Scrapbooking Day Crop

Day:   Sunday, April 19th
Time:  9 am - 6 pm
Please RSVP by April 16th if you will be coming.
Location: Totowa, NJ

Come scrap the day away.    Just bring your photos, paper, adhesives, embellishments and projects and leave the rest of your scrapbook supplies at home.

Bring a salty or sweet treat to share with everyone as your crop fee.
You have full access to my 100+ punches, Big Shot dies and framelits, 100+ stamp sets and 50+ ink pads.    You will also be able to use my overflowing scrap bins of colored card stock and designer paper.     Drinks and bagels will be provided.
   
Lunch is not included in the crop fee, we will be ordering take out for those that are interested.

New Weekly Deals Are Here!

The new Stampin' Up! weekly deals are here!
I am loving that the magnetic platform is now only $29.96!!!

So many great framelits on sale.

Get your weekly deals today and you can still earn Sale-a-bration rewards!

One day left!!

Click here to start shopping!

Chalkboard Teacher

 Here is my chalkboard teacher thank you card!   I wasn't always a big fan of heat embossing.  Now that I see how bold the images made with embossing and the help of the embossing buddy, it is one of my go to techniques.  

Here is the My Favorite Things sketch of the week in red and in blue.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets from a local craft store
Ink:   Basic Black, Versamark
Paper:   Whisper White, Basic Black and designer series paper
Accessories:   Baker's Twine, White Embossing Powder, Black button and enamel dots from a local craft store
Tools:   Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Spiral Border Punch

Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge

This week at Pals Paper Arts there is a sketch challenge.   I was completely drawn to the sketch.   I love this sketch.    For the sketch I was able to use the banners from the wonderful Banner Banter stamp set!

For the banner post it was a combination of Banner Banter and then the long banner piece I use the straight line from Celebrate Today.   To make sure that there it was a clean line.  I masked the long line of Banner Banter and just stamp The ball and the 3 lines.   Then I did the rest of the straight line.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:   Banner Banter, Sweet Essentials, Baby We've Grown, Celebrate Today
Ink:  Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Pink Pirouette Blendabilities
Paper:   Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Enamel Hearts from a local craft store
Tools;  Banner Punch

Blog Candy Winner

Thank you for everyone who took the time out to hop along our first anniversary blog hop for the Fiskafriends and for all the amazing comments!

I loved reading everyone's comments and getting to learn a little about each and everyone of you.

Check back in a few days on the main Fiskafriends blog to see if you won any of the sponsor giveaways.

In the meantime,  I just picked my blog winner and it is UTs Hobby Time!

UTs Hobby Time will be getting:
Bigz Beautiful Butterflies Sizzex Die
Mini Memories Simply Created Album Kit

Crisp Cantaloupe Baker's Twine

Thank you again!!

UTs Hobby Time said...

Beautiful Easter bag. I loved crafting with my friends when I was in my college. Now they are all in different places and I miss them a lot.

Thanks for the fun hop.

Happy Mother's Day Pleasant Poppies

I love the simplicity of this week's Freshly Made Sketches.     I decided to pull out the Pleasant Poppies stamp set to create a Mother's Day card.    I was so happy to have a stamp set to color with!   I love my Blendabilites and I am so sorry to see that they are discontinued as well.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:  Something to Celebrate, Pleasant Poppies
Ink:   Basic Black, Calypso Coral and Old Olive Blendabilites
Paper:   Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White
Accessories:   Pear Pizzazz Button and Baker's Twine from a local craft store
Tools:  Corner Rounder from a local craft store

Fiskafriends Blog Hop 2015 - The Power of Community

Today you get a special treat, not only am I posting my weekly Casing the catty challenge, but today's post is part of the Fiskafriends Blog Hop 2015 - The Power of Community.     Three years ago, I came across a great community of creative ladies, my Fiskafriends.     I never meet a group that was completely focused on creating and supporting one another.    Want to learn more about this amazing community, click here.

The hop will start at 6 PM Pacific Time, so stop by later today and start hopping and checking out all the amazing creations and a chance to win some amazing prizes.
  If you would like to be eligible for the sponsor giveaway drawing, START at the Fiskafriends blogand follow the instructions there. If you have already done that, I would love for you to leave a comment

Click here to start the blog hop!
Blog List:
Jean Bullock

Susan Slomski

Cindy deRosier

Tifany DeGough

Cheryl Waters

Jean Marmo

Teresa Godines

Michelle O'Driscoll

Nancy Carroll

Maya Oren-Dahan

Amy Martin Jones

Karen Poirier-Brode

Tanya Napier

Pamela Haskin

Stasia Sloma

Tracy Moloney

Kim Chenez

In addition to the Fiskafriends's sponsored giveaways, I am giving away blog candy.   Just leave a comment on this post below telling me what is your best crafting time you have had with friends.

The blog candy includes:
Bigz Beautiful Butterflies Sizzex Die
Mini Memories Simply Created Album Kit

Crisp Cantaloupe Baker's Twine

My project is my Easter project I made for the design team I am a part of.     Every week we visit different sections of the Stampin' Up! catalog and we CASE the catty.    You ask what is CASE is well it is Copy and Steal Everything.    So draw inspiration the projects in the catalog.   Steal everything or parts of the project that you like.

The challenge this week at Casing the Catty CASE a project from the EASTER section of the Occasions catalog.

I decided to CASE from the gift bag on page 34 of the Occasions Mini.   Check out the project I cased in the lower right hand corner.    How cute is the polka dot bag.   I decided to make my own decorated gift bag by using the Work of Art stamp set.

To join in the challenges as well as see weekly inspiration, please click here to visit the site.    Please note there is a time difference so if you do not see the challenge posted on Friday, check back a few hours later and it will be up.

Ingredients to make the card:

Stamp Sets:  For Peeps' Sake, Work of Art

Ink:   Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black

Paper Whisper White, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight Patterns Designer Series Paper

Accessories:  Daffodil Delight Button, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools:   Circle Framelits, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Additional Items to Sale-a-brate with

Only a few more days for Sale-a-bration!   March 31st is the last day you can earn products for free with every 50$ order.

More items have been released that you can earn with your Sale-a-bration rewards.  

Click here to see also more Sale-a-bration products.
Click here to download the Sale-a-bration brochure.
Not sure what you want, click here to check out my Pinterest board dedicated to Sale-a-bration and Occasions Mini products.

Click here to start shopping and earning your Sale-a-bration rewards.

Thank you Pals Paper Arts

Thank you!   Thank you!   Thank you Pals Paper Arts for making the pick of the week!  I had so much fun making the card.   I am happy to see you you loved the final result as much as I did!     Click here to check out my card on the Pals Paper Arts as well as the other beautiful cards that were chosen along with mine.   I am honored to chosen in the midst of so many beautiful entries!

Sale-a-bration is coming to an end

There is only 5 more days to earn Sale-a-bration products.   Don't miss out on the opportunity to get the amazing Big Day stamp set!   It is just perfect for coloring and for chalkboard designs.

For every 50$ order you get to choose stamp sets, amazing accessories, designer paper and tools!! So click here to start shopping and earning your Sale-a-bration products!

Not sure what to get,   click here to check out my Pinterest board dedicated to projects made with the amazing Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration brochure.  

The cupcake holder was a great idea I saw on Jan Tinklenberg blog.    Click here to see her projects as well as a PDF where you can download the template.  Super easy to make and such a great way to give someone a birthday treat!

Ingredients to make the cupcake holder:
Stamp Set:    Big Day
Ink:   Basic Black, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral and Bermuda Bay Blendabilites
Paper:    Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper
Tools:   2 1/2" Circle Punch, Simply Scored Scoring Tools

Stampin' Royalty Color Challenge

This month's Stampin' Royalty we are spotlighting each of the goddess from our design team.   This week it is Carrie Rhoades!   What to learn more about Carrie and check out my design team's creations, click here!

This week we the challenge at Stampin' Royalty is a color challenge.    The colors are:  Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cobbler. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to create but then I saw my Around the World stamp set and knew it was about time that I played with again.   I think I have only played with a handful of times since I got it.

The challenge will be open until 3:00 (PST) March 30th.   Hope you can join us!

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:   Around the World, Show & Tell, Crazy About You
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cobbler
Paper:   Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake Patterns Designer Series Paper. Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Neutral Candy Dots, Vintage Brads, Twill Tape, Natural Chevron Ribbon, Natural Button, Linen Thread
Tools:  Angled Tag Topper Punch

Sending Happy Thoughts

 How stinkin' cute is this little guy!   A friend of mine is going through a tough time and I wanted to send her a card to let her know that I am thinking of her.     Here is this month's Unity sketch of the month.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp set from online site
Ink:   Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler Blendabilties
Paper:   Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Flower Pot Designer Series Paper
Accessories:   Whisper White Baker's Twine, Button and Enamel Dots from a local craft store
Tools:   Project Life Corner Rounder

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

So how great is this stamp set, all you need is faith, trust and a little pixie dust!   Isn't that the truth!   Here are this month's Unity colors!    How great are these colors, they make me think of Spring!  

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp set from an online site
Ink:  Basic Black,  Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight and Skin Tone Blendabilites
Paper:   Whisper White, Epic Day Designer Series Paper
Accessories:   Mossy Meadow Baker's Twine and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Teacher Appreciation

Teacher appreciation week is May 4 - 8th this year. Here is a teacher appreciation card made with the Retro Sketch of the week.

I love my blendabilites and I am so disappointed that they have been discontinued at this time.  I am hoping they will be back and better than ever in the next catalog.  

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp set from a local craft store
Ink:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight and Skin Tone Blendabilites
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Newsprint Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Black Baker's Twine and Enamel Dots

Thank you teacher

 So if you have been visiting my blog, you may have seen more a more than the daily posts.   May is a very busy month for me.   We have Teacher Appreciation Week and followed by Mother's Day.    So in between normal card making, I have been busy making cards for those two special occasions so I have a huge inventory of cards to sell at The Fine Grind Coffee Bar.

So with every sketch challenge, I am taking the opportunity to create for the challenge and then adding to my inventory of cards.

So here is Mojo Monday sketch along with a teacher appreciation card.  

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets from a local craft store
Ink:   Basic Black, Going Gray Marker, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette and Skin Tone Blendabilites
Paper:   Crumb Cake, Whisper White, StoryTime Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Enamel Dots, Red Button and Baker's Twine
Tools:  Circle Framelits

Love the Butterflies Thinlits

So I am absolutely lovin' the Butterflies Thinlits.    I used the negative die cut of the butterfly to sponge ink for the background.    Then I applied the top layer and attached it to the card with dimensionals.

The butterfly is a perfect addition for this week's Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp set:   Hello You, stamp set from a local craft store
Ink:  Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight and Calypso Coral
Paper:   Whisper White, Night of Navy, Flower Pot Designer Series Paper
Accessories:   Pumpkin Pie Button, Whisper White Baker's Twine and Enamel Dots from a local craft store
Tools:   Butterflies Thinlits, Sponge Daubers

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's day is around the corner.  As soon as I saw  My Favorite Things sketch I knew I wanted to pull out the retired Happy Watercolor stamp set for the sketch challenge.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:   Happy Watercolor, Something to Celebrate
Ink:   Basic Black, Calypso Coral and Old Olive Blendabilites
Paper:   Whisper White, Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Doily, Baker's Twine, Vintage Buttons, Pearls
Tools:  Circle Framelits

More Chalkboard Happy Birthday

 Here is another card made with the chalkboard technique colored in with my Blendablities.    The best part is that with my Stampin' Write markers I don't always get the crisp lines in my images when I color in.    So end stamping the image a few times to get the nice bold images.   But with heat embossing the image and then coloring in with my Blendabilities, it is so easy.

Here is the chalkboard happy birthday paired up with the My Favorite Things Meets Page Maps sketch.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp set from an online store
Ink:   Versamark, Pink Pirouette and Soft Sky Blendabilites
Paper:  Basic Black, Pink Pirouette and Designer Paper from a local craft store
Accessories:   Black Twine, Neutral Candy Dots, Black Button and Washi Tape from a local craft store, White Embossing Powder
Tools:   Heat Gun and Embossing Powder

Chalkboard Happy Birthday

Okay so my favorite new trend is chalkboard, but even better is chalkboard colored in with my Blendabilities!!!  Love the pastel chalkboard look!   I also love taking black and white designer paper and giving it it's own custom look with colored designer paper.

I just got this great happy birthday stamp and I new it would be just perfect for this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp set from an online store
Ink:   Versamark, Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay Blendabilites
Paper:  Basic Black, Bermuda Bay and Designer Paper from a local craft store
Accessories:   Black Twine and Enamel Dots, White Embossing Powder
Tools:   Heat Gun and Embossing Powder

CTC SAB and Occasions Inspiration

The challenge this week at Casing the Catty is Sale-a-bration and Occasion Inspiration - use a combination of Sale-a-bration and Occasions stamps and accessories on your project.

So I decided to use two of my favorite stamp sets, Celebrate Today and Big Day for the challenge along with the beautiful striped paper from the Painted Blooms designer series paper.

To join in the challenges as well as see weekly inspiration, please click here to visit the site.    Please note there is a time difference so if you do not see the challenge posted on Friday, check back a few hours later and it will be up.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:  Celebrate Today and Big Day
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Painted Blooms designer series paper
Accessories:  In Color Sequins, Gold Baker's Twine, Rhinestones
Tools:  Balloon Framelits

Hand prints scrapbooking

Today is my sister's birthday.  I found out this morning that my I was babysitting my niece and nephew So I decided to create a scrapbook page to give to her with pictures along with heat embossed hand prints.    

I love doing heat embossed hand prints.    Just some versamark on a hand which easily cleaned up.   Then some white embossing powder and you are almost done.

It was a quick scrapbook page.    Between printing photos, getting little hands heat embossed all while the two little ones are getting trouble.  

Here is my scrapbook page as well as the ingredients to make the scrapbook page:
Stamp Sets:   Snuggles and Smooches, alphabet stamp set from a local craft store
Ink:  Basic Black, Versamark, Melon Mambo Blendabilites
Paper:   Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Black Enamel Dots and Alphabet stickers from a local craft store, White Embossing Powder
Tools:  Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Heart to Heart Punch, My Way Punch

Color Challenge

I love this month's My Favorite Things color palette.     The colors are Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate and Whisper White.   I decided to use the cute little bird set I just got.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets from a local craft store
Ink:  Island Indigo, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay Blendabilies
Paper:   Whisper White, Island Indigo, Designer Series Paper from a local craft store
Accessories:   Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Enamel Dots and Washi Tape from a local craft store
Tools:  Circle Framelits

Mojo Monday Mother's Day

Here is this week's Mojo Monday sketch.   Such a versatile sketch.   Check out all the projects made with the sketch, you will be inspired to create.

Here is the beautiful Snuggles and Smooches stamp set paired up for this sketch challenge.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:   My Mother, Snuggles & Smooches
Ink:   Basic Black
Paper:   Whisper White, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Back to Black Designer Series Paper
Accessories:   Black Satin Ribbon, Black Button and Enamel Dots from a local craft store
Tools:  Build a Blossom Punch, Project Life Corner Rounder

Teacher Thank You

This month's Stampin' Royalty we are spotlighting each of the goddess from our design team.   This week it is Andrea McKay!   What to learn more about Andrea and check out my design team's creations, click here!

This week we the challenge at Stampin' Royalty is sketch challenge.    I just earned the new For Being You stamp set from the holiday mini.   I knew I wanted to make a teacher thank you card for the challenge.   Since the word is big, I decided to make a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2" card for the challenge.

The challenge will be open until 3:00 (PST) March 2nd.   Hope you can join us!

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:   For Being You
Ink:  Versamark
Paper;    Basic Black, Storytime Designer Series Paper, Playground Project Life Card, Hello Honey Patterns Designer Series Paper
Accessories:   Basic Black Buttons and Baker's Twine, Whisper White Embossing Powder
Tools:  Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Circle Framelits

Loving my Teacher Stamp set

This has slowly become the week of teacher thank you cards.   Stay Tuned tomorrow for another card.   I am completely loving the school set I just purchased.   It is a perfect match to this week's My Favorite Things sketch of the week.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Set from a local craft store
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade
Ink:   Basic Black, Going Grey, Blush Blossom
Blendabilities: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight
Accessories:  Black Baker's Twine, Black Enamel Dots
Tools:   Corner Rounder from a local craft store

thank you teacher

 I just love this week's Freshly Made Sketches.   I was completely inspired by the design team projects!   I just got a great teacher stamp set and it was perfect opportunity to make a teacher card.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets from the local craft store
Ink:  Basic Black, Versamark, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Skin Tone Blendabilites
Paper:   Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Accessories:   Red Button, Enamel Dot and Baker's Twine from a local craft store, Washi Tape from a local craft store, Whisper White Embossing Powder
Tools:   Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy

CTC Sketch

The challenge this week at Casing the Catty is we are by sketch design of the card found on page 17 of the Sale-a-bration brochure.   I have to say I was drawn to the card as well.   Such a unique design.     I also love it for the fact that I get to use the beautiful Butterflies Thinlits.

To join in the challenges as well as see weekly inspiration, please click here to visit the site.    Please note there is a time difference so if you do not see the challenge posted on Friday, check back a few hours later and it will be up.

Ingredients to make the card:

Stamp Sets:  Hey You, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Something Borrowed Designer Series Paper, Basic Black Patterns Designer Series Paper

Accessories:  Clothespin, Linen Thread, Neutral Candy Dots

Tools:  Butterflies Thinlits, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Large Oval Punch

Snuggles snd smooches

So I really love this week's Retro Sketch of the week,   I think I was mostly drawn to the sketch because I just got the Snuggles and Smooches and I couldn't wait to play with it.

The leaves I punched out with the Blossom Builder punch and then with my Stampin' Write Marker I drew in the line.

Ingredients to make the card;
Stamp Sets:   Snuggles & Smooches, Crazy About You
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Gumball Green
Paper:    Gold Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White
Accessories:  Baker's Twine and Enamel Dots from a local craft store
Tools:  Corner Rounder from a local craft store

For Peep's Sake

So I completely took this week's Mojo Monday sketch and made it my own.    It started with a row of chicks colored in with my Stampin' Write Markers and Blendabilites and then I slowly added things and before you know it this beauty came about.

Ingredients to make the card:
Stamp Sets:   For Peep's Sake, Garden Party
Ink:   Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral Blendabilities
Paper:   Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango Patterns Designer Series Paper
Acccessories:  Pearls and Bright Candy Dots
Tools: Circle Framelits