You Make Me Happy Card

A big HELLO and thank you to all my new followers! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. This afternoon I did a little unexpected retail therapy and I have to say it worked wonders. I went into a shoe store to waste time while my hubby was next door and I hit the clearance jackpot. There was definitely an adrenaline surge when I found a great deal on a couple pair of shoes. It's amazing how fast a good deal will put a smile on my face. Just so you know, besides stamping and card making supplies my second weakness is shoes, but I know you came to my blog to see a card. So... onto the card we go!

This You Make Me Happy Card was created using patterned paper from the Afternoon Picnic dsp. I love the colors in this collection! To participate in this weeks Tic Tac Toe challenge with The Paper Players, I used the middle row down featuring dies/punches, patterned paper and candy dots. I used the Flower Shop stamp set with coordinating Pansy Punch. The sentiment is from the Happy Watercolor clear stamp set  and I used the Little Leaves Sizzlits die. Thanks for stopping by and I wish you a wonderful week!

My You Make Me Happy Card is entered into the following challenges:

• The Paper Players: Tic Tac Toe
• Allsorts: Use dies
• Suzy Bee's: Spring Flowers

Oh Baby! Photo Inspiration Challenge

Along with Spring comes new life and for this challenge we are focusing on all things BABY. From the furry ones to the human variety, pick your favorite and feature it on your handmade card. Oh Baby! we can't wait to see what you create.

Inspirational Designs:

Erin's Card using Bugaboo Baby Cow

Andrea's Card using Bugaboo Giraffe Heart 2

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Create a New card using the challenge theme, no linking to old posts. 
2. Only one entry per blog address.
3. This is a card only challenge.
4. You must use a stamp, either rubber or digital.
5. You can combine this challenge with other challenges.
6. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to this challenge. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
7. All brands of stamping products are welcome.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

Spring Flowers Challenge Winner

The Spring Flowers Challenge was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who submitted their creations. Since we had such a wonderful selection of spring cards to choose from it seemed like a good idea to pick two winners for this challenge. The winners are:

Nance Salkeld from Soul Stampin'

Mikha Adriani from Mikha's Craft Corner

Congratulations to Nance and Mikha! Both of your cards are lovely and we are so glad you played along with our Spring Flowers Challenge. In the next few days I'll send you an email to request your address for the challenge prize.

Come back tomorrow for the start of our next photo challenge!

Floral Feel Better Card

Spring is always a fun time of year, however it's not always great with Oklahoma allergies. When things start to bloom it seems a few sneezes aren't far away. Yesterday I spent the day in bed (don't be jealous) I had one of the worst migraines I've ever experienced. My prescription pill didn't touch it. My hubby finally convinced me to go to urgent care to get a pain shot and within twenty minutes the pain was gone. The shot did make me drowsy, so back to bed I went as soon as we got home. Needless to say it wasn't a productive day and I'm very happy I had today off. This afternoon I made this Floral Feel Better Card to add to my stash. I have a feeling it will come in handy. The design comes from the sketch at Pals Paper Arts. The main colors are: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush and Crushed Curry. The polka dot patterned paper is from the Kaleidoscope dsp and I used the scallop edge punch with the retired coordinating scallop trim corner punch. I added three large rhinestones in the center of the flowers for a little bling. The flower is from the Morning Meadow hostess stamp set and the sentiment is from the Sassy Salutations set. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

My Floral Feel Better Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Pals Paper Arts: Sketch
• Totally Papercrafts: Beautiful Borders
• Speedy Fox and Friends: Photo Inspiration (colors)

Whistle a Tweet Tune Card

Spring is almost here! The daffodils in my yard are almost ready to bloom and my maple tree is full of buds. Signs of spring are everywhere. Yesterday I was at my front window and noticed the Mourning Doves were checking out their nesting spot from last year. I'm hoping they will decide to use it again! It was really exciting watching the nest from my front window. A repeat performance would be a welcome treat!

The card I made today is inspired by Spring. In my yard the first flowers to come to life are the color yellow. Yellow is such a happy color. This Whistle a Tweet Tune Card was made using the Bird Bath Joy Color Plus digital image and patterned paper by Doodle Pantry. I have to admit, this was the first time I used digital patterned paper. Since it came with the digital image, I liked the idea of the ink colors matching. The cloud paper is retired from Stampin' Up!. I used the pansy flower punch, scalloped edge punch and my leaf die all by Stampin' Up! Well, enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by!

My Whistle a Tweet Tune Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Doodle Pantry: Any Digi Goes
• City Crafter: Spring in the Garden
• Crafty Bloggers: Nature
• Crafty Boots: Feathers
• Lexi's Creations: Use Punches and Dies
• One Stitch at a Time: Use a Digi

See Ya Later Alligator Card

Hello! This afternoon I made this See Ya Later Alligator Card using some of my favorite freebies from the current Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration. The freebies used were:

• Sweet Sorbet DSP
• Deorative Dots Embossing Folder
• See Ya Later Stamp Set

The colors in the card are Pistachio Pudding, Sahara Sand and Whisper White. It's definitely not the most colorful card I've ever made but I had a lot of fun using my freebies. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My See Ya Later Alligator Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Just Add Ink: Sale-A-Brations!
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Sentimental Journey
• Simply Create Too: Animals
• Suzy Bee's: Emboss It!

Spring Flowers Challenge

With Spring only days away, it seemed appropriate to have a Spring Flowers Challenge. This challenge should be pretty easy because we know many of you love using flowers on your handmade card creations. We can't wait to see what you create. Have FUN and happy early Spring!

Inspirational Designs: 

Erin's Card using Stamp Fairy image

Andrea's Card using Stampin' Up! Supplies

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Create a New card using the challenge theme, no linking to old posts. 
2. Only one entry per blog address.
3. This is a card only challenge.
4. You must use a stamp, either rubber or digital.
5. You can combine this challenge with other challenges.
6. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to this challenge. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
7. All brands of stamping products are welcome.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

The challenge will run for 12 days, 3/14/2014 - 3/25/2014.

Going Green Challenge Winner

Good morning! It was so much fun seeing all your terrific handmade cards using green. Thank you for playing along! Without further ado, the random winner of the Going Green Challenge is:

Elizabeth Hart from the Warm Harted Blog

Elizabeth's card is just lovely! It's full of beautiful details and pretty spring colors. I will send you an email to request your mailing address for the challenge prize.

Check back tomorrow for another theme challenge.

Card Drive for Emma!!!

Making cards is my creative therapy! When I find a good reason to stay busy in my craft room, I usually seize the opportunity. Last week I found a Card Drive for Emma!!! and it was an easy decision to spread the news on my blog. I found the post on Kelly's Place, just click the link to read the story about Emma. For my card I used one of her favorite colors, purple along with Fluffles the cat by Stampendous! I hope you will join along and make a few cards for Emma. Here are a few details from Kelly's blog:

If you would like to help encourage Emma on her journey here are some guidelines:

• Cards can be anything cheery, encouraging, supportive, etc.You can include or incorporate kid-friendly jokes! Please avoid get well card and reminders of being sick.  Please avoid holiday specific cards so the cards can be used anytime over the next two years. 
• Emma loves the colors green, purple and blue.  She has no siblings. She has two dogs, a cat and a fish.  She LOVES horses and bunnies.  She enjoys horseback riding, swimming, dancing and singing. 
• All cards need to have a positive message in it for the child/family.  Please also sign your name and the city or state where you are from.  There could be a geography lesson in there!  Also, please don't seal the envelope, as the parents might want to preview cards before Emma sees them.
• Please stick to just cards or lightweight things like stickers, etc. if you'd like to put something in the card.  I will be delivering the cards to Addison's family and they will then get the cards to Emma's family so no additional shipping costs will be incurred.
• You are welcome to send store-bought cards, but they will not be eligible for prizes.
• There is no need to send money or postage with your cards. 
•  In each package, PLEASE include a piece of paper with your name and email address and how many cards you sent . This helps in keeping track for prizes!  For each handmade card you send, you will get a chance for a prize.  So the more cards you send, the better your chances; however, one prize per person. 
• PLEASE SHARE this post on your blog, etc. Maybe consider making a card for Emma using a sketch or color challenge.  The more people who see this, the better!
• Winners of prizes will be randomly drawn on or around July 20, 2014 and notified on this blog and via email (must be provided with cards and written clearly).

All cards can be mailed to the following address: 

Kelly Bertram

P.O Box 58388

Cincinnati, Ohio 45258

To help spread the word, I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

• Make It Monday: Anything Goes (Final Challenge, sad face)
• Use Your Stuff: Animals
• Clear it Out: Kids, Bright Colored Paper
• The Crafter's Cafe: Flowers
• Fab'n'Funky: Animals

Shamrock Bear St. Patrick's Day Card

Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. This month is flying by and I realized I still need to make a few more St. Patrick's Day cards. It's been awhile since I've played along with a Stella Says Sketch challenge at Catch The Bug. So, this afternoon I made this Shamrock Bear St. Patrick's Day Card using the Theodore - Shamrocks Bugaboo Image. I colored the image with my Copic markers and used several shades of green to give it a nice St. Patty's Day feel. The zebra pattern is a stamp by Stampabilities and I used Garden Green ink by Stampin' Up!. Well, enjoy the rest of your night and thanks for stopping by!!!

My Shamrock Bear St. Patrick's Day Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Get Inky!: Green/St. Patty's Day
• Catch The Bug: Sketch
• The Doodle Garden: Anything Goes
• Time 4 Scrap: St. Patrick's Day
• Craftitude: Anything Goes or add a little Green
• Digi Haven: Must use at least 3 shades of Green
• Make It Monday: Anything Goes (final challenge, sad face)

Bright Blossoms Thanks Card

Good evening! I have a really quick post to share a card I finished for The Paper Players challenge. The challenge is to make a thank you card using spring colors or images. One of my favorite spring colors is yellow. I used the Bright Blossoms stamp set by Stampin' Up! and the patterned paper is from the retired Summer Smooches collection. The bright colors in this paper just make me happy. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful night and pleasant tomorrow!!!

My Bright Blossoms Thanks Card is also entered into the following challenges:

• Crafting by Design: Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons: Anything Goes with Ribbon

Pleasant Poppies Sympathy Card

My work asked me to make a few sympathy cards. We had two clients who lost family members this week. Since I needed to make the cards quickly I decided to case one of my previous sympathy cards for a design idea. This Pleasant Poppies Sympathy Card features the same colors as my other card with the addition of Pool Party. I mixed it up a little and used the colors in a different way. To rearrange the elements, I used the 3-2-1 challenge at Shopping Our Stash. I used three Candy Dots, two embossing folders, and one butterfly. Looking at both cards, I definitely like this one better. Thanks for stopping by!!!

My Pleasant Poppies Sympathy Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Shopping Our Stash: 3-2-1
• Just Inspirational: Flowers
• Kaboodle Doodles: Using Embossing
• Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
• Loves Rubberstamps: Anything Goes

With Heartfelt Sympathy Card

I don't usually keep many sympathy cards in my stash because I prefer to make them as needed. When the time comes that one is required I like to make the card special for the recipient. This With Heartfelt Sympathy Card was created for a male recipient. For this card I wanted to keep the card masculine without using black and so I used a color combination that I've used before. The colors are: Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade and Pacific Point all by Stampin' Up! Well, it's getting late. Thanks for stopping by!!!





My With Heartfelt Sympathy Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Bloggers: With Sympathy
• Make It Monday: Anything Goes

Yellow Flower Birthday Card

Today it's be snowing and sleeting here in Oklahoma. We've even had some thunder and lightning throughout the day. Thunder snow is what they called it. Needless to say it's been a great day to stay inside and make a card inspired by Spring colors. I used patterned paper from the Little Bo Peep Collection by Crate Paper. I've been hoarding this paper for awhile. Green is one of my favorite colors and the shade of green in this collection is just beautiful. Since the papers are pretty busy, I did some zig zag stitching to add subtle detail. The pink card stock is Primrose Petals by Stampin' Up! and I used So Saffron, Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry inks to create the flower. The yellow flower was created using the Secret Garden stamp set and matching framelits. I stamped the flower three times and did some fussing cutting for the layered center. The leaves were cut with the Little Leaves Sizzlits and the scallop circle is by Spellbinders. The Happy Birthday Wishes sentiment is from the Simply Sketched Stampin' Up! hostess stamp set and I used and oval punch and my Cricut for the base oval. The final touch was a Crushed Curry Candy Dot in the center of the flower. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

My Yellow Flower Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes/Optional twist: use your stash
• Allsorts: Spring is Coming
• Creative Corner: GREEN
• Hiding in My Craft Room: Spring Colors!
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Florals
• Open-Minded: Use Something Green
• Make It Monday: Anything Goes