Easter Rose

This is so exciting!  My first project post with my new design team, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends and I get to take part in a new release from Kith and Kin!  Hop over to the challenge blog and see all of the creations by my new teamies!

Click the picture to pop over to the store.

I would like to introduce to you, Easter Rose and her little bunny friend!  Aren't they adorable?

I colored them using Copics and used my Cameo to cut them out.  I am so loving print and cut for my digital stamps!  I kept the card design pretty simple because the background paper was a bit busy.  I love the rose button.  I got it in a huge grab bag of buttons from Hobby Lobby.  It had a lot of wonderful buttons as well as a few things that left me scratching my head like a leather zipper pull!!  It was so fun sorting through everything to see what I got.  I will probably get more. =)

Thank you to Kith and Kin for giving us the chance to play with this new stamp!

Card meaasures 4.25" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Labels 4

Spellbinders Gold Labels 4
The Paper Studio Medium Polka Dot embossing folder

Stampin' Up! So Saffron seam binding

Jesse James buttons grab bag

Eyelet lace from my stash

Exciting News!!

You know the saying "When one door closes, another opens."?  It is so true!  I was so bummed about not being on the Meljen's Designs team any longer.  It was my first and longest design team spot.  (I have really only been on two design teams.)  I would have stayed on the team forever if they would have let me!!  Anyway...I got a message not long after the closing announcement was made asking if I would like to join the design team at Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge Blog.  How could I say no?!  They have some amazing sponsors and I am looking forward to working with another group of lovely crafters.  The Australian time zone will definitely take some getting used to!

So...a little about me...

I am a military spouse of nearly 22 years now (but 25 all together).  My hubby is extremely patient and my best enabler. =) We have four kids ranging in ages from 29 down to 20.  Yep!  Nearly completely grown which means an extra bedroom or two for crafty stuff!!  I have been stamping for nearly 15 years.  It doesn't seem like that long until you see my hoard stash.  Then you can tell I have been collecting for a LONG time.  I am also a quilter, but they take so long!!  I love the instant gratification of finishing a card.  Well...not exactly instant, but far more instant than a quilt!  I have enjoyed crafting for as long as I can remember.

I am so excited to create for Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends and hopefully inspire one or two of you along the way!

Cozy Winter Wishes

One of the digital stamp companies I have discovered recently is The Paper Shelter.  The shop has so many gorgeous images and they come with a colored version and digital paper as well!  Digital paper is so much fun to work with.  And it is easy to store!=P  As luck would have it, they are having a Design Team Call, so I thought I would throw my name into the hat!

This image is Cozy Winter Wishes and it was colored using Copics.  I totally fell in love with this little girl as soon as I saw her! The background paper also comes with the stamp.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!  There are so many wonderful entries!

Card measures 5" x 5"
Spellbinders Tear Drop Circle die
The Paper Studio flowers (white, colored with Copic ABS)
The Paper Studio Spare Parts Buttons
ribbon and pearls from my stash

Spring is on the Way!

Spring is just around the corner, but in some places it is still cold and snowy.  I am sure they feel like Brittany Bundled Up from Simply Betty Stamps! She has been retired, but Betty is always popping in a surprise bundle or two from the retired vault!

I colored Brittany with Copics and popped her up on some foam before putting her on the die cut.  The sentiment came from a different Simply Betty Stamp, but I thought it was perfect for her!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Floral Ovals Die
Maya Road mitten charm
buttons, ribbons, and pearls from my stash

Baby Betty

One amazing thing about the coloring groups are the fact that they are little communities.  Each person supporting the other in both art and life.  This card was made for a tiny baby in the hospital fighting for her life.  A call went out for cards and support for her family and I was happy to pitch in my effort.

This is Baby Doll Betty from Simply Betty Stamps.  She is of course colored with Copics. Betty has a line of younger images that are so much fun!  This sentiment came with the stamp.

Card measures 5" x 5"
Spellbinders Floral Oval Die
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
ribbon from my stash

2 Cute!

I mentioned that I loved Facebook because I have found so many great stamp artists.  My husband would probably beg to differ. =P  My collection has grown considerably of late!  One of the companies that I recently found is 2 Cute Ink.  Heidi has so many adorable images!  She also gives her newsletter subscribers a freebie each month.  There is a Facebook challenge in the group each month after the freebie is sent for a chance to win some additional stamps.

This is Bee Happy.  I wanted her to be dressed up for Valentine's Day so I decided to forgo the traditional bee colors and colored her with red and pink Copics instead. I cut the background using my Silhouette Cameo.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Decorative Labels One
Ribbon, pearls and buttons from my stash

Little Mermaid

A while back there was a challenge in a new coloring group on Facebook, Passionate Paper Creations using Valentine Mermaid from Simply Betty Stamps.  The group is a great source of inspiration.  The theme was jewel-toned hair and bling.

She was colored using Copics and it was fun to color her hair in an unusual color.  I need to try it more often.  She comes with the sentiment I used as well.  I cut the coral using my Cameo and I made the flower from ribbon.  The enamel dots are actually pony beads I melted.  It is a great and inexpensive way to get the same look of the enamel dots.

Card measures 5.5" x 5.5:
pearl from my stash

A Little Latte

Wow!  Two days in a row!  Hardly a record, but it's been a while. =)  One of the great things about Facebook is the groups you can join.  I have discovered so many wonderful stamp companies!  One of them is Simply Betty Stamps.  They recently had a Facebook challenge to use your favorite stamp.  Coffe Lover Bre was the first stamp that popped into my cart.  I love coffee and just had to have her!  She also came with an iced coffee version and two sentiments. =)

She is colored with Copics.  I have a distinct challenge sometimes when it comes to crafting.  My hubby is stationed in Florida and I live there with him and my main crafty stash.  However, we still have our home in Illinois and I travel back regularly.  I have some supplies at the house, but sometimes I struggle to make a card come together!  I am constantly thinking "if I just had..."  This card was created at the house, but I am pleased with how it turned out.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three
Ribbon, brads and snaps from my stash.

A Little Amy Doodles

I have always just used my blog as a place to host the projects for my design team stuff and a random challenge that I enter here and there.  I am going to try to post more often.  I have been creating quite a bit lately for challenges on Facebook that don't really require a blog post.  I am going to start posting them here too so my blog doesn't look so dusty and abandoned!

This is Punk Rock Amy from Amy Doodle Stamp Co.  I entered a challenge in the Facebook group.  I don't normally mix patterns, but I am really pleased with the way this turned out.  Such a fun and funky image needed a mix of fun and funky patterns. =)  She is colored with Copics.

Card measures 5.5" x 5.5"
Buttons, lace, ribbons from my stash

Sad News!

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you as of March 31st, Meljen's Designs will be closing its doors.  I am so saddened by this news.  I have been on the Meljen's Designs team for just over four years.  I have loved working with all of Melissa's wonderful stamps and have met some wonderful people over that time.  Melissa is going in a different direction with her art and wants a complete new start.  She will be moving some of her digital stamps to her Etsy shop soon, but until then, if you want to scoop up a few of you favorites, the entire shop is 50% off until it closes.  You can read Melissa's post on the blog here.