Kitty Coffee Card

Good day! Are you playing along with the Coffee Lovers Spring/Summer Blog Hop? If it weren't for a couple of my crafty friends posting their creations I would have completely forgot. It's going on until Friday, June 1st, so there is still plenty of time to join the fun. This Kitty Coffee Card features a stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs called Kealy. I ordered it a few months ago to use during the hop. The image was colored with Copic markers and then die cut with a stitched oval die by My Favorite Things. All patterned papers are from the True Stories paper pad by American Crafts (2014). The layout is from this weeks sketch challenge at The Paper Players and I'm also entering this card in the Creative Knockouts challenge to use Furry Friends. The sentiment stamp is by Hampton Arts and I used a black marker to mark through the word love and write the word coffee. For the final touch a bitty blue butterfly was added and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Happy Owl Coffee Card

This afternoon I really debated between taking a nap or drinking more coffee to make a card. The coffee and card making won! I couldn't resist using the cute Happy Fall digital image by Craftin Desert Divas. It's been featured on several cards in the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I think it's just adorable!

To color the image I used Copic markers and then used a stitched square die cut by Lil' Inkers. All patterned papers are from the Flea Market paper pad by Doodlebug Design. Cardstock colors include Bermuda Bay and Pumpkin Pie by Stampin' Up!. The sentiment is from the Stamplorations Coffee Happy stamp set by Shery Russ Designs and was stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. Three green sequins were added for some sparkle and that's it. This Happy Owl Coffee Card is also entered into the following challenges: Allsorts (Feels Like Autumn) and 2 Crafty Crazies (Feature a Creature). Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Pumpkin Spice Card

Hello and happy Friday! Today is the start of the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and this Pumpkin Spice Card is my first entry. The coffee cup stamp and sentiment are from the Unity Pumpkin Spice stamp set. Copic markers were used to color the image. The orange patterned paper is from the Knock On Wood paper pad by Lawn Fawn and the gingham is from the Perfect Autumn paper pad by Echo Park. Early Espresso cardstock by Stampin' Up! was used for the frame and mat along with some retired Early Espresso twine for detail. Three small sequins were the last added detail and that's it. I'm also entering this card in the Naughty or Nice Challenge #43-Framed! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Power of Coffee Card

Okay... one more coffee card for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. I thought I was finished but I wanted to help break the Spring link-up record, so I made this Power of Coffee Card. I was watching Blue Bloods while making it and it's been hours since my last cup of coffee. I have a rule... No Caffeine after 3 p.m., it keeps me from going to sleep. So this card is simple and easy!

Power of Coffee Card supplies:

• Paper: Crumb Cake cardstock by Stampin' Up! and white cardstock by Core'dinations, patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs Inc. Cream & Sugar paper pad. 
• Stamps: Digital sentiment by Gloria Stengel (it was a freebie from a previous hop) and coffee cup from Coffee Happy stamp set by Stamplorations.
• Ink & Coloring: Memento black and Crumb Cake marker by Stampin' Up!
• Other Stuff: Big Shot, Frame cutting plate by Taylored Expressions, scissors and three gold sequins.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a HAPPY and crafty day!

Coffee = Me Happy Card

Sometimes I buy a stamp set for a particular sentiment or image and this sentiment was the reason I purchased the Choose Happy set by Simon Says Stamp. Mainly because it's true, Coffee = Me Happy!!! The patterned paper on this card is by American Crafts from the True Stories paper pad (2014). Luckily the coffee cups were spaced perfectly to add the sentiment in the middle. From a paper scrap I cut out the cup and adhered it to the circle. I thought about adding flowers and then decided it would be too busy. This is my fourth card for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Happiness in a Cup Card

Wow! It's day five of the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and there are already over 683 cards linked. This Happiness in a Cup Card is my third card created for the hop. The layout for this card is from the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches, although my image is larger everything else is the same. The image has been sitting colored on my craft desk for awhile. I forgot to use it for the Spring hop, so I wanted to make sure it got used this time around. The digital image is called Kitty in a Teacup by Di's Digi Stamps and it was colored with Copic markers. Now the sentiment (by Stamplorations Coffee Happy stamp set) could have a couple of meanings. Kitties are the happiness in the cup or the happiness was the tea in the cups before the kitty decided to sit in them. Either way works depending on if kitties make you happy? They definitely make me HAPPY, so I'm also linking this card to the Furrything Goes theme at the Show Us Your Pussies Challenge. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day! 

COFFEE a Liquid Hug Card

Good day crafty friends! I have a quick post to share a summery coffee themed card I made for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. The digital image and sentiment are by Jessica Lynn Original. Copic markers were used to color the image and then it was die cut with a cross stitched die by My Favorite Things. The floral patterned paper is by Doodlebug Design Inc, Hello Sunshine paper pad. Two polka dot flowers from the Petite Petals stamp set by Stampin' Up! were added accented with punched green leaves from the retired Bird Builder punch. Two glimmer dot stickers by Jolee's were added to the center of the flowers and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

This COFFEE a Liquid Hug Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Allsorts: Flower Power
• A Gem of a Challenge: Summer Colours
• Crafting When We Can: Use an Image

Another Cup of Liquid Sanity

Hooray for Friday and the first day of the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! Mornings don't start until I've had my coffee. My hubby knows that coffee is needed if he wants me to carry on a decent conversation. Maybe I should be ashamed, but mornings just aren't my thing!

The idea for this card started with the black frame. It was cut and sitting on my desk from a card that went a different direction. I decided it would be fun against the bright stripes from the Doodlebug Designs Inc. Cream & Sugar paper pad and it was matted to a black and white striped paper. The sentiment, coffee mug and carafe are from the Coffee Happy stamp set by Shery Russ available at Stamplorations. I decided to stamp the images on patterned paper and then fussy cut. To add a little more color a Copic marker (BG13 Mint Green) was used to accent the carafe. The final details include the stamped heart from a Unity stamp set and three sequins for some sparkle. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and have fun hoping along with the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

This Liquid Sanity Card is linked to the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp: Use Patterned Paper
• Sisterhood of Crafters: Use Your Imagination
• Aud Sentiments: Bingo (Patterned paper, Stamped Image, Favorite Color)

Stop and Smell the Coffee Card

If there is a flower that smells like coffee I would want that flower! The smell/aroma of coffee is one of my favorites! I love grinding my own coffee beans, it makes the kitchen smell yummy and makes a good cup of coffee. I still have a drip coffee maker by Bonavita and I really like it. I make a strong pot and then put the leftovers in the refrigerator for iced coffee the next day. Truth be told, I prefer cold brewed or iced coffee. It has to be really cold outside before I drink hot coffee. Okay, I'm sure that's more than you wanted to know about my coffee preferences.

Onto this Stop and Smell the Coffee Card! I was inspired by several rainbow colored coffee cards at the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I decided to use an image by Bugaboo Digi Stamps called Coffee Time - Smell The Coffee. This image has been in my stash since 2011 and it's still one of my favorites. I colored the image with Copic markers and then it was die cut using a stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inkers. The plaid patterned paper is by Lawn Fawn and I added some punched grass using a Fiskars punch with Green Apple cardstock from Simon Says Stamp. Some purple twine from The Twinery, the sentiment from the image set and three sequins finished the card. That's it! I thought about adding a butterfly and then forgot until after I took the pictures. So, if you want to envision a little yellow butterfly on the right top corner of the image it just might live there. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Stop and Smell the Coffee Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Cute Card Thursday: Spring Fever!
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes
• Aud Sentiments: Any Sentiment except Birthday
• Coffee Loving Cardmakers: Spring Blog Hop

Card using Complementary Colors

Crafty coffee lovers unite four times a year to have a fun and inspiration filled time at the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop organized and hosted by the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog. The Spring hop started today and there are already some amazing inspiration to get your crafty mojo going. For this card I used my two favorite Complementary Colors... Purple and Yellow. A little green and orange were used for a pop of color. The digital image is by Jessica Lynn Original and she is offering it as a freebie during the hop, so hurry to get yours click here. Copic markers were used to color the image then it was die cut with a cross-stitched oval die by My Favorite Things and matted to a scalloped frame by Avery Elle. Two green banners and purple brads were used to accent the image. The corners of the purple polka dot paper by Echo Park were punched with a decorative corner punch by Creative Memories and that's about it. Thanks for stopping by I hope you have time to join the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Winter Fox Card

Happy Friday! Life has been busy lately. Last night I spent two hours making decorative pretzel rods for my hubby's coworkers. Most my days are spent sewing since I'm making several of our Christmas gifts this year. It's always my goal to avoid the big box stores this time of year. The crowds and excessive Christmas marketing drive me crazy.

Onto this Winter Fox Card, the Winter Fox and coordinating dies by Lawn Fawn were one of my Cyber Monday purchases. It's the perfect image to share at the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. All patterned paper on this card is by Lawn Fawn and the glitter snow was created with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.The fox was colored with Copic markers, then it was die cut and adhered directly to the card. The sentiment comes with the stamp set and three snowflake sequins were added for detail. I'm also linking this card to the Snowflake Challenge at Cute Card Thursday. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and Warm Winter Wishes to you.

Marshmallow Cocoa Card

Hello! I have a quick post to share my last card as part of the Jessica Lynn Original Design Team. Our term has come to an end and I'm happy we're sharing our last creation at the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Jessica designed this digital Marshmallow Snowman specifically for the hop and it's free for a limited time, click here to download.

To create this card I decided to use only what was on or in my craft desk. So, I pieced together some scraps of paper and added some twine. Then I colored the image with Copic markers and die cut it with a stitched square die by Lil' Inkers. The last addition was three silver sequins for sparkle and that's it. I'll be giving this card to the barista at my local Barnes & Noble coffee shop. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will play along with the Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and enjoy the rest of your day!

Cat Couple Love Card

Hello and Happy World Cat Day! There are only hours left to join the fun at the Cat Lovers Blog Hop organized by Janis at Her Peaceful Garden. I wanted to make one more card, but crafting on the weekends can be a challenge for me. The hubby is home and our time is usually spent doing other things, but luckily this afternoon he took a nap (smile).

Since I didn't have a lot of time I decided to case one of my old cards that I made my hubby for Valentine's Day 2013 (click here). I used the exact same layout and image. The image is by Meljen's Designs and it came colored. To mix it up, a different sentiment was used which I heat embossed with white embossing powder. The patterned papers are different but similar and three blue hearts were used for detail. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Cat Couple Love Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Crafting with Dragonflies: Spots and Stripes
• Moving Along With The Times: Cute Animals
• Alphabet Challenge: R for Recipe (Sentiment, Digi/Stamp and embossing)

Purple Watercolor Rose Card

This month is National Domestic Violence Awareness and purple is the color that signifies this cause. The color purple has been my favorite of mine for a very long time! Although I love the color purple, I don't love the statistics that come with Domestic Violence. I live in Oklahoma and our state ranks third in the nation for the number of women killed by men in domestic violence situations. A ten year study showed that 41% of all homicides in our state were linked to Domestic Violence. This not only affects women but children living in the home. In 70% of the cases where an abused child dies, there has been a pattern of abuse against the mother. The numbers tell a very sad story and I hope you will help spread the word this month by creating a card using purple and joining the Blog Hop at The Hop to Stop organized by Becca at The Damsel of Distressed.

 For this Purple Watercolor Rose Card I combined my favorite color, favorite rose stamp by Inkadinkado and one of my favorite layouts. The rose was watercolored using Watercolor Paints by Close to my Heart and then die cut using cross stitched ovals by My Favorite Things. Two pieces of patterned paper were used and matted to Elegant Eggplant cardstock. If you look closely you can see butterflies in the lavender paper by Signify Pink. The dark purple has a floral swirl pattern and it's from The Paper Studio. To finish off the card some Elegant Eggplant twine from Stampin' Up! was added along with a stamped/punched Bitty Butterfly and the sentiment from Crafter's Companion. That's it!

This Purple Watercolor Rose Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Sweet Stampin': Favourite Colour Combo
• Card in Envy: Purple and Green
• Let's Color Linky Party: Hand Colored Image

You are Stronger Card

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Becca at The Damsel of Distressed has once again organized The Hop to Stop to bring attention to the cause. Domestic Violence can be closer than you think, with 1 of 3 women experiencing domestic violence over the course of their lifetimes, chances are you know someone who has or will be a victim. Click here to visit Becca's blog and for details about The Hop to Stop.

When deciding on a design for my card, I knew I wanted to use this sentiment by Stampin' Up! from the Heartfelt Sympathy stamp set. To me, it makes a great encouragement card for more than just sympathy. When you pair the sentiment with some pretty purple flowers... hopefully it's uplifting for someone who has experienced domestic violence.

You are Stronger Card Supply List*:

• Paper: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum and Perfect Plum cardstock, green cardstock by Bazzill Basics along with striped paper by My Mind's Eye.
• Stamps: Heartfelt Sympathy and Falling Flowers.
• Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi.
• Other Stuff: Big Shot, May Flowers framelit dies, Scalloped Frame by Taylored Expressions, Perfect Plum enamel dots and dimensionals. 

*All supplies by Stampin' Up! unless noted.

This card is linked to the following challenges:

1. Brown Sugar: Handmade Flowers
2. Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes
3. Crafting by Designs: Add a Sentiment

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Brentwood Trick or Coffee Card

Hello! Today is the start of the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and one of their super sponsors is Jessica Lynn Original. Jessica has provided a freebie image for the hop called Pumpkin Spice Latte Happy Halloween Brentwood. You definitely want to download your image now... while it's free.

If given the choice between a trick or coffee... I would choose coffee every time! So, I decided to alter a Trick or Treat sentiment from the latest Halloween Brentwood stamp set to say Trick or Coffee. To create this Brentwood Trick or Coffee Card I printed the digital image and colored it with Copic markers. Using an Avery Elle die cut the image and Bermuda Bay* scalloped mat were cut with the Big Shot. The card base is Crumb Cake* with a layer of Chocolate Chip* and Fall Perfectly Plaid patterned paper by Lawn Fawn. A strip of orange scrap paper was adhered in the middle and some twine added for detail. The matted image was adhered with dimensional and the altered sentiment was added. * Denotes cardstock colors from Stampin' Up! That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Coffee Lovers Blog Hop: Fall Coffee Theme
• Crafty Gals Corner: Critters!
• Creative Craft Cottage: Anything Goes
• Crafting with Friends: Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown Celebrates 300th Challenge

Hello! I hope you stopped by today ready to celebrate! This week at Tuesday Throwdown we are celebrating our 300th Challenge. Team A is providing your weekly inspiration with a Fairies and Fantasy theme and Team B (which includes me) is having a blog hop. We would love for you to play along and support this wonderful milestone. It seems more and more challenges close every week, but Tuesday Throwdown is still going strong. If you've never played along before then you might as well start now! Several of us are giving away some blog candy, so stop by and check out their giveaway details. You have until mid-day on Monday, July 4th to link your creations, click here to check out all the challenge details.

My blog candy giveaway includes a 6 x 6 paper pad called Little Azalea by Darice and Maraschino twine from The Twinery. To win you will need to follow my blog and leave me a comment. The winner will be drawn at random and announced next Tuesday, July 5th.

To create my card I started by selecting a coloured image called Snowdrop Daisy from Dis Digi Stamps. The image was die cut using a stitched square die by Lil' Inkers. Then I selected my papers to coordinate. The Thinking of You sentiment stamp is from the Wetlands stamp set by Stampin' Up! and was punched using an oval and matted to a Pool Party scalloped oval. Three sequins were the final touch and this card was done. I'm entering my card at Make My Monday Challenge to use Fairies. Now...

It's time to hop!

  Tuesday Throwdown 

                                 Andrea Whisman (YOU ARE HERE)

Asha Martin

Berni Cuttino

Bridget Collins

CraftyGirl (Judy Rogers)

Davi Reid

Debi Brile

Emily Lauritzen

Jacqueline Muller
 Kim Sherrod

Sarah Marney

Terri Winske

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Birthday Blog Hop for Asha

Hello, and welcome to weekly challenge at Tuesday Throwdown and our SURPRISE Birthday Blog Hop for the lovely Asha! We are collaborating with the MHKDesigns blog this week for a fun blog hop for Asha's birthday. Our theme this week at Tuesday Throwdown is "Distressing."  You will notice my card is on the mild side of distressed.  I roughed up the edges and did a little inking but that's about it. There are many crafters who make  beautiful distressed creations but for some reason I have a hard time messing up that paper. We hope you will join us this week and play along in our challenge. You have until mid-day on Monday, June 27th to link your creation. 

Now onto the blog hop, you should have arrived here from the blog of Shawna Standish.  If not, start at the MHKDesigns blog to complete the hop and for more chances to WIN!  We are celebrating a very special lady today, and we're doing so by creating beachy birthday cards to wish her many happy returns!

My Birthday Card is more tropical than beachy. The digital Butterfly Wisdom set is from MHKDesigns. I printed the set onto Very Vanilla and Mint Macaroon cardstock and fussy-cut the one butterfly to add a pop of color into the butterfly collage. All other supplies are by Stampin' Up!

Thank you so much for joining in our hop to say "Happy Birthday" to a dear friend!  Your next stop on the hop is Bridget Collins blog! 

Hop list:

MHKDesigns Blog

Asha Martins 

Bernie Cuttino 

Donna Thielker

Jerrie Mead

Jessica Kaiser

Judith Smith

Judy VanZandt

Julie Odil 

Lilian Forsyth

Michele Henderson

Mynn Kitchen

NanaConnie

Rocky Crafter                      

Sathya Sankaran

Shawna Standish

>Andrea Whisman< You're Here!

Bridget Collins 

CraftyGirl 

Davi Reid 

Debi Brile

Emily Lauritzen

Jacqueline Meuller 

Rachelle Olaridge 

Sarah Marney 

Tracey Mowbray 

Tuesday Throwdown

Chevron Cup Coffee Card

There are already over 180 card entries at the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and it's only day 2. This Chevron Cup Coffee Card is my second entry. I've used a stamp set by Your Next Stamp called Coffee Break. It was one of the stamps sets I found during the last hop that made my list. The layout is from Tuesday Morning Sketches #356 and all patterned paper are from the Sunshowers collection by Heidi Grace Designs. Instead of coloring the image I decided to paper piece it to add the chevron to the cup. The image was stamped three times, once on the white backround cardstock, second onto the chevron paper and third onto Crumb Cake cardstock. I did use Copic markers to color the nose and ear. The polka dot area was stamped using the Kinda Eclectic stamp set and Lost Lagoon ink by Stampin' Up! Three rhinestone flower stickers by Jolee's were added for the final touch. That's it!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day! 

A Unique Blog Hop

Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and found time to do some crafting! My post today is a little different. I was asked by Erin Stephenson from Erin's Owl Nest to participate in a Unique Blog Hop. This hop is about how each crafter got started and a little Q & A. Here is the post where I was tagged.

First, let me share with you how I met Erin. It was almost a year ago I decided to host a bi-weekly challenge on my blog. I announced for a DT call and Erin graciously agreed to help. Since then we have communicated and shared ideas. It's been my pleasure to view Erin's creations and work with her over the last year. Her work has really evolved and she is a busy lady on several design teams. I look forward to seeing her postings and getting to know her better.

Where did it all start?

My card making journey started early in 2011. I had an occasion that I need a card for and didn't want to go to the store to buy one. That's when I realized all the scrapbooking supplies I had invested in could be used to make a handmade card, so that's what I did. The first cards I made for my family were for Valentine's Day in 2011. Shortly after that on March 8th, 2011 my sister suddenly passed away. At this point my card making became therapy. For one year I blogged about the loss of my sister at Grieving Erica. Sharing my loss and emotions with my family and others were a source of healing. It was during this year that I realized my card making therapy had evolved into a hobby.

In March of 2012 I started my blog Savvy Handmade Cards. This is when all the fun started! I found online challenges and digital stamps. Then I came across lovely creations with products from Stampin' Up!. I found a local demonstrator Amy Watson and joined her Big Shot club. It didn't take long to decide to become a demonstrator and to share my love of stamping and card making with others.

What am I working on?

Typically I make three or four cards a week. My latest card was made yesterday for The Challenge at Always Playing with Paper. The challenge is a sketch or color challenge or you can combine both. This is a new challenge to me that I found from a post by my crafty friend Jessi Fogan. If you have followed my blog for awhile you know that I love sketch and color challenges! I find it's a great place to start. For this challenge I combined the sketch and the colors to create my card. (click here for the sketch & colors).

In the future I would like to start incorporating mixed media into my designs. I've watched numerous videos and I love the techniques. However, I have one problem, I don't have the right supplies. So maybe, just maybe I can put some things on my Christmas list and Santa will be nice to me!

What do I create?

When it comes to paper crafting, I mainly create cards but I have created a few door hangings for my nieces. The one below was made for my oldest niece for her birthday. Every now and then I will make book marks or tags. My other creative hobbies include: beading, scrapbooking, sewing and on occasion painting.

How does my creative process work and how do I get and stay inspired?

My creative process is really project specific. I'm usually making something for somebody or for a challenge. If I'm making something for a family member or friend, I try to use things they love and incorporate that into my designs. When I'm creating for a challenge I use the guidelines and themes given to spark me creativity. If I'm having a hard time coming up with something I will search online or go through my magazines until I come up with an idea.

Staying inspired can be a challenge! I go through times when I don't want to make anything but it's usually because I'm tired. When I have the energy, usually the creativity will follow.

My style? How does it differ?

Most of my creations are clean and simple but that doesn't mean they are casual. I love layers and patterned paper, so the less is more approach is a challenge for me. I don't think my style differs a lot. I'll never have a super frilly card full of embellishments. I admire the work of others with this style but it's not me. I love to use bling but in moderation and I LOVE embossing. In summary I would say my style is versatile and constantly evolving.

I have tagged 2 creative friends who will be sharing their creative journey with you next Monday, 11 August 2014. They are:

Jessi Fogan from OneCraftyMama

Jessi is a wonderful crafter! Her creativity and originality never ceases to amaze me. We crossed paths over a year ago and Jessi has been a huge support to me. I enjoy her funny writing style and humor on her blog. We visit each others blog often and it's nice to say I have a friend in Canada!

Debra Miller from Cream City Angels

Debra and I met a few months back when she played along in one of my challenges. Her style is clean and classic. The layers and details on her cards always appear so crisp and beautiful. I look forward to seeing more of her work. 

Next Step-

Next Monday the 11th go check out my friend's post and see who they tag and the next Monday the hop continues. To click back through the history chain visit Erin's blog, she tagged me and see who tagged her. Who knows where this hop will take you?

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!