Buttons & Banners...

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance. -Unknown

Soooo, this week's Woodware USA challenge is Buttons...for some reason I decided to try a new style of card today and well, I am not sure it was a home run. I see so many things right now that I would change, distress All the layers or not distress the blue strip...smaller pennants on my banner...sew a little staighter...sentiment stamped in a different color. Oh well, it is what it is! :)

I do Love the set Mixed Messages, the sentiment and the flower on the blue strip are both from this set.

Don't Forget! 2 Free Inky Linky Ink Pads with the purchase of any Stamp Set at Woodware USA!!!


Supplies:
Stamps: Mixed Messages (Woodware USA)
Paper: Thrift Shop (October Afternoon,) Summer Sun (PTI,) Soft Sky (SU,) Textured Card (DCWV)
Ink: Black, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip
Misc: Sewing Machine, Buttons, Embroidery Floss

Challenges:
Woodware USA: Buttons
Skipping Stones Design:
The Pink Elephant: Aqua, DP, Embellishments
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle: Stitching
Pals Paper Arts: All Buttoned Up
Partner in Crafting Crime: CAS

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Wreath...

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler. -Albert Einstein Last week's Woodware USA challenge was Glitter and Bling, I went just for the Bling part. :) I posted a little late this week, so I am playing catch up, come back thursday for this week's Challenge card! (This week's Challenge is Buttons, Buttons. Buttons)

I went simple with my Favorite CAS card base, Fabriano Medioevalis Folded Reply Card, I love the soft color, the hand deckled edges and the fun 5-1/4" × 3-3/8" size. I used my Traditional Christmas greetings set and colored the wreath with Copics, then added lots of Yummy Zva Crystals.

Supplies:
Stamps: Traditional Christmas Greetings (Woodware USA)
Paper: Fabriano Medioevalis Folded Reply Card
Ink: Copic Markers, SU Wild Wasabi & Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc: Zva Crystals

Challenges:
Woodware USA: Glitter & Bling (Late)
Allsorts: Plain & Simple
Caardvarks: Clean & Simple
Craft Your Passion: Clean & Simple
The Crazy Challenge: No Ribbons Or Buttons
Incy Wincy: Anything Goes
Squigglefly: Favorite Embellisment (Gems, of Course!)
52-Card Pickup: Simplify
Partner in Crafting Crime: CAS

Thanks for stopping by!!

Little Squirt...

Quick post today, I am running Way behind and have tons to do!!

This week's Cupcake Inspiration Challenge is sponsored by Pink Cat Studio and they let the Sweeties play with some of their Adorable owl images. I picked Squirt, he is so so cute!!

I used my newest Woodware USA set for the sentiment on the inside along with a little scrap of the patterned paper from the front...

Supplies:
Stamps: Squirt (PCS,) Mixed Messages (Woodware USA)
Paper: Pretty New Dress (Imaginisce,) Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip (SU,) White (PTI)
Ink: Printer, Copics, Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Misc: Saddle Stitched Ribbon, Vintage Button, String, Scallop Scissors

Challenges:
Cupcake Inspiration Challenge:
Pals Paper Arts:
Flutter By Wednesday: Anything with wings
Etsy Inspired:
Our Daily Bread: Wing It
Allsorts: Plain & Simple

Thanks for stopping by!

Music Feeds my Soul...

I went to a concert this summer with a friend and one of the opening acts was Like A Storm. I hadn't ever heard of them, but when they came on stage playing a Digideroo I knew it was going to be good. :) They are young, cute and have accents...AND they play some really good music! I thought I would share a song with you today for Marcea's Music Feeds My Soul Saturday.

(The video is a little off the beaten path for some, but if it bothers you just listen...it's an awesome song!)

Journey into Unknown...

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination -Don Williams Jr

A co-worker retired today after 13 years with the County and plans to travel in her retirement. For her party we wanted to put together a list of places we all though she should visit. I offered to make it into a little book.

I grabbed some coasters at Chili's over the weekend and made a little coaster book, Yay for my Bind-it-All! :)

My friend Michelle had Just sent me a sampling of the Cosmo Cricket Wanted 6x6 paper and I thought it was Perfect for the book! Thanks Michelle!! :)

The hardest part of this book was setting up the Word Document to organize the information in a space that would fit in the book!

I added quotes from each of the recommends and grabbed a picture online of each of the places...

We got a great variety of places, here in Idaho, the US and across the world!

I even added a little spot for her own ideas...

The book ended up being pretty easy, it was my first coaster book, so there are some things I learned Not to do for next time, but all in all I think it came out pretty good!

Supplies:
Stamps: Where You Should Be (Ippity,) Hawaiian Flower, Hawaiian Fan (Unity,) Digi Airplane
Paper: Wanted (Cosmo Cricket,) Coasters, Archivers White CS
Ink: Old Paper Distress Ink, Printer
Misc: Prima Flowers, Pewter Brads, MFT Scallop Die

Challenges:
Blogger's Challenge: Recycle/ReUse (Chili's Coasters)
Belli Challenge: Embellishment Starting with B (Brads)
If the Shoe Fits: Add a Flower
No Time To Stamp: (Brown/turquoise & paisley/flowers)
Stamp Something: Fall colors

Going Grey: Fall

Thanks for stopping by!

Some Specials, News & Fun...

Hi! No crafting to share today, I have been laid up for the last three days.
I did want to pop on and tell you about some Crafty Stuff though!

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First, one of my Crafty Friends and Fellow Cupcake Inspirations Sweeties,
Anita is opening her very own Stamp Store, Anita Be Stampin!!!
She will have Cling Mounted Red Rubber and Digi images available starting Oct 2nd!!!

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Second, Woodware USA is offering Free Ink with Purchase right now!
You get 2 FREE INKY LINKS ink pad with any stamp purchase!
AND there are 28 NEW Stamp Sets available to choose from!

Plus, on the Woodware Blog, they are giving away some BLOG CANDY
once their blog hits 100 Followers! So Go follow for a chance to win!

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Say It With Letters is having a Design Team Call until Oct 3rd!
I had So much fun on the team, if you like to Altered GO APPLY!

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And then, for some fun, I am going to start participating in Marcea's new Music Challenge!
Every week (Hopefully on Saturday) I am going to share some of my favorite music with you!

A Little Creepy...

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. -H. P. Lovecraft
I made this Halloween Decoration with this awesome 8" unfinished Skull from Say it With Letters. This is my last project as a SIWT DT Member, I will miss being on the team, but no worries, it will Not be the last SIWL project I make. I Love these shapes and plan to make Many more projects with them.

After I was done with the project I asked my son what he thought...he paused for a minute and then declared that is was "A Little Creepy!" I worried that meant he didn't like it, that is until he started telling everyone about it. He was rather proud of me, I think. :) *blush*

I started with the unfinished Skull, painted it Cream (Acrylic Paint and a foam brush,) then I added Bright Green paint to the edge and the inside of all the features. Once that was dry I went over the edges with grey ink on a sponge to give it some dimension. I then cut a piece of mostly green Designer Paper (I think it was some Basic Grey Christmas Paper) the right shape to cover all the features. I lined this up on the back and outlined all the features with a pen, I then brushed some glue all around the areas of the eyes, nose and mouth, sprinkled on some Loose Green glitter and let that dry. After it was dry I applied it to the back so the glittered showed thru the holes. I added a Cosmo Cricket Rub On bat to the cheek and a big Pearl Swirl from Prima (It was pink, but I colored it black with my Copic Marker.) Then, I adhered the skull to a 12x12 sheet of Basic Grey Spiders Web paper with E6000.
Once it was in the frame I decided it needed a little something extra, so I added some Cosmo Cricket Rub On cobwebs and some fun Crystal Embellishments...

Supplies:
Stamps: None
Paper: Spider Webs (Basic Grey Eerie Collection)
Ink: Going Grey (SU)
Misc: 8" Unfinished Skull (Say it with Letters,) 12x12 Frame, Prima Pearl Swirl, Haunted Rub Ons (Cosmo Cricket,) Stickles, Green Loose Glitter, Acrylic Paint, Crystal Embellishments

Challenges:

Pals Paper Arts: Wicked
Alphabet Challenge: U is for un-used stash (Spider Webs Paper from Last Halloween)
Alys Sunday Challenge: Sparkle
Ann's Creative Nook: Halloween
Paper Sundaes: Fall or Halloween
Sundays with Chrissy: Sparkle & Shine
Cottage & Vine: Fall Decor Linky Party

Thanks for stopping by!

Craft Critique is having a Halloween Carnival! I added this to their Link up!!!

Pretty Little Thing...

Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy. ~Cynthia Nelms
Super quick post today, I'm not feeling well.

This week's Cupcake Inspiration Challenge is sponsored by Some Odd Girl and all of the DT got to play with the new Tiny Tia and Tiny Tobie images. I used Tiny Tia with a Bow. I used a pretty simple layout to make it all about the image...

A peek at the inside...Supplies:
Stamps: Tiny Tia with Bow *available Tuesday! (Some Odd Girl,) Birthday Wishes Circle
Paper: Kraft, Black, White (PTI,) Thrift Store (October Afternoon)
Ink: Printer, Copics, White Gel Pen
Misc: Stickles, Circle Punches, Sewing Machine, Button, Gingham Ribbon (DeNami Designs,) Swirly Greetings (Elzybells)

Challenges:
Cupcake Inspiration Challenge:
Bee Crafty: Digi + Fashion (I think her dress and Bow = fashion, but this may not qualify)
Going Grey: Digi
Totally Papercrafts: Happy Birthday
Kenny K's Krafty Girlz: Stitching
Stamp Something: Digi
Stampin Royalty: Stitching
Sweet Stampin: Stitching

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure and check out what the other ladies created from this week's inspiration! And stop by Some Odd Girl, they are offering a special discount to Cupcake Inspiration Followers!!

DENIMO, IDA, LISA, PIALI

Peacock Dance...

Genius and virtue are to be more often found clothed in gray than in peacock bright. -Van Wyck Brooks
This week's Blogger's Challenge is Blue, Green and Brown and as I was thinking of what to do I looked around at some other challenges. When I saw That Anyone For Anya had the same colors I knew I was going to use a TGF image...but which one? Then I stopped by the Etsy Inspired Challenge and clicked over to the Etsy store that is featured this week and saw an Amazing Peacock Feather Headdress! At my friends wedding reception last weekend I got a Gorgeous Peacock feather and I knew I was on the right track! What image goes better with a peacock feather than Wild Sprout Savannah?!?!?!
The floral paper is from Webster's Pages and I cut just a small strip for the inside, the sentiment is from Verve's Fairy Tales set...
Supplies:
Stamps: WS Savannah (The Greeting Farm,) Fairy Tales (Verve)
Paper: Garden Gala (Webster's Pages,) New Leaf, Enchanted Evening (PTI,) Felt (MFT)
Ink: Copic Markers, Memento Black, Blue Bayou (SU,) White Gel Pen
Misc: Stickles, Peacock Feather, Prima Flowers, Pearls, Twill Ribbon, Button, Scrapper's Floss, Nestie Oval and Scallop Oval

Challenges:
Blogger's Challenge: Blue, Green & Brown
Anyone For Anya:
Club Anya & Friends:
Etsy Inspired:
Paper Pretties: Pearls

Thanks for stopping by!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner...

And now for the Blog Sweets winner!!!

The lucky commenter/Follower is #22


Debbie!!!

Debbie, email me at rachelhope13@hotmail.com with your snail mail addie and I will get this bundle of sweets out to you ASAP!

Thanks so much to everyone for Following, reading and checking out my Blog, as well as the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge!