Wish

I made this card a few weekends ago and completely forgot to post it! It uses one of the stamps from the Unity September kit of the month, appropriately called go ahead wish.

The dandelion image is white embossed on black, and there are green gems in the centers of the flowers, which are hard to see in this picture. I used a few of the same gems after the sentiment. The ribbon is something I picked up in the dollar bin at Michaels a couple of years ago. It goes perfectly with Kiwi Kiss cardstock.

You still have a few hours to win my Birthday Blog Candy – until midnight (EST) tonight! Go HERE for instructions. And if you are in one the states that turns the clock back tonight, enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

Birthday Blog Candy!!!

NOTE: This blog candy is finished (congratulations, Lisa!), but please feel free to Follow my blog by clicking the button on the right side of the screen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Yup, today is my birthday, and to commemorate it, I’m giving away some blog candy. If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, may have heard me mention that I have too much STUFF! I’ve been trying to get organized, but the fact remains that there are things that I will never get a chance to use, and they deserve to be loved instead of languishing here. This is what I’m giving away (all in one bundle):

Would you like to win these goodies and give them a good home? Here’s all you need to do to enter: scroll down on my blog (make sure you go to my actual blog page if you’re viewing through a reader or on Facebook), and click the "Follow” button on the right side; then leave me a Comment on this post so I know who you are. You have until midnight Saturday (10/31) to enter. I will pick the winner randomly and announce it on Sunday.

I baked my own birthday cake to bring into work today, and tonight I’m being taken out to dinner at a French bistro by my wonderful family. Can’t wait!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

PTI Blog Hop time!

Holy cow – this is my THIRD post of the day! (Scroll down if you haven’t seen the others yet.) I didn’t know I had it in me, but I guess an afternoon nap and a 5:00 cup of coffee enabled me to run up a quick card for the Papertrey Blog Hop tonight.

This card came together a lot faster than it’s taking me to do the photo editing and posting on my super-sluggish computer! In fact, it will be a miracle if I can get it linked up before the deadline.

I originally embossed the cuffs of the stockings (PTI Stocking Prints) with white embossing powder, but after it was all together, I decided to put some glue on it and use some Polar White Flower Soft to give it more dimension. I used my white gel pen to make some bricks for the mantle, and a Copic marker to color in some of the leaves on the Green Tea Leaves paper to pick up the Scarlet Jewel color I used.

Enjoy the Hop!

Monstrously Old!

This was supposed to be posted for Day 6 of the IHP Birthday Bash Challenge, and clearly it wasn’t. But it’s not too late for you – you have until midnight tonight if you want to enter.

This challenge was to make a special birthday card. Well, IMHO, all my birthday cards are special! But what makes this one special, besides the fact that these adorable stamps were designed by the lovely and talented Jannie Ho, is that ALL of the men in my family with birthdays this month — 3 men in 3 different generations — got the same card. No, I am not ashamed – it’s too cute! (Paul, if you didn’t get your card yet, I guess the surprise factor is blown – sorry!)

I used Silly Monsters by Chicken Girl Design (available only through i {heart} papers). The patterned paper is from the Eerie 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. The monsters are colored with Copic markers, and the eyes have dots of Ranger Glossy Accents on them to make them stand out.

Well, I gonna finish off my weekend with some good TV tonight, and then it’s back to the grind tomorrow. But if you read this far in the post, I’ll let you in on a little secret. My birthday is coming up this week, and I’ll be giving away some blog candy – so stay tuned!

Baked Birthday Wishes

This sweet card was made for Day 5 of the IHP Birthday Bash Challenge, which was to use food or drink in a birthday card or project. Unfortunately I forgot to post it on the day it was announced, but there’s still time. If you want to enter any of the 6 challenges (or all of them!), you have until midnight tonight (10/25). Just see the i {heart} papers Birthday Bash page for all the details.

What I used:
Stamps: Changito Baker
Ink: Memento Black, Copic markers
Paper: Miss Gretel (Piggy Tales), Chocolate Chip, PTI White
Other: Nestabilities, Stickles (on the candle flames), Bow Easy (to make that perfect bow!) 

Hmmmm. I think I know just who’s getting this card…

IHP Birthday Bash Challenge – Day 4

What’s a birthday party without presents? Whether the wrappings are simple or ornate, they bring an air of suspense and delight to onlookers as the honored guest opens each gift.

Our challenge for you today is to use designer papers and ribbons to create a card, box, or bag. Remember, everything this week has to do with birthday celebrations, so be sure your creation is birthday related!

Here’s what I came up with: The paper is all glittery, so I used plenty of Stickles and Glimmer Ribbon to play it up! The tin is an Altoids container covered with paper and ribbon. The 1/4” ribbon covers the sides of the lid perfectly. It can be used for a party favor, or to hold a gift card. Full details of supplies at the end of this post.

The prize for the winner of today’s challenge is AWESOME:
October Afternoon Night Light Collection Kit PLUS
(1 yard of each):
1-1/2" Fuchsia Lace
1-1/2" Parrot Green Lace
1-1/2" Turquoise Lace
1-1/2" White Lace
1" Bright Green Silk Ribbon
1" Lavender Silk Ribbon
1" Turquoise Silk Ribbon
1" Yellow Silk Ribbon
1/2" Venise Ivory/Purple Daisy Lace
1/2" Venise Ivory/Berry Daisy Lace
1/2" Venise Ivory/Olive Daisy Lace
3/8" Black & Yellow Gingham Ribbon
3/8" Double Faced Satin Brown Ribbon
3/8" Ivory Trimmings/Lines Ribbon
3/8" Satin Reversible Orange/Yellow Ribbon
5/8" Polka Dot Brown/Pink/White/Ivory/Hot Pink Ribbon
5/8" Polka Dot Brown/Blue/White/Ivory/Turquoise/Aqua Ribbon
5/8" Sheer Metallic Silver Ribbon

Yowza! Wouldn’t you love to win this? Play along with us and you might!

Don’t forget, we have challenges going on ALL WEEK! Here are the hosts for each day. Be sure to check their blogs on their scheduled day to find out that day’s challenge. You can also check the main IHP Birthday Bash page at the store. It will be updated daily.

Day 1(10/19): Kate(owner), Sarah Anderson, and Dee Jackson
Day 2 (10/20): Deb/Latisha Yoast
Day 3 (10/21): Gretchen/Lesa Smaligo and Lynn/Asela Hopkins
TODAY Day 4 (10/22): Cathleen/Kerri Michaud and Carolyn/Maria Fiscella
Day 5 (10/23): Megan/Chris Veneruso and Kendra/Debbie Fisher
Day 6 (10/24): Tracy/Heidi Van Laar and Amber/Kerry Davis
Day 7 (10/25): Sunday, day of rest (finish up your challenges!)
Day 8 (10/26): PARTY! GRAND PRIZE (winners are announced)

Before you begin, take a few minutes to review the challenge guidelines! You’ll want to follow these rules to maximize your points and qualify for the opportunity to WIN the prize for today’s challenge and the Grand Prize, all announced on the last day of our festivities!

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. Today’s challenge tag is IHPBB4. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will earn you points (see below), and one with the most accumulated for the week the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, more points you earn — and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

You will have until October 25th to post your work, and you can enter as many challenges as you like, but you CANNOT combine challenges in one project. All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26th.

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

• 5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
• 5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
• 2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

• 2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
• 2 points for joining our PCP group*
• 2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
• 10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, a comment on the IHP blog Birthday Bash week so your points can be credited.

IHP Supplies used for my projects:
Stamps: Birthday Cupcake, Hey There Cupcake
Paper: Fun Loving Spots & Picnic Blanket (My Mind’s Eye)
Other: Glimmer Ribbon (Mint & White), Nestabilities, Stickles (crystal)

Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

IHP Birthday Bash – Day 1!

Today is Day 1 of the i {heart} papers Birthday Bash! The challenge today is being hosted by Kate along with her guests Sarah Anderson and Dee Jackson. It’s a fun one, so I decided to play along!

Today’s challenge is to make a birthday card using the colors in the IHP logo, which are celery, light blue, rose and black. Here’s my take on it:

I used this week’s Clean & Simple FTL64 for my layout, although the focal image is a bit larger than what’s suggested! The image is from the Unity September Kit of the Month. The greeting is from All Occasions Messages, a fabulous greeting set which happens be on sale right now! I partially inked it to get only the first 2 words.

The base of the card, as well as the greeting piece and the focal piece, are shimmery white, which gives it a special look. And wouldn’t you know, Kate has paper in her store that uses just the right colors! The patterned paper on the bottom is called “Plie” Dancing Daisies from the Penny Lane collection by My Mind’s Eye. I believe it’s sold out right now, but if you love it, let her know…

Hope you can play along with today’s challenge too. There are prizes to be won!!! See Kate’s blog, or go to this page at i {heart} papers to see the full details.

IHP Birthday Bash, and A Special Gift

Get ready for the i {heart} papers Birthday Bash! That’s right, IHP is turning 1 year old this month, and a whopper of a party is planned! There's also a special gift planned to help others celebrate more birthdays. You’ll read more about that at the end of this post.

First, let’s talk about the party! There will be prizes galore (free stuff – you like free stuff, don’t you?), and a Grand Prize winner will be chosen at the end to be the IHP Guest Designer for the month of November!

There will be 6 birthday party themed challenges, one posted each day starting on Monday, October 19th. Each challenge will be hosted (and posted) by one of the IHP Design Team members. It will also be posted on the IHP Blog and on the store site HERE. Some special invited guests will be posting throughout the week, too! Each challenge will have its own prize.

To qualify for the prize of the day, all you have to do is upload your challenge card/project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and/or Paper Craft Planet (PCP) with the appropriate tag so we can find it. The tag (and the prize) for that day’s challenge will be posted on that day. You will have until October 25^th to post your work, and you can enter as many challenges as you like, but you CANNOT combine challenges in one project. The daily challenge winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week.

To qualify for the Grand Prize of being IHP Guest Designer for the month of November, here’s how it will work: Every challenge card/project you enter will earn you points (see the list below), and the one with the most points accumulated for the week will be the Grand Prize winner. So the more challenges you enter, the more points you earn — and the better your chances of winning the Grand Prize (and the bigger the value of your Guest Designer box will be)!

All winners, including the Grand Prize winner, will be announced at the Birthday Bash on October 26^th.

So get ready to PARTY!!!! You won’t want to miss the fun!

Birthday Bash Points

For each project:

• 5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to SCS
• 5 points for each challenge card/project you make, upload and tag to PCP
• 2 points for uploading to your blog and linking at least one IHP item used to the IHP website

One time points:

• 2 points for signing up to receive our newsletter*
• 2 points for joining our PCP group*
• 2 points for becoming our fan on Facebook*
• 10 points if you participate in all 6 IHP Birthday Bash challenges

*When you sign up, or if you are already signed up, leave a comment on the IHP blog during Birthday Bash week so your points can be credited.

A Special Gift
Because i {heart} papers loves birthdays so much, they’ve decided to contribute 10% of sales, beginning on October 19^th and through the end of October, to Hope Lodge New York City. Hope Lodge, run by the American Cancer Society, “The Official Sponsor of Birthdays,” offers free, temporary housing for cancer patients and their families who are undergoing treatment. The nurturing, comfortable environment at Hope Lodge allows patients to focus on what is most important - fighting cancer. What better way to celebrate a birthday than to help those who are helping more birthdays happen!

What happened to Autumn?!!!

Here in the northeast, we seem to have skipped over autumn completely! I can’t remember a time when I had to drag my warm winter jacket out before Halloween.

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything, and  I apologize for that. Sometimes life redirects your energy and you just have to go with it. But things are getting back to “normal” and hopefully my creative energy will get a little more play!

Anyhow, the idea for this card has been kicking around in my head for a while. Tonight it finally came together. I used Taylor’s TESC86 sketch challenge for it, and one of the Shake It pouches with some Autumn Mix Flower Soft. I forgot I even had this old leaf punch, but it came in handy for adding a little extra something to the card. Oh, and it’s hard to see, but I outlined the gold patterned paper with a metallic gold gel pen to give it a little shimmer.

What I used:
Stamps: Tiny Trinity (Unity)
Ink: Palette Burnt Umber
Paper: Basic Grey Indian Summer pad, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, PTI White
Other: Autumn Mix Flower Soft, large round Shake It pouch, leaf punch, Nestabilities, Fiskars border punch, Eclipse masking tape 
 

Happy Fall, Y’all!