's also a new color challenge going on right now.  The colors are red, blue, gray, and green.  They'd make a great holiday card, but I couldn't resist using the bookworm from the Read Between the Lines set yet again.  That set just calls out to my book-loving teacher heart!

I stamped the bookworm in black ink on a pale gray cardstock panel, then colored the image with Copic markers.  The colored cardstock is different than the paper I usually use when I color with Copics, so the image not as well shaded as I would have liked.  The lenses of the worm's glasses were filled in with Glossy Accents for a glass-like look. 

To ground the worm, I stamped a stack of three books beneath the image, using a different color pigment ink for each book.  The "you make the grade" sentiment from the Teacher's Pet set was stamped beneath the worm image.  I added a strip of red cardstock along the bottom of the panel, then ran a narrow strip of gray cardstock along the top edge of the red strip for a finished look.  The panel was adhered to a blue card base.

Want to play along with the color challenge?  The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the colors provided.  SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 
• Upload to the SugarPea Designs blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: CCC7 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz in the SugarPea Designs blog
• One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $15

Materials Used:
Read Between the Lines and Teacher's Pet stamp sets (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento Luxe Love Letter and Gray Flannel inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); ink (Mama Elephant); markers (Copic); Steel Grey and Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); Real Red and Blue Bayou cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Glossy Accents (Ranger)

SugarPea Designs Creative Color Challenge 4-You've Got the Write Stuff

*** Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my card for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch! ***

A new color challenge is starting today at SugarPea Designs!  Today is the first day that teachers in my county are returning to school and even though I'm not doing that this year, my teaching colleagues are still very much on my mind.  I used a few SugarPea Designs stamps and dies along with the current sketch at RetroSketches (rotated a bit!) to put together an encouraging school themed design.

I used the pencil die from the SugarCuts Notebook Journal Card die set to create a set of pencils in the challenge colors.  They were arranged at the bottom of a white panel cut with the die set's large notebook edged die.  I stamped the "you've got the write stuff" sentiment from the Teacher's Pet set at the top of the panel in black ink, then tied a turquoise ribbon around the panel, just above the sentiment.

I edged the panel with a narrow strip of bright pink cardstock with rounded corners to match the larger panel.  I adhered a wider strip of turquoise cardstock under the pink strip, then accented it with a silver die cut paper clip.  The finished panel was adhered to an olive cardstock panel, then layered on to a turquoise card base.

Want to play along with the color challenge?  The rules are very simple…

• Create a new card or project using the colors provided.  SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated 
• Upload to the SugarPea Designs blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: CCC4 so that we may check out your beautiful work.
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz in the SugarPea Designs blog
• One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp we will increase the prize to $15

For more inspiration before you get started, be sure to head on over to the SugarPea Designs blog for a list of designers sharing their take on the challenge colors.

Materials Used:
Teacher's Pet stamp set, SugarCuts Notebook Journal Card die (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, and More Mustard cardstock, turquoise grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); Sweet Blush and Fine Linen cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver paper (Target)

SugarPea Designs Sugar Sketch Challenge 26-Yappy Birthday

I am super excited to share that I'll be joining SugarPea Designs as a guest designer this month!  If you haven't taken a look their fabulous stamps--and dies and storage options--yet, be sure to stop by the SPD store and check it out.  There's lots of great stuff!  The newest Sugar Pea Designs Sugar Sketch Challenge is starting today and I'm joining the team to share my take on the sketch using the Hot Diggity Dog set.

I made one of the adorable doggies my focal image.  He was colored with Copic markers and cut out, then adhered to a round panel using foam tape.  To add a little dimension and shine to the image, I used irRESISTible Pico Embellishers to fill in the dog's nose and tag.

While the Pico Embellishers were drying, I assembled the rest of the card.  I went with a color scheme inspired by the multicolored striped paper I used for the long panel on the cardfront.  It was matted on dark gray cardstock, then adhered to a light gray panel.  I added a yellow dotted strip and a solid orange one across the panel, then placed the image panel on top.  It's accented with a trio of tiny wood veneer stars--it's been a while since I used some of my collection of these babies!  The "yappy birthday" sentiment was stamped along the side of the striped panel in gray pigment ink.  I layered the finished panel on a light blue card base.

Here's how to play along:

• Create a new card or project using the SugarSketch provided. SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required to play along or to win but would be appreciated :) 
• You may rotate/flip the sketch & replace shapes – so long as the original sketch layout is recognizable. 
• Upload to your blog or other Online Gallery using Keyword: SPDSS26 so that we may check out your beautiful work. 
• Add your name and link to your project in the InLinkz on the SPD blog. One randomly selected winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the SugarPea Designs Online Shoppe. However, if the winning entry features a SugarPea Designs stamp the prize will increase to $15.

Hope you'll join us and play along!

Materials Used:
Hot Diggity Dog stamp set (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Memento Luxe Gray Flannel ink, irRESISTible Gray Flannel and Gold Pico Embellishers (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Orange Zest and Smokey Shadow cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Bashful Blue cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); A Boy's Life 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); wood veneer stars (Studio Calico); foam tape

There's No Place Like Home

Here's my card for the current SugarPea Designs Sugar Sketch Challenge.  I flipped the layout on its side to showcase the fabulous Home die cut.

I used the inlaid die cutting technique on an aqua cardstock panel.  The negative space was filled in with a pale gray die cut.  I stamped the "there's no place like" sentiment from the companion Sweet Sentiments-Home set just above the word in gray pigment ink. 

After rounding the panel's corner, I adhered it to a pale gray cardstock panel over a piece of heart patterned paper.  I tucked a pair of coordinating fishtail flag strips underneath the bottom of the die cut panel, then added a small sun, fashioned from more die cut pieces, to the top.  The finished panel was adhered to an aqua card base.

Materials Used:
Sweet Sentiments-Home stamp set, Home Sweet Home die (SugarPea Designs); Memento Luxe Gray Flannel ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Aqua Mist and Orange Zest cardstock, Orange Zest patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Grout Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); Something Wonderful 6x6 paper pad (Teresa Collins); pinking circle die (Spellbinders); circle punch (EK Success); corner rounder; foam tape

#thxs

Here's my card for the current SugarPea Designs anything goes challenge.  I used the Hashtag Hipster set along with the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for this fun, bold design.

I stamped the phone using my blackest black ink (Versafine Onyx Black) for the outside and a shiny silver ink for the screen.  The "#thxs" sentiment was stamped on the screen in the same black ink.  I cut out the phone, then used foam tape to adhere it to a yellow panel with strips of multicolored chevron patterned paper at the bottom.   The chevron strips were broken up by a narrow strip of black cardstock.  I arranged a trio of enamel dots around the phone, then layered the panel onto a contrasting black mat.  The finished panel was adhered to a white card base.

Materials Used:
Hashtag Hipster stamp set (SugarPea Designs); Encore Silver ink, Versafine Onyx Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); Lemon Drop cardstock (My Favorite Things); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Back to School 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); black enamel dots (Michaels); foam tape

Shake it Off

Here's my card for the current Sugar Pea SugarSketch Challenge.  I just love the adorable dogs in the Hot Diggity Dog set and I showcased one of them on this card.

After coloring the dog image with Copic markers, I carefully cut it out, then used foam tape to adhere it to a blue circle.  The blue circle was matted on a kraft circle, then adhered to a light green card base over a multicolored chevron patterned paper strip.  I'm still working on using up some of my older patterned paper stash . . .

Instead of stamping the sentiment near the bottom of the card, I curved the "shake it off" sentiment on my block to match the outline of the circle, then stamped just outside the edge of the circle in black ink.  The image was accented with a pale pink heart with a green twine bow.

Materials Used:
Hot Diggity Dog stamp set (SugarPea Designs); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Baja Breeze cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Kraft cardstock (WPlus9); On the Bright Side-One 6x6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); circle dies (Spellbinders); stitched heart die (Lil' Inker Designs); twine (Divine Twine)