The Calendar Girl's Ball

NOTE: I have two blog posts for you today. Be sure to check out the Deedee's Digis one that follows this one, too.

Hear ye, hear ye! By royal proclamation …… I Welcome you all to Ms. February’s Ball!

Who is Miss February? It's Kelly, one of the Calendar Girls and this is her month. Therefore she created a challenge and all the Calendar Girls are doing their best to meet the challenge.

These were Kelly's instructions to the Calendar Girls:

It’s a month of love, admiration, and red hearts, my lovelies!

What will you wear to this ball? More like what will your CARD wear?! This month – fabulous Calendar Girls,- show us your STYLE! Your card should reflect a representation of what your dream dress would be and the moment each of you beauties walks into the ballroom, we’ll be dazzled by what you (your card!) has on!

1. Challenge 1 -- What’s your style?! Will your card be sleek, sexy and black? Will it be a pink and frilly with flowers? Lavendar and lace? Will it have Bows? Buttons all down the back? {etc!} You may use any stamped image you like - it should not be a dress stamp, lol – your card should speak for itself with it’s colors and style! Make sure your card has the representation!

2. Challenge 2 -- Show us your true colors at this ball! Add your favorite color somewhere to your card, even if it’s the smallest of a brad or a little flower – it might not match your “dress personality” but that’s the whole challenge! In the words of Tim Gunn, “Make it work!”

3. Challenge 3 -- Shape up for this ball!! Well, this will be one of your EASIEST shape ups evah! Tee hee! on the same card, you must use a SHAPE somewhere on your card! Make your regular card but add a Big-shotted, Cuttlebugged, hand cut out shape to your card. Add your image to a nestie, to a hand cut heart, to a circular pattern – etc! Shape up, show your true color and your style!!

Here's my Gown:

Challenge 1 - My Style

I think the single thing that most personifies my style is the way the neckline is lopsided with one shoulder showing and the other one covered. No, I don't necessarily wear clothes like that, but I do consider my personality quirky and fun, not the traditional or normal. I also do not like symmetry. I am totally assymetrical in my style, whether it's home decor, crafts, or other areas of life.





Challenge 2 - My true colors

In cardmaking, I tend to like all colors. It depends on what I'm making. However, in clothing, I almost always choose brighter colors mixed with black. So that's the color scheme I chose for my card. Purple is often my color of choice when choosing clothing. As far as jewelry, I usually prefer silver over gold, so I added some brushed silver cardstock to my card, as well.

Challenge 3 - Shape It Up

That one was easy, since my dress is created with shapes. LOL! I used 10 punched tabs to create the dress. I also used two punched shapes on the righthand side of my card to anchor theh felt flowers.

The sentiment inside my card: Say I love you often

I love you, Calendar Girls!

Miss February, this has truly been a ball to remember! Thank you!!!

I hope you'll go check out all the Calendar Girls' blogs... to see what they created for the ball. The links are in my right sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by...... and don't forget to keep scrolling to the next post, too. It features a fun Deedee's Digis image and a challenge you might like to join.

Hugs!

Sentiment: Print Works
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black, Brushed Silver, and a purple that is retired (I don't know its name)
Designer Paper: Reminisce Prom Night
Embellishments: Michael's Felt Flowers, Stickles Glitter Glue, Target Rhinestones, and Wal-mart Ribbon

Smiles for Everyone!

Happy Monday Challenge

February 28 - March 6

Share a Smile -- Make a funny card to send to someone to help lift the winter blues


Surely a cute little clown will bring a smile to someone's face.

Look at the fun felt flowers!

Are you smiling yet?

Here's the sentiment inside the card:

The sentiment comes with the clown (Deedee's Digis To See You Smile)

and the good news is...... it's this week's Dollar Digi at Deedee's Digis!!!

Image and Sentiment: Deedee's Digis To See You Smile
Ink: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black, Daffodil Delight, Orchid Opulence, and Pixie Pink
Designer Paper: E K Success American Girl Paper Collection
Embellishments: Darice Felties flowers

Big News You Won't Want to Miss!!!

NOTE: I have two blog posts today, this one and the Crafty Ho Challenge post that follows it. I hope you'll check them both out. Thank you!!!

I have BIG NEWS for you today. It's about a FREEBIE... a fantastic giveaway! And it's pretty easy to receive. Sooooooooooo... don't go away until you see the details a bit later in my post.

First, look at the card I made:

Isn't that the most adorable little elephant/bear image you've ever seen? It is so sweet the way the bear is lovingly/gently doctoring the elephant who isn't feeling too well.

The good news is.... this image can be yours!

WHAT!?!?!?

How!?!?!?

All you have to do is create a post on your blog about Chi Chi Memories, which just happens to be an incredible digi stamp company! In your post, you MUST provide a link to Chi Chi Memories (not difficult to do, you know how!) and then email Kerry at kerryischilling@gmail.com and she'll send you the image. How cool is that!?!!??



Now let me tell you something else... as soon as you get this adorable image, create a card using it, a get well card, and hurry over to Aly's Sunday Challenge and enter your card in her Get Well Challenge. You just might be lucky enough to win the challenge prize, which is three digis of the winner's choice from Chi Chi Memories.

I know I'm entering this card in Aly's Sunday Challenge.


In case you're interested, the card I created also features the sketch for the current Chi Chi Memories challenge.

So many challenges to enter......... better get busy, my friends! Challenges are so much fun!!!





Image: Chi Chi Memories
Ink: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Marina Mist and Poppy Parade
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: brads and Stampin' UP! Poppy Parade Stitched Poly Ribbon

I ♥ This Boy!

Crafty Ho Challenge

February 27 - March 5


This week's challenge is a Sketch challenge.

Here's my card:

This is the sketch:

I put did a little bit inside the card, too.

I wanted to add some washers and chain to the card for embellishments. I thought it kind of went with the robot theme.

I attached the metal hardware with crochet thread.

I ♥ this boy!

Image & Sentiment: Bella Blvd Super Stud
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Close to Cocoa, Peach Parfait, and Pretty in Pink
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: washers, chain, J & P Coats crochet thread, and Stampin' UP! Peach Parfait Stitched Poly Ribbon

A Look Inside

I have another Treasure Hunt creation for you today. Remember how I love to go to yard sales and I hunt for "treasures" that I can use on a card... preferably things that are not intended for papercrafting. Well, one of the treasures I found last summer looked like it had great potential. In fact, I had an idea for how to use it even when I bought it.

A pair of tiny wooden shutters
Cost: 5 cents

Well, some ideas do seem to look better in my head than they do when I get them finished. LOL!

I tried to create a section of a house, with a window and a window box overflowing with flowers.

I used a piece of overhead projector transparency for the window and put an image of a little girl holding a freshly baked pie inside the home.

Like I said, some things look better in my mind.

No matter how many pictures I took, it still looks kind of plain!

But it was fun....... as are all Treasure Hunts!

Thanks for stopping by. Would you like to have a piece of pie and a cup of coffee while you're here?

Image: Pink Cat Studio Lily Baked a Pie
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Marina Mist and all other papers from my scrap file
Embellishments: Stickles glitter glue, wooden shutters, and paper roses (vendor unknown)

Claudia & Co. Blog Hop

Hello and Welcome to Claudia and Company's first ever Customer Blog Hop!

We’re so excited to have you join us!

Today Claudia and Company is celebrating all of US; their dear friends and customers and that includes YOU!

If you’ve just joined the fun, be sure to pop over to the Claudia and Company Blog to start the hop and get all the deets!

I created this card using the Claudia & Co. Birthday Lily image:

I colored Lily with Copic markers and Spica pens and Iadded some present-shaped Blumenthal buttons and a Happy Birthday sentiment.

I added a little bit of the birthday paper inside the card, too.

I'm so glad you stopped by to see my card. I hope you'll check out all the entries in today's Claudia & Co. Customer Blog Hop.

Be sure and leave a comment on each of today’s fabulous posts, to be eligible for the prizes that are up for grabs! You'll have until Monday, February 28, 12pm EST to comment. Winners will be announced on March 1, during their Release Day Showcase.

Here is the complete list of stops on the Hop! Thanks for joining us and happy hopping!

LORi

Tracy

Sheri

Sandra

Krista

Kadie

Piali

Joni

Gwen

Sheng

Margie

Kelly

Jeanette - you are here! THANKS for stopping by!!!

Cara

Kimmarie

Arielle

Hannah

Beverly

Sharette

Joy

Susan

Carol

Nicole

Paola

Mary J

April

Barb

Lorie

Sarabeth

Catherine

Veronica

Jessica

Judy

Taylor

Lysa

Jen

Jess

Pam

Heather

Mary

Claudia

Image: Claudia & Co. Birthday Lily

Sentiment: vendor unknown

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic markers and Spica pens

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Brilliant Blue, Real Red, and Yo Yo Yellow

Designer Paper: from my scrap file

Embellishments: Blumenthal buttons and crochet thread (vendor unknown)

Look at that Kite Fly!

Please note... I have two blog posts today, this one and the Stamp-n-Doodle one that follows it.

Chi Chi Memories Challenge

February 24 - March 9

Lookie! Lookie!

Let's go fly a kite!!!

This adorable boy and girl image is part of the Chi Chi Memories Summer Fun set.

The challenge is to create a card using this sketch:

It's a 2-week challenge, so there's plenty of time for you to participate!

Image: Chi Chi Memories Summer Fun
Ink: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Brilliant Blue and Green Galore
Designer Paper: Paper Studio Cloud Photo
Embellishments: Hobby Lobbyy Spring Fever ribbon and Imaginisce Cha Ching brad

Once Upon a Time

It's Thursday... so it's time for a new

Stamp-n-Doodle Challenge

The design team has created cards using the Stamp-n-Doodle Kiss a Lot of Frogs image.

Here's my card:

Quite some time ago a dear friend gave me the Once Upon a Time Mat Stack and I've used several pieces of the luscious paper from that gift. But I hadn't used the Once Upon a Time sheet, and I decided this was the perfect time - the perfect image - to do so. Thank you, Kelly! Yours is a gift that just keeps on giving.

This is the challenge sketch:

Here are some more pictures of my card:

Stamp-n-Doodle Challenge

February 24 - March 2

Image: Stamp-n-Doodle Kiss a Lot of Frogs
Sentiment: Hugs & Kisses rubber stamp (vendor unknown)
Ink: Copic markers, Copic Spica pens, and Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Buckaroo Blue and Creamy Caramel
Designer Paper: DCWV Once Upon a Time mat stack
Embellishments: heart brads (vendor unknown)

WHOO Likes Ribbon and Bows?

It's time for another

Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge

February 23 - March 1

Theme: Ribbon and Bows

When I first thought of this theme, I thought girlie. Then I thought again....... and went with a bold owl card.

Here it is:

Whether you go girlie or some other style doesn't matter. Let's see your ribbon and bows!

Image: Fresh Brewed Designs Cute Owl
Ink: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Bermuda Bay and Cherry Cobbler
Designer Paper: DCWV The Guy Stack Collection
Embellishments: Autumn Leaves Whirlygig button, Stampin' UP! Bermuda Bay Stitched ribbon, and red crochet thread (vendor unknown)

Why, oh WHY???

I'm in a swap (hosted by the most incredible Darlene) entitled Why Did I Buy This? Yes, you heard me correctly.


The premise of the swap is that we all have things - stamps, designer papers, embellishments, tools, etc. - that we've purchased because we just HAD to have them.... I guess because they would look pretty sitting on our shelves because after we get home with them, we never use them. So Darlene challenged us to make cards using things that we'd had for a year or more and had not used. The only thing on our cards that could be newer than that were the cardstock (cardbase) and the ink.

Sounds fun, doesn't it?

Well, let me tell you... I had a TERRIBLE time narrowing it down because I have way too much stuff that I have never used. And I'm not the only one, because several of the swappers are already trying to get Darlene to host another round of Why Did I Buy This???

Here are some pictures of my card:

Why, oh WHY Did I Buy This?
Cup image - it's an unmounted rubber stamp and I don't even remember who the manufacturer is. UGH!
Sentiment - Lizzie Anne Latte
Designer Paper - Prima Marketing Breathe Paper Collection (I bought it on clearance because the price was good)
Silk Flower - from Oriental Trading Company
Paper Flower - Prima Sweet & Sassy Flower
Brad - K & Co. Wedding Collection
Sparkly Fluff - Brown Sugar (this is the stuff in the cup - too cool... but couldn't really tell how to use it, so I just glued it on. Perhaps it was supposed to be heated/embossed. I don't know......... because I bought it too long ago to remember.)
I also used Stampin' UP! Cardstock (Black, Daffodil Delight, and Rose Red) and Versafine Onyx Black ink.