PPA Button Challenge

Our featured artist Joanna Munster and the PPA Design Team have this week's challenge all buttoned up!  Use just one button - or a few - in your design and play along at Pals Paper Arts.  

I created a simple card using SU Retired buttons as a border this week.  I chose the Polka Dots Embossing border for my background so I could easily place my buttons. 

I added White Bakers Twine from the upcoming Summer Mini to the buttons.  I added the Rose Red Ribbon, retired and colored in the Love with Tempting Turquoise Marker.

I’m sorry it’s a short post today.  I’ve been having neck issues and it really bothers me to sit at the computer to type or graze around blogland.  It puts such a strain of my neck.  It was getting better, then I missed a step coming upstairs on Easter and twisted it all over again.  A dark cat on an unlighted stairway...  

A few years back I was diagnosed with Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease, so with that and my first rib being out of alignment has really put a damper on my computering and card making the last week or so.  But hopefully I will be back up and running soon.   I am doctoring for it, it will just take a bit of time. 

I hope you have some buttons to add to your creations this week, we’d so love for you to play at the PPA with us. 

 

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Inkspirations 4U! Free Pass Winner is....

True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max:50 Result: 17

Nancy said...

Wow, a well deserved honor for you Carla and an opportunity for a lucky person. I'm sure you will bring a wonderful array of ideas and projects to Inkspirations 411, can't wait to see (if I'm lucky) what will be included. Have fun.  NLempinen2@comcast.net

Congratulations Nancy!!!  I will be emailing you and sending your name and email to Madeline at Inkspirations 4U! 

I wanted to thank you all for you comments and I wish you all could of won!!!  Be sure to check out the fabulous sneak peek at Inkspirations 4U!  Registration is open for the Summer Edition 2011

Ready to win a Free Pass to Inkspirations 4U! Summer Edition 2011?

I am so honored to join the Inkspirations 4U! Summer Edition 2011 Design Team.  The Summer Edition kicks off in May and I have been given 2 free memberships to give away.

I have given one to Linda Fisher, my downline and now I would like to give this one to you!!!  So if you are interested in new ideas and projects of all kinds, not just cards, leave me a comment on todays post and why you would like to win.  Already a member, no problem you can still win!!!  Click the Inkspirations 4U! Summer Edition Logo for a sneak peek of what's in store. 

Please note, to win you must include your email in your comment.  You will have until Monday at 5am CST, April 25th to leave a comment. 

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

PPA 90 Sketch Challenge

Its Sketch Challenge week at the Pals Paper Arts.  The design is by our own Margaret Moody.  I love this sketch and it was so easy to follow.

I created this masculine card for my brother’s birthday last Thursday.

The image is colored with Colored Pencils and the black on the Finch is done with SU Basic Black marker. 

Supplies...

• SU Every Moment - Image
• Sincere Salutations – Sentiment
• Woodland Walk DSP
• Chocolate Chip Textured Cardstock
• Very Vanilla Cardstock
• Chocolate Stampin’ Pad –Sentiment
• Stazon Black Stamp Pad – Image
• Brown Candy Dots

I hope you enjoyed my card today and will play with us this week at the PPA!!!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!!!  I’m really looking forward to it this year. 

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Upcoming:  Next week I will be posting to select a winner for a free membership for the Inkspirations4U! Summer Edition.  I will have a sneak peek of one of the new stamp sets from the Summer Mini. 

Spring Is Blossoming Promotion   Ends April 30th                  Details are located in my sidebar, with all Stampin’ Up Promotions

Need a Gift?  I offer Gift Certificates in any amount.  See my sidebar for an instant Gift using PayPal.

Sign up with me as a Hobby or Career Demo!!!  Purchase the Demonstrator Kit, customize it to fit your style of stampin’,  then enjoy a 30% discount on your first order!!!  You will get all the Demonstrator Benefits, previews, Stampin’ Success monthly magazine, 20% off each order, access to Demonstrator Only websites, tutorials, tips, and techniques and so much more.  Click here and then click “Start your own Business” for detailed information or email me for details. 

Golfer’s Companion and a Quick Note...

First I wanted to share a little goodie I made my dad for his birthday.  I scoured thru Steve’s golf bag and found this little goodie, he had gotten from Country Companies on a Golf outing last fall.  So I copied it for dad...  I did change out the tee’s, ball marker, and divot fixer for pure white ones before I sent it off with his card.

I used Island Oasis DSP from last years Summer Mini.  I didn’t embellish the heart, I liked the grass blades just as they were.  I hope he got it.  *smile*  I will try to locate the template and will post it under Tutorials as soon as I do. 

I will only be posting my PPA card this week.  I have some family obligations and then toward the weekend, family from out of state are coming in and of course, Easter weekend plans.    So I will see you this Thursday and then I’ll be back in full swing on Monday or Tuesday (April 25th or 26th.)  I hope you miss me!!!  *smile*  If ya need me, just shoot me an email and I’ll get back to as soon as I can.   

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Spring Is Blossoming Promotion Ends April 30th                   Details are located in my sidebar, with all Stampin’ Up Promotions

Need a Gift?  I offer Gift Certificates in any amount.  See my sidebar for an instant Gift using PayPal.

Sign up with me as a Hobby or Career Demo!!!  Purchase the Demonstrator Kit, customize it to fit your style of stampin’,  then enjoy a 30% discount on your first order!!!  You will get all the Demonstrator Benefits, previews, Stampin’ Success monthly magazine, 20% off each order, access to Demonstrator Only websites, tutorials, tips, and techniques and so much more.  Click here and then click “Start your own Business” for detailed information or email me for details. 

Punch Art Carnation for Pals Paper Arts

The PPA Challenge this week is........FLOWERS!!!  So get out those punches, dies, templates, patterns, tutorials and get started!!! 

I started with Marina Mist base and started punching flowers and ripping dies thru the Big Shot and played and played... nothing went together.  So I piled up my mess to play with later. 

I started on another card and the next thing I new my PPA Flower Challenge card was Red and White. 

The Carnation comes from Marie Loves to Stamp.  Its fun, easy and all it takes is a bit cardstock, a circle punch and a brad.  A tip I learned from Debbie Henderson at Debbie’s Designs:  to easily soften up the fibers in your cardstock, run it thru your crimper about a dozen times... this makes peeling the layers really easy.  I also misted mine with a little water to help me shape the flower after I inserted the brad. 

I don’t have the inside nor the envelope complete.  But I have the supply list...

• Tiny Tags Stamp Set
• Strength and Hope Stamp Set
• Whisper White, Real Red and Always Artichoke Cardstock
• Real Red Stampin’ Pad
• Real Red Brad
• Tulip Frame Embossing Folder
• Polka Dots Embossing Folder
• Tag Punch
• Small Tag Punch
• Jewelry Tag Punch
• Scallop Trim Border Punch
• Blossom Petals Punch for the leaves

Check out my new print feature at the bottom of this post.  Click the icon or go to Print Friendly and paste the url of this post into the option box.  You can edit the post to only print what you want or you can save this post as a .pdf file.  How cool is that and its free!!!  If you got directly thru Print Friendly you will have to click on the title of this post to get the url, otherwise you will get my entire blog. 

Remember:  The PPA Design Team and Challenge welcome the use of both Stampin' Up! and non-Stampin' Up! products in our challenge.  Let your paper crafting juices flow!  Stampin' Up! does not restrict demonstrators and challenge participants from using non-Stampin' Up! products in this way. 

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Upcoming: 

• Truthfully... I don’t have anything, but I’m thinking Masculine. 

Spring Is Blossoming Promotion                     Details are located in my sidebar, with all Stampin’ Up Promotions

Need a Gift?  I offer Gift Certificates in any amount.  See my sidebar for an instant Gift using PayPal.

Sign up with me as a Hobby or Career Demo!!!  Purchase the Demonstrator Kit, customize it to fit your style of stampin’,  then enjoy a 30% discount on your first order!!!  You will get all the Demonstrator Benefits, previews, Stampin’ Success monthly magazine, 20% off each order, access to Demonstrator Only websites, tutorials, tips, and techniques and so much more.  Click here and then click “Start your own Business” for detailed information or email me for details. 

Something New, Something Old...

nothing borrowed, but yes, its blue!  The something new, is a sneak peek at a new stamp set from the Summer Mini, Fabulous Florets.  The old is Bella Birds DSP, which includes the blue hue.  *smile*

I don’t know if you can see it in the pictures, but I stamped my image with an old Bordering Blue Craft Ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  Its so pretty in person.  I wish Mom liked blue, it would be her Easter Card.  See, I should of that first!

Today is a quick post as I’m working hard on my project for INKspirations 4U! Summer Edition.   Its been a challenge for me, I don’t want to make a mistake, so you know what I do... I make mistakes.  I’ve cut cardstock wrong, grabbed the wrong ink, oh  you name it, I’ve done it wrong.  I think I’ve taken 400 pictures and 350 of them kept coming out blurry.  Finally 2 days later, I checked the camera settings and it was set on close-up.  Go figure.  Nerves!!!!  So whatever you do, be sure to check your camera settings when things go wrong with those pictures.

Here’s the inside...

All my supplies today are Stampin’ Up except for the Lacey Circle Nestibilities Die and the white Candy Dots.  Well, that’s all I have for today.  I hope you have an awesome day.  Leave me a comment and let me know what ya think of today’s card.  I know I should use new product, but don’t you have some of this DSP in your stash, too? 

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Thursday PPA Sneak Peek: 

Make time to play this Thursday!!! 

Remember!!!  The PPA Design Team and Challenge welcome the use of both Stampin' Up! and non-Stampin' Up! products in our challenges.  Let your paper crafting juices flow!  Stampin' Up! does not restrict demonstrators and challenge participants from using non-Stampin' Up! products in this way. 

Spring Is Blossoming Promotion                     Details are located in my sidebar, with all Stampin’ Up Promotions

Need a Gift?  I offer Gift Certificates in any amount.  See my sidebar for an instant Gift using PayPal.

Sign up with me as a Hobby or Career Demo!!!  Purchase the Demonstrator Kit, customize it to fit your style of stampin’,  then enjoy a 30% discount on your first order!!!  You will get all the Demonstrator Benefits, previews, Stampin’ Success monthly magazine, 20% off each order, access to Demonstrator Only websites, tutorials, tips, and techniques and so much more.  Click here and then click “Start your own Business” for detailed information or email me for details. 

I have awesome news....

I am so excited!!!  Madeline Morcelo has invited me to be a designer for the Summer Edition 2011 of Inkspirations 4U!  I just can’t believe it!  I was so surprised when I received her email.

You too, can be a part of this amazing group, learn new techniques and have new projects to help you improve your business or do you just simply need a wonderful gift ideas?  Click here if you would like to see a sneak peek of one of the fabulous projects. 

Mark you calendar... this edition starts on May 10th!

Madeline has given me two free passes for the Summer Edition 2011 of Inkspirations 4U that I can share with two of my bloggin’ buddies.  I gave the first one to Linda Fisher, my one and only totally awesome downline member and I have one left.... so stay tuned for details on how you can win your free pass!!!  I promise you won’t want to miss this!

While your visiting Inkspirations 4U!, be sure to check out all the other wonderful designers that will be sharing their creativity with you.

I wish I had a card or something clever to share with you today, other than my terrific news.  I’ve had lots of company in and out and with work, I just haven’t had any time to make anything.  But I do have something cute to share...

This is Molly, Tommy’s sister...

isn’t she gorgeous and of course she knows it...   each side of her face is a different color.

I hope you are all having a terrific start to a new week!!!  Hopefully, I will have a card or something to share with you on Wednesday, along with my PPA sneak peek!

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Remember:

• Get your Color Challenge Cards in at the PPA, deadline is Tuesday at Noon!!!

Spring Is Blossoming Promotion                     Details are located in my sidebar, with all Stampin’ Up Promotions

Need a Gift?  I offer Gift Certificates in any amount.  See my sidebar for an instant Gift using PayPal.

Sign up with me as a Hobby or Career Demo!!!  Purchase the Demonstrator Kit, customize it to fit your style of stampin’, then enjoy a 30% discount on your first order!!!  You will get all the Demonstrator Benefits, previews, Stampin’ Success monthly magazine, 20% off each order, access to Demonstrator Only websites, tutorials, tips, and techniques and so much more.  Click here and then click “Start your own Business” for detailed information or email me for details. 

A Bird on a Branch... a Forsythia Branch

Today is the new PPA Celebrity Color Challenge.  Our Celebrity Guest Artist is...  Veronica McCollum, blog designer extraordinaire.  She is responsible for the PPA makeover including the lovely ladies you see below.  Veronica works with clients to incorporate their thoughts and ideas into a personalized blog design - and the results are fabulous!  Join Veronica and the PPA Design Team this week and show us your thoughts and designs using Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizzazz...

I used an inspiration photo today, as I wanted Forsythia for my yellow today.

I remember growing up we had a huge Forsythia bush.  They pruned and pruned that thing, to get it in shape and at a relative nice size.  Nope, it just came back healthier and bigger the next year.  They eventually cut it down to the ground, poured gas on the roots, and set it on fire to get rid of it.  Nope, when they moved out 27 years later, it was still there, going strong.  lol 

I don’t have a tutorial for my Forsythia Branch, as I used the Retired Spring Bouquet Punch.  I also used the stem of leaves from the 2 Step Bird Punch.  You can see how I placed  some of the stems to curve from the back to the front the 3-D look.  I just layered and glued (with Tomboy) to the stem.

I lightly glued 3 pieces of twine together for my branch.  The flower centers on the small 5 petal flowers is just a knot in the end of a short piece of twine and I then threaded it thru the hole I punched in the center of the flower and glued it to the stem.  I created the stem, added the flowers and leaf stems and then placed it on my card.

In order to get your little 5 petal flower to roll up on the edges, lay your punched piece onto a piece of foam and using your embossing tool, gently break down the cardstock fibers by rolling the tool in a circular motion around the flower center and it the petals will stand up.  Punch your little center hole first, for the twine stamen.  In the picture below, you can see some are rolled tightly and some not so tightly.

The little Bluebird has two layers separated with Stampin Dimensionals, as is the front wing from the body.  He didn’t turn out too bad.  Cardstock Colors are... Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point and Whisper White.  The birds belly is lightly dusted with oranges from the Stampin Pastels.

Mom and I tested all colors of gems on my card today and settled on the orange.  It just seemed to give the yellow that little extra pop it needed.  

I wanted you to see the disaster this little card created...   this is table #1, the left side...

this is the right side... my little spot to work is where those tweezers are laying.  lol

Table #2. left side...

right side...

The mess has long since been cleaned up, but I still shake my head looking at these photos.  This little card and it looks like a tornado went thru my room. 

I haven’t gotten to complete the inside of my card yet... but I’ll include it in another post soon.  I hope you enjoyed my card today and have decided to join the PPA for our Celebrity Color Challenge featuring Veronica!!!

if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask...

Upcoming:  A special Birthday Card for my brother and another Flower...

• Spring Is Blossoming Promotion – Stampin’ Up Grab Bags Available
  New Clearance Items
  Details are located in my sidebar, with all Stampin’ Up Promotions

Need a Gift?  I offer Gift Certificates in any amount.  See my sidebar for an instant Gift using PayPal.

Sign up with me as a Hobby or Career Demo!!!  Purchase the Demonstrator Kit, customize it to fit your style of stampin’,  then enjoy a 30% discount on your first order!!!  You will get all the Demonstrator Benefits, previews, Stampin’ Success monthly magazine, 20% off each order, access to Demonstrator Only websites, tutorials, tips, and techniques and so much more.  Click here and then click “Start your own Business” for detailed information or email me for details.