The Heart Desires December Mid-Challenge Inspiration

 I'm back with some mid-challenge inspiration for The Heart Desires! Still plenty of time to play along! So many fun elements to choose from!

Literal girl here- I saw that pink bottle brush tree & I knew the Concord & 9th O Christmas Tree set would be perfect! I used the Gina Marie Scalloped Circle Frame die to cut the fun pink houndstooth paper (Echo Park), popping the frame part up. 

I cut a metallic gold panel with the Gina Marie Nested Rectangle dies, then cut the patterned paper to fit inside of the stitching.

The trees are heat embossed with Versamark ink and some pink embossing powder from my stash (I've had it for years and there is no manufacturer listed).

The sentiment (isn't that the prettiest font?) is stamped with Delicata Golden Glitz ink.

A few gold sequins finish it off!

I hope you find time to play along with this challenge- what will inspire you?

Create Along With Us: December 2016

 Popping in with a few tags for Create Along With Us this month-

I was inspired by Laurie. Her gradient patterned paper & simple sentiment made the perfect pairing.

Patterned paper is DCWV, stamps are Two Feet Deep, any my fave PTI tag die.

12 Tags of Christmas- Day 10

Last one for Ellen's 12 Tags of Christmas- this is for Day 10 using green, brown & white.

I spent my entire day baking & am beyond exhausted so will try to add the product info tomorrow!

12 Tags of Christmas Day 9

A shimmery tag created for Ellen's 12 Tags of Christmas- this is for Day 9!

12 Tags of Christmas Day 7

A fun tag I created for Ellen's 12 Tags of Christmas- this is for the sketch on Day 7!

12 Tags of Christmas Day 1

Only a few minutes to get my tags posted for Ellen's 12 Tags of Christmas- I will add details tomorrow- for now, this is inspired by Day 1!

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop- Merry Christmas

I've got another Winter Coffee Lovers Hop card to share!

I've used the Lil' Inkers Coffee Cozy Die set for my fun cup- I really love this set, such a fun size and great details! 

The frame is a Gina Marie scalloped stitched frame die.

The sentiment and snowflake are from Concord & 9th O Christmas tree set & are both heat embossed- the snowflake with a glitter white (can't see the sparkle in the pic!)

The patterned paper is DCWV.

Hoping to find time to create today- Amy inspired me to die cut a Starbucks card!

I've got 2 of these bundles of ribbon and one Starbucks gift card to giveaway from the comments left on my Coffee Lovers hop posts this week- I will draw 3 names on Sunday!

ETA: Random.org chose 3 winners! (15, 56, 3)

Shelly, Redhead & Helen F!

Winter Coffee Lovers Hop & The Heart Desires Challenge #7

I'm back with another card for the Coffee Lovers Hop using The Heart Desires Challenge #7 as my inspiration!

Can you tell I'm smitten with that bear? And the Santa mug! I LOVE this set! I colored them with my Zigs!

I embossed the front of the card panel with the Richard Garay knit pattern folder (I saw Michele using it too many fun ways and could not resist!)

I used Gina Marie Dies to cut the Scallop frame & circle from DCWV patterned paper.

Don't forget to stop by the Super Sponsor The Heart Desires Store- She's offering 10% off your order during the hop by using code 2016WCLBH

Don't forget that I'm drawing 3 names Sunday from my coffee posts this week to win the above bundle of ribbon ( I have 2 bundles) or a Starbucks gift card!

ETA: Random.org chose 3 winners! (15, 56, 3)

Shelly, Redhead & Helen F!

Winter Coffee Lovers Bloghop with Snow

One more for both the Coffee Lovers Bloghop & Lawnscaping Let it Snow!

I am in love with this bear! It's Neat & Tangled Beary Awesome set. I paper pieced his scarf with some Carta Bella plaid washi tape (pieced separately because I'm insane!) The travel mug (cocoa? chai eggnog?) is from Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte. I embossed a frame with a Gina Maries scalloped circle die and then stamped & heat embossed some snowflakes within the circle. I also stamped some in white ink without embossing which gave the snow some depth. A bit of acrylic paint spatters finish the background.
All of these images & dies are available at The Heart Desires Store- one of the sponsors of the Coffee Lovers Bloghop! There's even a sale- 10% off your order by using code 2016WCLBH 

I will be drawing 3 names on Sunday from comments left on all of my coffee posts this week to give away a Starbucks gift card and 2 little bundles of ribbon!

ETA: Random.org chose 3 winners! (15, 56, 3)

Shelly, Redhead & Helen F!

Let It Snow on National Hot Chocolate Day!

 Playing along with the Winter Coffee Lovers bloghop- on National Hot Cocoa/Chocolate Day!

This one also works for the Lawnscaping Let it Snow Challenge!

Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Winter petite paper cut with a PTI tag die.

Making frosty friends is paired with Love you a Latte to give Frosty a mug of cocoa!

All of these images & paper are available at The Heart Desires Store- one of the sponsors of the Coffee Lovers Bloghop! There's even a sale- 10% off your order by using code 2016WCLBH 

Don't forget to leave a comment while you're here- I'm giving away 2 of these bundles & a Starbucks giftcard! I will draw 3 names Sunday!

ETA: Random.org chose 3 winners! (15, 56, 3)

Shelly, Redhead & Helen F!

2016 Winter Coffee Lovers Bloghop & MIM #269: Embossed & Outlined Backgrounds

The Winter Coffee Lovers Bloghop started Friday- and today was the first day I had time to get something ready to post! Yikes!

Betsy shared a fun technique for MIM & I've put it to use here:

Snowflakes from Two Feet Deep & Mug from Warm Happiness too were added to a PTI tag. I love that red patterned paper! It's from an old DCWV stack. The technique was to add outlines with copics- but since I'm not a copic girl I put my zigs to work. I also used delicata gold ink for the gradient look at the top. 

Thanks so much to Amy & her crew for pulling together another amazing hop! So many awesome sponsors & inspiration!

Speaking of sponsors, The Heart Desires Store is offering a discount during the hop!

10% off your order by using code 2016WCLBH

I've got 2 packs of this fun little collection of winter ribbon, as well as a Starbucks gift card up for grabs! Leave a comment on any of my coffee posts this week & I will use Random.org to pick 3 winners on 12/18!

ETA: Random.org chose 3 winners! (15, 56, 3)

Shelly, Redhead & Helen F!

THD Challenge #7

Woohoo! Time for another fabulous challenge at The Heart Desires! Look at all the gorgeous inspiration Challenge #7 brings!

Here's what I've come up with:

I've used Avery Elle's Kitsch Christmas for all of the stamped images and colored them with Prismacolor pencils. Those deer!

The base layer is Next Level Quilted Embossing folder- it is the perfect amount of texture without being distracting- I inked it with pale pink at the edges. 

A focal panel was cut from Authentique paper (also inked with pink at the edges) using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched rectangle die (I'm a bit obsessed with it!)- I thought the paper really pulled the challenge colors in well. 

Some magenta & sparkly silver ribbon add to the vintage vibe and some Pretty Pink Posh sequins finish it off.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season & also find time to play along with the challenge!

Head over to The Hearts Desire blog to see all the fabulous inspiration from my teammates!

MIM #268: Double Layer Tags

Dawn had a fun challenge this week for MIM- double layer tags! 

Hers were so fun- here's my take:

I've used my go-to tag die for the base, created my own for the red layer & added my fun die cut sled to the top.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lawnscaping #142: Give Thanks

Barely getting this in for the 'Thank you' Lawnscaping challenge!

Hence the horrible pic- its super cute in person!

Making Frosty Friends & the Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite pad were used for this fun card. The die frame is the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched frame. A bit of detail was added with zigs. A mini pom on Frosty's hat & the bird is popped up a bit. A tiny bit of sparkle on the snowflakes (that doesn't show at all in this pic!)

That little bird and the plaid work for the current Heart's Desire Challenge too! Only a few more hours for that one too!

Perhaps a better picture later.

MFT Color Challenge #57

Sneaking in some time to play with the MFT Color Challenge! 

I won a gift certificate from the fabulous Karen B recently (SQUEAL!!!)  & chose this sweet elephant set- and when I looked at the challenge colors I knew I had to find time to ink this new set up!

I stamped him with charcoal ink and then tried out my pixscan mat to cut him. OH.MY.WORD. Why did it take me so long to try that?

I went CAS with a charcoal Gina Marie Designs scalloped circle frame cut with DCWV adhesive paper. So Fun!

Zigged him up, added a little white shine to his balloon & popped him up in front of the frame.

Time to go make sweet & mashed potatoes for our wonderful Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow- looking forward to time with our family!

Happy Thanksgiving- and to all of my crafty friends looking for fun sales, don't miss out on The Heart Desires sale- it's already started so you can save early!!!

THD Mid-Challenge #6 Inspiration

Hard to believe it is already the middle of the month! We've already had some really fun entries for Challenge 6 at The Heart Desires! There are so many fabulous elements to work with- here's my mid-challenge inspiration for you:

I've used Concord & 9th Joy Stamp set in combination with the Concord & 9th Tree ring stamp.

I stamped the tree ring with Memento Luxe 'Peanut Brittle' ink, then inked the outside of the stamp with a zig marker. The J&Y  are stamped with Memento 'love letter' & the snowflake is Memento 'rich cocoa'. The greenery is versafine 'olympia green'.

The panel was cut with a Gina K scalloped stitched rectangle- LOVE it! 

A few Pretty Pink Posh sequins and some shimmer spatters (that show more in real life!) finish it off.

Plenty of time to play along! How will you be inspired?

MIM #266: That's a Wrap

 Popping in with a fun project that Lexi put together for MIM!

I've pulled out vintage ornaments and stamped them with aqua mist (3 times with the different layers) and added the sentiment in red ink. Super cute & a great way to wrap some Secret Santa gifts this year!

Sorry for the terrible lighting- that's what I get for playing along so late!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Heart Desires Challenge 6

 It's already time for The Heart Desires Challenge #6- and check out how fun it is!

So many great ways to be inspired!

I went with the lumberjack, the colors & the sketch- can you see it?

I've used Neat & Tangled Lumberjack Love stamps and dies & added the sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Love you a Latte stamps. 

All stamping is in Versafine Black Onyx ink. I've colored the lumberjack & trees with Zig Markers- and I always stamp images I will use those markers on using Strathmore Bristol Paper.

The brown plaid is DCWV, some fun burlap ribbon & twine finish it off.

I hope you can join us for the challenge this month!

October 2016 PTI Blog Hop & MIM #265: Layered Dry Brushing

 Playing along with the MIM challenge as well as the PTI Blog Hop!

Here's my take:

I thought the background was well suited for the dry brushing technique- I used a gray and orange acrylic paint with two different sized brushes for the background. 

Once it was dry I pulled out Mum's the Word, Life & Graceful Greetings. They are stamped with a combination of distress ink & zig markers & brushed with a wet brush. The sentiment was also stamped with the zig marker and then topped with smokey shadow ink.

A few gold sequins finish it off!

Here's the gorgeous inspiration:

Off to work on book fair set up details- looking forward to hopping tonight!

MFT Sketch Challenge #303

My friend Erin sent me some bits & layers and challenged me to a 10 minute session to play in the MFT sketch challenge- I missed the deadline so set the pieces aside but pulled them out in the nick of time this morning!

I went with an  Erin-esque color scheme!

Here's the sketch: 

Lawnscaping Challenge #140: Color Scheme

Playing along with Lawnscaping Challenge #140- black, purple and I chose orange for my extra color!

Working on Halloween cards- this guy seemed like he was already wearing a mask! :D

I've used Critters in the Forest and zigged the raccoon and the background. A few water spatters & some tiny stars add to the night sky. A few layers of orange & black ribbons with a silhouette cut sentiment to finish it off!