Year in Review 2011

A crafty year in review with 11 of my favorites from 2011. I hope you feel a fresh sense of beginning for 2012... I'm looking forward to it. I'm so grateful for the friends I've made through crafting... this sassy spot on the web is one of many things I include when I count my blessings.

Without further ado:

Papertrey Ink in all its glory.  

This card is at the tippy-top of my "love it!" list.

I branched out into Copics this year and absolutely love coloring the 

Pure Innocence kids from MFT. 

When I discovered WaltzingMouse it was love at first sight. 

I'm still proud of the Scrabble tiles I created using the PTI Alpha Block die. 

In 2012 I hope to find this clean balance again.  

My Mind's Eye paper collections are definitely favorites. 

I think this is probably one of the best cards to represent my style 

and how much I love sassy somethings.

Market Street Stamps - my favorite new company.  

I was honored to be included in their "Cream of the Crop" twice in 2011.

Being a part of the Pink Persimmon creative team was a highlight of 2011.  

Anything that Melissa Phillips designed this year for PTI was an instant favorite.  

Her style (and sweet spirit) constantly inspire me.

This Christmas card took me out of my comfort zone but I loved the result.  

I made it for the Play Date Cafe  - I'm so honored & blessed to be a part of their team. 

This fall card was featured on the cover of the November 2011 CARDS Magazine.  It is my all-time favorite from this year.  It represents so much for me, but mostly a dream realized... and the beginning of something that I hope continues to grow and blossom.

I would love to check out your "Year in Review".
 Karin is hosting a great place to link up to see everyone's 2011 favorites.
Join us HERE.

I raise my glass to you, dear crafty friends!  Here's to a New Year filled with mojo & sass!

Much love & HUGS!

Mod Holiday - Play Date Cafe #111

It's almost Christmas but the fun continues over at the Play Date Cafe.  We're spicing things up with a Color Splash challenge - black & white plus a splash of aqua.  This is the challenge that makes me {think}!  I am allergic to bright white and typically "cheat" by using cream instead.  This week I went for it... bright white in all it's glory.  I love my "Mod Holiday" results.

A beautiful vintage Santa - holiday inspiration for PDCC111.

I used lots of Papertrey Ink goodies.  How fab is the new Quatrefoil Cover Plate?  So fab.  I stamped a flourish on the card base to add interest.  I also added text to my Half & Half die cut - a fun touch is that the wording is from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Shimmer cardstock in silver was a perfect touch for the Damask Snowflake and I topped that with an element from the Photo Finishers stamp set.

Our sponsor this week is Cindy Coutts.  She's a great stamper and a great person... plus she's put together an incredible prize for is this week! {Hint: Nesties anyone?} We hope you'll play along with us this week in the Cafe... can't wait to see what you create.

ALL Supplies are Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Photo Finishers, BB - Christmas (text); Cardstock: SS White, blue & silver Shimmer CS; Ink: True Black; Tools: Half & Half dies, Damask Snowflake die, Quatrefoil Cover Plate die

Frosty Fun - Play Date Cafe #110

We may have a snowman/woman blitz for the next few days... I just love all things snowman and I was {thrilled} when our sponsor, DRS Designs, sent me this Frosty for our Play Date Cafe challenge this week.  He was so simple to paper-piece with the Echo Park Season's Greetings collection.  Can I just tell you how much I wish we lived someplace where it snows?  But back to the fun at hand...

Our color story in the Cafe this week is bright and FUN...

Lime Green, Red, Royal Blue, and Crystal Blue

Remember, these colors are open to interpretation and neutrals are welcome additions.

Allow me to confess that the "royal blue" was a difficult spot for me, but the more I look at it, the more I like the "pop" it adds.  And be forewarned: I am going to be addicted to spray adhesive + mica flakes.  Yowza that is some kind-of cute, sparkly goodness (even if my fingers do end up sticky for days).

Be sure to pop over to DRS Designs and check out all their goodies...

click to visit website

... and play along with us this week in the Cafe for a chance to win some new stamps.  

Can't wait to see what you create!!

Stamps: DRS Designs; Cardstock: PTI Kraft & SU! Kiwi Kiss; Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Season's Greetings collection; Tools: PTI dies - Tag Sale #4, Holly Jolly, & Peace Be Still; Sassy Somethings: Melissa Frances mica flakes, PTI satin - Enchanted Evening, button

Dear Santa

I'm working on a Daily December album during the holidays to capture my family's sweet memories of the season.  I'm just getting my large pages going, but I think it will be a lot of fun to spend time gathering photos and snippets of our day-to-day activities... especially when the kids are so young and the delight of Christmas is so innocent and pure.  Scrapbooking is a new arena for me and I'm still trying to find my comfort zone with photography and journaling.

Abigail is thrilled with all things Santa this year and has been making her list and checking it twice.  ;)  I put together a quick little mini page to tuck into our album for her.  I'm nervous to write on pages and journal with my own handwriting... so pretend it reads: tricycle, mobile (for her baby doll's crib), and new crayons.

I used Market Street Stamps Vintage Notepad background stamp  and was thrilled to find that it coordinates perfectly with the PTI Mini Book Page die.  I love the already aged background - so easy to just rub with a bit of distress ink and amp up the rustic/shabby vibe.  A few additional elements from the MSS Hippie Chic stamp set were also selectively inked for extra details.

I hope your December is off to a great start... falalalala!

Stamps: Market Street - Vintage Notepad background & Hippie Chic, MFT - Typewriter ABC; Ink: SU! Soft Suede & Old Olive, PTI Basic Black & Pure Poppy; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream; Tools: PTI mini book page; Sassy Somethings: Echo Park chip sticker

Scootin' By - Play Date Cafe #109

Hi friends!  I'm popping in with a fun tag for this week's Play Date Cafe challenge.  This will be so fun to tie onto a birthday present... who doesn't love a sassy Vespa?

We have a fabulous sponsor this week in the Cafe: Sweet Stamp Shop.  Their whimsical designs are fun and festive... such a treat to work with their stamps.  One lucky participant will win their own Sweet Shop goodies to play with so be sure to join in.

Our color story is lovely and has me itching to make a girlie Christmas card...  

Smokey Purple, Blush, & Champagne 

...and speaking of Christmas, are you gearing up?  Between shopping, tree trimming, and visiting Santa (if that's your thing) be sure to get crafty with us in the Cafe... can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop - Scootin' By; Patterned Paper: PTI - Sugar Plum; Ink: Memento - Tuxedo black, Copic markers

Say Cheese - Play Date Cafe #108

It's another fun week in the Play Date Cafe as we embrace a fall color palette.  Our sponsor this week is the always fabulous Lawn Fawn.  We are also excited to announce that you will have TWO weeks to participate.  So, between house guests, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie I hope you can sneak in a little crafty time and join us at the Cafe.

I used two sets from Lawn Fawn this week and I am absolutely over-the-moon IN LOVE with their alphabet sets.  I used Smitty's ABC's and it lined up perfectly.  If you're interested, you can watch a little video here about how their alphabet sets are made.  I combined the alphabet set with Say Cheese for a cute little "polaroid" of the kids.  Don't you just want to squeeze 'em?

Here is the rich & earthy color story for Challenge #108:

Maroon, Copper, & Turmeric

My colors look a little different then our inspiration board but they are in the same grouping and we all see colors differently, right?  I based the layout of my card on this week's Ribbon Carousel Challenge... check them out as well for great inspiration.  I always love it when the stars align and I can combine a sketch and a color challenge. ;)

Please join us at the Play Date Cafe between now and November 29th

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Smitty's ABCs & Say Cheese; Ink: SU! Soft Suede; Cardstock: PTI Kraft; Patterned Paper: PTI Distressed Dots & Crate Paper - Random; Tools: MFT Scalloped Border die-namic (medium); Sassy Somethings: Prima rose; Girl's Paperie "enjoy" pin, PTI Dark Chocolate buttons

Vintage Carousel - Play Date Cafe #107

Welcome to another week with the Play Date Cafe.  This week we are hostessing a Color Splash challenge... black and white with a splash of orange.  SO fun!  My carousel image is from the Life is a Carnival set by The Craft's Meow. I love this set because the images can so easily be "dressed" for a vintage vibe or made bright and bold for something fun.

The Color Splash inspiration:

I  love to see what can be done with a base of black & white.  Neutrals are always welcome additions to the challenge each week... perfect for a girl who loves kraft and wants to use it on everything, don't you think? I snuck some Prima trim and a few sparkly stars into the mix.

Now for our sponsor...

This week Scrapping Cottage is offering a fabulous prize to one of our Cafe players.  I am totally wowed by how cute their die collection is so be sure to join in the fun - I can't wait to see what you create!

All the challenge details can be found in the Cafe.  HUGS.

Stamps: The Craft's Meow - Life is a Carnival, PTI Text Style 1; Cardstock: PTI Kraft and Rustic Cream; Patterned Paper: MME Mischevious; Tools: MFT - Rosette 1/4" die-namic & Scalloped Border die-namic (medium); Sassy Somethings: Prima trim, stars from Memrie Mare on etsy, PTI buttons

XOXO - Cheery Thank You's

A couple of bright & cheery cards I've been piecing together that I want to share with you today.  Both of my cards use the October Afternoon Sidewalks patterned paper collection.  I'm in love with these happy prints that are so easy to mix and match.

I went through and cut a little stack of several different elements for "production line" assembly... all my bases are the same: lots of little scallop edges, kraft doilies, tags, etc.  I wanted all the cards to use the same pieces but be a bit unique in their own right.

I'll be sending these as thank you's for my daughter's recent birthday... I think they will be perfect for a girlie vibe.  Tomorrow she will color pictures to be included on the inside as an extra touch.  It is so sweet that she enjoys crafting with me - being three is pretty great. ;)

XOXO.

All supplies are Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Tag Its 3 and Tiny Tags; Cardstock: Rustic Cream and Kraft; Patterned Paper: October Afternoon - Sidewalks; Ink: SU! Baja Breeze, PTI Hibiscus Burst and Tea-Dye duo; Tools: Love Lives Here die collection, Doily Details dies, Tag Sale #3, Tag Sale #5, Tiny Tags die, XL Rickrakc border die, MFT Scallop Border die-namic (medium); Sassy Somethings: Harvest Gold saddle stitch ribbon & Sweet Blush buttons, Webster's Pages pin

Sweetest Pumpkin

I'm still soaking up fall.  I love this A-la-Mode from My Favorite Things and just piled on the 'sassy somethings' to go with her.  I found inspiration from some of my favorite challenges this week:

Sketch #44 from My Favorite Things...

...and the "Homespun Fall" photo inspiration at The Shabby Tea Room

I think this weekend there will be spiced tea and pumpkin muffins in front of the fireplace... cozy family time.  Enjoy your weekend!

ALL Supplies are from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Sweetest Pumpkin in the Patch (a-la Modes), PTI It's Official (bingo card); Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, A-Muse Studio French Roast; Cardstock: PTI Kraft, Ocean Tides, Dark Chocolate, & Rustic Cream; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Tools: Upsy Daisy die-namic, Decorative Doily die-namic, First Place Award Ribbon die-namic, Spellbinders Oval dies; Sassy Somethings: Prima trims, buttons

Fresh, Fun, & Hip - Play Date Cafe #106

Welcome crafty friends for the latest challenge at the Play Date Cafe!  

Our colors this week are fresh and fun with a hip twist of gray:

I opted for a simpler vibe and let the colors shine through a few subtle patterned papers from the October Afternoon Sidewalks collection.  An easy breezy birthday card using a sentiment from our fab sponsor this week:

Click to visit the store.

Here's the inside where I took advantage of the outline font by gradient shading with Copic markers and left some space for a personal message:

We hope you will join us in the Cafe... we're so grateful that you spend time with us each week and we look forward to seeing your beautiful creations.

Stamps: Practicing Creativity - Nature's Wonder, PTI - BB Newsprint; Ink: SU! Basic Gray; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream & Smokey Shadow; Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Sidewalks; Tools: PTI Tag Sale #3 die & Double-ended Banner die, MFT Rosette die-namic; Sassy Somethings: Crate Paper fabric brad

Rewind to September - CARDS Magazine

Rewind in your minds to September for me please... summer is ending and the kiddos are sharpening pencils for the first day of school.  You've bought new shoes, new backpacks, and new lunch boxes - and of course, you've made a card to get on the good side of the new teacher. ;)

This "Back to School" card was published in the September issue of CARDS magazine.  I used lots of Papertrey Ink goodies and thought the tickets were an unexpected and fun way to add little embellishments.  If you changed the sentiment this card could work any time of year for your favorite teacher - I'm certain that notes of encouragement are always appreciated. ;)

I hope you're enjoying the weekend and getting some crafty time in - HUGS.

ALL Supplies are Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: School Time, Just the Ticket, and It's Official, Ink: All SU! - Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, and More Mustard; Cardstock: Kraft, Rustic Cream, Harvest Gold, Lemon Zest, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Ocean Tides, and Aqua Mist; Tools: Just the Ticket border die; Notebook Page die; Sassy Somethings: Dark Chocolate twill and button, twine

Mister Scarecrow

Let me introduce you to my Mister Scarecrow from Market Street Stamps.  He is an adorable straw man from the Autumn Greetings stamp set and I just love him to bits.  Plus, I'm in the mood for fall... I've told you how much I love all things pumpkin, Thanksgiving, and sweater-weather, right??

I colored Mister Scarecrow's face and straw with Copics but paper-pieced his outfit.  The paper-piecing was a bit tedious but I just love it - something about concentrating on the detailed cutting that relaxes me.  I stamped a little "Happy Fall" sign for him to hold and thought it was a perfect touch.  I'll be adding this to the Market Street Stamps Flickr gallery as an entry to their monthly Cream of the Crop contest... because who doesn't love the chance at a great prize?

Just a note that I'm in love with pumpkin orange paired with aqua.  You might have heard the BIG news that a card I made is featured on the cover of November's CARDS magazine.  Seriously??!  Pinch me!  You can get a little sneak peek on my sidebar... pumpkin orange and aqua.  It works for me. ;)

Stamps: Market Street Stamps - Autumn Greetings; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & SU! Soft Suede; Cardstock: PTI Kraft & SS White, SU! Really Rust; Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye - Mischevious; Tools: PTI Mat Stack #1 Mega & Layerz, Picket Fence die, MFT Upsy Daisy die-namic; Sassy Somethings: MME burlap trim