Guess what color? Again...

GO GREEN!  Ok, I hid the buttons, but I still pulled out green paper! 

All this green is based on Inktegrity's sketch challenge this week.  Play along and feel free to use any color you would like with this sketch :>)!

I decided to use only sentiments on this one.  The Happy St. Patrick's Day circles and "Go Green" are part of the Inktegrity Peeking Leprechaun digi. I made the circles 3/4" and punched them out to layer over the ribbon.  You have got to love the ability to change the size of digis to match any punch!

My inspiration to paper pierce the shamrock came from the Crazy 4 Challenges blog.  The challenge over there this week is paper piercing, so I pierced away.  To make the shamrock I printed shamrock clip art on white copy paper, laid it over my green CS and then pierced through both layers - such an easy way to make the image and I think it would be a great way to pierce a stamped image too.
May the luck of the Irish be with you today (and Go Green)!
Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamps - Inktergrity Peeking Leprechaun sentiments (circles and "go green"), CS - SU Wild Wasabi, Ink - SU Basic Black, stash brads and ribbon, and Sizzix Argyle 2 embossing folder.

Quick CAS

Sometimes you just need a quick card - if you are like me, you think you have a card made for a gift, but then minutes before you are to leave you realize ooops, I need a card!
This one is super fast.  I only had minutes to spare. 
I am using the CPS sketch #157 and combining it with the Verve Spring Fling release challenge #1 to make a CAS card with a flower on it.  I created my own flower using Verve's Thankful Accents. 

No, your eyes are not seeing things, I am using green and orange again.   I think I need to take the bag of green & orange buttons and hide it from myself.  I see that bag and want to use every button in it!
Oh, and that is real sunshine in this photo.  I have never been so happy to see the sun :>)  Today, my daughter's GS troop was doing a cookie booth sale and the thought of standing outside for hours in 20 degree weather was not appealing!!!  It was over 40 degrees today - hooray!

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp Set - Verve Thankful Accents, CS - SU Whisper White, Ink - SU Old Olive, Really Rust and Blue Bayou, Foof-a-la button and embroidery floss.

Tanzanite Bag

A friend recently e-mailed and asked if I could make a box to put a pair of earrings in.  My response, of course!  What template did I immediately think of?  Perfect Presentation's My Little Bag.  It is my fave, but Leigh Ann has come out with a couple more that may be contender's for #1.  Be sure to check out all the templates available at the Wild Flower Patch Shop.  Plus the JUGS challenge this week is to use a template!

The earrings that will be nestled in this box are tanzanite and were my inspiration.

I just love the way the bag opens!

Now when my friend received the "bag" she e-mailed me that it would make the perfect presentation!!!  Then she asked if I could make a matching card :>)

 

Regardless of what this photo is showing, the colors are the same (promise)!  I have given up on natural light here in Connecticut!


Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp Set - SU, CS - SU Lovely Lilac & Almost Amethyst, Ink - Lovely Lilac, stash buttons, ribbon and rhinestones, Template - My Little Bag, and CB Swiss Dots embossing folder.

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

I love Easter (isn't the candy this time of year the best?!) and this bunny may not be chocolate, but he is so sweet. 

This is the other new image released this week from Inktegrity - "Some Bunny". Awww...such a cutie!   How could I not paper piece him?!?!  I toned down the PP colors a bit by sponging on some brown ink.
The Inktegrity Blog has a new feature - Sketch Challenges!  The layout on my card is based on this sketch by Diane:

Plus, you will receive this free digi just for playing along and one random participant will win 3 single images!

So hop on over to Inktegrity and play along with us - I can't wait to see all your sweet creations! 

Smiles,
Julie

Details:  Stamp - Inktegrity Some Bunny, CS - SU Very Vanilla and , PP - DCWV Nana's Nursery, Ink - SU Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa, CB Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, and stash ribbon.

An Inktegrity Peek at St. Patty's Day

Today Inktegrity is releasing 2 new digi stamps, Bunny Gift and Peeking Leprechaun, hop on over to the store and take a peek at the full digi stamps, because each stamp comes with several sentiments.  I was instantly drawn to the adorable "Peeking Leprechaun"...

 

My card combines a few challenges...

The layout is based on Card Patterns' sketch #53.  Card Patterns is celebrating their 1 year anniversary {congrats}!  In addition to a prize for participating in the sketch challenge, they are also giving away prizes for participating in daily blog hops thru Thursday.  

Crazy for Challenges is challenging everyone to use 3 types of texture this week - my card uses, sewing and 2 different embossing folders, along with a button and twine.

Last but not least, Joanne B is celebrating her 3rd Blogaversary with weekly challenges.  This week the challenge is to use kraft cs and sewing.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Inktegrity design team made with the new images.  I know there are a couple of cute bunnies and leprechauns to be found as you hop around their blogs...
Ashley Scheffler
Kelly Santi

Jacquie Pfeifer

Rhonda Miller

Diane Ulitsch

Publish Post

Lelia Pierce

Jackie Randolph

Joni Wilson (owner)

What are you waiting for??  Get hopping!  (Okay, I know I used a ton of puns today, I could not resist, I am in a goofy mood!)
Smiles,
Julie
Details: Stamp - Inktegrity Peeking Leprechaun, CS - SU Kraft, Ink - SU Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and Blush (for watercoloring image), PP - My Mind's Eye Photo Mat Blue, PTI Button and Twine.

Inktegrity Excitement

I am excited to announce that I am on the Inktegrity Spring design team!! I came across Inktegrity a couple weeks ago and it was just the right time because Joni, the owner, was searching for a new DT.  I love all her super cute digi images that are perfect for paper piecing.  Be sure to check out the store and blog.
This is the card that I did for the Inktegrity DT application.  I took the sketch that Diane created (here) and added digis from the "On the Right Track" set.  I really wanted to show a variety of ways to use digis.  From PP (thanks for the idea Leigh Ann), to a single image, and making a chipboard element.   Plus, to make it even better I now have a card made for a B-day boy turning 4 next month.  I really like this digi set because it is perfect for little boys, but there is also a Birthday girl crossing sign.  When my daughter was 3, all she wanted for Christmas was a train set!

I decided to add some heavy cardboard to the crossing sign to give it dimension and make it look real.  I used cardboard that came with a PP stack and fortunately my paper cutter made it thru it easily.  I then took my black copic and ran it along the edges of the cardboard before gluing on my CS.

I really had fun with this card!  I have fun with this set in general.  I promise you will see it more in the future because I am full of ideas for things to create for my sons.  Oh, and I still have scrap booking to do for the year my daughter received the train set from Santa!

A HUGE thank you to Joni for giving me the opportunity to work with her adorable images!

Smiles,
Julie
Details:  Stamp Set - Inktegrity On the Right Track, PP - SU (retired), CS SU black, riding red, and PTI aqua mist, brads - Joann's, ribbon -stash, and Black Copic.

Sketch Girl #13

Sketch Girl #13!

It will be lucky for one participant because this month our sponsor is Wild Flower Kids digital stamps, which are available in the Wild Flower Patch Store.  One random participant of Sketch #13 will win 5 digi stamps, so link up your project HERE.

I love the sketch this time around because you can keep it super simple or dress it up.  I went the simple route and created these cards.  I think this is the perfect sketch for making a set of quick cards, which is a great gift to have on hand.

I am combining the sketch challenge with another challenge...this week Little Paper Shop has a color challenge - Kiwi, Dark Brown and Kraft.  I was not sure to do with that combo at first, but I really like the 3 colors once they are put together.

The argyle is created using Practicing Creativity's Key to My Heart set.  Now this next one is also being submitted into MFW's Olympics!  Cath always has great challenges and this one is right up there.  This is the only way I will ever compete at the "Olympics" LOL! 

Check out these links to all the other Sketch Girls:
Our guest designer for February - Amy Tsuruta
Annie
Alyssa
Amber
Bonnie
Harriet
Jennie
Jessica
Katie
Randee
Sara
Tiffany

Smiles everyone!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Julie
Details:  Stamps:  Practicing Creativity - Key to My Heart, Little Paper Shop - Lily and Lucy Messages (B-day sentiment), CS - PTI and SU, Buttons and Twine PTI, and CB Embossing Folder Swiss Dots.

Inspired by Buttons

I know, I know, when am I not inspired by buttons?!?!

Courtney Baker made a card with tons of buttons and the rays from her latest stamp release, You're Dandy (check it out here). All those circles inspired me to create this card using the latest EBTKS sketch challenge. Yes, surprisingly there are no buttons on my version, but the idea of all those circles had me pulling out my 1/4" punch.


It is so clean and simple yet full of color. I wish I had thought of this the last time there was a tough color challenge because this is an easy way to get in 5 colors!
I am also submitting this card into MFW's Olympic challenge, for the "Hello/Thinking of You" category.  Cath always has fun challenges and this is no exception.  I've got lots of circles here, so here is hoping they turn into an Olympic medal!

Smiles,
Julie
Details: Stamp Set - Practicing Creativity Key to My Heart, CS SU and PTI, & Ink SU Blue Bayou.

Stuck on Green

My last few cards have included lots of green...today's is no exception! This one reminds me of the 90's! It's not exactly mint green and peach, but those are the colors that define the 90's for me. I am once again using these Foof-a-la buttons - I bought the bag because of this orange color - sooo not me, but I love it!

The card is based on Jen's SFYTT found here. She is having a huge giveaway at the end of the month, so be sure to check out all the sketches this month. Jen's sketches are the first I started following while checking out blogs - she always has good ones!
Smiles,
Julie
Details: Stamp set - PTI Everyday Button Bits, Buttons - Foof-a-la, CS - SU Kraft, PP - My Mind's Eye Home Photo Mat Blue and PTI twine plus stash ribbon.

Sweet Pears

Over the weekend I visited my LSS and as soon as I saw the Nook and Pantry pear paper I grabbed it with this Little Paper Shop pear image in mind - the paper and image make the perfect pear :>). I have more goofy puns in mind which I will spare you from!!

The pears are a free digi available to Little Paper Shop forum members, you can join HERE. This image would be perfect to try out if you have never used digis before.

Today's card combines a few challenges:

First is the Little Paper Shop's challenge to use distressing. Besides inking up and distressing the paper edges, I inked up the green paper a bit and also added a bit of stitching to the pear PP. Vintage buttons too!

Second is CPS Sketch challenge #154:

And last, but not least...Joanne B has a paper piecing challenge this week. She will be doing challenges for the next 3 weeks in celebration of her 3rd blogaversary, with a giveaway at the end, so be sure to check out her blog - Just a Little Something.

Smiles,

Julie

Details: Stamp - LPS Digi Pears and PTI Handwritten Notes (sentiment), Ink - SU Black, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip, Paper - SU Very Vanilla and Kraft, PP - BasicGrey Nook and Pantry, Foof-a-la buttons, PTI Twine and Sizzix Argyle 2 Embossing Folder (my new fave!).