Give Thanks - ATSM Photo Inspiration

Hey crafty friends!  It's time for another fun challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week we are working with this lovely fall themed photo for inspiration.  I can't wait to see all the gorgeous creations it inspires!

This week StampArt Design is giving 5 free digis to our winner!  Woot woot!

Playing along at the Simon Monday Challenge: Finishing Touch (Stamping)

and TIME OUT Challenge: Stamping (Apples Optional)

And I have some more homework to share.  This is from Day 5 - Coloring Hair, Skin and Clothing, I'm happy with the results, all the practice is definitely helping me.

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies:

Stamps:  For All Things (Stampin' Up)

Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler (SU)

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango (SU)

Patterned Paper: Sweater Weather 6x6 (Lawn Fawn)

Misc: Twine, Sequins, Stitched Border dies (LF)

Merry and Bright - Merry Monday #128 (Stripes and Dots)

Hey everyone, it's Monday yet again and that means time for another fun challenge at Merry Monday!  I got to choose this week's theme and I want to see your creations with polka dots, stripes or both!

I love these super fun Christmas stockings:

You can see all the details and gorgeous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team here.  Or stop by their blogs and give them some love:

Wendy Aungst

Lesley Croghan

Nina Forsyth

Kristie Goulet

Debbie Henderson

Karren Johnson

Sue Joyce

Bonnie Klass
Deanne Kay 

Katie Melhus (you're here!)
Jen Mitchell

Margaret Moody

LeAnne Pugliese

Lori Turner

Kathy Schweinfurth

and our Featured Designer for September:

Jaydee

I can't wait to see everyone's entries in the gallery this week, I'm always so impressed with all of the creations.

And NOW...some homework catchup.  I joined the Copics for Cardmakers class a week late and have been working to catch up on all my practice assignments!  It's hard to post some of these, being funky and all but here goes!

Day 1 - Simple 2 and 3-color blending.

On this sheet I used my SU Blendabilities for the first time, and they worked great.  They blend well and don't bleed like I find my Spectrum Noir markers can.  My only gripe is I wish there was a tad bit more difference between the 3 colors in the family for a bit more contrast, but I'll definitely be getting some more!

Day 2 - Blending tricks - I wasn't feeling these birds and butterflies and still struggle with tip-to-tip blending, I'm pretty sure it was my color choices.  I don't have very many copics so my pairs got a bit funky.  I love the acetate blending technique though, that worked great!  Definitely needing more practice on all of these.

Day3 - Shading with Gray - what a cool technique I never knew about!  I struggled a bit because I have no gray copic markers, only spectrum noirs and the two brands were a bit hard to blend together.  Love this technique though!

Day 4 - Light sources and shading - I love these flowers and will be coloring more of them!  Thanks for looking and bearing with my practice images!

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies: 

Stamps: Snow Day (Lawn Fawn)

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Real Red (SU)

Ink: Pool Party, Real Red, Gumball Green (SU)

Patterned Paper: Snow Day 6x6 (LF)

Misc:  Label Die, Ticket Corner Punch, Spectrum Noir Markers, Candy Dots, Twine, Stickles

Time for a Blog Hop

Hey crafty friends!  I'm sharing a card today for a Unique Blog Hop that's going on.  I was nominated by my pal Kristie Goulet of Kreative Kristie.  I've been a fan of Kristie's clean and simple design style for a while now, but have gotten to know her better since we've been on the Merry Monday DT together this year.  Check out her work - you won't be disappointed!

The card I'm sharing today was a team effort - my 4 year old daughter and stamper in the making made the inside for this card that is for her Grandpa.   I love this sweet little bird.

Ansley decided to make a rainbow.  I was super impressed!

This hop includes a few questions to answer so here I go:

What are you currently working on?
I just finished up a banner for friend's soccer themed birthday party.  I used my Cameo and it was super quick and easy and turned out so cute.  But I'm usually working on cards, cards and more cards.  Right now I'm brainstorming for something fun I will be sharing in the future, it's gotta be good!

How does your work differ from others of its genre?
My work and style is always changing - at least it feels that way to me.  I tend to stick with mostly CAS creations, and I have tendency toward cute stuff lately.  I love to color and I'm trying improve my skills in that area.

What inspires your work?  How does your creative process work?
I'm constantly inspired by challenges and I love to cruise pinterest for great ideas.  I like to start with a challenge to get my creativity going then a little browsing of my favorite bloggers and pinterest will usually spark some idea - then it's off to dig through my stash and make stuff happen!  The biggest thing I've learned that has helped my process is to stop being afraid of throwing something away and starting completely over.  At first it was hard to part with that gorgeous piece of patterned paper or cardstock I worked so hard on, but once I learned to let go I've been much happier with my end results.

Thanks for reading a little about me, but now I'd like to nominate my super sweet and talented friend Breelin Renwick of Craft-somnia Momma.  She is one of my favorite "enablers" and she hosts a group of us crafty ladies at her house every month to create amazing goodies she designs and to keep up with the latest Stampin' Up must-haves.  She was featured at this year's SU convention as a display board stamper - how cool is that?  Check out her blog - it's filled with super fun goodies of all types!

I'm linking up at the Lawnscaping Challenge: Critters Galore

And the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Stencils and Stamps

And this stamp set is some NBUS - so I'm playing at Darnell's too!

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies:

Stamps: Get Well (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: Smoky Slate, Hello Honey (SU), Lipstick Red (SSS), Copic Markers

Cardstock:  Smoky Slate (SU), Solar White (Neenah)

Jolly Holly Days - Christmas Bingo at Merry Monday!

Hey everyone, it's Monday and that means time for another fun challenge at Merry Monday!  This week's theme is chosen by the super talented Kathy and she wants us to make a card using the Christmas Bingo board.  Just choose any row of three, across, down or diagonal and use those elements to make your card - fun, right?

I chose the far left row: Sparkle, Die Cut, and Red to make my card.  The ornament is cut from white glitter paper.

You can see all the details and gorgeous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team here.  Or stop by their blogs and give them some love:

Wendy Aungst

Lesley Croghan

Nina Forsyth

Kristie Goulet

Debbie Henderson

Karren Johnson

Sue Joyce

Bonnie Klass
Deanne Kay 

Katie Melhus (you're here!)
Jen Mitchell

Margaret Moody

LeAnne Pugliese

Lori Turner

Kathy Schweinfurth

and our Featured Designer for September:

Jaydee

I can't wait to see everyone's entries in the gallery this week, I'm always so impressed with all of the creations.

Playing along at the ABC Christmas Challenge: S is for Something Festive

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies: 

Cardstock: Poppy Parade (SU), Ultra Heavy White (SSS), White Glitter CS

Patterned Paper: Snow Day 6x6 (Lawn Fawn)

Cut file: Snowflake Ornament (Silhouette Store)

Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Lil Inkers)

CAS(E) this Sketch (Guest Designer!) - Purr-Fect Halloween

Hey crafty friends!  I'm super excited to be the Guest Designer this week over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  Can you believe it?  I hardly can!  This week's sketch is super fun and has tons of possibilites.

I've been gobbling up the Lawn Fawn goodies recently and I made another Halloween card with this super cute set.  I did some watercoloring with distress markers for the cat and her hat.

Here's this week's sketch by Gayatri:

I can't wait to see what everyone creates!

Playing along at the Lawnscaping Challenge: Critters Galore

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies:

Stamps: Spooktacular (Lawn Fawn)

Dies: Spooktacular (LF), Circle Frames (Silhouette Online Store)

Misc: Distress Markers, Green and Silver Embossing Powder

Spooktacular - Holidays at ATSM

Hey friends!  Are you ready to get your Holiday on with us over at Addicted to Stamps and More?  This week the challenge is to show us your Holiday cards - it can be for any holiday you choose.  I made this Halloween card with some NBUS I just got my hands on.

Our sponsor this week is Eureka Stamps and they are offering 3 free digis to our winner!

I'm playing along with Darnell's super-popular NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) Challenge #2

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies: 

Stamps: Spooktacular (Lawn Fawn)

Dies: Spooktacular, Stitched Hillsides (LF), Stitched Rectangles (Lil Inkers)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Gray (SU)

Patterned Paper: Sweater Weather 6x6 (LF)

Misc: Copic Markers, Mustard Embossing Powder

Merry Monday #126 - Shining Sentiments

Hey everyone, it's Monday and that means time for another fun challenge at Merry Monday!  This week's theme is chosen by the spectacular Karren and she wants us to make a Christmas card with the sentiment as the star of the show.

Since I don't have any large sentiment stamps, I decided to use my Silhouette to cut a big ol' set o' words.  I was also inspired to try the bokeh technique by my friend Bree over at Craftsomnia-Momma - you can see her beautiful bokeh card here.

Here's the inspiration photo:

You can see all the details and gorgeous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team here.  Or stop by their blogs and give them some love:

Wendy Aungst

Lesley Croghan

Nina Forsyth

Kristie Goulet

Debbie Henderson

Karren Johnson

Sue Joyce

Bonnie Klass
Deanne Kay 

Katie Melhus (you're here!)
Jen Mitchell

Margaret Moody

LeAnne Pugliese

Lori Turner

Kathy Schweinfurth

and our Featured Designer for September:

Jaydee

I can't wait to see everyone's entries in the gallery this week, I'm always so impressed with all of the creations.

Entering this  card in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Create your own background
and the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Rock the Techniques (Bokeh Technique)

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies: 

Ink: Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive Re-inkers (SU), White Pigment Ink

Cut file: Silhouette Online Store

CS: Gold chevron glitter cardstock, Watercolor Paper, White CS

Misc: Enamel dots

Warm Heart

Hey there, just a quick card for the challenges at CAS-ology (Three) and CAS on Sunday (Black and White with a color of your choice).  Hope you like!

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies:

Stamps/Dies: Snow Day (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: Lipstick Red (Simon Says Stamp), Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Cardstock:  White (SSS), Basic Black (SU)

Misc: Spectrum Noir Markers, Wink of Stella Clear

Merry Monday #125 - Use a Vehicle

Hey everyone, it's Monday and that means time for another fun challenge at Merry Monday!  This week's theme is chosen by the uber-talented Debbie and she would like to see us make a Christmas card using a vehicle or transportation.  I found this adorable file in the Silhouette Online Store and decided to use it as my main image.  Let's just say it had a lot of tiny little pieces to glue, lol.  A LOT.

Here's the inspiration photo from Debbie:

You can see all the details and gorgeous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team here.  Or stop by their blogs and give them some love:

Wendy Aungst

Lesley Croghan

Nina Forsyth

Kristie Goulet

Debbie Henderson

Karren Johnson

Sue Joyce

Bonnie Klass
Deanne Kay 

Katie Melhus (you're here!)
Jen Mitchell

Margaret Moody

LeAnne Pugliese

Lori Turner

Kathy Schweinfurth

and our Featured Designer for September:

Jaydee

I can't wait to see everyone's entries in the gallery this week, I'm always so impressed with all of the creations.

Entering this card at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Stamp It!

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies: 

Cut file: Christmas Truck (Silhouette Online Store)

Stamp: Lil' Inkers

Patterned Paper: Fa La La 6x6 pad (Lawn Fawn)

Cardstock:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Garden Green, Gumball Green, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, White (SU)

Misc: Rock Candy Distress Glitter, Clear WOS Glitter Pen, White Enamel Accents

Happy Shower

Hey there.  I'm here with a one-layer baby shower card to share today.

I did some masking and used a sponge dauber to create the frame and did some hand doodling inside the little heart and splash stamps before adding some glossy accents to them.

Playing along this week with my Colour Me...! friends: Monochromatic (my umbrella is really gray, just can't get a good photo of it!)

Lawnscaping Challenge: One Layer Card

CASology: Under

And the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Stamp-It!

Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Supplies: 

Stamps: Hello Baby (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray (SU) Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Cardstock: 120lb white (SSS)

Misc:  Copic Markers, Glossy Accents, Silver Glitter Pen 

My Sunshine - ATSM Anything Goes!

Hey everyone, it's time for another fun challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This week we want to see your creations and Anything Goes!  I made my card using a piece of chalkboard style patterned paper that I colored in places with alcohol markers.

This week we have a fun prize from our sponsor - 5 free digis from Stamp Art Design - hooray!

Stop by ATSM to see the rest of the DT's gorgeous creations.  Thanks for stopping by, keep it crafty!

Entering this card at the Simon Monday Challenge: Bold