Pink Wishes - PPA14

Pals Paper Arts is hosting a very special challenge this week for Breast Cancer Awareness month. The PPA Design Team is dedicating the challenge to Karol Harris, the mother of our own Kris Kilcoyne, who is currently battling Stage IV Breast Cancer. It is our hope that the challenge will serve as a simple (and fun) reminder to take care of your ta-tas!

Pop over to the PPA site to check out the PINK projects and post your own PINK creation to be entered for some fabulous (PINK) blog candy.

Since Kris and her family have been on my mind lately, I decided to CASE one of her 'Kween Bee Kreations'. Her version was created using My Digital Studio and can be found HERE. Thanks for the inspiration, friend!

I adore this brilliant idea to use one of the ornaments from the Tree Trimming set to create a custom snowflake. A sassy PINK button dresses up the center and coordinates perfectly with the 'homespun' feel I created using Kraft card stock. I hope you love it!

Did I mention there is fabulous PINK BLOG CANDY over at Pals Paper Arts? Just checkin'. ;)

Sassy Stampers:
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Stamps: Tree Trimmings (116722), Heard from the Heart (111644)
Paper: Melon Mambo (115320), Kraft (102125), Chocolate Chip (102128), Pink Pirouette (retired), Chocolate Chip Patterns (112164)
Ink: Melon Mambo (115656), Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker (100071)
Tools: Top Note BIGZ Die (113463)
Sassy Somethings: 5/8" Very Vanilla Grosgrain (109055), pink button - stash

O' Christmas Tree PPA12

Pals Paper Arts has a Simple Sketch Challenge this week. Don't you just love a good sketch? I've got Christmas on the brain... I'm so anxious to put up the Christmas tree and deck out our little house in holiday happiness.

I tweaked the sketch a bit and made a 5.5" square card on a Chocolate Chip base. Do you just love this color combination? Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Cameo Coral, and Old Olive. Sassy!! The details on this card are what make my heart happy:

• Flocked paper from Christmas Cocoa
• Texture galore courtesy of Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder
• Divine Patterned Pines complete with a 'sugar' coating of Dazzling Diamonds
• Double Stitched Ribbon for a home-spun feel

One quick TIP: To glitter my trees I first inked my stamp in VersaMark ink and then inked it AGAIN in my color of choice, stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock, sprinkled with Heat and Stick Powder, warmed with my Heat Tool and finally glittered with Dazzling Diamonds.

Do you love all things PINK?? Pals Paper Arts will be hosting a VERY special challenge on October 29th with an awesome PINK Prize Package - stay tuned!

I hope you'll join in the fun at Pals Paper Arts this week!

Sassy Stampers:
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Stamps: Patterned Pines - Hostess Level 1 (116525), Tags So Much (retired) - modified with sentiment from Season of Joy (110384)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (102128), Real Red (102762), Cameo Coral (100475), Old Olive (100702), Christmas Cocoa Specialty (116770)
Ink: VersaMark (102283), Old Olive (!02277), Cameo Coral (103035), Real Red (103133)
Tools: Scallop Circle #2 BIGZ Die (113469), Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder (116824), Heat Tool (100005)
Must Haves: Heat and Stick Powder (100625)
Sassy Somethings: Real Red Double Stitched Ribbon (115607) , Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (102023) Buttons - PTI

Tweet Trio PPA11

Pals Paper Arts is hosting a Color Challenge: Perfect Plum, Old Olive, and Pumpkin Pie. First thought? Halloween. Second thought? My friend, Carrie. There's just something about this rich (unconventional) color combo that reminds me of my dear friend, and so I decided to create a little set of thank you cards just for her. (A Christmas present, perhaps.)

I love 4 x4 cards. They are a perfect medium size... not too big for including with a gift, not too small to pop in the mailbox. The Birds and Blooms Sizzlits are some of my favorites... combined with the branch from Eastern Blooms, they are perfection. I stamped the branch using VersaMark Ink and embossed with clear powder - the subtle texture and sheen is divine. My Corner Rounder and Vintage Brads are everyday essentials that really give this card extra 'wow'.

What do these colors make you think of? Someone dear to your heart? A place you've visited? Your favorite Halloween costume from childhood? Grab your supplies and play along with Pals Paper Arts - I can't wait to see what you create!

Sassy Stampers:
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Stamps: Eastern Blooms (111626), Thank You Kindly (111700)
Paper: Kraft (102125), Perfect Plum (!01889), Old Olive (100702), Pumpkin Pie (100946), Perfect Plum Patterns (112158), Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series (115675), Ski Slope Designer Series (retired)
Ink: VersaMark (102283), Clear Embossing Powder (109130), Basic Gray (109120)
Tools: Corner Rounder (109047), Top Note BIGZ Die (113463), Birds and Blooms Sizzlits (113485), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Heat Tool (100005)
Sassy Somethings: Vintage Brads (109109), Button (Plum Pudding - PTI)

BEAR-y Happy Birthday!

My daughter will be turning ONE in a few weeks and I want to share the party invitations I have been busy putting together using the new Build-A-Bear dies. SO stinkin' CUTE... and easy!

Granted, it has taken time to run all the pieces thru. my Big Shot, but with the BIGZ dies I can run two layers of card stock thru. at a time - i.e. half as many cranks of the handle. TIP: I can't keep track of the tiny eyes, nose, and mouth. I used my 1" Circle Punch with Chocolate Chip card stock and adhered it to the back of the bear's head - voila! I Build-my-Bears in front if the TV at night - snuggled up next to my hubs.

My darling bear is holding 2 party necessities: A balloon created using the Crazy for Cupcakes set and a yummy cupcake borrowed from Sock Monkey. I used my Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker and handy Stamp-a-ma-jig to isolate the balloon's string and perfectly place it on my card base. I dressed it up a bit using a hot pink button from my stash. And because my dear daughter is so SASSY - a few rhinestones on the hair bow and shirt seemed like perfect touches.

BLOG CANDY: Would you like to play with a few Build-A-Bear die cuts yourself? I'll run some bear bodies and cute outfits thru. my machine (including the Christmas outfits - I know you love me!) and send them to one lucky reader. Leave a comment by Wednesday at midnight to be entered to win! ;)

Check out the Deal of the Week. 3 great punches on sale thru. October 11th.

A Sassy Stampin' exclusive promotion: Purchase My Digital Studio and receive a $15 Stampin' Up! Gift Certificate! CLICK HERE for more details.

Sassy Stampers:
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Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes (111618), Sock Monkey (111552)
Paper: Pretty in Pink (100459), Certainly Celery (105125), Brocade Blue (101166), Rose Red (102544), Creamy Caramel (102514), Chocolate Chip (102128)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Choc. Chip Stampin' Write Marker (100071)
Tools: 1" Circle Punch (109046), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Big Shot (113439): Build-A-Bear BIGZ Die (117977), Beary Essentials BIGZ Die (117978), Beary Girl Sizzlit (117982),Top Note Die (113463), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Sassy Somethings (from the stash): Pink Button, Rhinestones

Candy Cases

Halloween Hoop-la is here! Today I want to share with you a budget friendly kiddie treat. I found empty jewel cases (for storing CDs) at a local retailer - 10 for $3.99. At only $0.40 a piece I thought they would be fun a way to gift little treats for the holidays. Plus, what other mommy is going to have something this cool and unique to hand out? ;)

I focused on one (thrifty) stamp set - Halloween Frights. It's double mounted - perfect for a set that I only use a few times once a year. I also love the Halloween Frights set because the images are so easy to pop using the Circle Punches - making mass producing treats quicker and easier.

• For my Twizzler Treat I stamped the tree from Season of Friendship onto Crushed Curry and trimmed it using my Circle Scissor Plus. A few owls (Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry) sit in the branches, while a sparkly bat dusted in Dazzling Diamonds flies by.

• The main circle is popped onto a Night and Day background. The 'Spooky Nights' sentiment was punched with the Modern Label. For added pizazz, I adhered a printed window sheet to the inside. TIP: The Night and Day Designer Series Paper collection includes 2 window sheets.

• My second Candy Case was a breeze - several Circle Punches made the images 'pop' with only minimal effort on my part. Black Cat: 1.75", Pumpkins: 1", Orange Mattes for Pumpkins: 1.25".

• This time I opted for a dotty print from Razzleberry Lemonade for a background. TIP: A few Mini Pop Dots on the inside help keep my paper in place.

A few more ideas for decorating your Candy Cases:

• The surface is perfect for rub-ons. Try: Spooky Treats. (115729)
• Use StazOn ink (101406) to stamp directly onto the container - heat set.
• Have a teen that loves music and all things iPOD? Pop a little gift card inside this fun decorated case. They can use the gift card to purchase their favorite tunes and then utilize the case for storage if they create a CD.

Now is the time to grab your Halloween supplies and start creating!

Sassy Stampers:
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Stamps: Halloween Frights (111766), Season of Friendship (111776)
Paper: Crushed Curry (115319), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Pumpkin Pie (100946), Night and Day Designer Series (116768), Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series (115675)
Ink: StazOn (101406), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Old Olive (102277), Pumpkin Pie (105216)
Tools: Circle Scissor Plus (112530), Modern Label Punch (116630), Circle Punches: 1" (109046), 1.25" (104403), 1.75" (112004)
Must Haves: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683), Heat and Stick Powder (100625), Heat Tool (100005)
Sassy Somethings: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (102023), Vintage Brads (109109)

An Apple a Day... PPA10

This week at Pals Paper Arts we are hosting a Theme Challenge: Gratitude and Thanks. I hope you'll play along - there are so many things to be thankful for!

I used the Mojo Monday sketch 106 for my layout. It's sassed up with several Designer Series prints: A subtle kraft medallion from Bella Bleu, bitty polka dots from Write Stuff Specialty, and a bolder brown dot from Chocolate Chip Patterns.

My center panel is a trimmed down tag from the Big Shot Two Tags BIGZ Die. I have so many ideas for using these great tags during the holiday season, but it was such a simple addition to this everyday card as well.

I combined a few stamp sets for some 'wow'. The sweet sentiment is from Full of Life. It's accented with the swirl from Season of Joy - LOVE this swirl! But my favorite element is the little apple I created using the Pumpkin Patch set. Clever, huh? I just stamped the circle 'body' in Ruby Red, added a Chocolate Chip stem, then grabbed a little leaf from Season of Friendship. I'm over the moon that I can make apples AND pumpkins with this set - diversity is the spice of life after all! ;)

Sassy Stampers:
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Check out the Clearance Rack and DEAL of the WEEK!

Stamps: Full of Life, Pumpkin Patch, Season of Joy, Season of Friendship
Paper: Kraft, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu, Write Stuff Specialty, Chocolate Chip Patterns
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Old Olive
Tools: Two Tags BIGZ Die, Big Shot Machine, 1" Circle Punch
Sassy Somethings: Satin Ribbon (retired)