Back to a Sweet Sketch!

I'm quite inspired this week and I'm managing to make cards following sketch directions: I take a look at one of my favorite challenges and... voilà I make a card!

Today I'm particularly happy because I've just finished a card for a Challenge I entered several times last year: Sweet Sketch Wednesday!

This week we have to follow this sketch:

and this is my card:

I've used Cupcake Toodle from Broken Box Stock, an image I'm never tired to create with and which I colored with Copics and glitter.

Papers are Tea Party from Dovecraft: it's so easy to work with just one paper set! Colors blend beautifully! I only added a punched paper heart to the cupcake, three red rhinestones and a white satin ribbon.

I have some time to create but not enough to check if I can enter other challenges so for today I'm entering it to Sweet Sketch Wednesday Challenge # 158-45 only!

Circles!

Last year I made some round tags with die cuts and I wanted to add some new types to my stash.

A few days ago I received my last order from There She Goes Clear Stamps and, while my computer was downloading a few digis, I started looking at one of my new sets and... bang! An idea, a new tag for my collection was  there, waiting to be created.

Luckily enugh, this week challenge at There She Goes is "CIRCLES" so I couldn't postpone my creation and acted immediately:

My idea is that they can be punched and tied to a bunch of flowers or simply glued over a big bow on a chocolate box... everyone needs to say "I'm sorry" sooner or later and this dog is so cute, who can resist?

This set is called Ruh-roh and is perfect for that special touch to a gift or card!

I'm entering them in There She Goes Clear Stamps Challenge # 160: CIRCLES!

Broken Box Stock Stitches Challenge Deadline Extension

The deadline to enter Broken Box Stock Stitches Challenge has been extended to June 19:

you still have plenty of time to make a card and win a great prize!

Under the Freebies section in Broken Box Stock store you will find tons of free digis to work with!

Since I'm not good at stitching on cards, I used an already stitched ribbon and added faux stitches with my pen around the image. Easy, isn't it?

Don't miss this chance to win a fabulous prize!

Pennyblack Saturday Challenge # 205

Today I've managed to plan some new cards and finish one:

While browsing my challenge list the other day I decided to enter Pennyblack Saturday Challenge # 205: the theme is Red, White & Blue! and it was perfect for what I had in mind.

I love Pennyblack stamps, especially hedgehogs and mice, and when I saw this stamp set early this year, I thought I had to have it!

I wanted a crisp and clean look on my card and this light blue is just perfect!

The striped paper is from Pink Petticoat and I was lucky enough to find a matching ribbon in my stash!

Well, that's all for today. I'll be back soon with a new project for another challenge I'm so exvited about!



Time for Picnics

It's June!

It's almost summer!

We had a terrible May: rain, cold and... earthquakes!

We are not sure that earthquakes are over but at least it's hot and sunny!

My daughter's school closed sooner than expected because the earthquakes damaged the building and it was not safe. Luckily enough, and with a great effort, teachers managed to organize the end-of-school party at a nearby garden yesterday so we could "close" this school year in a happy and cheerful way.

Kids were a bit impressed when they experienced the earthquake while in class and I thought that celebrating the start of summer vacation in a "normal" way was positive for them.

We left early beacuse we had to attend a 3-hour dance lesson and we missed the picnic on the grass but I'd like to make a few picnics this summer, just to have fun and relax.

A few days ago I made this card for Broken Box Stock:

Summer = Picnics = red & white tablecloth = ants...

I love this Picnic Toodle (it's available in black and white and in color too, if you need a quick make)!

She is probably not allergic like me, she doesn't start sneezing as soon as she arrives in a park and her eyes don't become big, red and full of tears like mine.

But spring should be over in a few days and maybe I'll be able to go and relax on the grass without tons of hankies!

Stitches Challenge at Broken Box Stock

It's time for a new challenge at Broken Box Stock and the theme is:

STITCHES!

Challenge Directions: 

1) Use a graphic form Broken Box Stock to create a paper craft that incorporates STITCHES in your design. The stitches can be real stitches using thread/yarn/etc or they can be drawn onto your craft. You may use a color or digital stamp graphic. Feel free to use our freebies too!

2) Be creative. Be unique!

3) Email a photo (or a link) of your card to brokenboxdesigns@yahoo.com

Deadline: Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

Prize: Toodle Birthday Calendar (a printable craft)

 

Rules:

1) Use a Broken Box Stock graphic as the main image in your craft.

2) Up to 3 entries per person.

3) Follow challenge's design criteria above.

4) We reserve the right not to draw a winner if there are less than 5 entries.

 

Here's my card for this Challenge:

 

I've used Ballerina Toodle colored with Copics and glitter and Follow Your Heart (it's a freebie, don't miss it!).

I'm not good at stitching on cards so I drew stitches around the toodle and added a stitched ribbon and bow.

Don't forget to check out the other DT creations and, of course, don't miss the chance to win the faboulous Toodle Birthday Calender!

Getting Fit

It's finally warm enough to wear short-sleeve T-shirts, capris and flip flops and, like every year, it's time to try bikinis on...

And, like every year, it's time to follow a diet hoping that those bikinis will be on a slimmer and more tonic girl.

Hopelessly.

Not that I'm fat but I'm surely not tonic.

I don't use my weighing scale often but every now and then I have to check and... well... my face looks like this:

When I saw this digi stamp from Birdie Brown called "Step On It" I knew I had to have it! I love her face, the way she steps on the scale and that tiny sweat drop on her cheek...

In between hearthquakes, dance lessons, DT work and custom orders I managed to squeeze this little Journal: pretty enough for a girly girl who wants to keep track of her schedules, plans and achievements!

Pretty in Pink

I LOVE pink!

And...

I'd love a pink kitchen.

Well...

Not entirely pink, just a few touches here and there: a wall, some appliances, curtains...

I remember a special issue of Marie Claire Idées a few years ago which had a perfect "pink" kitchen. And I was inspired by that lovely kitchen when I created this:

and this:

 I discovered a new stamp Company, The Alley Way Stamps, a while ago and I had to treat myself with a couple of sets: one dedicated to the kitchen (Kitchen Gadgets) and one to baby boys and girls (Priceless Joy).

I've read that they have a DT Call at the moment and of course, I'll apply... fingers crossed!

Pure Cuteness

Happy Monday!

First of all, I'd like to thank all the visitors fromTSG Mother of All Blog Hops: you left such sweet comments, I didn't expect such a response to my card.

And welcome to the new followers!

These days last year I was making favour tags for a wedding: she was a Customer from my Etsy shop and she asked me to prepare tags to be added to her wedding favours. I also made a matching Tableau de Mariage and really had so much fun!

Yesterday, I finished the tags she asked me for the birth of her little girl!

It's incredible to be part of a wedding, somewhere far away from your town, thinking about people touching and taking home something I've made.

But it's even more incredible to be part of a birth!

She saw a daisy in my shop and we made tags to be added to favors. I started with this:

Aren't they cute! I had two trays like this one full of freshly glittered daisies and I couldn't help taking a picture of them!

Then, I ended up with this: 

The daisy digi stamp is from Birdie Brown. Tags were made with colors matching chevron bags my Customer had bought and will be attached to the bags by means of wooden pegs.

If she send me a picture of the finished favors, I'll post it here for sure!

Little Maia was born last Friday, so my best wishes to this blessed family!

And: Benvenuta Maia!

There She Goes Mother of All Blog Hops 2012

Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the 3rd annual Mother of All Blog Hops sponsored by There She Goes Clears Stamps!   

Over the next two days, customers and trendsetters will be featuring some of our favorite There She Goes Clear Stamp sets!  

Not only that, we’re going to give YOU a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

To find out how, please go to the There She Goes’ blog and read the simple instructions.

I'm so happy to be part of this Blog Hop this year! It's my first Blog Hop ever and I'm so excited I can use There She Goes Stamps, I love them!!!

Here's my card:

I've used the Wrapped in Joy set and chose this little girl with gifts, gifts and more gifts! I colored her with Copics following the shades given by the flower paper.

I had just made another card with the same color scheme and I loved it so much I wanted to make the card for this hop with similar colors.

The hot pink paper is from DCWV and I've used a white card base. The satin ribbon matches the hot pink paper and I stamped a gift from the same set, colored it with Copics, cut it and used it as a charm. Some touches of glitter make the card shine!

I don't remember where the floral paper comes from. I remember only that I found it 10+ years ago when I didn't know anything about Photoshop or digital products and asked a colleague to scan it: I have it in my computer since then!

Please click on the InLinkz below and follow it to the next blog!

 I hope you'll enoy There She Goes MOABH 2012!